We have been favoured, (say the Editors) by a learned and pious Correspondent, with a very interesting account of the literary contest which has for a considerable time past, been maintained in Germany, between the friends and the opposers of Christianity. The importance of the subject, and the very imperfect knowledge which hitherto has been obtained of it in our country, induce us to present this statement to our readers, in the form in which we received it; pledging our own credit on the general accuracy of the representation.

I APPREHEND, there has hardly been a period since the first establishment of Christianity, in which such a multitude of different and opposite opinions, on matters of religion in general, and on the Christian system in particular, has existed, as in this portentous age. It is true, er. rors have prevailed, more or less, in every period of the Church; yet, I am inclined to think, that our day exceeds them all. Often I am forcibly struck by that passage in the cxixth Psalm, "It is time for thee, Lord, to work, for they have made void thy law." Though there is a vast difference among those, who seem to pursue the same in the main road, yet the modern philosophers and divines, in Germany, and in other parts of the Continent, apparently divide into three principal classes.

1. There is a party that rejects all revelation, and regards the religion of the Bible as a system of ignorance, fanaticism, and fraud. Writers of this class treat the Prophets, the Apostles, and our blessed Lord himself, as enthusiasts, or as wilful deceivers; they reject all the signs and wonders of the Old Testament, the miracles of our Saviour, and even the historical facts of his resurrection, ascension, &c. as mere fables; or, at least, they deny them to be the effects Vol. I. No. 8.

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of any supernatural power. admit nothing in the Bible, that does not accord to the dictates of reason, which they represent as the only competent tribunal. This party, which

is neither inconsiderable in numbers, nor destitute of able and learned advocates, affects what they call a superior criticism; attempting, by a perversion of Oriental languages, of history and antiquity, of ancient and modern philosophy, to destroy the foundation of a Christian's faith and hope, and to establish their own sys

tems.

In these, however, they widely vary; and frequently oppose each other in the most severe and sarcastic style. There are some, who have even publicly abjured Christianity, and incline toward atheistical principles. This is evident from a recent work, entitled, What is Religion? and what alone can it be? Zerbst, 1803. Another which contains a most shameful attack on all

revealed religion, entitled, "Calestion, or substance and value of natural religion of the Bible." religion compared with the revealed Wolfenbut

tle, 1803 and Mr. Fichte, one of the most celebrated modern philosophers, has thus expressed himself: "Deum non esse visaμevov aliquod, seu substantiam, sed intelligendum esse eo nomine ordinem mundi moralem; cujus non sit, quod rationem aut causam aliquam quæras, Deumque adeo non esse, nisi in conscientia nostra morali ;" i.e. "That God is not any iQ5auevov, (existence) or substance, but that the moral order of the world is to be unand that no derstood by that name; reason or cause of this order need be sought for therefore, that God is not, except in our moral consciousness." The same philosopher has ventured, in his "Appeal to the Public," to call the God of the Christians an idol, because he is regarded as the Creator and Governor of the world. There are even some professors of divinity, who have advanced pretty far in similar assertions. The Rev. D. Paulus, Professor of Theol. ogy, in the newly established protes. tant university in Wurtzburg, (Bavarian Electorate,) began a short time since to publish a Commentary on the New Testament, in which he exerts

himself to the utmost to reduce every miracle, performed by our Lord and his Apostles, to merely natural circumstances. Another modern writer of this kind is Doctor Thiess, Theological Professor in the university of Kiel, who, while he expresses some respect for the character and beneficent actions of Christ, openly denies all the distinguishing doctrines of Christianity, and endeavours to prove, that Christ did not expire on the cross, but merely fainted, and therefore could not be raised from the dead; that neither did he ascend to heaven, but secretly withdrew himself from the sight of his disciples, and privately died in some retired place. Many similar things are brought forward in his famous work, entitled, A devotional Treatise for enlightened Christians! (Leipzig and Gira, 1797, 2 vols.)

There is a second party, that allows of revealed religion; often, however, taking the term Revelation in a sense different from that, in which it has usually been accepted; representing the Christian system as far preferable to all other systems, that have made pretensions to Revelation; speaking of Christ in the highest terms of praise, and applauding the moral exeellency of his doctrine, and the su perior worth of his character; but asserting on the other hand, that Christ, as well as his Apostles, having frequently accommodated themselves to the erroneous views and opinions of that age and people, their doctrine ought to be purified from such errors. Of the grand and fundamental principles of the Divinity of our blessed Lord, his atonement, and the operations of the Spirit of God; they either affirm that these are not contained in the Bible, as hitherto has been supposed; or, if they allow them to be found in the scriptures, they consider them as notions, which, being in contradiction to reason, ought not to be approved. Opinions to this effect, and others of a similar nature, may be met with in many doctrinal and expository writings, as well as in the reviews of the present day.

But there remains also a large par ty, which most conscientiously reveres the Bible as a divine Revelation, receiving it, not as the word of

men, but as it is in truth, the word of God. Writers of this description consider the Holy Scriptures as the only standard and criterion of sound doctrine and practice; and they contend for the faith, as delivered unto them by the prophets and apostles, and sealed by the blood of so many thousand martyrs. They have written, and continue to write, many excellent works, both learned and popular, in defence of Christianity; and, by a chain of solid and demonstrative arguments, prove the supreme divinity of our adorable Lord and Master. They treat with reverence the great and mysterious work of redemption, wrought by his perfect obedience, and meritorious sufferings and death upon the cross. Deeply sensible of the frailty, weakness and depravity of human nature, they rejoice in Him, who is the way, and the truth, and the life; they receive Hian as of God made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification and redemption; they firmly hold the doctrine of justification by faith, but as strongly insist upon the necessity of good works, as fruits and evidences of a living faith; and, generally speaking, they are cordially attached to, and acquiesce in, those doctrines and articles, laid down and solemnly professed by the Protestant Reformers; though they are far from anxiously adhering to every single expression or exposition of theirs, but liberally adopt the real improvements, which have been made since their time in different branches of theological learning.

[After giving the names and works of a few very respectable divines of this latter description, our correspondent concludes,]

I could name many excellent characters of similar principles; but let these suffice to shew, that though there be numbers, who oppose the biblical system, yet it is still embraced, supported, and defended, by men of eminent talents, learning and rank.

INTELLIGENCE FROM KARASS.

A LETTER from a respectable correspondent in Edinburgh, to one of the Editors, dated Nov. 1, 1805,

says "We had lately very comfort able accounts from our missionaries at Karass in Russian Tartary. They were well last August. Beside Europeans their family consisted of 19 natives, old and young. All of them, who are grown up, excepting one old man, have renounced Mahommedanism; two have been publicly baptized; and some of the young people, beside speaking the Tartar and Ka. bar dian language, can read and speak English."

In our last number we gave some very interesting extracts from the appendix to the report of the British and Foreign Bible Society, taken from the CHRISTIAN OBSERVER. Since our last, we have received from our correspondent in London a copy of this report, and we are happy in gratifying our readers with further extracts from this rich publication.

The following is a translation of a letter, to the Society, from a respectable clergyman in Alsace, dated Nov. 3, 1804.

ACCEPT, my dearest friend, our most unfeigned thanks for the sum of 301. which you have transmitted to us, as a kind present from some English friends, for the purpose of purchasing and distributing French and Ger man Bibles among the poor inħabi. tants of our and the neighbouring villages, where four different relig. ious denominations are to be met with, namely, Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Reformed, and Baptists. May God, for Christ's sake, impart his blessing to this act of Christian benevolence, in order that his name may be glorified, and his kingdom

come.

You will be glad to learn some par. ticulars, respecting the use which I intend to make of this money.

I have ordered, and soon expect to get 50 copies of the French Protestant Bible, printed at Basil. Though the type is rather too small for country people, yet we have infinite reason to bless God for being enabled to procure even these. In the meanwhile, I have made a list of such persons as I consider most deserving of such a present. Among the large

number of individuals and families to whom a Bible is a most welcome present, I first put down such charac ters as are most active in promoting the Redeemer's kingdom, and in doing good to the bodies and souls of their fellow-men.

1. The first Bible shall be given as a present to Sophia Bernard, who is one of the most excellent women I know, and indeed, an ornament to my parish. While unmarried, she undertook, with the consent of her par ents, the support and education of three helpless boys, whom their wick. ed father had often trampled under his feet, and treated in a manner too shocking to relate, when nearly starv ing with hunger they dared to cry out for food. Soon afterwards, she proved the happy means of saving the lives of four Roman Catholic children, who, without her assistance, would have fallen a prey to want and famine. Thus she had the manage ment of seven children, to whom sev; eral more were added, belonging to members of three several denominations: she now hired a house and á servant girl, and supported the whole of the family entirely with her own work, and the little money she got from the industry of the children, whom she taught to spin cotton. At the same time, she proved the greatest blessing to the whole village where she lived. For it is impossible to be more industrious, frugal, clean, cheer. ful, edifying by her whole walk and conversation; more ready for every good word and work; more mild and affectionate, more firm and resolute in dangers, than she was: Satan so enraged some of her enemies, that they threatened to destroy her old tottering cottage, but God was graciously pleased to preserve her. fine youth, of a noble mind, made her an offer of his hand. She first refused, but he declared he would wait for her even ten years. When she replied, that she could never consent to part her poor orphans, he no bly answered, "Whoever takes the mother, takes the children too." So he did and all these children were brought up by them in the most careful and excellent manner. Lately, they have taken in some other orphans, whom they are training up in the fear and love of God. Though

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these excellent people pass rather for rich, yet their income is so limited, and their benevolence so extensive, that sometimes they hardly know how to furnish a new suit of necessary clothes. To them I intend to give a Bible, considering that their own is very often lent out in different Roman Catholic villages.

2. A second Bible I intend to give to an excellent woman, Maria Schepler, who lives at the opposite end of my extensive parish, where the cold is more severe, and the ground unfruitful, so that nearly all the householders are poor people, who must lend their clothes to each other when they intend to go to the Lord's supper. This poor woman. is also a very distinguished character, in whose praise I could say much were I to enter into particulars. Though distressed and afflicted in her own person and circumstances, yet she is a mother, benefactress, and teacher to the whole village where she lives, and to some neighbouring districts too. She takes the most lively interest in all which relates to the Redeemer's kingdom upon earth, and often groans under a sense of all the inroads made by the powers of dark ness. She also has brought up several orphans without receiving the smallest reward, keeps a free school for females, and makes it a practice to lend her Bible to such as are entirely deprived of it.

3. A third Bible-present I intend to make to an excellent widow woman, Catharine Scheiddegger, who is like the former, a mother to orphans, and keeps a free-school; as also does another young woman, who instructs little children in a neighbouring village, in such knowledge as may render them useful members of human and Christian society.

I might easily enumerate many more characters of a similar description, whose eyes will overflow with grateful tears if they are favoured with the present of a Bible. Let me, however, only add this one remark, that it is necessary in our parts, to have a number of Bibles in readiness to lend them out in the neighbouring districts, where all the people are Ro man Catholics. For if they possess a Bible of their own, they are in di

in behalf of the British and Foreign In answer to your question, made Bible Society, "Whether the inhabi Laplanders in particular, are suffi tants of Sweden in general, and the ciently well provided with Bibles," we do with heartfelt satisfaction inform you, that, owing to the gracious and paternal care of the government of our country, as well as from the gospel light and zeal which have generally spread among individuals, no want exists at present of this Holy Book, which contains in it the salvation, and producing good-will fountain of all knowledge, bringing among men; and moreover, that Bibles in the Finland and Lapland lan. guages are now currently printed at this place, and distributed either gra tis, or at very reduced prices, by So. cieties formed for that benevolent purpose.

You will be pleased, Rev. Sir, to communicate this intelligence to that most noble British Institution; and at the same time, express to them the intimate share which the Society, Pro Fide et Christianismo, take in senti. ments and operations so honourable and useful. Wishing sincerely that the Lord God may bless and give furtherance to their benevolent views and labours, which tend so eminently nighted or heathen nations, to give the light of salvation to be,

a possibility of obtaining learned natives of all these countries a sufficiency of worldly good things, (with a moderate degree of annual assist ance from England) to carry us thro' it; a printing office; a good library of critical writings; a habit of translating; and a disposition to do it. We shall, however, need about 10001. per annum for some years, to enable us to print them; and with this it may be done in about fifteen years, if the Lord preserve our lives and

health.