tion.

ance, is beneficial to man, we shall proceed to following preamble and resolutions were adop- place the social and peaceful habits of civilizatreat of the subject proposed, in our future ted. numbers, without regard to the petty bickerings of sectarian bigotry.

10000

C.

The publication of this letter becomes more necessary in consequence of its naving been recently stated in some of the public prints, that Mr. Kneeland was driven out of Philadelphia; and also that he has since been dismissed from another church. Time will show the falsity of all such statements. It will at once unmask the

"Whereas this church have learned with regret, that their late respected Pastor, the Rev. Abner Kneeland, has been led, from some causes, to consider that the church, as a body, have withdrawn their friendship from him, and whereas we are of opinion that such an impression should be removed as early as possible,

therefore

Resolved, that this church, as a body, do, and friendship for and towards the Rev. Abner ever have, entertained the warmest regard and Kneeland, and as a testimony of that feeling, do most respectfully invite him, on his coming to this city, to their desk, which will at all times be open for his reception, and ministerial ser

vices:

Resolved, that the Moderator be requested, either personally, or through the agency of our present Pastor, to communicate the foregoing preamble and resolutions to the Rev. A. Knee

land."

The six western states were settled at differ

ent periods. The French made the first settleIllinois was next settled by the French at Kasment in Vincennes, in Indiana, as early as 1790. kaskia and Cahokia in 1756. The first per

manent settlement in Missouri was made in

1768, by the French of Kaskaskia and St. Philips, at St. Genevieve and Bourbon. Kentucky, then a part of Virginia, was settled by Col. Ď. North Carolina, was settled about the year Boone. Tennessee, attached at that time to 1755. Ohio was the last of the western states to it from New England, in 1788, and formed in point of settlement. A company emigrated the first regular settlement at Marietta, in the spring of that year.

The population of the western states in 1800, may be stated in round numbers, at 380,000. In 1820 the population amounted to 1,837,000, giving an increase unparalleled in the annals of any country, of more than 4,450,000 inhabitants in 20 years-nearly fourfold. The popuI now hope that we shall have the pleasure lation of the western states at this time must be of soon seeing you in this city of brotherly love! near 3,500,000. They contain 270,000 square You will give us an early intimation of your miles. At the last census the avarage wanted a determination and arrangements.* fraction of being seven persons to the square We are all in health, and all unite in present-mile. This avarage speaks a volume concerning the testimony of affection to you and your ing the population which the western states family.

Yours as ever,

real character of those who are disposed to
slander others on account of religion, and will
also show to the world that TRUTH is ever in
the track of falsehood and malignity. Mr. K.
has never yet been dismissed from any church,
excepting by his own request. He fulfilled his
first engagement in this city; and the second, REV. A. KNEELAND.
not being confirmed on the part of the society,
and being fully justified, in his own opinion,
from existing circumstances, he left sans cere-
monie.

As none of the aspersions which, from various sources, have been heaped upon one of the Editors of this paper, have essentially injured him, much less have they benefited the authors of such calumny,--we can only say, in the language of him who was the brightest example of the Christian's profession that has ever appeared on earth, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."-EDITORS.

Letter from the Rev. Pitt Morse to the Rev. A.
Kneeland, dated

Philadelphia, Nov. 14, 1826.

DEAR BROTHER,—

You will doubtless recollect that I not many

PITT MORSE.

THE AMERICAN COMPANION; OR BRIEF
SKETCH OF GEOGRAPHY.

Considering the many foreign works on the
subject of Geography which circulate in the
United States of America, none of which are
truly accurate, as it respects this country, we
would recommend the American Companion
or a brief sketch of Geography by P. Hawks,
as a work of singular merit, particularly as it
enables children to comprehend the rudiments
of the science with more accuracy, and less
embarrassment to the infant mind, than any
method heretofore discovered. The meridian
being the Capitol of the nation, is very import-
ant; and will greatly facilitate the knowledge
of Geography in the United States; which is
desirable. We have examined the mode by

this nation.

WESTERN STATES.

may contain. From the fertility of the soil,
they are capable, without being burthened with
an excess, of supporting a population of 150
persons to the the square mile. This state-
ment is far from being an excess. Wurtemberg
in Germany has a population of 178 persons to
the square mile. Great Britain and Ireland
191--the Italian small states 187-Netherland
214, &c. At this rate they may contain at some
habitants.-Ohio State Jonrnal.
future period, more than forty millions of in-

ceived by this morning's mail entitled "a SupMorgan's body found.-By a pamphlet replementary Report of the Committee appointed to ascertain the fate of Wm. Morgan," it seems at last certain, that the body found on The Coroner's inquest of 23 persons, held for the shores of Lake Ontario is that of Morgan! a second time, after hearing the testimony of various individuals, among them that of Mrs. Morgan, who distinctly swears she believed the body to be that of her husband, unanimously gan, and that he came to his death by suffocafound that "it was the body of William Mor

murderers.-American.

The Cleaveland, (Ohio) Herald, announces the death of Moses and Aaron Wilcox, aged 50, of Twinsburgh, Portage county, Ohio. in Connecticut, on the same day; that they They are said to have been twin brothers, born were married on the same day, their wives be

months singe, gave it as my opinion, that the which the author has calculated the climates, tion by drowning." And, from the testimony
Lombard-street church still retained their affec- and consider it accurate; as also the bearings given to the Coroner's inquest, it seems difficult
ion for you and would be much pleased to hear of places on the globe, per compass, from Wash- to resist the conclusion at which they arrived.
you preach again. This opinion I formed from ington. We deem it an ingenious work, which It now remains to ferret out and punish the
their general conversation on the subject. You
will also recollect that your reply to what I of-
must have cost the inventor great labor. We
fered as a supposition, inference, or opinion, would therefore recommend it to the people of
was in amount the following, viz.; that you
would much rather the expression of their
friendship would come from them than from
me.' Now, sir, I have the satisfaction of com-in the West; the mildness of the climate and
The unparalleled increase of the population
municating the very same thing to you from the fertility of the soil, have attracted the atten-
them. After the reception of your last letter tion and admiration of our Eastern neighbors.ings sisters; they engaged in mercantile busi-
directed to Brother Smith; we determined to Since the beginning of the present century, the pess at Middletown, failed and went to Ohio
make an extract from it, and lay it before a tide of emigration has violently poured its thou- to settle, at a place which was named Twins-
meeting of Lambard-street church then about sands into the bosom of the wilderness. The burgh; they were taken sick on the same day,
to take place, in hopes of bringing a long pro- forest has disappeared under the blows of the continued sick the same length of time; they
tracted difficulty to an everlasting conclusion; sturdy backwoodsman, and gay villages and til-died the same day, and were buried in the same
and we trust our design has been effected. At led fields have arose on every side to break the grave.
a meeting of the members and pew-holders of
the first Independent church, &c. attended on
the evening of the 9th of November, 1826, the

long chain of savage life, and to establish in its
very soon after the date of the above letter.
*Brother Kneeland's visit to Philadelphia took place of jurisprudence has just been decided, which,
At the Court of Cassation of Paris a point

it is hoped, may tend to check the practice of Dueiling, at least as far as married men and fathers of families are concerned. A Mr. Leiorrain was tried for the murder of Mr. Garel in a duel. Leiorrain was acquitted of the murder, but was sentenced at the suit of the widow, to the payment of damages to the amount of 20,000 francs to her, and 4000 francs to her children, to be paid when they come of age, with interest until that period.

Miscellaneous.

THOROUGHWORT.

There are numerous species of this plant which are natives of our soil. This species has long been familiarly known throughout the U. States, by the various names, of thoroughwort, boneset, Indian sage, crosswort, vegetable antimony, &c. It grows abundantly in law meadows and marshy situations. The stem is erect and rises from two to four or five feet, perfordting the leaves at each joint, and is hairy or woolly, and branches only at the top. The leaves are horizontal, serrated and rough, from three to four inches long and about an inch broad at their base, gradually lessening to a very acute point, of a dark green, and covered with short hairs. The flowers are white, and appear in July and August.

The medicinal properties of this very valuable plant have been thoroughly investigated by many practitioners, one of the first and most accurate of whom is Dr. Anderson, of New

cine, but that these virtues reside in the leaves.

"I had surveyed," says Chateaubriand, "the
great rivers of America, with that pleasure
which solitude and nature impart; I had visi-
the same interest the Eurotas and Cephissus,
ted the Tiber with enthusiasm, and sought with
but I cannot express what I felt at the sight of
of a renowned antiquity, and one of the most
the Jordan. Not only did this river remind me
exquisite poetry ever confided to the memory
of man; but its shores likewise presented to
my view the theatre of the miracles of my reli-
that revives in the traveller the memory of hu-
gion. Judea is the only country in the world
man affairs and of celestial things, and which,
by this combination, produces in the soul a
feeling, which no other region is capable of ex-
citing.
Worcester's Sketches.

EFFECTS OF WAR.

There are

published by the Company, showing the
exact dimensions of the aperture. Every
thing will now depend on the activity with
which the excavation is made.
several trifling leaks in the side of the tun-
nel but these will all be removed, or will
cure themselves.-The weekly consumption
of articles on the works, when in full opera-
tion, averages about 70,000 bricks, 350
casks of cement, and a corresponding quan-
tity of sand, 300lb. of candle, and previously
to the erection of the gasometer on the
730 tons of soil were carted from the works.
works, about 5000 feet of portable gas; and
Before the accident, as much as 50 or 601,
a day was taken from visitors.

The London papers state that the small
pox was raging at Banbury.
Sixty-four per-
sons are said to have died of it since the
a caravan, in which a child had lately died
24th of May, when a show was exhibited in
of that disorder.

On the 9th of August a school mistress, her husband, and 12 girls were poisoned by drinking milk. Other persons in the town were also poisoned from the same cuuse, some of them died. Medical men were of opinion that the milk was poisoned by the goats eating hemlock, or some other poisonous plant.

and

It is remarked, in a statistical article in a French Journal, that the effect of the wars of the revolution has been to diminish the stature of the human species in that country. This is explained in the following manner: Soldiers A vessel from Iceland brings an account are formed only of men who, for their physi-that the island, last spring, had been surcal formation, are the elite of the youth of the rounded with an unusual quantity of floating ice, which produced cold and dry weath

York. He deems it warrantable to conclude
that it possesses many properties similar to
those which characterize Peruvian bark, cham-
omile, and other valuable articles used in medi-country. For the space of thirty years, there
was an immense consumption of such men:
As medical preparations of this plant, the and in the mean time the care of re-peopling
doctor recommends the decoction of the flow- the country was left, in a great part, to those
men who were not large enough, strong enough,
ers and leaves; the leaves powdered, and a
or well enough formed, for soldiers. The larger
tincture of the flowers and leaves, prepared
with proof spririts. The last form had better proportion of men who are of a short stature
be expunged. It is said without hesitation, that is proved to be the following facts. According
the chymical properties of thoroughwort, as de- tion in France for the year 1826, in the num-
to the report of the operations of the conscrip-
duced from experiment, are, in many respects, ber of 1,033,422 young men who were exam-
exactly similar to the Peruvian bark; and that ined by the officers of revision, 380,213 were
for its active medicinal virtues, particularly as
rejected because they were not four feet six in-
a sudorific and as a tonic, it will not suffer by a
comparison with any of the articles found in ches in height. The French foot is about three
the vegetable kingdom. Among others, Drs. quarters of an inch longer than ours, and con-
Barton and Hosac have observed its efficacy sequently four feet six inches French, are equal
as a remedy in the treatment of most febrile
diseases, particularly intermitting and remit-
ting fevers, yellow fever, and various other dis-proportion of men for the French army, it is
order; cutaneous affections, and diseases of ge-
neral debility. If exhibited as a warin decoc-
tion, it often proves an emetic, and acts espe-
cially on the skin, producing copious perspira-
tion; if in form of cold infusion or decoction,
or subsance, it acts as a powerful tonic.

An infusion of thoroughwort has long been esteemed as an efficacious remedy in bilious colic accompanied by obstinate costiveness. It is directed in the quantity of a tea-cup full every half hour, until it operates downwards. In a similar manner, it has been successfully prescribed in dysentary, with the view to both its cathartic and diaphoretic effects. About two quarts of a strong infusion of thorough wort, with the addition of an ounce of aloes, form an excellent purgative for horses and cattle.

to about four feet nine and a half inches of our

measure. After the rejection of the above

ascertained from the inspections, that thirty-
seven in a hundred are under five feet one inch
in height, and only forty-five in a hundred over
five feet two inches. From these facts it would
seem, that after rejecting in the proportion of
one third, for want of sufficient size, one halt
the soldiers of the French army are under five
feet six inches, of our measure, in height.

Boston paper.

er, checked vegetation, and caused a contagious fever. On the 13th of January, there was an irruption of a volcano in the district of Ost-Skaptefild.

The Duke of York steam packet, on a late voyage to Lisbon and back, was lighted that she had again left England, lighted with portable gas, which was so much liked, throughout, including the binnacle in the

same manner.

It is, we are assured, an indispupatble fact, that great part of Piccadilly, and the whole of White-horse street, were actually on fire for several hours on one day last week. Owing to the works going on at the great sewer there, the gas in considerable quantities had escaped, and so insinuated itself into the neighboring earth, that on being accidentally ignited, it burnt in a very alarming manner for three or four hours. London paper.

Chief Justice Best, in a late charge, not only vindicated the English custom of boxing, but eulogized it. Mr. Brougham, while recently defending a cause at York, took ocTHAMES TUNNEL. casion to hold very different language, havThe public have not yet been made acing said 'that death was frequently the conquainted with the exact extent of the aper-sequence (i. e. of boxing,) and though such ture, and it would scarcely have been be lieved that with all the exertion and promptitude which has been displayed, so large a hole as that which has recently been filled up, could have been closed effectually in the bed of a deep river. The hole at one pe-am. riod was fifty feet wide, and resembled a The following anecdote illustrative of the large trough. Drawings are about to be well known amenity of manners, and good

killing was generally called manslaughter, he was disposed to think it ought to be considered as deliberate murder as if the parties went out with swords and pistols. Mr. Justice Garrow concurred with Mr. Brough

natured politeness of our distinguished countryman, Sir Walter Scott, is current among our writings. An English gentleman and his lady lately arrived in the neighborhood of Abbotsford, and being naturally anxious to behold its owner sent a card to him stating that they had travelled thither from a distant part of England, solely on purpose to see the great "Lion of the North," and earnestly requesting the honor of an interview. Sir Walter immediately returned for answer, that as the "Lion" was seen to the most advantage at his feeding hours he would be happy to see them that day at dinner. They went accordingly: and, it is needless to add, met with the greatest attention and hospitality.-Edingburgh Observer.

No Song no Sermon.-The following is a very funny specimen of the sort of relationship which exists between some Parsons and some Congregations in England :—

ing him with a beautiful miniature birch canoe, nition of the Lord." "It is a fact," says that
painted and furnished with paddles to corres- paper, "of which the public ought to be fully
pond. On asking the meaning of it, he was apprised, that the Hollis Professor of Divinity,
told "Indian no forget; you gave me tobac- (Dr. Ware,) to whom the students look as their
co-me make this for you." This man's gra- religious teacher, has declared himself a Uni-
tow more labor on his present, than would have a son under such an influence, put in jeopardy
titude for a trifling favor had led him to bes-versalist. Can the Christian parent, by placing
purchased him many pounds of his favorite his moral and eternal well being, and be inno-
fumigatory.
cent?" This is the paper which once modest-
ly said, that a man who sends his son to Cam-
bridge University, fitted him out with a coach
and six horses to ride to hell in!!

Influence of Imagination.-Dr. Parsons, a distinguished dentist of Boston, in a recent essay on the subject of extracting teeth, alludes to the effect of the imagination in stopping the tooth-ache. He says, that a lady of Boston, who is subject to this distressing complaint, rowing his instrument, when she felt a return of the pain, and the sight of it never fails to effect an immediate cure. There must be something peculiar in the association of the lady's mind, we are inclined to think, or the frequent sight of a piece of steel would not so often be the means of so much relief. į

has for several months been in the habit of bor

ORIGINAL ANECTOTE.

The annual report of the National Vaccine Institution has just been published. Within the last year only 503 deaths had occurred from small pox within the London bills of mortallty, whereas in the preceding year 1299 persons fell victims to that loathsome disease. When it is remembered that, before the introduction of vaccination, the A certain Methodist preacher, declaiming beaverage number of deaths from small-pox there were a number of Universalists present; fore an audience one evening, where he knew within the Bills of Mortality was annually 4000, no stronger argument can be demand-ism led to all manner of iniquity.". He stated was very positive in asserting that "Universaled in favor of the value of this important that for fifteen years he had been a zealous discovery. Universalist, &c. As is usual with that class of people, after he had concluded his hatangue, he gave liberty for others to speak; when a venerable, well instructed Universalist arose, and, addressing the speaker, inquired, if he spoke from experience when he said Universalism led to all manner of iniquity?-did it lead you to commit all manner of crimes? if it did, how came you in the pulpit, and not in the state's prison? Why, said the preacher, something disconcerted, it is true I was no worse than the generality of men, but the reason of it was, that while I contended for the truth of that system, I did not really believe it!! I knew then as I well as I now do, that it was all a lie. And yet, says the old man, you stated that for fifteen years you had been a Universalist. Out of thine own mouth will I condemn thee. You have proved that you are a liar now, and that you was a hypocrite then. And since you are guilty of such iniquity, and never believed in Universalism, it is plain that as far as doctrine had any effect to lead you to licentiousness, METHODISM, (which you then believed, and now preach,) and not Universalism, made you a hypocrite and a liar. I advise you, sir, not to preach again, until you have embraced some other system which shall correct such iniquity as your doctrine has led you into.

A singular ooccurrence took place in the Parish church of Tring, in Hertfordshire, on Sunday morning last. The Clergyman having given some offence to the musical persons who usually form their choir, that important part of the country church called the singing gallery, was left wholly unoccupied, and the clerk in vain announced the psalm with "Let us sing to the praise, &c." in his most inviting way, no one answered the invitation; and the silence remained unbroken for the space of at least ten minutes, the congregation in the mean time staring at each other in stupid amazement. At length the clerk rose, and read from a written "that he was desired to give notice that it was not the intention of the parson to preach a sermon until the congregation sang a psalm." Again universal silence reigned, except only where a good natured old gentleman was seen skipping from pew to pew, using his utmost powers of persuasion to induce some one of his neighbors to commence "the stave," but all being ineffectual, the clerk, after another space of five or six minutes, again rose and said, “he was desired to give notice that there would be no sermon." The congregation thus unceremoniously dismissed, left the church without the usual blessing, or any other formal close to divine worship. London paper.

paper,

ABORIGINAL CHARACTER.

Murder-The Widow of Samuel Beaks of the township of Hopewell, N. J. was murdered in her dwelling on the afternoon of the 24th ult.: she was found very much beaten and bruised, lying partly in the fire-place, with one hand in the fire, by one of the neighbors who called in to see her. She breathed but a short

I

POETRY.

[SELECTED.]

WHAT IS TIME.

'I ask'd an aged man, a man of cares,
Wrinkled & curv'd, and white with hoary hairs;
Time is the warp of life,' he said, ‘O tell
The young, the fair, the gay, to weave it well."
asked the ancient, venerable dead,
Sages who wrote, and warriors who bled;
From the cold grave a hollow murmur flow'd
"Time sow'd the seeds we reap in this abode !"
I ask'd a dying sinner, ere the stroke
Of ruthless death, life's golden bowl had broke,*
I've lost it! ah the treasure! and he died!
I ask'd him, what is time? "Time' he replied,
Those bright chronometers of days and years;
I ask'd the golden sun and silver spheres,
They answered, 'time is but a meteor's glare,
And bade me for eternity prepare ;
I ask'd the seasons, in their annual round,
Which beautify, or desolate the ground;
And they replied (no oracle more wise,)
Tis folly's blank, & wisdom's highest prize!"
I ask'd a spirit lost, but O the shriek
That pierced my soul! I shudder when I speak!
It cried 'a particle! a speck! a mite
Of endless years, duration infinite!"
Of things inanimate, my dial I
Consulted, and it made me this reply ;
Time is the season fair of living well,
The path to glory, or the path to hell!"
ask'd my Bible, and me thinks it said,
Time is the present hour, the past is fled:
Live! live to day, to-morrow never yet
On any human being rose or set!'
I ask'd old father Time himself at last;
But in a moment he flew swiftly past;
His chariot was a cloud, the viewless wind
His noiseless steed, which left no trace behind;
Iask'd the mighty angel, who shall stand,
One foot on sea, and one on solid land;
By heaven's great King I swear, the mystery's
o'er,

Time was,' he cried-"but time shall be no
more!'

Erratum.-The first form of our last number was worked off in the absence of the editors, which occasioned not only the errors mentioned on the last page, but also the following: Page 182, col. 3, in answer to question 7, for in answer to question 5, read in answer to question 3.

THE OLIVE BRANCH

Is Published every Saturday morning in the rear of IT TERMS.-City Subscribers, $2 50, payable in advance. Mail Subscribers, 82 a year payable on the receipt of the first number. No subscription wil' be re ceived for less than a year, which includes one volume. full for six subscribers for one year, to be sent agreeable

As an Indian was straying through a village time after being taken up. Suspicion rests upon the Kennebec, he passed a gentleman stand-on a black boy as the perpetrator of the horrid he Bowery Hotel, corner of Bowery and Pell-street. ing at his door, and begged a piece of tobacco. deed. He has been committed for trial. The person stepped back and selected a generous piece, for which he received a gruff" thank you," and thought no more of the affair. Three or four months afterwards, he was surprised at an Indian's coming into the store, and present

The Boston Recorder and Telegraph warns all "Christian parents," not to send their sons to Cambridge College, as that would not be "training them up in the nurture and admo

Ten dollars from any individual will be received in to direction.

C. NICHOLS, Printer.

VOL. I. ||

PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY THE NEW-YORK UNIVERSALIST BOOK SOCIETY.

66 BEHOLD HOW GOOD AND HOW PLEASANT IT IS FOR BRETHREN ΤΟ DWELL TOGETHER IN UN112.

NEW-YORK, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1827.

mis adversity and prosperity are both alike as-
cribed to him. See chap. xlii. 10 12. and

i. 21.

2d. The speech of Job's wife, and his reply to her, shows, that neither Ahraman nor the devil was the cause of his afflictions. She no doubt heard what he said, chap. i. 21. Upon

il No. 25.

EXTRACTS FROM BALFOUR'S 2D INQUIRY.
his hands. It is apparent, that she believed in
ON THE TERM SATAN.
Ahraman, and entertained the opinions con-
cerning him as stated above by Prideadx. She
(Continued from page 186.)
was displeased with her husband, for continuing
The question, which now comes forward for
to trust in the true God at the gates of death,
consideration is-Was this account of satan in-
and even blessing him for his afflictions. In
troduced for the purpose of establishing, or was
desiring him to renounce bis confidence in the
it introduced to refute such opinions? Let sa-seeing him still persisting in his integrity under true God, did she mean that he should become
tan here be considered, either the evil princi-his affliction of the boils she was provoked at an atheist, or live without any God? No; she
ple deified, or the devil of Christians, were him, and In taunting language says to him-impliedly wished him to trust in Ahraman the
such opinions sanctioned by the writer, or does “dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse evil god, the author of all evil, and the cause
he introduce them, to expose their fallacy, and God and die." On the word rendered to curse, of all his afflictions. Job had despised him,
establish the supremacy of the one living and Parkhurst thus writes; "The Lexicons have and continued to trust in the true God to the
true God in opposition to them? All I think absurdly, and contrary to the authority of the last. She therefore wished him to abandon
will agree, that the whole must stand approved ancient versions given to the verb the sense of this confidence, and trust in the evil god, the
or condemned. No middle path can be here cursing in the six following passages-1 Kings, true author of his afflictions. By doing so, he
taken, for no ground is afforded for it. It is xxi. 10, 13. Job ì. 5, 11. And ii. 5, 9. As to would become his friend, remove his afflictions.
then a matter of no consequence, whether we the two first the Seventy render Berek, in both, or terminate them by death.
consider satan in this account the principle of by eulogeo, and so the Vulgate by benedico, to Sd. That this account of satan, is introduced
evil deified, or, that he was the Christian's devil. bless. And though Jezebel was herself an to be condemned, and not sanctioned, appears
Whether the same or different, I shall proceed abominable idolatress, yet as the law of Moses from the reasonings of Job and his friends
to show, by direct and I think conclusive evi- still continued in force, she seems to have been throughout the whole book. Job's friends, like
dence, that neither of them had any influence wicked enough to have destroyed Naboth upon himself, did not believe in Ahraman, for they
in producing Job's afflictions. That they were the false accusation of blessing the heathen maintain, that Jehovah, on account of his hy-
all sent by the one living and true God, whom aleim and Moloch, which subjected him to pocrisy and wickedness, had sent such afflic-
Job feared and obeyed, is evident.
death, by Deut. xiii. and xvii. 2-7. Job's tions upon him. But I ask, does any one of
1st. From Job's own testimony concerning fear, chap. i. 5. was, lest his sons should have them ever intimate that sat an, whether Persian
his afflictions. Job's heathen neighbors suppo- blessed the false aleim; and verse 11. he says god or Christian devil, had produced his afflic-
sed their evil god Ahraman was the cause of ought to be rendered-And indeed stretch tions? No; they are to a man agreed, that
them. Christians believe their satan or devil forth thy hand now, and touch all that he hath, they were the doings of Jehovah, nor do they
was the cause of them. But does Job ascribe surely he hath blessed thee to thy face,' i. e. hy-insinuate, that he used satan as a tool in produ-
them to either? No, when one messenger af-pocritically; the verb being used in a past cing them. As a specimen of their sentiments
ter another is represented as announcing to him tense. The Seventy render it, truly he will on this subject, let the reader consult chap. iv.
the loss of his property and at last the death of bless to thy face. And the Vulgate-unless he 9. and v. 17, 18. and viii. 8, 4. Job defends
his children, he says "The Lord gave and hath blessed thee to thy face. Comp. verses 5, himself against the charge of hypocrisy and
the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the 7. And 1 Kings xx. 25. Satan brings the wickedness brought by his friends. See as ex-
name of the Lord." chap. i. 21. He does not same charge of hypocrisy against Job, chap. ii. amples chap. vi. 4, 5, vii. 20, 21. ix. 16—18. x.
for a moment admit that either Abraman or 5. which the Seventy, Theodotian and Vulgate 2. xvi. 11-15. and 19. 21.
We may then ap-
the devil had any kind of concern in his afflic-render in the same manner. And at verse 9. peal to every candid man, whether Job's
tions. He no more admits their influence in his wife says to him, dost thou yet retain thy in- friends, would have been silent about satan pro-
taking away his property and children, than integrity, thy regard for the true God, blessing ducing his afflictions, if they believed so. And
the bestowment of them. The giving and ta- the aleim and dying, or even to death?"-Thus had they believed satan, or Ahraman the au-
king them away are alike ascribed to Jehovah. far Parkhurst, whose remarks shed additional thor of all evil, would they have ascribed his
Similar were his views and feelings, when af light on this account. They agree with the afflictions to Jehovah? Besides; had Job or
flicted with sore boils. His wife desired him usage of the word, which is rendered to bless, his friends believed, that Jehovah used satan as
to curse God and die. But he says to her-in other texts: they also accord, with the an instrument in inflicting them, why is no-
"Thou speakest as one of the foolish women charge of hypocrisy, which is brought against thing said about it, either in their charge or his
speaketh. What! shall we receive good at the Job by his friends throughout the book. But defence? In repelling their accusations,
hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" what deserves particular notice, these remarks would Job have failed to urge that his affic-
Job ii. 9, 10. Does this look like acknowledg-show, that Job lived among a people who had tions arose from satan's great enmity against
ing the Persian evil god or the Christian's a false aleim or God, and a contrast, if not a him, had he but suspected that this was true.
devil? Notwithstanding the popular opinions, contest between this god and Jehovah is set All know, that people are not very scrupulous
that Ahraman was the cause of all evil, the se- forth in the account. The false god is spoken now in blaming the devil. Nothing could have
vere bodily pain he suffered, and the taunts of of as one, and not many, and what god could this been easier or more natural, than for Job to re-
his wife, he holds fast his integrity in the true be but Ahraman? For the Persians had only pel the charges against him by saying, that sa-
God. Now, permit me to ask, if Job had be- two, their good god and their evil god. That tan hated him and had thus afflicted him. Can
lieved, that either Ahraman or the devil brought a contrast, is set forth betwixt the false god and any man then believe, that this account was in-
his afflictions upon him, why did he ascribe the true, is evident from Job's fe ir, chap. i. 5. troduced to establish the existence of such an
them all to the true God without reservation ? lest his children should have blessed the false evil being, yet this be contradicted by Job and
And why did he not correct his wife's mistake aleim or god, instead of cursing the true God his friends throughout the book? If true, why
by telling her, that Ahraman or the devil ought as in the common version. It is also plain from not rather go on to confirm such a doctrine.
to be cursed? But Job had no faith in either, the speech of his wife, who, instead of desiring Is it objected-" if false why introduce it at
and hence he told her, that she spoke as one of Job to curse the true God, expresses her sur- all ?" I answer; for the very purpose of refu-
the foolish or heathen women speaketh. Job prise, that he should continue to bless him ting such an opinion, and for establishing the
allowed of but one God, and it is evident, that though at the point of death in suffering from unity and supremacy of the one living and true

1

God. It is well known, that false gods are often evil heathen god, or the principle of evil deiintroduced in Scripture, in contrast with the fied, a mere nonenity for a devil. But is this true, for the very purpose of exposing their ab- very honorable to Christianity? And is it like surdity. But I ask, is any false god ever allow-persons, who reverence the word of God, flatly ed to be able to do good or evil? No; they are to contradict Job, in ascribing afflictions to sachallenged to do either, to prove that they are tan which he ascribes to Jehovah? Job congods. It is admitted by every intelligent man, tends, that the good God was the author of his that in the after parts of the Old Testament, afflictions, as well as his prosperity. Those and in the New, there are allusions to the evil who believed in the evil god, did not deny, but principle deified, or the evil god of the Per- the good God was the author of his prosperity, sians. Ad to darkness as the symbol of this but would not adunit him to be the author of his god. See a specimen of these, and how the adversity. Job maintained that Jehovah was sacred writers expose such a doctrine. Isai. the author of both, blessing his name when he xlv. 5--7.2 Cor. vi. 15, x. 3. and xi. 13. Eph. took away, as well as when he gave. By this the excellency of his character was made manifest.

vi. 10.

nado. Job's sheep were killed by lightning, and it and the wind are agents in the natural world by which God accomplishes his pleasure, over which Ahraman or the Christian's devil have no control.

Again; looking at this account, and comparing it with the quotation from Prideaux, we see why Job's boils are expressly ascribed to satan, without any other agent being concerned in their production. All evil indiscriminately, was ascribed to the evil god or satan, as all good was to the good god. But, as there was no visible agent to which the boils could be ascribed, no agent in this case is mentioned. Satan, or the evil god, has to father this affliction himself, without the assistance of any agent. Hence it is said, satan smote Job with the boils, which is not said respecting his other afflictions, though the whole aspect of the account, is in agreement with considering him the author and director of all evil. I shall only add, that it has always appeared strange, that in this account, satan should be represented as conversing freely and familiarly with God. But if the account be as I have stated, the good and evil gods are here only represented as conversing together. It was in unison with the popular opinions concerning them.

(To be continued.)

PROCEEDINGS

Of the General Convention of Universalists of the New-England States and others, in annual session, at Saratoga Springs, N. Y. Sept. 19 and 20, 1827.

4th. Job's afflictions are referred to, James v. 11. and his patience under them, is set forth But again; in the above quotation from Prias an example to us, but are not ascribed to sa-deaux, it is not alledged, that the good and evil tan hut to Jevovah. Indeed no sacred writer, gods always produced good and evil by their these two chapters excepted, say or insinuate own immediate agency, but that these were that Ahraman ar satan had any influence in brought about by the instrumentality of second producing them. But I have a right to demand, causes. Though Job ascribes his prosperity why no sacred writer has done this, if they be- and adversity to Jehovah, yet he, and all the lieved as most people do now that satan was Scripture writers represent him, as accomplishthe author of Job's afflictions? If they had ing both by human means. Looking at the the same view of those two chapters as most two first chapters of Job, the agents by which people now have, is it possible that they would Job's afflictions were produced, are distinctly have been silent on such a subject. mentioned. For example, the Sabean and 5th. However prone the Jews were to idola- Chaldean freebooters carried away his flocks. try, and the superstitions of the nations around Were not they then a satan to Job, in the comthem, it was a truth obviously taught in their non Scripture usage of this term? And does Scriptures, that their God was good, and that not their very manner of life, exactly agree to "And the Lord he had no evil being as a rival to him. So far what satan says, chap. i. 7.? from giving any counteuance to an evil being said unto satan, whence comest thou ?" Well, says, " from called Ahraman, Satan, Devil, or by any other what answer does he make? He name, all witchcraft, necromancy, or appeals to going to and fro in the earth, and from walking any other being or power stand condemned, up and down in it." Just such an answer as and the Jews were solemnly charged to have no those freebooters would have given, for it was concern with them. Jehovah, and he alone, is their mode of life to roam about committing declared to be the creator, preserver, and ruler such depredations. Yea, satan is the very of all things, and all beings in the universe. name given to such persons in the East to this Life and death, sickness and health, prosperity day. Messrs. Fisk and King, two of the Paand adversity, are all ascribed to him. Seelestine missionaries, thus write: "For two Gen, i. 1. Dan. iv. 35. 1 Sam. ii. 6, 7. Isai. hours, however, as we moved along our attenxlv. 7. Amos iii. 6. Micah i. 12, Psalm dants were engaged in loud and violent disS. Chose Brs. J. Potter, P. Dean and J. xxxiii. 13-15. Prov. xvi. 4, 9. and xxi. 30. putes with these and other companies of BeThe idea of an evil being, which Christians douins, who came up after they went away. Moore a Committee to receive requests for letcall the devil and satan, and other nations have They extorted a few dollars from the Armeni- ters of fellowship and ordination, and report ans and Greeks, and at last took an ass from thereon. designated by a variety of names found no 4. Adjourned the Council until Wednesplace in the Jewish Scriptures. That the Jews one of the Arabs. Our Shekh knew all these learnt such opinions from the heathen, we shall freebooters, and it is probably owing to his ac-day morning 8 o'clock, then to meet at the Cosee in the next Section. In concluding our quaintance with them, and his faithfulness to lumbian Hotel-Prayer, by Br. N. Wright, Jr. Wednesday morning 8 o'clock, met accordremarks on this account of satan in the book us, that they were so easily satisfied, and that of Job, let us compare what is said in it with we met with so little trouble from them. He ing to adjournment-Prayer, by Br. W. Skinthe above quotation from Prideaux, and we says, most of the Bedouins are much worse shall see all that has been advanced strongly than these, and yet he called these satans (shaitan.") See Christian Spectator, vol. viii. p. Such is the account given us by two orthodox missionaries.* If the writer of the book of Job, did not include the Sabean and

confirmed.

222.

Let us begin with the term satan? We have seen that this word signifies an adversary. That person or thing, is called a satan to another, Chaldean freebooters in the term satan, all will which stands in his way, or in any shape oppo- allow, that the ancient and present usage of ses him. Thus, the angel of Jehovah, was a satan to Baalam, and the writing sent to Aha- this word in the East fully warranted him. We suerus, was a satan to the Jews. Satan, in this see then, that there was no need for the assistaccount, is represented as opposed both to God ance of a fallen angel, to produce this part of Job's afflictions. The agent by which he lost and Job. He was their adversary or satan, his children, is as distinctly mentioned. We Prideaux, in the above quotation, informs us, that Ahraman the evil god, was opposed to the are told, chap. i. 18, 19, "That a great wind from the wilderness, smote the four corners of good God, and that this opposition would continue to the end of the world. He also informs the house, and it fell upon them and killed them." Such was the cause, which produced us that the evil god was considered the author and director of all evil. This is precisely the this effect, nor do we perceive, that the aid of representation, which is given of satan in the any evil being was required to accomplish it. We may just as well accuse satan of blowing book of Job. All Job's afflictions are suppo-down every house which is destroyed by a torsed to be the doings of satan. ple contend, that this was the case, and that sa- Suce the above was written the painful tidings of tan is their devil. They have then got only an Mr. Fisk's death have been published.

Orthodox peo

On Tuesday evening, 18th ult. the Ministers and Delegates composing the General Convention, assembled according to adjournment, at the house of Br. Hurling, and joined in solemn prayer with Br. P. Dean.

1. Proceeded to organize the Council by choosing Br. H. Ballou, Moderator.

2. Appointed Brs. T. F. King and P. Dean, Clerks.

ner.

5. Proceeded to read the several epistleaddressed to this body by Societies in its fe lowship; and we are happy to state, that the intelligence thus received was highly calculated to cheer the hearts of the faithful.

6. A communication was read by Br. H. Ballou, stating in substance, that he was authorized by Richard Carrique to say that he (R. Carrique) had withdrawn his connexion from the Convention.

The Council was then suspended for public worship.

Order of morning Service. Introductory Prayer, by Br. G. C. Parsons. Sermon, by Br. J. Potter, from 1 Cor.

xiii. 15.

Concluding Prayer, by Br. N. Wright, Jr. 7. Voted to accept the following report.sion of the General Convention, to consider "The Committee appointed at the last Sesral rule, in addition to former usage, as to the whether it be expedient to establish any gene