nuine hatred to Arminianism." Arminius, p. 476.

sident Bogerman, when, finding the Remonstrants could not be entrapped to implicate the orthodox by

name,

"Bogerman opened out his characteristic fury, and in a great passion exclaimed: If you will not name them, I will. They are Zuinglius, Bucer, Calvin, Beza, Marlorat, Martyr, Zanchius, Piscator, Perkins, and Whitaker! those venerable men, those brave heroes, those noble lights of the church, those happy souls whose memory is blessed both by God and man! These are the persons whom you intend to expose ! ' This speech was pronounced with so much warmth, and in such a thundering tone, that his countenance changed, his joints trembled, and his words seemed to pos

sess no coherence. When Episcopius describes this scene, he says, What eyes, and what a countenance did the man exhibit! The perturbation which he manifested I can compare to nothing better than that of a man the tender pupil of whose eye had been pricked by some sharp instrument, the pain of which caused him to writhe with agony.'" Ar

minius,

p.

445.

We feel ourselves entrapped into the details of the proceedings of this far-famed synod, with respect to whose actual decrees of doctrine, we repeat it, we give no opinion. We shall therefore add only further, in place of a thousand extracts of the same nature as those above, that Mr. Nichols has given the entire body of Bishop Womack's history of this synod, as collected from the letters of Messrs. Hales and Balcanqual, the agents of Sir Dudley Carlton, the British ambassador at the Hague, and who were actually present, as parties vehemently engaged against the Remonstrants.

"The Calvinistic and highly prejudiced feelings of both the writers, and the exasperation of their spirits against the Remonstrants, are perceptible in all their communications to his excellency. Yet these men, in the opinion both of their countrymen and of foreigners, have furnished the most valuable account of the Synod of Dort which has ever yet been given. Its value consists in the honest disclosure of many reprehensible practices to which the managers of that synod had recourse, and in the frank confession of the outrageous dispositions of the Dutch clergy, and the flimsy pretences under which they diguised several of their most objectionable proceedings,-and all this without the least abatement of their ge

In justice to the character and authority of the Arminian Brandt, whose work is so often quoted, we add the conclusion of Mr. Nichols's paragraph.

"That highly respectable and upright historian, the elder Brandt, has made great use of them [letters of Hales and Balcanqual]; not because the temperate

statements of the Remonstrants needed old man most properly observes, the any such confirmation, for, as the good contra-remonstrants had sufficient opportunities to contradict their accounts, if they had contained any untruths: but this, as far as I know, they have never yet done.'. A short time, however, after making this declaration, Leydekker wrote against Brandt, and in vindication of the synod. On this work, and that which it professes to censure, the learned Mosheim makes this remark: After diligently comparing these two productions, I could see no enormous error in Brandt; for, in truth, these two writers do not so much differ about facts, as they do in the and in their accounts of the causes from reasoning which they deduce from them, which they proceeded. The reader will do well to consult the letters of the learned and worthy Mr. John Hales, of the proceedings of this famous synod, Eton, who was an impartial spectator of and who relates with candour and simplicity what he saw and heard.” Arminius, p. 477.

We give also a sentiment from Mr. Nichols, in reference to Mr. Scott's translation, which we find of his multifarious volume, and he discusses in pp. 510-515, &c. of his multifarious volume, and views, as might be expected, in no favourable light.

"When Mr. Scott intimates......... that 'the measure adopted by the rulers of Belgium, in respect of the decisions of the Synod of Dort, ought not to be judged according to the generally prevailing sentiments of modern times,' he has forgotten to subjoin, that the measures in question ought rather to be judged according to the enlightened and pacific sentiments of Arminius and his early followers." Arminius, p. 514.

This oversight of Mr. Scott, we must add, is made the more remarkable after the highly liberal concession we have already quoted from him, respecting a free investigation of opinions; as well as respecting the inexpediency of such a rigorous and exclusive subscrip

tion to peculiarities, as that prescribed by the Synod of Dort. It seems almost unnecessary to repeat, that the adoption of this test, in addition to the Belgic Confession and Heidelberg Catechism, proves that the very party who accused Arminius of departing from that Confession, were themselves deeply implicated in the same charge; and from the beginning, strove not for the formularies, but for their own interpretaton of them. But it

is to be noted, that all the errors the Synod condemns, are errors connected with the rejection of the Calvinistic scheme, but that not one error is denounced on the side of its perverted reception; although it was the dread of errors of this class which unquestionably opened the first fissure in that portentous schism of which Arminius was represented as the author.

(To be continued.)

GREAT BRITAIN. PREPARING for publication:-Scripture Diary, or Christian Almanack; by the Rev. J. Whitridge;-The Correspondence and Diary of Lord Clarendon, from 1687, to 1690, from the original MSS., with Notes; by S. Singer.

In the Press-Religion in India, or a Voice directed to Christian Churches, for Millions in the East;-The Diary of a Member of Parliament, from 1656 to 1659, from the Autograph; by W. Upcott;- Lectures on Paul's Epistles to the Corinthians; by William Lothian, St. Andrews.

The first arch of the New London Bridge is completed, and the whole work is in a state of rapid progress. The foundations of the pier are said to be deeper than those of any bridge in Europe. The edifice is constructed of several sorts of granite. The centre arch will have a span of 150 feet, with a height of 30. The length of the bridge, including the abutments, will be 928 feet, with a clear water way of 690.

The Suspension Bridge at Hammersmith is completed. The extent of water way between the suspension towers is about 400 feet, and the distance between these and the piers on shore about 145, leaving a clear water way of 688. The road way is 30 feet wide, and 16 feet above high water.

The first volume of the Transactions of the London Asiatic Society, contains a translation of an extract from an Indian work, written about the middle of the

thirteenth century, entitled, "On the Knowledge of the Human Soul, which is likewise called the Reasoning Spirit." The following argument is curious, both as approaching to the modern doctrine of chemistry on the division and composition of matter, and as including some of the reasonings of Christian divines respecting the resurrection. "Any person, who minutely considers the properties of bodies, has an accurate knowledge of their dependence on the laws of composition and association, decomposition and disjunction, and is well versed in the whole science of the world of corruption and decay, must know, that no body whatever becomes entirely destroyed; but that accidents, modes, composition, association, figures, and qualities, which subsist in a compound subject, may be changed, while the amount of matter shall still remain the same. For example; water may become air, and air fire, but the matter which receives these three separate appearances will still subsist. Now, seeing that material substances are not susceptible of annihilation, uncompounded essences, which are purer than base matter, will stand still higher touching the impossibility of annihilation."

Another paper in the same work, in giving an account of an Indian sect, the Characas, presents the following sample of their doctrines. The passage, grossly absurd as it is, might have been almost literally copied from the writings of some of our European Materialists, who gravely tell us that the soul is only a name for the functions of bodily organization, and that

“the brain secretes thought as the liver secretes bile." These writers will doubtless be thankful for the following apt oriental illustrations of their doctrine.

"The faculty of thought results from a modification of the aggregate elements, in like manner as sugar with a ferment and other ingredients becomes an inebriating liquor; and as betel, areca, lime, and extract of catechu, chewed together, have an exhilarating property, not found in those substances severally, nor in any one of them singly. So far there is a difference between animate body and inanimate substance. Thought, knowledge, recollection, &c., perceptible only where organic body is, are properties of an organized frame, not appertaining to exterior substances, or earth and other elements simple or aggregate, unless formed into such a frame. While there is body, there is thought, and sense of pleasure and pain; none when body is not; and hence, as well as from self-consciousness, it is concluded that self and body are identical."

It is stated, in an interesting memoir just published of the Warwick County Asylum, that, of the whole number of boys tried and convicted of crime and admitted into that institution, not one had received instruction under the national system-it is not stated that they had under any other system. It is added, that during the course of nine years there are only three instances of asylum boys being placed out in situations as reformed, who afterwards returned to criminal practices. On the contrary, some who had run away from the institution were yet so far reformed by the instructions received while there, that they had forsaken their former pursuits, and betaken themselves to honest industry.

UNITED STATES.

The remains of a mastodon have been discovered in Ontario County, New York. The whole skeleton was in such a state of decomposition as to be incapable of being preserved. The tusks were four feet in length. Of the two superior incisors no trace could be discovered, but the eight lower ones were in sight. The length of the largest tooth was six inches; of the smallest three and a half.

INDIA.

The duty and practicability of suppressing by judicious but effectual means the burning of widows, appears to be increasingly felt among intelligent and benevolent persons in India as well as in England: nor is this impression likely, we trust, to be counteracted by such flippant extenu

66

ations as the following, urged by Mr. Chaplin, the commissioner in the Deccan. "I apprehend the practice of suttees will again become frequent. As however it is a species of voluntary death, which resembles that of a high-spirited female, who prefers loss of life to loss of honour, we cannot look upon it in the light of selfmurder; nor are we, in my opinion, justified in taking any active steps to prevent these acts of infatuation, which the fanatics themselves consider as 'light afflictions, working for them an eternal weight of glory!' Humanity is apt to shudder at these sacrifices, and true religion very properly condemns them; but recent observation convinces all who have been present that much of the horror of the sacrifice itself is the effect of the imagination of the spectators, which has no foundation in reality. It is an idle fancy to suppose that the torture is prolonged even for a minute, and it is quite certain that a woman drowning herself in a well, or swallowing a little arsenic, would undergo much greater bodily suffering. Whilst such sacrifices are religiously deemed meritorious, we cannot suppress them by any half measures."

In this last remark we perfectly agree with Mr. Chaplin; and it would therefore be wise to substitute effectual measures for "half" ones, especially if what he adds is true, that "the Brahmins appear to be far from satisfied with the mode of our interposition; and some have suggested to me, that in preference to continuing it, the community would be infinitely better pleased were Government absolutely to prohibit women altogether from becoming

suttees.'

Mr. Richmond, an army surgeon in India, states, that within eight months he has restored to sight by surgical operations nearly eight hundred persons, hitherto blind; and he adds the following calculation, which, though perhaps too large, shews at least the extensive benefits which European science may confer upon the world:" Taking the population of British India at sixty millions of native inhabitants (and this, I believe, is much below the usual computations), and supposing that blindness generally prevails in the same proportion as I have found it to exist in the course of my practice, there are at this instant 246,000 people with cateract, who are capable of being restored to sight by an operation as simple as that of blood-letting, and 270,000 with other diseases in the eye, who are also fit objects either for cure or for relief."

The Court of Directors have determined that the widows of European officers and soldiers are not in future to be excluded from the benefits of the pension fund on account of their being born in India; and the affidavits hitherto required from widows that their parents were of unmixed European blood, are in future to be dispensed with. This is another among the many instances of sound policy and right feeling in the modern administration of the affairs of India.

BURMAH.

A large quantity of fossil remains have been brought to Calcutta, from the Burmese empire, by the late mission to Ava. Of the fossil bones, the most numerous and remarkable are those of an animal

about the size of a large elephant, stated to be the mastodon, not the mammoth. Five species of the genus mastodon are supposed by Cuvier to have been discovered, and it is conjectured the bones now under consideration will be found to constitute a sixth. The next most remarkable remains are those of the fossil rhinoceros. The fossil bones, as well as fossil shells and wood, are all found upon the surface; but notwithstanding this exposure, they have suffered very little decomposition. They have not suffered from attrition, for their edges are preserved with great distinctness. The collection is the more valuable since it is stated to be the first of any moment that has ever been formed in the East.

THEOLOGY.

A Sermon preached in All-Saints Church, Northampton, by the Right Rev. C. J. Blomfield, D.D., Lord Bp. of Chester. Is. The Christian's Assistant in commemorating the Atonement of his Lord and Saviour.

The Existence, Nature, and Ministry of the holy Angels. 2s. 6d.

Hug's Introduction to the New Testa ment; translated from the German. By the Rev. D. G. Wait, LL.D. 2 vols. 17. 128. Humility in the Hour of Success: A Sermon. By the Rev. J. C. Wigram, M. A. 2s.

A Sermon preached at the Consecration of the Chapel of St. David's College. By the Rev. A. Ollivant, M. A.

An Invitation to the Lord's Supper, abridged by the Rev. E. Bickersteth from his larger work. 6d.

The Achievements of Prayer. By J. Fincher, Esq. 6s.

An Examination of six Pages of Professor Porson's fourth Letter to Archdeacon Travis. By F. Huyshe.

The Christian Poet. By J. Montgomery. 6s.

Sermons preached in the British Chapel, St. Petersburgh. By the Rev. E. Law, A. M. 10s. 6d.

Sermon in aid of the Bridgewater District Committee of the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge. By the Rev. W. Sharp, M. A.

Aldermanbury: an Address to Mr. T. Philips. By the Rev. G. C. Smith.

An Address at the Conference of Wesleyan Methodist Ministers. By R. Watson. Scudder's Christian's Daily Walk, with Essay. By T. Chalmers, D.D. 4s. 6d.

Law's Serious Call, with Essay. By the Rev. D. Young. 5s. 6d.

Wilberforce's Practical Christianity, with Essay. By Rev. D. Wilson. 5s. 6d. Practical Sermons. By Rev. T. Howard. Discourses to the Young. By Rev. H. Belfrage, D. D. 7s. 6d.

A Sermon preached on the Death of the Rev. R. W. Allix. By the Rev. Joseph Jones. 8vo. Is. 6d.

A Discourse occasioned by the Death of Mr. Canning. By the Rev. J. Buller. 8vo. Is.

MISCELLANEOUS.

The further Progress of Colonial Reform; being an Analysis of recent Parliamentary Papers on Negro Slavery. 2s. 6d.

The Life of the Rev. D. Bogue, D.D. By J. Bennett, D. D. 12s.

The "Winter's Wreath," for 1828. The "Forget me not," for 1828. 12s. The "Amulet," for 1828. 12s.' Essays on the Human Intellect, &c. By Paul Ferrol.

A Sketch of the Life of Linnæus. 2s. 6d. A Lecture on the Geography of Plants. By J. Barton.

A Short Latin Grammar. 2s. 6d. Caesar's Invasion of Britain, with a literal interlined translation. 2s. 6d.

Hints to Parents on Pestalozzi's Method. Memoir of the Warwick County Asylum. 2s. 6d.

History of England. By a Clergyman. No. 1. 6d.

Fitful Fancies. By W. Kennedy. 6s. A Practical Grammar of the Russian Language. By James Heard.

Lectures on Natural History. By W. Lampriere, M. D. 8vo. 7s. 6d.

ST. DAVID'S COLLEGE. WE have much pleasure in informing our readers that this important infant institution, which promises to be of essential value to the interests of religion, in connexion with the Established Church, in Wales, has begun already to reward the pious and benevolent zeal of its founders. About sixty students are already on the books. The annual expenses, including board, lodging, and tuition, it is calculated, will be about fifty guineas for each student. The college library already contains several thousand volumes. The chapel has been recently consecrated by the bishop of the diocese, who addressed the students on the great advantages likely to result to them from the institution, both for the prosecution of learned studies, and their preparation for holy orders. From the excellent consecration sermon, delivered on the occasion, by the pious and learned Vice-Principal, the Rev. A. Ollivant, we copy a few passages illustrative of the character of the institution." We rejoice to find that specific theological instruction is to occupy a prominent place in the pursuits of this new college; and that to "the cultivation of personal piety, and the formation of habits conducive to ministerial usefulness," among the students will the "principal efforts" of its conductors be directed. May their labours be abundantly blessed by the great Head of the church, for the promotion of his glory, and the best welfare of mankind.

"So far as we are able from reason or Scripture to anticipate the effect of an institution such as this, and so far as we have experience to decide us as to its actual results, we should not hesitate to predict, that an abundant harvest will be reaped from the seed that shall here be sown, if only it be sown in dependence on him with whom it rests to fertilize the soil, and open the windows of heaven, and pour down upon us the healthful spirit of his grace. For if it be the will of God, that the ministration of the Gospel should be committed to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also; if it be his command, that the priest's lips should keep knowledge, that men may seek the law at his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts;' if it be necessary, as it undoubtedly is, the extraordinary communications of the Spirit having now ceased, that we should use the ordinary methods of obtaining that

wisdom which may fit us to discharge our high commission, we cannot but expect the best results from that enlightened piety, of which the first fruits are this day offered upon the altar of God."

"We look to this institution, with no small degree of satisfaction, when we consider the benefit it is likely to confer in a literary point of view, by giving an impulse to many an inquiring mind, and opening a path to those intellectual pleasures, for which many, but for its assistance, might have thirsted in vain. We look to it with increased delight, when we consider that by thus dispensing the benefits of a liberal and substantial education, it will lay a foundation, upon which its students may safely build, when they devote themselves, as in the latter part of their course it is intended they should do, to the prosecution of theology, and apply themselves more directly to the duties of their profession. We consider it again to be a benefit of no ordinary value, if our clergy with these advantages in their hands should acquire in some degree a literary taste, and be raised, by the enjoyments it affords, above the necessity which ignorance too often entails, of seeking their recreations in habits unworthy of

their sacred office. But God forbid that we should so far mistake the means for the end as to rest here, and be satisfied that this should become a mere school of science or human wisdom. Far higher than these are the objects for which it has been founded, and it is our hearts' desire and prayer that they may be always kept in view. Whatever be the value of a learned education, and indeed it is invaluable to the minister of Christ, he will be but as the sounding brass and tinkling cymbal, if he be not animated by the spirit and follow in the steps of him in whose ministry he is engaged. He cannot perform aright the duties of the pastoral office, unless he have in some measure the tenderness of him who, when he saw the multitudes, had compassion on them, because they fainted and were scatterred abroad as sheep having no shepherd.' He cannot discharge the high commission of an ambassador of Christ, unless he have felt the misery of being at enmity with God, and learnt to appreciate that plan of reconciliation, which it will be his privilege to proclaim.

"To the cultivation then of personal piety, and the formation of habits conducive to ministerial usefulness; to the attainment of those graces, rare in their separate excellence, and still more rare in their combination, which are essential to the perfection of the clerical character, should our principal efforts be directed; and while