112 HIS COMMENTARIES ON ROMANS. identified and compared, one finds the fact that I assert perfectly sustained by him. It is even asserted often, and implied more frequently. 2. Let me have the place, then, if you can recollect it. 1. I know it happily and well. You will find it in his comments on Rom. 5:18.* 2. Wait, then, till I examine. I have an old Scotch translation of Calvin on Romans; and could I just lay hand on it, I would see how he renders it. He here took a step-ladder, moved it to a distant part of his study, rose to the top shelf, and after some search found the book, opened and read the passage, and resumed : You are right, I see. But really the fact never reached me before, as I must plainly own.† 1. It is my own opinion, dear sir, that the point is both cardinal, and too commonly and almost every where little Other passages in his commentaries ought to be compared; as Mat. 26:28; ii. Pet. 2:1; i. John, 2: 2, et alia. + I admired the excellent simplicity of his character, so conspicuous in this and many other occurrences; it seemed so child-like, that one must view it as equally rare, and beautiful, and worthy. How many specimens of greatness of other sorts, assumptive, strutting, majestically unnatural, too perpendicular to bend, too great—by special wisdom and dignity, that is, by inflation and false consequence -too great to condescend, from their airy altitude, to bless the members of Christ, or perform their proper duties, or evince the temper of the Gospel; how many a vapid exhibition of self, ostentatious and official, self-sublime, have we seen, and grieved to see, teste Deo, in titled and renowned examples, from whom we were so simple as to expect better things-and seen them, with wounds heartfelt and ingenuous, when and where we had no thought to see or feel them; and much the same, alas! through pride, sin, folly, not to speak of ignorance and ill breeding, on both sides of the ocean! I suspect such samples existed before the flood-not before the fall! * As to the replies and quotations made, I have stated facts, and was happy that, in some respects, my memory served me, rather signally, in those very relations, in which his interrogations were at once more particular, as well as more earnest or vehement. "Whar dos Colvun sai thot?" * * OURS AND THEIR DISRUPTION. 113 appreciated in our theology, and that this is the reason why the pulpit is often poorly effulgent, or powerful so much in vain! The atonement is not understood, or elucidated, or impressed on the minds of men, as it might and would be if views more discriminating and definite, more rich and large, obtained respecting it-that is, if we all comprehended it more as it is. 2. Well, is there no hope of reunion among you? Is there no way of reconciliation? It is a bad thing for the country and the cause, to remain like brethren at variance forever. It is even bad for us here in Scotland. It is your own loss. Your common interests bleed for it. The cause of our Savior suffers and there is no reason with you, as there is with us, in the very organization of the state and the nation, for your lasting separation. No great principle keeps you apart. 1. None like yours exactly; but we could never consecrate their new "basis," never build on it with them, NEVER! And now we all love our own Church with a generous and a fraternal, as well as an increasing and enthusiastic affection. The attachment of our ministry and our people to the general interests, and the ultimate progress of our Church, is both remarkable and delightful, as well as waxing greater and greater every day. I believe, and, feeling our dependenceespecially my own, on the grace and providence of God, for all things, almost venture to predict, that, however we may meliorate toward each other in good and kindly feeling, in all acts and interchanges of pious service and Christian courtesy, yet, a reunion is not now practicable, even if it were desirable nor do I think that at present there is any prospect of it, or any promise of it, in the future—at least in the present world! 2. When you go back to America, tell them from me that this is the burden of the Lord to them, to forgive and forget mutually, and so become one again, for the common cause, 114 SMALL HOPE OF REUNION. for the kingdom of God, for the sake of the love of Christ constraining all of you. 1. I should rejoice with millions, and with all my soul, could this be done; but I fear it is not to be expected, at least in our day! A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city; and their contentions are like the bars of a castle. Better is a neighbor that is near than a brother far off. To me it seems-only possible with God! 2. You must hope for the best, by the grace of God. 1. They never confess, that is, their great leaders-whom all the others mainly follow. They assume the right, as if they were infallible. They dogmatize, ridicule, denounce their brethren, and never admit their own wickedness in the acts of excision, Prov. 30: 20. They hate, because they have injured us; illustrating the deep truth, in reference to depraved human nature, contained in the old adage—odisse quem læseris; that we hate whom we injure; our morbid moral instincts, set in disarray by our own sins, distress or lash us at every memorial that reminds us of them, till aversion becomes antipathy and cruelty toward the passive object that occasions, even unconsciously and innocently, the misery of our bosoms. Here it is-conscius facinoris is the tormentor. They that were chiefly distinguished as leaders in the war are equally self-accused now, as quite conspicuous for their gratuitous and habituated malignity of soul and manners, toward their injured, deeply injured brethren. God will deal with them soon. 2. Are they not called the OLD SCHOOL, and you the NEW? 1. Yes; just as you here are called the GEESE, and they the SWANS, of the Church of Scotland, in relation to Mrs. Cæsar's North British Establishment. I repudiate and deny the nicknames. It is only opprobrious and deceptive. Our aim is not innovation or revolution. We doctrinally desire nothing better and nothing other than the eternal antiquities of God, OUR EXCELLENT POLITY. 115 as revealed to us all in the Bible—and by some of us studied, understood, and enjoyed there, with infinite profit and ineffa ble satisfaction. As for them, they are the innovators, the revolutionizers, the layers of the NEW BASIS, the exscinders, and the arrogant factors of the schism-to say nothing of their proper brand for monopolizing and retaining all the funds, and all the property, of the Church, valued at about one third of a million of dollars. This it was-before they took precariously, with broken banks to help them, the whole charge of it! And as to our polity, we are Presbyterians, cordial and devout, with PREFERENCE, NOT EXCLUSION, for our sincere motto. As already said, we are only more and more such, as we see others ruinating for the want of our incomparable system of constitutional government, so gloriously suited to the country; and, as some of us believe, the best system of polity in the world! The monarchy of the popedom, the oligarchy of the prelatists, the régime of Cæsar according to the Erastians, the uproarious and impulsive uncertainty of Congrega. tionalism, or, DEMOCRACY IN A KINGDOM, or "Independency" -a proud and schismatical idea, or Presbytery with estab lishment, or Presbytery with the BASIS of exscinding precedents; all these we decisively postpone and deny, in preference for our own superior system of representative commonwealth and constitutional order, under Christ, in his own unsuffering kingdom. But, with no pleasure in these recollections, I calmly invoke the judgment of the Great HEAD of the Church, and wait for his award. As we were thus in earnest converse, the signal-bell rang an alarm, which the doctor immediately interpreted as "supper," and seemed to require my attendance and participation. It was late, but in apparent twilight and rich moonlight, I submitted, and followed to the drawing-room, where the ladies were waiting for us, and especially a neighbor lady, who, as I afterward learned, stayed on purpose to see an American-a 116 SUPPER AT MORNINGSIDE. curiosity quite new to her! It was to me a scarce unusual amusement; and as, on the occasion, I thought she might be assured that, being caught young, I was quite tame, would neither bite nor scratch, and so might be safe for spectators, though neither caged, nor pinioned, nor chained, nor tended by an armed keeper! She proved, however, to be very agreeable, and seemed evidently gratified with all the spectacle as she viewed it. Soon an opened door showed a brilliant apartment, with supper spread, and we were all motioning or preparing to approach and surround it. Among the bright beauties of the scene, however, were three or four that I less welcomedthese were so many decanters, tastefully displayed, and decorating the well-stored table. As I had become quite familiar, though I hope not offensively or too much so, I viewed the vinous splendors without moving, fixed my gaze on them, stood in attitude, and with pantomimic significance indicated my astonishment. One of the doctor's daughters, Miss with easy and elegant address, taking my meaning, came to me, and in an undertone, kind and familiar, yet playful, and rather pleasantly satirical, remarked: “Oh! do not allow yourself to be so scared. The best wines, you know, are the least intoxicating and the most nutritious, as the old poets say. Ours is old, genuine, rich, and good; better than any you find and censure so justly in America. We never let the superior brands go across the Atlantic, and you never tasted any so good as ours. Now you shall prove them yourself. I will tell you which, and present it to you; and, besides, when you take it, we'll all keep the secret. For one, I'll never tell of it, only you must try it, and see if it be not truth that I say to you." I replied-Tempters all of you, Eve and her daughters! But, as to your keeping the secret, I think I can trust you for once, my dear Miss You will never tell of me, I am you lovely lasses, that expect husbands and hap sure. But |