effect his object? He has had a direct influence with the Grand Senior, to obtain a Firman to suppress the distribution of the sacred scriptures, in every part of the Ottoman empire; and will not the same good friend, again listen to him, when he pleads for the poor Greeks? But most seriously, if the Pope is really animated with a desire to serve the Greeks, we give him credit for his humanity; and only wish that he had, pro hac vice, the influence with Christian princes which his predecessors once had. But he has it not; and those princes will give all his entreaties to the wind, unless they perceive that they can promote some of their own selfish views, by complying with them.

The most vigorous measures have been taken at Rome, for the entire suppression, and prevention hereafter, of all secret societies, in all the states of the church. To favour them in any way, is declared to be high treason, and punishable by death. The bishop appointed by the Pope for Louisiana, has resigned his appointment.

GREECE. The capture of Missolonghi seems to have had the most disheartening effect on the whole of Greece. The Turkish forces march in all directions, with very little opposition, or even annoyance-Ibrahim Pacha, on his way from Patras to Trippolitza, dispersed, without a conflict, the small Greek bands which lay in his route, took several small fortresses, without resistance, and on his near approach to Trippolitza, the 3000 troops which had been embodied there under Colcotroni, were reduced by desertion to 500; and these, with their commander, took to flight. Measures were taken for the reduction of Athens-From what quarter deliverance is to arise for Greece, we know not; and yet we do not resign our hope that it will ap pear.

TURKEY.-The present Grand Senior, who with the cruelty of an infernal seems to unite much courage and general talent, has made an attempt, which promises to be successful, entirely to annihilate, throughout his whole dominions, the military corps of Janisaries-heretofore the strong arm, and chief reliance of the Ottoman power. It appears the state of things had come to that pass, that the Sultan must either destroy the Janisaries, or that they would dethrone and decapitate him; as their order have heretofore been wont to do, when a Sultan incurred their displeasure. In these circumstances, the present Sultan, by wily management, concealed from them his purpose, till he had made sure of the support of the other troops, Asiatick and Egyptian; and then made a daring attack on the quarters of the Janisaries in Constantinople, routed them completely, and spared none till he had obtained a complete victory. He has since abolished the whole order, and sought by every art he can invent, to extinguish it utterly, by rendering it dangerous and disgraceful to show a Janisary the least favour or affection. There are, however, yet remaining in Turkey, a number of Janisary corps and stations, not reduced; and a reaction may possibly take place. If not, it is not easy to say, what will be the consequence of this change in the Turkish system. It will probably be followed by important consequences of some kind.

RUSSIA. It is said in the Paris papers, that accounts had been received there from St. Petersburgh, of the date of July 4th, stating that the sentence of the conspirators had been pronounced, and that only seven were condemned to death. Other accounts say, that the Emperor Nicholas is opposed to inflicting this sentence on any of the guilty. We believe the truth is, that there is great and extensive uneasiness in the emperor's dominions, and that he wishes to take that course which will cause the least excitement, but is really at a loss how to act. It is said that when he caused it to be made known to the troops in his capital, that he had satisfactorily adjusted all his difficulties with the Porte, the officers received the information with sullen silence. They no doubt wished for a war, and are disobliged that their wishes have been disappointed.

SWEDEN.-It appears that there has been a failure of the harvest in Sweden, and that a consequent scarcity is fully expected. Great damage has also been sustained by fires raging in the forests, in almost all the provinces of this kingdom.

ASIA.

We believe the Burmese war is terminated. A British paper says "The following article was taken from the Madras Courier extra, of March 29th, 1826

"The treaty of peace ratified by the king, and accompanied by the first instalment, twenty-five lacks, of the pecuniary part of the price of it, was delivered to our commissioners, by a deputation of ministers sent from the Golden Court to our head quarters at Yeandaboo, forty-two miles from Ava, on the 24th of February-when royal salutes were fired by our forces, and tokens of friendship exchanged between the two parties, on the occasion."

We have heard nothing very recently of the missionaries; but our understanding is, that they are safe; and that by acting as mediators and interpreters for the Burmese, they have obtained their good will, and thus have brightened their prospects of success in disseminating the gospel among them.

AFRICA.

The British, it appears, are prosecuting their exploring expeditions into the heart of Africa, with great zeal and perseverance; and if the articles which appear in the publick papers may be relied on, the prospect of complete success is better now than at any former period. Morocco is suffering dreadfully by famine and disease.

We learn with pleasure from the African Repository for August, printed at Washington city, that "the governor of Sierra Leone has laid a blockade on the line of coast reaching from that colony to Cape Mount inclusive;" and that "Captains Chase and Cottrell have either captured, or 'payed' away every Guineaman, known to be on any part of the coast, between Cape Palmas and Sierra Leone." Our own colony at Liberia, has also interdicted the slave trade, "on the whole line of coast between Cape Mount and Trade Town, both inclusive." In all this we cordially rejoice; but yet it is a fact which ought not to be concealed, that the slave trade is still carried on, to a most shocking extent--Probably there is little diminution in the number of slaves now carried from the African coast, and that of any former period-The parties to this infamous traffick are chiefly French, Spaniards and Portuguese. AMERICA.

PANAMA.-The Congress at Panama has at length been opened. The discourse delivered on the occasion by Senor Vidaurre has been brought to this country; and it is said to be in the hands of a translator for the purpose of publication-It is probably a paper in which many will take a deep interest.

BRAZIL AND BUENOS AIRES.-We have recently heard nothing which we deem worth reporting, of the war which still exists between these states; unless it be that Admiral Brown is closely blockaded by the Brazilian squadron.

COLOMBIA-The executive department of the government of Colombia have published a manifesto, relative to the insurrection in Venezuela, of the date of the 12th of July last. The government vindicates itself against all the charges brought against it by General Paez, and calls upon the nation to defend and sustain the sacred code of her liberties. It appears by the last accounts that the cause of Paez is far less popular than we had supposed it to be. It seems that the country in general is not with him, but against him. He will therefore probably be subdued: but as he commands a considerable army of disciplined troops, who appear to be attached to him, much blood will, we fear, be shed in the conflict, unless it shall be prevented by the arrival of Bolivar.

On the 18th of June last, a most terrifick earthquake took place at Bogota. Some houses were entirely thrown down, and very many greatly injured. The terror occasioned by the shock was extreme, and yet it is stated that only three lives were lost. GUATEMALA.—It appears that about a year ago the Government of the Republick of Central America, called for proposals for effecting a navigable communication between the Atlantick and Pacifick Oceans, through Nicaragua, one of the States of Central America; and that several companies have been formed for the purpose in Europe, as well as one, if not more, in the United States. Official information has lately been transmitted to President Adams, that the contract for this noble and interesting undertaking, has been given to the company in New York, of which A. H. Palmer, Esq. is a leading member. The route of the contemplated canal is by the river St. John into the Lake of Nicaragua, and from the western extremity of that lake, about seventeen miles, to the Pacifick. The company is to have the right of toll, and certain other exclusive privileges, supposed to be of great value. A plan of this kind has been long in contemplation; and if it shall be successfully executed, it will produce wonderful changes in the commercial world-A voyage from our country to the Gallipagos, or even to the Otaheitan or Sandwich Islands, will be about as easy as to Britain, France, or Spain.

UNITED STATES.-At the commencement of the present season, the prospects of our country, in regard to the fruits of the earth, seemed to be gloomy; but it is drawing to a close in a manner which demands our warmest gratitude to the Giver of all good, for the happy change which has taken place. The abundant, and even superabundant rains, which have fallen, and the warmth with which they have been accom panied, have produced an unusual plenty of almost every vegetable production, and of the best qualities. Losses, indeed, to a considerable amount, have been sustained, as the effects of torrents. But the general benefit is great and unexpected. Nor, as yet, has that scourge of our country, the yellow fever, appeared in any part of our land. Health, as well as plenty, generally prevails. "O that man would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men.”

THE

CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE.

OCTOBER, 1826.

Keligious Communications.

LECTURES ON THE SHORTER CATE- bear their names on the shoulders of

CHISM OF THE WESTMINSTER AS-
SEMBLY OF

TO YOUTH.

the ephod, and on the breast-plate of DIVINES-ADDRESSED judgment upon his heart, whenever he should go into the holy place, "for a memorial before the Lord continually."

LECTURE XXIV.

(Continued from p. 388.) The subject of the ensuing lecture is the answer to the 25th question of our catechism, which is thus express ed

"Christ executeth the office of a Priest, in his once offering up himself a sacrifice, to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God; and in making continual intercession for us."

My dear youth-No part of theological truth is more closely connected with what is essential to our salvation, than the priestly office of Christ, the subject which is now before us-Give it, therefore, your most

serious attention.

In all this, the legal high priest was nothing more than a type of Christ, the true high priest of his church, who appears before God in the name of sinners, to make atonement and reconciliation for them;and who, in this transaction, bears, as it were, the names of his people on his heart.

You will particularly observe that it is not a mere inference made by me, or by other fallible men, that the ancient priesthood was particularly and circumstantially typical of Christ. The infallible words of inspiration, in the plainest manner declare and explain this truth. They show, in detail, how those ancient "A priest, (says Fisher in his ca- institutions "are a shadow of good techism) is a publick person, who, in things to come, but that the body is the name of the guilty, deals with of Christ." This is especially done an offended God, for reconciliation in the epistle to the Hebrews, where by sacrifice, which he offers to God the inspired writer shows the supeupon an altar, being thereto called riority of the antitype to the type; of God that he may be accepted--of Christ as a priest, over all who No man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that was called of God, as was Aaron." Thus, under the Mosaick dispensation, the high priest, in performing his most saered duties, was the representative of all the tribes of Israel; and in token of it, he was commanded to VOL. IV. Ch. Adv.

sustained that office in the Mosaick ritual: and in relation to this superiority there are a number of important particulars, which it may be proper cursorily to mention.

1. The superiority of his nature and person. The Jewish priests' were but mere men; He was "the 31