619 



[Muhlenbei> 



vania College, against the Faculty of the Institution, on account of dis- 

 satisfaction with the distribution of college honors. The theme selected 

 by the speaker, on this occasion, was the conduct of Rehoboam, in listen- 

 ing to the advice of the young men, instead of being guided by the counsel 

 of the more aged, whereby the kingdom of Israel was rent into tAvo parts. 

 The subject was handled with such excellent judgment, and great power, 

 that its eflFects were very marked upon the minds of the intensely excited 

 youth ; and contributed largely in bringing them again under the control 

 of reason and Christian principle. Another very elaborate sermon, on 

 the distinguishing peculiarities of the Lutheran Church, marked with all 

 the profundity of thought, copiousness of illustration, vigor and beauty of 

 expression, which are found in his written and pi-inted sermons, the writer 

 heard with great satisfaction, on two separate occasions ; when it was 

 listened to and admired by the large audiences, before whom it was de- 

 livered, with enraptured attention. The last two, however, which were 

 delivered without notes, and without much previous preparation, made 

 the greatest impression upon the mind and heart of the writer; one, de- 

 scriptive of the mission of the Saviour, based on the passage : "He went 

 about doing good ;" the other, within quite a recent period, explanatory 

 of the verse : " the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain to- 

 gether until now." This was a grand effort, and was upon a subject 

 which seems to have been, at this period of his life, a favorite one with 

 our departed friend, for it is alluded to in one of his last literary publica- 

 tions, the "Cosmos," in the two following stanzas : 



" Yet the world we may not love, 

 Melts into a happier day. 

 When at God's transforming^ word 

 Sin and death shall pass away. 



Oh, for that transcendent change 

 Which her bridal shall recall, 

 And with robes of spotless white 

 Cover o'er her crimson pall." 



There are, lying before me, quite a number of his printed discourees, 

 sermons and essays, in volumes appropriated to such literary productions, 

 belonging to different periods of his pastoral life ; they all present the same 

 general features of excellence, and defects. They are full of inventive 

 and imaginative power, display great extent of reading and profundity of 

 thought, but sometimes, owing to the neglect, perhaps, of mathematical 

 study during his collegiate course, are deficient in perspicuity, by a too 

 abundant accumulation of particulars, or variety of illustrations. This 

 characterizes more especially his earlier writings ; after he turned his atten- 

 tion more fully to philosophical study, there is a marked improvement, 

 in precision of statement, perspicuity and terseness of expression. Our 

 limits wdl not allow us to quote any passages in proof of our assertion. 



The pastoral life of our fellow-member prepared the way for his pro- 

 found studies, as a theologian and theological professor. Circumstances 



PBGC. AMER. PHILOS. SOC. XX. 113. 3z. PRINTED APRIL 4, 1883. 



