determine for itself wherein that does consist. This is a problem for majesty. For a citizen under any government to determine this for his own rule, would be to become a self-constituted oracle of an "arcanum imperii." It pertains to the prerogative of royalty, to determine what is for the public good. This is declared plainly by the law, or the of fice is delegated to some subordinate function, a judicial or ministerial magistracy, to which it pertains to declare, to expound or to execute.

Should any theorist believe that the supreme authority had mistaken the general welfare, and that he understands the subject much better, he will nevertheless, if a good citizen, submit to the public policy; but if he be enthusiastic and very conscientious, he may prove refractory, and with the fixed determination to serve the state, in the best possible way, scorn the public authority and trample the laws under foot. However sincere this man's purposes to " do good," no earthly sovereign would tolerate with impunity, such contempt and rebellion: although as human legislators and judges are not infallible, the contumacious citizen may possibly be right in his speculations. It is indispensible to the very existence of all sovereign power, that it always possess the full dominion over the legislative, judicial and executive departments; for the law would not remain did not the authorized interpretation bind; and it would become a dead letter did not the sovereign execute his own interpretation. The question therefore of duty, in respect to the state for the time being, is not abstract; what is best for the public? but what is the law? how is it written? The opinion of the state expressed by its constituted organs is the rule. The "ultima ratio," for law in every form of supreme dominion is the will of the sovereign. "Ita lex scripta est."

Human laws necessarily vary, as the legislature changes its policy; for the law being based on utilty, when experience teaches a new lesson by practical results or theory promises better things; the law is changed for "cessat ratione cessat et ipsa lex." As a code of morals then, the system of the human triangle, must result in a temporising expediency; a Jesuitical sophistry and compromise; or a universal Pyrrhonism. No one, therefore, while pecking here, will quarry the true rock. Before we take leave of this part of our subject, and of the political economists, we would remark, that the substratum of all their philosophy

(which is sound) is from the Bible, and that the three following principles are at the basis of the true science of government. I Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.*

II. In the sweat of thy fuce shalt thou eat thy bread.† Six days shalt thou labor. If any will not work neither should he eat.§

III. The supreme power is the minister of God in the state; a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.|| The civil power is the ordinance of God to maintain JusTICE, not to do good; to defend and protect the peaceable subject in his person and property from fraud and violence, from foes within and foes without, peaceably if possible, forcibly if necessary; and to this end the power of the sword is given. The great pervading principle of the divine gov ernment with respect to the doings of mankind is thou shalt not do.

The political economist will perceive that the above canons of scripture, if obeyed, would realize his dreams and the golden age of fable.

The first would establish universal peace, the second unmitigated prosperity and happiness, and the third all improper" tampering" of government in "other men's matters."

We will next proceed to notice the operations of these triangular principles upon the church, and then upon individuals.

(To be Continued.)

ART. IV.-CHARACTER OF THe late Rev. ALVAN HYDE, D. D., OF LEE, MASS.

By the REV. CYRUS YALE, of New-Hartford, Con.

FIVE years have now passed away, since the death of the lamented Dr. Hyde. His exit, sorrowful as sudden, received at the time very suitable and extensive notice. A memoir of his life soon appeared from the Boston press. This met the hearty welcome of the Christian community, as a choice addition to its religious biography. Many a

"Math. 19 19.

$2 Thes. 3: 10.

+Gen. 3: 19.

*Exod. 20: 9.

Rom. 13: 1-8. Tit. 3: 1. 1 Pet. 2: 13-25.

delighted reader has found himself breathing a holy and healthful atmosphere throughout the volume. At this late hour, to pronounce the memoir a good likeness, would be only to echo the united voice of not a few competent judges. The portrait was, in truth, chiefly formed of sketchings from Dr. Hyde's own pencil, while the friendly hand that arranged the whole, and now and then gave a judicious touch, very happily concealed itself behind the features it would help portray.

Not a portrait, but a miniature of the lovely man is the humbler aim of this article. Our position, at this distance of time, has possibly a balance of advantage for presenting the stronger points of a character, around which the memory of friendship loves to linger. If the view, at this mellowing distance, lose somewhat in vividness, and in strength of emotion, it may gain more in sober correctness. So long a delay might indeed be fatal to one of different cast, and less solid worth. But the elements of Dr. Hyde's character are not ephemeral. So rare a combination of excellences will bear severest scrutiny. And the longer we view them, the deeper will be our sense of their value. Such constellations of virtue "fear not time." They appear best, apart from adventitious circumstances, alone, in the circle of their own glory.

Dr. Hyde was not one of those moral meteors--alas their frequency of late!-whose coruscations, fitful and portentuous, dazzle, and delight and astonish the gaping multitude for a moment, and then give place to their own legitimate progeny of still newer forms and movements, if not higher pretensions. More like the sun; he rose bright in life's fair morning, and steadily ascended to the high meridian, and there hung long in mid-heaven, without loss of splendor--casting forth his benign beams over a broad circle:-till, on a sudden, thousands felt a strong chill-they eagerly raised their eyes-the luminary was gone--God had taken him up to higher sphere, and the burst of grief was universal. And the sad news called forth from many a bleeding heart the spontaneous effusion; "My Father, my Father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof!"

In his character, we find no features of marked greatness, in the popular sense-no eccentricity or peculiarity, of any sort. His very uncommon usefulness, and his high standing in the church, seemed to result more from a happy combination of many good qualities common to man, than

from one or a few strong features of rare occurrence; more from a wise and uniform course of untiring action in his Master's service, in all the relations of life, than from a few gigantic efforts and splendid performances. Neither the daily observers of his life, nor strangers, as they turned from him, were accustomed to exclaim: "What strength of intellect! what power of imagination! what a wonderful man!"

One prominent characteristic was stern integrity. Straight forward in his course, and chiefly desirous to perform his duty, fearless of consequences, he made use of no pitiful trick to carry a favorite point--none of that doubledealing wisdom of this world, or adroitness, too fashionable, alas! in some clerical circles, by which a bad or a doubtful cause is sometimes sustained.

Decision was another feature of his character: not the loud and violent rashness-not the blind and inflexible obstinacy which sometimes assumes the name of decision; but a firmness based on broad views, cautiously taken-on intelligent and Christian principle--on the settled convictions of conscience. Hence, in troublous times," he was firm as the mountains round about his dwelling. If, at any time, he might seem to a stranger somewhat positive, a further acquaintance would show this appearance to have been the positiveness of principle, the sternness of well-considered argument, the inflexibility of an enlightened and tender con

science.

Honest frankness was also a striking feature of the character before us. In all important matters in which Providence required him to act, his was an open stand. No one could doubt his real sentiments. He made no effort to sail under false colors. He ever seemed to act under the full belief, that the truths he preached were from heaven, and neither required nor admitted any disguise in their presentation to men. He was therefore as bold and as fearless in their announcement, as he was skillful and firm in their defence-never betraying, by a tremulous hesitancy, a secret doubt of their correctness. It is presumed he was never suspected of a time-serving policy. He made no attempt to render error palateable, by mixing it with truth; nor did he dexterously cover up unwelcome truth with flowers of rhetoric, or with words ambiguous and dark as a Delphic oracle. "An Israelite indeed, in whom was no guile," he always spake as

under the pressure of a message from God, and as mainly solicitous to deliver it clearly and fully.

To the preceding traits may be added strong common sense. This, in a very happy combination of good qualities, contributed not a little to that extensive influence for which Dr. Hyde was so distinguished. Other men have had equal, perhaps greater influence in particular spheres, but, without hyperbole, the writer never knew the influence of a single person so universally powerful as in this case. It seemed almost illimitable, in all situations, and amid all ranks and ages and grades of culture, from the private interview with some obscure individual, up to the ecclesiastical council and the state convention. No man more uniformly carried his point, and yet always so fairly, and so meekly, and with such force of argument and simplicity of illustration, that every one saw it to be fairly done, and yielded to his views with cheerfulness at the time, and with satisfaction afterward. His was entirely the reverse of that course in which one may with equal certainty carry his point, by so encircling an opponent that he can but yield, yet with present reluctance, and subsequent sorrow, if not anger. In the former case, a person yields intelligently, cheerfully, and even eagerly, in view of strong light and motive; in the latter, he feels crampled and constrained to a compliance, by a sort of Jesuitical management, but with present reluctance and future displeasure: a sting is left behind. Dr. Hyde, like the Master he loved to imitate, dealt much in familiar parable. He spoke with a gravity, almost authority of manner at times, the result of a full conviction, joined to an ardent love of truth. The absence of all artifice was alike visible in his face, and audible in the tones of his voice. If he had the wisdom of the serpent, it was always modified and sanctified, and made doubly efficient with friends and foes, by the harmlessness of the dove.

But as Cicero's orator was to combine a broad circle of rare qualifications, so this strong specimen of Christian and .ministerial influence had other estimable properties. One of these was great kindness of heart. In all circles, there was in his looks an unearthly glow of benevolence. He seemed to feel that good will toward every one about him, which the hollow forms of society lead many awkwardly to affect. We seldom witness so fine a model of the Christian gentleman.

Few have shown so much exactness of method in all their