tively "filled with all unrighteousness." The distinction that is drawn between the works of the flesh and the fruits of the spirit, is plainly between the virtues and the vices collectively, not between the effects of common and those of extraordinary grace. The converts were no where told that they were displeasing to God, as far as they did "by nature the things contained in the law," but that they must now perform the same moral duties on a higher motive, as servants, and, after all, "unprofitable servants," because "they believed in Christ," because "Christ loved them," and because all is to be referred "to the glory of God." The tenor of Scripture, in short, is not that Cornelius "feared God with all his house, and gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway" by a different sort of grace from that by which, after his conversion, he "worked out his salvation," but that the same grace co-operates with the reason and natural powers of all, whether heathen or Christian, who do not reject the gift, different, indeed, in degree, but

not in nature.

*

That the human will is not so entirely corrupt, but that it has still a principle or power left (we do not say "to turn or prepare itself for good works," but to co-operate with divine grace towards spiritual things in a manner quite inconsistent with the moral inability ascribed to it by Cal-. vinists, may be satisfactorily gathered from Scripture, notwithstanding the strong expressions which only a Pelagian can resist, declaring its inherent pravity and inclination to evil. The much disputed passage of St. Paul cannot be received in any other sense without a total disregard of the context, where he says, "To will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not, but the evil which I would not that I do. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man." With the inward man, then, i. e. with reason, and the will resulting from the proper exercise of reason, grace co-operates, without which it could produce no effectu

al result, fruitlessly "warring against the law of sin which is in the members."

PREACHING.-By Bishop Horne. At the critical moment of that night, when count Lestock, in 1741, was going to conduct the princess Elizabeth, to the palace, to dethrone the regent, and put her in possession of the Russian empire, fear preponderated, and the princess refused to set out. The count then drew from his pocket two cards, on one of which she was represented under the tonsure in a convent, and himself on a scaffold on the other, she appeared ascending the throne, amidst the acclamations of the people. He laid both before her, and bade her choose her situation. She chose the throne, and before morning was empress of all the Russians. A preacher should take the same method with his people, which the count took with the princess. Before the eyes of those who halt between God and the world, through fear or any other motive, should be placed pictures of the joys of heaven, and the pains of hell. It remains only for them to choose right, and proceed to action. Success will be the consequence.

FOR THE CHRISTIAN JOURNAL.

On the Misapplication of the Term

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP.

"Go ye and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." St. Matt. xxviii. 19.

"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into his death." Rom. vi. 3.

"By one Spirit are we all baptized into one body." 1 Cor. xii. 13.

"As many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ." Gal. iii. 27.

"We receive this child [person] into the congregation of Christ's flock." "Seeing now that this child [person] is regenerate and grafted into the body of Christ's Church.".

My sponsors in baptism, wherein I was made a member of Christ." Catechism P. E. Church.

These quotations show conclusively what is the sentiment of the Holy Scriptures, and of the Liturgy of the Protestant Episcopal Church, as to the meaning of the term Church Membership. It implies that state into which persons are placed by the grace of God accompanying the reception of the sacrament of baptism.

a

In how different a sense is the term generally understood. Is he a member of the Church? is a question often asked of those who are known to have been baptized. I wish to become member of the Church-I wish to join the Church, is the style in which pastors are almost uniformly addressed by pious parishioners who wish to be admitted to the sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

It surely does not occur to the many excellent Christians who are accustomed to this use of such and similar expressions, that they are thereby derogating from the value and efficacy of the sacred rite of Christ's own ap pointment, by which they have already joined, or become members of the Church; and are thus setting up their own judgment in opposition to the clear sense of Scripture, and the ordinance of Almighty God. All baptized persons are members of the Church. The reception of the holy communion is a privilege attached to Church membership, and a duty arising out of it, but does not in the least confer that character. N. L. K.

Greenfield, (Mass.) May 28, 1819. MESSRS. SWORDS,

In the account of St. James's Church, a mistake inadvertently occurred, which I wish you to correct in the next Journal. The whole number of communicants at Greenfield and Montague is 68, instead of the number stated, the latter being the

amount of families in both parishes. The increase, therefore, is 65.

I wish you also to add the following particulars, which should have been given at first, as an incitement to similar exertions in all places where the ability is not wanting. The members of the parish have erected a good and convenient dwelling-house for the use of the Rector-they have procured an organ, and have commenced the establishment of a minister's fund. In addition to this, the pews of the church are all reserved to be rented annually, which will insure a continuance of the means of supporting a Clergyman. Much assistance has been derived to the parish from the zeal and liberality of SHUBAEL BELL, Esq. of Boston, a gentleman whose praise is in all the churches. He has presented us with large and elegant altar tables, containing the Creed, Lord's Prayer, and Ten Commandments, with other suitable selections from Scripture. He has also collected, and presented for the use of the minister, a valuable library, consisting of three hundred volumes, many of them scarce and useful works of divines of the latter partof the seventeenth and beginning of the eighteenth centuries. Such instances of liberality and zeal for the welfare of the Church should be recorded. Yours, &c. respectfully,

HUMAN LIFE.-AN EXTRACT.

T.S.

FOR THE CHRISTIAN JOURNAL. Lines on the Instability of Human Affairs.

WRITTEN BY A YOUNG LADY,

How vain! how transitory are the scenes Which on the world's vast theatre display'd,

Oft catch the gaze of admiration!

So does the swain, the show'r now o'er, Behold the arch encircling half the skies. He sees the colours bright, and beautiful, And wishes thus they ever would remain But, ah! too soon they fade upon his sight; They mingle with each other, and they vanish.

He looks and wonders, that which one moment past

He thought within his ardent grasp to hold,

Should prove a fair delusion. Thus mortals contemplate their state on earth, Till from the rock, on which secure they stood,

Rev. MAURICE H. LANCE, the Church in THROUGH the instrumentality of the Georgetown, South-Carolina,

has the

pleasing prospect of a very handsome endowment. The zeal and foresight of this gentleman, who has officiated there for a few years back, prompted him to suggest to a few of her friends the propriety of providing for future wants by the founding of a permanent fund; and he very speedily obtained, by voluntary subscriptions, from six gentlemen, five thousand nine hundred dollars; and large additions to this amount have been promised, and are confidently expected from others. Three gentlemen subscribed fifteen hundred dollars each. This strong evidence of attachment to our primitive and apostolic Church is worthy of the highest commendation. The Publishers of the Chris tian Journal will be happy to record similar instances of it in any part of our coun try.

This instance of munificence presents an opportunity of reminding Episcopali ans of the Theological Seminary, to which their attention was directed some months ago. No object, perhaps, is more worthy the notice of those who possess wealth. The importance of a learned ministry is universally acknowledged. Christians of every denomination in this our country, are peculiarly impressed with this importance, and are rapidly founding Theological Schools for the benefit of their Students. We see, and we hear, and we remark it with great pleasure, of the endowing, in some of the seminaries already establish.

ed, of Scholarships and Professorships. Wealthy individuals thus perpetuate their names in the most honourable and useful manner. Are there not men of wealth among Episcopalians to “ go and do likewise?" The Publishers, ever anxious for the honour and welfare of the Church in which they have been reared, trust this hint is sufficient; and they fondly anticipate the pleasure of recording many in stances of pious zeal in subscriptions and bequests both to individual Churches, and to the Seminary which they now bring to the notice of their Episcopal friends.

All acts of munificence in relation to the Church, and other matters and events regarding her welfare, form proper objects of notice in this journal. The Publishers, therefore, request all persons in possession of such facts to communicate the same to them, free of postage, in as particular a manner as circumstances will permit.

Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The lady of Samuel Slater, Esq. has presented to St. Paul's Church, in this village, an elegant Glass Chandelier, together with a pair of Branches for the Reading Desk, and another for the Pulpit.

From the New-York Evening Post, of May 24. A friend has furnished the following Obituary.

DIED, on Saturday last, the 22d of May inst. in the 84th year of his age, Huen WILLIAMSON, M. D. LL. D. Fellow of the American Philosophical Society, of the Literary and Philosophical Society of NewYork, of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of the University of the State of New York, of the Society of Arts and Sciences of Utrecht, &c. &c. In every situation of life, in which it was the fortune of this eminent individual to be placed, he was distinguished by undeviating integrity and honour. Called, at an early period, to take a part in our war of independence, he, for a considerable time, held a conspicuous rank in the medical department of the American army. He was appointed one of the delegates from the state of North-Carolina, in the convention which formed the present constitution of the United States, and served as a member of Congress both anterior and subsequent to that event. But high as was his political career, his services in the cause of litera ture and science are not less meritorious. Upon the first formation of the University of Pennsylvania, he acted as Professor of

Mathematics in that institution, and, in conjunction with Rittenhouse, Ewing, and Smith, was appointed by the American Philosophical Society of Philadelphia, to observe the transit of Venus in 1769. The account of their joint labours appears in the transactions of that learned Society. He published many other papers, medical and philosophical, in the journals of different associations, and an account of his experiments on the gymnotus electricus in the transactions of the Royal Society of London. But his literary and scientific reputation chiefly rests on his history of North-Carolina, and his Essay on the Climate of the United States, which last work alone is sufficient to transmit his name with renown to posterity. He was associated with the New-York Hospital, the Humane Society, and most of the other benevolent institutions of this city, and their records bear ample testimony to his disinterested zeal and unwearied exertions in behalf of humanity. He was deeply read in theological studies, and his researches resulted in an entire conviction of the truth of Christianity, and a practice of life conformable to its divine precepts. He has left to the world another example of the union of high attainments in philosophy with confidence in the Christian consolation. Long will his virtues live in the memory of his friends, and deeply will his loss be felt by society.

DIED, in this city, on Monday, May 24th, Mr. ANDREW HAMERSLEY, aged 94. The life of this venerable gentleman had uniformly exhibited the sincerity of his faith in the doctrines and attachment to the precepts of the Gospel. Sweetness of disposition, urbanity of manners, and be- ' nevolence of heart eminently characteriz ed him. The ardour of his piety was manifested by a regular and devout attendance on the services of the temple and the altar. His attachment to them, commenced in early life, and continued as long as he retained those faculties of the mind which he consecrated to the honour and service of his Maker. The writer of this has often admired the example he uni formly set, even at 90 years of age, of improving, with little regard to the state of the weather, every opportunity of public worship, presented not only in the Sunday, but in the week day services of the Church. For many years before his infirmities rendered it impracticable, he faithfully served the parish of Trinity Church, to which he belonged, in the capacity of vestryman. In every social relation, he exhibited a characteristic fidelity, kindness, and uprightness of deportment. Adorning in all things the doctrine of God his Saviour, in which his understanding and his affections were equally interested, he has bequeathed to

the world an invaluable example, and to his family and friends, the unspeakable comfort of assuredly hoping, that through the merits of the divine Redeemer, in whom he trusted, be has entered into the joy of his Lord.

Communication.

DIED, at Burlington, in New-Jersey, on the 17th day of May, JOSHUA MADDOX WALLACE, Esquire, in the 68th year of his age, after an illness of a very few days.

It must be admitted that no partiality of affection should so warp the mind as to influence its regard for truth. On common subjects the world is sufficiently indulgent to accept the embellishments which a warm imagination may add to a few plain facts, but the language of eulogy is always suspected, and, consequently, much more exposed to the severity of remark; yet if any subject, which has occurred in this place, will bear a more than ordinary detail and warmth of expression, it may, we trust, be indulged in a tribute to the memory of this worthy gentleman and devout Christian. To his relatives and inti-mate friends, nothing, it is true, would be more superfluous than a laboured pane. gyric upon his general character. They have long been witnesses to the tenderness and sincerity of his affections; to his unwearied exertions in the cause of religion; to his devout and punctual attendance upon all her ordinances, and to the constant marks which he exhibited of a heart habitually devout, and holding commu nion with its God; but while they fondly cherish the recollection of these qualities as the source of their consolation, and the foundation of their hopes, they are willing that a bright example should be held out, in this humble and enlightened Christian, of the efficacy of Divine grace upon the frail nature of man, and be thus instrumental, after his death, in promoting what, in life, was nearest to his heart, namely, the great interests of righteousness and truth. All, therefore, who have heard the name of this gentleman may be respectfully informed, and let them rely upon the information, and make it a subject of thankfulness to the Giver of every good gift, that, in all situations,

his conduct was that of an honest man

and sincere Christian. In perilous times he was the steady patriot, partaking in the toils of his native country, and rejoicing in her success. As a magistrate he was noted for his inflexible integrity; and his scrupulous punctuality, as a man of business, was eminently conspicuous. His conjugal, parental, and social affections were of the highest order, ever disinterested, tender, and alive. The selfish principle formed no feature in his character. The offices of benevolence and humanity were familiar to his nature, and

his zeal for the education of the rising generation was evinced by his liberal contributions, and personal attendance, whenever they were required. Nassau-Hall will long remember his unwearied attentions and services, and so will other institutions of that kind. But it was chiefly in his Christian labours of love that this worthy gentleman stood pre-eminent. In these his whole soul appeared to be engaged. The circulation of the Holy Scrip tures was the primary concern of his heart, and theme of his conversation. To promote the great object of Bible Societies he, accordingly, spared no pains nor la bour; and to aid religious institutions in general, no application to his purse was

ever made in vain. As a Catholic Chris tian his love was unfeigned to all who love the Lord Jesus in sincerity and truth, and Ministers of the Gospel always found a welcome under his hospitable roof. Unleavened by any mixture of a sectarian spirit, his attachment to his own Church was founded on principle, and nourished by the graces accompanying her ministrations. To these he ever paid unfeigned and punctual compliance; and we may humbly hope, nay, confidently trust, that, as the appointed means of sanctification, they enabled him to subdue the power of sin; and, at last, to sink with a compo sure, which is seldom observed even in God's faithful servants, into the arms of his Heavenly Father. The particular Church of which he was, for many years, a devout member and faithful officer, while lamenting his loss, will find comfort in the well-grounded hope, and assurance that he passed to Christ's Church Triumphant in the heavens; that his example, displaying the powerful influences of re ligion on the human heart, enables him still "to speak, though he be dead;" and that, with respect to him, the remark of the Psalmist will be verified"The sweet remembrance of the just Shall flourish, when he sleeps in dust." Burlington, N. J. May 27th, 1819.

On the 27th May, 1819, a new Church, erected in the town of Red-Hook, Dutchess county, was consecrated; and the Rev. HENRY ANTHON, Deacon, admitted to the

holy order of Priests, by the Right Rev Bishop HOBART.

THE Publishers think it proper to state, that the avocations of the Right Rev. Bishop HOBART, not permitting a constant superintendence of the Journal, it has been issued, since the commencement of the present volume, under the additional inspection of the Rev. BENJAMIN. T. ONDERDONK.

Erratum in our last.-Page 142, col. 1. line 39, for " divine," read required.