guage to utter. At this period, the winter was peculiarly severe, and the wretchedness of the poor, proportionably increased. She had accompanied another almoner to the miserable lodging of a family recently removed from a clime where an extreme of penury sometimes exists, which, in our favoured state of society, is seldom known. She expressed strong commiseration that there was so little fire, when the wind was raging without, and the snow deep upon the earth, and that a sick baby seemed to have neither medicine nor food. Her description of the thin and tattered garments of the mother, and of her face, marked at once with sorrow and with patience, evinced that not the slightest circumstance had escaped her discrimination, while the tears of exquisite pity trembling in her eye, proved that her heart was as little accustomed to the woes of her fellow-creatures, as to their vices: I have detained you longer than I intended, with the picture of this little group. It furnishes an example in point, that the mind, in its early stages, is capa ble, both of the systematic arrangement, and the judicious economy of charity. Of ten, while gazing with delight on the circle I have attempted to describe, I fondly believed that the habits which they were then forming would have a lasting influ ence over their future character, and that wherever their lot might be cast, they would each of them be blessings in their day and generation.

In this our highly privileged age, the modes of doing good are exceedingly numerous. Be thankful to any one who furnishes you with one of these opportunities. By a man who was distinguished in the science of charity, it was very early in life adopted as a maxim, that "capacity and opportunity to do good, not only give a right to do it, but make the doing it a duty." Faithfully did he observe this precept. He began in the family of his father, by doing all the good in his power to his brothers and sisters, and the domestics. After he became engaged in the duties of life, and eminent in the labours of a sacred profession, every day was distinguished by either devising or executing some design for the benefit of others. Those who intimately knew him, assert, that not a day was suffered to pass, with out his having devoted some part of his income to pious purposes.

The distribution of useful books, ranks among the most efficient modes of charity. Make it a rule to choose none for that purpose, which you have not first carefully perused. Thus, you will not only enrich your own mind from their treasures, but become qualified to judge of their adaptation to particular stations, characters, and states of mind. The sacred Scriptures,

Ch. Adv.-VOL. XII.

and simple treatises, enforcing its precepts, without any mixture of sectarian bitterness, will doubtless occupy a prominent place in your library for distribution. Biographies of persons illustrious for benevolence and piety, will be found to exercise a highly beneficial influence. Make these gifts to such as you have reason to think will put them to the best use. To the young, it will sometimes be well to lend them, on condition that at returning them, they will render you some account of their contents. This will generally secure an attentive perusal, and also give you the opportunity of profitable conversation, either to deepen some precept in their meniory, or recommend some example to their imitation. Lay useful volumes in the way of your domestics, who may thus be induced to read them. Who can tell how much good may result from a hint, or train of thought thus suggested? Dr. Franklin, so eminent for public spirit, and so distinguished in distant lands for his designs of utility, acknowledges, "if I have ever been a useful citizen, the public owe the advantage of it to a small book, which I met with when a boy, entitled Essays to do Good,' written by the Rev. Dr. Cotton Mather. It had been so little regarded by its former possessor, that several leaves were torn out, but the remainder gave me such a turn of thinking, as to have an influence on my conduct through life: for I have always set a greater value on the character of a doer of good, than any other kind of reputa

tion."

The missionary zeal of Henry Martyn, which left his name as a burning light among the churches, was enkindled by a perusal of the life of David Brainerd. Samuel J. Mille, the pioneer of mercy to long neglected Africa, and Fisk, who in his labours of love, followed in his Master's footsteps from despised Nazareth, to the vales of Bethany, ascended breezy Olivet, and wept among the shades of Gethsemane, derived their prompting impulse from the same book. Nor will it be possible to compute, until the scrutiny of the last account, how much of the wisdom of the truly great, of the virtue of those who have been benefactors to mankind, or of the piety of the saint who hath entered into bliss, has been the fruit of some silent and eloquent page, perhaps accidentally read, or gratuitously presented.

When I look back upon the sheltered and flowery path of childhood, one image is ever there, vivid and cherished above all others. It is of hoary temples, and a brow furrowed by more than fourscore winters, yet to me more lovely than the bloom of beauty, or the freshness of youth, for it is associated with the benevolence of M

an angel. Among the tireless acts of bounty, which rendered her name a watchword in the cells of poverty, and her house a beacon-light to the broken in heart, was the gift of books, and the education of indigent children.' On stated days, the children of the neighbourhood were gathered around her, fed at her table, made happy by her kindness, instructed from her lips, and encouraged to read and understand the books with which her library was stored for their use. Surely, in some of those hearts, the melody of that voice, speaking of things that "pertain unto the kingdom of God," is still treasured; among the eyes that were then raised to her with affectionate reference, some must still delight to restore her image, as well as that which now fills with the tear of an undying gratitude.

AN EXAMINATION OF THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH OF ROME. By John Thomas, of the Baptist Church-late of Philadelphia.Printed by T. C. Ustick. 1834.

This pamphlet, of 48 octavo pages, we are informed in a recommendatory preface by the Rev. G. B. Perry, "contains the amount of two sermons delivered in the Meeting-house of the Baptist Church, Spruce street, of this city [Philadelphia], on Lord's day,

November the 17th, 1833. By the request of the subscriber, who is the pastor of that church, with many who heard the sermons, among whom were some of our eminent clergymen-together with the hope that the publication will serve to check error, and promote truth—has the author been induced to submit the same for the press. The book, therefore, is cast forth to mingle with such others as have for their object the glory of God, and the building up of Zion

of

on the earth, with the prayers many, that the blessing of heaven may attend it."

At the present time, when the advocates of "the Man of Sin" are so busy, in disseminating in our country their soul-destroying errors, every well-conducted effort to counteract their artifices and operations, ought to receive the countenance and patronage of the Protestant population of the United

States; for whatever may be the pretences and professions of Papists, we solemnly believe, that their system, whenever, or whereever it becomes dominant, is hostile and destructive to liberty, both civil and religious.

es

The seven sacraments of the Popish church, constitute an sential part of their anti-scriptural creed.

"The Canons of the Council of Trent, declare those accursed who assert, that the sacraments do not contain the grace which they represent; and even confer the grace itself on those who place no obstructions in the way of such grace.' They further decree, that if any one shall affirm, that by the sacraments themselves, from the performance of the work, (ex oppere opperato,) grace is not conferred, but that faith only in the divine promise, is sufficient to the obtaining of grace, he is accursed.'* In the Catholic Expositor, baptism is called 'The Sacrament of the generation;' the effect of which is, that all sin, original or actual, however vile, obtains remission.' The same principle pervades the language of the catechisms, confessions, and prayers of the Roman Church."

this pamphlet, of the absurdity The brief exposure contained in and impiety of the Popish doctrine of the Sacraments, is written in a spirit of candour, and is almost wholly argumentative. We cordially recommend it to our readers, and give as a specimen of the writer's manner, the second argument by which he endeavours to show, and we think does show conclusively, that the Canon of the Council of Trent quoted above, is diametrically opposed to the infallible teaching of the oracles of

God.

"2dly, The Scripture doctrine of regeneration renders it impossible that this account of the nature and efficacy of the sacraments can be true.

"The nature of regeneration appears to have been wholly misunderstood by the Council of Trent. Their definition of a sacrament, represents it as a kind of inunconnected with knowledge, faith and structive, sensitive, unintelligent impulse, holiness, as if it were possible for a person

* Concil. Trid. Sess. vii. Can. 8.

to be regenerated, or born again, without his being conscious of his need of salvation, and persuaded of the preciousness of Christ as a Saviour. But so far is this from being true, that the new birth and faith are, invariably, spoken of in Scripture as mutually implying each other. Hence it is that regeneration is opposed to the notion of imputed or ceremonial holiness, being, in its specific nature, a restoration to the soul of the image of God. In respect to the understanding and conscience, it is called spiritual light, a right mind; a good understanding; a sound heart. In respect to the will and affections, it is a new, good, upright heart; a

heart of flesh; a right spirit; and yet, on the principle that the sacraments, by the mere act of administration, can confer grace, persons previously uninformed, ignorant, and graceless, may continue, for a longer or shorter period of time, the passive, but unenlightened, subjects of regeneration; because sacraments, in themselves, are mere symbols, that is, neither law nor gospel; and the ordinary teaching of the Holy Spirit is by the word, and not by signs. Regeneration is not inspiration. Therefore, either sacramental grace must be something different from gospel grace, or, it must be admitted that the sacraments cannot confer grace."

The Whale Fishery-The following article, in relation to this important branch of trade, is taken fom an English paper: The Liverpool Times says-" We have become aware of some facts which show the immediate and practical utility of the recent Arctic voyages in a very strong light. There is every reason to believe that, if they had not been undertaken, the whale fishery, which employs a capital of upwards of a million, which is one of the best nurseries in the world for seamen, and on which Hull, Peterhead, Frazerburgh, and several other towns of the kingdom mainly depend, would have been lost to the country. For many years a great change has been taking place in the habits of those stupendous creatures, which draw the enterprise of the merchants and mariners of England and Scotland into the Arctic seas. When the fishery commenced, they were so tame that they were found floating in all the gulfs and bays of Spitzbergen, fearless of harm, and were taken by hundreds, and without an effort. In a few years, however, this dreadful destruction drove them to the more remote bays, from whence they were soon driven into the open sea, far away from land.

But the trackless ocean afforded them no shelter from their enemies; they were pursued, and that with so much resolution, that the Dutch are calculated to have destroyed upwards of 50,000 in no very long course of years. Retiring before their ruthless pursuers, they next took refuge along the line of perpetual ice, which was their habitation when Scoresby wrote his celebrated work. Here as many as 1,400 of them were killed in one year. At last, worn out by perpetual persecution, they have plunged into the regions of eterna! ice, where the boldest whalers dare not pursue them. The consequence is, that the Greenland fishery, which was formerly carried on in the sea between Green

land and Spitzbergen, is nearly abandoned, and the whole trade would soon have been at an end, if Ross had not penetrated, in his first voyage through the mass of ice which renders the entrance to Baffin's Bay so hazardous, and opened to the whalers vast seas never before fished, and which the monsters of the deep are found to frequent in great numbers.

The most northern parts of Baffin's Bay, together with Lancaster Sound, Regent's Inlet, &c., are now the great fishing stations, and all these regions have been discovered, or at least laid down with accuracy, by the recent navigators, who opened the route to the less adventurous traders -showed them that the seas abounded with whales-broke the icy barrier which had never been passed since the days of Baffin, and described the coasts and harbours so correctly, as to deprive the voyage of the greater part of its perils. The mere pecuniary expense of the voyages of discovery has therefore already been repaid many times, independent of the extension of geographical knowledge and the improvement of science.

Power of Scent in the Reindeer.-In proceeding along the extensive and endJess lakes of Lapland, if the number of deer be great, a close and lengthened procession is invariably formed, each deer following the foremost sledge so closely, that the head of the animal is generally in contact with the shoulders of the driver before. Should the guide alter his direction, by making a bend to the right or left, the whole of the deer in the rear will continue their course till they arrive at the spot where the turn was made.

It thus frequently happens, that when the distance between the foremost and hindmost deer is great, on the guide mak ing a bend, considerable saving might be obtained by cutting across. This, however, it is scarcely possible to do, for should

the deer even be pulled by main force out of its former course, it will immediately turn aside from the new direction it is placed in, and regain the old track, in spite of all the driver can do to prevent it. It is useless to contend with the animal; and the time thus lost might leave the driver at such a distance from the rest of the party, as to render it a matter of some difficulty to overtake them. This unwillingness to separate from its companions, is one feature of the instinct given to this animal; and it is the very circumstance that, more than any other, ensures the safety of the traveller.

Should any accident separate him from the rest of his party, the deer be fatigued, or other occurrences throw him considera

bly in the rear, if he trust entirely to his Ideer, it will enable him to overtake the rest, though they should be some miles in advance, from the exquisite olfactory sense it possesses. The animal in this case, holding its head close to the snow, keeps frequently smelling, as a dog would do to scent the footsteps of its master, and is thus enabled to follow with certainty the track the other deer have gone.

Were it not for this property of the animal, travelling across Lapland would be not a little hazardous, particularly in those parts where the weather is the darkest, which is generally while crossing the mountains of Finmark. It often happens that the party is unavoidably scattered,

and the sound of the bells enables them to rejoin each other. The bells, however, should the weather be very thick and stormy, can only be heard a short distance off; and it is then, by the sagacity of the deer alone, that the difficulty is surmounted.

New Year in China.-The festival of the New Year, from time immemorial, has always been observed in China by all classes of citizens, from the emperor down to the humblest subject. New Year's Day is a gala day. Every person who appears abroad, if he can afford it, is decorated with a new suit; and if his means are so confined that he cannot clothe himself in new habiliments from top to toe, he exhibits some conspicuous article of his dress as new and unsoiled. On this day craniums are covered with caps, and legs are invested with snow white stockings, which are bare the remainder of the year. The ordinary salutations of friends are exchanged for the most obsequious politeness, and two coolics may be seen bowing, and bowing, and bowing at each other, and grinning ridiculously in each other's faces for several minutes, before they descend to the courtesies of every-day life. Among the higher classes of Chinese society, these rejoicings are kept up for several days. Important undertakings are

almost always commenced about this time, as it is considered an auspicious period; and many marriages are also solemnized.

A paragraph has appeared, stating that three members of the Society of Friends, had gone on a voyage of pleasure to the South Sea Islands. It is a fact that they have gone; but their object has been misstated. We have received communications on the subject from three respectable members of the Society, one of whom says "The three members of the Society of Friends who have sailed in the Francis Freeling, (purchased for the purpose) to visit the South Sea Islands, are not gone on a journey of pleasure, but with a view of establishing a mission, or missions, and the visit is altogether a religious one, though too vagrant to meet my ideas on the subject. The funds are not provided by the individuals themselves, but by a subscription among a few members of the Society." A second states, that the voyagers will visit New Zealand, Owyhee, Otcheuse, New South Wales, &c., and will probably nearly circumnavigate the globe. It is intended to combine religious instruction with the endeavour to promote civilization amongst the inhabitants of those ports which have been entirely neglected, or but little visited by missionaries. The whole is at the expense of the Society, and will cost from 4,000l. to 6000l., and the time calculated for the performance of this mission from four to six years. A third correspondent says"Daniel Wheeler, of Russia, had gone on a religious visit, or gospel mission, attended by a companion and his son."-London paper.

Observations on the Flying Fish.—“July 6. The flying fish to-day were more numerous and lively. They rose in whole flights to the right and left of the bow, flying off in different directions, as if the vast body of the ship alarmed and disturbed them. Others, however, at a greater distance, kept rising and falling without any visible cause, and apparently in the gladness of their hearts, and in order to enjoy the sunshine and the temporary change of element.

Certainly there was no appearance or probability of any larger fish being in pursuit of even one-hundredth part of those which we saw, nor were there any birds to endanger their flight; and those writers who describe the life of these animals as a constant succession of alarms, and rendered miserable by fear, have never, I conceive, seen them in their mirth, or considered those natural feelings of health and hilarity which seem to lead all creatures to exert, in mere lightness of heart, whatever bodily powers the Creator has given them. It would be just as reasonable to say that a lamb leaps in the mea