ritime isles or ships of Tarshish as sisted the returning captives as they timidly traversed the plains of Mesopotamia. No superiority in sanctity; no external supremacy, security, or invincibility, marked that period of Jewish history which intervened between Ezra and Christ. They sunk into a secular, sordid-minded people; tributary to foreigners; disturbed by civil commotions; and deprived of every especial mark of divine favour. Beside, the times treated of by Isaiah are subsequent to Christ's first manifestation to the Gentiles; nor can the words of the prophecies apply to that new Jerusalem which St. John saw in vision, and which St. Paul denominates the mother of us all. That glorious city is not built with hands. Ships, camels, and dromedaries, are not needed to convey inhabitants who can glide through ether, and pass with a thought from orb to orb. Nor will earthly potentates be wanted to nurse the Church, which, with the leprosy of sin, will lose the lassitude of debility. There is an Epiphany, therefore, yet to come; but as the present race of Christians are most interested in that which is past, let us meditate on those appearances of Divine power that have converted our portion of the world, the first-fruits an harvest which will surely be gathered in its due season. The first manifestation of Christ in order of time is narrated in the Gospel, and is interwoven with the prayer that we may finally enjoy the beatific vision, which we prefer in the collect; wherein we implore that God, who led the first Gentile worshippers of his Son by a guiding star, till their eyes were gladdened by beholding the light of the world; so to conduct us who are led by faith, that, our mortal journey finished, we may in the world beyond the grave, be satisfied with beholding the Divine Majesty. According to the opinion most prevalent in the Christian Church, the object of this prayer will not be accomplished till after the day of judgment; but he who can bestow eternal happiness does not linger if he withholds his gift till time is annihilated. The Apostle of the Gentiles speaks in the epistle, reminding his converts. of the commission he had received, and the sufferings and restraints which it imposed upon him. He refers to his own miraculous conversion; and declares that the spirit of God revealed to him, and to all the apostles, that the Gentiles were admitted to the benefits of Christ's Gospel. While he magnifies the office to which he was deputed, he speaks of himself with the deepest humility, according to his usual custom; for it is remarkable, that the superiority which some ascribe to St. Paul, almost as an article of faith, is by him ever disclaimed; not with that ostentatious humility which deals in disqualifying phrases, but with the frank simplicity of a sincere discriminating mind, conscious of what was due to itself and to others. The plan of universal redemption, now made known to men and angels, was, he says, the eternal purpose of Infinite Wisdom, and emboldens the faithful petitioner to seek the throne of grace through the revealed Mediator, Christ Jesus. Several learned men, who resided in a country east of Judea, (according to some in the native land of Job, while others supposed they lived in Chaldea, the birth-place of astronomy,) were surprised by the appear-. ance of a new star, which differed. from the other heavenly bodies. The general expectation of an extraordinary personage made them connect his birth with this appearance, and determined them to seek Judea for an explanation. They inquired at the capital for him who was "born King of the Jews;" and gave as a reason, a desire to pay him adoration. To a temporal king of Judea, Arabian or Chaldean sages owed no allegiance, much less worship; but though the report of the shepherds, and the prophecy of Simeon, had made no impression on proud and sensual Jerusalem,-the worshippers of idols, or the venerators of fire, when they be-. held an extraordinary star, referred its appearance to the long-promised Deliverer who was to spring from Judea; and the servile habits imposed by Asiatic despotism prepared them to believe, that a personage destined to such celebrity, as to have his birth announced by a new luminary, required to be accosted as an incarnate God. We must not as cribe any clearer views to those who had no other guide in these conclusions, but remote and perverted traditions, or the light of nature. Of that light Jortin advises "Christians not to talk contemptuously and injuriously; it being the candle of the Lord, shining in the breast of rational creatures, and almost the only light that has been afforded to many ge nerations and nations." Herod, alarmed, convened the Sanhedrim, and inquired of the scribes where the Messiah was to be born. All Jerusalem was troubled, as well as the king; but when Bethlehem, a neighbouring city, was pointed out, we do not find that any of its inhabit ants accompanied the strangers, who set out charged with an insidious command to inform Herod of the exact situation in which they found the infant, that he also might worship therto been directed, in a manner adapted to their education, by one of those celestial, though natural, objects, whose laws they studied, received a direct communication from the God of Israel, who commanded them to return to their own country by another road. The event that we are considering announced an extraordinary change in the mode of the divine government, which the prophets predicted would one day take place. There are no such distinctions now in the world as once subsisted between Jews and Gentiles. The breaking down of this partition wall, first signified by the accepted offerings of the Magi,afterwards by our Lord's occasional intercourse with the progeny of Canaan, the mixed inhabitants of Samaria, and the Gentile Galilee; and, above all, by the rending asunder of the vail which enclosed the holy of holies at his passion, proclaimed to mankind that the service of true wor shippers would be every where as acceptable as the sacrifices at Jerusalem, and the offerings of the song of Abraham. deemer. him. The star which drew them A PRAYER for the Blessings of a Refrom their own country again became visible, and, marshalling them in their way, pointed out the house of Joseph; for, the confluence of strangers having left the city, the holy family were no longer inhabitants of a stable. We infer from thence, that the comforts of our station are not unlawful when they may be innocently procured; as the submission of Christ to less than human accommodations teaches us to attach no importance to externals, when the will of God indicates that it is fitter for us to have them withheld or resumed. On seeing the infant Jesus, the sages knelt, and offered the costly treasures which they had prepared. Prayer sanctified their gifts; for the favour of God is not secured by an ostensible devotion of our wealth to the uses of religion, unless this is accompanied by their inward consecration. And now those who had hi ETERNAL God, and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, accept, I beseech thee, my most grateful acknowledgments for thy great goodness in having sent thy Son into the world to redeem mankind, and for the unspeakable blessings of the gospel. I desire to be ever thankful, that thou, who at sundry times, and in divers manners, didst speak unto our fathers by thy servants the prophets, hast, in these latter days, spoken unto us by thy Son Jesus Christ; who, in the fulness of time appeared to bring life and immortality to light, and to bless mankind by turning them from their ini quities, and purifying unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. I bless thee that for this end he was born, and that for this cause he came into the world, that he might bear witness to the truth; and I sincerely believe that he is the Christ, the Son of the living God. I thank thee for the proofs which he gave that thou wast with him, even by the miracles which he wrought, by the prophecies which he uttered and fulfilled, by the purity of his doctrines, the perfection of his precepts, and the excellence of his example. I bless thee, that he has left me a pattern that I should follow his steps; that as he was de livered up for mine offences, and made perfect by sufferings and death, so he was raised again for my justification, and declared to be the Son of God, with power by his resurrection from the dead. I magnify thee that when he had shown himself alive after this by many infallible proofs. he was taken up into heaven, and set down on the right hand of God. And I adore thee, that thou hast appointed a day, in which thou wilt judge the world in righteousness by him, and render unto every man according to his works. May then these glorious truths, which are ever presented to me in the gospel, be deeply impressed upon my mind. May these powerful and persuasive motives produce their genuine effects, by freeing my mind from all evil passions, and by engag ing me to live soberly, righteously, and godly. May I, by a patient continuance in well-doing, seek for glory, honour, and immortality; that so, when Christ, who is my life, shall ap pear, I may also appear with him in glory, and receive the end of my faith and hope, even an everlasting salva tion. Grant this, O God, for the merits, and through the mediation of Jesus Christ. particulars of my duty, to give me right apprehensions of thy divine majesty, and to improve my nature to the utmost perfection; and that he confirmed his mission by greater miracles than any other man ever did, and by prophecies, which lay beyond the reach of any created understanding, the fulfilment of which convinces me that he was sent from God. I believe, O Lord, that thou didst by a voice from heaven declare him to be thy beloved Son, in whom thou wast well pleased, and that all the prophecies concerning the Messiah were fulfilled in him. I believe that he suffered death upon the cross for man's redemption, and made there a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world; that he has satisfied thy justice, and made reconciliation for us. I believe that he rose from the dead the third day according to his own infallible prediction; that he conversed forty days with his disciples; that in their sight he ascended up into heaven, where he now sits at thy right hand to intercede for sinners; that he has fulfilled his promise to his disciples of sending to them the Holy Spirit, and that the miraculous gifts, as bestowed upon his apostles, proved his exaltation, at the same time that they enabled him to propagate his religion throughout the world. Lord, I beseech thee, increase this my faith, and strengthen it against all weakness and infirmity. Let no unreasonable prejudice cloud the light of mine understanding; let no pride and vanity obscure the proofs of thy holy revelations; let no partiality pervert my judgment in matters of such high im A PRAYER for an effectual Belief of portance; and, above all, let no unrea the Christian Religion. GRACIOUS God and heavenly Father, I adore thine infinite goodness, manifested to the children of men in the revelation of the holy Gospel. I believe, O God, that the blessed Jesus condescended to take upon him human nature, with all its frailties and infirmities, sin only excepted; that he was the great prophet sent from thee to instruct me in all the sonable lusts or appetites corrupt my will, and indispose me to entertain thy holy and excellent laws. Make my faith lively and effectual, and let its fruits appear in my life and conversation; make it perfect by charity, which is the true character of thy disciples; that so, by believing and loving thee in this life, I may see and enjoy thee eternally in that which is to come, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour. HOME. The youth, middle-aged, and the grey. headed Sire, To this grand conclusion must come, That all who for happiness have a desire, Must find and enjoy it at home. In youth, how delightful to range the gay fields, roam Yet sporting in groves and o'er landscapes, ne'er yields Such heartfelt emotions as home. The man who has seen, for the toils of a day, Fame, riches, and titles, all come, If asked, "what give bliss the most real?" would say "The conjugal fireside and home." When keen cutting winds through the vallies do blow, the past year, they cannot refrain from calling your attention to the present state of the Christian world. No era in the annals of time (ex. cepting that of the glorious reformation,) has ever been more distinctly marked by great and unusual exertions to diffuse the light of revealed truth. Who, is there who cannot trace the outline which separates this new era from that which ended within our own recollection? Looking back into the history of the world for the last few years, or forward into its future state, the most interesting matter is held forth to our contemplation, and the bosom is alternately agitated by consolation or hope. Infidelity, originating in evil, has produced good; its baneful effects were counteracted by the first exhibition of its horrific, features. It had no sooner reached the summit of its power, than it was hurled from its eminence; and the nations of Christendom, instead of feelchilling its dreadful shock, now under the blessing of temporal peace, are actively engaged in promoting that peace with God which passes all understanding. The tempestuous sea has subsided, and its violent swell has ceased; but while we admire and are astonished at the great exertions made by the Christian world at the close of the period in question, we should also humbly express our gratitude, that Christianity, to which we owe our eternal redemption, has not been perverted, dishonoured, debased, and destroyed. And howl o'er the verdure strip'd hills; When high tow'ring mountains are covered with snow, And frost has embargoed the rills. How happy the man, when the clouds from the west Foretel a cold storm is to come, Who has for a shelter, from winter's blast, A neat little cot and a home. At Aurora's bright dawn, in the sweet time of spring, When first the wing'd warblers have come, It charms us, if absent, whenever they sing; But much more than charms if at home. Then say, shall we ever more happiness have? O yes: And when will the time come? When the body shall quietly rest in the grave, And the soul finds in Heaven a HOME! AUXILIARY NEW-YORK BIBLE AND The second Annual Report of the THE second anniversary of this Sooiety having arrived, the Board of Managers are again called upon to express their gratitude to God, that he has in mercy permitted them, for another year, to continue their labour of love. Before they present to you a history of their proceedings during The holy Scriptures, printed without number, and in almost all languages, are going forth to the most benighted parts of the world, that the Gospel may in every region take root and flourish, and ameliorate and en rich the soil. Engaged in so honourable a cause, your Board of Managers (as secondary agents in the divine counsels) have felt the great responsibility of their stations, and have faithfully improved every opportunity their means would permit. The most extensive theatre of our exertions is unquestionably opened to us in the new settlements of our country, and to this great ob ject our attention has been actively directed. As all institutions for the diffusion of Christianity are founded in charity, it has been deemed proper, in the formation of this Society, that this heavenly virtue should not be limited to the distribution of the Bible only; but also that by distributing the Book of Common Prayer, to extend to others the same Gospel privileges we ourselves enjoy. The great object in separating from the Church of Rome was not only that the Scriptures should be read and widely disseminated, but also that the Church should be restored to its primitive purity. Should we not then as Protestant Episcopalians throw away the precious fruits of the reformation, did we not stand with the Bible in one hand, and the Book of Common Prayer in the other. The Liturgy was drawn from the Scriptures by those great men, who were chief promoters, and, finally, martyrs in the cause of the reformation, and by the identity of its principles, it is capable of being resolved into the Scriptures again. As the great end in view in distributing the Bible is to point out the way of peace and of eternal life, and to bring men to the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ; so the great object in distributing the Book of Common Prayer is to point out that ark of our salvation, that spiritual Building instituted by Christ, into which he has commanded all men to enter into which the Scriptures are designed to lead all who read and believe them, and whose rule of faith and practice they are. In order to erect this glorious Building, its Divine Head has ordained certain persons to build it up, and edify it in faith and love, and to unite it in the bands of Christian fellow ship; and he has also appointed certain sacraments and ordinances to be administered by them to such as become living stones in this sacred edifice. As the knowledge of the Jewish Church and of the Old Testament was found necessary under the old dispensation, as neither could have effectually existed without the other, so the knowledge and establishment of the Church of Christ, which is the pillar of the faith, and the preaching of the word, were so intimately united from the first promulgation of the Gospel, that their separate existence can scarcely be conceived. If the knowledge of the Church is essentially necessary for mankind, and missionary labour, from the limited number of those engaged therein, cannot sufficiently extend this knowledge: If there is this void, we know of no law, human or divine, which prohibits an attempt to supply the defect. To leave men in uncertainty as to what they should believe or disbelieve, is to bewilder their minds, and subject them to the proba ble danger of embracing no creed at all. The true religion has been preserved from the beginning by the Church of Christ, and it will continue still to preserve it. It was upon these principles that the Society to which this is auxiliary was formed, before the existence of any Bible Society in this city; and it would be to disregard these principles, and contemn their authority, had this association adopted a different course. those, then, who feel the truth of these immutable principles, not withhold from them the support of their charity. We regard every Bible dispersed by this, or any other institution, as a welcome accession to the common stock, for the health of human souls. We rejoice in every at tempt to increase this common stock; and with pleasure do we report, that in various parts of our state, and also in Upper Canada, societies, having in view the same laudable objects with our own, have been lately established, and whose offerings will all be brought to this sacred pile. The establishment of these auxiliary institutions should incite our zeal, and animate us to facilitate their operations. In the hands of Providence they may be powerful instruments in leading many, who are scattered and dispersed, into the common fold of their Redeemer. Let The more fully to accomplish the pious purposes of this Society, the Legislature of the state, at its last ses |