felves the pleasure of observing, that the prefent fermons are by no means inferior to thofe preached on the preceding years, either in respect of the Strength of argument, or energy of expreffion; and we are happy to fee the Miffionary caule fupported, and recommended by fo great a variety in the talents of its advocates. As we can find room for one extract only, we shall give it from the conclution of an animated portrait of the Chriftian Miffionary, as delineated by Mr. Weft; and we fele&t this, not only for its excellence, but also becaufe, through an error in the prefs, in the firft copies it is falfely printed. "Such, Brethren, was the event of a Miffion to the Heathen in the apoftolic age: God crowned the labours of his faithful fervant with abundant and lafting fuccefs; and the name of Jefus, which he bore to the Gentiles, became a prife in the earth. Still the fame ignorance, blindness, and evil, fubfift in the world as did in the Apoftles' day. Countries, with which he was unacquainted, have come to our knowledge; and all thofe favage cruelties and enormities, which make a refined European fhudder, are exercifed, and perpetrated amongst them: For lock on the various wild and "uncivilized tribes of men, of whatever name or colour, which our am bition, or avarice, or curiofity, have difcovered in the new or old world, "and fay, if the fight of human nature in fuch crying diftrefs, in fuch fordid, difgraceful, and more than brutal wretchednels, be not enough to "make us fly with ardour to their relief and better accommodation *.” Ourselves acquainted with a Saviour; ourselves bieffed with an hope full of immortality; ourselves privileged with a fcene of confolation and of glory: furely our defires must be excited to fend them the welcome, the joyous report, that to them "there is a Saviour born." Bleffed be God for the en couragement he has afforded in the fuccefs of Millions to the Heathen heretotore. His Gospel has within this century been carried to distant coun $ries, and it has wonderfully (pread; "And fill it spreads. See Germany fend forth "The rage and rigour of a polar sky, And plant fuccessfully (weet Sharon's rofe COWPER. "What glorious events may not be expected from a Miffion to the Hea→ then, fince there is every thing in the command, every thing in the promifes of God to encourage the Miffionary to his weighty undertaking. He goes out for God, and he shall have the fupport of Got. His trials may be great; his difficulties may be numerous and various: yet here he has counted the coft: he knows the human heart; he is acquainted with the natural enmity of mankind against God and his ways; and, whilft as a Chriftian believer, feciing a Saviour's love contraining him to speak in his name, his hopes and expectations of fuccefs, perhaps, are lively and extenfive, he is aware (and he lives under the impreffion continually) that his own life may eventually fall a facrifice to the vengeance and rage of malice and of ignorance. Yet here his God fupports him; keeps him from timidity and dread, and teaches him to calt all his care upon that friend who careth for him." P. 157. Belide the papers and letters prefixed to these discourses, a complete lif of the Subfcribers is fubjoined. Bishop Hurd's Sermon before the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. The The Influence of the Chriftian Character upon the Propagation of Chriflianity. A Sermon preached before the Society in Scotland, for propagating Chriflian Knowledge, in 1797, By William Paul. Edin. 1797. WE have already made the remark, that one effect of Miffionary Sermons will be to exhibit in all its beauty and force the doctrine of the facred fcripture, relative to the kingdom of Chrift, and the means of extending it in the world; and thus prefent in all its diversified points of view, what, though infinitely important, has hitherto been but little confidered. Among others, here is a difcourfe preached by a worthy minister of Edinburgh, before one of the oldeft Miffionary Societies in the island, which has a claim to a high degree of praife. The defign is to point out the influence of the Chriftian character in the propagation of Christianity. It is but juftice to fay, that the fubject is treated in a very masterly manner; and that the fermon is calculated, through the divine blessing to do good to every one that reads it. They who are defirous to encourage Miffions will reap advantage from the perufal of it; and to Miffionaries, it will ferve as an ufefuļ manual. The Beauties of Saurin, with Memoirs of bis Life, and a Sermon on the Dif ficulties of the Chriftian Religion, never before tranflated. By the Rev, D. Rivers, fecond Edition, 12mo. 175 pages. 2s. 6d. Lee and Hurst, NOTHING need be faid in favour of Saurin or his tranflator, Robinson, from whofe volumes thefe felections appear to have been chiefly made: as to the fermon fubjoined, which treats of the myfteries of chriftianity, it is certainly not unworthy of the author, and we fhould be glad to fay the fame of its translator. To thofe, however, to whom the fermons of Saurin at large are inacceffable, these extracts will certainly be interesting. Meffage from God unto Thee. Gair oddiwrth Dduw attat Ti. Message de la part de Dieu envers Toi. Small 8vo. 16 pages. id. Button. THIS is a fmall Tract, written by one of the members of the Baptift Miffion Society, and printed first at their expence, to be difperfed among the poor. It has fince been tranflated into Welsh, by Mr. Evan Jones, a ftudent, at Bristol, and some thousands have been sold and given away in the principality. A French translation is now published, to be put into the hands of either prifoners or emigrants of that nation. They may be had of Mr. Button, in Pater-nofter Row, in either language, 100 for 75.; 500 for a guinea and a half; or 1000 for two guineas. If any body chufes to reprint it for difperfion, it will give no offence to the author, if it be done correctly. Falsehood Detected. Being Animadverfions on Mr. Paine's Letter to the Hon. T. Erskine, on the Trial of Williams for publishing "The Age of Reason:" wherein his Attacks upon the Bible are examined, and fhewn to be founded in Mifrepresentation and Falfebood. In a Letter to a Friend. By John Marfem. 8vo. 33 pages. 6d. London; for the Author, Chapman, Knott, &c. WITHOUT enquiring how far it may be requifite or expedient to answer a Book that is prohibited, it is but juit to inform thofe whofe principles have been affected by the above Letter, (which we understand has been widely circulated in private) that they may find an ufefal antidote in this fmall Tract; which amply vindicates fome pages of the Old Teftament, objected to by Mr. Paine, and particularly expofes the falfehood and abfurdity of his affertion, that the Books of Mofes were firit known in the reign of king Jofiah. POETRY. POETRY. HYMN. Compofel after a Difcourfe on Jeremiah xxxi. 18. WHEN God fhall give to Abr'am's feed And that Meffiah, whom they need, No longer Rachel fhall deplore Her fons at Bethl'em flain; And thus his guilt bemoan: "And forn'd thy gentle yoke! "Oh, turn me! Then I shall be turn'd, "Mercy and power are thine: "Nor thall my anxious fuit be fpurn'd; "Jehovah! Thou art mine!" So we, though fprung of Gentile race, Convinc'd by heav'nly light, New mourn, like Ifrael, our difgrace, And drown in tears our fight. Lord! Thou hast taught and chaften'd us, And did thy wrath provoke. Oh, teach us, and chaftife us ftill! MINIMUS. DEATH AND ITS STING. GO, haughty man, and view the grave, And fear left deathlefs worms fhould breed, Since death alone can us amaze, Thefe are the ftings of death, that brin J. LAGNIEL REFLECTIONS. The following lines paffed through the mind of a country Minifter, as he was walking the streets of London, and con fidering how far feveral appeared now to be advanced in life, whom he had known in their youth, a very few years back; and how many others of his acquaintance had been already removed. AH! I fhall foon be dying, Time fwiftly glides away; I hail the happy day. Upon Mount Calv'ry bled; And bruife him in my stead, Unworthy as I am; To find him always near. Shall all his people fee; Their endless portion be, ISAIAH ISAIAH Ixiii. from 1 to 6. WHO is this that comes from Edom In thine hand doft grafp that reed? Why thofe prints that pierce thine hands? Why thy back with ftripes fo fcarred? Whence that wound thy fide expands? "I in righteousness have spoken . "I that mighty an to fave, "All the pow'rs of Hell have broken, "Burft the prifon of the grave. As the vintage juice diffufed "Sprinkled o'er the hind is thrown ; "I the ferpent's head have bruifed, "Trod the bloody press alone. This the day my prophets mention, "When my foes should veng'ance feel; "This the year of full redemption, "That my people's wounds fhall heal. "Through the range of vaft creation "None with helping hand was found; "My own arm hath brought falvation, "I alone am victor crow n'd: "Fought the fight, and paid the ranfom, "Thus triumphant I afcend, "To prepare the crown and mansion, "For my every fuff'ring friend." ALIQUIS. THANKSGIVING OF THE CON BLESSED King who glad'it our shore Never heard a heav'nly word. Black man's tuneful voice thall rings Thro' the wilds in early morn: Young and old fhall join to fing, Chrift for us a Saviour born. Bleffed white man from the sky, Yielded life that we may fing; Up our fouls, away and Ay, 'Shelter under Jefus' wing. SERENA THE SABBATH DELIGHTFUL. WHEN winds and waves unite to foil The feaman's fkill-the care, the toil With which he feels oppreft; Within his troubled breaft. So after fix days toil and ftrife, How fweet the fabbath day! And join the heavenly lays; And celebrate his praife. And greater light and love! |