"The attention which he paid to the doctrines of the gospel, and the success which attended his efforts to illustrate and enforce them, has doubtless turned the attention of many others to the subject of doctrinal discussion, and encouraged them to engage in this too much neglected part of a minister's work. The great amount of instruction contained in his sermons, and the perspicuous and interesting manner in which this was presented to his hearers, has no doubt determined many to carry none but beaten oil into the sanctuary. The definiteness and precision with which he treated every subject on which he wrote, has not only removed many difficulties from the minds of others respecting these subjects, but, at the same time, made them more accurate thinkers and writers. What he has taught respecting the nature of moral agency, human depravity, and regeneration, has prepared the way for that more direct and apostolic mode of address, both to saints and sinners, which has been gaining ground for more than forty years among the ministers of New England. The palpable distinction which he made between saints and sin. ners, and which he presented before the public in so many forms, has doubtless exerted a powerful influence to make other ministers more discriminating in their preaching. Could the whole effect which his ministry has exerted upon ministers, and through them upon the churches and the world, be seen at one view, we should be prepared to acknowledge both the reality and importance of his success."

Though Dr. E. was not indifferent to the good opinion of others, yet he was the farthest of all men from seeking after popularity, and making sacrifices of principle in order to gain

He preferred beyond every thing the favor of God, and the approbation of his own conscience; and in order to secure these, he was often constrained to say and do things which he knew would render him unpopular with the world. And yet few men, after all, have been so highly honored in view of the world, as he. God turned the reproaches of his enemies into blessings. They were led, in many instances, to admire and praise him for the very things which were once the objects of their dislike and condemnation. Few men, in their old age, have excited so much attention, and been the objects of so much respect, as he. Clergymen of all denominations, and gentlemen of every profession, far and near, for some reason or other, manifested a peculiar interest in him. Strangers of distinction called upon him, so

licited his acquaintance by letter, invited him to distant places at their own expense, and seemed to vie with his particular friends in efforts to promote his honor and happiness. And when he was dead, the mourning was like that of Israel for Moses and Aaron. The respect heaped upon his memory was spontaneous and universal. In him, therefore, was verified most signally the declaration of God"Them that honor me, I will honor." He was an eminent example, before all men, of the contempt of that popularity "which is run after," and of the possession of that respect and esteem which are called forth, in view of strict consistency, unbending integrity, and high moral worth, sustained amid all the vicissitudes and temptations of a tried and laborious life.

Professor Park justly regards it as one of the sources of interest in Dr. E., that he stood before the present generation as "the representative of choice men among the ancient clergy of New England.”

"He often spoke of himself as being left alone, all the old familiar faces long since vailed from his view. There has ever been a melancholy and sombre interest flung over such a man, staying so long behind his time, and watching over the fourth generation of his sucessors. He has been likened to the bird that lingers in a northern hemisphere, long after its companions have sought a more genial clime; to the soldier compelled to slacken his movements, and loiter alone in the land of the enemy, when his comrades have marched through, cheered with the sound of the bugle and the society of a full band, in the hope of soon regaining their home and enjoying their laurels. He has been compared, by an ancient poet, to the oak that stands solitary, after the surrounding forest has been hewn down, and that stretches out its stiffened arms, as if to implore mercy from the winds and the storm."

"But he has gone; numbered at last with the friends of his youth, allowed to rejoin the company from which he had been severed so long. The last of our patriarchs has left us; and men whom he baptized in infancy wept at his funeral when they had well nigh reached their seventieth year. Nothing was more affecting to me,' said one who witnessed his obsequies, 'than to see those old men weeping over the corpse of their father.'"

In remarking upon the volumes before us, we have not thought it necessary to go into a critical examination of particular discourses. This would be an almost endless, as it would be altogether a superfluous labor. These discourses, or the most of them, have been long before the public. They have been extensively and attentively read. Hundreds and thousands have reviewed them, each one for himself, and formed a judgment, and reaped the benefit.

Nor have we thought it necessary to remark upon every point, whether of metaphysics or theology, in which the sentiments or language of our author may be regarded as open to objection, or susceptible of improvement. To do this would lead us into a length of discussion altogether incompatible with our present limits and designs.

But we have endeavored faithfully to exhibit the man, as he appears to us in his biography and his publications, and as he has uniformly appeared to us, during a long and intimate acquaintance. We have endeavored that our readers should have the means of understanding his character-his intellectual, moral, and religious character-his character as a student, a pastor, an instructor in theology, and a minister of Christ. That his works will have many readers there can be no doubt; and by those who understand and appreciate his character, they will be read with increased interest and profit.

The religious community are under great obligations to the Editor and Publishers, for the manner in which these volumes have been brought forth. The Memoir by Dr. Ide is plain and modest, brief and yet full, just in its delinea tions, and written altogether in good taste. The Lecture by Professor Park is in his usual vigorous, racy style, abounding with anecdote and incident, and by all who dip into it will be sure to be read through. The mechanical execution of the volumes is throughout of a high order, conferring much credit on all concerned.

In closing our notice of these volumes, we only regret that they are limited to six. There should have been ten of them. The Editor informs us that he has in his hands the materials for ten volumes, as valuable as those included in these six; but that the amount published is as much as it was thought prudent to issue at the present time. We say decidedly, and we feel sure that subscribers and purchasers generally will say the same, Let the four remaining volumes

be published, as soon as they can be prepared. Let them be so published, as to conform, in size and appearance, to those already issued. In the writings of Dr. E., however multiplied, there is no prolixity, sameness, or repetition. His ingenuity and power to interest were inexhaustible. Whatever subject he took in hand, his views were always fresh, striking, and original. We are decidedly of the opinion, that the remaining volumes are called for, and should be forthcoming without unnecessary delay.

If there is any one class of persons to whom, above all others, we would recommend the works of Dr. E., it is our young ministers, and those who are studying with a view to the ministry. To the older evangelical clergy, more especially of the Northern and Middle States, his writings are already, to some extent, familiar. They have read them, and pondered them, and been profited by them. But to the younger portion of the clergy, to candidates, and theological students, these writings will be, in great measure new. Nor should it be any objection to the reading of Emmons, that individuals do not adopt his sentiments. No matter (so far as the question of reading is concerned), whether you receive them, or not. No matter whether, on all points of disagreement, you shall be convinced, or not. The interest, the pleasure, the profit of reading him will not depend materially on this circumstance. Even if you reject many of his conclusions, you will, as one said before, "admire his logic." You will find yourselves more than repaid for the perusal of his works, by the force and ingenuity of his reasoning, by the originality and comprehensiveness of his views, by the example of his flowing, pellucid style, and the clearness of his method. The peculiarity and freshness of his thoughts, will awaken thought on your part. He will suggest views, considerations, arguments, which never occurred to you before. He will put you upon new topics of interesting study, and open before you fields of inquiry, which you may enter and explore for yourselves. Again, then, we say to the class of persons here addressed, By all means, read Emmons. And be not satisfied with reading the volumes once, and then laying them aside; but have them on your study table, or somewhere within the reach of your hand. They require not only to be read, but studied. They are among the few books, poured

forth from the teeming modern press, which will bear study, and are worthy of it.

ARTICLE III.

EXAMINATION OF THE REV. A. BARNES' REMARKS ON HEBREWS 9: 16-18.*

By M. Stuart, Professor in the Theological Seminary, Andover.

I have read with attention, the remarks of my highly respected friend and brother, the Rev. A. Barnes, of Philadelphia, on the exegesis which I have given of Heb. 9: 16-18, in my volume of Commentary on this epistle. I need not assure him, who knows me so well, that I am not in any degree offended by his strictures; for of the manner of them I cannot complain; and as to the matter of them-that only furnishes me with an occasion of reinvestigating the difficult passage, usually called difficult, to which he has invited my attention once more, in order that I may ascertain, at least for myself, still more definitely, whether I have defended an erroneous opinion. A somewhat thorough re-investigation of the whole subject has ended in the conviction, that Mr. B.'s arguments are not sufficient to establish the position, that I have misunderstood, and in my Commentary misinterpreted, the passage in question.

I hope and trust, that this state of mind is not the result of prejudice in favor of my former views. I have lived long enough to know that men are not infallible; at all events, to know that I am not. I am one of those who believe, that in respect to many of the details of sacred science, truth is the daughter of time. I do not mean, of course, that truth in itself is changed by time, but that we must gradually and by protracted and patient effort come to the knowledge of many truths; and among these are to be found not a few, which are far from being unimportant. Being a full believer in all this, I deem it quite possible, that I may yet in many cases be justly corrected, as to my expositions of the Scriptures; and it

* Printed in the Biblical Repository, July, 1842.