happier days than those" spent at whose suffrage he solicits, while he | are assured they "must not expect degrades himself by presenting them with something which is not his best. In perusing the book, our attention was arrested by two or three slight mistakes. In a work of less merit, and a more limited circulation, abounding, perhaps, with errors, of which these might have been the least, we should not have noticed them. The task would then have been too formidable. To correct the errors of some publications, would be like "washing Ethiops fair." The first mistake to which we allude occurs in p. 108, where Laura says, "I hope I am in some degree aware, how important it is to acquire habits of attention and command of the thoughts now, while habits either good or bad are so easily formed." That all habits are more easily formed while we are young than at an advanced period in life, is granted; but, that good habits are ever easily formed, is not quite so evident. Nothing, we apprehend, is so easy for a depraved creature as to be just precisely what he should not be. Another is found in p. 114, where Mrs. Taylor observes, that "the most effectual way of obtaining the approbation of our fellow-creatures, and the only way to insure that of our own conscience and of God, is to be what we wish others to think us;" and adds, we conceive, unadvisably, that the reality is generally as attainable as its counterfeit." Now we were thinking, that Laura, with the assistance of her friend, Grace Dacre, might, in her next letter to Mrs. Taylor, have examined her a little upon their new plan of thought-making." She might have said, But do you not think, mama, that a person may easily be a hypocrite? Now I was thinking, it could not be so easy to be a Christian; not unless it were as easy to obtain a clean heart and a right spirit, pure motives, and heavenly pursuits, as it is to reform, and, in some respects, to beautify the external conduct, while the inward man be defiled and paralized by that moral putrefaction and death which inherit in our nature.' The last appears in p. 132, where young people We have gone through this volume with great pleasure, and have been unusually affected by it. If any of our readers can peruse some parts of it without an indescribable thrill, perceiving the tear ready to start in their own eye, while they see it glisten in hers, we will not envy them. They must, in that case, however, possess more sense, or less sensibility, than even a reviewer. They may, indeed, congratulate themselves on its being attributable to the former, while we may be allowed to query, whether it ought not, in justice, to be imputed to the latter. To the Editors of the Buptist Magazine. State of the Baptists in the Valley of Moutier. FEW communications in the various periodical publications of the I have met with. He was a member of the established, or Presbyterian religion; but as the object of our walk naturally led to the topic, he observed, (without my suggesting it, or intimating my sentiments,) that he thought unifor mity of religious opinion was not to be among those of the same communion. expected, and could scarcely exist even day are, I believe, read with so much interest as those that come under the denomination of religious intelligence, and detail either the exertions employed for the diffusion of religious knowledge, or the situation of Christians in different parts of the world. Having lately read in a publication entitled “Let-This he illustrated by the remark, that ters descriptive of a Tour on the Contineut in 1816," an account of the Anabaptists (as our author calls them, I dare say you will think improperly) in the Valley of Moutier, I take the liberty of sending you the following extract, the insertion of which will, I have no doubt, interest your readers. The author, Mr. John Sheppard, seems a lowly Christian traveller, and has presented to the public much interesting information, conveyed in a very pleasing manner; while the general reflections that occur are quite in the spirit and tone of genuine Christianity. It no animal of the same race, or tree of the same species, or even a leaf of the same tree, was exactly like another. He censured Voltaire as an atheist, and Rosseau as a politician who condemned existing governments, without devising a better. He had never thought Buonaparte a great man, or his successes likely to be lasting; because, said he, la Provi dence peut dormir quelquefois, mais tốt ou tard elle se reveille. ["Though Providence may sometimes sleep, yet at last she will awake."] He applauded Fre derick the Great of Prussia, and when I mentioned his infidelity, (of which the peasant did not seem fully apprised,) he observed, Yes, but he tolerated all rewill be to you no disrecommenda- ligions.' It did not appear that this tion at least of his work to know, as person had ever quitted his native valley; we learn from the extract before us, he was advanced in years, and observed that he holds the same opinion with how enviable was the lot of my servant, yourselves on the subject of bap-various countries in his youth. who enjoyed an opportunity of visiting tism, though this, I think, is the only occasion on which this ap pears. W.I. We found on the mountain a brother of the preacher whom we sought, employed in mowing. He regarded me with a good deal of fear or suspicion; the interrogation of a stranger very naturally awakening in his simple mind the ideas of espionage and persecution. Neither could he, I believe, have given a clear account of their faith, even had I been able to understand his patois [dialect] without its passing through the medium of my guide. He did, indeed, with great sim "The grander scenes I have before described to you, did not render me at all insensible to the picturesque wildness of these; but I found, without expect ing it, in their vicinity, another circumstance to interest me, from its being inhabited by a considerable number of Anabaptists,* whose sentiments and practice I became desirous to ascertain.plicity, state to him, for my information, They were represented by others as very peculiar ; but at the same time an uniform testimony was borne to the good morals, and to the peaceable and charitable habits of these sectaries. Near a village called Malleray, I found an elderly peasant, not of their communion, who told me he was acquainted with many of them, and offered to conduct me to a neighbouring mountain, where one of their pastors lived. This man was one of the most thinking and lettered rustics *It is rather excessive candour for a writer of our own denomination to employ this term of reproach without any explanation, or expression of disapprobation. two or three practical points of differ my guide, therefore, I trusted to my ser vant's knowledge of the provincial German spoken here, in order to discover his abode. He also was in the field; but a peasant girl, (not of their persuasion,) conducted us to it, and though the walk was rather long, positively refused any reward. I found the farmer dressed in a black straw bat, with the general air of a respectable country. man, but with his beard, (which began to be grey,) unshaven. I apprized him, as I had the former, that I agreed with them in believing the baptism of adults to be the genuine baptism of the New Testament; which information I thought needful, to prevent suspicion that I came as a spy, or to seek after what might appear ridiculous. He told me, that they usually baptized about the age of fifteen, and performed the rite by pouring water upon the head; that they used no compulsion with their children, who, if they preferred it, might join the communion of the Reformed. When I asked questions relating to their faith, I found this worthy mountaineer less able on these subjects to express his ideas in French. He had been used to converse in that language with strangers only, and about secular affairs; but the Swiss German, his native language, which even my servant did not understand enough to converse on those points, was the only one he had read or spoken on matters of religion. He appeared to entertain no distrust of me. The mower had asked, whether the Anabaptists in England were rich? but this farmer's notice seemed more attracted by my chin new reaped! than by any marks of com parative opulence about me. He desired to know, whether it was the custom to shave ourselves? I told him it was, as we thought it simply a question of convenience. Taking me to his house, accompanied by his little grand son, he produced a fine folio Bible, printed by Christofell Froschouer, Zurich, 1536; a New Testament, Frank fort, 1737; and some books of hymns or psalms in Swiss German. He offered me milk, and seemed pleased with my visit. Nothing could be more patriarchal than the habits, dress, and residence of these people, and I left them with a very pleasing impression; indeed, my sectarian sympathies were not yet enough indulged, and I walked on the following day to the residence of a preacher of this persuasion, near a place called La Ruchenette, on the road to Bienne. I was first conducted by mistake to the cottage of his father, who, with a venerable silver beard, was exercising his trade as a book-binder. He answered me rather doubtingly, remembering, probably, the evils of former years; but my purchasing a book for something more than its price, and incidentally speaking of a chaise that waited, seemed to inspire confidence in my harmless intentions, and he directed me to his son. This latter was a good-looking man of fifty, whose beard very much became him. He told me,' however, that he did not account that, and some other external distinctions which they had adopted, from the motive of avoiding vanity and show, to be in theinselves of any moment. I wish my good brethren on the mountains may never be shaken in the orthodoxy of their beards, which accord admirably with their primitive habits and rural life. But to come to points of more importance this worthy man, named David Baumgartner, informed me that he had been a minister, or preacher, from the age of 24, but had not baptized or administered the Lord's supper till within four years; that the choice of ministers was made first by the vote of the people, fixing on two of their body, and then by the decision of lot between those two, accompanied by the prayer which we find in Acts, i. 24; that it was their practice generally to expound chapters, rather than preach from separate verses; and that their prayers were usually written forms delivered by me. mory. He said, that in domestic worship, also, which he practised morning and evening, and sometimes at noon, it was his custom to use a book. On my naming some advantages which is not precomposed, he observed, that he had himself often considered, and suggested to others, that those who felt incapable of thus addressing the Deity, would not be so if applying in distress or necessity to an earthly friend. in prayer *Menno, the father of the Dutch Baptists, (whose tenets these people ap-They partake of the Lord's supper pear to hold,) was dipped himself, and baptized others by dipping, but some of his followers introduced pouring, as they imagined through necessity, in prison; and the practice now generally prevails among them."--Robinson's History of Baptism, page 549. only once a year. Their public worship takes place at different houses alternately, which may be occasioned by their very dispersed residence among the mountains. This person had sometimes attended the discourses of the reformed [Calvinist] pastors, and was not dissatisfied with them; except that the dwelt too exclusively on la morale. They are believers in the Trinity, and in the atonement of Christ. But the part of their system which has rendered them obnoxious is, their agreement with the Quakers in denying the lawful ness of oaths and of war. Towards the close of our interview, Baumgartner asking my opinion respect ing emigration to America; stating, that neither the Prince Bishop of Basle, (a Roman Catholic) under whose government they formerly were, nor Buona parte, to whom they had since been subjects, had ever exacted military service of them but that now, on this district's being recently annexed to the canton of Berne, that Protestant republic required them to find substitutes, which had cost about twelve of their number eighteen louis each; that this demand was very grievous to them as a poor tenantry, to say nothing of their conscientious objections; that it had in duced them to think of the painful alternative of emigrating, and that a few of their young men were already gone to America to report to the rest. I advised this good man (for such his conversation and countenance indicated him to be) not hastily to run the painful hazards of emigration. There could, indeed, be no doubt of his reluctance with a numerous family; and he told me, that many proprietors in the country were much concerned at the risk of their being driven to quit it, as they were good tenants. They are divided into high and low Anabaptists; the former of whom seceded from the rest in consequence of a conviction that it was right to follow the example or precept of Christ literally in some particular cases; as in washing the feet of their guests. (John, xiii. 14, 15.) The whole appear to have derived their opinions from the Mennonites of Holland, and have maintained in this seclusion the primitive rule of the more rigid of that sect. It was stated by those country people to whom I spoke of them, that their moral discipline as a society is very strict, and that few irregularities are known among them. They were driven by persecution from the Emmen Thal, in the canton of Berne, I believe in the seventeenth century; but it is said, a number of their community are still settled there; and except in the point I have referred to, enjoy the benefits of toleration." p. 241-254. We feel exceedingly obliged to this intelligent Christian traveller 66 for the very interesting account he has furnished of our brethren in the "Valley of Moutier." Compared with many even of the "Reformed," whether as to their evangelical principles or their strict morality, they are indeed as a lily among thorns," or "an apple tree among the trees of the wood." We hope that future travellers, especially those of our own denomination, (as it can hardly be expected any others should feel a sufficient degree of interest in the subject) will make further enquiries respecting the numbers and residences of these simple hearted followers of the Lamb. We wish many of our pages to be filled with similar historical facts to that we have now copied. We feel confident that this specimen of the author's sentiments and talents as a traveller, will induce many to purchase the book and for the gratification of our poorer readers, we shall present them with more extracts in subscquent numbers. "Take heed-1. In your present situation as students, that you carefully and honourably support your Christian character-2. In your preparatory studies, that you properly use the means of improvement which you now enjoyand 3. In your future life, when you appear publicly in the world as ministers of Jesus Christ, that you may avoid the dangers to which you will then be exposed." This outline is filled up in a manner worthy of the preacher; who has crowded into twenty seven pages a multitude of observations, This the result of large experience, which | been published by one house in We trust will not be read in vain. Berlin upon that subject. We earnestly hope, that the stu- small work before us, we apprehend, dents of all our theological semi- is translated from one of those; and naries will avail themselves of the it augurs well for the spread of reliopportunity of procuring a sermon gious liberty, that such small publiwhich may be regarded as a manual cations are circulated on the Conof wise counsels respecting their tinent. The table of Contents will studies and their prospects, in which convince the reader that a 12mo. of the hopes of the Christian world are 32 pages can only contain a very very deeply concerned. brief 66 Compendium." These are We congratulate the worthy author on the progress of the public mind in reference to this great subject: and we rejoice in the assurance that he will have many more readers, who feel a lively interest in the cause he advocates, than he would have had a few years ago. Nor will it be forgotten, that he has himself powerfully contributed, by his own personal exertions, to produce this effect. 66 Original Constitution of the Church-Remarkable Progress of the Christian Doctrine-Persecution of the Primitive Christians-Their affection to each other-Early innovations, and their baneful consequences-Conversion of Constantine Domination of the Roman Bishop A Heretic first executed-Influx of ignorance, bigotry, superstition, and immorality.-Popish ambition-Persecution of the Waldenses and others-Two Popes at one time contend for the Papal throne-Burning of John Huss and Jerome of Prague-Luther opposes the sale of Indulgences-Summoned by the Pope, he defends his principles, and is excommunicated Luther translates the Bible-Rapid progress of the Reformation-Its WHATEVER has a tendency to permanent establishment-Symbodetect error, guard against mis-lical books of the Protestants— A Treatise on the proper Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ; with a Reply to the principal Objections of Socinians; being the substance of two Sermons preached at the Back-lane MeetingHouse, Swansea, Dec. 10 and 17, 1815, by J. Harries. Button and Son. takes, and more clearly illustrate truth, is worthy of regard, and upon these grounds we recommend this short treatise to the attention of our readers and those who have not an opportunity of consulting more elaborate productions on the important doctrine of our Lord's proper deity, will find the arguments in favour of it justly stated, and the objections of opponents satisfactorily obviated. A Compendious History of the Christian Church, from the Apostolic Age to the Era of the Reformation. Translated from the French. London: Button and Son, Price 6d. WE are glad to find, that the return of the centenary of the Reformation from Popery has excited very considerable attention on the Continent. The New Monthly Magazine for the last month states, that ninety-five publications had Wars between the Protestants and and Luther-Persecution of the ReRomanists, and deaths of Zuinglius formed in France, and the Bartholomew Massacre-Toleration established in Germany. THIS is a pretty, lively little book, adorned with several excellent wood cuts, and may be made a reward for good boys and girls in our Sundayschools; many of whom, we hope, will read it with great advantage. Many of the mottos to the chapters are chosen with judgment, and may be recommended to teachers, as well as learners, in the schools of this island. We only give one as a specimen: "With hasty judgment ne'er decide, First hear what's said on either side." R. |