conceive, is that which forms us by the mle, rather than the rule itself. We have heard it said by Antinomians, that it is not the moral law, but the Holy Spirit in their hearts, which is a rule to them. Our answer has been, You confound the rule of a holy life with the cause of it. Whatever is a rule to us must be known, or knowable by us; but the Holy Spirit in the heart is a secret spring, of which we can know nothing but by its effects. It is the source of all spiritual judgment and action; but the rule by which we are to judge and act, is God's revealed will. Whether this answer he just; and if it be, whether it does not apply alike to both cases, we hope will be seriously and candidly considered.

With respect to the question between our author and his opponent, we have no hesitation in saying, That the early Friends would neither have approved nor endured the opinions of Hannah Barnard. It is true, they each set up a rule superior to the Scriptures; but that of the one is the reason of the individual; the other the teachings of the Spirit. By the rule of H. Barnard, many parts of the present canon of Scripture are rejected as untrue; by theirs, the whole is admitted to be authentic. She rejects the accounts of the miraculous conception, of the miracles, and of the resurrection of Christ; but Barclay considers it as **damnable unbelief," not to believe "all those things to have been certainly transacted, which are recorded in the holy Scriptures concerning them." (p. 130.)

The 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th chapters contain a Review of the Charges exhibited against H. Barnard, with her Answers, &c. The former appear to us to be worde with great caution, and proved beyond all just contradiction. By her answers, in several instances, she departs from Christian ground; and ought to rank as a Deist. The partiality discovered for her cause by the author of the Sketch, adds another to the numerous proofs which have gone before, that Socinianism feels a Sympathy (as of one that is near akin) with Infidelity.

The sentiments of the Friends on the unlawfulness of war under the Christfan dispensation, are well known. H. Barnard has advanced a step further, maintaining, that war is in itself wrong; and consequently that the wars of the Jews with the seven nations of Canaan could not have been made with the divine approbation. Were we to judge of the sentiments of the Friends

by those of Anthony Benezet, who con. siders war as having been suffered ra ther than approved under the Old Tes tament, in like manner as men were

suffered to put away their wives" (p. 192.) we must acknowledge we could not perceive their consistency with the Commandments of God to Israel to make war on the Canaanites, and his displeasure against those who refused; but as he is not one of the early Friends, and what he has written is considered as only his private opinion, the sentiments of the Society, on this subject, are to be sought cisewhere. Their disapprobation of all

war appears to be coufined to the Christian dispensation; and to be founded on such passages as Mat. v. 38, 39, "Ye have heard that it hath been 9aid, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth; but I say unto you, that ye resist not evil," &c. The law, they suppose, was a system of retaliation of injuries; but that the gospel is a system of forbearance and forgiveness. We do not think it was the design of our Lord, in this passage, to oppose the genius of the gospel-dispensation to that of the law; but to rectify the abuses which had been made of the latter by the false glosses of the Jews, who perverted the lawful punishments of the magistrate, as allowed in Exod. xxi. 24, to the purposes of revenge and private retaliation. But whatever we may think of this, and of the lawfulness of resisting unjust aggression, or threatened invasion, we see nothing in the principle, as maintained by the Friends, that reflects on the justice of the wars of Israel, which they consider as founded on divine authority.

Upon the whole, though we differ from the Friends in many important particulars, and have, we hope, with Christian candour, stated our objections to some of them,-yet there are many things in this work which afford us pleasure. It is pleasant to see so unanimous and decided a stand made against the spirit of Infidelity, under the form of Unitarianism; and to find it conducted with so much calmness and justice. Such cases as those of H. Barnard are permitted to try not only individuals, but societies. It is pleasant also to observe in our author a familiar acquaintance with the writings of others, beside his own denomination. We cannot but from hence entertain a hope, that he, and the Friends in general, who may give the foregoing remarks a perusal, will take them in good part, and candidly consider the force of them. It is from such a mu

Annual Report of the Missionary Estab

lishment at Bethelsdorp, near Algoa Bay, South Africa, for the Year 1804.

Jan. 1, THE Hottentot Abram Piet from Graff Reinet, arrived at our settlement, conducted as a prisoner by a Constable, having been taken by order of the acting Landdrost of that district. We received him with joy, and immediately set him at liberty. He had been brought to a knowledge of himself and of Christ, at that place, by means of Brother Jochem Vogel, with several other Heathens. From that moment he began to recommend Christ to others, as the Saviour of sinners; and was for that reason cast into prison and abused. Brother Jochem, however, made his escape.

"On the 11th the Commissary General De Mist inspected our establishment, and delivered to us the ratification of the charter granted by the Governor for this institution, and honoured it with a present to the value of 250 rixdollars. The same day Brother Vanderkemp baptized Abram Piet. Next month Mary Staffels, of about fourteen years of age, was baptised. We had taken her into our family, and educated her, after her father was killed in the insurrection of the Boors at Graaff Reinet; and observed, soon after, evident traces of the grace of God in her heart. Among those who in this year were called to a knowledge of Christ, was the wife of Brother William Boog. Formerly she was eminent in wickedness, but not too wicked for the grace of God, Now "she loveth much," for "many sins are forgiven her,"

"Hannes Trompetten was even in the present year captain of a horde of plundering Hottentots. One of his sisters belonging to the same gang, betook herself last year to our institution. In the present, a second followed her example, and also her aged father. At last, Hannes himself resolved to give up his flagitious employment, and endeavoured, with four of his brethren, to join us. In the execution of this plan, his brethren were killed by the Cuifres; and he alone escaped and carried his point. In both his sisters the almighty power of God's grace is glorified. The first was baptized in March, the second in April. In that month the Lord displayed his power in the conversion of our people in a

singular manner; and we saw therein eleven added to the assembly of those who shall be saved; but since that time, the increase has been much less rapid.

"In the same month one of our sisters to whom we had committed the spiritual inspection of our women, returned from an excursion she had made to Graaff Reinet. Our hearts rejoiced when she reported that the work of God amongst the Heathen in that place still continued, and that also two of the white inhabitants seemed to be under serious impressions.

"May 15, The wife of Brother Read was delivered of a daughter. It cannot be said that she was brought to bed; for the very morning of her delivery she ran quite alone to the river! Brother Read gave to this child in baptism the name. Soensi karoossin, signifying speedily delivered: not only alluding to the quickness of her delivery, but also expressing his ardent wishes, that this first fruit of his marriage might early be rescued by grace from the power of Satan, and the dominion of sin.

As there are several of the baptized, besides others among our people, who understand no other language than the Hottentot, we have drawn up and printed in that language, the Outlines of the Christian Religion, in the form of a catechism, under the title of Tzitzika Thuickwedi mika Kkwekkwenama (Principles of the words of God for the Hottentot Nation.)

"In September, Brother Boezak and Stampen returned from hunting elephants. In their journies, it seems they had with faithfulness and liberty conversed with several Colonists and Heathens on the subject of their eternal interests. When some of the firstmentioned disputed with Brother Boezak, and maintained that man must be saved by keeping the ten commandments, he answered, "If this be the way, then Christ is of no use to us." His discourses seem to have made deep impressions upon a young peasant, called Bromhout, a Hottentot, and two Hottentot women. On a subsequent hunting party he had a narrow escape from being killed by an elephant. He, assisted by two other brethren, had shot a female, and whilst they were engaged in cutting the animal to pieces, the male approached them so secretly through the bushes, that they

did not observe him before he got at them within the distance of twenty paces. He then fired at the animal, and The wounded him in the breast. wounded creature then ran straight on him, with a dreadful shriek, and all imaginable fury. In this critical moment the two others, who already had fled, turned about, and killed the elephant by their shots.

"About this time we received a letter from the Governor, in which he signified, that our Hottentots, who voluntarily had engaged themselves on military service by the armed corps of that nation, were to be highly commended for their exemplary conduct, and excelled the rest of their countrymen; and that one of the Moravian Brethren was daily expected, in quality of Field-preacher, by that corps, in order to prevent immorality, &c. This last step not only then gladdened our hearts, but afforded us additional comfort, when afterwards we were inforined, that the Batavian Republic. had decreed to send two Roman Catholic Ecclesiastics, at the public expence, into this country, in order to preach the Roman Catholic religion to those in the army, and others who are inclined to it. We saw the fulfilling of the prophecy, "When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him."

"October 27. We were informed by a letter from Brother Vos, written at the Cape, of the death of that faithful servant of Christ, Rev. Mr Syre, our friend and wellwisher. The next day Brother Read communicated this melancholy news to our congregation, celebrating the memory of a sincere friend, to whom he was so much indebted, in a sermon on Rev. xiv. 13.

"The number of those who have been baptized this year, amounts to Brethren and 17 Sisters, besides 14 children in all 36.

Extract of a Letter, dated Bethelsdorp,

April 2, 1804.

"OUR Bethelsdorp is lately considerably altered and increased; three nations are now mingled together; so that a stranger is not able to say whether he is in an establishment of Caffres, Gozakas, or Hottentots. The congregation of our church increases continually, and the power of grace; by which the Lord from above gives evidence, that our preaching of the gospel is not in vain. Within these last two weeks the grace of God has been so manifest to five young women, besides others whose

conversion is still doubtful to us, that I have not been able to deny them the water of baptism.

"Our Brethren who have been at Graaff Reinet, have brought us the agreeable intelligence that the preaching of the gospel is gradually blessed, and that the Lord makes use of our humble Brother Jochem in a striking We may ask now, Where is the wise? where is the learned? Out of the mouths of children of fourteen or. fifteen years old, we hear the praise of God!

manner.

"My Brother Read longs with me for the arrival of two or three faithful Missionaries, to whom we could transfer the care of this infant congregation, that we may, if God opens the door, attempt a missionary excursion either into the more northern, and entirely unknown parts of this continent, or to Madagascar, with a view, however, to return to our present station.

"The number of our inhabitants increases but very slowly, and amounts at this time to 320 in all. The wandering spirit and unsettled mind of the Hottentots, permits them not to stop long with us; and more than 300 have left us since the erection of this institution. There are, however, a few exceptions.

"At Graaff Reinet, where the labours of my dearest Brother Read have been so eminently blessed among the English soldiers, the spiritual seed now springs up among the Heathen. This poor flock is without a pastor; but the Great Shepherd watches, no doubt, over their souls. Now and then our Hottentot brethren visit them, and afford them spiritual food.

"The ground which Government has assigned for our institution, and which we now occupy, is about ten miles in circumference, but very barren, and seems to be unfit for the subsistence of a people who, in their present state of imperfection, can live only upon cattle and corn. Their stock of the former is inadequate to maintain them, though, by our care, it gradually augments; and the experience of two years successively, in which our harvest has totally failed for want of water, leaves so little hope of procuring the latter, that there is much reason to fear a famine. This prospect contributes much to the dispersion of our people among the colonists; and the rest, who continue with us, show, not ambiguously, a strong desire that this institution may be transferred to a more convenient spot. As every

acre of arable ground in this country is in the possession of the inhabitants, we see no possibility of procuring such a spot, except it be purchased from the actual possessor, unless the Governor should be inclined to give us some piece of ground which may be at his disposal; which case exists when a colonist abandons his farm beyond a certain and fixed time. While the Directors are deliberating upon the propriety of the first expedient (to which I see no objection except the sum of money which it will cost the Society) I will propose the latter to the Governor, and I will leave the issue to the direction of Providence, whose care and guidance we have hitherto in so many remarkable instances experienced, trusting that our Lord will not leave nor forsake us.

Remember me respectfully to all the Directors and Friends, especially those with whom I am more particularly acquainted.

I am, Dear Sir,
Your faithful Servant,
and Brother in Christ,
J. T. VANDERKEMP.

the necessary arrangements had been made, for the nearest point on the river Niger; on the banks of which it was his intention to encamp during the rainy season; and afterwards to proceed to explore the course of that river. One man of his party had died before he left Fatatenda, which was about the middle of April.

We trust that the rescarches of this able and enterprizing traveller will not only increase our geographical knowledge, and extend our commerce, but also prepare the way for the enlargement of the Redeemer's kingdom in those almost unknown regions.

MONUMENT OF LUTHER.

A subscription, it is said, is now carrying on in Germany, for erecting a Monument to the Memory of that illustrious Reformer, Dr. Martin Luther. The last amount advertised was 15,510 Rix-Dollars (408gl. 158). Doubtless, if any man ever deserved such a public mark of respect for the beneficial effects of his conduct to posterity, both in a civil and religious view, it is that bold and enterprizing ran of God, Luther! The attention of the Protestants on the Continent to this

subject, after a lapse of 260 years, has been roused by a Prize in one of the foreign universities, for the best Essay on the Influence of the Reformation upon Europe.

We are greatly concerned to hear that, in the beginning of October last, the Yellow Fever, that dreadful scourge of America, again prevailed at New York and Philadelphia.

An Address to the British Public, on the Moral and Religious State of Ireland.

[Continued from onr last, p. 573.]

"Yes, ye wise and generous Christians of Britain, these facts address you in the language of high and solein appeal. It is not for the political and religious interests of a sister country alone that your aids are invoked it is for your own security and national prosperity; it is for yourselves, your families, your churches, your religion, that your prayers and labours are now demanded. The late important Act of Union has identified

If Ire