. « .. . . • i . u.. i . I • Ale T „,;.,,. ::„. ... .. . . :.,,. .. , ~,... , ..., ..- •'', .- •. - . . .. „ , 1. Prembyterlan Banner. Vol. V ID No. 47. Presbyterian Advocate. Vol. xi:, N o . 42.1 DAVID IVIcKINNEY, Editor and Proprietor. TERMS,-IN ADVANCE. Original Vottrg. To the Memory of a Physician Thou art gone, we no longer thy face shall behold; That form, loved by many, is lifeless and cold; In the cold arms of death thou art silently sleep ing, While friends o'er thy memory in sadness are t 1 ng The wife of thy bosom—the children so dear, in sorrow's deep anguish weep o'er thy bier; While friends and acquaintances sadly are mourn ing Thy exit to realms where there's no more return ing. The sick and the dying thy soft accents know, And oftirnes to them thou'st presented to - view The fellness of pardon for hearts that are riven, And pointed from earth to the glory of heaven. While 'Wring the body to ense of its pnin, And seeing all efforts wore like to prove vain, Lost health to restore, 't was thy Lowed com- mission To point to the Jours great, Almighty Physician Thy labors we miss; but we trust thou art now In the court of high heaven—a crown on thy brow; And, casting it down at the feet of the Savour, A,scribing to HOE the dominion forever. Yes! there we may hope thou art safely at rest, And pillow'd thy bead on Immanuel's breast; 0, who would recall thee from regions so glorious, Where, o'er sin and death, thou art more than victorious. l'or the Presbyterian Banner and Advocate. Evidences of Regeneration, Letter I.—Union with Christ Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are beoome new.-2. Cor. v: 17. NY DEAR FRIEND :—I begin this series of letters with some hesitation. In a late Banner and Advocate I see "NOBODY" says he never reads a series of articles on any subject. So I suppose he will not read these. Very well. I will just whisper to him that they are not written for his special benefit, nor for any of the Professors in our Theological Seminaries, nor for ministers generally, nor for theological students in particular, nor for any one who has more books and papers than he can read; but specially FOR YOII, and for any who may want information, and can find nothing bet ter on the subject. As I write for you, and to do you good, I shall not, perhaps, be very systematic, but very plain, giving pre cept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.—lca. xxviii: 9-13. This is needful for you, and for the young generally, and for'all who are liktly to read these letters; and the more so. because of their brevity, and the consequent fragment ary manner in which the subject is pre sented. It is well to compare our views with the Scriptures. Let us hear what they say. As they teach us the necessity and the nature of regeneration, so they must also be our guide in regard to its evidences. There fore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. We know no man after the flesh, says Paulin the preced ing verse; we know no man after the flesh. —2. Cor. v : 11-21. We are under infinite obligations to Christ Jesus; and when fidel ity to him is concerned, we show no respect to the persons of men, whether Jews or Gentiles, kindred or strangers; nor can we "accommodate our doctrine or conduct to the humors of men, from any worldly prin ciples, or because of outward connexions with them, or obligations to them. Nay, we do not now regard our external relation to Christ himself, as being of the same nation with him, or otherwise acquainted with him," or even related to him,—Scott's Commentary on the passage. And lest this should be regarded as something peculiar to himself and his associates, he declares it to be the standard of genuine Christianity, by which the piety of all is to be tested: Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Now, here are several things worthy of attention: And, first, here is Union with Christ. Union is the basis of communion. There can be no communion with Christ where there is no union with him. Hence, they who are out of Christ can have no fellow ship with him; as he himself says, Without me, apart from me, separated from me, or as it is in the margin, severed from me, ye can do nothing —John xv : 5. The words above quoted from 2. Cor. v 17, speak of union with Christ : If any wan be in Christ. To be in Christ is to be united to him, as a branch is in a tree, united to it. Now, " between Christ and believers there is," first, "a legal union, like that between a surety and the person for whom he engages. This union was formed from all eternity, when Christ was appointed their federal head, their represen tative, their surety and substitute. In the covenant of grace or redemption entered into between the Father and the Son, Jesus Christ, is constituted the legal Head, the Representative, the Surety and Substitute of his people; he stands in their place, he acts for them, and so there is a legal representative union between Christ anti them; they and he are regarded as one legal person, as a lawyer and his client are one. He is the Head, and they are the members. Hence, they are chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, and are given to Christ by the Father in the cove nant of grace, as a reward for his work.— Eph. i:4; John xvii: 2. Hence, it is written, He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied—satisfied because he shall see the salvation of those for whom he travailed and died,—lsa. liii: 10-12. Thus he prays to the Father, Glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee : as thou bast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou bast given 1- arm—John xvii: 1-3. And in another place he declares, All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.—John vi : 37. And again, I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gayest me out of the world; keep through thine own name those whom thou bast given me. Father, I will that they also, whom thuu bast given rue, be with me where I am. These aro the sheep which hear his voice, and of whom he says, I lay down my life for the sheep.—John M N; and xvii: 6-24. Now, to deny that Jesus Christ had special reference tp these in his work, or that his atonement was designed to be applied to them, or was specially 'and par ticularly intended for them, is to deny the existence of the covenant of grace, which lies at the very basis of the whole Calvinis• tic or Bible system; and it is, further, to deny that Jesus Christ is the legal Head and Representative of his people, their Surety and Substitute, and thus to subvert the very nature of the atonement as a satisfaction to Divine justice. Inseparable from the doc trines of election and atonement, is that of Christ's substitution for his people; he is their Surety, their legal Head; and hence there is a legal or covenant union between Christ and his people. This union is from all eternity, when he was appointed their [lead, their Surety and Substitute, and they were given to him, by the Father, in the covenant of grace. Hence, in the Shorter Catechism, questions 20 and 21, he is called "the Redeemer of God's elect." We say, then, there is a legal union between Christ and his people; and it is because of this, and his consequent substi tution fur us, that our sins were laid on him, and that he bare our sins in his own body on the tree;it is because of this—for his work has reation to law—that he redeems us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us; and it is because of this that be is the end of the law for righteousness to Thar. every one that believetb.—lsa.. liii: 6; 1. Pet. ii : 24; Gal. iii : 13. Rom. x 4. God's law has been broken by us and its penalty incurred; and if there were noleffal union between Christ and his people; ad he not taken their law place and obeyed the law in their stead, and endured for them its penalty and been made a curse for them, there could be no saving union between them and him. There must be an atone- meat, or there can be no forgiveness; with out shedding of blood there is no remission. —Heb. ix : 22. Atonement is a satisfaction to Divine justice; that satisfaction is made by Christ's obedience and death, because he is the legal Representative, the Surety and Substitute of his people. His sufferings are not a substitute for the penalty of the law; for he suffered the penalty of the law itself in the room of his people: he HIAISELF IS THEIR SUBSTITUTE, and hence his doing and dying in their stead is a satisfaction to the justice of God—an atonement for their sins, and the justice of God being satisfied, he can forgive, justify and save. God can be just, and yet justify them that believe, because Jesus Christ, as the legal Head of his people, has met the demands of law and justice as their Substitute, and wrongh,t,aut a righteousness in which they may stafficeepted before Goa.--Itofii, iii 20-2 g. As the lawyer answers for his client, so Jesus Christ as the legal Head and Repre sentative of his people, stood in their law place and answered for them, and met for them, and cancelled all the demands of law and justice; as he said, Lo I come to do thy will, 0 God.—Heb. x : 5-10. So what is legal in the union of Christ and his people is the basis of what is real and spiritual; the legal union is the antecedent and the foundation of every other union, and of all communion, too, between Christ and his redeemed. This is just the reverse of what is taught by the Church of Rome; but Romanism discards the Bible. The Bible is the religion of Protestants; and the Bible teaches the legal union of Christ and his people as the basis of every other union and of all communion with him. Hence, in an important sense, the death of Christ is the death of his people, as Paul says, I am crucified with Christ.—Gal. : 20. So, too, in an important sense, the resurrection of Christ is the resurrection of his people, as Paul says again , He hath quickened us together witliChrist, and hath raised us up together.—Eph. ii : But there is more than a legal union between Christ and his people. The legal union is from eternity, when Christ was made their Head and they were given to him. But there must also a union take place here in time, in this world, in order that the benefits promised and secured by the legal union may be possessed and enjoyed. The redemption purchased by Christ as the Surety of his people, must be applied ; and . in its application there is farmed a vital, spiritual, and saving union with Christ : thus, "the Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling," or regeneration and con version.—Short. Cat., Ques. 30. The Spirit unites us to Christ, and so it is a spiritual union; be unites us to Christ by faith, and so it is a living and saving union • and as it is mysterious, it is called a mystical union. Christ puts his Spirit in our hearts, and so the bond of union on his part is the in dwelling of his Spirit; we receive Christ by faith, and so the bond of union on our part is faith. When the Spirit enlightens and renews our hearts, and we receive Christby faith as our Saviour, we become united to him, and become interested in, and are made partakers of all the blessings and benefits of the ever - •r: covenant of grace. This is the union .-::ca of by the Apostle when he says, If any man be in Christ, united to him, he is a new creature; it is a union formed when we are begotten again and become new crea tures; a living union, because being united to Christ, we derive life from him; a saving union, because being united to Christ, we are justified and shall therefore be glorified. There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus—united to him. "Death will break all other ties, and separate the soul from the body, but it can not dissolve the union between Christ and believers. Hence, they are said to ' die in the Lord,' and to 'sleep in Jesus..'" And "the souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness, and do immediately pass into glory; and their bodies being still 'united to C`hrist, do rest in their graves till the re surrection."—Short Cat. Ques. 37; Rev. xiv : 13 ; 1. Thess. iv : 14; 2. Cor. v: 17. Rom. 8 : 1-39. But I may have more to say on this subject in my next, preparatory to a proper view of the evidences of regen .eration; and till then, farewell. Yotins, TRULY. "ONE THING IS NEEDFUL:" "ONE THING HAVE I D SIRED OF THE LORD:" "THIS ONE THING I DO." PUBLICATION OFFICE, GAZETTE BUILDING, FIFTH 6REET, ABOVE SMITHFIELD, PITTSBURGH, PA. FOR. THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, AUGUST 1591857. From our London Correspondent. The lteuoll in India—Extent of the DisaPction— Dihpatch of Troops and a Commander in-Chief— Is India to be lost to Britain?—Massacres by the Sepoys—The Jews and the House of Peers—The Pros and Cons—The Coming Harvest—The State of Commerce and the .honey Marlret—instability and Insecurity of Ett.roye—Rumored Attempt to Assassinate Louis Arapoleon—Mazzini—Congre gationalism, Presbyterianism, and 4iseopacy, in the Colonies—The Irish General Assembly— Home, Foreign, Colonial, and Jewish Missions— Scotch. English, Witldensian, Belgian, and Amer. imin Deputations. iLoNno.N, July 17, 1557. The INDIAN NEWS received this week, is mixed with painful incidents, but re-assuring as to the probable stability and safety of our Empire in the East. Delhi, the strong-hold of those revolting Regiments who took re fuge there, and were joined by a fanatical Mohammedan population, was surrounded when the mail left, by Government troops. These bad been fighting with the insurgents bold enough to show themselves outside the walls. Driven bank, these desperadoes, long ere this, must have surrendered, and under gone the terrible retribution which awaited them. What more painful than for our troops to be compelled to fight (and many, too, losing their lives in the conflict,) with those who were so recently ranged by their 'side, under the one British flag ! A great lesson has been read to this country. Not less than 30,000 native troops are dis affected and disbanded, and these must be replaced, either by fresh levies in India, or by troops from home. Sir Colin Campbell goes out as Commander-in-Chief. Elderly Indian officers who had retired, are expect ing to repair to the East again, and the juniors in hundreds are hurrying away. Still the tidings that the flames of revolt, both in Bengal and in the Panjaub, are well nigh trampled out, and that the Bombay and Madras armies arc loyal to Britain, somewhat tranquilizes tjie public mind. The Cabinet had, early intelligence, met imme diately, and are acting so as to show to the country that our hold on the India Empire will, if vigor can do it, be maintained. " Man proposes," it is true, but " 4 God dis poses;" but I have a firm faith, that be cause that India has been given us that the Christian Church of all lands may subjugate it to the sway of Zion's King, therefore it shall remain under our control. Let us pray and hope that, while false charges have been insinuated, by some, against mis• sionaries, the East India Company will, at least, have the moral courage not to obstruct Christianity any longer. That is all she asks. Her weapons are not carnal—her of fice is to win souls to the Saviour; and "in the might of her meekness," she can go forth to the great conflict, in the confidence of assured and final victory. The massacre of Europeans by the Sepoys has extended beyond Meerut and Delhi. In one case, a native regiment suddenly di verged to either side of the highway, leav inglhe English officers to be shot down to a a min, by a body Ililitineeriiir'alry, who galloped down upon them ! Two missiona ries, of the Propagation of the Gospel Socie ty, with some of their agents and assist ants, were put to death at Delhi. All over Bengal, Evangelical missionaries must find an arrest put on their work. As to DoAmmo MATTERS, the House of Lords, by a majority of thirty-nine, has decided, against the admission of Jews into Parliament. The Bishop of London spoke and voted in favor tit' their admission; and this, deliberately, he said, and after stu , dying the question for years. On the other hand, Lord Derby and the Bishop of Oxford argued against " unchristianizing " the Leg islature, by admitting those who were the avowed enemies of the Mcssiahship of Jesus. The bill under discussion was called the " Oaths Bill." It proposed to repeal the clauses of the oath hitherto taken, by which, for generations past, the member of the House of Commons on taking hie seat, ab jured the jurisdiction and claims of any de -1 scendants of James 11. and the Stewarts. 1 This clause, of course, had become obsolete as far as facts could make it so; yet still, as long as it is unrepealed, it must be taken and scorn to,..as part of the oath. But tacked to the proposal to repeal that part of the oath, was another—the cause of all the strife—which proposed to leave out, hence forth, the words, "on the true faith of a Christian." By this kind of side-legislation it was, that the Jews were to be admitted to Parliament. The question is a difficult one, and much that is plausible can be said on either side. Questions, independent of Church Establishments, do come before Par liament which appinge, to say the least, on Christianity, and need an appeal to be made for decision, to the Scriptures of the New Testament., as well as of the Old. Such is that of marriage and divorce, lately under discussion, in which, to its honor, the House of Peers, while differing in opinion as to what the law of Christ was, yet bowed be fore the great Lawgiver, as Supreme in the matter. And to please the Jew who blas phemes. Him, it certainly does seem very questionable for a nation which, as such, in its Sabbath observance, its Statute Law,and otherwise acknowledges the faith of the Gospel, (coupled, it is true, with much hy pocrisy, formality and wickedness,) to blot out the solemn words, "on the true faith of a Christian." On the other hand, it is argued that the Jews, if in Parliament, would be but &hand ful; that it is a fact that Unitarians and scoffers are already there, (they take the oath, however, and the responsibility is theirs,) that Religious Freedom demands the abolition of this exclusive test, as has been done in the United States, and that virtually to persecute the Jew in this man ner is a crime, and must prejudice him more and more against Christianity. Much more has been said on both sides, but these are the main points brought out in the debate. The question is an interest ing one. The true solution of all such problems in political science, will he found in that coming day, when "Israel shall turn to the Lord, and the vail shall bo taken away." And all the more earnestly should the cry go up from Gentile Christians, "Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion l" The PROSPECTS OF HARVEST are very cheering, and the corn market is going down• The commerce of the country, and the public funds, are agitated and disturbed by the news from India, and the expenses about to be increased in the dispatch of troops, to say nothing of the probability that the revenue cannot be fected in Bengal fur some time to cothe.ill t Lookin7 . at these matters from a Christian*nd-point, one is struck with the instabaio of ail earthly things, even when the p',len of the world seem to think them most :cure. The period seems yet far distant , ;?:bn it can be said that, "The earth is qui ' rk and at'rest," and the vast extent of Bri Alcssessions, her relations with all natio.: ;:and the state of the Continent where a c forth at ally time, Shaul cial men and politician and safety." That an attempt Plombieres, on tno NAPOLEON, by an i stilletto danced aero: is whispered over of it this week, by a cently returned from French papers, it i. to be silent, and the know nothing of the That Louis Napole the Mazziniaus, is failed in their recen in Sicily. Mazzini again, having escapt Quaker. By his of his abortive attempi logs of the oppress , proves himself the bi The progress of CornEGATIONALISM IN OUR COLONIES does Ipredit to the zeal of British Christians othat section of the Church of Christ. 'us we learn that in Canada, in connexio 'tvith our Congrega tional Union there, t ere are seventy-four recognised churches ; fifty•four ministers stationed, and, with ape or two exceptions, settled as pastors ove churches; two Pro fessors in the Theological Institute; three missionaries, and three native Indian mis sionaries; six others with out pastoral charges; the average attendant;e on the preaching of the Gospel nearly even thousand; three thousand three bun red and eighty-three church members; kty-seven chapels erect ed by the Colonists; at a cost of upward of .L 36,000 ; fifty-four Sabbath Schools, with three hundred and.tix teachers, and three thousand scholars ;2 . four hundred young people attending Bible Classes. The sum :4 of .t 8,492 had been raised by fifty-four churches, during t - year, for all purposes. But it is in Aust lasia that the prospects are the most enCuraging and hopeful. The London Colonial Committee, in 1853, sent out three eturent ministers, Fletcher, Poore, and Day, to ' elbourne, two of whom were to settle as p' tors, but the third, Mr. Poore, to traverse' the whole 'land, and by intercourse with t settlers, to prepare the way for suitable mi isters. Traveling twice through Victoria, ew South Wales,'South Australia, and Ta unia, visiting every sta tion, conferring w '-ministers and friends, the energetic bir.. oore. has come to Eng land, and will sh ltlftt(if le• has not• already done AO vhihtsiffeeditiOnal ministers, for each of whom,Na station, and an adequate support, have been already pro vided. As evidence of the sincerity of the Colonists in asking for additional ministers, they have remitted £2,400 to meet in part the charges for sending out the required number. As you already know, the Free and Es tablished Churches of Scotland, 'and the Irish Presbyterian Church, have been ac tive in the same direction ; while Episcopacy has not been idle. In many of the British Colonies, however—chiefly from the disas trous influence of Gladstone in the Derby Cabinet—the leaven of Tractarianism has been widely diffused. This will be gradu ally counteracted. At Melbourne, Doctor Perry, the Bishop;is a man of the finest catholic spirit, and exercises a most benefi• cent influence. TILL IRISH GENERAL ASSEMBLY has now concluded its annual meeting, which was marked by much harmony, and at which valuable information was given as to the progress and prosperity of the Irish Presby terian Church, both at home and abroad. Deputations were present from the Free Church, and 'the English Presbyterian Church. A member of the latter Deputa tion urged upon the Assembly the duty of coming to our help in providing ministers and ordinances for Presbyterian soldiers in garrison towns, in England. The Assembly warmly entertained the proposal. Many of , the best soldiers of the British army are from Ulster, and especially in the artillery., The War Office is friendly in its spirit, and can calculate on its allowing a sum in pro portion to the number of soldiers, for the partial payment of a minister's salary. Chatham - and Plymouth have strong claims to be immediately attended to ; and it is not improbable that an Irish Presbyterian min ister, acting under the sanction of the Lon don Presbytery, may take up a position at one or the other. The Home Missions of the Irish Pres byterians are still in operation in Connaught, besides strengthening weak congregations in other districts. In the mission schools, no less than nine thousand Roman Catholic children are receiving a Scriptural and in dustrial education. As a result of this in dustrial education, continued since it was first established by Dr. Edgar, the children taught in these schools, and those taught by them, bad earned, last year, no less than £25,000. The following, by one of the young ministers laboring in Connaught, is very honorable and encouraging in connex ion with Presbyterianism : Wherever they turned their eyes, scenes of pro gress and improvement became manifest, and opened up the way for the advancement of Pres byterian interests. In fact, wherever the work of improvement was observed to make progress, they would always find members of the Presbyte rian Church associated with that work of improve ment. (Applause.) He could give illustrations from the place where he lived. The Roman Cath olic priests introduced a factory for weaving ma nias, and a Scotch Presbyterian became its man ager. A few Protestant clergymen and gentle men established a linen weaving factory in the same town, and three Ulster Presbyterians be came its conductors. A nobleman sought the services of a first-class mechanic, and a Presbyte rian was appointed. A society sought to promote the cultivation of flax through the district, and the services of a Presbyterian were brought into requisition. It was also a notable fact that Scotch farmers not only came themselves to settle in the country, but they brought numbers with them of stewards, mechanics, shepherds and laborers. Mr. Whigham then proceeded to observe that be was quite satisfied that there were very few towns of any note in the South and West of Ireland, around which, within a 'radius of twelve or fifteen miles, the materials of a congregation could not at once be formed, , . at least, to the extent of the Govero m eat I'2 qu iroment —twelve families or fifty two individuals. On the other hand it is painful to hear of Seoteli Presbyterians married to Romish wives, many of whose.. children are being broug:ht up and educated under the auspices of priests and nuns. Rome always gains in this matter of mixed marriages. Hence the importance of the Presbyterian Church watching over her scattered children, when exposed to this special form of temptation. The power of the priests over the parents and children in Ireland, is being gradiially broken by mission .schools. Not long' ago, ` - ;mpted to, frighten the parents of iren to lake them away from the te'attnmpt, except as to,Awo or db_ildteo, was a failurd!' intimidation, also, has just lather signal check, by the de ;l3.e. Election Committee of the lonimons .uldin t e , e ection, ITIP-• 'r t • , of pries y' n connexion with the '.violetteh' !cl. Dr. Mellale goes home re-. .e is a, thorough bigot. Preach igton, London, last Sabbath, he who denied the doctrine of itiation and the Mass, as on an faxe, and descending surely to Ituision. way break each our conner iilt to say " peace [d of the Irish Foreign Nis jerat, in Northern _lndia. Ver sions of the New Testament, and of the Shorter Catechism, have been published, and also a metrical ;version of the Psalms in the native tongue, prepared by Dr. Glas gow. A monthly periodical has also been established, and a press has been set up at Surat. Dr. Glasgow has received an im portant appointment from the Government of Bombay, namely, that of Translator and Superintendent of Books for the education of the people in the province. The Bible is not yet introduced in the Common Schools. It is placed in the Library of each school, for reference. The Irish Colonial Mission has done, and is doing a good work in Canada, (West and East) in Nw Brunswick, New Zeland, and Australia. The Jewish Mission operates at Da mascus, where there is a flourishing female school, and there is a small church, also. The Mission has been strengthened there by Monsieur Jules Ferrette, a Genevese by birth, a convert from Rome, and a man of extraordinary talents and attainments. He had been for three years a Romish priest. At Hamburg, Dr. Craig, and at Bonn, Mr. Graham, each carries out the designs . of the Mission to the Jews, as they have opportunity. Two young Polish Jews, in structed by the latter, have been baptized. The indirect but powerful influence of Mis sions to the Jews on dead Gentile churches, as well as in doing good to students and others, is forcibly shown by the position and usefulness of Mr. Graham at Bonn, as I an te@tifyfr r o4 Thnrsonal obaervattori gin& some yea'ris .agb. Add Dr. Craig are highly prized and'active Mends of the London Religious. Tract Societies. Conversions from among the Jews are very few at present. Still the duty is un questionable to preach Christ to them, and to wait for that Spirit, who is surely yet to take away the val.!. from Israel's heart. Deputations from Belgium, and also from the Waldensian Church, were received with great affection. The Evangelical Church of Belgium is quite young—it is a resurrection of the old Protestantism which Philip of Spain and the Pope thought to be dead and buried forever. Nearly all its ministers were once Romish priests, or Romanists. Of one thousand communicants, nine hun dred are Romish converts ; and spiritual converts in reality, they are reported to be. There are Biz thousand souls belonging to the congregations, and more than ten thou• sand Romanists hear the Gospel during each year. There are thirteen schools, aLd from six hundred to seven hundred scholars, mostly children of Itomish parents; sixty thousand tracts and books have been print ed, and there has been established a most useful Protestant book-shop in Brussels. Libeity of preaching, teaching, and pub lishinc, is secured by the Constitution. The Liberal party, who have recently been stem ming intolerance in the Chambers, have a strong sympathy with the Protestants. " I do know," said M. Anet before the Assembly, " several gentlemen, writers and doctors in law, have decided not to write a line now against the Bible and Protestant nations, because they consider the princi ples of the Reformation as the sole means of saving Belgium ; and that in ten or fif teen years, all Belgium would become Protestant. Best of all, a great Popish lec turer, a Jesuit, has been routed and put to shame by the simple ministers of the Evan gelical Church. He attacked Protestant ism, was challenged to a discussion at Mal ices, and fled to Brussels, and thence, also, the Jesuit was obliged to depart in disgrace! Vast crowds, in both places, attended to hear refutations of his attacks. The whole Liberal party laughed very much, while the friends of the Romish Church wept." The effect is very marked on the popular mind, and spiritual results have already appeared. The eloquent M. Pilatte, of Nice, and another minister, represented the Walden elan Church most effectively. Both these gentlemen are now in London. From the former I have learned particulars of the deepest interest as to the power of the Gos pel in connexion with the sojourn of the Empress Dowager of Russia, and her suite, last Winter, at Nice. I am not at liberty to say more. The total increase for the year in the Irish Presbyterian Church, in support of the Ministerial Support movement, is £4,- 500. It will go on and increase. Shall the Presbyterian Church of America take similar action ? The paucity of students for the ministry, seriously engaged attention at Belfast, and remedies were suggested. The Rev. Alex ander Clements, as a Deputy from the Re formed Associate Presbyterian Church of America, was warmly received by the Irish Assembly. Altogether, the annual meeting was most interesting. J. W. CONFIDENCE.-Ail that your friend says to you, as to his friend, is intrusted to you solely- .111uch.of what a man tells you in 'the hour of affliction, in sudden anger, or in an outpouring of his heart, should be sacred. In his craving for sympathy, he has spoken to you as his : own soul. For the Preebyterlan Banner and Advocate. The "Beginning of Wisdom." This is an age of progression. Schools, academies, and colleges flourish in almost every part of our happy country. The minds of many of our youth are imbued with i a deep love of learning. Books and periodi cals, moral and instructive, flood the land, dispelling ignorance and diffusing light; and those who are now ignorant, are wilfully so. Talents are being developed which bid fair for usefulness in society. In short, every thing proclaims, the march of intellect, and the prophecy is being literally fulfilled, " Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be - increased."--Dan. xii: 4. These things are to be rejoiced in, as .without knowledge, our youth can neither be useful nor happy—neither good citizens nor good Christians. But we will suppose an unregenerate per pp attaining to':high eminence in literary rg: E k& , dewed •;' t.sa ado; degree of, M enr! it 0- 77; frriMf—am9r4 able'circumstance • promote his, (or her) highest hopes of success, he at length gains a lofty eminence on the hill of science. Ca ressed and applauded in public and private, he glitters awhile as a star (or rather a me teor) in the galaxy of the literati! But alas ! his knowledge is unsanctifierl. With all his attainments, he has neglected the very starting point, for " The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom!" Soon, in the eyes of a fickle and changing world, he is eclipsed by some new constellation, glittering, perhaps, in the same manner, and soon to be outshone by another. Then, his heart being elated with flattery and not for tified by grace, he is disheartened and un happy. He can ill brook the cold neglect of those who once caressed and applauded him. His highest ambition was to attain literary honors—his end was gained ; but alas! even in possession, it was not what he anticipated, and now, even that is vanished! Whither will he turn ? Religion's consola tions are not his, for alas, he has neglected her precepts 1 The future is all dark, and when death approaches, he looks forward to eternity with fearful and gloomy forebodings. On the other hand, see him that begins with "the fear of the Lord." His studies are pursued with a view to usefulness—he invokes the Divine guidance in ail his pursuits. He may rise to eminence in liter ature, but this is not his great object; but only subservient to the will of his Great Master. He perseveres in the path of known duty, comparatively regardless of the world's smiles or frowns. His talents and acquire ments are exerted for the promotion of the temporal and spiritual welfare of his fellow beings, and above all the glory of God. If the world frown and cast him off, though he may feel wounded and ill-treated, yet he does not entirely give way to melancholy feelings, for be has, through Divine grace, a spring of never-failing consolation. He knows that this world is not his home, and he looks beyond its fading honors to the "'far ‘Mikoretbeh`ditintld 'etitiu/L WeighLsof glory," which awaits him on 'high. He fears not death; it is only a messenger to conduct him to the courts of the great King, there to be crowned with honors, unfading and eternal. MARY. The Doctrine of Election. Who are the Elect? It is not difficult to know. The doctrine of election itself is a mystery, but the Elect themselves are not indistinguishable, even in the midst of this obscure but perplexing dispensation. They are those who have been chosen of Christ. The word " elect" means chosen; they that are chosen of Christ. Such unquestionably there are, "chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, that ye should be holy." "Elect according to the foreknowl edge of God the Father, through sanctifi cation of the Spirit, unto obedience, and sprinkling of JesusiChrist." 1. Peter i: 2. I have not the least doubt that the doctrine of election is true. But what is that doc trine ? That God saves me, not because of any thing in me, or any thing done by me, but because of the riches of his grace, and the sovereignty of his almighty love. But there are some Christians who deny that there is any such doctrine; but singular enough, while they deny the name, they ad mit the reality. Take the lowest Arminian, who is a true Christian, and ask him, "Do you mean to say that the first movement to wards heaven is on my part ?" He will answer, "No, no, God must first speak be fore we answer." Well, grant me that, and I will not quar rel about the name election, since we agree about the reality; for if I am chosen irre spective of anything in me, it matters not whether that choice was made ten minutes ago, or thousands of years ago. It is not a question of time, but a question of grace; and if you admit that all grace in the heart of the believer is not an original thing, but a response to a first movement on God's part, you grant the substance even when you deny the name of the doctrine of elec tion. But if you ask, Who are they who are elected ? we answer, They who have cho sen Christ to be their Saviour. Make sure that you have chosen Christ, and never trouble yourselves about the question wheth er he has chosen vou. Do not try to peer into God's hidden - book, which God alone can penetrate, but read God's revealed book, and compare your character with it; for the things that are revealed are for us and for our children. If you love Christ, that proves that he loves you; for what is his own word, " We love him because he first loved us." if I want to know whether I am elected, I do not begin at heaven, and trace down ward to my heart; but I begin at my heart, and trace upward to heaven. I do not try to hook the ladder to the top of the monu ment first, but I put the base on the ground; and then place the top of the ladder against the top of the monument. High predestinarians first try to prove that they are elected, and then they infer that they may live as they like (even though their liking should lead them to live contra ry to God's law;) whereas, the proper way is to sec whether we live the life of the saints of God, and then infer that our name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life, in which are the names of all that believe. Those who are elected (or chosen,) believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, rest upon his sac rifice for the pardon of sin, are clothed with his righteousness as their - title to heave; and approach a communion-table and the' Philadelphia, 111 South Tenth Street, below Chestnut By Nail, or at the Office, $1.50 per Year, SEE PROSPECTUS Delivered in the City, 1,75 " WHOLE NO. 255 judgment-seat, trusting only in this, that "He who knew no sit) was made sin for them, that they might be made the right eousness of God in Him." Such as these make up the Elect, and none but such. Calvin on Reading Sermons. Calvin expresses himself very distinctly and beautifully in his letter to Somerset, against the prevalent practite of reading sermons. "The people," he says, "must be taught in such a manner that they may be inwardly convicted and made to feel the truth of what the Bible says, that the word is a two.edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, ,and joints and marrow; and' is a discerner,of the thoughts and intents of the heart. - .I say this to your highness, because there is too little of living preaching in our kingdom, sermons there being mostly read and recited. I understand well enough what obligates on to adopt' this 'Met'hod; there are few 'ntbatriieeffilipreitchers,Lsuch as _you have, and youlear that levity and foolishirriagina titans might be the consequences, as is often the case," by the introduction of a new system. But all this must yield to the eom mand of Christ, which orders the preaching of the Gospel. No possible danger must be permitted to abridge the liberty of the ' Spirit of God, or prevent its free course among those whom he has adorned with his grace for the edifying of the Church." jfacts an 61taltings. SAY LITTLE of persons that you can neither commend without envy, nor dis praise without danger. PRAISE no man too liberally before his face, nor censure any man severely behind his back. Timm NEVER. was any man so insensible as not to perceive a Deity throughout the or dinary course of nature, though many have been so obstinately ungrateful as not to con fess it. CAIITION.—It is a good thing to be prompt, active, and decided; but nothing is ever done well that is done in a hurry. Festina lente, says the Latin maxim—Has ten slowly. It is the only mode by which you can accomplish a purpose with accuracy as well as celerity. TEARS AND LAUGHTER.—Goti made both tears and laughter, and both for kind pur poses ; for as laughter enables mirth and surprise to breathe freely, so tears enable sor row to vent itself patiently. Tears hinder sorrow from becoming despair and madness, and laughter is one of the very privileges of reason, being confined to the human species. A ri.forzAßCH.—A wise man is a great monarch; he bath an empire within him self;,reason._ commands in chief, and pos sesses the throne and sceptre. All his pas sions, like obedient subjects, do obey : though the territories seem but small and narrow, yet the command and royalty are great, and reach further than he that wears the moon for his crest, or the other that wears the sun for his helmet. LIMIER'S WEDDING-RING.—An inter esting antique has just been discovered at Munich, in the shape of Luther's wedding ring. It is described as of pure gold, and the circle skillfully engraved in relief with the emblems of the passion—such as the cross, ladder, sword, sponge, and cloth. In the inside is engraved, "D. Martino Lu thero, Catharine a Bora, 13 Junius, 1525." Such is the description given by a Munich journal. TEAus os Luxtrity.--" What is the mat ter with that young man?" was the thought of many, one Sabbath at the Mariner's church, as a well appearing young man wept much durinc , the service. " What was the" matter ?" 0, they were tears of joy Joy ! for what ? He shall tell his own story: "I am steward of a ship; I am on my way home to Baltimore from Boston; I have not had the privilege of meeting with the people of God for twenty months ; I feel that it is good to be here." BREVITY.-Dr. Abernethy, the cele brated physician, was never more displeased than by hearing a patient detail a long ac count of troubles. A woman, knowing Abernethy's love of the laconic, having burn ed her hand, called at his house. Showing him herhand, she said, CPA burn." "A poul tice," quietly answered the learned doctor. The next day she returned, and said, "Bet ter." " Continue the poultice," replied Dr. Abernethy. In a week she made her last call, and her speech was lengthened to three words, " Well. Your fee ?" " Nothing," said the physician; "you are the most sensible woman I ever saw." INQUIRE CAUTIOUSLY.—EIder Jones, a worthy, but very prosy preacher, was ad dressing a drowsy congregation one Summer afternoon. He was glad to see that one good woman was not only awake, while all were sleeping, but she was melted to tears under the pathos of his discourse. After the services were over, he hastened to join her, and giving her his band, be remarked: "I observe, my dear friend, that you were very much overcome this afternoon; will you tell me what it was in the sermon that most affected you ?" "O," she replied, "it was not the sermon; I was thinking if my son John should grow up and be a preacher, and preach such a dull sermon as that, how ashamed of him I should be." PACKING THOUGHT. - DO not assume that because you have something important to communicate, it is necessary to write a long article. A tremenduous thought may be packed into a small compass—made as solid as a cannon-ball, and like the project ile, cut down all before it. Short articles are generally more effective, find more read ers, and are more widely copied than long ones. Pack your thoughts close together, and though your article may be brief, it will have weight, and be more likely to make an impression. " Ye who write for this busy age," says a late writer, " speak quick, use short sen tences, never stop the reader with a long or am biguous word, but let the stream, of thought flow right on, and men will drink it like water."
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers