Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub

accommodate my mind to a jour. ney on horseback, which, though not so long as that I had already made, was likely to be equally dangerous; and which, therefore, demanded a full exertion of fortitude and resolution.

It was still the hot season of the year, and we were to travel through that country, over which the horrid wind I have before mentioned sweeps its consuming blasts. It is called, by the Turks, Samiel,-is mentioned, by holy Job, under the name of the East Wind, and extends its ravages all the way from the extreme end of the Gulf of Cambaya up to Mosul ;-it carries along with it flakes of fire like threads of silk: instantly strikes dead those that breathe it, and consumes them inwardly to ashes, the flesh soon becoming black as a coal, and dropping off the bones. Philosophers consider it as a kind of electric fire, proceeding from the sulphureous or nitrous exhal. ations, which are kindled by the agitation of the winds. The only possible means of escape from its fatal effects, is to fall flat on the ground, and thereby prevent the drawing it in : to do this, however, it is necessary first to see it, which is not always practicable.

The ordinary heat of the cli. mate is extremely dangerous to the blood and lungs, and even to the skin, which blisters and peels from the flesh, affecting the eyes so much, that travellers are oblig. ed to wear a transparent cover. ing over them, to keep off the heat.'

VOL. II. New Series.

THOUGHTS ON 2 COR. VII. 1.

Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthi

ness.

ARCHBISHOP LEIGHTON, in a sermon on these words, says, 'It is the Lord who is the sanctifier of his people; he purges away their dross, and pours clean wa ter upon them, according to his promises; yet doth he call us to cleanse ourselves. He puts new life into us, and causes us to act, and excites us to it, and calls it up to act in the progress of sanctification. Men are strangely inclined to a perverse construction of things. Tell them that we are to act, and work, and give diligence, then they would fancy a doing in their own strength, and be their own sav. iors. Again: tell them that God works all our works in us, and for us, then they would take the ease of doing nothing. If they cannot have the praise of doing all, they will sit still with folded hands, and use no diligence at all: but this is the corrupt logic of the flesh; its base sophistry. The apostle reasons just contrary: "It is God that worketh in us, both to will and to do ;" "there. fore,' would a carnal heart say, 'We need not work, or, at least may work very carelessly ;'but he infers, "Therefore, let us work out our salvation with fear and trembling ;" i. e. in the more humble obedience to God, and dependence on him, not ob. structing the influence of his grace, and, by sloth and negligence, provoking him to with. draw or abate it. Certainly, many in whom there is the truth of grace, are kept very low in the growth of it, by their own slothfulness, sitting still, and not bestirring themselves, and exercising the 3Y

proper actions of that spiritual life by which it is entertained and advanced.'

THE EPITHET NAZARENE.' RESPECTING the return of Jo seph and Mary to Judea, and their abode in Nazareth, there is one circumstance in particular deserving notice, which is, the very lowly state to which Jesus chose to humble himself. Of all the towns of Judea and Gali

lee, Nazareth was peculiarly des. pised, as the habitation of the dregs of the people, and as having never produced an illustrious or good personage. This accounts for Nathaniel saying to Philip, Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? Hence, it was as infamous among the Jews to be called a Nazarene, which signified a most worthless, infamous fellow, as among the Greeks to be called Cretians, who were always liars, evil beasts, and slow bellies.

Jesus Christ chose to be

brought up at Nazareth, that he might take upon himself, very early, the reproach couched under that name. Pilate undoubtedly had it in view when, by way of mockery he wrote a title, and put it on the cross, Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews'

[ocr errors]

Claude's Posthumous Works.

ANECDOTES.

....

THEMISTOCLES, when a very young man, was observed, soon after the famous battle of Marathon, in which Miltiades obtain. ed so much glory, to be much alone, very pensive, unwilling to attend the usual entertain.

[ocr errors]

ments, and even to watch whole nights. Being asked, by some of his friends, what was the cause of all this, he answered,, The trophies of Miltiades will not suffer me to sleep.' Thus, fired with a love of glory, he became, in a few years, the first man in Greece.

Young christians, faith presents to your view far greater glories than Greece could bestow on her most successful heroes.

The perishing honors of Miltiades and Themistocles, are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed. Could they forego all the pleasures of youth to have their names enrolled in

the records of fame,—and can. not you, by the help of Almigh. ty grace, become a good soldier of Jesus Christ, in hope of obtaining a crown of glory that

shall never fade?

'Mothers can do great things!"

A CLERGYMAN, now fulfilling the duties of his office punctually, ardently, and faithfully, was ask. ed, when examined by the bishop's chaplain, whether he had made divinity his study;-he replied he had not particularly; "but," said he, "my mother taught me the Scriptures." "Ah! said the chaplain, Mothers can do great things!' The young man was examined with respect to the extent of his knowledge, was approved, ordained, and desire 1 to preach before the bishop.

[ocr errors]

Mothers may perceive how necessary and useful are their pious instructions, and be en. couraged, while their husbands are busily engaged in providing for their families the meat that perisheth, to be diligent, bring

ing up their offspring in the knowledge of the Scriptures, as the mother of Timothy did. This anecdote may also lead reflecting parents to consider what ought to be the education of their daughters, that they may become such mothers; for on the education of daughters, depends the future welfare not only

of families, but of our country.

The excellent mother alluded to in the above anecdote, wrote as follows to another of her sons on hearing of the birth of his eldest child :- Give him an educa. tion, that his life may be useful; teach him religion that his death may be happy! PRO PATRIA.

MISCELLANY,

ESSAY ON EDUCATION.....Continued from p. 521.

In this connexion it may be inquired whether certain modes of education are not injurious to society, and dangerous to the morals of youth.

Still it is our aim not to descend to particulars; we there fore only ask, whether the sparks of AMBITION, SO often kindled, and sometimes blown into a fu. rious blaze, by flattery, by rewards, by invidious distinctions, are not hazardous to the moral culture of the heart? This we believe is more common in our lower schools, than higher seminaries; because minor teachers are more generally there employed; teachers incapable of animating their pupils by proper motives. Authors and teachers often unite thus to poison the public mind.

"No one," saith a learned writer,*"will deny that to wish for the favorable opinions of those around us to a certain extent is consistent with the christian laws, but the love of glory, the desire of being distinguished, and admired, and

* Foster.

praised, is among the antichristian motives of action." Again he says, "I think I cannot be mistaken, when I assert, that much the greater number of our fine writers have really encouraged the love of applause, of fame, of glory, which places them in the most pointed hostility with the christian religion." Their good sense has, however, compelled them, often to acknowl. edge the emptiness of this glory, and to express their contempt for "the fool to fame." Yet they inconsistently apply every splendid epithet to the men, who are impelled by this passion. They describe glory as the best incentive to noble actions and their richest reward. They place the temple of Virtue where it is merely an introduction to the temple of Fame. They lament that they cannot "climb the steep where that proud temple shines afar." Again recollect. ing that all kinds of fools have offered clouds of incense to all kinds of villains, they elude self reproach, by saying it is honorable fame, they pursue.

Odi profanum vulgus restores their self approbation. Having frequently declared, that a good and wise man prefers the appro. bation of the Supreme Being to all things else, they feel at liberty again to tolerate and cherish the love of glory. Is not ambi. tion or a thirst for glory, that wild fury, which no man

can

tame? Does it not set on fire the course of nature? Is it not set on fire of hell? Why is Afri. ca bound in chains? Why is Eu. rope red with slaughter? The demon of ambition hath been let loose upon them. Like the grave it cries, "Give, give ;" it swallows the applause of a nation, of the world, and cries for more. I know it will be said that emulation, or a laudable desire to excel, not ambition, is excited in our schools and academies. I know also that calling bad things by good names does not change their natures.

Emulation is the soft, the delicate, the pleasing name of ambition. Her voice is melodious, as a syren's song; but she has the jaw teeth of a lion; her face is smeared with gore; she lives on blood. "But children and youth are idle unless we rouse their emulation, their lives will be wasted, their opportunity for improvement for ever lost. What shall be done?" What shall be done! Inform them, that they are in a state of probation, that a price is put into their hands to obtain wisdom, that eternity may depend on a moment. Inform them how noble are their capac ities, how sublime their natures, and yet how dependant, how responsible they are to God. Show them the use and importance of the sciences; the ingratitude and

baseness of idleness. Show them what they owe to themselves, their friends, their parents, their country, and their God. Awaken their consciences, but I pray you do not inflame their pride. Treat them as moral, rational beings. If these things do not rouse them; let them slumber. Use no unhailowed means, even to save them from infamy and ruin.

Because a magazine cannot be preserved perfectly free from the humidity of the atmosphere, will you light a torch, will you set it on fire, and by the explosion hazard the destruction of your. self and the garrison?

Because human nature cannot be fired with the highest degree of zeal by religious motives, will you blow the coals of pride, of rivalship, of eternal hatred, and quench every spark of humility, brotherly love, and goodness of heart? Will you labor to render our seminaries so many furnacès in which are to be hatched young salamanders, Cesars, and Buonapartes? Will you render our colleges so many volcanos whose annual explosions shall spread successive conflagrations through the country?

How did Jesus Christ instruct his disciples? Did he excite their laudable ambition, their barning emulation! Did he balance them one against the other? Did he excite a spirit of rivalship, of superiority, or distinction? Did he rouse Peter and James by representing Barnabas and John, as surpassing them in eloquence and fame. Did he not tell them to choose the lowest seats and to be the servants of all?

"These were men," it may be said; "children and youth must

be stimulated by different motives." I pray you in what system of morals is this distinction made? By what kind of logic or divinity can it be proved, that those feelings, those motives, and passions, which are proper for children and youth, are improper for men, for parents, for the aged, for the dying?

If the preceptors of youth may; why may not ministers of the gospel, lay aside their exhor. tation to humility, abasement, and self-denial? When do youth begin to be men? How long shall they be excited to action by a spirit of rivalship and em. ulation? When shall they begin to be humble; when shall they be christians ? Are not some modes of education dangerous, may they not be fatal to the peace of society? Is it said that "these are the bugbears of a winter's eve;" when has this mode of education produced any baleful effects in society?

Because men are often clumsy proficients in the work of moral ruin, shall we congratulate our. selves for their imbecility, or be deluded into a confidence in their wrong principles ?

Ponderous artillery may be so unskilfully levelled as to effect no damage. The gospel also may so counteract the lessons of emulation as to prevent their de. structive influence. A powerful antidote may prevent the effects of the most malignant poison.

Though we think these are conclusive replies to the inquiry "When has this mode of educa tion produced any baleful effects in society?" yet would I rather return the question "When has NOT this mode of education produced its baleful effects in socie

ty? When were mankind a harmonious brotherhood? How many Nimrods, Tamerlanes, Attilas, Pizarros, Madocawandos, and Suwarrows have been form. by these lessons of laudable emulation! Where are Babylon and Nineveh, Carthage and Tyre ? Where are Thebes and Palmyra; the holy capital of Palestine, and the Temple of mount Zion? Swept away-by what ?--the fury of emulation. What is the present state of Europe? What is the state of our own country? Are we not contending man against man, who shall have the mighty privilege of bursting open the doors of honor and public confidence? This is the sponta neous harvest of such seed, sown in the deadly soil of the human heart.

Further, if we have suggest. ed the true object of education, it will follow that the Bible should constitute an essential branch of instruction. The Bible is the charter of immortal felicity; the map of glory. It draws the curtain, which concealed the invisible world, it brings life and immortality to light; it is the book of life. Is it possible, then, that this volume should be excluded from many and not studied, as a classic, in any seminary of science ? The time makes haste, we trust, when this will be considered an incredible phenomenon in the history of this christian country.

recover our

To restore ourselves to the divine favor; to selves from the sad effects of the fall, without the study of revelation, would be like teaching navigation without the knowledge of the compass, music without sounds, and the beauty of colors

« FöregåendeFortsätt »