spirit of inspiration, from the earliest periods of sacred history, to prepare us for the exhibition of this mysterious sacrifice, which is so difficult for us to comprehend. The most remarkable events which, under the direction of Divine Providence, occurred in the former ages of the church, all seem to relate to the great work of human redemption The holy scriptures, throughout, may be considered as one continued history of the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world. The nature of those sacrifices which were appointed under the law, and the manner in which they were usually rendered, are no doubt to be viewed as typical representations of the atonement of Jesus Christ. Under the Levitical institution, when the worship of God consisted chiefly in sacrifices, it was enjoined on "every man who should bring an offering, to put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering, that it might be accepted for him, to make an atonement for his sin." On the day of atonement, the high priest was required to lay his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat. The victim thus substituted to suffer the legal penalty, due to the offences of the people, was either burnt without the gate of the Tabernacle, or as in the case of the scape goat, was sent away into the wilderness, subject to the curse of a legal impurity. Almost every sacrifice for sin was attended with the effusion of blood. Wit out the shedding of blood, except in extraordinary cases, there could be no remission of sin. By the law, almost every thing was purged with blood. The altar and the tabernacle-the vessels of the sanctuary, and the garments of the officiating Priests, were all sprinkled with the blood of their sacrifices. No acceptible service could be rendered-no real sacrifice could be presented, unless the hands of the worshipper were sprinkled with blood. Blood was exclusively appropriated to the divine service. For this reason the Jews were prohibited its common use "for the life of the flesh, saith God, is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar, to make an atonement for your souls; for it is blood that maketh an atonement for the soul." The sacrifices for sin, which God himself had appointed under the law, and which his people were strictly commanded to observe, were all rendered by substituting the inno cent for the punishment of the guilty. And this sacrificial substitution of innocent victims, to bear the iniquities, and atone for the transgressions of a wicked and rebellious people-this constant effusion of the blood of the sacrifices, to wash away the guilt of sin, which was enjoined under the law, must have been intended to exhibit that precious sacrifice which was rendered under the gospel.These sacrifices under the law could not have been instituted with any other design than this. For it is unreasonable to suppose, that God could have been reconciled to the transgressors of his law, by the sacrifice of beasts, which were devoid of reason and understanding to enable them to distinguish between good and evil. He surely could have no pleasure in the death of an innocent victim, who was cursed for the offences of the people. Neither could the true wor

shippers of God, who had been favored with so many divine revelations, have been so ignorant as to suppose, that the offering of beasts could in itself prove a mean of conciliating the divine favor. If they knew any thing, they must have known, that if he were hungry, he would not tell them, because the world is his, and the fullness thereof that he would not eat the flesh nor drink the blood of their sacrices. Jesus Christ, therefore, is the true victim, prefigured by the constant repetition of sacrifices under the Levitical institution. He is that innocent and spotless Lamb, on whom the Lord laid the iniquities of us all; who was subjected to the curse and bore the punishment of our sins. He is the substituted victim, who suffered without the gate and was slain on the cross at Calvary, that his blood might be shed as an offering for sin. He is that atoning HighPriest, who entered into the holy place, to offer an acceptable sacrifice for the transgressions of his people; and, having sprinkled us with his blood, washed us from our sins, cleansed us from our iniquities; purchased eternal redemption for us. Thus you perceiv that we have the voice of the prophets and the apostles-the sanctions of the church under its various dispensations-the history of both the Old and New Testament-the testimony of the law and the gospel, to confirm us in the belief, that Jesus Christ, by his innocent sufferings and death on the cross, did render an expiatory sacrifice for sin.

M.

THE PIOUS TRADESMAN IN ST. PETERSBURGH.

The following account, says the New-York Observer, of the conversion and active piety of an English tradesman in St. Petersburgh, was communicated by an Englishman of undoubted veracity, residing in that city, to the captain of an American vessel, who has transmitted it to us for publication. We hope it may be the means of stimulating the proprietors of our large manufacturing establishments, to efforts for the spiritual welfare of the families committed to their charge.

A good friend of mine, when a young man, was employed in the slave trade. He made six. voyages to the coast of Africa in that bloody traffic. At the breaking out of the war, he was seized by the pressgang, and hurried on a tender, and remained in his Britan nic Majesty's service until the battle of the Nile. In that memorable battle he lost an eye, and for it obtained his discharge. A few years ago he came to this place, where he is industriously spending his latter days. I first became acquainted with him in 1822, at which time I spoke to him of the importance and advantages of religion. He very bluntly told me, that he had no religion, neither did he intend to trouble himself about it. I spoke to him of God. "Pray, sir," said he, "have you ever seen God? Who can tell whether there is a God or no " I offered him a book, which he very politely returned. I did not then know that he could not read; but so it

was and he left me apparently very unlikely to become a devout and zealous Christian. But behold the tender mercies of the Lord! A year or two after this, one of his neighbors spoke to him on the same subject, and exhorted him to attend the means of grace. He listened and obeyed; and the first time that he heard the Gospel, it was so far blessed as to soften his prejudices, and to awaken a desire to read; and now, at the age of sixty, he began to learn the alphabet. Oh! it is an affecting sight to see an old man unable to read: yet it is cheering to see one, who had been so neglected, determined to overcome every difficulty, and, with hoary head and one eye, learning his A B C.

From the present exertions of Christians, we cannot but hope that there are at least two countries in the world where, in a few years, there will not be an old man unable to read the Bible, or destitute of a Bible. What a cheering thought!

This aged Tradesman commenced his book with strong desires to learn, and he soon succeeded so as to be able to read an easy chapter. His next step was to purchase a Bible; and now for the first time in his life, he read in that blessed book. His exultation on this occasion cannot be described. In connexion with his diligence in reading, he was diligent in hearing, and his solicitude for divine things was particularly pleasing."

The change in his whole deportment now became very decided, and very striking. When he was an unbeliever, he acted like one. He scarcely ever went to a place of worship. The Sabbath was devoted to business or pastime, and the whole of his life was spent without hope and without God; but having embraced the Lord Jesus Christ as the Saviour of his soul, he acted up to his profession. He worshipped God, searched the Scriptures, and remembered the Sabbath day to keep it holy. It would be difficult to find a man who reads the Bible more; and as every part was new to him, it often filled him with astonishment, and made his heart and his lips to overflow with love and praise.

Of course there is no more work done in his house on the Lord's day. He keeps it holy, and he wishes all about to do likewise. A more regular attendant on the means of grace I have never seen. One recent instance of it particularly struck me. For some weeks he could not attend our Wednesday evening service without travelling twenty-two miles: but was this sufficient to prevent him? No! He was always there, and before the service commenced. Such instances of devotedness quite cheer a preacher's heart. It reminds us of the saying that is written; "They that be planted in the house of the Lord, shall flourish in the courts of our God; they shall bring forth fruits in old age, to show that the Lord is upright, and that there is no unrighteousness in him." One evening I spoke to him of the distance he had come, and expressed a hope that God would not let him come all that way for nothing. "No, no," said he, "I am sure God will not. He has well paid me for it already." When you contrast this with the half frozen religion of professors,

you are ready to think they serve another God, and are going to an inferior heaven

Within the last six months, he has adopted a plan, which promises to be of incalculable benefit to the parties immediately concerned; and if imitated by the thousands who ought to imitate it, it far towards reforming the world

would go

This good man has about thirty people in his employ; some are journeymen and others apprentices. It appeared to him that he had not done all for these people which, as a Christian, he ought to have done, and he immediately set about a reformation. His first step was to consider how to promote their spiritual interests; and having laid down his plan, he next proposed to them the following questions:

1. Who among you can read?

2. How many of you are destitute of the Holy Scriptures? 3. Who among the ignorant are willing to learn?

To these questions he received immediate answers; and having purchased books for those who could read, he called them around him, and explained what he wished to do, and requested their willing concurrence; that is to say, "Let half an hour be spent every evening in reading the Scriptures, and explaining those parts which any of you do not understand." The books were then given them, and they began, and the delightful work is pursued regularly. Those also who cannot read, attend and listen, and are encouraged to learn from those who are able to instruct them; and both master and people appear mutually pleased and benefited.

Thus the man who, a few years ago, was ignorant of letters and treated every thing sacred with indifference, is now purchasing the Scriptures for his workmen, sitting among them when they read, and instructing them in those things which are able to make them wise unto salvation! The subject is full of instruction to Christians in general, and to pious masters and manufacturers in particular.

To master tradesmen and manufacturers I would say, Your opportunities for doing good are very great. Some of you have hundreds of people in your employ, and others have thirty, or fifteen, or one. Were you to imitate this aged tradesman in his efforts to do good to the souls of his people, what a change would it produce through the nation! How it would reform the lives and improve the morals of those who are grown up; and what a preservative would it be to the multitudes of children and youth who are compelled early to work for their bread, and as early are corrupted by the conversation and vice which surround them. Be assured of this, dear countrymen, if there were more of the fear of God in your workshops, your warehouses, your factories, they would go on better. See what opportunities you have for bringing about a reformation! Remember that every advantage you possess brings with it an awful responsibility. Fear not to make the attempt. The Lord God, merciful and gracious, will not suffer you to be losers by it; nor will he suffer you to make the attempt in vain. Only begin; enter up. on it with fervent prayer; fear not; provide means for supplying

your people with Bibles; let the ignorant be instructed; let half an hour in the day be devoted to the service of God. Will it impoverish you? No! It will draw down the blessing of heaven upon yourselves, and upon your people, and your business; and the town, the neighborhood, and the nation will be partakers of the benefit."

TRACT ASSOCIATION OF FRIENDS IN NEW YORK.

To encourage the hope, that Bible religion will prevail, in defi ance of Infidelity and Popery, we would inform our readers, that all the different Protestant denominations are engaging in the cause of Bible and Tract societies. The Friends, (generally called Quakers) who have cleaved to the truth as it is in Jesus, the efforts of Hicks to mislead them, notwithstanding, appear as we learn from their Journal "The Friend" to be very active.

The following report of their Tract Association, as adopted in May last, we are sure, will be read with great delight, by all true Protestants.-Editor.

It is a property of true Christian benevolence, in whatever way it be brought into action, not to be easily discouraged, or diverted from its purpose; yet such is the mutability of all things human, that, without a continual accession of members alive to the spirit of it, no charitable institution can flourish, or be long sustained. It is therefore the duty of those who would carry on any work of philanthropy, not only to perform their own part seasonably, but to commend the cause to others.

Thirteen years ago, "a number of individuals belonging to the Society of Friends, believing that much benefit would result from the circulating of tracts on moral and religious subjects, concluded to form an association for that purpose." They accordingly met on the fifteenth of First month, 1817, adopted a constitution for their government, and appointed the first committee of management. Since that time, the "Tract Association of Friends in New York," has existed; and its affairs have continued to be managed by such a committee annually appointed. Of the twenty-two members who composed the first committee, five are deceased; eight have for various reasons declined further service; and seven others have either removed from the city, or forsaken the principles and the society of Friends. So that, of the original board, two only remain attached to the concern. Similar changes have occurred among the members of the association itself; and of one hundred and fiftyseven names entered since the commencement, forty only remain now on the list of subscribers. From these facts, it might seem natural to infer, that the concern itself could not long survive. But though we are neither rich nor many, there remain some who are