gtiscllaiKmix EEY. ME. BABNES PIFTH LEGTIJBE OB THE EVIDENCES OF CHBISTIANITY. The subject on Monday evening, the 4th inst., was that of Miracles. Miracles were designed to prove the divine commission of a messenger or the truth of his message. A miraculous event was as capable of being examined and attested as any 'Other fact.! The raising of Christ or of Lazarus could be investigated and decided upon to the sat isfaction of intelligent witnesses. The objection of Mr. Ilume to the possibi lity of miracles, founded upon the violation of the laws of nature being contrary to cx iporiencc, was met and refuted with masterly ability. Dr. Barnes remarked tfyat it was impossi ble for Hume, or any one else, to know the: experience of every man in every age and country, and certainly the experience of those who lived in the age of Christ and his Apostles accorded with the fact in question. But to render this idea of experience, a sub stantial argument, it must comprise the cx ience of other worlds beside this—of all i worlds in the wide universe; and how ild Mr. Hume ascertain whether through , the wide extent of God’s dominion the ws of nature had not been known to have m suspended. Indeed, to render the ob tion sufficient, the spiritual world as well the material must be included, and the >erience of all intelligent beings must contrary to this, violation of the laws of ,ure. But who can possibly so extend roseaches over this immeasurable field as be competent to say that no one, or no ;e of beings has ever witnessed, known, or perienced any instance in which the laws nature have been violated ? The speaker then asserted that we were lly witnesses of such violation. One of established laws of nature is that of /itation, by which every object tends to rd the centre of the globe. When a boy iks up a stone and and throws it in the air re is a violation of this law of nature, if the stone were untouched it would ain in its position adhering to the earth, jnever a person lifts his' foot in walking is law is violated. The decay of vegeta >n —the death of the oak—and the univer mortality of man are violations of the law nature, for life is natural to the vegetable ' animal kingdom. The seed germinating, is developed, and its tendency, its very Of existence is growth, vigor, perpetuity. . God, as the petialty of sin, has arrested iat law, and decay and death ensue. The :perience of mankind, therefore, is not eon ay to, but in favor of the violations of the ws of nature. There are two ways by which the world •ogresses, in arts and sciences—one by de slopment—one age improves upon the ex jriencc and discoveries of a former, and lakes these the basis of farther advances, his process is slow—gradual. The other is by sudden discoveries—the ise of some eminent statesman, philosopher .philanthrophist, or by some great and start ing event changing the current of thought, jvolutionizing nations, and arousing the mergies of man to great deeds bearing upon •e interests of society. These may be ailed creations —they are not developments ' previous existences. The appearance of m eloquent orator whose persuasive lips way the public mind—of a reformer like anther—a philosopher like Bacon—are crea tions; the art of printing, the use of steam power, the electric telegraph are creations, and by these effects of divine power, God gives an impulse to minds and hearts, opens new sources of knowledge, and raises the world to a higher level. So at the introduc tion of Christianity the Almighty interposed his creative power and produced effects out of the ordinary course of nature to confirm the truth of the Gospel and speed its pro gress in the world.— Christian Intelligencer. PEOPOSED PEESBYTEEIAN UNION IN INDIA. ' The following circular, which has never been re-published in this country, is from the pen of Rev. D,r. Morrison, who was. the first to propose that the- first week of each new ar be made a “ week of prayer.” CIRCULAR. Dear Brother in the Lord: —At the jeting of the Synod of Northern India, as imbled at Ambala in November, 1865, the Bowing minute was unanimously adopted, iz:— “ The subject of Organic Union, or a United <ureh for India was also discussed, and on motion, a Committee, consisting of Messrs. Morrison, Walsh and Scott, was appointed to correspond with the different Presbyte ian bodies in this country, with a view to (certain what can be done in the matter.” The object of this-movement is to ascertain i‘ acme preliminary step cannot soon be ,akcn towards uniting Presbyterians gener- Jy in one General Assembly in India, and report to the Synod at its next meeting in 1868. Hitherto Presbyterians have labored un der the disadvantage of having no organ ized body in India, towards which they could feel as members, consequently they scatter about without any church connection, great ly to their spiritual detriment, and the loss of the body to which they really belong. Besides, the different bodies of Presbyte rians, having no common organization, lose he advantage of combination and eo-opera ion. One General Assembly would make i feci more as one body—give more unity ohr plans and operations, and secure eo- where now our separate ecclesi astical organizations, or want of such organ ization, produces too much-the feeling that wc have separate and sometimes conflicting interests. Such ecclesiastical union need not.by any THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1867. means cut us loose, as Missionaries from our respective Missionary Boards, &e. They are not ecclesiastical bodies, but merely the or gans of the ecclesiastical bodies to which they belong. With the consent of our se veral Assemblies, we may organize a Genei’al Assembly in India for all ecclesiastical pur poses, and still report to, and receive our support from our respective Boards as before. And so far as ecclesiastical government, su pervision and control are concerned, our principles could be more effectually carried out by one General Assembly in this coun try, than by several General Assemblies in different and far distant countries. Such an organization seems to be important too,-as a part of the practical training of a native ministry. Indeed it would seem to be so clearly a necessity as to be merely a ques tion of time, if our Scriptural principles are to be permanently implanted and rooted in this country. • Hitherto the great want of travelling fa cilities has been an insuperable barrier to our effecting • any such organization, and making it practically useful. But with the present progress of Railroads, weliave every reason to hope that before our proposed or ganization can be completed this difficulty will be felt less in this country, than it is felt now in the United States of America. And the growing disj>osition OfChristians generally, and of Presbyterians in particular, to unite together as far as possible, affords encouragement to hope that our respective supreme Judicatories would interpose no very serious objections to our forming such? a union in this country. At any rate, the anticipation of difficulties: need not prevent our endeavouring in this way td ascertain whether any real difficulties do 'lie in the way of our securing so desirable an object, and .if they do in fact exist, whether they may not be removed or overcome. The object of our Synod is not,- now, to propose any terms of union, but to ascertain your views on the subject, and to see if'some plan could not be adopted, by which a dele gation from all the different Presbyterian bodies in the country could be got together; say at Agra, about November, 1868, or at any other time and place that might be more convenient for all, or for a majority of those interested in the scheme. It is not proposed even, that this delegation should have power to effect any organization, but only after prayer and consultation to ascertain what plan of union might be suggested and report the same to their respective bodies, for their consideration and further action. Our earn est prayer is, that the great head of the church may direct all our deliberations and bring them to that result which shall best please Him, and promote His glory l and the welfare of perishing souls. Hoping to hear from you on this subject as soon as may be convenient, Believe us, Yery sincerely, ■ ■ ’ Your brethren in the Lord, Committee. —J. H. Morrison, Ilhwal Pindi , Panjab; James L. Scott, Landaur; John J. Walsh, Allahabad. TRIALS OF A GERMAN EMIGRANT. The following affecting story is told in the Lutheran Observer , of last week: A young stranger, a few weeks since, entered the rooms of the German Society at Battery Place, and besought the proper offi cer for employment, but received a negative answer. The day was excessively cold, and the stranger thinly clad, without an over coat. Seating himself at the stove, he ex hibited proofs of deep distress. Missionary Neumann, happening to be present, at once took a warm interest in his case, and gave him the address of a benevolent gentleman, in business, several miles distant, from the city. Half an hour later, the Missionary had occa sion to enter an Emigrant boarding-house, in the vicinity, and there met, the second time, the young German, seated at a table, and writing with a pencil in a small memo randum-book. Encouraged by their pre vious interview, and desirous of learning more of his history, the Missionary obtained permission to read what he had written. The little book proved to be a Diart, kept by the young stranger, since his landing from an emigrant-ship at, Castle. Garden. Learning from these pages his destitute con dition, the Missionary besought the proprie tor of the house to furnish him with a meal, which was granted, and also the promise of lodgings for one night. The Diary was kept in German, and, as there exists no doubt that it is a true history, we furnish a trans lation of its material parts, as transcribed by the Missionary. DIARY OF A GERMAN EMIGRANT. Lee. 16, 1866.—Landed at Castle Garden. In Held’s hotel at 4 o’clock, P. M., with §6 in my pocket-book. Board $2,50 per day. Lee. 22.—Ban around for work, and for a boarding-house, all day, but in vain. Busi ness very dull. Now in the utmost perplex ity. Paid $2 to an Agent at 41 Greenwich street for a situation, but did not get any. Lee. 24.—Trouble increasing—no money —-no work—debt in hotel increasing—no prospect of any employment. Lee. 25.—Pawned my watch. Called at 41 Greenwich street for work. The swind ling Agent not at home. Another young man in the office, who has, also, been im posed upon. He opened my eyes respecting this agent, saying that his advertised situa tions have no existence. Lee. 27.—Several men want.ed at 3.1 Broad way, but English required. Cannot pay my board at the hotel. Have to leave it se cretly. What shall I do! 8 o'clock, P. M. No place yet to stay for the night. Only ten cents left. Lee. 28.—Passed last night in the streets. Overcome with fatigue, sat several hours ■on the front steps of a house, sometimes nodding. Again through the streets for work, but found none,. Severe suffering from hunger. Nothing to eat for-36 hours. Three crackers for dinner at twelve. Sold my best black coat for ?2. Offered it at a dozen places, but no one would buy it. Mind distressed with strange thoughts. Pee. 2D.—At many places again, hunting work, but have not found any. Pec. 30.—A1l night again in the streets — an hour and a half under a stoop for rest. Pec. 31.—Passed the night at a police station-house. Two cents worth of bread for breakfast. Ran around for work in a dreadful snow-storm. At night, wet, hun gry, frozen. Got supper at Mr. H’s., whose acquaintance I made on hoard ship. .Went to the station-house ,to stay over night found it. full of people. No room. Passed the night in the streets. , , . Here commences a.letter thus: ; “My dear Mother in Germany: —l wish to write to you l once more before I die- —once more, because I do not know whether I shall be living to-morrow.” Here his letter to-his mother abruptly terminates, and another commences address ed' to the Hotel-keeper, haying his trunks in charge as a pledge for arrearages of board. It begins thus: . ; : ‘ Sir: Do not trouble - yourself on account of my not returning, as I am sorry to be under the necessity of informing you that I cannot pay my board.” The Diary is resumed as follows: - January 1, 1867.—Went into an' eating sa loon without a penny. Offered my pocket book and cigar-case for something to eat— gotit fortunately on credit. Very hungry to-night. Got supper at my shipmate’s, Mr. 11., Played awhile there on a piano,. All full at the station-house. Took passage on a ferry-boat to Jersey city, for three cents, and passed the night on the boat, going back and forth until morning. Jan. 2d and 3d. —Slept in? a. police-station house. Breakfast and supper at my ship mate’s. Jan. 4 th and sth. —Spent night at police station. Don’t know what to do! Was at several places for work, but no prospect, no hope yet! Saif pad 2P. M. Met Rev. Mr. Neumann, , and received from him the ad dress of'Mr. It——, in M , recommend ing me for work. Here the Diary ends—the last entry having been made at the moment when the Mis sionary Neumann met the young German, as narrated, at the Emigrant boarding-house. Having thus become acquainted with his trials and struggles, since his arrival in this country, the Missionary's interest in his be half was, of course, largely increased. “ The darkest hour is that which immediately precedes the dawn of day.” Whilst the Missionary was laying plans for bis relief, there entered a/gentleman, (also a German,) a manufacturer, the very person to whom the Missionary had given the note of recom mendation, not yet presented. “Pastor Neumann,” said the manufacturer, “lam happy to meet you—can you recommend to me a trustworthy young man, to do some work for me?” “Sere he is” replied^the Missionary, laying his' lilt’nd'oif"the jmung emigrant's shoulder, and introducing him. Within the next half hour, the young man, thus providentially rescued from want and despair, was seated in the cars with his kind employer, on his way to the latter's factory, and is now happy and contented with the wages he is earning. Verity, “truth is strange, stranger than fiction.” How stri kingly this narrative vindicates a special superintending Divine providence, encircling his ministers, and the needy, to whom they are sent! MOTIVE TO CHRISTIAN EFFORT. Zinzendorf owed much of his religious fervor to the casual sight of a picture of the Crucifixion, with this simple inscription at the bottom: “ all this for thee, how much for me?'’ We.may take it to ourselves. What has the dear Saviour done for iis? What is he doihg now ? Ah! He “became poor” for us—how poor! “that we, through His pov erty might be made rich," how rich! His friendship for us has been written in His blood, and sealed by His death. We, profess to feel this; we own it. We declare that He is “all and in all,” to us. “ Thou art the great completion of my soul, The blest fulfilment of its deepest, need.” But the best expression of this is the prayer of the converted Saul of Tarsus:, “ Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" Devotion turns drudgery into delight. At a banquet given to Kos.suth, when in this country, he said, “ I would rather starve than rely for myself or my family on the help of others; but for my country’s sake I’ would not be ashamed'to go and beg from door to door.” If we have anything of a right spirit we un derstand what this feeling is with respect to Christ’s cause. And this feeling ought to be intense. With Christ, by the mouth of David, we ought to be able to say, ‘“The zeal of Thine house hath eaten me up.” Oh, to serve such a Mend, and in such a.worli as giving the precious Gospel to the world! The angels would delight in .it. .Were it permitted them to do it, they would bring gold from the mines, and gems from the shore, and pearls from the ocean, with which to pur chase the Scriptures, and then fly with the precious gift to the ends of the earth, and stand, their golden wings folded on their shoulders, at the door of every human habi tation. The beseeching appeal of Xavier, as he lay on his couch, just previous to sot ting out from Borne upon his mission to the East, was: “Yet more, 0 my God! yet more! ” Can we rest satisfied with anything short of Christ’s complete enthronement as God over all? We admire the spirit of a noble leader of the Crusaders, who was offer ed a crown upon having conducted his fol lowers to the confines of the Holy City. “No !” said he, “I will not wear a crown of honor where my Masterworeone of shame!” God forbid that we should accept of ease or honor, or anything but toil till Christ has His crown of universal dominion! 1 . “I ask no heaven till all be Thine! No glory-crown while work of mine Remaineth here! Till earth shall shine Amid the stars,. Her sins wiped out, her captives free, Her voice a music unto Thee, . For crown new work give thou to me.” The Sour for Action THE ETERNAL WORLD. No fragment of an army ever survived so many battles as the Bible; no citadel ever withstood so many. sieges; no rock was ever battered by so many hurricanes and so swept by storms. And yet it stands. It has seen the rise and downfall of Daniel’s four empires. Assyria bequeaths a few mutilated 'figures' to the riches of o,ur National Museum. Me dia and Persia, like Babylon which they con quered, have been weighed in the balance and long ago found wanting. Greece faintly survives in’its historic fame : “’Tis living Greece no more;” and the iron .Borne of the Csesars is held in, precarious occupation by a feeble hand. And yet the Book that fore tells all this, still survives. While, nations, kings, philosophers, systems, institutions, have died away, the Bible engages now men’s deepest thoughts, is. examined by the keen est intellects, stands revered by the highest tribunals, is more read; and sifted, and de bated, more devoutly loved and more vehe mently assailed, more defended,'and more denied, more industriously translated and freely given to the world, more honored and more abused, than any other book the. world ever saw. It survives all changes, itself un changed; it moves all minds, yet is moved by none; it sees all things decay, itself in corruptible; it sees myriads of other books ! ingulfed in the stream of time, yet it is borne along triumphantly on the wave; and will be borne along, fill the mystic angel shall plant his foot upon the sea and swear, by Him that liveth forever and ever, that time shall be no longer. “Bor all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof faileth away ; but the Word of the Lord endureth forever.” AN ANGEL STANDING BY. We read of a youth, in the early days of Christianity—(those periods of heroic suf fering, and heroic patience, and legendary wonder, to which I have already ventured to call your attention)- —we read of a Chris tian, on whom his persecutors had put into practice a more than common share of their cruel ingenuity, that by his torments (let those who will, or can, go through the hor rible details,) they might compel him to deny his Lord and Saviour. After a long endurance of those pains, they released bim,: in wonder at his obstinacy. His Christian brethren are said to have wondered, too, and • to have asked him by w-hat mighty faith he could so strangely subdue, the violence of the fire, as that neither a cry nor a groan escaped him. “It was, indeed, most pain ful,” was the noble youth’s reply; “ but an angel stood by me, when my anguish was the worst, and with his finger pointed to heaven.” Oh, thou, whoever thou art, that art tempted to commit a sin, do thou think on death, and that thought will be an angel unto thee! The hope of heaven will raise thy courage above the fiercest threatenings of the world; the fear of hell will rob its persuasions of their enchantments; and the very extremity of thy trial may itself con tribute to animate thy exertions, by the thought that the greater thy endurance now, the greater will be thy reward hereafter.—- Bishop Seber. RELIEF, FOR AGED EYES. Not imfirequently we have an inquiry for an.edition of the “ Social Hymn and Tune Book ” for the aged, as the words inserted between tbe lines of music are in small type. We would therefore announce that Social Hymns contains the Hymns of the Social Hranr and Tunkßook, without the Tunes, in a Clear, Legible Type, and in a volume of very convenient shape and size. To those who do not use the Music, this a very acceptable book. PRICE In Muslin. In Sheep. Flexible. Sent by Mail for these rates. The SD3IAL HYMN AND TUNE BOOH continues to receiv warmc'iumendation. Price—Muslin, $l.OO. Flexible, $1.50. Sheep, 1.25. Morocco gilt, $2.50. Presbyterian Publication Committee, 1334 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. TRUSSES, SUPPO RTERS, BRACES, And all other Surgical Appliances of the most approved kinds, infinitely superior to all others, at No. 50 North Seventh. Street. Ladies attended by Mrs. Dr. McCLEXA'CHAN. Male Department by a competent Surgeon. 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Compiled by Horace Waters, Author of “S. S. Belly 1 * Nos. L and’2, “Choral Harp,” “Day School Bell,” “Athenaeum Col lection,” “Christian-Melodist,’* Ac. Just issued by HORACE WA TERS, No. 481 Broadway, N. Y. Feb. 14—81 NEW BOOKS. THE HISTORY OF THE HUGUENOTS. Bt W. Carlos Martyr. 528 pp. square 12 mo. THE HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN FRANCE. A record full of tender interest, recounting th* story of long centuries of trial and of struggle, with brief intervals of sunshine, upon which the clouds soon closed in again. The-story is brightened by many touching incidents of Christian heroism atid devotion, and shows how the church of God is like a lamb among wolves, and yet cannot be destroyed. AHEBICAK TRACT SOCIETY, 1210 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. marble work* CREEN« above TSPHIL* SMITH & MOORE, GOLD AND SILVER PLATERS, 263 SOUTH EIGHTH STREET, PHILADELPHIA. All Goods Plated by ourselves on the Finest Metal, with th« Heaviest Plate. i All kinds of Old "Work Replated. 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