erate, and our absolute need of the atonement of an Almighty Saviour, so studiously kept out of view, or rather altogether excluded? We cannot but feel a regret, that hymns, which might be composed and sung were there no Bible in existence, should be made to usurp the place of such as contain the very essence of the gospel. The collection contains a few hymns which respect the Lord Jesus Christ. We see no sentiment respecting this glorious personage which is false; but we see neither his atonement, nor his divinity in this compilation." Of the manner in which alterations are made, so as to keep truth out of sight, take the following specimen: "Say to the nations, Jesus reigns, March, 1809, is a review of the "Christian Monitor, No. 9, containing An earnest Exhortation to a Holy Life; and a Letter to a Young Lady on Preparation for Death; by William Wake." The Reviewer had been accustomed to consider Archbishop Wake as a pious man, and as believing" in the doctrine of the Trinity. in the atonement of Christ, in the existence of a devil, in the eternity of future punishments, and in other particulars embraced in the creed and confessions of his church;" and was very much disappointed to find so little evidence of his orthodoxy or piety in these tracts. But on looking at the introduction, he found them professedly republished" with little variation from the original." This led him to look for a copy of the edition published by the author himself, and compare it with the new one. The result of this comparison is given, by which it appears, that, although the author had fully inculcated the afore-mentioned doctrines, they were almost entirely excluded from the new edition, by the alteration of more than sixty passages which the reviewer mentions, and says he could cite many more. At the close of the review, are the following remarks, which are worthy of serious consideration: "But it may be asked, what heresy does the work contain, as published in the "Christian Monitor?" Were we to answer direct And rescue from the grave." In the Panoplist for January, 1809, is a review of another book of a similar character. But the compiler gives notice that he has made" occasional alterations," so "as to reject what savors of party spirit, and sectarian notions," and to retain "what is pure, scriptural and excellent." The alterations are of the same nature with those in the book before mentioned. Another part of the same sys-ly, we might say, none; but then tem, was to republish and circulate tracts, written by distinguished men of former times, well known and highly venerated for their piety and orthodoxy, carefully altering them, however, so as to take away from them the distinguishing doctrines of Christianity; but still retaining the names of their original authors. In the Panoplist for we should reserve to ourselves the privilege of qualifying and explaining. A witness gives his testimony in a pending cause, but in doing it, withholds an essential part. So far as he goes, he tells nothing but truth; but this witness, nevertheless, is false. By withholding truth, he may do as much injury to the right of the cause, as if he had sworn directly, and as applying, particularly, with their whole force, to the mutilated work now before us. to a falsehood. What intelligent mind does not see, that the most hopeful method of undermining the great truths of the gospel, which hitherto have stood the shocks of ages, is to leave them out of sight? On this plan the late Dr. Taylor, of Norwich (Eng) the great master of modern Liberalists, practised with distinguished success.Examining his "Key," a very able writer in the Christian Observer, has the following pertinent and judicious remarks: "Attempts, not unlike the one present, to exclude, and render unpopular, doctrines, which, by the generality of Christians are held as essential, we have before had occasion to notice. We lament that an extensive plan of this nature is apparently in operation." er. Thus far, the Panoplist review He has reference to the plans of those who actually loved error, and were labouring to introduce it. My fears on this head, arise principally from those who are doctrines: but who, from other motives, are pursuing the same course of concealing, and keeping back, and softening down the distinguishing truths of the gospel. And the practice is operating now to a great extent, "with the slow, silent, persevering, and secure virtue of a negation." And I apprehend, that the churches will shortly find themselves "reasoned out of" many important parts of their creed, without being once sensible that they ever came into discussion." "Of all fallacies, none are more plausible and seductive, or more extensively injurious in their con-professed friends of evangelical sequences, than those which pre-, sent a part, and an inferior part, of the truth, for the whole. Suspicion is disarmed by what the judgment assents to, and opposition is not excited, by the express denial of what it would perhaps regard as still more worthy of belief. Meanwhile, the pretermitted portion of truth operates with the slow, silent, persevering, and secure virtue of a negation; and the reader finds himself reasoned out of an important part of his creed, without being once sensible, that it ever came into discussion." These remarks we quote, as deserving of general consideration, A Son of the Pilgrims. Miscellaneous Articles. THE PRAYING MOTHER. In a sea-port town in New-England, lived a pious mother of six daughters. At the age of sixty, she had been, for many years, subject to disease and infirmity, which confined her to her house, and almost to her room. To the writer of this, she said, at one of his first interviews with her, "I have not, for many years, known what it is to go to the house of God in company with his people, and to take sweet counsel with them. But I have another source of grief greater than this, one that weighs down my spirit day and night, while disease and pain bear my body towards the grave. have six daughters; two are married and live near me, and four are with me; but not one of them is pious. I am alone. I have no one for a Christian companion. O I that even one of them were pious, that I might walk alone no longer." Such was her language. She was evidently a woman of a sorrowful spirit, beseeching the Lord with much entreaty. Soon after this, a revival commenced, of which her four single daughters were among the first subjects. A fifth was soon added to their number. But the other, the eldest, was unmoved. "Mother," said one of the converts, "let us all unite in observing a day of fasting and prayer for our unawakened sister." The agreement was made. The day was observed. Of this, the subject of their prayers had no knowledge. But on the same day, while engaged in her domestic concerns at home, her mind was solemnly arrested; and she was soon added to the Christian sisterhood. The praying mother lived a few years to enjoy their Christian society. They surrounded her dying bed, received her last blessing, commended her spirit to God, and now follow the faith and patience of that mother who is gone to inherit the promises. She being dead, yet speaketh." Xo. Con. Obs. CONVERSION AT THE AGE OF 100 YEARS. The following brief account of Mr. Luke Short, who died in Middleborough, (Mass.) about seventy years since, at the advanced age of 1:6 years, and who was converted when an hundred years old, is from the American Bap tist Magazine for February. Recor. and Tel. Mr. Luke Short was born in Dartmouth, county of Devon (Eng.) where he lived till he was about 15 years of age. He recollected to have seen Oliver Cromwell, witnessed some of his most memorable achievements, and was present at the beheading of Charles I. in 1694. Shortly after this time he became a seaman, sailed to America, and fixed upon Marblehead as the place of his residence. There he married, and was blessed with a family of children, From Marblehead Mr. Short sailed regularly in the merchant service, until, being advanced in life, some change of employment became necessary. He then removed from that place and settled in Middleborough, Plymouth county, Massachusetts. Here he resided until the day of his death. When an hundred years old, his strength was sufficient to enable him to work on his farm, and his mental faculties were but little impaired. At this advanced age, he was sitting one day in his field, and calling to mind some of the most remarkable events of his life, particularly of his youth. His memory fastened especially upon the following fact. When quite a boy, he had heard the venerable John Flavel, whose praise has long been in the churches, preach from the words. "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema maranatha." He recollected a considerable part of the discourse, which was exceedingly pungent and solemn, particularly the explanation of the words anathema maranatha, "cursed with a curse, cursed of God with a bitter and grievous curse." Connected with the delivery of the sermon was one event, which made a deep impression on the minds of the audience, and which was now called to recollection by Mr. Short. When Mr. Flavel arose to pronounce the benediction, he paused and said, "How shall I bless this whole assembly, when every person in it who loveth not the Lord Jesus Christ, is anathema maranatha?" A Baronet who happened to be present, fell to the floor, overwhelmed with the solemn conviction which this ques tion carried home to his bosom. | Congregational Church in Middleborough, and to the day of his death, which took place in his 116th year, gave pleasing evidence of piety. God, who in answer to prayer, added 15 years to the life of Hezekiah, added 16 years to that of this venerable man, after he had been born when he was old. The recollection of this sermon, and of the circumstances attending it, were the means used by the Spirit of God to awaken Mr. S.'s attention to the subject of religion at this advanced age. He obtain ed mercy through the merits of a crucified Saviour, joined the 1st Weligious &utelligence. REVIVALS IN NEW-YORK STATE. Extract of a letter from a lady at Saratoga Springs, to a friend in Rochester, N. York. "Where true vital godliness flourishes, there a missionary spirit prevails. I hope you will strive to promote and aid all missionary efforts, for I am persuaded they will continue and increase, and that this good work will abound more and more. We have formed in this place, a "Maternal Association," which promises very great usefulness. We meet once a week, open and close the meeting by prayer, and we spend the intervening time by reading such books as treat on the education of children, and converse on the best method of training them up in the fear and knowledge of God. The state of religion is interesting here. There is a great excitement, and a great degree of engagedness among Christians. Six were added to the church at the last communion. In Malta and Ballston there is a good work. God is doing wonders." first suggestion of such a blessed means of doing good? An account from Ontario says: "More than two hundred souls have become the hopeful subjects of Divine grace in Palmyra, Macedon, Manchester, Phelps, Lyons and Ontario, since the late revival commenced. This is a powerful work; it is among old and young; but mostly among young people.Many are ready to exclaim, What hath God wrought! The cry is yet from various parts, "Come over and help us." There are large and attentive congregations in every part, who hear as for their lives." Rel. Advocate. STOCKBRIDGE INDIANS. The mission among the New Stockbridge Indians has suffered a severe loss in the death of Mr. Sargeant, who departed this life near the close of last summer, having been the stated minister of the tribe for more than fifty years; first at Stockbridge, in this State, and afterwards at New Stockbridge, Oneida County, N. Y.; to which place his people had removed. In September, 1825, about 50 of this tribe emigrated still further into the interior, to their lands in What a blessed work is this! Mothers seeking Divine direction in the great and responsible business of leading their children in the way to holiness and peace-the vicinity of Greene Bay, west of who will go and do likewise? Have Lake Michigan. Others have since we not many mothers in our Israel, followed, and the remainder, 200 who will rejoice to embrace the or 500 in number, will doubtless take the same course before many school in August, and taught 4 years. These lands were pur- weeks; a female teacher having chased by them in conjunction previously taught there 12 weeks. with the Munsees, and contain In his school he had 60 scholars; four or five millions acres. To 41 Indians and 19 whites. Of the defray the expense of this pur- Indians, 15 read in the Testachase, they sold part of their town-ment, 17 in the spelling book, and 9 in the alphabet; 17 were writers. NANTUCKET. 5 Mr. Baylies opened a school at Nantucket in July, taught weeks, and employed two women of colour 12 weeks. In his school he had 53 scholars; 23 in the Testament, 17 in the spelling book, and 13 in the alphabet; 22 were learning to write, ship, given them by the Oneidas about forty years since. They also agreed, at the suggestion of Mr. Sargeant, to make application to the legislature of New-York, that the remainder of their lands, mills, and all their buildings and improvements, might be sold for their value, which would not only pay the expense of emigration for the remaining persons of the tribe, but leave a fund to follow them and their children forever. The subject having been brought before the legislature in the absence of Mr. Sargeant. failed of success.Had his life been spared, he wouldling book, and 42 in the alphabet; have renewed the application the last year. NARRAGANSETTS. At Narragansett (Charlestown, R. I.) Mr. Baylies opened a During the last year, the five Indian schools were taught 75 weeks. In the schools there were 213 scholars, 193 of whom were Indians. Of the Indians, 89 read in the Testament, 62 in the spel 95 were learning to write. In the women's schools, knitting, sewing, and the common branches usually attended to in such schools, were taught. Christ. Mirror. SELECTED POETRY. THE SMILE of JESUS. Is more soft, more sweet to me! Morn her melting tints displaying, Soft and sweet are show'rs descending Sweet is sleep to tired nature; Errata.-On page 346, at 24th line from bottom, 2d column for implicit, read explicit.—Page 350, 16th line from top, 2d column, for law, read love." |
