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rily engaged to give instruction in the criticism and interpretation of the Old Testament . " Of these Gentlemen the following is a list and also an outline of the instruction of the Divinity School at Cambridge : " Rev . Dr . Ware has exercises with each of the three classes in
the Evidences of Natural and Revealed Religion , and on Christian Theology . Professor Willard teaches Hebrew . Professor Norton teaches the Criticism of the New Testament to the junior class . Dr . Follen teaches the German language to the junior class , and has exercises in Ethics with the senior class . Rev . Mr .
Palfrey , of Boston , teaches , for the prer sent , the middle and senior classes in the Criticism of the Old Testament . Rev . H . Ware , Jun ., is expected to instruct in the composition and delivery of Sermons , and in the pastoral care . " "No permanent provision is yet made for any part of this instruction . " The divinity school has so far increased that
it contains at present forty-five students . The tract entitled " on Christian Salvation' * is full of sound doctrine , and that entitled " the Genius of Christianity" is full of sound admonition and beautiful displays of the spirit of the gospel . We give the following as a specimen : " The genius of liberal Christianity advances another claim upon our regard when we
observe how perfectly it consults human comfort iti the cognizance which it takes of the daily feelings and habits—of those dispositions of mind which do not attract public observation . It is not , it has been observed by another , ' with gross acts of vice or with s pie ad id virtue , that our religion is mainly conversant . This is not its true spirit . It descends even to that turn of sentiment which fashions
the deportment of man to man . ' It would preside in the daily interchanges of domestic life , and incite to a thousand little ' endearing cares and engaging attentions . ' It would teach us to be considerate , and to cheer all around us with ' glad words and kind looks / In so doing it takes a humble sphere , but it accumulates an untold amount of happiness . Great deeds of benevolence ,
great acts of generosity no doubt produce a great deal of joy , and make many hearts light ; but * a humane consideration , a rational and habitual indulgence for others , evinced by an uninterrupted sweetness of manner , ' does more , infinitely- more , for the substantial and abiding comfort of human life . The causes of great happiness or misery are only occasional . It is the little occurrences of every day which , considered in
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themselves , may appear Insignificant , that go to make up the amount of human enjoyment or misery . It is very seldom that you have an opportunity of saving the life of a fellow-creature , but every day you may make some little contribution to the happiness of those with whom you associate , either by a kind
word or an encouraging smile . You are not often called upon to submit to a great injury or to forgive a determined enemy ; but almost every hour of every day , some little forbearance is to be practised , some little petulance of temper to be pardoned . Christianity , therefore , in taking into her jurisdiction the
usual course of human feeling aud conduct , is full of benevolent wisdom , and shews herself acquainted with the best wants of man . What an euormons waste may be made of the great sum of happiness by the indulgence of a fretful , uncomplying temper at home ! It may ruin the peace of a whole family , and drive the husband and father to the
forgetfulness of excess . It is no common excellence in Christianity that its object is the diffusion of a peaceable , quiet , proper spirit through the ordinary relations of society . " What truth and beauty in the following passage ! " It is the object of all religions , but the religion of the New Testament , —it is the aim of many religious teachers at this day , —to startle men , to produce excitement and turbulence in the mind . Now
the design of the Creator , so far as it is manifest in the course of nature and providence , appears to be very different . He does not aim to excite us , but to keep us calm and composed . Only think how tremendous are the resources of his
omnipotence , and then look around you and see how quietly he uses them . There are no dazzling and confounding displays of power , such as we may easily conceive him to make if he choose . On the contrary , every thiug is done in the softest and stillest manner . It seems as
if God , remembering that we are dust , and knowing how excitable a creature man is , took particular care not to disturb and overthrow our minds . In an instant he might make such an exhibition of his power as would drive man to insanity and blast his intellect by an
overwhelming sense of terror . The Almighty , so far from using any such means of impressing us , walks around us with noiseless step , and carries on the magnificent operations of nature slowly and silently , and seems to veil himself from us in mercy . The wheels of God ' s creation * creak not harsh thun-
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Critiwl Notices . —Theological . 699
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1830, page 699, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2589/page/43/
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