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on that subject, and he never varied respecting it: but no controversy arose upon it among Protestants"-"As that blessed work [the reformation proceeded, the other churches sunk back, and Geneva went somewhat beyond them, with out being considered as furnishing the least ground of variance between them. To the last Calvin venerated and loved Melancthon, and used to call him The Divine,' and it was not till 1552 that he published his work on predestination."

3. He was not the blameable originator of those exceptionable extremes, which, since his time, have been denominated Calvinism. For what says the review er on this point? "On nearly all the additional points which have been called Calvinism in later times, he took the opposite side to that which his supposed followers occupied." This statement the reviewer afterwards confirms, by a specification of particulars, in which Calvin differed distinctly and avowedly, from those who have since usurped his name, to sanction their indefensible tenets.

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4. Calvin did not, in his writings, dwell chiefly, or at great length, on the subject of the Divine decrees. For," says the reviewer, "instead of these deep questions filling the volumes of Calvin, there is little comparatively on the subject in them. Even in the Institutes, they occupy only about a twentieth part of the work." Again -"The doctrine of predestination was not his great subject; it was not that which mainly engaged his powers, much less that on which he exclusively dwelt.”

4. The reviewer says, in the first paragraph in our present number, "He carried his metaphysical deductions from Scripture beyond the statements of the inspired oracles; he employed the word reprobate in a sense in which it does

not occur in the Bible, he alluded too frequently to the secret will and purposes of God, and spoke of men in that point of view so as sometimes to seem to contradict the general tenor of Scripture, and the universal practice of the inspired teachers; and he framed too, boldly a system which was drawn, as he conceived, from Scriptural principles, but certainly not found explicitly in the sacred volume." Now let candour say, if this is reconcileable with the following: "Read," says the reviewer, "Read his able and most learned Commentaries from one end of the seven folios to the other-you find the most luminous exposition of the Holy Scriptures-a penetration that solves almost all difficulties-an honest and good sense that seizes on the main point-a fairness and impartiality which seem to know no system. After three centuries, the Commentaries of John Calvin remain unrivalled." We think it must either be maintained that Calvin in his Institutes pointedly contradicted his own Commentaries on the Holy Scriptures, or that there is a palpable inconsistency in the two preceding and contrasted statements of the reviewer. But we have no recollection of having heard or read, that even the enemies of Calvin have charged his other works with being in conflict or at variance with his Commentaries. If there ever was an uninspired human mind, in which truth, and especially theological truth, was completely and consistently systematized (whether the system was right or wrong, is not now the question), that mind was John Calvin's. We must think, therefore, that good and candid men-lovers of the great and fundamental truths of revelation, and yet not willing to be esteemed Calvinists and such the principal writers for the Christian Observer appear to us to be-will find

that the inconsistency is in themselves, and not in Calvin, when they take, as they do, a great part of his system and applaud it highly, and yet reject and censure another part; we mean a part on which he placed any considerable stress, and regarded as an integral part of the whole. We plead, not for Calvin's infallibility, but for his consistency-his consistency in the great features of his system. We are not prepared to swear in the words of Calvin, nor in those of any uninspired man. We think him erroneous in some of his opinions in regard to the Christian Sabbath; and we could mention what we consider as minor errors in other instances. But take his doctrinal system of theology, in its essential or important parts, and we verily believe that you must take the whole, with only an allowance for slips and oversights, or charge yourself, and not Calvin, with being inconsistent.

But we have not yet touched the "one point of no inferior importance," mentioned in our last number, in which we think the Observer altogether in error; and but

for which indeed, we should have suffered all the rest to pass unnoticed. It is contained in the following unqualified assertion. "He [Calvin] did not hold the doctrine of the imputation of Adam's sin to all his posterity." It does not clearly appear whether this allegation is derived from the work of Mr. Scott, or whether the reviewer makes it on his own authority-we suppose the former. We regret that we have not been able to consult Mr. Scott himself, not having heard that a single copy of his last volume has reached this country. The assertion, moreover, it should be observed, is introduced as relieving Calvin from some objections that have been made to his system. But we are persuaded Calvin himself, if he could have been consulted, would have said -non tali auxilio nec defensoribus istis. We think we shall show abundantly and incontrovertibly from his writings, that he did hold and teach" the doctrine of the imputation of Adam's sin to all his posterity." But this our space compels us to delay till the coming month.

Literary and Philosophical Intelligence, etc.

THE BURNING SPRING.

Floyd County, Ky. April 25, 1832. DEAR SIR,-In the prosecution of my Sunday school agency I yesterday reached this place, in the immediate vicinity of which is the celebrated Burning Spring, and truly it is a curiosity. On approaching it I heard its boiling, with a noise similar to that of a fifty gallon kettle over a hot fire. It is situated near the shore of a small creek, which winds its way through a deep valley between the mountains, and near the road side. There is a hole in the ground about three or four feet deep, and about the same in diameter, which, after a rain, is filled to the top with water that is kept perpetually and briskly boiling, by the gas which issues from a narrow space between two rocks at the bottom. This water is always kept muddy, but never Ch. Adv.-VOL. X.

runs over, except by an extra quantity of rain.

After viewing it for a few minutes, a lighted taper was applied to the ascending gas, and instantly the whole surface of the water was covered with a bluish red flame, three feet high, emitting a smell similar to that of burning alcohol, and with an intense heat. Thus it continued to burn for one hour while I remained, and I left it on fire.

This blaze, on a dark night, I am informed, illumes the whole valley and circumadjacent hills, and never goes out, except by the effort of man, or the descending shower.

If nothing interferes to extinguish the flame, it continues to burn until the water becomes heated, and finally evaporates, when the issuing gas, burning with more intense heat, consumes whatever combus2 L

tible substance may have been thrown into the water; and even the collected mud at the sides of the hole is pulverised with heat, as at the mouth of a furnace.

Were this gas suitably confined and directed, I have no doubt it might be used to some valuable purpose, either to drive a steam engine or illumine a city; but no use is made of it, nor does the owner of the land seem to regard it with interest, or as any curiosity.

Whence this gas issues, or what produces it, I leave to the conjectures and experiments of the learned, being confident that it is the most singular and curious phenomenon I have ever seen.

Colonization Society.-The American Colonization Society is now supported with very great liberality in many parts of the south. A letter has been received from Natches, from which the following is an extract: "We have raised funds for the transportation of the free blacks residing among us to Liberia. One gentleman has raised on his subscription paper, upwards of six thousand dollars, in less than a fortnight." Among the donations acknowledged in the last number of the African Repository, we also notice two of $500 each, from two gentlemen in Augusta, Georgia.

North Western Expedition-Dr. Houghton, of Fredonia, (Chau. Co.) who last season accompanied an expedition through Lake Superior, and to the sources of the Mississippi river, in the capacity of U. S. surgeon and naturalist, again left that place on the 2d ult. to join a second expedition under the immediate direction of H. R. Schoolcraft, U. S. Indian Agent, at the Sault Ste. Marie. It is contemplated

to visit the sources of Nelson's and M'Kenzie's river, and the Rainy Lakes; the Lake of the Woods, and Lake Winnepeg will probably be visited in the outward route, after which the expedition will visit Red River, Red Lake, and Otter Tail Lake, and by the river des Corbeau the Mississippi will be entered and descended as far as the falls of St. Anthony. The primary object of fitting out this expedition, upon the part of our government, is to check, if possible, the state of open hostility now existing among the north-western tribes of Indians. We understand that the expedition of last year effected that object in a considerable degree among those bands which were visited, and we trust that of this year will not

effect less.

Connecticut State Prison.-The Con

necticut State Prison, during the past year, has yielded to the state, after paying every expense incurred for the support and management of the establishment, $8,713 52; of which the sum of

$6,500 has been paid into the state treasury. The whole number of prisoners on the first day of April, 1832, was 192, of whom 18 were females. The prisoners in general are robust and healthy; two deaths only have occurred during the past year.

Cod Fishery.-The Barnstable Journal gives a statement of the Cod Fishery in that district for the year 1831, from which it appears that licenses were granted to 188 vessels, averaging 58 tons each. These vessels were manned by about 1500 men and boys, averaging eight persons to each. The gross proceeds from the fishe ry is estimated at $319,060; averaging about $120 a share to those employed, after deducting the proportion of the owners of the vessels and incidental expenses.

Ojibeway Language.-Rev. Mr. Boutwell, missionary to the Ojibeway Indians, has the following remark:

"The language is more flexible and less difficult of acquisition than I imagined, considering the length of many of its words; e. g. (sins), mut-che-izh-zhewa-biz-ze-win-nun. There are often thirty letters in a word. I have written out

more than two thousand forms of one

verb, and suppose I have not found all yet, viz. the verb to hear. There is one form when connected with an animate object, and another of inanimate; one for affirmation, and another for negation; causation animate, and causation indefinite: reciprocal and reflex," &c.

Death from Charcoal.-Yesterday forenoon, Mr. George W. Coombs was at work in the well of Mr. Wm. T. Spear, Prince street, about 35 feet from the surface, and Mr. Wm. Elm about eight below him, both in the employ of Mr. Isaac Scott, laying lead pipe, and using a furnace with charcoal, for soldering. Coombs complained of faintness, and Elm went up to assist him; but in passing the furnace he was likewise taken faint, yet succeeded in reaching the top, and calling assistance. Before it arrived, however, Mr. C. had fallen to the bottom. He was drawn up, and two physicians attended immediately, but life was extinct. Mr. Coombs was about 25 years of age, and has left a wife and child. It was the opinion of the physicians, that the fumes of the charcoal caused his death.

Brown University.-The Hon. Nicholas Brown, of Providence, with great liberality, has resolved to erect at his own expense, another college edifice of brick, to embrace a Chapel, Library, Philosophical from the Rhode Island papers. It is to be Hall, Lecture Rooms, &c., as we learn three stories high, and a basement 86 feet long, and 42 wide. It will be placed in the front yard of the College, on the south side. A subscription has also been com

menced, for raising twenty-five thousand dollars to constitute a permanent fundthe proceeds to be annually appropriated to the purchase of books for the library, and of philosophical and chemical apparatus. To this fund, Mr. Brown has subscribed ten thousand dollars. Another gentleman of Providence, has subscribed one thousand dollars.

The Woodbury, N. J. Herald states, that a bear, which weighed, when dressed, about two hundred pounds, was killed near Little Ease, in that county, Gloucester, a few days since. He was seen to visit a flock of sheep, one of which he killed, and carried to the swamp. A company of sportsmen, with dogs, got upon the track, and after a number of shots, succeeded in bringing the offender down.

The large balloon which Mr. Durant has been constructing for an aerial experiment, was destroyed by spontaneous combustion, at Jersey City, between the hours of 8 P. M. on Saturday, and 5 a. M. on Sunday. On Saturday, 9 A. M. it was dipped in varnish, and suspended in the air to dry till 8 P. M. when it was removed to a room, where it lay on four chairs, covering a surface of 14 or 15 square feet. The following morning it was almost entirely reduced to a cinder.

By the Poughkeepsie Telegraph, we learn that a piece of land, embracing an area of an acre and a half, on the eastern

shore, in Dutchess county, three miles above Newburg, has sunk one hundred feet, so that the tops of the highest trees growing upon it, are scarcely level with the surrounding surface.

Foreign Plants.-Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin, as a mark of his regard for his native land, has sent from England to Mr. Winship of Brighton, a collection of scarce and valuable plants, including several hundred of the choicest productions of English gardens. We understand they have been received in good order, and they will make a valuable addition to the choice collection of plants, with which Mr. Winship's gardens were already stored.

Gambling. It appears from an official document, that the enormous sum of ninety thousand dollars was received during the last year by the city of New Orleans, from the single source of licenses to gambling houses kept open within its limits.

Removal of a Block of Buildings.-In widening a street in New York, it was deemed necessary to remove or demolish a large block of seven brick buildings. Mr. Simeon Brown, a civil engineer, undertook to remove them, and performed the extraordinary feat last Tuesday in three hours. The whole mass of buildings, 192 feet long, was removed back upon horizontal ways, a distance of seven feet by screws, without the least injury.

Heligious Intelligence.

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, commenced its annual Sessions in the first Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, on Thursday, the 17th of May ult., at eleven o'clock A. M.; and was opened with a sermon by the Rev. Nathan S. S. Beman, D. Ď., the moderator of the last year, from Acts xix. 20. After the roll was made out according to a standing order, two candidates for the Moderator's chair were put in nomination-the Rev. Drs. James Hoge, and Gardiner Spring. At the pressing and repeated request of Dr. Spring, his name was withdrawn from the nonomination. Several other nominations were then made, all of which, at the request of the parties,

were eventually withdrawn, and the election of Dr. Hoge was unanimous. The Rev. Philip Hay was chosen temporary clerk. On the second day of the Sessions, the Assembly, at the close of the morning Session, adjourned to meet in the afternoon of that day, in the seventh Presbyterian Church: and in this church, as more retired and free from the noise of the street than the first Church, the remaining Sessions were held. There were present in the Assembly this year, about 320 members, including delegates from corresponding bodies.

The first interesting question which came before the Assembly, was that which related to the division of the Presbytery of Philadel

phia, on the principle of what has been called elective affinity, or the choice and personal attachment of its members. This subject was ardently discussed for a whole week: first by the complainants against the Synod that had refused to form such a Presbytery, then by the representatives of the Synod in reply, and finally by the members of the Assembly. The complaint against the Synod was eventually sustained, and the petition for the erection of the new Presbytery, on the principle of elective affinity, was granted. The vote was taken by yeas and nays, which were at first recorded, but in the last afternoon of the Sessions, were, by a unanimous vote of the house, expunged from the minutes. The yeas were 166, the nays 87. The Synod of Philadelphia was, as a party, not permitted to vote: but had the votes of its members been taken, there would still have remained a majority of more than forty, in favour of the decision which was made. After this decision, many questions of considerable importance were disposod of, without any unusual warmth or earnestness of debate, till a motion was made to appoint a committee to draught a pastoral letter to the ministers and churches under the care of the Assembly, relative to the state of religion, with special reference to the subject of revivals. The appointment of such a committee was vigorously and earnest ly opposed on one side, and pleaded for on the other, and was at length decided in favour of a committee, by one of the closest votes we have ever witnessed. On taking the yeas and nays, it appeared that the yeas were 126, and the nays 122. Yet when the letter was brought in and read, it was adopted, with all but a perfect unanimity. We believe there was but a single dissenting voice. One half of the day, which had been exclusively set apart for devotional

exercises, was this year, on a motion to that effect, appropriated to common business transactions. The Missionary and Education Boards of the Assembly, were reappointed without any opposition; and other important decisions were made agreeably to the wishes of those who have been denominated Old Schoolmen, with but little resistance. On the last day of the Sessions, there was the appearance of as much mutual concession and fraternal feeling, as we ever remember to have seen in any General Assembly of former years.

Our present purpose is merely to state some leading facts. Our opinions on the several measures adopted, and the aspect which the whole proceedings of the last Assembly bear on the state and prospects of our church, we withhold for the present. Whether we shall withhold them ultimately or not, is yet a matter of deliberation. We should strongly incline to leave every thing as the Assembly left it, did we not see that some of the journals that have heretofore opposed the views which we entertain, are already taking, or rather keeping up, a controversial character, and are endeavouring to represent those with whom we have thought and acted, as having received discomfiture and rebuke, by the general doings of the last Assembly. If spared to the coming month, we shall then be better able than at present, to make up our mind as to the course which a regard to our duty as a Christian Advocate, and a friend to the Presbyterian Church, may call us to pur

sue.

We add the Narrative on the State of Religion, which ought to be read in connexion with the pastoral letter, in order to obtain a full view of the Assembly's estimate of the state of religion in the churches under their care.

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