science, because he did it contrary to the dictates of his conscience. He actually condemns himself in the very thing which he does." I have been thus particular in explaining this passage of scripture, because of the errors into which many readers of the New Testament have fallen in attempting to explain it without a close reference to the context, and the scope of the writer. These indeed are of the utmost importance:* a neglect of them often leads to the greatest errors. The last Sunday in August, it was my misfortune to hear an exposition of this passage, as contrary to that which I have given above, as could well be imagined. There was no Episcopal congregation in the place where I chanced to pass the day; and I followed the multitude to hear the only settled minister in the vicinity. The preacher applied the word "faith" in the passage under consideration to the evangelical faith of the Christian; and stated that every action, no matter of what sort, kind, or character, that did not result from the sincere faith of the gospel was absolutely sinful. Is this the doctrine of Christianity? Is any such assertion to be found in the Bible? Farther, is it the legitimate construction of St. Paul's language? If so, in what an awful state are the heathen? in what an awful state are all men, even those who enjoy the greatest light, and the greatest privileges! But the Bible has settled the question: and we have one broad principle to rest upon: "God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation, he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” Acts x. 35. L. J. The Apparition. [From Jarvis's Accredited Ghost Stories.] SIR John Sherbroke and General Wynyard were, as young men, officers in the same regiment, which was employed on foreign service in Nova-Sco tia: they were connected by similarity of tastes and studies, and spent together in literary occupation much of that vacant time which their brother officers See Stuart's Earnesti, p. 46 & 48. squandered in those excesses of the table which, some forty years ago, were reckoned among the necessary accomplishments of the military character. They were one afternoon sitting in Wynyard's apartment: it was perfectly light; the hour was about four o'clock; they had dined, but neither of them had drank wine, and they had retired from the mess, to continue together the occupations of the morning. I ought to have said that the apartment in which they were had two doors in it; the one opening into a passage, and the other leading into Wynyard's bed-room: there were no means of entering the sittingroom but from the passage, and no other egress from the bed-room but through the sitting-room; so that any person passing into the bed-room must have remained there, unless he returned by the way he entered. This point is of consequence to the story. As these two young officers were pursuing their studies, Sherbroke, whose eye happened accidentally to glance from the volume before him towards the door that opened into the passage, observed a tall youth, of about twenty years of age, whose appearance was that of extreme emaciation, standing beside it. Struck with the appearance of a perfect stranger, he immediately turned to his friend, who was sitting near him, and directed his attention to the guest who had thus strangely broken in upon their studies. As soon as Wynyard's eyes were turned towards the mysterious visitor, his countenance became suddenly agitated: 'I have heard,' says Sir John Sherbroke, ' of a man's being as pale as death, but I never saw a living face assume the appearance of a corpse, except Wynyard's at that moment.' As they looked silently at the form before them-for Wynyard, who seemed to apprehend the import of the appearance, was deprived of the faculty of speech, and Sherbroke, perceiving the agitation of his friend, felt no inclination to address it-as they looked silently upon the figure, it proceeded slowly into the adjoining apartment, and in the act of passing them, cast its eyes with a somewhat melancholy expres sion on young Wynyard. The oppres sion of this extraordinary presence was 39 no sooner removed than Wynyard, seizing his friend by the arm, and drawing a deep breath, as if recovering from the suffocation of intense astonishment and emotion, muttered in a low and almost inaudible tone of voice, Great God! My brother! Your brother!' repeated Sherbroke, 'What can you mean, Wynyard? There must be some deception: follow me:' and immediately taking his friend by the arm, he preceded him into the bed-room, which, as I before stated, was connected with the sitting-room, and into which the strange visitor had evidently entered. I have already said that from this chamber there was no possibility of withdrawing but by the way of the apartment through which the figure had certainly passed, and as certainly never returned. Imagine, then, the astonishment of the young officers when, on finding themselves in the centre of the chamber, they perceived that the room was perfectly untenanted. Wynyard's mind had received an impression, at the first moment of his observing him, that the figure whom he had seen was the spirit of his brother. Sherbroke still persevered in strenuously believing that some delusion had been practised. They took note of the day and hour in which the event had happened; but they resolved not to mention the occurrence in the regiment, and they gradually persuaded each other that they had been imposed upon by some artifice of their fellow officers, though they could neither account for the reason, nor suspect the author, nor conceive the means of the execution: they were content to imagine any thing possible, rather than admit the possibility of a supernatural appearance. But, though they had attempted these strata gems of self-delusion, Wynyard could not help expressing his solicitude with respect to his brother, whose apparition he had either seen, or imagined himself to have seen; and the anxiety which he exhibited for letters from England, and his frequent mention of his fears for his brother's health, at length awakened the curiosity of his comrades, and eventually betrayed him into a declaration of the circumstances, which he had in vain determined to conceal. The story of the silent and unbidden visitor was no sooner bruited abroad than the destiny of Wynyard's brother became an object of universal and painful interest to the officers of the regiment; there were few who did not inquire for Wynyard's letters before they made any demand for their own, and the packets that arrived from England were welcomed with a more than usual eagerness, for they brought not only remembrances from their friends at home, but promised to afford a clue to the mystery which had happened among themselves. By the first ships no intelligence relating to the story could have been received, for they had all departed from England previous to the appearance of the spirit. At length the long wished for vessel arrived; all the officers had letters except Wynyard; still the secret was unexplained. They examined several newspapers; they contained no mention of any death, or of any other circumstance connected with his family that could account for this preternatural event. There was a solitary letter for Sherbroke still unopened: the officers had received their letters in the mess-room, at the hour of supper: after Sherbroke had broken the seal of his last packet, and cast a glance on its contents, he beckoned his friend away from the company, and departed from the room. All were silent. The suspence of the interest was now at the climax; the impatience for the return of Sherbroke was inexpressible: they doubted not but that letter had contained the long expected intelligence. At the interval of an hour Sherbroke joined them. No one dared be guilty of so great a rudeness as to inquire the nature of his correspondence; but they waited in mute attention, expecting that he would himself touch upon the subject. His mind was manifestly full of thoughts that pained, bewildered, and oppressed him: he drew near the fireplace, and leaning his head on the mantlepiece, after a pause of some moments, said in a low voice to the person who was nearest him, 'Wynyard's brother is no more! The first line of Sherbroke's letter was 'Dear John, break to your friend Wynyard the death of his favourite brother:' he had died on the day, and at the very hour on which the friends had seen his spirit pass so mysteriously through the apartment. It might have been imagined that these events would have been sufficient to have impressed the mind of Sherbroke with the conviction of their truth; but, so strong was his prepossession against the existence, or even the possibility of any preternatural intercourse with the souls of the dead, that he still entertained a doubt of the report of his senses, supported as their testimony was by the coincidence of vision and event. Some years after, on his return to England, he was walking with two gentle men in Piccadilly, when, on the opposite side of the way, he saw a person bearing the most striking resemblance to the figure which had been disclosed to Wynyard and himself: his companions were acquainted with the story, and he instantly directed their attention to the gentleman opposite, as the individual who had contrived to enter and depart from Wynyard's apartment without their being conscious of the means. Full of this impression, he immediately went over, and at once addressed the gentleman: he now fully expected to elucidate the mystery. He apologiz. ed for the interruption, but excused it by relating the occurrence which had induced him to the commission of this solecism in manners. The gentleman received him as a friend; he had never been out of the country, but was the twin brother of the youth whose spirit had been seen. The reader of the above story is left in the difficult dilemma of either admitting the certainty of the facts, or doubting the veracity of those whose word it were impossible even for a moment to suspect. Sir John Sherbroke and General Wynyard, two gentlemen of distinguished honour and veracity, either agreed to circulate an infamous falsehood, which falsehood was proved by the event to be prophetic, or they were together present at the spiritual appearance of General Wynyard's brother. Illustration of Genesis xxvii. 27, 28. Deuteronomy viii. 7, 8, 9. THE road was mountainous, rocky, and full of loose stones, yet the cultiva tion was every where marvellous; it af-, forded one of the most striking pictures of human industry which it is possible to behold. The limestone rocks and stony valleys of Judæa were entirely, covered with plantations of figs, vines, and olive-trees; not a single spot seem ed to have been neglected. The hills from their bases to their utmost summits, were entirely covered with gar dens; all of these were free from weeds, and in the highest state of agricultural perfection. Even the sides of the most barren mountains had been rendered fertile, by being divided into terraces, like steps rising one above another, whereon soil had been accumulated with astonishing labour, Under a wise and beneficent govern ment, the produce of the Holy Land would exceed all calculation. Its perennial harvest; the salubrity of its air; its limpid springs; its rivers, lakes, and matchless plains; its hills and vales; all these, added to the serenity of its climate, prove this land to be indeed a field which the Lord hath blessed: God hath given it of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine.'-Dr. Clarke. siding bishop, assisted by other bishops present. The diocese of Georgia having exhibited satisfactory evidence of acceding to the constitution of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, was received into union with the convention. The testimonials required to be given by the house of clerical and lay delegates to bishops elect, in order to their consecration, were given to the Rev. John S. Ravenscroft, bishop elect of North-Carolina; and his consecration by the presiding bishop, aided by the other bishops, took place during the session of the convention. The constitution of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States was so altered as to give to each convention the appointment of the time in the third year thereafter, at which the rest shall meet; and to empower the presiding bishop to change the place of meeting in the event of pestilential disease, or other sufficient cause, rendering a change necessary. The following resolutions were past. 1. That a joint committee be appointed to consider, and report to the next General Convention, whether any, and if any, what, alterations it is proper to make in, or additions to, the Book of Psalms and Hymns in metre, now allowed to be used in this church; 2. That the said committee consist of three bishops, to be appointed by the house of bishops, and seven clergymen, and seven laymen, to be appointed by the house of clerical and lay deputies; 3. That seven members of this committee be a quorum for transacting business, provided there are included at least one bishop, two clergymen, and two laymen; and that the concurrence of the three orders shall be necessary to constitute a decision of the committee. rough, John Read, Edward J. Stiles, Tench Tilghman, Francis S. Key, Peter Kean. The following is the report on the state of the church, made by the house of clerical and lay deputies, to the house of bishops, agreeably to the 45th canon of 1808. Vermont.-There has been a gradual and steady advancement of the church in this state, since the last meeting of the triennial convention. By a late decision of the supreme court of the United States, a large amount of landed property is expected to come into the possession of the church, which will afford a permanent revenue for the support of the clergy, for which the gratìtude of episcopalians is due to that venerable society, which was the first in those exertions for the promotion of Christianity, that so peculiarly distinguish the present period, which has done, and is still doing so much for extending the influence of pure and undefiled religion, on this and on the other continent-the Society in England for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts. Since the last report of the general state of the church, a church has been consecrated at Manchester; the church at Windsor has been finished and consecrated, a work that does great credit to the zeal and liberality of the episcopalians of that town, especially to the munificence of one individual; the contribution of the Hon. Jonathan H. Hubbard, in the land on which it is built, and in money to build it, amounting to more than two thousand dollars: a church is now ready for consecration in the town of Berkshire, and another has been commenced this season in the town of Bethel. The number of communicants has very considerably increased during the three years last past; but our clergy have suffered a diminution by the removal of the Rev. Mr. Beach, and by the untimely and lamented death of the Rev. Mr. Gray, who was successfully officiating in Berkshire and the adjacent towns. A missionary society was organized in this state in 1821, which, small as are its means, has already been attended with some good effects. They are employing a missionary, the Rev. Mr. Brainard, late ly ordained a deacon, in the northern parts of the state, who gives a favourable account of his mission. Still there is much more to be done, which we hope, through that grace, without which nothing is strong, nothing is holy, to see in due time accomplished. Massachusetts.-The church in this diocese may justly be represented as flourishing, if we take into view the difficulties and trials which it has had to encounter. Notwithstanding the political and religious prejudices which operated here with particular hostility, there were seventeen churches founded in Massachusetts proper, between the years 1679 and 1774. During the revolution two clergymen only continued the exercise of their public ministrations; yet of the seventeen thus founded, fifteen have been preserved to this day, through evil report and good report; and though most of them are small, they are still united and striving together for the faith of the gospel. The churches here enumerated, are Trinity church and Christ church, Boston; St. Peter's, Salem; St. Michael's, Marblehead; St. Paul's, Newburyport; Christ church, Cambridge; St. Paul's, Dedham; St. Andrew's, Hanover; Trinity, Marshfield; Trinity, Bridgewater; Taunton; Christ church, Quincy; Hopkinton; St. James's, Great-Barrington; and St. Luke's, Lanesborough. Trinity church and Christ church, Boston, are full and flourishing. The churches at Newburyport, Great-Barrington, and Lanesborough, are also thriving. The church at Salem has lately become vacant, and is consequently suffering; but when again supplied, will doubtless regain, and probably increase, its former strength. The churches at Hanover and Marshfield have been for some years united under the rectorship of the Rev. Mr. Wolcott, and are increasing. Those of Bridge water and Hopkinton are stationary for the want of missionaries, having been vacant most of the time since the revolution, and kept alive only by the occasional services of visiting ministers. The Rev, Isaac Boyle has been settled, within the last year, at Dedham, where the prospects of the increase of the church are encouraging. Such also is the case with the church at Quincy, where the Rev. Mr Cutler is officiating. -During the present year an attempt has been made to alter the charter of the episcopal parish at Marblehead, so as to convert it into an independent or congregational society. The attempt was occasioned by the declining state of this once prosperous church, which has never recovered from the blow it received at the revolution. Through the merciful providence of God, this design was defeated, and what was meant as an occasion of its falling, has been the means of increasing its strength. A missionary is now established there, and the scattered remnant of the flock are returning to the fold. At Taunton public service has been suspended in consequence of the accidental demolition of the small and inconveniently situated church which was erected there in 1767. The members of that congregation have of late, however, expressed a wish to build in a more favourable position. In case this measure is accomplished, they will be supplied with a missionary. The church at Cambridge, founded in the year 1761, but deserted and almost destroyed during the revolution, has languished ever since, having been chiefly supplied by lay readers, who were resident graduates of Harvard University. It is now in so ruinous a state that it was thought necessary to suspend public worship in it in December last, since which time it has not been opened. The episcopal students at the university have amounted, for a series of years, to one seventh of the whole number; and this year there are 45, most of whom are from the middle and southern states. The students are not allowed to come to Boston to attend divine service; and the episcopalians, their own church being closed, are required to attend constantly at the college chapel. It is due, however, to the president of the college to state, that he has expressed a desire to have the church repaired, and provided with a suitable minister, as a mean of providing for the accommodation of those students who profess to be episcopalians. If the influence of impressions made on the minds of these young men during the interesting period of collegiate life |