ers, active, unwearied, subtle, lurking in the very centre of our hearts. Who does not know the power of the affections and passions over the understanding?These, if unrestrained, insinuate themselves into all the operations of our minds, give a color to all the objects of thought, impart to error a thousand attractions, and strew with flowers the path to destruction. The influence of the passions and inclinations in darkening and seducing the understanding, is easily explained. Every man knows that he has power, to direct attention to what objects he pleases; and that by confining his attention to certain views or certain evidences, he can give them a disproportioned weight and im portance, and can thus bring himself to believe whatever they support. Now the passions continually impel us to this partial and dishonest exercise of the understanding; they open wide our ears to whatever can be urged in support of opinions, by which they are flattered and indulged, and turn away attention from those by which they are oppos ed. Let it now be remembered, that we all have irregular passions. This cause of error is operative in every breast. The holiest man has not completely triumphed over himself. His passions indeed are not permitted to break out into open acts, but their influence on the judgment is so si lent, so subtle, that without suspecting it, he is often blinded by their power. Let me ask my readers to look round on the world, and a slight observation will show them the extensive influence of the passions and the temper on the opin ions of all ranks of society. Here you see a man of a timid and gloomy character. His mind is peculiarly open to anticipa tions of evil, to impressions of fear. Observe how his character has infused itself into his opinions. Observe how he dwells on the most depressing views of religion, until they seem to constitute almost the whole of chris tianity. To him this system of mercy presents only a countenance of frowns, and menace, and terror. You see him sinking under the most degrading superstitions, adopting the most unfounded and unworthy views of God, and yet afraid to question, even for a moment, the truth of his unhappy errors. There you see a man of an opposite character. He is cheerful and gay; nothing sad can dwell long on his mind. Observe here the tinge which temper gives to opinion. To this man, christianity speaks only the language of promise. Its threatenings are unheard. seems to him a message of almost unconditional mercy. Nothing is left in the gospel to strike a salutary terror into the impenitent, or to compose the thoughtless into serious consideration. Here you see a man bold, fearless, enterprising, fond of singularity, fond of discovery, unwilling to be confounded with the crowd. How exactly do his opinions accord with his character? You see him despising what is commonly received, catching at every nov It elty of sentiment, starting objections to established truth, hazarding conjectures, which were never heard before, and delighting to throw out opinions, which he knows will appal more ordinary minds. He cares not how extravagant may be his system, if it only be new and the work of his own hands. There you see a man of a servile habit of mind, given to imitation, and unwilling ever to walk alone. Here too the temper gives its complexion to the judgment. This pliant man takes the hue of his neighbours. To him, the popular religion is divine. He sees the marks of truth in whatever is applauded by numbers. He despises what is generally decried, and abhors, from his very soul, what all around him agree to denounce as danmable heresy. Here you see a man stoutly defending opinions, the absurdity of which stares you immediately in the face. Why, you ask, this blindness of mind? The man has only one defect, and that is obstinacy. He believes these opinions, simply because he happened, at some former period, to espouse and defend them. To resign them now, would be to submit to an opponent. He can bear any thing but defeat, and therefore shelters himself from conviction under sophistry, which in any other person he would in a moment detect and despise.-Yonder is another, whose opinions shock you by their folly. You are ready to ask-has he lost his senses?-No. He has a passion for theories. He loves to build systems. Unhappily he has chosen for the corner stone of his edifice a principle, which is only true within certain limits, and under certain modifications. But this principle he adopts in the widest sense, and nothing is to be admitted, which will not square with this. Common sense he renounces; the plainest passages of scripture he distorts; your best feelings he shocks; and yet the man is sincere-he only wants to raise a consistent system.--Another you may see, who is almost mad in defence of the wildest notions. What has seduced him? He has happened to connect himself with a sect or party, by which these notions are espoused. The adherents of this sect are his constant associates. They continually pour their feelings into his breast; and now the spirit of party has absorbed him. The support of his party and the glory of God are completely identified in his mind, and he thinks that the best service he can render his Creator is, to raise the loudest clamor in support of his sect, and to heap denunciations on those, who choose to follow a surer and safer guide.-Yonder you see a man whose opinions are governed by his interest. His credit in society, his standing in the church, and perhaps his support depend on his adherence to the popular system. He means to be sincere; he hopes that he is honest; but the dreaded forms of want and contempt, stand at the entrance of the path of truth; he trembles to inquire; and employs his understanding in fortifying himself in opinions, which it is so profitable to believe-Here you see a man enslaved by the prejudice of education. His opin ions are connected with his early attachments; they have grown into him by habit; to renounce them would be like forsaking the friends of former years. The change from error to truth would require too strenuous an effort; and thus he grows old in the chains, which were rivetted on him in his cradle. I will only direct you to two other varieties of character.-Here is a man of a cold and phlegmatic temper, and his temper freezes his religion. No doctrine is admitted, which touches the heart. Have enthusiasts abused any sentiment? He wants no other proof of its falsehood; and thus the noblest and the most affecting principles of our faith are rejected with contempt.-Look once more, and observe that man, whose eye kindles as he speaks of religion. He is made up of ardent feeling, of creative fancy-and observe how his opinions receive their shape from his character. Sim ple doctrines and plain precepts do not satisfy him. He must have mysteries; he must have transports. To be rational is to be tame and undevout, and he gives up reason for the dream of enthusiasm. This subject is indeed endless. It might be shown that every pas sion, as far as it is indulged, gives a tinge to the judgment— that the proud man is disposed to reject those doctrines, which call him to be humble-that the avaricious man is prepared to interpret very loosely those precepts, which enjoin liberality— that every sinner wishes to escape the truth, by which he is condemned. But enough, and more than enough has been said, to show the truly astonishing power of the temper and affections over the understandingand now can any man hope, that he is so privileged, as to escape the operation of this most fruitful cause of error, that he is singled out from his whole race and is never blinded by his feelings? Let the impression, which this whole discussion is designed to form, be fixed in our minds, that we are very ignorant and very fallible beings. This impression is the foundation, and may indeed be called the essence of that humility, which we ought to carry into religious investigation. The writer regrets, that he is obliged to defer his coucluding observations on the marks, expressions, and effects of this temper to the next number. (To be continued.) ed and distributed, as perhaps could reasonably have been expected. But it is scarcely possible that circumstances should have been more unfavorable than they have been, to the establishment of a religious service in our vessels. We trust, however, that brighter and happier days await us. In this anticipation, and with unfailing reliance on Him, to whose glory we consecrate our exertions, we shall steadily pursue these great objects, confident that God will finally crown them with his blessing. 1. "True friendship, distinguished from that which is false, in a short narrative of the life of Jack Saunders." 2. "A sailor's tribute of gratitude to two virtuous women." 3. "The first twenty years of the life of a foundling." 4. "The adventures of a Bible, in three parts." The society most earnestly solicit the cooperation of merchants;-of the friends of seamen;-of all masters of vessels;—and of all who are interested in the advancement of christian piety and virtue. The tracts already published are THE Executive Committee of the Boston Society, for the religious and moral improvement of seamen, respectfully report, that they have attended to the duties which were assigned to them by the Society, and, as far as they were able, have endeavoured to accomplish the objects of their appointment. They beg leave to remark, that the Society was instituted at a time, very unfavorable to its extensive operation. But great as were then the embarrassments of our commerce, new and still greater obstacles were soon opposed to our design. The number of sailors in employ, since the declaration of war, has been comparatively small; and, from the same cause, we have been able to obtain but little aid, where we most expected it, and where it would have been most effectual, from the masters of our vessels. But difficulties were anticipated, and they have not discouraged us; and having looked to God for His blessing on our enterprize, we have been supported by the confidence, that He would not behold it with less approbation, because it was commenced, and has been prosecuted under so many disadvantages. Your committee have held stated meetings on the first Thursday of every other month; and early formed themselves into sub-committees, for the collection, publication, and distribution of tracts. Immediately after being organized, "An Address to Mas ters of vessels, on the objects of the Society," was prepared; and, after some time, was published, with our first tract. In December, two other tracts were published; and a fourth has just issued from the press. Of each of these tracts, we have published 2000 copies; and of the three first, many have been distributed, and very gratefully received. Our plan of distribution has been, to send a number of tracts to those members of the society, who, we supposed, had the best opportunities of getting them into the hands of sailors. Many have likewise been put into the office of a notary, where seamen have receiv ed them. They have also been put into slop-shops; and, by a public advertisement, sailors were invited to call & take them at Bradford & Read's bookstore, the appointed place of deposit. A considerable number has been sent to Marblehead, and to other places in the state, where it was thought that they would be useful; and a hundred to Newport, in Rhode Island. They have been well received in every in stance, in which we have any information concerning them. Your committee was authorized, by a vote of the Society, at its first meeting, to expend the receipts of the year. We have not therefore hesitated, notwithstanding the difficulty with which tracts are dispersed, in the present state of our seamen, to publish nearly as many as we should have done in better times; deeming it judicious to have them ready, should any favourable changes take place, for immediate and extensive circulation. We have great pleasure in report ing the dispositions with which our tracts have been received by our naval commanders, who have not only expressed a willingness to take them, but with great cordiality have welcomed our designs. About 300 were sent to Commodore Bainbridge, when he commanded the Constitution, and 200 to Captain Lawrence of the Hornet. Three hundred were sent to Captain Smith, of the Congress, and 300 to Commodore Rodgers, of the President, a short time only before their frigates left our harbor. The discipline of our ships of war will be favorable to any attempts which may be made, to improve the moral condition of our seamen; and while our navy has commanders like those, to whom its honor is now entrusted, we may look with great confidence to the production of much good, in this large and important part of the sphere of our exertions. Letters upon the objects of the Society, with enclosures of our three first tracts, have been sent to several gentlemen in the large towns upon the sea-board of our state, inviting them to form other independent, or auxiliary societies. To these letters we have yet received but one answer. The Rev. Mr. Bartlett of Marblehead has informed us of the establishment there of an auxiliary society, consisting of twenty-five members, and denominat ed "The Marblehead Auxiliary Society, for the religious and moral improvement of Seamen." His letter upon this subject, we subjoin to our report, convinced, as we are, that it will be heard with much interest. We have also heard from another of our sea-board towns, that our tracts have been received there by the sailors with great pleasure, and that there is reason to believe, that they are conducive to the purposes of the society. When our society was formed, it consisted of between 60 and 70 members. This number was then thought to be highly auspicious to our designs. But notwithstanding the checks which were almost immediately felt, in the increased embarrassments of commerce, our numbers have ever since been enlarging; and we have now 149 members, some of whom have extended their annual subscription above the sum required by the constitution. Great therefore as have been, and as are our difficulties, we have much to encourage us; and should it please God to restore the peace and commerce, of which, in His justice, he has been pleased to deprive us, it will be no small gratification to reflect, that, in a day of adversity, we have made this preparation for a right improvement of prosperity; and that we shall be enabled to express the gratitude which is due to Him, by extending to a large, and long neglected part of our fellow-citizens, the most inestimable of blessings, the means of religion, and virtue, and eternal happiness. * This letter was not published. GAMALIEL BRADFORD, Executive Committee of the Boston Society for >the Religious and Moral improvement of Sea men, NOTICE. THE important Report, relating to the Bible Society of Massachusetts, is necessarily excluded from this number for want of room. It shall appear in the next. Several valuable communications are in reserve for future numbers of this work, |