unscriptural Prelacy which reigns in the Papacy*. The plan of the Apostles was extremely different.'

"Here is not only a passage taken out of its connexion, and interpreted in a sense diametrically opposite to the whole scope and strain of the writer; but, what is much worse, the passage itself is mistranslated, and made to speak a language essentially different from the original. Mr. How may possibly plead that he never saw the original; that he quoted entirely on the authority of some other person. But Dr. Bowden cannot make the same plea. He inserts in the margin the very words which he mistranslates and perverts! What are we to think of such a fact? Is Dr. B. unable to translate a plain piece of Latin? or did he design to deceive? He may choose which alternative he pleasest."

We entirely approve of the determination expressed by Dr. Miller in the concluding Letter.

"I have now, my brethren, completed my examination of such parts of Dr. Bowden's and Mr. How's Letters as I deem worthy of notice. It was my intention, after the example of the former of these gentlemen, to collect and present in one view, a catalogue of the misrepresentations,' 'unfounded assertions,' mistakes,' and omissions,' with which their pages But finding these misrepresentations,' &c. to be so numerous, that a mere list of them, without comment, would fill another long letter; and many of them of so disreputable and offensive a character as not to be contemplated, even by opponents, without much commisseration for their authors; I have determined to spare myself the pain of writing, and you of reading such a Letter; and here to take a final leave of the subject. I engaged in this controversy, without the least expectation of convincing Episcopalians, or of bringing over to my own opinion an individnal of that communion; but solely for the purpose of satisfying and confirming Presbyterians. My object, I have the pleasure to know, is attained; and perceiving no further advantage in prolonging the controversy, I now lay down the pen; nor can I foresee any event that will ever tempt me to resume it on this subject.

"I take for granted that all the gentlemen who have already appeared as my opponents, will again come before the public in reply to these Letters; and will endeavour to persuade their readers that I have again misrepresented them and their cause, and again laid myself open to the heaviest charges

"Here Calvin not only represents Prelacy as a tyrannnical and unscriptural system, but evidently considers it as a part of the corruptions af Popery." † Page 112-115.

and the severest reproach. All this and more I deliberately expect from gentlemen who have generally manifested a wish to have the last word. Should my expectation be realized, it will give me no uneasiness; nor shall I ever, (according to my present views,) take the least public notice of any thing that they may say. If, indeed, I should hereafter discover any important errors in the foregoing pages, (trivial ones, which do not affect the main question, will probably be discovered and pointed out,) I shall consider it as a duty which I owe to you to correct them. But with the controversy, as such, it is my firm resolution to have nothing more to do. This resolution is formed and expressed, not out of any disrespect to the gentlemen in question; but from a deliberate conviction that enough has been said on the Presbyterian side of the argument; and that my time and pen may be hereafter devoted to objects more agreeable to, myself, and more useful to others*."

A defence rarely proves as interesting to the public as an original work. It requires an examination of objections under all the circumstances in which they are offered, and necessarily leads to personalities. Dr. Miller has, however, conducted his defence, in such a manner as to render it no less valuable for the illustration and support of the Presbyterian order, than for the conclusive manner in which he refutes his opponents.

We owe it, however, to the public, and to the author himself, to state a mistake into which he has fallen in his criticisms on Mr. Howt.

Dr. Miller accuses Mr. How of altering a passage of the Confession of Faith of the Presbyterian church, in his quotation; and he contrasts the quotation with the words of the 10th chapter of the Confession. The very words, however, used by Mr. How, are to be found in the Larger Catechism, answer to question 60, and ought to have been as much respected, by Dr. Miller, as the words of that chapter in the Confession which treats of the same subject. They are both of equal authority in Page 430, 431, † p. 64.

the church; and the import of both passages is precisely the same. As this mistake does not in the least degree affect either the principles or the argument of Dr. Miller, we attribute it entirely to inadvertency. We confess that we were surprised to find even this mistake, however, in a writer of such remarkable accuracy.

We consider this work as a valuable acquisition to the literature of the Christian church. It is an able defence of the Christian ministry against Prelatical usurpation. It ought to be in the hands of every one who possesses the work of which it is a Continuation and Defence; and, indeed, of every one who is anxious to become an intelligent Christian upon subjects connected with church order. It must deservedly occupy a high rank among the controversial writings of the age; and if it be any honour to the author to have vanquished his antagonists, this work shall always be considered by competent judges as entitling him to a triumph.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

AFTER

FOREIGN.

AFRICAN MISSION.

(Continued from p. 248. Vol. II.)

FTER this correspondence, Vanderkemp was invited to England, and during his visit confirmed the Directors in the opinion, that he was the man precisely suited to their wishes. He returned to Holland to settle his affairs, and took with him a missionary address, which he translated into the Dutch language, and circulated. Its effect was immediate. One Society was instantly formed at Rotterdam, and another at Friesland, to unite with their brethren in Britain, in spreading the tidings of the cross. Soon afterwards, Mr. Kicherer proposed to join Vanderkemp, and with that expectation came with him on his return to London. Kicherer was gladly received by the Society, and wishing to do every thing in their power to add to the comfort of the Missionaries, and secure success in their object, they united to those already employed, Messrs. Edwards and Edmonds; giving the principal direction into the hands of Dr. Vanderkemp*.

On the 5th Dec. 1798, the four Missionaries left London, and proceeded to Portsmouth, in order to embark for the Cape of Good Hope, on board the Hillsborough, a vessel carrying convicts to Port Jackson. Such was the company they chose, that at once they might begin upon their labours of love; and they had not been long on board, when they met with a specimen of the spirit of their companions, that would have deterred many from making any attempts on such hopeless subjects. An officer and his gang had come on board to search for a deserter. As he was passing the entrance of the orlop, the convicts seized him, and had nearly murdered him, before he could be rescued from their hands. Some of them were laying a plan to bore holes in the vessel, and sink her. Others were determined to saw off their irons, and seize the vessel. Indeed, they discovered such marks of the most hardened and desperate wickedness, that the

• Trans. Miss. Soc. vol. i. p. 321.

Captain thought it rash and blameable in the Missionaries to think of entering the orlop. But choosing to obey God, rather than man, they descended without fear, made known to the convicts their intention, distributed among them some bibles and religious tracts, and were heard with reverence and attention. They preached to them, prayed and conversed with them perseveringly; and saw their labours abundantly blessed. So far had the work of grace proceeded among these out-casts of society, that before they had been many weeks at sea, they formed a society to meet three times a week, for prayer and religious conversation among themselves a spectacle, among a body of convicts, very uncommon, and which resistlessly suggests the reflection, how sovereign and how free is grace! It is proper to add, that a circumstance which was a trial to the faith of the Missionaries, and at the same time made their success the more pleasing, was, that a most destructive pestilence prevailed among the convicts during a part of the voyage: doubtless it removed some of them from their damp prison to the abodes of light and glory*.

Having touched at the Cape de Verd Islands, they arrived safe at the Cape on the 31st March, 1799, after a passage of fourteen weeks. They met with a welcome reception at the Cape, and Gen. Dundas, the Lieut. Governor, promised them his protection and support. Dr. Vanderkemp visited the Moravian Brethren of Bavian's Kloof, with whom he concerted a plan of mutual assistance and correspondence. He immediately began to prepare the minds of the ministers and serious people at the Cape, to form themselves into a Missionary Society. He succeeded; and before he had been at the place more than six weeks, saw one completely organized, under the name of "THE SOUTH AFRICAN SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING THE SPREAD OF CHRIST'S KINGDOM, RESIDING AT THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE ;" and some of the neighbouring heathens applying to it for religious instructiont.

An occurrence, apparently trifling in itself, led to a train of circumstances which produced a separation of the Missionaries. The Boschemen, the most savage tribe of the Hottentots, had been for some time committing hostilities against the colonists. A pious colonist, who • Trans. Miss. Soc. vol. i. p. 365-368. † Do. p. 365-368.