We

residence on this forsaken spot. only observed a few Turcomans, who had pitched their tents in the area of the amphitheatre. Infidelity itself must confess, that the menace of the Scriptures has been executed. It was a subject of interest to me, to find that the amphitheatre, which still remains, was built not much later than the time when St. John wrote the Apocalypse; nor could I help inquiring, whether theatrical amusements might not have been one of the principal causes which induced the decay of spirituality in Laodicea: we know, from the passionate fondness of the ancients for these sports, and also from the powerful condemnation of them by the primitive fathers, that they must have been a source of serious temptation to the early Christians. Unhappy was the hour, when the youth of either sex were prevailed on to take their seat in these splendid structures; that solid and serious felicity which the Gospel imparts, would soon be expelled amidst such tumultuous assemblies; and, with so many objects to inflame the passions, and to corrupt the heart, there was little prospect that a single visit would leave the individual without being infected with a dangerous contagion. Though circumstances are somewhat different in modern theatres, it is greatly to be apprehended that the results are not dissimilar: how many a youth, who awakened the best hopes, has been utterly ruined by these entertainments!" (To be continued.)

EPISCOPAL ACTS.

At an ordination held in St. John's church, Bridgeport, on Sunday, the 2d of September, by the Right Rev. Bishop Brownell, Nathan Kingsberry, and Edward W. Peet, were admitted to the holy order of deacons. The candidates were presented by the Rev. Mr. Judah, of Bridgeport, and a sermon delivered by the bishop.

In his recent tour, the bishop has administered the rite of confirmation in the churches at Litchfield, Milton, New-Preston, Kent, New-Milford, Brookfield, Newtown, Huntington, Bridgeport, and Hamden; in all, to about 130 persons.-Epis copal Watchman.

In the Diocese of New-York.

On the 3d of September, 1827, the Right Rev. Bishop Hobart consecrated St. Andrew's church, Walden, Orange county; on the 6th, he consecrated Christ church, Greenville, Greene county; and, on the 12th, St. Peter's church, Bainbridge, Chenango county. We have not the means of giving the particulars of the services per

formed on these several occasions.

On the 19th of September, the bishop consecrated St. Paul's church, Syracuse, Onondaga county, in the presence of a large and highly respectable congregation. The church is a neat and well finished building, in the Gothic style, and does credit to the Episcopalians who have erected it.

The act of the vestry placing the church under the spiritual jurisdiction of the bishop, was read by the Rev. Mr. Barlow, rector of the parish, and the sentence of consecration by the Rev. Mr. Gear, of Itha

ca.

The morning prayer was read by the Rev. Dr. Rudd, of Auburn, and the lessons by the Rev. J. A. Clark, of Palmyra.

The sermon of the bishop on this occasion was one of the most happy efforts of his rich and energetic mind. Frequently as we have listened with delight to this amiable and eloquent prelate, we have rarely heard him with more admiration. The language was rich and animated; the truths of the Gospel were exhibited in a clear and forcible manner; the claims of the church, the duties of the ministry, and the necessity of the renewal of the heart and affections by divine grace, were enforced in a way calculated to convince and impress the hearers.

to see so many of his clergy attending upon this solemn and interesting service. There were present six presbyters, and five deacons.-Gospel Messenger.

In the Diocese of Maryland. On the festival of St. Matthew, September 21, 1827, the Right Rev. Bishop Kemp held an ordination in Christ church, Bal timore, and admitted Mr. William F. Chesley to the holy order of deacons.

Episcopal Sunday School Magazine. WE have received the first number of a humble and unpretending periodical under this title, to be published semi-monthly, at Geneva, in this state, at the low price of one dollar a year. The Editor is the Rev. LEWIS P. BAYARD, in whose hands we have no doubt of its being of infinite benefit to the cause which it particularly professes to espouse, and a valuable acquisition to the respectable stock of episcopal periodicals already before the religious public. Each number of the Magazine is to contain eight pages, in the octavo size.

Obituary Notices.

ARCHDEACON DAUBENY.

THE Christian Remembrancer for August, 1827, thus announces the death of this venerated man and devout servant of the Lord: "It is with feelings of deep regret that we inform our readers of the death of the Rev. Charles Daubeny, D.C.L., archdeacon and prebendary of Sarum, fellow of St. Mary's college, Winton, and fifty-three years vicar of North-Bradley. The news of his death was as unexpected as the event itself proved awfully sudden; and the shock caused by the intelligence was the more sensibly felt, as the provincial papers, but two days previous to his demise, spoke of the venerable archdeacon as in the enjoyment of excellent health, and actively engaged in the arduous duties of his visitation." The archdeacon was well known in this country, particufarly by his "Guide to the Church," and other writings.

Mr. CANNING.

Died in London, on the 8th of August last, Mr. Canning, prime minister of Eng. land, and perhaps one of the greatest statesmen in the world. In relation to this event, the Episcopal Watchman of the 24th September has the following article:

"The great event which has awakened the regrets, and fixed the attention of the whole civilized world, is the death of the late illustrious premier of Britain, and the subsequent re-organization of the ministry. We do but echo, for the thousandth time, the universal sentiment, when we say that, politically speaking, no man living filled a larger space in the public eye. The force of his transcendent talents, his influence with the king, and the increasing confi

dence of the whole nation, only for a time diverted by the efforts of a discontented party, conspired to put into his hands a power to do good, or ill, which it is tre mendous to contemplate. That he would have excited them all for benevolent and honourable purposes, the whole course of his antecedent life warrants us to believe. The splendour of his intellect, and the fascination of his eloquence, were only equalled by the integrity of his heart. That such a man, in such a station, should have been so prematurely called away, is an event well calculated to impress us with humility, and fill us with religious fear. Truly, God's thoughts are not our thoughts, nor are his ways our ways! It is a singular evidence of the audacity and intensity of party rancour, that at the very

moment when all hearts were filled with Canning, a London paper (the Standard) sorrow at the melancholy decease of Mr. should have ventured the insinuation that he lived and died an atheist. The charge was as false as it was foul, and was subse quently recanted. We would not have evil done that good may come, yet we can scarcely regret an event which has brought to light circumstances so honourable to the memory of the premier as the following, given on the authority of the London Courier :

"So scrupulous and attentive was he in the discharge of his religious duties, that he never suffered a Sabbath day to pass, if public business or other causes prevented him from attending his church, without assembling, in the drawing-room, the whole of his family and servants, down to the lowest meniel in his household, and reading to them, himself, the whole of the liturgy. We happen to know, too, that the last Sabbath which ever shone upon him, witnessed his anxiety to have the same duties performed; but in the interval, before the necessary preparations could be made, he sunk into a slumber, from which he awoke in a state of mind which denoted to those around him that he was no longer conscious of his pious anxiety.

"But let any oné peruse the beautiful and affecting lines under our poetical head, inscribed upon the tomb of a son whom he lost some years ago, and ask himself whether the writer, pouring forth, in the language of poesy, the sorrows of a father, held in light estimation the great truths of Christianity? Again we say, we are half ashamed to stand forth the champion of that father-now himself no more

upon such a subject; but in this case our repugnance is abated by the reflection, that we are reviving the recollection of a tribute so pure, so gentle, and so holy.'

"With what a lustre do these evidences of Christian faith, and hope, and love, in

vest the death-bed of the departed states man! How poor, compared with their splendour, the brightest jewels of his sovereign's diadem!

"The tribute paid by the king to the worth of his departed minister, in the se lection of his most confidential friend, Lord Goderich, to succeed him, is as honourable to his own judgment and feeling, as it is propitious to the nation."

The following are the lines alluded to above:

Inscription on the Tomb of George Charles Canning, in Kensington Church-yard.

(By his Father, the late Premier.)

Though short thy span, yet heaven's unsearch'd decrees,

Which made that shorten'd span one long disease,

In chastening, merciful, gave ample scope
For mild redeeming virtues-Faith, and Hope,
Meek Resignation, pious Charity :-

And, since this world was not the world for thee,
Far from thy path, removed with partial care,
Strife, Glory, Gain, and Pleasure's flowery
snare,

Bade Earth's temptations pass thee harmless by,

And fix'd on heaven thine unreverted eye.

O! mark'd from birth, and nurtured for the skies!

In youth, with more than Learning's wisdom wise,

As sainted Martyrs, patient to endure,
Simple as unwean'd infancy, and pure ;-
Pure from all stain, save that of human clay,
Which Christ's atoning Blood hath wash'd
away;-

By mortal sufferings now no more oppress'd,
Mount, sinless Spirit, to thy destined rest:
While I, reversed our Nature's kindlier doom,"
Pour forth a Father's sorrows on thy Tomb.

the receipt of the following donations to the library in the month of August, 1827: From John Pintard, esq.-BIBLIA POLYGLOTTA COMPLUTENSIA, VI TOM. FOLIO, 1513-20.

From the Rev. S. R. Johnson-NorthAmerican Review, volumes ix-xiv.; Clarke's Commentary on the New Testament, 2 vols. 8vo.; Quarterly Theological Review, Nos. 6 and 7; New-York Review and Athenæum, vol. I and II. From Mr. George Shaw-Biblia Hebraica, sine punctis maserethicis, 2 vols. 8vo. From the Church Missionary Society, London-Proceedings of the Church Missionary Society, 10 vols. 8vo.; Missionary Register, 3 vols. 12mo., and 9 vols. From the Rev. William E. Johnson-GroSvo.; Twelve Bundles of Pamphlets. tius de Veritate Religionis Christiana, 8vo.; Sepher Mussecheth, with a German translation in Rabbinical charac ters, 4to.

From Robert Gracie, esq.-Stewart's Es

says, 8vo.; Watts on the Mind, 8vo. ; Darby's Tour, 8vo.; Campbell's Voyages, 8vo.; Clarke on the Eucharist, 12mo. Life of Mrs. Graham, 12mo.; Ewart's Lectures on the Psalms, 8vo.

Donations to the library from the friends of the institution will be gratefully received at Messrs. T. & J. Swords's Bookstore, No. 127 Broadway, New-York.

W. R. WHITTINGHAM, Librarian.

For the Christian Journal.

The Seven Churches of Asia. (Concluded from page 317.)

"Philadelphia.

"AFTER a ride of four hours we arrived at Philadelphia. As we drew near, I read with much interest the epistle (Rev. iii. 7—13) to that church. The town is situated on a rising ground, beneath the snowy mountain Tmolus. The houses are embosomed in trees, which have just assumed their fresh green foliage, and give a beautiful effect to the scene. I counted six minarets. We entered through a ruined wall; massy, but by no means of great antiquity. The streets are excessively ill paved and dirty. The tear of Christian pity must fall over modern Phila delphia. Were Christ himself to visit it, would he not weep over it, as once over Jerusalem? Alas! the genera tion of those who kept the word of our Lord's patience is gone by; and here, as in too many other parts of the Christian vineyard, it is difficult to discover better fruits than those which are afforded by briars and brambles! It is, indeed, an interesting circumstance to find Christianity more flourishing here than in many other parts of the Turkish empire; there is still a numerous Christian population; they occupy three hundred houses; divine service is performed every Sunday in five churches; and there are twenty of a smaller description, in which once a year the liturgy is read. But though the candle stick remains, its light is obscured; the lamp still exists, but where is its oil? Where is now the word of our Lord's patience?it is conveyed in sounds unintelligible to those who hear: when the very epistle to their own church is read, they understand it not! The word of legendary superstition and of multifarious will-worship is now more VOL. XI.

[VOL. XI.

familiar to their ears. And where is the bright exhibition of Christian virtues?-Unhappily, the character of Christians in these countries will. scarcely bear comparison with that of Mahomedans themselves! In a word, Philadelphia has had her share in that utter apostacy from true and practical Christianity, which has been the bane of the east. Grievous wolves have entered in, not sparing the flock, (Acts xx. 29.) There have been false teach⋆ ers among them, who privily have brought in damnable heresies, even de nying the Lord that bought them: and many have followed their pernicious ways, by reason of whom the way of truth is evil spoken of, (2 Peter ii. 1, 2.")

"The remains of antiquity at Phila delphia are not numerous. I have no ticed a few beautiful sarcophagi, now devoted to the purpose of troughs; but the ruined wall was probably erected by those who so manfully defended this city previously to its final fall.

"Our visit to Philadelphia was ren dered the more interesting, by the cir cumstance of our being the bishop's visitors. He pressed us so strongly to make his house our home, that we thought it right to comply with his wishes. This circumstance gave me an opportunity of having much con» versation with Panaretos. Many of his remarks afforded us satisfaction. The Bible he declared to be the only foundation of all religious belief; and I was astonished to hear him say, that he knew of no other confession of Christian belief, than the creeds of the A postles, of Nice, and of St. Athanasius. With the design of referring to Christ, as the only name given among men by which we can be saved, 1 introduced a remark on the atoning efficacy which too many appear to attach to fasting.

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