But the latitudinarians of Geneva have not only made Socinian catechisms; they compel teachers of schools to use them on penalty of dismission.

It is painful to observe, with what frigid indifference the disciples of modern theology, on both sides of the Atlantic, are accustomed to speak of the ever blessed Savior. We would not intimate, that all, who reject the divinity of Christ, speak of him in exactly the same manner; but it cannot be denied, that many bring down their regards to the very humble standard of treating him with much respect. And we believe that all, who hesitate to acknowledge his proper divinity, think and speak of him, and act towards him, in a manner very different from that which was habitual with the Apostle Paul. Unquestionably the lower classes of latitudinarians, (and these classes are rapidly gaining upon the rest,) differ always and greatly from the writers of the New Testament in this important particular. No man can compare the two classes of writings, having special reference to this point, without being astonished at the result. Is it possible, that the religion of these teachers should be the same as the religion of the Apostles? Can any sober man, who reads and thinks for himself, and who examines the New Testament with particular reference to his own salvation, avoid seeing the radical difference?

5. The declaration of the Professor of Theology at Geneva cxpresses a sentiment, which we believe to be in exact accordance with that entertained by many Unitarians in this country. Most of them might not approve the light manner, (and we think most impious manner,) in which the sentiment is expressed. But it has often been said in conversation, that, in the confident opinion of the persons who were speaking, Jesus Christ is not truly God; though they were undecided, and apparently unconcerned, what character he does sustain. Some have gone so far as to say, that he is neither truly God, nor simply man; but some intermediate being, concerning whom they have no decided opinion. But in this they all agree, that the doctrine of his proper divinity is at all times to be strenuously opposed. And, compared with the doctrine of Paul, that Christ is "God over all, blessed forever," they think every other doctrine concerning him to be tolerable. It is manifest, indeed, that many view open infidels with more complacency, and as in less danger, than they view decided Trinitarians. Into what an awful abyss of error must a community have sunk, when a teacher of theology shall, without exciting alarm or emotion, coolly tell his students, that they may make what they will of Christ, provided they do not make him God! Over what an abyss of error and ruin have the people of New England been slumbering, while sentiments like this have been making their silent and secret way into many congregations, and gaining a pernicious influence in seminaries of education.

6. The negative engagement of the Genevese pastors is one of the most curious documents, which this age of theological wonders has produced. Fearing the increase of evangelical religion, they have undertaken, it seems, to make all candidates solemnly engage not to teach any thing concerning the cardinal doctrines of Christianity. According to the latitude of interpretation, which they would doubtless exerVOL. XV.

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cise, they would interdict a preacher of the Gospel from expressing any opinion concerning the person or character of Christ; or concerning the natural state of man as a sinner; or concerning the manner in which he is brought into the kingdom of God; or concerning the nature of God's universal government. This formal engagement not to declare the whole counsel of God reminds us of a similar scheme, broached by Dr. Porter of Roxbury, in a sermon reviewed by us in the numbers of the Panoplist for July and August, 1810. We there inquired of the preacher, and would apply the inquiry to the case before us, "What sort of a scheme of salvation must that be, which is to teach neither the character of the beings to be saved, nor that of the Savior, who is provided?" Pan. Aug. 1810. p. 134.

But there is one thing peculiarly hard, and not very reasonable, in this negative engagement. We refer to the stipulation, that the candidate is not to controvert the opinion of any of the pastors on these subjects. Now as it might be a difficult matter to know what these opinions were, it must create not a little embarrassment in the mind of the conscientions young preacher to know when he was transgressing the regulation, which had been imposed. The pastors themselves seem to be aware of this difficulty; for they inserted a further provision, that if he should inadvertently and unfortunately express any opinion of his own on these subjects, he should never be positive that he was in the right.

7. We cannot close these hasty remarks, without bringing to view the inscrutable dealings of Providence in giving up to delusion and apostasy such a community as that of Geneva; a place where the standard of the reformation was early erected, and triumphantly defended; where pure doctrine was, for a long time, efficaciously preached; where pure morals and wholesome discipline were preserved; and where the light of truth burst forth with an effulgence, which drew the attention and admiration of Protestant Europe, and the envy and hatred of the Romish church. How evident is it, that no concentration of piety and talents can secure to succeeding generations the benefits of Gospel ordinances in their purity. Of this melancholy truth we have had distressing proof in the apostasy, which has been witnessed on the soil of the New England pilgrims. How constantly and earnestly should the friends of God plead with him for the advent of that day, when these apostasies from the faith shall cease to be repeated; when the prevalence of true religion shall be uninterrupted and universal; when all the children of Adam shall receive the Gospel in love.

Though there is no absolute security to future generations, derived from the picty and general excellence of their ancestors, yet doubtless much is done to preserve the church by the activity, wisdom, faith, and prayers of eminently holy men. And though the church may reasonably fear the prevalence of numerous errors, all springing from unwillingness to receive the truth, the past history of religious declensions does not warrant the fear, that any particular system of Unitarianism will be very extensive or very lasting. Latitudinarianism is always descending into infidelity, and infidelity into practical, if not avowed, atheism. We deem it to be morally impossible, that Socini

anism, for instance, should support congregations for public worship to any respectable extent, in a single place for one century. It contains within it the seeds of a speedy dissolution. Still there may be, if God do not interpose, an endless succession of destructive errors. If men are left to themselves, and the operations of the Spirit are withdrawn from a community, the commencement of apostasy is absolutely certain. No human skill can prevent it; no human power can control it; no human combination can put an end to it.

How thankful ought the friends of Christ to be, that He has the supreme care of his own cause; that it is infinitely dearer to him, than it can be to any finite mind; and that he has seen fit to declare that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. His counsel will stand.

It is an interesting fact, that pure religion has begun to revive at Geneva; that it is openly preached by several able and faithful men; and that its enemies view its approach as so formidable, that they are devising means of precaution, prevention, and persecution. There is reason to hope, that as the light of the Gospel, in the days of Calvin and his successors, beamed upon the surrounding region and penetrated the remote parts of Christendom, dispelling the darkness of Popery, so, in these latter days, the same light may shine with distinguished Instre from this ancient citadel of Protestantism, and pierce the thick mists of a vain philosophy, displaying to deceived multitudes the dangerous paths in which they wander, and leading their wayward feet to mount Zion, the city of the living God.

CATACOMBS OF PARIS.

To those of our readers who have neither leisure nor opportunities to acquaint themselves with many subjects of curiosity, and who do not, so frequently as could be desired, turn over the pages of antiquity or those of modern travels, it may be interesting to learn something of that great repository of the dead, called "the catacombs of Paris." The facts related in the following article are principally from the journal of an American traveller.

This city has been chiefly built of stone taken from quarries immediately beneath the city itself; of course, the excavations thus formed are of an astonishing magnitude. So great, at sometimes, has been the anxiety, lest some parts of it might sink for want of support, that, in 1776 the government appointed a body of respectable citizens, "to examine these excavations, and report their situation" The result of their examination was, that "several churches, palaces, and many of the principal buildings and streets, in the south part of Paris, were considered in eminent danger of falling into these subterranean caverns. A general administration for the superintendence of these quarries was, therefore,immediately appointed, with authority to adopt such measures as they judged proper. This subterraneous government has been continued ever since, with as much care as the police for the regulation of affairs above ground; and under its superintendence Paris has been regularly propped up by massy columns of stone, and the once dreaded evil no longer alarms the inhabitants. As a proof that the

public fears were not without cause, one house fell in, and was really buried, just as the above mentioned work was commenced.

In these astonishing excavations are to be seen the Catacombs where have been deposited, as we learn from careful computation, since the year 1785, the bones and bodies of two millions and a half of the human race."

These remains had been accumulating for centuries in different cemeteries, church yards, &c. of Paris, and these burying places, particularly in that of the Church of the Innocents," finally became so offensive,and so injurious to the health of the inhabitants,that in 1785 the government ordered that no more dead bodies should be buried within the city. At the same time orders were given to take down "L'Eglise des Innocens" remove the bodies from the burying ground adjoining it, and convert the place into a public square. It was ascertained from public records and calculations made thereon, that in the immense charnel house of the Innocents alone there had been deposited, during the last seven centuries, one million two hundred thousand bodies; that having been, for a long period of years, the only place of deposit for the dead of the whole city of Paris. Many obstacles presented themselves, and numberless difficulties were thrown in the way, by those who had friends buried there; but the plan was persevered in, and the immense work begun in December 1785, and was regularly continued till May 1786; when, in consequence of warm weather, it was stopped till the return of winter should allow its continuance with safety. This business was regularly persisted in during the two following winters, and was completed in January 1788.

All those bodies which had been recently interred, or which had not decayed, were either re-buried out of the city, or were taken to the Catacombs, according to the wishes of surviving friends.

These bones and bodies were dug up in the day time, and conveyed in covered waggons about dusk, attended by priests, who performed religious ceremonies over them. They were then emptied into the Catacombs through a shaft or dry well, of about 60 feet in depth, and afterwards arranged by the laborers below in the order in which they now are, with the regularity and exactness of the most finished

masonry.

In addition to the relics taken from the grave yard of the Innocents, there have since been taken up those of sixteen other public burying grounds. This second work was commenced in 1792, and continued in 1793, when by the Revolution the work was suspended about ten years. In 1804 it was re-commenced, and continued at intervals till 1813, when the last disturbing of the bones appears to have taken place, by removing those found in the grave yard of the "Hospital of the Trinity."

These Catacombs may be visited by strangers or travellers, on obtaining a permit from the superintendant general, and making an agreement with the guide, whose attendance in these gloomy domains is indispensable. Each person must be furnished with a lighted taper. The entrance is by steep winding stair cases of stone, some of which consist of seventy or eighty steps. The different windings of the quarries correspond exactly with the different streets of that part of

Paris; so that the guide can at any place inform the stranger under what particular part of the city he is then passing. At the distance of half a mile from some of the entrances is the grand cemetery. Over the door is the following inscription in large capitals. Arrete! c'est ici L'Empire de la Mort." Pause! this is the Empire of Death. A mind of ordinary seriousness, or even of sensibility, could scarcely need such a memento to impose on it the most profound solemnity.

On opening this door the visitor finds himself between walls and columns composed of human bones, arranged with the most minute precision and regularity in the following manner: At the bottom is a layer of one particular description of bones, thigh bones for instance; above these a layer of another description of boues, then another layer of a third kind, &c. to the height of about four feet, then a layer of skuils, when the former order begins again, and so is continued alternately for four feet more, and thus proceeds to the top of these singular walls. This uniformity is kept up only in the exterior of these walls, making in some cases masses of four sides; in others the shape is elliptical, or oblong with the corners rounded off. Within these walls the bones are loosely thrown in till the hollow space is entirely filled up. These bones are perfectly dry, and free from smell of every kind, and on the outside of the different masses they are cemented together by some glutinous substance, which keeps them in their proper places, ai gives them a shining glossy appearance as if varuished.

The relics taken from the different burying places are kept distinct one from the others, and the friends and descendants of the deceased, though not able to designate the particular frames, have the poor satisfaction of knowing, that in such a particular mass are the remains of friends in whom they once felt interested.

Besides the seventeen different collections taken from so many different burying grounds, there are several large heaps of earth, in which bodies not decayed were buried en masse.

One of these contained the bodies of those unfortunate people who were murdered on the 28th and 29th of August, 1788, by the mob, at la Place de Grece, l'Hotel de Brienne, &c. Another contains those who were killed by the mob, in their attack on the "Chatean de Thuilleries," August 10, 1792. Another those massacred by the bloodthirsty Jacobins, in the different prisons, on the 2d and 3d of September 1792, including some of the most respectable of the Royalists, and some nearly connected with the Bourbon family.

In the midst of the different ranges of bones, the curious visitant comes to a fountain, called La Fontaine de la Samaritaine, the water of which is perfectly clear, and contains several gold fish, which, though put into the fountain several years ago, and living in the most entire darkness, are nevertheless active and appear in perfect health. In passing through the avenues among these sad remnants of mortality, the distance, in an almost direct line, is said to be about three hundred feet.

Several years ago, a poor Frenchman, who descended with a party into these dismal mansions, was by some means separated from his companions, and lost amidst the mazes of these excavations. He was sought in vain, and his skeleton was discovered, ten years afterwards,