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SO QUIETLY AT HOME.

MINE be the tranquil days that glide,
Without a wish to roam,

Whilst sitting at our loved fire-side,
So quietly at home!

And mine the converse calm and sweet,
The looks so fondly given,

As round our household board we meet,
In the long hours of even.

And mine, from day to day, among
The loved ones, thus to hold

Our merry meetings, whilst we're young,
And cheerful when we're old.

And mine the smiles whose tender power,
Love's daily task repay,

Of homely duties, whilst the hours

In gladness pass away.

And mine with kindred hearts to share,
As morn and evening come,

With joyful hope our household prayer
So quietly at home!

**།

M. A. S. BARBER.

Review of Books.

SERMONS, chiefly upon Chapter xvii. of St. John's Gospel; preached in the Parish Church of St. Paul, Nova Scotia. By William Cogswell, M. A. Curate of St. Paul's, and Chaplain to the Lord Bishop of Nova Scotia. Hatchards.

DESIRING, as earnestly we do, that the gospel may be preached in all the world, the glad tidings of an Almighty Saviour declared to every creature, there is still a peculiar feeling excited in the heart, on behalf of those for whom a personal interest exists. We love to hear that the lamp of divine truth is lighted and held forth in the house of prayer where we have been accustomed to worship-that the sweet sound of salvation by Jesus is heard in the congregation among whom we were once numbered: and if the separating distance be vast, and a mighty ocean roll between, with no human prospect of our ever again revisiting the well-remembered spot, how deep a pathos belongs to the silent aspiration of a swelling OCTOBER, 1839.

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heart: "For my brethren and companions' sakes I will now say, Peace be within thee!"

It has pleased God to place a faithful minister in that distant church, the cathedral we may call it, of our valuable Nova Scotian colony-a branch of our transatlantic empire, the value of which is now negatively known, as being wholly uninfluenced by the demon of rebellion and of which the tried loyalty will become more conspicuously apparent as the crisis advances. We, of course, opened with great avidity this volume, and we again closed it after shedding tears of thankfulness over its many pages of sound doctrine, of warm, fervent, affectionate, heart-stirring expostulation, in which the author has been pleading with his beloved flock. Mr. Cogswell is ever mindful of what one of our elder divines has left on record that Jesus Christ should always be the diamond breast-pin in the bosom of every sermon. He is truly so in these discourses: not a page but Christ is there in the fulness of his redemption, in all the gracious and glorious offices wherein God has made him unto us wisdom and righteousness, and sanctification and redemption. The style is particularly animated and energetic; the doctrine scripturally strong, and most carefully guarded from abuse. Under any circumstances, we should have placed this book among our treasures: coming, as it does, from a native Nova Scotian, holding the sacred office of Christ's ambassador to his own brethren after the flesh, it is doubly valuable. May it be made doubly useful, by assisting to nourish Christ's flock in this country, and by exciting a more affectionate interest for their brethren in that distant land.

A GUIDE TO THE STUDY OF THE PENTATEUCH; being a series of Questions on the Five Books of Moses, with References to Works in which Answers may be found: intended for the Higher Classes in Schools, and for Students in Divinity. By J. Thompson, M. A. St. John's College, Cambridge, and Second Master of the Blackheath Proprietory School. Houlston and Stoneman.

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THE very important and rather difficult task of leading the higher classes of boys in our schools to a close acquaintance with scripture is one that must press strongly on the mind of every conscientious teacher. The plan of the school where Mr. Thomp son holds the second place among the masters, is to furnish each of these boys with a few questions on the Saturday, the due answering of which furnishes a most interesting and profitable study for a Sabbath hour. We speak from actual observation of the diligent searching into the oracles of God induced by the requirement to answer some of these identical questions, on the part of one of Mr. Thompson's pupils. In general, the Bible, with Cruden's valuable quarto, and Scott's Commentary, or Brown's, was found sufficient for satisfactory replies: but for the benefit of the master, the author refers, in a useful appendix, to first rate authorities-chiefly Simeon, Horne, Gray and Jones. The questions in this volume are very full, and leading to a critical knowledge of the Pentateuch; and of course, through that master-key, referring to the whole Bible. We cordially recommend the book, as one of very great value.

THE SCHOOL-ROOM AT HOME. Houlston and Hughes.

TAKING an abrupt descending step from big boys to little girls, and feeling that the object is the same in both cases, we wish to introduce a very pretty little volume, written by a truly estimable lady, for the express purpose of overcoming some of "the many difficulties which obstruct first attempts in the acquisition of knowledge." The very first elements of history, geography, grammar, botany, &c. are here entered upon in the form of easy conversation, adapted to the infantine capacity. Young mothers and elder sisters will find it a great helper, where perplexity is often experienced in pursuing one of their most important and delightful tasks.

DELINEATIONS OF SCRIPTURE CHARACTERS, with notes and reflections. By Mrs. Fred. Montgomerie. And a Preface by the Rev. Henry H. Beamish, A. M. Minister of Trinity Chapel, Conduitstreet; and Chaplain to the Right Hon. the Earl of Bandon. Nisbet and Co.

MRS. MONTGOMERIE's object is to induce the votaries of the world' to study the holy scriptures, even for the sake of their internal beauty, their elevated morality, &c. She combats the opinion of some who are hostile to recommending the perusal of the word of God on any but the right motive; on this point we have our own impressions, but do not deem it

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