These are to certifie his majesties Justices of the Peace for the County of Norfolk, that our appointed places for meeting and performance of public worship are these, vizt., a house att Mr. Thomas Ivys, in Eastern Branch; a house belonging to Richard Phillpot, in Tanner's Creek Precincts; and a house belonging to John Roberts, in the Western Branch. Given under my hand this 22d day of June, 1692.

JOSIAS MACKIE.

Publicly read in Court, and ordered to be recorded, 15th August, 1692. Test. WILLIAM PORTER, C. C.

These are to certifie his Majestie's Justices for Norfolk County, that I, the subscriber, Josias Mackie, Minister, Doe pitch upon a house belonging to John Dickson, in Southern Branch, as one of the appointed places of meeting for preaching the Gospel, and I desire it bee recorded. Given under my hand, this 3d day of November, 1696.

Jos. MACKIE. The abovesaid being presented and read in Court, 18th November, 1696, is ordered to be committed to record.

Testee: MALA. THRUSTOW, C. C.
May 19, 1697.

Whereas, there was a difference depending last court betwixt Josiah Mackie, plt., and Francis Sayer, and Frances, his wife, Administratrix of George Newton, dec'd, for a bond of 40t. to stand and abide an award, and referred to this Court for the defendants to produce what objections he could, who now, produces attks, prays an audit, whereby the consent of both ptyes; refer'd to this day for report of the audit reported as refered to Peter Hobson and Arthur Moseley, who bring in their report that some particulars in the said Sayer's account was referd to the Court for proof, which being proved then the balance due to the said Mackie, is 5223t. tobaco, which is proved by the oaths of Mr. Thomas Butt: It is, therefore, ordered, that the said Sayer doe pay to the said Mackie out of the estate of the said Newton, the said sum of 5223t. of tobaco, with cost, als. Ex, and ordered the account audited, and report to bee recorded.

THE PUBLICATION OF THE SCRIPTURES ENCOURAGED BY THE OLD CONGRESS.

In the year 1782, the Congress of the United States, by a formal act, gave their sanction to the publication of the Scriptures, and to their general dissemination through the country. The fact is worthy to be had in everlasting remembrance by all our fellow-countrymen, and should have the effect to influence all classes of them to enlist heartily in this most patriotic and humane enterprise. Subjoined we give the correspondence relating to this matter as taken from the records of Congress :

"By the United States in Congress assembled, Sept. 12, 1782. The committee to whom was referred the memorial of Robert Aitken, printer, dated 21st Jan., 1781, respecting an edition of the Holy Scriptures, report:

"That Mr. Aitken has, at a great expense, now finished an American edition of the Holy Scriptures in English. That the committee have

from time to time attended to his progress in the work-that they also recommended it to the two chaplains in Congress to examine and give their opinion of the execution, who have accordingly reported thereon, the report and recommendation being as follows:

"Phil., Sept. 1st, 1782.

"Rev. Gentlemen :-Our knowledge of your piety and spirit leads us without an apology to recommend to your particular attention the edition of the Holy Scriptures published by Mr. Aitken. He undertook this expensive work, at a time when, from the circumstances of the war, an English edition of the Bible could not be imported, nor any opinion formed how long the obstruction might continue. On this account, particularly, he deserves applause and encouragement. We therefore wish you, Rev. Gentlemen, to examine the execution of the work, and, if approved, give it the sanction of your judgment, and the weight of your recommendation.

"We are, with very great respect, your most obedient humble JAMES DUANE, Chairman,

servant.

(Signed)

"In behalf of a Committee of Congress on Mr. Aitken's memorial. "Rev. Dr. White, and Rev. Mr. Duffield, chaplains of the United States in Congress assembled.'

"Report:-Gentlemen-Agreeably to your desire, we have paid attention to Mr. Robert Aitken's impression of the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. Having selected and examined a variety of passages throughout the work, we are of opinion that it is executed with great accuracy as to the sense, and with as few typographical errors as could be expected in an undertaking of such magnitude. Being our selves witnesses of the demand for the invaluable Book, we rejoice in the present prospect of a supply; hoping that it will prove as advantageous as it is honourable to the gentleman who has exerted himself to furnish it at the evident risk of a private fortune.

"We are, gentlemen, your very respectful humble servants.

"Phil., Sept. 10, 1782.

(Signed)

GEO. DUFFIELD.
WM. WHITE.

"Hon. James Duane, Esq., Chairman, and the other honourable gentlemen of the Committee of Congress on Mr. Aitken's memorial.'

"Whereupon Resolved, That the United States, in Congress assembled, highly approve the pious and laudable undertaking as subservient to the interest of religion, as well as an instance of the progress of the arts in this country, and, being satisfied from the above report, of his care and accuracy in the execution of the work, they recommend this edition of the Bible to the inhabitants of these United States, and hereby authorize him to publish this recommendation in the manner he shall think proper. CHAS. THOMSON, Secretary."

Review and Criticism.

A COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS. BY CHARLES HODGE, D.D. New York: Robert Carter & Brothers. pp. 398. For sale by William S. and Alfred Martien, 144 Chestnut St., Philadelphia.

Dr. Hodge's eminent qualifications as a critical commentator were fully established by his Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans. And his other able productions since have prepared the Christian public to anticipate a mature, well-digested, and scholarly performance on whatever he might choose to write. This expectation will be realized by the perusal of the present volume. It is just what the student needs to aid him in exploring the profound mysteries contained in this golden epistle. After an appropriate introduction, the plan of the work is to divide the chapters into sections, which are longer or shorter according to the connection. The matter of each section is developed first in the form of an analysis, and secondly, of a commentary; the former consisting of a general view of the sense, and the latter of a particular exposition of each verse, with its several words and phrases, which, for the convenience of the reader, are printed in Greek as well as English. The prominent characteristics of the exegesis are,

1. Extensive learning, but without a display of erudition.

2. Brevity and precision accompanied with clearness and ease of comprehension.

3. A felicitous blending of the exegetical and didactic, the critical and practical; thus affording pleasure and profit to the common reader as well as to the scholar.

We need not say how difficult it is to unite these several excellencies, or what qualities of mind are requisite to enable an author to do it. They are partly intellectual and partly moral; partly natural and partly acquired. And among those which are acquired, some are derived from books, and others from the Holy Spirit. Much as we value the former, we place a far higher estimate on the latter. How can a commentator of the Holy Scriptures, obtain or impart to others, the full force, beauty, and power of the word of God, unless he is both enlightened and led by the Holy Spirit? In this particular most German critics are seriously defective, and the same vital defect may be seen in some American authors, who, in seeking aid from the schools of Germany, have unhappily lost sight of the necessity of Divine illumination; and hence their commentaries, with a show of much learned research, are jejune and frigid. The reader will see that Dr. Hodge can obtain all the benefits of German lite rature without being injured by its semi-sceptical tendencies, that he can avail himself of what is really valuable, and at the same time reject and refute what is erroneous and hurtful. Such are the commentators needed by the Church; men in whom we can repose confidence as expounders of the sacred volume, and as teachers of our candidates for the Gospel ministry.

We hope Dr. Hodge will continue his valuable labours until he shall furnish our theological students with a similar commentary on each of the epistles, and that the series when complete will be issued from the press in

a uniform style and without abridgment. Such a series, we doubt not, would be eagerly sought by the religious public, and especially by our ministers and candidates. It would also be soon republished in Europe, and be found in hundreds of libraries in England and on the Continent.

MEMOIR OF REGInald Heber, D.D., Bishop of Calcutta. By his Widow. Abridged by a Clergyman. Boston: John P. Jewett & Co. 1856.

The name of Bishop Heber is precious in the Church of Christ. As a rector, a bishop, and a writer, he honoured his Lord. Reginald Heber was born April 21st, 1783, at Malpas, in the county of Chester, England. He completed his education at the University of Oxford. In 1807, he took orders, and was instituted rector of Hodnet in Shropshire. Here he passed the greater part of his ministerial life. In 1819, he composed the famous missionary hymn, "From Greenland's Icy Mountains," under the following circumstances:-"In the course of this year (1819) a royal letter was granted, authorizing collections to be made in every church and chapel of England connected with the establishment, in furtherance of the Eastern operations of the Society for Propagating the Gospel. Mr. Heber went to Wrexham to hear the Dean of St. Asaph preach on the day appointed, and, at his request, wrote a hymn to be sung on the occasion. This was the origin of what is not unfrequently called, emphatically, The Missionary Hymn;' which composure alone has embalmed his memory in the hearts of thousands of Christians in every part of the world.'

In this connection it may be stated that Bishop Heber is the author of several other devotional hymns, scarcely less admired than the missionary hymn, as "By Cool Siloam's Shady Rills;" "Brightest and Best of the Sons of the Morning;" "Thou art gone to the Grave, but we will not Deplore Thee;" "The Lord shall Come, the Earth shall Shake," &c.

Bishop Heber was consecrated Bishop of Calcutta at Lambeth, June 1st, 1823. He immediately entered upon his labours, took a great interest in the "Bishop's College," Calcutta, visited various parts of his diocese as far as Bombay and Ceylon, and was laying out plans of extensive usefulness. In the midst of one of his Diocesan visitations, he was suddenly called to his rest at Trichinopoly, on the 3d of April, 1826, in the 43d year of his age. The following extracts relating to his death will be interesting to our readers :

:

"The Bishop arrived at Trichinopoly on the first of April, where he was kindly received by Mr. Bird, the judge of the circuit. He there found a Christian congregation of about four hundred and ninety natives, under the care of a catechist, with one considerable English and a small Tamul church.

"On Sunday, the 2d of April, the morning after his arrival, the Bishop preached at the Government church, with his usual animation and energy, and without any appearance of languor or incipient disease. In the afternoon he confirmed fortytwo persons, and afterwards addressed them with even more than his wonted earnest and affectionate manner. On his return to Mr. Bird's house after the service, he complained, for the first time, of a slight headache and feeling of languor; and, though there was nothing either in his appearance or manner to occasion uneasiness in those about him, or to justify their entreaties that he would suspend his exertions, yet, as the day had been unusually hot, Mr. Robinson dissuaded him from attending the native congregation, as he had intended doing that evening, and also requested him to give up his examination of the schools on the following morning after divine service.

"At daybreak on the fatal 3d of April, he went to the mission church in the fort, where service was performed in the Tamul language; after which he confirmed fifteen natives in their own language, and again delivered his address on confirmation. He afterwards went to the mission-house and examined into the state of the schools, though without staying in the school-room, as he found it close and disagreeable from having been shut up the preceding day, and left it immediately. He then received an address from the poor Christians, earnestly praying that he would send them a pastor to watch over and instruct them. His answer was given with that gentleness and kindness of heart which never failed to win the affections of all who heard him, promising that he would take immediate measures to provide them with a spiritual guide.

"The Bishop had gone to the fort in a close carriage, so that he could have sustained no injury from the sun. Mr. Robinson was too ill to leave his bed, but he was accompanied by Mr. Dora and conversed with him, both going and returning, with animation and earnestness, on the important duties of missionaries, and on the state of Christianity in the south of India. On his arrival at

Mr. Bird's house, before he took off his robes, he went into Mr. Robinson's room, and, sitting down by his bedside, entered with energy into the concerns of the mission. His interest had been much excited by all which he had seen; he spoke with sorrow of its poverty, and remarked how necessary it was for the Bishop to have regular reports from every mission in India, that he might, at least, know the wants and necessities of all. He said he had seen nothing in the whole of his diocese that so powerfully interested him, and his mental excitement was such that he showed no appearance of bodily exhaustion. He then retired into his own room, and, according to his invariable custom, wrote the date and place on the back of the address on confirmation,-'Trichinopoly, April 3, 1826.' This was his last act, for, immediately on taking off his clothes, he went into a large cold bath, where he had bathed the two preceding mornings, but which was now the destined agent of his removal to Paradise. Half an hour after, his servant, alarmed at his long absence, entered the room and found him a lifeless corpse! Every means to restore animation which human skill or friendship could suggest were resorted to; but the vital spark was extinguished, and his blessed spirit had then entered on its career of immortality, and perhaps was at that moment looking down with fond pity on the exertions of those who would fain have recalled it to its earthly habitation, to endure again the trials and temptations of the world it had left. And, surely, if ever sudden death were desirable, it must be under such circumstances. With a heart full of love towards God and zeal for his service, and of that charity and good will towards mankind which are its certain accompaniments, having just officiated in his sacred office, listened with kindness to the wants of his poor brethren, and detailed some of his plans for their relief, he was called to receive his reward."

The Memoir is composed chiefly of Bishop Heber's letters, which are connected together by a conspicuous narrative.

THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES EXPLAINED. BY JAMES M. McDONALD, D.D., Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Princeton, N. J. New York: M. W. Dodd. 1856. The plan of this work is well conceived, and its execution is highly creditable to its talented and industrious author. The work consists of three parts, an Introduction, a revised Version, and a Commentary. The introduction contains an able argument on the subject of "Immortality revealed in the Hebrew Scriptures." The writer then discusses the authorship of the book of Ecclesiastes, and makes some interesting observations on the life of Solomon. The revised Version is placed side by side with the authorized Version, and the differences are chiefly verbal. The Commentary occupies three quarters of the volume. Dr. McDonald analyzes the book of Ecclesiastes with much skill, and as far as we have examined his observations, they are excellent.