Page images
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors]

signating their character. The claim is virtually allowed by most other Christians. Of the claim, I will now say nothing further, than that if they who advance it are sincerely of opinion that others have forfeited their title to it, they have a right to charitable allowance for the error. In the sanctioning of the claim by others, lies the greatest evil. It is doing injustice to the cause of Christ; by virtually allowing that a portion of his followers, who, we honestly think, have very essentially departed from the purity of his religion, compose his whole (Catholic) Church. It is doing injustice to those Christians who have thrown off the corruptions of the Church of Rome; by virtually admitting that they thus severed themselves from the Catholic or Universal Church of Christ. It is doing injustice to the standards of the Protestant Episcopal Church, by placing her language at variance with that generally received; and subjecting it to being misunderstood, or perverted.

The religious denomination which assumes the term in question, as specially its right, should be distinguished, as all others are, by titles arising out of its peculiarities; as the Church of Rome, the Roman, or Romish Church, as designating the local centre of its influence and authority; or the Papal Church, as indicative of the constitution of its ministry, and thus upon the same footing with the terms Episcopal, Presbyterian, and Congregational: but ought not to be encouraged in claiming the term Catholic, to which all are entitled who come under the definition of the 19th article above quoted. Romanists, or Papists, should, upon the same principle, be the term used to designate the members of that Church.

The expression Roman Catholic, is hardly less censurable than the latter word simply. It implies a contradiction. Let its form be changed into Roman Universal, and this will at once appear. If it be said that the expression may be considered elliptical, and denoting the same as the Roman branch of the Universal Church, it is still liable to the objec

tions above stated, by conceding, in common usage, the term Catholic to this one denomination, to the exclusion of all others. No one thinks of saying English Catholic, Danish Catholic, Swedish Catholic, &c. yet these terms ought to be used, in justice to Protestant churches, if Roman Catholic is used in compliment to the Papal Church.

Remarks on some other misapplied terms, it is proposed to submit hereafter. N. L. K.

CYRUS AND TIGRANES.

CYRUS had taken the wife of Tigranes, and asking him what he would give to save her from servitude? He replied, all that he had in the world, and his own life into the bargain. Cyrus, upon this, very generously restored her, and pardoned what had passed. All were full of his praises upon this occasion; some commending the accomplishments of his mind, others those of his person. Tigranes asked his wife whether she di. t greatly admire him? "I never looked at him," said she. "Not look at him!" returned he; 66 upon whom then did you look?" "Upon him," replied she, "who offered his own life to redeem me from slavery."

This charming example should be copied into our behaviour in the house of God; where we should behold and contemplate the beauties and perfections of that blessed Person alone, who actually did give his life a ran som for us.

MORNING HYMN ON EASTER-DAY
BY BISHOP HORNE.

HARK! the shrill herald of the morn
Begins the sons of men to warn,
And bids them all arise,
To celebrate his great renown,
Who sends the light refulgent down,
To bless our longing eyes.
At this the fainting shadows die,
The pow'rs of darkness swiftly fly

Before the morning star;
And fiends, abash'd at sight of day,
Pale trembling murder dares not stay,

Back to their den repair. 'Tis this the weary sailor cheers, Who now no more the tempest hears,

Which morning bids to cease: O come that day-spring from on high, When discord shall with darkness fly,

And all be light and peace! 'Twas this that drew repentant tears From Peter, led by worldly fears His master to disown; Warn'd by the monitor of day, He cast the works of night away, And sought th' abjured sun. Whene'er the bird of dawning crows, He tells us all how Peter rose,

And mark'd us out the road; That each disciple might begin, Awake, like him, from sleep and sin,

To think betimes on God.
Smote by the eye that looks on all,
Let us, obedient to the call,

Arise to weep and pray;
Till mournful, as on sin we muse,
Faith, like an angel, tells the news,
"The Lord is ris'n to-day!"

[ocr errors]

THE WIDOW OF NAIN.
'since he is gone
I ask no earthly hope-be thou,

Oh Israel's God! my portion now:
And, when the pangs of memory prey
On my cold heart, be Thou my stay,
And teach my sinking soul to say,

It is the Lord-His will be done.'
She ceased-upon the green hill's brow
A cloud of dust was gathering now:
Hark! through the light air echoing loud
The murmurs of a mingled crowd.
Onward the tumult rolls-'tis near-
They listen, mute with breathless fear:
Is it the lordly Roman's car?
The pomp and pageantry of war:
Where Zion's sons must swell the train,
Of foes their inmost souls disdain?
Or those bold warriors-wild, yet free-
The rebel bands of Galilee ?
No-they are brethren-and that cry
Is the glad shout of victory:
"Tis high Hosanna's loud acclaim,
'Tis roy al David's honoured name.
And now they wind the steep descent-
The glance, in swift inquiry bent,
Wandered o'er all, but fixed on one-
Circled by numbers, yet alone.
Robed in the garb of poverty,
Nor king, nor priest, nor warrior he;
Yet why they know not-in his mien
A latent loftiness was seen:
A more than mortal majesty,
'That daunted while it fixed the eye.

The countless throng that round him pressed,
To him their songs of praise addressed;
Not thus had Abram's seed adored,
A heathen chief-an earthly lord.
They come they meet-but, ere they past
One gracious, pitying look he cast
On that pale mourner-marked her tear,
And bade her weep not;'-to the bier
He turned--but, ere he spoke his will,
Each trembled with a sudden thrill
Of conscious awe-the train stood still!
The mournier-speechless and amazed,
On that mysterious stranger gazed.

If young he were, twas only seen
From lines that told what once had been;-
As if the withering hand of Time
Had smote him ere he reached his prime.
The bright rose on his cheek was faded;
His pale fair brow with sadness shaded→
Yet through the settled sorrow there

A conscious grandeur flashed-which told
Unswayed by man, and uncontrolled,
Himself had deigned their lot to share,
And borne-because he willed to bear.
Whate'er his being, or his birth,
His soul had never stooped to earth;
Nor mingled with the meaner race,
Who shared or swayed his dwelling place:
But high-mysterious-and unknown,
Held converse with itself alone:
And yet the look that could depress
Pride to its native nothingness;
And bid the specious boaster shun
The eye he dared not gaze upon,
Superior love did still reveal-
Not such as man for man may feel-
No-all was passionless and pure-
That godlike majesty and woe,
Which counts it glory to endure-

And knows, nor hope, nor fear below;
Nor aught that still to earth can bind,
But love and pity for mankind.
And in his eye a radiance shone

Oh! how shall mortal dare essay,
On whom no prophet's vest is thrown,
To paint that pure celestial ray?
Mercy, and tenderness, and love,

And all that finite sense can deem
Of him who reigns enthroned above;-
Light-such as blest Isaiah's dream,
When to the awe-struck Prophet's eyes,
God bade the star of Judah rise-
There heaven in living lustre glowed-
There shone the Saviour-there the God.
Oh ye to whom the dying Lord
Your sorrows-not his own-deplored:
Thou, on whose guilt the Saviour cast
A look of mercy 'twas his last :
Ye-who beheld when Jesus died,
Say ye-for none can tell beside,
How matchless grace, and love divine,
In that immortal glance would shine.
And she too felt and owned its power
To soothe in that despairing hour;
Her pulse beat quick and to her heart
A ray of rapture seemed to dart :-
The cloud that hung upon her brow
Wore off and all was comfort now ;-
And why? she thought not on the dead-
Her sight on Him was riveted,

Whose look such peace and glory shed:-
So the wan captive, o'er whose cell
No solitary sunbeam fell;

When years and years have lingered by,
Restored to light and liberty,
Fixes his first enraptured gaze
Upon the bright sun's living rays.
Short space he stood'-his lifted eyes
To heaven a moment raised-he spoke-
These words the solemn silence broke:
'Young man, I say to thee, arise!?
Where is thy victory, oh Death?

A nobler, mightier arm than thine
Has shook the dark abodes beneath,
And bade the grave her prey resign.
Jesus, thy victor and thy Lord,
Has rent thy once resistless sword:
Fell tyrant of the fatal brow,
Where are thy vaunted triumphs now

[ocr errors]

He moves he breathes he lives-he wakes→→
Swift as the vivid lightning breaks
Through the black tempest's murky night,
His eye unclosed to life and light;
The crimson to his pale cheek rushed--
To his cold heart the life-blood gushed,
And circled quick through every vein,
And waked the fluttering pulse again.
Round his closed lips-still uneffaced
Had fixed the smile with which he died;
Death's marble look so well it graced,
One only charm seemed still denied...
"Twas life---and what are all beside?
Where is that mortal paleness fled?
Is that the cold smile of the dead?
Away! thou busy fiend' Despair,
'Tis life itself that kindles there.
'Tis life! by that almighty word
His mortal being is restored,
And reason flashes to his brain,
And mind and memory wake again.
Whate'er in other worlds he saw,

Man knows not---none can ever know...
But peace---and joy---and holy awe
Still lightened lingering on his brow,
And o'er his face a lustre shed---
Not of the living, or the dead.
Where am I whither are ye fled
'Fair visions of celestial light,
That seem'd to hover o'er my head,
Oh! bear me with you in your flight.
Can this be earth---and must I deem
< Twas all an unsubstantial dream?
"Tis strange---light faded from mine eye,
And on my brow such darkness fell
As none have ever lived to tell."
That last mysterious agony
"Which throbs---and man has ceased to be:

The frame is clay---the soul is free.

I deemed this change had passed on me, 'And my light spirit soared on high, 'I know not where---from memory All passed with life's returning breath ;--'Yet still I feel if such be death, ""Tis blessedness to die.

But speak--what means this sable bier, 'This funeral train---whence came I here? Ha! thou too, mother-thou so near 'And I beheld thee not--

*

Did Nature's last convulsive thrill
Press heavy on her beating brow,
That gentle voice had soothed her still---
And yet she hears not--heeds not now---
She heard in hope, and holy dread,
The awful words that raised the dead:
She saw the spirit kindle o'er

His pale cold cheek---she saw no more---
Rushed she not forth to clasp her son?
No! to that high and holy One,
Urged with resistless zeal she turned,
Her breast with strong emotions burned---
As lowly at his feet she knelt,
Well might her throbbing bosom melt
With faith and love, till now unfelt:
'Twas God himself she gazed upon.
Her favoured soul was given to see,
The pure incarnate Deity,

And speech, and sight, and spirit failer
Before the Godhead, though 'twas vailed.
Burning with gratitude and love,
For utterance long in vain she strove:
At length she spoke--- My God! my Lord!
Oh! for that mercy all divine
Which deigned to visit guilt like mine,

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

LORD LYTTLETON died 1773, a firm believer in the Christian religion. Genuine faith in Christ is essential to our happiness in the present state, and in that which is to come. To give credit to his testimony, imbibe his spirit, rely on his righteousness, and obey his commands; these form the Christian character. How many, however, call themselves Christians, and yet are strangers to these principles; and alas! how many are disposed to reject the whole system of Christianity, although they have never closely examined its evidences. Let not, however, the humble inquirer despond; the enemies to Christianity may endeavour to throw objections in the way; but light shall increase; and truth shall be found by all who sin"When I first set cerely seek her. out in the world (said Lord Lyttleton to his physician in his last illness) I had friends who endeavoured to stagger my belief in the Christian religion, but I kept my mind open to conviction. The evidences and doctrines of Christianity studied with attention, made me a most firm and persuaded believer of the Christian religion. I have made it the rule of my life, and it is the ground of my future hope." His Lordship's Treatise on the Conversion of the Apostle Paul is unanswerable.

CONFESSION OF LORD ROCHESTER. ANTHENAGORAS, a famous Athenian philosopher, had entertained so unfa vourable an opinion of the Christian religion, that he was determined to write against it; but upon an intimate. inquiry into the facts on which it was supported, in the course of his collecting materials for his intended publication, he was convinced by the blaze of evidence in its favour, and turned his designed invective into an elaborate apology, which is still in being. Even the most profligate infidels have been brought at last to own the truth

of Christianity. What a confession is that of Lord Rochester: "If God," says he, "should spare me a little longer time here, I hope to bring glory to his name, proportionably to the dishonour I have done to him in my whole past life, and particularly by my endeavours to convince others, and to assure them of the danger of their condition, if they continued impenitent, and to tell how graciously God hath dealt with me."

Ordination.-At an ordination held on Sunday, March 14, at Christ Church, Philadelphia, by the Right Rev. Bishop White, Bird Wilson, A. M. of Pennsylvania, and William Wilson, A. B. of South-Carolina, were admitted to the holy order of Dea

cons.

OBITUARY.

COMMUNICATED.

"We talk of heaven, we talk of hell,
But what we mean, no tongue can tell;
Heaven is a place where angels are,
And hell the chaos of despair;
Yet what those awful words imply,
None of us know until we die."

DIED, at Charleston, on a journey for his health, the Rev. WILLIAM H. NORTHROP, a Deacon of this Diocess. He was ordained by the Right Rev. Bishop HOBART, on Trinity Sunday, June 1st, 1817, in St. Paul's Chapel, New-York. Immediately after, by the recommendation of the Bishop, he took charge of the parish of St. Peter's Church, in Auburn. Here, by an intense application to study, and diligent discharge of parochial duties, he induced a consumptive disease, which terminated in dissolution. A young man, dear to his parents and friends, dear to the congregation who had been blessed with his ministerial labours, and dear to the Church in general, he will long be remembered and lamented. Seldom have we been called to notice so promising a flower in the Church, blighted before it was full blown-possessing genius, education, and talents, which fitted him for usefulness, he adorned them by a piety and virtue, surpassed by that of few of the same age. Well instructed in the principles of the Church, and under the most thorough conviction

of their accordance with the Gospel, he was scrupulously exact in the observance of her requisitions, and in the respect and reverence due to her constituted authorities. He had a solidity and firmness of character, highly becoming the sacred office. As a man, he was respected and beloved, because amiable and sincere; and as a Christian minister, faithful, circumspect, and exemplary. He is gone. Thus doth the providence of God, in wisdom which we cannot comprehend, see fit to take from us the young as well as the aged. And thus, " in the midst of life we are in death." Blessed are those who, in "the communion of the Catholic Church," are met by death "in the confidence of a certain faith, in the comfort of a reasonable, religious, and holy hope, in favour with God, and in perfect charity with the world." In such a state, we trust, the subject of these remarks, departed the present for a better

life.

DIED, in Maryland, the Rev. WILIAM DUNCAN, Rector of Allhallows, Anne-Arundel, in that Diocess.

DIED, on the 5th March, at the Island of St. Thomas (where he went for the benefit of his health) Dr. JOHN C. OSBORN, late of this city. He was a native of Middletown, ther, an eminent physician, still lives. Early in life, after having received his education under his father's care and direction, he settled at Newbern, N. Carolina, where, for many years, he practised physic very tation. From Newbern he removed to this extensively, and with distinguished repucity, where he soon became equally eminent, and was universally considered as among the most learned and skilful member of the profession. In addition to a very thorough acquaintance with medical science, he possessed an extensive knowledge of general science and literature; and he may be considered as ranking high among the respectable scholars in our country. Few men have been more esteemed by their friends, or respected for their Daily Adv.

in the state of Connecticut, where his fa

talents and learning.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Memoirs of the late Rev. WILLIAM JONES, of Nayland: extracted from his Life by WILLIAM STEVENS, Esq. (Continued from page 70, and concluded.) Ar the preaching of the first of these sermons, the audience was not large, but it increased annually, as the fame of the preacher "was noised abroad," whose manner was no less animated and engaging than the subject matter was profound and important, bringing out of his treasure things new and old ;" and, at the last Sermon, the Church was full. Satisfaction was visible in every countenance while he was preaching, and disappointment when he shut the book, as "sorrowing they were to hear no more."

This faithful Seer, lamenting the corruption of the times, and the prevalence of error, through the artifices and assiduity of sectaries, so cinians, and infidels, had long meditated the establishment of a society for the Reformation of Principles, with a view to take such measures, in a literary way only, as should be most conducive to the preservation of our Religion, Government, and Laws; and, at last, in the year 1792, he flattered himself he had accomplished it. But to whatever cause it was owing, whether to the humble situation of the first mover-great abilities, and "an honest and good heart," apart from outward append ages of a dignified station, not being sufficient to recommend the plan-or to the little zeal of those who should have promoted the good work, it did not meet with the countenance and protection that might have been expected, but soon fell to the ground. VOL. III.

[VOL. III.

However, to his praise be it spoken, he did what he could. He wrote the prospectus, explaining the object of British Critic; and he published, in the society; he gave being to the two volumes, the Scholar Armed against the Errors of the Times. His Scholar Armed is a judicious well digested collection of invaluable tracts, intended for the information and assistance of young students, excellently adapted to the purpose, and ought to be in the hands of every one.

Pro ecclesia Dei, pro ecclesia Dei, were the last words of Archbishop Whitgift. In life and in death, his chief care was for God's Church. So might it be said of this able defender of the household of faith. And his care for God's Church made him anxious for the success of that pure and reformed part of it, the not established Episcopal Church in Scotland, in their application to parliament for relief from the hard penalties under which they had long suffered. Through his acquaintance with one of the Bishops, with whom he had frequently corresponded, he was not an unconcerned spectator in the business.Though too inconsiderable in station to be of any immediate service, he rendered them mediately all the service in his power, and they had also his prayers-" The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." Their cause was heard, and they were relieved. What is now to be lamented is, that the English episcopally ordained clergy, who have chapels in Scotland, do not at once acknowledge the spiritual authority of the Bishop of the Diocess in which they reside. They must have very low imperfect notions of the Church

13

« PreviousContinue »