dox ministers of the Presbyterian Church, we know not on what ground we shall exclude the Methodists, provided they be willing to adopt our church government and discipline. Will it be said, that we do not admit that what they call revivals of religion are such in reality? For ourselves, we are not prepared to say this. For, although we have been represented as enemies to religious revivals, we declare, that amidst all the wild fire, irregularities, and false doctrine, under which, as we think, many of the Methodist revivals of religion take place, yet we verily believe they are productive of numerous real conversions. Nay, as in some parts of the Presbyterian Church, we have ministers who seem disposed to outdo the Methodists, in their own way of getting up and conducting revivals, we see not why the Methodist conversions should not be considered as good, if not better, than those of their imitators and outdoers. Or will it be said, that we must take into view the doctrine preached? Then we answer, that there are, at this time, ministers in the Presbyterian Church, whose doctrines we conscientiously think quite as exceptionable, and even more so, than those generally taught by the Methodists. In this category we place every thorough-going pupil of the New Haven School: and it is our deliberate conviction that the sermon of Mr. Barnes, entitled "The Way of Salvation," is not, to say the least, a better exhibition of gospel truth, or in any respect a safer guide to inquiring sinners, than numerous sermons that are preached, and some of them printed too, among the Methodists. Who sees not then, that revivals of religion-taking the terms as they are now commonly received ought not to be viewed as any evidence whatever, that a man under whose ministrations they are alleged to have occurred, is to be esteemed sound in the faith, and

qualified to fill the sacred office in the Presbyterian Church. God in his sovereignty may, and we believe sometimes does, bless that portion of truth which is mingled with great error, in the addresses of those who profess to preach the gospel. But this is no reason why important error should be countenanced, or knowingly suffered, in a minister of the gospel. In the Presbyterian Church, we ought to admit no other evidence or test of orthodoxy-no other presumption that a man is qualified to be a preacher-but the conformity of his doctrinal views and teachings with the infallible oracles of God, as explained in our publick standards. Depart from this rule, and be the pretence what it may, our church will speedily be filled with confusion and heresy, and hasten to deserved ruin.

The Spectator next asserts, that Mr. Barnes " was called from the scene of his former labours to the city of Philadelphia, by the unanimous choice of one of the oldest and most distinguished churches of our land." It is doubtless true that Mr. Barnes "was called from the scene of his former labours to the city of Philadelphia," and we also readily admit, that it was "to one of the oldest and most distinguished churches of our land."And we add, that if it had been to a church of a different character, in the bounds of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, it is our solemn conviction that the call would never have been put into his hands. Had the call been made by an obscure country congregation, and the Presbytery had had the printed sermon before them entitled "The Way of Salvation," and known that this publication was considered by the people as so high a recommendation of its author, that they were eager to call him to be their pastor, without ever seeing him in their pulpit, or having heard him deliver a single discourse-we have not a doubt that

the Presbytery would have said"No brethren, as your spiritual guardians and watchmen, we cannot consent to the prosecution of this call. The sermon you present to us is so erroneous that we should be unfaithful to our sacred trust, if we yielded to your wishes in this instance. We regret that you should desire a pastor who will teach you such doctrine as this publication contains; and we cannot make ourselves parties to its propagation among you. It is with regret that we withstand your wishes, but on our responsibility to the Great Head of the church, we feel ourselves bound to do it your call must be arrested." That such, or similar, would have been the language and the course of the Presbytery, if the call to Mr. Barnes had not been made by "one of the oldest and most distinguished churches in our land," and in "the city of Philadelphia," was not merely our conviction, but that of the brethren with whom we acted, during the repeated discussions and meetings of the Presbytery, in reference to the case under consideration—and the conviction was grievous in the extreme. But to act in opposition to wealth and station to resist hospitality, and courtesies, and persuasions, and blandishments, and plausible representations to stand in the midst of an assembly composed of men of high respectability as citizens, and graced with female beauty and fashion too--and in the very sanctuary in which a called clergyman, himself present, is expected to minister--and to witness frowns and smiles distributed to speakers, just as they utter what is agreeable or disagreeable to the auditors-and in the face of all, to say with firmness and decision, " my vote must go to refuse you the man of your choice"-this requires a degree of moral courage which all men--even good men--are not found to possess. They act under an influence which they do not recognise to them

selves. They are swayed by other motives than a consideration of the abstract principles of right and wrong. The apostle James found it necessary to guard even the primitive churches against an influence of this character: and ecclesiastical history will show, that with scarcely an exception, declension and corruption in every age, have commenced in metropolitan churches. Would to God, that the Presbyterian Church in the United States were not likely to suffer, from the same worldly and unholy influence.

It was manifestly intended by the Spectator, to be set forth as an important and imposing consideration, that Mr. Barnes was called "by the unanimous choice of one of the oldest and most distinguished churches of our land." Let the whole truth therefore be told. Out of a congregation consisting of two hundred and twenty qualified voters, only fifty voted for the call to Mr. Barnes. This has heretofore been published, and we have never heard that it has been denied or controverted.

Those who did vote on the occasion were, we believe, unanimous; or if, as we have heard, there was a single dissentient voice, it might be thought not worth reckoning. But the great body of the qualified voters, more than three-fourths, did not vote at all. They either did not attend the meeting, or left it before the vote was taken. We believe it is true, notwithstanding,

and we wish to conceal nothing that after the call was forwarded to Mr. Barnes, and he appeared before Presbytery to be received as a member, the desire of the congregation that he should be received and installed, was both general and ardent.

We hope to conclude this review in our next number.-Our readers may be assured that we take no delight in this controversy. But our debt to the Christian Spectator must be paid. He has not only offi

ciously interfered with the concerns of the Presbyterian Church at large, but has, in the page from which our quotations are taken, however bland his language, held up the Presbytery of Philadelphia, to which we belong, as having acted unreasonably, oppressively, and

even audaciously: And with the permission and assistance of God, the Presbytery shall be defended and vindicated. If feelings are pained, we regret it, but the assailant of a judicatory of the church of Christ, is alone responsible. (To be continued.)

THE ARTICLES OF THE SYNOD OF DORT, AND ITS REJECTION OF ERRORS: With the History of Events which made way for that Synod, as published by the Authority of the States-General; and the Documents confirming its Decisions. Translated from the Latin, with Notes, Remarks, and References. By Thomas Scott, Rector of Aston Sanford, Bucks. Utica, William Williams: 1831.

We think that all the Calvinists in the United States are indebted to Mr. Williams of Utica, for republishing Scott's Translation from the Latin of "The Articles of the Synod of Dort, and its rejection of Errors." Nothing could be more seasonable at the present time. The most of those who talk against Calvinism, do not know what Calvinism is; and almost equal

ly ignorant are many who belong to Calvinistick churches. Let both classes at

tentively read the proceedings of the Synod of Dort, as faithfully given in this little manual, and they will no longer think, speak, and act, under false impressions. They will know what Calvinism is, and what it is not to what it is opposed, and to what it is not opposed. In the most of his remarks, we agree with Dr. Scott.In some we do not. We disagree with him toto cœlo, in thinking the articles of the Synod of Dort too extensive and too particular. They would never have answered their design if they had been less particular. We agree with him fully, both in disapproving of all persecution for conscience sake, and in attributing it in Holland to the spirit of the age, rather than to any thing peculiar to the Synod, or to the States.

"The Harmony of Confessions," is valuable so far as it goes. But we do wish we had a good and entire English translation of the "Syntagma Confessionem," &c.

Digestive Power of Birds.-In order to ascertain the strength of their stomachs, Spallanzani had recourse to a great variety of experiments. Tin tubes full of grain were forced into the stomachs of turkeys, and after remaining for twenty-four hours were found to be broken, compressed and distorted in the most irregular manner. In the space of 24 hours, the stomach of a cock broke off the angles of a piece of rough jagged glass, though, on examining the gizzard, no wound or laceration appeared. In a ball of lead were fixed 12 strong needles, with the points projecting about 1-4 of an inch from the surface. Thus armed, the ball was covered with a case of paper, and forced down the throat of a turkey. The bird retained it a day and a half, without manifesting any symptoms of uneasiness, and the points of all the needles were broken off close to the surface of the ball, except two or three, of which the stumps projected a little. The same interesting observer relates, that he fixed 12 small and very sharp lancets in a similar ball of lead, which was given in the same manner to a turkey cock, and left eight

hours in the stomach, at the expiration of which the stomach was opened; but nothing appeared except the naked ball, the lancets having been broken to pieces, and the stomach remaining sound and entire. Hence we may infer, that stones, so often found in the stomachs of many of the feathered tribes, may powerfully contribute to the pulverization of grain and

other hard substances which constitute their food.

Judea.-M. Chateaubriand remarks, that when you travel in Judea, the heart is at first filled with profound melancholy. But when, passing from solitude to solitude, boundless space opens before you, this feeling wears off by degrees, and you experience a secret awe, that so far from depressing the soul, imparts life and elevates the genius. Extraordinary appearances every where proclaim a land teeming with miracles. The burning sun, the towering eagle, the barren fig-tree, all the pictures of scripture are here. Every name commemorates a mystery; every grotto announces a prediction; every hill re-echoes the accent of a prophet. God himself has spoken in these regions, dried up rivers, rent the rocks and opened the grave. The desert still appears mute with terror; and you would imagine that it had never presumed to interrupt the silence since it heard the awful voice of the Eternal.

The Naples Journal announces that a discovery has been made in the ruins of Pompeii of greater value and interest than any that has preceded it. On the 24th of October a picture in mosaick was found in the Triclinium of the house said to belong to Faunus: it is about 20 palms long by 10 palms in width, (or about 18 feet by 9 feet English,) and of exquisite workmanship. The subject is the battle of Sarpedon, froin the Iliad; the figures being half the natural size. Time has injured some part of this precious relic, which, however, is still the chef d'œuvre of Pompeii, as to the expression of the figures, the perfection of the drawing, and what is more rare in a marble picture, the finish of the execution. The King and the whole Court have been to view this magnificent mosaick, and while there the room adjoining the Triclinium was explored, and several vases and utensils in silver and bronze brought to light.

To almost every house in Rotterdam, and sometimes to every window of a house, on the first floor, there is fixed a single or double looking glass, or reflector, by means of which a person in the room, sitting before the window, can seo by reflection, the whole length of the street, the passengers, the trees, the canal and the shipping. When two of these reflectors are placed at right angles, and the right angle point

Fondness for Children denotes not only a kind heart, but a guileless one. A knave always detests children-their innocent looks and open brow speak daggers to his heart. He sees his own villany reflected from their countenance, as it were from a mirror. The great and good have always been remarkable for their fondness of the most generous of Monarchs, and the children. Agesilaus, King of Sparta, was most tender of fathers. Diverting himself one day with riding on a stick with his children, and being surprised by a friend in the action, he desired him not to mention it till he was a father. Henry IV. of France, taught his children to call him ion introduced by Catharine de Medicis.) papa, or father, and not sire, (the new fashOne day, going on all fours, with the Dauphin on his back, an Ambassador suddenly entered, when Henry, looking up, Monsieur l'Ambassador, have you any children?' 'Yes, sire,' replied he. Very well; then I will finish my race round the

chamber.'

6

Novel Duello.-A Paris paper relates as a fact, that two students in Berlin, having quarrelled, agreed to kiss the lips of a person mortally affected with the Cholera, and that the dispute should terminate with the death of either. Each of them kissed the lips of a man in the last stage of the disease, but neither dying within 24 hours afterwards, their "mutual friends" declared that they should be reconciled.

The subject of Silk has latterly, through the exertions of Mr. Duponceau and Mr. D'Homergue, really assumed an important aspect, and that their exertions have not been made, so far at least, in vain, is proved by the fact, that before Mr. D'Homergue came to this country, which was towards the end of the year 1829, we were not only ignorant but wholly indifferent about the matter, and now it is regarded, and justly too, by our citizens, as of considerable moment. For it has been proved by Mr. Duponceau, that its introduction among us will be attended with wealth and prosperity. It is sincerely to be hoped by every one who has the good of his country at heart, that this subject may meet with proper encouragement at the hands of the Government.

Earthquake at the North.-The St. Lawrence Republican of the 24th inst. states, that on the evening of Sunday, the 22d, the report of an Earthquake was felt at Ogdensburgh at about half past 11 o'clock.

Houses were shaken so much as to awaken many from sleep; and the tremulous

motion of every thing was painfully perceptible to every person awake. The rattling of stoves, crockery, and windows, with the vibration of every thing moveable, together with a sound like distant thunder underneath the surface of the earth, was distinctly felt and heard, by all who had not retired to sleep. There were three distinct shocks, the second being the most violent, at intervals of about half a minute, and the rumbling noise continued

two minutes." The convulsive movements of the earth appear to have travelled north, as the quaking was felt at Montreal about an hour after its occurrence at Ogdensburg.

The Montreal Herald of the 25th says, "the shock was very distinctly felt in that city," varied in the degree of its violence, in the different quarters of the town. In some parts there was a previous, not very loud, but very distinct, noise for some seconds before the shock was felt; this was the case in the St. Louis and St. Lawrence

suburbs, in which latter quarter a gentleman of undoubted veracity affirms, that his attention was particularly attracted by the sound, which, as he describes it, was like the passing of an exceeding heavy wagon, crushing pieces of ice beneath its wheels. The gentleman rose, and immediately feeling the shock, was induced to look out at the weather, which was clear and perfectly serene.

From the Annual Report of deaths at Baltimore, it appears that from January, 1831 to January, 1832, the deaths in that city were 2308, of which number five were over 100 years, viz. 'a free coloured man, 120-a free coloured woman, 112-a free coloured man, 106-a female slave, 106and a white woman, 105 years old.Among the diseases were, 340 consumption; 248 cholera infantum; 161 scarlet

fever; 117 bilious fever; 29 typhus fever; 104 of old age.

Centessimal Anniversary-The twenty-second of February will be the hundredth anniversary of the birth day of Gen. GEORGE WASHINGTON--the illustrious founder of American liberty. It is proposed in different sections of the Union, that the day be held as a national jubilee; and that, for the time being of the celebration, the two great political parties in the country lay aside every thing like animosity, towards each other, as inconsistent with the feelings of respect and veneration for the memory of the illustrious dead-feelings which the occasion will so naturally awaken.

Influenza in Horses.--The modified Cholera Morbus has spent its force in this vicinity upon human beings, and has now commenced its operation upon horse-flesh; these animals are afflicted with severe coughs and difficult breathing, and they require constant care and kind nursing, to prevent pulmonary disease following; depletion, and abstinence, and patience, have all been practised by these four-footed invalids, and with a high degree of suc-Springfield Journal.

cess.

Anti Profane Society.-A society has been formed by the students of Charlotte Hall Academy, Maryland, for the laudable purpose of repressing the vulgar and impious practice of profane swearing.

The members of the association pledge their honour to abstain from profane language themselves, and to do all in their power for its entire abolition.

On Friday, the 27th ult. at sunrise, at Germantown, the mercury in Fahrenheit's Thermometer stood at 7 degrees below zero. It was the coldest day since January 25th, 1821.

PRESBYTERIAN DOMESTICK MISSIONS.

From the 15th of December to the 20th of January, inclusive, the Executive Committee of the General Assembly's Board of Missions made seven new appointments of missionaries, and ten reappointments-seventeen in all.

The Missionary Reporter contains extracts of reports for the period abovementioned, from one missionary in Lower Canada; from four missionaries in the State of Ch. Adv.-VOL. X.

New York; from three in Pennsylvania; from four in Virginia; from two in North Carolina; from five in Ohio; from one in Kentucky; from one in Illinois, and from one in Arkansas Territory. But beside these, many reports were received, from various parts of the United States, from which no extracts are contained in the Reporter. The reports from nearly all the missionaries, are of the most encouraging and interesting character. They give an account K