human character, so as to instruct us in the effects of its various combinations of interest and passion; but we are entertained, perhaps misled, by mere shadows, whose conduct instead of being governed by the common principles of human beings, is subjected to all the freaks of an Author's imagination. If these observations apply to the personages of profane history, and the loss of their identity and individuality is, in any case, to be deprecated; the effects of combining fictitious characters and circumstances with the persons and events mentioned in the Holy Scriptures must be yet more injurious. The fidelity of the resemblances, given us by other historians, may be considerably injured through the ignorance or passion of the historian himself, so that the injury we sustain by having them something farther removed from truth, may not be very great; but the characters made to pass before us in Holy Scripture, appear with every feature of beauty or deformity unaltered, and their mental and moral energies are brought out by circumstances, and recorded by the hand of Inspiration, in such a manner as to preclude all doubt as to the recorded character being the very same as that which did exist. And it should never be forgotten that their histories were written for our example, that we may be warned, instructed, reproved, and guided in the path of life. We are therefore inclined to declare explicitly our opinion, that generally it is improper to engraft the appendages of fiction upon Scripture Characters, and more especially in the form of Tales and Narratives. We have added this "more especially" because we are aware that it will be urged in favour of so ne Poetical writers of this class that their characters possess a real individuality with those of the Scriptures, and the appendages added by their genius and imagination only serve to bring forward the peculi arities of their principal personages, and so render the strong lines which distinguished them more prominent and thereby more useful. Even on this part of the subject we have our doubts, but it may suffice at present to observe that very few are possessed of the pencil of a Milton, a Klopstoc, or a More. To return to Miss O'Keefe's "Patriarchal Times." The subject of her work begins at the weaning of Isaac, aud concludes with Jacob's arrival in Egypt. It is divided into seven Books, each comprising some principal Event of the sacred story, and or namented with a variety of incidents probably intended to set it off to advantage. In this attempt, Miss O'K. is not always successful. Sometimes the principal circumstance is greatly obscured, if not almost lost, in surrounding incidents of nearly or more than equal interest to the reader; and generally, we feel that the moral virtues which she bestows on her favourites, are such as never had, nor ever could have had existence among a horde of half-civilized hunters and shepherds. work often betra s painful evidences that the Authoress is incompetent to give a faithful picture of "Patriarchal Times," from a manifest ignorance of the prevailing degeneracy of human character. Whatever the writers of Romance may be pleased to re- ́ present,or whatever the Poets may feign, an Author who takes a Patriarch for the Hero of a tale, should undoubtedly be intimately The acquainted with the Principles of that Volume from whence alone any knowledge of the Patriarchal Times can be obtained. We are sorry we cannot afford this commendation to the volumes before us. After these observations, any remarks on the irregularities of the style, and barbarous un- THEOLOGICAL NOTICES. couthness of the language, would be wholly superfluous to our readers. Religious Books lately published. 1. Address to Candidates for Communion with a Christian Church, illustrating the Nature of such a Society, the Import of Uniting in Communion with it, and the obligatious of its Members. By the Rev. W. Harris, Cambridge. Sewed, 6d. 2. Maxims and directions for Youth, on a Variety of important and interesting Subjects, calculated for private Families and Schools. By J. Thornton, Au. thor of Sermons to Young Persons, &c. 18mo. Is. 3d. boards. 3. Rev. J. Thornton's Sermons to Young People, 12mo. 3s. 6d. boards. 4. Saurin's Sermons translated by Robinson, Hunter, and Sutcliffe, with 3 New Sermons now first translated by Mr. Sutcliffe. 7 vols. 8vo. large type, 12. 16s. 5. The Mosaic Creation illus trated by Discoveries and Experiments derived from the present -enlightened state of Science; to which is prefixed the Cosmogony of the Ancients, with reflections intended to promote vital and practical Religion. By the Rev. Tho. Wood. 8vo. 8s. 6. A Relation of the Fearful State of Francis Spira afrer he turned apostate to Popery, 12mo. 28. Information of Works in hand from Theological Writers will be inserted under this Article. In the press and nearly ready for publication, A Series of Letters to a Friend on the Evidences, Doctrines, and Duties of the Christian Religion; designed chiefly for young persons. In 2 vols. 12mo. By Dr. Gregory of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. In the press, in an 8vo. volume, Lectures on the Pastoral Character. By the late George Campbell, D. D. F. R. S. Edin. Principal of Marischal College, Aberdeen. Edited by James Fraser, D. D. Minister of Drumoak, Aberdeenshire. The Rev. C. Buck has in the press a work entitled Serious Enquiries or Important Questions relative to this world and that which is to come, to which are added Reflections on Mortality, occa sioned by the much lamented death of the Rev. Thomas Spencer, late of Liverpool. In one volume 12mo. price 3s. Mr. Jefferson of Basingstoke, has in the press a Sermon occasioned by the appearance of the Comet in our hemisphere. Proposals, we understand, are in circulation for publishing by subscription a volume of Sermons, by Mr. Styles. The work is to consist of twenty-eight 8vo.sheets of letter press, and will contain about twenty-five sermons on in teresting and important subjects. Price to subscribers 10s. 6d. Subscriptions are received by T. Williams, Stationer Court; Button, Baynes, Hamilton, Paternoster Row; Black, Parry, and King bury, Leadenhall Street; and by the author, Brighton. Those who wish to forward this work are requested to send in their subscrip tions as early as possible. RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. BAPTIST MISSION. Mr. Editor, Whatever you and I are doing whether engaged in the pursuit of comparative trifles or objects of incontestible importance- serving the cause of Christ or our own, as our primum mobile, it behoves us to ascertain well;-for the interest of the Redeemer does and wili go on. May we have our share in the business, a hand in the progress it is miking, or it will be completed without us. This of course would be no injury to that, but would be to our own very great loss, because of the glory that shall follow. Had you not better tell your readers, that their professed joy and exultation on the success of the general mission of the gospel, or any part of this mission, is likely, after all, to be found to have been no other than the crowing of a mere party, unless they are themselves designedly and actually engaged, in some way or other, as their stations will admit, in forwarding this great cause? A cause of such account, in the purpose of the Deity, that kings reign nations are preserved, governments are supported, the circumstances of men overruled, the world kept in existence by him, only und entirely for its sake. Mr. Editor, the time seems approaching when the seven churches of Asia shall be revivified, like a phoenix out of her own ashes, and when inded they may put the churches of Europe behind them, and in the course of zeal for Christ, outstrip the congregations which sent them the gospel, in the progress of holy success. Information has been received from our beloved Missionaries in India, dated as lately as January 22, 1811, and I may say nuinber 22 of the Periodical Accounts may be expected to exhibit a good deal of interesting a ter. During the year 1810, the missionaries have, in all their churches, baptized 105 persons; and in the first 3 weeks of the present year, they baptized 12 more. Let your readers, Mr. Editor, look once more into the first numbers of the Periodical Accounts. Let them observe the mutual fears which were felt then (because the vision tarried) by the missionaries in Indostan, and their brethren at home, lest unbelief should diminish the exertions of the latter, and want of success make the former despond. Let them draw up these scenes afresh, and place them in front of present circumstances. What a beautiful light rises up out of the contrast! What a rich głow We have many times seen and shall again, that Jesus Christ had strong reasons, within his own secret knowledge, for saying to his disciples, Have faith in God." In the late intelligence from India there is a pleasing account of a rich Hing.00 Merchant, in Bheerboom, the same place, I suppose, that in the useful map of Bengal in P. A. number 20, is called Birboom, or Nagore, and which appears to be a 1 onsiderable place, about 60 miles, W. b, N. of Cutwa. This mer hat, with several other persons there, it should seem, have, to use the language of the prophet, cast their idols to the moles and to the bats, and have embraced the gospel; have adopted the Lord's day as one devoted to religious exercises; observe it by assembling together to read the christian scriptures, &c. The name of the merchant is Kreeshn Bo$oo.. I mean this to point out some mention that has been made of him and his friends before, in P. A. number 20, page 2. He was expected, when this account came away, to be baptized at Cutwa. These letters go on to say, That Aratoon of Armenia, the Missionary of whom I wrote in my last to you, continues to go on well and successfully in Jessore. In one year a church is formed there of 15 members. The extent of country Aratoon includes in the circle of his labours is about 100 miles in the diameter of it only. The man's motives to such immense exertion must be very powerful ones. May his Master bless him with souls for his hire, and if he be sa tisfied with such pay it will be very evident, Cavils avaunt, that his motives are very good as well as very strong. A late writer in this country, with an impertinence which perhaps he does not intend (as his self-conceit, his church and university honours may have had, unwittingly, such an unhappy effect upon him as to make him think it legal and regular-bred confidence) has had the effrontery to aver "Such are the views of human nature, of divine providence, and of the privileges of true christians, which the Calviists have, that they must of aecessity pass their lives in a state of total inactivity, making no efforts for their own safety, or that of their fellow creatures." It is really provoking that the men who dare speak in this foolish manner, to reproach evangelical doctrine, do so pertinaciously refuse to see any other motive to the going about doing good, be side that one of recommending themselves to the favour of an infinitely holy God thereby; when mere philosophy and deism, unaided by revelation, can clearly perceive and readily acknowledge, motives of superior energy and dignity, in the beauty of virtue, in genuine gratitude and love. But go on, incomparably insignificant Aratoon, in thy simple and truly sublime manner, refuting the downy Doctors, who seem to think they are discharging their apostolic obligations by aspersing the principles which stimulate thee to labours they shrink from even in thought, and to exertions of an extent which their fat souls never equal, even in their chariots. I have further to add by way of information, the missionaries Island of Madagascar, off the coast of Africa; the island to which the venerable Dr. Vander Kemp, the enterprising Missionary of Africa, has so long been wishing and attempting to attend. Should be arrive there, while our martial brethren are there, what delight such men would feel in such a meeting! I heartily, wish them this pure joy. I am, sir, Respectfully Yours, PERSECUTION AT JAMAICA. Chamberlain and Peacock are The 22nd Regiment of foot soldiers, which was so interesting a regiment to our beloved missionaries, when it was in India, which they still follow, no doubt, with the eye of love, and with their prayers, and which indeed, their brethren in England should follow in the same manner, because there are no less than 30 or 40 Baptized Believers in it. This regiment, I would say, is now, according to the News-papers, in the Vol. III. Our readers have had frequent occasion to recollect the temper of the Jamaica, legislature respecting religion. We once indulged the hope that his Majesty's Order in Council, to the Governor of that island, to pass no law affecting religion, without a clause suspending its operation until his Majesty's pleasure should be known, would have put an end to their attempts to fetter the gospel by the appearance of legal forms. We are sorry to find ourselves mistaken. It appears that the Assembly were resolved to submit to no such restrictio is; and they refused to grant supplies, or to proceed on any other public business, until the Governor had assented to a bill, restraining the liberty of religious worship, without any such cause as had been prescribed by his Majesty. It still remains for the Governor to explain how it was, that, in the face of a distinct command from his Majesty, he should have given his assent to such an act. The act was passed in last November, and is entitled, "An act to prevent preaching and teache ing by persous not duly quali 3. V |