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But God hath chosen the fool- | ish things of the world, to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world, to confound the things which are mighty: And base things of the world, and things which are despised hath God chosen, yea and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.

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weak and ignorant of mankind, to the faith of Jesus? If such compose the great mass of believers, does it not seem rather to derogate from the divine efficacy and glory, which are ascribed to the gospel, when it is said to be, the wisdom of God, and the power of God, unto the salvation of believers? And does it not thence furnish the occasion which its adversaries wish, for attempting to discredit its divine origin, by alledging, that it is believed, chiefly, by persons, whose faith is the result of

T is conceived, by the writer of the following thoughts, that the construction, usually put upon these words, is not agree-weakness and credulity? In opable to sound reason, and the position to the construction here scriptures of truth. The words, considered, it is believed, that are called, at the close of the 26th the apostle has respect to the verse, were supplied, by the tran-instruments employed for spreaslators, and are not found in the ding the gospel, and establishing original text. These words be-the Christian church, when he ing added, the natural construc-speaks of the foolish things, which tion is, that no many of the wise, God had chosen, to confound the mighty and noble of mankind, wise, and the weak things, to are made subjects of divine grace, confound the mighty. By means and saved by the gopsel. It is of men who were not able to rehowever thought, that this, if it commend the religion of Jesus, were true in fact, was not the with excellency of speech, and thing intended by the apostle, in with arguments devised by men's these words. It was evidently wisdom, but by demonstration of his design, to adduce an argu- the Spirit, and of that divine ment, for illustrating the divine power, to which its efficacy must power of the gospel, and demon-be ascribed, its adversaries were strating the glory, which is due confounded. It was thence deunto God, on account of it. But monstrated, that what was stythis is not done, by the construc-led foolishness, by the pride of tion which has been generally put upon this passage. Does God confound the wise men of the world, by choosing the fool-adversaries could give no raish; and the mighty, by choos- tional, and satisfactory account ing the weak, the base and the of the extensive and surprising despised, and inclining them to effects, which they witnessed, embrace the gospel? Is there upon men of all classes, otherany tendency in his doing this, wise, than by acknowledging, to appreciate the power of the that the gospel, as it claimed to gospel, and the glory of the grace be, was the power of God, to thereby displayed, in its being salvation; and that it was in effectual, for proselyting the this view, wiser and stronger

philosophy, was wiser than men, and the weakness imputed to the gospel, stronger than men.

Its

than men.

But when folly and | own wisdom and strength; and for such as have embraced Christianity, to be ashamed of their own folly, weakness and credulity. But on the construction here suggested, the apostle's reasoning appears to be forcible, and highly interesting. In this view of it, he who glorieth, must glory in the Lord, for no flesh can find occasion for glorying in his presence.

weakness are predicated of the instruments employed, which is correct, considering them as plain and unlearned men, and thence incapable of persuading others to receive their testimony concerning Jesus, by the strength of arguments, which their reason could suggest, the inference naturally follows, that the excellency of the power, by which their preaching was rendered effectual, must be ascribed to God, and not to them. When, as the truth was, men of all sorts, as to natural and acquired abilities, were captivated into the obedience of Christ, and made to shew forth his praise, in lives of holiness, and that, by means of instruments, which were in themselves, confessedly

TROPHIMUS.

From the Religious Monitor.

Account of the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge.

IT has for some time been

weak, and altogether inadequate our wish to present our Readto the production of such migh-ers with an account of the anty and unheard of effects, it is obvious, that these must be ascribed to God; and that no flesh -neither the subjects of his grace, nor the instruments of communicating it, can have whereof to glory.

When, therefore, the apostle says, Ye see your calling, brethren, he must have respect to the means and instruments, by which they were called. An appeal to these was much better suited to confound the wise, the mighty, and noble of this world, in view of the amazing effects, produced by the gospel, than appealing to the comparative folly and weakness of the persons, on whom these effects were wrought; and admitting, at the same time, that men of opposite description were proof against them. The latter idea seems to furnish occasion for the wise, mighty, and noble, after the flesh, to glory in their

cient and venerable Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge. Accounts for this institution have from time to time been published by the Society themselves; but whether these accounts have been partially circulated, or have not been generally read; or whatever has been the cause, we have access to know, that some very erroneous ideas are entertained by many concerning the extent and expenditure of their funds.-We were happy therefore to find in the appendix to the last anniversary sermon, preached before the Corresponding Board in London, by the Rev. WILLIAM JAY of Bath, such an account of this excellent charity as suits our limits; while at the same, time it contains a distinct and correct statement of its rise, progress, and objects.It afforded us much pleasure in the perusal ;

and, we doubt not, will be read | shires, or provinces of great extent. Even at this day when the number of ministers is greatly increased, some of these parishes, which I have travelled through, are sixty miles in length by forty in breadth.Others of them consist of several islands detached from each other by miles, and in some cases by leagues of a boisterous sea.

with satisfaction by every sincere friend to religion and his country. It is part of a speech delivered by their worthy and active Secretary, the Rev. Dr. KEMP, to the Members and Benefactors of the Society in London, at their anniversary meeting in May last, (the Duke of Atholl in the chair) and published in the appendix, at the desire of the Society. In compliance with their request, as is noticed in an advertisement prefixed to the publication, the Doctor was induced to revise the few notes which he had previously made out, as the heads of what he ought to say; and to recollect as well as he could, what he did say on the occasion; and he is persuaded, as he states, that what is published contains, if not the words, at least the substance of his speech.

The parishes on the main land of the Highlands, are for the most part intersected by arms of the sea reaching far into the country, or by rapid rivers destitute of bridges, and in the winter generally impassible many of them by high mountains, which for months together are covered with snow; so that all intercourse is prevented between the several parts of the same parish, and of course, between the minister and the people, except in the district in which he happens to reside.

The body of the people were

ved in a great measure of the benefit of the instructions of their ministers, but were al most totally destitute of schools and seminaries for the education of their children.

-THE Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowl-by these means not only depri.. edge derived its existence from the benevolence of a few private gentlemen, who, in the begining of the last century, had made themselves acquainted with the melancholy condition of the inhabitants of the remote districts Few comparatively of the parof Scotland, and were deeply ishes in the Highlands and Islaffected by the profound igno- ands at that time enjoyed the rance and gross barbarism in benefit of parochial schools which they were buried. They (there are too many in the same found that these poor people situation at this day,) and of the were utterly destitute of almost few which had schools, the benall the means of knowledge and efit, from the causes I have alimprovement. The few Prote-ready mentioned, extended but stant ministers settled among to a small portion of the inhabthem, were thinly scattered o-itants. Add to these unfortuver an immence surface of rug-nate circumstances, that the langed country; divided indeed in-guage of the people was, and to parishes, and each provided still is the Gaelic, in which there with a Protestant minister, but were then no books, and though these parishes resembling rather there had, they could have been

of no use, for none of the peo-sembly of the Church of Scotple could read.

From these causes combined, it is certain, nor is it to be wondered at, that intellectual darkness, the grossest and most profound, brooded over this unhappy country, that its inhabitants were ignorant of the first principles of the Christian system, and that what notions they had of a religious nature were a mixture of popish and pagan superstition.

land, by repeated acts in succes-
sive years, recommended it to
the liberality of their people.
It was made known to Queen
Anne, of pious memory her
majesty's approbation of it was
published by a royal proclama-
tion in the year 1708; and in
1709, the Queen was graciously
pleased to issue her letters pas
tent, constituting the subscribers
a body corporate, by the name
and designation which they have
ever since borne. The objects
of the Society are defined in
their charter,
for raising

We may justly add, that these poor people were as ignorant of the arts of civilized, as they were of the principles of the religious" a voluntary contribution tolife; their minds were fierce,"wards the farther promotion and their manners barbarous." of Christian Knowledge, and The feuds of their clans were "the increase of piety and vir endless, and their quarrels bloo-"tue within Scotland, especially dy. They were plunderers of" in the Highlands and Islands the loyal and peaceful inhabi-" and remote corners thereof, tants of the low-lands of Scot-" where idolatry, superstition, land; and in general (for there" and ignorance, do mostly awere exceptions) they were hos-" bound, by reason of the largetile to the happy constitution of "ness of parishes and scarcity government established at the" of schools-giving and grantrevolution. Successive rebell-"ing to the Society full powers ions from that area to the" to receive subscriptions and year 1746, furnish melancholy" donations of money, and thereproofs of the justice of this last" with to erect and maintain assertion, and the then disposi-" schools to teach to read, espetion of the Highlanders. "cially the Holy Scriptures and

It was impossible that cultiva-" other good and pious books; ted and benevolent minds could" as also to teach writing, arithcontemplate without commise-"metic, and such like degrees ration, a people, and those their" of knowledge." own countrymen, in so unhappy The Subscribers and first a condition. The generous foun- Members of the Society were, ders of our Society pitied them, many of them, of the highest and formed a noble plan for rank and most distinguished chatheir relief. Their personal racters in Scotland. Permit me funds were narrow; but they to read from an authentic list, exerted them to the utmost.- published by authority, a few of They made known their inten- their names :-James, Duke of tions to the public;-they were Queensbury and Dover; John, approved; and numbers enter-Duke of Atholl (the great-granded heartily into the plan which father of our present noble they formed. The General As- Chairman); Daved, Earl of Bu

and, we doubt not, will be read | shires, or provinces of great ex-· tent. Even at this day when the number of ministers is greatly increased, some of these parishes, which I have travelled through, are sixty miles in length by forty in breadth. Others of them consist of several islands detached from each other by miles, and in some cases by leagues of a boisterous sea.

with satisfaction by every sincere friend to religion and his country. It is part of a speech delivered by their worthy and active Secretary, the Rev. Dr. KEMP, to the Members and Benefactors of the Society in London, at their anniversary meeting in May last, (the Duke of Atholl in the chair) and published in the appendix, at the desire of the Society. In compliance with their request, as is noticed in an advertisement prefixed to the publication, the Doctor was induced to revise the few notes which he had previously made out, as the heads of what he ought to say; and to recollect as well as he could, what he did say on the occasion; and he is persuaded, as he states, that what is published contains, if not the words, at least the substance of his speech.

The parishes on the main land of the Highlands, are for the most part intersected by arms of the sea reaching far into the country, or by rapid rivers destitute of bridges, and in the winter generally impassible →→→ many of them by high mountains, which for months together are covered with snow; so that all intercourse is prevented between the several parts of the same parish, and of course, between the minister and the people, except in the district in which he happens to reside.

The body of the people were by these means not only depri». ved in a great measure of the benefit of the instructions of their ministers, but were al most totally destitute of schools and seminaries for the education of their children.

THE Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge derived its existence from the benevolence of a few private gentlemen, who, in the begin ing of the last century, had made themselves acquainted with the melancholy condition of the inhabitants of the remote districts Few comparatively of the parof Scotland, and were deeply ishes in the Highlands and Islaffected by the profound igno- ands at that time enjoyed the rance and gross barbarism in benefit of parochial schools which they were buried. They (there are too many in the same found that these poor people situation at this day,) and of the were utterly destitute of almost few which had schools, the benall the means of knowledge and efit, from the causes I have alimprovement. The few Prote-ready mentioned, extended but stant ministers settled among to a small portion of the inhabthem, were thinly scattered o- itants. Add to these unfortuver an immence surface of rug-nate circumstances, that the langed country; divided indeed in-guage of the people was, and to parishes, and each provided still is the Gaelic, in which there with a Protestant minister, but were then no books, and though these parishes resembling rather there had, they could have been

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