Google

This is a digital copy of a book that was preserved for generations on library shelves before it was carefully scanned by Google as part of a project

to make the world's books discoverable online.

It has survived long enough for the copyright to expire and the book to enter the public domain. A public domain book is one that was never subject

to copyright or whose legal copyright term has expired. Whether a book is in the public domain may vary country to country. Public domain books

are our gateways to the past, representing a wealth of history, culture and knowledge that's often difficult to discover.

Marks, notations and other maiginalia present in the original volume will appear in this file - a reminder of this book's long journey from the

publisher to a library and finally to you.

Usage guidelines

Google is proud to partner with libraries to digitize public domain materials and make them widely accessible. Public domain books belong to the public and we are merely their custodians. Nevertheless, this work is expensive, so in order to keep providing tliis resource, we liave taken steps to prevent abuse by commercial parties, including placing technical restrictions on automated querying. We also ask that you:

+ Make non-commercial use of the files We designed Google Book Search for use by individuals, and we request that you use these files for personal, non-commercial purposes.

+ Refrain fivm automated querying Do not send automated queries of any sort to Google's system: If you are conducting research on machine translation, optical character recognition or other areas where access to a large amount of text is helpful, please contact us. We encourage the use of public domain materials for these purposes and may be able to help.

+ Maintain attributionTht GoogXt "watermark" you see on each file is essential for in forming people about this project and helping them find additional materials through Google Book Search. Please do not remove it.

+ Keep it legal Whatever your use, remember that you are responsible for ensuring that what you are doing is legal. Do not assume that just because we believe a book is in the public domain for users in the United States, that the work is also in the public domain for users in other countries. Whether a book is still in copyright varies from country to country, and we can't offer guidance on whether any specific use of any specific book is allowed. Please do not assume that a book's appearance in Google Book Search means it can be used in any manner anywhere in the world. Copyright infringement liabili^ can be quite severe.

About Google Book Search

Google's mission is to organize the world's information and to make it universally accessible and useful. Google Book Search helps readers discover the world's books while helping authors and publishers reach new audiences. You can search through the full text of this book on the web

at|http: //books .google .com/I

^

TBS

1r

PANOPLIST,

A«l>

MISSIONARY MAGAZINE,

FOR THB YEAR iSl«.

VOL. X,

j:

>^ ♦

ov^

BOSTON:

PUBLISHED BY SAMUEL T. ARMSTRONG,

VO. 50^ COBITRIU:

fjf^nlmm ang tralltf theprterMn^ wkimet mm 6e had. Mm of him mag be ttui

a gttural attartment af ReligittiM and Mtcellaneinu Puoucalhnt. Dr.

SetCtHumtjf Mibie, at variinuprictt,fram gttf <• %$i an huiul.

1814.

^■HV

■> ■>■ •

PREFACE.

It 10 generally the de^n of a preface to make the readef acquainted with 8omethif^, which it will be useful foe him to know, before he commences the perusal of the work itself. But this QaQOOt be the design of a preface* to a volume, which has been published and read before, tlie preface was written. 1^ Editors of periodical pub- lications naturally fall into the habit pf writing ptfstcrif/s^ though tliey are placed at the beginnir^ of volumes, and. usurp the name o{prtface9'. It will not be unprecedent- ed, therefore, if we casi our eyes back for a moment, on the volume which i> now elided* and which, as we are willing to believe, has been read with candor by our, patrons generally.

Though we could wish our pages had been more worthy of periisal, and though we are by no means blind to their imperfections, yet it is a coneul^ig thought, tjiat the tendency and the effect of the Panoplist, are, as our friends encourage us to hope, decidedly beneticiaL There is the more I'eason for expressing this opinion of our work, as we could not be justified in publishing it, were its utility doubtful in our own view, and as a large proportion of the original matter is furnished by men, whose deliberate reflections are certainly entitled to an attentive consideration. On looking over the numbers, which compose this volume, as we have been obliged to do in compiling an index, the vast importance of a relig- lous magazine, conducted with even tolerable propriety, has been very deeply impressed on our mind.

One most cheering characteristic of the present times, is an enlarged and still increasing benevolence. Efforts to meliorate the condition of man are now made by a greater number of enlightened individuals, and on >

grander scale, than ever before. It is of infinite import-* ance to the world, that these efforts should not be slack- ened; that the zeal, which is now so happily excited, should not languish; and that the number of persons,*^ %%'ho labor and pray for the prosperity of Zion, should be multiplied. Though -these desirable results can only be secured by the divine blessing, yet it is to be i*eceived as an undoubted maxim, that this blessing is not to be ex* pectedtUhl^ in the use of the means which God has kindly furnisjied, and which have often been honored with sure tokens of his approbation. Let the friends of the Redeemer see to it, then, that no vantage ground be abandoned; and that no temporary inconvenience be suffered to impede the progress of that cause, the success of which is infinitely more valuable than any temporal interests. •

These considerations should induce all publishers of religious works, and all writers in them, to look forward with a steady eye, and an unwavering faith, to that bles- sed consummation, when truth and virtue shall bvcomd triumphant on earth, and when the Lord Jesus shall be universally received as the Savior of sinners I'hat we may act under the influence of the^e high and coinmand* ing motives, and that our readers may be interested in the blessings of that covenant y which is ordered in M things and sure, is our earnest bupplication to God.

Ihvion, December y 1814.

INDEX,

w THB raacsf Ah lumajg coNTAWfiD or thui volumh.

•Mttrocf of reUoos intoBfamite, *f^nP4w of th» Editor f tke pablk^

•fdniceofabdierf

■■ and repTOofj^ ineflflaiqr o^

•j^vco, Sondi, Hftte QTmiMtesfa,

Me^ R«y: WafaiB, mtn^oh of a

• 1

triffias cnv 1^ kb bk^phiMl

•^AwMi^ (iriW Goilqp^ Mfce t^

•fnryicaiRMiBtp rtmarki floncemuig^

•AwHtua Board <€f.Coinm&sioiien ixr'Pai«%a' MUoii% fifth aonuat ineeCJDg oi; 459— offioen of, ib.^ rtpon QfthePtade^tW Committee of, 45S— -peMiniaiT Meoonti of,

•Mmericam Mkikmtirnm, letters from, "^ ^~ mteli^onee fromj|' *" — memorial q( to Sir Etoq NcpiNm, 4ited Feb. IS, ISIS, 470— second memofkl oi; dated F«h. 18, ]tl3, 471— third memorial o^ dsted I>«^ 4, ISia^ 504— feorth memo- rial c£, cbted Dee. IS, 181S, 464— fifth memonri o£ dated Dee. SIO, 1813, - . . . -*- — memoriatoo^toLordMin- to^. Qofemor General of Bengal, dated Aug. 81, Oet 17, and Nov. 18,1812.

^me«, Hon. Fisher, hb opinion of the book of DeateroDomj,

^nciefU Ec«le«astic«I doeoments,

,imier»cn^ Rer. Hufus, his life and elAaraeter, ...

Anecetote, ...

m%ntigita, missions of the United Brethren at, - - •

^9pplti9n^ ReT. Jesse, D. D. review of hU eleeiktn sermon,

Ardent spirits, estimsAe of qiaantities consumeil, ...

•%99ociaHmi^ Ceneral, of Massachu- seiu Proper, mindte# of th^ pro- eeediogB of, - - ■ -

Atoitemeni^ inquiry respecting the wuid, ...

Sft

477 181

MO

514

476

84

S$0

308 453

389

373

88

316 114

MapHtt Missions in India, sUte of, at the cIcMe of 1811, 38— at the close of 1818, ... 485

Barbadoe9y missions of the United Brethren at, . - 389

Sarins^ /bd, the hariMMQS dMon of his Colnmhiad aaouaoied for, 84 •^his hbmbast; 87— the obseuritt

of Ilii luguaKt, S6-~M>"« po«^^ passages of hia work, 89— liis tlie-

fitoer, 31— 4he IndigiiitT offered by him to the crsM, 38-— his lheoi7 of the orUn of the vorid, 67— the 0f%uiarrdUad,69--4iia metapbys- ieal abatracSoB, 71 — his opimon of Chfaieae history 79— bis comparison ' of Moaaa, Lyeoifiuu 8ie. d.— 4us views of the fotor reUgion, 73 — his ' hostility to-Revelatiou.t6.— his e^- eluaon of all rsligioa rrom his sys- tem, 77— his notion of a pacifie lUad, 79-hii eraed contahdM an iofidd cosmogony, 81— nis method of prov- ing wiiat cannot be proved, 86— iiia Terslon of David's psalms, notice of, 1^.— correction of an etror respect^ ing this version, - - 311

JBeecher, Rev. Lyman, review of his

sermon, . . - 178

Belcher, Governor, original letters

from to President Edwaids, 407,454 Belhary, mission at, ' - - 569

hibU Sccicty, British and Foreim, pecuniary accounts t£, at toe nmth annual meetinj;^ May, 1813,189— extracts tTom the corrcBsprjodeace oC

— — Connecticut, ahr U*act of the

fiiurth annual report of,

— — l*hiladelphia, abstract of the

fifth aiiiiual report of,

— — New ilaropshlre, abstract of

tlic second annuel report of,

— -«- Veimont, abstract 01 the first

annuiil report nf, - >

— — New York, abftTRct of the

fourth annual re]K>rt of,

— — In the couniv of Mid<lli'»CK,

]da»8. foimRtJon anileonMltu- tion of, 187 — address of a committee of, - - -i*4

— — Norfolk, Vir. address and

ofMisiimtion of, • l**)!

— — Auxiliary, of Newark and the

Vietiiilv,(N J.) formation of, 430

— — of Frefier ckshurg, (Vir.) for-

nialKHi of, . - - 43l

— — of DubKa, Ireland, Ladies'

Auxiliary, - - ^^

138 135 137 183 184

vi

IKBEX*

Sible Sooetjy Neith, ineedote from

the report of, - 534

— — Generalfin the United States,

projector, ... 117 JBoottm^ mistioii in, • - • ' 48 Mo9t9n Avflum for boys, • • 139 — ^— prison, notice from the keep- er o^ - - - - 1^8 Female Society for missiona- rj purposes, ... 334 Society for the religious and mond improvement of sea- men, , ' ' ' *'34 Mumum mission, - -40 Jiusiora, on the Euphrates, reasons for establishing a mission at, - 516

Calmeft Fragments, review of, - 88 Campbelit Uev. Mr. some account of

his travels in South Africa, - 563 Cape of Good Hope, state of religion

at, - - - . - - 567 9aramanali, a Georei^n prince, hO-

count of his conversion to Christian-

ity,

84

Caravan, destrucUon^of, in the Ara- bian desert, .... 188

Caution to young men, . . S3

Cent Institution,. Mrs. Simpkins treasurer, donations to, - • 5S3

CeyloUf reasons lor establishing a mis- don at» 514

^halmertt Rev. Mr. review of his ser- mon before the Dundee Missionary Soeietv. .... 54r

Ckaritaife Association in Newbury. port, extract from the report of^ 46,92

Charity Libraries recommended, 20 —constitution of one, • - 591

ChriMt the KteaX physician, t69r— tes- dmoQV of concerning himself, 7-— thoughts on the cliaracter oH, - 3^

Ch;i9tian9f arl van (ages to be deriyed by them- from ill4.reatment, - 4^8

€hri9tojphilea, a letter from, accom- jiaimn^ a donation for the support of foreign missions, - - 888

Chnmolerical tabk for i8t9, - 55^

Chttrch discipline, who are the sub- jects of, SI 8 — what .steps are to be taken in it, 'il9 — what satitifaction is to be made by an offender, 8^1

Church Missionary Society^ Eng. gen> eral meeting of, - . - 4'^

Clarky Mr. A. review of his summa- rv of the evidences of Revelation, 552

CoUtmbiad^ review of, 24,67. See BarloTv.

Connecticut Society for the prorao- tion of good morals, semi-annual

' meeting of, - . - - 17

<7s7(secro/i«n of St. Mary's chapel in Newton, - - - . 335

forban Society, notice of, - 523

fit

83f

4t

St 492 U

CorreBpohdetUt^ ttadeaa to, 48,t6|f4t^48f ,

344,392,480,528,576. Crutiutf essay of, 00 the doctrine of

tlie Trinity, - - - - •

Oundnfi, on the cherubim, notice 0^ 255 Cutwal mission at, - - - 39

Danton, his confeasioo and death, 85

Beathj on treating it with lev.ty, 531

Hecb'c^^lion of the new meetinghouse in Wilroinjg;ton, - . . 9#

Jhtire of religion not a proof that the person desuing it ^ready possesses It, ... . . :

]}ev}9y, Mri. Maria, obituary no. tice of, - * - - -

Diekina^n, Rev. Timothy, life a: id character of^ - ...

Di^aht missifjo at, ...

Xhnagepere^ mission at,

XHrectiona for hearing tiie Gospel,

IKvtn^ decrees and fiee age- ioy,

— Admin ist'-ation, thoughts on

the rhief end of, - - 155,213

Donation to the Middlesex Bible So- ciety, - - - - - S3S

Donationt to support missions among the heathen, 45,91,159, 187,236, 286,332* * 390,427,479,32U,578%

Dorehetter Controversy, review of, 256-— the part taken in it hs the lib- eral t^arty in Boston and the vicin- ity, 257—- Mr. Codman*BsettU*inent iti Dorchester, 258-^is explicitnesa in stating his religious opinions, 259 — the real cause of the controverspr^ —260 — the alleged cause, 261— liis. 1017 of the jDontrovfirsy, 265— arti- cles ef' complaint against Mr. Cod- man, 268— ^e calling of the firat •ouufsil, 269— -argument on the wiestion oTekchaiiges. 27^— result A the first council, 10.— defects of mutual councils, 289 — preparations for a second council, 292"— meeting and dcAiigs of the second council, 294— remarks on the Rev. Dr. Liathrop's qualification of hik opin- ion, 296— -exclusion of Mr. Codmam from his pulpit by force, 301 — memorial of >ir. Codmao's oppos- ers, ■ . - . ' - - 304

IhielUngt regulation ferbidcfing it, in ^ U. S. army, - - . - 334

Ihipms, his conjecture as to the time when the zodiac was invented, 82,83

^ying Christian, on the happiness of, 6&

JElcc/^sta^fiea/Conncils, remarks oon- ' eerning, l»y Dr. Increase Mather, 326 Eclectic Reviewers, their fears as to

the Columhiad, - - 87

Edinburgh Reviewers, their charity

for Mr. Bariew, 86— wholcseran

iNDKat

Vll

itftdmiiibt«radto dieoi bj the Rev. Robert Hall, - 545

£ibtcui$9n of eltiMren, essay on, S9S Mdvurdt, the first Pnesulent, bit faille tat tbe arorks oi btaplier, 97 — bU dtssertatiod on tbe end for whieb God made tbe workl, 1217— ' or^aid letters from hitu, S54,496

JSUmrtht ebief jostke^ bis interviev

wkb Vciiiey, ■ - - 8f

Error, on tbe eauses of, - - 15

* -on tbe prftetieal tendency oi, flOS

JEtxui^eUcul Saoiety, dooaikms to, SSr

.£m<r/icrf of Kevetetioii, iinportanee

oi* being tborougblj aeqaaiuted

witb, - - ^ - - 404

Farley^ Rer. Stepben, notice of bis

• letters to tbe Rev. N. WorcetMer^ S56 JFiney, President, letter from to IH-

Bellamj, - - - 368

f'inlnf, Ueut death o^ - -909

/Vei^ iMissionSj donations fiwr tbe

• iupport ot See Zhnatitna. JFatti^ Missaan Soeiety of Boston

and the Vieinity, annual meeting ol^ - - 45

— «. ^^ Merrinack Braneh of, n-

niud meeting of, - 45

«——>--— of BT«oswi«( and Tops- bam, annual nseetin^ <^, 45 I — of Salem and tbe Vieiiiity, 91

— — . .— of Glasteubur), Con. 140

of Litohfield ociunty. Coo. 187

^^ — -* of Mlddletowo, and tbe

Vtcinity, - - 188

F'rugment Society, notice o^ - 52i JFree ageney and tbe divine decrees, IS

Gcnamdet^Mr.T. U. valedictory ad- <!reas vi, at tbe annual examt)iation at tbe Tbeological Institution at Ai.dover, - - - 449

Giinjum^ mission at, - - 568

Goatmilty, mifisioa at, • - 39

Oo8ftel, on being ashamed of the, 556 OroAoai, Mrs. Isabella, review of Dr. ^IttM^fi's sermon on tbe death of, 529 — her cliaiaeter, - 534

Qrren/andj missions of tbe United

Bretlii'cn in, . - 388

Oreg-oirr, bishop, Mr. Barlow's chal- lenge to, . - - 83 Grotiu^t testimony to the ubiversal-

ity ol the Sabbath, • - S46

Ownporwder aitd brandy, a fable, ■ M

BaXL, Rev. Gordon, letters from, 181 — Set American fMiesimiuriet.

Mall, Rev. Robert, review of bis ad- dress to tbe Rev. Eustace Carey, 543

Bampthire missionary Society, pecu- niary accounts of, - - 341

Ifttpfy reformation, instance of, 175

GeUule, the Tujuichm minister.

reads tbe Sariptnret to bis Ma- bomeUn attendants, . . 54

Bearing the Ivospel, directions for, 492 UifUt to do good. No. 1, 371; No. 11, 43i H»plniu, Ur. Lemuel, the author of tlie 137th psalm, as published in Barlow's version^ ... 3it

Idolatry, definition of, - * 454

— p— proneneu of mankind to it, 543

liuUu, missions in, - • 568

JnttaUation of the Rev. John Bascom, 9#

•^ — Rev. Noah Coe - 594

— — Rev. Warren Fay, 90 _ — Rev. £Uhu Mason, 187

— — Rev. Preserved Smith, 335

— — Rev. Henry P. Strong, ib,

— -^ Rev. William Wisner, 90 Intemperance in drinking, voluntary

engagement to suppress it, - 176 UU Qt' >'ranoe, Baptist soldiers at, 4ft

/oTMi, Baptist soldiers at, - 49

«/ipf tore, mission ai, • - - 39 Jone; Dr. Horatio, death and char-

aoterof, • - - 141

Jeaephiu, testimony of, to tbe univer-

aaiity of the Sabbath, - 24C

Kako^ a Grecian roerehant, his trav- ek in tbe east, 3t

KetitiaU, Lieut. Asa, celebiHition of his birth-day, - - 181

Kentucky, state of religion in, - S8ft

Kingston, (N. H.) revival of religion in, .... 236

Klaar-Water, state of the mission at, 566

Knox, Rev. John, the Scottish re- former, abridgment of M^Crie's life of, 145,193— his kith and f du- eation, l45^gnorance and licen- tiousness of the popish clergy, in his t me, »5.—- ite preaches against popery, 147 — ^is taken prisoner and eonfined on boaiil the gallics, 16.— refuses a living in the English ehurch«establishment, 148 — fl(.*eH to Dieppe, 149 — forms an acquaint- ance with Calvin, 150 — re- visits Scotland, 16— returns to (veneva an 1557, 193— travels througli Scot- land« 195 — his sick.iMS and death, 19S

Kno-wledge of the heart, essay 00, 509

Laplace, his theory of the age of the world, • - - 8f

Lutakkoo, a eity in the interior of Africa, sorae account of, - 564.

hetter, from a young lady in B. 55

— from Junius Smith, Esq, 90

— from a young lady, giving an acooum of her fatlier s death, 205

— from the late Mrs. Newell, 223

— from a clerv^- inan to his sister, 369 r— to a young friend, •> 48^

Vllt

Mdrx.

l/tttter fronri n ilermiMi in Loodoa^ 5£1 Lottuiana, state of religbQ in, «S84

JirCW0> life of John Knox, abridg:- mciktof; - - 145,193

M*Lf9(if Rev. Alexander, letter from, giving an ao«ount of the death of LieuL Finlev, . 209

J^fhhraita country, nouee of, . iS

3Iait, no neoeiaity of carryiog it on the Sabbath, - - 160

Mitrtyn^ Rer. Henry, review of his sermon, ... 539

MuRony Hev. Dr. review of hit ser- mon on the death of Mrs. Gi'aham, 529

Jdax»achutrtta 8<ieicty for promoting Chri^ftian Knowledge, annual meet- ing of, and btate of the treasury, 186

JtfattachutrttB Misaionar}' Society, annual meeting o^ SSI — report of the trustees of, 16. — the same oon- oluded, 523— officers of, 330 — pe- cuniary Booounts of, - . - ib.

JUtchamc, letter frpm a, acooompa- nving a donation for foreigti mis- sions, ... 332

MerrimtK IXXkAe Sodety, reiwrt of the managers of, - - 45

MilUf and Sohermerhorn, Messrs. Uieir toar to the south-western • parts of the U. S. in 1812 and 1813, 281

Mttutterial MIovshin, essav on, 440

Mi99$0nary zeal in Great Britain, 90

Miisivnaty Society, [Eng.] 20th an- ' nual report to the annual meeting. May 1814, 525,S63^acoountof the annual meeting Of, • ^ 569

M'99fHatie8f necessity of, ' • 548 — — to India, from England, 523

Mwral Societies, formation of, - 836

Mlurtkumt a Jew, conversion o^ 45

•Vamoftic connty, state of the mis- sion m, - - - 56s JVaplea, a religiotis society in, - S4 J^i'ajuUf Dr. interesting facts commu- nicated by him, 3^r-editoriat re- marks on these facts, 36 — lines prompted by reading hit commu- nications, ... 144 JSnehon^ Lord, thoughts on his life, 49r ^ttpean^ Sir Evan, memorial of the American Missionanes to, 470— second memorial, dated Feb. 18, 1813, 471— 4hird memorial, dated Dec. 4, 1813, 504 — fourth memo- rial, dated Dec. 13, 1813,464— fifth memorial, dated Dee. 20, 1813, 511 JVVw Works, 96, 1 88, 341, 432, 526 A>w England Traet Society, eon!<ti- tution of^ 282 — address from, 233 — publications of, 239— offioei-s of, 341 JVi*)pe/4 Rev. Samuel, letter from, to

the Kev. Dr. Worcester, - 514 >Aewellf Mrs. Harriet, letter from, 223-— notice concerouig the me- moirs of, « - - 288

JVtleit HeT. fthmuel, QMBoin of; 199 ^9itt Rev. Samud, letters finom, to the Rev. Dr. Worcester, 181 — [See American MimUnarieg.] — — ' letter from,. to bis parentSy S3&

Obituary, 93, 141, 189» 239, 288, 335, 432,

480,527 OA»a, state of religion in, ;. Inz

Ordinatinri of the . Rev. Augustus

Belles, . • 335

—— ^ Ilcv. John Brown, - 90

— Rev. Edward Everett, lA. — — • Rev. I'homas Brattle Gan- nett, - - - »A.

— — Rev. Joseph Haven, 430

' Rev. Oliver Hill, - 335

■ ■ ■ Rev. Mr. Hough, - 90

— Rev. Joseph Laberee, 335

> Rev. Daniel C Morton, ib,

' Rev. Ephraim H. Newton, tb.

— Rev. Oliyer Plympton, 334

Rev. Samuel' Se wall, 187

-- — Hev. Titus Strong, - 334

— — Rev. Joseph Treat, 33$

Rev. Joh'j W h'tu, - ib.

— Rev. Nailiaiuel Whitman, ib.

— Rev. John B. Whiudsey ib. OriftiUf luisMion at, • -41 Otaheite, btate of the mission at, in

the autumn of 1812, - 5ff5

Paiey^a opinion, as to the institutJon

of the Sabbath, controverted. 243

Parlcman, Dr. iieorge, review of his

retreat for the insane, - - ^77 Patrons f notice to, - - 576

Pennajflvamiaf western part of, state

of religion in, - - - 281 PermiuBToe to religious retirement, 246 P/aio*» testimony to the universality

of the Sabbitih, - . - - ib, Pickefi SpeUing-bo<jk, review of, 1 r6 Pltftnfiton, Foreign Mission Society in, 42S Polemic Theology, nilea of prudence

in, by Stapfer, - - . 97 Praioe and blame, - - 114, 827 PrecautimiM against fire, - 95

PrrjiuUce^ thooghti on, - - 124 Preimttma ottered to writers in the

Panoplist, - - - 48

Prophecte», a morsel fVom, - 20i Public Worship, on late attendance at, 54 — — solemnity requved in attending, 409

QuetHont proposed,

557

Beligion, narrative of the state o£^ in

the Presby^rian church, - 378

JieUgiofta charities, thoughts on, 224

Neli^ouo magazines, advantages of, 1 Bt-vicroa. [See the namea of the oviAora.] Hevival of religion, in Kingston, (N. H.) 235 — in several towns in Vermont, ... 336 Roberta, Jostuh Esq., letter from, to Robert Ralston, Esq. - •. 14A

IKbOI.

. ix

jRosendZod^ Baroo^ ipeeoh ol^

154

of thA tJnked

Sobbathf oatrag«s on the, 159— OQ aendiug fat \hymmmM #1, Mft — in« troduetory papdr oq, 198— how ob> served bj the fdiher* of Nev Bug- liuid, lb. — oauMB of dvMenMoo, in relation td Uiii sulneot, !l09-*oa the iiMEiitiitioD ol^ Mli-appoiDted ai the crealMHi of the voridj ^-* perpetuity qI^ 345— change ol^ trom the 7th to the. tit day of ih* tr.eek9 153— <m the violatioD of, by per* iOQB of rank and ooD8equeoee» 313 — report of the legislaiore of Ma^ tacbodetta ooncerniui^ 314 -4^ marks on this repoit, 354— peti- tion to CoDgresB respeatiag carry- ing the mail ou, 382 — ^attempu to freveat the profAoafcion o^ 431 ^o on earryiog the mail and keeping .#pea post-ofl&ees on, 433 aanctifi- Mtioo o^ 481— effgru to i»romote thd obsenranoe of, SO^r-Middlesex CooTentioQ respectinij^

Bt, Croix f misaiODs of the Unked Brethren at, - - -

St, Timma^tf miations of the United Brethren at, - - ;

Saturday evening, on keeping it as

holy time, . - - -

Schenmerhorn aitd Mills, Messrs.

their tour to the south-western

parts af the United States, in 1818

and 1813, ... 281

Self-hMwledgey essay on, - 5tK)

Serampare, mission at, - 39

Short Sermons, 154, 851, 364, 494

SHver-fountamy state of the mission

ai, - - - -

Sin, on the evil of; - Sinners, blind and deaf, 49— yetoom- manded to see and hear, 109— an address to careless. Society for propagating the Gospel, officers of, — — for the suppression of vice, rEng.3

Springfield, (N. J.) revival of reli- . gion m, - - -

Stap/er^a rules of prudence in polem- ic theology, - - - Sub9€ribera, notice to.

38i

524 388 389

53

566 61

807

334

431

140

97 48

Bivthrenr at.

7biil#asaff» sute of religion in, TAtfiwaan, Rev. Thomas, letters

iirom, to Messrs. Hall and Nott, 509 ThougiUw on AeU ix, 11. - 496

Trantiutiotu of the Scriptures, bv

the Baptist roiasiotiaries, state of,

at the ck»e of 4818, - 4S9

Trtsvancore, mission at, - 590

Trvtity, doctrine o^ essay of Cniii-

usoo, - - •

United Brethren, missions of, in South Afirioa, 383— in Surinam, 386 — m Greenland, 88— in St. Croix, f^.—m St. Thomas's, 389 —in Aiitigua, i6— in Barbadoesy s'^.— in North America, 390

Valedietoty Address, at the Theo- logioal 9«mtnary at Andover, by Mr GaUaudet, - - - 440 Virginia, sUte of religion in, - 88i^ Vixagapatam, mission at, - 568

Volttejf, his interview with chief jus- tice Ellsworth, .^ - 9$

fVafhing' by faith^ thoughts on, 151

Wfir, on the manner of prosecuting it,. 531 fTar-expenses, calculations on, 160

Warren, Mr. Amos, obituary notice ^.

of, 587— lines on the death d[, 59

FTrxr-ZToruto, state of religion in, 285 WUberforce, Hon. William, letter

from, to the Rev. Dr. Morse, 885

Wilbur, Mr. Hervey, letter from, to the editor of the Panoplist, giving an account of the revival of religion in Kingston, (N. H.) . 835

Worcester, Rev. Samuel, D. D. re- view of his sermon at the inters ment of Mr. Anderson - SOT

Works proposed, - . 590

F^ College Benevolent Society, constitution o1^ - - 310

Yowig lad> , letter from a, giving an account of the death of her father, OOS

Zeal and importunitj, duty of.

51

INDEX TO 1 HE POETRY.

^uchanany ^ . . • 228

Death, - - . - 94

The Esquimaux with the Bible, 391

Ij^nin— salutary chastisement, - 94

7ne Inquisition, -, - - 343

Jesue walking on the sea, - 47

MaUa, .... 144,190

J\fan is bom to die, - 349 Monody on the death of Mrs. New- ell, 574

Psalm ex\y\, ... . \\%

CKZXvii> - «- - 001

IKDBS^

INDBX TO THE PRINCIPAL TEXTS OP SCUPTtnOI.

Gen. u, 1, 84t

Job. xU,21, Ul

Pk. ii. 366

— cxi, 10. 178 Eoel. V, 1, 4(»9 Im. XTui, IS— 14» 90S -^ xxxiii, 6, S7S

— xfii, 18. 49 Jer. xxi, 18, 94 IMaL T. If— 19> 351

Mat. Ti,ld, 154

— XV, 'il—JiS, 369

— xxiT, 4S, 367 Mark H, 87, 88» 351

— X, 80, 851 John ▼, 40^ 864

— \, 35—^6^ 8,486 Aetsix, 11, 480 Bom. iii, 31, 358

— X, 17, 147

Rom. xiT, 5, 6, 94^

1 Cor. vi, !£0, 494

8 Cor. V, 7, m

GaL Ti, 10, 539

Col. ii, 16, 17, 34r 1 Then. IT, 13k 14> S30

1 Tim. i, 16, 368

8Tim.i,18^ 307

Hell, in 9». 358

INDEX TO THE SIGNATURES.

A. B. AD. A. H.

Alpb^

A.Y.

Azro,

C.

Gandidiiv

Cleora,

Clio»

ConsUnt Beadov

Crispoi^

D.

E.O.

175,887,369 15,803,494

344 58,11^1^3

198

448 314 856 809

54 403

ib, 185 114 498

P. J.

Frauk,

H. S.

JuiiiuB,

JuveotiUL

L.

Laos,

McdiuR,

Mikros,

Mvra,

N*.

ny>»

N. 8. O. Obaer?«r» O.E. O.JS;.

159 117

505,369 503 418 497 4U7 8 7 55,169 490 183 576

818 163

OIney, P.

Q. R. W.

s. s.

T.

T e.

UranliUL V. X. Y. 17.x. Y.

95,949 88^84^185 371.424 22 168,557 481 64,67 16« 61 9J 144,193 558 838 898,846,854, 483,4r>

TUB

PANOPLIST,

AMD

MISSIONARY MAGAZINE.

No. 1.

JANUARY, 1814.

Vol. X.

ADDRESS TO THE PUBLIC.

At the commencement of a new Tolume, it is proper that we avail ourselves of the common prac* tice of Editors, and lay before our readers several considera* tions, which are naturally sug- gested by the occasion. Every editor of a periodical work must feel, if he has the real good of mankind at heait, that a very important and interesting rela- UOD subsists between himself and bis patrons. While the du- ties, which this relation imposes upon himy will not be forgotten; and while he will cultivate an enlarged good will toward all men, and indulge in particular good wishes toward his readers; he will hope and expect to re- ceive from them correspondent kindness, encouragement, and support With these impres- sions, we design to state some principal reasons of the great utility of religious magazines, and to close with such reflections as shall promise to be seasonable and useful.

In considering the advantages, which the Christian community may derive from religious peri- odical works, we bhull necessa- rily be brief.

I. Works of the kind here specified arc extremely bencii- cial, us they produce and extend a taste for religious reading. By

Vol. X.

the variety which they contain, and the intelligence which they communicate, they present the reader with much that is both new and interesting. Thus they allure many to commence inqui- ries on the most important of all subjects. They are peculiarly fitted to excite attention in the young. When curiosity is rous- edi antl the mind ^ awakened to the pursuit of any great object, it will of course take pleasure in such a pursuit, and will gain knowledge faster, and turn it to a belter account, than coukl in other circumstances be expec- ted. Whatever directs curiosi- ty to a noble object, and tends to restrain the wayward steps of the young, and to lead them in- to the path of life, must be high- ly important in itself, and enti- tled to the countenance of all Christians.

3. The present state and prospects of the Church are par- ticularly worthy oi the attention of every person, who feels in- terested in her prosperity. The revivals of religion with which God has blessed many parts of the Christian world; the increas- ed fervor, animation and zeal of the real disciples of Christ; tlie rapidly increasing activity of the benevolent and pigus; — all these things impart a peculiar u\V«xtv&

I

Mdres9 to the Public.

Iait.

to every occurrence, which re- spects the state and progress of religion. Who does not feel desirous to hear of the success of missionaries, and of great and most encouraging accessions to our churches at home? Who does not rejoice with holy exul- tation at the great efforts which are making to extend the influ- ence of the Gospel in every di- rection? If any, who profess the religion of Christ, are insensible to its triumphs, and regardless of its interests, they have too much reason to fear that their profession is vain.

3. The establishment and suc- cess of societies for the reforma- tion of morals in this country, form a new and irresistible ar- gument in favor of supporting publications, in which the pro- ceedings of these societies can be regularly detailed, their ben- eficial tendency stated, and the duty of supporting them urged. Christians of the present day are trying the efficacy of combina- tions to do good and to prevent evil; and they are astonished at the greatness of their success. But the good work is only just begun; though it is begun on a large scale, and under favorable auspices. The regular and gen- eral diffusion of intelligence is as necessary to any great public- spirited and united exertions, as the free circulation of the blood to the health of the human frame. While this truth is acknowledg- ed in relation to all other sub- jects, it is surprising that any per- son should doubt or hesitate in re- gard to its application to religious and charitable enterprises. While newspapers are daily sent forth in vast numbers, and penetrate into the obscurest corners of so- ciety) it is strange^ that efficient

and abundant support should be withheld by professing Chris- tians from a class of publications, which have a direct reference to religion, and the tendency of which is undeniably salutary in a very high degree. Is it too much to expect, that among the im- provements of the present day will be numbered a just regard to the diffusion of religious and moral intelligence, and, conse- quently, a liberal support of those publications, in which such intelligence is communica- ted?

Nearly connected with the last mentioned topic is the sup- port of Christian missions. As missions are supported only by voluntary contributions, and these contributions are made by numerous individuals far remote from each other, it is almost im- possible, that any great efforts should be made in this cause without a publication of the kind in question.

4. Religious magazines, if con- ducted only with a tolerable share of skill and talent, exert a powerful influence in promoting the circulation of other new and useful works. Thus they mul- tiply and perpetuate the means of usefulness, and indirectly, as well as directly, subserve the best interests of society. In many different ways they are im- portant auxiliaries in the cause of truth and virtue. It is so or- dered by the all-wise God, that every benevolent exertion af- fords assistance to other similar exertions, and receives assist- ance from them.

5. The Christian finds in a re- ligious magazine many things to quicken his languid steps, to re- vive bis fsdnting zealy to enlarge

1114.

Mdr999 to the PubUe.

his reli^^ious views, and to stim- ulate him to greater activity in the service of his divine Mas- ter. He is fmnished with new weapons for the spiritual con- flicti and vrith the occasion of brightening and using those which he already possesses. As he is often led to admire the tri- umphs of the cross, his own in- terest in the Gospel appears more precious, and his hope more in- estimable.

6. A. judicious work of the Vind here kept in view will of course strengthen and confirm impressions made on the mindf by the stated labors of the cler- gy. The minister of the Gospel will gain a more ready attention and will preach to better effecti if his people are in the habit of reading and reflecting upon re- ligious subjects; and in no other way can such a habit be so easi- ly formed, as by feeling an inter- est in a religious periodical pub- lication. Most persons have not the means of possessing or con- sulting large libraries; but few are so careless as not to be ca- pable of taking an interest in the most important concerns, if furn- ished with the requisite inform- ation.

7. It is highly desirable, that there should exist periodical publications, of known establish- ed character, whose decisions shall be worthy of attentive con- sideration in questions of morals and religion. And it is obvious, that the more extensively such publications can be circulated, the more beneficial will be their tendency and effects. Whether, in short, the promotion of relig- ious knowledge and sound learn- ingi or the defence of the truth, or the extension of the Gospel,

be regarded as an object of great value, a multitude of arguments can be adduced in favor of relig- ious magazines.

Though the preceding obser« vations may be familiar to some of our readers, yet a large por- tion even of the relig^us com- munity seem not to have justly appreciated the importance of the subject. While we ardent- ly wish that our work were more worthy of the cause in which it is employed— the great cause of religious and moral truth, and of human happiness— «nd while we shall sedulously labor that it may become so, we commend it to the blessing of God, and the pa- tronage of good men.

We now turn to subjects} in which our readers will probably feel a more direct interest, and seize this opportunity to offer a few exhortations to the minds of all.

Let each one reflect, that it is through the unmerited goodness of God, and for wise and holy purposes, that he is brought to see the commencement of an- other year. An unusual number of persons, of all ages and de- scriptions, have gone down to the grave the year past. Sudden deaths of persons in vigorous health have been astonishingly frequentf in many parts of our country. Ministers of the Gos- pel, magistrates, and other men of great influence and worth, have been removed from the world in rapid succession* Those, who are still spared, should ponder well the distin- guishing providence of God. They should consider and in- quire, whether they arc spared as blessings to mankind, as high- ly favored in being pcnuiutd \.%

Jddreit t9 the Public*

JikK.

serve God and tbetr generation through a longer period, or as instances of increasing stupidity under increasing light and privi- leges. The year, upon which they have now entered^ will soon be numbered with its predeces- sors, and will have departed for- ever with all its opportunities and means oi usefulness. To every individual it is inconceiva- bly important, that the passing months should bear a good re- port, and thut the closing year should present a happy memori- al of lime well employed, and duties faithfully performed. Though the year will pass rapid- ly away, it will, nevertheless, furnish many opportunities of doing good, and numerous mo- tives to improve in piety and vir- tue.

It has pleased God, within a few years past, to erect his stand- ard of victory over the hosts of Satan, and to bestow distinguish- ed success on the champions of the cross. He has already giv^ en an earnest of what he is soou to accomplish, in .hastening the permanent increase;, security, und glory of his Church. Let all, who profess to be his friends, justly appreciate the value of their time, their influence, and example. Let them openly, zeulouslyt constantly, encourage all benehcent plans, and engage heartily in the cau .e of God and mankind. Let no advantage al- ready gained ever be yielded to the enemy. Let all the pious be united by the strong bands of love; and each endeavor to pro- mote the peucc und hapi ioess uf the whole. Let every good institution find a ready and cheerful patronage, every be- nevolent plan a 6^)eedy adoption,

and all charitable labors that per- severance which will ensure suc- cess. Let the devout inquiry ascend from every pious hearty JLordy what v>itt thou have me to do?

The various attempts which are now making, in many parts of New England, to reform the morals of the community, and render vice shameful as well as odious, should receive the ener- getic support of all fnends of their country, especially of all Christians. The vice of intem- perate drinking has received a shock from which, as there is reason to hope, it will never re- cover. The vice of Sabbath- breaking is viewed in its true light by a large portion of the people, and efforts to suppress this evil also are made with hope- ful prospects. Let reformation proceed in its course, aided by all who have it in their power to give their countenance, or of- fer a petition for the divine blessing. Numerous societies must be formed, sermons must be preached, tracts must be dis- tributed, till the community shall be thoroughly apprised of their dangers and their duties; till the virtuous shall raise their cour- age and activity, in some good proportion to the excellence of their cause, and the vicious shall be confounded and dismayed* Union in a good cause, faith in the promises of God, and perse- verance in well-doing, will un- questionably triumph.

There is one class of persons, who ought to feci a peculiar res- ponsibility in relation to these remarks. We refer to those, whom Providence has endued with the talent of writing for the instruction of the public. Thougb

J»l»*

Jddnt9B to ik€ PMk.

this class of persons is, in all countries, comparatively smalU snd though the favored few may be difiBdent of their powers, yet tlie people of this country know, and should gratefully acknowl- edge, that there are those among vSf who can write ably, and with decisive effect, on the most im« poftant sabjectai Some individ- uals of this class can hardly be ignorant of the character and reputation of their writings. Others have yet to learn the full measure and extent of their res- ponsibility, when they shall have engaged more extensively in this great labor of love. To all, who have the talent of writing for the benefit of mankind, we take the liberty of addressing, in the lan- guage of earnest intreaty, an ad- sioiiition not to suffer that talent to lie buried and useless. We beseech them to consider the amaxing importance of seizing present opportunities, of secur- ing present advantag:es, and of bringing every possible acces- sion of strength to the righteous cause, in the mighty conflict which now exists in the world. Let them duly estimate the val- ue of the talent here referred to, and remember, that, though unnoticed and unknown on earth, every one, who shall convert a Hnner frpm the error qf hi9 fpsy, will 9ave a 90ulJrom deaths and hide a multitude qf 9in9.

For the encouragement of the benevolent it is to be steadily kept in view, that probably no period has existed since the cre-

ation of the world, when it was so easy to do good, on a large scale, as at the present day. This observation is meant to ap- ply to those beneficent attempts only, which are made with a prayerful reliance on God. If the observation is correct, and we appeal to every competent judge that it is so, what an un- usual weight of responsibility rests upon all who have wealth, inflMcnce, or mental endow- ments? With what enei gy and activity should the thought in- spire ally whom their duty invites to study, or to public labors.

Finally; let every reader look to the state of his own soul, and ex- amine on which side of the grand controversy he now stands. In relation to this controversy there can be no neutrals; and it is vastly important to every indi- vidual not to be found in the ranks of rebellion against God, and hostility to the best inter- ests of man. The truth, as it respects the state and character of each person, will be known hereafter, and at no distant peri- od. The character of each will soon be fixed for eternity. Are any of our readers losing oppor- tunities of serving God? How amazing the loss! Let them be- come truly wise, and embrace the Gospel. Then happy will be their dismission from the body, though they should not live through the year which is now commencing, and unspeak- ably glorious their reward in heaven.

On the Doctrine ^the Trinity ^r

vine persoDi would not Jesos have defined or explained the question, before he took the oath? Would he not have declar- ed it} had he not in fact been the Son of Godf in the strict, or pe- culiar sense of that term? Espe- cially so, when he did explain, and define the sense of the ques- tion put to him by Pilate, wheth^ er he was the King qf the Jewsj before he gave answer. Would he not have done it when he was under an oath, which was too sa- cred and important, not to be strictly regarded? With such ex- pressions before him, can any one mistake the interttion of Je- sus to be acknowledged as di- vine? Let them be uttered by any other person, and see if any doubt would arise, whether he meant to ascribe divinity to him- aeK*. The Jews, who were co- temporary with Jesus did under- stand him as claiming divine honors; a satisfactory proof, that his language in that day appear- ed to them, as it now does to us, to assert this claim. He hath 9fioken blasphemy, said Caiaphas, and then passed sentence of death upon him; Mat. xxvi, 65. Art thou greater than Abraham and the ftrofihete? Whom makeet thou thyself? said the Jews, and took up stones to stone him; John viii, 53. The Jews eagerly sought after him to kill him, be- cause he made himself equal to God; John v, IS. For diaefihe" myy said they, wiil we etone thee^ and becauee that thouy being a man, makett thyself God; John X, 33.

In the answer of Jesus, to this expression of the malice of the Jews toward him, which an- swer was intended to defend and vindicate himself, many sup-

pose a disclosure is made, which shews that all his exalted ex- pressions concerning himself amount merely to the cold posi- tion, that he was a teacher sent Jrom God. It is somewhat pe- culiar, to be sure, that a single passage, and of this kind, should outweigh a multitude of other passages, and confine the sense of them, fiut as this passage is often urged, as an irrefutable argument against Trinitarians, and is much cried up as putting an end to the controversy in question, it may be proper to dwell with some degree of par- ticularity upon it.

The answer of Jesus is as fol- lows: Is it not written in your lawj I saidj Ye are gods? If he calied them godsf unto whom the word ef God came^ (and the Scripture eannot be broken;) Say ye o/him^ whom the Father hath sanctified and eent into the worldy Thou biasfihemest^ be* cause I saidj I am the Son of God? John x, d4— 36. Accord- ing to our Anti-Trinitarians, the meaning of this is as follows: 4n the Mosaic law, they are called gods, to whom a revela- tion was given by God, and whom he chose and commission* ed as the extraordinary teach- ers of mankind; consequently* I> who am an extraordinary teacher endowed with more ex- alted and divine iliuminationf may lawfully call myself God, and the Son of God.' Now, in order to determine whether this be the meaning of the passage in question, let the following considerations be first duly weighed.

1. If Jesus attached to his ex- pressions, which were judged to be blasphemy worthy of death,

:au.

On the Doctrine ^fthe Trimiy.

only the assenion, that he was a divine teacher, did he not afford reason for the accusation to his Once, that he denied his -own clear^ and express words? and must he not have expected it to be made? The controversy did not here respect the appellation of Gcd^ or Son qf God^ but the phraaest / give^ (not I barely procure, but) / ffive to my /ol" towers eternal life; I and the Father are one,

3. Jesus shewed plainly, and quite intelligibly to his opposers, that he did not at all explain away the exalted meaning oi' his pre- Tious assertions, nor limit the elevated rank« which he had as- cribcd to himseir, to the dignity of a person divinely commission- ed, but still a mere man; for af* ler this explanation of his mean- ing, as some will have it, the Jews still sought to take and kill him; John x, 39. Jesus does not say, To me the word of God has come; but, The Father hath sanctified m^-— distinguished me 'With peculiar dignity— constitu- ted and exhibited me as one more exalted, more holy, more worthy of respect than others— ftnd sent me into the- world. He adds, (v. 37, 38,) If I do not ihe works of my Fat her y then be* lieve me not: but if I do, though ye believe not mr, believe the works% that ye may know and be* iieve^ that the Father is in me^ and I in him. These are words, which neither Moses, nor any other prophet, ever ventured lo utter, or ever could venture to utter, respecting himself; much less to say, that nothing more was meant, than tousscrt, ch^l he was a di\iuclv coiitinissioned teacher.

Vol. X.

3. If any one insists on trans- lating^ the words of Jesus, thus; Ifthen^ he calU those god^^ whom God honored with his Revela' tionsy 8cc. then he ascribes t9 him a palpable untruth; for Mo-, ses hath not called prophet» gods. This might, indeed, pass without being discovered by the New Theologians of our day, many of whom have not studieil the Mosaic revelation so much as to know, whether the passage in question be in it or not. Among the Jews, however, to whom the writings of Moses were all familiar, this circum- stance could not have passed unnoticed.

Ex. iv, 16, Aaron shall be in» stead cj'a mouth to thee^ and thou shall be to him inntead qf God^ does not constitute a proof to th^ contrary of what I have asserted. Here is a comparison of th^ connexion in which Moses and Aaron were mutually to stand, with the connexion of which one is reminded, with regard to a prophecy, between the Divini- ty who gives the prophecy, and the man who delivers it. Moses is. likened unto God, not because he was a prophet, (for in com- parison with Moses, this char- acter wus rather to be ascribed to Aaron,) but because he sent a man, who served under him, as a prophet serves Godj by whom he i^ sent.

Still less dues Moses use the word, godn^ in the sense pretend- ed, in those passages, £x. xxi, 6; xxil, 28; which arc the pMS- su'^es referred lo in Ps. Ixxxii, 6, iVoiU which last passage our Savior makes his quotation, l*or in thebc passages, not teach- ers, but nii.^iNiruttrs, urc called

2

10

On (he Doctrine of the Trinity.

JkTSm

Elohim^goda^ i. c. wonhy of hon- or» entitled to revereDce*

To translate* then, the verses in question, thus: <<In the law, they are called gods, to whom the divine Revelations were made,'* is undoubtedly an error, and expresses what is contrary to the true state of the fact. Those are called gods in the law, who are intended in the passage now in qvestiont or to whom the words, Ye are ^da are addressed, in the 82d Psalm; i. e* magistrates. The mean- ing of the passage may be ren- dered unequivocal, by translat- ing it thus; If he called them godsf to whom this word or com* mand qfGod came; i. c. if those are called gods, who are address- ed in the passage cited from the Old Testament, Say ye qf him^ whom the Father hath sanctijiedy life?

4. The design of Jesus was, plainly, to convince his Jewish hearers at that time in a brief manner, that his assertion, which had been so offensive to them, gave them no right to take away his life. The occasion did not permit hts adducing formal pr«)f, that he was truly God. Had he replied, ^I am equal with God, and, that this is the case, I will now produce the evidence;' they would have put him to death, if they had acted agreea- bly to the frame of mind in which they then were, before he could have finished his reply. If ever a reply ad hominem^ a contradiction of oppose rs on principles avowed and maintain- ed by themselves, be allowable, it certainly may be, in such a oase as this. Every person, who proclaimed to the Jews any oth- er Godf except Jehovah, was

guilty of a capital offence: such was the law of Moses. Jesus did, in fact, proclaim no other God; but he appeared to the Jews to be guilty of this dfime. On the mere appearance of this guilt, the Jews charged him with blaspheming God, and sought to kill him on the spot, without even a trial. Appropriately to the occasion* Jesus answers, *I have done no evil, which de- serves deaih. Whether I am in fact a blasphemer of God, on whom the law pronounces sen* tence of death, is a question which should be seriously inves- tigated, and not decided hastily from mere appearances: other- wise ye must adjudge Moses himself to be guilty of a like crime, for he calls magistrates Elohim^ gods; not indeed with a design to proclaim strange gods, but you must adniit that it has this appearance. A sentence of death hastily pronounced on me, would be as unjust as against Moses. Do you not inquire why he calls magistrates ElohimT And whether he does in fact oppose the unity of God? In- quire then, in like manner, with respcct*to my expressions be« fore you pass and execute your sentence.*

5. The kind of reasoning, which Jesus employs in oppobi- lion to his enemies, is very ap- parent. 'If the law styles those goday to whom it says, Ye are goda^ why should I be accused of blasphemy, because I said I am the Son of God? Because / said this, whom the Father hath sajictifiedy and t^ent into the world?* A conclusipn, evi- dently, a minori ad majuKy from the less to the greater! A kind of iea>oning, which they mubi

It 1 4.

On ike Doctrine tff the Trinity.

U

entirely OTerlook, who suppose that JeiuB intends to shew, tlwt he is DO i^reater than those who are addressed in the law. When Jesus says, «T( God adorns the flowers of the field, and feeds the meanest fowls of the air, will he not feed and clothe yon, who are hischndren?* he surely does not mean to say, that pious men are of no more value in the light of God) and have no more title to his care, than plants, and ani- mals! No— the very object of the comparison is to set in a striking point of view, the supe- rior woitbof the children of God, and the consequent 4sertainty that they will be provided for.

So Christ) in the passage in question^ and in the conclusion which it cwntains, does not affirm that he is only equal to the per^ •onsi whom Moses calls godw^ but that he is far superior to tlicm-— ^^onr whom the Father hath Hinetijled and »ent into the world;*' aii expression never ap- plied 10 magistrates.

6. A critic, who well under- stands the Old Testament, will easily perceive, that Jesus does in fact introduce a very obnoxious proof, that he had lawfully affirm- ed, what he had said respecting himself. He calls himself the per- son, vfhom the Father had eancii" ,fied^ and sent into the world: and this is a mere translation of mrr arp^n the sanctified of the Lord, and mrr ^K^, the ungel, the ^ent of Jehovah, The former, accord- ing to the opinion of the Jews at that time, was the name of the Messiah; see Ps. xvi, 10, and the Messiah was, in the opinion uf nutny Jews then living, to be u divine person The latter was the «ipt>ellaiion ofan exalted pcrs-jn-

age, who, agreeably to all which is said of him, was undeniably divine. Under this name, he often appeared to the Patriarchs, and manifested himself as Jeho- vah, the God of Israel. Jehovah says to Moses, ^Isend mine angel (ll6n) before thee^ and my name is in him, i. e« agreeably to the Hebrew idiom; / am in him: Je- sus says. The Father is in me^ and fin him. How exactly the two descriptions agf«e!

With respect to objections drawn from other passages, where Jesus appears to repre- sent himself as inferior, or sub- ordinate to the Father, our diffi- <:ulties may more briefly, and more easily be removed. One has only to remember, that our Savior was really man as well as God, and take care not to apply what he says of himself as mant to his divine nature. Thus, John xiv, 98, The Father is greater than I, In the context immediately preceding, he says, / go to the Father; and this he evidently spake of his human nature, for his Godhead was every where present; his human nature, then, was thd subject of his consideration, when he made the exprcbsion in question.

Thus also the address, IVhy callest thou me good? Thert^ is none goud but one, that is God; Matt, xix, 17. By this answer, Jesus does not deny that he ib God; but rather inquires of ihc youug ruler who addressed him, whetlier he bad sufticicjitly con- sidered the meaning of his ad- dress; whether he was willing to affirm, what his words strictly ta- ken, imported; and whether he did acknowledge him aspeifcct- ly good, or us d;vine.

12

On the Dhiine Decreet and Free Agency.

Jav.

So also the foHo^iug; That they may know thee the only true Gody and Jcnua Chrint whom thou haat sent; John xviif X This appears, us if proper di- vinity were ascribed only to the Father, and that Christ. is not the true God, in the same sense as the Father is. The force of the objection, however, lies only in the erroneous translation of the word cojffimc, which here, as often elsewhere, docs not mean true in the sense of rrn/, vcry^ hut veraciouBy i. e. the (lod who ftiU fill his promises. In the same Aense John uses this word, iv, S7f and xix, 35; and this sense only agrees with the context; for Jestis is speaking of the hap- piness, which his appearance on earth and the accomplishment of his work, procure lor his fol- lowers. ^Eternal life,' says hC} 4s connected with this, thattheyi irhom thou hast i^iven me» may now know that thou art the true Gods the only God whose promi- ses do not fail; the God, who hath performed, and will perform that most great and diflicult promise, the redemption of men: and not only know this, hut know him, by whom this promise is fulfilled, whom thou hast promised to send} and hast cicinnlly sent; may knoW} or acknowledge me, Je- sus, as the Christ, the true Mes- siah/ This was the eternal life, obtained by Jesus fur those, and only ^hone, wiium the Father had^ given him; John, xvii, 3. Oi) the contrary, the knowledge that Jehovah was the true, i. e. the real God, was possessed by the unbclir.vliiji; Jews, of whom Jesus makes nu mention in his prayer, and lor whom, according to verse '.>ih) he docs noi usk any thing.

Thus far the testimony of Je- sus respecting himself: and now, what say his disciples and apos- tles?

CTn be continued. J

ON TUB DIVINE DECEKES VREE ACENOY.

The fonowing paper contaiut the sub- itance of H letter, froiB tn aged minis- ter of the Cjoiipcl to a genilcman, who felt it difficult to reeonoile free agency wiih the dcoreet of God.

Very dear §ir,

Upon my return home, I became possessed of your requests, and rejoiced in the proposal of them ^-partly as they would stimulate my mind to action; but especial- ly as they afforded an opportu- nity to express my gratitude for your respect and friendship, and to hope that 1 might confer some spiritual benefit for the hospital- ity of your bouse— but as tiic ob- servations "upon motives," to myself were familiar and acci- dental, and the conversation was soon interrupted, and succeeded by a variety of questions upon other subjects, I fear 1 cannot recollect them to my own satis- faction, nor answerable to your desire and expecttttion. A.s far, however, as is practicable, I will cflcct it<— requesting you, Sir, who probably posschs the obser- vations more distinctlvi to re- tain them in mindi and when an opportunity presents, I will verbiilly supply deficiencies.

The conversuiioi) commenced with remarks upon Dr. il.*s ser- mon occasiuiitiig the question, JioTJ can wt rtconciic the moral ai-ency tj' man viih t/w dvcrcvn rij Uod?

Upon this it was cbiicrvcc!.

1114.

On tki Divine Decreet nnd Ftee Jgeney^

IS

that we hnrt the evidence of these doctrineB from different sourcei. We have conclusive evidence of an estahlisbed, uni* vtrsal system of divine govern- ment from reason and revelation. This is an object of faith. We believe it^ or receive it as truei from the evidence of it addres- sed to oar understandings. We have the knowledge of our moral agency » not from evidence ex- ternally exhibited— but from in- ternal perception and reflection -.—from a consciousness that we think, compare subjects, form conclusions, choose and reject: and this evidence is direct and infallible* We are as conscious of those exercises in which mor- al agency consists, as we are of our senses, or our existence.-* What if we cannot investigate the coDustency between God's ctenial counsels, decrees, elec- tion and reprobation, and our moral agency? Is this a justifia- ble reason wliy we should reject either? Or shall this subject em- barrass us,when we admit otherst ivithout hesitation, as intricate and embarrassing? How do our eyes see, or our ears hear? Docs It distress us, that we see with our eyes and hear with our ears? Yet the mode of seeing and hear- ing is as incomprehensible, as the consistency between the de- crees of God, and the moral a- gency of man-— and when one person shall explain the how we see and hear, another will recon- cile the moral agency of man with the absolute government of Gud.

Will you, Sir, permit it be to re- maikcd, that God's counsels are not the objects about which mor- al agency is properly exerted. I'hcy are without our province

or sphere of action- Secret tking* belong to the Lord our God$ but the things which he hath revealed to fi« and our children. The former are not the standard of moral action, nor shall we be judged by them. In effecting nis eternal counsels, or decrees, God has created the heavens and earth, formed an endless variety of objects, and produced natural and moral good and evil. He hath given us natural and moral existence, and subjected us to moral obligation and responsi- bility. He hath set life and death before us, referred them to our option, and suspended our eter« nal interests upon our spontane- ous election; and these objecta involve the great motives to mor- al action. Moral agency con- sists in spontaneous volition, or unrestrained choice. In the ex- ecution of his counsels, God ex* hibits the object, or motive, and we make our choice, and in mak- ing our election, do we not pos- sess and exercise as perfect ra- tional liberty, or moral agency, as can possibly exist? and this in perfect consisteiKy with the absolute government of God? Has not this effected a reconcil* iation between these important^ and 8up.;)osed to be, discordant subjects? Will it be said, The choice of the object, or compli- ance with the motive, was de- creed, and this destroyed the morality of it? It maybe replied: True; the choice was decreed, and it was involved in the de- cree, that it should be the spon- taneous choice of a responsible, moral agent, and was so far from destroying moral agency, and the morality of the choice, that it positively confiimed them. Decrees are not moiivcS) auiV.

14

Oh the Divine Decrees mnd Free Agency,

JkK>

can excite no acts of the will; and as the decree is secret, and not perceived by the mind, it can have no influence upon the act, or choice, of the agent. The a- gent) consequently, is as free and moral with the decree, as he could have beeti if no decree had existed. Add even to this: The decree ih God's act, and the choice the act of the agent; and the act of God in eternity, can never be the act of an agent in time. Tho decree undoubtcdlv respected the act, or choice, of the ag^t, an<l without it would have been ineffectual and abor- tive, and the agent, by his volun* tary act, has given efficacy, or •ffecti to the decree of God.

When objects are represented as motives exciting volition, or an act of the will, it is to be par- ticularly remarked, that this ahouki not be understood of ob- jects abstractly* or simply con- sidered, but in connexion with the state of the heart. External objects simply exhibited have no attractive influence to excite the choice of the will. They derive their influence^ or efficacy^ from their congeniality^ or content^ to

tTBE UISFOSiriOS OF THE HEART,

Hence the same object, present- ed to persons of difTc ^nt and opposite inclinations and char- acterst will maive dilTcrent im- pressiomi, and produce opposite effects. That wora/ object, which irresistibiy attracts oi»e, infalli- bly repels the other. Propose attending a ^cene of worldly a- musement, the theatre lor in- stance, to an hcavcnly-minded saint, and he revolts IVom it with disgust; to an awakened sinner, and he rcliects upon the scene with hori*oi; to a vain, gay youth, and the prospcgi 1:11 raptures his

soul; and if there be mirth, mu- sic, and good action, the place is a sensual paradise. Propose at- tending public worship to a prof* lig^te sinner, and he instantly complains, What a wcarinee* i§ it: to an awakened sinner, inquiring what he shall do to be saved, and he complies with avidity, in the hope of deriving relief and com- fort; to a devout saintj and he immediately responds, / wae glad vfhen they taid unto mcj Lei U9 go ufi to the houhc of the Lord*

If an avaricious person, with prospects of accumulating prop- erty, be unexpectedly discon- certed, he becomes inconsolable. Suggest* that it may be for hia spiritual benefit, and you are a miserable comforter. Inform him how he may retrieve his dis- appointment, you are wise and good as an angel. If the out- ward circumstances of a saint be prosperous* and he be denied the gracious presence of God, his spirits sink, and he goes mourn- ing all the day. Propose iiis af- fluence for his support; he re- plies, Thi9 avaiU me nothing; but if his circumstances be embar- rassing and his prospects gloo- my and dark as michiight, and Christ only whispers, Thou art nitne^ Lt is morning with his soul.

Of what avail, my dear Sir, arc speculations, if they be not ap- plied to the all-important sut)- jects of religion? It* moral ob- jects derive their influence, and become stimulating motives, ex- citing the choice of the will ac- cording to the diafioaition of the hearty and this disposiilon is nat- urally, altogether corrupted and vitiated, it is infallibly certain, that for a heart with such a dis* position, spiritual objects, u holy God, Christ, religion and hcav-

1814.

On ike Cau9e9 qf£rror.

U

CD, will have no attractions; ihey will be objects of its extreme dis^st and aTersion; and sin- ful objects will excile its choice, will be preferred, and em- braced with complacency, even at the hazard and in the view of interminable perdition. This exhibits the basis and propriety of Christ's solemn assertion of the absolute necessity of being born again^^oi having a spiritual snd holy disposition formed In the heart; preparing us to pre- fer, choose, delight ancTrejoice iop a holy God, Christ, and heav- en. This change must be effect- ed immediately by the power and grace of God.

If the extension and amplifi- cation of the subject be offcn- •ive, I pray you, Sir, pardon the error—for truly, the request suggested a series of subjects, so grateful to the mind, that (es- pecially when attended with the hopeof explaining and relieving doctrines which perplex and confound many to their destruc- tion) the pleasure of pursuing it could not be resisted nor aban- doned.

This effort was commenced in the hope, and has been com- pleted, and is now conveyed \%ith desires and prayers, that God «ould sanctify and bless it, to preserve you from stumbling at the word; that he would reveal and form Christ, the hope of ^lory, in your soul; and make you wise to salvation.

I am, very dear Sir, your af- *tciionate friend,

W9»

OK THE CAUSES OP EKHOK.

To the Kditor of the Paiioiilist.

» tbefiil^wing remarks should be jtidf^tHi ^(jrtlij a place m your uitefut pultliia-

tjon, Tou are requeateil to iniert then. Should Ton approve of the pit.'ce hi the main, M'hi|i> nonie trntoi ces or ezpres- •inns teem ohjeetionablc. rou areat Uh* en7 to correct them. AVikhin]; sueeen to jour labnrs in the rauM of Christ. I am Tourt, &c. A. D.

Though man is the only terres- trial being, that is endued with ' reason, and a capacity of per- ceiving truth, yet we find by ob- servation, that he is more attach- ed to error than to truth. Rea- son, which was given him that he might find out and maintain truth, is degraded, enlisted in the^ cause of error, and made use of in framing many absurdities disgraceful to human nature, and pemicious to the best interests of mankind. Man was formed u/iriffAt, but he ha9 sought out many invmtiont. Errors of va- rious kinds have abounded In afl preceding ages, and they abound m the present. If we look a- round upon the world, how few do we behold, m ho embrace the truth! What a vast multitude of erroneous opinions are enter- tained by men! Opinions shock- ing not only to piety, but to com- mon sense and humanity! If we consider, further, that all these erroneous opinions nccessarify produce erroneous conduct; aa necessarily as causes produce effects, and trees produce fruits of their own kind, will it not be well to inquire briefly into the causes of error, and learn by whut means men are thus delud- ed,—ana made to embrace fool- ish, absurd and impious doc- trines. By so doing only can we remedy the evil; for the fountain must first be cleansed in order to sweeten the streams. Let us then briefly inquire into the cau- ses of error.

1. An innate aversion to iha

16

On the CauteM of JSrr§ir*

truth is one great and indeed the principal cause of error. There is in the hearts of all men this innate aversion to the truth. Mankind naturally love error. The glorious and salutary truths, revealed in the word of Godf are so opposed to the corrupt and vicious inclina- tions of men, that they are nat- urally hostile to these truths and inclined to substitute some other doctrines more congenial to their sinful dispositions.

Men will easily believe almost any thing but the truth. It is certain, that there is no opinion too absurd, or too impious, for Uiem to believe. Any thing that will allow them to gratify the iU9$ q/* the Jlesh^ the iust of the eyesf and the ftride ^life^ will do better than the truth. Why is it that men choose to worship gods of wood and stone rather than the true and living God? Is it not that they think that these ^ods will let them live as they list) while the character of Jehovah forbids iniquity of all kinds? I cannot believe that idol- atry is to be imputed in all cases to ignorance. It must be impu- ted, sometimes at least, to the aversion of men to the character of God. Averse to this, they form to themselves such gods as their imaginations have devised; such gods us will favor their vi- ces and abominations. For the same reason, men reject the truths of the Gospel. These truths are unpalatable; there- fore they are often wholly re- jected, or new modelled and metamorphosed till the disgust- ing features are removed, and the doctrines assume a form mure agreeable to the wicked heart.

3f Pride of reasoning is anoth-

er cause of error. Men oi willing to be indebted to tfc ther of tighta for their < They imagine this or that trine to be unreasonable, be they canuot comprehem They make their dark and guided minds the standa truth. By this they try th< trines of the Bible; and or explain away, those, whii not agreeable to it. This sumption is not confined learned; it is found among l literate^ They, also, are of their understanding; anc often believe nothing whici are not able to compre Yet it is true, that the le are more liable to err fror cause than the ignorant. J edge fiuffeth up; and the ed, having contracted hab reasoning, are more ex to reason themselves int ror. Metaphysical reaic on religious subjects are introduced with caution, man who employs them danger of being so much up with deducing consequ< and drawing inferences! depart from the spirit c Gospel, and leave its simp sublime truths for those whi more philosophical and inti 3. An over curious spi inquiry is a third cause of There ure some minds, are not content with plain t but are forever prying into hidden and abstruse sl To such persons there is danger of running into While they imagine thai are improving the Chrisiiu tern, tfjcy may involve selves in error, and intr tenets inconsistent uith th( pel. The great truths of

It'Ji.

9oei€iy/hr tke Jhremotitm qf &90d Morak.

ir

doutf are simple; and have been mderatood in all ages of the charchs when holiness hts pre- v^ed oyer iniquity. They, tlMrcfbre» who io the present di^, nndenake to alter the es- sential doctrines of the Gospely and change the creed of the "Idtlifiil martsrrs of God, who hare testified to the truth, at the expense of their bloodi introduce innomtions dangerous to the

Cce of the church and the wel- (of immortal souls. A pride ef Ascorery may help on such iaquirieti and make them more daring and more dangerous. Snch is the disposition of man, that he mil be proud of being called the father of something new, though it should be bran£ ed with infamy by all the faith- ful followers of the Lamb.

4. The introduction of world- ly wisdom into religious discus- sions has been another source of error. 'The wisdom of men is foolishness with Qod; and men most become fools before they can be truly wise. Some men with hearts unsubdued by divine grace ha^e taken upon them- selves to write upon the doc- trines of Christianity. It is to be expected that such persons will penrert the truth; and, when aided by genius and learn- ing, that their works will be spe* cioua and delusive, so that num-

bers will be led away by these wolves in sheep's clothing. The errors which have been Intro* duced by the Pelagian, Armini- an and Socinian writings prove this. Professions of a candid inquiry after truth, subtle argu- ments, and ambiguous expres- sions, have been found by the enemy of souls, powerful wea* pons in the subversion of truth* and the introduction of false doc* trines. This secret, but efiectu* al method of spreading error has of late infected all branches of knowledge. Treatises on the arts, on geology, geography, astronomy, biograpliy, &c. have been employed in disseminaiing the fatal poison.

These are some of the causes of error, and they should be care* fully guarded against. The present is a critical period; the enemies of the truth are pecul- iarly vigilant; thev are emplojr^ ing every s)>ecies of art and cun- ning to beguile the souls of meuf and lead them in the path to ruin. Shall the friends of truth be asleep while these things are done? Shall they not be vigilant in the glorious cause of the Gos- pel? Shall they not use their best endeavors to promote the extension and final triumph of the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

A. D,

MISCELLANEOUS.

For the PanopKsL

CDnXCTICUT 80CI2TT FOR THE PROXO- T10« or OOOD MO&AI.S.

Thk first semi-annual meeting of the Connecticut Society Jot the promotion qf good Morala^ was Vol. X.

holden, as the Constitution di- rects, at .the court house in New Haven, Wednesday, Oct. 80. 1813.

At 6 o'clock, P. M. a large number of members attended.

H

8ocitiy/hr tht Fr^moihm <f^Go$d BUr^i:

The President was preset and took tbe chair.

It may be recollected, that the Constitution recommends and invites tbe formation of Branch Societie8-»-one in every parish of the state. A slight inspec- tion of the plan is sufficient to show, that the hopes of those vlio were friendly to the refor- mation and preservation of mor* als, were especially fixed on the efficiency of these Branch Socio* ties An inquiry concerning the prof^ress which had been jnade in the formation of such essential auxiliaries, was, of coarse, the first business of the pieeting.

At an hour previously assign* jed, tiie Society attended in the place of public worship, where, according to an appointment snade at their first annual meet- ing, a sermon was delivered by the Rev. Lyman Beecher. Text, Fhe Sabbath «ra« made for man.

After divine service, the Soci- ety again assembled in the court house.

The Hon. Simeon Baldwin, Jksa Chapman, Esq. and the Rev. Samuel Merwin, were appoint- ed a committee to ^'present the thanks of the Society to the Rev. Mr. Beecher, for his sermon de* livered this evening, and to re- quest a copy of the s^roe; that it may be printed!"

The inquiry on the establish* mttit of Branch Societies was resumed: After attending to a few reports, the meeting was ad- journed till the next evening, then to be hoiden in the same place. ^ The session * of that evening was closed wiih prayer by the Rev. Mr. Merwin.

Thursday, Oct. 3 1 St. The So- ciety met according to adjuurn-

metit. The unfinished ilM of the preceding session completed.

About thirty Branch 8oci were reported, as having formed and organized in vai parts of the state. Their pective constitutions, with resolutions and plans of pi dure, for the suppression of and the encouragement of morals, were, some of t communicated. Informatioi likewise received of sundry er Branches, from which members were present, ai whose proceedings, there no specific reports were exl ed.

In consequence of applica from a few of the Branch S ties, for advice relative tc most. efficient mode of open the following resolutions passed.

Resolved, That, in the op of the general Socieiy, Branch Society is compete decide for itself, on the measures to be adopted, w its own limits, for promotinf great object of the institutio

Resolved, That it be re* mended to the Branch Soci< that in May, annually, the] port to the committee, the of their organization; the ni and numbers of their mem the measures they have ado] and the effects produced.

Vacancies among the oi of the general Society wen ed by the following elect Asa Chapman, Esq. Vice F dent, in the place of the '. Jonathan Ingersoi; Mr. Jere Day, Proiessor in Yale Col Corrcs|jcnding Secretary, i place ol Charles Denison, and Genei*al GarritSmithi i

ill4.

S^eieiyfut the PramoHm qf OMl MtrttUi

It

ntttee, in tho place of Charlet Sigoamev.

The Hon. Simeon Baldwin, and the Rev. Messrs* Lyman Beecher and Nathaniel W. Taj- loTt were chosen a committee to confer with such gentlemen as night be appointed by the Con- vention of the Medical Society, on the means of promoting the object of this Association.

Ichabod L. Skinner, Stephen Twining, and James Morris, Es- quires, were appointed a com- mittee to devise means of de« fraying the incidental expenses of the general Society.

The Rev* Calvin Chapin was appointed to deliver a sermon at the second annual meeiing« to be holden in May next; and the Rev. Heman Humphrey was ap- pointed his substitute.

«< Voted, I'hat 500 copies of the Constitution be printed and distributed by Mr. Increase Coohe."

The Rev. Calvin Chapin and Thomas Day, Esq. were request- ed to prepare a statement of the proceedings, at this meeting, and transmit the same to the ed- itor of the Panopliat for publica- tion* The meeting was con- cluded with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Taylor.

Numerous details of opera- tloo were not to be expected, in this early period of the institu- tion. The prospects* however, presented by the reports, and by the unanimity of sentiment man- ifested in favor of the Society's purposes, were pleasant and an- imating. To the object of the institution an attention, of great respectability and weight, had evidently been excited through the sute.

In a few places onfy^ had thm Branch Societies commenced their operations. In these few^ measures honorable to the Christ tian name, and worthy of cUisens enlightened by the moral pro- cepts of the Gospel, had been adopted, and firmly and ef- fectually pursued. The result* hadt in their nature, been such precisely as every friend to tho human family could wish. Much had been done to restrain th#- bold profanation. of God's name and day— >much to discourage the deadly use of strong drink* The same happy results will un- questionably follow the samo exertions wherever made*

It should not be forgotten, that nothing valuable can ever be ac- complished without action and energy. Whatever evils the sloth- ful man may deure to see sup* pressed, his hand must be drawn from his bosoni, if he would not- hang as a dead weight upon a good cause. Even the limited experience of a few months furnishes ample encouragement* No insuperable difficulties Can be discovered in the suggestions of indolence, or of fear; or of that unparalleled thirst for un- godly gain which now so exten- sively bids defiance toe veiy mor- al principle. Only let all, that be- hold and lament the desolation of abounding licentiousness, lay . aside their cold, calculating cau- tiousness—their groundless tim- idity—their inordinate avarice-— and no Hon will be teen in the vfay of putting notorious vice to ' shame.

It is no irrational expectation which the numerous friends of this institution indulge. In pur- suance of the united exertions

SOf

On Chmity librariiu

UMi

recommended and urgtd by the tystem of the general Society^ certainly much may be done for the well being of families, of neighborhoods, of our country, and the world.

At the same time, it is per- fectly evident, that the effects of liie system thus happily com- menced, must, under a merciful Providence, depend, from year to year, on the discreet, but faith- ful, persevering, and zealous, efforts of such as feel the imlis- pensable .bearings of morality upon the best interests of man- kind. Nor, when the great body of considerate people shall be led to a serious view of its im- mense importance, can the want of such efforts be apprehended for a moment.

Through this and similar in- stitutions, then, the friends of social and moral order have a right to look forward with hope. They do thus look forward. It is impossible to behold those nu- merous citizens, who are reput- able for sobriety, '^intelligence, and integrity) combined in active measures for tl\jB suppression of ▼ice and the promotion of good morals, without the strong and lively anticipation of effects in which every good man's heart exults. To the moral influence of such a union, guided by such principles, for the accomplish- ment of such ends, the just mind will not turn itself in vain, to see the widely extended practice of that righteou9ne99 which eX" aiteth a nation; and the stamp of public infamy fixed upon those 9in8 which are the reproach ^ any fieofUe,

Calvin Chapin,> Ct^^mitt^^ Thomas Day, J ^•«»"'^^^-

Oir CHAEITT LIBRAEIBS.

«

^ForthePanopliit.

C. A. ^^On the distribution of rf- ligious tracts*** closes his com* munication thus: **From perus- ing these observations, perhaps some person may be induced to turn his thoughts to this subject, and offer to the public some im- provement of the above plan. In such a case I shall be much gratified."

Induced by this communica- tion of C. A. I offer the following communication. Whether it con- tains an improvement of C. A.'s plan, the public must determine.

In new and destitute settle- ments, where it is thought prop- er to distribute books and tractSt let small libraries be formed, to consist altogether of religious books. In each of these libra- ries, and under the care of a 'li- brarian and assistants, place ten, twenty, thirty, forty volumes, or more, according to circumstan- ces, and as many tracts, stitched in small volumes, as you please, to be drawn and returned ac- cording to certain rules. In this manner, both the books and ihe tracts will be preserved with care, and circulated among the inhabitants to great advantage.

Let the rules for regulating these libraries be as simple as possible: but, by all means, let one of them be an exhortation to remember the Sabbath day and keefi it holy. As it is certain, that ihe books will be of little service, unless they are reud; and as they cannot be read with- out time; if time cannot be af- forded on the Sabbath, It is cer-

*See Pan. for Sept. (put IL) ltl5^ p. 8S1.

liJi.

On4!karity JUbrarif.

n

tun Uwk it win n6t be on ai^ other day. Perhapi, alacH it would be utefuJ to require, that peraons, in order to receire the benefit of thf library, should re- frain from profane swearing, and the intemperate use of ardent spirits. That a familv may en- joy the benefit of the library, let the head of it be required to sub- scribe the conliitution and laws.

To complete the system, and render it more efficient, and pro- ductive of greater good, let each library^ so formed, be the prop- er^ of some Missionary Socie- ^1 in the first instance, and un- T their inspecuon and control, ind removable at their pleasure: and let that Society, as often at least as once a year, send a mis- donary to each of the places, where such a library is estab- lished, with a commission to in- spect the library and «fnake re- port ao that, if It be neglected, or abused, it may be removed to some other place.

It may also be stipulated, that whenever the people, in any one of those settlements, feel able, they may purchase the library of the Missionary Society, at a mod- erate estimate of its value. Then it will be their own, and the mon- ey may b® devoted to establish a library in some other destitute settlement.

It is believed that charity li- braries, thus established, will be very useful: for they will not only furnish the means of in^ struction to many, who are des- titute, but they will operate di- rectly to restrain vice and pro- mote virtue; they will strength- en the hands of the pious, and of those, who wish to support order, by combining their influ- ence, and giving them the influ-

ence of missionaiies and the Missionary Society; they will furnish employment to the ris» iijK generation, and an opporta- nity of improving their minds; and they will add to the good in^ fluence of missionaries. To these thini^ we may add, that these libraries win bear standing testimony, which cannot be re* sisted, that the friends of relir gion are willing to sacrifice « portion of their property to do good to the souls of men.

That this is not mere theory will appear from the following facts, with which the writer is personally acquainted.

On the last of May, 1813, two ministers, (one of them a mis- sionary) moved by the cry from the wilderness, Come over into Macedonia^ and help, ««, under- took to procure books for, at least, one or two charitable lib- raries, to consist of Scott's Fain- ily Bible, bound in 18 volumea, and other practical and experi* mental works, so as to make 35 or 30 volumes for each library. They bad no funds, and there- fore depended on the success^ wliich Divine Providence might give, by opening the hearts of the pious and the liberal. Sub« scription papers were drawn and circulated: and through the good hand qf God u/ion them^ they had the pleasure of seeing collected, within 5 months, no less than 350 volumes of new, bound books, including 10 sets of Scott, each in 18 volumes, besides many tracts and pamphlets. They had also subscriptions, in inoney and books, to a considerable amount, still remaining.

These books were sufficient fur 10 libraries on the plan pro- posed. Six have been already

SiuUgm iOfcIt*

esublished to the jov of many destitute people, and returns of them ha?e been made to the Berkshire and Columbia B|||- aionary Society, whose properqr they now are, and under whose inspection and control they are placed. The remaining books^ and as many more as can be procured^ will be formed into libraries, as soon as the neces- sary preparation can be made in new settlements; and it is hoped that, under the divine blessing, they may be instrumental of nuch good.

The libraries, already estab- lished, are in the counties of Montgomery and Saratoga, in the northern part of the state of Kew York.

On the same plant if the means were furnished, charity libraries might be established to. a great extent* It would be desirable to ha?e them in all our new set- tlements. There appears to be need of them along the borders oftbe wilderness through Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Ohio, and the country eooth and west of Ohio, as far as our territories extend.

If such libraries should be es- tablished in those places, they would be so many posts and for- tifications for the establishment of the Gospel, where missiona- ries might consider themselres as at home, and would serve as a rallying point for all the friends . of truth and virtue.

It would be easy to enlarge, but the writer fears, that he has occupied too much space on the pages of the Panoplist for a stranger, and therefore will close by observing, that, if it should be thought desirable, he will for- ward for publication the Consti-

tution and LawSf wUd been framed for those libraries, which have b ready established.

STUBBOair VACTS. To the E(fitor of the Pi

Sir, Thb annexed statemei made, in the year 1803 gentleman of unquesiiont racity and accuracy, lately found among his U pers; and, by his consei now forwarded to you foi tion in the Panoplist. Tl alluded to, is not on the s< but in the interior of Ma setts. Its inhabitants ar cipally, husbandmen ai chanics, who have nev< considered as peculiarly ed to intemperance; but contrary, have had as higl utation for industry and of manners as, perhaps, ( pie in New England.

The statement is thus <*In this town, we annu taxes for the following pi and nearly the foliowinf viz.

For schools

For support of the poor State aid County taxes For support of two Mini

ters For making and mendii

highwaytf Allow for incidental cl

ges -

Amount, It is found by exact that, within one year,

*EMh minlfter b pntly to]

1114.

CttuHon t9 T^ung Me9*

H

lowini^ qusntities of ardent spir- ht have, been retailed in thia

Si/fhiy hog9Kead9 of New Eng- land mnit which at 61 cents per gallon, amount to %^fl40

fifty kog9head9. West

lidim, do. at 21 per gaK 5,900 Tmehf€ hofheadw of

brandjTyat 8 1 50 per gal* S,350 <SKx Aog9head9 of gin, at

Si 50 per gal. 11,170

Amounting to the enor- mous sum of 8) 5,560." The paper adds a single re- fleciiofr«-^The money which is paid for schoolSf for the mainte- nance of the poor, for the sup- pent of the Minbtry, and for re- pttiing highways, is expended in the /ofpn, and again circulates ntnoi^ us; and for it we receiire an equivalent, in the preaching of the Gospel, in the education of our children, in convenient roads, and in the administration of good government. But the money paid for ardent spirits, all goes out qf the town. Fifteen thousand, live hundred and sixty dollars, carried out of town year- ly— and for what!"

Now, Mr. Editor, among all the glaring statements on this subject, which have been con- tained in your pages, I have seen nothing that surpasses this. The population of the town, to which this sketch applies, was at the time about 3000:— so that the expense of ardent spirits was S5,35, to each man, woman, and child, for one year: or about 830 to each &mily* 1 forbear to fol- low out the train of reflections suggested by these facts. Let every plain man sit down to the computation for himseH^ fiy the |ise of a few figures, he may

see, that more than twenty mis- sionaries inlndia might have beea supported by one town, with ih£ same money that was employed to procure poverty, poisooy and death to its inhabitants! Ad- mitting what I have supposed, that the people of this town are not peculiarly addicted to spiritSi it is certain that, within the same year, the inhabitants of Massa- chusetts and Maine, must have paid, for the same deadly pqison, at least three mUUon»i eixteen thousand^ four hundred and eix* ty one doiiare. Hsppily, the' progress of this evil has been partially arrested by the recent circumstances of the country, and the efforts of good men. We look back and exclaimr-^^Veri- ly we have been dreaming on the brink of a tremendous gulfl Our institutions, our liberties, our ex- istence as a people, have been in jeopardy. Still we are but half awakened from our dream, if we suffer the work of refor- mation to languish, and shrink from the labor of finishing what has been so auspiciously begun."

P-

CAUTIOir TO YOUMO MEN.

Perhaps no opinion has been more prevalent, than that a mod- erate, daily use of ardent spirits is harmless; though intemfier* anee is universally considered as fatal to health and life. This o< pinion has ruined multitudes. It is by this harmlean^ moderate use of spirits that habit fastens its iroa fetters on its thousand victims. Especially is this the fact with a certain class of in- valids; and with those day labor- ers, who expect to receive spr- its at stated times, (rota xVvevT

M

Meview ^ Barlov^M Columbiad.

JAh.

•mployert. Dr. H-^ one of the wm% eminent physiciani that Wew EngUnd baa producedt ^■ed to tayy that a man of yigor* boa conatitution might be in* tozicated once a months and yet^ if he abatained from apirita in the intervala^ might perhapa liTe to old age: but that no young many who habitually drinka apir- ha erery day, especially before breafcfiiaty baa any conaiderable proapect of reaching the age of ibrty. P.

WA9h% or •UNPOWDKR AKO BEAMOY.

Earimctedfrofn Berktejft Mmtte Phi* ha^pher, p. 104» New Hafen ed 180S.

^'Ths government of the north being once upon a time vacant* the prince of the power of the air convened a council; where* int upon competiiion between two demons of rank, it waa de-

termined they should both make tri«il of their abilitiest and lie should aucceedi who did moit mischief. One made hia ap- pearance in the shape of gun- powder, the other in that of bran- dy: The former waa a declared enemy, and roared with a terri- ble noise, which made folka a- fraid, and put them on their guard: the other paased aa m mend and phjrsician through the world, disguised hiroself with aweeta, and perfumea, and dmga, made his way into the ladies* cabineta, and the apothecaries' shops, and, under the notion af helping digestion, comforting the spirits, and cheering the heart, produced direct contiwy effects; and, having insenaiUy thrown great numbera of human kind into a fatal decay, ate found to people hell and the grave so faat, aa to merit thd government, which he atill aesses."

REVIEW.

LVI. The Columbiad.

f m

(CoDtiQued from toI. ix. p. $K,}

That the barbarous diction of Mr. Barlow's poem is not justly chargeable upon America, it is happily in our power to prove beyond the possibility of a doubt. The Kifton qf Columbus^ which is written in a very pure style, was composed and published be. lore the author had leftliis na- tive country, li is greatly su- perior to the poem, which we are now reviewing, and was highly creditable to the author. During the interval of about

twenty yeara, which elapaed from the publication of the Vision of Columbus to that of the Column biad, the poet resided at Algiera* Paris, London, and other placea in the eastern world. In the las- ter work, numerous marka of the residence at Paris are diacerai- ble; and, perhaps, if every place through which the writer paaaed were to put in its claima» all the new worda and phrases migiit easily be accounted for without recurring to America in a aingle instance.

It is proper to remark, in tUa place, that English and Scoteh Reviewers have discovered a hy

Iti4.

Hevievf of Barlow*^ Coiumbtad.

§6

pereritical petulance, on the sub- ject of Amerieani9nUf not very eompetible with their high pre* tensions to the character of dig- nified and impartial critics. Without denying that our coun- trymen may have insensibly formed a few phraseSf which va- ry in a slight degree from the best use in England; and that they may also have introduced a few words, not before sanctioned in our language, by deriving nouns from verbs, verbs from nouns, 8cc<; yet we can prove ntideniably, that in nearly all the instances which we htive seen noticed, the words in question we're not Americanisms; i. e. they were neithur first used in this country, nor are they in any sense peculiar to our writers.

The word advocate^ for ex- tmple, used as a verb, has been palled an Americanism by the Anthology critics, if not by Eng- Ibh reviewers. It is not justly to called, as it is sanctioned by respectable English authority.

But no other word has fur- Dished so much employment for vifs and criticsi as the verb to improve^ and its derivatives. The first and most proper sense of this word, is, to make better^ to advance a thing toward fier* ftction* Another sense, in which the word is constantly used a- Viong us, is, tu make a good u%e i/t io ewtftioy to advantage. When ised in this sense, the word is sailed an Americanism. Or. prankliu began the charge ma* iy years ago; and it has been a thousand times repeated. The lippant English traveller,* when

*We here refer to a class of emptj, Me, ignoruit ■ traTellen, with wlueh tias taUBtit hm been much iutested. Tbej

Vol X.

he first arrives among us, cannot understand the good minister^ who exhorts the young to <«• firove their time, and who regu* larly comes to the improvemeni of his sermon, lie affects, also* to be nonplussed, when he heart the clearing and tiiting of iands in a new country styled imfirove* mentis which, by the way, is tak^ ing the word in its strictest and most proper sense, and simply applying it to a new object; for the clearing of land is undoubl* edly an imfir^vementj as it makes the land more valuable. The question, whether the second use of the word originated in this country, is easily settled* To a person, who is even mod* erately conversant with English books, it cannot be a matter of doubt, that from a period, ante* cedent to the settlement of this country, to ihe present duy, the word has been used in this sensOf without the smallest intermis- sion, by very respectable wri- ters, who never saw America. It is SO used by DdXter, Beveridge, and their cotcmporaries, by Watts, Doddridge, and their co- temporaries, and by Mrs. More, Mr. Wilberforce, Mr. Scott, the writers in the Christian Observ- er, and a multitude of other popular authors, who are now living. This use of the word is much more common in religious book^, than within the circle of polite literature: yet a friend of ours, who is observant of such matters, has assured us, that, in the course of his reading, he has remarked more than twenty in- stances of the same use ofiha

make great books, on retuniing |o Ca<* rope, and eifceiually mislead aod <lc«ttfv% msltitiidw of reader*.

%§

Rtvievr qf Bmriow'9 Coiumdiadm

JAir*

word in Addison, Goldsmithf . TtMnnion, and other English classics. So much for this Amet" icaniafn* After hlU we wish a good substitute eould be found K>r the word in this sense; buty unless such a substitute » found, the old use will continue, where- ever the English language is written or spoken.

There is another use of the wordy which is so contrary to all proprietyt that we cannot but no* dee it. It is no less, than to make a bad use of; as when a person is said to have imfiro-oed hi9 youth in sin and folly. This cannot be said to be a general use; but it is tOo frequent. It is not confined to the western side of the Atlantic. M'Crie, in his life of .K.noX| has it more than once*

Another use still, not so ut- terly perverted as the last men- tionec^ but still quite improper, is common on both. sides of the water. It takes place when to imfirove is intended to convey the same meaning as to employ^ or to use.

Many other Americanisms, if particularly examined, would turn out, like the above, to be Anglicisms of several centuries. In regard to the introduction of new words, while we are fur from attempting to excuse Mr. Barlow, we cannot but think, that much very superficial criti- cism has been displayed on this subject; especially by some of our American reviewers. They would gladly interdict the use of every word not found in John- son's dictionary. Happily for mankind their wishes arc as im- potent, as their scheme is vision* ary a^d ridiculous. It would be as pmcticabie to build a perma-

nent dam across the Mississlppiy with willow twigs, as for critics to prevent all changes and im* provements in language, by the mterposition of their authority. Several hundred new words have become good English since the days of Johnson, and are used without scruple by all the Re- viewers themselves, and by near« ly all speakers and writers. Ma* ny hundreds of words, which hold a place in the latest editions of Johnson's dictionary, are not good English now, and probably never will be, whatever they may have been centuries agOb We mean, that they are not writ- ten or spoken now, and piobablj never will be, by any judicious writer or speaker of our lan- guage. How absurd to pfead K>r an unalterable vocabulary, when commerce, the arts and sciences, politics, and ^11 things beneath the sun, are in a state of perpetual change? Who hesi* tates to use revolutionize^ dem^r^ alizfy and perhaps fifty other verbs of the same termination^ which are not found in Johnson's dictionary? Nothing is more probable, than that many other verbs, of the same terniinatidnt will be added to our language' hereafter Verbs will be formed from nouns, and nouns from verbs, and adjectives and adverbs from both, while men think and. talk. Many wonts now in use will be dropped, and many oth* ers introduced from other lan- guages. In short, as Mr. Web*. ster argues with irresistible, force, whenever the written Ian*, guage becomes fixcd,it becomes^ or will soon become, a dead lan- guage; for the great mass of mankind would not hesitate to express new ideas by new wbrdsy^

19 U.

Revitw qfBarhwU (Mumkimd.

%r

ind Dew combinations, though tlie comparatively small num- ber of writers should hesitate to fiiilow them.

Let it not be thought, that we «re the advocates of rash inno • ▼ations in language. We only insist« that such changes as are recommended by utility, necea- sityy or general practice, should be tolerated in language, as in other things. Critics and review- ers may, for ought we care, lash as severely as they please all pe- dantic, affected, unnecessary in- troduction of new terms, and new phrases; but' let them not im- pede that course of improve- ment, of which our noble and co- pious language is still suscepti- ble—not less susceptible than any other earthly possession. A- bove ail, let their doctrine and practice agree better than they do, while they attempt to con- fine others to Jfohnson's diction- ary, and yet boldly avail them- selves of a more modern vocab- ulary.

Should it be asked, when may a writer use a word, which has not been sanctioned by any con- siderable printed authority^ we answer, a good taste is the only proper guide. As a general rule the spoken language should precede the written* When a word is extensively used by well educated persons, in mixed com- panies, in the hall of legislation, and in the pulpit, where can be the presumption of putting it into a book?

It is to be observed, that at a period when the whole face of Uie civilized world is changing, we might reasonably expect, that there would be many changes tn language; and doubtless great- er changes, in all respects, sure

still to take place, than any which our eyes have witnessed, great and momentous as these hare been. Among the many causesi to which the introduction of new words into • our language, is to be attributed, no other is so uni- versally operative, as the im' mcnse circulation of English re* views, and the fividity with which they are read. In these works, there is a constant propensity to naturalize French words; to in- troduce new scientific terms in- to the -common dialect; and to form a new style by new combi* nations. And yet some of these very works appear to be strenu- ous advocates of the immutabil- ity of the English language, and haughty censors of those who * venture a step beyond certain limits, by which our tongue was imagined to be circumscribed a few years ago.

But we must return to the po- em of Mr. Barlow. The follow- ing picture of war contains bom- bast enough, and at least one vul- gar image:

*<Uu bead is hung with clouds; his gismt

band Flings a blue flame fiir flickering to the

laud; His Uood-stain'd limbs drip carnage as be

strides And taint with gory grume the staggering

tides; Like two red suns his quirering eye-balls^

glare. His mouth disgorges all the stores of war. Pikes, muskets, mortars, guns, and globei

of fire And lighted bombs that fusing trails

expire.'* B. v. 1. 477—484.

Nearly related to war is cruel- ty; and wc think the family like- ness is discernible in the follow- ing descriptions

<<She eomes, the fiend! her grinning jaws ex|»andt }ler brazen eyes oast lig^uuv^ o'eac t!b.^ ftrsad,

u

/

Rtviem qf Bmrhw^i CoHuMai.

Jak

wlfigil&e tlmnder-flloiids the wdkin

twoep, firaah the taU spires aod shade the shud- dering deen; She gabs the deck, displays her wonted

store, jocr eords and soourges wet with prison-

ers'^re; vf^ea, pmocrs, thamb-serews spread

beneath her feet, 9I0V poiaonoiiB drugs and loada of putrid

meats tWseaae hangs drizzUnff Jrwn her 9&mg

hckt. And hot eontagion issues from her bos.**

B. vl 1. 45—54.

As instances of low or disg^ust* ing expressions, we cite also the following:

■ **The freemen ^ttit their famu,

8ctse their trieif muskets, name their

chieis to lead, n

Indorse their knapsack* and to Tengeance •peed." B. vi. k 308—304

**Wann dripping ttreamis from every lifted sword 8tain the thin camaged corps;''

B. vii, 1. 360. S6l. *<Hi% hitting' hell'-dog» o'er the shudder- \ng tide." 1. 500.

**The UKNilder'd i-ock

Galls, jriiKif them tore, along the ram- part led— " B. vi'ii, I. 848— 245.

But the most remarkable in- stance of the bathos remains yet to be mentioned. Atlas makes a long speech,in the eighvh book, on the wrongs which his chil- dren, the people ^f Africa, had experienced from slavery and the slave trade. Towards the close of it, he threatens mankind, thot, unless they desist from such hoiTible injustice and oppres- sion, the whole race of men shall be destroyed by a vast subterra- itean explosion, which, bursting from thp centre of the earth, pliall throw all the surface of the ^lobe, in massy fragments, high into the atmosphere; and the fragments, returning toward each other by the power of grav* ^^pn, shall sink in the rising

waveS) leaving only some single pinnacle of a mountain elevated above the ocean. So vast m explosion is certainly a sublime idea; but Mr. Bar.ow destroys the effect of it by several unhap* py images, and finally by one of the meanest, which could be se* lected from the furniture aod operations of the dairy-room.

**Far sunk from day. It enimbles, rolls, it ckume the settfiag

sea, Turns up each prominence,——^

1. 2S9-40t,

The poet talks of </ium/to'ff|' the pearly tear,' of ^tafifiing the re- dumUnt lakes,' Sec. &c«

Of the many passages, which have no meaning that we can discover, we cite svvt;rals

*<His e^e bent forward, ai-dent and sub^

lime, Qeem*d piercing nature and erwhdn^

times'* B. iv. 1. 253, 854

**Like aires of unborn states they move

sublime, Lbok empire* tkn^ and tpan the drM44

o/tomc,— " 1. 429, 430.

*<AU rights that Britons know they here

transfuse. Their sense invigorate and expand their

views. Dare every height ofhummi 9oul to team. Find, fiohom, scope the moral breadth u

• man. Learn how his wciai povert ma^ Midi'

IsLte And tone their tension to a stronger state.**

B.v. 1. 11^—188. *<From all his |;uilelul pk)U the yeil thqf

drew, Iflth eye retortive looked creation thr§^ Traced moral nature through her toi^,

plan, Mai'kt all the steps of liberty and man;**—

1. 465-468. <<Macdouga], Clinton, guardians of the

state, Stretch the nerved arm. /• pierce the

depth of fates*' . 1.681,688. ^Mold a iair model for tiie resthna of

earth. Call moral nature to a oeeond birth, Keaoh, renovate the world's great socM

plan And here oommenee the oober oeme ^

mm.'* B. viii. It lft|«Hi54.

1914.

Mg9i€W iifBarkmU Co/i»mMiA

9lt

^ByitftT of Bight » nature't pUn;

jIbo imnriiig nature U the mttrdi of

msB.** I. SdSy 3M.

-Mfttfuw Aerw{/ (^«AoM jToip rf time

attdplaee JkaU 9ui dwraUon and impalmt aU

MpaceJ JIftuii IK pfftjrreuive mareht kit vfaere

to tend. What eoarae to eompauy A«w the march

mtut eful, fler MBS de«kle not»*—

B. a, 1. 41—45.

These passag^By with some others which we shall cite pres- ently* when eitaniining the birth and history of the universe, will serve as sufficient specimens of the modem philosophical meth- nd of uttering nonsense.

We ought in fairness to pre- sent our readers with some of the best passages of this elabo* rate poem; and we do so with pleasure. The following apos- trophe to false glory is spirited and poetical; and, though the author might have improved it» we have reason to be pleased with it, on the whole.

Traxer in quest of g^ry seeks the field; — Fake riare of glory, what hast tlioa to

Tield? How longf deluding phantom, wilt thoa

blind, ITiakad, debase, onhamanize mankind? • Bid die bold jouth, his headlong sword

who draws, Heed not the <^eet nor inquire the

Bat aeek, adventuring like an errant

kniriit» Wars notWown, gratuitous in fight. Greet the eored field, then plunging thro'

the fire. Mow down hb men, with stupid pride

expire. Shed from lus eloaing eyes the finisht

llame And ask, for all his crimes, a deathless

name? '

And when shall solid glory pure and brtriit Akme inspire us and our deeds requite? When slgdl the applaose of men their

chiefrpnrsoe. In jost proportion to the good they do. On Tlrtiie's hate ereet the shrine of fame, Pctee her empire and her code pro-

Mliai? B. TV t d95--41S.

The Hymn to Peace, which is enlarged and altered for the worse from the Vision of Co* lumbus, is still worthy of partic- ular praise*

<«Hail, holy PoaDe, from Uiy sublimf

abode Mid oircUug saints that grace the throne

of God. Before his arm around our embiyoa

earth, Streteht the dim Toid and gave to nature

birth. Ere morning stars his glowing chambers

huiig. Or songs of gladneas woke an angePa

tongue, Veil'd in the splendors of his beamiul

mind. In blest repose thy pladd form reclined, lived in his Ufe, his inward sainenee

caught. And traced and toned his universe of

thought. Borne thro the expanse with his creating

voice. Thy presence bade the unfidding worlds

reioice, hed forth the syttenu on their bright ♦ career,

Shaped all their curves and fashion'd every

sphere. Spaced out their suns, and round each

mdiant goal, Orb over orb, compell'd their train to

roll. Bade heaven's own harmony their forces

combitie, Taught all their host symphonious strains

to join. Gave to seraphic harps their sounding

lays. Their joys to angels and to men their

praise." B. viii. 1. 1—^.

Toward the close of the last book, there is a comparison be- tween the delegates of all na^ tions, who will hereafter assem- ble in Egypt to lejjrislatc for the world; and the general conven- tion of the guardian angels, that have in charge the planetary systems, who Mill meet to give an account of their several com- missions to the Creator* The simile is noble.

Review qf Barl9WB^§ ColumtM^

^K% the bleftt guardhm guides to whom

WM giTen To light the sans and steer tlie stars of

liearen» (^ hen one great ctumogyre has proved

their sphere% And time w«U tnusht ihera how to wind

their jrears,} ttiaU meet in general eouncil;'' ke. &e.

B. X. 1. 569—573.

Ml* Barlow alludes to Moses, ■lo 4he seer of Patmos/ to the Mr- rival of a saint in heaven, to **de- partcd shades,'* to Luther as an example of intrepid courage; but in all these instances, as in the- passages above quoted, poet- ioal esitbellisliment is evidently the only object he has in view« He refers to the common ideas of God and heaven, becuusc tbc^ are truly sublime; and, whenever he does so, he rises above himself. When he talks, houcver, as a philosopher, as u moral instructor of mankind, he explodes all religion whatever; but yirould tolerate the foorahifi q/* the 9un^ as the best religion iK-hich has yet existed upon earth, and as, on the whole, a pleasing object. *

The Eclectic Reviewers have said,* that they could not tell what religion Hesper, or Mr. Barlow, wisof; but we think our readers will have no great hesi- tation in saying, before we have done, thati whatever may have been the creed of Hesper, Mr. Barlow was of no religion. Be- fore we enter upon this part of our plan, it will be well to ad- vert to the professed and real object of the poet.

Had Mr. Barlow said nothing of his object, ii would have been pcffecfly evident. He does not write like Southey, merely

*]S«. Rev. for May 1810, p, 4U.

to please his readers w: fictions that present thei to his imagination^ and please himself; he neve the philosopher in the p never forgets his syste main principles of whl these: That the greatest | man is political libert) this liberty, under the di of nature and sober sens finally banish from the e slavery, cruelty, oppress justice, and especially that man ought to seek 1: pincss in this life, and not himself about a future i that all religion, (unh would except the worshij sun,) must have sprung f norance and delusion, fr silly fears of unenlig nicn;-»aiid that the march is toward a state of tei perfection, when his life prolonged to a most extra ry date by improvements] icine, and he will be final cued from superstition, fc error.

But Mr. B. has not lef Conjecture, what his obj He has stated to us, HI real object of the poem i culcate the love of rations ty: — to show that on the 1 the republican principle i morals^ as well as goo< ernment and hopes of nent peace must be fo He dwells upon the respo ty which rests upon a poe instructor of mankind thinks that an ancient which should have disco war, and inculcated pea justice, a sort of pacific would have performed \i in the world, and renovate kind. A year or two al

1814.

Meview qf Bariow*§ ColumBiad^

31

the publication of the Columbiad, Mr. B. found occasion to give hb opinion concerning the mor- d tendency of his poem^ and pronounced it to excel, in this respect* all the writings of $ev- tnttf Jive of the most illuMrious Christian worthies, whom- bishop Oregoire was able to enumerate, comprising Bacon, Barrow, Berkley, 8cc. See. But our readers shall haTC his opinion in his own words:

"On the contrary,** says Mr. Barlow,^! believe, and you have compelled me on this occasion to express my belief, that the Columbiad, taken in all its parts of text and notes and preface, is more favorable to sound and rigid morals, more friendly to ▼irtae, more clear and unequiv- ocal in pointing out the road to national dignity and individual happiness, more energetic in its denanciations of tyranny and op- pression in every shape, injus- tice and wickedness in all their forms, and consequently more consonant to what you acknowl- edge to be the spirit of the Gos- pel, than all the writings of all that list of Christian authors of the three last ages, whom you have cited as the glory of Chris- tendom, and strung them on the alphabet, from Addison down to Winkelman."

For remarks on this passage, the reader is referred to the Panoplist for September, 1810, p. 176. We have cited it here to prove, that whatever the poet has taught, he has taught delib- erately and systematically.

From Mr. Barlow's code of morals, all religious belief and all religious duties are utterly excluded. Man owes nothing, iiccording to him, to any other

being except himself and his fellow creatures. As to the theology of this poem a few quo* tations may be acceptable. Hes- per seems, at times, to be the god of our universe at least* The poet introduces him as the great revealer of truth toColum* bus. Of himself Hesper says:

'This arm» tfuU leads the stellar host

of even f That stretcht o'er yon nuie ridge thm

western heaven. That healM the wounded earth whev

from her tide The moon burst forth and left the Soutk

Sea tide. That ealm*d tliieae elements," He &o.

B. iv. 1. 343—347.

He also punishes nations with' volcanoes:

'*Tbere lava waits my late reluctant tal^ To roar aloft and shake some guiltvwall;*'-*

B. L 1. 283, £84b

He inspired Columbus:

''For this my guardian care thy youth !»•

spired. To virtue rear'd thee and with glory fired.*

B. ii. 1. 383, 384.

It seems that Nature and God were united in creating the earth:

"For here great nature, with a bold^

hand, Rdl'd the broad stream and heaved the

lifted land; And here from finisht earth, triumphant

trod The lust ascending steps of her creating

God." B. i. L 357--360.

Yet Nature seems to have had the honor of creating man with- out assistance:

''Prove plain and clear how nature'v h una of old Cast ail men equal in her human mold!'^

B. viii. 1. i225, 'iA(>.

And she seems to have begun the work of creation:

Meview of BmH^^^ OilmMkJL

V

•<WheB ertt her hand the oratt of Chaoe thiri*d And forc'd from hU hUck breatt the burtt- ing worid;" B. is. 1. 47, 48.

Freedom seems to be entitled ^ to divine worship, at least from tfie poet:

«*Almigfaty Freedom! g^^e my Tentorous

•ong, The foroe, the chann that to thj Toice

belong; *•

Tb thine to shape ray ooane, to light my

way, To nenre my eonntry with the patriot

'To teach aU men where qU thdr interest

lies. How rulers may be just and nations wise."

B. i. L S5— 28.

. According to th6 following liassages, Freedom seems to be worthy of the divine worship of all men:

*9oB 6t thft moral world! effidgent

sonree 9f man's best wisdom and his steadiest

foroe, 8ottl searching Freedom! here assume

tlmstJttid And radmlc henae to every distant

land;''— B. iv. L 487—490.

*^es, righteous Freedom, heafen and

earth and sea 12ekl or withhold their variotts gifls for

-^- •*— L4W, 500.

Mr. Barlow has the frankness to hold tip religion to detesta* tion under its own proper name, and not tinder the mask of su- perstition, bigotry, enthusiasm, bumticism, Sec as is common with his brethren. The two clas- hes of men, who experience the foil measure of his vengeance, art) king9 and firieatt^ without exception or discnmination.

f^ReflgioD here, that umverfalname^ Han's proudest passion, most ungoTem'd

flame, Ereats her altars on the same bright base. That daazled ertt and still deludes the — B.iv. 1.5— 8.

^'Let the poor gnardleta lutth

&el The JlamerCtfrcoidt the soldiei

steel;"— L^

<^Some doke, some color all the

nuiy plead; Tis avyiee. passion, blind

de d;** B. vi. 1.

*<No Bovadilla seize the temptin No darii Ovando^ no reiigi9U9 B

B. il I. 3( ^Sad field of contemplation! 1

great, Xing9, pricMU of €hd, and m

stale. Review yww system here! b.

scan Tour own fur deeds, your benefi You will not leave liim to his uai To tame these elements and till \

You choose to check his toil and

eyetf To all that' 9 hbnett and toa!lt^ lAire with false fame, Jalte tm

faUc &re. To barter fields of com for

gore,"— B. vii. 1. 66

But the most remarkal sage is found in the las where, at the introductioi grand political milLennii Toys from all parts of thi are introduced as bringi symbols of the various s of delusion, and castiii| into a heap. The thou) doubtless taken from Ad mountain of miseries,

<<Beneath the footstool aU dc

things. The fna$k of prietthood and th<

kings. Lie trampled in the dust; foi he Fraud, tnlly, error all their embi Each envoy here unloads his wea Of some oki idol from his native One flings a pagod on the min^ #ne lays a crescent, one a cron Swords, sceptres, mitres, cro

globes, and stars. Codes of false iame and stimulant

• The perton here intended it edin the notee at a bloodt/j fana pithpriett.

Itl4.

JkteUigence communicated by Dr. ^audi.

33

Snk in the tettliDg idsm; lince guile

Tkemmrethgagtnttiifthewoetofman.*

B.z. 1.599— 610.

It will be recollected by many of oar readerSf that bishop Gre- goire complained of a certain en- graving in the Colunibiad, which as he understood it, reflected on the Christian religion by repre- senting the cro98 as a symbol of falsehood, and classing it with idols, the crescent, &c. To this complaint Mr. Barlow made two pleas: First, that the engraving was made without his knowl« edge, or consent: Secondly, that he considered the cross as a badge of the Roman Catholic religion only, and that he, being a puritan, had not been accus- tomed to view the cross with veneration. The fallacy of both these pleas was examined, and ISC think exposed, in the Pano-

plist for September 1810, p. 173. We did not then look at the pas* sage, from which the engrav- ing was made, and which is quot- ed above. Had we done so, we should have remarked, that no person but a modern infidel would, after publishing these lines, have had the impudence to evade the charge of disrespect to Christianity, by intimating that the supposed disrespect waa ail chargeable ufion the engraver. The croaa is here plainly classed with all destructive things; with the emblems of/raudy folly and trror;" with some old idoly a fia* god J a crescent^ codes of false fame^ and stimulants jo war$, A person unversed in the quib- bles of modern philosophy would think this passage a very plain one.

(^To be continued. J

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

f nrKmESTi^ro licttsr.

the following letter was writtcD hy a gentleman in London to his friend in Um country, and communicated to Uie Rev. Dr. Morse by a gentleman in Priaeeton, (N. J.) to be handed to the cffitor of the PanopUst for publication.

rACTMy C03DfUaiCATXD BT Dm. KAVDI TO

SOME nasosra i3r lokdok, sxtraotkd

niOX A ISTTKR D4TKD

Uiiruoir, 29th junk, 1813. "The rerv important commei'cial situa- tioD of Malta renders it peeuUniiy favora- ble to the diffuiion of Chi-istian in&tfuetion rHrough many places in Asia, Africa, and Kurope. A liberal jrnedioal education, ami « mind emaneipattKl fi-om the bhaddes of RomiNb bigotry, and filled with the spirit of pure benevolence, have qualified Dr. Xaudi to be highly useful in the promo- tiotk of this gnrat, and most noble design. l)r. N. was e<1ucated a Roman Catholic, mi h>M], probably, never bestowed any \cry doHC ttioaght op religious mbjectSi

Vol. X»

till he rather accidentallj met with 9om« relieious books ft*om England: since then, he lias been an increasingly thoughtful character.

*'He had successfullv practised as a physician in Malta for some years, when, about eleven months ago, the governor ro- quested him to select one of his most suit- able pupils, to send to England minutely

.to investigate the plan of Hospitals, ai well as to inspect schools, and otlier be- nevolent institutions, and to bring back any information, which might be useful in Improving, or forming such establishments in Ai alta. Naudi, pleased with the idea of Visiting the oonniry, where the Bible So- ciety had originated, immediately offered himself (or this appointment, and arrived ill Eii^Hiid last July. His str'-onint of the

I religious state of the Continent is highly interesting. The dreadful ]}olitical earth- c[uakes which have torn kingdoms asumler, and made hnmanity wcop utthemist^ry of men, have no less rent ihc mental veil, whicli has so long overspread that part of tlic world.

5

Jtnteliigenee eommunicaied by Dr^Miudi*

^*The foHowing relation b nearly in Dr.

jN^audfs own words: any iraperteetEngliBh

will be easily excused, u-henit isremem-

beri'd, that eleven months ago, Dr. N.

■^ as totally igno^it of the language.

*'ln the city of Naples, peopled by about 700,0<X> inhaliitants, several convents and monasterteH, containing infinite numbers of friars and monks, have been suppressed by llopapari<^, Mho^ motive doubtless was his oyMi aggrandizement; but 1 thhik ■we may ob«Tve thohand of Providence in it, overthrov* ing one of the obstacles lo the ispcrsion oflJie Word in those fine coun- tries. I add, as a further exemplification, that, ;n the same ciiv , sii.ce the yew 1805, thei*c has bc(Mi instituted a tioeiety of pious Christian!!, dfvotcd to do g(MK) to their fel- low civatuics, att veil in teni[oral, as in siiviiuid wonts; and this society, eleven months ngi>, m ab composed of 506o people. I'hese meet, on hui.days, in diflerent churches, ref»d the BihU?, and siikghvmns and prahnh to tiie IVTobt High, to whom t.liL-y coiifule their wants, and -whose as- • Kistanct tht y imvloro '1 liere is another sccictv of lliC sume kind, in one of the Jiiost importat.i ihlui.djs of the >tediien*a- titan sea, in which ahout 140 p< rnons are united for uo other lanpose, than that of prontotiog the ^piritual good of their fellow ciTalurcs. , [Another lettei sfi^s, a poor jnau «us tlie means of gathering them.] Thev meet on Surdnys, begin by reading the iBiWe, v*hfn one, or mhre'of them pn-bent, explains a text extempore, m a ^erj' simple manner; they pray together, anil then luake reflections on vario<.>s miIh jfcts, whioli ci'n promote (vhristiauiiy, not 'f.nly in their own country, but also ^iitong strangers, and thot»e of other islands.

*<At Mount Lib-'tnoi>, which must not be cons»<leixd as one siiigle mountain, Uit a vtiy* pojHilous, and extensile n.otinr.'tin eoimtiy, there are Bisho|s, and an Auh- bii'hop; but all so pfKir, titty can scarcely bedistinguishtcf fioni tlie rest of the pco- j;|f ; and so ignoj smi, tbey tan haiilly Kup- Jiort their rhunit ler. W e huy e sent \ w tu- ty Aralic Bibles to Ak lilm.li(^> l']tleolOj^f>s. This gcntlcnian di.tril utid them to il.e bishops, and ft.me oiher (liort)cters. To our piuil plensvrt tie auMuKlrop viute me, that tleve bi>hc>i «;, riio theoil'ers, ? oJv tollfct the jnople <-v» lySni dfiy, and rt;.d the l«ible in ihe l:ii>f:ii;';,e tluy van nn<l«i- Mai-d. \^ hat '•uti^i.-.uion ItuH it proved to n.y fiiei.ds nl .M5'.'im, to. Ur.<»v , flat, by ^hi'Sf tvenly Kilk?- n''»re th.in loO,()()b peru^ns of iIkm* \t rv tM»unlries have Le- pin to l.err the Mordof (I» »%*iJhdlo p' :*«'e lh<" Most Ilip.li in the l«i g!i:«|;c' of tl.e fi:'CT»d Iiti Iv.

*'.*^0)i »■ iijouti.R rpo, I r-t t viijli ll.nv Im'IimK . fiP.t iMiii-'ev fl' ill' I.W v of"! wi »-,

m

r^o wf;s I ii'oinlr.I by bis loi.i't to rc'i«:e

some time at Malta. He w years of age, and much re8p< the Mahometans. On mj be prescribe for one of his follow proaclied Gellule, I i>eroeivcd plc^etl in reading an Aiabic qulhng respecting it, h cansw< particularly fond of reading, wl get Arabic books. 1 told hira happv to give him a hoc k, by of v^hich he might derive g He ilcsired me to do so. Th< ing 1 f^ent him a Bible, which ately began to read witli gr ncss. A few days alter, 1 him, and tound him ivading tl to all his followers. I 8topp< minutes to observe hira 1*611 tecnth chai»ter of Luke, with est, and iJ4 Turks listening 1 tin; greaie.Ht attention, i w having desired nie to &it down ued his reading; at the coiiclus vci*s«-, saying; "Alia! Alia! it true." After he had tini bed me; **1 am vcrv much obligee am i*eading your book with gre and e\]>laining it to these my i In a fe\i da) s after, he told m to be convinced, that Jesus C prophet of the same character et, and in no way inferior to miracles were true. This was eession; for, though the Turl admit Jesus Christ to have beei they consider him very infei hontet, wliom they belitTe to the only raess;enger fit)m G« give the laM-, and rule of life to miracles of Christ were m hat : lule*s mii'd the most, and, these particulars, he WHnt«:d ( e<I. 1 had much conversation difltrent times, and lound bin

{)osed to be persuHded of the 1 ore I left Malta, he saiil of his < that the best prtiof j>f the tr mirdt'les of Cnrif^t -uas, that w]*onghi them in the presence pie. '1 his is a pHrtieubrly s S4>rvati( n fiom a d■^cipIe of vilio pel formed :tll ///« ii.ii*ticle« «rd piOM ^, ll::»t ibe i;r}ue<.ff»« the re: ding • f the iiolv Scri| idi*<'ij!y gn^v ing hi hib hi a' t. first iii(;n<r!< b. on reiuir. njr to b<' res jK-elii.jr flaw ficllule. ] fail to bt uiv Knj;lisb friei wlM^lur ll«e vinik of eonversie p!e1( d in him or iior.

**'! be prince (liurMnan.'ili, o the r:i'li;iw of Capflmj^nali, of ' (-:ipit:U of Ttorfria, in the IVis jf\, \ ua a yi)!ng mun (»f a hul j»n<l, br^il<glJ^ra^eUed vv'tb lii«i ubl'gtd lo «iuil the uei^hboilH

Uli.

tnteiUgenee communicated by Dr^ MindL

ii

CiNpian sea, and retire to Scandinari, where py fiivid, Mr. Marali, lived. On oh^rv- laff lome modern (xre<*k Testaments at AHinifi's bouse» Caramanali sairl, that he ittd already seen one at his father's; the bcKilk vas exactlj the same, and he had be- gan to find satist*action in reading it. >fa< nfi perceired, that it was then a g^iod op- portanky to give him a Tefttainent This gentleman was inde&tigabi*) in rcatling, and considering the Holy Book, in whieh Be ▼etr oden desired Marali to be with lim. At length, Garanianali was convert- td to Chrittianity, and no%v livc:i at St. Jean d*Acre, on a |>ension ansipie'l him by \ki fiiUier, who no longer fears the elfetfts fir' lua onee ^arbulent spirit. Here he is dniringr Bibles fronn the society, and, liv- ings aa lie does, amidst the greatest bie- otrjt and snperstttioti, he may be emi- nenUy nsefiji in distributing them. The other aoooiint says the young Prince goes abottt with the Bible in his hand to per- tnade.

•*A Jc^ by the name of Marthim, be- ing nbont 6iir years ago, mucli indisposeii, was adTised to leave .Africa, and visit Vf alta lor ehnogfe of aSr, and mcdicd advice. Some days after hAS arrival, he was intro- daaed to me as a physician. After my hiving prescribed for him, he noticed some trasts on my table, published by the Soci^ fftf frr prmp'iriUin^ Chnatianity among' the Je-me. raarthim took up one of the pamphlets, which contained an explana- tkn of the propheey of Is^ah, relating to the con&ing or the Messiah, in Hebrew, and in En^ish; he asked me what it was. t related to him the Inatory of the Soci- ety, frora which I had these pamphlets; he anawcred very coldly, saying; '*if tins Soeie^ aacoeed in oonvcKing any of tiie Jews in England, or on the Omtincfit, it win be quite us<;lc8s with the Syrian Jews, particuburly those of Jerusalem." He was a native of this plnce, and, as they urc much more zealous in stricily adhering to their Mosaic ritual, they look down with contempt oh| tiseir more loose Ruropean brethren. I, at length, however, suc- ceeded in persuading him to take this tract home with him to read at his leisure. Two dh,ys afterwards, he called again, and when I had prescribed for him, I asked bhn, what he (huught of the little book. He answered it was of no iuk; to hi<n, as it vai a portion of the Scriptures, which he always kept with him; but that he found it very wett written, and was surprised to find the Christians in Kngland so careful in keeping to the originiU; then he said — 'fit is just the same ai in oar Scri(>turcs.*' I then gave him some other pamphlets from the 8a>ne Society. After a few dvs, when he called ag^un, he said, with- mk wlf asUng- him, that he was |^ tD

have read the others, but sorrv n(»t to be able to un<lenitand the English'.. As thia cmisiste<I, in general, of portions from the New Testament, I sent him a Testament, and the Tracts in esfdaniition of the prophecies, printc\( at Koine. He called again upon me, sooner than would have been necessary on a medical account, to ask a solution of some of the difficulties, which he had found mi reailing the Testa- ment, and the Ti'acts. I now pOroeived. th.it the grace of fxod had begun to work in his heai*t, a;id that further opportnnities of conversation with him, on the subject of religion, would be successful. Upon this I introduced him to Mr. Annette, who, though a p.ior man, earning his liv- ing by the trade of a barber, had applied himself with so much assiduity to th« study of the Oriental laup^uages, that ha was a moi-e complete master of them, than any other person in Malta; be was besidv's a very pious character.

**They frequently met, and the result of their conferences, ind his visits to me^ was his complete conversion to'Christiau^ itv, just three muntlis after his arrival in Malta. The Jews very much opposed his connexion with the Christians, wondering what could induof^ this good man to leav6 their ancient religion to join himself to this sect, instead of being alarmed by op-

{KMitiou, he used his utmost ex 'rllous, rom the time he embraced Christianity, to convert his brethren the Jews; because, as he said in a letter from ♦Tripoli, ".al- ways remembering the g'^eat Christiait charity, \vliiih y<iu, and your friends have shewn, in converting me to the true faith ah<l iVligion of Jenus Christ, I think I can never do enough in pr^nnoting the religious' interests of my fclltiw creature:!, and, es- pecially, of my former brethren the Jewi, whom I see to be obstinate in unbelief.** In his last lettei-, before I left Malta, he asked us to ii^\x^ iht; largest number of TcstameiiLs we possibly could, as he hadit in his power to do great Rood with' them, in many ways. Being unable, at that time, to send him any copy of the Scriptures, this worthy gontleman sat up whole nij^hls to'traiiseribe the Goap^dofSt. Luke mt'o modern Arabic, and Gi*eek, with his own hand.

•*The Bible Society is now printing' another edition of the motlern Greek Tes- tanient, of a smaller size than' the former, and the Society for propagating Chris-

"^^^fter h" had rtfidetl thrre vinvtha /Vi J^tiUa, he returned to Tripoli on account of hill businest, ivh'.ch i* no extensive^ that he han fyur counting hou^e^ — nt Tri- poO, Smifrjia, Scamleroon, and liurbary^' in each\f which tivcntu-four derk^^i^t^ 9mployed.

S6

Remarks on Dr. Mmdi*M QommunicaHom^

Hanity among the Jew» has promised to tttUt, u maeh m pouitle, thb so zealout an advocate, and to attached a friend of the Chiiatian faith.

• *'Mr. Kako, wKb remained a long time -wtth me iiMtfalta, u a caravansera mer- ehanty a man of eonsiderahle property, and oonaeqtienoe; but ao pious, and persever- ing in nis exertion to promote the knowl- e^ of the Gospel, In the different parts, where he happens to be,|that his under- takings will be sufficient to form a publi- eatioo of themselves. His journey is, in general, firom the east coast of the Mecfi- terranean, nearly to the borders of China, passing through Syria, Persia, and all the populous cities in those parts. Wherever he goes, it is his custom to ooUeet the peo- ple, particularly the nominal Christians whom he ^an meet with, and preacli to them in public, and to give them Bibles, or other reiinous books. He informed me, in one of nis very interesting letters, thai, in his passage %x>m Santorini to Cy- prus, he was obliged to stay some time in Bhodes, where he endeavored to do some •piritaal good, and to spread the Gospel of Jesus. Christ* in that island, which ex- hibits a sad scene of relip;ious, and moral desolation. On his arrival, beins with Turks and Greeks, in a kind of market, he gathered some of them about him, and be- gan to speak of h'ls voyage, to gain their aitenUbn, as they are very ignorant. He tben introduced discourse on religion, and on the glorioos Grospel. He was heard with pleasure, and the' people began to in- crease so much, that, in a few days, the Bashaw sent for Kako, to ask him, why the people crowded around him, and to mquire of him, what that amusing bode wss, which he was reading to them, sapng, that he had been informed, it waa against God, and therefore against Mahomet, and contrary to the Turkish Government. Such an inquiry trom the Bashaw would, in general, have bt^n considered, under this despotic government, almost like sen- tCBce of death; but Kuko had oden m^t with similai* difficulties, and said, that be always found, on these oceasions, gi-eat as- littance from Heaven. It is remarkable, that he usually had a presentiment of Mich trials he therefore courageously answered the Bashaw: <*The book is the Bible, whieh is the Holy Book, contahiing the immutable law of our common Creator, and therefore cannot be in any way con- trary to God, or his holy will: and us for Mahomet, he is never mentioned, from the beginning to the end of the book; for it was inspired and written before Ma- Itomet was bom. In tlif third place, thc^ is nothing asainst the Government; ao fv from it, if tne suljects of the Grand Sfifiikir will cardollj read this Sacred

book, and attend to its preec will not only hi more happy, h life, and the future one, hut th( more faithful to the Ottoman P> the same time, he presented tl with the BiUe, that he might < more at his leisure, after haviii out to him various passages on t of obedience due to the Sovei submission to the povert that was enough; the Bashaw ace book, and proved that he wa saying, "Go on, p;o on," which during his remaining resident island, collecting, everv day, lar gations of people. \Ve have dozen of Bibles, which were rec eagerness, and distributed by a Turkish monk, according to the Icfl by Kako. In the same lettei Kako writes that this Dervise i ytvy good character, and has read the Bible witli the hope of ing the true religion.'*

r%

The above was sent from En very respectable gentleman 1 Yoric.

Princeton, (N.J.) Dft. 15, 1

EDITORIAL REMAB

The preceding letter, w pears to us uncommon csling, may properly be panied by a few i Though the following • tions should appear ob many readers, yet we i all will be happy lo dw< few moments upon many ful subjects of conten which here rush upon tl It should be premised, Naudi has the perfect co of the leading religious ters in London, and his sentations m:iy therefor lied on without scruple tation. He has cngag< company a clergyman i sionary voyage lo the under the auspices of tl ty for MisiionB to ylfr. the Eaat^ of which I^id ( is president) and Mr.

Itt4.

Remark9 on Dr» Miu(H*9 Communications,

5T

\

forcCi.Mr. Henry Thornton, 8cc. princi|teil members.* He has been an «|g;ent for the British and Foreign Bible Society, for several years, if we remember aright, and has sent the word of life from Malta into various dis- tant regions. He is mentioned in a letter from a Roman Catho- lic deacon at Scandinari,t as hav- ' ing made an acceptable commu« nication of intelligence to the friend of the writer, and is prob- ably the ^Hrue friend in the Lord,** to whom Georgia Kako addressed a letter, which has been published in our pages.l We proceed to observe,

1. Dr. >I. appears to have become religious in consequence of meeting with religious books from England, This instance, among thousands of others,teach- cs us the utility and wisdom of an enlarged and diffusive benev- olence. Religious books, includ- ing Bibles ^nd various kinds of tracts^ shoi^ld be sent wherever there is any prospect of iheir be- coming instruments of good un- der the dii*ection of Providence* It is our duty to sow the seed; we know not wliich shall spring up, whether this, or that; but we know that God can give an abundant increase, even in an unpromising soil. Dr. N. may be} through many years, a vig- orous and faithful agent in the great business of evangelizing tbe world, and may be the in- strument of raising up many other agents like himself

2. The Bible Society in Eng- land evidently has a strong hold upon Dr. N.*s affcctionb. He

* SeePao. for Deo. 1813, pak H. p. STi. t SeeCliristiui Ob^er^er tor July, 1813,

\ 8«e Pm. for Oet 1813, puit II, p. 377.

wanted to visit the country, where the Bible Society v>a9 Jormed. By forming and pat- ronizing this Society, the relig* ious part of the English nation have rendered themselves pecu- liarly dear to the pious in every part of the globe. Thus a let* ter from St. Petcrsburgh styles that Society *'rAr vtonder of the^ nineteenth century^** ^^the only adequate mtans that ever was de- vised /or civilizing and evangel* izing the world:*' And Prince Galitzin, one of the Russian ministers of state, says, that the Society is engaged ^^in the noble$i undertaking which can dignify the efforts of man***

3. Dr. N. states the popula- tion of Naples to be 700,000. He may include certain contig* uous districts. Dr. Morse, in the last edition of his Geogra- phy, vol. ii. p. 398, says, "The population of the city, in r789| was 4r22f489." It is possible that the population has increased since that time, as that of Lon- don, and some other large cities, certainly has.

4 That a society of 5,000 praying people has been formed, in a few years, in the midst of this profligate ciiy, is one of the most encouraging facts, which the present wonderful era has brought to view. It throws great liglU on the designs of Providence, and shews us how easily and instinsibly and rapidly God can inuoduce the Millenni- um, whenever he sees fit, into Roman Catholic countries. These pious people hold just such meetings, us are usually called prayer-mcetin^s in this country, ilow delightful and

* S^e Ch. Ob. for JvAt \S\3, v- ^^%,^

49

Miaaiont in India*

Ja>.

not public serrice} imall groups assem- Uing one night in one pai*t of the city tad aiiocher night in another.— Several of the oicmbera ot' the chui-ch hI.ho iolerent tliemaclves greatly in di»tribming the Seriptures and scripture tracts among their neighbors, their ser^-ants, and the strangera froin various iiarts of India with whieh Calcutta abounds. Koi* ttie nuke of neeommodating tliese friendii, a meeting has been heM in the ve-.try during the crearer part of the last vear oi ihe first Monday in tJie montli, prior to the meet- ing for prayer, \i hen such aa ai-c desirous, •ome and supply the nistivcft gi'iitis uith the Scriptures in the Rei gnlee, Sungskrit, Hindee» Orissa, and Pet sian languages, and, for the sake of strengthi'ning etich other*! hands, mention the opitortunitios wlueh the preceding month hus afforded them of distributing the Scriptures in any of these languagch. Several of the young- er members of the church have also ap- plied to the study of the liengnlce, Ka- gree, and Persian churacters, to enable tliemto read the New Testament to tlieir servants and neichlxtrs. W'e would fain hope that this will at length raise some- thing like a niissionar}- flame in the minds of some of thesi* voung men. — ^The na- tive brethren, Krislma and Sebuk-ram have found their 8]>here of action much enlai^t*d in the course of the past year, and their latx>i-s have br*en greativ owned. In aiidition to these the Lord Has been pleased to stir up several otlier bretliren to Inbor for the souls of otliei*s; of these, two have bi'en already mentioned, the brethren D'Cnii and retnipe, the former assisting brother Mardon, the latter with brother Carnpiet; two others labor in Calcutta with great diligence, viz. our young "brother Tlmnipson, whose con-es- pondenec in the (^ircidnr Letters plainly discovers tlie spirit which actuates hfs mind; and our hi'Other Delirun, Iwptised about two years ago; mIio seems to labor among his heatlien nfi{|:hlM)i*s with \ety general ncccptMuee, makinp: known the word as occasion oft«TS in Bengalee, llin- diN.stMiauee, und Portuguese. Hy means of the l:iboi*s of tlitse brethren, allhough our stated congregation at the chapel is much below three hundred, more than a thousand of various itiitions ha^etIlewo^I of hie constantly ministered to them.

The Benevolent Institution for the in- ttmction of tlw Indit;ont has Imtm nnwli encinimptl the pnst y?*ar. M'c Ik.vc heeii enaMeil by tlir lilw.'r^Hlv of the public to extend it also to \hv olfu-r sex A M'.hool hH.s Ixcn adiled for (JiiN in vhic'ii, at the. rlr>se of the yenr, sixty v. rre ityjtnitti'd, who, in all pi"ol,ahiiiiv, would othel•^viHe hHV(» been g'Owiiig up in ipioranco and ^iie. This however has not Icweued tl»e

other branch; oo the contrary, that at the close of the year contuned 243^ boys; a« that alUiough we began the year withleaa than a hiindi-ed childi-en, we closed it witli somewhat more than three hundred; and, which will excite c<|ual surprise and pleas- ure, the debt which at the cinae of the last year amounted to neariy 2000 nipeea, at the dose of this was almost aonihibited. Thib is owing partly to the liberality of the public, uid partly to the new arrange- ments introduced in teaching on Laneaa- ter's plan, by means of wltfch brother Leonard, whose veiy soul seems in the work, iustnicts these 340 lK)ys with great- er ease than he, in the last year, inatruct- ed a hundred with two assistants. Uo- willing to throw too great a burden on the public, we luive erected at our o«m ex. I>ense an airy and spacious school room im the heatl of the town, which wiH conUun nearly 800 children. l*his we shall for the present, let to the public at a modern ate rent. It is not improbable that the number of |Mi6r children there taught to read the sacred Scriptures in RngHdi sod Bengalee and instructed in writing and arithmetic, will by the end of this vear, •- mount to five hundred. Should toe Lord be pleased to g^ve that bleniiig on thia in- stitution w hich is so eamcstlv denrcd, its etfectH in disseminating the Cxospel in In* dia, may possibly exceed our ezpectaftioni.

THE BUHMAjr Miaafov.

In tliis mission the progress made re« lates piindpally to translating the Seiip* tures. Our young brotjicr F. Carey hat at length succeeded in getting an aUe as- sistant in the Maguda language, and hit been enabled to proceed with increased satisfaction in translating the Scrinturet into tlie Burman language. He has re- vised the (iospel by St. Mutthcv and pre- pared it for tlie press, and has by thia tima finished Mark, and pnibaUv another of the f^ofipels. He has changetH his condition in life and m.irried a voung woman bom at liangrton of Christian parents, wrhom he describes as l)eing exceedingly altentire to the word of (lod, which she can read both in lh(> Hurnian and Poilugnete lan- giiuges; and v; ry desii-ons of being instruo- led in the natuHMifinie religion. Shoold the Lonl b." pleasefl fidly to enlighten her mind herein, she mn) Im* higldv useful in the futui-e coiuerns f)f the mission, ac- quainted us she is with the language, and the IimIhIs and ideas of the people. Her bi-otlicr, n steady a!)d diUfdnit lad aly>ut IS, is puiTiMing his studie« at Seramiioi-c.

Hi'Other Chater, whom we mentioned in o'U" l.'ift revit'w a* being at Serampoiv, printing a small voir me of scrspture-ex- ti*ai.>ls in Rurnian, after returning fo Rari- goon and reinaining thci*c about two

Mitiiunt in India. 41

■Clitft praneu f>S >evuritj lo vtlcnme tbe gliul oevi nf >alTRifa>ni and Mrndluiluiil]' ill clii- dii- we U-mi iliat lite word will ere bn|; Uate '*"""" . - . -uu-Biice UDwig Uic ignocTinl lieBtlien uuil llwiu, Thdr lim>|>tcla rclal'itc to luxil, Uw, pVUl/ ueeed any iliiiig Ilicy 4VU — uuw wiui u, uuiiiiiH cijiecUili aiiU Ui{ fair to oinlile (liciu, .Mv Hiene of tabu in '«,iiic »lulc u»iDiiiKU|i diiUreii, Ibc future iii- A be hofwa vUl >, . i i' ^ tji- lialilOmU dC ibe othiHU^, ui the uurlure pJw^tli of uiter ' I. r »i:J BtiU luliuouilinn uf the Loiil, to EoiitribuU !• wiihed iiide«U t n lioi-s muuelliing tuwvdi llimr onm *ii|i|Wui and Ir wH wice roDH . i '.:iie tlie muvindalilc etpiuiKii atteuiGuu iinl*- tlhe brechren ( ,^,l.„ ^i™u-j .l.lion. Bi'oUi.rrUliliii.t.eilwo l>M ■ Adeli} of lean m r.n |i«r. heen ii.u\n pllngcd mlLilhei)e|iIli ofalflic- Ubt tneiriii-oiiu^.^d nV ']m .;; tl'jh tii.co lu<aiTi<:il llii-ri, liy (lie Unii of

l on Coluinlio.

M minute

il(U-eil ;<eciiLiurl^ dcsu' Lii liini qii ueaiuiit i£ lier niotlwr, «l nlioiii hu ww bcreavril at Cutwa hUiuI Mven ycaiiago. tigimtia plenMlptr toolHcrvc, liuwi-HT, ihiil llieic Hin^iiti'ini xlUuiofli iK'-vih fell t>r our ba- r<'ii>'i.-it lii'iilhcr, iic'itlifr i)it,ooUI-^ Urn in ilii; w<>< k 'il* (iwl, iwir di)iiliti«li hin aDtJWlj Uii rein 111' lu> nuocecdcil ill. irrtUug a {>ii'.Jii Lo ii-:.in him tu Ihc Itru-lltMW, b> uliiili UriRiiaze, Tiit7iag In lOiac ilrm* fruni liiu lliiiilei', lie boiics iiUiiuUe^ 10 cdiuiiIl'Ic a ETaiaiiiar, > dietiouac;, ind • venion of loiSct'ipiunu.

Out- brother PeaccwlL h«a alio applied to thi' lafiinmge aidi mucli lotidiilty anil ui«- >'»!!. llD il pBi-lleulai'lf lisefaX in tlw

.that wi. have onl..	"l, ,|;,,| 111,.	seti-ii tlie work of God.
■awatiihT'.il',,
hod H.«l a pei-M.		L. ll.c cmirw of llie [ia>l ..or, o.ir b™tli-
^ in Ihe eoul-iie i		ei- Jol.ii PeUirhubeenci.iiMi'.ttu uc'|uiie
tiller itnwc have	i..,>c^-.:.i^d	ihe lanieu^i^ in a caniidcraLlr •irf,m; ui«]
iM brotlier and %v.\	.-,- M,«ire,	lo oiituljle pretty wiiltlr tht Ori^-a S«rii>- iur.'». Th>^ fi-wt of thii ho.<.'ver »m»
ftb«U.U>.rof .h..	i„, >M. aie
l, Ke<o« much beu
Um lormei- yew		lii.i. t n liii.s liine aftrp till' seed ii ant iu-
	. IliK-".!. "1	III ihi' f,i--^u\u\ bi-l'ui^o it niHkei iti iipnear- auec, a>.d 1 n.urh luui<--r bctbt* U iufoRi
iff extt-uded bi- ui	,j =Jl,i;u;o.,	foi-[li ln.it- Tb.: cii-.!- ;.* not trruBtl) lii*-

tl|itfa:T a i>ai]vebi.>LliLr born been uiUlcd by hi'" ' . . !^„'

d .ci|u»iiii.-d iMir), ,.i,), ihB chuvcli ill Orl^., t „,.,.

■Btii DiKirie Bui'.i '..iliU ibee ahull ob«r Ihe word (i£ I'Od nsd liTT.

labor. Our tinili:. !. !.t Itig- Mraiiniiile me i-ijiuM in tlw eonvuniun

to form llitmscK.- iiiLo a of i-lhcrt, ai ihey lunj beniade the honor-

hwcuraj lb. I til. 1 .-.I i.iHy ill iiu^trumenla Of aprwuling llie natiiof

lake tJK; iii'.JiLr >:i , iimlli- life aiiion^ the lieatliCn ai-utinil ilieni. lli

bet BHiMi.d tli.'in tills May uidted scmmvI luiuaben of tliii

ercwir liieihiui. > 'I U-m cburah iceiu Ukejr.ln b<i UKfuI, iWiw of iiiMid lit Cult'uk, linre la iIm

Muiriiu nl'ihi; } e I r lubu.'-d vi

■■■■ - .1,1, t..,i,Wi?.-, of f:>'^", •"'Oi'S the

doi>r »ee:]i> (ipe..< .1 ^'i. .U.:in luiatl.e.i lliuiv. m will aii|. . . . _.

■D the RosiH'l. >'»..' '.(uiir lcitEi-« wbigtib'uLlircnUi««.i«u>dftu'&& mtheFortihvrei ci.^lteiil/ till « Ocuatioiiall/ n ut 1g OkIi fBtdc tl

43

M99ion9 in India.

JaiT.

In a journey to Tisit theae, brother Peter had an opportunitjr of oom- municating the news ot MlTatiou to many; and the readiness manifested, both to hear the word of life and to obtain the Scrip- mresywas truly encouraging. Of the ehureh ia Oritsa eleren members are at present ait Cuttack, among whom are the bretliren Smith and Greene. Shoald a blessing ae- aompanj th'^ir endeavors to make known the Uospely a ohureh may in some future time be raised there also. The other part of the ahureh^ fifteen in number, including brother Peter and brother Krishna-das^ a at Balasore; so that the word of life is now made known in Orissa in two places more than a hundred milea distant from each «tber.

XISSIOK TO BOOTA3r.

The dreomstances which have attended this proposed mission have been exceed- higly ^seoura^n]^. Our brethren Kobiu- aon and Cornish had arrived at Biu*baree <nily a few days, when their bause was at- tacked by a desperate gang of robbers to the amount of fifty or more, who killing two 'or tlii*ee of the servants, pUlaged the house «f every thing they were able to carry a- -way. The loss thus sustained by the rais- •kKi was computed by our brethren to be Kttle less than ^JCHK) rujiees. Discouraged by this afflicting circurostance,brotlier Cor- nnh reouested leave to return to Serara- pore. orother Ualnnson after some time tmik another jcwyncy to the confines of Bootan; but on making application for per- inission to enter the country, it was an- •wered, that this would not be permitted. On which, tliinking it useless to make any further attempt, he requested tliat some other field of Isbor migltt be assigned him. On four or five being pointed out, he fixe<l am Java, whither he has obtained the per- mission of government to proceed. The Mission to Bootan must therefore be con- ducted in another way: the most practica- ble Meems to be, that of getting natives of the oountr}' to assist in tran«latinj^ tlie New Testament, which when printed, fand the forming of a fount of t>pes from the various copies of the alphabet in our poH.s(>!tsioii is not difficult,) can be easily cnrriid into the countrj- oy some of our «at:\-e Ibrethren, who can enter it at p!e,.iur('; m the Hengalee language is $>poken by many in Bootan.

THE WAHBATTA rOUXTHT.

In our lastfwicw we mentioned the op- portunity afforckH us through the medium of a friend, of introthicing the Gospel into tliis country. Fi*om letters n-ceived from htm hi the mrse of the year, jt will aptiear tilttt the williogDcts of the iuhabitanta near

him to receive and read the weird is Tery great. He mentions several as having real the New Testament thro^jgh; others ■■ applying for it with great eagerness; mi4 three or four as apparently determine t» make an open profession of fiuth in Christ. The youtlis in hb little school too,eoDtiuue to study tlic Scriptures aud to improve io the kiiow)< i!ge of tlie MahratU and Hin- dec languages. In a word, the seed sovb there seems to afford eitMind for eneour- ageiuent aud hope. We infer from the manner in which the Scriptures are read! and apparently relished, that the style mxA language must be well understood. This affoixis encouragement to .persevere is other translations where the door may not be immediately open for the dissenunatkni of the word.

rsLx OF nuorcB. ^ Here are stationed our brethren in the 22d regiment, under the pastoral eare ai brother Forder. A letter we have latelj received from him intimates, that there has been a considerable falling off; hot 4oea not particularize those who appeared now in tliat state. Among others however tbs life of religkHi seems greatly to. floarish. One has been added to them by U^iim^ and they have hopes of several othen. The brethren who seem to take the moat lively interest in tke cause of God, are stationed in three different parts of the iaif and. Amidst ever}- discouragement, tlwre seems much i-easoo to hoi>e that the Ijori will be witli them and make them a bles- sing. For this let our prayers be eoa- stantiy oficrcd.

JATA.

Our brethren fai the lith regiment wbe formed a part of tlie cburcb at Caloutta« are now stationed at Sumarang in thniii- and. We rejoice to hear uiat to the tliree brethren ih«:re, five have since been added, tlius forming a little churcli uader the care of our brethi en Baird and Ruaaek A letter which we lately i*ecei vud from them ' breathes a most pleasing spirit. At Wal- leredcn near Bat&via is our brother Brows, baptised at Calcutta about three yean ago. When brother Robinson goes, Ihei-efore, anoUier little church may be raised there if the Lord be pleased te smUe on our efibru.

The increase of the varkMia io.&iit churches as fur as we have been able to as- certain, was last year as folloi^s: Added 97; dead 6; exdudtrd, (so iur as knowe} 1; clear Increase 90.

It may not be iniproi>er to adtf a B^ tl the bit >thren u ho arc laboring tbvot^fHKi/i the various Missions this year:—. . i* .J

uu.

JfiMonM in Indim,

4»

In Bind0O9fkan, Agra^ Brethren Chamberliiii and Pte-

JHgakg Brethren Moore and Rowe.

In Bengal. , Dinagebvre^ Brother Fernandez. G^omalttf, Brethren Mardon and IVCniz. CutwOf Brethren W. Carey, Jun. and

Je999re^ Brethren Carapiet, Petruse, Seeta-raniy Biaiiik-«ha, Man4ka, Pran- krkhna -and Punohanun. ^''ear Daccoy Brother Bhagvat Etrumfmre and Calcutta , Brethrer Ca-

S» MarAman^ Ward, Krishna and Se- .-ram.

In Oru$a. Brethren John Peter and Krishna-das.

In the Burman Empire. Briiher F.Carey.

In the Isle of France, Brother Forder and Joplin.

In Java. Brethren Baird and Uussel. Waitm^ tttroceed to their dettinatUm, Brother Robinson to Java. Brother Cbater; station not fixed. Brethren labering occaBionallv. Rfceeding to JMgahf Brother uedut-

Serampere, Brethren Kanta, Kanace, Deep-ehuad and Vykanta.

Calcutta^ Brethren Leonard, Thomson, Oebniin and Jalians.

^ear Dacca, Brother Cornish.

Orieea, Brethren Greene and Smith.

From this sketeh it will appcsr that the various missions eontiiiu twelve niiitsiona- ry stations, ten infant churches, thUty brethren actually employe<l, (of whom fif- teen are Europeans and fifteen natives of Asia;) and twelve who labor oceSKionally. A retrospeet of the whole sugj^ests two •OBsaderations: Groimd /or gratitude. M^ ho that reeollects the state of thin^ tBUkon^ OB thirteen years ago, ean avoid pereaving this? Then we were one amall ebareh eon tainjng only eleven mem- ber^ nov at least ten nifant churches dbeer our eyes, and one of them con- triaa little leas than a hundred and fifty f embers. Then we were only five breth- ren, confined to one spot, with not a sin- gle native to assbt ns in uisking known the word of life; now we are enabled to • number thirty brethren who labor accord- ing to their 'iri>ility in six different lan- guages; while no k»s t)ian twelve others •taml ready to devote themsehes to the «ork as ur as they have opportunity. Wlttt reason then have we to bow in hum- ble gratitude, and cry. "Not unto us, not ■oCo na, O Lord, bat uuto thy name, be the glory, for tl^ meray and trath*s sake "

»»

Matter ofencourarement, . Scarcely am objectien that unbelief has started remaioa unrefuted; scarcely an obstacle, which tb* God of grace has not in some degree removed. Was it said that Hindooa would never forsake their cast and th* customs of their ancesters? Hindoos hara forsaken all; and ioyfoUy make known the glad tidines of salvation to their country- men. Were Musulmans, once deemed impe^ptmble to the GkMpel? Musulmana have not only received it, but preach a erodfied Savior to their former fieliow Musuhnans. Was the disiiosition of tha inhabitants once deemed such that divine grace could scarcely renew them effectu* ally? Notwithstanding some have liidleoy others have adorned the Gospel by their lives; and glorified It even in death. Wer» the languages otindia deemed almost im^ practicable? In no less than ax of them IS the word of life now preadied. Did circumstances seem to render certaia CQuatries and stations unapproachable! Access has in most instances been ob- tained beyond expectation, which onglit tully to encourage us respecting the I'est. Wei*ethe climate, &c. deemed insupporta- ble to European constitutions? A degree oC health has been granted to almost ever]f individual equal to what was formerlv en- ioyed in our native bind. In a word, the Lord has been pleas»ed to set before us aa open door, and to shew us that there is no hlensing we need forhis work, which he is not both aUe and willing to gi'ant. This plainly points out both our duty and our liighest interest; let us walk humb^ before him, seeking to please him in all things, and lo abound therein moi^aud more, recollecting that memorable de- claration of the prophet to Asa and the men of Judati, <*7V Lord is with you^ Tohile ye are with him.** Let us abound in prayer; — for grace to preserve the life of religion in our own souls, without which we can do little in a right manner in the work of God and for the souls cf others;— for our native brethren, who have more to combat than even we ourselves, while their acquafntance with divine things must necessarily be more limited; — ^for the infant churches; these unless watered by the dews of divine grace, can- not increase, but will on the contrary be- come extinct,— and for the heathen around, that the number brought in this year may exceed any tiling vet seen by us. Let us endeavor to abound in the work of the Lord, and diligently watch for oppor- tunities to make known his glorious Gos- pel. To this the Lord is nartlculariy cal- ling us by thus setting before us an open doM>: let' us then give proof that we pos- sess the genuine spirit of adoption by fol- lowing vn»ere our henveidy FsUmt VoAa^

u

Donations to Foreign AftMons*

Ja*.

tndiraprormg tvery opportunity to call in those, his ''other bhcep" whom lie will garely hnng in, aud unite with the rest under the same shepherd. Finally, let us expect from him this year and oiiwanls a MWl more abundant oleHfing. His work b perfect; and « hat tve see hitn begin, we may be assured be will complete. AH yra haTe hitherto seen, though worthy of oar praise in itself, dtrrives its pniicipal Talue from its ai>peannp: to be a pj%para- tSon for still gi*euter tliiji^. And is not the residue of the spirit with Him? Must 4i0t the JlLnowledge of the l^rd our Re- deemer cover the whole earth? the stone cut out without hands become an un- neabui abl'j mountain? the mountain of the Lord's liou.se be cstabl'ibhed on the top of the mountains for all nations to flow UDto itP And when nmst all these things be aecomplbhed, but in these Masidavb,' of which however above seventeen hu'ndi-ed years are already- gone. Let ns not then measure what is to oonie by what has been already, but rather lo:k for\vai*d to brighter thuigK, as men In tht^awn of the morning expect, not the return of the mklui^ht ahadt'8, but the a]ipeaVanef.' of the rising sun. Thus Ictus look for w aid to the rising of the Sun of rijjhteonsiiess on the benighted lands around us, undon the whole world- £vcn so, come Lord Jesus, come quickly . M'e are, &c

J. MAnSHMAXg

W. WXnji.

DOIIATTONS no SUPPORT MFS- sBns ANJ) TKANSLATIONS.

Jan. 7, 1814. Tvoxw Mr. Joel Beerher of Farnungton, (Conn.) by llic Hon. John Treadweli, E.«f|. 555 00

In a letter with the Salem post- mark* - - - 10 00

From a subseiiberto the Fanoplist, for the translaiioiist - 5 00

CaiT.cd fqi'ward, g20 00

'*Thi» letter, which uftprarn to be in the handrimntinr nf a fvnmh't i^ iis follows: *'&>, Jn hmnltle imffation afi/oiir vorret- pondent, *\i Snhs'^ribrr/' (Pan. Jor .AVp. 1813, p. \7^.J I (ii,ain enclose ten dofUirs Jbr Foi'n'iru J\Uh\ionK,

Yvv.rs leapt ctjujlijy — ^"

Brought forward, gSO 0# From l\frs. Sarah Stone, wife of

the Rev. Mr. Stone of Brookfield From l)ea. Reuben Leighton, of

VVcsUbrd From the following persons in Eas-

tou, by Col. Shepherd Leach; viz.

— From Col. Leach himself g50

— Lincoln S - "^

— Andrew Blesdell — — Ceiihas Leach

— Jasou 1/cacli

— Sally Bonr;ey JSetse) Torrey

— Caroline Tori*ey -

— Lucinda Hodges

— Betsey Brleher ■ Solomon Belcher

— (Charles Hayden — — Alpheus Johnson

— Idiubod Mncombcr ^— Rrzer Keiih

Howard Lathrop

A frit* nd to missions

From the Rev. Baitcroft Fowler of

Windsor, (Ver.)

Fi-oiu the Female <'harttaUe Soci- ety ill the ea«»t paiish of Wind- sor, by the Rev. B. Fowler 90 Q% 10. Fi-om ^e^eral societies and In- dividuals, br Mr. Henry HudsoQ, of Hartfoi*cl, viz.

From the Foreign Misskmai^

200 S0«

2 3 10 3 3 3 1 t 1 1 5 3 5 3 5 5—100 00

5 OQ

fTVi/jj vim "wan enclosed in the ollotv- ing lAiev:

««l)ec. 1813.

<*To the Editor of tlse Panoplkt.

\t has been ntj desire to aid the traiksla-

Carried forward, gl47 UO

lions of the Scrintures— have found it &• ficult to obtain tlie means. — ^The exhort»» tion Ho 'ay by on the fii*»t day of the week n.<i (>od liatli pfos])ered/ has lately come with forci: to my mind. Having 6een •- buiidantly prospered some weeks— was knl to inquire, whether 1 IukI rendered tm the Lord his poilion. As I doubted wlietk* er it was duty, nnder exi^ng cireum- stanecs, to add to my annual itqiendr-' which 1 enclosed last month — I wai think- ing whether some new plan miglit not be adopted, and tlie sum necessary saved. At this time I was absent from home, and had not oommunieated my thouglits on theaoK jr-ct: On my return j 1 found vended the tnith of that pas.sage, Ji pi'vdeni vife ja frrm t/te Lord — ^tbr my wife in my abaentoe lii.d cjntrived a plan, by which we ahaH save at leaf>t twenty dollars a ycar^— and ahhoiigii our tea and coffee are lem aweei than IkJore; yet wht-n I refltoi, that it ia lor his sake, who l)<;iiig rich, became poor, and was willing to tat barley bread for oar sakes, — I do not it^gret it.— FeeUug it mj duty to promote the faith 1 once destrof- c(I, and dcsirinv that C^od may be gkNri6^ in Hke — 1 (II close five dollars tor the tnma* lations, aud mt an to give more when | can, — A auBM.RiBn^'^

Itl«. Foreign Mt^Hon SocUtU^^MkrHmtitk BibU Boeiehf.

8 00

300

67 00

BioDght fimrard^ <Bl47 00 Soeietj in Glaiteubory, (CooO 813 08

From a female religioui

•odetj in the tame town From sundry ladies in do. From Tolland eonnty Aux- iliary Foreigu Mmiona- ty Soeietv - 100 00

From tiie Foreign Vfissiofp- ary Society in the west- ern district of Fairfield rounty, tiz. for transla- lations 68 00

for missions 83 00— S74 08

11. From the Female Foreign MisMonary Society .n Tyiiog- lum, by the Rev. Joseph War^ ren Dov - - - 19 00

14. From the Foreign MiasioQary Society of Sprin^eld and tlie neighboriii|; towns, by the Hou. George Bliss, Esq. Treasurer

15. From the Fore»n Mission Society of Boston and the Vicin- ity - 385 06

90. From the Refigioos ChariuUe Society in the county of Worces- ter, 1^ the Rev. Joseph Ivofie, the Treasurer . 118 7$

SI. From the Foreign Mission Soeietv of Brunswick and Tops- ham, hv the Hon. Jacob Abbot, Esq. the Treauirer From Deacon Bradley, of Stock- hh^, by the Rev. Ephraim G.

JPron the Fordgu xVf ission Society of Middletown, (Con.) by Mr. Samuel Gill, the Treasurer 150 00

SS. From Mr. Robert Porter, of Polteney,^teuben county,(N.Y.) 10 40

85. From Mr. Solomon Goodell, of Jamaica, (Ver.) to aid the translations of the Scriptures, by the Rev. Dr. Lyman - 465 00

From the Foreign IVIission Society in Ware, br the same liands 27 00

87. From the family of John Ba- chop, Esq. of Bamet, (Ver.) to aid the translations, hj tne Rev. Leonard Worcester 800 00

34 00

10 00

jjl,84l 83

roBUoir Miaaioir sooisriBa.

The Foreign AfUnon Sodety of Botton amd the Vicinity held its third annual meet- ing at the hall of the Massachusetts Bank, on Wednesday the 18th iniit. The i*ei»ort of the Treasurer, by which it appeared that gl,883 78 had been paid into the Treamry of the American Board of Com- miasianers for Foreign Missions by this

S#dtty, during the year oast, was eihibit- edas aertifted hy the Aumtor, and was a^ eepted. That part of the above sum, which was apinropriated by the donors to aid the translations, had been remitted to India for that purpose. I'he following

gentlemen were re-elected offieers of thtt ociety for the ensuing year. His Honor William Phillips, Esq. Fret, Saxckl SAUSBumT, Esq. Vice Fret. The Rev. Joihua HirirriifeTov, Sec, Jerkmiah Evabts, Esq. TWae. BEKJAjriir Gmuura, Esq. jitiiUt,

In the evening of the same day, the an- nual sermon was delivered betbi'O the So- ciet>' bjrthe Rev. William Gaiui.vuuea, of Aewtown from James v, 80. Let htm ktiow, that he tohich conv^teth a tinner Jrtnn the error of his mur, shall save a eou/from Heath, and shaU hide a inulti' tufle of sins: Atler the sermon, whidi was pertinent and 'interesting, and ot' which a copy was requettted tor the press, a con- tribution was made to the funds of the Society.

The Merrimac Branch of the Foreign J^snotmru Society held its annual meet- ing at Newouryport, on Mpnday the 10th inst. The Treasurer being absent, no re^ port was made of the stale of the I'unds. The following gentlemen were re-eiecied officers of the Society for the ensuing year: •viz.

Thomas M. Claek, Eisq. Fres.

Juii5 Piunsox, Esq. V. Frea.

Mr. Samuel Tsxhkt, Sec.

Mr. RicHABo Babtlkt, ireat.

Rev. Dabikl Daxa, And.

The Foreitrn MUeion Society ofBrune-, vrick and 'rbpsham held its aiuiual meet^ ing in the present month, when the follnw- ing gentlemen were chosen otficen for tlie ensuing year; viz.

The Rev. 'WiNTUBOP Bailbt, Free,

Jou> Psbbt, Esq. Sec.

Hon. Jacob Abbot, Esq. Threat.

David Stan wood, Esq. Collector.

N. B. The Secretary of encli Foreign Mission Soeietv is respecUuU^ requested to forward to the Editor of tho FanopUst an account of the last annual meeting of the Society, with the names of the officers then chosen, if MUch account has not al- ready appe^tfed in the Panoplist.

MEBBIMACR BIBLX SOCIETT.

TitR Managers of the Merrimack Bible Society in conformity to the 8th Article of the constitution, submit to the members the following report Df their doings tha past year.

46

• Charitable Aaoeiation.

Jav.

Th;>j have in ihe eoorse of the year dis- tributed ninety-Dine Bibles and twenty Teatamenu.

1 lie pemtanent fund of the Soeiely ii One Thousand DoUars.

The balance now in the hands of the Treasurer, due to tlie Society is 2^81 81 cts.

By the fbregtting statement it appears, that there has l^n an increased aodvity in the distribution of Bibles; and from thb drcurostanee oonclnsive evidence minr be derived in fitvor (^ the growing usetumess and inportaiioe of t)ie institution. The poor are pittnitonsly snpplied with the bread of life; others, who are able to fur- nish themselves are reminded by the zeal of Bible Societies of the duty of possessing the sacred volume, and a genei'al disiiOM- lion to read and examine Uie Scriptures, which are able to make us wiMs unto sal- ^-ation, may be reasonably presumed to be the l^py consequence. Bible Socie- ties have already been the happy instini- ments of diffusing incalculable benefits to a large portion of the human race; and the undeniable evidence of their ntility has oneoumgcd the formation of a large num- ber in various parts of the world. But it is found by experience, that however nu- nMiroua tne institutions and liberal the mtans furnished by them, they are far fWim being coumetent to the objects, yet to be accoinplislie<l. The boundaries of this new field of lK*nevolence expand as the laborers advance. The unity of desi|[n exhilMted b> the various Bible Slocietii^ in the United States not only promises a rich harvcbt of the (!^hristian gi'aces, love and eliarity, but their mutual correspond en cc gives rise to many useful prmt^cts; and a union of their counsels and efforts must pve gi-eater vigor and eflect to tlieir de- ligns. In this view, a recent communica- tion from the Bible Society at New York has been received with pleasure by the Managers of this Society, announcing their detennination to print and dissemi- nnte the Bible in French among the in- hsibitunts of Louisantn; where they have discovered a deplorable soamty of Bibles and a disposition to receive them with gratitude. The work is in considerable fijTwanlncss; and the unxN'i'tukin^ being exiiensive, the oitl of similar institutions in this •ountr% has been solicited. The Managera of tViis Society have tlierefore voted to remit One Hundred Dollars to the \ew York Hihle Societv to aid in this htuduUe object. The Managers I'ejioi't with >atiHf»cti:>n the {;f*nerous donationsof individuiils to this institution. One Hun- ilre<l BiUeH huve been presented bv Mr. Vrably Tf.NXEY, and the sum of One Hundred pollars has U'en i-eceived fi-om

•person whose name is not knovn to tliii board; — ^These pious donations will oom- mand the gratitude and respect of eaek member of the institution.

The Managers voted also to ftimisk One llundri'd Bibles towards rcpladof certain others which had been oaptured by an American privateer from a Britlsk vessel and had been destined for diatriba* tion among the destitute; but they were happy to learn that a sum of mon^y, more than sufficient, had already been raiaed \% Boston for the same j^urjiose.

The statement exhibited this day by the Mani^rs of their doines must estanisk the importance of the Merrimack Bible Society and excite in the members a nesr and lively interest in its welfare. A call for the Bible is one which a believer in ita truth must find it difficult to reaist; and even amid our present distress, an appro* priation of a small portion of that substanee which will soon perish, in lavor of ao laudable an object, must appear reaaooft* ble, especially in view of the hope, that % mar be regarded, as a "treasitre in heav- en,^* But an immediate exeitenient must be derived to all from the reflection, that when drculating the Bible, they are (yf> fuang the best antidote to those erimea, which bring down the judgments of ait angry God; that they are taking the read- iest means of removing present ealamitiea^ that they are promoting the cause of aiT« ilization, literature and humanity* and subserving the temporal and etemiil inteiv estsofnkan. The Managers cannot eon* dude therefui'e without earnestly recom* mending to the members renewed exer- tions in Uie great cause, in whieh thef have so laudably, and hitherto ao tuceeai- fnlly embarked, f AiVnerfJ

S A Mv ' L SpRnre, Prendnti,

JSilevfbwtfport, January 5, 1814.

chahitable associattoit.

Tbs citizens of the town of Newbarypoft will recollect tlie call which was made Ott their charitable feelings the early part of last winter, by an association, tonncd fbr the puiimse cyf affording temporary aariitF ance to noor and distressed uuniliea in tfaia town and vicinity. The following UTtwit from the rejiort of the Tmateei «f tkflt association, and the subioined oommamip tion from the Female BenevkntS^eiglg^ now published by request of the will give the benevolent donots a view of the manner in whidi their has been disposed of.

Extract from a Report cf the TnfMl of the Charitable Soaiety, Mareh ll» 1m|

11)4.

Jc9U9 Walking •» the ^a.

47

'Tltt whole amount of

wliOTripikNi, gill9 dl

Oi'vluch the 'PreMiirer

bM reeeived SS940 31

Beeeived bj sMitUut

Irwwurert, in provi*-

kna, 163 00

VneoUaeted 17 00^1119 31

The bxird of Tmiteet b«gan tlieir tiip- plittou tlie l8t of Jaiiumy, (1813) and nave continued them weekly tu the pres- ent tiaits; during: M'hlch peri<>d applicHiioni bate been received Trom ttvo hundred and /fijf-nine families. Of that number fiftff mns beeD I'eferred to other sources for •appliea, or havs been diuud on inquiry not to be ao necessitous as tu re4uire the ■UentHNi of the Uoard. Tvo hundred tmd nine fiuniliea have received partial or eoflutant supplies from the Board. The arerage number supplied weckiv by Ihe Doaird* has been about oiie hundred mnd Jijtif famitiei ooutaiuing from 4 to SOD persons.

The aufos appropriated for ten weeks aoionnt w Five hundred and Jifty-cigtu dbfffirt and ttventy-ieven cents, exclusive of vood; of which about fifteen cords hare been distributed.

The Boaitl have also entrusteil to the Pemak Benevolent Societtf for distnbu- tion» in cash and goods, ^1^3 31 ets. and have also plaeed under their direction an addibonal sum of j^lOO for the purchase ofmateriHlfe for spinning, htv. which lust ■um b to be aeounted foi* hereaflur to this Board. So fiir as the Board have been ■ader advantages to judge, the ainrnint en- trusted to that Society has been ver}' judi- acouklj appropriated.

Thire remains now in Uie Treasury one hundred and sixtv -three dolUrs and f^rt} -seven ccnt»; an J there also remains oncoUected £17, wliich sum it is expected ▼111 enable the Board to continue their ■upplii-s ttntil the fiim week in .\pril; at vhich time, unless further subscriptions are received, the supplies must ocase.''

After the date of the above ittiKM-t the balance then on hand was distributed in the same maimer as therein stated. And within a few days past the Society have received the 'ffjllowing oommunicalion from the Female 'Benevolent Society, pving an account of the monies eiktrusted loldheircare:—

^n the Seeretarv ^fthe Charitable Jit" aeeiatUtu firmed in JVewburjfP§rt fit Uie relief rf the po&r^

Waisr the liberal donlinM ggrfaty wtra p«i iilo Ibi

Ladies of the Benevolent Society, it waa requested that at the end of the year some account of the manner in which it^ wa^ distributed ntight be given you. We therefore take the liberty to present la you the following statement.

The first hundf^d dollar* which was given us in dothutc, was d^tnbuted ac- cording to the best juilgment of our com- mittee in those families which appeared to them the moat destitute. Tne ^/i/ry dollara, given in money, '*to be disposea of at the discretion of the Society,'' waa appropriated in the following manner^ viz. Ten doUara to each of our committee, (four in number;) with which they chith- ecl poor diililren to go to school and tu meeting. The remaining ten doUurt was retMiiieJ for the use of the sicJe.

The hundred dollara given for stock, has alio been improved in the following; manner: One huidi'ed and *ixtu-one

3>inuers have been eniplo}'ed, and Jour iottaand four hundred and eufhteen skeins of yarn Iiave been spu!i. Tmenty" eijfht weavers have woven orte thonaand eirht hundred and aixty-a^ven yvnU, of doth. Sixteen iinir of fiose have lieen knit. Om hundivd and fifty garmenu and.^v<f pair of cottai cai-Un have been distributed in pay for spinning and weav- ing. The stock now on band u' valued at one hundred dolLira.

As it may not be unpleasant to you to know what the Society have done oth- erwise, we take tlie liberty of adding the following schedule.

(To be continued. J

POETRY.

For the Panoplist.

JESUS WALKIVO OT THB SEA. XATT. xlv,

24, kc.

W.1TLOV onlife, my gliding bark Sei-enely cut its sportive wav:

No blast to rough, no cloud to dark. The waveless calm, the cheerful dav.

Yet I forgot the Mighty One,

That walked tlie flood in form nn^en; Whose hand rdlud bare the douding sun;

And spread Uie waving sea serene.

II.

the skyi — the tempest

in awful row: 'hn^od

49

To Corretfiimdenu».*,To SudMcriben.

III.

My war was down the gtpin^ tide:-- Fouu<li>ring upon the yawning brink —

Whehning in endless night — 1 cried; ^ave. Lord, — or 1 forever sink!'

Then on the hounding waves I saw*- O Uess'd relief!— the Son of God

His mandate stiTick the winds with awe; The waves bowed prostrate at his nod.

•Weakling of (kith, why didst thou feai-?'—

He saif— *or doubt my poweilul m'tn^

Didst thou not fee tliy Savior near?

Can I not guide thee safe from harm?' • • • • «

IV. I never saw his watery path; —

Nor thought I that he coidd attend;— Till mercy, in the guise of wrath,

Taught me to own my Heavenly Friend.

Lord, I in thee henceforth confide!

My bark, no more by tempests driven. Safe wilt thou through tlie ucean guide.

And waft me to the shore of UeHven!'

O. F.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

♦iX9>f*ASoc '• requested to foi*ward the con- stitution and laws of the charity libraries, to which he refers, tliat they may be pub- lished either in whole, or in an abridged atate. He is informed thnt ten seU of the three first volumes of the Minor Panoplist, in boards, will be delivered to his order^ (or the use of these libraries, on application to the Publisher of the Pauoplist.

Several comrotinicfttions are on liand, whi<di will be mentioned more particular- ly hereader.

'After consulting with several friends of the Panoplist, as to' the utility and propri- ctvof tiie measure, we have concluded to oner the fi>lloHing premiums for originid •ommunieations to be inserted in the cur- rent volume of our work: \iz.

One of Twenty Five Dollar 8 to the writer of the best composition in pi'ose; the nde (^judging to be the teiuLiui/ of the piece to do ^rood:

One of Fifteen Dollars to the writer of the beat piece of poetry: aud

One of Ten Dolhira to the writer of the second best oompositioii in pi-oee.

The persons, according to whose decis- ion the prenAunh sluill be dihtributcd, will he entitled to respect a?Mi dcrcreuee.

All Miginal oominunicationR contained in the ouiTent vnlume, with the exnrntion of thoae written by the editor and the judges, win he taken into consideration.

without any request or intimation- on the part of the writera. There is no m^oesai- tv, that the writers should be known tt> tiie editor. It is always convenient^ how- ever, that original communications should have signatures.

It is to be remembered, that Uie preeed- ing offer is not to be construed as Uonitio^ or in any way affecting, the power of the editor over communications.

Our correspondents, who may be influ- enced by the preceding offer, wfll bear in mind, that the sooner communications are ukade, the great<.>r uill be tlie probability that ihoy wiH be hisertcd in the current volume, as there may be a presfe of matter toward the close of the year.

Whether a similar offer will be made another year must dei»end upon the re- sult of tlie present offer.

• Though the value of the premiums may appear small, yet it is as great as that of some of the premiums oflPered fo^ orig- inal eomiKwitioos, in the English Univer- sities.

TO SUBSCRIBERS.

Oi^R distant subscribers ought to be in-^ formed, that the iiregularity and delay,- experiencedg^n the receipt of Q«ur num- bers by mail, ait" not chaT*geabletouai bat must be laid to the crowded state of the mails. In several instances, the PanupBit has remained for weeks in the Boston Y"^^ office. Hence it has happened, that'loisr- nunibcrs nre sometimes received by OBOt' subscribers before earlier ones. The poat- m aster »t Boston has declared his dia^oii' tion to forward our work, with as little delay as possible, not only for tlie sake oi^ obliging us and our Rubscribcrs, hot for hit own cnnvenicnce. He conceives bimsdf obliged by law, however, to send all th» newapapers, thougli pamphlets should be delayed. Very pr bubly delays, similar tor the One ('escribed at Boston, have oeenr- red in other offices on the roail. At we have fully state<I the com])laints of our mIh scribers to the iMMimaster, and as we have now returned to wir fonmer praetiee of

firinting but one number in a month, we lope that thei-e will be less occasion for complaint ht'i-eafter.

Suhaci'ibers are informed, that a few deficient numbei*s can Ix* supplied at pres- ent, for t^»enty cents each; and, whenever deficieitces shall probably have arisen fit)ni luisti-ke or ncgiigiMire on our pait* they shall be suppht d whhout expense. The fs4cl is, however, that we incur a dra- advuntMge by sniipl}ii;g deficient immbeis at the prici' alKJ^e htaLtd, as bixikeii vol- umes may be left ou baud iu couacuuence ofit.

'Oiit

PANG PLIST,

AVD

MISSIONARY MAGAZINE.

No. 2.

FEBRUARY, 1814.

Vol. X.

RELIGIOUS COMMUNICATIONS.

TorthePaoopUtt.

HVllSkS, IK A 8FimiTV/lL SBN8B| BLIND AMD DBAF.

Mear^ ye deaf; and iook\ ye biindy thai ye may 9€e,.,.l9, xtU^ 18.

If we consider these words as prophetic, they have reference to the period of our Savior^s ad- vent, when the Gentiles should he brought into the holy family of God^ and, thus received, they are an earnest expostulation with the Gentiles to forsake their idolatry, and receive the illu- miBation of the Gospel. The prophet, however, addressed himself immediately to the Jews, and designed to reprove them for their unbelief and rejection of the truth. His language is strong and impressive; and, as the persons addressed were fa- vored with the natural organs of sight and hearing, no candid mind will be liable to mistake his mea^g. He here exhibits, with affecting emphasis, the moral state of all men, while un- renewed by the Holy Ghost; and, by his example, he furnishes us with divine authority, as to the manner in which the impenitent should be addressed. At this ame I would direct the reader's Vol, X.

attention to the solemn truthi that

Imfienitent sinneri are^ in a 9fUrttual gense^ deaf and blind,

A person, who has always been destitute of the bodily or- igan of sight, is unable to form just conceptions of external ob- jects. The sun may shine in the glory of a cloudless sky, while to him all is total dark- ness. DescMbe to him, in tho most lively colors, the beauties of treation, and you fail to give him any suitable ideas of these ob- jects, because he never «aw them.

Moral and religious truths are as distinct objects of vision to the mind, as the earth, the sun, or any mateiual substance) is to the eye. The holy charac- ter of God, for instance, may be discerned with perfect clearness; and it abideth iorever, an object of delightful contemplation. The same holds true of the character of Christ as Mediator, The loveliness of truth is, like- wise, an object of distinct vision; and may be seen and contem- plated with as much fixedness and certainty, as any material object.

Holiness and sin, in their true character, ate other objects of distinct vision. So also is the divme law. Its beauty and

7

99

i^nertf in a S^rituai Semey Blind and Dtaf.

Tmm.

excellence are viewed with vn- vitterBhle delight, by all who love Its precepts, and are properly awed by its sanctions But the koly character of God,— >the complete, perfect character •f Cbrist«— the loveliness of truths— 4ioliness and siny— with the glories of the divine law, are l^bjectsy which the natural eye aeeth not. These are spiritual objects, and can be discerned on- fyb|r a spiritual vision. This spiritual vision, exists in those only, who have a temper and disposition harmonizing with the divine law, and pleased with I9i6 perfect character of Jeho- ▼ah* When this temper and disposition are possessed, the iAingt q/" tAe Sfiirrt qf God are received; the person enjoys spiritual light; and tAe secrei qf the Lord it vfith him.

I make these observations, lor the purpose of leading you, njr readers, to just views, on this important and essential point in theology, and of making a pro^r distinction between that discemmentt which arises from a well-informed under- standing, and the discernment, which accompanies a temper and disposition^ harmonizing with the divine law. The latter is a spiritual discernment, and com- prises all that is intended by spiritual knowledge.

Unless, my readers, your views are correct on this point, you are novices in religion, and are not prepared to reap the best advantage from attention to the subject now under considera- tion. The persons addressed by the prophet are blind, but their blindness is of a peculiar charac- ters—the destitution of spiritual discernments They know not

the true character of God. They discern not the lovelines* of truth. And, in addition to this dreadful and universal mat* ady, they are </^a/:— deaf to the calls of hope}— deaf to the invi- tations of mercy; — deaf to the threatening^ of the divine law;— deaf to the intreattes of com- passion.

Can it be necessary to go into an elaborate proof, that this ra the deplorable and affecting con- dition of all the impenitent! One might well suppose tbaC the evidence, which is constant- ly exhibited, of this fact, would banish every doubt from the mind, and fasten an uoshaken conviction upon it.

Had the sinner ju9t views of the divine law, could he feel in* different towards it, and know* ingly transgress it^ Did he dis- cern the glory of the divin« character; could he be silent, un- grateful, and rebellious? But in his present state he finds fault with the divine dispensations; contends with God as partial and unjust; gives the reins to his selfish appetites, and habitually disobeys. Nor does he perceive the beauty of holiness, or the nature of sin. The former nev- er excites his desires; the latter never excites his disgust^ in it- self considered. Its delusive objects he pursues, with all the intenseness of an eager, insati- ate appetite: and this too, when assured by God himself that the end of thene thing* U death Nor does he perceive the loveliness of troth, and therefore rejects it. His dislike will be great, in proportion to the cleat ness and force with which the truths of the Gospel are exhibited. Hence sinners often denounce} as fidse

f WW-

9hin§ff in a SfdriiMiai Smn^BUndand Dtt^f.

1^

«id uniDtelligible, tome of the plaiDy essential truths of the fii- tlei those precious truths, which delight and support the humble believer Thejr may professed* If receive the Gospel as a sys* tem of truths, that are correct andobligatorjr; but the system, in their hands, becomes so gdi*bled, that it loses its divine form, and loveliest features. The habitual ^bregard of these truths, as manifested in their lives, proves them to be insensible to the ex« cellencc of revelation. How uniformly do they neglect to study the Scriptures But why neglect them? All, who discern tfae.excellency of the doctrines^ which the Sacred Volume con- tains, delight to examine the word of God; and they dwellf with joyful particularity, upon its sublimci ennobling, consoling Ascoveries.

How palpably absurd would it be toimagine,that the person, who beholds and relishes the beauties and sublimities of the material creation, should yet never con- template them, and never speak of them. Such a course could be pursued by him only, who was bom bliudj or who, with the loss of his eyes, had also lost all recollection of what he once be- held. Nor can any one ruppn- ally doubt, that all are in total spiritual darkness,who do not feel a peculiar interest in the Qospel, delight its lovf ly truths, and glo- ry in its institutions. The lan- guage ofjhcis nuiftt be the Ian- g-uage of coBviciion. And what the sinner's habitual jCQoauct de- clares to be true respecting himself, it is madness to deny.

Equally striking and affecting b the evidence, that the spirit- miif mind are, likewise, spiritM-

ally deaf. God calls them to the belief and practice of the truth;— 4ie invites Uiem in the most endearing and moving strains^*— he sets before themy and proffers as their portion, all the happiness of which they are susceptible; but they remain un* moved, and will not obey He admoniahes them, reproves them, and threatens them, with all the terrors of Omnipotence in anger, but they still remain lui* moved, and refuse to obey. le his Providence, by frowns and smiles, he solemnly enterces the ca^s, intructions, and invitations of his word; but they regard Him not. Why? If all this does not move them, what can effect the object? Ah! they are de({f. They have not heard. Their eart have they ctowdm

The language of Scripture is explicit on this subject. The passage at the head of this pa- per is full and plain. Heary ye deaf; and lookj ye kUnd^ that ye may te. The same truth is staled in the 16th verse of the same chapter. / will bring ths blind by a way that they knew notm Also verse 6, 7, / the Lard have called thee to often the blind eye*. The passage from the. prophet is quoted by St. Luke. rhe a/Urit of the Lord U ufiom nUf because he hath anointed me to fir each the Gotfiei to the fioor^ and recovering ^f sight to the blind* Our Savior, indeed, restore ed sight to^those who were natur^ ally b^nd. «But this constituued e very small portion of tb? great ' work, which he came to accom^ plish. He gave .himself a sacri- fice, that such as arc 9fiirittMiHif blind might receive their sight and be aaved. 1 Cor. ii, 14. Tl^ UMtural mcu^ r^ccivc^ n^t

St

Oh ^ftmiffy Epening.

th^ tMngM of the Sfdrii pf Godi fw they are foolhhneM* tftnto himi neither can he know them^ he* e^tue ihty are •f^ritually dU^cem* ^ Aft this biiodnesB is seated ID an evil heart, ail those passa- ges, which declare the heari to ^ be destitute bi holines8,prove the existence of the malady in ques* tion. We are taught it by the apostle^ when he says; Th^ car' nai mind is enmity against God. Tsu hath he gmckenedy who were dead in tree/iaseee and iine.

This blindness to moral beau- tVy and deafness to the invita- uoDS of mercy, are universal. No son or daughter of Adam is naturally exempt from them. Unless renewed by the Spirit of God, we are now, and ever, have been, acting under their in- fluence; and our conduct in a moral view, is fitly represented by the prophet. Is. lix, 10. a^e grope for the wall like the blind% and we grofie ae ij we had no eyee; we stumble at noon day as in the night. Hence trifles have been magnified in our esti- mation into objects of great mo- ment; and things of infinite yal- tie have been considered as dross.

We gain little by attending to this subject, unless we realize the truth, in relation