the doctrine while the theorist most inconsequentially and illogically admits it, then let the book be burnt, as "hay and stubble," but let also the man " be saved, yet so as by fire."

2. We may hereby readily determine where is the true church of the Lord Jesus Christ. In proportion as all truth, both of fact and principle, is held in its purity, and manifested in its living power, is the perfection of the church of God; and precisely in proportion as the truth and spirituality depart, the rightful claim to be called "the church," is lost. It, perhaps, may well be doubted, whether the spiritual in religion ever will become extinct, where the whole truth, both of fact and principle, is maintained and inculcated. Ceremonies, used as the divinely appointed means for impressing the truths symbolized upon the conscience; and doctrines, preached in harmony with the principle of giving to mercy and righteousness full conformity, may, perhaps, under the connected blessing of God, ever secure life and spirituality in the church. It is true, moreover, that the existence of spiritual life is consistent with much error, both ritual and doctrinal. But, this degree of error may become so great, as to be wholly incompatible with the least remnant of spirituality. The body may be so maimed and mutilated, or become so monstrously deformed and misshapen, that life cannot be kept within it. And when all spiritual life is clean gone, it is God's church no longer. It may still assume the highest prerogatives, and put forth the most exclusive pretensions, and arrogate supreme authority, and call itself apostolic or catholic; but after all, it is a dead body, putrefying and noisome; and which, for the comfort and the health of the living, needs to be buried out of their sight.

The test-point, by which to examine all high-church pretensions, is that of the existence of spiritual life. Is the grand principle of "faith in the Son of God," working there" by love, and purifying the heart?" If so, then own it as church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Notwithstanding its many errors, that may make it weak and sick, nigh unto death, still cherish it; hold fellowship with it; heal it, if possible, of all

its errors, in ceremony and in creed; and bring it back again to the beauty and activity of spiritual health. As long as there is life, there is hope.

But if, in fact, it be already dead, it is not proper that it should have its place among the living. By no process of galvanizing its dead members into violent and unnatural action, can it be made fit that it should longer have its place above ground. Nor, if the vital spark has indeed fled, can any externals give validity to its pretensions. Tradition may be invoked, the voice of antiquity may be pleaded, the fathers may be quoted, ancient and venerable forms, and vestments, and rubrics, and relics of saints and martyrs may be in it; but as well might you hope to find the ancient nation of Egypt, by rummaging among the mummies in her tombs and catacombs, as to find the true apostolic, catholic church of Christ, amid such rubbish and remnants of mortality. The true, primitive, apostolic church of God, wherever it is, is alive; and her spiritual life and health, her holy and vigorous action, are her best evidences of her apostolic origin and divine authority.

3. An efficient Ministry will hereby be secured. It is not sacerdotal descent, nor ceremonies, nor vestments sacerdotal, which give to the church an influential and efficient ministry. A superstitious reverence may be induced among the credulous and ignorant, by such factitious trappings of the priesthood; but the real source of all the power of the ministry to do good, is in the spiritual religion which they exhibit in the life, and the living truth which they preach from the pulpit. If the ministry have this source of power, they may very well dispense with all other adventitious means of influence. The truth of the Christian religion, comprehended through all its facts by its principles, exhibited by the daily walk and conversation in all its spirituality and purity, and preached from Sabbath to Sabbath discriminately and faithfully, is adequate to any emergency which the church can More power is lodged here, to move and mould the human mind, than in all the world besides. Religion, comprehended as a science, and applied to the multitudes of man

meet.

kind as a spiritual energy, possesses within itself a vitality and an efficiency, by which it is more than a match for any thing which it can meet. Of every Christian, and especially of every Christian minister who is fitted for his work, may it be said emphatically, "greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." No other authority is so imperative upon the conscience, no other science has such power over the intellect, no other motives have such an influence upon the heart and will.

Compare Paul with Cæsar. Nero held the throne of universal empire. The legions of Rome, which had subdued the nations of the earth, were ready to do his bidding. The bodies and lives of millions were at his disposal. Paul was his prisoner, and stood in chains before his tribunal. But who wielded the power to work the mightiest and the most enduring changes? The history of the nations shows, that the sceptre of the Cæsars has been powerless, compared with the might which the primitive apostle to the Gentiles exerted. This simple principle, embodying the very life and soul of ministerial fidelity to his commission-" for I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and him cruci fied," gave to Paul more sway over the minds of nations, than all the authority of Rome possessed.

So with all other sciences. Newton comprehends the heavens in their great law of order, and binds systems in their principles; La Place computes the tables, by which the motions and positions of the stars may be traced, and determined for centuries to come; Herschel sends his gaze through the immensity of space, discovering the furthest planet skirting its way upon the outer confines of our system, and writes his own name upon it, which is to be borne shining through the heavens while that bright world rolls on; but nor Newton, nor La Place, nor Herschel has taken hold of the highest nor the mightiest science. That faithful minister of the gospel, who studies, and lives, and preaches the spiritual truths of Christ's kingdom, has seized upon facts and principles which work more broad and deep, which reach on fur

ther into futurity, and which stamp his influence and his name upon tablets more enduring than are included in all ancient and modern science. He controls and directs the energies of immortal minds, which shall still endure and work on when the earth and the heavens are no more.

For the training of such a ministry, and the sending abroad through the families of mankind such an agency, the perpetual help and blessing of Almighty God is needed, and the dignity and responsibility of such a work must be deeply felt, that divine aid may be sought, proportioned to its magnitude and our weakness.

ARTICLE V.

BAIRD'S RELIGION IN AMERICA REVIEWED.

By Prof. J. ALDEN, D. D., of Williams College, Mass.

Religion in America; or, an account of the origin, progress, relation to the state, and present condition of the evangelical churches in the United States. With notices of the unevangelical denominations. By ROBERT Baird, author of "L'union de L'église avec L'etat dans la Nouvelle Angleterre." New-York: Harper & Brothers. 1844.

THE primary object of this book is to give information to Europeans with respect to the religious condition of the United States. Information on this subject was greatly needed, not only on the continent, but even in Great Britain. We rejoice that the task of giving it was undertaken by Dr. Baird. His personal acquaintance with almost every part of our Union, his well known accuracy and patience of investigation, his ready appreciation of character and skill in selecting the right sources of information; his calm, sound, practical judgment, his candid and catholic spirit, his scholar-like habits and cultivated taste, render him admirably qualified for

THIRD SERIES, VOL. I. NO. III.

32

the execution of this work, and, we may add, for the department of labor now assigned him by the providence of God. It gives us pleasure to learn that editions of Dr. Baird's work have appeared in the French and German languages. A hundred copies in the French language have been sent to distinguished individuals in France, and other countries on the continent, including several crowned heads. Letters have been received by the author from the King of Prussia, the King of Wurtemberg, the Dutchess of Orleans, and M. Guizot, rendering him thanks for the seasonable information derived from his book. We rejoice that men occupying such commanding positions can appreciate the value of a religious work.

Although the book was written for European readers, yet it contains a large amount of information which will be new to most American readers. The intelligent American publishers were accurate in their judgment that the book would prove useful at home as well as abroad.

There are two points, in view of which we deem the work peculiarly valuable to American readers. First, the reader will get a more full and accurate idea of the religious character of the founders of the different colonies than from any other book with which we are acquainted; and secondly, it will furnish him with an authentic account of the different denominations of Christians, and their plans for acting on the public mind.

We regard the first named point as very important. Owing to the custom which has obtained of dividing history into civil and ecclesiastical, our historians have not given that prominence to the religious character and acts of the founders of our states, which is necessary to a full understanding of our country's history.

The influence of this custom on history in general has been very unfortunate. It has led men to confine their attention to particular classes of facts without perceiving their connection with other facts. The student who is destined to the walks of civil life, reads what is called civil history, as