Profane Swearing judiciously and successfully reproved.

(Extracted from the Report of the Religious Tract Society, for 1822, p. 45.)

refer some of the figures used in the Epistles of the New Testament. For instance, in 1 Thess. v. 2, the Apostle Paul speaks of the Day of the Lord coming as some thief in the night, who makes choice of hours in which DARKNESS prevents a disco- A carrier, in a large town in very of his approach. But, Yorkshire, heard his carter one brethren," says the Apostle, day, in the yard, swearing dread"YE are not in DARKNESS, fully at his horses. The carrier that that day should overtake is a man who fears God, spends YOU as a thief." This last word his Sundays as a teacher in a Sundarkness, therefore, means an un-day School, and endeavours to apprized state; and was suggest-promote the spiritual good of his ed by the idea of the dead of the fellow-creatures. Shocked to NIGHT, which the thief selects hear the terrible oaths that refor the purpose of a sudden and sounded through the yard, he successful attack upon the lives went up to the lad, who was just and property of his fellow-men. setting off with his cart for ManHitherto the figurative lan-chester, and kindly expostulated guage considered, has been such as may be traced in the productions of profane writers: and had the Scriptures been written on common subjects, and by a common hand, here the Range of Fi-thyself can hear." He then put gurative Language might have ended. But we have only taken a survey of the Outer Court, leaving the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies unexplored. Nor indeed could we have cast a glance within the venerated precincts of ground so sacred, had not the door of the tabernacle been opened, and the veil of the temple rent in twain. Bromley, Middlesex.

(To be continued. )*

J. F.

*When the last paper was sent, the Range of Figurative Language and the Limits of its Interpretation were both written; and it was anticipated that, by revision and compression, the first Bubject would be reduced to one paper. But that portion of figurative language which still remains, and which is peculiar to the Bible, may well deserve a separate consideration.

with him on the enormity of his
sin, and then added: "But if
thou wilt swear, stop till thou
get through the turnpike-gate on
S-moor, where none but God and

the Swearer's Prayer into his
hand, and wished him good morn-
ing. The poor fellow cracked
his whip, and pursued his jour-
ney; but he could not get over
his master's words. Some time
after, his master observed him
in the yard, and was very much
surprised to see him so altered.
There was а seriousness and
quietness about him which he
had never seen before; and he
often seemed as if he had some-
thing to say which he could not
get out.
At length, his master
was so much struck with his
manner, that he broke the ice,
by asking him if he wanted any
thing. Ah, master," said he,
"do you remember what you
to me about swearing, and the
tract you gave me? I was thun-
der-struck. I went on the road,
and I got through the turnpike,
and reached S-moor; and there

said

I thought, that, though I was a- |
lone, yet God was with me: and
I trembled to think how he had
been with me, and had known
all my sins and follies, all my
life long. My sins came to my
remembrance: I was afraid that
he would strike me dead. and I
thank God that I have been
roused to seek after the salvation
of my poor soul." The master,
as may be supposed, was greatly
rejoiced to hear the
young man's
confession; and it is gratifying to
be able to add, that his diligent
attendance on the means of grace,
and the reformation in his con-
duct, give solid ground for hoping
that he has not only ceased to be
a swearer, but a slave of Satan
altogether.

Now, let christians be hence encouraged to reprove vice in the meekness of wisdom. And, if this account should meet the eye of a swearer, may it bring conviction home to his conscience, and lead him to go and do likewise!

college of fishermen, not of Cardinals, and to the doctrine of inspired apostles, not to the decrees of interested and aspiring bishops: They contend for a scriptural creed and spiritual worship; we have a Calvinistie creed, a Popish liturgy, and an Arminian clergy.

"The reformation has laid open the scriptures to all; let not the bishops shut them again. Laws in support of ecclesiastical power are pleaded for, which it would shock humanity to execute. It is said that religious sects have done great mischief, when they were not kept under restraint: but history affords no proof that sects have ever been mischievous, when they were not oppressed and persecuted by the ruling church."

BAPTIST NEWSPAPERS, &c.

PUBLISHED IN AMERICA.

"Some favourable auguries may be drawn from the number and increase of religious publications in this country. If we can collect the facts, we will present a list of them to our readers in some future number. At present we will merely mention those, within Our knowledge, of the Baptist denomination.

LORD CHATHAM ON TOLERATION. IN the debate in the House of Lords, on the motion for an enlargement of the Toleration Act, in the year 1773, Dr. Drummond, Archbishop of York, ve-NARY, hemently opposing the motion, stigmatized the DISSENTING MINISTERS as "men of close ambition."

Lord Chatham replied, "This was judging uncharitably, and whoever brought such a charge against them, without proof, DEFAMED." Here he paused, but presently proceeded. "The Dissenting Ministers are represented as men of close ambition; they are so, my Lords, and their ambition is to keep close to the

The LATTER DAY LUMIpublished monthly at this office by a Committee of the Baptist General Convention.

The WESTERN NEW YORK BAPTIST MAGAZINE, published tist Missionary Society. quarterly, by the Hamilton Bap

The CHRISTIAN WATCHMAN,

published weekly at Boston,

The CHRISTIAN SECRETARY, published weekly at Hartford.

The COLUMBIAN STAR, issued weekly in the City of Washington."

The Columbian Star.

Juvenile Department.

PHILOSOPHICAL

REFLECTIONS.

No. XXIX.

THE ATMOSPHERE.

"The vital air

Pervades the swarming seas and heaving earths,
Where teeming nature breeds her myriad births;
Fills the fine lungs of all that breathe or bud,
Warms the new heart, and dyes the gushing blood;

dinarian cannot prevent; but it is its more enlarged operations which we now propose to contemplate.

The solar rays warm the earth, and convert a portion of its heat into vapour. This vapour being lighter than the surrounding air, naturally ascends to that part of the atmosphere which is of its own density, and becomes converted into air, or, by some mys

With life's first spark inspires th' organic frame, terious process, into clouds of

And, as it wastes, renews the subtile flame."

Darwin.

such endless variety of magnitude, form, and colour, as not unfrequently to afford much amusement to the juvenile beholder, by the similitudes and resemblances he traces and forms in his creative imagination. The fleeting clouds, thus wonderfully formed, are farther condensed into water, which, at the divine pleasure, descends in rain, hail, and snow, to water, warm, and fertilize the earth.

The atmosphere is principally composed of oxygen and nitrogen gases, in the proportion of about four parts of the latter to one of the former; but, it con

IN No. IV. of these reflections, which appeared in the Magazine for May, 1816, we considered the mechanical properties of air. In the present paper we propose to inquire into the nature and uses of the atmosphere generally; and to endeavour to excite the admiration and gratitude of our young friends at so vast a display of infinite wisdom and goodness. The atmosphere is that light, transparent, and indispensable fluid, which entirely surrounds our world, probably to the height of about forty-five miles, touch-tains about a thousandth part of ing its surface in every part, and carbonic acid gas, and some ever accompanying it in its vari- other less important substances. ous revolutions. Its transparency" The atmosphere," says a celeis doubtless one cause of the ge- brated chemist, "is a vast laboneral ignorance of its properties, ratory, in which nature operates and the want of curiosity con- immense analyses, solutions, precerning its nature-a property, cipitations, and combinations: it however, essential to our very is a grand receiver, in which all existence. Its particles are in the attenuated and volatilized perpetual motion, although nei-productions of terrestrial bodies ther the desolating whirlwind nor violent gale, the gentle wind nor softest zephyr, is felt to move. The warmest apartment has its currents of air, which happily the studious care of the valetu

are received, mingled, agitated, combined, and separated. Notwithstanding this mixture, atmospheric air is sensibly the same with regard to its intimate qualities, wherever we examine it."

It will be obvious to every in its passage thence, imparts thinking mind, that, inasmuch caloric to every part of the body, as God can have made nothing and thus warms and invigorates in vain, and all his works are the whole system. In breathing, perfect, the various substances the atmosphere is decomposed, which compose the atmosphere and the superfluous nitrogen, no are essential to its utility, and longer needed, is thrown off at that ample provision must be every breathing, and, admirable made for the regular supply of to observe, the interval which those substances nor can we tell takes place at every respiration, which more to admire, the na allows sufficient time for the ture of the atmosphere, or the noxious nitrogen to ascend, which means of its supply. The unin-being lighter than the surroundformed may have occasionally ing air, it naturally and hastily looked on many of the unfruitful does before another breath is plants of the vegetable kingdom drawn. as comparatively useless, or, at It is moreover generally necesleast, as merely ornamental; it sary to combustion. It is always is very interesting, however, to found that where a taper will not find, that every tree, every plant, burn, animals cannot exist. In has its duty to perform, and combustion there is a chemical (though silently) is effecting its decomposition of the air; its Creator's work, by giving out oxygen combines with the comduring the day, a portion of oxy-bustible body, and the caloric, in gen to mingle with the nitrogen the state of sensible heat, greatly which we emit at every respira- contributes to our comfort, tion. and subserves many importThese considerations lead us ant purposes. In our ordinato review the uses of the atmos-ry fires, the surrounding air bephere. It is essential to animal ing progressively rarefied and life, which it promotes, by giv- decomposed, new supplies coning out its oxygen and caloric to tinually flow to make up the dethe blood. Oxygen and nitro- ficiency, and in their turn, are gen, its principal ingredients, are subjected to the same surprising of opposite natures. The for- process; and, as the fuel burns, mer is too powerful and stimulat-light is disengaged: the lighter ing, and would cause violent circulations and secretions, while the latter is incapable of supporting' existence; but, duly blended, the compound is admirably adapted for that and many other important purposes. The blood, in its circulation, is found of a purple colour; on its arrival at the lungs, it throws off its grosser particles, and imbibes the oxygen of the atmosphere, the inhaling of which changes its colour to the beautiful red with which we are acquainted: thus purified and improved, it enlivens the heart, and

parts of the matter are converted into gas or smoke, and happily escape; and when the combustion has terminated, nothing remains but the earthy part of the combustible.

rays

It is the cause of twilight. The atmosphere being the medium through which the solar pass, they become refracted towards the surface of the earth, which gives us the morning dawn and the gradual evening shade; an advantage of which we should be still more sensible, were we inhabitants of those northern re

gions where but one day and one night compose the year.

We have already remarked, that the atmosphere extends to the height of forty-five miles, which must necessarily press upon the earth with an immense weight: indeed it has been computed, that this weight is equal to that of a globe of lead sixty miles in diameter; nor is this unproductive of good; by this pressure, water is raised in our pipes and pumps. In short, it is to our

atmosphere we are indebted for the harmony of music, and the charms of conversation; the perfumes which regale the smell, and the prospects that delight the eye; while every gradation of animal and vegetable life is dependent on it.

While all the works of creation praise their great Creator, may the reader be happily found among the saints, whose privilege and delight it is to bless Him.

Obituary and Recent Deaths.

MRS. ABIGAIL WALK.

DIED, December 30, 1822, in her seventy-fifth year, Mrs. Abigail Walk, a member of the Baptist Church at Sheerness. She had for forty years adorned the gospel by a consistent walk and conversation, and has left behind a savour of her name which will not soon be forgotten.

N. N.

native air for his recovery. He had not been long gone ere she received a hasty summons to attend him. She hurried away, and arrived in time to follow him to the grave. This unexpected event first led her to serious reflection, and proved the means of awakening her to a serious concern for her eternal welfare. She saw the near approach of death, and She was born at Portsmouth in shuddered with horror at the thoughts the year 1747, where her childhood of dying, and the awful consewas spent. When about fifteen, shequences of passing into eternity unlost both her parents, and was left prepared. entirely destitute. In this situation After the poignancy of her grief she was prevailed on, by a designing was somewhat abated, she in a mewoman, to leave the place of her lancholy state of mind one Lord'snativity, and go to London. When day entered a place of worship, she arrived there, her vile compa- where she heard a discourse, in nion stripped her of all she had, and which was described the character basely deserted her. In this dilem- of those who go to heaven. As she ma she recollected having heard her walked home, musing on what she parents mention the name of an had heard, she said to herself, "My aunt who lived in the Borough. husband was not one of these chaAfter repeated inquiries, and en-racters, and must be gone to bell.” countering many difficulties, she found out her residence, and communicated to her her sorrows and misfortunes. She kindly assisted, and provided for her as a parent.

Here she continued several years, when she married one like herself, without hope, and without God in the world. Some time after, the health of her husband began to decline. He left her in London, and went down into Norfolk to try his

VOL. XV.

In an agony at the thought she exclaimed, "I would rather go to hell with him, than go to heaven without him!" She continued in this agonized state, till, directed by Infinite Wisdom, she one day went to hear Mr. Williams of Gate-street, Under his discourse the Saviour gra eiously spoke peace to her soul; and she found all she wanted, all she desired, in the Friend of sinShe became a member of the ners.

T