duties of the Christian ministry. He addressed them in a dignified, affectionate, and paternal manner, well calculated to awaken a tender recollection of the interesting scenes through which they had passed during their theological studies, and to make indelible impressions on their minds of the elevated services and pious efforts which should occupy their future years, till they shall meet the general assembly and church of the first born in heaven. The compositions, which were read by the students, were listened to with fixed attention; and they manifested, on the part of the young men, talents and industry, and reflected honor on their instructers. The Trustees of the Institution-its pious and liberal patrons -the friends of our churches, and the friends of evangelical truth in general, could not fail to offer thanksgivings to God and cherish elevated hopes, in witnessing the gratifying progress of this interesting Institution. To furnish to candidates for the ministry, such advantages as are here presented, many departed fathers prayed, and toiled, and furnished contributions; and it is earnestly hoped that succeeding ages may derive all the benefits from the Institution, which have fond ly been anticipated. The next term in this Institution, will commence on Friday, 23rd of October. Persons who are intending to enter, should present themselves on, or before, that day. For the information of such, the following articles are here inserted from the Rules and Regulations of the Institution. 1. The Institution shall be adapted to the instruction of graduates and others, whose attainments enable them, along with graduates, to proceed profitably in theological studies. 2. It shall be open for the admission of those persons only, who give evidence of their possessing genuine piety, with suitable gifts and attainments, and of their being influenced by proper motives in wishing to pursue theological studies, and who, moreover, present certificates from the churches of which they are members, approving of their devoting themselves to the work of the ministry.' After the ensuing year some acquaintance with the Hebrew language, will be required in order to entering the Institution. For, and after, the year 1830, candidates for admission will be expected to have studied Professor Stuart's Hebrew Grammar, and forty pages of the Hebrew Chrestomathy by the same author. MASSACHUSETTS BAPTIST EDUCA- The Massachusetts Baptist Education Society has been for a number of years in successful operation, and a large number of young men have been assisted by its funds to obtain an education for the Christian ministry, who are profitably occupying fields of labor in different sections of our country. The increasing number of applicants, however, have exhausted the funds of the Society, and two thousand dollars debt has been incurred. The Executive Committee, conscious of the Macedonian cry from all parts of our country, and deeply impressed with the importance of giving the advantages of education to those who are coming forward in the ministry, invited by circular letters, a meeting of numerous friends through NewEngland, to devise means for more enlarged operations. A large collection of friends accordingly assembled at the vestry of the First Baptist church in Boston, Sept. 15, on the evening previous to the meeting of the Boston Baptist Association, to deliberate on the subject. Rev. Joseph Grafton was chosen Moderator, and Mr N. R. Cobb, Clerk. Rev. Henry Jackson, Corresponding Secretary, gave a succinct statement of the progress of the Society, the benefits resulting from it, and its present means, consisting of donations and collections, besides a fund which yielded about nine hundred dollars per annum, and exhibiting a present balance of about two thousand dollars_against the Society. Dr Wayland, Rev. E. Nelson, Prof. Chase, and a number of others from the various States in New England, gave most animating addresses on the occasion, and produced a deep and awakened interest on the subject, which will undoubtedly lead to the most happy results, and furnish for the important object more ample resources. It was 1. Resolved, That it is the duty of the Baptist denomination to make vigorous efforts for enlarging the means of educating young men called to the Christian ministry. 2. Resolved, That the Trustees of the Massachusetts Baptist Education be requested to procure an alteration in their charter, so as to embrace at least New England. 3. Resolved, To take immediate measures to liquidate the debt of the Society. Dr Sharp proposed, in behalf of the Charles-Street Baptist Church in Boston, to furnish two hundred and fifty dollars, provided the two thousand were procured in ninety days. Various other donations and subscriptions were also obtained. It is earnestly hoped, that many friends who were not present, will forward liberal donations to the object. The executive Committee were authorized to procure a modification of the charter, so as to embrace an enlarged plan of operations, and the Trustees adjourned to meet at the sitting of the Massachusetts Baptist Convention at Newton, on the 29th of October. The importance of the subject, it is most ardently hoped, will deeply awaken an interest in the community, and lead to the obtaining of funds, as ample as the exigency of the case requires. PROGRESS OF TEMPERANCE. July 29, Rev. G. F. Davis, late of South Reading, was installed pastor of the Baptist Church at Hartford, Con. Sermon by Rev. Howard Malcom, of Boston. stalled pastor of the Baptist Church in Aug. 12, Rev. S. S. Mallory was inWillington, Con. Sermon by Rev. G. F. Davis. May 28, Mr George Catt was ordained pastor of the Baptist Church in Brooklyn, N. Y. Sermon by Rev. S. H. Cone. Aug. 18, Professor Whitman, of the Hamilton Institution, was ordained as an evangelist. Sermon by Rev. Nathaniel Kendrick. Aug. 18, Mr Edward Mitchell was ordained as an evangelist, at Hanover, N. H. Sermon by Rev. Ira Person, Newport, N. H. Sept. 9, Mr R. E. Pattison was ordained pastor of the 2d Baptist Church in Salem. Sermon by Rev. Jonathan Going, of Worcester. MEETING HOUSES OPENED, &c. July 4, The corner stone of a new Baptist Meeting-house was laid in Jaf Aug. 2, A new Baptist Meetinghouse was opened in Mott Street, New York, by the church under the pastoral care of Rev. Samuel Eastman. It must be highly gratifying to the frey. N. H. friends of total abstinence from ardent spirits, to witness the efforts that are constantly increasing through all our States, for the suppression of intemperance. Religious associations and churches are now exerting their influence on this important subject. The Boston Baptist Association, at its recent session, adopted the following resolu tion: "Resolved, That we are gratified with the success which has attended efforts to promote Temperance; and that we recommend that the Churches as Temperance Societies, and their members as individuals, adopt such measures as shall secure universal and entire abstinence from inebriating liquors." ORDINATIONS, &c. May 20, Mr Ebenezer Mirick was ordained as an evangelist, at Sedgwick. Sermon by Rev. James Gilpatrick. Aug. 10, Religious services were attended at South Boston, at the commencement of raising the frame of the Baptist Meeting-house for the Branch Church, located in that section of the Mr Grosvenor, and an address was city. Prayers were offered by Rev. delivered by Rev. Mr Knowles. Aug. 11, The corner stone of the Mariner's Church, in Boston, was laid, and an address delivered by Rev. Dr Jenks. Aug. 12, A new Baptist Meetinghouse was opened at Northeast, Dutches Co. N. Y. Sermon by the pastor, Rev. Thomas Winter. Aug. 20, A new and commodious Baptist Meeting-house was opened, and a Church constituted at Augusta Centre, Oneida Co. N. Y. Sermon by Rev. Elon Galusha. Account of Moneys received by the Treasurer of the Newton Theological Institution, viz. Account of Moneys received by the Treasurer of the General Convention of the Baptist Denomination in the United States, for Foreign Missions, from July 22nd, to Sept. 24th, 1829. From the Oliver street, N. Y. Bap. For. Miss. Soc. contributed by Dea. William Colgate, for the support of Moung Ing, (a native Burman preacher) from July 4, 1829, to July 4, 1830, per Rev. S. H. Cone, 100,00 61,00 Burman Missions, Indian Schools, Foreign Missions, 50,00 From Sunbury Pem. Cent Soc. (Geo.) by Rev. 14,34 10,00 From Mrs Eliza Carter, Scottsboro', Geo. for 5,00 10,00 From the Saratoga Bap. Association, per Dea. I. From 1,00 Do. 90,00 10,00 50,00/ From the Leyden Association, for Bur. Miss. 25,00 50,00 5,00 From the Female Miss. Soc. Sardinia, N. Y, 8,00 7,54 Saran Monroe, Treasurer, 15,00 From John Gray, 10,00 12,46 5,00 5,CO 2,CO 2,00 5,00 " 10,00 A Female Friend, a piece of gold, 6,30 25,30 29,44 HEMAN LINCOLN, Treasurer. THE CRITICAL STUDY OF THE BIBLE, THE VITAL PART OF A IT is a declaration of the divine Spirit, that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation. We might, indeed, reasonably suppose, that if the Bible be a revelation from God, that it would bear upon it some striking impress of his moral character; and that in this, together with its adaptation to the nature and exigencies of our race, it would shine by its own light, and evince internal evidence the most convincing, of the divinity of its origin. That this accords with fact, observation and experience both attest. Whenever divine truth has been divested of the appendages with which human wisdom would adorn it, whenever it has been sought with an humble spirit, and has been set forth in its native simplicity, it has commended itself to the consciences of men with power; it has won its own way, has had free course, and has been glorified. In proof of this, the history of its triumphs furnishes the most ample evidence. The day of Pentecost witnessed them; our own age has witnessed them; we ourselves have seen them; and in view of the wondrous changes which have been wrought in individual and in social character, we have been led to feel, that it is not by human might, or wisdom, or eloquence, but by the gospel of our God, which is his power unto salvation. Such considerations and facts as these have for ages past, exerted a powerful influence throughout the protestant world. It is an influence which has rescued the Bible from the dark recesses in which it had long been hidden, and has exalted it as the only standard of truth and the rule of duty. Time was, when in countries nominally Christian, the circulation of the Bible was prohibited by law, and confined to a wicked and a crafty priesthood. From them alone, the people were to receive instruction and guidance. To regard the authority of the word of God, as superior to that of a human tribunal, to appeal to its decision, in opposition to priests and reverend councils, was Nov. 1829. 48 frowned upon as heresy, the most dire and damnable. But that age has past away. The mighty reformation, of which Luther and Calvin were the master spirits, convulsed the systems under which the nations long had groaned, delivered, the people from the shackles of papal domination, and directed them from their degraded state, to lift up their eye to the standard of revealed truth, which was now exalted as the light of the moral world. Since then, a spirit of free inquiry has generally distinguished Protestant Christians. They have been the professed advocates for the supremacy of truth. Though in many instances, even they have evinced too much love of spiritual dominion, yet all the religious freedom which has blessed our world, has found its home among them. Thus in our happy age and country, the Bible has been long esteemed, as the grand tribunal of appeal, by which every opinion is to be tried, and every controversy silenced. But though in our times we have sufficient light to make the darkness of past ages visible, yet of that light, we ourselves have not felt the full and happy influence. Though the Bible has nominally the high place which it claims amongst us, yet its truths have not been sought with sufficient earnestness, nor have we given it that undivided and fixed attention which it deserves. This charge, in its general import, will no doubt be acknowledged; but to speak more definitely, we think it to be a serious fact, that in the pursuits of the Christian ministry, the study of the Bible has not the place which, in this age particularly, its relative importance demands. The age in which we live is characterized by a spirit of noble enterprise, by the general diffusion of knowledge, but especially by the prevalence of a refined infidelity. The infidelity of our age is not like that which once arose, with daring front, and lifting high its arm, railed out aloud its blasphemies against Jehovah, threatening, by its own might, to exterminate from earth every vestige of Christianity. When the walls of Zion thus were stormed, there were not wanting men, who, girt with armor of etherial temper, stood ready to repel the rude attack. They acted well their part. But now infidelity has changed its position, and its aspect has assumed the name and the garb of Christianity, has entered into the sanctuary, has taken into its hand the book of God, with the contents of which it has become familiar, and with ingenuity more than human, has diverted the precepts of truth from their real intent, and has clothed error in a form that seems to be divine. This is an infidelity, which in its external aspect is very amiable. It calls forth respect, by the apparent candor, and the liberality of its spirit. It challenges no open opposition. It is wily and ingenious, and difficult of attack. It glories in its pride of learning, in its lofty fellowship with the style, the spirit, and the genius of ancient Prophets and Apostles; and while its principles are all congenial with its own depraved feelings, like the arch tempter of our Saviour, it relies for the success of its argument upon its appeal to the authority of God himself. Now in contending with an infidelity like this, it is not enough that the ministers of the word |