But their cheif tenet is, that future happiness is only to be obtained by penance and outward mortification, so as that Jesus Christ, by his meritorious sufferings, became the Redeemer of mankind in general, so each individual of the human race, by a life of abstinence and restraint, may "work out his own salvation." Nay, it is said, they admit of works of supererogation. They use the same form of government, and the same discipline, as the English Baptists do, except that every person is allowed to speak in the congregation, and their best speaker is usually ordained the minister. They have also deacons, and deaconesses from among their ancient widows, who may all use their gifts, and exhort at stated times.

Mr. Winchester, in his "Dialogues on Restoration," draws a high character of them. His friend, the Rev. Morgan Edwards, formerly minister of the Baptist church at Philadelphia, once said to him respecting the Dunkers, and he knew them well, "God always will have a visible people on earth, and these are his people at present above any other in the world!" And in his history of the "Pennsylvanian Baptists," Mr. M. says of them,— General redemption they certainly hold, and withal general salvation, which tenets, though wrong, are consistent." On account of their meekness and hatred of war and slavery together with a renunciation of all sorts of violence, they are denominated the harmless Dunkers. Pity it is, that this epithet cannot be applied to all the professors of Christianity!

NEW AMERICAN SECT.

The American editior of this work has added the following article, worthy of preservation :

"Many of those who lately migrated from Wales to America, have adopted the following articles as their religious constitution:

"1. The convention shall be called the Christian Church.

"2. It shall never be called by any other name, or be

distinguished by the particular tenets of any man, or sects of men.

"3. Jesus Christ is the only head-believers in him the only members--and the New Testament the only rule of the fraternity..

“4. In mental matters, each member shall enjoy his own sentiments, and freely discuss every subject; but in discipline, a strict conformity with the precepts of Christ is required.

"5. Every distinct society belonging to this association shall have the same power of admitting its members, electing its officers, and in case of malconduct, of impeaching them.

"6. Delegates from the different congregations shall meet from time to time, at an appointed place, to consult the welfare and advancement of the general interest.

"7. At every meeting for religious worship, collections shall be made for the poor, and the promulgation of the gospel among the Heathen."

This liberal plan originated chiefly with the late Rev. M. J. Rhees, (an old friend and fellow-pupil,) who, a few years ago, emigrated from Wales, and distinguished himself in America by his unceasing activity. He died in the prime of life, December, 1804, at Somerset, in Pennsylvania, deeply regretted by his numerous friends and connexions. He lies interred at Philadelphia, beneath a tomb, on which is seen a handsome inscription to his memory, that may be found in that valuable work, Richads's "Welsh Biography." But it was not in religion only, but also in civil affairs, that this good man meditated improvement. On the 4th of July, 1795, the year subsequent to his arrival in the United States, the Rev. M. J. Rhees delivered an Oration, at Greenville, Head-quarters of the Westarn Army, north-west of the Ohio, with the following animated and truly philanthropic conclusion :— "The little stone which Nebuchadnezzar saw, smote the image on its feet, ground it to powder, became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. So be it speedily! May the perfect law of liberty, sway its sceptre of love from the rising to the setting sun-from the centre of the

globe, to the extremities of the Poles! Citizens and soldiers of America, sons of liberty, it is you I address ! Banish from your land the remains of slavery. Be consistent with your congressional declaration of rights, and you will be happy. Remember, there never was, nor will be, a period when justice should not be done. Do what is just, and leave the event with God. Justice is the pillar that upholds the whole fabric of human society, and Mercy is the genial ray which cheers and warms the habitations of men. The perfection of our social character consists in properly tempering the two with one another -in holding that middle course which admits of our being just, without being rigid, and allows us to be generous, without being unjust. May all the citizens of America be found in the performance of such social duties, as will secure them peace and happiness in this world, and in the world to come life everlasting, through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

The Rev. M. J. Rhees, on his arrival in America, was partronized by my worthy friend, the late Dr. William Rogers, of Philadelphia, with his usual benevolence and amenity. He was also noticed by the President Jefferson, who discerned his talents and approved of his activi

ty. He was connected with a people at Beulah, in the vicinity of the Alleghany mountains, but he travelled through the United States. Some account of him is given in Benedict's "History of the American Raptists," and in my "Memoirs of Dr. Richards." Had he lived he would have distinguished himself among his Transatlantic brethren, and rendered signal service to his newly adopted country. But providence determined otherwise, by his sudden and early removal to a better world.

As Roger Williams, a native of the Principality, established entire religious liberty in Rhode Island, so here we have the bold and intrepid testimony of an honest Welshman in behalf of perfect civil freedom, in the U. States of America. Slavery is a foul stain upon their emblazoned escutcheon, which neither their mighty rivers, nor their widespreading lakes, nor even the lofty and astounding falls of Niagara can obliterate. It is, however, the lamen

tation of every enlightened citizen-the abhorrence of every good Christian, and, as long as the enormous evil continues, must render American patriotism contemptible in the eyes of all the civilized nations of the earth. Shame, shame upon this far-famed land of liberty! But why should, the rights of man, on account of " the colour of the skin," be thus unblushingly violated? The clanking chain and the corroding fetter attach only to outrageous transgression or indurated depravity. And even here chastisement, under every well constituted government, by producing personal amendment, terminates in the restoration of liberty.

MYSTICS.

Of this description there have been many singular characters, especially Madame Guyon, a French lady, who made a great noise in the religious world. Fenelon, the amiable archbishop of Cambray, favoured the sentiments of this female devotee, for which he was reprimanded by the Pope, and to whose animadversions he most dutifully assented, contrary to the convictions of his own mind. It is not uncommon for the Mystics to allegorise certain passages of scripture, at the same time not denying the literal sense, as having an allusion to the inward experience of believers. Thus, according to them, the word Jerusalem, which is the name of the capital of Judea, signifies allegorically the church militant; morally, a believer; mysteriously, heaven! That fine passage, also, in Genesis, "Let there be light, and there was light,' which is, according to the letter, corporeal light, signifies, allegorically, beatitude, or the light of glory. Mysticism is not confined to any particular profession of Christianity, but is to be understood as generally applied to those who dwell upon the inward operations of the mind (such as the Quaknrs, &c.,) laying little or no stress on the outward ceremonies of religion,

SWEDENBORGIANS.

THE Swedenborgians are the followers of Emanuel Swedenborg, a Swedish nobleman, who died in London, 1772. He professed himself to be the founder (under the Lord) of the New Jerusalem Church, alluding to the New Jerusalem spoken of in the Book of the Revelation of St. John. His tenets, although peculiarly distinct from every other system of divinity in Christendom, are nevertheless drawn from the holy scriptures, and supported by quotations from them. He asserts that, in the year 1743, the Lord manifested himself to him in a personal appearance, and at the same time opened his spiritual eyes, so that he was enabled constantly to see and converse with spirits and angels.

He now began to print and publish various wonderful things, which, he says, were revealed to him, relating to heaven and hell, the state of men after death, the worship of God, the spiritual sense of the scriptures, the various earths in the universe, and their inhabitants, with many other extraordinary particulars, the knowledge of which was, perhaps, never pretended to by any other writer before or since his time. Baron Swedenborg, in his treatise concerning heaven and hell, and of the wonderful things therein, as heard and seen by him, makes the following declaration: "As often as I conversed with angels face to face, it was in their habitations, which are like to our houses on earth, but far more beautiful and magnificent, having rooms, chambers, and apartments in great variety, as also spacious courts belonging to them, together with gardens, parterres of flowers, fields, &c. where the angels are formed into societies. They dwell in contiguous habitations, disposed after the manner of our cities, in streets, walks, and squares. I have had the privilege to walk through them, to examine all around about me, and to enter their houses, and this when I was fully awake, having my inward eyes opened!" A similar description is given of heaven itself, but the reader is referred to the treatise whence this curious extract is taken. He denies a trinity of persons in the godhead, but con