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Sufficiency of Christianity.

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literature and the sciences, and therefore do not feel obliged to purchase separately the many little books which contain reprints of the whole, or of portions, of its single articles. We do indeed belong to all of these benevolent Societies, and to all there shall ever be of them, ten, twenty, or a thousand years after we shall have been buried; because we belong to the Christian Church. Nor can any religious truth, nor any religious duty be made the basis of union among men, which is not recognized in the Christian Church, and which will not bind to eternity all its members. We would say nothing unkind or harsh about the fraternities around us and in our midst, but we object to them, that while doing a Christian work, they yield up the precious and quickening name of the Lord Jesus. Thus is society all around us made to present the strange aspect of appearing to be giving up all reverence for Jesus Christ, while spending redoubled and gigantic efforts in the very work which he appointed, and with the very instruments of which he taught the use. Christianity is thus cunningly deprived of its most earnest and irresistible claim to our regard. For the most efficacious testimony to Christianity is its influence on the world, in our cities, in our villages, in the relations of life, in our hospitals and our charitable institutions. Let them all keep the name which has been given to them in Christian baptism, even if they feel disposed to add to it titles of incorporation by the Legislature. Else when our children succeed us, they may hear of Christ from pulpits as a kind of mythological personage, while all the good which is done in the world, though attributable to his instigation, neglects that sacred name, to assume the numberless designations of clan, or sect, or party. There is a power even in the associations of titles. There is wisdom in retaining the connection between an effort and the spring which renews that effort, in attaching the key to the watch, in chaining the bucket to the well; there is gratitude in handing down the name of a benefactor with the gift which he has bestowed in perpetuity; and there is only simple justice in connecting Christ with Christianity.

The reference which we have made to sects, to speculations, and even to philanthropic efforts, will at least show some justification for the title which we have prefixed to these remarks. Christianity is sufficient for man, in all its

lessons and offices and duties. So sufficient is it, that all sects, and all speculations, and all benevolent enterprises are indebted to it for their measure of truth and power, though by rivalry of new names they have a tendency to conceal from many the indisputable fact, that Christianity is the one great support of the faith, hope, and charity of the world. This fact, so grateful to every Christian heart, so eloquent in its truth, so hopeful in its promises, cannot be denied even by the skeptic. Let it not then be hidden from us by the substitution of any other name for that of Christ, or of any less agency for that of his Gospel.

G. E. E.

ART. VIII.-LIFE AND CHARACTER OF DR. WARE.*

THE professional life of Dr. Ware, including his ministry at Hingham and his professorship at Cambridge, was extended over an unusual term of years, and, both in the events with which it was connected and in the character it displayed, presents no common subject for reflection. He was chosen as the Hollis Professor in 1805 after a ministry of nearly eighteen years, and remained in the active discharge of the duties of that professorship until 1840, making together a period of fifty-three years, and of his academic life a longer term than was ever rendered by any President of the college, or any Professor except two."† It is seldom, that such a period of 'active or professional service is permitted to any one: still more rarely is it filled with like fidelity and usefulness. It was, therefore, with the utmost propriety that the University, which had enjoyed so long the benefit of his services, should desire some worthy commemoration of them; and we are happy that

*

A Discourse on the Life and Character of the Rev. Henry Ware D. D., A. A. S., late Hollis Professor of Divinity in the University of Cambridge, pronounced in the First church in Cambridge, September 28th 1845. By JOHN G. PALFREY D. D. LL. D. formerly Professor of Biblical Literature in the University. Cambridge: J. Owen. 1845. 8vo. pp. 38.

The Presidency of Mr. Edward Holyoke was of nearly thirty-two years. The Professorship of the first Dr. Wigglesworth extended from 1721 to 1765, or forty-four years; and that of Dr. Winthrop from 1738 to 1779, or forty-one years.

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Early Life.

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this honorable duty was devolved on one, whose opportunities of observation, both as a pupil and an associate Professor in the Seminary, fully qualified him for a task, which he has discharged with characteristic judgment and felicity.

"I feel it to be my privilege," says Dr. Palfrey in the opening of his Discourse, "to express in your behalf, as best I may, that estimation, which I share with very many, of the worth and services of an excellent man, several years my revered instructer, and several years my respected and beloved colleague in academical labors. Dr. Ware's was a character of mark. In those walks of life to which my observation has extended, I have known few minds so sagacious: none more firm, more clearly balanced, more candid, or more just. Its influence has operated extensively. And if his life cannot be called eventful, its course has been closely connected with a succession of events of the strongest interest to the friends of science and of Christianity." - p. 6.

* *

From this memoir, and some other sources, we learn that Henry Ware was born April 1, 1764, in the town of Sherburne, Mass., of parents in moderate circumstances, with a naturally feeble constitution, which by tender maternal care gradually acquired strength; and that he was left fatherless at fifteen years of age, with a patrimony of between three and four hundred dollars. His advantages of early education were exceedingly small, but he soon gave promise of the gifts that were afterward so happily developed; and with the assistance of his elder brothers, who had sense to discern and generosity to encourage his progress, was placed under the care of Rev. Mr. Brown, the minister of the parish, for whom his pupil cherished through life a most grateful remembrance; and having been admitted as a Freshman in Cambridge in 1781, he was graduated with the first honors of his class in 1785.

The same carefulness and propriety of deportment which marked the man, distinguished him as a pupil. “He never once incurred a fine, or any other punishment at the hands of the Faculty;" and that this honorable course was at no sacrifice of his popularity with his class-mates, is evident from the honors they bestowed upon him, and particularly by their appointment of him as their Valedictory Orator. Having completed his academic studies, he immediately entered upon the charge of the grammar

school at Cambridge, at the same time pursuing his theological studies and preparing himself for the ministry. He began to preach on the first of April, 1787, in the pulpit of the pastor and friend of his youth; and in the October following, within little more than two years from the time of leaving College, was ordained as Pastor of the First Church of Hingham; being the successor of the venerable Dr. Gay, whose able ministry in that place was protracted to the unusual, and almost unprecedented period of sixty-nine years.

In a few memoranda of his early life, written in his old age, and quoted by Dr. Palfrey, we see under what disadvantages, at that crisis of our Commonwealth, the Collegiate education must have been pursued; and the humble estimate, which in the retrospect Dr. Ware was willing to form of his own acquirements. "I can look back," says he, "upon my College life with but a limited degree of satisfaction." It belonged however to the native modesty of his spirit to take humble measures of himself; and the imperfection of his education and the brief term of his preparatory studies were amply compensated by the excellent gifts that were in him. His youthful tastes and habits, the whole character of his mind, and what could not be without their effect his personal qualities, adapted him well to the profession of his choice. From the first he was an instructive preacher; through the whole term of his ministry he was a devoted pastor; his praise was in the churches; his presence was welcomed in other parishes; and when, after more than seventeen years, he was called to the Professorship at Cambridge, the regrets of his people, expressed in terms of affection far exceeding the usual decorum of such communications, and evinced ever after by their continued interest in his welfare, gave unequivocal evidence of the place he held in their hearts.*

In 1789 Dr. Ware married a daughter of Rev. Jonas Clarke of Lexington,† a clergyman respected in his day, and distinguished above the multitude of his brethren as

See Address from the first Church in Hingham to the Rev. Henry Ware on the dissolution of his pastoral connexion with them, with his answer and Farewell Discourse.

With the mention of Mr. Ware's early settlement and marriage at Hingham, his eulogist connects some valuable remarks on the too com

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well by his liberal hospitalities as by the extraordinary length of his public services. Of the ten children born of this marriage, Henry was the eldest son, and four daughters died in their infancy. The same wisdom, fidelity and just views of life and duty, pervading the whole course of Dr. Ware, were eminently conspicuous in his domestic relations, in which signal felicities were at different periods not unattended by heavy trials. He was a most wise and judicious parent, natural fondness being ever controlled by the soberest judgment. In the beautiful memoir of Henry Ware Jr. by his brother, Dr. John Ware, just issued from the press, we find this part of his character exhibited in a very attractive light. In adverting to an early period of his brother's life, his biographer says,

"He was much aided in his escape from the dangers of his age and situation by the continuance, in some degree, of the same parental guidance which had already done so much to give him a right tendency. It was the custom of his father to keep up as frequent a communication with his children, when they were absent from him, as the pressure of other duties would permit; and his letters, though not consisting of regular and labored admonitions, seldom failed to contain some hints or short expositions with regard to modes and objects of study, the cultivation of good habits, or attention to moral and religious duties, which probably had the more effect from their incidental character, and this very absence of formality."

The good influences exerted by this faithful parent were all happily seconded by those of his wife, a wise and pious mother, to whose many excellencies her son has paid a grateful tribute in the memoir from which we have made this extract. Her influence, however, was destined to be brief.

mon imprudence of young men entering the clerical profession, in entangling themselves with matrimonial engagements; and quotes from Mr. Ware's memoranda some slight admission of his own "want of forethought and calculation in this regard. Both the remarks and the admission bear token of the wisdom we should have anticipated from such sources and on such a theme. But inasmuch as the marriage, that occasioned the caution, proved altogether felicitous, except in its too early dissolution, we much fear that our young men, tempted to like alliances, will prefer the hazard of imitating the example to the prudence of adopting the counsel. There are few subjects, indeed, of like interest to the sons of men, in which the efficiency of the soundest advice seems liable to more uncertainty than this; instances never being wanting of grave and worthy gentlemen, within and without the church, whose unexceptionable judgment in other matters has been found in the least possible harmony with their actual history in this.

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