enjoy all that substantial good the world can give. They are necessary to the wants of mankind, and therefore no one wish

creases with them. There are many for whom they must provide food and clothing. They are subjected to the caprice, folly and obstinacy of many de-es to destroy them. They are pendents, who have a power to respected, though not elevated; disturb their peace. With the they find friends in every presincrease of riches, the expenses sing necessity; no one envies attendant on them increase in them, nor are they constaniy greater proportion. More is ex-goaded with the pride of shew, pected from them both by indi- Their bodies rendered healthy viduals and the public; both in by labor, their appetites uncorthe way of justice and liberality. rupted by excess; they find a How true is the wise man's re- greater feast in plain and frugal mark, "What good is there to fare, than the luxurious can in the owners thereof, saving, the all the dai.ties of the earth. It beholding of them with their is not, generally, so with those eyes.' Certainly it is an emp- who have immense riches.ty enjoyment for a man, merely They are weakened by an easy to look on vast possessions, and life; loathe the fullness they think they are under his own possess, and their nights are of control; when a small portion ten sleepless, either through inof what he possesses would as firmities peculiar to their situaperfectly satisfy all those wants, tion, or through care and anxithat are of a nature to be satis-ety to manage to the best adfied, and make him comfort-vantage what they possess. Maable as can be in this disappoint-ny have made the confession, ing, painful world. To court care, and hoard up anxiety is the extreme of folly.

that they find more pain and trouble in preserving their affluence than they did in acquiring

In what a despicable point of view, doth such a confession

Ver. 12. "The sleep of a lait. boring man is sweet, whether he cat little or much; but the abund-place the wealth of the world, ance of the rich will not suffer except so much as is necessary him to sleep." to satisfy the wants of nature!

The writer next describes the vanity of hoarding riches for posterity.

Verses 13, 14. "There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. But those riches perish by evil travail; and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.”

It is evidently the virtuous and industrious poor, whom the wise man here brings into comparison with the idle and luxurious rich. The virtuous and industrious poor rarely feel very pressing want. Their remedy is near, either in their own cheerful labor, or in the kindness of the liberal. To be indolent, vi- | cious and poor, is doubtless, of Whether it be true or not, we all situations the most wretched, know it is a very common exand most to be dreaded. A vir- cuse of those who seek riches tuous and industrious family, al-immoderately, that it is for the though their property be small, sake of their children. They

have enough for themselves, but, tion on this subject, go to the

death-bed of one who hath made riches his idol ;-who hath enslaved his body, his soul, or perhaps both, to gather silver which cannot satisfy. He hath forgotten his God, worshipped the creatures, and committed many sins for his own destruction. Now he must die without a remedy; and die as his poor neighbor dieth, except it be with this discriminating circumstance, the guilt of nisusing the abundant bounties of heaven;

they wish a portion for their families. This excuse is often made, while at bottom, avarice is the real motive; but let it be real, it does not justify the temper. Very often these riches are gathered, and anxiously preserved for the hurt of those children they love. They give to the posterity an early taste for dissipation, prevent their acquiring habits of prudence and industry, and in many instances, absolutely destroy the energy of their minds. Industry and pru-a sin which his poor neighbor dence are a better worldly por- never could commit. tion than all the wealth an anxious parent can transmit. Without these, the greatest wealth will soon be dissipated and "per-prepares him to meet God, nor ish by evil travail," and nothing unburdens his conscience. will be found in the hands of the bribe cannot be accepted before third generation. How often the tribunal of God, or if it this proves true, let the past ob- might, he can carry nothing in servation of the reader deter- his hand. mine.

A very affecting part of this description remains yet to be noticed.

Verses 15, 16, 17. "As he came forth from his mother's womb, naked shail he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labor, which he may carry away in his hand. And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath labored for the wind? All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much scrrow and wrath in his sickness."

Naked came he out of his mother's womb, and naked must he return thither. His wealth neither

A

The truth is strongly expressed.- All his days he lived in anxiety to gain the world, darkness concerning spiritual things, and in his sickness he hath much sorrow, and greatly fears the wrath of God.- -Who, in consideration of such a scene as this, will not feel his love of the world cooled into indifference? Who, for a whole world, would experience the agony of such an hour?

The sin which we have considered, is a common one; and if the observation of those who are acquainted with many nations, If the wise writer had used no may be credited, in no country argument against an immoderate is an immoderate passion for love of riches, beside what these wealth more common than in last verses contain, it would have this. If the observation be true, been sufficient to show the folly we must be sensible that it carand danger of this temper. If ries a bitter reflection on our reaall before doth not give convic-son, our prudence and religion.

The people of Abyssinia or Upper Ethiopia are already nominal Chrisof ignorance, formality and supertians; sunk into the greatest depth stition. From the early ages of the church, perhaps from the apostolic day, they have been called Christian, and in modern times, have discovered great opposition to the church of Rome, which attempted, through the instrumentality of the Portuguese, settled on their coasts, to subject them to papal government. To re-enlighten these ignorant Christians will be a glorious work, still reserved for the friends of the Redeemer and of men.While the Abyssinians need further instruction, it is probable they may be subservient to the introduction of a purer gospel, among the remaining pagan nations of Ethiopia, and the vast countries west and south of them. While great prudence and

[ON the declaration of war by the United States against England, it was apprehended by many, that American Missionaries would not be received in such parts of India as are under British government or influence. The event has proved the conjecture to be too well founded.Whether the present state of war between the two nations was, or was not the only reason; it still, on principles of national policy, may serve as a plausible excuse for the rejec-perseverance are necessary for the tion of our Missionaries, and it is one we have no reason to expect will be surmounted until another state of things takes place. Those who have engaged in the object of christianizing the Heathen, ought not to be discouraged from their purpose, while so many millions of pagans are accessible to them, whose souls are equally precious as the East Indians.

In anticipation of what hath since taken place, Africa hath frequently been mentioned in this Magazine, as a part of the Heathen world, which hath an imperious claim on the benevolence of this country.-We who have been instrumental of reducing so great a number of its sons to slavery, if in our power, ought to repay the injury, by transmitting to it the blessings of Christianity.Our young Missionaries, after their repulse in India, were doubtless judicious in turning their attention to the eastern coasts and Isles of Africa.

The wise providence of God, by disappointing their first purposes, often leads his people to a more extensive sphere of usefulness. In the case of Africa, the field of doing good is immense, and we cannot but hope, that He who is finally to have all the Heathen for his inheritance, will bless the attempt.

work, unceasing prayer should be made to Him who can give them to those who are to be the instruments of its accomplishment.

We have already given (at the 395th & 426th pages of the 5th vol. of this Magazine,) some account of the Abyssinian church, and its controversy with the Roman Catholics, extracted from the CHRISTIAN OBSERVER. From the same publication the following pages are extracted, containing a very interesting account of the Abyssinian church, supposed to be written by Mr. YEATES, a Professor in the University, of Cambridge, England. If it be from the pen of Mr. Yeates, we may rely on its general correctness; and while it is interes ing, it may serve to direct, and keep alive the zeal of Christians in a cause that ought not to be forsaken.] ED.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE CHRIS-
TIAN OBSERVER.

As, sir, you wish to gratify your readers with some useful and authentic information respecting the Ethiopic Christians, and seem to invite such communications, I here transmit to you

Emfras, next to Gondar, from which it is distant a day's jour-laws of the empire continue to ney, is one of the most considerable cities of Abyssinia, and the only one where the Mahometans are allowed the public exercise of their religion, and where their houses are intermixed with those of the Christians.

of the Ethiopic church, but is himself subject to the patriarch of Alexandria in Egypt, by whom he is consecrated and invested with the powers and title of his office. The Abuna is nominated by the Emperor, who is supreme in all ecclesiastical as well as civil affairs.

We may judge of the greatness of the ecclesiastical establishment from this; that, at one ordination, the Abuna is said sometimes to ordain ten thousand priests, and five or six thousand deacons. The whole ceremony of the ordination consists in this: the Abuna, sitting down, repeats the beginning of the Gospel over the heads of such

a Christian prince; and from the extent of his dominions, and the multitude of his subjects, he claims the title of Emperor. It is by virtue of his profession of the Christian faith that he holds the empire, and bears the imperial titles. His motto is, "Jesus, Emperor of Ethiopia, of the Tribe of Judah, victorious;" and this is the seal of the empire, displayed by a lion holding a cross, which are his arms. His titles of embassy to foreign princes amounce his descent, religion, and government, in the usual forms of Oriental magnificence, of which we have a specimen in letters of embassy sent to Pope Clement V1I. and Don Emanuel, King of Portugal, as follows: "David the Beas are made priests, and gives loved of God, Pillar of the Faith, of the blood and line of Judah, Son of David, Son of Solomaou, Son of the Pillar of Sion, Son of the Seed of Jacob, Son of the Hand of Mary, Son of Nahu after the flesh, Emperor of the Great Ethiopia, and of all the kingdoms and countries thereon depending, &c. &c." It may be observed, that formerly, not only Abyssinia, but all Ethiopia, was subject to the Emperor; but these domains having fallen into paganism, were lost to the empire; nevertheless, the title of sovereignty is claimed by all that succeed to the throne of Abyssi-tles. But however this may be,

nia.

Next to the Emperor is the Abuna, i. e. our Father, who is the patriarch, and sole bishop of all Abyssinia he ordains all priests and deacons, appoints them to benefices, nominates the superiors of monasteries, and has an absolute power over the monks, who are there very numerous; he is the only bishop

them his benediction with an iron cross, which he holds in his hand, weighing seven or eight pounds: but as for the deacons, be gives them his benediction without reciting the Gospel.

The Ethiopic church is enti tled to the veneration due to every Christian church of early foundation.

It is a tradition among the Abyssinians, that their empire became Christian in the days of their celebrated Queen Candace, who was converted by the Eunuch baptized by Philip the deacon, as it is recorded in the Acts of the Apos

the constitution of their church, and the purity of its doctrine, bear evident signs of an early original; and though it may not have been of apostolic foundation, yet it probably was planted not later than the expiration of the apostolic age. Ruffinus writes, that their conversion was brought about by the instrumentality of one Frumentius, in the