that God interposesto makeknown
the things which fortunetellers
pretend to disclose, and to make
them known in such a manner,
and by such means, is offering an
affront to the Most High, which,
one would think, few could have
the hardihood to avow.
To as-
cribe, however, such a disclos-
ure to any other source, is to
ascribe it to the prince. of dark-
ness; while those who do it thus
avow, that rather than forego.
the indulgence of their wicked
curiosity, and in order to obtain
their desire, they will propitiate
Satan, and do him homage. In-
deed, I never knew a person
who gave credit to fortunetell-
ing, who did not attribute the
art, in some mode or other to
Satanic agency; and who did not,
if he went so far as actually to
consult a fortuneteller, falter in
the apprehension that he was
corresponding with the powers
of darkness. A professed for-
tuneteller is always, I believe,
considered by those who consult
him, as a sort of wizard; as one
familiar with wicked spirits; and
the more he is distinguished in
his art, the more he has this
repute. They who consult him,
then, must be considered as do-
ing reverence to Satan; as doing
it wittingly, and without regard-
ing the displeasure of the Al-
mighty. What greater affront
can they offer to the Most High;
what greater treason can they
commit against Him? The ab-
surdity of supposing that any
power besides the Almighty can
reveal future events, is lost and
swallowed up, in the daring and
presumptuous wickedness of
thus transferring their allegiance
from Him, to Satan. How did
Saul sin in resorting to those
VOL. V. New Series.

who had familiar spirits! And wherein did his sin differ from theirs, who resort to fortunetellers with the full impression on their minds that they are holding an intercourse with the spirits of darkness? With what less are they chargeable than resorting to Satan for that which they dare not ask of the Almighty; or which, if asked, they believe that He will refuse!

Perhaps some may think, that these remarks apply to no individuals among us, and are, there fore, gratuitous. The writer could wish that the case were so; but facts abundantly justify what he has written. There is scarce a town in the country where a fortuneteller would not find employment, should he ap pear and make known his er rand; not indeed by the great body of the people, but such a portion of them as always seek to gratify their idle curiosity, respect what it may, at the expense of every virtuous consid cration. Persons moving in the higher circles of gentility and fashion, or the writer is greatly misinformed, have not scrupled to apply to one of those misera ble fortunetelling wretches; and so bent have they been upon this darling object, as to set the laws of common decency at de fiance.

How often does the same disposition manifest itself over a cup of tea, or a pack of cards! In various ways is the same propensity nursed and kept alive, to the disgrace of society, and the reproach of the Christian name. Such things ought not to be. It is a time when every thing sacred demands that we detach ourselves from the worship of the god of this world,.

35

REVIEWS.

was his candor, regard to truth,
and friendship to the Shakers,
that before publishing his book
he addressed a letter to Lucy
Wright and Abiathar Babbit,
"fist in the ministration," offer-
ing them a copy of his work,
that they might point out to
him for correction any mistakes
into which he might have fallen
This liberal offer was refused,
with no small degree of incivility.
Mr. Brown was born in New
York in 1766, and at the age of
twenty-one joined the Society of
Quakers, of which his father was
a member. In the year 1793 he
became a methodist; and at
length, in 1798, began to attach
himself to the Shakers, whom he
visited at Watervlict, near Al-
bany. The mother Ann had now
been dead about fourteen years,
but he had opportunity of con
versing with those, who knew
her, and of learning much of her
character; and he confirms the
representation, which has fre-
quently been given to the public;
that she was very fond of strong
drink, which she used to call
one of God's good creatures! As
a specimen also of the tempe
rance of her language, he says
that she denominated some of
her opposers dogs, dumb dogs,
damned dogs, and he refers to
the passages of Scripture, which
were adduced in the justification
of such expressions. When Ann
aud her brother William Lee
fought like gladiators, the be-
lievers were told, that their own
evil nature was imputed to the
mother; that she was bearing
their states; that, without sin her.
self, she was only giving them a
visible representation of their
wickedness. One of Ann's first
followers assured him, that when

in England she, the mother, spake before a court in twelve different languages, among which were the Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and French. He was also assured as a fact, that Colonel Brown, fourteen days after he was killed at Stone-Arabia, came in spirit to mother Ann, and confessed his sins. For the comfort of the widow and her children, messengers were sent to Pittsfield to inform them that the Colonel "was in the faith and travail of the church!" But what was more wonderful than this, he (Mr. Brown) was assured, "that elder Whitaker was in eternity in spirit several thousand years in a few hours! and in that [long and short] time thousands of spirits confessed their sins unto him."

Mr. B., like other Shakers, had a gift of speaking in an unknown tongue, and he has recorded a part of one of his miraculous speeches. It was in sound as follows:-Liero devo jirankemango, ad sileabana, durem subramo devirante diacerimango, jasse vah pe cri evanigalio; de vom grom seb crinom, os vare cremo domo.

Among the methods of mortifying the flesh,resorted to at an early period in the history of this church, he says that one method was the promiscuous and repeated dancing of men and women, divested entirely of clothes. This fact, when it came to his knowledge, he charged upon elder Rowley, who at first denied, and afterwards owned, it; but while he confessed it, he imparted this necessary advice, not to suffer such improper conduct to injure his faith!

But the discoveries, which he had made, and the impositions

practised upon him, gave a serious shock to his faith, and restored him in some degree to his senses. He first was greeted with very flattering words, and assured of full permission to follow conscience; but it was not long before he found, that he had been deceived, and that he was required to yield implicit obedience to the gift of the church, which gift was no other than a positive order or command, communicated by one of the elders, but originating with mother Lucy; so that he perceived himself inveigled into subjection to an absolute, tyrannical government, and that government wielded by a woman,- a humiliating condition, which his manly feelings could ill brook.

Notwithstanding his gift of speaking in an unknown tongue; notwithstanding the wonderful miracles, attested by Eis brethren and sisters; notwithstanding all he had seen or experienced or heard of the gifts of trembling, shaking,twitching, jirking,whirling, leaping, jumping, dancing, stamping, barking, mewing, crowing, shouting, groaning, crying, laughing, hissing, brushing, driving out evil spirits, rolling on the floor, running with hands stretched out through bog and mire; notwithstanding the spell, which had been thrown upon him, Mr. B. at length emerged from his delusion.

Happy would it be for all the deluded followers of Ann Lee, if they would turn from her impious pretensions to the uncorrupted Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Mr. B. is a plain man, but we have read his book with much

WE are glad to see the fifth number of this useful publication; and to be able to say, that it promises to be at least equal to any of its predecessors in the sphere of its circulation, and the extent of its usefulness. It contains a considerable variety of secular information, and a still greater variety of moral and religious instruction. Though some expressions might have been cmitted without loss, and the style of several pieces might have been better adapted to their purpose, yet as a whole, this little manual is entitled to the particular regard of the friends of virtue and religion, and ought, beyond question, to he preferred to any other Almanac for gen eral use. It is replete with many solemn and momentous truths, which concern men as immortal beings, and which Christianity presses upon the conscience by the most awful sanctions.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

ABSTRACT.

(Continued from p. 149.)

The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (London) continue their exertions, at home and abroad. Their last Report, containing an account of their proceedings during the year which ended in March 1811, is enriched with the correspondence of the Protestant Missionaries on the Coromandel coast.

news had reached them when over whelmed with anxiety; and the sup ply relieved them from the necessity of contracting new debts, in order to maintain the many native laborers in the Tinavelly district, for which the annual produce of Mr. Swartz's leg, acy was insufficient.

The progress of Christianity obliged the missionaries to increase the num ber of their native teachers, to en large the ald places of worship, and to erect new ones. Their funds were unable to meet all these expenses. The brethren at Tranquebar had as sisted, as much as was in their power, but their supplies were utterly insufficient. The want of Bibles, Testaments, Psalters, and other religious books, was greater than the mission. aries could describe. They wanted a printing press, and were very anxious to furnish every Protestant family with a copy of the Scriptures.

The Rev. Messrs. Kolhoff and Horst wrote from Tanjore, Jan, 30, 1810, that they had enjoyed many opportunities of preaching our holy religion to heathens and papists, and of inviting them to accept the grace of God as it is in Jesus. Among the different casts of natives, those called Telunger, are more inveterate against Christians than any other except the Brahmins. A man of this cast, ad. mitted into the congregation some years since, had evinced the sincerity of his professions, not only by leading a Christian life under many sufferings, but by his endeavors to convert hispanion in labors, the Rev. Mr. Horst, family to Christianity; in which he has happily succeeded.

Among the deaths which were greatly regretted, were those of two native catechists, who had been con. verted from paganism and trained up and employed as teachers by Mr. Swartz. Their names were Dhewaragayam and Areelappen. They were greatly respected both by heathens and Christians, on account of their piety, prudence, and zeal. The native preacher Sattianaden was continuing his labors, and faithfully preaching Christ among believers and unbelievers. The number of communicants had greatly increased.

The missionaries acknowledge with gratitude the mercy of God in inclin. ing the Court of Directors to raise their allowance for the schools from 500 to 1200 pagados, annually.

The

*A pagoda on the Coromandel coast worth about two dollars,

In a letter dated Aug. 29th, 1810, it becomes the melancholy duty of Mr. Kolhoff to inform the Society of the death of his brother and com-.

He had been eighteen years a servant of the mission, and four years one of the Society's missionaries. The learn. ing and abilities of this worthy man, his ardent desire to prove useful, the fervor and delight with which he ever pursued his work, and the essen tial services he had rendered the mission, had given Mr. Kolhoff great cause to lament so early and unexpected a death, which had deprived the mission of a faithful pastor, and a numerous family of a kind and affec. tionate parent and husband. His sufferings had been very severe; but he endured them with the patience and firmness of a Christian, His humble submission to the will of God was truly awakening, and the peace he enjoyed to his last breath was a lively example of the inestimable happiness which attends a life of godliness.

Mr. Kolhoff asks the Society to permit the ordination of more native preachers and to grant them salaries,