occasional exercise of the reasoning faculties ! He proceeds-"What God has written upon the minds and hearts of men, and what they are able to discover of his will and designs, by a proper use of the reason he has given them-the conclusions at which we arrive, upon contemplating the works and providence of God-this is natural religion. And these suggestions and impressions, this belief and hope, are warranted and confirmed by revelation."-p. 14. Having here, and in some subsequent remarks, fairly raised the god of his idolatry, human reason, to the rank which he originally designed, he next ventures upon his ultimate object, the denial of the great doctrine of the cross. The fourth letter is devoted to the stale artifice of attempting to fix upon orthodox Christians. the charge of polytheism And a great display is made of scripture texts to prove the Divine Unity. This unity, the Christian does not deny. A Trinity in Unity, is the great foundation of his faith. No man of common sense will believe, that the followers of a crucified Redeemer, hold to a plurality of gods: And hence, this artifice of the writer will be entirely lost, except upon the weak, the credulous, and the ignorant. But it gives him an opportunity to lift up his heel, by attempting to degrade the Saviour to the rank of a mere man; and this opportunity he does not fail to improve. Jesus Christ, he says. was sent by God to enlighten and reform the world."--p. 16. There is one God, whom the Jews acknowledged and worshipped; and HE ordained and appointed, commissioned and sent, raised up and exalted, Jesus of Nazare h, as the Messiah; by whom spiritual blessings were to be dispensed to mankind; who had confirmed the promises made by the prophets; revealed the pardoning grace of God; and who blesses and saves mankind, by delivering them from all unrighteousnes "--p 20. Here, then the mask is dropped, and the Deist stands confessed. But, as if startled a little at his own deformity, the writer throws in the fifth letter, as a sort of parenthesis, and seems almost compelled to admit that human reason is rather a shabby and treacherous guide in matters of religion. He has proceeded, however, too far to retreat and gathering all his resolution for a last and desperate bow, he gives us the whole sum of his infidelity in the sixth and closing letter of the series. "There surely is nothing contrary to reason in the doctrine that God should appoint and commission Jesus of Nazareth to make known bis will and purposes, and to instruct men as to their duty and destiny, more clearly or more perfectly than reason had done. Nor do I perceive any thing contrary to reason, or to the analogy of Providence, in appointing Christ to be the dispenser of blessings-the medium or agent of conveying pardon and life to men. It is common, in Providence, to make some beings and individuals the instruments of good to others." p. 24, 25. Alas! poor human reason; how must she blush for such a devotee as this! "I wish you, (continues this affectionate father) to lay entirely out of the case, all ideas of substi ution and satisfaction,which are conveyed in some human systems of Theology "-p. 25. Such, then, being the ultimate object of this writer, designing, from the beginning, to deny the great doctrines of the cross-the propitiatory sacrifice of Christ-the all-sufficient atonement he made by his sufferings and death for the sins of mankind-intending, I say, to give some plausible colouring to this denial, it is no wonder that he laboured so earnestly to lower the importance of divine revelation, and to represent human reason as a sufficient rule and guide in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. From Poulson's American Daily Advertiser. Consecration and Obituary Notice. On Thursday morning, January 17th, Trinity Church in Catherine, between Second and Third-streets, in the district of Southwark, was consecrated to the service of Almighty God, by the Right Rev. Bishop WHITE, assisted by several of the Episcopal Clergy of Philadelphia, and in the presence of a crowded and respectable audience. The services of the occasion were solemn and interesting, and the Sermon de all matters of religion. For "all ideas of substitution and satisfaction," cannot be entirely laid out of the case," until all ideas of the truth of divine revelation, are laid out of the case also. They must stand or fall together. So long as the sacred writings abound in such expressions as the following, the Christian will glory in the idea of substitution and satisfaction- not as a human system of theologybut a system altogether divine, and as the only sure foundation of his hopes:-"Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.”. "He was wounded for our trangressions, he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." "The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”—livered by the Rev. SAMUEL H. Tur"For the transgression of my peo- NER, highly appropriate and imple was he stricken "-Isaiah liii. pressive. 4, 5, 6, 8. "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."-Matt. xx. 28. "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!" John i. 29. "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." 1 Tim. ii. 5, 6. "That he should taste death for every man." Heb. ii 9. Can the reader require any thing more to show the real object and design of this writer? Can any stron ger evidence be necessary to prove that he is the enemy of Christianity, and a secret emissary of infidelity? Is it not sufficiently apparent that his show of religion, and the many excellent moral sentiments and correct maxims which he advances, are merely intended to impose on the public, and to give currency to the poisonous doctrines with which they are mingled?-Beware then, of false prophets, which come to you in It must be peculiarly gratifying to Episcopalians, to see in this part of our city, a place of worship erected, in which the holy services of religion are to be celebrated, according to the usages of a church, venerable for her antiquity, and conspicuous for the elevated standing which she has so long occupied among her sister churches in Christendom. Present circumstances authorize the expectation of success in the organization of an Episcopal congregation in this district, and in the consequent pomotion of the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom. The building is of brick 65 feet long and 55 feet wide. Although not an elegant edifice, it is perfectly neat, and well adapted to its intended use. The writer is informed that the erection of this church is in no inconsiderable degree owing to the exertions and generosity of the late Rev. Mr. Turner, and he avails himself of the present opportunity, to pay to his memory that tribute of respect which his piety, his phi lanthropy, and his zeal in the exercise of his profession, so justly mer it. The late Rev. Mr. JOSEPH TURNER, was a native of Devonshire, in England, and born in the year 1742. He came to America some considerable time before the Revolutionary War. Being naturally of a serious and contemplative turn of mind, and raised by the liberality of his uncle Philip Hulbeart, Esquire, above the necessity of any professional exertions, he devoted a portion of his time to Theological studies, and soon after the introduction of the Episcopate into America, applied to Bishop White, the first Pennsylvania Diocesian, for admission to Holy Orders The uniform correctness of his conduct, and the unfeigned piety of his life, rendered his application successful, and he was accordingly ordained a Deacon in 179, and a Priest in the following year. He was called to the Rectorship of St. Martin's Church, at Marcus Hook, which he retained about 25 years. During a part of that time he acted as Assistant Minister in the Swedish Episcopal Church, under the superintendance of the Reverend Nicholas Collin, D. D. Declining health and fatigue, arising from the distance of his residence from his flock, obliged him to relinquish his charge a few years before his decease. He died on the 26th of July, 1821, after a short but severe illness, which he sustained with exemplary Christian resignation and fortitude, looking forward with eagerness and holy hope to his emancipation from the fetters of mortality, and his admis sion to the promised joy of his Lord. He was buried in the church-yard of St. Paul's, of which church he and his family were members, and in which he frequently officiated. That this faithful and diligent disciple of Christ should thus "finish his course with joy," was the natu ral consequence of that simplicity and purity of conduct which adorned his character. Unambitious of popular applause, and regulating his deportment by the influence of that leading christian virtue, Humility, he" kept the noiseless tenor of his way," in the constant exercise of that faith and practice, which he so earnestly recommended to others. Confiding in the sacred assurances, that " he who winneth souls is wise," and that "they who turn many to right courses shall shine as the stars forever," in conformity to the example of his Divine Master, "he went about doing good." As a citizen. he discharged all the relative duties, both public and domestic, with the strictest integrity and the tenderest attention, invariably exemplifying the character given by our blessed Saviour, of a pious Jew"behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile !" MESSRS. EDITORS, Some of my neighbours complain that the pieces in your Magazine are rather too long; and I have sometimes thought myself, that if they were shortened a little, it would be an advantage on some accounts.— For you must know that we people in the country, haven't a great deal of time to spend in reading and that we can understand and remember short pieces much better than long ones. I like your Magazine, however, very well as it is, and don't wish to dictate; but if you should happen to think as I do, perhaps you will contrive to make your essays shorter, that you may put in more of them. As I see you sometimes print the letters that are sent to you, I hope you won't refuse to give this a place in the corner of one of your pages, and oblige, One of your constant readers Survey of Missionary Stations. (CONTINUED.) Proceeding along the western coast of Africa from Sierra Leone, we meet with no Missionary Station of importance, (the Sherbro colony, and a small establishment at Cape Coast excepted,) till we come to SOUTH AFRICA. The Colony of the Cape of Good Hope occupies nearly the whole Southern extremity of the Continent, and forms an important point of support to Missionary exertions among the Heathen It fell ultimately into the hands of the British in 1806. The average length of the Colony, from East to West, is about 550 miles; and the breadth about 260 miles. The whole population, within the Colony's limits, may amount to about 60,000 inhabitants; of whom 25,000 are whites: and the rest, natives of Africa. Missionaries have occupied stations both within and without the limits of the Colony, which we now proceed to notice in order. STATIONS WITHIN THE COLONY. Cape Town. The Capital of the Colony-Inhabiitants, 18, 173; of whom 7460 are whites, 1905 are free blacks, 810 apprentices, 536 Hottentots, and 7462 slaves. The Society for propagaling the Gospel, has appointed a clergyman, for the special instruction of the slaves. The Rev. Dr. Philip has been appointed Superintendant of the Missions on this station by the London Missionary Society, and preaches in English to a Congregation of near 200. A chapel is now building, and between 500 and 600 Slaves are instructed. The Wesleyan Missionary Sociely, also supports a Clergyman here, and the members of that communion, amount to 25. About 40 miles north of Cape Town. The United Brethren have here Leitner, and Stein. whose report in three married Missionaries, Bonatz, 1819, was as follows: In that year, 20 adults, and 24 children, were baptized; 27 persons were admitted as candidates for baptism; 24 as candidates for admission to the communion, and 11 to partake of it; 17 had died, and 10 had removed. At the close of the year, the Hottentot Congregation consisted of 350 souls; of which, 91 were communicants, besides 137 baptized, not yet communicants. Paarl. About 40 miles north-east from Cape Town. Evan Evans, acts here as a Missionary, under the London Missionary Society. There is a Dutch Church at this place, and a Chapel for the accommodation of the slaves. About 120 children are under edu cation. Tulbagh, Is another station of the London Missionary Society, about 100 miles north-east from Cape Town, supplied by Mr Vos: but no late re ports have been transmitted. Gnadenthal. 130 miles east by north of Cape Town. This station is supplied by 7 married Missionaries of the United Brethren. Beinbrech, Clemens Frit sch, Hallb ck, Lemmertz, Marsveld, and Thomsen. The number of inhabitants at this station, is about 1400, of whom near 400 are communicants. It is but justice to the United Brethren, to say hat they make the best Missionaries n the world; for to a persevering temperate zeal that nev er tires, they join habits of personal industry, which enables them to subsist at a very small expense to their employers. Th expense of their establishment at Gnandenthal, amounting to £600 per annum, is defrayed by the missionaries themselves, with a deficiency of only about £19. They have completely won the affections of the Hottentots, have prevailed on them to shake off their habits of sloth, and are rapidly bringing them to a state of civilization. Messrs. Barker, Hooper, and Smit with Jan Goeyman, a native, labour here, under the London Society. Their success has already been very great in civilizing the Hottentots, and instructing them in the principles of Christianity. The communicants amount to 200. Theopolis. 60 miles north-east of Bethelsdorp. Mr. Ullbricht under the direction of the London Society, has the su perintendance of this settlement, which contains upwards of 500 inhabitants. The communicants of his church, amount to 106, and his scholars to 240. Enon. Is the name of a settlement formed on White River, and lying north of Algoa Bay. Three missionaries, Schmit, Hofman, and Hornig, are established here, under the direction of the United Brethren The Congregation is small, the settlement having suffered severely by the irruptions of the Caf fres, a warlike race of natives residing in their neighbourhood. Salem. A settlement of new Colonists, about 100 miles from Algoa Bay. This station is occupied by Mr. Shaw, under the Wesleyan Missionary Society, and is the northernmost on the eastern coast of Africa. In addition to the stations we have now enumerated, there are a number lying beyond the boundaries of the Colony, of which we can do little more than give the names. Griqua Town, New Lallakoo, Malapeetze, Bethesda, Steinkopff, Bethany, and Jerusalem,are London Missionary Stations, of greater or less importance, lying to the northward of the Cape Colony; as also are Lele Fontien, and Rede Fontien, under the care of the Wesleyan Missionary Society. To be continued. |