and the arrows of censure to fall all around us, without seeking some defence and holding up some shield against it?" In such a case if you are truly innocent, you have a great, Avenger, an impartial Judge; and secure in the integrity of your conscience, and the uprightness of your intentions, will commit your cause to him with pleasure, and calmly await the decision here or hereafter. And it will be a great consolation to recollect, that this is an evil against which there is no preservative; innocence itself is no antidote against evil tongues: neither can greatness nor goodness secure any man from unjust calumny, which shakes the whitest virtue. Look at the greatest kings and the most holy saints? they have experienced this evil, they have complained of it, but were not able to help themselves: you have the company of the best men the earth ever bore, to mitigate any uneasiness that may arise on this account.

How valuable such a reputation is, it is easy to discern, & also how far a regard to it is useful & necessary; it is as useful and necessary as a regard to our eternal salvation: for, unless we direct our lives by this rule, we can neither have the one nor the other. And agreeable hereto we may be soon satisfied, that whenever any thing worldly runs opposite to this true reputation and true interest, we are certainly rather to give up a regard to the world and to men's opinion of us, than a virtuous estimation in the sight of God. Our obligations to him are prior to all others, and therefore our first duty must be paid to him. And if any actions are contrary to that duty, they must be forborn, though at the hazard of the good esteem of all the world; or if any actions are agreeable to our duty to him, however opposite to our worldly interests, they must be performed, and the consequence left to the great searcher of all hearts. This may draw upon us "Consider, what censure is in itvarious censures from various quar- self; mere air, idle breath which if we ters, and on various accounts, as all disregard, can never make one hair distinguished virtue, in whatever of our head white or black. Let those sphere of life, will be calumniated. whose hearts are as foul as their But while we act agreeable to the dic-names, be treated with the censure tates of religion and a good conscience, they have justly deserved; but do not we need not be concerned, but may you, who are falsely calumniated, give leave our good name in the hands of so much way to malice, as to pay any God; for we can never trust our rep-regard to its false and iniquitous sugutation in better hands; and though, perhaps, it may be overshadowed for a while by such a conduct, yet it will at length, emerge with greater lustre, like the sun from a darkening cloud. The best rule therefore to purchase, as well as to gain a good naine, is always to do well; is to persevere in piety & virtue; is to go on in an even discharge of duty; and this without anxious reluctance, to leave the issue to God.

gestions; you cannot devise a method more certain to vex a detractor than contempt. Thus you will force malevolence as a wise heathen, "to drink off the greatest part of her own pois|| on."

Consider also the extent of censure, what a poor matter it is. How far do you think this slander reacheth? perhaps through your own village, perhaps to the next, perhaps further, through the whole county in which But what if our good name be in-you live? why it is very likely the jured, what if our reputation be harm- next county never heard of you, and ed; shall we then sit by unregarding, if you look further off, as soon may and suffer the shafts of malevolence you suppose yourself talked of amongst

the antipodes, as in the neighboring || will, at length prevail; for most as kingdom or province. Nay, but sup-suredly, an uniform practice of relipose all the countries heard that slan-gion, justice, and sobriety, a conscider, and your name stood rubric up on the column of unmerited infamy; what a small spot of earth is this to which that shame is confined! did you know the vast extent of this unbounded universe, you would easily see in how narrow a corner, either our glory or our dishonor can be put up, and must confess how little reason we can have to affect the one, or to be disheartened at the other.

entious obedience to the laws of Christ, is the best method to procure, and guard our good name. An indiffer ence to which is certainly blameworthy, and the source of many evils; as a person can scarcely be indifferent to it, and at the same time diligent to maintain that proper behavior, which is the only security of it: and therefore when we hear, as is sometimes the case, the less discerning say, "that And as the limits of slander are they care not for the world, let peonarrow; so is the life of it short. Wait ple talk as they please, it matters not upon the God of truth, and he will to them;" we may receive it as a bad cause your light to break forth in the omen; it is an ill sign; and it is too morning, and your righteousness to much to be feared, such a disregard go before you. But if otherwise, we to the opinion of the world ariseth shall do well not to be too anxious; from a conduct, which these people for our name is not only local and are sensible the world cannot approve, momentary, but soon passed over in si-and therefore they will be beforehand, lence and oblivion. Look at the best of the Patriarchs in the word of God; of them only it is to be remembered, that they were born, lived, begat chil-gious principle, under the righteous dren, and died. On the contrary, if discharge of our duty, and amidst the fame should befriend us so much as testimony of a good and applauding to strain her cheeks in trumpeting our conscience, it may be very well to hold praises, and should extol us for our the opinion of the world not in too virtues and eminent qualities, alas, high esteem-but, through fear of how few would hear her! and how soon worldly censure, we should be apt to would this noise be stilled and fo got-fall into worldly & criminal complianten!-In short, while our chief care is to demean ourselves holily, unblameably, and conscientiously in the sight of God and men, we may well leave the rest to God, who will be sure to make his word good in spite of men or The memory of the just shall be blessed, but the name of the wicked

devils.

66

shall rot."

We are bound in defence of our

selves, calmly to expostulate, mildly to reprove, gently to urge the inquiry,

and to confute it in a manner the most dispassionate we are able. This done, we are to submit, and to go on in our usual blameless manner, and there is no doubt but the force of truth,

and condemn and disapprove the world. This is weak, and an inlet to much evil; for-though upon a reli

ces; yet for those to despise reputation who have no just title to it, and who cannot refer to God the Judge of all, for the integrity of their hearts and lives, is only to deceive themselves with a false notion, and to fall into a snare of the devil, which may be likely to entangle their souls forever. Thus have I heard some thoughtless youth express himself. But salutary admonitions of thy dearest Oh! my young friend forget not the salutary admonitions of thy dearest friends. They feel for your character and reputation, and would not unjustly detract from it what they wish to add by their counsel.

For it is certain that a regard to

and calumny should still be our lot; we are to rest easy under the approving testimony of a sincere conscience and to persevere in the unbiassed practice of undissembled religion and virtue. ADMONOTOR.

reputation, considered only in a moral || men flourishing in the prime of their view, is, and may be a great defence | youth and ready to appear on the buto virtue, and a good means to pre- sy stage of life, that they may look serve us from the practice of vice; and more closely into their characters. if this be given up by those who have But if, notwithstanding our best and no higher principle to act by, unhap-most conscionable efforts, reproach py must be the consequence. A headlong descent is made into the foul pit of sin, and when persons have made themselves so odious and abominable thereby, that the best part of their fellow creatures, are compelled to avoid and contemn them; then as the only remedy, they are ready to defy the world and care not what people Mr. King, one of our Missionaries to Palsay. But, alas! how sadly do they soon discern their mistake! For what estine, thus writes to a friend in Charleston, is there so grievous to the human mind, S. C. The letter is dated, "Upper Egypt, a what so afflicting and hard to belittle above Minic, floating down the Nile, borne, as the contempt, neglect and March 18th, 1823." It was communicated for

PALESTINE MISSION.

the Southern Intelligencer.

"For more than two months I have been travelling in Egypt, have stood on the top of the highest pyramid, entered the splendid tombs of the kings, and visited nearly all the ruins of the ancient Egyptian temples. I am now returning from Thebes to Cairo. In my journey, Mr. Frisk, Mr. Wolff (the Jewish missionary to Jerusalem) and myself have distributed among the Coptic Christians about 800 copies of the Holy Scriptures, or parts of them, and about 2000 tracts. This we have done with some fear and much caution. Many complaints have been carried to the Pasha against us, and we feel that our situation is peculiarly critical. We go unarmed and without any one to defend us, except him, who has said, "Lo Í am with you always even to the end of the world."

abhorrence of the virtuous and the good, of all those whom we know to be the only valuable, and would wish to be the only dear to us? And such is the fatal issue of lost reputation. When your good name is gone, it is impossible that the virtuous can have any communication with you; cut off from them you must be obliged to seek society amongst those abandoned as yourselves. Evil communications soon corrupt all good manners; you grow more and more familiar with the foul face of vice. Stung perhaps with the reflection of that just disregard, which is the result of such conduct and such lost reputation, men fly to intoxicating draughts, the common resource of uneasy minds; and thus they are often plunged into the pit of vice, of infamy, and of ruin, from which it is difficult to be reclaimed: for such will not converse with the virtuous; indeed the virtuous, But whatever may happen, I refor their own sakes cannot converse joice that I am here. Whatever I with them; for it is an apostolical in- may have done heretofore in the junction "not to keep company, not cause of Christ, I consider as nothing to have any familiar intercourse with in comparison with what God has permen professing christianity, yet noto-mitted me to do this winter for the riously guilty of scandalous vices." churches in Egypt. To Him alone be I have suggested a few hints to young all the glory. They are poor, de

And love be absent in the train,
My virtue and my zeal are vain
When men of angry tempers rail
And fools with wanton words assail,

garded, benighted, and grievously op-
pressed by the strong hand of Mahom-
I have visited the Pa-
edan power.
triarch, dined with several of the Bish-To pride and passion ever blind,
ops, and seen a great number of their
priests. I dined with one of the bishops
in a house, which was as mean as
any negro hut I ever saw in Carolina.
The first room of his house, which I
entered, was used for a stable for as-
ses, the second for buffaloes, and his
own apartments were very little su-

Love suffers patient and is kind.
When other praises men employ,
Love hears with unaffected joy,
Unconscious all of envy's flame,
But ever humbl'd scorns to blaze
An ostentatious selfish praise,
Or sound abroad a private claim.
In every station Love displays

An artless unassuming grace,
She never wears the robes of pride,
Nor courts the world to gain a friend,

perior to the stables. Almost every Nor weaves a tinsel pall to hide
thing in Egypt looks like ruin and The blemish which she will not mend.
wretchedness. The prophecy of Isai-She never smiles on gilded vice,
ah with regard to this land has been
literally fulfiled. I hope Christians
in America will remember in their
prayers the poor Copts.

For the Miscellany.

CHARITY.

1 COR. XIII.

Could I discourse in every tongue,
With eloquence of angel's song,
And all the glow of words impart
To fire with zeal the coldest heart,
So every clime should throng to hear,
And catch the sounds with ravish'd ear;
Still destitute of love alone,
With all its splendid gift my voice
Would only mock the cymbals tone,
A tinkling sound of meanless noise!

Could I with one prophetic glance,
Grasp all the futures dark expanse,
Or borne on Genius' pinions soar
Where knowledge never reach'd before,
So might my mind unaided scan
All mysteries of God to man,
And all the dephts of truth explore,
Unfathom'd yet since time began;
Or had I Faith that I could shove
The loftiest mountain from its place;
If not consorted all with Love,
Worthless my every other grace!

Should I resign all I possess,
To feed the poor and clothe distress,
Nay die a martyr in its cause
To merit Heaven or man's applause,

Nor winks on sin in splendor roll'd,
Rememb'ring still that virtues price,
Metes not with rubies or with gold.

When Virtue and her sons prevail,
Love owns her high and pure delight,
But grieves when truth and justice fail,
And dark oppression tramples right.

When men of slanderous tongues proclaim
With proud contempt a neighbor's shame,
Love hears with wonder, pities, grieves,
And still to thoughts of mercy prone,
Each plea of injured truth believes,
And hopes, tho' she should hope alone.

Three flowers by Grace Almighty wove

In one bright wreath, Faith, Hope and Love,
Encircle here the Christian's brow,
And cheer the Christian's spirit now.

But greatest of th' etherial three,

Love, Heaven born grace, shall ever bloom,*

When knowledge, tongues and prophecy,
Shall wither all in endless gloom:
When yonder blazing sun shall veil
His glories in eternal night,

When Moon and stars, and planets fail,
Their glittering arch evanish'd quite!
Arrived on Canaan, happier coast,
In vision and fruition lost,

E'en Faith and Hope shall fade away,
But Love all buoyant still shall rise
On glowing wings, her native skies
And flourish in eternal day!
Near Shippensburgh.

JULIUS.

NOTICE-An adjourned meeting of the Board of managers of the Cumberland Co. Bible society is to be held at the house of Rob't. | M'Cord, on Monday Aug 4, at 3 o'clock P. M.

18

ib.

Palestine Mission,

19

Carlisle S. school As.,

22

Poetry,

26

28

31

32

Religious Miscellany.

No. 3.

"Say ye to the daughter of Zion, behold, thy salvation cometh."
CARLISLE, AUGUST 8, 1823.

From the Christian Herald.

Vol. II.

above all, with the last fashionable novel or poem, as with Babington,

PRACTICAL HINTS ON THE GOVERN- Moore, Hamilton, or Witherspoon, on

MENT OF FAMILIES.

education. These and many other
works of the same character have,
perhaps long stood, honored with calf
But from this cloister of mute and
and gilt, in the mahogany book case
useless wisdom, they may have been
as seldom brought forth as the heredit-
ary family Bible, which is intended
covers, to distant posterity.
to go down with the same splendid

"Families," observes a lively writer of our own country, "are clusters of little commonwealths, which can hardly subsist without government, and whose well being depends greatly upon the manner in which they are governed." The justice and weight of this remark, will scarcely be questioned by any reader. But while all would admit the happy influence of a Accordingly when the government mild, but efficient family government, of families is sometimes mentioned both in forming the moral habits of in the social circle, as a serious and children, and promoting the peace of indispensible duty, we are very probathe domestic circle; unfortunately ve-bly told, that the art of restraining the ry few parents are observed to give young, and forming them to habits of the subject any thing like a thorough cheerful obedience, is not attainable practical attention. Most of the trea-by many persons; but is rather to be tises upon it, which have been circu- reckoned one of nature's gifts, like a lated among us, are, indeed, but part- genius for poetry or an ear for music: ly applicable to the American people; and that those parents who are con-being generally composed in a for-scious themselves that they do not aceign country, and, almost exclusively for the benefit of the higher classes. I am not aware that the English language contains a single elementary work, on the early management of children, adapted to the circumstances of parents in the middle and lower walks of life,-of those parents who are by Providence intrust- Happy indeed had it been for old ed with the education of four-fifths of Eli, could he have availed himself of .our citizens. But the treatises which this famous apology, when Jehovah by have been written on the subject, and his prophet, denounced disgrace and are allowed by all to contain many ruin upon his family; "because his valuable hints, do not appear to be sons made themselves vile, and he frequently and carefully read. We restrained them not." He appears do not commonly find them in the to be wanting in nothing but the auwindow, or on the mantle of the sit-thority which commands obedience; ting room. The most respectable for he actually condemned and refamilies are quite as likely to have proved their evil conduct. "He said these places occupied with recipes for unto them," possibly in a soft and making pastry and sweetmeats; and, || formal manner, lest he should greatly

tually possess it, may about as well relinquish all hopes of obtaining this moral ascendency over their offspring. Nor is it uncommon for parents of education to accompany the avowal of this extraordinary sentiment, with a frank and quite easy acknowledgement of their own deficiency.