Page images
PDF
EPUB

shall serve him-that he shall On the death of my parents,

[ocr errors]

rule in the midst of his enemies,
and that they shall be made his
footstool. Abraham called the
name of the place Jehovah-hreh,
the Lord will provide. There
he provided the ram which A-
braham sacrificed in the room
of Isaac and he has providedment which I received.
the substance as well as the
type, his own son, the lamb of
God which taketh away the sin
of the world.

when I was only four years old,
I devolved to the care of an un-
married sister of my mother's.
Under her protection I have
now continued for almost twelve
years, and have much reason to
feel grateful to her for the treat-
She

has spared no expense in be stowing on me such an education as the neighborhood afforded; and, indeed, excepting the great irritability and natural vio lence of her temper, of which however I have more frequently witnessed the effects on others, than experienced them on myself, I have had no subject of complaint. The great object which my aunt, till within a late period, has had constantly in view, has been pleasure; and such pleasures as easy circumstances, and a considerable market town, have given her the means af enjoying, she has pursued with unceasing eager ness. Cards, company, and a continual succession of engage

It will peculiarly tend to impress the whole subject on our minds, to reflect, that the scene of this transaction was on one of the mountains of Moriah which must have been Calvary or nigh to it. In the same place, perhaps, was the type exhibited, and the substance displayed. And in this mountain hath the Lord made unto all people a feast of fat things of wine on the lees; of fat things full of marrow, and sent forth his gracious in vitation, Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine which I have mingled, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Amen.ments, have nearly engrossed

From the Christian Observer.

Inconsistency of violent Passions

with Christianity.

HOUGH I am a female,

her whole time; and the chief business of her life has consisted in forming and executing plans of amusement. But within these two years a very striking change has taken place in this part of her character. She is no longer devoted to the same pursuits as formerly. Cards are banished

taken the liberty of troubling ny only are selected as are disyou with a few lines on a point, tinguished by their serious hab which at present occupies much its, and a more than ordinary of my thoughts, and on which profession of piety. The conI am desirous of procuringversation, in which alone she some decisive information. I takes any pleasure, is entirely trust your goodness will admit of a religious nature. Her fammy excuse, and will deem theily are assembled to prayers subject of my letter a sufficient twice in a day; and not only apology for addressing you. the morning and afternoon ser

prayers, fall into a violent passion with the footman, for hav

or for not making his spoons shine so bright as he ought.— At another time I have known her to break forth into expres sions of vehement rage with the maid for not having the tea-kettle boiling against her return from afternoon service.

vices on the Lord's Day, but the lecture at night, as well as that on Wednesday evening are reg-ing laid the wrong table-cloth, ularly attended by her. This great alteration, I apprehend, has been chiefly effected through the exertions of our valuable and exemplary rector, since whose coming into the town about three years ago, a very considerable improvement has taken place in a large portion of the inhabitants. My aunt at first called him a Methodist:untarily arise in my mind," Can but after some time his preaching evidently began to make a deep impression on her mind, which has, at length, terminated in producing the change" Is this the mind which was in which I have mentioned.

Now, on contemplating such scenes, the question will invol

my aunt be a true Christian?" The Bible plainly tells me, that true Christians are like-minded with Christ. But I ask myself,

Christ Jesus? Is this the genleness of Christ of which St. Paul speaks?" Our good rector preached last Sunday from this text, "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are past away; behold, all things are become new." I con

But do you know, Sir, that striking as this change is, I am half afraid that she is not yet a true Christian. Pray, do not deem me uncharitable for admitting such a suspicion; but suspend your judgment, till I have assigned my reasons.fess I could not help applying Though my aunt is, in many the doctrine contained in this respects, so greatly altered, yet passage to my aunt. If she there is one point in which she were in Christ, she would be a continues unchanged. Her tem-new creature and though it be per remains as irritable, her pas-true that many old things are sions as violent as they were before she became religious. I almost think on some occasions that, in this particular, she grows worse. The house is a continual scene of altercation between herself and the domestics; and the consequence is, she is so often changing her servants, that no person of a good character will enter into her service. Had But before I conclude, I must you, Sir, been present at some adduce another circumstance of the scenes which I have wit- which serves very strongly to nessed, I am sure you would confirm my suspicions. My have been shocked. So ungov-aunt, I fear, does not strive to ernable is her temper, that I subdue her temper. I draw have seen her, almost immedi- this inference from the followately after rising from family ing circumstance. After the

passed away, yet while she yields to these unrestrained fits and starts of passion, can it be said, that all things are become new? Tell me, Mr. Observer, if I am uncharitable in my surmisings and show me in what respect the conclusion, which I am urged very reluctantly to form, is erroneous.

NARCISSA.

gusts of passion are over, in-nish a reply to these enquries it stead of confessing and lament- will confer an important favor ing the impropriety of her con- on your admirer duct, she attempts to vindicate and excuse it. She pleads in her exculpation the natural irritability of her constitution, and declares that with passions so warm and impetuous as hers, it is impossible to restrain the indulgence of them. And yet even to this assertion, I hardly know what degree of credit is

Religious Intelligence.

Extracts from the Appendix to the Report of the British and Foreign Bible Society.

due; since I am not seldom | Britishand Foreign Bible Society. present on occasions in which she bridles her anger apparently with great facility to herself. It is rarely, when in company with her religious friends, that she suffers any thing to escape which might disclose this feature in her character; and provocations are then permitted to pass unnoticed, which, at other times, would probably excite a most furious storm.

[ocr errors]

THE first is an extract of a Letter from the Rev. Dr. Dalrymple, one of the ministers of Ayr.

"I give you joy, and would take some small share of it myself, that we have lived to the day of a British and Foreign Bible Society. In the 82d year of my age, and 59th of my ministry; next to both deaf and blind; it is little that I can do in an active way to assist in so glorious a design: but that little shall not be wanting. This evening I intend to overture our Synod for a Collection, after the good example of the Presbytery of Glasgow, and I hope to succeed'." (p. 34.)

In short, the whole affair is to me an inscrutable mystery.On the one hand, I see a very surprising change wrought in my aunt. Cured of her immoderate love of the world and its pleasures, I see her become a most zealous and ardent professor of religion. But, on the oth ́er hand, I do not see in her that habitual government of the temper, which corresponds with my ideas of religion. Are my ideas on the subject incorrect? Can true religion exist where irritable tempers and violent passions are indulged without restraint ? "Your letter afforded me such Is there any state of the heart joy that I could not contain myso bad, as that religion cannot self, but immediately went to the administer a cure? Consequent- Rev. John Godfried Schoener, ly, can any Christian plead in-one of the most respectable minability to subdue his evil pro-isters of our city, in order to pensities, as an excuse for grati- communicate to him the joyful fying them? If yourself, or any news from a far country. He of your correspondents, will fur-was no less affected than myself;

Mr. Kiesling a respectable merchant in Nurenberg thus writes.

and we agreed to appoint a meet-book, the religious wants of the ing of Christian friends on As-people, the critical circumstancension-Day, at which we unan- ces of the times, the present imously resolved to unite for the tranquillity of the States; all -formation of a Bible Society, these, besides many other urgent and by a printed letter, to invite reasons, loudly call for attention our Chistian friends throughout to this important undertaking. Germany and Switzerland, to assist us in so noble an undertaking.

6

“ O ye, who know and revere the Bible, which yet remains the Bible of all religious parties, lend your aid in promoting it: Ye, who, on the brink of the grave, can dispose of your property at pleasure, think on the words of the just Judge of the world, I was hungry, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty and ye

be already so great for him who ministers to the bodily wants of his fellow creatures, how much greater will it be for those, who, constrained by the love of Christ, provide for satisfying the hungry after the living word of God, and lead thirsty souls to the pure wells of salvation!" (p. 41.)

"When sometimes I am privileged to give away a Bible or New Testament, father and mother, son and daughter, are running after me, thanking me a hundred, and a thousand times, kissing my hand, and my coat shedding tears of joy, and loud-gave me drink. If the blessing ly exclaiming; May God bless you may the Lord Jesus bless you in time and to all eternity.' Really I felt sometimes a foretaste of heavenly joy, so that I could not sufficiently bless God, for having entrusted me with the honorable commission of steward of the kind benefactions of others. But the more I disperse, the more the petitions both of Ministers and Schoolmasters increase, not only from Austria, but likewise from Stiria, Carinthia, and Hungary, insomuch that I am afraid to present their petitions." (p. 36.)

From the letter of a Roman Catholic Priest in Swabia we gladly extract a few passages.

"I had the pleasure to learn, from a copy of your letter, addressed by Mr. Tobias Kiesling, of Nurenberg, the great number of zealous friends of the Bible The address circulated by the in London, who are filled with a Nurenberg Bible Society thro'-noble desire to send out the pure out Germany closes with the following appeal.

word of God, as the best preacher, into the world. This account excited in my breast the most heart-felt joy and gratitude towards that God, who is the

"We confidently hope for the success of our undertaking. If in England, according to the latest accounts, even hard work-only Giver of every good and ing artisans have contributed perfect gift; but I felt also livetheir mite towards the support ly emotions of unfeigned love of the Bible Society, can we sup- and affection for you, and for pose that less zeal for the good all the Members of that veneracause will be displayed by our ble Bible Society, for whom I German and Swiss reverers of wish a thousand blessings. May the sacred writings ? the Lord Jesus, through whom "The inherent value of the all blessings are communicated

f

to us, be the beginning and end |
of their praiseworthy underta-
king! and may his name be glo-
rified for it to all eternity!

strongly recommended the reading of the Bible, chiefly of the New Testament; and do every thing in their power to promote it. I have, for my own part, distributed many New Testaments,

however, not able to satisfy all the demands for Bibles." (p. 43, 44.)

"What particularly induced me to write, was your question, Whether the Bible was still pro-and some Bibles, among better hibited to the Catholics? Being enlightened Catholics; and sevconvinced thereby, that you was eral of my dear brethren ia mindful even of the poor Catho-Christ do the same. We are Jics I was particularly moved and edified; for indeed nothing is more affecting than that love which embraces all, without the least distinction; for God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.' I felt myself, therefore, constrained to thank you, in the name of all honest and well dis-ing, who not only would tolerate posed Catholics, for these your fraternal sentiments.

"I am sure we could dispose of a good number of Bibles and New Testaments. The people seem to get more and more desirous of the Bible; and the number of clergymen is increas

but commend the reading of it.

"I feel a very great desire to witness the formation of a similar Bible Society amongst the Roman Catholics; and, indeed, I will make some attempts, tho' I foresee many difficulties; and can hardly suppose that so many active and benevolent friends of the Bible are to be found amongst the Roman Catholics, as would be requisite for such an undertaking. Your question, however, respecting the Catho lics, inspires me with the hope, that your Society is desirous to extend its beneficial influence likewise to the Catholics, wish、 ing only to know, whether a dispersion of Bibles amongst them would be practicable :--and, in

"In answer to your question, I observe, properly speaking, the Bible has never been prohibited to the Catholics. The Council of Trent only states, Indiscriminata lectio Sacræ Scripturæ interdicta est. Well-informed Catholics took this always in that sense only that not all books of the Bible, promiscuously, should be put into the hands of the common people, referring chiefly to some books of the Old Testament. Besides, this prohibition of the Council of Trent has never been admitted as binding by the whole body of the Roman Catholic clergy in Germany; but so much is true, that all blind bigots of our church have al-deed, it would not only be prac ways spread the opinion, that it ticable, but desirable in the high. was entirely forbidden for all est degree." (p. 44.)" laymen to read the Bible: and "I cannot express, in terms this prejudice, is, alas! still sufficiently strong, the fervency deeply prevalent among the of my joy, and love towards all greater part. of the people. who, throughout England, hearThere are, however, at present, tily believe in Jesus Christ as many of our clergymen, both their only Saviour, and zealousin Swabia and Bavaria, wholly endeavor to extend the Re

« PreviousContinue »