Page images
PDF
EPUB

father Isaac, may represent their receiving spiritual blessings from God their heavenly Father; and his dying in Egypt and being buried in Canaan, may denote, their dying in this world, being conveyed by angels to Abraham's bosom and resting in heaven.

2. When God brought the woman to Adam, he said, This is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh-And believers are members of Christ's body, and of his flesh, and of his bones.

3. Marriage constitutes à oneness between the parties. Two, saith he, shall be one flesh-And the church joined to the Lord, is more, is one spirit.

4. Marriage introduces the most cordial and tender affection and mutual sympathy between the husband and the wife

his desire is towards me. I was in his eyes as one that found favor.

In all their affliction he was afflicted and the angel of his presence saved them.

In this place, permit the illustration of a type which hath - not yet been considered, The Institution of Marriage. That this was designed to typify the unión and relation between Christ and his church, is very manifest And the affection between from the frequent application of Christ and his church is mutual it to this subject, in the holy and endearing-I am my beloscriptures. O backsliding chil-ved's and my beloved is mine, dren, I am married unto you, saith the Lord. Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church. And that this representation might be as perfect as the nature of the subjects would permit, it pleased God to form the wife, the woman, of the man. Eve was formed of Adam. And is it not worthy of notice, that the patriarchs, those eminently typical characters, took themselves wives within the limits of consanguinity? Sarah, the wife of Abraham, was probably Iscah, the daughter of his brother Hafan. Gen. xi. 29. Rebekah, the wife of Isaac, was the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Nahor, the brother of Abraham, and Milcah, the sister of Sarah. Leah and Rachel, the wives of Jacob, were the daughters of Laban, the brother of Rebekah. Was not this a designed continuation of the type from Adam? We may observe the resemblance in the following particulars :

1. God said of Adam, It is not good for man that he should be alone And the church is the fulness of Christ.

5. Marriage constitutes a most endearing relation between the husband and the wife-Abraham said of Sarah, Indeed she is my sister, the daughter of my father but not of my mother, and she became my wife-And Christ calls the church, his sister, his spouse.

6. Jacob loved Rachel. He served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep-And Christ loved the church and purchased it with his own blood.

7. The husband is the head of the wife-And the Lord is the head of the church.

8. The wife, the woman, is the glory of the man-And the church is the glory of Christ.

9. The bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride—And Christ rejoiceth over his church. He will joy with singing; yea, he will rest in his love. Amen.Praise ye the Lord.

From the Christian Observer.

IT It is

amusements. If the greater part are not decidedly vicious, in such a degree as the world tolerates and approves, (and that is a considerable one), charity itself must pronounce them to be lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. And is there no danger to a Christian in associating with such characters? Is there no danger to youth particularly in such an association? Is there any thing which tends more powerfully to an assimilation of character in different persons,

Tis a question of much importance of what kind the amusements of Christians ought to be, and how far, consistently with their character, they may indulge in them. As the subject has frequently occupied my thoughts, I have of course formed some opinion concerning it; which, if it have not the good fortune to meet the approbation of yourself and the generality of your readers, may have the good effect of inviting to the discus-than an association in their pleasion some who in that respect may be more successful.

sures? It can hardly be pretended, by the most zealous advocate for the amusement in question, that it does not operate as an in

to vanity and every kindred disposition; if, indeed, its natural tendency, in some respects, be not worse. And it must be al

Permit me, then, to state it as my opinion, that the amusements of Christians should be their re-centive, of the highest power, creation, not their business.They should be rather of a private, than a public and gregariDus, kind. Still less should they be of such a nature and charac-lowed by all who are acquainted ter, as tends to sink the grand with the subject, that a passion distinction, which ought ever to for amusements, often generated divide the religious from the ir- and almost always strengthened religious part of Society. Least by this particular indulgence, of all should they have in their while it enervates the mind, rencomposition any thing which is ders it unfit for the prosecution directly and decidedly sinful. of the regular duties of life, and With respect to theatrical en-extinguishes many human virtertainments, the opinion of the tues. Christian world seems to be pretty well determined. But there are others of an inferior, and, as I am willing to admit, of a more innocent kind; balls, and concerts, for instance, an attend-ly add, that, by this very circumance upon which some are disposed to consider as not incompatible with the Christian character. Upon these, therefore, I propose to offer some remarks. It certainly becomes a Christian seriously to enquire, and to the best of his ability determine, what is the predominant character of those who frequent these

If any, who have partaken of such diversions without personal injury, should allege their own case to invalidate what I have just been saying, I shall on

stance, they are disqualified from giving an accurate judgment upon the subject. And if this is not the case with others, as with many most unquestionably it is not, a Christian should consider how far he is justified in encou raging by his example a gratification of which others cannot

partake without danger, if not without guilt.

Unquestionably men of character, virtue, or religion, never appear so much out of placenever appear so contemptible, as in a scene and occupation, which the gay and the dissipated claim peculiarly as their own. And one is tempted to pity the condition of worthy persons, who, with all their awkward attempts to assume the manners, and accommodate themselves to the spirit of their company, are shunned and ridiculed by the very persons, for whose sake they make the sacrifice. There is, at least, in the amusements here condemned, a levity, a dubiousness, little consonant with the prevailing sobriety, circumspection, and self-jealousy, which belong to the Christian charac

ter.

But I consider the matter in another light. There is a language in the conduct which I am reprobating. Men may speak by actions as well as by words. Language, properly so called, is a system of arbitrary sounds, which, by a tacit, implied, and known consent, convey certain definite ideas. No formal or express compact was ever made by any individual to this purpose. The sounds themselves are so far from having any necessary connection with the ideas for which they stand, that in some other language they may denote directly the reverse. Yet such is the obligation arising from the consent abovementioned, that a man by his words may not only produce evils of the most serious nature, but become justly chargeable with the guilt of causing them. Actions are

same

significative upon the principle; and in most cases we are as much bound to abide by their meaning-as much liable to the imputation of their natural consequences. Now, judging according to the known sense which the world in general, both those who have religion and those who have none, put upon frequenting places of public amusement, I consider such conduct as a badge, a signal, a mark, by which the person so acting gives it to be understood, that he is on the world's side; that he classes himself with those who live without God in the world, and who look for no happiness but what is to be enjoyed here. If this interpretation should be only doubtful, it would still be incumbent upon a Christian to be on his guard, and neither give just offence, nor put a stumbling block in the way of his brother. There is a respect due even to the prejudices of men; and if, by inattention to these, we embolden others to transgress, or defeat our own usefulness, we shall not be accounted by our judge as guiltless of the injury that is done.

X.

Religious Intelligence.

AT the last general meeting of the British and Foreign Bible Society, a report of the committee was read, and has since been printed, which tion. contains much interesting informa

The knowledge of the establishment of this society has been diffused, not only through the united king doms, but over the continent of Eueffects. In Ireland the most favorarope, and has produced the happiest ble reception was given to the plan; and, in Scotland, the synod of Glas

gow and Air were so much impressed with the beneficial tendency of the institution, as even to direct collections to be made for its benefit in all the churches and chapels within their bounds.

tions for printing and circulating the Holy Scriptures are actually forming among the Roman Catholics of Germany. To encourage these beginnings of good, the committee had authorized the Nuremberg society tp distribute among the Roman Catholics 1000 New Testaments to be paid for by the British and Foreign Bible | Society.

With respect to the want of Bibles in different parts of the Christian world, it had appeared that, in the southern provinces of Ireland, not above a third of the protestant families possess Bibles; and that amongst the papists who are far more numer

At Nuremberg, in Germany, a Bible Society had been formed, to which a number of persons, not only in that empire, but in Switzerland also contributed; and the formation of which had been greatly promoted by a donation of 100/ voted by the committee of the English Bible Society. The Nuremberg Society had begun to print 5000 copies of a German Protestant edition of the New Testament, for distribution amongous, a Bible is not to be found in more the poor Protestants in Germany, who are greatly in want of the seriptures, and it is expected soon to be able to print a large edition of the established Lutheran Bible complete.

In the Prussian dominions it was proposed, under the auspices of some noblemen and general officers, to print a new edition of the Protestant Bohemian Bible which had become very scarce. The committee had recommended the formation of a society for the purpose, and promised to contribute the sum of.100/. as soon as such a society should be begun.

But the influence of British example has extended even to the Roman Catholics in Germany. A priest of that communion avows his intention of promoting the establishment of a Bible Society among its members. He observes that, notwithstanding the blind bigotry which still too widely prevails in his Church, many of the clergy, both in Suabia and Bavaria, the number of whom daily increases, not only recommend but strongly promote the reading of the scriptures, particularly the New Testament. Subsequent information has assured the committee, that associa

1806.

|

|

|

than one out of 500 families ; that the funds of the Dublin association are very inadequate to supply the increasing demands for Bibles ; and that English Bibles are almost exclusively the objects of that demand among the lower ranks, very few of whom can read Irish.

In Alsace the want of Bibles, both among the Protestants and Roman Catholics, had been stated to be so great, that the committee were indu ced to contribute with a view of rem-. edying the evil.

In Sweden, owing to the paternal care of the government, and the general diffusion of religious knowledge and zeal, no want of Bibles exists. Bibles also in the languages of Finland and Lapland, are currently dis tributed by societies formed for the purpose.

In Holland the poorest people can procure Bibles, and the deacons are accustomed to make strict inquiry of each individual, whether he possesses a Bible and reads it..

A correspondence had also, it is said, been opened with Denmark, Russia, and Bengal.

Donations to the Missionary Society of Connecticut.

Jan. 8. From a charitable pious Lady of Huntington

14.

2d Society,

Rev. George Colton, of Bolton,

Female Association at Hebron, for the dis

tribution of pious Books,

Certain females in New-London,

$.5
25

9

12

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

5

VOL. VI.]

MARCH, 1806.

[NO. 9.

DIED—Of a pulmonic consumption, at sea, on the passage from Norfolk to Charleston, bound southward on a journey for his health, in the 39th year of his age, and the 11th of his ministry, the Rev. Joseph WASHBURN, pastor of the Church of Christ in the first Society in Farmington. His death, which happened on the morning of the 25th of December last, was serene and peaceful; and he expired, in the arms of Mrs. Washburn who accompanied him, without a struggle or a groan. Oppressed with grief too big for utterance, and tossed with a tempest for several days in extreme danger, she arrived safe at Charleston, the 4th of January. Whether the remains of our deceased friend were carried to Charleston, and there interred, or committed to the sea, we are not yet informed. He left four young children, all too young to be fully sensible of their loss, irreparable as it is by any earthly comfort. The people, lately his charge, deeply feel this stroke of divine Providence, by which they are deprived of the labors of their beloved pastor, in the meridian of life; and his brethren in the ministry, to whom his character is known, will lament the loss of one of their number whose praise is in the Churches.

Mr. Washburn was one of the Editors of this Magazine, and until called off from his labors by sickness, a faithful and highly useful member of the publishing Committee. The Editors condole with his afflicted family, the bereaved Church and Congregation, and his numerous friends, to whom he was so deservedly dear, under this visitation of a holy and righteous Providence. May the people of his charge remember the truths he has delivered, and the warnings he has given them; that they may meet him with joy at the judgment day! And may his surviving brethren in the ministry, be animated to renewed zeal in their Master's service, that they may receive the plaudit of, "Well done good and faithful servants."

The memory of the just shall be had in remembrance.

VOL. VI. NO. 9.

Rr

« PreviousContinue »