Sketch already laid before the public. It is delineated with a masterly hand, and carries with it strong internal marks of its fidelity. Such characters hold forth the most valuable instructions to mankind.

"Melancthon was a man in whom many good as well as great qualities were wonderfully united. He had great parts, great learning, great sweetness of temper, moderation, contentedness, and the like, which would have made him very happy in any other times than those in which he lived. He never affected dignities of honors, or riches, but was rather negligent of all these things. Learning was infinitely obliged to him on many accounts; in none more than this, that he reduced almost all the sciences, which had been taught in a vague irregular manner, into systems. Considering the distractions of his life, and the infinity of disputes in which he was engaged, it is astonishing how he could find leisure to write so many books. Their number is prodigious, insomuch that it was thought necessary to publish a chonological catalogue of them in 1582. His moderation was a cross to him, for he was a lamb in the midst of wolves! It not only exposed him to all kinds of slander, but would not suffer him to "answer a fool according to his folly." His constitution was very weak, and required great tenderness and management, so that even Luther, who was hot and zealous, blamed him for laboring too hard in the vineyard."

It will, however, be recollected, that this spirit of moderation for which Melancthon has been blamed, dwelt eminently in Jesus Christ and his apostles; thus constituting the glory of pure and rational Christianity.

Substance of a speech delivered before the Legislature of Vermont, 1824, in joint committee, on electing a suitable person to preach the next election sermon, his Excellency, C. P. Van Ness in the chair.

MR. CHAIRMAN,

I nominate the Rev. Robert Bartlett, of Hartland, a respectable preacher of the Universalist connexion, as a suitable person to preach the next election sermon.

In support of this nomination, I am disposed to make a humble attempt at a few remarks. There are some peculiar circumstances in relation to this nomination, that justly deserve to be noticed.

No Universalist has ever received an appointment of this kind in this State. The connexion has been longer known as a distinct denomination, and, we believe, are more numerous, than some others who have been favored with similar appointments. If the law of equity is then to be regarded, if true republican principles are to be adhered to, it is evident this appointment belongs to the Universalists. We have, at this time, attained to numbers which entitle us to some little notice, at least, among the different religious denominations of our country; and from the earliest existence of this Legislative body, we have reason to believe, a portion have been composed of Universalists. I do not pretend, Mr. Chairman, that I am disinterested in the appointment now pending. I am disposed frankly to confess my interest, and appear without disguise. I am, Sir, a Universalist myself. From the earliest period of the exercise of my mental faculties have I believed the doctrine. And for something more than twelve years, I have publicly preached in this connexion. My interest, therefore, is the interest of my brethren scattered throughout this State, and the interest of a respectable portion of this house. But I here anticipate an objec

tion, and but one important objection can I think of, te the claim now before the house. I am not insensible that we are reproached as an irreligious and immoral people. The prejudices of many among the different denominations, are most inveterate against us.

To talk of one's own virtues is not commendable, and to be under the necessity of eulogizing one's own denomination, you must be sensible, Mr. Chairman, is very embarrassing. But there are certain circumstances which may be called up to our advantage, and which I now conceive it my duty to do.

We think reproaches against us from the members of this house, would come with an ill grace, so long as we, by the suffrages of a free people, compose a considerable portion of this very body, that has the name of HONORABLE. Our numbers are not confined to the house of Representatives; among twelve Councillors, we have three or four. In this place, permit me further to mention the name of the late departed Rich, long a member from this State, in the Congress of the United States,a name known to every gentleman in this house, and valued for honesty, diligence, and integrity. But grant that some Universalists are loose and irreligious, should the whole connexion be stigmatized because like other denominations, they have a few bad characters? There is no denomination without them. We say then to our opposers, if you stone us, let him that is without sin cast the first. But, Mr. Chairman, it is nothing strange that we should have these evils to encounter; other denominations, in their commencement, have endured the same; but none was more distinguished in this respect than our Lord and his immediate disciples.

As an example of travelling from degradation and distress to rest and popular influence, I would name the Baptists. One hundred and fifty years ago, such men

as now occupy honorable stations in this Legislature, would have been publicly whipped in Massachusetts, for promulgating the doctrines they now preach. But the Baptists have now travelled from those fields of suffering in which their fathers endured and bled, and have obtained a name among the religious denominations of our country. In the House of Representatives, we have two respectable preachers of that denomination, one of whom we have, this year, made a judge of the County Court. We have another in the Council, who has long been a councillor and a judge. We have still another that fills an office next to the first in the State; so that instead of dishonor, as in times past, when their preachers were dragged to scenes of public disgrace, we all say, HIS HONOR, THE LIEUTENANT GOV

ERNOR.

When, Mr. Chairman, we ask the liberal of other denominations to vote for our candidate, we only ask them to return a favor once, that we many times have granted them. When the Congregationalists have made a nomination from one of their sect, the Universalists have voted for him; when the Baptists, they have voted for theirs; and when the Methodists, they have voted for theirs. All denominations that have had appointments of this kind in this house, have received assistance from the Universalists, and many of them repeatedly. If the golden rule of our Savior is to be regarded as the proper model of moral conduct, is it improper that we should now call it to mind? This rule presupposes that men stand upon principles of equality. It knows nothing of the distinction of master and slave. We are now to learn the opinion of this house, whether, among the different denominations, we are to be treated as an equal or a slave.

If indeed we cannot boast of literature equal to some

of the most learned of other denominations, we still believe we have preachers respectable for talents, and whose acquirements are sufficient to render their labors acceptable to an enlightened public.

To the enlightened liberality of this house we submit the question. If they are disposed to grant the favor we ask, we shall receive it thankfully. Should they still think proper to deny, we submit with patience and without murmur.

ORTHODOX IN DISTRESS.

We publish the following from a newspaper, printed in Poultney, entitled the Northern Spectator, with the editorial notice on the subject of the Legislative appointment for the next election sermon. We publish it, that we might transmit to posterity the spirit of the times in which we live; that our children, and our children's children, when the Lord has given them peace on every side, may not forget what a field of calumny and "contradiction of sinners" their fathers trod and endured. We have no disposition to return railing for railing, and we can assure poor Orthodox that his distresses do very much awaken our sympathies, for him and his companions, and that could we command the armies of the allied powers of Europe, we would not tell him, he is a little graceless animal. No; we would pity him in his distresses, we would administer to his afflictions, and we would show him kindness. One distinctive trait of Universalism is to love an enemy; but if we may judge of a tree by its fruit, it does not appear that Orthodox loves all his friends. He is for bringing every man to his measure. And we do likewise believe that our brother Orthodox is very prodigal in the use of "atheists, deists, gamblers, usurers, profane swearers, &c." "Such," says he, "are the men