In selecting his topics, and preparing his discourses, Dr. Dwight never" drew a bow at a venture." He had an aim, and he never lost sight of it. So accustomed was he to invention, and to the arrangement of his thoughts under their proper heads, that to have written a sermon after the manner of some preachers, without any proper beginning, middle, or end, would have been impossible. Discussion was his life and breath. Order was the first law of his mind, which, as it advanced from step to step, would always create for itself a solid substratum. It had an instinctive fondness for hard labor; but it would not work at all, except by rule. Every sermon must have a skeleton, to be "clothed with flesh and skin, and the articulations and processes must be sufficiently prominent for the muscles and tendons. This is observable in all his discourses, whether doctrinal or practical. They are "fenced with bones and sinews;" and the effect depends, not so much upon a single feature, as upon the compactness and goodly proportions of the whole frame. Dr. Dwight, like every other distinguished preacher, made his own plans. The deep and broad current of his thoughts could never flow in common channels. Whenever a

passage was to be cut through the solid rock, he chose to hew it out for himself; and he would as soon have gone to England for the materials of his "table talk," as to Simeon, or any one else, for helps!

In his manner of delivery, Dr. Dwight was graceful, dignified, solemn and animated. In his voice were united fullness, strength, flexibility and melody. His articulation was remarkably distinct, though at times considerably rapid; and it was always forcible. In whatever great and crowded house he was called to speak, he filled it with perfect ease, never failing to reach the remotest of the audience. We have seldom known a speaker, who could, especially on great occasions, hold an enlightened assembly in more fixed attention. The volume of his elocution, though always full, and clear, and strong, was, for the most part, quite uniform. But there were times, under special excitement, when it burst forth like a torrent; and then, if it did not hurry you down the cataract, it inevitably swept you away from your moorings. That he was not acting a part, but pouring out the treasures of his own understanding and feelings, was manifest on all occasions; but when warmed by some favorite and inspiring subject, his whole soul was in his eye; and his logic itself was all on fire.

But much as Dr. Dwight excelled and was admired in the pulpit, he appeared with still greater advantage in another sphere. The remark will no doubt be thought extravagant, if not invidious, by some of our readers, but it is our sober judgement, that no other man in this country ever possessed so many rare qualifications, physical, intellectual, and moral, for the presidency of a great literary institution; and all these combined with so much

knowledge and experience. With the happiest talent for winning confidence and communicating instruction, teaching was his great business and his delight for almost fifty years; and during the last half of this period, we do not believe that any distinguished instructer, who knew him, ever considered it a disparagement to be placed below him. Having been so long conversant with youthful intellect, in its strength and its weakness; in its loftiest aspirations, and its deepest dwelling places; and having made himself master of all the avenues by which it can be approached, he was seldom at a loss for expedients, even in the most discouraging cases. If a student had any talent, any capacity for improvement, Dr. Dwight was sure to find where it lay, and to make the most of it. His maxim was, that nothing is impossible to application and perseverance; and cheered by his smiles, many a youth was nurtured up to respectability and usefulness, who would have come out a mere cypher from under the hand of an ordinary instructer. He was constantly exhorting his pupils to set their mark high, to think, to reason, to be thorough in every study, to fix their thoughts upon great and worthy objects, and to attempt great things for their country, for the church, and the world. There was nothing which he more heartily pitied and despised, than one who was content that his soul should revolve forever in an acorn shell; and no man ever knew better than he did how to make such an one feel his contemptibleness.

Always cheerful and animated himself, his example contributed powerfully to spread the same sunshine, even over minds predisposed to despondency. At all times accessible, courteous, and sensible, he entered at once into the feelings of such as applied to him for advice, made their interests his own, and, we believe, seldom failed to gain their confidence, and win their hearts. Viewed as an instructer and guide of young men, perhaps no two traits were more remarkable in the character of Dr. Dwight, than his assiduity and disinterestedness. If he delighted in anything, it was in doing good to those under his charge, and fitting them for usefulness. He cared not how much he labored, nor how much thought and time it cost him, if the great objects of their being, and of their education, could be promoted. His pupils felt, when they had occasion to consult him, that he could not have taken a deeper interest in the welfare of his own children, than he manifested in theirs; and this, we believe, was literally true. For he had so long delighted in doing good, for its own sake, as well as from principle and habit, that he seemed incapable, to a degree which we have hardly ever known, of taking his own personal convenience or interests into the account.

But though winning and instructive everywhere, it was in the class room that his powers of communication were drawn out in their greatest strength and variety. It was there that he poured

out the stores of his knowledge and experience on every subject that came before him. It was there that metaphysical acumen, a lofty imagination, keen logical discussion, and profound elocution, were blended often in unwonted harmony. It was there that Dr. Dwight, like a presiding genius, encouraged the timid, checked the temerity of the froward and presuming, enlightened the understanding, and warmed the heart. In short, it was there that he astonished, delighted and animated those who had the privilege of hearing him, almost at pleasure.

As a disciplinarian, he was perhaps equally unrivalled. When he took charge of the college, "all the foundations were out of course;" but his energy and wisdom soon brought them to their places. He knew how to touch the secret springs of motion and action, so as to make the great body of the students respect themselves; and this being done, they were brought to respect the laws and government of the institution, almost as a matter of course. In the most hopeless cases of refractoriness, his forbearance was carried to the extreme point of safety; but there was something portentous in this very forbearance, which the subject of it could not fail to perceive, and to fear.

In his government of the college, Dr. Dwight was truly parental. He loved his pupils, and " on his tongue was the law of kindness." When they erred, he treated them as in error, and not as in deliberate transgression. His intercourse with them was that of benignity and confidence. He wished them to forget that there were any laws, other than those by which gentlemen and Christians voluntarily govern themselves. In this manner he commonly succeeded, and established an influence far preferable to that of pains and penalties. When a student refused to be won by means like these, which sometimes happened, and private admonition was called for, it was given with so much kindness, mingled with firmness, that it commonly had the desired effect. If, however, it failed, no man better knew how to administer threatening and terror than Dr. Dwight. No man could more easily make the transgressor tremble, or make him more heartily despise himself, by showing him what he was, and what he might be. Long will the friends of Yale College have reason to bless God, for raising up and placing over it such a man, at the very time when his peculiar talents and almost unbounded popularity were so imperiously required.

Dr. Dwight would have appeared to advantage in almost any station to which he could have been called. He would have been distinguished at the bar, or on the bench; his eloquence would have been impressive in the halls of legislation; he would have presided with dignity in the deliberative assembly; he would have been respected and listened to in the cabinet; he would have done honor to his country, as her representative at a foreign court; and

he was early solicited to receive the suffrages of his fellow citizens, and aspire to civil and political distinction. But God had raised him up for different services; and whatever reputation he might have earned at Washington, or St. Cloud, we believe he could nowhere have done so much for his country and his kind, as in the place which he actually filled. It was chiefly through his influence and that of his pupils, that many of the churches were brought back from the half way practice, with all its laxness in doctrine and discipline, to the foundation on which the American church was first established by our pilgrim fathers. We do not say, that this great reformation, involving, as we believe it did, the salvation of thousands, would not have been effected without him, for God could have raised up a mightier champion for the truth; or he could have accomplished his purpose by much feebler instrumentality; but what we think ourselves fully justified in repeating, is, that Dr. Dwight was honored, above all his contemporaries, in the influence which he directly or remotely exerted, for the recovery of the half way churches around him, and others in different parts of the land, from their backslidings. This, which of itself would have been richly worth any man's living for, was but one among the many important services, which he personally rendered to the cause of truth and righteousness.

But great as was the good which he did while living, it bore no proportion to what we believe his surviving influence and his writings are destined to accomplish. Such a man, especially when intrusted extensively with the education of youth, for all the high offices and learned professions of the country, will impress much of his own character upon the next generation. Dr. Dwight could not, indeed, impart his great and various intellectual powers to his pupils. But he could, and did, breathe into many of them, the spirit of patriotism, philanthropy, and moral enterprise which glowed in his own bosom. He could, and did, mould the characters of a large proportion of every class, we will not say into his own image, but into habits of thought and action, specially adapted to the age in which they were to live. How many hundreds, who are now acting their parts with ability and usefulness on the great theatre of human life, rose up under his plastic hand, and will entail blessings upon a remote posterity. Not far from fifteen hundred, we believe, of the liberally educated men of our country enjoyed, at one time or another, the advantages of his instructions, example, experience, and advice. And when it is considered how many of these are burning and shining lights in the church-are found in our courts of justice-in the halls of science and legislation, and in various other departments of literary, political and moral influence, throughout a mighty empire, even now in its early youth; who will undertake to estimate the final aggregate of that influence upon coming generations? To have been instrumental

in giving a wise and useful direction to so many minds; to have set in motion such a mighty machinery, and still to live and think and speak, in so many representatives, is an honor which but few men can secure for themselves, under the most favorable circum

stances.

Upon the merits of Dr. Dwight's writings we have no room for further enlargement. The good which his system of divinity has already accomplished beyond the Atlantic, where it has been carried through many editions, would be a rich reward for a thousand fold more labor than it cost; while a vast increase of popularity and usefulness is confidently anticipated. The celebrity of the author, and the intrinsic value of the work, give it both currency and credence, where no other American Calvinistic preacher could gain an equally favorable hearing; and thus, the doctrines which have been so eminently owned of God. on this side of the water, are in a fair way of extending their influence on the other.

At home, the call for Dr. Dwight's theological works has, perhaps, hitherto been less urgent than might have been anticipated, from the extensive acquaintance and high popularity of the author in his lifetime. But this may be accounted for on principles which cannot long stand in the way of a wide and useful circulation. The eloquent voice of the preacher imparted an interest to his discourses, which it is hardly possible for a silent perusal to afford. Of course, those who heard them delivered, are likely, when they read them in print, to feel something like a disappointment.

The prevailing taste of the age, moreover, demands excitement rather than solid instruction; and Dr. Dwight has made very little provision for this sickly appetite. What he offers, is the product of thought, is full of thought, and requires thinking to digest and make it profitable. But these causes must be temporary. The existing generation will soon pass away. The commanding elocution of the author will be no more remembered. Readers will again be willing to reason and to think, as in times gone by; and then, we venture to predict, will the discourses, both doctrinal and practical, which have now passed under our hasty review, be read with increasing interest, and will enjoy an enduring popularity.

JAHN'S HISTORY OF THE HEBREW COMMONWEALTH. Translated from the German, by Calvin E. Stowe, A. M., of the Theol. Seminary, Andover. With an Appendix from the French of Basnage. Andover, Flagg & Gould. 1829. pp. 692.

We regard this work as an invaluable accession to the cause of biblical learning. It supplies a deficiency which has long been