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pride, and self-will, that is so apt to mix unperceived with our best actions, seldom have had a fairer scope, and seldom shewed themselves more strongly than on this occasion. This blind attachment to form was nobly contrasted with the simple and striking devotion of a Black servant of a Catholic Frenchman, who offered himself for communion, was carefully examined, and accepted. He would not be dissuaded from making his small offering of money with the rest. God,' said he, has put it into my heart to do something for his cause, and I hope you will not refuse my offering.' The difficulties in the end were happily adjusted, and we sat down in

peace.

"Here would be, perhaps, the place to examine the manner, spirit, and success of my ministry for years in Missouri; but besides that we have already extensively communicated upon these subjects with each other, you know that my present plan is not to go into this kind of detail. A missionary in such a region,—with a family, feeble in health, and constituted in body and mind as I am,-might expect, with the best and most earnest intentions, to encounter numberless difficulties. The region was just beginning to be peopled. All the elements of religious combination were in a state of chaos. People are apt every where to regard the form, more than the substance of religion. In new countries, composed of emigrants from different regions, forms are almost the only thing remembered and retained. A man of earnestness of mind, and of strong feelings, is liable to be depressed and enfeebled in the contemplation of such a field, in which he sees the dark side of things, in the actual exemplification of what passes for religion. It is the more discouraging from its having at first a very different aspect. Your first reception is apparently cordial in the highest degree. Mutual congratulations that you are come, are interchanged, and all promises attention and harmony. As you inspect things more intimately, and as the innate principles of disunion begin to come in play, this fair prospect becomes gradually overcast. The worshippers split on trifling differences. The more trifling, the more pertinaciously they cling to them, and where but a few Sabbaths before all seemed union, you soon find that all is discord. Who shall be the preacher? what modes of worship shall be adopted? and especially where shall the house, or place of worship, be located? these are themes, too often, of bitter and disorganizing dispute.

"In these new regions, too, of the most absolute independence, you see all the wanderings of human thought, every shade of faith, every degree of the most persevering attachment to preconceived opi

nions. You see, too, all degrees of pretension in religion, followed by unhappy manifestations of the hollowness of such pretension. You meet, it is true, with more cheering circumstances, and we are sometimes able to see that which we strongly wish to see. But the missionary must prepare himself to encounter many difficulties of the sort which I have enumerated.

"The people think in general, that attendance upon preaching sufficiently compensates the minister. No minister of any Protestant denomination, to my knowledge, has ever received a sufficient living two years in succession. Take these circumstances together, and you will then have some idea of a minister's prospect of worldly success and comfort in these regions. But have they not been useful? Have they not had success? I would hope both. The precursors in new regions have generally encountered such trials as are recited above; but, I would hope, not in vain. They have drawn sighs, that have only reached the ear of Heaven. Not one good word or work has been without its impression. The seed, which seems to have been scattered in a sterile desert, may spring up; but, perhaps, not till a future and more favoured period. Many faithful, laborious, and patient men, who have been associated with me in these labours, have fallen in these wildernesses, after having encountered all these difficulties. What is worse, they have fallen almost unnoticed, and their labours and sufferings unrecorded for they toiled and died, it may be eight hundred leagues away, in an American desert; and with such a decease there are connected no feelings of romance.

"If my plan admitted such a narrative, I would attempt to rescue from oblivion, the names of three young men whom I knew intimately, and who died in the discharge of missionary duties in these regions. I heard of the death of others, that I knew not. But, freed from earth and its toils, their bones moulder in these remote prairies, as peacefully as though their fall had been recorded, their names and deeds eulogized. They were exemplary and devoted men, and their names are no doubt recorded on more durable tablets than the frail memorials of men.

"Let not the inference be drawn, that I would describe the men of these coun, tries as peculiarly bad, or indisposed to religion. Truth and gratitude equally forbid, that any thing should fall from my pen, intending to convey the conclusion that this is in any respect a degenerate race of men. The evils do not belong to them in particular, but to human nature placed in such circumstances."

VIEW OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

THERE have been no domestic occurrences during the month which require particular record. Mr. O'Connell has been elected for Clare without opposition; but however successful he may be as a popular orator, we have no fear for any great mischief he will be able to effect within the walls of parliament. -Ireland, we lament to say, is far from being in a tranquil state; but we still venture to hope that the late excitements are but a temporary ebullition ; and that, if wise and truly Christian measures are followed up for the benefit, temporal and spiritual, of that long unsettled portion of our beloved country, a brighter day will dawn upon it than has ever yet been witnessed in its annals of confusion and blood. The legislature and government, as well as British Christians in general, have much to do, and much to undo, for Ireland; and we trust another session of parliament will not pass over without an anxious attention to this important subject. The condition of the working classes in our own island also requires serious consideration; for though we fear that no legislative measures can wholly prevent those occasional fluctuations and depressions under which so many of the manufacturing, and other classes of our dense population, are at present suffering; yet much may be done, both morally and politically, by wise and timely measures, to make such transitions more equable; and above all, to render the great bulk of the population better prepared to meet and bear up against temporary vicissitudes.

In France a most sudden and complete change has taken place in the administration, which is placed under the premiership of prince Polignac, and consists of what are currently termed the ultra party. The public feeling is strongly against this new ministry; and the more so in contrast with the late cabinet which, by its opposition to Jesuitism, its encouragement to education, and its general course of liberal policy, had largely obtained the suffrages of the country. It is thought that a principal cause of the change is, the state of affairs in the East of Europe, and that the new government may be found

greatly to dilute, if not to reverse, the proceedings of their predecessors in favour of the rising liberties of Greece, and to espouse the cause of Turkey against Russia.

The state of affairs to which we have just alluded, has become increasingly perplexed and anomalous. In the first place, Russia is pressing on with her victorious armies towards Constantinople, having already passed the Balkan,and seeming likely to meet with no effectual check to her triumphant progress. Turkey, in the mean time, has continued resolute in yielding neither to the claims of Greece, nor the pretensions of Russia. England, with its present administration, is affording a feeble and almost discouraging assistance to Greece, in carrying into effect the resolutions of a former cabinet; while France, by its late change of ministers, is conjectured to have veered round to the supposed views of our own premier, which with those of a very large class of our countrymen are considered in favour of Turkey, as opposed to Russia; and not very unfavourable as opposed to Greece. The Greeks, in the mean time, refuse to accede to the propositions of their allied friends by dissolving their brotherhood, suspending hostilities, giving up posts in their possession beyond the line of diplomatic demarcation, and separating the Peloponnesus, and the neighbouring islands from continental Greece. With respect to the questions between Russia and Turkey, we cannot see that they affect this country in any such manner as would justify our plunging, as many among us are urging, into a sanguinary warfare to preserve an alleged balance of power, and to succour Turkey, which has become highly popular in many quarters as one of our oldest, best, and most valuable allies." But with respect to Greece, we have a very strong opinion both of the duty and the expediency of maintaining with honest zeal her cause; not by arms, for that is not necessary, but in such a way as fully to carry into effect the spirit of the resolutions agreed upon in her favour. No long time can elapse before we become acquainted with the result of the pending negociations on the subject.

66

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

V. J.;

G. B.; Y. M.; ABIGAIL; H. S. C. H.; PHILANTHROPOS ;
Y. Z.; E. M.;
X. X.; Y. M.; HARRIET; AN OBSERVER; A FRIEND TO THE WRETCHED; and
C. L.; have been received, and are under consideration.

SUPPLEMENT TO RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. We have only space in the present Number to remark, in reference to the appended papers, that the monthly Extracts of the

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY

contain much interesting miscellaneous intelligence; and that the Reporter of the ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY

contains a most valuable official paper on the Cultivation of Sugar by Free-labour, with many important facts relative to the state of Slavery in the Mauritius.

We postpone the Quarterly Extracts of the Reformation Society to our next Number, not having space at present to notice their contents.

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ESSAY ON SUPERSTITION.

TH

(Continued from p. 466.)

HE present seems to be a proper opportunity for noticing the observations of a valuable, though mistaken, writer in "The Record." This individual fears that sceptical notions may be fostered by referring dreams, apparitions, and the like, to a state of morbid irritation of the brain, the material organ of the mind. "Men of this character," he remarks," turn away their eyes from the operation of God's hand in nature and providence; and therefore it is to be expected, that they should close them fast against any instance, even remotely tending to establish his existence, and his controul over the affairs of mankind." Again, adds the writer, "the position is, that spiritual beings exist; generally invisible to mortal eye. The refutation, that their existence is disproved, from the impressions of their appearance only being received during the prevalence of a diseased state of the nervous system. This assertion, however, the accuracy of it being assumed, proves nothing. To see, or hear, or taste, or smell, or touch, the corresponding organs must be in a state of health. If they are disordered, the sensations are lost. They are frequently lost for a time, and again they resume their powers. But there may be other disorders or alterations in one or more of the CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 333.

senses, not of common occurrence, which do not, as in the usual cases of disease, strike out existing objects from the cognisance of the mind; but which present to its view existing objects, which, in the healthy or usual state of the organs, are not perceived."

Now I notice first, that the physiological principle upon which this argumentation proceeds, is not founded in truth, or supported by facts. It is indeed true, that there are organs adapted to receive the impressions of external nature, and to convey them to the brain; where, if that central organ of sensation be attentive to the impression, a distinct and adequate idea is formed of the object of sight, or touch, or hearing, or taste, or smell. But it is not true, that if these organs are disordered the sensations are lost. It is not just, or scientific, to forget here, the important agency of the intellectual brain, in order to the completeness of an impression: nor is it correct to endow the organs of sense with a primary and full power; whereas their office is subordinate: they act as mere sentinels; and the power of receiving, or combining, considering, and weighing the results, rests entirely with the brain, and upon its attention to the notices it receives. Thus, therefore, mere impression is at all times unsatisfactory, till it has been referred to, and judged of, and estimated by the presiding mind; 3 Y

moderate, or high excitement; or in the opposite condition of failing energy, oppressive languor, or absolute collapse: so that, perhaps, there can scarcely be said to have been one day in which the organ of mind has been free from morbid action; and, therefore, not one day in which its manifestations have been perfectly correct. Now the state of these manifestations may always be predicated from the more or less morbid brainular action, varying from the highest degree of bustling activity, and excessive interest, to the most perfect indisposition for action, and want of interest in every object. In the former case, there is the most unconquerable vigilance; in the latter, an equal tendency to sleep, which is rather courted than resisted, in order to escape from the oppressive tedium of existence. In the former there exists a high susceptibility to impression; in the latter, scarcely any possibility of receiving it. In both cases will be found perversion of sensorial influence. This patient will appear towards the close of our essay, as having seen apparitions ; thus once more leading us back to the cerebral origin of these supposed spiritual creations.

which determines its truth and value, according to its possessing or to its wanting certain attributes. But the sensations are not lost when these organs are disordered, at least, they are not so always, or even often. In fact, the loss of sensation must depend upon a temporary or permanently paralytic state of the sentient extremities of the nerves; a state of disease which is much more commonly referable to a condition of irritation of the brain, than of the local organ of sense. And even supposing the disorder to be confined to the proper organ of sense, it will by no means follow that the sensation is lost; for the organ is subjected to many varieties of irritation; and it will much more frequently happen, that its function shall be unduly excited, or that it shall be perverted, even to such an extent as to give rise to unreal impressions by its excessive activity, than that the sensation should be lost. Moreover, this hyper-activity and perversion do very generally result from primary irritation of the brain, to which these impressions are communicated; and the result is, that sensorial illusions are not infrequent under such circumstances. Now it has been stated, that apparitions are intellectual illusions, proceeding from an irritated intellectual organ: : consequently, the analogy of sensorial disease is strongly in favour of the position assumed in the present essay. That these sensations may be lost and restored, perverted and adjusted, excited and depressed, and this in frequent alternation, is borne out by every-day facts: and nothing is more common than the fluctuations between melancholy and excitation. The history of A. B. will illustrate this position. For many years his life has been passed in these succeeding changes, not in rapid and sudden transition, but insensibly gliding into the one or the other form, exactly in proportion as the brain has been in a state of slight,

Again: the existence of spiritual beings is not denied-very far from it; neither is it a question as to their functions: the real point in discussion is not this; but, Whether certain apparitions, which have often been referred to spiritual agency, may not be accounted for more truly on another principle.

It is allowed on all hands, that spiritual beings are not cognizable by the corporeal eye; their existence, therefore, cannot be demonstrated, and must be received as a matter of faith. Now on this view of the subject, we rest our belief: not, surely, on the treacherous foundation of mere human testimony, but on the sure word of God, which reveals to us the attributes and offices of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter and Sanctifier of the

people of God; and also speaks of good and evil spirits, the former sent forth to minister to the heirs of salvation, the latter busied in alienating the soul from God, and tempting it away, by the voice of its own lusts, from the paths of religion and holiness. But of the mode of their access to the mind, or of their agency upon it, nothing is revealed. Certain, however, it is, that so far as we know any thing of the functions of these spiritual existences, they differ in their essential character, and in every particular attribute from modern apparitions. And since the latter do not usually lead to any beneficial result, or indeed to any result at all, we believe them to differ in their nature from the commissioned or permitted messengers of God's holy will. Therefore, as some instances of these alleged supernatural appearances have been distinctly traced to certain phenomena of bodily agency, we hold it to be most logical, most consistent with sound reasoning, most agreeable to revelation, and most honourable to God, to ascribe other unknown, but analogous and extraordinary phenomena, to a similar cause; and for this plain reason, that it is unnecessary and unwise to call in the aid of supernatural power, when a peculiar morbid state of the body will abundantly explain, for the most part, this supposed spiritual agency. And we must not reject this explanation, because it may not solve all the difficulties of the subject. Is there scarcely any natural problem of which we can unravel all the intricacies of action and passion, and motive and influence? Further, if we cannot explain how the bud of the future year is perfected in the autumn of the present; how it is preserved, and in due time resumes its activity, expands its leaves, produces its flowers, and matures its fruits; is it surprising that we cannot develop all the laws of the finest and most complicated portion of the living

machinery-the brain? Let us not be infatuated, and led away by high-sounding prejudice; but let us dwell in adoring gratitude upon the goodness and power of that Supreme and Holy Being, who has thus wisely constructed, and thus essentially protected so delicate an organ from disease and injury, that its morbid associations, when they do occur, are looked upon with a vague and fearful interest, or an ignorant apprehension, which invests them with attributes they do not possess; and which induces many to call in the operation of spiritual influence, which they cannot explain at all, to account for a natural morbid state; which is in part explicable upon natural principles, but of which they cannot fathom all the peculiarities.

For

But again the writer above alluded to goes on to remark, that there may be other disorders or alterations" in one or more of the senses, not of common occurrence, which do not, as in the usual cases of disease, strike out existing objects from the cognizance of the mind; but which presents to its view existing objects, which, in the healthy or usual state of the organs, are not perceived." Now this argument assumes a point as settled, which might well be questioned; namely, the existence of apparitions as spiritual objects. although we have allowed, and do verily believe in, the existence of spiritual beings, yet we have carefully distinguished between these and the common alleged apparitions. But leaving this objection, let us ascertain the exact meaning of the writer before us, which appears to be this: That as in the common or healthy state of the senses, or of the brain upon which these depend, man is unable to perceive spiritual objects; so there may be some disordered or altered condition of that organ, or some changed mode of their function, which shall give them the capacity of perceiving that which, in their

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