wanted; and in the strength of a mind competent to dictate terms to itself, he resolved to supply it. He threw aside what was unsuitable to his present station; he performed with his full ability what that station required; and soon found what he who honestly does his duty will always find, that he was competent to the work which Providence had assigned him. ker. Hence he maintained to the last, the entire confidence of men of the most conflicting opinions, and even came off from the arena of theological controversy rich in the esteem even of those whom his argument failed to convince. But it was in the retirement of domestic life, as the husband, the father, and the friend, that you beheld him clothed in the most en The prominent trait in Dr. Bald-dearing attributes. win's intellectual character was vigorous and manly discrimination. His imagination was not luxuriant, nor had his taste acquired that accuracy of tact, which is only the result of an early acquaintance with the classics of language. Hence he succeeded best in a train of ratiocination, especially if it were one which led to an urgent appeal to the conscience. Hence his style is remarkable more for perspicuity || than grace. It is clear and forcible, but not ornate, and it gains nothing when the author attempts to adorn it. When relying on his reasoning power, he is strong; but when attempting to indulge his imagination, the critic might sometimes say in good nature, Bonus Homerus dormitat. It was here To that he shed around him the bland In public life, Dr. Baldwin combined in a rare degree unbending rectitude with unsophisticated kindness of heart. In the discharge of The character of his piety corhis duty he never knew fear. He responded, as might be expected, was naturally above any thing like with the type of his mind. It was timidity; and religious principle visible in the firm adherence to had still more effectually taught truth, and the conscientious prachim to do right "uncaring conse-tice of what he believed to be his quences, And yet no man could duty. This was at the same time have more carefully avoided unnec-blended with fervent charity and essarily injuring the feelings of the ardent love for souls. He was a most insignificant human being.sincere believer in the doctrines of He rigidly obeyed the command, the Reformation, and his daily life Speak evil of no man. In company manifested their influence upon his or at home, he either spoke kindly, heart. If any feature of his piety || or was silent. Whilst true to a was more prominent than another, hair's breadth to the principles it was meek, childlike humility. which he believed, he gave full cred- This was seen in every walk of life, it to the honesty and the rectitude and every where did it add a new of those from whom he differed. charm to his other excellent enHence was it that he so often ob- dowments. tained the blessing of a peace ma As a preacher, he stood among || hair, of late years perfectly white, rendered his whole appearance in the highest degree venerable. His habits were temperate and regular, without being formal or ascetic. Hence it will be readily imagined, that he uniformly left upon every one the impression of old age in its loveliest and most interesting aspect, and Christianity in its mildest, and most attractive exhibition. the most eminent of his time in the denomination of which he was so long the distinguished ornament. He has published more than thirty sermons preached on particular occasions, and all of them are deserving of attentive perusal. In all of them may be discovered the traces of strong and accurate reflection, or of fervent and deeply affecting piety. Sometimes they are remarkable for acute and original argument, and at others for tender and The following, we believe, is an overflowing feeling. Whatever accurate enumeration of Dr. Baldwas his subject, he always left up-win's published works. on his audience the conviction of his own sincere and earnest solici tude for their everlasting good. His expostulations with the young were in a remarkable degree affectionate, parental, and pathetic. Very frequently on such occasions, he was moved even to tears. His manner in the pulpit was dignified, simple, and unaffected. He rarely wrote his sermons in full; and not generally, at least in the latter part of his life, did he even furnish himself with a copious skeleton. His preparation most commonly consisted in studious reflection upon his subject, and writing merely the leading divisions. To this method he had been earliest accustomed, and in this manner he was probably more generally successful. Some of his ablest printed sermons were preached in this manner, and never written till after their delivery. Though far from being prejudiced against the use of notes, he was fully and doubtless very truly aware, that at the present day, at least in New England, there is as much danger to be apprehended from too great a reliance upon writing, as there is from not writing at all. In person, Dr. Baldwin was rather above the usual size, firmly and strongly built, and towards the close of his life barely inclined to corpulency. His countenance was dignified, mild, and engaging, and his 1. The Baptism of Believers only, and the Particular Communion of the Baptist Churches explained and vindicated. 1 vol. 12mo. pp. 340. 2. A Series of Letters, in which the distinguishing sentiments of the Baptists are explained and vindicated; in answer to a late publication M. addressed to the author, enby the Rev. Samuel Worcester, titled, Serious and Candid Letters. 1 vol. 12mo. pp. 244. 3. An Essay on the Baptism of John, in two parts. [Besides these, the following Sermons were preached on various occasions, and published by special request.] 4. A Sermon delivered at Bridgwater, December 17, 1794, at the Ordination of the Rev. David Leonard to the work of an evangelist. 5. A Sermon delivered February 19, 1795, being the day of Public Thanksgiving throughout the United States. 6. A Sermon delivered at Boston, on Tuesday, April 2, 1799, at a quarterly meeting of several churches for special prayer. 7. A Sermon delivered at Boston, July 11, 1799, at the Ordination of the Rev. William Collier. 8. A Sermon delivered to the Second Baptist Society in Boston, on Lord's day, December 29, 1799, occasioned by the death of Gen. George Washington, who departed | mon delivered before the Second this life the 14th inst. aged 68. 9. The Approved Workman in the Gospel Ministry. A Sermon delivered at Templeton, October16, 1800, at the Installation of the Rev. Elisha Andrews to the pastoral care of the Baptist church and congregation in that town. Baptist Society in Boston, November 29, 1804; being the day of Annual Thanksgiving. 19. A Sermon delivered at Sedgwick, May 15, 1805, at the Ordination of the Rev. Daniel Merrill to the Pastoral Charge of the Baptist Church of Christ in that place. 10. A Sermon preached Februa- 20. A Discourse delivered bery 15, 1802, before the Honourable fore the Members of the Boston Fe-Senate and House of Representa-male Asylum, September 26, 1806; tives of the Commonwealth of Mas- being their sixth anniversary. sachusetts, on the day of the interment of His Honor Samuel Phillips, Esq. Lieutenant Governor. 21. The Peaceful Reflections and Glorious Prospects of the departing Saint. A Discourse delivered in the Meeting-house of the First Baptist Church in Boston, March 16, 1807, at the interment of the Rev. Samuel Stillman, D. D. late Pastor of said Church. 22. A Discourse delivered before the Ancient and Honorable Artil 11. A Sermon delivered before his Excellency Caleb Strong, Governor, the honorable the Council, || Senate, and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, May 26, 1802; being the day of General Election. 12. A Sermon delivered at Barn-lery Company in Boston, June 1, stable, July 14, 1802, at the Instal- 1807; being the anniversary of their lation of the Rev. John Peak to the election of officers. care of the Baptist church and congregation in that town. 23. The dangerous influence of vicious example. A Sermon deliv13. A Sermon delivered at the ered in the Second Baptist MeetDedication of the new Meeting-ing house in Boston, on Lord's day house in Bellingham, October 27, evening, May 28, 1809. 1802. 24. A Discourse delivered Jan14. A Sermon delivered at Bev-uary 1, 1811, at the opening of the erly, June 15, 1803, at the Instal-new Meeting-house belonging to the lation of the Rev. Elisha Williams Second Baptist Church and Society to the pastoral care of the Baptist in Boston." church and congregation in that town. 15. The Eternal Purpose of God the foundation of effectual Calling. A Sermon delivered before the First Baptist Society in Boston, Lord's day morning, February 19, 1804. 16. A Sermon delivered May 23, 1804, in the Baptist Meeting-house, Gold Street, New-York, at the Ordination of the Rev. Jeremiah Chaplin. 25. The Supreme Deity of Christ illustrated. A Discourse delivered Lord's day, April 19, 1812, before the Second Baptist Church and Congregation in Boston; with an Appendix, containing remarks on the terms, "Only begotten Son of || God," &c. 26. The Knowledge of the Lord filling the carth. A Sermon delivered in Boston, June 4, 1812, before the Massachusetts Bible Soci17. A Sermon delivered in Bos-ety; being their third anniversary. ton, May 30, 1804, before the Bap- 27. Heirs of Grace. A Sermon tist Missionary Society of Massa-delivered at Charlestown, Septemchusetts; being their second anni-ber 26, 1813; occasioned by the death of Mrs. Abigail Collier, wife of the Rev. William Collier, Pastor of the Baptist Church in said town. versary. 18. The Happiness of a People illustrated and explained. A Ser 28. The Christian Ministry. A Sermon delivered on Wednesday, March 30, 1814, in the First Baptist Meeting-house in Boston, at the Installation of the Rev. James M. Winchell. 29. Missionary Exertions encouraged. A Sermon delivered in Sansom Street Meeting-house, Philadelphia, May 7, 1817, before the General Convention of the Baptist denomination in the United States. 30. A Sermon delivered at Cambridge, December 25, 1817, at the opening of a new Meeting-house, and the constitution of a Baptist church in that place. 31. The Danger of living without the Fear of God. A Discourse on Robbery, Piracy and Murder, in which Duelling and Suicide are particularly considered. Delivered in Boston, February 21, 1819, the Lord's day following the Execution of the Pirates. 32. A Sermon delivered February 25, 1820, at the Funeral of the Rev. James M. Winchell, A. M. late Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Boston. 33. The Duty of Parents to Children. A Sermon delivered in the Meeting-house of the Second Baptist Church and Society in Boston, on the afternoon of Lord's day, March 17, 1822. 34. A Discourse delivered in the Second Baptist Meeting-house in Boston, on the first Lord's day in January, 1824. With an Appendix, containing Historical Sketches of the Church and Society from their commencement to the present time. RELIGIOUS COMMUNICATIONS. AZMARKS OCCASIONED BY THE CLOSE OF [ but we are so much occupied by THE YEAR. Turgelin adva ies, behind him hides his wings, Young. Ir is not more surprising than true, that "We take no count of time but from its loss." We too frequently engage in the pursuits of business and pleasure as though it were certain we should remain on earth forever. Sometimes indeed, on the return of a birth day, or at the close of a year, we seem to awake from our dreams of vanity, and to be convinced that the fashion of this world passeth away." But, alas! these impressions are no sooner made, than some worldly object erases them. the objects around us, that we forget the absolute certainly there is, that we shall soon arrive at our final destination. This being the case, it may not perhaps be unprofitable to the numerous readers of the Magazine, should a few remarks be inserted on the declaration of the pious Psalmist, "We spend our years as a tale that is told." This affecting statement conveys to us a just idea of the frivolous manner in which a large portion of mankind pass away their years. It accords with the accusation of the prophet, "Ye spend money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which satisfieth not. The objects to which many direct their undivided attention, and for the attainment of which, all their We are indeed, continually draw-powers are exerted, are as vain, ing nearer to the grave, and are and unsatisfactory to the immortal moving down the stream of time soul, as "a tale that is told." without a moment's interruption; But we are chiefly reminded by is constrained to acknowledge, that it only seems like yesterday when he was occupied in childish sports. Whatever we once imagined in re Man is but vanity and dust, these words of the fleeting nature of human life. While listening to an interesting tale, the moments steal away unperceived. When we hear the striking of the clock,lation to the length of human life, or look at the hands of the time- we now feel, piece, we start up with surprise, and wonder how the hours without being observed by us, could have passed away. Such is human life. The current of time moves on with unceasing celerity; but we are so intensely occupied with the pleasures, the honours, or the riches of this world, that we are brought to the verge of our mortal existence before we are conscious of it. We see that we are just at the point, where the river of time and the ocean of eternity meet, and we look back with dismay at our folly in passing along without once marking our continual progress. Like the man who has lost his time by a pleas-tening to another state of existence, ant tale, we have spent our years in thoughtlessness and vanity. Our spirit bears witness with the testimony of inspiration that "man at his best estate is vanity;" that his flesh is but as grass, and the goodliness thereof as the flower of the field; that his days are like a shadow that declineth; and that he withereth like the grass. But with the sober admission of the fact that "we spend our years as a tale that is told,' we should be anxious to feel its practical influence. Assured that we are has where we must surrender an account of the manner in which we have lived on earth, it highly behoves us that we should derive some valuable instruction from a consideration of the years that are already gone. If our views on this subject are at all rational, we shall learn to moderate our worldly desires. How unwise, how absurd and dangerous, to spend all our time and give all our thoughts to objects which are perishable in their nature, and from which, should they continue, we must inevitably be removed. There is much beautiful A recollection of our past experience will also convince us of the truth that we spend our years as a tale that is told." When young, we were looking to long years of business, connexions, and enjoyments. The distance of the road before us appeared almost im measurable. We felt ourselves rich in time, and were at a loss on what objects to squander it away. But many of us have passed over more than half the distance of human life, and some have arrived nearly at the end of the journey. How changed are our feelings and expec-scenery on the banks of the Niagatations now! One is ready to say, Is it possible that fifty years have passed over me? Another, as if awaking from a dream, inquires, Can it be, that I am approaching so closely to my three score years and ten? And each one is ready to exclaim, Where can I have been? What have I been doing? On what have my thoughts been employed, that so large a portion of my life should have fled away without a consciousness of the fact? The oldest ra; but we should think that boatman and his passengers guilty of the greatest folly, who should be so amused with the objects on either side of the river as to forget the distance they had passed, until they found themselves in a current they could not stem, and at last were hurried over its mighty Falls, and amidst the loud roar of its waters were dashed to pieces. But more foolish and presumptuous are they, who, passing on to the eternal |