This corps made some resistance, with a view to draw as large a part of the Turkish force as possible over, or near the mine; they then set fire to the powder it contained, and destroyed at once themselves and a great part of their enemies. The Turks, notwithstanding, still remained masters of the island; except that two forts, containing about 2000 Greeks, held out against them. In the mean time, the Greek fleet at the island of Hydra, near the south-west coast of the Archipelago, got intelligence of the attack on Ipsara, and hastened to its succour. The Turkish fleet, still on the coast of that island, was attacked with daring intrepidity; three of their frigates were destroy. ed by the fire-ships of the Greeks; the captain pacha escaped, but his vessel was very much damaged; and no less than eighty other Turkish vessels, of different dimensions, were either burned or taken. The shattered remnant of the Ottoman fleet took shelter in Mitylene, the ancient Lesbos, near the Asiatic coast. The Greeks, now masters of the sea, landed a considerable force on Ipsara, which was joined by the 2000 who had not been subdued, and made an easy conquest and an entire extermination of the Turkish force that had been left on the island.—It is computed that the Turks lost from ten to fifteen thousand men in all-Some accounts say twenty thou sand. It would seem that few, if any prisoners, were taken on either side.-Caso, a very small island, about six miles to the south of Scaponto, is said to have been taken and retaken, in much the same manner as Ipsara. These islands are all near to the Turkish coast of Asia; and if the Greeks can defend them permanently against their oppressors, they will soon invade those who have invaded them. This, indeed, is already threatened; and if they are equally successful, as they seem likely to be, against the Turkish armies in peninsular and northern Greece, they will, ere long, carry the war to the walls of Constantinople itself.—What if, in this age of wonders, the Greeks, instead of the Russians, should be made the instruments of driving the Turks out of Europe! Russian and French transports are said to have been employed, in carrying the Turkish troops to Ipsara. ASIA. Since our last statement we have heard nothing of the war against the Burmanese. The last accounts of the Christian Missions in Asia are very favourable. The Scotch missionaries, in the north-west of this continent, are doing much good, and extending their influence considerably. The Baptist College at Serampore, has lately had a publick examination, in the presence of the British governmental authorities, which has been highly creditable. The other missions are all prosperous. This is infinitely more important, in Christian estimation, than political changes and military achieve ments. AFRICA. We have nothing new to communicate from the south-western coast of Africa. From the shores of the Mediterranean, the information is confirmed, that the British have made peace with the Algerines. A large military force of cavalry and infantry, amounting to 25,000 men, is said to have been collected at Alexandria in June last, under the command of the son of the Pacha of Egypt, and destined to aid the Turks in the war with the Greeks. We have always doubted, and still doubt, whether the Pacha of Egypt, who is a Greek renegado, and whom the Grand Senior has once attempted to decapitate, intends seriously to aid in the present war. Yet it may be so. If he does, we hope the Grecian fleet, which is watching the port of Alexandria, will so settle the dispute on the water, that nothing will remain to be done on land. AMERICA. PERU.-Official intelligence is received that the liberator Bolivar has gained a decisive advantage, in a cavalry action, over the royal Spanish troops. The despatches represent, that Bolivar endeavoured to bring the adverse army to a general action; that this action was avoided by a retreat, so rapid that Bolivar could do nothing more, at the moment, than detach his cavalry in pursuit of the fleeing foe; that the cavalry of the two armies met and engaged; and that after a sanguinary conflict the republicans were victorious. Bolivar, it is said, is pursuing, with an army strongly reinforced, the main body of the enemy, and is expected soon to terminate the controversy for the government of Peru, MEXICO.-Present appearances afford a sanguine hope that the political affairs of this large state are likely to be eventually settled, in a manner favourable to rational freedom-This however cannot take place, while there is no such thing as religious toleration. But time must be allowed to shake off the trammels of education and habit. An ambassador from Mexico has arrived in our country: And whatever we may think of the Mexicans on the subject of religion, they deserve the commendation of the whole world for the total abolition of slavery, and the declaration that it shall never be permitted in that republick. UNITED STATES.-The canvass for a chief magistrate of the United States has grown more ardent, as the period of appointing electors and of making an actual choice, has approached. There has been on this occasion a degree of acrimony and personality, in a few instances, which we deeply regret; but on the whole, much less than on former occasions, and we earnestly hope there will be no more. In place of angry controversy, how much better, if all concerned would seriously reflect, and conscientiously vote and act, under a deep impression of their responsibility to their country and their God, for what they do in this interesting concern. As Christian Advocates, we renewedly urge on our Christian friends, the duty of earnest prayer, both publick and private-that He who turns the hearts of the children of men as the rivers of water are turned, may so order it, that the choice of the next President of the United States may be one, that shall hereafter give us reason to believe that it was the best that could have been made-mercifully ordered, by the Supreme Disposer of all events, as a peculiar instance of his favour to our beloved country. General La Fayette, the nation's guest, has been, through the past month, journey. ing to the south; and receiving, in every place through which he has passed, the same manifestations of respect, gratitude, and affection, which were shown him at first. It is no dubious proof both of his merit and of our sincerity, that time does not abate, but rather increase, our attachment to him. We hope that at the approaching session of Congress, he will receive an expression of the nation's gratitude, more durable, though to him it may not be more gratifying, than that which cities, and towns, and corporations, and individuals, have vied with each other in showing him. We regret to state, that up to the last accounts which we have seen, the yellow fever still raged at New Orleans, and that it existed, though with an abatement, in Charleston, South Carolina. These afflicted cities claim our tenderest sympathy; which we feel and express as we ought, our obligations to the God of providence, that the health of our country, through the past season, has been in general far better, than in the same season of the three preceding years. It seems to us, that in those States where the civil authority does not call the people to the duty of publick thanksgiving and prayer to God, this duty ought to be performed, under an appointment or agreement made by religious denominations, either more extensively or more partially, as circumstances may render necessary or expedient. TO SUBSCRIBERS. The next number of the Christian Advocate will conclude the volume for 1824. Three Dollars are now due, by the terms of subscription, from such subscribers, seve. rally, as have not yet paid. They will oblige us much, if they will endeavour to for ward their remittances by the end of the year. Not only is our own accommodation concerned in this, but we earnestly desire to place, as speedily as possible, in the hands of the committee appointed by the last General Assembly of our church, that tythe of the clear profits of our work, which is sacredly appropriated to religious charities. A few copies of the first volume may still be had at the subscription price, $2.50.Remittances in bills current in Philadelphia, or with the proper allowance for discount, if not current, may be made by mail, when a private conveyance does not offer; and if requested, a receipt shall be returned in the same manner. TO READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS. No. XI. of Letters from an Aged Minister of the Gospel, &c. has been delayed for the present month, to make room for communications which seemed to have a prior claim. We shall endeavour to find a place for it in our next. The eighth communication from ANDREW ANTHROPOs has been received.-Some of our correspondents can, if they will, furnish us with a good paper for the close of the present year, and another for the beginning of the next. Let us express the hope, that the inclination may not be wanting, where the ability is possessed. ERRATUM. In the concluding minute of the General Assembly, as printed in our last number, John McMullin, is found among the names of those who are stated to have left the Assembly without leave. This we have discovered to be an error. The gentleman whose name we have mentioned, was not a member of the last Assembly. But the error we correct is not to be charged on us. We printed accurately from the copy published by order of the Assembly. The error is probably to be attributed to the mistake of the transcribing clerk, in not rightly distinguishing between the Christian names of two brothers.-For John read Robert. THE CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE. DECEMBER, 1824. Heligious Communications. LECTURES ON THE SHORTER CATECHISM OF THE WESTMINSTER AS of Calvin." On this I would observe to you, that it ought to be easy for us to forgive, and even to SEMBLY OF DIVINES-ADDRESSED pity, the authors of this reproach; TO YOUTH. LECTURE XI. Our last lecture related to a subject of importance, and of confessed difficulty. It was not found practicable to bring within the time allotted to the discussion, all that properly belongs to it, or to the answer on which it was grounded. It is not my intention, however, to detain you with it much longer. But before we proceed to the next answer, I think it may be useful to notice very briefly a few frightful inferences, in addition to those mentioned in the last lecture, which have been made from the doctrine of the divine decrees-particularly the decree of election-and to enter at least a protest against the justice of these inferences, and of the charge that they are held or admitted, by those who hold the doctrine from which they are said to follow-I also propose to make a few remarks on that part of the answer, not yet noticed, which states that it was for his own glory," that God foreordained whatsoever comes to pass. You will probably, my young friends, hear the church to which you belong reproached-for it has often been reproached-with holding generally" the horrible dogmas VOL. II.-Ch. Adv. because I think it is scarcely ever made, except by those who are ignorant both of what we really believe and what Calvin really taught: and it is weak, as well as unchristian, to be much moved by the effusions of ignorance. If we soberly condemn the rashness manifested in such a reproach, and pray that those in whom it has appeared may come to possess a better spirit, we shall perform the duty which the occasion demands. In specifying the false charges which have been brought against those who hold the doctrine of the divine decrees, especially as including particular election, the following may I think be mentioned as among the most common. It is said, we believe that God formed a great part of the human race on purpose to damn them-having determined to deprive them of all power to help themselves; that we hold that there are infants in hell, of a span long; and that we represent the blessed God altogether, as an absolute, severe, and inexorable tyrant, disposing of his creatures in the most arbitrary and inequitable manner.-Need I assure you, that we reject every one of these revolting ideas, with as much sincerity as any of those who charge us with them-and with far more 3 X sensibility, I hope, than some who charge us? Whenever, therefore, you hear Calvinists and Calvinism charged with these, or any similar sentiments, remember that the party who does it is either ignorant or malignant. He either does not know what we believe, or he wilfully misrepresents our sentiments. He draws his own terrifick consequences from our principles, and then charges us with them. But we ourselves draw no such consequences; and we earnestly contend that they do not necessarily or fairly follow from any thing we hold. We even shudder when we hear them repeated. If now and then an individual, who has chosen to call himself a Calvinist, has said something that might justly subject him to the charge of holding any of these obnoxious tenets, let him alone be responsible. Let not the denomination to which he claims to belong, be made answerable for his folly and his guilt; for there is no religious sect that could escape scandal on any other terms.-There is, I venture to affirm, no established Christian sect, that has not produced individuals who have adopted and promulged wild and extravagant notions, utterly abhorrent to those with whom they have been associated. I have stated, in my last lecture, the manner in which we really hold the doctrines from which these unjust inferences are drawn, and the practical use we are to make of what we hold. I think proper now to add, that in regard to infants, there are many Calvinists who believe that all infants, who die before the exercise of reason, belong to the election of grace; and therefore that there can be no question, or doubt, of their salvation. Scorr, who was a sound and very rational Calvinist, was decidedly of this opinion, as appears from his commentary on Matt. xix. 14-"Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God."-" The expression, (says Scott,) may intimate, that the kingdom of heavenly glory is greatly constituted of such as die in infancy. Infants are as capable of regeneration as grown persons; and there is abundant ground to conclude, that ALL those who have not lived to commit actual trangressions, though they share in the effects of the first Adam's offence, will also share in the blessings of the second Adam's gracious covenant: without their personal faith and obedience, but not without the regenerating influence of the Spirit of Christ." Before leaving this part of the subject, I will just mention, that Calvinists have been divided into two classes; the one denominated Supralapsarians, the other Sublapsarians. These names have been assigned from the circumstance, that the former class consider the divine decree, in regard to the elect and reprobate, as contemplating man before the fall; and the latter class as relating to him only after the fall. Both classes equally maintain the entire sovereignty of God, and equally reject with abhorrence all impeachment of his justice, or of any other of his glorious attributes. 'Those who are called moderate Calvinists, are, I believe, generally, if not universally, Sublapsarians. Let us now give a little attention to the important point, that it was for his own glory that God foreordained whatsoever comes to pass. It is of great importance, my young friends, that you should be sensible that the glory of God is infinitely a higher and better object, than the glory and happiness of all creatures. All creatures united, are to the Creator, only as that which is finite is to that which is infinite. As far, therefore, as the wishes and the happiness of creatures interfere with the glory of their Creator, reason and equity dictate, that the latter should be preferred before Recollect the distinction already explained in my second lecture between the essential and declarative glory of GoD. With the essential glory of the Deity creatures can have nothing to do. It is absolutely independent of them, and unconnected with them. It is only the declarative glory of God, with which they, and their actions, have any connexion. Now this declarative glory consists in the Creator appearing to his intelligent crea tures, when fully enlightened, most excellent, most amiable, as well as most mighty and majestic. To his creatures he declares and manifests himself as glorious, when his works exhibit him, at once as great and amiable, in an infinite degree. But to be both great and amiable in an infinite degree, the happiness of his sentient creatures must be consult ed, as far as is consistent with equity, and the nature of things. Farther than this, certainly not; because if equity and the fitness of things were once violated, this itself would be the destruction of all order, of all moral excellence, and of all amiableness, at once. have every reason, then, to believe that the declarative glory of God will be found, in fact, to harmonize with all the happiness that reason and equity should make us wish to be introduced into a system like ours. It is, therefore, infinitely reasonable, that we should desire the promotion of this glory-It is, in itself, the highest object, and in its display lies the highest happiness of all good beings. We It has been queried whether infinite wisdom might not have devised a system, into which all the good, and yet none of the evil, of the present system, might have entered.-On this I remark, that if we answer this query categorically, whether affirmatively or negatively, we shall find the answer attended with very serious difficulties. I therefore am deliberately of the opinion, that we ought to give it no other answer than this-that no wisdom, less than infinite, can tell what infinite wisdom could have effected; but our wisdom is not infinite, and therefore it is not for us to pronounce on the subject. We know what has taken place-and we know that our Creator is perfect. We know that his glory is the best object that can be presented to the view of his creatures, and we have every reason to believe that it not only harmonizes with, but consists in, all the happiness that any good being, fully enlightened, would desire or wish to belong to the system. This is enough for us;-enough to make us seek the glory of God supremely, and consider it as unspeakably the most desirable end to be promoted, that we can contemplate. It is enough to make us see, that it is this end which our Creator, from the very perfection of his nature, does and will regard as supreme→ in all his works and in all his dispensations. (To be continued.) FOR THE CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE. CALVIN'S VIEWS OF THE ATONEMENT, SATISFACTION AND RIGHTEOUS NESS OF CHRIST.-" Institutes of "Now in answer to the inquiry, how Christ by the abolition of our sins has destroyed the enmity be |