No. 24. Religions Miscellany. "Say ye to the daughter of Zion, behold, thy salvation cometh " SELECT REVIEW. From the London Eclectic Review. Association of Ministers. By John Pye Smith, D. D. London, 1822, Vol. I. minds be rightly affected towards the Blessed Author and Revealer of all religious truth. "Religious truth is but another name for thinking justly concerning God. But it is directly impossible to think justly in relation to any being, if the state of our feelings or affections towards that being are unjust. A wrong bias of the passions, or of that secret principle which determines our desires and aversions, the temper and character, what is usually called in scripture the heart;'-a wrong bias of this will infallibly im No notion more pernicious in its influence, can be taken up by the young inquirer after truth, than that to which the differences of religious belief ainong real christians have sometimes given rise, or afforded a pretext, name-seat of mental taste, the spring of ly, that satisfaction with regard to the truth of religious sentiments is unattainable. The adoption of this error is a first and fatal step in the laby-press a wrong direction on the exerrinth of sceptical sophistry; and the cises of the judgment; and, the furmind having wandered thus far, is ther it moves in the wrong direction, soon in its doubtful mazes lost. The the wider must be its distance from individual must already have desert- the line of truth. Now every possible ed the path of religious obedience, perfection, all natural grandeur, all and parted with the docility of a moral loveliness, belongs infinitely to learner, before he could embrace such God. 'Who is like unto thee, O Lord; a notion. Or else he must never have glorious in holiness? How great his set out in earnest in the inquiry.- goodness, and how great his beauty!' Dr. Smith has ably exposed, in the If the feelings of our hearts towards "first part of this very valuable dis-him are not those of sincere and fercourse, the common and principal vid admiration, love and reverence, sources of this error; and having shewn we treat him with injustice, injustice its fallacy, he proceeds to detail the gross and shameful in proportion to means of arriving at such a moral as-the degree of its contrariety to the surance in this discrimination of re-fact; and that contrariety is infinite. ligious truth and error as is compati-It cannot but follow that our sentible with the present imperfect statements concerning God, his purposes, of our nature. His directions are his commands, and his operations, will brief, comprehensive, and axiomatic, partake of this inward injustice, this well worthy of being transcribed into practical falsehood. It is the dictate the common-place book of every the-of sound philosophy, not less than of ological student; and a sin ple-minded revelation; They that forsake the observance of them cannot fail, with law praise the wicked: evil men unthe Divine blessing, to conduct the in-derstand not judgment; they "love quirer to assured satisfaction. We darkness rather than light, because select the first direction, the first both in order and in in portance. "I. Our first, constant, and most watchful care should be, that our their deeds are evil." There can be no free inquiry till the mind is freed from the worst and strongest of pre"judices, the prejudices of a sinful state. 370 Missionary Intelligence.—Mr. King's Journey. Concerning the very important mission to Palestine, our readers cannot be altogether ignorant. In page 273, we published a brief Review of it from its commencement; in page 289, Extracts from Mr. Fisk's communications; in page 306, and continued to other numbers, a discourse of Mr. Wolff, in which was contained a brief account of his labors. As mention was made in our second number, of the appointment of Mr. King to the Palestine Mission,-of his preparations to embark in the duties of his appointment, &c. a short account of his journey to the theatre of his labors, may not be uninteresting. Condensed for the Boston Recorder, from the Missionary Herald. MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE. "He, then, that would have a satA number of weeks have elapsed since we isfactory assurance that he is holding the truth of God, must cherish all published any intelligence relative to the right affections towards God. He missionaries among the Indians, under the must "walk in the light," and then patronage of the American Board of Commis"will he see light." He must keep sioners for Foreign Missions. This was not ever fresh and lively on his soul the because nothing of importance had come to impressions of veneration and love hand but it was owing to a crowd of other matfor all the perfections of the glorious ter that it was excluded. We have several arDeity, joy and gratitude for his do- ticles now before us, from which we will enminion, a cordial and delightful ap-deavor to give an abstract account of several probation of his government in all its stations under that Board. acts, and of his will in all its expressions. O let it be the object of our perpetual desires and efforts, to be practically conformed to God's approving will! Such communion with him is living in the very atmosphere of light, and it will shed a convincing brightness upon all the fields of nature and revelation. The value of religious truth lies in its being the real expression of the counsels, acts, and decisions of the Blessed God.Devotedness to him will cause us to love truth for this very reason, and to study it, not as a barren theory or a refined speculation, but with that warmth of just feeling which is the same, in the matters of religion, as a correct taste and a noble enthusiasm are, in relation to the beauties of nature or the exquisite labors of genius and art. A Michael Angelo differs not more from the most grovelling barbarian, than does a holy Christian from an unsanctified speculatist.'My doctrine,' said the Lord Jesus, 'is not mine but His who sent me. If any man would do his will, he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God. Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." We are anxious that this Sermon should not be considered as an ephemeral publication. It forms a most useful tract to be put into the hands of every student on his entrance upon theological inquiries. Labor not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. MR. KING'S JOURNEY FROM PARIS TO [Concerning the residence of the Rev. Jonas King at Paris, his offers of service, for three years, in connexion with the Palestine Mission, and the acceptance of those offers, mention was made at p. 353 of the last volume of the Herald. Notice was also taken of the interest, which certain gentlemen in France and elsewhere, had manifested in his contemplated mission. [We shall now compile, from the private journal of Mr. King, kept while on his way from Paris to Marseilles, such notices, as will be interesting to our readers.] Paris, Monday, Sept. 30, 1822.Took my seat in the Diligence for Lyons. After travelling several niles a gentleman, who had taken a seat with me, and who appeared to be Mr. King's Journey. fled. 371 [In this place, Mr. K. distributed his tracts with a liberal hand, and declared the interesting truths of the Gospel to all who came around him; a very intelligent and respectable | Paris, from which Louis XVIII. had man, inquired of me, "why, on parting with my friend at Paris, I pointed towards heaven?" Because replied I, there is all our joy, and there we hope one day to meet. I then preached to him Jesus Christ and him crucified, and how the believer can look beyond this vale of tears, and behold with the eye of faith, a brighter and more beautiful scene, than was ever held here below, since the fall of man. not without some fears, that the greatness of the crowd and the noise of their importunities and benedictions, would procure his arrest from the gens d'armes. They, however, suffered him to proceed unmolested; [The conversation was long, ani- and, in passing by the palace, he threw mated, and interesting. The gentle-out to them a tract containing "Christ's man was a disciple of Voltaire, and Sermon on the Mount." brought many objections against the [Having escaped safely at Fontainauthenticity of the Bible; which, how-bleau, Mr. K. was emboldened to pursue the same course at Nemours, ever, were easily answered, and gave rise to a free declaration of the funda-a village containing about 4,000 inmental doctrines of the Gospel, on the part of Mr. King, and an unreserved application of them to the heart and conscience.] Fontainbleau. [Mr. K. arrived at Fontainbleau about 2 o'clock. This village, which has been the residence of many of the kings of France, and was a favorite residence of the Emperor Napoleon, contains about 9,000 inhabitants.] habitants, and situated ten or twelve miles beyond the place last mentioned. The tracts were sought with great avidity; and numerous applications were of necessity refused.] Fontenay. From this time, during our whole journey to Lyons, he treated me with much attention and respect. He alAt five o'clock we arrived at Fonteso often aided me in the distribution nay, where we dined. After dinner, I of tracts, which I commenced at Es-visited the stone bridge, said to have sone, a little village standing on a riv-been built in the time of Julius Cæsar. er of the same name, and containing Near it stands a small house said to manufactories of cotton, printed cal- have been erected at the same time. icoes, copper, and gunpowder. The stone columns in front of it, bear marks of high antiquity. Here, said I, where Julius Cæsar brought war and desolation, I will attempt to do something to promote the kingdom of the Prince of Peace. Seeing the man who now occupied this house, I stepped up to him, and, taking off my hat, said, "Sir, if you will come with Here surrounded with a guard of me to the Diligence, I will give you 30,000 men, on the 11th of April, a little book." An officer, who was 1814, Napoleon signed the abdication near, and heard what I said, came with of his title of "Emperor of the French him, as I supposed to watch me. Το and King of Italy." The pen, with him I gave two or three immediately, which he signed it, is still preserved, and begged him to read them for the and shewn to the inquiring traveller. good of his soul. He took off his hat, Here, also, he made his appearance on and, thanking me promised to do so. the 20th of March, 1815, nineteen I never gave away a tract with so days after leaving Elba; and, in the much interest and pleasure, as on this evening, entered the Thuilleries atspot, where had marched, eighteen formation of a Missionary Society, auxiliary to the one at Paris. A subscription was opened at the meeting, and 304 francs were immediately subscribed. To this sum, was added a donation from a poor widow, sev On arriving at Lyons, near all the passengers came and took me by the hand wished me a happy journey.The gentleman, whom I first address-enty-five years old, of 70 francs. ed on leaving Paris, I found to be a ed hard, and, by the strictest econoThis poor woman had always laborrespectable merchant at Lyons. He had a wife and two interesting chil-y, had amassed the sum above mendren waiting his arrival at the stage rent of a house, which she had hired. tioned, for the purpose of paying the office, to whom he presented me, giv-The gentleman, who owned the house, ing me, at the same time, an invitation to call and see him, if I ever returned through that place. The tracts I had given him he gave to his children, and told them to read them with attention. was a pious and benevolent man, and remitted the debt, and told her to make what use she pleased of the little sum. Having heard of the Missionary Society at Paris, she said, "I am about to die. I have neither pa[On Friday, the 4th. Mr. K. took ||rents, nor children. I will give this the stage for Nismes. Here, as in a mite to spread the Gospel of my Savformer case he was called upon to de-iour, before whom I am soon to apfend the authenticity of the Scrip- pear."-"She, of her want did cast tures against infidel objections. The in all that she had, even all her livresult was, that "three officers and ing;" and it shall be told as a memone other gentleman, promised to orial of her.] send to Paris, and purchase for themselves a Bible;" and, on their arrival at Nismes, they gave to Mr. K. their address, and invited him to visit them.] Nismes. [The next day, Mr. K. called on of this good woman,) to gladden her Madame Vizie, (which was the name heart by relating to her what was now doing in various parts of the world; for the extension of the spiritual kingdom of the Lord Jesus. Montpelier. who takes a lively interest in all the benevolent objects of the day. He had just written to Professor Kieffer, to request me not to fail of coming to see him, when on my way to Marseilles. The letter was written about [They arrived at this place a little before night on Saturday. The next day, Mr. K. was introduced to an acquaintance with the Baron Castelnau, Called on the Rev. Mr. Lissignol, President of the Bible Society at Nis-who is a truly evangelical man, and mes, and with several Protestant Clergymen and respectable laymen, to whom he related the object of his mission, and what God was beginning to do for the conversion of the world. In the course of the day, he visited a Sabbath School, where were about 70 females from fifteen to sc years of age, engaged in reading the Eible. On Monday, he attended the meeting of the Bible Society, which presented him with twelve elegant French Bibles to be distributed in the east. On Tuesday, he aided in the the time I left Paris. The moment I told him my name, (for I had no let ter of introduction,) he seized my hand with joy, and gave me a most friendly welcome to his house. Heimmediately wrote to the President of the Consistory to come in from the country, and then went and Sandwich Island Mission. who received me very kindly, and with whom we conversed on the subject of missions. 373 introduced me to several families, Lazaretto to see Mr. Wolff, the Jewish Missionary. He had just arrived from Alexandria, and had come for the sole purpose of finding Mr. Fisk, Mr. L. had already formed a Mis-in order to return with him to Jerusionary Society, and said there would salem. be no difficulty in making it auxiliary to that at Paris. He also entered into my views with regard to the Monthly Concert of Prayer, and said he should do all in his power to have it observed in all the churches throughout the Department of Herault. Voyage to Malla. [Very early in the morning of Tuesday, Oct. 29th. Mr. K. sailed out of the harbour of Marseilles. At 8 o'clock they were in sight of the Gulph of Toulon, and France was fast receding from view.] I could not but feel some emotions on leaving a country, where I had spent one of the most interesting years of my life. Land of science and of sin, of gaiety and pleasure! I bid thee farewell! The sun shines brightly on thy beautiful fields; the mild gales breathe softly on thy enchanting hills; and along the borders of thy streams, in the midst of vines and olives, lie scattered the cottages of peasants, and the mansions of nobles. Thou hast within thy bosom all that can gratify genius, and taste, and sense. O when shall the spirit of Massillon rest upon thy priests! When shall the light of millenial glory dawn upon thy population! With fervent prayers for thy prosperity, I bid thee fare [We learn verbally from Smyrna, that Mr. Fisk had arrived at Alexandria, accompanied, no doubt, by Messrs. Wolf and King. We have also learned, through the me dium of Mr. Wilder of Paris, that the Rev. Lewis Way was at Nice, on the 3d of February; designing, by leave of Providence, to be at Jerusalem at the passover. The probability, therefore, is, that these four Christian Missionaries have already met in that most interesting city.] 10, Sab. Mr. Thornton preacted from the words of Christ, "what is a man profited, if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul." The discourse was translated by Hopoo a native, as it was delivered, to a large concourse of people, who gave a decent attention. 17, Sub. Mr. Bingham preached in the forenoon, from the address of Jesus to his diș. ciples, as recorded the three last verses of Mathew, to a numerous concourse of people, well. chiefly all natives; in the afternoon he preach. [Nov. 1st came within sight of Sar-ed the same sermon at Waititi, at the house dinia; on the 2nd at sun rise, Mount of Tamoree and Kaahumann. Tamoree had Etna was in view; and, at noon, they been sick for several days, and requested that beheld the much desired island of Mr. B. would pray for him, that his weakness Malta. The evening was spent in the company of Messrs. Fisk and Temple. Thursday Nov. 8th. Messrs. Fisk and Temple, and myself went to the The name of this station, as appears from a "Brief view of Missions," given in the 1st number of our paper, must be Hanaroorah. |