TESTIMONIALS. THE subscribers hereby express their conviction, that a periodical of the character of the CHRISTIAN OBSERVATORY is demanded by the wants of the religious community; and they heartily commend it to the members of evangelical congregations, and to all with whom their opinion may have influence. It is their purpose, also, to contribute to its pages, so far as their duties and engagements will permit. N. ADAMS, BOSTON, OCTOBER 29, 1846. GEORGE A. OVIATT, Manchester, Feb. 21, 1848. I should do wrong to myself, did I not express my hearty approval of the OBSERVATORY. I love its thorough-going, unbending, Puritan character, its unflinching advocacy of the "old paths," and firm adherence to "sound doctrine " in these days of slippery theology. May it live and flourish, so long as there is work to be done for the defence of the truth. B. F. NORTHROP. THE subscribers, having been constant readers of the CHRISTIAN OBSERVATORY, can cheerfully recommend it to the Christian public as a sound, able, and judicious publication. It is well adapted to the times, and worthy of extensive patronage. EAST WINDSOR HILL, Jan. 10th, 1848. B. TYLER, Rev. Dr. Woodbridge, of Hadley, Mass. The character, objects and execution of the CHRISTIAN OBSERVATORY are, in the opinion of the subscriber, such as to give it a just title to the warm and extensive patronage of the friends of evangelical truth, of the primitive order of the New England churches, of the junction of liberty with conservatism, and of practical and experimental piety. JOHN WOODBRIDGE. THE CHRISTIAN OBSERVATORY stands in the right place, having the widest horizon for its purposes in New England. It is built upon a good, solid, Puritan foundation; and below that, as I believe," the foundation of the apostles and prophets, JESUS CHRIST himself being the chief corner-stone." But such an observatory, with all its advantages of basis, location and height, would be of little use without a competent and wakeful observer; and so far as I have been able to learn, the public think they have got the right man. He is, every month, pointing out to us some of the disturbing forces, which vex our system, and threaten us with "disastrous twilight." If any of these dubious "vestiges," which lie beyond our system, should conglome. rate themselves into "wandering stars," I doubt not he will give us the elements of their orbits, and warn us of the danger. Some, perhaps, would be heartily glad to be rid, both of the Observatory and the Observer; but for myself, I hope that the one will stand as long as Bunker Hill monument, that the other will live a great while to announce the result of his observations, and that when he is transferred to a higher sphere, a worthy successor may never be wanting. Pittsfield, Feb. 14, 1848. H. HUMPHREY. CHRISTIAN OBSERVATORY. VOLUME FIRST. THE first volume of this work, for 1847, contains a series of arti cles on the Inspiration of the Bible; another on the use and necessity of creeds; another exposing the mistakes and misstatements, in disparagement of Orthodoxy, made by ex-president Quincy in his History of Harvard College; and another of lives and sketches of eminent Puritans. Besides these, there is a great variety of articles and reviews, none long, and many short and condensed, relating to subjects of religious and practical interest. The whole forms a handsome volume, combining utility with entertainment. It may be had, on appli. oation at this office, neatly bound in cloth, at very moderate terms. THE CHRISTIAN OBSERVATORY: A Religious and Literary Magazine. A. W. McCLURE, EDITOR. I WILL stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what He will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.—Hab. ii. 1. BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY J. V. BEANE & CO. NO. 21 CORNHILL. 1848. ABNER FORBES, PRINTER, 37 CORNHILL. This work is published at Boston, in monthly numbers of fortyeight octavo pages, forming a volume of five hundred and seventy-six pages, original matter, for two dollars per annum, payable on the delivery of the first number. No person will be considered as a subscriber, who does not distinctly make known his wish to that effect. His subscription will be continued on our books, till a discontinuance is ordered, and all arrearages are paid. Any person remitting to this office nine dollars, shall receive six copies of the Christian Observatory for one year. Clergymen will be supplied with the work at one half the subscription price, or one dollar per annum. Clergymen in whose congregations six copies are taken, will be furnished gratuitously. Subscribers, indebted for the work, are requested, if they please, to send the amount to our office, by mail, at our risk. Communications relating to the editorial department may be directed to A. W. McClure, No. 21 Cornhill, Boston. Communications relating to the business of the office should be directed to the subscribers. JOHN V. BEANE & CO., Publishers, ALL who believe in a Supreme Being, and receive the Bible as their great statute-book, hold that the law of God is paramount, and is the foundation of all just legislation. But there is danger, sometimes, that the very strength and long standing of our convictions may lead to a practical forgetfulness of their truth. The fact that a man is so very sure of being on the right road, may make him inattentive to the turnings, and he may consequently be far out of the correct path before he is aware. How else can we account for the fact that so many, professedly regardful of the supreme claims of the divine law, do yet virtually reject them? And when this comes to pass, every righteous man must readily adopt the language of the Psalmist: "It is time for thee, Lord, to work, for they have made void thy law." It may not, therefore, be unseasonable to point out a few ways, in which men, who are not by any means vicious, and do not mean to be considered infidel, do virtually deny the claims, or in the words of inspiration, "make void" the divine law. In the first place, we are emphatically a money-getting people. Every inducement is held out to the young and ambitious to accumulate riches. And such is the natural love of money, that, under such circumstances, there is great danger, that many will serve Mammon instead of God. For, according to our "Great Teacher," both cannot be served at the same time; and all who obey the law of Mammon must nullify the law of God. Such also is the influence of wealth, that we are prone to regard it with a kind of reverence, and many, who are not eager |