the work of the Ministry. Sermon by Professor Fitch, of Yale College. Dec. 9. The Rev. JAMES KANT, as Pastor of the Church at Trumbull, Conn. and the Rev. ALANSON BENEDICT, as a Missionary. Sermon by the Rev. Mr. Hewit, of Fairfield. UNITED STATES. PUBLIC AFFAIRS. THE NINETEENTH CONGRESS met on 5th of December. The President's Message is a document of some length, and contains the elements of much discussion. We shall notice it with as much particularity as may be consistent with the limits we are accustomed to assign to subjects of this nature. In the condition and prospects of our country as exhibited by the President, we have abundant cause for satisfaction and for gratitude to God. Looking beyond our own country also, we find much to gratify us both as Americans and as Christians-as Christians, in the tranquillity of most of the nations of Europe, and as Americans, in the increasing force and prevalance of those principles among them which are essentially American in their tendency. "There has, indeed, rarely been a period in the history of civilized man, in which the general condition of the Christian Nations has been marked so extensively by peace and prosperity. Europe, with a few partial and unhappy exceptions, has enjoyed ten years of peace, during which her Governments, whatever the theory of their constitutions may have been, are successively taught to feel that the end of their institutions is the happiness of the people, and that the exercise of power among men can be justified only by the blessings it confers upon those over whom it is extended." Passing over a considerable portion of the Message respecting the commercial interests of the United States, we come to the proposed Congress at Panama. To this meeting the republics of Colombia, Mexico, and Central America have deputed their plenipotentiaries, and have invited the United States to be represented there by their ministers. The invitation, the Presi tran dent states, has been acc ministers will be commissioned to attend at those deliberations, and to take part in them, so far as may be compatible with that neutrality to which it has been the uniform policy of the United States to adhere. An unequivocal indication of our national prosperity, is the flourishing state of our finances. The revenue has not only been sufficient for the current expenses of the year, but has contributed eight millions of dollars to wards the liquidation of the national debt-which debt is about eighty one millions. The objects to which the national funds have been appropriated are summarily exhibited in the following extract. "More than a million and a half has been devoted to the debt of gratitude to the warriors of the revolution: a nearly equal sum to the construction of fortifications, and, the acquisition of ordnance, and other permanent preparatives of national defence: half a million to the gradual increase of the navy: an equal sum for purchases of territory from the Indians and payment of annuities to them: and upwards of a million for objects of internal improvement authorized by special acts of the last Congress. If we add to these our millions of dollars for payment of interest upon the public debt, there remains a sum of about seven millions, which have defrayed the whole expense of the administration of government, in its legislative, executive, and judiciary departments, including the support of the military and naval establishments, and all the occasional contingencies of a government co-extensive with the union." Our Government has always been commended for its cheapness. The Black Book,' a singular production which some time since obtruded itself upon the dignitaries of England, civil and ecclesiastical, among many other things relating to places, pensions, sincures, &c. contains a "comparative statement of the salaries of different officers in America and England." The result of this statement may be seen in the following summary. £15,680 But we cannot dwell particularly on all the topics touched upon by Mr. Adams. Among the most important may be mentioned the organization of the militia, the military occupation of the Oregon, the establishment of a naval school, corresponding with the Military Academy at West-Point, the es tablishment of a national university, and connected with it, or separate 27,600 from it, the erection of an astronomi3,600 cal observatory, a uniform standard of weights and measures, a new executive £46,880 department, for home affairs, surveys, roads, canals &c. In a word the message developes an extended and liberal system of internal improvement. £816,600 95,250 30,000 £941,850 The services therefore,' says the writer, which cost the United States £46,000, cost old England £900,000.' Considering however the more extended relations of England, and her greater complexity of interests requiring able hands to manage them, both at home and abroad, it must be admitted that this is not a perfectly fair comparison. The general post-office furnishes another indication of our national growth and prosperity. One thousand and forty new post-offices have been established during the last two years, ending in July, and the increase of the transportation of the mail during the same term has exceeded three millions of miles. The receipts of the department for the year, instead of falling short, as in former years, exceeded the expenditures by more than forty-five thousand dollars. We are glad to find the subject of a uniform system of bankruptcy recommended, thus early in the session, to the attention of Congress. No subject of legislation is more difficult than this. To remedy all the evils contemplated by such a system, and at the same time to secure its benevolent provisions from abuse, is not easily accomplished by any law which can be framed for the purpose. And yet no subject calls for legislation more urgently than this. The bankrupt laws of individual States, have been adjudged unconstitutional by the United States' Court, and thus the unfortunate debtor has been deprived of the benefit of existing laws without a substitute being provided: suspense and embarrassment are the consequence. We rejoice that the interests of science and literature are not overlooked in this system. As to a nonal university, however, our views of its expediency would vary with the plan to be adopted. If one of its features be, that it is to have no religious worship, like the University of Virginia, we should prefer to see the result of the experiment already in progress before another is commenced on a more important scale. The Senate consists of forty-eight members, and the House of Representatives of two hundred and thirteen. The Rev. Dr. Staughton, President of the Columbian College, is chaplain of of the former, and the Rev. Mr. Post, of the Presbyterian church, chaplain of the latter. SOUTH AMERICA. -The castle of San Juan d'Ullua, the last hold of the Spanish in the republic of Mexico, surrendered on the 22d of November. The garrison was reduced to this measure by the want of provisions. A treaty of perpetual union, league, and confederation between the republics of Colombia and Mexico was published at Mexico on the 20th of September. The parties agree to solicit their sister republics to join the confederacy and to send plenipotentiaries to the congress at Panama. It is proposed that this congress shall meet statedly. Its objects are " to confirm and establish intimate relations between the whole and each one of the states; to serve as a council on great occasions; a point of union in common danger; a faithful interpreter of public treaties, in cases of misunderstanding; and as an arbitrator and conciliator of disputes and differences." An expedition of considerable magnitude is fitting out at Carthagena for the invasion of Cuba. Troops amounting to fifteen or twenty thousand are said to be at Panama, waiting for the transports to be ready, which are to convey them from Porto Bello to Carthagena. It is generally expected, from the state of affairs in Cuba and the revolutionary disposition of the inhabitants, that its conquest will be easy. The Provinces of Charcas, La Paz, and Potosi, and several districts of Upper Peru, have declared themselves to be a free, sovereign, and independent State. The Declaration of Independence was signed on the 6th of August, 1825, by Deputies from 47 Provinces and Districts. The rights of self government are vindicated in the declaration; and they pledge themselves to observe the sacred duties of honor; to protect life, liberty, equality, and property, and to maintain unalterably, the Holy Roman Catholic Religion. Bolivar has added fresh significancy to his title of Liberator, by a decree published at Cuzco, July, 4th, for the emancipation of the Indian population of Peru. The arbitrary exactions to which these injured people have been subjected, and especially the cruel manner in which they have been compelled to work in the mines of Potosi, from the first occupation of the country by the Spaniards, has long been known to the world. By the decree of Bolivar they are henceforth exempted from their burthens, and raised to the rank of citi TO READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS. ALUMNUS; ALEPH; L. N. J., and several other communications, have been received. P. and Φιλαλήθης will be considered. We have taken the liberty to transfer an "Address to Female Youth" to the Editor of the Guardian, as being, from the nature of it, more suited to that work than to the Christian Spectator. It will probably appear there unless the author shall direct otherwise. Owing to an unusual pressure of business at the printing-office, and to other circumstances which we could not control, we must again apologize for the unseasonable appearance of the Christian Spectator. It is hoped that no occasion will exist for a similar apology hereafter. Errata. In some copies, p. 22, in the second and third lines of the poem, for when read where; and on p. 23, line 32, for told read toll'd. These errors were marked in the proof, but escaped correction till a part of the edition had been struck off. The author of the piece is requested to excuse them. THE CHRISTIAN SPECTATOR. No. 2.] [1826, For the Christian Spectator. FEBRUARY. RELIGIOUS. WHAT DO THE SCRIPTURES TEACH RESPECTING THE FUTURE CONDITION OF THE JEWS? THE Jews have from the beginning been a peculiar people; peculiar as it regards their national character, and as it regards the objects to be accomplished by their national existence. They are at present, as is well known, dispersed among the nations of the earth; are rejecters of Christ and his religion; and are suffering in many ways the righteous displeasure of God. Now, do the scriptures point out any change which is to be effected in their condition; and, if any, in what will that change consist? The scriptures very clearly and decidedly teach, that the Jews will be converted to the Christian religion. "God hath not cast away his people." "Blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved." (Rom. ii. 2. 25, 26.) Indeed the Redeemer cannot reign over the nations of the earth, according to multiplied promises of scripture, without including the Jews among his subjects. But will the Jews, after their conversion to Christianity, be restored to any of their former pecu liar distinctions? suppose that the Jews, in connexion with their conversion, will be gathered from their dispersions, and be restored to the land of Palestine, and exist a community by themselves; and that they will hold a peculiar place in the divine favour, and be raised to a peculiar eminence, above all the other nations of the earth. Others suppose that the scriptures promise only their conversion to Christianity, leaving their outward condition undetermined. The opinion that the Jews will be restored to Palestine, and as a nation be peculiarly favoured of heaven, has been supposed to be very clearly taught by the prophets. A declaration found in Amos has been considered as relating to this subject. "And I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them, and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord thy God." (Ch. ix. 14, 15.) In connexion with this passage, God says that he will "raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and build it as in the days of old;" and cause his people to "possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen." (ver. 11, 12.) Similar representations are given in Isaiah. The prophet, having mentioned that there was to be a root out of Jesse, to stand as an ensign of the people; and that the Gentiles should seek unto it, and find its rest glorious;-thus pointing out, as is generally supposed, the Christian dispensation-adds, "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time, to recover the remnant of his people." He says that they shall be brought from Egypt, and Pathros, and Cush, and Elam, and Shinar, and Hamath, and the islands of the sea -and from the four corners of the earth. They shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them. And in the accomplishment of this, God shall destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and shall smite the river in its seven streams, and make men go over dry-shod. (Chap. xi. 10-16.) Many other passages of the same general import may be found in the writings of the prophets. But the two now mentioned are probably sufficient to serve as a specimen, and to show in what light the whole should be viewed. I do not here enter into the inquiry, how many of these passages relate to events which took place soon after the passages were written. This is an inquiry, however, which merits serious consideration. But I shall allow, in the present discussion, that the declarations of scripture which have been adduced, and others of the same general nature, do relate to that restoration of the Jews which is yet to take place. Are these declarations, then, and others similar to them, to be interpreted literally, or are they to be understood in a figurative sense? It will probably be admitted by all, that these and similar passages contain some expressions which will not allow of a literal interpretation, The most strenuous advo cate for Israel's restoration to Canaan, will hardly contend that the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down, will be literally raised up and rebuilt, as in former days: or that the Jews will literally possess the remnant of Edom and of all the heathen-be masters of the whole world. He will hardly contend that, in the restoration of this people, God will again literally divide the Red Sea; or literally dry up the rivers, and make men go over dry-shod. In these representations probably all will admit, that future blessings are promised under imagery drawn from past events. There are other promises couched in similar language, which, it is equally evident, must be interpreted in the same way. Thus, after it is said that the Gentiles shall come to Zion's light-after the establishment of the Christian dispensation, and the conversion of the world,-God promises that the flocks of Kedar, and the rams of Nebaioth, shall come up with acceptance on his altar. (Is. lx. 3. 7.) Who believes that the altars, and sacrifices, and other rites of ancient Jewish worship, are to be literally re-established under the Christian dispensation? Who does not see that the blessing promised is spiritual in its nature; and that the language, borrowed from the established forms of worship at that time, must be interpreted in a figurative sense? Let any one also read the last nine chapters of Ezekiel's prophecy. There he will find the future glory of Israel set before him. They inhabit a great city, with a magnificent temple. They have altars, and priests, and sacrifices. They have all the ceremonies and observances of the Mosaic dispensation. The land of Canaan is divided among their twelve tribes; and the whole economy of the nation is established precisely as it was in the days of their former prosperity. |