the people understand? It maybe the worst The Olive Branch. Edinburgh, 1831. language in the world, and scarcely redu"Significant emblem," says the editor, cible to rule; but is this a reason why" of all the heavenly charities of the gospel, those who speak it should be deprived of the the Olive Branch, with foliage renewed, bible? Here is a colony consisting of, at is again presented to the reader." We least, 100,000 souls, that is, 10,000 free ne-recommend the public accordingly to take groes, 10,000 Europeans, and 80,000 slaves. the proffered pledge of peace and piety, So far from the language under considera- assuring them that if they are solicitous tion being so unformed, barbarous, and of obtaining a considerable portion of inharmonious, as many have described religious instruction within a small comit, several persons intimately acquainted pass, diversified by a sprinkling of enterwith it, represent it in the most glowing taining matter, they will find it in this terms of panegyric, as "sweet, sonorous, little volume. It is not called an annual, and soft," of which the specimens in this but we presume it is of that class. We pamphlet furnish considerable evidence. suggest that in future, the editor would But the question does not regard the cha- do well to avoid the introduction of pieces racter of the language, but the fact of its which savour of prolixity, and seek a being the only language understood by a greater variety of contributors. large population. Mr. Greenfield has fairly met all the objections and obviated them. In saying this, we give an unbiassed but willing testimony, to the merit of his labours, and trust their end will be fully accomplished. We quote one passage as containing a very convincing appeal : Motives for Perseverance: consisting of encouragements for the disciples of the Saviour during the labours and conflicts of the Christain pilgrimage; and of warnings against backsliding. By J. G. PIKE. This is chiefly a republication, in a separate form, of three chapters of a work entitled "A Guide for young Disciples in their Way to Immortality." There are, however, some considerable additions. The view of earnest piety and good sense which runs through this small book, re Christian reader. These, and all Mr. Pike's writings, the young especially may peruse with the greatest advantage. The Moral Muse. A Present for Young Ladies. By EMMA PRICE, London, 1830. "Precedents in abundance might have been adduced, and the measure successfully justified on that ground. In what, it might have been asked, did it differ from the Judes-Polish, published by the London Society or what was still more to the point, the DanishCreole, first printed at the expense of the King of Denmark, in the year 1781, and sub-commends it most strongly to every sequently in the year 1818, by the Danish Bible Society, for the use of the negroes in the Danish West India Islands. If a version of the scriptures was necessary and proper in these mixed languages, upon what principle could it be unnecessary and improper in Negro-English? If the latter were broken English, certainly the Danish-Creole was much more broken Danish or broken Dutch; and if the Negro-English were uncouth and barbarous, so were the Judes-Polish, and the Danish-Creole. If they, nevertheless, had been the successful medium of religious instruction, so had the Negro-English. Employed by the Moravian Missionaries for nearly a century, as the only intelligible mode of communication to the minds of the negroes, it had been rendered the efficient mean for the conversion of many souls unto God. If then, it was not inefficient or improper in, conveying the Word of God orally, upon what 'plea could it be deemed improper as the vehicle of the same Word when written?" This is a selection of pieces from the poetic compositions of writers of established reputation. Young ladies to whom it is particularly presented, may certainly read it with pleasure and profit. Care has been taken in every one of the selections not only to present a pleasing image to the reader, but more especially to make the beauty subservient to the production of a salutary impression.” These are the editor's words, and we believe they will be found to be fully corroborated in the perusal of these elegant pages. 26 OBITUARY. intimated that her end was near at hand, she was humbly submissive to the will of her heavenly Father, and after a few moments retirement, she returned say time I shall be in heaven, and the idea of the glories of that state has almost overpowered my mind. When I am gone it may be said of me, a sinner saved by grace." Sensible of her deep depravity and guilt, she rested solely on the promises and faithfulness of God in Christ; and she looked to Jesus as her only refuge and Saviour. For said she, "The blood of Christ, his Son, cleanseth us from all sin." "His powerful blood did once atone, And now it pleads before the throne." "Him that cometh to me I will in no MARY RODWAY. DIED,March 26th, 1830, Mary, the wife of the Rev. Jas. Rodway, of Beechhill, near Reading, at the age of 51. The complaint which terminated in death was pul-ing, "I have been thinking that in a little monary consumption; her health had been declining for about four years, but she was not laid by from the duties of her family and school, till the Christmas before her decease, for she continued, as long as her strength permitted, to be employed for the good of her family and others. From a child she had been accustomed to hear the gospel at Bourton-on-the-Water, and Stow-in the-Wold, Glo'stershire, under the ministry of the Revds. B. Beddome and Wm. Wilkins; and there is reason to believe she became the subject of religious impressions at an early period. In the year 1800 she was baptized by the Rev. Wm. Wil-wise cast out." She enjoyed a satisfactory kins, and joined the church at Stow. In persuasion of ber love to the Lord Jesus. "I have," she said, "attained to a full the same year she was married to the individual above mentioned, who survives to assurance of my love to Christ, and can lament her loss. Seven danghters and five say, Lord, thou knowest that I love Thee, sons were the fruit of this union; two of the thou knowest that I believe in Thee, and latter are since dead, and it is hoped, with sometimes I think I can say, Thou knowtheir mother, are united with the spirits of est that 1 long to be with Thee." She the just made perfect. May those who exhorted me to warn the children and survive be enabled to follow her as she others that they might flee to Christ, and followed Christ. For nearly 30 years, the be saved from the wrath to come. For time she lived with her husband, she mani- several days before her departure, her fested kind and respectful affection to him; sufferings were sharp, and trying to feeble and her attachment continued unabated to nature, but her mind was encouraged and the end. She loved all her children with supported by the hope of the Gospel, so equal affection, and always evinced an that she patiently waited for the coming of earnest solicitude for their temporal, spi- her Lord. She desired me to pray that ritual, and eternal good. It was her desire he would give her an easy dismission from and endeavour, as she had opportunity, to the body, and that he would come and do good both to the souls and bodies of take her to himself; a short time before her fellow-creatures. About the beginning her spirit took its flight, she was engaged of February last, when by the prevalence in earnest fervent prayer to her God and of the disease, it appeared she was hasten- Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, for ing to eternity, she said these lines seemed about the space of half an hour. Some impressed upon her mind, of her petitions which I heard, were to the following effect:-"God, have mercy on me a sinner, let thy will, O! Lord, be done on earth, as it is in heaven. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be blessed and praised for ever and ever, Amen. Come "Father, at thy call I come, In thy bosom there is room.' Soon afterwards being visited by a medical gentleman, from Reading, who Lord Jesus, and take me to Thee;" praying for her children, she repeatedly intreated the Lord to stop them, that they might not walk in the paths of sin and transgression; she added, "Jesus, the Lamb of God, do tbou take me to Thee. He that shall come will come, and will not tarry, even so come Lord Jesus, Amen." She then called her children, and desired they would say amen to her prayers. "Now," said she, "I have done, I say no more." Shortly after she sunk into a slumber for about twenty minutes, and then quietly fell asleep in Jesus. " And I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord; from henceforth, yea, saith the Spirit, for they rest from their labours, and their works do follow them. J. R. MISCELLANEOUS. A LETTER FROM COLONEL GARDINER | whom we have not seen? Therefore, TO DR. DODDRIDGE. (From Dr. Doddridge's Correspondence, &c. Vol. 3.) Leicester, July 9, 1739. DEAR DOCTOR, I know not how the reading of my letters may amuse you, but I am sure I never receive any that have a greater influence upon me than yours; and much do I stand in need of every help to awaken me out of that spiritual deadness, which seizes me so often. Once, indeed, it was quite otherwise with me, and that for many years; "Firm was my health, my day was bright, But I forgot Thine arm was strong, My health was gone, my comforts died." Here lies my sin and my folly. And this brings to my mind that sweet singer in our Israel; I mean Dr. Watts: for you must know, that I have been in pain these several years, lest that excellent person should be called to heaven before I had an opportunity to let him know how much his works have been blessed in me, and, of course, to return him my hearty thanks; for though it is owing to the operation of the Blessed Spirit, that any thing works effectually upon our hearts, yet, if we are not thankful to the instrument which God is pleased to make use of, whom we do see, how shall we be thankful to the Almighty, dear Doctor, I must beg the favour of you to let him know that I intended to wait upon him when I was in London in the beginning of last May, but was informed, and that to my great surrow, that he was extremely ill, and, therefore, I did not think that a visit would have been seasonable; especially considering that I have not the happiness to be much acquainted with the Doctor; but well am I acquainted with his works, especially with his psalms, hymns, and lyricks. How often by singing some of them when by myself, on horseback, and elsewhere, has the evil spirit been made to flee away— "Whene'er my heart in tune was found, Like David's harp of solemn sound." I desire to bless God for the good news of his recovery, and entreat you to tell him, that although I cannot keep pace with him here, in celebrating the high praises of our glorious Redeemer, which is the great grief of my heart, yet I am persuaded, that when I join the glorious drawbacks, that none will outsing me company above, where there will be no there; because I shall not find any who have been more indebted to the wonderful riches of Divine Grace than myself. "Give me a place at thy saints' feet, I know it is natural for every one, who has felt that Almighty power which raised our glorious Redeemner from the grave, to believe his case singular. But I have made every one in this respect, submit, as soon as he has heard my story; and if you seemed so surprised at the account which I gave you, what will you be when you hear it all. "Oh, if I had an angel's voice, And could be heard from pole to pole, Dear Doctor, if you knew what a natural aversion I have to writing, you would be astonished at the length of this letter, which is, I believe, the longest I ever wrote. But my heart warms when I write to you, which makes my pen move the easier. I hope it will please our gracious God long to preserve you, a blessed instrument in his hand, of doing great good in the church of Christ; and that you may always enjoy a thriving soul in a healthful body, shall be the continual prayer of, My dear Doctor, Your sincere friend, And most faithful servant, JAMES GARDINER. BAPTISM. Mr. Morris, the Antinomian preacher at Rothwell, in our neighbourhood, has lately published a most ridiculous piece upon Baptism, in which he challenges all the world to produce one instance of Baptism by immersion, in Scripture, even from the most primitive antiquity. He is answered by one John Giles, or Gill.-Diary and Correspondence of Dr. Doddridge, vol. 2, p. 240. PALESTINE. At a lecture recently delivered by F. Buckingham, Esq. who has himself visited this interesting portion of our globe, the following well-known fact was stated, and the light it casts on some passages of Scripture adverted to:-Mount Tabor, which is situated near to the river Jordan, on account of its elevation, is covered with snow during the greater part of the year. In the months of July, August, and September, the snow dissolves, and by mingling its streams with the waters of Jordan, causes it to overflow its banks so that a river, fordable in many parts at other periods, could not possibly be passed at this season, but by a miraculous interposition of Almighty Power. And hence the miracle recorded in the 3d chapter of Joshua, by being viewed in connection with this fact, becomes manifest and striking. "And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people; and as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest), that the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho. And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground, in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan." When the waters, thus supplied by the adjacent mountain, retire from the banks of the river, they leave them in the highest possible state of fertility, and the vegetation which immediately springs up, forms a jungle or covert for beasts of prey, into which the lord of the forest, amongst others, is well known to resort. On the annual descent of the waters they are, of course, dispossessed of their hiding place, and driven from their haunts: hence the allusion in the prophecies of Jeremiah xl. 19, and 1. 44 "Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan, against the habitation of the strong." Other passages might be referred to, which these annual accessions of water to the river will serve to illustrate, as in Jer. xii. 5, "If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?” INTELLIGENCE, &c. FOREIGN. FRANCE. From a Report just published, by "The Continental Society, for the diffusion of Religious Knowledge over the Continent of Europe," we give the following extracts as acquiring, under present circumstances, a peculiar interest. Extract from Rev. P. F's Letter, dated Sept 1, 1830. 66 Although I never allowed any moments of my existence to be engrossed by political concerns, yet, at the present moment I should look upon myself as indifferent, not to say ignorant of the history of the different periods of the Church of Christ, were I not to experience feelings of admiration and gratitude when I behold what is taking place around us in Europe, and particularly in France. "At the sight of these events, who can doubt but the nineteenth century is in every respect a striking period, both on account of what has already taken place, and what is likely to take place, during it, Yes, it is the age of knowledge, of research, the attempt to stifle which, by driving them back to the ninth century, has proved abortive. Who can doubt, in observing the ominous signs of the times, and the days in which we live, that the Lord will soon accomplish the glorious work of his his temple, by bringing all nations in the world to bow to his triumphant sceptre." Extract from the Rev. J. F's Letter, vertheless we were obliged to act cautiously, and much time was lost. They tried to raise obstacles in the distribution of Tracts. The priests set every thing on foot to stop our progress in this branch of labour. One of the most zealous of the jesuitical party was sent to me to dissuade me from proclaiming the good news all over the town. doubt that his great learning, his polite and They expected, no unassuming manners, and the handsome promises relative to this world, which he was commissioned to make me, would have had some influence over me: but, kept by the power of God, through faith, it was given me to preach the gospel to him during the space of two months, and to shut his mouth his attempts, he threatened me with the anger through the word of peace. Disappointed in of his deceitful church, because of the meetledge that I was not without fears, knowing ing I held in my own house. I must acknowtheir revengeful disposition. But glory, honour, and thanksgiving be unto our God, the last days of July have placed us in the most advantageous position. fluence, we stand no longer in need of taking "Having no longer to dread Popish inprecautions, which have become useless. However, be assured that prudence will that without it we should cause the Gospel to always be the basis of our conduct, knowing be blasphemed, instead of rendering it amia ble. The Lord is pleased to manifest his power in my infirmity; therefore have I the pleasure of informing you, that since my last, several souls have found peace in Jesus: others appear powerfully agitated, and sigh for deliverance from the Most High. A family in a neighbouring village is the source of great “People speak in great praise of the liberal joy to us: upon my asking them, they estaspirit of the British nation, and of the loyal blished a meeting in their house, and also a promptitude with which they have come for-depot of Bibles and Tracts. "Since the fall of the Jesuits, we hold se dated- -Sept. 1, 1830. ward to relieve the families of those who suffer As I ed during the days of conflict at Paris, in the ven meetings every week, and we increase defence of their liberty. It will result from every day the number of our visits. this, that the evangelical labours of our En-have already told you, we are far more welglish brethren will be much better appreciated, seeing that the people of Great Britain have shewed themselves the friends of the French." Extract from L. M-'s Letter, dated - Sept. 15, 1830. "Previous to the great events which have lately taken place in France, many doors were opened to us; we had no lack of labour; ne comed by the Roman Catholics than by the Protestants, and some are making wonderful progress in knowledge. When we can afford it, we employ a brother to go and read amongst those who cannot read. My cor.. respondence with neighbouring friends affords me great hopes. I received a request this morning for twelve Bibles, and several religious books, which some Roman Catholics |