REVIEW. Sermons to mariners, by Abiel Abbot, A. M. Pastor of the first church in Beverly. Boston, published by S. T. Armstrong, Cornhill. Ir must afford delight to real christians of every sect, to see the efforts which are made in the present age, both in Great Britain and this country, to ex tend the means and the blessings of religion to every class of people. Among the various classes in this country, there is perhaps no one which has higher claims on the sympathy, the prayers, and the concern of a religious community, than that of mariners. No souls are more precious than those of seafaring men; and none perhaps whose everlasting welfare has been more neglected, both by themselves and others. It is not our intention to fill many pages of the Christian Disciple with reviews of books which may be published in this country; but when a work appears of a character so unexceptionable and benevolent, as the one now before us, we shall not deny ourselves the pleasure of attempting to aid a kind design, by recommending the work to the notice of others. The volume contains fourteen sermons, and an equal number of forms of prayer for the use of seamen. The titles of the sermons and the texts are the following: "The works and wonders of God in the deep, observed and improved," Psalms evii. 23, 24. Fleshly lusts defined, and shown to be inexcusable." 1 Peter, ii. 11. "An affection. "The incomparable treasure." Matthew xvi. 26. "The care of the soul the supreme eral resurrection and final retriconcern." Same text. "The genbution." John v. 28, 29. In the preface we are informed, that the sermons were chiefly "addressed by the author to the seamen of his own parish, in annual discourses, on the first sabbath in March, according to the immemorial custom of the place." This custom we cannot but approve. It naturally brings together at the place of worship, many persons who would not attend on ordinary occasions; and when a large number of a parish are about to leave their families, to expose themselves to the perils of the ocean, an affectionate pastor may avail himself of the circumstances, and make favorable impressions on all who are present. And discourses delivered under such affecting circumstances, if printed, will be likely to be read with interest and advantage. Those now before us, we think, may be read with profit, not only by mariners, but by every class of people. They appear to be free from that acrimony, bitterness, and party spirit, which disgraces too many of the sermons of the present age. While mariners are faithfully admonished of the vices and dangers to which they are exposed, virtue and religion are fervently recommended, and the tenderness, sympathy, and concern of the christian pastor are happily exemplified. Should captains and masters of vessels become more generally disposed to spend the sabbath in the exercises of religion, this volume will be of great use on such occasions, as well as for more private reading. As a specimen of the author's style, we may quote a paragraph from the sermon on "the guilt of profane cursing and swearing." "This impious practice tends to seduce the swearer into general vice and irreligion. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom; the man therefore, who is disengaged from this fear, is without the grand principle of religion; and has no considerable restraint left on his lusts and passions. Now it is difficult to think of any thing more adapted to extinguish that fear of God, than the habit of irreverently using his name. The man whom you can insult to his face, you cease to fear. The same remark is just in regard to God. From whatever causes or accidents it has grown, when once you have the habit of insulting your Maker, and of prostituting "with unhallowed breath" his dread name on vile occasions, it is not the fear of God which any longer restrains you from the worst vices and the most dreadful deeds." We were much gratified with the forms of prayer for the use of seamen. It is our most fervent wish, that forms of prayer may be multiplied in our land; and that a greater number may be published, adapted to family worship, and the use of schools. It is believed to be a matter for just and deep regret, that such strong prejudices exist in society against the use of forms. How many, who now wholly neglect family worship, would gladly and regularly perform the duty, had they suitable forms, and were they free from the influence of unreasonable prejudices against the use of them! We do not recommend the use of forms to those who need them not; but we sincerely wish, that every minister aud every christian would use his influence to encourage those to make use of forms, who are deficient in gifts or in confidence for extempore prayer. How many children grow up from infancy to adult age without even hearing the name of God used in prayer by their parents; and without knowing that their parents consider prayer as a duty for any but ministers of the gospel! What favorable impressions would probably be made on the minds of children by daily hearing or reading suitable forms of prayer! We devoutly and fervently hope, that in addition to all that has been done for promoting christian knowledge, a serious and well conducted effort will be made to revive family religion; by circulating books adapted to that purpose, and by exertions to eradicate all the unhappy pre possessions against the use of forms. Let the subject be taken up in the various associations of ministers, and the societies formed. for the advancement of religion, and let it be pursued with an ardor proportionate to its importance, and will not something be done, in view of which the whole family in heaven and earth will rejoice? RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. THE CONVERSION OF LEARNED JEWS, &c. ALL remarkable events relating to 1 the Jews must be interesting to the christian world. While we cordially pray for their conversion to the christian faith, it must be comforting to find evidence, that God hath not wholly cast away his people. The following accounts were extracted and abridged from "The History of the Jews," by Miss Hannah Adams. By this work the writer has secured the esteem of many of her fellow christians. It cannot fail to interest every benevolent reader. of Frankfort, where he published, in 1706, a treatise on the sufferings of Christ. Poland has long been the principal seat of literary Jews, and the place where they have been accustomed to send their children to study the Talmud and rites of their religion: In 1658 a Jew of Poland, named John Solomon, professed the christian faith, and wrote thirty seven demonstrations to prove that the Messiah was come, and was a divine person, distinct from God the Father. Several learned Jews in Poland and Germany have at different periods been converted to christianity. Mordecai-Ben-Moses, a native of Germany, had distinguished himself by his zeal in writing against the New Testament. But after diligently studying, and carefully comparing it with the Old, he became sensible of his error, renounced Judaism, and in 1701 was baptized. After his conversion he published several valuable works. Aaron Morgalitha, a learned Rabbi in Poland, embraced the christian religion and was baptized. He was afterwards appointed professor of Jewish Antiquities in the University J. C. Heilbronner of Cracow in Poland was baptized in 1709. He wrote a treatise on the 53d of Isaiah, and declared in the preface to the work, that this chapter was the principal means of inducing him to embrace the christian religion. E. M. Borg was also convinced of the truth of christianity by reading the same chapter. In 1722 he published an extraordinary work with this title="The christian doctrine built upon Moses and the Prophets." Another learned Jew, named Christian Meir, was baptized at Breme. About the year 1762 Solomon Duitch, a learned Rabbi, and teacher of several synagogues in Germany, renounced Judaism. During seven years his mind had been perplexed with doubts respecting religion; but at length the difficulties which had embarrassed him were removed. He published a narrative of his conversion, and became a zealous preacher of the gospel. He lived and died in Holland. In 1797, J. J. Heydeck, a learned Jewish convert in Spain, published a defence of the christian religion. Mr. Lapidoth, a respectable Jew in Holland, in early life entertained doubts respecting the Jewish religion; and having secretly procured a NewTestament, and continued his re searches, after various perplexities, he and his wife and his adult children became firmly convinced of the truth of the christian religion. Joseph S. C. F. Fey, was born in 1771 in Franconia. His father placed him under the care of a tutor, by whom he was carefully instructed in the law and Talmud, and inspired with prejudice and hatred against christianity Having finished the studies which qualified him for a religious teacher, he received several honorary degrees. At the age of twenty one, he resolved to travel. In the course of his travels he became disgusted with the fraudulent conduct of one of his Hebrew brethren, and formed an acquaintance with a christian, whose conversation and kind behaviour induced him to examine the evidences of the christian religion. In consequence of his inquiries he was convinced, that Jesus of Nazareth was the true Mes. siah; and in 1798 was publicly baptized in Germany, and received as a member of the christian church. Having attended to the requisite studies, he was appointed as a missionary to Africa. In 1801 he arrived in England, and was detained five months. During this time, he attended to the study of the English language; he went frequently to the synagogues and to the parts of the metropolis where the Jews reside, to converse with them. These interviews increased his desire for the conversion of his brethren, and he wished to remain in England, that he might preach to them. He stated his desire to the Directors of the Missionary Society, and obtained leave to tarry at least one year. In May 1802 he preached his first sermon to the Jews in Zion Chapel, from Gen. xiii. 8. The place, although very large, was crowded, and many Jews attended. In July he be gan a weekly lecture to the Jews. At first many attended, but this was soon prohibited. Some however continued to be attentive hearers, and three of the nation were publicly baptized in London 1806. In 1809 Mr. Frey joined a society, formed in London for the exclusive purpose of converting the Jews. A large building was procured, where he preaches a lecture every sunday evening, and two others in the course of the week. From two to five hundred Jews attend, among whom are a number who profess a conviction of the truth of christianity. The London society have established a charity school for Jewish children; and a free school which is not confined to the Jews, though with a principal regard to the benefit of that nation. From three to four hundred children have been regularly educated at this school, One of the principal Jews in the kingdom has lately been baptized, and made vice president of the society. A Rabbi also, who is a native of Jerusalem and acknowledged by the learn ed as a prodigy in literature, has embraced the christian religion, and is receiving instruction, in hope of his preaching the gospel to his Hebrew brethren in his native country. When men of such eminence among the Jews are converted, the prospects are truly flattering, that many others will be influenced by their examples and instructions. The present Jewish population in the world is estimated at three millions; one million in the Turkish empire; three hundred thousand in Persia, China, India, and Tartary-and one million seven hundred thousand in the rest of Europe, Africa, and America. Considering the dispersions and sufferings of the Jews, their preservation as a distinct people is an event, which has no parallel in history. These extracts will be concluded by introducing a passage from M. Michael Berr's appeal to the justice of kings and nations. The writer is a modern Jew. His appeal was published at Stratsburg in 1801. The passage to be quoted relates to the miraculous preservation of the Jews: his language is animated and impressive. When the above article was prepared for the Christian Disciple, it was not known that an individual youth had renounced the christian religion, under the influence of Jewish objections and arguments. It is possible that among these Rabbies, there were some who had examined the subject in question with as much learning, patience "rightness, and strength of mind, as the "Braving all kinds of torments, the pangs of death, the still more terrible pangs of life, we alone have withstood the impetuous torrent of time, sweeping indiscriminately in its course nations, religions, and countries. What is become of those celebrated empires, whose very name still excites our admiration by the ideas of splendid greatness attached to them, and whose power embraced the whole surface of the globe? They are only remem. bered as monuments of the vanity of human greatness. Rome and Greece are no more; their descendants, mixed with other nations, have lost even the traces of their origin; while a population of a few millions of men, so often subjugated, stands the test of thirty revolving centuries, and the fiery ordeal of fifteen centuries of persecution. We still preserve laws which were given to us in the first days of the world, in the infancy of nature. The last followers of a religion which had embraced the universe, have disappeared these fifteen centuries, and our temples are still standing. We alone have been spared by the indiscriminating hand of time, like a column left standing amidst the wreck of worlds, and the ruins of nature. The history of this people connects present times with the first ages of the world, by the testimony it beats of the existence of those early periods. It begins at the cradle of mankind, and its remnants are likely to be preserved to the very day of universal destruction." BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY. THE ninth annual meeting of this society took place May 5th, 1813. A more interesting scene has perhaps seldom been witnessed in the religious world, since the memorable day of penticost. Lord Teignmouth, who was formerly Governor General of Bengal, was called to the chair; on each side of him sat a duke of the royal family, who took an active part, and appeared deeply interested in the object of the institution. The report of the committee contained an account of the mission of Mr. Steinkoff to the continent, and of the formation of 73 societies since the last annual meeting. The duke of Kent expressed his decided approbation of the principle, which had been adopted, of distribut ing the Bible without note or comment, and said, "without this fundamental principle, he should not have joined the society; and that the good understanding it promoted, and the union which it formed of churchmen, catholics, dissenters, and baptists, gave him the highest pleasure and satisfaction." The duke of Sussex, another son of the king, fully agreed with his royal brother. He said "they had indeed entered upon a noble warfare, they had pursued the most godlike career; it consisted in the proposals of peace and good will to every man, whether enemy or friend. Often, he said, he felt the duty as well as the inclination, to unite in the cause of benevolence; but now he felt young man who has endeavoured to remove the only satisfactory ground of hope to the penitent sinner. If, then, we set aside, as of no account, all the learning, the talents, and the integrity of the many millions of believers who have been educated under the iufluence of christianity, we may place the whole number of converted Rabbies in one scale, and the adventurous youth in the other. This being done, we shall refer it to common christians to deter mine for themselves, in which scale there is the greatest weight of probability. That these learned Jews began to examine the subject with strong attachments to the Jewish religion, and strong prejudices against christianity can hardly be doubted. Whether the attachments of the young man to christianity, and his aversion to infidelity had been equally strong, is a serious question. If they had not, this difference naturally falls into the scale in favor of the Rabbies. |