Hopkinsians, and not because they are Calvinists, but because their conduct and their principles, we believe, all honest Calvinists and Hopkinsians ought to unite in condemning. The charges we have adduced and supported are not to be thus evaded. It stands on record against this institution, and all the waters of the ocean can never wash out the stain, that it has been made what it is, by perverting the pious liberality of well meaning devotion, and sacrificing the first principles of Protestantism to the gratification of the unholy ambition of aspiring heresiarchs."

This is strong language, and will appear particularly so to those who were acquainted with the gentle character of the writer, and knew how averse his spirit was to the spirit of controversy. But in this instance, as well as in some others which subsequently occurred, he felt it his duty to enter into an uncongenial warfare, and defend the great principles of truth and freedom. And who indeed, even if we put out of the question the curious circumstances attending the compound creed of the Andover Institution, who is there, what truly rational and liberal man, whatever his doctrinal opinions may be, who will not exclaim with indignation against the demand of a repeated subscription to a long and minute list of disputed articles of faith? And what consistent Protestant is there, of whatever denomination, who will not think it objection enough to a theological establishment that it should presume to speak in language like this: "IT IS STRICTLY AND SOLEMNLY ENJOINED,

AND LEFT IN SACRED CHARGE, THAT EVERY ARTICLE OF THE ABOVE CREED SHALL FOREVER REMAIN ENTIRELY AND IDENTICALLY THE SAME, WITHOUT THE LEAST ALTERATION, ADDITION, OR DIMINUTION." Shall forever remain ! Yes, on the records where you have inscribed them, on the paper where you have printed them, they may remain, for a memorial and a wonder; but for belief and reverence and instruction, who will undertake to say that they shall remain ; who will undertake to say, that in the course of one or two centuries they shall not be clean swept away from the human mind, into the region of outworn and neglected things? It is really amazing to see with what complacency some men will tie together the poor shreds of their own conclusions, and then pretend to sound the unfathomable depths of futurity.

The discharge of his duties as Librarian left Mr. Thacher ample time for the study of his profession. The library of which he had the care, especially rich as it is in the department of theology, furnished him with advantages of which he did not neglect to avail himself; and though when he began to preach, he was not generally pleasing in the pulpit, on account of some defect of voice and peculiarity of manner, yet the clearness and correctness of thought, the good sense, the pious feeling, and the chaste style, which his discourses exhibited, secured for him the approbation of men of judgment and taste.

On the third of November, 1810, the Rev. John T. Kirkland was inducted President of Harvard University;

and on this joyful occasion Mr. Thacher was appointed to deliver a congratulatory address in Latin. I had then just entered college, and I well remember the graceful appearance of the orator, and the praises which his performance received from all lips, for the propriety of its sentiments, and the elegance of its Latinity. I well remember too, how universally he was esteemed, as a college officer, by the students, who loved him for the mildness and urbanity, while they respected him for the firmness, of his character.

But the time approached when he was to leave his employment at Cambridge for a sphere of higher and more arduous duties. The society of the New South Church, of which President Kirkland had been the minister, was now of course destitute; and Mr. Thacher, after preaching before them for a few weeks, was invited to supply their loss. He accepted the call, and was ordained their pastor on the 15th of May, 1811.

It has long been, and still is, the custom in our churches, for the pastor elect to read a creed, or make some profession of his faith, to the ordaining council, before the services of ordination commence. For some time, however, it has been generally understood by those of liberal sentiments, that the ordaining council is assembled for the purposes of sanction and christian fellowship, rather than of authority, and therefore that the creed which is read to them is not a demanded, but a voluntary exhibition of religious belief. It is allowed to be proper that the council should become in some

measure acquainted, in a formal way, with the opinions of the person, whose entrance on the christian ministry they have met to welcome and approve; but that is all; if they are not pleased with the character of his belief, they may refuse their concurrence in his ordination, and protest against it, and disperse; but they have not the least power to deprive the congregation of the object of their choice; of him, whom that choice alone is sufficient to constitute their minister. This principle it would be almost unnecessary to advance at the present day; but as it was not perhaps so fully conceded among us at the time of which I am speaking, it was thus decidedly implied in the beginning of the profession which Mr. Thacher read to the council which ordained him. "A belief of the principles of natural religion, and a general acceptance of the truths of Christianity, are implied in the appearance of any one, who is believed to have any sense of integrity, before this venerable council, to receive their approbation and blessing as a minister of Christ. If there should be any doubt of his sincerity, no profession, however ample, would avail to entitle him to confidence and credit. The object therefore of the profession which I am now called on to make, is, I presume, to determine whether the general views which I have taken of the gospel, will encourage the hope, that under the blessing of God, the cause of Christ will not suffer in my hands." He then expresses his belief in the being and attributes of God; in the Scriptures as his revealed word; and in Jesus Christ as his well beloved Son; and

concludes with the following scriptural, catholic, and rational view, of the objects and terms of christian communion. "It may not be superfluous to add, that I regard a credible profession of faith in Jesus Christ as the Messiah a proposition rendered credible by such demonstrations of repentance and obedience as in the judgment of charity may evince sincerity-as the only term of Christian communion, which the scriptures authorize me to require; and of consequence that I embrace every one who professes this faith, as a friend and brother in the Lord."

Mr. Thacher commenced his pastoral duties with the interest and zeal of one who is deeply convinced of their importance, and of the obligations which he is under to discharge them faithfully. He now lived only for his people, and directed all his exertions to the promotion of their good. He won their hearts by the affectionate friendliness of his manners, satisfied their minds by his lucid expositions of gospel truth, participated in their joys as if they were his own, and led them in their sorrows to the sources of all consolation. He realized the highest conception of a good pastor; giving himself to reading, to exhortation, to instruction; gentle unto all men; and an example to the believers, in conversation, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

But very soon a melancholy cloud rose up, and threw its shade over the morning prospect of his usefulness. He was not gifted with a constitution sufficiently vigorous to support him for any length of time, under the