They all support the supremacy of the laws and the powers of the magistracy, as firmly as the author of this book can do.

The author adds:

"The pacification of society and the regeneration of the world is to be realized ONLY THROUGH THE PREVALENCE OF CHRISTIANITY; ONLY BY THE ASCENDENCY OF CHRISTIAN SENTIMENT AMONG THE NATIONS! I believe that such a period will arrive, for it is certainly and credibly predicted; but I believe as much in the only appointed means, as I do in the desired end of the glorious consummation."—p. 255.

Now if by this super-emphatic "ONLY," the author means to intimate that all special exertions, such as organized Peace Societies, to develope and apply the principles and spirit of Christianity to the pacification of the world, are needless and useless, we certainly dissent entirely from him. Christianity we believe indeed to be the grand remedy for human crimes and miseries. Its universal prevalence in its true spirit, would certainly make war to cease over the earth. But this is no more true in regard to war, than in regard to Intemperance and Slavery; and the inference (if such it is designed to be) concerning the needlessness or uselessness of special exertions to put a stop to war, would be equally valid against special exertions to put down intemperance and slavery.

In conclusion we must say, it is our candid conviction, that if the whole body of true Christians throughout the world were assembled to hear read to them this portion of our author's work which we have briefly considered, and also that part of Jonathan Dymond, the Quaker's, Essays on Morality, which treat of war, there would be but one sentiment and one vote throughout the assembly, and that would be this: that there is far more of the essential spirit of "Christianity" manifested in the Quaker's treatise, than in that of Dr. Cox. We are sorry to say this; but we believe it is true, and that it ought to be said.

2.-The Corner Stone, or Familiar Illustrations of the principles of Christian Truth. By Jacob Abbott, author of "the Young Christian," and "the Teacher." 1834. 12mo. pp. 360.

MR. ABBOTT's writings have gained great favor and been most extensively circulated, both in this country and abroad. He certainly has a remarkable talent for placing the truths he exhibits in a striking light, by novel and beautiful modes of exhibition and illustration. Our great fear at present is, lest he should be tempted by the inducements which our publishers are eager to offer to a popular writer, to set himself to making up books for the trade by a process of manufacture too rapid for his reputation, or for his We allude to the "Fire-side Series," now permanent usefulness. in progress. We hope the fear we have expressed will not be

realized.

The Corner Stone is what it purports to be, a familiar illustration of Christian truth. It is not a system of theology, as the author says, exhibiting as in a map or a plan, every feature of the country in its proper place and proportion; but a series of views, as the trav eller sees them in passing over a certain road. "The work is intended to exhibit religious truth as it is connected with the various events of the life of our Saviour."

But we have noticed this work not for the purpose of analyzing, or criticising it; but for the sake of transferring to our pages an admirable passage in regard to war and the perversion of the moral sentiments by custom and habit. We rejoice most heartily that while literature is so full of pernicious and anti-christian influences, -while so many writers endeavour to gather a false splendour around the hideous features of war, and while so many professedly Christian writers carefully avoid the subject, Mr. Abbott has found a place, even incidentally, for putting it in so just and striking a light, in a book which is so likely to exert an entensive influence.

"Men see and understand guilt a little sometimes, when it starts upon them in some new and unexpected form, while they are entirely blind to far greater enormities which they have themselves assisted to make common. The whole city of Boston was shocked a few months since, by the disclosure of a scene of vice and cruelty, which was to the mass of the inhabitants, a new and unusual form of sin. It was cock-fighting. Cruel, unrelenting wretches prepared their victims for the contest, by sawing off their natural spurs, and fastening deadlier ones of steel upon the bleeding trunks. Then, having forced the innocent animals to a quarrel, by thrusting their beaks into each others faces, til they provoked them to anger, they sat around to enjoy the spectacle of their combat. The whole community was shocked by it, for this was sin in a new and unexpected form, and one in which they had not themselves personally partaken. But when the same experiment, precisely, is tried with men, the world looks on calmly and unmoved. Military leaders bring human beings together by thousands, men who have no quarrel, and would gladly live in peace. They drive them up together front to front, and having armed them with weapons, of torture and death, which nature never furnished, they succeed, half by compulsion, and half by malicious art, in getting the first blows struck, and the first blood flowing, as a means of bringing the angry passions of the combatants into play. This they call getting the men engaged! There is no trouble after this. The work goes on a work of unutterable horror. The blood, the agony, the thirst, the groans which follow, are nothing. It is the raging fires of hatred, anger, re. venge, and furious passion, which nerve every arm, and boil in every heart, and with which thousands upon thousands pour in crowds into the presence of their Maker; these are what constitute the real horrors of a battle-field. And what do mankind say to this? Why a few Christian moralists feebly remonstrate, but the great mass of men gather around the scene as near as they can get to it, by history and description, and admire the systematic arrangements of the battle, and watch the progress, and the manœuvres of the hostile armies, as they would the changes in a game of chess :-and were it not for the flying bullet, they would throng around the scene in person. But when it comes to sawing off the spurs of a game cock, and exasperating him against his fellow,-oh! that is shocking cruelty :—that they cannot bear!"— p. 133-4.

3.-The Harbinger of the Millennium: with an Appendix. By William Cogswell, Secretary of the American Education Society. Boston: Pierce and Parker, 1833. pp. 362.

WE mention this work not to criticise it, nor to give any particular account of its contents, but to make two remarks, and to give an extract. It consists of seventeen Dissertations on the various benevo lent exertions of the age, to diffuse the Gospel and bring on its predicted and universal reign. It has been for some time before the public, and our readers are probably acquainted with it.—The first remark we wish to make is, that we heartily rejoice to see a dissertation devoted to the subject of the "Promotion of Peace." The second remark is, that it is high time that the efforts for the promotion of peace should assume a prominent place in the regards, the prayers, the contributions, and active co-operation in every way, of the Church of Christ. It is high time that it should be distinctly and specially admitted, in the general estimation of Christians, as one and inseparable in the circle of great objects of Christian benevolence. We say this because the cessation of war and the prevalence of peace upon the earth, is one of the most prominent features in the vision of "the glory of the latter day," disclosed in revelation; and of course the promotion of peace should have a prominent place in the regards and activities of the Church in attempting to bring in that day. The Millennium will never have come until the nations shall "learn war no more." Again: war opposes one of the greatest obstacles to the success of the benevolent enterprises of the age. It absorbs the means that might otherwise be devoted to the great moral regeneration of the world, at which these enterprises aim. It is directly one of the most barbarizing, demoralizing, and anti-christian of all agents in its moral influences upon any country where it exists;-the source of brutality, degradation, and crime the nurse of all evil passions-the hot-bed of corruption of morals and manners. It is a prodigious stumbling-block in the minds of pagans in the way of their receiving the Gospel. Christianity, breathing peace and love in every page, is offered them by fighting Christians. They feel the inconsistency. Finally, to say that Chris. tianity will of itself put an end to war, therefore all special exertions on the part of Christians may be dispensed with, contradicts every analogy, the fundamental principles on which a great number of the Christian enterprises of the age are grounded. Christianity will indeed put an end to war, when its true spirit shall perfectly prevail. So it will to every other form of vice and evil which Christians are engaged in repressing and destroying. But will its true spirit be made to prevail, without the zeal, the prayers, the contributions of the church, of Christians? Christians practically answer No, in regard to Temperance, Slavery, and many other evil customs. We say it is equally so, in regard to the custom of public war. The zeal, prayers, the agency of the church must likewise be combined,

the

in the special direction of developing, and applying, and extending the true spirit of Christianity, in regard to this particular subject. The extract we wish to give is the following:

"1. The ministers of the gospel should advocate this cause by precept and example.

Every ambassador of the "Prince of Peace," is by his office a peacemaker. He is a disciple and minister of him who came from heaven to propose peace and reconciliation to a revolted world. He should, therefore, advocate pacific principles and measures. He is obligated to do it in the social circle, from the pulpit, and on every occasion, when opportunity is afforded. Once it was deemed lawful and expedient for ministers to suppli cate a blessing on the warrior's arms, and to return thanks for success in battle. But in the nineteenth century, ministers have learned to pray, that the Lord would turn the counsels of the wicked into foolishness, and dispose contending nations to peace; that he would "break the bow and cut the spear in sunder; burn the chariot in the fire, and make wars to cease unto the end of the earth."

2. Parents, and those who have the charge of youth, should impress on their minds an abhorrence of war. Children generally, are delighted with the dress, music, and parade of military occasions, and very early discover a proneness to imitate the soldier. This propensity should be repressed. Children should be taught the design of martial exercises. The causes, the sinfulness, and the misery of war should be explained to them, and they should be trained up with the love of man and the love of peace, ruling in their hearts. This duty devolves upon Parents, Guardians, and Instructers." -p. 225.

Entelligence.

PEACE SOCIETIES.-RESOLUTIONS.-PUBLICATIONS, &c.

THE CALUMET, for May and June of this year, has come out since the publication of our first number, having been delayed by unexpected circumstances. In its paper, typography, and general form, it presents an improved appearance, and under the conduct of its present able Editor, will, we hope, circulate extensively and greatly promote the good cause to which it is devoted.

The Sixth Annual Report of the AMERICAN PEACE SOCIETY, is given in this number, and, with the Remarks appended to it, presents general views of a very animating character, and particular topics of striking interest and importance. We should be glad if our space would allow us to present some extracts from this report. But we hope our readers are also readers of that publication. A single paragraph we will give for such as may not have met with it. It is for the serious consideration of those engaged in extending Christianity over the earth: "We have shown how utterly improbable it is that the heathen will come numerously into the fold of Christ, so long as Christian people not only continue to shed, but to be foremost in shedding, each other's blood; and we have uttered our deep conviction, that JEHOVAH, whose title is "THE GOD OF PEACE," will not suffer the nations to be converted to that huge anomaly-a fighting Christianity."-The number of clergy. men who have engaged to preach on the subject of Peace, at least once a year, is at present, so far as known, two hundred and forty.

Resolutions of the Maine Conference. The General Conference of Maine, was held at Bath, in June last. The following Resolutions were introduced

by the Rev. Mr. Beckwith, of Portland, and supported in able and eloquent addresses by the mover, and by Mr. Ladd, and passed by the Conference.

"1. That we consider the prophecies of the Old Testament, and the precepts of the New, as justifying the expectation of a period, when war will be banished from the whole earth.

2. That our hope of this glorious consummation, though it may be hasten. ed by the co-operation of Philanthropists, must depend, under God, mainly on the prayers and efforts of Christians for its accomplishment.

3. That while the temporal evils of war seem almost to defy calculation, we regard its agency in destroying the souls of men, and its baneful influence on the spiritual interests of the world, as the most lamentable of all its results, and as demanding the special attention of the Christian community.

4. That the prevalence among Christian nations of evangelical sentiments on the subject of peace, is necessary to prepare the way for the universal triumph of the Gospel.

5. That the nature of our institutions, the present circumstances of our country, and its influence on public opinion throughout the world, conspire to give the cause of peace peculiar claims on the friends of God and man in this land.

6. That we commend this cause to the Christian, as worthy of a place among the benevolent enterprises of the age, and recommend that ministers preach on the subject, and the churches observe, during the last week in December, the annual concert of prayer for the universal prevalence of peace on earth."-Christian Mirror.

The exertions to promote peace seem to have a deeper hold upon the gen. eral mind and especially on the sympathies of the Christian churches, in Maine, than elsewhere in our country. We attribute it to the influence of that excellent man, Mr. Ladd, the General Agent of the American Peace So. ciety, who resides in that state. Those with whom he has longest and most intimately lived, seem to have caught most of his spirit. He has been for many years devoted to this cause, with his whole heart, and in the spirit of true Christian philanthropy.

The Chinese Repository, printed at Canton, has an article on the subject of Peace; the following paragraph is from the number for June, 1832; we copy it from the Calumet :

"We shall have an opportunity, during the progress of our work, to plead the cause of peace. War, if justifiable at all under the Christian dispensa. tion, is very rarely so. We are much inclined to go with the Friends, called Quakers, on the subject of peace, and to enlist ourselves as soldiers in the armies of America and Europe, that fight for peace, viz. the Peace Societies. We heartily pray, that the reign of Messiah, whose advent was hailed by a multitude of the heavenly host, saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace," and whose name is "the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace," may soon be universal."

Solemn Review of the Custom of War. A new (stereotype) edition of this valuable tract, revised by the author, has been put out by the Massachusetts Peace Society. It is the eleventh American edition.

One edition of it was published in England prior to the formation of the London Peace Society, 1816. It was adopted by that Society as the fifth of their series of tracts. How many editions they have published, we cannot precisely state their seventh edition was issued several years ago, and sev. eral others have since appeared. 10,000 has been, we believe, the usual number of an edition. They have likewise translated it into several lan guages, the French, the Spanish, the Welsh, and we believe into one or two more. This tract must therefore have had a very extensive circulation in