must proportionably abhor the stupid and vi- no more be alarmed for my welfare, nor I(for we know not to the contrary) millions of othe cious, because deformed with qualities' diamet-grieved to see you conflicting with age, labour, worlds revolving round other suns, should be so stupid rically opposite to his own, and tending to make and sorrow; but where we may see in each othboth themselves and others most vile and mise- er all that we can conceive of what we call AnBy the preceeding observations we do not mean to be rable." gels, and in scenes of undeserved splendour, understood that we make objections in the most exten dwell with those enlightened and benevolent sive sense of the term to the appointment of Ministers of spirits, whose conversation and perfect virtues the Gospel. Tho good order and regularity of society will forever delight us. And where, to crown require that there should be such a class of people; but all, we shall perhaps, at times, be permitted to see that unutterable Being, whose disinterested goodness, was the spring of all these felicities." "This is awfully true, Ben; for the Bible tells us, that the wicked are au abomination to the Lord; but that the righteous are his delight." "Yes, father, and this is the language not only of the Bible, which is, perhaps, the grand class book of the Deity, but it is also the language of his first or horn book, I mean reason, which teaches, that if there be a God, and that there is all nature cries aloud through all her works, he must delight in virtue,` because most clearly conducive to the perfection of mankind; which must be the chief aim and glory of the Deity in creating them. And for the same reason he must abhor vice, because tending to the disgrace and destruction of his creatures. Hence, father, I think it follows as clearly as a demonstration in mathematics, that if it were possible for bad men, through faith, imputed righteousness, or any other leaf-covering, to get to Paradise, so far from meeting with any thing like cordiality from the Deity, they would be struck speechless at sight of their horrible dissimilarity to him. For while he delights above all things in giving life, and the duellist glories in destroying it; while he delights in heaping his creatures with good things, and the gambler triumphs in stripping them; while he delights in seeing love and smiles among brethren, and the slanderer in promoting strifes and hatreds; while he delights in exalting the intellectual and moral faculties to the highest degree of heavenly wisdom and virtue, and the drunkard delights in polluting and degrading both below the brutes; what cordiality can ever subsist between such opposite natures? Can infinite purity and benevolence behold such monsters with complacency, or could they in his presence otherwise than be filled with intolerable pain and anguish, and fly away as weak-eyed owls from the blaze of the meridian sun?" Thus ended this curious dialogue, between one of the most amiable parents, and one of the most acute and sagacious youths, that our country, or perhaps any other has produced. THE OLIVE BRANCH. NEW-YORK, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1827. we will not admit for a moment that they are wiser or better than their lay brethren; or that by preaching the word of God their characters have become so "pure and spotless," as to rank them far above their fellow beings who have also had the advantage of education. For although we prefer men of education for minister rial offices we do not exclude those highly gifted persons who have not had the advantages of improving and liberalizing their minds within the walls of a College. Talent, under the most discouraging circumstances, scarcely ever fails to make a proper impression on society; and the individual who possesses in the structure of his mental powers a pre-eminence over his fellows, in our estimation, stands on equal ground with the most learned. We are told that in the purest and most holy period of Christianity the religious business of every Church was transacted by the elders of those Churches. They took upon them the holy office, not for Money, but from a principle much bigher; a zeal to promote the cause of pure and undefiled religion. We would put the question home to every bosom, and ask why the self-styled ordothox manifest so much sensation, and inveigh so bitterly, against all persons entertaining religious opinions founded on a God of love, instead of anger? The reason is obvious; it interferes with the craft, and aims a deadly blow at Church livings; and so simplifying religion by adhering to the proposition that any man of vigorous intellect and speaking the language of the country may preach the sublime doctrine of universal grace. Did our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus elect his disciples whom he named to preach the Gospel from among the learned and the wise? Surely not. By following his example, and adhering to his precepts, we approximate the purest stage of Christianity. But these gentlemen, who bluster and talk of the rights of the Priesthood, would inculcate the idea that it is profane in the highest degree for a man to emerge from the lay community and preach to the people, however amiable his qualifcations, or acute his intellect; they would have them bound down to the jargon of metaphysical divinity, and to remain for ever within the pale of their mysteries and incomprehensible legends. This they claim as among their rights their sacred rights! If, like the members of the English Legislature, they were allowed no pay for their,services, we trust that every sacred desk now filled by them, would soon be deserted. What would the tenure be worth if no money were attached to it? here's the rub! and that they may give it permamency they are sighing for power and striving to bring about a state of things which shall connect them with the body politick. Having obtained this, their end is Under the auspices of state they will weave answered their net with meshes too fiue for any to escape. They SECTARIAN CORPOKATIONS.-No. 9. Like the priesthood of ancient days there cannot exist a question but that the fraternity of the present age are in pursuit of money and fat livings. In this import ant particular, they have departed from that purity which characterized the great Captain of our Salvation. We would ask, and the question is not an unprofitable one, In what part of the Gospels has our Lord Jesus Christ manifested the opinion that you cannot approach the Father through the dictates of your own conscience and by the workings of that spirit which sheds a flood of light on the soul, and sees him in all his glory? Does Christ any where say that you can only approach the Father through the instrumentality of men commissioned from on high and amply paid for their services? These "Well, Ben, as I said before, I am richly re- divine missionaries, tenacious of their living, inculcate a warded for having drawn you into this conver-belief that religious exhortations by lay-men are wicked sation about religion; your language indeed is in the extreme; in as much as they infringe the rights of not always the language of the Scriptures; neithose who are divinely commissioned; that it is a sacrither do you rest your hopes, as I could have wished, on the Redeemer, but still your idea in ligeous usurpation of the functions of the holy men of placing our qualification for heaven in resem- God, who should be no other than hired priests, paid and bling God in moral goodness, is truly evangeli-maintained for their services, and consequently that such cal, and I hope you will one day become a great usurpation is not only indefensible in its character, but Christian." improper in its tendency; and therefore an abominable sin! Has not Christ said "where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst ?" The truth is, these reverend Gentlemen would "No, father; at least not in the name but in impress a belief on the minds of all their hearers that the the nature I hope to become a Christian. And God of Nature, whose providence is as boundless as space, now, father, as we part to-morrow, and there is is a being nevertheless of angry and revengeful passions; a strong presentiment on my mind that it may that by some miraculous interposition of his divine will, be a long time before we meet again, I beg you certain of the human species are selected to implore his to believe of me that I shall never lose sight of my great obligations to an active pursuit of forgiveness and endeavour to appease his wrath ; that these knowledge and usefulness. This, if perseve- Gentlemen are the elect of God, and to all intents and red in, will give me some humble resemblance purposes clothed with authority to mediate betwixt their of the Great Author of my being, in loving fellow mortals and the Lord of the universe What ab and doing all the good I can to mankind. And surdity! what fanaticism! what craft! Is it possible will first etter the mind, and afterwards the bodies of then if I live, I hope, my dear father, I shall that people endowed with reason, who see at every step the people; to the end that they may with more boldgive you the joy to see realized some of the fond expectations you have formed of me. they take in the great volume of nature the boundlessness touch their pockets "I thank you, father, for your good wishes; but I am afraid I shall never be the Christian you wish me to be." "What, not a Christian!" In our next we shall say And if I should die, I shall die in hope of meet- love of Him who holds in the hollow of his hand the des- something of Sunday Schools as these institutious may ing you in some better world, where you will tin es of all animated nature in this world, and perhaps be considered the basis of clerical ambition a few obser vations on the subject will not be unappropriate in this always kept in the sacred archives of discussion. M. For the Olive Branch. BIBLICAL CRITICISM—NO. 3. Messrs. Editors,-I thank my friend "S. B. T" whom I take to be one of the learned Jews of whom I spake, for attempting to help me out of a difficulty, or in other words, to reconcile the Scriptures with themselves; and this seems more friendly, it being altogether gratuitous on his part, believing as he probably does, that, as a Christian, I have no right to demand such help from a Jew, as he has no wish to convert either Deists or Christians to Judaism. 66 Moses was first delivered orally, except the the sanctuary, and which was written by ten commandments, which were written on Moses himself." It may be so; but where tables of stone; and therefore no part was is the proof of this? If the king suspected mentioned, or even alluded to, in their anany fraud in the case he would certainly be nals; and when this book come to be writlikely to detect it if he could: but who ten, by whomsoever done, it contained what knows but that there was a perfect under- was called the book of the law, and it might standing between the king, the priest, the contain a great deal more and afterwards scribe and the prophetess, in regard to this other books might have been added, till the thing? And if so, what was wanting, more whole five books might have been made than the king's "COMMAND," to make it all complete, together with the book of Joshua, go down with the common people? Will it and all before the final separation of the do to say that none but Deists argue in this Jews and Samaritans, which may account way, and that there is no use in trying to for the similarity of the Jewish and Samariconvert them? To suppose that there was tan copies. On this supposition, the whole some management in the case is one side of may contain much truth, though mixed with I now take it for granted that I am cor- the question. To suppose it all plain sim- of it be true-yea, all might be true. And, much error. For the oral law might much rect, in point of facts, (as it seems to be ad-ple truth is the other. The former suppo- for ought I can see to the contrary, all that mitted) that the Scriptures are totally silent ses that the passover was now instituted for on the subjects I named, among which the the first time, in consequence of finding a is important to be believed, may be believ passover was mentioned as the principal, for book (as was said) which declared that the ed, even on this latter hypothesis. The the long period, mentioned in my last num- passover had been originally instituted by reader, however, can take his choice. I ber. But, if I understand S. B. T., he God, as the Lord commanded Moses; but confess I know no better way to reconcile seems to infer that the passover was kept, that no one knew any thing about it till the this difficulty; neither can I at present reor rather made, though, perhaps, not very book was found; and if the passover had concile the one respecting the "booths," strictly observed, during all that period. I been kept at all, it must have been kept for like however, to have a little more light on unless it may be in some such way. I should readily grant that the words will bear such a long period at least on tradition; but the a construction: but still it is difficult for me probability is that it had been wholly nethis latter subject, if there is any to be given. to account for the total silence of Scripture glected, or else why did the king rend his feast of weeks, and the feast of tabernaAs to the feast of "unleaved bread, the respecting the passover, for so long a time, clothes and be so extremely agitated, fearif it had been made, kept, or observed in ing some awful judgment? for he says, of Moses (Deut. xvi. 16,) A. C. 1451, to the cles," we hear nothing of them from the days any sense whatever. It is barely possible; but great is the wrath of the Lord that is kinit appears to me not very probable; though, dled against us, because our fathers have days of Solomon (2 Chron. viii. 13,) A. C. perhaps, this is more probable than to sup-not hearkened unto the words of this book, read of unleavened cakes, Judges vi. 19, in 992-a space of 459 years. It is true we pose that it should have been totally neglect to do according to all that which is written the days of Gideon, and again in the close ed for so long a period, admitting that it had concerning us." Some things, then, had ever been before constituted. S. B. T. says, certainly been neglected; and why may we of the life of David, only 284 years after. "the books of Joshua, Judges, Kings, and not suppose the passover one among the the feast of unleavened bread was NOT yearly Therefore although "it no where says that the prophets are full of allusions to this very number? And if it had been totally nebook;" but will he be so good as to point glected, and forgotten, how is it known (ex- hand, it no where says that it was obserobserved, in all Israel;" yet, on the other out some of them within the time specified? cept by the finding of the book, or by the ved any where in Israel for upwards of two By the words, "the institution of this pas-book that was found,) that it had ever been hundred years. And it may be asked, that, sover," I did not mean the institution of the kept before? This is one side of the ques- at that time, when so few records were passover, originally, that is, by Moses; but tion. The other, which supposes it all kept; and what they had (if they had any) the institution of this splendid passover, by plain simple truth, supposes that the passo-were so carelessly kept that they suffered Josiah ; when" the king COMMANDED all the ver was originally instituted as the book de- them to be lost; what could people know people, saying, Keep the passover unto the clares; and that it was observed, not only about their ancestors two hundred years Lord your God, &c." It may be, however, by Moses, but by his immediate successor, back? Had it not been for the art of printthat I used the word "institution" improp- Joshua; but that immediately after, it was erly. I meant no more by it than the pas- discontinued, so as not to be observed at all, ing, what should we have known in regard sover made by Josiah. I know the "book" or else observed in such a manner that no to the discovery and first settlement of Acalls it "the LORD's passover." Exod. xii.11. notice was taken of it in the sacred wrimerica ? It is true that these festivals were I am aware that this book which was tings for more than eight hundred years! of Moses, but there is not the least evicommanded by what is now called the laws found is called (2 Chron. xxxiv. 14,) "a These are the two sides to this important dence, more than mere tradition, of their book of the law of the Lord by the hand question. Both cannot be true. But either of Moses." But it does not say written by the may be true; and which ever is true, it ex- Solomon. The passover was made in Jeruobservance until the days of David and hand of Moses; though, perhaps, it may im- cludes the truth of the other. I would ask, salem (we may imagine that it had been ply this; or it may mean, for ought I can see Which looks the most probable? The Jews to the contrary, a book containing the law always had not only their prophets; but made elsewhere before) in the reign of good given by Moses, (as it is in the common ver- also their priests; and is it likely that they king Josiah ; and "the feast of the seventh sion,) though written by some one else. would have ever suffered so valuable a book month," when " the children of Israel should The word given is supplied in the common as the holy writings to be lost? Why did dwell in booths," was established (or rather version: and hand, in Hebrew, often means not their scribes write other copies? and if renewed) under Nehemiah; "for since the authority. I perceive, also, it is invariably they did, how is it possible that all should days of Joshua the son of Nun unto that day called BOOK, not books: "BOOK of the law" have been lost? And if all were not lost, why had not the children of Israel done so.” "BOOK of Moses." What book was it? should the finding of this produce such awIt is said by S. B. T. that "this (book,) no ful consternation? Is there not some middoubt, bore internal evidence of its origin-dle course that will look more probable than ality, sufficient to convince the king;" viz. either of the above statements ? To my unthat it was “the original copy of the understanding there is; viz., that the law of Neh. viii. 14, 17. All that God revealed by Moses is uadoubtedly true; but all that has been palmed upon the world since, in the name of Moses, which Moses never wrote, and which the people, for two hundred years at least, TE So. write ?" K. For the Olive Branch. METAPHYSICS-NO. 3. Messrs. Editors-I still continue to dwell on the character of God and man, but the adversary of man I will dispose of in the sequel of my observations. SKETCH men. 167 never observed, may be as true as the priest- imagination to choose the least of two evils, personal risk: but his soul abhorred the craft of any other age, and perhaps no more so preferring death to life by morbib cal- thoughts of desertion. Major Lee with much True, or false, for one, I cannot see culation? how the truth of Christianity is it all deNow if we are forced into being, forced no other way could he render so important a difficulty succeeded in convincing him, that in pendant on the truth of any thing recorded through life, and forced out of it, and compa- service to his country, and he was at last prein the five books of Moses, or the book of ring time to eternity, the former not the twink-vailed upon to undertake this hazardous serJoshua. That Moses spake of the Messiah, ing of an eye; and not being endowed with vice. may be admitted; but notwithstanding, sible that any rational being, divested of pre- ter, or rather cypher of his own, (for he was an ability to save ourselves, I ask, is it pos- tions, which he hastily took down in a characAfter being furnished with his instrucif God had not raised him from the dead, judice or a diseased education, should conwho would have believed, after his death, clude for a moment, that a God of Love would culty was to pass the American lines. The that Jesus of Nazareth was " him of whom make such swift and relentless destruction of major was unable to promise him any protecnot permitted to carry written orders,) his diffiMoses in the law, and the prophets did of his noble creature man as to Damn him tion, as this would seem to countenance the world without end? Here I think that com- plot, and to favor the desertion of others, and mon sense and common humanity ought to the enemy might moreover, obtain intelligence shudder at the very thought! besides granting by that means, discover and defeat his object, that man emanated from Deity, which no one and he himself suffer the ignominious death of eternal misery be true, (to gratify the opponets) about half an hour afterwards, the colonel was will deny, and allowing that the doctrine of a spy. The sergeant at length departed, and do not the advocates see at once that eternal informed that one of the patroles had failen in misery or evil must flow from the source of with a dragoon, who being challenged put spurs First, the great first cause, the incomprehen- phemy in its strictest sense. eternal good? which assertion would be blas- to his horse, and escaped. Lee made light of -sible source of man, (both as a corporeal and intellectual being) as well as every thing which you again hear from Reader think of these plain remarks until dragoon belonging to his legion should desert. the intelligence, and scouted the idea that a has life and breath, indeed every thing which the SECUNDUS. It was probably, he said, a countryman, who eye beholds and every thing that our thoughts was alarmed at the challenge, and might easily can conceive which is good, is ordained by the in the night time be mistaken for one of his parent of goodness; for God alone is good and Of the character of John Champe. only good continually to these facts the very Orders were at length given, to examheathen will subscribe: therefore sectarians ring our revolutionary war, a sergeant-major first intelligence, with the further tidings that This man was a native of Virginia, and du- obeyed, and produced a confirmation of the ine the squadron. This command was promptly cannot is honesty disagree. Take the cardinal in a legion of cavalry. After the detection of this individual was no other than the sergeant attributes of Deity, for example, viz. wisdom, Arnold's treason, and the capture of major An- major; as neither himself, his baggage, or his power, love, and justice, or either of them with dre, the commander-in-chief received frequent horse were to be found. Lee now made lightthe others understood, and I think that a man intelligence that may American officers, and of common ability and observation might one brigadier-general, high in his confidence, mer services of the serjeant, and his known er than ever of the report; enlarged on the forpreach profitably during existence; for by the were implicated in the guilt of that conspiracy. and tried fidelity. economy of Deity every thing must have been He consulted with major Lee on the subject, bly followed the pernicious example set by his brought into being. These, I believe, are in- submitted to his inspection the papers detailing superior officers, who in defiance of their orHe said that he had probacontrovertible facts. We will carry the this alarming intelligence, and desired his opin- ders, peremptory as they were, occasionally thoughts still farther upon the subject of the ion on the subject. Major Lee endeavored Great first cause; which is enough to drown us calm his apprehensions, and represented this, as desertion. All these pretexts having been exin our contemplations. For none by search- an artifice which the British general had adopt-hausted, written orders were at length issued, in quitted the camp, and were never suspected of ing can find Him out unto perfection, &c. If ed to weaken the confidence of the comman- the usual form, " Pursue as far as you can serwe attempt to describe even his habitation, der-in-chief in his subordinate officers, and to which is infinite space, we are lost in thought, sow the seeds of discord in the American camp. him alive that he may suffer in the presence of and language would fail us, if all the mental Washington observed, that the same thought the army; but kill him if he resists or escapes jeant Champe, suspected of desertion; bring powers of united worlds were centered in one had occurred to him; but as these remarks ap- after being taken." Before the pursuing party jump of animated clay, with gifts and powers plied with equal force to Arnold before his de-, proportionate; so far I cannot see why all do sertion he was determined on probing this mat- officer to be changed, which allowed a little set out, major Lee directed the commanding not unavoidably agree. But remember that ter to the bottom. He proceeded to say, that God is as good as He is great, and as wise and what he had then to communicate was a subject length made, and continued with such eagermore time to the fugitive. Pursuit was at just as He is great and good. This likewise all of high delicacy, and entire confidence. He must concede. Likewise all agree that He wished major Lee to recommend some boldness, that Champe escaped at the distance only never slumbers nor sleeps, for surely He is our and enterprising individual from the Legion he of three or four hundred yards. Two British protector in our defenceless moments, and not a commanded, who should proceed on that very galleys were lying below Powles' hook; sparrow falls to the ground without his notice, night to the enemy's camp, in the character of Champe called to them for protection, and leavand it cannot be denied that his tender mercies a deserter. He was to make himself known ing his horse and baggage, plunged into the ri(not cruelties,) are over all his works. Now I to one or two of Washington's confidential ver sword in hand. One of the galleys deask from whence did man emanate? respond from the great source of wisdom, love means, the most authentic evidence of the in- his pursuers, by which means Champe gained All will agents in New-York, obtain, through their spatched a boat to his assistance, and fired on jand goodness. And even "man is a miracle to nocence or guilt of the American officers susthe shore without injury. man," and no man individually had any con- pected, and transmit the result to major Lee. cern in his creation or formation any more than Another part of his project was to seize the sult of this adventure. The eagerness of the Washington was highly pleased with the rea stock or stone, this is self-evident; then I say traitor and to bring him alive to the American pursuit he thought would be decisive evidence each individual of the great family of man was camp; but the orders were positive not to put to the British commander, that this was a real, forced into being, this none can deny; and that him to death, and to suffer him to escape, if he and not a feigned desertion.-Champe was imwe are not accountable for creation, this cannot could not be taken by any other means. be controverted; therefore no blame, so far, public punishment was all that Washington de- and questioned by him on a variety of subjects, His mediately brought before sir Henry Clinton, can be attached to man. sired. He flattered himself by Arnold's arrest and amongst the rest, if any American officers Again, if life itself is a forced state, we cer- he would be enabled to unravel this conspiracy, were suspected of desertion, and who those offiainly are forced through life, as we cannot live and save the life of the unfortunate Andre. cers were. of ourselves; for we are indebted for the air we When Major Lee sounded Champe, on this bu- this point, and gave such answers as would The serjeant was forewarned on breathe, and things are not made by things siness, the heroic serjeant replied, that if any more effectually mislead.-After this examinawhich do appear, &c. I now ask, if we are means could be devised by which he would tes-tion he was consigned to the care of general not forced out of being contrary to our wishes? tify his devotion to his country, and his attach-Arnold, and by him retained in his former rank. prosperity and health being equal,) or it ment to his commander-in-chief compatible Washington hoped and believed that the trial hrough despondency, we are constrained in with honor, he would cheerfully endure any of Andre would occnpy much time, and enable to vor. But stop! cries the Trinitarian. The union of the Father and the Son is a great mystery.— So then, if it is a great mystery, it is no part of a revelation. And why are people damned to hell, for not building their faith upon something that God never revealod to man? Or why did the church, at Hanover, so deal with Mrs. Pond for not believing in that, which they know nothing of themselves? Mystery, or that of which there is no divine revelation, is but the foundation of heathenism. POETRY. THE OLD MAN'S COMFORTS You are old, Father William, the young man cried, In the days of my youth, Father William replied, You are old, Father William, the young man cried, Now tell me the reason, I pray. in the days of my youth, Father William replied, Champe to accomplish his designs. That gal- Trinitarians tell us, that the God, so often sorted to, as a heightener of social merrilant officer disdaining all subterfuge, complete- spoken of in the Old Testament, was Christ. ment, he was accosted with "Mr. Murray, ly foiled this hope, by broadly confessing the If so, then it was Christ, who "spake unto don't you drink?" Drink!' retorted he, nature of his connexion with Arnold. The the fathers by the prophets, and hath in those commander-in-chief offered to exchange An- last days spoken unto us by his Son whom he yes, that I do--I drink like a beast.' He dre for Arnold, a proposal Sir Henry Clinton hath appointed heir of all things," Heb. i. 1-yet refrained from helping himself over libfor obvious motives, declined. Had this gal-3; and we would respectfully ask, who this Son erally to the use of the bottle, (as every one lant officer protracted his trial, and the plot of Christ is ? else present did) which one of his companproved successful, the life of Andre would For an answer, we are told that Christ is this ions remarking, observed, "Why Mr. Murhave been saved, not by the intrigues of Sir very God. This, in no way answers the ques-ray, how absent you are-I thought you Henry Clinton, but of Washington in his fa- tion. said, you drank like a beast." • And so I The honest and precipitate intrepidity of But admitting, that Christ is the very God do.' rejoined the preacher. 'for a beast when the British officer, defeated this benevolent pro- then, in contradiction to what he himself de- he has drank enough, desists from drinking; ject, and no alternative remained but a speedy clared, John v. 30, Christ himself could do all and so have I.'-Fall River Monitor. death. The serjeant, unfortunate as he was in things. And after he had suffered and died, he this, was more successful in obtaining evidence then rose to sit at his own right hand. Rom. the most full and satisfactory, that the suspi-viii. 34. And he also gave himself all powcions resting on several American officers were er in heaven and on earth; Mat. xxviii. foul calumnies, and a forgery of the enemy. 18; that after having performed some business He now determined on making one bold at- with it, he might then give up that power or tempt for the seizure of Arnold. Having been kingdom again to himself. 1 Cor. xv. 24. allowed, at all times, free access to Arnold, Here is an idea of orthodox invention. marked all his habits and movements, he awaited only a favorable opportunity for the execution of his project. He had ascertained that Arnold usually retired to rest about twelve, and that previous to this he spent some time in a private garden, adjoining his quarters. He was there to have been seized, bound, and gagged, and under pretext that he was a soldier in a state of intoxication, to have been conveyed through bye-paths, and unsuspected places, to a boat lying in readiness in the river Hudson. Champe engaged two confederates, and major But again. The only condition of salvation, Lee, who co-operated in the plan, received is this, according to the scriptures: not to betimely intelligence of the night fixed on for its lieve in this, that, or the other thing, but, on the execution. At the appointed time, that officer | Lord Jesus Christ. Acts viii. xxxvii. 16, 31. attended by a small party well mounted, laid in The word Christ, signifies one that is anointwait on the other side of the Hudson with two ed. But to suppose, that the one God, or the spare horses, one for Champe and the other for eternal Spirit, ever needed an anointing with Arnold. The return of daylight announced that eternal spirit, is absurd. And if Christ is the discomfiture of the plan, and Lee and his the one God, where is the mediator between the party retired to the camp with melancholy fore- one God, and man. See 1 Tim. ii. 5. There bodings, that the life of the gallant serjeant had is none. Which idea is but Deism. And was been sacrificed to his zeal in the service of his Mrs. P. really cut off from that church, for not equntry. Consoling however was the intelli-believing in Deism. But the approved belief gence shortly after received from the confede- in Christ, as shown by plain revelation, is rates, that on the night preceding the one fixed this: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the livon for Arnold's arrest, that officer had shifted ing God." Mat. xvi. 16, 17. And was Mrs. his quarters. It appeared that he was employed P. cut off from that church, for believing to superintend the embarkation of certain Christ to be the Son of God, instead of betroops, composed chiefly of American desert-lieving him to be the one God? Or was she cut ers, and it was apprehended, that unless they off for not believing in the extensiveness of the were removed from their barracks, which were atonement, 1 John ii. 2, and the infinite fulness adjacent to the shore, many might seize that of God's love, iv. viii. since Christ has fully opportunity to escape. This attempt was never inagnified the law by it; Isa. xlii. 21; which afterwards renewed. On the junction of Ar-belief, is no where in revelation called heresy? nold with Lord Cornwallis, in Virginia, the ser- Perhaps that church at Hanover would do jeant found means to elude the vigilance of the well to say but very little about " binding things British lines, and to reach in safety the army on earth," which they may suppose will be of General Greene. Having been furnished" bound in heaven," until they lay aside their by that officer with the means of escaping to mysteries, and come to a better understanding Washington's camp, he arrived there to the as- of the scriptures. tonishment and joy of his old confederates in arms. When Washington assumed the command of the army under president Adams, he caused strict inquiry to be made for the man who had so honourably distinguished himself, intending to honour such tried fidelity with military promotion, and heard, to his great sorrow, that he had died but a short time before, in the state of - Kentucky. From the Utica Magazine. | That I never might grieve for the past. I You are cheerful, and love to converse upon death; In Now tell me the reason, I pray. the days of my youth I remember'd my God, And he hath not forgotten my age. MARRIED, am cheerful, young man, Father William replied— Let the cause thy attention engage; On Saturday evening, the 29th ult. by the Rev. Mr. KNEELAND, Mr. THOMAS GARDINER, to Miss EMMALINE HOLDEN. On Sunday morning, the 30th ult. by the same, Mr. EDWARD P. AGATE, to Miss MARIA WILLIAMS: all of this city. NOTICE. Brother KNEELAND will deliver at Tamcourse entitled "Orthodoxy unmasked,-in many Hall to-morrow (Sunday) morning, a diswhich some notice is taken of Professor Stuart's Election Sermon. By HOSEA BALLOU, Pastor of the Second Universalist Society in Boston." This is a printed discourse, which Mr. K. will deliver with some comments and amplifications of his own. Text. Jeremiah x. 21. The Second Universalist Society give notice, that they have hired the spacious room in the new MASONIC HALL, Broadway, to be appropriated to divine worship It is fully believed, that when people shall every Sabbath, as soon as finished, which have come out from the dark smoke that rises is expected to be, in the early part of Noout of the pit, Rev. ix. that their heathen vember. mysThe room being 50 by 90 feet, tery respecting a plurality of Gods, with their or 4,500 square feet, will in all probitter sectarian prejudice, will then be left be-bability accommodate with seats, comforthind. A. B. ably, about 1200 persons. ANECDOTE OF REV JOHN MURRAY. The late Rev. John Murray was distinguished for the poignancy of his wit, and talents for repartee. On a certain time when Mr. Editor-If the following is worthy, it meeting his friends to celebrate some festive VOL. 1. || PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY THE NEW-YORK UNIVERSALIST BOOK SOCIETY. 66 BEHOLD HOW GOOD AND HOW PLEASANT IT IS FOR BRETHREN TO DWELL TOGETHER SERMON. NEW-YORK, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1827. Text. Rom. in. 3, "What if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?" It will require but a single moment of reflection, to convince any rational mind, that the word faith, when applied to God, cannot mean belief. We never can be said to believe, what we know to be true. Faith is the effect of evidence of things concerning which we have no positive demonstration. A man may believe, reasoning from analogy, that the planets are inhabited; but he knows that the earth is. Now as the knowledge of God, as we believe, and as is generally admitted, is not only positive, see-which time Noah preached to the old world, ing the end from the beginning, but also infinite, seeing the most secret recesses of the human heart, so it is impossible in the very nature of things that the faith of God should be his belief. It is for this reason that we prefer the new and improved version of the text. "What if some had not faith? shall their want of faith make the faithfulness of God without effect? By no means: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar." IN UNITY." || No. 22. venting all the awful denunciations spoken of hope towards God, which they themselves (the Compendium of a Sermon delivered at Tam-in Scripture from being fulfilled according to Pharisees) will also allow, that there will be a many Hall, Sunday, September 30th, 1827. By the purposes of Deity? Take the old world, resurrection of the dead, both of the just and Rev. A KNEELAND. for instance; there being no law, after the first of the unjust." Now if this hope is well fountransgression, and every one doing what seemedded, as we believe it is, all the unbelief in the right in his own eyes, man became grossly universe cannot prevent the truth of the docwicked; so that the "imagination of his heart trine, on which this hope is built, from being was evil, and only evil, and that continually." carried into effect. Faith, in man, is hot the And God threatened to destroy man from the moving cause of the faithfulness of God; hence face of the earth. Noah only found favor in unbelief, or the want of faith, cannot prevent it. the sight of God, who was constituted a preachFor the sake of the case, and to place this er of righteousness, and whom God directed to argument in a stronger point of light, we will build an ark for the salvation of himself and carry it one step farther on the negative side of family. We do not stop here to inquire into the question. Let us then admit (what is by no the literal truth of this account-we take that means admitted) that the doctrine of an eterfor granted-and reason on the supposed facts.nal hell in another world is true: that this is The ark was a long time in building; during the purpose of God, and that his faithfulness is pledged to carry the same into effect. Now "while once the long suffering of God waited;" there are many (and we happen to be among but did they believe? no; they, as Mr. Wake- the number) who disbelieve this altogether. field renders the passage, "were hard to be We ask, and let the question be put to our opconvinced." But did their unbelief prevent ponents, can their unbelief, or our unbelief, the flood? No. Their unbelief could not make this purpose of God without effect? All make the purpose of God without effect. Take will say no, without a single exception. If hell, also the case of Ahab: he disbelieved in the that is, in another world; for we admit the prophecy of Micaiah, and trusted in his false existence of a hell in this world, if hell means prophets. He ordered Micaiah to be put in torment; but if hell in another world could be prison, and to be fed with the bread of afflic- destroyed by unbelief, there would be no hell The faith, or faithfulness of God, therefore, tion and water of affliction till he should re- there for us, most assuredly; for we have no is nothing short of his immutable purpose, turn from the battle in peace. But, says Mi-faith in it whatever. But if we had no better which he has determined according to the coun- caiali, "If thou return at all in peace, the argument to support the doctrine of universal sel of his own will. We use the word faith, the Lord hath not spoken by me." Now did salvation, and the non-existence of hell in sometimes, in this sense in relation to human the unbelief of Ahab prevent his death? No: another world, than our belief in the former, affairs; as we sometimes speak of the faith of notwithstanding all the artifices that were used, and unbelief of the latter, we should think the nations; and that such and such things were yet these very artifices seemed to be overruled argument but very poor indeed. We wish, done in good faith. All this has relation to to bring about the thing intended by infinite therefore, to have it distinctly understood, that faithfulness in observing and fulfilling treaties, wisdom. Joseph's brethren seemed to be un- we rest the doctrine entirely on the imminutable &e. and has no relation to what is either believers in the interpretation of Joseph's purposes of God, as revealed in his word, and lieved or disbelieved. We find this word used dreams; though they rather feared that it might not on any thing which we discover in man. in the same sense in Tit. ii. 10, and 1 Tim. v. be so, and therefore they adopted measures, The things which are seen are temporal; and 12, "Not purloining, but shewing all good and cruel measures too, to prevent it; but the all that is temporal, is also changeable; but to fidelity."-good faith. "Having damnation very measures which they adopted were over- find eternal consequences, we must look to eter(condemnation) because they have cast off their ruled in such a manner as to be instrumental in nal causes; for nothing short of an eternal first faith," or as it is in the new version, bringing about the very thing which they drea- cause can produce an eternal effect. Whatever "laid aside their first resolution." This is suf- ded. Lastly. Were there ever greater unbe- the eternal state of man shall be, therefore, man ficient to show that uses faith, when applied to lievers than the unbelieving Jews in regard to collectively, or inan individually; whether to God, must mean fidelity, faithfulness, purpose, the resurrection of Christ, and the destruction cease to be at death and to remain in eternal resolution, or determination. of their city and temple as predicted by him. nonenity, or what is the same to him, in eternal With this construction of the word faith, we But how far did all this unbelief go towards pre- unconsciousness; or else what is worse, to be shall now go into an examination of our text. venting these events? In all their machinations in eternal misery; or (else, what is worse,) to "What if some did not believe," or what if we see the impotency of human means when be in eternal misery; or lastly, what will reflect some now do not believe; shall their unbelief brought in competition with the power of God. the highest glory, to be in eternal blessedness; make the fidelity, will, counsel, or purpose of Thus we see the weakness of unbelief in re-the eternal state of man, and of every thing God without effect? By no means-it is ut-gard to things that are past. Why then can we terly impossible-rather consider all men liars expect it any more powerful in regard to things who assert such things, than to suppose a thing to come? so incredible." Thus the text may be very If all the world were to disbelieve the resurwell paraphrased. To illustrate this idea we rection of the dead; would their unbelief prewill take up some of the dispensations of di- vent it? This question will be answered in vine providence, which have already been ac- the negative by every one, except by those who, complished, and see how far the unbelief of like the Sadducees of old," say there is no reman went to hinder the purposes of God from surrection." And even these will not say that being carried into effect, And unbelief prevents it; but that it will not take First. In regard to the denunciations of place because there is no power which can proGod, What effect has unbelief ever had in pre-duce such an event. But Paul says, "We have else, will be just as God eternally intended it AWFUL WARNINGS!!! What would plain, common-sense people, think of our information, should we class the following, and hundreds of similar ctrcumstan ces, under the above title? Yet we might do it with as much propriety and truth as others do |