а

of which is prefixed to Prof. Jamieson's edition of "Cuvier's Theory." The only plausible reason why a human body should be within a rock, is, that the rock, some time or other, must have been in a liquid state, produced by some extraordinary revolution in nature; and that revolution must have been the Deluge. Perhaps some may say, that this human frame may have been buried amidst matter emitted from La Soufriere, a burning mountain in the island. This is exceedingly improbable, for that mountain does not discharge lava. Besides, who ever heard of a volcano emitting limestone? According to modern chemists, limestone is a combination of carbonic acid, oxygen, and what Sir Humphry Davy has named Calcium. The ingredient which promotes calcination, is the carbonic acid; but limestone, coming through the intense fires of a volcano, would have all its carbonic acid disengaged, and render the matter which it discharges a species of cinder; therefore the stone in which the fossil human skeleton was found, could not be formed from the burning mountain. It might be argued further, that if the stone had been formed of volcanic matter, it must have been in a liquid state when the body was mixed with it. But such matter is never in a state of fusion without being powerful enough to calcine the human frame. Now, as this fossil is not calcined, but petrified, it could never have been among such matter in a state of fusion. Proofs sufficient for any rational objector. Yours, &c. Knottingley.

Sir,

ORIGINAL LETTER

OF THE

the true friends of religion, that the following letter of his, though writ ten many years since, cannot fail, I conceive, to excite considerable insource of great pleasure and consoterest. To me it has always been a lation,

recalling to my mind the amiable character and fervent piety of a once beloved friend, and directing my footsteps to that Fountain, whence flow the purest streams of comfort in the darkest times and greatest difficulties. It was written - A upon the following occasion: servant, who was afterwards, I understand, executed at Gibraltar, having been discharged from my service, went to Mr. Newton and others, borrowing Bibles and other articles in my name. Our amiable and unsuspecting friend, without any hesitation, lent him that which he requested. After some time, not finding his Bible returned, he, with pe culiar delicacy, mentioned the circumstance to me. Having thus dis covered the fraud, I sent him another Bible, similar to the one he had lost; which drew from him the following letter. The condolence at the

close of it, was occasioned by the loss which each of us had sustained in the death of a valuable consort. Grafton St.

My dear Sir,

Yours, T. W.

LATE REV, JOHN NEWTON.

To the Editor.

THE memory of the late Rev. John Newton is cherished with such feelings of respect and affection by all

Ah, Sir, the loss of the Bible would be great indeed if it could

tyranny, which not only imprisons all the noblest faculties of man, and reduces him to a mere machine, but generates, of a gigantic growth, all the basest passions of our nature. Did we believe more firmly the Scriptures of truth ;-were the awful realities of another world more clearly seen by us; the great white throne, and the final decision of the Judge, "Come ye blessed, Depart ye cursed;" were these truly believed by us, oh, how eagerly should we then engage in Missionary concerns!-Were these believed, we should hear no more the cold, chilling, unfeeling reply of many to the call for increasing exertion. What would you have? Do not your subscriptions and contributions amount to nearly £20,000. per annum? Have you not, of both sexes, about 100 Missionaries? Yes; blessed be God we have; and yet there are still 800 millions of our fellow-sinners whose ears never heard the joyful sound. May this truth, this heart-rending truth, haunt every professor who is indifferent to the Missionary cause, till he is brought to cry for mercy for the sin of a brother's blood! Eight hundred millions of men "sitting in darkness, and in the region and shadow of death, perishing for lack of knowledge." "What are these five barley-loaves and two small fishes among so many?" And is there a man who bears the honourable name of Christian, who can be satisfied with present exertions?—who can bear to reflect at the close of every day, that 50,000 of his fellow-sinners had left this world without hearing of a Saviour, and not feel himself impelled to give farther and increased assistance to the Missionary Cause? Let me recommend it to all who are chargeable with neglect in this great and good work, to read Prov. xxiv. 11, 12, "If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death," &c. There are various classes of professors, who, on account of their neglect of the Hea

then, are called upon to do works meet for repentance. First, those who have spoken or written any thing to the injury of any particular Society, or of Missionary Societies in general, either by secret whisper or open attack; these are called on to humble themselves before that Saviour, whose honour they have wounded, whose cause they have injured!

I would say to these persons, Are there not enemies enough, among the men of the world, to the Missionary cause, that you must needs go over to their camp as an auxiliary? Is there not sufficient indifference among professors, that you must confirm them in their unchristian spirit? We were prepared for opposition on the part of bad men : that was a thing of course. Having enlisted in the service of the god of this world, they are anxious to support his usurped dominion; they dispute every inch of ground; and by open or secret hostility oppose the progress of the Prince of Peace. But what shall we say when good men range themselves on the side of the enemies of God and man?

Secondly, Those who have ability, but have hitherto refused any assistance to Missionary Societies. You have spent many an unnecessary pound on yourself and family in dress or pleasure; you have had enough to spare for a jaunt to Margate, Brighton, or some other place of fashionable resort; - but you have nothing to spare for the cause of Him, to whom you are indebted for all you possess. You will answer, I do help a Missionary Society; I always give sixpence, when I happen to be caught where a collection is making; and I am thinking of becoming a subscriber of a penny a week to a Missionary Association in our neighbourhood. The lust of the eye calls, and you answer; calls, and you obey; the palate, and it is gratified; not at the expence of sixpence or a penny a week: — no, no; these claimants

the ear

are not so easily satisfied: they have their pounds; but the great Lord of all is to be put off with pence. Recollect the day of settlement; think on the frown of the great Lord; and dread the doom of the unfaithful possessor of one talent; you have ten.

Thirdly, Those who are in cir

cumstances to afford all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life, but have contented themselves with a subscription of a solitary guinea. How do you think your yearly expenditure will look when it is presented at the great audit? This will not pass in a mass. Totals will not satisfy. No; they will be chequed, item by item. In one line there will be found £400. for a carriage; in another. £ 350. for the expence of keeping it; and in the next £1. for the Missionary cause. You even kept back the shilling, and put it off with a poundnote. I pray you to examine the bags you have heaped up, and see how many of them are filled with what has been kept back from that good cause. Look over the map of your estate, and see how many acres thereof belong to the interest of Christ; and hasten to make restitution four-fold, lest the moth and rust should be commanded to corrupt your treasures, and the mildew, the caterpillar, and the hail devastate your farms.

Fourthly, Those Ministers of Christ who have refused to collect on the behalf of Missions, and have discouraged their people from assisting. Surely this is highly culpable. Their Lord has commanded all his loyal subjects to unite, for the recovery of his inheritance and possessions granted to him by charter from his Father. You have not only refused yourselves to join in the grand confederacy, but you have kept others back also. How inconconsistent is this with your interceding on the Lord's Day for the conversion of the Heathen, and the speedy fulfilment of ancient pro

phecies, in regard to the universal spread of the Gospel! Has he not instituted means for their accomplishment? As the employment of means without prayer is presumption, so prayer, without the use of such means as are in our power, is hypocrisy. It is remarkable that, in general, those congrega

tions who do not collect for Missionary purposes are the most wealthy, and their ministers amply provided for. It is not the poor minister, who is scantily supported by his people, who is the most backward to collect: such are usually the first in this good work; - but it is the beneficed minister, whose hearers are rich, who is so careful of their pockets.

no;

Let such ministers, and others whom I have been addressing, not delay to confess their sin, and make immediate reparation, by pouring abundantly into the Missionary treasury.

The Lord has signally owned the labours of the Missionary Society. Let all the glory be his alone. Had they effected nothing more than the translation of the New Testament into the Chinese by Mr. Morison, and its circulation by Mr. Milne, they would have been amply repaid for all the funds which have been expended. Perhaps there have been few instances of the success of the Gospel since the days of the Apostles, equal to that which has taken place at Bethelsdorp. Three hundred Heathen converted, at one station, in the short space of one year! There has been a remarkable out-pouring of the Spirit in Africa and the South Seas. New Missions are ready to be planted. A great many Missionaries are departing for different stations. Had the Society_twenty more ready at this time, there are fields of labour ready to be occupied by them. The Directors are not only embracing every opportunity which offers for extending the scale of their operations, but they