making use of such admonitions, especially as addressed to you, a Christian minister, which in all other cases would be very unbecoming in the present circumstances it may be pardonable.

I am not ignorant of the devises and activity of Satan on such occasions. He will not be wanting in suggesting and raising various fears, apprehensions, and difficulties. Weigh the subject well, with fervent prayer, before the Lord. Behold and consider the awful and deplorable condition, both spiritual and temporal, of our people. Look unto Jesus on the cross, and then resolve.

Nothing shall be wanting of what may be done in Germany. It shall be taken care that a part of the colonists shall be mechanics; and among the rest shall be some pious people well acquainted with agriculture. They shall be conveyed to the port, and assisted as much as possible.

In answer to the question, Whether there are indeed so many Jews inclined to Christianity? I assure you the harvest is exceedingly great. If it be asked, Whether all that would come are converted Jews? I would say, I have some doubts; but it is certain that a part of them are: and in such a coony, where they are free from the obstacles thrown in the way by Jews and nominal Christians, it may be expected that the preaching of the pure gospel, will be greatly blessed to them who may not yet be

true converts.

The Lord himself has given us great encouragement. In a word, the proposal is perfectly in unison with all those prophecies which must soon be fulfilled. Should you approve of the project, I would earnestly entreat you, after you have consulted with proper persons respecting the most suitable spot for the colony, to favour me with a clear and full statement, and I will then send you a plan, matured by many years' consideration, for the internal regulation of such an institution. For the present it may suffice to say, that no prospect will be left for the man who only seeks to make a fortune. The motto must be, "Support for labour, and necessary comforts in sickness, and no more. The sole commercial affairs of the colony must be transacted by a Select Committee, and whoever will traffic for himself will be expelled.

As soon as you express your inclination to favour the object, you shall be satisfied with respect to my character, by some of the most respectable and pious persons in Germany.

ANECDOTE.

IMPORTANT RESULT ARISING FROM MEANS APPARENTLY INDIF

FERENT.

Translated from the German.

A lady addicted to melancholy, being once attacked by a severe spell of it, conceived the unhappy notion of putting an end to her life. Already had she determined upon drowning herself. Bc

fore she left the house, however, she felt a secret impulse which prompted her once more to go into the kitchen. There she observed a scrap of a leaf torn out of a book, lying upon the floor. She took it up, and read it. It contained part of a dialogue between an afflicted soul, and Jesus the. comforter of the afflicted. The soul's inquiry was, "Why must I meet with so much trouble and vexation ?" and Jesus was made to reply, "Because I know of no other ways and means better adapted for thee!" These words spoke to her like a voice from heaven; the anxiety of her mind vanished in a moment; she quitted her unhappy determination and embraced another, the most salutary she could take up-to surrender herself to Him, who, by his sufferings entered into glory, in order to lead his people to the same place

of bliss.

REVIEW.

An Address delivered before the Medical Society of the State of New-York, and the Members of the Legislature, at the Capitol in the city of Albany, the 2d of February, 1820, on the Influence of the Mind upon the Body in the Production and Cure of Diseases. By JOHN STEARNS, M. D. President of the Society. Albany: E. & E. Hosford. 8vo. pp. 19.

There is one branch of Christian intelligence which has not, that we remember, occupied the pages of the Christian Herald. In truth we do not feel ourselves qualified to present the various. details which that branch requires, though we are sure that a wide and careful observation cannot fail to gather them in rich and cheering abundance on every hand. We refer to a manifest improvement in classes of men, who till lately, were at least reputed as more commonly the neglecters and opposers of Christianity. We believe it to be a most important and interesting fact, that they now yield an honourable quota of advantages, and friends, and defenders of truth and piety.

Want of experience induces us to feel some diffidence in comparing, with the present, a state of things existing twenty-five or thirty years ago. We believe, however, that there still exists enough of traditional information, to justify our recollections of the celebrity attached to some important classes, for their professional irreligion; and the belief that that celebrity was so just, that a physician, a lawyer, and possibly there might be added a merchant, who manifestly feared and served God, was a singular character among his professional cotemporaries.

On the other hand, is it not now manifest, to all men of observation, that these classes are no longer the subjects of their former dishonourable fame ?-That great numbers are now examples of piety, and its able and zealous promoters? In this fact

we behold one of the most glorious of the signs of the times. While the more public schemes of benevolence have been going on, while missionary and Bible societies have been giving their most earnest efforts to enlighten and convert the poor and ignorant at home and abroad; it has pleased a gracious God to magnify his wisdom and goodness in a still and silent work among the higher and more enlightened classes of community: thus showing to the world, that the best defence of Christianity against opposers, the best argument to fix a wavering mind in its firm belief, and the best allurement to draw the reluctant heart, is the exhibition of activity and enterprise in obeying the command of its Divine Author, to communicate the gospel to the world.

:

These remarks have been suggested by a perusal of the pamphlet named at the head of this article, in which we see a physician, in a high official character, becoming the public advocate of religion; which fact invites us, at least, to cast our eyes around upon the medical profession, for whatever evidence there may be of its moral improvement. Indeed we hear it no longer observed, that all doctors are infidels. Such an assertion was, doubtless, always a calumny for who is ignorant of the sacred character of Sydenham, and Haller, and Boerhave, and Rush; nevertheless such a calumny must have had its origin in a general prevalence of irreligion among the members of a profession which they so highly honoured. We may now, however, rejoice, that the calumny, and the occasion for it, have passed away. There is indeed a sacredness attached to the profession, which we may venture to hope is beginning to produce its due effects upon the mind. It converses with death and eternity, under circumstances, and with a frequency, awfully incompatible with an infidel and irreligious spirit. Indeed we have been informed by one physician, that he was met on the very threshold of his profession, in the anatomical room, by such awful and solemn views of the frailty of the body, the immortality of the soul, as deeply fixed him in pious resolutions; and that, even in the society of a medical college, he found many spirits kindred with his own, with whom he intermingled in the stated exercises of social devotion. We might, indeed, point at the profession as it at present exists in our own city, in justification of the remarks which we have ventured to make. For here we believe there are many, who are blessing the community with a pious example, and cheering their patients with the consolations of religion, as well as promoting their recovery by their medical skill. It is particularly in favour of administering to the sick, the consolations of religion, that the author of this Address thus expresses himself before the Medical Society of the state :

"The important influence of a proper direction of the mind, in promoting health and longevity, may be deduced from this summary view of the passions. To render them subservient to this great object, it is equally

important that they should be subjected to our perfect control. I am aware of the difficulty of deriving this power from the science of medicine or philosophy.-Exhaust all our art, and they will still have their periods of ebullition.-Fortunately an effectual remedy is presented from a other source. Religion calms the boisterous tempest within, infuses an eqanimity that invigorates health, excites the system, and restores that balance to its operations, which was lost in the destruction of primeval innocence.— It combines the concentrated operation of faith, hope, love, joy, and all the benevolent affections in one efficient compound, whose successful operation can be defeated, only by the incurable nature of the disease, necessarily resulting from inherent depravity.

"The levity and derision with which some of our profession may be disposed to treat this view of the subject, will never deter me from the performance of a duty which I deem most important; but which I never witness without feelings of sincere regret. Such opinions result entirely from inattention, and a false notion of the real operation of a religious mind. Hence the consoling instruction of pious conversation, is utterly prohibited in that stage when the disease assumes a critical aspect.

"Religion is important to prevent disease, but when sickness occurs with all its agonizing afflictions, when the mind is tortured with the gloomy prospect of an unknown existence, and the certainty of approaching dissolution, its value is duly appreciated. Then does it produce that calm composure, and serene resignation, which mitigate and smooth the exit of life, and above all medicinal remedies, tend to induce a favourable crisis of the disease.-Its astonishing effects were exemplified in converting the painful tortures inflicted upon those martyrs who suffered death in its cause, into sources of consolation, felicity, and even bliss extatic.

"What imagination can depict the horrors of an impious mind, conscious of the speedy and unerring approach of death? What frightful convulsions, what aggravations of fever, what delirious ravings, and finally what a death does it produce?

"Is there one of the medical profession, who would not be solicitous to prevent such a catastrophe ? Let him aid the operation of his corporeal remedies, by administering the balm of consolation to the despairing mind : let him excite hope, by pledging that felicity which penitence and faith alone will secure-let him encourage the frequent visits of the clergy, and may the fervent and pious advice of the eloquent Massilon, enforce the early performance of those duties, which a frigid indifference, or false, delicacy, often defer to the hopeless, fatal hour.

"On this rampart will I plant the standard of our profession, and invite to its protection all who are emulous of the fame thus acquired, which has distinguished the most brilliant constellation of worthies that have ever adorned the medical character."

Would to God such sentiments as these were adopted by every member of the medical profession! Can any physician feel that he has done his whole duty, even in promoting the recovery of his patient, unless he cheers the desponding with the comforts of religion? unless, while he uses the best means in his power for preserving his mortal life, he do not, at the same time endeavour to lead him to a blessed immortality?

As it regards this last point, physicians ought to feel a respon

sibility of the most awful nature. Next to the ministers of religion, they have the readiest access to the souls of men. They daily mingle with the sick and dying whom God, in his provi dence, is calling to repentance and piety. Can they be excused, then, if by their character and example, they check the influence of divine chastisement?-nay, if they do not habitually endea vour to render them the means of eternal salvation? How many poor souls might the physician, in the course of his professional career, thus feed with the consolations of religion, which, but for him, they had never tasted?,

How blessed too, would be the result of such ministrations, let the event prove favourably, or unfavourably, for the life of the patient: For, if restored to society, he would be restored, not as formerly, but renovated in soul as well as body-he would enter upon the duties of a Christian, as well as those of a man-and henceforth rejoice in the affliction which taught him how to die, in as much as they, through Christ alone, had made him fit to live!

Intelligence,

ENGLAND.

To the Editor of the Christian Herald.

BETHEL SEAMEN'S UNION, BRITISH AND Foreign.

Dear Sir-I herewith send you two letters, and the first seven numbers of the "Sailor's Magazine and Naval Miscellany," which I have recently received from London. Though the letters were not designed to be made public, I cannot believe the authors of them would be unwilling that they should be disposed of in any way which should tend to advance a cause in which they appear so deeply engaged. With this view of the subject I will venture to say, that you are at liberty to make any extracts from them which you may think calculated to excite an interest in behalf of seamen. I hope to see your pages enriched also with some extracts from the Magazine. And here permit me to suggest, whether a portion of each number of your very useful publication might not be profitably devoted to the interests of our seafaring brethren. Should this be done, I feel confident that many captains, mates, and other seamen, would wish to peruse in port, and carry to sea with them, the CHRISTIAN HERALD.

New-York, st Nov. 1820.

W. STAFFORD.

Letter from Mr. T. Phillips, one of the Secretaries of the Bethel Seamen's Union, to the Rev. Ward Stafford. London, 12th July, 1820. Dear Sir-You will observe that the account of your attention being called to the best interests of seamen, was communicated by my very worthy and esteemed friend, the Rev. George Charles Smith, of Penzance, once an officer in his Majesty's navy, who VOL. VIL

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