perfect liberty to give this cause the go-by, or to turn it off with a mere pittance.

Would such a state of public sentiment exist, if good men were in the habit of thinking, seriously and intelligently, on the relative importance of the two agencies--Books and MEN? Could the churches of Connecticut, after giving fifteen thous and dollars to the Tract Society, content themselves with giving less than four thousand towards laying the foundations of Christian institutions in the very heart of the Republic, if they were accustomed to ponder seriously and understandingly the immense importance of this enterprise. There is a lack of thought on this matter even among intelligent Christians,-and, we regret to add, among intelligent ministers,-that is amazing. For, no Christian man can sit down for a single half hour to the contemplation of this enterprise in its true bearings, without being impressed with the idea of its paramount importance. Think of the little company of Pastors at Branford one hundred and fifty years ago, depositing each his bundle of books to form the nucleus of a College. Then think what Yale College has done, and is doing, to enlighten and bless the world. Can any one believe that if these good men had then and there organized a Tract Society, the results would have been equally auspicious? Connecticut with a Tract Society, but without a College-or, if any, with such a College as infidel politicians might have established! The bare thought of such a contingency creates a shudder.

And yet this is the very question now pending in our new States and Territories, and we are helping to settle it. The West is asking for Colleges, in which to train their young men for teachers, for pastors, for guides and lights to the millions that are soon to inhabit these fertile regions. "Help us for a little while," they say, "and we will establish these institutions on a firm basis, and in them we will train our young men, as yours are trained, to be a blessing to society."

We respond to their appeals, by giving boxes of Bibles, libraries of reading for children, and many millions of religious

tracts!

Is this the way to make another New England of the West? Can we hope that our descendants, one hundred and fifty years hence, will rise up and bless us, as we now bless the memory of our forefathers, if we abjure their policy, and ignore their plans of usefulness, and teach the pioneers of our new settlements to let alone the fundamental element of a well-ordered Christian society?

Instead of pursuing the train of argument thus opened so

temptingly before us, we beg leave to refer our readers to the work of Professor Tyler, the title of which is given at the head of this Article. We cannot give an analysis of the work without occupying too much space for our crowded columns. It is condensed already as none but a master mind could condense an argument. And yet it is so simple, so clear, so luminously illustrated, that every one can understand it, and take in the full force of its powerful appeals, and its tremendous considerations. It demonstrates to the comprehension of even the most illiterate reader, the indispensable necessity of Christian Colleges, to the well being of society-shows the mutual dependence of the Colleges and the churches, and the utter impossibility of effecting the thorough evangelization of the country, without the continued aid of the higher institutions of learning, baptized with the spirit of evangelical Christianity. It accomplishes most effectually what President Dwight used to regard as almost a hopeless undertaking. It demonstrates the utility of Colleges, so that the common people can and must understand it. It attacks and demolishes the prevailing objections against these institutions; shows the utter groundlessness of the fears, so generally prevalent, that young men will be corrupted and led to ruin here, more than in the ordinary walks of life, by proving conclusively that in our evangelical Colleges, more souls are converted, on an aver age, than in our best New England Parishes,-and that the number of the dissipated and depraved is less in proportion, than that of any class or profession in the community.

It traces out the influenee of College Revivals, till those who have thought much on the subject are perfectly amazed at the results. A single revival in Yale College, occurring fifty years ago, brought a corps of laborers into the field, who have been instrumental in the conversion of fifty thousand souls! and the work still goes on. But we must stop. The temptation is strong to quote a few passages. But we should hardly find a stopping place, without doing manifest injustice. We say to every pastor-buy the book, and read it at least three times thoroughly. Then you will want all your people to read it. If you cannot persuade them to buy it, by all means read it to them in the place of your weekly lecturesat least the first three chapters ON PRAYER. There is not another such discussion on this subject in the English language.

We are rejoiced to learn that the work has been already extensively circulated in our Colleges and other seminaries of learning, that many pastors are making arrangements fer supplying their congregations, and that some ministers, retired

from the pastoral office, are using their little remaining strength in carrying the work from door to door. Already we hear of the good results. The churches are beginning to pray with a new interest and an enlightened zeal, both for sinners in the midst of them, and for the youth in our higher seminaries. And the Lord is answering their prayers. While they are yet speaking, the blessing descends. A new era is dawning upon our churches, and new hopes are cherished that the Lord is about to send forth an army of laborers into his harvest. God speed the work, and let all the people say―Amen.

ART. III. THE PHILOSOPHY OF REST.

God does not overwork his creatures. When he had finished the work of creation he rested on the seventh day; and this, not for Himself, but as an example to mankind, and a perpetual ordinance for their benefit. In the law of the Sabbath he provided for the rest of every working creature. Not only is the Sabbath ordained for man, that as a spiritual being he may imitate his Maker in holy contemplation, but it is enjoined upon man as the head of the household and the lord of the animal creation, that he shall provide for the weekly rest of all who are dependent upon him, are under his authority, or in any manner subject to his control.

Rest is an ordinance of the physical as well as the moral world. It finds its argument in physiological as well as in spiritual necessities. The tender care of Jehovah for "cattle," in framing for the world a perpetual institution of Religion, is a marked instance of the Divine beneficence. What is it to cattle that the Lord rested on the seventh day and hallowed it? What is it to cattle that the Sabbath is set apart as holy time? But cattle have need of rest; and to shield them from the heedlessness, the cupidity, or the selfishness of men, God has commanded that they do no work upon the Sabbath day. It is the day of rest; and the humblest animal must not be overworked. "In it thou shalt not do any work; thou-nor thy

cattle."

What God herein requires of man in his treatment of the beast, he himself regards in his treatment of man. He does

not overtask his servants in his own special work. In a spiritual view this thought is too familiar to need expansion. As is our day so is our strength. His grace is sufficient for us in every labor, as in every trial. His yoke is easy and his burden light. The Spirit helps our infirmities. Wherever we go to preach the Gospel, whatsoever seas or continents we traverse to make disciples, whatsoever perils and hardships we encounter in this work, lo, Christ is with us always, even to the end of the world. But we have reference now to the physiological view of this divine apportionment of labor to strength. Christ demands no more of his servants than they can endure physically as well as spiritually. If they are commanded to march into the desert, the manna drops along their path, and streams burst forth at their feet. If Elijah is bidden to hide in the wilderness, the ravens bring him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening. If for duty's sake he is driven out into the desert, where faint and weary he is ready to die, an angel gently rouses him from his too heavy sleep, and bids him eat of the cake baken on the coals, and drink of the cruse of water at his head; and when it is time for him to resume his journey, bids him eat a second time, because the journey is too great for a common meal. God overlooks not the physical adaptations of those whom he calls to his service. Nay, he manifests for these the kind consideration of a Father, not the stern indifference of the Master.

A beautiful instance of this consideration is given in the history of our Lord. The Apostles, whom Jesus had sent out two and two, with power over unclean spirits, to teach and to heal in his name, returned in a body to their Lord at Capernaum, to report the results of their mission. Full of enthu siasm and of joy at their success, they gathered together to Jesus, and "told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught." It was a time of general excitement. The murder of John the Baptist on the one hand, had increased the detestation of the people for the government under which they lived, and their longing for the promised Messiah; while, on the other hand, the miracles of our Lord and his Apostles had awakened the inquiry whether this were indeed He of whom Moses and the prophets spake. All Galilee was astir with these events. This lively excitement of the religious susceptibility answered to what we now term an awakening or a revival of religion; and we in such circumstances would sayand commonly with entire propriety,-"Let us take advantage of this excitement by extraordinary labors and multiplied meetings." But when our Lord looked upon his disciples,

worn down by the excitement and fatigue of their first missionary campaign, he considered their physical condition, and kindly said to them, "Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest awhile; for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat."

The suggestion was kindly-a beautiful expression of the human sympathies of Christ; it was timely-for a season of unnatural nervous excitement is just the time when rest should be prescribed for body and mind; it was as wise too as it was gracious-for to rest then was to gather strength for future labor. The prescription of this occasion is as appropriate now as then. There are some resemblances to the Apostles in modern ministers who make no pretension to a lineal or official succession. Their house servants can testify that there are many coming and going, and they have no leisure so much as to eat; and though, like Peter, they have neither silver nor gold, and unlike him, have no miraculous gifts to bestow, yet are they appealed to with confidence by every one in distress; the halt, the blind, the poor, the helpless, the stranger, the oppressed, the sick and the fallen, the doubting and the tempted, and by some also that have a devil. So that were the master to pass an opinion on their work, he would say to many a toil-worn servant of his in this hurrying, crowding life of the modern ministry,-" Come now apart into a desert place and rest awhile."

But it is not the design of this Article to set up a plea for the physical relief of ministers. A season of relief from care is wisely conceded by city churches to their pastors, and is made an item in almost all parish settlements. Our present aim is higher than this mere personal consideration;-to demonstrate the spiritual philosophy of rest, and the grace of Christ manifested herein.

The philosophy of rest for man as a spiritual being may be summed up in these three considerations:

(1.) Rest is needful in order to the healthy action of body and mind, and therefore to the best development of man.

(2.) Rest inclines one to such services and meditations as are profitable for mental and spiritual growth.

(3.) Rest qualifies one for the most efficient action.

Our first affirmation is, that periodical rest is needful in order to the healthy action of body and mind, and thus to the best development of man.

Nature is here the truest philosopher; and if we follow her teachings, we shall find in them the will of the Creator. All animated nature seeks repose with the declining sun. The