vated mind. He was endued with an instinctive and delicate discernment of what was just and proper, whether in thought or expression. In respect both to the words and phrases he employed, and to their arrangement and sense, he always spoke in pure English. Where is the preacher or writer, whose style is more entirely free from everything provincial, pedantic, or ambiguous, or exhibits a more happy union of simplicity and ornament? As a speaker, he had many excellences, and few faults. His sermons were doctrinal and practical. They set forth the truths of religion in their Scriptural form, and carried them out into their practical uses. His appeals to the conscience and heart were direct and faithful, and often awakening and impressive. A good measure of success attended his ministry, both in the conversion of sinners and the advancement of believers in holiness; which last was as real an object with him as the former. He lived in a time of revivals, and had a marked agency in promoting them.

In February, 1812, he was introduced into the Bartlett Professorship of Sacred Rhetoric in this Institution, the office having been vacated by the resignation of the Rev. Dr. Griffin. Dr. Porter's previous acquaintance with the duties and trials of the pastoral office, together with his intellectual and moral qualifications, fitted him to enter, with pleasing prospects of success, on the department of labor assigned to him. In the various duties which fell to him in the Institution, he had ample use for all his talents and acquisitions; for all his accuracy, and taste, and judgment; for all his activity, patience, and skill. His usefulness was answerable to his qualifications, and to his habitual diligence. Any man who takes into view the good which he accomplished by his instructions in the Seminary, and the works which he published in relation to the business of his department, and considers the intrinsic value of those works, and the high estimation in which they are held, will see that he possessed powers and acquisitions of no ordinary character, and that his time here did not pass away without substantial results.

It was a matter of conscience with Dr. Porter to bend his

efforts, first of all, to the appropriate objects of his own department; secondarily, to the general interests of the Institution; and then to the welfare of the churches, and the success of Christianity at home and abroad. He was well aware that the permanent usefulness of this theological establishment could not be secured alone, but was essentially connected with the general prosperity of the church, and the flourishing state of our various public institutions. To these institutions he had a strong and enlightened attachment. And he not only felt an interest in them, but was always ready to aid them both by his personal services and by pecuniary contributions. He gave liberally to charitable institutions generally. But he contributed more particularly to this Seminary, and the American Education Society. each of these he founded two scholarships, besides the very generous aid which he afforded to the Porter Rhetorical Society in the purchase of its library. To the American Education Society he also bequeathed the greater part of his property.

In

In every part of the business which he undertook, he evinced a remarkable degree of practical wisdom. His judgment on questions of importance, was seldom mistaken. And it was not uncommon for those who were associated with him to distrust their own opinion, as soon as they found it different from his.

Dr. Porter possessed the peculiar qualifications which are requisite in a presiding officer. He had kindness of disposition, selfcontrol, intelligence, and decision. He exhibited politeness without affectation, dignity without pride, and strict adherence to rules of order, without pertinacity. With these qualifications, he was often called to preside on public occasions. And when the office of President was established in this Institution, he was at once selected by his colleagues, as well as by the guardians of the Institution, to fill that office. The manner in which he presided, both here and elsewhere, was always unexceptionable and satisfactory.

He united two qualities, which seldom exist together so eminently as they did in him ; — ability to devise great plans of usefulness, and ability to carry forward those plans to a complete accomplishment. Some men, possessing warmth of imagination

without judgment, and zeal without discretion or patience, are very fruitful in devising plans of benevolence, but are inclined to leave the labor of execution to other hands. Not so with Dr. Porter. He was the man, whose wisdom was sought in laying out plans of usefulness; and he was the man, to whom the full execution of them, however difficult, could be safely entrusted.

Dr. Porter was a man of exemplary modesty and humility. Who ever had reason to suppose that he thought of himself more highly than he ought to think? that in any respect he over-rated his talents, his services, or his piety? When and where did he expect an honor, which others were not ready to bestow upon him, or manifest the feeling that he was not held high enough among his brethren? It was far otherwise. He was so evidently unassuming and humble, that, although he was in all societies, among the first in point of influence, no one felt the least uneasiness that he was esteemed so highly.

At the present day, when there is so much love of preëminence, and so much strife for influence and promotion, it is a happy thing to find a man of high place in the Christian community, who is clothed with humility; a disinterested, straight-forward, and guileless man, who cares less for his own things than for the things which are Christ's; who will begin and end a great undertaking without any scheme for his own interest or honor; who will say just what he means, and do just what he says. Such was our departed brother.

Dr. Porter was a zealous promoter of revivals of religion. His Letters on Revivals show how deeply he was impressed with the importance of the subject, and what he considered the characteristics of a true revival, and the proper means of promoting it. On this subject he was well qualified to speak, having been associated with the most able and successful ministers in promoting the revivals which took place during the first part of the present century. The above-mentioned Letters, in which he collects and arranges facts so skilfully, and reasons from them so judiciously and conclusively, are adapted to permanent usefulness in the church

It was one of his most remarkable characteristics, that he gave no offence. In all his conduct, whether in public or private, he was so free from self-importance and dogmatism, he showed so delicate a regard to the opinions and feelings of others, and when he differed from them, made known the difference with so much respect and kindness, and was always so cool and deliberate, that I know not that he ever wounded the feelings of any good man. In this attribute of character, how widely different was he from some, who are possessed of great activity, and are capable of accomplishing much good, who yet have such faults in their temper and manners, that they are sure to hurt the feelings and excite the prejudices of others, and sooner or later to destroy their own influence. The Apostle Paul, for the sake of doing good, took special care to give no offence to any class of men, especially good men. In things not affecting the great interests of religion, he was pliable and conciliatory. As far as he could without unfaithfulness to his Lord, he became "all things to all men," for the very purpose of removing stumbling blocks and winning souls to Christ. Why is it that any at the present day forget the example of the apostles and instead of doing all in their power, as he did, to avoid giving offence, and to conciliate those of an opposite party, seem rather to take pleasure in vexing them, and even to make it an object to provoke their resentment, and drive them to the bitterest hostility. When we witness such things, we are sometimes ready to exclaim, where is that love which Jesus enjoined upon his followers, and which the Apostle describes as the most excellent of all graces; that love which suffereth long and is kind; which seeketh not her own; which doth not behave itself unseemly; which thinketh no evil; which hopeth all things, and endureth all things? Where is that wisdom which is from above, which is pure, and peaceable, and gentle, and easy to be entreated? Where is the dove which rested upon the head of Jesus, as an emblem of the sweet, gentle spirit of his relig ion? This was a subject which lay near the heart of our departed brother. He ardently loved the truths of Christianity, and equally loved its spirit. He regarded a bitter, violent temper,

though exercised professedly in defence of the gospel, as real hostility to the gospel. Both his judgment and heart adopted the maxim of the Apostle, that "the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God." He had such meekness and gentleness, as showed that he had been with Jesus. Influenced by such feelings, he gave no offence to any of the contending parties of the day. A decided and unreserved declaration of his opinion, even on the most controverted subjects, was received with candor by those who differed from him. Thus, instead of promoting alienation and strife among brethren, he used his endeavors to promote feelings of forbearance and kindness, and in this way to remove one of the chief causes of collision, and to bring about a more general harmony among the friends of Christ. In this way he conscientiously fulfilled the duty to which he was bound by his own disposition as well as by his inauguration promise " on all occasions to consult the peace of the churches."

Dr. Porter was far removed from the spirit of a partizan in religion. He belonged to no sect. Properly speaking, a sect in religion is a number of persons who separate themselves from the general body of Christians, and maintain some opinion different from the prevailing opinion. We know what are and what have been the doctrines of evangelical Christians generally in this country. We know still more specifically what system of belief has prevailed for the last fifty years among the ministers and churches of New England. These ministers and churches surely are not to be regarded as a party. When, therefore, I say that Dr. Porter was no partizan, my meaning will not be misunderstood. He adhered to the views of Christian doctrine generally held among us; the views exhibited in the writings of Edwards, Bellamy, Brainerd, Smalley, and Dwight. These authors are not sectarian. And Dr. Porter, who honestly embraced and ably defended these views, and whose religious and ministerial character was formed under their influence, was as free as any man living from the spirit of sectarianism. This Institution, in which he was more than twenty years an instructor, is in no sense a sectarian institution. It was founded on the most liberal cath