TERMS. The LITERARY AND THEOLOGICAL REVIEW will be published quarterly in March, June, September, and December. The price is $3 per annum, if paid previous to December of the current year, otherwise it will be $4. Subscribers who do not give notice of discontinuance previous to December, will be considered as continuing the work for the succeeding year. Remittances, in current money, may be made to authorized agents, or directly to the publisher through the mail, postage paid. Postmasters are authorized to act as agents also for this purpose. Agents are requested to give notice of any change either in the address or number of their subscribers. September, 1838. CONTENTS OF NO. XIX. LITERARY AND THEOLOGICAL REVIEW. NO. XIX.-SEPTEMBER, 1838. ART. I.—THE CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF FREQUENT DISSOLUTIONS OF THE PASTORAL RELATION. By Rev. GEORGE CARRINGTON. Hadlyme, Conn. THE frequent changes in the pastoral relation, which are, at present, and for some time have been taking place, demand the attentive and prayerful consideration of the churches generally. Once, and within the recollection of many, it was otherwise. The thing is a departure from usage, ancient and well established. It is incumbent on the churches, to examine this innovation, as to its origin, its character, and its tendency. I. AS TO ITS ORIGIN. This has reference to its introduction into churches, established, and uniform in their practice, like those in NewEngland. Churches in new settlements, weak and not fully organized, or not well compacted, are, for obvious reasons, liable to frequent changes in their ministry. But, even among these, if they are in a sound state, the tendency of things, in this respect, always is, to permanency. In Connecticut, so perfect was the harmony between the ecclesi. astical and the civil influences of the community, from the very first, that the settlement and incorporation of a town, was the beginning of a ministry as permanent as ever exVOL. V. 45 |