so erroneous that these cannot without viewing things through rectify, no darkness so deplora medium, darkened by any able that these cannot illumi- gloomy system, or discoloured by prejudice, nay, it has been remarked by men whose judge ment and candour are unquestionable, that that is a highly nate. 1 "Not only are the truths of the gospel thus calculated for unrestricted prevalence: but this unrestricted prevalence favoured congregation, whether shall obtain; and that, proba-among churchmen or dissenters bly, ERE LONG, I will pour of any persuasion, of which out my spirit upon all flesh." one half can be regarded as de Christ shall reign from sea to cidedly pious; and that any town sea, and from the river to the or village has attained a com end of the earth. Nations paratively high degree of moral that knew not thee shall run cultivation and sobriety, if more unto thee, because of the Lord than half its inhabitants puncthy God. The mountains tually attend public worship. and the hills shall break forth It will result then, I fear, that into singing, and all the trees in the most favoured: portions of the field shall clap their of the British isles, not above hands. Instead of the thorn one-fourth of the inhabitants shall come up the fir-tree, and have sincerely devoted them?instead of the briar shall come selves to God, in a course of up the myrtle-tree; and it shall Christian faith and practice. If be to the Lord for a name, for this be correct with respect to an everlasting sign, that shall places most improved by reli not be cut off,' They shall gious culture, what must be not hurt nor destroy in all my inferred with respect to those holy mountain: for the earth which have not had such advanshall be full of the knowledge tages? What of the numerous of the Lord, as the waters cover places in which the churches the sea.' These are the decla- and chapels will not hold a rations of him who cannot fifth part of the inhabitants ? lie,' and shall assuredly be veri- What of the parishes (and such fied; but are they yet accom- there are) where there is neiplished to the or other church, chapel, nor meeting-house? And if such be the sober estimate of this land of Bibles,' as it has been styled, of this focus of spiritual light, of this Protestant asylum of Chris ་་ "To ascertain this, let us for a moment examine the state of that part of the earth where religion flourishes most: and let us, as we enter upon the inquiry, lift our hearts to Godtian truth, what might be inin grateful adoration, that that portion is, doubtless, the land of our nativity. Now, with respect to Great Britain, long as it has been celebrated as the region of spiritual light and liberty, it may be remarked, ferred of Catholic countries? What of Mahometan? What of the regions where religion has scarcely penetrated? What of those where it has not penètrated at all? Does the desert THERE blossom as the rose?" Do the mountains and hills THERE break fourth into sing ing? Do the trees of the field THERE clap their hands, for joy that the light is shed around them? Alas! no. Dark ness covers the land, and gross darkness the people.' But this I affirm shall only be for a season, and that of comparatively short duration; because it is contrary to the declared purpose of God, (evinced in numerous portions of prophecy besides those al ready quoted,) that the whole world shall be evangelized. Hence we may proceed to the practical application of this train of induction: for, if it be the obvious design of God, that the whole world shall be evan→ gelized, since God operates by means, it behoves us to ascertain the probable means. And here there can scarcely be room for a moment's hesitation for, however diversified the language of different books of Scripture, however varied its authors, as to place, time or character, the grand object of all, the palpable tendency of every part, is one and the same: it is, 'to open men's eyes; to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God; that they may receive for giveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith. Nor are these bles sings ultimately to be restricted to a minority of the human race, as they would seem to have been in all the preparatory dis pensations, under which the world has yet been placed. The Christian religion is not only intended for universal if fusion, but, if I do not sadly misinterpret scripture, for almost indefinite duration in that state of fulness.' Though the earth has lasted nearly six thousand years, I regard it as yet in its infancy: I apprehend that the milennial state, the morning twilight of which seems just appearing, will not continue merely for a thousand years, but for three hundred and sixty-five times a thousand. How exquisite the consideration, that during that immense period, 'Satan shall be bound,' and the whole earth constitute one fold, un der one Shepherd! how exhi lirating the thought that we are permitted to contribute towards so delightful a consummation! The glorious purpose, then, for which the word of God is given, is clearly marked and de fined: it remains for us to consider, how we are to co-operate in the accomplishment of this purpose; and that is, evidently, by learning and doing the will of God.: "Now, if any person, who has not made up his mind on this momentous topic, were to inquire of me, Is it the will of. God that the Bible shall never be circulated but with a commentary? I should reply, Certainly not. Should he ask again, Is it the will of God, that the Bible shall never be circulated, but when it is ac companied by a tract?" should, in like manner, reply, Certainly not. Is it the will of God, that the Bible shall never be circulated but in come pany of a hymn-book?' Certain ly not. Is it the will of God, that the Bible shall never be circulated without a Prayer I Book, as a corrective?' Certainly not. In none of these cases, be it observed, is the junction censured; occasionally, indeed, it may be recommended; but no where, so far as I am aware, is the inseparable junction prescribed. 'Is it, then, the will of God that the Bible shall be circulated? DOUBTLESS. It is the will of God, that it shall be circulated universally, that it shall be translated into all languages, that it shall become known in all nations, that it shall transform all hearts. Contemplating this as the indisputable scope of many scripture predictions, the matter of my wonder and regret is, not that Societies, constituted for purely religious purposes, spring up and flourish around us, but that their formation has been delayed for so many ages: for, though this copious dissemination of spiritual knowledge be the Divine will, the accomplishment of it is referred to human agency. He confers honour upon us, by making us his instruments: but, permit me to say, we thereby incur a high responsibility; and if, from indolence, from prejudice, from indifference to the welfare of men, from aversion to the cause of God, we shrink from the task, it is at our peril. Be not startled, if I add, that he who does not cordially promote the will of God, so far as his capacity and circumstances enable him, virtually opposes it. Let not such a man say,-I am not formed for exertion: I cannot keep pace with this moral movement: 'tis enough for me to take care of my own concerns: I will, therefore, shut myself up in my shell, be my own centre and my own circumference, and leave God to carry on his own work.-Let him not talk after this strange fashion ;' or, if he do, let him be reminded, that a dead weight left in the way of a moving machine, may oppose as effectual an impediment as animal energy operating in a contrary direction; and that he, who voluntarily left it there, is accountable for the mischief it occasions. "But, I am persuaded, no such selfish sentiments operate in this assembly. I doubt not that the cause of the Bible, and of the Bible Society, and of most other societies constituted for the promulgation of religious truth, has here an advocate in every heart. I have not meant so much to present incentives to the commencement of a new course, as to perseverance in an old one; one that has had the test of several years, and is palpably stamped with the blessing of Him, who ordereth and none shall hinder.' In this course let us persevere; let us train up our children to enter upon the same path; let us not suspend our exertions, till, not merely our neighbourhood, but our nation, our colonies, the countries of our allies, nay, the whole world, to the remotest corner, has heard, and felt, and obeyed, the invitation, ' to draw water out of the wells of salvation.' Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound; they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance." Juvenile Department. CALENDAR FOR JULY, 1816. 1. The Name is derived from the Latin Julius, the surname of C. Cæsar, the dictator, who was born in this month. fifty years there was a jubilee to the honour of Becket, which lasted fifteen days. The devo tion to him, in the city of Canterbury, almost effaced the adoration of the Deity, and of the Virgin Mary. In one year, there was not a penny offered at God's altar; the Virgin had only II. Fasts and festivals.-July | 47. 1s. 8d. but St. Thomas's had 2. Visitation of the Virgin Mary. 9541, 6s. 3d.! Lewis VII, of This festival was first instituted France, who came to visit the by Pope Urban VI. in comme- shrine, on a pilgrimage, offered moration of that remarkable jour-one stone, which was esteemed ney which the mother of our the richest in Europe. Henry Lord took into the mountains of VIII. however, unshrined and Judea, in order to visit the mo- unsainted him at once. The ther of St. John the Baptist. shrine was broken down, and carried away; the gold that was about it filling two chests, which were so heavy, that they were a load to eight strong men to carry them out of the church. The July 3. Dog-days begin. They extend from July 3, to August 11. The Romans sacrificed a brown dog every year to Canicula, or the dog-star, at his first rising, to appease his rage. This, how-king also ordered his name to be ever, arose from a groundless idea that the dog-star, so rising, was the occasion of the extreme heat and the diseases of the sea-manack.) son. See Dr. Hutton's Math. & Philos. Dictionary-Article, Canicular Days, July 7. Thomas à Becket, lord high chancellor of England, and archbishop of Canterbury, in the reign of Henry II. and one of the most lordly and insolent prelates that ever existed. He was murdered, Dec. 29, 1171. Two years after, he was canonized, and Henry did penance, as a testimony of regret for his murder. In the habit of a pilgrim he came to Becket's tomb, submitted to be scourged by the monks, and passed a day and a night without refreshment, kneeling upon the bare stone! Every VOL. VIII. struck out of the Calendar. Who put it in again, I know not, (Audley's Companion to the Al 1 III, Astronomical Occurrences, -The sun enters Leo on the 23d, at 37 minutes after one in the morning. The moon enters her first quarter on the 3d; is full on the 9th; enters her last quarter on the 17th; her change will be on the 24th; and she will again enter her first quarter on the 31st. She will pass Jupiter on the 3d, the Georgian planet on the 6th, Saturn on the 12th, and Mars on the 26th: and she will again pass Jupiter and the Georgian planet on the 31st. Mars is approaching the sun, which he will pass on the 8th of October. He sets on the 1st, at one minute after ten in the 2 B place about four minutes earlier every night. It comes to the evening, and, on the 31st, at 38 minutes after eight. On the 25th, he passes on the north-south on the 1st, at 43 minutes after nine, and, on the 31st, at 39 minutes after seven. IV. Naturalist's Diary. This month is, generally, accounted the hottest in the year. In consequence of the excessive heat, an evaporation takes place from the surface of the earth and waters, and large clouds are formed, which pour down their watery stores, and deluge the country with floods; frequently laying the full-grown corn. These summer storms are generally at ern side of Alpha Leonis, at the distance of 44 minutes of a degree, or about three semi-diameters of the sun. The star is of the first magnitude, and is the brightest in the constellation of the lion. It is also called Regulus, or the lion's heart. Jupiter is conspicuous in the evening, on the western side of the meridian. On the 1st, he sets at 26 minutes after midnight, and on the 31st, at 23 minutes after ten. An emersion of his third satellite will happen on the 7th, at 28 mi-tended by thunder and lightning. nutes after ten in the evening; During the intense heat of this an emersion of the second will month, we eagerly seek the luxhappen on the 13th, at 29 mi-ury of cooling shades. Bathing, nutes after nine; an immersion too, is both agreeable and healthof the same satellite will take ful at this time. (Time's Teleplace on the 20th, at 38 minutes scope.) after nine; and an emersion of Though the month of June is the first satellite will be visible on generally distinguished by the the 31st, at 14 minutes after nine. greatest variety of British plants The planet Saturn is now coming coming into flower, yet July is under our view in the evening, remarkable for the greatest prorising on the 1st, at 17 minutes fusion of wild flowers actually after ten, and on the 31st, at 12 in blossom. This circumstance minutes after eight. The Geor- arises from many plants continugian planet is still in a favour-ing to unfold new blossoms duable situation for evening obser-ring a considerable part of the vations. Its great distance from summer. Those plants, howthe earth, and the long period of ever, that require the most inits revolution round the sun, pre- tense heat of the sun to bring vent any rapid change in his their blossoms into view, may, situation, among the fixed stars. with few exceptions, be expected The place, therefore, which the to unfold their earliest flowers in Georgium Sidus occupied in the the course of the present month. Scorpion, at the end of the last month, is so contiguous to that planet's present position, that the observations made in the last Magazine may be a sufficient guide for the present month. Its slow motion among the fixed stars, makes it participate in that daily change which is common to them. Hence, the planet may be observed to be in the same The common lime-tree, (tilia europaa,) may be selected as a suitable botanical object for July. It has a yellowish floral leaf attached to the peduncle, or stalk, that supports the flowers. Among the shrubby plants, those called heaths will attract attention. The common heath, (erica vulgaris,) has bell-shaped blossoms; the cross-leaved heath, (erica tetra |