MISCELLANY.

ELOQUENT EXTRACT.
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From an essay in tho New.Haven Christian Spec. tator, entitled "On the adoption of christian charac. ter to the cxgencies of the age, make the follow ing extract, as uniting rare felicity of expression with fefvent piety. It will be admired as well by the scholar as the christian. Alter noticing at some length the four following features ofthe present ago. to wit

 diffusion and general progress of Knowledge sp. rt ofrestessness and innovaon-the nlidelity which abounds-and an en.erprse heretofore unparaleledn the world,-the writer proceeds: Winchester Rep.

 "All the circumstances heretofore con. sidered serve to illustrate another which is the most important characteristic of our times. The present is critical period of the world. By this mean that on the e. vents of the passing age great results are depending. The age is distinguished by 1 the diffusion and progress of knowledge, by the love of finnovation, by secretly spread- ing infdelity, and by the spirit of bound. ! less enterprise. This wide diffusion and rapid progress of knowledge, has accom-. plished much and will accomplish more.- This restless desire of innovation is over- turning dynasties, it is shaking the power of old opinions, it is changing long estab- lished customs, it is revolutionizing .he total aspect of society. This infidelity--- secret yet mighty--is either to be defeated or triumph. This spirit of enterprise, which is exciting and moving the entire mass of human existence, will have its great results --results as yet unknown. And the cir- cumstances of the world all declare that the present is crisis in the history of man. Look as our country its political institu- tions just coming to maturity; its popula- sion spreading to fill atarritory wide as the widest empire ofthe world the light of its example held up for hope and guidance to the nations its means ofreligious in. structions far below its actual wants, and annually falling still farther in the rear oi its ever growing necessities who shall rend she veil that hides fltufity and show us the result9 Look to the southern re- publics of our continent, breaking loose from the chains of Spanish and papal dom. ination, and either to be tossed for ages on the deep of anarchy and in6delty, or td rest in peace under the dominion of liber. al governments, sustained--as liberal gov. ernments must be--by the pure gospel ot Christ on the events ofa few years tlieiI destiny is turning. Look to Europe; hel tUEOUGS tUttubtsskSssGs usSsus SsssSS 10 their fall, and all the elements ofsociety inshat sta.o of disorganization which only needs . spark to produce general exple. sion; it E acrisis there; who shall meas, ure the results that are at issue? Look ts Asia light Is breaking in upon her dark ness commerce and the press are there

 and there she proaChrrs of the Gospel flew indeed and far between, are powerfully op

 eEasing with commerce and the press in th' advancing work of revolution. Look tt Africa: her sons, long carried captive ant euslayed, are returning. and bringing wisl tlem tho institutions of liberty and th' light of the Gospel; and wherever the, plant themselves, there commences a rev Olntion ffaught with great results. Ev ery illing pE0claims crisis insthe affairs Q llIis long agisnteawcvld." !"