REV. CORTLANDT VAN RENSSELAER, D.D.

IN connection with the accurate portrait likeness of a good man which stands at the head of this number of the NATIONAL PREACHER, we record a brief biographical sketch. We desire to honor his memory as a man, as a faithful minister of the Gospel, as an active Christian, as an indefatigable laborer in the cause of his Divine Master in every good word and work, and as a friend and classmate in college.

He was the son of the Hon. Stephen Van Rensselaer and Cornelia Paterson. These are historical names; the one in New-York, the other in New-Jersey. He was born in the city of Albany, May 25th, 1808. He graduated at Yale College in 1827. He was admitted to the bar in his native State in 1830. The same year, having decided to devote his life to the work of the ministry, he entered the Theological Seminary at Princeton, New Jersey. He was ordained to the sacred office in 1835, and commenced his ministry in preaching to the colored population in Virginia. Circumstances beyond his own control constrained him to leave that chosen field of labor, and in 1837 he was installed the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Burlington, New-Jersey. In 1837 he was chosen Corresponding Secretary and principal executive officer of the Board of Education, under the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, in which service he continued to the end of his laborious life. This is a brief record of the more important dates in his professional history.

Cortlandt Van Rensselaer was a good son and brother; a good husband and father; a good citizen, neighbor, and friend; a good minister and a good Christian. During his lingering illness, which terminated in death at Burlington, July 27th, the General Assembly in session at Rochester, embracing more than three hundred members, gathered from every State of the Union, (excepting three,) addressed a letter to Dr. Van Rensselaer, then upon his dying bed, expressing their sorrows for his affliction, and their high estimate of his worth and services. That letter was heard in the midst of tears and sighs. It was adopted by the whole Assembly rising to their feet, when the oldest minister present gave utterance in prayer to the feelings which swelled every heart. This is an incident unprecedented in our history. No other man was ever so honored. It was a tribute not to greatness, but to good

ness.

The following is a copy of the letter sent to the Rev. Dr. Van Rensselaer by the General Assembly:

"TO THE REV. CORTLANDT VAN RENSSELAER, D.D.

"BELOVED BROTHER IN CHRIST JESUS: The General Assembly has learned with deep solicitude of the afflictive dispensation which detains you from its present sessions. It has pleased Him whose 'way is in the sea, and his path in the great waters,' to visit you with a painful illness. We can not permit you to suppose that the Church which you have loved and served so well, is unmindful of you in this season of trial. And we should do injustice to ourselves not to assure you of our united and cordial sympathy.

"We are all well aware that one who feels himself drawing near to eternity, and around whose couch of suffering the light of that 'better country' is shedding its heavenly radiance, can stand in no need of earthly consolations. Nor would we offend your Christian humility by enlarging upon the services you have rendered to the cause of Christ. But we may-nay, we must-magnify the grace of God in you, which has wrought so effectually to the furtherance of the Gospel amongst us through your instrumentality. We can not accept your resignation of the important office you have just relinquished, without bearing our formal and grateful testimony to the manner in which its duties have been performed. With devout thankfulness to God, and under him, beloved brother, to you, we record our sense of the eminent wisdom, fidelity, and efficiency, and the noble, disinterested liberality with which you have for fourteen years conducted the affairs of our Board of Education.' Under your administration it has risen from a condition of comparative feebleness, to strength and power. Its plans have been matured and systematized. Its sphere has been greatly enlarged. It has assumed new and most beneficent functions. Your luminous pen has vindicated the principles which lie at the basis of true Christian education. And by your numerous publications, your sermons and addresses, your extended correspondence, and your self-denying activity in visiting every part of the Church, you have, by God's blessing, accomplished a great work in elevating this sacred cause to its just position, and gathering around it the sympathies of our whole communion. Nor may we forbear to add, that in prosecuting these manifold official labors, you have greatly endeared yourself personally to the ministry and membership of the Church.

'Rejoicing as we do in the auspicious results of these unwearied exertions, we mourn this day the sacrifice they have cost us. While the Church is reaping the harvest-a harvest which we fully believe she will go on gathering until the Master comes to present her unto himself, a glorious Church-the workman who has done so much to prepare the ground and sow the seed, falls exhausted in the furrows. There, dear brother, we doubt not you would choose to fall-upon that field to the culture of which you had dedicated your life.

"On behalf of the Church we represent, we once more thank you sincerely and gratefully for all your labors and sacrifices. We lift up our hearts in humble and fervent supplication to our common God and Father, that his presence may be with you in this hour of trial. We hear with joy, that he does not forget you; that he is giving you strength according to your day; and that your peace flows like a river. We plead with him that if it be possible, this blow may still be averted, and your health be restored. But we desire to commit you into his hands. That Saviour in whom you trust will not forsake you. The Divine Comforter will comfort you and yours. Your covenant God will be the God of your children.

"To him, the Triune Jehovah, we affectionately commend you -praying that his rod and his staff may comfort you, and that whenever the summons shall come, an entrance may be ministered unto you abundantly, into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

"On behalf of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, in session at Rochester, N. Y., May 23, 1860.

"JOHN W. YEOMANS, Moderator. "WILLIS LORD, Stated Clerk. "ALEX. T. MCGILL, Permanent Clerk. "A. G. VERMILYE, Temporary Clerk.

"[Signed also by the whole Assembly."

Vol. III.-New Series.] FEBRUARY, 1861. [No. 2.-Whole No. 833.

SERMON IV.

BY REV. WILLIAM S. PLUMER, D.D., LL.D.,

PROFESSOR OF DIDACTIC AND POLEMIC THEOLOGY IN THE WESTERN THEOLOGICAL.. SEMINARY, ALLEGHENY, PA.

LESSONS FROM THE LIFE AND END OF JUDAS ISCARIOT.

"Ir had been good for that man if he had not been born."-MATTHEW 26: 24.

He

SUCH is the alarming and astounding language of the Lord Jesus Christ respecting one of his disciples and apostles. The Messiah needed not that any should testify to him of man; for he knew what was in man. He searches the hearts and reins. declares the end from the beginning. "Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him." Christ's ministers are often deceived; Christ, never.. He knows all things. He never was overreached. His eyes are as flaming fire. He easily detects the most specious pretenses.. He knows all men, all hearts, all destinies.

The person here spoken of is Judas, whose surname is Iscariot. Judas, Juda, Judah, Jehudah, and Jude are all the same word, varied only in unimportant particulars. The word Judas literally signifies, the praise of the Lord. The name was common among the Israelites. One of Jacob's sons was called Judah. From him descended the tribe, within whose territory was Jerusalem, and from which arose the name of Jews. After the ten tribes broke off, Judah designated the tribes of Judah and Benja. min, while the rest were called Israel. One of the Maccabees, very renowned in history, was called Judas. Another of them, who bore the same name, suffered martyrdom under Antiochus Epiphanes. Besides these, there are several other persons of the same name, more or less noticed in Jewish history before the coming of Christ. After that we have an account of four men called Judas. One was Paul's host at Damascus. (Acts 9: 11.) Another was surnamed Barsabas. He was sent with Paul and Barnabas and Silas to carry to Antioch the decrees of the Council of Jerusalem. This was itself a high honor. Luke calls him one of the "chief men among the brethren." (Acts 15: 22.) Another was surnamed Thaddeus, or Lebbeus, or Zelotes. In Matthew 13: 23, he is called the brother (or kinsman) of our Lord. He is thought to have been the son of Mary, the sister of the blessed virgin, and the brother of James the Less. If so, he was, according to the flesh, cousin-german to Jesus. His father's name was Alpheus. The last epistle in the Bible bears the name of Jude, and was written by this man. The other Judas, mentioned as living in the first century of the Christian era, is the betrayer of our Lord, surnamed Iscariot. The word Iscariot is variously derived. Some say it is an abbreviation of Issachariothes, and simply declares that he was of the tribe of Issachar. Others derive it from two Hebrew words that unitedly signify, a man of murder. Others suppose that his surname simply shows that he was of the place called Carioth or Kerioth. This is probably the true explanation. Ish-Carioth or Iscariot is literally, a man of Carioth.

Of this man the fearful sentence is uttered by the Lord: "It had been good for that man if he had not been born." What language of terror! Well might any ears tingle at the sound. "What heart can conceive the awful and tremendous import of those words?" Let us consider the life and end of him of whom they were spoken. But before entering into the particulars of his history, a few general remarks are pertinent.

1. There is no evidence that Judas Iscariot was a man of bad countenance. Most men are much influenced by looks, and many think they can tell a man's character by the physiognomy. This may often be true; but there are many exceptions. The case of Judas was probably one. In paintings intended to represent him,