520 REVIEW OF RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS. dency. It would greatly exceed our bounds were we to relate the statements and the defences he gives us of the doctrines of the Reformation; the accounts which he exhibits of the different sects; his vindication of the Missionary and Bible Societies, of charity schools, and other benevolent institutions, from the cruel pen of this malevolent Stranger, who seems to have dipped it in the same black and bitter gall of enmity against God and goodness with his predecessors, Paine, the Barrister, &c. though he has not used it with half their knowledge or skill. On the whole, we have read Detector with much entertainment. The author discovers good sense, learning, knowledge, wit, and sometimes apostolic zeal, attempered with a spirit of Christian love; and we recommend this book to the general perusal of our readers. The Appendix, No. 1; containing A Dissertatiou on the comparative Value of Money, will be read with Interest by those who pay attention to pecuniary calculation, especially in the present times. No. 11, contains some Letters to and from the Committee of the Society for the Suppression of Vice at Reading. The highly respectable author of this sermon, is already well known to our readers, by his excellent Exposition of the holy Scriptures, and his other useful and valued writings. Perhaps it is not equally known that he is the tutor of the Missionary students under the patronage of the Society for Missions to Africa and the East. The deceased Mr. B. had heen for a considerable time placed under Mr. Scott's care, and being a most amiable character, the tidings of his death prematurz, as we should . A think, excited a deep sensation in the mind of his tutor. This led Mr. S. to preach the sermon on the occasion, which is now before us. considerable number of Missionaries, from the recently instituted societies, have died, Mr. S. observes, soon after they had entered on their labours. This is certainly, in ilseif, a mysterious and disheartening event, though replete with instruction. To counteract the discouragement, and to improve such an event is the object of this publication. The text is Acts xx. 24, But none of these things move me; neither count I my life dear to myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.' From which Mr. Scott endeavours to shew, I. The state of the views and principles of St. Paul, which led him to speak in this manner; and to evince by his conduct that he spoke the genuine language of his soul. II. To explain in this view the words of the text. III. To apply these considerations to the mysterions providence of Mr. B.'s removal: that out of the small number of those who could be induced to venture their lives in devoting themselves to the service of Missionaries, one should be removed by death at the very crisis when he zealous, and benevolent labours, was about to enter on his pious, among the poor negroes. In this explication of the mysterious repart of the sermon, which offers au moval of young Missionaries from their labours, Mr. Scott observes, That no new thing has taken place in the death of our beloved brother, events of a similar nature occur ed in ancient times, ia the instances of John the Baptist, of Stephen, and James, the brother of John, yet the servants of God, though they made lamentation for them, did not despond, or give up the cause of the gospel as hopeless, or even discou raging. Modern times afford instances of a similar nature, did leisure permit us to dwell on them.Who, that has ever read his Jour nals, can help regretting that such a Missionary as Brainerd, in Ame- fluence such as are deliberating on the question to enquire seriously whether they ought to engage or not, and even determine some to decline a service for which they are not duly prepared at present, and to bring others to engage in it with stronger faith, more ardent zeal, and more resignation to the will of Go3,-the consequences will by no means be unfavourable to the cause. What shall we say, as to the ef fect on the Society for Missions? Will not their hands hang down, and their hearts be discouraged? I trust, not. Consider the conduct of such who manage the public affairs of nations. The real or sup posed good of their country is their avowed object: they form plans of military enterprize. In executing these plans, they have continually to deplore the loss of commanders, whom they most highly esteemed; yet they do not renounce, or even relax in their efforts. I do not say they are always right in their measures, they have no ground of assurance that those who lose their lives are happy after death: but, my brethren, the object of societies for Missions is of prime importance, and an indispensable duty; and, so far as our measures accord with the word of God, they are the result of divine wisdom. We send our Missionaries (as they do their officers) at the risk of their lives; but we have scarcely a doubt, that if our Missionaries should lose their lives, their souls would be saved. But will not such events discourage us ? No doubt, a temporary discouragement will frequently arise from such a cause, even in upright and zealous hearts; but it does not appear that the death of Stephen either damped the ardour of those who were then employed to proach the gospel, or deterred others from entering on the same service. Men indeed, whose hearts are di vided, may be induced to decline the employment, when they perceive how perilous it is: but he that puts his hand to the plough, and looketh back, is not fit for the kingdom of God. When Israel went out to war, the priest was ordered to proclaim, that the cowards might return home;couraged by events, which certainly their presence would be of no use, and would only tend to discourage their brethren. If then these disappointments induce those who have engaged to examine more narrowly their motives, more deliberately to count their cost, and more fully to make up their minds for all events, in so glorious & cause; if they in XVII. It may be incumbent upon us to enquire, Whether, by any inattention, or unseasonable measure, or any other means, the lives of our zealous servants had been noedlessly exposed? and thus we ought to revise and improve our plans; but, surely, we should not be so dis cannot be thought unexpected, as to remit our carnestness; nay, indeed we ought to redouble it.. We congratulate the Society in the prospect of Missionaries of such a character es Mr. B. and of such a Tutor, as Mr. S. to prepare the for their important task. 32 RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. AMERICA. Extract of a Letter from the State of Vermont, North America. WHEN I first came into this country, there were very few young men entering upon the ministry. I often used to have people calling to enquire Whether I knew of any candidates? (i. e. persons who have obtained a licence to preach, from some association of ministers). There is now a flood of young preachers, who are riding about the country, in all directions, to get employment; and are frequently calling here to enquire after parishes that want to hear preaching.' This is occasioned by the great number of colleges in these northern states, which in all are eight. In new settlemenis, where there are but few people, and those mostly poor, they hear preaching from three to six months in the 6 year, and sometimes two contiguous parishes settle a minister, who preaches alternately in each. Others have occasional preaching from the assistance of Missionary Societies; of which there are several. Some send out two Missionaries; some more. The Directors of these Societies give them eight dollars à week. A list of the places they are expected to go to is given them; with orders to preach and administer the ordinances wherever they are required. The people among whom they travel support them. If any money is offered, they are permitted to take it; but it is deducted from their account. They are expected to keep a Diary of their travels, relating as many particulars as they can collect, respect ing the number of people in the several settlements, what reception they meet with,-and what parts of the conatry seem able and willing to support a minister statedly among them. These accounts are sometimes highly entertaining. I think, this Missionary business very use. ful; being the means of keeping alive some sense of religion among the people, who would be in danger of sinking into downright heathenism, &c. Four of the eight colleges above mentioned have been established within the last 16 years. They have all the power of conferring Doctorates; and of course we have Doctors in Divinity in great numbers. If a minister is nearly superannuated, he is almost sure to be made a Doctor, as if it was thought a necessary passport to the grave. Some have been so honoured to their great mortification; but there is no redress,-as the first hint a minister has of it is from the public papers. On Tuesday, the 7th of August, was laid the foundation of St. Audrew's Church, in Nassau, New Providence, in the presence of the Commander in Chief, the Members of the Council, and the Speaker of the House of Assembly. The liberality manifested in the subscriptions for rearing this church, was truly exemplary, and reflects much honour on the piety and zeal of the inhabitants. We trust their worthy minister, the Rev. John Rae, A. M. late of Miles's Lane, London, will long live to publish the pure unadulterated gospel of Christ to them, and to the poor negroes in the settlement; and to illustrate their sanctifying and ennobling influence in his own holy and useful life. INDIA. The following paragraph lately appeared in a London Newspaper: We have seen several private letters from India, which express serious apprehensions as to the state and prospects of that part of the empire. Those Missionaries who, in the ardour of their zeal for proselytism, forget the spirit of their religion, and resort to fraud and force for the propagation of Christianity, continue to irritate the natives. The alarm among the Hiu. doos is universally obvious. Meantime Bonaparte is stated to have a variety of active agents endeavouring to promote this alarm, and excile the people to his purposes; but such statements are entitled to no attention. Why attribute to the agents of Bonaparte, or of any foreign government, those consequences which naturally follow from that system which our own government tolerates and eacourages? If our government will insult the religion, or outrage the prejudices of any people, whether in India or Ireland, or in any other part of the empire, they must expect the hatred of that people; but still our minister, in order to secure votes in the House of Commons, will yield to the spirit of Saintship, and will patronize the injurious influence of the Missionaries in India, and the equally injurious ascendency of their prejudices in Ireland, and will put the power of government in hostile array against the religion of a great proportion of the king's subjects. re battle of Jena, in 1806, married anether man. It turned out that her husband had been only wounded, and taken prisoner by the French. A cure was soon effected; and he joined one of the Prussian regiments which entered into the pay of France. After serving three years in Spain, he was discharged, turned suddenly to his native country, and appeared greatly rejoiced to find his wife alive. She received him with every mark of affection; but did not avow the new matrimonial connection she had formed. -After partaking of some refreshment, he complained of being quite overcome with fatigue, and retired to rest. She immediately joined with her new husband to dispatch the unwelcome visitor in his sleep; which they accomplished by strangling him; and put his body into a sack. About midaight, in conveying it to the Oder, the weight of the corpse burst the sack; and one of the legs hung out. The woman set about sewing up the rent; and in her hurry and confusion, sewed in at the same time the skirts of her accomplice's coat. Having reach One of the Letters from India contains a statement, that the native troops participate of the alarm created by the conduct of the Missionaries. It also mentions a rumour of the burning of the Mission-ed the bank of the river, and making aries' Church by the natives?' It is hard to say which is greatest, the malice or the falsehood of this paragraph ! We are pretty well acquainted with Missionary Societies; but we never before heard that they have resorted to found and force for the propagation of the gospel; but indeed, this pretence of private lellers, serious apprehensions and rumours, deserve no serious attention. The whole appears to be a fabrication of some enemy to the gospel of Christ, who despises all serious religion, under the name of The Spirit of Saintship.' HORRID MURDER. [FROM A GERMAN PAPER.] An event lately happened in the neighbourhood of Frankfort-uponthe-Oder, which is considered as an infliction of the divine vengeance :A woman, conceiving that her husband, who was a soldier in the Prussian service, had been killed in the a great effort to precipitate his load as far into the stream as possible, he was dragged from the elevated ground he had chosen, into the river; but contrived to keep his head above water for several minutes. The woman not consider ing how important it was to keep silent, filled the air with her cries; and brought to the spot several peasants, who, at the hazard of their own lives, extricated the drowning man from his perilous situation, at the same time discovering the cause. The man and woman were charged with the crime, - made a full confession, and were consigned to the officers of Justice. Provincial Intelligence. IRELAND. Report of the Belfast Brunch of the Hibernian Society. Tux return, for a fourth time, of the Annua Meeting of the Belfast Branch of the Hibernian Bible So ciety, calls upon your Committee to report the progress which has been made in the last year, and to lay before you the state of your funds. While the spirit of promoting the dissemination of the Scriptures has prevailed so much in other parts of the United Kingdom, on the continent of Europe, and in America, while it has begun to diffuse itself widely into our own country, and we have hailed the formation of sister branches of the Hibernian Bi ble Society in Limerick, Dungannon, Armagh, Ross, and Mayo, we feel not a little gratified in stating, it has extended itself more widely in our own vicinity. Last year a considerable addition has been made to the number of our subscribers. The public mind seems to become more Books on Hand last October, from the Dublin Society Ditto received from Dablin during the Year Of these remain on Hand Of these sold Books procured by the Local Fund in the Year Of these remain on Hand Of these have been soid 135 143 4623 126 4497 2720 858 1862 On Thursday, Sept. 27, a neat and commodious chapel was opened at Sutton, near Thirsk, in the north riding of Yorkshire. Mr. Neale, the stated minister of Thirsk and Sutton, commenced the service of the day with reading and prayer; Mr. Norris, of Ellenthorp, who first introduced the gospel in this village among the Dissenters, preached from 1 Cor. ii. 11; which was followed by an appropriate sermon, by Mr. Cock, of Reeth, from Zech. iv. 10. The service was concluded by Mr. Jackson, of Green Hammerton, who preached also in the evening, from Col. i. 5; and Mr. Neale concluded the services of the day with prayer. The village is situated in a very dark part of the country, and where the dissenting interest has not made a great progress. Before the erection of this chapel, the people worship ped in a room, which was too small for the reception of the congregation, who attend in large numbers, and manifest a great concern to hear the word of life. Oct. 3. The Rev. J. Maurice, late student of Carmarthen, was ordained co-pastor with his father (Rev. Ph. Maurice) over the Independent church at Tynygwndwn, Cardiganshire. Divine service was introduced with reading and prayer, by Mr. T. Jones, of Saron; Mr. Js. Griffiths, of Machynlleth, delivered the introductory discourse; Mr. B. Evans, of Trewen, received the confession, and offered the ordination-prayer ; Mr. Roberts, of Llanbrynmair, gave the charge, from Heb. xiii. 17; Mr. George, of Brynberian, preached to the people, from Cant. viii. 12. Messrs. Griffiths, of Trefgarn, and Lloyd, of Henllan, preached in the afternoon. Messrs. Shadrach, of Talybont, and Griffiths, of Glandwr, on the preceding evening. The copgregation was numerous, attentive, and highly gratified. On the following day, the Rev. B. Evans delivered a very suitable discourse on the opening of the New Academy at Neuaddlwyd, from Num. ii. 29, and Mr. Roberts, of |