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It appears that not long since, two candidates for the gospel ministry, recently from the theological seminary at Princeton, Messrs. John B. Pinney, of the state of Georgia, and Joseph W. Barr, of the state of Ohio, offered themselves to the Society, with the expression of their desire to be sent to Africa-not to remain on the coast, but as soon as practicable to penetrate to a considerable distance into the interior, with a view to explore the country, and to select one or more missionary stations, where the health of the country and the disposition of the natives should appear to afford the prospect of a permanent and promising missionary establishment. Their offer was accepted, and the Secretary and General Agent of the Society, the Rev. Elijah P. Swift, accompanied by the young brethren mentioned above, came to this city, for the purpose of making preparation for the contemplated enterprise. It was supposed that it would, for several reasons, be desirable and proper that the missionaries should be ordained in Philadelphia. At the request of the Secretary, therefore, a special meeting of the Presbytery of Philadelphia was called, which took place on the 12th inst. The candidates were examined and received, and the evening of the same day was appointed for the solemnities of their ordination, in the Sixth Presbyterian church. It was gratifying to the young brethren, as well as to the Presbytery, that the beloved and venerated professors under whom they had studied, the Rev. Drs. Alexander and Miller, consented, at the request of the Presbytery, to take a leading part in the ordination service. In the presence of an unusually large and deeply interested audience, Dr. Alexander delivered a very powerful and impressive sermon, from Matt. xxviii. 18, 19, 20, and Dr. Miller a very solemn and affectionate charge to the or

dained missionaries. The ordaining prayer, and an address to the audience were made by Dr. Green. We have witnessed many ordinations, but never one, which so deeply as this affected our feelings; and appearances seemed to indicate that in these feelings there was a general sympathy in the assembled multitude. It is expected that the missionaries will proceed to Liberia, in a vessel which is to sail from Norfolk, before the end of the present month.

In behaf of this infant mission, the first that has ever left our continent under the exclusive patronage and direction of the Presbyterian church, it is hoped and believed that the earnest and continual prayers, and the cheerful and liberal contributions of the members of our communion, will be extensively offered. Present indications seem to be favourable to this result. It has been highly gratifying to us to witness the donations, not only in money but in articles for the accommodation of the missionaries, and for presents to, and commerce with the natives, which have been made on this occasion. The Presbytery of Philadelphia has pledged itself for the support of two foreign missionaries, and the Presbytery of New Castle of one. The first Presbyterian church of New York has set a noble example, by assuming to itself the full support of one foreign missionary, and by putting into the hands of the Secretary of the Board, six hundred dollars, as the first annual payment. Other wealthy congregations of our communion might follow this example, with real benefit to themselves, as well as to the blessed missionary cause. But suppose that the one hundred and ten presbyteries of our church should, on an average, support each one foreign missionary, what a glorious host of the ambassadors of the King of Zion, might go forth to invade the empire of Satan, in the dark parts of

the earth, and to deliver his wretched subjects from present degradation, and future endless perdition, and bring them into the light, and liberty, and bliss, of the children of God. And it is no exaggeration to say, that the support of one foreign missionary by each of our presbyteries, on an average, would, in addition to all that is done at present, impose no oppressive burden on our churches

nay, we confidently believe that they would all be the better for it; be more blessed in their temporal concerns, and infinitely more in their spiritual interests. It would be a loan to the Lord, which he would most amply repay. But we must quit this subject for the present, but with the intention to return to it again and again, if our life and editorial labours are prolonged.

View of Publick Affairs.

EUROPE.

The latest European intelligence that has reached our country at the time we write, is of the 17th of Sept. ult. from London. From France we have seen no article of later date than the 12th.

BRITAIN. The British parliament was prorogued by the king in person on the 16th of August. He delivered a speech on the occasion, of which we find a paragraphist complaining, not without some reason, that "it will be seen to be a mere collection of words, and to convey little or no insight into the foreign policy of England, or the internal state of that country;" and he adds, "the radical papers abuse it without measure; indeed it is very apparent that the present ministry are fast losing all favour with that party." The truth seems to be, that the spirit of reform, which the existing ministry have excited, demands much more than they are willing to grant, or which probably could be granted, without producing such an overturning as would completely unsettle the nation. To this the present state of things in Britain strongly tends, and we suspect will ultimately reach. Few persons appeared in the streets when the king went in state to prorogue the parliament, and it is said "he was received by his loyal subjects in the profoundest silence. Not a cheer was given, neither did there appear any disposition to offer a mark of disapprobation." We learn from the speech, as well as from many other statements, "the continuance of disturbances in Ireland, notwithstanding the vigilance and energy displayed by the government in the measures taken to suppress them." The collection of tythes is the principal cause of the Irish discontents, and nothing can, we believe, put an end to them but the entire abolition of the whole tything system. The excesses and barbarous murders which have lately been committed are shocking to humanity. O'Connel is bent on destroying the union between Britain and Ireland, and on restoring to the latter its former regime as a separate kingdom; but in this, it is said, he has been forsaken by Shiel, and is opposed by other of his former influential friends. The king says that he continues to receive the most friendly assurances from all foreign powers;" and notwithstanding the war in Portugal and the unsettled controversy between Holland and Belgium, he adds, "I look with confidence, through the intimate union which subsists between me and my allies, to the preservation of the general peace." The speech concludes thus

"My Lords and Gentlemen,-I recommend to you during the recess the most careful attention to the preservation of the public peace, and to the maintenance of the authority of the law in your respective counties. I trust that the advantages enjoyed by all my subjects, under our free Constitution will be duly appreciated and cherished, that relief from any real causes of complaint, will be sought only through legitimate channels; that all irregular and illegal proceedings will be discountenanced and resisted; and that the establishment of internal tranquillity and order will prove that the measures which I have sanctioned will not be fruitless in promoting the security of the State and the contentment and welfare of my people."

The harvest in Britain has been unusually abundant, and of excellent quality. The Cholera has revisited London, with more than its former virulence, about forty deaths a day had taken place in the last week preceding the last accounts. Sir Walter Scott was still alive, but that was all. The king and his royal brother, the Duke of Sussex, had compromised a quarrel of long standing. It was reported that Lord Chancellor Brougham would soon succeed Earl Grey as prime minister-the health of the latter was declining. Electioneering for seats in the Parliament to be formed on the principle of the Reform Bill was going zealously forward throughout the country. The death of Dr. Adam Clark we have noticed in another part of our present number.

FRANCE. Our principal article of French news for the present month is the marriage of Leopold king of Belgium to the princess Louisa, eldest daughter of Louis Philip the present king of the French. This marriage was celebrated, on the 16th of August, at Compiegne, a town which contains a royal palace or chateau, nearly in the centre of the department of the Oise. The whole royal family of France and the whole ministerial corps, with one exception, were present, and Leopold was accompanied by the principal members of his cabinet and generals of his army. For several days preceding and following the royal nuptials, fetes were celebrated, and the most brilliant displays of royal splendour and military pomp were exhibited, to the wondering and delighted multitude who witnessed the spectacle. An enormous dowry goes with the princess, and it is hoped by this marriage to consolidate the union of France and Belgium. Some however think they foresee in it the seeds of war between France and the powers who are inclined to side with Holland in its controversy with Belgium. Paris, at the last accounts, was tranquil; and there was no actual disturbance of much importance in any part of the kingdom. But there was great discontent, both in the capital and in other places, particularly on the western part of the kingdom. The legal prosecutions of printers, and the infliction on them of severe penalties, as well as the trial and punishment of individuals who had taken part in the late disturbances, produced great uneasiness and much private murmuring; so that many looked forward to the meeting of the Chambers as the period when an explosion would take place, which would shake the throne and the whole kingdom-nor, in our judgment, is this improbable. The ex-monarch, Charles the X., had received his passports from the British court, preparatory to his removal, with his whole family, from Scotland to Austria-whether this movement had not been prompted by the existing French ministry, was a matter of speculation. Polignac, and the other imprisoned ministers of the late monarch, were so closely confined as to injure their health, and the cruelty of the measure by which they were thus treated was exciting sympathy in their favour. The Duchess De Berri had joined the rest of the royal family, after her Quixotic expedition in France.

SPAIN. The king of Spain is, no doubt, anxiously desirous to 'aid his neighbour and fellow tyrant Don Miguel, with troops and military supplies. But he dare not do it. He knows that he is watched closely by the ministers of Britain and France; and that if he does not maintain a strict neutrality, both those powers will immediately assist Don Pedro, and at once overwhelm his rival.

PORTUGAL. In an early part of August, the commander of Don Miguel's squadron before Lisbon ventured to sea; and on being discovered by Sartorius, the admiral of Don Pedro's naval force, was, after some manoeuvering, brought to action in a night encounter. The two fleets separated, without any thing decisive, and after a second encounter, somewhat similar to the first, Miguel's fleet returned to the Tagus, one of the vessels being, it is said, in a sinking state, and the principal ship of the expedition, a ship of the line, partially dismasted. We think it was really a drawn battle, and as usually happens in such cases, both sides claim the victory. Sartorius, who is a British naval officer of great skill and courage, has been somewhat reinforced since his late encounter, and although still greatly inferior in ships and guns to the fleet of Miguel, has, it is affirmed, declared his determination, if that fleet again leaves the Tagus, to bring it to a decisive action. We certainly wish him success, but think the issue doubtful. On land, after the battle of which we last month gave an account, Don Pedro found it necessary, or prudent, to concentrate his whole force in the town of Oporto, where he has since remained, and has fortified the place extensively and strongly. His brother's hostile forces, amounting to about twenty thousand men, are cantoned in the neighbourhood, and are supposed to be preparing for an assault, which it is said is earnestly wished by Don Pedro's forces, in confidence of producing a defeat which may be followed up by ulterior operations that may decide the contest. Reinforcements to Don Pedro's army are on their way from both France and Britain, and it is thought that Don Miguel must either make the contemplated assault soon, or be compelled by the season to retreat. We have all along considered the success of this expedition as very doubtful, and so we view it still.

ITALY furnishes us with no news, except that Mount Vesuvius was, at the last accounts, in a state of eruption, the issue was yet to be seen.

HOLLAND AND BELGIUM are still negotiating, and nothing decisive is yet effected. AUSTRIA AND PRUSSIA, are endeavouring to force the rulers of the German States to measures calculated to prevent their subjects from cherishing liberal principles. The consequence is, great dissatisfaction throughout Germany, and the danger of open in surrection, and perhaps war.

RUSSIA seems to be occupied in persecuting the unhappy Poles, and disposing of their Conquered country.

TURKEY is prosecuting a most disastrous war against the Pacha of Egypt.

ASIA.

There is a serious rebellion in the northern part of the Chinese empire, the issue of

which threatens the reigning emperor. The British are exploring the river Indus, with a view of making a settlement in the fertile country of Sinde. In Palestine, Ibrahim Pacha, the son and commander-in-chief of the armies of the Pacha of Egypt, is carrying all before him, in a war with the Turkish Sultan. He has captured Acre, and defeated the Sultan's army, with great loss, at Homs; and was, at the last accounts, marching for Aleppo, in confident expectation of taking it by storm. The whole of Palestine and the adjoining regions, seem, for the present, and probably forever, to be lost to the Sultan. AFRICA.

While Ibrahim Pacha is prosecuting the war against the Grand Seignor in Asia, Ali Pacha, his father, is doing every thing to sustain him, by efficient measures in Egypt. This Ali is a man of great resources, and is changing the whole aspect and character of his African possessions. The last accounts from Liberia represent the American colony there as in a more prosperous state than at any former period. It seems to us that the United States will disregard both duty and interest, if this promising and important colony does not speedily receive a liberal and efficient patronage. AMERICA.

There are so many ephemeral changes among the states in the southern part of our continent, that it scarcely seems proper, in such a publication as ours, to record them. When any thing takes place which promises a permanent result, or that is of general interest, we shall chronicle it, but smaller occurrences and changes we shall omit. We must defer till the coming month, the notice of a few events of some interest, which our space forbids us to specify at present.

UNITED STATES.-Our whole country is agitated by the elections which are going forward, or being prepared for, of legislators and electors for the several states, and for the general government. We think it is much to be regretted, that all local concerns are influenced by the presidential election; but so it is, and so we fear it will continue to be. That our country is in a really perilous situation is admitted and proclaimed by both the great parties which divide our population. The issue, let us remember, is under the control and direction of the providence of God; and let his praying people implore his interposition to give that result which will be most for his glory, and the welfare, peace, prosperity, and permanent happiness of our beloved country.

We have been not a little mortified, to find that in our last number we were instrumental in giving currency to an atrocious falsehood, relative to an answer said to have been returned by the President of the United States, to a memorial of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions; and yet we consider ourselves in this matter as unfortunate only, and not criminal. We found the misrepresentation by which we were misled, published and republished, with marks of quotation, and without any denial or suspicion of forgery that we had heard of; and yet we used the precaution to say-"This is the statement we have seen extracted from the paper bearing the title of The Protestant; and we are unable to say whether it is correct or not. If correct, we remark" &c.-Now it appears by the report of the Prudential Committee of the A. B. C. F. Missions, at the meeting of the Board in the present month, that the memorial which they addressed to the President was before the decision of the Supreme Court, and not, as we were misled to state, after that decision. It also ap pears that the answer to the memorial was made in behalf of the President, by the Secretary of War, and was of an entirely different character from that which we quoted from The Protestant, as having been made by the President himself, using the personal pronoun I-" I do not wish I cannot refrain," &c: and of course that this alleged answer of the President is an entire and deliberate forgery. We do think that the editor of the Protestant, who has been given to the publick as the first publisher of this detestable fraud, ought, for the sake of his own character, to ferret out and give to the world the author of this abominable slander-Let us not be misunderstood -we are not vindicating the course taken by President Jackson, in the matter of controversy between the Indians and the state of Georgia. To the whole of that course our humble opinion is directly and strongly opposed; but let the course pursued by the President be fairly stated; and not be aggravated by a wicked fabrication, which will ultimately injure-as every such base artifice will eventually most deeply injure-the cause which it professes to serve. Perhaps it is vain to expect that in a free country and we rejoice and give thanks to God that ours is a free country-excesses of various kinds can be entirely prevented, when an important popular election is pending -Some evil is ever mixed with the good, in concerns which deeply interest and are much affected by human feelings and passions. Yet every good man ought to prevent as much evil as he can; and we are persuaded that every species of fraud and falsehood will ultimately rebound, and injure the party that uses it. In the existing conflict of parties, in our country, every Christian man, every friend of religion, every enlightened patriot, ought so to temper his zeal as not unnecessarily to inflame the passions of his opponents; and this he may do, in consistency with using his whole influence, and the greatest amount of influence, in favour of the cause he advocates.

THE

CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE.

NOVEMBER, 1832.

Keligious Communications.

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

LECTURE LXXII.

In the lecture on which we now enter, we are to consider who are the proper subjects of baptism. Our Catechism teaches us, that "Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, till they profess their faith in Christ and obedience to him; but the infants of such as are members of the visible church, are to be baptized."

In order to a right understand ing of this article of our creed, you must observe that it consists of two distinct parts; the first part referring exclusively to persons of adult age, and the second part to infant children.

1. In regard to those whose faculties or powers are so far matured that they are able to comprehend the truths of the gospel, and who have not been baptized in infancy, and of course are out of the visible church," it is declared that they are not to be baptized, "till they profess their faith in Christ and obedience to him." Small indeed was the number of those who had faith in Christ, when the ordinance of Christian baptism was instituted by our Ch. Adv.-VOL. X.

blessed Lord, shortly before his ascension into heaven. Even among the Jews, the company of believers was emphatically a little flock," and among the Gentiles it was still less. But the injunction to the apostles was, 66 Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."

It is plain from the nature of the case, that adults were, in this commission, contemplated as the first recipients of Christian baptism; for till they had become believers themselves, they would not be disposed, even if they had been permitted, to receive this sacrament for their children. It is therefore no valid objection to infant baptism, that in the original institution there was a command

*The Syrophenician woman, the Greeks introduced to our Lord by Philip at the last passover, the Centurion whose servant the nobleman also who received a similar our Lord healed at Capernaum, possibly favour at the same place, appear to have been believing Gentiles. Of the Samaritans, beside the woman who first met our Saviour at the well, it is said that "many

believed on him." Yet in all, the number was probably less than the 120 mentioned Acts i. 15.

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