solemn testimonies we should require respecting the literary, moral, and religious characters of the persons sent to us for consecration.

You will allow me to recommend to your particular attention the very solemn forms of testimonials, which accompanied our letter, and which we insisted upon, as essential to us in point of conscience, before we could proceed to consecrate any person sent to us for consecration from that distant country.

So much for the general question respecting the number of Bishops intended by the Act to be consecrated here for the States of America, on which the Archbishops and Bishops entirely concur in opinion. But were the case otherwise, were they all of opinion that any greater number might be consecrated by that act, Mr. PETERS could not receive consecration from us, since we could have no such testimony relative to him from Vermont (where for the last twenty years he has never resided) as we always have insisted upon previous to that solemn act on our part. Nor could the want of that testimony be supplied in England, where he has lived all that time, without the exercise of any ecclesiastical function within the cognizance or jurisdiction of any of our Bishops. I am, Sir, your humble Servant,

Col. J. GRAHAM.

J. CANTUAR.

Select Thoughts, Anecdotes, and Characters.

IRENEUS in speaking of the thoughts and reasonings of men in comparison with the wisdom of God, says, "the tongue of men being material, cannot keep pace with the velocity with which conceptions are formed in his mind, which is spiritual, and therefore his reason is, as it were, checked, and not uttered at once, as conceived in the mind, but in parts, as the tongue can give it utterance. But God being all mind, and all reason, what he thinks, that he utters, and what he utters, that he thinks. His thoughts are therefore all reason, and his reason is his mind; and his mind including all things, he is the Father of all. He therefore who ascribes mind to God, and gives that mind succession of production in its thoughts, makes him a compound being; as though God were one thing, and his mind, with which he thinks, another."

The same Father in answer to the question, whether God could not have made man perfect, says; "know that God, being ever the same, and uncreated, as respects himself, all things are possible. But those things which are made by him, inasmuch as they have a beginning to exist in time, they must of necessity be inferior to him who made them: nor is it possible that the things which lately came into being, should be uncreated; and being not uncreated, they must therefore fall short of perfection. Having a beginning in time, they must have an infancy; and having an infancy, they must be unexercised in, and incapable of mature discipline. Hence," as he goes on to remark "our Lord, in thesc last days, though possessing all things in himself, came to us, not as he night, but as

we were able to behold him. For he might have come to us in his ineffable glory; but we should have been unable to endure the magnitude of that glory."

In treating of God's hardening Pharoah's heart, he makes the following apt remark; "The same God strikes those with blindness, who believe not, but deny his being, as the sun, which is his creature, does those who from weakness of sight cannot endure his beams, but to those who believe in, and follow him, he gives fuller and more perfect illumination of mind."

Of such as cavil at particular texts of scripture, he says, "They are like unskilful wrestlers, who, seeing with all their might some one member of their antagonist's body, and falling to the ground with that limb which they hold in their grasp, they imagine they have vanquished; and thus expose themselves to ridicule.

American Annals.

DR. HOLMES,in his American Annals, a work lately published at Boston, says that the sect called in New-England, Separates, first began to ordain ministers in the congregational way, in the year 1746; and that in consequence of the public sentiment being unhinged by the preaching of the famous Mr. Whitfield. Is this a correct statement? All who have written any thing con. cerning the early transactions of New-England, agree that the Puritans who first planted themselves here brought with them congregational notions and practice. The time when a departure from this practice commenced is particularly noticed in history: with the disputes which for several years it occasioned. This is said from memory, not having authorities at hand to cite; but with full assurance that it is substantially correct.

Now it does not seem probable that these opinions and practice should ever have been altogether obliterated and done away. The matter does not, however, rest upon probabilities; for whoever will take the trouble to hunt up the first edition of the Saybrook Platform, printed in 1710, will find ample proof that congregational ideas and practice prevailed to a considerable extent, at least in Connecticut, when that work was compiled, which was in 1708. Few perhaps know that this first edition contained a sort of compromise between the strict congregationalists, and those who were inclined to the consociated form of ecclesiastical discipline. Yet such was certainly the case; and had not the party been of considerable strength, such a compromise would not have been thought expedient. To unite contending interests and heal divisions, was clearly its object. And probably it had, in a great measure, the designed effect, and was then omitted in subsequent editions, in order to keep out of sight, as far as might be, the evidence of there having been any difference of sentiment. During a lapse of only 38 years from 1708 to 1746, it is not likely that these congregational opinions and practices should have been altogether laid aside. Nor is it doubted but that persons may be found still living, who remember the existence of separate congregations of an earlier date than that assigned

by Dr. Holmes. If any of our readers will take a little pains to enquire into this matter, and forward the result, their communications shall be inserted.

Anecdote of Bishop Seabury and Dr. Byles.

WHEN that venerable prelate, Dr. Seabury, first visited Boston, after his return from England, vested with the Episcopal character, he called upon the celebrated Dr. Byles. After the usual compliments were over, the doctor addressed the bishop thus; "I am happy to see, in my old age, a bishop on this side the Atlantic, and I hope you will not refuse to give me the right hand of fellowship" To which the bishop replied, " As you are a lefthanded brother, I think fit to give you my left hand;" which he accordingly did. The conversation soon turning upon the church, the doctor inquired (it being St. Mark's day, and the church consequently open) "why is it that you churchmen still keep up the old Romish prac tice of worshipping saints?" "We do not worship saints," replied the bishop, "we only thank God that the church has had such worthy advocates, and pray him to give us hearts and strength to follow their example." "Aye," cried the other, "I know you are fond of traditions; but I trust I have now many good saints here in my church, and for my part, I had rather have one living saint than half a dozen dead ones.' "May be so," returned the bishop, "for I suppose you are of the same mind with Solomon, who said that a living dog is better than a dead lion."

Ecclesiastical News.

A CONVENTION of the Bishop, Clergy and Lay Delegates of the Protestant Episcopal Church in this State, was held at Watertown, on Wednesday the 3d June inst.

Morning Service by the Rev. Mr. Baldwin.

A Sermon by the Rev. Mr. Shelton, from these words, viz. " By which also he went and preached to the spirits in prison...1 Pet. iii. 19. At the opening of the Convention, a very suitable Address was delivered by the Right Reverend Abraham Jarvis, Bishop, as President. After which, they proceeded to the usual business.

On Thursday, the Rev. Russel Wheeler was admitted to the order of Priests, by the Bishop, and inducted into the Rectorship of Christ Church, Watertown: Mr. Rayner, officiating Minister. He was presented to the Bishop by the Rev. Mr. Shelton, who, with the Rev. Mr. Tyler, Mr. Baldwin, and Mr. Bronson, accompanied the Bishop in "the laying on of hands." The keys of the Church were presented by Mr. Curtis, Senior Warden of the parish. The Rev. Mr. Rayner received him within the rails of the altar.

The Rev. Mr. Rayner delivered a Sermon from these words, viz. "Who is sufficient for these things ?" 2 Cor. ii. 16.—“ Lo, I am with you alway." Matth. xxviii. 20.

The rite of Confirmation was administered by the Bishop to 69

persons. Communion given to a great number of the brethrenAfter which, the customary salutations of the Warden and Vestry to Mr. Wheeler, by Mr. Curtis, Warden.

On Sunday morning, May 31st, at St. Paul's Church in the city of New-York, the holy order of Deacon was conferred by the Right Rev. Bishop Moore on Mr. Nicholas M'Laughlin, of the island of St. Eustatia, and on Mr. J. Chapman, jun. of Elizabethtown, in the State of New-Jersey.

Obituary.

Died at Bridgeport on the 13th of May, 1807, Philip Nichols, Esq. in the 81st year of his age. He has left a character that does honor to his family, to the church of which he was a member, and to the religion of Jesus Christ, of which he made profession in early part of life. He ever esteemedthe church as the edifice of Christ's building, as the school of christianity, in which souls are to be trained up for glory and happiness in the eternal world; he was a worthy member of society, hospitable, humane and benevolent, extending the arm of charity to the needy; liberal in the support of the public worship of God, and appeared to feel happy that it was in his power to assist his brethren in this christian duty; he always respected religion, and religious characters; he was also active in his secular concerns, by which he was in the possession of the mammon of unrighteousness, with which we trust he did good, and is now received into everlasting habitations.

He met the approaching scene of his dissolution with all the composure and tranquillity of a christian, with full confidence of an interest in the bles sed Redeemer, of admittance to glory, and a resurrection to eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

At Bridgeport on the 19th ult. Mrs. Sarah Hoyt, in the 74th year of her age, the widow of Capt. James Hoyt, she met her approaching destiny with all the tranquillity of an experienced christian, was cheerful in her last moments, took her leave of her friends and committed her soul to the care of a blessed Savior, and fell asleep.

On the 11th ult. was drowned, Nathaniel Sherwood, son of Philemon Sherwood, in the 20th year of his age, a promising young man, of whom his parents had built pleasing prospects of his future usefulness, that he might have been ornamental to the family and useful to society. With him was drowned Nichols Lacy, a lad of about 12 years of age, their bodies were found the day following, and decently committed to the grave, a sermon preached upon the occasion by the Rev. Mr. Shelton, to a very large collection of people, who manifested a deep commiseration for the visitation of Providence, in thus afflicting the society in taking the two young men in this sudden and unexpected manner.

At Weston, on the 5th of May, Mrs. Sarah Guyer, in the 88th year of her age.

THE

Churchman's Magazine.

[VOL. IV.]

JULY, 1807.

[No. 7.]

BIOGRAPHY.

Life of James Usher, D. D.

ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH.

[Continued from page 206.]

OUR archbishop has been falsely charged with having advised king Charles I. to pass the bill for the attainder of the Earl of Strafford, but in fact he only concurred with the other bishops, in recommending to his Majesty to act strictly according to his own conscience. So far, indeed, is this charge from being true, that the lord Primate frequently visited the Earl in the tower, and prepared him by his own desire, for his great change. Not many months after the execution of this unfortunate nobleman, came over the news of the breaking out of the Irish rebellion, in which affliction the archbishop had a great share; for the rebels plundered his houses in the country and seized all his cattle, to a great value, leaving nothing but his library, which was afterward conveyed to Chester, and from thence to London. This reduced him to so low a condition, that he was forced, for a present supply, to sell or pawn all the plate and jewels he had; yet he bore all his crosses with christian patience, and even cheerfulness. In consequence of his misfortunes, which excited universal compassion, the university of Leyden offered him an honorary Professorship, with an ample stipend; and Cardinal Richelieu invited him to France, with the promise of a noble pension and the freedom of religion; but these offers he declined on being preferred by the King to the bishopric of Carlisle, then vacated by the death of Dr. Barnaby Potter. Upon this he made shift to subsist, till the rebellious house of Commons seized upon all bishops' lands; and though in consideration of his great losses in Ireland, as well as of his own great merits, they voted him a pension of 4001. per annum, yet he never received above one or two pay

ments at most.

When his Majesty removed to Oxford, the archbishop fixed his residence entirely there, preaching commonly in one church or other every Sunday, being constantly attended by a crowded audience, though his way of preaching was very different from that affected frothy sort of oratory which was then much in use; "and I remember I then heard, (says his chaplain, Dr. Parr) that there was a person in the university, (Dr. Thomas Marshal, afterwards Dean of

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