Such was the man, who under God, felt authorized and bound to follow laid the foundation of the eldest church Christ alone. Thus he became one of in the United States. the pillars, one of the most able and The first Governor of the colony of faithful supporters of Mr. Robinson's Plymouth, was Mr. John Carver. Dur-church. ing the period of the residence of Mr. Mr. Carver was a deacon of the Robinson and his congregation at Ley- church in Leyden, and retained the den, Mr. Carver was much distinguish-office after his removal to America. ed for his talents and piety; and for As an officer in the church, by his clear his activity, zeal and fidelity in the understanding, his sound judgment, service of the company. In early life, his exemplary character, he possessed his heart was, apparently sanctified by much influence, and was eminently the grace of God, which was evinced useful in the performance of his many by a life faithfully devoted to the ser-important duties. When we contemvice of the Redeemer. He possessed plate this little church, standing alone a grave rather than an ardent temper, in the christian world, with no friends yet he deliberately embraced the reli- or sister churches for its support, withgious sentiments of the Puritans, and out the enjoyment of any ecclesiastical resolved to submit to the privations of constitution, without any ancient or worldly good, rather than neglect or established usages for their regulation, abuse the religion of a divine Saviour, the passions of individuals highly exby being subject to ordinances, after the cited by oppression; while we adore commandments and doctrines of men. - the merciful care of the great Head of He rejoiced in the privileges of a British the church, in preserving them from subject, and remembered with humble ruin, we cannot but admire the wisgratitude the great things which God dom, the prudence, the moderation, of had done for his church in his native the officers and influential members, land, in delivering it from the bondage by whose instrumentality they were of papal superstition and tyranny. Yet thus preserved, and led to such an perceiving that the national church, eminent purity of gospel order. The pertinaciously, retained errors, after experience of two centuries has disthey had been most clearly pointed out covered no material defects in the sysby affectionate and faithful friends; tem which they established. And no that it persisted in enforcing, by penal churches in the Christian world, acsanctions, rites of human prescription, cording to their number, have, more unwarranted, if not inconsistent with eminently, enjoyed the divine blesthe gospel of Christ; that it would al- sing, than those which have been regulow no indulgence to those who beg-lated according to their model. ged an exemption from those burden- When the congregation at Leyden some services, while they would ac- had become generally disposed to a cord with all essential ordinances; removal from Holland, Mr. Carver and he felt himself called, in the providence Mr. Cushman were deputed to make of God, to bear a temperate testimony application to the Virginia Company against such impositions, and to exer-in England, for some lands within their cise those rights which Christ has given patent, for the establishment of a Colto all his people. Mindful of the highony. On account of the many prejudiprecept, Stand fast in the liberty where- ces existing in England against this with Christ has made us free, and be not congregation, their first application was entangled again with the yoke of bon- unsuccessful. The year following, dage; and knowing that to this no human authority was paramount; believing that many of the ordinances to which his obedience was required **re an abridgement of this liberty, he 1619, they obtained the grant.-Mr. Carver, for his education, his discretion, his gravity of manners, and his activity in the business of the emigration, was looked upon by the adventurers as the proper person for their chief magis-tainment provided for that purpose, trate, before their departure from Hol- "they entered into a perpetual league Jand. of friendship, commerce and mutual The emigrants arrived in the harbor defence." - The natives manifested of Cape Cod, Nov. 9th, 1620. A po- the highest satisfaction at the scene.litical compact, which was their civil It was an event of uncommon interest, constitution for many years, was soon as the existence of the colony depen formed, and, on the eleventh of that ded on the issue. This treaty was month, was signed by forty-one per- || maintained inviolably by Massasoit sons, all the males who were of age. till his death; and was the foundation Mr. Carver is the first signer, and im- of that peculiar harmony which long mediately after, was unanimously cho-subsisted between the Plymouth Col sen Governor. No other magistrate ony and the natives. treaty was the last public service performed by their worthy Governor. On the fifth of April 1621, after a short illness, a mysterious providence removed him from the afflicted colony whose cup of sorrows now was full, removed him to the rest which remaineth for the people of God. Notwithstanding the low state of the colony, they gave their lamented Governor all the funeral honors which were in their power to bestow; the men were under arms, and fired several was appointed. In the perils and dis- The negociation of this important tresses of the succeeding winter, all that could be done by the benevolent man, by the illustrious patriot, by the exemplary Christian, was performed by Mr. Carver, to support the settlers under their accumulated sufferings, to preserve them from despondency, to provide every practical relief, and to preserve the colony from ruin. He cheerfully submitted to an equal share of privation and labor, afforded every possible assistance to the sick, coun selled the dying, and comforted the mournful survivers; his serene coun-volleys over his grave. tenance inspired confidence in every Mr. Carver was a man of singular beholder, his humble submission di- piety, of great fortitude and public rected all souls to God. During the spirit; grave in his manners, yet open, most of the period of the raging sick-condescending, and affectionate. He ness, in which one half of the whole number died, Gov. Carver enjoyed good health, and was able to discharge the important duties devolving upon him. The Governor having been informed that Massasoit, a powerful Indian Sachem, not far distant from the plantation, was amicably disposed towards the settlement, sent him a message, inviting him to an interview at Plym possessed a good estate, the greater part of which was spent in the service of the colony. As a magistrate, he was firm, upright, and watchful; as a Christian, humble and exemplary.--By his virtues, he was endeared to all his acquaintance, but especially, to the infant colony of which he was a most distinguished ornament and support By the removal of such pillars, God taught our venerable fathers that outh. He accordingly came with his own almighty arm, and that alone, great state, attended by a numerous must " sustain the children of his love." train, and on the 22d of March halted Mr. Carver's wife, who was distinat the entrance of the town. The || guished for her piety, overcome with Governor, attended by a file of armed grief, died about six weeks after her men, advanced to meet the royal sav- husband. His posterity have been nuage, and, after much ceremony, they merous and respectable in the Plymproceeded to a friendly interview.- outh colony, and distinguished for The Colony, very providentially, health and longevity. One of the were provided with an Indian inter- towns in the county of Plymouth now preter. After partaking of an enter-bears his name. [To be continued.] For the Utica Christian Magazine. ON THE EVIDENCE OF DIVINE GOODNESS. IS there evidence, aside from the holy scriptures, that God's moral character is good? these. Nevertheless, he left not hin without witness, in that HE DID GO and gave us rain from heaven, and f ful seasons; filling our hearts with and gladness. Though the heathen abando the true God, and lost sight of div revelation, yet God always follow them with a witness of his go ness; and the witness was in that DID GOOD. The apostle's argum imples, either that God's doing a good, especially to sinners, is a witn of his perfect and infinite goodne or else that God did so much good as be an ample witness of his goodness If there be evidence of the goodness of God aside from the positive testimony of the scriptures, or aside from any history or doctrines contained in the scriptures; it is probable that the scriptures, which are full of argument, do, in some way, make use of this mode of reasoning, and bring forward this evidence of the goodness of God. If the scriptures intimate no evidence, from the light of nature, of the goodness of God; it is a presumptive argument that there is no such evidence.The scriptures, no where, intimate that the doctrines of the Trinity, and of the incarnation of the son of God, to make atonement, are evident from the light of nature; but the Eternal power and Godhead of the Deity are said to be evident from the light of nature.With regard to all other doctrines, this is a rule which we may adopt; if the scriptures treat them as evident from the light of nature, they are thus evident whether we, sinful, benighted mor-christian ever did, or will see the de tals, can see the evidence or not. But monstration. Let the construction of the arg ment be as it may, one thing is clea and it is the thing in question; Ge did not leave himself without witne of his goodness, even aside from t holy scriptures. His giving rain fro heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling the hearts with food and gladness, was th witness of his goodness. If this be the manner, in which in spired men demonstrate the divin goodness, we ought to conclude that is demonstrable in this way; eve though no blind heathen, or half blin if the scriptures consider them as doc- 2. The apostle further represents trines of mere revelation, we may con- in the same manner, the inexcusable clude that they are not made evidentness of the heathen, in the 1st chapter by the light of nature. The only en- to the Romans. He considers them quiry, therefore, which is necessary, in as without excuse for not glorifying order to decide on the question before God as God; not merely because us, is this; Do the scriptures consider the goodness of God as being evident from the light of nature? I think they do; and am therefore in favor of the affirmative of the present question.We observe, they had evidence, from the holy scriptures, of his moral and adorable perfections; but because they had this evidence, even aside from divine revelation. The invisible things of him, from the creation of the world, are clearly seen. If it be urged that nothing but eternal power could be seen in this way; I admit that they who urge this objection can see nothing but eternal power; and perhaps no sinful men ever did see any thing but eternal power; and sinners may imagine that 1. In the 14th of Acts, the apostle, (speaking to the idolaters of Lycaonia) of the living God, who made heaven and earth, and the sea and all things therein; who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways, urges their inexcusable wickedness, in rejecting the true God, on account of the evi- they see eternal power, joined with dences of his goodness, aside from infinite malice in the Creator of the the holy scriptures. The words are || world. But, I trust, no one can con ceive it an inexcusable crime not to glorify a being as the infinitely amiable God, concerning whose moral perfection there is no evidence. The be challenged to show why the Almighty will not do iniquity; perbaps 1 can do it, and perhaps not. All I have now undertaken is, to show that apostle urges the inexcusableness of this is the manner in which the scrip the heathen, on this ground, only, that his glorious perfection is evident from the creation of the world, aside from divine revelation. Now let it be granted, that I, with all my prejudice and stupidity, cannot see the connection between omnipotence and infinite goodness; does this prove that an inspired apostle, or a perfectly holy man could not see the connection? The apostle's argument implies that there is a demonstration of the adorable perfection of God, aside from the holy scriptures; even from the creation of the world. If I say there is no such demonstration, because I cannot see it, I prefer my own discernment to the testimony of the apostle Paul. 3. We may notice, in the 34th and subsequent chapters of Job, the moral perfection of God abundantly argued from his supremacy. I shall only state the arguments, as they stand in those chapters, and submit it to those who have more meekness, and consequently, more discernment, on this subject, to point out to us the force of those arguments. For I verily believe that a man, perfectly meek and holy, would as clearly see, from the light of nature, the moral, as the natural perfection of God tures argue the divine perfection. Elihu proceeds. Yea, surely, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment. This is the same thing, newly stated; and he proceeds in his argument, to prove that the Almighty Being will not pervert judgment. Who hath given him a charge over the earth, or who hath dis posed the whole world? i. e. Does he act, by a delegated power, and not independently? He goes on to consider it as the greatest absurdity to conceive that the Almighty, the independent Creator and disposer of all things, should do wickedly. His words are these. If now thou hast understanding, hear this; hearken to the voice of my words. Shall even he that hateth right, govern? And wilt thou condemn kim that is most just? Is it fit to say to a king, thou art wicked? or to princes, ye are ungodly? How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of Princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor; for they are all the work of his hands? He seems to represent it as astonishing that men, who admit the omnipotence, independence, and absolute supremacy of God, should entertain a doubt respecting his moral perfection. He seems to take for granted that men of understanding, i. e. men of piety, will see the demonstration of the moral, from the natural perfection of God. Accordingly he concludes, by observing, that Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom. So much we notice in this Chapter. I will only observe that this is the manner of Elihu's reasonings with Job, to the end. If any say, These are only the reasonings of Elihu; we may observe that Elihu is not reproved among the rest of Job's In Job 34th, Elihu expostulates with Job for saying, I am righteous, and God hath taken away my judgment-my wound is incurable, with out transgression and it profiteth a man nothing, that he should delight himself in God. Therefore, says Elihu, hearken unto me ye men of understanding. He seems to be sensible that true spiritual wisdom and understanding was necessary in order to see the force of his arguments. - Far be it from God that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty that he should commit iniquity. The argu- friends: but the other three were rement is that God is the Almighty, proved exclusively. Not only so therefore will not de wickedly. If I but the next and last reprover of Ja was the Lord himself. And if we ex- For the Utica Christian Magazine. To sin presumptuously, against a clear revelation and understanding of the law, is to sin, in a more aggravated degree, than to sin in ignorance of the law. We easily conceive that degrees of criminality may be various. But, the question is, Is it possible to sin, in perfect ignorance of the holy rule which is violated? Take an instance of the violation of the first command, "Thou shalt have no other Gods before me." A violation of this command consists in loving some other object more than God. All men have their various ob BENEVOLENCE is that divinely amiable dis. position, which feebly dawns in the earthly Christian, shines with morning beauty in the lorified saint, glows with noonday brightness the exalted archangel, and flames with at inaccessible in the all-powerful JEHOVAH. his selfish purposes, he has done it without any degree of remorse or hesitation. At length he is taught, and convinced that there is a God; and that he justly claims supreme affection. We will suppose, further, that this miserable, benighted pagan, at twenty years of age, becomes a true convert. Jesus Christ, being revealed to him, is embraced by a true and living faith. "Old things," in his case, "are passed away; and behold all things are become new." Now he takes a retrospective view of his past life and character. He finds, that he has been either a holy, or an unholy creature.For there is no character intermediate, which is neither holy nor sinful What opinion of himself does his own experience suggest? If he concludes that he has been innocent and holy, why does he embrace the Saviour, who |