'Twere bitter death from thee to part, Oh, keep me in the heavenly way. To chaunt thy praise with heavenly choir. I would that I might ever lie: This were to me my sweetest rest, Roll down my cheeks, ye grateful tears, A heaven, that springs from Jesus' love, 'Tis not that swelling domes, and pearly gates, From sin's dark tide which o'er us rolls. ever. - Live and love, where there is no pain - where there are no tears-where there is never heard an angry word - where the shadows of night are never seen stealing across the heavenly plains—where no anxious thought about the future ever intrudeswhere complete happiness is the sum of all things. What a rest is this! — “the rest that remaineth for the people of God." How short the time intervening between us and that rest! How few the earthly Sabbaths that shall dawn upon us here! How necessary it is that we should have "our lamps trimmed and burning," in waiting for the angel of death, who is the appointed messenger to convey us thither! Earth, away with your heart-cankering cares to-day! Away with your dark shadows and troubled thoughts! Like the son of Zebedee, "the loved disciple," I will lean my weary head upon my Saviour's breast, and muse of that other, that more glorious, and eternal sabbath above. C. W. B. MADISON, Georgia. For The Casket. THE ETERNAL SABBATH. For The Casket. CAN A CHRISTIAN DIE? "The death of Henry Clay was the crowning act of his life, and by it a greater triumph was, perhaps, aocomplished than any which he had previously gained. It was a triumph in favor of Christianity." - [Casket, August. DEATH is commonly considered as the end of life, and not as an act of life. And a mere worldling may think that the Editor of the Casket committed a blunder in penning the sentence which we have quoted above. But, to our mind, it is not only accurate, but contains a beautiful thought. Some, when they die, are the victims of death; others are victors. This is an important difference. When a Christian dies, he is conqueror- he gains a triumph. In this view, and this alone, death may be spoken of as an act-the greatest and the last act of life. ANOTHER Sabbath is here, with its quiet hours, its hallowed privileges. Hail, blessed morning! emblem and type of that eternal Sabbath, towards which we are so fast hastening. It has been well asked, that if we tire of our earthly Sabbaths, how shall we manage to spend an everlasting one on high? Let us inquire in regard to what will make that heavenly rest delightful. We shall there meet with Christian friends, whom we have loved; we shall sit down with them, and enjoy the delights of free and intimate commu- When a Christian dies! O paradox, a nion forever. Here I have listened for hours, Christian never dies! That is an impossibilwith the most exquisite enjoyment. to the ity. "Whosoever liveth and believeth in me, burning eloquence, the high thoughts, thrill-shall never die." These are the words of ing truths, and brilliant fancies of superior Him who hath destroyed death, and Him that minds: I have longed to be always near them. had the power thereof. How can a Christian There, this longing shall be gratified. Upon die, when Jesus hath died in his stead? Death the Mount of God we shall live and love for- is the penalty of the violated law; and how can a Christian suffer that penalty, when Jesus to the king of terrors, when he comes to the hath suffered it for him? It would be dero-borders of the spirit-land, and gets a little gatory to the great work of the atonement, glimpse of the bright visions flitting before which Christ came to do, to say that any his view, just beyond the valley that lieth becan fall under the power of death, whom fore him; and he can shout the victor's song Christ hath redeemed from the curse by his "O, death, where is thy sting? O, grave, own blood. If the sin of the Christian is all where is thy victory? The sting of death blotted out, how can he suffer the penalty of is sin, and the strength of sin is the law;" sin, especially as he who hath blotted out his but he can add, as he stands there, in that last sin, hath suffered that penalty for him? narrow pass, triumphant over death, "thanks be to God who giveth me the victory, through Jesus Christ, my Lord." It is faith's victory. No; when a Christian puts off his robe of mortality, there is but the appearance and form of death-it is not real death. The power of death is gone the sting is extracted. Nothing remains that can render death formidable. And, to the redeemed saint, dying is but falling asleep in Jesus. How was it with the proto-martyr Stephen, the first Christian who went home? He had a view of the heavenly glory, ere he took his departure. And all that "sat in the council saw his face shine as it had been the face of an angel." "And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." And presently, it is said, "he fell asleep." No where is it said that he died. His enemies had not the power of death over him. He experienced a glory in the very moment of his martyrdom, when his spirit was bursting from its imprisonment, which they could have no conception of. None could have the power of death over him- not even the wicked one - since the Son of God suffered death for this very end, "that he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the Devil, and deliver them who, through fear of death, were all their life-time subject to bondage." And is it not said again that Christ hath "abolished death?" How, then, can death, the last enemy, reign over them whom Christ hath redeemed, and "made free from the law of sin and death?" We seek mercies aright, when we seek them, more to please God with them than to the things which please God, and yet not please ourselves with them. A man may do please God in doing these things. Anger can hardly be silent; but that anger is admirable, which speaks and sins not; be angry, but sin not. We are then truly afflicted for sin, when it is more for displeasing God, than for the displeasure of God; more, that he is displeased by us, than that he is displeased with us. O, when a Christian dieth, he but falleth asleep! This is the testimony concerning the early saints. "I would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus, will God bring with him." How sweet thus to fall asleep in the arms of Jesus! And why should it any more be called death? There is only the image of death. Death has no power to hurt or harm the Christian. And he can bid defiance virtue. THERE are two kinds of immortality: that which the soul really enjoys after this life, and that imaginary existence by which men live in their fame and reputation. THAT calm and elegant satisfaction which the vulgar call melancholy, is the true and proper delight of men of knowledge and SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN ST. LOUIS. - Dr. N. L. Rice, of Cincinnati, has received a unanimous call to become the pastor of this Church. THE FISHERY QUESTION. - It seems now to be generally understood- - an understanding confirmed by Washington letters from writers of reliability-that the movement of CHURCH VACANCIES IN ST. LOUIS.- Great Britain on the fishing coast was misThere are at present no less than three im- understood. Mr. Webster, it is said, has portant vacancies in St. Louis. The Second written to Washington that the matter will Presbyterian Church, the late charge of the be very speedily and easily adjusted, Great lamented Dr. Potts; the Second Baptist Britain having had no intention of supersedChurch, the late charge of Dr. Jeter, removing the American construction of the treaty, ed to Richmond, Virginia; and the Pine but only to prevent encroachments which street Presbyterian Church (N. S.), the late have been freely made within the line which charge of Rev. Walter R. Long. the American Government recognizes as the limits for her fishermen. ᏙᎥᏃ : MONUMENT TO AARON BURR. The A CHURCH VACANCIES IN MISSOURI. The following important churches and points in the State of Missouri, are at this time vacant, Princeton Whig says that a neat and plain Both the Old and New School church-monument of marble has been erected over es at St. Charles; the church at Indepen- the grave of Aaron Burr, lately. The indence; both the Old and New School at Han-scription is, "Aaron Burr, born February nibal; Bonhomme church in St. Louis county; 6th, 1756; died September 14th, 1836. the church at Potosi, in Washington county; Colonel in the army of the Revolution. Vicebesides other smaller points. Of these, Han- President of the United States from 1801 to nibal, Independence and St. Charles, are very 1805.” important places. THE Southern Presbyterian states as a fact, GENERAL VIEW OF THE PRESBYTERIAN that the Rev. Dr. McGill, of the Western CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERI- Theological Seminary, has notified the ChairCA, MAY, 1852. During the year ending man of the Board of Directors of the TheoMay, 1852, seven new Presbyteries were or-logical Seminary at Columbia, S. C., of his ganized, viz: Talladega, Rochester City, acceptance of the chair of Ecclesiastical HisChicago, Des Moines, Dane, Milwaukie and tory and Polity. Winnebago. GREAT REVIVAL ON BOARD THE FRIGSynods in connection with the General As- ATE INDEPENDENCE.-This noble ship which sembly, 26; Presbyteries, 140; Candidates recently arrived at New York, during her abfor the Ministry, 353; Licentiates, 229; sence was the scene of a glorious revival of Ministers, 2,039; Churches, 2,733; Licen-religion, and she returned with over a hundred sures, 71; Ordinations, 72. MR. CLAY'S WILL.. -In his will, Mr. Clay thus disposes of his slaves: "It is provided that the children of his slaves born after the 1st of January, 1850, are to be liberated and sent to Liberia; the males at the age of 28 years, and the females at the age of 25: three years' earnings prior to their emancipation, to be reserved for their benefit, for the purpose of fitting them out; and prior to removal they are to be taught to read, write, and cypher. The slaves born before 1850 are bequeathed to his family. a converts. This great work took place at a foreign station, and is without a parallel in the history of our navy. THE late George Collier, of St. Louis, whose property amounted to $1,200,000, and his annual income to over $100,000, bequeathed to the M. E. Church South, for the St. Charles College, the sum of $10,000. THE Degree of D. D. has been conferred upon Rev. C. Lowrie, of the Presbyterian Board of Missions, N. Y., by the Miami University. SOCIETY ISLANDS.- There has been No less than sixty-four clergymen now revolution in these Islands. Queen Pomare officiating in the Established Church in Irehas been compelled to abdicate the throne, land, were once Roman Catholic priests or and has fled for refuge to the Sandwich laymen. Islands. A severe battle was fought, but peace is now temporarily restored. STEAMBOAT ACCIDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES IN 1852.-The New York Herald gives a list of the steamboat disasters which have occurred this year, making an aggregate of 20 boats, by which 428 lives have been lost, and 100 persons been injured. IT is now positively stated that Hon. Abbott Lawrence has tendered his resignation of the office of Minister to the Court of St. James, and will return home as soon as his successor is named. DEATH OF MRS. GENERAL TAYLOR. NEW ORLEANS, August 16.- - Gen. Taylor's widow died Saturday, at Pascagoula. THE WIDE, WIDE WORLD. The author of this work deserves the high reputation which she has already secured. She is a writer of undoubted talent, with imaginative and descriptive powers of a high order, that cannot fail to render the productions of her pen interesting to a discerning public. The title of this work gives no idea of its character. It is a religious novel, and gives the history of a young girl, thrown upon the world by the death of her mother at an early age, or rather placed in new and novel situations by that unhappy event. She is an amiable and intelligent child, and the development of the religious principle in her mind is very happily portrayed. The reading of this book cannot but exert a salutary influence upon the minds of the young-especially on the minds of young females. None but a woman could have written it. The details of domestic life are described in it with great accuracy and minuteness; and it is certainly a handsome contribution to American literature. perusal of it derives additional interest from the consideration, that it was written by a young lady, compelled by necessity to resort to literary labors, to obtain the means of support for herself and her mother's family. The THE REFORMERS Before the REFORMATION - THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY. A capital work, complete in one volume. It is in the style of D'Aubigne, and is intended as an Introduction to his great work, the " History of the Reformation." It was written in French, by Emile De Bonnechose, and translated into the English by C. McKenzie, B. A. John Huss is the principal character that figures in the history, and the events embraced extend from the birth of Huss, about the year 1373, to the commencement of the Reformation, under Martin Luther. The most thrilling interest is thrown into the narrative, and the book might truly be denominated an cloquent plea for the rights of conscience. For this liberty, as the author shows, John Huss lived, and for this he fell a sacrifice. We give his closing words : ligious prospects of the world, and the triumph of which recalls this expression of the great martyr of Bohemia: The Pontiff, the priests and the pharisees formerly condemned the truth and buried it; but it rose from the tomb and vanquished them all!'" UNCLE TOM'S CABIN. This is the title of a novel, by Mrs. Harriet B. Stowe, a It is a book that will be read more many a year. We see it announced be rendered accessible to all classes of readers. And the more it is read, the more it will be read. The first article is, of course, purely historical; the second is highly imaginative; the third is very far from having any theology in it, and would have been more suited to some review devoted to secular learning; the fourth article is wholly speculative; the fifth is historical; and the sixth, on the General Assembly, may, possibly, have some theology in it. We do trust that the time is not near at hand, when our theologians and professors will follow the example of the German professors, with whose writings there is, perhaps, a danger of being too familiar, and give themselves up to vain speculations. "The liberty of conscience has conquered -like an immense sea, which mounts and mounts continually, it has swelled until it has reached the foot of the Vatican, the thunders of which remain powerless before it. "Thus prevails the great principle for which John Huss offered up his life! A truly Christian principle, which reproves and brands THE DOLLAR WEEKLY TIMES, published with reprobation every brutal effort of the flesh over the mind, which admits and sanc- at Cincinnati, is perhaps the cheapest newsWe don't know tions, as a sacred duty, in every thinking be- paper in the United States. ing, the resistance of his conscience to every of a more beautiful sheet. It is of a large external influence before a conviction is size, is devoted to literature, science, the arts, formed -a truth, which constituted the glory mechanics, education, morals, &c., and is ofof the first church, and which they, whose fered to subscribers at the low price of one fathers died for it, too much neglected -an dollar a-year; Calvin W. Starbuck, Proprieimperishable truth, on which depends the re-tor, Cincinnati, Ohio. VOL. IV. THE CASKET. OCTOBER, 1852. GOING FORWARD IN DUTY: A SERMON. BY THE REV. J. R. BAIN. Ex. xiv. 15. -"Speak unto the children of Israel way, with No. IV. great dilemma - they are at their wit's end, and know not what to do. Death, with all its horrors, stares them in the face, and no other alternative presents itself than to submit to their fate- either to suffer themselves to be cut to pieces by their enemies, or seek a watery grave, by plunging into the sea. In this extremity, they began to murmur against Moses and say, "Was it because there were THIS was a command given by the Lord to Moses, on a very important occasion. Never, no graves in Egypt that thou hast taken us perhaps, were a people reduced to more strait-away to die in the wilderness? Wherefore ened circumstances, or stood in more need of hast thou dealt thus with us?" Moses, who divine interposition, than the Israelites at this was a great favorite of Heaven, knew what time. They had just escaped from the hands to do, and where to go for assistance. He of a tyrant, and were making their knew that, in this case, all human aid would all speed, to the promised land be vain. He, therefore, immediately betook they thought that they were out of danger, liverance. The Lord, whose ear is always open himself to prayer, and cried to the Lord for deand perhaps they were congratulating themselves on their happy escape. Perhaps they to the cry of his people, heard him; and as the fancied that all their trials and difficulties case was urgent, and admitted of no delay, he were over, and that they had nothing to do said unto him, "Wherefore criest thou unto but to go forward, and take possession of the me? Speak unto the children of Israel that land of Canaan. they go forward." As if he had said, Is there But short, indeed, was their time of rejoicing; for before they were aware, trust in me, and ye shall see my power. any thing too hard for Omnipotence? Only their enemies were upon them. They, no Stand still, and ye shall see the salvation of doubt, hastened their steps as fast as they God. I will even make a passage through could, with the hope of outstripping their pursuers. But while they were flying from the sea for your deliverance. "Lift thou up one danger, they were running into another, thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea if possible still more formidable; for the and divide it: and the children of Israel shall Red Sea, with its deep and wide-spread waters, Moses, in the exercise of strong faith, obeyed go on dry ground through the midst of the sea." was before them! What now could they do? If they had a gleam of hope before, it was the command; and behold! the waters were now dissipated. Dangers surrounded them divided, so that the Israelites passed through on all sides. They were in the midst of a on dry ground; and, contrary to their expectawilderness tion, not only escaped from their enemies, an impassable mountain stood on each side, and to turn either to the right overwhelmed in the midst of the sea. From but had the satisfaction of seeing them all hand or to the left, was impossible. Thus this we may learn: :they were completely hemmed in on every side. They had no arms to defend themselves from their enemies, nor means by which they might cross the water. They are truly in a VOL. IV. NO. 4.-S. I. That Christians should always "go forward" in the discharge of duty. II. That they have every reason to believe |