t he sets about one duty and then ano- species of ephemeral pamphlets. Mather, and says, what lack I yet? The ny have supposed, that the great in way which many take to get to heaven crease of authors, and the facility with is illustrated by this man's repairing which they appear before the public, and fitting up his old house. They do, have been extremely injurous to the as it were, put on a new siding, and cause of literature. We believe this paint it over, and now and then re- is partially true, but it is a necessary place some rotten timber, and think evil which is more than compensated their building will endure the storms. by the good resulting from these mulBut if a man's life should be taken up tiplied publications. The evil carries in making repairs of the old house, it its own antidote, and no sermon will will avail him nothing. All the ex- rise to notice without real merit. Upon pense laid out on this old building must whatever occasion or under whatver be given up. To see the kingdom of circumstances a sermon appears, it wilk heaven,a man must become a new crea-probably gratify those for whose im ture; old things must pass away, and mediate benefit it was published, and all things must become new. The old if it is written with superior ability and house, instead of being repaired, must interest, it will attract the attention of be pulled down, and a new one be e- the christian public at large-Dr. Burected on a new foundation. Christ is chanan's "Star in the East," and Mr. the foundation; faith brings the sinner Horn's "Missionary Sermon❞ have upon this foundation; and that holy been extensively read and admired life, which is the fruit of faith, is the while thousands of their cotempora house built on a rock, which, when theries are forgotten, or only rememberrain descends, and the floods come, ed in the little circle they interested and the winds blow, and beat upon it, at the time.-Among the great numwill not fall. But the house which has ber of sermons which are daily pubbeen merely repaired, and stands onlished in this country, those only are the sand, will fall, and bury the owner in its ruins. SYLVANUS. preserved which do real honor to the ministry, and the cause of truth. While multitudes are forgotten, or seldom remembered, we shall find that serFrom the Columbia Magazine. mons, accompanied with the names DR. BACKUS'S SERMON. of Dr. Dwight, Dr. Mason, Dr. Nott, A Sermon, deliverd March 16, 1814, and Dr. Backus are always received at the ORDINATION of the REV. JOHN with avidity, and read with admiration. B. WHITTLESEY, A. M. as Pastor of We are willing to read many ordinary the Presbyterian Church and Con- sermons, for the pleasure of possessing gregation in HERKIMER, by AZEL such sermons, as such men will publish. BACKUS, D. D. PRESIDENT OF HAM-They are always distinguished,and tho' ILTON COLLEGE, N. York. Her-they come with the crowd, they are kimer, printed by William L. Stone, pp. 19, 8vo. SINCE the multiplication of printing presses, with which every village is furnished, pamphlets have increased so rapidly, that very few are ever seen beyond the limits of the place, in which they were written and published. Sermons delivered upon any occasion, a little axtraordinary, are sure to be solicited for the press, and they have multiplied faster than any other selected with ease, and treasured with pleasure. The sermon, which we are now to notice, is among the best we have seen. It is the production of a man of real genius,-who stands, with distinguished reputation, at the head of one of our most promissing colleges. When Dr. Backus came to this state, he became a most important acquisition to the cause of religion and literature ;-and we are happy to see hat the MINISTER is not absorbed in the Pa SIDENT. The College has strong claims up- ||from the Lord of Hosts. Earthly on the time, and talents of Dr. Backus, princes select persons of talents and but his ministerial character is indeli- dignity of character to represent their ble, and we hope he will never cease to persons, and act by and with their auperform the duties of an office, the la-thority on different occasions. But bors of which he has sustained for many years, with distinguished ability | and success. He different from earthly cabinets, the King of kings and Lord of lords appoints from himself, to us, poor aposThe subject of this Sermon is one tate worms, and helpless sinners, men of deep interest to the churches. It of like imperfections with ourselves. was discussed at the right time, and by He sends pardoned rebels and reconthe right man. The first pages are de-ciled enemies, to their former associvoted to the consideration of the dutyates on an embassy of peace. of those who enjoy the labors of the puts the treasure in earthen vessels, clergy, to support them in comfort and that the excellency of the power of independence. The author cannot be saving sinners may appear to be of charged with selfishness, for he is en- God and not of us. And the Lord Je tirely independent of every congrega-sus will surely punish every insult and tion. It was proper and generous in injury offered to his ministers, as offer him, to advocate a cause, which set-ed to himself. His power is adequate tled ministers could not advocate, to furnish means for their subsistence without the charge of personal inter- as splendid as the court they repreest. If the clergy were to teil the sto-sent, and to send a retinue of holy an ry of their poverty and wants, multi-gels with every Herald of pardon and tudes would ascribe their arguments, peace. He might feed them by ra and complaints to the "lust of riches."vens as he did Elijah, and give them a But in this case there is no room for visible guard like that of Elisha in such a charge, and the truths here ur-Dothan; but the wisdom and ways of ged, are equally beyond suspicion and God are not like ours. God in Christ refutation. has been pleased to make himself poor that we may be enriched by doing our duty to his ministers and people. In the gospel, he hath appointed re"He that receiveth you, receiveth me;ceivers of our alms. He hath graciousand he that receiveth me, receiveth himly condescended, and offered to owe that sent me. He that receivelh a us something. He hath stooped that prophet, in the name of a prophet, shali || he might become our debtor. He hath receive a prophet's reward; and he that sent his servants to receive the fruits receiveth a righteous man, shall receive of his leased vineyard, and accurately a righteous man's reward. And who-marks the treatment they receive, soever shall give to drink unto one of whether they beat one, kill another, these little ones, a cup of cold water, in and stone a third, or treat them with the name of a disciple, verily, I say unto | reverence. Hence the Apostle says, you, he shall in no wise lose his reward." "I. To enquire what is implied in" the mysteries of God." And again, receiving a minister of Christ. "We beseech you brethren, to know "them which labour among you, and The sermon is founded upon the 40th, 41st and 42d verses of the chapter of Matthew. Xth "II. Suggest the encouraging motives which urge us to the faithful performance of this duty. "Let a man so account of us as of the "ministers of Christ, and stewards of 16 are over you in the Lord, and ad"monish you and to esteem them very highly in love, for their work's sake." pp 5. "I. To receive a minister of Christ" implies that we treat him with distinguished reverence, as an ambassador from the king of Zion, a messenger It is the perfection of meanness, as well as manifestly disrespectful to their Master, to inault and despise his faith- us upon this subject is full and concluful servants. There are no men in sive. It is drawn from the oracles of community, so helpless by virtue of divine truth, and established by the their office, as the Ministers of Christ. experience of the church in all ages— It is perfectly understood by those We give it entire, who insult them, that they will not re- "2. To receive a minister as we sent impertinence. They are the fol-ought, implies, that we so accommolowers of him, "who when he was re-date bis temporal wants, that he may viled, reviled not again." Their of give himself wholly to his work, his fice, if not their principles, compels appropriate duty. That he should be them to submit, without the slightest made so rich as to have need of nomark of resentment, to those insults thing, is not required: but if he is exwhich are promptly chastised by men posed to suffering thro' penury, it will of the world. The coward who des- destroy his usefulness, and expose him pises and abuses them, knows this, and to temptation. 'Do ye not know,' saith is abusive and impertinent because he the apostle to the Corinthians, "that is in no danger of punishment. In they which minister about holy things this day, and country, ministers are live of the things of the temple? And usually treated with distinguished res- they which wait at the altar are partapect. They are received with kind-kers of the altar? Even so hath the ness into the highest circles. There Lord ordained that they which preach is a disposition to give them all the the gospel should live of the gospel." influence and respectability which In the days of Nehemiah, the Levites they can claim. There are some in- were driven from their peculiar work, stances of jealousy and unkindness, and from necessity had to apply thembut they occur too seldom to subject selves to agriculture and other secular society at large, to any censure on employments to support themselves this account. But Ministers are not and their families. And they seem to only to be treated with courtesy, they have concurred with the selfishness of must be highly esteemed for their the people in withholding their tithes, work sake. So long as they manifest as they found it for their worldly inter the spirit of their station and discharge est and comfort, to neglect spiritual, their duties with fidelity and zeal, they for secular employment. On which a must be heard with attention and their noted expositor, observes, "It is a message received with affection and great artifice of the Devil, by his ingratitude. It is not enough to be re-struments to defraud the ministers of ceived as gentlemen, they must be re-religion of their necessary maintenance vered as the ambassadors of the Lord of that he may thereby abolish religion Hosts. We are under the highest ob itself." For, departing from their proligations to receive and obey the Gospel which they preach. Dr. Backus considers this subject at length, in another part of his discourse, which we will notice in its place. per occupation, either tempts ministers to be worldings, or disheartens and sinks them into the vale of contempt. There are many honest methods of acquiring a subsistence, which I am The claims of the ministers of the happy that custom and propriety have gospel are by no means cancelled by rendered disgraceful for a preacher to the kind personal treatment which adopt. By the reception of ordinathey receive from men in social inter-tion, a youth is separated from the course-Without this kindness they mass of his secular brethren; he is would not only be miserable, but use-dispossessed of some liberties which he less.-Kind attentions, however, will cannot recover. This is a decision of not feed and clothe them. He that public sentiment in all christian coun"preaches the gospel must LIVE of the tries. Men of loose principles and dissoospel." The argument of Dr. Back-lute lives are not insensible of its force. They immediately see the impropriety not prove that every minister ought to of any approach, in a person of the sa- be as poor and dependent on his neighcred order, to a character like their bors as Lazarus was, in order to be. own. Indeed, the indignation express-useful. From the days of the Apostles, ed against secular employments,world- the most pious, respectable and respectLy ambition, or fashionable amuse-ed members, of chrisctian churches ments, in this description of men, is so have felt it to be for their best good, much homage paid to the office they and for the promotion of religion, to sustain: and the ministers of religion place their minister in such circummay consider themselves as not a lit-stances, as that he might have it in his tle flattered by that distinction which power to be a pattern in alms-giving, to renders actions immoral in them, that procure and replenish a library, and would be regarded as innocent in the have leisure for laborious study. They rest of mankind. Now, under these have not supposed that the science of circumstances, to embarrass and starve the everlasting gospel was to be obyour preacher and then despise him, tained in a month, or a year, while a to require the full tale of brick and long apprenticeship was required to obgive him no straw, is refinement intain the most degraded of the mechancruelty. Few deserving young men ic arts. In a word they have thought of talents will enter a profession, that a minister's mind ought not to be against which an ungodly world is in perplexed with any cares, or tormenarms, if they have to labour under the ted with any fears, save those that pressure, or the certain approach of should arise from apprehensions of his remediless indigence. If they have own misconduct and unfaithfulness.grace and love religion, it will be easy Indolence may be contented with less to find excuses, and to turn away from I have no doubt: and ignorance inan important spiritual employment, flated with the preposterous ideas of that requires apostolic self-denials, to an immediate call from heaven to more profitable worldly occupations. preach, with less still. One of the faSo, that depriving ministers of the gos- thers observed "He ought to be dilipel of a suitable maintenance, accom-gent in reading and meditation, who plishes one of Satan's most subtle pro- has not only to be wise for himself, jects, for causing the house and ordin- || but to dispense the wisdom of God to ances of God to be forsaken. Alas! others." And the author and founder this savours not a little of that spirit of our faith has said, that, "Every that covered the eyes and then lacera-scribe which is instructed into the kingted the body of the blessed Jesus, and then demanding of him a specimen of his prophetical gift, by declaring the names of those, who one after another smote him-nailed him to the cross and then bid him come down and save himself. "Christian brethren, I cannot stop here. I must beg your permission to enlarge on the importance of your communicating a competence of temporal things to those who minister to you in spirituals. "In entering on this unpopular topic, my only object, is, to enforce a plain scriptural truth in all its important bearings. That Lazarus was a good man and went to heaven, does dom of heaven, is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure, things new and old.” But it is in vain to expect that any human talents, no matter how great, will obtain this treasure at once, or that a minister will wear well with the same people, for any length of time, who is not a man of books, and who has not the means of making progress in the knowledge of his profession. "I am sensible, with many it seems to be taken for granted, that regular preachers are peculiarly greedy of filthy lucre-That this may be the sin that easily besets some in the profession, I will not deny. But that we are the only order of men guilty of selfishness, I cannot affirm. The best urge the point, that our readers may "1. The natural and civil rights of ministers are the same with all other citizens. "2. Their hearers have the same natural right to contract with a preachWe cannot but stop in this place er, as they have to form a joint conto enter our protest against this mani-tract with any other professional man, festly unjust charge against the regular and are under the same obligation to clergy. It is quite fashionable to de- || fulfil their promises. แ Bounce a minister as an hireling" "3. The scriptures bind men, to bes who makes the least effort to provide tow a portion of their carnal things, on for his family those comforts and con- those from whom they receive spirituveniences, which are common to his al things. The Lord Jesus has made hearers. If any circumstances induce the support of his ministers a duty, not him to resign his labours in one part || merely as a matter of alms to the tranof the vineyard, for another-he is sient beggar, but a bounden duty, a branded as a covetous wretch who duty with which we cannot dispense, has no regard for the souls of his peo-When he sent forth his first preachers, ple, whose only object is the wealth, he directed them to provide neither the honor, and pleasure of the present life. gold nor silver; the reason given was, "The workman is worthy of his Ministers are men of like passions meat." If not received, if their hearwith those to whom they are sent with ears did not contribute for their necesmessages of love, it may be they sities, they were to depart from them, sometimes are influenced by improper to shake off the dust from their feet, motives. But as a body the regular showing thereby that they gave them clergy in the United States may chal- up to their misery and hardness of lenge a comparison with any that ever heart. To this injunction our Lord lived. They certainly perform the added, in the most solemn manner, labours of their stations with exempla- that it would be more tolerable, even ry fidelity and self-denial. There is for the inhabitants of Sodom and Gonot one of the professions and scarce-morrah, in the day of judgment, than ły one of the arts that do not reward for those of such a city. If this is a those who exercise them incompara-binding law of Christ, where is the bly more. And is it fair, is it just, to objection against a people's covenantascribe cupidity to a set of men whose ing to regard it, either by contributing lives, for the most part, are spent in according to their ability, or equaliz active labour and comparative penu- ing a support by a voluntary tax? ry? Are they of all men to be charg- "But it has been said, that St. Paul ed with cupidity? Shall every man in preached the gospel without charge to society grow rich around them, enjoy some of his hearers, that he labored ing their exertions for a mere pittance, with his own hands, and that therefore and the moment any opportunity for ministers of the gospel ought to labor the improvement of their situations of- with their own hands, and not put their fer, are they to be followed with re-hearers to any expense. I answer, proach? Let those who plead for a read the context, and candour would disinterested clergy, set the example lead you to withdraw the objection, and communicate freely of their tem- "2dly. St. Paul did take wages from oral possessions. But we forbear to some churches, that he might serve |