nevolence from these barbarians: The old people always received the first drink of milk, and larger share than even the acting head of the family, when they were scanted in quantity. When the family moved, a camel was first prepared for the old man, by fixing a kind of basket on the animals back; they then put skins or other soft things into it to make it easy, and next lifting up the old man they place him carefully in it, with a child or two on each side to take care of and steady him during the march. As soon as they stopped to pitch their tents, the old man was taken off and a drink of water or milk given him, for they take care to save some for that particular purpose. The remarkably old man I am speaking of belonged to a family that always pitched their tent near to ours, so that I had an opportunity of wit nessing the manner of his

treatment.

After I was redeemed in Mogadore, I asked my master Sidi Hamet of what age he supposed this old man to have been, and he said about eight zille, or Arabic centuries. Now an Arabic century, or zille, is forty two lunar years of twelve moons in each year, so that by this computation he must have been nearly 300 years old. He also told me that it was very common to find Arabs on different parts of the great desert, five zille old,retaining all their faculties, and that he had seen a great many of the ages of from 5 to

8.-I then asked him how they knew their own ages, and he answered-Every family keeps a record of the ages and the names of its children, which they always preserve and pack up in the same bag in which they carry the Ko. ran-The Arabs who live on the desert, said he, subsist entirely on the milk of their camels; it is the milk of an animal that we call sacred, and it causes long life; those who live on nothing else, have no disorders, and are particularly favoured of Leaven. But only carry these same people from the desert and let them live on meat and bread and fruits, they then become subject to every kind of pain and sickness when they are youag, and only live to the age of about two zille and a half at the most

while a great many die very young, and not one tenth part of the men or the women live, to the age of one zille.'

are

"Most of the Arabs well armed with good doublebarrelled French fowling pieces, and with good scimitars or knives They are ever ready, to attack an inferior, or even an equal force, and fight for the sake of plunder. They attack the small towns in the vicinity of the desert, on all sides if successful, they put all to the sword, burn the towns and retire again to the desert with their spoil. Such is the wandering Arab of the great African Desert. His hand is against every man, and conscquently every man's hand is against him."

MR. EDITOR,

SHOULD you consider the following observations worthy of a place in "The Christian Disciple" you will please to, insert them.

Matthew xvi. 19. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and

whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shalt be loosed in heaven.

By the keys' we are unquestionably here to understand the christian dispensation, the preaching of which was to be the means of introducing men into the kingdom of heaven,' They are said to be given to Peter in particular as he was to have charge of the flock-he was to be the first preacher of the Gospel both to the Jews and Gentiles, and upon him Christ declared he would build his church.

But the proper meaning of the latter, clause of the sentence under consideration is not so obvious.

It may refer to articles of the Jewish law, such as those concerning circumcision and eating of meat, which articles the Apostles should have authority to annul; or to their power of regulating the church their preaching of the gospel, making known the terms of salvation, and thereby dc termining who who should be

bound and who loosed accord

ing to their respective charac

ters.

I think it not impossible that all which I have mentioned may be implied in the expression. Yet on comparing the passage with one in St John with which I conceive it to be nearly parallel, I am of opinion that something more must also have been included to, justify the strength of the expression; and that the passage may, with some restrictions, be understood in the literal sense of that referred to in John, to wit," whose sins soover ye remit, they are remitted to them; and whose sins socver ye retain they are retained."

This interpretation will not make it necessary to suppose that the Apostles had power to forgive or retain the sins of every man, nor those of any particular person or persons. Our Saviour did not himself, feel at liberty to bestow his favours upon all indiscriminately, but only upon certain persons and upon certain conditions. The Apostles were doubtless to observe the same regulations. in the respect which Christ prescribed to himself.

I should therefore understand by their expressions not only that the Apostles were authorised to make known the terms of salvation, and to prescribe rules for the regulation of the Church; but, that they were able also, in certain ca-ses at least, to discriminate

between those who did or would, and those who would not accept the gospel, and that consequently they had power of making particular and definitive applications of its blessings and of its denunciations-the latter of which I do not know but Annaria and Sapphira are examples.

I hope, Mr. Editor, if I am mistaken in my explanation of the above passage of Scripture, that you will have the good

ness to explain it to me, for as it respects religious truth I am merely

A COMMON ENQUIRER. NOTE-The above article has been several months in our possession. We now give it, not as being perfectly satisfied with the exposition, but in the hope that some correspondent will be induced to favour us with a critical examination of the important text.

THE following verses are founded on the story of an English gentleman and lady who were on their passage to the East Indies, in one of the vessels of an English fleet. For some particular reasons they left the vessel and went on board the Admiral's ship, leaving two young children in the care of a negro servant, who was about 18 years of age. In a violent storm, the ship containing the two children was fast sinking, when a boat arrived from the Admiral's ship for their relief. The crew eagerly crowded to the boat-but the negro lad, finding there was only room for him alone, or the two children, generously put them on board, and remained himself on the wreck, which with the generous boy was immediately in. gulphed in the ocean: [N Y Adv.

BY AN AMERICAN.

TREMENDOUS howls the angry blast! The boldest hearts with terror quake!

Go, lovely infants,-go," he cried, "And give your anxious parents joy :

No mother will for MARCO weep, When fate entombs him in the deep!

"Long have My kindred ceas'd to grieve.

REPORT

"No sister kind My fate shall

mourn;

"No breast for ME, a sigh will heave, "No bosom friend wait My return! He said, and sinking, sought the happy shore

Where toil and slavery vex his soul

no more.

Of the Trustees of Plymouth and Norfolk Bible Society, together with a brief account of the origin and progress of the Society.

THE Clergymen and others, in the northern sections of Plymouth and Norfolk Counties, being apprised of the amazing charities of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and of the very respectable efforts of the Massachusetts Bible Society, &c. were thereby led particularly to enquire into the deficiency of copies of the scriptures, in their respective Societies and vicinities. This deficiency was found to be so great, that it was thought expedient to form an Association, whose primary object should be, to supply the destitute in their neighborhood, but which should also contemplate lending its aid to some larger institution, whose charities are more extended, whenever the state of their funds should permit.

Accordingly at a meeting of the Bay Association, at Marshfield, April 24th, 1816, a Constitution was reported by the Rev. Jacob Norton, and adopted and signed by William Shaw, D. D. Zephaniah Willis, John Allyn, D D., Elijah Leonard, Jacob Norton, Nehemiah Thomas, Nicholas B. Whitney, Jacob Flint, Morrell Allen, Samuel Deane, Henry Colman. A meeting was likewise appointed to be held at Hanover on the 2d Wednesday in June, 1816, for the purpose of organizing the Socie ty. A very respectable number of Clergy and Laymen, appeared at the time and place appointed, who became members and chose their officers for the year to commence Sept. 1816. They assumed the name of the Plymouth and Norfolk Bible SoVol. VI. No. 11.

were

ciety, because the members from several towns in each county, and because this was the only instiiution of the kind in either. Time we hope, will extend us so widely, as fully to vindicate our name. The sum of money necessary to be paid in, order to become a member, was fixed at a low rate, in order to render it less burdensome, and within the power of a great proportion of the community.

Art. 2d of the Constitution.

Every person paying annually to the funds of the Society seventy five cents, shall be a member during the punctual payment of this sum, and any person paying to the Society five dollars at any one time, shall be a member for life, and liable to no further assessment.

Summary of the Treasurer's account for the year ending Sept. 1817.

William Torrey, Treasurer of the Plymouth and Norfolk Bible Society to the Trustees of said Society.

By cash received of 34 mem

Dr.

bers for life at $5 each $170 00 By cash of 64 annual subscrip

tions

By cash of Nathaniel Russell

for various persons By a donation from the Church of Duxbury

By donations received by Rev.
Mr. Colman
By contribution at Hanover,
Sept. 11th

60 10

7.50

30 00

14 54

20 50 $302 64

These have all been distributed, as was done the former year, within the County of Plymouth, and a few towns in the north section of Norfolk.

In seeking for objects on whom to bestow your charity, we have gone to the cottages of the poor; we have enquired for destitute persons whose livelihood is procured on the seas; we have looked for servants in opulent families; and for the aged that they might be supplied with fair and legible copies.

Of the first class we have found many. Perhaps in but few instances we have bestowed the Scriptures on persons in whom was a total inability to procure them for themselves. But too generally we have found, that the Scriptures have not been prized sufficiently, to call forth an effort.From our hands, however, they have been cheerfully and gratefully received. To children they have been

66

as the dew upon the tender herb."

Of the second class a considerable number has been found. It is incredible to one who has not inquired, how few copies of the Bible are on board our vessels. It is worthy of attention. If the idea, that the ship is safer for having copies of the Divine Book on board, seem too superstitious to be entertained, at least it can be well comprehended, that the moral influence of the Scriptures will tend indirectly to safety and prosperity.

Of the third class we have found some to receive our charity. Families too often permit servants to enter and leave their service, without being furnished with the Bible, or receiving any intimation that it is necessary to become acquainted with its contents. We would not be severe, farther than a simple statement of the fact is severe.

Of the fourth class, as may natur ally be supposed, fewer instances

have occurred. But in no instances have the receiver and the donor shared so much pleasure. Aged persons to whom the common editions of the Bible were nearly or totally illegible, on receiving a large and fair copy, have cast their eyes upon it, and instantly raised them to heaven in gratitude. It has filled their hearts with joy; it has revived the lamp of life : it has shed a light around them at evening time.

For large copies however, there cannot be an extensive demand.Nor indeed, will so great a deficiency of Bibles, in our vicinity, soon be found again. A much less annual supply will serve. With this impression, the Society from this time propose to become auxiliary to the American Bible Society, and have already transmitted the sum of $100.

We trust that those persons whose aid we have a right to expect, will not withhold it, with the idea, that their exertions should be limited to a county or a district. To the frontiers and new settlements there is a loud call for attention, as appears from reports of the American Bible Society. Liberal things only are worthy of liberal hearts. Extended views belong to the Christian, who should labour to promote his Master's kingdom, and the conversion and salvation of the whole family of