ed by its example, acting in harmony | es, repleat with expressions of the with it, and several have been aided by most genuine pathos, It appears imits funds. In addition to these regular possible for persons not enslaved by and organized bodies, the Society has prejudice, or destitute of Christian correspondents both among the clergy sensibility, to read, without emotion, and the laity, in different parts of the the foreign communications which enworld, actively engaged in promoting rich the Society's Annual Reports. its designs, by dispersing, at its ex-To receive acknowledgments for the pense, the sacred oracles of divine best of all gifts, from persons of every truth,“ to men of every nation under language and communion, on conheaven."

tinents and islands, whether kindred or In the short compass of eight years,* || aliens,bond or free, friends, or enemies; it has issued more than 870,000 copies and those acknowledgments convey. of the scriptures, independently of|ed in the language of their hearts, and those which have been printed underwritten in their tears, is a felicity whicb its auspices, without the limits of the no words can adequately express. United Kingdom. In ENGLAND it has After presenting this sketch of the printed the Scriptures, or parts there-Institution, a formal appeal, on its beof, at its own expense, in the English, half, to the liberality of the public, Welsh, Gaelic, Irish, Manks, French, would be superfluous. It has already Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, expended, in the course of nine years, Danish, German, Antient, and modern more than $803,888 in promoting its Greek, Esquimaux, and Mohawk lan-object; and at the last Annual Audit, guages. In EUROPE it has largely aid- the Society were under engagements, ed the printing of them in the Germ- amounting to about $155,555. When an, Bohemian, Polish, Icelandic, Swe-these circumstances are considered, in dish, Turkish, Laponese, Lithunian, connexion with the general merits of French, Romanese, Italian, Calmuc, the Society, the inhabitants of the UniEsthonian, and Livonian, languages.-ted Kingdom can want no additional In Asia it has promoted, by liberal motive to stimulate their exertions in and repeated contributions, the trans- promoting both by personal contribulation and publication of them in Hin-tion, and local association, the permadostanee, Bengalee, Persian, Arabic,nent interests of an Institution, which Mahratta, Malayalim, Sanscrit, Chinese, promises, if liberally and extensively Telinga, Tamul, Mala, Orissa, Seek, supported, to become a BLESSING TO Burman, Carnatica, and several other| THE WHOLE EARTH. dialects. The result of these operations has been, that many countries, re

ANECDOTES. motely distant from each other, and An English merchant at Dantzick, from the parent source of supply, have was invited to dine at a Convent with already been furnished with copies of some Nuns; the entertainment was the Scriptures in their respective lan-rich, and all things served up in the guages; and means have been provid-|| highest taste. After he had dined, and ed for insuring, under the auspices of viewed the Convent, and its accomDivine Providence, a diffusion of the modations, the merchant commended same blessing among those nations on their pleasant mode of living, yea, sir, which the sun of revelation has never said one of the friars, to him, we live yet risen.

gallantly indeed, had we any body to The impressiona made by this cath-| go to hell for us wben we die. elic Institution on the objects of its kindness both at home and aboard, Richard Rogers, said to him, " 1 -steemigiu,

A certain gentleman, in company with Ms. have manifested themselves in addres- and love your company very well, but you

* The Society was not prepared with B: are so PRECISE:" "O sir, (replied Mr. RoBl-s and Testaments for circulation till 181 gers) I serve a precise God." noaths after its institution.

THE

UTICA CHRISTIAN MAGAZINE.

VOL. II.

SEPTEMBER, 1814.

No. 3.

For the Utica Christian Magazine. regenerate haughty kings; but was deINSTRUCTION FROM THE BOOK OF signed rather to teach us how perfectly

he controlled and managed them. Its ESTHER.

meaning is illustrated by the history Continued from page 41.

before us. Ahasuerus was a great king, V. Tais book reflects clear light up- and Haman was his greatest favorite. on that very important and comfortable Haman requested that all the Jews text contained in Prov. xxi, 1, The might be destroyed, because one of king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, the nation would not make obeisance as the rivers of water : he turneth it to him. The king, it seems readily, whithersoever he will. This does not consented to Haman's request. A demean, that the hearts of kings, to the cree fatal to the nation was passed, exclusion of other men, are in the hand which had received the royal signature, of the Lord: but it is meant to convey and according to a fixed law in that the idea, that even the hearts of kings, kingdom it could not be altered. But (great and independent as they appear the king's heart was in the hand of ed,) were entirely in the hand of the the Lord, and he turned it as it pleasLord, and were turned at his pleasure, ed him. He brought hiin, within a as much as the rivers of water. One few weeks, to give his royal approbariver runs in one direction, and another tion to another decree, wbich was river runs in another direction; and entirely subversive of the first. some rivers in their course have vari- If God could frustrate the laws of ous windings, so as to run in almost all the Medes and Persians ;—if he could directions: but all these different di- turn the heart of this great monarch; recti:ns, and various windings, are just whose heart is there that he cannot as the Creator would have them. If turn? Men may tell what they will do, the rivers have cut new channels, and and what they will not do; but they taken different courses since they were do not know what they will do. God created, still it is true that they are turn- || holds them in his hand; and he can do ed at the pleasure of him, who made with them, and make them do, just and governs all his creatures and all what he pleases. There are many detheir actions. Kings and other men are vices in man's heart ; nevertheless the . rational beings and act from motive,|| counsel of the Lord, that shall stand. but the Lord governs their hearts as Men may bind themselves under a completely, and with as much ease great curse, that they will not eat nor as he turns the rivers of water. The drink until they have killed some one Lord can not only turn the heart of a of the Lord's servants, still they canking by special grace, as he did the not touch him, if the Lord do not deliheart of Manasseh ; but he can turn the ver him into their hand. Therefore heart of a king, who remains graceless, the Christian may say, 80 that instead of hurting, he shall help,

“ I'll go and come; his people. The text now in view did

“ Nor fear to die, not mean to confine our attention to

“ Till from un high this truth, that the Lord has power to " Thou call me home.”

F VL. 2

It is matter of great consolation, that|raordinary prayer and fasting: We God can so turn the hearts of wicked also learn the efficacy of such extraormen, that they shall not cross, but fulfil dinary humiliation and prayer. What his designs,even when he does not alteri a tiine of distress that must have been, their character : But it is still more when Haman had obtained a decree, pleasing to know, that he can turni a to destroy, to kill and to cause to perheart of enmity into a heart of love. ish all Jews both young and old, little He can make a proud king to become children and women in one day.--his submissive servant. A persecuting it had passed the seal of a king Saul was converted into a dear ser- whose laws could not be repealech vant of Christ. To his name be as- What should the poor Jews do? On cribed the kingdom, POWER, and glory! | earth there was no arm mighty enough

VI. The history before us casts || to save them from destruction: But much light upon that comfortable, they worshipped a God who stiles though to many mysterious, declara himself King of kings ; a God who dotion, Psal. 76, 10; Surely the wrath of eth according to his will in the army man shall praise thee; the remainder of heaven, and among the inhabitants of wrath shalt thou restrain. The of the earth. Where else should they wrath of the two chamberlains, who go in this extremity bnt unto HIM; sought to assassinate king Ahasuerus, for he had never said unto the seed of praised God; and the remainder of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain! To him their wrath he restrained. The wrath they carried their complaint. Though and wickedness of Hamari, and of Aha- his name is not once mentioned in the suerua, praised God; that is, gave oc- book, ýệt how evidently is he exhibcasion for God to display his glory toited to the eye of faith in this passage, greater advantage. But if they had chap. iv, verses 15, 16:“ Then Esther fulfilled all their wicked purposes, they bade them return Mordecai this answer, would have eclipsed his glory; there-Go gather all the Jews that are present fore the remainder of their wrath and in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and wickedness was restrained. God has neither eat, nor drink three days, night always made use of all the wickedness || nor day: I also, and my maidens will of evil men, and of good men, to fur-fast likewise; and so will I go in unto ther the gospel and the interests of his the king which is not according to law; holy kingdom ; and he has always re- and if I perish, I perish.?" strained and prevented that wicked- It is evident that the fast which ness which he saw would, if not pre-Esther enjoined on the Jews in Shuvented, be, on the whole, a real and shan and which she proposed to keep lasting injury to the general good.- herself was a religious fast, preparatoSin is a dreadful evil; but eyen this, ry to her petitioning the king for the the holy God will in every instance, salvation of her people. A religious make use of to promote good. Where | fast is always accompanied with prayhe sees it coming in like a flood to er, and was, no doubt, in the case beoverwhelm and destroy all good, he fore us; and prayer is made to God. always lifts up a standard against it. The efficacy of this so general huThe certainty that God will make all miliation and prayer, appears from the the wrath and impiety of men pro-sequel of the story. “ On that night," mote his glory, is a truth, which is says the sacred historian, "could not needed to support us, in this day of the king sleep."-What night?- The the abounding of iniquity.

very night after this remarkable three VII. From the example of the peo- days fast had ended. Their cries had ple of God recorded in this book, we ascended to God-they had come up learn how suitable it is in times of ex-into his holy temple. He probably traordinary difficulty, and threatening * See also verse 3: And in every prou appearances, to have recourse to ex-l vince &c.

šent a messenger from the skies to thing in every man in the world. It is disturb the sleep of the Persian mon-expressly said of fallen men, that God arch, to awaken his conscience, and fashioneth their hearts alike. Therealso to suggest to him to call for the fore the scriptures speak of the fallen chronicles of the kingdom, that they race as being but one person, and as might be read in his hearing. The having but one heart. Solomon says, morning after this extraordinary and | The heart of the sons of men is fully so mn fast, Mordecai was escorted set in them to do evil. Jeremiah says, through the street of the city, clad in The heart is deceitful &c. Paul says, The royal apparel, with Haman proclaim-carnal mind is enmity against God. ing before him, Thus shall it be done If this point is established in our minds, to the man whom the king delighteth that depraved human nature is substanto honor. In another part of the same tially the same in every man, we shall day, Haman, the Jews' enemy was be prepared to see, as in a glass, our hanged on a gallows fifty cubits high, own corruption, and the corruption of which he had prepared for Mordecai. our fellow men, while we attend to the Directly upon this the king's decree character of Haman. None of ug against them is reversed, and their doubts of the pride and selfishness of mourning is turned into rejoicing. Is Haman's heart. It is clear that he was not here a remarkable answer to pray- perfectly selfish--that he was perfectly er ?—and to that prayer which was at-proud, To be perfectly sellish, is to tended with deep humiliation and fast- make ones self the supreme object, ing? And is not this written for our and the centre of all his actions. Perlearning and imitation? Is it not the fect selfishness would sacrifice the happrayer-hearing God, who still governs piness of missions, equal to himself in the world ? And will not God hear and capacity for happiness, for the sake of avenge

is own elect who cry day and his own gratification. Other beings are night unto kim ? Let his beloved Son not regarded at all, only as they tend to answer the question ;--"I tell you that promote selfish enjoyment. The selfhe wvill avenge them speedily.". Lettish creature, however mean and controubles, whether personal, domestic, tempiible a part of the universe, has national, or ecclesiastical bring us up-it in his heart to exalt himself, not on our knees. Let not fasting be con- only above all creatures, but “abore sidered as a part of the ceremonial law, all that is calied God.”. ' It is evident which has long been abrogated. The that Haman was possessed of such selpresent night of darkness will not pro fishness, and such pride. By the der bably flee away, and the glorious day cree which he obtained against the of Zion's prosperity appear until there Jews, it was evident, that no number has been great mourning among chris- of lives was too great for lim to sacritians, and fasting and weeping and fice at the shrine of self, It is also wailing; and uatil many have lain in evident, that his pride aspired at being sackcloth and ashes.

supreme, and having universal homVII. An attention to this book, par- | age paid to him. Although' hé honticularly to the description which it ored the king, it is evident, that it was gives of Haman, whose character only as means to exait himself." He holds a very conspicuous place, will manifestly aspired to regal honors, and give us an effecting view of the per- wished to be in his sovereign's place. fect pride and selfishness of the huian This appears from the answer which heart. Let it be remembered, that he gave to the king's question, What Haman the son of Hammedatha, was shall be done unto the man whom the also a son of Adam. From Adam we king delighteth to honor ? Let us not have all descended, and derived one indulge the thought, that Haman is a common nature. By one man sin en solitary instance of this unreasonable tered into the word, and sin is the same ji pride and selfishness. Other instances

are recorded in the bible, where men humbly with God, and seeks the honhave manifested the same degree of or which cometh from Him. He does pride and self love. Abimelech the not live upon the homage of his fellow son of Gideon slew seventy of his fa- men; but has more true comfort in ther's sons upon one stone, for this rea-humbling himself before God, than in son alone, that he might have no com- proud exaltation. If things take place petitors in the government to which his which are crossing to his feelings, his ambition aspired. King Herod de- | happiness is not all destroyed; for he stroyed a multitude of infants, (against knows the Heavens do rule. But selwhom he could not pretend to bring an fish men cannot be happy, without they accusation) that he might make sure can have every thing to their mind; of the death of the son of Mary. Is it and that never will be wbile their not evident, that the man who would hearts remain selfish. God does not do this, would dethrone the king of govern the world on the plan of proheaven, if this were in his power? “ As moting selfish, but general good; selin water, face answereth to face, so fish men must therefore continualthe heart of man to man." Such sel-ly be meeting with things to spoil all fishness and pride as this reigns in ev-|| their comfort. They are upon a wrong ery unsanctified heart. In most men track; and it is impossible for them to it has been more restrained, else we find any true satisfactory enjoyment could not live together in the world: until they become humble and disinBut God has, in wisdom, seen fit to terested. They will always continue take off the restraint, in a greater de to say, “ Who will show us any good ?' gree, from some of our fellow sinners, | until they learn to make the petition, that they might more fully act out" Lord lift thou up the light of thy their hearts, so that it might be seen countenance upon us ?” what is in man. In the history of

SYLVANUS. such men as Haman, Abimelech and

[To be continued.] Herod, we are shown qurselves. To these the children of grace may look,

AN HISTORICAL VIEW OF THE FIRST and see what depravity they are saved from: To these the unconverted may look and learn what they now are.

No. IX. VIII. From the case of Haman we (Continued from page 51.] not only learn, that men are naturally That we may be enabled to form proud and selfish; but we also learn a correct opinion of the venerable that pride and selfishness are calculat-founders of the New-England Coloed to keep them from being truly hap-nies, it is necessary for us to have a py. When Haman was covered with more distinct view of those individuglory, after he had recounted all his als, whose virtues and services renprosperity to his wife and friends, he dered them conspicuous, than can be adds, Yet all this availeth me nothing, taken from a general history of events. as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sit- Though sensible that the task is arduting at the king's gate.' This is the ous, and the subject worthy of the laway with selfish men :-There is al-bors of the ablest Biographer, under ways some Mordecai sitting at the the persuasion that some account of king's gate, to mar their happiness. the characters of those great and good The man whose heart is right with men, whom we love to denominate God can be happy, if a thousand Mor- our forefathers, will be acceptable to decai's sit in the gate, and do not bow the readers of the Magazine, the work to him. He lives upon a good which will be attempted. is not so precarious. His heart is join- Of the early settlements of Newed to the kingdom of God, a kingdom England, the colony of Plymouth, the which cannot be moved. He walks first in standing, led the way in the es

PLANTERS OF NEW-ENGLAND.