beholding a son of Abraham lay aside his rabbinical errors, and in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, receive the rite of baptism at the hands of a brother Hebrew, zealous for the truth, and thus become a member of the church of Jesus Christ.

In our day we witness a recurrence of these conversions, at short intervals of time, so that they have ceased to become a novelty; but the interest therein by no means wears away. Crowds are yet attracted to the scene of these initiations out of the rabbinical into the Christian church, many of whom cannot obtain a place to stand, much less to sit, within the walls of the sacred edifices wherein the rite is performed. These, nevertheless, stand without, listening to, and catching a glimpse, through the open doors and windows, of the proceedings. Joy appeared to reign visibly on the gentile features; and the countenances of the unconverted Hebrews, who attended on this occasion, possessed less of that lowering rancour against the name of Jesus of Nazareth than heretofore in these appearances of good we cannot but rejoice.

:

Missionary labours have at length become predominant subjects; and a desire for the conversion of the Jews, as well as of the heathen, is the popular feeling among Christians of every denomination. Some, indeed, contrive to steer clear of this feeling, especially towards the Jews; but their number is gradually diminishing: success, which ever heightens desire, leads many to espouse a cause, who, under adverse circumstances, would behold it with apathy. May the cause and the effect yet more abound, until the multitudes of the Gentiles and the thousands of Israel become one people, one in Christ, their living Head, for

ever.

his initiation into the church of Christ, produced a kindred feeling in our hearts. It anew induced that gratitude to Him, who is Lord of the vineyard, and whom we rejoice to obey, which must be felt in order to be known. May the hand of the Lord be upon him for good, and may he through life and in death witness a good confession. W. COLDWELL. Amen.

King Square, June 13th, 1831.

CELESTIAL PHENOMENA.

July, 1831.

THE Sun enters the sign Leo on the 23rd, at 28 minutes past 4 in the afternoon: his semi-diameter on the 1st, is 15 minutes, 45 seconds, and 5-tenths; and on the 25th, 15 minutes, 46 seconds, and 6-tenths.

The Moon enters her last quarter on the 2nd, at 40 minutes past 11 in the evening; she is new on the 9th, at 47 minutes past 1 in the afternoon; enters her first quarter on the 16th, at 3 minutes past 6 in the evening; is full on the 24th, at 5 minutes past 9 in the evening; and again enters her last quarter at 41 minutes past 5 in the morning of the 1st of August. She passes near the planet Saturn about 2 in the afternoon of the 12th, and near Venus about 10 in the evening of the same day: also near Jupiter about 9 in the morning of the 26th. On the 12th, at 4 minutes 22 seconds past 9 in the evening, she is in conjunction with p Leonis, which will prove an occultation; and on the 31st, at 56 minutes 29 seconds past 12 at night, she is in conjunction with 2 Ceti; the careful observer will be gratified in consequence of this also proving an occultation.

The planet Mercury passes the Sun at his superior conjunction on the 19th, at 12 at night. Venus continues to gild our evenings with her superior brilliancy; she is noticed in the constellation Leo, and passes near Regulus on the 6th; her approach to this star and the planet Saturn, which is seen a little to the east of it, is an interesting feature in her course; on the evening of the 6th and 7th, she is noticed between them, and to the north of a line joining them after the 7th, the youthful astronomer will derive considerable gratification in observing her recess from them. Her passage by p Leonis takes place on the 12th, and on the 27th she passes Leonis. On the 30th she arrives at her greatest eastern elongation. Mars is progressing through a portion of Leo, there is nothing particularly interesting in his course this month.

The noble planet Jupiter is exceedingly interesting, on account of several eclipses of

POETRY.

EVENING.

Now Phoebus o'er the western hills retires;
The day perceives it, blushes, and expires:
Or rather with the eve so nicely blends,
Unseen, where this commences, or that ends.
Then twilight, with a chaste though feeble light,
Illumes the gloomy face of coming night.
Thus He ordains, who wisely for us cares,
That darkness ne'er may meet us unawares.
The distant landscape is obscurely seen,

And lost are all the beauteous shades of green;
Tint after tint still nearer fades away,
And all commingled, melt into a gray.
Yet at this hour, well pleas'd, I roam abroad,
And leave the works of man for those of God;
Leave some to form the lucrative design,
And spend each sleepless hour in Mammon's mine;
Their hearts to harden, and their health destroy,
For what, when gain'd, they never can enjoy.
And others the reverse, who thus incline

To spend their evening hours in maddening wine;
Frequent the throng where mirth and folly blend,
Where happiness did ne'er, nor can attend.
And those sedate, who meet in private, where
Kindness appears, and all is debonair;
Where they in word and deed unite, agree,
And all their hearts seem swell'd with sympathy;
Yet there too oft 'tis all external show,
No pure philanthropy their bosoms know.
For should some worthy absentee be named,
Each motive's questioned, though no act be blamed.
Or they, in language clad in friendship's guise,
Repeat the well-known lie with moistened eyes:
Lament the failings which their friend ne'er knew,
Conceal his virtues, yet believe them true.
From such as these, 'tis well to be removed,
They ne'er can be respected, or beloved;
Though fair their words, their heart no good in-
tends-

The worst of foes such sympathizing friends.
Within my breast no latent wish remains,
That would prefer the crowd to silent plains.
All sensual joys, and pleasures unrefined,,
Without regret are gladly left behind.
For I rejoice, when business will permit,
The town and all its tasteless scenes to quit.
To wander on some lonely streamlet's brink,
To breathe the healthful air, and calmly think;
Think for what purpose Heaven has man designed,
Why he of all creation boasts a mind?
And why he should, with reason on his side,
Act worse than brutes, instinct their only guide?
May thoughts like these a useful hint impart ;
Amend my conduct, and improve my heart,
Withdraw my thoughts from worldly cares to
beaven-

Nor spent in vain this fine autumnal even.
Nottinghamshire.

M. A. C.

CONTEMPLATION.

LYCIDAS.

"Ye valleys low, where the mild whispers rise,
Of shades, and wanton winds, and gushing brooks."
SWEET Woodland dells and mossy groves,
Where the fond child of nature roves,
And holds communion with each flower,
Each tree, each rock, each sunny bower.
The fountain, and the silver rill,
The feathered songster's joyous thrill;
The rural glen, the leafy dale,
The mountain side, or cottage vale,
The home-scene, or the savage wild,
How sweet they are to nature's child.

To linger near the woody brake,
And hear no sound your spell to wake,
Save the old rooks that restless fly,
Beneath the bright and azure sky;
Or the slight whispering of the trees,
And the rich humming of the bees,
Or zephyrs, bearing on their wings
The perfume of all beauteous things;
All nature's charms a richness yield,
The birds, the sky, the breeze, the field;
The rivers, and the seas declare-
A God, who reigns and ruleth there.

How rich, how lovely to behold,
The setting sun in rays of gold;
Each mansion, cot, and village spire,
Are lighted by his radiant fire;
Then mellow tints of " sober gray"
Soon chase the gorgeous clouds away;

And the soft twilight that succeeds

Steals fast o'er forests, groves, and meads;
While" Philomel" pours forth her song,
And strains of harmony prolong;

And the soft planet of the night

Sheds o'er the scene her silvery light,

Shining through groves where fays might dance
Beneath the splendour of her glance;

And waking flowers from their sleep,
Who dewy vigils gently keep;
O'er many a tower, and ruin'd hall,
Her lengthened shadows softly fall,
And ivied churches, where repose
The dead, who know not pain or woes.
She flings her light on the wild shore,
Where murmuring billows loudly roar,
And guides the white and sparkling sail,
Bounding before the breezy gale.
These are the scenes which poets love,
Where painters with their pencils rove,
The scholar finds a book to read,
In ocean, forest, rill, and mead,
The Christian, who such scenes has trod,
Wonders, admires, and praises God.

TEMPTATION.

THOUGH fierce temptation rages, And hosts of hell assail,

Jesus, the rock of ages,

Shall o'er my foes prevail.

M. F. G.

His strength, through all my weakness,
Shall still unsullied shine,
And blend with lowly meekness
A fortitude divine.

O shall I then, despairing,
To Satan's sceptre bow?
When God, in flesh appearing,
Has wept for human woe?
When He, the good, the holy,
Will every aid impart;
And lead to endless glory,
Each humble, waiting heart.
The sun is ever glorious,
Though fleeting clouds conceal;
And soon his beams victorious

Their lasting power reveal.
The midnight hour is dreary,
And dark the shades of night;
But soon the wanderer weary
Is cheer'd by morning light.

"Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee."

IN purest vision rose my soul

To heav'n's all blissful sphere :
The heart's deep music throbbing stole

In sweetness on my ear.

Around me rose, in rainbow hue,

Gemmed thrones and crystal gold ;
Such as no mortal sight could view,
Or earth's stored wealth unfold.
The scroll of time and mystery,
In light I saw unsealed;

Dark truths and things that were to be,
To mortals unrevealed.

But still in vain had heav'n appeared,
So beautiful and fair,

Had not the great Jehovah reared
His tabernacle there.
Without thee, mighty God! each joy
Is dashed with bitterness;
And cursing will at length destroy
The heart it seems to bless.
But with Thee, e'er to dwell above,
From earth's temptations free'd,
Stringing the sweetest notes of love:
This, this is heav'n indeed!
On earth I wandered, while pursued
My soul-life's sweetest chord
Wealth, beauty and each tempting good
Man's bosom has adored.

Long did it pause o'er treacherous hearts,
And think on broken vows;

On those whose friendship but imparts
A thousand bitter throes.

It sought the hall where splendour shone;
But ever, underneath

The crown that glittered on the throne,
It saw the form of death!

It sighed o'er hope's delusive dreams,
And, ling'ring o'er despair,

Soon found that earth, whate'er it seems,
Is not indeed so fair.

Then like the weary dove, that found
No rest upon the sea,

It sought in vain some solid ground,

Till brought, O Lord, to thee.

Still may earth's pleasures fade away,
Still may my thoughts aspire;

And, lest my soul from thee should stray,
Be still my chief desire.
Beaconsfield.

J. A. B.

REVIEW.-Select Library. Polynesian Researches. By William Ellis. Vol. III. pp. 406. Fisher & Co., London,

1831.

THE two preceding volumes belonging to this Polynesian series, we noticed in our number for April last. We then observed, that a third volume, relative to the natives, climate, and productions, of the South-sea Islands would speedily appear, and that this would be followed by a fourth, devoted almost exclusively to the Sandwich Islands.

The third volume having lately made its 2D SERIES, NO. 7.-VOL. I.

appearance, is now before us, and we are assured that the fourth, already in the press, may be very soon expected.

The extensive circulation which the Polynesian Researches of Mr. Ellis have already obtained, shews how deeply the public are interested in faithful accounts, which relate to distant, and comparatively unfrequented, portions of the globe. To the character of strict fidelity, this work has an indisputable claim; and the memorials having been written on the islands by the author, at the seasons and on the occasions to which they refer, nothing of recent occurrence is drawn from tradition, or left to the uncertainty of vague report.

That the ability of Mr. Ellis to delineate the multifarious subjects, events, and incidents, on which he has employed his pen, is not inferior to his integrity in detailing facts, all who have perused his volumes must be fully sensible. Of this we have given many specimens in the extracts transcribed from his pages in our previous review; and the selections which follow will bear testimony that this volume is not inferior to its predecessors.

Expedient to procure a Substitute for Books."I have often been amused with the ingenuity and perseverance manifested by the natives in their endeavours to obtain a substitute for books. The bark of the paper mulberry was frequently beaten to a pulp, spread out on a board, and wrought and dried with great care, till it resembled a coarse sort of card. This was sometimes cut into pieces about the size of the leaves of a book; and upon these, with a reed cut in the shape of a pen, and immersed in red or purple vegetable dye, the alphabet, syllabic, and reading lessons of the spelling-book, and the scripture extracts usually read in the school, have been neatly and correctly copied. Sometimes the whole was accurately written on one broad sheet of paper, like native cloth, and, after the manner of the ancients, carefully rolled up, except when used. This was often the only kind of book that the natives in remote districts possessed; and many families have, without any other lessons, acquired a proficiency, that has enabled them to read at once a printed copy of the scriptures. It has also gratified us, as indicative of the estimation in which the people held every portion of the word of God, and their desire to possess it, to behold them anxiously preserving even the smallest piece of paper, and writing on it texts of the scripture which they had heard in the place of worship."-p. 7.

Memorable Conversion of a Native.-" One remarkable instance occurred during the year in which I left the islands. The native name of the individual to whom I allude was Hiro. He was the priest of one of the principal temples of Parea, in the lesser peninsula of the island, or Huahine He was a priest of Hiro, the god of plunderers and thieves, and, in perfect accordance with the spirit of his office, was the captain or leader of a band of robbers, who spread terror through the

iti.

surrounding country. He was one of the first and

most determined opposers of Christianity in Huahine; reproaching its adherents, defying the power, and disclaiming the authority, of its Author. But, like Saul of Tarsus, he found it hard to resist.

"He was in the prime and vigour of manhood, being at the time between thirty and forty years of age. When the number of Christians increased in his neighbourhood, and the Sabbath-day was 2 T 151.-VOL. XIII.

first publicly observed, in order to shew his utter contempt of Christian institutions, he determined to profane the day" in defiance of Jehovah." He repaired, for this purpose, to some grounds in the neighbourhood of the temple, and engaged in erecting a fence; but while thus employed, his career of impiety was suddenly arrested. The twig of a tree came in contact with his eyes; almost instant blindness followed; and, like Elymas, he was led home by his affrighted companions, who considered it a visitation from the Almighty.

"I had frequent interviews with him afterwards, one in the precincts of his own temple, which I visited in company with Messrs. Bennet, Tyerman, and Barff. His spirit was subdued: he subsequently became a humble, and, we trust, sincere disciple of that blessed Redeemer whom he had persecuted. He died trusting in the merits of Christ for acceptance with God the Father. The history of the conversion of the great apostle to the Gentiles interested and affected him much; and though the scales on his bodily eyes were not removed, but his blindness continued until his death, which occurred in 1824, such was the impression which analogy of circumstances produced, that when he presented himself for baptism, he desired to be called Paul."-p. 10.

Animated Description.-"Sometimes we have been six, nine, or twelve months on the island of Huahine, and during that, or a longer period, have seen no individual, except our own two families, and the natives. At length, the shout, E pahi e pahi!" A ship! a ship!" has been heard from some of the lofty mountains near our dwelling. The inhabitants on the shore bave caught the spirit-stirring sound, and "A ship! a ship!" has been echoed, by stentorian or juvenile voices, from one end of the valley to the other. Numbers flock to the projecting rocks or the high promnontories, others climb the cocoa-nut tree, to obtain a glance of the desired object. On looking out, over the wide-spread ocean, to behold the distant sail, our first attempt has been to discover how many masts she carried; and then, what colours she displayed; and it is impossible to describe the sensations excited on such occasions, when the red British banner has waved in the breeze, as a tall vessel, under all her swelling canvass, has moved towards our isolated abode.

"We have seldom remained on shore till a vessel has entered the harbour, but have launched our boat, manned with native rowers, and, proceeding to meet the ship, have generally found ourselves alongside, or on deck, before she had reached the anchorage. At the customary salutations, if we have learned that the vessel was direct from England, and, as was frequently the case, from London, our hopes have been proportionably raised; yet we have scarcely ventured to ask the captain if he has brought us any tidings, lest his reply in the negative should dispel the anticipations his arrival had awakened. If he has continued silent, we have inquired whether he had brought any supplies; if he has answered No, a pause las ensued; after which, we have inquired whether he bad any letters; and if to this the same reply has been returned, our disappointment has been as distressing, as our former hopes had been exhilarating. We have remarked, that probably our friends in England did not know of his departure. This has been, we believe, the ordinary cause why so many ships have arrived in the islands from England without bringing us any intelligence, except what we could gather from two or three odd newspapers that have been lying about the cabin. Though it has been some alleviation to believe, that, had our friends known of the conveyance, they would have written: yet the relief thus afforded is but trifling, compared with the pain resulting from the absence of more satisfactory cominunications. Notwithstanding the length of time we had often been without seeing an individual who spoke our native language, excepting in our own families, we would, in general, rather the vessel had not at that time arrived, than that such arrival should have brought us no intelligence."-p. 162.

Instance of Judicial Impartiality." In the autumn of 1822, the queen of Tahiti, the widow of Pomare, visited Huahine. Her attendants, who followed in her train from Tahiti, requiring a piece of timber, she directed them to cut down a bread. fruit tree, growing in the garden of a poor man on the opposite side of the bay, near which her own residence stood. Her orders were obeyed, and the tree was carried away. Teuhe, the owner of the spot on which it stood, returning in the evening to his cottage, saw that the spoiler had been there: the stump was bleeding, and the boughs lay strewed around, but the stately trunk was gone. Informed by his neighbours that the queen's men had cut it down, he repaired to the magistrate of the district, and lodged a complaint against her majesty the queen. The magistrate directed him to come to the place of public justice the following morning at sun-rise, and substantiate his charge: he afterwards sent his servant to the queen, and invited her attendance at the same hour. The next morning, as the sun rose above the horizon, Ori, the magistrate, was seen sitting in the open air, beneath the spreading branches of a venerable tree; on a finely-woven mat before him, sat the queen, attended by her train; beside her stood the native peasant; and around them all, what may be termed the police-officers. Turning to Teule, the magis trate inquired for what purpose they had been convened. The poor man said, that in his garden grew a bread-fruit tree, whose shade was grateful to the inmates of his cottage, and whose fruit, with that of those which grew around, supported his family for five or seven months in every year; but that, yesterday, some one had cut it down, as he had been informed, by order of the queen. He knew that they had laws-he had thought those laws protected the poor man's property, as well as that of kings and chiefs; and be wished to know whether it was right, that, without his knowledge or consent, the tree should have been cut down.

She

"The magistrate, turning to the queen, asked if she had ordered the tree to be cut down? She answered, Yes. He then asked if she did not know that they had laws? She said Yes, but she was not aware that they applied to her.' The magistrate, asked if in those laws (a copy of which he held in his hand) there were any exceptions in favour of chiefs, or kings, or queens ? answered 'No,' and despatched one of her attendants to her house, who soon returned with a bag of dollars, which she threw down before the poor man, as a recompense for his loss. Stop,' said the magistrate, we have not done yet.' The queen began to weep. Do you think it right that you should have cut down the tree, without asking the owner's permission? continued the magistrate. 'It was not right,' said the queen. Then, turning to the poor man, he asked, What remuneration do you require? Teuhe answered, If the queen is convinced that it was not right to take a little man's tree without his permission, I am sure she will not do it again. I am satisfied. I require no other recompense.' His disinterestedness was applauded; the assembly dispersed; and afterwards, I think, the queen sent him privately a present equal to the value of the tree."-p. 214.

We had marked some additional extracts for insertion, but other articles warn us to desist. They are, however, too interesting to be wholly omitted, and are, therefore, reserved for our ensuing number. In the meanwhile, the selections now before the reader cannot fail, by making a strong impression on his mind, to awaken an earnest solicitude for the welfare of these amiable natives; and we feel assured, that a perusal of these volumes must tend to increase the favourable emotions that may have been excited.

REVIEW.-The Nature, Reality, and Efficacy of the Atonement. By Daniel Dewar, LL.D. Minister of the Tron Church, Glasgow. 12mo pp. 552. Whittaker, London, 1831.

THE doctrine of the atonement is so closely connected with the divinity of our Lord, that they must stand or fall together. With out his divinity, no atonement could be made; and without an atonement, his divinity would be in vain. These two important doctrines constitute the great and distinguishing characteristics of the gospel. They remove the whole system beyond the dominion of philosophical decision, and direct us to seek its fundamental principles in the justice, love, and mercy of God.

Philosophy, without all doubt, is of celestial birth, but, with some few exceptions, in its application, it is of the earth, and earthly. In the affairs of this life it is our great and surest guide: arts and sciences are its legitimate offspring; and the regions of thought acknowledge its authority, and yield submission to its dictates.

But when, from this ample range, we turn to the gospel of Christ, we enter an empire over which philosophy can hold no commanding dominion. It is a higher, a brighter, a more elevated region, in which faith expands her sails, and mounts from philosophy to the throne of God. Some times, indeed, philosophy participates in her excursions, but the pilotage, the helm, and the compass are never committed to her care. In her own element, philosophy may issue commands, and exact obedience, but here she must frequently bow in homage to a superior spirit, and follow with humility the progress of her celestial guide, while traversing through ethereal spaces, and soaring to everlasting day.

On the contrary, there are times and seasons, when the religion of the gospel condescends to visit the abode of philosophy, and to submit to the inspection of all her votaries. But when, from hence, these votaries attempt to infer that she is at all times under their control, and amenable to their tribunal, she frowns at their presumption, and forbids them to touch what they cannot comprehend.

It is in a light somewhat analogous to this, that Dr. Dewar surveys the doctrine of the atonement. He views it, not as a dictate or discovery of philosophy, but as a truth which God has condescended to reveal; as a branch of that system through which he displays his mercy, and makes his salvation known to sinners.

Partially disregarding the disquisitions of philosophy, Dr. Dewar claims, as the basis

of the atonement, the revealed will of God, and then urges his grand inquiry,-Is this doctrine clearly and unequivocally made known in the sacred scriptures, or are the supposed intimations of such a doctrine so vaguely and doubtfully expressed, that the passages, in which it is presumed to be included, will fairly allow a negative interpretation?

In prosecuting this inquiry, Dr. Dewar ranges through the Old Testament and the New, surveys types, symbols, sacrifices, and ceremonial rituals, and thence adverts to the great antitype who was appointed to take away sin by the offering of himself once for all. On this great subject he has made it clearly to appear, that the language of scripture is unambiguous and explicit; that the whole tenor and genius of revelation inculcate this doctrine; and that, admitting the bible to be true, no art, no sophistry, no ingenuity, can ever separate it from the sacred pages. From this mode of arguing, and the luminous evidence with which he is every where surrounded, it may be fairly inferred, that, if the atonement of Christ be not a doctrine of scripture, the bible is one of the greatest deceptions that was ever sent into the world; and that, under a pretence of unfolding a way in which God can be just, and yet the justifier of him that believes in Jesus, it is a book of imposition, calculated to delude mankind.

To Unitarian objections the author has paid particular attention; and from the cavils of philosophy, he appeals to the authority of scripture. Even upon a supposition, that God, through mere mercy, could pardon sin without an atonement, this, he contends, cannot take from him the power to pardon sin through an atonement. He who can pardon without it, must be equally able to pardon through it; and then it becomes no longer a question of mere possibility, but a question of fact. To decide this, he appeals to the sacred word, which asssure us, that "the Lord hath laid on him (Christ) the iniquity of us all."

Having established the certainty and the necessity of the atonement, upon an immoveable basis, Dr. Dewar adverts to its objects and the extent of its application. It has, he observes, been made a question, whether the atoning sacrifice of the Redeemer was offered for all mankind, or exclusively on behalf of those who shall in the event be saved by him. In discussing this question, he takes the limited or Calvinistic side, and argues as follows:

1. "That the scriptures expressly affirm, that Christ saves his people from their sins, and laid down his life for the sheep. 2. That his death as an atonement for sin, is restricted to those who