mit me then, with great respect, to solicit the attention of such of the Clergy as are not already in the practice of preaching against this dangerous amusement. Censure them I do not, because they do not mean to be wanting in their duty. My design is only humbly and respectfully to solicit them to examine the subject. I am fully persuaded that half of the evil of the Theatre " has not been told me;" but yet I have been told enough to form the decided opinion, that there is a loud call for the ministers of Christ' to warn, and warn directly, from any participation in it. In reading over the Essay in question, we cannot but discover the pure mind from which it proceeded, and the delineation of that pure modesty, which, "like the sensative plant, recoils at the touch, and even appearance of evil; that modesty, the brightest jewel in female ornament, which an Apostle thought violated by unvailing the head, even in the sanctuary of religion. How then can we reconcile with this, the complete prostitution of this modesty in an unhappy set of females who act upon the stage. I will (what will not be required) suppose that they are all virtuous cha racters, and the reference is only made to the exposure of their persons to the gaze of a public audience which it is their profession to amuse. I speak not of great excesses of immodesty where they assume the dress of the other sex, as is often the case. I speak not of instances like one which was witnessed by Professor Silliman at the Sadler's Wells Theatre, in Eng land, where an actress danced in flesh coloured pantaloons. I will suppose the most modest exhibitions, and then I will put it home to the bosom of every father, husband, son, or brother, whether, under any circumstances, he could consent that his daughter, wife, or sister, or mother, should be thus exposed: nay, I appeal to the ladies themselves, whether every modest feeling would not be violated. I know not what others may think of this objection, but to me it has always appeared unanswerable. I appeal, in conclusion, to the conscience of every are Christian: he prays that God would not lead him into temptation; let him not then expose himself where duty does not call him. I appeal to the conscience of the young: they know that fornication and ad adultery crimes next in magnitude to murder, and have been visited by God in every age with exemplary punishment; and if, therefore, they would "flee youthful lust," as they value their souls, and perfect that holiness without which none shall see God-let them shun every occasion and every temptation to impurity. And the Play-house (to its disgrace be it recorded) is ever fraught with these dangers. I appeal solemnly to the consciences of parents-are they safe, are they excusable in indulging and favouring an amusement, which has been condemned as evil by wise and learned divines of every age and every Church, and, lastly, by the venerable Bishop of our own? Should some son or daughter, copying their example, or favoured by their silent indulgence, find in the Theatre the temptation to everlasting ruin, could they answer it to their God, that they had done what in them lay to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord? I think not. Let them then lay the subject seriously to heart, let them not be influenced to the choice of an amusement, to say the least, of such questionable tendency-let them pause and consider well before they are prepared to slight and despise the counsel and warning of so many watchmen upon the walls of Zion, whose duty it is to admonish them as they that must give an ac count. FOR THE CHRISTIAN JOURNAL. On the Death of Miss MARY LIVING STON. "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." DIED, on Saturday evening, the third of April, after an illness of six days, and in the fifteenth year of her age, Miss MARY LIVING STON, eldest daughter of EDWARD had heard preached by the Rev. P. LIVINGSTON, Esq. of Clermont. The Christian fortitude, hope, and joy, displayed by this young Lady at the solemn hour of death, forcibly point out to parents the duty and advantages of bringing up their Children "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." At a very tender age she had been accustomed to hear such parts of the Holy Scriptures as it was supposed she could understand; and before she had completed her eighth year, she had read, with her Mother, the whole of the Old and New Testaments. Since that time, she had devoted a portion of each day to read several chapters of the Bible with the females of the family. The Book of Common Prayer, which she had received from her affectionate Grandmother, the late Mrs. R. R. LIVINGSTON, she also constantly and attentively perused, as well alone, as with her Father; and the Catechism, and several Psalms were committed to memory, and clearly understood, at an early period of her life. She possessed an amiable disposition and a kind heart, and on no occasion was she ever known to employ money entrusted to her own disposal, for any other purpose, than to feed the hungry, and to clothe the naked. Cheerful and happy, she engaged readily in recreations suited to her age, and took great pleasure in accommodating herself to the wishes of her younger sisters. To her Parents she was dutiful and affectionate; to all she knew, kind and benevolent. When she was taken sick, it was soon apparent, that Religion afforded her the greatest consolation; she requested her Mother to read the Bible to her, and particularly a Psalm which she had just committed to memory. She often prayed, and mentioned, with much pleasure, a Sermon she Mr. MONTGOMERY, in which the vanity and insufficiency of the world to make us happy, had been clearly shown. This truth appeared to dwell greatly on her mind, and she remarked, that if people would only study the Bible, they would be convinced of it also. The idea that her sickness might terminate in death, early occurred, and her addresses to God, in the presence of her Mother, that he would cleanse her heart, and make her fit to die, were frequent and devout. When her Father returned to her chamber, after being informed that she could not, probably, live many hours, she asked what the Doctor had said, and whether it was his opinion that she must shortly die? He answered, My dear Child, you know that you are very sick, and I fear that you cannot recover; you know, also, that life and death are in the hands of God. Do you trust in him, and in, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? Oh, yes, my dear Father, was her reply. Observing her lips to move, he inquired what she said? I am praying to God. Do so, said he, and let me hear you. She then addressed her Heavenly Father and Saviour in the most fervent manner, When her Mother came near her, she desired her Parents to pray with her. After which, on being asked, Whether she was not convinced that Christ had come to save sinners? she answered, Only those who have faith in him. On being interrogated by her Father, Whether she had faith in him? she replied, Oh, yes, Papa! and repeated the Apostles' Creed, and the Lord's Prayer; then told him she had been lately learning another Psalm, and repeated the first 10 or 12 and the two last verses of the 139th Psalm, also some verses from a Hymn of Dr. WATTS. Again she prayed to God to bless her Parents for instructing her early in Religion, and teaching her to love the Bible. You read it with me, my dear Mother, said she; and you, my dear Father, often read it for me, and instructed me in the CatechismMay my sister read it, and love that blessed Book. Oh! how gracious and good has God been to me!-To him am I indebted for every thing-I might have been born poor, without friends to take care of, or instruct me; instead of which, I have had loving Parents and kind friends, who have allowed me to want for nothing. Only think how kind Christ was, to come on earth to save such poor sinners as I am. Overpowered by the consciousness of her own unworthiness, she asked an affectionate Cousin, at her bed-side, Whether she thought her sins would be pardoned? On being answered, That a sense of our sins, and sincere sorrow for them, were the surest grounds to hope for pardon, she again prayed, repeated her confidence in the mercy and merits of her Saviour, declaring that she no longer feared to die. She observed, that it was better for her to die now; for if she lived longer she might become sinful. She then entreated her Heavenly Father to bless all those whose kindness she had experienced during her sickness, mentioning them by name; expressed her gratitude to her Physician, and implored the Divine blessing on him for his care and attention. She also devoutly prayed for her Preceptor. The following pious ejaculations are most distinctly recollected: "Oh Lord, in thee have I trusted, let me never be confounded." "Oh Lord, deal not with us according to our sins""neither reward us according to our iniquities." "If it is thy will, oh Heavenly Father, may this cup pass, from me; not mine, but thy will be done." "Oh Lord, thou art the rock of my salvation, and I shall not be confounded." The following was said with great animation: "Who would have thought that this night I should be lying on my dying-bed! Oh, blessed night for me, for I shall sleep in the arms of Jesus-Oh, what a glorious thing it is, to go to my Saviour's king. dom." It is impossible to enumerate the affectionate remarks she addressed to her Parents, and the anxiety she showed lest her death should too sensibly affect her Mother, whom she entreated to be consoled, and recollect, that her sisters and brother would still stand in need of that love and kindness, which she and they had ever experienced. Afterwards she became silent and composed, and when asked if she knew her parents? replied, Yes, you are my dear Mother, and my dear Father. When asked if she felt pain? she answered, No pain-quite happy: and continued so to reply as long as she could articulate, and signified the same, by signs when her voice failed, turning to her Father and kissing him. After laying some time, during which no groan was heard, nor convulsive motion seen, she ceased to breathe; and her spirit, as we trust, fled to the bosom of that Redeemer, on whose atonement she had confidently relied, for pardon and eternal happiness. New-York, April, 1819. SWEAR NOT AT ALL. ABOUT a year since, a merchant in one of our sea-ports, on fitting out a ship for India, told the captain, at the time of making the contract for the voyage, that there must be no swearing among the officers and crew; that he (the captain) must engage not to Prison for two years. The story, we understand, is simply this: He undertook to remove a tumour from a lady's breast" no cure, no pay." The lady suffered several months torture from his caustic, and was dismissed as cured, with a large open ulcer, and her constitution ruined. The Doctor sued for his fee-contending it was a perfect cure. The demand being unjust, rendered it necessary for him to resort to dishonest means to support it. He swore roundly to every thing he thought necessary to substantiate his claim; but unfortunately for the doctor, he swore to too much. He was convicted of perjury, and sentenced as above. swear himself, nor permit others to be profane; that he must do as he pleased with respect to taking the command of the ship on these terms; but if he accepted the employment, it would be expected that he should strongly adhere to the stipulation, and that it should be known, as the law of the ship, that no profaneness was to be indulged. The captain seemed to have no objection to reforming, but inquired, "How can I suddenly break off an inveterate habit?" "I will take care that you be reminded of your duty," said the owner. "Wear the ring that I will give you, and let the law of the vessel be made known." Accordingly he procured a ring for the captain, with this motto engraved upon it: "Swear not at all." The vessel soon sailed, and after performing the voyage, returned a few weeks ago. On being inquired of, respecting the subject, the supercargo declared, that there had been no faneness on board, excepting a little within the first twenty days after sailing. At the close of this short period, the old habit was entirely destroyed; and during the remainder of the voyage, both at sea and in port, the success of the experiment was complete. This single fact is of inestimable value, as it shows how groundless are the common palliations of profaneness, and how easy it is to do good, when a person is seriously engaged in it, is influenced by principal, and acts with On the proper Qualifications for the decision. FOR THE CHRISTIAN JOURNAL. Messrs. Publishers, pro It was a co-partner of the docter, as we are informed, that was fined, a short time since, three hundred dollars, with costs of court, for mal-practice, in applying caustic to a lady's ankle, by which the joint was destroy-ed. It is a subject of congratulation that our courts of law begin to take cognizance of this species of crime-that a check is about to be put to a class of men that are pests to society, are endangering the lives of the people, and imposing their secret nostrums upon the ignorant and credulous. Ministry. An Extract. Ir is not to be expected, nor is it required, that all the Clergy should be deeply learned; the humble, though useful and honourable, duties of a parish priest, in a country village, may be well discharged by him who has neither the attainments of a Horsley or a Warburton; but every man who aspires to be an instructor of his Christian brethren, should remember that there are preparatory studies, without which he cannot worthily fulfil the duties of his sacred profession in any situation; and that a correct and intimate knowledge of the holy Scriptures, of the doctrines which the Church of England understands them to teach, and the duties they enjoin; as well as an acquaintance, at least with the prevailing errors of the day, and the best arguments by which they have been refuted; and, in addition to this, a power of stating clearly to others those truths which he has learned himself to perceive, are qualifications indispensable for every person who dares to undertake so responsible an office. He who ventures into the busy walks of life without a competent knowledge of the secular profession which he has chosen, will speedily feel the punishment of his folly in the failure and contempt which it will inevitably entail upon him: the ignorance or incapacity of a Clergyman may not, perhaps, so immediately interfere with his temporal interests, and may escape the notice of his earthly superiors; but he is accountable to a Master who cannot be deceived; and rash, or desperate, indeed, are those who venture to break the vow which bound them to devote their time and faculties to his service. "I have ofttimes," says the excellently learned Bishop Bull, " not without wonder and indignation, observed the strange confidence of empyricks in physic, that dare venture on the practice of that noble art, which they do not at all understand; considering how, for a little paltry gain, they shrewdly hazard, or rather certainly destroy, the health and lives of men; and have judged them worthy of as capital and ignominious a punishment as those that kill men on the highways. But I have soon exchanged this meditation into another of more concernment to myself; and my in- The Flowers. By Bishop Horne. THE HELIOTROPE. THROUGH all the changes of the day, I turn me to the SUN: THE VIOLET. A lowly flow'r, in secret bow'r, For blessing made, without parade, THE LILY. Emblem of Him, in whom no stain THE ROSE. With ravish'd heart that crimson hail, THE PRIMROSE. When Time's dark winter shall be o'er, THE GARDEN. The bow'r of innocence and bliss DAY-BREAK. Dawn of day! thy twilight dress Dawn of day! how pure to me Of odours that from night-fall rise, Dawn of day! how rapt thy hush Sweet, ah sweetest dawn of day! |