In this region, therefore, a new field appears to be opened And if it is an undeniable fact, that the British System is peculiarly calculated to surmount the great difficulties that oppose themselves to the introduction of knowledge where it has before been quite neglected, and that its acquisition will not require great expense of time or money-how important an instrument may it not become, in the hands of Divine Providence, to a large community of those of our fellow men, who have too long been considered as incapable of being raised to the digni ty of men, to the invaluable blessings of civilization, and to the ability of strengthening their faith, hope, and charity, from those sacred oracles which, by divine aid, were destined to become the means of salvation for them as well as for ourselves! ORDINATIONS. In Marshfield, the Rev. Martin Parris. At St John's Church, Providence, April the 13th, Rev. Jonathan Wainwright, resident at Cambridge, was admitted by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Griswold, to the Holy Order of Deacon. At Chatham, Rev Stephen Raymond.-Rev. Mr. Shaw, of Eastham, made the Introductory Prayer; Rev. Mr. Thompson, of Rehoboth. preached the Sermon; Rev. Mr. Lincoln, of Falmouth, made the Consecrating Prayer; Rev. Mr. Burr, of Sandwich, gave the Charge; Rev. Mr Simpkins, of Brewster, addressed the Church and Society; Rev. Mr. Johns, of Orleans, expressed the Fellowship of the Churches; and Rev. Mr. Hayward, of Barnstable, made the Concluding Prayer. 1 NOTICE BY MESSRS. WELLS AND LILLY. THE time having expired for which the undersigned agreed to print and publish the Christian Disciple, and the work having been transferred to J. T. BUCKINGHAM as printer and principal agent, in connexion with WEST & RICHARDSON as publishers, the subscribers and agents are hereby informed that the Bills issued the last year, and all the accounts which remain unpaid, are now to be settled for the editor, with his agents, at the Bookstore of WEST & RICHARDSON, No. 75, Cornhill. Boston, May 10, 1817. WELLS & LILLY. NOTICE BY THE EDITOR. THE Editor of the Christian Disciple has occasion to inform the patrons, agents, and subscribers for the work, that the accounts are now in the hands of JOSEPH T. BUCKINGHAM as printer and principal agent, in connexion with Messrs. WEST & RICHARDSON as publishers. On a recent examination of the books it has been found that a large majority of the subscribers have been punctual in their payments; for which the Editor presents his grateful acknowledgements. But he has reason to regret that a considerable number of the subscribers appear on the books as indebted for all the volumes of the work from its commencement, and others as indebted for two or three volumes prior to the present year. In conducting such a work some mistakes are to be expected; and the Editor cannot but fear that some of those who appear on the books as indebted for three or four years, prior to 1817, have either failed of receiving their copies, or of being credited for money which they have paid. For it seems hardly credible that men of reputation, integrity and benevolence, would continue, four or five years, to receive such a work, at the expense of the Editor, without paying any part of the very moderate price at which the copies are distributed. But if any have been thus negligent, they are entreated to consider, whether this is doing to others as they would that others should do unto them, and whether they are not in duty bound to make immediate payment. As the Editor aims to conduct the work on the principles of peace and good will to men, it would be painful to him, if any other than pacific measures should be necessary to collect the money which is due. He therefore earnestly requests of all who have been delinquent, that they would adopt such measures for settling their accounts as the laws of equity and benevolence require. It will be remembered that the pay for the fifth volume will be due on the delivery of the next Number. May, 1817. THE CHRISTIAN DISCIPLE., No. 6. JUNE, 1817. Vol. V. REVIEW OF DR. CAMPBELL'S ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF SCOTLAND. "AN address to the people of Scotland upon the alarms that have been raised in regard to popery, 1779. By George Campbell." From this address it appears that a motion had been made in the British Parliament for the repeal of certain acts which infringed the rights of Roman Catholics, and exposed them to suffering. This motion had excited great alarm among protestants, and particularly in Scotland. A cry of danger bad been raised, and much agitation produced. A motion had also been made in the General Assembly of the Presbyterians to have them employ their influence with the Parliament against the repeal of those acts. The motion was at first rejected, but Dr. Campbell supposed that it would be renewed at the next meeting of the Assembly; and as it was not probable that he could attend the meeting, he published his views of the subjeet in the Address now before 21 66 ject in which his heart was deeply interested. It is divided into three chapters, with the following titles I. The doctrine of the gospel in regard to persecution, particularly of persecutors. II. The conclusion, to which sound policy would lead us in regard to the toleration of Papists. III. The proper and Christian expedients for promoting religious knowledge, and repressing error." A me thodical review of the several parts of the Address will not be attempted. Our object is to exhibit some sentiments and remarks which may be useful to all the readers of the Disciple. The first chapter commences with the following paragraph: "The name of persecutor is justly become so odious that I know no sect of Christians who do not disclaim the character with abhorrence. Even Papists will not confess that they persecute. By their own account they only administer wholesome severities, for recovering those who have swerved from the truth, or, if irreclaimable, for deterring others from following their pernicious courses-for defending themselves against their machinations, and for giving timely check to the contagion of heresy. These, say they, are purposes the most salutary imaginable. They maintain farther, that what is done in support of truth, however cruel it may appear, is not persecution; that those punishments only deserve to be branded with that appellation, which are employed in defence of error. But as they are always in the right, they can never be in hazard of inflicting these." Such is the plea of Papists to evade the charge of persecution. Can better reasons be assigned by any other sect for their abuse of such as dissent from their opinions? "Other parties, says the Doctor, do not with equal arrogancy claim infallibility; but often with greater inconsistency they exact such a respect to their decisions, as can be vindicated only on the supposition that they are infal lible." ac The Dr. gives his own deûntion of persecution in the following words :-" The true definition of persecution is, to distress men, or harass them with penalties of any kind, on count of an avowed difference in opinion or religious profession. It makes no material odds, whether the distress be inflicted by legal authority, or by the exertion of power altogether lawless.-Nor does the greater or less severity of the punishments make any differ ence but in degree." After commenting on several passages of Scripture to show that every degree of persecution is inconsistent with the spirit of the gospel, he observes :— The disciple ought doubt less to be formed on the amiable pattern exhibited by his Master, whose character it was, as delineated by the prophet, that he would not contend, nor raise a clamour, nor make his voice to be heard in the streets; that he would not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoaking flax who was not less eminent for all the mild and gentle virtues, humility, condescension, candour, humanity and benignity, than for those which excite higher admiration, patience, purity and justice-not to mention the most comprehensive beneyolence or love.". "Is it not most natural to think that a cause will be best supported by the same means by which it was founded, and by which it received its first footing in the earth? Ought there not to appear in the servant some portion, some traces of the spirit of his Master? To the dispensation of the gospel, which is the dispensation of grace, mercy and peace, ought there not to be a suitableness in the methods employed to promote it." "But, say our opponents in this argument, popery is a superstition so haneful as not to deserve any favour, especially at the hands of protestants. Its intolerance to them and persecuting spirit, if there were nothing else to aceuse it of, would be sufficient to justify the severest treatment we could give it : This treatment to papists could not be called persecution, but just retaliation, or a necessary means of preventing perdition to ourselves." Such were the protestant pretexts for intolerance towards papists. But to this kind of reasoning the Doctor replies"Let popery be as black as ye will. Call it Beelzebub if you please. It is not by Beelzebub that I am for casting out Beelzebub, but by the spirit of God. We exclaim against popery, and in exclaiming against it, we betray but too manifestly that we have imbibed of the character for which we detest it-the most unlovely spirit of popery, and with the arms of popery we fight against popery." Having urged the command of Christ, "Love your enemies," &c. the Dr. remarks:-"I am not ignorant that there are Christian commentators, who by their glosses elude the force of the plainest precepts of our Lord, much in the same way that the Jewish rabbies invalidated the commandment of God. Christ, say such, does not mean in those expressions, the enemies of our nation, much less the enemies of our faith; it is only personal enemies he is speaking of." To which the Dr. replies, "That all sorts of enemies are included, there is not a shadow of room to doubt.” A more abominable, or more dangerous perversion of scripture was perhaps never made than is now in view. What! shall a Christian be required to love a few personal enemies if he happens to have such, and still be allowed to hate whole sects, or whole nations of his fellow beings! The turn given to this command by those deluded commentators," was evidently made with a design to accommodate the command to the popular customs of the age in which they lived-war and persecution. But with equal qase it may be accommodated to "The sense of what became a minister of the New Covenant, a preacher of good will to men, was so strong on the minds of the primitive Christians, that when our religion came first into favour with the magistrate, it was looked on universally as a becoming action in ministers, to use their good offices in behalf of an unhappy creature who had expos ed himself to the stroke of publie justice, whenever any favourable circumstances could be pleaded in extenuation of his crime. But in no case whatever was it thought suitable that he should interpose to call for vengeance. That the servant of the Prince of peace should prove a peace maker, mediator and intercessor, was entirely consonant to the nature of his office; but that he should interpose as an avenger, or as an instigator of others to vengeance, or to violent and vindictive measures, was considered as a practical denial of the Lord that bought him, who came not to destroy men's lives but to save them; and as what suited more the character of that being whom they called the adversary and accuser of the brethren." Happy will be the day when such sentiments shall become universal. In the last chapter, having stated the proper and Christian expedients for promoting knowledge and repressing error, the Dr. made the following pungent remarks: |