under the direction of Mr. Martin, who sermon, that Luther and certain' ill-dis had been sent out by the Society in Lon-posed fellows had newly invented a landon. From this establishment above 40 guage called Greek, in which they had monitors had been provided, in order to produced a book called the Gospels, assist in the establishment of other So- which was a book full of daggers and cieties in Paris. The Emperor of Russia, poison. He also told them that any man when in Paris, having heard of this insti- who learnt Hebrew became immediately tution, over which Mr. Martin presided, an ideot and a Jew (A laugh). When animated by a desire to know every thing an edition of Newton's Principia was which could contribute to the welfare and published by the Jesuits with commentaamelioration of his own subjects, requested ries, these commentators observed, that permission for two Russian officers to at- though for the sake of illustrating the tend the instructions of Mr. Martin, in author's doctrines they were obliged seemorder to establish a similar mode of in-ingly to acknowledge the earth's motion, struction in his dominions. The Report then concluded by an appeal to the company, and especially to the female part of it, soliciting their zealous efforts to carry into complete effect the objects of the institution. The Duke of KENT rose to submit the first resolution. He said he should trespass upon their attention but for a few moments; for, often as they had met before to receive a Report upon the success of the British system of education, they had never yet heard one which went so completely home to their feelings and bosoms, as the present one. The British system was founded upon principles that would stand the test of every inquiry: for no one will venture to dispute the cight which every human beiug possesses of worshipping his Creator in his own way. It had been said that the British system of educatson ouly taught to read and write, without teaching any religion; but that was falsethey guided their minds, and instructed them how to judge for themselves, and having done so, they had performed their duty, which no one could deny except the most bigotted and prejudiced. His Royal Highness then read the resolution, "That the Report now read be received and adopted, and that it be printed at the discretion of the committee." yet they solemnly declared that they submitted therein to the decree of the hope, which denied that motion. This, Dr. W. thought, was too much for the Pope to determine. The thanks were carried, as were those to the Committee of Ladies and the Officers of the Society, after which the meeting broke up. DR. COLLYER'S SERMON. On Wednesday last (Nov. 29th) a meeting was held at the large and beautiful chapel, belonging to the Wesleyan Me thodists, City-road, for the purpose of making a collection in aid of this excellent Institution, when an appropriate Sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Collyer, from 2 Tim. iii. 15. "And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith that is in Christ Jesus." The meeting was honoured with the presence of His Royal Highness the DUKE of KENT, the Worshipful the LORD MAYOR, the Rev. ROWLAND HILL, and many other distinguished characters; and the place was completely crowded in every part. The worship began at half past eleven o'clock, by reading the Prayers of the Church of England, accompanied His Excellency Count DIEVEN, the with the singing of suitable Hymns, that Russian Ambassador, seconded the reso-together occupied about an hour and a lution; and the Duke of Kent communicated to the meeting how gratified he felt at the honourable mention which had been made of his Imperial master in the Report. He knew that it was the inten-his audience in no ordinary degree. tion of the Emperor of Russia to introduce the British system of education into his dominions, and that he felt, and should always feel, gratitude towards this country for having established and brought to perfection so beneficial a system. The Rev. J. HUGHES moved the thanks of the meeting to the Vice-Presidents. half. At one o'clock the Doctor commenced his sermon, which in the delivery of it took up rather more than an hour, during which he arrested the attention of In discussing the words of his text, the preacher, after a short but very pertinent and striking exordium, laid out his subject under four particulars, viz. The holy Scriptures-their sufficiency-the source of the efficacy-and their important object and design. It is truly a source of regret to us, that, at the moment of closing our monthly labours, we have neither time nor space for giving our readers so full an account of this admirable discourse as our wishes would prompt, or its merits de The Rev. Dr. WAUGH Seconded the resolution, and made some forcible observations on the idle prejudices against the diffusion of knowledge, which he illus-mand. trated by the story of a German monk, Conrad Berner, who, about the time of the Reformation, told the people in a In calling the attention of his audience to the holy Scriptures, the Doctor placed their importance in a most striking and impressive light-considered their origin, i. e. as proceeding from God, "the Father of lights," whence he inferred their holy nature and tendency; adverted to the medium through which they were communicated to us, and expatiated with pointed animation on the character of the prophets and apostles, those "holy men who spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit; he then proceeded to take a review of the moral tendency of the inspired writings--the view that it gives of the state of man in this world, as a fallen creature, and consequently needing salvation (for as he justly remarked, the depravity of human nature may be regarded as the very basis of divine revelation, since without admitting the former, the latter would have little or no meaning) he fixed the attention of his hearers on the doctrine of redemption, in which is so gloriously displayed the holiness of the divine nature, and God's hatred to sin, that in order to open a way for the exercise of his mercy to sinners, "he spared not his own, his only Son, but delivered him up" to the death of the cross, for our salvation. He also adverted to the purity of the precepts of the gospel, the elevated tone of its morality, and insisted that none were justified by it, but those who were also sanctified. 66 |ciency, which was the third head of his The importance of an early acquaintance with the sacred Scriptures was then enforced with the preacher's characteristic ability: but our limits forbid enlarge ment. At the conclusion of the discourse, the learned Doctor entered into an interesting statement of the importance of the British and Foreign School Societythe magnitude of the objects it had in view-the liberality of its principles, which were unfettered by the shackles of sect and party; and here he mentioned, that at a meeting which the British and Foreign School Society had held at the Freemason's Hall on Saturday last, the Russian ambassador had stated that the emperor Alexander was now returning from Paris, after settling the peace of Europe, to establish National Schools throughout every part of his extensive empire. In illustrating the sufficiency of the Scriptures to make men wise unto salvation, the preacher appeared to us to rise to an extraordinary pitch of elevation, which he nobly supported throughout the remainder of his discourse. "When we insist upon the sufficiency of the Scriptures to make men wise unto salvation," said the Doctor, "we advance a position that is capable of the clearest proof; and yet, strange as it may appear, this fact is disputed in the 19th century!" After a pointed attack upon the adversaries of the Bible Society, the preacher directed us for proof of his point to the first promulgation of the gospel among the Gentiles by the ministry of the apostles. "Here," We cannot close this article without said he, were twelve men without learn-expressing the high gratification which we ing, except what they derived from in- received from witnessing the whole of the spiration, without influence or power, proceedings of this interesting meeting. going forth against all the philosophers of To behold a prince of the blood royal Greece and Rome, to subvert the esta- entering a Methodist Chapel, and mingling blished systems of existing superstition: with every class of Protestant Dissenters The kings of the earth and the rulers took in the worship of God, regardless of the counsel against this little band of brethren, sneers which such a conduct must necesyet what was the consequence? Even sarily give rise to, is surely among the persecution failed of its object, and the phenomena of the age in which we live. doctrine of the cross triumphed: And Much the same may also be said of the what were the weapons of their warfare conduct of the Chief Magistrate of the It was this book (lifting up the Bible at city of London; and we believe they are the moment) and this alone, for their facts which a century ago would scarcely testimony was limited to this fact, "that have been contemplated as within the Christ must needs have suffered, and risen reach of probability. again from the dead, and that Jesus whom they preached unto them was the Christ. The knowledge of this made men wise to salvation." To illustrate the grounds of this effi The collection on the occasion, which is to be divided equally between the British and Foreign School, Society and the School in North-street, City-road, amounted to upwards of £200. NEW EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE, AND Theological Review. SUPPLEMENT FOR 1815. FOR CHRISTMAS DAY. -Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. Luke ii. 10, 11. sented to our view in the words before us. Meditation, then, on this scene can never be unseasonable. In every part of the year, whether at the commencement or the termination, it will afford an ample field for reflections suitable and pleasing. Permit me then to call your attention to it at present, while I point out to you, I. The message here delivered to the shepherds, viz. the birth of a Saviour. “Behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy," &c.. And in this message we may notice, IN these words we have the annunciation of the birth of the Saviour of the world. An event the most wonderful and the most important that ever attracted the attention of mortals, or ever occupied a place in the pages of history. Indeed we may regard all the scenes which had taken place on the theatre of the world, previous to the momentous period now referred to, as gradually preparing the way for the full dis- 1. The Person announced. He closure of this mysterious trans-is here designated as Christ the action; and all the succeeding Lord, i. e. the Messiah anointed events of providence as tending to of the Father, to be a light to unfold the importance, to illustrate lighten the Gentiles, and the glory the effects, and extend the know-of his people the Israelites; the ledge of the subject here celebrated Lord-the Governor-the King of by the angels of heaven. It is an Sion-the Prince of peace; and event which, unlike those that refer hence we learn, that although the only to human affairs, will not be- very identical words are not used come uninteresting through lapse by the angels in reference to the of years or distance of time. No: glorious Being who made his ap-. it will continue to be interesting to pearance at Bethlehem, yet the the latest period-its influence will same truths are conveyed conbe felt in every succeeding age; cerning him as those mentioned by and when all the transactions of the prophet Isaiah hundreds of time shall be swallowed up in the years previous to this important boundless ocean of eternity-even era. "For unto us a child is born, then the spirits of just men made unto us a son is given; and the perfect shall in holy wonder and government shall be upon his grateful praise revolve in their shoulder; and his name shall be happy minds the joyful scene pre- | called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, | ye little stars hide your diminished heads. Where now is the pride of birth, the boast of heraldry, and the pomp of power? Behold the Lord of life and glory-the heir of all things, who could say, "The cattle upon a thousand hills are the Prince of peace," &c. Isa. ix. 6,7. The Person whose arrival was announced by the angels to the shepherds, who were watching their flocks by night, was no less than the eternal Logos, set apart in the council of eternity to the all-mine," passes by the metropolis of important work of saving sinners. the empire, rejects the daughters A truth this clearly stated in the of wealth, disregards the palaces sacred Scriptures, and frequently of the great, but unites himself to brought forward in the public mi- an handmaid of poverty, adopts nistrations of the word, to prove the despised city of David, and the greatness of God's love-the becomes the inhabitant of a manastonishing compassion of the ger and a stable. Well might his Saviour the evil of sin, and the virgin mother exclaim, "My soul sternness of divine justice; all of doth magnify the Lord," &c. which are seen pre-eminently glc- Luke i. 46–53. rious in the dignity and character of Him, who, as the Mediator of the covenant of peace, hath now once in the end of the world ap-grandeur, and claimed far more peared to put away sin by the attention from the curious traveller sacrifice of himself, and to shew than Bethlehem, are swept away in that he is able to save to the utter- the ruin of nations, buried for ever most all who come unto God in oblivion, without the least trace through him, and that help is laid either of name or place; this city. upon one that is mighty. But we is rendered famous in story, will proceed to notice, be handed down to posterity, and its memory perpetuated through all generations, as affording birth to the Saviour, and yielding an argument in favour of Christianity, because the event here recorded had long been predicted before it transpired. See Micah v. 2. We notice, Thus while other cities of Judah, which perhaps at that time reared their heads in towering 2. The place where they were directed to seek him. "Unto you is born this day in Bethlehem the city of David." Bethlehem, a city little among the thousands of Judah -small as to its boundaries-contemptible in its appearance, and mean in its circumstances. Yet in this city Jehovah resolved to open 3. The extent of his influence. the channel of communication be-"Behold I bring unto you good tween himself and the world of tidings of great joy, which shall sinful mortals. Here the Son of be unto you and unto all people." God, the Prince of peace, and the Saviour of sinners, deigned to make his appearance-not surrounded with external pomp and splendour -not attended with human grandeur-not invested with worldly honours-not arrayed in the robes of earthly majesty. No: he assumed the human nature in its lowest and most abject state. How simple, and yet how affecting is the account given of it in this chapter, "And it came to pass," &c. Luke .1-7. Blush, grandeur, blush; Here we see that salvation is now come even unto the Gentiles. The extent of His influence embraces the Jew, but excludes not the Gentile; it is, as we have already observed, a light to enlighten the Gentiles, as well as the glory of his people Israel. For wise purposes the great Governor of the universe, who acts as a Saviour in all the dispensations of his grace, had in former ages shut out the Gentile nations from his favour, as the just consequence of their crimes, and separated the posterity | sibly have. Did they expect some of Abraham his friend, for the en- extraordinary prince that should joyment of his friendship and his display all the marks of greatness service. But now the end of that and characters of majesty? These distinction was answered, the pur- they might have seen, had they not poses of Jehovah were accom- been blinded by prejudice and sin, plished, and therefore the middle in that divine babe, who lay in a wall of partition was to be broken manger, and in whom the prodown, and the word of salvation phecy of Isaiah was exactly fulwas to be published throughout all filled, as I have already statednations. The Sun of righteousness Isa. ix. 6, 7. Had they a proverb | arose first in the land of Judea. of ancient date, that when the The light of His glorious rays first Messiah should come he would irradiated Jerusalem and the region tell them all things? Had they round about Jordan; but like the marked his language, and attended natural sun it was destined to diffuse to his explanation of their own its glorious beams over the universe. law, in his progress through the When the Saviour conversed with succeeding stages of life, they his disciples after his resurrection, would have seen this verified also. he declared to them, "Thus it is Did they look for One that should written, and thus it behoved Christ redeem Israel? They saw in the to suffer, and to rise from the dead conduct of Jesus this prediction on the third day; and that re- exemplified-"The Spirit of the pentance and remission of sins Lord is upon me, because he hath should be preached in his name anointed me to preach the gospel among all nations, beginning at to the poor; he hath sent me to Jerusalem. In Jerusalem there- | heal the broken-hearted, to preach fore the salvation of God was first deliverance to the captives, and proclaimed, and, happy would it recovering of sight to the blind, to have been for that deluded people, set at liberty them that are bruised; if the voice of mercy sounding in to preach the acceptable year of their ears had been listened to the Lord." Luke iv. 18. Had they with that attention which it de- a hope that One should arise among served. But, alas, he came to his them greater than Moses? They own, and his own received him had the testimony of good old not-He was despised and rejected Simeon (one of their own race) of men, and they hid as it were that this babe should be the glory their faces from him. But why of the people Israel. Luke i. 32. did they reject him? Were they In short, here they saw every prenot in expectation of a Saviour at diction accomplislied--every exthat very period? Yes, they uni pectation realized-and such docversally expected that the Re- trines as made them declare, deemer would come out of Zion at "Never man spake like this man!" that very time. So general was and such miracles performed as this expectation, that he must be proved him to be God manifested a stranger in Israel who was un- in the flesh. But, ah! the peracquainted with it. Did they wait version of human reason-the igfor one who should save them norance of human understandingfrom their enemies, from the hand the enmity of the carnal mind! in of them that hated them? This despite of all this evidence that was amply fulfilled in the person Jesus was the true Messiah, the of Jesus, who was born at Beth-only hope of Israel, and the Salehem, and came to subdue the viour thereof, they rejected him powers of darkness, those worst of and the salvation he published to adversaries which they could pos- them. And what has been the |