object of the enterprise "is to afford facilities to the free coloured people of Maryland, and of the United States, to procure their own passage to the land of their fathers, by opening a trade with 40,000,000 of inhabitants in Africa: by supplying them with the necessities of life, and receiving the produce of their soil, instead of slaves in return. The exports from this country will be manufactured articles of small bulk; those received from them will be much more bulky, and consequently three-fourths of the vessels in this trade would be under the necessity of going out in ballast, and afford a favourable opportunity to colonists to procure a passage. They would reduce the price to Africa so low as to be within the reach of every coloured person in America.-Chr. Spec. WESTERN AFRICA. Death of Missionaries at Sierra Leone. It is with deep concern we state the severe losses which the Church Missionary Society has recently sustained by the death of several valuable labourers. The Rev. Charles Knight died on Sunday, on the 20th of March, 1825. He was taken ill on the 11th, and though hopes were entertained of his recovery, he was removed from his labours at the above time. He was interred at Gloucester, on the evening of the same day, amidst the lamentations of his bereaved people. On the 1st of May, another mournful event took place. Mrs. Coney, who, with Mr. Coney, her husband, had removed to Regent, in consequence of the death of Mr. Knight, had been there only three weeks, when both Mr. and Mrs. C. were taken ill of a fever. Mr. Coney recover ed, but Mrs. C. was removed to the world of spirits. The Rev. Henry Brooks, who sent the intelligence of this event to the Rev. Mr. Raban, on the 2d of May, was himself, the very next day, attacked by the fever, which baffled all medical skill. He continued speechless, and apparently insensible, till half-past two in the afternoon of the next day, and then expired. It was thought that he had not been sufficiently on his guard against exposure to the sun, and that he had experienced a slight 66 coup de soleil," about a fortnight before his death. Apoplexy, it is supposed, followed the stroke. The mission sustained a further loss by the death of that valuable labourer, the Rev. G. B. Nylander, on the 23d of May. He had a very severe illness in 1824, from which he never fully recovered, and nature at length gave way. His mortal remains were next day interred in the church-yard of Kissey, in a spot chosen by himself. Mrs. Gerber also died on the 22d of the same month, about 24 hours before Mr. Nylander's departure. "And now," says Mr. Raban, in his letter to the Society, "I need not say, that we are in an afflicted condition." Since the day we landed, we have lost six of our number by death, and four are now about to return. "The ways of God are in the deep, and his footsteps are not known." Yet we know that he changeth not; and we firmly believe, though sometimes tempted to doubt and dismay, that "all the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth toward every one of his servants. We feel most deeply these numerous and painful losses, and have no resource whatever, but in his wisdom, power, and faithfulness."-Evangelical Magazine for December, 1825. MISSION TO BUENOS AYRES. On the 6th of Jan. ult. Mr. Theophilus Parvin was ordained by the Presbytery of Philadelphia as an Evangelist, with a view to his going as a missionary to Buenos Ayres. The solemnities of the ordination, took place in the Third Presbyterian Church, in the presence of a large and attentive audience. The Rev. Dr. Green presided, and made the ordination prayer; Rev. Mr. M'Calla preached; and the Rev. Dr. Ely gave the charge to the missionary. Great interest was manifestly taken in the exercises, by those who witnessed them. The same evening Mr. Parvin was married to the eldest daughter of the late Hon. Cæsar A. Rodney, the American minister who died at Buenos Ayres. Mr. P. has heretofore been employed as a missionary by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. But his connexion with that Board has been dissolved by mutual consent; and he now goes at his own expense, and is to determine on his own measures. He has engaged a young lady of Philadelphia, Miss Sarah M Mullin, to go out with him, as the superintendent of a female school, in which the higher branch es of education are to be taught. His own employment is expected to consist both of preaching and the superintendence of an academy. The family, we understand, took their departure for the place of their destination on the 28th ult., in a vessel from New York. We take a deep interest in this mission, and follow it with our earnest prayers that it may be attended with signal success. The Treasurer of the Trustees of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church aeknowledges the receipt of the following sums for their Theological Seminary at Princeton, N. J. during the month of January last, viz. Of Rev. John W. Scott, a quarter's rent, for the Contingent Fund Of Rev. Samuel Lawrence, per Alexander Henry, Esq. for the Scholarship to be endowed by the Senior Class of 1823 $87 50 5 00 Total $92 50 Diew of Publick Affairs. Since our editorial office commenced, we recollect no month so barren of news, from every quarter, foreign and domestick, as the month which has just terminated. For this reason, and for no other, this department of our work, which we never mean to slight, will, on the present occasion, contain but little. EUROPE. BRITAIN and FRANCE.-The only occurrence of much importance which has been announced in the publick papers, during the last month, from either of these great powers, is the great pecuniary embarrassment which exists in both, but most in Britain, among all descriptions of people concerned in monied transactions, or in commercial pursuits. Not only many individuals, but some banking companies, have failed, or stopped payment, for debts to a most enormous amount. The consequence of this, as usual, has been a scarcity of cash, and the experience of great distress among a large portion of the population. Not long since, there was such a superabundance of monied capital in Great Britain, that the only inquiry was, how it might be profitably employed. This appears to have led to the formation of joint stock companies, for prosecuting schemes for the accumulation of wealth, both at home and abroad; and also to every species of adventurous and even romantick enterprise, in which money might be employed, and by which it was hoped it might return with large increase. Hence all the floating capital was taken up, and credit was carried to its utmost limit, and was granted beyond all proper bounds. The consequence has been what is now experienced; and a harsh and severe remedy for the evil it certainly is; and yet, not improbably, a very salutary one, in the issue: for an inordinate thirst of gain, indulgence in unwarranted expense, and embarking in rash enterprise, are infinitely mischievous to any people. The evil, we believe, originated chiefly in Britain, where it is now felt most severely, and extended itself to France, principally in consequence of the connexion which the monied concerns of the two countries, in time of peace, almost always have with each other. Our own country has not escaped without feeling something of the shock; and it will be happy for us, if it shall teach caution and moderation to our commercial community. One of the ablest state papers we have ever read, has lately been published in England; although it relates to events which took place some time since-It is Mr. Canning's reply to the complaints and remonstrance of the late Spanish minister, M. Zea, relative to the recognition by Britain of the independence of some of the late Spanish provinces in the southern part of our continent. The British minister shows, in the most incontrovertible manner, that his court acted on the plainest and best established principles of international law-principles on which Spain herself, very recently, as well as in former times, has repeatedly and notoriously acted. SPAIN. The celebrated palace of the Escurial was on fire, when a courier left it, on the 21st of November last; and great fears were entertained that the whole of the wooden part of the structure would be consumed. This palace was built by Philip II. in the form of a gridiron; that being the instrument, it is said, on which St. Lawrence suffered martyrdom-To him the palace was dedicated, because on the anniversary of his martyrdom the Spaniards gained the decisive battle of St. Quentin. The convent here is 740 feet by 580; and the palace forms the handle of the imaginary gridiron. There are many excellent paintings in the palace, and it also contains the tombs of the kings of Spain.-We know of no melioration which has taken place lately in the political state of this self-destroying country. PORTUGAL. A formal ratification has been exchanged of the treaty between Portugal and her late dependencies in South America: and it is said that a treaty of commerce between Portugal and the Brazils is also likely soon to be mutually agreed on. ROME.-The Pope, it is reported, has recovered from his late dangerous illness; and new persecutions of the poor Jews have lately been organized at Rome. They are confined to a particular part of the city, and both men and women are compelled to wear a discriminating badge. GREECE. We have no news from Greece. ASIA. We have nothing to report from this quarter of the globe, the substance of which we have not heretofore stated. AFRICA. The British are prosecuting their expeditions into the interior of this great continènt, and are making some important discoveries. It is affirmed that the slave trade is still carried on, perhaps as extensively as ever; and that none of the powers except the Netherlands, with whom Britain has made treaties for its suppression, act with good faith in regard to this nefarious business-this opprobrium of the civilized and Christianized world. We regret to observe that a considerable number of deaths have lately occurred among the missionaries of Sierra Leone. There has been some sickness, likewise, in the American colony at Liberia. Yet, on the whole, the colony is prosperous-Missionary and Sabbath schools are established.-It is also stated that a large tract of healthful country, extending far into the interior, has lately been obtained from the natives, in a manner entirely satisfactory to them. AMERICA. Another new republick, it appears, has been organized in Upper Peru. Its independence was formally declared in August last. War we believe is likely to be formally declared, if it has not already been declared, by Don Pedro I. emperor of the Brazils, against the Republick of Buenos Ayres. The emperor has reinforced his garrison at Monte Video with two thousand troops, and has the command of the river La Plata, by a squadron under the command of a Captain Taylor. UNITED STATES.-Various measures of national importance are before Congress; but none of them seem as yet to have reached maturity. The session hitherto appears to have been a quiet one. The Creek treaty business is not yet settled. The parties, it appears, are irreconcilably opposed to each other. A communication on the subject, from the President, is expected shortly. Neither have the commissioners, heretofore nominated, to meet the Congress of American nations at Panama, received a confirmation of their appointment from the Senate-A decision, however, on that subject, is expected to take place in a few days. The Influenza is, at present, prevalent in various parts of our country, and will probably become general. In a number of instances, it is a severe disease; rarely however is it mortal; and in the great majority of cases it is scarcely more afflictive than a common cold. Of all the nations of the earth, the American people have probably the fewest causes of just complaint-O that our gratitude to God were more correspondent to the favours with which he is pleased to distinguish us! ERRATA IN OUR LAST NUMBER. Page 29, 1st col. 12th line from bot. dele to. 30, 2d do. 13th do. from top, between the words in the, insert nearly. THE CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE. MAY, 1826. Keligious Communications. LECTURES ON THE SHORTER CATECHISM OF THE WESTMINSTER AS certain and stable felicity than that from which Adam fell. Here a new SEMBLY OF DIVINES-ADDRESSED hope shines upon ruined mortals, TO YOUTH. LECTURE XIX. (Continued from p. 147.) We now proceed to considerIV. That a covenant of grace was made by God the Father, with his eternal Son, as the head and Redeemer of the elect world. This, it is affirmed in a passage already quoted, was before the birth of time; before man or angels were formed -even from everlasting. Then, in foresight that man when created would fall, in the counsel of peace between the Father and the Son, a number of our race, considered as fallen sinners, were chosen in Christ, or were given to the Son, to be redeemed by him-he voluntarily choosing to undertake the whole work of redemption in their behalf. This topic is so well explained and so accurately expressed, by Witsius, in his justly celebrated work, called The Economy of the Covenants, that I will give you a general view, of it in some extracts from the English translation of that masterly treatise. "If any thing ought to be accounted worthy of our most attentive consideration, certainly it is the covenant of grace, of which we now attempt to treat. Here the way is pointed out to a paradise far preferable to the earthly, and to a more VOL. IV. Ch. Adv.. which ought to be the more acceptable, the more unexpected it comes. Here conditions are offered, to which eternal salvation is annexed: conditions, not to be performed again by us, which might throw the mind into despondency; but by him who would not part with his life, before he had truly said, It is finished. Here, with the brightest splendour, shine forth the wonderful perfections of our God; his wisdom, power, truth, justice, holiness, goodness, philanthropy, or good-will to man, mercy-and what tongue can rehearse them all? never before displayed on a more august theatre, to the admiration of all who behold them. Whoever therefore loves his own salvation, whoever desires to delight himself in the contemplation of the divine perfections, must come hither, and deeply engage in holy meditations on the covenant of grace: which I think may not improperly be thus defined "The covenant of grace is an agreement, between God and the elect sinner; God declaring his free good-will concerning eternal salvation, and every thing relative thereto, freely to be given to those in covenant, by and for the sake of the Mediator Christ; and man consenting to that good-will by a sincere faith. "That the nature of the covenant ев of grace may be the more thoroughly understood, two things are above all to be distinctly considered. 1. The compact which intervenes between God the Father, and Christ the Mediator. 2. That testamentary disposition, by which God bestows, by an immutable covenant, eternal salvation, and every thing relative thereto, upon the elect. The former agreement is between God and the Mediator; the latter between God and the elect. This last presupposes the first, and is founded upon it. When I speak of the compact between the Father and the Son, I thereby understand the will of the Father, giving the Son, to be the Head and Redeemer of the elect; and the will of the Son presenting himself as a Sponsor or surety for them; in all which the nature of a compact and agreement consists. The scripture represents the Father, in the economy of our salvation, as demanding the obedience of the Son even unto death; and for it promising him that name, which is above every name, even that he should be the head of the elect in glory: but the Son, as presenting himself to do the will of the Father, acquiescing in that promise, and in fine, requiring the kingdom and glory promised to him. "Christ himself speaks of this compact in express words.* Kaya διατίθεμαι ὑμῖν, καθώς διέθετο μοι : πατηρ μου βασιλειαν. And I engage by covenant unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath engaged by covenant unto me. In which words the Lord Jesus says, that by virtue of some covenant or disposition, he obtains a kingdom, as we also obtain it by virtue of the same. "And Heb. vii. 22. where he is said to be κρείττονος διάθηκης εγγυός, α surety of a better covenant or testament. But he is called the Surety of a testament, not principally on this account, because he engages to us for God and his promises, or be * Luke xxii. 29. cause he engages for us that we shall obey; as Moses intervened as a surety between God and the Israelites.* For by how much Christ was greater than Moses, in so much he was also a surety in a more excellent manner. His suretiship consists in this, that he took upon himself to perform that condition, without which, consistently with the justice of God, the grace and promises of God could not reach unto us; and which being performed, they were infallibly to come_to the children of the covenant. less then we would make void the suretiship of Christ, and gratify the Socinians, the very worst perverters of the scripture, it is necessary we conceive of some covenant, the conditions of which Christ took upon himself; engaging in our name with the Father, to perform them for us; and which, having performed, he might engage to us for the Father, concerning grace and glory to be bestowed upon us. Un Moreover,† Paul mentions a certain danny, covenant, or testament, that was confirmed before of God in Christ. Where the contracting parties are on one side God, on the other Christ; and the agreement between both is ratified. But lest any should think, that Christ is here only considered as the executioner of the testament bequeathed to us by God, the apostle twice repeats, that Christ was not promised to us, or that salvation was not promised to us through Christ, though that be also true; but that the promises were made to Christ himself. That Christ was that seed, & EYYEXTNI, to which he had promised, or to which the promise was made; namely, concerning the inheritance of the world, and the kingdom of grace and glory. It is evident therefore, that the word dann does here denote some covenant or testament, by which something is promised by God to Christ. Nor do I see what can be objected to this, unless by *Exod. xix. 3-8. † Gal. iii. 17. + Gal. iii. 16. |