6. Revealed religion, as it is plainer, (cum clarior sit,) is better adapted to men of all conditions, (*hominibus omnis fortunæ,) whatever may be their mental cultivation. 7. Natural religion is chiefly fitted for men of profound learning and science. 8. Revealed may be termed only the picture of natural religion, since it has only the same principles expressed in words. 9. EITHER WILL LEAD MEN TO HEAVEN, PROVIDED THEY FAITHFULLY FOLLOW IT. Now, Mr. Editor, I know not what you may say to all this; or rather, I know well what you and every other advocate of the gospel must say IT IS RANK DEISM; and to know that such theses are publickly proclaimed, and dedicated, as on the title page, "venerandis ecclesiarum passim pastoribus," to all Christian pastors of Christian churches, must shock the mind of every one who clings to a Saviour, as the only refuge and support for guilty man. I forbear to comment upon propositions, the obvious tendency of which is to degrade the scriptures, as needful only for men of vulgar minds, and to teach every thoughtless smatterer who takes his diploma from the hands of PRESIDENT HOLLEY, that, in order to go to heaven he has only to study the sciences, and become acquainted with the substance of things. But, Mr. Editor, what will be the result of this! Who knows not the influence which instructers have over the understanding and affections of their pupils! And when we consider that "knowledge puffeth up ;" that none are wiser in their own conceits than young men while they are undergraduates within the walls of a college; that this contempt of the bible, as fitted only for vulgar minds, accords with the depraved propensities of our nature; and that the idea of being saved without a Saviour, must sear the conscience, and render the heart callous; I ask whether every Christian parent will not tremble at the danger to which he exposes his child by sending him into a place of such contagion. These youths are to be the future legislators, and judges, and moralists of our country. Every one will have his circle of influence. I confess, that when I think of the consequences to our country, my heart is filled with gloomy forebodings; nor does it recover "Hominibus omnis fortunæ." I quote the original, that I may be certain not to do injustice to the author; for not being familiar with the Latin of the western states, I would not be too confident that I may not have mistaken the meaning of some expressions. + Compare with this the words of the 18th article, "They also are to be had accursed, that presume to say, that every man shall be saved by the law or sect which he professeth, so that he be diligent to frame his life according to that law, and the light of nature. For holy Scripture doth set out unto us only the name of Jesus Christ, whereby men must be saved." John xiv. 6. No man cometh to the Father but by me. Acts iv. 12. Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. John v. 11, 12. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life; and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son, hath life; and he that hath not the Son, hath not life. 1 Cor. xvi. 22. If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema maranatha. Gal. i. 8, 9. its tranquillity till I think of Him who sitteth on the circle of the earth, and laughs to scorn the impotent attempts of those who rise up against the Lord, and against his Christ. FIDES. TO THE EDITOR OF THE GOSPEL ADVOCATE. THE enclosed lines were written by Richard Nisbet, Esq., a gentleman of respectable family connexions, in Philadelphia, who has been for many years confined in the Pennsylvania lunatick hospital. His poetical effusions, since his confinement, have often enriched the pages of the Port Folio and Analectick Magazine. This "Address to the Evening Star," if I mistake not, was published some years ago in the Port Folio. It derives its chief interest from having been written by one in the most hopeless state of mental derangement. The occasional flashes of reason which appear in his compositions, serve but to exhibit the "wreck of intellect" in a still more gloomy, though not less interesting light; as the rays of the setting sun, gild ing the ruins of some ancient palace, throw the half broken columns and dilapidated walls into still darker shade; or as the hectick flush on the cheek of a consumptive person, although resembling the glow of health, is a painful indication of the ravages of the disease within. If these lines, together with those suggested on reading them, are thought to possess sufficient interest for your "Advocate," you will please to publish them. TO THE EVENING STAR, CLERICUS. BY RICHARD NISBET, A LUNATICK IN THE PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITAL. O! Venus, lovely evening star! Diffusing precious light afar; How much superiour is thy fame, To her's from whom thou tak'st thy name. She leadeth hapless man astray; Thou lightest wanderers on their way. The mantle of the dark was spread, When soon, with gladness and surprise, O! thus, should anxious cares infest, And with serene and sober ray, Let others toil for wealth, or fame, The idle fancies such display, To them their pleasures I resign, TO RICHARD NISBET, ON SEEING HIS ADDRESS TO THE EVENING STAR. "I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the Bright and Morning Star." Rev. xxii. 16. Poor maniack! how I pity thee, Behold! in yonder eastern skies, It is "The Bright and Morning Star." And lights the pilgrim on his way. "The evening star of reason" thine, Reason may Where ends the wanderer's earthly way;" And point the pilgrim to the skies. In our last number we gave an abstract of the proceedings of the thirtyninth annual convention of the Church in this diocese; but were compelled, by want of room, to postpone our extracts from the reports of the clergy who visited the vacant parishes. We now subjoin a few extracts. The Rev. Mr. Boyd, rector of St. John's, Northern Liberties, visited Huntingdon county, in November. "On the 6th of November," says he, "I left Huntingdon and went to Mr. Cromwell's, in the neighbourhood of Shirleysburgh, where an appointment had been made for me to preach that evening. Mr. Davis, an aged and pious member of the church at Huntingdon, accompanied me on my way, about eight miles, who at parting, with much feeling, begged that the friends of the Redeemer would remember their forlorn condition, and induce some zealous and pious minister to come and settle among them. On leaving this interesting neighbourhood, I was forcibly reminded of our Lord's words to his disciples, when he saw the multitude of his countrymen without any to show them the way of salvation, they fainted, and were scattered abroad as sheep having no shepherd: then saith he unto his disciples, the harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.'-That this scripture applies to the members of other churches, I will not venture to say, but it is literally true of Episcopalians here. "On reaching Mr. Cromwell's, I found a number of persons assembled from the surrounding country, some of whom had come eight or nine miles. The place appointed for publick worship was crowded by an attentive and serious congregation. At this time I baptized a child. "The prospects of the Episcopal church in this section of the country are encouraging. Mr. Cromwell told me that he had no doubt a church might be built here, during the next summer, if they could procure the regular services of a clergyman one half, or even one third of the time." The Rev. Mr. Allen, rector of St. Paul's church, Philadelphia, reports, that in obedience to the directions of the convention, he visited the church in the valley, and the village of Hamilton. "In the for. mer, a strong attachment to the Church was manifested, and a considerable congregation attended. Ten miles from the church, large congregations assembled in the woods, and some hopes are entertained, that by the blessing of God on the exertions of a venerable member of our flock, a house of worship will be erected. In Hamilton, a sum nearly adequate to the completion of a "house of prayer," has been subscribed, and it is believed a building will be put up. The report of the Rev. Mr. Sitgreaves, we are confident, will be read with great interest ::-"I have just returned from my excursion through Susquehanna county, and the gratification I derived from it would have been complete and unmingled, had I not been seized with a violent illness, which limited the extent of my tour." A large portion of the population is Episcopal, and Episcopal not from chance or accident, but from the training and culture of early years, and from subsequent inquiry and conviction. Those who have now attained mature age, passed the first period of their lives in Connecticut, at a time when the Church was yet in its infancy, and struggling with a powerful opposition, and the prejudices of a century; but when its principles were canvassed and brought to light, men embraced them from the thorough approbation of their understandings and the impulses of their conscience. The Episcopalians of Susquehanna are, in consequence, more truly Episcopalian, and better acquainted with the history of the Church, the nature of its institutions, the reasons upon which its peculiarities are founded and the arguments by which they have been defended, than the members generally of any congregation I know any thing of out of the city, and perhaps I might say within the city too. In their hands are found the Trial of Episcopacy, Skinner's Truth and Order, Bishop Seabury's Sermons, Daubeny's Guide to the Church, Nelson's Festivals and Fasts, and other works, explanatory of the tenets of the Church, with the contents of which they are perfectly familiar; the Wyalusing congregation have recently purchased Mosheim's Ecclesiastical History, and other writings, in which they will doubtless be soon well versed as in the old stock. Several of the Episcopalians of Susquehanna are gentlemen of liberal education; and others even, who are comparatively most uncultivated, and uninformed in other subjects, are nevertheless quite intelligent in church matters; and so remarkable has been their adherence to the Church, an adherence not arising from mere feeling and fancy and "liking," but produced by conscientious inquiry and conviction, that there is no instance among them of a dereliction of early attachment, |