of paying his subscription money, or money for the seats, in same way. Only let him inclose it in a paper with his name, and let him have credit accordingly. In this way nearly all the trouble in collecting might be saved; besides, it would always make your collections more respectable. Another friend to the Society. Miscellaneous. sembles her mother, the youngest is covered with hair, like her father, only that it is white or fair, whereas his is now brown or black, baving, however, been fair, when a child, like that of the infant. With the exceptions mentioned both the father and his child are perfectly well formed, and, indeed, for the Burman race, handsome. The whole family were sent by the King to the residence of the mission, where drawings and descriptions of them were taken. THE SLEEPER CURED. Journal, after adverting to the new invented ders of this stupendous cavern, they often came to large and almost fathoinless pits, which they passed with some difficulty, by crawling on their hands and knees. They proceeded in this way, walking and crawling, for about a day, and in the mean time had passed a number of these pits. They had just passed one of them, when, by some fatal accident, their light was extinguished. One of them, in the agony of despair, appeared to lose his reason, became FEMALE UEROISM. bewildered, whirled round, exclaiming, Lord Kaiolani, a female chief, of the highest rank, have mercy on us, and fell; and in falling, (in the Sandwich Islands) had embraced Christ- plunged headlong into the pit they had just ianity; and desirous of propagating it, and of passed. His companion listened, and heard undeceiving the natives as to their false gods, him distinctly strike at the bottom and groan. she resolved to climb the mountain, (a volcanic He called to him, but received no answer: he mountain with a burning crater of prodigious called agam, but all was silent as the tomb.extent) descend into the crater, and by thus I thought, said he, had I but fallen with him, braving the volcanic deities in their very homes, it would have been a happy circumstance; for, (the prevailing belief was, that the gods of the to attempt to find the mouth of the cave, and islands resided in these fires,) convince the in- pass the many dangerous places they had met habitants of the Islands that God is God alone, with in entering, must, he conceived, be impos- western part of this country, speaking of the A few years since, an aged clergyman in the and that the false subordinate deities existed sible. He thought therefore of dying only by only in the fancies of their weak adorers. Thus starvation. He concluded however to make an that during the whole term of forty or fifty solemnity attached to the ministerial office, said determined, and accompanied by a missionary, attempt to get out; he could but die, he thought, she with part of her family, and a number of by sharing the fate of his companion, and this years that he had officiated therein, his gravity followers, ascended Pell, (the mountain ;) at the would the sooner put an end to his sufferings. On that occasion, while engaged in his dishad never but once been disturbed in the pulpit, edge of the first precipice that bounds the sunk- He set out, crawling on his hands and knees, en plain: many of her followers and compan- and proceeded safely in this way for about 24 course, he noticed a man, directly in front of ions lost courage, and turned back; at the sec-hours, when he again yielded to his feelings him, leaning over the railing of the gallery, with ond, the rest earnestly entreated her to desist and burst into tears. This alone, he said, resomething in his hand which he soon discoverfrom her dangerous enterprise, and forbear to lieved his agony. He set out again, but with ed to be a huge quid of tobacco just taken from tempt the powerful gods of the fires. But she little hope of ever arriving at the mot his mouth. Directly below, sat a man, who proceeded, and on the very verge of the crater, cave, and continued winding his way in mid-was in the constant habit of sleeping at meetcaused the hut we were now sheltered in to be night darkness about a day longer. ing, with his head leaned back, and his mouth constructed for herself and people. Here she tered the cave, he observed that it branched off wide open. The man in the gallery was intently was assailed anew by their entreaties to return in various directions, and he concluded that he engaged, raising and lowering his hand, and tahome, and their assurances, that if she persisted had taken a wrong one, and was as far or far-king an exact observation, till, at length, having in violating the houses of the goddess, that she ther from the entrance than when he first set got it right, he let fall the quid of tobacco, and would draw down on herself and those with her out. He sat down, he said, with the determin-it fell plump into the mouth of the sleeper becertain destruction! "I will descend into the ation of waiting patiently the approach of death. The whole scene was so indescribably crater," said she," and if I do not return safe The possibility again occurred to him of find- ludicrous, that, for the first and the last time in then continue to worship Peli; but if I come ing the way out; and once more he summoned the pulpit, an involuntary smile forced itself brek unhurt, you must learn to adore God who his reinaining strength, and commenced gro- upon the countenance of the preacher. The created Peli." She accordingly went down the ping his way through the cavern--and, on the unexpected intrusion of so unpalatable a steep and difficult side of the crater, accompan- morning of the third day, when nature was mouthful, awoke the sleeper, and he was never ied hy a missionary and by some whom love or nearly exhausted, and all hope had fled, he known to indulge in that practice afterwards. duty induced to follow her. Arrived at the bot- thought he observed the dawn of light; and, Massachusetts Spy. tom, she pushed the stick into the liquid lava, on suddenly turning a corner, the morning star and stirred the ashes of the burning lake. The shone fully in his face! His feelings, he said, charm of superstition was at that moment brok- must be imagined, for they could not be descrien.-Those who had expected to see the god- bed. D. A. T. dess armed with flame and sulphureous sinoke, burst forth and destroy the daring horoine, who thus braved her in her very sanctuary, when A CURIOSITY. they saw the fire remain innocnous, and the The British eurbassy who visited Ava in Oct. flames roll harmless as though none were pres- of 1826, give the following account of a singuent. They acknowledged the greatness of the lar lusus naturæ they saw in that capital. God of Kaiolani; and from that time few in"In the department of curiosities, may be deed have been the offerings, and little the rev-mentioned the existence at Ava, of a man coerence, offered to the fires of Peli.-Voyage to vered with hair from head to foot, whose histothe Sandwich Islands. From Zion's Herald. AFFECTING OCCURRENCE. f the As he en SIR ISAAC NEWTON. Sir Isaac Newton, one evening in winter, feeling it extremely cold, instinctively drew his chair very close to the grate, in_which a large fire hed been recently lighted. By degrees the fire having completely kindled, Sir Isaac felt the heat intolerably intense, and rung his bell with unusual violence. John was not at hand; he at last made his appearance, by the time Sir Isaac was almost literally roasted. "Remove the grate, you lazy rascal! exclaims Sir Isaac, in a tone of irritation very uncommon with that amiable and placid philosopher,"remove the grate ere I am burned to death!" "Please your honor, might you not rather draw back your chair!" said John, a little waggishly. never thought of that." "Upon my soul," said Sir Isaac, smiling, "I ry is no less remarkable than that of the celebrated porcupine man, who excited so much curiosity in England, and other parts of EuThe following affecting account was related face and ears of this singular being, is shaggy, rope, near a century ago. The hair on the to me a few years since, while travelling in the and about eight inches long. On the breast western country, of two men, who went into the and shoulders it is from four to five. It is sincelebrated Maminoth Cave, which is situated in gular that the teeth of this individual are defecGreen's county, Kentucky, and is about ten tive in number; the molases or grinders, being miles long, with the intention of exploring it. entirely wanting. This person is a native of These men, after having provided them- the Shan country, or Lao, and from the banks selves with a lantern, food and refreshments of the upper portion of the Saluen or Mattaban sufficient for one or two days' journey, entered river: he was presented to the king of Ava, as the cave, and commenced their subterraneous a curiosity, by the Prince of that country. tour. As they walked on from one apartment Ava he married a pretty Burmese woman, by to another, viewing in astonishment, the won-whom he has two daughters. The eldest re-Wabash, was a man of high character, a native Αι The following singular and interesting anec- Col. Davies, who fell at the battle of the of Kentucky. He was a lawyer, whose charac in cent. BOOKS. What a paltry sum, in comparison, does ter was tinged with those eccentricities that de- the happy American contribute. Of about 1,000 books published annually in note future genius. There was a difficult quesGreat Britain, 600 are accompanied with comtion to decide before the court of Kentucky, Quicksilver mine in Boston. mercial loss; on 200 the gain is trifling, and volving an important question in regard to the On Friday last, some workmen, while dig- only on 100 any considerable profit; 650 are title of an estate. The case embraced a long concatenation of facts, and sundry technical ging a cellar, No. 29 Prince-st., came to a stra- forgotten within the year; another hundred in niceties. When the case was callad, a Kentuc- tum of hard clay and stone. In removing this two years; another hundred and fifty in three ky hunter, with his rifile and bird bag, loaded soil, they observed it was impregnated with years; not more than 50 survive seven years, with provisions, all equipped and complete, en-small shining particle, and upon examination, and scarcely 10 are thought of after 20 years. tered the hall and took his seat among the law-found they had struck upon a mine of Quick-Of the 50,000 books published in the 17th cenyers. There was a grin on the faces of the bar, silver-argentum vivum, or what is called by cout, jury and spectators. He, all unconscious, the chymists, Mercury. The globules were took out his provisions and began to eat with numerous, and appeared to be lodged mostly in the utmost composure. The lawyer on the side lumps of earth. They varied in size from that of the plaintiff rose and made a long argument. of a bean to that of the head of a pin, and were And who answers for the defendant? inquir-perfectly pure and fluid. The novelty of the ed the court. I do, replied the hunter; and discovery attracted numbers to the spot, and rising he broke forth into a torrent of elo- many specimens of the mineral have been taken away by the chymists and others for analyquence that astonished the court and jury. zation. The land is owned by Mr. Leader Away went the plaintiff, law and evidence, and Dam; and if the mine extends any considerable so complete was the discomfiture that the op-depth will be of immense value.-N. Y. Dai. posite counsel made a most piteous reply. The jury found a verdict for the defendant without retiring from their seats; when the On the cause of rain.-Every one must have court adjourned, and invited the stranger to noticed an obvious connexion between heat and their lodgings. "No, I thank you, gentlemen; vapor in the atmosphere. Heat promotes evaand unless you will take a cold cut with me,poration, and contributes to retain the vapor inust be gone." So saying, he shouldered his when in the atmosphere, and cold precipitates rifle and with great sang froid departed. or condenses the vapor. But these facts do not explain the phenomenon of rain, which is as frequently with an increase as with a dimiA curious circumstance-occurred at Elstree,ution of the temperature of the atmosphere. Herts, a few days ago. A fine little child, about two years and a half old, was missed by his father who is gardener in a gentleman's family Concluding that the child had fallen into one of the ponds in the garden, they were dragged, but nothing found that could lead to a discove The late Dr. Hutton, of Edinburgh, is generally allowed to be the first who published a correct notion of the cause of rain. (See Edin. Trans. vols. i. and ii., and Hutton's Diss. &c.) Without deciding whether vapor be simply exry. In the evening a boy, who was passing the Panded by heat, and diffused through the atmosphere, or chemically combined with it, he foundland dog, and which unlikely place no tity of vapor capable of entering into the air, dog kennel, to which was chained a large New-maintained from the phenomena that the quanone had ventured near, espied the little child increases in a greater ratio than the temperafast asleep in the humble dwelling of his canine ture; and hence he fairly infers, that whenever friend. The paws of the animal were round two volumes of air of different temperatures are the child's neck. On his attempting to ap-mixed together, each being previously saturaproach the child, the dog showed symptoms of ted with vapor, a precipitation of a portion of determination to retain possession of his little vapor must ensue, in consequence of the mean companion. The father of the child was cal-temperature not being able to support the mean led: he also was denied approaching the child. But the infant, on being awoke, was perinitted by the kennel, to run to the arins of its overjoyed parents. Eng. pap. quantity of vapor. tury, not more than 50 are now in estimation, and of the 30,000 books published in the 18th century, not more than 300 are considered worth re-printing, and not more than 500 are sought after at the present time. Since the first commencement of writing-that is in 32 centuries, only about 500 works of writers of all nations have sustained themselves against the devouring influence of time.-Goodhughe's Library Manuel. SINGULAR ENOU GH. A singular occurrence took place recently at Farmington, Me. A Meeting-house had been erected by the different religious societies, and after its completion, a vote of the proprietors was taken to designate the minister who should preach the dedicatory sermon. On ballotting, the Rev. Mr. Cobb had a large majority of votes, and he preached the dedicatory sermon accordingly. But a part of the society had scruples in regard to the validity of the dedication, as Mr. Cobb was a Universalist, and they thought it best to have it re-dedicated, which was done, and the sermon was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Lovel of the Methodist persuasion. New-Hampshire Gazette. Extraordinary.-A London editor gives the Wales, whose husband, with the little fortune following article:-" We are told that there is a woman in a village in Glanmoganshire, South he had got with her, bought a small farm. He had hardly closed the purchase when death closed his eyes. However, not intimidated by this, the woman married a second husband, who sowed it. He likewise died, and she tried a months." third, who reaped it: but death soon snatched him away. She then married a fourth, who thrashed it; but be also shared the fate of his The cause of rain therefore is now no longer predecessors; and she is now married to a fifth an object of doubt. If two masses of air of un-husband, with whom she is enjoying the proequal temperatures, by the ordinary currents of duce of it. All this happened within eighteen the wind, are intermixed, when saturated with Finances of the Great Nations of Europe. vapor, a precipitation ensues. If the masses are PLAIN RESTITUTIONIST. The Revenue of Russia is estimated at under saturation, then less precipitation takes 338,000,000 of francs. That of Austria is place, or none at all, according to the degree. A new work with this title, has just been That of Also, the warmer the air, the greater is the published at Montrose, Pa. written by Br. Edstated at exactly the same amount. Prussia is 195,000,000. The sum of the reve-quantity of vapor precipitated in like circum-win Ferris, of Chenango County, N. Y. It nues of these three powers make a total of stances. Hence the reason why rains are hea889,000,000, and that of France 920,000,000. vier in summer than in winter, and in warm Thus it would appear that France is not only countries than in cold. -Lon. paper. as rich as Austria, Russia, and Prussia together, but that it has an overpluus of 51.000,000,— which is equal to the revenue of several powers It was an affecting incident in the life of of the second order, such as Portugal, Sardina Swift, that in a pleasurable excursion with some and Sweden. England will raise this year afriends into the country, he fell behind; and sum of 1,410,000,000, but the interest of its after waiting in vain for his joining them, one debt being 750,000,000, there will remain of them turned back to seek for him, aud found 660,000,000 for the public expences. For this him standing, gazing intently on a beautiful To take out greise spots from a carpet or any reason the budget for every branch of the pub-tree whose top had been scathed by lightning. kind of woollen clothes.-Dissolve a piece of lic service is smaller with a few exceptions, To the friend who interrupted his musings, he pearlash, the size of a pea, in half a tea cup of than that which is allotted the same branch said, (pointing with his finger to his forehead,) warm water, or a piece twice the size in a full' by the French Chambers. It appears that on "Like that tree God will smite me here." The cup. Pour some of the solution on a grease an average, the Frenchman contributes 11 presentiment was unhappily realized in his per cent. of his income to the public expendi-mental imbecility, and he whose intellect was tures, while the Englishman contributes 25 Der so quick and powerful, became as a child, DEAN SWIFT. contains 200 pages, is written in a very candid spot and continue to rub it with a clean brush or woollen cloth until it is nearly dry, and your carpet or garment will be as clean as ever, 232 Treatment of females in countries where slavery prevails. Among the negroes on the slave coast, the wife is never allowed to appear before the husband, or to receive any thing from his hands, without putting herself in a kneeling posture. the son to believe, it was formerly established From the Portland Advertiser. The truth of the remarks we have frequently In the empire of Congo, and among made, respecting the reliance which the British greater part of those nations which inhabit Provinces put on the fact of possession in the the southern coast of Africa, the women of question of boundary between them and as, a family are seldom permitted to eat with gains confirmation from almost every act of the men. The husband sits alone at table, theirs connected with the subject. That the and his wife commonly stands at his back, territory in dispute is important to them, we to guard him from the flies, to serve him have no doubt, nor are we among those (if such his victuals, or to furnish him with his pipe there be) who think it of little or no conseand tobacco. After he has finished, she is quence to us. But without any reference to peallowed to eat what remains, but without sit-cuniary consideration of value, there is a preting down, which it seems would be incon-vious and more Important consideration of sistent with the inferiority and submission that is thought suitable to her sex. When a Hottentot and his wife have come into the service of an European, and are entertained under the same roof, the master is under the necessity of assigning to each of them a distinct portion of victuals, which, out of regard to the general usage of their country, they always eat at a distance from each oth cr." In the account which has been given by commodore Byron, of the Indians of South America, we are told that "the men exercise a most despotic authority over their wives, whom they onsider in the same view as they do any other part of their property, and dispose of them accordingly, even their common treatment of them is cruel; for the toil and hazard of procuring food, lies entirely upon the women, yet they are not suffered to touch any part of it, till the husband is satisfied, and then he assigns them their portion, which is generally very scanty, and such as he has not a stomach for himself." The same author informs us, that he has observed a like arbitrary behavior mong many other nations of savages, with whom he has since been acquaiuted. Three Weeks before Marriage.--The daughter of a respectable farmer in Carmarthenshire, was lately betrothed to a young man in the neighborhood of Tenby; but lover's quarrels occurring about three weeks before the day appointed for the marriage, the swain turned on his heel, and immediately proposed to another RIGHT, which must not be lost sight of. The sister, who assenred, without hesitation, on the sovereignty of the State is assailed, and it be-ground of its being too great a sacrifice to lose comes an imperious duty to protect it from dis- such a nice young man out of the family; and, honour. With whatever forbearance we may on the day named for the former marriage, the meet the pretensions of our neighbours, they latter took place. may yet learn that there is a point at which Let them manifest a that forbearance ceascs. disposition to respect our rights, and we shall exhibit none to violate theirs. The British claim by a line drawn from Mars Hill to the Katahdin, and from the Katahdin, by a line drawn along between the heads of the streams which empty into the Penobscot and those which empty into the St. Johns, until it strikes the dividing line between Maine and Lower Canada. If the reader will look at the Map, he will see that it cuts off from Maine a territory equal to the whole of Massachussetts. The land itself, it is said, exceeds in fertility any tract of equal size within New England. PRESERVATION OF APPLES. The following valuable observations, contained in a letter from Noah Webster, Esq., have been published in the Massachusetts Agricultural Repository : It is the practice of some persons to pick a-apples in October, and just spread them on the floor of an upper room. This practice is said to render apples more durable, by From the servile condition of the fair sex, drying them, but I can affirm this to be a in barbarous countries, they are rendered mistake. Apples, after remaining on the in a great measure incapable of property, trees as long as safety from the frost will and are supposed to have no share in the admit, should be taken directly from the estate of that particular family in which they trees to close casks, and kept dry and cool reside. Whatever has been acquired by as possible. If suffered to lie on the floor her labor, is under the sole administration for weeks, they wither and loose their flaand disposal of those male relations and vor, without acquiring any additional durafriends by whom they are protected, and bility. The best mode of preserving apples from whom they receive a precarious sub- for spring use, I have found to be, the putsistence. Upon the death of a proprietor, ting of them in dry sand as soon as gathered. the estate is continued in possession of his sons, or transmitted to his other male relations; and his daughters are so far from being entitled to a share of the succession, that they are even considered as a part of the inheritance; which the heir is at liberty to dispose of at his pleasure. At the Cape of Good Hope, in the kingdom of Benin, and in general upou the whole southern and western coasts of Africa, no female is ever admitted to the succession of any estate, either real or personal. The same custom is said to be observed among the Tartars 4 and there is some rea For this purpose I dry sand in the heat of summer, and late in October, put down the apples in layers, with a covering of sand upon each layer. The advantages of this mode of treatment are these: 1. The sand keeps the apples from the air, which is essential to their preservation. 2. The sand checks the evaporation of the apples, thus preserving them in their full flavor: at the same time, any moisture yiel. ded by the apples, (and some there will be,) is absorbed by the sand; so that the apples are kept dry, and all mustiness is prevented. My pippins in May and June are as fresh POETRY. From the Buffalo Journal BY A VISITOR AT THE EALLS. Thron'd on the mists, around thy form Depth, sound, immensity, have leat The Subscribers to Mr. Kneeland's SEATS IN THE NEW MASONIC HALL. will attend at the new Masonic Hall, on Saturday the 1st of December instant, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, to be advisable to attend at the hour of sale, as it is con Erratum. In the marriage published in No. 26, which took plack on the evening of the 50th ultimo, the name of the bride should have been MARY HARDING, instead of Mary Arden. VOL. I. || PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY THE NEW-YORK UNIVERSALIST BOOK SOCIETY. 66 BEHOLD HOW GOOD AND HOW PLEASANT IT IS FOR BRETHREN TO DWELL TOGETHER IN UNITI. NEW-YORK, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1827. EXTRACTS FROM BALFOUR'S 2D INQUIRY. The opinion, that the Devil or Satan is a to say. Let it now be remembered that while the Jews dwelt in Canaan they knew nothing about the devil. If they did, it was merely by report, that the Persians and other nations believed in such a being. They had precepts, guarding them against witchcraft, idolatry, and all the abominations of the Canaanites, but not one guarding them against that almost infinite being whom Christians call the devil. How our orthodox bretheren account for this I am unable On my views, it is easily and rationally accounted for. The devil was the principle of evil deified, transformed by Zoroaster into an angel of darkness, and the Jews inust go to Babylon to get acquainted with him. That the Jews spent seventy years in captivity there, is a Lact disputed by no one. The question which then comes forward for considertion, is-Did the Jews imbibe, during their captivity, and did they bring back from it, any religious opinions which were not taught in their sacred books? Were any of these opinions derived from the creed of Zoroaster, and was that now entertained concerning the devil of this number? 2d. When they were carried to Babylon no particular place was appointed for them, but they appear to have been dispersed throughout the provinces of that vast empire. It was not with the Jews here, as with their forefathers in Egypt, a particular spot being assigned them, where they lived altogether, and conld fortify each other against a departure from the religion of Jehovah. Their dispersed condition rendered them liable to forget their own religion, and insensibly imbibe the opinions of thosee among whom they lived. Sd. The very religion of Zoroaster had many things about it calculated to lead Jews to embrace it. It recognized the first principle of their own, the supremecy of one God; was the religion of the king, his court and of all the nobility. It was popular throughout the whole empire. These, and other things noticed by Prideaux, which I forbear particularizing, all concurred to make the religion of Zoroaster very fascinating to the Jews. For them to oppose it was only to render themselves as odious there, as I am likely to be among orthodox people here, in op posing their doctrine concerning the devil. Jahn, in his Archaeology, thus writes, p. 393-4: "The similitude which existed between the system of Moses, and that of Zoroaster, which prevailed in Persia, and Media, may be summed up in a single article, viz. that they both discountenanced the worship of idols, For. || No. 30. ing the period immediately preceeding their overthrow, every kind of superstition, and every moral pollution prevailed in both kingdoms, especially in that of Judah. No other means therefore remained to correct their vices, but that of extreme severity, by which their whole nation, dispersed from their country into distant regions, and humbled and afflicted, might learn that they could do nothing without God, and that idols could lend them no assistance." 5th. The long duration of their captivity, unavoidably led to the adoption of such opinions in religion. It was known by the Jews, that their captivity was to be for seventy years, and were desired to make their temporal arrangements accordingly. See the prophet's injunctions about this. But let us suppose, what is hardly supposable, that all the persons who went to Babylon over twenty years of age, were proof against imbibing any false opinion. Suffer me to ask, how were all under that age, and all born there to be preserved? Without a constant miracle they could not, and no one affirms that a miracle was wrought to preserve them. It is then morally certain, that the Jews on their return, must bring back with them many of the religious opinions of the people among whom they had lived unless we can prove, that they changed all their religious opinions, as easily as a man can shift his clothing. 6th. Prideaux shows from the Old Testament Scriptures, that some of the Jews had gone over to the Magian religion. He refers to Ezek. viii. 16. where the prophet being carried in vision to Jerusalem, saw "about five and twenty men standing between the porch and the alter, with their backs towards the temple of the Lord, and their faces towards the east; and they worshipped the sun." The meaning of which is, that they had turned their backs upon the true worship of God, and had gone over to that of the Magians. Here then is direct proof of the fact from Scripture, that Zoroaster's religion was not only imbibed, but the worship it enjoined practised by the Jews. But as very little of the Old Testament was written after the captivity we observe, 1. That original beginning of all things, called HAZARUAM, was neither the creator nor governor of the world, but the endless succesion of time, which was represented by Zoroaster, as the supreme existence, ENS, or fountain of being. From Hazaruam, proceeded Ormuz, and To see how this matter stands we solicit the Ahrimanes. Ormuz acted the part of creator reader's attention to the following particulars. of the world; a circumstance which caused no 1st. The Magian religion for many ages had little envy in the mind of Ahrimanes, and inbeen the "national religion of the Medes as dnced him to mingle with the workmanship of well as of the Persians" as stated by Prideaux. Ormuz, the seeds or principles of evil, which About the time the Jews were in captivity at exist. By the Mehestani, moreover, or followBabylon, Zoroaster flourished there, in revivers of Zoroaster, not only Ormuz, but six AMing and improving it. Jahn, p. 381. thus writes SCHASPANDI, also innumerable spirits, dispersrespecting the time when the Jews were carried ed every where, the sun, moon, stars, and other there." When at length admonitions ceased earthly existences, were worshipped without 7th. That learned men agree, that the Jews to be of great avail, and every thing was grow-distinction. brought back from their captivity religious ing worse and worse, the Israelitish common- "2d. If the example of the Medes and Per- opinions, not taught in their Scriptures. I shall wealth was overthrown, 253 years after their sians, who warshipped Ormuz, as the creator only quote the following writers in proof. seperation from Judah, and 722 before Christ. and governor of the world, confirmed the He- Michaelis on the laws of Moses, vol. ii. p. 348. The people were carried away by the Assyrians brews in the worship of Jehovah, it was equally thus writes-" In the New Testament, indeed, into Gozan, Chalacene, the cities of Media, and likely, on the other hand, to induce then to and in the Jewish language after the period of into Assyria. adore the stars, and spirits, which occupied so the Babylonish captivity, from which the Isra"The kingdom of Judah was overthrown 387 conspicuous a place in the system of those na-elites returned much enriched in names for the years after the separation, 588 before Christ, by tions; also the horses and chariot of the sun, Devil, Beliel means the Devil. But in the Old the Chaldeans, and the people were carried which the ancestors of king Josiah, influenced Testament it never hath this meaning." Again; captive to the banks of the river Chebar in Baby- by the example of the Mehestani, had introduc- L'Enfant in his introduction to the reading of lonia." Prideaux says, vol. i. p. 65. that thed at Jerusalem, and perhaps to practice that the Scriptures, p. 14. thus writes-"But this Jews were carried to Babylon in the fourth year species of Magian worship, witnessed by Eze- inuch is quite certain, that from that time of Jehoiakim, which according to his chronolo- kiel in the temple of Jerusalein." (of Alexander the Great) the Jews began to gy was six hundred and six years before Christ. 4th. The Jews previous to the captivity, Helenize; that the Greek tongue, spoken by It was not for want of a fair opportunity. if the the Macedonians, became more common among Jews did not imbibe opinions not found in their them, and that they also introduced some of the Scriptures. opinions of the Greek philosophers, as the had been preparing themselves in the school of transmigration of souls, for instance. We find pre-existence of the soul of our Saviour, before is John xvii. 5. some steps of this notion even in the New Tes- his conception in the womb of the virgin Mary.fy thou me with the glory, which I had with "And now, O Father, gloritament, as in Luke xvi. 28. where there is an account of the abode of departed souls, conform- me to have been enjoyed by our Lord in this to the Jewish phraseology, may be very well "The form of God, Philip. ii. 6. seems tothee befere the world was." But this, according able to the Grecian philosophy, and in John ix- world. 2. where we find an illusion to the pre-existence of men, his power of healing diseases, and rais-the Christ by the immutable purpose of God. It denotes his knowledge of the hearts understood of the glory, always designed for and transmigration of souls. It is moreover ev-ing the dead, and working other miracles, at all ident from the Apocryphal writings, from Phi- times, whenever he pleased, and all other eviSee Grotius upon the place. lo, Josephus, and the Talmudists, that the Jews, dences of his divine mission. This sense does the glory which he here prays for, is apparent That our Lord had not, before his nativity, especially the Pharisees, had learned and fol- wonderfully accord with what our Lord says, from the whole tenor of the Gospel, and from lowed the Grecian philosophy ever since their John x. 34-36. and in many other places of clear and manifest expressions in the context. conversing with the Greeks under Alexander the that Gospel. "Is it not written in your law, I For the glory, which he now prays for, is the Great, the Ptolemies, and Seleucide his succes- said, Ye are Gods? If he called them Gods, to reward of his obedience, ver. 4. sors, who reigned in Egypt and Suria." Those whom the word of God came, and the scripture ished the work, which thou gavest me to do. "I have finwho wish to see more authorities in proof of cannot be broken, say ye of him, whom the Fa- And now O Father glorify thou me."—And St. this point may consult Dr. Campbell's 6th Dis-ther hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Paul says, Phil. ii. 9, "Wherefore God also sertation, part i. sect. 19. quoted in my first In- thou blasphemest, because I said I am the Son has highly exalted him. Heb. ii. 9-for the sufquiry, chap: 1. sect. S. See also Jahn's Arch. of God?" But though he had so great power, fering of death he was crowned with glory and p. 235. 396. The Jews then had two sources he made himself of no reputation; he lived in a honour." Ver. 10. "For it became him, for from which they derived opinions in religion mean condition; and submitted to the reproach- who are all things, in bringing many sons to not taught in their Scriptures. The opinious es of enemies, and at last to death itself. Which glory, to make the captain of their salvation of Zoroaster and that of the Greek philosophers. was plainly a voluntary submission. 8th. What conclusively proves, that the innocent, he needed not to have died, but might "Looking unto Jesus, who for the joy that was For being perfect through sufferings." And Heb. xii. 2. Jews brought back from their captivity many have been translated without tasting death. opinions not learned from their sacred books, set before him, endured the cross, despising the are the Apocryphal writings. "If this be the meaning of the text, then 2 shame. And is set down on the right hand of The books cal-Cor. vii. 9. is also explained: that " though he the throne of God." And Luke xxiv. 26. Our was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor." Saviour says to his disciples, in the way to EmHe that cometh after me, is preferred before these things, and to enter into his glory ?" And "John i. 15. "John bare witness of him- | maus : Ought not the Christ to have suffered me." And ver. 30. sald: after me cometh a man, which is prefer- the Prophets have inquired.-Searching what, "This is he of whom I St. Peter 1 Ep. 1. 10, 11. “ Of which salvation For he was before me." But or what manner of time the spirit of Christ I apprehend that John the Baptist does not which was in them did signify, when it testified here say, that Jesus was before him in time. beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the gloBut he says: "He who comes after me, has al-y that should follow." And St. Paul, Acts ways been before me, or in my view. For he is my chief, or prince, or principal. This suits what he says of the great dignity, and transcendent excellence of our Lord's person and character, at ver. 27. I am not worthy to unloose": and ver. 23. "Whose shoes' latchet am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord" that is, "I am the harbinger, or fore-runner, of the great person, who is about to appear among you. "Nor can I forbear to observe to you, that am come before him to prepare you for his re-of John xvii. 5. and in so doing, quotes Eph. i. I Augustin, who has largely considered the words ception." led Apocrypha, though not canonical, are allowed to be the best writings extant, relative to the Jews after their captivity. To these I shall now call the attention of the reader, collecting from them, what were the religious opinions of the Jews in the times to which they relate. (To be concluded in our next.) GOD MANIFEST IN THE FLESH. red before me. 66 xxvi. 22, 23-"saying no other things than those, which the Prophets and Moses did say should come: that the Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead." Al! harmonious, as we see, that the dience and sufferings on this earth. See like"Iglry of the Messiah was subsequent to his obewise Rom. i. 3, 4. 66 4. and Rom. 1-4. understands them of Christ's manner that I have done. [The extract from human nature, and explains them in the same Augustin being in Latin, is omitted here.] (Concluded from our last number.) Believing, therefore, that we have stated the substance of about all the light which at present can be obtained on this subject, the reader is now left to make up his own judgment in the case. Dr. A. Clarke has a short note on the aubject, but nothing very conclusive; at least, nothing that can do away the testimony of Griesbach. To him, therefore, we must still adhere, notwithstanding all the evidence which we have yet seen to the contrary: and this opinion is not a little strengthened by a passage in 1 John v. 7, 8, which is manifestly spurious; and was evidently inserted for the same purpose. text for the pre-existence of our Saviour's son). "John viii, 58. may be thought a strong The words which are added are these" in But really he there only represents his dignity, Heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy as the Messiah, the special favor of God toward Ghost; and these three are one. And there are him, and the importance of the dispensation by or the Son, appeared to the Patriarchs, and It has been thought by some, that Christ, three that bear witness on earth." The text him. It is a way of speaking resembling that was oftentimes sent upon messages to men by should read, For there are three who bear testi-in Rev. xiii. 8. mony, the spirit, and the water, and the blood; the book of life, of the lamb, slain from the Gospel. But where is the proof of this? It "Whose names are written in the Supreme Being, before the times of the and these three agree in one. There is another foundation of the world," and explained 1 Pet. passage which has been altered, and manifestly i. 20. was the option of some of the ancient writers for the same purpose, viz. "Who verily was fore-ordained before of the Church, who had a philosophy that was Acts xx. 28, in the foundation of the world." See also Eph. i. a mixture of Pythagorisin and Platonism. Nevwhich the word Theos, (God,) has been substi- 4. 2 Tim. i. 9. Tit. i. 2. The Jewish people ertheless, this supposition, that God had emtuted for Kurios, (Lord,) which "is supported have a saying that the law was before the worldployed the Son in foriner times, before the by all the most ancient and valuable manuscripts, whether of the Alexandrian or the west- by the Messiah was before the dispensation of the Apostle in the epistle to the Hebrews. “God, was created. In like manner the dispensation Gospel, is overthrown by the very first words of ern edition, by the Coptic, Syraic, and other Abraham, in dignity, nature, and design, though ancient versions, and by citations from the early not in time. ecclesiastical writers. The expression, the blood of God,' is not quoted by the earliest ec-recorded in the 56th verse. "The Jews were much offended at the words clesiastical writers, and is rejected with horror Lord does not there say, that he had seen AbraNevertheless our by Athanasius." See Griesbach-also Im- ham, or that Abraham had seen him in person. proved Version, and note on the place. K. Extracts from "A Letter written in the year who, at sundry times, and in divers manners, Prophets, has in these last days spoken unto us spake in times past, unto the fathers by the apostle's arguments to care and circumspection, by his Son." It is also inconsistant with the steadfastness and perseverance which follow afterwards, Heb. ii. 1. 2. 3. "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard. For if the word spoken by the angels was stedfast, how shall we escape, if we negiect so great salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him ?” Compare Heb. xi. 13. See likewise ch. ii. 1. "For this man was "Another text proper to be considered here counted worthy of more honour than Moses,” What he says is this: "Your father Abraham |