then Full, (that is, if she is upon that part of the straight line which is beyond the Earth from the Sun,) the Earth's shadow falls upon her. Now in 223 months† this relative situation of the Sun, Moon, and Earth, returns within 28′ 12′′ of a degree; and therefore in that time there will be a regular period of Eclipses, or return of the same Eclipse, for many ages. In this period there are 18 years, 11 days, 7 hours, 43 minutes, 20 seconds, when the last day of February in Leapyears is four times included: but when it is five times included, the period consists of only 18 years, 10 days, 7 hours, 43 minutes, 20 seconds. Add therefore this period to the time of any Eclipse, and you will have the time of its return. But the above-mentioned variation of 28′ 12′′ will wear out the return of the Eclipses in process of time; and then it will be 12,492 years before the same series begins again.

*The reason that there are not eclipses of the Sun and Moon at every New and Full Moon is as follows. Imagine a nut and an orange placed at a very great distance from each other, (representing the Earth and the Sun,) with a straight thread extending from the one to the other. Imagine also a hoop placed round the nut, to represent the Moon's monthly orbit round the Earth. If the thread not only extended from the orange to the nut, but also went through that part of the hoop which is between the orange and the nut, whenever a pea (representing the moon,) came to that point of the hoop, the orange would be eclipsed. And if the nut (or earth) were stationary, whenever there was an eclipse of the

Sun at a New Moon, there would be an eclipse of the Moon at the ensuing Full Moon, the thread being supposed to pass through the two opposite points of the hoop. But the earth in that time will have proceeded about one twenty-fourth part of its annual orbit, and will not be at the place where the thread passes through the opposite point of the hoop till 173 days afterwards. Therefore in about 173 days after an eclipse, we may expect a corresponding eclipse.

+ Synodical months, or lunations.

The late Eclipse, after traversing the voids of space from the Creation, at last began to fall upon the earth near the South Pole, A. D. 1154. Every one of the above-mentioned periods, it advanced more northerly, until on the 30th of April, 1622, it began to touch the southern part of England about two in the afternoon, the centre then rising in the South Sea, traversing the Continent of South America, crossing the Atlantic into Africa, and setting near the Red Sea. Its visible returns were June 1, 1676, when four digits were eclipsed at London about nine in the morning; in 1694, in the evening; July 4, 1730, when the Sun was seen at London above half eclipsed, just after sun-rise; July 14, 1748; August 5, 1766, in the evening, when about four Digits were eclipsed; August 28, 1802, early in the morning; and September 7, 1820.

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It will be no more visible till October 10, 1874. In 1892 the Sun will go down eclipsed at London; and November 1928, the track of the centre will be in void space, though two Digits [a Digit is a twelfth part of the diameter] will be eclipsed at London. In the year 2090, the whole Penumbra will pass by the earth without touching it. But in 12,492 years, it would return again as at first, if the present order of things were to continue.

Dr. Halley says, concerning that in 1748;-"It (the degree of darkness) was such, that one might have expected to have seen many more stars than I find were seen at London. The three planets, Jupiter, Mercury, and Venus, were all that were seen by the gentlemen of the Society from the top of their house, where they had a free horizon; and I do not hear that any one in town

saw more than Capella and Alde- and had respect to it in all his baran of the fixed stars. I for- ways. He held constant combear (continues he,) to particular-munion with him, and depended ize the chill and damp which at- on the supplies of his grace; he tended this eclipse, of which resigned himself to his will, and most spectators were sensible, as was devoted to his glory; therealso the concern that appeared in fore he had this testimony, that all sorts of animals at the extinc- he pleased God. Thus it should tion of the sun, which we our- | be with us: but if we forget that selves could not behold without he is about our bed and about some sense of horror." our path; that he is acquainted with all our ways; that he is infinitely holy, and will be sanctified in them that come nigh him; or live as if we had forgotten these things; we cannot expect to enjoy a sense of his approbation in our souls, or to have his Spirit witnessing with our spirit that we are the children of God. We may retain our place in the house, and in the church of God-our characters may stand fair to the view of our fellow-men,

We conclude with calling the attention of our readers to the regularity of the motion of the heavenly bodies. Though their magnitude is so wonderful, the truth of their motion during a thousand years, is far more exact than that of the best clock that ever was made during a single year. How great then must be the stupidity of him who does not behold in them the Almighty and the All-wise MOVER! And how great the folly of him who but our hearts have departed says in his heart, or by his life, from God. If we are permitted to that there is no God! And to proceed in departing still further him who denies what he cannot from him, we may greatly discomprehend, we would say, honour his cause, and deeply “ Canst thou bind the sweet in- | wound our own souls. Let us fluences of Pleiades, or loose the return to him with weeping and bands of Orion? Canst thou bring supplication, lest by terrible things forth Mazzaroth in his season? in righteousness he convince us or canst thou guide Arcturus of our folly. If we are walking with his sons? Knowest thou the humbly before him, let us be ordinances of heaven? canst thou thankful, and earnestly pray that set the dominion thereof in the we may be kept by the power of earth ?he that reproveth God, God through faith unto salvation; let him answer it." and that he would uphold our goings in his ways, that our footsteps

|

ADDRESS TO CHRISTIANS. slip not, that we be not ashamed

No. 6.

LASTLY, Our whole conduct

must be under the influence of di

of our hope.

vine grace, that our light may so | THE RIGHTS OF THE SAINTS. shine before men, that they may

see our good works and glorify DEAR SIR, our Father which is in heaven.

Having observed that you It is said of Enoch that he walk-occasionally introduce extracts ed with God; being reconciled from valuable old writers, I have to-him by faith in the promised taken the liberty to trouble you seed, he realized his presence with one from the learned and

pious Dr. Owen. It struck me in the course of private reading, not only as most solemn and weighty in itself, but peculiarly adapted to awaken the serious consideration of those who possess an ample share of the things of this world, and yet manifest little or no concern to relieve the afflicted and poor of Christ's flock; or to lend a proportionate assistance to any of those laudable institutions, whose object is the advancement of his glory in the prosperity of the church.

enjoyments. They shall not only be reckoned withal for the abuse of what they have possessed, that they have not used and laid it out for the glory of Him whose it is, but also that they have ever laid their hands upon the creatures of God, and kept them from those for whose sake alone they are preserved from destruction. When the God of glory shall come home to any of them, either in their consciences here, or in the judgment that is to come, and speak with the terror of a revengeful judge; I have suffered you to enjoy corn, wine, and oil, a great portion of my crea

The general subject of the section where the extract is found is, The rights and privileges of the saints, by virtue of their adop-tures; you have rolled yourselves tion into the family of God. In a variety of particulars the Author endeavours to prove, that Christ being Lord of the whole earth, and constituted Head over all things for his church's sake, and being the elder brother of the family into which the saints are adopted, they have a legal and spiritual right to whatever portion God in his providence is pleased to give them; and that although others possess a large share of the world, it is not by right as the saints enjoy it, but they are put into the possession of it for the use of the church, and must be called to account for their management of the same. He concludes thus.

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They have no true, unquestionable right, I say, even to the temporal things they do possess. It is true they have a civil right in respect of others; but they have not a sanctified right in respect of their own souls. They have a right and title that will hold plea in the courts of men, but not a right that will hold in the court of God, and in their own conscience. It will one day be sad with them, when they shall come to give an account of their

in wealth and prosperity, when the right heirs of these things lived poor, and low, and mean, at the next doors; Give in now an answer, how have you used these things? What have you laid out for the service and advancement of the gospel? What have you given unto them' for whom nothing was provided? What contribution have you made for the poor saints? Have you had a ready hand, and a willing mind to lay down all for my sake?" When they shall be compelled to answer as the truth is, Lord, we had indeed a large portion in the world, but we took it to be our own, and thought we might do what we would with our own; we have eat the fat, and drunk the sweet, and left the rest of our substance for our babes; we have spent somewhat upon our lusts, somewhat upon our friends'; but the truth is, we cannot say that we made friends of this unrighteous mammon; that we used it to the advancement of the gospel, or for ministering unto thy poor saints-And now, behold we must die, &c.'"

So also when the Lord shall proceed further and question, not

OF THE

CHRISTIAN REPROVED.

A good woman, in consequence of some severe affliction, wept. Her child observing it, cried out, "Mother, what is the matter; is GOD dead?" The woman felt the force of the question, and her serenity of mind instantly returned.

only the use of these things, but | THE UNREASONABLE FEAR also their title to them; and tell them," The earth is mine, and the fulness thereof. I did indeed make an original grant of these things to man; but that is lost by sin; I have restored it only for my saints; Why have you laid your fingers of prey upon that which was not yours? Why have you compelled my creatures to serve you and your lusts, which I had set at liberty from your dominion? Give me my flax, my wine, and my oil and wool; I will set you naked as in the day of your birth, and revenge upon you your rapine, and unjust pos-heavenly Father. When, theresession of that which was not fore, her peace of mind was deyours." I say, at such a time, parted, the child could impute what will men do? it to no other cause than the Dr. Owen's Treatise on Com-death of him in whom she trusted, munion with God, Chap. x. section 38. Oxford Ed. 1657.

ANECDOTES.

SECURITY of the CHRISTIAN.

It will immediately occur to the reader, that the child knew that the constant peace and happiness of his mother flowed from her habitual confidence in her

KRISTNO

And the English Gentlemen.

Kristno is stationed at Chittagong. Being upon very friendly terms with the English residents there, all of whom are Episcopalians, these gentlemen asked him when he intended to baptize his converts, at the same time promising to attend as spectators. The day being arrived, one of them brought with him a very handsome China bowl. Kristno asking for what purpose he had

A profane persecutor discovered great terror during a storm of thunder and lightning which overtook him on a journey. His pious wife, who was with him, inquired the reason of his terror. He replied by asking, "Are not you afraid?" She answered, "No: it is the voice of my heavenly Fabrought it, the gentleman replied, ther; and should a child be afraid of the voice of its father?""Surely (thought the man) these Puritans have a divine principle in them which the world seeth not: otherwise they could not have such serenity in their souls, when the rest of the world are filled with dread."-Upon this, going to Mr. Bolton, of Broughton near Kettering, he lamented the opposition which he had made to his ministry, and became a godly man ever after!

"To baptize with." "I cannot baptize in this," said Kristno. "How then?" asked the gentleman. "In the same way," an. swered Kristno, "in which John baptized our Lord." "Do it in your own way," said the gentleman; a river is near, we will follow you." They accordingly attended; Kristno prayed, preached, and baptized; and they returned, and fired off eleven pieces of cannon in honour of Kristno and his new way.

Juvenile Department.

AN ACCOUNT

OF A

DEAR LITTLE BOY;

IN A LETTER TO A SON.

MY DEAR HENRY,

should have thought and cared as little about God, and his will, as most other children do. He often observed, that he ought to be very thankful that God did not punish him as he deserved.

When narratives of real distress were related to him, he showed he felt much, by frequent inquiries after the sufferer, and by sending some of the money he obtained for learning hymns and passages of scripture. He also read and heard with very lively interest the reports relative to the state of the heathen, and the

You heard me some time since relate the history of a dear little boy, who died when he was about eight years of age. You then wished I would write it out for you: I now accede to your wishes. His father, a very respectable, benevolent, and pious gentleman, gave me the narrative. I send you a part of his ac-efforts which are making for their count, as I had it from his own lips, except that I shall abridge it a little. W. B. was from his childhood very thoughtful. When a playmate had injured one of his fingers so much that he endured a great deal of pain, and it was at last obliged to be cut off, he never blamed his companion who inflicted the wound, but observed, “God intended I should, suffer a great deal of pain, or he could have prevented it at first, or else have made me soon well."

For four years he was much afflicted. During the latter part of his illness he was deprived of the kind attention of a beloved mother. He felt the loss very deeply, but never uttered a murmuring word; and he was often the means of comforting his father under the heavy trial.

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conversion. About three months before his death, alluding to a purpose his parents had entertained of going abroad, he said, “Papa, if I were likely to get well, I should wish we had gone." Why, my boy?" said his father. Because, perhaps, I might be of some use to the poor negroes." "I fear," said his father, " that though you should recover from this illness, we must not expect you ever to be capable of much active employment (being deprived of the use of both legs); you may indeed be a comfort and a blessing to those living in the house with you." "But, papa," said he,

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we could get some black children to come into the house, and I could teach them to read, and I could tell them of Jesus Christ; for they cannot know so much of him as I do: and perhaps they might tell their fathers and mothers, as the children

He was acquainted with the leading events in the history of England; he had read many volumes of voy-in Ireland do," referring to a report ages and travels; and he had gained he had read of the spread of the a general knowledge of geography. gospel in that benighted country. His thirst for knowledge was great; but he was still more remarkable for the graces of God's Holy Spirit. Amidst his afflictions he was persuaded that an easier lot would have been appointed for him, if the Lord had not seen that all his sufferings were necessary. He said, that perhaps if he had been less afflicted, he VOL. XII.

He was generally amiable; but you know, my dear Henry, that there must be something more than good temper and behaviour to bring us into a state of friendship with God. And it was not until about six months before his death, that our dear William considered there was any real change in his character. 3 G