the successor of the Apostle Peter, in whom such attributes are supposed to have primarily resided. Now, it is very remarkable, First, That Peter, so far from being infallible, was the most fallible of all the apostles, except Judas. He fell fearfully and repeatedly before our Lord's death; and lest any one should imagine that he had acquired personal infallibility after Christ's resurrection, we are told that he sinned after that. The fact is very singular, and is recorded of no other apostle. Paul makes the following statement: "When Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face; because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles; but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation."--Gal. ii. 11-13. Peter is, therefore, a singularly unfortunate head of a Church professing infallibility. Secondly, The Popish Church requires celibacy on the part of all her ministers-a diabolical device, designed to promote her worldly influence; but the parent of a world of wickedness. Here also it is remarkable, that Peter, whom the unmarried ministers of Rome profess to copy and to represent, is the only apostle whose wife is expressly mentioned in Scripture. We are told that, "when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid and sick of a fever."-Matt. viii. 14. The other apostles may have had wives-Paul maintains his right to have one if he chose; but the wives of none of the rest are expressly mentioned in Scripture. Thirdly, There is not only no such thing in the Word of God as a spiritual despotism, like that of Rome, set up by our blessed Saviour under any of his apostles; such a system is not only expressly and repeatedly condemned as a violation of the whole spirit of the Gospel, but it is remarkable that, in planning out the fields of their respective labours, Peter is said to have been especially an apostle to the Jews, whilst Paul was peculiarly the apostle of the Gentiles. Paul expressly tells us that the "Gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto him, as the Gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter."-Gal. ii. 7. If Peter, therefore, had been destined to be an universal bishop at all, it must have been, not at Rome, but at Jerusalem; not over Gentiles, but over Jews. It is singular that the Apostasy did not choose Paul as its head. He was the apostle of the Gentiles; he was certainly at Rome, and certainly preached the Gospel there. But there were other reasons for their not choosing him, and God has arranged all these events in ininite wisdom, that the light of truth may shine clearly, even in the midst of darkness, and that the very wrath and folly of man might be made to praise him. Biographical Sketch. THE REV. JOHN WILLIAMS, MISSIONARY TO THE SOUTH SEAS. PART III.-THE MISSIONARY. IN 1823, Williams commenced those "missionary enterprises," the fame of which is in all the Churches, and which will immortalize his name as the modern "Paul" of missions. On the 4th of July, accompanied by six native teachers, who had been solemnly ordained to the work on the preceding evening, he sailed in the "Endeavour" for the Hervey Islands; the whole of which he was determined to visit, if possible, before his return. The first at which he called was Aitutaki, where he found that a wondrous change had taken place since his previous visit. When (says he) the chief's canoe came alongside, we learned from Tebati, one of the first who embraced the Gospel, that the maraes were burned; that the idols which had escaped the general conflagration were in the possession of the teachers; that the profession of Christianity was general, so much so, indeed, that not a single idolater remained; and that a large chapel was erected, nearly two hundred feet in length, the teachers came on board, they not only confirmed plastered, and awaiting my arrival to open it. When all that had been told us, but added, that the Sabbath was regarded as a sacred day, no work of any kind being done on it; that all the people, men, women, and children, attended divine service; and that family prayer was very general throughout the island. We hastened to the shore; and, instead of the unsightly gesticulations and lascivious songs with which I was greeted on my first visit, now found some spelling long words, and others repeating portions of the Catechism, or a prayer; another asking a blessing on his food; and others singing a verse of a hymn; indeed, every one appeared anxious to show what progress he had made. Williams remained there two days, and then set sail for Rarotonga, accompanied by several natives of that island, whom he had met at Aitutaki, and also by Papeiha, a native convert. Not succeeding, however, after a week's search, in finding Rarotonga, they made for Mangaia, the inhabitants of which treated Papeiha and the teachers, who went on shore, so roughly that they could not with safety remain. They then proceeded to Atiu, another island of the group, where, some months before, two native teachers had been sent. These were found "in a most pitiable condition, having been stripped by the natives of every article of property, suffering exceedingly from hunger, and greatly disheartened by their want of success.' But it was otherwise before Williams departed. The chief having come off to their vessel, one of the natives of Aitutaki took him aside, and told him of the wondrous change which had taken place there-how the maraes were de-i stroyed and the idols burned; at the sametime remonstrating with him on the folly of idol worship. The chief, wondering and per BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH-THE REV. JOHN WILLIAMS. plexed, not knowing well what to make of either his friend's intelligence or of his arguments, remained on board the vessel all night. Next day, being Sabbath, he attended worship on board, and having heard Williams preach, was still more perplexed-returned and spent the whole night in conversation with the teachers and chiefs from Aitutaki-till at last he "saw clearly" and expressed his determination to cast off his idol gods, and worship the God of the Christians. On his return he proved himself sincere, by publicly renouncing the ancient superstitions; an example which was speedily followed by the whole of his subjects. He also accompanied Williams to Mitiaro and Mauke, two islands in the neighbourhood of which he was chief, and where, as in Atiu, the people "heard the Word with gladness" and abandoned their idolatry. Determined on making another attempt to discover Rarotonga, he again set sail in search of it; but for five days was unsuccessful. He seys, We were baffled and perplexed by contrary winds. Our provisions were nearly expended, and our patience all but exhausted, when, early in the morning of the day on which we discovered the island, the captain came to me, and said, "We must, Sir, give up the search, or we shall all be starved." I replied, that we would continue our course till eight o'clock, and, if we did not succeed by that time, we would return home. This was an hour of great anxiety; hope and fear alternately agitated my mind. I had sent a native to the top of the mast four times, and he was now ascending for the fifth; and when we were within half-an-hour of relinquishing the object of our search, the clouds which enveloped its towering heights having been chased away by the heat of the ascending sun, he relieved us from our anxiety by shouting Teie teie, taua fenua, nei !"-Here, here is the land we have been seeking! Although Williams "rejoiced as one that findeth great spoil," yet, hearing the inhabitants of the island described by the Aitutakians, as "most treacherous and ferocious cannibals," his joy was not unmingled with solicitude; "he wondered and held his peace, to wit, whether the Lord would make his journey prosperous or not." He first sent on shore Papeiha and Vahineino (a native of Aitutaki), who were kindly received by a large concourse of the islanders. They expressed not only their willingness, but their desire, that teachers should remain among them; and Makea the king went off himself to the ship, and conducted them on shore. But, during the night, the treatment given them having been the reverse of kind, and a leading chief having threatened serious mischief, they came off next morning to the ship. Williams was so much discouraged that he says,— We were about, for a time, to abandon this inviting field of labour, when our excellent friend Papeiha, instead of uniting with us in useless regrets, offered to remain alone at Rarotonga, provided we would send a coadjutor, whom he named, from 27 Raiatea. We rejoiced in the proposition; and, leaving his property in the vessel, after taking an affectionate farewell of us, this truly devoted man got into a canoe and went on shore, carrying nothing with him but the clothes he wore, his native Testament, and a bundle of elementary books. Two men and four women, natives of Rarotonga, whom we had brought from Aitutaki, had all embraced Christianity some time before, and promised stedfastly to maintain their profession among their heathen but surrounded by a little company who were ardently countrymen. Thus Papeiha was not left desolate, attached to him, and who were indebted to his instructions for all they knew of the religion of the Gospel. We left him with a prayer that his little flock might become the germ of a Christian Church in Rarotonga, and that by their instrumentality the incorruptible seed of the Word might be scattered throughout its numerous population. Nor were we disappointed; for, by the time Tiberio, Papeiha's colleague, arrived, which was about four months after our departure, he and his little band had received many additions to their number. And when our esteemed friends, Messrs Tyerman and Bennet, visited the island, which was but little more than a year after its discovery, the whole population had renounced idolatry, and were engaged in erecting a place of worship, six hundred feet in length! But just as this purpose Williams sailed from Rarotonga to Raiatea, having been absent for about five weeks, and remained there for some months, diligently cultivating the field which he had been the first to break up. In a short time, however, he meditated a voyage to the Samoas, and other Islands, to which the Gospel had never yet been conveyed. had been formed," his biographer tells us, "it was frustrated, by the painful intelligence that their commerce to the colony, and with it their hope of retaining their vessel, was destroyed. Through the intervention of some interested merchants at Sydney, the governor had been persuaded to make certain fiscal regulations, which materially reduced the value of all Polynesian produce; while, to complete the calamity and consummate his own disappointment, Williams at the sametime received a letter from the London Directors, in which the buying of the vessel was condemned and his conduct censured. Thus beset with difficulties, he summoned a meeting of the chiefs, and after ingenuously explaining to them the exact position of affairs, it was resolved to send her immediately to Sydney, laden with the most marketable produce they could collect, with an order to sell both ship and cargo." Williams was greatly depressed by this blow. "Satan knows well." he exclaimed in a letter to the Directors, "that this ship was the most fatal weapon ever formed against his interests in the great South Sea; and, therefore, as soon as he felt the effects of its first blow, he has wrested it out of our hands." But he did not despair. He was determined on soon procuring another vessel, and did not doubt but that the Lord, whose glory was in this matter the great object of his anxiety, would in due time "show him the way." Early in 1826 he again sailed for the Hervey Islands, in a chartered vessel, and in company with Mr Pitman, who had been sent out by the Society to occupy the station at Rarotonga. He was received by the people with great enthusiasm: The report of his arrival off the island had been widely spread on the day previous to his landing, and had attracted to the beach an immense assemblage, anxious to see and welcome the man who first brought to them the Gospel. As soon, therefore, as they leaped on shore, they were surrounded by the multitude, who would not permit them to pass, without having severally exchanged the English mode of salutation; and as with this new custom they had, unfortunately for their visitors, received the opinion, that the strength of the squeeze and the violence of the shake were the orthodox standards of sincerity, Mr Williams' hand at least was in no danger, for some time afterwards, of losing the impression. On the following Sabbath he preached in the open air to about four thousand people-the chapel not being capable of accommodating more than two thousand; and next day it having been determined, at a meeting of the chiefs and people, to erect a new and more commodious one, they immediately set to the work, and so great was their diligence, that in the space of seven weeks it was completed. Williams' next object was thoroughly to organize the congregation; and, with this view, we are told that he "distributed the baptized and those who were candidates for baptism into twentythree classes each containing from twenty-five to twenty-eight households-and two of the most serious and intelligent natives being appointed over each class, to secure their regular attendance upon the catechetical instructions of the missionaries." He then turned his attention to the establishment of a code of laws; for in Rarotonga, as in the other islands of the Pacific, the only law previously known was the will of the chiefs. And so great was his moral influence over the chiefs, that when he explained to them the provisions of the code which he had introduced at Raiatea, and urged them to adopt it, they at once acquiesced; a circumstance which, as his judicious biographer remarks, may well excite surprise," when the previous circumstances of the people are considered, and when it is recollected that the supremacy of law would divest the chiefs of their most valued prerogatives, abolish polygamy, protect property, destroy despotism, and punish with heavy penalties crimes which had grown into customs." While thus usefully occupied, however, in Rarotonga, he was not free from anxiety about Raiatea. When he left that island, he intended, within a short time, to resume his labours there. But this design was frustrated; for no opportunity to return had as yet been presented. He who has "fixed the bounds of our habitations" detained him at Rarotonga. Month succeeded to month, but not a ship approached its shores. With constantly increasing anxiety did the eye of the missionary, as each morning dawned, and often through the day, sweep the brought disappointment. The secluded spot which horizon in quest of a sail. But every search only detained him a prisoner was then scarcely known, and seldom visited; and these considerations, together with hope long deferred, at length destroyed all expectation of obtaining a passage to Raiatea. It soon appeared that there was a merciful providence in his detention. As may have been inferred from his history already told, Williams was a man of singular strength of purpose, and it was no ordinary obstacle that could detain him from anything on which, in his Master's cause, his heart was bent. But in no circumstance of his life, perhaps, was this characteristic more strikingly exhibited than in the determination which he now formed, and speedily executed. No ship appearing to take him to Raiatea, he determined to build one for himself; and "although he knew little of shipbuilding, and had scarcely any tools to work with, and the natives were wholly unacquainted three months, in completing a vessel between with mechanical arts, he succeeded, in about seventy and eighty tons burden!" Williams marvellous triumph over difficulties, he, with the was not a boaster; and even of this work, this modesty of true greatness, said but little; but of the prospects which it opened up his mind was full. For although the return to Raiatea was the primary object he had in the undertaking, it was not the chief one. That was rather the procuring of a vessel in which he might sail from island to island, teaching and preaching Gospel of the grace of God"-a desire which previous disappointment had but rendered the more intense. And, accordingly, now that the desire was gratified, he longed to commence the work. Writing to a brother missionary, he said: "the The Lord has already blessed our labours in every direction; and I trust that what has been done is only an earnest of what will be done, and as the first drops of abundance of rain. I shall write to the directors, and to Messrs James and East for their assistance. My hands, my head, and my heart are more full of missionary work than ever. My grasp is great and extensive, and the prospect of success encouraging. I'll get help from my brethren, if I can; if not, nothing shall deter me; I will work single-handed. In March 1828, he left Rarotonga and sailed for Raiatea, where he arrived on the 26th of April-exactly twelve months from the time of his departure-and remained there till May 1830, when his stated connection with that island was brought to a close. The remainder of his life was spent in missionary voyages; and although he occasionally returned to Raiatea, he did so "rather as a visitor than as a resident." He had long before contemplated a voyage to the Samoas, but, as we have seen, the selling of the "Endeavour" had prevented it; and, besides, as they were from eighteen hundred to two thousand miles distant, and the voyage BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH—THE REV: JOHN WILLIAMS. would require an absence of at least six months, Mrs Williams had warmly opposed the project. At Rarotonga, however, Mrs Williams, on recovering from a violent illness, which had threatened to prove fatal, told her husband that she feared the affliction had been sent because of her opposition in this matter, and that if she any longer withheld her consent, the Lord might remove her altogether. From this time (she continued) your desire has my full concurrence; and when you go, I shall follow you every day with my prayers, that God may preserve you from danger, crown your attempt with success, and bring you back in safety. Accordingly, on the 24th of May 1830, Williams, accompanied by another devoted missionary (Mr Barff), sailed in his vessel, which he named "The Messenger of Peace," for the Samoas. Having resolved to visit the Hervey Islands in their course, they steered first for Mangaia, and then for Atiu, Mauke, and Mitiaro; in all of which they found the work of the Lord prospering. But a scene of deep affliction presented itself on their arrival at Rarotonga, where a fearful disease, then at its height, was spreading death and desolation through that once smiling land. Many of the houses were left without an inhabitant-all their former inmates having gone to the grave; and, wherever Mr Williams directed his steps, he was saluted either with the sounds of lamentation or by "walking skeletons," who, having heard of his approach, strained their little strength, and crawled to The pathway, that they might once more see his face and seize his hand. Yet, amidst this dark and dreary spectacle, he was cheered by the appearance of many incipient evidences of that spiritual prosperity which Rarotonga was so soon to enjoy. Having done what they could to comfort the hearts of their brethren, and praying that "the Lord would repent him of the evil," and say to the angel that destroyed the people, "It is enough," they took their departure for Aitutaki; and finding that, under the superintendence of the native teachers, the congregation there was in a flourishing condition, they sailed for the Samoas, and after a visit to the Wesleyan missionaries at Tongatabu, reached Savaii, the largest and most imposing of the group, near the end of August. They arrived at an advantageous time; for, as the vessel approached the island, she was surrounded by natives in canoes, who brought the important intelligence, "that Tamafaigna, a despot who united the supreme spiritual with | great political power, and whose boundless sway would have presented a most formidable barrier to the introduction of the Gospel, had just been slain." On receiving this news, they proceeded to Sapapalii, the residence of Malietoa, the principal chief, who visited them on board, and gave them a cordial welcome; and next day they landed amid the acclamations of the people. The following two days were fraught with interest and importance. During that time, the purpose of his visit was secured. While the people, generally, were prepared to receive the teachers, no barrier 29 against it was raised by the chiefs. On the contrary. Malietoa, won by the representations of Fauea, a native whom Williams had brought with him from Tongatabu, and by the arguments and persuasions of the missionaries, acceded to their wishes, and gave a public pledge to protect the men, and learn the message now brought to his shores. Williams, therefore, deemed Savaii as won for the Saviour. A wide and effectual door was opened for the Gospel; and a disposition evinced by all classes, which justified the hope that they would soon and universally receive it. "We remained on shore," he writes to the Directors, "three days and two nights, during which time although probably no European had been on shore before, we were treated with the utmost respect and kindness. A commodious building was given up by the chiefs for our people to teach and worship in, with four good dwellings for themselves." And when they returned to the ship, nothing could exceed the people, all of whom escorted them to the shore, and expressions of regard which they received from the rent the air with the cry, "Great is our affection for you, English chiefs!" Williams was greatly delighted by the result of his visit, and left Savaii " rejoicing and praising God." "There are two little words," You know not what you can or cannot effect said he, “which I always admire—try and trust. till you try; and if you make your trials in the exercise of trust in God, mountains of imaginary difficulties will vanish as you approach them, and facilities will be afforded which you never anticipated!" On his way back he called at Rarotonga, where he found that the plague had entirely disappeared-that the island had recovered its wonted prosperity, and that the "Gospel had free course, and was daily glorified." And having further visited Mangaia, Rurutu, Tahiti, and Eimeo, Williams again reached Raiatea at the beginning of September, and remained there for a year, to the great joy of the people. Two things then forced upon his attention the necessity of returning, for a season, to England-viz., the health of Mrs Williams, which had been very seriously impaired, and the superintendence of the printing of a translation of the Scriptures, which he, along with two brother missionaries, had nearly finished. But being determined, before setting out for England, to revisit the Samoas, he set sail for them on the 11th of October 1832, clearing the harbour of Raiatea, "amid the shouts and supplications of the swarthy multitude who thronged the shore. with its commencement. The continuance of the voyage was in harmony All things favoured them. After a delightful sail of eight hundred miles, or October 17th, they sighted Manua, the most easterly island of the Samoan group. As he did not visit this island on his former voyage, and it was two hundred and fifty miles from the residence of the teachers, Mr Williams little expected to hear and see so much to gladden his heart. But his first visitors were nominal Christians, and "We are sons of the Word," were the earliest salutations which broke upon his ear in the Samoan language. This delightful surprise was heightened by the information, that large numbers of the inhabitants of Savaii and Úpolu had embraced the Gospel. Here also he found several natives of Raivavae, who, many years before, had been drifted from their island; but, having brought with them a knowledge of the religion of Jesus, they had erected a chapel, had chosen a teacher, and were maintaining the worship of God, and singing the songs of Zion in this strange land. As they pursued their course, numerous visitors confirmed their first impressions, and convinced Mr Williams that a mighty work had already been effected throughout Samoa; and from almost every settlement he passed chiefs arrived who evinced an earnest desire for instruction and teachers. On reaching Savaii, he found that the Lord had wrought great wonders there. He says:--- I learned from the teachers that Malietoa, his brother, the principal chiefs, and nearly all the inhabitants of their settlement, had embraced Christianity; that their chapel could accommodate six or seven hundred people, and that it was always full; and that in the two large islands of Savaii and Upolu the Gospel had been introduced into more than thirty villages. In addition to this, they stated that the great body of the people were only waiting my arrival to renounce their heathen system. This was most delightful information, and drew forth tears of gratitude to God, for having, in so short a time, granted us such a rich reward. He spent some time in the island, confirming the good work; and after visiting a number of the neighbouring islands-in all of which "the people heard the Word gladly," and "many believed"-returned to Rarotonga. There he finished the translation of the Scriptures, and shortly afterwards set out for England. During the voyage, he occupied the time in revising the translation anew, and in the preparation of other works for the use of the islanders; and on the 12th of June 1834, after nearly eighteen years absence," the white cliffs of his beloved native land once more greeted and gladdened his eyes." ON SEEING A SUN-DIAL IN A CHURCH YARD. GREY dial-stone, I fain would know As sweep the clouds o'er ocean's breast I think of what could place thee here, Nay! man, when on life's stage they fret, In sooth their sob'rest pranks afford The fiend unblest, who still to harm May ope the book of grace to him Grey dial-stone, I fain would know Yes! sure 'twas wise to place thee here, To whom earth's brightest gauds appear Grey stone, o'er thee the lazy night Nor is it thine at noon to teach In death's dark night, grey dial-stone, MAN'S RELATION TO THE DIVINE LAW. BY JOHN BROWN, D.D., EDInburgh. In a former article, it was attempted to show, with as much brevity and clearness as possible, that, whether we consider its PRINCIPLES its PRECEPTS, or its SANCTIONS, the divine law is "holy"-both "just and good." Many It is a matter of very deep interest to every one of us to understand well the relation which we bear to this holy, just, and good law; for to it we do bear, to it every intelligent being in the universe bears, a relation; and our most important interests are dependant on that re lation. There are multitudes who would fain have nothing to do with this law; they would fain have it abolished-annihilated. practically deny, some theoretically question, i or even deny, its obligation on them. But the law is as stable and immutable as its authorGod. Indeed, the law is God commanding, prohibiting, threatening. Men may forget it, but it never forgets them; they may put away from them, but it keeps its hold; they may renounce its authority, but they cannot |