the tone of panegyric in which Mr Simp-| understanding by that, Protestant truth son speaks of the principles of the Cove- and the observance of christian institunanters, as developed in the covenants tions-against Popish ascendancy and themselves. Taking occasion at the close Erastian encroachments; did they bind of the volume to lift up his voice in so- us only to defend the king's person and lemn warning against the Erastian and the constitutional laws of the realm; to Popish tendencies of the present day, in maintain the liberties of the subject; which we most heartily concur with him, and to perform the duties of religion, he proceeds to propose the covenants as we should, of course, see nothing in them a basis for a general coalition of the with which to find fault; but is not the friends of evangelical truth. "Was it case very materially altered, when, as not," he asks," the very principles may be seen by the most superficial avowed in these documents that wrought perusal of them, these documents are out the boasted Revolution of 1688, al- politico-ecclesiastical as well as religious though the constitution in church and in their bearings:-recognise the Church state came not up to the fulness of these as established by Act of Parliament :covenants, but in some things fell far are based on uniformity of belief in all short of their requirements? The cove- minor points, that is, on adherence in nants may yet form a rallying point to every iota to the "Confession and form the various denominations of the Church of religion," as unto God's "undoubted of Christ in our land; and why should truth and verity :"-declare said “ Conthey not? If there be anything in the fession," in all its parts, to be the "only wording of these covenants that requires true christian faith, pleasing to God, modification to suit the times, let that mo- and bringing salvation to men :"-inculdification be made ; and if there be nothing, cate interference with the rights of conlet them remain as they are. That maw-science, by approving of the infliction on kish sensitiveness that seems to shrink papists and heretics of civil pains and from the very mention of the covenants, is quite unmanly, quite unworthy of freemen, and more unworthy still of christian freemen, to whom the covenants have been the means of transmitting all the freedom they now enjoy."

penalties:-bind the king to root out of the realm all classes of heretics :-and declare that all men are bound by acts of Parliament, to profess the true religion as set forth in "the Confession of Faith"-to subscribe the articles thereof, and recant all contrary doctrines and errors? Were not the men who subscribed such documents lamentably defective, with all their excellencies, which were many, in a knowledge of the first principles of civil and religious liberty? And who does not see, that had they gained the desired ascendancy, they would have set up a spiritual despotism? We cannot but think it strange, that our author could applaud so strongly, and regard as so unexceptionable, the documents in question; and at the same time record such sentiments as the following, which, rightly and clearly understood, are directly antagonist to those sentiments of our covenanting ancestors, which we disclaim. "The Church of Christ," says Mr Simpson, " is an insti

The following, he afterwards says, are the leading principles contained in the covenants:" The defence of the reformed religion against Popish ascendancy and Erastian encroachments; the defence of the king's person and the constitutional laws of the realm; the defence of the liberties of the subject against tyrannical aggression; together with an obligation to personal religion." And having enumerated these, as the sum total of the views contained in these documents, he proceeds to deride, in no measured terms, the scruples of those who have a word to say against them. Now, as we happen to be among the class who are not prepared to swallow the covenants entire, and who, moreover, think this proposal which our excellent brother has brought forward utterly uto-tution independent of civil government, pian (the uniting of all christian deno- and totally distinct from it. 'My kingminations in opposing Erastianism and dom,' says our Lord, is not of this Popery on the basis of the covenants), world,' and therefore the Church should we feel ourselves called upon to express see, that she become in no sense secuour surprise that he should have given larised by a power foreign to herself, and the enumeration of principles which we altogether of this world." "No class of have quoted, as comprehending every Christians have a right to arrogate to dogma for which our suffering forefathers themselves what they will not tolerate contended. Did the covenants require in others; this is to invest themselves us only to defend the reformed religion-with a lordliness to which they have no

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right, and in which others ought to give | language and aptness of illustration, them no countenance. To think and made a deep impression upon her mind, judge for himself, is the birthright of and tended much to enlarge her views of every man, of which no earthly power the paramount importance of early piety. can denude him; and, therefore, for one She ever afterwards was strongly attached class of Christians to say to another, to him, and frequently spoke of the subyou have no right to think, but as we ject of the discourse Train up a child think, or as we will permit you, is an in- in the way he should go, and when he is sufferable insult, which is to be repelled old he will not depart from it'—as one with indignant scorn, and to which no in which she felt peculiar pleasure. In man who has not the spirit of a crouch- a few minutes after, notice was sent to ing slave will submit for a moment." him that she was anxious to receive a Happily the question of christian visit from him: although it was several union is too well understood in our hours before daybreak on a winter mornday to allow us to suppose, that Mring, he was at her bedside. She was Simpson's views regarding the best mode much gratified that he so readily attended of uniting all evangelical denominations, to her request, and was all attention to will be shared beyond a very narrow circle. The union to be desiderated in the first instance among Protestants, is the union of christian men, not of ecclesiastical systems, nor the merging of all systems into one; and their bond of association must be, not uniformity in all the details of their creed, but their one faith in a common Redeemer-their agreement in the great truths of our common Protestantism. "In things essential, unity; in things non-essential, liberty; in all things, CHARITY !"

HOSANNAS to the SAVIOUR; or, the Power of Divine Grace, illustrated in the experience of James and Catharine Cuthbert. By ALEXANDER CUTHBERT, A.M.

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hear what he would say. After making a few inquiries at those who were in the room, about the manner in which she was affected, he asked her if she loved Jesus? Yes.' 'Are you willing now to go to heaven to him?' 'Yes.' He then inquired if she recollected any passages of scripture in which Jesus expresses an interest in little children? 'Yes,' she immediately answered, and repeated the words of our Saviour,

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To

Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.' He asked if she recollected any other? Yes,' she replied, and repeated the words of Solomon, I love them that love me, and they that seek me early shall find me.' She then requested him to engage in prayer; but, before commencing, he Edinburgh: Quintin Dalrymple. asked to whom he would pray? PLEASANT memorials these of juvenile God,' was the answer. For whose piety. Brother and sister both gave sake must I pray?' For Christ's sake.' very early indications of quickness of Why should I offer up prayer for parts and saving impressions of divine Christ's sake?' 'Because he died for things, which the parents were careful to sinners.' 'Are you a sinner?' 'Yes.' cultivate. There is somewhat too much Did he die for you?' 'Yes.' Being of the biographer in the book. What fully satisfied by the answers given to we chiefly desire in such memorials, is these and other questions as to the state the developments of character in the say-of her mind, he, in an impressive manings and doings of the subjects of me-ner, made fervent supplication to heaven moir, rather than in the descriptions and on her behalf. Though she was, at the reflections of friends. The following ex-time, in a paroxysm of pain, she was so tract will show the exercises of mind absorbed in the exercise, that she lay which characterised the death-bed of with the greatest composure, and seemed, Catharine, who died at the early age of for the moment, to be altogether free six years:

"About that time she expressed a desire to see the Rev. Mr Forrester, minister of the parish, now minister of Martyr's Free Church, Paisley. That gentleman had, a short while previously, preached to the children connected with his charge. Catharine attended the service along with them; and the sermon, which was characterised by simplicity of

from suffering. A similar effect was frequently produced when any suitable portion of scripture was whispered in her ear. What has been stated, however, forms but a small part of the conversation which Mr Forrester had with her on that occasion, but it indicates the feelings of the child, and the general state of her mind; and the interest which it excited led that gentleman afterwards to

repeat his visits two or three times every | he pursues in his celebrated work, is one day until her death; and he sometimes in which his shrewdness and perspicuity remained till near midnight, praying are displayed to peculiar advantage, towith her, and administering consolation. gether with the excellences of his style In a note which he sent to me after--so clear, so terse, and pointed. Mr wards, he says-'I often think of dear Biley has engaged in no easy task in departed Catharine; and I think I may attempting to follow him. But he has safely state, that her death-bed has fur- produced a very readable book. That nished me with stronger encouragement he fails in establishing some of his alto persevere in the religious instruction leged coincidences, that, in completing of the young, than anything I have yet his chain of proof, he now and then supwitnessed."" plies a hiatus with a supposition, and that some of those links of circumstantial evidence which he does succeed in tracing are hardly of strength sufficient to bear the weight of the conclusions which the author arrives at, is, in our judgment, all true of Mr Biley's investiLondon: Seeley, Burnside & Seeley. gations; and yet, as a whole, the work PALEY has so carefully and thoroughly is a really meritorious one, and will be surveyed the field as to leave nothing read with interest and profit for the but gleanings to those who come after justness, as well as the novelty and inhim. The line of argument, too, which genuity, of many of his suggestions.

A SUPPLEMENT to the HORE PAULINE of ARCHDEACON PALEY. By EDWARD BILEY, A.M.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.-FOREIGN.

SUMMARY OF RECENT INTELLIGENCE.

for the present be the chief means of instructing them.

IN the most recent intelligence of the From a station among the Bechuanas, London Missionary Society there are Mr Ross writes that there has been a extracts from South Africa. A letter steady increase of the number of those from a female missionary among the who appear awakened. The Inquirers' Basutos, a tribe far in the interior, gives meeting increased in last April to thirty; some interesting details as to the cha- and as many of them had given unracter and condition of the rude savages doubted evidence of being born again, among whom this mission has been re- and had also acquired satisfactory know. cently commenced, and the prospects of ledge of the doctrines of revelation, the missionaries. There are but few of fourteen were baptized, and sixteen rethis people who have been addicted to ceived into church fellowship, on the first cannibalism; and, generally speaking, Sabbath of May. Among the latter was they are superior in morality, as well a son of the principal chief, and others as in intellect, to the Hottentots and were the sons of under chiefs. This Griquas, with this exception-that they leading chief, though not himself abidare fearfully addicted to lying. Poly-ingly impressed with the truth, yet adgamy is common among them; and they have been more virulent and decided in their opposition to the gospel than many other tribes. About thirty families have gathered around the missionaries; and eleven of these poor heathens are already arising from their long sleep of apathy and sin, and inquiring, with affecting earnestness, what they must do to be saved. A substantial stone church has been erected; but, from the opposition of some of the chiefs, and the apathy of the majority of the people, little can be yet done by either preaching or school operations, so that itinerant labours must

vises his children and people to attend strictly to the preaching of the word; and a son, and a daughter, and one of his wives, seem to have tasted that God is gracious. The chapel is filled every Sabbath day; prayer-meetings are numerously attended, and the school more valued. The intelligence of the society from Caffreland has for some time past been very encouraging. In no part of Africa has the cause of Christ encountered more inveterate enmity, and more powerful resistance, than in Caffraria; nor has the tide of hostile feeling yet materially subsided; but of late the

hand of the Lord has been more visible | any, until they have actually united, in sealing his own truth. Mr Calder- themselves by baptism to the christian wood, who, until recently, laboured in a church." The melancholy rites of station on the colonial side of the eastern superstition were in active operation frontier, has removed into Caffreland, around them; such as offering water and taken up his residence in the midst to the manes of their ancestors, and of a large population. His attendance, feeding cows, dogs, and crows, under the although not numerous, is encouraging; belief that they were thus feeding their and he had lately the happiness of bap- forefathers, according to their doctrine tizing six Caffre women and one man, of transmigration. The most common all of whom, with one exception, had remark of the people, when the claims been long on the list of inquirers. His of Christ are presented to them, is, "We church, consisting of between thirty and wish no new thing; we will walk in the forty members, had spontaneously, and ways of our fathers." unsolicited by him, contributed, amid Recent intelligence from China shows their deep poverty, the sum of about the missionaries of the London Society. L.14, on occasion of the society's jubilee. to be active in establishing themselves The directors have been gratified by at the British settlement of Hong Kong; receiving a letter from the persecuted although for the present the missionand afflicted remnant in Madagascar, ary has had to retire from Canton, in of the most encouraging nature. The consequence of the hostility of a porsame fervent piety and lively faith tion of the people towards all foreigners. breathes in it, as have all along adorned In Hong Kong their preaching, both the converts of that still hopeful island. in Chinese and English, has an enAs regards their situation, none of couraging attendance; and they have them have, since last communications, several week-day services, besides those been subjected to hotter persecution; and even those of them who had been doomed to perpetual slavery, have been permitted to be redeemed. The number of the learners is very greatly increasing; several natives have lately joined the Christians; and many preach to them. Six had been removed by death, and, so far as they could judge, had died in the Lord. They rejoice greatly in God as the deliverer of his people from the hands of the wicked, and entreat an interest in the prayers of all friends. "We see that God is powerful," they say, "that no one can pluck out of his hands, nor hinder that which he is doing. Earnestly, therefore, plead on our account and your own; for if God be with us, who can be against us ?" They make happy reference in their letter to suitable texts of scripture.

on the Sabbath. The mission schools are in a promising state; and the attendance of both boys and girls, though yet small, is increasing. Tracts are distributed in great numbers.

Additional details are given in the Society's latest intelligence, respecting both the New Hebrides and Tahiti, confirmatory, and further illustrative, of the particulars we gave in our last number. In regard to the fate of their teachers in the island of Futuna, in the former group, it appears, that at the time of their death, an epidemic was raging in the island, which the people attributed to the teachers as the cause of it, and killed them both, with the wife and daughter of one of them, four persons in all. The re action in their favour in Tanna is altogether decided. A deadly disease which visited the island after the expulsion of From Benares, in India, recent com- the missionaries was supposed by all to munications illustrate well the mingled be the judgment of heaven; so many died, hopes and discouragements with which that it is said the living could not bury missionaries among that blinded people them. In Tahiti the injurious influence are so constantly agitated. There are of French manners on the interests of at present some of whom high expecta- public morality has been sadly felt; intemtions are entertained; three, in particu- perance and its attendant evils are rapidly lar, are mentioned, whose hearts appear increasing. Yet a majority of the popu to be touched by divine grace; one of lation, who remained encamped in the them under deep concern, but greatly valleys of their native mountains, refusheld back by the persecution to which ing to submit to their invaders, hold fast baptism would subject him. And the missionary remarks, "I have so often spoken of inquirers, of whom I hoped well, but who afterwards left us for the world, that I am now afraid to mention

NO. III. VOL. III.

their integrity, and enjoy an increasing measure of spiritual blessing. A missionary who regularly visits one of their camps, writes, that there he had, in the beginning of June last, received into the

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communion of the church about forty new | assistants, who aid them in the care of members; and in a time of unparalleled the congregation; particularly of the dissipation, he knew not of one case, in scattered members of their flock, whom that camp, of intemperance among the church members. In Papeete all has been drunkenness and confusion: most of the church members have left it, and retired to the camps in the mountains. This being the best harbour of the island, is the head-quarters of the French. It was formerly a flourishing mission station, under another name, taken from one of the directors of the society. But, under French misrule, all these names intended to immortalize the founders of the society must be discarded. It had been better if they had never been adopted. At this station, however, a missionary is still active. He opened a school in the end of June last, which is filled. The chapel has been re-roofed and made comfortable; and he is about to form a new church-carefully excluding the cold lifeless members of the former church, and endeavouring to raise the standard of purity, for which improvement in the character of the church, he reckons the present time very favourable. None have yet joined the papists; and only one priest remains, two or three having left a few months ago for Wallis's Island.

they themselves can but seldom visit. To five of these assistants they bear testimony that they are both diligent and useful; and two of them have gifts as well as grace. "It is, however, no easy matter," they state, “to train assistants of this nation, who may become thoroughly qualified for the discharge of their office, without losing any portion of their humility and simplicity." They had had the joy to baptize three persons from the heathen-a rare occurrence. Their schools have continued to give them pleasure: three days in the week they have given instruction to thirty-two single women and girls; and on the other three days they have taught thirty-six young girls. From the southmost station they write that their attention was most earnestly directed to the improvement of the spiritual state of their congregation. In Greenland there are numerous hindrances with which they have to struggle. Their people are removed from them for half the year, in quest of provisions for the winter. For a couple of months or longer, they have to associate with the Greenlanders of the Danish factory, The United Brethren have recently re- amongst whom dancing and nocturnal ceived the annual reports of their mission revelry are universally practised; and in Greenland; which bring, upon the many of their young people are thus led whole, encouraging intelligence from that into temptation. What is worst of all, field of evangelical labour. The plentiful their old superstitious practices oft resupply of food which their Greenlanders gain the ascendancy during this disperwere enabled this past season to provide, sion-a class of sins the most dangerous, gave them opportunity of remaining more yet which are the last they are willing to at home than usual, so that the mission-confess. The evils of this dispersion are aries had abundant intercourse with in some degree mitigated by the assistthem; and their attendance on the ance of faithful national helpers, who means of grace was, on the whole, re-accompany them, and at least check the gular and frequent. At the northern- irregularities of conduct which they obmost station one-half of the congrega- serve among them. Three boats of heation remained with the missionaries throughout the winter; and the other half were at such distances as enabled them to pay frequent, and often long visits. From another station they write, "the operations of the spirit of God on the hearts of our Greenland flock were evident; and the majority of its members gave us pleasure by their walk and conversation. The attendance on the meetings and the schools was more numerous and frequent. We cannot, however, help regretting that so many children are deprived of the means of instruction, owing to the parents living dispersed along the coast."

From another station they remark, that they have at present eight national

then from the east coast again visited the settlement this summer, for trading purposes; and when the missionaries took the opportunity of preaching Christ to them, and inviting them to turn to him, they promised to come and settle among them, and assured them that others of their countrymen had the same intention. Perhaps their hour may soon come.

Death of Missionaries.-The Episcopal bishop of Jerusalem, after a journey through the wilderness towards Cairo, and when within a short distance of the latter city, died instantaneously, on the 22d of November last, by the rupture of a blood-vessel, close to the heart. He was a converted Jew; but he has occu