their doctrines, and the effect of their doctrines upon the religious character. As an illustration of this remark, read the following: Six years ago, I was on ship-board, just ready to sail for Havana, when a young invalid made his appearance on board. I inquired, of the Captain, his name. He replied, 66 Rev. Mr. on account of an effort that had shortly before been made in Philadelphia, by the publication of a pamphlet, to induce the clergy and members of the Church of England in America to abandon the apostolical succession, and organize on principles essentially presbyterian, although retaining a form of episcopacy, somewhat like that since introduced into the so called Method-Carey." Can this, thought I, be the Rev. Arist Episcopal Church. Nor is it to be questioned thur Carey, about whom I have lately read and that one cause of the delay and difficulty in form- thought and talked so much? ing the ultimate union between the Churches of New-England, and those of the other States, was the issuing by the latter, as a proposition to the American Church, for its liturgy, of what is known as the Proposed Book, which contained serious departures from the Catholic principles and features of the English liturgy. About eight months after the Connecticut clergy had taken the decided step of electing their first Bishop, and sending him to the Church of England for consecration, a small beginning was made in Philadelphia towards an ecclesiastical organization for the United States: more than ten months after his consecration, in Scotland, the first move was made by a convention of clergy and laity of New-York, and States south of it, towards the consecration of Bishops in England: and this event was accomplished, after much effort to secure in its behalf the good will and consent of the British parliament, and king, and his council, more than two years after Bishop Seabury's consecration. It was he. His ordination, and the consequent war in the Episcopal Church, had occurred but a short time previous, while I was a student in theology, and it may easily be imagined that I was not much prejudiced in his favor. Several days elapsed before Mr. C. was well enough to appear upon deck, but on a fine, sunny day, I had opportunity to make his acquaintance, and we almost immediately engaged in conversation upon a subject in which he and I were almost equally interested. It would be improper to mention all that was said, as the names and conduct of persons still living were freely spoken of. Having told him, that according to my understanding of the matter, his expressed views agreed very well with the Liturgy of his Church, and that therefore ordination in that Church was his indisputable right; he seemed pleased that a person of another denomination should admit so much, and to my questions gave free and prompt answers. Wise, great, and good men were engaged in I found him to be a man of clear, philosophi the more Southern enterprise, and labored there-cal intellect, and logical views. Wherever be in with truly pious views and motives, and much had doubts he expressed them frankly; as, for pious zeal and devotion. The good Christian, instance, on the purgatory question. But, in however, cannot but admire, in that of Connec-general, he was decided as to the abstract truth ticut, its very marked evidence of strong faith; of humble confidence that as the Church is God's own, and with Him nothing is impossible, the difficulties of human creation would yield; and of that zealous and determined effort, with effectual fervent prayer, which often bears the good Christian onward to success faster than, and quite as effectually and usefully as, the taking counsel of worldly considerations, however reasonable, and worldly policy, however prudent, right, and honest. of what we called the "High Church" views. But on the nature and manner of justification, which, in my opinion, was the only practically important doctrine discussed by us, I could discover no difference between us. He emphatically denied believing that any man could be saved by the merit of his own works: and when I came to ask for explanations of his views on the other points, I found that the difference between us, in many cases, was the difference between "tweedledum and tweedledee;" and though I was well aware that a less difference than that We copy the following from "The St. Louis had often startled the theological virus in my Presbyterian:" newly inoculated system, my heart was so engaged by his amiable manners, that I determined AN INCIDENT IN THE LIFE OF A PRESBYTERIAN it should be no cause of quarrel between us now. MINISTER. It is a common remark how per- He manifested both his amiableness and the sonal intimacy with members of another relig-practical character of his religion, by frequently, ious denomination, often modifies one's views of in the course of our interviews, speaking of the Sunday-school children and the congregation (the bowl to his mouth to receive the last drop which he had left, with regret. of his life's blood, the bright but placid gleam of After a few days, the weather growing stormy and the sea rough, he became weaker, and was confined to his berth, and expressed doubts of his living to reach port. He expressed a per-passengers, that we should be subjected to a fect readiness to die, but said, of his own accord, that he had no great joys or raptures, as some had, in the thought of death. I then asked him, "Do you expect to be saved by the atonement of Christ alone?" He fixed his large, dark eye steadily and calmly upon me, as if to ascertain the exact cause of such a question being put to him, and replied, “Of course I do.” He thanked me when I offered to read to him. I asked, "What shall I read now;" meaning what book. He, as if there was but one book, replied, "Read in St. Paul's epistles, for I am most familiar with them." I read and finished the thirteenth chapter, First Corinthians, which he said was a beautiful chapter, and then I asked, "Shall I read on?" "No," said he, "the next chapter is not of much importance." tedious quarantine; nevertheless, the passengers In the morning, about nine o'clock, when within three miles of Moro Castle, the foretopsails were backed, and all hands called aft to bury the dead. The body was brought upon deck, sewn in a canvass winding sheet, and a weight of iron attached to the feet of the corpse, which was laid upon a plank, one end of which rested upon the railing of the quarter deck. The solemn burial service of the Episcopal On the day before the arrival of our vessel in Church was read by myself, the crew and pasHavana, his spirits were considerably revived, sengers standing uncovered around. At the and he thought that when once comfortably on words, "we therefore commit his body to the shore, he should be better; but even while we deep," the inner end of the plank was raised, were in sight of the palm trees and plantations and the corpse shot quick into the bosom of the on the island, he was seized, for the first time I deep blue sea, and was out of sight in a mobelieve, with a violent hemorrhage from the ment. For some time we continued gazing into lungs. We brought him into the cabin and the water, as if hoping that we might discern made his bed on the table. While his fellow-the lost one reposing on his bed of coral below. passengers ministered to him with faces of deep Among those "hollow wreathed chambers" he anxiety, the expression of his eye never once found a tomb more gorgeous than any that huchanged. I shall never forget the unearthly man hands could have erected over him, in calmness of that face, even to his last struggling Greenwood or Auburn. breath-even while he looked on me, as I held } L. G. BOOK TABLE. New-York: THE GOSPEL ITS OWN ADVOCATE. By George (These facts being thus beyond dispute, the auGriffin, L. L. D. 8vo. Pp. 252. D. Appleton & Company. 1850. The design of the author of the above work is to show that the Gospel proves itself to be of Divine origin. The fact that Jesus Christ was a real personage, that he lived and was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and that the Gospel was written by His early disciples, is shown to have been admitted by the Pagan writers themselves. thor argues that the character of the Scriptures prove them to be of divine origin, and, therefore, true; and in support of this enters into an examination of the doctrines which are therein taught-the moral attributes of God, the Divinity of Christ, the Christian virtues of love and humility, the atonement, the future state of rewards and punishments-all of which, from their very nature, could have been inculcated by none other than divine authority. The author in sup- (with ungloved hands. There is much truth in port of his position also devotes a portion of his what he says, but he seems to be verging into work to a consideration of the character of Je- an extreme. In his opposition to that misplaced sus Christ, of the miracles of the Gospel, and sympathy for criminals which elevates them into the promulgation of the Gospel. This volume heroes, and exhausts the fountain of benevolence will attract much attention, as well on account in their behalf, he would regard them with feelof its inherent merit, as of the well known repu- {ings which savor too strongly of bitterness, and tation of the author, who is a distinguished make them the objects of hatred rather than member of the bar. THE VILLAGE NOTARY; a Romance of Hungarian Life. Translated from the Hungarian of Baron Eōtoos, by Otto Wenckstern. With introductory remarks by Francis Pulszky. NewYork: D. Appleton & Co. 1850. The above romance, the scenes of which are laid in Hungary, has been issued in very read. able style by the Appletons. We can do no more than refer to it at present. THE DIARY OF A PHYSICIAN IN CALIFORNIA; With Notes of the Journey by Land and Water, and Observations on the Climate, Soil, &c. By James L. Tyson, M. D. New-York: D. Appleton & Co. 1850. A book of travels in California, giving a graphic description of the country, and of life in its varied phases, both in the cities and at the mines. Although the work does not contain much to render it peculiarly the Diary of a Physician, except the fact that the author is a professional man, it will be read with both pleasure and profit. pity. There can be but little doubt that if the same efforts which are now directed towards raising the fallen, and reclaiming the already profligate and abandoned, were used to withdraw the stumbling-blocks of temptation and poverty from the path of those who have not yet fallen into the pit of iniquity, far greater re{sults would be accomplished. Carlyle is deeply impressed with this truth, but in his disgust at this, which he styles "Platform philanthropy," that delights to exhibit itself in "eloquent speeches," runs into the opposite error, and withdraws all sympathy from criminals. These pamphlets, notwithstanding their peculiarities contain much that cannot be read without profit. THE LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF ROBERT SOUTHEY. Edited by his Son, the Rev. Chas. Cuthbert Southey, M. A. New-York: Harper & Brothers. 1850. We have received Part 3 of this valuable work, which brings the correspondence down LATTER-DAY PAMPHLETS. Edited by Thomas THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND, from the Invasion of We have received volume 6 of this valuable work. It is to be followed by Macaulay's His CALENDAR FOR JUNE. 2. First Sunday after Trinity. 9. Second Sunday after Trinity. 11. St. Barnabas the Apostle. 16. Third Sunday after Trinity. 23. Fourth Sunday after Trinity. 24. The Nativity of St. John the Baptist. 29. St. Peter the Apostle. 30. Fifth Sunday after Trinity. |