tion of the journal, and the Eclectic Review therefore became the avowed advocate of those principles of ecclesiastical polity which are held by the Congregationalists of this country.

"Mr. Foster's connexion with the Review commenced in 1806, his first paper being published in the November number of that year. From that period to the close of 1818, he was a stated and frequent contributor; after which he remitted his labours in this direction, furnishing only thirteen papers from 1819 to 1828 inclusive. On the journal passing into the hands of the present editor, in January, 1837, he made application to Mr. Foster for literary assistance, and was authorized to announce him as one of the stated contributors to his work. The impaired condition of his health did not however permit him to do much. An occasional article was all which could be looked for, the fastidiousness of his taste concurring with the cause just named, to indispose him to frequent composition. His last contribution appeared in October, 1839.

66

Writing to the Editor, January 28, 1841, Mr. Foster says: 'With my want of memory, and miserable slowness in any sort of composition, I am very many degrees below the mark for any thing of material account-any thing requiring much reading, or laborious consideration. As

to long reading, my eyes have their veto; and if I had read any considerable book, I should, when I closed it, be just in the plight of Nebuchadnezzar with his dreamminus the resource of having any one to call in as a substitute for Daniel.'

"The Editor has taken no liberty with his author save in the way of omission. He felt it to be incompatible with the reverence due to departed genius. Had these papers been reprinted during the life of their author, minor alterations would probably have been made, and some passages might possibly have been re-written. The loss of such revision, may be matter of regret, but we should condemn, as the height of presumption, any attempt on the part of another to supply its place. The productions of such a mind bear too distinctly the marks of their parentage to require the corrections of other men. The case is different with omissions. Many of Mr. Foster's papers include large quotations from the works reviewed, the greater part of which has been excluded from the present reprint, with such connecting remarks as the extracts required. It has been the object of the editor to select what is of intrinsic worth; and he has greatly erred in his judgment, if the contents of these volumes will not be deemed a valuable contribution to our sterling and permanent literature. As compared with the republished

papers of some eminent living reviewers, they may be wanting in that finish which their personal superintendence has secured to their productions; but in all the higher and more permanent qualities of intellect, in their largeness of view, penetrating subtlety of thought, deep insight into human nature, and sympathy with the nobler and more. lofty forms of spiritual existence, they will be found eminently worthy of the genius of their author, and subservient to his permanent repute."

T. P

The foregoing Preface was written by Dr. PRICE, the present editor of the London Eclectic Review, for the work as issued by him in two octavo volumes, which contain fifty-nine of Mr. Foster's critical articles. As it was determined to commence the republication in this country with a portion only of those dissertations, sufficient to form a duodecimo volume, the twenty Essays which follow, were selected for the diversity and interest of the topics; their congeniality to American readers; and as exemplifying the mental and moral characteristics of their renowned author, the friend and associate of PARSONS, HALL, and JAY.

NEW-YORK, July 27, 1844.

ESSAYS,

BIOGRAPHICAL, LITERARY, AND PHILOSOPHICAL.

I.

CHALMERS'S ASTRONOMICAL DISCOURSES.

Discourses on the Christian Revelation viewed in Connexion with the Modern Astronomy. By THOMAS CHALMERS, D.D., Minister of the Tron Church, Glasgow.

Ir infidelity is so busily and zealously intent on its purpose, that no means of offence against Revelation can be too inconsiderable to be eagerly seized for the use of the warfare, it may be conceived what a value will be set on any reinforcements that can be obtained from the dignified resources of the sublimest science. If the pettiest quibbles, if witticisms, smart or dull, or the lying wonders of popery, or Chinese chronology, or the virtues of Mahomedans and Pagans, are all welcome for the array against Christianity, what proud exultation may well be felt at the view of any possibility of engaging "the stars in their courses to fight against" it!

Any possible result of this ambitious attempt, may be awaited by the believer in Christianity, with perfect tranquillity. He stands on a ground so independent of science, that nothing within the possibility of scientific speculation and discovery can essentially affect it. A train of miracles, attested in the most authoritative manner that is within the competence of history; the evidence afforded by prophecies fulfilled, that the author of Revelation is the being who sees into futurity; the manifestation, in revealed religion, of a super-human knowledge of the nature and condition of man; the adaptation of the remedial system to that condition; the incomparable excellence of the Christian morality; the analogy between the Works of God and what claims to be the Word of God;