those who will, in other respects, cordially agree with Dr. C. Notwithstanding the conditions which he proposes, as necessary to make war justifiable, each nation will judge for itself, when these conditions exist; and no nation engages in a war, which it does not persuade itself to be necessary. Napoleon's disastrous expedition to Russia was, in his view, a matter of dire necessity. We doubt whether any thing short of the great temperance principletotal abstinence-can be consistently maintained by the advocates of peace. We are not, however, prepared to say, that a strictly defensive resistance to outrage is forbidden by the great Christian rule of love. It might be argued, that love to our fellow men requires us to prevent them from suffering wrong, if it is in our power. This obligation becomes stronger, in proportion to the closeness of the ties which bind us to them. If, then, to protect those who are confided to our care, it becomes necessary to inflict harm on him who would injure them, it is difficult to say how the law of love is violated. And, in regard to the perpetrator of wrong, it is questionable, whether love to him would not prompt us rather to resist him, than to suffer him to proceed unimpeded in his career of crime. These few principles appear to us to contain the essence of the whole argument about war; but we have not time now to expand them. Dr. Channing had in his mind the existing difficulties with France, and he applies his reasoning to this case: "Suppose for example a people to have been spoiled by another state of" five millions of dollars." To recover this by war, it must expend fifty or a hundred millions more, and will almost certainly come forth from the contest burthened with debt. Nor is this all. It loses more than wealth. It loses many lives. Now life and property are not to be balanced against each other. If a nation, by slaying a single innocent man, could possess itself of the wealth of worlds, it would have no right to destroy him for that cause alone. A human being cannot be valued by silver and gold; and of consequence a nation can never be authorised to sacrifice or expose thousands of lives, for the mere recovery of property of which it has been spoiled. To secure compensation for the past, is very seldom a sufficient object for war. The true end is, security for the future. An injury inflicted by one nation on another, may manifest a lawless, hostile spirit, from which, if unresisted, future and increasing outrages are to be feared, which would embolden other communities in wrong-doing, and against which neither property, nor life, nor liberty would be secure, To protect a state from this spirit of violence and unprincipled aggression, is the duty of rulers, and protection may be found only in war. Here is the legitimate occasion and the true end of an appeal to arms. me ask you to apply this rule of wisdom to a case, the bearings of which will be easily seen. Suppose then an injury to have been inflicted on us by a foreign nation a quarter of a century ago. Suppose it to have been inflicted by a government, which has fallen through its lawlessness, and which can never be restored. Suppose this injury to have been followed, during this long period, by not one hostile act, and not one sign of a hostile spirit. Suppose a disposition to repair it to be expressed by the head of the new government of the injurious nation; and suppose farther, that our long endurance has not exposed us to a single insult from any other power since the general pacification of Europe. Under these circumstances, can it be pretended, with any show of reason, that threatened wrong, or that future security, requires us to bring upon ourselves and the other nation the horrors and miseries of war? Does not wisdom join with humanity in reprobating such a conflict?" pp. 26, 27. Let We entirely agree with Dr. C. in his views of the French question. We trust, that before this article shall appear, the affair will be amicably adjusted. But, if it should not be-if France should refuse to pay the debt-we say that the United States would do wrong to declare war. Her interests would certainly be promoted by peace, and her true honor would be more advanced, by magnanimous forbearance, than by war. Where would be the disgrace, if France should refuse to do us justice? Assuredly, it would be hers alone. And how would our honor suffer, if, instead of declaring war, the United States should declare to mankind, that she will not, for a merely pecuniary consideration, disturb the peace of the world, and shed human blood? Do men require any evidence that the Americans can fight, if need be? Would any nation be emboldened to insult us? We do not believe that any nation would respect or fear us less. Let us do right, and trust in God, that he will uphold the right. We earnestly hope, that, if France shall again refuse to execute the treaty, our country will, with calm dignity, adhere to the treaty, and leave the wrong on France. Nay, we should rejoice, if Congress would appropriate five millions of dollars, to pay the claimants under the treaty, and declare, that as France refused to pay her just debts, the United States deemed it due to their own honor to repay the amount expended by France for our defence, in the war of our Independence, and that the sum of five millions should be deducted from that amount, the remainder to be paid whenever the French government should present the vouchers for the sums advanced. This would be a dignified, a Christian mode of settling the dispute. France, we believe, would feel this measure more keenly than any blow which the arm of war could inflict. We must close this long article by quoting the concluding sentences of the sermon. "How long will the friends of humanity, of religion, of Christ, silently, passively, uncomplainingly, suffer the men of this world, the ambitious, vindictive and selfish, to array them against their brethren in conflicts which they condemn and abhor? Shall not truth, humanity, and the mild and holy spirit of Christianity find a voice, to rebuke and awe the wickedness which precipitates nations into war, and to startle and awaken nations to their fearful responsibility in taking arms against the children of their Father in Heaven. Prince of peace! Saviour of men! Speak in thine own voice of love, power and fearful warning; and redeem the world, for which thou hast died, from lawless and cruel passions, from the spirit of rapine and murder, from the Powers of Darkness and Hell!" To this sublime and touching prayer to our divine Redeemer, all Christians must say, most devoutly-Amen. If Dr. Channing always wrote thus, it would, as Dr. Johnson said of Gray's Elegy, "be vain to blame, and useless to praise him." LITERARY NOTICES. LITERARY CULTURE INCREASING | paid to the mischief done to the minds of ISTRY. THE POWER OF THE CHRISTIAN MIN- the young, by our popular text books on MEMOIRS OF MISS CAROLINE E. 1835. 18mo. This is a very neat republication of a Memoir which first appeared in 1818. Having previously known and prized it highly, we are happy in meeting with it in this new and beautiful edition. It is eminently adapted to do good in a Sabbath School Library. WITH NATURAL THEOLOGY, PAXTON'S Miss Smelt was born in Augusta, (Geo.) Dec. 28, 1800, and died Sept. 21, 1917, at the age of sixteen, a lovely We fully example of youthful piety. concur with Dr. Spring, of New York, "that mothers who love their in saying, daughters, and daughters who love their mothers, and all who love our Lord Jesus Christ, will find much in this brief narraCHRISTIAN ETHICS: or MORAL PHI tive which they will wish to cherish, and LOSOPHY ON THE PRINCIPLES OF wish to remember." PALEY'S By RALPH DIVINE REVELATION. From the second WARDLAW, D.D. London edition; with an Introductory Essay by Leonard Woods, D.D. New Boston: York: D. Appleton and Co. William Pierce. 12mo. pp. 380. We have not yet found time to give this work a thorough reading: but we have examined it sufficiently to be satisfied of the truth and importance of the principles, for which Dr. Wardlaw in general contends. Our researches among the writers on Moral Philosophy, long ago convinced us that there was nothing sound or valuable in them, save what was coincident with the Oracles of GOD; that most of the laborious speculations on this subject have been but tedious and teasing efforts to very little purpose; and that there are many men in the world, who prefer to go wrong on human authority or their own ingenuity, to going right upon the authority and love of God. It is high time that more attention was The present edition is exceedingly beautiful. Nothing in the form of a school book, so elegant as this, has perhaps been The issued from the American press. descriptions (in which Paley excels,) are illustrated by Dr. Paxton, in thirty distinct plates, comprising hundreds of figures; from which the argument of the author derives all the advantage and force of the reader's "faithful eyes." And with all, but especially the young, this advantage is great. The work is also enriched with notes, by Dr. Paxton, and additional ones by the American editor. A Vocabulary of Scientific terms-a very essential thing-is appended. It has also a fine frontispiece, designed to illustrate the sublime influence of a truly religious belief, the motto of which, borrowed fron "The World thencePaley himself is: forth becomes a Temple, and life itself one continued act of adoration." MISSIONARY REGISTER. Subscriptions and Donations to the General Convention of the Eaptist Denomination, in the United States, for Foreign Missions, &c., should be transmitted to Heman Lincoln, Esq., Treasurer, at the Baptist Missionary Rooms, No. 17, Joy's Buildings, Washington Street, Boston. The communications for the Corresponding Secretary should be directed to the same place. -these are the sentiments which he advanced and defended with no small degree of skill. I admitted that all religions in which visible objects were worshipped, had originated in the ignorance and depravity of mankind; and, on the other hand, I contended, that the existence and universality of religion was a strong argument in avor of a Supreme Be ing, and of man's accountability to these sentiments form the basis of that Being; if not, why is it that all religions that exist? If there is no God, there is no law; and, if there is no law, there is no difference between vice and virtue; thus you sunder every bond by which society is held together. Burman Prisoners. MR. KINCAID'S JOURNAL. Ava, Feb. 5, 1834. Dispute with an Atheist. Had a long dispute with a man 13. The verandah has been well who has abandoned heathenism, and filled, nearly the whole day, with an became an atheist in sentiment. The assembly of listeners; some of whom universe has no creator or governor appeared to receive a good impres-the earth, air, fire, and water, are sion. At evening, took a walk near four elements, which have eternally the palace enclosure, and was affectexisted, and are continually under-ed at the sight of many poor wretchgoing new and constant transforma- es in chains, wandering about to Lions, dependent on laws inherent in seek a morsel of rice at the hand of themselves a misapprehension of charity. How widely different the these laws has led men to the adoption of sentiments contradictory in themselves, and destructive to human happiness-the idea of a Supreme Being has originated from a misunderstanding of ancient legends, which only designed to extol the glory and virtues of kings and heroes! situation of prisoners in America; furnished with food and_raiment, kindly treated, and every effort made to instil into their minds principles of piety and virtue. Here, prisoners of all classes are thrown into one common prison, as completely horrible as any place can be, and perhaps exceeded by no other, unless it be the dungeons of the Inquisition. The keepers appear to be monsters in the form of men, divested of all the common properties of humanity. 16. Sabbaths in Burmah. The dawning of another Sabbath reminds us, most forcibly, that we are in a land under the dominion of the prince of darkness. The driving of carts, the trampling of horses, the incessant chattering of men, women, and children, are deafening through the whole day. When, oh when will the sublimity of the Christian Sabbath be understood and felt in idolatrous Burmah! Several of our heathen neighbors understand us so well that they never call upon us on the Lord's day, unless it be to sit down and listen to the preaching. The Burman week is divided into seven days. The first day of the week is the Christian Sabbath. The Burman worship; days are governed by the moon, and they occur every eight days. The day of the full moon is the most sacred among them; yet it is observed as the Papists observe the Christian Sabbath-by committing more wickedness that day than on all others. Errors about Infant Baptism. 19. About 12 o'clock, to-day, an Armenian merchant called, and inquired for me. I came into the room; and, perceiving he was much distressed, inquired the cause. He said an infant child of his had taken the small pox, and could not live many hours. He wished, therefore, I would go to his house, without delay, and baptize his child. I said, "Why do you wish your child to be baptized? "That it may not go to hell." "Did not Christ come into the world to save men?" "Yes." "How, then, do you expect that baptism will save your child?" "Does not the word say, 'He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved?" "It truly does; and, if your child believes, I will baptize it immediately." "The child cannot believe, but I wish you would come. I will give any thing to have my child baptized." 66 "I cannot do it, and it will do your child no good." My church baptizes all children, and so does the English church." "I know they do. They took it from the Papists; and it is hard for them to give up the tradition, just as it is hard for the their fathers." "I shall feel better Burmans to give up the traditions of to have my child baptized before it dies." 66 ter? Not because you find it in the Why would you feel betword of God, but because your fathers would come. It will do no hurt, if "But I wish you practised it." it will do no good." "I am sorry you are so distressed, but I can help you no other way, than to commend you to the word of God." This man, tion of his child, lives, in all respects, with all his anxiety about the salvalike the heathen. Greeks, Portuimmoral in their lives, and are more guese, and Americans, are grossly treacherous in their dealings than the heathen. Here in Ava, intelligent Burmans are often alluding to this fact, when they feel the foundations of heathenism crumbling be neath their feet. Views of the World to come. 23. Lord's day morning, had nineteen at worship, and eighteen in the evening. Three inquirers staid some time after worship, and repeated much of the discourse, which was founded on the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. They appeared much struck with the idea that the joys of heaven and the miseries of hell will be eternal. In the mythology of the Burmans' transmigration, is a prominent feature.-Change is inseparably connected with existence; and he who enjoys the most perfect happiness to-day, is liable to be plunged into the lowest abyss of misery to-morrow; therefore, annihilation is the only supreme good. Interesting Visiters from Mud-da-ma. 27. It is surprising that a knowledge of our books and of our residence in Ava, has become so widely diffused in this populous district. Two females from Mud-da-ma, a |