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to be done, is more than sufficient to encourage and compensate.

our utmost exertions.

Let, therefore, the return of this anniversary remind us of our duty; and in sending this book of God to those who are ready to perish: let us never think we have done enough, so long as there is in this world of sin, one immortal being without the knowledge of Jesus and his salvation. [Remembrancer.

LONG ISLAND, (n. y.)

On Thursday, the 14th ult. the annual meeting of the Female Bible and Religious Tract Society of King's county, was held in the church at Flatbush. A Sermon was delivered on the occasion by the Rev. Samuel Van Vranken, from Habakkuk ii. 14. The Managers of the society have the last year distributed 6124 tracts. They have, since the first establishment of the society, being five years, distributed 30 Bibles, 21 Testaments, and 27,501 religious tracts. [Communicated.

Long Island Bible Society.

On Wednesday, the 20th ult. the annual meeting of the Long Island Bible Society, was held at Jamaica. The meeting drew together a considerable collection of ladies and gentlemen, principally from Jamaica and the neighbouring towns; and the audience was addressed by the Rev. T. Lyell, who appeared in behalf of the Rev. Dr. Milnor,; by the Rev. S. S. Woodhull; by John Nitchie, Esq.; and by the Rev. D. S. Bogart.

On Wednesday, the 27th ult. the frame of the Episcopal Church, building at Flushing, was safely raised upon its foundation, without accident. The Rev. Mr. Thorne, in asking a blessing on their labours and exertions through the day, made a very appropriate and impressive prayer, and presented the thanks of the vestry and congregation to their brethren of other denominations, for their kind co-operation and assistance. [Communicated.

DIED,

In New-Orleans, on the 31st of August, at the age of 24, the Rev. SYLVESTER LARNED, pastor of the Presbyterian Church in that place.-Obituary in our next.

BAPTIST MISSION AT BURMAH.

We understand that Intelligence has been received from the missionaries at Rangoon, dated in March last. They had returned from the Burman court, having been decidedly repulsed, and forbidden to publish the gospel. In consequence, Mr. Colman had left R. in the hope of renewing the establishment at Chitagong, and among the Mug Christians. Mr. Judson was to remain at Rangoon as long as possible, and when all hope of further sufferance should be taken away, to repair to Mr. Colman.

Let our prayers still ascend in behalf of these devoted men, and of those heathen for whom they so steadily labour; hoping that still a great and effectual door may be opened, which neither heathen priest, nor heathen king, shall be able to shut,

THE CHRISTIAN HERALD.

VOL. VII.]

Saturday, October 21, 1820.

[No. XII.

Sir,

Miscellany.

To the Editor of the Christian Herald.

VIATOR, ON BRITISH ANNIVERSARIES.

YOUR call for Viator, reminds me of my obligation to present to the readers of the Christian Herald some account of British anniversaries. Indeed I should not have delayed so long, but that I have felt a consciousness that I should fail justly to pourtray the interesting and magnificent scenery which the British metropolis presents, when from every quarter of the empire, and almost from every quarter of the world, the friends of the Redeemer are assembled, to mingle joy, and gratulation, and charity. I esteem the spring of, one of the happiest eras of my life, when I mingled in the throng of British Christians "with the voice of joy and praise," as "with a multitude that kept holy-day." There is much in all the circumstances of these joyful occasions, to interest and delight the mind; to excite the warmest feelings, and to inspire the strongest resolutions. Nor is it merely in the facts reported, and the speeches and discourses delivered. One might almost say, that there is something in the atmosphere of London, to revive and invigorate the Christian's soul. Mingling with the disciples, you see every eye on fire; you see in every countenance the expression of lively joy, and you feel that it commands a sympathy in every heart. There is a brotherhood in the affection and confidence of which you sweetly intermingle; there is a holy enthusiasm, which elevates and fills the capacities of the soul. I mean these remarks to exhibit the prevalent spirit of the season, without which, the most interesting anniversary, the most eloquent addresses, would lose all their charm. It is not, sir, to the addresses chiefly, that I impute the real charm of a British anniversary ;-but to that warm-hearted, brotherly, cheerful, hoping, believing piety, which prepares the audience to listen eagerly, and receive cordially; and the speaker to pour forth his vivid conceptions, his animated feelings;-which prepares the speaker and hearers to hold a delightful communion with each other.

And yet there is something in the mode of this communion, somewhat inconsistent with our habits and feelings, and which I was myself determined to dislike. I refer to the clamorous reVOL. VII. 2 Y

ception, with which, many of your readers need not to be informed, the speakers meet, whenever they present those sentiments and facts, which meet the wishes and feelings of the audience; and with which distinguished and beloved individuals are uniformly greeted. It has its origin, no doubt, in the popular meetings of the country, where obnoxious speakers are repulsed with “No, no,” and hissings, and those which are approved with "Hear, hear," and clapping the hands. These practices are now to be viewed as a part of the manners of the country, and I confess I was a little surprised, to find that what I had expected to disgust me, did in fact give to their religious anniversaries a still more delightful interest. I found myself affected by the sympathies of the occasion, and in a tone of mind prepared to receive the plaudits of a British assembly with a full impression of their import; I felt the loudest approbation as a sublime echo of the sentiment from a delighted audience. You might think that the assembly would resemble a disorderly election, or a noisy theatre; but it is not so. The assembled crowd does indeed resound with the clamours of -I was going to say of applause--but I should rather say of accordance. You see, as well as hear expressed, a warmth of feeling, a heartiness of approbation, befitting the English character, suited to English manners. It beams in every eye, as well as sounds in every clamour; but still it is suited to the dignity and solemnity of the subject and occasion. The speaker neither needs nor asks applause. I imagine him as raised far above it; as losing all his low-born desires in the sublime contemplations of Providence and grace; and I imagine his hearers following closely in the contemplation, until every heart rejoices, and responds the fact repeated-the truth displayed, is glorious. No doubt there is here, as elsewhere, a share of human imperfection; be it So. I am describing appearances, and surely they are in general, that a delighted audience cannot help bursting forth its own feelings, because heart meets heart.

When a Prince is seen to bow with reverence before the Bible, and in its presence to become on a level with the commoners of the land, a British assembly resounds, because it feels a deeper sentiment of loyalty. When WILBERFORCE essays to speak, his words are first lost in the noise of public approbation; then received with a silent eagerness, and echoed back with the sympathy of every soul;-because freeborn Englishmen, and English Christians, pour forth their feelings in the cause of Africa; because Wilberforce is holding communion of high and joyous feeling with the Christian philanthropists of his country.

Now, in spite of prepossession, there is something interesting and sublime in such a scene as this, which has no parallel in the dull monotony of an assembly where the speaker imparts but does

receive; where the stream of love and gratitude which he

pours forth, is not returned by the mass of social beings which he addresses.

Nor is this lively communication of sentiment and feelings, without the most important and permanent effects. The interest which the anniversaries excite is not mere animal feeling, or even mere social exhilaration, which may subside when the bustle of anniversaries is past. They are evidently employed by a gracious Spirit, as I have no doubt they are designed by an overruling Providence, to be the means of producing lively impressions of truth and duty, of fixing the soul intently and permanently on the great designs of God for the church. They are a great means which God is using to enlighten and encourage the minds of men in building up his kingdom. Their good ellects are by no means confined to London. In the month of May, a string is struck which vibrates to the rezolest parts of the empire: indeed, in these very responses to which I have alluded; in these sympathetic clamours, a pledge is given which is redeemed in every city and village among which the dispersed multitude is scattered. VIATOR.

New-York, 21st Sept. 1820.

Dear Sir-I beg leave to enclose you, for publication in the Christian Herald, some pieces translated from the German, with which I have been favoured for that purpose, by a friend in Pennsylvania. The "Remarks on the dissemination of the Christian Doctrine among the Jews." will I am sure be read with interest by many. They are the result of the experience of a very learned, judicious, and pious clergyman of the last century, who, out of love to the Jews, devoted his life as much as he could to their service. The translator requests that you will make any corrections in the style that you may deem necessary, as he takes for granted that some little errors of this description have escaped him. I am truly, Dear Sir,

Your friend and humble serv't.
BENJAMIN MORTIMER.

REMARKS ON THE DISSEMINATION OF THE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE AMONG THE JEWS.

It is among the happy events of the present day, that Christians, more so than formerly, study to propagate the doctrines of the gospel even among the Jews, and that here and there societies are formed, who shun neither labour nor expense towards the attainment of this object; whereas in earlier ages, solitary individuals, and they too, for the most part, supported by their own zeal, have exerted themselves in this cause. Among their number, brother Samuel Lieberkuhn, who in 1777 departed this life at Gnadenberg, in Germany, is deservedly mentioned. He had, for many years, cultivated an intercourse with Jews, particularly in

Holland, and made it his peculiar business, along with his other duties as a minister in the United Brethrens' Church, (commonly called Moravians) to sow the seed of the gospel among this nation. He was a man of profound erudition in divinity, and uncommonly well versed in the oriental languages;* had found the way to salvation by his own experience, and cherished a peculiar love and respect for the Jews, not merely because they were his fellow-creatures, but chiefly because "the salvation cometh from them," and because He, to whom he felt himself indebted for his all, was a Jew. They too, soon recognized in him their friend, and for this reason were fond of conversing with him; and although they did not always approve every thing he advanced, they still respected his honest desire to be of service to them. It is true he did not reap much fruit from this labour; but yet we cannot say that he laboured quite in vain among them. He at least roused many to salutary reflections.

Concerning the method he pursued for the attainment of these purposes, he submitted an essay to the Synod of the United Brethrens' Church, convened at Marienborn, in 1764, for their consideration; and they have given their opinion on the subject. With reference to the exertions that are at present making for the good of the Jews, it will undoubtedly be esteemed very proper to present the readers of the Christian Herald with an extract from this essay, and likewise the substance of the judgement passed upon it by the Synod.

Exposition of the method hitherto pursued by me in conversation with the Jews, for their instruction in the doctrine concerning Jesus Christ.

Opportunities for conversing with the Jews are now-a-days principally confined to discourses with individuals or small societies only. Very seldom is a Christian permitted to deliver a regular discourse in a synagogue. During the 30 years that I conversed with the Jews, I have met but with one opportunity of speaking in public in a synagogue. This happened at Groningen, in 1740. When they had finished their prayer, I begged leave of the elder to start a question, which was granted. The answer gave rise to divers questions, and at last I was the only speaker, and preached a regular discourse.

But there exists a great difference with respect to the method, when we preach the gospel to them or merely converse together on the subject. In a sermon we give a free vent to the emotions of our heart, without having occasion to fear an interruption occasioned by the objections of a hearer, or that we should be led

* In 1732, when a division of the Salzburg emigrants proceeded on their route towards Lithusania, through Jena, where Lieberkühn was then a student, he resolved to accompany them to Königsberg, in order to preach the gospel to them by the way. On his way home he had several offers made to him; at Berlin, his native city, among others, to be professor of the oriental languages at Königsberg; but he declined them all, and returned to Jena, for the further prosecution of his studies.

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