commanded, at will, those which are sprightly and humorous. Few men could invent a pithy form of thought, or draw a happy comparison, or recall an apposite anecdote with greater facility. In the use of such illustrations he judged well as to time and place. If he seemed to descend, it was not at the expense of his own dignity or the respect of his pupils. If the garb in which a point was dressed was homely, and perhaps too homely for the popular ear, yet amid the familiarities of the recitation-room it was not only lawful, but highly agreeable and instructive. What son of Auburn Seminary has forgotten the ability of Dr. Richards to relieve the tedium of a long recitation, or dry discussion. Some of us, after the lapse of nearly twenty years, can well remember the very grateful convulsions which were created by the corruscations of his mighty intellect. Under the sallies of his sprightliness and strong common sense, we forgot our dyspepsy, and even the evil genius of the hypochondriac was sometimes dislodged and compelled to take his departure for a season. It is worthy also to be noticed, that his instructions, especially in the experimental parts of theology, were often characterized by an unction and warmth of feeling, by which he carried the sympathies of his class, and secured to his pupils a deeper and livelier impression of truth than they had ever before felt. An instance of this kind occurred a short time before his death, while illustrating the nature of that act of the mind and heart by which a sinner first embraces Christ as his Saviour. In illustrating this point he referred the class to his own experience in conversation, and the manner in which, from step to step, his mind was led. "As the venerable Professor proceeded in the narrative," says a member of the class, "his heart warmed in the remembrance of the circumstances and feelings connected with his conversion. He leaned forward, then rose from his seat, and with extended arms. and flowing tears, ascribed his change to sovereign grace, and declared that his first act of faith was submission to the throne. Would that I could recall all his language. The power of this living testimony carried conviction to our hearts, and we received impressions which will help us to understand and preach the truth, and which we shall carry with us to our graves." In the foregoing sketch of the life of Dr. Richards, we believe that no feature has been overdrawn; yet we do not claim that he had attained perfection. He ever cherished a deep sense of his deficiency in all things, especially in the Christian virtues. Though he had no sympathy with the doctrine that sinless perfection is attained in this life, yet he believed that others came nearer to "the mark for the prize of the high calling of God" than himself. It may be said, however, that in his private, social and professional character, he was a man of uncommon excellence, and a distinguished light in the Church of God. We heartily endorse the following tribute to his memory, by his colleague, the Rev. Dr. Mills, as given in his funeral discourse: "But had he then no faults? it may be asked. And if by the question be meant whether he had not some unhappy obliquity of temper, some habitual frailty, such as too often, even in men of general excellence, must be remembered with regret by surviving friends, and which they would gladly forget and hide from view-if this be meant, we answer, we know of no such faults in him whose loss we mourn. A character whose whole exhibited such symmetry, such consistency, it is seldom our privilege to meet." We But no degree of intellectual or moral worth is security against the power of death. But "he that believeth, though he were dead, yet shall he live." cherish this precious hope with regard to our lamented and honored father. He has died but to live. A star of the first magnitude has disappeared, only to shine on a wider and higher orbit. What a constellation of such stars is gathering in heaven! How bright their glories! LECTURE I. ON THE WILL. THERE are few subjects either more important or more difficult than those which pertain to the Will. From time immemorial they have furnished themes of the most ardent controversy, on which men of the profoundest learning and talent have exhausted their powers. It would require a volume only to name the points in debate, without touching upon the arguments alleged for and against the opinions advanced. Among the leading questions which have been disputed are, What is the will, considered as a faculty or principle of the mind? What are its phenomena ? and in what order developed? Is it free? and what does its freedom involve? What determines the will? Is it determined by its own efficiency? or by something external to it? or both? How far do virtue and vice depend on the will? And is moral character predicable of all its acts, or of some only? Our object is not to take up these inquiries in their order, nor exactly to confine our remarks to what belongs to them; but to give our views on the more essential points in this controversy, and to show occasionally what Edwards has taught in relation to these topics. We shall advert frequently to him, not because we pin our faith upon his sleeve, great and good as he was, nor because H 1 |