Compilers of the Concordance.--Visit to a S. School. placing him among his personal attendants, and in the way to promotion. "Remember Joseph in the prison of Egypt." On reading the above every pious mind will be led to reflect on the remarkable interposition of Providence in behalf of this man of prayer, for this is the most prominent feature in the christian character. He could not live without prayer, though he thereby exposed himself to the suspicion and hatred of his comrades, and even endangered his life; but the God, whom like Daniel, he served, knew how to deliver him in the perilous hour, and not only heard his prayer but made the exercise of this duty itself the means of his deliverance. O, how does this reproach those, who live without prayer, though they have every opportunity for retirement, unseen and unsuspected? ALEXANDER CRUDEN, Author of the Concordance which bears his name, was born in Old Aberdeen, Scotland, A. D. 1681, where he received his early education. He was entered at, and pursued his studies in Marischal College, with a view of preparing for the ministry. While there, however, so serious a derangement of his mental powers ensued, as to render it necessary that he should be closely confined. On being released, he went to London, and engaged as a private tutor in some respectable families, and in the same employment spent some years in the Isle of Man. He afterwards opened a book-store in London, and employing all his vacant time as a corrector of the press. In the year 1703, he began to compile his Concordance, the first edition of which was published in 1737. He experienced much embarrassment in his pecuniary affairs and was often afflicted with turns of melancholy and derangement, was three times confined in a private mad-house, and 189 ending his distinguished but unfortunate life in lodgings at Islington, November 1st, 1770. SAMUEL NEWMAN, The author or compiler of the Cambridge Concordance, was educated at the University of Oxford, England, and was many years a useful and faithful Minister in his own country. He emigrated to New-England in 1638, and after spending some time at Dorchester and Weymouth, removed to the place in our neighbor hood which he named Rehobothwhere he lived with his people 12 years. He died July 5th, 1663. [Rhode Island American. CARLISLE, APRIL 4. In consequence of some new arrangements having taken place, & the time which must necessarily be spent in moving the office, no paper will be issued for one or two weeks; when it is expected some improvement will be made in its appearance. What is now doing in Pennsylvania for the spread of the Gospel? We should like to see this question answered, by some person whose observation has enabled him to know particulars, and thereby confer a favor on the readers of the Miscellany. FOR THE MISCELLANY. A VISIT TO A SABBATH SCHOOL. MR. FLEMING,-I entered a Sabbath school not long since, in order to become acquainted with the situation and progress of the institution. I was much pleased to find that the exercises and duties of the school were conducted with 30 much zeal. Indeed the teachers appeared to me to be as God we pray. It is not unfrequently that the aged christian blushes, when asked such questions as those put to this little catechuman; and the reason is obvious: They either are convict ed of the coldness of their devotions; or, that they could not tell you that they performed it twice each day. Many other important questions. were put to other members of the class, to some of which very pertin a general caution was given to all, to refrain from the company of bad boys, and associate with such as would not fight or swear. Indeed, I was much pleased with the performance of the young teacher. industrious as new beginners, and as well acquainted with their duty as old teachers. I paid particular attention, and made many inquiries, respecting the qualifications of the teachers, and was told that they were generally very good, and the interest of the school very much the concern of each, individually. One young teacher, who was, I am informed, formerly a scholar in the same school, ap-, peared very much engaged in attend-ent answers were made;---after which ing to his class. I moved near to him in order that I might have an opportunity of discovering whether he had acquired any particular knowledge of human nature; or the manner of treating youth, in order to gain their affections:-for, I have always had the impression, that those who have been scholars themselves, are better calculated to judge of the manner children should be treated. My speculations were not incorrect. After he had heard his class through their lesson, he hegan to catechize them. "Do you ever pray?" says he to a little ruby faced boy. The question startled the lad, and a blush, occasioned by the delicacy of the subject, crimsoned his cheeks. He hesitated in giving an answer. But, overcoming his youthful feelings, he replied, "Yes, sir." "How often do you pray?" again asked the teacher. "I pray evry evening and morning;" answered the boy. "But to whom do you pray?" "To my Father in Heaven;" he replied; while he covered his face with his hands to hide the effects the interrogatories had upon him, perhaps, from a consicousness of the imperfect nanner in which he had performed this important duty: or it may be the backwardness which was evinced by him arose from an inherent principle of our nature.-Although it must be considered the greatest privilege a benignent Creator could bestow upon sinful man-to hold converse with his God! we often feel backward in acknowledging the fact that it is to The plan of catechising the youth, seems to be general. It is well calculated to facilitate the youth in obtaining a knowledge-of their state by nature, and the means made use of to recover them from that state; of the pain which Immanual suffered to put salvation within the reach of every sinner; of the invitations of the gospel to youth; and of the benefits of early piety. And it must remedy in some measure the proneness in youth, to fall into gross errors, when they would, unassisted, contemplate the expansive field of controverted doctrines. It has another tendency-to point the youth to his own bosom, that he may there discover whether he is, individually, concerned for the salvation of his soul. Summary. House of Representatives of this State. A very celebrated little volume has been published in Boston, entitled "An account of the Rivival of Religion in Boston, in the years 1740, 1, 2, and 3; together with some account of the Rev. George WhitfieldBy Thomas Price, one of the then Pastors of the old South Church." Receipts into the Treasury of the American Education Society, for Feb. amounted to $314 26 cts. The New England Tract Society, was established in 1814; it has published since that time, three million of Tracts; while the London Society has published forty-five millions. "Charles Aston, the boy that would be a soldier," has been lately published in Boston. The design of the writer is to turn the attention of youth to the pursuit of virtue and religion, from the facinating influence often exerted over them by the glory attending victorious armies. From the out-line given of the character of the work, it appears to be very interesting. African Church.-A Presbyterian Church has been formed among the people of colour in the city of NewYork. The Rev. Samuel Ezra Cornish, a licentiate of the Philadelphia Presbytery, and since ordained by the New-York Presbytery, collected, and now preaches to the congregation. The number of stated worshippers is about 500; the number of communicants is sixty-one, and will be increased "on the next sacramental occasion." Slave Trade-In consequence of a memoir, presented to the Congress of Verona, by the philanthropist Allan against the Slave Trade, and his eloquent addresses, the great powers, with the single exception of France, have adopted very vigorous measures 191 on the subject. Russia, England, Prussia, and Austria, have agreed that the Commerce in slaves ought to be assimilated with Piracy; and have therefore made it punishable by death. University of South Carolina, at Columbia, has declined so much of late, that the Legislature of the state appointed a committee to enquire the cause. They attribute its decline to the persecution of some religious societies. It is stated in the Family Visitor, that Lexington and vicinity, Va. where the effusions of the Holy Spirit were so copiously enjoyed last summer, is favored now with a work of grace far more powerful than then: no particulars are given. In Ceylon are eight schools under the superintendence of Mr. Charter of the Baptist Mission, containing 280 scholars. Religious instruction is an important part of the plan on which these schools are conducted. Methodists.-West of the Allegha ny mountains, there are upwards of 105,000 members of the Methodist Church; about 400 travelling preach ers.. It is stated in the Rhode-Island, Religious Intelligencer, that the first Sabbath School in America was established at Pawtucket, in that state in 1797, and was taught by Benjamin Allen, L. L. D. then a member of Providence College, now at the head of an eminent Classical School, at Hyde Park, N. Y.-It was instituted. for the benefit of the children in the Factory of Almy, Brown and Slater. HIBERNIAN SOCIETY. Of the 32 counties into which Ireland is divided, 23 are enjoying the benefit of the Society's labors. Of 575 schools, 35 are under the superintendence of Catholic priests, and it is evident that the opposition hereto fore made to the schools, by the Roman Catholics, is giving way;-they are even establishing schools among themselves, and some of them are favorable to the introduction of the Scriptures into them. Schools have been very successfully conducted in some of the prisons, particularly in those of Sligo and Cork. This Society, since its establishment, 16 years ago, has distributed upwards of 80,000 Bibles & Testaments among the poor by means of the inspectors of the schools and villiage readers.-Bo. Re. English Methodist Mission in the West Indies. A wealthy gentleman taking his friend upon the top of his house to shew him the extent of his possessions; "There," says he, "that is my estate." Then pointing to a great distance on one side, "Do you see that farm?" 'Yes' "Well, that is mine." Pointing again to the other side, "Do you see that house" 'Yes'-"That also belongs to me." Then said his friend, "Do you see that little village yonder?" "Yes." "Well there lives a poor woman in that village who can say more than all this." "Ah! what can she say?" "Why she can say that CHRIST is mine!"-He looked confounded, and said no more. Religious Miscellany. "SAY YE TO THE DAUGHTER OF ZION, BEHOLD, THY SALVATION COMETH." No. 13. CARLISLE, APRIL 18, 1823. TO THE PATRONS OF THE RELIGIOUS MISCELLANY. The increasing circulation of this Vol. I. ed more than those of the preceding ones. This increase, has effected a resolution to have those numbers, which run short re-printed, in order supply those who have not received publication, and consequently the in-them. Thus we see that an attempt creasing labor and responsibility, has is all that is required to secure the induced the original proprietor to take permanent establishment of a paper, a partner. He was also urged to this which, enriched with Heaven's blesmeasure by an undue estimate, beforehand made, of the time absolutely ed to warn and to instruct;-an insings, may prove a Beacon, calculatnecessary to be expended in making strument of edification to Christians, selections, and attending to other duties devolving on him as editor. It is only necessary to state that Mr. Geddes is well calculated to fill the important station, in which he has embarked. The occasion suggests the propriety of a few remarks. Religious Publications are multiplying rapidly in this country; and leave no imperfect impression behind them of their usefulness. Those.al ready in operation are circulating still more widely, with a degree of velosity not equalled by any political or literary publication. Where they are circulated the inhabitants are more intelligent as respects their knowledge of evangelical information. When the first numbers of this paper were issued, the editor was doubtful whether he would be able to publish more than six months, owing to the backwardness of persons to subscribe, being generally engaged in one, two, and sometimes three political papers; which created a tax that few were willing to increase. So dull were the prospects at that time, that but one hundred were struck, over the number called for. By the time the 6th number appeared this overplus was exhausted; several hundred of the succeeding numbers were print telling to the world around the achievements of the Holy Spirit, in door the gospel's gladdening calls; rescuing sinful man, bringing to the the warning voice to sinners! The recent establishment of the Miscellany, renders inquiry with respect to its general reception quite too premature. But several circumstances have transpired to give some tolerably correct ideas of this desired knowledge. It is very pleasing to them both to discover, that, although and the infidel, may have viewed it the unsympathetic, the uncharitable, have with hatred and malice, and as containing nothing but nonsense; true Christians of every name, approved the selections as highly calculated to edify and instruct. These scoffings remind us of an assurance which our blessed Saviour has left on record for the encouragement of his followers, that what they considered to be the Power of God and the Wisdom of God, proved to his enemies a stumbling block, and foolishness; and while they are disposed to scoff, we shall consider them as prompters, to urge us on to redoubled diligence in the good cause; but it is to be hoped that even they will become reconciled. |