Douglas,-James Pennington,-Josiah Henson,-and William Wells Brown. The last Article, "Uncle Tom's Cabin as it is;" is of a different character to all the preceding; its object evidently is,-to remove the odium of American Slavery; and, so far as possible, to enlist public opinion in its favour; and to present the character of Slave-holders in a more favourable light than that in which they are held up in the other publications. It was naturally to be expected that an attempt would be made to palliate the system, but we apprehend without avail. The Work displays considerable talent, and is written upon the same plan as Uncle Tom's Cabin, but it will fail in its object, it will touch no chord of the human heart. American Slavery is under the curse of God and

man.

Entelligence.

EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCE.

The persecution of Francèsco and Rosa Madiai, and the means used to ensnare them.

"A great attempt was made, two months ago, to revive the Romish religion in Florence by means of a grand ceremony-the solemn coronation of the image of Mary in the church of the Annunciation. The old wonder-working picture was accordingly crowned, and the city held a magnificent festival. The whole Court was present, and sundry books of prayers and "spiritual guides" were issued by the priests for the occasion. The whole, however, was felt to have been very much a failure, and the inscriptions prepared for the ceremony were so extravagant, that even some of the Priests declared that neither the Prop ganda nor the Congregation of the Index could sanction them.

It is now generally known in Florence-indeed, it is a matter of comman conversation that the Duchess Dowager paid a visit to Rosa Madiai at Lucca, and talked to her at length of the grand festival of the Madona, and showed her the great "advantages" of a recantation. This visit was followed up by another from the Archbishop of Lucca, who endeavoured, much more cautiously, to introduce the same subject, and finally, at leaving, asked the prisoner to remember him in her prayers! A strange request to be made by a Romish Archbishop, to a person accused of impiety! It is to be hoped such visits will not be repeated, as it is peculiarly unfair to expose a weak and suffering woman to such a trial of her constancy. The Ergastolo might have sufficed, without the blandishments of persons in power. The health of both the prisoners has suffered considerably, but Francesco especially has been reduced to a state of great bodily weakness; and it is feared, if the imprisonment be long continued, he may sink under it. There is some hope that both may be liberated in a short time, but on this subject no one can speak with certainty."

Obituaries.

At Edinburgh, Nov. 18th, 1852, Mrs. Grieve, long a consistent member of the Scotch Baptist Church, assembling at Minto House, Argyle Square. She had for some years suffered from the effects of an accident, and during that time manifested the utmost patience and resignation to the Divine will. Her end was peace.

Died at Beverley, on Thursday, December 2nd, aged 83, Mrs. Mary Jameson, for 23 years a member of the Scotch Baptist Church in that Town, and an attendant on the meetings of the Church for more than 50 years. The Truth she had believed sustained her

to the end.

Died at Edinburgh, Dec. 14th, Mr. John Gillon, one of the members of the Baptist Church assembling in Minto House. He died in the faith of Jesus, which he held fast unto the end. He was formerly one of the Pastors of a Church in Falkirk, but for the last few years (being disengaged from Business,) he resided in Edinburgh, and devoted all his leisure to objects of benevolence and usefulness.

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"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God."

EVERY part of the revealed mind of God in the sacred Scriptures contains manifest tokens of its Divine origin, and claims our attentive examination: but doubtless there are no parts of the volume of God of greater importance to us than the four is first books of the Old Testament,-Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers: and the four first books of the New,-Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The former unfold the mind of God, contained in the laws given to the ancient people; the latter more fully establishes those laws by the person of the Son of God. Jehovah made known his will by angels, by prophets, and by sacrifices in the one, but in the other, the Lord Jesus Christ himself was the speaker, the prophet, and the sacrifice. All the laws and commandments of God which were to regulate the faith and obedience of the Old Testament, worshipper were given and settled in his living and standing oracles-the four first faithful witnesses; and all the laws and commandments of the same God, which are for ever to regulate the faith and obedience of the New Testament worshipper, are in the writings of the four first witnesses of the words and works of Jesus. These form the key-stone to the mighty arch of the mighty building of the God of the whole earth.

The first class of witnesses have had their testimony fulfilled by the appearance of "God manifest in the flesh;" the second class must witness till the end of all things, and the testimonyi uttered by them, more immediately concerns us who profess to be followers of the Lamb of God, who live in the days of the latter glory of the Church..!

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, have embodied in their testimony every doctrine, every precept, and every duty. The life of Jesus has a fulness, and a completeness about it, quite. unequalled; and so have his words; and both are brought

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prominently forward in the four Gospels. The duties enjoined, and the precepts taught, were exemplified by the giver of them, even by the Lord Jesus himself."The law of the Lord is perfect," and in him was seen that perfection. Nothing was left unfinished. There cannot be a safer guide. His authority is the highest, and his example the most worthy to be followed. The Lord Jesus is the head over all things to "the Church, which is his body." He is their Lord, their Life, their Rest, and their All in All, and above all." The Leader and Commander of the people."

1st. Is unity of mind in true worshippers indispensable to make acceptable service to God? How finely is this established in Matt. v. 23-24. chap. xviii. 15-20; and corroborated in 2 Cor. vi. 14, 18.

2nd. Is there a service to be performed in the Church, and servants appointed to it, that" all things may be done in order?" How complete the rule laid down by the Divine Teacher, in Matt. xx. 26-27, and corroborated in Acts xx. 28-35. 1 Tim. iii. 1-13.

3rd. Does prayer accompany" baptizing in the name of the Lord Jesus?' Notice the Divine rule in the first example in Luke iii. 21-22, and corroborated in Acts xvi. 14-16.

4th Does prayer to God form the first act of united worship, on the meeting of the saints on the first day of the week? Notice again, the Divine rule in the Divine example, on the meeting with Jesus on the first day of the week, the resurrection day-in John xx-19, and corroborated in 1 Tim. ii. 1-3.

5th. Is a rule laid down, for a standard guidance to the Church in all ages? Notice it in the united testimony of the two wit ness-bearers of the life of the Lord of Glory. On that night, in the which Jesus was betrayed, he set up the standard, be exemplified the rule, and he established the ordinances; not in a partial manner, but in the most complete and most minute manner possible. He began by separating Judas from the number of the true worshippers, and closed in singing "the hymn," as the last act of their united worship. That prayerthat wonderful and comprehensive prayer, in which every individual, and every one thing are included in John xvii., immediately preceded" the singing of the hymn." Matt. xxvi. 21-30., and corroborated by 1 Cor. xiv. 15, James v. 13.

In the several Epistles written by the apostles, to the churches, the commandments given by the Lord Jesus were illustrated and explained, but no new commandment could be made. The commandments were their Lord's. They enforced obedience to him by referring to his will. The apostles still speak, and

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abideth for ever."

happy-happy will we be if we listen to their voice, and obey Him who spake as never man spake. "The Word of the Lord The four horns of the golden altar which is before God" still stand forth. "The four beasts "– -or as the prophet has it-"the four living creatures, rest not day and night, saying Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." They have "eyes before and behind," as foretelling the holiness and righteousness of God, perfected in and by their Testator; and "each of them has six wings" movingwhich "is the voice of God Almighty to the gentile "or" to the outer court." Expounded in 1 Cor. xiv. 23-25.

Having such a sure word of prophecy, let us submit ourselves to it, as unto a light shining in a dark place, to guide our feet into the ways of peace.

J. B.

ILLUSTRATION OF 1 TIM. i. 15, &c.

From Russell's Letters, Vol. II. p. 176-179.

You ask me what is the meaning of Paul when he says, "I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly and in unbelief." If you examine the context, you will find that he is so far from extenuating his guilt, in order to account for his obtaining mercy, that he is exhibiting his case as an instance of longsuffering, goodness, and abundant grace, designed as an illustration of the richness and freeness of the love of God towards sinners of the greatest magnitude. It is often necessary, in consequence of the diversity of idiom in different languages, to place the words of a version in a different order from that of the languages from which we translate; as otherwise we would give meaning to them quite different from their real import. In the present case, the last clause of the verse requires to be placed before the middle one, and then it will read thus, I was before a blasphemer and a persecutor, and injurious; because I acted in ignorance and unbelief: but that is notwithstanding of this, I obtained mercy." It appears from this that the apostle mentions his ignorance and unbelief, not as the cause of obtaining mercy, but as the cause of his blasphemies, persecutions, and insulting treatment of the followers of Christ It ought to be remembered that his ignorance did not arise from the want of knowledge, and therefore it was not invincible, but wilful. He had the oracles of God, and knew that law which was a schoolmaster till the Christ came. He heard a great deal about the history, character, and claims of Jesus; and if

the Jews in general had no cloak for their sin, could his be less culpable? Far from it,-his ignorance proceeded from enmity

of heart.

Now, the application of our Lord's words to the circumstances of Saul of Tarsus, is fully warranted by his history. You know that when a person is completely satisfied that he is right, he generally acts with temper, but if he has felt doubts which it was not easy to dismiss, he naturally indulges in bitterness of spirit against those who would revive them to the disturbance of his peace. Evil men wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." Every new struggle against the unwelcome light of the truth, blinds the mind yet more to it, till, after repeated trials, conscience ceases to feel, and the mind rests satisfied with its conclusions, as if they had arrived at them by fair and candid inquiry. But though confirmed habits of prejudice destroy the perception of their guilt, and leave their victim to think that he "ought to do many things against what is really the truth:" they are so far from diminishing his guilt, that the guilt is in fact greatest, when, through his persevering rebellion against, the understanding has become the darkest, and the heart most callous

Now was not such the nature of Paul's ignorance, and the cause of his unbelief? If the former of these was no allevi ation of his crimes, surely his unbelief could not lessen them: for so far from alleviating the guilt of those evil actions, from it, there can be no doubt that in itself it is a most heinous offence. Such was the view which Paul himself had of the subject, for in the following verse he says, "And the grace of the Lord Jesus was exceeding abundant, with faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus." His meaning obviously is, that the grace of the Lord Jesus was exceeding abundant with faith, bearing down his obstinate unbelief, and with love eradicating his deeply-rooted hostility.

I have said thus much to illustrate the following declaration of the apostle, in which he gives vent to his feelings of piety and gratitude, of joy and benevolence,-"This is a faithful (or true) saying, and a saying worthy of the most cordial reception, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners," of whom I am a chief or ringleader. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me, a chief and principal transgressor, Jesus Christ might exhibit the greatest long-suffering for a pattern to those hereafter who should believe on him to life everlasting.

ON THE PHRASE "THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND," IN A LETTER TO A FRIEND.

DEAR G. S.-I cannot coincide with your idea that the

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