1828. JACK, THE SAILOR. 287 rejoiced his heart. On mentioning the Sailor's cause, he told me Punctually at 6 o'clock, the minister saw the venerable tar enter, look all around for a clear birth, and then at him in the pulpit, with astonishment to see him there. Recognizing him immediately, he paused, and at length took his seat. During the service he perceived his eye fixed on him, and now and then a tear trickling down his furrowed cheeks. After this he attended regularly every Sabbath evening. Some months after, the minister met him again in the country; told him how happy he was to see him attend at meeting; and told him there was morning service at half past 10. "Is there your honor? then I am sure to be there." There he came month after month, usually stopping, to grasp the hand of the minister as he passed to the vestry, his etes gushed out with tears. "O your honor, it does me so much good." After a time he found where the minister lived; called on him; told him he was going to London; and came to ask him whereabouts in London he could hear such preaching? The minister told him at Surrey Chapel;-that he would like to hear the dear old minister there, Rowland Hill-the seaman's friend. He thanked him, set off, was absent six months. When he called again, he said he was delighted with the old boy at Surrey; but he was now come to moor for life under his lee, and wished to join his church. After due examination he was proposed to the church, who unani mously received him, though he had not language to describe his feelings, but with tears exclaimed, "Oh, it does me good to hear of Jesus Christ, who is able and willing to receive a poor worn out sailor. If his honor the minister had not spoken to me about Jesus Christ, I must have been wrecked in the infernal pit. Now Jesus Christ takes care of me; and O how I love his dear name!" He lived some years a simple hearted Christian: grew in grace, and died rejoicing in the salvation which is of faith in a crucified Saviour. The minister, visiting him on his death bed, prayed with and for him, closed his eyes in death, and has no doubt but he shall meet him at the right hand, among the redeemed by Christ's precious blood. Oh what encouragement to address those we casually meet! New-York Observer. ARCHBISHOP WILLIAMS. Archbishop Williams, in the close of life, said to a friend of his, "I have passed through many places of honor and trust, both in church and state; more than any of my order in England, these seventy years before; yet, were I but assured, that, by my preaching, I had converted but one soul to God, I should take therein more true joy and comfort, than in all the honors and offices which have bees bestowed upon me.” SELECT SENTENCES. Diseases are the pioneers of death, to break the way for his approach. The souls of men expire not with their bodies: they resemble the lamp in Gideon's pitchers; the latter must be broken to render the former visible. Death is a judgement, that leaves a man no more land than his grave, no more clothes than his shroud, no more house than his coffin. It is the perfection of holiness to do what God loves, and love what God does. To pretend justification by the works of the law, is as unreasonable, as for man to produce in court the bond which obliges him to his creditor, as a testimony that he owes him nothing. The winds and thunder set forth God's power; the firmness of the rocks, and the incorruptibility of the heavens, are an obscure repre sentation of his unchangeableness; but holiness is the most orient pearl in the crown of heaven, and only shines in reasonable creatures Evangelical Magazin THE CALVINISTIC MAGAZINE. "Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." No. 10. OCTOBER, 1823. POPERY IN LOUISIANA. VOL. II. Extract of a Letter to the Editors of the Calvinistic Magazine, from a Citizen of Louisiana. I have read with much interest many of the controversial articles which have appeared in your periodical. They are especially useful to those who have heretofore given little attention to the peculiar doctrines of our church. In this section of the country, we have need of something aimed more directly against Popish and Infidel tenets. The influence of these opposite errors is nearly the same, and it would be difficult to determine which has effected the greater evil. If scepticism has done more injury to the morals of society, it is hardly more obnoxious to the prevalence of evangelical truth, and much more easily gives place when assailed by the sword of the Spirit. The Romanist does not read or hear the Gospel; or if (as in some instances) this is unwillingly suffered, he is forbidden to admit the most undeniable truths, or to rest on the plain interpretation of Scripture and conviction of his own conscience. "The Holy Mother Church, without whose pale there is no salvation, has charitably spared him the use of his rational faculties, and definitely fixed the sense of God's word, which if he presume to question, "Anathema jit." There is little hope of doing much for the deluded Catholics, unless some other means than merely preaching the Gospel in their vicinity is employed. Though often so regardless of all religion as to neglect the observances of their own church, they do not hesitate to reject as heretical, the doctrines of every other. The minds of the young are early imbued with sentiments of hostility to every thing anti-Roman, and filled with the idea that "their religion" is a concern of the priesthood-that when the rites of the church have been performed, the care of their souls is devolved on the priest.Consequently those most devoted to pleasure, the most worldly, the most profane among them, seem to think that their religious character is unimpeachable, unless the fasts, festivals, confession and other VOL. II. 37 injunctions have been neglected. With this confidence in superstitious ceremonies, men whose lives have been notoriously wicked, lie down and die, firmly persuaded that absolution and extreme unction have fitted them to stand before the judgment seat. The religion of Rome is not losing ground; nor are its doctrines in any thing different from that taught in Italy or Spain. It is a mistaken idea indulged by some, that the Catholic church is reformed. In many places, the proximity of Protestant churches, and the indirect influence of their doctrines, render it necessary for the Papists to conceal, explain, or diguise their most revolting dogmas; but not one article of their creed has been disavowed. Yet they have the address to impose upon their own members, and their Protestant neighbors, the belief that the religion which in Europe sanctioned persecution and the Inquisition, and the sale of indulgences, and confines salvation to the Roman communion, is very different from that located in the United States. They are even considered by some as a very charitable and somewhat persecuted community.Where objections to their creed are made, they do not attempt to refute, but repress inquiry, refer to the decrees of the church," and warn against innovations. Conversions from the Catholic faith are almost unknown, but they can boast of many proselytes. Individ uals and families from the Northern States have emigrated to this, have become connected with Catholic families, and their children are instructed in that faith. Public education, too, especially where the modern languages are taught, is in the hands of the priests. Nunneries have also been successfully employed in reclaiming the daughters of heretical protestants; and great pains are taken to obtain students for their northern colleges. The catholics of this country have been in a great measure overlooked, while on their part great exertions are making to extend and perpetuate the dominion of the Pope. It is by no means certain that the religion of Rome will not yet extensively prevail in the United States, and become the most for midable antagonist to the progress of gospel truth. That a contest must commence, or the ground be given up, and the enemy suffered to penetrate into the very centre of our country, is plainly manifest. Would it not be advisable, then, to send forth in our periodicals and religious tracts, well written articles, historical, doctrinal and controversial, that would have a tendency to expose the true spirit of popery, and the arts of her clergy? This seems to be the most practical mode of conveying religious truth to the mind of the Catholic, and will at least open the eyes of the nominal Prog testant. This was the method adopted by Luther and the other reformers, whose writings were more effectual in promoting discussion and the discovery of truth, than their public discourses. In ad-dition to these, a refutation of such infidel cavils as are suggested by the perusal of Paine and Volney, would be of great utility here. A DIALOGUE ON RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSY, BETWEEN MR. ANYTHING, MR. INDOLENCE, MR. PLAUSIBLE, AND MR. LOVETRUTH. Anything. Have you read the Calvinistic Magazine, friend Indolence? Indolence. Why I cannot say that I have; I have looked over some of the shorter pieces in that work, but I found it dwelt mostly on controverted subjects, and I hate controversy; yes Mr. Anything, my soul has always been averse to controversy. Anything. I do not wonder at your opposition to controversy. Where is the man of sense and liberality that does not dislike it? I have travelled considerably, Mr. Indolence, and after all that I have seen of the world, I am quite satisfied, that it is no matter what religious sentiments a man adopts, provided he is sincere. Indolence. My principal objection arises from the labour I must undergo if I read such works. They compel me to think; and close, deep thinking I always disliked. Yes, keep me from a brown study. And further, in that Magazine there are so many references to different passages of scripture, that it would be amazingly troublesome to turn to them all and examine them. Certainly our religious opinions cannot be so important as to render so much toil and labour ne cessary. Anything. As I remarked to you, I have travelled not a little; I have been personally acquainted with Ariaus, Socinians, Universalists, Swedenborgians and Shakers; and I found very clever, worthy people in each of these denominations. I could get along finely with any of them. I have no doubt that there are a great many sincere people in all these denominations. And what more does God require of any man than to be sincere in his belief? Lovetruth. God requires us to believe his word in sincerity. Our being sincere will not be acceptable to God, if we reject the truth. What is sincerity? It is just believing what we profess to believe. The man who does believe what he professes to believe, is sincere.— The professed worshipper of Juggernaut, who really believes that Juggernaut is God, and deserves his worship, is sincere. The professed Atheist, who really believes there is no God, may be very sin stére. The professed Deist, who really believes the Bible to be a false |