Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

coming prejudice. But one image is presented to the eye, and that is liberality. Her features, her attitude, her voice, her weapons, and her attire, are always the same. Her broad mantle covers the approach of the fiend, till the treacherous blow be given, and "truth fall in the streets." Certain it is, that such has been the ordinary course of those who have turned" away from the holy commandment delivered unto them." They began with a show of liberality, and ended in downright apostacy. Nor can there be a worse symptom of a professor of Christianity, than an anxiety to be accounted liberal on points of principle. It is an anxiety which Christ and his apostles never displayed. It is the mark of one with whom the answer of a good conscience" is of less value than the breath of a passing compliment; one who loves the praise of men more than the praise of God."

THE THREE QUESTIONS.

BERNARD'S three questions are worth the asking ourselves, in any enterprise-1. Is it lawful? May I do it, and not sin? 2. Is it becoming me as a Christian? May I do it, and not wrong my profession? 3. Is it expedient? May I do it, and not offend my weak brother?

ANECDOTE

OF PETER THE THIRD.

In the days of Peter the Third, a canon of the cathedral of Seville, affected in his dress, and particularly in his shoes, could not find a work man to his liking. An unfortunate shoemaker, to whom he applied after quitting many others, having brought him

a pair of shoes not made to please his taste, the canon became furious, and killed him. The unhappy man left a widow, four daughters, and a son 14 years of age. They made their complaint to the Chapter; the canon was prosecuted, and condemned not to appear in the choir for a year. The young shoemaker having attained to man's estate, was scarcely able to get a livelihood, and overwhelmed with wretchedness, sat down on the day of a procession at the door of the cathedral of Seville, in the moment the procession passed by. Amongst the other canons, he perceived the murderer of his father. At the sight of this man, filial affection, rage and despair got so far the better of his reason, that he fell furiously upon the priest, and stabbed him to the heart. The young man was seized, convicted of the crime, and immediately condemned to be quartered alive. The king was then at Seville; and hearing of the particulars, determined to be himself the judge of the young man. When he proceeded to give judgment, he first annulled the sentence just pronounced, and after asking the young man what was his profession, I forbid you, said he, to make shoes for a year to Edin. Miss. Mag.

[ocr errors]

come.

The following lines of Cowper possess exquisite beauty, and are above all praise.

ADDRESS TO DEITY.

Thou art the source and centre of all minds,
Their only point of rest, ETERNAL WORD!
From thee departing, they are lost, and rove
At random, without honour, hope or peace.
From thee is all that soothes the life of man,
His high endeavour and his glad success,
His strength to suffer, and his will to serve.
But oh! thou bounteous Giver of all good,
Thou art of all thy gifts thyself the crown!
Give what thou canst, without thee we are poor i
And with thee rich, take what thou wilt away.

Review of New Publications.

Universalism confounds and destroys itself; or letters to a friend, in four parts, &c. &c. By JOSEPH SPALDING, 4. M. Pastor of a Church in Buckland. Wright. Northampton. 1805. pp. 359..

THE subject of this book is highly interesting; as there is an essential difference between the scheme which supposes God will put an endless difference between the righteous and the wicked, and that which promises salvation to all mankind. If

the former be true, the latter is not only false, but pregnant with infinite mischief to the souls of men; and the cause of truth requires, that every lawful means should be used to expose the falsehood, and counteract the tendency of such a system.

This work is divided into four parts, each containing a number of letters.

The general object of the first and second part is to show that the scheme, which denies all future punishment, and that which supposes a limited punishment hereafter, are made up of contradictions." p. 9th and 22d. From numerous quotations and the reasoning upon them, it appears with sufficient evidence, that each of those schemes is very inconsistent with itself, and involves many absurdities. It is thought, however, that the expression," made up of contradictions," is too strong. scheme may contain contradictions, and even many contradictions; yet not be made up of Contradictions.

A

The professed design of the third part, beside answering objections, is to shew that the natural and proper meaning of everlasting, eternal, forever, forever and ever, and the original words from which they are translated, is endless duration.

The remarks and criticisms upon these terms appear to be just, and are sufficient to satisfy a candid inquirer after truth, that "they properly mean endless duration, and that this is their common and necessary import, as used in the holy Scriptures."

The objections urged by Universalists, are fairly and fully answered.

The author's principal object in the fourth part is to shew, that "the sufficiency of the atonement for the salvation of all is consistent with the final destruction of a part of mankind."

This is an important section, and deserves a careful perusal ; as the Universalists found some of their most specious arguments and objections upon the supposed inconsistency of these ideas. The author exhibits, in a clear and convincing light, the nature of the atonement, and also the consistency of God's leaving some men to final sin and ruin, with the doctrine, that the atonement opens a door of salvation for all.

What is said upon the second death, we think scriptural and pertinent.

There are defects in the style, which will be noticed by the critical reader; and some of the arguments, and answers to objections might, with advantage,

[blocks in formation]

THE ninth annual meeting of the Congregational Missionary Society, in the counties of Berkshire and Columbia, was holden agreeably to appointment, at the meeting-house in Richmond, Sept. 16, 1806; at the opening of which a sermon was delivered by the Rev. Beriah Hotchkin, from Matt. xvi. 18. "And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church;

they had distributed in the new settlements about 200 books belonging to the Society, and brought back in contributions $51 87.

The Report of the Treasurer was The folalso heard and accepted. lowing is his report at large. A statement of the funds of the Congregational Missionary Society, originated in the counties of Berkshire and Columbia, and the expenditures of the same, from the 12th of Sept. 1804, to the 21st of Nov. 1806.

Account of the monies received by the Treasurer.

and the gates of hell shall not prevail Balance in the Treasury, Sept. 12th, 1804, against it."

At this meeting the Society was encouraged to continue, and, if possible, to increase their exertions to spread the knowledge of the gospel, by having opportunity to witness an addition to the body of several valuable members.

Sept. 18, A contribution from the Rev. Mr.
1804. Collin's Society in Lanesborough
From a friend of missions
From do.

do.

A contribution from Rev. Mr. Morse's
society at Green River

Oct. 24. Addition to the last contribution from
Pittsfield

D. C.

345 59

24 06 2. 00

1 00

[ocr errors][merged small]

25.

Dec. 13. Jan. 12, 1805.

From Mr. Asaph Morgan, collected on
a mission
From Rev. Benjamin Wooster, collect-
ed on a mission

8 35

18 00

& contribution from the town of Pitts

field

12 29

18.

[blocks in formation]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

The Report of the Trustees, containing an account of their proceedings the last year, relative to the employment of missionaries, and the expenditure of monies, was exhibited to the Society and received their approbation. From this report it appears that the Trustees, during the year, had engaged eighty weeks of missionary service; that they had received returns from their missionaries of forty-four weeks of service, actually performed; that the missionaries who had made returns, had Jan. 8, preached 268 sermons, besides attending many religious conferences, and making many family visits;

that

A contribution from the town of Lee
From Rev. Gideon Hawley, a donation
June 14. From Mr. Samuel P. Robbins, collected
on a mission
Aug. 22. From a friend of missions
From
Sept. 17. From

1806. Feb. 18.

A contribution from the town of Pitts-
field
March 23. A contribution from the town of San-
disfield

[blocks in formation]

Sept. 17. Paid Rev. Alvan Hyde for postage of letters sent to him, as Secretary of the Society Oct. 23. Paid Rev. Alvan Hyde for the expense of printing the Society's address 29. Paid Rev. Nathaniel Turner in advance of a mission

Paid Rev. Joseph Avery the balance due to him for 12 weeks missionary services in the western counties of the state of New York.

28. Paid Rev. Asaph Morgan for 8 weeks missionary services, in the northwestern counties of Vermont April 15. Paid Mr. Jeremiah Osborn the sum due to him for 8 weeks missionary services in the county of Luzerne 29. Paid Rev. Nathaniel Turner the balance due to him for 16 weeks missionary services in the northwestern counties of Vermont

125

14.00

80 00

Jan. 8, 1806.

36.00

48 00

48 00

16 00

19 65

[blocks in formation]

32 86

A contribution from the town of WestStockbridge

13 70

From Mr. Jeremiah Minklee, a donation
From Mr. Timothy Barns, a donation
From Mr. Azariah Clark, a donation
A contribution from the town of
Washington

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small]
[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Nov. 17. From Mr. Eben. I. Leavenworth, collected on a mission

From Rev. Gideon Hawley, a donation From Rev. Alvan Hyde, being the profits arising from the sale of Vincent's Explanations of the Cate

chism

21. From sundry members, for their annual dues and entrance money, from the 12th Sept. 1804, and at various times, to this date

[blocks in formation]

172 00

Officers of the Society for the present

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

FOREIGN.

EDINBURGH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

THIS Society has lately published its annual report, containing a view of the progress of their affairs during the last year. An occurrence of considerable importance to their mission in Tartary, which has recently taken place, is thus related. "When the state of our funds had put it out of the power of the missionaries to redeem any more of the native youths, the providence of God, in a very extraordinary manner, sent them, free of cost, from a distant part of Tartary, above forty children, to be educated in the Christian faith. They are of a tribe of Kirghisian Tartars, of both sexes, and from five to fifteen years of age. In their native country, they were, to human appearance, placed beyond the reach of the means of grace; but HE who says, "I will bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth," compelled their tribe, under the pressure of famine, to offer their children to the Emperor as the price of bread; and induced his counsellors to present a portion of them to the missionaries at Karass, to be educated under their eye, in the Christian religion.

"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out." Would it have been proper for the missionaries to have declined the offer because they had not the approbation of the society? Would it have been proper for the society, after they received information, to have censured their conduct in accepting so singular a gift Certainly not. They the Children of Providence. God has said, 'Take these children and educate them for me, I will give you your wages and it is hoped that the friends of religion will not suffer the missionaries to want the means of feeding and clothing them, and of bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."

are

Still later accounts, we understand, have been received from Karass, from which it appears that the missionary settlement is healthy; that the baptized natives conduct themselves in a manner that accredits their profession; that their young people are very

has been

promising, several of them being able
to read both Turkish and English; that
the prejudices of the surrounding na-
tives are not so violent as formerly; and
that even some of the Effendis are be-
come friendly, and seem to wish well
to their cause. The Russian Gov-
ernment has made them a grant of
land, and annexed to the grant cer-
tain important privileges. A tract
against Mohammedism
printed by the missionaries in their
press at Karass. It is written
in Arabic, and the typography is
remarkably well executed. The
tract makes a great stir among the
Moslems. Mr. Brunton has made
considerable progress in translating
the Scriptures into the language of
the country. To this object he has de-
voted much of his time and atten-
tion; and he thinks that he has suc-
ceeded in making such a translation
as will be understood, not only by the
Turks, but also by the Tartars. All the
the missionaries, and some even of the
Effendis, are anxious to have it print-
ed, but this cannot be done without a
new font of Arabic types; and in the
present exhausted state of the socie-
ty's fund it is doubtful whether they
can engage in this great and neces-
sarily expensive work.

[blocks in formation]
« AnteriorContinuar »