son, and its life into death; because it makes that very blood of CHRIST which "cleanses from all sin" the reason for men's" continuing in it," and that atonement which was the means of reconciling man to GoD, the pretended instrument of reconciling GoD to sin. It is indeed a perversion of truth, rather than a renunciation of it; and thus, because it connects itself with some vital doctrines, ill understood, and dangerously applied, it often misleads the unwary to rest upon a specious foundation, which, though composed of stones taken out of the quarry of the Scriptures, is made up of them so misplaced and unsupported, or so laid upon quicksands, that all who trust in it must be confounded." This heresy, therefore, is one which affects not the circumstances, but the essentials of religion; and all who hold it are on that account to be excluded from the fellowship of saints, as preaching and holding another gospel." Another it is; for in no essential principle do the two systems agree. Christianity exhibits GoD as " hearing not sinners; Antinomianism makes unconverted sinners the very children and favourites of GOD: Christianity makes the laws of morality perpetual; Antinomianism repeals them the former makes obedience to rest on absolute obligation; the latter on mere choice and gratitude: one proclaims CHRIST to be a Saviour from sin, the other a Saviour only from death: the former makes the HOLY GHOST & Sanctifier; the other rejects him under this character, denies him as the Spirit of Holiness, and admits his agency only as the Comforter. It follows therefore, from this, that the whole TRINITY is presented to us under a character opposed to that revelation which has been made of each Person in the Gospel; and that Christianity itself is not exhibited as a scheme of effective moral restoration, but as a provision for taking a chosen few out of the range of the moral government of GOD, for giving them the licence of transgression, for indulging an extravagant favouritism towards them, for maintaining the laws of God in full force as to the reprobate, and repealing them as to those purchased by CHRIST, and thus for making CHRIST "the minister of sin." This is the gospel of the Antinomians; and if it is with reference to the preaching of the Apostle PAUL, "another gospel," then ought we to receive neither it nor them into the common fellowship of saints, but proclaim to the world that they have no "part with us." In Plymouth and the West of England these awful perversions of the Gospel, joined with a disgusting coarseness and cant of manner, have, we understand, long been propagated by two Ministers of the Established Church, to the great injury of many and the effect has been not only to mislead ignorant and simple people, to entangle their minds with sophistry, and to lull them into the slep of carnal security; but also to render what is called "evangelical preaching" in the Church an object of great abhorrence, to those whose common sense has been justly offended by these extravagancies, but whose theological discernment has not been sufficient to enable them to distinguish between the evangelism of the Scriptures, and that which has assumed the Antinomian character. Against these pestilential errors, MR. COTTLE bas written, in the main, a very sensible and interesting book; and the quotations he has given from the writings and sermons of the Plymouth teachers of this unhallowed heresy, quite as much as his own remarks, exhibit its silliness, and, on minds besotted enough to receive it, its mischievous tendency. STRUTT'S Common-Place Book to the Holy Scriptures. Second Edition: considerably enlarged. 8vo. 10s. 6d. Scientia Biblica: Being a Copious Collection of Parallel Passages, printed in Words at Length, for the Illustration of the New Testament: Together with the Text at Large, in Greek and English, the Various Readings, and the Chronology: Parts I. to XII., at 3s. each, or on Royal Paper, 5s.-We once intended to have deferred our notice of this work till the period of its completion, which would have enabled us to do fuller justice to our impressions of its merit and importance. But, on reflection, we have resolved to give immediate publicity to our testimony in favour of its utility; because those who engage in expensive undertakings of this kind have really a just claim to be supported and enconraged by general patronage, not merely at the close, but during the course, of their valuable labours. The plan of this work is sufficiently apparent from its tidepage; and, as far as we have had the time to examine it, it seems to be most respectably executed. The "New Tes tament with References set under the Text in words at length, &c., by FRANCIS Fox, M. A., Vicar of Pottern," published in 1722, in 2 vols. 8vo., has long been deservedly esteemed by those who were able to obtain a copy, as calculated to save much time and labour to Theological Students, and to Christian Ministers. The present publication is constructed on the same leading principle; but is, in various respects, a great im provement on its predecessor. Two Volumes are now finished, and a Third (or about Six additional Parts) will complete the work. To the Preachers of our Connexion, both Itinerant and Local, we heartily recommend it, as furnishing to them, in their Study of the Scriptures, and their preparations for the Pulpit, the same sort of compendious assistance, which (to borrow the illustration of a cotemporary Journalist) "a Ready Reckoner affords to a Tradesman." The exercise of a sober and discriminating judgment will, of course, be required, in the use of this, as well as of every other Work which contains a large Collection of Parallel Passages. But it was better to be too copious than too sparing of References, that so every reader might have the means of judging for himself; especially as, by the peculiar plan of the Book, he has only the trouble of inspecting at one view, without turning for them to many different parts of his Bible, the texts submitted for his selection. We trust that the great labour of the Compiler will be suitably appreciated and rewarded by the countenance of the Christian Public. CHRISTIAN RETROSPECT ΤΟ THOSE WHO FEAR GOD, ON OF GENERAL OCCURRENCES, INTERESTING AND HAPPINESS. (To be continued occasionally.) No. XIX. DEBATES IN PARLIAMENT ON THE TRIAL OF THE LATE REV. JOHN SMITH, MISSIONARY.-SLAVE-TRADE PIRACY BILL.-ABOLITION OF THE INTERCOLONIAL SLAVE-TRADE. REVENUE-OATHS. MR. SMITH.-The case of the late MR. SMITH, Missionary of the London Society in Demerara, has occupied the attention of the House of Commons for two nights, in a lengthened and animated discussion. Our opinion was some time ago intimated, after the perusal of the printed minutes of the evidence adduced on his trial, and other documents. We considered him then as the victim of persecution, and both morally and legally innocent; and all that passed in the recent debates upon MR. BROUGHAM'S motion, has tended abundantly to confirm us, and we believe the country at large, in that impression. This case, so interesting to every friend, not only of Missions, but of civil and religious liberty, being now closed, we feel it our duty to offer a few remarks. 1. In the first place, we may point it out as a very cheering instance of the progress of right feeling in the country and the Legislature, that the cause of this oppressed Missionary has attracted so much attention, and called forth so deep a feeling of commiseration as to his wrongs, and so explicit and emphatic a denunciation of that injustice, and defiance of the principles of law, which were involved in the proceedings against him. It is a proof both of the important place which Missions have now assumed in questions of colonial policy, and of the influence attached to their operations. By some, that influence is foolishly dreaded; by others, hated and scoffed at ; and by others, cheered and patronized. In every view, an impression has been made; and wise and able men, of all parties, have not been wanting to do justice to the motives of Missionaries, and to advocate the utility of their labours. 2. The indecent triumph of the enemies of Missions has, by the discussions which have taken place, re ceived a salutary, and, we may hope, in its consequences, an effectual check. The guilt of MR. SMITH was eagerly assumed both in the West Indies, and by many who belong to the West Indian interest at home; and if this had been all, the proneness to alarm, which persons connected with slave-property naturally feel, an evil inseparable from the system of slavery, might have palliated it. But, unhappily, the passions which it called forth car ried with them a heat and violence, and in many cases a malignity and rancour, which showed that they but stirred up and made visible principles and feelings on the subject of the religious instruction of the slaves, which Party found no advocate, and no patronage. The cause of Missions to the slaves, has, therefore, come out of this conflict bright and unspotted. some hoped had become extinct, but which that affair has only proved to have lain dormant. Had it been otherwise, the assumption of MR. SMITH'S guilt would have been accompanied 3. A great part of the debate was with regret that a Christian Minister occupied in discussions on points, had so far departed from his duty: but which called forth much acute and an outcry was raised against all "Mis- able reasoning from the Legal Memsionaries, "all" sects," all" saints," and bers of the House. The legality of all "religion; "-arguments against the proceeding at all by Court Marall instruction, all amelioration, all tial was a question of common inreligious interference with slaves, terest to the country at large, as well were drawn from it; the very tone as to Missionaries, and Missionary of, we regret to say, many, at home Societies. We enter not now into and abroad, showed that they even that; but content ourselves with rejoiced in the occurrence, and hoped saying, that the illegality of MR. that the proved guilt of one Missionary SMITH's trial was very triumphantly would be the signal for the persecu- established. The bearing of this tion and expulsion of the whole body. mode of trial on MR. SMITH's innoIn Demerara, the wish to prove MR. cence was, however, very important; SMITH guilty, on some such general and equally so, whether it be regardfeeling and prejudice as this, has been ed, in point of form, as legal or illegal. made sufficiently apparent; and the By a Court Martial he was tried; anxiety to stretch the case with the and we pass over the exceptions as utmost severity against him, which to fairness and justice, which were has been evinced by others, can be taken in the debate to the conduct traced to no other principle. These of the legal members of that Court, facts are most melancholy and affect- on what appear to us very substantial ing. The contempt which has been grounds: he met certainly with no manifested towards slaves, when re- favour, and probably expected none. garded as the objects of religious If that had been otherwise; if there care; the hostility which has been had been a full exemplification of displayed to their instructors; the that merciful principle of our law, rage and violence with which the that "the Judge is always supposed religious and benevolent part of the to be on the prisoner's side," instead nation have been assailed; and even of the utter absence of it; if his trial the sanguinary feelings of many of had been a calm and fair investigathe colonial prints, and of some at tion, instead of a real and almost home, which are under the influence undisguised persecution;-yet it is of the worst part of the West In- to be recollected, that he was tried dians, and in their interest; may be by a Court Martial, by the constiranked among the greatest moral dis- tution of which, the evidence of graces of the age, and of our country. slaves is admitted. Now whether But the discussions in Parliament the evidence of slaves be admitted have powerfully rebuked this feel in Demerara in the regular courts or ing. The loud triumph over a Mis- not, matters nothing to the case, as sionary, supposed to be inculpated, is it is thus brought before us. Here silenced. On both sides of the House it was admitted; and on this eviof Commons, the criminality of MR. dence, the whole weight of the proSMITH was in the end nearly given secution rested; on the evidence of up; the Government itself, though persons but imperfectly acquainted determined to resist MR. BROUGHAM'S with the meaning of English words, motion, through its organ, MR. CANNING, who moved the previous question, imputed little more than an error in judgment, and an excess of feelings not in themselves wholly inexcusable, to this victim of colonial hostility to Negro-Instruction: and throughout the debate, the prejudices and rancour of the Anti-Mission on the evidence of persons with respect to whom the Legislature of our country is but just opening, and that very cautiously, the privilege of giving evidence, to whom that privilege is refused, in all cases, where influence may be supposed to be exerted over them by virtue of their condition, and who, in this instance, had the gibbet suspended over their heads, or were liable to a thousand lashes on their backs. Now the fact that, under all these circumstances, no evidence could be brought out, direct and hearsay all taken together, which would enable a Minister of the Crown, though contending against MR. BROUGHAM's motion, to fix on MR.SMITH any thing serious, beyond a mistaken view, or error of judgment, without criminal intention, is really such a justification of him as could not be made more complete. But even this error of judgment, which MR. CANNING dwelt upon, as involving MR. SMITH in some degree of culpability, was charged upon him by an oversight of the facts of the printed evidence, as MR. BROUGHAM, in his reply, clearly pointed out:-it was not some hours before the revolt commenced, that MR. SMITH received the mysterious letter, which indicated that "something wrong was going forward," but three hours after; and in half an hour, from that time, the tide of insurrection had rolled to his very doors. The only charge which was at all plausible, that of concealment, has been most satisfactorily removed; and, indeed, by MR. CANNING substantially given up. 4. The issue of the whole, though MR. BROUGHAM's motion was not adopted, has been, not to fix any thing upon MR. SMITH, but merely to screen the Court Martial from Parliamentary censure; that is, formally to screen them, for even the carrying of the motion could scarcely have made the censure more weighty, upon proceedings so obviously unjust. In the first debate, indeed, it would appear from the speech of the UnderSecretary for the Colonial Department, that it was intended to defend the Court Martial, at least, from ill intentions, by sustaining the charge of misprision of treason against MR. SMITH, and on this ground to meet MR. BROUGHAM's motion with a direct negative. The unfair arguing, and strained presumptions, necessary for this end, were evidently ill received by the House; and the milder measure of moving the "previous question," which, by those who understand Parliamentary tactics, is known to be a method of escaping from a subject without giving a decided opinion, was resorted to. This caught all those Members who were averse to the agitation of the subject: but after all, a larger majority voted for the motion than has been commanded by any subject since the commencement of the Session,-and a majority comprising such names, such talent, and such independence, as renders the result equal, in its moral effect and public impression, to a formal triumph. Indeed the speech of MR. CANNING, who moved the previous question, contains many passages which do him and the Ministry great credit. Government, it is clear, in obliging MR. SMITH to enter into recognizances, when they reversed the sentence of the Court Martial, had hastily and inconsiderately, in doing what they probably conceived to be an act of prudence, recognized its legality. This, at a subsequent period, we are persuaded, would not have been done; but, being done, it became a point of honour to resist a motion which implied, though it did not express, some censure upon themselves. To palliate what could not be fully defended, and to resort to those artifices of debate, which all parties practise on pinching occasions, thus became necessary. This is obvious in many of the Speeches : but though MR. CANNING employed all his adroitness and power to carry the previous question, this justice is to be done him, that he upheld, in the most explicit manner, the principle of the necessity of religious instruction for the colonies as the foundation of all civil improvement; affirmed that Government would persevere in its plans for ameliorating the condition of the Slaves; and pledged himself that all attempts at religious persecution should be resisted and put down. These explicit declarations were well timed, and the effect, we doubt not, will be to abate that blind and perverse hostility to Missions, which has placed such enterprises in the West Indies, of late, in so much anxiety and jeopardy. That there is a disposition, in some of the islands, to resist the Government as well as the Missionaries, has been made sufficiently apparent. In Barbadoes this was actually the case; and the Noble Colonial Secretary himself would have been in little better circumstances than MR. SHREWSBURY, if he had been present at the same juncture. This kind of contest must, however, finally subside; and we shall hail the return of reason and tranquillity among the infatuated part of the colonists, whose violent passions, speeches, and writings, alone can endanger the tranquillity of the islands, and put their own interests to hazard. On the whole, we may regard the termination of this melancholy affair as an event from which good and not evil will arise.-A sad proof has been exhibited of hostility to the principles of Christianity, and to a worthy Minister of it. The facts of the harsh and unmanly treatment of, that Minister and his wife, during their imprisonment, and the rancour which followed MR. SMITH after his death, are awful instances of perverted feelings; and well might they call forth the denunciations of a noble and indignant eloquence in the House of Commons: but still, the character of the persecuted man, and the cause of Missions, have triumphed. The enemies of religion cannot now point to MR. SMITH'S case as an instance of mischievous and rebellious conduct; and their argument against Missions, drawn from it, is gone. It has been shown that injustice and persecution cannot now, as formerly, take place in the colonies, without engaging the attention, and calling forth the interposition, of the country and the Legislature; a shield more ample is thrown around innocence and pious charity; and Government has again declared its resolution to persevere prudently, but firmly, in its course of enlightening and improving the condition of the Negro-Population. We have, all along, considered MR. SMITH's trial as a Trial of Christianity, rather than of a single Missionary. It was a crime that Christianity did not, for instance, allow the breach of the Sabbath; and it was viewed in a most serious light, that MR. SMITH prohibited the slaves from working on that day for their own benefit, as containing a tacit reflection upon their masters, whose violation of it was notorious, and who compelled their slaves to violate it too! Even by one speaker in the debate, we regret to say, this was charged upon MR. SMITH as a fault. In a subsequent conversation in the House of Commons, this subject was fairly met and properly stated by MR. BUTTERWORTH. If Missionaries are to be tried for not teaching a mutilated Christianity, a morality accommodated to general practice, then all faithful Missionaries, of every denomination, deserve trial as much as MR. SMITH; for he is an unfaithful Minister, who gives a softened version to any of the commands of GOD. It is by keeping up the rule, that the practice must be elevated, and by that only. "The truth" must be spoken, as the Apostle has it, "in love," but still it must be spoken; and whatever suffering follows from that, is suffering for the truth, which is glory and not shame, and by it the cause of truth and righteousness, though it may encounter temporary inconveniences, will be made ultimately triumphant. To those distinguished Members of Parliament, who brought forward the proceedings in Demerara against MR. SMITH, and exhibited their injustice, and their disgraceful violation of all the principles of British justice, the thanks of the country generally, and of the religious public particu larly, who have a special interest in the protection of Missions and of Missionaries, are eminently due. The debate was conducted on the merits of the question, free from any admixture of party politics; and the cause of equity and humanity was never more ably or more earnestly advocated. The effect of this manly attempt to rescue the character of the country from the shame of this transaction cannot be lost, because it has carried the feeling and the honest principles of the nation with it; and the evasion which lost the motion has only confirmed the common sentiment, by tacitly acknowledging that the whole conduct of the Local Government of Demerara was indefensible. Much has been gained by turning the attention of the public to the character of the colonial adminis |