But

fents the authorized and faithful verfion of the Bible in this country, as defignedly corrupted, and converted into the poifon of death? Nor have the authors of this abfurd libel, (unless they are fools,) the excufe or comfort of believing one fen. tence of its contents. They perfectly know that it is falfe throughout. they know, at the fame time, that they will obtain full credit for every part of it, from the great mafs of their people; and that will answer their purpose. But where, meantime, was their prudence, in avowing fuch fentiments to the world, as cannot fail to stamp upon their character an indelible mark of infamy?

DEATH OF DR. VANDERKEMP.

IN common with the religious world, we sincerely lament the death of the late pious, venerable, and useful Missionary, Dr. Vanderkemp. For the following particulars of him, we are indebted to the Evangelical Magazine.

"He had been for some months at the Cape, engaged in affairs of a very important nature; and had in serious contemplation the commencement of a mission in the island of Madagascar; but the great Head of the Church was pleased to accept the will for the deed, and to release his worn-out servant from further and more laborious enter. prizes, by calling him up to his rest and reward on Lord's-day, Dec. 15, between eleven and twelve o'clock in the morning.

"He had very lately despatched for their stations in the interior, four of the Missionary

SPRING.

brethren, and was engaged in settling other gulation of all the African Missions, when affairs of no small moment, for the future reon Saturday morning, Dec. 7, he was taken ill. He had expounded with much liberty of mind, the first chapter of the first book of Kings; after which he said to that venerable mother in Israel, Mrs. Smith, My dear mother Smith, I am very weak, and wish for an opportunity to settle my own affairs; but, alas! this opportunity was not afforded, for he was seized with a shivering, succeeded by a fever, which obliged him to take to his bed, from which he never rose. He took some proper medicines; but they failed of procuring relief He became worse and worse; so that his afflicted friends could not but forebode the painful result. This was rendered more distressing on account of the violence of his disorder, by which his powers were so oppressed, that he was scarcely able to answer a question. About two days hefore his death, Mrs. Smith said to him, My dear friend, what is the state of your mind ♪ to which, with a sweet smile on his counte nance, he replied,' ALL IS WELL." She again said, Is it light or dark with you?' He answered, LIGHT.' Two pious soldiers also called upon him on the 14th, one of whom prayed with him; after which, he spoke a few words to them. He continued sensible to the last, but was unable to speak more. At length, on the eighth day of his sickness, he calmly expired; and, no doubt, his spirit received the welcome and plaudits af that glorious Redeemer, to whose cause he had faithfully devoted, with uncommon assiduity, the last thirteen years of his life. His age was about 64.

"A Memoir of his Life, compiled, by direction of the Missionary Society, (with his portrait,) is just published."

Mr. Editor, SIR, if glowing virtuous fentiments, clothed in a chafte, nervous ftyle, be allowed to confitute legitimate POESY, I prefume, the prefent Article, from the pen of Mr. Wory, will ftand high in the judgment of all who love to cultivate acquaintance with beauteous Nature, through the mediam of the noble and elegant productions of towering GENIUS. W.S. "AGAIN, the bloffom'd hedge is feen, The turf, again, is drefs'd in smiling green; Again, the Lark afcends the sky, Winnows the air, and leffens on the eye. The Swallow, that the meads forfook, Revifits now, and fkims along the brook, The Daw to fteeple-top up-fprings, And the Rook fpreads his ventilating wings. The feather'd tribe, on ev'ry fpray, Chant lively carols to the vernal day.

3

Each length'ning morn's diurnal light
Beams fresher beauties on the raptur'd fight.
The leaves hang cluft'ring on the trees,
And HEALTH Comes riding on the tepid breeze.
Where'er the goddess fans her way,
Creation feels her univerfal fway.
The garden, moift with APRIL fhow'rs,
Teems with a family of laughing flow'rs.
Not e'en a ray, or drop of rain,
But what impregnates, or that fhines in vain.
Yet tho' the bounteous Hand of Heav'n,
All-good, this liberality has giv❜n,
Beyond our wishes amply kind,
INGRATITUDE ftill ftains the human mind.
Man fees around, celeftial pow'r,
And, thanklefs, taftes the bleffings of each
hour.

He reaps the produce of the plains,
And meanly thinks it tribute for his pains.
Fond Wretch! the fordid thought forbear,
Nor to thy narrow felf confine thy care;
For know, the DEITY, who gives to-day,
To-night, may blaft thy crops, and snatch thy
foul away."

STERN Winter long hath held his reign, With ftorm and tempeft in his train; His breath congeal'd the flowing rills, And clad with fnow the distant hills; All nature own'd his fov'reign sway, And devastation mark'd his way; Creation feem'd to mourn her doom, Throughout was spread a folemn gloom. But now, how chang'd the scene appears, How rich the robe that nature wears; Now Spring, with her all-quick'ning breath, Reftores the world from Winter's death. The ftorms are hufh'd: the fnows are o'er, The chilling blafts are felt no more, And all is mild, ferene, and gay, Fann'd by the breath of rofy May. The elements no more at ftrife, Creation feels renewed life. The leaves the ftately trees adorn, The May-buds bloffom on the thorn; The beauteous flow'rs their tints difplay, And mufic vibrates from each spray. Hark! how the blackbird and the thrush, Their fongs renew on yonder bush; Harmonious ftrains employ their throats, Aloud they chant their tuneful notes. And while they charm us with delight, Sweet Philomel beguiles the night; And through the ftill and filent fhade, Her notes refound along the glade. See how the lambs their gambols play, And skip and frolic through the day; While fucking colts delighted prance, And love to mingle in the dance. Such harmony pervades the earth, As when Creation rose in birth; Celestial choirs their harps employ, And angels fing aloud for joy.

Thus flow'rs, and herbs, and creatures join, To guide my thoughts in flowing rhime, To aid my fancy, while I fing, And hail the all-reftoring Spring.

And fhall I here my numbers end,
Nor introduce the finner's Friend?
Nay, let my hand its work forego,
My tongue be doom'd to filence too;
If I forget His name to fing,

Who form'd the earth, who gave the Spring;
Whose bounty hath Creation ftor'd,
And ftill upholds it by his word:
The fun is guided by His hand,

The feafons move at His command:

'Tis He who fends the fertile fhow'rs,
And bleffings on His creatures pours:
He gives the flow'rs their various hues,
And them revives with filent dews:
He tunes the warblers notes to fing,
The praise of their exalted King.

O may my heart be tun'd by grace,
To join the gen'ral fong of praife.
May He who makes the seasons roll,
Arife' with healing' on my foul:
Refresh my mind, difperfe the gloom,
"Come, O my Jefus, quickly come."
So fhall I live, thy praise to show,
In faith and holinefs to grow;
Till I am rais'd above to fing,

Thy grace, which makes an ENDLESS SPRING.
T. D.

TO THE EDITOR.

SIR, the inclosed lines, taken out of the Gentleman's Magazine, were compofed by the late Rev. THOMAS ALLEN, Rector of Spernall, Warwickshire, on the fingers of a neighbour ing parish, that came to his church to fing Anthems. Dated Dec. 16, 1808.

A. C. "In pious times men to the temple went To join in prayer to God, and to repent; To give, for bounteous bleffings had in flore, Their grateful thanks, and humbly ask fot

more,

With awful reverence and attention bear
God's holy word, and hearing, learn to fear.
Then old Amen, with cheerful heart & voice
Rear'd up a well-known Pfalm, of prope
choice;

Line after line, full loudly did rehearse,
That all might hear and understand the verse
In folemn wife, the congregation follow,
Not with a whoop begin, nor end with bollew;
No Anthemites their voices wildly raise,
Like Christmas carols, in alternate lays.
God's fervice should be decent, grave, devout
Unmix'd with pomp, and undefil'd with Bout
No noify riot, fhould disturb the mind,
But all our thoughts be calm and unconfin'
The learned wife, fhould teach the growin
youth

To worship God, in Spirit and in truth.
Parents to children thould example give,
Not teach them how to fing, but how to list
To learn new tunes is not the Chriftian's ftrik
But who fhall learn a new and virtuous life«
Now finging tribes to distant churches roam,
Not fatisfied with roaring loud at home;
Jehovah's Sabbath is a day of reft.
Such ftrolling devotees fhould be fupprefs'd

Confider this, ye vain conceited elves,
Sing to praife God, and not to please you
felves."