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enjoined in the revelation of heaven, it cannot fulfil the command of God. The actions which he adduces, and the dispositions which he lauds, as vindicating human nature, are such as cannot bear upon the real point at issue-all praise them; but does the Word of God attach to them any merit sufficient to entitle the person to enter into the joys of heaven? No, all are unprofitable. The love of God must be the motive dictating their performance, as nothing else will render the agent acceptable. He also omits to mention the failings, and that unworthiness of man which arise from the non-performance of commanded duty, and which are equally offensive in the eyes of heaven, and equally opposed to the laws of God, and as much a violation of them as actual transgression.

It is with the whole heart, and mind, and soul, and strength, that we are to love God, and not with a part; and inasmuch as this is not rendered to God, agreeably to the command, in like proportion do we fall short of the standard of moral rectitude, and manifest an inherent and natural propensity to evil. Where did sin originate, if it had not sprung from the depravity of human nature ? Let this question be answered, and we will come to the real subject of debate, and not delude the unthinking, and spend our time in idle declamation, which has no relevancy to the point at issue.

Another error is, that the author frequently adduces the characters and conduct of persons renewed by the grace of God, as examples to prove the truth of his favourite theory, that man has naturally no sinful propensities, because such individuals cannot be said to be governed and directed by them. This error, considered in connexion with the preceding one, will show to any person even superficially acquainted with the subject, that the writer is in a great measure innocent of that knowledge which would have been indispensably necessary to have qualified him for the discussion of this important theological question. As well might he attempt to prove that all men are born six feet high, because some arrive to that stature; the one mode of proof would be as logically correct as the other. By the grace of God, the renewed servants of the Lord are what they are, as Saint Paul declares of himself, but not by nature as Dr. Drummond asserts. He also labours, in his last section, to establish a favourite opinion of his; but in his attempted proof he has been utterly unsuccessful that the Calvinistic idea of original sin tends to demoralize man: but we can scarcely think that the author was in earnest when he attempted such an herculean task

with such nerveless strength and fragile weapons as have been employed in the vain endeavour. Will a man not have a bet ter chance of escaping danger when he is apprised of it and on his guard against it; than if it were permitted to come upon him in all the thoughtlessness of fancied security? So is it with the Calvanistic doctrine of original sin, men are taught to be continually on their guard against the commission of sin; and that which has a tendency to make men struggle against the commission of sin, has a tendency of like strength to elevate and dignify the moral character of the species. The Calvinistic system flatters not the folly, the pride, or the sensuality of man-it scatters to the winds every refuge of lies with which the sinner may endeavour to excuse his moral uncleanness-it whispers not peace, peace, where there is no peace and hence the unmitigated hostility which has been manifested towards it, because it will not permit the manna of heaven to be offered upon the altar of human pride or human passion. In conclusion, we would most earnestly recommend, to the author, a little more reverence for the Word of God, coupled with a more charitable feeling towards those who differ from him-a little less overweening dogmatism, with a better knowledge of the system of his opponents. SHAPHAN.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

MISSIONARY SOCIETIES.-Before proceeding to make any extracts from the reports of the different Missionary Societies which are engaged in the propagation of the Gospel among the Heathen, it may not be improper to give, in a very condensed form, a general view of the religious opinions of the different nations of the world, which will form a suitable introduction to our Missionary intelligence. This will enable our readers to appreciate what is yet to be done, and what exertions are demanded of the Christian world. A mighty and extended field has yet to be cultivated; and even now, as of old, the complaint may be preferred, "truly the labourers are few-pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into the harvest."

And first of Asia.-The population of this immense region is between 390 and 400 millions, all of whom, with few exceptions, are idolaters. The Chinese, Japanese, Siamese, and Burmese, amounting in all to about 216 millions, are Budhists. Budh is admitted by Hindoos of all descriptions to be the ninth avatar or descent of the Deity, in his capacity of preserver, and the votaries of this superstition appear to agree in maintaining the existence of local deities, the transmigration of souls, the punishment of the bad and the happiness of the good in a future state, and that mercy is the chief attribute of the supreme divinity or soul of the world. In the territories belonging to the British Empire, to the East India Company.

and their dependencies, there are more than 180 millions of inhabitants who believe in the existence of a Supreme Being, too sublime for humanı adoration, and which is therefore addressed to inferior, though great and powerful divinities. The number of Missionaries now in Iudia bears no proportion whatever to the multitudes among whom they are called to labour. There are also in India many millions of Pagans and Mahommedans subject to their native princes, to all of whom the obligation lies on us and on all others who have been so highly favoured, to preach the Gospel of salvation. In the course of our Missionary intelligence, we shall often have occasion to refer to the peculiar and disgusting doctrines of their mythology.

The inhabitants of Arabia are all Mahommedans, although divided into different sects. About the end of the last century, Abdool Wahab raised the standard of revolt against the Sultan; and pretending to have received a divine commission, asserted his intention of reforming Islamism. The leading doctrines of the sect of the Wahabees is the unity of the Godhead; they acknowledge the authority of the Koran-that Mahommed was a mere man, though charged with a divine commission. They have been called the Socinians of the Mahommedan Church; and although scepticism and flitting from one form of error to another, be of all states of mind the most adverse to the reception of Christianity, stil the Wahabees are nearer the truth than the Mahommedans; and they have given a decided proof of their sound sense and desire of truth, by rejecting the monstrous fables of the Koran. Persia, with its nine millions, still continues under the sway of the false prophet. In this country are still to be found some Parsees, or fire worshippers, who have nearly been cut off by the Mahommedans, who have persecuted them to excess.

The subjects of France and Portugal in Asia amount to about 650 thousand, and are chiefly Papists. Russia has three millions and a half nominally belonging to the Greek Church, and Turkey has her twelve and one-half millions of Mahommedans. Among these are a few members of the Syrian Church, but these numbers are relatively as nothing. Very interesting notices of these people may be found in the life of Henry Martyn, and in the Christian researches of Dr. Claudius Buchanan.

In Africa, the inhabitants of Morono, Tunis, Tripoli, and of what was lately Algiers, amounting to about eight or nine millions, are Mahommedans. Indeed it may be said that the whole of this continent is overshadowed by the deepest darkness; and with a few exceptions, in the South, which shall afterwards be noticed, and a few others in Egypt, the whole population, amounting to sixty millions, are sunk in the darkest idolatry.

Europe contains about 228 millions of inhabitants, who may be classed as follows:-Latin and Greek Churches, 135,000,000; Mahommedans, 8,000,000; Jews, 2,000,000; Protestants, 85,000,000, among whom are included Calvinists, Lutherans, Arminians, and Socinians.

In America and the islands known by the name of Australasia, there are about 40,000,000 of inhabitants that may be classed as follows:Roman Cotholics, 15,000,000; Mahommedans, 10,000,000; Heathens, 3,000,000; Protestants, 12,000,000, including Socinians and even Deists. The aboriginal inhabitants of North America are rapidly decreasing in number. When the Indian tribes were lords of the Continent, their numbers amounted to about one million, and now that the tide of the white population is rolling so rapidly to the west, their numbers are reduced to

about 300,000.

Of their religious belief it is enough to say that it is a species of Manichæism. The agents of the good spirit are thought to reside in the air, and those of the evil genius on earth; every extraordinary occurrence of life is attributed to a 'supernatural cause, and they believe in sorceries, charms, and prognostications. The population of the globe is generally stated to be about 800,000,000, and is thus divided:-Jews, 2,000,000; Mahommedans, 140,000,000; Christians, 180,000,000; Pagans, 490,000,000.

Let this statement be seriously thought of, and whoever feels, in the smallest degree, the power of the constraining love of Christ, will require no arguments to induce him to exert all his energies in the cause of missions. Eighteen hundred years have elapsed since the glorious gospel of the Son of God was made known to man, and four-fifths of the inhabitants of the world are still ignorant of that name by which alone there is salvation. In the missionary field there may be difficulties to be met, and dangers to be vanquished, but Christians must not heed these. No contradiction, however unreasonable, no opposition however strenuous, no difficulty however great, no danger however threatening, should be allowed to prevent the onward course of the disciples of Jesus. They have the promise of the living God, that as their day is, so shall their strength be-that their master is with them even unto the end of the world. Relying on these promises, as sure and steadfast, they should obey the commandment which says " Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations." Magnificently glorious as are the proofs of God's goodness and love to the children of men, in the works of creation, a mightier testimony to that love is borne in the incarnation, and sufferings, and death of the Redeemer. And when this lavish expenditure, so to speak, of wisdom, and goodness, and mercy has been showered down upon us, shall we-shall Christians refuse the high, the peculiar honour of being fellow workers with God, in turning many sons and daughters unto righteousness, Shall we neglect to employ every means that we can devise, and every effort we can put forth, in order to bring into full operation the human agency that is required for the Christianization of the world. In our succeeding num bers we shall lay before our readers the operations of the different societies engaged in the great work of evangelizing the Heathen. We shall notice, from time to time, the proceedings of the Scottish, the London, the Wesleyan, the Church, the Jewish, the Continental Societies, and that of the United Brethren-stating their resources, the stations in the Heathen countries, and the measure of success with which it has pleased God to crown their labours. Such information we trust will, under the blessing of the Great Head of the Church, have a tendency to encourage those who are already engaged in this good and glorious cause-to rouse the attention, and call forth into active display, the energies of many among us who have hitherto been careless and negligent respecting the salvation of perishing souls, and the progress of the Redeemer's kingdom.#

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ORDINATIONS BY THE PRESBYTERY OF THE NORTH-WEST "OF ENGLAND.-At Wigan, in Lancashire, upon Thursday, the 18th October, the Rev. John M'Kenzie, licentiate of the Presbytery of Glasgow, after undergoing the usual examination and trials for ordination before the Presbytery of the North-west of England. prescribed by the Acts of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, was solemnly set apart to the office of the holy ministry, by the laying on of their hands. And at Bew. castle, upon the 25th October, after similar examinations and trials, by

the same Presbytery, the Rev. Gavin Lochore, licentiate of the Presbytery of Dumbarton, was ordained to the pastoral charge of the congregation in that place. The whole of the interesting service was conducted in the most impressive manner the chapel was crowded to excess, many of the people having come from a distance of twenty miles to witness the first ordination that ever took place at Bewcastle. The congregation gave Mr. Lóchore a most cordial welcome amongst them; and there is every reason to entertain the hope that his labours will be justly appreciated and become extensively useful. That the Ministers of other Presbyteries may have some idea of the labours of their brethren in the North-west of England, upon such occasions, it may be proper to state that Wigan and Bewcastle stand at the extreme points of the Presbytery bounds-the former about one hundred and twenty miles, and the latter sixty-two miles from the towns where the majority of the members have their spheres of ministerial labour and after travelling the greater part of the week to and from Wigan, attending to the business of Presbytery there, for two days in succession, and preaching to their respective flocks upon the Sabbath, they had just to undertake their journey to the other remote district of the Presbytery's charge, to attend at the ordination of Mr. Lochore. But we have to communicate information of still greater interest to most of our readers, that though the congregation at Wigan was reduced to the very lowest possible state, and that at Bewcastle by no means in a prosperous condition, yet the Presbytery have the satisfaction to state, that the congregation at each place has increased beyond their most sanguine expectation; and, under the pastoral care of their young brethren, there is the prospect, with the blessing of the Great Head of the church, of many souls being converted and edified.

GLASGOW CITY MISSION. The committee of the Glasgow city mission have been lately endeavouring to introduce Christian instruction into the public factories in Glasgow and vicinity; and it is satisfactory to know that several of the proprietors of works are co-operating with the society in this design.

In six of these, arrangements have been already made, or are in progress, for collecting the people together once a-week, when a practical discourse is given by a missionary.

In some instances, there has been an attentive audience of upwards of two hundred. The object of this proceeding is to gain access to those who are absent from their houses during the day, when the missionaries make their visits, and many of whom are negligent of the opportunities which they enjoy on the Sabbath.

The employers of the thousands of our fellow-citizens, engaged in these works, possess unquestionably an influence over the minds of their people, which they do well to improve; and we are happy to observe that many are conscious of the responsibility which lies upon them, to forward by such means as Providence presents to them the best interests of those by whose labours they maintain their commercial enterprise, The plan recommended to induce attendance is, that the people, so far as willing, should be assembled at the close of the day's work, once a week, within the premises.

SCOTTISH MISSIONARY SOCIETY."

Kirkinriola Missionary Society...

Castlereagh Religious Society, per Messrs. Wat-
son and Colville...

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