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and the elevation which he should ever seek to maintain in his conduct, than his ability to render even the secret operations of nature subservient to his happiness and his designs, and her laws almost obedient to his will?—And what can more fully impress him with the conviction of the goodness of the Deity,than to meet in every retired nook, new evidence of this attribute, and to find in every new discovery in science or in art, some new and unsuspected method, in which God has been doing good to his creatures. To the unlearned man the book of nature is sealed. It is, indeed, not only written within, but without, and its external characters are divine. But how much more he discovers, who can break the seals! the beauty of the heavens, when the king of day pours over them his flood of light, or when they are lighted up by the milder radiance of the moon, and stars which sing around her;-the garniture of the fields,-and the melody and breathing odours of the groves, may kindle our imaginations, and if there is devotion in our hearts, may awake it to ecstacy: -but how much deeper will be his reverence and his gratitude, who sees in the marshalling of the hosts of heaven, the finger of the Deity, pointing out his path to some weary traveller; who sees the springing herb secretly elaborating the juices, which shall alleviate the pains, and heal the sicknesses of suffering humanity;—who analyzes the breath of spring, and beholds in all the mysteries of nature, a God governing all things, and secretly causing all things to work together for the good of his creatures.

"In exhibiting, as we have endeavoured briefly to do, the connexion of science with the useful arts, and showing the importance of the former as the foundation of the latter, we have given you in part the views, which led to the establishment of the Gardiner Lyceum. It is the object of this institution to give instruction in those branches, which are most intimately connected with the arts, and to teach them as the foundation of the arts. In this respect we believe its design to be original. There are many institutions in our country, where these sciences are taught, and we are proud to boast of one in our own state, where they are taught with singular success. But the education at college is designed only as a general introduction to the liberal sciences; it furnishes a mental discipline, and is intended to enlarge the views of those, who are afterwards to pursue the study of some particular profession. It embraces too wide an extent; it consumes too much time, and is attended with too great expense, to be attained by the greater part of the community, and especially by those, who are to pursue agriculture, or some mechanical profession for their support. But were it otherwise; were it in the power of these classes to obtain an education at college, it is not an education suited to their wants. They do not merely require to be instructed in the sciences, but to be taught these sciences in a practical manner. It is not sufficient for them, as for the general scholar, to be taught the common laws of chemistry;-they must be instructed particularly in the chemistry of agriculture and the arts. It is not sufficient for them, to be able to repeat and to demonstrate a few of the general laws of mechanicks :-they must be taught the application of the laws; they must be made acquainted with machines; and they must

understand the sources of errour in applying theory to practice. These things are not done at our colleges-not from any defect in their systems, but because it would be aside from their design. One class of students could with no more propriety expect that the physical sciences should be taught with minute and constant reference to the wants of the mechanick and farmer; than another, that all instruction in the learned languages should be directed to making proficients in biblical criticism; or a third, that ethicks and political law should be so taught, as to prepare them for the litigations of the bar, or the deliberations of the senate chamber. But it is plain that to practical men science must be taught in a practical manner. We are taught this by the frequent failures of men who are not deficient in the general principles of science, but who are unacquainted with the particular science of the arts. It will not be said then that the founders of this institution have assisted in unnecessarily multiplying seminaries of education; for it is new in character, and it is designed to supply the wants of a large portion of the community, for which no provision had hitherto been made. Nor will it be said, that these wants are not real. The education of the advocate or divine is scarcely more necessary to his success, than that of the mechanick or the farmer. If the professions of the former are themselves branches of science, those of the latter are founded in science. And as we expect empiricism from those, who enter the learned profession without a suitable preparatory education, so we can expect nothing but deficiency of skill in mechanicks, who have been taught only the manual exercise of their arts. There surely can be no reason, why mechanicks and agriculturists should not be instructed in that science, which will enable them to follow their pursuits not blindly, but from rational views. Those who have not this education, may indeed copy faithfully the practices of their fathers, but we cannot expect from them improvements which shall enrich their country and benefit the world. Is it extravagant to suppose that there may be many Watts and Wedgewoods scattered through our country; their talents buried in obscurity, and not known even to themselves from the want of opportunity for their development? And would it be presumptuous to hope, that at this institution, some of these intellects may receive their first impulse and be first directed into that path which will lead them to honour and extensive usefulness!"

CONSECRATION IN PHILADELPHIA.

WE insert, with great pleasure, the following account, from the Church Record of the consecration of a Gothick church, in Philadelphia. We agree with the writer in the opinion that this ought to be considered as the most appropriate kind of architecture for churches.

"On Thursday, the 27th February, St. Stephen's church, in Philadelphia, was consecrated to the service of almighty God, by the Right Rev. William White, D.D. Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Pensylvania, in the presence of the Right Rev. John Henry Hobart, D.D. of New York, the Episcopal clergy of Philadelphia, and a large concourse of other persons.

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"Morning prayer was celebrated by the Rev. Dr. Abercrombie, and the Rev. James Montgomery, and a very appropriate and impressive sermon delivered by the Right Rev. Bishop Hobart, from Heb. xii. part of 23d verse, which we are happy to understand will soon be published. "The numerous congregation, assembled on the occasion, were still and attentive, in a degree evincing the deep interest they took in the solemnities of the day.

"This beautiful edifice is a chaste and correct specimen of Gothick architecture, and is the only one in the country that in its external appearance and internal arrangements is conformed to that style of building.*

CONSECRATION IN BINGHAMPTON, (BROOM CO. N.Y.)

FROM THE CHURCH RECORD.

On Friday, Jan. 31, a new church erected in this village, was consecrated to the service of almighty God, by the Right Rev. Bishop Hobart, by the name of Christ's church.

In the course of the sermon preached by the Bishop, he took occasion to state, that, when he first visited this place, about nine years since, the Episcopal Church was scarcely known here. It was only about five years past, that he had consecrated a commodious edifice for worship. And he had now the high gratification of consecrating another edifice larger than the former, and finished in a style of great neatness, and even with no inconsiderable degree of elegance. mentioned this circumstance as highly honourable to the congregation, and particularly so to the individuals by whose liberality and exertions so much had been effected in so short a period. And it was his earnest prayer, that in this that they had done, God would remember them for good.

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The church is finished somewhat in the Gothick style of architecture. The pews gradually rise from the chancel, and are nearly all neatly lined and furnished with cushions, and the desk and pulpit are very handsomely finished. The pews are principally sold, and the money arising from the sale, with the subscriptions, has rather more than defrayed the cost of erecting the building.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

THE Conductors of the Gospel Advocate have received, from "a subscriber," a notice of the character of a lately deceased, and lamented statesman. They beg leave to inform their friend, that it does not comport with the design of the Advocate, to insert biographical sketches, unless they represent the character of the deceased as particularly eminent for its Christian excellence Such sketches it would give them pleasure, at all times, to bring before their readers. In making these remarks, they speak generally, and have no reference to the distinguished individual alluded to, concerning whose religious character they have no knowledge. The paper of P., on prayer meetings, is under consideration. The remarks of R. on human influence, are received, and will be inserted with great pleasure. We hope to receive farther communications from the author. Several other communications are received, and approved for insertion as our limits will permit.

*The writer of this article probably knows nothing of Christ church, Gardiner, in the state of Maine; both the exterior and interiour of which are purely Gothick.

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REMARKS ON DR. ADAM CLARKE.

TE HE literary labours of Dr. Clarke have shown him to be a profound scholar, and an able biblical critick. With a mind long inured to deep research, he brings to the investigation of his subject the highest attainments in oriental literature. All his writings are deserving of regard, if not of praise. But his commentary on the bible will be a lasting monument of his piety and learning, and of his fitness for so important and arduous a work. If we cannot subscribe to all his opinions, yet we find in his commentary much to delight the scholar, and improve the Christian. The writings of such a man have a high claim on our respect for two reasons: First, because he is an eminent scholar and divine, and secondly, because he is a candid dissenter from the Church of England.

In a note on Matt. iv. 18, Dr. C. remarks, that “men-made min-› isters have almost ruined the heritage of God. To prevent this our Church* requires that a man be inwardly moved to take upon himself this ministry, before he can be ordained to it. And he who cannot say, that he trusts (has rational and scriptural conviction) that he is moved by the Holy Ghost to take upon himself this office, is an intruder into the heritage of God, and his ordination ipso facto vitiated and of none effect. See the truly Apostolick Ordination service of the Church of England."

What is worthy of remark in this note is, that Dr. C., a celebrated preacher in the Methodist connexion, a sect among whom there are but few other than lay preachers, should have been so impressed with the necessity of a valid, apostolical ministry, as to pen the above note. It is, however, but another confirmation of the fact, that prejudice and enthusiasm, are often at variance with consistency, and the pride of sect will induce a practice which our judgment may disapprove.

It is not my intention to enter upon the question of Episcopacy. I mean only to point out what appears to me to be an inconsistency between the opinions and conduct of Dr. C. Others may be able to reconcile them, but I confess I am not. If the ordination service prescribed by the Church of England be truly apostolical, as Dr. C. asserts it to be, then none other than Episcopal ordinations can be *The Church of England is here meant. GOSPEL ADVOCATE, VOL. III.

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apostolical, for the apostles cannot be at variance with themselves. We have no right to inquire why Dr. C. preferred being a Methodist preacher, instead of a minister of the Episcopal Church; but we may state our surprise, that he should not have entered into the Christian ministry, according to the "truly apostolick form," which he so wisely and liberally recommends. According to the form of ordination which he declares to be "truly apostolick," spiritual authority is conferred by Episcopal hands. Presbyters have not the power of ordaining in the Church of England; because we can find no such power acknowledged or practised in the primitive church, and because no such power was given to them at their own ordination. As no one can lawfully give what he never lawfully received, presbyters cannot, without arrogance, and contempt of apostolical authority, the usage of the primitive church, and ecclesiastical order, ordain any one to the ministerial office. When Mr. John Wesley was ordained a presbyter of the Church of England, by the imposition of the bishop's hands,* Dr. Potter, bishop of Oxford, did not, for he could not, give him authority to ordain others. Mr. Wesley's authority to ordain, or to commission his followers to preach the gospel and administer the sacraments, was, therefore, gratuitously assumed; and persons so appointed, were, to all intents and purposes, or as Dr. C. may be said to express it, ipso facto, "men-made ministers." They were Mr. Wesley's ambassadors, not Christ's; they still continued laymen, for the ordainer or appointer having no commission to convey spiritual authority, most certainly could not bestow it. Mr. Wesley's own commission was, "to preach the word of God and to minister the holy sacraments in the congregation where he should be lawfully appointed thereunto." Not a word was said about his ordaining others, as is the case at the consecration of a bishop. Mr. W. was sent to perform certain specified duties in subordination to his "ordinary, and other chief ministers, unto whom was committed the charge and government over him," and not to send others into the vineyard. All, therefore, who have no other authority for preaching, and ministering the holy sacraments, than what is derived either immediately, or mediately from him, are nothing more than laymen, and, consequently, have no authority to minister those ordinances of religion in Christ's name, for which, from the beginning, an order of men were specially appointed by Divine authority, and regularly continued in his Church, to the present day.

The declaration to this purpose, made by Dr. Clarke himself, could not have been more explicitly written, than in the quotation at the beginning of these remarks. He there declares the ordination of the Church of England to be truly apostolick, or, in other words, to be a divinely instituted, and, therefore, a valid ordination. Now according to this service in the Church of England, there are three orders in the Christian ministry, Episcopally ordained, and it is this

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