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among them; and I believe that God is preparing them to receive the everblessed Gospel of peace.

"In the first year after our arrival, (says Mr. Kendall, of the Church Mis sionary Society), many New-Zealanders died. They had not food sufficient to preserve life; and, in this weak condition, we could discern little of the native mind. Since then, the natives in general at the Bay of Íslands, and in the adjacent country, eager to procure implements of war and of husbandry, have exerted themselves so much in cultivating land for potatoes, Indian corn, &c. that they have not only obtained such articles as they wanted, but have lived much better themselves, and have had but little mortality among them. Their native disposition has, of course, been greatly revived; and, being heathens still, they follow the customs and traditions of their forefathers with avidity. War is all their glory. They travel to the south, and kill great numbers. Although the natives in general show no disposition to injure us; yet, being so unsettled and unsteady, our situation among them is the more trying."

For the Christian Journal.

An Address to every one possessing a Bible.

We may daily observe the joy and gratitude with which Christians of the present age speak of the kindness and mercy of the Great Disposer of the times and conditions of men, who has permitted them to live in this age of the world, and this era of the Church. But whence arises this joy? Why this peculiar gratitude?-It is because they enjoy the meridian splendour of that bright Luminary, whose very dawn sheds an ecstatic gladness into the heart of the aged, spent, expiring Simeon. It is because the revealed book of God's will is spreading widely over all regions. From the rising of the sun even to the going down of the same, the name of the only true God is now preached. The sound of Evangelists' voice has gone into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. Almost every nation, that for ages has

sat in darkness, now beholds the Star in the East rising with healing on his wings, and bringing light and joy. But no land is more highly blessed in this particular than our own. The word of life, the minister of reconciliation, is every where accessible. Every one that will, may come and drink freely of this fountain of life and health. No matter how reduced their circumstances or limited their means, every one may have a Bible; for though totally destitute they may come, without money and without price, to some of those societies that adorn and bless our age, and they shall be supplied.

There was a time when men had not such free access to the oracles of truth. Before the invention of printing, the advantages of the Christian world were much inferior to our own. Many a thirsty soul has been sent empty away. Many have been compelled to content themselves with a transient glance at the object of their désires, or with the unsatisfactory manner of hearing it read by another. And even since that memorable period, during the dark reign of ignorance and superstition, when the Pope's mouth was equal to the voice from heaven-when a knowledge of the "Lord's Prayer" was sufficient qualification for the Christian ministry, and all the scriptural information of the people was comprised in an Ave Maria

even in that no distant period, a Bible was not to be found amongst the laity if they desired one, and seldom amongst the clergy. A Bible, chained to the desk of a parish church, might indeed have informed them of the existence of such a book, but it was denied to their inspection, and even the privilege of perusal would be to the unlearned an empty compliment-the volume being written in an "unknown tongue;" whilst their teachers (if they deserve the name) were by no means inclined to expound it. The motto of that book was not then as now, "Search the Scriptures;" but,

procul, O! procul este profani Clamavit vatis.

But we are not thus benighted in ig norance and misled by false teachers. The Gospel is nigh unto every one of us, and faithful teachers to assist us in 24

studying its truths. The question then is, Do we make a proper use of our high and distinguished privileges? Do we constantly peruse the Bible? Do we sit at the feet of Jesus as he speaks therein, with the same avidity for spiritual knowledge, the same humble docility of mind that characterized Mary?

Reader, have you a Bible? If not,. haste and procure one, lest the light of the everlasting Gospel be hid for ever from your eyes. But doubtless you have a Bible-a family without one is rarely to be found-it has become a necessary ornament on every book-shelf (though, alas! it is too often little more than an ornament)—I would ask you, then, reader, Do you improve your high privilege? You believe the Bible to be the Word of God-do you value and obey it as such ?-You believe any contempt or ridicule of its precious truths to be impious blasphemy-do you show your respect to it by reading and practising its precepts? When weighed in the balance against any other book on earth, you give it an infinite preference; but do you treasure its invaluable contents in your own heart?

It may be you contribute towards extending it to the heathen, but do you study it with any of that diligence you would wish them to evince on receiving it? In short, do you treat it as the Word of God or as a fable? The question is between you and God. Judge yourself, therefore, that you be not judged of the Lord.

Hear what Jehovah said to Israel after the promulgation of the Law: "These words, which I command you this day, shall be in thy heart; and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes,”(Deut. vi. 6-8.) Hear also what our Saviour says to the Jews:-"Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me." And hear what David did in compliance with the Divine commands:-"I prevented the dawn

ing, and cried: I hoped in thy word. Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate on thy word.”. Amazing diligence! and worthy to be imitated! But what is the result? Does he not grow weary of the study? Is he not disgusted with the monotony of frequent repetition? Hear his own words: "More to be desired are they (the Scriptures) than gold, yea, than much fine gold --sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb." No words can more strongly express his delight in the sacred volume. After frequent perusals he declares it to be "precious" and "sweet"—precious,

because it contained the words of eternal life-sweet, because it consoled him under the trials of a probationary state, and afforded a perennial spring of joy, when all other sources were dried up. Consider, moreover, that this "Word," which afforded David and the other Hebrew saints such comfort, was the Old Testament, wherein the will of God, with regard to the great plan of salvation, was not so clearly revealed as it has been since, in the Gospel. They had but a partial view of the Redeemer and his mighty work; whilst we behold the work complete, and witness its glorious effects. They rejoiced in the anticipation of the good to come; we contemplate the good already wrought. They had the promise; we have the completion of the promise. Let us take heed, therefore, that we do not come short of their good example; and beware that we despise not the Statutes of the Lord-"For whoso despiseth the Word shall be destroyed."'* "This is the" peculiar "condemnation" of man, "that" more "light hath come into the world, but men love darkness rather than light."

But, thanks be to God, very many Christians also have borne testimony to the value of the Book of Inspiration-some, like David, making it the study of their lives-some, on the bed of languishing, declaring it to be a balm to heal their wounds of mind and body --some pronouncing it to have been a lantern to guide them in the intricate paths of life, and that, now, at this trying hour, when all delusions vanish, and all deceptions unmask, it is their only consolation-some asserting they

could ever bring forth from that treasure things new and old-some weeping with gratitude at the recollection of the pleasure they derived from a repeated and tedious revision of the sacred text-some recommending it to their friends, while standing round their dying couch, as the best legacy in their gift, and some, after a life spent in the acquisition of the most valuable human sciences and literature, regretting they did not devote more time to the study of saving truth.

Such and many more testimonies may you find, reader, in the biography of saints, of the improvement and pleasure, the consolation and joy, which they derived from studying the Scriptures. If, then, you find you do not derive similar gratification from the same source, it must follow, you are not like minded with them, and they, as your self, must confess, are like-minded with Christ,for they fulfil his commandments, and walk in his ways. How you must stand, then, let your own conscience judge. Think you it a small thing to disregard the message of the Lord, or feel any distaste towards that Word which reveals the true character of God? Is that loving the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and soul, and strength? Nay, is it not contemning the Most High?

Perhaps, you imagine that, were Jehovah to issue his commands and re

veal his will audibly from heaven, as has been the case, you would not be inattentive, but listen and obey with the most trembling and willing submission. And is this Divine message less important, because it come not immediately from the rending clouds? Is it less the Word of God, because it come not directly from the mouth of the Lord?

No, fellow mortal, it is not the manner that causes this indifference-it is the matter of revelation that offends you.

"If you hear not Moses and the Prophets," Christ and his Apostles, "neither would you be persuaded though one rose from the dead," or a voice came unto you from heaven. J.

Interesting Incident.

THE following narration so strikingly displays the hand of a preserving Pro

vidence, that we are induced to give it a place in the Christian Journal. It shows, too, how watchful parents ought to be of their little innocents, who so frequently and sportively run into extreme hazards of which they are not conscious.

(From the Village Recorder, of April 11.)

"Last week a little boy, of Mr. Benjamin Cope, of Eastbradford, only 4 years old, was playing near a chamber window, to which he had found his way. He had been in the habit of getting out of the kitchen window, holding by his hands, and dropping to the ground, a small distance, which did not hurt him; and now the little fellow, full of life, was all unconscious of the difference, or the danger. Mrs. Cope hastened up stairs to the room, when the child threw himself out, as he had been wont to do, hanging alone by his little hands, laughing that she could not catch him. Who can describe the agony of a mother's feelings? It was an only son-it was an only child-and oh! if it had not been-it was a darling boy, his eye full of mischief; his little tongue running with playfulness-and he depending by nothing but the slender hold of his infant hands-three stories from the ground, and therefore over apparently inevitable destruction.'

"The mother could scarcely speak ere he fell. Was it an angel's wing that buoyed him up and broke his fall? Extraordinary as it may appear: he did not break a limb; but he fell on the earth between two stones, and was so little bruised, that in an hour he was running again playful as ever.”

From the Churchman's Magazine, for January 1821. Address of the Scottish Bishops to the Clergy of Connecticut.

IT is well known to the readers of our Ecclesiastical History, that when Dr. Seabury was sent to England, to be invested with the Episcopal office, certain Parliamentary difficulties stood in the way of his consecration, which were subsequently removed, however, by an act of the Legislature. In this predicament, he recollected that there still existed in Scotland "a Catholic

188 Address of the Scottish Bishops to the Clergy of Connecticut. [No. 6.

Remainder of the Ancient Church;" which was so far from being connected with the civil power, that it was the subject of political oppression, for its attachment to the exiled house of Stuart. The Scottish Bishops had been deprivIed of their Sees at the time of the Revolution; and, although some mitigation of their sentence had been obtain

ed under the reign of Queen Anne, yet, in consequence of the rebellion excited in Scotland in favour of the Pretender, soon after the accession of George the First, heavier penalties were inflicted, and the Scottish Church was oppressed by enactments scarcely less severe than those, which, in former ages, had been levelled against the conventicles of the Covenanters. It is true, the severest of these laws were gradually disused, as the danger to be apprehended from the Pretender subsided; but they still stood unrepealed among the acts of Parliament, to the great detriment of the Church in Scotland, till the year 1788; when, the last male heir of the house of Stuart having expired at Rome, the Bishops and Clergy of Scotland "resolved to acquiesce in the government of the kingdom, invested in the person of George the Third, and to testify their compliance by praying for him by name in their public worship." This step was preparatory to an application to Parliament for relief, which was made in the following year, and granted after a three years' delay,

When Dr. Seabury found that legal disabilities opposed his consecration in England, he addressed himself to the remnant of a suffering Church, where no oaths of allegiance were exacted, and was consecrated at Aberdeen, in 1784, by the Primus, assisted by his coadjutor, and the Bishop of Ross and Moray. On his return to America, he brought with him an address from the consecrating Bishops to the Clergy of Connecticut, which, for the Christian spirit it breathes, and the anxiety it expresses, for the welfare of this new branch of the Episcopal Church in this western world, deserves a place in our pages. It is written on parchment, and from comparing the hand-writing of the signature with that of the address, it seems to have been from the pen of

Bishop Skinner. The "Concordate" referred to, we believe is still in existence; and should we be so fortunate as to meet with it, we shall be happy in giving it to our readers in a subsequent number.

To the Episcopal Clergy in Connecti cut, in North-America. REVEREND BRETHREN, AND

WELL BELOVED IN CHRIST,

Whereas it has been represented to us, the Bishops of the Episcopal Church of Scotland, by the Rev. Dr. Samuel Seabury, your fellow Presbyter in Connecticut, that you are desirous to have the blessing of a free, valid, and purely Ecclesiastical Episcopacy communicated to you, and that you do consider the Scottish Episcopacy to be such in every sense of the word: And the said Dr. Seabury having been sufficiently recommended to us, as a person very fit for the Episcopate; and having also satisfied us that you were willing to acknowledge and submit to him, as your Bishop, when properly autho rized to take charge of you in that cha racter:-Know, therefore, dearly be loved, that We the Bishops, and, under Christ, the Governors, by regular succession, of the Episcopal Church of Scotland, considering the reasonableness of your request, and being entirely satisfied with the recommenda tions in favour of the said Dr. Samuel Seabury, have accordingly promoted him to the high Order of the Episcopate, by the laying on of our hands, and have thereby invested him with proper powers for governing, and performing all Episcopal Offices in the Church in Connecticut. And having thus far complied with your desire, and done what was incumbent on us, to keep up the Episcopal Succession in a part of the Christian Church, which is now by mutual agreement loosed from, and given up by, those who once took the charge of it, permit us, therefore, Reverend Brethren, to request your hearty and sincere endeavours to further and carry on the good work we have happily begun. To this end, we hope you will receive and acknowledge the Right Rev. Bishop Seabury as your Bishop and spiritual Governor, that

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you pay him all due and canonical obedience in that sacred character, and reverently apply to him for all Episcopal Offices, which you, or the people committed to your pastoral care, may stand in need of at your hands, till, through the goodness of God, the number of Bishops be increased among you, and the State of Connecticut be divided into separate Districts or Diocesses, as is the case in other parts of the Christian World. This recommendation, we flatter ourselves, you will take in good part from the Governors of a Church which cannot be suspected of aiming at supremacy of any kind, or over any people. Unacquainted as we are with the politics of nations, and under no temptation to interfere in matters foreign to us, we have no other object in view but the interests of the Mediator's Kingdom, no higher ambition than to do our duty as messengers of the Prince of Peace. In the discharge of this duty, the example we wish to copy after is that of the Primitive Church, while in a similar situation, unconnected with, and unsupported by, the temporal powers. On this footing, it is our earnest desire that the Episcopal Church in Connecticut be in full communion with the Episcopal Church in Scotland, as we the underwritten Bishops, for ourselves and our successors in office, agree to hold communion with Bishop Seabury and his successors, as practised in the various provinces of the Primitive Church, in all the fundamental Articles of Faith, and by mutual intercourse of Ecclesiastical Correspondence and brotherly fellowship, when opportunity offers, or necessity requires. Upon this plan, which, we hope, will meet your joint approbation, and according to this standard of primitive practice, a Concordate has been drawn up and signed by us, the Bishops of the Church in Scotland, on the one part, and by Bishop Seabury on the other, the articles of which are to serve as a Bond of Union between the Catholic Remainder of the Ancient Church of Scotland, and the now rising Church in the State of Connecticut. Of this Concordate, a copy is herewith sent for your satisfaction; and after having duly weighed the several ar

ticles of it, we hope you will find them all both expedient and equitable, dictated by a spirit of Christian meekness, and proceeding from a pure regard to regularity and good order. As such, we most earnestly recommend them to your serious attention, and, with all brotherly love, entreat your hearty and sincere compliance with them. A Concordate thus established in mutual good faith and confidence, will, by the blessing of God, make our Ecclesiastical Union firm and lasting; and we have no other desire but to render it conducive to that peace, and agreeable to that truth, which it ever has been, and shall be, our study to seek after and cultivate. And may the God of peace grant you to be like-minded: May he, who is the great High Priest of our profession, the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, prosper these our endea vours for the propagation of his Truth and Righteousness: May he graciously accept our imperfect services, grant success to our good designs, and make his Church to be yet glorious upon earth, and the joy of all lands. his Divine benediction, we heartily commend you, your Flocks, and your labourers, and are,

Reverend Sirs,

To

Your affectionate Brethren,
and fellow-servants in Christ,
ROBERT KILGOUR,

Bishop and Primus. ARTHUR PETRIE, Bishop. JOHN SKINNER, Bishop. Aberdeen, Nov. 15th, 1784.

Mission to Polynesia.

RECENT reports to the London Missionary Society state, that at Otaheite 3000 copies of St. Luke's Gospel had been printed and distributed; being chiefly purchased by the people with articles of native produce. The translation was proceeding. More than six thousand natives could read their eagerness for books had operated as a stimulus to labour; when nothing else, except hunger, could have had that ef fect: 10,000 copies, at least, would soon be in demand. The British and Foreign Bible Society has supplied the paper for St. Luke's Gospel. Upward

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