That, as, on the Christian scheme, Christ will be the Judge of the quick and the dead, he has not on this account (i, e. admitting this to be true) any disagreeable apprehensions on account of what he has written; and yet,

He ridicules the birth and resurrection of Christ, postpones his instructions to those of the heathen philosophers and law. givers, asserts his doctrines to be dishonorary to God and injurious to mankind, and allows him not to be sinless; but merely not a gross sinner.

He further declares, That the resurrection of Christ, if true, proves not the immortal. ity of the soul:

That the belief of a future state is of no advantage to society:

That all religions are alike : That it is of no consequence what religion a man embraces: And he allows not any room for dependence on God's Providence, trust in him, and resignation to his will, as parts of duty, or religion.”

That our readers may know how to appreciate the assertion that Mr. Chubb "was uniform. ly formed for integrity," we beg leave to introduce another passage from the same excellent sermons, p. 45, 46.

"Herbert, Hobbes, Shaftsbury, Woolston, Tindal, Chubb, and Bolingbroke, are all guilty of the vile hypocrisy of professing to love and reverence christianity, while they are employed in no other design than to destroy it. Such faithless professions, such gross violations of truth, in Christians, would have been proclaimed to the universe

by these very writers, as infamous desertions of principle and decency. Is it less infamous in themselves? All hypocrisy is detestable; but I know of none so detestable as that, which is coolly written, with full premeditation, by a man of talents, assuming the character of a moral and religious instructor, a minister, a prophet, of the truth of the infinite God. Truth is a virtue perfectly defined, mathematically clear, and completely understood by all men of common sense. There can be no haltings between uttering truth and falsehood, no doubts, no mistakes; as between piety and enthusiasm, frugality and parsimony, generosity, and profusion. Transgression, therefore, is always a known, definite, deliberate villany. In the sudden moment of strong temptation, in the hour of unguarded attack, in the flutter and trepidation of unexpected alarm, the best man may, perhaps, be surprised into any sin; but he, who can coolly, of steady design, and with no unusual impulse, utter falsehood, and vend hypocrisy, is not far from finished depravity."

The article CHURCH is consid. erably enlarged, and some of the additions require notice. The compiler of the original article explains the word which is translated "church" throughout the New-Testament, to "denote either a single congregation of Christians, or the whole Christian community;" and adds that "the plural number is invariably used when more congregations than one are spoken of, unless the subject be the whole common. wealth of Christ." This the American editors suppose to be

an unwarranted conclusion; and have argued somewhat at length to prove, that the number of believers at Jerusalem was so great, that they could not assemble in one place, and be justly denomi. nated one congregation. They take notice, indeed, that "they (the believers at Jerusalem) were all with one accord in Solomon's porch." "But," they ask, "can we reasonably understand by this, more than that the body of the disciples frequently convened in this place for the purposes of intercourse and conversation, and the transaction of some concerns that might require an union of counsel, influence, and exertion?" We answer, No; and ask, in our turn, whether the meaning of the words "a single congregation," would not be well explained by the very definition which they have given of the assemblies in Solomon's porch? It appears to us, that the believers in any one city might properly be addressed as one congregation, if the body of them met together indiscriminately, and without any restraint, except that imposed by their numbers, how. ever impracticable it might be for all to assemble and worship under one roof, at the same time. We are inclined to believe, therefore, that there is no reason to differ with the English editor on this subject, especially as the Greek, word which is translated church, might have been translated congregation, and perhaps with equal propriety.

In the account of the church of England is introduced the following quotation from the bishop of

Lincoln's Elements of Christian Theology, who is stated to have

quoted it from "the learned and amiable Dr. Jortin :"

"In England, at the time of the synod of Dort, we were much divided in our opinion concerning the controverted articles; but our divines having taken the liberty to think and judge for themselves, and the civil government not interposing, it has come to pass, that fiom that time to this, almost all persons here, of any note for learning and abilities have bid adieu to Calvinism, have sided with the remonstrants, and have left the fatalists to follow their own opinions, and to rejoice (since they can rejoice) in a religious system consisting of human creatures without liberty, doctrines without sense, faith without reason, and a God without mercy."

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The American editors subjoin the following sentences:

"Calvinists have often been charged by their "amiable" opponents with holding sentiments from which the horrible consequences here stated must necessarily result. But it is notorious to all the world, that they reject these consequences with the deepest abhorrence: and we think they have shown, in the most solid and satisfactory manner, that such consequences cannot fairly be drawn from anyof their tenets. It is the indication of a weak cause thus to repeat reproaches, which have a thousand times been con

futed, and shewn to be utterly ground

less."

66

Without arrogating to Calvinists all the piety, all the learning, to all the modesty in the world, we boldly challenge their oppo. nents, to name a single Calvinistic divine, who has ever held to such a religious system," as that described in the quotation cited above from Dr. Jortin. Did Calvin, or do any of his followers, believe that human creatures are without liberty? It is perfectly well known to those who know any thing on the subject, that Calvinists have ever been strenuous defenders, and constant teachers of the doctrine, that men are free agents, and accountable to God for their actions. We hardly know what

is meant by doctrines without sense, and faith without reason. If it is meant to be asserted, that Calvinists discard reason in the discussion of religious topics, the charge has no foundation in fact. On the contrary, they are often charged, (and by the same set of opponents too,) with placing too much reliance upon logical, or metaphysical demonstration. Thus when presented with a doctrine offensive to the natural heart, these men descry it as destitute of sense and reason; and when beset with arguments from which it is in vain to hope for an escape, they take refuge in vain accusations of metaphysical subtlety. The truth is, that Calvinists look to the Bible for their religious opinions; they exclaim, in the language of the apostle, "Let God be true, and every man a liar." The doctrines relative to the divine government, with respect to which such violent reproaches are lavished upon them, they conceive to be revealed in a particularly clear manner; so clear that every unbiassed mind can hardly mistake the truth. But they are of opinion, moreover, that the same doctrines can be unanswerably established by reasoning from those attributes which are ascribed to the Deity by all sects of christians. If any one supposes that Calvinists believe in a God without mercy, let him read the writings of Calvin, or Edwards, or any of their illustrious fellow-laborers, and if he does not find more heartfelt descriptions of the stupendous mercy of God to a fallen world, than can be found any where else, we will frankly confess ourselves mistaken. These reflections we have thought it our duty to state, VOL. II. New Series.

because the same reproaches are continually repeated, at the present day.

At the close of this article is a particular history of the Protestant Episcopal Church in America, written, we presume, by one of its members.

In summing up the character of CICERO, the English Editors have indulged in a strain of panegyric, which quite transcends the boundaries of truth.

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"Few persons in christian countries," say they, "and none in his own age, were upon the whole so free from vice; ly this is extravagant. American Editors.] He was an entire stranger to the sordid passions of lust and avarice; and however vain, irresolute, or inconsistent a part he sometimes acted, he does not appear to

have committed a crime."

The writer of this passage must have had in his mind rather a loose definition of the words vice and crime; for he tells us, only two sentences before, that Cicero "requested Lucceius to write the annals of his consul. ship, and to praise him, even at the expense of truth." That is, he deliberately, and in writing, urged his friend to be guilty of falsehood in a public history, in order to gratify his unbounded love of praise. The most profli. gate minister in modern times, would be ashamed to address such a letter to his friend, a dignified historian. Cicero also advised to enkindle a civil war, that he might return from an exile, in which he had behaved with the most childish pusillanimity. mentioned without censure, if he did not directly countenance, crimes too gross to be named, as is evident from a passage in his book de Officiis. He adhered to the party of Pompey, till it was overthrown; then made a studied and gratuitous panegyric

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on Cæsar in two most beautiful orations; and, after Cæsar's death, bestowed the same extravagant praise on his murderers, which he had just before lavished on him. But how could any thing better be expected, when he repeatedly declares, in his public speeches, that praise, fame, or glory, (call it by what name you please,) was the only incentive to the labors in which he engaged for the safety of his country? We are of opinion, that vast multitudes "in christian countries," in all periods of the christian church, have not only been more "free from vice" than Cicero, but have acted, habitually under the influence of principles incomparably more conducive to virtue and happiness, than any of which he ever had a conception. That Cicero was one of the least faulty men of his age and nation, we readily grant; that he was one of the best moral writers of heathen antiquity admits not of a doubt; that his talents were of the most brilliant and useful kind, the united voice of the learned, bears concordant testimony: But his moral character is no more to be compared with what it would have been under the transforming power of christianity, than the shapeless daubings of an awkward landscape painter, with the indescribable beauties of a summer's prospect.

We insert the following sentences, subjoined by the Amer. ican Editors to the account of Dr. CLARKE, for the information of our readers :

"The writer of this article appears to have been not a little gratified, that Dr. Clarke was not, in the strict sense of the term, a Trinitarian. As the article however states what he was not, without in

forming the reader what he was, we think it proper, for the sake of those who are unacquainted with his works, to add a little to this negative information, by saying that he was not an Arian, not a Socinian. He was even solicitous to avoid the imputation of these heresies. Doddridge in his Lectures on Divinity, in giving the different theories relative to the doctrine of the Trinity, says Clarke's scheme is, that there is one Supreme Being who is the Father, and two derived and dependent beings: but he waves calling Christ a creature, as the ancient Arians did, and principally on that foundation disclaims the charge of Arianism."

"Dr.

We were disappointed in not finding any notice of the late Dr. CLARKE, of Boston.

(To be continued.)

The Works of Mrs. Anne Steele, complete in two volumes, 12mo. Boston, Munroe, Francis, and Parker, 1808.

THE specimens of Mrs. Steele's compositions, given to the American Public in Dr. BELKNAP'S collection of Psalms and Hymns, excited a general desire to see her whole works; and we congratulate the community, that they have at length made their appearance. Either the English edition was out of print, or few copies of it, we presume, were imported; for, after diligent inquiry, we were never able to find but a single copy of a single volume. This edition is very neatly and correctly printed, and does credit to the respectable press from which it proceeds.

Mrs. Steele's character, as a writer, is too well known, to require notice; and too well established, to need confirmation. To many, who have not seen these volumes, it may be grateful to know, that they are more replete with evangelical truth, than the selected specimens, excellent as they are, may have led them

its tenderness, its grace, and sometimes its sublimity. If, in general, it be less fertile in its imagery, it is more chaste; if less elevated, it is more equable; if less familiar, it is more deli. cate; if less adventurous; it is more correct. The author distinguished for exquisite sensibility, as well as for ardent piety, cheered her own pilgrimage with these songs of Zion; and such must be their influence on every reader, whose soul is attuned to celestial harmony.

UNITED STATES.

PHILADELPHIA BIBLE SOCIETY.

We have received the first report of this respectable society, made at their annual meeting, May 1, 1809, with which we promptly gratify our readers, in the hope, that it may animate them to similar exertions.

FIRST REPORT OF THE PHILADELPHIA BIBLE SOCIETY.

IN conformity with the third article of the constitution of the Bible Society, the Managers lay before the Society the report of their proceedings, together with an account of their receipts and disbursements of money, from its institution on the 12th of December last, until the present time.

Immediately, upon receiving notice of their election, the Managers met, and organized themselves agreeably to the provisions of the constitution; and without delay entered upon the performance of the duties assigned them.

The first object of the Managers was to draw the attention of the public, not only in this state, but through the United States, to the great importance of such institutions; and to stimulate the friends of the Bible, in the other large cities on this continent, to exert themselves to establish societies similar to the one organized in this city. With this view, an address to the public was prepared and circulated. Three thousand copies of this address were printed; two thousand in the English, and one thousand in the German language: And it has been sent into every part of the United States, addressed

to distinguished characters of the differ ent religious denominations. What its ultimate effect will be, in the several places to which it has been forwarded, cannot yet be ascertained: but it is known that it has excited the serious attention of many of the friends of christianity, and that, in some places, it is in contemplation to make the attempt to establish Bible Societies.

In connexion with this measure, the Managers considered it to be of the utmost importance to the prosperity of the institution, that strenuous efforts should immediately be made for increasing the funds of the Society and enlarging the number of its members. To accomplish these objects, they not only thought it proper to invite the pious and benevolent, through the medium of the public prints,to come forward and subscribe; but they were of opinion, that the magnitude of the object was such, as to justify them in making personal application to the citizens of Philadelphia, for their aid and support in carrying it into effect. Accordingly, having distributed themselves into small committees, and divided the city into districts, they determined that a general solicitation for subscriptions and donations should be made. This measure, to a considerable extent, and with no small success, has been carried into effect: but the times having been unfavorable for such an application, and the season inclement, much still remains to be done in the same way.

The Board of managers were of opinion, that the sooner the charity, placed at their disposal, was directed to its destined object, the better would the purposes of