all the advocates for slavery in the whole world had been present, especially those who assert that African slaves have no affection for their offspring. Many such Africans, I am persuaded, were they to hear that some of our fashionables in London, though living under the same roof with their children, scarcely see them once a day, would cry out,What savages! Mr. R. preached to the soldiers at Fort Frederic, Algoa Bay. On returning, he mentioned that the farmer who is next neighbour to Bethelsdorp told him, that last week when going home, a lion met him in the road-they stood some time looking at each other, when the animal chose to walk quietly away. He had, however, devoured an ass belonging to the farmer. Perhaps the death of the ass prevented that of the farmer; having already had a good meal, he had less occasion to devour him, but had they met a little sooner, when the lion was more hungry, he might have fared very differently. A Hottentot calling after worship, who came from a distance, and who was a member of the church, led Mr. Read to relate the following account of his master's family. a mem Some time ago, Bber of the church of Bethelsdorp, was travelling to a distance, and halting at a farmer's near the mouth of the Camtoos river, he collected the farmer's slaves together, and informed them that the Son of God had come into the world to save sinners. What he said caused a great stir among them about the salvation of their souls. A poor slave from Mosambique, opposite the Island of Madagascar, was particularly affected. The providence of God afterwards brought them to work at the Drosdy of Uitenhagen, about nine miles from Bethelsdorp, which afforded them an opportunity of attending the preaching of the gospel there. The poor Mosambique slavc made rapid progress, though he was but little acquainted with the Dutch language. When they returned home to their masters at VOL. II. No. 4. Camtoos river, he became their minister, meeting with, and exhorting them daily. When the boor became acquainted with what was going on, he was very angry, however, they continued to meet in a little place which they had fitted up for the purpose. Upon one occasion, some of the family went within hearing of them, unperceived, and there listened to what was going forward. The boor's wife, while listening to her poor slave preaching Jesus of Nazareth and the Resurrection, felt the force of truth in her heart. She invited the company to meet in her house, when she read the Scriptures to them, and the slave prayed and exhorted, and this practise is still continued. The boor saw Mr. Read lately, when he declared that his slave must certainly speak from the Spirit of God, for, said he, he knows far more than we christians who have had the bible all our days, and he surely could not get all his knowledge in the short time he staid at Bethelsdorp; and he cannot read. Thus the gospel spread at first. When sinners were converted to God in the city of Thessalonica, from thence the gospel sounded through all the region round about. So I trust it is at Bethelsdorp, and I trust it is the pure unmixed gospel of Christ. The Practical Expositor; or, Scripture illustrated by facts, and arranged for every day in the year. By CHARLES BUCK, p. p. 500. 6s. London. Williams, Baynes, &c. THE Christian public are under many obligations to Mr. Buck for his unwearied exertions both to amuse and instruct them. In a state of health which would discourage most men from engaging in the labours of authorship, and which would constitute a sufficient excuse for repose and inactivity, he has, in addition to T the toils of his public situation, produced several performances which do much credit to his talents, his piety, and his zeal.His Theological Dictionary, and his Anecdotes, religious, moral, and entertaining, are works well known, and highly calculated to catch the attention of the unthinking, and to improve the minds of the generality of Christians. The present production is not inferior to the former efforts of Mr. Buck's pen, and is somewhat similar in its nature to his Anecdotes; though fitted, we think, to be more useful. We like the plan of the work. It shews us how the ways of God illustrate his word: it tends to prove that the God of Grace and of Providence are the same; and may be the means of inducing a habit of marking the operations of Jehovah's hand. The biographical sketches, the numerous anecdotes, the allusions to ancient customs, and the quotations from various authors, are here all laid under contribution for the service of truth; and render the work entertaining as well as instructive. We cordially agree with the respectable author in thinking that it will not be found unsuitable to put into the hands of young people; as it will not only afford them biographical and historical information for every day in the year, but engage them to read the Holy Scriptures, and to consider them as they are, the word of God, mighty through him to illuminate the mind, direct the wavering, comfort the distressed, and a benefit to society at large." As such we beg leave most warmly and sincerely to recommend it. Amidst such varied information as "The Practical Exposi tor" contains, it may be expect ed that some parts will be less interesting than others; and that some passages will be more, and others less aptly illustrated. But what may seem of small importance to one, may appear of great value to another; and, as we hope it will pass through many hands, not a few, we trust, will find it a seasonable portion. It is no easy matter to convey any correct idea of its contents without examining it; or to select such passages as may enable the reader to judge for himself. We extract that part of the index of contents which is arranged under A, from which the nature and variety of the collection may be understood:--"Abp. Abbot died; Abergavenny lost; death of Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden; Adrian born; Addison's Cato; conversion of Athenagoras; Affliction; use and abuse of Affections; consideration of our Age'; felicity of Aglaus; people of Agrigentium; America discovered; death of Alfred the Great Alexander the Great; fall of Alypius; places of Amusement; Duke of Alva; Anaxarchus; Algerius' love of Cato; death of Dr. Allix; Anaxagoras; happiness of Rev. J. Andreas; conversion of Andrianus; learning and devotion of Bp. Andrews; Annunciation; Annihilation; Anticipation of Heaven; Antisthenes, an admirer of Socrates, &c. We give the following specimen of the Biography it contains, not because we think it the best, but because it is short, and the subject of it was well known; and because we think the passage for which it is intoduced well illustrated, and the example of Christian liberality it contains, worthy of the imitation of our Readers: Malachi iii. 10. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. March 24.-This day, 1799, the Rev. David Simpson, minister of the New Church at Macclesfield died, aged 54. He was the author of many useful works, and his Plea for Religion has had a wide circulation. The following will shew that his preaching was not in vain. Some years ago, says one, I recollect read ing a striking Sermon by the late Mr. Simpson of Macclesfield, the subject, I think was Christian Liber ality; but what most forcibly struck my mind, was the passage above quoted. I cannot describe how my mind was impressed with the manner in which Jehovah here condescended to challenge his people, when he says, "And prove me now herewith," &c. Suffice it to say, that the subject made such an impression, I found it my duty to do more for the cause of God than I ever had done. I did so, and on closing that year's accounts, I found that I had gained more than in any two years preceding it. Some time afterwards, I thought the Redeemer's cause had an additional claim, as the place in which we worshipped him wanted some repairs. The sum I then gave was L.20; and in a very little time afterwards I received L.40, which I had long given up as lost. The following illustration is deserving of attention, particular ly from our female readers: 1 Pet. iii. 3. Whose adorning, let it not be that outward a lorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, er of putting on of apparel. ed themselves. So prodigious was the extravagance of the Roman ladies in particular, that Pliny the elder says he saw Lollio Paulina with an equipage of this kind amounting, according to Dr. Arbuthnot's calculation, to L.322,916 13s. 4d. of our money. At the splendid entertainment that Prince Potemkin gave to the late Empress of Russia, at Pe tersburgh in 1791, the jewels worn by 48 young persons belonging to the court, who performed a ballet, were estimated at a million sterling! Here are affecting instances of luxury in dress, and it would be well if our own country were exempt from the charge. But what saith our holy religion on this point? "Let it not be outward adorning ; but let it he the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." After all, however, we need not run into the opposite extreme; while luxury is to be avoided, singularity is not to be praised; for as there may be much pride in dress, so there may be some pride in the neglect of it. Antisthenes the philosopher sold his all, and preserv ed only a very ragged coat, which drew the attention of Socrates, and tempted him to say to the cynic, who carried his contempt of dress too far, "Antisthenes, I see thy vanity through the holes of thy coat." Did we suppose the Practical Expositor would expire with the first edition, we would now dismiss it without farther remarks; but as we have no doubt it will live through many editions, we beg leave to submit a few obser◄ Vations for the consideration of the respectable author. We think a number of the passages of Scripture have been sought out for the sake of the anecdotes, rather than the anec dotes for the sake of the Scriptures. We mean, we do not see the connection between the one and the other; or that a person November 14.-Too much attention has been paid to dress in all ages; but the accounts given us of some, prove the height and extrava gance of folly. Jewels made a part of the ornaments with which the Jews, Greeks, and Romans, especially their ladies of distinction, adorn recollecting the story would ever after remember the portion of the divine word it was brought to illustrate. From the specimen we have of Mr. Buck's talents in this kind of writing, we have no doubt, if his health permits, that with a little attention, he would easily make the work prove complete in this respect. Another thing we are sorry to observe is, frequent quotations of imperfect sentences of Scripture. Now we humbly think this is calculated to bring the word of God into contempt, and has been too often employed by a certain description of persons for burlesquing the Bible. We refer to such selections as the following: Jer. xx. 10." And we shall take our revenge on him." 2 Chron. xvii. 17. "A mighty man of valour." 1 Sam. viii. 9. "How beit, yet solemnly protest unto them." Illustrations of such expressions as these, may have a reference to the sound, but cannot apply to the sense of Scripture; and can be of no real use as a "Practical Exposition." We are fully persuaded that it is both improper and injudicious to quote, illustrate, or preach from, any passage which has not in itself a complete sense; and we earnest ly hope that this mode of trifling with the word of God, which has been too long practised, is now falling into disuse and contempt. We would also suggest, that there is perhaps too great a proportion of the dying sayings of eminent men, to the other materials of the work. Many of them are exceedingly good, and deserve to be remembered ; but their frequent recurrence has a tendency to destroy the effect they might otherwise produce. We point out these things, not from an invidious wish to find fault, but from a real desire to improve a work which we think calculated to be very useful. We thank Mr. Buck for the entertainment and instruction it has afforded us; and are assured our readers will not be disappointed if they buy and see for themselves. And, instead of sitting down to read the book through at once, we would recommend them to follow the plan of a friend of ours, who always reads the Expositor of the day immediately after morning worship. In this way there is always a new story, which cannot fail to make some impression, and one anecdote does not banish the other from the mind. RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. DOMESTIC. ANDERSTON CHARITY SCHOOL. Laws and Regulations.. 1. The Designation of this Institution shall be, THE ANDERSTON CHARITY SCHOOL; of which the sole object shall be to instruct those to read the Scriptures (gratis), who are Orphans, or whose Parents are in the Army or Navy, or are in indigent circumstances, and recommended as such; or those who are advanced in years, and, in all probability, would not obtain Education in any other way. 2. None shall be admitted under eight years of age. 3. All Applications for Admission to the School shall be presented to the Committee. 4. The Hours of Teaching are from half past seven till ten o'clock at night, for five nights in the week. 5. The Funds of the Institution shall be raised by voluntary Subscriptions and Donations. 6. Subscribers and Donors shall be eligible for any office in the Society, and entitled to attend and vote at all its Meetings. 7. The business of the Institution shall be conducted by a Committee of Management, consisting of a President, a Treasurer, a Secretary, and other Members, one-third of whom shall go out annually, it being understood however, that they may be re-elected, the ensuing year. 8. The Committee shall meet once every month, or oftener if found necessary. Five shall be a quorum. 9. Two or more of the Committee shall be appointed to visit the School each month, and to Report next Meeting. 10. Receipts shall be required for all money paid out, and the President and Teacher's initials shall be upon them-Said receipts shall be preserved by the Treasurer, to be compared with his book. 11. Auditors shall be appointed annually by the General Meeting, to examine the Bills and the Accounts of the Treasurer. 12. The General Meeting shall be held annually, in the Month of September; when a President and Treasurer shall be nominated, and vacancies in the Committee supplied. Extract from the Report of the Managers, from June 1810, till March 1815. The Managers have great pleasure in reporting that, besides 80 who were on the Roll in June 1810, 244 girls and 134 boys have been ad Making in all, since the commencement, 819 admitted into the School, of whom 626 have been taught to read the receipts of the Society being £252: mitted into the School, the greater part of whom could not name the letters. Of these, there have been taught to read the Scriptures, 191 from 8 to 12, 73 from 12 to 15, 53 from 15 to 20, 10 from 20 to 30, years of age, and 1 upwards of 30. There are from 80 to 90 Scholars at present on the Roll. LONDON SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIANITY AMONG THE JEWS. An important change has taken place in the constitution of the Society for promoting Christianity among the Jews; of which the history will be best given in the address of that Society to the public. "On Tuesday the 28th February, an Extraordinary Meeting of this Society was held in Freemasons' Tavern, to take into consideration a proposal made by a Meeting of Disfrom the Management, and leave it senting Subscribers, to withdraw in the hands of their brethren of the Church of England. "The London Society was instituted in the year 1809, and consisted of Christians of various denominations. Its great object was to promote the spiritual and eternal welfare of the Jews, by endeavourChrist as the Messiah promised to ing to lead their attention to Jesus their fathers, and the Saviour of the world. have been effectual, through the Di "The means used by the Society vine Blessing, in convincing of the above truth more than forty adult Jews, who have been admitted into the Christian church by baptism. "Schools containing eighty-nine children of Jewish parents are supported by the Society; and the children are educated in the principles of the Christian faith. "A translation of the New Testament into Hebrew for the use of 19:04, makes 8s. 03d. nearly, for each Scholar taught to read, including Books, &c. a sum which demonstrates, in astrik. ing point of view, the economical manner in which the School is conducted. |
