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DEATH OF DAVID HUME— The Deist. ‘
Extracted from a Critique on Ritchie’a Life of
JHume, as inserted in the Eclectick Review.
His death, (a* the reviewer observes,)
will probably be admitted, and even cited •
by infidels, as an example of the noblest
and most magnanimous deportment in the
prospect of death, that it is possible for any
of their class to maintain : an example in
deed, which very few of them ever, in se
rious moments, dare promise themselves to
equal, though they may deem it in the high
est degree enviable. It may be taken as
quite their apostolick specimen, standing
parallel in their history to the instance of
St. Paul in the records of the Christians,
“ I have fought a good fight, &c.”
For a short time previous to his death,he
amused himself with playing at cards, mak
ing whimsical legacies, and other trifling oc
cupations. As an instance of his sportive
disposition, “ notwithstanding the prospect
of speedy dissolution,” his biographer re
lates, that, when reading Lucien's dialogues
of the Dead, he diverted himself with in
venting several jocular excuses which he
supposed be might make to Charon, and in
imagining the very surly answers which it
might suit the character of Charon to re
turn to them : 44 Upon further consideration,
(said he) 1 thought l might say to him,
* Good Charoo, l have been correcting my
works for anew edition. Allow'me a little
time, that I may see how the publick re
ceive the alterations ?’ But Charon would
answer, when you see the effect of these
you will be for making other alterations.—
There will be no end to such excuses, so,
honest friend, please to step into the boat.’j
But I might still urge, 4 Have a little pa
tience, I have been endeavouring to open 1
tbe eyes of the publick. If I live a tew
years longer, 1 may have the satisfaction of *
xeeing the downfal of some of the prevail- j
ing systems of superstition.’ But Charon
would then lose all temper and decency.—;
‘ You loitering rogue, that will not happen
these many hundred years. Do you fancy
I wiil grant yen a lease for so long a term ?
Get into the boat this instant, you lazy, loi
tering rogue.”
This anecdote is accompanied with the
following just and striking reflections on the
part of the Reviewer : 44 Ist, Supposing a <
certainty of the final cessation of conscious :
existence at death, this indifference to life, <
if it was not affected, which indeed we sus
pect it to have been in part, was an absurd I
undervaluation of a possession which all i
rational creatures, that have not been ex- :
tremely miserable, have held most dear,and ;
which is, in its own nature, mn*t precious.
To be a conscious agent exerting a rich :
combination of wonderful faculties, —to feel
an infinite variety of pleasurable sensations i
and emotions—to contemplate all nature — I
to extend an intellectual presence to indefi- s
nite ages of the past and future, to possess <
a perennial spring of ideas—to run infinite t
lengths of inquiry, with the delight of exer- i
else and fleetnes®, even when not withs
the satisfaction of full attainment—and to
be lord over inanimate matter, compelling (
it into action and an ue altogether foreign ‘
to its nature,—to he all this, is a state so dis- t
ferent from that of being simply a piece of j
clay, that to be quite easy and complacent f
in the immediate prospect of passing from i
one to the other, i a total inversion of all i
reasonable probabilities of things ; it is a 1
renunciation, we do not sav of sound philos- *
ophy, but of common sense. The certain- <
ty that the loss will not be felt after it has s
taken place, will but little soothe a man of i
unperverted mind, in considering what it i9 i
that he is going to lose. <
4 2. The jocularity of the philosopher i
was contrary to good taste. Supposing that i
the expected loss were, not, according to i
the grand law of nature, a cause for mel
ancholy and desperation, but that the con- <
teutaient were rational; yet the approach- i
ing transformation was, at ail events, to he
regarded as a very grave and very strange
event; and therefore jocularity vfras totally ■
incongruous with the anticipation of such an ■
event. A grave and solemn feeling was
the only one that could be in unison with i
the contemplation of such a change. There
wa in this instance the same incongruity
which we should impute to a writer who
should mingle buffoonery with the solemn
crisis of the drama, or with the most mo
mentous event of a history. To be in har
mony with his situation, in his own view of
that situation, the expressions of the dving
philosopher were required to he dignified ;
and if they were in any degiee vivacious,
the vivacity ought to have been rendered
graceful, by being accompanied with the
uoblest effort of the intellect, of which the
efforts were going to cease forever. The
low vivacity of which we have been read
ing, seems but like the quickening cor
’ ruption of a mind whose faculty of percep
tion is putrifying and dissolving, even be
fore the body. It is true, that good men of
a high order, have been known to utter
pleasantries in their last hours ; but these
have been pleasantries of a fine ethereal
quality—the scintillations of an animated
hope,—the high pulsations of mental health
—the involuntary movements of a spirit
feeling .itself free even in the grasp df
death—the natural springs and boundings of
faculties on the point of obtaining a much
higher and bonndless liberty. These had no
resemblance tothe low and laboured jokes
of our philosopher : jokes so laboured as to
give strong cause of suspicion, after all,
that they were of the same nature, and for
tbe same purpose, as tbe expedient of a
boy on parsing through some gloomy place
iu (benight, who whistles to lessen his fear
or to persuade his companions that he does
not feel it.
4 3. Such a manner of meeting death was
inconsistent with the skepticism to which
Hume was always found to avow his adher
ence ; for that skepticism necessarily ac
knowledged a possibility and a chance that
the religion which he has scorned might,
notwithstanding, be found true, and might,
l in the moment after his death, lay upon
him with all its terrors. But how dread
■ ful to the reflecting mind would have been
the smallest chance of meeting such a vis
ion ! Yet the philosopher could be cracking
his heavy jokes, and Dr. Smith could be
much diverted at the sport.
4 4. To a man who solemnly believes
the truth of revelation, and therefore the
threatenings of divine vengeance against
the despisers of it, this scene wiil present as
mournful a spectacle as perhaps the sun
ever shone upon. We have beheld a man
of great talents and invincible persever
ance, entering on his career with the pro
fession of an impartial inquiry after truth,
met at every stage and step by the eviden
ces and expostulations of religion and the
claims of his Creator, but devoting his la
bours to the pursuit of fame and the pro
motion of impiety, at length acquiring and
accomplishing, as he declared himself all
he had intended and desired, and descend
ing toward the close of life amidst tranquil
lity, widely extending reputation, and the
homage ot the great and the learned. We
behold him appointed soon to appear be
fore that Judge to whom he had never
alluded but with malice or contempt; yet
preserving to appearance an entire com
placency, idly jesting about his approaching
dissolution, and mingling with the insane
sport his references to the fall of “super
stition —a term of which the meaning is
hardly ever dubious whenever expressed
by such men. We behold him at last car
ried off, and we seem to hear, the following
moment, from the darkness into which he
vanishes, the shriek ofsurprize andterrour,
and the overpowering accents of the mes
senger of vengeance ! On the ivhole globe
there probably was not acting, at the time,
so mournful a tragedy as that of which the
friends of Hume were the spectators, with
out being aware that it was any tragedy at
all.”
RELIGION AMONGST SEAMEN.
Extract from the Annual Report of the Society
lor promoting the Gospel among Seamen in the
Tort of iVew-York, presented June, 1821.
It is more than three years since the so
ciety for promoting the Gospel amongst sea
men was first organized; but as circumstan
ces have hitherto prevented the board of
Directors from laying a formal report be
fore their constituents, they conceive that
it will not be uninteresting to glance at
something more than the proceedings of the
past year.
For a year previous to the formation of
this institution, the Rev. Ward Stafford,
while engaged ia Christian labours among
the poor of the city, had directed a part of
his attention to the moral improvement of
seamen. The encouraging manner in
which attentions were received, led him
to urge on a number of merchants and ship
masters, the importance of a more exten
sive effort in the promotion of this object.
The first meeting look place in the month
of May, 1818, when the incipient measures
were adopted. The association had many
difficulties to contend with, and many pre
judices to overcome, and it was not tiil the
fall of the same year that a commencement
was made of the work, by fitting up a school
room capable of accommodating 400, and
by engaging the Rev. Mr. Stafford, to whose
exertions in the cause so much was due, to
officiate both as a pastor ami preacher for
seamen. In this place publick worship was
regularly maintained, till May, 1820, and it
was soon perceived that sailors were not
only willing to attend on the ordinances of
religion, but that m my of them regarded
such attendance as a privilege and a pleas
ure.
In the course of six months, more than
800 seamen called upon Mr. Stafford, either
to converse on religions subjects, to take
leave of him, or to solicit Bibles and Tracts.
Their language and conduct on these occa
sions, afforded a convincing proof, that the
exertions thus made for their benefit, met
with their cordial approbation, and drew
forth their grateful acknowledgments.
Stimulated by this success, notwithstanding
that the general embarrassment of the coun
try rendered it a very unfavourable moment
for obtaining pecuniary aid, the board ven
tured in February, 1819, to purchase most
of the land which forms the present site of
the Mariners’ Church. The limited state
of the Society’s funds, however, and the
difficulty of obtaining assistance, delayed
the erection of the building, which was not
completed till the summer of the following
year, the foundation having been said in Oc
tober, 1819. In the execution of this work,
a grateful acknowledgement is due to ma
ny individuals, whose assistance has been
liberally given, either in shape of loans or
donations. The institution is also much in
debted to the exertions of the 44 Marine
Missionary Society,” which charged itself
with paying the salary of the officiating
minister.
An act of incorporation was obtained
from the state legislature in April, 1819,
giving the usual powers to the association,
under the title of 44 The Society for Promo
ting the Gospel amongst Seamen in the
Port ofNew-York.”
On the first Sabbath of June, 1820, (he
building was solemnly dedicated to the ser
vice of Almighty God. The day, it is trus
ted, will be long remembered by the nu
merous body of seafaring persons assem
bled on that interesting occasion, amongst
which were many, whose correct deport
ment and attentive countenances, spoke a
language not to be misunderstood.
The dedication services were performed
by ministers of the Presbyterian, Episcopal,
and Methodist denominations ; and it is not
one of the least interesting features of this
institution, that it presents the novelty of
■ an establishment, in which all sectarian
views are discarded: that it affords at least
one spot of neutral ground, on which the
clergy of all Christian denominations may
42
officiate, and where Christians of every
name may co-operate in promoting the in
terest of their Redeemer's kingdom. A9
an evidence of the reality of this circum
stance, it is necessary only to allude to the
united general prayer meeting for the out
pouring of the Spirit, which is held on the
first Tuesday of every month in the Marin
ers’ Church, and which is regularly atten
ded by Christians of almost every denoftiin
ation in the city. j
The Rev. Mr. Stafford having resigned,
some time since, the charge which he held
under the society,'and its want of means,
precluding the further employment of a sta
tedpreacher, the institution has depended ;
forborne months on the Rev. Clergy of this
metropolis, and those who occasionally vis
it it, for a gratuitous supply of the pulpit.
The board, however, being fully aware
that something more is necessary for their
purpose, than the mere supply of the pul
pit, and having witnessed the good efi’pct of
pastoral attention to the wants of seamen, a
suitable person has been employed at a
small expense to visit them in their houses,
to lead their minds,by familiar conversation,
to a knowledge of religious truth, and to a
sense of its importance, and to persuade
them to profit of the privileges which the
institution affords them.
The Rev. Henry Chase has been enga
ged in the performance of these duties the
last quarter. His attentions, as well as those
of bis predecessors, appear to have been
gratefully received, and these interviews
are usually marked with that frankness and
warmth of feeling so characteristick of sai
lors. In his last report, he says, 44 In all
these visits, with one solitary exception, 1
have been received in the most friendly &■ !
cordial manner; your object has been high
ly approved, and the mariners called upon
have promised to attend the church service
and prayer meetings as often as possible.
It was very encouraging, in some instances,
when leaving these men, to be followed by
repeated and pressing invitations to call
again, and by their earnest wishes, that ten
thousand blessings mightsettle on my head.”
It has been made the duty of the same
person, in his visits, to distribute Bibles and
Tracts. These have in general met with
a favourable reception, and the directors
cannot refrain in this place from expressing
their obligations to the Now York Religious
Tract Society, and to the Marine Bible So
ciety, for the means they have very liber
ally afforded of effecting so useful a distri
bution.
A devotional meeting for seafaring per
sons is held every Wednesday evening, in a
room in the basement story of the Mari
ners’ Church. These meetings are con
ducted by the pastor before mentioned,
and your board have the gratification to
state, that the attendance on these occa- ,
sions is gradually increasing, and their de
portment in many instances not only cor
rect, but solemn and devout.
The prominent object of the society be
ing to provide for seamen the means of
regular attendance upon the publick wor
ship of God on the Sabbath, it was found
necessary, in order to secure this end, to
appropriate the lower floor of the church
entirely to the accommodation of seafaring
persons and the male friends of the institu
tion, leaving the galleries for the use of the
female members of the families of those for
whose use the building was erected.
By this arrangement a barrier is remov
ed to the attendance of many, who might
otherwise from diffidence or backwardness
decline entering a more mixed assembly.
It affords, at the same time, to the society,
a better opportunity of judging themselves,
and of convincing the publick, how much
this class of persons avail themselves of the
benefit thus afforded them. The result
has surpassed the most sanguine expecta
tions of the board, and satisfactory evidence
has been afforded, that the arrangement
made of the house is the only one which
can secure to the building its peculiar char
acter of a Mariners’ Church. —lt is hoped,
that every reflecting person, far from being
offended at this measure, will be sensible
how much better it is that others should
suffer a trifling inconvenience, than to risk
the possibility of restraining a single sea
man from taking his seat.
The part of the house allotted to Mari
ners is capable of containing above 600
persons. Already it has been as well filled,
in proportion to its size, as the churches of
the city usually are: seamen have been
much more easily prevailed upon to enter
this place of worship, than was at first sup
posed, and the increasing interest excited
amongst them, in respect to it, warrants
the anticipation that the time is not far dis
tant, when throngs of willing and devout
worshippers shall return from their wan
derings on the ocean, to give thanks, and
{o renew their vows, on this spot, to the
God of Heaven, whose mercies they have
so often experienced.
In addition to the other purposes to
which the Mariners’ Church is applied, a
flourishing Sunday school has been opened
in it, where the children of the neighbour
hood, and especially the children of those
who are engaged in maritime occupations,
are instructed on the Sabbath in reading
and in the rudiments of the Christian reli
gion.—lt is the design also of the board,
when the state of their funds will admit of
it, to open a weekly school for the gratuit
ous instruction of adult seamen, in such
branches of science as may be more pecu
liarly useful to them. A periodical work,
entitled 44 Christian Herald and Seamen's
Magazine ,” edited by a member of the
hoard, is now published under its patron
age, the design of which is to afford them
useful and interesting matter of contempla
tion, particularly such ns relates to their
moral and religious improvement. The
directors hope in process of time to enter
upon further plans for the advancement of
this class of their fellow men, iu knowledge,
piety, and virtue.
* ’juilGE HAIE’S'TESTIMONY
To the.invcard direction and assistance of the
Spirit of God.
44 They who truly fear God, have a se
cret guidance, from a higher wisdom thau
what is barely human, namely, the Spirit
of truth and goodness, which does really,
though secretly, prevent and direct them.
Any man that sincerely and truly fears Al
mighty God, and calls and relies upon him
j for his guidance and direction, has it as re
aly as a son has the counsel and direction of
his father; and though the voice be not
i audible, not discernible by sense, yet it i9
, equally as real as if a man heard a voice
! saying, 44 This is the way, walk in it.”
44 Though this secret direction of Al
mighty God is principally seen in matters
relating to the good of the soul; yet, even
in the concerns of this life, a good man
fearing God and begging his direction, will
very often, if not at all times, find it. 1 can
call my own experience to witness that
even in the temporal affairs of my whole
life, 1 have never been disappointed of the
best direction, when l have, in humiliiy and
sincerity, implored it.
44 The observance of the secret admoni
tion of this Spirit of God in the heart, is an
effectual means to cleanse and sanctify us;
and the more it is attended to, ihe more it
will te conversant with our souls, for our
instruction. In the midst of diificuties, it
will be our counsellor; in (he midst of
temptations, it will be our strength, and
grace sufficient for us; in the midst of trou
ble, it will be our light and our comfort.
44 It is impossible for us to enjoy the influ
ences of this good Spirit, till we are deeply
sensible of our own emptiness and nothing
ness, and our minds are thereby brought
down and laid in the dust. The spirit of
Christ is indeed a humbling spirit; and the
more we have of it, the more we shall be
humbled: and it is a sign that either we j
have it not, or that it is yet overpowered
by our corruptions, if our heart be still
haughty.
“ Attend, therefore, to the secret per
suasions and dissuasions of the Spirit of God, 1
and beware of quenching or grieving it. ‘■
This wind that blows where it lists, if shut i
out or resisted, may never breath upon us !
again, but leave us to be hardened in oor
sins. If observed and obeyed, it will, on
all occasions, be our monitor and director.
When we go out it will lead us; when we
sleep it will keep us; and when we awake
it will talk with us.”
REVIVALS OF RELIGION.
The General Association of the Clergy
of Connecticut, held its annual session at
Thompson last week. Very interesting’
accounts were given from the various as
sociations, of the wonderful work of Divine .
grace, which has been going on in that state
during the year. We learn from a gentle-)
man who was present, that it was found j
that, of two hundred and seven congrega-!
tional churches in the state, eighty had
been visited with revivals. The whole j
number received into these churches is
about Five Thousand, and man}’ more still j
remain as fruits of the work. And yet these 1
churches are looking forward, and expect-j
ing the great blessing to be continued. l
Such prosperity to the churches of Con
necticut ha 9 not before been known, cer
tainly for eighty years. There appears
now to exist strong faith that God will pour
out his spirit in answer tq prayer. The 1
labours of laymen have been remarkably i
blessed, and there continues a disposition!
extensively among the churches, to seqd
these messengers to inquire of each other’s
state, and see how they do. A friend from
New Haven informs us that there, although
for a while the work seemed in some mea
sure to decline, Christians had recently
been agaiu aroused. A union prayer meet
ing had been established with great har
mony, of all denominations of Christians in
the city, and appearances in the college
and in all the other churches were most
encouraging. We have also heard from
various sources, of several places where
the work has recently commenced, and is
going on gloriously. One thing is to be re
marked of the revival in New Haven, and
we believe through the state—sectarianism
has been left out of the question. The ob
ject has been to build up the church of
Christ. If any wrong has been done in any
instance, by one denomination towards ano
ther, is has been overlooked. Christians
have evidently felt that they were “doing
a great work,” and could not “come down”
to attend to little sectarian disputes.
[Bost. Rec.
The Methodist Magazine for June, contains
a letter respecting the Revival of Religion
in New-Haven, from which we gain a more
explicit account of tbe additions to the Meth
odist and Episcopal Churches than we have
been able to gather from any other source.
The letter is dated March 14. At that
time, the number added to the communion
of the Protestant Episcopal Church for the
year was seventy, and to the Methodist one
hundred and eighty. The more recent ac
counts which we have published furnish the
number which have been added to the Con
gregational and Baptist Churches. This is
one of the most remarkable revivals of re
ligion which we recollect ever to have read
since the days of Whitfield and Wesley.
The most astonishing displays of divine
power have been manifested. A Union
prayer meeting has been established with
great harmony in New-Haven, of all denom
inations of Christians in the city, and ap
pearances in the College and in all the oth
er Churches, are still encouraging.
The Rev. Erastas Otis, a Methodist Cler
gyman, in a letter to the Editors of the
Methodist Magazine, dated Milford, Conn.
March 27, states that the increase to the
Methodist denomination in the New-Lon
don district, for the year past, is not far
from one thousand, and the work is still
extending among the circuits which com
pose the district.
We have been informed that the reports
rendered to the New-Englnnd Methodist
Conference, which set at Barre, Vt. last
month, were highly encouraging. About
two thousand have been added to the
churches which compose the Conference
We understand also, that there is ao unusu
al attention to the interests of religion in
Savannah (Geo.) [Phil. Remem.
FOR THE MISSIONARY.
DECISION.—No. I.
Incipe : vivendi que recte prorogat horara,
Rueticus expectat dum defluat amnis.
Hor.
Decision, in the sense in which I intend
to use the term, denotes an intellectual
quality. It is that perseverance, by which
the mind is urged forward with constancy
and vigour in the pursuit of some valuable
object. It is a perseverance so resolute a8
to be unintimidated by imaginary dangers,
and unchecked by ordinary difficulties.
It is not a fluctuating and uncertain im
pulse, like the sudden and transient emo
tions of our animal nature ; but a regular
and uniform principle of conduct. It gives
a steadiness to the views and feelings, de
termination and pursuits, that can neither
be overpowered by the winds of fortune,
nor diverted fropi its course by the rough
storms of adversity.
A man of decisive character cannot loDg
doubt the general direction of his aims, and
having once fixed his plans aod formed his
resolution, is determined and unshaken.--
I
Because decision is always directed in its
I operations by reason. It takes a prospec
tive view of the ground before it, surveys
with accuracy the difficulties in the way,
1 and decides on that course which reason
dictates. Perseverance in any course not
j sanctioned by reason deserves not the name
of decision. For in opinion it i9 nothing
but obstinacy ; in conduct it is only rash
ness.
A man of decision will always yield to
the authority of truth, wherever it is per
ceived. Yet his correct and unbiassed
judgment determines what sentiments are
true, and what course bis duty requires him
to pursue. And in matters of importance
he will not, without compulsion, resign the
office of judging ultimately for himself.—
This office the Author of his being has as
signed him as his prerogative, and enjoin
| ed on him as his duty.
The importance of decision is evident
from the nature of man, and the manifest
i design of his creation. Such is the indo
i lehce of man, his indisposition to vigorous
! exertion, his vis inertia , that he always
: sinks into comparative inaction ; unless de
-1 cision in a greater or less degree counter
acts this general tendency of his nature,and
brings his various powers into their proper
employment. In connexion with this re
| mark, I observe also, that man was made
| for action. The highest exertion of his
powers is necessary in every sphere of life,
for the accomplishment of any valuable
purpose. From the constitution and situa
tion of man, we learn the will of his Crea
tor, and his imperious duty. We may there
fore clearly infer the indispensable neces
sity of decision, to give uniformity and
steadiness, dignify and brilliancy to his cha
racter ; and to enable him to pursue with
undeviating intention, the career of duty
and honour that lies before him.
Os the qualities which constitute intel
lectual greatness, none therefore is more
essential than decision. Though it cannot
supply the want of intellect, its use cannot
be superseded by splendid abilities or ex
tensive acquisitions. Without it, genius it
self can make no considerable efforts, nor
perform any important achievements.
We seldom, however, discover this qual
ity in its most eminent degree. But it is
only in the instances where it exists in this
degree, that its efficacy is the most illustri
ous. A more moderate share of it may en
able men in the inferiour stations of life to
discharge the ordinary duties with tolera
ble success. But where a great and diffi
cult object is to be achieved by human en
ergies, an undeviating steadiness ofpnrpose
is necessary in its prosecution. History fur
nishes illustration of the truth of this re
mark in the national improvements effected
by able politicians, and in the ’ successful
enterprises of renowned generals.
It seems unnecessary to prove that de
cision is essential to the character of the
statesman and warriour, and constitutes the
greatness of the hero ; and that it is requi
site in all the arduous employments and
splendid achievements of mankind. Let
us a few moments consider its use to parsons
engaged in the private and humble employ
ments of studious research. Many uuppose,
that of all men, the student hag the least
occasion for the exercise of a decisive cha
racter. They imagine that as he has only
one unvaried course to pursue, no incident
‘can occur to awaken resolution, no ob?ta~
