sitely fitted to interest the imagination. There is no language in which stories can be told so simple, so dignified, so natural, and so impressive, as that in which these stories are told. The stories here selected are entirely detached from the greater mysteries of religion.I would advise, that,

'They should be read merely as historical, as tales of ancient times, and a selection made for the pleasure of children. I would reserve for a somewhat riper age, the exquisite pleasure of the discovery, that they have a further importance beyond what the child originally apprehended, and belong to a system in which we are so many ways interested.

By following this plan we shall gain a point of the utmost value. The present volume will probably prove to the child, a posy of sweet smelling flowers without one shrub of evil scent, or a single thorn, to detract from the pleasure it is able to afford. As the child grows up, he cannot fail to entertain a respect for the magazine from which he will ultimately learn all these beauties are drawn. He will have none but pleasing récollections associated with the SACRED VOLUME. This foundation, if built upon by a skilful architect, is perhaps the happiest commencement which can be desired for a sincere and manly sentiment of Religion."

"The Christian parent," observes Mrs. Trimmer, "will certainly join with the author in lamenting the change which has taken place in respect to the substituting other books for the Bible" in the education of children; and we agree with him in opinion, that young minds should be initiated by degrees, and by means of selections into the thorough knowledge of the Scriptures; but we cannot think any parent, who deserves the name of Christian, would prefer to the Bible itself, or to selections, in which the great truth of Divine Revelation are gradually taught, a compilation from which every trace of Revealed Religion is attempted to be obliterated, as is evidently the case in the Work before

us.

"In the study of the Bible, the first questions that arise certainly are, who was the AUTHOR of this wonderful book, and for what purposes was it written?-An Apostle, instructed by the Divine AUTHOR himself, has given an answer, ALL SCRIPTURE (says St. Paul, when writing to one who had known the Scripture from a child) was given by the INSPIRATION of GOD, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for in struction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Is such a book as this then to be regarded merely as historical, as 'containing tales of ancient times! Though a principal part of the Holy Writings. is in the historic form, as best adapted to the perceptions and feelings

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feelings of mankind in general, all the great truths of Divine Revelation are conveyed in them; and the doctrines of true Religionfare so intimately connected and interwoven with the narrative, that it is impossible to separate them, without breaking in upon the designs of the DIVINE AUTHOR—the presumption of such an atten.pt must surely appear to every one who believes that the Hoi SCRIPTURES were really written by the inspiration of GOD; and those who believe otherwise, are not the persons we should look up to for selections of scripture for the use of children, for they are not themselves capable of understanding the dictates of Divine Wisdom-they are become rain through their foolish imaginations, and their foolish hearts are darkened. From men of this description then shall we expect our children to learn true wisdom? No; let us teach them to shun such teachers, as those whose mouth is an open sepulchre, who flatter with their tongue, while the poison of asps is under their lips."

But we must stop. Our ingenious female Reviewer follows Mr. William Scalfield through his Preface, and then takes a view of the work itself. She shows how he has garbled the Bible; how he has perverted the very intention of divine Providence, in giving us, and preserving to us, for so many ages, the Holy Scriptures; and how he has defaced that character of Inspiration which distinguishes them from all the writings in the world beside. She concludes with this summary.

"In short the selection from the OLD TESTAMENT is so contrived that the young reader shall form no idea of the LORD GOD, as the Creator, Governor, and Preserver of the Universe, as He is represented by the inspired writers, nor of that wonderful Theocracy under which the Jewish nation lived, nor of the chain of prophecy which reaches from Adam to CHRIST: and the selection from the NEW TESTAMENT is so managed as to rob the Son of Gop of his Divinity and Messiahship, and to hide from mankind the glorious light of the Gospel, and deprive them of the hope of salvation and everlasting life, through the merits of a Redeemer; whilst the wicked may take courage, even from the BIBLE itself, as here represented, to go on in their sins without any fear of that eternal punishment which the Gospel threatens to the hardened and impenitent."

Mrs. T. says;

"Some may perhaps think that we have been too minute in our examination of this compilation; but in this scrutiny we have laboured for those who have not leisure, and for those who have not patience for such researches, and we trust we have not

Jaboured

laboured in vain, since it has been in a matter of the highest concern. That such a book as this can be published in a CHRISTIAN Country is to us surprising! However, whilst the Word of GOD may be thus corrupted with impunity, it behoves parents to be strictly on their guard, and to examine with care every Abridgement of the Bible, every Selection from Scripture, to see that it is accurate and genuine, before they put it into the hands of their children; since the Sacred Volume itself is frequently employed by the enemies of Religion, as an engine of mischief."

She has not been too minute. Her industry is most exemplary, and her acuteness worthy of all commendation. Let not the fastidious spirit of secular criticism mock at her labours,-they are even hallowed; their end is edification in godliness; their object is to preserve our children from the contamination of impiety, and the coldness of indifference; and the inflammatory matter supplied by loose principles; to save our wives (we are husbands and fathers), the time and the trouble of reading such little books as the inviting shop windows of certain dealers expose to the eyes of inexperience, before parents can safely put them into the hands of their little ones; and to check the abominable machinations of those "enemies of all goodness," who are leagued with the devil, and are influenced by the spirit of Antichrist.

Weare free to confess, that before we read the Guardian of Education, we only esteemed Mrs. Trimmer as the best compiler of religious tracts for the use of the young and unlearned of our time; but we have to acknowledge that we had vastly under-rated her talents. The just discrimination, and logical acumen, and steady adherence to Orthodoxy, and resolute opposition to Lati tudinarianism, which distinguish her examination of " Bible Stories," intitle her to very high praise. We recommend to any one a perusal of her Critique on a book, recommended by Rowland Hill, called, "A New hieroglyphical Bible;" and on another little book, intituled, Keeper's Travels in Search of his Master." These occur in the 6th No. of " the Guardian." Her Examination of "the Economy of human Life," No. 7;--and her Review of " Practical Education, by Maria and Richard Lovel Edgworth," continued through several Numbers, commencing in the 8th-to be convinced that we do not praise her too highly,

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The Guardian having reached two volumes in 8vo. published in Monthly Numbers, is now published only once a quarter. We can assure such of our readers as are blessed with children, that they cannot introduce a more useful work into the dressing-rooms of their wives; and we do most ardently hope that not a boarding-school in the kingdom will be without it: the masters and mistresses of those seminaries cannot have a better directory in the choice of books fit for their pupils: and if we were to set up a brief test for judging of boarding-schools-it should be this do you take in, and are you guided in your selection of books, by Mrs. Trimmer's "Guar dian of Education?"

L. C.

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

The subject of the Poem for Mr. Seaton's Prize for the present year, is Moses viewing the promised land.

LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS IN THEOLOGY AND ETHICS.

INITIA PAULINA: sive Introductio ad Lectionem Pauli EpistoJarum; continens 1. Pauli Epistolam ad Philipp: Græce et Anglice, cum brevibus notis Huttneri. 2. Theophylacti Pröemia Epistolarum. 3. Ejusdem interpretationem Epistola ad Philipp. 4. Rosenmulleri Scholia ad eandem; quibus præeunt Huttneri observata de Idiomatibus Novi Testamenti.

A Sermon preparatory to the duc observance of Good Friday; containing a summary of the Christian doctrine upon the subject of that day. By W. Gilbank, M. A. Chaplain to his Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester,

Sermons on Public Occasions, and a Letter on Theological Study. By Robert, late Archbishop of York; to which are prefixéd, Memoirs of his Life, by G. II. Drummond, A. M. Prebendary of York,

A Sermon on Public Worship, preached at the Parish Church of Okehampton; also a Sermon preached for the benefit of the Charity-School, at the Parish Church of Crediton, in Devon: by the Rev. Rees Price, Vicar of Lamerton.

A Sermon preached on the Opening of the Chapel at Poplar, after its being repaired by the Hon. East India Company. By S. Hoole, A. M.

A Prayer adapted to the present awful Crisis. By the Rev. G. Tho mas, M. A, Rector of Beeston, and Vicar of East Dereham, Norfolk.

ANTICHRIST, or the MAN OF SIN: a Sermon preached before the University of Oxford, at St. Mary's, on Sunday, May 23, 1802. By Ralph Churton, M. A. Rector of Middleton Cheney. Northamptonshire, &c. &c.

Sermons on several Subjects and
Occasions,

Occasions. By George Vanbrugh,
LL.B. Rector of Aughton, &c.

A Sermon Preached on Sunday, April 15, 1804, in Essex Street, London, on occasion of the death of the Rev. Joseph Priestly, LL.D. F.R.S. &c. &c. who died at Northumberland, in Pensylvania, North America. Feb. 6, 1804, published at particular request, by John Disney, D.D.F.S.A.

A Supplement to Remarks on Michaelis's Introduction to the New Testament, &c. in answer to Mr. Marsh's illustration of his Hypothesis.

Sermons, chiefly designed to elucidate some of the leading Doctrines of the Gospel. By the Rev. Edward Cooper, Rector of Hamıstall

Ridware, in the county of Stafford; Chaplain to the Right Hon, the Eari of Courtown, &c.

ARISTOTLE'S ETHICKS AND POLITICKS. Comprising his Practical Philosophy, translated from the Greek, illustrated by Introductions and Notes, the Critical history of his Life, and a new Analysis of his Speculative Works. Second edition, with a Supplement to the Analysis of Aristotle's Speculative Works, containing an Account of the Interpreters and Corruptors of his Philosophy, in connection with the History of the Times in which they respectively flourished. By John Gillies, LL.D. F.R.S. and S.A. &c. &c. 2 vol. 8vo.

ECCLESIASTICAL AND ACADEMICAL PREFER-
MENTS.

The Rev. West Wheldale, M.A. Fellow of Brasenose College, Oxford, is presented by the Principal and Fellows of that Society, to the Living of Christ Church, SpittalFields, Middlesex.

The Rev. Alexander Richardson, M.A. late of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, Vicar of Takely, in Essex, is presented by the Lord Bishop of London, to the Vicarage of Great Dunmow, in the same county, void by the death of the Rev. John Howlett.

The Rev. Charles Swann, M.A. of St. John's College, Cambridge, Chaplain in Ordinary to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, has been presented by Colonel Noel Noel, M. P. to the Rectory of Ridlington, in the county of Rutland, void by the death of the Rev. Charles Belgrave.

The Rev. Edward Jones, Rector of Greetham, Rutlandshire, and late Fellow of King's College, Cambridge, is presented, by the devisees of the late Rev. Charles Belgrave,

to the valuable Living of North Kilworth, in the county of Leicester, void by the decease, of the said Charles Belgrave.

His Grace the Duke of Buccleugh has been pleased to present the Rev. John Stanton, M.A. late Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, to the Rectory of Scaldwell, Northamptonshire.

The Rev. John Wane is instituted. to the Rectory of Shernfield English, in Hampshire, and to the Vicarage of Whiteparish Wilts.

The Rev. Henry Atkinson, B. A. is instituted to the Rectory of Crostwick, near Northwalsham, on the presentation of Sir Roger Kerrison. Knight.

The Rev. Thomas Norris, M. A. of Trinity College, Cambridge, has been presented by his Grace the Duke of Rutland, to the Rectory of Harby, in the county of Leicester.

The Rev. Edward Harben, of Wimborne Minster, Dorset, is presented to the Vicarage of Takely, in Essex.

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