THE OLIVE BRANCH. [Did we not know that the language of this Manifesto, was that of Mussulmen, we should almost be inclined to think it was that of the orthodox. Only substitute another name for that of the "Holy Prophet," and change a few other names, and it would sound most Christian! or rather, as we should say, most anti-christian!] have they not conquered sword in hand? As on immortality; but the scripturvs no where From the Schenectady Cabinet. This war is not like all former wars, a politi SUICIDE. REMARKS. Constantinople, Jan. 12.-Even the least in-cal conflict to acquire provinces or to settle fron- The wife of Daty Eden, Esq. of Dresden, formed are aware that all inussulmen naturally tiers. The object of the infidels is to annihi- put a period to her life on Friday morning last hate the Infidels, and that the Infidels on their late Islamism, and to tread under foot the Mus- by taking opium. And on Sunday, the wife of side are the enemies of Mussulinen; that Rus-sulman nation. It must therefore be consider-Wadsworth Pull, Esq. of Granville, formerly sia, above all has a particular hatred of Islam-ed purely as a religious and national war. Let sheriff of this county, drowned herself by jumism and that she is the chief enemy of the Sub- all the faithful, rich or poor, great or small, ping from the bridge into the mill pond near lime Porte. For fifty or sixty years, anxious know that to fight is the duty of us all. Let Blanchard & Standish's store,in West Grenville. (jealous) to put into execution her guilty pro- them not dream of a monthly pay or of any pay This last makes the third instance of suicide in jects against the Mussulman nation, and the whatever; far from it, let us sacrifice our pro- this vicinity within a few days. Whitehall paper. Ottoman empire, she has constantly profited by perty and our persons: Jet us fulfil with zeal the slightest pretext to declare war: the disor- all the duties which the honor of Islamism imders committed by the Janissaries, who, thank poses upon us; let us unite our efforts, and laGod! are annihilated, favored her progress: bor with heart and soul for the maintenance of Mussulshe has by degrees invaded our provinces; her religion until the day of judgment. Admitting that all the above named perarrogance and her pretensions have been ever men have no other means of obtaining salvation sons not only were immediately delivered augmenting, and she has at last imagined that either in this world or the next. We hope that from all their distresses, but also went imshe has discovered an easy method of executing the Most High will vouchsafe to confound and her ancient plan against the Sublime Port, by disperse in every quarter, the infidels, foes to mediately to heaven and happiness, who exciting an insurrection among her co-religion- our religion and empire, and that in all times, can blame them? Who would not say, in all places, and in all cases, he will grant vic-to themselves and their beloved friends, if in Our true position being tory to the faithful. “Go ye and do likethus known to all Mussulmen, there is no doubt similar circumstances, Who shall we find willing to that if they have the least faith, and piety, they wlse" ? !!! will unite heart and soul to maintain our reli-endorse this bill, so as to give it currency? gion and our empire, as well as to insure their I am sure, for one, that it will not be endorown salvation in this world and the next; and that if the occasion require it, they will discharge sed by with zeal and valor the various functions of the war, and fulfil exactly the duties imposed upon us by our holy law. Help comes from God! ists, the Greeks. The latter united in the name of religion, made a simultaneous revolt-they did all the evil they possibly could to Mussulmen, and in concert with the Russians, who, on their part, attacked the Ottoman empire, conspired the extermination of all the faithful, and the ruin of the Sublime Porte-which may God avert! Thanks to Divine assistance, and to the protection of our holy prophet: this perfidious plot was discovered a short time before it was to be put into execution. [Here follows the body of the Manifesto; and then it concludes as follows.] both K. The following marvellous circumstance is occupying much of the public attention in Paris. It is a wonderful phenomenon exhibited in To the Editor of the Olive Branch. SIR-in your last week's number I read 'An the person of a little girl, thirty-two months "Whilst, thanks to God! the numerous pro-Extract from an old book, the author of which old. It is said that the whites of each eye exvinces of Europe and Asia are filled with an in- is unknown, which, in my opinion, is a very/hibit in distinct letters, which grow in size as she mense population of Mussulmen, does the sacred book of our law permit us through fear of strange piece, considering the channel through advances in age, the words "NAPOLEON EMPEREUR," in capitals. The word "NAThe author of it attempts war, to let our religion be trodden under fool, to disprove the immortality of the soul. POLEON" is above, & the word "EMPEREUR" and to deliver ourselves, our country, our wives, and bring the lords of the creation,' on a level below the sight of the eye, which is a lively our children, and our property into the hands with the beasts that perish. Now, sir, my sim- blue. She has been visited by the most emiple object is to elicit from you an answer to the nent anatomiists, who are unable to detect any the appearance. The fact question, whether you believe in the immortal-deception in of infidels. "Though in the origin the whole world was which it has come. in the power of the infidels, nevertheless, at theity of the soul or not. If you do not believe it, seems to be strongly attested; and of course is birth of the true religion, God, aiding the faith-I want to know what part of God's creation it is wholly unaccounted for. The people look up ful, our worthy Mussulmen brothers, who have appeared and disappeared since the hap-forth in your preaching and writings. REPLY. The scriptures speak of this corruptible putthe sword? how many provinces and states ting on incorruption, and of this mortal putting on it as a sort of miracle; while the more reflecting regard it merely as one of those spots of nature, which are so fantastic, and at times so amazing. [On copying the following article into this paper, we hope to be exempted from the censure of those sanctimonious hypocrites who may recognize their own features therein, since we have taken it from a paper called Zion's Herald, published under the sanction and direction of that respectable body of Christians, denominated the " New-England Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church." Enquirer.] madversion, and acrimonious rebuke, appear so unsightly as in a minister, charged from the merk and lowly Jesus with an embassy of peace And yet alas! unsightly as these appear, we are sometimes compelled with regret and sorrow, Will you be kind enough to inform me, as well as many others who have been treated in the same manner, whether the Sexton of a church has a right to order a person from the vestibule, attended with the threat that if not immediately obeyed, he would turn him into the street by force? In the mean time the more effectually to consult the ultimate design, the sacred names of Last Sunday evening, I called for a highly Extract from President Nott's Address, to the friendship, of sincerity, of candor, are flung a- respectable lady at Christ's church, in Ancandidates for the Baccalaureate, at the An- round the devoted individual like the garlands thony-street; but as the service was not enniversary Commencement of Union College. with which the Pagans covered the victim they tirely completed, as they were singing their "Never does haughty egotism, captious ani-fiad selected for the altar. Profession swells last hymn or psalm, I had, I supposed, the on profession; a sense of duty, a love of truth, right to remain quietly and alone in the cenand even thy glory, God of mercy, is declared while he dips his pen in wormwood and gall. missed; but in this I was mistaken. A veby the insatiate executioner, to govern him, tre vestibule, till the congregation was disThe assault is indeed conducted under the ban-ry important personage made his appearance; ner of Jesus Christ. But it is immaterial whe- and in a very authoritative manner, ordered ther it be under the banner of Jesus or Mahom- me out, or he would put me into the street; et. A proud, haughty, persecuting spirit, when- such he said were his orders; on my atever and in whomsoever found, would trans- tempting to remonstrate with him, he said execrations, and steep as soon the Evangelist borne out by the police. as the Alcoran in blood. To the victim who is sacrificed to pride or arrogance, it matters not whether the ceremony be perfomed on the scaf to behold them. A particular profession or pursuit does not alter the nature of the human passions, but on ly gives them a different direction. The wrath of Paul was as deadly as that of Herod. The form the mild accents of heavenly grace into he knew his orders and could or would be one assassinated out of complaisance to a giddy girl, the other persecuted for conscience sake, This circumstance, however, made no difference to the wretched victims whom his malig nant zeal pursued to death. Under the cover of religion, men, perhaps, more frequently indulge the bitterness of passions without compunction, than in any other situation. The wretch who wantonly and without some "salvo to his conscience," attacks private character, feels self-condemned. But the sour, sanctimonious, grace-hardened bigot, embarks all his pride, gratifies all his revenge, and empties his corroded bosom of its gall ; and having done so, smooths over the distorted features of a countenance, on which sits the smile of Judas, and says, and half believes, that he has done God service! The proud, ambitious, arrogant clergyman takes his stand in the church with the same views that the proud, arrogant and ambitious statesman takes his in the world. Is self-aggrandizement the motive of the latter? So it is of the former. And this is to be sought in pursuits and studies which ought, above all others, to sweeten the temper and humble the pride of man. But these studies and pursuits, where grace is not interposed, do not alter human nature. The arch casuist soon, indeed, acquires a zeal for religion, but it is cruel he learns to contend for the faith; but he contends with acrimony; and even the cross, the sacred symbol of his Saviour's sufferings, is borne about with him as an ostentatious emblem of his own humility. His own creed is the standard of doctrine, his own church the exclusive assylum of faith. He fancies that he possesses, solus in solo, all the orthodoxy, all the erudition, all the taste of the nation; and swaggering, like Jupiter on the top of Olympus, he seats himself as sole umpire in all matters of faith, and of fact,& of science. If any one dares to pass the boundaries he has fixed, or to adopt a mode of expression he has not authorized, he brands him with the appellation of heretic, and instantly hurls at his devoted head a thunderbolt. fold or at the altar. Yours, &c. A TRAVELLER. ELIAS HICKS' LETTERS. We find that one paragraph in the Letter of Elias Hicks which we recently published was very much abridged in consequence of the paper being so defaced as not to be legible; and the sense was thereby materially injured. We shall therefore publish the paragraph again. See Olive Branch, number 43, page 344, col. 1, instead of the paragraph which commences with the words, “ And thus do all these idle promulgators" &c., read the following: Can it be possible that it has arrived to this pass, in this free country, that a respectable person cannot be allowed to wait in In the church, as in the world, you will form the centre vestibule of a church for the your own character; nor can your enemies pre-space of a few minutes, to escort a mother, a vent it. The calumny will injure you less than wife, or a sister, home, without an insult you imagine. The theological calumniator, such as would have disgraced a heathen. I however, muffled up in the habiliments of piety; have visited various parts of the globe; and notwithstanding all the parade he may make have lived long among the heathen, but neof candor, impartiality, and a sense of duty, ver did I receive so great an insult as in will be more successful in deceiving himself what is professed to be a Christian city, and than in deceiving the world. No matter how is my native one. loudly he vociferates the glory of God, whilst his movements evince that he is seeking exclusively his own. However dieguised, the real temper of his heart will discover itself; his insidious calumny will be referred to the proper motive, and his wounded pride will be seen scrowling vengeance from behind the tattered mantle of hypocrisy which interposed to cover it. Community will not be brow beaten into a surrender of their independence to the insolent pretensions of an individual. And the self-puffing censor, who aims at being universal umpire, has the mortification to see that public, on whom he looks down with supercilious contempt, instead of placing implicit confidence in his decreess, examining and deciding on themselves. He will have the mortification to see the very individuals whom he has denounced and marked for the grave, still living unhurt in the midst of execrations, which produce no effect except to burn and blister the lips that utter them. And though it were more in character for such an intellectual Goliah, to curse his opponents in the name of Dagon, than in that of Jesus, yet should he adopt the latter, making the gospel the vehicle of scandal, and seasoning the doctrines of grace with malice, remember, that you have not so learned Christ who forbids you to give place to the devil, and commands you, putting away lying, to speak every man truth to his neighbor. Let not the subtilty of an adversary beguile you into the If an individual stands in his way, and par- spirit of the world, or the rudeness of his attack ticularly if that individual possesses an influ-provoke you to use in your defence the weaence which he envies, or fills a place which he pons of the world. These ill befit the Chriscovets, he marks him as his victim. The sacri- tian; these are not the armory. It was Abishai fice, however, must be orthodoxly performed, not David, who proposed to go ever and take and attended with all the external forms of off the head of Shimei, that cursed him.” "And in as much as those idle promulgators of original sin, believe they were made sinners without their consent or knowledge, which according to the nature aud reason of things, every rational mind must see is impossible; so, likewise, they are idle and ignorant enough to believe, they are made righteous without their consent or knowledge, by the righteousness of one who lived on earth near two thousand years before they had an existence, and this by the cruel hands of wicked men, slaying an innocent and righteous one; and these are bold and daring enough to lay this cruel and unholy act in the charge of Divine justice, as having purposely ordained it to be so. But what an outrage it is against every righteous law of God and man, as the scriptures abundantly testify: see Exodus, c. 23, v. 7: "Keep thee far from a false matter, and the nnocent and righteous slay thou not, for I will not justify the wicked." Deut. c. 25. v. 23," Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person ;" and much might be produced to show the wickedness and absurdity of the doctrine, that would accuse the perfectly just, all-wise and merciful Jehovab, of so barbarous and cruel an act, as that of slaying his innocent and righteous Son, to atone for the sins and iniquities of the ungodly." Rev. Mr. Rayner's Sermon. We have had so many calls for this excellent discourse, since we disposed of our last copies, that we have concluded to give it a place in the Olive Branch. UNIVERSAL GRACE. exist, or any who ever have existed in this world. of thanks, be made for all men, &c.-For this is good and acceptible in the eyes of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, With the supreine being there can be no sucand come unto the knowledge of the truth. For cession of ages; no succession of ideas,-nothere is one God, and one Mediator between thing new,-nothing unknown. All things, God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave past and future, are with him equally present himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due and familiar. He is as much the Saviour of time." Here it is obvious to remark, (and the men-of that portion of mankind who may be argument appears to me to be conclusive and brought into existence, thousands of years irresistible) that the Apostle, after asserting hence, as he is of any who now exist, or who ethat God will have all men to be saved, assigns ver lived in any former time. It is in this view as the reason, or rather as the evidence of it, that God is the Saviour of all men,-even of that there is one Mediator between God and those who as yet have no existence, except in It has been customory for a clergyman on men—who gave himself a ransom for all. his own unchanging mind, and eternal purpose. leaving a Parish, in which he has for some I have adverted to these several passages; all It is in this sense that the scriptures speak of time been situated, in the capacity of a minis- of them occurred in this Epistle to Timothy things which are not, as though they were-as ter and public teacher; to deliver to them what to show their remarkable concurrence in the though they really existed. Hence our Saviis called a "farewell sermon ;" a considerable same design. To show also how important St. our is said to be the Lamb slain from the founpart of which, is commonly employed in telling Paul considered the doctrine of God's univer-dation of the world; because he was so, in the the people how faithfully he has served them; sal mercy and goodness; and how desirous he mind and purpose of the Almighty. David, how much, and how earnestly he has prayed was that the mind of the young Timothy should with a prophetic allusion to the Messiah says, for them; how greatly he loves them; how be well confirmed in it. "The kings of the earth set themselves, and much he regrets to leave them; how long he But I procced to an illustration, particularly Lord, and against his anointed; saying, let us the rulers take counsel together against the shall remember them; and how ardently he of the passage first read to you, as the subject break their bands asunder, and cast away their wishes their future posterity in time and eterni- of the following discourse. This is a faithful cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens ty. Of these things, your present preacher saying, and worthy of all acceptation that is, shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in dericould say as much, and with as much sincerity it is a most certain and important truth, upon sion.-Yet have I set my king upon the holy as others. He however thinks it more appro- which the fullest reliance may be placed, and hill of Zion. I will declare the decree; the priate, and more important, to endeavor, as which is worthy of all men to be received. And Lord hath said unto me, thou art my Son, this from time to time, he has heretofore done, to being persuaded of it ourselves, (and in conseillustrate some important portion of those saday have I begotten thee." Yet the things cred writings which you acknowledge as the quence of it, subjected to persecution and re- here predicted, and spoked of as having already proach) we labor to impress the same truth up-transpired, did not in reality take place until on others, and to lead them to the same trust several hundred years afterwards. A remaikain the living God, who is the Saviour of all ble instance of this figurative manner of speaking occurs in the 4th of Romans, in relation to Abraham, who, says the Apostle, "is the father of us all. As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations." At that time Abraham had no offspring but Ishmael. guide of your faith, the principle ground of your hope, and as containing every necessary instruction for the direction and government of your conduct. At the close of the discourse he may be allowed, in a few words, to take his public leave of the congregation. The passage of Scripture chosen for consideration on the present occasion, is recorded in the 4th Chapter of St. Paul's first Epistle to Timothy, 9th and 10th verses: And is as follows. "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation; for therefore we both labor and suffer reproach because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe." men. We come now to consider the principle in quiry suggested in the text, namely, how we are to understand the declaration that God is the Saviour of all men, and that he is so especially of them that believe. Yet God said to him "I have made thee a father of It is to be observed that the declaration here many nations. And the Apostle in commentis positive and unconditional. It does not saying upon it, says, "it was so before him whom that God may or can save all men,-that he de- he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead sires their salvation, or that he will save all inen and calleth those things which be not as though hereafter, or at some future period. The asser- they were." Thus it is that events which have tion is in the present tense, we trust in the liv-never occurred, but which are foreseen and deThe doctrine contained in this passage is ve-ing God, who is the Sayiour of all men. Atermined by the Almighty, are spoken of as at mer en ry solemnly and emphatically introduced. The difference in this particular, is observable be- present existing, or as having already taken same form of language occurs in but one place tween this passage, and the two others before place. So in like manner God is the Saviour of all men. in the scriptures, and it is in this same Epistle, quoted, although the final result is the same. Although all men are in a sinful and upon the same subject, namely, the salva- One of them states that "Christ Jesus came and lost condition, yet God is the Saviour of tion of sinners. The other place is in the first into the world to save sinners;" that is, with them all, and of millions who never yet had an chapter of this Epistle to Timothy, and at the the intention to save them. In the other it is existence. It is before him, or in his view and 15th verse, as follows. "This is a faithful say-said that" God will have all men to be saved, determination, who ordereth all things after the ing, and worthy of all acceptation; that Christ and come into the knowledge of the truth." counsel of his own will; who will have all Jesus came into the world to save sinners."That is, that all men shall finally arrive at that to be saved,-who quickeneth the dead, and So in like manner the text, if read with an el-state of knowledge and happiness, for which calleth those things which be not, as though lipsis, that is, leaving out a part, (which is not the divine wisdom and goodness originally de- they were. The text asserts unequivocally, necessary to the sense of the main position,) signed them. But the text speaks not of what that he is the Saviour of all men: and it is decontains this plain declaration, "it is a fatthful has been done heretofore, or of what may, orclared to be a faithful saying, and worthy of all saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that shall be done hereafter, to effect the salvation acceptation. God is the Saviour of all men." And both of sinners,-of all mankind: but it declares a An attempt has been made to explain this passages together exhibit this general, and im- present truth,--that God is the Saviour of all passage so as to avoid the support which it portant doctrine; namely, that it is the charac-men. This declaration is unlimited. No bounds would seem to give to the doctrine of universal ter of all men that they are sinners; and that can be fairly set to it, which shall exclude any grace, and the final restitution of all things. It as such, all men are the objects of God's mercy, of the human family. If it should be admitted, is said that by the declaration, that God is the and of Christ's mission and mediation. that God is the Saviour of all men that are now Saviour of all men, we are to understand the The same sentiment, or doctrine, is declared living, together with all that have ever lived; Apostle's meaning to be, only that God wills with great force and perspicuity, in the 2d chap-still it will at once be seen that this cannot be and desires that all men should be saved; and ter of this Epistle. Those who are in the ha-the extent of the meaning of the declaration, that he has made sufficient provision for the bit of comparing scripture with scripture, will because, doubtless the numbers which are daily salvation of all men; This exposition deserves not fail to observe a striking coincidence of born into the world, and the innumerable mul- Some notice; not because I consider it warransentiment between the two passages above ci- titudes of the human race who shall be broughted by any thing in the text or context; nor by ted, and the one last mentioned, which is as into existence in future ages, even to the end follows. "I exhort therefore, that first of all, of time; will be as much the objects of the di supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving vine care and benevolence, as any who now any other parallel passage; but because it is one which has usually been given of it; and perhaps generally-approved. According to this THE DOG. explanation then, the passage declares God's to the deserts, which would be wholly useless met. broken his leg; making signs to be healed. Books for Sale. At No. 80 Prince-Streel. Mr. Kneeland keeps a variety of Books for sale, on the doctrine of Universal Salvation; among which are the following, viz.Kneeland & M'Calla, FIELD. $1.00 75 Balfour's Inquiry, 1st, and 2d. (each) $1 25 The Light of Truth, and pleasure of Lightin four Books. Book I. Demonology. Book II. Hellology. Book III. Improvement in another At certain periods, owing to this super-state. Book IV. Systems examined, $1.00 stitious resignation of the Turks, great part of A Candid Review of ten Letters, containing Constantinople and whole towns present a hid-reasons for not embracing the Doctrine of Unieous theatre of ruin and desolation. What versal Salvation, by Rev. JOEL HAWES. To riches, what monuments are constantly devour- which are added thirteen friendly Letters to a ed by the flames! how many families reduced candidate for the ministry. By RUSSEL CANto the most frightful misery! But here the Mussulman says, "if it has been destined that at such a period our house must be burned, all we could do would not hinder the evils which threaten us: whether we build with stone or wood, Fate will have its course." It is moreover expressly forbidden by their religion, to construct houses of stone, The Turks pretend that the doing so would have an air of defiance of Fate; that God would send calamities still more severe; and when an individual beholds his house a prey to the flames, he exclaims, "All is well, provided the Prophet is satisfied." The Christian inhabitants of Constantinople require a firman to allow them to build houses of stone. London paper. THE CAMEL. The camel is not only fitted for the deserts, but by the exquisitely tender ball in the sole of its, feet is rendered unfit for other soils; as if nature had determined that it should be confin POETRY. [SELECTED.] TO THE RAINBOW. To teach me what thou art— Still seem, as to our childhood's sight, Betwixt the earth and heaven. Can all that optics teach, unfold And yet, fair bow, no fabling dreams, When o'er the green undeluged earth Heaven's covenant thou didst shine, How came the world's grey fathers forth To watch thy sacred sign. And when its yellow lustre smiled O'er mountains yet untrod, The first made anthem rang, Nor ever shall the Muse's eye, Be still the poet's theme. O'er mountain, tower and town, A thousand fathoms down. As young thy beauties seem, Heaven still rebuilds thy span, Greek Testament, according to Griesbach, $2 50.-Greek and English do. with critical and explanatory Notes, $3 50.; Do. in boards, $3 English do. with all the Notes of the Greek and English, $1 50.-Kneeland's Lectures, delivered in Philadelphia, 75 cents.-Ballou's Eleven Sermons, delivered in Philadelphia, 50 cents.Also the American Definition and Pronouncing Spelling Books, each 25 cents.-Kneeland's Sermon on Atonement, 12 1-2 cents.-Three Easter Sermons, 18 cents.--Funeral Sermon, 12 1-2 cents.-Key to the New Ortho-rear of the Bowery Hotel, corner of Pell and graphy, 12 1-2cents. *We very much doubt the correctness of the above statement. It is evident to us that many other animals understand looks, the horse or cat, for instance, and for ought we know all animals understand looks alike, (according to their capacity to understand any think,) as well as the elephant and the dog. ED. THE OLIVE BRANCH Is printed every Saturday morning in the Bowery. Terms: City subscribers, $2 50, payable in advance. Mail subscribers, $2 payable on the receipt of the first number. No subscription will be received for less than a year. Ten dollars from any individual will be received in full for six subscribers: the papers to he sent agreeable to direction. VOL. I. || PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY THE NEW-YORK UNIVERSALIST BOOK SOCIETY. 66 BEHOLD HOW GOOD AND HOW PLEASANT IT IS FOR BRETHREN TO DWELL TOGETHER IN UNITY." From the Natches Ariel. CHINA. NEW-YORK, SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 1828. Antiquity of China.-No epoch could be assigned, with any degree of exactitude, without the powerful aid of mathematical knowledge without it, the historian would wander in the labyrinth of uncertainty, alike unable to fix the commencement of the Babylonian or extinction of the Assyrian empire-the instant of Xerxes leaving Sardis, or that when Cæsar passed the Rubicon would escape him. || No. 50. the opinion of Seneca, who maintained, that Yao, 4000 years before the American era, the By the aid then of this important science the existence of Tchuen-hio, emperor of China, 2447 years before the vulgar era, ceases to be problematical, and that of Fohi, appears no lon-sopher of China, whose name is usually latinisger ideal. Many circumstances, all combined, ed by the word Confucius, flourished about establish incontestibly, the existence of China 100 years before the time of Plato, and in the as a considerable nation long before the exis- opinion of many, the morality he taught has tence or commencement of the Assyrian or E-been excelled by that of the founder of no sect gyptian monarchies, whilst we are compelled from Moses to Mohammed. His principal into reject il founded claims that would place junctions to his disciples were: the antiquity of this nation as far back as ninety million years-not that the thing is impossible; for astronomy repels the supposition; but that these claims are unsupported by substantial proofs. Moral Character.-Long prior to the Christian era, the sublimest morality was taught in China, and if they have equalled it, India, Greece and Rome have not surpassed it in grandeur in subsequent ages: in proof of this assertion I will give a short collection of the maxims or sayings of distinguished Chinese. A. C. 2255. 1. Every thing depends upon seizing the proper season for procuring the necessaries of life. 2. Treat strangers with kindness. S. Instruct your neighbors. 4. Esteem and recommend the talented. 5. Confide only in men of worth. 1. Submit unmurmuringly to the will of hea ven: 2. Love your neighbors: 3. Control your passions; which three commands contain the substance of all morality, whether found in Scriptare or Koran. Plato has been admired, and Socrates, dying in support of his philosophy, compared to Divinity; yet their principles could not have been purer than those of Confucius. But let us look at some of his opinions, and if they are not now, they will be found less absonant to reason than many which have been sustained, for ages, at the expense of oceans of human blood and mountains of woes. 1. He maintained that from nothing, nothing could be made; which is equivalent to the subsegent nihil ex nihilo fit of the Latins. 2. That material bodies must have existed from all eternity, 6. Do not frequent bad company. 7. From morn to evening be full of fear and 3. That effects and causes are co-existent, reverence, and continually on your guard to or rather that things and their elements or prinhave your heart upright and free from pas-ciples co-existed, from whence we might infer sion. 8. Detest those whose tongues sow division • and throw every thing into disorder. 9. It is highly blameful to praise one to his face and censure him in his absence. 10. If the thoughtless promise to amend, set bis words to music and let them be sung to him daily. A. C. 1766. 11. Correct yourself; cease not to correct yourself. A. C. 1722. 12. Love your neighbors; treat your enemies with kindness. that he suspected what the Chentistry of mod- 4. That the cause of all things, is eternal, 5. That there exists a central point of influence from which this cause chiefly acts and whence its emanations spread over the universe. This opinion in the present time would flow by association of ideas from the certainty of a central point to our solar system, and the analogical probability of a common centre to an infinity of systems. 6. That the universe is one animated system of one material substance. Reflections.-These and a thousand other pieces of morality are to be found in the Chinese books; particularly in the Shu-king; and 7. That this almighty whole is under the conwhat is of more consequence, it appears that trol of one spiritual essence, from which emnathey were practised. The reverence of chil-nates every living thing, and to which, when dren for their fathers, in that empire, is known separated by death from its material part, every to every one to be unlimited. In the reign of living thing again returns; this is much like In concluding our remarks on the moral character of the Chinese, we may observe that as the extremes of virtue and vice become more prominent as civilization increases, it is not surprising that trrvellers should represent this people in modern days, as addicted to many things repugnant to the high character formerly given them-and the less so, because of that high character itself, which was magnified by the same cause which peopled our Rocky Mountains with Welch Indians. Nevertheless, we must conclude that their moral precepts are excellent and well worthy the attention of persons who boast of their superfine ideas while laughing at the children of the celestial empire. Rev. Mr. Rayner's Sermon, on the doctrine of universal grace. (Continued from page 392.) Allow me to repeat the substance of this argument. To say then that God wills and desires the salvation of all men, (which none will deny,) is in effect to say that it was his original purpose and determination, according to the immutability of his counsel. And if so, it must take effect. I see no pessibility of avoiding this consequence, unless it be by reviving and adopting the monstrous opinion (now I trust nearly exploded) that God has two, different and contradictory wills; one revealed, the other secret; one declaring his desire that all men should be saved; the other determining that the greater proportion of them shall perish forever. Bet it is furthermore said, that the declaration in the text, that God is the Saviour of all men ; is to be understood only of his having made sufficient provision for the salvation of all men. But what are we to understand by this sufficient provision? Can any thing be sufficient, which does not answer the purpose desired and intended; which purpose is the salvation of all men? Perhaps it will be said, that although this object is sufficiently provided for, yet, owing to their negligence, or obstinacy, a great many do not seek, and therefore will never obtain salvation. |