the people to whom he ministered, were many of them, not only of the highest standing in society, but distinguished for their intellectual culture, thus presenting to him a powerful motive for the faithful improvement of his faculties, and the utmost diligence in his work. During the whole period of his ministry, and indeed, throughout the residue of his life, many of his most intimate friends occupied some of the highest places of public usefulness; and it cannot be doubted that in many cases at least, he and they were fellow-helpers in the great cause of human improvement.

Dr. Miller's marriage proved an important auxiliary to almost every good work in which he engaged. Mrs. Miller was the daughter of the Hon. Jonathan Dickinson Sergeant, one of the most eminent lawyers of his day, and a member of the Continental Congress; and this connection brought her husband into intimate relations with the whole circle to which she belonged. She was herself a lady of remarkable powers, of the highest culture, and of deep reverence for religion, though it was not till some time after her marriage that she ventured to hope that she was the subject of a saving change, and to make a public profession of her faith in Christ. From that time it was manifest to all who had an opportunity of observing her daily life, that her treasure was in heaven; and while her fine intellectual and moral character was the subject of universal admiration, it was impossible to resist the conviction, that her crowning attraction was her religion. Though we cannot determine the exact measure of influence that she exerted upon her husband, we cannot doubt that not her heart only, but her hand, was in much of the good that he accomplished.

Another event in Dr. Miller's history, to which he was indebted for a large increase of his usefulness, was his being appointed to a professorship in the Theological Seminary at Princeton. Though his influence as a pastor was wide and deep, it was doubtless greatly exceeded by his influence as professor; for in the latter case he was brought in direct contact with the minds of those who were in a course of training for the Gospel ministry; and through them, his sound instruction and benevolent activity, would tell on the destinies of

coming generations. At the same time he became by this means a much greater power in the church at large; his opinion on difficult questions was generally regarded as of higher authority; for every one felt that he occupied a place, to which none but the wisest and best could be called. Indeed his office as professor opened to him many new channels of Christian and ministerial activity, and gave him opportunities for doing good which were enjoyed by few of his generation.

We only add that Dr. Miller was favored with many tokens of his Redeemer's gracious presence, and thus rendered strong for the arduous duties to which he was called. His path seems to have shone brighter from the day of his conversion to the day of his death. Mistakes and errors, like every other good man, he sometimes committed; but when he became convinced, he was always ready to confess and correct. He seemed ever to be in communion with the Lord, his strength, so that when difficult duties devolved upon him, his courage did not falter; or when great trials were in prospect, he could gird himself to meet them with calm submission. He had a triumphant meeting even with the last enemy, knowing in whom he had believed. Through his whole life, God was his helper, and hence he was always ready to do his Master's will, and had the pleasure to see every good work prospering in his hands.

In the view of Dr. Miller's life, and the estimate of his character, which we have now given, our main design has been to direct the attention of our readers to a work in which may be found an account of him alike interesting and faithful. And we deem it proper, before closing this sketch, to refer a little more distinctly to some of the prominent features of this work, with which its attractiveness is specially identified.

And the first that occurs to us is the minuteness of its details. It is quite possible that some readers may think that this is carried so far as to be an imperfection; and if it were not for the great purity and elevation of the character delineated we might think so too; but as it is, we find little or nothing in the volumes that we could have wished was not there. On the contrary, there are many things that seem of

small importance in themselves, that are yet full of meaning, and, to a thoughtful mind, they bring out character far more impressively than many other things that seem far more imposing. We may add that the whole work is constructed with great simplicity and naturalness, so that one in reading it almost forgets that he is not holding a familiar conversation. Another characteristic feature of the biography is that it covers a long and deeply-interesting period. The account of the ancestry of both Dr. Miller and his wife takes us back among generations that have long since passed away, and includes in it reminiscences of many individuals of Revolutionary and even ante-Revolutionary fame. But if we limit ourselves to the time in which he was in the full discharge of his duties as a minister of the Gospel, and as an educator of ministers, we shall find that it reaches through several years more than half a century. And during these years, the Presbyterian Church was more than once in a state of great agitation, and once, at least, thoroughly convulsed; while several outside controversies, at different periods, awakened a deep and general interest. Of all these polemic scenes, especially those with which he was more immediately connected, Dr. Miller has left a faithful record, which is preserved in these volumes. Indeed, one cannot read them carefully without becoming acquainted with the more important events of our history, especially the history of the Presbyterian Church, during the period to which they relate.

It is worthy of remark, also, that the work which we are reviewing contains incidental notices of most of the distinguished clergymen of that day within the Presbyterian Church, and of not a few outside of it. From many of them there are letters; or else there are facts stated illustrative of their characters; and one can hardly help feeling, as he passes along through the work, that, in reading the biography of a single individual, he is brought into communion with a host of illustrious men, who, having served their generation faithfully have fallen asleep. The names of Doctors Green, Griffin, Janeway, Romeyn, Dwight, Morse, and many other noble spirits--some of a later date-are often repeated, and may be said to be embalmed in these pages.

The last, and by no means the least, important characteristic of this work that we shall notice, is its signal impartiality. As a general rule we regard it as rather an unsafe matter for a son to attempt the biography of a distinguished father; and most of those who read such a work are prepared to make many grains of allowance for concealment or exaggeration. But the reader has nothing of this kind to encounter in these volumes. There is no attempt to make it appear that Dr. Miller did not share the ordinary infirmities of humanity; nor the slightest indication of a wish to attribute to him any thing beyond his deserts. There may be a difference of opinion in regard to the writer's estimate of particular acts, but all must agree that the work gives no evidence of filial partiality.

We rejoice that so worthy a monument should have been erected to the memory of such a man. We are sure that there are those scattered all over the church who honor him as a friend and a father, and to whom these volumes will come as a most grateful offering. Let the work live through successive generations, not only to honor the memory of its subject, but to open fresh channels of blessing through the remembrance of his eminently useful life.

ART. IV.-A Fragment. What the Greeks thought of the Religion of the Jews.

THE following extract from the Moralia of Plutarch is from the version of the learned Abbé Ricard, who devoted forty years of his life to the study and translation of that author.

The Romans and Greeks appear alike to have held the Jews in detestation,-whether from their turbulent and ferocious character, or from traditions respecting them, handed down by the Egyptian Priesthood,--perhaps it would be diffi cult to say. Doubtless much of the cruel persecution of the earlier Christians is to be attributed to their identification VOL. XLII.-NO. I.

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with the Jewish race. Singular indeed is it, that this nation, to whom alone the knowledge of the true God had been imparted in all its grandeur, should have been looked down upon by the rest of the human family; across whose Pagan darkness the divine light had been permitted to flash at intervals only, like the sudden, crinkling lighting in the tempest; for such must we view the elevated ideas of the Deity occasionally emanating from the master spirits of the human race,—from Pythagoras, Socrates, Plato, Plutarch, and other philosophic minds.

Plutarch was born A. D. 50 or 70, within a few years of the crucifixion of the Saviour, being contemporary with St. John the Evangelist. It is sad to think, that one so virtuous and learned, should not have had the privilege of hearing, and reflecting upon, the simple teachings of Jesus Christ. When intellect like his was thus smothered in the mists of Paganism, how deep must have been the darkness of the masses, through which the Christian revelation was destined to pierce.

When Lamprias had finished, Callistratus said, to the other guests, "What do you think of the reproaches which Lamprias makes of the Jews; that they abstain from the flesh of the hog, of which, of all nations, they should be the first to make use?"

"They merit indeed this reproach," replied Polycratues; "but I am uncertain, whether it is from reverence or horror of the hog, that they abstain from eating its flesh. What they themselves say, bears the air of fable, unless, indeed, they entertain secret reasons which they are unwilling to divulge."

"For myself," said Callistratus, "I believe that the hog is honored by this nation. It is objected that it is dirty and hideous; but I do not see in what it is more deformed and disgusting than the beetle, the griffin, the crocodile, or the cat; each of which has worshippers, among the Egyptian priests, and which pass for wholesome animals. The Egyptians reverence the hog, also, out of gratitude; for it is said, that this animal first taught them the art of agriculture, and that the rooting with his snout gave them the idea