I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

"I stand here as the advocate for the Missionary Society-for the men who are now going to and fro and inereasing knowledge, and are preparing ground in so many different quarters of the world for the good seed of the word of God. I have already urged upon you the plea of their usefulness: I have now to urge upon you the plea of their necessities They have exerted themselves not only according to their power, but beyond their power: They are in debt to their Treasurer. Their embarrassments are their glory; and it is your part to save them from these embarrassments, lest they should become their disgrace." pp. 15—20.

The following address to the rich is well worthy of their pe rusal; particularly the rule of their beneficence, Give only what you can spare:

"We do not ask any to impoverish or exhaust themselves: We assail the rich with no more urgency than the poor; for we say to both alike-Give only what you can spare. We hold the question of almsgiving to depend not on what has been already given, but on what superfluity of wealth you are still in possession of. We know that to this question very different answers will be given, according to the principles and views and temper of the individual to whom it is applied; nor are we eager to pursue the question into all its applications: We do not want the offer ings of an extorted charity; we barely state the merits of the case, and leave the impression with your own hearts, my friends and fellow Christians. But when I take a view of society, and see the profusion and the splendor that surround me, when I see magnificence in every room that I enter, and luxury on every table that is set before me,-when I see the many thousand articles where retrenchment is possible, and any one of which would purchase for its owner the credit of unexampled liberality,-when I see the sons and the daughters of fortune swimming down the full tide of enjoymen; and am told, that out of all this extravagance there is not a fragment to spare for sending the light of Christianity into the negro's hut, or pouring it abroad over the wide and dreary wilderness of paganism;—surely, surely, you will agree with ine in thinking, that we have now sunk down into the age of frivolity and of little men. Think of this, my brethren,--that upon what a single individual has with.

held out of that which he ought to have given, the sublime march of a human soul fom time to a happy eternity may have been arrested! Seize upon this conception in all its magnitude; and tell me, if, when put by the side of the sordid plea and the proud or angry refusal, all the gaveties of wealth, and all its painted insignificance, do not wither into nothing." pp. 22, 23.

LXX A Summary of the Evi dences of Natural and Revealed Religion, designed for Young Persons By A. CLARKE, A.M. Preceptor of Salem Street Academy, Boston. Boston; S. T. Armstrong. 1814.

IT is a fact well known to those,

who are conversant with modern publications, that Infidelity, in the course of the last half century, has marshalled all its forc es, and exerted all its strength and ingenuity, to undermine the foundations of religion. For this purpose it has labored to pervert all the principles of sound learning and correct logic. With this object in view, it has distorted facts and invented fables;-has substituted bold conjecture for careful inquiry and sober criticism;-has, in a word, exbausted the stores of superficial learning, unsanctified reason, and profane wit. Metaphysical subtilty and licentious ridicule have each in their turn been employed in attempts to abolish the beautiful fabric of principles, hopes, and morals, which Christianity has erected in the world. The poison of infidelity has been distributed in every form, which promised to deceive and destroy. Books of natural philosophy, of history, of travels, of romance, &c. have been written with the sole design of propagating h centious opinions. The beautics

of style and the enchantments of fiction have thus been employed to catch the attention, conceal the danger, and decoy the unwary to their destruction

It is true, that antidotes to this moral poison, in most of its forms, have been provided. The friends of religion and human happiness have not been idle. We have elaborate treatises on the evidences of Christianity, calculated for men of literature and leisure. We have smaller works, also, in abundance, for those, who have less time and ability for deep research and thorough investigation. Our colleges are furnished with volumes on the subject, suitable for young men, while engaged in a course of liberal education; and even in our best academies the evidences of Christianity are studied. Still, however, there is a class of the community who have been left almost without a weapon of defence against the insidious attacks of the great enemy. We mean that class of persons, who go directly from our minor academies and common schools to the active employments of life. Let it not be said, that such persons are free from danger. They meet with infidel objections in all their walks, and in a thousand forms. They find them at our taverns, in our streets, and even in some of our public journals. We believe too, that it would be discovered upon inquiry, that infidelity is more prevalent, at the present moment, with men of this description, than with VOL. X.

any other portion of the community.

To prevent this evil, every boy in our schools should be furnished with a general view of the evidences of natural and revealed religion, before he enters upon the stage of active life. The Summary before us. we think well calculated to give such a view, and worthy of a distinguished place among our school-books. It is a pamphlet of twenty four duodecimo pages, written in a catechetical form. The author has for several years been an approved instructor of youth; and, as he informs us in the preface of this little book, he originally compiled it for the youth immediately under his care We think the compilation well made; and are gratified with its publication for the use of others. It is certainly a very rich compend of the evidences of natural and revealed religion. The plan is judiciously formed and ably executed. There is indeed a small inadvertency, which should be corrected, in

ry, and to communicate to our fellow-men a knowledge of salvation by faith in His atonement.

We have outlived the awful period when the doctrine of the Atonement of Christ was shroud ed in darkness. Mournful was the lot of those who confessed His name. For almost an entire century, did infidelity, with unblushing front, deride the revealed Will of God, and either openly or secretly undermine the sacred foundations of the Gospel doctrine. The deleteri. ous poison, having worked its way among what are called the most enlightened nations of Eu rope, and established its influ ence in their higher circles, soon spread abroad among the mass of the people; and rolled on in fearful torrents of iniquity, carrying with it a sweeping destruction wherever it went-We have truly the most abundant cause for thankfulness to a gracious God, for having preserved our native land from such scenes of desolation. We dare not, how ever, deny, that even among us were found an increased indif ference to the Word of God; and with many, a bold contempt of it. Not a few were ashamed to confess the name of Jesus; and have we not ourselves had to endure long discourses upon religion, in the course of which we hard ly heard that blessed name mentioned, before which, however, every knee shall bow, "whether it be upon eart or under the earth?" But the promises of God are furtilling; for "heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." (Luke xxi, 33.) And "Upon this rock will I build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail

against her.”

Gospel light is dawning again on those nations where the shadow of death sat almost enthroned, and barriers are raising against "the abomination of desolation."

In a certain country, most powerful because of its veneration for religion, and consequently for the laws; where, as a resuit, the welfare of the public and individuals rests on the surest foundation; a Society was established, and in times too, while the whirlwinds of desolation were yet laying waste the earth; the aim and glorious object of which Society embrace a distribution of God's Holy Word and Gospel Light through the whole habitable globe. That revered Society, which has also held forth its friendly and generous hand to our Swedish Evangelical Institution, has found in its zeal and liberality a success which so utterly exceeds the power of all human effort, as evidently to proclaim that the finger of God is in it: His guardian care is therein distinctly unveiled.

Warned and roused from their indifference by what they have experienced of the horrible effects of infidelity, several other nations have also bestirred themselves, and followed the glorious path struck out by the beforementioned honored Society. And we, among others, cannot help being exceedingly thankful to God, that what is called the "New Philosophy," begins to be treated with contempt in our native land, and the minds of men have taken a favorable turn tovards better things.

Under the protection of a Government affectionately attentive to the preaching of the pure

t

Gospel of Christ, measures are now actively adopted for improving both the character of preaching and the mode of education; and we have often the happiness to find, that the best gifts of eloquence are no longer wasted upon dry moral portraits, but suitably exerted to honor the Giver, by ascribing glory to the name of Jesus and his atonement.

Gentlemen, you are reaping the comfort of that delightful reflection, that from the first moment which gave existence to your Society, you have been co workers with Him who alone can bless the works of our hands, and the meditations of our heart. You have sent forth among high and low, thousands and ten thou sands of instructive Religious Tracts, but what is infinitely better the Holy Scriptures, that fountain of all true light, which shews us the way to everlasting salvation. We know that these precious donations have brought forth much fruit, and been received with gratitude through out the land: which cannot but be very pleasing tidings to you, and afford you a mighty encour. agement to persevere in welldoing.

Eternal Savior of the world! strengthen and support the desire thyself hast graciously awakened in this Society: that all the Members of it may work as one man; and, with full purpose of heart, spread abroad that heavenly knowledge, which records thy atonement, thy suffering, and thy death. Grant success and thy richest blessing to all we shall do towards promoting this great end. We place all our reliance on Thee; and

rest our hope of a gracious answer to our supplications, upon on that wonderful love which brought Thee into the world to Save sinners.

To the Editor of the Panoplist.

I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL-Rom. i, 16.

THE writer of this article, having lately heard from the pulpit, in a discourse from the above cited text, a sentiment substantially like the following that co be ashamed of one's religious ofiin, ions, seriously formed in the be. tief that they were according to the Scripture, whether RIGHT or WRONG, 18 10 be ashamed of the Gospel-has been led to inquire, whether this position could fair. ly be grafted on the text; or, indeed, whether it could be sup ported by Scripture at all? and whether such a shame as is there described might not more prop. erly be considered as the being ashamed of one's opinions, than of the Gospel? And, however inconsistent it might make the holder of such options appear, whether it could ever approach to that class of fecings which would belong to one, who is ashamed of the truth as it is in Jesus?

It was said further, however, that this set of opinions being really considered to be the us pel by the person professing them, to be ashamed of them, would, to that person, constitute the crime of being ashamed of the Gospel. But it is apprehended, that much fallacy is concealed in so vague a sentiment. There is a way which seemeth right unto a man;