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LIFE OF DR. HOPKINS.

hopes and fears are similar to those of Dr. Hopkins.

These sketches are introduced by some proper remarks of the ed itor, written in a much better style, than any other part of the volume. The facts in Dr. Hopkins's life, as in the life of every studious man, are few. We learn, that he was born Sept. 17, 1721, and died Dec. 20, 1803; that he was admitted into Yale college at the age of sixteen; that he resided much in the family of President Edwards, with whom he studied divinity; that he was settled first at Housatonock, 1743; that he was dismissed in 1769, by the advice of a council, on account of the deficiency in his pecuniary support; that he was afterward invited, after much opposition, to settle at Newport; that his enemies were at length reconciled to his sentiments; that he was ordained there April 11, 1770, and continued with this people, through many difficulties and discouragements, till the day of his death.

These memoirs contain also some domestick anecdotes, and, what will be more interesting to the theological reader, some account of the controversies, in which the Doctor was engaged. As he has given his name to a large and respectable class of christians in the United States, it may not be uninteresting to our readers to have a regular list of the Doctor's publications. The principal benefit, which he is supposed by his friends to have conferred upon the science of theology, may be stated in the words of the fond editor of this little volume.

To Doctor Hopkins are we indebted for a better understanding of the defign and end of what are generally termed the means of grace, and their ufe and appli

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cation as they refpe&t impenitent, unconverted finners, than was before had. His difcerning mind, in the early part of his publick miniftry, difcovered a manifeft inconfiftency in the exhortations and directions given to unbelievers by eminent divines, with the doctrines they publickly taught and ftrenuously maintained. Though the doctrine of the total moral depravity and corruption of the human heart was clearly taught, and forcibly urged by Calviniftick divines; and, clear evidence produced from the holy feriptures,

sermons, published by Dr. Mayhesi of Boston." A reply was made to this book by Mr. Mills, a calvinistick minister in Connecticut.

in the old fouth meeting-houfe in Bofton In 1768, a fermon which I preached was published at the defire of a number of the hearers. The title of it is, "The

importance and neceffity of chriftians_CONfudering Jefus Chrift in the extent of his Hebrews iii. 1. It was compofed with high and glorious character." The text a defign to preach it in Bolton, as expected foon to go there, under a con

of Chift was much neglected, if not difbelieved by a number of the ministers in Boston.

that all the exercises of the natural heart --all the doings and fervices of unregenerate finners, were, not only unacceptation that the doctrine of the divinity." ble, but hateful in the fight of God; yet to fuch doings and services did the unregenerate find themselves exhorted and urged; and this as the appointed way to ob tain the favour of God and converting grace. Though the doctrines were just and feriptural, the exhortations naturally operated, rather again, than in favour of the finner's fenfible conviction of

their truth. By attending to the Doctor's writings on this important fubject, it foon became obvious, that, as the holy fcriptures require the immediate exercife of godly forrow and repentance, finners of no defcription are ever to be exhorted to any other doings, or fuppofed duties, than fuck as imply love to God and

holinefs.

No uninspired divine, before Doctor Hopkins, had ever set this subject in a proper and fcriptural light. And the benefit derived to the chriftian cause, from his writings on this interesting and important fubject, is fufficient to compenfate the ftudy and labours of a whole Afe. P. 8.

The first publication of Dr. H. was three sermons, entitled, “ Sin through divine interposition, an advantage to the universe, and yet this no excuse for sin or encourage ment to it." 1759. These had

a second edition in Boston 1773, and one in Edinburgh about the

same time.

In the year 1765 was published "An enquiry concerning the promiacs of the gospel, Whether any of them are made to the exercises and doings of persons in an unregenerate state? Containing remarks on two

In the fame year I publifhed two fermons, one from Romans vii. 7. the other from John i. 13. containing fixty-five pages in a small comprehenfive type. A fecond edition of thefe fermons was printed in 1798.

fwer to Mr. Mills of one hundred eigh
In the year 1769 I publifhed my an-
ty four pages, octavo, on a small compre-
henfive type. The following was the ti-
tle of it. "The true fate and character
of the unregenerate, fripped of all mif-
reprefentation and difguifi."I believe
this book, with what was afterwards
published on the fame subject, was the
means of fpreading and giving much
light and conviction, with refpect to the
real character and doings of the unre-
generate; and has in a great measure
put a stop to exhorting the unregenerate
to do duty in order to obtain regenera-
tion, which was very common among
preachers before that time.
P. 95.

The bold positions, contained in these works of Dr. Hopkins,called forth remarks from several of that class of divines, who chose to be called moderate calvinists. We prefer to relate the progress of the plicity, and self-complacency of controversy in the unaffected simthe Doctor's own language.

In the latter end of the year 1769, or beginning of 1770, Mr. William Hart of Saybrook published a dialogue, under number of falfe pofitions, and dangerous the following title, " Brief remarks on a errours, which are spreading in the

imagine they will be very interest- hopes and fears are similar to those ing only to those, who have adopt- of Dr. Hopkins. ed his system of theology, or who These sketches are introduced are inclined to lay equal stress by some proper remarks of the edwith him on the variety and fre- itor, written in a much better style, quency of what are called religious than any other part of the volume. experiences. Indeed, the private

The facts in Dr. Hopkins's life, as thoughts and transient feelings of in the life of every studious man, any man, when minutely registere are few. We learn, that he was ed in a diary, cannot be very intel- born Sept. 17, 1721, and died Dec. ligible to others, even if they are 20, 1803 ; that he was admitted always understood by the writer ; into Yale college at the age of sixand a reader, unaccustomed to the teen ; that he resided much in the kind of “ exercises," which are family of President Edwards, with here detailed, might imagine, that whom he studied divinity ; that he he had been perusing the journal was settled first at Housatonock, of a valetudinarian, or listening to 1743 ; that he was dismissed in the reveries of a love-sick maid. 1769, by the advice of a council, For ourselves we confess, that we on account of the deficiency in his think these emotions and drawings- pecuniary support ; that he was out of the soul have not much to afterward invited, after much oppodo with the growth of habitual pi- sition, to settle at Newport ; that ety, and the fruits of good living. his enemies were at length reconWe should not think the more ciled to his sentiments ; that he highly of the filial affection of a was ordained there April 11, 1770, child for his parents, because he and continued with this people, had kept a bulletin of his yearning's through many difficulties and disand longings for them in their ab- couragements, till the day of his sence, or because in all his letters death. he had told them how much or These memoirs contain also how little he loved them. Neither some domestick anecdotes, and, do we think the character of a what will be more interesting to christian can be so safely estimate the theological reader, some aced from the transcripts of his dia. count of the controversies, in which ry, as from the tenour of his con- the Doctor was engaged. As he duct. By these remarks we mean has given his name to a large and not to depreciate the piety, or un- respectable class of christians in dervalue the eminent graces of the United States, it may not be Dr. Hopkins ; for we sincerely be- uninteresting to our readers to lieve, that his readers will think have a regular list of the Doctor's more favourably, than he did him- publications. The principal benself, of the sincerity of his chris. efit, which he is supposed by his tian faith and conversion. Much friends to have conferred upon the less would we interrupt the conso- science of theology, may be stated lation, which any christian may be in the words of the fond editor of disposed to receive from this rec- this little volume. ord of religious doubts and confidences ; a record, which will un

To Doctor Hopkins are we indebted

for a better understanding of the design doubtedly be read by many, whose and end of what are generally termed sentiments and passions, whose the means of grace, and their use and applie

Vol. III. No. 3. U

The other works of Dr. Hopkins are, "A dialogue concerning the slavery of Africans, &c. 1776, reprinted by the Abolition Society in New-York, 1785, with an appendix by the author."An enquiry concerning the future state of those who die in their sins," 8vo. pp. 400.1783System of Doctrines, c. 2 vols. 8vo. pp. 1244. 1793. For this the author unexpectedly received nine hundred dollars."Life of Susannah Anthony; do. of Mrs. Osborn." This, we believe is a complete list of the works of Dr. H. published in his lifetime. In the present volume however are contained two tracts, which were probably esteemed worthy of preservation.

The first, entitled "A Dialogue between a Calvinist and a Semicalvinist," proves, to the perfect conviction of the Semicalvinist, that he ought to be willing to be damned. After the doctrine is proved, the advantages of it are summed up by the Calvinist in the following words:

It is fuited to enlarge the mind of the christian, and to extend his ideas and thoughts to objects which are great and immenfe, and to wake up the feelings and exercises of difinterested benevolence, of fupreme love to God, and regard to the general good, which swalJows up and forgets his own perfonal intereft, as nothing, in comparison with thefe grand objects. This will help him, in the best and easiest manner to diftinguish between true religion and false and to obtain, and maintain the evidence in his own mind, that he is a friend to God, and has that benevolence in which holiness does fummarily confift.

This will prepare him to acquiefce in the eternal deftruction of thofe who perish, and even to rejoice in it, as neceffary for the glory of God, and the greatest good of the whole, in the exercife of that difinterested benevolence, which makes him to be willing to be one of that finful, wretched number, were this neceffary to answer these ends. P. 165.

We have lately read of a curious fact respecting the alligators of the Missisippi, that, in the fall, they swallow pitch pine knots, which remain in their stomachs during their wintry torpor, and probably are chosen on account of their dif ficult digestion to keep the coats of the stomach from collapsing. If any plain honest christian wishes to exercise his intellectual diges tion, and prevent the evil effects of religious security and torpor, we recommend this tract, as containing as knotty a point, as he will probably find among the stores of theological nutriment, which the ingenuity of polemicks has provided.

The second tract is an address to christians upon the signs of the times. Many great and good men have imagined, that they had certainly explained the prophecies of scripture; but we are inclined still to believe, notwithstanding the la bours of Dr. Hopkins, that no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation.

A discourse by Dr. Hart of Preston, upon the death of the excellent subject of these memoirs, concludes the volume.

We are sorry to say, that the style of Dr. H., in these posthu. mous works, is too often incorrect, vulgar, and colloquial. Instances of false grammar are not rare, and the coinage of such words as itinerate, and reluctate, adds nothing to the copiousness or purity of the English language.

ART. 15.

་་

An inaugural dissertation on respiration. Submitted to the publick examination of the Faculty of Physick, under the authority of the trustees of Columbia college, in the state of Newyork, the Rt. Rev. Benjamin Moore, D.D. fres

'ident ; for the degree of Doctor

ART 16. of Physick, on the 12th day of The history of North and South November, 1805. By Thomas America, from its discovery to Cock, citizen of the state of New- the death of General WashingYork. New-York, printed by ton. By Richard Snowden.. 2 T. & J. Swords. 1805.

vols. 12 mo. Philadelphia. Jacob

Johnson. 1805. In an inaugural dissertation we look not for. novelty, but we have The author of the above mena right to expect accuracy ; and tioned work observes in his preour opinion of the candidate for face that, “ In what relates to collegiate honours is drawn from South America, Dr. Robertson's the principles and sentiments he History has been implicitly folhas adopted. The author of the lowed. His arrangement of the dissertation before us has evidently subject, his chronological order, given some time to the investiga- and his very style have been adoption of the subject which he dis- ted, as the best that can be chosen. cusses, and the work contains use- To condense his details, to introful information. We regret, that duce only the most prominent and it is not marked by that accuracy characteristick events,has been the which we are authorized to expect, principal effort, and invariable purand which in scientifick works is pose of the epitomizer : endeavpeculiarly necessary.

ouring, as he progressed, to pre• The only opinions which are serve unbroken the counexion and new to us, or to the medical world continuity of events ; and in the in general, are those quoted from whole, to present the reader with Mr. Davy. We regret, that we a brief, but interesting view, of one have not had the good fortune to of the most important æras in the see, and cannot procure the works annals of the world.” of Mr. Davy. The opinion, that The author appears to have been azote as well as oxygen is absorbe considerably successful in the exed by the pulmonick blood, we ecution of his proposed plan. The surely cannot controvert, and so History commences with the disfar as speculation will authorize uscovery of America by Columbus, we are disposed to subscribe to it and relates the formidable difficulThe other opinion, adopted from ties he was obliged to encounter ; Davy, cannot be so easily admit- the talents and perseverance which ted. This is, that air, or the mix, he exhibited in combating those ture of oxygenous and azotick difficulties ; and the ungrateful gasses, not oxygen and azote which and ungenerous returns which the form the base of air, is received Spanish nation made to his emiinto the blood.* Dr, Cock has nent services. It relates the suc. quoted no experiments which con- ceeding discoveries of the new firm this opinion, and it is not so world ; the conquest of the Mex.

l plausible, as to command assent ican and Peruvian empires ; and unsupported by facts.

concludes with their entire subjection to the kingdom of Spain.

The second volume begins with Is this precisely Mr. Davy's, opinion!. We relating the conjectures which have understand it so from Dr. Cock's dissertation; but a reference to Thompson and Bostock has Jed us to suspect, that Mr. Du believes only, that of America ; it gives the character

been made respecting the peopling axygen and azote are absorbed.

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