deal with, in those concerns which are usually transacted between one gentleman and another. "Again, the law of honour being constituted by men occupied in the pursuit of pleasure, and for the mutual conveniency of such men, will be found, as might be expected from the character and design of the law-makers, to be, in most instances, favourable to the licentious indulgence of the natural passions. "Thus it allows of fornication, adultery, drunkenness, prodigality, duelling, and of revenge in the extreme; and lays no stress' upon the virtues opposite to these." But leaving these general remarks, how lamentable an illustration is here afforded us of the truth of God's word," the end of these things is death. The unhappy individual is reported to have said, with reference to the Bible, "Had I been acquainted with this book, I should not have come to this melancholy end." Whether this report is correct or not, is in itself of small consequence. But it is of immense importance, that young persons should seriously take for their guide the precepts of God's word. They would then learn to restrain and moderate their passions, to guard against fleshly lusts, which war against the soul, to flee from the blandishments of those who hunt for the precious life, and avoid those habitations of which it is most truly declared, "The dead are there." In making these remarks we are actuated solely by compassion for the living, without any the least feeling of malevolence for the dead. We certainly joined with the ten thousands alluded to by our correspondent* in prayers to God on behalf of the unhappy malefactor, and felt most thankful, that in addition to Dr. Cotton, the Ordinary, &c. he was attended, during the solemn interval from his conviction to his execution, by such pious and excellent men as the Rev. Messrs. Burrows and Springet, on whose fidelity and wisdom we can most fully depend: but we must not let our feelings of tender compassion for an unhappy and, as we would hope, a penitent man, forget our pointing out as a warning to others the magnitude, and the natural consequences of his crime, and the miserable effects which follow both to himself and to others. And here we would say a few words upon the penalty of death so invariably inflicted in cases of forgery, and upon the ailedged injustice or impropriety of its infliction in the present case. Some excellent and estimable individuals have strenuously maintained, that the punishment of death is unlawful except in cases of murder To this position we cannot assent. The Levitical, or rather the Judicial law, prescribed the punishment of death in various other instances; and we may be quite sure, that that law prescribed nothing morally wrong, however burdensome some of its precepts may be, or however inexpedient or inapplicable in a different state of society. The question of determining what specific punishment shall be assigned for the commission of any particular crime, appears to us to be entrusted into the hands of the magistrate, that is, of the ruling power. In our country, it is placed in that legislature of which judges, and magistrates, and executioners are only the instruments; and we conceive it is the duty of Christian subjects to obey those penal as well as other laws which are from time to time enacted. We may petition the Government for the remission of a sentence on any particular ground; we may petition the Legislature to alter any law; we may endeavour to enlighten the public as to its severity, its inconsistency with other enactments, its mischievous tendency; but we have no right to pronounce a law unjust, or refuse obedience to that law, unless it is plainly and positively contrary to the law of God-in which case we must obey God rather than men. Is the punishment of death for forgery one of these cases? We say, Certaiuly not. Be it remembered, that forgery is a crime very easily committed; that its effects are most ruinous and extensive; that a single name, or short sentence, or almost a stroke of the pen, may reduce the widow or orphan to the lowest state of poverty and distress-may in various supposable cases expose tender and delicate persons to hardships, which may issue in permanent disease and untimely death. We have known a case of insanity produced by a sudden discovery of this nature; and who is there that would not prefcr even sudden death to that most miserable of all conceivable states on this side the grave-hopeless and helpless insanity. And again we ask, ought not such a crime to be checked in the most efficient way? and what so powerful a check as, saying, You may possibly escape after the commission of almost any other crime; you can never escape after this? To say that some other punishment more effectual in preventing the commission of crime should be substituted, is really saying nothing, until some practicable substitute is pointed out. We also have theorised and speculated upon the subject, but are certainly as yet not able to come to a satisfactory conclusion. The effect of any relaxation in the law would, we fear, be to increase the number of unhappy speculators A well-in on the possibility of escape. But of all supposable instances, we can scarcely conceive of any which on its own intrinsic merits can less be deserving of mercy, than the case where a banker violates the trust reposed in him. On this ground, we certainly think the compassion of the public has in the present instance been abused; nor do we see on what possible ground the penalty could have been remitted. Nothing but the full confidence reposed in the integrity of the partners, and the stability of their Bank, could have enabled Mr. Fauntleroy to proceed so long in his iniquitous career. Nor would any man employ a Banker in whose integrity he had not full reliance; so that the very business itself must cease, unless severe retribution follows on those who violate the trust reposed in them. We have felt especially pained at one circumstance which has occurred during these investigations. Mr. Hanson, one of the visiting magistrates of the county, in inspecting the prison, inquired of Mr. Fauntleroy, if he had any thing to complain of as to his treatment, &c. expressed his regret at meeting him in such a situation, and recommended to his attention the study of the Sacred Scriptures. This conduct of Mr. Hanson's was strangely misrepresented and severely animadverted on by Mr. Conant, one of the magistrates of Marlborough Street Police Office, and Mr. H. has since been removed from the office of visiting magistrate. We cannot hesitate a moment in reprobating such a proceeding. Mr. BAPTISMS MR. M'CAUL in a recent letter to the London Society for the Conversion of the Jews, has inserted several interesting particulars of baptized Jews; from which we extract as follows: On Sunday, Sept. 12th, another Jew was baptised by Mr. Diehl. His his tory is a little curious. He bad had for a long time a desire to receive Christian instruction and baptism, but was prevented by his wife, who was much opposed to Christianity. About four months ago, it pleased God to call her out of this world. He immediately came to Warsaw, a distance of 200 English miles, as there is no Protestant clergyman in the neighbourhood. He was, however, afraid to ask the Jews where we lived, and some Christians of whom he enquired could not tell him. On this be returned home. After some weeks a Warsaw Jew had business in that part of the country, and related the circumstances attending the baptism of Constantia, and mentioned also the place where she lived. This was exactly the informa Hanson's conduct appears to us to have been most kind and considerate, and the animadversions upon it most illiberal and' indecorous. Surely it is a melancholy case if a Christian friend may not suggest to a prisoner under charge of a certainly capital offence, the importance of preparing to meet his God. We know nothing of Mr. Hanson except by report; but we can have no doubt, that the Christian feeling and principles which prompted his advice to the unhappy man, afford him abundant consolation under the reproach he now suffers for righteousness sake, and will turn to him for a testimony when all human distinctions shall for ever cease. We cannot close these remarks without earnestly calling upon our readers to guard against the first assaults of temptation, and to pray earnestly for restraining and converting grace. Little did Mr. Fauntleroy imagine to what his conduct would eventually bring him. He doubtless hoped, and probably seriously intended, in the first instance, to replace the money he had withdrawn; but let no man flatter himself. with impunity in the paths of sin, or imagine that he can withdraw at pleasure from the fatal course. One passion gratified, and another claims for indulgence. Snares thick and strong are wound around the unhappy victim, until at the moment when he is ready to hope the danger is over, he finds himself delivered hopeless and helpless into inevitable punishment. O that men were wise; that they understood these things; that they would consider their latter end. OF JEWS. tion which the other desired. He there- other business in Warsaw. He assured me he had not. I asked him, solemnly and before God, to tell me if there was any secret motive. He replied, if there was any secret motive, I would not become a Protestant, neither would I have made this long journey, by which I must so long neglect my business, and suffer positive loss of money. I then told him that I would give him instruction, but that I could not promise to baptize him. He replied, that as he had come a second time to Warsaw, he would not go without instruction. I gave him a Jewish New Testament, and Mr. Moritz's Tract against the Toldoth Jesu. The next morning he returned. He knew every argument in the Tract, and had read the gospel of Matthew, so as to be able to answer every question without exception. I now asked, if he knew what it was to pray to God aright. He answered, I will tell you the truth; since I have left home, I have not used the Jewish prayers, and I do uot know any other. I spoke to him on the nature of prayer, and gave him Tract, No. 9, in which are questions for self-examination. When he returned the next day, I was much astonished by the effect which these questions had produced. The first thing he said to me was, "Oh Sir, I appear to myself to be in a new world; I find that I never have kept one of the ten commandments." This was exactly the state of mind in which I desired to see him. I therefore explained to him the curse of the law, and the doctrine of atonement. Thus we went on week after week until his time was almost expired. In three weeks he had read and made himself master of four Tracts, of the four Gospels, the Acts, the Epistle to the Hebrews, first four chapters to the Romans, and some odd chapters in the Epistles to the Corinthians and Philippians. Except the time that he spent with me during instruction and family prayer, he spent the whole of his time in the room of a pious German tailor, reading incessantly; so that it was evident that he had no other business in Warsaw. I was now in considerable perplexity. The newness of his acquaintance with divine things almost determined me against permitting him to be baptized, at the same time all other circumstances spoke for it, especially as he was no young man, being 38 years old; and I did not feel myself justified to send him home, and thus expose him to the temptation of turning Jew again, or of being baptized elsewhere. After mature deliberation, I determined to cross-examine him in a very solemn manner; and if his answers proved satisfactory, to admit him to baptism. The sum of his answers was, that he wished to be saved; that he thought there was no salvation but through the atonement of the Lord Jesus, and that his desire was to live a new holy life in the service of God." I therefore took the necessary steps, and on Sunday, the 12th of September, in the afternoon, he was baptized by Mr. Diehl, after the second lesson. I preached from Isaiah lxii. 10-12. The church was much crowded, and very many Jews present. The baptism of this person opened the way for the baptism of a young man, twenty years old, who had visited us for eight months, and of whom we have good reason to hope that the Spirit of God has long since begun a work of grace in his heart. As a Jew, he was very strict in his religious observances, and according to the simple account which he gave of himself, had frequently very deep convictions of sin. These forced him to be doubly strict in following the directions of the Talmud, in order to obtain forgiveness. He was brought to me by another young man. Our conversations were at first entirely remote from controversy, being simply on the nature of repentance and prayer as set forth in the Old Testament. These made a deep impression on him, and gradually led the way to the doctrine of atonement, and so to the Messiahship of the Lord Jesus. At first all appeared easy; he found no difficulty except in external circumstances. These were indeed bad; for as soon as the Jews found out that he visited us, they. withdrew from him their monthly contributions by which he was supported, as is usual amongst young men studying the Talmud. He lost also his food, was forbid the houses of those who had been friendly, and was, in a word, stript of every thing; they even attempted to use their influence with the police to have him transported: but here it pleased God that our influence should be the strongest. In this distress, a tradesman promised to take him on trial; but he had not been long here, before the persecution and abuse of the journeymen compelled him to give this up. Now, too, he began to doubt very much concerning the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. situation was altogether deplorable. An old Jew, however, gave him just at this time, permission to teach his two children Hebrew, for which he gave him 7s. 6d. per month; this kept him from starving. A diligent and anxious investigation soon relieved him of his doubts, and much improved his spiritual state; but still we knew not what would become of him. Out of this difficulty we were relieved by a proposal of the Israelite, whose baptism I have above described. He offered to take him with him and teach him the soap-boiling. As he was already prepared as to knowledge of Christianity, and as we hope, also, of Christian experience, I baptized and received him into the church of Christ on Sunday, the 19th of September. After the His : baptism, Mr. Wermelskirk preached from Ezekiel xxxvi. 25-27. It being usual in the Polish Reformed Church that candidates for the ministry should preach before ordination, the church was full, and very many Jews attended, several for the first time. The baptismal form of our English Church made a deep impressión on all present. Several Jews afterwards expressed the pleasure which they had felt in being present. CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. The following remarks of a gentleman, actively engaged in the service of the Church Missionary Society, on a late visit to Ireland, deserve serious attention : "In the South, our visit was most gratifying. The interruptions which the London Hibernian Society had met with, and the unprovoked violence with which we were treated at Cork, excited a spirit in our favour, which, I trust, will long outlive the occasion. Upwards of one hundred clergymen of the Established Church attended our meetings in the county of Cork alone; and many accompanied us through the tour. "We experienced a slight interruption from a Roman Catholic Priest in Kinsale, who, notwithstanding the meeting was held in a church, and Lord Kinsale, himself a clergyman, was in the chair, came forward to oppose the formation of an Association-questioned the truth of our statements and particularly urged us NOT ΤΟ SEND OUT THE SCRIPTURES OUR MISSIONARIES, as THE BIBLE NEVER CONVERTED ANY ONE. The Rev. Gentleman was answered, and the feeling of the meeting was most decidedly against him. WITH "Our adjourned meeting at Cork was the most splendid which I have ever attended. It was crowded with all the respectability of Cork; among whom were the clergy, who surrounded the highly re spected and learned Dean, who took the chair. The speakers were heard with enthusiasm; and the attack on us there has only rooted us more firmly. I congratulate you, my dear Sir, on the result of those meetings; and feel myself entitled to say, that the zeal, spirit, and Christian feeling, displayed by the clergy in the South of Ireland, is a cause of gratitude and thanksgiving to the Giver of every good and perfect gift--the Head of the Church, which is His body. What would you think of clergymen and poor Protestants coming thirty and forty miles to attend our meetings? Yet such was the fact in numberless instances. "You are acquainted with the circumstances attending our Cork meeting. England wants to know what Irish Popery is. It is the BIBLE which is the object of attack; and feeling, as they do, that, by our societies and public meetings, the mass of the population is penetrated, and the moral darkness about to be dissipated, they anxiously endeavour to disturb these meetings, or to convert them into places of political debate. I attended, lately, a meeting of the Bible Society in Kilkenny, when such conduct was again exhibited; and I have just heard that the Archbishop of Tuam was obliged to leave the chair of a similar meeting. May God give us temper, knowledge, and a Christian spirit, in these trying times! SCOTTISH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. The Rev. Dr. BARR, of Port Glasgow, and the Rev. Mr. SMART, of Paisley, are about, we understand, to visit London, as a deputation from the Scottish Missionary Society, with the view of preaching and making collections in aid of the funds of that Institution. As Scotland is annually visited by deputations from three or four different societies in London, and contri butes, with no small liberality, to their funds, we doubt not that the present deputation will be received by their Christian brethren in the metropolis with a corresponding cordiality, both on account of the important nature of the Society, and from a desire to promote a friendly intercourse between the two kingdoms in behalf of their respective benevolent institutions. SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE TRANSLATIONS. SOME pious and benevolent individuals are at present engaged in soliciting subscriptions for preparing, printing, and circulating Doddridge's "Rise and Progress" in the Spanish Language. Should they meet with adequate encouragement, they purpose to publish various other useful religious works in Spanish, and eventually in Portuguese. of South America, in which the Spanish and Portuguese language is spoken, as wel! as the extent and ignorance of the Parent States, we feel deeply impressed with the importance of the undertaking, and earnestly wish it success. When we consider the immense districts Subscriptions are received in Town by Mr. Nisbett, 21, Berners-street, and Mr. Davis, Paternoster-row; and at Burntwood, near Lichfield, by the Rev. C. Dawes, Notices and Acknowledgements. WE are obliged to our friends Verax and Misodoulos for their Observations, &c. on the Review of West Indian Slavery in our last Number, and regret that our limits, as well as the nature of our work, prevent a fuller discussion of the subject. Perhaps, however, the following brief observations may suffice. 1. East India Sugar is chiefly, we understand, disposed of in Markets from which West India Sugar excluded by its higher prices, independent of the duty. The consumption, therefore, of East India sugar in this country, tends directly to diminish the demand, and consequently to lower the price of West India sugar in almost the only market to which the expense of the culture allows it to be transported. 2. The lowering of the price of West India sugar will of course induce the planters to cultivate other articles, such as coffee, cotton, &c. This change will materially benefit the slave population; the labours, and consequently the severities, on the sugar plantations being far greater than on any other, 3. In proportion as sugar is less in demand, the planters will appropriate suitable parts of their estates to the production of provisions, instead of depending almost entirely on foreign merchants. This will materially promote the health and comfort of the slaves, and eventually, we have no doubt, the pecuniary advantage of their owners. 4. The abstaining from West India sugar, if carried to any material extent, will open the eyes of planters, merchants, &c. to their true interests, and compel them to adopt some of the various expedients pointed out for the termination of slavery. Our only fear is, lest professing Christians should shrink from the trouble and the self-denial which the substitution of East India sugar may require. But there is not the least danger of such substitution extending so far as to occasion the alarming results which one of our correspondents contemplates. At the same time we are by no means free from apprehension of some sudden explosion in the West Indies. To guard against such explosion and all its horrible consequences, we call upon our readers to self-denial and prayer, and the adoption of means for the real benefit of the black population. Nothing tends more to keep the negroes quiet, than the full knowledge that benevolent persons in this country are seeking their good. Nothing can sooner bring on insurrection than the intemperate language and conduct of the petty senates of some of our colonies; and to no set of men whatever are all West Indian Proprietors under so great obligations as to the very men whom they and their HIRELING Journals vituperate — such men as WILBERFORCE, and CLARKSON, and STEPHEN, and BUXTON, and MACAULAY, and all that noble band who have so long persevered in pleading the cause of their degraded, enslaved, and injured fellow men. Received, and will be inserted, T. F. J.-J. W. M. &c. J. W. may meet with the information he desires by procuring the Evangelical Diary, or any of the religious pocket books, which contain a list of the principal Evening Lectures in London and its vicinity. We shall keep his suggestion in view, but are not at present able to obviate some difficulties. We have received six Stanzas, without a signature or a title; and not being able to define their object have laid them aside, at least for the present.-T. H. is also inadmissible. Our correspondent who so earnestly pleads on behalf of the Vaudois or Waldenses, has neglected to mention any person by whom subscriptions will be received. Our readers may see some account of this interesting people in our last vol. p. 357. Persons frequently transmit Advertisements and inquiries concerning Advertisements to the EDITOR. But all such communications should be addressed to the Publisher, or to the address mentioned in the Advertisement. The Editor never sees the Advertisements, except by mere accident, until after the Number is published, and has not time to make inquiries about them. In many cases, communications both for the work and its cover, which would have arrived in time if properly directed, have through being directed to the Editor instead of the Publisher, or the Publisher instead of the Editor, come too late. All communications for the work should be directed, To the Editor of the Christian Guardian, Mr. Seeley's, 169, Fleet Street. All Advertisements and applications relating to them should be addressed to Mr. Seeley. |