enterprise that would promise fairer, at length, for embodying the the Church and the dissenters together, by some such act of comprehensive union, as has lately reflected so much honour on the two most numerous classes of dissenters in our country.

For the Christian Herald.

BENIFIT OF SABBATH SCHOOLS.

THE following statements were made by the Rev. W. Goodell, Missionary to Palestine, to the "Visiting Committee" of the Sunday School, in this city. By giving them a place you will oblige A SUBSCRIBER.

In the account of a revival in the State of New-York, it is stated, that of thirty five persons, who were hopeful sharers in the work, twenty-seven belonged to the Sabbath schools in that place. Of one hundred persons, who united with a church in the course of a single year, ninety-eight had enjoyed the blessings of Sabbath school instruction. It is said, that of the Missionaries, who have gone from Great Britain to the heathen, nineteen twentieths became pious at the Sabbath schools. And that of the orthodox ministers in England, who are under forty years of age, more than two thirds became pious at the Sabbath schools. Henderson and Patterson, who have done such wounders on the Continent in regard to the Bible cause, it is said, received their first religious impressions at Sabbath schools. The celebrated Dr. Morrison, Missionary in the vast empire of China, who has recently translated the whole Bible into Chinese, a language spoken by the largest associated population on the globe-became pious at a Sabbath school! O! who can tell, how many Brainerds, and Buchanans, and Morrisons, and Martyns, and Harriet Newells, and Isabella Grahams, God is training in these schools, to become the blessed instruments of renovating the world!!

MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL.

No men in the world are under such obligations to do good as the Ministers of the Gospel. They who are "men of God" should always be at work for God. Certainly they who are dedicated to the special services of the Lord, should never be satisfied, but when they are in the most sensible manner serving him. Certainly, they whom the great King has brought nearer to himself than other men, should be more unwearied than others in endeavouring to advance his kingdom. They whom the word of God calls angels, ought certainly to be of an angelic disposition; always disposed to do good, like the good angels; "ministers ever on the wing to do his pleasure." It is no improper proposal, that they would seriously set themselves to think, "What are the points wherein I should be wise and do good, like an angel of God?" Or, "if an angel were in the flesh, as I am, and in such a post as mine, what methods may I justly imagine that he would use to glorify God? What wonderful offices of kindness would

the good angels cheerfully perform for such their fellow-servants?" " We must call upon our people, "to be ready to every good work." We must go before them in it, and by our own readiness at every good work, show them the manner of performing it. "Timothy," said the apostle," be thou an example of the believers." The true spirit of a minister will cause you to consider yourselves enriched, when those precious things are conferred upon you, and to prize them above lands, or money, or any temporal possessions whatever. "Let me abound in good works, and I care not who abounds in riches." Well said, brave Melancthon! It is to be hoped, that the principle that actuated you, when you first entered upon the eval gelical ministry, was a desire to do good in the world. If that principle was then too feeble in its operation, it is time that it should now act more vigorously, and that a zeal for doing good should now "eat up" your time, your thoughts, your all. That you may be good men, and be mightily inspired and assisted from Heaven to do good, it is needful that you should be men of prayer. It appears very necessary that you should occasionally set apart whole days for secret prayer and fasting, and thus resume your studies with extraordinary devotions. You may obtain by prayer such an influence from Heaven upon your minds and such an indwelling of the Holy Spirit, as will render you grave, discreet, humble, generous, and worthy to be "greatly beloved." You may obtain direction and assistance for the many services requisite to be performed in the discharge of your ministry. You may fetch down unknown blessings on your flocks, and on the people at large for whom you are the Lord's remembrancers.

COTTON MATHER.

REVIEW.

The life of the Rev. THOMAS SCOTT, Rector of Aston, Sanford, Bucks, including a Narrative drawn up by himself, and copious extracts from his letters. By JOHN SCOTT, A. M. Vicar of North Ferriby, and Minister of St. Mary's, Hull. Boston.-S. T. Armstrong, and Crocker and Brewster; New-York-John P. Haven. 1822. 12 mo. pp. 454.

THE man who voluntarily takes upon himself the solemn vows of ordination to the work of the Gospel ministry, and declares that he believes himself "moved by the Holy Ghost to take that office upon❞ him, while he is yet unfacquainted with the very first principles of the religion he thus engages to teach, becomes indeed a "blind leader of the blind." Through the influences of divine grace, however, many such blind guides, and triflers with the majesty of heaven, after their entrance on the sacred employment, have been truly converted unto God, and have become eminently useful in the Lord's vineyard. Few individuals of this class have been more distinguished than the subject of the memoir before us, the pious and learned author of the commentary on the whole Bible.

Mr. Scott has been surpassed by few in the completeness of his

character as a Minister of the Gospel. Dr. Pearson, in a letter addressed to the author of this memoir, characterizes him as an "able and useful minister, who has long been a burning and shining light in the midst of" the church; a faithful and laborious pastor of unequalled "zeal and diligence, and serious concern for the eternal interests" of his people; as " a wise, upright, disinterested and affectionate counsellor, on whose judgment and integrity" his friends could always rely; and in his family "he was all that can be comprised in a great, good, kind and tender relative."

Mr. Wilberforce has said of him---" the labours of his pen, blessed be God, have been so widely circulated as entirely to supersede the necessity of any other testimony to the superiority of his intellectual powers, or to the soundness and extent of his religious wisdom !---" "Were I required to specify the particular Christian principles which shone most conspicuously in his character, I should mention his simplicity of intention, his disinterestedness, and his generous contempt of this world's wealth in comparison with those heavenly treasures on which his heart was supremely set."

We feel assured that no person can peruse this volume without the deepest interest, nor without magnifying the grace of God, which was so strikingly displayed in producing the great change which took place in the life of Dr. Scott. A considerable part of the memoir was written by Dr. S. himself, in 1812, and this is interspersed with copious extracts from his valuable correspondence, and excellent and appropriate observations by the author. It is not our design to enter into a critical analysis of the volume as a literary production, but to transcribe a few extracts which will be found interesting and edifying to our readers.

The work is divided into chapters, each embracing an interesting period of the Doctor's life. We quote from his own memoirs.

My father thus records the time and place of his birth. "I was born, (says Mr. S.) on the fourth of February, 1746-7, answering since the change of the style, and the beginning of another century, to February 16, 1747. A small farm-house at Braytoft, in Lincolnshire, was the place of my birth. Braytoft is five miles from Spilsby, and about six from Skegness,-where a well known bathing place has since been built; but where, in my remembrance, only one solitary public house existed, on the seashore." p. 14.

He was originally designed for the medical profession, and was sent to the grammar school at Scorton, in Yorkshire, of which the Rev. John Noble was head master: where, during a period of five years, he made considerable progress in his classical studies, at an expense for the whole time of less than one hundred pounds.

"When I arrived at Scorton, I was asked what Latin books I had read; and my answer induced the usher to overrate my proficiency, and to place me in a class much beyond my superficial attainments. This, however, stimulated me to close application; and it was not very long before I overtook my class-mates, and with ease accompanied them. Had I then been again pushed forward, I might have been excited to persevering diligence: but, as I could appear with tolerable credit without much application; partly by actual proficiency, and partly by imposing on Mr. Noble, under whose care I now came; my love of play, and my scarcity of money for self-indulgent expenses, induced me to divide a great proportion of my time between diversion and helping other boys in

Review. Dr. Scott.

their exercises, for a very scanty remuneration, which I lost in gaming, or squandered in gratifying my appetite.-Still, however, I made considerable progress, and should have been at the head of the school, had I continued in it another year. But one thing is remarkable, considering what has since taken place, that, while I could translate Latin into English, or English into Latin, perhaps more readily and correctly than any other boy in the school, I never could compose themes. I absolutely seemed to have no ideas, when set to work of this kind, either then or for some years afterwards; and was even greatly at a loss to write a common letter." p. 17.

Of the evils attending large public schools he thus remarks :

"I cannot quit the present subject, without observing the dire evils attending large public schools, where the boys are, for a very great part of their time, from under the eye of the master, however vigilant; and at a distance from parents and relations, and all whose presence would impose restraint upon them. Thus they are, in a great measure, left to devise and practise wickedness together; they embolden one another to break through the defence of natural modesty: they teach their juniors the vicious practices which they have learned from their seniors: they bestow pains to corrupt each other's principle; they often procure the vilest publications and by the help of indexes, and other means, they sometimes become better acquainted with the most indecent passages of the classic authors, than with their daily lessons. The most clever, daring, and wicked of the elder boys is the hero of the time being, whom all, that are near enough to him, envy, imitate, and emulate. When he leaves the school his most successful copyist takes his place; and the same scene is reacted again and again. Those who have money, purchase the company of such as are witty and entertaining: and not unfrequently they contract unsuspected habits of intemperance and licentiousness. Something may indeed be done, in many cases, to counteract these evils : but they are, in a great degree, inseparable from the system, and are very inadequately counterbalanced by superior advantages for the acquisition of classical learning." p. 19.

In September of 1762, Mr. Scott was apprenticed to a surgeon and apothecary at Alford, where his habit of attending church was interrupted, and most of his leisure time spent in an improper manner. At the end of two months he returned home in disgrace, though it appears his master, an unprincipled man, was much in fault. He spent the nine succeeding years with his father, where he endured many hardships and privations, and at last discovered that the provision which he might reasonably expect at his father's death, was intended for his brother.

"On this discovery, (says Mr. S.) I determined to make some effort, however desperate, to extricate myself: and I only waited for an opportunity to declare Without delay, my Greek grammar was studied through and my determination. through and I made what use I could of my Latin books: my father, in the mean-time, expressing his astonishment at my conduct.

"At length, in April, 1772, I avowed my intention, in almost the worst manner possible. After a long wet day of incessant fatigue, I deemed myself, and perhaps with justice, to be causelessly and severely blamed, and I gave full vent to my indignant passions; and, throwing aside my shepherd's frock, declared my purpose no more to resume it. That night I lodged at my brother's, at a little distance: but, in the morning, I considered that a large flock of ewes, in yeaning time, had no one to look after them, who was competent to the task. Itherefore returned, and did what was needful; and then set off for Boston, where a clergyman resided, with whom I had contracted some acquaintance, by conversing with him on common matters, when he came to do duty in my brother's village, and took refreshment at his house.

"To this clergyman I opened my mind with hesitation and trepidation: and nothing could well exceed his astonishment when he heard my purpose of attempt ing to obtain orders. He knew me only as a shepherd, somewhat more conversi

ble, perhaps, than others in that station, and immediately asked, 'Do you know any thing of Latin and Greek!' I told him, I had received education, but that for almost ten years I had never seen a Greek book, except the grammar. He instantly took down a Greek Testament, and put it into my hands; and without difficulty I read several verses, giving both the Latin and English rendering of them, according to the custom of our school. On this, having strongly expressed his surprise, he said, 'Our visitation will be next week; the archdeacon, Dr. Gordon, will be here; and, if you will be in the town, I will mention you to him, and induce him if I can, to send for you.' This being settled, I returned immediately to my father for the intervening days; knowing how much, at that season, he wanted my help, for services which he could no longer perform himself, and was not accustomed to intrust to servants." pp. 29, 30.

(To be continued.)

Entelligence.

WESTERN ASIA.-SAMARITAN JEW.

THE following conversation took place between Mr. Wolff, a Missionary in the employ of the London Jews' Society, and a Jew.

1 Dec. 29, 1821. Mr. Joseph Damiani introduced me to day to Israel, from Naplus, (Sichem,) Scrivano to a Turkish merchant at Jaffa. He is one of those few descendants of the Samaritans residing at Naplus. He received me with great cordiality; I addressed myself to him in the Hebrew tongue, he was only able to understand the expression Lasan hakodesh, (the holy language.) I asked him, namely, whether he speaks the holy language, (the Hebrew ;) he showed me three Samaritan manuscripts, the first contained the fourth part of the books of Moses, the second, a book called Mimar, old sermons of their priests, which he affirmed were above 1600 years old, and the third manuscript contained a catechism for the Samaritan youth, which consisted of the Ten Commandments of Moses; all these manuscripts were written in the Samaritan language, which I was not able to read. Israel is of an amiable countenance; another Samaritan was there beside him.

I. Do you sell these books?

Israel. No Samaritan will ever sell his books!

I. Are you in the possession of the Prophets and the Psalms of David?

Israel. We do not acknowledge any other prophet besides Moses, we do neither acknowledge Isaiah, nor Jeremiah, nor Ezekiel, nor the Psalms of David, nothing, nothing, nothing but the books of Moses, we despise likewise the Talmud and the Mishna. There is much to be found in the books of Moses, not every one is able to understand them nor can enter into the depth of them.

I. Why do you not believe in the Prophets?

Israel. Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you.

I. What do you think about Messiah, whether he is already come, or shall come?

He shall surely come, and his coming will be glorious, a