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NEW SERIES, NO. 110.
FOR THE DIFFUSION OF TRUTH AND THE SUPPORT OF THE PRINCIPLES OF ^^hE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES.
Sotttfiem lieltfl(ous «eieflrarph.
F* BARTLETt' ] EDITORS :—134 Chestnut Street.
PHILADELPHIA, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1842.
VOL. XXI. NO. 6.
RELIGIOUS
For tlie Cliristian Observer.
PARTIES IN ENGLAND IN 1610-50.—No. xvi.
Introduction of Presbyterianism in tbe Church of England
in tho Seventeenth Century.
In 1640, Archbishop Usher proposed a scheme for the reduction of Episcopacy into the form of Synodical government, received In the ancient church, in which his grace supposes, that, ofthe many Elders that ruled the church of Ephesus, there was one stated President, whom our Sa¬ viour calls tlie angel, and whom Ignatius calls the Bishop, to whom, in conjunction with the Elders, or Presbyters, the whole government of the church, both as to doctrine and disci¬ pline, was committed. He, therefore, proposed that these should be continued ; and, for a regu¬ lation of their jurisdiction, that suffragans (as¬ sistant Presidents) should be appointed to hold monthly Synods of Presbyters, from whom there should hei ^" appeal to Diocesan, Provincial, and national ones. (Neal, vol. ii. p. 72.
This scheme, the Presbyterian ministers pre¬ sented to Charles II., at the restoration, as a mo¬ del with which they were satisfied, and which would have given peace to the kingdom; but the King and Bishops rejected it with contempt, and would not suffer it to be debated. There were few either of the clergy or laity, at this period, who were in favor of Presbytery. All they wished was to be freed from oppression. (Neal, vol. ii. p. 74.)
In 1642, the Puritans were in favor of a limit¬ ed monarchy, and would have been satisfied to remain in tho established church, if its reforma¬ tion could have been effected.  (Idem. p. 159.)
In 164.5, the Directory of the Westminster As¬ sembly was established by Parliament, and all magistrates were required to cause a copy of It to be delivered to the officers of the several Par¬ ishes in England and Wales, and by them to the ministers. Every minister whodidnot observe the Directory in all the exercises of public worship for¬ feited forty shillings; and those who did any thing, either by presuching, writing or printing-, to bring' it  into contempt, forfeited not less than  five pounds, nor more than fifty, to be given to the poor; and all the books of Common Prayer were ordered to be gathered up, and to be subject to the disposition of the Parliament,   (Neal, vol. ii. p. 277.)—On the 14lh of March, 1646, Presbyterian discipline was established by law in Engalnd and Wales: but no party was satisfied with it. It was provided that the final appeal should be made to the Parliament: this displeased the Presbyteri¬ ans. The Presbyterian hierarchy allowed no lib¬ erty  of conscience  to  the  Independents—but claimed civil as well as ecclesiastical authori- ty over their persons and property.—Hence the Independents regarded it as equally oppressive with the Episcopal government; and because the final appeal was to the Parliament, the English and Scotch Presbyterians rejected the whole sys¬ tem.   The Parliament were led to this step by the power of the Scotch army.   (Neal, vol. 2, p. 271, 273.) Parliament had ordered the commiitee of lords and commons to endeavor a union ofthe Presbyterians and Independents, or at least to procutre a, toleration of those who could not con¬ scientiously adopt the Presbyterian Directory. Si.t Independent divines, who were appointed a committee for this purpose, stated their objec¬ tions and submitted propositions.—But the Pres¬ byterians insisted that the new form of govern¬ ment should pass into a law, before the excep¬ tions of the Independents were taken into con¬ sideration.    The Presbyterians pushed the affair to a conclusion in Parliament, and excluded the Independents from all hope of a compensation. The House of Commons soon perceived their mistake in giving the Presbyterians this advan¬ tage, and revived the committee of accommo¬ dation.  The Independents, deeming themselves excluded from all hope of union with the Pres¬ byterians, asked only a Toleration ; with liberty to   ordain,   and administer   discipline  in   their own way, without being compelled to submit to the Presbyterian government.    This the Presby¬ terians opposed, as implying a separation from the established church, the lawfulness of gather¬ ing churches out of other true churches, and in¬ troducing schism and confusion.    The Indepen¬ dents replied, that they did not intend a total separation; that they would choose the same of¬ ficers, viz., " Pastors, teachers, and Ruling El¬ ders, with the same qualifications as required by the Directory: that they would require the same qualifications for membership In the church, hold the same doctrines, and practice the same discipline, and hold occasional communion with the Presbyterians.    All the Indulgence they ask¬ ed, was to be free from the power of the church courts, holding themselves responsible to their civil superiors.    The Presbyterians replied, that such toleration was unnecessary; that, if tbe In¬ dependents could commune with them occasion¬ ally, they could do it constantly.    The result of this unnatural controversy, we will give in the language of both parties.
The Presbyterians said, "that, whereas their brethren say that uniformity ought not to be urg¬ ed any farther than is agreeable to men's con¬ sciences, and to their edification, it seems to them as if their brethren not only desired liber¬ ty of conscience for themselves, but for all men, and would have us think that we are bound by our covenant to bring the churches in the three kingdoms to no nearer a conjuction than is consistent whh the liberty of all men's con¬ sciences."
The Independents said, "that if their congre¬ gations might not be exempt from the coercive power ofthe Classis;   if they might not have liberty to govern themselves in their own way, as long as they behaved themselves peaceably ;   towards the civil magistrate; they were resolved to suifer, or go lo some other part of the world, where they might enjoy their liberty.   But, while men think there is no peace but by forcing all to be of the same mind; while they think the civil sword is an ordinance of God to determine all controversies of divinity, and that it must needs be attended with fines and imprisonment to the disobedient; while they apprehend there is no medium between a strict uniformity and a gen¬ eral confusion of all things; while these senti- ments prevail, there mustbe abase subjection of men's consciences to slavery, a suppression of much truth, and groat disturbance in the Chris¬ tian world."  Mr. Baxter regretted that the Pres¬ byterians did not consent to tolerate the Indepen. im1 " ^^^^ were for union in things necessary, for liberty in things unnecessary, and charity in alL" The Presbyterians of London held a Synod every Monday, one of the objects of which was to consult how to support the Assembly intheir opposition to toleration, which they called "the Diana ofthe Independents.''   The king sought to gain the Independents to bis party; the Scotch army refused to sustain the Parliament unless the Presbyterian system was fully established and the President of the Scotch Parliament wrote to the tvvo houses of Parliament at Westminster that  " it was   expected the honorable  houses would add the civil sanction to what the pious and learned Assembly had advised ; and 1 am commanded by the Parliament of this kingdom to demand it, and I do in their names demand it. And the Parliament of this kingdom is persuad¬ ed that the piety and wisdom of the honorable
houses will never admit toleration of any seels or schisms contrary to our solemn league and covenant." They declared that "liberty of con¬ science is the nourisherof all heresies and schisms ; " and however the Parliament of England may dt,'- tormine in point of toleration and liberty of con^ science, they are resolved not to make the least start, but to live and die for the glory of God, in- the entire preservation of the truth." (Neal, vol^ 2. p. 275—233.) Thus the Presbyterians, sustain¬ ed by the power ofthe Scotch army and Parlia¬ ment, forced upon the English an ecclesiastlcaL system which was equally intolerant with the old hierarchy which they had prostrated. Imme¬ diately the doctrine that Presbyterianism was or divine right, was.introduced to sustain this sys¬ tem of oppression. G. F.
For the Cliristian Observer.
THE FAMILY ORGANIZATION.—NO. IV.
The Designs of the Family Organization, Strik¬ ing Proofs of God's Benevolence. In my preceding numbers, I proposed to state the Design of the Family Organization. I re¬ marked that God might have made the race of isolated and solitary individuals, without any ties of relationship, or sympathy, or friendship; that he had however in fact bound men together by strong a,nd tender ties which had been cre¬ ated for the purpose of constituting society; that this had all the marks of intelligent and benevo¬ lent design, and that this design was more strik¬ ing in the family than any where else.—I then proceeded to show what was the design, and ob¬ served, 1st, that it was to promote the happiness ofthe world.   I proceed to remark—
(2.) A second object contemplated in the fa¬ mily organization, is to diminish the sorrows of the world. The operation of this principle, we all understand; and that this was contemplated In the family organization, no one can for a mo¬ ment doubt. It is by creating this mysterious interest in tho welfare and in the sufferings df those connected with us in the family circle, that God designed to alleviate the sorrows ofthe world. It was known to the Author of our be¬ ing, that we would be sufferers. It was known that every eye would weep, that evexy heart would bleed, that every frame would suffer from disease, and that death would be commissioned to lay his cold hand on every member ofthe race. We have seen that this might have been done, and the sufferer been alone. In solitude, we might have been left to pour forth our tears with no one to wipe them away. In solitude we might have been left to bear our pains and woes, with no one to put beneath us an upholding hand, or to minister to our wants. In solitude we might have laid us down on the cold earth, and have died, with no one to close the eye in death, and no one to have shed a tear over our cold remains. But God has united us to others who feel a deep interest in our welfare, and who are ever ready to alleviate our sorrows and to wipe away our tears. He designed to bring in the affectionate regard of a father, the tenderness of a wife or a mother, the watchful care of a child, a brother, a sister, to alleviate our sor¬ rows, to aid us in bearing our burden of grief, and to divide wlili us our woes. Sorrow hath not half its keenness when It Is divided with others. Nay, the sympathetic grief, the tender care, the watchful anxiety may be so great, and may be the source of so much consolation, that, sorrow bj'^ this sympathy, may be almost turned into joy. Many a sufferer has been willing to say, it is well thus to suffer; it is more than a compensation for all my pains, that I have known the pure happiness, and the solid proof of affection which result from the kindness of a mother.! a sister, a wife, - or a friend. Many a man reverts to such scenes as, after all, among the mosl interesting of his life; and if the memo¬ ry of past joys were all to be blotted out; if the scenes of happiness of former times were to be obliterated, he would say, "spare me the re- membi*ance of the day when lying on a bed of pain, I was sustained by the sympathies of my own family; the memory of the deep affection, the tender love, the anxious care which hallow the recollection of a wife, a sister and a mo¬ ther."
The arrangements thus contemplating the al¬ leviation of human woes, is completely success¬ ful. It diminishes every where, the sorrows of the world; it bears forwards from age to age, un¬ dying proofs that he who contemplated the fami¬ ly organization, the " God who setteth the soli¬ tary in families," is good, supremely good.
3d. The family is organized for the purpose of securing an adequate supply for the wants of its various members. This is so obvious, that It certainly does not stand in need of proof. The strong instincts which God has implanted in the human parei\talbosom, in common with all the inferior animals, are evidently designed to prompt to this, and commonly secure it. It Is rare any where, that the great law of nature Is disregarded; perhaps never, unless the mind and heart are debased, and more than brutalized by some raging, and ruinous pa.ssion and indul¬ gence. Nothing, any where in the physical world, has more the marks of intelligent and be¬ nevolent design than this. That man might have been made without it, is evident. For there is no absolute necessity in the nature of things, why we should be willing to deny ourselves of rest and ease, for the purpose of providing for the wants of the needy and the helpless. It Is the creation of a strong and tender tie; a pecu¬ liar and ever-active sympathy, to meet the ne¬ cessities of those who are entering helpless on the journey of life, and of those who are sick, and feeble, and those who are retiring helpless and inactive from the theatre of this world.
The conditions, or circumstances in which the promptings of this peculiar feeling jire denaand- ed, and which this instinctive attachnjent is de¬ signed to meet, are the following:    First, in¬ fancy and childhood.    It was the plan of the Creator to send man into the world helpless, fee¬ ble, ignorant, and entirely dependent.   We are so created that we should soon perish, were it not for the kind aid of others.   The Infant would scarcely open its eyes upon the world before it would die, were it not met on the threshold of life by those of mature age,  experience, skill, and love to provide for his wants, and to defend him from danger.    To place this friend there on the threshold of our being, though as yet a stran¬ ger; to fill his bosom with tender love already for the helpless creature that is thus ushered into existence; to dispose him to impart aid, and to divide what he has accumulated, and to give up his own comfort and ease to meet tho wants of the new inhabitant of earth ; to fill him at once with the strongest attachment, even when the infant has as yet shown no qualities but those of helplessness and want, to claim regard, is a clear proof that there is a moral government over this world; and that this government is con¬ ducted by  wise and   benevolent design.    Ac¬ cordingly, to secure this object, God has lodged in the human breast a strong and constantly act¬ ing, and increasing interest in those whom by his Providence, he has cast dependent on our care.
Another condition in which this aid is demand¬ ed, is obviously in sickness and infirmity. For wise ends, God occasionally leaves some mem¬ bers of a family to a life—a long and tedious
life—of suffering. Health Is a blessing which to such an one is seldom or never known ; and the heavy and leaden hours and years of life pa.ss on In a .state of entire dependence. To meet such a case, God has implanted the strong feel¬ ing of natural attachment for the afflicled child, brother, or sister; and designs also lhat to this shall be added all the strength of powerful and excited sympathy. At a time of life even when the feelings of parental or fraternal affection usually become somewhat enfeebled, the strong tie of sympathy for the sufferer is directed to come in, and make firmer the decaying princi¬ ple of attachment, and bind the heart in indisso¬ luble bonds to the sufferer.
Old age is another period when this principle is designed to develop itself. The duty of pro¬ viding for the wants of enfeebled parentage, is one also to which we are prompted by the strong and tender tics of natural affection. There is, too, an obvious propriety in our thus reciprocat¬ ing and returning the care and kindness which ¦has been bestowed on us. All that a child can do, indeed, is but a most partial and imperfect return for parental favors; a most feeble expres¬ sion of an obligation for anxieties, and watch¬ fulness, and care which met us through their hands on the contimencement of the journey of life.
It may be proper here to make a single remark in illustration of my main position, that there is. In all the duties and feelings ofthe family re¬ lation, the strongest demonstration of design.— The remark Is, that we are prompted to provide for a parent in old age, by a feeling strikingly different from that which prompts us to provide for our children. The attachment is less ardent; less deep ; less tender in its motive. As the duty is likely less frequently to occur, it is not so strong and vigorous a feeling. All know that the attachment of a child to a parent. Is a differ¬ ent thing from that of the parent to the child.— But though less tender and sensitive, it has the advantage ofthe strength of gratitude. We wish in his case, to repay our obligations ; in the case ofthe child, no such obligation has beien cre¬ ated. We are prompted to it, not only by the iicipicssness ofthe object; but by the constrain¬ ing power of a debt which we owe; and by all ithe force* of veneration for advancing age, and of obligations for un.speakable benefits which have been received. And God designs that the close of life shall be attended with .sympathies corresponding with those at Its commencement; and that man shall leave the world as he entered it, surrounded by those who shall feel a strong interest In his wants, and under the strong promptings of nature to meet these wants, alle¬ viate his pains, and make him happy. Is not this proof of benevolent design 1 Does it not show the controlling power, and the wise go¬ vernment arragements of Godi Might it not havebeen otherwise 1 Might not infancy have been met often as it Is sometimes now among the most abandoned of the species, with disre¬ gard and neglect; and age have been left often as it is sometimes now with forgetfulness, and in¬ gratitude 1
There is another remark which may be made irr. illustrating this part of nny subject, which no Ifjss demonstrates the' existence of intelligent and benevolent design. The remark is this.— The same active efforts might have been se¬ cured ; the same provision for the wants of the fa^mily might have been made under the influ- cLice ofa far different principle from that which now operates and influences us. That principle might have been fear. Instead of being led to p rovide for them by the warm and gushing tides of love, and the most tender attachment. It might have been fear that should have been m ade to prompt to this. The constant and ceas- less fear that a child would suffer, and die from want, might have been that whicli should have called forth all our efforts. But, instead of that, G(5d prompts us to these efforts by love—^by ten¬ der attachment; a feeling that Is always attended with pleasure. And the making use of this prin- cijile for this purpose, shows that God is influ¬ enced by benevolence ; that he desires and de¬ signs that we should be happy, at the .sanrie time that we are fulfilling his purposes, in providing for the wants of those whom he has placed be¬ neath our care.—And yet men often feel that God is a malignant being ; often look upon their trials, and say that he is a hard master; and of¬ ten charge his administration wfth proofs of in¬ sincerity, and with a want of benevolence. And this too, when every emotion of love that you' cherish, is proof that God is love; when all your promptings to aid those who are under you,'are proof that God who placed them there is be¬ nevolent ; when every tie that binds you to them, and every spring by which you are actuated, is a demonstration that God is good, and designs to connect happiness even with the necessary re¬ lations of life, and to make the family replete with the proofs of his goodness.
asunder, and cast their cords from them, and ob¬ tain the liberty wherewith Christ makes his peo- pie free."
Correspondence fVem Barmen and Berlin con¬ firms the above view, and the importance that every evangelical effort should be in the highest degree encouraged and strengthened.
MOTTO FOR-THE SCRIPTURES.
BY JAMES MONTGOMERY.
Behold the Book whose leaves display Jesus, the life, the truth, the way ; Read it with diligence and prayer; Search it, and you shall find Him there.
THB FIRST SABBATH.
The sixth day'of creation drew near its close. The sun had finished his course, and the gloom of evening beg{/n to spread over the earth. The first born son of creation stood upon a hill in Eden, near Eloah, his guardian angel and guide.
It grew darker and darker about the hill. Twi¬ light rushed to thie embrace of Night, and threw her dewy rtihesover hill and valley. The songs of the birds, and the noises of the beasts, were hushed—even the air seemed to sleep.
"What is all thisi" said the Man, with a soft and low voice, to his heavenly guide—" Will the young Creation disappear and sink down into chaos 1"
Eloah smiled, and said, "Itis the repose of Earth."
Now appeared thp heavenly lights, the moon arose, and the starry hosts followed In splen¬ dor.
Man looked upward with sweet surprise, and the angel ofthe Lord looked with pleasure upon the gazing son of Earth. The night was still, and the songs of the nightingale floated In the air.
Eloah touched the man with his staff. He lay down on the hillock and slept. His first dream came over him, and Jehovah made him his com¬ panion.
When the morning twilight opened, Eloah touched the slumbering one. He awoke and felt new power and life streaming through him. ThaV»"?:«*'"*l v^l^^y^ ^^^^ ""t of the gloom, the young light came down glittering upon the foun¬ tain of the river of Eden, and the sun arose, bringing the day, Man looked upon his new formed wife, the mother of all living. Surprise and delight filled hi.s heart.
"See," said Eloah, " The divide is created out of rest," Therefore shall thou consecrate this day to rest and devotion.—Krummacher.       •    --•
Jerome of Prague, sealed at the stake.
the doctrines which they
For tlie Cliristian 01)server.
TRACTS IN GERMANY.
[From the Correspondence of the American Tract Society.] The Rev. John Rheeder, of the Lower feax- ony Tract Society at Hamburgh, states that a de¬ sire to receive Tracts Is very extensively awaken¬ ed, and that volumes are often found to rouse the mind to the great subject of salvation. He gives numerous extracts from that Society's corres¬ pondence, showing the good accomplished ; and after beautifully reviewing the testimony receiv¬ ed, and thanking the Society most cordially for their last grant, he concludes his letter with the following appeal, which cannot but affect the heart of all who love the truth as it is in Christ:
" The very fact of the Tracts being desired, is as a voice from our Master, saying, «Go for¬ ward. See, I have set before you an open door. Enter Into it and possess the land.' And ifa no place that I know of is it of greater moment to go forward, than here; for,certain it is, if the devil has any where ia tbis World a strong-hold, it is in Germany, where the accursed leaven of Rationalism penetrates, more or less, into the whole mass of society. No man of God, who has a spark of love in his soul to 'the Lord that bought him, can help feeling   his spirit stirred within him,' when he hears in sermons which are preached, sees in books which are read, and finds from conversation which he holds, how vast are the numbers who   deny the Holy One and the Just.'
"It is, notwithstanding, a most encouraging sign ofthe times, that there are many, amid pre¬ vailing errors, who are beginning to feel the importance of truth, and are most earnestly de¬ siring "time's of refreshing from the presence of the Lord." And it appears to me to be a very important thing to make the acquaint¬ ance of such men, with a view to encourage and animate them under the influence of the de¬ pressions which they feel, and to stimulate them with greater earnestness and perseverance to strive together for ' the faith once delivered to the saints,'
"My interviews of late with German Chris¬ tians, have led to my making these remarks; for I have had opportunities of observing, not only among private Christians, but also aniong minis¬ ters, a growing desire for the sincere milk ofthe word. The bonds of early prejudice shackle many of these good people; but I hope the time is coming when they will break these bonds
REFORMATION OF THE 16TH CENTURY.
To write a history of the Reformation, Is to trace the progress ofthe most Important as well as perhaps the most wonderful revolution In the history of the vvorld, since the first propagation of Christianity. In fact, these two mighty move¬ ments are, so to speak, identical. In both, the resistless agent at work is the simple truth of God's word, pi^jclaimed by a few men of obscure origin, setting itself in open and direct opposi¬ tion to the pride, the prejudice, and the corrup-
ttisTl of men ; and resisted  by all tho influence of
a powerful and wealthy priesthood, the authori¬ ty of civil rulers, and the supremacy of an an¬ cient, established, and dazzling superstition ; yet making slow but certain progress among the minds of men, unlil its triumph was complete, and ancient forms and institutions, sapped to the foundations, crumbled into ruins before it. In this age, that party who would fain gather up the venerable fragments, and re-construct the fallen temples of Ignorance and superstition, consis¬ tently look upon the Reformation with jealousy and disapprobation, as a rash, unauthorized, and unholy work. We, on the other hand, who are now suffering from the incompleteness with which the work was effected, may be in some danger of undervaluing a movement which has left so much yet to be done in the carrying out of the principles involved in it, before we can boast that the struggle on behalf of Scriptural truth and religious liberty has'been brought to a successful conclusion. Certainly, to one who has been accustomed to love and venerate the principles of the Reformation, and only to de¬ plore that those great and good men who were called by God to be its leaders, did not more iul- ly follow out their legitimate consequences, the ^tudy of this period is most instructive and ini- porta)it» **• 'bearing on its own practical duty.— ^or while, on the one hand, he is summoned to join,' with heart and hand. In the continuation of the same great struggle, on the other, he finds not merely imputations cast on the man¬ ner or spirit in which it has been conduct¬ ed, but the soundness of Its very fundamental principles called in question. It behoves him, therefore, to consider it in Its causes, progress, and results, and to inquire whether the defects observable in these results, have arisen from er¬ ror in the principle on which the movement pro¬ ceeded, or in a defective appreciation and de¬ velopment of it.
The great principle of the Reformers was, the supremacy of the Scriptures as the rule of faith. But they ought not to have stopped short here. If the Word of God is the only rule of faith binding on the conscience. It must follow that one man's interpretation of that rule cannot be binding on another man's conscience. The right of private judgment is inseparably con¬ nected with the supremacy ofthe Scriptures ; in fact, they are but different forms of the same tr^lh, thatin matters of religion, man's concern
VISIT TO ALEXANDRIA.
To the Editor of the Boston Becoider •
Dear Sir,—I had occasion, on Weddesday last, ^o go to Alexandria, and I must express to you the high gratification my visit afforded me. This city is beautifully situated upon the banks ofthe Potomac river, about seven miles below Wash¬ ington. Steamboats are constantly running be¬ tween the two cities, and they afford a very de¬ lightful excursion in fine weather. The boats are seldom crowded, and the olTicers are polite and accommodating.
There is but little business done In Alexandria, compared with former limes. The commerce has fallen off very much, owing to the supe¬ rior Inducements presented by olher ports, situ¬ ated nearer tbe ocean. Considerable trade,how¬ ever. Is carried on In flour, and a few other sta¬ ple articles.
The society there is of the first order. The people are very hospitable, and there is a warmth and freedom in their manners, which at once make a stranger feel lhat he is surrounded by friends. Indeed, kindness and an open-heart¬ ed generosity are characteristics of the peo¬ ple, generally, throughout the district. They throw open their houses to you without any re¬ serve, and you are welcome to share all their comforts and pleasures.
The churches and public buildings in Alexan¬ dria are mostly handsome. The congregation under the pastoral care of Rev. Joshua N. Dan¬ forth, have recently erected a very commodi¬ ous and beautiful house, and it is ardently to be hoped, that it may be the birth-place of many precious souls. This society is certainly bless¬ ed with the labors of an able and devoted minis¬ ter. His efforts lately at Petersburg, where a powerful revival is now in progress, have been attended with great success, and I hope soon to be able to tell you something of the Lord's do¬ ings In his own congregation.
A Lyceum was some time ago established by the youngmen of Alexandria, which has now be¬ come a flourishing and popular institution. They have erected a fine building, which contains a library, reading-room, and kctu:-e-room. A po¬ pular lecture is delivered once a fortnight before the association, and they have a public debate once a fortnight. Their meetings are crowd-sd, and are a source of much interest and instruction to the citizens.
The Episcopal Church in Alexandria, in which General Washington worshipped, is still stand¬ ing, and is much visited by strangers. His pew remains as it was, and contains the Bible he was accustomed to use.
is not with his fellow man, but with his Maker The recognition of this would have prevented the evils which blighted much ofthe fruit of the Reformation. It would have swept away forced conformity, civil disabilities, and the exertion of the temporal power in the suppression of eiror, If it had not led to the relinquishments of Esta¬ blishments under any form. The death of Ser¬ vetus would not have cast a shade over the me¬ mory ofthe great Reformer of Geneva, nor the bitter enmity of the Evangelical and the Rer formed churches have sapped the vigor of the Reformation on the Continent, and paved the way for the re-action in favor of Rome, which has won back so much of the territory she then lost. No events, or series of events, ever bore more distinctly the marks that it was from God, than did the Reformation, both in the character ofthe men who were raised up to be its leaders, and in the effects which attended their labors.
M. D'Aubigne has evidently taken plea.sure in painting the portrait of the great German Re¬ former at full length; yet not with the partiality which would conceal his errors and failings, or $laeken those of his adversaries. While,-how¬ ever, Germany is naturally prominent in the history of the Reformation, an English reader may be pardoned for thinking that too slight re¬ ference has been accorded to the previous move¬ ment excited in England by the labors of Wick¬ liffe—a man in one respect more remarkable and admirable than the later Reformers, from the very circumstance which tended to limit the success of his efforts, namely, that he was so far in advance of his age. It should be remember¬ ed, not only that he paved the way for the over¬ throw of Popery in England, but that his writ¬ ings kindled the flame which afterwards burst forth in Bohemia, and taught to John Huss and
VISIT TO COIMBATORE.
The Rev. Ira Tracy, missionary from Singapore, gives the following account ofa visit to Coimbatore, a town in the Southern part of India, in a communica¬ tion to the Vermont Chronicle.
This is the chief town of the district of Coim¬ batore, which occupies the height of land be¬ tween tne coast of Coramandel, on the east, and the coast of Malabar, on the west side ofthe pen¬ insula of Hindostan, in thelatltude of 12° N. The town contains 7 or 8,000 Inhabitants, and the dis¬ trict not far from 1,000,000.
The Rev. Mr. Addis, a missionary of the Lon¬ don Society, has been stationed here about fif¬ teen years, and labored alone nearly the whole time. When he commenced his efforts among them, the people knew nothing of Christianity, and were afraid of the missionary. When he of¬ fered them books, they generally declined re¬ ceiving them ; and some of the few who made bold to take them, would bring them back, say¬ ing that they dared not keep them, lest their do¬ ing so might bring some calamity upon them. They knew nothing of missionary schools; and it was some time before they could be induced to let their children, and especially their girls, attend them.
Now the state of things is essentially changed. Mr. A. has gone from village to village, preach¬ ing the gospel, and persuading the people to for¬ sake the evil and pursue the good. His doctrine and manners have commended themselves to the heathen ; and he Is now cordially welcomed, and hospitably entertained, wherever he goes. Applications for schools are frequent, and come from the large villages in various parts of the district; but Mr, A, thinks it inexpedient to es¬ tablish them where he cannot exercise an effi¬ cient superintendence, and therefore has none out of town. In town he has 16 schools, contain¬ ing 7 or 800 pupils—two of which schools are for girls. The fear to receive Christian books has entirely disappeared, and the demand for them is greater than can be supplied. Mr. A. has never been able to obtain so large grants from the Bi¬ ble and Tract Societies, as he could have used to advantage.
In addition to these general effects of his la¬ bors, he has had the happiness of seeing some present fruits of his ministry. A church has been formed, which now contains 13 native members, who are regarded as converted persons. Six of them are employed as native helpers, and sta¬ tioned In large towns In the district. Some have had their piety tested by the loss of property, of rank, and of friends.
Such are some ofthe labors of otic missionary among a population of 1,000,000. Are they not cheering ? Surely it is no small amount of influ¬ ence that can produce such a change in 1,000,000 minds.
While Mr. A. was attending to his schoolmas¬ ters, whom he assembles to receive his instruc¬ tions and directions once a week, I walked to his chApel, which stands in a large yard planted with various trees and shrubs mostly peculiar to the climate. By the side of this chapel is the grave of Mr. Woodward, a missionary of the A. B. C. F. M. in Ceylon. He was a man of humble de¬ portment, and of active piety—one whose praise will be much greater in heaven, than it was on earth. In the opinion of many, he was not a man of great abilities; but God honored him with his favor, and made him greatly useful. One re¬ marked of him, that he had probably been in¬ strumental in the conversion of more souls than the great Swartz was. He was very skillful in adapting his instructions to the capacities and pe¬ culiar habits of his hearers; and some of his il¬ lustrations are still used, to great advantage, by his surviving brethren and successors. The fol¬ lowing is a specimen: "Three men, walking along together one day, saw something In the wood before them, that looked like a snake. Two of them cried out, "A snake ! a snake !!" and ran away as fast as their legs could carry them—but the other said to himself, " True, it looks like a snake, but it may be something else —at any rale, I will go near enough to see," So he went carefully forward till he came near enough to see what it was, and found it to be a rope. He stooped down and took hold of it, thinking he would carry it away and sell it, but perceiving that it was fastened to something in the ground, he dug down to it, and found a pot of gold." The application is obvious. The hea¬ then are apt to run away from the gospel; but if they will stop and examine it, they will find it far better than a pot of gold.
As I went on my way, reflecting on what I
had learned here< thfefe things occurred to me as worthy of remark r
1. A much greater degree of divine tlessing at¬ tends the labors of missionaries thtin is generally supposed. Their influence is extending through the whole community around them,- and' feven where there are, as yet, but few convefsfoh.s, it Is gradually preparing the people lobe savlng- lyinfluenced,when there shall be laborers enough to reach every house, and gather in the harvesll from the fields which are now being sown witft good seed.
2, God blesses the labors of good men of all denom i- nations.   He has blessed those of Episcopalians^ Methodists,   Baptists,   Congregationalists,   and Presbyterians, so nearly in an equal degree, that no one of them can claim lobe peculiarly favor¬ ed of God.   The Methodists have been specially blessed in the West Indies, and in some of tho South Sea Islands; the Baptists in Burmah, and some parts of Hindostan, where whole villages have come over to the Christian faith; the Epis¬ copalians in the region of Krishnagur and other parts of BrilLsh India; and the Congregationalists and Presbyterians at the Sandwich Islands Cey¬ lon, &c,&c. No one, therefore, can say, "My doc- trines,or mymode of church organization and dis¬ cipline, are the only ones lhat God approves, and all others are wrong."    [Nor can any one infer thatthe different forms of worship and princi¬ ples of government adopted by these different branches of the church, are matters of no conse¬ quence in God's estimation ; or that He approves all as equally good.   It would probably be near¬ er the truth to say, that God blesses the faithful labors of his  tried  servants,   notwithstanding their mistakes in respect to the external forms or Institutions of Ghristianlty,]
A PRAYER FOR ZION.
tExitacta from the Rev. Dr. De Witt's Sermon before the Synod of Pennsylvania, Nov., 1841, published by request in the National Preacher,]
" Give ear, O Shepherd of IsTael, thou that leadest Jo¬ seph like a flock: thou that dwellest between the cberu- bitnt, shine forth. Before ^phraim and Benjamin and Ma- nasseh stir up thy strength, and come and save us. Turn us, again, O God, and cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved."—Psalm Ixxx. 1, a, 3.
* * « • 4^ *
Under the emblem of a vine, the church is represented as having taken deep root in Ca¬ naan, having extended its boughs to the sea, and its branches to the river; so that the hills were covered with the shadow of it, and its boughs were like the goodly cedars. But God, in judg¬ ment, had withdrawn his protection from his vineyard, and had broken down its hedges.—^ Thus exposed, the enemy had invaded, and was laying waste this beautiful heritage. Fire was destroying its verdure, the boar from the wood was wasting, and the wild beast of the field was devouring it. Under these circumstances, the pious Psalmist repairs to the throne of God, and earnestly entreats him to look down from hea¬ ven, to behold and visit this vine, which he had himself-planted, recover it from Its desolations, and again, in mercy, extend to it his wonted re¬ gard and protection. Such is the general im* port of the prayer contained in the text—" Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Jo-=- seph like a flock: thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth. Before Ephraim and Benjamim and Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come and save us. Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved."
To a brief exposition of this passage, and the practical instruction It suggests, your attention is now invited. In ourexposltion we shall first ad¬ vert to the titles and designations given to the object of prayer, and then to the petitions them- selves. *   * *  
Let us turn our attention, for a moment, to the petitions addressed to this great and gracious God.
" Give ear, 0 Shepherd of IsraeL"—Zion was apparently forsaken, and her eiiemles triumph¬ ed. Her Redeemer seemed regardless of her desolations, and inattentive to the voice of her prayer. She had deserved this rebuke, even though in anger he had shut up his tender mer¬ cies, and would be favorable no more. Yet her only hope was in that God against whom she had sinned. Should he cast her off, her desolations would, indeed, be perpetual, her ruin irremedi¬ able. Hence the pious suppliant betakes him¬ self to God, and earnestly entreats him to "give ear"—to deign once more to listen to the voice of prayer in behalf of the people whom he had chosen, redeemed, and called after bis own name. * *  
"Thou that dwellest between the jcherubim, shine forth."—It was a day of clouds, and gloom, and storm, to the church. The tempest had swept over the heritage of God, and all was waste and desolate. This ruin must remain un¬ impaired, unless God her Redeemer, who dwelt between the cherubim, would shine forth 'in the splendor of his power, truth, and love—hush this angry tempest, dissipate these gloomy clouds, and revive and bless his prostrate heritage. It is to God, as propitious to the sinful and guilty,, through the expiatory sacrifice of Jesus Christ, that the pious suppliant addresses his prayer and connects in his petition, (doubtless as a reason why it should prevail,) the manifestations of the divine glory with the object he so earnestly sought. " Shine forth"—let thy glory be mani¬ fested in the salvation of thy church. * * * *  
" Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine upon us, and we shall be saved."—They had departed from God, grievously departed from him ; and though the obligation to return to him from whom they had revolted,was deeply felt, yet helpless in their guilt and rulUj they lay at the footstool of sovereign mercyj and on God alone was their dependence, even for that spirit of deep repentance, without which they could not hope for his blessing. Hence the suppliant beseeches God to turn them—to bring them, by his Spirit, with broken and contrite hearts, to himself and to the pathway of holy obedience to his will. " And cause thy face to shine upon us."—The face of God here denotes his favor— his loving kindness; and the shining of that face, its gracious manifestations; This the suppliant sought in behalf of Zion* And when God should turn her from her iniquities, and should mani¬ fest his loving kindness to her, tbon would she be recovered from her desolations, restored to her former beauty and glory, and rejoice in his salvation. * * * *
1. We learn, from this portion of God's word, that the interests of Zion lie very near the hearts of God's people. The whole of this psalm, af^ well as the part under consideration, furnishes abundant evidence of this. Not ai petition es¬ capes the lips of the suppliant for himself, indi- vidually- All his thought^ and desires were ab¬ sorbed in the afflictiop/s and desolations of Zion. Over these he wepl, while for her he poured forth bis eariiesl prayer. Numerous instances of the same devotedness to Zion's welfare arc recorded in the sacred scriptures. Moses, that honored servant of God, on more occasions than one, showed how intensely he felt for the wel¬ fare of the church, and of what little importance he esteemed every thing else in comparison with her salvation, as connected with the glory of God»