CHAPTER V.

Enters on his labors-Receives degree of D. D.-Doubts about accepting it-Elected President of University of VermontAnswer-Finds the northern winter unfavorable to his healthSeeks a southern climate-Effect on health-Employment while absent-Returning, attends Gen. Assembly of Pres. ChurchAppointed Prof. of Divinity in Yale College-Answer.

THE hopes which Professor Porter and his friends had fondly entertained respecting the favorable influence of a change of labors on his health, were not realized. He did, indeed, gain relief from public speaking, which, for some months previous, had been peculiarly laborious and painful. The disappointment of his hopes arose, in part, from the miscellaneous character of his duties, which required constant attention; and in part, from intense application to study, to which he felt constrained, by a due regard to the character of the Seminary, to the interests of Zion, to the improvement of his pupils, and to his own reputation, to devote every moment, not preoccupied by other official engagements. In fact, his history, from his removal to Andover to the close of his life, is the history of an invalid.

During the years 1812-1814, he continued his labors with only occasional, and in no instance very protracted interruptions, on account of ill health.

In August, 1814, the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity, was conferred upon him by Dartmouth college; -a title, it would seem, which he had some scruples about receiving. It is not known that these were communicated to any one, at the time; but it is evident from the following paper, that the subject occasioned him some solicitude.

"QUESTION. Is it right for Christians, especially Christian preachers, to receive honorary titles ?"

I. WHAT SAY THE SCRIPTURES?

They mention four sorts of ti-\

tles

It is clear that the three first

1. Civil and military, as king, nobleman, ruler, (ẞaoihinós, ag-classes of titles, or such as are xov), captain, &c. merely official, or appellations of 2. Ecclesiastical or spiritual common civility, are not directly simply, as prophet, preacher, condemned in the Bible. They apostle, teacher, (didúoxalos). All have been usual, and deemed these, if I mistake not, are used necessary in all ages and counappropriately. tries. Yet, it is not a little curi

3. Appellations of civility, as ous, that the same word (zgios) Master, Sir, Lord, (Kúgios, Domi- should be applied in the Scripnus). Master commonly denotes tures indifferently to Jehovah, to authority, "Servants, obey your an earthly prince, to a master of a (xvoiois)." Eph. vi. 5. "Be not family, and even to one neighbor many (didoxalot)." James iii. 1. by another.

("ETIOTάTα!) we perish." Luke To what a pitch of impiety viii. 24. (Kúgtos), Sir, Lord-is have reptile kings been "stuck applied to an earthly father, "Io'er with titles"-borrowed from go, Sir;"-to Christ as a common those of the infinite God! appellation, by the woman of Sa

"Men homage pay to men,

-to Christ as a divine title, of clay to clay; of guilt to guilt, and turn maria ;"Lord, Lord, open unto us."

4. Titles of respect, as Rabbi,

their backs on God

Thoughtless beneath whose awful eye they bow!"

The 4th class of titles were (Chaldaic.) These seem to have those coveted by the Scribes and been applied indefinitely to civil, Pharisees in Christ's time. They military, or ecclesiastical office. loved chief seats and greetings in Nebuzaradan was Rabbi of the the market; and to be called of guards. Ashpenaz was Rabbi of men, Rabbi. "But be not ye called the eunuchs; and Daniel Rabbi Rabbi, for one is your Master, even of the interpreters. Christ, and all ye are brethren."

The term Rabbi, in more mod-| On this passage it is said, ern times, seems to have been It forbids preachers to receive limited to ecclesiastical office, and honorary titles; because Rabbi conferred by vote of those who was an ecclesiastical title in possessed it before. Christ's time.

Ans. 1. Some have replied,— Christ spake this to "the multitude and to his disciples." These men were not preachers, nor candidates for ecclesiastical dignity. An exhortation to a modern, mixed assembly, "Be not called D. D.," would be unintelligible.

2. These Rabbis claimed to be acknowledged as infallible interpreters of God's will, and dictators of others' faith. In this, Christians must not be like them.

3. It was not their crime to be greeted in the market, or addressed respectfully by others, but they loved sounding titles; sought them; claimed them. Their vain ostentation was to be shunned by Christians.

4. The spirit of the injunction then is, that Christians, especially Christian preachers, be not vainglorious.

II. WHAT SAYS HISTORY?

1. Paul had no doctorate, nor Ans. 1. It is said that Paul had had any of the first preachers of no degree of A. B. or A. M.the gospel. and that literary degrees of every sort are modern things.

2. After these honorary degrees began to be given on the continent, some of the first and best men were omitted, as Calvin and others.

3. They were not conferred on Baxter, Flavel, etc.

2. Luther and others were not omitted.

3. English universities have never conferred them on dissenters.

4. This degree was refused by 4. Newton's objection was that the excellent J. Newton, and, so he was not a literary man. But it is said, by A. Fuller; and proba- it was accepted by Watts, Dodbly would have been by President dridge, and others in England; Edwards, had it been conferred. by Witherspoon, Hopkins, Bel

lamy, J. Edwards, Jr., Increase Mather, and others in this coun Itry.

III. THE TENDENCY IS BAD.

1. It makes a distinction among men who are equal in office.

1. If it makes any distinction, it is only literary, not official. But

2. It makes no distinction, because it is so often conferred upon boys and blockheads, that it ceases to denote that real distinction which personal and official merit establishes.

"The rage for titles on earth, especially in the church, is one striking mark of human littleness. The style of the Roman pontiff, 'Your Holiness'—of the Greek patriarch, Your All-Holiness'—of the Metropolitan,' Your Beatitude;' or of the priest,' Your old age,' to denote wisdom, especially when applied to young men, are sufficiently ridiculous.

"And the modern title of D. D. is often so conferred as to excite contempt. He that can look at facts in this case, and then be pleased with the application of it to himself, has 'great pride, or little sense.' He that can be tickled with a ring or rattle, has the heart of a child, and not of a minister.

"What then shall a sober man do? If he refuses this title on general principles, because it is inconsistent with the spirit of the gospel, he charges a long list of such worthies as Watts, &c. with wearing a public mark of pride or folly. If he refuses it on principles that respect himself only, he is liable to be charged with the ostentation of humility; and really needs much prayer and heart-searching to be certain that 'cursed pride' is not at the bottom. Too much noise to get rid of this contemptible honor, ' resembles ocean into tempest wrought, to waft a feather or to drown a fly.' A wise man would not kill a gnat, by a blow that might fracture his leg.

"What shall I do? My official relations involve this question in peculiar difficulties. Lord, direct me."

In March, 1815, Dr. Porter was elected President of the University of Vermont. From communications addressed to him in connection with his appointment, it appears that the institution at that time, was in a broken state. For some years, the attempt on the part of certain

of its trustees, to introduce lax theological sentiments, had created unhappy divisions, and exerted a deleterious influence upon its interests. Several of the trustees who entertained evangelical sentiments, having become satisfied that the college could not under these circumstances become what they desired it should be, had resigned their places; and the remainder of the board, fearing that the institution might expire under their administration, had surrendered it into the hands of the State legislature, in whom the ultimate control of it was vested. Some changes in its statutes were made; several new trustees were elected, and another effort was resolved upon to sustain it. But an application having been made for the use of the college edifice, to accommodate the United States' troops then stationed in the vicinity, it was accepted; the few remaining students were disbanded, and the officers dismissed. On the return of peace, the trustees again determined to place the institution on a permanent footing. With this view, they resolved to elect officers, whose religious sentiments should correspond with those of the patrons of the college generally; and whose influence would warrant the hope of its future prosperity and usefulness. To Dr. Porter, say the letters from which the preceding facts are collected, the eyes of the trustees were turned, and they unanimously concurred in his election to the presidency. This appointment he thought it his duty to decline, for the reasons stated in the subjoined answer to the trustees.

"The Honorable and Reverend, the Board of Trustees of the University of Vermont.

"Gentlemen,

"The documents certifying your election of me as President of your University, have been communicated