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city. So will a church, destitute of spiritual life, retain its corrupt members, however deathly and deformed they may appear to the sight: whilst a church instinct with spiritual life, though it may for a while bear with a sickly member; yet, when recovery is hopeless, and its continuance would endanger the safety of the rest, will throw it off by the exercise of a salutary discipline."-p. 270, 271.

The work before us is not wholly free from blemishes in point of composition. The author's rigorous regard-his overreaching anxiety-for the smaller accuracies of language and the elegancies of style, not unfrequently detract both from the freedom and point of his happiest passages -giving them a certain air of formality and stiffness, with which we could well dispense.

REVIEW. Preparation for Sufferings;

or, the Best Work in the Worst Times. Second Edition. Dublin Tract Society.

12mo. 1833.

THAT sufferings, both bodily and mental, are the lot of humanity, the testimony of scripture and reason abundantly confirm. But whatever may be their nature or their intensity, the mind well grounded in the hope of a glorious immortality through faith in the merits of the Redeemer, and looking at the glory that shall follow, will "hold out stedfast unto the end," and say with joy, "it was good for me that I was afflicted."

To illustrate this position by a variety of sound, convincing, and scriptural arguments, and examples, is the aim of this well-timed publication. Its appearance at the present period, is peculiarly_appropriate, for though the people of God are exempt from the fiery trials of absolute persecution, yet the spirit of the times, the great prevalence of profession over possession, and the crying sins of the nation, threaten us with the righteous judgment of God, and call upon every true soldier of Jesus Christ to be upon his watch-tower, clothed with the whole armour of God, and prepared to meet with constancy and resolution those sufferings which appear to be preparing for him.

The work is anonymous, and we might be led, from several peculiarities of the style, particularly a fondness for metaphor, and extensive quotation of scripture, and especially of the prophets, that it was a reprint from some one of those valuable treatises written by the non-conformist divines, in the period of persecution immediately succeeding the Restoration, when numbers of godly ministers were ejected from their livings, and exposed to severe and unmerited sufferings, because, having 2D. SERIES, No. 32.-VOL. IIL

been bred up under the reign of the Puritans, they could not conscientiously conform to the rites and ritual of the Established Church. This, however, after the most diligent inquiry, we do not find to be the case.

end of the Lord, in exposing his people to The author, speaking of the motive and sufferings during times of political tumult, thus "justifies the ways of God to man:".

"Though the blood of many saints has been shed for Christ, and their souls under the altar continue crying, 'How long, Lord; how long!' yet there may be many more coming on behind, in the same path of suffering by persecution, though it be not always tracked with blood, before the mystery of God be finished: and, notwithstanding this quiet interval, the clouds may return again after the rain. Thus you see to what grievous suffering the merciful God has sometimes called his dearest people.

"We may not now expect extraordinary calls to suffering work, as some of the saints had of old, Gen. xxii. 2. Acts ix. 16; but when our way is so shut up by the Lord, that we cannot avoid suffering, but by stepping over the hedge of his command, God will have us look upon that perplexity to which we are reduced, as his call to suffering. And if the reasons be demanded, why the Lord, who is inclined to mercy, does often hedge in his own people, by his providence, in a suffering path; let us know, that in so doing, He does both, "1st, Set forth his own glory.

"2ndly, Promote his people's happiness.

"First, Hereby the most wise God does set forth the glory of his own name, proving and clearing up the righteousness of his ways by the sufferings of his own people. By this the world shall see, that how well soever God loves them, he will not indulge or countenance their sins. If they will be so rebellious and ungrateful as to abuse his favours, he will show his just displeasure, and make them suffer for their sins, and, by those sufferings, will provide for his own glory, which was by them clouded in the eyes of the world. He hates not any sin the less, because it is found in his own people, but will afflict them in this life, and thus draw them to himself, that they may not be condemned with the wicked: the following Scripture proves this. You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities,' Amos iii. 2. And though, for the magnifying of his mercy, he will pardon their sins, yet for the clearing of his righteousness, he will take vengeance upon their inventions: Psa. xcix. 8. Moreover, by exposing his people to such grievous sufferings, God shows forth the glory of his power in their support, and manifests his wisdom, in the marvellous ways of their escape and deliverance. It is wonderful, indeed, how the Church exists under such fierce and frequent assaults as are made upon it by enemies.

6

"Moses said, 'I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt,' Exod. iii. 3. That flaming bush was a lively picture of the oppressed church in Egypt; the flames denoted the bush, unconsumed in the flames, signified the heat of their persecution, the remainder of the

wonderful power of God in their preservation: no people are so favoured, so protected, so delivered, as the people of God. Much less opposition than that which has been made against the church, has overturned, and utterly destroyed many of the mighty kingdoms of the world.

"And no less admirable is the wisdom of God, in bringing to nought, and defeating, the most deep and desperate designs of satan, and satan's servants, against His saints. Now you may see the most wise God overcoming a malicious and subtle

devil, overturning in a moment the deep-laid designs and contrivances of many years, and that, at the very time when they were, to all appearance, about to prove successful. Read in the book of 3 c 176.-VOL. XV.

Esther these facts; see there how deep-laid was the design and contrivance to destroy the Jews: how wonderful was their deliverance!

"God snares the wicked in the work of their own hands, and makes their own tongues to fall upon them; and He effects such marvellous salvation for his people, as may well indeed fill men with astonishment and wonder: When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream,' Psa. cxxvi. 1.

"Secondly, As God provides for his own glory, by the sufferings and troubles of his saints, so he promotes their happiness, and greatly advances their interests thereby.

"For these troubles are ordered as so many occasions and ways of mortifying the corruptions that are in the hearts of the people of God: there are rank weeds springing 'up in the best soil, which need such winter-weather to rot them. And certainly, if we reckon humility, heavenly-mindedness, contempt of the world, and longing desires after heaven, to be the proper disposition of the Church, and therefore to tend to its real interest and advantage, then it would seem that nothing so much promotes its interest, as a suffering condition does: adversity kills those corruptions which prosperity nourishes.

"Again, By these sufferings and trials, the sincerity of the saints is made known to their joy and satisfaction; many a doubt and fear, which had long entangled and perplexed them, is removed and answered. When adversity has given them deep experience of their own hearts, one sharp trial, wherein God helps them to be faithful, will do more, perhaps, to satisfy their fears, and resolve their doubts, than all that ever they before experienced in their lives could do. The time of suffering is so fit and favourable a season, that the message of the gospel will be then, under the Divine blessing, received, which before was not, or was but little regarded. It will then so pierce quick to the heart, that a Minister or pious friend may then be heard, and that message find an easier entrance to the affections.

"Again, As the patience and faith of the Thessalonian Christians while suffering in the cause of Christ, and for conscience' sake, was 'a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God,' 2 Thess. i. 4, 5, it fully proves that God will judge the world in righteousness, and rectify all the disorders which now appear, though he leaves his faithful people to suffer, and their enemies to persecute them for a time. He permits His people to be afflicted and persecuted, in order to prove their faith, who shall at length be counted worthy to inherit the kingdom of everlasting glory.

"Again, These sufferings and trials of the Church, are ordained to free it from the abundance of hypocrites, which are its reproach, as well as its burden it is thus written: For, lo, I will com. mand, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth. All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, which say the evil shall not overtake nor prevent us,' Amos ix. 9, 10. Affliction is a furnace in which the dross is separated from the pure and noble gold. Multitudes of hypocrites are cherished by the church's prosperity; but they show vanity and emptiness in the time of its adversity. Many gaudy professors grow within the enclosure of the church, like beautiful flowers in the field, where they stand during its peace and prosperity, in the pride and bravery of their gifts and professions; but the wind passes over them, and; they are gone, and their places shall know them no more. der and lightning are very terrible, but exceedingly useful to purify and cleanse the air."-p. 18 to 23. The due preparation of the heart is thus ably and forcibly described :

Thun

"St. Paul said, 'I am ready.' O blessed frame of spirit! How hard, but how happy is it to have a heart in such a state ! Many a man will say, I would be ready, and may the Lord make me

ready for sufferings;' but few can say, 'I am ready, my heart is prepared and fitted for such a work of suffering.' Yet we should not be discouraged for this example of Paul, who was a man of like passions' with us, shows us that it is the privilege of the Christian to possess such a state of mind. What a blessing it is to possess it! This we may learn from the following considerations:

"Readiness for sufferings will bring the heart of a Christian to a holy rest and peace, in a suffering hour, and prevent that distressing anxiety, and distraction of mind, which cast the sinking weight into the scale of his afflictions. The more familiar readiness we have with cares, fears, and troubles before our sufferings come, the more calm, quiet, and composed we are likely to be when our sufferings come indeed.

"Job was a man who had deep and large experience in the school of suffering affliction: but his day of prosperity was a day of preparation for adversity. He says, 'For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came,' Job iii. 25, 26. In like manner the prophet Habakkuk stood upon his watch-tower; he made his observations upon the probable events of the providence of God, whereby he got a clear foresight of those troublesome days that were at hand; which, though it made him tremble in himself, yet it gave him rest in the day of trouble, Hab. iii. 16, 17, 18.

"It is a singular mercy for a man to find rest in his spirit and conscience, to enjoy inward peace, and tranquillity of mind, when all is trouble around him and the way to obtain this is, in humble faith, to foresee, count upon, and make due preparation for times of trial and distress beforehand : it greatly adds to the bitterness of misery to feel it coming on us by surprise, before we fear it: those calamities that find men secure, do usually leave them desperate. Yet this is the common case with men: it is written, 'For man also knoweth not his time; as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them,' Eccles. ix. 12. Thus perished the old world; there was but one Noah who made preparation before the flood, and he only, with his family, was preserved in it: all the rest were eating, drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage, until the flood came, and swept them all away, Matt. xxiv. 38. Men shrink from considering beforehand the judgments of God; but because it is all quiet around them to-day, they conclude it shall be so to-morrow. Those that are at rest in their habitation, and have got a safe pillow under their heads, are apt to fall asleep in security, and dream pleasantly of continued rest and peace, and they are loth to interrupt their worldly pleasures with serious thoughts of future sufferings.

"Oh, then, look out for days of visitation; prepare for a storm, and provide you an ark, a hidingplace in Christ, as ever you expect rest and peace in your souls, when the earth shall be full of tumults, uproars, and desolations! It is in such a case that Christ delights to reveal himself to his faithful, confiding, waiting people. Oh, how many mysteries does He reveal to them who walk with him, which those who are strangers to him never know! Mysteries of wisdom-mysteries of love and saving grace-mysteries of scripture-mysteries of providence-mysteries felt by inward experience, and mysteries revealed by faith!

"Our preparation for sufferings is an excellent proof of the honesty and sincerity of our hearts, in the matter of religion: he that reckons upon approaching sufferings, and is continually at work with his own heart, mortifying its corruptions, weaning its affections from worldly things, exciting and making ready its suffering graces, resolving in the strength of God, to take his lot with Christ, wherever, and howsoever matters may fall out, this is the man that has deliberately closed with Christ upon his own terms, and is likely to be the

REVIEW.-LETTER TO ROBERT GRAY, D.D. BISHOP OF BRISTOL. 387

stedfast, resolved, and victorious Christian."— p. 26 to 29.

The following striking and elevated picture of the sufficiency of divine grace, not barely to support the Christian in times of suffering and seasons of affliction, but to enable him, with the noblest heroism, even to "triumph in Christ," must close our extracts :

"No man is prepared to suffer hard things for Christ, until his spirit be enlarged, raised, and ennobled, so that he is able to overcome temptations, trials, and difficulties. The low, and selfish spirit must be removed, and a generous, disinterested spirit must possess him. If a man be of a feeble and cowardly spirit, every little danger will daunt and sink him; feebleness and fearfulness are as unsuitable to a Christian as to a soldier. This is

the exhortation of the Apostle Paul to Timothy, Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ,' 2 Tim. ii. 3. They who mean to enter into the kingdom of God, must resolve to break through all the opposing front which satan raises. The true Christian counts the cost, and knows that 'all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.' They who wish to be crowned with victory, should regard this exhortation, Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong,' 1 Cor. xvi. 13.

"Look over all the sacred history, and see if you can find a man that ever honoured Christ by suffering, that was not of a raised and noble spirit, and able to despise and resist both the allurements and threats of men, and to count all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus. So did those three noble Jews, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who refused to fall down and worship the golden image which Nebuchadnezzar, the king, had set up. So did Moses, who feared not the wrath of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. So did Elijah, who boldly withstood Ahab, king of Israel, and the prophets of Baal. So did the Apostle Paul, who boldly bore a testimony for Christ, before the rulers of the Jews, and the Roman Governor. And the same heroic and brave spirit was found in the succeeding ages, amongst those who were witnesses of Christ. When Valence the Emperor endeavoured to draw Basil from the faith of Christ, by offers of worldly preferment, Offer these things,' said he, 'to children:'-when he threatened him with torments, threaten these things,' said he, 'to your purple gallants that live delicately.' And the same Basil, relating the story of the forty Martyrs, says, that when great honours and preferments were offered to them, to draw them from Christ, their answer was, 'Why offer you these small things of the world to us, O Emperor, when you know the whole world is contemned by us! So did Luther; money could not tempt him, nor the fear of man daunt him. 'Let me,' said he in his letter to Staupicius, be accounted proud, covetous, a murderer, guilty of all vices, rather than of wicked silence and cowardice in the cause of Christ.' Thus you see to what a height, and holy greatness, the spirits of suffering saints, in all ages, have been raised."-p. 62.66.

Such are the considerations urged in the valuable little volume, with which the judgment of every true Christian must concur; and in strongly recommending it to the diligent perusal of our readers, we are happy to bear testimony to its effect on our own feelings. There is a degree of richness and genuine piety throughout its pages, which remind us of the purest and best ages of the Christian Church.

REVIEW.-A Letter to Robert Gray, D.D. Lord Bishop of Bristol. By Jacob Stanley. 1833. Mason. London. 2d Edition.

THIS little tract is designed as an answer to a work by the Bishop of Bristol, published and circulated by the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge. It is a very complete exposure of the inaccuracy, logical and theological, chargeable on the Bishop, and is written in a style which, but for the name on the title-page, we should have attributed to Mr. Beverley. We have only room to recommend it as an able and well-written pamphlet, and to quote one passage as a specimen of the views both of the Bishop and his oppo

nent:

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'My Lord, St. Paul says, "when ye read ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ.' I have read your dialogue with great attention, to endeavour to understand your Lordship, though I fear but with little success. Some things indeed I do understand. Two things in particular, viz.:That you think yourself called of God to the priest's office as was Aaron; and entitled to tithes as he was. But are you sure, my Lord, that you are right in so thinking? Aaron was appointed a high priest by the express command of God. Did He ever thus appoint your Lordship? Shew us the divine mandate. When Aaron was consecrated, a young bullock and two rams were slain and presented as a burnt-offering to the Lord. What rams or bullocks were offered at your Lordship's consecration? The priest's work was to slay and burn and pour out the blood of the sacrifices: to supply with oil, and light and snuff the sacred lamps. Is this, my Lord, the work in which you are employed? Alas! my Lord, there is not one point of resemblance between your call and that of Aaron, either as it regards its origin, or its circumstances, or its work, or its design. Besides, his priesthood was typical of the priesthood of Jesus Christ, who by his death hath for ever abrogated all Aaronical priest's. The Aaronical call terminated eighteen hundred years ago; and, therefore, it is perfectly clear that, unless your Lordship be as old as the wandering Jew, you never had it.

"Yet having, as you suppose, this call, you conclude that you are entitled to the tenth of the produce of the land, as the Aaronical priests were. That they had a divine right to tithes is certain, because He to whom the world belongs, said they should have them. But where has he said that Christian ministers shall have tithes? Has he said so in the commission which he gave to his disciples? No. Has he said so in the writings of any of the inspired Apostles? No. Not one word has either Jesus Christ or his Apostles said upon the subject. Tithes, therefore, in support of the Christian ministry, are not divine in their origin.

"I wonder, my Lord, at your imprudence in introducing the subject of tithes for though I admit the right of a nation, if it think proper to have a national church, to provide for its ministers

by an impost either upon the land or upon any other portion of its property; yet it must also be admitted that he who can create can also destroy,that the nation who appointed such a church, and so amply provided for her ministers, can, if they please, on finding that the ministers of that church do not answer the end for which they were ap

pointed, withdraw that support, and appropriate the funds which had been unprofitably applied, in a way which shall be more beneficial to the nation. Now, suppose the nation generally should be of opinion, that it would be more for the interests of morality and piety that we had no state religion who can deny their right to make the change? And

what evil would arise from it? I am aware it would exclude many younger brothers in the aristocracy and elsewhere, as also many individuals who are unfit for anything else,

"For any colour will dye black;" But instead of this being an evil, would it not rather be a great good? It would keep out the incompetent, and those who enter the church for purposes sordid and sinister. Were ministers in the Establishment to be dependent as other ministers are upon the voluntary support of their people, those of them who are true ministers of Christ would be amply supported, and would live in the affections of their people, whilst the play-going, horse-racing, fox-hunting, dancing, and fiddling priests, would, in general, be under the necessity of turning their attention to something else."

REVIEW.-The Voice of Humanity. Pub lished Quarterly by the Association for Promoting Rational Humanity towards the Animal Creation. Vol. III. Nisbet. 1833.

THE perusal of the publications of this benevolent Society has reminded us strongly of the aphorism, that one half of mankind live in ignorance of what the other half are doing. We certainly had no conception, before, of the degree of cruelty and horrid suffering to which our domestic and most serviceable animals are constantly subjected. We cordially rejoice, however, in the institution and labours of the Society whose periodical reports are now before us; and we have no hesitation in saying, that it is only necessary for the public to become acquainted with these publications, in order to have their interest powerfully excited towards the objects of the association. They appear to us, moreover, to be contemplating the wisest and most effectual means for suppressing the evil. They direct their views almost entirely to parliament, con. vinced that the prosecution of particular cases of cruelty must be of but limited advantage. It has, however, become, and we hope it is increasingly felt to be, the bounden duty of the legislature to interpose for the suppression of those unheard-of cruelties which are now systematically practised.

The institution of several cattle markets in the city of London, and of suburban abattoirs, or slaughter-houses, are among the chief plans suggested by this Society; and in prosecution of the latter scheme, they have recently obtained the plans of the abattoirs in the vicinity of Paris, which they have put into our hands. They appear to us to combine all the conveniences that the circumstances require, and to deserve the attention and imitation of our government.

We are pleased to see, attached to this Association, the names of some of our most eminent countrymen; and we trust their intervention, both in their personal and public capacity, will speedily effect the object in contemplation.

REVIEW.-Personal Religion Vindicated,

in relation to Christian Baptism. By Isaiah Birt. London: Bagster and Wightman, Paternoster Row; and Showell, Birmingham. 1833. pp. 64,

8vo.

THE sight of this pamphlet brought to our recollection the saying of one of the ancients, Job xxxii. 7. "I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom." The venerable author, we understand, is looked up to as the father of the denomination to which he belongs, and has for many years occupied a distinguished place in most of their deliberations. He is now, at an advanced age, retiring from the more prominent station which he has long filled with honour to himself and the profit of many, and looking forward to that solemn period, when he shall be called upon to render up his account to the chief Shepherd and Bishop of souls. It is delightful to see, from the pages of this pamphlet, how age, reflection, experience, and, above all, the grace of God, have combined their influence on the fruits of his pen: refining, sublimat ing, and infusing into them an unction of genuine piety, approaching to the characteristic simplicity of the writers of the New Testament. Here is a pamphlet which discusses a controverted subject, peculiarly distinguished, in former ages, by "the wormwood and the gall" which it elicited; yet the severest critic will not be able to detect throughout Mr. Birt's pages an angry word or uncourteous expression. He deeply

laments that a difference of sentiment should exist between him and his Pædobaptist brethren on an ordinance which they both acknowledge to be of Divine appointment; and while he carefully abstains from contesting the mode of administering baptism, confines himself to the means of ascertaining its proper subjects. The main objects of inquiry, to which his pages are directed, are thus stated in a short preface:

"Whether unconsciousness and neutrality, which are inadmissible in every other vocation, are compatible with the Christian profession and the kingdom of God?

"Whether men have influence, power, or authority, to communicate Christianity otherwise than by instruction; namely, by teaching and preaching the gospel?

"Whether all mankind, however related or circumstanced, do not, without exception or distinction, stand in equal need of pardoning mercy and sanctifying grace?

"Whether the ordinance of baptism is an exception in the gospel scheme, or a congenial and vital member of that spiritual, divine, and heavenly system?

"Whether the renewing of the Holy Spirit, with repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ, be not the commencement of all real religion upon earth, and of that which alone will terminate in everlasting life?

"Whether it can be pleasing to God, or beneficial to men, to teach them to esteem any circumstance, or service, previous to the new birth, as constituting a

part, or partaking of the nature, of the religion of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? And,

"Whether the profession of Christianity ought to be a matter of mere imposition, or, without exception, of free conviction and choice?"

That all these are highly important considerations, and intimately connected with personal religion, and "the answer of a good conscience towards God," will be denied by no one who thinks seriously and examines them carefully. As it cannot be expected of us, however, to take any share in the baptismal controversy, we content ourselves with recommending Mr. Birt's pamphlet to the notice of our readers, which, had it no other inviting quality than the excellent temper and spirit in which it is written, would amply repay their labour.

REVIEW.-The Poetical Works of John Milton; to which is prefixed a Biographical Sketch of the Author. Magnet edition. 12mo. pp. 524. Clark, London.

1833.

Ir has been observed, and not without some justice, that in our day of cheap literature, mere trash is too frequently made a substitute for sterling knowledge. Some persons, indeed, think themselves privileged to feed the intellectual appetite with empty publications, which, without affording much profit to the reader, yield by far the greater share to themselves; who disprove by their full pockets the philosophical axiom, er nihilo nihil fit. But while too much of this is going forward in the world, we rejoice that cheap literature produces many worthy exceptions-many works which are highly honourable to their projectors. In this class must certainly be included the volume before us. It contains all the English poetical works of Milton, viz.: Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained, Samson, Comus, his Miscellaneous Poems, Translations, Sonnets, and Psalms. There is also a Memoir of Milton, together with a wellengraved portrait: and when we consider the quality of the paper, the neatness of the printing, and the elegance of the binding, the only wonder is, that its price is no more than 3s. 6d. It will form an appropriate present to youths; who ought early to be instructed in the best authors, especially poetical authors, that their feelings, sentiments, and language may become refined, while their ideas become enlarged, and their souls exalted. We would always recommend parents to place in the hands of their sons the Paradise Lost, that by an early acquaintance they may learn to drink in its beauties; nor let them regret if Homer become insipid after reading Milton. But while they can have Milton complete, with

out any addition to the charge, the present volume prefers higher claims than any edition of that single poem. We understand that the series will be continued as

heretofore in weekly numbers, thereby offering to those whose shelves are destitute of the British Poets an opportunity of rescuing themselves from the disgrace, and rendering them inexcusable if the deficiency of that, which all things obey, has hitherto been the only obstacle.

BRIEF SURVEY OF BOOKS.

1. Facts Not Fables, by C. Williams, (London, Westley and Davis, 1833.) The early impression of moral principles is a most important object in education; and no means, calculated to forward such an end, will be omitted by those who recognize in their office, as instructors of children, the degree of responsibility really attaching to it. The little volume before us, we think calculated to effect this design by addressing the minds of its youthful readers in narrative, and so fixing its truths upon their memories. It is nicely got up, well printed, and the cuts, of which there are upwards of twenty, generally well executed. The tales are not so long as to fatigue the attention of a child, and each serves to illustrate a useful moral lesson. We cordially recommend it to those who have the well-being of the rising generation at heart.

2. Christian Melodies, Part I. & II., (Simpkin and Marshall, 1833,) two very elegant little volumes embellished with neat engravings, and well suited as presents for children. The poetical contents are very select. The names of Cowper, Henry Kirke White, and Montgomery, (we refer to the Poet,) are a sufficient guarantee for its excellence. We think them equally calculated to improve the taste of the young, and to inspire some better feelings.

3. A Father's Present to his Son, by the Author of a "Mother's Present to her Daughter," "the Sacred Harp, &c." (Wakeman, Dublin, 1833,) an interesting and tasteful selection of moral scraps from the writings of Sir Walter Scott, Mr. Coleridge, Dr. Clarke, Professor Wilson, and others, dedicated by the editor to his mother, with great simplicity and affection.

4. Sonnets, by John Hurrey, (Whittaker, 1833.) Were there no other reason for advising this author to abandon poetical composition, we should do so, on the simple ground that nature has denied him an ear. If he counts the lines of most of his sonnets, (14 and 15, for example,) he will find almost every alternate line two or three syllables in excess or defect.

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