whether he be Lord of the whole known world, or destitute of even a hut; the commander of millions, or without a single follower; whether he be intimately acquainted with all human learning, or ignorant of letters; whether he be ruddy and handsome, or dark and deformed; yet if, while he declares that God is not man, he again professes to believe in a God Man or Man God, under whatever sophistry the idea may be sheltered, can such a person have a just claim to enjoy respect in the intellectual world and does he not expose himself to censure, should he, at the same time, ascribe unreasonableness to others?' The fourth number of the Brahmunical Magazine is composed of two chapters. The first is entitled A Reply to certain Queries directed against the Vedant by the Baptist missionaries. The following passage shows how Hindoos retort upon orthodox Christians the charge brought against their theology, as being gross and unreasonable. 'I do not wonder, that our religious principles are compared with those of atheists, by one, whose ideas of the divine nature are so gross, that he can consider God, as having been born and circumcised, as having grown and been subject to parental authority, as eating and drinking, and even as dying, and as having been totally annihilated; (though for three days only, the period intervening from the crucifixion of Christ to his resurrection;) nor can it give me any concern, if a person, labouring under such extravagant fancies, should at the same time insinuate atheism against us; since he must thereby only expose himself to the derision of the discerning publick.' pp. 5, 6. The second chapter is entitled Reasons of a Hindoo for rejecting the Doctrines of Christianity. These reasons are found in the pseudo-Christian doctrines of the Trinity and vicarious satisfaction. I regret,' says the editor, that, notwithstanding very great mental exertions, I am unable to attain a comprehension of this creed. These Missionary Gentlemen have come out to this country in the expectation, that grown men should first give up the use of their external senses; and should profess seriously, that although the Father is one God, and the Son is one God, and the Holy Ghost is one God, yet that the number of Gods does not exceed one; a doctrine which, although unintelligible to others, having been imbibed by these pious men with their mothers' milk is of course as familiar to them, as the idea of the animation of the stony goddess "Kalee" is to an idolatrous Hindoo, by whom it has, in like manner, been acquired in his infancy.' pp. 11, 12. The incredibility of both these doctrines is exposed in a strain of able reasoning and animated expostulation. In the course of the remarks an enumeration is given of the contradictory representations of several well known orthodox divines of England. The list is concluded by a theory, new to us, of Dr. Heber, the newly consecrated bishop of Calcutta, who, it seems, maintains that the second and third persons in the trinity are no other than the angels Michael and Gabriel.' Upon this it is remarked, 'The theory of the Godhead proposed by this pious and learned Prelate, although it is at variance with the opinions of several other Divines, must yet be gratifying to Hindoo Theologians, who have long cherished the doctrine of the Metempsychosis, or the transmigration of spirits from one body to another. Since the belief in the second person of the Godhead, originally a mere spirit, taking, at one time, according to this theory, the form of an angel, (Michael,) and afterwards assuming the body of man, (Jesus Christ,) by means of natural birth, which was effected, as is said, by the Virgin Mary and the angel Gabriel, countenances the doctrine of the migration of spirits from the bodies of superiour to those of inferiour creatures.' pp. 15, 16. Upon the hopefulness of a cause, embarrassed by such dogmas, it is said, 'As to their attempts at the converting of Hindoos to the Christian faith, these teachers of strange doctrines may now have been convinced by experience, after the exertions of a quarter of a century, that no grown up native of India, possessed of common sense and common honesty, will ever be persuaded to believe in their self contradictory creed.' pp. 24, 25. We suppose the editor of the Unitarian Repository and Christian Miscellany, to be Rev. Mr. Adam, the gentleman whose change of religious sentiments caused him, three years since, to detach himself from the Baptist mission. This publication was begun last October. Four numbers have been received. The three first consist but of eight pages each; but before the publication of the fourth number, sufficient patronage had been afforded to justify its being increased to sixteen. It is a work adapted to popular use, and has hitherto been chiefly composed of extracts from American and English works, The object is stated to be 'to diffuse as widely as possible, a spirit of rational piety, and of enlightened benevolence; and in particular to communicate correct and interesting information respecting the past history and present state of Christianity, in all its forms, throughout the world.' An arrival, more recent than that by which we received the works named at the head of this article, placed us also in possession of a detailed reply by Mr. Adam to a series of questions addressed to him from this country, relating to the condition and prospects of Christianity in India. A manuscript communication from Rammohun Roy, on the same subject, had been previously received. We are happy to learn that these writings are about to be given to the American publick. They will be found to contain a great amount of authentick information on a deeply interesting subject. It may interest some of our readers to know, that by a vessel which sailed for Calcutta a few days after the last advices from that place, the sum of $375, furnished by a few friends, was remitted to Mr. Adam. Entelligence. American Bible Society.-The eighth anniversary of this Society was celebrated in New York, on Thursday, May 13. From the Annual Report of the state of the treasury it appears that the receipts of the eighth year amounted to $42,496 95. This is $6,280 95 more than the receipts of the preceding year. 34,000 bibles and 42,875 testaments have been printed at the Society's depository during the last year. A donation of 350 bibles and testaments in foreign languages has been received from the British and Foreign Bible Society. The whole amount of bibles and testaments and parts of the latter, that have been printed or otherwise obtained for circulation, within eight years, is 403,352. The number of bibles that have been issued during the past year is 31,590, and of testaments 28,840; making in the whole 60,439, which, added to those issued in preceding years, amounts to 309,062 bibles, testaments, and parts of testaments, that have been issued by the American Bible Society, during the eight years of its existence. Forty two auxiliaries have been added during the past year, making the whole number 404. 14,729 bibles and testaments have been issued gratuitously to auxiliary societies. Great advantage has arisen to the Society, from the building for the transaction of the mechanical and other business operations. Stereotype plates have been procured for a testament of a larger size than common; plates have also been procured for the Bible in the Spanish language. Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, Piety, and Charity. This Society held its anniversary meeting, and attended publick religious services on the day preceding the general election, at the church in Chauncy Place. The discourse was delivered by Rev. Mr. Colman, from Phil. i. 18. after which, $38 52 were collected in aid of the funds. The Treasurer, Elisha Clapp, Esq. presented his Annual Report, from which it appears, that the funds of the Society in productive stock amount to the sum of $1039 66. By a vote passed three years since, its operations were suspended until the funds should amount to $1000. That point being now attained, the Society proposes without delay to resume its labours. The Ministerial Conference in Berry Street was holden on the morning of Election Day, at the vestry of the church in Federal street. Rev. Dr. Bancroft was chosen Moderator, and Rev. Mr. Ware, Scribe. Rev. Drs. Harris, Porter, and Lowell were appointed on the standing Committee for the ensuing year. Rev. Dr. Parker, of Portsmouth, N. H. delivered an address on the duties of the church as distinct from the congregation, and the advantages which might result from using it as an association for religious and benevolent exertion. The report of a committee on the subject of tracts was referred to the next year. An elaborate report on the subject of a commentary on the Scriptures was referred to a committee of fifteen, to be disposed of at their pleasure. Convention of Congregational Ministers.-The business of this year's Convention was transacted with great unanimity. Rev. Mr. Packard, of Shelburne, was chosen second preacher. A committee appointed to consider whether any thing, and, if any thing, what, can be done by this Convention, for the more devout sanctification of the Lord's day,' made a report which was accepted, referring all such attempts to the conscientious concern of every Christian minister to do his duty in this particular, according to his best discretion. Rev. Mr. Snell, of North Brookfield, delivered the annual discourse from Jeremiah, xxiii. 28, 29. after which a collection was taken of $326 93. The sermon was a Calvinistick enforcement of the manner in which ministers ought to preach, written and delivered in a spirit of moderation. Some, however, intimated that more was evidently intended by it than met the ear; and that hence it was a violation, on the preacher's own principles, of the direction in the text, 'he, that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully?' Massachusetts Evangelical Missionary Society.—The annual meeting of this Society was holden in the vestry of the church in Federal street, Boston, on the afternoon of Election Day. The trustees made a report, which will be found below. A sermon, from 2 Thess. iii. 1. was delivered before the Society in the evening, in Rev. Dr. Channing's church, by Rev. Mr. Bayley of Pelham. The assembly was the most numerous, which we recollect to have seen, at any time, on such an occasion. It was, indeed, highly gratifying to the friends of the Society to witness such a full meeting. The discourse was very creditable to the talents and spirit of the preacher. It was ingenious, catholick, and impressive. The collections amounted to $288 70. The number of Missionaries employed, and of settled ministers assisted, is twelve; and the sum appropriated for the present year is $950. No individual receives more than $150; some receive $100; and some $50. We are happy to learn, that the members of this Society have increased during the past year. As its claims are better known, we think it will receive ample support from enlightened and benevolent Christians. That there is important aid afforded to the cause of rational and evangelical piety, by the present efforts of the Trustees and Executive Committee, we have abundant proof. Present Officers of the Society. Hon. Chief Justice Parker, President. Ichabod Tucker, Esq. S Assistant Treasurers. Trustees.-Rev. Drs. Bancroft, Foster, Thayer, Lowell, and Peirce; Rev. Messrs. Kendall, Parkman, Ripley and Ware; S. Higginson, Alden Bradford, I. Tucker, and Lewis Tappan, Esqrs. Executive Committee-Rev. Dr. Lowell, Rev. Mr. Parkman, S. Higginson, A. Bradford, and B. Guild, Esqrs. Collection in May Recent Donations. Friend in Taunton, by Rev. Mr. Clark Do. not present $288 70 3 00 2 00 Do. do 5.00 20 00 10 00 5.00 |