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becoming his "helpers;" the desirableness of which Mr. C. Brydges has so well pointed out, in his last highly interesting work. I allow in part the objections made by Harriett's pious and judicious friend; but I think a parent's eye might discover and check the first appearance of conceit or irritability; and it appears to me more peculiarly the office of a female to visit the sick, and to read the Scriptures to them. With regard to collecting for the religious societies, or distributing tracts, I see objections. The individual may be called upon to plead the cause she espouses, to argue in its defence, to answer objections, all which necessarily call forth the talents and powers of a young woman in a manner unsuitable to the female character. St. Paul says, "I suffer not a woman to teach;" and he exhorts young women "to be discreet," and keepers at home."

A MOTHER.

CONTINENTAL TRAVELLERS.

Tothe Editorofthe Christian Observer.

UFON comparing my own experience with that of others, who, like myself, have made a tour on the continent, I am reduced to the unhappy conclusion, that in many instances one of the greatest inconveniences which can occur to an English traveller is to be thrown into the society of his own countrymen ; I mean a traveller, who, disclaiming all idea of placing himself above others in respect to religious attainments, still wishes to remember that by profession he is a Christian, and that he belongs to a country which, whether deservedly or not, has acquired on the continent the reputation of a religious country. Such a traveller must frequently be pained, when thrown by the continental modes of living into the company of his countrymen, to observe how

much they seem to disengage themselves from those restraints which public opinion and a sense of propriety impose upon them in their native land; how soon they identify themselves with the lax habits and manners of light-minded foreigners; how little there is in their conversation or deportment which marks them out as examples of that pure and undefiled religion which, as I have just said, is supposed by some at a distance to be practically influential on the great mass of our population. If institutions have been established and encouraged among us, for the distribution of the Scriptures and for the universal diffusion of religious knowledge, who can wonder that this fact, spoken of and commended in all Protestant churches, should have awakened an impression of the general piety and religious superiority of our country? If, however, such an impression has been produced, there are living examples enough not only to contradict and efface it, but to suggest a very opposite conclusion; and, without wishing to "set down aught in malice" or in a spirit of needless exaggeration, I must give it as the result of my own observation and, experience, confirmed by the judgment of impartial and judicious observers, that the specimen of religious feeling exhibited in the general habits and occupations of the English abroad, is little calculated to confirm any favourable sentiment which may have been created by peculiar circumstances, as to the advanced state of our country in the practice of real and genuine Christianity.

I have been led into this train of thought from the recent perusal of a publication, which, however interesting in its details, cannot be read, I think, without much painful sensation, I will not say by those who are anxious for the religious character of their native land, but, what is of infinitely higher importance, for the interests of the religion of our Divine Redeemer :

I allude to Mr. Auldjo's narrative of his ascent to the summit of Mont Blanc, in the summer of 1827. I will not pronounce dogmatically on the lawfulness of such exploits, though in my own weak judgment they involve in them the folly and presumption of an æronaut, multiplied by the number of guides, who are induced to engage in so perilous an enterprize: but what I principally feel it incumbent to remark in connexion with this narrative is, that from the first page to the last, there is not one expression, so far as I have been able to discover, which amounts even to a recognition of the hand of Divine Providence in delivering the hero of the tale from the appalling dangers to which he was repeatedly exposed. Six guides, we are informed, and two amateur adventurers, formed the retinue of Mr. Auldjo on this occasion. He had much difficulty in assembling these guides at the hour appointed for their departure. "Most of them had to part from their wives and relations when they did join us, it was with a cortège, some crying, some upbraiding me with tempting those who formed their only support to sacrifice themselves to my curiosity and pleasure. Many a bitter tear flowed, and more than one heart waxed heavy." I introduce this passage to shew that certain valuable lives were jeoparded in this undertaking, certain families exposed to the risk of losing their best earthly support, certain souls brought, as it were, to the very brink and precipice of eternity with strong human probabilities of being suddenly launched into that fearful and unfathomable abyss, and all, as we are told by the writer himself, for "so trivial an object" as the gratification of his own curiosity and pleasure. He did not profess," as he tells us, "to make his ascent for any scientific object;" he engages six men, in opposition to the earnest entreaties and remonstrances of their families, to accompany and direct him in a project which, in its most

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favourable results, could have no connexion with the glory of God or the real interests and happiness of man. It is a project of mere selfish and personal gratification: he makes the ascent, returns with his conductors in safety, receives the congratulations of the numerous visitors at Chamouni, takes his mineral bath, enjoys a good night's rest, quits the valley, returns home, writes his narrative, and, as if studiously, avoids any one expression of gratitude to the Hand which had interposed for his deliverance in the hour of danger, and restored him unharmed and unscathed to the ordinary haunts and habitations of men. It seems almost remarkable that he should Inot have learned a lesson in this respect from those "uncultivated beings," as he denominates his guides, "under whose rough character," he observes, "are found feelings which would do honour to the most refined of their fellow-creatures ;" which would do no dishonour, I may add, to the civilized and well educated son of Caledonia, whom they practically admonished by their conduct to be thankful for mercies received. Alluding to an avalanche which had fallen during their ascent and from the disastrous effects of which they had been most providentially preserved, our author says, "I cannot describe my feelings when I saw the poor guides turn pale and tremble at the sight of the danger from which they had escaped: clasping their hands, they returned most heartfelt thanks for their deliverance." I cannot say that Mr. Auldjo might not feel equally thankful for his deliverance in this particular instance, as well as for other merciful interpositions of Providence, too obvious, one would think, to be unheeded by the "roughest characters;" but "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh;" and, if the heart of this intrepid adventurer had " abounded with many thanksgivings to God," can we suppose but that some expression of such a feeling would

have flowed, from his pen and infused a peculiar grace and beauty into the concluding pages of his memoir? Making every deduction which ought to be made for the sensitiveness of some writers as to the introduction of any remarks which may savour of what they would call sentimentality or display; making every allowance for our author's presumed desire to avoid what is, foolishly enough in some instances, called "cant," and which he might suppose would interfere with the perusal and favourable reception of his work; still I must maintain that the total omission of any grateful acknowledgment of a protecting Providence constitutes a most lamentable defect in this entertaining and exciting narrative. If any man has cause to be thankful, it is he who, in addition to his own, has risked the life of six immortal beings (I omit the two amateurs) in an enterprize confessedly undertaken with no other view than to gratify curiosity, and to accomplish a pleasurable excursion. Perhaps, indeed, the idea might suggest itself to the mind of the writer that the adventure which had terminated without loss or damage to any of the parties concerned, was in itself such a gratuitous and unwarrantable temptation of the Divine goodness, that it was more consistent to wave any allusion to providential interference than to mix it up with the account of proceedings to which Providence had neither directly nor indirectly invited him. What weighs on my own mind, in reference to this subject, is somewhat analogous to the sensation I have experienced when listening to a cold unprofit able, unscriptural, visitation sermon. "This sermon,' I have thought, "will be heard not only by the clergy, but by the churchwardens;" and so the narrative of Mr. Auldjo will be read not merely in Great Britain, but most probably will be translated (from the peculiar cha

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racter of the work) into French, German, and Italian; and thus another picture will be given to the world, of a traveller, from the land of Bibles and missions, exhibiting, in his deliberate written testimony, a total absence of those better and finer feelings which, without affectation or religious pretension, are usually called forth, even by the ordinary occurrences of life. In this little portrait (a sort of cabinet painting),our continental neighbours will study the Christianity of Scot.. land-will find a confirmation of what they must long ago have discovered, that it is much easier to give away, or circulate, the Bible, than to receive its principles into the heart, and to act and feel under its gracious and humbling influence. Thus religion itself is brought into disesteem, and the way of truth calumniated and opposed. As I only intended this for a fragment, touching on a particular point, I forbear offering any remark on the general merits of the work in question, except that I believe, with the abatement which must be made for so material a defect as I have been endeavouring to point out, the volume is liable to little or no exception in point of style and diction; though, of course, not written with a view to the severity of criticism. It will be particularly interesting to those who have visited Chamouni, and the engravings will remind them of some most picturesque and lovely positions in the valley. I could desire that the author, on having attained the summit of the mountain, had not felt the "wish” which he expresses, "to drink to the prosperity of the inhabitants of the world below him;" or, at all events it seems a pity that he felt himself impelled to register a feeling so little accordant with good taste, or with any approximation to the sublime and beautiful.

VIATOR HELVETICUS.

REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.

Visits to the Religious World. 1 Vol. watched the most narrowly, and the 10s. 6d. London. 1829.

As our apology for renewing a subject discussed at some length in our recent review of Mr. Irving's "Last Days," a subject unwelcome to many, we might request our readers to accommodate the following remarks from the Quarterly Review, to the present state of the religious world:"One of the singularities of the time, is an unwillingness to tell the truth, even when there is no ground for suppressing or perverting it. It is so frequently under or over stated by most persons in this country who speak or write, according to the side they have espoused, or the inclinations and principles of those by whom they are likely to be read or heard, that they at last persuade themselves there is a sort of impropriety in presenting facts in their proper colours. To those, therefore, who think that our condition should be concealed or disguised, we give this answer, that they may rest assured that our weak points are always perfectly known to our enemies, whether we ourselves be aware that they are so or not; and we may also add, that those enemies are a great deal more likely to be emboldened, if our defects are overlooked or neglected, than if they are compelled to recognize, in our words and deeds, a vigorous resolution to examine and repair them." If, at the present moment, our national character, as here pictured, detects itself in our religious arrangements, as well as in matters of mere worldly policy, it is high time for the "religious world" to invite inquiry from others, and to stimulate itself to acts of self-examination. As it is the chief business of some persons to watch their neighbours, and to report the results in the next hours of gossip and table-talk; and as religionists, of all men, are

least kindly reported, nothing would be more obvious than the necessity, even if only for the sake of policy, of avoiding every appearance of anxiety to shun investigation. In the bravest army will be found a sprinkling of cowards; and circumstances may arise in an action, in which they may throw a whole battalion into disorder, and create a panic which shall issue in general defeat and shame. What would be thought of the commanding officer, if he used all his interest and finesse to prevent a court-martial? He would bear some resemblance to those Laodiceans of the Christian church, who assert their own excellence, and are unconscious of blindness and self-ignorance. The armies of the living God, in this earthly state, will always muster among their numbers timid and mercenary comrades. Every one confesses this, but not readily as belonging to his legion; or if a recreant is there discovered, attempts are too often made to hush inquiry to rest. This is human nature; but it is not coincident with the impartiality and fearlessness of consequences, manifested in the records of inspiration. "They tell the simple truth-they give us an unvarnished story-they are written without exaggeration, and without concealment. If one of the disciples of Christ betrays him, they tell it; if another denies him, and that with imprecations and oaths, they tell it; if the rest forsake him, and fly for their safety, they tell it; if even men of the highest rank in the church, as Paul and Barnabas, quarrel with each other, the fact is related with all the simplicity of truth; if Peter is chargeable with bigotry, and pusillanimity, and dissimulation, another apostle candidly informs us, that he withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.' From these

simple statements of truth, the sacred writers apprehended no injury to the great cause in which they were engaged; and the result has demonstrated the wisdom of the principles on which they acted *." It will be amply conceded, on the other hand, that every decidedly unfair and cruel attempt to disgrace a good man will ultimately fail, and probably elevate his character. There is an elasticity in a sound and consistent Christian, which will always recover itself; although, for a time, he may be pressed down, and apparently broken. Many fall, indeed, never to rise again; but it may be presumed, that their footing was never otherwise than insecure, or they walked with a shew of steadiness only while the path was smooth and direct. It is generally acknowledged that the narrow way appears, in these days, to be more thronged than it was within remembrance. There is, in every age, a standard of its own, by which the majority of religionists will naturally measure their stature; and if the regulation height be reached, all seems well; although not a few recruits must balance themselves on tiptoe to attain the critical point. All equitable allowance should be made for the immediate influences of the day. "The religion of former times," says an acute and calm observer, " was more zealous, rigid, scrupulous, and uniform; at the same time it was less catholic, gentle, indulgent in lawful cases, graceful, and amiable. The strictness, the energy, the commanding character of their religion, we have in a great measure lost: where they stood firmly against the blast, we bend to escape its force; where they watched, we are asleep; where they fought manfully, we are employed in parleying; where they triumphed, we are satisfied with a drawn battle: they chiefly exhibited the magnanimous, we the gentler virtues; ours are more amiable, but less firm; theirs were rough and

* Brown's Hist. Prop. Christianity. Vol. 1. xiv.

uninviting, but more to be relied on*." Which of these two contrasted forms of religion is nearest the standard of the Gospel? Perhaps a union of both; of the suaviter and the fortiter, and so accurately mingled, as that each should seem to be most ready for every rising occasion, yet uniformly modified by the other. But, alas! to describe what perfection might beatify the church, forces upon a theorist the recollection of what man is as we find him-as we find ourselves; and as he ever was since paradise was lost, and even since paradise was regained. "We have this treasure in earthen vessels:" and the vehicle contaminates the deposit; not, indeed, in its essence, but in its influence and exhibition. If the reader will bear with further quotations, illustrative or confirmatory of our general argument, we would refer him, here, to the Letter of a Self-observer in our vol. for 1806, p. 341; where the writer-a late eminent senatorsays, "Where is the person whose religion is every thing which we could wish? When we look back on human life, whom have we found in our journey through it, whose orthodoxy or whose charity, whose piety or whose morality, has not drooped at this or at the other period--has not limped a little either on this side or on that?" Most true. But our departed correspondent, as every one who peruses his paper will perceive, was exceedingly jealous of the very religion which passes muster with too many religionists: and the suspicious character of such superficial examiners of the human heart formed the substance of various communications inserted in our earlier volumes. He was any thing but the hard and indiscriminative censor of his day; and he was any thing but a flatterer, or one who gave a man full credit for sincerity, till that sincerity had been tried. Added to this, he spoke as one of the children

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* President Dwight's Travels, vol. iv. 378.

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