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work, when they consider the blessedness of doing good, and the glorious privilege of being coworkers with God in the salva

tion of men. Nor if any should desire it, can we suppose that with the knowledge of the first principles of Christian duty, they would dare to hide their talent in the earth, and meet the Judge at the last day. Who, with all the light and motives which the Providence of God has gathered, and is still gathering around us, will dare to shrink from his duty, and "meet the burning indignation of the Almighty." Who will not link his influence and destiny to the cause of man and of God, and stand up for the Millennium and for Heaven.

In full confidence upon Him who has promised that a knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea, we commit the success of our cause to the prayers and liberality of those who, we trust, are willing to labour with us that his kingdom may quickly come, and his will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

By order of the Committee,
JAMES K. BURCH, Ch'm.

P. F. PHELPS, Agent.

OBITUARY.

Died on Sabbath evening, the 25th of December, after a short illness, the Rev. Joseph Sanford, pastor of the Second Presbyterian church in Philadelphia. His funeral obsequies were celebrated on the 28th, in the church in which he had been accustomed to minister, which, on this mournful occa

sion, was thronged by the people of his former charge. Many of his brethren in the ministry were also present. The Rev. Dr. M'Auley, after introductory exercises of devotion, delivered a discourse from Rev. xiv. 13. "And I heard a voice from Heaven, saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord, from henceforth; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their works do follow them." The concluding prayer was offered by the Rev. J. Breckenridge. We have seen a brief sketch of the discourse; but we presume it will either be published more at length, or that a more extended memoir than it contains, will, in some other form, be given to the publick. Mr. Sanford was, at his death, in the 34th year of his age. He has left a wife and one child.

We find it stated that, "at the earnest and affectionate request of the session of the church in Brooklyn, (N. f.) of which Mr. Sanford was formerly pastor, his remains have been removed to Brooklyn, there to repose beside those of his first wife, until "the resurrection of the just."

View of Publick Affairs.

EUROPE.

The latest European dates which we have seen are from Liverpool, of the 17th of November, from London of the 16th, from Havre of the 8th, and from Paris of the 7th, of the same month.-The agitated state of Europe remains much as it has been for a considerable time past; no important changes have taken place within the last month.

BRITAIN.-Under the latest London date, we perceive that a rumour was prevalent that a change in the ministry was about to take place. This, however, was discredited by the editor of the paper in which the rumour is mentioned. The probability seems to be, that on account of his health, Lord Grey wishes to retire; but it appears to us, that any material change in the ministry at this time, especially if the change were indicative of the relinquishment of the reform question, would throw the whole nation into confusion and insubordination. It is with great difficulty, as things now are, that the people can be held in any tolerable degree of quiet, till the next meeting of Parliament.

The riot at Bristol was truly shocking. Most of the public buildings were burned, and many of the rioters were burned in them. For two days there was a kind of general plunder. Nor was any thing like order restored till the military fired on the mob. The loss of life was considerable. The citizens of Bristol, or a large number of them, have drawn up a memorial to the government, in which they express their opinion that

Sir Charles Wetherell, whose public entrance into the city as Recorder, was the signal for the late riots, ought either immediately to surrender his judicial office, or to withdraw himself from the contested field of politics, as they are persuaded that, so long as he acts in the double capacity of judge and politician, the interests of justice in this city will be compromised, party spirit be rendered more violent and bitter, and the feelings of a large number of his most respectable fellow citizens be directly outraged and insulted. Up to the date of the last accounts, no definite answer had been received from the government.-The conduct of the Bishops in the House of Lords on the Reform Bill, has given such offence, that the whole establishment is denounced. It seems probable that, ere long, the English hierarchy will be abolished, and no more Lords spiritual be seen in the House of Peers.It is no longer doubtful that the malignant Asiatic Cholera, technically denominated Cholera Spasmodica, has appeared in England. The United States consul at Hull, has found it his duty to make an official communication on this subject to our Secretary of State. Among other things, he says, “The physician sent from London by government, has declared the disease to be the Indian Cholera, and the board of health established there [Sunderland] has reported it to be the same." This frightful malady was confined to Sunderland, except that one equivocal case had appeared at Newcastle upon Tyne. The first five individuals who were taken with the disease, all died; and of all who are taken more than half have become its victims. It has hitherto chiefly, if not wholly, appeared among the poorest and most destitute portion of the community. But there is no reason to believe that it will be confined to them. A piece of flannel, worn as a belt round the loins and abdomen, is recommended as the best preventive. It is pronounced by those who have seen it both in India and Europe, not to be contagious; but is believed to be occasioned "by some peculiar and unknown change in the atmosphere, affecting the constitutions of all, more or less, and producing a disposition to the disease." If this be so, there is the more reason to fear that it will travel over the world, as we know the Influenza has done, in several instances. O that "while the judgments of God are abroad in the earth, the people may learn righteousness." The Reform Bill and the Cholera seem to have absorbed the attention of all classes in Britain-scarcely any thing else is mentioned. FRANCE, as well as Britain, is disquieted with fear of the prevalence of Cholera. Notwithstanding the decided opinion of physicians, and others who have been familiar with this formidable disease, that it is not contagious, great care is taken to prevent its importation. A rigorous quarantine is established, and vessels from those parts of England where Cholera exists, or is suspected to exist, are to be put under quarantine in France-This_measure is likely to limit not a little the intercourse between the two kingdoms. The manufacturing and commercial interests of France seem to be gradually reviving, and the publick funds have risen in value. The great political topick which now occupies the attention of the legislative Chambers and the political writers is the question of the Peerage-whether it shall be hereditary, or only for the life of each individual peer. The Chamber of Deputies have decided against a hereditary Peerage; but a whole month has passed without sending up the bill to the house of Peers. The minister, it is said, has been labouring, but as yet without success, to gain a majority in that house to sanction what has been done by the Deputies. The measure of creating a large number of new Peers, to insure the passage of the bill, is said to be disagreeable to the king; and that it is even difficult to find men who would accept the Peerage on the terms proposed-The issue will probably be known in a short time-The reorganization of the National Guards to a large extent, appears likely soon to take place.

SPAIN. We find nothing of more importance relative to Spain, in the recent intelligence from Europe, than what is contained in the following short extract of a letter from Madrid, of the 31st of October-"The attention of our cabinet is much engaged by the reports respecting Portugal and Don Pedro's expedition. The politicians pretend that, but for this circumstance, the Ministry would have been modified in the spirit of the party which has ever opposed the anti-salique law."

PORTUGAL-It appears that a considerable force, naval and military, is being fitted out at Terceira, for the invasion of Portugal, with a view to dethrone the tyrant Don Miguel, and give the crown to his niece, to whom of right it belongs. To a well appointed expedition, the conquest of Miguel's army would seem not to be difficult, if the following article from a London paper states any thing like the truth." A letter from Lisbon states, that on the 29th of October, the anniversary of Don Miguel's birth-day, there was a review of the troops-6,000 of the line and 3,000 police; and although 400 milreas had been previously distributed to each regiment, in order to excite their enthusiasm, not a single viva could be drawn from them, even in the presence of Don Miguel himself; only a few were given by the rabble and vagabonds collected and paid for that purpose by the heads of the police. The Conde de Barbacona, Adjutant General, was completely dismayed, on observing the coldness of the troops in the presence of Don Miguel, and afterwards declared that in case of invasion by Don Pedro, unless Don Miguel possessed the courage to put himself at the head of the

troops (a thing not very probable from the cowardice of the individual,) he (the Count) did not expect the troops would fire a single shot."

GREECE is in a most deplorable state. Their late chief Capodistrias has been assassinated. He was, no doubt, a man of considerable talents; but he was a tyrant. His oppression of the family of Mavromichalis, than whom none had done or suffered more to free Greece from Turkish bondage, was insufferable, and has at last cost him his life. He confined Pietro Bey, the head of this distinguished family, and his brother Constantine, without any justifiable cause, for eight months in a prison, and heaped upon both every indignity. He was at length obliged to release them, through fear of the resentment of their countrymen, the Spartans. When at liberty, Constantine, and the son of Pietro Bey, conceived and executed the dreadful and most unjustifiable purpose of assassinating Capodistrias.-The correspondent of the London Courier thus wrote from Napoli on the 10th of October:-"Yesterday morning (Sunday) as the President was entering the church of St. Spiridion, between six and seven o'clock, to hear divine service, he was shot through the head by Constantine, brother of Pietro Bey, and was stabbed in the belly by George, the son. The first assassin was killed; after a slight resistance, and his body dragged through the streets. The mob literally cut the body to pieces, and threw it over the walls. The other escaped into the house of Baron Rouen, who delivered him up to prison late last night. The moment this dreadful occurrence took place, the garrison got under arms, closed the gates, and confined the population to their houses. During the day, the Senate met and appointed an administrative commission of three, namely, Count Agostino Capodistrias, G. Goletti, and Theodore Colocotroni."-Capodistrias was the agent of Russia, and the last accounts state, that the representatives of Russia, at Constantinople, were consulting with those of the Sultan, on settling the state of Greece. We fear for the result.

AUSTRIA AND PRUSSIA.-It appears to be the object of these great powers to preserve, if possible, the peace of Europe; after favouring, as much as they dared, the destruction of the Polish revolution. An article in an English paper states, that the exchange of couriers between Vienna and Paris is very active; and that the object is the reduction of the armies of these powers severally; and to obtain a similar reduction in the armies of the other European states. We have heard much before, about this reduction, and shall believe in its having taken place when we see it.

BELGIUM AND HOLLAND.-It is understood that King Leopold has accepted, or is ready to accept, the 24 articles of the Conference of the five great powers in London, by which he is declared King of Belgium, and the terms on which Belgium and Holland shall be separated are specified, and the claims of these States severally are adjusted and settled, under the sanction of the potentates concerned in the Conference. The King of Holland has as yet shown no disposition to accept these articles, but apparently is much dissatisfied with them. Suspicions are entertained that he is secretly prompted by the Emperor of Russia to refuse an acceptance, in hope of making it the occasion of war.-Time will disclose the truth. King Leopold has ordered that the national flag of Belgium shall be tri-coloured, red, yellow, and black, in three vertical stripes.

POLAND is no longer a state; but the condition of the brave people who have so nobly contended for their freedom, is interesting to the friends of freedom throughout the world. It is stated with apparent truth, that many of those who were active in the Polish revolution, and who have remained at Warsaw and other places, are silently sent away into Siberia; and that the part of the Polish army that remained with, or that submitted to the Russian forces, is to be marched far into the interior of Asia. What admits of no doubt is, that the leading patriots and military men who refused to submit to the Russian Emperor, are, for the most part, destitute wanderers. Some are still in Austria and Prussia; but they appear generally to be making for France, as fast as they can; and a considerable number of them have reached that kingdom. We have been pleased to see, by the last accounts, that General La Fayette is using all his influence to provide for these noble-minded fugitives, numbers of whom are exceedingly destitute. It has given us still greater pleasure to observe, that under his auspices, an association of our countrymen has been formed in Paris, to assist him particularly in the distribution of the donations sent to the Poles from the United States. This association has published an address, recommending further contributions in this country for the relief of the Polish sufferers, and we sincerely hope that such contributions will be extensively and liberally made.

RUSSIA is actively engaged in disposing of her Polish conquests. It is rumoured that she is endeavouring to prevail on the great European powers to consent to her making Poland an integral part of the Russian empire. That she wishes this there can be no doubt; whether the other powers will consent remains to be seen.-Prince Paskewitsch, in a long report on the capture of Warsaw, which is published in the Peters

burgh journals, says, "there fell into the hands of the Russians 132 pieces of cannon, 2,000,000 of cartridges, a vast quantity of military stores of every description, immense magazines of provisions, including 10,000 chetwerts of oats. In the city, under the arsenal, a cannon foundry, a powder mill, and a saltpetre manufactory; several manufactories of arms, in which 12,000 muskets were nearly finished; there was an hospital, with 11,000 patients, most of them wounded Poles. During the action, 3000 prisoners were taken, among whom were 60 staff and superior officers; many more must have perished during the attack by the burning of the buildings, and the destructive fire of our numerous artillery, which, during the two days, expended 29,000 cartridges. Besides the abovementioned prisoners, above 4,000 soldiers of the Polish army have come to us, 1,200 generals and officers have quitted the ranks and the service of the insurgents. Our loss during the two days desperate conflict could not be small. Among the killed are Major Generals Van Briegen and Jessimawitsch, and nine Colonels: eight Generals, (among whom is Count Witt,) and twelve Colonels, received wounds or contusions. The artillery had 40 staff and superior officers killed and wounded, among whom are eight commanders of brigades or companies; 100 artillery men are killed, and 300 wounded; 800 artillery horses are killed, and 8 powder wagons blown up. The whole loss of the army is 3000 killed, including 63 officers, and 7,500 wounded, including 445 officers. Half of the latter have already joined their regiments again.” We doubt not the Russian loss exceeded what is thus stated, but take the whole account as it stands, and what a horrible sacrifice of human life does it exhibit, to establish arbitrary power!

TURKEY.-We find among the most recent articles of European intelligence, the following:-" Constantinople, Nov. 10.—The Porte is in the greatest commotion, the Divan is repeatedly assembled, and the Reis Effendi is in constant communication with European Dragomen. It is confidently stated that fresh negotiations with regard to Greece have been opened, and that the Conference of London, seeing the lamentable state to which that country is reduced, has applied to the Porte to consent to a new set of boundaries, which would give to the Greeks the frontiers proposed by the first project of the Conference, promising, at the same time, an indemnity to Turkey for the concession."

From ASIA and AFRICA, nothing novel and important has reached us during the past month. The terrific Cholera is still prevalent in both these large sections of the globe. It has been peculiarly fatal in Egypt, but is stated to have lately abated considerably.

AMERICA.

We have not left ourselves room to notice in detail some occurrences in Brazil, and the republicks of the southern part of our continent, which we expected to insert in our present number. We can only say, in general, that the Brazilian empire is in a state of great disorder, the issue of which it is not easy plausibly to conjecture. The republics are, on the whole, we would fain hope, in a state of melioration-some more so and some less; but all, we think, learning gradually, by a sore experience, that civil war will only increase their misery; and that there must be self-denial, virtue, knowledge, industry, and true patriotism, in far greater measure than they have yet been possessed, before they can be a really prosperous and happy people.

UNITED STATES.-The message of President Jackson, at the opening of the present session of Congress, was published cotemporaneously with our last number. We regard it, in point of composition, as far superior to any of his former messages; and, in all respects, except one, as doing honour to himself and to our country. His adherence to the course he has countenanced and favoured in regard to the Indians, can never be viewed by us in any other light than as both unconstitutional and cruel; and we are persuaded that in the future history of our country, this course will bring a blot both on his own character and on that of the people of the United States.

Congress has apparently not been idle since the commencement of the present session; but matters of the most interest have not yet been entered on. They appear, however, to be advancing in preparation for discussion and decision.

The Influenza has pervaded nearly the whole of the United States; and in several places-in our towns and cities especially-the mortality has been unusually great. May a merciful God stay his hand, comfort the mourners, and sanctify to us all the afflictive dispensations of his righteous providence.

ERRATUM IN OUR PRESENT NUMBER.

On page 21, first coluinn, line 26th from bottom, for substantially read generally.

A serious indisposition of the author of the Essays in our work, on Mental Science, is the reason that the series is interrupted for the present month. it will be continued in our next number.

We hope

THE

CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE.

FEBRUARY, 1832.

Religious Communications.

LECTURES ON THE SHORTER CATECHISM OF THE WESTMINSTER ASSEMBLY OF DIVINES-ADDRESSED TO YOUTH.

LECTURE LXIV.

In the present lecture we are to enter on the consideration of the grace of repentance. It is thus defined in our Catechism-"Repentance unto life is a saving grace, whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin, and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, doth, with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God, with full purpose of, and endeavour after, new obedience.”

This admirable answer to the question, "What is repentance unto life?" cannot perhaps be illustrated more properly than by making its words and phrases, just as they stand, the subject of remark. Pursuing this method, I observe, that the words "repentance unto life is a saving grace," were probably intended to refer to two things; the first of which is, that there is a repentance which is not unto life; or to distinguish genuine evangelical repentance, from that legal repentance, or mere compunction of conscience, which the guilty often feel, but which is attended by no lasting and beneficial effects. Natural conscience seems necessarily to suppose, and to refer to, a su Ch. Adv.-VOL. X.

preme and omniscient Being, who will punish the transgressors of his laws. While this principle, therefore, retains any measure of sensibility, (for we read of some "whose conscience is seared with a hot iron") there will be self condemnation and fear of punishment, when an individual is conscious of having violated the commands of God. Hence blasphemers, and other flagrant sinners, when their lives are placed in imminent danger, and speedy death seems to threaten them, are often filled with great fear, and sometimes with remorse and anguish of spirit, of the most fearful kind.They forbear their impieties, perhaps attempt prayer, and ask the prayers of others, profess repentance and sorrow for their sins, and it may be, make solemn resolutions, promises, and vows of reformation, or of leading a new life, if they may only be spared to have the opportunity of doing it. But remove the danger, and permanent reformation seldom takes placeSometimes they return to their former profligacy as soon as the peril of life ceases, and in most instances all their reformation "is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away."

There are other cases, indeed, in which a legal repentance is more lasting. Providential dispensations, the hearing of solemn.

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