obliged to give way. At this instant Mr. Cook, mounting a seat, gave notice to the departing flock of Mr. Smith, in tones which their confusion could not drown, of his intention to reply to their pastor the next Sabbath evening. He fulfilled this engagement before a large audience, in an able and instructive discourse.

Thus did he introduce himself to the people, to friends and foes of his religion; to a people with whom he spent the first four years of his brief but eventful ministry. Such was his first reception in Chili.

It is sufficient to add, that, after the scene described above, Mr. Smith announced no more discourses on Universalism. He, however, attempted to prevent the spread of the doctrine, by an unmanly opposition carried on in private circles, by low appeals to ignorant prejudices, and by insinuations reflecting upon the character of its advocates and votaries. This, together with occasional allusions to it in the pulpit, was the sum of his opposition known to Mr. Cook during his residence in Chili.

As a sample of his public attacks, the following incident may be given. A few months after Mr. Cook removed to Chili, his friends engaged and fitted up a small chapel, nearly opposite to Mr. Smith's meetinghouse. A member of Mr. Smith's church was employed to do the painting, and he was requested to place over the entrance to the chapel, in appropriate letters, the words of the apostle, "God is love." In painting the s he unfortunately curved it the wrong way.

An opportunity was thus furnished (by one of his own intelligent flock) to ridicule the attainments of his

neighbors. So, having made great exertions and protracted efforts, he had succeeded in getting up a little religious excitement among his people, which he humbly ascribed to the operations of the Holy Spirit, when Mr. Cook ventured in one evening, to hear the preaching and see how matters were progressing. Mr. Smith, observing him in the audience, resolved to mortify him by denouncing the whole denomination as illiterate in the To justify these denunciations, he proposed to cite facts. He commenced in the following dignified strain :

extreme.

"You will see around the country, stuck up over the doors of their meeting-houses, 'God is love.' And here is an instance opposite their learning symbolized in the letter s turned the other side to !"

"Yes, and done by a Presbyterian, too!" were the words of Mr. Cook, which followed the sentence, without the slightest regard to the pause indicated by the "exclamation point;" and they certainly destroyed the entire effect of the graceful gesture which the speaker was attempting, in imitation of the objectionable form of the letter, at that moment.

CHAPTER XIII.

LABORS IN CHILI.

THE wrath of man is sometimes made to praise the Lord. And it would seem that such was the ruling of Providence in the case of Mr. Smith. His attempt to exclude Universalism from the town of Chili, by means which we have sufficiently indicated, resulted in its more immediate introduction, and its permanent support there. By his ill-advised opposition to the doctrine, the attention of his own friends and supporters was called to it, and they were thereby led to see the groundlessness of their former prejudices against it.

And then events connected with this controversy were suggestive. Mr. Cook was young-very young. Had he failed to defend his faith against this boasting theological student, few would have thought less than formerly of its claims. But in the ease with which he vindicated its great principles, many discerned its beautiful harmony with the intuitions of the soul, with the suggestions of nature, and with the teachings of the divine word. Truth arms its votaries with power for its successful defence. But the falterings of an advocate sometimes betray the weakness of his cause; and in the manner of returning from a contest, provoked by his own boasting, the devotee of a creed acknowledges and pro

claims the difficulty of its defence. In Mr. Smith's withdrawing from this controversy as he did, after two very unsatisfactory efforts to invalidate the testimony alleged in support of Universalism, and to prove it a heresy of the most fatal tendencies, those most interested detected a practical confession of conscious weakness, and felt a growing desire to investigate the doctrine which he had so signally failed to disprove. Add to this the fact that in this controversy Mr. Cook had established his claims to the confidence of his friends, who before, judging him by his years, had felt some apprehensions for the result of their efforts to establish and maintain a Universalist society under his ministry, and had consequently only settled him "on trial" for three months, or longer, as the parties after his settlement might agree, and it will appear quite obvious to all, that, though the effort to exclude Universalism from the town of Chili was designed only to do evil to the cause, "God meant it unto good." And in good it resulted to him. All doubt of his capacity to fill the office to which their partiality had already called him, was now removed. The day of "trial" was passed, and the season of distrust was at an end. With those, also, who had no respect for his theological opinions, he acquired an influence favorable to his future prosperity. He inspired them with a respect for his talents, and with admiration for his zeal and for his devotion to the cause to which he had thus early consecrated his life. Ay, more. By his success he had raised himself above that reproach which bigotry, confirmed by age, is wont to pour on the inexperience of youth, and at the same time had won

the respect of those nearer his own age, the respect due to the ministry, always more grateful to the servant of Christ than friendship and affection accorded to self.

A direction was thus given to public sentiment in the town, which resulted in his more permanent settlement with the society. The temporary engagement which endowed him with a pastorship for the whole term of three months was immediately superseded by a formal engagement for a year; and from, that time forward, until the day of his death, the responsibilities of the pastoral relation rested upon him.

This taking a minister оп trial may be a very prudent measure for societies, especially when negotiating with a young man whose powers have never been tested, and whose future usefulness is consequently "the substance of things hoped for " by his friends. But as it always implies some distrust of requisite qualifications, the young man, who consents to a proposition for a temporary settlement, is perpetually harassed with the recollection that he may be but a brief sojourner, the victim of a strange caprice, to be judged from efforts made under the most embarrassing circumstances, and sent forth to his fate bearing the marks of this judgment, and thereby arousing the suspicions of those who had otherwise received and treated him with deserved favor. He consequently (unless largely endowed with self-respect) feels his embarrassment, exhibits his powers to disadvantage, preaches, not as the servant of Christ, but as the servant of his employers; not as one having authority, but as one seeking an opportunity to acquire it. He never feels himself clothed with the dignity of the office