wish that here and there a leaf convert them, are distinct ques

were left out, wherein the writers speak too favourably of the stage, and now and then (though rarely) introduce a sentence that would raise a blush in the face of strict virtue."

Your readers may now easily compare, not to say contrast, the manner of Messrs. Pogue and Bennett with that of Dr. Watts, in whose character, both as an author and a man, were united the gentleman, the scholar and the Christian.

OTIOSUS.

On the Society for converting the
Jews.

[We copy the following article from the Dublin Evening Herald, of Wednesday, March 11, 1812. It is a letter to a lady, who was desirous of the opinion of the writer, a beneficed Irish clergyman it has not, we believe, been before reprinted in England.-ED.]}

DEAR MADAM,

tions, upon which I believe your friends and the Society will not agree. Hitherto I cannot find that the Society has been the mean of converting any Jew of matured years, of weight, or learning; and its whole success appears to be confined to the education of about a couple of score of the destitute children of this people. Even so much, it may be said, is a proof that good has been done; but the good should evidently over-balance the evil, before we can be certain that much progress has been made in the work of conversion.

Will

not the Jews view with secret envy and vexation the attempt made to rob them of their children? Will they not complain of

it as an unwarrantable and immoral proceeding, and place it as a set-off against all the powerful arguments advanced for their conversion? The way to convert them I return you with my thanks, is not by wounding their feelings the sermons and tracts you hand- and provoking their hatred. This ed me, which detail the plans and must be so self-evident to persons of proceedings of the London So- the least reflection, that it may ciety for promoting Christianity well be doubted, whether the amongst the Jews. As your leaders in this offensive plan have friends in M- were in doubt, not been as intent upon flattering whether they ought to subscribe to men in power, as upon convertthe funds of this Society or not, ing the Jews. and as you wished for my opinion intolerant party to see the people It must gratify an upon this subject, in compliance amused with a notion, that its with your request I must say, most forward partisans are ге. that I can give them no encou. markable for their faith and holy ragement to subscribe. The zeal, and are really occupied and tracts, I admit, are well written, influenced by liberal and grand and contain solid arguments ad- ideas. But where is the grandeur dressed to the Jews, and forcible of their views, or how appears appeals to Christians, in favour their confidence in the prophecies of the Jewish nation, in which of the Scriptures, which foretell we all must feel highly interested; the restoration of the Jews, when, but the farther means adopted by after years of exertion, and the the Society to convert the Jews, expenditure of considerable sums, and the opinions to which it would they seem delighted with having

accomplished such a marvellous expressions of kindness, and will object, as the wresting from the render such language suspicious Jews some scores of their chil- from any other quarter. To me dren! Such means would give it appears an unfair and a misJews or Mahometans an equal taken policy, to educate children advantage over Christians. The in a particular faith before they faster the Society proceeds in this can understand it, in opposition course with a few children, the to the will of their parents. This greater head will be raised against is to do evil, that good may its efforts by the whole body; and come. Nothing of this kind was in the end I fear it will be seen, ever attempted by Christ and his that several thousands of pounds apostles. It is indeed a good and will have been expended, not in a Christian act to support and inpromoting, but in retarding the struct destitute children; but to conversion of the Jews. The attempt to proselyte a people by Society must consider those per- such means, indicates a narrow sons as very deficient in under- worldly spirit, which regards restanding, or very willing to be ligious truth and rational convicdeceived, whom it calls upon for tion as secondary considerations. money to assist its undertaking: The Charter Schools in Ireland while it completely overlooks the were founded on this mistaken true, the cheap, the only way to principle, and what has been their convert the Jews, which is, by effect? Their ostensible object is zealously advocating the cause of to convert the people to Protesjustice, peace, and good will tantism; but their real effect is to among all men. Does the Socie. render this religion more odious ty pursue this truly Christian to the people, and to alienate the course? From some known facts minds of the Catholics more inI am constrained to believe, that curably from their Protestant most of its members are engaged brethren. It is my opinion, inand combined in practices of a deed, that such effects were foredirect opposite nature; and if seen by the projectors of these this be the truth-if they are the schools. most intolerant part of the community, and the most averse from peace, they are not entitled to much credit for their hypocritical zeal to advance the profession of In the next place, let us consi Christianity, while in some most der the faith, to which the Society important respects, they act in would wish to convert the Jews. opposition to its spirit. It is a This Society is principally comgreat pity that the kind language posed of men who profess what towards the Jews, with which the they call the evangelical doctrine; tracts abound, should proceed for this is the character they give from men of this character, and to the anti-evangelical doctrine of should be coupled with so invi. unconditional election and repro dious a design as the seduction of bation. According to their opini Jewish children by bribes. This on, man in this world is not in a proceeding will neutralize all their state of trial or probation, as the

At all events the system tended to inflame religious dissensions, which have always been fomented in Ireland by a Machiavelian policy.

terms are generally understood; ply, but when it can be obtained,

he is not even a moral being; he they recede from what they usual. has no free-will for virtue, and he ly advance respecting the absolute is impelled to all vice by an in- necessity of faith, and they say, vincible necessity, with the excep. the dead infants of the elect are tion of a few elect, who are scarce. saved. Their opinion respecting ly restrained by sovereign grace. the fate of all other dead infants They farther say, that it was de- may sometimes be extorted from creed by God, in consequence them, which is, that they suffer of a bargain made with Christ, most exquisite torments, in sou! before creation, first, that an and body, in hell-fire, for ever. insignificant proportion of those It has also been objected to them, mischievous or wicked automa- that they leave no room whatever tons should be effectually called, for happiness among men, for certhat faith should be given to them, tainly, such religious people fathat is, a power humbly to ac- voured of God, as they profess to cept Christ as their undoubted be, must be distressed beyond property, (not truly as their Lord measure at the prospect of such a and Master, and the Redeemer of flood of endless misery, sweeping mankind, which is rather the act away nearly the whole of the huof a reprobate) and that they man race, and involving even most should be infallibly saved; and of their own companions. The secondly, that the great mass objection has no force with them, of mankind should be denied the for it is the contrast of their own power to believe, and should be election, with the universal desodoomed inevitably for their sin to lation of the rest of mankind, eternal torments. A consequence which affords them a heaven upon of their belief, which they are earth. If this be the Christianity sometimes forced to admit, is, professed by the leading members that God created the greater part of the Society, in which it is to be of mankind on purpose to damn supposed they will endeavour to them eternally, to the praise of educate their young Jewish conhis glorious justice. With them verts, I should be grieved to see the surest signs of a reprobate are, Jews converted to it, or even to regard God as the universal Turks or Bramins. These unenFather, and to have enlarged sentiments of hope and charity with respect to our fellow-creatures; for the most atrocious felon may sooner become evangelical, than one of this mild character. It has been objected to them, surely you will not send to hell all with out exception who have not faith, for what is the fate of your own children who die in infancy, be fore they can see their own infinite vileness, and hang upon Christ? It is difficult to get a re

lightened people have certainly many strong and unhappy prejudices: yet still they believe that God is good, and just, and wise. The evangelical zealot will admit the same, as far as the mere assertion extends, for he thinks it good and just and wise in God to elect himself unconditionally, and to damn all others inevitably: but he is more sedulous than any Jew, Bramin, Turk or Caffre, to represent the Deity as a partial, malignant, unjust and deceitful Being,

and even as the devil triumphant one can be strictly governed by to every mortal on earth, except it in his conduct, without assumhimself and his own fraternity. ing the worst symptoms of madYour friends, Madam, I pre- ness; but it is happy for mankind, sume, will not think it incumbent that the light of nature, or a poron them to swell the funds of tion of God's spirit which is given missionaries who entertain such to every man to profit withal, has sentiments. They may deny that more influence on their actions their plan is to discuss with Jews than absurd theories. It is the what they call the circumstantials opinion of this people, that all of Christianity; but if they are the elect and reprobate are foresincere in such a declaration, ordained to be such by the sove. where appears the sincerity of reign decree of God, independent their faith? Or what advantage of the will or actions of men; 'does their Society propose to a Jew yet they discover extraordinary by his conversion, if he is still to zeal in preaching and making remain a reprobate ? On the proselytes. They express a just whole, their miserable plan for indignation at villainy and oppresconverting the Jews; their enmity sion; yet their anger might as to rational liberty and love for properly be directed against a wars; their systematic opposition stick or a stone, as against one to the extension of equal priveliges who acts mischievously from neto a large proportion of their cessity. They often endeavour to Christian fellow-subjects; their do good in their generation; yet 'misanthropical sentiments, and to pretend that they or any one their violent attachment to all the has a free will to act in this manAthanasian dogmas afford us ho ner, they call reproaching their ground to think, that they will be Maker. They say it is altogether the chosen instruments in the the suggestion of pride to suppose, hand of God, to take from the that there are any conditions on Jews the heart of stone, and to the part of man for obtaining the give them a heart of flesh. Before favour of God; yet they seem they are likely to make any im- impressed with the importance of pression on the Jews, their own a number of conditions for this iron hearts must first he softened; purpose. They deny that God they must begin the work of con- will ever reverse or relax his sovversion on themselves, by doing ereign decrees; yet they somejustice, loving mercy, and walking times pray for those whom they Thumbly with God, and ceasing to consider as reprobates. pervert the right ways of the Lord. hold that all the reprobate are At the same time, it would be a equally sinful, that is, infinitely Tash conclusion to infer from their sinful; yet some they trust, and doctrines alone, that these stick. must esteem. Their system of lers for unconditional election and metaphysics includes the necessity reprobation are not good 'men; of the means as well as the end, for it is seldom that their theory which borders closely upon Atheand practice can harmonize. The ism; yet in the use of means, former is so extravagant, and even which regard this world or the such downright nonsense, that no next, they appear to have às little

D

They

doubt of their free will as other Ashworth, but"--but what?people. I might mention many the fact was, that after all, they more instances, but shall only add did not choose to invite him, for this remarkable one: for the same which your correspondent assigns attributes that they profess to love a reason which, whether right or the Deity, they hate the devil wrong, is nothing to the purpose. very cordially. Their palpable inconsistencies remind us of an old and good saying, "Turn com- The Memoir further states that mon sense out at the door, and she the congregation "chose a genwill come in at the window" tleman, a very worthy person, Many of them in their intercourse but whose orthodoxy was of a with the world, when the spirit of much higher tone than that of his controversy is at rest, appear predecessor." Upon this your very good and rational beings.

I am, &c.

N. H.

Mr. Belsham on the Strictures on
his Memoirs of Mr. Lindsey.
Essex House, Nov. 3, 1812.
SIR,

Permit me through the medium of your valuable work, to express my thanks to your worthy correspondent "a Daventry Pupil," for his kind solicitude to clear the pages of the Memoir of Mr. Lind. sey from every mixture of error.

This he calls "correcting mistakes!"

correspondent remarks, "Imust add," impelled no doubt by a sense of duty, and the importance of the case, "I must add, that the person they chose, viz. Mr. Gilbert, of Oakham, was not so much more orthodox than Dr. Doddridge as is supposed." By what means he came to know the exact quantum of the supposed excess of Mr. Gilbert's orthodoxy over that of Dr. Doddridge, or how he was enabled to ascertain that the supposed excess was greater than the true excess, we are not informed. But the honest zeal of this worthy gentleman to pursue error to its minutest ramification, and to detect it in its most intangible shape, is neverthe less sufficiently apparent; and of this let him have the praise.

In the first passage which calls forth bis animadversion, the Memoir states that" Dr. Doddridge's congregation refused to invite Dr. Ashworth, whom he recommended as his successor both in the pulpit and the academy, and In his great anxiety, however, whose sentiments were in perfect to reduce the orthodoxy of Mr. unison with his own." Upon this Gilbert to the standard of Dr. passage your correspondent re. Doddridge, your correspondent marks with much naïveté, but further alleges, "I have heard not without assuming at the same him preach as well as read some time a pretty high tone of autho- printed sermons of his, from whence rity, like one who was about to I should conclude that his sentireveal an important secret, "Now, ments were far from being of a SIR, THE FACT WAS, the con- higher tone." This indeed sounds gregation at Northampton, at something like evidence. least the great majority of them, Sir, the fact is, that the worthy, would gladly have received Mr. and I may add, able and learned

But,