Hast thou a pie? Thou wilt soon have a friend at table.
The largest ass will not make an elephant.
'Freedom,' says the bird, 'though the cage be a golden one.'
Every soldier would be general--every sailor, admiral.
In travelling, and at their sports, men show what they are.
A _Greek_ speaks truth once in the year.
The cow has a long tongue, but she is not allowed to speak.
A golden bed will not relieve the sick.
_Russian Bible Society._ Dr. P. speaks in the highest terms of the
Princess Sophia Mestchersky, who was among the first to encourage him to
attempt, in 1811, the formation of a Bible Society in Moscow; which in
two years was realized.
"From this commencement in 1813 till my leaving Russia, the
princess had published ninety-three different pieces, amounting
to upwards of 400,000 copies, on religious and moral subjects,
which together form eight volumes, 8vo., and which were
gratuitously distributed, or sold at low prices."
Among these are the principal publications of the London Religious Tract
Society.
A very favourable account of the religious character of the late emperor
Alexander is given, chiefly from the communications of the illustrious
princess above mentioned, and written by her at the time of his death.
The Russian Bible Society was founded in St. Petersburg, on the 23rd of
January, 1813, and continued in full activity about twelve years under
the patronage of Alexander. During the last three years of his reign, he
was powerfully counteracted by a strong party formed among the principal
nobility and clergy. There were, too, conspirators forming diabolical
plans against the peace of the empire, who misrepresented to the
government the character and labours of the friends of religion and of
Bible Institutions, to turn away attention from themselves, and their
own wicked revolutionary designs. But the mind of Alexander was not
changed.
When Nicholas his brother came to the throne, the plots of the party
above referred to were happily overthrown. But unhappily Seraphim, the
metropolitan, with several other prelates, and one or two fanatical
monks, had for some years entertained unfriendly feelings towards the
Institution. The new emperor's Ukaz was published in 1826.
It is gratifying, however, to find that on the 14th of March, 1831, a
new Bible Society, exclusively for the Protestants in the Russian
empire, was formed at St. Petersburg, with the sanction of the present
emperor; and that the president is Prince Lieven, the minister for
public instruction,
"A protestant nobleman of true piety, who laboured in the cause
with indefatigable zeal, during the whole period of the
existence of the national institution."
We have been surprised and delighted to observe Dr. P. speaking of the
present emperor as
"Wise, energetic, and humane," "who has begun a reform in
the courts of justice;" "a man of penetration, energy, and
benevolence; who has already given many pleasing proofs of
his sincere desire to advance the spiritual interests of the
Russian people;" "the determined courage and wise management
of the young emperor," &c.--pp. 348, 389, 392.
Surely, then, we may hope the national Bible Society will yet be
restored.
The appendix contains seven sermons, as specimens of the style of
preaching among the Russian clergy; and the plates, illustrative of
the dress and amusements of the people, are from a collection of
lithographic costumes which the author brought with him from Russia.
1. _An Examination of the Practice of Infant Baptism, designed to prove
that it is inconsistent with the Principles of the New Testament:
respectfully proposed for the consideration of all those who are
desirous of a Scriptural Reformation of the Church; and who are prepared
to follow Truth wherever it may lead._ By a MEMBER OF THE CHURCH OF
ENGLAND. pp. 123.--Hatchard.
2. _A Sermon on the Nature and Subjects of Christian Baptism._ By
ADONIRAM JUDSON, D.D., Burmah, p. 84.--Wightman.
Before assent is yielded to the result of any "examination," it is
important, besides cautiously considering the nature and amount of
evidence which has been adduced in its favour, to reflect on the
relative position which, as it respects the particular subject of
investigation, the examiner has occupied in pursuing the object of his
inquiry, and in relation to which he has now arrived to a conclusion he
is anxious--on account (as he believes) of its accordance with divine
truth--should influence the conduct of others. If it be undoubted that
his education, his tastes, his connexions, and even his prejudices, were
all on the side of that conviction which he professes to have derived
from patient and persevering research, it seems not unreasonable to
require a copiousness and strength of argument, in its support, which,
were all the circumstances affecting his relation to it decidedly
unfavourable, would, perhaps, scarcely be deemed necessary.
When, however, we witness the comparatively rare occurrence of an
individual, surrounded with almost every description of temptation
to stifle conviction, and, by his silence at least, to perpetuate a
corruption in the Christian church, which for ages has been protected
by legislative authority, popular favour, and implicit faith, not only
nobly triumphing over every inducement to compromise the interests of
truth by refusing to surrender himself to its acknowledged claims, but
venturing forth, and assailing error in its most splendid fastness, and
pursuing it to its final retreat; and that to, by the employment of
arguments whose overwhelming force is partly derived from the peculiar
suavity with which they are urged, we are unable to resist such an
occasion for exclaiming, "This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous
in our eyes."
The publications which have occasioned these reflections, whose titles
are placed at the head of this article, appear to us to present more
than ordinary claims to public consideration. The perspicuity of their
style, the force of their arguments, and especially the thoroughly
Christian temper which pervades them throughout, cannot fail, if they be
read, to secure commendation, even where they fail to convince. We can
easily suppose it possible to find persons who may affect to despise
what is thus, with every circumstance adapted to excite respect, urged
upon their attention; but that any well-constituted mind, whatever be
its ultimate conclusion on the subject, can treat these pamphlets with
indifference, as though that to which they relate were unimportant, or
that they were defective in truth and candour, is what we are extremely
unwilling to believe. At the same time, we most frankly acknowledge
that, owing to certain inconveniences, and, perhaps, even consequences,
which we conceive might arise, in some instances at least, from a
thorough and an impartial investigation of the evidence adduced by these
respective and respectable writers in support of their principles, we
are not altogether without apprehension, that by something approaching
to a profound silence in certain quarters, or it may be by something
even more beneath the dignity of Christian criticism, the powerful,
though eminently temperate, appeals of these luminous pages may obtain a
perusal far less extensive than is consistent either with the interests
of truth, or the merits of its advocates.
Deprecating such a result of these distinguished efforts, we enter upon
a more particular notice of the first of these publications. The author
designates himself "a member of the Church of England;" and his design
is "to prove that it is inconsistent with the principles of the New
Testament" to baptize unconscious infants. The work is divided into ten
sections, prefaced by a most respectful but spirit-stirring letter "to
the Editor of the Christian Observer." From this admirable appeal we
extract as follows:--
"This work is the result of many reflections, excited at
different times, through a long series of years, by the reading
of many articles and discussions in the Christian Observer. The
practice of admitting infants to the sacrament of baptism, I
apprehend, must appear to almost all reflecting persons, at
some times, to be of a very dubious character; and if it shall
appear that the fair tendency of those parts of your work which
I refer to, is to render it still more so, then I am persuaded
that you will allow that the publication is, without
impropriety, thus offered to your notice."