Duty and danger of theological professors.-Philosophy of religion made too prominent. Its hurtful effects appear from the history of the church. Importance of conforming exactly to the word of God.-Apology for taking a part in this controversy. How the views here controverted may have been occasioned. Plan of remarking. Letter II. Passages in the Concio ad Clerum to be considered. The two common positions. Rea sons for supposing that Dr. Taylor holds the opposite. Interrogative form no objection.-Second position considered. Meaning of the phrase, God could not prevent sin.-Three senses. Circumstances which indicate the literal sense.-Second sense adopted by the orthodox generally. Third sense inadmissible. Letter III. Does the nature of things make it impos. sible for God to prevent sin? Meaning of the phrase. Nature of created beings. The case of the father and his sons. Analogy supposed does not exist. Does the nature of moral agency limit the power of God? Representation of the Reviewers. Opinions of the orthodox as to the existence of moral evil compared with Dr. Taylor's. His theory implies the independence of moral agents. Reasoning as to the nature of moral agency. Moral agency the same in all. Want of motives. Letter IV. Dr. Taylor's reasoning on the supposed impossibility arising from moral agency.-Nature of the sub ject. Can it be proved that a being who can sin, will not sin? The actual occurrence of any thing depends on appropriate causes. God has a perfect control over human beings. Argument from facts as to God's being able to prevent sin. Influence arising from the existence and punishment of sin not absolutely necessary. God's not preventing sin resolved into his unsearchable wisdom. Common theory does not limit the goodness of God. Whether God's creatures have a

power which he has not. Letter V. The reasoning from moral agency farther exa mined. The supposition, that God could not wholly prevent its perversion without destroying it. Dr. Dwight's views. The more specifick position, that God could not do better for any individual sinner. It has no proof either from facts, or from

the nature of the subject. Groundless apprehension of what would result from the interposition requisite for the conversion of more sinners.-Direct proof that God is able to convert more sinners. 1. From his omnipotence. 2. From what he has done. 3. From the requisition of prayer. 4. From the representation of Scripture, that God converts men according to his will or pleasure. Letter VI. Farther notice of the question, whether God could have secured the holiness of any moral being without the influence of moral evil. The doctrine of moral necessity applied to the subject.—The position, that sin is the necessary means of the greatest good, particularly considered.-A contradiction. Proper inference from the fact, that God makes use of sin as a means of preserving moral beings in holiness. Same reasoning in regard to the other phrase, i. e. sin 80 far as it exists preferable to holiness in its stead. Meaning of the expression, sin is, in respect to divine prevention, incidental to the best moral system. Letter VII. Whether the common position is consist ent with the fact that sin is forbidden and punished; and with the sincerity of God. Can a person sin with a benevolent intention? Case of the Canaanites. Objec. tion of the caviller, Rom. iii. Dr. Tay. lor's scheme does not remove difficulties. Virtue founded in utility. Intimation that the orthodox consider sin to be excellent in its nature. Whether the common scheme admits of sorrow for sin. We must regard sin as it is in itself. Distinction between God's agency and man's. Benevolent intention of the sinner. In`tention of the sinner and of God distinguished. Conduct of Joseph's brethren, and death of Christ. Results of the theory in relation to Christ's death. Letter VIII. Practical influence of Dr. Taylor's theory compared with the common, in relation to the power of God, his blessedness, the system of his works, his dominion, the happiness of the good, submission, prayer, humility and dependence. Grounds of disquietude. Coincidence with Pelagians, Arminians, etc. What ought to be done. Suggestions. Particular things to be explained. Appendix. (To be continued.)

stone thrown up, and then through a channel cut in the rocks, after which it disappeared. The marks of the chisel on the rocks are still visible. Remnants of the work of the ancients appear in every part of the isthmus; the immense

wall built across it still remains, but is in ruins. The castle or fortress of Corinth rises to a great height, and is crowned with extensive walls and battlements; from the house in which Dr. H. resides near the castle, can be seen the sea on both sides of the isthmus, Egina, Salamina, Attica, the lofty peaks of Parnassus, the high hills of the Morea, &c. It is curious that the castle on the summit of a rocky mountain, is well supplied with water; about 300 ancient wells remain, most of them filled with the purest water. The once proud and powerful Corinth is in ruins, but traces of a mighty and enterprising people are seen every where; the broken columns of the ancient temples now form a part of the modern huts, and some of the latter stand upon the foundations of walls of ancient buildings, which seem everlasting; hundreds of mo. dern houses have crumbled away in succession, and left the foundations as immovable as ever. Dr. Howe says the old Greek historians gave a true geographical description of the country; a man can now find his way from place to place, with Strabo and Pausanias alone for guides.

Original Uniformity of Climate.-It appears from the observations of geologists, that during the earlier periods of the earth's formation, there did not exist,

among the then created animals and ve getables, that kind of geographical distribution which characterizes the orga. nized beings of our time. It is certainly no slight proof of the former distribution of one and the same climate over the whole earth, when, in coeval formations, we find the same fossil remains in widely different degrees of latitude. This, it is alleged, has been verified by observation. The same (or very nearly allied) organick remains, as those of the tertiary and diluvial strata of the basins of Paris and London, of the sub-Apennine hills, and of the shores of the Baltick, have been, we are told, recently observed in the same kind of strata on the banks of the Irawadda in the Birman empire, in the neighbourhood of the Brahmaputra in Bengal, and in Jamaica.

In conclusion, we need only cast a glance at the acknowledged locality of some of the extinct gigantick pachydermata, as the elephant, rhinoceros, &c. to be convinced, that, in the period of creation immediately preceding our own, there may have existed, on both shores of the Atlantick Ocean, to a distance extending from the mouth of the Lena, in 70 degrees north latitude, to the tropick, a climate at least very analogous to that in the present tropical regions. From the preceding and other well known

facts, we may venture to infer, that it was after the Deluge, that there first appeared those differences of climate which we were unable to show had existed at any prior period.-Edinburgh Philosophical Journal.*

Excavations at Pompeii.-It may not be quite uninteresting to notice the progress of the excavations, which, notwithstanding all that has been said on the subject to the contrary, seem to have been as well conducted, and as steadily pursued, as times and circumstances have permitted. Since the return of the legitimate" sovereign, more than half of the forum has been cleared; the Senaculam, or Temple of Jupiter, the Chalcidicum, the Temple of Mercury, the Pantheon, the Temple of Venus, that of Fortune, the Thermæ, and innumerable private houses have been disinterred; and though it be true that more labourers might have been employed, it is not less so that the work ought not to proceed till the objects already explored, are roofed and fortified against the weather. At present considerable expense attends the excavation, on account of the greater depth of soil which occurs towards the centre of the city. The preservation of the vaults of the Therme has been a work of no trifling importance; and both time and skill are necessary, in the application of the means best calculated to hand down to

posterity whatever can be saved of these crumbling relicks of antiquity.-Gell's Pompeiana.

Durability of Stones.-When the felspar of the Granite rock contains little alkali, or calcareous earth, says the Edinburgh Philosophical Journal, it is a very permanent stone; but when in granite, porphyry, or sienite, either the felspar contains much alkaline matter, or the mica, schorl or hornblend, much protoxide of iron, the action of water (containing oxygen and carbonick acid) on the ferruginous elements, tends to produce the disintegration of the stone.

Sandwich Islands.-At the port of Honoruru, island of Oahu, from the 1st of January, to the 4th of December, 1829, the number of arrivals was 138, compris ing at least 100 different vessels, most of them ships with large crews. During six months of the year it is estimated that there are constantly in port from 600 to 1,000 seamen, besides 200 or 300 residents, most of whom are or have been sea-faring men. Much the greater number are Americans.

It is an old opinion, that before the deluge the poles of the earth were parallel to the poles of the Ecliptic-Edit.

Ch. Adv.

Dysentery.-A writer in the Daily Advertiser says: "It is not so generally known or recollected as it should be, that boiled milk, thickened with a little wheat flour, is an almost certain cure, in all common cases, for dysentery. It may be taken with safety in any state of the disease, and repeated until a cure is effected. The writer has had a pretty numerous family for more than fifteen years, and recommends this simple, convenient remedy, from known and long-tried expe

rience."

Sunflower Oil is likely to become an article of extensive manufacture in this country. The American Farmer states, that at a large dinner party in the neigh bourhood of Baltimore, recently, consisting of gentlemen from town and country, a salad dressed with sunflower oil was eaten, and was pronounced to be excel lently well dressed, nobody suspecting it not to be olive oil. By an improved mode of extracting the oil, a bushel of seed will yield a gallon of oil. Land which produces Indian corn, will yield from fifty to seventy bushels of the seed or grain of the sunflower per acre.-The Friend.

Yeast. The yeast prepared by the Hungarians will keep for a twelvemonth. During the summer season they boil a certain quantity of wheaten bran and hops in water. The decoction is not long in fermenting, and when this has taken place, they throw in a sufficient portion of bran to form the whole into a thick paste, which they work into balls, that are afterwards dried by a slow heat. When wanted for use, they are broken, and boiling water is poured upon them; having stood a proper time, it is decanted, and in a fit state for leavening bread. The Romans prepared their yeast much in the same way, taking wine in a state of fermentation, and working up a given quantum of the flour of millet with it; the paste thus obtained was made into balls and dried. It often happens that the yeast, the leavened dough, or the

dough itself, will become acid in summer, and acidulate the bread; this may be remedied by throwing some fingersfull of carbonate of magnesia into the yeast or paste.

Spontaneous Combustion.—-Baltimore, August 23.-A case of spontaneous combustion in a coal yard, took place in this city on Friday last, which is noticed for the benefit of others. About noon on that day, smoke, and immediately after. wards fire, were seen to arise from the fence of Ridgely's coal yard, in the rear of Smith's Dock. There was a body of coal lying directly against the fence, and from the examination made immediately after the prompt extinguishment of the fire, there is no doubt that it arose from the spontaneous combustion of the coal. It is a fortunate circumstance that it happened at noon day, for immediately adjoining the fence were piles of oak staves and other combustible materials of a cooper's shop.

Making Brick.—Silliman's Journal of Science has an article on brick-making, showing the advantage and economy in using anthracite coal as a component part of brick. It is stated that half a ton of fine coal, the refuse of coal yards, mixed with clay sufficient to make 100,000 bricks, will render the bricks hard and durable, and impervious to water, and facilitate and equalize the burning, so that they may be burnt at half the usual expense, and in less than half the usual time.

In digging a well at Middleton, Connecticut, a few days since, a quantity of bones, the horns of cattle, and vegetable matter, were found below, at the depth of from 10 to 15 feet, in a state of good preservation. A species of corn stalk perfectly sweetly flavoured was also found. The Middlesex Gazette accounts for the good preservation of these things, by sup. posing it arises from their being buried in mud of a salt, marshy nature.

EXTRACTS FROM THE MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(Continued from p. 426.)

The committee to whom was referred the report of a committee of the last General Assembly, on the subject of a missionary institution, in connexion with the Theological Seminary at Princeton, beg leave to recommend to the General Assembly the adoption of the report of the

said committee, with the exception of the third resolution; and also the adoption of the following resolutions, viz.

1. That the General Assembly will proceed to appoint a professor in conformity with the recommendation contained in the said report, as soon as a sufficient annual income can be secured to support the said professor: and,

2. That the whole subject be referred back to the original committee.

The report of the committee appointed on this subject by the last Assembly, and adopted by adopting the above report of the committee to whom it was referred, is as follows, viz.

The Committee appointed by the lust General Assembly to consider the expediency of establishing "a Missionary Institu tion, for the instruction and training of Missionaries, under the care of the General Assembly, and in connexion with the Theological Seminary at Princeton," beg leave to report:

That, after repeated meetings, and mature deliberation on the subject commit ted to them, they ate of the opinion, that such an institution as this appointment seems to contemplate, is much needed, and, if wisely established and maintained, may be expected, under the Divine blessing, to contribute much to the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom.

The missionary cause is assuming an importance, and its operations an extent, which must more and more interest the religious public. Every thing, therefore, that is adapted to impart a new impulse to the missionary spirit; to give it a wise and happy direction; or to bring a larger number of individuals, and especially of candidates for the holy ministry under its immediate influence, cannot fail of prov ing both reasonable and useful. The Committee are, therefore, persuaded that the General Assembly could scarcely adopt a measure better adapted to aid the missionary cause; to draw down the richest and most appropriate blessings on the students of the Theological Seminary; to meet and gratify publick opinion; and to furnish a centre of information, of instruction, and of impulse in reference to this great subject, from which invaluable results might be expected.

The spirit of the religion of Jesus Christ is essentially a spirit of Missions; and, undoubtedly, one of the first and highest duties of the Christian church, is to nur ture and extend this spirit, and to make all her establishments tributary to its advancement. The importance, therefore, of connecting an institution of the kind proposed, with a Seminary in which a large number of candidates for the holy ministry are assembled, is obvious. Its native tendency, if properly conducted will be, to kindle among the rising minis try, a new and more fervent zeal on be half of missions; to call forth, animate and prepare larger numbers of missionaries, both for the foreign and domestic field; and, eventually, to diffuse, through VOL. VIII.-Ch. Adv.

out all our churches more of that deep and practical sense of obligation in reference to the subject, of the want of which we have so much reason to complain, and the increase of which is so earnestly to be desired.

In another view, also, the Committee believe that such an institution as that which is now contemplated, would be productive of incalculable benefit. The great importance of maintaining a spirit of deep and elevated piety in our Theological Seminaries, has been always acknowledged by the friends of vital religion, and is beginning, it is hoped, to attract more of the attention of those who are entrusted with their management. Unless such a spirit can be, in some good degree, maintained among assembled candidates for the holy ministry, Theological Seminaries will, assuredly, not prove a real blessing to the church, but rather the reverse. Now the Committee are fully convinced that it would not be easy to suggest a plan better adapted to subserve this great object, than to connect with a Theological Institution, a department of instruction, the primary purpose of which should be, to cherish fervent love for im mortal souls;-large views and plans of evangelical usefulness; and every species of knowledge, and of practical accomplishment adapted to prepare the sons of the church for spreading the gospel throughout the world. Even those who never actually engage in missionary work, will be likely to be essentially benefited by such an appendage to the usual course of instruction;-to have their personal zeal for the salvation of men increased; their preparation for pastoral fidelity promoted; their knowledge of the wants and miseries of perishing souls extended; and their ultimate capacity for actively favouring the missionary cause, wherever their lot may be cast, greatly enlarged. In this, and in various other ways, it is manifest, that in Theological Seminaries, as well as in the church at large, every effectual step that is taken to extend the missionary cause, tends no less surely, to promote piety and pastoral fidelity at home; and to render every new minister that is added to the church, a new centre of influence and of action for the spread of the gospel.

It would, moreover, be desirable to have some place provided where men destined to foreign missions might profitably spend a year or a few months, in such studies and exercises, as would tend to prepare and qualify them for their arduous and interesting work. At present much time frequently elapses before the

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