exerted a special agency in locat- Thus far in reply, Let others to go to the heathen. "It is certainly as proper to endeavour to obtain converts to christianity as it is revealed in the Scriptures, by addressing the enlightened reason of men, leaving them free to embrace or reject it, as they shall, upon a thorough investigation of its evidence and doctrines, "The claims of our own, and of be satisfied of its divine origin, as foreign lands-which should have it is to endeavour to obtain converts the preference?" In view of what to any new system in the natural has been offered on both sides of or abstruse sciences. And the this question; and in view of our same means may and ought to be introductory remarks; I think, we employed in the one case as in the may now safely repeat the conclu- other. And as the former is of insion, both have claims: God ap- finitely greater importance in relaproves of evangelic labours in both. tion to the present and eternal welNo Christian, I am sure, can read fare of mankind, than the latter, so the origin of the first Baptist En- ought the effort to discriminate it, glish Mission to India; or of the to be prosecuted with much greater American Burman Mission; or of zeal and industry. Every means many others; and then candidly go which can be fairly applied to this through with the pages of their object, ought to be used, and the subsequent history; without seeing whole soul and energy of the human manifestly displayed, the approving, character put in requisition for this directing, and over-ruling provi- purpose. Societies for the dissemdence of God. It is plain, that ination of the Scriptures and reliGod calls many of his ministers to gious tracts, corresponding with labour in their own country-that them, and for sending abroad Misthere are in this, and in other chris- sionaries for this purpose, ought to tian lands, many inviting fields, be extensively formed and encourwhite already to the harvest. And aged,and individual bounty ought to it is equally plain, that he calls || flow largely into this channel of be 1 nevolence. Public attention ought, in every possible way, to be called to this subject, and the interest of individuals strongly excited in its behalf. It is time that mankind should be made to know and feel that religion is the great concern of the human soul, and that every thing else is comparatively insignificant and useless; that upon this not only their present welfare, but their future destiny, hangs suspended. This life is intended, merely, as a preparation for another and an eternal one, and it is quite time that this truth was felt in all its powerful reality, and had all the influence which it so pre-eminently deserves." PERSECUTION OF REV. MR. BIRD. and laymen, rulers, and subjects universally, to wit: That we have knowledge of the infernal hardihood, to which the unhappy, wretched Latoof El Ashi and his sons have arrived, in having dared to associate themselves with that deceived man, and deceiver of men, Bird, the Bible-man. They aid him in his object, and have brought him to Ehden against the severe prohibitions which we had before issued, threatening every one who opposed our orders with immediate excommunication. We, therefore, make known to all, that those sons of wickedness, Latoof El Ashi, and his sons, together with all the rest of his family, both male and female, except domestics, have fallen under the heavier excommunication; and now we, by the word of the Lord which is almighty, confirm upon them this excommunication. They are, therefore, accurs It will be seen by the following letter of denunciation, that the Patriarch of Antioch is furiously enraged against Mr. Bird, Mission-ed, cut off from all Christian comary at Beyroot, for circulating the munion; and let the curse envelop Scriptures and teaching the people them as a robe, and spread through the way of the Lord, within the all their members like oil, and sphere of his influence. And im- break them in pieces like a potter's vessel, and wither them like the fig potent as we might in this country deem his unchristian excommuni- tree cursed by the mouth of the cation, of persons friendly to the Lord himself; and let the evil angel Mission, yet in the region over rule over them, to torment them which his ecclesiastical function ex- day and night, asleep and awake, tends, it conveys terror and alarm. and in whatever circumstances they So long have the Scriptures been may be found. We permit no one withheld from the people, and the to visit them, or employ them, or privilege denied them of examin- do them a favour, or give them a ing the subject of religion for them- salutation, or converse with them selves, that they are now the veriest in any form; but let them be avoiddupes of superstition, and deserve ed as a putrid member, and as helour commiseration no less than the lish dragons. Beware, yea, beware of the wrath of God. heathen. Mr. Bird has been obliged by threatenings of personal violence to leave his station, and has arrived at Malta. We hope that a more favourable influence will soon justify his return. And with regard to Bird, and all his children, and all his family, we in like manner grant no permission to any one to receive them: but on the contrary, we, by the word of the Lord, of almighty authority, re"Proclamation to all our chil-quire and command all, in the firmdren, the people of the villages of Ehden and Zgarta, and to all our children, the inhabitants of the district of Gibbet, Besharry, clergy est manner, that not one visit them, nor do them any sort of service, or furnish them any sort of assistance whatever, to protract their stay in The advantages of the press in Burmah, under full operation, will be immense. And where the voice of the missionary cannot be heard, or where it is silent in death, the press will speak forth the truth. Should the press be well support these parts or any other. Let no one receive them into his house, or into any place, whatever, that belongs to him, but let all avoid them, in every way, in all things temporal as well as spiritual. And whoever, in his stubbornness, shall dare to act in opposition to this our ordered, these silent messengers of truth with regard to Bird, and his children, and his whole family, shall fall, ipso facto, under the great excommunication, whose absolution is reserved to ourself alone, in the same manner as has happened to the miserable Latoof El Ashi, and his sons from which may the Lord preserve you all, and the blessing be upon the obedient. The ignoble JOSEPH PETER, Patriarch of Antioch, and all the East." Aug. 4, 1827, TRACTS FOR BURMAH. In distributing moral and religious instruction, tracts are certainly the most cheap, available, and sure means ever devised. Infidels, as well as christians, have allowed their utility, and both have made them the engines of their zeal. This fact then being admitted, let us for a moment look at the results which might be expected, should the Burman Empire be furnished with Scriptural, Evangelical, and Historical Tracts. It is hardly necessary to advert to the fact, that the Burmans are generally, a reading, inquisitive people; yet this in reality is the foundation of our hopes, so far as tracts are concerned. We may easily conjecture the surprise with which such a people would view their whole country filled with a set of neatly printed books, on subjects of the highest interest to them; and that too, wholly novel in their nature. Suppose such were our own case; every man, woman, and child, would be anxious to get one of the little books. The same would be true of them. would find their way into hundreds and thousands of families, where, for years to come, no missionary would be likely to enter. We will compare the aggregate amount of preaching of four missionaries, with the amount of reading furnished by one press. Suppose that four preachers address each day of the year, ten different hearers; the total amount will be about 15,000 persons. Suppose the press to furnish (as it may do,) 50,000 copies of Tracts per year, and that each of these tracts is read by only two individuals; we have a total of 100,000, who read those truths which can make them wise unto salvation. But another motive for furnishing Tracts to the Burman population, is, that they are an efficient auxiliary to the missionary, who can leave them at the houses, distribute them on public occasions, and give them to those who call to inquire of this new doctrine. Reading also promotes inquiry, so that often from perusing a tract they will be led to seek for "the Teacher." And here we might stop; for who can calculate on the mighty effect, when a reading community, who have been confined to a few bundles of palm leaves, are supplied with a variety of works; on all the elementary parts of knowledge, On this subject, I rejoice to notice a simultaneous effort in different parts of the United States. In Maine, Pennsylvania, and Georgia, Societies have recently been formed, to enable the new press that is soon to go out, to engage in the process of Tract-printing on a liberal scale. It will require from $2 to 3,000 per annum, to support the press; and it is most ardently hoped, that sufficient encouragement will be given to the Foreign Board, for the prosecution of this laudable enterprise. We would suggest to all Tract Societies, who have disposeable funds, to look across the ocean and see 18,000 people waiting for Tracts. A FRIEND TO BURMAH. REVIEW. Lectures on Infant Baptism. By || LEONARD WOODS, D. D. Abbot Professor of Christian Theology in the Theological Seminary, Andover. Mark Newman. Flagg & Gould, Printers. 1828. pp. 174 12mo. Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Lybia about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians-all these, with one accord in one place; and we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God." And THE remark is frequently made, notwithstanding their necessary di"that mankind cannot all think a-versities in character and sentilike, any more than they can'all look ments, from natural causes, the alike." And on many subjects this preaching of "Christ crucified" is doubtless true. It is true on all made them ONE. Many gladly re. subjects to a certain extent. Such ceived the word and were baptized; is the nature of the human mind, the same day there were added unthat custom, that habit, and the to them about three thousand souls prejudices of education, blind the-they continued steadfastly in the eyes and sway the judgment of every one more or less. At the same time on RELIGION on its great principles-on every thing that is necessary to salvation, and to membership and communion in the Christian church; all, we believe, are bound to be of the same mind. Christ prays for this: "That they all may be one, I pray for them. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are: Sanctify them through thy truth thy word is truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." And union is the effect, the natural and legitimate effect, of experiencing his religion. It was the effect which the day of Pentecost showed in a very wonderful manner. Here we behold "Parthians and Medes, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And all that believed were together, and had all things common, and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart." Divisions and contentions among Christians are the tares of || the adversary. They are not authorized in the word of God. They do not arise from a careful and prayerful examination of it for the truth in the spirit of little children. If they were authorized in the word of God, we should not find the Saviour praying that they might not exist: we should not find the exhortations with which the Scriptures abound for unanimity. "Now I beseech you, brethren," says the Apostle to the Corinthians, " by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; || peace to them that make peace. but that ye be perfectly joined to- From whence come wars and fightgether in the same mind and ings among you? Come they not in the same judgment." What! hence, even of your lusts that war in perfectly joined together in the your members?"-Yes, here is the of depravity-even your lusts that war in your members. The adversary of our souls, however, would persuade us, if he could, that there is some defect in the volume of inspiration; that it is a dark and difficult book to understand; and hence, it is necessary that we embrace different sentiments; that it cannot be expected that all Christians should see alike; and therefore they are justifiable in dividing into different sects-of hating and anathematizing one another. But believe him not. Christ our Lord, and Paul, and James, have decided the point. All divisions among Christians are wrong. They should be perfectly joined together, in the same mind and in the same judgment. walls sects. same mind and in the same judg-cause-a carnal mind-the remains ment? Paul must have regarded the terms of Christian union as very simple and very plain! Yes, and he not only beseeches them in this language; but proceeds in the very next verse, to blame them for not being united. "For it hath been declared unto me of you, my breth- || ren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you but Crispus and Gaius, lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name." No; divisions are not authorized in the word of God. They do not originate in that heavenly principle of " charity, which believeth all things; which beareth all things, endureth all things, which rejoiceth not in iniquity; but rejoiceth in the truth." The Apostle very satisfactorily accounts for them from another cause, and on another principle. "For ye are yet carnal; for whereas there is among you, envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos, are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the inAnd to this also agrees the testimony of James. "But the wisdom that is from above, is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in Nov. 1828. crease." There should be no middle of partition-no different And they who have caused these divisions, and put up unscriptural bars to christian fellowship, and who continue to perpetuate them, ought to be known, and marked. "Mark them who cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine ye have learned, and avoid them." On these data, suggested by reading the work whose title page heads this article, we now proceed briefly to notice it. We do not propose giving any thing like an analysis of the work; but to present so much of it as we can, by way of extract. The first Lecture commences thus : "The doctrine of Infant Baptism has been the subject of long-continued controversy in the Christian world, and has given rise to more contention and asperity among the followers of Christ, than almost any other subject. It has been the occasion of separating into different communions, those who have been united in their belief on all other subjects, and animated by the same spirit of love to Christ and his cause." 41 |