truth, but he did not utter it unseasonably or harshly. He always spoke what he meant, but he never meant to wound or to offend; and if, in a moment of excitement, he did wound or offend, he was ready to pour out his oil and wine to soothe and heal. This union of plainness and kindness, of truth and benignity, was observable in both his conversation and his writings. He was always explicit, but seldom controversial. He would rather defend himself, than attack others.

"He was truly humble, but he was above all the arts of deception and double-dealing; and he could not be awed or moved in any way from self-respect and duty. He made all allowances for ignorance and prejudice and frailty; but arrogance he would not submit to, and hypocrisy he could not abide." - pp. 15, 16.

Again,

"Dr. Freeman possessed strong feelings and affections, and was capable of ardent and lasting attachments. His general manner, especially in his preaching, was so calm, sedate, and rational, with even occasional abruptness, that a transient observer might have been led to suppose that he was not apt to be moved, or that he was even deficient in feeling. But this would have been a mistake. His heart was full of feeling, which not unfrequently rose up to his eyes, and flowed out in tears. A similar mistake might have been made concerning his piety. He had seen so much external piety which was false and delusive, that he was induced to restrain the expression of his own religious emotions, as some might think, too carefully, and thereby permit it to be supposed that they did not exist. But his piety was real, vital, practical, ever-glowing. It was the sun of his internal world, which ripened the rich fruits of his life. All who knew him, knew that he was pious, truly and deeply so." - pp. 16, 17.

And in the following paragraph is happily delineated another beautiful trait, which all who had the happiness of knowing Dr. Freeman in either their childhood or youth, will at once recognise as his; to which certainly the writer of this notice can bear his own most grateful testimony.

"He loved children, and loved to converse with and encourage them, and draw out their faculties and affections. His manners, always affable and kind, were never so completely lovely as in his intercourse with them. Naturally and insensibly did he instil moral principles and religious thoughts into their minds, and his good influence, being thus gentle, was permanent. The same sweetness and consideration were manifested toward all who were his juniors. Nothing seemed to give him so much pleasure as to

see a virtuous, intelligent, and ingenuous youth. Toward young ministers and candidates for the ministry, his bearing was truly paternal. I have heard several of my brethren speak with grateful warmth of his early attentions to them; attentions which were valuable in themselves, and yet enhanced in value by their seasonableness."- pp. 17, 18.

As the urbanity and benevolence, which marked this amiable man, were the result of principle as well as impulse, he was kind to all; somewhat elaborate, perhaps, and studied, after the manner of the old school, in his courtesies to ladies and persons of distinction, but uniformly gentle and considerate to the humblest. It happens to the writer to have been frequently inquired of, in the course of the last ten years, as to his health and welfare by an aged woman, who has not seen him even in the pulpit for more than twenty years, but who still remembers with grateful respect his kindness, when full fifty years ago, soon after his settlement in Boston, he used to employ her as a seamstress. And there is another very aged inhabitant of this city, but formerly a resident on the Cape, who treasures up among the recollections of his youth the visits of Dr. Freeman to that part of the State, and who speaks of the welcome he was sure to receive for his agreeable manners and pleasant conversation. Such testimonies as these, simple and unbought, are in our estimation of more value than many elaborate praises, which interest, or dependence, the blind partiality of friendship, or mere regard to the decorum of circumstances. may prescribe.

This practical good sense and kindness of heart, which were among the traits of this estimable man, were exhibited in the private not less than in the official relations he sustained. His own happy temperament was in accordance with the religion he taught; and he valued Christianity, not only for the redeeming influences of its truth upon the soul, but as a system of the soundest philosophy for the conduct of life. Hence its power over his character was seen in his contented spirit and satisfaction in his lot, the blessings of which, though mingled with no inconsiderable share of personal trials, he thankfully regarded as more than his deserts. It was seen, also, in an exemplary forbearance and selfcommand, in patience under disappointment, in gentleness amidst provocation, and in the consistent tenor of a useful life. If in the familiarity or playfulness of conversation he loved to

utter what was pointed or strong, and sometimes amused his friends by a show of paradox not quite in keeping with the usual sobriety or even candor of his judgment, this must be counted among the innocent affectations, from which the wisest are not free. Let it be taken, too, as an evidence of his confiding friendship; and, as Mr. Greenwood happily expresses it, "his point was never envenomed, and he would have so many exceptions and qualifications to his paradoxes, as the conversation proceeded, that they lost their startling guise, and took the aspect of sober truths."

The publications of Dr. Freeman, though not numerous, have already established his reputation as a writer. "His volumes of Sermons," says Mr. Greenwood, "are highly and deservedly esteemed;" and he expresses the general testimony, when he adds, "that they are distinguished for the purity, simplicity, and perspicuity of their style." They who read them will find too, that "they abound in just observation, acute remark, lucid exposition, affectionate appeal, distinct and practical instruction, sincere and confiding piety, with passages of graphic beauty and quiet pathos."* We have not room to notice more particularly these Sermons. But, as a specimen of beautiful and successful biography, not less than as the true expression of a fraternal friendship, we may just refer to the Sermon preached after the funeral of the Hon. George Richards Minot. We have heard, that, in the delivery of that exquisite discourse, the preacher was so much affected by his grief for the loss of his friend, that, notwithstanding his usual self-command, he sat down in his pulpit and wept. We commend that discourse to the attention of the young. Old age, too, may read it, and mingle their tears with his. It holds up a most attractive example of youthful and manly virtue. Nor could it have been a small consolation to the friends of the amiable and accomplished subject of it, that, amidst the general sorrow for his early death, there was found a kindred spirit so tenderly to mourn, and yet so justly and so eloquently to honor him.

And he, who thus spoke of the virtues of others, has left multitudes behind him to honor, if not to celebrate, his own. His parishioners, through the long period of his retirement, manifested by unequivocal tokens their respect for his charac

*For a particular notice of the "Eighteen Sermons and a Charge," see the Christian Examiner, New Series, No. 3, for July, 1829.

ter and their gratitude for services, he was no longer able to render. There are doubtless many among the younger portion of them, who had never seen his face; but with a cheerful liberality, as grateful to their aged Pastor, as the remembrance of it must now be to them, they continued the full support, which he had received in his years of most active usefulness. He no longer needs the sympathy or the respect, which cheered and brightened his declining days. But they are not forgotten of him. He has joined that company of friends and fellowlaborers, with whom he had lived pleasantly here; and whose memories, when they were gone, he delighted to cherish. Of these were Minot and Appleton, Chauncy and Howard, Everett and Eckley, Belknap and Clarke, Eliot and Lathrop; and to them, since, as we have seen, he was the friend of youth as of age, we should add, Cary, Thacher, and Buckminster. He has joined the great congregation of the good and faithful of every name, whose works he studied; whose virtues, amidst all their differences and all their errors he honored; and with whom he is himself united in the family of God in heaven.*

F. P.

* We add, chiefly from Mr. Greenwood's Discourse, a few incidents in the early life and professional labors of Dr. Freeman, which will be interesting, we doubt not, to many of our readers.

"His early life was not without incidents, though I am unable to state them with any particularity. The last year of his College life was spent during the troubles and strong excitements of the opening revolutionary war; and it is known, that his own feelings were so decidedly enlisted on the side of his native, and in opposition to the mother country, that he engaged in the disciplinary instruction of a company of men, which was raised on Cape Cod, for the purpose of joining the Colonial troops. Another incident which may be mentioned is, his chartering a small vessel, bearing a cartel, with the design of proceeding to Quebec, with his sister, to place her with her father, who was then in that city. On his passage he was captured by a privateer, 'and, having arrived at Quebec, he was detained there, through some misunderstanding or suspicion, on board a prison-ship for several months, and during a still longer time as a prisoner on parole. He suffered much inconvenience and trouble in consequence, but found opportunity, notwithstanding, to pursue his theological studies."

"Both at school and at college his morals were pure, and his scholarship, though not distinguished, respectable. He was in the habit of undervaluing his own youthful proficiency; but his few surviving cotemporaries do not speak of it so disparagingly. In after years he was certainly considered to be a ripe scholar, by those who could not well be mistaken in their judgment."

To these remarks by his successor, we may add, that for the VOL. XIX. -3D S. VOL. I. NO. III. 50

ART. IX. The Balance of Scriptural Evidence on Trinitarianism and Unitarianism, with the Explanations and Arguments usually advanced in Support of the two Systems. By FRANCIS KNOWLES. Three Volumes. 12mo. pp. 1084. London. C. Fox & J. Mardon. 1835.

THE object of this work is, as expressed in the title-page, to collect from the Scriptures of the New Testament, the passages which are regarded as favoring the doctrines of the trinity of persons in the Supreme Being, and those which are thought to teach his unity, and then to put them in the balance, the one against the other. The books of the New Testament are taken up in course; every text which occurs of the first class is quoted, with remarks of various distinguished expositors, and sometimes of the compiler himself, and placed on the left-hand page; every text of the second class is in like manner placed on the right-hand page opposite. Thus the work proceeds, chapter by chapter, and verse by verse. He who desires to know what are the texts relied on by each side, from Matthew to Revelation, who would like to see them arranged and marked with the requisite annotations, and in such order that he may easily compare for himself their number and value as they stand side by side, will find great assistance from this book. It is designed as a help to the inquirer after truth, as one of the instruments by which his search may be facilitated; and although, of course, no such brief method can satisfy him who has leisure to look thoroughly into the question, and ability to go to the fountain-head, and who therefore will content himself only with an extensive and minute investigation, yet a more casual inquirer may find decided benefit in the scheme here

first thirty years of his ministry, in which he stood alone, the demands upon his time and resources, for the weekly services of his pulpit, were incessant. Partly from the peculiar relations in which he stood both to his Episcopal and Congregational brethren, he seldom, during that long period, sought or received assistance. And when it is considered with what faithfulness he sustained the public duties of his ministry, and the large number of sermons he must have written, it is evident that it was with no ordinary industry and ability he became "an excellent mathematician; was well acquainted with geography and history, especially of his own country; and could read with ease and pleasure, the Latin, French, Italian, and Spanish languages."