sed academy will produce an unhappy division among ministers. It will occasion this division, not because it will be numerically distinct from the Theological Seminary at Andover, but because it is understood to be much inferior to that important institution; yet professing to qualify men to preach the Gospel. Ministers may be very unequal in talents and attainments, and yet live together in perfect harmony. But the moment it is understood, that one class of ministers have devoted nine years to their preparatory studies, and another only two or three years, there will be, on one hand, a seeking of superiority and pride, and, on the other, jealousy and envy. In stating this, as one of the consequences of the Academy, I merely proceed on the supposi ion,that ministers are imperfect.

In the fourth place, our Baptist brethren lately attempted to establish a new College, stating expressly the importance of have ing learned ministers Now is it expedient for us to adopt a plan, which will serve to render our ministers inferior in learning to those, who would have been educated at their College, had their attempt been successful?* Far be it from me to wish, that the Baptists may not have learned ministers. But still I cannot wish, that ours should be inferior to theirs, in any point of view. Have we found that a college education is not desirable for ministers, just at the time when

*This application was successful at the last session of the Legislature, when an act of incorporation was granted.

VOL. V. New Series.

Ep.

the Baptists have found, that it is desirable? But if it be desir able, let us have no institution, which tends to prevent it.

In the fifth place, those who deny the divinity and atonement of Jesus Christ, are, as a body, making rapid progress in general knowledge, and in biblical literature.f On their side, it is not unfrequently intimated, that a due attention to this latter branch of study, will confirm their peculiar sentiments; that it is owing in part to a deficiency in this kind of learning, that so many embrace the opposite opinions; and that the orthodox are unfriendly to those researches, which tend to fix the true import of scriptural language. Now it is of no small consequence, that these suggestions should prove to be without foundation. It is desirable that they should meet with a practical refutation. Those, who profess to be the friends of truth, should show, that they are friendly to all the methods by which truth is discovered. If attention to biblical literature tends to establish any particular opinions, let them be established; let them prevail. If our faith is founded on a mis

We have never seen any proof of The liberal party this assertion. boast, indeed, of their attainments; with what propriety we may hereafter take the liberty of inquiring. It is proper to observe, however, that religion has nothing to fear from literature; and that whatever progress has been made by the Christian world in biblical criticism, during the last half century, has added strong con. firmation to all the great doctrines of the Gospel, as held by churches usų. ally denominated orthodox ED. 57

taken view of the import of Scripture, let us know the mistake, and correct the error. And let us have public teachers, who are capable of examining and deciding questions of criticism. To form such teachers is the design of the Theological Institution at Andover. I cannot help remarking, that the proposed Academy will give countenance to suspicions already existing; that it will rear a class of ministers professedly inferior to those who embrace the opposite opinions; and that it cannot fail of being injurious to the cause of truth.

In the last place, there is little reason to expect that those, who shall be educated in the proposed academy, will be favorably received by the public. They are designed more particularly to supply the numerous vacancies in the new settlements. If, on some accounts, ministers of inferior attainments would succeed better in such places, than in more populous towns; yet, on other accounts, it is more important, that their preparation for the office should be thorough. One reason is,that their situation is in some respects more difficult. Another is, that they will enjoy fewer advantages for prosecuting their studies, after they enter the office of the ministry. Their time will be more occupied with labor; their libraries will be comparatively small. The people in the new settlements are far from being unobserving. Now, when it is understood, that an institution is established for the purpose of supplying them with religious teachers very inferior to others in point of literary attainments, will they not feel their pride

wounded? will they not be led to think, that their own discern. ment is called in question? will they not regard the plan, as an attempt to obtrude upon them a class of preachers, who are ac knowledged to be unfit for other places?

For these reasons I cannot but hope, that the present plan of the institution will not be carried into effect; and that it will be so modified as to coincide with the Union Academy, an account of which was published in the Panoplist for December, 1812. If one similar to that were established in the District of Maine, it could not fail to meet the approbation of the religious public. But, if the present plan be pursued, it will unquestionably occasion a very unhappy division. Its patrons will be considered as espousing a cause, inconsistent with the design of the Theological Seminary at Andover, and hostile to the interests of literature in general.

I know of but one argument which can be urged with any degree of plausibility, in opposition to the foregoing reasonings. It will probably be said, that the new settlements are in want of regular preachers; and that they cannot be furnished by any institution now existing. To this I reply;-first, the proposed Academy could not supply many_vacancies within a few years. Secondly, an unusual number of ministers have been settled in this district within a short period. This fact refutes the suggestion, that preachers from other parts of the country cannot be induced to come into this District. The truth is, preachers of good talents and fair characters

have come hither, but have returned for want of employment; and others are ready to come, as soon as they can be received. Thirdly, we are concerned to know, not merely whether the new settlements could be sooner supplied by means of the proposed Academy; but also, whether, on the whole, it be desirable to have them supplied in this manner. Preachers, whose piety is beyond all question, may injure the cause of religion. We are not to lay hands suddenly on any man; though the number of vacant societies should not diminish for a century. ALEPH.*

For the Panoplist.

ECCLESIASTICAL TRIBUNALS.

Mr. Editor,

The subject of Ecclesiastical Tribunals being before the pub. lic on the pages of the Panoplist, it is desirable, on account of its importance, that it be as thoroughly discussed as may be, and not occupy an undue portion of your columns.

The names bishop, pastor joined with teacher, and elder continued from the Old Testament, (where it signifies a judge or ruler,) are employed in the New Testament to designate an officer of the church. God has set in the church governments. Elders were ordained in every church; and, meaning as is supposed the same thing, in every city. He that ruleth was known character. A charge to elders is, feed, (the original word in other passages signifies rule,) the church,-feed the flock of God, acting in the capacity of

a

bishops or overseers. The angel of the church, over which the Holy Ghost had made the elders overseers, had tried those who said they were apostles, and were not. The members of a church are to know those who labor among them and are over them in the Lord: to count elders that rule well worthy of double honor. to remember, and to obey, those that rule over them.

On these points, or at least some of them, it is thought, that "the Scriptures are plain and explicit;" and that they teach the existence of officers as rulers in the church, to whom it belongs to sit on ecclesiastical tribunals. Shall then a brotherhood, having no official character, exercise all this authority in judging and excommunicating? Shall they exercise it in the highest instance in condemning and deposing him, whom the Holy Ghost has made an overseer and ruler over them? The consistency of such a proceeding, is not perceived.

The church in each of the cities of Jerusalem, Antioch, Ephesus, Philippi, and Thessalonica, had a plurality of officers sufficient to form, in the language of Paul, a presbytery, competent to ordain an elder, as well as to try and excommunicate him, or a private brother. Is it not rational to believe that all the apostolic churches were of a similar form? As far as is recollected, all the directions which mention elders or rulers, in a manner to affect this question, speak of them in the plural number, as joined together in bearing rule. And it is believed, that no instance can be found in the New Testament, nor any intimation,

of a church having a single pas tor, and not a number of elders.

The angel of the church is not thought to be one person; but, as in the case of the Ephe sian church, the whole number of elders, making a presbytery. And whatever authority apostles or evangelists might exercise singly, where no church was or ganized, it does not appear that they acted alone in a church, in which elders had been appointed.

Such are the views which I have of the New Testament churches. And to copy their example, I conceive such a number of Christian congregations, of pastors and brethren, must be united, as to constitute an ecclesiastical tribunal, a council or presbytery, competent to ordain, as well as to judge and adminis ter judgment in all cases of offence.

A. Y. Z.

SOCIETY FOR SUPPRESSING VICE.

A Constitution for the Society denominated "A Society for suppressing vice and immorality" lately catablished in North Yarmouth, (Maine.)

WHEN iniquity abounds and vice prevails, it is highly becoming in those, who love the good of the community, the welfare of families, and the salvation of souls, to do what they can to suppress these evils; and especially at times, when God is manifest ing his displeasure at sin, by inficting judgments which threaten ruim to the country.

Sensible, we hope, of these things,we, whose names are here aubjoined, have unanimously

agreed to form ourselves into a Society to be denominated, A Society for the suppression of vice and immorality, humbly relying on divine aid, for all the assistance we may need, to carry our laudable exertions into effect.

And that there may be no mistake, in any of our minds, with respect to those sins, against which we mean to bear particular testimony, and do what we can to prevent;

We unanimously promise and engage, to pay a sacred regard to our own conduct, and that of our families, as much as is in our power, in reference to the following things:

First, we will at all times, and in all companies, by our own example, and, on proper occasions, by exhortation and admonition, discountenance profane language of every description; and all vain, idle, obscene, and frothy conversation, remembering that God has said, He will not hold him guiltless, that taketh His name in vain, and that for every idle word, we must give an account in the day of judgment.

Secondly; we will in no case suffer ourselves, or knowingly suffer our children, or any under our care, to gamble, or play at any unlawful game, whether it be cards, dice, or other things; nor will we on any occcasion undertake any amusement ourselves, nor suffer our children to do it, either for money, for spirituous liquors, or for any kind of gain whatever. We al so promise, that we will do what we can to prevent others from doing these things and to reclaim such as already practise

them; and if the children of the members of this Society, or others in their families, shall transgress in either of these ways, we promise, to inform the parents or guardians of such children, that they may be corrected; and we also promise, always, to take such information kindly, and if possible, to effect a reformation. Thirdly; we solemnly engage to be exceedingly prudent in the use of ardent spirits at all times; and that we will always avoid them in retailing stores; that we will not make a practice of us ing them in our social visits, nor on funeral occasions; and, as much as possible, will refrain from giving them to our laborers; and, in short, we promise, to set our faces as a flint, against the horrible sin of intemper ance, believing it to be the source of almost all the evils and calamities we suffer.

Fourthly; we also promise to aid the tythingmen, in the discharge of the various duties incumbent on them, in their laudable exertions to prevent the use of strong liquors in retailing stores, and to assist them in putting a stop to profane cursing and swearing, and the violation of the Sabbath.

Fifthly; we also engage to do our endeavors, every day, to attend to some lawful calling, and to have our children do it also, that neither our time, nor theirs, may be spent in idleness, which we believe to be a very great temptation to the commission of those sins, which we have so much reason to lament.

Sixthly; we promise strenuously to watch over our angry passions, and never backbite, nor wantonly defame the char

acter of any of our neighbors, and especially, that we will be exceedingly tender of the reputation of such as have been held in high estimation, and whose stations in life ought to com mand respect.

Seventhly; we also engage to pay a constant and conscientious regard to the holy Sabbath, not only by avoiding those things, which are contrary to the laws of God, but we promise to be very tender of the different views and feelings of Christians, as they respect the commencement of the Sabbath; and that we will carefully attend on public worship from Sabbath to Sabbath, unless we can believe, that in the sight of God, we are necessarily prevented, and that we will take as manyof the members of our families with us, as are able to attend.

And that we may be the better able to carry the objects of this Institution into effect, we unanimously agree to the fol lowing

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION.

As these are mere matters of form, and in general terms, two articles only will be transcribed.

2. At every annual meeting. there shall be chosen by ballot, or otherwise, a President, Secretary, Treasurer, and a commit. tee of twelve other persons, to u'nite with said Officers, in constituting a Board of Trustees, to manage the concerns of the Society, any seven of whom may be a quorum; and every suchmeeting shall be opened with a prayer by the President, or some other member, unless a