of human strength, was instructed by an angel of God to preserve him from the slightest touch of "wine or strong drink, or, any unclean thing." And Luther, who burst the chains of half Europe, was as remarkable for temperance as for great bodily and intellectual vigor. "It often happened," says his biographer, "that for several days and nights he locked himself up in his study, and took no other nourishment than bread and water, that he might the more uninterruptedly pursue his labors. Sir Isaac Newton, also, while composing his Treatise on Light, a work requiring the greatest clearness of intellect, abstained not only from spirit, but from all stimulating food. The immortal Edwards, too, repeatedly records his own experience of the happy effect of strict temperance both in mind and body.-And the recent reiormations from moderate drinking, in different parts of the land have revealed numerous examples of renovated health and spirits in consequence of the change. But not to multiply instances, let any youth, oppressed with heaviness of brain, or dullness of intellect, thoroughly try the experiment of temperance in all things, united with great activity, and he will himself be surprised at the happy effect.-National Preacher.

INTEMPERANCE IN THE ARMY.

A report of the Secretary of War has been presented to Congress, accompanied by several documents respecting intemperance and crime in the army. Adjutant Gen. Jones states that during seven years, ending Jan. 1, 1830, 5669 soldiers deserted from the army, and that the loss to Government in money by these desertions was nearly 70,000 dollars annually; in 1829 the loss was 96,000 dollars. He states also that during six years, ending Jan. 1, 1829, 7,058 soldiers were tried by Courts Martial; and this in an army of less than 6,000 men. He attributes most of these evils to intemperance, to regular, daily, issues of whiskey, and says the soldier who drinks his allowance daily acquires a habit by which he is almost sure to become a drunkard. Gen. Gaines says desertion is mostly to be attributed to intemperance, that intoxication almost always precedes, and is often the immediate cause of desertion. Sober recruits first take a little, and in time, a little more, until they become habitual drunkards. "I will add," says Gen, Gaines, "that the most orderly and gallant troops I have ever commanded were the least addicted to spirituous liquors, and were often for some weeks without any." Lieut. Gallagher states that his company, during a march of six weeks from Sackett's Harbor to Houlton, in Maine, were without ardent spirits, and not a man deserted, and hardly a crime was com mitted; within six weeks after his arrival at Houlton, where ardent spirit was plenty, several desertions took place, and petty crimes were committed without number. "I do not hesitate to say," continues Lieut. Gallagher, "that five out of six of the crimes proved before Courts Martial, have resulted from intemperance; and nine

years experience in the army has convinced me that no inconsiderable proportion of the desertions occur in consequence of intemperate drinking, either of the deserters themselves or others." Petty officers under the influence of ardent spirits frequently abuse the soldiers, and cause them to desert. Lieut. Gallagher mentions one company of 35 men, of whom 29 are drunkards, and five of the remaining six drink daily, and will probably become drunkards. "A few confirmed drunkards may corrupt a whole company."-Hamp. Gaz.

MOST AFFLICTING EVENT.

A slip from the office of the Baltimore Republican, announces the following distressing intelligence:

"Mr. Clendinan, a passenger in one of the stages from Louisville, reports the blowing up of a steam boat, her name not given, but he says that upwards of SIXTY lives were lost by the explosion,"

Since the above was in type we learn that the Steam boat was the Helen, Capt. McGregor. She was on her way from New-Orleans to Louisville, and when the accident took place, she was at Memphis, Tennessee, receiving passengers on board; it was added that between sixty and seventy were missing.-N. Y. Com.

The remarkable island of Heligoland, is situated in the North sea, near the mouths of the Elb, & the Weser the Eider-it was for many years in the possession of Great Britain, who formed an establishment there on account of its naval importance. From a large island, it has decreased to the small circumference of 13,800 feet. From authentic documents it appears to have contained in 1010, two convents and nine parishes. In 1300 it had but two parishes. It is easy to foresee that it will one day be entirely swallowed in the sea, which is constantly wearing off large masses of it. Its population at present is but 3,400, who support themselves by fishing.-The Friend,

Halle. At the Lutheran University of Halle, in Prussia, there are now seventy teachers, and 1291 students; of which number 934 are in the department of theology, 215 of law, 76 of medicine, and 76 of Philosophy.

The North American Review, according to the Boston Courier, has been sold by its late editor and proprietor, Mr. Sparks, to Alexander H. Everett, who, after the publication of the next number, will be sole editor, and the proprietor of three fourths of the interest. The other fourth part belongs to the publishers, Messrs. Gray and Bowen.

INTELLIGENCER.

The Bible our rule of faith!-The right of private judgment our privilege.“
Hier stehe ich, ich kann nicht anders ;-Gott helfe mir! Amen !--LUTHER,

MAY, 1830.

VOL. V.]

[No. 3.

DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST.

During the last month, several days passed by, which were eminently calculated, to fill the mind, with mingled reflections, of pain and pleasure. We allude to Good-Friday, and Easter; days, which in the Lutheran Church, and in several sister churches, are set apart, as Festival or Holy days. It is not our design, to enter into arguments, to prove the propriety and salutary effects, of the usage in our Church, requiring its members, to set apart for religious exercises, certain days, in remembrance of the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, but rather, to aid our beloved brethren, in deriving eternal advantages from a contemplation of those momentous events.

We are aware of the fact, that many well disposed persons, and possessors of religion, do not look through the same glass, that we of the Lutheran Church do, but, as we believe "the right of private judgment, an unalienable right," we will not pass judgment upon them, nor suffer ourselves to be influenced by any human creed. The time will, we think, soon approach, when all Protestants shal deem it expedient, to celebrate the anniversaries of Christ's birth, death, resurrection and ascension. If however any one considers himself attached to the Lutheran Church, he should conform to our usage, or join those, whose regulations and forms, suit his mind better.

On Good-Friday, the death of Jesus Christ, must naturally have been, the theme of your Pastor's discourse, and the leading subject of your reflections. And why did he die? Alas, man sinned-transgressed the law-forfeited his life, and consequently became the subTM

ject of eternal death. A mere man, could not effect a change, for "as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and só death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." No created being had power, to enable the children of men, to live before God. What pain, and shame must therefore be experienced by the poor sinner, when the enormity of sin is felt. O the despair and agony, that must rush into the mind, when the heinousness of sin, and its dire effects, are revived, and felt, as they should be But, "God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." He came, and shed his blood, which was the means of reconciling man with God; for, he spent his time in the form of man, and closed his life upon the accursed tree, to deliver our lives, from eternal destruction. "He gave up a life of infinite value, to save our lives from an infinite punishment, due to us through sin, which is infinite both as it cannot end of itself, and as it is committed against infinite holiness."

Hark how he groans! while nature shakes
And earth's strong pillars bend!

The temple's veil in sunder breaks,
The solid marbles bend.

Tis done-the precious ransom's paid;
"Receive my soul!" he cries:

See where he bows his sacred head!
He bows his head and dies!

Sinner! remember this! It was a good day nevertheless, for a sinful world, when Christ expired upon the cross, for then was offended justice satisfied and an atonement made, for our guilt.

But, death could not retain its prisoner. On the third day, Jesus Christ, by his own almighty power, resumed his life, in defiance of the guard, the stone and the seal. By this act, he proved incontes tably, that he cancelled all the debt and fully satisfied eternal justice.

Vain the stone, the watch, the seal!
Christ has burst the gates of hell.
Death in vain forbids his rise;
Christ has open'd Paradise.
Lives again our glorious King:
Where, O death, is now thy sting?
Dying once, he all doth save:
Where thy victory, O grave?

The anniversary of Christ's resurrection, should therefore fill us with joy. They who are in Christ Jesus, have no condemnation to

fear. Their spirits must indeed separate for a while from the clay, but "if we believe that Jesus died, and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus, will God bring with him.

If any of our people, permitted the Holy days, alluded to, to pass by, without suitable impressions, let them repent of their indifference upon the events, to which their attention was called, and, seek pardon through him, that died that we might live.-Editor.

SABBATH SCHOOL SYSTEM.

Although much has been written, and, well written, to prove the fact, that Sabbath Schools exert a happy influence upon a nationAlthough experience has proved, that children who attended them, grew up, if not actually pious, yet very susceptible of religious impressions, nevertheless, the discourse lately delivered by Professor Schmucker, connects with the subject of Sabbath Schools, such important facts and considerations, that Protestants who have at heart the cause of Christ, will peruse it, with profit to themselves. We would especially recommend, that it be read to the children of every family, as they are at the present day, particularly, exposed to error, and no means should be left untried to shield them against it. We have omitted several paragraphs, of the discourse, as we wish to insert in this number, several other important articles.-Editor.

PROV. XIV. 34. "Righteousness exalteth a nation.'

29

When we cast our eyes over the history of the church, and contemplate her rise, progress and various fluctuations, we find, that, though there never was a time, in which the gates of hell prevailed against her, yet had she her seasons of adversity as well as of prosperity. At one time, we see the sword of persecution suspended over her by the hand of Pagan emperors, and the sacramental host of martyrs slaughtered by hundreds and thousands amidst circumstances of the most repulsive cruelty, or, chained to the stake, mingle their expiring breath with the devouring flame. At another, we see her reclining in the arms of imperial_favour, and secularized by unhallowed union with civil power, and degenerating from century to century into a mere political engine: her simple doctrines being transformed into scholastic jargon, her holy precepts relaxed into a filthy system of mercenary righteousness, until all her glories are shrouded in Egyptian night. But He who commanded light to shine out of darkness, bade one constellation after another, arise amid the gloom that brooded over her; until, at length, he blessed the world