move out of the body, and to dwell with the Lord." Here is no intervening period between the soul leaving the body, in which it had been lodged, and its being ushered into the presence of the Lord. The same door which is an outlet from this mortal life, is an inlet to life eternal. From this passage, Boyse argues and proves, that there is no intermediate state for the soul of the believer; but that, at death, it goes to dwell with Christ in the highest heavens, to enjoy a perfection of bliss.*

"Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place," Acts i. 25. These words were spoken by a Jew; and the best way to understand his phraseology, will be to compare it with that of the Jews: TOPεvoηvai čis TOV TOTOV TOV ïdiov, "that he might go to his own place." It was common with the Jews, when speaking of the final state of any person, to say, " He went to his own place," i. e. "the place most suited to the habits in which he lived." They say of Balaam, ἄπηλθεν εις τον τόπον ävт8,"he went to his own place," and they affirm, that hell was his own place. When we are told by St. Peter, that Judas went to his own place, and when we compare these words with the awfully solemn sentence which Jesus Christ himself pronounced upon him, calling him a devil, the son of perdition, &c., it is not going beyond the boundaries of charity to say, that his own place was in the regions of hell. And it requires but little of critical acumen, to determine when his soul went there. It was immediately after he hanged himself. We are solemnly informed, that "the wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God," Psalm ix. 17. And as there is nothing in scripture to contradict, but to sanction the belief, that this punishment takes place immediately at death, it is evident that the souls of the ungodly, at death, neither sleep, nor pass into a state of insensibility.

"For Christ hath also once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but quickened in the Spirit. By whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison, which sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water," 1 Pet. iii. 18, 19, 20. The two terms in this passage, which have perplexed commentators, are spirits and prison. The most judicious are agreed, that, by spirits, we are

Boyse on the Four Last Things.

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to understand the departed souls of these antediluvians, to whom Noah, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, preached; but who, continuing impenitent, were destroyed by the deluge. Their bodies perished in the waters, and their souls were consigned to immediate punishment. The place in which they are retained is here called a prison. The language is forensic, and alludes to persons under sentence of death, being kept in prison till the execution of the sentence is inflicted. St. Jude uses similar language when speaking of the fallen angels. "The angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness, unto the judgment of the great day," ver. 6. Every one acquainted with the scriptures, and with systematic theology, knows, that by "chains of darkness," is meant the prison of hell; and by "the great day," the day of judgment. The legitimate inference from the above is, "That the souls of the impenitent antediluvians are reserved in the prison of hell till the day of judgment." With this state, sleep or insensibility is as incompatible as pleasure is with a body racked with_the most tormenting pains. T. R.

Huggate, June 11th, 1831.

ON THE COMMANDING VOICE AND ELOQUENCE OF THE REV. GEORGE WHITEFIELD.

THAT Mr. Whitefield was a man of most extraordinary eloquence, and of a powerful commanding voice, Dr. Franklin, whom all must allow to be a competent judge, has not hesitated to assert.

In reference to the latter, he observes, that he has no doubt he could command a congregation of 30,000 persons. To this conclusion he was led by the following experiment. On one occasion, when attending Mr. Whitefield's preaching, Dr. Franklin receded from him to the greatest distance in which he could distinctly hear and understand what was delivered. He then travelled round the speaker, always taking his ability to hear and understand, as the line of that circle which he formed. Having fixed these boundaries, he proceeded, after the congregation had withdrawn, to measure the enclosed erea, which he found would contain the above number, without causing them to be immoderately thronged.

On the subject of Mr. Whitefield's eloquence, the same venerable philosopher relates the following circumstances. Having frequently heard of its magic influence, whenever the preacher had to advocate any

charity, he one day resolved to attend his discourse, but with a fixed determination to give nothing to the collection at that time, that he might thus prove himself above the common weakness of his countrymen. At first, the language of the speaker made little or no impression, any further than to excite Dr. Franklin's admiration. At length came a powerful stroke, that operated like an electrical shock. Scarcely had he recovered from this, before he was assailed with another, and his determination to give nothing began to soften. Another burst of eloquence came, and Dr. F. resolved he would give to the collection all the copper money he had in his pocket. Here he fixed for some time, till an impassioned torrent of thought and language attacked the pocket containing the silver, and before he had exactly adjusted the sum he intended to give, he resolved to surrender the whole. The speaker still continuing to assail, and the hearer to resist, remained equally balanced for some time. A flash of oratory at length so far excited Dr. F's. admiration, that, thinking such noble coruscations of mental energy ought not to be expended in vain, he came to the conclusion of rewarding it with a small piece of gold. The discourse continued, and so did Dr. Franklin, but not the money in his pocket, for at the termination of the service, when the collection was made, copper, silver, and gold all went into the hat together, and the philosopher went home penniless.

Present at the same discourse was another gentleman, who, having less confidence in his own resolution to give nothing, than Dr. Franklin had in his, went to the preach ing with empty pockets. The fascinations of the preacher's eloquence, however, soon brought him to repentance; and when the collection was about to be made, he turned to an acquaintance, a Quaker, who stood near him, and asked him to lend some money. To this application he received the following reply: "I will lend thee money to-morrow, friend, but at present I fear thou art a little beside thyself." "This," says the relater, was probably the only person in the whole congregation, who was not affected."

66

DRINKING, AN ANECDOTE.

Mr. Editor, Sir,-By giving publicity to the following affecting anecdote, on the danger of drinking spirits, you will greatly oblige,

EDWARD DYER.
Blagdon, March 6th, 1831.

A GENTLEMAN, travelling in Essex some years ago, called at the house of a friend, where he met with a young minister, who was just going to preach in the neighbourhood. The good lady of the house kindly offered him a glass of spirits before he entered upon his work; which offer he accepted. That such mistaken acts of kindness are, in many places, far from being solitary, the writer knows from experience, and that they should ever be made or accepted, he views with the sincerest regret.

An elderly man, who was present, and witnessed the circumstance to which I have referred, approached the young preacher, and thus addressed him :-" My young friend, let me offer you a word of advice respecting the use of liquors. There was a time when I was as acceptable a preacher as you now may be; but by too frequently accepting of the well-designed offers of my friends, I contracted a habit of drinking, so that now I never go to bed sober, if I can get liquor. I am, indeed, just as miserable as a creature can be on this side hell."

About two years after this, the traveller, just mentioned, had occasion to call again at the same house, when, on making inquiry concerning the unhappy drinker, he learnt that he had been some time dead; and, no doubt, in consequence of his intemperance. He was informed that, towards the close of life, he had not drank to the same excess; but it was only because he could not obtain spirituous liquors.

"Beware

This awful fact loudly says, of indulging in strong liquors ;" the habit of which insensibly steals on its victim, who is too often not aware of the danger, "till a dart strikes through his liver," Prov. vii. 23.

MISSIONARY COMMUNICATIONS.-BAPTISM OF TWO JEWS.

ON Sunday, June 5th, I witnessed, with grateful feelings to the Lord of life, the baptism of another Hebrew convert to Christianity, at the Hebrew Christian Brethren's Chapel, Fountain Place, City Road, by the Rev. George Abrahams, a converted Jew; after a pathetic discourse from Ezekiel xxxv. 25, "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you."

A most crowded congregation, consisting of Jews and Gentiles, Britons and foreigners, of both sexes, evinced, by the expression of their countenances, and the most perfect stillness, the lively interest they took on thus

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 appear. ances 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 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.

On Wednesday, June 8th, also, the rite of baptism, by the Rev. T. J. Judkin, M. A. of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, and minister of Somers Chapel, was administered in that chapel to Frederick Julius Ruben, a converted Israelite, who is an inmate of the Hebrew Institution, Camden Town. On Thursday, June 9th, this convert was favoured with the rite of confirmation, by the Lord Bishop of Llandaff, at the church of St. Pancras, in the vicinity of the Hebrew Institution.

Thus far hath the Lord helped us, in whom we rejoice, beholding His hand upon us for good. The pious feeling manifested by this convert, snatched from the haughty prejudices of rabbinical observances, to the simple doctrines and spirit of the gospel of Jesus Christ, both previous to and after

327

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. Amen. W. COLDWELL.

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 ec1

bis satellites; there are three immersions of the first, in the following order: on the 11th, at 35 minutes 42 seconds past 12 at night; on the 19th, at 30 minutes 5 seconds past 2 in the morning; and on the 27th, at 53 minutes 12 seconds past 10 in the evening. Two immersions of the second on the 1st, at 25 minutes 52 seconds past 11 in the evening; and on the 9th, at 44 seconds past 2 in the morning: an immersion of the third, on the 12th, at 29 minutes 48 seconds past 1 in the morning; and an immersion of the fourth, on the 25th, at 33 minutes 19 seconds past 1 in the morning. The planet is still situated in the tail of the Goat. Saturn is seen to the east of Regulus, and the Georgian is observed in Capricornus.

POETKY.

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

heaven

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 mountain side, or cottage vale,
The rural glen, the leafy dale,

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.

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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 iti. 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 surrounding country. He was one of the first and band of robbers, who spread terror through the 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.