thousand, and altogether lovely, who before appeared in his eyes, as a root out of a dry ground, having no form nor comeliness, no beauty, why he should be desired.' This change of sentiments and feelings, we affirm, is represented in the Scriptures, as the effect of Divine influence ;-of the influence of the Spirit of Ged,”—p. 227. The necessity of such divine influence results from the radical corruption of the human heart, since the supposition of selfchange involves in it, by consequence, a contradiction. 66 "How can," inquires Mr. W. (page 229) a principle of evid convert itself into a principle of good? How can enmity ever change itself into love? How can hatred of God, of its own accord, choose to love God? Is not this to suppose a prinsition to its proper nature, and inciple operating in diametrical oppo variable tendency? ed, they are received. In the order of nature, the discernment must precede the reception;-yet between the one and the other there is no imaginable interval of time. The reception might rather be said to accompany the discernment, than to follow it;-to be almost, indeed, nvolved in its very nature."-p. 224. It is to this spiritual discernment of the things of God, in their truth, and excellence, and glory, that the enlightening influence of the Divine Spirit is declared to be necessary. Natural men may perceive the meaning of gospel truths, but the influences of the Holy Spirit are necessary, it is contended, to a discovery of their wisdom, and excellence; their consistency, beauty, and suitableness. This discovery, Mr. W. remarks, is what the apostle means by spiritual discernment; and it is affirmed to result from the illuminating "In answer to this it may be influence of the spirit of God.-said, that certain views and consiThe natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual illumination, for the necessity of which Mr. W. so ably contends, is accompanied with, or rather includes in it, he afterwards states, the production of what may be call-hibition of the perfections of the Died a spiritual taste; a sense of the beauty and excellence of the object of knowledge revealed in the gospel, and by which the excellency of the character and truth of God are discerned and rekshed. The sinner, when spiritually enlightened, discerns wisdom,-heavenly wisdom, in what before he accounted foolishness;-consummate propriety in what formerly offended and disgusted him;-and that Saviour to be fairer than the childzen of men, the chief among ten derations are presented to the mind, which are, in their nature, fitted to subdue enmity, and to inspire love: and that this is quite sufficient to account for the change in question. "Let us examine this a little. The principle upon which the answer proceeds, obviously is, that the enmity of which I have been speaking has its source in ignorance; and that it requires only a just ex vine character, to make the Being who possesses these perfections the object of love. And so, in general, those persons against whom chiefly I now reason, are accustomed to express themselves. The soundness of the principle, however, is more than questionable. Observe respecting it, 1st, When the apostle speaks of enmity against God,' he must mean, if he means any thing that is evil, enmity against his true character. If it were otherwise,—if the enmity arose from false views of God, and required only the correction of these to make it give place to love, it would not be enmity against God at all. 66 2dly, On this supposition, the enly guilt would lie in the ignorance by which the enmity had been occasioned. But simple ignorance,-that is, ignorance considered in itself, as a deficiency purely intellectual, un connected with the state of the will and of the heart, and uninfluenced by it, cannotbe justly conceived to involve in it any guilt at all. It has nothing in it of the nature of moral turpitude. Ignorance is criminal, only in as far as it is voluntary, and connected with disposition. '3dly, In exact accordance with moval. I have accordingly observed already, that the spiritual illumination for the necessity of which I contend, includes in it the production of a spiritual taste, by which the excellencies of the character and truth of God are discerned and relished:-and that this constitutes the difference between natural and spiritual knowledge.” We highly approve of almost all Mr. W. has stated upon this important subject; yet there are difficulties connected with it which this discourse, interesting these remarks, is the fact, that, in and able as it is, has not, in our the Scriptures, ignorance is so far apprehension at least, removed. from being represented as the origin Unless we are mistaken, Mr. W. and cause of the enmity, that the agrees with those who deny that case is reversed; the enmity being in the conversion of sinners, the pointedly declared to be the cause Holy Spirit operates directly upof the ignorance. The gross darkon the mind, without the instruness, and idolatrous superstition of the heathen world, are traced im- mentality of divine truth. Now, mediately to this source by the in- without decidedly taking the spired apostle of the Gentiles:other side of the question, we They did not like,' says he, to re- think there are arguments in tain God in their knowledge: And support of it, which have not in another place he speaks of them been allowed their full weight as having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life by controversialists in this counof God, through the ignorance that try. The commencement of the is in them, because of the blindness good work takes place, says Mr. (more properly hardness or callous- W. when the sinner discerns and ness) of their hearts. That which receives the truth; or when he is the case with reference to God perceives the "truth, excellence, himself, is the case also with regard and glory," of spiritual things. to his gospel ;-which, indeed, is the And why are not the glory and clearest and fullest manifestation of his true character:-This is the excellence of spiritual things discondemnation, that light is come in-cerned by all mankind? Is it beto the world, and that men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil:-Why do ye not understand my speech? Even because ye cannot hear (that is, cannot bear) my word: He that is of God heareth God's words: ye, therefore, hear them not, because ye are not of God. In these and other passages, aversion of heart is clearly represented as the source of ignorance. From which it inevitably follows, that something else than mere knowledge, that is, than a mere ap prehension of the meaning of gospel doctrines, is necessary to its re cause God has cast a veil over them? Are they not, on the contrary, exhibited with the utmost possible degree of clearness in the sacred Scriptures? Can it be said with truth, that sinners do not see that which constitutes the excellence of spiritual things ?— Ought we not rather to admit that they do perceive it, but do not consider it excellent, because those things, and those things on ly, appear excellent to any beings, which are conformable to their nature? Must there not be then some operation of the Holy Spirit upon the mind, producing what, for want of a better word, may be called a spiritual taste, before spiritual things either will, or can be considered excellent? Mr. W. admits, indeed, the existence of a spiritual taste; but the question is," How is this spiritual taste produced?" If by the direct and immediate operation of the Spirit of God upon the mind, the point in dispute is conceded:-but if it be by the word of God as an instrument, it must be by leading us to see the excellence and glory of spiritual things: for how a taste for them can be produced by the instrumentality of divine truth, without this, is scarcely to be conceived. And yet Mr. W. represents this spiritual taste as necessary to a spiritual perception of divine things: nay, as that " by which the excellencies of the character and truth of God are discerned and relish ed" We think there is some thing like a contradiction here; for if these excellencies are perceived by that spiritual sense of which we are now speaking, it surely cannot result from the per ception of them. It is impossible to enter upon the full discussion of this subject here, and we rejoice to think it is unnecessary. We have long been accustomed to contend, that if a man believes that the conversion of a sinner is effected by the special influences of the Spirit of God, it is a matter of subordinate importance, whether he agree with Mr. Fuller, or Mr. McLean, as to the manner in which the agency of the Holy Spirit is exerted. Lecture 12, is on the Christian Character. Our limits forbid our saying more, than that it is sketched with the hand of a master. We pray God that all our readers may eminently exemplify it. In taking leave of a volume from which we have derived so much instruction and delight, we again beg to recommend it most earnestly to our readers.We shall find it difficult to acquit them of indifference to their own safety, if, while the poison of Socinianism is so industriously circulated, they neglect to possess themselves of what we have no doubt will, with the blessing of God, prove an effectual antidote against its baneful operation. RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. ་་་་་་འ་་་་ LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY. The following letter from the Rev. Mr. Milne, colleague with the Rev. Mr. Morrison in the Chinese Mission, is encouraging in a very high degree. -Mr. Milne, not being per. mitted to reside at the Portuguese Island of Macao, near Canton, resolved to visit various places in which the Chinese reside, and distribute among them the New Testament, which Mr. Morrison had translated into their language and printed, together with a Catechism and Tracts, in the same tongue. The subsequent letter to the Directors of the Mis sionary Society informs them of an extensive tour of fourteen hundred miles, which he made in the Island of Java, the opportunities he enjoyed of distributing the Scriptures and Tracts, the kindness he received from all ranks of persons, and the probability of good being effected by these exertions. This letter also affords a pleasing illustra tion of what Mr. Chalmers maintained in his excellent sermon- The Two Great Instruments appointed for the Propagation of the Gospel,'-that the Missionary and the Bible Institution are sister Societies,' and that it is the duty of a Christian public to keep both in vigorous operation-the two Societies go hand in hand: the one labours, while the other sows; the one provides Bibles, the other human agents for their circulation and illus tration. Thus, in the present instance, the Bible Society has generously contributed to assist Mr. Morrison in translating and printing the New Testament, and the Missionary So. ciety, under whose patronage he has laboured for seven years, is now, by another agent, widely distributing the sacred volume to the Chinese people. TO THE DIRECTORS. Batavia, July 1st and 2d, 1814.. I AM just returned from a journey through the eastern parts of Java, through the island of Madura. During this journey, by the good hand of God upon me, I have travelled about fourteen hundred miles over land without a hurt or a fall-visited Bencallan, the seat of the Sultan of Madura, and slept a night in the palace; and also Solo, the metropolis of the So-soon-ham, or Emperor of Java, to whom I was introduced. He reigns over more than a million of people. I have also visited all the towns and villages of any importance, where there are Chinese, from Batavia, near the west end of Java, to Sumanap, on the farther extremity of the Island of Madura; except Djocjoo-carta, the capital of the Sultan of Java, which is within about 50 miles of Solo. At all these places I have distributed Chinese New Testaments, Catechisms, Tracts, &c. to a considerable amount, and made arragements for sending some to the Chinese at Bangermasen, Pontiano, and Sambas, on the great Island of Borneo. The Chinese are my first object, and my chief attention has been paid to them during my late tour, which lasted for six weeks. But other objects were not neglected.I baptized one hundred and fourteen children, belonging, some to English parents, but chiefly to the Dutch and their descendants; and I was commissioned to this effect by the two Dutch clergymen, who, through age and infirmity, cannot VOL. II. No. 2. remove far from the places of their residence-viz. Batavia and Samarang. This service afforded me some pleasing opportunities of stating the great doctrines of the Sacred Scriptures of endeavouring to prevent the total extinction of the light of the gospel among the descendants of the once highly-favoured Dutch --and of attempting to prevent their entire relapse to Mahomedanism and Heathenism,-points to which, in my own opinion, they are fast hastening, for want of public instruction. I had also some oppor“ · tunities of preaching among my own countrymen, who are equally destitute of the ordinances of religion. To several Dutch gentlemen I am much indebted for kindness received during some parts of my journey; particularly to the Rev. Professor Ross, who gave me a general letter of introduction to all the Christians on the east side of Java; and to Mr. Hulft Van Koorn, Sourabaya, who rendered me very material aid. In consequence of letters of introduction from the Hon. the Governor, I was received every where by the British officers, both civil and military, with the utmost kindness, and treated with a hospitality which has scarcely a parallel; and not on ly so, but they also shewed a readiness to forward the objects of my Mission. I am under strong obligations to them all, especially to the Hon. Thomas Stampford Raffles, the Governor; and I wish, through the medium of your publications, to acknowledge the same to the public. The Chinese of all ranks, and in every place, received my books gladly, and listened with patience to what I had to say about the true God. So that what from opportu nities of attending to the object of my Mission among the Chinesewhat from seasons of religious instruction to Dutch and Englishwhat from intercourse with gentlemen of education and knowledge of the world-what from occasions of stating clearly the object of Missions, and of endeavouring to remove prejudices against them-and K what from the view of a highly cultivated country, happy under an enlightened and liberal government, I have much reason to be satisfied with this journey, though attended with some personal inconvenience,, and occasionally with extreme fatigue, both by sea and land, (I returned by sea). You will not, of course, in a letter where so many points must be touched on, expect the particulars of my tour-they must be reserved to another time. I shall, however, give you a general character of the Island, and of its inhabitants-a character which I have formed for myself, partly from what has come under personal observation, and partly from information drawn from the most undoubted sources. In regard to climate, Java-affords considerable variety. The sea coast being generally low, and often abounding with jungle, stagnate water, and superfluous vegetation, cannot be generally reckoned heal thy. As you approach the mountains, and in proportion as you ascend them, the climate becomes cooler, the water more pure, veges tables more esculent, and a propor rionable improvement in regard to salubrity As the length of the Island of Java is from east to west, and as its greatest breadth does not far exceed 100 miles, we cannot expect much difference as to health, arising frora latitude. But if the theory of Dr. 'Fongue, of America, be true--viz. That health does not depend so much on latitude, as on altitude,' then we may expect that Java will not be deficient, as the mountains are numerous and high, beginning generally at from eight to fifteen miles from the sea. The state of actual cultivation in Java is considerable, greatly improving, and, in some of the eastern parts, carried almost to the highest pitch. As the mountains are high, and Labounding with water, which, by proper rigation, might be carried over a vast extent of good soil, the wapability of improvement is almost incredible. The Island, in its present state, nourishes five millions of people on its own surface, and abundantly supplies its neighbours, and is capable, in my opinion, by progressive improvement, to support thirty millions of inhabitants ! The character of the people seems to improve in proportion as they are removed from commercial towns on the coast, where, alas! they have learned to impose and to oppress, from the example of Europeans.They are not the savage malicious race which they have been represented to be. I travelled among them unarmed and without fear. If after having known the present system of government in theory, and, in some measure, seen its operation on the circumstances of the people, I were allowed to give my opinion, it would be this:-The people are contented, prosperous, and attached to their rulers. But I seem to forget that I am writing only a letter. On my return from the east, I found three Dutch Missionary Brethren arrived from London. Their coming here is most seasonable, as both the ministers in the Reformed Church are advanced in age, and the people in many places destitute of the ordinances of religion. Mr. Supper is chosen and appointed to assist Professor Ross. Mr. Brack ner goes to Samarang, to take the place of Mr. Montanus, who is now unable to preach; and Mr. Kam goes to Sourabaya, to wait there for a passage to Amboyna, where there is a considerable number of Christians, entirely without a minister, and very desirous of having one. This last step was particularly recommended by our friend, Professor Ross. These worthy brethren are stationed in spheres of immediate, and, I hope, of great usefulness, and two of them freed from charge on the Society. I sincerely hope, however, that as you have judiciously recom mended in their instructions, they will not forget the primary object, the conversion of the Heathen, and will estimate the importance of their present situations only in as far as they may subserve this. |