practical foundation truths of the Gospel. And they respectfully sub, mit to the Christian community whether charges of such a nature, liable to excite popular odium, and which the mass of the community cannot be expected patiently to investigate, ought not to be made, if at all, at least in the first instance, in a communication directly with the Committee, where facts can be examined into, misapprehensions corrected, and safe and just conclusions be calmly reached.

Letters from the Rev. Dr. D'Aubigne, the estimable author of the History of the Reformation---one of the works publicly commented on and which the Committee regret that they did not delay to issue till they had fully conferred with the author---intimate no discovery by. him of perversion or falsification in the Society's edition of his work, which he is now revising, that it may still go forth, especially by the hands of the Society's one hundred Colporteurs, "among the desti tute settlements of the Great Valley, and other obscure and neglected portions of our country," to resist the inroads of popery and error. His great and warm heart bleeds for the destitute of our land, and he sees reasons for preparing an edition that evangelical Protestants may anite in circulating.

The Society's edition of Edwards' History of Redemption, which has been in like manner assailed, is easily described. The author not having lived to prepare it for the press, numerous blemishes and errors of style, &c., were corrected; thirty lines incidentally alluding to denominational differences omitted; and out of thirty-three instances in which the term elect is used, sometimes frequently in the same connection, it is fifteen times retained, and in eighteen instances omitted or exchanged for synonymous terms, as "the redeemed, God's people &c., the substance of which is briefly announced in a prefatory note. This is the whole story. Every thought of Edwards bearing directly on Redemption remains, and God is seen throughout exalted on his throne, disposing of men and kingdoms in his holy pleasure, and making all subservient to his great design in giving his Son to die. The Committee do not claim infallibility in their revision; but they claim that the Society's edition is a good one, such as they believe the author, had he been on earth, would have approved; and the more erudite and sound the scholar ond theologian who shall candidly examine it throughout, the greater is the assurance of the Committee that he will give it substantially an unqualified approval for the Society's channels of distribution. Other editions may be preferred for the theological library; and this Society raises no objections to the issuing of this and other works by booksellers, or Boards of Pub

lication already existing or that may be formed: it rejoices, and will rejoice, in the well directed efforts of every Institution to make known the Savior's name. The Committee might allude to other books issued by the Society, but what is said of the two above named may be sufficient by way of illustration.

The Committee beg to submit, that prejudiced criticism on the little which a comparison of a book revised with some former edition may show to have beeh omitted, disregarding the main drift and aim of the author and the relations of words or phrases to the whole, (and such appear to have been almost all the recent critiques on the Society's works) is not a fair method of exhibiting the real character and worth of a book. It is not the dead and severed limbs gathered up from beneath, but the tree itself, renewed and beautified, that exhibits the nurseryman's fidelity and skill. Who can fail to perceive that a few denominational or technical theological terms may be dropped or exchanged, and yet a work remain, warp and woof, the same as to the purpose for which it was written.

And why should this Society be held up to odíum, as if convicted of a crime, by reiterated citations from works published, showing that terms or phrases offensive to any evangelical denomination united in the Society are omitted? This the Society's Constitution requires, and it has ever been openly avowed. The Conimittee neither attack nor defend the peculiarities of any evangelical denomination; nor do they attempt to argue any denomination out of their peculiar views. An objection honestly and intelligently made on denominational grounds is always recognized as valid.

But it should be distinctly observed that the Committee select no work containing much denominational matter for publication. They divert no book from its main design. More than forty volumes and numerous tracts have been published while the authors yet lived, who have been consulted as far as possible; but no author is known to have complained that the Society have perverted his meaning. When the late Dr. Nelson had examined the Society's revision of his Cause and Cure of Infidelity, he said, "I like it well. The ideas are the same, and the language improved. I want to send this work to France, to be printed there; won't you remember and send the Society's edition?" The Committee appeal to the candid Christian scholar, that in the Society's works the reputation of authors has been carefully guarded, and that the works are given to the community in their integrity as to the main design for which they are written. Where any considerable abridgments or changes have been made,

they are also announced at the beginning of the work, as fully, it is believed, as by any kindred institution in this or the mother country; while the Committee are ready to make these announcements to any degree more explicit which the propriety of the case requires.

The Committee appeal to the books themselves in proof that there is not just ground for the alarm that has been sounded; and they respectfully bespeak from all who would judge these works, that they first give them an attentive and prayerful perusal, that they may well know what they are, as adapted to the spiritual wants of the masses of the people. Had the Committee diluted or obscured the great truths of salvation by the cross, they would never cease to lament their error. But they bless God that the Society's publications comprise many works which, in holy fervor and spiritual power, are excelled by the productions of no man uninspired. The knowledge of their real excellence animates the Committee in their labors, and gives them assurance that the Institution will long retain its hold on the confidence and affections of the people of God.

They ask the friends of the Society not to be unduly alarmed by injurious public statements. If the affections of any are chilled, it is rather for those who love the Society and its great catholic principles to give it the firmer support. God is bearing the Society steadily onward in its work. The Committee and officers delight to bear it before Him in the arms of faith, and they ask all who love and labor for its interests to join them in the privilege. If our work be not of Him, let it come to nought. If it be His, He will prosper it.

The Committee do indeed believe that the course recently pursued in reference to this society tends inherently, if pursued by Christians of different names, to the ultimate demolition of all that is fair and of good report among us; but they cherish none but sentiments of kindness towards any. They will spare no pains to avoid giving just grounds of offence; and they hope that their humble endeavors may be made acceptable to all the friends of truth.

The brevity of this statement has allowed only a general expression of the views of the Committee; but they are happy to refer to two official documents, founded on a most careful investigation of all the Society's concerns, by a highly respectable delegation from the Committee of the American Tract Society at Boston, who, alarmed by the manner in which they perceived that the Society had been assailed, came, at the instance of that Committee, to ascertain the facts for the satisfaction of themselves and others. These documents, issued re

spectively by the Committees of the two Societies, have been widely circulated, and are inserted in the double American Messenger for March. It is hoped that the clear exhibition they make of facts, in the Society's proceedings, will give general satisfaction. Should further questions arise, the Committee covet a calm and candid investigation, and will facilitate it by all means in their power.

Resident members, who, with Rev. Doctors Alexander and Edwards, constitute the Publishing Committee.

NEW YORK, Feb. 17, 1845.

DANCING.

Whether dancing, as now practised, is a suitable amusement for Christians, is a question, the correct decision of which may be had by the safe criterion---judging a tree by its fruits. "A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit."

In reasoning on this subject, all that is necessary is to ascertain its effects. It is not pretended, even by its enthusiastic admirers, to be conducive to piety. It is confessedly a worldly amusement. Without any particular training on this subject, the devout and pious are averse to it. Heavenly-minded Christians shrink from the ball-rooin as a peculiarly unpleasant place to them. The individual who leads down in the mazy dance, or figures in the waltz, may be a professor of religion, but he is one whom the world and the Church unite to pronounce inconsistent. Evangelical Christians of all denominations, have but one opinion on this subject. The conviction of the men of the world is, that dancing is incompatible with Christian character. Whatever may be ther views in other respects, in this they are generally agreed, that there is a holiness in the religion of Christ which repudiates a practice so obviously in conformity with the world. It may be recommended as a fascinating amusement, but as consistent with a religious profession never.

As our readers are not supposed to be in the habit of resorting to

the more fashionable ball-rooms, our remarks are intended to apply, chiefly to those country dancing parties, which are of frequent oc⚫ currence during Christmas holy days, and other merry-making occa sions, in various parts of the community. The propriety of collect> ing youthful parties of both sexes, for the promotion of their mutual happiness and improvement, by rational conversation and suitable amusement, is not questioned; but if those assemblages, which bring together a miscellaneous crowd, who, from the moment of their meet ing in the afternoon, through the hours of the night, until the succeeding morning, without intermission, are running down the giddy dance in a stream of thoughtless levity, are profitable or harmless, we have entirely mistaken their character and results. These dancing parties have a dissipating tendency on the minds of those who at tend them. They are utterly destructive of every thing like solemnity or devotional feeling. So far as our personal observation extends, a professedly dancing community, and a pious, godly one, are never found together, and that a single experiment of a week's or fortnight's frolicking, from house to house in a congregation, is fraught with results portentous enough to arouse every minister in whose bounds it occurs, to endeavor to suppress it. An instance of a pious young man or lady, walking in all the commandments & ordinances of the Lord blameless, with a conscience void of offence, both toward God and toward man, and who, at the same time, delights in the frivolities of dancing parties, neither nauseated with their folly nor disgusted with the licentious familiarity prevailing there between the sexes, is not perhaps to be found under the sun. It answers no purpose to tell us, that professing christians here and there are known to shine in the ball-room, and move in the cotillion with the gracefulness of a dancing-master, for men bearing the Christian name have sometimes attended the cock-pit, the horse-race, and the theatre. Some tell us there is no harm in it. Is there no harm in an amusement which, from its fascinating character, is seldom commenced without being carried to excess; which, instead of being stopt after an hour or two's continuance, is, notwithstanding the exhausting nature of the exercise, kept up all night! Is that a suitable amusement which is known in many instances to be the resort of mixed company, where our dissipated gentry, who are confessedly below par with decent families, are allowed to pass current? Will pious parents patronize those parties which bring together a miscellaneous company, a part of whom they deem unfit to associate with their sons and daughters on other occasions? So far then, as this amusement is in