pectable source, I could not resist the impression that the account I received was a caricature, until I had the opportunity and satisfaction of hearing it from Mr. W. himself. I communicated to him the account of his discourse which I had received, and which I have given above, adding the explicit question, "Is it possible, Mr. Wallace, that you have given such an explanation of the text in question?" To which he replied expressly in these words, "I confess it is substantially correct." To the information I had before obtained, Mr. W. himself added an account of nine characteristics he had given of the Presbyterians, in which they were symbolized by their prototypes, the Ephraimites; such as, that they were "a cruel people—a wicked people -a treacherous people-a lying people," &c. &c. and stated, or rather boasted, that he had said hard things of the "General Assembly." These were his own statements, and require no comment. The facts however could be established even in a court of justice.

All this, however, might have passed away as the shadows of the evening, had not Mr. W. adopted other expedients to create uneasiness among my people. Not contented with preaching his Shibboleth sermon, and vilifying the Presbyterians and the General Assembly in public, he adopted the plan of separate and private conversations, to fill their minds with a variety of difficulties and dissatisfactions, for the purpose of proselytism, until the best informed among my people, as well as among those of my brethren to whose council I had access, were decided

Iy of opinion that it had become necessary to counteract his insidious conduct by a suitable publication.

Although such were the causes that originated the "Science of Praise," it is thought that it was untainted with invidious or party languagé, or feelings. It reproached no sect-attacked no denomination of professing christians; but attempted to discuss the subject on which it was written, in a manner as applicable to a portion of that branch of the church to which the author belongs, as to any other. Under these circumstances, and with these views, that book made its appearance in the spring of 1816; and although young in the ministry-settled far from good or extensive libraries-encumbered with other duties and avocations-and, for particular reasons, the work hurried through the press with undue precipitation, I had very soon the satisfaction to know its favourable reception, as well as its acknowledged and salutary effects. All uneasiness in my own charge immediately subsidedmany who had held contrary sentiments on the subject of psalmody were convinced; and the favourable opinion of my fathers and brethren, in the most desirable instances, was expressed in terms much more flattering than I had ventured to anticipate.

In the year 1817, a pamphlet was published at Cadiz, Ohio, by the Rev. John Walker, of the Associate Church. This pamphlet contains "A Sermon" from Ps. cv. 2, and "Letters to the Rev. T. D. Baird, Minister of the Gospel at Newark, Ohio." A quotation from

the "Sermon," and another from the. "Letters," will afford the reader a sufficient specimen of Mr. Walker's work. In the sermon, p. 8, Mr. W. says, "We proceed to observe, that the command given by Hezekiah and his princes, was either judicial, ceremonial or moral: it could not be judicial, for this law only respected the Jewish politics: it could not be ceremonial, because it is, and will continue to the end of the world, a permanent duty in the church." Perhaps the reader will be able to make something of the argument of Mr. W. but it is certain I cannot unless it is this-that it will continue because it will continue; or, as the honest Caledonian would illustrate predestination, "What maun be wull be."

In the first of Mr. W's letters addressed to me, in speaking of Messrs. Latta and Black, he says, "To do these ministers justice, they had some knowledge of rhetoric; they had learned to distinguish between the style of argumentation and the style of the stage; they had studied how to reject the figure swollen to a shapeless size, and the language which sinks beneath the level of common learning," p. 45. I would have been very much gratified if the author had subjoined a note for the benefit of uninformed readers, explaining to what size a figure is swollen when it becomes shapeless, as it would require one who has some knowledge of rhetoric to illustrate that point.

The above quotations are by no means unfair specimens of Mr. W's writing; and therefore, a reply to the book was thought quite unnecessary, and none was ever offered,

In the year 1818, there appeared, at Ballston Spa, "An Apology for the Book of Psalms, in five Letters; addressed to the friends of Union in the church of God-By Gilbert M'Master, A. M." And in 1821, at Philadelphia, there appeared the "Third edition, reprinted, with some corrections, from the second edition, improved; together with animadversions upon Dr. Ely's review of the first edition." Of these I say nothing at present, as this work will occupy its full share of my attention hereafter.

In this same year an anonymous publication appeared at Carlisle, Pa. entitled, Hints on the Church Psalmody, being an attempt to repel the violence of such as would rob her of a precious right." This is the work of a firm and decided writer, and I am led to think, that if he had extended his "Hints" to the whole field of this controversy, he would at least have greatly lessened, if he would not have entirely superseded the necessity of another publication. In 1822, appeared the "design and use of the book of Psalms in the New Testament Church, illustrated and proved By Alexander Gordon, Pastor of the Associate Congregation of Guinston." This author appears as the auxiliary of Mr. M'Master, and in his preface chaunts the eulogy of his intelligence, cool impartiality, candor, &c. &c. If Mr. M'M. is a cool, impartial and candid writer, I know not how it is possible to be otherwise. If, too, the structure which Mr. M'M. has raised, should be in danger of falling, I apprehend that the buttress which Mr. Gordon has placed under it will not long sustain it.

This year, also, appeared "Strictures on a book, entitled, 'An Apology for the Book of Psalms-By Gilbert M'Master:" to which will be added, Remarks on a book, entitled, "The design and use of the Book of Psalms-By Alexander Gordon'-By Henry Ruffner, M. A. Lexington, Va. 1822."

Had this writer taken a more extensive view of the subject, he might have saved his brethren any farther trouble; for as far as he has occupied the ground, he has done it with effect: but still, it is only "Strictures" and "Remarks;" and much of the Apology, and of the question, remain untouched. What Mr. Ruffner has performed, however, shows that he was capable of

more.

I have heard of two or three other little essays on this subject, but I neither know their titles nor their merits. From such a catalogue, however, amounting to no less than twelve writers, and fourteen publications on both sides of the question, some of which have passed through several editions, it might reasonably enough bé inquired, "Where is, or can be, the call for another on the same subject?" To this, it is replied, that the greater part of those mentioned, are out of printthat those which are still in circulation, are chiefly distributed east of the mountains-that in general they are only Hints, Strictures, Remarks, &c.-that it is believed that new light can be elicited in favour of a Gospel Psalmody, and that the history of the Church on this subject, and under its different dispensations, is not as well known, or as much noticed, as would be profitable to the worshippers of God.