REVIEW OF RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS. all the grossest crimes of a character, previous to its moral change. It is possible to communicate the idea, that the sins of an unconverted state have been of scarlet dye, without tracing and describing their actual commission, through a succession of many years. And as the respecfed Editor of this pamphlet, has already suppressed some passages in the original, we could readily have given him the liberty of omitting several more. The Memoirs present us with a remarkable instance of conversion in one of the "chief of sinners;" a young person, who, after being abandoned to the worst of vices, was at length reclaimed by divine grace, from the error of her ways. In the early part of her life, she became connected with the gypsies, and continued several years with that wretched class of "houseless rovers.' Although she seems to have been the subject of frequent convictions (which were probably owing to the instructions received at the Rev. G. Whitfield's school at Tabernacle when a child) yet, she does not appear to have been effectually taught of God till she attended the meeting at Stony-Stratford, and afterwards read Alleine's Alarm to Sinners. Removing at length to Olney, she joined the Church under the pastoral care of the Rev. Mr. H., and died an honourable member of that religious community. The illustrative notes and conclusion which accompany the narrative, are certainly well calculated to prevent such unfavourable impressions as might have been apprehended from the narrative alone. THIS Number contains the conclusion of the Journals of the Missionaries at Otaheite; a general account of which we gave in our Magazine for June: it also contains the Journal of the Missionaries Cran and Desgranges, while they resided at Madras, and afterwards at Visigapatam, the present scene of their labours. The favour which it pleased God to give them in the eyes of gentlemen who could further the object of their mission, is very remarkable, and encourages a hope that a wide and effectual door is opened for the Missionaries in that populous region of the earth. We are extremely gratified to observe, that several clergymen and gentlemen in the East Indies discover a laudable zeal for the promotion of re 325 ligion. The Rev. Dr. Kerr, particularly, senior chaplain at Madras, is publishing a series of Religious Tracts. from which the most beneficial effects may be expected. The Missionaries had the pleasure of meeting with a young Arabian, Nathaniel Sabat, who was born in the neighbourhood of Jerusalem. He now professes the Christian faith, and finds great delight in reading the New Testament. He attends our brethren daily, to perfect himself in the English language, which he begins to speak. has been very ill; but should he recover, he expresses a strong desire to translate the Scriptures into the Persian language; and to give up a lucrative place, which he now holds, to become a Missionary. He Dr. Taylor and Mr. Loveless arrived at Madras before the brethren Cran and Desgranges left it. Dr. Taylor is gone to Serampore, to confer with the Baptist Missionaries. Brother Loveless, in the mean time, preaches in the Black Town, at Madras. This Number is enriched with some notes, which throw considerable light on the state of things in India; and the next Number, which is expected shortly, will, we hear, contain an interesting Journal of Mr. Ringeltaube, at Tranquebar; in which some curious particulars of the customs of the Hindoos will be narrated. Lectures on some Passages of the As of the Apostles. By J. Dick, A. M. one of the Ministers of the Associated Congregation, Shuttle Street, Glasgow. Price 78. SOME years ago, Mr. Dick appeared before the public with much respectability, as the author of a treatise on the Inspiration of the Old and New Testament. The present volume will not detract from the fame which he then so justly acquired. It contains sixteen discourses, by way of exposition of some of the most remarkable passages of the first fifteen chapters of the Acts of the Apostles. The reader will everywhere meet with good sense and scund theology, wrapped up always in neat, and frequently in elegant language. The subjects are-the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ, The Day of Pentecost, -The Formation and Order of the Primitive Church, -The Lame Man cured by Peter and John, Peter and John examined by the Council,- Ananias and Sapphira, The Council of Gamaliel, The Institution of Deacons,- The Martyr If "On these instances of unsuccessful insurrection and imposture, Gamaliel founds the following advice, which he gave to the council:- And now I say onto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone; for if this council, or this work, be of men, it will come to nought; but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.' He dissuades them from violent measures, as unnecessary or impious. the new religion was of God, its progress could not be retarded by their opposition; which would involve them in the guilt and ruinous consequences of contending with Heaven. If it was a human contrivance, it could not Jong maintain itself against the evidence of truth. Such is the counsel of Gamaliel; but justice is not done to it, if it be considered as a general rule, applicable to every case which may arise. Neither Scripture nor experience will warrant us to affirm, that a work or imposture of man will always come speedily to nought; or that a work of God will always prosper, whatever obstacles are opposed to it; not indeed from any want of power to remove those obstacles, but from causes to us perhaps unknown, which may induce him to resist. Christianity itself, has,, in some instances, been overthrown by the united activity of Error and Force. Witness those countries in which there were once many flourishing churches, but where Mahometanism is now the established religion. The reformation from Popery is regarded by every Protestant as a work of God; but is now successfully resisted in some nations of Europe, in which it had met with a favourable reception, and promised ultimately to prevail. On the other hand, we can produce works undoubtedly, not of God, of which the suceess has been extensive and permapent. The reign of Antichrist, the adversary of God and his Son, the patron of Error, Idolatry, and Wretchedness, once extended over a great part of Europe; and is to last, according to prophecy, during 1260 years. The re ligion of Mahomet was contrived by the impostor himself, who at first persuaded, with some difficulty, his own relations to embrace it; but having been, by various means, disseminated among the neighbouring tribes, it passed the limits of Arabia, and, spreading over the eastern countries with the rapidity of lightning, it is now established throughout the whole extent of the Greek empire, the former seat of Christianity. It has already subsisted during the long period of nearly 1200 years."— P. 151–153. In the discourse on the fifteenth of the Acts, which contains an account of the Council at Jerusalem, we find the sentiments of a temperate, but stedfast Presbyterian. It is known to every adept in church government, that from this chapter, that denomination argues for the divine right of their ecclesias tical polity. There is an inequality in the discourses; nor can it be otherwise. It is in no man's power to succeed equally at every time, and on every subject. When a person publishes a volume of miscellaneous sermons, he selects those in which he thinks he has succeeded best: but when a series of discourses is to be delivered on given subjects, in a regular course, and at a fixed time, the preacher must sit down to study, or ascend the pulpit, at the appointed time, in whatever frame his mind may be; and afterwards present his labours to the public. This defect is common to Mr. Dick with all who bave printed similar discourses. The Encouraging Aspect of the Times, or the Christian's Duty to study the Prophecies of Revelation in Connection with the Events of Providence: a Sermon preached in Orange Street Chapel, Portsea, Feb. 26, 1806. By John Griffin, 8vo, Is. FAST Sermons are most commonly like the news of the day, which entertain and occupy the mind for a little while, and then sink into oblivion; but the present is a splendid exception, and furnishes matter of lasting improvemeat. The text is Mat. xvi. 3. The design of the preacher is to shew," 1st, That it is the duty of Christians in general to be studiously observant of these circuinstances which may constitute the signs of the times; - 2dly, That there are some things necessary to be attended to, in order to understand these signs; 3dly, That there are se veral useful purposes to which an ob REVIEW OF RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS. servation of these signs should be applied." In illustrating and confirming these The narrow limits of our review A Sermon, occasioned by the Death of Fields, by James Dore: and a short Or Dr. Rippon's Address, it is Mr. Dore has taken a text (Năm. "Let us, then, justily the wish of Balaam, by illustrating the principle on which it proceeds; - that," in the article of death, the righteous have The truth of glorious prerogatives." this principle is generally admitted. A Letter addressed to the Right Hon. William Windham, on the Subject of exercising Volunteers on the Subbath Day. By a Lord of Partio ment. Observations on the Plan for Training the People to the Use of Ams: with reference to the Subject of Sindug Drilling, by Thomas Gisborne, M. A. Sco, Is. W & are happy to see a lord of parliament and a clergyman of the establishment coming forward, on the first alarm of a measure proposed for adoption by the Legislature, and exposing, in so judicious and decided a marner, the exticme evil of SundayDrilling. From the former of these valuable pamphlets we extract the following passage: The point to which with so much carnestness you are besought to give 328 REVIEW OF RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS. your attention and aid is, maintaining We present our readers also with a short extract from Mr. Gisborne's Observations: "Destroy the Sabbath and you destroy religion; destroy religion and you destroy morals, property, ranks, In combatparliaments, and thrones. ing the tremendous power upraised by the revolutions of France, will you enter the track by which revolutionary France has advanced through anarchy to slavery? To abrogate the Sabbath was one of the first steps in her pro gress. Imitate her conduct, and you approach her calamities. To infringe, without over-ruling necessity, the sacred rest of the Lord's Day, is to introduce universal relaxation of principle. Will not the peasant esteem the housing of his little harvest, or the timely sowing of his seed, a higher and nearer interest than any benefits which he will discern as results of the drill? How pernicious also, in the judgment of every serious Christian, are the consequences of disturbing by military exercises the calm composure of soul, the devout meditation, the spiritual affections, which the Sabbath is designed to promote and cherish as essential to the fulfilment of the duties and the attainment of the blessings of the day !" We are glad to hear that some persons eminent in station and character, have joined issue with these worthy writers, and that the obnoxious measure is said to be abandoned. We shall only add, that we have seen an address to the public (on the same subject, we believe) from the Society for the Suppression of Vice, including extracts of letters from many pious clergymen in the country, expressing in the most affecting terms, the lamentable effects of Sunday Drilling in their respective parishes. We rejoice in these united efforts of good men to maintain the observation of the Lord's Day, assured that we cannot reasonably hope for the protection of the Lord of Hosts, unless, as a people, we honour his institutions. And if, as we are informed, his Majesty's ministers have yielded to the wishes of the pious community, we think it reflects the highest credit on their wisdom and concern for the public good. SELECT LIST OF RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS. Poetic Garland, sacred to Virtue and Two Short Catechisms, mutually The Destiny of the German Empire, and the general Prospects of Europe. In Two Parts. By J. Eichen, M. A. 8vo, bds. 45. ad Part only 15. 6d. . Bible, Burder's History of the Salvation Brought near to the Guilty. Hints to Sunday School Teachers, calculated to save time, trouble, and expence, vo, 6d. Cottage Library. Part VI. 6d. Dr. Sibbs's Saint's Ark, new Ed. 8d. God's Expostulation with Nineveh : a Sermon by R, Greig, 8vo, 1S. ( 329 ) RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. MISSIONARY SOCIETY. THE Directors have just received Letters from the Cape of Good Hope one of which, from Dr. Vanderkemp, dated December 8, 1805, states, that the prospects of our worthy brother and his colleague were at that time very gloomy; and they concluded that they should be under the necessity of abandoning the country. "Our frequent applications," says Dr. Vanderkemp," to the Governor, for permission to return to our congregation at Bethelsdorp, or to continue our Missionary work in any other district of the colony, or to undertake any exploratory excursion into the countries beyond its limits, have been rejected, on account of the outcries of the boors against us, who look upon us as Englishmen, and addicted to the English interest; and, therefore, of a dangerous influence on the minds of the native Heathen! I hope we are willing to follow the Lamb, wherever it shall please him to conduct us; but, at present, our attention is fixed on Madagascar, and the coast of Mozambique: but our constant wish is to revisit our dear and blessed Bethelsdorp, whenever the obstacles which Satan now throws in the way may be removed." Such also is the language of our valuable brother Read, in reference to the same period: "By former dispatches, you will have heard of our distressing circumstances, in being separated from our dear congregation at Bethelsdorp. Our faith, and that of our dear people, has been tried; so that, indeed, no hope remained of our ever seeing them again; for the storm became heavier and heavier, not only over us, but over the whole Missionary work in this country." Such was the state of things in Africa when, in the course of that Divine Providence, which often renders the political movements of nations subservient to the interests of the Cross, the British fleet, consisting of nearly sixty sail of vessels in all, appeared on the coast. The English army landed January 4, 1806; and after a sharp engagement with the Dutch troops on the 8th, were, on the 10th, in possession of Cape Town, where the British colours were hoisted. On the 13th, Sir David Baird sent for Dr. Vanderkemp, to consult with him how to dispose of the Hottentot prisoners of war. Such was the estimation in which the character of this venerable Missionary was held by the British Commander ! The Doctor's letter bears date January 13; in which he says, "To-morrow we hope to find an opportunity of recommending our Missionary cause to his (the Governor's) protection. We have little doubt of his permitting us to return to our dear Bethelsdorp as soon as tranquillity shall be restored in that country! Our hearts," he adds, " are full of joy ;-may they also be full of thankfulness, and our lips of praise! Our confidence not turned from the Lord, to trust in external appearances, and in the favour of men; but continue immoveable in him, in prosperity as well as in adversity!" The Doctor adds, that their intimate friend Van Ryneveld, was appointed by the Governor to a situation of consequence; and from that gentleman's well known attachment to the Missionary Cause, they had reason to expect support and assistance. Mr. Read mentions, with concern, his having been obliged to draw on the Society for a considerable sum, every article being so extravagantly dear at the Cape. "A single yard of cloth," he says, "is eighty English shillings, and a pair of coarse stockings 20s. and so every thing else. I hope the Lord will deliver us!" He assigns as his reason for leaving Bethelsdorp and coming to the Cape, that his permission to remain at the settlement was only till the Dutch Missionaries (now there) arrived; and that such accusations were brought against Dr. Vanderkemp, that he felt it his duty to appear there, to prove their abominable falsehood. "We have enjoyed," he adds, " much sweetness from Christ together in our sufferings, and we hope to share in the joy. Neither should I have any rest if absent from him, as his years increase, and his infirmities do not lessen." The Friends of the Missionary Society will, we doubt not, derive from these communications abundant matter of pleasure and praise. The interposition of Providence in favour of the Mission, at a time when various parties of men united in the oppression of the cause, and the translation of power into the XIV. U u |