pointed Calvinistic formulas, supposing that their ministers were willing and desirous that they should?

"But if this be a true state of the case, whence the alarm which has pervaded every part of the Presbyterian Church, with respect to our Aminianism, Pelagianism, Perfectionism, and I know not what. Has there been no ground for the fears and suspicions which have been entertained? I cannot conscientiously say that I think there has been none. A state of things has existed which excited apprehensions that some were departing from the faith once delivered to the saints.

"During the excitements which prevailed under the labors of Messrs. Burchard and Finney, and their associates, things were said and done which had better have been avoided. A new style of preaching was introduced, new measures adopted and advocated, and, occasionally, new opinions advanced touching the prayer of faith, the method of the Spirit's influence in conversion, and the best method of securing that influence and promoting the conversion of sinners. No direct encroachment, however, was made upon any of the great doctrines of the Gospel. These were cheerfully admitted, and some of them distinctly and powerfully inculcated. But a notion was imbibed that the doctrine of election, and of the sinner's dependence on Divine influence, and some other doctrines of the Calvinistic system had heretofore been urged out of due proportion, and that more ought to be said of the sinner's immediate obligation to repent and believe. In pressing this obligation, they urged the sinner's entire ability to comply with the terms of the Gospel. In a word, they taught that sinners could, but would not, repent without special Divine influence. Many believed then, and do still believe, that their language on this subject was unguarded, and likely to produce an Arminian impression on the hearer. That such was the fact in numerous instances, there is no reason to question. Some of Mr. Finney's converts doubted whether he believed in the doctrine of election, and wrote to him, while he was in Boston, to know if he did. He answered that he did believe the doctrine, and that they ought to believe it.

"From the manner, however, in which some of our preachers at that time presented the truths of the Gospel, and especially from the fact that they did not very prominently present some of them at all, there was danger that an Arminian leaven would creep in, and corrupt the faith of the churches. This danger was not

lessened by the speculations of the New Haven divines, and by some other dubious writings from New England.

"After all, through the good hand of God upon us, I do not believe that any radical error has taken root among us, and is likely to prevail. I speak of the churches in our own connection. There is scattered through our bounds a set of Christians called. Unionists, who hold the doctrine of sinless perfection, and other absurd notions. But they are not of us, and receive no countenance from any of our judicatories. Were you to ask me to name the minister or the church in our Synod who did not fully and unqualifiedly believe in the doctrine of the total depravity of human nature, in regeneration by the influence of the Holy Spirit, in personal election and justification by faith through the righteousness of Christ only, I could not do it. I have much the same impressions, with respect to the Synods of Utica and Genesee, and the Synod of the Western Reserve; but I am not as well acquainted with the members of these Synods. Still, it is true we do not all see eye to eye. There are shades of difference in some less important What these are, I have neither time nor room to state to you. But allow me, in conclusion, to say, that in my judgment, there never was a greater mistake, than that under which our Old School brethren are laboring.

matters.

"1st. As to the prevalence of error in the exscinded Synods.

"2d. As to its cause. The state of belief is not as they suppose it. Nor do the errors which have been supposed to exist owe their origin to any such cause as they ascribe them to. They seem to think that Congregationalism has done all the mischief. It has had no more influence in the case than the moons of Jupiter. Our Congregational Churches, as a general fact, are the most stable and thorough orthodox churches we have. But my sheet is full, and I have only room to say, that I left the Constitutional Assembly last Spring, from ill health alone.

"With much affection, I am truly yours,

"JAMES RICHARDS."

It may be proper to add, that the schism in his beloved

church never seemed to diminish his love for either of its parts, though it threw his sympathies on the side of the exscinded. In relation to this whole matter, he entertained the most kind and conciliatory spirit. He loved those who had cut him off from their body as though

he were an unworthy and gangrened limb. He studiously avoided everything that looked like impatience, in word and deed. Nor did he feel any pride in the appellation by which he and his exscinded brethren were distinguished from others from whom they were separated. His temper of mind, at this point, is happily illustrated by the following incident:

An aged woman, who had enjoyed his early ministry, was permitted to hear him preach subsequent to the exscinding acts. As she was walking from the church, in conversation with Mrs. Richards, she inquired, Is Dr. Richards an Old School man or a New School man? Mrs. R., not disposed to answer the question, referred it to her husband-when he replied, " My dear, I hope that I belong to the SCHOOL OF CHRIST."

As the infirmities of age increased, Dr. Richards received great pleasure, in view of the brightening prospects, and increasing influence and usefulness of the Seminary. He welcomed, most cordially, his brethren who, from time to time, were added to its Board of Instruction; and received, with the sympathy and affection of a father, the young men who came to enjoy the privileges which it furnished.

In October, 1839, he thus writes:

"Dr. Dickinson and Dr. Halsey are both on the ground. The Seminary seems to be looking up, so far as officers and students are concerned. The professorships are all filled with their appropriate incumbents, and a large class of new students have entered."

It is proper to add, that he lived to see the Institution recovered from its decline in the number of its pupils, and enjoying a state of prosperity, embarrassed only by want of adequate funds.

It will be observed that the compiler has dwelt much upon the care and labor of Dr. Richards in behalf of the general and financial interests of the Seminary. The

reasons for this are the following: 1. The means in the hands of the compiler, from which any connected history of his residence at Auburn can be formed, are chiefly letters written by himself to the members of his own family, and in these letters he refers mainly to the general interests of the Seminary, and his labors to promote them. 2. The character of Dr. Richards, simply as a professor or teacher in the Seminary, will be given in another place; and 3. His character and influence in all his relations to the Institution could not be made known to the public, only by a course similar to the one we have pursued.

Nominally, Dr. Richards held no pre-eminence in the Faculty of the Seminary, yet, virtually, he was the presiding officer. Nor was this all. While his health permitted he was more abundant in his labors as a traveling soliciting agent, than his brethren. He was also, to all intents, both the Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer of the Board of Instruction until the day of his death. This responsibility was not assumed or coveted, but it was referred to him by his associates, not only because their own tastes and habits inclined them to other forms of service, but as the result of their conviction, that his great influence abroad, his power of appeal, his accurate knowledge of the history and wants of the institution, his careful business habits and most rigid punctuality, peculiarly fitted him for these various duties.

CHAPTER V.

LAST SICKNESS AND DEATH.

FOR several months previous to his decease, the health of Dr. Richards declined gradually, though there were intervals when it seemed to improve. He had long entertained the belief that he was laboring under a disease of the heart, and the remedies to which he resorted were chosen with reference to such a belief. But a post-mortem examination showed that his disease had affected mainly the stomach, having materially diminished the natural dimensions of that important organ. Perhaps this may account for a gradual loss of flesh to which he was subject, and to which he often alluded in his correspondence, even during those intervals when his health appeared in some respects to be improving. He was subject, at times, to a determination of blood to the head, and of " subsequent suspension of arterial action." In the autumn of 1842, while walking in the village of Auburn, he was suddenly seized, and fell upon the pavement, and was taken up in a state of almost entire insensibility. From this shock he never entirely recovered, and he regarded it as a new "sentence of death" passed upon him by the voice of Providence. It became the occasion of manifest sanctification, and there is reason to believe that it contributed essentially to his diligence in setting his house in order, and becoming "meet for the inheritance of the saints in light." In a letter written at this time he says:

"My chief concern is, to have my house in order in relation to