To the Editor of the Remembrancer. were illegal. And concludes the Sir, It cannot be doubted that an injury is done to the cause of sound religion, whenever a true doctrine is supported by a false proof. In a case of this nature, a strong vantage ground is afforded to the impugner of such doctrine; while the youth ful mind, whose stock of scriptural knowledge is but slender, and opinions consequently unsettled, receives a very unfavourable impression, and, perhaps, a bias to scepticism, as the conclusion will naturally be formed from the use of a bad argument, that no better exists. On this ground, I cannot avoid expressing my regret that a most excellent passage from one of Bishop Sandford's Sermons, quoted in the Christian Remembrancer for October, should be wound up by a text of Scripture wholly inapplicable to the occasion. The author, after very justly observing that the doctrines of Christianity must form the foundation of moral practice, adds, "We have the assurance of the inspired word, that our works must be indebted for their acceptance to faith-for we therein read, that 'whatsoever is not of faith is sin.'" Now I think it must be universally acknowledged that the meaning of St. Paul, in this text, is totally different from the sense in which the author applies it. In the fourteenth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans, the Apostle exhorts the Gentile Christians to bear with the infirmities of the Jewish converts, and not compel them to act contrary to their conscience, by insisting on their partaking of particular meats, which they, still retaining some of their legal prejudices, believed unlawful. St. Paul, while he mainins the subject in dispute to be e of perfect indifference in itself, yet argues that the Jewish converts would do wrong to allow themselves the nse of those meats, as long as they retained the opinion that they subject by saying, " He that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith; for whatsoever is not of faith is sin:" that is beyond all question, every action is sinful which is not performed under a full conscientious persuasion of its lawfulness. And I am not aware that any commentator ever attached any other interpretation to the Apostle's language. As, therefore, the author means by faith a belief in the fundamental doctrines of the Gospel, must not his quotation be regarded as unfortunate for the doctrine which he otherwise so ably enforces? That our works, to be acceptable to God, must proceed from genuine faith, is a point on which all orthodox believers are agreed; for it is declared, not only by particular passages, but by the general tenour of Scripture; and, therefore, it is the more to be lamented that so sound and judicious a writer as Bishop Sandford, should have rested it on an irrelevant proof. I am, Sir, &c. &c. C. P. To the Editor of the Remembrancer. Sir, THE following M.S. note, written in a copy of M'Knight's Harmony, though evidently a mere memorandum, appears to me so just, that I have copied it for you without alte ration. I am, &c. the decided testimony of the Fathers in "Dr. Macknight, unable to get rid of favour of Episcopacy, labours to set aside. their authority by adducing instances of their mistakes-in which three things are remarkable. First, the instances are very they are not on subjects of doctrine or few, and generally very trifling. Secondly, discipline, but mere matters of Chronology. Thirdly, they are none of them from those Fathers on whose testimony we chiefly rely, (for instance, Ignatius and Clemens,) nor from any of the earliest Fathers. "St. Jerome's inaccuracy is on our side, because in his zeal to defend the Presby tery from the encroachments of the arrogant Deacons, he appears sometimes to elevate it to an equality with the Episcopacy though, by the bye, he is by to means consistent in this, which shews that it arises from his impetus." the only known collection of the In the same hand are some very hasty notes in Burke's Works; one of which I copy as it is there written. « Burke (admits, on the authority of Cæsar, that Druidism originated in Britain, and was thence diffused into Gaul, &c.; at the same time he remarks, that this, is contrary to the natural order of things, since Gaul' was peopled and civilized before Britain In fact, Druidism was probably, nay, certainly, a remain of patriarchal tradition, and travelled † west. ward with population. The sanctity sup- "The Society have given me leave, for posed in the misletoe-the ceremonies of dispatch sake, to print what I am comcutting off the branch the peculiar manded to say in common to their Cornotion respecting the acorn-and the respondents, in regard the number of thein druidical § temples, &c. &c. all which is increased, and that sending the yearly most strongly resénible the original re-packet would be otherwise long delayed, vealed religion of mankind. One proof the particulars I am to acquaint you with that Druidism was not invented in Britain. are as follow. The divination by birds, and by entrails, similar to that of the Romans, that they must have had a common origin; and this origin must have been previous to the settlement of either country, for there could have been no communication after wards. It appears to follow then, that both religions were derived from the patriarchal stock. was Burke's idea that this sort of divination might have arisen in both cases from watching the signs of the weather, is inconsidered for though the flight of birds might be supposed to indicate the weather, the state of entrails certainly could not. They seem also to have been acquainted with the Sabbath, or seventh day, as do the Aser nations." Extracts from Reports of the Society for promoting Christian Know ledge 90 A FRIEND, has favoured us with a loan of what we understand to be ང་གངས་ཞུས་ནས་མ་ང་ལྟ་ག་ས་ ་ད་ག་བརྒྱུས་པ་གས་བར་བ་་་་ནས་ག་ར་གམ་་་་་་་་་་་་་ See Ahidj. Eng. Hist. o Horsley's Essay just published. See Parkhurst, Pref. Heb, Lex. See Shuckford's Connexion. Human Victims imitative of Abraham's Sacrifice. The Society it may be of use, to prevent the concealment or misapplication of moneys or land given to charitable uses, to have such charities registered in some public place; and, therefore, recommend it to you to procure an entry of the notices of such gifts upon tables, to be hung up in the parishes to which such charities belong, or otherwise, as you think may best preserve the memory of them. The Society having heretofore promiscuously used the v propagating, and promoting, in their ti title, and considering that the coincidence of the former with the title of the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, has occasioned mistakes, they have agreed, for the future, to call themselves only by the name of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. The Society having been informed of some methods used in Bedfordshire and Pembrokeshire, for circulating books among the Clergy, I am directed to acquaint you, therewith, in hopes they may Le of use, where public libraries are not yet erected: one method is, by communicating reciprocally, catalogues of each others libraries, in order to lend what one may be provided with different from the other: and the other method is, to facili tate the procuring of new books by a small annual subscription, which being laid ont therein by common consent, the books after they have been perused alternately, are divided, and shared by lot among the sbscribers. "And whereas a worthy correspondent has found by experience, that his providing aire library of books for each of his chiren, hath much tended to excite a desire in them after the knowledge of religan; the Society takes the liberty of communicating it to you, that you may recommend the same thing where you thisk proper, ont of a sense they have, that nothing is more to be regarded in the education of children than creating in them a thirst after knowledge and virtue; by which means they will have, also, a larger feld for the exercise of industry, which is a thing of vast importance to be encouraged, being, as may be said, the parent of all considerable attainments." 1709. Extracts from Circular, 1710. "The Society being desirous that the next account of charity schools should be perfected for the press by Easter at farthest, I am ordered to request you would be pleased, some time in Lent next, to communicate the state of the schools in your neighbourhood, particularly when such schools were set up; what number of children are taught and clothed of each sex, and by what subscriptions, collections, or endowments, maintained; how many children put ont apprentices, to services, or to sea, from the beginning of each school; and where there are schoolhonses, at whose expence built; and what other particulars fall under your notice, in relation to schools, or the account of them now published. "I may also acquaint yon, that the Society are inclined to think, if their correspondents in each county were disposed to meet once a year, or oftener, if found practicable, to consult how they may promote charity schools, and remove such dificulties as occur in the erecting or maintaining of them, it might contribute very much to further the design. * Permit me also to add another snggestion, that if the worthy corresponding members did sometimes visit, not only these charity schools in their neighbourhood, but such as are more distant from hem, when they happen to travel in the atry, or in their way to London, leaving with them a word of commendation or adrice, suitable to the condition of such schools; as tiris may be done without fence, so no doubt it would be a very REMEMBRANCER, No. 13. great encouragement, both to masters and children, to see themselves thus taken notice of by strangers. "The Society believe it will be a pleasure to their correspondents to hear that a charitable person has contributed for the performance of divine service in a prison at Bristol, and that this has occasioned the like charity to the Marshalsea prison in Southwark; and they mention this the rather, because they hope that these good examples may excite others to promote the like charity to other prisons. "Besides this, there is a subscription going on for fixing large quarto Bibles, and other good books, in the prisons about London and Westminster; and there are a good number already set up in several prisons, at which the prisoners seem exceedingly to rejoice; and, it is hoped, will make a good use of them: this design is not yet compleated, but it is hoped by the contribution of charitable persons it will in time be much enlarged.” Extracts from Circular, 1712. "The account of the charity schools, which you will therewith receive, is not yet so exact as could be wished; and, therefore, I am obliged to renew the request I formerly made yon, of favouring me some time in, or before next Lent, with the state of those schools which are in your knowledge, towards rendering the next impression of that account still more perfect. "The Society conceive that great care ought to be taken in the well disposing of the children when they go from these schools; and because some have apprehended that the placing so many of them out apprentices to manual trades, as is now generally done, may occasion in time a want of servants, especially in husbandry, the Society recommend it to your consideration, whether the bringing up the children to husbandry, or putting them out to services in sober families, may not be more useful to the public, and no less beneficial to themselves. "But however these children are disposed of, it will be very necessary before. hand to teach them that great lesson of humility which our Saviour has prescribed to all that will be his disciples, least the advantages they receive from a pious education should incline them to put too great a value upon themselves; and, therefore, the masters should be often put in mind of guarding the children under their care, as much as possible, against any such dangerous conceits, and in order C thereunto, to instruct them very carefully in the duties of servants, and submission to superiors. Another thing the Society take the freedom of recommending to you as a means to promote Christian knowledge, is, that you would endeavour to prevail upon the masters and mistresses of the charity schools in your neighbourhood to attend two or three evenings in a week for teach ing such grown persons to read as have been neglected in their youth: this is a matter of such importance, that the Society cannot but think it well deserves the consideration of the trustees to encou rage it. "Where the fund for cloathing the children of the charity schools has not been sufficient to do it entire, you may, perhaps, think it not amiss to recommend the experiment that has been made at Oswestry, in Shropshire, by putting the whole school upon an innocent contest for stockings and shoes, and other parts of their apparel, to be acquired only by diligence and improvement in their learning. If any thing can add to the zeal which has of late years appeared for encouraging the design of charity schools, it must be the opinion Her Majesty hath of it, which she was pleased to signify in her late gracions letter to both the Archbishops, dated August 20, 1711, in the following words: And forasmuch as the pious instruction and education of children is the surest way of preserving and propagating the knowledge of true religion, it hath been very acceptable to us to hear that, for the attaining these good ends, many charity schools are now erected throughout this kingdom by the liberal contributions of our good subjects; we do, therefore, earnestly recommend it to you, by all proper ways, to encourage and promote so excellent a work, and to countenance and assist the persons principally concerned in it, as they shall always be sure of our pro tection and favour.' "As to the Protestant Mission to the East Indies, I am to acquaint you that the straments and books, the better to enable the missionaries to recommend themselves to the Heathen Batives, by improvements in those arts which are peculiar to Europe. In all which they gratefully acknowledge the assistance that has been given by several of their worthy correspondents. "There has, likewise, been remitted by the Society the value of 100l. in foreign silver, which was returned to them by Mr. Professor Frank, as collected at Halle, in Saxony, for, the benefit of the Protestant Mission.... “An history of the attempts that have been made to convert the popish natives of Ireland, to the established religion, having been lately communicated to the Society by the Rev. Mr. Richardson, one of their correspondents in that kingdom, they gladly embrace the opportunity of recommending the design of the author as a work highly tending to promote the welfare of Her Majesty's subjects, and the Protestant interest in that kingdom; and they hope it will meet with the countenance of all that wish well to those great ends.95 "And whereas a worthy correspondent has signified that he has found it very beneficial to his parishioners to communicate the books annually sent to him, in the following method, by putting one of each sort in a small box, bought for that purpose, to be kept all the week in the parish chest, but to be brought out and left open on sundays and holidays, for any of them to read there at such times, before and after morning and evening service, allowing them, if they desire it, to take home the book they want, or like, for a week or longer time, npon promise to restore it when demanded, ordering them to advise with him, if after they have read the book they want to have any thing in it farther explained; and to the intent that none of the books may be lost, there is a paper book laid up in the box with them, in which is a catalogue of the books, with the prices wrote at one end, and at the other, what are lent out, and when, to whom; the Society leave it to your this or any and cargo sent thither, as mentioned in the prudence whether you will sooks you last circular letter, fell unhappily into the 328 New Testaments in Portuguese, A pair of globes, 16 inches diameter, and a great variety of mathematical in other method render the receive from them a as useful as you can. the better to understand the language of the New Testament; there is mother circumstance of advantage attending the study of the Septuagint, which I do not think is yet exhausted. That version often renders an obscure proverbial or idiomatic Hebrew expression, by ano, ther proverb or idiom, more intelli. gible to the readers of that day; which eastom of theirs, if duly attended to, would have prevented many a conjectural slash of the Hebrew text from the critics, who too often, in this case, use the authority of the version to correct the text, where there is n no error, because they have not sufficiently attended to the genius of the version, the authority of which they press into their service. I have been very forcibly struck with the Septuagint version of Deut. xxix 19. Our translation runs thus with the He brew, verse 18. "Lest there should be among you' man or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the Lord our God, to go and serve the Gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood. V. 19. And it come to pass, when he beareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination (Marg. stubbornness) of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst. (Marg. the drunken to the thirsty.) V. 20. The Lord will not spare him, but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousy shall smoke against that inan, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the Lord shall blot out his name under heaven, V. 21. And the Lord sball separate him unto evil out of all the tribes of Israel, Cha escape the punishment of his crimes, because God would not bring the nation to ruin for the sake of punish ing him and his family individually. (According to the sentiment upon which Abraham reasoned, in the case of Sodom, "will God destroy the righteous with the wicked Mà our amrudéons díxalov μetà dosbes" x larai i♪inars is à avecús. Gen, xviii. 23.) In contradiction to which delusion, the Almighty assures them that he will so order the course of his secret providence, that such a presumptuous sinner shall be sure not to escape his vengeance, let the fate of the nation be what it may. A decisive proof of the spe cial interference of the providence of God in the government of the Israelites, illustrated in many instances in the punishment of the idolatrous kings and their families; of which the people partook more or less, according to the share they had in the idolatry of their rulers. We cannot, at this distance of time, pretend to trace the fate of meaner idolatrous families; but by the xliv. Psal. 20, 21. and by the son of Sirach's observation, xvi. 4-13. as well as by many other notices in the Psalms and Proverbs, it seems as if it were a common observation that these sins brought families to ruin. The above view of this passage seems to connect the whole so well together, the general threat of extirpating the nation or tribe, with the more particular one of extirpating the family or the individual, as to leave no subterfuge of hope to any against whom the God of all the earth, and their God and King in particular, set his face. There will be no violence done to the Hebrew by understanding it in the same sense. I should take the version of the margin, "the drunken" and "the thirsty," the words being both adjectives in the Hebrew, and turn the sentence exactly in the form of the Greek, ND TTT " on account of the drunkard |