are that the holy scriptures -Fourthly, They reveal a most wonderful plan of redemption, which, in all its parts, demonstrates its divine original. Fifthly, The evident end and scope of the whole, is to promote the glory of God, and the happiness of men. - Sixthly, And the supernatural effects they produce upon the hearts of those, who believe and receive them as the word of God, show the divine power attend-commandment of the Lord is ing them.-Let us now, "II. Take notice of the various purposes for which the scriptures are profitable. "All this agrees with what the psalmist says on this sub[ject: The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the pure, enlightening the eyes,' &c. We shall now, "III. Make some improvement and application of the subject. "1. They are profitable for doctrine, i. e. for teaching us 1. If all scripture is given the important doctrines we are by inspiration of God, then it to believe concerning God, our-must be infallibly true, and selves, our state by nature, and the way of salvation by Christ; as also the duties we owe to God and one another. ought to be received with that reverence and credit, which is due to its great Author.—It follows, also, that it ought to be diligently studied, as the alone rule of faith and practice; that we should believe its doctrines and promises, stand in awe of its threatenings, and cheerfully yield obedience to its precepts. "2. If it is profitable for all the purposes that have been mentioned, and to make us wise unto salvation, then it must be a perfect rule of faith and duty, to which nothing must be added, of human invention, as if it were, in any respect, deficient; and from which nothing must be taken, as if any thing were trifling or redundant. The law of the Lord is perfect. "3. Hence it also follows, it is a permanent and unalterable rule, for all ages of the church, and for all states of society, from the most uncultivated to the most improved. It neither changes with the fashions nor opinions of the times; nor does it ever grow obsolete, or out of date. Hence, it can never be laid aside, like the laws and opinions of changeable men; but it is the word of the Lord, which endureth for ever; the rule of eternal righteousness. "4. From what has been said, we may also see, that the word of God is the only true standard of doctrine, and that by which all human teaching must be tried; to the law and to the testimony,' &c.; so that it is the only preservative from false doctrine. "5. From all these considerations, it is clear, that the scripture is the greatest blessing that any nation or people can enjoy in this world, and the most conducive to their eternal happiness in the world to come. The peculiar advantage of the Jews, above other nations, lay chiefly in this; that, to them were committed the oracles of God.'-Compare the state of the nations before and since they have received the word of God. Compare, also, the state of Europe under Popery, when the scriptures were taken from the common people, with the state of the reformed churches, who enjoy the light of the scrip tures. I beg you will bear with me a little, in applying this subject to the present occasion of our meeting. The Lord is now remarkably stirring up many, to propagate the gospel among the heathen. About six years ago, a Missionary Society was formed, for this purpose, among the Particular Baptists in England. The VOL. VIII. year following, Messrs. Thomas and Carey were sent, as Missionaries, to the East Indies. Since their arrival there, Mr. Carey, in particular, though he had the language of the country to learn, a secular employment to attend, and also a great deal of preaching, yet has exerted himself so extraordinarily, as to have completed a translation of the whole New Testament, and several parts of the Old, into the Bengalee language. Upon consulting with the printer, at Calcutta, about the expense of printing 10,000 copies of the New Testament, it is thought it will amount to about 30007. sterling, or upwards; for which the Society's funds are by no means adequate. Yet, considering the vast importance of this undertaking, for enlightening the heathen in that extensive country, and its evident tendency to advance the kingdom of Christ, it is hoped, that the lovers of Zion will not scruple to lend their mite, to assist in putting this inestimable treasure into the hands of these poor heathens. 1. Let me address you, who know the value and use of the word of God, who have experienced its power and efficacy upon your own souls. This is no party concern; it is the common cause. If you value the scriptures,-the souls of men,the glory of the Redeemer, &c. this will have a more solid and lasting effect than transient discourses, and lead them to see the ground of faith with their own eyes.-2. Let me address even those who are possessed of humanity, lovers of morality," &c. 2 M Juvenile Department. CALENDAR FOR JUNE, 1816. I. The Name.-Perhaps the Romans called it Junius from Junius Brutus, who drove the Tarquins from Rome, and settled the government upon the people. II. Fasts and Festivals.-June 1. Nicomede. He is said to have been a pupil of St. Peter, and was discovered to be a Christian by his burying Felicula, a martyr, in a very honourable manner. He was beaten to death with leaden plummets, on account of his religion, in the reign of Domitian. June 2. Whitsunday. On Whit-sunday, or White-sunday, the Catechumens, who were then baptized, as well as those who had been baptized before at Easter, appeared, in the ancient church, in white garments. The Greeks called it Brightsunday, on account of the number of bright white garments which were then worn. mitted into the canon of the church. June 13. Corpus Christi. June 17. St. Alban. He was the first Christian martyr in this island, and suffered in 303. He was converted by Amphialus, a priest of Caerleon in Monmouthshire, who, flying from persecution, was hospitably entertained by St. Alban at Verulam, in Hertfordshire, now called, from him, St. Alban's. Amphialus being closely pursued, made his escape, dressed in St. Alban's clothes. This, however, being soon discovered, exposed St. AÏban to the fury of the Pagans; and our saint, refusing to perform the sacrifice to their gods, was first miserably tortured, and then put to death. June 21. Longest Day. This day is, in London, 16h. 34m. 5 s. June 24. St. John the Baptist and Midsummer Day. June 29. St. Peter. He suf fered martyrdom at Rome, about the year 64, and was crucified with his head downwards; saying, according to St. Jerome, "he was unworthy to be crucified as his master was." The church of St. Peter, at Rome, is the largest building of the kind in the world. June 5. St. Boniface. He was a Saxon presbyter, born in England, and at first called Winfrid. Pope Gregory II. sent him into Germany, where he made so III. Astronomical Occurrences. many converts that he was called-The sun enters Cancer on the the German apostle. He was murdered in a barbarous manner by the populace near Utrecht, while preaching the Christian religion. June 9. Trinity Sunday. June 11. St. Barnabas. The epistle ascribed to him is considered genuine, though not ad 21st, at forty-five minutes past two in the afternoon, when the summer quarter commences.The moon enters her first quarter on the 3d; is full on the 10th ; enters her last quarter on the 17th; and her change will be on the 25th. The planet Mars sets on the 1st, at seventeen minutes twilight. The smallness of this planet renders it also necessary that some directions should be given for finding its place in the heavens. The juvenile astronomer, therefore, will do well to find the constellation called Scorpio, or the Scorpion, and also that called Ophiucus, or the Serpent-bearer. These constellations come to the south at the same time that the forementioned planet does: but the Scorpion, in which the planet is situate, is the lower constellation; and its brightest star called Antares moves a little below the course which the sun pursues in the middle of winter. About 32 breadths of the sun above Antares, is Zeta Ophiuchi, a star of the third magnitude, and less bright than Antares, which is of the first magnitude. On the eastern side of these two stars may be seen another star, of the third magnitude, called Eta Ophiuchi. With these three fixed stars the letter V is formed, the western side being rather the longest. At the top of the V, on the eastern side, is Eta Ophiuchi; and at the top, on the western side, is Zeta Ophiuchi; and at the bottom of the V is Antares, or the Scorpion's heart. On the western side of the V, not far from the bottom of it, is Beta Scorpii, a star of the second magnitude. In the eastern line of the V, third part from the bottom, is a small star of the sixth magnitude, and, in the western line, of the aforesaid letter, a third part from the bottom, is another fixed star, of the fifth magnitude, and which is one of those stars in the Scor pion that are called Omega Scor after eleven at night; and on the About the end of this month, and in the early part of July, the Georgian planet will be nearly in a line between these two stars, and will be seen gra- | light, and an approach to total darkness where the sun is eclipsed nearly twelve digits. Hence arises the dusky appearance on the surface of the moon, near the earth's shadow. dually to approach Omega Scorpii till the middle of August, when it will be stationary for a few days; and then it will return in the same path it moved in, when pursuing a contrary direction. The planet will be moving between the two stars for some time, and by that motion may be recognised as a planetary body. IV. Naturalist's Diary-One of the earliest rural employments of this month is the shearing of sheep. A profusion of fragrance arises from the fields of clover in This month affords us an in-flower-from the beans in blosteresting eclipse of the moon, som-and from the new-mown which will begin on the evening hay. The gaiety of all surroundof the 9th, and will end on the ing objects and the genial warmth morning of the 10th. The full of the weather, conspire to render moon will rise about sunset, and it a season of pleasure and dewill continue full-orbed till the light to the beholder. During beginning of the eclipse, at 30 the mild evenings of this month, minutes after eleven, when the not a little amusement may be earth's shadow will begin to be derived from watching the movisible on the eastern side of the tions of the common white, or moon. The shadow will then barn owl. The cunning of this appear to advance over the nocturnal bird is admirably demoon's surface, till 39 minutes scribed by Butler: after midnight, and then the moon will be totally eclipsed. A faint light, however, will remain on that side of the moon which was last visible; and this light will gradually decrease as the moon sinks deeper into the shadow. At 15 minutes after one, will be the middle of the eclipse; and afterwards a faint light will gradually increase on the other side of the moon, till her eastern limb begins to appear at 51 minutes after one. Then the shadow will seem to recede, from the eastern limb, till three o'clock, when the eclipse will cease. It may also be remarked that, near the edge of the earth's shadow, there will be a gradual increase of light on one side, and of darkness on the other. On the surface of the moon, near the earth's shadow, the sun is eclipsed by the earth, between eleven and twelve digits, which accounts for a considerable diminution of "And as an owl that in a barn The innumerable herbs and flowers, which meet our eyes'in every direction, appear designed only to ornament our earth, or to gratify our sense of smelling; but, upon a more intimate acquaintance with their peculiar properties and operations, we find, that while they contribute to embellish our gardens, they also promote the purification and renovation of the atmosphere, which has become contaminated from various causes. We can only subjoin here a small selection of wild-flowers. This month affords ample scope for the researches of the English botanist, as it brings more flowers into blossom, than any other month of the year. |