cometh into the world,"-and the consolation they derive from the reflection, that those gifts, from their first possession, have been consecrated to the advancement of biblical literature; their late friend having been almost exclusively devoted to the important work of editing the Holy Scriptures, or works intimately connected with them, during the whole of his short but laborious career. That this Committee remember with gratitude and astonishment, that, in the nineteen months during which Mr. GREENFIELD had been engaged in the service of the Society, his varied talents had been brought into exercise in no less than twelve European, five Asiatic, one African, and three American languages; and that, since the commencement of his engagement, he had acquired a considerable degree of skill in the following languages, with which he had previously been wholly unacquainted-the Peruvian, Negro-English, Chippeway, and Berber. That this Committee believe that they are fully justified in extending to all other works, in which he had been engaged as editor, the following honourable testimonial, borne by their Librarian, T. P. Platt, Esq., on the completion of the printing of the Modern-Greek Psalter: "Mr. Greenfield, in carrying this work through the press, has uniformly exhibited "I. Sound learning, and critical judg ment. "II. A constant perception of the duty of faithful adherence to the very letter of the Sacred Original. "III. Minute and unwearied diligence, extending itself to the accurate marking of every supplemental word introduced in the translation, and to the careful arrangement of stops and accents." That this Committee cannot suffer to pass wholly unnoticed some of the extraofficial labours of Mr. Greenfield. They remember, with delight, that it was his valuable defence of the Mahratta version of the New Testament, against the criti cisms advanced in the Asiatic Journal for September, 1829, that first brought him under the notice of the Committee. Of the Mahratta language he had no previous knowledge, nor yet of some of the other languages referred to in the work: and when it is stated, that the pamphlet appeared within five weeks of his directing his attention to the subject, no stronger proof could be afforded of the remarkable talent with which he was endowed for acquiring languages. His reply to various strictures on the Surinam or Negro-English version, was another memorial of his diligence, as well as of his good-will to the Society: while, more recently, his observations, which have appeared in the Asiatic Journal, in reply to the criticisms of Col. Vans Kennedy on his defence of the Mahratta Version, may be appealed to, as confirming the opinion entertained of his high talents and sound learning;— while a posthumous memorial has yet to appear in the same journal, through the kindness of the editor, in which a defence of the Arabic version will be found. That this Committee feel it a duty to record their persuasion, that nothing has occurred, during his brief connexion with the Society, to invalidate those satisfactory assurances of the unexceptionable moral and religious character of Mr. Greenfield, which were received at the time of his appointment; while, in the transaction of business, he has uniformly conducted himself with such skill, diligence, and urbanity, as fully to realize the expectations that the Committee had entertained. That this Committee desire to convey to his widow and fatherless children an assurance of their most sincere sympathy, under their painful bereavement; while they, at the same time, commend them to him who hath said, in His Holy Word, "A Father of the fatherless, and a Judge of the widow, is God in his holy habitation;" and express their hope, that by the power of the Holy Spirit they may seek their consolation through faith in Christ Jesus, who is "over all, God blessed for View of Publick Affairs. EUROPE. The latest European advices are from Liverpool of the date of January 21st.-In the course of the month, a number of foreign articles seemed to indicate, and indeed it was plainly stated, that there was imminent danger that a general war in Europe was likely soon to take place. The causes assigned were, the determination of Holland not to yield to the articles agreed upon by the representatives of the five Great Powers, in their conference in London, relative to the boundaries and other unsettled points, between Holland and Belgium; and the prospect that Russia and Austria, and perhaps Prussia, would sustain Holland, and that France and Britain would side with Belgium. But the last Liverpool paper holds this language-"It is now pretty certain that the business will be ratified before the 30th" [of January.] Prussia has already sent in her adherence, and though the Dutch king talks about the refusal of the Autocrat, there is all but certainty of his assent." Another article, however, of the same date, gives somewhat of a different sentiment. It says "It was stated that the Prussian government had ratified the treaty relative to Belgium conditionally, the ratification to take effect only in case it should be exchanged with those of all the other powers. It was reported that the Russian Government, after several discussions, had come to the determination of not ratifying the treaty, and that the Austrian Government had come to the same resolution." On the whole, it appears that this delicate business is yet in suspense. We think, however, the probability is, that a general war will not ensue. The sinews of war, money, cannot easily be commanded by any of the parties that might otherwise become belligerent; and if poverty keeps them from fighting, about such trifles as whether Holland shall have a little more or a little less of territory, and pay a little more or a little less money; and whether certain fortresses shall be demolished or remain as they are, the world may rejoice that they all are poor. Nothing of much moment, that we can find, has transpired either in Britain or France during the last month. The British Parliament has the Reform Bill still under consideration, and it would seem that the Lords who rejected it once, are disposed to do the same again. But the king and ministry, it appears, are determined to throw into that house a sufficient number of new peers to ensure a vote in favour of this great measure. The last Liverpool paper says "There can be no doubt that an ample creation of peers had been decided upon to carry the bill." Trials were going on in Bristol of those who had been leaders of the riots there. A number had been convicted. Col. Brereton, who commanded the military at Bristol, at the time of the riots, and who was likely to be disgraced by a court martial, for withholding his troops from firing on the rioters, had shot himself. Much sympathy was excited for him, as his courage was unquestionable, and his forbearance was attributed to his humanity-Yet surely "died he as a fool dieth." Great popular excitement existed at Bristol; and military guards were employed to protect the court. In Ireland the greatest discontent and disorder prevailed. The popular hostility to the payment of tythes was extreme. Many murders were committed; and nothing connected with the demand or collection of tythes could be done, without great risk of life to the parties employed. Even the military were resisted, when there was any prospect of doing it successfully. The Protestant and Catholick parties held each its meetings, and were exceedingly embittered against each other-The whole country is in a wretched state; and it seems difficult to say how an effectual remedy can be applied-We hope it will be attempted by the parliament now sitting. France was tranquil at the last accounts; that is, there was no existing disturbance. But it is the opinion of many that the present ministry will soon be dissolved; and some predict another entire revolution. One of the most tumultuous scenes that can be imagined, was lately witnessed in the Chamber of Deputies. The minister to whose province it belonged, was urging the necessity of a more liberal allowance to the king and royal family; and in his speech remarked that if "luxury was denied to the king, it would soon be banished from his subjects." There was immediately a cry, "Louis Philippe has no subjects. Those who make kings are not his subjects." It was demanded of the minister that he should recall the expression. He refused, and his party supported him. Every excess, short of actual personal violence, offered by the members to each other, ensued-The president lost all control of the Chamber, and the sitting ended in confusion and uproar. Eventually, however, after several intervening days, and much angry controversy, the minister was sustained, without any retracting of what he had said. A protest was entered against the language he had used, signed, one account says, by 104 members, and another makes the number 165. General La Fayette was not present, but afterwards sent in his name, to be enrolled with the pro testers. The Prime Minister, M. Perrier, is exceedingly obnoxious to the liberal party. He has hitherto, however, maintained himself firmly against all their attacks. They now charge him with organizing pretended plots against the government, and in favour of the late dynasty, that the alarm they create may be turned to his advantage. It appears that he insists, in his communications with the British ministry, on retaining the fortresses on the frontiers of Belgium in their present state; and affirms that their being demolished or dismantled would be such a wound to the pride and honour of France, that no minister could hold his place, if he should consent to any thing of the kind. Spain, it seems, is determined, at every risk, to support Don Miguel, in his expected conflict with Don Pedro, for the crown of Portugal. Orders have been issued for the Spanish troops to rendezvous on the Spanish territory near to Portugal, to be in readiness to assist in repelling the expected invasion. This kingdom, recent accounts state, is so infested by robers and banditti, that there is no safety in travelling. Even the publick Diligences, or stage coaches, as we should call them, are stopped, and the passengers deprived of all their property, except the clothes they have on. Portugal is in a state of great alarm. The most strenuous exertions are being made by the tyrant who governs the kingdom, to array a formidable army to resist an expe dition fitting out by his brother, and which we understand is to proceed from Belle Isle, in the Bay of Biscay. Lisbon is fortified, and an army, one account says, of 30,000, and another, of 95,000 men, is formed. Probably there is much exaggeration in the statements; but with the assistance of Spain, we think Don Pedro is in danger of a repulse; unless the Portuguese, on finding their lawful monarch in the kingdom, should desert the usurper, and go over to his opposer; and on this, it is probable Don Pedro places much reliance-We certainly wish him success, because we think he is less vile than his rival, and that he is contending for his right. Greece is still in a very unsettled state, and the party of the late chief, Capo d' Istrias, who hold the authority, are said to act in a very tyrannical manner-A change of government is looked for before long, but we think the prospect is a gloomy one. Russia is making some provision for the conquered Poles. All that have been most active in the late attempt at revolution, now called a rebellion, are excluded; and to the others, the provision is to extend only to a single year. TURKEY is convulsed; and we think the indications are strong, that the Mahommedan power is waning and hastening to its fall. Scarcely is any part of the Turkish empire free from insurrection, more or less formidable: and in these circumstances, the Sultan, it is stated in the last accounts, has declared war against the Pacha of Egypt, whose talents and resources are confessedly great. The war will probably be sanguinary and not soon ended, and we think of doubtful issue. ASIA. The accounts of the prevalence and mortality of the cholera, in almost every part of this extended and most populous quarter of the globe, are truly affecting. The genuine plague has prevailed to a most awful degree at Bagdat, and has diminished its population to a fearful extent. We have not yet heard of the cholera in China; but innundations, in that empire, have been very destructive. The altercation between the Chinese authorities and the British, are said to be settled, by the entire yielding of the latter party. AFRICA. The cholera has prevailed in some parts of Africa, as well as in Asia and Europe. At Grand Cairo it has been very fatal. America alone has, as yet, been exempted from this terrific scourge; and how long we are to escape, is known only to Him who visits and chastises a sinful world, according to his sovereign pleasure. The Colony at Liberia appears, by the last accounts, to be in a very flourishing state. Information received from the agent of the Colonization Society in Britain, states that the friends of Africa there, regard this American establishment as affording the greatest promise of good to the whole African race, and indeed to the whole civilized and christianized world. Such, we can say, are our own sentiments; and we earnestly wish they pervaded the bosom of every man and woman in our beloved country. AMERICA. In MEXICO another revolution is in progress. Dissatisfied with the late administration of the affairs of the republick, a strong party, hostile to the ministry, has been formed; and as here every thing must be done by the military force, have chosen Gen. St. Anna as their chief. The Vera Cruzans seem to be principals in this business, and the last accounts show that the city of Vera Cruz was on the point of being besieged by the Governmental forces. How the matter will terminate is uncertain; but in the mean time the country is suffering the calamity of civil war.-The other States of Southern America are also in an unsettled condition, but not at present in actual warfare. In the UNITED STATES-thanks to a merciful and long suffering God-peace and worldly prosperity, with an entire exemption from the pestilential scourge under which the old world is suffering, are yet our happy lot. O that our nation were sensible, as it ought to be, of the unmerited favours of Heaven! Our sins, as a people, might justly subject us to the righteous displeasure of the Saviour of the Universe; and yet we are spared! Would it not be well, if our chief magistrate, as three of his predecessors did, should recommend the observance, throughout our favoured land, of a day of religious solemnity-to acknowledge the divine goodness hitherto, to humble ourselves before God, and to deprecate his judgments, particularly in reference to the terrifick pestilence, to which we are so manifestly exposed? We earnestly wish that it may be done. Our Congress are busy; but the great concerns of the nation are yet on the tapis. We committed an error in our last number, and wish to correct it now, in saying that "the ratio of representatives for the next congress was fixed at 44,000." We received the impression that such was the fact, from an article in a publick newspaper. But the ratio of the future representation of the several states in Congress, as grounded on the last census, is yet undecided. It has occasioned much debate, and is still before the Senate. We rejoice, and we felicitate the friends of religion and humanity throughout the United States, that the Supreme Court of the Union has decided the cause of the Christian missionaries, imprisoned in Georgia, in their favour. Its bearing, too, on the whole Indian question, is most auspicious. Our prayer is, that there may be no resistance to this most righteous award. THE CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE. ADVOCATE. APRIL, 1882. Keligious Communications. LECTURES ON THE SHORTER CATECHISM OF THE WESTMINSTER AS unto him." These, as being divine ordinances; that is, command SEMBLY OF DIVINES-ADDRESSED ed duties in the divine word, are all TO YOUTH. LECTURE LXVI. Having shown what are the inward means by which the benefits of the great redemption of Christ are to be obtained-faith and repentance-we are now to consider the outward means-And our Catechism teaches us, that " The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption, are his ordinances, especially the word, sacraments and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation." You may observe that this answer speaks not only of outward, but of ordinary means-by which latter designation we are to understand those means which are most commonly and extensively used, and most frequently blessed, for the conversion of sinners and the edification of saints. All the ordinances of God are to be regarded, and are of great use in the church. These, in our larger Catechism, are said to be-in addition to those mentioned in the answer before us" church government and discipline; the ministry and maintenance thereof; swearing by the name of God; and vowing Ch. Adv.-VOL. X. to be regarded and observed, in their proper place and season; yet the word, sacraments and prayer, are the chief, or principal outward means, for communicating the benefits of redemption."* The providences of God are doubtless frequently blessed, to awaken and alarm careless sinners, and to correct and recall backsliding believers; but this is done, only by leading them to reflect on their duty as taught and enjoined in the written word of God; and therefore the providences themselves, are not, in the Catechism, considered as standing on the same ground with those which are more directly means of grace. There are two ideas of great importance, that here demand your most serious attention. The first is, that the means have no inherent efficacy in themselves, to produce the blessings of redemption-This is distinctly taught in the answer before us, where it is said that they are made effectual to salvation." Means are not ends, and are never to be rested in, till the end is attained, for which alone they are used. To this error of resting in means, there is S • Fisher. in many a strong, and often, it is to be feared, a fatal proneness. They give a formal, and perhaps a pretty constant attendance, on at least some of the means of grace; and they think that this places them in a very hopeful way. Thus they quiet all their -fears and anxieties, in regard to their souls' eternal welfare; till at last, they perish in an unconverted, unsanctified state. Remember then, my dear youth, that till the means of grace have been made effectual to bring saving grace to your precious immortal spirits, they have not answered the only design for which they were appointed; and that if you die without this end being reached, all the means of grace you have ever enjoyed, will only have served to aggravate your final condemnation. Sensible of this, look constantly through the means, to that God who alone can give them their proper effect; and pray, whenever you use them, that he would take them, as instruments, into his own hand, and make them powerful and efficient, to bring you into a state of reconciliation with himself, through Jesus Christ. The other idea to which I have referred is, that the blessings of redemption, or salvation, are not to be expected without the use of the appointed means of grace. That God could convert sinners, without any of the instrumentality which he has ordained for this purpose, there is no reason to doubt-He could, certainly, in an instant, without the intervention of any means, change the hardest and most rebellious human heart that ever existed, and form it to love and delight in himself: And something of this kind appears in fact to have taken place, in the conversion of the apostle Paul. At the moment when he said, "Lord, what wouldest thou have me to do?" his heart appears to have been changed; yet means were still ordered to be used, for his instruction, direction and comfort. This case, however, was strictly one of miracle; a departure from the ordinary way, in which God's mercy to sinners is exhibited. We know that in the usual dispensation of his grace, after human beings have attained the full exercise of their reasoning and moral powers, his method is to work upon them only through the instrumentality of second causes. Indeed the whole of his ordinary dispensation of mercy towards mankind, is a dispensation of means. Hence, those who talk of sinners loving God before they can with propriety use any means, do, unless they look for a miracle, point out a way of obtaining salvation as really contrary to that which God has appointed, as those who expect salvation in the neglect of all means. In reality, these extremes, as often happens with extremes, meet in a pointThey both expect an end without means. The only difference is, that the former class think that means are to be used for the increase of grace, after grace has been communicated without them. Never, beloved youth, never expect that God will meet with you in a saving manner, without the diligent, conscientious, prayerful, and persevering use of all the means appointed by him, and adapted to your existing state and character. Avoid, especially, the two opposite errors, of resting in means, while the end for which they were ordained has not been reached; and of neglecting the use of means, under the vain and arrogant expectation, that God, in your case, will depart from his ordinary method of bringing sinners to himself. The answer before us says, that the ordinances of God's appointment are made effectual to the elect and the implication is, to the elect only for salvation. This is |