heterogeneous blending of the orthodox and the seceding being here happily avoided, the blessings of Heaven is of course much more likely to be secured. I will add for your warning, That although the direct and baneful operation which the Bible Society has to interfere with, impede and curtail the inestimable interests of piety, peace, and true religion' may be alarming enough, it would not be difficult to point out some evils and important deficiencies, and more possivilities of evil, extant in, and resulting from, and probabilities of great improvement, lost and precluded by, the Bible Society, even were it in a measure ameliorated. I have given but a selection of calamities; and since a complete exposure might be too tremendous, I had rather the information should ooze out by degrees, than affright you at present with the terrible remainder! We are to infer from this, that any union among those who are all the children of one Father, who partake of one common nature, who are professors of the same faith, and for whom but one Heaven is provided, but who happen to differ in a matter confessedly unimportant, is to be viewed as an evil to be deprecated by the Members of an Establishment, formed to promote the interests of the religion of the Saviour of all men.' It is fortunate, when notions so repugnant to every precept of the Prince of Peace are associated with so little of what can please or convince. This deficiency, and Lord Teignmouth and Mr. Dealtry hav. ing fully noticed every thing in this pamphlet in the least degree deserving attention, seasonably relieve us from the dull employment of further developing its contents, though altogether dull we should not, perhaps, have termed it. The observation on the wisdom and piety of the patronage of the Society (page 8) may seasonably have conduced to afford our muscles some relaxation. We could imagine that the author's sight, when perusing the List of its Patronage, had been injured or in tercepted by a cloud of dust, or a November fog.

For the reason before stated, we

XVIII.

should certainly have wished that so respectable an opposition had not been offered to so impotent an adversary as the Doctor's publication. It is frequently better to suffer such productions to slumber and die unheeded and unoffending, than to invite for them public attention, by investigating their absurdities.

Lord Teignmouth's pamphlet (preseating some trivial inadvertencies of haste) is written in the spirit of the Christian, with the decision and perspicuity of an advocate of truth. Mr. Dealtry's exhibits, with the tenderness of friendship, much ingenuity, copiousness, and eloquence. Both are elegant and sensible; and together form an animating display of the immense benefits flowing from this excellent Institution. To say that they have completely refuted so poor a performance, is certainly allowing them no very great commendation. Their difficulty must have consisted in this, That they had nothing but shadows to destroy. Referring to the Doctor's bitterness and excessive want of candour, his Lordship observes, with very just severity, If your strictures can with justice be applied to the Bible Society, its patrons have indeed incurred a dreadful responsibility; if otherwise, you have a reparation to make for the injus tice of your censures, and the violation of the laws of decorum.' P. 5. Having stated, That no evidence had been adduced of the funds of the Society in Bartlett's Buildings having decreased, his Lordship adds (page 9) Nor is it going too far to say, That the Institution of the British and Foreign Bible. Society has also an indirect tendency to increase the funds of the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge in another way, viz. by exciting the attention of the friends of religion, in all parts of the kingdom, to the infinite importance of the holy Scriptures, and by stimu lating their zeal for the propagation of scriptural truth.' That such has been its tendency, is irresistibly proved by Mr. D. who has enu inerated (p. 19) the receipts and subscriptions of this Society for the last nine years; from which it is

LI

found, that not only have the receipts and subscriptions increased, but the rate of increase has been greatly accelerated since the establishment of the Bible Society.'

In page 1, his Lordship states, I shall take the liberty of adding, for your information, that the original idea of a Bible Society was suggested by the extreme want of Welch Bibles in North Wales, and the despair of ever obtaining them, without resorting to new and extraordinary means for that purpose.'

In page 25, Mr. D. enquires, Is it not the nature of all new societies to display more zeal, energy, and activity than the old? And again, in page 7, alluding to the Bible Societies, formed thro' the influence, and partly for the aid of the Society in London, "Observe what is pass og in Dublin, in Cork, in the province of Ulster, in Edinburgh, in Glas ow, in Birmingham, in Reading, in Nottingham, in Bristol, in Leicester, in Bull, and in Manchester; and then let us enquire, by what sort of logic we are to be arraigned as the enemies of piety, peace, and true religion ?

In page 8, Mr. D. observes,' To the example and efforts of the Society in London, we are authorized to attribute the establishment of another in Philadelphia; which, embracing the same objects, professes also the ulterior view of producing similar establishments throughout the United States of America." We have selected the above passages, merely because they alone will afford a satisfactory an swer to the Docter's epistle our Jimits preclude further extracts from, these interesting pamphlets.

Upon the whole, we cannot but regard the Doctor's Letter as a most contemptible effort to injure, without a scintilla of Reason, under the guise of authority, a Society, the constitution and proceedings of which one might suppose it imposs.ble for the utmost ingenuity of detraction to assail. The motive of the author for its publication (for we presume the advice of his friend was accompanied by reasons) appears in every how so much beclouded, that

we really must hesitate to scrutinize it. The Reasons being completely purged of every thing tending to convince, is a matter which should not perhaps inexorably cendemn, since the subject would not admit of what was more worthy being introduced, and while we most cordially recommend the perusal of these appropriate answers, we must feel happy in being freed from any apprehension of their leading to a source of contamination, from an assurance that, however the Doctor's epistle may violate the feelings of our readers, it affords very comfortable security of not misleading their minds.

The Transactions of the Missionary Society. Number xx1. Price Is.

THI periodical work, of which 21 Numbers have been published, affords the only complete ad official record of its proceedings, and will furnish, to future histórians, materials of an authentic and interesting nature; for it may be hoped that the Missionary Society, together with other similar institutions, will eventually prove the honoured instruments of diffusing the light of the gospel all over the globe.

The Number before us contains An Account of the Missions at severai Stations in South Africa. That which relates to the institution of the two Albrichts, among the Great Namaquas, is singularly interesting. In this instance, as indeed in several others in Africa, we behold a complete refulation of their opinion, bo maintain that it is a hopeless business to preach the gospel to uncivilized Pagans. On the contrary, maiter of fact demonstrates that the gospel is rendered the most effectual means of their civilization. When we take a view of the effect of the gospel at Bethelsdorp, at the Great Orange River, and in the Two Namaquas, we may say, in the words of the late Report of the Directors,

It is impossible to contemplate the outward state of things (especialis at Bethelsdorp) without the most pleasing and grateful emotions. How remarkable is the contrast. which it cxhibits, to the rude and

unproductive condition in which the Missionaries found it a few years ago! What a rapid advance to wards civilization has Christianity produced in so short a space! How greatly has it promoted the comfort of life, and raised the human-character from the lowest state of degradation, to some degree of social order and intellectualimprovement!' This Number also includes pleasing accounts both from the East and the West Indies, and concludes with a short relation of the retirement of several of the missionaries from Olaheite to a neighbouring island; four of the brethren remain ing there. The Directors, we find, are in anxious expectation of further in telligence, The extract from the Journal of the brethren in that island, evinces their steady attachment to the cause in which they are embarked, and affords some reason to hope that a good impression has been made on the minds of the natives. Should Christianity be es tablished in that island, it is probable that the blessing would be extended to many other parts of the vast Pacific Ocean :-' a consummation devoutly to be wish'd.'

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6

quence of his submission of heart to God, between the whole system of Christianity and his own situation and wants: a correspondence of which the merely literary student can of course form no conception, and yet so surprizing and import. ant, that it shall convey more solid satisfaction to his mind than a thousand speculative arguments. The general proposition, or principle,' which the author founds upon the words of the text, is this, That an obedient frame of heart is essentially connected with the success of theological studies. He shews the reasonableness of this principle, by observing, That a cordial assent even to a moral proposition, implies of necessity the combined operation of the understanding and the affections. Bare abstract truth, such as the axioms of Geometry, where the moral duties have no place, and where in consequence there are no prejudices and passions to interfere, may be received alike by a virtuous and a vicious mind; but every position which regulates our conduct in life, can really be acquiesced in only by a man who is in some measure influenced by the dictates of virtue.' He further confirms the of ethics, by the authority of Arisprinciple in reference to the study totle, who, among other thing, requires from the moral student ‘a virtuous disposition.' The author then justly infers, that if in all moral enquiries the principle be well-founded, it must be eminently so with regard to Christianity.' This inference is supported by an appeal to the cases of Cornelius, the Ethiopian Euuuch, and the Bereans; and by several Scripture quotations, ainong which are the following:

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;'--' A good understanding have all they that do his commandments;'- The scorner seeketh wisdom and findeth it not;'

• With the heart, man believeth unto righteousness;'- Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth;'

Receive with meekness the engrafted word,' &c.

In the second part of his discourse, Mr. W. proceeds to apply the principle to some of the most

viz. The guilt and corruption of man;-justification by faith in the atonement and righteousness of Christ; the influences of the Holy Spirit; - and also to the scriptural view of what is implied in Christian obedience. In thus applying the principle, he clearly shews the advantages which the humble, contrite, and obedient student of theology possesses over the proud, the impenitent, and the immoral.

In conclusion, Mr. Wilsou recommends his auditors to look for the causes of the distorted and impious views of religious truth, which are furnished by the Infidel and Socinian, in an alienation of heart from the holiness of the gospel; cautioning them not to determine against the general plan of redemption, from the apparently unfavour able aspect of a particular doctrine, disjoined from its proper connection in the system; and to beware of taking up a prejudice against the truths of Christianity, because of the abuse to which they are exposed, in common with every other good thing, in the hands of enthusiastical, weak, or bad men. Mr. W. also repels the objection which he foresees may be derived from the occasional union of correct speculative views of religious truth with an irreligious conduct. A suitable and serious address to those who have neglected to do the will, and consequently have not known of the doctrine, closes this able and excellent discourse *.

sirous of a comprehension with the Dissenters. After stating the objections of Dissenters, and endeavouring to obviate them, he proposes several expedients, which he thinks would reconcile great numbers of persons to the Established Church. Among these are Chapels of Ease, under the licence of a magistrate, in which the subscribers, or proprietors, should choose the first minister. He proposes, in lieu of tithes, a charge on the rent of land. He recommends the revision of some expressions in the Liturgy, objected to by Nonconformisis, particularly in the offices of baptism and burial; the omission of the Lord's Prayer except once in every service; and the services on the 30th of January and the 29th of May. He goes further, and pro poses, not only that the Established Clergy should be allowed to officiate occasionally in any congregation willing to receive them, but that the English Dissenters and Scots Presbyterians should be permitted to officiate in any church or chapel in the Establishment, on the invitation of the incumbent, under certain conditions and limitations. By these and other regulations, the author says, we might effectually heal the breaches of our British Zion. Thus might we reasonably hope quickly to gain more than pristine vigour, by the great influx of piety, talent, and activity, which would flow through and replenish: all our borders.'

We give full credit to the unknown author of these Remarks for his good intentions; we believe also that the alterations proposed would bring within the pale of the church many who now stand without; but we are far from thinking that the leading members, either of the church or state, entertain any desire to conciliate the Dissenters at the

Missionary Hymns, Composed and Selected for the Public Services at the Annual Meetings of the Missionary Society in London, and for the Monthly Meetings for Prayer in Town and Country. By Order of the Directors. Price 6d.

IT is well known by the friends of missions, that in the year 1795, when the Society was instituted, a few psalms and hymns, adapted to their public meetings, were hastily collected and published: but these having been found insufficient for the purpose, an enlarged collection has been made, comprizing many productions from other hymn books, published by Dr. Rippon, Dr. Williams, and others; including also a considerable number of truly missionary hymus by the Rev. Mr. Kelly, of Dublin, taken (by permission) from his last edition of Hymns on various Passages of Scripture. This collection, which consists of 125 hymns, for the opening of the services, prayer for the

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Christian unity, and concluding hymns,-will be found amply sufficient for the intended purpose. The publication is neatly printed, and is certainly very cheap. It may be hoped that these hymns will tend to enliven the devotion of Christians when they meet, in various parts of our land, to implore the divine blessing on missionary exertions."

Good Thoughts in Bad Times, and Good Thoughts in Worse Times. By T. Fuller, B. D. 18mo, 2s. 6d.

We are glad to see our old friend Dr. Fuller in a new coat; for, tho' he may have a little quaintness unsuitable to the present taste, there is a weight of good sense and piety in all he says, accompanied with a smartness which will amply compensate the want of modern polish : but we refer to the strong recommendation of our worthy friend Mr. Hinton, who, in a short preface, characterizes both the author and his work; and believe that the Editor has rendered an important service to the religious world, by the re-publication of this very scarce and useful tract.

The Advantages of Knowledge to the Lower Classes: a Sermon for a By R. Hall, A. M. Sunday-School.

8vo, Is 6d

The Fatal Consequences of Licentiousness: a Sermon, by J. Scott, A. M. of Hull, Is; inferior, 6d

Scripture Directory. By the Rev. T. Jones, Cugate of Creaton, Northamptonshire. 28 3d

A Mother's Gift to her Daughters,

61 Six Meditations on the Sufferings By the late J. Clunie. of Christ. 28 61 Published by his Son.