oes of Macedonia and Achaia us they now appear trivial, seemcontributions were sent to the ed to the early converts of everpoor saints at Jerusalem; and lasting consequence.

Yet notPaul seems to have been delight- withstanding these schisms and ed with being engaged in this occasional jealousies, they did charitable service, and commends not forget the great duty of char- . his distant converts for their rea- ity: this surely was a vew phe. diness. Consider now that this nomenon in the world.

Perhaps generosity was shown from Gen- it cannot be shown in the whole Tiles towards Jews, whom before history of paganism, before the the introduction of Christianity, introduction of the gospel, that the Jews thought upworthy of any a number of poor societies or in. thing but hell;

whom they thought dividuals in Greece or Italy, were il a pollution to converse with; it interested in the distresses of a was shown too at a time when community at Jerusalem, and controversies existed in the Chris- much less that they ever thought tiau community, about of contributing a sum for the repoints of ceremony between Jew lief of the distressed in such a and Gentile, which, though to distant and despised country.

B. (To be continued.)

soine

ALFRED AND SIGBERT.

The following dialogue has been extracted from Cottle's Alfred, a Poem, founded on tho character of Alfred, and the events of his reign. Sigbert was a papal clergyman, whose friends had been kill. ed by the Danes. He laid aside the character of the minister of peace, and assumed that of the warrior, to

revenge
the wrongs

he had received. The dialogue commences in a council of war, and embraces the substance of several distinct interviews. Sigbert.

My heart doth pant
To seek the Danish army! Let us haste
And Hubba meet, that chieftain, at whose name
The babe upon its mother's breast turns pale,
Feeling instinctive terror. Let us count
The moments till the fight, and when it comes
Call to our standard, Havoc! bid each flower,
And herb, and lofty tree, all nurture scorn

But Danish blood.
Alfredo Pardon me, Sigbert! I am one who loves

The heart that meditates on truth, the tongue
That dares declare it. Much I prize thy worth,
Thy many services, and still I trust
To make thee recompense; yet must I name
The thing dislik’d, though in my dearest friend.
Thy soul is fill'd with hatred, and blind wrath-
The Christian never hates! We are taught
By heaven's unerring law, to pity those

We cannot love-e'en our worst enemies.
Sigbert, thy mind is poison'd, thou dost thirst
With most foul appetite for Danish blood-
Not for the good it yields thee, but, to please
Thy rooted hatred, and uncurb'd revenge.
Thy wrongs are great! My wrongs are manifold;
But let us not exclude that holy light-
Truth, from our minds. Have not the Danes some wrong's
To vex their spirits? Was it not a Prince
Of Britain, that, with dastard cruelty,
Murderd the Danish king?- The very sire
Of these our fierce invaders!

The Danes are men
And though they scorn the suppliant's cry, our faith
Hath taught us better.-

What I now declare,
Springs not from sudden anger, but is learn'd
From reason, and that sacred book, whose page
Infallible, all should alike obey.
Sigbert, with me thou shalt not wage the war!
Thou hast profess'd thyself, singled of heaven
To bear glad tidings and good will to men!
How cam'st thou by that garb? A calling thine
When in faith chosen, and with zeal fulfil'd-
Most dignified, and first of human kind!

Sigbert, henceforth respect thy character!
Sigbert.

O king!
Dost thou indeed declare that I must leave
My sword and my good armor, sbun the fight
A never from this moment more rejoice
O’er vanquished Dane?

Monarch, thy words are just!
They well accord with something at my heart
T'hat inward monitor, which in the hour
Of thought and meditation, well approves
Thy doctrine! But my all! each friend I loved,
Those Danes have spoil'd me of! and shall I crouch
In low, base cowardice, and court the foe
To murder unresisted?-See the Danes,
Thick as the solar ray, scatter around,
All plagues, yet sheathe my sword! My very soul
Revolts at these thy words! I cannot check
This loathing of all mercy! I must live,
In fix'd and unextinguishable bate
Screen not a soul! Laugh at their dying yells!
And when with shrinking heart they look for death,
Spare them with savage mercy to endure

New torture, and unbeard of agonies !
Alfred. Thou knowest not what spirit thou art of.

Thy many wrongs have so disturbed thy thoughts,
So warm’d thy facuities, that thou dost see
Plain things confused. Sigbert, before thee lie
Two paths; declare thy choice, for they are both
Opposed, distinct, and incompatible!-
Be thou the man of God, resign the thought
Avenging, and put on that ornainent,

A meek and quiet spirit; shew thyself
Prepared to teach, by having first been taught;
Or else renounce thy sacred character!
Throw off the hypocrite! confess thyself

1
The slave of hate, and all the passions fierce,
Which nature groans beneath; then wield thy sword,
Not for the end, but for the thirst of blood,
Unqualified thy heart doth doat upon!
This thou may'st do, but know the recompense!
It is the scorn of men, the curge of God!
In me it is most meet thus to declare,
For heaven hath rais'd me up, howe'er unfit,
To govern this his people, and to see
His teachers pure; and never will I view
The ministers of peace-clad in this garb.

Discard the priesthood! or renounce the sword!
Sigbert. With deep conviction do thy words come here!

I cannot wield the sword, and still reta
The spirit heaven approves; yet do I feel
Hatred so deeply fix'd, and in my heart
Such cravings, not to be subdued by words,
That I must grasp the sword! I must alone

Live to consume the Dane!
Alfred. I hear thy resolution! I have well

Discharged my conscience.
After this Sigbert killed a Dane, who begged for mercy, and then
appeared again in the presence of the king.
Alfred. Sigbert! whither hast thou been. What of the two Danes?

Thy sword is bloody! I conjure thee, say,

Whence came it? Stand not thus insensible!
Sigbert. I cannot lie, oh king!

But I do fear to tell thee;— I have slain

The flying foe
Alfred.

Slain him!
Did i not warn thee with a monarch's voice
To spare him, and conduct him to our sight?

Whence came the deed?
Sigbert.

One Dane
These eyes beheld not, but, retiring fast;
I saw the other, and o'ertaking cried,--
Dane! as thou valuest life, yield me thy sword!

He stopped and drew, we fought; I vanquished him.
Alfredo - When vanquished had he not

Strength to reach our presence? Answer these my words!
Sigbert. It must be told! then know, oh king! the Dane

Pleaded for life, -but mine ear
Scorn'd his petition. Him I thus address'd:-
Thou reptile! villain black! thou imp of hell!
If angels from their silver clouds look'd down
And shouted, spare him! with a voice of thunder,
I would disdain them all; for ere thou breath'st
A second time, thy venom'd blood shall flow!
So saying, I the demon slew.

Alfredo What do I hear? Didst thou disdain a foe

That asked for mercy?
Sigbert. I did, for thinking of the wrongs,

Many and deep, this head hau borne, I said,
When tigers spare their prey, then, not till then,
Will I spare thee; and instant through his heart'

Plung'd this my sword.
Alfredo Thou art no friend of mine!

I now disown thee! Never from this hour
Approach thy king, but let the murderer's scorn"
Light on thee, and reward this evil deed!

(To be concluded in the next...

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM GILBERT WEST ESQ. TO DR. DOD.

DRIDGE.

March 14, 1747. I am glad to find that Chris. the same paradise, to use the tianity begins to be so well un- words of Milton, derstood, and taught by so many

Frisking play'd men of parts and learning in all All beasts of the earth, since wild, and seets; the fruits of which appear

of all chase, in a candor and charity unknown In wood or wilderness, forest or den: to all the

Sporting the lion ramp'd, and in his of the church, exages

paw eept the primitive, I had almost Dandled the kid. said the apostolic age.

Does not this give you a prospect of

To attain this happy state, all the completion of the famous Christians should unite their en. prophecy, that speaks of the lion deavors; and instead of looking and the lamb lying down togethe out for and insisting upon points er in the kingdom of the Mes. of difference and distinction, seek siab. Lions there have been, for those only in which they do hitherto, in all churches; but too

or may agree. They may at many, fierce, greedy, and blood. least sow the seeds of peace and thirsty lions, though often dis. unity, though they should not guised like lambs:

and some

live to reap the fruits of it in lambs there have been simple

this world. enough to think it expedient for

Blessed are the peace-makers, the flock to assume the habits says the Prince of peace, for and terrors of lions. But I hope they shall be called the cbildren they now begin to undeceive of God; an appellation infinitethemselves, and to consider ly more honourable than that Christianity as intending to bring of pastor, bishop, arch-bishop, back the world to that state of patriarch, cardinal or pope, and innocenee which it enjoyed be attended with a recompense in. fore the fall, when in one and finitely surpassing the richest No. 3, Vol. IV.

21

revenues of the highest eccle- hearty wish of, sir, your most af. siastical dignity. That you and fectionate humble servant. all sincere Cüristians may de- N. B Gilbert West Esq. appears to serve this character, and attain have been of the Church of England. its reward, is the sincere and

J. K.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

NATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY. To the members of the several Bible And may the blessing of him who is

Soci ties in the United States. sable to do for us abundantly more than Brethren,

we can either ask of think,” give it conIt is with peculiar pleasure that I plete success- urto whom be glory in once more address you on the interest- the church, by Jesus Christ, through. ing subject of extending the Redeem- out all uges - world without end." er's kingdom by means of the unlimit. ed and gratuitous circulation of tbe

Kesolutions of the Board of Man. holv scriptures.

agers of the New York Bible From the most correct information Suciety. that has lately been received, it has 1st. Resolved, That it is highly de. become evident that the demand for sirable to obtain, upon as large a scale Bibles in the remote and frontier set

as possible, a cooperation of the efforts tlements of our country, is far beyond of the Christian community throughthe resources of the several bible so

out the United States, for the efficient cieties now existing in the United distribution of the holy scriptures States

2d That as a mean for the attain. An institution, founded on a more ment of this end, it will be expedient extended plan, that will concentrate to have a convention of delegates from and direct the efforts of our numerous such Bible Societies, as shall be dis. and increasing Bible Associations, posed to concur in this measure, to seems at present to be the general meet at wish of the f:iends of revealed truth.

next f r the purpose of conSuch an ins!itution has a powerful sidering whether such a cooperation claim to the liberal support of the may be effected in a better manner, Christian public This plan, which than by the correspondence of the dif. originated with the New Jersky Bible ferent societies as now established; Society, has within the last year en

and if so, tha: they prepare the draft gaged the attention of the Board of of a plan for such cooperation to be Managers of the New York Bible So- submitted to the different societies for ciety.

their decision. Their resolutions, inserted below, 3d. That the Secretary transmit the contain the result of their deliberations above resolutions to the President of on this important subject. Á brightthe New Jersey Bible Society, as ex, er day appears now to have dawned pressive of the opinion of this Board on our western hemisphere.

on the measures therein contained, That the present effort may be ren. and at the same time signifying the dered an efficient means of salvation

wish of this Board, that he would ex• to many thousands of destitute poor in ercise his own discretion in bringing

own, and more tant lands, the subject before the public. should be the wish and prayer of ey- In pursuance of the foregoing reso• ' ery sincere Christian.

lutions requesting me to designate the

on the

day of

our