soever comes to pass,he hath foreordained some things which he has forbidden; for it will not surely be denied that some things which are forbidden, have come to pass. If then we deny this distinction, to be consistent, we must give up the doctrine of foreordination altogether.

It is no contradiction to say that a thing may be in one sense agreeable to God's will, and in another sense, not agreeable to his will. Viewed in itself, it may be very undesirable; but viewed in connection with other things it may be very desirable. In itself considered, God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Punishment is his strange work. But all things considered it is his pleasure that the wicked should die; for "the day of vengeance is in his heart."

In itself considered, God has no pleasure in the afflictions of bis people; for “he doth not afflict willingly." But all things considered, it is his pleasure to afflict them; for "whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth."

In itself considered, God had no pleasure in the sufferings of his Son. But all things considered, it was his pleasure that his Son should suffer; for it pleased the Lord to bruise him.”

This distinction is very obvious; and without adopting it, it is impossible to reconcile different parts of the scriptures with each other, and the perfections of God with facts.

Selected for the Hopkinsian Magazine.

THE GOVERNMENT OF GOD.

[It may not be known to all our readers, that the religious observance of the fourth of July, began as early as the first anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. At that eventful period, when our Fathers still heard the confused noise of battle, and saw garments rolled in blood, and when the result of the arduous contest was known to Him only who seeth the end from the beginning; they felt their dependence upon the Supreme Governor of the world for success to their righteous cause, and humbly implored his protection and blessing. A similar spirit would lead their descendants to acknowledge, with fervent gratitude, their obligation to God for the confirmed possession and full enjoyment of their civil and religious rights and liberties. On no occasion, is religious homage more becoming a favored people, than on the anniversary of our Independence; and, on no occasion, are forgetfulness of God, noisy mirth, and bacchanalian riot, more unbecoming and monstrous, than on that memorable day of our nation's birth. The following is the introduction to Rev. Mr. GORDON's ser

mon before the Legislature of Massachusetts, on the fourth of July, 1777. The text is 1 Kings, xii. 15:- Wherefore the King hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the Lord." ED.]

"The sacred oracles enable us to solve many a difficulty in the ancient and modern history of the world. According to their doctrine, the Lord Jehovah, the Creator of the universe, governs all his works, whether material or immaterial, animate or inanimate, rational or irrational, men or angels, agreeable to an infinitely wise plan formed from the beginning; and brings to pass his own purpose, doing all his pleasure and causing his counsel to stand, amidst the various jarring devices of exalted, intelligent beings. He hath wisdom and strength. He hath counsel and understanding. He doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number. He setteth up on high those that be low; that those who mourn may be exalted to safety. He disappointeth the devices of the erafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.— He taketh the wise in their own craftiness; and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong. The deceived and the deceiver are his. He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools. He looseth the bond of kings, and breaketh the rod of the oppressor. He poureth contempt up on princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty. He taketh away the heart of the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way. He plucketh up, pulleth down, and destroyeth kingdoms. He buildeth and planteth and preserveth nations. In fine, his influence extends to all events, whether more or less important; so that each may work together, in its respective place, towards the accomplishment of that perfect scheme of universal government, which He hath projected.'

INTELLIGENCE.

RELIGIOUS.

Rev.

ONEIDA ASSOCIATION. This body held their stated semi-annual meeting on the 22d, 23d, and 24th of May, at Paris-Hill. On the 23d, they ordained to the work of the gospel ministry, Rev. Samuel Scott, of Lebanon, and Rev. Ebenezer D. Maltbie, of Hamilton. John Foote, of Madison, made the introductory prayer; Rev. Wm. R. Weeks, D. D., of Utica, preached the sermon from 1 Tim. iv. 16, and gave the charge; Rev. Daniel Latham, of Georgetown, made the ordaining prayer; and Rev. Asahel S. Norton, D. D., of Clinton, made the concluding prayer.

On the 24th, they licensed to preach the gospel, Mr. John Axtell, of Virgil; Mr. William B. Tompkins, of Madison, and Mr. Charles Simmons, of Paris.-W. Recorder.

AMERICAN HOME MISSIONARY-Expenditures and Receipts.-The amount actually paid out from the treasury during the year, including office rent, Secretary's salary, and all the incidental expenses of the Society, is $52,808 39, which is more by $5,550 79 than the payments of the previous year. Yet this amount, distributed among 509 missionaries and agents, would divide the average sum to each of only $103, and deducting the amount paid to several agents and to a number of missionaries in distant and frontier stations, who derive almost their whole support from the society, it affords not more than about $100 for each year of ministerial service actually performed.

MORAVIAN MISSIONS-Labrador.-The United Brethren have four missionary stations in Labrador, viz.: Nain, established in 1771, 60 years ago; Okkak, in 1776; Hopedale, in 1782; and Hebron, iu 1830. At Nain, are 111 communicants, and 11 candidates; at Okkak, 132 communicants, 20 candidates, and 42 baptized adults not yet communicants; at Hopedale, 71 communicants, and 10 candidates. From Hebron there is no return of numbers-general reports encouraging.

Greenland.-In Greenland, also, the Brethren have four stations, whose names follow, with the date of their origin: New Hernnhut, 1773; Lichtenfels, 1758; Lichtenau, 1744; Friedericksthal, 1224. At the first of these stations, are 162 communicants. At Lichtenau, 300 communicants.

OJIBEWAYS.-Mr. Boutwell, who is destined to the Ojibeway mission on Lake Superior, did not proceed with Mr. Hall immediately to La Pointe, but has spent the year at Mackinaw, and the Saut de Ste Marie, in order to avail himself of the greater advantages there offered for prosecuting his studies in that language.

BAPTIST TRIENNIAL CONVENTION.-The Baptist General Convention commenced its seventh triennial meeting in New York, on Wednesday, the 25th of April, and finished its business on the next Tuesday evening. We understand that a larger number of delegates were present than at any former meeting, 126 having been returned from 16 Siates. The business of the Convention is now Foreign Missions exclusively, and at no former period have its affairs worn an aspect so charming. The receipts of the last year, including the sums brought forward at the Convention, exceeded $43,000.

During the session, a Baptist Home Missionary Society was formed, the seat of its operations to be in New York.-Observer.

MORAL.

Extract from the 4th Report of the American Temperance Society: "From the best information the Committee have been able to obtain, they are led to conclude that there are now in the United States more than 4,000 Temperance Societies, containing more than 500,000 meinbers; that more than 4,000 merchants have ceased to traffic in ardent spirit; and more than 4,000 drunkards have ceased to use intoxicating drinks. There is also reason to believe that more than 20,000 persons are now sober, who, but for the Temperance Reformation, would now have been sots; and that 20,000 families are now in ease and comfort, without a drunkard in them, nor one who is becoming a drunkard, which would otherwise have been in poverty, or cursed with a drunken inmate; and that 50,000 children are released from the blasting influence of drunken parents; and 1,000,000 more from the parental influence which tended to make them drunkards. And there is reason to believe that thousands and thousands are mem

bers of Christian churches, rejoicing in the hope of the glory of God, who, but for this, had now been without hope and without God in the world."

SECULAR.

The following table shows the number of deaths in Paris from the cholera during the first 14 days in April:

AS IT SHOULD BE. We are glad to learn from the National Intelligencer, that the city authorities are going to apply the civil law to Houston and Heard. The Intelligencer says the Grand Jury for the County of Washington has found bills of indictment against Messrs. Houston and Heard, for assaults on Messrs. Stanberry and Arnold, with intent to kill. Heard is in jail, and Houston will undoubtedly be immediately arrested, unless he flees again to the Indian country. Courier.

AGENTS.

RHODE-ISLAND. Providence-Yates & Richmond, No. 3, Market square. Pawtucket, (North Providence)—Joseph McIntire, Bookseller.

New-BedAmherst

MASSACHUSETTS. Boston-Dea. James Loring, Bookseller, No. 132, Washington-street. Taunton-Deacon John Reed. ford-Stephen Potter. Reading-James Weston Jr. Thomas Hervy. Falmouth-Capt. Silas Weeks. CONNECTICUT. Ashford-Rev. Israel G. Rose. NEW-YORK. Paris-Charles Simmons. NEW-JERSEY. Newark.-Amos Holbrook.

All those ministers, who receive the Magazine, are authorized and requested to act as agents.

Published at Rehoboth Village. Mass. by Rev. Otis Thompson, Editor and Proprietor.

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Tracts.

& H. REED, Taunton, Mass. are agents for the American ⚫ and Doctrinal Tract Societies, and have a general assortment constantly for sale at their store nearly opposite the Taunton Bank..

Printing.

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Main street, near the Green."

June 30, 1881.

HOPKINSIAN MAGAZINE.

VOL. IV.]

July 31, 1832.

[NO. 10.

[We commend the following Sermon to the attentive perusal of our readers. It sheds light on a very important subject, respecting which, some distinguished Ministers seem, even to this hour, to be involved in palpable darkness. We think it one of the most valuable discourses we have received from the pen of the venerable Author.]

SERMON.

But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.-1 PETER i. 18.

en.

"

THE apostle Peter wrote this epistle to christians in general, throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, with a principal design to encourage and animate them to perform the duties and endure the trials of their pilgrimage on earth. Accordingly, he reminds them of their glorious hope of a future and eternal inheritance, reserved for them in heavHe next turns their attention to their absent and invisible Redeemer, whom they had professed to love, and in whom they supremely rejoiced. But to make them more sensibly feel their strong and endearing obligations to pass the time of their sojourning here in fear, he tells them that "they knew that they were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." The paschal lamb' was a type of Christ, and for this reason, when John saw Jesus coming to him, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God which taketli away the sin of the world." The paschal lamb was to be perfect, and without blemish. This was designed to denote the immaculate purity and moral perfection of the life of Christ. And this is what is meant in the text, by his being a lamb without blemish and without spot. But it is worthy of peculiar no tice here, that the apostle does not intimate to christians that they had been redeemed by his pure and spotless life, but by his precious blood, or vicarious death. It was not the perfect, unblemished form of the paschal lamb, that made the ceremonial atonement, nor was it the unblemished and unspotted