Original. MILLERISM. MILLERISM, in one aspect or another, seems to be the engrossing subject of the day. We do not pretend to pronounce judgment upon Mr. Miller's system-to do which would require both erudition and sanctity. Sanctity, we say; for what head-way shall a controversialist hope to make, if he come not to the handling of divine things with a clean, pure (purified) heart-a heart free from all other motive than that of searching out and defending God's truth? Yet many affect to treat this question, not as suiting the holiness due to the subject-matter, but according to their own ideas of the derision which is due to the author of the system. And in doing this they are themselves in danger of committing the very fault they would rebuke in him. Whether or not Mr. Miller is mistaken in his calculations and his views, we suppose that at least there might be accorded to him the merit of sincerity, and that the ignominious epithet of "imposter" might be withheld.

is only revealing the truths (and an able Biblical scholar* has said no one has yet refuted him) of Scripture, why this effect imputed to him? If he goes by authority, that authority is the ground of all its consequences. If not, (we speak with reverence,) why should a man speak louder than God to the people? Is it not good that the slothful should be aroused and awakened? And if in getting thus far on their way they make absurd demonstrations, does it prove any thing else than that these unfortunate people are awkward at religion, that they misapprehend its spirit, and that their mistakes are in consequence of their not having been early enough instructed in the right way? Having been regardless of the subject perhaps all their days, they have now become excited, through their fears, at a date of life when the accumulation of sin is heavy upon them-especially this sin of omission-and in taking up their belief they are counseled by their natural fears, and by their worldly habits of thinking; and they look to the doctrine of retribution rather than to the remedy proposed. The Christian atonement Mr. M. is no longer a young man; and he is known seems impossible to the selfish, resentful, unregenerate to have lived a sober, truthful, God-seeking life. Neith-|| spirit of humanity; and as babes in grace, they have er is he of a visionary turn, but one whose only excitement has been in the speculation now in hand-a man whose sobriety of temper, and humble views of this life, should defend him from the imputation of vain glory or self-seeking in the present instance. And it may be observed, amongst the many who condemn him, thousands may be found who go no deeper into the subject than to pronounce against him, because his system accords not with their idea of what is probable. The probable with them is the usual; and could they divest themselves of their self-vanity, they might find that they could give no reason for "the belief that is in them"at least none from authority.

For ourself we think it not good to speculate in holy things, lest innovations should come-lest that which is pulled apart shall not be made again to adhere; but we would say that, where it does take place, the affirmative of the question, the taking up for the consummation looked to, always impresses us with more respect than the opposite or negative side-the abrogation, as it were, of holy things. Many, too, who study religion not at all, have yet the self-sufficiency to pronounce against certain views of it, as set forth by others. They reflect not that their own belief is of the world's ideas, without a creed of any sort to sustain their one-sided philosophy. Such, we think, should have the modesty to refrain from censure. Others again might be told that it is more creditable to be anxious about religion, though liable to some mistake, than not to be engaged upon the subject at all.

Mr. Miller, though not a learned man in the general sense of the word, is, we hear, a deep searcher of the Scriptures an earnest seeker after the truth. But, apart from this, his system is denounced as being of disastrous tendency, as shown in the "madness of the people." Of old time, were they not mad, not because they had too much, but too little religion? If Mr. M.

taken at once too strong aliment for them-it is more than they can bear.

Some cases of insanity have occurred-some few resulting even in death, it is said, in consequence of Mr. M.'s predictions; but if rightly understood, instead of oversetting the mind, it had been steadied by religion. Had the same persons been as apt to believe "Moses and the prophets," perhaps it had not so happened. Yet Mr. M. pretends to be neither prophet nor seer, but only to interpret Scripture readings. And we think it a misnomer that his versions are called predictions.

It may be observed that in all great movements there occur some instances of sacrifice. Perhaps these instances mark the leaven of humanity in the principle. "The old Romans had no triumph without a victim;" and in the ancient day, even the rites of religion claimed their libation of blood. In the present case it would seem harsh to plead necessity. We respect the sorrow of survivors. But to others we might say, is it not better to have "died" in "the faith," than to have lived without it? and in these instances such seemed the alternative. But these persons were probably predisposed to insanity, and any strong exciting cause would have produced the same effect. Yet had these unfortunate persons, as we have said, been regularly trained to religion from infancy—in the compliances required— it surely had not been a startling subject to them-it surely had sustained them, under all and every thing to which they were liable.

The question, then, is, can Mr. M. be fairly blamed for the disorders and deaths that have occurred in consequence of his preaching? That it was a necessary consequence to such as suffered, does not, we think, throw any guilt upon Mr. M.-he certainly never cal

* Dr. Breckenridge.

culated or desired such an event. In cases of physical || decree not enforced by necessity, nothing could recon

life, millions die of predisposing causes, as soon as the exciting principle is presented. This is the course of nature. Now, religious teaching is intended and believed by all to be of healing tendency; and we repeat that we believe it is of an unsound idiosyncrasy that these cases have occurred; and if other causes of alarm had been as great, no doubt the catastrophe had been the same.

cile us to it. Every one will allow that the loneliness of death is its most terrific feature, (in regard to itself alone.) But even for this has the divine economy prepared for us a way, and a companion-the comforter and the healer, Christ, and God, our salvation; and the woe of loneliness is left to warn us to our safety. It is to these terms that Mr. Miller's statement would draw our attention. Allowing even that he has made some chronological or arithmetical mistakes, yet he has made no essential mistake. His doctrine is soundsquaring not perhaps with the convertible term "orthodoxy," but grounded in the unchangeable truth of the Scriptures.

It may be remarked that cotemporaneously with Mr. Miller's system there has happened several events of uncommon occurrence, which would seem to point his predictions, yet, if seen apart from them, had, perhaps, had no effect upon the persons now most frightened by them. It might rather be said that his predictions pointed attention to them, than that they have illustrated his preaching. Of being frightened, we once heard an individual (a plain farmer he was) make the striking observation, that "after all, one that claimed to be a human, (that was his phraseology,) ought not to be ofeard of any thing." And we believe there is much in exerting the powers of our own soul, which, with pious submission to God, may be found sufficient for We ought to believe that, "As our day is, so our strength shall be."

But why is the alarm so great? Events, preternatural, have been presented, it is true; but could Mr. M. make the case stronger than it should be by authority? He has admonished to repentance and preparation. The coming of our Savior upon earth in person were indeed an advent to be looked to with a holy dread— with tremors of the heart; but to his ransomed, with fullness of joy; and Mr. M. has told his hearers that it is in their will to be of these. The alarm, we think, is so great by sympathy more than by any other extraordinary cause; for where is the great difference to the dying? We read weekly in the columns of the "Advocate," and other papers, of those who have-we believe their testimony-that they have a foretaste of the beatitude awaiting them. We believe the "Comforter" was with them—we believe they were hastening to the judgment and they each one believed it! And where is the very great difference of Mr. Miller's statement? He tells us that Christ is to come-that the world shall be at an end-that the judgment is looked for-that||us. the congregated world shall see and be seen of each other-and that we shall be called to our final doom! But he says that this shall be instant-that it is even now at hand! What then? may not all look for death at any instant of time? and will not that time be to them the end of the world? Must they not then expect the judgment? and will they not then see all the dead that slept?

ence.

True, by his statement there is one manifest differBut it should seem not fearful, but comforting; for the nations of the earth assembled shall be of the living as well as of the dead, and some of the millenial saints should be of our own familiar friends; and by the strong bond of human sympathy our natural hearts should be sustained. After the manner of accustomed reliance should our terrors be soothed, moderated, divided. After all, if we put our trust in God, will he not teach us, even at such a moment, that our terrors are of the flesh-that presently he will deliver us from them, and give us to the participation of a faith that shall endure for ever? Even such a crisis is the hour of death to every one who departs in hope quietly out of the world; and we would suppose it must by all be deemed less terrible to be amidst accustomed friends, sharing at once the general doom, than to go, as we do, and as we must, alone-all our ties of earth dissevered-on our journey through the dark valley of the shadow of death; for still

"On some fond breast the parting soul relies." Yet so awful, so lothful to nature are the rending asunder all the charities of our being, that were the

Mr. M. is, we hear, a plain, unambitious, poor man— radically poor-one that intends, in apostolic wisdom, never to be rich. He states, in a publication, that he owns a farm which suffices for the support of his family. And his disinterestedness is tested by the circumstance of his having expended about two thousand dollars from his small means in the "cause" which he believes. That he has no ecclesiastical alliances proves the simplicity of his "scheme."

Never having seen the man, nor yet thinking with him in particulars, we yet believe that he is singlehearted; and we are surprised that his method, which we allow to be ultra, should yet be wholly repudiated of good.

Controversy is said to be the life of the Church, winnowing the chaff from the grain; if so, his preaching may excite to other preaching, and good may come out of the extraordinary movement. Many there be who cannot be reached by common causes, and such may here be addressed. Some must have an alarm bell to warn them to church. And surely all allow that the world is now very bad, and the means that may make some better should not be despised. Surely, those who think that punishment and retribution are now at hand, will be more apt to cherish neighborly charity, to depart from iniquity, and to "flee from the wrath to come." And thus doing, if they behold not the millenium, which they so earnestly desire to see, they may do a much greater thing, namely, assist in producing it.

B.

Original.
LYDIA;

OR THE FIRST EUROPEAN CONVERT.

"And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, which worshiped God, heard us; whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul."

As the Sabbath sun gleamed in beams of silvery brightness on the beautiful waters of the Ægean, they withdrew from the crowded city; for there was no Sabbath, no sanctuary there. They walk on the banks of the Strymos; and here, by the river side, in sweet solitude and silence, they find, of Jewish Proseucha, a place for prayer. In this Gentile city the Jews had no synagogue, no place to worship the God of their fathers, but this retired and humble place, where prayer was wont to be made. As these Christian missionaries approach the hallowed spot, and behold the devout worshipers, joy and thanksgiving fill their hearts. With emotions which the faithful ambassadors of Christ alone can feel and appreciate, they enter the Proseucha, sit down, and Paul preaches unto the women that resorted thither. The discription of the auditory is highly honorable to female piety, and will ever remain an interesting monument of the spirituality of the female character, formed in the mold of everlasting truth. Alas! the sons of Jacob were not there offering their heart-felt devotions to God. The enchantments of pleasure, or the shrines of mammon, secured their oblations. But his pious daughters, more faithful and devotional, were at the altar paying their vows, and adoring the God of Israel.

A GREAT proportion of the apostolical ministry was bestowed upon populous towns and great cities. These were centres of influence, giving character to the surrounding population; and their possession, by the soldiers of the cross, became highly important in subduing the nations to Christ. Guided by the wisdom, and strengthened by the power, which is from above, the apostles and their associates, preaching Jesus and the resurrection, fearlessly planted the banners of the bleeding Lamb in the Holy City-on the citadels of the Cæsars at the Areopagus of Athens-in voluptuous Corinth, and even the strong holds of idolatry at Ephesus. Obedient to the heavenly vision, Paul, and his companions in travel, loosing from Troas, in Mysia, launched on the blue waters of the Ægean sea, bearing the glad tidings of salvation to the city of Philippi. These were the pioneers, and this the introduction of the everlasting Gospel to Europe. Never was the This was the first sermon ever preached in Europeclassic Ægean traversed by such a distinguished em- the great apostle to the Gentiles the preacher, and bassy. These ambassadors of the King of kings, ma- females the audience. The truth of God was not powking no ostentatious display, with the humility and erless. The subject of his discourse is not stated; but self-sacrificing spirit of their divine Master, bear the we are not left to mere conjectures, for this eminent white flag of truce-the offer of salvation to the teem- preacher knew nothing among dying sinners, save ing millions of Europe. The frail bark lands on the Christ and him crucified. The cross, and its humshores of Macedonia, and these servants of the living bling, but soul-saving doctrines, was his theme; and God find the field of their future labors lying in the its heart-conquering influence was salvation to the soul valley and shadow of death, degraded by idolatry, of Lydia, and doubtless to many more. This first superstition, and vain philosophy. All around them convert in Europe is minutely described. Her name was moral desolation and spiritual death. Altars stained is given; and how honored to have her name written with human gore were to be demolished, immeasurable in the book of God, so that wherever the sacred Scriprealms of darkness to be enlightened, and every modi-tures are read, there shall her history and character be fication of evil intrenched in the prejudice and de- known. The name of Cleopatra is known to a few, pravity of the human heart to be assailed With a keen vision, the stupendous enterprise is surveyed in all its bearings; but these heralds of redemption, strangers in a heathen city, feel no misgivings of heart. Nothing daunted by the magnitude and difficulties of the work, they enter the city of Philippi. No Christian salutations welcomed their arrival-no door of hospitality was opened for their reception-no voice of kind encouragement sounded in their ears. But that invisible power-that arm of omnipotence which had sustained them in Asia was with them in Europe—they knew it, and they were strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Ordinary travelers, visiting this renowned city, would have gazed upon its greatness and grandeur; but Paul and his fellow itinerants, filled with the Holy Ghost and love for immortal souls, had higher and nobler objects of attention. They sought an opportunity to attack the ramparts of sin with weapons which were not carnal, and it soon was found.

compared with the name of Lydia. And more honored still, it is written on the imperishable tablets of the book of life-her record is on high. Her worldly business is mentioned-she was a seller of purple, either of the dye itself, or of articles already colored. Her industry is recorded to her honor, and to show us that a diligent attention to business is not incompatible with the claims and duties of religion. She was none of those described by the apostle, "who learn to be idle, and not only idle, but tattlers also, and busy-bodies, speaking things that they ought not." In connection with her calling, amidst its toils and perplexities, she had a heart, and therefore found time to worship God. Religion is not an enemy, but a tried friend to the honorable pursuits of life. Piety, the most enlightened and elevated, is not inconsistent with the obligations we owe to ourselves and the world; it nerves the heart, and strengthens the hand to discharge faithfully the most arduous and important duties of public and private life. Religion throws no obstacle in the career

182

PRACTICAL SELF-DENIAL.

to God becomes a reservoir of charity, gushing forth its pure waters to fertilize and bless the city of our God.

of virtuous ambition, to secure honor and distinction; || exiled from her father's princely mansion, on account it retards not the progress of mind, in its development of her religion, to the day of her death! Yes, under and culture. The religion of Lady Gray did not cripple the influence of grace, every female heart consecrated her energies in the pursuit of literature. The godliness of Mrs, Rogers did not disqualify her for household and family duties. Nor did the eminent piety of Mrs. Hemans clip the wings of a lofty and chaste imagination; it quenched not the poetic fires of her soul, but it made her a model of human excellence.

Before her conversion she worshiped God according to the knowledge she possessed; but she was a stranger to Jesus and his salvation-to hopes renewed, and sins forgiven. She knew not her exposedness to eternal death, and the rebellion of her heart against God and his holy law. How could she realize her need of that faith that justifies the guilty and sanctifies the vile, till a feeling sense of her guilt and sin should flash conviction on her mind? Her conversion is concisely described. The author of this great work was the Lord-the power exerted was divine. The same hand that laid the foundations of the earth, that gave the sea its bounds, that holds vast worlds trembling on his arm, knocks at the door of the sinner's heart. The salvation of the soul from sin demonstrates, in itself, that its author is God. Who else could be just, and justify the sinner?

The effects which the convicting grace of God produced in Lydia are specified. These are striking and important. She obeyed with the heart unto righteousness; for saving faith invariably produces obedience, and true religion is nothing else than obedience to the truth. Her understanding enlightened, knowing the way of God more perfectly, she did not halt and hesitate-at once she makes an open and bold avowal of her conversion, her hopes in Jesus, and her purpose to serve him. She was neither afraid nor ashamed to make a public profession of religion; she had experienced the soul-saving power of the cross, and she takes it up with joy, and bears it, rejoicing in hope of the glory of God. What a noble example does this first European female convert afford to every female in Europe and America, giving herself and her household to God!

Her union with the Church was not a fruitless profession. Works of faith, and labors of love, were at once exemplified in her conduct. The friendless and homeless servants of Jesus were no longer such at Philippi. The opened heart of Lydia caused her to open her house for the reception of the men of God. This development of hospitable feeling was not a formal ceremony, for she constrained them. She manifested her gratitude to God by her kindness to his servants. Paul and his companions, after being thrust into the inner prison by the persecuting spirit of the enemies of the cross, delivered by the mighty power of God, went out of the prison and entered into the house of Lydia. Her religion sustained the attack of persecution; faithful and firm she stood, rejoicing in the hope of her calling, and triumphing in the cross B. W. C.

The instrumentality employed in the conversion of Lydia was Paul. Under the burning eloquence of this Gospel preacher, relating the story of Calvary, directing ruined sinners to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world, her heart melted, its bars were removed, its portals opened that Jesus might be enthroned. How various and dissimilar are the ways of God in opening the hearts of sinners. Paul's was riven as by a livid lightning-a thunderbolt opened the heart of the blaspheming persecutor; but the heart of the devout Lydia was opened as the rose bud, developed in the genial breath of spring. In opening human hearts buried and intrenched in sin, God employs of her bleeding Savior. means adapted to the peculiar circumstances and characteristics of the human mind. He has many arrows in his quiver, and abundance of grace for the chief of sinners.

The seat of Lydia's religion was her heart; for the kingdom of God is within us. All short of this is not religion. And when the heart is opened the ear is opened to hear all that God commands, the eye to see the path of duty, the lips in prayer, and the hand in works of mercy and benevolence. God enthroned in the heart, "the expulsive power of a new affection" exerts its energy over the native selfishness of depraved human nature-makes love to God and love to man, the end and aim of all our actions. Under its legitimate influences Lady Glenarchy, and the Countess of Huntington, devoted their ample fortunes to give the Gospel to the poor. Harriet Newell forsook all the endearments of home and kindred, to go far hence among the Gentiles, bearing the unsearchable riches of Christ. What an example of self-sacrificing benevolence was Mrs. Fletcher, from the time she was

བར་་་

PRACTICAL SELF-DENIAL. SAYS Mrs. Wade, "Our preachers and schools are blessed in the conversion of souls; and must we give them up? If we only had the superfluities of the Church, without touching one of their comforts, all could be carried on, and even multiplied. We are all trying to economize. The Karens to aid us, offered to go and row our boat on a three day's journey up the river, to visit a Church. We were out fifteen days, and when there, we had to live in an open shed; and when it rained, we had to get up and roll up our beds, and move them to any dry spot we could find; but we had a pleasant time in teaching the Karens, and seeing twelve more baptized. On returning home, we were all most sick from exposure." Can American Christians show that less self-denial, economy, and benevolence are required of them by the Gospel, than of their brothers and sisters whom they have sent among the heathen ?-Macedonian.

SOUTHERN AFRICA.

SOUTHERN AFRICA.

The following extracts from Moffat's missionary labors in Southern Africa, are from Tait's Magazine. We find them in

the American Eclectic and Museum. The occasional remarks

which interrupt the narrative are editorial in the above Mag.

azine.-ED.

183

Winterhoek mountains, once the strong-holds of his clan. As the Dutch settlers increased, and found it necessary to make room for themselves, by adopting as their own the lands which lay beyond them, the Hottentots, the aboriginals, perfectly incapable of maintaining their ground against these foreign intruders, were compelled to give place by removing to a distance, or yielding themselves in passive obedience to the farmers. From time to time he found himself and his people becoming more remote from the land of their fore-fathers, till he became united and subject to a farmer named P. Here he and his diminished clan lived for a number of years. In Africaner, P. found a faithful, and an intrepid shepherd; while his valor in defending and increasing the herds and flocks of his master, enhanced his value, at the same time it rapidly matured the latent principle which afterward recoiled on that devoted family, and carried devastation to whatever quarter he directed his steps. Had P. treated his subjects with common humanity, not to say with gratitude, he might have died honorably, and prevented the catastrophe which befell the family, and the train of robbery, crime, and bloodshed, which quickly followed that melancholy event."

We omit the tragedy, in which the farmer, by treachery, provoked his fate. When the horrible outrage was completed,

MR. MOFFAT'S volume opens with a general view of the condition of the tribes of Southern Africa; and a retrospective history of missions to that division of the great continent. He begins with Schmidt, who was sent forth by the Moravians to the Hottentots upward of a century since. The fascinating history of Schmidt's successful labors has long been familiar to the world. They were suspended by the jealousy of the Dutch East India Company; but fifty years after ward, when missionaries were again sent out, the good fruits of Schmidt's labors were still visible, and his memory paved the way for the favorable reception of Vanderkemp and others. The retrospect of the various South African missions, from their commencement until the period when Mr. Moffat became himself an actor in the scenes he describes, and the principal hero of his own tale, is interesting, though it falls below the personal narrative, both from the tamer nature of the events, and the greater animation of the author, when he comes to be the actor, instead of the chronicler, of those daring and perilous adventures. From the Hottentots the missions were gradually extended to the Bushmen, the Namaquas, Corannas, Griquas, and Bechuanas; the native converts becoming efficient instruments in spreading religious knowledge among their savage and nomade neighbors. In 1806, the Orange river was first crossed by the missionaries, and the mission of Namaqua-land established, under very disastrous circumstances, by the brothers Albrechts. A fierce, predatory chief, named Africaner, a name The subsequent wild adventures of this bold and which afterward became familiar and dear to the generous outlaw, carry the imagination back to the friends of African missions, was at that time the days of Johnny Armstrong and Robin Hood, or of the scourge and terror of the country, but particularly of "landless" Macgregor; but his end was of a very dif the Dutch settlers on the frontier of the colony. The ferent character. The man who lived in continual history of this noble African is not a little romantic. strife with all around him, whose hand was against The first missionaries were ready to despond, and to every man; whose business was rapine, and whose abandon the enterprise under the many and grievous passion revenge; whose name was a terror not only to discouragements; and, among other reasons, from the colonists on the north, but to the native tribes of their proximity to this noted free-booter and cattle- the south; "whose name carried dismay into the solistealer. One day this dreaded personage appeared at tary places," became an eminent instance of the power the station, and thus addressed them: of the principles of the Gospel over a mind which, however fierce and untaught, had never been treacherous nor ungenerous. Mr. Moffat relates, that after this great change had taken place

"Africaner, with as little loss of time as possible, rallied the remnant of his tribe, and, with what they could take with them, directed their course to the Orange river, and were soon beyond the reach of pursuers, who, in a thinly-scattered population, required time to collect. He fixed his abode on the banks of the Orange river; and afterward, a chief ceding to him his dominion in Great Namaqua-land, it henceforth became his by right, as well as by conquest."

"As you are sent by the English, I welcome you to the country; for though I hate the Dutch, my former oppressors, I love the English; for I have always heard that they are the friends of the poor black man.' "As I was standing with a Namaqua chief, looking Jager, the eldest son of the old man, from his shrewd- at Africaner, in a supplicating attitude, entreating ness and prowess, obtained the reins of the gov- parties ripe for a battle, to live at peace with each ernment of his tribe at an early age. He and his other: 'Look,' said the wondering chief, pointing to father once roamed on their native hills and dales, Africaner, there is the man, once the lion, at whose within 100 miles of Cape Town; pastured their own roar even the inhabitants of distant hamlets fled from flocks, killed their own game, drank of their own their homes! Yes, and I,' patting his chest with his streams, and mingled the music of their heathen songs hand, have, for fear of his approach, fled with my with the winds which burst over the Witsemberg and people, our wives and our babes, to the mountain glen,