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we create, when, having before us a pious and expressive address to the Throne of Grace, we, to gratify an affected humility, solemnly offer that which has no meaning at all.

If the above hasty remarks should contribute to check or prevent the pernicious affectation of which they treat, it will afford heartfelt satisfaction to

A very sincere admirer of your Publication,

ECCLESIASTES.

CERTIFICATES.

MR. EDITOR.-If you think the following statement worthy your notice, as involving a point which most nearly affects the veracity of the parochial clergy, and the correctness of parish registers, it is perfectly at your service.

In the course of last year I was applied to by the clerk of an attorney for an extract from the register-book of baptisms in the parish of - he at the same time requesting to be allowed to make the necessary copy in his own hand-writing. This proposal I decidedly refused, alleging that I never permitted the Registers to go out of my own hands, but that he might, for his own satisfaction, compare my extract when certified with the original entry. This mode of proceeding seemed not quite agreeable; however it was the only one I would then consent to, and in this way the copy was furnished. Some time (weeks, I believe,) afterwards, the same clerk again made his appearance at my house, requesting to be permitted to take a copy in the manner before proposed. I of course resisted the application as decidedly as I had done at the first interview; to which he replied that my copy and certificate were not admissible, (or words to that effect); for that by a late order of Court, (I think of Chancery,) it was required that the attorney, or some one employed by him, must make an affidavit of having copied the Register before such copy could be admitted. Having been some years in orders, and during that period having been applied to to furnish many extracts, (but never in the way now pointed out,) you may guess I was not a little surprised. However, upon his assuring me he was correct, (and believing his employer to be a very respectable attorney,) I at last consented, and an extract was finally taken by himself. But mark the sequel.

A few days ago, I received a letter from the Secretary to the Admiralty, requesting a fresh extract of the baptism above alluded to, as the one furnished to the Lords Commissioners had many erasures. To this letter I immediately replied, enclosing the required document, but at the same time stating the circumstance which I now trouble you with, as well to justify myself as to shew how extracts may be taken if the "order of Court" is a matter of fact. With the same view I send this for your consideration; and should feel obliged if any of your correspondents would inform me whether such an

order as I have had represented to me was ever made by any court, and whether the same is now in force. If such be the case, I can only say that the sooner such an order is rescinded the better, for reasons which must be evident to every one.

I am, Mr. Editor,

A SUBSCRIBER of 1819.

P. S. I do not recollect that my copy of the baptism contained any erasure, nor do I think it did.

ΠΡΟΣΚΥΝΗΣΑΙ.

MR. EDITOR.--Allow me once more to trespass upon your patience in answering U. Y.'s letter in your number for December last.

SIR.-I cannot perceive that any of your remarks, excepting the references in Genesis, need be replied to; since it would be merely going over the same ground again, and perhaps to no purpose. I have not a Syriac translation of the Old Testament; nevertheless, I have no doubt of your friend's correct information on the subject.

I have already referred you to all the texts in the Old Testament, both in the Hebrew and Chaldee languages, where there is not the slightest doubt of the usage of TD, in the sense for which I contend. The texts, however, are few. Where that is the case, and any doubt may remain as to the latitude in the interpretation of the word, we must undoubtedly refer to some living cognate language, and from thence deduce our conclusions as to its generally accepted sense. Now, in the present instance, we find the word used only fifteen times in the Old Testament, and in a sense expressive solely of religious worship. Let us then refer to the Arabic language, where we shall find its true signification. Consult Richardson's Arabic and Persian Dictionary, and you will find the words applied to sacred things alone. Refer likewise to the Koran, c. de Precibus, where you will find the word restricted to the sense adoratio; and where Reland remarks upon it," adoratio, actio una ex his, sed omnium maxime sancta, meruit sola nomen dare templis, quæ inde (mosques,

temples,) nuncupantur." And again, in the c. de Angelis, the word seems to denote, what I conceive to be its primitive sense, whether in the Hebrew, Chaldee, Syriac, or Arabic languages, the humiliation and subjection of the mind, more than the posture of the body. The word therefore, used in Genesis concerning persons who

are mere men, must be taken in a secondary sense.

Respecting Matt. xviii. 26, see Beza's note, in loco; but here, one

of my Arabic translations reads to beseech.

Thus, I see no just reason why роσкVvEw, in Matt. ii. 2, should not be restricted to the sense adoratio, an act of religious and not of civil worship. I am, Sir, your obedient Servant,

B. CLERICUS.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF SCRIPTURAL FACTS AND CUSTOMS,

By analogous Reference to the Practice of other Nations.

LADDER TO HEAVEN.

Gen. xxviii. 12-17.-" And he dreamed, and, behold, a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and, behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven."

In the cave of Mithea, in Persia, there was a representation of a ladder with seven gates ascending to heaven.-Maurice's Indian Antiquities, Vol. VII. p. 230. The Persians erected in their caves a high ladder, by way of representing their doctrine of the Sideral Metempsychosis, or passage of the soul, through the several gradations to the supreme mansion of felicity. On the ascent of which were seven gates, according to the number of the planets. It should here be observed, that the word Gate, which is a part of Asiatic palaces, by far the most conspicuous and magnificent, is an expression that, throughout the East, is figuratively used for the mansion itself. It may also be remarked, that the expression occurs frequently in Holy Writ, often in this former sense, and sometimes in the astronomical allusion of the word. In the former acceptation, we read in Esther of the Jew Mordecai sitting in the king's gate; in Lamentations,† that the elders have ceased from the gate; and in Genesist we find Jacob applying to the ladder the term of the gate of heaven. Mr. Maurice conceives§ it might possibly be in allusion to the popular notion of the two astronomical gates, celestial and terrestrial, that our Saviour speaks. The representation of a ladder, however, as the gate of heaven, was not confined to the Mithraic mysteries of Persia; we find the gradual ascent of the soul through the planets, as spheres of purification, plainly intimated in the Hindoo Geeta. Mr. Maurice¶ informs us that there was, in the Royal Library at Paris, a book of paintings entirely allusive to the Indian mythology, in one of which is exhibited a sideral ladder of seven gates, upon which the souls of men are represented ascending and descending.

ELDEST DAUGHTER PREFERRED BEFORE THE YOUNGER.

Gen. xxix. 26.—" And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the first-born."

Thus also, in the ancient Hindoo Code, it is made criminal for a man to give his younger daughter in marriage before the elder; or for a younger son to marry while his elder brother remains unmarried.—Maurice's Indian Antiquities, Vol. VII. p. 329.

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Ar the monthly Meeting of this Society, on Tuesday, January 13, at their house in Lincoln's Inn Fields, a letter was read from the Archbishop of Canterbury on the subject of several errors in the Society's Italian Bible, and proposing that it should be withdrawn. A resolution was accordingly passed, empowering his Grace, who is an excellent Italian scholar, to superintend its revision. From a letter received from Bishop Sanders, acknowledging the receipt of 30%. it appeared that the Episcopal form of worship was now performed at Edinburgh in the Gaelic tongue, for the benefit of those who did not understand English. A grant was then made to the Society's

Church at Madras. A Report being read of the present state of the Society's Tracts, it was moved by Mr. Benson, that such as had now become unsuited to the temper of the times, should be withdrawn; and a Committee formed to superintend the writing of new ones. At the close of the Meeting Mr. Tolley complained that no notice had been taken of his statement respecting an error in the Society's Family Bible. The Bishop of London observed that the error in question, which is contained in a note from Bishop Horsley, involved no point of doctrine; but that a motion might be made for withdrawing the sheet.

SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL.
Cambridge University and Ely Diocesan Committee.

AFTER presenting their subscribers and the public with an abstract of the annual Report of the Parent Society, noticed in our last Number, this Committee urge the necessity of increased exertion in its behalf, upon the grounds that its whole expenditure in the last year exceeded the income by nearly six thousand pounds; and that during the last eight years the expenditure of the Society has exceeded its ordinary annual income by more than sixty thousand pounds."

With regard to the funds of the

In alluding to this fact, at page 50 of our last, we have been misunderstood to assert that the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel was actually 60,0001. in debt. It becomes necessary, therefore, to state that such is not the case. Great encroachments, however, have necessarily been made upon their funded property, in order to meet the great excess of expenditure above their receipts; so that the call upon the public in behalf of the Society is now loud and urgent.-EDITOR.

Diocesan Society, the donations for 1828 amount to 281. 8s.-the annual

subscriptions to 2137. 12s. 6d.—At the general Meeting in last year a contribution was reported of 221. 5s. consisting of donations and annual subscriptions, which had been collected in the town of Wisbeach; and it is hoped that, in other quarters of the Diocese, and in the University, the same interest may be excited, wherever there is a scope for similar exertions. The Report concludes with pressing upon the public the strong claims of the Society to its support.

CALCUTTA DIOCESAN COMMITTEE.

From their second annual Report it appears that the Incorporated Society's establishments in British India already comprise ten Missionary Clergymen and five Native Catechists, together with the Society's Central Missionary and Collegiate Institution in the neighbourhood of Calcutta; that the College

is making gradual progress towards the attainment of the religious and benevolent objects of its pious and illustrious founder: and, that although the labours of the Missionaries, so far as relates to the actual conversion to Christianity of Natives in this part of India, in consequence of the bigotry and ignorance of the Hindoos on the one hand, and the inveterate obstinacy of the Mahometan superstition on the other, are far from making a rapid progress, they have been, nevertheless, unquestionably attended with beneficial results. The most valuable and interesting effect of these labours has been found in the now willing reception of Christian instruction, of versions of the Holy Scriptures, and of other Christian books and tracts, where before, the mere mention of these would have been sufficient to alarm and disperse the timid votaries of Brahma.

The present condition of the Schools, which were established by Bishop Middleton for the instruction of the native youth in European, as well as Christian knowledge, are highly satisfactory and promising; and the instruction communicated by the Society's Missionaries to this juvenile portion of the population; the personal attachment to the Missionaries which it can scarcely fail to produce; and the favourable opportunities thus afforded them of personal intercourse with much of the adult population, in the parents and connexions of the youths under

their charge, present, to all appearance, the fittest and most feasible means of gradually undermining the prevailing prejudices and superstitions in the Native mind, and of introducing in their stead, the sacred truths of the Gospel. It is gratifying to add, that in some instances the wives of the Missionaries have lent their pious aid to the arduous exertions of their husbands, by instructing the female children in knitting and needle-work.

LICHFIELD DIOCESAN COEMITTEE.

Mr. EDITOR,-I think it right to inform you, that at the Annual Meeting of the Lichfield Diocesan Committee of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, held yesterday in the Consistory Court of the Cathedral, the Lord Bishop of the Diocese, President, in the chair; after an expression of their satisfaction at the formation of three additional Committees in the Diocese, in the course of the last year, at Coventry, Derby, and Rugeley, and the accession of fifteen local subscribers, together with the receipt of several donations, it was resolved unanimously,

"That this Committee views with pleasure the exertions of the Parent Society towards the amelioration of the slaves on the Codrington estates, and confidently expects the happiest results from their continuance."

I am, Sir, your obedient Servant, Jan. 6, 1829. SPENCER MADAN, Sec.

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, AND SOCIETY FOR PROPAGATING THE GOSPEL.

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