and Christians, chiefly of the Greek church. The number of the first far predominates. Japan, Corea, China, Tonquin, Siam, the Burman Empire, Thibet, Tartary, Indostan, with other countries of the east, offer a melancholy prospect to a Christian's heart He cannot extend the pale of salvation where God's revealed word affords no ground for hope. The laxity of miscalled Charity contradicts every sound principle of real Christianity. As but one name is given under heaven among men, whereby they can be saved, how should they believe in Him, of whom they have not heard or, How obtain eternal life, but by the knowledge of the true God, and of Jesus Christ, whom he hath sent? That the gospel should be preached to every creature under heaven, is the injunction of the divine Master to his faithful disciples; and these milIrons among the Heathen, perishing for lack of knowledge,' cry with a voice which should awaken the attention, and rouze the zeal of every man who hath felt the value of his own, soul, to rush to their help, and pluck the 'brands from the burning. The cail is imperious; and cannot be neglected in any land where Christ's kingdom is established, without great unfaithfulness to the divine Master, and criminal insensibility to the value of the souls redeemed by his most precious blood, The perishing Heathen clain our first concern and services!

The Mahomedan superstition, next in extent thro' this region of the earth, hath spread far and wide its baneful influence. It would carry me too far to trace the swarms of locusts rising from the bottomless pit, as they darken the sun, and extend the cloud from Arabia, Egypt, Syria, Asia Minor, through all lands from the remotest cast to the Pillars of Hercules. Great part of Asia submitted to the sword, and to the seductions of the arch-impostor: vast countries, where once the cross spread its triumphant banners, are reduced to the basest servitude, and the light put out in obscure darkness; and the like inroads has the Crescent made on the idols of Paganism, and holds with them, through an this region, a divided empire. By these two unclean spirits, from the mouth of the beast and of the false prophet, is this fair portion of the earth spiritually made desolate!

Christianity once flourished in Egypt, Asia Minor, and the It is now reduced to the lowest ebb. No longer a graceful form in the beauty of holiness, the Greek church exhibits only the meagre skeleton of her former beauty and glory; and threatens her final extinction. Debased by superstition, and sunk in immorality, though the name and forms are subsisting, the temple totters from its foundation, and is throughout dilapidated, the divine Inhabitant is fled! In characteristic excellence, such as should adorn the Christian name, it can claim no preference to the Paganism and Ma

homedanism among whom it continues to subsist; and the Latin church seems just as degraded: their zeal exhausted in mutual anathemas, and more employed in biting and devouring one another, than in forming any plan, or exerting any labours of love for the salvation of those around them. Where tolerated, the Greek church hath lost all power, wealth, and respect, - despised and oppressed by its conquerors; and only permitted to exist under tribute. In a body still numerous and widely extended, a few may yet be found, according to the election of grace, who, having the Scriptures in their churches, may be taught of God, and believe to the saving of their souls; but where such are to be found, I have not yet discovered, among Copts of Armenians, Nestorians or Eutychians, as all appear sunk in the lowest depths of ignorance and superstition, and destitute of the life and power of godliness.

With such inauspicious prospects the heart is ready to faint, and sink in despair of attempting a task so apparently hopeless, as reviving the stones of the desolate teinple from the rubbish of ages, and infusing new life into the torpid mass: but Charity never faileth, and Faith can pierce through the thick cloud of difficulties. Who art thou, O great mountain before Zerubbabel? - thou shalt become a plain. We read what hath been done by feeble instruments, from how small beginnings the most astonishing events have arisen; we have bebeld a few poor fishermen evangelizing the world, and in the name of their divine Master, in the face of dangers and opposition from Earth and Hell prevaling. Some flaming spirit, like Jacob Baradeus, or Luther, may arise to kindle up the expiring embers from the ashes that seem destitute of every vital spark. The Lord's hand is not shortened, that he cannot save, nor his ear heavy, that he cannot hear: he is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.' The residue of the Spirit is with him; if he will work, none can let it. We have ́ the same promises as of old to encourage the attempt: he hath engaged to be with us always, even to the end of the world; and his charge is equally bloding on us in all ages, as on those to whom he enjoined, Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature: he that believeth shall be saved, and he that believeth not shall be damned.' Awakened by his awful voice, thongh late, to a sense of duty, a few of this land have associated to renew the arduous task, in dependence on Him who can bring strength out of weakness, and save by few as by many, Oh, that all that are in Asia may bear once more the word of the Lord, and be turned from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God !

[To be continued.]

Evangelicana.

ILLUSTRATION OF ZECH. III. 9.

And upon one stone shall be seven eyes, &c.

THE prophets were accustomed to convey instruction by symbolical action. In this case, a stone was placed; on which were engraved the figures of seven eyes. It is thought a well-known eastern custom will illustrate the subject.

In the oriental style, the counsellors of kings are called Obaμos Barikiw (The Eyes of Kings). In the monarchy of Persia, whence this prophet had come, there were always seven of them. Thou art sent of the king and his seven counsellors' (Ezra vii. 14.); and the names of these seven counsellors are mentioned in Esther i. 14. The prophet in this verse says, All these eyes shall be in the foundation-stone itself;' that is to say, such shall be the perfection of wisdom and knowledge in the great antitype of this stone, Christ Jesus, the only foundation of the church of God, that he shall in no case need the advice or counsel of others. Christ, our King, hath all the stores of wisdom and counsel in himself, and needs not that any should testify of man; for he knows what is in man. This illustration was suggested by the great Dr. Owen; and, perhaps, it may gratify some of our readers to turn to some of the passages of the Greek Classics, &c. in which the counsellors of kings are called their eyes. Suidas (in verb.) sava the Persian satraps were thus designated; because, by them, the king sees all things. In Jul. Pollux lib. ii, p.89, line 7, ed. Geberi, they are called the Eyes of Kings, who inform him of that which they themselves have seen.

See Scapula in verb. offarpos; Xenophen, Cyropædia, lib. viii (p. 642, Hutch. 4to edit.); Herodotus, Clio 31, line 1st (edit. Gale, p 49); Arist. Polit. lib. iii; Plutarch in Artaxerx.; Aristophanes, Acharnes, line 92-91.

Means for promoting Love and Harmony anong Church-Members.

The following was written by a Minister of the Gospel, and presented by him to the Members of his Church; and which, if you think it will be useful to other churches, you are at liberty to insert in your valuable Magazine.

C. B.

1. To remember that we are all subject to failings and infirmities of some kind or other.

2. To bear with, and not to magnify each other's infirmities.-Gal. vi. 1. 3. To pray one for another in our social meetings, and especially in private. James v. 16.

4. To avoid going from house to house, for the purpose of hearing news, and interiering in other people's business.

5. Always to turn a deaf ear to any slanderous reports of a member and to pay no attention to any charges brought against such, except wellfounded.

6. If a member be in fault, to tell him or her of it first privately, before it be mentioned to others.

7. To watch against a shyness of each other, and to put the best construction on any action that has the appearance of opposition or resent

inent.

8. To observe the just rule of Solomon; that is, To leave off contention before it he meddled with. Prov. xvii. 14.

9. If a member has offended, to consider how glorious, how God-like it is to forgive; and how unlike a Christian it is to revenge.- Eph. iv. 2. 1e. To remember that it is always the grand artifice of the Devil to pro

mote distance and animosity among members of churches; and tha, therefore, we should watch against every thing that would further his end.

11. To consider how much more good we can do in the world at large, and in the church in particular, when we are all united in love, than we could do when acting alone, and indulging a contrary spirit.

12. Lastly, To consider the express injunctions of Scripture and the beautiful example of Christ, as to these important things. Eph. iv. 92. 1 Pet. ii. 21. John xiii. 5, 35.

WIDOWS' FUND.

Among the excellent Institutions which happily abound in this nation, the following, we believe, is not so generally known as it deserves to be. We insert a short account of it, not so much for the purpose of increasing the number of Applicants, as in hope that benevolent individuals, both in town and country, will, by the perusal of it, be induced to swell the List of Subscribers, by the addition of their Names.

Society for the Relief of Necessitous Widows and Children

of Protestant Dissenting Ministers, deceased.

THIS charity was first instituted in 1783; and extends to the families of such ministers of the Presbyterian, Independent, and Baptist denominations, as, at their death, stood accepted and approved as such by the body of ministers of that denomination to which they respectively belonged; and who died so poor, as not to leave their Widows and Children a sufficient subsistence. Previous to their being relieved, the above circumstances must be attested by one or more ministers; and the Petition signed by a Member of the Society. Every person subscribing One Guinea or upwards for two years, the same to be paid on or before Midsummer in each year, becomes, after that time, a Member of this Society, during the continuance of his subscription.

The annual sum now given to the English Widows, is £ 12 12s.; and to the Welch Widows, £9 9s. The number of Widows annually relieved, has lately been upwards of 160. The Managers are likewise empowered to give the sum of £10 each to as many as Ten Widows in one year, who may be in want of immediate assistance; and whose cases are peculiarly dist essing and properly authenticated. The Managers may also give the sum of £10. for apprenticing out any child of a deceased minister.

A sermon,

A General Meeting of the Subscribers is held once a year; when 24 MaBagers, together with a Treasurer and Secretary are chosen. recommending the useful purposes of this Society, is preached annually, in the month of April, at the Meeting-honse in the Old Jewry; after which a Collection is made. The Managers meet on the First Tuesday in every Month, at Batson's Coffee-house, Cornhill, London, to receive applications. Eben. Maitland, Esq. Coleman Street, Treasurer; Mr. J. Webster, Queca Street, Cheapside. Secretary.

An English Widow, having £ 30 per annum income, is not deemed a proper object, unless she have one child to support. If she have £ 35 per year, she is a proper object, if she have three children to support; and so progressively, allowing £5 of income for every two children.

Every Welch Widow, having an income of 18 per annum, and one child to support, or au income of £ 21 per annum, and three children to support, is deemed a proper object; and so progressively, allowing an increase of income of £ 4 for an increase of every two children.

6

ANECDOTES, &c

Sr. Bernard says, Every good mau's heart is the temple of God, and his horse of prayer. Be thou in bed, abroad in thy fields, at home in the closet, the place makes no difference: thy prayers will consecrate and make it in habitation of God's spirit and gracious presence.'

THAT indefatigable servant of Christ, the Rev. George Whitfield, preached, in the course of his ministry, which included 34 years and a quarter, eighteen thou and sermons; which was somewhat more than five hundred sermons a year. The day preceding his death, he expressed a great desire to enter his eternal rest; at the same time saying, Lord, thou knowest I am not weary of thy work, though I am weary in it!'

JUVENILE DEPARTMENT.

We have been repeatedly desired to recommend the most suitable Books for the Perusal of Young Persons, who have not the advantage of a living preceptor to direct them in their choice. This we shall attempt, confining our observations to two classes of books: those intended to convey religious instruction, strictly considered; and those which are adapted to expand and improve the mind in a more general view,

We shall begin with two of the most admirable and important Works in the English Language: Loddridge's Rise and Progress of Religion, → and Wats on the Improvement of the Mind. The former adapted to alarm the conscience and awaken the mind to religion; and the latter to open the understanding, expand the faculties of the mind, and direct its enquiries after the most important truths. The former is of a nature purely religious; the latter leads the mind to the pursuit of literature and science; but still under the direction of the same spirit which quickens the mind to scek the wisdom which is from above.

The plan of the Rise and Progress of Religion was drawn by Dr. Watts; but given up, on account of ill health, to his contemporary and friend Dr. Doddridge, who filled it up entirely to his satisfaction, submitted the whole to his revision, and, when published, addressed it to him in a very respectful Dedication.

Mr. Orton says, This book is a body of practical divinity and Christian experience; and contains, as it were, the substance of the author's preaching. The avidity with which it was read, and the approbation it received in the higher classes of rank and literature, was very flattering, while the good effected thereby was a much higher gratification to the pious author.

The work was at an early period printed in Holland; and highly approved by the Prince and Princess of Orange, and the principal persons in that country. There have been also several editions in French; one of which was lately reprinted by the Missionary Society, and circulated among the French prisoners.

The other work is of a different character, but no less excellent in its kind. Dr. Johnson says (speaking of Dr. Watts) Few books have been perused by me with greater pleasure than his Improvement of the Mind of which the radica! principles may indeed be found in Locke's Conduct of the Understanding; but they are so expanded and ramified by Watis, as to confer upon him the meat of a work in the highest degree useful and pleasing. Whoever has the care of instructing others, may be charged with deficiency in his duty, if this book is not recommended §.

Great as is this praise, considered as coming from Johnson, it is still be. low the true character of the work. All young persons, of either sex, who have a desire for mental improvemcat, shod make this one of their first books; and every student should read it thro', at least once a year. Though published as a supplement to the Doctor's admirable System of Logic, because afterwards written, it is perfectly a distinct book, and should be read before, as well as after