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the higher classes, and is understood from Calcutta to Damascus. But the great work which occupies the attention of this noble Arabian, is the promulgation of the Gospel among his own countrymen ; and from the present fluctuations of religious opinion in Arabia, he is sanguine in his hopes of success. His first work is entitled, (Neama Besharatin lil Arabi,) "Happy News for Arabia ;" written in the Nabuttee, or common dialect of the country. It contains an eloquent and argumentative elucidation of the truth of the Gospel, with copious authorities admitted by the Mahometans themselves, and particularly by the Wahabians. And prefixed to it, is an account of the conversion of the author, and an appeal to the members of his well-known family in Arabia, for the truth of the facts.

The following circumstance in the history of Sabat ought not to have been omitted. When his family in Arabia had heard that he had followed the example of Abdallah, and become a Christian, they dispatched his brother to India, (a voyage of two months,) to assassinate him. While Sabat was sit ting in his house at Visagapatam, his brother presented himself in the disguise of a Faqueer, or beggar, having a dagger concealed under his mantle. He rushed on Sabat, and wounded him. But Sabat seized his arm, and his servants came to his assistance. He then recognized his brother. The assassin would have become the victim of public justice, but Sabat interceded for his brother, and sent him home in peace, with letters and presents to his mother's house in Arabia,

The conversion of Abdallah and Sabat seem to have been as evidently produced by the Spirit of God, as any conversion in the primitive church. Other instances have occured in Arabia of a similar kind, and on the borders of Palestine itself. These are very like the solitary notices which, in other nations, have announced the approach of general illumination. John Huss, and Jerom of Prague, were not, per

haps, more talked of in Europe, than Abdallah andSabat are at this day, in Bucharia and Arabia.

SECTION. III.

Character of a Clergyman.

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I WAS very much pleased, in my last visit at Colo nel Caustic's, with the appearance and the deportment of the clergyman of his parish, who was a frequent visitor of my friend, and his sister. The Colonel, after drawing his character in a very fave ourable way, concluded with telling me, that he had seen something of the world, having officiated, in the early part of his life, as the chaplain of a regiment. To this circumstance, I confess, I was inclined to impute some of the Colonel's predilection in his favour; but a little acquaintance with him convinced me, that he had done the good man no more than justice in his eulogium. There was something of a plaeid dignity in his aspect ; of a politeness, not of form, but of sentiment, in his manner; of a mildness, un-* debased by flattery, in his conversation equally pleasing and respectable. He had now no family, as Miss Caustic informed me, having had the misfortune to lose his wife, and two children many years ago. But his parishoners are his family, said she. His look indeed was parental, with something above the cares, but not the charities of this world; and over a cast of seriousness, and perhaps melancholy, that seemed to be reserved for himself, there was an easy cheerfulness, and now and then a gaiety, that spoke to the innocent pleasures of life, a language of kindness and indulgence.

""Tis the religion of a gentleman," said Colonel Caustic." "Tis the religion of a philosopher," said I.

"Tis something more useful than either," said his

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sister. "Did you know his labours as I have sometimes occasion to do! The composer of differences, the promoter of peace and of contentment; the encourager of industry, sobriety, and all the virtues. that make society prosperous and happy. He gives to religion a certain graciousness, which allures. to its service, yet in his own conduct he takes less indulgence than many that preach its terrors. The du ties of his function are his pleasures, and his doctrine is, that every man will experience the same thing, if he bring his mind fairly to the trial: that to fill our station well, is in every station to be hap py."

"The great and wealthy, I have heard the good man say," continued the excellent sister of my friend, "to whom refinement and fancy open a thousand sources of delight, do not make the proper allowance for the inferior rank of men. That rank has scarce any exercise of mind or imagination but one, and that one is religion; we are not then to wonder, if it sometimes wanders into the gloom of superstition, or the wilds of enthusiasm. To keep this principle warm, but pure, to teach it as the gospel has taught it,' the mother of good works,' as encouraging, not excusing our duties, the guide at the same time, and the sweetness of life: to dispense this sacred treasure as the balm of distress, the cordial of disease, the conqueror of death! These are the privileges which I enjoy, which I hope I have used for the good of my people they have hitherto shed satisfaction on my life, and I trust will smooth its close !"

""Tis the religion of a Christian !" said Miss. Caustic. Lounger.

SECTION IV.

Religion and Superstition contrasted.

A VISION.

I HAD lately a very remarkable dream, which made so strong an impression on me, that I remem ber every word of it; and if you are not better em ployed, you may read the relation of it as follows,

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I thought I was in the midst of a very entertaining set of company, and extremely delighted in attending to a lively conversation, when, on a sudden, F perceived one of the most shocking figures that imagination can frame, advancing towards me. She

was dressed in black, her skin was contracted into a thousand wrinkles, her eyes deep sunk in her head, and her complexion pale and livid as the countenance of death. Her looks were filled with terror and unrelenting severity, and her hands armed with whips and scorpions. As soon as she came near, with a horrid frown, and a voice that chilled my very blood, she bade me follow her. I obeyed, and she led me through rugged paths, beset with briers and thorns, into a deep solitary valley. Wherever she passed, the fäding verdure withered beneath her steps; her pestilential breath infected the air with malignant vapours, obscured the lustre of the sun, and involved the fair face of heaven in universal gloom. Dismal howlings resounded through the forest; from every baleful tree, the night raven uttered his dreadful note; and the prospect was filled with desolation and horrör. In the midst of this tremendous scene, my execrable guide addressed me in the following manner. "Retire with me, O rash, unthinking mortal! from the vain allurements of a deceitful world; and learn, that pleasure was not designed the portion of human life. Man was born to mourn and to be wretched. This is the condition of all below the stars; and whoever endeavours to oppose it, acts in contradiction to the will of heaven. Fly then from the fatal enchantments of youth and social delight, and here consecrate the solitary hours to lamentation and wo.

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sery is the duty of all sublunary beings; and every enjoyment is an offence to the Deity, who is to be worshipped only by the mortification of every sense. of pleasure, and the everlasting exercise of sighs and tears."

This melancholy picture of life quite sunk my spirits, and seemed to annihilate every principle of

joy within me. I threw myself beneath a blasted yew, where the winds blew cold and dismal round my head, and dreadful apprehensions chilled my heart. Here I resolved to lie till the hand of death, which I impatiently invoked, should put an end to the miseries of a life so deplorably wretched. In this sad situation I espied on one hand of me a deep muddy river, whose heavy waves rolled on in slow, sullen murmurs. Here I determined to plunge; and was just upon the brink, when I found myself suddenly drawn back. I turned about, and was surprised by the sight of the loveliest object I had ever beheld. The most engaging charms of youth and beauty ap-peared in all her form; effulgent glories sparkled in her eyes, and their awful splendours were softened by the gentlest looks of compassion and peace. At her approach, the frightful spectre, who had before tor-mented me, vanished away, and with her all the hor-. rors she had caused. The gloomy clouds brightened. into cheerful sunshine, the groves recovered their verdure, and the whole region looked gay and blooming as the garden of Eden. I was quite transported at this unexpected change, and reviving pleasure began to gladden my thoughts; when, with a look of inexpressible sweetness, my beauteous deliverer thus. uttered her divine instructions.

"My name is RELIGION. I am the offspring of TRUTH and Love, and the parent of BENEVOLENCE, HOPE, and Joy. That monster, from whose power I have freed you, is called SUPERSTITION: she is the child of DISCONTENT, and her followers are FEAR and SORROW. Thus, different as we are, she has often the insolence to assume my name and character ;: and seduces unhappy mortals to think us the same, till she, at length drives them to the borders of DESPAIR, that dreadful abyss into which you were just going to sink."

"Look round, and survey the various beauties of the globe, which heaven has destined for the seat of the human race; and consider whether a world thus

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