they have belonged, and have acknowledged the evil and inconvenience of division among Christians. There is ample evidence from the correspondence of several of the early Reformers, especially of Calvin and Cranmer, that they heartily deplored those divisions which already began to appear in the Protestant body. The idea of the unity of the Church still lived, with operative power, in their minds, and they had not yet made the discovery, that division is necessary to purity, strength, and efficiency. But these individuals have hitherto been few in number, and have always far preceded their own times, and have met the fate of those who do so. They have either spoken unheard, or, if they have been so fortunate as to gain the public ear, they have been persecuted and overwhelmed. Bent upon realizing, to its utmost extent, the right of private judgment in matters of religion, the Protestant world has hitherto pardoned more readily the grossest abuses of that right, than the least attempt to impose restrictions upon it. But there are many indications that the times are ripening for better views. A wider audience is constantly preparing for those who advocate the abandonment of our trifling peculiarities-the product of an unbridled licentiousness of thought, and a return of all Christians, with submissive faith, to the grand essentials of our holy religion. Not a few persons are, indeed, still found, who, from long familiarity with the existing state of things, or from having their personal interests identified with it, or from their low ideal of the Church, can see no evil in the present sects of Christendom, and even regard them as, on the whole, descriable. But their number is gradually decreasing; they are becoming the few; while that sense of the evil of sectarianism, heretofore confined to the greatest and best men, is beginning to pervade the mass of the Christian world. That this sense will be rendered more and more deep and pervading, as preparatory to the reunion of Christians, cannot be doubted. In what particular manner this result will be effected, and all parties be made disposed to harmony, may not be foretold. It may be so ordered by Divine Providence, that there shall be a prevalence of errour and corruption within the Church itself, which will render a vigourous union necessary for the purposes of effective discipline. Or there may be raised up against the Church, from without, such an array of persecuting enemies, such a violent opposition from Popery or infidelity, that our sects shall be compelled to cease from their shameless contests, and unite all their powers for self-defence. But whatever may be the means

adopted, it cannot be doubted that this end is pursued, and will be attained, by the great Head of the Church. It was his last prayer, in the days of his flesh, that his followers might be one. And now that he is exalted to the throne of the universe, he doubtless cherishes the same desire, and is wielding the infinite resources of his power for its accomplishment.

Whenever the evils of disunion are sufficiently felt, then there will certainly be an effectual remedy devised and adopted, at whatever cost. Whenever there is a will to unite, a way will be found. The points of difference between the sects, now magnified into so much importance, will resume their proper insignificance. Obstacles which had appeared insurmountable will vanish, and unexpected facilities will offer themselves. There are no sacrifices which will not be made by persons and communities, when suffering under evils which admit of no cheaper remedy. The most boundless and unthought of concessions, from private interest for the public welfare, have been extorted by the pressure of necessity. No opinions, however settled; no prejudices, however confirmed; no enmities, however inflamed; can stand long in competition with the urgent demand for relief from present evil. Mountains will be leveled and valleys exalted, crooked places be made straight, and rough places plain; and over the way, thus prepared, will Concord, child of Heaven, walk forth as it were spontaneously to meet the desires of those who had long watched and waited for her coming.

It cannot be justly inferred from what has been said, that because we are now experiencing the same evils of schism, in remedy of which the early Episcopal regimen was devised, we are therefore to adopt a similar regimen, as the only cure of the evils of schism, and the only basis of Christian union. What might have been a wise and salutary arrangement in former times, and under different political relations, might prove so no longer. The past history of the Church should not be overlooked in any plan to reorganize its broken body; and double guards should be set at those_points where the primitive government broke over into Papal supremacy. Two rocks, equally fatal, endanger the course of those who would escape from the narrow enclosures of sectarian religion into a more open and unrestricted Christian fellowship: on the one hand, a creedless and formless Christianity, ending at last in a vapid idealism; on the other, a government so concentrated as to terminate

in a second spiritual despotism. Somewhere between these must the course of safety run. The proper unity of the Church does not stop short with a mere accord of feeling, on the one hand; nor, on the other, does it require an absolute uniformity in doctrine and discipline. While it would require the adoption of a simple creed, and of a comprehensive outward polity, it would also allow, under these, such unessential diversities of opinion and form, as may always be expected to exist.

A most instructive analogy in behalf of the practicabilities of the union of the religious sects of our country, is furnished by the history of our civil union.* Although the colonies with which this country was settled, were the same in their origin, and identified in their interests, yet they long remained dissociated and destitute of any common bond. Such were their mutual jealousies, that every proposal made to unite them, was rejected by the colonists themselves, even before it excited the attention of the Mother country. The recommendation of a Convention held at Albany, 1754, for a union of the American Colonies, and the establishment of a federal government over them, had the singular fate, not only of being rejected by the Crown, but by every provincial assembly. The times were not yet ripe, nor the minds of men sufficiently enlarged, for such a comprehensive proposition. The colonies were destined to remain, for some years longer, separate and, in a considerable degree, alien commonwealths, jealous of each other's prosperity, and divided by policy, institutions, prejudices, and manSo great was the force of these considerations, and so exasperated were the people of the colonies in their disputes with each other, concerning boundaries and charterclaims, that Dr. Franklin observed, in 1761, That a union of the colonies was absolutely impossible, or at least, without being forced by the most grievous tyranny and oppression.

ners.

Governour Pownal declared, That the colonies had no one principle of association among them, and that their manner of settlement, diversity of charters, conflicting interests, and mutual rivalship and jealousies, would render a union impracticable.

But great as these obstacles to union were, they have been overcome by a deep sense of the evils of disunion, pro

This account is taken, for the most part, from the chapter on the history of our Federal Constitution, in Kent's Commentaries, vol. i.

duced by the circumstances of danger and suffering through which our nation has been led by the providence of God.

The earliest associations of which we have any account, took place under the impression of danger from the Indians, and as a means of defence against them and also against the Dutch or the French, then bearing a hostile attitude to the American colonies. Such were the associations in 1743 and 1754. The formidable claims, and still more formidable power of the Parent State, furnished the next occasion for their association, which became now more intimate, as the evil to be resisted became greater and more urgent.

It was while they were surrounded by the perils of the Revolutionary war, that the thirteen States, after a reluctant delay of three years, were brought to unite under the artiticles of Confederation, which were declared to be the result of impending necessity, rather than intrinsically desirable.

Equally imperious was the necessity which led the confederated States at length to adopt that Constitution by which our national Union was secured and rendered indissoluble. The engagements of the nation had been neglected, its finances annihilated, its army reduced to almost nothing, while symptoms of distress were multiplying on every hand. Each State, yielding to the voice of immediate interest or convenience, successively withdrew its support from the Confederation, "till the frail aad tottering edifice was ready to fall upon our heads, and to crush us beneath its ruins."

Such were the circumstances of trial and suffering, in remedy of which, our present constitution was adopted. And thus may it be affirmed, in the most unqualified manner, that our civil Union, in all its stages, from the lowest temporary associations of separate colonies, for defence, to our permanent federal Constitution, has been the product of antecedent evils, of which it was devised as a remedy. As these evils have pressed more heavily, our Union has become more and more intimate, until these jealous, discordant, hostile States are blended into a oneness deemed utterly impracticable by our early statesmen, and surpassing the brightest vision of the first American patriots.

LITERARY NOTICES.

To

Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge; or Dictionary of the Bible, Theology, Religious Biography, all Religious Ecclesiastical History, and Missions; containing Definitions of all Religious Terms, and an impartial Account of the principal Christian Denominations that have existed in the world, from the birth of Christ to the present day; with their Doctrines, Religious Rites and Ceremonies, as well as those of the Jews, Mohammedans, and Heathen Nations; together with the Customs and Manners of the East, illustrative of the Holy Scriptures, and a description of the Quadrupeds, Birds, Fishes, Reptiles, Insects, Trees, Plants, and Minerals, mentioned in the Bible; a Statement of the most remarkable Transactions and Events in Ecclesiastical History; Biographical Notices of the early Martyrs, and distinguished Religious Writers and Characters of all ages. which is added a Missionary Gazetteer, containing Descriptions of the various Missionary Stations throughout the Globe. By Rev. B. B. Edwards, Editor of the Quarterly Observer. The whole brought down to the Present Time, and embracing, under one Alphabet, the most valuable part of Calmet's and Brown's Dictionary of the Bible, Buck's Theological Dictionary, Abbott's Scripture Natural History, Wells' Geography of the Bible, Jones' Biographical Dictionary, and numerous other similar works, designed as a complete Book of Reference on all Religious Subjects, and Companion to the Bible; forming a cheap and compact Library of Religious Knowledge. Edited by Rev. J. Newton Brown. Illustrated by Wood Cuts, Maps, and Engravings on Copper and Steel. Brattleborough, Fessenden & Co. Boston, Shattuck & Co.

THIS Volume is a super-royal octavo, of more than twelve hundred closely printed pages; and it is enough to say in commendation of it, that it fulfils the promises set forth in its long descriptive, comprehensive title. It is at once a Bible Dictionary, a Theological Dictionary, an Ecclesiastical Historical Dictionary, a Dictionary of Religious Biography and Martyrology, a Dictionary of Oriental Manners and Customs, and of all Religions, and a Missionary Gazetteer. Nor is the work a mere compilation. The original articles contained in it are numerous, and some of them of considerable length, and of great value; particularly those in which are described the doctrines and peculiarities of the different denominations of Christians in the United States. The mechanical execution of the work is excellent, and the whole constitutes, we have no doubt, the completest and most valuable book of reference, adapted to the use of families, Sunday school teachers, and ministers of the Gospel, that has ever been prepared and published in this country.

Having said thus much, and with all sincerity, in commendation of the work before us, we shall take the opportunity to offer a few suggestions, partly with a view to the public benefit, and partly for the consideration of the Editor and Publishers, when the work shall go to another edition.

It will be evident to all who use this work as a book of reference,