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one step for the promotion of such objects? The latter, it may be, can speculate on the philosophy of the human mind, on its great powers and high dignity, on the sublime virtue of universal benevolence, on the tyranny of and superstition, and the slavery of ignorance; will sometimes quote the verse of the poet,

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"Homo sum: HUMANI nîl a me alienum puto :"

but they leave it to others, and generally to the Christian in humble life, to exercise the spirit of that noble verse.-This is a very difficult problem; and it has been alleged by some, that it cannot be solved on any known principles of philosophy. The following relation will proba bly lead to principles by which we may arrive at a solution.

There was once a King in the East, whose empire extended over the known world, and his dominion " was to the end of the earth." During the former part of his reign, his heart was filled with pride; he knew not the God of heaven; and he viewed with the utmost indifference the nations over whom he ruled, worshipping idols of wood and stone. But it pleased the King of kings to dethrone this haughty

monarch, to cast him down from his high estate, and to abase him in the dust. And after he had been for a time in the furnace of affliction, and his proud heart was humbled, God graciously revealed himself to him in his true name and character, and then restored him to

his former prosperity and power. The penitent king thus once more exalted, and filled with admiration at the discovery of the ONLY TRUE God, immediately issued an edict to the whole world, setting forth the greatness of the Most High, asserting his glory, and inviting all nations to "praise and magnify "HIM that liveth for ever, whose dominion "is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom "is from generation to generation." This memorable edict began in these sublime terms:

66

86

"NEBUCHADNEZZAR THE KING, UNTO ALL

PEOPLE, NATIONS, AND LANGUAGES, THAT
DWELL IN ALL THE EARTH, Peace be multi-

ἐσ plied unto you. I thought it good to show
"the signs and wonders which the Most High
"God hath wrought toward me.' How
How great
"are his SIGNS! How mighty are his wonders!"
Having recounted the judgment and mercy of
God to himself, he thus concludes; "Now I
"Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol, and honour
"the King of Heaven, all whose works are truth,

"and his ways judgment; and them that walk "in pride he is able to abase.”*

Such a proclamation to the nations of the earth was a noble act of a king, and ought to be had in perpetual remembrance. It reminds us of the last charge of HIM "who ascended up on high" Go, TEACH ALL NATIONS." It discovers to us the new and extended benevolence, greatness of mind, and pure and heavenly charity, which distinguish that man, whose heart has been impressed by THE GRACE OF GOD. How solemn his sense of duty! How ardent to declare the glory of his Saviour! His views for the good of men, how disinterested and enlarged!—It is' but too evident, that all our speculations concerning a divine Revelation, and the obligation imposed on us to study it ourselves, or to communicate it to others, are cold and uninteresting, and excite not to action “until, through the tender compassion of God, "the Day-spring from on high visit us, to give

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light to them that sit in darkness;" to humble our hearts, at the remembrance of our sins against God, and to affect them with a just admiration of his pardoning mercy.

Let Great Britain imitate the example of the

* Daniel, 4th chapter.

+ Luke i. 78, 79.

Chaldean King; and send forth to all the world, HER testimony concerning the True God. SHE also reigns over many nations which "worship idols of wood and stone." Let her in like manner, declare to them "the SIGNS and WONDERS' of the Almighty." And, in this design every individual will concur, of every church, family, and name, whose heart has been penetrated with just apprehensions of the Most High God; who have known his judgments and experienced his mercy.

THE END.

Kirby Hall, Boroughbridge, Yorkshire,

Feb. 15th, 1811.

ON THE

CIVILIZATION OF THE EAST;

BEING

The COMPOSITIONS which gained the PRIZES, or were presented to the UNIVERSITIES in competition for the PRIZES, instituted by Dr. BUCHANAN.

Sold chiefly by Messrs. CADELL & DAVIES Strand, London.

Published in 1805.

the Subject

1. Cambridge.-A GREEK ODE, on TENDZON ONE "Let there be light." Ode Græca Præmio dignata quod donavit Academiæ Cantabrigiensi Vir Reverendus CLAUDIUS BUCHANAN, A.B. Coll. Regin. Cantab. et Vice-Præpositus Collegii Bengalensis in India Orientali. Auctore G. PRYME, A. B. Trin. Col. Prize 251.

ΦΩΣ,

2. Eton.-A GREEK ODE, on the subject гENEZON ONE, "Let there be light." Ode Præmio a Reverendo Viro CLAUDIO BUCHANAN, S. T. P. Etonensibus Proposito dignata. Auctore T. RENNELL, Coll. Reg. Eton. Alumn. Prize 251.

3. Glasgow.-COLLEGIUM BENGALENSE: Carmen cui Præmium BUCHANANEUM a Senatu Academia Glasguensis adjudicatum est. ALEXANDRO

MAC ARTHUR, Auctore. Prize 251.

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