Ir is an old artifice of sophistry to represent the cause or principles of an opponent as a matter of very small consequence. When driven off the field, a comfortable method of consoling one's self, and deceiving the public, is to insinuate that the antagonist has gained nothing by his victory-that the blame of beginning the dispute rests entirely on him, and that the apologist would not have engaged in such a senseless warfare, but for the compulsion of circumstances beyond his control. If the man who keeps the field has shown considerable zeal in the discussion, however it may have been justified by the occasion, he is sure of being condemned for attaching so much importance to the grounds of the controversy; is ridiculed for supposing that the question in dispute is of much weight, and for exerting so much strength in an affair of supreme insignificance; in short, he is declared to have been fighting for a shadow. Of the same disengenuous nature, and employed by the same description of persons, is a practice of those who seek to introduce heretical sentiments in religion. First, the tenets of the new sect are industriously scattered as widely as possible, without allowing able defenders of truth any opportunity of meeting them on open ground, or even knowing with certainty what they are. In the beginning of the process, they must be whispered softly in the cars of a few confidential friends, who are pledged to secrecy on most occasions, and are especially charged with caution in the propagation of the new doctrine. Sometimes they are to be dressed in such ambiguous language, that a specific charge against them cannot be supported. A thousand avenues are left open to allow an escape, whenever pursued closely. If you attempt to fix a charge of error or of falsehood upon them, they are sure to retreat behind some doubtful expression, some evasion, or figurative language. The true shape of their opinions is kept out of sight as long as possible, and if they are reluctantly forced to bring some part of it nearer your view, it is still under a cloak. You are amused or awed by some high authority, who, as you are told, once said, or once wrote such a sentiment, whereas, in truth, he never entertained it for a moment. Should the unskilful disciple be shocked at the impiety of the new sect, or perplexed by the equivocal forms presented to his mind,and even be ready to question the correctness or safety of the easier way to heaven, now pretended to be disclosed to him, he is answered VOL. XV. 49 Westborough, Ms. The Juvenile Straw Soc. for the ed. of hea. children Windsor, Con. Children in Cynthia White's school, for ed. hea. chil. Windham Co. Con Char. Soc. by Dea. John H. Payson, Treas. For foreign missions, Mission schools, Cherokee mission, For translations, 44.50 21 35 1.00 50 1 12 Total 11 25 14 25 2 0072 00 $77 00 156 Windsor, Con. Little girls in Eliza Pickett's school, for the western mis sion, by Mr. L. Dwight, Woodbridge, N.J. The Soc. for ed. hea. children in the families of the Woodstock, Ver. Mehetabel Harris, by the Rev. Walter Chapin, 12.00 5.00 33 00 Another Society, to educate a child in Ceylon, to be named MARTIN Several individuals in the north school district, for the Ceylon mission, Worthington, Ms. The Fem. Char. Soc. by the Rev. Mr. Pomroy, Donors whose residence is unknown. From friends of missions, transmitted to the Rev. Dr. Baldwin, of Boston, 125 00 The following donations of articles of clothing, &c. for our western Missions, are gratefully acknowledged: viz. A box of articles of clothing together with 3 testaments and 2 bibles; from the Worcester Female Western Mission Society, by Sarah T. Jennison, Treasurer. A box of clothing and books from individuals, principally ladies, in Rindge, N. H. for the benefit of the school at Brainerd. Estimated value of the articles is S. A box of articles of clothing from the Female Missionary Society of Marietta, Ohio, for the Choctaw mission at Elliot, and which have been forwarded to Mr. Kingsbury by the donors. The cost of these articles was $47 79; also additional garments, procured by pupils in the school of Mr. W. Slocomb, at Marietta, value, $7 50, A box of clothing, books, &c. from some ladies in East Hartford, Con. for the mission at Brainerd. A box of clothing from ladies in Bath, N. H., also a parcel from Barnet, Ver. by the Rev. David Sutherland, for the same mission as above. A box of clothing from ladies in Franklin, Mass. for the Choctaw mission, under the direction of the Rev. Mr. Kingsbury-by Miss Sarah Emmons. The receipt of the following books for the mission library in Ceylon is gratefully acknowledged. An elegant copy of Calmet's Dictionary of the Bible: English edition, 3 vols. quarto, by the Rev. John Codman of Dorchester, Ms. A Description of Ceylon, 2 Vols. quarto, a London edition, 1816: presented by Messrs. Eastburn and Co. New York. DONATIONS OF THE AMERICAN EDUCATION SOCIETY IN JUNE 1819. Ipswich, Mass. South branch Soc. (also 2 pr. Woollen Hose and 1 Silk Hkf.) 5 00 1,300 00 24 00 23 OG 86 00 10.00 15.00 20.00 10.00 5000 23.50 5.00 Norfolk Aux. Ed. Soc., Female Cent Soc. North Parish of Weymouth, Mass. Avails of a Charity box kept by Mr. Caleb Fisher Franklin, Mass. MEMBERS FOR LIFE. 40.00 40.00 Rev. Samuel Judson, Uxbridge, Mass. from ladies of that place, Rev. Moses Shepard, Little Compton, R. I. from Ladies of that town, Rev. James Sabine, Boston, from members of his society, Rev. Asa Rand, Gorham, Maine, from Ladies of his Soc. 40.00 40.00 - 40 00 - 40 00 $2,587 08 REMARKS ON THE SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS OF BOMBAY. [The following paragraphs are selected from a letter, written by the Rev. Mr. Graves, a missionary at Mahim near Bombay, to the Treasurer of the Board of Foreign Missions. Mr. Graves had been requested to communicate such information as fell in his way, respecting the country where he resides, and its inhabitants. Every thing of this kind is interesting to the inquiring reader, who wishes to know, not only the moral and religious condition, but the civil and domestic character of the people, and the natural productions of their soil.] "THE soil is considered as the property of the government, whether that be native or foreign. Occupants, however, are not to be disturbed, provided they pay the stated rent. Much land is given, under all the governments, for the use of temples, and worshippers; also as rewards to individuals. Such lands, I believe, are exempt from every tax. Lands may also be bought by natives from the government, in a certain sense, i. e. so that they may afterwards pay but a small yearly rent, or tax. But very few of the natives have a sufficient regard for the future to ask or wish a permanent title to their lands. They seem not to care for permanency in any thing, except their casts and customs. A present supply, a present gratification, seems all they crave. Owing very much to this characteristic, extensive tracts of good land are altogether unoccupied, lying useless in the hands of government. "The annual rent of grain land is at the rate of about 10 rupees, (four and a half Spanish dollars) an acre. This ground may yield 50 bushels of rice, sown in June and reaped in October; afterwards a crop of wheat may be raised, or garden vegetables cultivated. Grazing land, and grain land, when vacant, are free to all herdsmen and shepherds. Grass, during the rains, is abundant, and at their close is cut, or rather reaped freely. Large fields of grass are burnt in the dry season for sport. The land belonging to cocoa-nut plantations is sand, and will produce little else, except some other fruit, and timber trees. I am told, that an acre of land planted with the cocoa-nut tree is sold for about 500 rupees; while the same quantity of cultivated ground would bring 1000 rupees.* "The soil of Mahim is sand; and the place is one complete cocoa-nut forest, as much so as if there were no inhabitants. These trees, during eight mouths of the year, require watering. Some however neglect it; and, during the day season, keep a quantity of salt on the roots of the trees, I suppose to attract moisture. But such trees yield very little. One good tree is supposed to yield about the value of two rupees in cocoa-nuts, that is, about 50 during the year. From some cocoa-nut trees, another species of the palm, the liquor called Toddy, is extracted. This, when fresh, is a pleasant vinous drink, and is distilled, you It is conjectured, that the rent spoken of by Mr. Graves, is not all that the cultivator pays for the use of land, as it would be but one per cent on the value; whereas the interest of money is higher in India, than it is in Europe or America. We presume that the 10 rupees a year, is what is paid to government, and the 1,000 rupees the price which one occupant pays for the lease of a previous occupant. If an occupant rents his land to an inferior tenant, as the actual cultivator, he doubtless reserves a rent proportioned to the ordinary produce. An acre which would produce 50 bushels of rice, and a subsequent crop of wheat, might well bring a high rent, as rice is seldom cheaper, we believe, than a dollar a bushel, and generally dearer. by the hollow pretexts of candor, liberality, and charity. Such pleasing sounds are intended to silence investigation, and lull suspicion asleep, till the usurper shall have gained strength to fit him for throwing aside the mask with safety. Let it be remembered, that this mode of introducing a bad cause is no new invention. Whatever else it may plead for its use, it has not the claim of novelty. Its antiquity almost equals that of the material world. But this excessive shyness is not long deemed necessary. After such disengenuous arts have been played off awhile, and their success has brought numbers, and wealth, and patronage into the ranks of the party, the forms of attack and defence receive great alteration. While "creeping in unawares," mischievous principles of every class possess their genuine character; and that very character affords them no small protection. But the moment their power shall have rendered this sly proceeding unnecessary, the tone and the attitude are changed at once. Like the serpent in the fable, their venom is not the less real, nor less malignant, because extraneous circumstances conceal it. Only bring the propagators of heresy into suitable circumstances, and what was before latent will show itself in effects not to be mistaken. Pity the reptile, now seeming so helpless, and hug it foolishly in your bosom, and the fate of the countryman will be yours. Another distinguishing characteristic of error is its ceaseless variation. If by the strength of argument, by the fluctuations of fashion, or from any other means, one false notion has been laid aside, a successor is ever ready to occupy its place. Notwithstanding that one error often originates another, yet there may be no other resemblance between the two, than their common opposition to truth. To this they all have an inveterate hostility, and however widely the advocates of erroneous doctrines may differ on all other subjects, they find a centre of union whenever the truth is to be assailed. Numerous instances are every day seen of the abettors of opposite systems, and even of personal enemies, uniting their strength and resources to maintain a vigorous warfare against the advocates of evangelical religion. This enmity is the more embittered, in proportion to the active diligence of the Christian in the service of his Master. Indeed they will not allow his religion to be the cause of their enmity; but allege some bad use he makes of his pretended principles, or some crimes which do not belong to them, as the reason of their hostility. Repeated examples have fallen under my notice, of a sect or a party, whose tender consciences seemed to discover extraordinary sensibility to injury, or to what they called "oppression." They could hardly endure a plain statement of another man's religious belief, lest it should be derogatory to the credit of their own. These people, while a minority, or otherwise destitute of power, will perpetually repeat the cry of candor, forbearance, the uncertainty of opinion, and the unalienable right of each man to fashion his belief to his own taste. But once let the tables be turned, and their voices are set to a quite different tune. No scruples are then expressed to forcing upon a town or a church, a teacher of sentiments which they cannot approve. The hal low profession of catholicism is industriously proclaimed on all occasions, till the false pretenders are snugly seated in office; but the moment they have sufficient strength they keep no measures, and show no respect to any who oppose their arbitrary purposes. N. P. EXTRACTS FROM THE DIARY OF THE REV. COTTON MATHER. (Continued from p. 346.) Jan. 31, 1713. Saturday. I set apart this day (as usual) for prayer, with fasting in secret before the Lord. Especially, praying for direction and assistance in some special services that are now before me; particularly the preparing and publishing of some treatises I have now on hand. I made my supplications to heaven for good news from England. I cried unto the Lord for the smiles of heaven on my family and my ministry, in various ways. This day I arrived unto the clearest apprehensions of my justification before God, by the righteousness of my Savior, which I therefore presented unto him; and yet my obligation to endeavor all possible conformity to his law in holy obedience; the grace to yield which, the blood of my Savior has purchased for me. conversed with the glorious One on such terms as these. 1. Good Devised. To instruct my flock clearly in the methods of their justification by the obedience of their Savior and at the same time, their own weighty obligations to love and prize, and endeavor all possible obedience to the law of the holy God, and walk according to that rule, and then to put into their hands a treatise of this importance, may be a service to them. Feb. 1. Lord's Day. 'Tis an excessive and unusual cold which embitters the season this day. My public services were therefore of an uncommon brevity. But at the table of the Lord, as far as the time would allow, I set myself to magnify the holy law of the glorious God; first by presenting before God the obedience of my Savior to that law, which has made expiation for my violation of it, and brought in everlasting righteousness for me; and then, by pleading the blood of my Savior as purchasing for me the grace to love and keep the law, and so taking the comfort of a lively hope, that I shall one day be brought into the perfection of such an inestimable blessedness. 2. G. D. I would not only continue my watchful endeavors, even at lying down and rising up, still to entertain my consort with some new hint or other that may be instructive, and help her to improve in knowledge and goodness, but also I would reinvigorate that law of my conversation in my family, whenever I go down among my little folks, to let fall some expression or other, which may be useful for them to think upon, and to do the like when any of them are attending upon me in my study. These are indeed no new forms of care with me; yet I find it needful to renew the charges of God upon my soul, to observe them with more zealous industry, and to be mos extensive in my application of them, |
