A Sermon delivered in Beverly on the occasion of the lamented death of the Rev. Abiel Abbot, D. D. By JAMES FLINT, D. D.

ALL who knew the excellent man to whom this tribute is paid, will feel that it is but a transcript from their own hearts which these pages contain. It is not eulogy, but a simple and faithful record by one who had often and long contemplated the character in all its living truth and beauty, which he was called to portray after death had set its seal upon it. We may take this offering of the friend and brother to our solitude, when we wish to bring vividly before us the image of that good man, whose virtues he teaches us to love and imitate while we admire and praise. It is a moral portrait by a master's hand; a memorial to departed worth the most valuable of all, because it is so wrought as to give an admonition to the conscience, while it imparts consolation to the heart.

We were much moved by the following passages, which we insert in the earnest hope that the dying counsels of so good a man, may not be lost upon those whom he sought to benefit by them. The latter extract is from the appendix to the Sermon, which contains a portion of the discourse delivered by Rev. John Bartlett, on a subsequent sabbath.

"I remark one trait more, in these days of inestimable value in a minister; his signal love of peace. No object was dearer to his heart than to bring ministers and the people to feel on this subject, as he felt. His convention sermon, the delivery of which was almost the last public act of his ministry, will now seem to his brethren, to the community, and still more to his flock, like the dying bequest of Jesus to his disciples; 'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you.' No; the world, and, I grieve to say it,

the ministers of the Prince of Peace, too many of them speak a very different language, and breathe a very different spirit. But with that dying appeal of your pastor in your hands, you, my brethren of this ancient and respectable society, will feel yourselves inexcusable in the sight of heaven, if you allow discord to arise among you, or division to scatter you. How much he was grieved by the angry disputes of the day, and the rending of churches and societies, of which they are the cause, appears in the following extract from the letter before cited. Yesterday was the anniversary of my peace sermon before the Convention. I fear its gentle notes have not been echoed this year. There is no one thing, that gives me so much pain in returning to my loved country, as to think of its religious dissensions. May the God of peace hush them; and for ever preserve my voice from the notes of discord.' Happy spirit, thy voice never uttered the notes of discord, and they can never again reach thy ear. Thou art now joined to the sons of peace, the children of God,

Who have no discord in their song,
Nor winter in their year.''

"I would, on this occasion, forbear indulging personal feelings of friendship, by attempting to portray all the excellencies of his private character. I shall narrate only one circumstance, which, now, I feel that I have not the liberty to conceal ;;-a circumstance which illustrates his piety and faithfulness; his preparedness for death, and the justice of applying to his character the words of the text.* On a visit to him, made at his request, a few

"He was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost, and of faith, and much people was added unto the Lord." Acts xi. 24.

days before his departure to a warmer climate, for the benefit of his health; at a time when his physician and friends and he himself were apprehensive, that the disease which then oppressed him, would speedily terminate his life; at this time, when the heart has no disguise, and the soul is anxious to utter all that it deems true and kind, important and useful, he thus addressed me, (evidently with a wish that it should be remembered and at a fit time communicated)—'I believe the hour of my departure is at hand; how near I cannot say, but not far distant is the time when I shall be in the immediate presence of my Maker. This impression leads me to look back upon my life and inwardly upon my present state. In the review I find many things to be humbled and penitent for, and many things to fill me with gratitude and praise. I have, I trust, the testimony of my heart, that my life, my best powers, my time, and my efforts, have in the main been sincerely given to God and to mankind. Of all the years of my life, the present, in the review, gives me most pleasure. You know my recent plans and labors, and the designs of them, [alluding to discourses delivered before the convention of ministers, and at the ordination of Rev. A. Abbot, and certain contributions to a religious publication, the Christian Visitant, whose object coincided with his views, and to extend the circulation of which he was making great efforts.] In these, I have endeavored to check the spirit of contention among Christians, and as a disciple of the Prince of Peace, to diffuse the spirit of love and peace, to inspire Christians with a warmer zeal for the great objects of religion. The efforts were great. My health, and perhaps my life are the sacrifice. If the Lord will, be it so. If ever I faithfully served him, it was in these services.

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If ever I felt prepared for death, it was when they were finished. If ever I knew and felt the delightful import of that passage,-I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand; I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith, &c. it was then, and it is now. In my own bosom there peace. Whether life or death be before me, all is well. I can say, the will of the Lord be done.' With the greatest serenity he alluded to the expected issue of his disorder, and seemed filled with a good hope through grace of eternal life. He was indeed ready to be offered, and is now removed, we believe, to a higher sphere, and to nobler employments and joys."

Daily Monitor. By Rev. CHARLES BROOKS, Hingham. THIS book contains a series of reflections on a great variety of important moral and religious topics, adapted for use in the family and closet. The author's purpose is to aid those, who are solicitous to make their spiritual improvement a constant, daily business, in the discipline. of their thoughts and affections, and in the essential practice of self scrutiny. Nearly all the meditations, for they are more properly designated thus than by any other name, are such as lead directly to some useful result. There is nothing like mere reverie. Nor is devotion and religious admonition marred by any doctrinal speculations.

We think the style of some of the pieces not simple enough; and were almost provoked to find an interesting train of thought abruptly cut off, merely because the foot of the page was near. The book will be useful as it is;

but a great deal more so, if the author in future editions will give up the plan of measuring his sentences by the page.

Presumptive Arguments in favor of Unitarianism. By M. L.

HURLBUT.

THIS is the production of a layman. It is written with great power, in a clear, forcible, and eloquent style. The author attempts to shew that the antecedent probabilities in favor of Unitarianism are such, that nothing short of the most unambiguous, positive, and indisputable evidence ought to be received as establishing the contrary doctrines. Such evidence has never been produced. It cannot be found. The most that can be said is, that some passages in the Bible may, not that they necessarily must, be so interpreted as to teach them. Mere inferences are the foundation of orthodoxy. No text has ever been brought, which says in so many words, "God is tripersonal," "Jesus Christ is God," "The human race came into existence totally depraved." These propositions, and the dogmas they contain, cannot be expressed in the words of the Bible only, in clear, positive, unambiguous language. Nor can it be said that the mode of interpreting scripture employed by Unitarians is not such as is at least as plausible as the contrary. Now if only so much be granted, the presumptive arguments are such as to compel us to adopt Unitarianism. But we have more. Every doctrine we receive is best expressed in the clear, explicit, undisputed words of scripture. Our propositions are all recorded in the Bible, or admit of being expressed in scripture language unmixed with any other.

We cannot too urgently recommend this ingenious essay.