THE LIFE SAMUEL MILLER, D.D.,LL.D., SECOND PROFESSOR IX THE THEOLOGICAL SEMIXAKY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, AT PRINCETOX, NEW JERSEY. BY SAMUEL MILLEK. PHILADELPHIA : claxton, remsen and haffelfinger, No3. 819 and 821 Market Street. 1869. \ "»* >'• - -■>*•> Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1869, by SAMUEL MILLER, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the District of New Jersey. JAS. B. RODGERS CO , Printers, 52 & 54 North Sixth St. TA.BLE OF COlSrTEISrTS, PART THIRD : PRINCET0:N". 1813-1850. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOURTH. 1813-1820. First Years ix the Professorship. — 1. Neio Scenes and Duties. — Diary : Resolutions for Princeton — Politics — At the polls — Letter to Mr. Richards — Female Aid Societies — Residence in Princeton — Buildino- — . Dr. Alexander — Seminary edifice — Recitation-rooms — Corner-stone — State attachments — 9-14. — 2. Dr. Alexander and Dr. Miller. — Dr. Board- man's remarks — Dr. J. W. Alexander's — Dr. Alexander's Sabbath ser- vice— Mrs. M.'s diary — Pulpit labors — Princeton worship — Extract from Dr. Boardman — Presbytery of New Brunswick — 14-18. — 3. Correspond- ence.— Letter to Dr. Green — to Col. Duane — Corrupting publications — Letter to Mr. J, H. Rice ; Presbyterian Church and civil liberty — Cor- respondence with Mr. Searle : Presidency of Dartmouth — 18-23. — 4. Miscellaneous Topics. — Dr. T. Y. How's Vindication — Revision of Govern- ment, Discipline and Worship — Synod's African School — Hopkinsian "New Test." controversy — Letter from Dr. McCrie — Hopkinsianism in the General Assembly — Publications — Death of Col. and Mrs. McLane — The College — 23-29. — 5. Reminiscences . — Mr. Sprague's — Dr. McFarland's — 29-37. — 6. Correspondence. — With Mr. J. H. Rice: Exhorters and Cate- chists— Letter to Mrs. FuUerton— Death of Dr. S. S. Smith— 37-40.— 7. Education Societies. — Am. Ed. Society — Ed. Soc. of Presbyterian Church — Opposition — Ed. Soc. of Presb. Church, under care of Gen. Assembly — Controversy — Professors' circular — Assembly's Board of Education — New Brunswick auxiliary — 40-44. — 8, Correspondence. — Letter to Dr. Rice — Dr. Rice's sermon — Wants of the Seminary — Dr. Alexander — Mr. Charles Hodge — Letter to Mr. Freeman — Mrs. M.'s diary — Letter to Miss Patten — Journeying in New England — Correspondence with Ex- president J. Adams — Contributions to Virginia Magazine — Letter to Dr. Rice — Rival Seminaries — Letters from pupils — 44-53. — 9-53. iii iv CONTENTS. CHAPTER TWENTY-FIFTH. 1820-1823. CoRRESPOXDEXCE AND PUBLICATIONS. — 1. 3Iiscellaneoiis Topics. — Letter to Ml-. Wisner, in Boston — Freemasonry — Letter to A. B. C. F. M. — To Mr. Sprague — 54-58. — 2, Ordination of the Rev. William Nevi7is. — Ser- mon— Extracts — Mr. Priestley — "Unitarian of Baltimore" — Reply — Letter to Mr. Wisner — 58-60. — 3. '■'■Letters on Unitarianism.''^ — Reasons for the AVork — Letter from Dr. Swift — To Mr. Wisner — Correspondence with Mr. J. Taylor — Letter to Miss Edgeworth — Episcopal Review of ■\vork — 61-68. — 4. Correspondence. — Letters to Mr. Sprague — To A. B.C. F. M. — Ordination of Messrs. Goodell, Richards and Bishop — Sermon — 68-70. — 5. Prtsidenci/ of the College. — Dr. Green's resignation — Dr. Rice chosen — Letter to Dr. Rice — He declines — Dr. Lindsley declines — Dr. Carnahan inaugurated — Dr. Green's Christian Advocate — Letter to Dr. Green — 70-73. — 6. '■^Letters on the Eternal Sonship of Christ.'^ — Contro- versy— Professor Stuart — Dr. M.'s account — Prof. Stuart's — Letters Extract — Dr. Miller's Reply — Extract — Letter to Mr. Wisner — To Dr. Green — From Dr. Livingston — 73-82. — 54-82. CHAPTER TWENTY-SIXTH. 1823-1826. Changes and Labors. — 1. Mrs. Margaret Breckinridge. — Marriage — Profession of religion — Elizabeth — Mr. Breckinridge — 83, 84. — 2. Ser- mons and Correspondence. — "Literary Fountains Healed" — Advertise- ment— " Day of Prayer for Colleges " — Letter to Dr. Griilin — Dedication of Arch street Presbyterian Church — Sermon — Extracts — Sermon for African School — Extracts — Dr. Rice's review — Slavery — African School — Letter to Mr. Sprague — To Mr. Sparks — To Mr. Sanfoi-d — Ecclesias- tical History — Letter to Mr. Beatty — Funds of Seminary — Letter to Mr. Nettleton — 84-96. — 3. Lecture on Creeds and Confessions. — Rev. Mr. Duncan — Dr. M.'s lecture — Christian Advocate's review — High-church encomiums — Dr. M.'s Reply — Bible and Common Prayer — Unitarian condemnation — Liberal Christianity — 96-102. — 4. Death of Elizabeth Miller. — Female prayer-meeting — Visits to Schooley's Mountain — A mountain church — Letter from Mr. Henry — To Miss Sergeant : Eliza- beth's death — Death-scenes — 102-105. — 5. Miscellaneous 'Topics. — Letter to Dr. Rice — Death of Dr. Livingston — Dr. M.'s tribute — Letter to Dr. Green — Journey in New York — Discourse before Lit. Phil. Soc. of N. J. — Letter to Mr. Sprague — Biblical Repertory — Introductory Lecture — Contents — Mr. Duncan on Creeds — "Letter to a Gentleman of Balti- more"— ]Mr. Gibson's review — Domestic Missions — Am. Home Mission- ary Society — Dr. Alexander's and Dr. M.'s approval — Commissioners to Gen. Assoc, of Conn. — Mr. Chambers in Philadelphia — Letter to Dr. Rice — Issue — Installation of Mr. J. Breckinridge in Baltimore — Sermon — Christian Advocate's review — 105-116. — 83-116. CONTENTS. V CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVENTH. 1826, 1827. Habits and Manners — 1. Rural Pursuits. — Husbandry — Lettei' from Dr. Rice — From Dr. 13. Fiske — House and Grounds — Gardening — Farm- ing— Benefits — Care of health — Riding and driving — Family walks — Recreations — On horseback — 117-123. — 2. ^'■Clerical Manners and Ha- bits.''— Dr. M.'s work — Need of it — His own manners — Extracts from Dr. Sprague — 'From Dr. J. W. Alexander — Dr. Boardman — Dr. Halsey — Watchman and Reflector — Letter from Prof. Stuart — From Mr. Wisner — Dr. Greville Ewing — Review by Mr. J. A. Alexander — liy Christian Advocate— 123-131. 117-131. CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHTH. 1827-1831. Quiet Years. — 1. Slate of the Church. — The College. — Church troubles — Quiet undisturbed — Straits of the College — Scattering and Withhold- ing— 132-13-1. — 2. Correspondence. — Letter to Mr. Sprague — To Mr. Wis- ner— Introductory Lecture — Letter to Mr. Moore — Inadequate prepara- tion for Ministry — Letter to Dr. Codman — Sabbath Schools — Letters to Dr. Sprague— To Dr. L. Beecher— To daughter— 134-142.— 3. Publica- tions.— Introductory Lecture — Extracts — Letter from Prof. Stuart — In- stallation of Dr. Sprague — Sermon — Extracts — Letter to Dr. Sprague — To Dr. Wisner — Introductory Essay to Sprague's Lectures — Letter to Dr. Sprague — Murray-street Lecture — 143-148. — 4. Gathering Clouds. — New-Schoolism — Dr. M.'s course — Position of a Professor — ^lodification of views — Moderate Hopkinsianism — Taylorism— Extract from Dr. Spring — Mr. Barnes — Called to Philadelphia — Proposed prosecution — 'Letter to Dr. Green — Advice disregarded — Correspondence with Mr. Barnes — Call accepted — Newspaper controversy — Opposition in Presbytery — Leave to prosecute call — Reception of Mr. Barnes — Complaint to Synod sustained — Condemnation of Mr. Barnes's sermon — Conference with Mr. Barnes — Mistake of prosecutors — Errors of Mr. Barnes — Death of Elizabeth Breckinridge — 148-159. — ''i. Letters upon the Christian Ministrg. — Dr. J. E. Cooke — His Essay — Review by Presb. Advocate — Extracts- — Dr. Cooke's charges — Letters upon Ministry republished — History of tlie controversy — 159-164. — 6. Religious Fasting. — Two Sermons — Extracts — 164-167. — 7. Correspo) deuce. — Letters to Dr. Mitchell and Dr. Chal- mers— To daughter — To Chief Justice Ewing — From Mr. J. W. Alexan- der— 167-171. — 8. ll\c Ruling Eldership. — Essay on the Ruling Elder — Extract — Dr. Lorimer's opinion — Previous works — Mr. Guthrie's treat- ise— Extract — Dr. M.'s view — Answer to Dr. J. P. Wilson — Other views —171-174— 132-174. CHAPTER TWENTY-NINTH. 1831. Household Religion. — 1. Dr. and Mrs. Miller. — Harmony — Differ- ences— Dr. M.'s religious experience — Mrs. M.'s — Views of world — Benevolence — Faith and superstition — Liberality — Silver dollars — 1* yi CONTENTS. Household Economy— Agreement in doctrine — Temper— Self-control— Disao-reement- 175-180 — 2. The Closet and the j?=a?«//y.— Practical reli- giJn^Secret worship— United prayer— Consistency— Word and prayer —Children of the Covenant— Infant baptism— Family worship— Keli- ffious training— Scriptures by heart— Westminster Catechisms- Lord's day— Public worship— Abstracts of sermons— 180-186. 3. A\ orldbj .4wiwsme;i^s.— Newspaper articles— Promiscuous dancing— Extracts— Novels— Extract from Retrospect— Spiritual intoxication— Ext_ract— 186-190.— . 175-190. CHAPTER THIRTIETH. 1831, 1832. Troubles Without and W^ithin.— 1. The General Assemhhj .—Yir^i conflicts— Letter to Mrs. Wales— Mrs. M."s diary— Old School and New School — Moderator — Committee-man — Argument of Dr. M.— Mr. Barnes's case— Reference to committee— Dr. xM.'s report— Elective affi- nity—Church boards— Opposition to them— Dr. Beman, Dr. Peters and ChVistian Spectator— Charges against Board of Missions— Attempt to destroy it— Disorder in the Assembly— Convention of Western Synods- Board of Education re-animated— Dr. J. Breckinridge—Foreign Mis- sions—Am. Board— Mr. J. Breckinridge's paper— Dr. J. H. Rice s overture— Committee of Conference— Western Missionary Society- Popish baptisms— Dr. Alexander's Opinion- Committee discharged— Dr. M.'s opinion— Subsequent decision— Doctrinal differences— 191-200. —2. After the Assembly .—^Vv. and Mrs. Breckinridge— Letter to Mr. Beatty- State of Church— Anniversary of Am. Board— Dr. M.'s paper rejected— Letter to Mr. Swift: Western Missionary Soc— Diary : Prayer- Temperance: Resolutions— Letter to Am. Home Missionary Soc— Spruce St. Lecture— Sermon : Gospel Truth— Annual of Board of Education Messrs. Pinney and Barr — Sermon on Death of Mr. Barr— Letter to Mr. Swift— To Mr. Nettleton— 200-214.— 3. The General As- semhbi of 1832.— N. School majority— Elective affinity presbytery- Contumacy of Synod— 215.— 4. Death of Edward ^liUington Mdler.— Graduation— Study of Law— Illness— Consumption— Flattering hopes— Hemorrliage— Religious exercises— Letter to Edward— Last night— Death-bed— Letter to Miss Sergeant— Funeral— Dr. Hodge's sermon— Extract-216-221. 191-221. CHAPTER THIRTY-FIRST. 1833-1835. L.ABORS Fruitless and Fruitful— 1. Letters to Preshj/terians.—Let- ter from J. W. Alexander— To Mr. Nettleton— To Dr. Wisner— Letters to Presbyterians— Burr's answer— Diary : Methods of Labor— Dr. Baird's comments— Parental influence— Charitable judgment— Letter to Mr. McElhenney : Self-defence— Voluntary associations and church boards -Subscription to Confession— Extract— Dr. Beeclier and his son- Elective affinity— Revivals— New Measures— Mr. F. S. Mines— Extract —Presbyterian order— Conciliation— 222-240.— 2. Miscellaneous Topics. —General Assemblv of 1833— Diary— Introductory Essay to Essay of CONTENTS. Vii C. Villers — Letter toDr, Plumer: Christian communion — Catechism of Presbyterian Government — Letter to Mr. Swift — Diary — Presb. Tract and Book Society — Diary — 240-245. — 3. Correspondence. — N. J. Howard Society — Letter — Straits of the Seminary — East Windsor TheoL Insti- tute— Letter to Mr. Nettleton — To Mrs. M. — Introductory Essay to His- tory of Popery — Controversy with Mr. Carey — 245-248. — 4. The Gene- ral Assenibhj of 1834. — Sermon before Board of Education — Extract New School majority — Decisive measures — Security for error — The Western Memorial — Rejection and censure — 248-251. — 5. The Act and Testimony. — Old School Conference — Act and Testimony — Its character — Biblical Repertory — Valid objections — Merits — The Moderates — Ex- tract from Dr. Brown — Oratory — 251-254. — 6. Presbytevianism and Bap- tism.— First book and first tract — Presbyterianism — Sermons on Baptism as a tract — Letter to Dr. Engles — Extract from Dr. Lorimer — Episcopal re- sentment— Prof. J. A. Alexander's criticism — 255-258. — 7. Miscellaneous Topics. — Letter to pupil — Funeral sermon for Mr. WoodhuU — Diary — 258-260.— 222-200. CHAPTER THIRTY-SECOND. 1835, 1836. a Triumph axd Defeat. — 1. General Assemhhj of 1835. — Dr. M commissioner — Opening sermon — Old School majority — Memorial of Convention — Dr. Miller's report — Pieversal of former decisions — Trans- fer from West. Miss. Soc. — Party votes — Mr. Stewart's speech — Dr. J. Breckinridge Professor of Pastoral Theology — Mr. J. A. Alexander — Sermon before Alumni of Seminary — Extract — Slavery — 261-266. 2. Correspondence and Sermons. — Letter from Gov. .J. C. Smith — To jNIr. Nettleton — Two Sermons on Domestic Happiness — Trial of Dr. Beecher — Dr. Miller's letter — Letter to Mr. Nettleton — 266-271 — 3. Mr. Barnes. — Plan of conciliation — Agreement of Professors — Bib. Repertory — Ex- tract— Mr. Barnes's Notes on Romans — Dr. .Junkin tables charges — Er- rors of Mr. Barnes — Charges dismissed — Appeal — Revision of Notes — Synod reverses the decision — Suspension — Appeal — Mistakes of Synod — Letter to Mr. Barnes — 271-279. — 4. Correspondence. — Letter to Mr. Nettleton — To Dr. Magie — Correspondence of Mr. Plumer and Dr. Beecher — 279-283. — 5. Mr. Barnes in the Assembh/ of 1836. — Other at- tempts to discipline— Mr. E. Beecher, Mr. Sturdevant, Mr. Kirby, Dr. L. Beecher — Dr. M. a commissioner — Mr. Barnes's explanations — De- fective forms — Appeal sustained — Dr. Miller's resolution rejected — Pro- tests and Answer — 283-288. — 6. Boards and Presbi/leries.—Hefusal of transfer from Western F. M. Soc. — Character of this act — Interference of A. B. C. F. M. — Attempt upon Board of (Domestic) Missions — Resto- ration of presbyteries — Old School conferences — Secret conclaves — Committee of thirty — Return from Pittsburg — Illness at Uniontown — 288-291.— 261-291. CHAPTER THIRTY-THIRD. 1836. Social Reform. — 1. Slaver?/. — Dr. M.'s report — Letter from Mr. Wltherspoon — From Dr. Hoge — Action of Assembly — Duty of the viii CONTENTS. Church— Letter to Mr. Burgess— Note to the Catechism— Slaves. — 292- 300. 2. Temperance. — Temperance Reforms — Two Stages — Letter to Mr. Edwards: Personal experience — Endorsement — Perversion — Scru- pulous drinking— Efforts— Old AVine— Dinner— Table changes.— 300- 305.- 292-305. CHAPTER THIRTY-FOURTH. 1836, 1837. Miscellaneous Matters. — 1. The Biblical Repertori/. — Five articles — Christian Union — Exti-act — Name of Christian Sabbath — Extract — Toleration — Extract — Sermons — Extract — 30G-309. — 2. A Reminiscence. — By a lady — From the Presbyterian — 309-311. — 3. 3IisceUaneous To- pics.— Reminiscences of Dr. Nevins — Tliree Sermons — Diary — Letter to Dr. Reed — 311-313. — 4. Church Troubles. — Tactics — Crisis — Despond- ency— Better counsels — Rights of Assembly — Committee of Ten — Circu- lar and Address — New School scandalized — Presbytery of New Bruns- wick— Paper adopted — Division necessai-y — Conference at Princeton — Another Seminary planned — Division prevented — Letter to Dr. Elliott — 313-319. — 5. Publications and Correspondence. — "Plea for Voluntary So- cieties"— Letter to N. Y. Observer — Extracts — Letters to Mr. Nettleton — Meeting at Princeton — Life of Jonathan Edwards — Extract from Dr. Sprague— 319-324.— 306-324. CHAPTER THIRTY-FIFTH. 1837, 1838. Church Reform. — 1. The General Assembly of 1837. — Old School Convention — Influence of Princeton — Old School and New — Taylorism exposed — Preparatory Convention — Testimony and Memorial — Old School majority — Plan of Union abrogated — Peaceable division attempted — Synod of Western Reserve exscinded — Reasons — Constitution and Measures of this Synod — Synods of Utica, Geneva, and Genesee dis- owned— Modified reasons — Further measures — Circular by Dr. M. — Letter from Dr. R. J. Breckinridge — 325-332. — 2. After the Assembh/. — Approval of Reform — Extract from Dr. Sprague — Presbytery of New Brunswick — Letter to Dr. Sprague — Thirst for power — Letter to Watch- man of the South — To Mrs. Wales — Sermon : Dangers of R. Catholic education — Review in Repertory — 332-335. — 3. Foreign Missions. — Board of F. M. — Dr. M. chosen President — Letter to Mr. Lowrie — To Dr. Green — Sermori before the Board- — Extract — Rejoicing — 385-338. — 4, The General Assembly 0/1838. — New School plans — Old School majo- rity— Majority proceeding — Minority proceeding — Rule of organization — Preliminary meetings — Assembling in Seventh Church — Opening scenes — Mr. Cleveland's paper — Change of base — Another organization — Decorum — De minimis non curat lex — Concealment — After thoughts and claims — New School minute and testimony — Dr. M. a witness — Conflict ended— 338-347.— 325-347. CONTEXTS. ix CHAPTER THIRTY-SIXTH. 1838, 1839. Chequered Scenes. — 1. Death of Mrs. Breckinridge. — Last years — Letter from Dr. Alexander — Delicate bealth — Illness — Varions resorts — Letterto Mrs. B. — Death — Funeral — Dr, Alexander's Sermon — Memorial — Letters of a Grandfather — Diary — o48-o52. — 2. Fuhlications. — " Micae Ecclesiastics " — Extract — Repertory — Extracts — 352-ooG. — 3. Corre- spondence and Diary. — Letter to Judge Nisbet — To Dr. Elliott — Centenary of Presbytery of New Brunswick — Sermon — Diary — Letter to Son — To Mr. Ledyard — Presbyterian Chvirch case — Verdict aiXisi Prius — Letters from Mr. Sergeant — Verdict set aside by Court in bank — Letters to son — oo6— 362. — 4. Baptisms a7id Funerals. — Letter to Mr. English — To Mr. Huntington — To Mr. Monteith — Romish baptisms — 3G2-3G7. — 5. Cor- respondence and Diary. — Letter to Am. Board : Resignation — To Dr. Nettleton— Diary— Letters to Son— 307-370.— 348-370. CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVENTH. 1839. General Characteristics. — 1. Dr. Carnahan''s Reminiscences. — 371- 377. — 2. Dr. Cox's Reminiscences. — o77-38L — 3. Judye FiehVs Reminis- cences.— 381-384.— 4. Miscellaneous Reminiscences. — Dr. Sprague — Person and health — Care of health — Presence of mind — System — Bonus dormitai Ilomerus — Something on the anvil — "Sin, debt and dirt'' — Economy and liberality — Delicacy of honor — Humor — Anecdotes — Scene in Study — Dr. Sprague's general estimate — Symmetry and finish — Not a genius — Guarded toil — Freedom from affectation — Influence without intrigue — No personal enemies — Patience and forbearance — Humility — Extract from Dr. Sprague: Christian attainments — Temper — Extract from Dr. Boardman : Completeness, piety, benevolence — Dr. Miller and Daniel AVebster— 384-397.— 371-397. CHAPTER THIRTY -EIGHTH. 1839. Professional Characteristics. — 1. The Minister of the Gospel. — Office magnified — Love of preaching — Character of preaching — Visits to neighboring churches — Reminiscences of Mr. Blythe — Reading and extemporaneous preaching — Letter to son — Incident from Dr. Hall — Not a popular preacher — Influence in judicatories — Admonishing of faults — Certificates from foreign churches — Catechizing children — Church fairs — Evidence on record — 398-402. — 2. 2'he Professor. — De- partments— Catechisms — Letter to Prof. Cogswell — Eccles. Hist. — Mo- sheim — Translations — Letters to Prof. Cogswell : Ecclesiastical History : Church government — Divine right of Presbyterians— Composition and Delivery of Sermons — Extract from Dr. Halsey — Seminary Conference — 402-410. — 3. Reminiscences of Pupils. — Dr. Prime's — Mr, Blythe's — Mr. Huntting's — Mr, Loomis's — Dr. Ward's — Mr, De Witt's — Other pupils — Forms of speech— 411-410.- 398-410, X CONTENTS. CHAPTER THIRTY-NINTH. 1839-1844. Old Age. — 1. Christian Education. — Presbyterian Board of Publica- tion— Review of Griffin's Sermons — Report on Christian Education — Dr. and Mrs. M.'s zeal for education — Hope for little children — Synod at Wilkesbarre — Adventures — Report on Education — Discussion — Ma- ternal Association — Education of own children — Support of authority — College education — Bar and Counting-room — 417-423. — 2. Correspond- ence and Diary. — Letter to Mr. Gilchrist — To Mrs. Ledyard — Memoir of Dr. Nisbet — Letter from Thomas Sergeant — Diary: Health — Diary: Mercies in his pilgrimage — Diary: Wedding-day — Diary: Birth-day: health : unfruitfulness — Dr. M. as a husband — His respect for the fe- male sex — Letter to Dr. Murray: License and ordination. — 423-429. — 3. Later Episcopal Controversies. — Primitive and Apostolical Order — • Occasion — Ceaseless assaults — Southern Churchman and "Pious Frauds " — Dr. Alexander — Sunday School Union Dictionary — Letter from Dr. Alexander — Dr. M.'s "frauds" — Dr. M.'s letter — Tract on Presbyterianism and the Rev. Dr. Weller — Dr. M.'s reply — Bishoj) Ives and the Banner of the Cross — Calvin a Prelatist — Dr. M.'s letter — His explanation — Continuation of the controversy — Character of charge and specimen of proofs — "Forbearance" of a polemic — Prelatical tactics — Bishop Polk — General Assembly on Confirmation : Facts — Re- commendation of Scott's "Force of Truth" — "Layman's" attack — Dr. Miller's reply — Episcopal Recorder's judgment — Alleged self-con- tradiction concerning the Epistles of Ignatius — Parallel extracts — Character of the Epistles — Reconciliation of Dr. M.'s statements — Garbled quotations — Charge illustrated — 429-443. — 4. Correspondence and Diary. — Mrs. M.'s letter to Son — Letter t^ Mr. Murray — Diary — Letter to Mrs. Ledyard — To Board of Publication — Death of Dr. J. Breckinridge — Diary — Letter to Mr. Delavan — Diary — Letter to Mr. Murray — "Highest authority" — Letter from Mr. Sergeant — Diary — Humility — Plagiarism— Letter to Dr. Hoyt — To Mr. Cassels — Diary — 443-455. — 5. Publications. — Articles in Presbyterian — Sermon to Ruling Elders — Extracts — Letters to Sons in College — Extract — 455-457. — 6. Correspondence and Diary. — Letter to Dr. Plumer — To son — Diary — Letter from Dr. J. W. Alexander — Letter to son — Dr. Van Rensselaer's agency for Seminary — Fortieth Anniversary of X. Y. Hist. Soc. — Letter to Society — Recommendation of Bower's Hist, of Popes — Letter to son — Illness — 457-4U2. — 417-4G2. CHAPTER FORTIETH. Letter-Writixg. — Letter of Admonition — Endorsement — Student's premature marriage — To a pastor involved in controversy — Letter against factious minority in church — Drafts upon strength — Letter to a college instructor against recommending Bulwer's novels — Diary: Letters to young men — Letter to young college graduate: Reasons for writing: Counsels: To continue collegiate studies: To be a public be- nefactor: studying the Bible: Daily prayers: systematic Sabbath reading: Keeping the Sabbath holy — Letter to another graduate: Reasons for writing: Idleness: A profession. — 4G3-472. CONTENTS. xi CHAPTER FORTY-FIRST. 1845-1847. Failing Strength. — Correspondence and Diary. — Diary : Health — New Jersey Historical Society: Formation: Letter to Dr. McLean: Address before the Society: Paper read — Opinion of American Tract Society — Letters on the Monthly Concert — Letter to Son: Pastor not a sojourner — Recommendation of Dr. Janeway's "Internal Evidence " — Letter to Dr. Dickson: Examination of candidates — To Dr. Boardnian : Private communion — Caldwell Monument Address — Letter to Dr. Mur- ray— To Prof. J. Alden : Puritans and Cromwell — Diary : Death of Miss Sergeant — Letter to Mr. Harris: Discipline — Diary: "Wedding-day: Birth-day — Letter to Dr. Lacy: ^loderator's power: Postponement of judicatory — To Directors, for relief — To Mr. Sturges: Congregational practices — Centennial Anniversary of College — Toasts — Letter to son — Reception of Episcopal minister — Correspondence with Chancellor Kent — Letter from Mr. W. Kent — Excursions for health — Letter to son — To daughter — Readiness to assist — Letter to Dr. Tustin: "Spectral H- lusions " — LL. D. — Diary: Eulogy of Mrs. M. — Diary: Health — Resig- nation of Professorship — Withdrawn : Letter to son — To Dr. T. L. Jane- way.— 473-500. CHAPTER FORTY-SECOND. 1848, 1849. Labour and Sorrow. — 1. In Weakness, yet Toiling. — Decline — Diary — Labours — Clericus, on Dancing — Letter to Mr. White — Reminiscences of Dr. Green — Extract — Diary: Harmony among professors — 501-503. — 2. The Last of Authorship. — "Thoughts on Public Prayer" — Bishop Hobart and the Presbyterian Directory : Preaching and Prayer — Dr. M.'s Opinion: Extract — Devotional Composition — Reminiscences of prayers — C. J. Kirkpatrick — Forms of reverence — Estimates of Dr. M. as an author: Dr. Halsey: Dr. Boardman : Dr. Sprague : Dr. J.W.Al- exander— Grammar and Rhetoric — Manner of Writing — 503-510. — 3. Diary and Correspondence. — Labour to the last — Diary — Letter to son — To Cincinnati "Society of Inquiry " — To association of ladies: Boards and voluntary societies — 510-512 — 4. The Aged Colleagues. — Letter to Dr. Boardman — Indebtedness to colleagues — From Dr. Boardman — Ex- tract from Life of Dr. Alexander — Confirmation of it — Another Extract — Dr. M.'s views of " Begging "' — 512-515. — 5. Resignation. — Letter to Di- rectors— To Dr. Dana — To son — Part of Salary returned— ^Resolutions of General Assembly — Letter to Dr. Plumer — 515-518. — G. 3Iiscellaneous Topics. — Formula for adult baptism — Bounty of the Church — Infirmi- ties— End of toil approaching — Ebbing tide — Exercise — Centenary of University of Pennsylvania — Letter to committee — To niece — 518-523. — 7. The Last Sermon. — Dutch Neck — Mr. Ely's account — Letter to son — 523-525. — 8. Last Labours Abroad and at Home. — Action of Directors about salary — Last lectures — Last call — Family gathering — Last coun- sels— Letter to Alumni of University of Pennsylvania — Toasts — 525- 529.— 501-529. Xll CONTENTS. CHAPTER FORTY-THIRD. 1849, 1850-1861. The Last of Earth. — 1. Nxinc Dimittis. — Dr. Murray's last interview — Dr. J, W. Alexander's inauguration — Interview with Dr. M. — Extract from inaugural discourse — Dr. Sprague's last interview — Dr. J. W. Alexander to Dr. Hall — Margaret E. Breckinridge — Resignation of College Trusteeship — Letter lo Trustees — Nothing to do but to die — 530-538. — 2. Death Bed. — Awaking out of sleep — "Not my mantle!" — Dr. A. Alexander's last visit — The end — Notices of his death from Dr. J. VV. and Dr. A. Alexander — 538-541. — 3. In Memoriam. — Dr. Hodge's remark — Minute of Presbytery of Philadelphia — Funeral — Account by Irenteus — Extract from Dr. Sprague — From J. AV. Alexander — From Dr. Alexander's funeral sermon — Letter from Dr. Cox — From Dr. Woods — Commemorative discourses by Dr. Sprague and Dr. Boardman — Resolutions of Presbytery of New Brunswick, of N. Y. Hist. Society, and Am. Whig Society — Of the General Assembly — Extract from Sy- nod's narrative — Will — Extract from Dr. Hodge — Fiftieth anniversary of Seminary — Dr. Sprague's discourse — Resolution of Alumni — Epitaph — 541-548. — Last Years of 3Irs. Miller. — Her Death. — Sorrowful yet re- joicing— Death of Hon. John Sergeant — Decline — Death — Funeral — 549, 550.— 530-550. LIFE OF SAMUEL MILLER, D.D., LL.D. FA.IIT THIRD. PRINCETON. 1813-1850. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOURTH. FIRST YEARS IN THE PROFESSORSHIP. 1813-1820. 1. New Scenes and Duties. One of the most interesting portions of Dr. Miller's diary is that in which he records his removal to Princeton, and his resolutions upon entering on his duties as profes- sor in the Seminary. A large part of the subsequent history of his life was but a development of the ideas of this paper ; which, when first it fell under the eyes of sur- vivors, seemed rather to recount, than to anticipate, thirty six years of academical labor. 'December 3d, 1813. This day I arrived in Princeton, to enter on the discharge of my duties, as Professor of Ecclesias- tical History and Church Government in the Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church in the United States. * * 'I feel that, in coming hither, I am entering on a most weighty and important charge. At this solemn juncture I OL. II.— 2. 9 10 FIRST YEARS IN THE PROFESSORSHIP. [CII. 24. 1. have adopted the following Resolutions, which I pray that I may have grace given me fiaithfiilly to keep. * I. Resolved, that I will endeavor hereafter, by God's help, to remember more deeply and solemnly than I have ever yet done, that I am not my oim, but Christ's servant ; and, of course, bound to seek, not my own things, but the things which are Jesus Christ's. ' II. Resolved, that I will endeavor, by the grace of God, to set such an example before the candidates for the ministry committed to my care, as shall convince them, that, though I esteem theological knowledge and all its auxiliary branches of science very highly, 1 esteem genuine and deep piety as a still more vital and important qualification. 'III. Resolved, that I will endeavor, by the grace, of God, so to conduct myself toward my colleague in the seminary, as never to give the least reasonable ground of offence. It shall be my aim, by divine help, ever to treat him with the most scrupulous respect and delicacy, and never to wound his feel- ings, if I know how to avoid it. ' IV. And, whereas, during my residence in IS ew York, a very painful part of my trouble arose from disagreement and collision with a colleague, I desire to set a double guard on myself in regard to this point. Resolved, therefore, that, by the grace of God, while I will carefully avoid giving offence to my colleague, I will, in no case, take offhice at his treatment of me. I have come hither resolving, that whatever may he the sacrifice of my ^^ersonal /eeZm^s— ^.whatever may be the conse- quence— I will not take offence, unless I am called upon to re- linquish truth or duty. I not only will never, the Lord help- ing me, indulge a jealous, envious, or suspicious temper toward him ; but I will, in oio case, allovf myself to be wounded by any slight, or appearance of disrespect I will give up all my own claims, rather than let the cause of Christ suffer by ani- mosity or contest. What am I, that I should prefer my own honor or exaltation to the cause of my blessed Master ? ' V. Resolved, that, by the grace of God, I will not merge my ofHce as a minister of the Gospel, in that of professor. I will still preach as often as my Master gives me opportunity and strength. I am persuaded that no minister of the Gospel, to whatever office he may be called, ought to give up preach- ing. He owes it to his ordination vows, to his office, to his Master, to the Church of God, to his own character, to the benefit of his own soul, to go on preaching to his last hour. Lord, give me grace to act on this principle ! . ' VI. Resolved, that, as indulgence in jesting and levity is 1813.] XEW SCENES AND DUTIES. 11 one of my besetting sins, I will endeavor, by the grace of God, to set a double guard on this point. The example of a profes- sor before a body of theological students, in regard to such a matter, is all important. ' YII. Where so many clergymen are collected in one village, clerical character is apt to become cheap ; and it seems to me, that a peculiar guard ought to be set, by each one, to prevent this, by a careful, dignified, and sacredly holy example. Resolved, that I will endeavor, by the grace of God, to exercise special and prayerful attention to this matter. In anotlier connexion, and long afterwards, Dr. Miller wrote, 'On coming to Princeton, in 1813, I resolved to begin a new course in regard to Politics. I determined to do and say as little on the subject as could be deemed consistent with the character of a good citizen : — to attend no political meetings ; to write no political jDaragraphs ; to avoid talking on the sub- ject much either in public or private ; to do little more than to go quietly and silently to the polls, deposit my vote, and with- draw; and, in the pulpit, never to allow myself, either in prayer or preaching, to utter a syllable from which it might be conjectured on which side of the party politics of the day I stood. True, indeed, on great national questions, such as arose at the commencement of our Revolutionary War, the clergy ought publicly and openly to take a side, as they generally did on that occasion — the Presbyterian clergy almost unanimously on the side of the Colonies. Still, I have no doubt that, even then, many of the ministers devoted themselves to Politics, both in the pulpit and out of it, to an extent, and in a manner, which were by no means dictated by the soundest evangelical wisdom.' Dr. Miller's uniform attention to the duty of voting has been already mentioned. To the close of his life he always, when it was possible, appeared seasonably at the polls, which he approached scarcely looking to the right hand or to the left, called out clearly and emphatically his own name — ' Samuel Miller' — though everybody knew it, de- posited his ballot, and then, in the same way, Avith seldom another word, or at most only a quiet salutation to ac- quaintances, retired from the scene. lie certainly never lost respect or influence, as either a man or a Christian minister, by this course: on the contrary, when, in after life, his familiar form and features, his head venerable with 12 FIRST YEARS IX THE PROFESSORSHIP, [cil. 24. 1. earlj and later frosts, was seen approaching, the crowd, however excited, kindly opened the way for him, and testi- fied, by at least a momentary hushed stillness, that his Christian patriotism and conscientiousness were never doubted. He was decidedly and consistently, as long as the writer can remember him, what would now be called "an old-line Whig." Writing to the Rev. James Richards,^ December 27th, after speaking of the journey to Princeton — in a heavy stage as far as New Brunswick ; thence, on account of the bad roads, in a lighter vehicle, with a supplemental farm wagon for the weightier baggage — Dr. Miller says, ' Our accommodations here are full as comfortable as we expected, and even more so. And I have also the happiness to add, that the aspect of our seminary is more favorable than I calculated to find it, when I left New York. ' I am glad to hear of the exertions of your pious ladies. We stand in need of all the aid we can obtain ; and I cannot but hope, that the great Head of the Church has much mercy in store for us, and that he will put it into the hearts of his people to give our institution ample support. Unless, however, more numerous, active, and efficient friends are raised up than have hitherto appeared, it must languish. ' * * I know it will give you pleasure to be told that the most perfect harmony and cordiality reign between him [Dr. Alexander] and myself; that the number of our pupils is twenty-four ; that they generally discover an excellent spirit ; that my health is gradually improving ; that my labors here prove more pleasant than I had ventured to anticipate ; that my Sarah seems happy in Princeton; and that the general aspect of things is promising.' To aid the Seminary, and the great cause of ministerial education, for the promotion of which it had been estab- lished, societies were formed, especially by females, in many parts of the Church. Some of these were designed simply to raise money, by stated contributions from the members and otherwise, for the institution itself; others to raise money in like manner to support wholly, or in part, indi- vidual needy students ; others to provide clothing for the same class. Altogether, these societies performed, espe- cially during the infant years of the Seminary, and its 1 D.D. from 1815. See 4 Spragnc's Annals, 99. 1813.] NEW SCENES AND DUTIES. 13 earlier strugo;les, a most important work. Many Toung men were, humanly speaking, brought into the ministry, by such comparatively humble efforts ; and the faith, and prayer, and zeal which these very efforts engendered were of incalculable benefit to the Church. Dr. Miller had rented a dwelling in Princeton, with the design of going at once to house-keeping ; but, for various reasons, he engaged board and lodging, upon his arrival, with Mrs. Ten Eyck, at the north-eastern extreme of the village, and remained with her until some time in the ensu- ing spring. Then he took possession of the rented house, which stood on the site of one yet standing, afterwards erected and occupied by Robert Voorhees, Esquire. But very soon he determined, if indeed he had not decided pre- viously, to build a dwelling for himself. A written con- tract for its erection was duly executed on the 6th of July, 1814. This instrument, still extant in Dr. Miller's hand- writing, was not more precise than a theological professor might be expected to make it ; and although the contractor was to forfeit five hundred dollars, unless the house were completed by the first of April, 1815, the usual expedient of "extras" enabled him to extend the time, elude the penalty, and add a considerable amount to the stipulated cost. It seems to have required a new roof, within a year, or thereabout ! Dr. Alexander's residence, the house subsequently occu- pied by Francis Janvier, Esquire, was nearly opposite to Dr. Miller's new dwelling, which was the first building erected in connection with the Theological Seminary. The main edifice of the institution, one hundred and fifty feet in length, fifty in breadth, and four stories high, designed for recitation and library rooms, students' lodging rooms, a refectory, and apartments for the steward's family, was the next erection, and was not ready for occupation until the autumn of 1817, when about half of its interior was finished. Until this time, the professor's studies had been the recitation rooms ; the students had found board and lodging where they could ; and instructors and pupils had been brought into a very close and profitable intimacy, Meanwhile the latter had gradually increased in number to about thirty. 14 FIRST YEARS IN THE PROFESSORSHIP. [CH. 24. 2. On the 26th of September, 1815, when the corner-stone of the Seminary edifice was laid, at five o'clock in the after- noon, the trustees of the College, who happened to be as- sembled for business, and were invited to witness the cere- mony, went in procession to the place. Dr. Miller, as we have seen, was ever warmly attached to his native State ; yet, when settled in New York, and expecting there to spend his life, he became, in feeling and interest, a thorough New Yorker ; even proposing, as a favorite literary project, to write a history of the State of his adoption. So too, on removing to Princeton, his new citizenship sat so naturally upon him, that no one would have supposed he was not a Jerseyman by birth. For the interests of New Jersey he felt as lively a concern, as he could well have felt for those of Delaware or New York. This was owing to the continued freshness and ever ready flow of his affections ; prompting him to enter everywhere into the proper feelings of the place, the occasion, and the circumstances ; and to his habit of regarding the whole Union as his countrv, and State lines as of subordinate im- portance. To theories of State rights and emotions of State pride he seldom gave much countenance. If Dela- wareans and Jerseymen may be thought to be little tempted in this respect, they have, at least, the greater reason to be thankful for rot having been led into temptation, and for being freer, on that account, than some others, to cul- tivate an enlightened feeling of cosmopolitanism, and that love for the whole country, which should -be nurtured and strengthened, not restricted and weakened, by State love. Just as home should be the training place, not the whole and ultimate, or even the chief, field of natural affection ; so the State should be the school, not the theatre, of patriotism. 2. Dr. Alexander and Dr. Miller. Speaking of the Divine Spirit's influence in the estab- lishment of the Theological Seminary, Dr. Boardman says, "His benign agency is especially to be recognized in the se- lection of the original Professors. Upon them would depend mainly, under Providence, not only the character of this Semi- narv, but the character of future Seminaries to be established 1813.] DR. ALEXANDER AND DR. MILLER. 15 in other parts of the Church, and, indeed, the character of our entire ministry as a body. Our Church can never be suffi- ciently grateful^ to God, that he so ordered events as to place the Institution in the hands of two men who were preeminently qualified for this very responsible trust ; nor have we less cause for gratitude in the remarkable fact that they were spared to administer its affairs for so many years."^ The biographer of Dr. Alexander says, "Dr. Miller brought with him a high reputation as a preacher, an author, and a Christian gentleman. He was about three years^ older than his colleague, being accordingly in his prime of mental and bodily vigour. His name was widely known from his " Retrospeci of the Eighteenth Century," and more re- cently from his defence of presbytery against the attacks of Doctors Hobart and Bowdeu. For many years he had main- tained his post, with honour and esteem, in the First Presbyte- rian Church of New York. * ^^ "In many particulai^s they [Dr. Alexander and Dr. Miller] were dissimilar ; iudeed two men of genuine piety could scarcely be found more unlike. Dr. Miller came from the training of city life, and from an eminently polished and literary circle. Of fine person and courtly manners, he set a high value on all that makes society dignified and attractive. He was preemi- nently a man of system and method, governing himself, even in the minutest particulars, by exact rule. His daily exercise was measured to the moment ; and for half a century he wrote standing. He was a gentleman of the old school, though as easy as he was noble in his bearing ; full of conversation, bril- liant in company, rich in anecdote and universally admired. As a preacher he was clear without brilliancy, accustomed to laborious and critical preparation, relying little on the excite- ment of the occasion, but rapid with his pen, and gifted with a tenacious memory and a strong, sonorous voice; always in- structive, always calm, always accurate. "His colleague had received a lasting impress, in manners and labours, from a very different class of influences.^ The in- ward principle of delicacy and refinement, the soul of true po- liteness, we think we may assert, was within him in high mea- sure. Perhaps no man ever more respected the feelings of 1 Tribute to the Memory of Dr. Miller, 12, 13. 2 Not quite two and a half, having been born the Kth of April, 1T72. •'Dr. Alexander had been settled between five and six years only in Phila- delphia, Dr. Miller about twenty in New York ; but probably the habits, man- ners and general mould of both, as in regard to the latter has been before sug- gested, had been in a great measure formed euduringly, before their city pasto- rates onmmenced. 16- FIRST YEARS IN THE PROFESSOllSHIP. [CH. 24. 2. others. But he was not a man of rules. Eminent natural simplicity was his characteristic. If this led him to be careless or abrupt, at any time, he cared not for the inelegance, even when he grieved over any occasional offence. His studies and his way of life were singularly free from all constraint and plan. ^. * Never did he seem more at a loss than when called upon to lay down regulations for the hours, the employments, or the behaviour of others. Perfect liberty, as to time, pursuits, and even bodily movements, was almost his passion. * ^ In the pulpit, he was most himself when he was most truly extem- poraneous ; which perhaps was in the mind of the learned Chief Justice Kirkpatrick, when he said, with a jocose eulogy, "Dr. Alexander is the prince of Methodist preachers.""^ After Dr. Alexander had been but a few months in Princeton, he instituted, for the Seminary students and all who chose to attend, a Sabbath evening service at his own house, though soon, for want of room there, he was obliged to transfer it to an apartment in one of the College edifices. Of this service Mrs. Miller has left the following reminis- cences : — ' One of the most interesting positions in which Dr. Alexan- der s presented to my memory is that in which he frequently appeared, when I was first a resident in Princeton, in 1813-14, and when he had been there himself only a few months. The church may be said to have been in his house. '^ * a stagnant spirit rested upon even professors of religion. With all the embarrassments of a new situation, he began a little weekly meeting ^ * which, from a few at first, gathered in, from time" to time, numbers sufficient to make it an object of feeling and conversation throughout the village. Few persons were more calculated to do good in such an effort ; * "^^ and from that time, I think, a peculiar religious work began in Princeton, which, though very small in the beginning, evidently grew until we were partakers, pretty largely, in the Sj^irit of revival which had been given, for several years, to various parts of our land. Both the College and the town long felt the influence.' In the services thus described, Dr. Miller, to some ex- tent, assisted his colleague; and though it might have been expected that the duties of his professorship would draw him away from the pulpit, if indeed any pulpit should be open to him, he appears to have preached, for some time after his arrival in Princeton, if not oftener than he did as 1 ]')K .",80, 1, 2, 1813.] BR. ALEXANDER AND DR. MILLER. 17 a pastor in New York, at least quite as often. To the end of life he retained the most striking characteristics of his earlier delivery, though with -a gradual abatement of anima- tion and force ; and he always had frequent opportunities, which he delighted to improve, of preaching the Gospel. Until tlie beginning of the year 1826, the professors of the Seminary, with their families and students, the students occupying the gallery, worshipped in the College Hall, every Sabbath morning, taking turns with the President and professors of the College in conducting the services. Dr. Alexander's service already mentioned, and a service in the village church, divided at first the attendance in the evening ; but, after the lapse of a few years, the former was abandoned, and all attended upon the latter, in which also the professors of the Seminary took a more or less regular part. With the beginning of 1826, a Sabbath morning service was commenced in the Seminary " Orato- ry," the professors preaching in turn, and their families partly attending there, partly in the village church. In 1834, this service was transferred to the new Seminary chapel, where accommodations had been provided for all the families connected with the institution ; and here, thenceforth, all statedly worshipped in the forenooi^. The only organized churches, however, from first to last, were those of the village — originally, and for a long time, the First Presbyterian Church alone ; where, in the evening of the Lord's day, with the temporary exception already ad- verted to, the worshippers from both Seminary and College attended divine service. But to the end, Dr. Miller, with his colleagues, was very frequently called upon to preach out of regular course, both in Princeton and in neighboring churches. Thus, taking at random the year 1835, we find from his 'Record of Preaching,' that he preached sixty- seven times, besides making a number of sacramental, monthly concert, temperance, and other addresses. The first 3^ears of Dr. Miller's life in Princeton present little varied incident, little that is suited to biographical detail. They were years, necessarily, of laborious study in the line of his professorship, and earnest attention to all its new, untried duties. Dr. Boardman remarks, " He had displayed a ripe scholarship, a minute acquaint- 18 FIRST YEARS IN THE PROFESSORSHIP. [CH. 24. 3. ance with the annals of the early Church, and a capacity to vindicate the primitive form of ecclesiastical government, which clearly indicated him as a suitable Professor for the new Institution. He did not disappoint the hopes of the Church. The office to which he was called was one of weighty responsi- bility. The difficulty of meeting its requisitions would be great under the most advantageous circumstances ; but in his case it was materially enhanced by the novelty of his position. No one had preceded him. He was not only to traverse the forest, but to break the path. Even an incompetent precursor would have lightened his task ; but the entire burden of collecting, digesting, and arranging authorities, and framing a curriculum for his department, as well as filling it up, was devolved upon himself. He was without the assistance to be derived from suitable text books — indeed to this day there is no adequate text book in Ecclesia&tical History. Enterhig upon the dis- charge of his duties under these and other serious embarrass- ments, it is impossible to withhold a tribute of admiration for the ability, wisdom, and energy he displayed in the prosecu-- tion of his work."^ Dr. Miller was received into the Presbytery of New Brunswick, upon certificate from that of New York, at Princeton, on the 26.th of April, 1814. • 3. Correspondence. The following letter w^as written to Dr. Green on the 28th of February, 1814:— * Rev'd and dear Brother, * Hearing you say, this morning, that Mrs. Green took some claret with apparent benefit, and being desirous of contributing to her comfort by every means in our power, it has occurred to us that a bottle or two of good quality might not be unacceptable. Happening to have a little of a parcel that was considered sound and excellent, we beg your acceptance of the bottles herewith sent. If they should he found useful, we have two or three more at your disposal. ' I am, my dear Sir, with earnest wishes for the comfort and speedy recovery of Mrs. Green, in which my wife and sister join, ,^ ' Your affectionate brother, ' Sam'l Miller.^ ] *To Col. William Duane, Editor of the Aurora, a warm political newspaper printed in Philadelphia. ' Tribute to the Memary of Dr. Miller, 18, 19. 1815.] CORRESPONDENCE. 19 'Sir, " Princeton, December 26, 1815. ' The design of this letter is to request, that you will cease sending me the Countrij Aurora after the 31st instant. * As my political feelings have been gratified by the perusal of your paper, and would still dispose me to take it ; and as the very handsome manner in which you have lately spoken of my brother-in-law, Mr. John Sergeant, has certainly not been unpleasant to me ; perhaps I owe it both to you and to myself to state my reason for discontinuing my subscription. It is simply and solely this. The cause of '^ Bible Societies " and of "vital religion,'^ which your Gazette has so frequently ridiculed, and so studiously stigmatized, especially for near twelve months past, is a cause very dear to my heart, and very important, in my opinion, to the best interests of mankind. I can no longer consent to encourage a publication, which appears to me hostile to objects worthy of the highest veneration. If it be, as you suggest, that some distinguished individuals, both in Europe and America, who profess to be zealous friends of these objects, give too much reason to suspect that they have other and most detestable designs in view, it is to be deeply lamented ; but I do not know that this ought to render " Bible Societies " or " vital religion " less precious in my eyes. Some of the warmest and ablest advocates of civil and religious liberty, both in our own country and in Europe, appear to me to be unprincipled men. But it never occurred to me that I ought to love the great and good cause which they profess to support, in any de- gree the less on account of their inconsistency. If such men, by their publications, or exertions, become instrumental in pro- moting the prevalence of correct jirinciples or practice, I feel bound to be thankful for their aid, while I abhor or despise their character. 'I write this. Sir, with a mind altogether free from personal animosity. If it should be the means of diminishing your hatred, or if that should remain the same, your jniblic abuse, of institutions very dear to my heart, I shall be cordially grati- fied ; and it will give me real pleasure again to take the Aurora, whenever I can perceive that it may come into my family, without my children being liable to see, in every page of a paper countenanced by their father, those objects, which he professes to love and promote, held up to ridicule and scorn. ' I am, Sir, your obedient servant, \ ' Samuel Miller.' ' P. S. I scarcely need inform you that this letter is intended merely as a jirivate communication.' The real, clearly defensible, and very important princi- 20 FIRST YEARS IN THE PROFESSORSHIP. [CII. 24. 3. pies of the foregoing letter, never more opportune or widely applicable than at present, seem to deserve here particular notice. 1. Whatever a publication may be in political character and principles, if its influence be unfavorable to '' vital religion," Christians should unhesitatingly withdraw from it their patronage. Religious interests are of infinitely higher moment than mere political, or any other interests. All who help to support such a publication are partakers in its sins. 2. Though a man may suppose himself in no danger of contamination and injury from such a source, he cannot be insensible to the danger of his family, and of others, whom his example might lead to become readers of a work hostile to Christianity. 3. A jealous watch must be kept over all the reading of the youth under our control or influence, if we would not have our moral and religious teachings effectually counteracted and nullified ; and over the issues of the periodical press, so numerous, so diffusive, so all penetrating and prevading, so attractive, and so in- sidious often, as they are, should a special jealousy be exercised. 4. The artifice of opposing and ridiculing re- ligion itself, under the pretext of only condemning ^its inconsistent, hypocritical professors and advocates, is too transparent to deceive aught but wilful blindness. With the Rev. John H. Rice,^ of Richmond, Dr. Miller w^as permitted to form an intimacy which he always sin- cerely prized. To this a number of letters, which will be presented in the sequel, bear ample testimony. On the 28th of December, 1815, Dr. Miller wrote to him, * I received your letter of the 23d instant, yesterday, with much pleasure. Not that I was glad of the disagreeable facts which it related ; but it gratified me to find, that I was not forgotten by you. Though I am one of the most miserable cor- respondents in the world, it gives me great and peculiar pleasure to hear from valued friends, and such is the pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Richmond. * The General Assembly, two years ago, appointed me their historiographer, and directed all the materials for the history of our church, which had been collected by their order, to be put into my hands. This, however, has not yet been done ; they are all still in Philadelphia ; so that I have not a single paper or document of the Assembly in my 1 D.D. from 1819. Sec Maxwell's Memoir of Dr. Who, and 4 Sr)ra2uc's Anna!?, 825. 1815.] CORRESPONDENCE. 21 possession, and am not able to help you, in the least degree, on the subject concerning which you write; except by making some general statements, and giving some general assurances, which I am perfectly confident are correct. 'From my life of Dr. Rodgers, (published near three years ago, and which you have probably seen,) you perceive that I have paid some attention to the history of the Presbyterian Church in the United States. From my knowledge of the subject, thus acquired, I feel confident in asserting — 'I. That the Presbyterian Church in the United States has repeatedly been a jyersecuted, but in no single instance, a perse- cuting, sect. They were persecuted in the most distressing manner, in Virginia and New York, (as you learn from my life of Dr. Rodgers,) and in several other states, prior to the Revolution ; but never have they been chargeable with en- croaching on the rights of other denominations, or so much as attempting to bear hard on them. I should feel perfectly con- fident in defying any man or body of men, to produce a single example which had any such aspect. 'II. The Presbyterian Church in the United States is so far from being a sectarian body, that I verily doubt whether there ever was on earth a body of Christians so extensive, and that included so much talent and wealth, that took so little pains to make proselytes, or that was so strangely negligent of all those arts, and cautions, and exertions, by which most other societies have endeavored, and are endeavoring, to build them- selves up. They have, in no instance that I am acquainted with, ever commenced attacks on other denominations; and when ' attacked, have been rather slow and reluctant, than forward, to defend themselves. When they have distributed books, they have, in almost all cases, been of such a general and practical nature, as had no sectarian tendency. In fact the forbearance and liberality of our church, in this respect, has been thought by many of its members to he excessive, and worthyof blame ; and is certainly, as I believe, without a parallel in the history of American churches. 'III. The Presbyterian Church, in this country, has been uniformly friendly to civil and religious liberty. The conduct of their clergy and people, during the Revolutionary contest, is well known and highly honorable to them. And, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the same character has been dis- played by them, under all circumstances, and at all periods, since. Xor has this fact been confined to America. It has been manifested in Geneva and Holland. And Mr. Hume bears decided attestation to it, when he says, that " The precious Vol. II.— 3. 22 FIRST YEARS IN THE PROFESSORSHIP. [CH. 24. 3. sparks of liberty were kindled and preserved by the Puritans in England ; and that to this sect, whose principles appear so frivolous, and whose habits so ridiculous, the English owe the whole freedom of their constitution." * IV. The Presbyterian Church has never manifested the smallest disposition towards an establishment, or any peculiar claims or immunities in its favor. I have never heard of any judicatory of our church, greater or smaller, or of any individual clergyman or member, who has shown any disposition of this kind. And I am perfectly persuaded that no such instance, or anything that looks that way, can be produced. On the con- trary, the Presbyterians were the principal, and the successful, opponents of the introduction of an American Episcopate, on account of its tendency to interfere with religious liberty; (as you will find in my life of Dr. Podgers, pp. 186, etc.;) and they were also the most influential opponents of a religious establishment, which was proposed to be incorporated with the first constitution of South Carolina. * "^ ' In 1816, it was in contemplation to establish, upon the* basis of Dartmouth College, a complete university. The Rev. Thomas C. Searle, an alumnus of the Princeton Seminary, writing to Dr. Miller from ' Dartmouth Univer- sity, August 29,' said, * They have done me the honor to propose an appointment of Professor of Languages. It is, of course, an anxious inquiry with me, w^ho are to be my associates, and who my head. The great object of all the gentlemen now is to find a general Head of the University. Those who are active bave pressed me to do what my own inclination dictated ; viz., to venture a ques- tion, confidentially, to yourself, whether in any circumstances and with any encouragement, you could consent to be the head of this institution, and unite, more than any other could, the hearts of all. That the dearest interests of religion are at stake is already known to you as my poor opinion. That, if properly occupied, this post offers a wide field of commanding influence is on all hands admitted. "^ * It is the uniform wish of all the friends of Dartmouth University, that you should be its head.' To this letter Dr. Miller replied as follows : — 'My dear Sir, Princeton, September 7, 1816. 'Your letter of August 29th reached me on Thursday last. I have heard much of the revolution in Dartmouth University, and, it is scarcely necessary to say, have taken a 181G.] MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS. 23 deep interest in the situation and prospects of a seminary so long dear to the friends of science and religion. ' The intimation which you give me of the wishes entertained by the trustees of this important institution is as unexpected as it is flattering. I shall not attempt to express the sentiments of profound respect and gratitude with which this testimony of confidence has impressed my mind. In such a case, I have always considered reserve as improper ; and shall, therefore, answer the question which you convey to me in the same spirit of direct undisguised frankness with w^iich it is asked. 'When I consented to remove from my pastoral charge in New York to the station which I now occupy, it was under a full conviction, that the office of professor in the Theological Seminary of our Church was better adapted to my particular taste and habits, and would be likely to aftbrd me an opportu- nity of more extensive usefulness, than any other within my knowledge. This is still my undiminished conviction ; and, of course, while this conviction remains, I could not conscien- tiously abandon my present place, for the presidency of any university, or college, in the United States. 'I am, therefore, my dear Sir, after serious and mature de- liberation, constrained to say, that even if the trustees of Dartmouth University were to do me the honor to give me a unanimous and affectionate call to the presidency of that insti- tution, and were to connect with the acceptance of it every emolument and accommodation that heart could wish, I should still deem it most clearly and decisively my duty to decline accepting it. 'While I thus explicitly recpiest, that my name may be removed from the list of candidates for this responsible and honorable place, I pray that the Author of all wisdom may direct the venerable Board of Trustees to a more worthy object of choice ; and render the important seat of science, of which they are the guardians, a richer blessing than ever to our be- loved country and to the Church of God. 'With respectful and grateful salutations to such of the fi-iends of Dartmouth University as may have thought favora- bly of me for its head ; and with the best wishes for your per- sonal welfare and happiness, I am, dear Sir, with great regard, ' Your affectionate friend and brother, 'Rev. Thomas C. Searle. Samuel Miller.' 4. Miscellaneous Topics. In 1816, the Rev. Dr. Thomas Y. How fulfilled the in- tention, announced in his preliminary work of 1808, of 24 FIRST YEARS IN THE PROFESSORSHIP. [CII. 24. 4. examining more thorougly Dr., Miller's Letters on Episco- pacy. As the reason for a temporary abandonment of his plan, he gives the appearance of " so full a refutation" from Dr. Bowden's pen ; and as the reason for resuming it, Dr. Miller's renewal of the " attack ;" by "publishing, in 1811, a sermon on the subject of lay elders ; and, in 1813, a Life of Dr. Rodgers ; both of v/hich contain matter," he adds, " which the sincere Episcopalian must regard, not only as inaccurate in itself, but as very pernicious in its tendency."^ To this work, entitled "A Vindication of the Protestant Episcopal Church," and addressed to Dr. Miller, he made no reply. Indeed, in the close of his second volume of letters,^ he had fully declared his inten- tion to lay down his pen, and give his opponents, if they claimed it, the last word. The General Assembly of 1816 had appointed Drs. Romeyn, Alexander and Miller a committee to revis-e the Forms of Government and Discipline, and the Directory for Worship. In fulfilling this duty, Dr. Miller, though not the chairman, took a very prominent part. In 1819, the committee reported forms which were sent down for revision to the presbyteries. These were to return their suggestions to Dr. Miller, who was authorized to have the necessary number of copies of the report printed. In 1820, a report amended according to the suggestions made, w^as presented to the Assembly; by that body carefully considered and still further amended ; then sent down for final action to the presbyteries, which, by a considerable majority, gave it their approval. The Assembly of 1821 ratified the decision of the presbyteries ; and ordered the printing of the whole constitution thus amended, Avhich has not been since materially altered. Dr. Miller's duties in the Seminary were not so all-ab- sorbing, that he lost his interest in other institutions for the advancement of learning. In 1816, a committee, of which he was chairman, was appointed by the Synod of New York and New Jersey, to consider and report upon an overture for the establishment of an African School, for the education of candidates for the ministry. The school was resolved upon, and a Board of Directors appointed, at ' Vindication, 390. 2 p. 4.31^ 1817.] MISCELLAXEOUS TOPICS. 25 the same sessions. The next year two scholars were re- ported as under tuition with the Rev. John Ford of Par- sippany. Funds had been raised to the amount of $825. The Synod's narrative of religion, in 1818, represents the school, with three pupils, as in a prosperous state, and promising to be eventually a great blessing. In 1819, the number under instruction had increased to seven ; and for several years it was a very important business with Synod to provide for the interests of this institution. The pro- posal to establish the school is said to have come from "that remarkable servant of God, Samuel J. Mills." Negotiations entered into with the Synods of Philadel- phia and Albany, in 1818, designed to secure their coope- ration in the support and management of this school, led to a new outbreak of the Hopkinsian controversy. The formula of subscription, already noticed^ as prescribed for professors in the Theological Seminary, had been, from the first, as too stringent in their estimation, distasteful to those called Hopkinsian s in the Presbyterian Church. The Synod of Philadelphia now proposed that the same formula should be subscribed by every theological teacher in the African School. This was warmly opposed by Dr. Griffin, Dr. Spring and others ; and from the judicatories of the Church, the controversy came out into more public notice through the press. Finally, the Philadelphia proposition was rejected.^ The same party which opposed, thus suc- cessfully, the application of the "New Test," as they called it, to the African School, were considered lukewarm, if not, as some of them undoubtedly were, actually hostile, to the Theological Seminary. This, of course, gave addi- tional importance to the controversy. Early in the year 1817, Dr. Miller sent, with a letter, to the Rev. Thomas McCrie, D.D., of Edinburgh, author of 1 See Vol. L, pp. 856-7. - Indebtedness should here be acknowledged, for a portion of this account of the African School, to the lately published " History of the New School," by the Rev. Samuel J. Baird. D.I). To that work, as also to his "History of the Early Policy of the Presbyterian Churoh in the Training of her Ministry, etc.,'' further reference may hereafter be male. They are very valuable contri- butions to our Church Annals, and, on this account, and for the sake of what may yet be expected, in the same line of investigation, from their accomplished author, it may not be amiss to query, whether he has not fallen somewhat into the "Xew School error" of claiming to judge the heart ; and does not lack .somewhat of that calm impartiality, so essential i i a historian : fntm a mere liiographer not quite so much i- expecte 1. 26 FIRST YEARS IN THE PROFESSORSHIP. [CH. 24. 4. the "Life of JoIid Knox," a copy of the two volumes of his "Letters concerning the Constitution and Order of the Christian Ministry." From L>r. McCrie's acknowledg- ment, the following passages are taken. 'Nothing could have given me greater pleasure than your esteemed letter, with which I w^as favored a few weeks ago. For several years I have desired your correspondence, and would have solicit? d that honor, but from a strong and culpa- ble aversion to letter-writing, which I have suftered myself to contract, which has often led me to suspend my intercourse with those whose friendship I esteem, and, consequently, dis- courages me from forming new intimacies. If there is an indi- vidual across the Atlantic t^ whom I could promise to act a different part, I can sincerely say it is Doctor Miller, provided he shall be so kind as to stimulate my indolent temper by the continuance of his correspondence. ' Accept of my warmest thanks for the valued present of the two volumes of your work on the Episcopal controversy. From w^hat you know of my sentiments and turn of reading, you can scarcely doubt of their giving me great pleasure. The charac- ter which I had heard of them made m,e anxious to possess the work, but the copy which you have sent is the first one I had seen. Urgent engagements have, as yet, prevented me from reading it w^ith care, but I could not refrain from gratifying my curiosity by running through it; and the cursory glance that I have taken at it is sufficient to convince me of its merits. As far as I am yet entitled to judge, it is perspicuous and popular, and, at the same time, accurate and argumentative; and the author has shown himself as superior to his opponents in good temper and good manners, as in extensive acquaintance with the subject. I rejoice that the cause has found so able an ad- vocate. I rejoice that, in America, there are men of talents and piety, so deeply imbued with the Presbyterian spirit, and so thoroughly impressed with a sense of the importance as w^ell as the verity of Presbyterian principles. And I rejoice that a person of this description now fills the important situation of Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Church Government in the Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church in the United States. And I hope that, while he continues to display a candid and a liberal spirit to Christians of a different persua- sion, he will show the same firmness which he has already shewn, in maintaining, both practically and argumentatively, the integrity of the principles of his own church ; and guard those under his care against agreeing rashly to strip themselves of their most lionorable and vahiable di^itinctions, that they 1817.] MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS. 27 may pursue the phantom of an undefined and undefinable Catholicism.' Dr. Miller was a member of the General Assembly of 1817, and took a prominent part in its action, when, for the first time, the "New Divinity," under the name of Hopkinsianism, was arraigned before that body. The Synod of Philadelphia, by resolution, and in its pastoral letter,Miad pointedly condemned "Arian, Socinian, Arrain- ian, and Hopkinsian heresies," and exhorted its presby- teries to take vigorous measures for their exclusion and suppression. Of the committee appointed to examine the Synod's records. Dr. Miller was chairman, and probably drew — beyond doubt approved — the report which was adopted, but was earnestly protested against by twelve members of the Assembly. As to certain parts of the pas- toral letter, and a resolution, "which enjoins on the several presbyteries belonging to the Synod to call to an account all such ministers as may be suspected to embrace any of the opinions usually called Hopkinsian," the Assembly ad- judges, "that while they commend the zeal of the Synod in endeavoring to promote a strict conformity to our public standards, a conformity which can not but be viewed as of vital importance to the purity and prosperity of the church," they "regret that zeal on this subject should be manifested in such a manner as to be offensive to other de- nominations, and especially to introduce a spirit of jealousy and suspicion against ministers in good standing, which is calculated to disturb the peace and harmony of our ecclesi- astical judicatories. And whereas a passage in the pasto- ral letter above referred to appears capable of being construed as expressing an opinioii unfavorable to revivals of religion, the Assembly would only observe, that they cannot believe that that venerable Synod could have in- tended to express such an opinion."- Probably this last sentence was a hypercriticism, but it exemplifies the sen- sitiveness on the subject of revivals, which has marked so many of the controversies that have agitated the Presby- terian Church. That the earlier years of Dr. Miller's professorial labors were years of earnest and almost undivided attention to J See Min. of Gen. Ass. (17S9— 1S20.) C,:,'>. C. - M. C,:>:\. 28 FIRST YEARS IN THE PROFESSORSHIP. [CH. 24. 4. Seminary duties is manifest from the fact that, for so long a time, his strong inclination to authorship was held so completely in check. From the date of his Sketch of his brother Edward's life, until 1820, — about six years, — he published literally nothing but a brief Sketch of the Theo- logical Seminary;^ and, excepting his "Letters on Unita- rianism," and "Letters on the Eternal Sonship of Christ," which were in a manner forced from him in 1821 and 1822, he gave to the press only a few sermons and lectures, with a pamphlet "Letter to a Gentleman of Baltimore," before 1827, when his "Letters on Clerical Manners and Habits" appeared. In almost any circumstances, the duties of a professor's chair must, at the outset, be very burdensome ; but they were particularly so, as already suggested, in the state of theological literature at that time, and for the pioneers of theological seminary training in the Presbyte- rian Church of this country. Dr. Miller's sister, Mrs. McLane, died on the 29th of October, 1817, and was committed to the grave in Phila- delphia. Soon after his return from the funeral, we find him writing to his niece, Miss Patten, 'You can readily imagine some of the reflections which must have oc- cupied my mind with the remembrance, that I was the last survivor of my father's children.' 'It seems to me as if another barrier were taken away between me and the grave; and as if I were approaching that narrow house with, more rapidity than -ever.' Colonel McLane had died about four years previously — on the 29th of August, 1813. Dr. Miller's concern for the welfare of the Colleore was scarcely less than for that of the Seminary; and as the aftairs of the former were almost as much under his eye, yet not so much under his control, as those of the latter,, it was extremely difficult to be at once faithful and delicately reserved in fulfiUinn- the duties of a Collesie trustee and of a friend to Dr. Green. The latter, in his diary, on the 10th ^ "Sketch of the Rise, Progress and Present State of the Theological Semi- nai\Y of the Presbyterian Church in the United States. To which is sub- joined a Copy of the Constitution of the Seminary. Published by order of the Board of Directors, 1817.'' — 8vo. Pp. 19. An enlarged edition was published in 1838 — "A Brief History of the Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church, at Princeton, New Jersey ; together with its Constitution, By-Laws, etc." — 8vo. Pp. 45. — This History was republisheJ in the 10th volume of the Am. Quarterly Regi'^ter, pp. ."^1, etc. 1818.] REMINISCENCES. 29 of August, 1818, says, "Dr. Miller made a communication to me in reojard to the state of the College which alarmed and affected me mnch."^ Dr. Green also mentions, without fixing any date, that "there was an agreement with the professors and students of the Seminary to pray daily, at eight o'clock in the evening, not only for * * a revival with us, but for a similar one in all the colleges of our country."- 5. Reminiscences. The Rev. William B. Sprague, D.D., so long pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of Albany, kindly pre- pared, after Dr. Miller's death, the following reminiscences. One of the earlier students of the Seminary, having been matriculated in 1816, he was upon terms of particular in- timacy with the professors ; Dr. Miller followed him in his subsequent settlements and labors with affectionate interest ; with very few of the alumni did he keep up so frequent a correspondence as with him ; and certainly none of them manifested a kinder appreciation of Dr. Miller than he — did more to honor him while he lived, or has done more to honor him since his death. ^My dear Sir, Albany, March 1, 1853. 'I could scarcely have been asked to perform a service in which I should have engaged with more alacrity, than in writing out my recollections of the lamented Dr. Miller. Not that these recollections are more extended than those of many of his other pupils, or that I had better opportu- nities than many others for observing his character ; but I am sure that I yield to no one of them in affectionate rev- erence for him, or in the desire to honour his memory. From the first interview I had with him to the last hour of his life, I always felt that he was my friend ; and I came, at lenojth, to regard him as a friend whose head and heart I could trust with as little reserve as I ever felt in respect to any human being. Dr. Miller must, I think, have taken rank, at a very early period, among the most distinguished clergymen of his denomination, or indeed of any other, in this country, ^ Life of Dr. Green. 418. a Life. 431. 30 FIRST YEARS IN THE PROFESSORSHIP. [CH. 24. O. Though I was brought up in a retired village in the heart of Connecticut, where, in my childhood, I used to know little that was passing beyond our own neighborhood, yet I scarcely remember the time, when Dr. Miller's name was not familiar to me, or when I was not accustomed to asso- ciate with it everything good and venerable. I distinctly recollect that when Dr. Griffin was to be installed in Park street church, Boston, in 1811, it was currently reported that Dr. Miller was to preach the sermon — a circumstance which was expected to give great additional interest to the occasion ; and there was a general disappointment felt, when it was ascertained that he could not be there. The first time I saw him was in the pulpit of Wall street church, a few weeks before he resigned his charge to go to Prince- ton. I was then a member of the Sophomore class in Yale College, and had gone down to New York, with a view, specially, to pass the Sabbath, and listen to some of the distinguished preachers of the city. Having heard Dr. Mason in the morning, I went to hear Dr. Miller at three in the afternoon ; and the moment I saw him, he struck me as quite a model of a man in his external appearance. When he began to speak there was something so calm and dignified, so bland, and gentle, and persuasive in his whole manner, that I was quite charmed with him ; and the ser- vice throughout was of such a character as not only to justify, but greatly to confirm, my first impressions. It was a beautiful sermon that he preached — perhaps I may say, one of his most striking sermons ; for I well remem- ber that when I heard him preach the same several years after in the church at Princeton, it had lost none of its in- terest with me from the repetition. ' The greater part of the year that succeeded my gradua- tion in 1815, I spent in the neighborhood of Alexandria,. Virginia, where I became intimately acquainted with that venerable old model of Christian simplicity and goodness, Dr. Muir.^ He knew Dr. Miller intimately, and no man seemed to stand higher than he in his regards ; and when I was about to return to New England, as I expected to pass through Princeton, Dr. Muir gave me a letter whicli was designed to procure for me the privilege of Dr. Miller's ^3 Sprague's Annals, 516, 1818.] REMINISCENCES. 31 acquaintance. It turned out that I was unable to stop at Princeton, and, of course, did not then deliver my letter ; but I had another letter to Dr. Romejn of New York, which I did deliver, and which was instrumental of determininor me to return to Princeton, to prosecute my theological studies. It was at the close of the fall vacation in 1816, that I joined the Seminary, and that my acquaintance with Dr. Miller commenced. On the morning of the first day of the ses- sion, I called at his study to deliver my introductory let- ters, (for I had one from Dr. Romeyn as well as from Dr. Muir,) and I can never forget the courteous and yet win- ning and affectionate manner with which he received me. He was evidently very much pressed with engagements, but he laid aside everything and sat down and conversed with me, as if he had nothing else to do ; and so much was I impressed by his urbanity and the interest which he mani- fested in my welfare, that I left the room congratulating myself more than ever, that the question, at what seminary I should pursue my theological studies, had been decided in favor of Princeton. 'As my acquaintance with Dr. Miller increased, my re- spect and affection for him increased also. The first point at which he came in contact with us officially was in the recitation room. As the Seminary was then in its infancy, I think my class did not consist originally of more than ten or twelve ; and when he came to hear our recitations, he seemed like a father sitting in the midst of his family. As his instructions at that time were somewhat elementary, our recitations cost him no more effort than the readinn- of the Bible in his family devotions would have done; and yet he always seemed to have everything at hand that would illustrate, in any degree, the subject before us ; and we all felt that we were in no danger of meeting with difficulties which he was not abundantly able to solve. His questions were always put with great directness and clearness, and were generally such as we ought to have been able to an- swer ; but when, as sometimes happened, there was, on the part of the student, hesitation or perhaps absolute ignorance, the Doctor would always manifest the most considerate re- gard for his feelings, by giving the question a different turn, or perhaps asking another, or else by making some 32 FIRST YEARS IN THE PROFESSORSHIP. [CII. 24. 5. explanation that would suggest the appropriate answer. It happened to our class, as I suppose to most others, that we were not all equally bright ; and it was pretty clear that Dr. Miller was himself bright enough to make this discovery; for I think he generally took care to put the heaviest bur- dens on those who were best able to bear them. 'A large part of the instruction which Dr. Miller com- municated to us was, of course, by lectures. And here I always considered him admirable. I cannot say, that he had any great vivacity of manner, or that he was given to saying brilliant and startling things, which would be re- membered and talked about afterwards ; but his lectures were i^markable for exhibiting a full, clear and perfectly logical view of his subject. He had none of that miserable affectation of originality, which prefers a doubtful path to a beaten one, and which is never satisfied unless it is follow- ing some ignis fatuus, or gazing at a sky rocket. There was such perfect continuity of thought in his lectures, whether he read them or delivered them extemporaneously, and withal, his utterance was so distinct and deliberate, that it required nothing more than an ordinary memory, especially if assisted by brief notes, to retain a large part of what it would take him an hour to deliver. ' I have already intimated that my first impressions were greatly in favor of Dr. Miller as a preacher ; and I never liked him less after his preaching became familiar to me. He used, in my day, to preach every third morning in the College Hall ; and then he generally, though not uniform- ly, had his discourse lying before him. He preached alter- nately with Dr. Alexander, on Sabbath evening, in the village church; when he either extemporized or preached memoriter, or, as I should rather think, more commonly uni- ted the two modes. I believe we generally listened to him with more pleasure when he read his sermon ; for the style was always a little more perfect ; and he read so admirably, that if one's eyes had been turned away from him, he would hardly have suspected that he had been reading at all. His voice was not powerful, nor susceptible of very varied intonations ; but it was exceedingly bland and agreeable ; his gesture was not abundant, but it was always correct and sometimes highly impressive ; his attitudes were 1818.] REMINISCENCES. 33 manly and dignified ; and there was a devout and rever- ential air pervading his whole manner, that was altogether befitting the solemnities of religious worship. There was nothing that could be called specially imposing in his gen- eral style of delivery ; and yet 1 have heard him utter single sentences with as much effect as almost any other man. I remember, for instance, in a New Year's se'rmon on the text, " How old art thou ?" he related the anecdote of the Roman Emperor, reckoning with himself every evenino- in regard to the manner in which he had spent the preceding day; and who, when on one occasion he found that the day had very much gone to waste, cried cut with bitter re- gret, " Oh, I have lost a day ! " That exclamation, as he uttered it, vibrates upon my ear to this hour. I doubt whether Kean could have pronounced it more effectively. 'It is not necessary that I should say much of the gen- eral character of Dr. Miller's sermons, as so many of them have been published, that multitudes, who have never heard him preach, have still had the opportunity of judging of his mode of sermonizing. It always seemed to me, that he was one of the safest and best models in this respect that I have known. His sermons, like his lectures, were thorough- ly methodical ; they had a beginning, a middle, and an end ; and the attentive hearer, after listeninn; to one of them, would find that the substance of it was lodged in his memory, as material, if he were disposed thus to appropriate it, for devout meditation. I think there was no great originality in his sermons, especially those which were written out and read ; they had not generally the appearance of being greatly elaborated; much less was there anything in them that approached to philosophical abstraction; but they were sober, practical, well considered exhibitions of divine truth ; they were evidently the productions of a workman that needed not to be ashamed. A few of his discourses, however, made a much stronger impression upon me than the rest, particularly one on the doctrine of the Resurrec- tion. I thought at the time, and still think, that I never heard that glorious subject treated in a more edifying and eloquent manner, than it was treated in that discourse. I recollect, some time after I left the Seminary, falling in with Governor Robinson of Vermont, and he mentioned Vol. II.— 1. 34 FIRST YEARS IN THE PROFESSORSHIP. [CH. 24. 5. that he once heard Dr. Miller preach that sermon before Congress, and that it was listened to bj the members with great attention and admiration. ' One of the most noticeable things in this venerable man, pertaining to his connection with the Seminary, was the affectionate and paternal solicitude Avhich he evinced for the welfare of the students. At the Sabbath afternoon conference which was held in the oratory, he was very regular and punctual in his attendp.nce; and it was there especially that he met us with a father's counsels, and brought out to us the ample treasures of his own Christian experience. He was accustomed also to converse much with the students in private in regard to their spiritual in- terests, and especially when there were any difficulties to be removed, or any wounded spirits to be administered to. In a case of dangerous illness, he would visit the room of the invalid with almost as much apparent interest, as if he ^ had been visiting, in similar circumstances, the chamber of his own son. An instance of his very kind and considerate regard, of which I was myself the subject, now occurs to me. I had been quite ill for several weeks, and, hj ad- vice of the Professors, had determined to pay a visit to my friends in New En^^land. Just as I was on the eve of commencing my journey, Dr. Miller sent me a bottle of very old wine, accompanied with a kind note, in which he expressed great concern for my health, and a wish that the wine might strengthen me to endure the fatigue of travel- ling. 1 do not know, whether, with the more stringent views of temperance which he subsequently held, he would have sent me urine; but I am quite sure that he would not have been unmindful of me, and that he would have sent me anything within his reach, which he had supposed would minister to my comfort. ' I always thought that Dr. Miller's social qualities were of the highest order. He talked a good deal; but nobody, I imagine, ever felt that he talked too much. His exten- sive and varied information, his large fund of amusing anec- dote, his easy and flowing style of speaking, and his perfectly urbane and courteous manner, could not but ren- der him a favorite in every circle into which he was thrown. He would not hesitate to reprove one for his faults; but 1818.] REMINISCENCES. 35 he did it with such manifest Christian sincerity and gentle- ness, that the reproof coukl scarcely fail to endear him to the offender. He had sometimes an inimitable wav of hit- ting off the character of an individual in a few words, each word indicating a distinct characteristic. I remember, for instance, when I was about to leave the Seminary, to preach as a candidate for settlement at West Springfield, I asked him what sort of a man Dr. Lathrop was — then the aged pastor of the West Springfield church. He gave me his character in about six words; and as it subsequently opened upon me from an acquaintance with him, I found him to be precisely as Dr. Miller had represented. Dr. Miller had passed a few days with the old gentleman a num- ber of years before, and had left a most agreeable impres- sion upon him; which I found was not altogether without its advantage to me, as I carried Dr. Lathrop a letter from Dr. Miller, which he highly appreciated, and was fully dis- posed to honour. 'I cannot forbear here to add, that I have had evidence that Dr. Miller was one of the most foro-ivino; of mortals. I have heard him, more than once, talk about people who I knew had manifested towards him a most unreasonable hostility, and, in one or two instances, I believe, had sought to injure his character and usefulness ; and I have some- times watched to see, whether any expression of ill will, or even impatience, concerning them, would escape him ; but never did I hear a word. On the contrary, I recollect one instance in Avhich, after he had spoken in high terms of a certain individual, I said to him, "But I am surprised to hear you say that. Sir, for I thought he had treated you with great unkindness." "Yes," said the Doctor, "he did; but he was a highly respectable man, and I doubt not a truly pious man, notwithstanding." 'On leaving the Seminary I had no right to expect that my acquaintance with Dr. Miller would be continued in any other than the most general manner ; but it turned out otherwise — it was my privilege to share largely in his offices of frood will as lonly to a direct avowal, on the part of the Author, that he was a Trinliarinn and a Cnlinnint, Dr. Pn'eitlei/ said — " I do not wonder that you Calvinists enterta'n and express a strongly unfavorable opinion of us Unitarians. The truth is, there neither can, nor ought to be. any compromise between us. If yon are right, wa are not CHRISTIANS AT ALL : and if we are right, you ark oross idolaters." These were, as nearly as can be recollected, the words, and, most accurately, the sub- stance of his remark. And nothing, certainly, can be more just. Between those who believe in the Divinity and Atonement of the Son of God, and those who entirely reject both, "there ieculiar usefidness. If so, will you not have reason forever to praise him for it ? If so, will not one of the most mysterious dispen- sations that has lately come to my knowledge, prove to be full of light, and mercy, and joy in the end?" Dr. Miller was now, perhaps, near the height of his effi- ciency as a professor, and of his general influence upon the Theological Seminary, and was not without encouragement in the appreciation of his labors by the students. The First iSee Baird's Memoir of Sanford, 121, for the whole letter. 4 Sprague's An- nals, 655. 1824.] SERMONS AND CORRESPONDENCE. 93 Class of 1823-4, addressed to hin:i an earnest request, in Avhich many of the members of the lower classes afterwards joined, that he would prepare a complete Ecclesiastical His- tory, and also a work on Church Government. 'We are emboldened,' they say, * by the consideration, that we have heard enough from you already to convince us, that you have the materials to complete a history of the Church, without much additional filling up. You may then comply with our request, without going through that labor of investi- gation and writing, which the commencemeut of an under- taking so vast would require. * =^ Allow us, Sir, to remind you of the growing extent of that church, in whose service you have been and are acting so beneficial and responsible a part ; of the number of those whose eyes are turned to you for so in- estimable a gift as that which we are now soliciting ; and the especial eagerness with which it would be hailed by numbers in every section of our natiou, who would receive it as a mes- sage of love from one whose memory they hold so dear ; and who, in the perusal of its pages, would have numberless im- pressions revived which time had effaced, and would almost feel themselves transported to the spot, where they have spent so many happy hours, and received so many useful instruc- tions.' Upon the back of the petition from the First Class, dated January 6, 1824, Dr. Miller wrote, 'To this respectful application I was constrained to return a negative answer. If I had begun such a work ten years be- fore, I might have hoped for time and strength to accomplish it. But it was now too late.' To the Rev. Charles C. Beatty,^ on the 16th of Feb- ruary, 1824, Dr. Miller wrote, a congratulate you, my dear Sir, on your happv settlement at Steubenville, and your prospects of comfort and usefulness. My daily prayer is, that the Lord may direct and stremrthen you in your arduous labors, and crown them with abundant success. I hope you will never be permitted, for one hour, to lose sight of the blessed fact, that it is not by might nor by 2)ower, but by the Spirit of God, that the labors of the most faithful ministers are rendered truly useful. I called this a blessed fad j and truly it is delightful to think, that the success of our ministry does not depend upon our own weakness, but is in infinitely better hands than ours, and will be so ordered as ^ Since, D.D. Vol. IL— 9. 94 CHANGES AND LABORS. [CH. 26. 2. to promote the glory of his name, whose we are and whom we serve. ' It did not surprise me to find, that you had experienced some difficulties at Steubenville. As I had no doubt you meant to be faithful, I should have wondered if you had not found difficulties. In such a world as this, where the carnal mind is in enmity against God, and wdiere the business of doing good always has been, and always will be up-hill work, the minister of Christ must not expect to labor without opposition. * ^ 'I have no doubt you have been, and are, not a little per- plexed by Mr. Jennings's habit of inviting Methodists, of almost all characters, freely to his pulpit. * * yet it is difficult to give advice on such a case, without knowing a great variety of particular facts, with which I am unacquainted. All that I can say on the subject, at this distance, and with my ignorance of circumstances, may be comprised in the following general remarks : — '1, If I were situated as you are, I would not be governed, in inviting men into my pulpit, by the name which they bore, but by the spirit and character of each individual. Many Methodist preachers ^ * I would not invite; but others who are mild, prudent, more nearly orthodox, and who have such a sense of delicacy and propriety as to avoid saying any- thing to your people that would give offense, or be likely to do harm — such I would occasionally invite — just often enough to stop people's mouths, and to prevent their taking up the notion that I meant to invite none who bore the JMethodist name. ' 2. While I took this course, I would say little on the sub- ject to anybody. If you keep your mouth shut, and go steadily, quietly, and silently forward, on the plan that I have advised, you will have but little trouble. But if you allow yourself to say much on the subject, even to your most intimate friends, you may rely on it your difficulty will be increased. It is im- possible to talk on such a subject, without having our remarks misunderstood and misrepresented. If we undertake to say what we will do, and what we will not do, we shall probably give offence. But if we do the very same thing, without say- ing a word about it, the probability is we shall give no offence. * 3. AVhile you pursue this course, preach the gospel faith- fully and warmly, without meddling, by name, with other de- nominations ; and visit your people diligently from house to house, paying iKLrticidaT attention to the yoiuig peoj>/e; and I shall not fear for your ultimate success. 'You ask, whether a Methodist preacher, who thinks that Dr. Priestley was- a good man, and is now in heaveU; ought to 1824.] SERMONS AND CORRESPONDENCE. 95 be invited to your pulpit. I cannot answer this question, with- out knowing more of the man than your letter furnishes me with. If he appeared to be a pious man, and friendly to all the fundamental doctrines of the Gospel ; and if I had good reason to believe he would never throw out any such absurd and strange inconsistencies to my people, I think I should invite him — if there were no other objection in the way. If, however, he not only held such an opinion concerning Priestley, but was also fond of publishing it from the pulpit, I certainly would not invite him into a pulpit of mine. Yet while I refrained from inviting him, it would be in silence, as I said before. i * * Qm- seminary goes on to flourish, as to the number of students ; but is greatly embarrassed for want of more ample funds, in regard to which its progress is very slow. But it is good to wait the Lord's time. When it is best we should have funds, they will come.' To the Assembly of 1824, the Board of Directors of the Theological Seminary made a special report in relation to the funds of the institution. The permanent funds of every kind amounted to $44, b74. 66, and a debt of $11,000 had been incurred by loans to meet, from year to year, a deficit in the current revenue. Special agents to solicit contribu- tions were recommended. It was when Dr. Miller w^as travelling in New England — probably in June 1820 — that he became acquainted with the Rev'd Asahel Nettleton;^ and he seems to have enter- tained, from the first, a very high respect and afi'ection for this truly great, and justly renowned evangelist. We find him, on the 19th of May, 1824, writing to Mr. Nettleton, and after acknowledging the reception of a presentation copy of "Village Hymns," and strongly commending that collection, adding, ' I hear often o/you, my dear Brother, though not as frequently from you as I could wish ; and have been truly sorry to learn that your health has been so much impaired. I trust, however, that with all your debility of body, your spirit has been made strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might ; and that the precious work of the Lord which you have been permitted to witness and to rejoice in, has been a cordial to your heart. I trust it has really gladdened my heart to hear of those triumphs of our Master's grace, which have taken place around you. Oh that you and I might be allowed to witness them more fre- iD. D. from 1839. See 2 Sprague's Annals, 542. 96 CHANGES AND LABORS. [CH. 26. 3. quently, and to enter more deeply into their genuine spirit and sweetness ! 'Our seminary is going on as usual — every year increasing in the number of its pupils, and I hope not without tokens of our Master's presence in the best sense. But, alas ! if I am not deceived, it sometimes does grieve me to the very heart to think how far short our pupils, as well as their teachers, fall of that supreme, ardent devotedness of soul, which ought to be mani- fested, with growing fervour, every hour that we live. Dear Brother, pray for us, that, in this school of the prophets, that Holy Spirit of sanctification and of zeal, Vvhich Ave daily pray may be poured upon all the churches, may be poured out in his most plenteous effusions.' ' Mrs. Miller and myself would be greatly gratified to see you under our roof 3. LECTURE ON CREEDS AND CONFESSIONS. The Rev. John M. Duncan, pastor of the Presbyterian church, Tammany street, Baltimore, having been appointed a director of the Seminary, delivered, as the preacher be- fore the Board, Faculty and Students, upon the day that he took his seat, a discourse, which he afterwards published, pointedly condemning all creeds and confessions. The next Introductory Lecture — that of the summer session — was given by Dr. Miller, who, with tacit reference to Mr. Dun- can's address, chose "Creeds and Confessions'' as his sub- ject. In the afternoon of the day on which it was delivered the students held a meeting, at vrhich they unanimously resolved to request a copy for publication.^ Through their committee they said, "In making this request, the Students would not wish to be considered as expressing any opinion upon the merits of rhe general question ; but as influenced solely by the desire that the whole subject may come fairly before the public." This lecture, with some slight altera- tions, and an addition of six pages relating to the proper extent of creeds, was republished by the Presbyterian Board of Publication, as a small volume, in 1839.^ It still pre- 1 " The Utility and Importance of Creeds and Confessions: an Introductory Lecture, deliTered at the Opening of the Summer Session of the Thcoloj^ical Seminary of the Presbyterian Clnirch, Princeton, July 2, 1824. Ry Samuel Miller, D. D., Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Church Government in the said Seminary. "//* necessariiH unitas, in nan necessariis lihcrtas, in omnibus chnrildn." — Augustin." — 8vo. Pp. 84. 2 "The Utility and Importance of Creeds and Confessions: addressed par- ticularly to Candidates for the Ministry. By Samuel Miller, D. D. "/» ncces- sariia unitas, i'u 7wn iitcessariis libertus, in omnibus charitas." — Augustin.'' — ISmo. Pp. 119. 1824.] LECTURE ON CREEDS AND CONFESSIONS. 97 served, perliaps from oversight, the language of a ''seminary'' " lecture" to "pupils," although addressed on the title-page to " Candidates for the Ministry" in general. The Chris- tian Advocate characterized it as presenting a " masterly view of the subject." It said, "Nothing, in our judgment, could be more seasonable than the publication of this lecture, which we certainly consider as the ablest production of its author ; although his ability before was far from being questionable. "^ * It well became a pro- fessor in a theological seminary, to guard his pupils against the sophistry and specious pretenses of these innovators ; especially as their Coryphaeus had given him such a special call to the service: and we do hope that the publication of his lecture will be extensively useful. * * We are satisfied that all who need conviction on the subject of which it treats, will, if they read it carefully and candidly, find what they need. Some, we are aware, are beyond conviction, and from any one of this corps, we should exceedingly like to see an attempt to answer this lecture."^ High church Episcopalians, no less than their Papal exemplars, manifest a characteristic fondness for mere human authority, and are specially addicted to quoting the "Fathers" in support of their tenets. It was hardly to be expected, however, that they would be found appeal- ing, in any controversy upon their hands, to one of the Princeton "Fathers," and, least of all, that Dr. Miller would be the authority of their choice. Yet a writer in the New York Christian Journal for November, 1824, seized upon the "Lecture on Creeds and Confessions," as a god-send, to bolster up Bishop Hobart and the High- church party in their policy of refusing to assist in the dissemination of the Bible without the Prayer book ; and this Avriter's- communication was considered so important, that, after its appearance in the Journal, it was issued on a separate sheet for much wider effect. Dr. Miller had suddenly been discovered to be very " eminent and judi- cious," by those who had certainly been at no small pains, to persuade the religious public, that they thought him just the reverse. The writer in question remarks, " I have lately been much gratified by the perusal of a lec- 13 Vol., (1825,) 8G. 9* 98 CHANGES AND LABORS. [CH. 26. 3. ture, delivered before the students of the Presbyterian Seminary at Princeton, by the Rev. Professor Miller, entitled, " The Utility and importance of Creeds and Confessions." As it con- tains much sound argument, clothed in very forcible language, on a subject which, I apprehend, is yet to produce dissensions in the christian world, I have thought proper to transcribe some of the most important passages for insertion in the Journal. The doctrines contained in this Lecture, are materially the same as those which have been maintained and acted upon, for years, by Bishop Hobart and other judicious Episcopalians in the United States. Those gentlemen wdll learn with satisfaction, that not only the professors at Princeton, but the highest au- thority in the Presbyterian communion, to wit, the General Assembly,^ have, within a few months past, given their sanction to princij^les which have heretofore drawn upon consistent Churchmen the obloquy and indignation of other denominations, and even of some of " their own household." Bishop Hobart and his friends will have nothing to fear hereafter from men who profess to circulate the Scriptures " without note or com- ment ;" and who accuse such of their opponents as advocate the distribution of the Book of Common Prayer, in conjunction with the Bible, of being " guilty of the Romish error of im- pugning the sufficiency of the Scriptures as a rule of faith." After giving a number of extracts from Dr. Miller's lecture and the minutes of the Assembly, and com2)aring them with Bishop Hobart's published opinions, the writer says, " After such explicit language from one of the most eminent and judi- cious Presbyterians in our country, which agrees with the sen- timents of the General Assembly of his Church, it is to be hoped that the question will forever be put to rest, whether it is expedient for Churchmen to unite with other denominations in disseminating the Scriptures. * * " To this article Dr. Miller replied, in the Christian Jour- nal, as follows : — *'Mr. Editor, — As I am not a subscriber to the Christian Journal, and seldom see any of its numbers, it was by accident, and only within a few days, that I met with the number for last month. In turning over its pages, I was not a little sur- prised to find a communication subscribed " Catholicus," and entitled, " Presbyterian sentiments on the best mode of dissemi- nating the truths of Scripture," — in which a most extraordinary construction is put on the leading opinions expressed in my Introductory Lecture on " Creeds and Confessions," and some 1 Minutes 1824, pp. 211, 212. 1824.] LECTURE ON CREEDS AND CONFESSIONS. 99 no less extraordinary inferences drawn from that construction. My first impression was, that no public notice of this communi- cation, on my part, was required. The representation w^hieh it gave of the doctrine of the Lecture appeared to me so manifestly unwarranted, and, indeed, I must say, such an extravagant perversion, that I thought it might safely be left to the good sense of every reader. But, finding that some persons really seem to form a different estimate of this publication from that which I should have expected ; that measures have been taken to give it circulation in a detached form, beyond the ordinary sphere of the Journal in which it originally appeared ; and that some of my friends think it ought not to pass unnoticed; I beg leave to occupy a single page of your miscellany with a brief reply to the singular remarks of Catholicus. If nothing had been in question, Mr. Editor, but the merits of my humble Lecture, you certainly w^ould not have heard a syllable from me on the present occasion. But it would really grieve me to be thought an enemy of Bible Societies, or capable of inten- tionally uttering a word hostile to their universal establishment and triumph. Nor did it ever occur to me that there was any more connexion between my doctrine concerning " Creeds," and such hostility, than between my belief in Presbyterian parity, and the heresy of Socinianism. And whether the efforts of your correspondent, to represent me as agreeing with his dio- cesan, do not betray the weakness of a bad cause, I shall leave to the consideration of discerning and reflecting readers. "It is neither my province nor my design to enter into 'any discussion concerning the correctness of Bishop Hobart's opinions. But I must be allowed strongly to deprecate being supposed to agree with him in reference to Bible Societies. If I have understood the scope of what has been said and wTitten against that gentleman in relation to this subject, it is — not that he is zealously attached to his own church ; not that he admires and loves the Book of Common Prayer, and is earnestly desirous of putting it into the hands of every human being to whom it can possibly be conveyed. For all this I have never heard him blamed by any one : but for being unw'illing to unite with any society, the object of which was to circulate the word of God ALONE. Now, as to this point, I totally differ from him, both in principle and practice. I consider the Scriptures as the ONLY infallible rule of faith and practice ; and as a sufficient rule for all who approach them with humble and honest hearts. I am, therefore, perfectly willing to co-operate with any and every person in sending them, without note or comment, to every son and daughter of Adam. I consider it as a privilegQ 100 CHANGES AND LABORS. [CH. 26. 3. and an honor to be a member of the American Bible Society, and of every other Bible Society within convenient reach : and my impressions of the importance of these societies, in promoting the best interests of the world, is so far from being impaired, that it is daily becoming deeper. " In full consistency, as it appears to me, with all this, — when I go into the pulpit, I think it incumbent on me, not only to recommend the Bible, in general, to my hearers, but also to declare to them lioiu I understand it When called upon to assist in ordaining a minister, I deem it indispensable to ascer- tain, by appropriate measures, how the living teacher whom I am about to aid in sending forth, is likely to explain the Word of Life which we commission him to preach. And when an opportunity is presented, I do not fail to recommend and cir- culate the Confession of Faith, and the form of Government and Discipline of my own Church. But I should abhor the thought of withholding a Bible from an ignorant, destitute fellow-creature, until I could accompany the delivery of it with my own formulas and articles. Just as soon should I think of withholding a piece of bread from a starving beggar, until I had previously engaged him to come under the government of my own family. I am quite willing to trust the Bible alone in the hands of every inhabitant of the globe; and to leave the question, whether they shall be connected with this or that de- nomination, to their own serious and deliberate decision, aided by that enlightening and sanctifying Spirit, who leads his people into all necessary truth. If I believed, indeed, that the pecu- liarities of the Church of which I am a member were essential' to salvation ; or that it was impossible for a serious inquirer to understand the fundamental doctrines of Scriptures, without the assistance of my formularies and expositions, my conduct would be different. But, as I believe neither, I am, of course, not embarrassed with any of the consequences of such belief. It is time enough, in my opinion, when persons make inquiries with a view to join a particular denomination, or put themselves in the way of being taught its peculiarities, to meet them — if candidates for private membership, with those views of doctrine and order; — or if aspirants to the ministry, with those "Creeds and Confessions" — -the reception of which appears to me indis- pensable to the attainment of ecclesiastical concord and edifica- tion. Thousands and tens of thousands who will never have an opportunity of coming v/ithin the pale of my own Church, — and who might not be disposed to do it, if they had, — may yet be willing to receive Bibles from amj hands, and may be forever benefited by them. Ought I to withhold from them the precious 1824.] LECTURE ON CREEDS AND CONFESSIONS. 101 gift? I dare not do it. And I am so far from seeing an in- consistency between this decision, and the doctrine which I have taught concerning Church "creeds," that they appear to me to illustrate and strengthen each other. " I am, Sir, yours respectfully, "Princeton, Dec. 2-it7i, 1824. Samuel Miller." It '^as certainly a despeiate expedient, to attempt to make capital for the Romanizing opponents of Bible Soci- eties out of the opinions of one, who was w^ell known to be among the firmest friends and most active supporters of those institutions. Self-blinded, at best, must they have been, who would see no difference between insisting on creeds for denominational protection and extension, or as convenient text books, and insisting upon them as neces- sary accompaniments of the Bible — between, on the one hand, simply desiring and striving that all might under- stand the Holy Scriptures in a certain way, deemed the right way ; and, on the other, refusing to give the Scrip- tures without some earnest of their beino- so understood. But the " Fathers" have often suffered thus from professed disciples. From holding back God's Word, until our com- ments can go with it, there is but a short step to discour- aging, or even prohibiting, its circulation altogether. Rome says, the comment — the creed — alone is sufficient: why trouble the people with the text, when they are not to interpret it for themselves ? On High-church princi- ples, the Book of Common Prayer is all that any one need be " troubled with ;" and is certainly preferable to the Scriptures, where both cannot be had : nay, the latter is only a dangerous book without the former. In curious contrast with this Hicrh-church laudation of the Lecture on Creeds, and a more honorable testimony to its merits, was a critique which came from the depths of Socinianism. Not many months after that lecture was published. The Unitarian Miscellany of Baltimore expired. Dying agonies should, perhaps, never be severely judged, and especially not in this case, if the IMiscellany was dying of wounds received in its recent conflict with Dr. Miller ; but some of its " last words" may, at least, be given as a specimen of " Liberal Christianity." In the farewell number, the Lecture on Creeds, or rather its author, was thus noticed : — 102 CHANGES AND LABORS. [CH. 26. 4. "In the first place, lieretiG is a word wliicli comes to liis lips as readily, and is dealt about as generously, as if he were the head of the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Ciiurch himself. In- deed, we never think of him now, that he does not present him- self to our mind, with a triple crown on his head, and a couple of great keys in his hand." "All the liberality and candour, for which Unitarians would ever be distinguished, does not require them to be abused in this way, without sending back a bold and honest word in reply. At any rate, we will not do so ourselves. We tvill say to Dr. Miller, that all his talk about " corrupt opinions," and " indifference to truth," and " awful gulphs," and " awful rava- ges," is miserable cant, and is not worth a serious refutation. We ivill say to him, that of all the theological ivriters of the present time in this country, he has the distinction of being the most bitterly and joerseveringly illiberal; that we know not of what kind of fame he may be ambitious, but if he continue much longer in the course which he is pursuing, he ivill be re- garded by all the moderate and judicious, and he will go down to posterity, as the arch-bigot of his day. If that is a reputation w^hich he covets, he is in a fair way of acquiring it. And these are our last words to Dr. Miller."^ "Liberal Christians" v/ill certainly suffer in Christian character, until they have learned a little more of him, " AYho, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, threatened not." And those, who regard real liberality as true enlargement of mind, will hardly dis- cover it in the theory, that he who sincerely believes a doc- trine to be destructive of man's eternal interests, must, nevertheless, not so declare. It has always, indeed, been a favorite idea with these " Liberals," that men are not acountable for their belief; but certainly they were dis- posed to hold Dr. Miller, before their own tribunal, to a pretty strict account. 4. Death of Elizabeth Miller. During much the greater part of her life in Princeton, Mrs. Miller, with some other female members of the church, — at times only one other, — kept up a weekly even- ing female prayer meeting, at the houses, each in its turn, of those who p; rticipated, excepting when peculiar circum- 1 See 8 Lit. and Evang. Mag., (Richmond, Va.,) 134. 1824.] DEATH OF ELIZABETH MILLER. 103 stances, for a longer or shorter period, made some one of these houses the only convenient place. In July, 1821, Dr. Miller -writes to his wife, who was sojourning with their invalid daughter, Elizabeth, at Schooley's Mountain, that the ladies had met in her bed-room the evening of her departure, Mrs. Miller's visits to Schooley's Mountain, while justi- fied in her mind chiefly by the claims of health, were always made occasions of effort for the good of those with whom she came in contact. During this visit, vdien she and her daughter Elizabeth might both have been expected to be wholly engrossed in the vain struggle of the latter with disease and languor, they were both in fact planning for the cause of Christ in the neighborhood of the Heath House, where they found pleasant accommodations, but constantly had reason to deplore the lack of religious privileges within the easy reach of the surrounding settled population and the summer guests. The Presbyterian Church at Hackettstown, four miles off, and that at German Valley, somewhat nearer, but perhaps not more easily ac- cessible, were the chief resorts of worshippers from the Mountain, but were, of course, too far away for those who had no particular religious zeal. Mrs. Miller and Eliza- beth suggested to Mr. Marsh, their enterprizing and esti- mable host, himself sincerely interested in the religious condition of the neighborhood, the erection of a small place of worship, near the boarding house, for the accom- modation of both residents and visitors, and to be under the supervision of the Rev. Joseph Campbell, pastor of the Hackettstown Church. Elizabeth manifested so much in- terest in the undertaking, and her wasted form and alabas- ter complexion added so much to the impression of her saintliness, that the success of the enterprise was by some attributed chiefly to her prayers. Mrs. Miller promised to interest, if possible, some of her Philadelphia acquaint- ances, especially those v.ho frequented the Mountain, in the project, as well as to contribute herself; and, accord- ingly, she wrote, soon after Elizabeth's death, mentioning it to Alexander Henry, Esquire, whose name, coupled with his laro-e hearted Christian benevolence and zeal for the church, Avill be lield in everlasting remembrance. He 104 CHANGES AND LABORS. [CII. 26. 4. heartily seconded her proposal, and materially aided in the undertaking. Dr. and Mrs. Miller regarded their part in the work as a thank-offering for the peaceful and happy death of their departed daughter. The deed of the build- ino: was for some reason executed to the Trustees of the Theological Seminary. Mr. Marsh wrote, in April, 'With the exception of four or five persons, the whole neighbor- hood is engaged heart and soul in furthering the project, and it has been already remarked, that never before in this part of the country has a public building been erected with so much unanimity, and with so much zeal.' On the 24th of August, 1825, Mr. Henry Avrote, ^Just returned from my summer's jaunt, I cannot omit stating to you the pleasure felt by professing Christians in see- ing so neat and eligible a building erected near the two board- ing houses on Schooley's Mount. Much did I wish to have the pleasure of meeting you there. I think my heart would have joined with yours in thankfulness to the Father of mercies, for ]3utting it into your heart, and that of your dear departed daughter first suggesting the idea, and then for the efficient means contributed. * * On Sabbath, the 8th of August, the building was opened in the afternoon by Mr. Campbell. His sermon was solemn and impressive. * * There is every reasonable expectation, that divine service will be regularly held, all the season, in the afternoon of every Sabbath, and occasionally during the week. ' The building is on a very prominent piece of ground * * its dimensions are forty by thirty-five feet ; it is built of stone and plastered, with a cupola intended for a bell. * * It has two stories. The upper room is intended for a day-school during the week, and a Sunday-school. To Miss Elizabeth Sergeant, Dr. Miller wrote on the 6th of September, 'At the date of the last letter to you, our dear Elizabeth, though deemed in a very critical situation, was yet thought in danger only on account of her previous extreme feebleness. She continued very much in that situation until yesterday morning, when, for the first time, she gave decided evidence, that she was rapidly sinking under the power of disease. * * The arrival of the closing scene, however, has been even more speedy than we then anticipated. About half after two o'clock this afternoon, she expired with the most perfect ease and 1825.] MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS. 105 tranquility that you ever witnessed. Thus, after the weakness and the sufferings of near two years, has our beloved child, we humbly trust, exchanged a world of sin and sorrow for fulness of joy and pleasure for ever more. We have many things to comfort us on this mournful occasion. He who gave, and who had a right to take away, has resumed the gift under many circumstances for which we have reason evermore to praise him.' Every death in the family, solemn and impressive as it must have been in any possible circumstances, was rendered doubly so, by a studied effort, on the part of Dr. and Mrs. Miller, to make the death-scene an occasion of deep relig- ious, as well as natural sensibility. When Elizabeth was found to be dying, the whole family were assembled in the chamber, and, bowing around the bed, were led in earnest supplication, by her father, that Jesus would be near and very gracious to her in her departure. As all rose from their knees, she gently expired. Her mother, the while watchfully bending over her, remarked, at the moment, that the spirit seemed to have tarried, to catch the last breath of that prayer on earth, ere it returned to God who gave it. Assured that it had, indeed, taken its flight, all kneeled again, immediately, at the father's bidding, to pray, no less earnestly, for a blessing, with the affliction, to every survivor. 5. Miscellaneous Topics. To Dr. John H. Rice, Dr. Miller wrote, 'My dear Brother, Princeton, January 31, 1825. ' I have several times, of late, felt as if we were, somehow or other, suffering our fraternal intercourse to wear out. I am anxious to " brighten the chain." Receive then, a few lines, written in haste, as a testimony of an earnest desire to renew our correspondence. If you cannot be profited by anything that I can say, I am well persuaded that I can derive both pleasure and profit from the slightest epistolary effusions of your pen. 'Since I saw you, we have consigned to the dust the remains of our dear daughter Elizabeth, whom you noticed as so ema- ciated and feeble. Her latter end was peaceful, and we have no doubt that she has exchanged ours for infinitely better soci- ety. But still we feel as parents ; and her vacant place at our Vol. II.— 10. 106 CHANGES AND LABORS. [CH. 26. 5. table, and in our domestic circle, often reminds us of what we have lost. ' I hope you will be able to say, when you reply to this letter, that your health is completely restored, and that Mrs. Rice and yourself are revelling (I use the w^ord in a good, christian sense) in the salubrities, the comforts, and the usefulness of Prince Edward. It will give us all great pleasure to be told that this is the case. * Allow me to thank you heartily for your review of Bishop Ravenscroft ; for, if I mistake not, the style unequivocally dis- closes that it is yours. It is as clear, strong, and satisfactory, on the score of talent, as it is excellent in respect to its spirit. It is, in fact, I think, everything that could be wished. I feel indebted to you for it. * ''' 'Do you know that the same man has been lately preaching a sermon before the Bible Society of North Carolina, in which he went full length with Hobart in denouncing Bible Societies ; that he has since defended his sermon in the jDublic papers ; and that the sermon itself is about to be printed, or probably is printed before this time? I most sincerely hope you will give it a searching and faithful review. I do not know a sub- ject, by writing on which, in your best manner, you would be likely to do more good. Such a spirit, I think, may and ought to be put down in the South. It could not be supported in New York, were it not backed by the ample funds of Trinity Church. For my part, I cannot see w^herein this anti-Biblical doctrine differs, at all, in its essence, from the Popish doctrine on the same subject; and I could wish to see this set in a strong light. In his new^spaper vindication, he lays it down as a principle, that the fundamental position of the Bible Societies is, that the o)ily proper way to propagate gospel truth is by circulating the Bible without note or comment. Now he knows, that the great mass of the patrons of Bible Societies, in the United States, and certainly the most zealous, active, and in- fluential among them, hold to the importance and necessity of a gospel ministry; and fully believe that the living teacher, as well as the written w^ord, is indispensable to the regular organ- ization and the successful extension of the Church of Christ. Allow me to request, as a favor, that you will speedily take up this subject, and give Ravenscroft, et id omne genus, a thorough castigation in your good, christian vray. It may do them good as long as they live, and certainly will be likely to do the cause of truth good. 'We have nothing new. The number of students in our Seminary is a little rising a hundred. We shall be glad to hear that yours is flourishing, "^ * 1825.] MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS. 107 * P. S. Dr. Livingston, of New Brunswick, died on the 20th instant, very suddenly. He lectured the day before, and ap- peared as well as usual ; retired in his ordinary health, and at eight o'clock next morning was found dead in his bed ! It was ascertained that he had not been dead more than an hour.' For Dr. Livingston Dr. Miller, to the end, had entertaiii- ed the utmost aifectionate regard, keeping up carefully with him a brotherly intercourse. On one occasion he urged his aged friend to pay him a visit in Princeton. "What would you do with me in Princeton?" — asked the Doctor, rather sharply. "Sit at your feet," returned Dr. Miller, " and learn Theology." The venerable man was, in a moment, completely disarmed. "May God'.j blessing rest upon you!" he said, extending his hands. To the published Life of Dr. Livingston, by Alexander Gunn, Dr. Miller contributed, under date of the 15th of November, 1828, a lonor letter, recordino; his interested recollections.^ Dr. Miller wrote to Dr. Green, 'Rev'd and dear Sir, Princeton, April 30, 1825. 'You probably remember that a committee was ap- pointed by the last General Assembly,^ of which you are a member, and I, unfortunately am chairman, to consider and report on the subject of some improvement in the mode of con- ducting the business of the Assembly. Have you thought of this matter? As you were present during the discussions on the subject, I should be greatly gratified to know what has struck your mind. I really have not thought of anything be- yond what was suggested last year. As to appointing a subor- dinate board to try appeals, etc., it does, I confess, appear to me altogether contrary to principle ; so that I should be, ac- cording to my present views, against even proposing such an alteration in the constitution to the Presbyteries.' During the early summer of this year. Dr. Miller visited "Western New York and Niagara Falls. The trip was evi- dently for health and recreation, and occupied from the 9th to the 27tli of June inclusive. Plis itinerary illustrates the entire revolution which travelling has undergone, as to its modes, since that day. Driving from Princeton to New Brunswick, he went to New York City, and thence to Albany, by steamboat; to Schenectady, then, by stage- 1 Pp. 511-525. 2Sgo Minutes, 1824, 200. 1825, 276; 182C, 28. 32, 37-4;< •!> J regarded chiefly your talents as a sermonizer, or as a composer and deliverer of sermons, I should advise you, without much scruple, to go to New York. It is my candid opinion, that, on this score, you have no particular reason to be apprehensive of danger in removing to a city. But, 1 "A Discourse, delivered in the Chapel of Nassau Tlall, before the Liternry and Philosophical Society of New-Jersey, at its first Annual Mectino;, Septem- ber 27, 1825. By Samuel Miller, D.D., Professor of Eeelesiastieal History and Church Gorernment in the Theological Seminary at Princeton, and Corres- ponding Secretary of the said Society. " Manua desnnt ^)o«r'ej«8 arris." '^ — 8vo. Pp. 39. 1825.] MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS. 109 * XL I do not see how you can contrive to vi?it New York, in compliance with the invitation, without exposing yourself to extreme clanger. The probability, I think, is, that if you visit tlxe city, you will be called to settle there; but it is possible you may not be ; and, if not, will not the whole thing be known to the public, and inevitably injure you among the people of your present charge? Unless you can be certain of accomplish- ing your visit, without the object of it being known, or even suspected, which I fear will not be possible, the step will cer- tainly be a very hazardous one. * * * III. Your health, if I understand the matter, though now pretty good, is generally delicate, and requires constant nursing and care. Now, whether you know it or not, the danger of going into a great city with such a state of health, is greater, far greater, than any one, who has not made the experiment, can imagine. In the place of your present residence, you have occasion, every day, to move about in the pure air of the country. You can ride on horseback, and take a sufficient amount of pleasant and refreshing exercise. This is so mixed up v/ith your sedentary labors, as to serve as a constant prop to your constitution. In the city, it would be otherwise. You would not be able to keep a horse. The same amount of labor there would be far more exhausting than in your present situa- tion. But you could not get along wdth the same amount of labor which you now perform. Your mind and body would be obliged to be much more constantly and painfully on the stretch of exertion ; and, after spending a little while in the vi- tiated air of the city, yoii would have less elasticity, and less strength to exert than you now have. You can have no con- ception, until you have tried it, how exhausting ministerial labors in a great city are — amidst the ten thousand distracting interruptions which occur, and which, instead of relieving, un- der the pressure of toil, tend to derange and shatter the nervous system. There is no point concerning which I am more confi- dent, than that no young man, in delicate health, ought to ven- ture into a lai^ge city. '^ * ** * if you were my own son, I should, on the whole, rather discourage such a removal at present. If your health should be pretty good four or five years hence, — after you shall have prepared a hundred and fifty or two hundred more ser- mons, and could afford to devote the first year or two to exer- cise and clerical recreation, — then, and not till then, do I think it would be safe for you, with your delicate constitution, to settle in a city.' 110 CHANGES AND LABORS. [CH. 26. 5. About six months later, Mr. Sprague had a unanimous call from the Cedar Street Church in New York, one of the elders of which wrote to Dr. Miller, becro-incf him to exert his influence in favor of an acceptance of the invita- tion. Dr. Miller then wrote, 'Although my fears concerning your health in the city re- main unchanged, tliat, as matters now stand, is my only diffi- culty. You and those friends who are intimately acquainted with your constitution are the best judges of this matter. * * ' May the Lord enlighten and guide you, my dear sir, in reference to this momentous decision ! No one will more cor- dially rejoice to see you settled in New Yorh than myself.' In 1825, Dr. Hodge established " The Biblical Reper- tory," a periodical designed to assist ministers and candi- dates for the ministry in the criticism and exegesis of the Bible, by, chiefly, the republication of selections, often translated for this purpose, from the writings of distin- guished foreign scholars. With the beginning of the fifth volume, in 1829, his plan was modified and enlarged ; the work was made, for the most part, original ; the whole range of theological and religious subjects was brought within its scope ; and the title page presented it as '' The Biblical Repertory and Theological Review. Conducted by an Association of Gentlemen in Princeton, N. J., and Vicinity." In 1837, "Princeton" was substituted for "Theological." The "Association" embraced, among others. Dr. Hodge's colleagues in the Seminary; and, from 1830 to 1842 inclusive. Dr. Miller contributed some twenty- five articles, which can now be distinctly traced to him — in all about four hundred and forty-four pages. In 1829, the Repertory, in its new form, Avas recommended by a printed circular, signed by clergymen of both the Old and New School parties,^ who soon afterwards, in the current of ecclesiastical afl"airs, found themselves divided into two opposing bands. At this time, evidently, the causes of subsequent separation had no very potential influence ; but they were just ready to reveal themselves in active, agita- ting operation. 1 " Ashbell Green, Samuel Miller. Archibald Alexander, John H. Rice, Ezra Fisk, Ezra Stiles Ely, Francis Herron, Thomas Cleland, Samuel Hanson Cox, Thomas H. Skinner,"james Iloge, Henry R. Weed, William Nevins." 1825.] MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS. Ill Dr. Miller, in November, 1825, delivered the Introduc- tory Lecture at the opening of the Winter Session, an out- line of which was published.^ He discussed the question, *' Why are there, at j^fesent, so feiv ministers of the Gospel really eminent in tlieir 'profession V " Why is it," he asks, "that there are, at this time, in our country, so few minis- ters of that real, commanding, professional eminence which is within the reach of multitudes ; nay, which is, humanly speaking, within the reach of every man of good sense, of fervent piety, and of persevering diligence ? Why is it, that we so seldom see a clergyman who is, at once, a good scholar ; an able theologian ; an instructive, interesting, and impressive preacher ; a faithful, laborious pastor ; and a meek, humble, fervently pious, polished, an I benevolent christian gentleman^'' He took for granted, that such ministers w^ere more rare, then, in proportion to the whole number, than they had been seventy or eighty years previously. The ''prevailing mediocrity of minis- terial character," he attributed to (1) a " prevailing medio- crity of piety;" (2) a ''prevailing imperfection in the elementary scholarship of those entering the sacred pro- fession;" (3) "the want of mature and adequate profes- sional study;" (1) "the w^ant of opportunity of forming the character and manners;" (5) the fact that candidates did "not point high enough in their aims " — did "not set before them a standard of professional eminence sufficiently elevated ;" (6) the fact that the attention of so many was " divided between their ministry and secular employments ;" and (7) the fact that ministerial life had become " less studi- ous antl contemplative" than formerly. He exhorted the students, therefore, (1) to cultivate deep piety; (2) to re- tain and extend their academical acquirements ; (3) to study theology closely for at least three years ; (4) to cul- tivate carefully the temper and manners of christian gen- tlemen ; (5) to aim high ; (6) to improve social opportuni- ties ; (7) to be punctual as to Seminary duties ; (8) to make no engagements interfering with eifectual study ; (9) to take a fourth and fifth year at the Seminary if possible ; 1 " Outline of the Introductory Lecture delivered at the opening of the pres- ent Session. By Professor Miller," 1 Am. Magazine, 11. Princeton: 1826.— 870. Pp. 11 . Published also in successive numbers of 2 Western Luminary, Lei- ington, Ky., 1826. 112 CHANGES AND LABORS. [CII. 26. 5. as a provision for which he suggested the creation of fel- lowships ; (10) to take care of their health ; (11) to resolve to do all in their power to elevate and adorn the ministe- rial character. These suggestions are, certainly, as im- portant now, as they were forty years ago. To Dr. Miller's published lecture on Creeds and Con- fessions, Mr. Duncan replied, in about six months, in a work of which the former took no notice, firmly intending to pass it by in silence, until "A Gentleman of Baltimore," nearly a year after its publication, made some friendly in- quiries of him in regard to the matter. This appeal drew him out in a pamphlet "Letter to a Gentleman of Balti- more"^— not an answer, however, to Mr. Duncan's book, but a statement of reasons why he should attempt no an- swer, with remarks upon some collateral points. This brief publication will perhaps be esteemed, upon comparison with Dr. Miller's other writings, as, in point of style and thought, among the most vigorous of all. A critic in the "American Magazine of Letters and Christianity"^ — probably its edi- tor, the Bev. Thomas C. Gibson — remarked, "We could speak, in addition, with great pleasure, of the literary merits of this performance. It is, in that point of view, even apart from the dignity of the subject, worthy of the highest regard. Besides its powerful flow of argument, cleared of all extraneous matter, and bearing down directly, and rapidly, and decisively on the point in view, it is characterized, throughout, by the greatest i3erspicuity, and much elegance of style ; and though marked by frequent pleasantry, and sometimes by a certain archness of manner — each, however, in perfect keeping with the whole — it exhibits a spirit in every respect gentle, for- bearing, and generous. As a model of controversial writing, more exact and faultless than any we remember to have ever seen, we commend it especially to the notice of our clerical readers." The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, at once, upon its formation in 1789, had recognized its duty to superintend and foster Presbyterian home missions. A ^ *'A Letter to a Gentleman of Baltimore, in reference to the Case of the Rev Mr. Duncan. By Samuel Miller, D.D., Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Church Government, in the Theological Seminary, at Princeton, N. J. The wisdom that is from above is first ptjrk. then peaceable. — James iii. 17." — Dated January 25, 1820.— 8vo. Pn. 91. 2 1 Vol., 172. 1826.] MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS. 113 year later, the fulfilment of this fluty was attempted hy the appointment of a Committee of Missions; which, thence- forward, was one of the stated committees of the judicatory. In 1816, a Board of Missions — the first hoard of the Church — was established ; but it maintained, for a long time, only a precarious and languishing existence. At the end of the twelfth, its receipts were little more than half what they had been for the first, year.^ The simple reason of this was a growing doctrinal defection in the Church, and a growing disposition, therefore, to favor voluntary union associations, instead of ecclesiastical boards, even for the work of extending the Church itself. The whole influ- ence of Congregationalism, too, was thrown into the scale of opposition to separate Presbyterian effort. The NeAv York Missionary Society has already been no- ticed.^ In 1809, a number of young men of different de- nominations in that city formed the "Assistant New York Missionary Society," as an auxiliary to the older associa- tion, of which, however, in 1816, it was made entirely in- dependent. Directly after this separation, the Young Men's Society, not Avithout long discussion, refused to em- ploy the Rev. Samuel Hanson Cox,^ because of his Hop- kinsianism; the immediate consequence of which was the formation of a rival body — the "New York Evangelical Missionary Society of Young Men," and its unanimous de- cision that Mr. Cox should be its first missionary. This controversy, like that about the Education Societies, proved most prejudicial to the efi'orts of the General Assembly, and of all who regarded missions, whether home or foreign, as the appropriate work of the Church in its organic capacity. The " United Domestic Missionary Society of New York " was formed upon the voluntary plan, "by delegates from ten smaller and local societies," in 1822, and, four years afterward, changed in name and Constitution, became the "American Home Missionary Society." Dr. Spring re- marks, "The late venerable Dr. Miller and Dr. Alexander, of Princeton Seminary, in a letter addressed to the Corresponding Secretary, dated Princeton, March 6, 1826, say :^ "NVe rejoice to hear that there is a plan in contemplation for forming a Do- 1 Baird's Hist, of the New School, 3U. '^ Vol. I. p. 104. » Since D.D. 114 CHANGES AND LABORS. [CH. 20. 5. mestic Missionary Society on a much larger scale than has heretofore existed. Our prayer is that the God of all grace may rouse the spirit of the nation on this subject."^ It is not probable that Dr. Miller, in thus bidding God speed to the society in question, intended more than he had intended, when he rejoiced in the establishment of Andover Seminary, yet expressed his firm conviction that the Presbyterian Church must soon have a divinity school of its own. His principle had been, and continued to be, to give a wide liberty to evangelical effort in the choice of its agencies and means, and to welcome others as co-laborers, although their charities did not flow in the same channels with his own. Nay, he could co-operate himself with dif- ferent organizations, at the same time, for accomplishing the same grand result, endeavoring thus to harmonize their efforts, or prevent hostility betw^een them. Not many years, however, had passed, before, as we shall see, he be- came, and not groundlessly, suspicious of the American Home Missionary Society, as employing its comparatively large means, to advance Congregationalism and "the New Divinity," at the expense of the Presbyterian Church and its standards — in other words, to give triumph to the New- School party. By the General Assembly of 1826, Dr. Miller, Dr. John McDowell, and Dr. M'Auley w^ere appointed special com- missioners to the General Association of Connecticut, to attempt the removal of a new cause of alienation. The Ninth Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia had called Mr. John Chambers, a licentiate, to be their pastor. Upon his application to be taken under the care of the First Presby- tery of Philadelphia, to wdiich the church belonged, it was found that, somehow, he had obtained licensure, without subscribing the Confession of Faith in the usual form ; and when asked, whether he w^as prepared now to subscribe it, he answered, "I am not." The Rev. John M. Duncan, of Baltimore, had been his pastor and tutor. Unable to ob- tain ordination in the Presbyterian Church without adopt- ing the Confession, he took letters of introduction from Mr. Duncan, Dr. James P. Wilson and Dr. Thomas H. ^ 1 Spring's Reminiscence?, 206. For further information, in regard to the general subject glanced at in these latter paragraphs, se^ the whole chapter in Dr. Spring's work, and Dr. Baird's Hist, of the New School, Ch. xx. 1826.] MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS. 115 Skinner, by their advice, to Dr. Taylor, Dr. Bacon and others, of New Haven, who had him ordained by the Asso- ciation of Congregational Ministers of the Western District of New Haven county. He returned in triumph to Phila- delphia, and founded, with a large majority of the Ninth Church, "The First Independent Church" of that city. For thirty-four years, the General Assembly had been in correspondence with the General Association of Connecti- cut, and it had certainly been understood, that ministers and candidates passing from one to the other could do so only with clean papers. The Presbytery of Philadelphia had therefore regarded the act of the ordaining Association as irrecrular, and referred it for consideration to the As- sembly, which appointed the special commissioners before mentioned. In a letter to Dr. John H. Rice, of the 8th of June, 1826, Dr. Miller says, in regard to this appointment, * I calculate to go, with the leave of Providence, in a few days to Connecticut, for the purpose of attending the General Asso- ciation as a commissioner of peace. My voice is still for peace. But I am very feeble, and not very fit to undertake anything which requires five minutes extra thinking, or the extra writing of a single line.' The committee thus appointed met, finally, a similar committee of the Association, in New York City, on the 1st of August. The latter would not touch the case of Mr. Chambers : they had been directed only to confer upon terms of correspondence and intercourse in general. The result of all was, that two new rules were adopted, one of which declared, that receiving candidates, licentiates or ministers, without clean papers, should "be deemed irregu- lar and unfriendly." An implied, instead of an express, confession of previous irregularity and unfriendliness, was thus made and for peace' sake accepted. In 1826, the Rev. John Breckinridge accepted a call to be Dr. Glendy's colleague in the pastorate of the Second Church of Baltimore. Dr. Miller preached the installation sermon, which, at the request of Dr. Glendy and his people, was published.^ In the "National Preacher" for December, ^ " Christian Weapons not Carnal, but Spiritual : A Sermon delivered in the Second Presbyterian Church, in the City of Baltimoro, October 13, 1826; attte Installation of the Ptcverend John Breckinridge, as Colleague with the Revor- 116 CHANGES AND LABORS. [CH. 26. 5. of the same year-, two other sermons of his made their ap- pearance.^ Of the Baltimore discourse the Christian Advocate said, "This is a long sermon but a very good one — sensible, in- structive, convincing, seasonable, pious, and practical. The preacher has seized a special occasion to deliver truths generally interesting and highly important to all ministers of the gospel; and he has made his familiarity with ecclesiastical history happily auxiliary, in several instances, to the striking illustra- tion and enforcement of the truths he inculcates."^ end John Glendy, D.D., in the Pastoral Charge of the said Church. By Samuel Miller, D. D., Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Church GoYernment, in the Theological Seminary at Princeton, New Jersey. Princeton Press : 1826." 2 Corinthians, x. 4. — 8vo. Pp. 55. 1 ''The Evidence and Duty of being on the Lord's Side : Two Sermons, etc. By Samuel Miller, D. D., Princeton, New Jersey." — Exodus xxxii. 26. — t>vo. pp. 16. 25 Vol., (1827,) 35. CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVENTH HABITS AND MANNERS. 1826, 1827. 1. Rural Pursuits. Brought up upon a farm, as he had been in Delaware, Dr. Miller had readily taken to rural life again in his suburban summer retreats upon Staten Island, at Harlem, and at Bloomingdale. So too, when, in Princeton, he be- came possessor of a place of his own, he entered with hearty relish, for health's sake, for relaxation and for comfort, into those country pursuits which his means afforded, and to which circumstances invited. He had formed a decided taste for husbandry, which, gratified as it was sparingly, without interfering with his professional studies or respon- sibilities, ministered greatly to the enjoyment and general welfare of the whole family. His correspondence was by no means confined to matters strictly theological and eccle- siastical : he often solicited and received information, from his brethren in the ministry and others, respecting agricul- ture and kindred subjects. Here is a long epistle from Dr. John H. Rice, giving very minute and curious infor- mation about the salting of bacon in the best Virginia style. The following extract from a letter of Dr. B. Fiske, of Worcester, Massachusetts, dated April 1, 1826, introduces a long account of his management of sia; acres of land, on which he had been living for thirty-five years. * The size of my paper, I hope, will allay your fears, that the questions embraced in your letter would be an intrusion, and that their consideration would be attended with reluctant in- convenience. They were propounded at a convenient season, and when I needed something to counteract the dispiriting in- fluence of a March wind. To the circumstance that you have Vol. II.— 11. 117 118 HABITS AND MANNERS. [CH. 27. 1. but recently turned your attention to llie subject of agriculture, and have not yet become warm in your new vocation, is it to be ascribed, that you seem not aware, that those who have a taste for this employment, and the means to indulge it, soon become enamored of their hobby, and are ready to mount when- ever their favorite is brought to their door. I now, on my part, have to fear, that you will be fatigued — I hope not disgusted — with the jaunt on which I am about to lead you. * Having been born and bred the son of a country " clergy- man," the late Dr. Fiske, of Brookfield in this county, I early became instructed in the science, and soon became attached to the practical concerns, of a farm ; and gave as much of my time to the business as could be spared, consistently with acquiring the education to which I was destined. My father from ne- cessity was a farmer, and became a good one. Indeed, fifty years ago, the clergymen of the town were almost the only scientific, and generally the best practical, farmers in it. That their hands should minister to their rjecessmes seemed a contingent of their settlement. If the parish furnished a parsonage, their salaries were, in consequence, so restricted, that they were com- pelled to labor for the support of their growing families. If they purchased domicils, they were generaliy under the necessity of paying for them from their produce, or from scanty stipends. In both cases their farms were small, and their skill was exerted to render them productive. My father was one of the above description. He was not inattentive to his studies and parochial duties, but his recreation and exercise were on his farm. When he settled in the ministry, he became indebted to his parish for sixty acres of good land. He soon built a house, chiefly on credit ; and became a housekeeper the first year. By the prudent management of his salary, — short of $400, — a moderate oidfit at his settlement, and the income of his farm, he discharged his debts, gave three sons an education at Cambridge University, and made ample provision for the other children. Though strictly economical in the management of his affairs, he lived up to the style of the day; and amply sustained the clerical reputation for hospitality. After leaving college, I became a physician; and in the year 1790, took possession of the little spot I now cultivate. From a state of exhaustion I put it into profitable condition; but made it a secondary object until 1815, when I retired from public and social employment on account of a defect in my hearing. From that period, I have given my principal attention to the silent, but solacing concerns of my early and favorite employment, grateful for a resource which can convert so great a calamity into so small an evil. Such 1826.] RURAL PURSUITS.. 119 are the vicissitude3 and deprivations to which we are exposed in life, that I would inculcate it as the duty of every parent, who has the opportunity, to initiate his sons, so that in all their gettings they should get understanding in husbandry. I am gratified to perceive, that efforts are in train to make this ac- quirement one of the rudiments of a public education. I speak feelingly, Sir; for, without this employment, I should now lack thealiment which could sustain either my corporal or mental vigor; and with it, I feel but little solicitude who is President or Governor; and would almost compound with any man for either office, upon condition that he would not disturb me in my retreat. Having accomplished my erratic excursion, I am dismounted at the place of starting.' AVhen Dr. Miller built his dwelling house, he secured, for its site, a lot of something less than an acre. A goodly portion of this was devoted to a front lawn and flower garden. Here shade trees of various kinds, evergreens and deciduous, were planted, and, growing luxuriantl}'-, at length almost shut out the mansion from the view of the street. On one side wa=? a good apple orchard of choice fruit, and behind all, besides outbuildings and their yards, an ample kitchen garden. Here a number of grape arbors rose to view ; peach, apricot, pear, plum, and cherry trees, in excellent variety, yielded rich supplies ; straw- berries, raspberries, gooseberries and currants abounded in their season ; and garden esculents of almost every de- scription were skilfully and successfully cultivated. Large' and prolific asparagus beds were objects of special atten- tion. For the most part. Dr. Miller attempted nothing beyond the oversight of the operations of tillage ; but there was a constant exception to this, during the last days of winter and the spring months, in his personal care of a row of excellent hot beds, the formation of which he first minutely superintended, and which he afterwards planted, watered and otherwise managed chiefly with his own hands. His gardening was certainty very successful, so far as its immediate results were concerned ; and many of his neighbors profited by it ; for early plants, fruits and vegetables were always superabundant ; and, taking into account the supply of the family table, the opportunity furnished of expressing kind feelings toward friends, the gratification of taste, the benefit to health, and all the 120 HAUITS AND MANNERS. [CH. 27. 1. advantages of home employmentSj pleasures, and means of improvement thus afforded for his children, it can hardly be doubted that his grounds well repaid the expense of their cultivation, although the outlay was considerable, and there was no direct pecuniary return. Some of the most delightful home reminiscences of surviving members of the family are connected with that garden, lawn and orchard ; the scenes and occupations of which were constantly form- ing habits and tastes, imparting knowledge and skill, sug- gesting ideas and exciting emotions, which have added ma- terially to the happiness of earth, and, at least, preserved from many temptations and irregular longings, which might seriously have endangered or diminished the happi- ness of heaven. Those hot-beds, out of doors, so sedu- lously planted and tended, the nursery of the vegetable grounds, were a picture of home, the nursery of both church and state ; and gave their simple, easy lessons and illustrations of truth to the home hard by, within doors, which imitated and rivaled their order, and received double benefit, corporeal and spiritual, from their products. Subsequently, Dr. Miller added to his grounds about fourteen acres of farm land, immediately adjoining, and partly inclosing, the original purchase ; and united farm- ing, in a small way, to gardening. He had, however, little or no additional time to devote to this extension of terri- tory and business ; and the garden, now considerably en- larged, perhaps suffered somewhat, and the farm still more, for want of his personal attention. But, as his sons grew up around him, he could throw part of the burden upon them ; while they had a wider range at home, and alto- gether, it is probable, the new purchase was an immediate family advantage. Mrs. Miller, indeed, sometimes, now in a laughing, again in a serious, mood, questioned the gains of farming, and, finding a large house particularly trouble- some, and good servants hard to obtain, often declared that the dwelling must have been intended for a tavern, and would doubtless one day attain its manifest destiny. She bore, however, faithfully her own full share of the burden, becoming as assiduous in her moderate, though sometimes oppressive dairy, as her husband was in his garden ; and, though her entrance, properly speaking, upon country life 1826.] RURAL PURSUITS. 121 was so late, she acquired no little skill in her department. Doubtless she sacrificed comfort too much to that dictum of careful, anxious housekeepers, that the mistress's eye and hand must be everywhere. Whenever health permit- ted, even to old age, she was, generally, the first of the household up in the morning, and the last, at night, to visit every part of the dwelling, to see that all was safe. One great advantage that the children reaped from the manner of their home life was that, partly of choice, partly as a matter of training, and partly through the occasional emergencies of such an establishment, they learned every appropriate homely art. Mrs. Miller had, indeed, some peculiar notions in regard to the training of her sons ; and she systematically taught them all to knit and sew — accom- plishments for which they have not been, in riper years, entirely ungrateful ; however their boy- companions, when the carefully kept secret of home employments with the needle leaked out, may have twitted them with being ''girls." Probably Dr. Miller's feeble condition and repeated ill- nesses in New Yorky with the hints that his brother Edward's medical experience furnished, had impressed upon him the necessity of constant attention to health ; and had convinced him of the truth so seldom practically learned, that this, like everything really valuable, is to be secured by diligent toil alone. Valetudinarianism thus imposing a special duty, country scenes and his own tastes combined to make that duty a delight ; aind systematic, frequent, out-door exercise became the pleasurable habit of his life. His hygienic principle, as regarded both ful- filling professional appointments and taking exercise, was to wrap up well, guarding especially his feet, and chest, and throat, then disregard weather, unless quite stormy. Soon after he settled in Princeton, — as early at least as the year 181G, — Dr. Miller added a horse and carriage to his establishment. Early and carefully, by way of recrea- tion, his sons were taught to drive, and both sons and daughters to ride. The carriage — altogether an unpretend- ing affair — was, however, very commodious in shape and size, and added materially to the means of family recrea- tion and enjoyment. It was greatly delighted in during 11^ 122 HABITS AND MANNERS. [CH. 27. 1. its earlier days, though, in a venerable old age, called, somewhat irreverent!}^, considering its years and service, *'the scow." Dr. Miller took long, and almost daily walks, chiefly for exercise, and rides or drives nearly as frequent. Besides the benefit to his own health which re- sulted from this habit, it was made, under the guidance of wisdom and affection, a most important adjunct to family training and discipline, and most efficiently promotive of family welfare. In the pleasure of his walks and rides as many as possible of the household shared. Almost daily, for years together, Dr. and Mrs. Miller might be seen taking their noon or afternoon walk, in this direction or that — commonly aw^ay from the village rather than through it, unless better walking, or an errand, required the latter direction. And generally they were accompanied by a little troop of rosy-faced, and in summer, bare-armed, children, always within sight, but otherwise allowed con- siderable latitude in their gambols. Both of them were attentive and delighted, though not very scientific, obser- vers of nature; and they imparted to all the children more or less of a taste for rural scenery and pleasures. A simple variation of their method was to drive out, es- pecially of a mild afternoon, packing with them into the carriage as many of the children as it would hold ; and those who saw it leave the door, with its load of old and young together, and who did not know that the latter, when they came to the foot of a hill, relieved the horse of their part of his burden and walked up the ascent, may have considered the poor animal sometimes too heavily tasked. But, by-and-by, another horse shared his labors, and after farming began, part of the time, a third. Of a Saturday afternoon, the carriage was often, in the proper season, called into requisition for a fishing excursion to "Worth's Mill," or "Pretty Brook," not quite two miles distant. There Father and Mother would sit or wander about in the shade for hours together, talking, reading or meditating, but ever ready to make a suggestion, or give a helping hand to the little ones, who angled, with success according to their years, for minnows. Every few weeks, a forenoon drive of ten miles to Trenton, for shopping, af- forded a highly relished change of scene and amusement 1827.] ^'CLERICAL MANNERS AND HABITS." 123 for as many as the carriage would hold comfortably, for so Ions: a drive. To riding on horseback Dr. Miller had been from boy- hood inured. During his early years, this exercise was doubtless as common in Delaware as through the South generally; and he ever retained his fondness for it, reluc- tantly becoming convinced but a few years before his death, that his waning strength was unequal to the effort which safety in the saddle required. 2. ^'Clerical Manners and Habits." In April, 1827, Dr. Miller published his work on Cleri- cal Manners and Habits^ — perhaps the most popular and and widely circulated production of his pen, if we except his tracts on Presbyterianism and Baptism. It had no doubt occupied his thoughts, more or less definitely, for a number of years; and the subject which it unfolded had, evidently, been with him a life-long and favorite study. His observation of successive classes of students in the Seminary had, certainly, deepened all his impressions of the import- ance of much more attention to this subject, on the part especially of ministers of the Gospel, than they usually gave, or considered needful. There can be no doubt, that democratic ideas, democratic institutions, and democratic usages have tended to lower, in this country, the standard of personal refinement and good manners, and to discourage the cultivation of elegant and polite habits. A proper re- action against the unnatural restraints, the burdensome etiquette, the heartless formalities, the puerile conceits and niceties, the hollow pretences and fictions, of courts and aristocratic saloons, has gone, however, to the extreme of depreciating true gentleness, and that Christian defer- ence to the feelings of others, of which fashionable polite ness has been rightly characterized as only an imita- tion, or imperfect copy. Refined manners are the natural outgrowth of morals and religion, and to exhibit and culti- vate them in their proper connexion and relation is the best means of eradicating the spurious and unwholesome 1 "Letters on Clerical Manners and Habits: addressed to a Student in the Theological Seminary at Princeton, N. J. By Samuel Miller, D.D., Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Church Government in the said Seminary." — 12mo. Pp. 395. ' 124 HABITS AND MANNERS. [CH. 27. 2. offsets of worldliness and unbelief. To this object Dr. Mil- ler's work was intended to contribute. These "Letters" had passed to a third edition in 1835, and have since been put upon the catalogue of the Presbyterian Board of Publi- cation, for permanent issue. ^ To the subject of personal habits and manners, the author had, beyond doubt, paid much attention both theo- retically and practically. From his earliest youth, he appears to have been led to set a high value upon refine- ment and courtesy in social intercourse. What particular instruction he had received, and whom he had taken for a model, as to these points, it is impossible, as before intima- ted, now to determine. It may be remarked, that when his native state and earliest acquaintances were called to mind, he often spoke of the best society of Delaware as distinguished, in his boyhood, for taste, polish, and social culture, mentioning, particularly, by name, different fami- lies and individuals pre-eminent in these respects. His father, educated in Boston, could hardly have lacked, in early life, patterns, or even lessons, of politeness; but nothing is known of his manners, excepting that, on occa- sions of ceremony, his presbyterial associates seem gener- ally to have put him forward, if not foremost. Passages have already been quoted, in which the mother was spoken of, by her husband, as ' of a disposition remarkably oblig- ing to all who came in her way ;' and, by her son, as * courteous and benevolent in [such] a very uncommon degree, [that] she endeared herself to all who knew her.' A few quotations from the writings of Dr. Sprague and others, in relation to Dr. Miller's own manners, may not be out of place, if thrown together here, although testi- monies from other sources, to the same effect, may appear, incidentally, in other parts of the volume. 1 The range of this work may be understood from a brief synopsis. I. In- troduction ; Importance of the subject — Prejudices — Value and attainment of Good Manners. II. General Characteristics of Clerical Manners : Dignity — Gentleness — Condescension — Aflfability — Reserve — Uniformity. III. Offen- sive Pei'sonal Habits. IV. Conversation. V. Religious Conversation. VI. Visiting : Pastoral Visits — Social Visits, VII. Habits in the Seminary gen- erally. VIII. Habits in the Study. IX. Habits in the Lecture room. X. Habits in the Pulpit and in the House of God. XT. Conduct in Church Judi- catories, XIL Female Society, Marriage, etc XIII. Dress— Style of Liv- ing— Pecuniary Concerns. XIV. Miscellaneous Councils : Punctuality — Early Hising — Health— Politic*— Clerical Recreations — Concern about Popularity — etQ. etc. 1827.] "CLERICAL MANNERS AND HABITS." 12.5 " Dr. Miller * * had much more than common advan- tages in respect to personal appearance. Of about the middle size, he was perfectly well proportioned, with a fine, intelligent and benignant countenance, which would not be likely to pass unnoticed in a crowd. His manners were cultivated and graceful in a high degree, uniting the polish of Chesterfield Avith the dignity and sincerity of a Christian minister. He was remarkably exact in his attention to little things ; and, though this may have sometimes given him, to a certain extent, an air of formality, it had undoubtedly much to do in giving a finish to both his manners and his character. His work on " Clerical Manners " could never have been written by one who was less considerate and exact than himself; and, indeed, but for his exceeding modesty, one might almost suppose that in writing it he was taking his own portrait. He was never thrown into any society so polished but that he was entirely at home in it ; and while he was as far as possible from being en- slaved to worldly usages, or cultivating a habit of too indis- criminate worldly intercourse, he never thought it beneath him to appear on all occasions as the accomplished Christian gen- tleman."^ « ^ * it was impossible for him to be otherwise than bland and courteous even towards an adversary. Not a small part of his writings are, in a greater or less degree, of a polemical character ; but they are generally marked by great caution and dignity, and I have never heard a more hearty tribute paid to him as an author, than by one eminent man who held with him a somewhat vigorous controversy."^ "Dr. Miller's person, though not above the middle size, was uncommonly symmetrical and dignified. His countenance spoke in no equivocal language of the benignity and generos- ity of his spirit. His manners were the simple reflection of the fine qualities of his intellect and heart. He might pass you in the street as a stranger, and yet you could not fail to recognize in him the polished gentleman. Perhaps his rigid regard to all the forms of polite society, so far as they were justified to his conscience and sense of propriety, gave to his manners an air of more than common precision; but there was nothing that was designed to inspire awe, or fitted to produce embar- rassment. Always self-possessed and perfectly at ease, and on all. suitable occasions cheerful and abounding with anecdote, he was welcome to every circle ; while yet he never forgot, or suflTered others to forget, the decorum that was due to his char- ^ 3 Sprague's Annals, 602, 3. 2 3 Sprague's Annals, 604. 126 HABITS A^^D MAN>5ERS. [CH. 27. 2. ter and office. Persons of every age and profession, the oldest and tlie youngest, the most intelligent and the least informed, "svere edified by his wisdom, entertained by his humour, and charmed by his bland and attractive address."^ " It is impossible to remember Dr. Miller, without thinking of him as a Christian gentleman. Without an approach to stiffness, he was urbane and elegant in all the forms of the best society, with which indeed he had always mingled. He was cheerful and cordial in his greetings, lively in conversation, and fond of social intercourse. It was to this that the found- ing and continuance of a clerical association was due, in which he and his ministerial friends met at one another's houses during many years. He was the charm of mixed companies ; being rich in topics of discourse, and happy beyond most men in apposite anecdote and historical reminiscence. Indeed we have never known any one who could give such magical effect to little ebullitions of humour, which repeated by the lips of others seemed to lose all their aroma."^ " Some allusion has been made to the character of Dr. Mil- ler in its social aspect. One of the first ideas suggested by the mention of his name, in any company where he was personally known, is that of a Christian gentleman. Accustomed from his childhood to the best society, his manners were marked with a dignity and polish which no artificial tutelage could have imparted. Equally free from the foppery which makes a man contemptible, and the stateliness which makes a man ridicu- lous, " there was a uniformity, an urbanity, and a vigilance in his dignity, which plainly showed that it was not the result of temporary effort, but the spontaneous product of a polished, benevolent, and elevated mind."''" He saw no reason why piety should be divorced from politeness, nor why an ambassa- dor for Christ should not be a gentleman. So far from it, he was persuaded that ministers of the gospel were imperatively bound to pay due attention to matters of etiquette and personal address, since the neglect of this must unavoidably abridge their usefulness. He had not overlooked that concise precept, which too many of all classes deem unworthy of their notice, " Be courteous." Recognizing its apostolical authority, he ex- emplified it with a felicity which few men of any profession have attained in an equal degree. "It was this in part which made him so delightful a com- panion. Rarely indeed does an individual carry with him, ^ Dr. Sprague's Commemorative Discourse, 12, 13. 2 Life of Dr. A. Alexander, 577, 8. " * Miller's Life of Dr. Rodgers." 1827.] ^' CLERICAL MANXEKS AND HABITS." 127 into the social circle and the more private intercourses of friendship, such ample and varied resources. Manners of the utmost dignity and blandness were, in his case, associated with an exuberant fund of information always at command, an affluent vocabulary, a refined taste, a genial humour, an unfail- ing cheerfulness, and a goodness of heart which revealed itself in a thousand nameless and undefinable ways in the whole texture of his conversation. Without the least tinge of pedantry, he instructed while he pleased his visitors ; and augmented their store of valuable knowledge, without any ostentatious parade of his own. If his presence imposed a restraint upon vulgarity and vice, it did not check the flow of innocent mirth. His vivacity, however, never degenerated into levity, nor his wit into coarseness. Nor did he ever allow himself to forget his high character as a minister of Jesus Christ. He possessed the happy art of making religion appear lovely even to those who had never learned to love it. The fragrance of a true piety was about him in every scene of social enjoyment ; and many a family has felt, on his leaving them, as the Shunamite did about Elisha, that they would like to build a "little chamber" for him on the wall, and secure him for a frequent guest."^ " Through his whole career, both of youth and old age, he w'as a model of ministerial propriety. In his daily walk and conversation, sobriety, gravity, urbanity, gentility, courtesy, politeness and considerate good-will to all, found their harmo- nious and beautiful living illustration. No man possessed, in happier combination, the fortiter in re et suaviter in modo. Of medium stature and well proportioned, with a fine intelli- gent, benignant face, that at once won the regard of a stranger, unusually prepossessing in his personal appearance even to old age, always neat and elegant in his attire, proverbially syste- matic and methodical in all his habits and pursuits, in manners the perfect embodiment of a Christian gentleman — the very Chesterfield of the church — he was yet a man of the highest type of piety — humble, prayerful, zealous, self-denying, and intensely devoted to his Master's cause.''^ A late editorial notice, in a Baptist newspaper,^ of Mr. Leonard W. Jerome's recent gift to the College of New Jersey, of five thousand dollars, as the foundation of an annual prize for the "first gentleman" in the graduating class, contains the following paragraph : — 1 Dr. Boardman's Tribute, etc., 16, 17, 18. - Dr. Halsev'a Great Preachers and Pastors. XorC -Wettern Prethyterian. August 22, 1868. P. 1. 3 Watchman and Reflector — Boston, 1867. 128 HABITS A^"D MANNERS. [CH. 27. 2. "Mr. Jerome says, that *a due regard for the feelings of others^ is the foundation of a gentleman. We would add an- other stone to the foundation by quoting the old definition of politeness — * true kindness, kindly expressed.' And, as we write, there rises before us one, whom we regret that the students of Princeton cannot know as their living example; who in char- acter and manner always showed that he not only regarded the feelings of others, but felt for them a kindness which he kindly and invariably expressed. We refer to the late Kev. Dr. Miller. Some called him the Chesterfield of the American pulpit. He was more; for in spirit, in life, in tone, in manner, he was the highest style of a man, a Christian gentleman. They may find, however, in his ' Hints on the Formation of Clerical manners,' many suggestions which will enable them to compete for the prize to be given to ' the first gentleman of his class.' " Professor Stuart of Andover, wrote to Dr. Miller as follows : — 'Rev. and dear Sir, Andover, 6 June, 1827. ' I have obtained the loan of your recent publication, for two or three days, and devoured the whole, almost at a meal. I must say, that I have never read anything of this nature, which gave me equal pleasure and satisfaction. It does honor to your head, and heart, and style and manners. It is not Chesterfield ; but something at which Chesterfield was partly aiming, but which no one except a Christian could attain. "Omne tulit punctum," I must say of your book; and I may add, " qui miscuit utile dulci." I do insist upon it, that every clergyman in our country shall have a copy ; and we have taken measures, here, to have a copy put into the hands of every student in our Seminary. The work will live, when you and I are dead ; and speak to the honor of its author, and to the good of his successors in the sacred ofiftce. ' The style is of that pure, chaste, unambitious nature, which does not woo the reader "with painted cheeks and flaming ribands." It is not unworthy of the pen of Cowper. I have lighted upon only some five or six words which I think should be excluded. Item belongs only to books of account; and some others I have marked. But they are scarcely worth naming. * Above all, the spirit of the book, through and through, is Christian — altogether so. It is impossible that it should not do good. ' How you could contrive to handle the matters in your third letter, so as never once to descend from entire gravity and de- corum, I scarcely know. Again I say, "Omne tulit punctum." 1827.] *' CLERICAL MANNERS AND HABITS." 129 'The particular object of this letter is, to inquire, -whether you would have any objection to our making a tract here of your third letter, printed in an attractive manner, with a hand- some cover, and distributing it in every college and academy in Kew England. Some slight alterations, for such a general purpose, may perhaps be requisite. Will you make them (in case you accede to the proposition) ; or shall they be entrusted to us ? And are there not some more particulars, which (for such a tract) you might add to advantage? * Be so kind as to let me know your feelings in respect to these questions, and believe me to be ' Yours with much resnect and affection, ' Moses Stuart. ' P. S. On further reflection, I am clearly of opinion, that, if any alterations or additions aremade, you should yourself make them. M. S.' Mr. Wisner wrote, ' I was exceedingly gratified with hearing you were about to publish such a book, and I entertained high expectations respect- ing it, which were not at all disappointed on the perusal. I have heard the professors at Andover, and several other clergymen in our quarter, who had read the book, express their opinions of it ; all, with one exception, in terms of high commendation. The exception was one of our genteel, tippy Unitarian minis- ters of Boston, who thought it was too minute, and calculated to make the people think, that ministers in general must be a set of boors. But he knows nothing about ministers, except as polished, literary, fashionable, gentlemen.' Dr. Greville Ewing, of Glasgow, in a letter of the 1st of December, 1828, said, ' Your Letters on Clerical Manners and Habits, of which I had read a review, I now see to be a work of very great import- ance. It quite engrosses my attention. It supplies what was truly a desideratum in theological education. I hope to derive much assistance from it in superintending a small seminary, with which Dr. Wardlaw and I are connected.' In the North American Review appeared a critique on this work, which Princeton tradition ascribes to the late Dr. Joseph Addison Alexander, who, when it was written, had not yet completed his twentieth year. The following extract is a specimen of the more laudatory portions. " Dr. Miller has a happy talent for the composition of a book. His method, though running out too much into detail, is very Vol. XL— 12. 130 HABITS AND MANNERS. [CH. 27. 2. perspicuous. His style is marked by an elegant simplicity, and is always intelligible. Generally flowing with the easy sweetness of Doddridge, Newton, and that class of writers on experimental religion, it occasionally rises to the more artifi- cial, condensed, and elevated strain of Hannah More. His English is of the purest kind, and his selecter expressions un- commonly felicitous. Even in his more personal controversies, there is little that is rough, discourteous, Warburtonian. All is as smooth as oil ; though, as Burke once described the re- proof of a certain righteous man, it is often the oil of vitriol. No man surpasses him in the art of saying severe things in a soft and tender way, and with a kind of helpless, unconscious simplicity. The affectionate pressure of his hand becomes un- awares a rigorous grasp. His knowledge of human nature is deep ; not arising merely from the varied trials and conflicts of experience, but also from strong natural sagacity, and the habitual study of his own heart. Admirable are his precepts on managing and regulating one's own prejudices, v^eaknesses, and virtues ; delicate and skilful his tact in teaching us how to deal with those of others. Some portions of the present volume breathe a lofty and refreshing morality, however the fastidious may be displeased with several apparently coarse and trifling topics. We would recommend its perusal to readers of every class, as well as to the divine, or theological student."^ Some critics charged the work with being too minute in its details, especially as to oiFences against propriety too gross and palpo.ble to need mention ; but as one of his re- viewers remvarks, " General statements usually make but a slight and evanes- cent impression on any, and they make the least of all on the young. Young persons must be told of individual things, and have line upon line and precept upon precept, if we would hope to do them good." He adds, " We have ourselves felt deeply the conviction, as we were reading the volume, that the author, while writing it, was swallowed up, if we may so express it, by a desire to do good. — Aiming at this, he disregarded every con- sideration that seemed to interfere with his main object. At a book thus written, and ably written, the critic may carp, and the witling may sneer, but the wise and the good will commend, and many who receive benefit will bless, the writer." The same reviewer concludes thus : — "Since its publication, a very competent critic has remarked, 1 Vol. xxviii. (April, 1820), 506. 1827.] "CLERICAL MANNERS AND HABITS." 131 that not only clergymen, but all men of liberal pursuits, may profit much by a careful perusal of these letters. But we hesi- tate not to say, that every theological student or young minis- ter of the gospel in our country, who shall voluntarily neglect to read them, will not have availed himself of one of the best aids that he might have used, for knowing his duty, and for in- citing^ him to its faithful discharo;e."^ 16 Christian Advocate, (1828,) 127, etc. CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHTH. QUIET YEARS. ' 1827-1831. li State of the CnuRcn. — The College. Sores were festering, and fever was rising in the Pres- byterian body ; but Dr. Miller could not believe that the alarm which some felt was well founded ; he did not regard the order or purity of the Church as endangered ; and, hence, while ready to co-operate in every measure designed to promote simply and directly what he considered Ortho- doxy, and strict Presbyterianism, he opposed, steadily, as yet, all interference with the opinions or practices of those who were currently charged with New England errors. There were flying distempers, but no settled, much less any dangerous, disease in the system. He had been familiar with Hopkinsianism and Voluntary Societies all his minis- terial life : they had not yet impaired seriously the sound- ness or vigour of his beloved church ; and of their ever doing so he doubted, well nigh, the possibility. Whatever lack of discernment it may argue, in the opinion of some who now see that he was mistaken, such, certainly, was his con- clusion at this time ; and troubled thoughts about the future did not disturb his peace. The exacting, weary toils of his early professorship were over; he had found time for again voluntarily laboring as an author; and perhaps we may call a few years, just now, "quiet years," as truly as we may any portion of his life. At fifty-eight, he was beginning to talk of old age, but as yet really not so much to feel, as to anticipate, its approach. On the 11th of April, 1827, a committee, of which Dr. Miller was chairman, was appointed to examine into the 132 1827.] THE COLLEGE. state of the college of Xew Jersey. On the 27th of Se^ tember following, a report of considerable length, from the pen of the chairman, was presented. The average number of students was only about eighty ; and the expenses of the institution exceeded by several hundred dollars, annually, its receipts. Application had often been made, without eifect, to the legislature of New Jersey for aid ; and appeals to private liberality had been, as yet, little more successful. Some of the trustees entertained an idea that the profes- sors' salaries might be curtailed. To venture on, without shortening sail, they feared might prove disastrous. The following extracts from Dr. Miller's report exhibit the principles, which, happily, yet not without a short experi- mental abandonment of them, prevailed in the management of the College. 'In regard to any eligible plan for lessening the expenses of the college, your committee feel equally at a loss. However difficult it may be to continue to pay the present salaries of our officers, there seems reason to fear, that, if they should be re- duced to any such extent as would be worth considering, the risk of endangering the respectability of the institution, and of failing to command, or to retain, such an array of talent in the faculty, as is absolutely essential to its prosperity, would more than counterbalance the value of the proposed saving. If the college is to be supported at all, it must be, in the opinion of the committee, not by reducing the provision for the comfort of its officers, which would only diminish the probability of the places being suitably filled, but by using all the means in our power to render the course of instruction and the order of the institution such as to command a high degree of public confi- dence, and thus attract a larger number of pupils.' The committee after recommending the constant presence of one or more of the tutors in the college edifice, particu- larly upon the Sabbath, continue, 'As connected with this subject your committee cannot but call the attention of the board to an ancient usage of the college, to provide convenient and comfortable rooms in the college edifice, for the accommodation of the professors, for the purpose of study, so that they may be there during the day as steadily as circumstances will permit. Experience does but too well evince, that the presence of the tutors only is not sufficient to secure that degree of order essential to the proper regulation of the house, and to the maintenance of the necessary discipline 12* 134 QUIET YEARS. [CH. 28. 1. of the institution. To this may be added the practice of regular visitation by the professors in the rooms of the students, which duty ought, in the opinion of the committee, to be distributed among them by the faculty, so that each should have his proper share of the labour. ' Your committee are also persuaded, that, as the students are very properly required to attend morning and evening prayers in the college chapel, it is not only proper but important, that all the members of the faculty who lodge in the public edifice should regularly attend morning prayers with the students; and that the whole faculty, as far as practicable, attend in the evening. Few things are more adapted to make an unfavorable impression on the minds of the students, than any apparent want of punctuality in attending to this duty on the part of their teachers. ' Your committee have reason to believe, that it would con- tribute to the maintenance of good order in the refectory, if besides both the tutors' being always present, the President and professors should, in turn, as often as circumstances will admit, one at a time, also give their attendance at meals.' This report was adopted, and another committee, of which also Dr. Miller was chairman, was appointed, ^ to take into consideration the whole state and arrangements of the College, and report thereon.' They presented, on the 9th of the following April, a second report, from the pen of Dr. Miller; which, however, under the influence of a continued and alarming diminution of the number of stu- dents, and an increased pecuniary deficit, recommended, as unavoidable, a temporary reduction of salaries, — the President's to $1600, and each professor's to $1000, per annum, — commencing six months from that time. But, at the close of the year, two professors resigned their chairs ; and the experiment proved so injurious, that in September, 1830, the salaries were augmented ; soon after which, the faculty was strengthened by additions ; temporary loans of money were obtained; an appeal was made to the friends of the institution ; aid was promised to indigent students; somehow^ crowding on sail ''raised the wind; " and, with- in a few years, an additional college edifice, for the accommo- dation of students, was requisite, and its erection was suc- cessfully undertaken. "There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty."^ ^ Proverbs 11, 1827.] correspondence. 135 2. Correspondence. In regard to Mr. Sprague's proposed volume of discourses to young people, Dr. Miller wrote, on the 30th of August, 182:7. 'Another idea has also frequently occurred with force to my mind, when questions like the present were under discussion. * * Even supposing that there were a much less real call for such a work than there is, still a new one might be much more extensively circulated, in a particular neighborhood, where the author is known and beloved, than any old one could possibly be. * * ' I. Be not in haste to put the work to press. Prepare it at your leisure, digest it well, let at least two years elapse, from this time, before you begin to print. * II. Make as complete a collection of all printed essays, dis- courses, etc., for young people, as you can possibly procure. Every one of them will serve to contribute something to the enlargement of your plan, and to render your discourses more rich, dense, pungent, and adapted to your great purpose. ' III. Communicate your plan, and some, or, if convenient, all of your discourses in detail, to the friendly eyes of afeiv of your brethren in the ministry in your neighborhood. I say a few. Do not make confidants of many in this business, or their dif- ferent and conflicting opinions will perplex rather than aid you.' On another subject Dr. Miller added, * I think with you, that it is truly desirable to have some of our most respectable candidates settling in iS^ew England, for the sake of promoting union and fraternal affection among the evangelical ministers of the United States. I hope such settle- ments will frequently occur in future, and that this happy fruit of them will be abundant and manifest.' From New York city, where he was attendinf]^ the an- nual meeting of the American Board of Foreign Missions, Dr. Miller wrote to Mr. Wisner, on the 13th of October, 1827, ' May the Lord bless you and yours! "We live in a wonder- ful day ; a day which calls for much zeal, labour and fidelity on the part of all God's people, and especially his ministers. Let us watch and pray that we may be found faithful, active and indefatigable to our latest breath. What a precious Mas- 136 QUIET YEARS. [CH. 28. 2. ter do we serve ! What a blessed work is that in which we are engaged ! ' Dr. Miller delivered the introductory lecture, at the opening of the Seminary term in November of this year, choosing, as his subject, 'The Importance of the Gospel Ministry.' It was afterwards published^ by request of "The Society for Inquiry on Missions," composed of the students. The Rev. James W. Moore, w^ho had recently left the Seminary, and was settled in Little Rock, Arkansas, hav- ing written to Dr. Alexander and Dr. Miller, requesting advice, the latter replied for both, on the 12th of January, 1828, Dr. Alexander adding a brief endorsement of his col- league's views. This reply w^as in part as follows: — * I desire, my dear young Brother, to unite with you in prais- ing the Lord, that he has been pleased to smile upon you, and give you seals to your ministry. Truly you ought to lie in the dust of humility, while you praise him, that, in his sovereign and condescending wisdom, he has made the labours of a poor sinful man, effectual to the saving benefit of some of his fellow men. Verily, the treasure is in earthen vessels, that the ex- cellency of the power may be seen by every one to be of God, and not of us. Happy will it be for you, my young Friend, if vou are enabled to see this truth in a strono; and clear li2:ht habitually, and to cherish those practical sentiments which ought ever to flow from it. A minister of the gospel is never so likely to be blessed and honored of God, as when he lives under the deepest impression of his utter inability to render his own ministrations effectual in a single instance ; and unceasing- ly and importunately looks to the God of all grace to crown them with his blessing. "^ * ' With regard to the young lawyer, concerning whom you cherish the hope that he is a sincere convert to the love and obedience of the truth, * * it will readily occur to you, that we know too little of his character, attainments and circum- stances, to give advice with any real intelligence. One ques- tion is. Has he been long enough hopefully a Christian, to j)ut to a suitable test the reality, fixedness and decision of his reli- gious character? Another very important query relates to 1 " The Importance of the Gospel Ministry ; an Introductory Lecture, de- livered at the opening of the Winter Session of the Theological Seminary at Princeton, New Jersey, Nov. 9, 1827. By Samuel Miller, D.D., Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Church Government in the said Seminary. Prince- ton, N. J. 1827."— sVo. Pp. 56. 1828.] CORRESPONDENCE. 137 that preliminary literary furniture, which is indispensable to the pursuit of the study of Theology to any advantage. And, al- though the account which you give of his intellectual charac- ter is strongly favorable, yet intellectual vigour, you well know, though important, cannot possibly supply the phice of elemen- tary knowledge. * "' [That he] has never graduated "^^ * is a small matter, if he really possess, substantially, the knowledge which is usually found in a graduate: nay, if he possess the leading branches of that knowledge, he may proceed with tol- erable success. If then, in your judgment, he has acquired, no matter where, such an amount of the languages as will enable him to pursue, with any degree of advantage, the course of study in this Seminary, encourage him to come on. ^ * * If you and this gentleman, after due consultation, should be of the opinion that his preliminary education is not sufficient either for our rules, or for his own advantage, in studying Theology, suppose he were soon to come on, and to spend a year in Princeton in ^ '^ academical studies. It would lead to a little delay in the prosecution of his theological course ; but would, in my opinion, be much more than an equivalent for this disadvantage.' Dr. Miller always discouraged a hasty entrance upon a theological course. His published introductory lecture, to be noticed hereafter, upon the importance of mature preparatory study for the ministry, though treating of the professional training alone, exhibited, of necessity, princi- ples applicable to every stage of education. One of his pupils said, in after years, *I was somewhat advanced in life when I studied with a view to the ministry, and therefore felt inclined to omit a regular course in college. I wrote to Dr. Miller, asking his views upon the subject, and inquiring how students generally stood in the Seminary, who had not pursued a college course. His reply was such as any one acquainted with him would expect. He said, emphatically, that neither the wants of the church, nor advancing years, would justify a superficial preparation for en- tering the theological seminary.' Mr. Wisner wrote for permission to publish in his new magazine, the " Spirit of the Pilgrims," Dr. Miller's letter to Dr. Codman, an extract from which has been given on a previous page.^ After granting this request. Dr. Miller added, in a letter of the 20th of February, 1828. 1 1 Vol. 292, 293. 138 QUIET YEARS. [CH. 28. 2. * Will you allow a man who is growing old, and who, what- ever may be his lack of practical wisdom, has seen more than a score of years beyond your number, to offer one suggestion respecting your new magazine? ' It is this — that, in my opinion, it will be wise to keep out of view, as much as possible, the points of polemical discussion bandied about among the Orthodox themselves; and to exhibit the great doctrines of the Gospel under an aspect practical, solemn, and adapted to take hold of the conscience and the heart. Whenever you address men in a polemical tone, and with the refinements and spirit of polemical speculation, they will seldom fail to listen to you with a corresponding feeling ; nay, with a sort of captious, pugilistick watchfulness — with a disposition to parry and thrust — which is greatly removed, as it appears to me, from the desirable state of mind. But, when you speak in the tone and spirit of the Bible, addressing directly and tenderly the conscience and the heart, as well as the under- standing, your hearers will be apt, unconsciously, to be off their guard, to lay themselves more open to your stroke, and, of course, to receive it in all its plenary force. I add no more : a word is sufficient. * * 'Be pleased to put down my name as a subscriber to the " Spirit of the Pilgrims." ' The following brief extracts are from a long letter which appeared in the "New-Jersey Sabbath School Journal" for March, 1829, with only the explanation, that it had been addressed, by Dr. Miller, to a clergyman of that State, by whose permission it was published. "Kev. and dear Sir, Princeton, September 10, 1828. " When you requested me, the other day, to express, in writing, my opinion of the Sabbath School system, as pursued in the United States, I was, I confess, in some degree surprised. I had been under the impression that all the enlightened and re- flecting part of the community were already so deeply convinced of the utility and importance of that invaluable addition to the other benevolent institutions of the day, that all further reason- ing in its behalf was unnecessary. If this be not the case, I regret the fact; and am ready, most cheerfully, to contribute my mite toward the promotion of w^hat is so extremely desirable as a correct and universal public sentiment in reference to this subject." '"^ * "I once thought there was no good reason why the children of intelligent, pious parents — parents able and willing to instruct their own children — should be sent to the Sabbath School ; being 1828.] CORRESPONDENCE. 139 under the impression that everything in the way of tuition could be quite as well, if not better, done for them at home. But I have altered my mind on this point. I would urge chil- dren of all classes to attend. I think it my duty to send my own children, not merely for the sake of example, and to stimu- late others, whose children may be less favorably situated, to do the same; but also from a j^ersuasion that my children are really likely to be better managed, and in some respects better instructed, in a well conducted Sabbath School, than under my own roof. ^ ^^ "In truth, I am of the opinion, that every minister ought to consider the sheet-anchor of his hopes, not only for the Church and the State, but also for his ovv'n personal comfort, usefulness and popularity, as lying, under God, peculiarly with the children and young people of his charge. If I could be so far forgetful of my allegiance and duty to my Divine Master, as to pursue, supremely, my own personal comfort and popular acceptance, I could not, I am persuaded, take any other course so well adapted to the attainment of my object as that of paying un- wearied attention to the rising generation ; mingling much with them ; and taking a deep interest and an active part in every lawful institution intended to promote knowledge, virtue and piety among them." One of the foregoing extracts might seem to imply more than Dr. Miller intended. It is the one referring to his own children. All know that parents, too often, make the Sabbath School an excuse for necflecting; religious instruction at home ; but against such neglect the ordering of his own household was a constant protest. Explaining his words by his practice, we must conclude that he only meant to represent the Sabbath School as an important auxiliary to family training, and as likely to secure some benefits, which really cannot be so well secured at home. Thus, the various incitements which association in study supplies may often be greatly multiplied in the Sabbath School. The following are extracts from letters to Dr. Sprague of the 6th and 8th, respectively, of October, 1828. 'I have only time, at present, to say, that my attendance at the meeting of the "Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mis- sions" was truly gratifying. I wish you could have been present to witness the harmony, the christian aftection, the increasing energy, and the growing patronage of that noble institution ; an institution, which, I trust, is destined to share largely with our 140 QUIET YEARS. [CII. 28. 2. brethren on the other side of the Atlantic, in hastening on those days, when the knowledge and glory of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters fill the sea.' *I cordially congratulate you on the recent collegiate honor with which you have been crowned. I am sure you will do me the favor to believe, that I rejoice in all your honors, as well as all your comforts and usefulness. A venerable clergyman, now no more, said, when he had received a similar honor, "I hope this event will produce no other efiect, than to make me more deeply humble, and more emulous to excel in true piety, in ardent zeal, in active labor for Christ, and in every qualifi- cation which ought to adorn the character of a devoted chris- tian Doctor." I do not allow myself to question that you will, from the heart, adopt the same language. To be dubbed a Doctor of Divinity is, in itself, a little thing ; but the smallest things may be made great in their effects on our own minds, if properly improved, and really sanctified.' About the year 1828, Dr. Lyman Beecher received a call to Philadelphia, in regard to which Dr. Miller wrote to him a letter which appears in his Autobiography.^ This letter, which follows, will be mentioned again in the sequel. " Before this letter reaches your hands, you will have been apprised that the church of w^hich our friend Dr. Skinner was lately the pastor has given you a unanimous call to become their minister. "Some are disposed to smile at this measure as a sort of des- perate effort at retaliation for robbing Philadelphia of Dr. Skinner. Others view it as a plan by no means hopeless. But ALL, so far as I know, in this region, would most cordially re- joice in the success of the application, and hail your arrival in Philadelphia as an event most devoutly to be wished by all the friends of Zion within the bounds of the Presbyterian Church. "My dear Brother, I beg, with all the earnestness which I am capable of feeling or uttering, that you will not either lightly consider or hastily reject this call. I do seriously believe that, however painful the step of removal to Philadelphia might be, both to the friends of religion in Massachusetts and to yourself, the residue of your days could not possibly be disposed of (so far as human views can go) in a manner so much calculated to unite the friends of Christ in the South and West with those in the East, and to introduce a new era of harmony, love, and co- operation in the American churches. ^ 2 Vol., 133-135. 1829.] CORRESPOXDEXCE. 141 "It is not only a matter of immense importance that the in- dividual church in Philadelphia which gives you this call should be supplied with a pastor wise, pious, peaceful, prudent, and ac- ceptable, as far as possible, to all parties ; but, if you will come to that place, I am most deeply persuaded that you will have an opportunity of diffusing a most happy and reviving influ- ence all around you to a degree which very few men in our coun- try have ever had ; that you will be likely, humanly speaking, to bring together feelings and efforts which are now widely separated, and, in fact, to give a new impulse to all those great plans which I know to be near your heart. " By removing to Philadelphia, unless I utterly miscalculate, you would not be likely to subtract very essentially from your usefulness in Massachusetts. You might still, by means of writing and occasional visits, continue to do there a large por- tion of what you now do, while your usefulness and influence in the Presbyterian Church, from New England to New Or- leans, might, and probably would, be increased ten fold. I have no doubt that, by the acceptance of the station to which you are called, your opportunity for doing good in the American churches would be doubled, if not quadrupled at a stroke. "Say not that these things are mere matter of human calcu- lation. They are so ; and yet, I think, the Book of God and human experience furnish an abundant foundation for them to rest upon. The truth is, we want nothing for the benefit of our eighteen hundred churches, next to the sanctifying spirit of God, so much as an individual in Philadelphia (our ecclesias- tical metropolis) who should be active, energetic, untiring, com- prehensive in his plans, and firm and unmoved in his purposes and efi()rts. ^ " Will you not cast yourself on the Lord's strength and faith- fulness, and come and help us to unite all our forces in one mighty effort, in the name of our heavenly King, to promote his cause at home and abroad ? " With the cordiality of a brother, and the freedom of an old friend, I conjure you, when such an open door is set before you, not to refuse to enter it. As to your reception among us, I hope I need not say that it would be, universally, with glad hearts and open arms. May the Lord direct and bless you." The following letter was written to a daughter who, on a visit to Baltimore, was just recovering from an alarming iHness. 'My dear Sarah, Princeton, April 8th, 1829. 'Although, on receiving your letter, last evening, the appearance of your handwriting confirmed our best hopes, and Vol. II.— 13. 142 QUIET YEARS. [CH. 28. 2. all that had been said in our letters from Baltimore, with re- gard to your returning health, there was another aspect under Vvhich I regarded it as aifording some cause of regret. I have seen such little things affect a convalescent state, that indeed I trembled over the effort you had ipade in writing ; and altliough Mary wrote to you yesterday, I feel as if I must, to-day, send you a cautionary letter. I have observed that an over effort of mind was more apt to produce a relapse, than a little bodily fatigue : you must not, therefore, my dear child, read much more, for some time, than your Bible ; and I am reluctant to add, after all the kindness of your friends, for which I am glad to find you so grateful, that you must not have many visitors or much conversation. I need not caution you against the indul- gence of your appetite, which will probably be very urgent after so long a restraint, because, if you commit any error, it will probably be on the other extreme. I want you now to feed yourself a little, that you may regain some of your lost strength. ' But most of all the thought presses upon my heart, that you will let this last impressive call pass away unimproved. You have slighted many before, and quieted, I have no doubt, many a suggestion of the Spirit, by saying, "Go thy way for this time ; when I have a convenient season, etc." My dear Sarah, did you ever leave a piece of temporal business, that you thought of some importance, unfinished, on account of some trifling in- terruption, with the feeling of perfect certainty that you Avould have more than enough time to attend to it in future ; but that time never came? I have often done so, and have often trem- bled, since I have seen the sure reality of everlasting things, at the thought, that so I might have left my preparation for eter- nity. Every thing which I have before mentioned as calcu- lated to injure your returning bodily health, may likewise hin-' der the attainment of health to your immortal spirit. Oh that you felt far more than I now do, that " Noiu is the accepted time, and now the day of salvation" ; and with one gathering up of your mind would resolve to seek till you find. I was so concerned for you yesterday, that I could not help interesting the ladies at our little prayer meeting, in the evening, for you ; and jNIrs. Wilson seemed to make the case so much her own, that I could not help hoping, that "two had been agreed" on this subject. 'Farewell ! I desire to commit you, for time and eternity, in faith, into better hands than ray own ; although I think I can say, that I am your 'Sincerelv affectionate mother, 'Sarah Miller.' 1829.] PUBLICATIONS. 143 3. PUBLICATIOXS. In 1829, again, we find the students of the Seminary requesting a copy of Dr. Miller's Introductory Lecture for publication. It was published accordingly.^ A short ex- tract will exhibit its occasion and desi^jn. «>;= * The friends of this Institution have often remarked, with surprize and regret, how very small a portion of those who study here can be prevailed upon to remain for three years, and to complete the regular course. Seldom, if ever, I think, have we been able to persuade as many as one-half of any class to continue their studies to the close of the prescribed period. Many study but half the usual time ; others not more than a third part ; and some, after spending with us a single short summer session, have gone forth, and announced them- selves to the churches as pupils of our Seminary. Against this great, and, I fear, undiminishing evil, the Professor^hstYe, from time to time, raised the voice of solemn remonstrance ; the Board of Directors have, once and again, recorded their pointed testimony; and the General Assembly have expressed their utter disapprobation, in terms which might have been expected to be decisive in their influence on all considerate minds. Still the deplorable evil in question continues to prevail Presby- teries either give it their direct countenance, or cannot be pre- vailed upon to set their faces, with suflicient firmness, against it ; and short sighted or infatuated young men, setting at naught the counsels of experience, and urged on, either by in- considerate friends, or their own impatience, ascend the pulpit, and undertake to teach others, while they need to be taught themselves " the first principles of the oracles of God." " I shall not, at present, detain you with any comments on the tendency of this practice to injure the Seminary itself; to render it both less useful, and less respectable, in the eyes of an enlightened religious public, * ^ more especially, because there are other considerations, still more momentous, on which I consider it my duty now to enlarge."^ \ The Lecturer urges more thorough preparation on th^ grounds (1) of our obligation "to serve Christ with the very best faculties and attainments that we possess, or 1 " The Importance of Mature Preparatory Stud.y for the Ministry : an Introductory Lecture, delivered at the Opening of the Summer Session of the Theological Seminary at Princeton, New Jersey, July 3, 1829. By Samuel Miller, D.D., Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Church Government in the said Seminary. Princeton Press: 1829."— 8vo. Pp. 42. 2 Pp. 5, 6. 144 QUIET YEARS. [OH. 28. 3. can possibly acquire;" (2) '' of the extent, difficulty, and importance of the various departments of knowledge ■which are necessarily included in" a proper theological course ; (3) 'Hhat he who does not lay a good foundation in the beginning, will never be likely to supply the deficiency afterwards ;" (4) of the importance of thoroughness, " not merely for the purpose of storing the mind with knowledge, but also for the purpose of that intellectual and moral dis- cipline, which is of no less value to a minister of Christ than theological learning;" (5) of "the opinion and prac- tice of our Fathers in all past ages;" (6) " that the pre- sent state of the world, and especially of our own country, calls for more various and profound knowledge in ministers of the Gospel, than was demanded in former times ;" (7) " that learning is, at present, at a low ebb among the Clergy of the Presbyterian Church;" (8) '^ that our country, and especially *some parts of it, stand in need of nothing, at this moment, (next to the sanctifying grace of God,) so much as a large supply of truly able, pious, and well-trained ministers of the Gospel." Dr. Miller had delivered the substance of this lecture at the opening of the winter ses- sion, November 9th, 1821 ; and he remarks, " I cannot anticipate, beloved Pupils, what efiect this earnest appeal may produce on your minds; especially when it was pro- ductive of so little sensible effect on your predecessors, ^ight years ago." Professor Moses Stuart, on the 16th of September, wrote, * I received by mail a copy of your Lecture on a full course of theological study, for which I desire to thank you in no ordi- nary way. I have never seen the subject treated so much ad unguem, or the details of it so well arranged and filled out. I could almost thank those young men, who, by refusing to hearken to your counsel, given some years ago, have " provoked you to the good work," which you have now performed. There is evidently an energy in the whole performance, which is sel- dom found in things of a similar nature, and which does great ' credit to your feelings and your understanding. We all feel here, that the lecture should be circulated through our whole country. I have given my opinion to Mr. Cornelius, that he had better beg permission to insert it in his Journal of Educa- tion, which will difiuse it very widely. In my judgment, our 1829.] PUBLICATIONS. 145 American Education Society ought to make a tract of it, and fill our country with it. It is a noble effort, on one of the most important subjects that can be named, in regard to pros- pects of usefulness, which 02^3n before students for the minis- try. There is not a word in the whole which I could wish subtracted or altered ; nor do any additions seem to be requi- site. I repeat my most heartfelt thanks for this important and excellent service.' At the installation of the Kev'd AYilliam B. Sprague, D.D., as pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of Albany, Dr. Miller, by invitation, preached in 1829. The session and trustees of the church, for themselves and the congregation, requested a copy of his sermon, and it was published.^ Speaking, in this discourse, of the " deplorable lack of doctrinal information among the mass of the people," Dr. Miller said, "A second reason for the undoubted deficiency of doctrinal knowledge, even in the church, may, perhaps, be drawn from the light and ephemeral character of what ive may call the reli- gious literature of the day. Have not religious newspapers, and other \\gh.t periodical imhlications, in a great measure taken the place of the larger and more instructive works before alluded to ? — publications which, by their number, have left little time for other reading ; and by their superficial character, little taste for reading of a more deep, solid, and connected kind. Is it not manifest, that the mass, even of the hopefully pious, have a large portion of their reading time so much occupied, and their taste so much formed, by the details of religious intelligence; by the exciting eloquence of anniversaries ; and by the pungent discussion to which new projects and controversies give rise ; that they have seldom much relish for the calm study of evan- gelical truth, or even for the retired and prayerful perusal of the Scriptures ? What proportion of private Christians at the present day, with all the multiplication and almost universal circulation of weekly and monthly journals, which profess to diftlise religious knowledge, would be able, think you, to defend their creed against a plausible adversary, or to give an intelli- gent " reason of the hope that is in them ?" I am afraid a 1 *•' Holding fast the Faithful TVord : a Sermon, delivered in the Second Pres- byterian Church, in the City of Albany, Aui^ust 2G, 1829 ; at the Installati lu of the Reverend William B. Sprague, U.D., as Pastor of the said church. By Samuel Miller, D.D., Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Cliurch Gov- ernment, in the Theological Seminary at Princeton, New Jersey. Albany : 1829. "—Titus i. 9.— 8vo. Pp. 49. 13* 146 QUIET YEARS. [CH. 28. 3. very small proportion indeed. Nay, is there not some reason to fear, that even ministers of the Gospel,»in many cases, have their reading too much confined to the passing periodical v/orks of the day; if not to the exclusion, at least to the lamentable diminution of that profounder and more mature study to Vv^hich the spiritual teachers and guides of the people ought to be ever habitually addicted ?"^ In regard to Christian union Dr. Miller remarked, " It is one of the glories, my friends, of the period in which our lot is cast, that professing Christians of almost every de- nomination have come together, and are more and more coming together, for the purpose of uniting their efforts to send BihleSj religious Tracts, the living Missionary, and the system of Sah- bath-schools, throughout the world. I repeat it, this is one of the great glories of the day in which we live. Every minister, and every Christian, who is so happy as to live at this day, ought to be thankful for it as a great privilege ; to enter into the spirit of the hallowed co-operation ; and to cheer it on by his example, his exertions, and his substance, as well as by his prayers. If there be a minister or a professing Christian, who looks coldly upon these great plans of Christian benevo- lence, and refuses to put his hand to the work, — "I judge him not ;" but he really seems to me to stand very near, if not actually in, the ranks of those who " will not come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty," and who are placed in no very enviable eminence in the sacred history. " Be it remembered, however, that one fundamental principle of this noble union is, that all the denominations which are parties to it, promise neither to compromit, nor to invade the peculiarities of each other. ^^ * The practical language of their union is to the following amount : " We will agree to act together, for the sake of acting with more strength, and upon a greater scale. To a certain extent, we are entirely united, both in principle and practice. To that extent we can cordially co- operate without difficulty. And, as to the peculiar doctrines which the pious Presbyterian, the pious Episcopalian, or the pious Methodist may wish to see circulated within the limits of his own denomination, let the Pastors and Teachers within the respective bounds of each, take care, in addition to the general measures, which are not sectarian, to provide for conveying that appropriate instruction which each may deem desirable and important." " This is fair, honourable, and Christian-like. But let me iPp. 15, 16. 1830.] PUBLICATIONS. 147 request you to take particular notice, that the faithful and happy execution of this admirable plan, not only allows, but really requires, that each particular denomination, engaged in carrying it on, be careful not to neglect, or even slight, either of its parts. ''' * each party is bound, by an implied pledge, to be diligent in instructing its own population, and especially its own children and young people, in its own peculiar views of truth and order. If this be not done, * "^'^ the next generation will grow up in a great measure unindoctrinated."^ On the 1st of September, after his return from Albany, Dr. Miller wrote to Dr. Sprague, ' On the last day of my journey home, I contracted, in some way unknown to me, a severe cold, which has greatly incom- moded me during the last three days. I am, however, now, through divine goodness, getting much better. My system of starvation succeeds admirably." Dr. Wisner, proposing to prepare a memorial of his church, the Old South, of Boston, requested information concerning one of his predecessors, Dr. Samuel BLiir, from Dr. Miller, who, in a letter dated the 27th of March, 1830, communicating all the facts which he had been able to col- lect, remarked. ' * "^ Truly, when I first read your letter, I could hardly have imagined what a complicated and difficult thing it would prove to collect facts concerning a man so much distinguished as Dr. Blair was. But so it is ; — and, if any one, sixty or seventy years hence, or even thirty or forty, should wish to know some facts concerning you or me, they will, perhaps, have to hunt for them very laboriously, and, it may be, unsuccess- fully. Oh, how poor a thing is posthumous reputation ! And, on the other hand, how infinitely, how absorbingly important that honour wdiich cometh from God ! ' In 1830, Dr. Sprague published a volume of Lectures to young people, to which, at his request. Dr. Miller prefixed an Introductory Essay. Of this essay the Spirit of the Pilgrims said. It "is conceived with great felicity, and is happily adapted to answer the purpose for which it was de- signed."^ In regard to the volume, Dr. Miller wrote, on the 22d of April, 'You ought not to be your own publisher, certainly, unless 1 Pp. 22-24. 2 2 Vol., (1S30,) 473. 1-48 QUIET YEARS. [CH. 28. 4. you could undertake to be your own retail vender, which would be neither practicable nor proper for you.' The Rev'd William D. Snodgrass, D.D., pastor of the Murray street Pr^byterian Church in the city of New York, in concert with other clergymen of that city, made arrangements for a course of Sabbath evening lectures in his church, each by a different preacher, in the Spring of 1830. These discourses, thirteen in number, were all af- terwards published in a single volume, and have been known as "The Murray-street Lectures." The sixth was by Dr. Miller: "The Rejection of Revealed Truth referable to Moral Depravity" — founded upon Hebrews iii. 12. 4. Gathering Clouds. The earlier and more quiet progress of New-Schoolism in the Presbyterian Church has been already adverted to, so far, especially, as it was connected more or less directly with Dr. Miller's life and opinions, And now commenced an earnest and deeply agitating struggle, in which he was soon almost of necessity involved, and in which he took the liveliest interest. His course through this conflict, it may be premised, did not satisfy either of the parties, properly so called, that divided the Church. He was accused by more thorough partizans, now from one side, and now from the other, of timidity, vacillation, inconsistency, a failure to support his friends, or opposition to needful reform. His being, in principle, an Old-school man was, perhaps, never doubted ; yet unquestionably, at times, both the Old and New-school regarded his course as favorable to the plans of the latter ; who, upon their final defeat, were particularly disposed to complain of his disappointing their expecta- tions. It is evident that, in the trying circumstances of this case, the position of a professor, in a theological seminary supported and controlled by the whole Church, demanded peculiar caution and moderation — a fact which both parties discerned, however dimly, and both, decidedly enough, though each but partially and in its own interest, expressed. To be opposed by a public servant of this kind seemed to each particularly objectionable, and all the more because a professorship gave special influence and power. These, of 1830.] GATHERING CLOUDS. 149 course, involved special responsibility. Every man is ac- countable according to his capacity and opportunities. But Dr. Miller did not believe in the doctrine, often ad- vanced in deprecation of an opponent's efforts, that a pro- fessor in such an institution ought to be always a silent, well nigh uninterested spectator of the Church's intestine struggles. If he has a larger congregation than the ordi- nary pastor, — even the aggregate of all the congregations of the Church, — that distinguishes him from the other, not as to the nature of his rights and duties — only as to their importance, and the measure of responsibility involved. No doubt Dr. Miller did change, somewhat, his views of the Church's need, though not his principles, during the course of this great struggle ; but to care more for being right, than for being consistent, was hardly a fault. He may have been less discerning than some others, or have had less opportunity of knowing, as to some points, the exact state of things; and, in candor, probably, it must be admitted, that he judged, not error, but certain erring brethren, too leniently; that he was slow to believe personal friends, especially, capable of such a departure from the truth, and such a misconstruction of their ordination en- gagements, as were charged upon them ; that he entertain- ed too favorable a view of the Church's actual condition ; and was not sufficiently awake to the necessity of unusual measures for its purification and defence. It always hap- pens, however, in the heat of conflict, that cautious, moder- ate men please neither side, and are blamed for what really deserves approval and praise. New England theology of about the shade of Dr. Dwight's sometimes with a little deeper tinge, under the name of " moderate Hopkinsianism," had been hitherto tolerated, as we have seen, though not without objection, in the Presbyterian Church. One chief evil of this toler- ance was, that the door stood open, to an indefinite extent, for the ingress of new errors. No efi*ectual alarm, however, was sounded, until Taylorism, or the New Haven Theology, came into notice, and was believed to have effected a lodg- ment within the walls. " In the year 1829," says Dr. Spring, "a different turn was given to these discussions by the novel and unscriptural specu- 150 QUIET YEARS. [CH. 28. 4. lations of the Rev. Nathaniel W. Taylor, D.D., who occupied the chair of theology in Yale College. I had j^ublished a "Dis- sertation on the Means of Regeneration," an enlargement of the annual discourse preached before the directors and students of of our owR theological seminary at Princeton. I was requested by a large number of students to publisli it ; and without the least thought of eliciting any new views upon the subject, ac- quiesced in their request. It was reviewed in the Christian Spectator in the spirit of fraternal kindness, and even commen- dation; but it gave rise to a full and unexpected development of some novel views from the pen of Dr. Taylor, that excited no small alarm among evangelical ministers, and that became the subject of a prolonged and sharp discussion."^ The first Presbyterian minister, against whom the charge of having adopted New Haven errors w^as judicially made, was the Rev. Albert Barnes. He had not only been Dr. Miller's pupil for three years^ in the Seminary, but as the accomplished private instructor, a part of that time, of sev- eral of his children, had occupied a high place in his es- teem, and been brought into relations with him of particu- lar friendship and intimacy. He was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Morristown, New Jersey, when, during the winter of 1829-30, the First Church of Phila- delphia had its attention particularly directed to him as a candidate for its vacant pulpit. This church had con- tinued for more than a year, first through Dr. James P. Wilson's infirmities, and then by his formal resignation, without a pastor, and suffering, as it was, seriously from such a condition of things, proved sensitively jealous of any interference with its rights, real or imaginary. Mr. Barnes had not preached for the congregation, but a few of its members had heard him ; and a sermon, entitled "The Way of Salvation," which he had delivered in Mor- ristown a year before — the 8th of February, 1829 — and which was printed early in 1830, was circulated freely by some who favored giving him a call, as a means of securing that end. But the discourse fell into the hands of critics as well as of admirers ; and soon it was noised abroad that it was chargeable with serious error ; also that Dr. Green 1 2 Pers. Eemiaiscenees, 23. For an account of tlie earlier developments of the New Haven Theology, and its after issues^ see Dr. Baird's Hist, of the New Bchool, chaps. XII. XIII. etc. 2 1S20-23. 1830.] GATHERING CLOUDS. 151 and some others intended, on this ground, if a call should be given, to resist its prosecution. Dr. Green disclosed this intention to Dr. Miller, who made, on the 20th of March, the following reply : — * * ^ 1 have revolved again and again in my mind what you say with respect to your intentions, when the Presbytery meets, if a certain event shall occur ; and I now feel prepared to tell you, with all frankness, that I think such a course will by no means be the wisest that can be adopted. I am perfectly aware, my dear Sir, that I am about again to express opinions, which, as in some former instances, will impair your confidence in my firmness as well as my judgment. This I shall regret. But the same conscientious regard to duty, and to what appear to me the vital interests of the Church in Philadelphia, impels me to say, that, with my present views, if I were a member of the Presbytery, and if a call for Mr. Barnes were laid before that body, I should utterly oppose a motion to refuse to allow it to be prosecuted. My reasons are these : — *1. I have, to-day, unexpectedly, had an opportunity of con- versing with two persons — clergymen — one of them a decided Confession of Faith man, and the other nearly so ; both of whom, somewhat to my surprise, assure me, that Mr. B. does not adopt the j^eculiarities of the iSTew Haven theology, and that he is not more at variance with our Confession of Faith than Dr. , if so much. I had thought otherwise. '2. The situation of the Washington Square Church is de- plorable and perplexing in the extreme. I have reason to think that there is the utmost danger of their being torn in pieces and scattered, unless they make some tolerable choice soon. ' 3. As sure as you refuse to allow the people to prosecute their call, if they make out one, they will, with highly excited and revolted feelings, break off from the Presbyterian Church, declare themselves independent, call their man in spite of you, bring him to Philadelphia with a spirit which will render him tenfold more hostile, active and mischievous than if he came in the usual way. Thus all the evils which you fear will be im- mensely multiplied and extended. Whereas, if Mr. B. (provided he is willing to go to Philadelphia at all, which I very much doubt; and I am confident he will not except in consequence of a unanimous call) should be treated kindly, and received courteously, he may, I think, be quite as much conciliated as Dr. . ' Unless I greatly mistake, this will be better, far better, than to run the risk of tearing the congregation to pieces, 152 QUIET YEARS. [CH. 28. 4. and, then, instead of preventing their obtaining their man, cause them to get him, with every circumstance of theological excitement on their part, and of febrile stimulus on his, to build up a new and separate interest in the city. *I write this, my dear Sir, in haste of the extremest kind, as the mail is about to close, and I am anxious to tell you my feelings without loss of time. * "^ If they are wrong, forgive them ; but I am as sure as I am of my own existence, that you will find them all realized, if you take the step contemplated. 'Though we cannot agree always in opinion, I am, my dear Sir, 'Very cordially and respectfully yours, 'Sam'l Miller. 'P. S. If you knew how many letters I have been under the necessity of Avriting within the last twenty-four hours, you would not wonder that I now write in a sort of anguish of haste, and have not time to read what I have written.' Dr. Green and those who acted with him disregarded the advice thus given ; and amiable and thoroughly conscien- tious as that advice was, it would be hard, consistently with true Presbyterian principles, to condemn their course. He, in particular, was sometimes accused, with acrimony, of unchristian bitterness ; sometimes represented as in his dotage ; but, while it need not and cannot be denied, that this, like every other controversy, engendered some repre- hensible asperities, which, however, were exhibited on the New-school side quite as freely, to say the least, as on the Old ; and while the regularity and wisdom of their particu- lar measures must repeatedly be questioned; it may be main- tained with confidence, that the history of Presbyterianism in the United States presents no example of more clear- sighted and consistent fidelity to the truth, or of a more christian spirit in its maintenance, than Dr. Green and his coadjutors manifested. Nor were they the "heresy hunters" which some accused them of being. Not only, said they with great force — not only has Mr. Barnes preached and published serious error, and that too in a bold, aggressive, and determined way ; but the very sermon in which he has done this is selected, industriously circulated, and thrust before us, as the very ground on which his friends plead for calling him to Philadelphia, and introducing him to our most immediate Presby terial fellowship. ITow can we over- look what is thus forced upon our notice ? 1830.] GATHERING CLOUDS. 153 ^ Ten days later, Mr. Barnes wrote to Dr. Miller, asking his advice, which was given in the following letters : — 'My dear Sir, Princeton, April 7, 1830. 'Your letter of March 30th did not reach me till the 3d in- stant, a few minutes before I stej^ped into my gig, to go to New York, to preach, last Sabbath evening, one of the Murray-street Lectures. I did not get back until last afternoon ; and was obliged, almost as soon as I entered my door, to resume official duties, which rendered it impossible for me to write by the evening's mail. ' I had heard of the call to Philadelphia, before the arrival of your letter ; and had felt much interest in your decision of the question which it called you to consider; feeling, as I have always done, since I first knew you, a very cordial desire, that your comfort, and honor, and, above all, your usefulness, might be more and more extended. 'I feel great diffidence, however, not to say embarrassment, in attempting to utter a word, that shall bear the aspect of advice, on this occasion. I am not, indeed, prepared to give decisive advice either way. I know, it is true, much concerning your present charge, and the church to which you are invited; but I do not know fiicts enough, in minute detail, concerning either, to be able to make up my mind, with entire decision, what course you ought to take. 'As to your personal adaptedness, on the score of hdelledual and literary qualifications, for a charge moi'e refined and im- proved than that which you now possess, I have no doubt; and, as to this point, have no apprehension of failure, if you accept the call. I think, too, that our large cities not only urgently need, but imperatively demand, men of mental activity and studious habits such as yours. Nay, I am persuaded, that unless some such men, men who have a little experience in the ministry, will consent, at the expense of many sacrifices, to quit other positions, and go to those cities, the interests of the Ke- deemer's kingdom must essentially sufi^'er. Large and important as the congregation of Morristown certainly is, it is, in my ap- prehension, much easier to supply it with a popular and useful pastor, than the First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. 'In a word, I should have no doubt that you ought, without hesitation, to pluck up stakes and go to Philadelphia, if I could be satisfied with regard to two points ; on neither of which do I know enough to be able, with confidence, to pronounce. Tha first is, your social adaptedness to the peculiar character and wants of a city congregation : in other words, whether you have that affiible, visiting turn, which has always appeared to Vol. II.— U. 154 QUIET YEARS. [CH. 28. 4. me highly important, and, indeed, in a measure, indispensable, in drawing and keeping together such a congregation; sur- rounded as they are with such a variety and attraction of talent. It is true, Dr. Wilson is no great visitor ; but he is so truly ex- traordinary a man ; so perfectly unique in his character; that no experience in favor of another, from his habits, can be safely drawn. What your peculiar tact or habit in this respect may be, I know not ; and should, therefore, speak blindly if I offered an opinion. ' The second is the platform on which you stand with regard to theological sentiment. You know that the church which has called you occupies the edifice in which the General Assem- bly annually meet ; and that, from the circumstance of its being the first Presbyterian Church ever erected in what is now the United States, it may be said to be the "mother of us all." Now, if your convictions of truth and duty will allow you, in case you go to Philadelphia, to unite in helping forward the cause of the Presbyterian Church, in tolerable accordance with her public standards ; if you can see your w'ay clear to fall in with the brethren there in harmonious and affectionate co-opera- tion (I do not mean in petty peculiarities, but) in the great in- terests and efforts of our church, as such ; then I think you may be eminently useful in Philadelphia, and ought to go thither. But, if your convictions should be such as to render this course impracticable, I am inclined very strongly to suspect, that a residence there would be by no means very comfortable ; and that your usefulness there W'Ould not be so great as where you now are. You will forgive me, my dear Sir, for making this free exposition of my views. You have solicited them, and I give them with paternal and most affectionate freedom. I, of course, claim no authority over your conscience; yet that which I deem important, in reference to the case in hand, must be stated candidly, if I undertake to speak at all. If I knew what your sentiments in detail are, at this time, I should be better able to judge and advise in the case under consideration; but not knowing, certainly, how this matter is, I am constrained to doubt. If Dr. Taylor, of New Plaven, with all his present sen- timents, were to ask me whether he ought to accept a call to that church, I should have no difficulty in saying, that he had better not. War and discomfort would be the result. May God bless and direct you. My dear Sir, on this trying occasion ! * I am very sincerely and affectionately yours. 'Samuel Miller. ' P. S. I write this letter in extreme haste, and in the midst of incessant interruptions ; and have not time to read it over. But 1880.] GATnERIXG CLOUDS. 155 you may rest assured it is written with the warmest wishes for your welfare and happiness ; and that it would give me the great- est pleasure to see you in Philadelphia, if you can be there on the principles which I have stated. *My dear Sir, Princeton, April 13, 1830. ' When I wrote to you the other day, — which I was obliged to do in extreme haste, or not at all, — I forgot to state as I wished to do, and now take an opportunity of doing, that I think you ought, by all means, to visit the city of Philadelphia, and to give the people, as well as yourself, an opportunity of mutual conference and intercourse for a few days. The fact is, the First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia is not only a very important congregation, but is in a very peculiar and delicate state. A disappointment, and especially a disappointment con- nected with any disturbing and agitating circumstances, might be deeply injurious — possibly almost fatal. I really hope, therefore, that you will go on, see for yourself, and take a view of the whole ground. May the Lord direct and bless you! ' Very sincerely and cordially yours. * Eev. Mr. Barnes. Samuel Miller.' Dr. Miller's answer clearly foreshadowed, as not improba- ble, at least, the very difficulties which afterwards occurred. The second letter was prompted, evidently, by an earnest con- cern for the welfare of the First Church in Philadelphia. In accordance with the advice thus given, Mr. Barnes visited Philadelphia, and the result was his acceptance of the call. From the 9th of April to the 14th of May inclusive the sermon already mentioned — " The Way of Salvation " — was made a subject of review in successive numbers of "The Philadelphian," a Presbyterian newspaper, edited by Dr. Ezra S. Ely; the Rev. William M. Engles^ and Dr. James P. Wilson alternately impugning and defending the doctrine of the discourse. Pending this controversy, on the 20th of April, the Presbytery of Philadelphia met, and, upon ap- plication of the First Church, for leave to prosecute its call before the Presbytery of Elizabeth Town, to which Mr. Barnes belonged, a warm discussion arose, which occupied large portions of four successive days. By a vote of thirty- seven to ten, it was decided proper to plead error in the sermon as a bar to granting the application ; but at last, by 1 Afterward D. D. 156 QUIET YEARS. [CII. 28. 4. twenty-one to twelve, tliat leave should be given to prosecute the call. This decision, with different members of the ma- jority, rested on different grounds. Most of them, perhaps, admitted, that the sermon contained error, or things which had a suspicious look, or were unhappily expressed ; but some thought that a little skillful interpretation and expla- nation might put all in a satisfactory light ; some denied the right of presbytery to investigate the doctrinal views of a minister belonging to another body ; and some urged, chiefly, that Mr. Barnes had the confidence of many ex- cellent men, and was an exemplary christian and successful preacher of the gospel. As far as possible, the majority avoided direct doctrinal discussion. The alarm was sounded, that the First Church, if denied its request, would secede, or at least would no longer contribute to the Board of Mis- sions, of which Dr. Green was President, and one of his earnest coadjutors, the Rev. Joshua T. Russell, General Agent. On the 18th of June, the Presbytery of Philadelphia convened, in special session, "for the purpose of considering the reception of the Rev. Mr. Barnes, and to do what might be deemed proper in his installation." At this meeting. Dr. Ely, though one of Mr. Barnes's friends, moved that an opportunity should be given to ask of him such explanations of his doctrinal views as any of the members might deem necessary ; but his miotion, by a vote of eighteen to twenty, was negatived, on the grounds, variously taken by the ma- jority, that the applicant's orthodoxy had been already sufficiently discussed and established, and that his certificate from the Presbytery of Elizabeth Town was final. Doubt- less the majority had a right to rule as to this matter, and to receive Mr. Barnes without examination, as they did then by a vote of thirty to sixteen. But at once charges of error were tabled against him as a bar to his installation. The moderator, however, decided that this was a matter not within the scope of the special call upon which the Presby- tery had convened, his decision, though afterwards admitted by all to have been clearly wrong, was sustained, and Mr. Barnes was installed. The minority complained to the Synod of Pliiladelphia, which condemned the Presbytery for "not allowing the 1830.] GATHERIXG CLOUDS. 157 examination of Mr. Barnes in connexion with his printed sermon, previously to his reception as a member of presby- tery, and especially before his installation as pastor ; and ordered that judicatory "to hear and decide " upon the complainants' ''objections to the orthodoxy of the sermons of Mr. Barnes, and to take such order on the whole subject as " was " required by a regard to the purity of the Church, and its acknowledged doctrines and order." Unhappily this decision did not single out and condemn the only act of presbytery which had been illegal — the refusal to enter- tain the charo;es tabled ao;ainst Mr. Barnes. o ... In obedience to the injunction of Synod, the Presbytery of Philadelphia, in which, meantime, the minority had be- come the majority, entered upon an examination of Mr. Barnes's sermon ; and a minute drawn up by Dr. Green, exhibiting its errors, was, after full discussion, adopted. The closing paragraph of this paper gives a general idea of the whole proceeding. "The Presbytery express their deep regret, that Mr. Barnes should have preached and published a discourse so highly ob- jectionable, and so manifestly, in some of its leading points, opposed to the doctrines of the Confession of Faith and Cate- chisms of the Presbyterian Church ; they earnestly recommend to Mr. Barnes, to reconsider and renounce the erroneous matter contained in his printed sermon, as specified in the foregoing decisions of Presbytery ; and with a view to afford time to Mr. Barnes for reflection and reconsideration, in reference to the errors of his sermon, and for opportunity for such of the breth- ren as may choose to converse freely with him on the subject, the Presbytery do suspend their final decision on the case, until the next stated meeting." A committee, of which Dr. Green was chairman, was afterwads appointed to communicate this judgment to Mr. Barnes, and to "converse with him freely and aftectionately," " in the hope and expectation that the interview " would "result in removing or diminishing the difficulties " that had arisen. Mr. Barnes, taking the ground, that the whole proceeding was unconstitutional, declined hearing the committee, as a committee, though he received its members courteously, and conversed with them. The Presbytery then referred the whole case for adjudication, and the minority complained of what had been done, to 14* 158 QUIET YEARS. [cil. 28. 4. the General Assembly. Here the matter rested from the beginning of December until the meeting of the Assembly in May, 1831. It would seem to be perfectly clear, and the principle has been again and again asserted by the highest authority in the Presbyterian Church, that its judicatories, while empowered to try and condemn persons chargeable with error, may also judge, abstractly, of opinions in any way propagated. The form of Government gives expressly the right " to resolve questions of doctrine or discipline seri- ously and seasonably proposed," and "to condemn erro- neous opinions which injure the purity and peace of the Church."^ But, in condemning opinions, without trying their author or propagator, must it not be done in a wholly abstract way ? Mr. Barnes, undoubtedly, might have been subjected to regular process, and, if proved to be in error, dealt with accordingly. But could he be, without personal process, condemned in loose connexion with the condemna- tion of his discourse ? Was it lawful, in such a proceeding, to involve him personally at all in the decision ? Had the Presbytery any right even to decide that Mr. Barnes was the author of the sermon before them ? — any right to call upon him, as if convicted of error, to recant? The judgment of the majority, so far as it took a personal direction, was plainly unconstitutional." ^ Chap. X., 8. 2 The General AssembW of ISTO, in condemning a book, carefully abstained from involving the writer in their sentence; designating the work only as one " entitled " The Gospel Plan," of which William C. Davis is stated in the title page to be the author." This is the clearest, most decisive precedent on record, and is so manifestly in accordance with right principle, that nothing ought to avail to cast doubt upon it, or set it aside. The errors alleged to be contained in the sermon were chiefly the follow- ing : — 1. A denial of the impntaiinn of Adam's first sin : — " The notion of im- puting sin is an invention of modern times." (p. 7.) — " Christianity does not charge on men crimes of which they are not guilty. It does not say, as I suppose, that the sinner is held to be personally answerable for the transgres- sions of Adam or of any other man -•• -••■ Such a charge * * would be most clearly unjust." (p. 6.) — "Neither the facts, nor any proper inference from the facts, affirm, that I am, in either case, personally responsible for what another man did before I had an existence." (p. 7.) — " Christianity affirms the fact, that in connexion with the sin of Adam, or as a result, all moral agents will sin, and sinning will die." " The drunkard commonly secures, as a result, the fact that his family will be beggared, illiterate, perhaps profane or intemperate. Both facts are evidently to be explained on the same princi- ple as a part of moral government." (p. 7.) — 2. The maintenance of the sin- ner's plenari/ ability to fulfill all God's requirements: — "Christianity * * does not say, as I suppose, * * that God has given a law which man has 1830.] LETTERS UPON THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY. 1.S9 The summer of 1830 brought with it severe affliction. Mrs. Breckinridge had come with her three children, to spend a few weeks at "home," when one of her brothers was brought from boarding-school with the scarlet fever. The disease spread in the family ; several suffered from it more or less ; in one case it proved fatal. Elizabeth Breckinridge, the oldest child, was taken down, and soon passed away, but not without giving evidence, though but six years old, of an intelligent trust in Jesus as her Saviour. 5. Letters upon the Christian Ministry. In the year 1829, John Esten Cooke, M.D., of Ken- tucky, left the Methodist E. Church, of which he had been for eighteen ^^ears a devoted and active member, and joined, "upon convincement," the Protestant Episcopa- lians. This was, of course, to him a very important event ; and he concluded that a " decent respect" for the opinion of those whom he had left, " as well as a proper regard for his own character for consistency and uprightness," ren- dered "it not improper that he should state the reasons no power to obey. * * Such a requirement would be most clearh^ unjust." (p. 6.) — " It is not to any want of physical strength, that this rejection [of the gospel] is owing, for men have power enough in themselves to hate both God and their fellow-men, and it requires less physical power to love God than to hate him.*' (p. 14.) — On these subjects Mr. Barnes, it was inferred, held sub- stantially the views of Dr. Taylor. — 3. The denial of a limited atonement: — " This atonement was for all men. It was an offering made for the race. It had not respect so much to individuals, as to the law and perfections of God. It was an opening of the way of pardon, a making forgiveness consif^tent, a preserving of truth, a magnifying of the law, and had no particular reference to any class of men." (p. 11.) — " The atonement, of itself, secured the salva- tion of no one." (lb.) — 4. Mr. Barnes openly declared his self-absolution from all fealty to the Confession of Faith: — ** It is not denied that this lan- guage varies from the statements which are often made on this subject, and from the opinion which has been entertained by man3% And it is admitted that it does not accord with that used on the same subject in the Confession of Faith, and other standards of doctrine." (p. 6.) — " The great principle on which the author suj^poses the truths of religion are to be preached, and on which he endeavors to act, is, that the Bible is to be interpreted by all the honest helps within the reach of the preacher, and then proclaimed as it is, let it lead where it will, within, or without the circumference of any arrangement of doctrines. He is supposed to be responsible not at all for its impinging on any theological system ; nor is he to be cramped by any frame-work of faith that has been reared around the Bible." (]). 12.) — Some seven j-cars before, he had solemnly declared, as an indispensable condition of being ordained a minister of the Presbyterian Church, " I do sincerely receive and adopt the Confession of Faith of this Church, as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures." Form of Government, Chap, xiii., 4. 160 QUIET YEARS. [CH. 28. 5. which incUiced him to make the change ;" which according- ly he did in an octavo volume of two hundred and sixteen pages, entitled "An Essay on the Invalidity of Presbyte- rian Ordination," which is chiefly an attempt to answer Dr. Miller's Letters on the Christian Ministry. Six weeks' study had sufficed to convince him of the validity of prelatical claims, and eight weeks' to prepare him to begin to write in their defence : the book mentioned was the result. It was reviewed by the Rev. John C. Young, in 1830, in " The Presbyterian Advocate," published, as Dr. Cook's work also was, at Lexington. The reviewer remarks, " AYe have read some of Dr. Cooke's medical Essays with pleasure and profit. As far as our limited acquaintance with works of a similar kind would enable us to judge, we consid- ered them the productions of a man of talents, who had studied well the subjects on which he undertook to write. We cannot say as much for his present Essay. A man may be a very good physician, and a very indifferent theologian : — a man. may write very well on subjects with which he has been conversant ail his life, and yet write very crudely on one which he has examined but six lueeks before he commenced delivering to the world his views upon it. "We have found in this essay no new arguments of any im- portance ; and we have seen the same arguments presented by other writers in a more lucid and systematic order. Indeed, after the "judicious Hooker," the laborious Bingham, the in- genious Hammond, the zealous Dodwell, and" the learned Potter have brought the fruits of years of research to their task, and yet have failed to convince the world of the divine RIGHT OF Episcopacy; we would scarcely expect that this miglitij work would be accomplished by a man who could bring to the attempt no critical skill in the original languages of scripture, no deep acquaintance with ecclesiastical antiquities, no long and laborious investigation of the controversy, — nothing, in short, which would enable him to throw any new light on a subject, which had been examined and exhibited in all its bearings, by the ablest men who have ever worn the Episcopal Mitre. — A writer, under such circumstances, must be contented to copy, in a great measure, the facts and reasonings of those who have preceded him. And this we, accordingly, find to be the case in the present instance."^ " No man lays claim to infallibility. When therefore any ip. 49, 1830.] LETTERS UPON THE CHRISTIAN ^MINISTRY. IGl man is charged, either directly or indirectly, with dishonesty or disingenuousness, we are not at liberty to treat the charge as an absurdity. Still, if the accused enjoy a high reputation for piety, integrity and candour, such a charge bears on its front the marks of improbability and injustice, and, generally, we do not consider it worth the trouble of an investigation. Acting on this principle, we, for a considerable time, treated with neglect the charge of disingenuousness and misrepresentation which has been virtually advanced against Dr. Miller in an Essay entitled " The Invalidity of Presbyterian Ordination. By John Esten Cooke, M.D." We have long known Dr. M., and known him to have always sustained a character distinguished for learning, piety, amiableness and candour. There are few men with whom we have met, whom we would not as soon believe to be guilty of intentional unfairness as Dr. M. We were led, how- ever, to an examination of the attack upon the character of a man, for whom we entertain so high a respect, by the request of others ; and the result of our examination has been to furnish us with further proof of a fact, which considerable acquaint- ance with controversial writings had previously taught us, that an honest and honourable man may grievously mistake and misstate another's arguments. " Dr. Cooke honestly thinks and endeavours to show, that Dr. M. mistakes and misstates the views of the writers he pro- fesses to quote. We, on the other hand, think that Dr. Cooke mistakes and misstates the arguments of Dr. M. ; and this we ynW attempt briofly to show."^ The charges made by Dr. Cooke and others amounted, as we shall see hereafter, simply to this — that Dr. Miller, in professedly quoting what bore upon one point, which he had immediately in hand, did not also quote continuously what they thought was strongly in their favor, but upon another point; and that, with the best critics upon the Letters of Ignatius, he considered them an authority on some subjects, but not on behalf of Prelacy, for the sup- port of which he believed them to have been corrupted. The chief result of this attack, and others, so far as Dr. Miller was concerned, was that, in the month of October, 1830, he published a second edition — both volumes, as first and second parts, in one — of his letters, of more than twenty years before, upon the Christian Ministry.^ Speak- 1 p. 145. 2 "Letters concerning the Constitution and Order of the Christian Ministry : addressed to the Members of the Presbyterian Churches in the City of New 162 QUIET YEARS. [ciI. 28. 5. ing, in the ''Preliminary Letter," of the Original volumes, he says, " They have both been out of print for a number of years ; and although frequent inquiry has been made for them, it was not supposed, until lately, that the demand was sufficient to warrant a second edition. Recent circumstances, however, have led to the belief that a new and corrected impression would be seasonable, and not unacceptable to the friends of primitive truth and order." Again he remarks, " as the original publication of the follow- ing Letters was prompted by unprovoked and violent attacks, and was made merely in self-defence; so their appearance in this new form is occasioned by a similar cause. After reposing in quietness for more than twenty years, they have been, re- cently, again called up to public view, and subjected to attacks marked by great vehemence and confidence. Of these attacks, it is not deemed necessary to take any further notice than to say, that their violence and their offensive imputations have created a new demand for the work, and thus afforded an op- portunity of presenting it again to the public in a more con- venient form. This is the only reply that I at present intend to give to any recent assailant. And I hope that every candid reader, after attentive consideration, will be of the opinion that more was not called for. " In preparing the work for a second edition, I have revised the whole with as much care as my circumstances allowed. And, although the further reading and reflection of twenty years have enabled me to detect some mistakes, and to reconsider and modify the statements in a few places ; — yet I can truly say, that the amount of my modification has generally been, to urge my former reasonings with new confidence; to array my old authorities with additional, instead of diminished force; and, in general, to manifest what I have really felt, — a greatly aug- mented assurance of the soundness of my original conclusions. " With regard to my quotations from the fathers and other writers, I think it proper to say, once for all, that I have en- deavored to make them with all the fidelity of which I am capable. Those who are familiar with such matters need not be reminded, that, frequently, out of a folio page, not more than half a dozen lines have any direct bearing on the purpose of the extracts ; and that, if these are exhibited without any uncan- did wresting from their connection, the real spirit of the author York. To wbicli is prefixed a Letter on the Present Aspect and Bearing of the Episcopal Controversy. By Samuel Miller, D.D., Professor of Ecclesiasti- cal History and Church Government in the Theological Seminary at Princeton, New Jersey. Second Edition. Philadelphia; 1830." 8vo. Pp. liii and 485. 1830.] LETTERS UPON TUE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY. 163 is set forth with sufficient accuracy. If, in any instance, in the following pages, an ofi'ence has been committed against this sound principle, it has not been done intentionaUy. It is, indeed, as common as it is easy, when an adversary is incom- moded by a quotation in the way of authority, to complain of it as unfaithfully made, or as disingenuously separated from its proper connection. But of the truth of such complaints every intelligent reader must judge for himself. * "^ " Nothing, my Christian friends, is further from my inten- tion, in anything which you will find in the following pages, than to attack the Episcopal church. I have no hostility to that denomination of Christians. '"- * I have not the least doubt, indeed, that Prelacy is an unscriptural error ; an un- warranted innovation on apostolic simplicity : but such an in- novation as a man may adopt with zeal, and yet be an excellent Christian, and an heir of eternal blessedness. To all such Episcopalians as Whitefield and Rervey in former timt^s, and as Newton, Scott, and others of similar stamp in later pe- riods, I can cordially "bid God speed," and sincerely rejoice in their success. Were the world filled with such men, I, for one, should be ready to say: Let their spirit reign from the rising to the setting sun I ^' * " But when Episcopalians belong to that part of their de- nomination— a very small part, as I hope and trust— who not only believe that Prelacy is a divine institution, but that every other form of ecclesiastical government must be rejected as re- bellion against God: when they persuade themselves, not only that theliuman invention which they embrace is truth,_but that nothing else can be truth ; that where there is no ministry episcopally ordained, there is no church at all, no ministry, no^ valid ordinances, no people in covenant with God, and, of course, no warranted hope of divine mercy through our Lord Jesus Christ: when, as a natural and necessary consequence of these opinions, they consider it as unlawful to indulge in any religious intercourse with non-Episcopalians ; and regard it as an actof fidelity to Christ to stand aloof from all who do not belong to their own body, however pious their spirit and exem- plary °their lives; nay, however manifestly,, in all other respects, they may bear his image, and do his will : when they think it incumbent upon them to decline every act which would imply acknowledging as brethren in Christ the most devout and heavenly-minded Christians who do not stand in their particular line of fancied ecclesiastical genealogy; and to refuse all communion and co operation with them, even in the most hallowed work of Christian benevolence: and, further, when they think it a duty to take every opportunity, in public 164 QUIET YEARS. [CH. 28. 6. and ^ private, to denounce non-Episcopalians as aliens from Christ, and call upon them to renounce their principles, and attach themselves to their sect, under the heaviest penalties: I say, when Episcopalians take this ground, it is difficult to tell wherein their principle differs from the corresponding principle of the Papists."^ 6. Religious Fasting. In "The National Preacher" for March, 1831, appeared two sermons on Fasting^ from Dr. Miller's pen. On this subject he held opinions, and adopted a practice, which are becoming more and more unpopular at the present day. The revulsion produced by Romish superstitions, and strengthened by a natural aversion to abstinence from food and other pleasurable indulgences, has carried many over to the extreme, as Dr. Miller deemed it, of condemning literal fasts altogether, as contrary to the spirit of New Testament worship. And not a few persons, who admit the duty of fasting, require such special occasion for it, as to render the admission of little practical effect. The views presented in these sermons are those which were much more prevalent half a century ago, than they are at present. The preacher says, "It is not every Hnd of abstinence that constitutes a r ell gious fast." "The Christian, as such, refrains from choice, denying his appetite from religious principle, and with a view to spiritual benefit. Now, when it is affirmed that occasional fasting in this sense, and with this view, is a Christian duty, it is not in- tended to be maintained that it is one of those stated duties which all are bound to attend upon at certain fixed periods, whatever may be their situation, or the aspect of Providence towards them. There is no precept in the word of God which enjoins the observance of a particular number of fast days in each year. It is to be considered as an occasional, or, perhaps, more properly speaking, a special duty, which, like seasons of special prayer, ought to be regulated, as to its frequency and manner of observance, by the circumstances in which we are placed. But, although the times and seasons of religious fast- ing be left, as they obviously must be, to the judgment and the conscience of each individual, it may be confidently affirmed 1 Pp. vi-x. 2 " The Duty, the Benefits, and the Proper Method of Religious Fasting. By Samuel Miller, D.D., Princeton, New Jcrsev. New York: 1831."— Daniel ix. 3.— 8vo. Pp. 16. 1831.] EELIGIOUS FASTING. 165 that it is a divine ixstitutiox ; that it is a duty on which ALL CHRISTIANS ARE BOUND, at PROPER SEASONS, tO attend."^ For this opinion Dr. Miller claims full support from the light of nature, Scriptural examples, and direct and indirect Scrip- tural precepts. "In estimating the benefits of religious fasting," he says, "we ascribe to it no mystical charm, no sanctifying power. We have no idea that there is any merit in macerating and enfeeb- ling the body ; nor can we regard with any other sentiment than that of abhorrence, the doctrine that abstaining from par- ticular kinds of food ever did or can make expiation for sin, or serve in any form, as the price of our acceptance with God." The benefits which he then mentions are (1) the "natural and significant expression of our penitence for sin " ; (2) " keeping under the body and bringing it into subjection" ; (3) rendering "the mind more active, clear and vigorous" ; (4) that fasting, well conducted, "ministers to the bodily health"; and (5) may be made "systematically subservient to the purposes of charity.'^ " The frequency with which every individual Christian ought to fast, and the extent to which he ought to carry his abstinence, on each occasion, are questions concerning which no definite rule can be laid down." "The whole subject is left, as the sub- ject of almsgiving is left, to every man's conscience in the sight of God." "That degree of abstinence which is salutary and not uncomfortable to one, would be deeply injurious as well as painful to another. The great end of the duty is to be regarded. God " will have mercy and not sacrifice." " It is manifest that the tendency in general is to deficiency rather than excess in this important duty. For one who injures himself by the excessive frequency or protraction of his seasons of abstinence, thousands, it is probable, either wholly neglect this self-denying duty, or perform it in a most superficial and inadequate manner." " The abstinence in religious fasting may be either total or partial. When it is continued for a single day only, it ought in many cases to be total." "But when the fast is continued through several successive days, — as it sometimes ought to be, in a great physical or moral crisis of life, — then, it is obvious, the absti- nence should be only partial; that is, aliment ought to be sparingly taken, not to gratify appetite, but merely to sustain nature. The proj)het Daniel, in a period of protracted, pious humiliation, tells us, that he "ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine into his mouth." Kor let any one imagine that it is not his duty to fiist, because the abstinence of a single IP. 146. 2 Pp. 150-152. Vol. 11—15. 166 QUIET YEARS. [CH. 28. 6. day, and even from a single meal, in some degree incommodes his feelings. This is no valid objection to the duty. In fact, as you have heard, one great design of the privation is to "af- flict the soul," to humble us under a sense of our weakness and dependence, and to remind us, by a feeling of want, of the pur- pose for which we submit to the privation. If no such feeling were induced, an important purpose of the exercise would be defeated. Thousands were fully persuaded, a few years ago, that total abstinence from that fell destroyer, ardent spirit, would weaken their bodies and injure their health. But no man ever honestly made the experiment, without finding that his fears had all been delusive. No less delusive, be assured, is the plea, that you cannot comply, in an enlightened manner with the Christian duty of fasting, without injury, either physical or moral. To those who think otherwise, I would say — Have you ever fairly made the tkial ? If you think you have, make IT AGAIN, in the fear of God, and with humble prayer for di- vine direction. And imaghie not that a mere feeling of empti- ness, or even of importunate hunger, must necessarily mark the approach of mischief So far from this, they are feelings which you often need, for your physical as well as moral benefit ; and no injury will be likely to flow from them, when carried to a 2oroper length, unless unguardedly followed by an excessive in- didgence oj appetitey^ "Seasons of devout fasting ought, undoubtedly, to be ob- served by INDIVIDUALS, in private, with a special reference to their own personal sins, wants, and trials ; by families, which have often much reason, as such, for special humiliation and prayer ; by particular churches, whose circumstances are frequently such as to call for seasons of peculiar mourning, penitence and supplication; by whole denominations of CHRISTIANS, who havc very often occasion to humble themselves before God on account of the absence of his Spirit, and the prevalence of some great evils in the midst of them ; and, finally, by nations, when sufiering under the righteous dis- pleasure of God, or Avhen sensible that, for their sins, they are exposed to his heavy judgments.'"^ As to the method, Dr. Miller argues, (1) that a fast is in vain, ''unless the heart be sincerely engaged in the ser- vice" ; (2) that ^'a real abstinence from aliment is essen- tial to the proper and acceptable performance of the duty" — that "fasting in spirit" and "abstinence from sin" are mere evasions ; (3) that during a fast, we should retire, "as iPp. 153, 154. 2 p. 154. 1831.] CORRESPOXDEXCE. 167 mucli as possible, from the world, shut out its illusions, and endeavor to break its hold of our hearts" ; (4) that the time should "be devoted to a deep and heartfelt recollec- tion of our sins, and unfeigned repentance for them" ; (5) that a fast should "ever be followed bj genuine reforma- tion" ; (6) that "every thing like ostentation, or self- righteousness, should be put far from us"; and (7) that Christian fasting "ought ever to be accompanied with more or less of sympathy and benevolence to the destitute"; and he concludes, that, although the people of God have ow as mich need of fasting as they ever had, it is ^'an nnfashionable dutv," "far too much neglected."^ 7. CORRESPOXDEXCE. In 1830, Dr. Miller, having occasion to write to the Rev. Dr. Mitchell, of Anderston, Scotland, had mentioned the great need of the Seminary library, and queried whether, at Dr. Mitchell's susisrestion, some of the livins; authors of Scot- land — Dr. Chalmers and others — would not present to the institution copies of their works. On the 28th of Febru- ary, 1831, he wrote to Dr. Chalmers a letter of acknow- ledo-ment, from which the followinor extract is made : — * Accordingly, last autumn, I received a communication from Dr. Mitchell, informing me that you had been good enough to present a complete copy of your publications ; and the books themselves came to hand a short time afterwards. When they ar- rived, I found, from an inscription on the blank leaf of each vol- ume, that they were 'pre^enU to me. Perhaps this was a mistake of your bookseller. But, whether the fact be so, or not, I have taken the liberty of giving the books the destination originally intended by myself; and have, accordingly, presented them, in your name, to the Board of Directors of our Seminary for the public library. They were very gratefully received ; a ,vote of thanks for them was passed ; and I was directed to communi- cate the fact to you. It is with much pleasure that I now dis- charge the commission. * 'i' I hope what I have done in this matter will not be disapproved by you.' Dr. Miller writes to one of his daughters, in Baltimore, on the 19th of March, 1831, * About six weeks ago, one afternoon, a grave looking, thick- set, and rather short old gentleman, apparently about sixty 1 Pp. 154-160. 168 QUIET YEARS. [CH. 28. 7. five or sixty-seven, called on me and told me that his name was Joseph G ; that he belonged to the Methodist connec- tion ; that he had once been a travelling preacher among them, and was now, as I understood him, a local preacher ; that he resided in Baltimore ; that he was well acquainted with Mr. Breckinridge ; that he first knew him in Richmond, Va., etc., etc. ; that he had lost his pocket book and was without money ; earnestly begged the loan of five dollars to carry him on to New York ; said he would certainly return on or about the 15th of February last, when he would faithfully repay the loan ; and added, that if he failed of doing it, I might write to his friend, Mr. Breckinridge, and denounce him as an impostor and cheat. I lent him the money, but have heard nothing of him since. I have some curiosity to know whether Mr. Breck- inridge is really acquainted with such a man. * ^^ He said he belonged to the family of the G s, in Richmond, and was related to that of the G s in Baltimore. I am so fre- quently applied to and imposed upon in the same way, that I feel some little interest in knowing whether this fellow was a deceiver or not.' Upon the envelope of the original draft of the following letter, which Dr. Miller retained, an endorsement says, ' The inclosed letter was directed to the Honorable Charles Ewing, Chief Justice of the State of New Jersey, who resided at Trenton, and was one of the most esteemed members of the Presbyterian congregation of that city. He was a man of uncommonly fine talents, of the purest morals, and of an ex- ternal character in every respect like that of an eminent Christian. Very few professors of religion are so exemplary as he was in all but making a public profession. He died of cholera, about sixteen months after the transmission of this letter, without having made such a profession, but in a calm and humble hope.' ' My very dear Sir, Princeton, April 3, 1831. ^ ' I hope you will pardon the liberty I take in this address. It is dictated by the sincerest respect, and the most cordial Christian friendship. When I saw you in my audience this morning, emotions were excited in my bosom, which it would be difficult to describe. There was something in the nature of my subject, taken in connection with your history and character in reference to religion, which moved me so deeply, that I felt as if I could not go to rest with a good con- science to-night, until I had expressed to you on paper the ful- ness of a heart which takes a warm interest in your welfare for this world as well as that which is to come. 1831.] CORRESPONDENCE. 169 ' It cannot be a matter of surprize to you, my respected Sir, that your friends and neighbours regard your character with the highest respect ; that the members of the congregation with which you are connected look upon you with peculiar and affectionate interest; that many of them cherish a hope for you, which, perhaps, you do not for yourself; and that they all lament, that, while your conduct is far more exemplary than that of many professors of religion, you have not seen your way clear to " confess Christ" openly and decisively before men. 'Allow me, my dear Sir, with the profoundest respect, and the sincerest good-will, to ask, Why is this f It is not, I am persuaded, because you are " ashamed of Christ and of his words." I rather suppose it is because you are not yet satisfied that you are a cordial friend of the Saviour, and are waiting until you can gain a comfortable hope of your discipleship. This, if I am not deceived in my estimate, has been the state of your mind for years. Still you do not decide. Every suc- cessive year you probably anticipate a more favourable state of things. But year after year passes without any decisive step being taken. In the meanwhile life is wearing away ; and w'ho can tell but that it may terminate w^hile you are yet uncertain, whether you belong to the enemies or friends of the Redeemer; before you have fully decided whether you will be for Chrst or for the world ? * If you ask me, what you shall do, since the doubts con cern- ing your own state, which have hitherto kept you from a sac- ramental table, yet remain, and, as long as they continue to prevail, mud prevent your appearing in the ranks of professing Christians : I answer, God forbid that I should ever recommend to any one to take such a step insincerely, or with a predomi- nant doubt of sincerity. But I would say, act in this case just as you would act in a case, in which the temporal welfare and happiness of yourself and your family were essentially in- volved, in some unsettled controversy, which it was, of course, of the utmost importance you should adjust, and which was becoming worse by every hour's delay. In such a case, I am sure, you could not rest satisfied a day, or an hour, until the matter was settled. Now% I should say, take the same course in reference to the infinitely more momentous subject of which I am speaking. No longer " halt between two opinions." Bring the matter to a distinct and solemn crisis. Set apart a day for special prayer and humiliation, accompanied with fast- ing— to humble yourself before God ; and importunately to ask for the Holy Spirit to shine into your heart, and to aid you in deciding " what manner of spirit you are of" If the exer- 10^- 170 QUIET YEARS. [CH. 28. 7. cises of one such day are not made effectual, by the divine blessing, to the termination of your doubts, observe, after a little interval, another and another, until the great question is decided. Can a more important question be conceived ? Is it ■wise to postpone for a day its decision, when the thread of life is so brittle ; and when all your relations in life render it of unspeakable imj^ortance that your example be, henceforth, as decisive and as edifying as possible ? And, although it be certain that no effective step can be taken in religion without divine aid ; yet it is equally certain, that we have the same encouragement to look and confidently hope for that aid, in the use of God's prescribed means, as we have to anticipate a bless- ing on industrious efforts to promote our temporal advantage. ' I am sensible, my dear Sir, that it may appear singular for one who has so little claim as I have, to interpose in so delicate and solemn a concern as this, which must, after all, be left between every individual and his God. My only apology must be found in the deep interest I take in your welfare and that of your family ; in my strong impression of the great good you might do, if your whole weight were openly and decisively thrown into the scale of Christ ; in the repeated instances which I have known of persons bearing a character not unlike your own, at last leaving the world without coming to any public decision on the most important of all questions ; and, finally, in the obligation which I feel lying upon me, as an aged min- ister, near the end of his course, to leave no effort unattempted that may promise even the possibility of doing good. Your j)astor is but a youth ;^ and although he never dropped a hint in my hearing respecting any special address to you on the subject of this letter; yet I can readily conceive that he would be likely to feel no small embarrassment in seeking a personal and pointed conversation on such a subject with one so much his superior in age, and so elevated in station. At my time of life, when all opportunities of doing good to my fellow-men must soon be over, I ought to be done Avith such embarrassment, and to be ready to risk something for the sake of promoting the best interests of a respected friend. ' I have only to add, my dear Sir, that this communication has not been prompted by any human being. It is the result entirely of the emotions which arose in my mind on seeing you in my audience this morning, and listening with so much seri- ous attention, while I was lamenting the small success of the Gospel on the hearts and lives of men. All knowdedge of it is 1 The Rev. James W. Alexander— from 1843, D.D. 1831.] THE RULING ELDERSHIP. 171 confined to you, myself, and our God. May he render it useful ! ' I am, my dear Sir, your unfeigned * and respectful friend, * Samuel Miller.' The Rev. James W. Alexander, writing under date of the 6th of August, 1832, said, "I returned to Princeton last night, from the funeral of my principal supporter and friend in Trenton, Chief Justice Ewing. He gave a decided testimony to the power of faith. He was not only one of the most temperate, and equable, and regular, but one of the halest men in America. You may imagine the consternation. He died of cholera, after an illness of twenty- three hours."^ Again he said, " There is good reason to believe that he was a subject of re- newing grace long before his last illness in 1832. During this brief period of suffering, he made a distinct and touching avowal of his faith in Christ."^ 7. The Ruling Eldership. It has been already seen, that, in 1809, Dr. Miller pub- lished a sermon upon the Warrant, Nature, and Duties of the Ruling Eldership. In 1831, he made this the basis of a more extended publication upon the same subject.^ The latter he dedicated to the ministers and elders of the Pres- byterian Church. In his address to them he says, " The substance of the following essay was delivered, from the pulpit, in the form of a sermon, more than twenty years ago, and subsequently published. In consequence of repeated solicitation, from some individuals of your number, I have thought proper to alter its form, to enlarge its limits, and to adapt it, according to my best judgment, to more general utility. It has long appeared to me that a more ample discussion of this subject than I have hitherto seen, is really needed." ^ Forty Years' Familiar Letters, 194. 2 Dr. Hall's Hist, of the First Presb. Ch. of Trenton, 414. 3 "An Essay on the AVarrant, Nature, and Duties of the Office of the Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church. By Samuel Miller, D. D., Professor of Ec- clesiastical History and Church Government in the Theological Seminary at Princeton, New Jersey. New York and Boston: 1831." After two editions of this volume had appeared, it was, in 1S40, adopted by the Presbyterian Board of Publication, which now issues it — in octodecimo — 324 pages. The work was re-issued in Scotland, in 1835, with an Introductory Essay by the Rev. William Lindsay of Glasgow, in duodecimo — 290 pages. 172 QUIET YEARS. [CH. 28. 7. "I am aware that some of my brethren do not concur with me in maintaining the Divine authority of the office of the Ruling Elder; and, probably, in several other opinions respecting this office advanced in the following pages. In reference to these points, I can only say, that, as the original publication, of w^hich this is an enlargement, was made without the remotest thought of controversy, and even without adverting, in my own mind, to the fact, that I differed materially from any of my brethren; so nothing is more foreign from my wishes, in the republication, than to assail the opinions or feelings of any brother. I have carefully re-examined the whole subject. And, although, in doing this, I have been led to modify some of my former opinions, in relation to a few minor points; yet in reference to the Divine warrant and the great importance of the office for which I plead, my convictions have become stronger than ever." Dr. Miller's publications upon the Ruling Eldership were, as to distinct treatises on the subject, almost pioneers. The Rev. John G. Lorimer, of Glasgow, published a work on "The Eldership of the Church of Scotland," in 1841, in the preface to w^hich he says, "The most complete treatise which I have seen on the subject, and to which I gladly acknowledge my obligations in the fol- lowing pages, is a work ' On the Office of the Ruling Elder, by Dr. Samuel Miller,' * * But the work is large for the gen- eral reader : though republished in this country it is little known : and though as a whole most excellent, it contains sentiments on various important points which no consistent member of the Church of Scotland can approve or recommend." Dr. Lorimer could find in Scotland only a chapter on the Eldership in the work of the Rev. Dr. Burns of Paisley upon Pauperism; a pamphlet, rather of a hortatory kind, by the Rev. Mr. Lew^is of Dundee; two articles in the Presbyterian Review for November 1834, and January 1835, "by Alexan- der Dunlop, Esquire, advocate — himself a noble specimen of an able and devoted Elder of the Church of Scotland;"^ with "A Treatise of Ruling Elders and Deacons," a tract "ascribed to the Rev. James Guthrie of Sterling, one of the celebrated martyrs of the Scottish Church," put to death under Charles the Second, in 1G61 — a treatise w^hich Dr. 1 P. xiii. 1831.] THE RULING ELDERSHIP. 173 Lorimer republishes as part of his volume. After quoting Romans 12, 6-8, and 1 Corinthians 12, 28, Mr. Guthrie remarks, "The third place of Scripture is: "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine." — Which text doth hold forth and distinguish two sorts of Elders in the church to whom the Lord Jesus hath committed the power of ruling. One sort who do also labour in the word and doctrine, namely, Pastors and Teachers; another sort who do only rule, and doing it well are accounted worthy of double honour ; and these are the Ruling Elders of whom we speak."^ Agreeing that ruling elders are appropriately named, and that there is a clear scriptural warrant for their office, Presbyterians have always differed among themselves as' to the precise terms of that warrant, and, not unfrequently, as to some of the functions of the eldership. The view above given, from the work ascribed to Mr. Guthrie, was the view adopted by Dr. Miller; who regarded the New Testament as employing the term elder for two distinct orders of church officers — distinct in ordination, and as to their duties. To the preaching-elder, or minister of the Gospel, according to this idea, belonged, indeed, all the functions of the ruling elder, and, in addition to these, the preaching of the word, and the ordination of other minis- ters, functions not belonging to the mere ruler. Dr. Miller certainly did much to spread this view of the office in the Presbyterian Church in this country, as also in Scotland, and wherever Scottish and American Presbyterians have exerted an influence. In opposition to it, some have con- tended, that ruling elders are never designated in Scripture by the term elder, but by that of deacon, or by only general terms, such as rulers, heljys, governmeyits} Dr. James P. Wilson, before Dr. Miller's work was published, had ably maintained, in the New Haven Christian Spectator, that ruling elders were only deacons under another name ; and the latter was regarded as intending in his work to answer Dr. Wikon. There have been later discussions of the sub- 1 p. 31. a Rom. 32, 8. 1 Cor. 12, 28. 174 QUIET YEARS. [CH. 28. 7. ject in this country, whicli have, to some extent, grown out of the publications already noticed. Dr. R. J. Breckinridge, Dr. Thornwell and Dr. Adger have insisted that preaching and ruling elders are one in order and essential functions ; the preaching of the word, by the call and gift of God, and the call of the people, being an unessential addition of duty in certain cases. CHAPTER TWENTY- NINTH. HOUSEHOLD RELIGION. 1831. 1. Dr. axd Mrs. Miller. The union of effort and the harmony, at home and abroad, ■which characterized Dr. and Mrs. Miller's long married life, have already been brought to view sufficiently to justify an inquiry into the causes of their happy companionship. And in the course of such an inquiry, perhaps, may be ex- hibited to most advantage certain traits of character, by which they were respectively distinguished. It would be a great mistake to imagine, that this harmony was that of two amiable and easy persons, both so quiet and inactive as never to come into collision ; or was to be accounted for by a controlling force of character on either side. It is a very common thing for husband and wife to agree well, because one constantly and cheerfully yields to the other, as possessing the stronger, more active mind, and the more determined will. This is especially the case, where the abler party exhibits those moral qualities which inspire respect and conj&dence. And, of course, when control founded on such grounds is wisely exercised, and secures hearty co-operation, its results are very beneficial. The natural influence which superiors exert over their inferiors God has evidently designed for good to both. But the case before us was not of this sort. And no less a mistake would it be to regard Dr. and Mrs. Miller as harmonious, because they were singularly alike in their natural endowments and tastes, in their education, opinions, or experience. Wide differences between them, in these respects, have already been brought to light. The early training of the one was wholly unlike that of the other ; 175 176 HOUSEHOLD RELIGION. [CH. 29. 1. and previous pages liave made quite apparent Mrs. Miller's remarkable independence of her husband, in the formation of her religious views — those views which he would have been expected especially to influence. It may be interesting, and perhaps not uninstructive, to notice some of those points in which they diiiered, and of those in which they were alike, as the basis of our conclusions in regard to the cause of their general agreement. Mrs. Miller, with, of course, far less literary and theo- logical education than her husband, was, perhaps, his su- perior in mental originality, and independence of thought and investigation. With equal scholastic acquirements, she would have been, doubtless, the more vigorous thinker of the two. And, as the natural result of such a distinction, she was far less yielding than he in opinion and prejudice: a point as to which, indeed, his superior cultivation of mind gave him obvious advantage. From nothing that he ever said, or has left behind in writing, can we infer that there was aught remarkable in Dr. Miller's religious experience. He had enjoyed the privilege of a strict Christian training, and hacl come, at length, into the church with, apparently, but a trembling hope of an interest in Christ. His after growth in grace and experimental knowledge seems to have been gradual, almost imperceptible, and perhaps at times, by unfavorable circumstances, especially in New York, seriously retarded. There can be no question that his spiritual progress was much more decided, constant, and vigorous after his re- moval to Princeton, than it had been for many years be- fore. Doubtless, in this matter, his intercourse with Dr. Alexander was greatly blessed. At any rate, he always seemed to regard with profound respect the spiritual at- tainments of his colleague ; and was ever ready to defer to him as the safer and more experienced guide in matters of heart religion. To Dr. Alexander, as also, if opportunity offered, to Dr. Green, he would send his own son for reli- gious counsel. Though Dr. Miller suffered, both before and after his removal to Princeton, several very severe and threatening attacks of illness ; yet his ordinary health was comfortable and even buoyant ; and his religious feelings shared in the advantages of a happy constitution of mind 1831.] DR. AND MRS. MILLER. 177 and body. Yet lie was, at times, trouLlccl, even down to old age, with doubts of bis acceptance. Anxiety on this account, however, was seldom agitating enough to disturb his even and well balanced temperament. On the other hand, Mrs. Miller's religious experience had been, as we have seen, peculiar and strongly marked. Her slender Christian advantages in early life, and the in- fluence of skeptical opinions had protracted and embittered the struggle of the flesh against the Spirit. Besides, while she never, after marriage, suftered from severe, lengthened illness, she was afflicted much of her life, especially until all her children were grown up, with morbid tendencies and frequent depression of spirits. For many years after her residence in Princeton commenced, she rarely passed an afternoon without nervous head ache — often very distress- ing, although seldom preventing the discharge of household duties. In her own memoirs she has recognized the fact, that these infirmities had given a sombre hue to her reli- gious experience ; and yet, quite early in that experience, she laid fast hold upon a good hope, which she maintained with a singularly uniform confidence, apparently, and free- dom from doubt. Her early knowledge of fashionable life, and the bitterness which this knowledge had prepared for her, had given her an unusually deep impression of the pre- vailing evils of society, and of the sinfulness of the natural heart ; and, for the most part, she took much more gloomy views than Dr. Miller of the world and its vanities. Some accomplishments of a literary and artistic kind, which he desired his children to possess, she doubted and feared, be- cause of what she imagined their worldly, ensnaring ten- dency. Both felt it a duty and a privilege to contribute statedly and constantly to the cause of benevolence and religion ; but Dr. Miller's temptation was to give too indiscriminately, upon the kind impulses of the moment, and with little in- vestigation ; while his wife's much greater caution as to this point sometimes endangered her withholding more than was meet ; although to what she thoroughly approved she gave most freely. Such a diff'erence very often, doubtless, puts domestic harmony at risk, yet, of course, not so much where bothparties are acting under the strong dominion of prin- VoL. IL— 10. 178 HOUSEHOLD RELIGION. [CH. 29. 1. ciple, and have full faith each in the other's conscientious- ness. With Dr. Miller, faith, and reason, and conscience were probably better balanced, and more symmetrically exer- cised than with Mrs. Miller ; yet possibly he was in danger of looking too little for constant divine guidance. She, on the contrary, was more strongly tempted than he to super- stition, above all to that form of it which is theologically termed enthusiasm — neglecting too much the guidance of the natural faculties, and even the written word, for provi- dential signs, impressions and impulses. Yet as to no real principle, in this respect, did they differ ; and perhaps Mrs. Miller's life exhibited instances enough of really wonderful divine interposition, to justify the doubt, at least, whether she was not herein as nearly right as her husband. Cer- tain it is that what all the members of the family knew of her walk Avith God, and of his dealings with her, gave them an unusually deep impression of her piety and prevalence in prayer. It was idle to theorize against what, in her, commanded a reverence akin to awe. In 1827, we find Dr. Miller adopting the plan of giving, statedly, one-tenth of his income. His occasional charities doubtless, always swelled the amount considerably. The skeleton of one of his extemporaneous discourses, entitled 'Rules of Giving,' commends giving 'willingly,' 'cheer- fully,''liberally,' 'spontaneously,' 'statedly,' 'punctually.' A little peculiarity of one mode of Mrs. Miller's contri- bution to charitable objects will illustrate the two points of character last mentioned. For many years she was in the habit of laying aside in a drawer every silver dollar that came into her possession, as belonging to God. It looked as if she feared that she might not give enough, and de- sired Providence to add just what was deficient. The store thus accumulated was entirely independent of all her ordi- nary contributions, and, from time to time, was devoted to special objects, as they presented their claims with peculiar force to her mind. Such an object she found, for example, in the departure of Mrs. William M. Thompson, and her husband, as missionaries of the American Board to the Holy Land, in 1832. This lady, as Miss Eliza N. Hanna, had, for a number of years, with her sister, conducted a female day 1831.] DR. AND MRS. MILLER. 179 and boarding school in Princeton, at which more than one of Dr. Miller's daughters had obtained a part of their edu- cation. She had been very highly esteemed ; and she and her husband, just prior to embarcation, paid their Prince- ton friends a short visit, and were entertained by Mrs. Mil- ler. They were soon to bid farewell, when the hoard of silver dollars — one hundred and thirty-one — was brought forth, and committed to Mrs. Thompson, for a female school in Syria under her care. This habit of hoarding for God, like all habits, seemed to increase constantly in power ; un- til Mrs. Miller appeared to catch at a silver dollar, as if it were a God-send ; so that if her husband or any of her children displayed one, she generally managed to get it in exchange for other money. Perhaps, herein, according to her own principle, she was too ready to go in advance of Providence. Dr. Miller's idea of housekeeping was less economical than his wife's, and probably the plainness of living which happily distinguished, to the last, their mansion and house- hold, would have been gradually and a good deal exceeded, as the children grew up, but for her vigilant opposition. Yet her husband had some very decided notions on this subject, of which he w^as most tenacious. For example, a brussels carpet was, in his view, a piece of extravagance not to be tolerated. And he often acknowledofed that her somewhat stricter views, as to eating, and drinking, and dressing had been a great benefit to all the family, himself included. With such differences, there were, to be sure, some most important points of resemblance between them. Not only were their fundamental views of gospel truth and gospel duty entirely coincident; they agreed, also, in being alike ardent lovers of Presbyterianism, as to both its distinctive doctrines and polity. Each had a strong will and, natu- rally, an impatient, if not violent, temper. With a less refined taste, and less religious principle, Dr. Miller would have been hasty and passionate, though not vindictive, or disposed to brood over his resentments ; Mrs. Miller wouhl have cherished longer enmities — w^ould have been much less placable. But they had both equally studied to bring their own wills into complete subjection to God's will, and 180 HOUSEHOLD RELIGION. [cil. 29. 2. were perfectly agreed, that the indulgence of hard thoughts, hard feelings, or hard words, in human intercourse, and especially between husband and wife, was a very great sin. And their views of the nature, rights and duties of the fa^mily relation were almost without a shade of difference. Placini; before themselves, constantly, not self-gratification, but the faithful discharge of duty ; not the pampering of the flesh, but the training of the whole being for Christ and for heaven, they had comparatively little temptation to disagree. Add to this that devoted, unwavering, and ever-growing attachment to each other, which had marked their union from the very first; and the elements of a harmonious life are quite sufficiently apparent. When a difference of opinion arose between Dr. and Mrs. Miller, as to a point comparatively unimportant, and involv- ing no question of conscience, he generally gave way; and he often gracefully acknowledged, that his wife's judgment had been the better. In following out his conscientious convictions, however, he was very firm ; and, when he in- sisted, Mrs. Miller at once recognized her own well consid- ered obligation to yield : she might expostulate, but her husband's decision was her law. And it should be observed, that their disagreements, when fully known to their chil- dren, were uniformly managed in such a Christian spirit, that neither was lowered at all in their eyes, by any re- proach or imputation cast by one upon the other, or any noticeable manifestation of evil temper. Each parent's example was a changeless lesson, to every child, of love and confidence towards the other parent; and the studied respect and beautiful deference which each constantly paid to the other were an embodied statute for the life-lono; obedience of all who witnessed their daily walk and conversation. To their children, their very faults, amidst all that was so deeply revered, were but as those of holy men and women of old, who testified but the more clearly to God's grace, by occasional evidence of feebly lingering corruptions, which that grace had so remarkably overcome. 2. The Closet and the Family. Dr. and Mrs. Miller were truly of one heart in their views of practical religion. If there was anything in which they 1831.] THE CLOSET AND THE FAMILY. 181 were fully and cordially agreed, it was in their striving to make the service and enjoyment of God the great end and business of life for both themselves and every one under their roof. Each of them had heartily adopted the deter- mination of Joshua — "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."^ Their example, their authority, their instructions, and their prayers were unreservedly consecrated to the attainment of this result. No person could belong to their household, without the assurance that they spent much time in closet devotion ; and that the daily seasons set apart for this purpose were jealously guarded against abridgement and dissipation. They never, indeed, gave any one notice of their hours of secret worship, or denied themselves absolutely, at such hours, to ordinary calls; but none could fail to observe that they regularly entered into the closet, and shut the door ; and that they yielded to in- terruptions, when there employed, with less willingness than at almost any other time. The manner of their private devotions they never disclosed. Probably Dr. Miller made comparatively little use of any devotional book excepting the Scriptures. Mrs. Miller was known to read much in Scott's Family Bible, and to use freely, though without audible singing, the "Psalms and Hymns" employed in the ordinary public worship which she attended. No sound from the closet of either ever reached an ear outside. There was reason to believe that Dr. and Mrs. Miller seldom passed a day at home, or together abroad, without united prayer by themselves. They evidently regarded such union as a special duty and privilege, because of the special promise connected with it in God's word. It is most certain that their religion, in the consistency of its observances, and its unceasing and controlling in- fluence upon the life, constantly commanded the respect of all about them. That the Scriptures were to them, not the word of men, but in truth the word of God; and that they indeed ascribed to prayer an immeasurable efficacy, no one, who enjoyed any degree of intimacy with them, could for a moment doubt. Children are, perhaps, commonly, the severest critics, according to the measure of their intelli- gence and education, of the practical religion of tlieir parents; 1 Joshua 24, 15. 16* 182 HOUSEHOLD RELIGION. [CH. 29. 2. whom, in the most unguarded moments, thej constantly observe ; but probably it never occurred to any one in this household to question the sincerity of the christian profession of either father or mother. Indeed the devout earnestness and controlling power which their faith constantly exhibited, was, ever doubtless, with all their children, a strong argu- ment, and, throughout the earlier years of the latter, the strongest argument which they could understand, for the verity and importance of the doctrines of Christ. It was a settled principle of the household, so far as the example and untiring efforts of the parents could make it so, that every act, and every thing were to be '' sanctified by the word of God and prayer."^ The family Dr. and Mrs. Miller regarded, as, in the beginning, co-incident with the visible Church, and as never having lost its distinct, organic existence, as that church's grand formative element. The children of every joarent professing the true religion they considered, of course,^ as, by birth, members of the visible Church, according to the terms of the covenant made anciently with Abraham, ac- knowledged uniformly by the Israelites, and handed down to the people of God, in New Testament times, as a per- petual and precious inheritance. They believed, moreover, that faithful christian parents had special encouragement to expect the salvation of their children. Perhaps there is no evidence that they went beyond the prevailing belief of evangelical christians on this point — the belief, not in an absolute promise,^ but in extraordinary reason to hope, for 1 I Timothy 4, 5. 2 Confession of Faith, Ch. 25, 2. 3 God's word seems plainly td teach, that the children of pious and faithful parents shall certainly be saved. This doctrine, of course, can be received by those only who believe that he is absolutely sovereign in the dispensation of his grace. The promise is made, not at all to the children, but to the parents. " I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee, in their generations, as an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee." (Gen. 17, 7.) Now, if being the God of the parents means being their Saviour, then being the God of the children means just as much. To be sure, every divine promise is made upon a condition ; and the condition here, say some, is the child's faith and obedience. But the ful- fillment of the condition lies upon the party with whom the covenant is made, not upon a third party. In the case before us, the covenant being with the parent, the condition is laid upon the parent alone. What the condition is, we find plainly declared: — "I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which be hath spoken of him." (Gen. 18, 19.) This teaches us, in brief, that parental 1831.] THE CLOSET AND THE FAMILY. 183 the full success of parental fidelity. But in this view of God's covenant they found ample scope for a faith working by love. Reason, experience and observation accorded with the Bible in assuring them, that the child's welfare, both temporal and eternal, depended greatly upon a faithful training; and they were resolved, trusting in divine grace, that the blood of their children should not be found in their skirts. The notion that parents have little influence in determining the character and destiny of children, — that the best trained often turn out the worst, — a notion at/lirect variance with Scripture and common sense alike, though very popular with the thousands who would throw ofl* paren- tal responsibility, they regarded as abhorrent to every ra- tional and christian sentiment. Infant baptism they both esteemed a very precious or- dinance, for the truth which it exhibited and naturally impressed, the impulse which it might give to both parent and child in the discharge of duty, and the graces of the Spirit more or less immediately connected with it as God's seal of his covenant. fidelity is certainly followed by the fulfillment of God's promise, in turning to righteousness, the immediate descendants: the covenant is absolute, but abso- lute for only the iirst generation. Hence, in infant baptism, the transaction is wholly between God and the parent. As an adult, Avhen baptized, makes profession of having entered into a covenant with God; so a parent, offering an infant for baptism, makes pro- fession of another, a further and distinct covenant. In the former case, the variable part of the engagement is, "I promise to be faithful to my own soul;" in the latter, ** I promise to be faithful to the soul of my child." Of course fidelity to the Saviour lies at the foundation of both engagements. It is a popular but groundless idea,that the parent, as representing the child, enters into some engage- ment ; and the latter is often exhorted to ratify what the former has thus repre- sentatively done — to take voluntarily upon himself the vows made in his name. But how can the child ever ratify the parent's promise of personal, parental lidelity? When the child makes a profession of religion, he recognizes the obligation, not of the latter, bat of the former, covenant mentioned. The parent vows to bring up the child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. How can the child take that vow upon himself? Of various superstitions' con- nected with infant baptism this simple and scriptural view completely and happily disposes. The transaction is one with which the child has nothing to do, excepting afterwards to enjoy its fruits. It is a transaction sim}.ly between the parents and their covenant God; and the grace properly onnectcd with infant baptism is received by the parents, not by the child. What good can it do the child? is asked frequently by objectors to pedobaptism. None what- ever, immediately, in any case where the subject is too young to be influenced by gospel truth. The infant, after this ordinance, is exactly what is was, spiritually, before; but the parents, who have professed God's covenant with themselves for their children, are bcnetited, as parents, by that profession, in its proper relations, just as by any other religious profession. The strength SBid the grace imparted are theirs. 18J: HOUSEHOLD RELIGION. [CH. 29. 2. Twice every day, family worship was as regularly attended to as the family meals. Every member of the household, including domestics, and often day laborers, was expected to be present. In the morning, it was Bible reading and prayer, sometimes w^ith singing : in the evening, prayer alone. The younger children Mrs. Miller was ac- customed to take apart, immediately after morning family worship; and kneeling with them, she first heard their prayers said, then prayed with them and for them herself. Every Sabbath morning, she assembled all the children, for an hour previous to public worship, and, after prayer, read to them a sermon, or a portion of some practical religious work. Upon each child's birth-day, she repaired with the child, at a convenient time, to the father's study, for a brief season of united, solemn intercession suited to the occasion, and seldom failing to produce some serious thoughts. The departure of one or more of the family for a visit to distant friends, or a long journey, was often made the occasion of assembling all for special prayer. Every day, each child, until home education gave place to the day or boarding school, which was not usually until after the age of twelve, was required to commit to memory a few verses from the Bible. Each, in this way, first and last, committed all, or nearly all, of the New Testament, and much of the Old. Mrs. Miller, assisted more or less by the older children, heard this lesson; and she had some peculiar rules for it. The verses of the previous day — in family parlance, the ' old lesson ' — must always be said with the ' nevf.' Neither was considered ' said,' if more than three words were missed. After learning the lesson, some little time must be spent, the book closed, in ' forgetting ' it, before it was heard: this plan of forgetting was designed to keep it the longer in memory ; for the ordeal required thorough study in the first place. To this requirement the blessed Saviour seemed to set his own seal. Perhaps all the children were ready, in matnrer years, to acknowledge their indebtedness, both in- tellectually and religiously, to the practice. But one attes- tation of its advantages was peculiarly touching. When Edward was sinking in consumption, and began thought- fully to J ttend to " the things which belonged to his peace;" 1831.] TDE CLOSET AND THE FAMILY. 185 and his mother, striving to present the Saviour in his sufficiency and glory, and in his wondrous condescension and sympathy, had directed her son's thoughts to some passages in the Epistle to the Hebrews; she found, one morning, almost to her alarm at first, he was so feeble, that he had just committed to memory, besides a hymn, the whole of the opening chapter of that Epistle. '' Oh" said he, "I once learned Hebrews through, and now it seems fresh in my memory: it comes back without any effort." The Shorter Catechism of the Westminster Divines, and to some extent the Larger, were diligently used in the family as text books of religious instruction; and were zealously recommended to all christian families by precept as well as by example. The Sabbath-school, constantly favored, was, however, regarded not as a substitute for parental effort, but rather as a stimulus to it. A strict observance of the Lord's Hay, by all the house- hold, was very strongly insisted upon, but without any mere ritualistic turn to the requirement. " The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath." It was a precious day for its spiritual uses and benefits; yet works of necessity and mercy were admitted with a free spirit. Mrs. Miller, though never accustomed to such an observance, en- tertained a decided preference for the New England reckon- ing of the Lord's day, and always urged that, at any rate, Saturday evening should be " the preparation " for the Sabbath. Every member of the family, including domestics, was expected to attend God's house upon the Sabbath day. This rule was so imperative, that no child, well enough to go out, ever dreamed of asking to stay at home. It was so well understood, and so steadily and invariably, though lovingly, enforced, that dispute or conflict on the subject never arose. The dwelling was commonly locked up and left to itself. In the judgment of Dr. and Mrs. Miller, to pre-occupy the minds of all their children with their own honest and well-considered religious convictions, even to their denominational preferences, was as clear a duty as to cherish, themselves, those convictions. The soul not taken possession of for God, they regarded as abandoned to Satan ; and all their parental authority, power, and influence they 186 HOUSEHOLD RELIGION. [CH. 29. 3. sedulously employed to mould each soul according to their own settled views of the gospel. The only assurance that children w^ould ever make a right choice, in the matter of religion, they found in faithfully bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. The children were often encouraged, though not abso- lutely required, to write abstracts of the sermons and relig- ious lectures which they had heard. When the Rev. George Bush, before his lapse into Swendenborgianism, was lecturing in Princeton upon the fulfillment of prophecy, great interest was excited and kept up in the family, throughout the course, by adding a pecuniary inducement to the proposition that all should write abstracts, which were to be prepared from memory alone. 3. Worldly Amusements. In condemning, and in prohibiting to their children and all under their authority, what they regarded as sinful worldly amusements and indulgences. Dr. and Mrs. Miller were strict and earnest. The theatre and its kindred re- sorts need hardly be mentioned as forbidden. About the year 1826, the former contributed two or more short arti- cles to the Nc^v Jersey Patriot^ a weekly newspaper pub- lished in Princeton, on the subject of social amusements. They were replies to articles that had appeared in the same paper previously. One of them relates expressly to Dan- cing. Dr. Miller had been brought up plainly, as w^ell as religiously, and, it is probable, had never learned to dance. Yet, in the article last mentioned, he says, "On this sub- ject, the writer does not speak from mere hearsay. In youth, he was no stranger to the dancing-party and the ball-room." In Philadelphia, no doubt, during his college course, he had experienced many temptations to worldliness in the form of gay fashionable life; but his profession of religion, his thoughts already of the gospel ministry, and all his home recollections, if not some of his immediate as- sociations in the city, had proved a strong and effectual re- straint. When, however, sur)'ounded as he was, and not wholly uninfluenced, by the fashionable society of New York, he was to provide for the education of his first chil- dren, and the question arose, whether they should possess 1831.] WORLDLY AMUSExMENTS. 187 those outward graces which many imagine that a dancing- master only can impart, he seems at least to have wavered. Mio-ht they not, he asked, learn the poetry of motion, with- out being led away to the ball-room, or into the dissipations of the gay world ? Mrs. Miller, doubtless, had passed un- der the dancing-master's hand ; nay, had experienced, in many a fashionable rout, the true effects of such a training; and she never hesitated, but set her face, at once, against exposing her children to the fearful dangers, from which, as she ever felt, she had been plucked, of God's unspeaka- ble mercy, like a brand from the fire. In after years, hia wife's judgment having prevailed, the hour of temptation having passed away, and his own mind having attained to maturer views of the whole subject, Dr. Miller thankfully rejoiced in the issue. The writer once put to him the question, 'What is the harm of dancing?' He replied, in substance, that oi promiscuous dancing — the dancing of the two sexes together — the very origin and inherent nature Avere most unholy ; that it was strictly pantomimic, and all its motions were but the dalliance of sinful passions ; that it had really a meaning, and that altogether abominable. Dr. Miller regarded it, then, as sinful in itself, and not simply on account of its many evil accompaniments; al- though these too he fully recognized. And who may not clearly discern, especially in the "round dances" so fash- ionable at the present day, this ''harmless amusement," as some would fain believe it, simply revealing a natural and settled tendency to revert to its naked and shameless ori- ginal ? Satan provides for his votaries their proper offer- ings, which bear too clearly the stamp of his lordship to be ever alienated wholly from his service. In the article just referred to, Dr. Miller said, "* * Not only some nominal Christians, but some whom we must regard as truly intelligent and pious Christians, have professed to see no evil in dancing, and have not hesitated even to speak well of it, as friendly to health, and conducive to ease and gracefulness of manner. But it is equally certain that a much larger number, nay, an overwhelming majority of those who were most eminent for the intelligence and fervour of their piety, have been, in all ages of the Church, opposed to promis- cuous dancing, as unfavorable to the purity and spirituality of the Gospel, and calculated to produce very serious mischiefs. 188 HOUSEHOLD RELIGION. [CH. 29. 3. That the great body of the best divines and best Christians that have ever lived, from the Apostles' days to the present time, have been of this opinion, no one can doubt who has taken the least pains to obtain impartial information on the subject. * * The plea that dancing is conducive to health appears to me per- fectly frivolous. Walking or riding in the open air is surely far more friendly to health than skipping about within doors, under the direction of a dancing-master, or sweltering, for four or five hours together, in the close, impure atmosphere of a ball-room, and then coming forth into the frosty night air, to incur the risk of a fatal disease. Such practices have injured the health twenty times where they have restored or confirmed it once. The plea that learning the art of dancing contributes to gracefulness of attitude and movement, is not, I grant, wholly without foundation ; but I contend that the same advantages may be nearly, if not quite, as efiectually gained, and with more unaffected simplicity, by other means. On the one hand, some of the most graceful and polished persons I have ever seen never danced a step in their lives ; and, on the other, the most fantastical and disgusting manners that were ever witnessed, have often been exhibited by those who were devoted to the amusement of dancing. ^ * The dancing of the sexes to- gether is calculated to promote a spirit of vanity, sensuality and corruption. * * Some even of the more serious heathen condemned it as inconsistent with female purity. * * "Some parents have indeed alleged, that they had their chil- dren instructed in the art of dancing, not that they might after- wards figure at balls and assemblies., which they have acknow- ledged to be scenes of unchristian vanity ; but that they might gain the immediate advantages of the art as to manners. But what parent can be sure that his purpose will be regarded in the subsequent life of the child? The parent may intend nothing but the promotion of personal elegance and graceful- ness. But the child may be so enamoured and fascinated by the new acquisition, as to be borne away by it, and tempted to launch out into all the extravagance of the most corrupting dissipation. In such a case, is not the parent really chargeable with the sin of leading his child into temptation, perhaps into ruin ? — Could any reasonable child suppose that an enlightened Christian parent would deliberately have him taught that which he wished him never to jyractice f " Let it not be said, that I am arguing only against the ah'me of dancing ; and that the best things may be abused. I con- tend that the unhallowed influence of which I have spoken, is its native tcndenci/." 1831.] WORLDLY AMUSEMENTS. 189 Noticing the concession that, "when young people become serious, they lose all inclination for this amusement," he says, " This is undoubtedly true. I never knew an exception. And the only wonder is that your correspondent did not perceive how fatal the fact was to the whole scope of his argument. Can it possibly, then, be the duty of a Christian parent to teach his child that which is acknowledged not to be reconcilable with Christian feeling, and which, the moment that child comes to his senses with respect to divine things, he will, of course, abandon ? * * "In fine, Mr. Editor, though I would by no means exclude from church-membership those who occasionally danced them- selves, and taught their children to dance ; but would bear with them, if otherwise exemplary, "because of the hardness of their hearts"; yet I greatly admired and heartily approved the an- swer given by a pious minister to a lady, rather gay and worldly in her habits, who proposed to become a communicant of the church under his pastoral care. "I learn, Sir," said she, "that you do not allow your church members to dance, or attend balls." — "You have been misinformed, Madam," said the worthy minister : "I do not attempt, by my authority to pre- vent the members of my church from engaging in such amuse- ments; hut, if their religion does not prevent them, I ivould not give much for it.'' In his Retrospect of the Eighteenth Century, Dr. Miller, while pointedly condemning the great mass of the works of fiction current in that day, yet expressed the opinion, that such works, executed in a proper manner, were justified by their evident utility, and by the use of parables in the Scriptures. He said, " Novels maij be so written as to promote the cause both of knowledge and virtue. They may be constructed in such a manner as will tend to lead the mind insensibly from what is sordid and mean to more worthy pursuits, and to fill it with pure, elevated and liberal sentiments. Nay, it may be further conceded, that, out of the myriads of novels which have been composed, a, few are, in fact, entitled to this character, and have a tendency to produce these effects."^ But it- is evident that Dr. Miller entertained, his life long, a growing conviction against novel reading. It is by no means clear that the example of inspiration can be fairly pleaded for any species of fiction ; while quite cer- ^ Chap. xix. Vol. II.— 17. 190 HOUSEHOLD RELIGION. [CH. 29. 3. tain that it cannot be for novels and romances. These are simply the distilled spirits of the intellectual and moral world ; and, as belonging to such a world, might be called spirituous much more properly than any distillation from material substances. Like alcoholic drinks, they are con- centrated extracts of intoxicating principles, too feeble, in their native diluted condition, to offer the craved stimulus. Whatever in the history of common life is stimulating in a moderate o.nd healthful, or comparatively harmless, degree, is separated and condensed in the novel, so as to produce a higher, altogether unnatural, and necessarily injurious ex- citement. And surely spiritual, cannot be less injurious, to the inebriate himself at least, than sensual, intoxication. The ruin caused by novels is just as real and lamentable as that caused by ardent spirits and drugs, though, as in- tellectual and moral chiefly, less visible than the latter. Dr. and Mrs. Miller were perfectly agreed in the endeavor to keep novels entirely away from their children, until they crept in, to some extent, under the guise of religion, and from the Sabbath-school library. From the published works of the former a number of quotations might be given to the same effect as the following : — " I would advise you to exclude novels from youe light HEADING altogethePw I throw this counsel into a separate section, for the purpose of making it more emphatical. There have been ministers who were, habitually, among the most de- voted readers of novels to be found. But I hardly need say, that they were not, in general, the most diligent and exemplary in the discharge of their parochial duties. I am not insensible of the powerful talents and fascination displayed in many of the first class of novels. But on this very account, as well as others, I would banish them from the study of a gospel minister. I consider them as an article, which, like tobacco and ardent spirits, if a man use at all, he will probably be tempted to use excessively. And, therefore, I would say, Touch not, taste not, handle not. No one, however grave his character or pursuits, if he once give way to this sort of reading, can ever be sure that he will not go to excess ; and every man who abounds in novel reading, even though he be a clergyman, will suffer both intel- lectual and moral injury of no trivial import."^ ^ Clerical Manners and Habits ; Let. 8, ^ 15. CHAPTER THIRTIETH. TROUBLES WITHOUT AND WITHIN. 1831, 1832. 1. The General Assembly. The General Assembly of 1831 will ever be memorable in the history of the Presbyterian Church of the United States as the scene of the first great, general conflict between the Old and New School parties. It was much the largest Assembly that had ever yet convened; and it soon became quite evident that the New School wielded a decisive ma- jority, and that efforts, never before made, to secure such a result in this highest court of the Church, had been syste- matically, energetically and successfully prosecuted. To sustain Mr. Barnes, and to destroy or paralyze the Presby- terian Boards, were avowed objects with marshalled com- panies of New School men coming from various parts of the land. Of this Assembly Dr. Miller was a member, and its ex- citing and painful scenes were almost too much for his physical strength. In a letter of the 14th of June following, to Mrs. Wales, he said, 'From the hour the General Assembly commenced its session, until the last moment I remained with it, the business was of such a character, and was so urged on, that it was impossible to be absent, consistently, as I thought, with fidelity, for a mo- ment. I remained till near the close of the business, when I became so feeble, reduced, and nervous, that I was unfit for anything.' He wrote homo, despondingly, of the prospect. In her diary, on the 21th of May, his wife wrote, 'The Lord, I trust, put it into my heart, yesterday, to take my husband's letter to Dr. Alexander, and communicate to him 191 192 TROUBLES WITHOUT AND WITHIN. [CH. 30. 1. tlie gloomy account Avlnch it contained of appearances in the General Assembly ; and to endeavour to get him to propose a meeting for special prayer on this behalf. He proposed to make our early morning meeting an opportunity for the pur- pose, when, by a few words, the praying people amongst us might be awakened to plead for this representation of the Church, about which much deadness and carelessness seem to prevail. He came amongst us himself this morning according to promise, and the Lord, too, seemed to be with us; and it was proposed that all these early meetings, during the sitting of the Assembly, should include the concerns of the Church, as involved in this representative body, among their objects at the throne of grace.' It may here be remarked, that the terms Old Scliool and Netv ScJiooI, though previously employed, first began, in this Assembly, to obtain some currency. The choice of Dr. Beman, both theologically and ecclesiastically an ex- treme New School man, as moderator, testified to the strength of the party of which he was an acknowledged leader. The organization had hardly been effected, before a struggle commenced in regard to the case of a committee- man, of a Congregational church, who appeared with a commission from a mixed presbytery — that of Grand River — formed under the "Plan of Union." He was ad- mitted to a seat ; but, afterwards it was resolved, that such appointments to sit in the Assembly were inexpedient, and of questionable constitutionality, and ought not in future to be made. Said one who listened to the discussion in this case, 'I recollect the able and unanswerable argument of Dr. Miller too, whicli was equal to demonstration, that we could not admit a mere layman, sustaining no office in the church, to ^ seat in the Asscml)ly, and that we mirjht not even if w^e could, admit a man to legislate and make laws to bind us, who himself not only belonged virtually to another denomination, but who shewed by the ]iosition he occupied that he would not come under these laws or be bound ])y them himself! It would be like admitting a monarchist to a seat in a legislature to make laws for repub- licans, though he was at once an alien and on principle opposed to the system in which he wanted to legislate.'^ The case of Mr. Barnes now came up, upon a reference from the Old School majority of the Presbytery of Phila- delphia, and complaints from the New School minority. 1 Lalt. Lit. and Kulig. Magazine, (183S,) 413. 1831.] THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 193 What was to be done ? The Presb^^tery, beyond all ques- tion, had violated Mr. Barnes's constitutional rights, by censuring and admonishing him personally, under the plea of their undoubted authority to condemn a printed publi- cation bearing his name. The complainants, therefore, must be sustained as to this very important point ; and, moreover, to remit the case to the Presbytery of Philadel- phia would be to refer most difficult and delicate matters for adjustment to a judicatory which had already made grievous mistakes in its manner of proceeding, and was becoming more and more unfitted, by excitement and con- flict, for deciding wisely such an issue. Thoroughly con- vinced of all this, and confident that the toleration of Mr. Barnes's errors was the less of two pressing evils. Dr. Miller urged repeatedly, and at length successfully, the reference of the whole case, by consent of parties, to a special committee, whose report, if adopted by the Assem- bly, should be final. With apparent reluctance, this was agreed to by the prosecutors on behalf of Presbytery. The committee was appointed, with Dr. Miller as chairman, and their report, partly from his pen, was adopted with but a few dissenting votes. The conscientious zeal of the Presbytery was commended ; Mr. Barnes's sermon was declared to " contain a number of unguarded and objectionable pas- sages ;" the opinion, however, was expressed, that the Presbytery, particularly after his explanations, ought to have dropped the matter, and ought now to suspend all further proceedings ; and it was pronounced expedient to divide the Presbytery of Philadelphia in such a way as w^ould be best fitted to promote the peace of the ministers and churches thereto belonging ; and to settle, in thesi, the abstract questions presented by the reference, rather than in connection with the case of Mr. Barnes. This report, though originally drawn by Dr. Miller, and by him as chairman presented, had been so much altered, against his judgment, by the majority of the committee, that it cannot fairly be attributed to him ; and he ex- pressed his dissent from it " explicitly and publicly." Out of it grew the ''elective affinity" presbytery, which after- ward gave so much trouble ; but it does not appear that a division other than by geographical lines was as yet 17* 194 TROUBLES WITHOUT AND AVITIIIX. [CH. 80. 1. distinctly contemplated. So far as he was responsi- ble for the measures adopted, they were, at least, the fruit of an honest effort to restore peace to the Church. The evils, which others more clearly discerned, and which vitally endangered her purity and order, had they been only what he thouc^ht them, might, perhaps, have been thus kept under and finally eliminated. But they were too great and too rapidly growing, to yield to such treatment. Yet who can say, with confidence, that this adjustment, so so far as it was advocated by Dr. Miller, was not, for that time, with the exception, perhaps, of the proposal to divide the presbytery, the best of which the case, painfully involved as it had, by unskillful treatment, become, really adiiiitted ? The proceedings of this Assembly, in regard to its Boards, next claim our attention. The American Home Missionary Society, from the very time of its formation, had striven, in the interest of New Sclioolism, for the con- trol of the domestic missionary operations of the Presby- terian Church. Its advocates and agents, with Dr. Peters, its corresponding secretary, at their head, Avere now constant- ly crying out against the alleged evils of denominational boards — the division of Christian force and the unhappy [con- flict of evangelical effort which the co-existence of such boards with voluntary societies involved. They lauded the advantages of union effort, and the superior capacity of tlieir own institution. So limited had been the powers, and so lamentable the inefficiency of the Assembly's Board of Missions, prior to the year 1828, that even some of its friends, had almost despaired of its success. But, in that year, an overture for its improved organization, signed by Dr. Green and others, had been presented to the Assembly, which had been deliberating favorably upon the subject, wlien the Home Missionary Society had interposed, throuo-h a committee delegated for the purpose, resisted the pro- jected improvement of the Board, and succeeded in havino- tbe whole matter indefinitely postponed. The New School party, however, in the Assembly, alarmed apparently by the feeling wliieli this action had excited, had afterward agreed, virtually to reconsider the subject, and, at length, under the form of a declaration that certain powers already belonged to the Board, liad conferred upon it the substance 1831.] THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 195 of that authority for which its friends had asked. Hence- forward the resources of the Board and its efficiency had rapidly increased: in 1828, it had reported less than $3,000 as its receipts : in 1831, it reported nearly $20,000. But success had proved more hazardous than the want of it, as it had only excited the agents and adherents of the Home Missionary Society to more determined opposition. To a courteous letter of salutation from the Board, soon after its re-invigoration, the Society had returned an answer, still insisting upon the incompatibility of two such agencies, and upon the Board's becoming an auxiliary or branch of its own, as the absolute condition of harmony between the two. To secure complete control of the Board, or its destruction, it was quite plain was now the Society's de- termined purpose. Dr. Miller had been a commissioner to the Assembly of 1828, and, although a friend and sup- porter of the Home Missionary Society, had, throughout, asserted the right and duty of the Presbyterian Church to carry on its missionary work through its own agencies — de- nominational boards; and had been a member of the Board of Missions, and a trusted, hearty co-operator in every effort to increase its efficiency. During the winter of 1830-31, Dr. Beman, upon a tour through the South, and Dr. Peters, by six letters, entitled "A Plea for Union in the West," published in the Cincin- nati Journal, with the aid, before the Assembly convened, of the Christian Spectator, at Ncay Haven, writing earnestly in behalf of Mr. Barnes, were preparing the way for a triumph, which, with an overwhelming majority, to all ap- pearance, in their favour, they failed, nevertheless, for some reason, to secure in full. They went far enough to disclose very clearly their real intention ; but it seemed as though, when the critical moment arrived, they lacked that boldness, or that perfect command over their adherents, which was es- sential to complete success. In fact, there must have been, in the Assembly, a considerable number of men, not bound to any party, who, while they often sAvelled the New School ranks, were open to conviction by arguments from the opposite side. Dr. Peters, in his Plea for Union, had brought the most extraordinary charges against the Board of Missions and its officers — such men as Dr. Green^ Dr. Skinner, and Dr. lOG TROUBLES WITHOUT AND WITIIIX. [CII. 30. 1. :\IcAulcy— tlie latter two belonging to the New School party. He had represented himself as making an " ex- posure," which might "occasion malignant satisfaction in the mimls of opposers," was to be regretted "when the eyes of an infidel world were watching with eagerness for the haltini,' of christians," but was required by their " high and holy obligations " " to provide things honest in the sight of nil men."° After this disclosure of the designs of Dr. Peters and his co-adjutors, it cannot have surprised any one, that they insisted, in the Assembly, upon the appointment of a committee to nominate a new Board; but it was a complete surprise to the friends of the Board, when that committee reported a list of men avowedly hostile to it, and virtually pledged, if not to destroy it, at least to make it wholly sub- servi° nt to the Home Missionary Society. Said the Chris- tian Advocate,^ afterward, " It was the report of this committee which led to those scenes of disorder and confusion which disgraced the Assembly, and grieved every friend to religion and the Presbyterian Church. The report was so flagrantly and intolerably at war with all ccpiity and propriety, that it produced criminations and rc- erimimitions, which isssued in a complete disregard of the mod- erator and of all order; and rendered a hasty recess the only expedient left, to l)ring the members into a temper that would ndniit of their proceeding in business." After this recess, the Assembly engaged in pra3^er for a better mind, for divine guidance, and for more harmonious action; when the opponents of the Board finally agreed to the re-appointment of its old members, in connexion with a recommendation to the Western Synods, "in view of exist- ing evils, resulting from the separate action of the Board of Missions of the General Assembly, and the American Home Missionary Society," "to endeavor to agree upon some plan of conducting domestic missions in the AVestern States," and report tlie same to the next Assembly. In accordance with this recommendation, a convention of dele- gates from the several presbyteries composing the Western hynods met in Cincinnati, on the 2od of November, and, after a week's deliberation, by a vote of fifty-four to fifteen declared it inexpedient to propose any change in the General Assembly's mode of conducting missions; and that, in tlieir opinion, tlie purity, ])eace and prosperity of the Pres- ' ii Vol., 47(3. 1831.] THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 197 byterian Church depended upon giving eflScient aid to the Assembly's Board, already in successful operation. While the more advanced New School men, in this As- sembly, had thus endeavored to give over the Board of Missions, because it was somewhat prosperous, to its enemies for destruction, they left, contemptuously, as we have seen, the Board of Education, which was sadly languishing, to its Philadelphia friends for burial. Dr. Baird says, " The opportunity thus given was seized upon by the Old School party; who thereupon, proposed an enlargement of the Board, which was granted. They were also allowed to make their own nominations for the vacancies, and the names proposed were elected. At the first meeting of the reorganized Board, Dr. Neill [the Corresponding Secretary] resigned his office. On the next day, the 8th of June, the Rev. Dr. John Breckin- ridge was elected his successor. He accepted, upon condition that 810,000 were, in the first place, put into the treasury; and that the Board should make it the basis of future operations, *' to receive, at all hazards, every fit candidate, who may come, regularly recommended; trusting to God and his Church to sustain it in redeeming the pledge." " These conditions were complied with, and the policy thus inaugurtited by Dr. Breckinridge, and the vigor infused into all its operations, by the personal energies of that eminent ser- vant of Christ, at once lifted the Board out of the depth into which it had fallen; and started it forward on a career of pros- perity and usefulness."^ In 1828, the American Board of Commissioners, which had won the sincere respect of the Presbyterian Church, had relieved the latter of all direct agency in the work of foreign missions, expecting to turn her contributions wholly into its own treasury. In that year the missions of the United Foreign Missionary Society, which, though not denominational, was chiefly, as to both its origin and sup- port, a Presbyterian institution, the Maumee Mission of the Synod of Pittsburg, and the Chickasaw Mission of the Synod of South Carolinia and Georgia, were all transferred to the American Board. But many Presbyterians mourned that their Church was no longer directly engaged in this work of evangelizincr the heathen ; and it was evident that the New Eno-land orojanization, hi^h as its character stood, could never command the entire confidence and all the re- 1 Hist, of New School, 291, 2. 198 TROUBLES WITHOUT AND WITHIX. [CH. 30. 1. sources of the Presbyterian body. This state of things produced constant uneasiness and a variety of projects for remedying the evil. The subject of Foreign as well as that of Domestic Mis- sions engaged the attention of the Assembly of 1831. On the Gth of October, 1830, the Presbytery of Baltimore had unanimously adopted a paper offered by the Rev. John Breckinridge, lamenting inexcusable neglect of the heathen world on the part of the Presbyterian Church, and resolving to support, as a presbytery, one missionary at least, from year to year, in the foreign field. A circular was moreover issued to all the presbyteries, and about twenty of them took action on the subject. The first idea was simply to operate through the agency of the American Board. Dr. John H. Rice, passing through Baltimore just after the adoption of Mr. Breckinridge's paper, was urged by a Com- mittee of the Presbytery to write something on this sub- ject which might arouse the whole Presbyterian Church to the fulfilment of its duty. In November, he wrote to Dr. Wisner, then Secretary of the American Board, suggesting, at once, tlie difficulty of bringing the Presbyterian Church, as a whole, into hearty cooperation with that institution, and the idea of a Presbyterian branch board, connected witli the General Assembly, and co-ordinate with the orig- inal Board, but acting in union and perfect harmony with the latter. To the next Assembly he sent, from his dying bed, an overture proposing substantially the same plan, and also earnestly urging upon the Church its duty to consider itself a missionary society, and engage heartily in the work of evangelizing the world. But the only result in the As- sembly was the appointment of a New School Committee of Conference with the American Board — -not a very en- couraging step for Dr. Rice and those who agreed with him in desiring a co-ordinate Church agency; but a step which, by utterly disiippointing all such persons, led immediately to the resumption by the Synod of Pittsburgh of the foreign missionary work, and to the formation, under its auspices, of "The Western Missionary Society." l>y this Assembly a committee, of which Dr. Miller was chairman, was ai)pointed to report upon the validity of Popish baptisms, a subject introduced by overture from' the Synod of New York. A report was presented, but for 1831.] THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 199 want of time referred to the next Assembly, which put it into the hands of another committee, and finally into those of a third, with Dr. Alexander as chairman, instructed to report the following spring. To the Assembly of 1833, Dr. Alexander wrote, explaining why the Committee was not prepared with a report, and expressing his own views as follows : — ' I take the liberty of suggesting, that there will probably be no favorable result from the continuance of this Committee ; or from any other similarly constituted ; and, at any rate, I would request that some other person may be appointed the chairman. Perhaps it will be found most expedient not to press this ques- tion to a speedy decision. It is one on which the very existence of the visible Church depends; and on which there seems to be as much diversity of opinion as on any other which could be named. An ecclesiastical decision would, at present, be at- tended with very unhappy effects, unless the subject could be exhibited in such a light, as to produce greater unanimity on one side or the other. But, at present, the only wise and peace- able course is to leave the subject open for discussion, and to permit every minister of the Presbyterian Church to act in this case agreeably to his own honest convictions : for it is obvious that, if an ordained minister of Jesus Christ believes that a per- son has already been baptized, he cannot conscieiitiously re- peat the ordinance ; and, on the other hand, if a minister is persuaded, that the baptism which certain persons have re- ceived, is not valid Christian baptism, he must, in accordance with these sentiments, administer this sacrament before he re- cognizes them as members of the visible Church. And it is not perceived that any decision of this General Assembly would afford any relief in the case. It may still however be important to keep the subject before the ministers and churches, until, by discussion and inquiry, what is now perplexed and disputed may become clear. I would therefore respectfully suggest, that all the faculties of theological seminaries, within the limits of the Presbyterian Church, and in any way connected with any of her judicatories, be requested to inquire into this subject; and that, as soon as they have had opportunity maturely to consider the question, they communicate their opinions and reasonings in support of them to the General Assembly.' The subject was then committed to Dr. Miller, Dr. Alex ander, Dr. Green, Mr. R. J. Breckinridge, Mr. Barnes, Dr. Spring, Dr. McAuley, and Dr. McCartee to report upon to the next Assembly ; which, on their report, and at their 200 TROUBLES WITHOUT AND WITHIN. [CH. 30. 2. redll secure the purity and peace of the Church, I am, rev'd and dear Sir, your affectionate brother in Christ, ' Princeton, April 15, 1837. Samuel Miller.' As reo-arded Voluntary Associations and Ecclesiastical Boards, Dr. Miller came to the conclusion, (1) that every church "ought to consider herself, in her ecclesiastical ca- pacity, as a Missionary and Education Society," bound to propagate the Gospel, and train up a well qualified and faithful ministry, according to her own distinctive forms and tenets ; and that denominational agencies were further recommended by the fact that multitudes preferred them, and would not, without them, as zealously and liberally as they might, if at all, provide for the furtherance of the cause of Christ : (2) that union voluntary associations could reach some fields of usefulness, and draw out some contributions and efforts, which ecclesiastical boards could not, and should therefore be encouraged, but only as secondary objects: (3) that there need be no hostility, no strife, between union and church agencies ; and that the most perfect harmony should attend their simultaneous operations. Not very long after the publication of this work, he was constrained to regard the actual management of both the American Home Missionary Society and the American Education Society, as much more hostile to the best interests of the Presbyterian Church itself, as well as to those of its boards, than he now permitted himself to imagine. The New School have throughout contended for a lax interpretation of the terms of subscription to the Confes- sion of Faith required of ministers, ruling-elders and dea- cons in the Presbyterian Church, Some few persons have stickled for every idea, nay, almost every word, of the Con- fession and Catechisms, as binding upon the conscience of the subscriber. This was by no means Dr. Miller's view. He considered such absolute uniformity of creed quite in- consistent with human imperfection and liberty of thought — in fact utterly impossible ; but he pointedly condemned, as a subterfuge, that interpretation of the prescribed formula, which made it a reception of the standards only so far as they agreed, in the opinion of each subscriber, with the 1833.] LETTERS TO PRESBYTERIANS. 237 "Word of God ; lie regarded the terms of subscription as re- quiring the strictest Calvinism ; and he virtually repro- bated the assumption that they demanded only the " es- sentials of Christianity," or "the substance of doctrine."^ Moreover he said, "If the brethren of the "New School" xdll persist in the pub- lic, habitual use of a theological language, which impartial judges consider as Pelagian in its obvious import ; — if they will pay no regard to the distressing apprehensions of multitudes of their brethen, who are grieved in regard to this subject; — if they idll venture, notwithstanding all the irritability of the public mind in relation to the matter, to license and ordain men who give too much reason to fear that they do not, ex 1 The difficulties with which the Old School had to contend, as to this mat- ter of subscription, are strikingly illustrated by a revelation made, with an innocent unconsciousness quite remarkable, in the Autobiography of Dr. Beecher. His son Charles, before applj'ing to the Presbytery of Fort Wayne, in 1844, for ordination, inquired whether his assent to the Confession of Faith implied an unqualified acceptance of every article of the Confession, or whether the Confession was to be taken for substance. " I can accept it," he said, ^' yet 80 that my liberty of differing therewith, in all cases where there is question of agreement with Scripture, be not diminished, but rather established." "He also stated that while, to his mind, in some respects, the Confession, ac- cording to the present popular understanding of its language, failed to give an entirely just expression of the spirit of the Bible, nevertheless he admitted that it plainly recognized all the fundamental facts necessary to salvation." Dr. Beecher replied, quoting the Confession : — '" The Supreme Judge, by whom all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Spirit speaking in the Scripture." (Ch. II. 10.) "This provision," said he, "was intended to meet just such difficulties as you feel about some things." "In accepting the Confession, j^ou do not profess to believe that it contains all that the Bible contains, or that it is as unerring as the Bible is, but that it does comprehend the system of fundamental doctrines taught in the Bible. " There have always been two different expositions of the meaning of the Confession on some doctrinal points from the beginning, in respect to which both parties appeal to the Bible, and have been allowed to differ, as holding substantially the fundamental doctrines of the system taught in the Holy Scriptures." "You are sound enough to make all safe. "-••" "-•■' Be of good cheer, and leave off pulling up the roots of things all at once just now : provide no mark for the enemy to fire at, and all, -with diligence and spirituality, will go well. "To this excellent advice Henry Ward adds the following: "Preach little doctrine except what is of mould}' orthodoxy; keep all your improved breeds, your short-horned Durhams, your Berkshires, etc., away off to pasture. They will get fatter, and nobody will be scared. Take hold of the most practical sub- jects ; popularize your sermons. I do not ask you to change yourself; but, for a time, while captious critics are lurking, adapt j'our mode so as to insure that you shall be rightly understood." ( Autobiography, 475-477.) To second efficiently the advice thus j-iven, and overawe opposition, Dr. Beecher attended the meeting of presbytery, and carried his hesitating son tri- umphantly through. Vol. II.— 21 238 LABORS FRUITLESS AND FRUITFUL. [CH. 31. 1. animo, receive the doctrines and order of our Church; and if, whenever a question arises, in our higher judicatories, respect- ing doctrinal soundness, they ivill always sustain and acquit lax theology, to whatever extreme it may go ; — I say, if they will pursue^ this course, it requires no spirit of prophecy to foresee, that growing alienation, strife, and eventual rupture must be the consequence."^ While pointedly condemning ^' elective affinity " church courts, as a violation of Presbyterian order, Dr. Miller, in his Letters, admitted that, had he been in the Assembly of 1832, he would have voted for the erection of the Second Presbytery of Philadelphia, on the ground, however, not of doctrinal diversity, but of alienation of feeling, and the un- wieldy size of the old body. The reality and preciousness of revivals of religion were recognized in the letters on this subject, but spurious revi- vals were exhibited as great evils. The Holy Spirit, for several years previous, had been poured out so remarkably over the length and breadth of the land, that the whole subject was one of general and peculiar interest. Mr. Net- tleton had continued his labors, as an evangelist, until, in 1833, he was appointed Professor of Pastoral Duty in the Theological Institute of Connecticut, at East Windsor ; although, subsequently to a severe sickness in 1822, from the efiects of which he never fully recovered, his success had not been so marked as before. After the revival labors of the Rev. Charles G. Finney, in 1826 and 1827, in the State of New York, the subject of "New Measures" had agitated the churches exceedingly. About the time of his entrance upon his professorship, — probably while the "Let- ters to Presbyterians" were in the course of publication, — Mr. Nettleton had visited Princeton, and spent some days under Dr. Miller's roof, making "New Measures" and "New Divinity" the two great staples of his conversation. With Presbyterians and Congregation alist*s, they were among the most exciting religious topics of the day. Dr. Miller had himself witnessed, near at hand, some- thing of the effects of New Measures. Mr. Flavel S. Mines, who ended his ministry in the Episcopal Church, as an ultra high churchman, began it, while a student of the Seminary, as a volunteer revivalist, at Jugtown, more ele- ip. 126. 1833.] LETTERS TO PRESBYTERIANS. 239 gantly ycleped Queenstown, a little more than a mile from the institution. Having hastily caught up some of the ideas prevalent among Mr. Finney's admirers and follow- ers, he here found a stage for exhibiting them, upon a small scale, with their usual issues in temporary excite- ment, and ultimate mischief and disrepute. Said Dr. Miller, "The principal of these [New Measures] are, — at the end of a warm and pungent discourse, — calling upon all who are more or less impressed by it, and who have formed the resolution to attend to the subject of religion, to rise from their seats, and declare their purpose before the public assembly ; — or, request- ing all who are willing to be prayed for, to rise and come for- ward to a particular part of the church, and kneel together for that purpose ; — or, inviting all who are anxious about their ever- lasting welfare, to separate themselves publicly from the rest of the congregation, and to occupy certain seats, called anxious seats '•' * In short, this machinery for working on the popu- lar feeling may be and has been endlessly diversified."^ The opposition of many of the Old School to New Mea- sures, and to other practical out-workings of the New Theology, was frequently stigmatized as opposition to re- vivals. It was Dr. Miller's design to repel this slander, and at the same time to condemn the irregularities and extrava- gances which had crept into the Church under the guise of special zeal for God. "We must not undervalue," he said, the ordinary means of grace, nor make too common or cheap those which maybe called extraordinary." "It is of great importance in revivals to guard against a sudden introduction to the Church of those who are hopefully made the subjects of converting grace." "The real friends of re- vivals of religion ought to be upon their guard against the confident allegation, that the preaching of certain new opinions is alone favorable to revivals ; and that those who adhere to the system of old orthodoxy cannot hope to be, in this respect, extensively, if at all, useful" ; and "against the arrogant claims of some to peculiar, nay, to almost ex- clusive skill and power in this great concern."" In the letters on "Adherence to Presbyterial Order," Dr. Miller mentions, as prevailing irregularities, (1) the intro- duction of men into office in the Church, without the pre- 1 P. ir)8. 2 Pp. 174^ 178, 183, 185. 240 LABORS FRUITLESS AND FRUITFUL. [CH. 31. 2. scribed qualifications, and without regular subscription ; (2) unauthorized laj-preaching ; (3) presenting for subscription to candidates for license and ordination, instead of the proper Confession, a brief substitute designed for easy re- ception ; and (4) the admission of Congregational com- mittee-men, in place of ruling-elders, into Synods and the General Assembly. The remaining letters need not here be particularly noticed. It should be remarked, that these letters were not in- tended to show how the Old School might overcome the New, and thus purify the Church ; but, proceeding upon the idea that existing evils were not so great as some imagined, and that conciliation was more needed than dis- cipline. Dr. Miller sought, by gentle means, to bring erring brethren to repentance, and to induce his own side to treat them with more forbearance and brotherly confidence. It was hardly a mark of timidity, that, in pursuing this course, he braved the censure of both parties ; and, possibly, it was not to his discredit, that he learned some things during a seven years' conflict, and was ready to change his opin- ions, with increasing light and knowledge, and candidly to avow the change. 2. Miscellaneous Topics. The sessions of the General Assembly of this year were unusually tranquil, and less protracted than common. The reason of this, however, was that the New School had again skilfully secured a majority, and that they dexter- ously evaded the consideration of the case of the Synod and the Second Presbytery of Philadelphia. The repre- sentatives of the Synod remonstrated, but, after a vain attempt to induce them to withdraw their remonstrance, it was referred to the Committee of Bills and Overtures, who suppressed it. The Synod, at its next meeting in October, recognized, under protest, the Second Presbytery, but only to dissolve it, and restore its members to the old body, which they now divided, geographically, by the line of Market street, giving the name of the Second Presbytery to the prcsbyterial constituents north of that line. Thus there was a Synod's Second Presbytery, and an Assembly's Second Presbytery ; for the latter body would not recog- 1833.] MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS. 241 nize the legality of its dissolution, and, having appealed to the Greneral Assemblj^, was really in existence, at least until the appeal could be heard and decided. Before, in refusing to submit to the Assembly, the Synod had acted both unconstitutionally and contumaciously. At present, it was constitutionally contumacious ; or, if that be a solecism, it had managed to bring its old, unyielding spirit of opposition to the will of the Assembly within the letter of the Constitution. We must accord to the actors in these scenes, on both sides, a Christian regard to what they considered the best interests of religion ; but we must, at the same time, regret that the ruling majority, whether in the Synod or the Presbytery, lacked those large, comprehensive views, which would have enabled them to take higher ground for the conflict of great prin- ciples in which really they were engaged. Of course, the whole matter must now go, for adjudication, to the next General Assembly. The following is from Dr. Miller's diary : — ' June 5, 1833. This is the anniversary of my ordination to the work of the holy ministry, June 5, 1793. Forty years have I borne this sacred, all-important office. When I ask myself, how I have borne it, what I have done, what are the fruits of my poor ministry — I feel as if I had reason to blush and be ashamed at the recollection. I have reason indeed to know that it has not been wholly without a blessing, either in jSTew York, or in the place and neighborhood of my present residence. But, alas ! when I compare it with what it ought to have been ; when I compare it with the ministry of some men, who had not greater natural advantages than I have ; I have reason to lie in the dust of abasement. They had more faith ; more of a spirit of fervent, persevering prayer ; and more close communion with God. Oh, that I might learn, more and more, to cultivate a similar spirit, and to make similar attain- ments. ^ *' During the month of June Dr. Miller prepared an '' In- troductory Essay," to "An Essay on the Spirit and Influ- ence of the Reformation ; by C. Villers, some time Pro- fessor of Philosophy in the University of Gottingen," translated from the French and published in Philadelphia. With the Rev. AVilliam S. Plumer, D.D., who left the Seminary in, or about, the year 1827, Dr. Miller, to the 21* 242 LABORS FRUITLESS AND FRUITFUL. [CH. 3L 2. end of his life, kept up an affectionate and not infrequent correspondence. The former, in 1833, wrote earnestly querying, ^Yllether the interests of Christ's kingdom would not be promoted by the General Assembly's proposing in- tercourse and correspondence, by letter or delegation, with tiie proper representative bodies of the Cumberland Pres- byterian, Baptist and Methodist Episcopal churches in the United States. Dr. Miller replied, earnestly dissuading from any attempt in this direction. The following are a few extracts from his letter, dated the 28th of August : — *I cordially approve the great object you have in view. Love, and union, and co-operation among professing Christians arc dear to my heart ; and especially now, when the conversion of the world to God seems to call for more of all these than before. * Yet I am perfectly persuaded, that the correspondence and intercourse which you propose, in the form of query, would by no means forward that great object, but rather oppose and re- tard it.' Dr. Miller then went on to explain, that while he heartily approved of individual intercourse with Method- ists, Baptists and others of similar evangelical views, wherever it was possible, all his experience and observation, and that not a little, on this subject, had convinced him, that anything like general, denominational intercourse with them led naturally, not to peace and love, but to discord and strife : that proper harmony, therefore, depended upon keeping, denominationally, at a certain distance. He re- garded the Methodists and Baptists as much more sectarian in spirit than Presbyterians: and the latter, on this account, as most likely to suffer in their attempts to promote Chris- tian fellowship. He added, *Last evening, happening to fall in with Dr. Alexander, Dr. B. H. Rice, and Dr. Carnahan, in a free, confidential interview for other purposes, I mentioned my having received your letter, "' * but without giving a hint of your name, or place of residence, that I might obtain their perfectly impartial opinion on the subject. They unanimously concurred in the sentiments which I have above expressed — some of them in even stronger terms than I have used ; and that, before I had said one word expressive of my opinion. 'My dear Brother, I know your heart is full of love to the 183#] * MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS. 243 Christian body and to the world. I have admired the delight- ful enthusiasm which you have manifested in this cause. Go on. Try to rouse up, and animate, and purify Presbyterians ; and this will be the most effectual method of attaining the end you have in view. * "^ This is the right handle to take hold of.' At its fall meeting, in this year, the Presbytery of Louisville adopted a resolution, requesting Dr. Miller " to prepare and publish, as soon as practicable, a catechism upon the Scriptural authority, etc., of the Presbyterian form of government, adapted to the youth of the Church." His answer to this request was probably in the negative, on account, perhaps, of his pre-occupation with other pro- jects more congenial to his taste, if for no other reason, because they were strictly his own. The followino^ extract is from a letter of the 14th of October to the Rev. Elisha P. Swift : — 'I am rejoiced to hear of the proposed missionary meeting this evening in the Wall street Church. It would give me peculiar pleasure to be present and to take a part in the exercises. No secular business, that I can easily think of, should prevent my enjoying this privilege. But situated as I am, I must deny my- self the gratification. Our Synod meets to-morrow afternoon at Newton, in Sussex County, sixty miles from this place. For several special reasons I consider it as my duty to be there ; and have accordingly made arrangements for setting out, this morning, for that place, which, I am persuaded, ought not to be abandoned. ' But, my dear Sir, though necessarily absent in body, I shall be present with you in spirit ; and I hope, in some measure, engaged in private, in imploring a blessing on your meeting. I rejoice that Ethiopia is beginning, in good earnest, to "stretch forth her hands unto God." I rejoice that our promising and incalculably important colony in Liberia (which may God, of his infinite mercy, protect, extend and bless !) is likely to re- ceive new and valuable accessions of light and strength. And I rejoice that the "Western Foreign Missionary Society," is advancing with plans which appear to me so judicious, and with strides so vigorous. Every thing at the present day seems to conspire to encourage and animate in the missionary enter- prize. The state of the heathen nations and the state of our own country, alike, call us to redoubled efibrt. The whole heathen world is now, with very little exception, wide open be- 244 LABORS FRUITLESS AND FRUITFUL. [CH. Si. 2. fore us, and, if not actually, yet virtually, inviting the labours of christian benevolence. And our own country was never so well able to answer this call, and to send to the benighted and the perishing the light of life, as at this hour. In these cir- cumstances surely every consideration both of piety and hu- manity calls upon us to be active; to extend our plans; to cherish new zeal ; and to endeavour to secure the cooperation and the prayers of every one who wishes well to the Church of God, and to the cause of human improvement and happiness. 'It is delightful to see a new spirit rising in reference to that greatest of all objects, the conversion of the world to God. The time has been, when serious Christians were apprehensive, that the spirit of Foreign Missions, if cherished and acted upon, be- yond certain very moderate bounds, would exhaust the resources and impair the strength of the churches at home. This error, I trust, is now beginning to be abandoned by the most of those who study the word of God, and regard the dispensations of his providence. They begin to see that efforts to spread the gospel abroad are the surest pledge of its power and success at home ; that when such efforts are sincerely and fervently made, they never fail to rouse, to animate, and to draw down a blessing upon those who make them ; and that, of course, however feeble and impoverished a church may be, one of the very best means of enlarging, strengthening and building herself up, is to en- gage, heart and hand in the hallowed work of sending the gos- pel to the benighted and the perishing. Oh, if we could hear of all the churches being united as one man in feeling, praying and laboring for the conversion of the world, we might cer- tainly conclude that the time, even the set time to favour Zion, in a glorious manner, had come. That Christian is the best friend to the revival and spread of religion at home, and does most, effectually, to promote it, who is most zealous, active and prayerful in the great Avork of sending the Gospel from the rising of the sun even to the going down of the same.' Here are extracts again from the diary : — 'October 24, 1833. This is the thirty-second anniversary of my marriage. * * The advantages derived from her, [his wife,] in respect to my experience and course as a Christian, and my duties as a minister and pro- fessor, arc so many and great, that 1 cannot presume to mea- sure them. She has been a counsellor, a helper, a guide in duty, at once enlightened, conscientious, zealous and firm. In- stead of finding her advice and influence to be on the side of "^orldly show and worldly indulgence, I have found it uniformly 183-1:.] CORRESPONDENCE. 245 on the side of self-denial, of "witlidrawment from every form of secular parade, and of devotedness to spiritual attainment and duty. I have considered her, year after year, as going more and more before her husband in spirituality, and in fidelity to the best of causes. "•' "^ ' 'October 31, 1833. * * lam a wonder to myself. I have enjoyed better health for the last year, felt stronger and more comfortable, and been enabled to go through a larger amount of pulpit labour, with ease to my- self, than for any year within the last twenty. ''' ^^' ' In iSfovcmber, 1833, the Synod of Philadelphia, upon overtures from the Presbyteries of Philadelphia and Hunt- ingdon, appointed a Board of Managers of "The Presby- terian Tract and Sunday-school Book Society." This so- ciety was to have its business location in the City of Phila- delphia, and to be under the care of the Synod. It grew, subsequently, into the Presbyterian Board of Publication. In his diary Dr. Miller wrote, 'December 3, 1833. This is the anniversary of my arrival in Princeton, with my family, when I came to take possession of the professor's chair of Ecclesiastical History and Church Government. The amazing goodness of God, in raising me up from a severe illness of Typhus fever, which had immediately preceded my removal, and delayed it for more than six weeks ; and in sustaining me in my removal under extreme weakness, I desire here humbly and gratefully to record. And for all the mercies which have marked ray feeble and imperfect labours in this place, I would praise and magnify the name of him who has bestowed them. "Having obtained help of God, I con- tinue unto this day." ' 3. Correspondence. To Mr. Stuart, agent of "The New Jersey Howard So- ciety," Dr. Miller wrote on the 28th of January, 1834, ' * "^ I hope that means will be employed to engage as many friends and patrons in this cause as possible, in every part of the State ; ^ * always rememberiifg, that whenever you can prevail upon an individual to take an interest in the poor, the friendless and the prisoner, and to devote a j^ortion of his time and substance to the bettering of their condition, you confer upon that individual himself a rich benefit. *I feel especially an ardent desire, that the young men of our neighbourhood, and of the State at large, should be, as far as '24:6 LABORS FRUITLESS AND FRUITFUL. [OH. 31. 8. possible, engaged in this enterprise. I hope, my dear Sir, that neither you, nor any other zealous friends in the work of benevo- lence in which you are engaged, will be discouraged, though comparatively few should unite with you at first, and though even a part of these should soon become w^eary in well-doing. Few have a taste for doing good, and fewer still such a degree of it as will prompt them to persevere, without weariness, in labours to benefit, as our Lord commands, even " the unthankful and the evil." But this painful fact ought neither to depress nor intimidate us in our benevolent efforts. The less others are willing to do, the more remains to be done by us ; and at this we ought neither to repine nor complain ; but rather to consider it as a privilege to wear out in endeavouring to promote the happi- ness of mankind. 'Be pleased to put down my name as a member of your association, and the first time we meet I will hand you the con- tribution expected of members. May he who sits as " Governor- among the nations," preside in your meeting! May he raise up friends to your society in every part of the State! And may he render all your efforts effectual in promoting the temporal and eternal happiness of the poor, the prisoner, the degraded, and those who have none but you, under God, to help them.' One consequence of the agitated, troubled condition of the Church was, that it suffered, with all its institutions, from a diminution of pecuniary support. Perhaps the course of the professors themselves, not satisfying either party, was one cause of this difficulty, so far as they were concerned. In November, 1833, the treasurer received only about one third of what was due, for their salaries, and in consequence, they were reduced to distressing straits. On the 31st of the following January, Dr. Miller wrote to Dr. John McDowell on the subject, representing his own circumstances, and those of his colleagues, as very painful- ly affected, and, among other suggestions, adding, * Is there the least probability that the next General Assem- bly will be able to afford relief? When the members come together, will not two thirds of them be pledged to other Semi- naries? ' Is not the next General Assembly likely to be more dis- tracted and divided than any one for a number of years ? And, if so, what hope can we have for our institution? 'Is not the only field in which we can hope to glean for our Seminary becoming more and more narrow every day? Is it entirely wise, therefore, to wait for the orders of the General 1834.] CORRESPONDENCE. 247 Assembly, when their committee is now vested with all power, except that of borrowing ? *I throw out these hints, my dear Brother, merely for consid- eration. Perhaps they are unworihy of regard. In the mean- while, you may rely upon it, we are put to our trumps to get along from day to day.' Toward the close of this year, things loolced more hopeful. Writing to Dr. McDowell, on the 15th of December, Dr. Miller said, ' I thank you sincerely, my dear Brother, for your kind at- tention to our wants ; and also for the encouraging manner in which you write. I hope things will come riglit by and by ; but, in the mean time, the "Act and Testimony " brethren ap- pear to be very unrelenting. I hope their eyes will be opened before long.' This promise of relief, however, proved fallacious. Only a little more than a month later, he again wrote, 'You requested me to inform you of our wants. Dr. Alex- ander mentioned to me to-day, that he was really distressed for want of his salary. Almost two full quarters are now due. * * All our students' scholarships remain unpaid, * ^ and, as the winter recess will commence in twelve or fourteen days, they will be obliged to separate without having received a farthing, unless the dividends are sent soon.' "The Pastoral Union of Connecticut" was formed, in 1833, by the opponents of Xew Haven Theology, as a bar- rier to its progress; and by this Union "The East Wind- sor Theological Institute " was established. The Union framed and issued an original Creed, which was so indefi- nite, on several important points, that it did not satisfy all the advocates of old orthodoxy.^ On the 14th of March, 1834, Dr. Miller, in his kindly spirit, wrote to Mr. Net- tleton, * I thank you, my dear Brother, for the aflectionate freedom with which you have written. Dr. Alexander and myself were both sorry to see the piece signed B. in the Presbyterian. It is far from expressing our feelings. Our views and feelings with respect to "The Pastoral Union of Connecticut" are not only amicable, but cordial and fraternal. We view it as a most desirable and important association, embarked in a great and good cause, and likely to accomplish a very important 1 'e© Dr. Baird's Hist, of New School, 205-207. 248 LABORS FRUITLESS AND FRUITFUL. [CH. 31. 4. object. True, indeed, in looking over tlieir published Confes- sion of Faith, we do not find every word exactly as we could have wished ; but we find quite enough in it that we approve, to be a basis of afiectionate confidence, and unfeigned good- will. *If you can pick up anything to helj) that institution within/ our bounds, do not hesitate to do it. It is true, indeed, that we are almost starving ourselves, and cannot raise money to pay our own salaries ; so that we are on the verge of actual suffering, or, at any rate, of pressing straits. But some may be disposed to help you that will not help us. Receive, without scruple, whatever you can get. ' I hope you will take Princeton in your way, and stay as long as you can, and make our house your home.' A valued female friend and correspondent of Mrs. Mil- ler's wrote, on the 3d of April, ' Will you please to pre- sent my best respects to Dr. Miller, whose kind prayer, offered for me when parting from you, often recurs to my mind with feelings of deep gratitude ? I trust it has been answered to my soul's welfare.' To a work entitled, "History of Popery." ^'By a Watchman," Dr. Miller contributed an Introductory Es- say, which bears date of the 28th of March, 1834. This essay, though exhibiting only the charges against Popery in which Protestants generally are agreed, was testily re- viewed by "A Catholic Layman" — Matthew Carey, Es- quire, of Philadelphia, in an "Address to the Public," the first part of which, dated August 22d, appeared in the Daily National Intelligencer, of Washington, on the 6th of September. This Address was afterwards published in pamphlet form.^ Mr. Carey was a very liberal Romanist, which rendered him less tolerant of Avhat he, though un- reasonably, regarded as Protestant intolerance. His con- cessions, in respect to Popish fallibility, brought upon him the condemnation of some, in his own Church, who enter- tained ultra-montane notions. Dr. Miller replied briefly, under date of the 12th of September, in the Protestant Vindicator. 4. The General Assembly of 1834. The General Assembly met in the Seventh Church in Philadelphia on the 15th of May. On the 18th, in the ' Its motto: "Quousquc tandem abutcrc paticntia nostra," Millere? 1834.] THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 249 evening, Dr. Miller preached before the Board of Educa- tion, at their request, in tlie Central Church ; and the ser- mon was afterwards published.^ The preacher said, " there are, at this moment, within the bounds of the Presbyterian Church, more than six hundred vacant con- gregations : congregations which are not only destitute of pastors, but which cannot possibly be supplied with them, with- out a corresponding addition to the number of our ministerial laborers. Besides these vacant congregations, many of which are ready and loudly calling for pastors, and languishing and declining for want of them — I say, besides these — there are at least four or five hundred populous districts, north, south, and west, in which, if we had zealous and able ministers to send to them, large and flourishing congregations might be speedily formed. So that our beloved church, at the present hour, most urgently needs more than a thousand ministers, over and above her present supply. * * " But besides all these loud calls for many more ministers ; besides the large supj^ly demanded for vacant churches, and the extended frontier settlements within our own borders ; there is a much larger harvest still, which calls for a far greater number of laborers than any which has been men- tioned. I mean the heathen world. Had any one told the apostle Paul, in the midst of his arduous and devoted labors, that at the end of eighteen centuries from his time, more than three-fourths of the whole human race would still be covered with pagan darkness, what would have been the feelings of that heroic, noble-minded missionary? Yet so the humbling, appalling fact is !"^ In this Assembly, the New School party again had such a decided majority, that they abandoned their previous tem- porizing and more conciliatory tactics, and adopted very decisive measures. Whether this was to be complained of depended, however, chiefly upon the question, whether, as to their grand principles, they were right or wrong. If New Schoolism, in doctrine and church order, was to be condemned, so was every measure designed to give it pre- ponderance and command. As to the case of the Assem- bly's Second Presbytery, it was unjustly decided, that the i"The Presbyterian Preacher. Pittsburgh, June, 1834. Vol. IIL. Xo. 1. Sermon xxviii. By Samuel Miller, D.D., Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Church Government in the Theological Seminary at Princeton, New Jer- sey. Plea for an Enlarged Ministry. Luke x. 2." — 8vo. Pp. 16. 2 Pp. 3, 4. Vol. II.— 22. 250 LABORS FRUITLESS AND FRUITFUL. [CH. 31. 4. act dissolving it was void ; but the Synod's Second Pres- bytery was recognized, though as containing none of the members belonging to the other, and with the recommenda- tion that its name should be changed. Then, to check- mate the Synod of Philadelphia, the Assembly's Presbytery was taken from it, together with the Presbyteries of Wil- minf^ton and Lewes, and an elective affinity Synod — the Synod of Delaware — was formed of the three. The object of these measures, by some at least of their advocates, was openly avowed to be, the security of Mr. Barnes and others of a lax adherence to the standards, and the greater facility of licensing and ordaining candidates equally lax in their views. That is, the Assembly's Second Presbytery, which far outnumbered both the others together, was, if not these others likewise, to cherish, in security, the New Haven doctrines, and, to the extent of its opportunity, flood the Church with them. The Third Presbytery of New York, formed, in 1830, upon the elective affinity prin- ciple, and the Presbytery of Cincinnati, after being re- plenished with New School men, had been, ere this, busily engaged in the same promising work. "The Western Memorial," an able paper prepared by a conference of ministers and elders belonging to the Synod of Cincinnati, Avas sent up, in print, to the General As- sembly ; which refused utterly every prayer of the memo- rialists, censuring, besides, both directly and indirectly, the framers of this paper, and, indeed, the whole Old School party. The Rev. Mr. Leach, of Virginia, was chairman of the committee which drew up the minute adopted by the Assembly. Among other things, it justified the Plan of Union of 1801 ; enjoined the reception of ministers dis- missed by one presbytery to another upon the simple ''credit of their constitutional testimonials"; and denied the right to condemn the doctrines of a printed publication, without trying regularly the author. It was but a slight compensation for these offensive and dangerous decisions, that the Assembly's Board of Missions was coldly and im- potcntly commended. It must be admitted, however, that the memorialists had transcended the bounds of propriety, in their severe reflections upon the acts of previous As- semblies, and of other judicatories of the Church by name. 1834.] THE ACT AND TESTIMONY. 251 They were censured for also ''publishing to the world Min- isters in good and regular standing, as heretical or danger- ous" ; but this they had done simply by a legitimate refer- ence to printed works by the names which they bore upon their title-pages. And the New School majority, waxing bolder, as they proceeded, strangely violated an express constitutional right of their opponents, by refusing a place on the Minutes to a respectful protest offered by the latter. They admitted, nevertheless, that elective affinity judica- tories ought not to be formed '' except in very extraordi- nary cases." 5. The Act and Testimony. The bold front prematurely assumed by the New School, in the Assembly of 1834, manifested great confidence in their speedy triumph, even while it was preparing for them a sure and final defeat. During that Assembly's sessions, an Old School conference was held, which resulted, par- ticularly, in drawing up and publishing the famous "Act and Testimony," penned by the Rev. R. J. Breckinridge,^ who obtained, however, nearly the whole specification of errors from Dr. Charles Hodge; though the latter was constrained to dissent from some portions of the paper. It was decided to circulate this instrument for signature by the ministers and elders of the Church at large, and to se- cure its adoption by as many church judicatories as possi- ble. "It was ultimately adopted in terms by about three hundred and seventy-four Ministers, seventeen hundred and eighty-nine Elders, and fourteen Licentiates ; and either entire or substantially by five Synods and thirty Presby- teries."^ Taking the Act and Testimony as a whole, it was a noble and successful effort, at a grand crisis, to awaken the Church to a sense of great evils, and really alarming dan- ger. It had its vulnerable points, which, directly, will be designated ; and men thoroughly orthodox, and deeply anxious for the Church's deliverance, were clearly justifia- ble in withholding from it, as many did, their signatures and full approval. But every important human enterprize that God ever blessed, has been justly liable to the same criti- cism. The historian, at least, should not permit minor 1 Since D.D. 2 Baird's Digest, (1856,) 674. 252 LABORS FRUITLESS AND FRUITFUL. [CH. 31. 5. blemishes, seen only upon a near approach, to mar his im- pression of the grandeur of the whole object. The Prince- ton Reviewers were right, for the most part, perhaps, in their minute objections, and they looked, evidently, with a single eye to the w^elfare of their beloved Church ; but they certainly underrated the crisis ; they underrated the Act and Testimony ; in their apprehension of inferior evils, they failed to comprehend those of far greater magnitude ; and they contented themselves, too nearly, w^ith objecting to the mistakes, when the occasion demanded earnest co- operation, in one way or another, in the grand and unob- jectionable purposes, of the Old School leaders. The Biblical Repertory at Princeton, thus prefaced its notice of the Act and Testimony, after giving in a few lines its history : — " It is impossible for any man to read this document, with- out being deeply impressed with respect for its authors. It is pervaded by a tone of solemn earnestness, which carries to every heart the conviction of their sincerity, and of their sense of the importance, as well as the truth, of the sentiments which they advance. The fear of God, reverence for his truth, and love for his church, seem clearly to have presided over the composi- tion of this important document. In addition to these intrin- sic claims to the respect of those to whom it is addressed, the fact that it has received the sanction of so large a number of the best ministers of our church, demands for it the most seri- ous consideration."^ It was validly objected to the Act and Testimony, that it embraced too much, and entered too minutely into detail, venturing too many statements of fact and opinion, upon •which the Old School themselves were not agreed, to admit of general signature ; while its friends were using it widely and offensively as a test of orthodoxy, and con- demning, as unsound, all who could not affix to it their names ; that it treated previous Assemblies with disrespect, and misrepresented, however unintentionally, their action ; and that it, virtually, proposed nullification and revolution. These views of it might well prevent those who concurred in them from signing the paper ; but, without that, they might have testified, unitedly, their adhesion to its right 1 October, 1834. Art. vi., 505. 1834.] THE ACT AND TESTIMONY. 253 principles, and joined heartily with its authors in .reform- ing the Church. Indeed ultra Old School men, at this juncture, needed nothing more than the counsels of mod- erate, but decided, coadjutors; though it is perhaps true, that no great reform was ever accomplished without an ultraism, involving unhappy excesses, in some of its advo- cates. The Act and Testimony did not state too strongly the critical condition of the Church: on this point the "Mod- erates" amiably deceived themselves. It bore witness against errors which really prevailed to an alarming extent, and threatened the lasting corruption of the whole body : the warning note was certainly not too soon or too loudly uttered. There was no impropriety in providing for its circulation for additional signatures, which might add- to its weight and influence. The call of a special convention was perfectly legitimate, and the crisis was exigent enough to demand extraordinary expedients. This call was by no means, in itself, an act of revolution, as some maintained ; and its simple loyal character could not be changed by anything of a revolutionary aspect unhappily admitted into the same document. Least of all was the Act and Testimony, as the Princeton Reviewer pronounced it, a failure. It no doubt had much to do with securing an Old School majority in the Assembly of 1835, and it helped to inaugurate a series of successful efforts, of which the final excinding acts were but the crowning result. An extract from a work by the Rev. Isaac V. Brown, published more than twenty years afterward, will give some idea of the state of things produced by this collision between the "Moderates," as they have been called, and the Act and Testimony men. The author, certainly, cannot be re- garded as an unbiased witness, and may have been mistaken as to some of the statements; but no doubt they present a substantially correct view of facts as seen from the Act and Testimony side. The " gentlemen of Princeton " were regarded as the head and front of Moderatism. "The sympathizers with the Princeton dissent, in general, assumed the same position, [opposing the Act and Testimony's call for an Old School reforming convention in 1835,] and by their action undesignedly greatly strengthened the power of 254 LABORS FRUITLESS AND FRUITFUL. [CH. 31. 5. the New School party. Even in the Presbytery of New Bruns- wick, a majority denounced the convention as a caucus, and succeeded in preventing that Presbytery from sending a delegate to represent them in that important conservative meeting of the church for consultation. [The minority, however, sent a representative.] Already an impression of discouragement and despondence, as to the result of the impending conflict, began to affect the minds of many adherents of the Old School body. The trustees of the theological seminary were engaged in the laudable enterprise of collecting funds to endow and es- tablish that institution at Princeton. Many who had either subscribed to that fund, or resolved to participate in its accu- mulation, seeing the success attending New School movements, and the lukewarmness prevalent at Princeton, declined con- tributing until the result could be more certainly predicted. Even the trustees of the seminary, not knowing how soon, and how totally, the whole institution with its professors, edifices, libraries, funds, and assets en masse, might pass into the hands of the New School, gave distinct intimations to their agents and collectors to suspend their operations ; considering it much better that the funds "^ * in prospect should remain in possession of the donors, than be placed within reach of the rapacious foe. And what cannot but be regarded as remarkable, while the condition and prospects of the church generally, and of the seminary in particular, were hanging in this state of torturing suspense, the opposers of the Act and Testimony some time con- tinued their hostility to that document, and the general relief measures contemplated."^ In May 1829, the Directors of the Seminary had author- ized the Professors to take measures for the erection of a chapel, the "Oratory" having been found, at length, too strait for the full assemblies of professors and students ; and Dr. Miller had prepared a circular and subscription- paper, issued in September of the same year, appealing to the Church, and especially to former students, for aid. The idea was to connect with the chapel, if possible, an apart- ment suitable for the library — an idea afterward abandoned. In fact, the collection of funds for any Seminary purpose was so difficult, that the chapel was not finished sufficiently to be occupied until near the close of the year 1834. 1 A Historical Vindication of the Abrogation of the Plan of Union, 174. 1884.] PRESBYTERIANISM AND BAPTISM. 255 6. PRESBYTERIANISM AND BAPTISM. Upon the formation of the Tract and Sabbath School Book Society of the Synod of Philadelphia, Dr. Alexander was requested to prepare their first volume, and Dr. Miller their first Tract. The former presented the Society with the little work entitled, " The Way of Salvation," standing first now upon the catalogue of the Presbyterian Board of Publication. The latter presented a treatise upon Prcsby- terianism, first, upon the same catalogue, in the list of tracts.^ Perhaps no other work from Dr. Miller's pen has been so widely circulated as this. It was republished in Edinburg, in 1842, as part — about one half — of a volume entitled " Manual of Presbytery," under the editorial care of the Rev. John G. Lorimer,^ Minister of Free St David's Church, Glasgow, author of the latter half of the volume. — "The Character and Advantages of Presbyterianism ascertained by Facts," — and of a number of notes appended to Dr. Miller's work ; forming together a very valuable addition to the original treatise. This original has also been pub- lished in an Italian translation. Dr. Miller delivered two sermons on Baptism — its proper subjects and mode — in the Presbyterian church of Freehold, Monmouth county, New Jersey, on the 29th of September, 1834. A desire that they should be published having been expressed, they were committed, after revision and enlarge- ment, to the Society just mentioned, and issued as the eighth tract of their g-eneral series.^ The two Works — Presbyterianism and Baptism — are now issued by the Board of Publication, not only in tract form, but also together as the seventeenth bound volume. Sending to Dr. Engles part of the manuscript of the work, on Presbyterianism, Dr. Miller wrote, on the 27th of November, *I will thank you, my dear Sir, to look over the manuscript ^ "Presbyterianism the Truly Primitive and Apostolical Constitution of the Church of Christ. By Samuel Miller, D. D., Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Church Government in the Theological Seminary at Princeton, New Jersey. Philadelphia: 1835."— 12mo. Pp. 98. ' Now D. D. The degree was conferred by the College of New Jersey in 1849. 5 " Infant Baptism Scriptural and Reasonable; and Baptism by Sprinkling or Affusion the most Suitable and Edifying Mode. By Samuel Miller, D. D., Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Church Government in the Theological Seminary at Princeton, New Jersey. Philadelphia: 1835." — Acts xvi. 15. x. 47.— 12mo. Pp. 122. 256 LABORS FRUITLESS AND FRUITFUL. [CH. 31. 6. with freedom and candor ; and if there be any part of it which shall appear to you, or to any of your Executive Committee, defective, redundant, or erroneous, I hope you will mention it to me with the utmost frankness ; and I shall^ most willingly alter it as far as I conscientiously can. I write, not for any private purpose, but for the benefit of the Church, and never wish to write or print any thing that does not do her good. * * 'The more I reflect on the subject, the more decided is my opinion, that, instead of postponing the issue of manuals of one hundred, or even a hundred and fifty pages, until some of much smaller size precede them, the very reverse is the true policy of your society. Depend upon it, such manuals will be more prized, better preserved, more read, and do more~good, than pamphlets of twelve or fifteen pages, which must, from their nature, be perfectly fugitive. This is also Dr. Alexander's opinion — often and strongly expressed, entirely irrespective of any manuals of mine. * * *P. S. I very much regret that your Synod has taken the ground that it has against the admission of any protests, etc., excepting in cases strictly judicial. Nothing is more certain than that the doctrine is as antipresbyterian as it can be — con- trary to multiplied and long established precedents — contrary to reason and to every principle of our constitution. It is just as certain that every enlightened and sober General Assembly will condemn it, as that another such body will meet. I was never more amazed than to find such a doctrine broached by grave, experienced men.' Dr. Lorimer. in his preface, says, " I have long wished for something in a brief, but not too brief a form, which should comprehend some view of the history and doctrine of the Presbyterian Church, as well as of its gov- ernment and worship, and that in an attractive and readable style. In the little work of the able and accomplished Pro- fessor of Ecclesiastical History in the Presbyterian College ^ of Princeton, New Jersey, I think I have met with the desidera- tum. 8o far as it goes it is admirable, and only needs to be adapted, by means of additional information, to the state and ]»rospects of the question in this country, to prove a most use- ful digest for every Presbyterian family. "^ * 1 The means of correcting these trifling errors have been already given. The College and Theological Seminary of Princeton are wholly distinct institu- tions, although often supposed to have some connexion. As the work was puhlislicd, at the time Dr. Lorimer wrote, by the Board of Publication, estab- lished by the General Assembly, that body might, with an approach to the truth, be said to have given it "currency by the sanction of its ofl&cial appro- bation." 1834.] PRESBYTERIANISM AND BAPTISM. 257 "The recomraendations of the following treatise are peculiar. Besides its own merits, its accuracy, simplicity, comprehensive- ness— embracing a sketch of the history, doctrine, government, and worship of the Presbyterian Church — and freedom from controversy, it is the work of one who occupies a leading place in one of the most important Presbyterian Churches of the world, who has devoted many years to the study of Church history, and who has written largely and well on the subject of Church government. The treatise, too, was written at the re- quest of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of America, and has for years been adopted as one of the many useful little w'orks to which that body gives currency by the sanction of its official approbation. In the United States it has had a circulation of many thousands, and continues in high es- timation. In these circumstances, I have thought that a re- publication, with additional original matter, suited to this side of the Atlantic, would be a service to the cause of Presbyteri- anism, which has suffered from the want of such a work — a cause which I believe to be the cause of knowledge and truth, freedom, order, social happiness, virtue, religion, because founded onthe WordofGod."! This little work, which Dr. Lorimer commended for its "freedom from controversy," was treated, by a few Epis- copalians, as an unpardonable attack upon their sect ; and the smothered embers of their polemical wrath were raked over, that Dr. Miller might roast, afresh, for all the imagined sins of his past adventures in the field of the ])yq- latical controversy. The essay of one of these critics was noticed incidentally by Professor J. Addison Alexander, in the Biblical Repertory, as follows : — "In forming this favorable judgment [of Bishop H. U. On- derdonk] we have had no reference to a unique production ascribed by fama clamosa to the Bishop ; we mean the review of Dr. Miller's Tract on Presbyterianism, originally published in the Protestant Episcojxdian, and reprinted as a. pamphlet. As Dr. Miller, we are sure, will never think it w^orth an " ans- wer," and as we shall most assurredly never think it worthy of a re-reviewing, we subjoin a few choice samples of style and spirit. " " These ninety-six tract pages are stuffed to extreme tension with presbyterian and puritan topics, the greater portion of them being such, merely, as invectives against episcopacy and the episcopal church." 1 Pp. xiii. xiv. 258 LABORS FRUITLESS AND FRUITFUL. [CH. 31. 7. " " They are so charged also with bitterness, and not unfre- quently with sanctimony, that we should sicken at the task of draining them to the dregs." " " From Dr. Miller, of course, nothing better, towards epis- copalians, was to be expected ; he has shown very thoroughly what he is both in the green tree and in the dry ; he has fed on his prejudices till he has become all prejudice; he has been ex- posed for quotations till almost every one but himself has stood aghast at the developments ; of course he is Dr. Miller still. For this we were prepared. But we were 7iot prepared for such a farrago issued under the authority of the tract Society of the Synod of Philadelphia." " "Such, reader, is the tone of this tract — it is one of the most supercilious and pharisaical productions we have ever seen." "Were there a possibility of supposing it to have an obscure origin, it would be laughed at, as the mere spleen of imbecility." "If Dr. Miller's tract is the "spleen of imbecility," what sort of spleen is this ? We have not held Bp. O. responsible for this efiusion, first, because it is anonymous, and next, because, whether penned by bishop, priest, or deacon, it is a thing of which the most effeminate " candidate for orders " might blush to be the author."^ 7. Miscellaneous Topics. In a letter of the 31st of March, 1835, Dr. Miller wrote to a minister and former pupil, i * ;ic 2, You seem to have considered the fama damosa as the testimony on which a person may be convicted. But this is by no means the case. Fama damosa only warrants the judicatory in taking up and investigating a subject, where there is no in- dividual who comes forward as an accuser. When a matter is taken up on the ground of fama damosa, witnesses are to be cited and regularly qualified, before they give their testimony, just as in the case of an individual accuser. '3. It was irregular to allow the members of the session to give testimony without being regularly sworn or aflfirmed. "^ * '4. You were wrong in convicting and censuring for the original offence and for contumacy, at the same time. No man can be, strictly speaking, tried in his absence. When he refuses to attend, after being properly cited twice, some person is to be appointed his counsel, and the testimony is to be taken and put on record, to prevent its being lost. But in this case the cul- prit is to be suspended for contumacy only. There may be use 1 For 1835 : note to pp. 595, 6. 1835.] MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS. 259 for the testimony afterwards, if he should be willing to be tried. * I would therefore advise — * * * 3. All the witnesses examined, whether members of the ses- sion or not, are to be sworn or affirmed, according to the direc- tion given in our book. The moderator is to do this. Let their testimony be carefully recorded. '4. If there are witnesses enough, who do not belong to the session, it is better to cite them. It is not desirable, if it can be helped, that the members of the session, who are to be judges, should also be the witnesses. Sometimes this cannot be helped, and, of course, ought to be submitted to. ' 5. I would advise that all your proceedings in the case pass in the session only. If you publish them from the pulpit, may possibly carry the matter into a civil court, and sue you for slander. I never knew a case of that kind to occur;, but where you have to do with a troublesome man, it is well to be on your guard and give him no advantage. "^ "^ 'P. S. If attends and submits to a trial, then, after all the testimony is taken on oath and recorded, and he has said what he pleases, and has withdrawn, the session will, of course, sit in private and form their judgment. There is no necessity for publishing this judgment from the pulpit.^ It may pass in the judicatory, and he be notified of the result by a private note. And the elders can cause the fact of his suspension (if that should be the judgment) to be understood, by speaking of it in the course of private conversation with the members of the church.' The Rev. George S. AYoodhull, who had been pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Princeton from 1820 to 1832, was brought thither for burial, and Dr. Miller preached the funeral sermon, which by request was published.- Ilis diary, under a little later date, presents the following : — ' March 1st, 1835. This day the Lord's Supper was dispensed in the church in Princeton, and it was my privilege to be an attendant on that solemn and precious ordinance. It is so sel- dom that I have an opportunity of enjoying, as now, this privilege, without being called upon to take any public part in ' Book of Discipline, Ch. iv. 19. But see Directory for Worship, etc., Ch. X. 3. 7. 8. 2 " The Good Man : a Sermon in Memory of the Rev. George S. Woodhull ; delivered in the Presbyterian Church in Princeton, January 18, 183o. By Samuel Miller, D.D., Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Church Govern- ment in the Theological Seminary in Princeton. Princeton, N. J. 1835." — Acts xi. 24.— 8vo. Pp. 28. 260 LABORS FRUITLESS AND FRUITFUL. [CH. 31. 7. the service, that I cannot help regarding it as a favor to be left, in a state of entire mental tranquillity, to ponder on the great and blessed objects which are held forth in this sacra- mental supper. Alas! for our infirmity, that being called upon to speak in public, on such occasions, so frequently creates a degree of solicitude, which, in a measure, interferes with that calm repose of spirit, that sweet peace in contem- plating " the unsearchable riches of Christ," set forth in this feast of love, as to make abstraction from official labor on such an occasion sometimes desirable and delightful. I owe it, in- deed, to my Master's grace, to say, that I often enjoy precious comfort in publicly officiating at such seasons ; but I too often feel a degree of solicitude, that I may not mar the edifying character of the ordinance, by unskilful remarks, or by an un- happy manner, which, in a degree, interferes with that entire forgetfulness of everything but the glory of Christ, and the humbling influence of his adorable and wonderful love, which is so desirable. Nor is this a drawback connected only w^ith extemporaneous ministrations. On the contrary, in those parts of the service, in which my preparation has been most perfect, if my observation has not deceived me, the state of my mind has been most unfavorable to simple, humble devotion of spirit. In prayer, on such occasions, I have found, if I am not de- ceived, less reason to mourn over my infirmities of mind, than in other exercises. * Thank God, I have been free * * from such solicitude to-day ! My mind, through the sacramental service, was calm, serene, and I hope employed in a manner not altogether inap- propriate. Oh, how wonderful that any should ever be dull or uninterested in meditating on the amazing love of Him, who, " though he was rich, yet for our sakes became poor, that we, through his poverty, might be rich !" * O Lord, enable me henceforth to be more cordially and en- tirely than ever devoted to thy service ! Increase my faith ! Lift me up above the grovelling pursuits of time and sense ! Make it, more than it has ever yet been, my meat and drink to glorify thee in body and spirit which are thine! Amen ! Amen !' CHAPTER THIRTY- SECOND TRIUMPH AND DEFEAT. 1835, 1836. 1. General Assembly of 1835. The General Assembly of 1835 met in the First Pres- byterian Churcli of Pittsburgh, on the 21st of May. For thirty-six years, before, it had not met out of Phil- adelphia.^ Dr. Miller was a commissioner, and, in the absence of the Moderator, and by request of the Rev. Dr. William A. McDowell, the last Moderator present, opened the sessions with a sermon. A large Old School majority wielded the power of this Assembly: the efforts which had been made to arouse the Church to a sense of its danger had proved not unavailing. A week earlier, the Conven- tion called by the Act and Testimony had assembled in the Second Church. That body had framed a Memorial, which was presented to the Assembly, and occupied its attention during a large part of its sessions of eighteen days. The very intent of this paper, and the criticisms which the Act and Testimony had provoked, had concurred to give it, in itself, an unobjectionable shape. Going first to the Com- mittee of Bills and Overtures, it was, by their recommen- dation, referred to a special committee, of which Dr. Miller was chairman, and the report of which, including all the important points of the Memorial, after long discussion and some amendments, was adopted. 1 Until the j'ear 1844, beginning with which this judicatory has met, at the most, but three times in the same place, it had convened always in Philadel- phia, except its meeting at Carlisle in 1792 and 1795, at Winchester, Virginia, in 1799, and at Pittsburgh in 1835 and iSoG. 261 262 TRIUMPH AND DEFEAT. [CH. 32. 1. The decisions thus reached embraced nearly every great question which had of late agitated the Church. The pre- amble of the report said, "In approaching these weighty subjects, the committee deemed it to be an obvious duty to exclude from their view all those principles which result from the wishes or plans of differ- ent parties in the Church, and to take for their guide simply the word of God, which we consider the only infallible rule of faith and practice; and those public formularies, by which we have solemnly agreed and stipulated with each other to be governed in all our proceedings. "^ * The committee, indeed, by no means expect, and do not suppose the Assembly would think of enforcing, that perfect agreement of views in every mi- nute particular, which, in a body so extended as the Presbyte- rian Church, has perhaps never been realized. But that an entire and cordial agreement in all the radical principles of that system of truth and order which is taught in the Holy Scriptures, which is embodied in the Confession of Faith and Form of Government, and which every Minister and Elder of the Presbyterian Church has solemnly subscribed and promised to maintain, may not only be reasonably expected, but must be as far as possible secured, if we would maintain ' the unity of the Spirit, in the bonds of peace ' and love — it is presumed this General Assembly will be unanimous in pronouncing. If this be not so, it is in vain that we assemble from year to year ; in vain that we hope for intercourse either pleasant or edifying. Our judicatories must be scenes of discord and conflict, and the ties which bind the several parts of our extended body to each other, can scarcely fail of being ties of strife and con- tention." It was declared to be the right and duty of presbyteries, though not without responsibility to the higher judicatories, to satisfy themselves, by examination or otherwise, of the orthodoxy and good character in every respect, of ministers applying for admission, even when they came with regular testimonials. The right, and possible duty, of church judicatories to condemn printed publications, without arraigning their authors, was asserted. The principle of elective affinity, in the formation of presbyteries and synods, was wholly con- demned, as contrary to both the letter and the spirit of the Constitution, and as opening a wide door for mischiefs and abuses of the most serious kind. The Synod of Delaware, 1835.] GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 263 with the concurrence of the New School party, and by a unanimous vote, was dissolved, and its presbyteries restored to the Synod of Philadelphia, which was to take such con- stitutional order respecting their organization as it might deem expedient. The Assembly would not prohibit the efforts of voluntary associations within its bounds ; but ex- pressed its persuasion that it was the first and binding duty of the Presbyterian Church to sustain its own boards; and condemn the introduction into the Church, by voluntary associations, of ministers holding sentiments contrary to her standards. It was declared no longer desirable that churches should be formed upon the Plan of Union with Cono-reorationalists : the General Association of Connecti- cut w^as requested to consent that that plan should be an- nulled; but this was not to invalidate the position of any churches already organized. In conclusion, the Assembly condemned the doctrinal errors specified in the memorial, as wholly incompatible with an honest adoption of the Con- fession of Faith, warning the Church against them, and enjoining upon presbyteries and synods to exercise the ut- most vigilance in guarding against their introduction and dissemination; recognizing the fact that these errors did prevail, although to what extent they could not determine. The Stated Clerk failed to communicate the proposition as to the Plan of Union to the General Association of Con- necticut, which therefore took no action upon it ; and the whole matter was left, without complication or change, to be freely disposed of by the Assembly of 1837.^ A committee was also appointed, not only to negotiate, but to conclude, finally, an agreement with The Western Foreign Missionary Society for the transfer of its missions to the Assembly, and also to digest a plan of foreign mis- sionary operation. It was fully intended to consummate the transfer without any further action of the Assembly, except to organize its own agency for carrying on the work. A definite agreement was afterwards, accordingly, made with the Society, and the actual transfer only awaited the crea- tion of a Board, or some other agency capable of receiving it. These acts of the Assembly were not all passed by a 1 Baird's Hist, of New School, 445. 264 TRIUMPH AND DEFEAT. [CII. 32. 1. mere party majority. The right of presbyteries to satisfy themselves of the orthodoxy and good character of appli- cants, by examination or otherwise, was sustained by a vote of one hundred and twenty-nine to seventy-nine, though only one hundred and seventeen had voted for the Old School moderator; and some of the New School leaders, like Dr. Hillyer and Dr. Fisher, upon the vote first men- tioned, were with the majority. The dissolution of the Synod of Delaware, and the disposition made of its presby- teries, were put in a shape substantially suggested by Dr, Ely, only a little modified by an amendment of Dr. Miller's and were unanimously agreed to. Yet, upon the whole, party lines were as strongly marked in this Assembly, as the overwhelming preponderance of the Old School, and the discouragement of the New, permitted. The leaven at work in some parts of the Presbyterian Church, at this time, may be exhibited by giving in full, as reported in the Netv York Evangelist, the speech of Mr. Stewart, a ruling elder from Illinois, on the first resolution providing for the examination of applicants. We may take for granted that it revealed the ministerial influences under which the speaker had been living. "Mr. Stewart said he intended to vote for the resolution. He liked it, not because it is constitutional, for it is not ; but be- cause it is common sense, and it is Bible too. And it will an- swer a valuable purpose where I live; it will enable us to keep out the Old School, and that is a prime object for us. If the motion should carry, presbyteries can act just as they please, and that will suit us right well in Illinois. Heretofore, we could not move to the right or left, because we supposed the General Assembly would restrain us. But pass this resolution and we are free, and Ave will take care that they have no Old School in Illinois. We have one Old School church that has made us trouble, but pass this resolution, and we never will have any more. We think Old Schools are heretical, and they think we are heretical; and where there is a majority of the Old School they will purge out the New School, and then they will have a heap of peace. And if there is a majority of the New School, they will clear out the Old School, and then they will have good times, and have revivals, and not be disturbed with their opposition and noise. For my part, I like Old School men ; good, honest, thorough going Old School men ! I like them very well, only we don't want them in Illinois! they don't suit there, and if you pass this resolution, we shan't have 1835.] GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 265 them there. If yovi pass this resolution, you will divide the church according to elective affinity, and I hope it will pass: I came here with a strong desire to have the church stay together, but I have altered my mind. I hope the General Assembly will never come to Illinois. I don't wish to cast reflections, but I think the devil must have been highly pleased with what is going on."^ This speech, just then " going on," was perhaps too can- did to command Satan's admiration. By this Assembl}^ Dr. John Breckinridge was chosen Professor of Pastoral Theology, in the Seminary at Prince- ton, and he was inaugurated on the 26th of September following ; but his connexion with the Board of Education was not immediately dissolved, and he did not remove to Princeton until the 1st of May, 1836. Mr. Joseph Addi- son Alexander also, who, in 1833, had been appointed, Assistant Instructor in Oriental and Biblical Literature, was now elected Associate Professor in the same depart- ment; but, for a time, he declined accepting the new title. During the sessions of the Assembly, Dr. Miller preached a sermon before the Alumni of Princeton Seminary, which was requested and given for publication. It was issued from the press in the ordinary form of a single sermon,^ and also in The Presbyterian Preacher published at Pitts- burgh.^ In this sermon he said, " We, perhaps, all need an improvement in our method of preaching, making it less dogmatical ; less philosophical ; more simple ; more biblical, that is, consisting more in the illustration of scripture by scripture ; more direct ; more pointed ; more af- fectionate ; more full of heavenly unction ; more, in short, like a message from God, than a human oration. The late excellent and lamented Dr. John H. Rice, in the last letter that I ever received from him, made the following remark: "I am convinced that, in the present state of this country, there is nothing which can con- trol the religious principle, and give it a salutary direction, but Bible truth, plainly exhibited, and honestly URGED ON the UNDERSTANDING AND CONSCIENCE. And I am persuaded that all settled pastors, and all missionaries too, ^ 7 Biblical Repertory and Thcol. Rev., (lS:i5,) 404. 2 " Christ the Model of Gospel Ministers. A Sermon, delivered Juno 1, 1S35, in the City of Pittsburgh, before the Association of the Alumni of the Theo- logicnl Seminary at Princeton. By Samuel Miller, D. D., Professor of Ecclesi- astical History and Church Government in the said Seminary. Published by request of the Association. Princeton : 1835." — Matthew iv. 19. — 8vo. Pp. 32. 3 IV. Vol. No. 4. September, 1835. Vol. II.— 23 266 TRIUMPH AND DEFEAT. [CH. 32. 2. ought to do a great deal more than they now do in lecturing; or^as some express it, expounding. There is too much reason- ing, and too much dogmatizing^ in the pulpit. I throw out this hint, that, if it is worth anything, you may drop it before the students of your Seminary." The sentiment is worth much, and I repeat and record it for your benefit. " The word," as the pious and venerable Mr. Baxter somewhere observes — "the word is divine; but our preaching is human; and there is scarcely anything we have the handling of, but w^e leave on it the prints of our fingers." "^ The subject of slavery came by overture, and in other forms, before the Assembly ; and the report of a commit- tee appointed to consider it, with all the papers in their hands, was, after some discussion, referred to another com- mittee, of which Dr. Miller was chairman, to be considered, and reported upon to the Assembly of 1836. 2. Correspondence and Sermons. The following letter, from the Hon. John Cotton Smith, who had been a Representative in the first Congress assem- bled at Washington, Governor of Connecticut, and Presi- dent of the American Bible Society, was written in reply to one from Dr. Miller, accompanying a copy of his work on the Ruling Elder. "Reverend and dear Sir, Sharon, June 3, 1835. " You have been informed by mv grandson, that your most acceptable letter, and accompanying volume did not arrive in due course, >!« * j shall make no further delay in expressing my hearty thanks for a favor, which I esteem as well for its intrinsic value, as for the courteous manner in which it is conferred. " I am so much in the habit of admiring your waitings, and of confiding in the correctness of your theological views, that when these come into conflict with my own preconceived opinions, the latter are necessarily put in great jeopardy. My early im- pressions were in favor of the Presbyterian organization ; but were removed by a series of essays against the institution of "lay elders," ascribed to the late Dr. Wilson, of Philadelphia, and published several years ago in a monthly periodical in this state.' The essays evinced considerable research, and an ex- 1 Pp. 25, 26. 2 The Primitive Government of Christian Churches, which first appeared in The Christian Spectator, and was republished in a volume, with "Liturgical Considerations," in 1833. 1835.] CORRESPONDEXCE AND SERMONS. 267 tensive acquaintance with the Fathers ; and, although I do not now recollect the exact proofs by which the effect was pro- duced, I settled down in the conviction, that the Congrega- tional was, in truth, the primitive order of ecclesiastical gov- ernment. Nor have I met with anything to disturb that con- viction, until I took up the volume you had the goodness to send me. I freely confess, you have presented an array of proofs and authorities too powerful to be easily overcome ; so that I am almost disposed to sympathize with the Dutch mag- istrate, in a neighboring state, w^ho felt no difficulty in entering up judgment on hearing one side only, but pronounced it " utterly impossible for any man to decide a cause after hearing advocates on both sides." But on whichsoever side of this ques- tion the weight of evidence and argument may lie, there is con- solation in believing, as you charitably suggest, that on neither side can the error be deemed fundamental. The representative system is certainly the most beautiful in theory, most efficient, most in analogy with our civil institutions; and even the venerable Hooker would have thought it better adapted to our republican forms, than his own hierarchy. And yet the Con- gregational plan, although too democratic and anarchical in form, is nevertheless in practice scarcely less energetic than the other. By a standing committee of the church, of which the deacons, who are permanent officers, are ex officio members, and in which the pastor presides, we secure nearly all the bene- fits of your church judicatory ; for, although their acts and decisions may require the sanction of the church, it is rarely, if ever, withheld ; and our deacons, besides their aj^propriate duty, are expected to perform all the ministerial functions allotted to your ruling elders. Thus the difference between the two systems is, perhaps, more in name, than in substance. At any rate, I ardently hope it will never be thought of sufficient magnitude to interrupt our union in the church militant ; nor, as I humbly trust, in the church triumphant. " I lament with you, my dear Sir, that the ground of com- plaint against the theological department of Yale College is not removed. Strong hopes are, however, entertained, that the legal remedy will yet be applied, unless a reform is otherwise effected. It is believed, that the apprehension of some such measure has induced greater caution latterly on the part of the Professors, and, with the additional circumstance of a vigorous opposition to their doctrines from several of their own pupils, may, ere long, produce an entire change in their views. At all events, I feel little confidence in the attempt to correct the evil by setting up a rival institution, belligerent in its design, and obviously calculated to produce, as it has in fact produced. 268 TRIUMPn AND DEFEAT. [CH. 32. 2. irritation and unkind feeling among brethren of the same com- munion. Total alienation, it is justly feared, must be the result of this state of things ; a result not less fatal to the peace and unity of the church than to the vital interests of the col- lege. Moreover, what pledge can be given, that the new insti- tute itself may not, as has happened in another case, become the nursery of error? In short, what indemnity can we have but the divine promise, that " when the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall set up a standard against him ?" A spirit of discord seems to prevail, to an alarming degree, in many sections of the American Church. God grant that these unhappy divisions may be speedily ab- sorbed in one united and mighty effort to evangelize the ^vorld. " \yith very great respect and Christian affection, " I am, Reverend and dear Sir, your " Obliged friend, " Rev'd Dr. Miller. John Cotton Smith.''^ The following passages occur in a letter from Dr. Miller to Mr. Nettleton, dated the 18th of August : — * I am glad that our general proceedings in Pittsburgh met your approbation. I do think that the first resolution in the report on the Memorial, of which you speak particularly, is both reasonable and important in the present state of the Church. While I am satisfied that the right of examining, and judging of the sentiments and character of those who apply to be received, is inherent in all religious bodies, and cannot be abandoned ; yet I think it a right which ought to be exercised with great prudence, and with all possible delicacy. Twenty years ago, I should have thought bringing it forward in this prominent manner indelicate and unreasonable. But, if the Christian Church, as such, is bound to be a witness for God, I am unable to conceive of a clearer duty than that which at present devolves upon the Presbyterian and Congregational Churches to take this stand openly and decidedly. None, I believe, will oppose it, but unsound and dangerous men, who are opposed only because the operation of the rule will bear hard upon the unsound and erroneous. ' Of one thing, my dear Brother, you may rest assured — that, however a few such men as Dr. and Mr. may feel, and be disposed to act, concerning our Congregational brethren and their churches, there is no such feeling among the mass of our Old School men. "^ * The Evangelist man, 1 Sco The Corre.'pondencc and Miscellanies of the Hon, John Cotton Smith, LL.D. By Kev. Wm. M. Andrews. 1847. 1835.] CORRESPONDXCE AND SERMONS. 269 and all like him are laboring to create feelings of jealousy and alienation between our New England brethren and the Pres- byterian Church. ''' * There is no foundation for it. No one laments more than we do some parts of the course of Dr. , and some paragraphs which now and then occur in The Presbyterian. But we cannot help it, and we hope it will not be misconstrued.' The American National Preacher, for September, 1835, contained two sermons, from Dr. Miller, on Domestic Hap- piness.^ On the 9th of September he preached before the American Board of Commissioners, meeting in Baltimore, a missionary discourse, Avhich also was published, both in the usual form,^ and in the National Preacher. In November, 1834, Dr. J. L. Wilson, of the Presbytery of Cincinnati, had arraigned Dr. Lyman Beecher, Presi- dent of Lane Seminary, before that Presbytery, upon charges, chiefly, of error in doctrine. The New School character of the body secured, of course, his acquittal ; but Dr. Wilson appealed to Synod. Upon his trial before presbytery, in June, 1835, Dr. Beecher read, in self-de- fence, and afterward published, or permitted to be pub- lished, the letter written to him, when he was called to Philadelphia, by Dr. Miller, which has been already given.^ After the date of that letter. Dr. Miller's opinion of his orthodoxy had undergone a material change, and some persons — among others, Mr. Nettleton — urged him to con- demn, publicly, the use of a letter of so old a date, for such a purpose, without permission ; and publicly to retract the good opinion which it expressed — in short, to come out in the newspapers to give aid and comfort to the opponents of Dr. Beecher. To Mr. Nettleton -Dr. Miller replied, on the 23d of September, 'I feel the weight and importance of what you say concern- ing the publication of my letter by Dr. Beecher. I, at first 1'' Sermon CXCVIII. By Samuel Miller, D.D., Professor in the Theologi- cal Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey. The Importance of Domestic Happi- ness. Sermon CXCIX. The Means of Domestic Happiness." — Job v. 24 — 8vo. Pp 16. 2 " The Earth filled with the Glory of the Lord. A Sermon preached at Bal- timore, September 9, 1835, before the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mif^sions, at their twenty-sixth Annual Meeting. By Samuel Miller, D.D., Professor in the Theological Seminary, Princeton, N. J. Boston : 1835."— Numbers xiv. 20, 21.— 8vo. Pp. 34. » See pp. 140, 141. 270 TRIUMPH AND DEFEAT. [CH. 32. 2. resolved, that I would prepare and publish something adapted to explain the transaction, and set it in its true light ; and even went so far a^ actually to write " a Letter to a Friend in New England," making such statements as I thought fitted to rectify all mistakes in reference to my unfortunate communication of 1827 — with a view to its being published in the New York Observer, etc. But, on mature deliberation, and consulting confidentially with two or three wise friends, I have concluded not to publish any thing directly on the subject — at least, for the present. My reasons are the following : — '1. The letter which I wrote to Dr. Beecher, in 1827, was not considered by me as confidential when I wrote it. The views and wishes it contains, were frequently and freely ex- pressed to a number of persons, especially to the gentlemen ap- pointed to go to Boston to prosecute the call. *2. It was produced by Dr. Beecher, on his trial, 7iot to shew that 7101V ; but simply to show that, in 1827, when I had seen and read a particular publication, which was one of the prin- cipal grounds of process against him, I had not withdrawn from him my confidence, but wished him to occupy a conspicuous station in our Church. This appears to me to have been a fair and legitimate purpose ; and my letter is, surely, an unexcep- tionable testimony to that amount. And, although I think that equity and delicacy demanded that he should consult me before publishing it ; yet I do not feel as if I ought, at present, to beat him with many stripes ; especially as * 3. The case, for which he produced my letter is still pending j an appeal having been taken ; and it is impossible to foresee before whom it may come as judges. In this situation of things, for me to interpose, and endeavor to vary the position of the case, would seem scarcely consistent with delicacy and pro- priety. Besides — ' 4. That part of the matter brought forward in Dr. Beecher's trial, which appears to me to demand most explanation and counter statement, is the representation of Professor Stowe; viz., that Dr. Beecher left New England with an unimpaired reputation for orthodoxy. Now this is a point which ought to be set in a proper light by the orthodox gentlemen of New England— by yourself. Dr. Woods, Dr. Tyler, Dr. Hewit, Dr. Harvey, etc. In my opinion it is incumbent, not on us, but on you, to make it appear, that there were those who considered and represented Dr. Beecher as sliding into error, before he went to the West. * * ' I am grieved to hear Mr. P.'s statement of the present pos- ture of Dr. Beecher's mind. I feared, when I read his strong 1835.] MR. BARNES. 271 protestations of a belief in the old school doctrines, that it was fro7n the teeth and outward. The manner in which he spoke of Mr. Finney, on his trial, very much revolted and discouraged me.' 3. Mr. Barnes. No small part of Dr. Miller's plan for purifying and pa- cificating the Church had consisted in conciliating his more advanced New School brethren, and inducing them to at least desist from the defiant publication of error, and pro- motion of disorder. Most reluctantly he was giving up, from month to month, the hope that they would listen to the counsels of peace ; most reluctantly he yielded to the conviction that sterner measures were necessary for the preservation of orthodoxy and Presbyterian order. Yet after that hope had been, once and again, well nigh aban- doned, we find him catching, from time to time, at some imaginary support for his sinking confidence. Moreover the prosecution of disciplinary measures for the correction of false doctrine he dreaded, partly because of their inevi- table divisive tendency, and the scandal they were likely, however just, and necessary, and wisely conducted, to bring upon religion; partly because, when attempted hitherto, they had been managed, in repeated instances, most unskil- fully, and had tended, therefore, more to embitter feeling and aggravate disorder, than to remove evils, heal breaches, and restore health and comfort to the Church. In the course pursued by the Biblical Repertory, all the Professors of the Seminary seem to have been substantially agreed. No article of importance was inserted without their general concurrence. In the number for January, 1835, appeared a paper upon The Present State and Pros- pects of the Presbyterian Church, which doubtless expressed, in substance, Dr. Miller's views, even if he was not its author.^ A few extracts from this paper will explain, therefore, his position, during the winter of 183-1-5. " we have felt unable, for several years past, to accord 1 No account of the authorship of particular articles was kept for many years. At length, the Rev. Dr. Hope, during hi.< ])rofessorship in the College, made out such an account, as well as he could, from tradition and the memory of survivors. His list attributed the article above mentioned to Dr. Miller, and there is strong internal evidence that it was his ; but by very high authority it is now, with confidence, attributed to Dr. Alexander. 272 TRIUMPH AND DEFEAT. [CH. 32. 3. with all the views and movements of wliat has been sometimes called the nltra old-school party, composed of a portion of the Synod of Philadelphia, and a few brethren in other judicatories of the cliurch. AVe have, indeed, venerated their piety, and honoured their ardent zeal in pursuing a course which, we doubt not, they have honestly considered as adapted to promote the best interests of truth and ecclesiastical order. Our unfeigned desire has always been to act with them, knowing the elevation of their character, and the general soundness of their opinions ; and feeling that their principles and ours are, in all important respects, one. But, within the last four or five years, they have repeatedly advanced principles, and pursued a course which it was impossible for us to contemplate without regret. uj^ ^ when they did bring before the highest judicatory of the church matters of just complaint, in regard to which sound principle was on their side, and redress ought to have been ob- tained, and, under proper management, would have been ob- tained ; — these matters were so unhappily involved with ques- tionable theories, or inadmissible or offensive demands, as almost to insure their rejection. * * u ^ ;;< ^^g ggg j^^ reason to believe that the evil in question [the prevalence of error] is either so extensive, or so deeply seated, as some excellent brethren imagine. * * "* * we totally disbelieve that corrupt opinions exist among the ministers and elders of our church, to the extent that is 2:)roclaimed by some. * * "It is the part of wisdom, in contending for the truth, to pre- sent her claims in an unembarrassed form, and to fight her bat- tles on well selected ground. We have no doubt that sound, old-school principles would have fared far better in the General Assembly — nay, that they would have invariably triumphed, IF THEY HAD BEEN MANAGED AND PRESENTED WITH EVEN TOLERABLE DISCRETION. But in most cascs, if not every one, not (jnly had the previous management been unskilful and in- judicious ; but each case was finally brought before the highest judicatory, under such an aspect, and so unhappily mixed up with other and highly exciting matters, as almost to ensure an unfavourable reception. * * *' On such a subject it would be an irksome task to enter into details. ^ Suffice it to say, as a specimen of what we mean — that the original complex management, and final presentation to the Assembly of the first striking case which occurred in 1831 ; the whole management of the case relating to the division of the Pre.sl)ytery of Philadelphia, in 1831 and 1832 ; the pertinacious denial of the right of the General Assembly to erect new Pres- 1835.] MR. BARNES. 273 byteries ; the refusal to acknowledge the Presbytery formed by the Assembly in 1832, and shutting out all its members from their seats in Synod ; the attempted dissolution of that Presby- tery, by a Synod ical act, in 1833 ; the adoption and presenta- tion of the AVestern Memorial in 1834; and last, though not least, recommending in the "Act and Testimony," that no Pres- bytery or Synod formed by the Assembly on the elective affinity principle, should ever be acknowledged as a judicatory at all; these are a specimen of the management and the measures over which we have never ceased to lament, as most unwise ; as adapted to weaken the hands of old-school men ; and to bring their system, and their portion of the church into disrepute."^ Mr. Barnes, certainly, did not appreciate Dr. Miller's advice to the New School, to cease offending their brethren. In 1834, — the preface bears date of June 14th, — he pub- lished his "Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Epis- tle to the Romans," which manifested the more censurable inconsiderateness, because, in about a year afterward, he issued a "fifth edition, revised and corrected," in which he acknowledged and rectified quite a number of unhappy ex- pressions at least. Any one who compares the two edi- tions must certainly wonder, that language needing such correction could have been used, especially after the au- thor's prior experience, inadvertently. The New- School party had all along insisted, that a pub- lication could not, with justice, be ecclesiastically con- demned, unless its author had first been tried and found guilty. They were now to be met on their own ground. The Rev. George Junkin, D.D., belonging to the Presby- tery of Newton, preferred charges of doctrinal error against Mr. Barnes, in March, 1835, before the Second Presbytery of Philadelphia. The charges Avere founded upon his Notes on the Epistle to the Romans. Odium was cast upon Dr. Jun- kin, as a member of another presbytery going a "heresy hunting" out of his own proper sphere; but this was most unreasonable, as no member of Mr. Barnes's presbytery, formed by the Assembly for the very purpose of giving him respite from ^'persecution," would commence process ; and no remedy remained, unless a member of another judicatory appeared as prosecutor. The only proper question then was, whether the charges tabled by Dr. Junkin were a 1 Pp. 60, 63—66. 274 TRIUMPH AND DEFEAT. [CH. 32. 3. suiBcient ground of prosecution, and could be sustained. These charges embraced, no doubt, some points of minor importance, and one of them, at least, represented as an error what, perhaps, very few besides the prosecutor would so consider ; but they embraced also, undoubtedly, some very important points.^ After a singularly unwise course 1 For many readers it may be desirable to give a brief statement of the prin- cipal errors supposed to be taught in Mr. Barnes's Notes on Romans, It may be premised, that it was hardly an error to maintain (charge 4) that saving faith was an act, not a principle, of the soul; (P. 94;) and that the opinion (charge 2) that Adam did not understand, before the fall, the consequences, be- yond his own natural death, of transgression, (P. 115,) was an error compara- tively unimportant. Mr. Barnes taught a general atonement, denied the eter- nal Sonship of Christ, and represented Abraham's justifying faith as faith in God's general promises, particularly the promise of a numerous posterity, not faith in Christ; (Pp. 94, 95, 103 ;) but these errors, probably because they were thought not to be so serious as others, were not made the ground of any dis- tinct charge. The more important accusations were the following : — (1) All sin consists in voluntary action : there can be, therefore, no original sin (charge 1) : — "In all this, and in all other sin, man is voluntary." (P. 249.) — " They [Jacob and Esau] had no moral character. They had done nothing good or bad; and where that is the case there can be no character, for charac- ter is the result of conduct." (P. 192.) — ''Men will not be held to be guilty unless there is a law which binds them, of which they are apprized, and which they voluntarily transgress." (P. 118.) — (2.) Unregenerate men are able to keep God's commandments (charge 3) : — This Mr. Barnes but covertly asserted, by denying that this and that passage taught human inability. (Pp. 108, 164, 165.) — (3.) The first sin of Adam was not imputed to his posterity. A certain laxity of opinion in regard to the nature of imputation — holding, for example, a mediate, instead of an immediate, imputation — had long been tolerated in the Presbyterian Church. But Mr. Barnes denied the doctrine of imputation altogether — denied it with peculiar directness, earnestness, and reiteration, (charges 5, 6, 7.) — "Where Paul states a simple fact, men often advance a theory. * * he that calls in question their speculation about the cause, or the mode, is set down as heretical, -■'' * A melancholy instance of this we have in the account which the apostle gives (ch. v.) about the effect of the sin of Adam. The simple fact is stated that that sin was followed by the sin and ruin of all his posterity. * "* Yet men have not been satisfied with that. They have sought for a theory to account for it. And many suppose they have found it in the doctrine that the sin of Adam is imputed, or set over by an ar- bitrary arrangement to beings otherwise innocent, and that they are held to be responsible for a deed committed by a man thousands of years before they were born. This is the thtory ; and men insensibly forget that it is mere theory, * *■" (P. X.) — "The most common [explanation] has been that Adam was the representative of the race; that he was a covenant head, and that his sin was imputed to his posterity, and that they were held liable to punishment for it as if they had committed it themselves. But to this, there are great and in- superable objections. (1.) There is not one word of it in the Bible. * * (2.) It is a mere philosophical theory; * *" (P. 128.) — "What idea is conveyed to men of common understanding by the expression 'they sinned in him?'" (P. 117. See Short. Catechism, Q. 16. See, also. Pp. 119, 121, 127.)— (4.) The righteousness of Christ is not imputed to his people for their justification : faith is the f/round of justification, which is merely pardon (charges 8, 9, 10.): — ''(4) It is not that A("8 righteousness becomes ours. That is not true : and there is no intelligible sense in which that can be understood." P. 28.)— "It [Ro- mans 4, 5] does not refer to the righteousness of another— of God, or of the 1835.] MR. BARNES. 275 of deprecatory and obstructive proceedings, on the part of Mr. Barnes and his friends, the trial took phice. Of course, the Presbytery dismissed the charges ; but to this judgment it added a declaration, that the christian spirit manifested by the prosecutor, during the progress of the trial, ren- dered it inexpedient to inflict any censure on him.^ Dr. Junkin appealed to the Synod of Philadelphia. Af- ter the decision of Presbytery, and before the trial of the appeal in Synod, Mr. Barnes published the revised edition, already mentioned, of his work on Romans. The ''Adver- tisement" to this edition is a curiosity. After referring to changes made in some passages which had been misunder- stood, some which were really ambiguous, and a few that had given offence, and might be made more acceptable without the abandonment of principle, he added, "On some of these passages, as is extensively known to the public, charges of inculcating dangerous doctrines have been al- leged against me before the Presbytery of which I am a Messiah; but the discussion is solely of the fttrong act of Abraham's faith, which in some sense was counted to him for righteousness. * *' All that is material to remark here is, that the act of Abraham, the strong confidence of his mind in the promises of God, his unwavering assurance that what Gud had promised he would perform, was reckoned for righteousness." (P. 94.) — *'The word [imputation, in Scripture] is never used to denote impntiwj in the sense of transferring, or of charging that on one which does not properly belong to •him." (P. 95.) — ''Unto uhom God iivpvteth riyhteousness. •* * This is found in Ps. xxxii. And the whole scope and design of the psalm is to show the blessedness of the man who is forgiven, •■• '^" (P. 97. See, also. Pp. 110, 124, 182.) — Mr. Barnes still insisted that he was not bound, as an interpreter, by any creed. " The design has been to state what appeared to the author to be the real meaning of the Epistle, without any regard to any existing theo- logical system ; ^- *" The sanie, substantially, he had before said of his duty and design as a minister; (See p. 159 of this vol.;) and, as to both points, his principle was right ; but was it right to remain a Presbyterian minister, in a Presbyterian church, bound by a solemn subscription to a Presbyterian creed, while teaching and preaching " without any regard " to the Presbyterian '• theo- logical system "' ? It should be remarked, that while, in the passages quoted, and others, Mr. Barnes seemed to teach the errors mentioned, he seemed also, in some pas- sages, to teach the opposite truths. Representations most contradictory of each other, according to the settled usages of theological language, might be brought together, in great variety, from different parts of his work. Of all theological system he was most remarkably independent. Yet he was wonder- fully dependent, throughout his interpretation of the Epistle, upon certain opinions, not original, either, with himself. To the common doctrine of impu- tation, which, however, he totally misrepresented, — against this doctrine in name, and as he exhibited it, — he manifested a mortal antipathy ; yet. in some passages, he seemed to teach, as if unconsciously, the true doctrine itself. In fact, the whole performance gave evidence of undue haste, and of immature study of both his own creed and that of his brethren. iBook of Discipline, Ch. V. 7. 276 TRIUMPH AND DEFEAT. [CH. 32. 3. member. After a fair and full trial the Presbytery ac- quitted me ; and I have taken the opportunity after the trial was passed, and I had been acquitted, to make these changes for the sake of peace, and not to appear to have been urged to make them by the dread of a trial. "^ Could any imputation of dreading a trial be so serious a matter as a misunderstanding of the doctrines of Scripture by the *' Bible Classes and Sunday Schools" for which Mr. Barnes had written? Were the claims of his readers to exact gos- pel instruction to come into consideration only after he had taken time to prove his own courage? The Synod, in Oc- tober, with a near approach to unanimity, reversed the de- cision of Presbytery ; and, by a somewhat smaller major- ity, condemned Mr. Barnes on every charge, and suspended him "from the exercise of all the functions proper to the Gospel Ministry," until he should retract the errors con- demned, and give satisfactory evidence of repentance. Mr. Barnes, of course, appealed from this decision to the General Assembly. An unfortunate interlocutory decision of Synod was of itself enough to insure the reversal of its judgment. The Assembly of 1835, having declared the Synod of Delaware dissolved "at and after the meeting of the Synod of Phi- ladelphia," and the presbyteries belonging to the former re-attached to the latter "at and after" that meeting, the appeal had been taken to the latter Synod: the former, in fact, never met again. But, when the case was called up, the Presbytery refused to lay its record before the appellate court, on the grounds that, at the date of the trial and de- cision to be reviewed, the Synod of Delaware had been still in existence ; and that, besides, the Assembly had passed no order for the transfer of the books, minutes, and un- finished business of that Synod to any other. The Synod of Philadelphia pronounced this refusal '''obstinate^ vexa- tious^ U7ijust, uncandid, contumacious aud grossly/ disor- derly'— an accumulation of epithets perhaps undignified; much as the Presbytery may have deserved rebuke for will- fully obstructing the course of justice by such doubtful technicalities ; and the more especially because, in an in- formal manner, it had signified to Dr. Junkin the opinion, ip. iv. 1835,] MR. BARNES. 277 that the appeal lay to the Synod of Philadelphia and that only. But not content with thus censuring the Second Presby- tery, the Synod proceeded to try the appeal without the record ; when, obviously, the right course would have beea to compel its production, and postpone the hearing until that had been accomplished. This would, indeed, have in- volved delay; but "the law's delays" are often far better than the suitor's haste. Mr. Barnes professed to be quite ready for the trial, but objected to proceeding without the record ; and when the Synod decided that an authentic copy of it, which they had before them, was sufficient, and en- tered upon the hearing, he refused to defend himself, or take any part in the business. Thus complicated, the case was carried up, by Mr. Barnes's appeal, to the Assembly- of 1836. Mr. Barnes then wrote to Dr. Miller asking whether he ought, in these circumstances, to go on preaching, or to be silent, while the appeal was pending. The latter replied as follows : — 'Rev'd and dear Brother, Princeton, November 11, 1835. 'Your letter of the 9th instant reached me yesterday. I had heard, before its arrival, of the doings of the Synod in your case. Of those doings you will not, of course, expect me to give an opinion. * I should be glad, indeed, to be excused from giving an opinion on any one point connected with this case. Yet I can- not reconcile it with my feelings to refuse advice, on a question of real difficulty, to an old pupil, and one whom I regard as a brother in Christ. I cannot help recognizing your right to the counsel of your elder brethren, in a case in which it is of the utmost importance that your prospective movements be wise, constitutional, and for edification. *In my opinion, then, you ought, by all means, in present circumstances, to go on preaching, until your appeal shall be issued, for the following reasons: — ' I. To do so will be, in my judgment, perfectly constitutional. The rule, you are aware, is, that the "operation of an appeal is, to suspend all further proceedings on the ground of the sentence appealed from. But if a sentence of suspension or excom- munication from church privileges, or of depo.ntion from office, be the sentence appealed from, it shall be considered as in force until the appeal shall be issued." Your sentence is, evidently, 278 TRIUMPH AND DEFEAT. [CH. 32. 3. not included in this exception ; and, of course, as it appears to me, you ^vill infringe no rule, nor violate any principle of con- stitutional respect to the Synod, by availing yourself of a priv- ileo-e which the constitution gives you. Upon the very same principle, I felt constrained, last year, to justify your presbytery in continuing to live and act, notwithstanding the sentence of the Synod dissolving it, when you had appealed from that sentence to the General Assembly. *II. To go on preaching until your appeal shall be issued, will be, also, m my opinion, ivise and proper, because your silence, until next June, could hardly fail of producing great mischief in your congregation. Were you entirely to suspend all minis- terial acts until that time, it would keep all the members of the congregation, whether j^ious or otherwise, in a state of continual agitation, resentment and irascible feeling; totally unfitted either to receive benefit from gospel ordinances, or to impart benefit to others. Such a winter, I should suppose, could hardly fail of being eternally destructive to a number of souls. * Were I in your situation, therefore, though, under some as- pects of the subject, a carnal jDolicy might seem to dictate a different decision, I would go on to preach until the issue of the appeal by the next Assembly. 'In the mean time, allow one word of counsel from an honest friend, who unfeignedly wishes well both to you and your people. If I were in your situation, I should consider it as equally a dictate of policy and of christian duty, to do every thing in my power to soothe and calm the feelings of the congregation : to keep them, not only quiet, but meek, submissive and perfectly orderly, until the great Head of the Church shall send regular and constitutional relief. I can say with truth, that I have a feeling of peculiar attachment to your church, and, of course, deprecate its taking any rash or wrong step. Rely upon it, whoever lives to see five years hence, will see the wisdom, on temporal, but above all, on spiritual accounts, of remaining in regular connexion with the General Assembly. Those who wish to avoid protracted civil litigation, as well as painful eccle- siastical feuds, ought to strive studiously and prayerfully to occupy this ground. ' One word more. Longing and praying, as I most heartily do, for your increasing comfort and usefulness, both as a man and a minister; I earnestly hope, that the coming season, during which the constitutional provision allows you to lift up your voice for Clirist, and to go in and out before your people, will be a season of great s})iritual benefit to your own soul ; a season of great searching of heart, and of calm, humble, profound ex- 1836.] CORRESPONDENCE. 279 animation into the motives and character of all that has passed. You say, in your letter, that you are suspended for holding "doctrines which you abhor as much as any member of the Synod." My dear Brother, how is this? Why have you been so entirely misunderstood, and so falsely accused? Is all the blame attributable to your accusers? Have you done all in your power to guard against suspicious and offensive modes of expression ? Have you been as guarded in stating, and as frank in explaining, your views, as the exigencies of your situation evidently demanded? Or has an unjustifiable mixture of proud and independent feeling prevented you from giving that satis- faction to your brethren, which the state of their minds earnestly called for? Or have you been in any wise influenced, in any of these matters, by counsellors of inferior wisdom to yourself? If you will allow me to use that paternal freedom which you have invited, and which my own feelings prompt me to indulge, I will say, that I have thought you were in fault in these re- spects. If, in the course of the coming winter, you should re- examine this whole ground ; and solemnly inquire, whether you have been, on all occasions, sufficiently frank, explicit, accommo- dating, and ready to consult the feelings, the prejudices, and even (if such in any case existed) the unkind suspicions of your brethren, and to give them all the satisfaction in your power; I shall hope, that you will find the season and the exercise truly profitable. 'You invite me to suggest any plan, by which this whole matter may be prevented from going to the General Assembly, and have a pacific turn given to it. I do not feel prepared, at present, to offer any suggestions of this kind. When I know more in detail of the proceedings of the Synod than I yet do, I may offer some hints ; but I know not that I shall deem it proper to attempt anything of the sort. ' I am, my dear Sir, most sincerely, your 'friend and brother in Christ, 'Samuel Miller. 'P. S. Dr. Alexander is still in Virginia, and will probably not return for four or five days. If he were at home, I am sure he would promptly and cordially reply to the letter, which his son, Mr. J. W. A., informs me you have written to him.' Mr. Barnes did not take Dr. Miller's advice, but ceased preaching until the General Assembly had removed the Synod's sentence of suspension. 4. Correspondence. To Mr. Nettleton Dr. Miller wrote a letter on the 9th of February, 1836, from which the following extracts are 280 TRIUMPH AND DEFEAT. [CH. 32. 4. taken. Those portions which reflect severely upon Dr. Beecher would have been omitted, had they not appeared already in his Autobiography.^ Mr. Nettleton permitted Dr. Tyler to see the Letter ; Dr. Tyler copied the portions referred to ; and they were communicated to others. All that can be said fairly is, that it seems to be a pity that the letter was written, and a pity that it went beyond Mr. Nettleton. To condemn the writer might be to fall into the very error attributed to him — the error of judging another upon insufficient evidence. Our horizon is too limited, for us to deny every luminary that does not rise in our visible heaven. Our own planet is as bright as any other wanderer in the sun's train, but not to the narrow vision of earthly eyes. *I feel particularly indebted for your kindness in communi- cating a copy of Dr. Tyler's letter. * * I cannot but hope that such a letter's being shown to Dr. Beecher — as it doubtless was by Mr. Stowe — may have been useful to him. Yet, to say the truth, I was much discouraged in one thing in Dr. Beecher's trial : I mean, that he should, after making such explanations and declarations, as really placed him upon pretty thorough old-school ground^ have spoken, as he did, of Dr. Taylor and Mr. Finney! I cannot ascribe this to the want of discernment. I fear it must be set down to the score of something which I hardly dare to name even to my own mind. Is it possible to recon- cile that man's whole course with a sound, honest and straight- forward purpose? I really have an affection for the man. It would give me pleasure — more pleasure than I can express — to see him come out bright and entirely consistent. But I fear there has been somewhere such a tampering with conscience, as will be found to eat like a canker both into character and use- fulness. ' You ask, " Is it not amazingly strange, that men who pro- fess to hold the doctrines of the Confession of Faith, and assure us that they abhor the New Haven speculations, should yet be always found contending and voting on the New Haven side, and against their professed conscientious convictions?" Truly it is above measure strange! I know not how to account for it but by supposing, that they are either hoodwinked and deceived by men more cunning and less honest than themselves; or that their instinctive party feelings, when brought to the test, tri- umph over conscience, and everything else that ought to govern their decisions. Surely if this practice be continued, the most gloomy anticipations must be formed of our prospects. 1 II. Vol., 382, 3, 4, etc. 1836.] CORRESPONDENCE. 281 ' You express some doubt how far those restricted views of the Atonement, which are popularly known under the name of the " Gethsemane " views, are now adopted by the ministers of the Presbyterian Church. My impression is, that the number of those who receive them is extremely small. Indeed, I can recollect, at this moment, but one man in our whole Church, who was ever known to me as having avowed his belief in that form of the doctrine ; and that, strange to tell ! is the Rev. Dr. Ely, late of Philadelphia, and now of Marion College. I doubt whether half a dozen men in our whole body unite with him in this opinion. The estimate of Mr. Plumer is, I am persuaded, greatly above the mark. Instead of a thirtieth, I do not be- lieve that an eightieth — perhaps not a hundredth — part of our ministers embrace the opinion. Dr. Green, I happen to know, does not embrace it. * * 'I was much struck with Dr. Tyler's just remark, that "at- tempts are now made to account for all opposition to Dr. Beecher and Dr.Taylor, on the ground of sheer prejudice against the Xew England divines as a body." I am aware of this fact. Those who wish to make this impression, after presenting a dis- honest caricature of old Calvinism — dressing it up in real verity, " in bear skins," try to persuade their disciples that none but such as adopt this ultra orthodoxy have any objection to the New Haven opinions. There cannot be a more unjust statement; nor can any one who is acquainted with facts believe it. For, on the one hand, it is well known, that a large num- ber of the divines resident in New England, most eminent for talents, learning, and piety, are as strongly opposed to the New Haven errors as any of us. On the other hand, it is equally well known, that a number of revered and beloved ministers of our own church, originally from New England, and still possessing no small share of New England feeling, such as Dr. Kichards, Dr. Spring, Dr. J. Woodbridge, Dr. Fisher, Dr. Hillyer, and a number more like them, while they enjoy the entire confidence of their brethren, think as unfavorably of the New Haven speculations as any of our number. * I would, gladly, my dear Brother, take some public notice of Dr. Beecher's having, without permission, published the letter which I sent him in 1837. But it appears to me that the same reasons which operated three months ago to prevent it are equal- ly strong now. His case is pending before the Assembly, and as nothing new has occurred, within the last three months, to call me before the public in reference to it, I cannot reconcile it with my sense of duty, to come out, at this late day, * * Dr. Beecher has thought proper to come out an old-school man. Vol. II.— 24 282 TRIUMPH AND DEFEAT. [CH. 32. 4. If he will be a steady and consistent one, let us not present any- unnecessary obstacle.' The following letter was addressed to the Rev. David Magie, D.D., of Elizabeth, New Jersey. 'Rev'd. and dear Sir, Princeton, February 10, 1836. ' I cannot help feeling the deepest anxiety respecting the character and doings of the next General Assembly. It ap- pears to me, that the proceedings of the Synod of Philadelphia, at its last meeting, have greatly augmented both our difficulties and dangers. But, while they have acted so unwise * * a part, I think I see clearly, that, if the General Assembly should condemn them throughout, and sustain Mr. Barnes, a founda- tion would be laid for an immeasurable amount of future litiga- tion, strife and mischief The following course, on the part of the General Assembly, as it strikes me, v/ill have the advantage of being just and equitable, as well as adapted, more than any other course, to promote ultimate quietness and peace. 'I. Censure the Second Presbytery of Philadelphia for refus- ing to produce their minutes, and to let the trial of the appeal in Mr. Barnes's case, go on regularly ; as manifestly unreasona- ble, contumacious, contrary to the evident intention of the Gene- ral Assembly in dissolving the Synod of Delaware, and alto- gether disorderly. ' II. Censure the Synod of Philadelphia for going on to try the appeal, when Mr. Barnes was not really before them; when the authentic records of the preceding trial were not in possession of the Synod ; and when, of course, no step could be taken in the case to give a constitutional issue to the appeal. * III. Sustain the appeal of Mr. Barnes — in other words, take off his suspension, and restore him to the exercise of his minis- terial functions, pronouncing the sentence of suspension unduly severe. ' IV. Pronounce Mr. Barnes's book on the Epistle to the Ro- mans, to contain language of a very exceptionable character, not reconcilable with Scripture, or with our public formularies; and enjoin on him to review and correct it. * V, Dissolve the Second Presbytery of Philadelphia, which the Assembly created three years ago, and attach its members to the First and Second Synodical Presbyteries, according to geographical position. *If these five things are done, I think retributive justice will be well administered; the Synod of Philadelphia will be mortified, (which it deserves to be,) but will quietly submit; Mr. Barnes's party will consider themselves as having gained a sort of triumph, and will, of course, be quiet ; and peace will be again restored to our ranks. 1836.] MR. BARNES IN THE ASSEMBLY OF 1836. 283 *I take the liberty, my dear Sir, to transmit these suggestions to you, knowing the interest you take in the affairs of the Church; and assured, however you may differ from me in judg- ment, you will take kindly the expression of opinion which I have ventured to offer. I know not whether the meeting of your Presbytery, at which you make your appointment of delegates to the Assembly, has already taken place, or is yet to occur. But knowing, as I do, your great influence with the members of that body, and being perfectly confident that your judg- ment and feelings are both on the side of accommodation and peace, I am persuaded it is not yet too late (if your view of the subject will allow of it) for you to interpose such counsel as will secure a corresponding judgment and conduct on the part of your delegates. I commit the whole matter to your fraternal kindness and indulgence. * My great solicitude for the purity, peace and edification of our beloved church must be my apology for troubling you with this letter. "'= ^ ^^ ^ ^ - * P. S. I think if you knew one half of the strange, disorderly doings of the unlucky Second Presbytery, (Assembly's,) you would decisively adopt the opinion, that until it is dissolved, there can be no peace in the church.' The Rev. William S. Plumer wrote to Dr. Beecher, on the 30th of January, 1836, making inquiry as to certain charges against the latter, and Dr. Beecher replied. " Copies of these letters were carried to the East by Professor Stowe, in the earnest hope, to which Dr. Beecher clung so stead- fastly to the very last, of assuaging or averting open rupture between brethren once tenderly united, to be submitted, if oppor- tunity offered, to the brethren at Andover, East Windsor, and Princeton. In reference to the latter. Professor Stowe writes, May 2,1836: "I have been providentially prevented from going to Princeton. Mr. Barnes said, if it was his case, he would not have me go on any account. He said it was of no use to pay court to Princeton ; matters had come to such a pass that Princeton must be resisted and humbled rather than con- ciliated."^ 5. Mr. Barnes in the Assembly of 1836. While the case of ]Mr. Barnes had excited so much atten- tion, and was becoming the acknowledged test of the Church's recuperative power, discipline for error had not been in other quarters wholly unattempted. As early as 1 2 Autobioo:. of Dr. Beecher, 392. 284 TRIUMPH AND DEFEAT. [CH. 32. 5. 1832, the Presbytery of Carlisle had commenced proceed- ings against the Rev. George Duffield on account of his doctrinal aberrations. He was condemned, but only ad- monished ; and, though he appealed to the General Assem- bly, did not prosecute his appeal. The Synod found fault with the Presbytery for its leniency, but nothing further, in this case, was attempted. In 1833, charges were tabled, before the Presbytery of Illinois, against the Rev. Edward Beecher, President, and the Rev. J. M. Sturdevant and the Rev. William Kirby, Pro- fessors of Illinois College. They made a statement of their faith, of which the Presbytery decided that it exhibited nothing ''materially or essentially at variance with the standards of the Presbyterian Church." The prosecutor, the Rev. Wm. J. Fraser, took an appeal to Synod, but "was induced to drop it, in the expectation that the other cases then pending would lead to a settlement by the Assembly, of the questions involved." After some previous unsuccessful attempts to institute proceedings against Dr. Lyman Beecher, at the time Presi- dent of Lane Seminary, Dr. J. L. Wilson had, in 1834, ar- raigned him before the Presbytery of Cincinnati. Not only was he acquitted, but the Presbytery manifested a disposition to inflict censure upon the prosecutor. The Synod, however, upon appeal, decided that there was no reason for such censure, and that, while Dr. Beecher's present explanations of his views were satisfactory, he had before given valid reason for suspicion of his unsoundness in the faith ; and he was admonished to be more guarded in future. In this judgment he acquiesced, and, being ad- vised by Synod to publish, in a concise form, the substance of his previous explanations, he issued a duodecimo volume of two hundred and forty pages, entitled " Views in The- ology?" so orthodox, that the worst his accusers could thereafter say was, that it was passing strange that the same man should be the father of this, and of some of the previous theological progeny of his brain, the two were so marvellously dissimilar.^ Dr. Wilson appealed, but in the Assembly of 1836, agreed to drop his appeal, as the deci- sion in Mr. Barnes's case would settle the questions at issue. ' See Baird's Hist, of New School, Chap. xxx. 1836.] MR. BARNES IN THE ASSExMBLY OF 1836. 285 When this matter was in negotiation, "Dr. Miller," said Dr. Beecher, "in high glee, hoped I would not object."^ Such word-painting must be taken with some allowance. A desire to reduce the strife within as narrow limits as possible, was no evidence of satisfaction with any one's the- ological views or course of conduct. With great expectation the case of Mr. Barnes came be- fore the assembly of 1836. #To that Assembly, again, Dr. Miller was a Commissioner. Pittsburgh had been avowedly chosen as the place of meeting, that the agitation which this case had produced in Philadelphia might be avoided. The New School now proved to have a decisive majority. The only question that could regularly have come before the supreme judicatory, without consent of parties, was, whether the Synod had rightly proceeded to hear the appeal in the absence of the Presbytery's record. But this may not have been discerned, and there was, apparently, a tacit acquies- cence of all interested in the Assembly's disposing of the whole case. Mr. Barnes, now, made such explanations of previous statements, that if his retractions, as they were considered, could have been put in a distinct form, Dr. Junkin' would have yielded. True, the Notes on Romans, quite unsatis- factory, as they were, even after the author's emendations in 1835, were in a permanent shape, and were becoming widely circulated. But so painful had the controversy grown, that any escape from it, consistent with truth and righteousness, would have been gladly hailed on all sides. Mr. Barnes, hoAvever, stoutly insisted that he had not re- tracted, and never would retract, anything, and the trial proceeded. This case furnished a forcible illustration of the imper- fections, not at all of the great principles of Presbyterian church government and discipline, but of the ordinary forms of proceeding in our church courts, and of the very constitution of those courts, so far as judicial business is concerned. It is not to be expected that many ministers, or ruling elders, will ever acquire much skill in the manage- ment of such business. They may, in general, be quite competent to decide, righteously, upon most points put with distinctness and clearness before them ; but very few minds 1 2 Autobiography, 360. 286 TRIUMPH AND DEFEAT. [CH. 82. 5. are fitted to distinguish, nicely, questions of law and ques- tions of fact, questions of form and questions of substance, questions of technical, and questions of moral, right ; so as to simplify what is complex, and discern just what calls for decision. Unfortunately, our plan does not allow, as without any abandonment of principle it might, of com- mittino- judicial matters to the few who have made them a special study ; therefore for such study there is small en- couragement ; and our rules of proceeding afford little op- portunity for disentangling perplexed cases, until they are thrown before a loosely compacted crowd of unpractised judges. Judicial committees might do much more, to pre- pare cases for trial, than they usually attempt ; but they do not always include the best juridical culture of the body, and they are hampered by the rules to which their recom- mendations must be conformed. No doubt, the compromises, and even irregular expedients, by which the burden of ju- dicial business is so often thrown off, are due chiefly to its being felt, if not discerned and acknowledged, that compli- cated and perplexed cases are never likely to reach a satis- factory issue by the way which the Book marks out. The appeal of Mr. Barnes, if the whole controversy was to come, as it did, before the Assembly, presented a num- ber of distinct points. Was the Synod right in proceeding to trial without the record? Were any of the errors charged real errors, and errors sufficiently grave to justify discipline ? If they were, were they actually taught in the Notes on Romans ? Were they all thus real ; all of such sufficient gravity ; all so taught ? If the proceedings and finding of Synod were right, was not the sentence too severe? Now, these questions, every one, without clear distinction or separation, were precipitated upon the As- sembly. What if one third of the judges were prepared to sustain the appeal on the ground only of the record's absence ; another third, on the ground only of the rigor of the sentence ; and all the rest, on some other ground alone? The vote being taken, as it was, by the simple alternative, 'Sustained', or 'Not sustained', there might have been a unanimous decision to sustain the appeal, although two thirds of the body were opposed to that decision on every particular point. Sometimes the responses are, ' Sustained', 1836.] MR. BARNES IN THE ASSEMBLY OF 1836. 287 'Sustained in part', 'Not sustained'; if a majority of all vote 'Sustained', that ends the matter; but if those who vote 'Sustained in part' are a majority, or are needed to make a majority with those who vote ' Sustained', it is cus- tomary to appoint a committee to draw, if possible, a mi- nute satisfactory to that majority — a most difficult matter, it is obvious, and sometimes an impossibility. But, in the case before us, with singular maladroitness, the leaders of the Old School party expressly agreed that all should vote simply 'Sustained' or 'Not sustained', knowing that the condemnation of the Synod on the grounds, at least, of the absence of the record, and the severity of the sentence, was certain ; and proposing to bring in a minute afterwards, as a part of the judgment, censuring Mr. Barnes for the errors of his book. True, no skill of management would have varied materially the result. The appeal was ' Sustained' by a vote of one hundred and thirty- four to ninety-six. Then, by one hundred and forty-five to seventy-eight, the decision of Synod, suspending Mr. Barnes, was reversed. At once. Dr. Miller offered a reso- lution^ condemning him for his Notes on Romans. But what ? After his appeal has been, without exception, tri- umphantly sustained; after he has been acquitted in the only trial had ; shall he, without any further trial, be con- demned ? The wonder is, not that the resolution failed, but that a hundred and nine votes — ao;ainst a hundred and twenty-two — could be secured in its favor. No doubt, 1 Resolved, that while this General Assembly has thought proper to remove the sentence of suspension under which the Rev. Mr. Barnes was placed by the Synod of Philadelphia; yet the judgment of the Assembly is, that Mr. Barnes, in his notes on the Epistle to the Romans, has published opinions materially at var.ance with the Confession of faith of the Presbyterian Church, and with the word of God; especially with regard to original sin, the relation of man to Adam, and justification by faith in the atoning sacrifice and right- eousness of the Redeemer. The Assembly consider the manner in which Mr. Barnes has controverted the language and doctrine of our public standards, as highly reprehensible, and as adapted to pervert the minds of the rising gene- ration from the simplicity and purity of the gospel plan. And although some of the most objectionable statements and expressions which appeared in the earlier editions of the work in question, have been either removed, or so far modified or explained, as to render them more in accordance with our public formularies ; still the Assembly considers the work, even in its present amended form, as containing representations which cannot be reconciled witl: the letter or spirit of our public standards; and would solemnly admonish Mr. Barnes again to review this work ; to modify still further the statements which have grieved his brethren ; and to be more careful, in time to come, to study the purity and peace of the Church."' 288 TRIUMPH AND DEFEAT. [CH. 32. 6. Dr. Miller's idea was, that the vote had been taken, with a tacit understanding that some voters, by ^ Sustained', meant only ' Sustained in part' ; no doubt he regarded his motion as simply the conclusion of an otherwise incomplete deci- sion ; but certainly the New School members had laid them- selves under no obligation to so regard it. Two protests were presented, both signed by Dr. Miller among others, and expressing dissent, especially, from the refusal to condemn Mr. Barnes's theological errors. The answer to these protests, which seems to have been unani- mously approved by the New School members, is a strange document, as a profession of orthodoxy, considering its ori- gin, and as a defence of Mr. Barnes which he would hardly have ventured himself to indorse. For example, in his Notes on Romans, the latter had expressly denied that Adam was the covenant or federal head, or representative of the race.^ The answer to the protest, however, declared that he had not denied it, but, without using the terms mentioned, had, in other language, taught the very same truths taught by these terms. 6. Boards and Presbyteries. The committee appointed by the last Assembly had, in the plenitude of its power, concluded a contract with the Western Foreign Missionary Society for the transfer of its whole establishment to the General Assembly. This they reported, and a board or other agency alone was wanting to receive the transfer. The subject came before the Assem- bly in a majority and a minority report from the commit- tee of reference; and, in accordance with the recommenda- tion of the minority, the ratification of the contract was re- fused by a vote of one hundred and ten to one hundred and six. In reviewing this act of the Assembly, it is manifest that it had a great deal to do with the final defeat of the New School party a twelvemonth afterward. Their so-called violation of a contract, added to the refusal to organize a Foreign Missionary Board, was very odious. It was, however, it may be, more of a blunder than of a wrong. The New School had a technical right certainly, to refuse to let the * See previous page 274, Note. 1836.] BOARDS AND PRESBYTERIES. 289 Assembly engage in the work of Foreign Missions : so long as they had a majority, the opposite party could not compel them to enter, ecclesiastically, upon that work. Entirely resolved not to enter upon it, should they have fulfilled the contract with the Western Society, only to re- ceive its missions, and then let them perish, or pass into the hands of the American Board ? Considering their ab- solute determination that the latter should have no rival, they, perhaps, did what was best, though it had a bad ap- pearance. Besides, was the Old School majority of the previous year — an accident, as they might well esteem it, after ruling in every Assembly, except that of 1835, be- ginning in 1831 — was it to bind the Church forever ? Had they been right, which they were not, in their opposition to the Church's conducting foreign missions by agencies of its own, it would be hardly fair to censure them for their ac- tion in 1836. Dr. Miller was, of course, in the minority on this question, and united with them in a solemn protest against the act. The American Board of Commissioners took a part in the struggle just mentioned which seriously impaired its popularity in the Presbyterian Church. To influence the decision of the Assembly, Dr. Anderson, one of the Secre- taries of the Board, issued a pamphlet, arguing the case, beforehand, against the Old School — no doubt a most un- wise and indelicate interference with the business of the Church. The Western Foreign Missionary Society, rejected by the Assembly, quietly resumed, in accordance with the ad- vice of friends, and encouraged by promises of increased ef- fort for its support, its missionary operations. Emboldened by success, and not content with what they had already gained, the New School party now attempted once more the ruin of the Board of (Domestic) Missions and the Board of Education, and failed of their object by only a few votes. The attempt was made substantially as it had been, in regard to the former Board, in 1831 — by endeavoring to elect members avowedly hostile to the very object of their appointment — the very interests committed to their hands. The Synod of Philadelphia had, in 1835, agreeably to 290 TRIUMPH AND DEFEAT. [CH. 32. 6. the express permission of the Assembly, concurred in by the whole New School party, dissolved the elective affinity, or Assembly's, Second Presbytery, and, for gross, and otherwise irremediable irregularities, that also of Wilming- ton. Both Presbyteries, however, had appealed, and, of course, the appeal stayed their dissolution. The Assembly now reversed the action of the Synod, and continued both these inferior judicatories in being, only giving the Second Presbytery geographical bounds, and changing, in its title, Second to Third. Says Dr. Baird, " During the exciting and anxious sessions of this Assembly, the Old School members held one or two meetings for consultation, in the Second Church. They were convened by public announcement, by the moderator, in the Assembly, inviting the presence of those who voted with the minority on Dr. Miller's resolution in Barnes' case. Before the business of the conference had commenced, the youthful pastor of the church, without consultation, announced that any who did not sympathize with the objects of the meeting, were requested to retire. This suggestion was at once repudiated, by a general cry of " No ! no !" Dr. Miller emphatically stating that they had nothing to conceal, and no wish that any one should retire. This suggestion, which was thus, at once, repudiated by acclamation, was made the occcasion of much invidious remark among the New School members of the Assembly, as to secret conclaves and conspiracies. " At the very time that the Old School were thus stigmatized, the other party were holding meetings in the basement of the Third Church, which convened without public notice, and from which the public were actually excluded. Here, the recon- struction of the Boards was discussed ; and here the question was anxiously considered whether the Seminary at Princeton should not be remodeled. But the conclusion was, that the Church was not yet ripe for a step so decisive."^ It is never wise to hold '' secret conclaves" without good reason ; and, probably, the position of the Old School mem- bers, in this particular case, dictated entire publicity as most politic; yet it is a right of contending parties, in both church and state, to meet separately, and without witnesses, to form and digest their plans of action. To condemn such meetings, or attach odium to them, is but a desperate party expedient. iBaird's Uist. of New School, 502, 3. 1836.] BOARDS AND PRESBYTERIES. 291 While the appeal of Mr. Barnes was under discussion, Dr. Miller moved the appointment of a committee of thirty on the slate of the Church. The motion was carried, and the committee appointed, with the mover as chairman; but they could not agree upon any report, and just before the close of the sessions were discharged. The proceedings of the Assembly of 1836, so far as Dr. Miller was directly concerned with them, must occupy, under another head, a little further attention; but the fol- lowing extract from a letter of Mrs. Miller's, dated the 8th of July, may, just at this point, illustrate the effect upon him of the exciting, agitating scenes, connected with the New School controversy, which have already, though inade- quately, been exhibited. 'We had gone only a day's journey from Wheeling, when [Dr. Miller] was arrested at Unioutown by sickness, the con- sequence, I have no doubt, of his confinement and application to business, at Pittsburgh ; and we were detained there nearly nine days : for, although only about half that time was neces- sary for his recruiting, the difficulty of recovering our seats in the stage, owing to the press of emigration from the AYest, and the impossibility of procuring any private conveyance, made us truly prisoners, although I trust in mercy for a more perfect rest. I can not say that I was wholly patient under this inflic- tion. We sometimes thought that we should have to return to Pittsburgh, which we could have reached by a short way of thirty miles, and afterwards get into the canal boat; but at length a private carriage offered, and took us in two days to Cumberland, whence we found no difficulty in returning. We have had the satisfaction of finding all our family well.' CHAPTER THIRTY-THIRD. SOCIAL REFORM. 1836. 1. Slavery. The committee, appointed by the General Assembly of 1835, to report upon Slavery/ consisted of Dr. Miller as chairman, with Dr. Beman, Dr. Hoge, Mr. Dickey and Mr. Witherspoon. They, probably, never met, unless dur- ing the sessions of the Assembly; but Dr. Miller, by cor- respondence with one or more — perhaps all — of them, ob- tained their views on the subject, and then drew the fol- lowing paper, which he afterwards, by mail, submitted to, perhaps, the whole committee. 'The Committee to whom were referred, by the last General Assembly, sundry memorials and other papers, touching the subject of Slavery, w^ith directions to report thereon to the General Assembly of 1836, beg leave to report, — 'That, after the most mature deliberation which they have been able to bestow on the interesting and important subject referred to them, they would most respectfully recommend to the General Assembly the adoption of the following preamble and resolutions; viz. — 'This General Assembly regards domestic slavery as one of those subjects which bear complicated and extensive relations to the political regulations and interests of the community ; to the purity and happiness of domestic society ; and to the edification of the Church of God. In respect to the political laws and arrangements which exist, in different States of our Union, on this subject, an Ecclesiastical judicatory cannot with pro- priety interfere. Christ's kingdom is not of this world. It is manifest that the great Founder of our Religion, and his in- spired Apostles, in proclaiming the Gospel of his grace to Jews 1 See p. 266. 292 1836.] SLAVERY. 293 and Gentiles, among whom domestic slavery was established by- law, did not denounce it as one of those evils which He required to be immediately abolished ; but chose rather to enjoin upon masters and slaves those duties which are required of them respectively by their Master in heaven; and to inculcate those benevolent and holy principles, which have a direct tendency to mitigate the evils of Slavery, while it lasts, and to bring it to a termination in the most speedy, safe and happy manner for both parties. Their example, in this respect, this General Assembly considers as not only worthy of our imitation, but as expressly intended for our guidance under similar circum- stances. ' This General Assembly is further persuaded, not only that all interference, on our part, with the laws of any of the States in which persons in communion with the Presbyterian Church reside, is unscriptural and improper; but the Assembly cannot doubt that, in accordance with the testimony of all sober- minded, reflecting men, either resident in the slave-holding States or extensively travelling through them, that every attempt on the part of ecclesiastical judicatories to legislate on the subject, tends to create morbid excitement; to engender feelings alto- gether adverse to the mild and benevolent spirit of the Gospel ; to render the condition of the slaves worse instead of better ; to check the disposition to seek their intellectual and moral im- provement; and to impair the opportunity and ability of the pious in the slave-holding States, to impart to them suitable religious instruction. ' On the whole, as the Assembly believes that the most safe and effectual remedy for the evil in question will be found in the benign power of Christian principle, operating upon and forming public sentiment, and thus preparing both the master and the slave for the consummation desired; so it is convinced that it is the part of wisdom to leave the whole subject, so far as political enactments are concerned, to be disposed of by the States in which slavery exists ; — and, so far as moral and spirit- ual duties, towards slaves within our bounds, are concerned, to commit those duties to the synods, presbyteries, and church ses- sions within the slave-holding States; — most of which have man- ifested a laudable desire to promote the temporal and eternal welfare of the slaves within their bounds, though their eftbrts in this interesting department of Christian benevolence, the Assembly laments to say, have been weakened, and, in some cases, totally frustrated, by measures adopted by pious and well-meaning persons in the free States. On these accounts the Assembly believes that much action on this interesting subject, 294 SOCIAL REFORM. [CH. 33. 1. by the highest judicatory of the Presbyterian Church, com- posed as itis of delegates from most of the States in the Union, is adapted to inflame and divide, rather than to promote har- mony and love. It is persuaded that every thing which Chris- tian principle requires the Church to do, can be more safely and usefully done by judicatories within those districts in which the evil in question exists in its greatest force. These can act on the subject with less excitement of jealousy, as well as with more knowledge of it, and with more probability of success. ' On a careful review, therefore, of the foregoing principles, this Assembly adopts, and recommends to the serious attention of all in the communion of the Presbyterian Church, the follow- ing Eesolutions ; viz. — '1. Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to all in our communion in the United States to pray without ceasing, that He who sits as Governor among the Nations, and who has the hearts of all men in his hands, would be pleased to terminate, as speedily as may be, consistently with the temporal and spirit- ual welfare of the slaves themselves, as well as of the white population around them, the lamentable evil under considera- tion ; an evil from which, however certain questions concerning it may be decided, all grant it would be happy for our country to be forever delivered. * 2. Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to all persons in our communion, who reside in States in which slavery exists, and especially those who hold slaves, carefully to examine the principles of God's Holy Word in reference to the duties of masters, and conscientiously to regulate their conduct by those principles; doing the things which are just and equal, and ex- ercising the gentleness and benevolence of the Gospel toward their servants ; remembering that they have a Master in heaven, with whom there is no respect of persons. *3. Resolved, That it be earnestly enjoined on all the Church Sessions and Presbyteries in the slave-holding districts of our country, carefully to guard their members against all violations of Christian principle or practice in relation to slaves ; and firmly to exercise on this, as well as every other subject, that ecclesiastical discipline which Christ hath ordained for edifica- tion, and not for destruction. *4. Resolved, That the Resolutions of the Synod of the Pres- byterian Church in the United States in 1786, and of the General Assembly in 1816, respecting the baptism of infant slaves, on the profession of their masters or mistresses, be, and they hereby are, approved by this Assembly, and again recom- mended to the attention of all whom they may concern. 1836.] SLAVERY. 295 ' 5. Resolved, That the religious instruction of slaves by means of infant schools, catechetical and Bible classes, special ad- dresses, and other methods of imparting knowledge (not con- trary to the laws of the several States) so happily and extensively commenced in the Southern and Southwestern portions of our Church, meets the cordial approbation of this Assembly, and is earnestly recommended to the attention of all masters and pub- lic teachers in our communion. *6. Resolved, That, in the opinion of this General Assembly, all harsh censures, and uncharitable reflections ought to be for- borne toward those brethren of our communion who reside among and possess slaves, whom they cannot, consistently with the laws of their respective States, immediately emancipate; but who, at the same time, are really using all their influence and endeavors to eflfect this object, as soon as the way for it can be lawfully and safely prepared. ' 7. Resolved, That this General Assembly does cordially ap- prove of the principles and object of the American Colonization Society, as an institution of enlightened benevolence; pacific and salutary in its operation; opening a door for the manumis- sion of slaves in a manner opposed to no law of either God or man; and likely, under the divine blessing, not merely to establish a Christian community in Africa ; but, through that community, to extend the blessings of civilization and Chris- tianity over a great part of that benighted continent. * 8. Resolved, finally. That, as the notes wdiich have been ex- punged from our Public Formularies, and which some of the memorials referred to the Committee ask to be restored, never were adopted in any way by the Church, and, therefore, pos- sessed no authority ; the General Assembly has no power to as- sign them a place in the authorized standards of the Church. — ' The Rev. John Witherspoon, of Camden, South Caro- lina, the only Southern man on the committee, wrote in a conciliatory excellent spirit. He said, 'Abolition or emancipation, immediately or in prospect, by legislative enactment, is not to be looked for from the South. The freedom of the blacks would be a curse to them and to the whites also. Our Union must be severed first. You ask, what then? Is slavery to be perpetual? No, my dear Brother; God forbid that it should be: nay, it cannot be. Yet let us re- member the expression of the poet — " Tanta) molis erat Roraa- nam condere gentem." Our own beloved country ^re?(; by inches. One hundred and fifty years hence, the sun will look down on our land, without 296 SOCIAL KEFORM. [CH. 33. 1. beholding one dark skinned slave. It will rise on Africa "re- deemed and disenthralled by the Genius of universal emanci- pation." And what, you ask, will accomplish this ? I reply, the march of public sentiment, interest, benevolence properly exercised, piety, charity — that which " seeketh not her own." My Brother, the cause was progressing faster far than the ori- ginal settlement of our beloved country ever did, until the Abolitionist, in his new-light, ignorant folly, and spurious, furi- ous charity, set his unhallowed foot upon the wheel of the Colonization Society, and retarded its progress for years to come.' As to Dr. Miller's report, it proved too weak for the Abolitionists, too strong for the South ; for some, too likely to make trouble, and for others, too unlikely to make it. Mr. Witherspoon said, ' With the proposed report, I am, in the main, well pleased. And yet it is such an one as, I am well convinced, the Aboli- tion party in our church would not accept ; and still it goes too far for our Southern latitude. I am firmly persuaded, that any Southern minister who would advocate it, or vote for it, or act under its provisions, would be compelled to leave the South. With the j^reamble I am well pleased, and would leave the matter there. ''' * 'You have handled the subject in the most mild and judi- cious manner possible. 'The first resolution we Southern ministers could not comply with in the language or spirit of the resolution. There are those amongst us who think slavery 7io evil. The Methodist Conference, which lately met in Charleston, thus decided (if I have been correctly informed, by a unanimous vote. * * 'Fifth, very well. Sixth will not do at all — at all. Seventh and Eighth will answer. 'But, my dear Sir, my candid opinion is, that no report which we. can make, based on a desire of compromise, will an- swer. * * Since I last communicated with you, the spirit of hostility to any action by the Assembly on this subject has greatly increased. * * it will require great wisdom and prudence to prevent a division of our beloved Zion — an event no one would more deeply deplore than you and I.' Dr. Hoge, of Columbus, Ohio, said, ' I have been strongly inclined to the opinion, that it would be best to make no report, or to report only a single resolution, preceded and introduced by a preamble similar to yours, pro- posing the dismissal of the subject from the General Assembly, and recommending it to the serious and thorough examination 1836.] SLAVERY. 29,7 of all the judicatories which are located in the Slave States. ^ * I am horribly afraid of the discussion of this matter in the next Assembly, * '^ and if it is agitated in all its bearings, and should take the course that is to be apprehended, I shall not be taken by surprise, if the whole Southern delegation should, in pursuance of instruction, rise up as one man, and leave the Assembly, and that finally. * * ' You are, no doubt, correct in supposing that you cannot hope to obtain Mr. Dickey's concurrence in anything of this kind. * * I am confident that nothing short of^ a "whole hog" abolition report would satisfy him.' 7'^ Jv Finally, a few diluted drops of Dr. Miller's paper were offered to the Assembly, which could not, however, swallow even them. The Rev. James H. Dickey presented, at the same time, an extended minority report, of a decided aboli- tion stamp. Neither paper was adopted, but a short reso- lution, offered by Dr. Hoge, postponing the subject, indefi- nitely, for lack of power to legislate upon it, and lack of time to consider it, as also on account of other pressing business. iiiidi^jvo ,iu'«iiioiji.i.ouii u'i'jij inii, l Whether the Presbyterian tl)hui^ch,''at'the time ri6w imder review, was doing its duty in regard to slavery, recent events have certainly inclined multitudes of even conserva- tive men to doubt. The General Assembly was, beyond all question, right, in declining to treat slaveholding as necessarily a sin, and to insist, contrary to Bible teaching, that it disqualified for church-membership. But surely it should have condemned, with constantly renewed emphasis, the doctrine that Slavery was a divine institution, to be carefully conserved ; and all acquiescence in the prohibition of slaves' being taught to read the Bible, being elevated by intellectual culture, or being emancipated without banish- ment. True, reading is not necessary to salvation ; but the Presbyterian Church has ever consistently held, except in this one case of Slavery, that ignorance is not the mother of devotion ; that learning is a help to religion — an impor- tant aid in seekino; Christ. Had Southern legislatures enacted, that the right arm of every slave should be kept perpetually pinioned to the body, the whole Presbyterian Church would have cried out, in holy indignation, against the cruel outrage. Was putting perpetual fetters upon the mind, then, a venial sin, or not a sin at all? Moreover, the General Assembly should have carefully scrutinized Vol. II:— 25 298 SOCIAL REFORM. [CH. 33. 1. the treatment of slaves by their masters, and endeavored to secure for the former that which was "just and equal." When Sabbath breaking, intemperance, profanity, or un- cleanness prevailed at the North, did the Assembly say, we must not testify against such sins; we must leave the matter, wholly, to the presbyteries and synods most infested by these evils ? Ah, to touch slavery would cause strife and division I But even on this score, the way of duty was safer than the way of neglect. Strife and division were not prevented by the temporizing course of the Presbyte- rian Church. And now, Slavery has been abolished, but, humanly speaking, in the worst way — suddenly, without pre- paration, with " confused noise and garments rolled in blood " — by the triumph of infidelity rather than of religion — by the just judgment of God. In this great revolutionary emancipation, this stupendous overthrow of the slave- power, we see, indeed, looking to heaven, Jehovah's mighty and holy arm; but, looking to earth, the influence of a fanatical abolitionism, overshadowing, at least, the efforts of Christian philanthropy. God has permitted infidelity and state policy to boast themselves against his Church, as her superiors in righteousness. A faithful Church might have had the glory of a peaceful, happy emancipation. In this connexion may be most intelligibly inserted a let- ter from Dr. Miller to the Rev. Dyer Burgess, of a New School presbytery in Ohio, although it was written several years afterwards — in 1843. It relates to the notes — par- ticularly a note on Slavery — referred to in the eighth reso- lution of Dr. Miller's paper of 1836. < t * J have a very distinct recollection of having met you a number of times in the General Assembly; and, although we did not always think alike, or vote alike, in that body ; yet I have no recollection of any conflicts which interfered with l)rotherly love, or which forbade the belief that we both acted in the spirit of honest conviction. * I have not the least objection to giving you my candid opinion as to the real meaning of the Greek word used to ex- press man-stealinr/ in 1 Timothy i. 10, and quoted, with an attempt to explain it, in a note inserted in our book without au- thority, and afterwards, by the Assembly of 1816, ordered to l)e expunged.^ I wave, with yourself, all discussion of the 1 The note in question, (Larger Catechism, Q. 142,) commenting upon the 1836.] SLAVERY. 299 point, whether the note referred to was rightly expunged ; and shall confine myself simply to the question, whether it correctly explains the Greek word to which you refer. I have the note now before me, and have considered it seriously, and with, I hope, some degree of prayerful impartiality. I am, then, per- fectly persuaded, that the word, a'^dpa-oottrra'.z^ is not rightlv explained in the note ordered to be expunged. The word oc- curs only this once in the New Testam,ent. We must, there- fore, resort to uninspired writers for its ordinary and popular meaning. And I am entirely confident, that a careful and enlightened attention to the use of the word by the best classic Greek writei-s will show that its strict and appropriate signifi- cation is, seizing or capturing prisoners in war, for the purpose of making slaves of them, or selling those, so taken, into sla- very ; or privately stealing or kidnapping human beings, and enslaving them, or selling them as slaves. In short, my j lodg- ment is, that this word always carries with it the idea of fraud and wu'ongful force ; and is never applied, by any good Greek writer, to holding in servitude human beings who came into the possession of the holders, withouttheft, fraud, or wrongful force. Of course, I am of the opinion, that the author of the note re- ferred to misinterpreted the apostle's meaning, when he explained the word as extending to those who merely detained slaves in bondage, or sold those who had come into their possession by in- heritance, or in any way by no violence or theft of their own. This is my deliberate and firm opinion ; in which I doubt not that I totally disagree with you ; but I have quite as little doubt that I am sustained by the best authorities in Greek lit- erature. ' I have now, my dear Sir, complied with your request in giving you my judgment as to the meaning of a word. But permit me to say, without offence, that on the subject of Sla- ,very, I will not allow myself to be drawn into a controversy. In the seventy-fourth year of my age, and in an office which brings with it incessant and almost overwhelming labors, I must decline, most respectfully, any further correspondence on this subject. word " man-stealers/' in 1 Timothy i. 10, said, " This crime among the Jews exposed the perpetrators of it to capital punishment ; Ex. xxi. 16. And the apostle here classes them with sinners of tlie first rank. — The word he uses, in its original import, comprehends all who are concerned in bringing any of the human race into slaver}', or in detaining them in it. Ifominuui nirex, qui ser vos vel/iberos abdncnnt, retiiieut, vendnnt vel etitnut. Stealers of men are all those, Avho bring off slaves, and keep, sell, or buy them. — To steal a freeman, says (xrotius, is the highest kind of theft. In other instances we only steal hu- man property, but when wc steal or retain men in slavery, we seize those, who, in common with ourselves, are constituted, Ity the original grant, lords of the earth. Gen. i. 28. Vid. Puli ^'<^llo2■>9iu in Ivc." 300 SOCIAL REFORM. [CH. 33. 1. ' I have, iiKleed, often declared, that I adopted the Confes- sion of Faith ex animo, as you remark that you once heard me say. But the note in question made no part of the Confession, and ought never to have been in the book. Of course no in- consistency is chargeable here. ' You are pleased to mention with approval an extract fro m a discourse of mine published nearly fifty years ago, and in- cluded, among many short pieces, in a school-book. A large part of the sentiments delivered in that discourse I still approve and cordially adopt ; but I acknowledge that it contains some things which I could not now conscientiously write or speak.' In the foregoing letter, Dr. Miller refers, doubtless, to his discourse before the Manumission Society, in 1797, which has been already noticed.^ It will be observed that he here speaks with disapprobation, not of the school-book extract which Mr. Burgess had mentioned, and which re- ferred to the African slave-trade only,^ but of some things in the discourse at large. Dr. Miller's opinions respecting slavery have already several times been adverted to and illustrated. But greatly as he disliked the institution, he did not, we have seen, consider slaveholding in itself, of necessity, a sin; and even during the earlier part of his residence in New Jersey, at different times, held several slaves under the laws providing in that state for the gradual abolition of human bondage. In fact he held them only for a term of years, in a sort of apprenticeship, excepting in one case, in which he found himself deceived by the vendor as to the age of a man-slave, and obliged, by law, to hold him and provide for him for life. It was difficult otherwise to se- cure domestics ; but this experiment of slavery, what with some that ran off, one that he could not get rid of, and the short-comings of all, was not very encouraging. 2. Temperance. Dr. Miller was an early and earnest promoter of the Temperance Reform. At first, as many will remember, the disuse of ardent spirits, or distilled liquors, alone, was urged. It was soon discovered, however, that the princi- ^ I Vol., 92-94. '^ Beginning with the words, "While the friends of humanity, in Europe and America, etc.," and ending with, " show a Christian world thou canst suf- fer and forgive I " p. 93. 1836.] TExMPERANCE. 301 pie of total abstinence from every species of intoxicating drink "was the only safe and eifectual remedy. Both the earlier and the later phase of this reformation found in him a ready and zealous advocate. The following letter, detail- ing a part of his own experience, was widely circulated soon after its date. A Boston correspondent of the New York Observer, communicated it to that paper, saying, "Those who have seen the writer of it, of late, must have remarked his ruddy and firm appearance, and will unite with us in the prayer that his valuable life may be long preserved to the church, and especially to the seminary of which he is so distinguished an ornament." The letter was addressed to the Rev. Justin Edwards, Corresponding Secretary of the American Temperance Society. ' Rev. and dear Sir, Princeton, January 1, 1836. 'Your communication of November 17th, reached me on the 25th, and would have been acknowledged before, had not engagements of the most urgent kind deprived me of the requisite leisure. It gives me peculiar pleasure to comply with your request, in regard to the use of all intoxicating drinks, because I verily believe that the well-being of society, and especially the best interests of the rising generation, must be considered as deeply involved in the banishment of such drinks from habitual use. You request a statement of my own expe- rience in reference to this matter. I never was in the habit of using ardent spirits, and during the earlier periods of my life seldom drank wine. Yet my abstinence from it, prior to the forty-third year of my age, cannot be said to have been either systematic or rigid. In that year I had a severe fit of illness, in recovering from which, the use of some sound old wine, which was providentially within my reach, w^as so strikingly beneficial, that my physician advised me to continue it after my recovery; and, indeed, he expressed the opinion that I ought to take at least one glass, if not two, of good wine daily to the end of my life. I followed his advice for more than sixteen years. I very seldom drank more than one glass, and never more than two glasses. In this moderate use I was almost in- variably regular ; and great were the pains to which I sub- mitted, from time to time, for obtaining wine of puva and in- dubitable qualities, not as a matter of luxury but of health. ' During all this time, my health, though not bad, was deli- cate; and, toward the latter part of the sixteen years just mentioned, there was every appearance that my constitution 302 SOCIAL KEFORM. [CH. 33. 2. was giviDg way, and that a premature and feeble old age was creeping upon me. Still, I had no suspicion that wine was hurting me, and only supposed that, in spite of its benefit.^, my sedentary habits were undermining my strength. More than six years ago, when I was approaching my sixtieth year, hear- ing so much said about the mischiefs of stimulating drinks, and entering as I did with cordial zeal into the Temperance Keformation, I determined to go be^'ond those around me, and to abstain not merely from ardent spirits, but to make the ex- periment, for at least three months, what should be the efl'ect of an immediate and entire abstinence from wine and all in- toxicating beverages. Accordingly, I broke off at once, and from that day to this, have not tasted wine, excepting at the ."-acramental table. I have also abstained, during that time, from cider, beer, and every species of drink stronger than water, and never set any of them on my table, unless they are called for by peculiar circumstances. * The experiment had not proceeded more than a single month, before I became satisfied that my abstinence was not only dis- tinctly, but very strikingly beneficial. I was so far from suf- fering any injury from the abstraction of my accustomed stimulus, that the effect was all the other w^ay. My appetite was more uniform and healthful ; my digestion decidedly im- proved ; my strength increased ; my sleep more comfortable ; and all my mental exercises more clear, pleasant, and success- ful. Instead of awaking in the morning with parched lips, and with a sense of feverish heat, such feelings were almost entirely banished ; and instead of that nervous irritability, which, during my indulgence in wine, was seldom wholly ab- sent, I am now favored with a state of feeling, in this respect, very greatly improved. In short, my experience, precludes all doubt, that the entire disuse of all intoxicating drinks, has been connected, in my case, with benefits of the most signal kind, with much firmer health than I enjoyed twenty years ago, with more cheerful feelings, with greater alacrity of mind, and with a very sensible increase of my capacity for labor of every kind. I can never cease to be grateful that I was led to make this experiment, and think it highly probable, that if I had not adopted this course, I should not now have been in the land of the living. I have had occasion, frequently, to observe that some who, like myself, drink nothing but water, are very liberal in their use of that element. They drink it often and largely, and especially make a very free use of it at dinner. This was once my habit, but I became fully convinced that it was not salutary, at least to me. The truth is, since I have left off 1836.] TEMPERANCE. 303 the use of all intoxicating drinks, I seldom experience the sensation of thirst. Often I do not touch a particle of any- kind of drink at dinner, and even when I am overtaken with thirst, I find that, in my case, it is better slaked witli a few tea-spoonfuls of water, taken slowly and at several swallows, than a whole tumblerful, or double that quantity, as many are accustomed to take. I am very confident that we may take too much even of water, and that deluging the stomach, even with the most innocent fluid, tends to interfere with perfect digestion. ' I feel a deep interest, ray dear Sir, in the reception and prevalence of these opinions. It would be well for the church and the world, if our present race of young men, especially those in our seminaries and colleges, could be prevailed upon to enter into the spirit and practice of this doctrine. How many broken constitutions ; how many cases of miserable ner- vous debility; how many degraded characters; how many melancholy wrecks of domestic peace, and of official useful- ness, would be spared, if we could make our beloved young men believe us when we speak thus ! May the Lord enlighten and counsel them in his time ! AVith many prayers that you and your associates may be guided and prospered in your be- nevolent labors, ' I am, Rev. and dear Sir, vour friend and brother, 'Samuel Miller.' Upon a paper attached to a copy of the foregoing letter, which Dr. Miller preserved, was found the following memo- randum : — ' The inclosed is a printed copy of a letter on Temperance, which I wrote thirteen years ago, to Dr. Justin Edwards, and which I am still disposed to abide by and warmly approve. I wish it to stand as a testimonial of my early and zealous ad- hesion to the cause of pledged abstinence from all that can intoxi- cate. That cause I love, and hope I shall have the privilege of promoting as long as I live. ' Princeton, April 2, 1849.' This account of Dr. Miller's experience, often drawn from him by ardent Temperance men, and retailed by tliem in oral address and in print, neededonlj a little perversion to make him out a "reformed drunkard;" and this turn was actually given to the story ; he had been, it was said, upon the very verge of utter, hopeless ruin, and had been rescued by the total abstinence pledge ; he was a miracle of 304 SOCIAL REFORM. [CH. 33. 2. the great Temperance Reformation. At length, he was oblicred, as the wonder increased at every roll of the ball, to interpose, disclaim the heroship of the current version, and restore the account to its original, modest and truthful proportions. While Dr. Miller continued to take a daily glass of wine, he attended to the duty with the most scrupulous exactness. To illustrate this, it may be remarked, that when he went to preach, of a Sabbath morning, in a neighboring church, proposing to drive away homeward, immediately after the service, from the church-door, he generally, if the drive were of some length, took provision for a plain dinner, for himself and his attendant, in the carriage ; and this was discussed, commonly, with great relish on the way. On such occasions, the frugal glass, accurately measured, and corked up in a vial, was never forgotten : that glassful only was needed ; for one of his sons, if anybody, was his at- tendant, and had never been commanded to drink wine as a medicine. Kot only did Dr. Miller make his example promotive of temperance ; but he was always ready to speak, preach or write in commendation of temperance principles. Par- ticularly in his works for the young — his " Letters on Clerical Manners and Habits," his " Letters of a Grand- father," and his "Letters of a Father to his Sons in Col- lege," he failed not to urge abstinence from intoxicating drinks, as by self-interest and duty, both alike, required. In fact, there was hardly any subject upon which he ap- peared to speak or preach, with greater zeal or earnest- ness than upon this. Frequently, when the subject was to be reported upon, in Presbytery or Synod, his known ac- tivity and interest in the Temperance cause led to his ap- pointment upon the committee — often as its chairman. As suggested in the letter to Dr. Edwards, he took great pains, seeing he must, as he thought, drink a little wine, to secure the veritable juice of the grape. Through friends in New York, he managed, at intervals, to purchase small ([uantities of the very best — so declared — in the market. It would, of course, improve by keeping, and, with charac- teristic exactness, the several purchases, in demijohns and bottles, distinctly labelled, were stowed away in a cellar 1836.] TEMPERANCE. 305 wine-closet. After he had given up the habit, this vinous store was left to mature by age, excepting when a little was drawn out for a sick person — one of the family or a neighbor. After his death, the question arose — What is to be done with that prime old wine — Madeira, Sherry and of other kinds ? One suggested its being kept for the sick ; another that it should be presented to the church for sacra- mental occasions. At length, it was proposed to employ an experienced taster, to determine, before a great ado was made over the precious stuff, wliat its real worth might be. The expert arrived, and was left, without remark, to form his own judgment. A little of this brand and that, witli due solemnity, he put to his delicately appreciative lips, smacking them ever and anon, as if with unusual enjoyment. No wonder, since the wine had been so costly, and was so old! Said heat last when he had tasted all, 'My advice is that you just pour the whole together, and use it for cook- in or. It is fit for nothino; else.' During Dr. Miller's earlier years in Princeton — while he drank wine himself — it was always upon his dinner ta- ble, whenever he entertained the clergy, or others; and there was even brandy, in the sideboard, for those visitors who thought they needed it. Then, as the temperance reformation advanced, the brandy disappeared ; when he gave up his own daily glass, he would still, for a time, tell his guests, that he had in the sideboard, a little wine " for the weaker brethren ;" but, soon, the decanter was entirely banished, unless medicine was called for. Thus in his own house, the progress of reform was very clearly and happily marked and illustrated. 'So feature of this reform has been more noticeable, than the almost entire disuse, among the so-called evangelical clero-Y of the land, of evervthinsr that can intoxicate — all fermented, as well as spirituous, liquors. CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUHTH. MISCELLANEOUS :\I OTTERS. 1836, 1837. 1. The Biblical Repertory. The Biblical Repertory for 1836 contained five articles, at least — altogether ninety-three pages — from Dr. Miller's pen. The first on " Christia»n Union, "^ noticing a work on this subject by Abraham Van Dyck, Esquire, of New York City, and a review of it by Bishop Smith of Kentucky, brings us to the conclusion, that outward union cannot pos- sibly produce, but, to be profitable, must be produced by, doctrinal acrreement and mutual love ; and that mere or- ganic separation is not necessarily schism, as to either of two denominations which recognize each other as Christian churches, and commune together; but that it is clearly schismatic to refuse such recognition or communion, except on plain scriptural grounds. In regard to his own Church he remarks, — " We think we do no injustice to any other portion of Protes- tant Christendom, when we say, that w^e are confident no de- nomination of Christians exceeds the Presbyterian Church in genuine Christian liberality, and in a readiness to unite in Christian effort with all classes of credible professors of Chris- tianity. Our system is absolutely less exclusive, and more ])acific than any other in our country, which admits the impor- tance of truth at all. We are really almost the only denomina- tion of Christians in the United States whose views of truth, of the Gospel ministry, and of ecclesiastical order, present no ob- stacle to our communing and co-operating with any and every denomination who hold fast the essentials of true religion. Nor can we hesitate to assert, that the most conspicuous and edify- ing examples of such union and co operation, within the last 1 P. 11. 306 1836.] THE BIBLICAL RErERTORY. 307 twenty years, have been actually presented by the Presbyterian Church, ^yhy, then, it is, that we are everywhere calumniated as eminently sectarian in our character ; M'hy the most mild and respectful attempts to defend our own opinions, and to show to our members our reasons for differing from sister de- nominations around us, are stigmatized as violent and unpro- voked attacks ; and why these charges happen to be most clamorously urged by those of our neighbors whose sedarifoa is acknowledged on all hands to be the most rampant and exclu- sive in the land ; are questions, the responsibility of answering which, we are glad, does not lie at our door."^ The second article is upon "The most suitable Name for the Christian Sabbath,"- and closes as follows: — " We have said, that we prefer " the Lord's day " to any other title. We are aware, that this can never be the name employed by the mass of the community. There is something about this title which will forever prevent it from being fa- miliar on the popular lip. The title, "the Sabbath," is connec- ted with no such difficulty. It is Scriptural, expressive, con- venient, the term employed in a commandment which is weekly repeated by millions, and so far familiar to all who live in Christian lands, that no consideration occurs why it may not become universal. "The Lord's day " may, and perhaps, ought ever to be, the language of the pulpit, and of all public or so- cial religious exercises; meanwhile, if the phrase, "the Sab- bath," could be generally naturalized in worldly circles, and in common parlance, it would be gaining a desirable object."^ The third article on " Toleration"^ must be passed by; but a short extract from the fourth, a review of ''Thj Practical Church Member."^ by the Rev. John Mitchell, may prove seasonable. After discussing the "Plans of Union," between Congregationalists and Presbyterians, l)r. Miller remarks, — "For ourselves in fine we are constrained to say, with em- phasis, the longer we live, the deeper is our conviction, that, if the Presbyterian Church desires to have a healthful and solid growth, and to accomplish the greatest amount of good in our own body, and to all around her; her true policy is, not to level the walls which divide her from other denominations; not to seek a rapid enlargement, by gaining numbers at the expense of sur- rendering her peculiarities as a denomination. Our strength and glory, as a Church, consists in our simple, pure, apostolical ' r. 35. 2 p. 04. 3 p. 73. 4 P. 185. & P. 243. 308 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. [CII. 34. 1. doctrine and government, accompanied by the Holy Spirit's awakening and sanctifying power. The moment we give up these, we are, like Samson, shorn of his locks. The Philistines will be upon us, and will prevail against us. All history bears witness, that when Presbyterians degenerated into Arminianism, or Pelagianism, and consented to exchange their government and discipline for a more lax system, their glory departed. Their peace was gone. They gained in numbers ; but they lost in purity, in harmony, and in strength. The true way for every denomination (and we should say the same if we were conscientious Congregationalists) is faithfully to hold fast and maintain that system of truth and order wdiich it verily believes to be founded on the Word of God, without surrender or com- promise ; to treat all denominations around it with respect and kindness ; to indulge in no exclusive claims, or denominational reproaches; to co-operate with others in enterprizes of general Christian benevolence, as far as can be done without the sacri- fice of a single principle; and to employ its utmost strength in sustaining at home, and spreading as far as possible abroad, that system of doctrine, worship, and discipline, which it be- lieves to be scriptural. This is the true Avay to peace, to har- mony, to brotherly love, and to spiritual strength. No denomi- nation of Christians ever faithfully and prayerfully pursued this course without being blessed of God, and largely prospering. And were the Presbyterian Church, from this hour, sacredly and strictly to adopt this plan in conducting all her affairs; act- ing faithfully in conformity wath her own established princi- ples; seeking no additional alliances; making no compromises, for the sake of gaining either money or men; receiving none either as ministers or elders, but those w^ho appeared truly and sincerely to love her system as a whole, and decisively to prefer it to all others; were she, henceforth, simply to take this course; turning neither to the right hand nor to the left for the l)urpose of enlarging her borders ; and exerting herself to the utmost, to give her system, in its simplicity and purity, as far as })ossible, to all nations ; her growth would be not, perhaps, quite so rapid ; but it would be healthy, homogeneous, and peaceful. Every accession to her numbers, instead of introducing disaf- fection and division into her camp, would be an increase of real strength. Such a policy, faithfully pursued, would be the precursor of the most happy and prosperous day she has yet seen; and render her a richer blessing than she has ever yet l)een to the religious denominations around her, to our country, and to the world."^ The last article by Dr. Miller in this volume of the Re- 1 P. 267. 1830.] A REMINISCENCE. 300 pertory, is entitled " Thoughts on Evangelizing the world," the title of a sermon by Thomas 11. Skinner, D.D., advo- cating, virtually, voluntary associations in opposition to church boards. A lecture by John T. Pressly, D.D., in favor of close communion, as exhibiting another extreme, is connected ^vith the former in a short review, commencing thus : — "i\re quid nhnis is a good practical maxim, no less in theolo- gy than in morals, in literature, and in domestic economy. Extremes are seldom either wise or safe. Of this we have a striking example in the Discourses, the titles of which stand at the head of this article. The first is a specimen of anti-secta- rianism run mad; the second of the "high-pressure" principle on the opposite side. AVe can agree with neither. We regret to announce such publications in the nineteenth century. They both argue a morbid state of the public mind in regard to the great subject of which they treat." 2. A Reminiscence. The author of the following reminiscence, which ap- peared in The Presbyterian nearly a year, as the date shows, after Dr. Miller's death, is unknown : it was, how- ever, contributed " by a lady." The visit of which it gives account was paid in 1836. ' Mr. A. was educated at Princeton. He had an exalted re- spect for the venerable Professors of the Seminary, and a strong personal attachment to them, and other friends in the place. A few weeks after our marriage, he proposed a visit to Prince- ton. Accordingly, one pleasant afternoon, in the early part of June, we made the brief journey from this city, and reached the place of our destination about sunset. The evening was passed at our hotel, in receiving the visits of two or three young friends, who were then members of college. The next morning we visited the Seminary and College buildings, called upon a suffering invalid, who had long been th^e object of Mr. A.'s special sympathy, and whom he desired me very much to see ; and then walked about tlie town, to view various places, Avhicli were pointed out to rae as peculiarly interesting from their as- sociations. ' In compliance with a polite invitation, we spent the after- noon at Dr. Miller's. We were cordially received by the ladies of the family, and soon after I was seated in the parlour, (ray husband having left to make two or three calls elsewhere,) Dr. ^liller entered. Those who knew him personally remember 310 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. [CIL 34. 2. the commanding dignity of his manner, and the awe which his presence ahnost insensibly inspired. I was fifteen years younger then than I am now, and I distinctly remember the timidity with which I entered into a conversation with one so much my superior. ' The conversation was at first of a general character, but very soon was directed to a practical subject, and this was treated in such a manner as to make a deep impression on my mind. It seemed to be the object of this venerable man, ab- sorbed as he was in the high duties of his ofiice as a theological Professor, to make this interview with a young woman — a casual visitor at his house — one of permanent advantage to her, while at the same time there was nothing in his remarks, or his manner, which indicated the intention of exhorting me to " well-doing." 'Dr. Miller remarked, that persons were apt to wait for great occasions for doing good. That it was common for ladies at that time, (and I think he would not have changed his opinion had he lived to this,) to think that everything really useful must be done in societies and associations ; Avhile others felt as if there was nothing left for them to do. But there was one thing he would specify, as a means of usefulness, within the reach of every young woman. It was to visit aged j)ersons and invalids in one's immediate neighbourhood, for the purjjose of reading to them. An occasional hour thus spent, might be greatly blessed both to the listener and the reader, and a great amount of happiness thus secured. He spoke feelingly of the fact, that the comfort of aged joecple, as to their intellectual wants, was too often overlooked, even where every attention was paid to their physical necessities — and that we become so accustomed to witnessing their infirmities, that we cease to estimate their sorest privations. This was true of many an invalid also, whose long confinement had perhaps greatly added to the cares of a household. Many such were compelled to spend hours in " solitude," which the presence of some useful and untiring visitor might have " sweetened." ' I was greatly delighted with much more which fell from the lips of this "mighty man of God" on this subject. I had not the courage to assure him that the truth of his remarks was enforced upon my own mind by the experience I had had l)y a long companionship with an aged grandmother. I knew I had never felt the importance of the duty he was urging, as I ought, and I received his counsels as fresh instruction which 1836.] MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS. 311 I would lay up in my heart, and practice with more faithful- ness in future. ' This was the only interview I ever had with Dr. Miller. He took pains to make that hour's conversation profitahle to me. I never saw him afterwards. But brief as was this op- portunity of acquaintance, I have ever remembered him, not as the august stranger, to whom I looked up with deferential awe, but as a faithful counsellor and Christian friend. 'New York, January 1, 1851.' 3. Miscellaneous Topics. Dr. Xevins, of Baltimore, died in the Autumn of 1835. Dr. Plumer prepared a Memoir, to which Dr. Miller con- tributed a letter, dated, January 29th, 1836.^ Besides this, his Repertory articles, and perhaps some fugitive pieces, his only publications, in this year, were three ser- mons. The first was preached at the installation of Mr. Backus, and printed at the request of his church, in Bal- timore.- The others were contributed to The American National Preacher.'^ Here is an entry from Dr. Miller's diary: — '"October 31, 1836. "^ * My health, blessed be his name, is remarkably good. I perform labor with as little fatigue as ever, perhaps rather less than ever. I am enabled to preach as often, and with as little sense of weakness or weariness, as I did twenty years ago. And I am more free from aches and in- firmities than most men, as I suppose, at my time of life. Oh, could I only say, that my soul, in a corresponding degree, is prospering and in health, I should indeed be a happy man. Yet, if I do not deceive myself, I have a deeper sense of my own weakness and unworthiness ; a more heartfelt impression of the Saviour's excellence and glory ; and a more fixed and habit- ual desire to be conformed to his will, and to be made instru- mental in promoting his glory, than in times past. Oh, for more grace to glorify my dear Saviour in body and spirit, which are his I' iPp. 71-77. 2" The Sacretl Office Magnified : a Sermon, delivered in the First Presbyte- rian Church, in the City of Baltimore, September 15, IS^f) ; at the Installation of the Rev. John C. Backus, as Pastor of the said Church. By Samuel Miller, D.D., Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Church (lovernment in the Theo- logical Seminary at Princeton, New Jersey. Baltimore : 1830." — Romans xi. lo.— 8vo. Pp. 4fi. 3 For December, 1836. "Vol. XI., No. 7. Sermons ccxxx, ccxxxi. By Samuel Miller, D.D., Princeton, New Jersey. Christ our Righteousness. — Jeremiah xxiii. 6." — Pp. 10. 312 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. [CH. 34. 3. To the Rev'd Dr. Andrew Reed, of London, who, with Dr. Matheson, had lately visited the United States, Dr. Miller wrote, on the 28th of November, 1836, 'The state of our Church remains very much as it was when you left America. The New^-school men, in the General As- sembly which sat in May last, had a majority, and refused to condemn certain errors which were brought up for consider- ation, and judgment; and also refused, as an ecclesiastical judicatory, to commence the work of foreign missions. These proceedings have given great pain to the friends of truth and order, and also to those who wish our beloved Church to be engaged in the great work of evangelizing the world; and thus, while she does good to others, to receive, herself, the benefit of this hallowed employment. But we are not, it seems, to be gratified as yet. After all, however, I am persuaded, that the refusal of the Assembly to act as we wished, in the cases re- ferred to, has made such an impression on our churches, and especially on a number of excellent brethren who have hitherto acted with New-school men, as will hereafter place them on the right side in counsel and effort. ' I am truly sorry to say, that the abolition question continues to agitate our country and our church; though not, I think, so much as it did the two preceding years. I believe, however, that there is no opinion more firmly fixed in the minds of nine- tenths of all the thinking, pious, sober-minded people in the United States, than that the publications and the frantic efforts of the Abolitionists have done incalculable injury to the best interests of the slaves themselves, and put much further off the termination of slavery. ^ * ' I deeply regret, my dear Sir, the language which some of the friends of abolition in your country have permitted themselves to use concerning American ministers and American Christians in relation to the business of slavery. I have scarcely seen a speech or a communication from any individual on your side of the water, which did not appear to me to argue a wonderful want of knowledge both of principles and of facts belonging to the subject, in reference to the United States. I hold myself to be somewhat of an impartial judge in this matter, as I am a warm friend to abolition as speedy as is consistent with the best inter- ests of the slaves themselves. I really am afraid that some of the proceedings of the friends of religion in Great Britain will break up all that ecclesiastical intercourse, which was so hap- pily begun, and which you so ably contributed to promote. I am perfectly persuaded, that, if the language and conduct of 1836.] CHURCH TROUBLES. 313 certain ecclesiastical bodies in your country, in relation to American slavery, should be persisted in, our General Assembly will never send another delegate to England. I speak, of course, as an individual; for when the General Assembly was last in session, some of the most offensive things reported from some of your ecclesiastical bodies had not reached America; so that that body could not act on them. But, unless I am greatly mistaken, when it next meets, there will be little disposition felt to continue the intercourse. How many pious hopes will be disappointed by such a result, I need not say to a brother so accustomed to take large views of the communion of saints, and of what is desirable in the co-operation of Christians. 'I am, Rev'd and dear Sir, with much respect, your friend and brother in the bonds of the Gospel, 'Sam'l Miller.' 4. Church Troubles. Thus far, as tactitians, the New School had far excelled the Old. Nor was this, necessarily, to their discredit. Thev mi^ht be able, and vet honest, fair. Christian tacti- tians, endeavoring only to bring out their whole force, and secure the prevalence of opinions which they deemed ortho- dox, and of plans which they considered for the edification of the Church. The Old School, conscious of the right- eousness of their cause, and sure that they were in the majority, had too much neglected the proper meaus within their power of uniting and marshalling all their adherents. Whichever party was right in its principles was right, also, in exerting itself manfully and intelligently for the success of those principles. The decisions of the Assembly of 1836 completely opened the eyes of all who were opposed to laxity of creed and laxity of ecclesiastical order in the Presbyterian Church. Some of these hastily concluded that their cause was lost, and they were ready to secede from the New School, leav- ing in their hands all church funds and every church insti- tution: the purity and peace of Christ's Kingdom, said they, are worth any and every sacrifice. Others, more prudent and more hopeful, endeavored, not without success, to restrain the rash, and encourage the faint-hearted. Let us make further efforts, they said, to arouse the Church to a sense of her danger: let us only bring out our whole force, and, with God's blessing, we shall yet triumph. Or, Vol. IL— 26 314 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. [CII. 34. 4. even if disappointment and humiliation yet await us, let us olino- to the Church of our fathers, so long as we are free, ourselves, to teach the truth, the truth only and the whole truth, and to protest against error: in the last extremity alone, and when we can otherwise no longer keep a good conscience, should we ahandon her to her enemies. The question is not only whether we are willing to go forth empty for Christ's sake; but also whether those funds, institutions and interests of which he has made us custodians, should he surrendered without a more determined struggle. Nothing had astonished the Old School, and nothing, except the prevalence of doctrinal error, had alarmed them, more, than the assertion now currently made by their op- ponents, that the General Assembly had, under the Con- stitution, no right to conduct foreign missions, or indeed any missions, by means of a board or committee. All the Boards of the Church had been before assailed, but here was an attempt to deny their very constitutionality — a blow at the root of the whole system. The great principles of Presbyterianism were becoming more and more involved in the issue : everything distinctive in her doctrine and order was really at stake. Before leaving Pittsburgh, the Old School members of the Assembly of 1836 appointed a committee of ten — seven ministers and three elders — to correspond with Old School men throughout the country, collect and pub- lish information of the true state of the Church, and form a. rallying point for all who could be united in the defence of orthodoxy and strict Presbyterianism. They were, like- wise, if it w^ere judged expedient, to call a convention to meet prior to the meeting of the next Assembly, and pre- pare for the great struggle by which, it was foreseen, that body was to be profoundly agitated. This committee is- sued first a circular of inquiry, the responses to which en- abled them the more intelligently to prepare and publish *'An Address to the Ministers, Elders and Members of the Presbyterian Church." The New School, in the mere spirit of party, stigmatized these measures, though modelled, chielly, after their own example, as underhand and disor- derly. Dr. Peters, Corresponding Secretary of the Home Missionary Society, and others, who, for years, had been 1836.] CHURCH TROUBLES. 315 writing and working, both secretly and openly, against the Boards of the Church, and in favor of a lax orthodoxy, denounced the Corresponding Secretary of the Board of Missions, Dr. William A. McDowell, the Corresponding Secretary of the Board of Education, Dr. McFarland, and a Professor in Princeton Seminary, Dr. John Breckinridoce, as members of the committee. They professed to be scan- dalized by the issue of a "secret, confidential circular", and the other prudent efforts of their opponents to call forth the strength of the Church for her preservation. The real trouble was, that rival tactitians were now successfully at work in the Old School body; and were practising too well some of the lessons of sound policy, which their New School brethren had taught them. The Presbytery of New Brunswick, to which the Semi- nary professors belonged, had been divided in opinion, all through the struggle, but had, upon the whole, approved the course which those gentlemen had pursued. Upon tlie recommendation of a committee, of which Dr. Miller was Chairman, the Presbytery had, in 1834, expressed its con- currence with the Act and Testimony's protestation against prevailing errors, though declining to express an opin- ion as to other portions of that k ' If I had needed any proof, my dear Brother, that my be- loved Brethren, Nettleton, Woods, Tyler, Cogswell, Humphrey, Church, etc., so far agreed with old school Presbyterians, as to have their high affectionate, and unwavering confidence, this letter, [From Dr. Porter to Dr. Beecher, a copy of which Mr. Nettleton had sent,] and its accompanying comments, would have entirely satisfied me. But I did not need such proof I have been long persuaded that our old school New England brethren ought to be considered as one with us, and that the cords offriendship ought to be drawn more closely every day. "^ ' By the way, do you read B. B. Edwards's Biblical Reposi- tory? The last two numbers of it have contained matter which has shocked me. I must give up Mr. Stuart as having any pretension to orthodoxy. He appears to me to be fast verging to the Rationalism of the Germans. His manner of speaking of the righteousness of Christ, in the last number but one, convinces me that — if Professor Stuai't understands himself — consistency must soon drive him away from evangelical ground. ' With great affection, your friend and brother.' In a letter of the 28th of April, Dr. Miller said to Mr. Nettleton, * I have just received a letter from Mr. Musgrave, of Balti- more, which informs me that a very late communication from Dr. John Witherspoon, of Camden, announces, that you and Dr. Tyler propose to visit Princeton, in a few days, for the purpose of having a fraternal conference with a few brethren who are requested to meet here. "^ * The names of the Presbyterian ministers mentioned are Dr. Hoge, Dr. W. A. IMcDowell, Dr. J. Breckinridge, Dr. Witherspoon, ^Mr. Mus- 1837.] PUBLICATIONS AND CORRESPONDENCE. 323 grave and myself — no doubt meaning to include in the list all my beloved colleagues. ' This proposal was perfectly new to us ; but it gives us pleasure. We shall be cordially glad to see you and your venerated colleague, and hope that much good will result from the interview. :}. >}: * * * ' Dr. Witherspoon, in his communication to Mr. Musgrave, spoke also of Dr. Beecher as being invited, and expressed an expectation that he would be present. This proposal, I, for one, could not help regretting. "^ * I should be sorry to have him introduced into a meeting intended to be cordial, confiden- tial and conciliatory. ^ =}= ^k >;= ' AVhen you arrive in Princeton, please to come immediately to my house. * ^, ^= ^^ ^~ ' Since I wrote to you, I have had a long and tedious con- finement by sickness. I was three weeks confined to my bed, and for six weeks to my chamber. By the blessing of God, I am now not only convalescent, but tolerably well again. I ride and walk out as usual, and go to the Seminary. I am still, however, weak, and am glad to escape all labor, especially of the mind and the pen, that I possibly can.' Some of the gentlemen mentioned in the foregoing letter actually visited Princeton — Mr. Nettleton and Dr. Tyler, certainly, and, doubtless, some of the others. There is no probability, that they avoi led all allusion, in their con- ferences, to church troubles; but the New School commen- tators went widely astray, who declared, as if by inspira- tion, that the meeting was intended to j^repare business for the General Assembly! In May again Dr. Miller wrote to the same, ' In the course of my return from the meeting of the Ameri- can Board at Utica, two years ago last October, I travelled in the canal-boat with the Hon. John C. Smith, late governor of Connecticut. We had much conversation respecting the Xew Haven theology, Dr. Taylor, etc. I found him strongly op- posed to the errors of that gentleman, and ready to express his unfiivorable opinion of them without scruple or reserve. Among other things, I asked him what he thought of the establishment of a new seminary at East Windsor. He said, that he did not think it necessary or wise. He seemed to think that the true plan would have been to make an authoritative investigation into the doctrine and teaching of Dr. Taylor, and, if he was found so erroneous as he thought he would l)e, Q 24 MISCELLANEOUS 3IATTERS. [CII. 34. O. to remove him, and thus supersede the necessity of another in- stitution. I remarked, that I thought such an investigation had been ah'eady had, on the motion of the Rev. Dr. Dow ; and that, strangely as it had issued, nothing more seemed to be intended. I understood him to say, that that investigation had not been conducted with sufficient energy or fidelity ;— that another ought to be had, and must and would be had, which could not fail of bringing to light what would show that Dr. Tavlor was unworthy of public confidence, and warrant the friends of truth in going forward and putting a sounder man in his place. I do not pretend to give his language ; but sim- ply to state the impression which what he said made on my mind. * * ' P. S. Although there was nothing in the foregoing conver- sation which appeared to me, at the time, confidential ; and certainly no intimation was given by Governor Smith, that he was unwilling to have what he said repeated ; yet I have such a deep impression of the impropriety of revealing private con- versation, that I must utterly and solemnly interdict the publi- cation of any part of the above, or making any public use of it whatever.'^ In 1837, Dr. Miller contributed to Sparks's Library of American Biography, a Life of Jonathan EdAvards.^ Re- ferring to previous controversies between him and Mr. Sparks, Dr. Sprague says, •' But notwithstanding Dr. Miller and Mr. Sparks were thus brought into an attitude of theological antagonism, it seems not to have affected their relations in after life; for, in 1837, ]\Ir. Sparks requested Dr. Miller to write, for his " American Biograi)hy," a memoir of Jonathan Edwards, one of the mightiest champions of Orthodoxy ; and, as I know from the testimony of each of them. Dr. Miller disappointed Mr. Sparks by readily acceding to his request, and Mr. Sparks disappointed Dr. Miller by printing his manuscript without even asking for the alteration of a single word.'^ 1 Governor Smith died in 1845. '- *• Life of Jonathan Edwards, President of the College of New Jersey; By Samuel Miller, IJ.D., Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Church Gtivern- nient in the Theological Seminary at Princeton, New Jersey." — Vol. VIII. 1.S37.— 12uio. Pp. 25(1. •^ 8 Sprague's Annals, xviii. CHAPTER T n I R T Y- F I F T H, . CHURCH REFORM. 1837, 1838. 1. The General Assembly of 1837. There were few Old School men, now, who did not clearly discern the importance of the crisis at hand. Tiie Presbytery of New Brunswick appointed delegates to the convention Avhich was to precede the Assembly in Philadel- phia, and recommended to all the churches within their bounds to observe the first day of its meeting — the second Thursday of May — as a day of fasting, humiliation and pra^^er — prayer that the Great Head of Zion would restore purity and peace to the Presbyterian Church. Says Dr. Baird, referring to the interval between the Assembly of 1836 and that of 1837, "In the mean time, publications made by such men as Dr. Miller, of Princeton, Dr. John Breckinridge, and Dr. Francis McFarlaud, and the editors of the Princeton Review, — men of the mildest spirit and most moderate sentiments, attested the reality and greatness of the danger, indicated the modified views of Princeton, and did much to unite men of like sentiments and spirit, iu approval and support of the decisive measures which were about to be emploved for the reformation of the Church." ' It might have been added that, not improbably, "Prince- ton", meanwhile, saved the Church from a hopeless seces- sion of the more impulsive Old School men, which Avould have left to the New School such a preponderance as must have given them complete control of everything. More- over, to justify before the public and even the Church itself, 1 Hist of New School, 114, 410. • 325 326 CHURCH REFORM. [CH. 35. 1. the final measures of reform which were adopted — severe, as thej were, though strictly constitutional and, in the cir- cumstances, necessary — the long-suffering of "Princeton", its tender concern for erring brethren, and its opposition to hasty and extreme attempts, may have been of* signal advanta'ore. Before the struggle came to an end, the New^ School had had full opportunity — once and again even in the flush of seeming triumph — to disclose their true char- acter and their real designs: it was at last patent, to all who were not willfully blind, that the proper tendency of their efforts was to corrupt, as to both creed and order, the very distinctive essence of Presbyterianism. Most obviously the New School had not been ahvays wrong, nor the Old School always right, in the course, hitherto, of their controversies and conflicts ; but the un- speakable importance of every great principle, for which the latter contended, the lapse of time has but more and more clearly demonstrated. The New School insisted on the maintenance of the Plan of Union of 1801, and the continued formation and existence, under it, of churches not strictly Presbyterian, yet to be represented in Presby- terian judicatories. They insisted that the work of mis- sions and education should be conducted, not by church agencies, but by irresponsible voluntary union associations. Above all, they contended for lax terms of subscription to the Confession of Faith — the reception of it only for the "substance of doctrine", or as containing "the fundamen- tals of Christianity", or so far as it agreed, in the opinion of each subscriber, with the Scriptures. This plea for laxity was, of course, not w^ithout an object. Under its cloak, some of the worst errors of New Haven ^ had gained ^ The following remarks of Dr. Fisher, in the New Englander, are a striking exposure, though by a professed advocate, of New Haven errors, or Taylor- isiu : — " It is true that Dr. Taylor was a life-long opponent of the Princeton theo- logy. Gratuitous condemnation for Adam's sin ; congenital sin inflicted upon the sinless by a judicial decree prior to their existence; sin meriting damna- tion before the least consciousness of a rule of right; absolute natural impo- tency of the soul to throw off the bondage to evil thus engendered in it ; literal endurance of the legal penalty by Christ, but only for a part of mankind, se- lected by mere will, without reference to results in the general good ; right of this fraction to claim salvation as a matter of strict justice, their punishment having been endured ; conversion of this fraction by dint of creative omni- potence acting irresistibly within their souls; perdition for all the rest, judi- cially inflicted for a sin done before they were created, for propagated sin 1837.] THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 327 currency, liad been sheltered and encouraged, and li:id es- caped effective rebuke. In every case, in which discipline for such errors had been attempted, the New School party had made the cause of the accused their own, and had ear- nestly resisted the attempt. No doubt, their repeated suc- cesses in this course of resistance might be attributed, im- mediately, to the repeated technical mistakes of their op- ponents ; but as little doubt is there, that they were resolved upon securing, if possible, entire immunity for the errors which they coukl not prevent, and for not believing in an atonement never jirovided for them, and when all power of thus believing bad been extirpated trim their souls, through the necessary effect of au ancestor's transgression ; this system Dr, Taylor thought, in its logical implications, blots out human probation, and with it the moral government of God."' October, 1S6S. Pp. 700, 1. Of course, it is old Augustinianism or Calvinism, the system of the West- minster standards, the system which was universally received in the early New England churches, the system which is now taught in every Old School semi- nary in the land, and to which every Presb3-terian minister regularly ordained subscribes, which, as " Princeton theology", is thus caricatured, that it may be branded a monster. Yet the men who write thus, or approve of what is thus written, have alwaj'S claimed to be consistent Calvinists ! Certainly there are Calvinists, that can make out. too, for themselves, a legitimate doctrinal suc- cession, who, had thej' met with the passage above quoted, without knowing its author, would have said, unhesitatingly, ''An enemy hath done this" : surely it is the work of a Soeinian, or infidel: even a sober-minded Arminian could not have so written. The truth is, that Taylorism, in its very genesis, was a concession to the Socinians of Xew EnglanJ — a boasted discovery of a better way to meet their objections than the way of the old Puritan theology: and the Socinians hailed the teachings of Mr. Barnes as an approach to their own system. The Christian Examiner, a leading Unitarian j»eriodical, said of his Notes, ''On the atonement, our author's views are far in advance of those of the church to which he belongs. Though he maintains that Christ was, in some sense, a 'substitute in the place of sinners', he denies a strictly and fully vicarious atonement, and makes the Savi'j>. 69, 70. The reformers of our church, in lSn7, agreed, in their opinion of Taylorism. with the (Unitarian) Christian Examiner, and now. Dr. Fisher. This should be taken into account in judging of their acts. See the Biblical Repertory, Januar3-, ISOy, pp. 144-UO. 328 CHURCH REFORM. [CH. 35. 1. in question. To accomplish their purpose, presbyteries, and at least one synod, had been constructed, according to elective affinity and otherwise, which, with all the decidedly New School judicatories, not only shielded the propagators of false doctrine, but were also constantly increasing their numbers, by lax ordinations, and the easy, unquestioning reception of men of erroneous views, particularly from amonn- the Congregationalists. To maintain their power in the Church at large, they were notoriously making use of the American Education Society to train New School ministers, and of the American Home Missionary Society to send them out, and plant them just where they might most effectually hold the balance of ecclesiastical power; and, to secure majorities in the General Assembly, they were multiplying small presbyteries, so as to obtain an un- due representation in that body. The preparatory convention really and effectively repre- sented the Old School party, w^hich had never before been so thoroughly aroused and united as now. A "■ Testimony and Memorial'' was prepared for presentation to the Gene- ral Assembly, which carried out substantially the reforms proposed l^y this document; though in a way, as to some points, and with a thoroughness, that probably no one had contemplated, until little by little, out of the exigencies of the case, the plan evolved itself, and stood forth complete. The "statement of prevalent errors, [against wdiich the convention testified,] after being framed by the committee, was, at their request, carefully revised by the Rev. Dr. Miller, than whom no man in the Church was less open to the charge of giving countenance to false accusations, or imaginary alarms."^ In the Assembly, there proved to be a very decided Old School majority. The great decisive measures adopted need alone be here noticed. The Plan of Union, by a vote of one hundred and forty-three to one hundred and ten was abro- gated. Then, at the suggestion of the New School, a commit- tee of ten — five from each party — the majority and minority — was appointed to negotiate for a voluntary, peaceable divi- sion of the Church. Tliey could not agree: the simple fact was, that the New School were determined to consent to nothing 1 Baird'rf Hist, of Xew School, 521. 1837.] THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 329 final — nothing tliat would not leave all power in the hand of a majority, could they secure it, in the Assembly of 1838, to reverse the action of that of 1837, and put them again in the position of command. To this, of course, the Old School would not listen ; and they now proceeded to de- clare the Synod of the Western Reserve ''to be no lono-er a part of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America." What was this Synod, and what, if any, the defensible ground of its being thus disowned, or, to use a current, though not a very happy, term, excluded ? It had groAvn up, confessedly, under the operations of the Plan of Union, in Ohio — the region known as the Western Reserve. That plan had provided, in utter, though inconsiderate, disregard of the Constitution, that, in new settlements, a church com- posed partly of Congregationalists, and partly of Presby- terians, might govern themselves by a standing committee, instead of a bench of elders; and that a delegate from this committee might sit, as an elder, in Presbytery. Unhap- pily, settlements never became so old, that the irregularity was not pleaded for and continued; committee-men, openly or covertly, forced their way into synods and the General Assembly; and what was clearly unconstitutional in itself became, from grievous abuse, a hot-bed of evil things. Of about one hundred and thirty-nine churches belonging to the Synod of Western Reserve, only about thirty were Presbyterian; the rest were all of the mixed character, de- rived from the Plan of Union ; yet were regularly repre- sented in Presbytery, Synod and General Assembly — in the two former always by committee-men, in the latter, sometimes in the same way, at other times by ruling elders, in the choice of whom, however, committee-men must al- ways have taken an influential part. This Synod was a strong- hold of Xew Schoolism, and one of those which was ex- pected to contribute effectively to the maintenance of New School majorities in the supreme judicatory of the Church. Each presbytery, according to the Constitution, must be composed of at least three ministers, and each may send to the General Assembly two commissioners. A presbytery containing over twenty-four ministers may double, and, over forty-eight, triple, its representation; and may enlarge Vol. IL— 27 330 CHURCH REFORM. [CH. 35. 1. it in the like proportion, for greater numbers. Such a ratio evidently gives an advantage to small presbyteries : that of three ministers has an equal influence with that of twenty-four. Now, in 1836, the Synod of New Jersey, with six presbyteries and one hundred and forty-eight min- isters, was entitled to twenty commissioners; while the Synod of Western Reserve, with five presbyteries and one hundred and seven ministers, was entitled to fourteen. But, in 1837, the latter, by sub-divisions, appeared with eight presbyteries, claiminor an equal representation with those of the Synod of New Jersey, though with but a trifling increase of the numbers represented.^ The unfairness of such manage- ment was, of course, greatly magnified by the fact, that the Synod of Western Reserve embraced but thirty Presby- terian churches ; and the case of this Synod, as a flagrant one, was made a test of the General Assembly's judgment upon the principle of the disowning acts. Subsequently, the Synods of Utica, Geneva, and Genesee were in like manner disowned. Of course, reasons given for an act are of no consequence, if the act be, in itse'f, right. The Synod of Western Re- serve was "declared to be no lo7iger a part of the Presby- terian Church", and this was attributed to "the operation of the abrogation of the Plan of Union." The other Synods, by the light elicited from further consideration and discussion, were treated as never having been properly in connexion with the church, because organized under a plan unconstitutional, and void. The latter was, doubtless, the more logical representation of the case; which, how- ever, by the acts themselves, not the logic of the enactors, was to be adjudged. Perhaps a more plainly irrefragable statement is, that, under a strict Presbyterian Constitution, bodies originally organized in large part of Congregational elements could not be proper Presbyterian bodies, or have any legal standing in the Presbyterian Church. The Assembly provided fully for the relations of all ministers, churches, and even presbyteries, embraced with- in the disowned Synods, which could make out a true Pres- ^ It may be added, that owing to their hasty, imperfect organization, its being judged expedient to keep information baclc, or something else, no one of the three new presbyteries of this Synod sent any proper report to the General Assembly. 1837.] THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 331 byterian character. Prevalent errors and disorders were specified and condemned; church judicatories were admon- ished to correct tliem; the Third Presbytery of Phihidel- phia was dissolved; a Board of Foreign Missions was es- tablished; the organization and operations of the Ameri- can Home Missionary Society, and American Education Society were pronounced "exceedingly injurious to the peace and purity of the Presbyterian Church", within which it was recommended that their operations should cease; the Trustees of the Assembly and its clerks were directed, and the latter pledged themselves, to carry out, within their respective spheres, the reforming measures which had been adopted; a pastoral letter was addressed to the churches under the care of the General Assembly, and a circular letter to all other churches, justifying those mea- sures as demanded by extraordinary circumstances ; a letter also to the disowned Synods. The circular was, in sub- stance, written by Dr. Miller, at the request of Dr. Robert J. Breckinridge, chairman of the committee appointed to prepare it, who sent a special messenger to Princeton, in baste, to secure his object. Writing to Dr. Miller, after- ward, in regard to this paper. Dr. Breckinridge remarked^ "You will perceive that we were obliged considerably to curtail the admirable letter you were good enough to send us, especially the latter, and, if anything, most striking part. This resulted from some unaccountable mistake. A committee, con- sisting of Dr. Alexander, Dr. Baxter and another, was appoint- ed to write 2i pastoral letter to our own churches; one, of Dr. Witherspoon, Dr. Leland and another, to write a letter to the synods declared out of our communion ; and a third, of Mr. Plumer, Mr. W. Latta and myself, to write a circular Epistle to all other denominations, and esjDecially to those with whom we are in correspondence. It was this last form of the three, which we desired your letter to assume; but it came to us under the first form ; and that after the pastoral letter had been read to the Assembly, and only on the forenoon of the day on which the body finally adjourned. In this state of the case, the com- mittee was obliged to take the great and painful liberty of twisting your fine paper into a new aspect, by leaving out parts, by slightly changing other parts, and by adding a few jiara- graphs at the conclusion. This became the more serious to us, because the paper, even thus mutilated, commanded such warm and general applause, when read, that we were obliged, in self- 332 CHURCH REFORM. [CH. 35. 2. defence, immediately to avow the real author. I think, ray dear Sir, a more acceptable and highly useful tract has rarely issued from your pen ; and this, I think, is also the comn^on opinion amongst the friends of truth in our Church.' 2. After the Assembly. The general measures of this reforming Assembly met with Dr. Miller's entire approbation. Their necessity had, at length, become too apparent to be questioned. They gave, to be sure, a great shock to the body ecclesiastical, the effects of which, however, it proved able to bear and soon to overcome. To judge of them fairly, we must re- member that strong and ably directed forces had well nigh accomplished what Old School men verily believed must, without extraordinary divine interposition, result in the ruin of the Presbyterian Church. The advocates of error and of lax terms of subscription, the advocates of volunta- ry societies, and the advocates of a Congregationalizing policy were in the closest alliance, and with their threefold cord would soon have bound Presbyterianism so fast, that no power of successful resistance would have remained. And, no doubt, to ultra men, so called, the Church was mainly indebted, under God, for her deliverance. The emergency demanded them. But many less stern and ad- venturous than they hailed their achievements with unfeigned joy. Dr. Sprague says, " Dr. Miller was an honest, vigilant and devoted friend of what he believed to be the true interests of the Presbyterian Church. In the controversy which issued in its division he was inflexibly with the Old School, though he had many warm friends on the other side with whom he continued to maintain the most friendly relations." ^ The Presbytery of New Brunswick adopted the report of a committee, of which Dr. Miller was chairman, justify- ing fully the acts of disownment, on the ground that the Synods in question had never had any proper constitu- tional connexion with the Presbyterian Church. It had been alleged, that portions of some of the disowned bodies owed their ecclesiastical status, not to the Plan of Union of 1801, but to a plan of 1808, which had not been formally ^ 3 Sprague's Annals, 604. 1837.] AFTER THE ASSEMBLY. 333 abrogated. The report declared the hitter plan even more objectionable than the former, as having admitted directly into the Presbyterian body a large number of Congrega- tional churches already organized, with their ministers, neither churches nor ministers being required to conform to the Presbyterian standards. When the acts of the As- sembly came before the Synod of New Jersey, Dr. Miller constantly voted to sustain those acts, but, towards the Presbyteries which hesitated to fulfill their requirements, was in favour of an indulgent course, allowing them another year for consideration. The next spring, the clerk of Synod presented its minutes for revision to the New School Assembly; but the Synod promptly ordered the leaf, on whicli that Assembly had certified its approval, to be re- moved; and now took decided steps, Dr. Miller heartily concurring, for separating from itself those presbyteries which adliered to the New School secession. Writing to Dr. Sprague, on the 7th of August, Dr. Miller said, *I feel persuaded, that, however repulsive or indefensible those acts may now appear, the more they are reflected on, and the more their bearings and consequences may disclose them- selves, the more will sound and judicious men be reconciled to them. I do believe, that, long before the meeting of the next Assembly, the friends of truth and order will be convinced that the last Assembly had no other method of effectually putting an end to controversy, and restoring harmony to our beloved church, than by taking the course which they did — to disown, and declare no longer connected with them, the morbid mem- bers of the body. * To retrace our steps, and take back the New School presby- teries, which have been declared no longer to belong to us, would not only be a retrograde movement, but would be, also, in my opinion, to fix on ourselves, another seven years' con- flict, with all its deplorable evils.' It has often been asserted and persistently repeated, as an overwhelming reproach to the Old School leaders in the controversies and measures which resulted in the division of the Presbyterian Church, that their real object was j^ower — power to control either the whole Church, or a divided portion. Of course it was; but was this a just ground of reproach? Much eloquent declamation was 334 CH-URCH REFORM. [CH. 35. 2. wasted in the endeavour to fix upon them a charge which they never denied. Their desire, nay, their determination, to secure all the power that they could, lawfully, for the reformation and purification of the Church, they never disoruised. They fully believed that the doctrines, order, purity, and real prosperity of their beloved Zion were en- dangered by the course of the New School; and were cer- tainly bound to employ all fair and christian means to ob- tain whatever power was necessary to avert the threatened evil. As to what means were fair and christian, opponents, in such circumstances, were not likely to be agreed ; and, on this score, there were criminations and recriminations which cannot here be noticed; but, to simplify the issue, let it be admitted, that for each party to strive for the mastery, to the extent of its honest convictions, was not in itself blameworthy — nay, was required by simple fidelity to its distinctive principles. The striving was clearly right in itself. Did each party "strive lawfully?" was, indeed, an important question ; and still more important was it to decide, which was, where both could not be, right as to the grand principles of creed and church-order which distin- guished them. Certain it is, that it was not the ambition of the Old School to rule the New, but to be entirely se- parated from the latter was their ardent desire. On the 31st of August appeared the first number of the "Watchman of the South", a weekly religious newspaper published at Richmond, Virginia, under the able manage- ment of the Rev. William S. Plumer as editor. This num- ber contained a letter from Dr. Miller, defendino- the Old School against some of the charges of their opponents; and he afterward, from time to time, continued his contri- butions to the paper, for the editor of which, an alumnus of the Seminary, he had long entertained an afi'ectionate regard. In a letter of the 29th of September. Dr. Miller says to Mrs. Wales, *I had a severe and very protracted fit of sickness in the winter, which confined me to my room for nearly three months. This threw me back in my work as professor, gave rise to a great accumulation of unanswered letters, and placed every- thing in arrears. I have reason to be thankful, however, that 1837.] FOREIGN MISSIONS. 335 my health is now restored to nearly, if not quite, as good a state as before my illness ; so that I am able to go on as usual with my official duties.' The Synod of Philadelphia had, in 183(3, requested Dr. Miller to preach before them, at their next session, upon the dangers of educating Protestant children in Roman Catholic institutions. He accordingly preached before that judicatory, in Baltimore, and, at the solicitation of friends in New York city, repeated there his sermon, which the Synod afterwards published.^ Dr. Miller, amidst the labours of this year, found time for but one short article of eight pages, for the Biblical Repertory — a review of a sermon, entitled '' Decline of Religion, and its Causes,"^ by the Rev. Evan M. Johnson, Rector of St. John's Church, Brooklyn. Assuming a sad decline of relii2;ion in the United States, Mr. Johnson sagely attributed it to the prevailing neglect, by the seetSy of the paramount claims of the Episcopal Church ; to re- ligious controversy, especially between the Old and New School Presbyterians ; to the " combined effort to suppress Popery in our country;" to the temperance societies; and to "the revival system," — truly a nice little nest of buz- zing, stinging insects into which to thrust a stout, sharp Puritan stick. 3. Foreign Missions. The Board of Foreign Missions established bv the Gen- eral Assembly fulfilled, as it had been authorized to do, the contract formerly made with The Western Foreign Missionary Society. The new organization held its first meeting at Baltimore, on the 31st of October, when tlio Synod of Philadelphia also met in that city. Dr. Miller was chosen President of the Board, and continued to pre- si«ovembcr 26th, together with the "Olive wood cane, cut with your own hands on the ^Mount of Olives," which accompanied it. 'For this testimonial of your highly valued friend-hip, and of your kind recollection when in a far distant land, I am truly thankful, and beg you to accept of my grateful acknowledg- ments. 'It gratifies me, too, my dear Sir, not a little, to find that, amidst all the allurements of foreign travel, the a^^sociations which your letter recognizes with Jerusalem, and it:? deeply interesting history and localities, so strongly occupied your mind, when surveying them. I cannot frame a more favorable wish for you, than that the great scenes, and the transcen make the profession which the baptismal rite included, I bap- tized their children. This had been the case in my father's congregation, in Dover, Delaware, in which I had been brought up, and in which I had been first admitted to comnmnion ; and 1 fell into it naturally, and without difficulty, and have i)ractised it ever since. ' In administering the ordinance, I was accustomed to make use of the following formula, by which you will be enabled to judge of the profemou that I speak of as included in the bap- tismal rite. ' "Do you, the parents of this child, profess that it is your de- sire to dedicate him to God in the ordinance of baptism? Is this your profession? * "Baptism is a holy ordinance instituted by Christ, in which by washing with water, in the name of the Father, the Son and 364 CHEQUERED SCENES. [CH. 36. 4. the Holy Gliost, is sigDified our need of the pardoning and re- newing grace of God by a crucified Redeemer, etc. '^ * You, therefore, the parents of this child, in presenting him before God to be baptized, make a solemn profession, and lay your- selves under very solemn obligations. The amount of your profession is, that you yourselves believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, that you rely upon him for pardoning mercy and sanc- tifying grace yourselves, and that you desire this, your child, to be made a partaker of the same saving benefits. It will therefore be your duty, in all time to come, to treat this child as one that you have given away to God ; to train him up in "the nurture and admonition of the Lord"; to instruct him in the principles of our holy religion, as contained in the Holy Scriptures, and excellently summed up in the Confession of Faith and Catechisms of our church ; to pray with him and for him, and teach him to pray; and, in a word, to endeavor, by precept and example, to educate him for the Church of God and for the heavenly inheritance. Do you promise, as God shall help you, that you will endeavor to live in the discharge of these duties?" ' I then made a short prayer, baptized the child, and closed with another short prayer. ' A solemn mode of admiuistering baptism, I have sometimes thought, has a strong tendency to make a just impression of its nature, and, of course, to deter the careless from applying for it, especially if, after baptism, you often, in prayer and preach- ing, remind parert? of the duties which the ordinance im- plies. * You will perceive, in a moment, that the above profession can be made only by a real believer. And yet I have no doubt that it was often made by persons who were not renewed in the spirit of their minds. And I have quite as little doubt, that where no children but those of communicants are baptized, the same want of sincerity, perhaps not quite so often, yet very often, in fact, occurs. So that insincere profession is not prevented in either case. * I found, or thought I found, the above mentioned plan to operate most happily and beneficially, so far as my experience went. I observed that some of my brethren out of New York, who refused to baptize the children of any but communicants, never failed to drive off a number of the most desirable mem- bers of their congregations to difterent sects around them ; and even in cases where they did not leave the Presbyterian church, their children remained unbaptized, and the pastors had no hold of them, and could not put in Christ's claim to them and their 1839.] BAPTISMS AND FUNERALS. 3G5 children. I found that my plan gave me a great advantage in addressing parents, and gave a hohl on numbers who would have been, otherwise, out of my reach. *I am aware, that on this phm, cases will sometimes occur, which will be perplexing, and give rise to some difficulty. But, on the whole, I have never yet seen occasion to change my course as to this point. But the truth is, adopt what j)lan you will, you will iind some perplexing ca>cs, unless, indoeeople. In leading the devotions of the large assembly, or of the so- cial meeting, Dr. Miller was peculiarly happy. In his addresses to a throne of grace there was a reverential simplicity in his manner and language, and an appropriateness in the t()j)ic.s of adoration, thanksgiving and intercession, which led all present to lift up their hearts in emotions corresponding with the words of the speaker. There was no repetition in his prayers, yet, from the fullness of his heart, he sometimes violated the rule which he prescribed to his pupils on this subject — to be brief. In the pleasure which he took in communing with his Father in Heaven, he sometimes forgot the infirmities of others. At whatever time or place he was called on to lead in prayer, he was readv to engage in it in a solemn and devout manner. From social and cheerful conversation, in which he greatly de- lighted and frequently participated, the transition was easy and natural to acts of devotion ; because he seldom, if ever, in- dulged in such levity as was inconsistent with a devout spirit. The whole demeanor of Dr. Miller, in public and in ])rivate, in the pulpit and in the family circle, showed that he acted ha- bitually under a feeling of the divine preserice. And, hence, without apparent inconsistency, he could turn from common and secular affairs to direct acts of worship. This habitually devotional spirit was far from being connected with gloom ami melancholy. He was a most cheerful and pleasant companion, abounding in rich and appropriate anecdote, yet without de- scending to any thing unbecoming a Christian and minister of the gospel. * For several years, the professors of the Theological Semi- nary, and the officers of the College, were in the habit of meet- ing'at each other's houses, once in two weeks, for the purpose of spending the evening in easy and familiar conversation, on subjects chiefly connected with the intercuts of Kduration an«l Religion. Dr. Miller took a deep interest in these meetings, and contributed greatly to making them profitab'e and plea- 374 GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS. [CIL 37. 1. sant, not only by drawing largely upon his own rich stores of anecdote and remark, but also by eliciting from others whatever each one might know on the subject under consideration. I remember with what skill he would touch the key note, which would open the lips of his distinguished and venerable colleague, [Dr. Alexander], or of the gifted and lamented Professor Dod ; not forgetting those whose conversational j^owers were of an in- ferior order. *The natural temperament of Dr. Miller was social; he de- lighted to receive and impart instruction by oral communica- tion ; yet it is remarkable, that his fondness for society, and the solicitude of those who knew him to enjoy his company did not draw him away from his studies. Human nature is prone to fall into extremes : the pleasant companion neglects his books : the scholar becomes a recluse : Dr. Miller united these tw^o characters, not usually compatible. Whoever has read, or even looked at the volumes, and essays, and sermons w^hich he published, must be convinced that he was a laborious and suc- cessful student. And, w^hen we take into view his preparation for the weekly services of the pulpit, and for the daily instruc- tion of his class in the lecture-room, we are surprised that any man could perform so much intellectual labor ; especially when we remember, that Dr. Miller did not enter upon the perform- ance of any public duty without accurate and full preparation. The secret and magical power which enabled him to do so much, and to do it so w^ell, was that he was a man of system — of order. He had a time for every duty — a, time to be in his study, and a time to take relaxation ; a time for sleep and a time for his meals. With him the time allotted to one duty was not encroached on by another. In his study, he did not lounge and permit his thoughts to wander from the subject before him. For the purpose of preserving his health, and perhaps as an excitement to mental exertion, he always wrote standing at a high desk. In early life, and indeed to life's close, he had a tendency to pulmonary disease. To counteract this tendency, he was "temperate in all things." In eating, and drinking, and sleeping,, and in whatever else over-indulgence tended to debilitate the body and enfeeble the mind, he pre- scribed to himself limits. Before he came to Princeton, and for some time after, he was in the habit of taking a single glass of wine at dinner, believing it assisted digestion and promoted his health. At that period of life, when many think artificial stimulants are necessary to sustain declining nature, he denied himself his former moderate indulgence, and abstained entirely from the use of all kinds of intoxicating drinks. He often re- 1839.] DR. carnaiian's reminiscences. 375 marked, that lie had experienced no kind of injury in a]>petite or health from the change. He practised total abstinence, not because he thought the moderate use of alcoholic drinks in all cases criminal ; but because an opposite example might be injur- ious to others. In this respect, he was governed by the same })rin- ciple which led the Apostle to say, "If meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend." * Believing that daily exercise in the open air was necessary for his health, he permitted no weather or engagement to pre- vent his walking or riding out at least once in twenty-four hours. I have seen him in the most inclement weather, in sum- mer and winter, wending his way to the post-office, or to make a necessary call. While he carefully avoided a current of air coming upon him from a door or window, he dreaded neither cold nor heat, snow nor rain, with the air freely circulating on all sides. ' In his personal habits and dress he was neat and tasteful, without anything foppish, or calculated to excite attention. He abstained from the use of tobacco in all its forms, and always spoke of it as a filthy habit, injurious to health, and tending to create an appetite for intoxicating drinks. In his manner he was polished and graceful, attentive to those customs and forms which render social intercourse agreeable. He was himself a good example of the clerical manners which he has recom- mended in a work published on that subject. AVe must beware of confounding his habit in this respect with that empty, un- meaning, and studied form of w^ords and actions, intended to conceal indifference, or, it may be, real enmity and contempt. The politeness of Dr. Miller arose from two sources. First, it was his lot, in early life, to associate with persons of polished and agreeable mannei-s, and he retained to the end the habits formed in his early days. But still more did the deference and respect which he showed to others, arise from the kind feelings of the heart. His words and external actions were the true and unstudied expressions of that good will and kindness which he truly felt, and was ready to manifest whenever occasion of- fered. The writer had mimy oi)portunities of witnessing the readiness of Dr. Miller to forego his own ease and convenience to accommodate others. Some distinguished men, whose gene- ral aim is to perform the duties of their station witli fidelity, are wanting in that courtesy which renders social life agreeable. Absorbed, perhaps, in important studies, or having some weighty eno-agement in view, they become impatient and repulsive, it interrupted and called on to assist others who need their aid. 376 GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS. [CII. 37. 1. It was not so with Dr. Miller. I have known him, again and again, with manifest inc'onvenience to himself, to give his assist- ance to accommodate others; and he did so with a readiness and cheerfulness which rendered the kindness doubly valuable. ' In the management of his secular and domestic concerns, Dr. Miller was a model worthy of imitation. Economy in all his personal and family expenses was conspicuous, and he per- mitted no debt, great or small, to remain unsatisfied a week, or, if he could help it, a day. His private means, independent of his salary as a professor in the Theological Seminary, were probably equal to the frugal expenses of his family. Yet he did not permit his property to accumulate. He acted on the principle which he frequently inculcated — that a large inherit- ance w^as generally a curse to children. It is impossible to estimate how much this good man every year distributed to charitable purposes, because he made no display of his charities by giving to j^articular objects large sums worthy of being published as examples of munificence. But it could not be concealed that he refused his aid to no cause worthy of private or public support. With him, when asked to give to a good object, it was a common saying, that he loved to have a nail in every building intended for the glory of God and the benefit of man. To supply the temporal and spiritual wants of the destitute seemed to afibrd him real pleasure. What he gave to the poor; what to promote education; what to build school- houses and churches ; what to publish Bibles, and tracts, and other good books ; what to support missions, domestic and foreign, cannot be known until the books are opened on the final day. His freedom from the love of money, and his liberal spirit were seen in his proposing to resign, or to relinquish his full salary, when unable to j^erform all the duties of his professorship; and, when these propositions were declined by the Directors and Trustees, who thought it would be illiberal and unjust to accede to them, in his drawing his full salary, but contributing largely therefrom to the support of the institution, without consulting the Directors or Trustees. 'At the time of his decease, Dr. Miller had been forty-three years a trustee of the College of New Jersey; and he took a deep interest in its concerns, was rarely if ever absent from the meetings of the Board, and was always an active and influen- tial member. A short time prior to his decease, he attended a meeting, and before the business was finished, he rose and asked leave of absence the remainder of the sessions, on account of the feeble state of his health, remarking that his work was done, that he did not expect to meet again with the Board. 1839.] DR. cox's REMINISCENCES. 377 Then, lifting his feeble hands, he said, "May the blessing of God rest on this beloved college, on tliis board, on the faculty and students, and on all connected with the institution!" These Avere the last words and final benediction of one who had been for many years the senior trustee. 'But the chief characteristic and crowning excellence of Dr. Miller were his devoted piety, his attachment to the pure and simple doctrines of the Gospel, his earnest desire to honour his Lord and Saviour, and to extend to his fellow-sinners that pre- cious, saving truth, by which he was himself so wonderfully sustained and comforted in the evening of his days.' 2. Dr. Cox's Reminiscences. The following hearty, idiocratic, and subjectively fresh retrospections would, by many readers, be instantly im- puted to their reverend and genial author, even if the name of Dr. Samuel Hanson Cox were not mentioned. New York, December 27, 18(35. ' Keverend and dear Brother, ' Your filial piety and purpose, in preparing " The Life" of your excellent sire, for contemporaries and posterity, especially those of the christian ministry, to ponder, and use, and im- prove to their own benefit, will be commended, I believe, by all competent judges. The quality of filial piety is, as some think, in our own times, if not peculiarly in our own beloved, yet guilty country, growing deplorably scarce ; though, in rel- erence to the second table of the law of God, as says our great apostle, it never loses its value in the estimation of the law-giver: Honor thy father and mother ; whichis the first com- maiidment with promise ; that it may he well with thee, and that thou mayest live long on the earth. Eph. 6:2. 3. May this bless- ing rest, in all its temporal and celestial opulence, on your per- son and your house ! '"The Life" of the late Reverend Samuel Miller, D.D., ought to be furnished to the public; and if, in any proper way, I can at all contribute to it, it will be a pleasant, wholly an ungrudged performance — in answer to your written request. You say, " Any thing you can tell me about ray fiither, or his fam- ily, in Delaware, would be particularly interesting." This I will recollect. 'When, as a student of the law, in Newark, New Jersey, hearing such venerable men as the Reverend James Richards, D.D., Dr. John McDowell, of Elizabeth, Dr. Barnabas King Vou II.— 30 378 GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS. [CH. 37. 2. of Rockaway, Dr. E. D. Griffin and others, the word was blessed, as I humbly trust, to my soul's benefit ; (1811-12 ;) there was something in the fact extraordinary ; exciting obser- vation and remark. Educated in the City of Philadelphia, born and nurtured among "Friends, called Quakers," the change in myself, as in all my social relations, was emphatic- ally great ; so to my own gratitude and praise to its Eternal Author, not ceasing to seem wonderful. A message, I think, from your father, that I should visit him, then in this city. Pastor of the Wall street Presbyterian Church, commanded my obedience ; resulting in my first introduction to Dr. Miller. It was 'very grateful, I may say, edifying, and singularly appre- ciated, as well as memorable on several accounts. ' I then and afterwards learned from himself, several items that affected my own filial thoughts and sensations, with some- thing like permanent delight. My father and he were natives of the same State ; — in Dover, Kent county, Delaware, as I think ; — acquainted, and even intimate, in boyhood and youth ; nearly of the same age ; and often agreeably associated in the vicinal relations of life. From seven and a third years, I had been fatherless ; yet my recollections of my honored and be- loved father were vivid, definite, delightful ; such mainly they ever endure. Hence the response of special gratitude to my father's friend — a feeling I yet cherish and enjoy. * In that interview, he related many things of pleasant mem- ory, though less adapted to public rehearsal, especially in this paper. One anecdote, I will mention. Before our present substitute was known, for inoculation, in reference to the dire disease to which all men seemed exposed, and so many, espe- cially in youth, were victimized, it was the system everywhere to take preventive measures, often costly and severe, yet in- dispensable, where they could be commanded, against the for- midable scourge. My own memories here are quite experimen- tal and very impressive. In many places, at the South espe- cially, the different neighborhoods made common interest of the matter ; establishing, with the best nursing and medical care, what were called " Pest Houses," where patients, and especially children, were received, inoculated with the virus; and after six or more weeks they were returned to their homes, ordinar- ily invulnerable, for the future, to its attack and its ravage ; from all which, laus Deo ! our better antidote, in these days, is — vaccination. * Now it so happened that our two fathers, then little other than lads — scarce in their teens, met in one of these establish- ments, and were proximate fellow-sufferers, eventually with 1839.] DR. cox's REMINISCENCES. 379 complete success. Here they became acquainted, and even in- timate. Here was begun much of that quad instinct of special kindness, for which I yet, as instinctively, love Dr. Mil- ler. But for this, he probably had known or shown compara- tively little interest in me. So wonderfully concatenated are events, small and great, trivial and momentous, in the arl)itra- tions of eternal providence! Whoso is wise, and will ouskkve these things, even they shall understand the lovincj-kind- NESS OF JEHOVAH. Ps. 107: 43. What hast thou that thou didst not receive f 1 Cor. 5 : 7. *In our subsequent intercourse, he often would advert to it, and never with other than realized delight, to myself at least. The last message received from him, a short time previous to his decease, was oral, and of the same familiar and agreeable sort : "Tell my friend and brother, Dr. Cox, that Dr. Miller sends his love and kindest salutations to him. Tell him, I loved his father ; hence I have and claim a hereditary right to love him also." This was characteristic ; I may say, patriarchal even ; and if on no nobler ground, as sinners love those that love them, how could I other than feel and reciprocate such a mis- sive of love: familiar, benign, well-bred, christian? It was like him. It was nature, as well as grace ; so working ; incidental and grateful and beautiful, as well as fraternal ; must I write it? — quite too rare or equivocal, in its fruits, as identical, gen- uine, recognized, in our days ! *Iu the higher relations of his character, little research is requisite to supply materials for my pen — though I have al- ready told you why I cannot, at present, command his valued letters to me; all packed, and stored, and inaccessible, with many other papers and books, for which my library, or its owner, has to suffer! Really I much regret it ! 'In my first interview, I have purposely reserved it here to say, he impressed me deeply and well, especially on one topic — that of my then recent spiritual change. He interrogated me, as to my views, feelings, knowledge of the truth; especially as to my faith in the blessed Redeemer of sinners; my ho|>e in him; my manner and purpose of life; ami motives in seeking the Christian Ministry. In all these, the impression left on my own mind was only that of gratitude and approval. So in ail our subsequent interviews — but I desire not improperly to en- large on personalities and particularities of any sort. *He seemed to think, as often the impression has been ob- truded on others and myself, that the motive of too many can- didates, among us as well as others, was — to speak guardedly — faulty and incomplete — as earthly more than heavenly; 380 GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS. [CH. 37. 2. seeking a place of ease, honor, emolument; with very little con- viction, the result of thorough investigation, scriptural research, prayer, and the genuine influence of the Holy Ghost, that God had called him — respecting each instance of a professed call, to preach the Gospel ; in the way of genuine piety, view of duty paramount, love of the Saviour and the souls He died to save! Hence, to say the least, we have so many soft and su- perficial Presbyterians; oscillating from one denomination to another — instead of studying our Book, its system of doctrine, credenda, agenda, Government, Discipline, History, Admini- stration, and relations. The Bible is the religion, objective and normal, of Presbyterians. If a candidate cares little or no- thing for the difference between us, and my Lord in lawn of Episcopacy, or the democracy in a kingdom of Independency, or other deviations towards Rome — if not to the tumultuations of the populace, let him honor the royal counsel ; tarry at Je- richo until his beard be grown, (2 Sam. 10: 5,) or — at all events, let us be in no hurry to commit office, and place, and power, and influence, for evil, to men plainly immature ; dubitable as well as dubitant ; and as such plainly incompetent. I am con- strained here to record the conviction, not the mere opinion, of an old co-presbyter, against all such methods and measures of im-" policy"; as all wrong; and sure to entail no good, to say the least, on all parties concerned in them. We want learned, decided, principled men in the ministry; as well as devout, holy, active, beneficent, exemplars of Christianity; these, or such as these, alone. So, I am sure, he thought. Numbers may be weakness, instead of strength : the same com- mit THOU to FAITHFUL MEN, who shall be ABLE TO TEACH others also. 2 Tim. 2 : 2. 'When I was first in the pastorate, the Synod of New York and New Jersey, including the Presbytery of New Brunswick, comprehended, of course, all Princeton; the Patriarchs there, the Rev. Drs. Ashbel Green, Miller, Alexander, and others — now, we trust, waiting for us in the world of the new creation! Our synodical meetings, only annual, were ever highly valued reunions ; and your dear father, my dear Sir, was always thrice welcome, in his presence and his influence. Many recollections in detail are more interesting to myself, probably, than proper to be recited here. Your father, as a man of manners and sym- metry, as a devout and consistent Presbyterian, as a scholar well read in all lore professional, as a safe and ready counsellor, as an example, as a friend, as a devout brother in the kingdom, may well engage your love, and duty, and service to his memory — as also mine! 1839.] JUDGE field's reminiscences. 381 *ButIpau33. XJs9 this, if it suit your plan and purpose. Otherwise, please return it. Claiming my own "iieroditary right", I salute you in fraternal love. The LORD JESUS CHRIST be with your spirit forever! 'In HIM, your affectionate brother and friend, 'Rev. Samuel Miller, D.D., ) Samuel Hanson Cox. Mount Holly, New Jersey.' j ' 3. Judge Field's Reminiscences. The very interesting recollections which follow are from the pen, as it will be perceived, of the Honorable Richard Stockton Field, Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. 'Princeton, September 29, 1868. 'My dear Sir, 'In a conversation I recently had with you in reference to your Father, the late Rev. Dr. Samuel Miller, you begged me to put in writing some of my recollections of him. I comply with your request the more willingly, because it affords me an opportunity of testifying my great veneration and respect for the memory of one, whom living, I so much loved and hon- ored. ^ 'My earliest recollection of your Father goes back to the time when I was a student of Princeton College. I fre(]uently heard him preach, and his sermons were always impressive and instructive. Their style was polished and graceful, and his aj)- pearance, voice, and manner, added much to their efieet. I remember particularly a sermon which he preached in the Presbyterian Church of Princeton, on the subject of the "Re- surrection of the body."^ The text was taken from the l')th chapter of St. Paul's first Epistle to the Corinthians, and the discourse was a beautiful expansion of the thought contained in the verses, beginning with: "Rut some man will say, how are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die'' I have always thought it the best discourse^ upon the subject that I have ever heard or read. It made such an impression upon my mind, that when I went home, I attempted to write it out. Such were the lucid order and method of his sermons, tliat to one with a tolerably good memory, this was not so ditticult a task. I think I succeeded in reproducing most of the thoughts, and a good deal of the language of the discourse. It was not 1 See a prior mentiun of this sermon, probably, I Vol., pp. 343-4. II VoL, pp. 33-4. 382 GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS. [CH. 37. 3. long since, that in looking over some of my old papers, this one met my eye; but I cannot now lay my hands upon it. The only other distinct recollection of your Father at that time, which I now have, is that of seeing him every day, and at the same hour, taking his customary walk with his wife and children. Such unvarying regularity in his daily exercises, struck me, I remember, very forcibly. They seemed to be measured, both as to distance and time, by the most exact rule. 'In 1825, I left Princeton, and was absent for seven years, and it was not until my return in 1832, that my acquaintance with your Father can be said to have really commenced. From that period, until the time of his death, I was his near neigh- bour, and saw him very frequently. I remember very well, and I am sure you have not forgotten the day, when he called upon me to request that I would conduct your legal studies, and allow you to enter your name as a student in my office. That he should have selected me to be your legal preceptor, I felt to be a very great compliment. I remember, too, the valuable suggestions he made, as to the books which you should read, and to the course of study you should pursue, in connexion with, and subsidiary to your legal training. He wanted you to build upon a broad foundation, and to combine liberal culture with professional learning. Had you pursued the practice of the law, I am sure you would have felt the great benefit of fol- lowing out the plan he recommended, and thus knowing some- thing outside of your profession. 'The impression which your Father always made upon me was, that of being the most perfect model of a christian gentle- man I had ever met with. His personal appearance was most prepossessing. His manners were in the highest degree polished, not to say courtly, combining ease and grace with much dignity of deportment. His conversational powers were of the highest order. He was rich in anecdote, and told a story remarkably well. He had a tenacious memory — had read much — seen a good deal of the world — and his knowledge was always at com- mand and ready for use. He was universally loved and ad- mired, and the charm of every social circle in which he moved. He was not, I suppose, what is usually called a man of genius. No one of his faculties was developed at the expense of the others. His imagination was always under the control of his judgment. His mind was complete, full-orbed, and round. ' He was a good citizen, and with great fidelity discharged all the duties which that relation imposed upon him. He took a lively interest in the political events and discussions of the day — was familiar with the character of all our distinguished 1839.] JUDGE field's reminiscences. 383 public men — and made it a matter of conscience to vote at every election. He was fond of horticultural j)ursuits— had a taste for planting — and loved to talk of his garden, his fruits, and his trees. 'Although devoted to that branch of the Church, of which he was so conspicuous an ornament, and ever ready to defend it against all assailants, he was not illiberal towards other reli- gious denominations. When it was, for the first time, pro})Osed to build an Episcopal church at Princeton, instead of discour- aging, or throwing obstacles in the way of it, he contril)iited towards the fund for its erection; and I remember the great gratification, which this act of liberality upon his part gave to those who were engaged in the enterprize. 'He was eminently a public-spirited man. He was always ready to co-operate in every undertaking, having for its object the promotion of the good of his fellow-men. He was, during his life, connected with many literary and scientific associations ; and he was always an active working member. Before his removal to New Jersey, he was among the first founders of the New York Historical Society. My latest recollections of him are in connection with the New Jersey Historical Society. Some months before the formation of this Society, he had, in a conver- sation with me, expressed his decided opinion, and his earnest de- sire, that something of the kind should be attempted. The Society was organized at Trenton, on the 27th of February, 1845. Your Father was then far advanced in age, being in his 76th year, and yet he was present at most of its meetings, and took a deep inter- est in all its proceedings. One of the earliest addresses before the Society was delivered by him at Princeton, on the 4th of Septem- ber, 1845; an address, containing many striking observations, and many valuable suggestions as to the means by which the objects of the association might be best promoted. Every one who was present upon that occasion, and heard the concluding sentence of his address, must have felt, that the venerable speaker had unconsciously drawn a portrait of himself "One of the most honorable characteristics," he said, "of a genuine Patriot, and especially of a Christian Patriot, is, that he is a working man — ever planning and laboring for the enlargement of the "field of knowledge, and ever willing to exert himself and make sacrifices for promoting the improvement and happiness of his fellow-men." 'I have thus, in compliance with your request, given you some of my recollections of your Father. 1 have spoken of him, as I presumed vou wished me to do, not so much as a Scholar, or a Writer, or a Preacher, or a Theological Professor, 384 GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS. [CH. 37. 4. — for in these respects, there are others far more competent to do him justice, — but as a Man, a Citizen, and a Patriot. And I have taken more pleasure in dwelling upon these traits of his character, because it is so rare to find them combined with those other claims to distinction which he possessed in so emi- nent a degree. ' I remain, my dear Sir, * Very truly yours, 'R. S. Field.' 4. MISCELLANEOUS REMINISCENCES. A collection of reminiscences of J)r. Miller, chiefly from persons unconnected with him by family ties, will here be thrown together. This method of exhibiting his character involves, of necessity, some repetition, and forbids an ex- actly methodical arrangement. Perhaps, however, the tes- timony of several witnesses, on the same points, may serve sometimes to deepen the impression, without wearying; and only the rather, it may be, if that testimony is not always brought rigorously under its logical head. " Dr. Miller's person, though not above the middle size, was uncommonly symmetrical and dignified. His countenance spoke in no equivocal language of the benignity and generosity of his spirit. His manners were the simple reflection of the fine qualities of his intellect and heart. He might -pass you in the street as a stranger, and yet you could not fail to recognize in him the polished gentleman. Perhaps his rigid regard to all the forms of polite society, so far as they were justified to his conscience and sense of propriety, gave to his manners an air of more than common precision ; but there was nothing that was designed to inspire awe, or fitted to produce embarrassment. Always self-possessed and perfectly at ease, and on all suitable occasions cheerful and abounding with anecdote, he was wel- come to every circle ; while yet he never forgot, or suffered others to forget, the decorum that was due to his character and office. Persons of every age and profession, the oldest and the youngest, the most intelligent and the least informed, were edi- fied by his wisdom, entertained by his humour, and charmed by his bland and attractive address." ^ He was about five feet, eight or nine inches, in stature, and of a becoming fullness of flesh. He had a fair, fresh complexion, and a good, lively color. He was unusually ^ Dr. Sprague's Discourse Commemorative, 12, 13. 1839.] MISCELLANEOUS REMINISCENCES. 385 erect, continuing so almost to the last ; and, bv frequent admonitions to his children on the subject, proved that this was the result of persistent self-training, and that he consi- dered it very important to the health, as well as to the ap- pearance. Before the decay of extreme age, he was freely active, though rather measured in his movements, avoidino- hurry as opposed to grace and dignity. He sometimes spoke of himself as having, in his earlier days, seriously impaired his health, and, for a number of years, suffered greatly, by confinement to sedentary labor, and by want of exercise ; and he was very earnest in counselling' his sons and others, not to make the same mistake ; whicli he attri- buted, in his own case, to nenjlectinf^ good advice, driven him, probably, by his brother Edward. ' His health had been seriously threatened early in life, and care and caution had become habitual to him. He may have gone to an excess in his forethoughts and preventives against exposure, his unfailing anticipations of all possible contingen- cies of weather, and his sensitiveness to draughts, and damp- ness, and changes of temperature. His long life, however, and even health, showed the value of his prudence. He was syste- matically abstemious in eating and drinking, and seemed never to be overcome by tempting viands, against his habit or resolu- tion. On certain days of each week, he "starved," as he called it ; the meaning of the term, practically, being that on these days he reduced his food in character and amount, as he said, "to give nature a holiday." Many disapprove of such experi- ments, but he always thought that he was benefited by this course.' He was not easily flurried, or thrown off his centre. He seemed to have trained himself to readiness for sudden emerorencies, and seldom revealed much embarrassment. AVhen a couple once stood up unexpectedly before him to be married, he proceeded with the ceremony as promptly and coolly, as if quite prepared for it. If the Seminary students, to give a novel expression of respect for their ])ro- fessor, rose in a body at his entrance, he bowed his acknow- ledo-ments, as though it were an accustomed courtesy. A determination not to be hasty in taking offence, not to re- sent slights or insults, had helped to confirm a habit of self- restraint and deliberation, which influenced all his social intercourse, and his whole public life. 386 GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS. [CH. 37. 4. * His system and exactness were remarkable. He was punc- tual to a minute, in doors and out, and was most emphatic in his inculcations on that subject, as well on the ground of ad- vantage to those who regarded the appointed time sacredly, as with reference to the rights of others. I remember his almost instantaneous appearance at prayers and meals, when the bell was heard, — his exact closing of the house at a stated hour at night, — and his annoyance if the absence of any one interfered with this custom. His personal habits fell into undeviating routine — so his use of cold water ablution, his attention to the temperature of his study, his caution against cold and rain. He kept, for years, a record of the state of the thermometer at a certain hour, to which he constantly referred with pleasure to compare the seasons.' Dr. Miller was indeed methodical and exact, but occasional- ly bonus dormitat Homerus. The following entry is extracted, omitting names and dates, from his Record of Marriages. ^July Qth, 18 — . I married a black man and woman, who lived at a place called ■ ■, eight or ten miles from this place, and usually attended Dr. 's church. Forgot to ask their names. Both young and very black.' ' His industry was unremitted. He seemed hardly to lose a moment. Laying down his pen, to obey his rule of punctuality, or to take his allotted time for exercise, he resumed it again, at once, on his return. I doubt whether many lives could show fewer moments wasted.' Throughout his professional life, Dr. Miller acted upon the advice which he often gave to the students in the semi- nary, and to his younger brethren in the ministry — to have, as he expressed it, something always lying on the anvil — some definite, pre-arranged work for every leisure moment. He even recommended, after some old divine, but of course in a qualified sense, having constantly a great many irons in the fire — 'shovel, tongs, poker and all.' It was in no small degree due to his own careful husbanding of moments, that he was enabled to accomplish so much, especially in the way of authorship. It should, however, be remembered, that it is not every stray minute which can be profitably applied to every species of intellectual labor. Brief inter- vals may serve well for many sorts of work, but not for earnest, connected thought, nor for that glowing activity of brain, which produces the most brilliant, and often the most 1839.] MISCELLANEOUS REMINISCENCES. 387 solid results. These require some leiifrth of time for work- ing up to the point of most eftective effort. Dr. Miller not unfrequently repeated some quaint old divine's remark, that "sin, debt and dirt" were the three things to be chiefly avoided ; and in regard to the payment of his debts, he was nervouslj' prompt and punctilious. While economical as to everything involving mere show, or parade, he was unboundedly liberal, according to his means, wherever family comfort or profit, the improvement of his children, or the claims of benevolence, public or private, were concerned. 'He was a man of great delicacy of honour in every sphere. I never knew one who had fewer littlenesses of character. He was incapable of doing or thinking any thing low or mean. In his pecuniary relations, he was prompt and generous, never making points about trifles, or taking pride in having the better of a bargain. He had no anxiety to be rich, nor any alarm or weak regret about his few pecuniary dangers or osses. He had no itching for speculations, or financial advelnturcs, but w^as content to invest the little that he had to lay up, from time to time, in old-fashioned, respectable investments, which, having made, he forgot in the duties of his calling. 'The same high tone and severity of principle prevailed in the family. Xo one of his children could ever accuse him of detecting a fault by trap or trick, or in any doubtfu or undig- nified manner. We had respect for our ])unishmelnt when it fell, however much we might, while sufl?ering, have feared it, or complained of it, or refused to see its justice. 'He was fond of quiet and refined humour. He enjoyed ex- ceedingly wit and anecdote, and relaxed intercourse with genial and amusing companions. He was, himself, no mean relator of entertaining stories and events. I have seen more graceful and pure hilarity at his table, when he was entertaining clergymen as he often did, than I ever remember to have seen elsewhere. Hearty laughter, jest and repartee abounded, but always safely guarded from grossness and irreverence. " No wine flowed ()n these occasions. I well remember the often repeated suggestion to his guests that while he drank no wine himself, and had scruples about having it on the table, it was on the side-board for the "weaker brethren." 'Dr. Miller had a fund of anecdotes and amusing stones, which he was very fond of telling. By those who luard then;, they were ofceu treasured up and repeated as "Dr. .Millers 388 GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS. [CH. 37. 4. Stories"; but unhappily some, of sufficient point indeed, but of questionable propriety, and which had never passed his lips, were retailed with this introduction and recommendation. His indulgence in anecdote-telling rarely transgressed the bounds of true dignity and taste.' He often related an anecdote with great point and energy of expression and action. His voice was one day heard in his study, the tones rising in excitement and emphasis, un- til they attracted the attention of diiferent members of the family throughout the house. At length he was heard fiercely to vociferate, "Keep your hands off of me, Sir! Keep your hands off of me !" With one accord, the whole body of listeners, thoroughly alarmed, and having called Mrs. Miller from her room as they passed, flew to the study door. Here there was a momentary pause, while Mrs. Miller was put forward, to take the responsibility of enter- ing first. She opened the door with some hesitation, as the alarming sounds had died away ; but the others all pressed close after her, and the whole excited company was revealed to President Carnahan of the College, who, quietly seated, was listening with great apparent delight to Dr. Miller, who was upon his feet, throwing all his energy into some amusing anecdote, which he had brought up for the occa- sion. Those who had rushed so gallantly to his defence, fell back, at once, and beat a retreat, not without consider- able momentary confusion ; but they recovered themselves enough, presently, to laugh heartily over the adventure. "His mind was distinguished rather for that admirable har- monious blending of all the faculties, which generally secures the highest amount of usefulness, than for the striking predo- minance of some one quality, which often attracts more notice and admiration. You could not say that he was deficient in any faculty ; you could not say that he exceeded all others in any; but you could say that he exceeded most others in the symmetry and completeness of the intellectual man. His per- ceptions, if not remarkably quick, were remarkably clear; he hated intellectual as well as moral darkness, and knew how to distinguish between profound investigation and the wild sallies of an ambitious and dreamy philosophy. He had a ready and retentive memory, in which were carefully treasured the results of his study and observation. He had a sound, discriminating judgment, which never leaped in the dark, and usually reached 1839.] MISCELLANEOUS REMIXISCENCES. 389 its conclusions by a legitimate process. If his imagination was not strikingly prolific, his taste was uncommonly exact ; and every eflbrt of the former was subject to the rigid control of the latter. He possessed in a high degree that admirable quality, — common sense; which is .so eminently a discerncr of times and seasons, and which, even in the absence of what are usually considered the higher intellectual endowments, may be a secu- rity for an honorable and useful life. He had an unusually safe mind; a mind that moved luminously, ettectively, yet cau- tiously;— a mind that you would trust amidst agitatinn; and even convulsive scenes, and not be afraid to read the report of its opinions and decisions. I remember to have heard that the cele- brated Dr. Joseph Priestley was much struck with the character of his mind, while Dr. ^Miller was yet a very young man ; and, little as he sympathized in his views of Christian doctrine, pre- dicted that, if his life were spared, he would attain to great eminence in his profession. " But we must view the intellectual in connection with the moral, if we would do justice to the character of his mind ; though it may be difficult here to draw the line between what was originally conferred by the Creator and what was superinduced by education or even by grace. But I think all who knew him will admit that he was constituted with a large share of bene- volent feeling. It shone in his countenance ; it breathed from his lips; it found expression in his bland and kindly manner. Still he had a strong natural sense of right and wrong; and when he was deeply impressed with the idea of evil doing, he could sometimes utter himself in solemn and indignant rebuke. Though he was prudent and conciliatory in his intercourse with men, I never heard him charged, even in a whisper, with any unworthy concealment; with aiming to reach his end by a de- signedly circuitous or equivocal course; with seeming to be in- tent on the accomplishment of one object, while his efforts were really directed towards another. Xor do I believe that he was justly chargeable with any lack of firmness, — however his christian courtesy and love of peace may have sometimes car- ried him to what some would regard an extreme of forbearance or lenity. His firmness certainly never degenerated into ob- stinacy, but existed as a twin sister to that charity which thinketh no evil, and which hopeth all things; nevertheless he felt his convictions strongly, and valued them highly, and ad- hered to them in all cases which he deemed important, with unwavering fidelity." ^ 1 Dr. Sprague's Disc. Commcm., 9-12. 390 GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS. [CH. 37. 4. To multitudes it will be a recommendation of Dr. Mil- ler's example, that it brings to view attainments within the reach of men in general, rather than a mere object of ad- miration, far beyond the grasp of ordinary mortals. As al- ready intimated, he was certainly not distinguished by great genius, in the common acceptation of that word ; nor was he even pre-eminent as a scholar — least of all as an original investigator, in any department of human learning. If he had a just claim to superiority, it was for the sym- metry, finish, and practical efficiency which assiduous labor, in the plain, beaten track of life, had wrought in a sound, vigorous, active, well-balanced mind. His personal ap- pearance was undoubtedly a help to success ; but that ad- vantage alone, as it has been said of patronage, could, at most, only have sent him up like a rocket, to fall like the stick. InAvardly he was, by nature, by diligent cultivation, and by divine grace, something like what he was, by nature and providence, outwardly. Not trusting to natural ad- vantages, he had striven to turn those that he possessed to good account, and make the most of them for the great ends of human being. His methodical, systematic industry has been spoken of. With him, however, method, routine and diligence were not so rigid as to become ungraceful in himself, or an annoyance to others. He was gently persistent in his ap- pointed toil, readily resuming it after interruption, putting a price upon each moment, and wisely redeeming the time. Yet he seldom worked under high pressure. Few men know, and fewer still can drive themselves to realize, what the mind may be compelled to accomplish ; and the secret is far too dangerous to life to be ordinarily a desirable pos- session. Dr. Miller conscientiously guarded health and comfort, and was no more systematic in his toils, than in taking rest and recreation. One of his pupils remarks, that he was accustomed to say, that as for himself, however it might be with others, he needed, every night, eight hours of sleep, well rounded out at both ends. The symmetry of his character, perhaps, won for him more general respect and esteem, among his contempora- ries, than could possibly have been won by brilliant talents, or vast learning alone. If he never dazzled, he usually 1839.] MISCELLANEOUS REMINISCENCES. 391 attracted, seldom gave offence, was free from affectation, mannerism and eccentricity. Such as you knew liim at one time, you might be sure to find him at another. You would say that correction and finish had been his aim, rather than great achievement. Ilis kind feelings, his unwillingness to wound others, and his readiness to contribute to their gra- tification and to the accomplishment of their scliemes, en- couraged exactions upon his time and strength, to which he yielded, for the most part, so cheerfully, as to gain many friends, even if he lost many hours, and often sacrificed his own comfort and convenience. In declining a request which he could not fulfill, he was ever stuut it did not end with the church service. AVhen we got back to the house, he always asked for the child ; and he would take it, when brought, into his arms and bless it. His manner then was solemn beyond any thing I have ever witnessed. AVhen this scene first occurred, it took me by surprise, and was almost too much for my calmness. The child thus first blessed hjis passed away from earth; but he was not taken, until, from his almost infiintile lips, were heard words of faith and prayer. 400 PROFESSIONAL CHARACTERISTICS. [CII. 38. 1. And now, in my fondest recollections of that child, I mingle the scene in which your honored father blessed him.' In Dr. Miller's later years, his formal pulpit discourses were almost uniformly read from the full manuscript. As a rare thing, he returned to his old method of memoriter preaching, or preached extemporaneously, though not with- out careful preparation. His extemporaneous speaking, whether in the pulpit, at the professor's desk, or elsewhere, was easy, natural, and sometimes more animated and forci- ble than his usual readins^ ; but the habit of trustino; to his manuscript had made him distrustful of himself without it. He always encouraged, however, in ministers and candi- dates for the ministry, the effort to become good extem- porizers ; though not without cautioning them against the dangers of success. To one of his sons he wrote, 'The most serious objection, in my view, to the habit of preaching without papers, is, that when a man finds he can preach passably and acceptably thus, his indolence will be apt to tempt him not to write at all, or, at most, very seldom. And he who abandons writing will soon, inevitably, become common- place and superficial. I have never known this to fail: it did not even in Dr. Mason. Three-fourths of his sermons were of but a medium character, and many of them quite drivelling, as they would have been in popular estimate, had he not had the knack of making, in most of his discourses, at least one explo- sion, in which blast of voice, an overbearing tone of authority, > and a power of giving emphasis and plausibility to mere tru- isms, if not nonsense, imparted to them an air of something ex- traordinary.' Dr. Hall, of Trenton, having spoken of Dr. Miller's preaching, occasionally, by invitation, in his church, re- marks, * These references to his visits recall one occasion, on which I said to him, that if the day on which he had consented to come should be unpleasant, or his own health should not be comfortable, he need not run any risk on my account, as I should hold myself in readiness for such a disappointment. He lifted up his hands and said, "Brother Hall, you astonish me !" — and went on to say, that he had never been able to pre- pare a sermon except under the stress of necessity.' Dr. Miller once said to the writer, during a horseback ride, that he had reason to be thankful that he had never 1839.] THE MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL. 401 b3en a pojndar preacher — had never been much run after ! He was a punctual attendant upon clmrcli judicatories, and took an active, influential, but not obtrusive part in their deliberations. From an early period in his ministry down to old age, much of tlie business of tliese bodies, in the shape of reports, was laid upon him ; and there was rarely a committee of ceremony appointed witli wliich he was not connected. To illustrate liis influence in these judicatories, the Rev. 11. Whitefield Hunt, of Schooley's Mountain, mentions the case of an appeal to the Synod of New Jersey, from a decision of the Presbytery of Raritan, to organize a church at Lower German A^alley. Dr. Miller urged that the appeal should be sustained,. be- cause the church was not needed, and its proposed location was surrounded by mountains so precipitous as to be unin- habited and uninhabitable. He carried the Synod with him, and the General Assembly affirmed their judgment. The following summer he visited the Springs, and examined, for himself, the ''debated o;round." 'At the next mootins of the Synod, which was at Princeton,' writes Mr. Hunt, Dr. Miller 'rose in his place and remarked, "Mr. Mode- rator, there has been a great deal said about the organiza- tion of a church at Lower German Valley. At the last meeting of Synod I opposed the organization; but I have since visited that ground. Mr. Moderator, we have been misled ; and I move you. Sir, that the Presbytery of Rari- tan be permitted to organize the church forthwith." The motion was carried almost by acclamation.' Dr. Miller felt deeply his obligation to admonish others of their faults ; and painful as the duty was, particularly to one of his kindly, courteous disposition, it was not al- ways neglected: both personally and by letter he admin- istered many a christian reproof. His brethren in the ministry received their share of his faithful services in this way. And, for the most part, he was enabled to fulfill his duty, without serious or lasting offence. A few stray opinions of Dr. Miller's in regard to church matters may here be thrown together. He was of opinion that it was not advisable, in ordi- nary cases, to examine before the session church mem- 402 PROFESSIONAL CHARACTERISTICS. [CH. 38. 1. bers bringing certificates from Scotch, Irish, and other foreign churches ; but that the pastor ought to converse with them, and, in this way, assure himself of their qualifi- cations for admission. He was very strenuous in advising, that the pastor him- self, with such help as he could obtain, should catechize the children of his charge every week ; recommending Satur- day afternoon as the most suitable time, because week-day schools were not then in session ; because an hour spent in this way would not often be regarded as inconsistent with holiday enjoyment, yet might often prevent holiday dissi- pation ; and because it would be a preparation for the Sab- bath. Both Dr. and Mrs. Miller were opposed to the modern device of fairs for paying church debts, and raising money for other church purposes. The latter, in one of her let- ters, speaking of a refreshment table spread for the benefit of the church, says, ' I cannot go with the multitude to do evil, and I sit at home and fret, and try to pray, and some- times am cheered with the hope of better times.' And when an unexpected claim SAvept aAvay at once all the pro- fits of such an adventure, she looked upon it as a provi- dential reproof.^ When inquired of, whether, in judicial cases, the whole testimony must be spread upon the minutes. Dr. Miller re- plied, ' By no means ; it may be very indelicate, and there- fore wholly improper to go upon such a record ; but it must all be carefully preserved upon file, if not put on the minutes.' 1 Mrs. Miller here hints at the evils of church-fairs, of every class, Avithout mentioning them distinctly. Many doubtful, or even obviously sinful prac- tices have been often connected with them ,• and fairs conducted unobjectiona- bly have countenanced, before an undiscriminating public, those with which such practices have been connected; nay, have countenanced many fairs, so- called, which have been altogether of a demoralizing nature. But there is a deeper principle of condemnation, as regards all such expedients for raising money for the advancement of the Gospel. The very thing itself, apart from its abuses, is an evil. The Gospel expressly directs how means for its own propagation are to be obtained — by the free-will ofierings of Christ's people, according to the prosperity' which he has given them. Now, to employ mere human devices to accomplish the object is to draw away attention from the Gospel plan, to substitute something else for it, to teach something on this subject inconsistent with Christ's teachings. The people are to be trained to give with self-denial and simply for Jesus' sake; but, instead of this, by church lectures, and fairs, and refreshment tables, they are taught that they may advance religion, and get the full worth of their money in self-gratifica- 1839.] the professor. 403 2. The Professor. ])r. Miller was, by title, from first to last, Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Churcfi Government; but to these departments was added permanently tliat of the Composition and Delivery of Sermons. In all, lie united the two methods of a text-book and lectures; telling his pupils that confinement to the latter method would make them too dependent upon their professor, too ready to take his ipse dixit as conclusive; while no perfect text-book could be found; the best of them were full of faults; and yet their very faults might prove an advantaf];e, if they kept the reader more awake to spy them out. Upon every subject of instruction he drew up question books or 'Cate- chisms', presenting the subject in a brief form for review and examination. These the students seem to have been encouraged, or, at least, permitted, to copy. To Professor Cogswell, of East Windsor Theological In- stitute, Dr. Miller wrote on the 2Gth of September, 1884, *I am in the habit of meeting the First (or Senior) class three times a week ; viz., at eleven o'clock in the forenoons of Monday, Wednesday and Friday; the Second (or Middle) class, twice a Aveek; viz., on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, at three o'clock ; and the Third (or Junior) class, once a week ; viz., on Saturday afternoons. I spend about an hour and a quarter with each class ; sometimes more and sometimes less ; but that may be considered as the average. Most of ray lec- tures are in a degree extemporaneous. In many of them, I tion, at the same time; ami the result is selfishnoss, in.stcail of Christian libe- rality'. To be sure, it is urged, that persons outside, who otherwise would con- tribute nothing, are thus reached ; that it is clearly lawful for Christians to make money to be given afterwards to Christ's cause ; and that money may be made for this object by associated effort as pro])erly as by an individual. But to pervert the Church for the money of those altogether outside of her i)alc id a wretched ])olicy ; and, moreover, those without are themselves to be influ- enced and drawn in ; which is not likely to be effected without a consistent Christian exam])le. As to the other plea, it is a mi,srepresentation «f the sim- ple obvious fact, that, by such expedients, the public, including church-meni- bers, are distinctly called upon to give to the Church, and for the Church's sake; so that the Church herself is regarded, always, as raising money by the means employed for her benefit : it is the Church which thus appears to teach, that giving to Christ is to find a present reward, in the gratification of appe- tite and carnal desire. Besides, God's people, though by no means so liberal as they ought to be. are really much more liberal than they often have the cre- dit of being; and the same time and efTort, spent in direct solicitation for Christ's sake, will ordinarily secure more money than when devoted to fair?, or any other like expedient. 404 PROFESSIONAL CHARACTERISTICS. [CH. 38. 2. have nothing before me but very small hints, or brief memo- randa. In other cases, I have about one-half written, and ex- temporize the rest ; and, in a very few cases, I have the whole writ- ten, where the language, as well as the matter, is important. 'A beginning with fifteen or twenty students will be very re- spectable and auspicious. We began, in 1812, with three only. * * * I see more and more the importance of union and intercourse between those who think substantially alike with respect to the great fundamental principles of the gospel. "^ * ' N. B. — At the beginning of every session in our seminary there is an introductory lecture delivered by one of our professors on some general subject not ordinarily included in our stated course ; such as, The Importance of Vital Piety in Candidates for the Ministry; The Importance of a Full Course of Study; The Means of gaining most Advantage from Social Study; etc., etc. Each of the professors performs this service in turn.' Under the head of Ecclesiastical, embracing Biblical, History, Dr. Miller always included Chronology and Sacred Geography. To the end, he employed Mosheim's work as his chief text-book. Dr. Maclaine's was the only English translation of it, until, in 1832, Dr. James Murdock, of New Haven, published another, adding notes equal, per- haps, in extent to the original itself. Of this history and its translators Dr. Miller said, "The serious defects of Dr. Mosheim's work were by no means overlooked ; and the loose, paraphrastical character of Dr. Maclaine's translation was distinctly recognized, and has been explicitly stated to all the successive classes which have passed through the institution. ^^ ^ As far as my examina- tion has extended, Dr. Murdoch's translation is far more close and faithful than Dr. Maclaine's; his additional notes, (though not, in all cases, such as I should have chosen, or such as I can entirely concur in,) are rich and instructive, forming a very valuable addition to the original work; and his ample referen- ces to able writers on the several parts of the narrative are of great value to students. ''' '■' Dr. Murdoch's Mosheim will be far more desirable for the classes in Theological Seminaries than Dr. Maclaine's, or any other form of the learned German's work that has met my eye." ^ The following letter also was written to Professor Cogs- well. 1 The Presbyterian, lltli of April, 1832. P. 35. 1839.] THE PROFESSOR. 405 'Rev'd and dear Brother. Princeton, July 24, 1834. 'Your letter of the 15th in.^tant reached me five days after its date. I received and perused it with gratification, yet not without embarrassment. With gratification, because I was glad to find that I enjoyed any portion of your confidence ; — with embarrassment, because I felt so little qualified to meet your expectations in returning an answer. It is true, I have been more than twenty years engaged in my present employ- ment; but, after all, I must acknowledge, I feel very poorly fitted to say much to a Brother who is just entering on the same career of service. Since you request me, however, to say something, I cannot prevail on myself to remain silent. 'I make the Bible my only text-book in the commencement of my course of Ecclesiastical History ; and as far as the Old Testament narrative reaches. I consider the visible church as having been founded in the family of Adam, and as beginning as soon as man was placed under a dispensation of mercy. It is wholly incredible in my view, that there should be no visible church in the world until the call of Abraham. Can it be ima- gined that, during these two thousand years, there should be pious people; — a people to whom the will of (lod was imparted; — a people professing the true religion; — a people worship])ing God by sacrifices, etc., in the way of his own appointment, — and yet no church? What is a church, but a body of people, professing the true religion, together with their children? Surely, there was such a body in the family of Adam. Dr. Mason's doctrine, that the church commenced in the family of Abraham, I am constrained to reject. 'My plan is to begin with a Lecture preliminary to my course of instruction, announcing my plan ; — showing the importance of studying the Bible, and being familiar with its history as well as with its doctrines ; — and labouring to impress the minds of the students with the necessity of their being at home in the Bible, — both as Christians and as Ministers. I then give out a certain number of chapters, on the history of which the class is to be examined at the next interview. When we come together the next time, I spend about twenty or thirty min- utes in examining them on the portion specified, and having done so, deliver a lecture on the most prominent and interest- ing points embraced in the narrative. I have delivered Lec- tures on the following subjects. 1. The Creation, including the question whether the days of creation were natural, or de- miurgic. I reject the New Haven doctrine that the p. GG. 1840.] CHRISTIAN EDUCATION. 41P labor, with his pen and otherwise, to promote tlic training of chiklren in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. She had assisted, as early as 1810, in forming " The Female Benevolent Society of Princeton," designed to re lieve the poor generally, in particular the sick poor ; but also to educate indigent children. Tliesc were sent, at first, to a private day-school in the village; but, in 1825, the Society opened a school of its own, in which free in- struction might be given to the poor; and, in 1828, set about the erection of a building for its accommodation. This school is still continued : for more than forty years it has been steadily accomplishing a most important work of Christian charity. Mrs. Miller, while she lived, was its chief manager, visiting it herself very frequently, and sometimes sending her children, by turns, to assist the teacher in her labors. Of the Benevolent Society she was long the President. She was greatly interested, also, in the establishment of The Mount Lucas Orphan and Guar- dian Institute, near Princeton, and was instrumental in securing for it a considerable endowment, which was so managed, that when the Institute was at length of necessity abandoned, she was able to transfer a large fund, with the consent of all concerned, to the Ashmun Institute, since Lin- coln University, in Pennsylvania, for the Christian training of young coloured men. Before the establishment of the Society's School, she had received a number of coloured chil- dren into her own house for daily instruction ; and, in after years, she took a very lively interest and active part in a coloured Sabbath-school, held in the village. For a long time, too, she maintained a small white Sabbath-school at home, formed from a few neighbours' families. Mrs. Miller was particularly sanguine in hoping for good results from a thoroughly Christian training commenced with children of a very early age. Her, convictions on this subject were exceedingly deep and most firmly settled : of older children, hardened by neglect and contact with the world, she had comparatively little — perhaps too little — hope. She very frequently urged upon her acquaintances, some of them missionaries in foreign lands, and particu- larly upon those interested in public educational efforts, that they should bestow their first efforts upon the very young — those just rising above mere infancy. 420 OLD AGE. [CH. 39. 1. In October, 1840, the Synod of New Jersey met in Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania. Railroad facilities were not then so generally distributed as they are at present. Nearly thirty years, since elapsed, have produced an astonishing change in this respect. The distant members of Synod reached the place of meeting by long drives, in private conveyances, over mountain and valley ; and survivors, to this day, talk Avith special interest, of the adventures of their journey — particularly some of Dr. Miller's companions of the Presbytery of New Brunswick. He and his party, of which Mr.^. Miller was one, at a point in their route, were turned back and delayed by a tree which had fallen across the road. Then they were compelled to stop at a smithy, to have two or more of the horses re-shod ; and here a reverend doctor of divinity, to the great diversion of his brethren, doffed his black coat, donned a spare black- smith's apron, and proved it to be no idle boast, that he could shoe a horse as well as any man. This meeting of Synod was long remembered with special interest by Dr. and Mrs. Miller, on account of a report which he had pre- sented, and an animated discussion which had taken place, on the subject of Christian education. No doubt his pre- vious report, on the same subject, to the General Assem- bly, had served to introduce the matter to the Synod's attention. Mrs. Miller was, for a number of years, a leading mem- ber of a Maternal Association in Princeton, the members of which met frequently to unite in prayer for their chil- dren, and to stir each other up to greater parental fidelity. To give a thorough christian education to their own children was Dr. and Mrs. Miller's constant and untiring endeavour. That their sons and daughters might be de- voted followers of Christ, and the former devoted ministers, were their highest desire and prayer for them. Religion was to be the basis of the whole training, and the higher the superstructure on this foundation, the better. Dr. Miller recognized, constantly, the truth, that his family demanded a large share of his time and attention ; and, in the great- est hurry of business and study, he always found oppor- tunity to provide for their comfort, enjoyment and profit. The question of their pleasure and improvement entered 1840.] CHRISTIAN EDUCATION. 421 essentially into all his plans — was secontlary to no other question, unless that of keeping liis own heart. For any suggestion that concerned the advantage of his cliihlren he ■was always ready. Mrs. Miller once queried whether some of the lectures which he was delivering in the Seminary might not be useful to his own family ; and this led, the following winter, to his assembling the family several times during the week, for a number of months, in his study, reading to them his Seminary prelections upon Biblical and Ecclesiastical History and Chronology, and examining the older children afterwards upon them, and requiring them often to write out from memory an outline of what they had heard. Says one of his sons, * Though perhaps not demonstratively affectionate, in his in- tercourse with his children, and though inclined on ])rinciple, and after reflection, to severity of discipline, and a regard for the maxim "spare the rod and spoil the child," there was sincere love mingled with our respect for him. We were proud of him, glad when he was with us, delighted when he laughed at our jokes and childish tricks. He gave us more confidence than we deserved, and the full rights and privileges of our years. He was particularly annoyed at any evidence of want of truth, or high tone, or manliness, and made us feel the weight he at- tached to these qualities in more ways than one.' When Dr. Miller had committed the training of any of his children to any teacher, or institution, and so long as he thouorht it right to continue the relation thus es- tablished, he considered it a plain duty to re(iuire from the child implicit obedience to the instructor, with whose regu- lations or administration he was seldom at all disposed to interfere. It may safely be said, that he never shielded one of his children from just chastisement at school, and gave little countenance to complaints of -the undue severity, or mismanagement in any way, of those to whom he had entrusted their education. Dr. Miller made a college education a sine qua non with all his sons. Beyond that, he permitted each to choose freely his own pursuit in life. Nothing could have grati6ed him so much, as that all of them should have been called of God into the Gospel ministry; but whether any one had such a call, he did not pretend to decide. While all knew 422 OLD AGE. [cii. 89. 1. well that he regarded the ministry as imspeakahlj the noblest of human professions, each was left, as to this point, entirely to his own will and views of duty. Their father recollected, that he himself had once thought of being a merchant, and had been turned, providentially, to a better purpose. One of his sons first tried mercantile business, but, after a brief apprenticeship to that, became a physician. Three chose the bar; but the eldest of these died when he had but just entered upon a course of legal study ; and the next, after a few years' practice, exchanged the Bar for the Pulpit. The Ministry was the first choice of the youngest alone. Dr. Miller did not share at all in the narrow prejudices which many entertained against the legal profession. Two of his own brothers, doubtless with their father's concur- rence, had chosen that profession ; and, not improbably, it would have been, next to the sacred office, his own more mature preference. At any rate, he regarded it as a noble and, properly, an ennobling pursuit. Many a parent, under a sense of christian responsibility, has said, " I cannot per- mit my son to be a lawyer. There are, at the Bar, too mnny temptations to knavery, and too many examples of it. He shall go into a counting house, instead of an attorney's office." But the simple truth is, that in mercantile life there are ten temptations to dishonesty, for one found in legal practice. And the consequences of this difference may readily be discerned. Let any one form an intimate acquaintance with a dozen young merchants, and the same number of young practitioners at the bar, both of about the average standing; and he will soon discover that, whatever honorable exceptions there may be among the former, the higher standard of professional integrity certainly belongs to the latter. Young merchants will, often, in their social gatherings, boast of their clever bargains — their success in the '' tricks of trade ;" but very rarely will young lawyers, be found thus amusing each other. It was formerly a com- mon saying in the city of Philadelphia, that a man who had studied for the Bar rarely made a successful merchant: his knowledge of law only cramped him in the emergencies of a counting-room. Let it be remembered, that men who have passed with unimpeached integrity, and sterling honor, 1840.] CORRESPONDENCE AND DIARY. 423 through all the temptations of mercantile life, deserve spe- cial respect, for having gone unscathed througli a fiery ordeal. 2. Correspondence and Diary. John T. Gilchrist, Esquire, of New Rochelle, New York, had written to Dr. Miller, informing 'him of tlie removal of the presbjterial relations of the cliurch ' at tliat place, 'by the session, or a member of it, and the minister who was then supplying the pulpit, from its connexion with the Bedford Presbytery, (Old School,) to the New York Sec- ond, (New School,) without any consultation with the church, and against the declared wishes of some of tlie members, and that they quoted his work on the eldership as authority;' on the 2Tth of April, 1840, Dr. Miller re- plied, ' The construction put upon what I say, in the pages referred to in my treatise on the Ruling Elder, is as unjust as it well could be. Such a mode of proceeding as this construction points out, would fill the Church with disorder and violence throughout all its borders. * I say, then, that, according to my views of church order, no elder sitting in Synod, as the sole representative of a church, can, by his vote, or in any other way, alter the pre.sbyterial re- lations of that church. Nay, if the whole session were present, they could not do it. The presbyterial relations of a church cannot possibly be altered, but by a vote of the members of the church, at a meeting called for that purpose, and in virtue of a public and explicit notice. I had occasion to be present, eight days ago, when a transfer of presbyterial relation was actually made on the principle and in the manner which I have stated. There is no point, I apprehend, better established.' To Mrs. Susan F. Ledyard, widow of Benjamin Ledyard, Esquire, and daughter of the Honorable Brockholst Living- ston, Judge of the Supreme Court of the United States, Dr. Miller wrote on the 22d of May, 1840, after mentioning his having failed to find her in New York, ' Mrs. Miller and myself had heard of your purpose to visit France, five or six weeks before your letter arrived ; and had conversed repeatedly with one another on the subject. If I could tell vou all that passed in those conversations, I am sure it would afford you new testimony of our kind and respectful 424 OLD AGE. [CH. 39. 2. feelings, and our sincere interest in your temporal and eternal welfare. I had intended, in the course of the call above re- ferred to, to offer you the affectionate counsels and the united benediction of my dear comjoanion and myself. But this was rendered impossible by circumstances. 'And, now, my dear Madam, what shall I say? Our sincere prayer is, that your voyage may be a safe and happy one ; that you may find your son and his consort in health and comfort ; and that you may spend a few months in the great capital, in which he resides, with much gratification, and with rich profit to your spiritual interests. All this I trust I need not assure you ; or, also, that we shall often bear you on our hearts before the throne of grace, as long as you remain absent from your native country, that a blessing may rest upon this whole expedition. 'You are going to France — beautiful, alluring, splendid, irreligious France. My dear wife and I have lived longer than you ; but we should almost tremble for ourselves, if we were going into that country, and especially into that luxurious, seductive city to which you are destined. May you be preserved from every snare, and every unhallowed influence, during your residence there ; and even find your heart drawn more closely to the Saviour and His service, by witnessing the splendid vanity and corruption of that country. I have known a few instances of persons not only remaining unharmed in such places, but being driven, so to speak, to more cordial devotedness to God, by seeing the fatal mischiefs of irreligion and worldly dis- sipation. May this, my dear Madam, be your experience ; and then you will have reason forever to rejoice in your visit to France. * But do not feel confident that this will be the natural effect of the scenes presented by the French capital. The very reverse is the only natural eftect. Remember your own weakness. Pray, without ceasing, that you may be endued with strength from on high for resisting temptation, and for walking unhurt through the fire. Remember that much, converse with God, in your Bible and your closet, can alone afford any promise, that you will not, by your contemplated visit, lay a foundation for much regret and many tears, in those serious hours whic i are yet to come. 'When you reach Paris — which God grant you may do without any adverse occurrence — remember me respectfully to your son, and give him my benediction. And if, amidst the whirl of that city, you find time to recollect that you have two sincere friends in Princeton, who pray for you ; and to drop them a line, telling them how you and yours are, and how 1840.] CORRESPONDENCE AND DIARY. 425 Parisian scenes appear in your eyes, you will gratify us. I^fy dear wife unites with me in good wishes and benedictions. *I am, my dear Madam, 'Your sincere friend, *Mrs. Susan F. Ledyard. Samuel Miller.' We have already seen that as early as the year 1804, Dr. Miller undertook to prepare a sketch of his deeply venerated preceptor, Dr. Nisbet, to be prefixed to an edi- tion of his lectures. The latter, for some reason, were never published, and the materials for the sketch remained un- used, until in 1840, Dr. Miller committed to the press a memoir^ of that learned but eccentric clergyman. His brother-in-law, Thomas Sergeant, one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, wrote to bim^ on the 17th of November, 1840, upon receiving a copy of the work, * On my return from Pittsburgh, I found on my table your Memoir of Dr. Nisbet, which I have since read with much pleasure and satisfaction, as it gave me a very distinct idea of a man, whom I had frequently heard referred to without being able to know exactly why. The style is easy and perspicuous, and the subject treated in a very agreeable manner. It made me lecollect, that the best biographies we have — Plutarch and Johnson — were the works of a late period of life, when, perhaps, judgment, imagination, and facility of composition, the result of practice, combine to cast a mellow hue over the composition. * * How could [Dr. Rush] * * beguile the old scholar into obscurity, poverty, and misery? * * Permit me now to say, that I think yon stop the current of the story, by putting those discourses of his in the beginning of the book : they seem a sort of barrier to one's progress ; and perhaps ought to be in the appendix. However the work is too agreeable to find fault with, and it is the one of your w^orks which will live in the literary world.'' The following extracts are from Dr.-]\Iillcr's diary. * Lord's day, September 20, 1840. This day, though in near- ly my usual health, I do not preach, and spend a part of the day in special prayer, with reference to my peculiar circum- stances. * Since February last, my health has been unusually delicate "Memoir of the Rev. Charles Nisbet. D.D., Into President of Ditkinsnn College, Carlisle. By Samuel Miller, D.D., Professor in the Theological Semi- nary, Princeton, New Jersey. New York: 1^4U." — 12mo. pp. 367. Vol. IL— 33 426 OLD AGE. [CH. 39. 2. and feeble. I was, in tliat month, confined nearly four weeks to my room. Toward the latter part of the following May, I was attacked again with the same complaint — a slow, obstinate fever, which, though at no time very severe, was obscure and protracted. From that attack I was mercifully raised up, so as to enter again on the duties of my office, after a confinement of five weeks; not, however, until a few days after the term in the Seminary had begun. But I had been scarcely four weeks attending to my duties, before I sustained a third attack of a similar kind, which confined me again for more than three weeks. At the end of this time, by the advice of my physician, I went to Saratoga Springs, accompanied by my beloved wife, my eldest son, my daughter , and a young niece out of health. I remained at the Springs just a week, and reached home again on Saturday, the 22d of August. Since that time I have been gradually gathering strength, but very slowly ; and perhaps may never regain my wonted firmness. But, sure- ly, it is no wonder that a man, and a sedentary man too, who has nearly completed the seventy-first year of his age, should experience much infirmity, and never know again the feelings of comfort and vigor, which he once knew. Blessed be the Lord for the comfort I have enjoyed hitherto. And, if it should please him never to restore me to my former strength, may he enable me, as long as I do live, to live to his glory, and to sus- tain my decline, however painful it may be, with patience, hu- mility and entire resignation to his will.' * Lord's day, October 11, 1840. This day I do not preach ; and, being at home, surrounded by my dear domestic circle, and enjoying more quiet retirement than usual on the holy Sabbath, I give it to peculiar exercises of devotion. ' I have been led to-day to reflect on the multiplied and great mercies of God to me in my pilgrimage. They are more nu- merous than I can reckon up, and richer than I am able to estimate. The Lord has provided for my temporal wants in a more ample manner than in early life I ventured to anticipate. He has cast my lot in situations which could hardly have been more comfortable than they were and are. He has given me one of the most precious wives that ever man was blest with ; one whose ardent piety has been to me a constant stimulus and pattern ; whose strong mind and practical wisdom have ena- bled her to be a counsellor and guideof inestimable value; and whose exemplary tenderness and affection render her one of the most delightful of companions. Oh, that I could adequately prize this precious gift of God, and duly honor her, and make a suitable improvement of her example! The Lord has also 1840.] CORRESPONDENCE AND DIARY. 427 given me children dutiful and promising. ]\ray he give me grace to walk before them in all the commandments and ordi- nances of the Lord blameless ! *I have often thought that my lot in life has been peculiarly adapted to promote my comfort and usefulness. Had I been made the possessor of great wealth, I have reason to fear that its influence upon my mind would have been highly unlavor- able to my best interests. And, on the other hand, bad I passed my life in abject poverty, I should have been cut off from many of those advantages and opportunities of doing good, which the dispensations of God's providence have presented. * * " I will bless the Lord at all times : his praise shall con- tinually be in my mouth." 'But when I contrast these mercies, these precious advanta- ges, which I have enjoyed, with the poor improvement which I have made of them, how much reason have I to be humbled in the dust ! * *' ' October 24, 1840. The return of this day reminds me of my happy marriage thirty nine years ago. I am now at Wilkesbarre, in Pennsylvania, attending the annual meeting of the Synod of New Jersey, which has assembled this year in a remote corner of its bounds; and, although surrounded ^vith company, and occupied daily and hourly with the business of the Synod, I cannot forbear to recur, with grateful recollection, to that precious event which, thirty-nine years ago, put me in possession of the richest earthly gift that a gracious God has ever bestowed upon his unw^orthy servant. * * As she has been to me the Ijest of ivives, so, I trust, my children will ever remember, that she has been to them the best of mothers.' * October 31, 1840. My birthday has again returned. * * My health has been repeatedly interrupted. Li February, May and August last, I suffered three several attacks of disease, which indicated a decline of physical vigor, and threatened a speedy termination of my earthly course. But my health and strength seem to be reviving, and, by the goodness of CJ:>th February. 456 OLD AGE. [CH. 39. 5. The interest which Dr. Miller had taken in the Elder- ship of the Presbyterian Church, and his repeated publica- tions respecting its claims and duties, led to a request that he would preach on this subject in Philadelphia, in 1843. He consented, and the sermon was published bj those who had requested its delivery.^ In his preface he says, "In the month of March last, the Author of the following Discourse received a written request from sixty-Jive of the Euling Elders connected with the churches of Philadelphia, that he would deliver in that city, in the course of the month of May ensuing, and during the Sessions of the General Assembly, a Sermon on the Warrant, Nature, and Duties of the office of the Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church. It was suggested, as an argument in favour of such a service, that a plain and abridged view of these topics might reach and impress some minds not accustomed or disposed to peruse larger works." " With such a request, coming from a body of brethren so eminently worthy of Christian respect and affection, it was im- possible for the author to refuse compliance. Although he had, more than ten years before, published a larger work on the same subject; and although his advanced age and growing in- firmities might, perhaps, have warranted an apology for de- clining any new service; yet he felt constrained not to shrink from any labour, by which any of his brethren supposed he might do some good, however small, to the Church of God."^ During this year Dr. Miller also published his Letters to his Sons in College.^ This work touches, in as many chapters, upon the several subjects of "Obedience to the Laws;" "Manners;" "Morals;" "Religion;" "Rebellions;" "Health;" "Tem- perance;" "Formation and Value of Character;" "Pa- triotism;" "Particular Studies;" "General Reading;" "Attention, Diligence;" "Associations, Friendships;" "Literary Societies in College;" "Dress;" "Care of the Student's Room;" "Expenses;" "Alma Mater;" "Parents;" and "Vacations;" a few "Miscellaneous 1 "The Warrant, Nature, and Duties of the Office of the Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church : a Sermon preached in Philadelphia, May 22, 1S43, with an Ap[)endix. By Samuel Miller, D.D. Professor in the Theological Seminar}^ at Princeton. Philadelphia: 1844."—! Timothy v. 17.— 18mo. Pp. iv. and 166. 2 Pp. iii. i\ . "^ " Letters from a Father to his Sons in College. By Samuel Miller, D.D. Pro- fessor in the Theological Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey. 1843." — 12mo. Pp. 344. 1843.] CORRESPONDENCE AND DIARY. 457 Thoughts" being added. The volume is dedicated ''To every Parent who has a son in college ; and to every Son who is placed in that interesting and responsible situation." An "Advertisement" says, "The writer of this volume has had five sons trained and graduated in the College of New Jersey. The following Letters, not, indeed, precisely in their present form, but in substance] were actually addressed to them. There is, probably, not one idea contained in the manual, which was not, during their course in that Institution, distinctly communicated to them, either orally or in writing. The influence of these counsels on their minds, it is believed, was not wholly useless. ^lay they prove still more useful when ])resented in this revised and more pul)lic form." 6. Correspondence and Diary. To Dr. Plumer, on the 9th of January, 1843, Dr. Miller wrote, As to what it is expedient to do in regard to High Church- ism at this time, I feel somewhat at a loss. That it ought to be resisted I have no doubt. But I do doubt the policy of peck- ing at it in little occasional paragraphs. I should be glad if any one would enter the lists, and deal a blow to this insolent spirit, which would not need to be repeated. I never was qualified to deal such blows; and now, in my seventy-fourth year, I cannot undertake even what I once might have thought of. Perhaps this matter may be the subject of some delibera- tion here. But I cannot assure you of this.' To one of his sons, a licentiate. Dr. Miller wrote on the 19th of October, *As the time so nearly approaches, when, with the permission of Providence, your ordination will take place, I need scarcely tell you that my solicitude, my anxiety and my ])rayers jrather strength in your behalf. May the great Head of the Church, in mercy to you, and in mercy to his people, inspire you with wisdom, gird you with strength, and make you faithful, watch- ful and diligent in the discharge of all your arduous and most interesting duties ! Remember too your own weakness. Call to mind your need of the grace of Christ at every stej). Never pass a day, without humbly and solemnly looking to hiru for guidance and aid. " Thou, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus!" "Be strong in the Lord, and Vol. XL— 35 458 OLD AGE. [CH. 39. 6. in the power of his might ! " If I could be sure that you did, in any good degree, feel your own weakness, and, under a deep sense of it, habitually and importunately cry for help from above, I should confidently look for precious results in your new charge. May all spiritual and heavenly blessings in Christ Jesus rest upon you and crown your labors ! ' The more I reflect upon it, the more important does it ap- pear to me, that you should adopt some decisive plan in regard to unreasonable interruptions from the calls of your parishioners and friends. Besides apprizing Dr. D and your land- lady of your wishes, in regard to this matter, and thus putting them in the way of being extensively known, not only to your immediate friends, but to strangers, who make inquiry for your lodgings, I would advise that, when you are specially en- gaged, you should lock your room door, and be deaf to every knock, previously hanging on the outside a little label "^ * pur- porting that you can be seen and spoken with at such an hour. Dr. Green has more than once told me, that when he was a young man in Philadelphia, and w^as sent for to meet an intru- sive, unwelcome call below, he was accustomed to come down stairs with a pen in his mouth, which, on beginning to speak to the intruder, he transferred to his hand, thus taking pains to let it be seen that he was busy. ' Let me exhort you, my dear , to begin at once with the children of the congregation — especially, so far as you can dis- tinguish them, the baptized children. Try and find them all out. Procure a little blank book, strongly bound in leather, which you may carry in your pocket for months and years to- gether. Here insert the names of all the children of the con- gregation, with anything peculiar in the case of each w^hich may be worthy of recollection. When you are about to visit a family, refer to this manual for the names of the children, in- quire for them, speak kindly to them, calling them by name. Have a tract in your pocket for one, a little anecdote for an* other, etc. This will conciliate the parents, and bind them to your person; and it will still more conciliate the children, and prepare them to attend on your ministry in a respectful and profitable manner. I am more and more persuaded, that that minister who neglects the children and young people of his flock, neglects one of the most — perhaps I may say the most important means of saving souls — of building up the church, and promoting at once the comfort and the success of his min- istry. ' Let me also advise that you be very careful to attract, and to bind to your person and ministry all the young men who fall in your way ; and especially those of promising talents and 1844.] CORRESPONDENCE AND DIARY. 4o9 character. I have somewhere met with the statement, that one of the great secrets of Julius Caisar's popular influence was, that he took pains to gain the favor, and attach to his person, all the young men of talents whom he could find. Fix your eyes on all such young men. Try to gain them. You may thus be instrumental of doing more good, in a wholesale way, than you can well imagine. He who becomes the means of introducing a fine young man into the Redeemer's kingdom and ministry, may thereby do as much good as he who prepares and publishes a good book. * P. S. The day of your ordination (Xovember 1) will proba- bly be observed by your dear mother and myself, as a day of special prayer. I need scarcely say, that I hope you will join us in that exercise.' To the same he wrote on the 25th of December, 'As to your sermon, my dear Son, w^e shall bo able to judge better when we see it. When a man has preached a sermon, which is requested for the press, he ought to feel at full liberty to make it as good as he can after it is preached. And, as to allowing anything that he prints to be executed in a cheap and mean style, it is always bad policy.' In his diary Dr. Miller wrote, on his wedding-day, * October 24th, 1843. ^ * That miserable worldling, who was the author of the w^ork called "Lacon," has said, "Mar- riage is a feast, where the grace is sometimes better than the dinner." And there can be no doubt that multitudes, perhaps (though I trust not) a majority of the married, find their union an alliance to misery. If it be so, then surely, we, who have found it so much otherwise, have reason to praise the Lord that he has made our union so happy and so useful. "^ "^ ' On the -30th of the same month, Dr. James W. Alexan- der wrote to Dr. Hall, "I am concerned at having to say that good old Dr. ^Miller is quite ill, with pleurisy. The loss of him would be a sad blow to us. I think him one of the most conscientious and pious men I ever knew. His behaviour in a parlour-controversy is an example to every one, and has often put me to shame."^ To his son in the ministry Dr. Miller wrote on the 19th of February, 1844, 'I have now so far recovered from my late protracted sickness, that I can no longer delay taking pen in hand to assure you 1 1 Familiar Letter?, 3S6. 460 OLD AGE. [CH. 39. 6. that my affection for you, and my interest in your affairs, have not in the least diminished. I was at no time, indeed, severely ill; but my debility was so great, and so obstinately continued, that I can truly say, that, what with the influenza, v;hich af- flicted me through the first three weeks of December, and a slow fever, the consequence of the influenza, which confined me chiefly to my bed from that time till the second week in Feb- ruary, I have not had a well or comfortable day for more than two months past. I am now, however, by the Lord's mercy, so well, that I go out freely, and attend to my duties in the Seminary nearly as usual. I say nearly, for I do not go out, as yet, at night. * "^ * Though I am glad that you are in favor of preaching much without writing, yet I am perfectly sure, that if you lay aside the plan of writing sermons, only write on other subjects, and preach habitually without writing, you will repent of it. Your preaching, in this case, you may rely upon it, will become vapid and superficial. I hope you will, for the first two or three years of your ministry at least, write one sermon carefully per week, and no more. Anything less than this will not, I am persuaded, enable you to occupy a desirable place in the minds of your intelligent hearers.' On the 24th of September, 1844, a convention of direc- tors, trustees, and alumni of the Seminary was held at Princeton, and determined upon an earnest efl'ort to raise a sum of money suflScient for the permanent endowment of the institution, and to meet the current expenses, until the endowment was effected. The Rev. Cortlandt Van Rens- selaer, whose name is so well known and tenderly cherished throughout the Church which he nobly served, was requested to act as agent for carrying out this determination ; a ser- vice which, of choice, he performed withour salary, or even the payment of his travelling expenses. The permanent funds • of the Seminary at this time were estimated at §99,500 ; of w^hich $60,700 belonged to the professorships, and §38,800 to the scholarships. The aim of the conven- tion was to raise $64,300 for the former, and $28,200 for the latter, nearly doubling the whole endowment ; much was accomplished; but the full measure of success hoped for was not realized. Dr. Van Rensselaer was soon called away from this enterprise, to fulfill the important functions of corresponding secretary of the Board of Education. Dr. Miller was invited to attend the celebration of the 1844.] CORRESPONDENCE AND DIARY. 461 fortieth anniversary of the Now York Historical Society, on the 20th of November, 1844 ; when a discourse was to be delivered by John Romeyn Brodhead, Esquire, and a dinner given for the Society and its guests. Dr. Miller, with something of his youthful ardour revived by tlic occa- sion, replied, *I feel myself much honored by the invitation "■•' * *I have not forgotten the deep interest which I took in the formation and the labours of your society, as one of its original members; nor the earnest desire which I cherished, i'vom a still more remote period, to contribute my mite toward the elucida- tion of the early history of our beloved country. 'When Mr. Brodhead went to Europe, as the historical agent of the State of Xew York, I took the liveliest interest in his mission, and looked forward to his return, and to the results of his labours, with high anticipations. And, when I heard of his arrival, and of the ample stores of historical records which he had brought with him, I felt an ardent desire to see him, and listen to the report of his rich acquisitions. ' You may well suppose, then, that few things would give me more pleasure, than to accept of your kind invitation, and to be present on an occasion so w^ell adapted to instruct and gratify one whose partialities and pursuits have been such as mine. ' It is, therefore, with unfeigned regret that I find myself unable to be present. But, being in the seventy-sixth year of my age; my health having been extremely delicate and re- peatedly interrupted during the last twelve months; and the season of the year being one in which variable and trying weather is to be expected; I am afraid to leave home, and must deny myself the great pleasure which a compliance with your polite request would afibrd me.' Dr. Miller wrote a letter, dated the 25tli of Xoveniber, to the Bev. Dr. Samuel Hanson Cox, recommending Bower's History of the Popes, which was about to be re-published with an introduction and continuation from Dr. Cox's pen. This letter appeared in connection with the work. On the 16th of December, he wrote to one of his sons, ' I send you herewith a copy of the Life of McCheyne, which was published by our Board at my request. "• '■' Read it carefully, seriously, solemnly. * * The subject of this me- moir was, indeed,"^ a sublime christian ! The best wish I can 462 OLD AGE. [CH. 39. 6. form for you is, that you may resemble him in spirit, and in all your habits.' During the year 1844, Dr. Miller suffered from illness repeatedly and severely. He seems to have been confined to the house the whole month of January, and until about the 11th of February, when his 'Record of Preaching' says, ' Did not preach, but went to church: laiis Beo!' Toward the last of June, he paid a visit to his son in Fred- erick, and j)reached for him ; but the next entry in the ' Record ' is, ' On Saturday, July 9th, I was again taken sick, was confined to my bed for nearly four weeks, and did not preach for two months.' Then, a large part of the month of December he was laid by, though not so seriously ill as before. CIIAPTERFORTIETII L E T T E R-W R I T I X G . The portions of Dr. Miller's correspondence already pre- sented to the reader, have made it quite apparent, that he wrote much in this way, and that he regarded letter-writing as an important means of exerting an influence and doing- good. To illustrate this more clearly, a few of his letters of varions dates will be thrown together here, with reference rather to other principles of arrangement, than to the order of time. In repeated instances, Dr. ^liUer wrote letters of warn- ing and admonition to neighbors and acquaintances who seemed to be falling into vicious habits, or who, by notori- ous sins, were likely to exert a corrupting influence. To one whom he thus addressed, he said in. conclusion, ' Perhaps you will ask, what right I have to volunteer in ad- dressing, on such a subject, a public ofliccr who is no way ac- countable to me. I answer, I am an inhabitant of this town ; and, of course, have an interest in its welfare and honor. I am the father of a large family ; and cannot be indiflerent to any- thing which may have an influence injurious to any of its mem- bers. I am a minister of the Gospel ; and, as such, bound to reprove sin, and to promote correct morals and piety by all the lawful means in my power. I am a trustee of the College ; and have taken a solemn oath to endeavour to promote the true in- terests of the institution, and of all who belong to it, to the best of my knowledge and understanding. And, finally, I am an unfeigned friend and well-wisher of you and your family, and sincerely desire the happiness of both. Standing in all these relations, if what I have heard be true, or anything like it, can I, ought I, =^ * to be silent ?' In a postscript, Dr. Miller added, <* * Allow me to remind you, that you, like others, need a Saviour. Oh, do not treat with scorn the message which pro- claims and oflers salvation ! From long experience with respect 463 464 LETTER-WRITING. [CH. 40. to deatli-bed scenes, I can venture with confidence to foretell, that such a course will give you no pleasure when you come to die. From this hour, I beseech you, turn about, and pursue a completely diflferent course. My fervent prayer is, that I may see you not only a correct and regular public officer, but, also, what is infinitely more important, a real christian. It would give me more pleasure to be the means of promoting your ever- lasting welfare than I can express in words.' Upon a copy of the letter from which the foregoing ex- tracts have been taken, Dr. Miller, ten years after its date, endorsed the following : — * It is worthy of grateful notice, that the individual, to whom the above letter was directed, not only, to a considerable extent, corrected the errors for which it reproved him ; but, several years afterwards, died in the hope of the Gospel, renouncing his infidel opinions with deep apparent humiliation, and ex- pressing a confident trust in Christ. Whether this letter had the least connection with that change is not known to me.' About a student in the Seminary, when inquiry was made, Dr. Miller wrote, ' I should augur very favorably of his success as a minister. I fully expect that he will make a popular and acceptable preacher; and shall be much disappointed if the result should be dififerent. He is somewhat self-confident and ardent, border- ing on the impetuous. This circumstance, together with a desire to be settled in the domestic state, may tempt him to close his preliminary studies, and engage in the active duties of the min- istry, too soon. If he should yield to this temptation, my opin- ion is, that the probability of his acceptableness and usefulness will be not a little impaired. If he were about to marry a rel- ative of mine, over whom I had the least influence, I should ex- ert the whole of that influence in persuading her to decline, most peremptorily, all proposals to consummate a matrimonial connection, before he had fully completed the course of three years.' The following extracts from a letter to a pastor, formerly his pupil in the Seminary, and involved in controversy with a sect denying fundamental christian doctrines, gives, at once, a specimen of Dr. Miller's treatment of pupils who had gone forth to their labors, and some of his views of the proper manner of conducting religious controversy. His correspondent had left the Seminary about ten years pre- viously. 1844.] LETTER-WRITING. 4G5 * I received your letter of the 20tli instant two days ard tor si)aring my life, I may repent in dust and ashes before him, that it has manifested so little gratitude and devotedness to my heavenly Benefactor. * * 'But, while I feel bound to praise the Lord for thus length- ening out my days, and following me with so many mercies, I cannot conceal from myself, that my life is drawing to a close ; that the infirmities of age are sensibly gathering around me ; 482 FAILI^^G SERENGTH. [CH. 41. and that my last account is near. Blessed Saviour ! let me never, for a moment, lose sight of this. Let the anticipation of appearing before thee habitually and deeply impress my mind. While I live, let me live to thee ; and when I die, let me die to thee. And Oh, let the thoughts of meeting thee, while they are solemn, be pleasant to my soul. O my blessed Redeemer, let the idea of being absent from the body, and present with thee, be my joy and comfort in this pilgrimage. I do not ask to live one hour beyond my usefulness. Forsake me not in my old age : cast me not off when my strength faileth ; but be the strength of my heart and my portion forever. * * ' While returning thanks for my continued life and health, I here record it, for the benefit of my children, that 1 think much of this health is owing, under God, to my habits for many years past : — to my total abstinence, for more than twenty years, from all intoxicating drinks ; to my never having used tobac- co in any form ; to my practice of passing two days, every week, without the use of animal food ; to the habit of bathing my head and feet in cold water every morning of my life ; to vigilance in keej^ing the skin clean by frequent spunging with tepid water; and to my persevering care to take several hours of gentle exercise, in the open air, every good day. These rules I have diligently and indefatigably observed for many years ; and I have felt bound to do all this, that I might glo- rify God in body as well as in spirit. Blessed be his name, that he has enabled me to persevere.' The Rev. Drury Lacy,^ as moderator of the Synod of North Carolina, had been applied to by one presbytery, the session of the Church of Fayetteville in which the Synod was to meet, and eight or ten ministers and elders belong- ing to two other presbyteries, to postpone the meeting, on account of the sickliness of Fayetteville, and the absence, at their country residences, of the families which were ex- pected to entertain the members. Mr. Lacy, doubtful of his authority, wrote to Dr. Miller, and three other minis- ters for advice. All gave substantially the same counsel. The following extracts are from Dr. Miller's reply of the 18th of March. ' I beg leave to say, with unwavering confidence, that, in my judgment, you have the power which the Presbytery of Fay- etteville request you to exercise; and that, if I were in your situation, I should, without the least hesitation, comply with that request. t 1 Since, D.D. 1847.] CORRESPONDE^^CE AND DIARY. 483 About twelve or fourteen years ago, our General Asscm])ly sent down an overture to the Presbyteries, to the effect of for- mally investing the moderator of a Synod with the i>ower of calling a pro re nata meeting of his synod, when reguhirly requested so to do. I opposed the overture, fully believ- ing that the nineteenth chapter of our Form of Government already gave that power to the moderator of every synod. i\Iy opinion, however, did not prevail. The overture was sent down. But, if I remember correctly, a majority of the Presbyteries never responded; and, of course, the plan of having such a for- mal, explicit rule in our Form of Government was defeated. * I remain, however, of the same opinion as before, that the moderator of a synod already possesses the power in question in as plenary a manner as a formal rule could give it to him. And as the request which has been made to you is connected with no party movements, and cannot possibly be made sub- servient to any sinister purpose, but is founded on considera- tions of humanity and benevolence, I think it ought to be com- plied "svith.' 'About forty years ago, if I remember correctly, the yellow fever unexpectedly appeared in New York, in the month of September, a few weeks before the Synod of New York was ap- pointed to meet by adjournment in that city. About five or six weeks before the day of meeting arrived, several ministers and elders requested the Moderator to convene the Synod, by his circular, on the same day to which it stood adjourned, at a different place. He did so, and I never heard a lisp of objec- tion to the measure. *If, therefore, I were in your situation, I would comjily with the request of the Presbytery of Fayetteville without hesitation or scruple.' Dr. Lacy says, ' On receiving these letters I had them published for the in- formation of all concerned, but especially of those who had any scruple about my right, as Moderator, to postp(>ne the meeting of Synod. I issued my circular letter. At the meeting of Synod, a few of the brethren of Concord Presbytery protested against my action, and the matter was carried up to the General Assembly that met at Baltimore, and what I had done * * was pronounced "irregular I" Not long after I received an- other very pleasant letter from Dr. Miller, reviewing the action of the Assembly, and comforting me about the " waywardness of turbulent spirits." ' It must be confessed that none of the precedents ]>lcaded exactly met the difficulty. Perhaps the better plan would 484 FAILING STRENGTH. [CH. 41. have been, to have apprized the members of the Synod, by circular letter, that there could be no meeting, except of two or more to adjourn to another time, under the third of the "General Rules for Judicatories." Then, unless a quo- rum of "wayward" and "turbulent spirits" had assem- bled, and, refusing postponement, insisted upon proceeding to business, the matter might have been easily arranged by adjournment to a proper day. Dr. Miller, toward the close of life, was evidently afraid that he might not have, in a becoming degree, the " grace of resignation." By this fear, perhaps, as much as by his sense of weaning strength, he was influenced in penning the following letter. * To the Board of Directors of the Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church, at Princeton, New Jersey. * Reverend and respected Brethren, ' It is now more than three and thirty years since I com- menced my labors in the Seminary over which you preside. During the greater part of this time, as is well known to the Board, I have been charged with three distinct branches of in- struction— Ecclesiastical History, Church Government, and the Composition and Delivery of Sermons. 'Being now far advanced in my seventy-eighth year, I begin to feel that some relief from a portion of the duties of my of- fice has become desirable, and indeed necessary to my health and comfort. For the attainment of this object, I beg leave to state, that a temporary arrangement is contemplated, which will maintain the full course of instruction, as heretofore, and at the same time, relieve me from the discharge of a portion of my present labors. This, if I mistake not, can be accomplished, not only without prejudice to the Seminary, but with manifest and great advantage. 'To facilitate this change, and to provide for the additional expense which may necessarily attend its adoption, I do hereby declare my resignation of one-third part of my salary, (8600,) which, if I mistake not, will be sufficient to meet any addition- al expenditure which may grow out of the proposed arrange- ment. 'The design of the present communication is to obtain the sanction of the Board of Directors to the contemj^lated plan of relief. 'With a grateful sense of the uniform kindness and indul- gence with which my services in the Seminary have been treated by the Board of Directors; and with fervent prayers 1847.] CORRESPOXDEXCE AND DIARY. 485 for the growing prosperity and usefulness of the institution committed to their care, I am, reverend Brethren, most re- spectfully, your friend and fellow laborer in the house of God, 'Princeton, ) Samuel Miller. * May 17, 1847.' j The Rev. Smith Sturges, on becoming pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Black Rock, New York, found in use in that church two formularies, fjuite diftcrent as to some important doctrines, each styled, " Articles of Faith and a Covenant, etc. ;" one of wliich was always read from the pulpit, and publicly assented to by candidates for ad- mission to full communion ; the congregation afterwards rising in token of their approval of the profession thus made. Mr. Sturges, finding it somewhat difficult to decide between the rival claims of these two formularies, and really liking neither, set them both aside, and adopted the proper Presbyterian plan of merely announcing in public the names of those who had been examined and admitted by the church-session. This departure from previous usage, however, caused a good deal of dissatisfaction ; and the pastor wrote to Dr. Miller for his opinion, which was given, under date of the 21st of June, as follows : — ' Nothing is more certain than that the whole practice, in many Presbyterian churches, of making the candidates for communion come forward before the congregation and publicly covenant with them, is not a child of Presbyterianism, but wholly inconsistent with it, and the real offspring of Congrega- tionalism. * '^ The theory of Congregationalism is that the male communicants are, by a popular vote, to govern the church, to examine and admit candidates for membership, to try, to censure, or to suspend or excommunicate all ottenders against the laws of Christ. In accordance with this theory members are admitted by vote, and are publicly and popularly received, by a solemn ceremony, in the j)resenco of the congre- gation. In the Presbyterian system this is all out of place. The church with us is regulated and governed by the Scji.tion, made up of the representative.^ of the church members. They are to receive members into the church ; when ihcj/ have ex- amined the candidates and voted to receive them their recep- tion is complete; and everything beyond this is supererogation. Our fathers of the Church of Scotland know nothing of the public parade in the middle aisle now so common. Our Direc- tory for the worship of God, while it provides for every other 486 FAILING STRENGTH. [CH. 41. part of the public service, says nothing of this ; and when I first settled in the ministry, as one of the pastors of the "United Presbyterian Churches in the City of New York," fifty-five years ago, we had no usage of this kind, or anything like it. The members of the Session conversed with the applicants for admission, and, being satisfied, took a vote and received them, and no further ceremony followed, excepting that, at the pre- paratory lecture, on the Friday evening previous to the com- munion, the names of all who had been admitted were an- nounced to the congregation. ' In process of time, after the death of Dr. Rodgers and after I had left the city, the usage now practiced in many, in- deed most of the New York churches, came into use, and was evidently derived from the habits of the Congregationalists of New England. The ceremony, as commonly managed, is solemn, and is capable of being made very impressive; but it forms no part of our system ; is not provided for in our books ; has no sanction in the practice of our venerated fathers ; and certainly is calculated to contradict and throw into the back- ground the essential principle that with us the Session forms the governing body. * * 'When persons not born of pious parents, and not baptized in infancy, are baptized in adult age — of course in their own name — our Directory enjoins, that they be baptized in public, and prescribes a form for that purpose, or at least a general direction ; but it prescribes no form for the public reception to the communion of those who have been baptized in their infancy, and whom the Session have admitted to full com- munion. "^ * ' With respect to abridged and diversified " Confessions of Faith," they are equally inconsistent with our system, and still more mischievous. They are adapted to reflect on our excel- lent Confession by putting something different, and not so good, in its place. We were never in the habit, in my early days, of calling upon candidates for communion formally to sub- scribe the Westminster Confession'; but it was a part of the business of the Session, to examine them with that Confession in view, and to ascertain that they received and adopted all its leading doctrines. The fact is, that when every particular pastor feels at liberty to draw up a confession of faith for his own flock, and acts accordingly, we shall have as many confes- sions as pastors, and of course endless diversities of doctrinal belief I feel all the force of the evil which you state as arising from this diversity. Nothing is more adapted to break up the harmony and oneness of the Presbyterian Church than the in- 184T.] CORRESPOXDENCE AND DIARY. 487 dulgcnce of such a turn for diversity of Confessions. But liow shall we remedy these two evils so extensively ditt'used, and so firmly rooted in the feelings and prejudices of so many good peo- ple ? Hlc labor, hoc opus est. I think the friends of a sound or- thodox change ought to proceed with caution. It ought not to be made a breaking point. I should say, pastors ought to be- gin by satisfying the minds and gaining the confidence of some of the leading, influential individuals in their respective charges, and when they have gained this, the work will be half done. The truth is, several of our Old School churches in the city of New York have gotten into these practices, and scarcely know how to get out of them. It will probably be a gradual work. I agree with you that the business rc([uires })rudcnce and wise management ; and that nothing, will be gained by pressing matters prematurely. * * ' ' The foregoing letter,' says Mr. Sturges, ' was immediately read by all concerned, and had the effect of satisfying all minds, and restoring that church to Presbyterian order on such occa- sions. But the reformation did not stop with us. The com- munication was read by nearly all the members of the presby- tery to which we belonged ; [in many other churches] the same good results followed; and we think we are not too sanguine in our expectation, that this excellent letter will yet set in order our entire Synod, with reference to these things.' The first Centennial Anniversary of the College of New Jersey was celebrated on the 21>tli of June, 1847. In the afternoon, the Rev. Dr. J. W. Alexander delivered the Centenary Discourse. " The exercises were opened," says the published account of the proceedings, '• with a deeply moving and most appropriate prayer by the venerable Dr. Miller."^ At the dinner, an occasion of higli academic festivity, after the regular toasts, Dr. Miller proposed "The Reverend Ashbel Green, D.D., LL.D.— Our venerated eighth President: We honour him as the first Head of a College in^'the United States, who introduced the study of the Bible as a regular part of the Collegiate course. Sera in ccclum oj^cemlat! And when he shall be taken up, we may well say with the be- reaved Prophet of old— .% Fth, 18-JO.' lie evidently sometimes made such preparation with only the expectation of possibly being called upon. Here is a prayer marked, 'not used'; here another, heaileort," i.«sue that there was but one Archibald Alexander, and but one Samuel Miller in the world."^ " To say that in * ^ his works Dr. Miller has shown himself an accomplished champion of the system of faith and order imbodied in our Standards, would be only to give utter- ance to the verdict which has long since been passed upon his writings, by the general voice of all who receive the Westmin- ster Confession and the Presbyterian Form of Government. His works are a repository to which, next to the Bible, the in- telligent youth in our Bible-classes, our heads of families, our Buling Elders, our candidates for the ministry, and very many of our ministers, naturally repair when they would inform themselves as to the distinctive peculiarities of our system, and the authority on which it reposes. The library of no Presby- terian family can be regarded as complete without them. His tract, entitled '' Presbyterianism the truly Primitive and Apos- tolical Constitution of the Church of Christ," should be read and re-read by every individual who worships with a Presby- terian congregation ; and parents should see that it is placed betimes in the hands of their children. There is nothing; ex- tant which exhibits, in a concise form, so accurate and satis- factory a view of Presbyterianism in its history, doctrines, government, and worship. Nor is there any publication of the same compass, so w^ell adapted to gratify the curiosity of per- sons of other communions, who would know what our system is ; or to rebuke and correct the calumnies of those who mis- represent it."^ " Dr. Miller accomplished much by his labours as an author. His publications are numerous, and relate to a great variety of subjects, showing that he was a vigorous student, and that his mind took a wide range. His first work of any considerable extent, was a " Betrosj)ect of the Eighteenth Century," written in quite the early part of his ministry : it acquired for him great reputation not only on this side of the water but in Great Brit- ain ; and it is not invidious to say, even at this day, that it is on some accounts, among the most valuable contributions to His- tory of which our country can boast. Several of his works were controversial; at least were designed to defend what he re- garded as important truth : they are all perspicuous, logical and well considered, and have a high rank among the ablest works on the subjects of which they treat. Two or three of his larger productions are biographical, commemorating faithfully 1 Dr. Halsey in N. W. Presbyterian, 22d Ajagust, 1868. 2 Dr. Boardman's Tribute, 31, 32. 1848.] THE LAST OF AUTHORSHIP. 509 and beautifully some of the illustrious dead to ^vllOIll lie had been intimately allied and specially endeared. His work on the " Eldership " is in great and general repute, at least throughout his own denomination; and I have no less authority than that of Dr. Chalmers for saying that it is tlie very ])est work that has been given to the church on that subject. He published a large number of occasional discourses which are worthy of a more permanent existence tlian, I i'ear, from the form in wdiich they have appeared, they are likely to have. I think it will be generally conceded that few, if any, of his con- temporaries in the American church, have done so much by the pen to perpetuate their influence as himself; and if a list were to be made out of a very small number of our writers wlio are most known and most respected abroad, his name would undoubtedly have a prominent place among them."^ "Although the public has reason to expect a memoir of this venerable servant of Christ, we cannot refrain, at this })oint, from adding something to what we have already said concerning his character. His excellencies were admitted widely in the Church, for he was known throughout our own country and in foreign lands. His publications were numerous, and were to a large extent vindications of the doctrines and })olity of the church which he loved. No Presbyterian is ignorant of the promptitude, courage and address with which he came forward on more than one occasion, when what he deemed important truth was assailed. As a writer, he was remarkable for the purity and perspicuity of his style, and the absence of all mere- tricious ornament. He was a great reader, and was accustomed to enrich his works with numerous and apt citations from other authors. As an instructor, he was laborious, full and lucid. For six and thirty years he occupied the chair of Ecclesiastical History and Church Government, with a respect from all con- cerned which augmented with his age."^ Dr. Miller, while a correct and careful writer, cultivated no special exactness, or uniformity, orthographical or rhe- torical. Between new and old styles his spelling often va- ried. If ho followed Walker, in this respect, more fre- quently than Webster, it was from habit rather than a hyper-classical taste. As to orthoepy, he was suuiuwhat particular ; and even when, at a family meal, a sound struck his ear unfavourably, or any word-question was proposed, ^ Dr. Sprague's Disc. Commcm., 25i-30. 2 Life of Dr. Alexander, 577. 510 LABOUR AXD SORROW. [CH. 42. 3. he often rose from the table, to consult a dictionary at once, lest the matter should be forgotten ; and, doubtless, this correction of errors and settlement of right usage upon the spot, and in detail, was, for his children, a constantly cul- tivating process. Now and then, he fell, for the nonce, in- to that manner of semi-ritualistic typographical reverence, wdiich is coming now-a-days more and more into vogue — the use of capitals, at the beginning not only of the names of Deity, but also of every personal pronoun standing for the Divine Being. This, however, was but an occasional vagary. He was no purist in any respect, and delighted in no literary fopperies. His handwriting was rapidly executed, bold and clear. He composed with the pen with considerable celerity and ease, always standing at a desk of convenient height, and, when his thoughts flagged, pacing his study floor, to quicken them by gentle bodily motion. This habit helped to main- tain his erect carriage and physical buoyancy. 3. Diary and Correspondence. One happy result of Dr. Miller's continuing to the latest possible moment, his labour with the pen and in the profes- sor's chair — his accustomed exercise also out of doors — was the preservation of his mental faculties in wonderful vigour to the last. These became slugo-ish somewhat at times, but never otherwise sensibly impaired. The following is from his diary, 'January 1, 1849. * * Among the many mercies, during the past year, which I have to recount and acknowledge, is the enjoyment of better health than during the year previous. I have been enabled to accomplish much more official duty within the last twelve months, than in the preceding twelve ; to write more and to labor more in public. Particularly, I would here record my thanksgiving, that I have been enabled to complete for the press my "Thoughts on Public Prayer," and to correct all the proof-sheets, before the arrival of this day.' To one of his sons Dr. Miller wrote on the 3d of Jan- uary, *I am still very weak, and can write but little. ^Ye are, by the good Providence of God, all well excepting myself. I never had so severe an attack of influenza. It has left me, in 1849.] DIARY AND CORRESPONDENCE. 511 my eightieth year, very much debilitated, indeed, and rising very slowly.' At the request of an association in one of tlie ]*resbyte- rian churches of Cincinnati, called a " Society of Inquiry," Dr. Miller Avrote a long letter of counsel and encourage- ment, which the Society published in a small pamphlet. This bore date of the :2-l:th of January, 1849. The letter from which an extract will next be given, was written in acknowledf]fmeiit of a bai: of clothiii^r sent, l»y an association of ladies, for indigent students in the Semi- nary, and in reply to a question which the letter itself, bearing date of the 14th of February, 1849, sufficiently discloses. 'I am so little acquainted with the members of the churches in , that I feel diffident about giving advice, or even making suggestions as to what ought to be done to obtain tlieir patronage to the institutions of our own church. On the wiiolo, I am persuaded that nothing ought to be said or done, that looks like attempting to force any to act contrary to their convictions of duty. The present pastor of the First Church I do not re- member ever to have seen ; but I have heard accounts of him which prepare me to love and esteem him very much. His father was my beloved and venerated friend, for whom I enter- tained a peculiar affection ; and I feel, of course, an attachment for, and an interest in, all his descendants. I shouhl by no means be surprised if he should prefer Auburn to Princeton, and be disposed to throw his influence in that direction. Nor should I ever think of complaining of this. But there are, doubtless, some of both churches, wlio would prefer devoting their contributions to our own institutions. If I were to give any advice, it would be, that those who feel so should under- stand each other, and se ; but, when the students attended the Monthly Concert, in their own place of worship, all that preferred other boards to our own were allowed to throw in their mites folded up and marked for the object which was ])referred. This was done (jiiietly, and without controversy or offence ; and worked so well, that after a 512 LABOUR AND SORROW. [CH. 42. 4. short time, all came into the plan of patronizing none but our own institutions ; so that for seven or eight years past, they have been unanimous in favour of the latter. I have known some congregations to adopt the same quiet, amicable practice; and, in almost every case, it led to gradual, but, finally, entire unanimity, in favour of our own boards. I think, if you were to manage thus in , it would put an end to all contro- versy on this subject, and perhaps lead to a similar ultimate unanimity.' 4. The Aged Colleagues. The following extracts are from a letter of the 28th of February, to the Rev. Dr. Henry A. Boardman. * Do you know that I have never laid eyes on you since your return from Europe ; and that this letter is the first "scrape of a pen" from your hand that I have seen for more than two years? You will not wonder then that it was welcome. 'I thank you, my dear Brother, for the kind expressions which you employ on the prospect of my retiring from office. I am, indeed, nearly worn out. Far advanced in my eightieth year, I have outlived all my relatives, and all my own expecta- tions, and am compassed about with so many infirmities, that I am persuaded a longer continuance in office would be in no respect just either to the Seminary or myself. Yet in looking forward to retirement from official labour, and especially to that day, which is near at hand, when I must "put off this tabernacle," I desire to bless God for the humble hope which I am permitted to en- tertain, that I have so good a home to go to, where there will be no more infirmity, and especially no more sin ; but perfect union and conformity to him, who, though he w'as rich, for our sakes became poor, that we through his poverty might be rich. * I desire to unite with you, my dear Brother, in thanksgiving to the great Head of the Church, that our beloved Seminary has been made so useful to our Zion, by training so large a portion of our ministry, under the same Teachers ; and I hope I have some sincere gratitude, that I have been permitted to occupy a place, and take some humble part in this hallowed work. But I can truly say that the sentiment which most strongly and prominently occupies my mind, is that of thank- fulness that the Lord has been pleased to unite me with Col- leagues so wise, so faithful, so much superior to myself, and so eminently adapted to be a blessing to the Church. I consider it as one of the greatest blessings of my life to be united with "^849.] THE AGED COLLEAGUES. 513 sucli men, and pre-eminently with my senior Colleague, whose wisdom, prudence, learning and ])eculiar piety, have served as an aid and guide to myself, as well as to others. I desire to leave it on record for the eye of intiiuate friendship, that, in my own estimation, my union with these hcloved men has been the means of adding to my own respectability, and my own usefulness far more than I could ever, humanly speaking, have attained, either alone, or in association with almost any other men. I desire especially to be thankful that I ever .saw the face of my venerated senior Colleague. He ha^ been, for thirty-six years, to me, a counsellor, a guide, a prop, and a stay, under God, to a degree, which it would not be eiusy for me to estimate or acknowledge. 'The union in our faculty has been complete. And tlie solid basis of the whole, has been a perfect agreement, on the part of all of us, in an honest subsciuptlon to our doctrinal foniuild- ries. There has been no discrepance — no j)ulling in different directions here. *I am glad you approve of the little volume which I have lately published. I did think it was needed; and I trust it will not be useless.' In a note of the 30th of May, 1850, forwarding this letter to one of Dr. Miller's sons, Dr. l^oardmau kindly remarked, * I send herewith a letter of your honored father's, which, I am persuaded, wilj be read by his family with peculiar interest. It would be quite superfluous for me to attem})t to character- ize it ; but I cannot refrain from saying, that I have never seen a more beautiful and impressive exhibition of the spirit of true Christian humility than that which is here presented. We felt assured, (my family and myself,) on receiving this letter — if, indeed, we had needed any fresh assurance — that grace had well-nigh perfected its work with the venerable patriarch, and that he must be very near his crown.' The larger part of the letter thus referred to appears in the Life of Dr. Alexander,^ whose biographer says, " It has a pathos which will go to many a heart." The same biographer, after speaking of the strong con- trasts, which his character and habits and those of Dr. Miller exhibited in several respects, goes on to observe, "With such marked differences, it is certainly no slight 1 Pp. 582-584. 514 LABOUR AND SORROW. [CH. 42. 4. matter to record, that during a lifetime of common service, these two men never had an alienation, or the difference of an hour. In opinion they frequently diverged ; yet mutual re- spect and affection were never violated, but rather increased with every year of their lives. Placed in circumstances which might have engendered rivalry, they appeared to rejoice in each other's gifts and success. From the beginning of their acquaintanceship. Dr. Miller always resorted to his younger colleague as his wisest adviser. He admired his learning, tes- tified the profoundest reverence for his judgment and piety, coveted his company, and unfeignedly delighted in his minis- trations. On the other hand. Dr. Alexander regarded his friend and brother with the heartiest affection. Again and again has he been heard to say, that for the charitable use of his means, for adherence to his rules of self-control, and espe- cially for exemption from all traces of vanity and of envy, Dr. Miller surpassed all men he had ever known. He was fond of saying, that after more than thirty years' proximity, he had never detected in his colleague the slightest appearance of jealousy. This was the more remarkable, as it is well-known that with all his varied excellencies. Dr. Miller, as a preacher, was less followed by popular admiration than his friend." u ^ "^ as years rolled on, and old age arrived, the concord and affection of these servants of Christ presented a beautiful and edifying spectacle. They conversed together and prayed together ; and as their hoary heads appeared, with a punctu- ality belonging to both, in the devotional and other more pub- lic services of the Seminary, the moral influence of the sight upon their numerous and respectful pupils was happy and in- delible."^ What, in the foregoing extract, the biographer alleges concerning Dr. Miller's high appreciation of his honored Golleague's talents, learning, judgment, piety and power in the pulpit, those who were most intimately acquainted with the former can not only endorse, but even reiterate in much stronger terms. Dr. Miller regarded Dr. Alexander as pre-eminent in spiritual experience, discernment and skill ; as a singularly gifted preacher ; as a truly wonderful man in native vigor of mind, and varied erudition ; as indeed far beyond all thought of competition in these respects. Of Dr. Alexander's last years, his biographer remarks, " At no time did he carry more weight among his attached 1 Life of Dr. Alexander, 382, 383. 1849.] RESIGNATION. 515 pupils than in these years of venerahlo dcrline. * * It wa« a touching sight to behold the forms of liimself and his aged colleague on those occasions when they a])i)L'ared together at the head of their students. ^Slany an observer was ])r()inpted to exclaim, " The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness !" "^ The following paragraphs appeared in The Presbyterian after Dr. Miller's death. " Dr. Miller's Views of "Be(;(;ing." — As a mend)er of the Board of Managers of the ]\Iissionary, Bible, Tract, and Education Society of the Theological Seminary at Princeton, New Jersey, in the spring of 1849, I called upon the venerable Dr. Miller, to solicit his annual contribution to one of the objects of its care. As soon as he knew the purj)Ose for which I came, he said, "Certainly, Mr. L , I will contribute, for I esteem it a great privilege, as well as an important duty ; and I am greatly obliged to yoii (!) for that kind attention wliich enables me to do it at home." " He seemed as much gratified as if I had been the bearer of a costly present. " In what bold contrast does this language and conduct stand with that of those professing Christians, who are ever com- plaining of being "dogged by agents" to give without trouble or expense, " at home," what they owe to God I J. K. L." 5. Resignation. On the 20th of March, Dr. Miller again offered liis re- signation to the Board of Directors of the Seminary, to take effect at the close of the session in May. Referring to his previous communication of the 3d of November, 1847, he said, ' You were pleased to request me to withdraw that resigna- tion, and to continue my labours awhile longer. To tliis pro- posal, made so much in the si)irit of respectful kindness, I was prevailed upon to accede. But I am now persuaded that any further delay in urging this resignation, would l)e, on my part, altogether unwise. In saying this, my first wish, and that which is most strongly dictated by a sense of infirmity, is to l)c entirely and finally released from'all stated ]al)our in the Semi- nary. But, if, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, any consideration, either of convenience or usefulness, should lead them to believe, that my continuing to lecture occasioually, as ' Life of Dr. Alexander, 571, 575. 51(3 LABOUR AXD SORROW. [CH. 42. 5. my health and strength may allow, on Church Government and Sermonizing, would be in any respect desirable, I shall certainly not decline to do all that the providence of God may render practicable, to serve an institution in which I have passed the happiest years of my life, and to the guardians of which I feel so deep an obligation.' To the Rev. Dr. Dana, of Newburyport, Dr. Miller wrote on the 22d of March, *I hope, my reverend and venerated Brother, that your health and comfort, in your advanced life, are happily main- tained. I am far advanced in my eightieth year, and am en- compassed with many of the infirmities which attend that period of life. I gave in, the day before yesterday, the resig- nation of my office to our Board of Directors ; but they de- clined accepting it, appointed a brother to take a part of my labor off my hands, and requested me to continue in office. They certainly have treated me with most fraternal kindness ; but I shall not be able, in all probability, to labor much longer.' To one of his sons he wrote four days later, * I presented the resignation of my office to the Board of Direc- tors of the Seminary on the 20th instant. They again refused to accept of it, but appointed Dr. J. A. Alexander to take the department of Ecclesiastical History off my hands, and author- ized the Faculty again to employ a teacher in Hebrew. I, of course, remain in my place until the providence of God re- moves me. But, in the meantime, as I am relieved of one- third of my labor, I shall probably deem it good policy, and even a duty, to give up one-third of my present salary. How- ever generous the Board may be as to this point, I am per- suaded that public opinion will demand something like this at m}" hands. ' "^ * But all this may be undone by the General Assem- bly. * * with that body is the ultimate action in the case.'. Dr. Miller had previously, for a year or more, satisfied his views of propriety, by contributing a considerable por- tion of his salary to the support of the institution. From this time he regularly paid back one-half of it to the Treasurer. The General Assembly adopted the following minute : — " 1. Resolved, That the Assembly unite with the Board of Directors in expressions of thankfulness to God, that he has spared the life and health of the venerable Professor of Eccle- 1849.] RESIGNATION. OlT siastical History and Church Government for so many yeai*s, and that our beloved Church has enjoyed the benefit of his valued instructions and labours from the infancy of the Semi- nary to this time. " 2. Resolved, That the Assembly unite with tlie Board in recording their grateful sense of tlie manifohl faitiiful and most important services which the venerable Professor has ren- dered to our Church, and to the cause of trutli and righteous- ness, and they beg to assure him of their cordial sympatliy in the bodily infirmities which have led )iim to seek a release from the duties of his office. "3. Resolved, That the Rev. Samuel iMiller, I).I)., be and hereby is entirely released from all obligation to give instruc- tion in each and allof the departments of his professorship. "4. Resolved, That Dr. Miller be requested to give such in- structions and perform such services as on consultation witli Ins fellow professors may be convenient and agreeable to himself. " 5. Resolved, That the Rev. Samuel Mdler, D.D., shall con- tinue to enjoy intact the salary and all the other riizhts of his professorship, during his natural life, under the title of Emeri- tus Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Church Govern- ment."^ The foresroinsr resolutions were in accordance with the views of the Board of Directors, who, meanwliile, had re- considered their refusal to accept the resignation, and in kindness determined that all the burdens of the professor- ship should be removed, without, however, any deduction from the salary; while Dr. Miller should be permitted to retain any portion that he preferred of his professorial duties. To the Rev. William S. Plumer, D,T>., he wrote on the 8th of June, 'I rejoice that you were permitted to go to Pittsburgh, and feel a deep sense of my debt to you for what was done there, and especially done so largely, under God, through your coun- sel and instrumentality. ' The manner in which the General Assembly disposed of ray resignation was not only kind, respectful and generous, but to me most unexpectedly and marvellously so. I certainly feel highly gratified and thankful for it all on my own account ; but I think I do not deceive myself when I say, that I feel still more gratified and thankful, when 1 think of the honor the Church has done herself by such elevated and generous mea- 1 Minutes 1849, p. 249. 518 LABOUR AND SORROW. [cil. 42. 6. sures. When I contrast it with some other things, I feel that it is honorable to me to be a minister of the Presbyterian Church. God grant that I may be enabled suitably to appro- priate this honor, and to acquit myself accordingly. ' For all your kind, affectionate remarks, for all your gener- ous proposals, and for all your filial influences exerted in the Assembly in my behalf, I beg of you to accept my grateful acknowledgments. A deep sense of them will never be erased from my mind while I retain a memory. ' But, my dear Brother, a grave question arises: — w^ill public sentiment bear what has been done in my case ? and will the low state of the Seminary treasury bear it ? What will be thought of giving a man full wages who does not pretend to do full work ; nay, who is not obliged to do any, or more than just what he pleases ? I could live without any part of the salary voted to be continued to me ; but in this case I must instantly lay aside many of the comforts which I now enjoy, and confine myself to a style of living painfully restricted. I am resolved to return into the Treasury a part of my salary. But how much will it be equitable and wuse to return ? And in what manner ought the thing to be done ? I feel as if we were now setting precedents. I am not acting for myself alone. My present intention is to return just one-half, at each quarterly payment, into the Treasurer's hands. Yet I have made no public promise to this amount; and as no one living has done more to secure this salary to me, so no one has a better right than yourself to offer an opinion how I ought to manage the business. If I could live in tolerable comfort without any part of the salary, I should doubt the delicacy and wisdom of de- clining to receive any of it, lest I might embarrass those who shall come after me. * May blessing rest upon you and yours in every thing ; so prays your affectionate brother, etc' 6. Miscellaneous Topics. Dr. Miller sent to the Rev. Dr. W. W. Phillips, amember of this Assembly, a formula of adult baptism, to be laid before the body. The latter, writing to him on the 1st of June, gave the following account of the action taken on this paper. ' I also received the formula for administering baptism to adults, and, being one of the Committee of Bills and Overtures, brought it immediately before them. All approved the object, and thought it very desirable to have a uniform mode of per- 1849.] MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS. 519 forming that service. It was, however, lon^^^er and more ex- panded than was considered necessary ; and all, except two, of the committee were in favor of inserting a question reus" to that little flock, which for ten or twelve years, whilst without a pastor, had been kept together by the uniteil oversight and la- bours of himself and Dr. Alexander. "As the number assembled was (^uite small, I stated to hiin as the reason of it, that it was not yet the appointed time for worshij) bv ten minutes. Such an occasion, as all wIjo know Dr. Miller's theory and practice, will readily imagine c«.uld nut be permitted to pass without speaking a few words lus to th.- im- portance oi pundiudity on the part of ministers. lie had been' there some ten minutes when I arrived. 524 LABOUR AND SORROW. [CH. 42. 7. "As lie arose and ascended the steps to the pulpit, I saw he was very feeble ; and in his request, that I would conduct all the services preceding the sermon, he stated as the reason, that he had not sufficient strength to do it himself. These done, he arose and announced his text — Heb. vi. 19, "Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast; and which entereth into that within the veil." / " In prosecuting his subject, he first spoke of the differences between the anchor of a ship and "hope" as the anchor of the soul. Several of these differences were noticed, but the one upon which he dwelt with the greatest feeling and fervency was, that whilst the anchor of the ship takes hold 07i things below, " hope," the anchor of the believer's soul, takes hold on things above. Here he had to leave his notes; his feelings became intense, and his soul was too full of deep emotion to be restricted by any thing previously written. His " hope," for the moment, seemed to be changed into full fruition ; the "soul" and its " anchor " to be both together " withinthe veil." " Much in this manner he continued throughout his dis- course ; leaving his notes at short intervals, and pouring forth the abundance of his heart with a force and earnestness that appeared altogether beyond his strength. His sermon, however, was very short, not exceeding twenty-five minutes in length. In his application he was exceedingly felicitous, and there was scarcely an individual in the house, who was not moved to tears. In the course of it, he remarked, that he had now be- come so infirm and his voice so weak, that he was entirely un- able to preach in large churches, and the little that remained for him to do in the public service of God, must be done in his small houses, such as the one in which we were then worshiping. And in a most touching way alluding to the fact that his minis- try was now nearly at an end, he remarked, "Whether or not this may be the last time that I shall address you, is a matter of small importance. But you may inquire how does this ' hope ' appear to an old man standing just upon the verge of tlie grave?" Lifting up both his hands, with which he was now supporting himself upon the desk, and inclining his head backwards, as he lifted his eyes towards heaven, in a manner and with an expression of countenance which baffle any description, he ex- claimed, with a voice faltering with emotion — " Oh ! inexpres- sibly DELIGHTFUL." The wliolc scrmou seemed to be re- embodied, re-preached, and again doubly enforced in this one short sentence. And we all felt, that if he had said nothing else, and we had heard nothing else, it would have been " good" 1849.] LAST LABOURS ABROAD AND AT HOME. 525 for him and for us "to be there," that morning in the liouse of prayer. " As he appeared much exhausted, I expected he would call upon me to make the last prayer, but he made it hiniself, and often as I had heard Dr. ^liller j)niy before, never did 1 iiear him make such a prayer. One might have supposed that he had forgotten that he was in a judpif, and that he thought he was in his own private closet, so much of his prayer was in reference to himself — "that God would remember his ar/ed servant" — " that he would put underneath him his sustaining hand, and not forsake him in his old age." But it was this peculiarity of it, that gave it much of its power. "Thus ended the long, laborious, and eventful public life of this great and good man. And w^hat an ending I How befit- ting the holy otHce to which it had been consecrated, that he who had so long ministered the consolations of the gospel to others, should close his ministry with such an unequivocal ex- hibition of their efficacy in his own case — that the " blessed hope" which he had preached to us, was now the ''anchor" of his own soul, ''inexpressibly delightful." "With the tears still in our eyes, because of what he had "thus spoken" to us, we bade him farewell, "sorrowing most of all" from the painful presentiment we then had, that we " should see his face no more." Yours, most fraternally, G. E." On the 80th of August Dr. Miller wrote, 'My own health has been very feeble for the last fortnight. My apprehension is, that I am slowly losing ground. God bless you, my dear son ! Let our eyes and our hearts be more and more directed to that blessed home, where, by the grace of God, we may all be gathered ; and where there will be no more suffering, and, above all, no more sin.' 8. Last Labours Abroad and at Home. The following extract is from the minutes of the l^oard of Directors of the Seminary, convened on the 10th of September : * The Board of Directors having been informed by the Trea- surer of the Board of Trustees that the Kov. Dr. Miller has expressed his intention of relinquishing one-half part of his salary, do unanimously, respectAdly, and affectionately request the venerable Professor to recall the .said purpose, and to con- tinue to receive his full salary as heretofore, agreciibly to the resolution of the last General Assembly. 526 LABOUR AND SORROW. [CH. 42. 8. * Dr. Janeway, Dr. Boardman, Dr. Plumer, and Dr. Mc- Dowell were appointed a Committee to present to Dr. Miller the above request of the Board. * The committee appointed to wait on Dr. Miller made the following report, which was approved ; viz. — That, in an inter- view with him, the resolution adopted by the Board was read to him ; on which he expressed his high and grateful sense of the honorable manner in w^hich he had been treated by the General Assembly ; but, at the same time, he considered that he had a part to act in reference to what might hereafter occur, and had made up his mind to return the one-half of his salary to the treasury of the Seminary. On which statement, the venerable Professor was assured, that the action of the General Assembly had, they believed, met with the hearty approbation of the Presbyterian Church ; that he had full right to dispose of his salary in what manner he pleased ; and that it was the duty of the Board to go forward and adopt means for supply- ing the Treasury with funds, for the support of the new Pro- fessor, and thus carry the views of the General Assembly into full effect.' When the session of the Theological Seminary recom- menced in August, Dr. Miller determined to continue, his strength permitting, some small part of his accustomed labors. That ardor in toil, which had always distinguished him, was not yet quenched ; and his eager desire to be still of some service to the Church and to the Seminary, both so long loved and striven for, was seconded b}^ his nearest and best friends, who perhaps did not realize the actual failure of his strength, and wisely regarded continued exertion, not too severe or prolonged, as likely to maintain his activity, both bodily and mental, and to lengthen out his life. He accordingly commenced a course of lectures to the Senior class, to be delivered twice a week, and was able to continue them for a few weeks, sometimes walking to the seminary — a quarter of a mile off — sometimes being driven in his carriage thither. It was with manifestly great reluctance, that, yielding at last, with the steady waning of his strength, to evident necessity, he gave up the effort. While Dr. Miller was thus performing his last work in the Seminary, he received his last earthly call to a new field of labor. A feeble missionary church, at the far South, hearing of his resignation, wrote to the Board of Missions, 1849.] LAST LABOURS ABROAD AND AT HOME. 527 suggesting that the liglit services wliicli they neede.l, and their mihl salubrious climate would just .suit his declining health and strength ; and inquiring whether he might not respond favorably to a call. Those about him smiled at the idea; but the proposition was kindly intended. Ifow could those afar off, and with but a little niforniaiion, know- how near he was to the close of his ministry on earth "" About this time, he expressed an earnest desire that, if possible, his children and grand-children should assemble once more under his roof, that he might give them, all together, his last counsels and his blessing. He had, besides, another object in view. His son Dickinson, a Surgeon in the Navy, had lately returned from a long cruise, and his son John from a tour in Europe. Both had been exposed, in different parts, to the dangers of war and pestilence — dangers sufficient, at least, to have made those feel anxious who were enjoying the comforts and comparative security of home. To offer united thanks for the merciful preser- vation and safe return of these two sons, was, to his mind, a strong additional reason for a family reunion. The -n(l of November witnessed this last solemn gathering of parents and children. Two grand-children, who, at the time, were in distant parts of the country, were alone unable to be present. To all assembled, it was a most interesting and impressive occasion. After a welcome once more at the familiar board, all were brought together in the " front parlor" — the scene of so many simple, hai)py gatherings in former days ; where, to the children, their parents ham which liad been anticipated as but at best a painfully diili- cult attempt to AV(U-sliip, was one of the most deli^'htful and impressive the writer has ever witnessed. On the next Sabbath, January Gth, liis drowsiness in- creased, and his eyes began to wear a f^dassv appearance, betokening the near approach of death. Still, when aroused* he was sensible, and able to answer coherently. Witli the anxiety of maternal love, he was asked to pray that his mantle might fall on one of his sons, wlio was standing at the bed-side. The request seemed to move him deej)ly. ''Oh, not mi/ mantle," he said— "not 7711/ mantle! Let him look at such men as Dickinson, and Edwards, and Davies — men who were faithful laborers in their Master's vineyard. Pray that their mantle may fall upon him." He continued to repeat the words, " Not 7711/ mantle ! Not mi/ mantle ! " with intensity of feeling, as if all the infirmi- ties and defects of his whole ministry were crijwding upon his consciousness. The next day every unfavorable symptom seemed to be aggravated ; and, as the day advanced, it became almost im- possible to rouse him from the stupor, which a})peareil to be every moment becoming more profound. Towards even- ing, however. Dr. Alexander was requested to visit him once more, and try whether his strong, familiar voice would not yet awaken his dying colleague. lie came about five o'clock, and approaching the bed-side, asked, in liis piercing tones, " Do you know me? " " Oh, yes! " replied Dr. Mil- ler, who had been aroused as far as possible for this last in- terview. His voice was almost inarticulate, yet the rei)ly not to be mistaken. In the same way, he answered all the questions put to him — as to the foundation of his hope, his desire to depart, his view of the fundamental truths, which, after he had taught them for more than threescore years, after he had commended them to many others, as the most precious consolation of a dying hour, were now passing the test of their purity and excellence in the crucible of his own departing spirit, agitated with the pangs of dissolving na- ture. To every inquiry he most intelligently replied, " Oh, yes ! " " Oh, no ! " — with emphatic earnestness throw- ing all the residue of his strength into the half smothered words. Said Dr. Alexander at length, havin;^ offered a short prayer, and being about to take leave, "\ou arc now 540 THE LAST OF EARTH. [CH. 43. 2. in the dark valley! " "Oh yes ! " was the only reply. ^•I shall soon be after you ! " Thus parted for a little time,^ at the brink of the river, these veteran soldiers of the cross. After this visit, Dr. Miller sank, almost at once, into his former deep lethargy, and lived only about six hours. He did not speak again, although, once or twice, when some- thing was said to him he opened his eyes, and looked upon those about his bed. Apparently, he did not sufifer much ; yet there was a perceptible dying strife. Just at eleven o'clock that night, he rested from his last struggling breath and all his labors. A notice or two of his latest hours, from other pens, will here be subjoined. The day after his death, Dr. J. W. Alexander wrote, " When I heard last night, Dr. Miller was almost gone, like a sleeping child, but knew my father. One of the boys came in as I had penned this, to say that Dr. Miller died last night about 11, a few hours after my father saw him; without any struggle, oppresion, or seeming pain. The funeral is to be from the church, on Thursday, (January 10,) at 2 o'clock. It has been a great comfort to the Doctor to have his medical son with him so many weeks. The Doctor was in his 81st year. Of all the deaths I ever knew, this is the most surrounded by all the things one could desire."^ The following passage is from the same pen.^ " We have already spoken of the inviolable sacredness of fraternal regard which for nearly forty years subsisted between him and his colleague. During this long period the thread of their lives had been entwined together, with increasing close- ness. They were mutual advisers and confidential friends, and rejoiced in each other's progress, happiness and acceptance with the Church. Their diflEerences of opinion, which were slight and few, were matters for amicable repartee, but never caused them even for an hour to draw in different directions ; no one ever dreamed of such a thing as a faction for one or the other. It was most natural, therefore, that Dr. Alexander should look with sadness upon the tokens of decline in his respected brother. For some months Dr. Miller had been subject to at- tacks of disease, and at length w^as entirely confined to his house. His decline, however, was denoted more by great de- 1 Dr. Alexander survived only until the 22d of October, 1 -51. 2 2 Familiar Letters, 110, 111. 2 Life of Dr. A. Alexander, 578, 579. 1850.] IN MEMORIAM. . 541 bility than by severe pain. Amidst it all, he \va:=< calm and l)e- lieving. Foreseeing his departure -.vith an unerring eye, he was resolute in his assertion of all the truths Avhich lie had taught, and humbly confident in his expressions of hope in Je- sus Christ. Dr. Alexander thus briefly records his decease. "Dr. Miller's health had been declining for several months. He had scarcely any disease, except the decay of old age, My degrees he sunk, until the 7th of this month, when he gave up his spirit to God who gave it. He was calm and comfortable in mind during his whole confinement. He expressed no verv lively feelings, but was troubled with no fears or doul)ts. A day or two before his death, I asked him whether any dark cloud at any time came over his mind ; he replied, 'None what- ever.' " 3. In Memoriam. While the body of tlje Rev. Dr. Miller, of Princeton, was in his late residence awaiting burial, Dr. Hodge remarked to Dr. Van Rensselaer, that it was a great thing to be kept in this world eighty years by the grace of God.^ The Presbytery of Philadelphia, being in session when his death was announced, put upon their minutes a very respectful notice of his character and labors, particularly of his more than thirty-six years of service in the Professor's chair. The funeral took place on Thursday, the 10th of Janu- ary. The following account of it, from the gifted pen of Irenceus^ now of the New York Observer, was communi- cated, at the time, to the Presbyterian. " Princeton, N. J. Jan. 10, 1850. " Me>lii|) was like a day without a cloud from morning to night. ^ly meiiiory dwells with delight on the many happy seasons I enjoyed with him in his study, and his parlor, and elsewhere — seasons al- ways instructive and refreshing to me. And Oh I if, through infinite grace, I may gain admittance into that better world to which he has gone, what a blessed and unceasing fellowsliip shall I hav^e wath him in the presence of our f^aviour and liis redeemed people ! ' * I had been intending, for months, to write to Dr. Miller. It was my wish to tell him how much I was delighted witli his late book on Public Prayer, and how others agreed with me in my estimation of the work. Professor 8tuart thought it uncom- monly excellent throughout. * I hope some man, well qualified for the work, will prepare a biography of Dr. Miller. Dr. Sprague and Dr. Boardman, the former in Albany, the latter in Philadelphia, both on the same Sabbath even- ing— that of the 27th of January — preached each a position. In 1825. he was Prcsitlent of the Pennsylvania Board of Canal Commissioners. In 182<'>, he was commissioned by Mr. Adans as one of the ministers plenipotentiary to the proposed American Congrcs.i at Panama. On his return from this fruitless errand; he was »>Iec cd to Congress. In 18:52, he was the Whig camlidate for the Vice Presidency of the I'nitod States, Mr. Clay being the candidate for President. He was President of the Convention, wliich assembled in 1>;?8, to reraoilel the Constitution of Penni«yl- vania. In 1840, he was elected again, and for the last time, to Congro«s. Sub- sequently, he received from Mr. Tyler tlie nominati<»n of Minister to the Court of St. James, which he declined. By .Mr. Marcy, Secretary of Wnr, he wm appointed arbitrator to determine a long pending and vexatious controvcrsj, 1 e we n the United States and the State of New Jersey, which vex.* finally wi tied by his award. He died, after a lingering decline, on the 23rd of November, 1852. 550 THE LAST OF EARTH. [CH. 43.4. Her decline was slower even, if possible, than Dr. Mil- ler's, and she was not confined at all to her bed. By day, ^she reclined upon a couch in the family sitting-room, and there, unexpectedly, and quietly as an infant drops asleep, she closed her eyes, at length, upon all earthly scenes. Of the " article of death" she had frequently expressed a ling- ering dread ; and it seemed as if, though to the last retain- ing her mental faculties, she was borne in tender mercy across the river, without feeling its cold waters. She died on Saturday, the 2d of February, 1861, having, a month before, completed her eighty-third year. Her funeral was attended on Wednesday afternoon by a large concourse, the exercises of the day in both the Semin- ary and the College being suspended out of respect to her memory. The Rev. Dr. McDonald, of the First Presbyte- rian Church, in which the religious services were held, preached, as her pastor, an able and appropriate discourse from Psalm 92, 14. The R-ev. Dr. Hodge took part in the exercises. Her mortal remains were then deposited in the village grave yard, beside those of her husband. It was almost sixty years since their first union in life, when they were thus united in death, and, as to their corruptible bodies, in the sepulchre. INDEX TO VOL. II. Ability, Natural and Moral, 228. Abolition, 235. Abstinence, Total, ?>0'.'>. Adams, J., Correspondence with, 49 — 51. Relig. views of, 50, 51. Adams, J. Q., 340, 345, 346. Act and Testimony, 230, 233, 251 — 254. Character of, 251, 252. Ob- jections to, 252, 253. Admission to Church, Public, 485. Address, Caldwell Monument, 478. " to Ministers, etc., 314, 316. African School, 24, 25, 90. Sermon for, 87. Albany. Synod of, 25, 501. Alden, Prof. J., Letter to, 479. Alexander, Dr. A., 13, 41, 42, 45, 46, 50. 52, 191, 192, 213, 242, 247, 255, 250, 279, 331, 357. 374, 380, 416, 507, 519, 523, 941. And Dr. M., 14 — 18; in old age, 515. Attacked, 430; his letter, 431. Extracts from funeral sermons, 351, 398, 536, 540, 544. Last visit to Dr. M., 539. Letter of, 349. On Popish bap- tisms, 199. Alexander, Dr. J. A., 357. Extracts from, 129, 130, 257. Chosen pro- fessor, 205. Alexander, Dr. J. W., 316, 508. Cen- tenary Discourse of. 487. Extracts from," 15, 16. 126, .398, 513, 514, 534, 536, 540, 541, 544. Inauguration of, 534. Toasted, 487. Alumni of Seminary, Sermon before, 265. Resolution of, 548. Alumni of University of Penn., Let- ters to, 521, 528. Alward, Rev. J. P., 429. American Bible Society, 444. American Board of C. F. M., 135, 139, 197, 198, 205—207, 289, .336. Cor- porate member of, 66. Letters to, o7, 09, 70, 367. Rejection of reso- lution by, 23«. American Education Soc, 236, 328, 331 . American Home Miss. Soc, 1 13, 194 —196, 230, 320, 328, 331. Lctiers to, 113, 210—212. American Magazine, etc., 112. American National Preacher, 209, 311. American Presbyterian of Xa«hville, 433. American S. S. Union's Bib. Diction- ary, 431. American Temperance Soc, 444. American Tract Soc, 444. Opinion of, 475. American Whig Society's Resolution, 540. Amusements, Worldly, 1^6 — 190. Anderson, Dr., 289. Letter to, 367. Anecdotes, 387, 3>S8. Anniversary of Seminary, Fiftieth, 547. Apology, Bishop Ilobarfs, 504. Arch St. Church, Dedication of, 80 ; sermon, 86, 87. Arians, 366. Articles of Faith. Congregational, l^j. Ashley, Deacon, 68. Ashmun Institute, 419. Assistant N. Y. Miss. Soc, 113. Atonement, Views of, 281. Attack charged and denied, 433, 434. Aurora, IS, 19. Authorship, Dr. M.'s, 507 — 509. Last of, 5(13—510. Bacox, Dr., 115. Backus, Dr. J. C. Installation of, 311. Baird, Dr. S. J.. 25. Extructs from, 25, 197, 225, 290. 325, 328. Banner of Cross, The, 434—437. Baptism, 362—307, 3»9. Formula of adult, 518. For other denomina- tions, 4S(). Infant, 183. Of Cum- berland Presbyterian*, 356. Popi»h, 198 — 200, 307. Sermon and Tract on, 2.'>5. Baptists, 242. Bar, The, 422. 551 552 INDEX. Barnabas, Epistle of, 439. Barnes, Rev. A., Sermon of, in Mor- ristown, 150. Views of, 151, 274. 6, 327. Called to Philadelphia, 153, etc. Letters to, 153, 155, 277. Ad- mission and installation of, 156. Sermon of, condemned, 157. Vis- ited b}' committee, 157- Mistakes in case of, 156, 157. Reference to Assembly of case of, 192, 193. Re- port and Decision concerning, 193, 231. Case of, 205, 231, 271—279. Notes on Romans by, and arraign- ment of, 273. Revision of Notes by, 275, 276. Before Synod, 276. Suspension of, 276. Ceases to preach, 279. In Assembly of 1836, 283—288. Explanations by, 285. Condemnation of Notes by, 315. Barr, Rev. J. W., 213. Death of, 213, 223. Funeral sermon for, 213. Baxter, Dr. Geo. A., 331. Beatty, Dr. C. C, Letters to, 93. 201. Beecher, Dr. L., 237, 280, 281, 283, 322, 323, 342, Arraigned, 269, 284, 285. Letters to, 140, 269. Beecher, Rev. Charles, 237. '' " Dr. Edw., 284, 343. " " H. W., 237. Begging, Dr. M.'s Views of, 515. Beman, Dr., 192, 195, 203, 292, 342— 345. Benefactor, Being a public, 469. Benevolence, Christian, 177 — 179, 376, 387, ;i93, 396, 515, Bible and Bible Societies, 19, 97—102, 106. In College, 487. Daily read- ing of, 470. Biblical History, 4'^5. Biblical Repertory, 110, 271, 306— 309, 325, 327, 335, 353, 417. Ex- tracts from, 252, 257, 546. Birth-days, Observance of, 184, 528. Bishop, Rev. A., 69. Blair, Dr. S., 147. Blythe, Dr. J., 316. " Rev. J. W., Reminiscences of, 399, 400, 412. Boardman, Dr. H. A.. Commemora- tive Disc, of, 545. Extracts from, 14, 17, 126. 127, 395, 396, 508. Let- ter from, 513,- to, 477, 512. Boards. See Am. Board, Dom. Mis- sions, Education, For. Missions, Publication, etc. Boards and Voluntary Societies, Church. See Vol. Societies. Boston, Ministry in, 54—56. Bowden, Dr., 432, 435. Bower's History of Popes, 461. Breckinridge, Death of Elizabeth, 159. " Dr. J., 83, 84, 197, 198, 214, 315, 322, 325, 351, 495. Installation of, 115. In Philadelphia, 200, 201. Chosen professor, 265. Removal to Princeton of, 348. Agent of Board of For. M., 349. Marriage and death of, 445. Breckinridge, Mrs. Margaret, 83, 84. Death of, 348—352. Funeral of, 351. Letter to, 349. Memorial of, 351. Breckinridge, M. C, Letter to, 522. " M. E., 391, 536. " Dr. R. J., 174, 251. Letter of, 331. Brodhead, Mr., 461. Brown's Bible Dictionary, 431. B.own, Dr. I. V., 316, 317. Extract from, 253. Bulwer's novels, 466, 467. Burgess, Rev. D., Letter to, 298. Burke quoted, 62. Burns, Dr., On Ruling Elders, 172. Burr, Advice ot Aaron, 223, 224. Caldwell, Monument to Rev. J., 478. Call, Last, 526. Calvin on Confirmation, 437. On Ig- natius, 440. Institutes of, 436, 440. Misquoted, 436. Not a prelatiitt, 434—437. Calvinism, 50, f5. Caricatured, 326, 327. Cameron, Mr., 52. Campbell, Rev. Jos., 103, 104. Carey, M., 248. Carnahan, Dr. J., 72, 205, 232, 242, 388. Inauguration of, 72. Remi- niscences of. 371 — 377. Cassels, Rev. S. J., Letter to, 452. Catechism of Ch. Government, 243. Catechisms, 403. Westminster, 185. Catechists and Exhorters, 37, 38. Catechizing children, 402. Catholic Layman, A, 248. Cedar St. church, 110. Centenary of University of Penn., 521, 528. Of College of N. J., 487. Certificates, Church, 401. Chalmers, Dr., 416, 509. Letter to, 167. Chambers, Rev. J., 114, 115. Chanse of Sentiments, 234. Channing, Dr. W. E., 7 :. Chapel, Seminary, 254. Characteristics, General, 371 — 397. Professional, 398—416. Chequered Scenes, 348 — 370. Chesterfield, The American, 530. INDEX. 553 Children of Church, Caro of, 353, 35^, 402, 458. Christian Advocate, 72, 0". Extracts from, IK). 130, 131. 19G. Christian Examiner. 327. *•' Journal, 1)7. Letrc-r to, 98. " Spectator, 173, 195. Church a Mi:*siorarv and Education Society, 230. Pacific ition and Pu- rification of, 271. State of, 272, 273. Church Government. 403, 407—409. AVork on requested, 93. Catechism of, 243. Church judicatories. Dr. M. in, 401. Church members. Examination of, 476. " troubles, 313—319. Cincinnati of N. J., 478. Circular Letter to Churches, 331. Circular, Education, 42. 43. Clerical Manners and Habits, 2S, 123 —131, 190. Clerical Socit^ty, Princeton, 373, 374. Clericus on Dancinj;. 502. Cleveland, Rev. J. P., 342—345. Closet and the Family, The. 180—186. Codman, Dr. J., 49. Letter to, 137. Cojrswell, Prof., 322. Letters to, 403, 405, 407. Colleagues, The aged, 512. Conduct towards, 10. College of N. J., 28. Centenary of, 487. Letters ti) graduates of, 4(iS, 471, 472; to Instructor of, 4t"!(). Presidency of, 70. Straits of, 132 — 134. Continuance of studies of, 409. College training, 421. " Washington, 495. Committee men, 192. Of Elections, 311. Often. 314, 328. Of thirty, 291. Communion, Occasional, 352. Private, 477. Com|iletpness of character, 395. Composition and Delivery of Sermons, 403,409,410. Concert in prayer, 29. Conference with Professors, 3IG. Conference, Seminnry, 410. Confession of Faitli, Subscription of, 477. Confirmation, Committee on, 437. Congregational nuietings, Call of, 466. President of, 4GG. Congregational practices in Presbyte- rian Church, 485. Congregationalism, Influence of, 113, 114. * ! Congress, 340. Sermon before. 34. Connecticut, (Jen. Assi.e. of, 11 J. Controversy, Rdigioun, 4i»l. Contradiction, Self, 439. Contumacy, 241. Convention of Wentern Synodu, 196, 203, 201. Of 1S37. 32s. Conversational |»ower.-i. .''.1. Cooke, Dr. .J. E., l.V.I, 432, i:;5. Ill — 443. Corresjxtndence with other denomina- ti. ns. 242. Counting-house. 422. Covenant, Parental. 182, 183. Cox, Dr. S. II., 4G, 1 13,370, 379. Let- ter of, 545 ; to, 461. Keuiiniecenccs of. 377—381. Creeds and Confessions, Lecture on, 9G— 102, 112. Cromwel, Oliver, 47'.". Cunningham, Dr. 11. .M., l.'jtier of, 53. Cuvler. Dr. C. C, i'.lG. •'' Dr. T. L., Extract from, 546. Dana, Dr., Letter to, .'.IG. Dancing, Promiscuous. 1>m» — l^'.'. •<'<-. Dartmouth University, Invitation to Presidency of, 22, 2:*.. Daughter, Letters to, 141, 1G7. Death-bed. 538—541. Death of Elizab. Breckinridge, 159. '' Dr. " 445. « Mrs. 34 H— 352. " C.l. and Mrs. McLanc, 2;?. " Edw. M. Mdler, 220. " Elizab. " 102—105. " Dr. " 540. No- tices of, 540, 541. Death of Mrs. Miller. 550. " E. Serg-ant, 179. '• John Sergeant, 549. Death-scenes, 105. Debts. Payment of, 387. 412. 33S. Defeat, Triumph and, 2G1— 2'.tl. Defence of Course in Mew School con- troversy, 228—230. Deference to <»thors, 375. Delavan,- Letter to E. C. 440. Delaware, Synod of. 2.iO.202. 263. 274. Departments of in^ttrut-tion. 4m3. Devotion, Private and united. ISI. Devotional eoin|)o8itioii. 505, 500. *' spirit, :<73. De Witt. Kuv. Abr., Rerainiicencc of, 41.5. Diary, Dr. M.'*. Birth-day. 20«i. 24.*, 311, 357,368,427, 447. 44--. 4sl. 497. Ordination-dav, 2M, 444,454. Wed- 554 INDEX. ding-day, 207, 244, 427, 459, 481, 496. Miscellaneous, 208, 209, 224, 225, 245, 259, 351, 357, 359, 425, 426, 445, 468, 473, 479, 501, 503, 509 511. Diary, Mrs.' M.'s, 16, 48, 191, 219. Dickey, Mr., 292, 297. Dickson, Dr. H. S., Letter to, 476. Directors of Seminary, Letters to, 484, 515. Action of, about salary, 525. Directory for Worship, 504. Revised, 24. Discipline, Church, 258, 259, 480. Re- vision of Form of, 24, Imperfect forms of, 285—288. Resisted, 327. Disowning of Synods, 329, 330. Division of Church, 316—319. Com- mittee upon, 328. Opposed, 233. Doctorate of Divinity, 140, 370. Of Laws, 495. Doctrine, Errors of, 151, 263, 274, 275, 327. The ground of controversy, 200. Substance of, 326. Dod, Prof. A. B., 374. Domestic Missions, 203—205, 452. Board of, 210—212, 250. Attempt to destroy Board of, 289. See Am. H. M. Soc. Dow. Rev. Dr,, 324. Drafts upon strength, 466. Dress, 375. Duane, Col,, Letter to, 18, 19. Duffield, Rev. George, 284. Duncan, Rev, J, M., 96, 112, 114. Dunlop, A,, 1 72. Dutch Neck, Church of, 52^. East Windsor Seminary, 247, 323. Ecclesiastical History, 403, 405. Work on, requested, 93. Economy, 376, 387. Edgeworth. Letter to Miss, 66, 67. Education, 382. Annual, 213. Board of. 44,197, 213, 214; Attempt to de- stroy, 289; Sermon before, 249. Of eh'ldren, 121. 417—423. For ministry, 230. Reporta on, 418, 420. Societies. 40—44. Soe. of Presb. Ch., 41. Policy, Hist, of Early, 25. See Am. Ed. Soc. Edwards, Life of Jonathan, 324. Edwards, Dr. Justin, Letter to, 301, 303. Elder, Ruling, A licentiate a, 448, Elders, Rulin •, Imposition of hands by, 455, Rights of, 423. Sermon to, 456. Views of, 173, 174. Works on, 171—174, 430 509, Elective Affinity Courts, 193, 194, 215, 230, 238, 250, 251, 262, 263, 290, 328, 478. Elizabeth, First Church of, 478. Elliott, Dr. D., 341. Letters to, 317, 356. Ely, Dr. E. S., 155, 156, 281. Ely, Rev. George, Reminiscence by, 523—525. Emeritus Profess r, 517. Engles, Dr. W. M., 155. Letter to, 255. English, Rev. J. T., Letter to, 362. Episcopal Church, Contribution to, 383. Episcopal attack, 257. Controversy. 23, 24, 26, 257, 258, Criticism of Letters on Unitarianism, 68. Min- ister, Reception of, 488. Recorder, 438. Episcopalian?, 97. Epitaph, 548. On Dr. S. S. Smith, 40. Eternal Sonship of Christ, Deniers of, 78, 79. Letters on the, 28, 73—82. Evarts, J., Letters to, 57, 69, 70. Ewing, Ch. Justice, 171. Letter to, 168. Ewing, Dr. Greville, Letter of, 129. Examination for church membership, 476. ExaminaMon, Presbyterial right of, 230, 262, 315. Exchanges, Pulpit, 94, 95. Excision of Synods 319. 329, 330. Exercise, 121—123, 375, 382, 521. Failing strength, 473 — 500. Fairs, Church, 402, 403. Fnma clnmosa, 258, 259. Family, The Closet and the, 180— 186. Gathering, 527. Worship, 48, 184. Farming, 117—121. Fashionable accomplishments, 177. Fasting, 325. Sermons on, 164 — 167. Fathers, Princeton, 97, 101. Female Benevolent Society, 419. Female Sex, Deference to, 428. field. Judge R. S.. 474. Reminis- cences by, 381 — 384. Finney, Rev, C. G., 20.3, 238, 271, 280. Fisher, Dr. S.. 264, 281. '' Prof., 326. Fiske, Dr. B., Letter of, 117. Flavel, John, 492. Forbearance, Polemical, 436. Force of Truth, Scott's, 430, 438. Ford, Rev. J., 24. Foreign Missions, 197, 198, 243, 244" Board of, 331, 335—338. Forrjiving dis2)Osition, 35. INDEX. 555 Forms of Government, Diaciplino and ' Worship revised, 24. France, 4l.'4, 425. Fraser, Rev. W. J.. 284. Freeniiin, Rev. J., Letter to, 47. Free Masonry in the (t. Assembly, 50. FuUerton. Letter to Mrs., :VJ. Funeral of Mrs. M. lireckinriilge, 35L " Edw. M. Miller, 221. " Dr. Miller, 541—544. " Mrs. " 550. Funeral service, 365. Gauhltng quotations, 432, 435, 44L Gardening, 119, 120. Gathering Clouds, 148—159. Gen. Assembly, (1789), 112; (181fi), 113; (1817), 27; (1819), 44; (1820), 24; (1821), 24; (182()), 114; (1828), 194, 195; (1831), 191—200, 232: (1831-1830), 229—230: (1832), 215; (1833), 210, 241 ; (1834). 24S— 251 ; (1835). 232, 201—200; (1830), 232, 282—297; (1837), 325— :i32, 335; (1838). 338—347. Freemasonry in, 56. Majorities in, 191, 215, 240. 249, 201, 204, 285, 328, 339. Or- ganization of, 340, 341. Places of meeting of, 261. Representation in, 329. 330. Resolutions of, 510, 517, 540. Rights of, 314. Gen. Assoc, of Connecticut, 114, 115. Genesee, Synod of 330. Geneva, Synod of, 330. Genius, Dr. M. not a, 390. Gentleman of Baltimore, Letter to a, 28, 112. Gethsemane View of Atonement, 281. Gibson, Ch. Justice, 301. *• Rev. T. C, Extract from, 112. Gilchrist, Letter to John T., 423. Glendv, Dr., 115. Goodeli, Rev. W., 09. Grammar and Rhetoric, 509. Green, Dr. A., 28, 29. 47, 150—152. 150, 157, 380, 395. 458. Letters to, 18. 72. 81, 151, 330. Reminiscences of. 502, 503. Toasted. 487. Griffin, Dr. E. D., 25, 378. iWtcr to, 85. Review of sermons of, 354, 417. Griffith. .Mrs.. 60, 67. Gunn. Life of Dr. Livingston by Alex., Letter for, 107. Gurney's Bib. Dictionary, 431. Guthrie, J., on Eldership, 172, 173. Habits and Manners. 117 — 131. Half-way covenant, 360. Hall, Dr. J., Reminiscence by, 400. Hallock, Rev. W. A.. Letter to, 474. Halsey. Dr. L. J., E.\tract8 from, 127, 4I>9. 410, 507. Ilanna, .Miss E. N., 178. Ilariiiony, Family. 175 — 180. Harris, Letter to" Rev. 0., 480. Harvey, Dr., 270. Heilth, 121. 425—127, 473. 497—501. Care of. 301, 302, 375. 3S5. Henry, Alex., Letter of, 103. liil. Heresy hunting, 152. Hewit. Dr., 270. High Churchism. 97, 457. Hill. Dr. Wm., 310. Hillyer, Dr.. 201, 2sl. Historical Societv of X. J., 38.3, 473, 474, 531. Of \. Y., 3S3. Ilistorv of Earlv Educiitifin Policy, Dr. 'Baird's, 25. Of New School, Dr. B.'s, 25. Of Presb. Cburoh,- 20, 21. IIol);irt, Bishop, 97—99, 106. On Preaching and Praver, 504. Hodge, Dr. C, 4(5. lib, 251. 519, 54!, 517. Funeral sermon bv. 221. Hoge. Dr.. 52. 292, 290. 297, 322. Home .Miss. Soc. See .\m. H. .M. S. Hopkinsianism, 25, 27, 40, 132, 149, 203, 235. Horner, Robert, 397. Horseback riding, 123. Hospitality, 35. HoUfC erected, 13. Hou, 323, .324. " Dr. S. S., Death and funeral of, 40. Snodgrass, Dr. W. D., 148. Social character, 374, 382, 384, 391. Societies to aid Seminary, 12. " Am. Whig and Cliosophic, 108. Society of Inquii-y, Letter to, 511. Soeinians, 59, 327, 366. Son, Letters to, 357, 457, 461, 488, 510, 516 525. Southard, S. L., 108. Southern Churchman, 430. Sparks, Rev. J., 60, 324. Am. Biog. of, 324. Letter to, 90. Spectral illusions, 495. Spencer, Dr. E., 39. Spirit of the Pilgrims, 137, 147. Sprague, Dr., 418. Anniversary Dis- course by, 547. Disc. Commemora- tive, 545. Extracts from, 124, 125, 324, 332, 384, 388, 389, 392—394, 508, 543. Installation of, 145. Lectures on Revivals, 213. Lectures to Young, 147. Letters to, 58, 64, 69, 90, 108, 110, 135, 139, 147, 333. Reminiscences by, 29 — 36, 534, 535. Spring, Dr. G., 25, 205, 232, 281. Ex- tracts from, 113, 149. Spruce St. Lecture, 212. Squier, Rev. Mr., 342. State attachment, 14. INDEX. 5G1 state of Church, 132. Stewart, Mr.. Speech of, 264, 265. Stone. Dr., 492. Stowe, Prof., 270, 280, 283. Stuart, Mr., Letter to. 245. " Prof.. 55, 74. 322. Letter of. 128. Letters on Eternal Sonshij) of, 75 — 77. Students of Seminary, In- tercourse with, 34. Sturdevant. Rev. J. M., 284. Sturges, Rev. S., Letter to, 485. Subscription to Standards, Terms of, 25. 230—238, 320, 519. Swift, Dr. E. P., Letter of, 02; To, 205, 213, 243. Symmetry, 390. System, Exact, 386, 393. Taylor, Rev. J., Letter of, 63 ; to, 03. " Dr. N. W., 115, 149, 150, 154, 203, 280, 281, 323, 324, 320, 327, 342,417,418. Taylorism, 149, 150, 320. 327. Tactics, Ecclesiastical, 313, 315. " Of Prelatists, 430. Temper, 391, 392, 394. Temperance, 300 — 305, 374, 375, 385, 440, 447, 522. Ten Eyck, Mrs., 13. Testimony, Record of. 402. Testimony and Memorial. 328. Theological Institute of Conn., 238. " Review, 110. See Bib. Reper- tory. Theological Societ7, 409. Third Presbytery of N. Y., 250. " Philadelphia, 290, 331. Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. W. M., 178. Thorn well. Dr., 174. Time, Redeeming the, 386. Tobacco, Use of, 375. Toleration, 307. Tract and Book Soc, Presbyterian, 245, 255, 417. Triumph and Defeat, 261—291. Troubles Without and Within, 191— 221. Trusteeship, College, 370, 377. Resig- nation of, 537. Trustees, Letter to College, 537. Tustin, Dr., Letters of and to, 495. Tyler, Dr., 270, 280, 2S1, 322, 323. Union, Christian. 146, 242. 306. Unitarian Miscellany, 60. 62, 101, 102. Unitarian of Baltimore, 60, 61. Unitarianism, Letters on, 28, 61 — 69, 74, 75. Unitarians, 61—06. United Doiii. Mien. Soc. of N. Y., 113. " For. Miss. Soc. 197. 336. Universal Salvation, D«>(;trinc of, 47. Univorsitv of IV-un., Ccutcni»ry of, 521, 52H. I'tica, Synod of, ;!30. Vaci'ination, .'17."^. Valetudinarianism, 121. 378, 425— 127, 402, 473, 497—501. Van Dyck, A., 406. Van Rensselaer, Dr., Agent for Princo- tun Seminary, 160. Views in Theology, Dr. Becchcr'B, 284. Villers on Reformation, 241. Virginia Magazine, 37, 38, 51, Sy, 102. Voluntary So ietiea and Church Boar.ls', 114. 132, 236, 263,' 320, 321, 326, 444. 511. Voluntary Societies, Plea for. 319, 320. Voting, 11. AVales, J., 48. " Mrs. Letters to, 191, 334. Ward, Rev. F. DeW., 414. 415. Watchman and Reflector, Extract from, 127. Watchman of the South, 3.34. Watchman, Hist, of Popery by a, 248. Watts, Dr.. 60, 492. Way of Salvation, Barnes's Serm. on, 150. 152, 155. Webster, Dr. M. and D., 397. Weller, Dr., 433. Wesley, J.din. 495. Western. F. Miss. Soc, 198, 205—207, 223, 232, 24.3, 250, 263, 288, 289, 310, 33.'->. Western Memorial, 250. *• Reserve. Synod of, 329, 330. Westminster As8«nib., 49, 50. Whig, Dr. .M. a. 12. Wilkesbarro. Synod at. 420. Will and -Testament, Last, 54T. ^i , 550. Willard'.i Body of Divinity, 50. Wilmington. IVesbytory of, 2y0. Wilson, Dr. J. L., 20y,*284. " " J. P.. 114. 150, 154, 155, 174, 266. On Eldernhip, 173. Wine drinking. Scrupulous, 304, 305, " Old, 30 1, 305. Wisner, Dr. H. B., Letters of 129j to, 54; 60, f<' M 1 •■. i:;s. 562 INDEX. Witherspoon, Dr. J., 292, 295, 296, 322, 323, 331. Woodbridge, Dr. J. 281. Woodhull, Rev. G. S., Death and Fun- eral of, 259. Woods, Dr. L., 270, 322. Letter of, 645. Worcester, Dr., 57. Worldly Amusements, 186-190. Worship, Family, 184. " Public, 185, 186. Worth's Mill, 122. Writer, Dr. M. as a, 372. Writing, Manner of, 510. Young men Solicitude for, 468. Win ning, 458, 459.