This was the great business which absorbed his soul; and with so rare a combination of qualities for exerting a moral power, no wonder that he was successful, especially as the Lord wrought with him. The number known to be converted under his ministry, though by no means small, does but very inadequately exhibit the extent of his influence. He was one of those men who are raised up for the church universal,-receiving little, except from God, but imparting much in every circle with which he mingles, and particularly to his ministering brethren, by which the prosperity of the church is advanced.

He was a faithful preacher. He not only declared the whole counsel of God, but he did it in a manner the most clear and discriminating. His sermons were searching beyond description. O, how did he unmask the hypocrite, 'disguise himself as he would'; how rend away the false refuges, beneath which sinners entrench themselves; how trace and expose the windings and deceits of the human heart; how shew transgressors their ways! He brought the torch of truth as it were into the sinner's soul, that he might see his condition and charater in the sight of God. Sinners trembled, they often complained, that the preacher was harsh and severe; and, finding that there was no peace to the wicked in the presence of such a reprover, sometimes left his ministrations, by which their consciences were so greatly disturbed, and probably are now in the condition of the man among the tombs, "seeking rest and finding none." Christians, too, under his preaching were often brought into doubt of themselves, and led to examine anew the foundation of their hope; but on the review they have reason to say, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend." Though he dwelt much on the claims of God and the Redeemer, he did not withhold the exhibition of divine mercy. Free grace, redeeming love, sounded from his lips in the melting accents of one whose heart had felt its subduing, peace-giving, and constraining power.

INTELLIGENCE.

Extract of a letter from Rev. Daniel Temple, Missionary at Malta, to the Editor of the Christian Mirror.

Every Christian must rejoice and ought to rejoice that the way is evidently preparing to destroy the face of the covering that has for so many centuries been cast over all the people of these countries, and the veil that has been spread over all these nations. An ignorant unprincipled priesthood has long been accustomed to say to these nations, Bow down that we may go over; and they have laid their body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over. But happily within the last ten years Popery has lost more than it has done in as many centuries before, and should its losses be multiplied in the same ratio for twenty years to come, there can then remain little more than the fragments of its wreck. In

and to make known nothing, save Jesus Christ and him crucified;' the mean time every devout Christian will be constantly praying that God would send forth his commandment upon earth and cause his word to run swiftly. One generation of errors may pass away; but unless the influence of divine truth prevent it, another generation of them will come. Pagan Rome fell, and papal Rome rose in its stead. Which of them is the worst, it would perpaps be difficult to decide. Both were corrupt and corrupters. As the one has faded and fallen like a star from the firmament, so doubtless will the other, and how soon we cannot pretend to predict."

Jews' Societies.-The Jews are scattered over every quarter of the globe. The whole number is estimated at 2,700,000.-Europe, 1,644,000; Africa; 480,000; Asia, 542,000; Polynesia, 2,000; America, 32,000.-Total, 2,700,000.

Although they originally spoke the Hebrew language, yet now in their dispersed condition, being in different countries, they speak the Arabic, Italian, German, Polish Jew Dialect, and Turkish. Various means have been used, both in Europe and America, to direct them to the only Saviour.

The London Jews' Society was formed about 1818.-The sole object of this society is the conversion of the Jews to christianity. The Philo Judaean Society was instituted in 1827, for the purpose of circulating the whole Bible, and religious Tracts among the Jews, giving lectures, establishing day and Sabbath schools, for adults and children.

Boston Female Jews' Society was formed about the year 1815. The object of this society is, the promotion of christianity among the Jews, by circulating religious instruction of all kinds among them. There is a number of auxiliaries connected with the society. The Society has a fund of $2,470, the income of which has been appropriated for some time past for the education of Jewish children at Bombay, the circulation of Tracts among the Jews in Palestine, and in the support of a student, preparing to labor as a missionary among the Jews.

The American Jews' Society was formed in New York, 1820, for the purpose of ertablishing an asylum in the United States, where christian or converted Jews might resort, from all parts of the world, and in this way avoid the dreadful persecution of their unbelieving countrymen. This society owns a farm in New Paltz, on the west side of Hudson River, of 500 acres 100 cleared, with a good house and other necessary buildings. Their funds amount to $15,000. The Rev. Dr. Rowan is now in the employ of the society as an Agent.-N. H. Obs.

A resolution passed the Senate of Louisana, the 16th. inst. authorising the Governor to purchase a gold medal and offer the same to the Hon. Edward Livingston, as an acknowledgement, on the part of the state of Louisana, for the code of criminal and civil law presented to the State by the Honorable Gentleman.

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CORY & BROWN, 17 Market-street, have for sale a general assortment of religious, miniature books, among which are Daily Food-Mrs. Rowe's Devout Exercises-Comforts of Piety-Daily Piety---Gems of Piety---Gems of Sacred Poetry---Dew Drops---Daily Crumbs---Directions to Persons just commencing a Religious Life---Daily Scripture Expositor, &c. &c. together with a variety of new and standard Theological works.

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BOOK & JOB PRINTING. WILLIAM MARSHALL & Co. No. 12, Market-square, story, respectfully inform the public that they have just added to their stock of materials, an entire new office, selected with great care by a gentleman who contemplated prosecuting the printing business in this town. This being added to their former large assortment of materials, makes an extensive variety, and enables them to offer very great advantages to persons who may want any kind of Letter Press Printing done in good style, and at short notice, Providence, Oct. 1831.

HOPKINSIAN MAGAZINE.

VOL. IV.

MARCH 31, 1832.

NO. 4.

THE DESIGN OF BAPTISM.

[Concluded from page 325.]

But if we have formed a just conception of the design of the institution of Baptism; there are several things, which, of course, will be exceedingly plain and obvious.

1. The quantity of water used in baptism, can be nothing essential. For what quantity of water would not answer the purpose of a token of the covenant? It surely could make no difference, in this view of it, whether it were an ocean, or the quantity that could be visibly applied. Any thing may serve as a token of God's promise, which he is pleased to appoint. It may, if he please, be the rainbow, or it may be circumcision, or it may be baptism. There is nothing therefore in this particular design of the ordinance, which renders any particular quantity of water, or any particular mode of applying it, essential to the validity of it. Or suppose we consider it the design of baptism to serve as an emblem of sanctification; any quantity of water, either poured or sprinkled, might serve as an emblem of this, as truly as immersion; even as a small quantity of wine, may serve as an emblem of the Saviour's blood, as well as an ocean of wine. Any quantity of water applied in baptism, might serve as a figure of our salvation. And, if the ordinance were duly attended upon, it would answer a good conscience. And certainly the name of the Trinity might be called, let the quantity of water applied, be either greater or less. We see a reason, then, why there is no particular quantity of water, specified in the word of God: Because it is a thing of no consequence. And there is no reason why christians should ever agitate a dispute, about the mode of baptism, only, as some have affixed to the institution, a meaning of their own invention, and then have thought themselves necessitated to invent some particular mode of washing, which might be answerable to such supposed design. O what a pity it is, that christian people, before they begin to disturb the minds of their brethren, with controversies of this nature, could not be persuaded to inquire, what the proposed subject of controversy is? what is the importance of it? and what influence it will be likely to have, on christian practice.

2. The ordinance of baptism may answer the same design, when applied to the children of the believer, as when applied to the believer himself. Is it a token of God's covenant? It may

serve as a token of this covenant when applied to the believer; and it may serve as a token of the same covenant when applied to his household; even as circumcision was a token of God's covenant with Abraham, both when applied to himself, and to his household. Does it imply that the subject to which it is applied has need of sanctification? This is true when applied to the believer, and it is equally true when applied to the child, or even to the infant. For men are depraved from the beginning of their existence, and must be sanctified, or they cannot be saved. Is baptism a figure of salvation? It is equally a figure, whether it be applied to the adult, or to the infant. Or is the Trinity called to remembrance, as acting in concert in the work of redemption, when an adult is baptized? The same important truth is brought to remembrance, at the baptism of the household of the believer. For they also are baptized, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Whenever, therefore, it is asked, What good will it do to baptize an infant? an answer may with propriety be given; similar to that which our Saviour gave in reply to the Pharisees, when they questioned his authority: "I also will ask you one question," 'what good will it do to apply water to the believer himself? Whenever you will tell me this; then I also will tell you, what good it will do to baptize an infant. For precisely the same answer is, in both cases, to be given.'

3. We should beware of drawing the conclusion, that our salvation is certain, because we have been baptized with water. Some, when they have voluntarily presented themselves; and received the ordinance of baptism; have thonght there is such efficacy in the ordinance itself, as to wash away all their sins, and that henceforth there will be no occasion to doubt, that they are sure heirs of glory. Some have thought, when they have presented their children in the ordinance of baptism, that now they are certainly washed in the laver of regeneration, or at least, that they certainly will be sanctified and saved. Others, who do not think that the water itself will wash away the sins of the subject, still imagine, that when the water is rightly applied, and especially when it comes from the more holy hands of an Episcopalian, the regenerating influences of the Holy Spirit do always accompany it; so that they may now, without any hesitancy, return thanks, that this child is now 'regenerated, born into the kingdom of grace and adopted into the family of God:' Whereas, if a child should be so unfavorably circumstanced, as that it should die in its infancy, before baptismal water is applied, it must forever remain unsanctified and an heir of eternal misery. But all this is a miserable delusion, resulting from the grossest misconception of the nature and design of this holy ordinance.

Baptismal water never washed away the sins of any man: nor is it any certain evidence that the subject, either is, or ever will be sanctified. On the contrary, being a token of God's covenant, it only denotes that there always will be a spiritual seed of Abraham upon the earth, and that the believer shall be saved: And instead of declaring that the subject to which it is applied, is al