importance, or because they can possibly be grateful to the spiritual mind of any Christian reader; but to exhibit, by way of contrast, the difference between the life and manners of the "Man of Sorrows" and the vain pomp and glory of the "dignitaries" who profess to teach his gospel. "Tell ye (says the prophet) the daughter of Zion, Behold your King cometh unto thee meek, and sitting upon an ass;" but now 'tis not enough that the servant be as his master; for, Behold your Bishop cometh, in royal robes and imperial magnifirence. Should any ask what this ceremony means, the appropriate answer is furnished by the London Times as follows,

"We really cannot tell. There is no allusion to any such ceremony in the gospel of Christ; it cannot, therefore, be a Christian ceremony, and cannot properly pertain to a Christian church, or a Christian bishop. It is most probably some Pagan rite, passed through the callender of popery into our reformed church.It were better that the bishops should practice humility, conciliate the clergy among whom they preside [It were better that there should be no presiding bishops] by brotherly kindness, and set an example of moderation to the laity, than that they should occupy themselves in costly exhibitions and state shows, which can only excite envy."

This is the "mitred head," who orders the discontinuance of private prayer meetings, and has (it is said) intimated his "deternination to prevent the use of the churches of his diocese, in aid of any society, having Dissenters on its committee."-Philadel'n.

REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH.

Meeting of the Particular Synod of Albany.

This Synod met on the 20th ult. in this city, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. Jacob D. Fonda, the President of Synod, who preached a sermon in the evening from 2 Cor. vi. 1. The Rev. Jacob Van Vechten, was chosen President. Nothing of general interest occurred. We, however, extract below the concluding paragraph of the Synodical Report, as an indication, so far as it goes, that the Dutch church is recurring in some respects to the ancient landmarks of her constitution. The passage we have taken the liberty to place in italics, manifests a just apprehension of the nature and tendency of the "various benevolent institutions of the present day," as they are managed. We say as they are managed; for benevolent institutions are not necessarily opposed to the spread of gospel truth. But when they are made the occasion of boasting,-when that confidence is placed in their efficacy which should be placed only in the grace of God, and when the accomplishment of that work is attributed to them which should

be ascribed only to the Spirit of God through the instrumentality of a preached gospel and a diligent and prayerful attention, on the part of the sinner, to all the instituted means of grace; so that the Christianity of individuals is tested by the noise they make about "mighty Christian efforts," they become a stumbling block and a snare, and should be opposed. Let it be distinctly understood, then, that we are not the enemy of benevolent institutions, when kept in subserviency to the cause of truth; but when they scruple not to employ the most unwarrantable means to extend their sphere of operation, and to appear to the world as the regenerators of mankind, literally filling the public journals with the records of their mighty doings, while they can, for the sake of increasing their funds, welcome to their bosom and cordially embrace, men of all religious creeds, and even those with no creed, we must raise our voice, however feebly, against them; because the more they accomplish, the more mischief is there done to the cause of a sound scriptural profession of the truth. ́ ́

"In view of the state of the churches generally under the care of this Synod, there appears to be a lamentable want of the power of religion. There is reason to fear, that in attending to the various benevolent institutions of the present day, the religion of the heart and direct appeals to the consciences of sinners are overlooked too frequently: That close, searching, discriminating preaching is not sufficiently practiced. In addition to this, it is important that ministers and people should bear in mind, that the means, however extensively used, avail nothing without the blessing that we are not merely to acknowledge this truth, but practise accordingly, and that there should be constant, importunate and persevering application, after the example of the disciples of Christ, to the Great Head of the church, for the blessings promised, who says, for all these things will I be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do them."

AMERICAN ANNIVERSARIES.

American Home Missionary Society.-The number of congregations and missionary districts aided during the past year has been 401, and the number of missionaries and agents employed, 304. Of these, 135 were in commission at the commencement of the year; and 169 have been new appointments. Of the missionaries holding commissions from the Society,* 186 are settled as pastors or are statedly engaged in single congregations: 79

"Holding commissions from the Society." Strange language this! By what authority do men preach the gospel, who receive their commissions, not from those who are authorized by the Great Head of the church to confer them, but from a self-constituted society? Can a minister thus constituted be considered an ambassador of Christ, or can he be the ordinance of God to the people among whom he labours? Let those concerned answer.-ED MON

divide their labours, either as pastors or stated supplies, between two or three congregations; and 39, including agents, are allowed to exercise their ministry in larger fields of labour. The receipts and expenditures, from May 3, 1828, to May 1, 1829, were $26,997 31.

American Sunday School Union.-The fifth Anniversary of this society was celebrated on Teusday evening, May 26, in the First Presbyterian church on Washington Square, Philadelphia. It appears from the report of the board of managers that they have issued during the past year 877,990 copies of different publications. Receipts, (of which $5,964 22, was donations,) $76,800 00. Expenditures, $76,574 69. Number of schools, 5,901: Teachers, 52,683, of which 930 are pious, and 51,733 not pious. Schotars, 349,202.

By what criterion is it ascertained that precisely 930 teachers are pious? We think it would be much better to say, that number are professors of religion, and not speak so positively of the condition of persons. We are constantly told that the "Sunday School Union" is the grand engine which is to be chiefly instrumental in bringing in the Millennial day: But is it so? Let us look at things as they are. Here, then, we have 52,000 individuals teaching Christianity to our children, and not one out of fifty is even professedly pious. Most probably one-half of the 52,000 are not of sufficient age to warrant them publicly to take the vows of God upon themselves by a religious profession.And it may be supposed that two-thirds of the 52,000 are not only incompetent to detect and aviod error, but are almost totally ignorant of the first principles of the oracles of God. What then must be the nature of their instructions? Is it, we most sincerely ask, as one anxious to observe all things whatsoever our Lord hath commanded, is it consistent with common sense, to suppose that persons can impart instruction to others on a subject of which they are ignorant? And when that subject involves the salvation of the soul, the question becomes inconceivably momentous. Men do not act nor reason thus in relation to their worldly concerns.

It is true that in most of the schools the scholars commit portions of the scriptures, and it is also true that the children are taught the rudiments of spelling and reading, thus profaning the day with business that is lawful only on a week day. And when the scriptures are taught, they are explained, if not absolutely erroneously, in that vague and general way, and by means of moral tales, and splendid fictions, which shall not be offensive to any kind of religious sentiments, however unscriptural or absurd.

Not the least among the evils of the Sunday School system, as it is now managed, is the neglect of family instruction. The time once was, when the father, after having returned from the public worship of God, gathered around him on the evening of the Lord's day, every member of the family; and each in turn was called upon to answer a question in the Assembly's Shorter Catechism, until the whole was gone through with, accompanied with suitable reflections and explanations. Thus was the light of divine truth instilled into the youthful mind; and the child thus educated, when arrived to years of maturity, was capable of giving a reason for his hope, was in no danger of being tossed by every wind of doctrine, and was enabled by faith to lay hold on eternal life. Even in those cases where this mode of instruction was not blessed with the gracious and saving influences of the Holy Spirit, their minds became enlarged, superstition lost its power, the ecclesiastical and civil tyranny of Popery thundered its anathemas and burnished its sword in vain; they stood forth the assertors and vindicators of the rights of mankind. All faise religions are debasing in their nature; and in proportion as we lose sight of the truth of God, will we sink in excellence, and in a well founded hope of heaven. Setting aside the spiritual and most weighty interests involved in a sound religious education, if there is any thing valuable in civil liberty, we are indebted for the blessing to the instrumentality of those men that have gone before us,

American Bible Society.-This society celebrated its anniversary on Thursday morning. The number of auxiliaries formerly

mode of their religions education. The sentiment that different and opposite doctrines should be viewed alike was unknown in their day. It ws believed that parents were the divinely appointed teachers of their children, that no substitute could supply their place, and that no excuse, however specious, could remove their responsibility, or justify their neglect. This mode of instruction still obtains in the Reformed Presbyterian, and Associate churches, and among a portion of the Associate Reformed church, and our prayer to God is, that, in the Associate church, it may never cease to prevail, though all others should abandon it. But now it seems the Sunday School is the ne plus ultra for a religious education.

Upon a view of the whole ground, it is obvious that the holy Sabbath is in some measure profaned-that the rich treasure of the gospel of the grace of God is not taught-that parental instruction is neglected that the inducements held out to obtain the attendance of youth are such as address themselves to the corrupt propensities of the heart, and beget a worldly emulation and desire for external show, incompatible with the spirit of the gospel--that the mode of instruction unfits the mind for a critical examination of religious subjects, and prepares it to settle down on general principles, a mere moralist-and that it induces the mind to neglect the important duties of the family and the closet.Therefore, we cannot, we dare not, "bid it God speed."

If the Sunday School and other kindred institutions indicate the approach of the Millennium, it is the darkness that precedes the twilight-the slaying of the witnesses; for as these institutions progress, a spirit of ignorance and indifference prevails, in relation to the things of God-the duty of rebuking a brother for his errors and sins, is neglected-the congregation of the Lord ceases to "hold fast the form of sound words"-and ministers no longer “declare the whole counsel of God." But, says a fine writer, "It is said in the Bible, that when Zion is built up, her saints take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof,' that is, as I understand it, they manifest an attachment to those things in her cause, which are most worthless in themselves, of least importance, or most disregarded and despised. This stubborn text, puts me to no small trouble to ascertain, how, in consistency with its spirit, millennial glory can consist in disregarding little things, and confining our attention to the great bulwarks, or what is called the essentials of Christianity." To this we add, Isaiah xxvi. 1, 2.—“In that day," referring to New Testament times, "shall this song be sung in the land of Judah-open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which KEEPETH THE TRUTH may enter in." Rev. iii. 10, 11"Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation.-Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.' Rev. ii. 13.-"I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is; and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith." Let the import of these and many other passages of the kind, be duly weighed, and if scripture has not lost its authority over the minds of men, it will be admitted that the millenninm must be ushered in by other means, and other instruments, then those in which so much confidence is now placed. In that day there will be an enquiry for the old ways, and a strict regard to little things; essentials and non-essentials will be unknowon, all things revealed will be essential, and the spirit of infidelity will be banished from the hearts of all that bear the Christian name.

But we are told that children here receive instruction that would otherwise grow up in ignorance, and that pious people should send their children for the purpose of encouraging such to attend. And it is asked, shall we suffer the poor, the neglected, the ignorant child, whose parents are ungodly, and drunken, and profane, and care not for the immortal souls of their offspring, to remain in their ignorance and wickedness? We answer no: Let the officers of the church, whose duty it is, appoint persons suitably qualified to impart religious instruction; and let them see that the Sabbath be not profaned by that kind of instruction which is lawful only on a week day,-that the scriptures only, or the standards of the church founded thereon, be taught, and that they be correctly taught Let them see that it is impressed earnestly and constantly upon the scholars, that there is but one faith, one baptism, one Lord, and one hope of our calling; that there is but one true religion, and let them not inculcate so much brotherly love for all the errors, absurdities and blasphemies, that pass

reported was 598: the present number is 645. The receipts of the year from all sources amount to $143,184 34; of which there was received for books $73, 688 88: donations, $20,334 82; bank stock sold, $0,733 75; temporary loans, $35,500. The expenditures have amounted to $147,081 68.

American Tract Society.-The fourth Annual Meeting of the American Tract Society, was held in the Presbyterian church in Wall-street, on Wednesday May 13th, at ten o'clock, A. M. The receipts of this society for the first year, were $10,000; the second year $30,000; the third year $45,000; the fourth year 60,000; and its issues were the first year, 1,000,000 of tracts; the second year, 3,000,000; the third year 5,000,000; and the fourth year 6,000,000.

Bunyan and the Quaker.-Towards the close of Bunyan's imprisonment, a Quaker called upon him hoping to make a convert of the author of the Pilgrim. He thus addressed him-" Friend John, I am come to thee with a message from the Lord, and after having searched for thee in half the prisons in England, I am glad that I have found thee at last." "If the Lord had sent thee," sarcastically returned Bunyan, "you need not have taken so much pains to find me out, for the Lord knows that I have been a prisoner in Bedford jail these twelve years past."

MR. OWEN AND MR. CAMPBELL.

On the 13th of April last, these champions met at Cincinnati, Ohio, for a public disputation on the truth or falsity of the Christian religion. Sound men have generally condemned these public debates; in this instance, however, many have approved of it, and public opinion seems to award the palin of victory to Mr. Campbell. But we have never apprehended the tenth part of the evil to Christianity, from such men as Mr. Owen, that we have from those, who, under the Christian nanie, vent their equally dangerous nostrums, which are less easily detected. The following extracts from Flint's Western Monthly Review, as a matter of intelligence, are thought worthy of insertion.

When the Welch philosopher arose, might have been seen, in their most amusing relief, eyes strained, mouths half open, and heads bent forward. We saw him forthwith mounted on his wonted black hobby, "the social system." It was not long before we

under the name of religion, and our principal objections to Sabbath Schools will be done away. Yet we cannot see why the old plan is not more scriptural, and more likely to be followed with the blessing of the Head of the church; we mean the plan that was early adopted by the purest of the Reformation churches, which requires the minister, at stated periods, to visit the families within the bounds of his congregation or parish, for the purpose of catichetical instruction. In these visitations it is his duty to make enquiry as to the progress children are making in religious knowledge, to instruct the ignorant, to comfort the afflicted, to admonish the presumptuous, to rebuke the negli gent, and to exhort all, to a faithful discharge of their relative duties.