and patience, and becoming with Paul the servant of all, that he may heal the wound, he will feel that he can leave his flock, take an agency, and travel about, till he finds another place. Now if ministers ceased to forsake this calling; if our various societies were re-absorbed into the Church; if each ecclesiastical body, and each Church and pastor took care of their own business; there would be comparatively few extra ministerial livings. The Pastors, with few exceptions, would teach their flocks their duty respecting these things, and in most cases, no one general superintendent would have labour or income enough from his office, to draw him away from his ministerial calling. In the old domestic Missionary Society of Connecticut, under the general association, as we are informed, the only officers who received salaries, were the Secretary, who had one hundred dollars annually, and kept his parish; and the Treasurer, who had the same, and was likewise Treasurer of the State. If in some cases officers should be necessary, who could devote their whole time to the work, they could easily be found among laymen, or ministers afflicted with the clerical epidemic.

The foregoing views we commend to the respectful attention of all who love the truth as it is in Jesus. To many they will doubtless appear novel and strange. But the only inquiry for the Christian to make is, are they true and accordant with God's Word? If we know our own heart, it has been our sincere endeavour, not to handle the word of God deceitfully in this matter, but to commend the truth to every man's conscience in the sight of God. While we invite all, whatever may have been their predilections and hopes respecting the projects that have been discussed, to scrutinize what we have suggested, and compare it with the pure word of prophecy, which is a light shining in a dark place, to guide us in all questions of perplexity and doubt; we also hold ourselves ready to take the yoke and learn of Christ. If aught contrary to his will or word has been advanced, it is our prayer that he may guide us into all truth, and dispose us to retract our errours. Meanwhile we repeat, what we have already said, that in attempting to reform the charities of the Church, we design to give them under their present arrangement, our cordial support, so far as we in conscience approve of the objects at which they aim. We would not abolish, in attempting to amend. We wait for the Provi

dence of God, in connexion with proper efforts, to make known the truth, with prayer, humility, and love, to bring about the consummation so devoutly to be wished, when the Church under her great Head, furnished for her warfare from His vast armoury, shall stand out before the Princes and Potentates of the earth in her pristine dignity and glory. Then shall kings become her nursing fathers, and queens her nursing mothers; then shall Jerusalem be a rejoicing, and my people a joy throughout the whole earth, saith the Lord of hosts!

NOTICE.

In press," An examination of the gian and Armenian Theory of Moral Agency, as recently advocated by Dr. Beecher, in his “" Views in Theology," by Joseph Harvey, D. D.

From a hasty perusal of the MS. we feel confident that the little volume announced above, is well adapted to check prevailing errours on the subject of moral agency. It is generally acknowledged that to these errours may be traced some of the widest departures from the faith. One important means, therefore, of correcting dangerous theological speculations, and the reckless measures which so often accompany them, is, to demonstrate the fallacy of certain assumptions respecting what constitutes free agency. This the author of the "Examination" has done so far as Dr. Beecher's" Views" are concerned.

After calling the reader's attention to a few first principles, which all admit, he proceeds to the explanation of leading terms. Then follows a statement of the theory to be examined, which prepares the way for a rigid analysis of Dr. B's. thirteen positions, and a refutation of the theory which they are designed to support. Having shown the absurdity of claiming, as Dr. B. does, in behalf of a moral agent," the power of contrary choice," the author gives a brief view of the tendencies and results of the theory in question. Its baneful influence on spiritual religion, and genuine revivals, is faithfully described.

LITERARY

AND

THEOLOGICAL REVIEW.

NO. XIV.-JUNE, 1837.

ART. I. PROSPECTS OF CENTRAL AND WESTERN AFRICA.

1.

By Cyrus Hamlin, Bangor, Me.

Travels in the Interior Districts of Africa: performed in the years 1795, 1796 and 1797. With an Account of a subsequent Mission to that Country in 1805. By Mungo Park, Surgeon. To which is added an Account of the Life of Mr. Park. With an Appendix containing Geographical Illustrations of Africa by Maj. Rennell. 2 vols., 4to, maps and plates, London, 1816.

2. Narrative of Travels and Discoveries in Northern and Central Africa, in the years 1822, 1823, and 1824. By Major Denham, F. R. S., Captain Clapperton, and the late Doctor Oudney. 2 vols. 8vo., 3d ed. London: John Murray, 1828.

3. Travels through Central Africa to Timbuctoo; and across the great Desert to Morocco, in the years 1824-1828. By Rene Caillie. 2 vols. 8vo., London: Colburn and Bentley, 1830.

4. History of the British Colonies. By R. Montgomery Martin, F. S. S., Member of the Asiatic' and of the Medical and Physical' Societies of Bengal, &c. &c. 5 vols. 8vo. London: James Cochrane and Co. 1835. Volume 4th, Possessions in Africa and Austral-Asia.

In examining the causes of national peculiarities and in predicting national destinies we must undoubtedly regard climate, location and physical resources as very efficient, ever-active agents; bearing indeed the same relation to semibarbarous states which philosophical and religious systems and political doctrines do to the more advanced and perfected forms of social life. The inhabitants of a level, widely extended and fertile country, where the skies for ever smile, and the earth, without the solicitations of industry, pours VOL. IV.

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forth her richest products of fruit and flower, of utility and beauty; where there are few natural facilities of communication with other countries, or if possessed are closed up by oppressive power; where every thing lulls to repose and nothing incites to enterprise ;-the inhabitants of such a country cannot be expected to exhibit the same developement as those of a different region, where the surface is uneven, where the soil demands labour and the climate demands foresight and prudence and skill in the mechanic arts, and the facilities of intercourse invite to an exchange of products with other nations. These physical differences will produce corresponding differences of intellectual and moral character. In the former case, as in Eastern nations, the mind, if educated, will be characterized by religious and poetic contemplation, by a glowing imagination, and an absence of enterprise; while in the latter it will be bold, enterprising, inquisitive and scientific. In both cases, man will be like the produce of the soil on which he lives; in the one case like the flowers of beauty and fruits of luxury basking in a cloudless sun; in the other like the "unwedgeable and gnarled oak," conversing with storms and battling with tempests above, and searching deep into nature's mysteries beneath. If uncivilized, the former will never emerge from barbarism without some foreign influence; while the inherent tendency of the latter will be to civilization.

These principles give us an explanation to some extent of the hitherto singular destiny of the African continent, which has played so strange and mysterious a part,—or rather, which has so strangely and mysteriously played no part,-in the history of man. With unparalleled resources and with infinite varieties of physical and national character, she has still, with the exception of two or three small territories, been a total blank upon the map of human developement. Ethiopia, Egypt and Carthage alone have thrown themselves upon the theatre of humanity, while every other region has reposed in profound obscurity.

Thus Africa has hung like a dark cloud upon the horizon of history, of which the borders only have been illuminated, and flung their splendors upon the world. And this is just what her physical peculiarities, in conjunction with some other influences, rendered necessary. Her northern and eastern borders along the Mediterranean and Red Seas, and up the valley of the Nile, were possessed, by climate, soil

and relation to other states, of every facility and incentive to the attainment of great power; so that without a knowledge of the fact, it might have been affirmed a priori that in these regions there would be seats of commerce, learning, and civilization.

Where now shall we look for the cause of the degradation of Western and Central Africa? In the theory that the mind of the Negro is incapable of advancement? or is it to be sought in the circumstances in which he has been placed?

Egypt and Ethiopia have sculptured the true explanation upon the enduring rocks of their monuments and tombs. They corroborate the testimony of ancient history, that from the remotest ages the central nations have been the objects of merciless aggression, at every point where they could hold intercourse with foreign states; that their seacoast in ancient times was unknown to commerce-that civilizer of men; and that on every other side impassable deserts of sand and the interiour slave trade united to lock up and carry off the key of every means of national advancement.

The Western coast of Africa was opened to the influence of modern commerce in the 16th century. But his Holiness, the Pope, immediately ordered his Portuguese subjects to christianise the natives by enslaving them, or otherwise. They preferred enslaving to otherwise, and all nations soon emulated their example.

In reviewing this combination of circumstances we cease to wonder at the Negro's history-at his condition in past or present times. And the fact that, amid such influences, he has maintained himself upon his native soil in any instance, above the lowest barbarism is sufficient to vindicate his intellectual capabilities. And if it were not, he is triumphantly vindicated in the works placed at the head of this article. Of these works, that by Mungo Park, considering the time and circumstances under which it appeared, is undoubtedly deserving of the highest celebrity and of all the popularity it has enjoyed. Its author has probably contributed more than any other individual to the advancement of geographical knowledge in respect to Africa. He determined much that was before unknown or merely conjectural in relation to the course, magnitude and peculiarities of that great geographical mystery of mysteries-the Niger. And it is a singular proof of the almost infallible correct