which reason I humbly beseech the Father of spirits and the God of our life, to renew your strength as the eagle's, and to recruit a lamp that has shone with distinguished lustre in his sanctuary; or, if this may not consist with the counsels of unerring wisdom, to make all your bed in your languishing, softly to untie the cords of animal existence, and enable your dislodging soul to pass triumphantly through the valley of death, leaning on your beloved Jesus, and rejoicing in the greatness

of his salvation.

You have a multitude of names to bear on your breast and mention with your lips, when you approach the throne of grace, in the beneficent exercise of intercession; but none I am sure has more need of such an interest in your supplications, none I believe can more highly esteem it, or more earnestly desire it, than, Dear Sir,

your obliged and affectionate humble Servant, JAMES HERVEY.

A CONCISE VIEW OF

THE PRESENT STATE OF EVANGELICAL RELIGION THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

NO. I.

[Continued from p. 217]

AMERICA.

To carry the

A NEW world opened on Columbus. standard of the Cross thither, was professedly a grand object of the bigotted Spaniards; but their cruelties corresponding with their avarice, soon depopulated the regions they affected to Christianize; whilst the debased religion of Popery, which they professed, though compassing sea and land to gain proselytes, hardly exceeded in excellence the absurdities from which the heathen under their domain were compelled to turn.

This vast continent, usually divided into North and South America, was on its discovery occupied by nations wholly sunk in idolatry, who placated their deities with the blood of human victims. Its population was greatly inferior to the old continent; and though abounding in gold and silver, in the most infant state of improvement respecting all arts and manufac tures. The other nations of Europe soon followed the track of Spain; and the Pope, in the plenitude of his power, when Portugal proceeded to new discoveries, divided by a line of demarcation the world between them, without the most superficial knowledge of its geography. On the continent of Ame rica Spain first seized, and still occupies far the greatest share, From Mexico to Cape Horn, and round to the Rio Plata, she possesses an undivided empire over this immensity of coast; and from the Mississipi round the vast Bay of Mexico to the Carac

cas, all is Spanish and Papistical. The vast islands which stretch through the Gulph of Mexico, Cuba, Domingo, and Porto Rico, with many others, embrace the same religion, and submit to the same government.

The Portugueze have occupied the countries of Brazil and Paraguay; in extent far short of Spanish dominion, but one with them in the same corrupt Christianity. The other nations of Europe have each endeavoured to fix themselves in different parts; and for the purpose of commerce, formed various settlements: the French at Cayenne, Canada, and in many of the Carribbee Islands; the Dutch at Essequibo and Demarara, with Curacoa; the Danes and Swedes occupied a few small islands; but the English have been the geat settlers and conquerors of these; so that, though their colonies revolted, and are grown into a great people, they now possess Canada and the whole country to the Northern Ocean, the great island of Newfoundland, and those in its vicinage, who during the present war have taken possession of all held by French, Dutch, or Danes. With their dominion their religious as well as political institutions have been introduced. Thus three great bodies occupy the continent and islands of America; Heathens, Papists, and Protestants, For, prevalent as they are throughout the other quarters of the earth, hither the delusions of Mahomed have never yet extended their baneful influence; nor does a mosque subsist in any part of America.

The Heathen, denominated Indians, still possess immense tracts of country in the interior, from the most southern extremity of Terra Del Fuego, through Chili, Paraguay, and to the Carraccas. They subsist in the Isthmus of Darien, and on the coast of Honduras; and a multitude of nations stretch from the Gulph of Mexico, and the Mississipi to the Northern Ocean. Though their population hath been diminished, and multitudes brought under the Romish pale by the labours of her Missionaries, an immense body continues in the grossest darkness of heathenism; they maintain their native freedom and savage manners, and offer an immense field for instruction in righte ousness and the diffusion of evangelical truth.

Portugal and Spain have peopled this new world with priests and convents. Those who have migrated from Europe have brought their bigotry and superstitions with them, even in greater strength than in the land of their nativity. With a zeal that in many instances should shame the indifference and inactivity of Protestants, monks and friars of all colours have vied with each other in labours for the conversion of the heathen Indians, into whose country they have penetrated, often at the hazard of their lives; and in many instances, as in Paraguay, succeeded in partial civilization, and abject submission of the natives, to sacerdotal dominion, and the profession of Christianity: though such a species of Christianity as men of enlight

ened minds will hardly think worthy the name; and both the converters and the converted very far from the kingdom of God. The downfall of Popery in Europe, however, and the annihila tion of the Jesuitical tribe, its most strenuous supporters, have removed some strong barriers formerly erected against the admission of evangelical religion, and afford hopes that greater freedom of enquiry and discussion may find its way into the enslaved minds of these Semi-Christians; and give a readier admission to the pure word of God, now so earnestly diffused into all lands; and thus an entrance be opened for the everlasting gospel through these yet desolate habitations and regions of spiritual darkness. Great events seem brooding in the womb of Time: and the awful struggle which threatens to separate from them the parent state, and to erect a new dynasty, may, with new connections formed with Protestant states, especially our own, open a door of access, where despotism and the inquisition have hitherto utterly excluded every beam of evangelical religion; and lead to the emancipation of the slaves of Popish bigotry and intolerance from the bondage of priests and prejudice, into the glorious liberty of the children of God. It must be confessed that the prospect as yet is highly inauspicious; and, from the Straits of Magellan to the Heights of Monterrey, I doubt whether an individual can be found who would not anathematize every thing in the shape of real gospel truth, and be ready to consign the Missionary to the flames: a reflection deeply afflictive to every true Christian's heart; but mightily calling upon us to cry to Him who hath the residue of the Spirit, that he would make bare his arm, overturn every obstacle in the way of his truth, and open a door of hope and salvation for these millions sunk in ignor ance, error, and corruption, and led captive by Satan at his will. As dark and dismal are all the territories under the Portugueze dominion, and as far removed from the simplicity which is in Christ. Not a congregation is to be found in these immense regions worshipping God in spirit and in truth. If there be an individual, he is a prodigy. Thus all the lands holding the Popish profession, are shut up in darkness that may be felt; and whether in the islands or on the main, lie in the same state of death, in error, in ignorance, in trespasses and sins.

From the Protestants alone, therefore, and their exertions, can any hope be entertained for an amelioration of the spiri tual state of the new world; and even of them the multitude embrace their profession, without any real acquaintance with its principles, and have merely a name to live, and are dead. The extent and state of their dominions naturally most engages our attention; in what states they are, and what doing to promote the one thing needful, the salvation of their own souls, and that of those around them.

[To be continued.]

Evangelicana.

GLORIOUS DAYS!

Or Bishop Porteus it is said, that only four days previous to his death, his Lordship enquired of one of his friends, and a particular friend of the Bible Society, who called upon him, how the Society was succeeding in some great town, in which it had been proposed; and on being informed that all denominations had embraced it with ardour, and that the church had taken the lead, a momentary glow of satisfaction Hushed his pallid cheeks, he raised himself on his chair, as if youth had been revived, and exclaimed, Then you will see glorious days!"

INFAMY OF THE CROSS.

SUCH was the infamy annexed to crucifixion, that it appears not only to have been the punishment of slaves, but even of dogs. Mr. Sprint, in a funeral-sermon for John Hoskins, Esq. of Dorsetshire, published in 1714, speaking on this subject, has the following note: The dogs not barking when the Gauls scaled the capitol, there is a custom annualy observed at Rome, to truss certain dogs to forks; and thus, as it were crucified, to hang them alive upon an elder-tree, for exemplary justice; which execution was performed between the temple of Juventus Sum manus.' Plin. Nat. Hist. lib. 29, cap. 4.

POPISH PROTECTION.

It is a fact, though not generally known, that in the late rebellion in Ireland, a Popish priest, of the name of ROCHE, sold a great number of Protections or Gospels, as they are called, to the better sort of people for half a crown, and to the poor for sixpence each. One of them was taken off the neck of John Hay, a rebel chief, who was executed at Wexford, a few days after it was retaken by the King's army. The following is an exact copy* :

I. N. R. I.

IN THE

AND OF THE

No gun, pistol, sword, or any other offensive weapon, can hurt or otherwise injure the person who has this paper in his possession; and it is earnestly recommended to all women with child to carry it, as it will be found an infallible preservation against the fatality of child-bed. 'ROCHE'

We copy this from the Methodist Magazine for Nov, 18c4.

HEBREW BIBLE.

We are glad to hear that the Indian Roll of the Pentateuch, dis covered among the Malayala Jews in the east, and brought to England by Dr. Buchanan, is found, upon a very careful collation, to differ very little indeed from the printed edition of Vander Hooght, and still less from the text of Athias, printed at Amsterdam in 1661; so that the integrity of the Hebrew text of the five books of Moses, in general use in Europe, is strongly confirmed by his valuable manuscript; and its tes timony is unquestionably important.

Obituary.