Stanley, the British Secretary of State," who says, among other things, speaking of the Mission in the Northern province of Ceylon: "It is impossible to doubt that the establishment of the mission has been of essential service to the diffusion of education and a knowledge of Christtianity in the district where its labors have been employed. I trust that the mission will be encouraged to proceed in their interesting work, and I shall at all times be happy to take into favorable consideration any proposition which you may feel it necessary to make to me for their protection, or assis tance. Now who supposes that the "British Secretary of State" cares a straw about the religion of Jesus Christ, which, if faithfully administered, would sweep the British Government to perdition? And what inference must we draw from the fact that the professors of that religion accept the proffered "protection and assistance" of "my Lord Stanley?" In the name of all that is decent and humane, what kind of a religion is in unison with the bloodthirsty despotism of Great Britain, and which, through her lordly Secretaries, she offers to protect and assist? Is it the christian religion? Think you if the Missionaries on Ceylon's isle" preached christianity,―i. e.—peace, brotherly love, humanity,— that the "British Secretary of State" would offer to protect or assist them? No. The smell of gun powder would mingle with the "spicy breezes " which "blow soft" over that beautiful “isle,” as soon as he could get a fleet there, and every christian settlement would be blown to atoms. John Bull knows what he is about. And when his "Secretary of State" volunteers to "take into favorable consideration any proposition which religious Missionaries may feel it necessary to make to him for protection or assistance," he knows what he is about too. It's a game of mutual "protection and assistance." John Bull wants to be defended with Yankee prayers, and Yankee Missionaries want to be defended with British powder. It is absolutely necessary to the existence of the British government, that, with all its plundering rapacity, with all its heartless barbarities, it should be considered a christian government. And so it hires Yankee Mission aries (among others) to baptize it in the christian name, and offers "protection and assistance" in pay. The people can only be kept in subjection to British Secretaries, and British Queens, by the strong aid of the religious sentiment,-and so the priesthood of all nations is bribed to go into copartnership with them, and share the plunder. But the point I had in my mind at starting, was the singular fact, that modern christianity gloats over testimonials to her fidelity from such creatures as Lord Stanley and Caleb Cushing! Jesus Christ isn't a circumstance to the British Secretary of State, and the great American Ambassador to China! So the religionists think! Just look at it. The Register prefaces the complimentary letter of the British Secretary of State, with the following remarks: "The following honorable testimony to the faithfulness and intelligence of our American Missionaries, from the highest official source in Christendom, is both gratifying and just. Science, literature, and commerce have never possessed more laborious and faithful servants than these same men; and while the places of diplomacy and power are resounding with their praise, they should not be forgotten in the prayers and alms of Christians, whose peculiar servants they are." The humble religion of the "meek and lowly Jesus," advocated by "the highest official source in Christendom!" Never, gentlemen, never. As a funny friend of mine would say "toujours jamais, toujours jamais,”—always never, always never.— Just think of the "places of diplomacy and power resounding with the praise" of the ministers of the gospel of peace! Out upon such nonsensical jargon. And yet-mark my word-the fulsome certificates of Lord Stanley, and Lord Cushing, will be quoted in every religious journal in the land as "external evidence of the truth of christianity!" First, Lord Stanley, then, my Lord Cushing,-(for the Register, it will be seen, places the British official above the American) how they will travel through the evangelical press! How they will be "press-ed" into the service of sect! Perhaps I have made too much of this matter, but I think not. The greediness with which the church swallows down state pap, is an important fact. I contend that the religion which Humanity needs, and is dying for, is a religion which has no alliance with "British Secretaries of State," and from which Caleb Cushing would fly as from a pestilence. The religion which gluts itselfin "the uppermost room at feasts," and struts into the “ highest seats in the" state and the "synagogue," is no religion for man. It may do for "Divines," and for “ Reverends," and for "American Boards," and "British and Foreign" Societies, and fat corporations. It may answer well enough to build churches with, and ordain priests to, but poor Humanity shrinks and curls at the very mention of it. PEACE ON EARTH. Here is a noble poem from John Pierpont-one of the brightest stars in the world's firmament. I hardly dare venture a word of criticism upon so great a production, and yet that which occurs to me suggested itself so naturally that I cannot think it impertinent. It will be noticed that the distinguished author presents a vivid contrast between unnatural War, and natural Peace. In his delineation of War, which strikes me as one of the finest descriptive passages in the English language, he presents to us so glowing a picture of the horrors of the battle-field that we almost hear and -"the bursting bomb," "the long roll of the unmuffled drum," and are half-choked with "the thick cloud sulphurous and dun, Pour'd from the hot throat of the thundering gun." After reading this, and becoming fired with indignation that Humanity should be subject to such scenes, and especially that they should be thought to comport with the "glory of God ”—the mind is prepared, by way of offset and contrast, for a description. of a state of "peace on earth "—not literally peace on earth, which the author proceeds to describe with such touching beauty and pastoral power; not the peace of "fields all green with growing things; And fresh with frequent rains," not the peace of "vineyards loaded with their purpling fruit, And meadows in their lily-spangled suit;" though this literal "peace on earth," is eloquent of the goodness. and glory of God;-but the mind is prepared by the context to hear sung, that " peace on earth" which was interpreted by the "starry lyres" as meaning “GOOD WILL TO MAN.” Had our noble bard described this " good will," this peace among the discordant elements of the soul; had he sung, in this connexion, of the sweet society of childhood-the serene life of virtuous age-the beauties of a happy home-the glorious magnanimity of a forgiving spirit—or even the peaceful battle in which good overcomes evil; in other words, had the "dove-winged convictions" of the author brought to him the olive branch of peace among the children of men,—and bade him sing its praises, as well as that peace among the children of the earth, which he has so "gloriously" sung,—what a contrast had he given us to his dread battle-scene! But as friend Pierpont's ark is still tossing about on the waves of contention—perhaps the messenger bird has n't carried him the olive branch yet. When it does, or rather when he has left the ark, and set up his tabernacle on the very Mount of Olives-then he will chaunt the praises of "good will to men" as eloquently as he has sung of “ peace on earth." The following characteristic notice of this great poem is from the brilliant pen of Nathaniel P. Rogers, editor of The Herald of Freedom. "Peace on Earth.' The graphic and golden-lyred author seems to adopt the good natured motto from long winged messengers from the starry firmament. I think the firmament of his own bosom-not star-lit but sun-lit— if he would but recognize it (as he does recognize it, notwithstanding,) is the real fountain and original of this great sentiment, and that the Angels' who proclaimed it to him were his own dove-winged convictions of heart. I think we are all in the habit of laying too much to the sky. Humanity— or love to human kind, (and all kind) Human love I mean, the kind that helps whoever and whatever needs help-it has n't its home in the cold blue heavens or any where off the earth where mankind roam, and where human hearts are beating. Here Love has its home, like the Love of the Ettrick Shepherd's Bird of the wilderness,'-it is 'on Earth,'-though its 'lay is in heaven.' It is no great matter where Love comes from-so that we have it, and show it. Yet I think we ought to be careful about too much of this moral star-gazing. Let astronomy look up-and 'lift the long tube.' Humanity, Divinity, or whatever name you call it-it seems to me has never occasion to. All its gazes should be horizontal,-sloping downwards if any way,— with its ear bent in that direction, to 'catch' its own 'ground-cry.'' PEACE ON EARTH. BY JOHN PIERPONT. "Peace on Earth!"-the starry lyres When, far above them, angel quires Hung hymning, and a sudden light Fringed all the clouds with gold, That round the "heavenly vision" rolled Those starry lyres, that told Of a Redeemer's birth, Made this their burden-" Peace on Earth!” Those golden lyres, by angels strung, And attuned to angel ears, With yet another burden rung In accord with hymning spheres; Those awe-struck shepherds, gazing up again, In words distinct and bold, From lyres and lips that rolled, And the Redeemer's message told, That other burden heard-"GOOD WILL TO MEN!" Yes, and one heavenly burden more,— The burden that good spirits love to bear, |