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variety of effort, a unity of design be preserved. Each Missionary Society is our natural ally; we should cordially co-operate with it as far as is consistent with our plan; we should rejoice in its success; and carefully watch, lest on any occasion, a carnal jealousy should tempt" Ephraim to envy Judah, or Judah to vex Ephraim.'

The Value of Life. A Sermon, delivered May the 8th, 1803, before the Correspondent Board in London, of the Society in Scotland, for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge in the Highlands and Islands. By W.Jay, 800, 15.6d.

After a very ingenious introduction from this singular text (Job ii. 4.) the preacher proposes two objects. "In the first place, we shall establish the importance of human life. In the second, we shall explain the use to which the belief of it should be applied." The importance of human life is argued from the authority of the Scriptures; from the

divine Author of human nature; from the connection of this life with another; from the opportunity it affords of getting good,and doing good. Among the useful inferences Howing from the belief of this fact, Mr. Jay specifies the following: We should deplore the destruction of it, not expose it to heedless injury and hazard; be thankful for the continuance of it, not be impatient for death; estimate the value of early piety, improve life to the best purposes. This last idea brings the preacher to the particular object of the present discourse, which is pleaded with his usual eloquence apd ingenuity.

SERMONS ON THE TIMES. 1. Chambers of Safety in Times of Danger: preached at Bath, May 8, 1803. By W. Cooper. Second Edition, Svo, 15. JI. The Duty of England exempli.

fied in the conduct of Hezekiah :

preached at Stockwell, July 31. By T. Jackson. So, 15.

III.

To your Tents, O Britons! preached at Sutton Saint Mary, July 31. By C. Jerram, A. M. 121/10. · 3d. or 25. 6d. per dozen. IV. Christian Patriotism: or the Duty of Religious People toward their Country. Preached at Kettering, August 14. By A. Fuller. 12mo, 6d. δύο, 15. V. The Aspect of the Times considered, and the Duty of Chris tians described: preached at Stepney. By G. Ford. 8vo, 15. VI. Britain's Defence: preached at Battersea, August 21. By John Hughes, A. M. Svo, 15. VII. National Happiness, or the Privilege and Duty of Britons: preached at Walthamstow, August 21. By G. Collison. 8vo.

VIII. Pray and Fight: an Address to the United Kingdoms, on the Alarm of Invasion. By W Cooper. The present eventful period has called forth SO from the pulpit and the press, that many discourses together, and, to avoid giving of we find it necessary to class them fence by an improper preference, have arranged them according to

their dates, and numbered them for conveniency of reference.

No. I. was delivered at the

chapel of the late Lady Huntingdeclaration of hostilities; and the don, Bath, about the time of the preacher, from Isa. xxvi. 20, directs his hearers, under the first the chambers of divine mercy, from alarm of danger, to seek refuge in the judgments which threaten our country, and the world at large. In the close of this discourse, Mr.

Cooper earnestly enforces a loyal obedience to civil government, as well as a holy devotedness to God.

In No. II, Mr. Jackson, from 2 Kings xix. 14-19, considers the analogy between our present circumstances and those of Judah, in the reign of Hezekiah; - points out the conduct of that pious prince, as an example to us and to our rulers; and the happy.consequences which did and ever will result from national repentance and reformation; the necessity of which

is strongly pointed out in the conclusion.

The Third Discourse was delivered to a parochial congregation in Lincolnshire; and appears particularly adapted to animate us in the defence of our country, and at the same time to confidence in God. It is founded on that noble and animated address of the Jewish patriot, Neh. iv. 14; and is printed in a cheap form, for wider circulation. No. IV. expressly considers and developes the duties of Christians to civil government, as implied in the two expressions in the text, to "seek the peace" (or welfare) of our country, and to pray for it; also the motive for such conduct. "In the peace thereof shall ye have peace." Mr. Fuller defends the lawfulness of war in certain cases, particularly that of invasion; and we cannot forbear transcribing the following short, but interesting paragraph: "Let not the poorest man say, I have nothing to lose. Yes, if men of opulence lose their property, you will lose your employment. You have also a rottage, and perhaps a wife and family, with whom, amidst all your hardships, you live in love; and would it be nothing you, to see your wife and daughters abused, and you yourself unable to protect them; or even remonstrate. but at the hazard of being run thro' by the bayonet?-If no other considerations will induce us to protect and pray to the Lord for our country, our own individual and domestic comforts might suffice."

Mr. Ford, in No. V. examines the signs of the times" (Mat. xvi. 3.) not in a political, or even a prophetic view; but he conceives that it becomes us to pay an attentive and religious regard to the aspect of the times in which we live." He, therefore, properly enumerates the signs of the present times, and very ably enforces the duties which those circumstances suggest to Christians.

Mr. Hughes's eloquent Discourse (No. VI) is founded on Zech. viii. 21, 22. After opening this text in the original sense of the prophecy, Mr. Hughes, adapting it to present circumstances, proceeds" torefer, with pious and patriotic feeling, to

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the state of our country; to ad-
mit the expediency and importance
to embrace
of earnest prayer;
the advantages resulting from social
aud to examine the
prayer;
grounds on which we may hope
that earnest social prayer will be
acceptable and availing."

No. VII. From Ps. cxliv. 15, Mr. Collison, 1st, reviews the dis tinguishing blessings and privileges of Britons, natural, civil, and reli gious; and, 2dly, points out the duties evidently resulting from such advantages; particularly gratitude, humiliation, exertions for the public defence, and a recollection of past deliverances. All which topics are discussed with very considerable ability.

No. VIII.

Though published as a small tract only, for general circulation, contains the substance of an Address delivered from the pulpit at Spa-fields chapel, Aug. 30, on occasion of a prayer-meeting for the nation. It is founded on the same text as No III; and is like Mr Jerram's, animated and pointed.

Upon the whole, we are pleased to see this important subject placed in so many useful points of view, and discussed by such a variety of talents; we are also happy to see all denominations anxious to emulate each other in loyalty and patriotism, in the present import ant juncture; and we sincerely hope it will please God to realize the prediction, in which they all concur, of deliverance and safety

to our country.

NEW PUBLICATIONS. Sermons on Interesting Subjects; including the Service of Two Com munion Sabbaths. By the Rev. Robert MacCulloch, of Dairsie. 12mo, boards, 3s. 6d.

The Duty of Seeking the Things
a Sermon
which are Christ's:
preached before the Edinburgh
Missionary Society, at their last
Meeting. By the Rev. D. Black,
one of the Ministers of Edinburgh.
8vo, is.

Baxter's Call to the Unconverted.
Fine
A new and genuine Edition.
Paper, 12mo, 18.6d. boards; sheep,
Is. 9d.; calf, 2s. 6d.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

THE following interesting paper was written previous to the late rupture The serious reader will regret that, between England and France.

for the present, the prosecution of the war presents an insurmountable obstacle to the generous efforts of Britons, in behalf of the Protestant Religion in that country. Memoir, committed to the care of Mr. O, an English Gentleman, by M. Martin, Pastor of the Reformed Church at Bourdeaux, to be presented to the London Missionary Society.

MR. O was requested to present to the London Missionary Society the following observations made upon reading the Report of the Deputation sent to enquire into and the State of Religion in France; to recommend them to the attention of those gentlemen, with all the arguments which his talents and zeal can furnish him with.

The plan which the London Missionary Society has formed, to establish and propagate the principles of pure Christianity through out the whole extent of France, will ever do honour to the memory of those who devised it, and entitle them to the love and gratitude of every real Christian. To assist the execution of so praiseworthy and beneficent a design, the four following measures are proposed; but which can here be only sketched out:

I. To publish an Address to the French Protestants, to revive their zeal; and to engage them, re-establish dieverywhere, to

vine worship.

II. To establish a correspondence as extensive as circumstances will admit, between the Society in England and the Reforined Churches in France.

III. To distribute gratis, or at a low rate, the following books: 1. The Bible; 2. The Psalters used by the French churches; 3. Me

thodical and Instructive Catechisms; 4. A Collection of Prayers, such as that called "The Food of the Soul," by M. Ostervald; 5. Writings adapted to advance the knowledge and love of the Christian Religion; 6. A Periodical Work, intended to defend the doctrines and precepts of Christianity, and in which, while matters of controversy are avoided, respect for the government and submission to the laws of the state are recommended.

If religious books are scarce in France, it is to be attributed, 1st, To the revocation of the edict of Nantz; and to the persecutions which followed, during a period of eighty years: 2d, To the principles of the Infidels, who, during the reign of Terror, endeavoured to abolish Christianity; and who thought to obtain their end, by committing to the flames a great part of the writings of the ecclesiastics.

IV. To grant pecuniary aid to pastors; especially those who have large families.

It is proper to observe, that the French ministers are in general very that their churches do not poor: afford them the necessaries of life: —and that, to provide for themselves, they are obliged to follow other occupations, which are not congenial with the ministry; while the state of poverty to which they are reduced, degrades and discourages them, and deprives them of the capacity to fulfil the important duties of their stations..

It is true, that the law relative to religious worship provides for them, as well as for the Catholic ministers, a suitable maintenance; but although it is a year since it

was enacted, it has never yet been put in force, and there is reason to fear that it will not, for a long time

to come.

If, therefore, the London Society would send pecuniary assistance to the French pastors, the greatest good would result to religion; for,

1st, The pastors would take fresh courage, and proceed with more ardour in the promotion of religion and piety.

2d, They would not be obliged to engage in occupations foreign to their ministry; and they would devote their whole time to the service of the churches.

30, They would be enabled to give a better education to their children, who might succeed them in their charges.

4th, The ministers who have quitted, their profession to follow others which afforded more certain means of subsistence, would not hesitate to resume their offices.

5th, In short, the Christian ministry offering the means of procur. ing the necessaries of life, many young persons would embrace the profession; the number of churches would increase, and the Protestant doctrine would rapidly spread,

Present circumstances are very favourable for the execution of the plan formed by the London Missionary Society.

1st, Because the dangerous tendency of the principles of infidelity, and necessity of religion, are ac knowledged.

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zd, Because the most enlightened Catholics prefer the Protestant to the Romish religion.

3d, Because the Romish clergy, no longer possessing riches where by to foster the credulity of the people, are fast losing their influence; and the time is come when Truth must triumph over the sophistry of Error.-In support of this opinion, we may appeal to the example of several citics, and particularly to Bourdeaux, where mul. titudes of Catholics attend the Protestant worship; and where many families have renounced Popery to embrace the doctrines of the Reformation.

Bourdeaux, April 25, 1803.

Abstract of the Report of the Committee of the Missionary Society to Africa and the Eust, delivered at the Annual Meeting, 31 May, 1803.

THE Committee observe that they have judged it necessary to proceed with peculiar caution, and that therefore the progress of the Institution has hitherto been slow; yet; they trust, their design has been advancing, and will ultimately attain the desired end. It appears, that though several offers of Missionaries from among our own countrymen have been made, various impediments have as yet prevented their engaging with them; they have therefore been induced to turn their attention towards the obtain Two ing of foreign Missionaries. young men from the Seminary at Berlin, Mr. Melchior Renner, and Mr. Peter Hartwig, have been procured and accepted as Cathechists. These persons are intended to labour in the Soosoo country in Afri ca; a station chosen partly on account of its vicinity to the Colony at Sierra Leone, and partly because the Society have already printed several tracts in the Soosoo language. These Missionaries, being now in England, have an opportunity of obtaining some knowledge of that tongue, by their friendly intercourse with the African youths now receiving a useful education in the neighbourhood of London.

The Committee are in correspondence with the Directors of the Berlin Seminary for the selection of four more of the students, who are to be placed under a course of instruction suited to the peculiar objects of the Society. The Committee express their hope that the forwardness of strangers to engage in this arduous work, will provoke to holy jealousy many of their own countrymen, and kindle the same spirit of fervent zeal in many members of their own church, to diffuse the knowledge of Christ in the Heathen world.

Mr Mozely's memoir respecting a Chinese translation of the Scriptures, is yet under the consideration

of the Society for promoting Chris-
tian Knowledge.

The Arabic edition of the Scrip
tures is proceeding, under the care
of the Rev. Mr. Carlyle, who is
recently returned from Turkey and
Palestine, to which part of the world
he went as Chaplain to the British
Embassy at Constantinople. The
indifferent state of his health since
his return, has, however, retarded
the progress of this important un
dertaking.

The Appendix contains Papers of considerable importance, from which the following Extracts are made.

No. 1, presents us with the copy of a letter from a Clergyman in Ceylon to a Gentleman in this country, dated Columbo, Dec. 1301, from which we shall select a few extracts.

"There can scarcely be any doubt that, if the exertions which are practicable were made, the whole inhabitants in the British territories here, would willingly embrace the glad tidings of salvation."

"From the time that the English took possession of this island, until the arrival of Mr. North, the Christian Schools, and education of the inhabitants, were entirely neglected. Many of the Churches had fallen down in ruins, and thousands of those, who once called themselves Christians, had returned to their ancient Paganism and Idolatry. During the Dutch go vernment, no native could be admitted into any office without professing that he was a member of the Reformed Church. There was likewise a prohibition against erecting any new Pagan temples, which falling to the ground on the arrival of the English, the number of these has been doubled. However, the more lenient measures which government now adopts, promise to improve the knowledge of those who still call themselves Disciples of Christ, and may, perhaps, be the means of recovering the lost sheep.

"The British possessions on the island are divided into four districts. These are divided into counties, which are subdivided into parishes. In every parish is established one Protestant-school, where the youth are instructed in reading and writing their own language, and in the principles of Christianity. The Protestants likewise attend divine service there on Sundays and other holidays. Over every ten schools is appointed one cathechist, whose busi. ness it is to perform a visitation once a month, to enquire into the conduct of the teachers, to examine the progress made by the scholars, and to exhort them to industry aud diligence,

XI.

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"In each of the lesser districts is established a native officiating preacher, who has been examined by the present Governor and Ordinary, and who is instructed to perform divine service in one of the churches or schools every Sunday; to adsolemnize marriages; to exhort the sick minister the sacrament of baptism, and to or dying, and to bury the dead according He is also instructed to visit all the to the form of the church of England. schools within his province, at least three times in the year, during which, he is to endeavour to edify his flock by his con versation and his sermons, to examine particularly the conduct and ability of the catechists and schoolmasters, and to inform the Principal of the schools minutely of all that occurs.

"In each of the principal districts are been ordained in Europe; to each of whom one, two, or three clergymen, who have is committed a superintending charge of he performs a visitation once a year, and a certain number of the schools, of which administers the holy communion.

catechists are really men of principles and "Some of the native preachers and abilities, and extremely useful.

ecclesiastical department, there were near-
"By the last general returns in the
ly 170 schools, and upwards of 342,000
Protestant Christians.
Christians professing the religion of the
The number of
church of Rome, is likewise very great.
the island, who are indefatigable in their
There are about fifteen of these priests on
labours, and are daily making proselytes.
Religious knowledge is so confined, that
the people gladly make use of any prayers,
have scarcely any books to study, unless
or forms, which are given to them; and
the Bible. The doctrines of those who
have been educated by the Dutch are pure-
ly Calvinistic, and their sermons evange
lical.

"The Honourable Frederic North, go.
self deeply in the diffusion of our holy re
vernor of the island, has interested him-
ligion; and I hope that the beneficial ef
felt by the inhabitants of this island.
fects of his care and attention will be long

mentioned, we have at Columbo a very
"Besides the establishments already
schools, Cingalese, Malabar, and Euro-
flourishing academy divided into three
pean. They are taught English as well
as the native languages, in the most perfect
head men; and several of them already
manner. The Cingalese are sous of the
tolerable translations.
converse very well in English, and make

These young men
Christianity; and I have great hopes that,
will be well grounded in the principles of
when spread abroad amongst their coun-
trymen, their influence and example will
produce the most happy consequences

3 N

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