IT has been the misfortune of our country, that the efforts made to establish, and conduct periodical publications, especially those of a religious character, have been divided. These publications have, therefore, received but a partial support, have been of circumscribed usefulness, and of short continuance. To avoid these evils, an attempt will now be made to attain a concentration of labours. A method in which it is supposed this object may be effected, is to allow a compensation to those who contribute to the pages of the proposed work. To make such compensation, is not only necessary, but just. Those who will thus labour for the public good, are not rich, and will need the reward to which they are entitled. It is with pleasure we inform those, who might otherwise fear that the proposed work will languish, for want of able, and pious writers, that such men have pledged themselves to its support; their time and talents will be devoted to the promotion of its interests, and while original communications will be made by those who are not thus pledged, it is not upon a precarious foundation, that this publication will rest. The call of Christians for the work in question, has been loud and constant. It is true indeed, and it is a truth, for which we devoutly thank God, that the external conflict of the church is at an end. After a struggle for twenty years, the battle with infidelity has been won, and few men can be found, who deny the truth of the christian system. All, however, do not receive the truth in the love of it. The church is called to an internal conflict. Its attention must be directed to the dangers which now threaten it. It must be cautioned against an abandonment of the faith once delivered to the saints; and must be taught to guard against an amalgamation with the world. Let it be remembered, also, that in a day when uncommon exertions are made to diffuse religious knowledge, when many are, in the language of the scriptures, running to and fro, it is peculiarly important that the doctrines taught should indeed, be divine;-that error should not be propagated by charity. It shall therefore, be the high object of the proposed work, to inculcate truth. It is hoped that this object will be steadily pursued, with a due sense of obligation to Almighty God, and with a true regard to the souls of men. The doctrines inculcated will be those which are termed "the doctrines of grace," and which have ever prevailed in the great body of the Congregational and Presbyterian churches. In the statement of controverted doctrines, errors must of course be noticed. We shall attempt to point them out with precision, but in the spirit of christian meekness. One object of the proposed work, will be to second efforts for the propagation of the Gospel; to inform christians of missionary operations, in every part of the earth; and to animate them to exertion, in the cause of their Lord and Master. As we have Bible Societies, claiming patronage, and defence, it will be an object of the publication to subserve their interests. The literature of a country influences religious sentiment. As publications are daily issuing from the press, which require commendation or censure, we shall be attentive to their character. Such, in short, are the objects of the work, the reasons for establishing it, and for believing that it will not languish. We cannot but hope, that those who wish well to the literature of their country, that christians, and especially christian ministers, will give their aid to extend its circulation; and we ask their prayers for Divine favour to crown with success, this attempt to promote the cause of truth. Communications for the work are respectfully solicited. For such communications as are inserted, a compensation will be made. It is expected that alterations, if necessary, will be permitted in such communications. The unity of the work will require them. It is desirable, also, that the standard of taste should be elevated, rather than depressed, by the work in question. We would also observe, that in a work comprising communications from a great number of persons, and those too, of different shades of sentiment, it cannot be expected, that the conductors should be thought to adopt every sentiment of their correspondents. A proper latitude for discussion shall be allowed, but it is not designed to endanger the usefulness of the work by controversies; or to permit the work to inculcate what we deem essential error. We submit the following specification of the contents: L Religious Communications. 11. Miscellaneous. III. Review of Publications. IV. Literary and Philosophical Intel. ligence, V. Notices of New Publications. VI. Religious Intelligence. VII. Obituary. THE CHRISTIAN SPECTATOR. No. 1.] JANUARY, 1819. Heligious Communications. For the Christian Spectator. [VOL. I. who imagine, that a character thus un Sketches of the Character of Miss folding for usefulness in the present Julia A. Strong. JULIA A. STRONG, Youngest daughter of the Hon. Caleb Strong, late Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, was born at Northampton on the first day of April, one thousand seven hundred and ninety three. In her early years she was distinguished from her young companions, by no other peculiarities, than those which mark the expansion of a decisive and vigorous mind. She was naturally cheerful, and inclined to active sports and employments; qualities which were happily tempered by modesty, sedateness, and a delicate sense of propriety. Having been early dedicated to God in baptism, she was trained up from infancy to fear Him, and was steadily directed to His service, as the source of all real good. By the united influence of parental example and instruction, she was early taught to cultivate the solid and valuable, rather than the attractive and imposing accomplishments of the intellect and taste. To the formation of a tender and enlightened conscience, was added, in her education, a successful culture of the natural affections and sympathies; which, destitute as they are of any claim to the character of virtue, should still be cherished by every parent with watchful solicitude, for their influence in softening the heart, and restraining the depravity of our nature. There are, perhaps, in the circle of Miss Strong's acquaintance, those life, could need only a more perfect developement of its amiable qualities, to secure the favor of God, and the fe licity of heaven: that like the marble from the quarry, nothing but the hand of art was requisite, to draw forth its latent beauties, in their fairest forms, and loveliest tints. To such persons it, may be interesting to learn, that Miss Strong judged very differently of herself. At the age of sixteen, while residing at New-Haven, and under the ministry of the late lamented Presi dent Dwight, she became deeply concerned respecting her character, and her prospects for eternity. As she searched into the recesses of her heart, under the eye of her Judge, she be came daily more convinced, that she was by nature, "an enemy of God and a child of wrath, even as others." The amiable qualities, and external morality, on which, perhaps, she had unconsciously relied, were now expos ed in their utter insufficiency. Her own feelings taught her, that an entire renovation of soul-the commencement of a new spiritual existence was necessary to the performance of a single action,acceptable to God. Under these alarming apprehensions of her condition, she was left to struggle for a considerable time, in her own strength, and was thus daily taught more of her impotence and guilt; till by the subduing influence of the Holy Spirit, she was brought to cast herself unconditionally, on the mercy of God. Ta the period of serenity and hope, which followed this surrendry of her self, she looked back throughout life, as the commencement of her spiritual existence. On the day when she be came seventeen years of age, she publicly dedicated herself to God, and was united to the Church in Northampton. Though her mind was afterwards, at times, clouded with doubts, and her spirits weighed down by the burden of remaining corruption, she had generally "the testimony of a "good conscience, that in simplicity "and godly sincerity, not with flesh❝ly wisdom, but by the grace of God, "she had her conversation in the "world." The enemies of vital religion frequently represent a change of character like the one here described, as having a tendency to repress a cheerful flow of feeling, and to blunt the finer sensibilities of the heart. If the charge were true, how trivial would be the loss, compared with the gain of a spirit, freed from the bondage of sin, subdued to the service of God, and cheered by the prospect of His eternal smile. But the charge is inju rious and false. Cheerful as Miss Strong had been before, from a natural buoyancy of spirits, she became still more rationally cheerful, when at peace with herself, and reconciled to God. She was peculiarly in the habit of regarding God under the image of a Father; and thought it the happiest illustration of the divine character. Neither in the bloom of health, nor while passing through "the valley of the shadow of death," had she ever any distrust of Him, but only of herself. She found Him, in every situation, a safe and sure guide; and rejoiced in the privilege of committing herself to Him. The most pleasing themes of her contemplation, were the beauties of His creation, the unwearied kindness of His providence, the riches of His grace, and His promises of eternal mercy, to those who put their trust in Him. Even in the hour of languishment and approaching dissolution, when the pleasures of taste are usually extinguished by suffering, her relish for the beauties of nature was unabated. Often when reclining, on her bed of sickness, and looking on the fields which she was never more to tread, or the flowers which her young companions loved to bring her, she would exclaim, "how beautiful, how beautiful are the works of God." In all her intercourse with others, religion wore a cheerful aspect. It was not a garment occasionally assumed for decency or ornament, but the easy and unstudied drapery of real life. To speak of God was natural to her, for she loved Him; and she endeavoured to hold forth His character to the world in the most amiable light, because she pitied those who could not see its excellence. She was peculiarly sedulous to take from the refined and intellectual, all excuse for the rejection of religion; by stripping it of degrading associations, showing its inherent dignity and making taste and intellect subservient to its cause. One of her parting injunctions to an early friend, will best illustrate her conduct in this respect. "Cultivate, my dear "N. your manners, refine your taste, "mature your judgment, be not negli"gent of your dress, render yourself "and your religion, in every way, as "amiable as you can, if by any means "you may win some;" repeating it with the most solemn emphasis, "if " you may by any means win some." No one had a keener relish for the pleasures of intellectual and refined society than Miss Strong. Yet, here, she never affected ingenious speculations or dazzling and uncommon opinions. It was the calm interchange of sentiment, the flow of feeling, warm from the heart, that she prized above the proudest efforts of genius. Her affections were eminently social. She loved to sit with an intimate friend, and trace the appropriate duties of the female sex, the temptations of Christians at the present day with their means of escape, and the widening sphere of usefulness for the active and consistent professor of religion. It was here that she appeared to the greatest advantage. Perfectly |