of Church hath honoured this day, in causing his messages mercy and love to be received by myriads. The observance of the Sabbath has been marked with the signal approbation of Heaven on nations, families, and individuals; and a neglect of it has caused, in a variety of instances, the displeasure of God to be revealed. Notwithstanding the abounding iniquity, the present period affords many pleasing proofs of those who are zealous to promote the glory of God and the good of Man. Does any branch of reformation appear more important than a religious observance of this day? "Remember the Sabbath-day, to keep it holy." The Christian, who is happily acquainted with the Lord of the Sabbath, connects duty and privilege together, and rejoices at its return! Christians, shew your attachment to your Master, by an attempt that his day may be honoured! Reflection sometimes points out a path of usefulness in society, before unthought of. I have made the above remarks, in consequence of seeing the good effects produced in this and the adjacent parish, thro the exertion of a few individuals. A gentleman in this village, who is a member of the "Society for the Suppression of Vice," observed to two of his friends, how painful it was to behold the inhabitants of this neighbourhood so generally inattentive to the Sabbath. They wished to be introduced to the magistrates, to obtain their sanction (one of whom is Rector of T--): when their designs were communicated, the magistrates, in the most respectful and active manner, concurred with their wishes, and have proceeded in a way highly honourable to their office. A general reformation has taken place; the shops are close shut, and the Sabbath is here no longer a day of traffic. It is pleasing to behold the change; and I doubt not, but in many places, were an individual or individuals to exert themselves, similar effects would be produced. Edmonton, J. F. No. III. THE CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHER. THE EARTH. IN speaking of those bodies which revolve round the Sun, we shall begin with the Earth, because we are so much better acquainted with its motions than with those of any other plaIn its form it is globular: hence, when a ship appears at sea, we perceive first the masts, and afterwards the hull and lower parts of the vessel. That this is the true shape of the net. Earth, is evident, because navigators have sailed completely round it; and, by continuing in the same direction, have arrived at the place from whence they set out. The Earth is not, however, a perfect sphere, being something like an orange in shape; the axis on which it is supposed to turn passing through the heart of the orange from the place where the stalk is inserted into it. The ends of the axis are called the Poles of the Earth. The diameter at the Poles is 7893 English miles; but at the Equator 7928 miles. The earth revolves daily round its axis*, from west to east by this means the difference of the day and night is produced. When the side of the globe we inhabit is towards the Sun, we enjoy the light; but when from the Sun, we are in darkness. Beside this diurnal motion, the earth performs an annual revolution round the Sun, at the distance of 90,000,000 of miles. It is this annual revolution, in consequence of the inclination of the earth's axis, which occasions the varation of the seasons, and the different length of the days and nights. Light and heat are much more equally diffused by the inclination of the earth's axis, than they would have been by any other means. The inhabitants of those parts of the earth where the heat of the Sun, in consequence of the oblique direction of his rays, is the least, enjoy the longest days when the Sun is in their hemisphere. The unseen haud of the great Creator has preserved the axis of the Earth constantly parallel to itself; that is, always pointing to the same star, ever since its formation. This is the more remarkable, when it is considered that the Earth moves in its orbit with the surprizing velocity of 68,243 miles in an hour, at the same time revolving round its axis in twenty-four hours. Yet has the wisdom of as, *The astonishing distance and amazing magnitude of the heavenly bodies, as well as other arguments which might be brought forward, render it much more agreeable to reason, and that beautiful simplicity which prevails through the creation, to suppose that the changes in their appearance, with respect to us, are produced by the motion of the earth. Some persons have objected to this hypothesis those passages of Scrip ́ture which seem to assert the immutability of the earth, and the motion of the sun, &c.. In answer to which it may be remarked, that since it is not the design of Scripture to instruct men in philosophy, it is not necessary to restrain those texts to the strict meaning of the words; but we may consider them as spoken according to the appearance of things in common conversation, we frequently say the Sun rises and the Sun sets; when we believe it, at the same time, to remain stationary. In some of them, it is evident that nothing more is meant than the permanency of that state of things which the Creator has established: in others, the term world is used in a moral, and not a natural sense. See Psa. xciii. 1,Gen. xix. 23,-Psa. xix. 6,-and Josh. x. 13,-where "the Sun is said to stand still in the midst of heaven." It may be observed, that the word here rendered Sun, more properly signifies the light of the Sun; and the effect might be produced by a miraculous alteration in the refractive power of the atmosphere. Similar exertions of divine power probably produced the return of the shadow on the dial of Ahaz. God so fixed the laws of Nature, that we feel no inconvenience from this rapid motion; nor are we even sensible of it; for if a body be projected from a body in motion, it will always partake of the motion of that other body: thus, a stone dropped from the mast of a ship while the vessel is under sail, is not left by the vessel, but falls exactly at the foot of the mast. These various motions of the earth, regularly performed for near 6000 years, afford a most striking evidence of the providence of God, and his faithfulness to his word; for he hath said, "While the earth remaineth, seed-time, and harvest, and cold, and heat, and summer, and winter, and day and night, shall not cease*." Successive generations of men have seen the accomplishment of this declaration. Every returning Sun brings with it a fresh proof of his truth: let this encourage our daily reliance on his promise. "He, by whose all-commanding word "Seasons their changing course maintain, "In ev'ry change a pledge affords, "That none shall seek his face in vain." NEWTON. The most splendid, and, apparently, the most lasting works of human genius and human power, have sunk with their authors into the dust, while the ordinances of Heaven still remain. The Sun gives bis light by day, and the Moon by night; the summer and the winter return in regular succession; and they will remain until He, by whom all things exist, shall have accomplished the purposes of his love and mercy, and gathered in his elect: then the Earth, whose foundation he hath laid, shall perish," and the heavens, the work of his hands, they shall perish; yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed *." In the mean time, these varying scenes in winter and summer are all dependent upon his will; so it is in the Christian life - the winter and summer of our experience, the day and night of our souls, depend upon our being within the beams of the Spiritual Sun: when turned from Him, all is darkness and barrenness! "My soul a sharper winter mourns, "When will the gentle Spring return, "Jesus! my glorious Sun, arise! "Tis thine the frozen heart to move; "O hush these storms, and clear my skies, Gen. viii, 22. NEWTON, + Psa. cii. 26i Mr. Editor, ON THE SLAVE TRADE. THE abolition of the Slave Trade is so desireable to men who truly love and fear God, that it would be a matter of wonder to me it has not been accomplished, if I did not know how exceedingly strong and powerful the argument of selflove and self-interest is with the majority of mankind. This, Sir, can extinguish in the breast of man every thing truly humane, as well as almost every degree of religious influence. This must convince every wise man, that the good which is done upon earth, the Lord doth it himself. It is, Sir, the influence of God's grace, and of his Spirit upon the heart, that impels and influences the heart to every thing that is truly great and good. Thoughts of this kind were revolving in my mind when I read the letter on the Slave Trade in your last Magazine. Christian ministers are there urged to make this a matter of prayer and supplication unto God. I join issue with that gentleman; and recommend, with all the powers of my soul, that not only ministers, but that every good man and woman who may read these lines, to pray to Almighty God that he would dispose the hearts of the great men of the land to roll away this reproach from the nation, by the abolition of it. If there be many thousands of Africans deliberately destroyed by that trade, only in the passage to the West Indies, and in the seasoning (so called) is it not high time, without using any other arguments, to put an end to a traffic so deformed with murder and oppression? I have often thought that this trade is a great mill-stone round the neck of this highly favoured nation to sink us to perdition, since it is so marked with crimes contrary to the laws of God, and must be so displeasing unto him. I have lately made it a petition in my daily prayers, that God would influence the hearts of the Legislature to put an end to it. Let us hope and believe that it will be accomplished. Deptford. I am, Sir, your constant reader, J. D. AWFUL DEATHS. ON Tuesday, Aug. 22, 1904, at half past seven in the evening, two women of the Jewish nation, in Stoney Lane, Petticoat Lane, London, were contending about a quart pot. After many oaths and imprecations, they appealed to God. The real owner exclaimed, "God strike me dead, if it is not mine!" The other woman repeated the same words; when the former replied, "Then God strike you dead, for it is not yours!" Awful to relate! the woman whose vessel it was not, and who had so profanely imprecated the divine vengeance as the test of her integrity, immediately dropped down dead! The truth of this relation may be depended upon. The person who communicated it to the Editor having received it from by-standers and relatives of the deceased; one of whom shewed her garment rent on the occasion, in the manner of the Jews. The person who first laid hold on the deceased when she dropped, would have permitted him to publish her name and place of abode; but being a Jewess, and having already received much abuse from her people, on account of her having mentioned it to Christians, was fearful of excommunication if she did it. **The Editor has made enquiry in the neighbourhood, and has every reason to believe the fact truly stated. THE late Mr. T--, of London, spending an evening with some jovial companions, and trifling with what was perhaps an important presentiment of his death, while under bodily indisposition, carelessly said, "I think I am going to Hell" One of the company replied, And how would you wish to go?' Mr. Trejoined, "A hunting !" The very next day, Nov. 19, 1804, he joined a subscriptionpack, a few miles from London. Having tired out his own horse, he borrowed a spirited one of a friend in the neighbourhood, mounted it boldly, rode a few miles, was thrown violently against a tree, and was so much injured, that he expired four days after his fall! Reader, beware how you trifle with Hell! C. QUERIES. 1. A Constant Reader of your edifying Miscellany wishes some of your Correspondents would take into their consideration, Whether it be consistent with the character of a Christian to attend on those musical exhibitions at the public theatre, called Oratorios? 2. It has been often suggested to D. H. that he ought to employ his time on the Sabbath-Day with his family, rather than go into the village schools as a teacher: he requests to know, Whether it is his duty to relinquish the latter and attend to the former? 3. A Constant Reader is desirous to know, Whether it be right for a person in darkness of soul to join with a congregation in singing those hymns which express the language of triumphant faith, when it is not possible to appro priate the contents of them to himself? |