Standard, Volume 4, Number 16, Madison, Jefferson County, 6 February 1835 — Page 2

58 THE STANDARD.

could not be justified. There are, in the religious world, too many melancholy instances of mistakes and failings to permit us to adopt the opinions and imitate the conduct of any men, farther than they are consistent with the doctrines and precepts of the Bible. Let us lament and avoid, but not imitate the

humiliating crimes of good men! But granting all the force which your friend could wish to his argument, then it completely destroys itself. Good men approve of dancing, therefore it is right. But good men condemn it, therefore it is wrong. It is admitted that some preachers of the gospel have recommended it from the press, and others have sanctioned it by their presence; but I am happy in saving that others, not less eminent for their integrity and zeal in promoting the interests of vital piety, do pointedly condemn it, and conscientiously refuse to sanction it by their presence. I will now ask, would they do this if the practice was innocent, or if it was not criminal? Your friend alledges the authority of Scripture in favour of dancing, and appears disposed to enjoin it on us as a religious duty. Let him establish this point on the firm basis of sound reasoning and fair construction of scripture, and l will instantly drop the pen, and, calling for the "harp and the viol" will join in the merry dance. But first I must examine the passages from whence he derives this obligation. "In Psalm, 150, 3," he observes, we are commanded to praise the name of the Lord in the dance. And we find the Psalmist himself, on a certain occasion, in consistency with this injunction, dancing before the ark of the Lord, as an expression of religious joy. Dancing was also a part of:the rejoicings occasioned by the return of the prodigal son. It is mentioned in various other places as a religious exercise, and no where is it censured or prohibited." In reply to this I would observe that the style of the oriental nations, and particularly their poetry, abound with the boldest figures. Such passages, when understood in their figurative sense, have an inimitable force and beauty; but if understood literally they often present to the mind nothing but impossibilities or nonsense. The Psalmist, in another place to answer the same purpose, and in the same style, commands the sea to roar, the floods to clap their hands, and the hills to be joyful together. Now if the language in this latter instance is confessedly figurative, by what reasons will your friend prove that it is not also in the former? If you will consult the marginal reading in some of our large Bibles you will find that the original

word in 1 salm 1 I'd. 3. and 150. d. translated in the : ,I,e they are radically different, where is the propricommen versior, dance, is in the margin rendered ! Ptv ofimK ina to ii,e nW u h;,t m . dd resoertner

- : t . 'I'l - T 1 a iiiiis:c;ii iiisiruiiiiiu. l ms is noi oniv one meaning of the original word, but in the opinion of : w u ...v.... .wv. i' ' ges. i ms amendment woum deprive your liacnd. 1.111in part, at least, of his scriptural auth.rity for danc . -. 4.t . i-i- . i .i r i ing. I lie passages would then be, let them prais h;s name with tin pipe praise him with the timbre and the i ine. Biit it is (in. i ted ihat ll.vid danced he lore ihe iralin ( iii cts of joy o:i liie r.ni-c-il known. Jiv causing th" blood T 1 r..-i-oiii. j ne c t, mal fram.r.nd a:.i;n; r.ra spi ti to l'ow w;;;i i; into the svstc: raaj.ty . it intakes nr w m; lo'.lnct : n in in;iii ci;ve j ii pei sity to motion. Man especi; r.atifiis uncultivated by anv ihin like modem refinement, would gratify his feelings by leaping, and by ether actions which were called d mcii:r. Dancing would therefore be considered an externa! expression of joy; as laughter is of mirth. Thus we Hi.,1 itn. j. ..: i - . ; find that where dancing is mentioned in scripiure some cause of joy is generally mentioned in connec tion with it. Tims David danced, because tin ark the symbol of the divine presence, was returning ir.d as bis joy was no doubt gnat d i need with ii.e.i ins neo,e proph. t;-s the women siii dances." an i.:s miiil V.'hen the I.: r ! pie from l i,!ian bondage, "1 ir took a rmhrel in her hand and wt nt out aftt r her with iii els an: en .ii.c-f-h sinll be re ( (aiH ,!. -the v.rems s I. ..!, .11 I. jo fraih in t ie dance. Wiieu thf prodigal san returned, there was hea music and dancing" in his , f-itl.ers house. Now I ask. what rest ni 1 aire is there -en tins oancin and mat wi,ie!i vour Mend :s attem -l-i ..I. i-i .-- iing to juslify. Suppose ihat in both cases, dancing , is an external t x pression of jov, is there anv resemb'.aice in the causes of that jov? Miriam and her sisters went cut with dances, bt cause tiie Lord, with tn Iugh hand, had rescued his people fiotn the boeoage ol l.gypt, in in the tyrannical oppre--ion oi i' iii one; ;f lh? redemption of the stiid from t!ie bondoge ot sin, from the degrading sen itudo t-f S it;m. Js tii s the cause of jov to our modern dancers? a-n iiii y Hv with such eagerness to the ball room, :s it to t x pre -ss their grateful emotions, excited by a rational bore that through divine grace, their own sou's, ami ihe souls of others are "turned from ciarkre ss to light, and from the power of Satan to God?" Dav:d. the king of Israel danced because the Ark w as retiirni-ig to the metropolis of his kingdom, becalise the wi : imp oi th true (iod would :ow lo re-esiai.iisi oo. aim minsei ;h,i sti'aeets vvnii t en ,l joy the pi ivih ge of attending the institutions of religion. Is th lea son for danciie.1 ; I pr sent, i any respect, similar to those? Is it now practised because toe ordinances ot reheion ate wa ll attended. and throimli these oidinances the divine presence is mam'. ted, by Unrig energies, quickening the souls of multitudes into spiritual life? When the prodigal son returned, bis fit her had a rational giound for rejoicing; fir his son who was dead, is alive again; was hist, and is found. Will those who now

practice dancing, assign any tmng like in s as tle j es, is ,nv to be added t 1 , :5f, it:i pages, making reason? Is it because one f ihemst Ives after loi.d fiotn I.e commencement ofibeir operations mentis and years of siu r.t d lolly, has at length. f ..,rtJl SM(HM),(MH of paes, in 1( different lan'come to himself," and has returned, with penilen- ..f wli--li bav. boon reduced i, wil

tial confession, to h s fjle r and bis Cod? ls it be- j cause j, ? ms!. nctso! convt i -iou are so nil- j ne ii i. ; b( Call.- e such multitudes of p.olhgatc and ; abandoned so..,, is Kious course of taming' to ;i d t nl and r line: ? If So, I ;iot sinct ! !y .ray that li,i v m v he k tit in constant t mp'.oy ihat the cause t fi tb n jey may continue till theie shall not be a rake, or a hbtriii.e. or sinner of any des-; cription on the face ofthe globe! Or is there eny similarity in the intention of those who now dance and of the Jews in ibeir sacred diincrs? The design of i,c Jews was to express their religious joy, their gra-.hude for the unmerited favours of mercy; to celebrate come signal interposition in their fivour.sorne recem msnune of goiditt ss; to praise the name of the Lord,-) recommend to otheis the worsb'p of the true (iod. This intention rcgulakd both the time and ciicumst, ..,(& of their dances. 'an this be said of those who frer.urrit modvn dances? I)oih v fi-el such .( !iLUons v. su h loe and gratitude to ' the'r M..ki r that nothg but d-.rring can be a suitable e.rtss-on ol it? the time aril all the ciromi st.met s of their d inc

is. regi.l-iti d by ;;n m'eni ion to pr use !! Lord, lo j I'.irticu! .r miss-tms ma v be abandoned ; andthere pr mote his gl a y ; to n commend the doctrit t s and may be oecasioiud k fluxes in the tide of benevopitcepts ofthe Bible, the "pme and undeliUd reh- b-uce; but there will be no general retrocession in tf.on "of Jwas Cbri5t.v I ir.ipsiouf lo ihe beaihrn. Tl;e tim of redemption

No; such are no tlie cause of their joy such are

neMheir intentions. Most of them would blush if ihey supposed the slightest suspicion was entertained by olhers, that such were their feelings and their views. But f w of them profess religion themselves, ot course can have no true concern for its interests in the world; and those few who do, would utterly ,cnv ,I(.jr J mcinLT has any tendency to cheri .eliine - a in their own hearts or recommend it to otheis, their supposition is so groundless, so incongru ous, that 1 feel, while making these remarks, liable to the charge of opposing what no person is attempting to defend. AH the dances mentioned in scripture in connection with relmious exercises, were occasioned hv some recent ai.u prospeions event. itu now tno.-e ,vj,., dance, appoint their own time, without waiting f,r. or even cxiieetinir the occurance of any inos- . . . i . i. . . t ; perotis event. 1 h ! events, whether the intention is to dance, at all;:1' - 1 .. have occ ssion f,,r ii ,r nut -o',! ior ii or not ai.u i wiir.oiu Knowing, ami too oil en without reginliug, whei'mr the time fixed f..r that purpose may not ratlier he "a time to mourn," tii in '-a lime to dance." Tint w hich was formerly considered only as an exi! ternal exnress ion of iov. arisuiT from some other source, is now itself considered a source of pleasure. ! The sliei is mistaken for tiie thinff si-mitied. Those t J -tr ire c-d!e-. l.vnocnles wiio assume t,.e exlerual si"M ..i i iii, o; re..on o neiiet: ur.i ine man-. ncrof performance is tiie same. The Jews express- . el their j. v in sue!, ac.ns and movements ss suiled the taste of e ch dividual, and the customs ol the are in v.hieh the v livod. To have been tram- : mrled by 'rules. 'if art to such 'regular steps and moe-: lncn)s as are now called dancing, woul.l not have ! suited their desi-n ; it would have 'called off the at. tention from the cause of their joy. to the studied , application of inodr-nieal rules. Those who liave no iov to ' xnress. m a v turn their und :vided atleui ion t,, tch J ' - . healed. in les. 1 he I ;me man w ho was ir-llllfY -llld IV ill.- - HIT -ll.l lir U'lMI ( :-.(! Ill.V ITIl't 1 r. , , " ' i i, ' i ." i us sen idea ot the manner m wn cn u.sviu oanceu i;eiore .in- a I trus M .d :m, I i! k in ss are not i ilia m se rb ore (hlli-i -cut th m oi". ll e d iiices of the Jew; the lntei o! a n !i; aiu 1 li.ose of modern times. Tiie causes. tie. ml the oec :sion of the former were i ;!ur.'. Tiiis cannot he ailinned o! moo in dances, ii'lheie is Ihe shadow of r. seinit.ee, it can onlv li e in tiie manner; iliis however. we have cood reason to believe, is very small. If . - . ' r. ' . 1 the oilier ; Because one practice is jucnlioneu ; without censure, or even rtcotnmt nded in scripture, j arc ine s une piss ics to he advanced lis lfisnnt .i ' tion of another practice, due. rent in its most essential j parts. Ignorance and presumption alone are capable of such a perversion of sac red truth! But they are both calicd hv ihe same name. Multiludes are too easily deceived by m'.TC names, by words, without i.io is. cspeci: iiy iii cor ds and rebirion. Pro fane enr.-m.g ai.il swearing mia'i:' be ( d yer, ami iiien piMihed !.v auvancin i.:e lure resn: ctiair that dn'v But I win ir.suuss tins oar! oft t iiiir friend concludes 1 defence of d mcing by obser. net tiiat he c m seenohmm tit it. Bat are -j .-, it. . A we to receive the opinion, of any man, as the stand.n ti. . . . aro: ne can si e no narm in a modern nance: an- i other cm see no harm in a social d , and when I ,,js js pa?f j!s cl;.f-ts by no means quicken his mor-1 . - I ii sense, or exienn m: range ot ms vision he can see no harm in a second, and a third e';c. until he oecomes an o'eiect ol d suust to everv decent person Tins v-onhd h coiistihiiinu every mm his ow .I...1 fei! ! rs 1, ,,,..1 .,-rI Un itie same re i-j he may ( np-y the s This would "be thr. ::i:e pnyilegt e III ClVll m.ttiwing the reins on the neck of app lite, iuchii!! ;o:i and pission; which in their career wv::!d suon prostrutt every principle of viitue and rehirion. Is it then criminal ? and wherein does that critn-imli-y consist? In my next, 1 wiil oiler you my j romit-n on tins sm I-1 cm the Mifsi-iaary Ifora'id. St MMAl'.V or I tiik missions or riu: ror.Kir.x no.i:n.

The Hoard i.ae under their care thirty-six mis- j iload of 'certain congregation,' sectarian contrresions. and sixly-six stations: Connected with these ' ration.

missions and stations arc l't'l ordained missionaries, (seven of whom are regnlaily educated physici ms. an.l seven olhers have prosecuted medical studies to such an xt-nt as to render them useful in that cap icily :) seven j hysici..ns not ordained; eight printers; twenty-one teacheis and catechists ; eleven firm.' is ami mechanics; and lt"2 married and unmarried female assistants; making a total of 31:2 missionaiies and assistant missionaries sent 1 from this country. There are now live native j preachers, and thirty-nine olner native assistants. There are -! I churches count cted with the missions of the Board, containing at the last returns, I.'.-!.")0- mi'tnbeis. Into these churches, f.om the tune (if their establishment, have been received about 'J,3 ".0 converts. At the schools established through the agency of persons sent forth l y the Do . rd, and taught by them, or bv persons to a greater or less exU nt und r their direction, then. are now about 4G,C(,(! scholars; and there have been instructed since the establishment of the schools, not far from . 0.0(H) persons. Connected with ihe missions of the Board are seven printing establishments, including 13 presses. To the amount here tofore reported as having been printed at the press wv i!L. iitissionaries of tiie Board. 1 1' l 11 -IU - Fit io r ne think, that the spirit ol tore!n tnissams has slumbereil liom ihe days of the aoos'.les until l.ow. In ah every age, the church has bad its missions among the heathen. Most of the countries now nominally Christian were all pagan hing after the rnissiouaiy lahouis of ihe apostles ceased, and were convt itcd lo Christianity by means of foreign missions, which were prosecuted under the greatest disadvantages. If the church has had missions among the heathen fiom age to age, when every thing in her circumstances was agitinst such missions, she surely will not abandon lhetii now, when everv thinji is f vorable: for never had the chinch so much civil liberty as now; never so much intelligent, piety; never so much f.ribties for diffusing information and controlling public sentiment; never so much knowledge of the woild; never such easy access lo ' very part of it; never such means lor sustaining missions and scattering light in all binds.

for the church from her centuries of bondage has i

tune. i nere is an urgency oi clique pioMuence, TrM r i- . - i i aim i yiiicious uuu uicitasiiig myuence 01 ine uoly Spirit, which ensure the onward movement of the church. "Whoso is wise, and will observe these

;;, f .uu,,, '""Ul ,1U; retail price ot the Sermon is 121 cents; to i selves this world's roods, that we may have wherely fcpint, which ensure the onward movement of i , . . , a-, , . , tnose w ho take a nuniber ol copies, 10 cents per ; with to civc to others, ti l we have lb low-ed th

things, even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord." From the Cincinnati Journal. MR. BRAINERD.—In casting my eye over your paper of the 9th ins. I was peculiarly struck with an article over which was the caplion, 'INSULT TO A CITIZEN OF CINCINNATI.' The case l here described was by no means a solitary one: For on that day, and at the same place, a number of just such aggressions, committed on several individuals, fell under my observation. And now, sir, if the following ..,i. an : i l. .i- . ""1 ,"'"," -i.muii, miowm me "1U re.- oi iruin, or li nd to w.ike nt) the citizens o . ' i C mcmnati, to the ghostlv usurpations of the uoman Uathoiic church, it is at your disposal. Obeying the apostolic injunction 'to prove all l!.:.. I .. .. 1 I I .. . t r .1 oiin, i ;:ueii(ie(i ior ine purpose oi w ii nessing ine ceremonies of the consecration of the Roman Cathe i i t . . ..... "c v -,,niH. "" "'" street. II iving sanctihe'd the r""" "f ,i,e buihling, the process on of bshops. i ' ""1'""'" " -) iiiny etjuippeo. not -wnn ine wnoie armour oi urn, I . , . ,. .i ' ' j Pel f"rme;1 I he same ceremony around Us ex"'or. During this ceremony, 1 stood in the pubstr- 1 '"ed, however, that as the pneess,on J,C'V !11:!"-v 111 1,10 surrounding mu'titude l0,,U olY.th' ir hni, n,ld frequently crossed them'V'5" w"" STC aPParent devotion. ,iy pity was xnted for the victims of such ignorance and superS",,,!N as could prompt these exhibitions of manws.itp. .Now the procession was passing before ' w. .. ... ..uuj t. t I ,.!.".. 1.. 1 II I P;lSe;i,it by a rustling noise behind me, and 1 had scarcr !v turned myself in the direction whence it nrocppi'ed Iieforo n.v b it foreil.lv inm f.m mt. head, by a gentleman, shall I call him? No! but by a bigot, whose whole appearance made it quite doubtful, whether his devotion to Bacchus, or his zeal for the pope, were predominant. This might seem to afford some excuse for the grossness of the insult. But let it be remembered that he was only imitating the example of a 'leading Catholic' who was guilty on the same occasion of the same outrage. I observed others who were similarly treated, but I shall leave them to speak for themselves. In view of such facts the pertinency of your interroga- tory, which closes the article alluded to, must be obvious to every observer of the signs of the times. At a future time I may communicate other facts equally revolting to the republican and christian. Jan. 10th, 1835. ALEXANDER DUNCAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1835. IRREGULAR MAILS. Complaints reach us from all quarters, that the Standard is not received in any reasonable time after publication, and very frequently it is not received at all. We will do all in our power to remedy this evil, but we cannot remove it, the cause is not within our reach. We hope, however, that there will be less reason for these complaints hereafter. ERRATA.—It is not our custom to correct typographical mistakes that are unimportant, but we , i1, ' ' 01 1. 1 , . : . ' b " '

L. lireckin; i.lge concerning papacy, he isrenre-! ... . , - ... .- , i carelullv prepared trom ofhcial documents, it anseined assaying, 1 1 do say that the nitjitisitiin ha: ! " ' , ii'i i .i- t - . r., , : I)(,!irs that the Presbyterian church, composed ol been established in this country, ' instead of ',.,, , ' ... , , . .' , , , I sJ I j ,000 members, contributed during the year not jiii. In a notice Tnnted, the name o? the .,, , . . , , , ... , , s-10,000, or il cents each, lor the conver-

,1r(1 a ar,ide ,,9.lo.l M,r,- nn',,..:.,, instead of 'outstepping,' read outstripjnng; instead of 'couriers,' coursers; instead of 'little class,' lihlc class; instead of 'feeble minds, 'finite minds; in-tead of 'legates,' bigots; instead of 'ending,' scudding; rr, .,.., Tiie twentv-sixth of Febkuary. I his is the , , x. , ... day appointed tor simultaneous I emnerance meet-j . " , ,. , . , ings throughout this and other countries where so-! cieties have been formed. It is hoped and greatly to be desired, that firry Society will make suitable arrangements for meeting on that dav, and that the light diffused, and the efforts concentrated will exert an influence which shall be felt bv all classes of the community.

absolutely injurious to the consumers, in a great Monthly Concert koh Saupatii Schools. Is it majority of the cases. But in the name of a dynot to be feared, that christians are becoming more : ing world, we would ask every christian, willyou and more neglectful of this concert for prayer! : rob us of our precious stores, our costliest commoThen, w hy an; so few found who can conveniently dities, and send us nothing in return but glittering attend! We believe there is much infidelity on dust! when we call for the bread of life; when the subject of prayer. A prayer meeting seems to we long to know the manner of the Cod ofthe be regarded as quite an unimportant thing. Ask a christian; while we are groping in darkness and friend if he is going to meeting on a certain eve- misery, and dy ing in sin, and raising an exceedning." Oh! it is only a prayer meeting, will often ing loud and bitter cry, for some one to come aid be the reply, and I dont think it will be very inter- help us, have you no ear to hear, nor heart to esting. People will Hock to hear preaching, when : feel, nor bowels of compassion to pity, nor power perhaps not a dozen would come out to a prayer to acini relief! Let it not be. Let it no longer be meeting. And why not go to the meeting of pray- told in Gath nor published in the streets of Ashkeer as well as to preaching! Is there not the same Ion, that it has been so, lest the uncircumcised promise of a blessing in the one case as in the oth- continue to triumph and the wicked to lift up their er! Then, why neglect the one more than the horn on high. Let no one say we are unable, we other! 'can do nothing. We have power sufficient, rciNext Monday evening, we would remind our sources abundant, at command, to send the gosreaders, is the time for the prayer meeting for pel to every creature. Let the church arise in .Sabbath Schools. Need we urge the duty of at- her strength, and every member gird on his whole tending! If Sabbath Schools are worthy of sup- armor and come up to the " help of the Lord, to port and encouragement, they are worthy of being the help ofthe Lord against the mighty," Let commended to God in prayer. And how can pa- there be but one heart, and one voice, and one rents expect that the teachers, and their own chil- unceasing effort to erect the standard of the cross dren, will feel an interest in Sabbath Schools, when in the midst of every people, and subdue all nathey do not feel sufficient interest themselves to tions unto obedience to the faith of Christ. And carry them to the monthly concert! : let no one think he has done his part, has done all ' that his Master requires, so long as one human heDr.. Wilson on Imittat.on. Just published, '"S can be found, however distant, ignorant of the Imputation of Sin and Righteousness; a Sermon from ,r,,e t:L aml the olll' way of salvation. Horn, v, lit, 19, by Rev. J. L. Wilson, D. P. and It becomes us all who have named the name of for sale at the office of the Standard, South Han-' Christ, in view o'thi subject, to feel as we have over; also, at Corey and Fairbank's Theological never felt, to pray a.- we have never prayed, to Book Store, and at Mr. James Johnson's, Mer- contribute of our substance, ami to act for the heachant, Main street, Cincinnati. The lie v. John then as neither we nor our fathers have ever yet Bunt, Cincinnati, will attend to orders from the done. Let us not dare to" talk of inability, ro long country, post paid. Brethren, who subscribed for as we have no heart to pity nor spirit to pray; nor a number of copies at the last meeting of the Sy- of poverty , or Ftraitened circumstances, or nothing

nod of Cincinnati, will receive them by that mode '

ot conveyance which they may please to indicate. ; , . . . C0P' , j Moral tower of the Church. (Concluded.) Hitherto, we have confined our remarks to the ; . Ili0 P0W(?r 01 individuals, by considering what e christian can do, by his feelings, prayers, influence over others, and holy example, towards t l'ie conversion of the world. If now, we combine ! l"ese individual energies, we have the moral power ol the church. And when once this power begins to be exerted in its full extent, the world will not on rPmain Unevan-e!ie,K b, n,l,,r .nr,ic ! Let the whole church 11 ariirht and nrav ari -ht ! - " , . , . , , , ' ; on tins su nert: et ber evln it i . t- 1 ,, , ' ' -'-"i ' '.i-; ..m.auu, i lumin io me. Lori1" he inscribed, not only on her banners, but rtll 'J! l.nr i,..!.,.!,- .. !-. I I - 1 , ! v" meno.Li s, tlim upon an ineir conduct; let every thing be done with a simile aim to nromote the plory ot Cod and the best interests of all ,en, and the nations now sitting in darkness, will . . . . i speedily become the k nr.loms of our T. ,-, 1 and of j,js (j)lrjt ...... i . ..amii', mav oe i e clt.i lu I e M V . I lis IS a tr,,. K. I 1.. Ti : r iran wnv nt nvinm. nm -u ,...,.. -n. .; ' n . '. a cal1' nt lh" lor '0 "or miss.onar.es. hut let 110 one, therelore, conclude, that the work will Le done without either. So tar from it, the ih-niand for missionaries will be muhiphed an hundred. told, and lor money two-hundred. But we do not apprehend, that either of these particulars, in itself, will create much, if any diificu'tv. j,- the j u neye r preached to ;ry cre.Uun. ill not be for the want of money, nor of men. A lnin'1 lor the work is the ,lrst thin g it is all that 1S necessary. Give me your heart and I will not . . aek ,or 'our money. It will come without being j asked for. Give me your heart, and I will not ask for your personal labours in the missionary cause. ! They will be granted freely. . J riht heart w.otld - jhld al lhc rcsnil lillic m, c.l ,,,,.,, mrp t ii i a i than rnousrh, tn the !,o.o,n of the church to (nristiantst , , ,,' ,, ! ic world. beyond all doubt, the tiecuniary resour- ' - ' - cep r,h" c,,urch' arc 'liicient for the iunuedittte evangelisation of the whole world. And nothing prevents this power from beingcalled into exercisf It..,. .1... .. .1. .. -i t. .. .: .. . ii mc injury ui me cuurcu arising irom a u;ni state ofthe heart. What has the church to do v ltu iu.urv , w n en so inanv nun ions are dhmi in " for the bread of life! what business has she with fine houses and rich furniture and costly decora i tions; "with vessels of gold and silver and curiously cut glass? with purple, and tine linen and precious stones, and broidered garments;'' with superlluous meats and drinks, and everv art of the confectionary, only fined to foster the nride and vanity, and gratify tin animal appetite, when al! these are the price of souls! It has been remarked, and no doubt with truth, "that the manhl ornaments alone in New York and Philadelphia, which profit noboiy, would support all the Missionaries ; now in the field for a long time to come." What j if in the day of judgment it should be ascertained that the 20,000,000 heathens who died in lUJ i were lost forever in consequence of the luxury of , t. ..: tm. . t. t . consigns, x ne aciuai cost oi roremn .Missions u!ops ttot .,mount on an average to 50 cents anr.u"iall.v fr every member of all our evangelical dmrrlips- tl.rnii.Tl.nnt th,. ..-,..-1.1 Frr.... t..l.h. km o ,hc wor,tU The 2,927 communicants at that time in the state of Indiana, contributed $-10.09 not quite one cent and a half each! '21,1 491 church members in Ohio contributed $1 .1 90,09 j almost 10 cents each! 7,526 members in Kenitucky, contributed a little more than 9 cents each; . 1003 members in Missouri, 0000! The sum sent to foreign countries the same year for five lu.xu- ! ries (tea, coflee, wine, spirits and sugar,! amount- . , . ' ; ed to more than 1 .00 on an average, tor everv , , ., , . - man, woman and child, in the country, white and , , , , , , . . uiacK, noun ami iree. is mis jikc "loving our i neighbor as w e love ourselves," "doing unto others as we would have others do unto us!" Is it making a right use of our Master's goods? We do not intend just now to preach a crusade against j the articles just named, though we verily bejlieve four out ofthe five, are not onlv useless but

to give, till we have done away with all useless

expenditures, till we have learned to deny ourexample of our divine Master, and actually become poor, that we may make others rich. It' it be true, as is ver, believed, that the church is fully able now to evangelize the world, it is her duty to do it at once before the present year has hurried its 20,000,000 blindfold to perdition. If she do it not, the heathen will perish in their iniquity, but their blood will be required at the hands of the church. How much of that Hood will he found on my skirts, in a subject of solemn inquirv hich every professor of reli-ion ou-ht to make, .;. ijtr stond-ird 1 " 1 lL ,'1"u,u nr Tiiminrv No. I. Vsnrit. Editors: It is sometimes highly useful in certain circumstances in which the church mav ! aced, to review the hi.-tory of transaction" that i ar past. And as such history tonus a part ot the common property ofthe church, it may ami ouzht to be used, if the interests of religion require it. It is our purpose to recur to the case of the Re v. Mr. Whcelock, which was adjudicated by the -Synod of Indiana, at tln-ir re -ssion of 1 Si.J.i, and which at the time, excited considerable- interest in tie's part ot th church t '. . i ' .- Th. cas.was o ; a a.i reter- . ,m.l would, perhaps, have bLeii j had not remarks berii made meeting of Synod, while tie. ri oitleii to siu in nor. upon it at the las'. Act and Testimony was under consideration, w hich it was thought implicated the character of the Presbytery, by whom the inve stigation had been commenced, and i which they were prevented from issuing, by th-. disorderly withdrawal ot th" trn-mis ol tie- accused, after the charires wen declared to Le sustained. In the course ofthe di.-cu.-sioii on that pa: er, some members of Synod prof. ssi d entirely to ds-t e!ive that anv ot' the errors enuu.erat. , in that docu- ! mem, w ere le id l.y any nuinst rs iii tie- Pierby.. i ri. tii church; ami when tie ca--e of Mr.W. was ! cited ill refutation of th-e ass. n ions, ;? was de1 dared by one member, (and on- too whom we ! would be very unw iiiing to think unsound m the laith,) that tlu-re was no'hir,ir in tin- .-entiments of j Mr. W. that should be regarded a.- heretical. That ! he had examined Mr. W.'s own statement of los i theological opinions, and they were not ot such a character as should be mat tor ot process or objection. That the things complained o be regarded as ' metaphy -ieal nonsense," nous ! -.1 1 III but no: In rest. And the d.-ci.-ion of ti.e Sy nod in t tie ca.-e was, so far as the doctrines of Mr.W. w er-' cenc rued , that his opinion- were not -v.s-.--f ntiall'j i-armnt" from the standards of i ho Pr.-.-by terian church: and tne report wmcn vnoa aao-a.. t,,r ine tina, position of tii-- cas.-, u as i..-nn.-d. as we thi.".!-i . i , ihe very member who-.- remarks at the a-r meeting of Synod, are referred to above. From thidecision of Synod, a respectable minority disented, and it is matter of case was not carried to legret to some, that tiie i higher court. It is our purpose to extract a few passages from 'his- f.u.io'is -.,.,.-... :., i. .. j'i-ojt s.M d Fresby:, r.an minister, when on trial, presented as ;i lest of his oithodoxy, and which a Pi-.-sSy li-rian Syno 1 dt-clared to be not essential ly variant from the standards of tiie church. On the subject of the atonement, we make the following quotations from the Confession of Mr. W.'s faith: 1st. ''The atonement has only render1 it con- ! si-dent for Cod, as a just Cod, to siiow iuercv to the believer. 'id. "There is not a single sentence in the whole book of Confession-, where it is affirmed that the atonement, in its original applicability, is necessarily confined to any numb- r or class of men." :ld. "The atonement is capable of being contemplated apart from any purpose to apply it." 4th. "The application of the atonement is the result of a covenant engagement hetwen the Father and the Son." From the foregoing extracts it will lie readily perceived by any judicious Presbyterian, that they eontain views on the cardinal doctrine ofthe atonement, essentially variant from the standards of the church. There are some good men in the Presbyterian church who seem to regard what is called the general atonement system as a very harmless thing; and that those who teach and preach thi-i universal scheme, should he regarded and conn, tenanced as good preby u-rians. But it has ever been our own opinion, since our attention was turned to the study of tie Fihle and the standards of the church, in relation to this subject, that thc gcneral atoiumcnt system, as il is called, is entirely irreconcilable with those standards. That the error is a radical one, and when once admitted into the system of revealed truth, seems neces. ii .'.y isi connect with and draw after it other errors, which in the judgment of many, tend to subvert the erv foundations of our faith. The present state ofthe. Presbyterian church speaks volumes on this subject. There is probably not an errorist in our connexion, who is not at v.- -arc with our confession on the doctrine of tne atonement. And iho" all the ministers of this class are net equally erroneous, ibis is ;o be attributed lo ilie fact that thov are not equally ('(insistent with their principles. That the atonement can be strict ly ciciirious, and at t.'ie same time general, is, we conceix e, I oth un-. scriptural and unreasonable; and anion nls to -ther gospel, than 'that which is inculcated in our doctrinal standards, as will be seen by the following extract: "To ail those for whom Christ hath purchased redemption, he doth certainly and effectually communicate the same." Con. Faith, ch. viii. sec. R. Whatever distinction may l e supposed to exist between atonement and r . mplion , this distinction can never be so great, that one may bt general, while the other is particular. For the work of atonement and the work of redemption, are substantially the same. Christ becomes our Redeemer by making an atonement for our sins, and performing the other parts of the mediatorial office, and in no other way. We believe that no