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and the neighbouring countries, and to accounts of the progress of Christian missions in India. We have just seen the fourth number, for May 1818. It is far less interesting than might have been expected; but the following extracts may not be unacceptable.

"The death warrants to be signed by, his Majesty (the Emperor of China) at the autumnal execution, amount this year to nine hundred and thirty five. The share which Canton has in these is 133: but to the whole number executed in Canton during the year the word THOUSANDS, it is said, must be applied; some say three thousand. If the truth be equal to one thousand, it is a shockingly awful number of human beings for one province to sacrifice to the laws in the space of one year. I omit the word justice, for human laws and justice are not always the same."

We meet with the following remarkable Decree of the Emperor, dated June 20, 1817. "At the capital, the season of rain having passed, without any genial showers having fallen, the board of punishment is hereby ordered, to examine into the cases of all the criminals sentenced to the several species of transportation and lesser punishments, and report to me distinctly what cases may be mitigated, in the hope that nature will thereby be moved to confer the blessing of rain and preserve the harmony of the seasons. Respect this."

In the Emperor's decree, (it is remarked) "an over-ruling Providence is acknowledged, and that mercy is an attribute of Providence. Of the Being in whom that supreme control resides, their ideas are extremely obscure. When any Chinese is asked, who is to be moved by this act of clemency ?he replies, Teen Te, Heaven and Earth."

We make a few extracts also from a letter of Rev. W. Reeve, dated Bellary, Jan. 23, 1818.

"A wide and extensive field of successful labour has been opened from time to time, among the soldiers of the different European corps, that have been staying here.

"There has been for several years an English free school established in the Fort, which has already proved a great blessing, in not only providing food and raiment for some poor helpless orphans, but also in imparting to many children, English and country-born, a tolerable education; who, if they had not been brought under the fostering auspices of this friendly institution, might have been left to wretchedness and ruin. We are not without hopes, also, that the boarding school in the Mission house, may furnish useful members for society, and bright ornaments for the church of Christ,

"But what shall we say as to the poor Heathen, the more immediate objects of our labour? This may be said, much precious seed has been sown, followed with many prayers, and watered with many tears; but the harvest is not yet ripe ;-fruits of A GOOD KIND do not yet appear. We are, however, not without encouragements, and great ones too. The prejudices of the heathen against the gospel become every day more and more insignificant and contemptible. The people manifest an inquiring disposition, ask many questions, come from far to receive our books, and listen apparently with a gratified attention, to all that they hear about THIS NEW WAY. We want MORE FAITH, MORE ZEAL, MORE SYM

PATHY.

"We have now eight native schools, in which there are about three hundred and forty children. These children have committed catechisms, and large portions of scripture to memory, which they have from time to time repeated to us with great correctness."

The Psalter has been printed in Chinese, in the same size with the morning and evening prayers of the English church. The third number of the Chinese Dictionary is completed and printed.

ORDINATIONS.

On Wednesday, April 14, Mr. JOHN PIERPONT was ordained pastor of the Church and Society in Hollis Street, Boston, as successor to the Rev. Mr. Holley. The introductory prayer was offered by the Rev. Mr. Tuckerman of Chelsea. The Sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Ware of the University, from I. Corinthians v. 18. And all things are of God; who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. The ordaining prayer was offered by Rev. President Kirkland; the Charge was given by Rev. Dr. Porter of Roxbury; the Right hand of Fellowship by Rev. Mr. Palfrey; and the concluding prayer by Rev. Mr. Greenwood.

April 28. Mr. CHARLES BRIGGS was ordained minister of the church in Lexington. The services were introduced with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Briggs of Mansfield. The Sermon by Rev. Dr. Richmond of Dorchester, from Ephesians vi. 15. Having your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. The Ordaining prayer by Rev. President Kirkland. The Charge by Rev. Dr. Stearns of Lincoln. The Right hand of Fellowship by Rev. Mr. Field of Weston. The concluding prayer by Rev. Mr. Fiske of West Cambridge.

OBITUARY.

Died at Savannah, March 7th, 1819, Mr. FRANCIS WILLIAM WINTHROP, aged 19, son of Thomas L. Winthrop, Esq. of Boston.

There are few of the dispensations of God's Providence, which are so well adapted forcibly to impress some of the most important religious truths, as the death of the young; and few which are calculated so effectually to rouse us to exertion, and to call forth all our powers in the cause of virtue, as the loss of those in whom were united high intellectual endowments, and distinguished moral excellence. When we are called, to mourn the death of those, who are taken from us early in life if their life be measured by their years, but who have advanced with rapid step in the path of improvement, we feel with doable force the admonition to exert every faculty, and to improve every moment allowed us; for the number of labourers is lessened, and more is dependent upon our efforts,-a more weighty responsibility rests upon our employment of that time, which, we are reminded, may be short to the youngest.

Such an admonition has been given to his friends by the death of Mr. Francis W. Winthrop, a young man of whom the highest hopes had been raised, and of whose eminence and usefulness the highest expectations were not extravagant. In his death society has experienced a loss, which, though it can hardly be fully appreciated, is not the less real and severe. Blessed with great natural powers, he had cultivated them with success, and gave evidence as well of the extent of his acquirements, as of the original force of his understanding, in the rank he sustained as a scholar at the University, in the few but excellent productions of his pen, and in famil iar conversations with his friends. Though his talents were remarkable, they were not more conspicuous, than the unaffected modesty which enhanced their value, while it in some degree veiled their brilliancy. Less ambitious of praise, than of being praiseworthy, he was satisfied with the approbation of the few, and uncorrupted by the vain desire of dazzling the` many. He maintained his opinions with a manly firmness, but was equally removed from presumptuous boldness, and yielding timidity. Possessing feelings of great delicacy, though without approaching a morbid sensibility, his regard to those of others was as uniform, as it was kind and attractive. Though his life was short, he lived long enough to sustain and resist some of the strongest temptations to which human virtue is exposed. Amidst the powerful seductions of vice, and the numerous facilities to error by which a young man's strength of principle is tryed in a collegiate life, his integrity was not merely uncorrupted but confirmed; his purity was not only unsullied, but became constantly brighter. When he was suffering under the pains of disease and the rapid failure of his bodily strength, his patience and unrepining resignation were such as could have arisen from no other principle than an ardent piety, and firm reliance on the goodness of God. By such qualities it was that he acquired and preserved the esteem and respect of all who knew him, and the most devoted attachment of his particular associates. By the strong powers of his understanding, and the delicacy and purity of his mind, by his deference to others mingled with a just confidence in himself, by his high standard of moral excellence, and the warmth of his piety, he was in a peculiar manner fitted for the profession of Divinity, which he had adopted with deliberation, and would have pursued with ardour, had his life been prolonged. But while the hopes of his friends and the expectations of society are thus mournfully disappointed, our grief for his loss is mingled with gratitude for his life and example, and softened by our confident assurance, that he is raised to a higher sphere of action and of usefulness; that he will still enjoy the merciful protection, and the approving smile of his God and Father.

NEW PUBLICATIONS.

The Young Preacher's Manual; or a Collection of Treatises on preachIng-comprising Brown's Address to Students in Divinity, Fenelon's Dialogues on the Eloquence of the pulpit, Claude's Essay on the composition of a sermon, abridged, Gregory on the composition and delivery of a sermon, Reybaz on the art of preaching-with a list of books. Revised by Ebenezer Porter, D.D. Bartlet Professor, Andover. Boston, Charles Fwer. Nine Sermons preached at Plattsburgh, N. Y. By the Rev. William R. Weeks, A. M. 2d edition.

The Trial. Calvin and Hopkins versus the Bible and common sense. By a Lover of truth. 20 edition, enlarged. To which are added some remarks on the Andover Institution.

A Series of Letters on the mode and subjects of Baptism, addressed to the Christian Public: to which is prefixed a brief account of the commencement and progress of the author's trial on those points, which terminated in his embracing believers' baptism. By Stephen Chapin. late pastor of the congregational Church in Mount Vernon, N. H. Boston, Lincoln & Edmands.

A Statement of the proceedings in the First Church and parish in Dedham respecting the settlement of a minister; 1818. With some considerations on congregational Church polity. By a member of said Church and Parish.

A Course of Lectures, containing a description and systematic arrangement of the several branches of Divinity; accompanied with an account both of the principal authors, and of the progress which has been made at different periods in Theological Learning. By Herbert Marsh, D.D. F.R.S. Margaret Professor of Divinity.—Part IV. On the Interpretation of Prophecy. Boston, Cummings & Hilliard.

A Humble attempt to reconcile the differences of Christians respecting the extent of the Atonement. By Edward D. Griffin, D. D. New-York.

A Sermon on Robbery, Piracy, an Murder; in which Duelling and Suicide are particularly considered. Preached after the execution of the four pirates. By T Baldwin, D. D.

An Appeal to the public with respect to the unlawfulness of Divorces, pleaded before the Consociation of New Haven, Dec. 5, 1785. By Benjamin Trumbull, D. D. 2d edition.

The History of the Jews from the Destruction of Jerusalem to the present time, by Hannah Adams, of Boston, America, has been reprinted at London in a handsome octavo volume.

We acknowledge an interesting communication from A friend to peace in church and state, which shall receive attention. Osmyn has also been received.

A gentleman, whose name is left with our publishers, Messrs. WELLS & LILLY, is very desirous of obtaining the loan of a volume of the Critical Review, published, he th nks, between the years 1804 and 1810, containing, among the Foreign Articles, a review of Paulus' Commentary on the NewTestament.

THE

CHRISTIAN DISCIPLE..

No. 71.

NEW SERIES-No. 3.

For May and June, 1819.

A GLANCE AT THE HISTORY OF OPINIONS CONCERNING THE CREATION AND FALL OF MAN.

No. II.

IN our first number we confined ourselves to the speculations, which have been formed in successive ages, on the Mosaic account of the Creation of the first human pair in the garden of Eden. We propose in this to follow the course of opinion respecting their Fall; observing the same historical arrangement as before, and endeavouring to preserve the two parts of our essay as distinct from each other as we can. They have, however, so close a connexion and so many mutual relations, that it will be necessary to bear in mind what has been already stated; and we cannot promise entirely to avoid repetition. It is evident that there must uniformly be a correspon dence between the sentiments, which any writer has entertained on the two points under view. They who held the highest notions of the original image of God, and of the paradisiacal state, would of course form the highest estimate of the consequences of the first transgression: and so in the reverse. Adam could not lose more than he possessed; and the mischiefs of his fall must be commensurate with the distinctions and privileges which he forfeited.-Under these circumstances, it may appear to some that we had better have combined our subjects in a single view; and, since the same denominations occur as belonging to the disputants on both, have observed no other classification than that, which they once for all would point out. In so doing, however, we should have been obliged to sacrifice New Series-vol. I.

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