The ceremonies and vestments have lost the importance once attached to them, and which those who conformed would rather have avoided, and wished to indulge the scruples of their brethren; but the imperious Queen, in nothing inferior and preaches according to the tenor of the admirable sermon of Arch bishop Sands, be as deeply involved in the reproach he seeks to avoid, as any of his fellows; and if he maintains the same doctrines of Free Will, Faith, and Works, Assurance and Certainty of Salvation; of Me--to her father in despotism, and rit and Mercy, found in page 180 of equally a stranger to the religion of -Bishop Jewel's Apology, though he which she claimed to be defender, should never glance at the doctrine regarded the question as an infringeof the 17th Article, Viger est, the ment of her authority. No other disbrand of Calvinism, Methodism, pute among these honoured exiles Evangelism, or some other ism, will subsisted for many years. The Disbe as deeply stamped on him as on senters of that day and the Churchothers. Let him produce from the men, in doctrine, continued unawritings of all those to whom he nimous; and till the days of Laud, commends himself in his Dedication, such books as the Christian Theofor the last fifty years of his life, for logy, those of Daubeny and Kipso long he has served, any clear, de- ling, would have subjected their cided, zealous enforcement of the authors to the severest censure; doctrines he mentions, conveyed in but tempora mutantur, and the au language as forcible and precise as thor will neither be made Dean nor is found in the worthies who, he as- Archdeacon for his performances. serts, maintained them; or, if he If he will maintain the doctrines of knows a single individual who, for the Helvetic Confession, tho' he cast his fidelity and zeal in maintaining out as many hard names on Calvin them, ever received the approba. as Dr. Kipling has done, he will be tion, favour, and countenance he as much a Methodist and Dissenter professes to expect from his supe- in the church as out of it. It is riors; nay, if he does not know pleasant, however, to have the pool many who, for the diligence they kept stirring; some will step in and have shown in promoting the know- be healed. The waters will not be ledge and enforcing the practice he troubled in vain. recommends, have exposed themselves to innumerable instances of insult and oppression from those by whom they ought to have been commended, then we will retract our suspicions of insincerity, and impute to some other cause his eager desire to withdraw the Articles of the Church of England, from contain-the evidence. ing a particle of Calvinism. Magna est veritas et prevalebit. So the book of God engages us to believe; so the Signs of the Times encourage us to hope; and so indeed the experience of as long a ministry in the church of England as his, emboldens the confidence that these doctrines have increased, are increasing, and, it is hoped, will yet have more abundant increase, notwithstanding the avowed system to destroy them, and the repeated attempts to bring under censure the most zealous supporterstate about thy salvation; that were of them; and this wound too, sometimes, inflicted in the house of their protended friends. But I pass from general observations to the able advocates for truth, Jewell and Sands, who shall speak for themselves; and whether their sentiments be in any degree Calvinistic or not, the reader will judge for himself, the advocate for Primitive Truth himself furnishing JEWELL. "Liberum arbitrium captiratum, non nisi ad peccatum valet. Quod bene vivimus, quod recte intel"ligimus, Deo debemus. Nostrum nihil est, nisi peccatum, quod habemus." Only faith justifieth. They are justified freely, because working nothing, and requiring nothing, they are justified by faith only, through the gift of God." Concerning the assurance and certainty of salvation, the Scriptures are full. Cyprian saith, "Dost thou doubt and hesi 66 as much as not to know God; that were as much as, with the sin of unbelief, to offend Christ, the Master of believers; that were as much as being in the church, in the house of faith, to have no faith. It is no presumption, it is God's pronise." "God has, from the beginning, freely and of his mere favour, with out any respect of persons, predestinated and elected the saints, whom he will save by Christ. God hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world. He hath saved ns, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but ac-cording to his own purpose and -grace, which was given to us thro' Christ Jesus before all time." Few of the learned sort, few such as are connted wise, embrace the gospel with you, or join with you in faith, or keep you company. God hath let them be deceived in their wisdom. God hath made you, who were weak and simple, and of no reputation, wise and righteous, and sanctified and redeemed in Christ Jesus. Therefore, Christ said, "I thank thee," &c. The wise and learned of the world cannot hear them, cannot see them; but they to whom it pleased thee to give under standing." Talents improved, or the Philanthropist. By the Author of Interesting Conversations, &c. 12mo, Price 53. THE improvement of talents is a subject which this amiable and ingenious writer happily knows how to exemplify. Her lively powers are again called into exercise. "To con voy religious instruction in an easy and familiar manner to young and inconsiderate minds, the inviting manner of narrative, rather than the grave application of argument, is the mode by which our fair author arrests the attention of the reader; and yet, in some of the Conversations, she proves herself not defeelive in the art of reasoning. The principal hero of the narrative is Sir Charles Bright. His tutor, Mr.D.; his gardener, Roger Trusty = Mr. Mrs. and Miss Warian, are also distinguished characters in the history. In the developement of these characters, which extends through a series of years, the author displays considerable ingenuity and accuracy in preserving a consistency in them, and in making each of them interesting to the reader. Sir Charles is left an orphan; but, under the tuition of Mr. D. becomes a great scholar; and after passing through the university, returns to enjoy his paternal estate. Mr. D. resides with him as his friend. Ife establishes a manufactory; and Mr. D. gives lectures on Morality to the poor people, who, however, cannot understand him. Till this time Sir Charles continues a mere philosophical unbeliever; and in this character his tutor lived, and soon after died, evincing some symptoms of peni The good Archbishop shall close with his suffrage. "Remission of sins is free, freely granted, freely given. We teach, with the blessed apostles and prophets, that, by nature, we are children of wrath that corruption is bred and settled with ia our bones, with it, all the powers and faculties of our nature are infected. Our understanding is darkened, our will in such thral dom and slavery to sin, it cannot like of any thing spiritual or heavenly, but is wholly carried unto fleshly desires. We neither rise whentence. we are fallen, nor stand when we are risen, by our own strength: ia distress, we are not able to crave help, unless the Spirit wrest out Abba, Father, from us. We are not able to name Jesus, but by the special grace of his Spirit." these expressions and sentiments were found in any modern discourse, the author, I am afraid, would hardly be reckoned not in any degree Calviniation If Sir Charles was from early life mach attached to Roger Trusty; and often held conversations with him on religious subjects. The pious Roger, by his seasonable conversations at different times, becomes at length the successful instrument of his conversion. he is happily married; and his life is adorned with every grace that can render him an extensive blessing to society. The character of the Warian family is interwoven with the After this period, narrative. The Antinomian and sectarian pride of Mr. Warian is well pourtrayed. The imprudence and folly of Mrs. W. with the unhappy and uncontrouled passions of her daughter, and her sad end, are pictures of real life, not unfrequently seen. The two last chapters contain many well-drawn sketches, and display a talent for delineation that is at once humorous and instructive. As the author writes for a numerous class of readers, who naturally love amusement blended with instruction, they will find their taste gratified, and we hope their minds improved, by a perusal of this work. We have not room to introduce any of the incidents or characters; but we shall transcribe a few serious reflections, which will shew the tendency of the work. "The actions enumerated are the only ones you cannot, perhaps, perform; but consider the other points of his (Sir Charles's) conduct, which every individual has it in his power to copy All may use his candour and diligence in the search after truth; all may watch and improve providences; all may speak and act ་་ " for the honour of religion; and all may, in a greater or less degree, promote the happiness of their fellow-creatures. Who is there without one talent to occupy? — or rather, Who is there who has not ang talents, for which he will be expected to give an account? The improvement of talents, and the performance of duties, form the characteristic marks by which the real Christian is distinguished from the nominal. By their fruits yo shall know them." An important lesson may be learnt from the conduct of Roger Trusty; namely, that no situation in life precludes the possibility of being useful to every description of persons amongst whom Providence has placed us. Let inferiors then take encouragement to throw in a word in season to superiors; but let them be careful, that in imitating the sincerity and faithfulness of Roger, they imitate also his modesty of address and humility of disposition. Zeal, without knowledge and prudence, may be ill-directed, and consequently unproductive of the desired effect,” SELECT LIST OF RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS. Four Missionary Sermons, preach ' ed at the late Anniversary in May, by the Rev. Messrs. Newton, Jack, Griffin, and Draper; with the Re port of the Directors, and a List of Subscribers, &c. price 2s. 6d. Shrubsole's Christian Memoirs. A new edit. improved, with his Life, 8s The Transactions of the Parisian Sanhedrim; or, Acts of the Assembly of Israelitish Deputies of France and Italy, convoked at Paris; with a Preface, Notes, &c. Translated by M. Diogene Taina, 8vo, 8s. Harvest Home (a Sequel to the Happy Cottage) by Dr. Hawker, only id. Dialogues on various Subjects. By the late W. Gilpin, A. M. 8vo, 9s. Luther on the Galatians, with his Life and Partrait, 2 vols. 12mo, 8s. A Compendium of some of the most important Particulars in Natural and Revealed Religion, written chiefly for the Middle and Lower Classes. By D. Watson, Is. 6d. Patrick's Places: a Treatise on the Law and the Gospel. By Patrick Hamilton, Scotch Reformer, 8vo, 6d 17 Sermons, by Dr. Mutter, of Scotland, 2d edit. 8vo, 7s. Aged Father's Address to his numerous Family, 8vo, 1s. Admonitory Epistle to the Rev. R. Hill, Svo, Is. Voyages and Travels of a Bible, by J. Campbell, 2s. bound. Mead's almost Christian, 28th edition, 2s. bound. Simpson's Plea for Religion. A new edition, 12mo, 4s Isaiah: Part 1and11 (to be com Essay on the Prophecy of Zecha-pleted in Five) each 2s. rias, by the late Rev. H. Venn, Hervey's Meditations, with fine 12mo, 4s. Plates, in Numbers, 6d. cach. RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. MISSIONARY SOCIETY. SOUTH AFRICA. Extract from the Journal of Dr. Vanderkemp, Mr. Read, &c. Some of the most important particulars of what passed respecting the institution at Bethelsdorp, during the year 1806, have already been published, from letters which came to hand before the Journal. Some other circumstances, however, deserve to be mentioned. On the voyage, which Mr. Read took from the Cape in his return to Bethelsdorp, after being preserved from running on shore, he was deli-vered from another threatening danger. In the night of February 25, the first mate went to call the second male at four o'clock; and left a candle for him to get up by. The sccond mate, however, did not awake, or fell asleep again. The ship gave a heci, and the candle fell, and set fire to a hat-box, and then to the bed. An officer happening to go by, saw the cabin in flames. Means were immediately used, and the fire extinguished, without much damage. This deliverance was the greater, as there were more than 30 barrels of gunpowder directly under the cabin which was on fire: so that I was ch compassed about with songs of deliverance." Some time after Dr. Vanderkemp returned to Bethelsdorp from the Cape, he was preserved from death by a wonderful providence. 'A viper, which served him to keep the rats and mice out of his house, lay asleep upon his table, when, company entering, and being frightened at the sight of the animal, he desired a person to hand him the viper over, that he night remove it to some other place. That person, however, inadvertently, threw the serpent towards him, which, being thus roughly roused from its sleep, wounded him in the hand, where it was not possible to cut out a sufficient quantity of flesh; nor would he permit the people to administer the remedies usually employed by the Hottentots in this case, being, as he said, convinced of their futility. He only touched the wound with a few drops of a mixture of sulphureous and muriatic acid, which he accidentally had at hand. We expected, for more than an hour, the alarming symptoms of a threatened dissolution; but, to our astonishment, none appeared: no swelling, no vertigo, no coma, nor scotomia. His pulse continued natural. He only perceived a slight nausea, which soon abated, and left him perfectly unhurt. How we may account for this deliverance we know not; bat suspect, that perhaps the mentioned acids, by their causticity, may have power to deprive the venom of its destructive quality. Or, may we suppose, that the viper has it in its will, in certain cases, to bite, without discharging its poison in the wound?” 1 Some of the Hottentot converts have displayed much zeal in behalf of their countrymen. Brother Hendrick Boezak went to a kraal of Kong's Caffres; to whom he preached the gospel, and was abundantly rewarded by the conversion of a man called Poja, a woman, and a girl. In another excursion through the colony, his labours were likewise blessed to several individuals of the Hottentot nation.". . יז . "Brother Alexander, a native of Malabar, and slave of Mrs, Smith, who, according to the Rules of our Institution, was not permitted to reside here, but by accident was detained at this place, was likewise a blessed instrument in the hand of God among our people, being instant in season *Our Rules do not forbid a slave to live among us. We would, on the contrary, gladly receive these objects of Christian compassion; but we suffer not a Meuiber of the Institution to keep his servant in slavery at this place. and out of season, in exhorting, instructing, and reproving, with an indefatigable assiduity. Not less conspicuous were the labours of Jakob, a young Hottentot, who being of an indolent temper, and slow understanding, during his stay with us scarcely attracted our attention; but having chosen the kraal of David Steiurman for his abode, the latent spark of spiritual life kindled in his breast at Bethelsdorp, began to shine forth with an uncommon lustre, and broke out into a lucid fame, which set almost the whole kraal on fire. From David Steiurman he went to the place of William Welgemoed; from that to another; and in both, his zeal was crowned with similar success. Some of our brethren in those kraals were struck with the fervour and spirituality prevailing in the conversation and conduct of these new converts; from which (as they expressed it) the torpor and insensibility of the people at Bethelsdorp seemed to differ as death from life. "In the month of May, Brother Read constructed a smith's shop, and Brother Ulbricht a carpenter's. The former was the first house in Bethelsdorp built of stone. Brother Ulbricht took upon him the construction of a windmill; which, if he be able to accomplish, will be an article of great utility for the Institution. "The progress of the conversion of dead sinners has been this year less rapid, and less conspicuous for a great part. We can, however, with thanksgiving, enumerate Ten, who have been baptized since March 12, viz. One brother, niae sisters, and fourteen children. There are besides those, several whose conversion seems sineerc, who are not baptized, from an illfounded scrupulosity respecting the use of that sacrament, to which they fear they have no right, so long as they entertain any doubts about the sin cerity of their faith in Christ; evidencing thereby, that they are more anxious about the gift of faith than about Christ himself. The rage and hatred of the Christians (as they call themselves) of this country in general, and in particular those in our neighbourhood, secms rather to be exasperated than to subside. It was long intolerable for them to see the mercies of grace poured out upon the ficathen; but to see its almighty power glorified among their own race, drives them almost to madness and despair. O yes! glory to God, one of their own women, the wife of a farmer, of a respectable family, and much respected among her country-people, is the first fruit of Christ's victory over this perverse ge-, neration, in the district of Algoa Bay. Her conversion was striking, and signalized by her conduct towards our Hottentots. She received them with aflection in her house, at her table, and sai down at their feet to hear the... words of life out of their mouths. She afterwards came to us, and assisted in our assemblies; where the gospel she heard, and her conversation with Sister Smith, were blessed to her soul. As she possessed no Bible, Brother Vanderkemp gave her a New Testament, the contents of which were -sweeter to her soul than honey! It is customary with us, that the unbaptized are dismissed from our meetings by the deacon when the Lord's Supper is to be administered; and she was very much affected when, on such an occasion, she saw herself (though baptized, and a Member of the Reformed Church) sent out with the unbelieving Heathen, while her soul panted after Christ and his rightcousness. But the next week, Brother Vanderkemp, being informed of this, and considering that there is no Reformed Church in this district, presented her as a living member of Christ's body to the congregation, who received her unanimously and with joy as a sister; and then she was admitted to the Lord's Table. The change of her heart, and her connexion with us, exposed her to be persecuted by her own people. Her father, husband, sister, more distant relations, and the whole circle of her former friends, united in insulting her in the most distressing uner; and a plan is formed to remove her to some distant part of the colony, that she may live out of danger of being more infected by the contagion at bethelsdorp, 1 |