There can be no doubt, that the apostle uses the word anathema, devoted, or accursed, in the passage under consideration in such a sense, as is perfectly consistent with his duties as a Christian and an apostle of Jesus Christ; perfectly consistent with his present joys and hope of future blessedness. Nor can there be a doubt but, that he included in the use of the term, the idea of suffering even unto death. Indeed he had suffered almost every thing except death. Five times he had received of the Jews forty stripes save one. Thrice they had beaten him with rods. At Lystra they had stoned, and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. But none of these things moved him, neither counted he his life dear unto himself, so that he might finish his course with joy, and the ministry which he had re the enjoyment of Christ? Could || tainly could not wish, that any dohe wish not to taste for a seasonings of his might render it necesthat joy, which is unspeakable and sary and just for the churches to full of glory? This cannot be re- close their doors against him; and conciled with his own conclusive for him to be unjustly and unnemode of reasoning in the preceding cessarily excluded could have no chapter of this same Epistle, in other effect, than to injure the which he perfectly seals the mouth cause he most tenderly loved. To of objection, and triumphantly admit, therefore, of such an interasks, who shall separate us from pretation of his language, militates the love of Christ ? It would place with every principle of religion the apostle in a very awkward posi- and church discipline. tion, both as a logician and a Christian, to suppose, that he could so soon forget his own reasoning and conclusion, and wish for a thing, which he had just proved to be impossible. Or shall the apostle be supposed to intend, by being accursed from Christ, to be separated from the church, the mystical body of Christ? As it is impossible to conceive how the Apostle could wish to receive in the day of judgment the same doom, as will all those who love not the Lord Jesus Christ; and impossible to conceive how he could wish for a temporary suspension of his communion with God; so it is equally difficult to conceive how he could be reconciled to an excommunication from the church, which is the mystical body of Christ, where those ordinances and privileges are enjoyed, the very design of which is to preserve, increase and sweet-ceived of the Lord Jesus, to testify en such communion. How can it be imagined, that the man, who from his conversion to Christianity had been so warmly attached to the cause of Christ, had suffered so much, had laboured so abundantly and successfully in preaching the Gospel and establishing churches, should wish to be an outcast from those very churches, and to have no share in their affections, privileges and joys? Furthermore, what advantage could the Jews, or the cause of God receive from his expulsion ? The reproach must have fallen upon the churches, which withdrew their fellowship, and not upon the apostle. He cerMARCH, 1825. the gospel of the grace of God. If we consider, that anathema may here be very properly translated by seorsum ponere, to place upward, and that the apostle alludes to crucifixion, in which mode of torture the sufferer is placed upward upon the cross, on which he expires; also if we should translate the Greek preposition apo after the manner of, instead of from, as it now stands, the passage will read thus, I could wish, that myself were crucified after the manner of Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh. This translation of the passage is not more liberal, than 10 For the Am. Bap. Magazine. JOURNEY TO THE FALLS OF NIAGARA My dear Sister, LETTER II. Saratoga Springs, July 21, 1824. that of many others in the Scriptures; we have, it is conceived, the idea precisely, which the apostle intended to convey, and the English reader is essentially benefited. Crucifixion was considered an accursed death. Gal. iii. 13th. Cursed is every one, that hangeth on a I RECEIVED your letter this morntree. In this sense the apostle ing, and am much gratified to hear could be willing, and, indeed, was that the family are all well. As I willing, to be accursed, or to be so am aware you feel a deep interest considered. This he could wil-in whatever concerns the happiness lingly endure, to shew the Jews of your absent friends, I shall give his love to Christ, and his con- you a brief sketch of the events in stancy in the faith of the gospel. which we have participated since Accordingly when the time of his the date of my last communication. departure drew nigh, with the faith and the hope of exalted piety, he could say, I am now ready to be offered. I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me at that day; and not unto me only, appear We left New-York in company with M. and C. last Friday in the afternoon. The boat was excessively crowded. The fare is reduced to two dollars, so that every body is now going to Albany. Many of the passengers were obliged to sit up all night, and those who were so fortunate as to obtain births or settees, were almost suffocated with the heat. but unto all that love his ing. In this joyful manner, and But notwithstanding the inconagreeably to his own desire, he fin- veniences of a crowded boat, it is ished his course, and testified by impossible for a person of any rehis martyrdom the gospel of the flection, to pass up the North River grace of God to Jews and Gentiles, on a pleasant summer's day, withand received the crown of life, the out being surprised and delighted glorious reward, through grace, of with the objects which successively such distinguished piety, faithful- meet his view. About one half the ness and benevolence. This is the distance, the scenery is truly subhighest degree of benevolence re-lime, and as you survey the massive quired, and was all the apostle palisades, and the lofty mountains could wish, or hope to attain. which form the western bank of the 1 John iij. 16. Hereby perceive we Hudson, your thoughts are elevathe love of God, because he laid ted to Him, who before the moundown his life for us; and we ought tains were brought forth, or ever he to lay down our life for the breth-had formed the earth and the world, ren. John xv. 13. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Thus the apostle, though dead, yet speaketh by his patience of hope, by his labours of love, by his constancy in suffering, and exhorts us not to count our life dear unto us; but to do all things, and suffer all things, for Christ and the brethren's sake, assuring us, that if we do this thing willingly, our great and final reward is certain. even from everlasting to everlasting is God. Although the other part of the distance does not present such a succession of magnificent objects, yet the eye is frequently gratified by views which are beautiful beyond my feeble powers of description. It was also peculiarly interesting to see not less, perhaps, than thirty vessels under sail, moving in different directions; some, deeply laden with the produce of the country, were on their way to the great city; and others, freight- || ed with the manufactures and luxuries of almost every clime, were conveying them to the interior of the State. You may think there is some effort of imagination in this account; but I do assure you it comes far short of a sober statement of the impressions which these various objects made on my mind. It added much to our pleasure while on board the Steam boat, that we were favoured with the company of Mr. and Mrs. Bethune. Mr. B. is a most exemplary Christian. I scarcely ever knew a man in his situation, who manifested more humility, simplicity, and sincerity of character. He by no means mentioned these things in a way of boasting. So far from this, he expressed his deep regret at the manner in which his name and charities had sometimes been noticed by his friends; and he spake of it as an evil much to be lamented, that in doing good at the present day, so much incense is offered to human vanity. I am sorry to say that Mr. B. is very much out of health. He intends to stay six weeks at this place, with a hope that the waters will remove his complaints. But he appears to be a dying man, and I should judge from his conversation, that he is ripening for heav en. * There are few, if any persons in the country, who have been more active in works of faith and labours of love. As we had much conversation together, I became acquainted with many facts in the history of his life, of which before I had not heard. I had previously received an impression that he was an American: but I learned that he was a native of Scotland; that when a young man he went to reside in the West Indies, and finally took up his abode in the United States. After he came to this country, he became hopefully pious, and joined the "Associate Reformed Church." He informed me, that before there was any "Tract Society" in New-York, he had distributed at his own expense, several thousands of tracts; and that he had also procured Bibles for gratuitous distribution, before there was a Bible Society in America. And if any blessings will accrue to our country from the general establishment of Sabbath schools, it is more indebted for them to Mr. and Mrs. While we were several miles below Albany, a person came on board for the purpose of supplying such as were travelling farther, with carriages. We engaged one conditionally, and when we came to the wharf, we found a number of elegant stages with the horses harnessed, and ready to start at a moment's notice. Our party seated themselves in one of these vehicles about three in the afternoon, and after passing through Troy, Waterford, and some other towns, we arrived here about 11 o'clock on Saturday night. We ordered the stage to drive to Union Hall, but it was so pre-occupied with guests, that we were obliged to seek accommodations at another house, and when we stopped, we found that was full also. full also. We then went to Congress Hall, which is an elegant and spacious building, where we remained for the night. I resolved, if possible, not to continue there, for when we came up to the door, although it was very late on Satur day night, a band of music was playing, and a ball was just terminating. I felt as though we had indeed arrived at "Vanity Fair,' and that I was not in a house where B. with their pious mother, Mrs. • This eminent servant of Christ died on the 18th of September. His loss was lamented by Christians a Christian could calculate on much religious enjoyment. As many pious persons annually visit the Springs, it is surprising to me, that an establishment has not been opened, where sober minded strangers may enjoy the benefits of the place, without being annoyed by scenes of folly and dissipation. I trust that before long such a house will be found. I would have it fitted up with taste and elegance; but I would also have such regulations, that piety should not be laughed out of countenance, nor should a blessing at the table, or morning and evening prayers be dispensed with, to avoid the ridicule of the thoughtless and profane. From the remarks I have repeatedly heard, I am confident, that he who shall offer these accommodations, will receive an extensive and liberal patronage. At seven o'clock on Sabbath morning, I called on Mr. who gave us the most cordial invitation to his house, which was as cordially accepted. I must say that I have never spent three or four days more pleasantly from home. Our time has passed away in resuming the intimacies of a personal friendship, which commenced nineteen years ago, and has only been interrupted by the providence of God separating us from each other. On Lord's day I preached twice. I also delivered a discourse last evening. The congregation was not large, but I have some reason to hope,from the attention and feelings which were manifested, that the services were not unprofitable. Every morning we take the Congress waters. When I draw near the place, and see what a collection of people there is about the spring, it always puts me in mind of the Pool of Bethesda. It is, however, rather amusing to see the immense provision that is prepared for these invalids at the hotels. You would not suppose that such tables could be spread for the sick. Every body, however, has the dyspepsia, and has come here to be cured. The way in which this desirable object is sought, is early in the morning to drink six or eight tumblers full of Congress water; then eat a breakfast sufficient for two or three people; and at 11 o'clock, drink three or four tumblers more. Having done this, they are prepared at 2 o'clock, P. M. to sit down to a table which is loaded with all the substantials and superfluities of the season. At the hall where some of our friends are, there are about 150 visitors, and other large boarding houses are completely filled. have much more confidence in the medical qualities of these waters, than I had previous to my visit, and have no doubt that in innumerable instances, their effects have been salutary in removing disease, and imparting health and vigour to the human frame. It is, indeed, a place of great resort for the gay and fashionable world; and without peculiar caution, Christians are in danger of a dissipation of mind, unfavourable to the health of the soul. This evil might to a considerable degree be avoided, were there such an establishment as I have mentioned, and were Christians faithful to themselves, in seeking the society of those who are both intelligent and pious. I am yours, &c. [Concluded from page 42.] REVIEW. The History of the Christian Church || to receive it into the number of from the Birth of Christ to the Eigh- those already established. Accordteenth Century, including a very inter-ingly we find one Roman Emperor esting account of the Waldenses and Albigenses. By WILLIAM JONES, Auintroducing it among his closet rethor of the Biblical Cyclopedia, &c.ligions, and another proposing to First American, from the 4th London the senate to give it a more public Edition, published by Spencer H. Cone, entertainment. But when it was (N. Y.) 1824. 2 vols. pp. 483, 492, and found to carry its pretensions highAlbany, by John B. Johnson, pp. 575.. er, and, like the Jewish, to claim the title of the only true one, then it was that it began to incur the same hatred and contempt with the Jewish. But when it went still farther, and urged the necessity of all men forsaking their own national religions, and embracing the gospel, this so shocked the pagans, that it soon brought upon it the bloody storm which followed. Thus you have the true origin of persecution for religion; a persecution not committed, but undergone, by the Christian church." In the last Number, we remarked some of the characteristic traits of the Christian church, during the three first centuries, as they are detailed both by their own apologists, and their persecutors. The question naturally arises, Whence arose this persecution? That it continued for about three hundred years with short interruptions, is the historical fact. That the Christians were never guilty of any thing which deserved such barbarity, nay, that they were peaceful, inoffensive, In proof of this opinion,the Bishop benevolent members of society, is relies much upon the following pasequally historical fact. Why then sage in the memorable letter from was it, that throughout every prov- Pliny to Trajan: "For I did not ince of the Roman empire, under in the least hesitate, but that whatthe mildest as well as under the ever should appear on confession, most tyrannical emperors,they were to be their faith, yet that their frobutchered by thousands, and the wardness and inflexible obstinacy name of Christian was sufficient to would certainly deserve punishcondemn a man at any time to ig-ment." "What," continues Bishnominious death? op Warburton, "was the inflexible To this question, several answers obstinacy? It could not be in prohave been returned. That gener-fessing a new religion; that was a ally received as the true one, and thing common enough. It was the which our author considers satis- refusing all communion with paganfactory, is given by Bishop War-ism,-refusing to throw a grain of burton in his "Divine Legation of incense on their altars." Moses." It is briefly expressed in the following passage: "When Christianity arose, though on the foundation of Judaism, it was at first received with great complacency by the pagan world. The gospel was favourably heard, and the superior evidence with which it was enforced, inclined men long habituated to pretended revelations vol. 1. p. 193, Now, although this might be considered a circumstance among others which contributed to the bitterness of that persecution which assailed the church, yet we must confess it appears to us very unsatisfactory, if given as a full solution of the whole phenomenon. And we are altogether of opinion, as we |