268 Christian Philosophy. the midst of the churches, and the stars which he holds in his right hand. In point of steadiness and of consistency, and of communicativeness to others, they should resemble the suns, or fixed stars; which never deviate from their spheres, but impart unwavering and unremitting light to all around them. In point of zeal, and activity, and of indefatigableness, in their holy calling, they should like the planetary globes, without cessation and without weariness, pursue their shining course; and, conformably to the maxim of Julius Cæsar, Think nothing done, while aught remains to do. In this respect, Venus is a pattern, both to ministers, and to private believers. She rolls round the sun in about 225 days, which constitute her year; and at the rate of 70,000 miles an hour: which exceeds the velocity of the earth's annual motion, by about 10,000 miles an hour. Thus this exemplary planet connects the most pleasing graces of lustre and delicacy, with all the ardour of diligence and rapidity: like some elegant and industrious lady, who crowns the charms of personal beauty with the still more valuable services of domestic housewifery. Besides her yearly tour around the sun, it is more than probable that Venus performs a regular revolution about her own axis. From the maculæ, or spots, which, in the years 1665 and 1666, Cassina and Campani discovered on her surface; those two philosophers have ascertained the reality of her diurnal motion: which diurnal motion she accomplishes in about 25 days: so that one of her days is equal to 23 of ours.-One duty should not be permitted to supersede another. There are personal duties which we owe to ourselves; no less than relative virtues, which we ought to exercise toward our neighbours. Connect the two together in your own practice, and you will exhibit a moral exemplification of the harmony with which Venus and the other moving spheres accomplish their compound, (that is, their annual and diurnal) rotations, without any shadow of competition or interfer ence. "On their own axis as the planets run, Yet make at once their circle round the sun; And one regards itself, and one the whole." But be it carefully remembered, that, as the sun is the ultimate and common centre of all the planetary movements: so we shall never be able to discharge our various personal and social duties, acceptably to God, in spirit and in truth, until his glory is the grand and sole end of all the works and duties we perform whether immediately referable to ourselves or others." As unto the Lord, and not (merely) unto men," least of all for the pleasing or aggrandizing of that wretched thing called self; may stand as the universal motto, to every virtue that is truly Christian and evangelical. Venus, though so justly admired for her beauty, and celebrated for her lustre, still has her dark side. When this is turned toward Christian Philosophy. 269 our earth, her rays are no longer beheld, and she herself becomes invisible. As each believer, shine he ever so brightly, is, at present, sanctified but in part; need we wonder, if, on some occasions, the splendour of his gifts, and the radiancy of his graces; suffer a temporal eclipse? At such times, let our candour and forbearance have their perfect work. After a certain period, Venus will emerge from the shade, and beam forth in all the loveliness of her usual lustre and when the declining saint has sat his appointed time in darkness, the Lord will again be a light unto him. Happy is that benighted soul, whose faith (for it is the peculiar business of faith's eye, to see in the dark) can pierce the gloom; anticipate the return of day; and long for a final approximation to the Suu of Righteousness, in that world of glory, where no more cloud nor darkness shall obscure our views, tarnish our graces, or damp our joys for ever. The solar light and heat, on Venus, are estimated to be four times greater than on the planet inhabited by us. Why? Because her distance from the source of both, is considerably less than ours. In like manner, bright evidences, and warm experiences, of our interest in Christ, and of the work of his Spirit upon. our souls, are generally the blessed consequences of living near to God, and of walking closely with him, in all holy conversation, prayer, and watchful godliness. The joy and liveliness of grace (though not grace itself) may be sinned away. Spiritual comfort is a tender plant, and requires much delicacy of treatment. To be triumphant and alert in the ways of God, you must take equal heed of wandering, and of slumbering. Venus's orbit, or path of rotation, is for the most part, extremely regular: hardly any point of it being more remote from the sun, than another. Hence this planet is remarkable for always preserving nearly an equal distance from that luminary. Similar is the experience of some believers. They enjoy, rather, an even and settled peace, than any exuberant overflowings of consolation. Their habitation is, mostly, on the middle region of Mount Tabor; instead of being now elevated to the summit, and anon turned down into the valley below. The manner is not always exactly the same, in which the Holy Spirit trains his disciples to a meetness for their heavenly inheritance. Like a judicious and careful tutor, he wisely and condescendingly adapts his modes of instruction, to the genius, and to the particular improvement, of each individual pupil: until, baving taken their appointed degree in grace, they ascend, one by one, to their glorious home above. Venus is, in size, somewhat less than our earth; and yet contains about the same quantity of matter, though in a smaller compass. In other words, the body of Venus is denser than that of the earth, as being so much nearer to the sun. Appearances are not the invariable standard of intrinsic worth. Our globe, which is undeniably larger, or occupies more space, than Venus, is not more wealthy, in constituent particles, than she. Her's lie closer together than ours; and therefore make less show. Ours are less compact or 270 Education Society in New England. compressed than her's, and therefore swell into a greater visible magnitude. It is probable that Venus, like Mercury, has no attending satellite, or moon. Cassini, indeed, in the last century, thought he had discovered one: but he seems to have been mistaken. Venus's vicinity to the sun seems to render the services of such a companion unnecessary. Just as, in the world of the blessed, the saints will need no ministry of the word, nor other means of grace; bécause they will then walk in the light of the Lamb, and with face behold the glory of the Lord. EDUCATION SOCIETY, EXTRACTS open [Toplady. From the Constitution of the Education Society for People of Colour in New-England. Impressed with the vast importance of the Christian Ministry, as connected with the conversion of sinners, and the edification of the church; and desirous to furnish to young men of piety and talents the means of acquiring an education, with a view to extend their public usefulness; we do hereby associate and adopt the following Constitution : ART. 1. This Society shall be styled the Education Society for the People of Colour in New-England. ART. 2. It shall be composed of all such persons as pay inte its funds one dollar annually. ART. 3. The object of this society shall be to afford the means of education to all such young men of colour, of any denomination, as shall furnish to the churches of which they are members, and to the Executive Committee hereafter named, evidence of their personal piety, and call to the work of the ministry. ART. 4. The Society shall hold an annual meeting at Boston, on the first Wednesday in Oct. at 10 o'clock, A. M. ART. 5. At every annual meeting, the Society shall elect fifteen Trustees. ART. 6. Every Church, or Auxiliary Society, which shall contribute the sum of twenty dollars annually, shall have the right of appointing an additional Trustee. ART. 7. Every person who shall contribute the sum of twenty dollars at one time, shall be a member for life; and every person who shall contribute the sum of 50 dollars at one time, shall be a Trustee for life. ART. 10. At the annual meeting of the Trustees, they shall elect by ballot, an Executive Committee of seven persons and a Treasurer, who shall be ex-officio, a member of the Committee. ART. 12 The Executive Committee shall appoint their Chairman and Secretary; shall receive applications of candidates, and judge of their qualifications; shall determine the instructors to be employed, and the time which the candidates shall devote to study: and shall manage the concerns of the Institution. They shall an New Auxiliaries to the American B. S. 271 nually expend the amount received, if a sufficient number of approved candidates make application; and render an annual report of their proceedings to the Board of Trustees. ART. 13. The Executive Committee shall meet semi-annually, at such time and place as they agree upon; and oftener, if called together by the Chairman. The following gentlemen baving been requested to meet at the house of the Rev. Mr. Paul, Boston, Nov. 4, 1817, were there notified of their appointment to act as the Executive Committee of the above mentioned Society. Rev. Thomas Baldwin, D. D. Rev. John Codman; Rev. Daniel Sharp; Rev. Sereno E. Dwight; Rev. Richard S. Storrs; Rev. James M. Winchell; Rev. Thomas Paul; The Rev. Dr. Baldwin, was chosen Chairman, and R. S. Storrs, Secretary. COMMUNICATED FOR THE CHRISTIAN HERALD. ·Extract of a letter from Thomas Bosworth, missionary teacher at Port-au-Prince, to his friend in New-York. "I am happy to hear that the cause of liberty is gaining ground in America; that the advocates for slavery are decreasing. The little observation that I have made of men of colour convinces me they are our brethren, possessing every faculty of which we can boast; and are as capable of filling important situations of life as ourselves, if they are permitted to enjoy the same advantages. To what do they owe their present degradation? What has so contracted their minds ?--I do not hesitate to answer-it is the imposition of slavery. Among the few children I have had under my instruction here, I do assure you they have made more improvement than any 1 ever knew in England; and this seems to be the general character of the blacks who have had equal advantages with ourselves. Nov. 18, 1817.” New Auxiliaries to the Amer. B. S. "The Cumberland B. S." (in Sumner County, Tennessee,) 20th September, 1817. Mr. John Allah, Secretary. "The Female Aux. B. S. of the town of Westchester and its vicinity," (New-York,) 5th November, 1817. Miss Mary Wilkins, Secretary. "The Watertown Aux. B. S." (Connecticut,) recently formed. Rev. Uriah Gridley, President; Mr. Benjamin De Forest, Sec'y. "The Franklin B. S." (Pennsylvania,) 11th November, 1817. "The African B. S." (of New-York,) Rev. William Miller, President; Charles Carter, Sec. 272 Sunday School Notice.-Poetry. SUNDAY SCHOOL NOTICE. The superintendents and managers of Sunday Schools throughout the United States are respectfully informed that the Anniversary of the Sunday school Union Society will be held in this city on the first Wednesday in May next. As the system has, under the good Providence of God, spread to almost the extremities of the Union, the Society are very desirous of collecting every interesting fact respecting their establishment, progress, and present state. Managers and superintendents are therefore earnestly requested to transmit such facts as are within their power, so as to arrive in NewYork by the first week in April, in order that they may be inserted in the annual Report. The letters to be directed to the Secretary. By order of the Board,' New-York, Jan. 13, 1818. G. P. SHIPMAN, Sec. pro. tem. Editors of papers in every part of the Union who are friends to the uneducated poor, are requested to give this an insertion, and let such Editors look for their reward in the good which may be produced, and in the approbation of the friend of man. FOR THE CHRISTIAN HERALD. Lines addressed to the members of the New-York Juvenile Hindoo Society. Little band, thus early enter'd On the list with Jesus' friends, In him all your love be center'd, On him all your hopes depend. Prompt you to the generous deed, May you, by its precepts living, Means to hear instruction's voice. méasure Guide and bless you all your days. HYMN, Sung by the Children of the St. George's (England) East Methodist Sunday His hands were open to caress, Prolong our benefactors' days, |