ences. lency or evil of the case in ques- fully consulting all the refertion; or by comparing the different language of scripture used on the same subject, he may more readily see the true interpretation, especially on controverted subjects. The meaning of scripture phrases may also be often fixed by comparing the several places where they are used." Mr. Scott observes, that "although he has for many years studied the scriptures, as his one grand business; he can truly aver, that the insight he has already obtained into many parts, which before he had not so carefully noted, is such as abundantly to repay his labour, and to - convince him, that, along with other means, consulting marginal references forms one of the best helps for fixing the word of God in the memory, leading the mind to a just interpretation of it, and in many cases rendering it most affecting to the heart. It tends powerfully to counteract all sceptical doubts, when every part of scripture is found like the stones in an arch, to support and receive support from the rest, and to constitute one grand whole. It serves also to satisfy the mind as to the meaning of disputed passages, when one sense is found manifestly to accord with the rest of the sacred word, and other interpretations evidently run contrary to it." To those who desire to study the scriptures accurately and deeply, especially to young men, either intended for the sacred ministry, or newly engaged in it, Mr. Scott earnestly recommends to set apart an hour, or half hour, every day, and regularly to go through the scriptures, care This commentary is free from a very considerable inconvenience, to which the paraphrast is liable; the inconvenience of expounding every passage. Many parts of scripture need no expla nation. Their meaning and their connexion are as plain, as they can be. Some parts admis no explanation. They have a sacred majesty, force, and beauty, which appear best, in the unadulterated language of inspiration. To explain is to weaken. To al ter, in any way, is to degrade. Even the pious and learned Doddridge, in his justly admired Family Expositor, sometimes obscures the glory of scripture, He took upon him a very needless and unnatural incumbrance by introducing into his paraphrase all the words of the original text. Under this incumbrance, together with the gener al one of a paraphrase, he not unfrequently injures the excellence of scripture. He expands, till he enervates. He takes away the animation and strength of inspired brevity. He sometimes sinks the sublime; brings down divinity to humanity, and heaven to earth. This fault, however, is not so directly chargeable upon the amiable and useful author, as upon the plan of his work. An attempt to paraphrase many parts of scrip ture is, from the nature of the thing, dangerous. For instance i Who can read, without painful disgust, a paraphrase of the direct words of Jehovah, og of such a story, as that of Joseph, or that of Jesus Christ? From the peculiar inconveniences attending a paraprase, Scott's com mentary is free. On passages, which need no illustration, he makes no remarks. Thus time is saved to the writer and the reader, and the attention of both directed either to the pure, im pressive language of revelation, or to remarks, which tend to elucidate, to honour, and to impress the word of God. (To be continued.) Religious Intelligence. We have received from the Secretary of the London Missionary Society, an "Abstract of the proceedings of their Directors, since their last Annual Meeting, to Feb. 20th, 1806; from which we have derived the fol lowing information. OTAHEITE. shall superintend this important mission. Accordingly a letter has been written to the Dr. informing him that the Society intend to send two or more Missionaries to the Prince of Wales' Island, with a view to the translation of the Holy Scriptures into the Chinese language, and to a Mission to the empire of China, and requesting him to take the charge of conducting it. EAST INDIES. GENTOO MISSION. A Letter of a very pleasing and satisfactory nature has been lately received by the Directors of the Missionary Society, from the Brethren George Cran and Augustus Desgranges, dated Vizagpatnam, Oct. 16, 1805, together with their Journal, from March the 4th to September the 8th. Their first residence in India was at Tranquebar, where they had opportu nity to consult with the worthy Brethren of the Danish Mission, and to commence the study of the language of the country. In the beginning of March, 1805, Mr Cran and Mr. Des granges judged it best to remove to Madras, where they arrived on the 6th of that month, and had a pleasant meeting with the Baptist Missionaries, who have since left that place for Serampore. At Madras they met with very kind friends, some of whom occupy the most respectable stations, and who were of eminent service to them in forwarding their Missionary views. After consulting with gentlemen of the best information, earnestly seeking direction from above, and mature ly weighing all the circumstances of the case, they determined to leave Madras, and to proceed northward to the Gentoos. One inducement to this decision was, that they might not seem to interfere with any Missions already established in that neighbourhood. The good providence of God eminently favoured their views and sanctioned their decision; for they procured such excellent recommendations from persons high in office, that they were very cordially received by the principal Europeans at Vizagpatnam, where they arrived July the 18th. A worthy English gentleman (a magistrate) had been in the habit of performing divine service himself in the Court House, before the gentlemen of the settlement, the soldiers of the garrison, and a number of half-cast people: the Missionaries were immediately requested to undertake this office in his stead, which they willingly assented to; and have since been remunerated by a small salary. The town of Vizagpatnam contains about 20,000 inhabitants, chiefly idolaters, and the neighbourhood is also very populous. Here, then, under the most favourable circumstances imaginable, our dear Missionary Brethren have sat down, and will commence their labours, in a country full of inhabitants, and with every recommendation that can be desired, as soon as they have made themselves masters of the Telinga, or Gentoo language, spoken in those parts. While at Madras, they had diligently studied the Tamulian language; which they had soon the mortification to find differed considerably from that spoken among the Gentoos, where they now are. There can be no doubt, however, that their pious industry will soon sur mount every difficulty of this kind, and that they will shortly be able to preach among these poor, supersti. tious, idolatrous heathens "the unsearchable riches of Jesus Christ." Their study of the Gentoo language will be happily facilitated by a manuscript dictionary, providentially put into their hands by a gentleman who was about to return to England. In the mean time, they have the privilege of preaching every Lord's day to the white people in the fort, who amount to about sixty persons. The conclusion of the Journal from the Missionaries is so animated and encouraging, that we are persuaded it will be highly gratifying to our friends. "We cannot close this Journal, dear Fathers and Brethren, without laying before you the importance of the situation in which we are placed, earnestly entreating you to send out more Missionaries to assist us. In the town where we now reside, there are above 20,000 inhabitants, perishing for lack of knowledge. Within a few miles of us, on all sides, there are numbers of large villages, where thousands of the heathen live in the grossest idolatry, and who claim our pity and compassion. This place is nearly central, which makes it most favourable for branching out into any part of the Circars. We have hundreds of miles to the right and left of us, where we may labour with freedom, and where we shall have no Brethren to complain that we interfere with their mission. Its being on the coast, and continually cooled by the sea breezes, makes it advantageous for the health of the Missionaries on their first entrance into the country. An European going into the interior of India, immediately after his arrival, is likely to have his constitution impaired for life; by having the Missionary station on the coast, they will necessarily be detained there a year or more, while learning the language, which will tend to inure them to the climate, without endangering their health. While they are attaining the language, they may be very useful by preaching in English, teaching schools, and other Missionary employments, which will relieve those Missionaries who have attained the language, and enable them to itinerate through the whole of the Circars; also to Hydrabad, Golconda, and Bangalora, where the Telinga language is spoken. This spot is not less favour. able for entering the Cattack and Mahratta countries. We understand that there is but little difference in the languages. The Mahratta country appears to us an important field for Missionary exertions. On this account we rejoice that a mission is about to be established at Surat. Our opposite situation will afford an opportunity of Missionaries being sent from both these stations into the Mahratta country. These may meet each oth er in the centre, and bid "God speed." It is many days' journey from hence. "Glorious things are spoken of the city of God." Zion shall break forth on the right hand and the left! When we read the animating prospects presented to us in the sacred Scriptures, of the whole world becom. ing subjects of Christ's kingdom, we are sure we are not straitened in God; and, therefore, think it would be sinful to be straitened in our own souls. We are aware that the conversion of the inhabitants of those extensive countries which we hope to traverse, will not be the work of a day, but of years. It was a work of years which the Missionary Society was founded to accomplish; and we doubt not, if present advantages be embraced with sufficient energy, that many of its Members will live to see the blessed day, when the Sun of Righteousness shall shine with such resplendent glory on the millions of India, as wholly to dispel the dark clouds of Idolatry, which at present overshadow them, and diffuse among them an unspeakable measure of the light of the glorious gospel! But more Missionaries are wanted. Our number is small. While we are laying the foundation, we trust that our Friends in England will not delay to send out numbers to raise the su perstructure of a work, in the accomplishment of which God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, and all who bear the divine image, are so deeply interested. Would to God that all the ministers in our native country, the students at the different Seminaries, and the Religious Public, could see what we see, and hear what we hear! Every man bowing to a stock of wood, or to a stone, would prove a new argument to "Come over and help us." The horrid noise of thousands of idolaters at the celebration of their festivals, would sound like thunder in their ears. "Haste! haste to the help of the Lord against the mighty!" And those who could not themselves come, would have the number and ardour of their addresses to the throne of grace increased an hundred fold. Not doubting that your zeal for the glory of God will actuate you to take our situation into consideration, and to send out more labourers into this Vol. I. No. 12. Zzz promising field, we, with the greatest pleasure, dear Fathers and Brethren, subscribe ourselves your very sincere, very affectionate Brethren and Fellow-Labourers in Christ, GEORGE CRAN, AUGUSTUS DESGRANGES." SURAT MISSION. On the 25th June, 1805, when the Brethren Cran and Desgranges were preparing to leave Madras, they had the great but unexpected pleasure of meeting with Dr. Taylor and Mr. Loveless (appointed to the Surat Mission) who arrived safely and in health at Madras; and were introduced to them at the house of a friend, where they were invited to dine. These Missionaries were also kindly receiv ed. Dr. Taylor intended to proceed Missionaries. In the mean time Mr. to Bengal, to confer with the Baptist Loveless will stay at Madras; and proceed with Dr. Taylor, on his re turn to Surat. MISCELLANEOUS PARTICULARS. MR. FREY Continues to preach a Weekly Lecture to the Jews, every Saturday Evening. A Committee has been appointed to superinted Mr. Frey's services, to provide him with suitable books and accommodations, and to consider what measures can be adopted more effectually to engage the attention of the Jews to Christianity, and to excite the regard of the public more fully to this important object; and it appearing to be a matter of great consideration, that a Șeries of Essays, addressed to the Jews, on subjects at issue between them and Christians, should be prepared and published under the patronage of the Missionary Society, the unanimous and earnest request of the Directors has been communicated to the Rev. Greville Ewing, of Glasgow, that he would undertake this important work; and he has kindly acceded to their wishes. Several pleasing instances have lately come to the knowledge of the Directors, of Jews, who appear to be under serious impressions; and of the conversion of some of them there is no reason to doubt. In January, 1806, a Society was formed in London, by the name of "the HIBERNIAN SOCIETY for the diffusion of Religious Knowledge in Ireland. Their object is to extend divine knowledge in Ireland, by the ministry of the gospel, by the disper. sion of the Holy Scriptures, and religious tracts, by the formation and support of schools, and by every other lawful and expedient measure calculated to promote pure religion, morality and loyalty. FURTHER ACCOUNT OF THE DISTRESS IN GERMANY. (Continued from Panoplist, p. 467.) LONDON, DEC. 23, 1805. AT subsequent meetings of the committee, the following intelligence was received, which, agreeably to the intimation before given, they now communicate to the public. The first information is derived from the Rev. C. E. A. Schwabe, minister of the German St. George's church, Goodman's-fields, London. "Ayliffe-Street, Dec. 17, 1805. "During my stay on the continent in the months of july, August, and September last, I witnessed, particularly in Saxony, affecting scenes of distress. Bread had risen to three times the price at which it had been a twelvemonth before, and in several places could scarcely be obtained. The governments were obliged to have the houses searched, and to force those, who had a little store left, to bring it to market. An article of food, to which nothing but the danger of being starved could induce men to have recourse, was given to the poor for bread. The country people cut down the corn before it was ripe, and braved the prohibition of the government with the exclama. tion, "Give us bread for our families!" Distress led great numbers to commit various depredations. one small town, Sondershausen, not less than sixty persons were, at the time when I passed through it, confined in dungeons for setting fire, in a state of despair, to several houses and villages. Contagious diseases, were apprehended, and must, I fear, In be the final issue of these terrible calamities. Late accounts describe the present situation of the inhabitants of that country as infinitely worse than it was during the summer. A friend of mine wrote a few weeks ago from Erfurt, as follows: "We flattered ourselves, that our situation would be a little more tole. rable after the harvest; but, alas! the scarcity is far greater than it was, and an army of 50,000 men is collecting in our neighbourhood. Sometimes distress would tempt us to doubt of a Divine Providence. Yet it is our comfort that God still lives, and extraordinary evils lead often to extraordinary means of relief." Another friend, of the same neighbourhood, writes;" I assure you we are in a dreadful embarrassment, and I do not know what we are to do. The people are in despair. If things do not soon change, we shall have a general revolution, for the greater part have nothing to live on, and the little that is left, must be given to the military." C. E. A. SCHWABE." The committee felt great interest in the above communication, and ordered some relief without delay. The following is translated from a printed paper, published and circu lated by the mercantile body at Ulm, dated Nov. 19, 1805, some copies of which have been sent over to their correspondents in London. "Since the end of September, our country has been overrun with soldiers indeed, with whole armies, unprovided with any stores. Ulm itself was in the course of five weeks compelled to maintain 15,877 officers, 347,415 privates, and 41,739 horses. More than 20,000 men were quartered at a time in the city, which of itself contains only 13,000 inhabitants, and less than 1600 houses. The distress occasioned by it, is indescribable; the town seemed to be nothing Sick but barracks and stables. people were obliged to give up their warm soldiers. rooms to the "By day and night watch-fires were kept burning, both within and without the walls of the city. Thus not only all the fuel in the city was consumed, but the soldiers also took |
