Christianity is celebrated throughout the world. We profess to venerate their character; we pay public honors to their memory; and many of us, at least, feel ourselves elevated by the title "Sons of the Pilgrims." But let us beware lest, while we glory in that title, we disgrace and forfeit it :-lest, while we exult in the possession of our invaluable privileges, we forget the grand purpose for which they were transmitted to us, and the means by which alone they can be preserved.

The day draws near which claims our annual tribute of respect and veneration to the memory of the New-England Fathers. And how shall our obligations of filial piety be most becomingly fulfilled? Not, surely, by feasting and dancing, (as the manner of some is,) around the hallowed graves of the Pilgrims ;-nor by gathering about us, for the gratification of an antiquarian curiosity, the time-worn relics of their humble greatness, and thus soothing our minds to inglorious slumbers in the once storm-rocked cradle of our religious liberties;-but by a serious review of those principles and practices, by which our pious ancestors were distinguished, and to which we should cherish an attachment proportioned to the value of those blessings and privileges which they have bequeathed to us. Nor need we profit less by such a review, because we live in an age of higher intellectual improvement, or because the concentrated rays of physical and moral science, in this day of boasted illumination, may enable us to detect a few dim spots, on the fair escutcheon of their fame. Be it that they "saw not all things;"-that time-hallowed superstition had rivetted upon them, in the house of their early bondage, some chains, which even the strength of their intellect could not, by a single effort, burst asunder, or the ardor of their piety suddenly dissolve. Still, when we contemplate the nature and magnitude of the holy enterprise in which they were engaged; and the sacrifices to be made, the hardships to be endured, the perils to be encountered, and the more than Alpine obstacles to be removed or surmounted in its prosecution; we shall acknowledge that its conception was sublime,-its accomplishment triumphant. The sun of their glory shall not the less enlighten us, because" philosophy's eagle eye" has betrayed the maculation of its "burning disk." It shall shine, we trust, with increasing splendor, as their principles are more clearly understood and more faithfully maintained by their descendants; and shall spread its quickening beams around in wider and warmer radiance, 'till the shades of moral darkness shall flee before it, and the manacles of enthralled and oppressed humanity shall melt beneath it, even in the remotest regions of the earth. Yes, there is reason to hope that the example of rational liberty and enlightened piety, which the character and the institutions of our fathers have presented to the world, will in due time be universally imitated; and that the noble vine, which God's right hand hath planted on these once

desolate and dreary shores, shall bless all nations with its shadow and its fruit. But for this it will require laborious and careful culture; for alas! its growth and its fruitfulness have been sadly disproportioned. Some of its spreading branches have been comparatively unproductive, and some have "brought forth wild grapes."

To those of our readers, therefore, who have not yet taken up the works, whose titles are placed at the head of this article, we cordially recommend an early and attentive perusal of them. Such a perusal cannot prove uninteresting or unprofitable to those who, in this day of general religious inquiry, are disposed to “stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way," that they may "walk therein," and "find rest for their souls." The Rev. Dr. Hawes has paid his worthy and acceptable "tribute to the memory of the Pilgrims," in six Lectures, delivered on Sabbath evenings in March and April last, to the citizens of Hartford, Ct. In the 1st, he has strikingly exhibited the Constitution and Order of the Primitive Churches, in the first two centuries after Christ. In the 2d, he has traced the origin, exhibited the principles, and illustrated the influence of the Congregational Churches of New England. The 3d consists of Deductions from the foregoing lectures, in which he shows that there is a striking resemblance between the Congregational Churches of New England, and the Churches which existed in the primitive ages of Christianity; that the principles and polity of the Congregational Churches are happily adapted to all the various circumstances of men, and to the most advanced state of society and of the Church, such as, we have reason to hope, will exist during the millennium ;-that they are wisely adapted to the genius of our civil institutions ;— that they are well calculated to secure the purity of the Churches, both in doctrine and practice; and that they are powerfully influential in promoting vital godliness. The 4th lecture delineates and defends the character of the Pilgrims; the 5th marks the causes and extent of declension in our churches; while the 6th brings to view the means of recovery and defence.

The leading topics of these lectures are strikingly illustrated in the History of the Old South Church by Dr. Wisner ;-a work which proves that he has been no idler in that extensive library of which his venerable predecessor, Prince, was the liberal and judicious founder. The numerous historical and biographical notes appended to the sermons are evidently the fruit of much patient and laborious research, and greatly enhance the interest which every serious reader must feel in the subject of them. The fourth and last discourse concludes with an affecting appeal to the consciences and hearts of the church and congregation who worship on that sacred and memorable spot, "where the Gospel has been preached in its purity to five successive generations; where the Holy Ghost has so often manifested his special and sanctifying pres

ence; where have been seen by Him who looketh into the heart, so many sighs of penitence, so many actings of faith, so many breathings of pure devotion; where the Most High has had his rest for an hundred and sixty years, and hundreds and thousands of souls may have been fitted to stand and worship before his throne." While reading it, we could not wonder that the preacher should exclaim-and the hearers with silent and deep solemnity unite in the sentiment— 'Oh, how dreadful is this place! It is none other than the house of God. It is the gate of heaven.'

We have not room for the copious extracts which we should like to make, both from these discourses and from those of Dr. Hawes; but for the sake of those who may not have access to them, shall briefly touch on a few of the topics of instruction which they present, which seem to us peculiarly seasonable and impor

tant.

Among the many honorable traits in the character of the New England fathers, we would commend to special notice the diffusiveness of their religious charity. Theirs was a true missionary spirit. They came hither, not merely to find a refuge for themselves and their families from the temporal and spiritual disadvantages to which they were subjected in Europe; but to make "the wilderness and the solitary place glad for them."-They made all their mighty efforts and costly sacrifices under the influence of "an inward zeal and great hope of propagating the kingdom of Christ to the remote ends of the earth." Accordingly they began, as soon as possible, to instruct the aborigines of their adopted country in the doctrines and duties of true religion. For this purpose, a school was established at Harvard College, and missionaries were sent forth among them, whose truly Apostolic labors were crowned with a success answerable to their diligence and fidelity. "In 1700, there were thirty Indian Churches in NewEngland, under the pastoral care of the same number of Indian preachers. In some villages, a large proportion of the families were families of prayer. In this noble work, Eliot, and Mayhew, and Bourne, and Cotton took the lead, and were followed by Treab, and Sargeant, and Edwards, and Brainerd. Thousands of poor Indians, gathered into the fold of Christ by the instrumentality of those servants of God, have entered the world of light, and with them are rejoicing in the presence of their common Redeemer and King.

Nor were the native tribes, in the vicinity of the first settlers, prejudiced against the religion of the Gospel, by the cupidity, and treachery, and cruelty of those who professed it. Their lands were fairly purchased of them, and all treaties with them faithfully and honorably regarded. In this respect, alas! how is the crown fallen from the heads of their descendants. Did the spirit of our venerable ancestors pervade, as it ought, our national councils, it

would not now be a question of legislative discussion, whether the natives in our Southern and Western States shall be removed from the lands which they occupy to other territories arbitrarily assigned them, without regard to their preference or free consent. We blush for our country that such a question has been permitted to claim even an hour's deliberation among us. The aborigines of this land are indeed "minished and brought low." They are comparatively ignorant, and poor, and weak. But they are men; we have one Father; one God hath created us; and their rights are as sacred as ours. Their claim to the land which they occupy, is the strongest which can be conceived. God gave it to them. Man has recognized and renewed the gift. It is secured to them by the nation's faith ;-treaty upon treaty,-signature under signature,-seal after seal. Our deed of warranty is registered in Heaven -the record of our solemn negotiations and promises is on high. How then dare we take it from them? No matter how much we desire it, or how easy it would be to seize and possess it, or how highly we may estimate what we offer as an equivalent for it. Still it is their prerogative to decide freely whether they will retain or relinquish it; and if we violate that prerogative, we do it at our peril. Not that the poor Indians can do us very extensive harm. No;-We have men enough almost literally to fulfil the proud threat of Ben-hadad, and carry away the soil of their territory by handfuls. We can bind them in bundles to be burned, and consume them by hecatombs in the flames of their own defenceless villages :-we can drive them across the Rocky mountains we can bury them beneath the waves of the Pacific. But there is a God in heaven, who hears the cry of the oppressed, and who, sooner or later, will bring forth judgement unto truth. While the proud planter erects his splendid mansion on the heritage of the helpless Cherokee, or while beneath a loftier dome "the throne of iniquity frameth mischief by a law,"-" the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it ; 'Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity! Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his, and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay! Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake, that shall vex thee, and those shalt be for booties unto them? Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land.' But we hope in God, such guilt and such ruin will yet be averted from us. Surely this nation has felt and resisted oppression enough to know that power is not right; and a Christian people should practically acknowledge, that no accession of wealth or of territory can compensate the loss of His favor," in whose hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all." We rejoice that the merits of this great question are now fairly before the public; and we earnestly

call upon every friend of his country and of humanity, to inquire concerning it with candor and diligence, to speak with sincerity and freedom, and to act with promptitude and decision.

While adverting to the enlightened and enlarged philanthropy of our forefathers, it is cheering to see the Church and Society, whose history Dr. Wisner has given us, maintaining the same honorable character through successive ages.

"The early records abound with votes like the following. The specimen I select is from the record of a meeting held a short time before it was finally determined to take down the first meeting-house, and erect this expensive building. Voted, that twenty pounds be delivered to Deacon Henchman, for the purchasing of Bibles, to be distributed to the proper objects, as there shall be occasion; that ten pounds be distributed in other books, at the discretion of the Trustees; that twenty pounds be given to Mr. Josiah Cotton, to encourage his settlement at Providence; that fifteen pounds be given to the Rev. Mr. Matthew Short of Easton, for his encouragement in the work of the ministry; that fifteen pounds be given to the Rev. Mr. James Hale, of Ashford, for his encouragement in the work of the ministry; that fifteen pounds be given to the Rev. Mr. Nathaniel Prentice, of Dunstable, for his encouragement in the work of the ministry, to be laid out in books as the Trustees shall judge proper upon discoursing with him.' And about three months after, at a meeting at which several votes were passed in relation to funds to build the new meeting-house, I find the following, Voted that fifteen pounds be given to Joseph Secombe, towards his support at the College.' And so I might read on to you, in relation to every year, almost down to the revolution. These and similar donations were the avails of collections on

each fast and thanksgiving day, to be devoted to pious uses, for the advancement of Christ's kingdom, and other proper objects of charity."

On the above extracts, Dr. W. strikingly remarks,

"Stated and liberal contributions to promote, in different ways, the spread of religion, are not, you perceive, so modern a device as is sometimes supposed. Here was a Bible Society, a Tract Society, a Missionary Society, an Education Society, more than an hundred years ago, all combined in one Association; and that Association was the Old South church and congregation. And in contemplating this interesting fact, you are, doubtless, presented with one principal reason of the remarkable preservation and almost uninterrupted prosperity of this church. She has from the beginning felt it to be a blessed privilege to water others; and God has, in faithfulness to his promise, poured out upon her the continual dew of his blessing."

Had all the churches planted by the pilgrims and their early descendants, and nourished by their alms and prayers, been equally faithful in this respect, the work of domestic missions, and of Bible and Tract distribution, would not have accumulated so mightily upon the hands of the present generation. Our country would, in a religious view, have presented a very different aspect.

Yet let us not sit down in discouragement, but "arise and build." Let us "redeem the time because the days are evil.” We hold all our possessions by a sacred tenure :—they are the unalienable property of" Christ and the Church," and cannot, without a kind of sacrilege, be prostituted to the purpose of mere private interest, or temporal gratification and aggrandisement. To preserve and promote religion at home and abroad, is our proper business. For this, God gave the country to our ancestors, and they have bequeathed it to us. With this land, we inherit the du