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pected from all that we had felt and said in the time of trou-tims of human enmity. He does not set so little value on ble, let us labour if possible to go beyond it; and show in the their continuance in the world as to eye their treatment in it, confirmed stedfastness of our faith and in the growing purity or their exit from it, with indifference. While they are here, of our deportment, not only that it was good for us to have he keeps them as the apple of his eye,' and when they go been afflicted,' but that we were sincere and decided in the hence, his Spirit goes with them to place them in their sainted surrender which we then made of our future selves, and of rest, and to give them entrance into the joy of their Lord.' our whole selves, to the glory of that God whose mercy we How anxious, then, should we be to consecrate to him the invoked, and whose mercy we experienced. life which he is so careful to preserve, and the death which And let us do this now." Delay in such a case is sinful. he is so gracious to embalm! Whether we live, let us live It is a violation of the very vow that was made; it is perse- to the Lord; and whether we die, let us die to the Lord; that vering in what we know to be wrong, and have promised to living or dying we may be the Lord's.' forsake. And it is foolish as well as sinful; for if we do not If we are real Christians, then are we truly the 'servants' begin to fulfil our engagements when the circumstances which of God-his servants by our being the children of his handinduced them are still fresh in our recollection and our feel-maid,' or born and settled within the pale of his church, and ings, how is it to be supposed that we shall afterwards be inheriting its outward privileges: and his servants by his prevailed upon to begin the work, when the pains of sick- having loosed our bonds,' and rescued us from the sorrows ness, the ills of adversity, the apprehensions of death, shall of death and the pains of hell, which had compassed and have been swallowed up in the cares, and the amusements, taken hold upon us.' Let us then remember the obligations, and the fascinations of a world which we have so deliberately and perform the duties of that service into which he has callallowed to regain its ascendancy? Nor is it less dangerous ed us by his grace, and to which he has bound us with the than it is foolish and sinful, to defer to any future day the ful- chords of love. Let us walk worthy of the spiritual advanfilment of our vows. The retrospect of every past year, and tages and of the temporal benefits by which he has distinall which the events of that year have taught us, inculcate the guished us. Remembering that we are not our own, but momentous lesson which is recorded in our Bible, that now bought with a price,' even the precious blood of his incarnate is the accepted time-that now is the day of salvation.' We son, let us glorify God in our bodies and in our spirits which know not, and we cannot know, whether our period of proba- are his.' And let us be animated to fidelity, and diligence, tion shall be lengthened; whether our present opportunities and constancy, by the assurance he has given us, that he will shall be repeated; whether space shall be granted us, not for support us under our labours, and crown us at last with a carrying our purposes into full effect, but even for giving one great recompense of reward. decisive proof that they were cordial and sincere. And, therefore, our only safety lies in beginning immediately to embody our resolutions and our vows into our actual character, and to become all that we intend to be, and all that we must be, as the monuments of God's saving mercy, and as the expectants of his heavenly presence. We must pay our vows now in the presence of all God's people;' telling them what great things he has done for our souls and our bodies; calling upon them to join us in magnifying his holy name; and giving them to see our renewed anxiety and our improved exertions to conform to all his holy will. We must do it, in the courts of the Lord's house,' by a more punctual attendance on the public ordinances of his grace, and by a more devout, more fervent, more consistent engagement in all the exercises and services of the sanctuary. And we must do it, as it were, in the midst of Jerusalem.' We must do it before the world as well as before the church; in the presence of God's enemies as well as in the presence of all his people. We are not to make an ostentatious display of God's merciful dealings with us; nor of the gratitude which we feel to him on account of these; nor of the practical proofs by which that gratitude David's conduct in the case of Uriah had justly provoked is evinced and perfected. But as little are we to be ashamed the divine displeasure, and God threatened to raise up evil of these things or to conceal them from the knowledge and against him out of his own house.' This threatening was observation of them that are without.' This would neither soon executed. His son Absalom became his foe; contrived be honourable to God, nor would it be just to our own per- a scheme for depriving him of his crown, and of his life; presonal feelings and consistency; nor would it be any thing to- vailed upon his subjects to join him in the unnatural rebellwards ungodly men, but a withholding from them what, if ion; and speedily reduced him to a state of extreme danger, plainly and prudently exhibited, might have the effect of sub- and of deep distress. There was every thing in his situation duing their opposition, and calling them to serious thought. to agitate him with alarm, or to sink him into dejection and Under the influence of all these considerations, we must pay despair. His enemies were inveterate in their hostility, and our vows to the Lord with unaffected simplicity and undaunt- formidable by their numbers. They consisted of his own ed boldness: believing it to be at once right and useful that people whom he had ruled with equity, and treated with kindnone should be ignorant of the divine goodness to them that ness and indulgence. They were headed and led on by a love him and put their trust in him, and of that tribute of child on whom he doated even to weakness, and in whom he piety and righteousness, which, as he requires it, so they are trusted as he would have trusted in himself. The object at ready to yield, in token of their gratitude to him who preserves which they aimed with determined purpose was his dethrone'their souls from death, their eyes from tears, and their feet ment and his death. And so unable did he seem to defend from falling.' himself from their assaults, and so inevitably devoted to des

LECTURE XII.

Lord, how are they increased that trouble me? many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. I laid me down and slept; I awaked: for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people that have set themselves against me round about. Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek-bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongeth unto the Lord thy blessing is upon thy people.'-PSALM iii.

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It is a comfortable and an animating thought, that, pre-truction, that they could not refrain from saying in the lan cious in the sight of the Lord, is the death of his saints.' He guage of mockery and exultation, There is no help for him has often permitted his people to be persecuted unto the in God.'

death; and there is a host of blessed martyrs around his In these circumstances, however, David was not cast down. throne. But he gave them up to the will of their enemies He could not fail indeed to experience much cutting disapthat they might bear a more impressive witness to the truth, pointment, many painful apprehensions, numerous hardships than the longest and most prosperous life could have effected; and privations. But still he did not give way to despondhe stood by them when they were suffering for his sake, and ency; he placed his confidence, and found his refuge in the spread a glory over their last scene, brighter and more per-protection of Almighty God. On that great and good Being manent by far than what has ever accompanied the departure he had hitherto relied; and he had known experimentally too of the proudest and most splendid of this world's heroes; and much of his willingness and his ability to save, and partaken from the scaffold or the flames, where they perished, he has too richly of his precious promises, to suspect that he would wafted their spirits to the peculiar blessedness of those who desert him now, in the season and under the pressure of his 6 have come through much tribulation.' And as in these cases utmost need. From all that he had been taught to believe, he has loved and honoured his saints even in the midst of ap-and from all that he had been privileged to feel respecting the parent desertion, so in all circumstances he watches over them ways of his Providence, he was fully persuaded that light for good. He does not needlessly allow them to be the vic-would rise out of darkness, and order out of confusion, and

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safety out of peril. And in the very midst of his trials, se- site that you have a practical proof of its fulfilment? This vere and complicated as they were, and menacing as was the proof is to be found in the life of every afflicted saint, from aspect which they assumed, he steadily addressed himself to the beginning of the world to the present moment; they have God as his God, and stayed himself on the assurance that he had recourse to it in every hour of trial, and it has never failwould be a shield' to guard him from all the attacks of his ed them, nor disappointed them; and the Psalmist speaks the adversaries; that he would be his 'glory,' his honour and his sentiment of them all, when he says as the result of his own boast, amid the reproaches they were heaping upon him, and experience, I will extol thee, O Lord, for thou hast lifted the degradation in which they were attempting to involve me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me. O him; and that he would be the lifter up of his head,' his de- Lord, my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. liverer from those troubles by which, for a time, he was to O Lord, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave; thou be harassed, and his restorer to that dignity and authority of hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.' which, for a time, he was to be deprived. Thus was it with David; and thus must it be, and thus aging than it has been just now represented. But we shall suppose your case to be still more discourwill it be, with all who have that deep and enlightened piety suppose your distresses to be the result of your transgression; by which he was distinguished. The time of affliction is the not merely the effect of sin, as all suffering may be justly We shall time for trying your faith and your patience, for ascertaining considered, but an immediate and visible consequence of your possession of these virtues, for giving them a salutary some particular demerit; a punishment inflicted upon you exercise, for manifesting the energy and perfection which be- for certain specified iniquities, as was the case with David long to them, and for enjoying the consolation which they are when he composed this Psalm; still I would exhort you not so well fitted to impart. And as ye all have need of them, to despond or to allow you confidence in God as your God so you have reason to be thankful that they are warranted by to be impaired. Just cause, indeed, would you have for every view that Scripture gives you of the character and gov- despair, if having disobeyed God, and enduring a penalty for ernment of God, and by every one of his dealings with those that disobedience, you yet hardened yourselves against him, who have made him their stronghold in the day of trouble.' and continued in a state of rebellion. In that case every Such are his attributes, such are his promises, such has been evil to which you were subjected would be a token of divine the whole course of his administration, that there is no degree vengeance, and the beginning of that more insupportable conof trust which you may not safely repose in him, and no de- demnation with which the finally impenitent must be overgree of resignation which you may not cheerfully yield to whelmed in a future world. But your circumstances are tohim. It matters not what your trials and your sorrows be; tally different, if, like the Psalmist, you have become sensiyour support and your solacement remain unchangeably the ble of your guilt, and have felt contrition and self-abasement same. His assurances of protection and deliverance make no on account of it, and have cast yourselves upon God's covedistinction between the greatest and the smallest evils that nanted mercy, and have returned to him with renewed affeccan enter into your lot; the infinitude of his perfections ena- tion and devotedness. Having done this, you may be satisfied bles him to perform all that he has said respecting their miti-that God will not give you up to destruction; that he will gation, or their removal; and if there be one case, rather than not permit the calamities with which you are visited to crush another, in which he demonstrates the facility wherewith he you; that he will not allow a single pain to harass you for can accomplish these ends, it is that in which the tribulations one moment longer than what is requisite for the vindication of his servants have been multiplied even to utter hopeless- of his own ways, as connected with your moral corruption ness. You may not be called to suffer what the Psalmist on the one hand, and with the advancement of your spiritual suffered; but though you were; though like him you had your well-being on the other. He is neither vindictive nor relenthearts pierced by the disobedience and undutifulness of be- less. He has no pleasure in your sufferings or in your loved children; though those who had been indebted to your death; but is rather willing that you should come to him, guardianship and your beneficence had requited you with and be forgiven, and live. He appointed his own Son to base ingratitude; though you had met with enmity where you make peace by the blood of his cross' between you and your expected nothing but friendship; though your foes, being of offended God. This end is actually accomplished in behalt your own household, and of your own kindred, were increas-of all them that believe. And looking up to him in faith as ing every day in numbers, in malignity and in power; though not only full of compassion, but as reconciled to you, and rethey had robbed you of your just dominion and your dearest conciling you to himself, and not imputing to you your rights; though they had not only laid your honour in the dust, trespasses,' you have no more to fear from his indignation. but were seeking to deprive you of life itself, and to load your That is overpast; and, beholding you in the face of Jesus memory and your name with unmerited obloquy as the last Christ, he becomes your father, your protector, and your effort of their hostility, and the last gratification of their mal- friend. And being the objects of his redeeming love, can you ice; and though to these were added, every other calamity suspect for a moment that he will at any time abandon you with which your mortal existence can be afflicted, what then? to the malice of your enemies, or leave you a prey to the These are as much within the reach of God's sovereign and difficuties and the dangers with which you have to struggle? absolute control, as is the most inconsiderable evil that can O no; you must not, you cannot entertain such hard and possibly befal you; and in proportion to the burden which unjust thoughts of the Lord God merciful and gracious.' they lay upon you, and the anguish which they occasion you, Doubtless he hates sin, and can have no complacency in those and the dangers to which they expose you, will be his care who commit it. Doubtless you have provoked his displeasure that you be not overwhelmed and ruined by them. If he is by your manifold and aggravated transgressions. Doubtless for you, this is your comfort, that he is greater than all that the supreme and holy ruler of the universe cannot clear the can be against you. Is it requisite for you that he have good-guilty, without an adequate satisfaction to the demands of ness? His goodness prompts him to compassionate you in his righteous and violated law. But this satisfaction having all your distresses, to send you the help and the relief that been made by the obedience of your divine surety, and your you need, and to visit you with a joy that is unspeakable.' interest in it secured by the instrumentality of a true and corIs it requisite for you that he have wisdom? His wisdom dial faith, there is nothing to prevent the love of God from is such as to fathom and to defeat the most artful devices of following the impulse of its own inherent energies, and sending them that seek to hurt you; to extricate you from the most forth upon you all the blessings that can contribute to your safeperplexing difficulties in which you can be involved, and to ty and your happiness. From the riches of his grace, and the make the most untoward circumstances and events conducive promises of his word, he is as much pledged to do you good, as to your highest advantage. Is it requisite for you that he if you had never swerved from the way of his commandments. have power? His power is irresistible: he has only to say And though you cannot be exempted from the ills that are incito the storm of persecution that rages around you, peace, be dent to fallen humanity; and though, in the course of his still,' and all its elements are hushed into silence; he has only Providence, you may have to bear many a heavy burden and to will it, and calumny departs from your reputation, and dis- to feel many a bitter pang; and though you may have to ease from your body, and grief from your spirit; he has only undergo special inflictions of adversity in consequence of to put his everlasting arm around you, and you are beyond special aberrations from the path of duty, still the Lord is on the reach of woe. Is it requisite for you that he give the your side; he will guard you in your most perilous hour; he promise of gracious and mighty interposition in your behalf? will support you under the pressure of your severest trials; This promise is given by him explicitly and emphatically; it he will ultimately deliver you from all your sorrows; and he is repeated in every various form; it has respect to all the will overrule the very chastisements which he lays upon you circumstances of your pilgrimage, to all the vicissitudes of for your forgetfulness of him, or your disobedience to him, as your warfare; and it partakes of the truth and unchangeable- the means of bringing you nearer to himself, of elevating ness of the source from which it has proceeded. Is it requi- your Christain character, and of rendering you fitter for that

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world where you shall never offend him, and never be afflicted should confess a present and wonder-working God, and give by him any more. praise to him for such striking manifestations of his mercy: Amidst all his sins and all his sufferings, the Psalmist had the wonders of his mercy and his power are just as real and recourse to the exercises of devotion, he retired into his secret just as worthy of praise, in our preservation from day to day, chambers, or he went into the public sanctuary, and address-and from hour to hour, when every thing in our condition ed himself to God in prayer and supplication. This he knew looks so peaceful and secure, that we are apt to think, we to be his duty, and felt to be his privilege; and he not only need no protector, and have no injury to fear. We laid us exemplifies the practice, but gives his testimony to the divine down, and we slept; and we awoke;' but it was the Lord goodness and faithfulness towards those who observe it, that sustained us.' It was the great shepherd of Israel who when he says, 'I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he slumbereth not nor sleepeth' that watched over us; that alheard me out of his holy hill.' If, indeed, we are animated lowed no evil to befal us, and no plague to come nigh our with the spirit of real piety, and if we have acquainted our- dwelling;' that kept our vital functions in play while we were selves with God, with our dependance upon him, with his all unconscious and utterly helpless; and that brought us in ability and readiness to save us, and with the encouragement health and comfort to the light, and the duties, and the privihe gives us to draw near to him; then, in all situations of leges of another day. How many of our fellow creatures perplexity, and danger, and distress, we will be irresistibly were there who, from poverty and misfortune, had no place carried to the throne of his grace. That will be our resort on which to lay their aching head, and stretch their wearied in the ordinary course of our lives, and in the ordinary events limbs, while we were blessed with the sheltering roof and the of our lot; but surely we will hasten to it, and we will bed of repose! How many have been all night long tossing dwell before it, and we will plead at it, when labouring under with agony, or languishing in sickness, while we have enstrong convictions of sin, or exposed to peculiar hardships joyed undisturbed and refreshing sleep! How many have and calamities. What else can we do in such circumstances; shut their eyes never to open them again on this world; while in what other way can we consult our welfare; how can we we have been permitted to continue in the land of living men, otherwise do homage to the hearer of prayer? The divine to rise in the full possession of all our faculties, and still to character, as unfolded in the Scripture, holds out a broad in- engage in our work of preparation for eternity. And is not vitation to every humble and suffering worshipper; and he to all this to be ascribed to him who careth for us, even when whom that character belongs, has expressly said to every we are incapable of remembering him? And does it not call one of his people, Call upon me in the day of trouble; I for our warm and unceasing gratitude? And should it not be will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.' And it is daily acknowledged in the language of devout and cordial nothing more than exercising that reverence which is due to thanksgiving? Yes, my friends; if we are sensible of the rethe word of truth, and yielding to that lesson which is taught lation in which we stand to God as our constant preserver, us by universal experience, when we cry unto God from the and if we feel as we ought to do under the experience of his depths, and cry unto him, with the settled confidence, that he minute and mighty guardianship, we will say with the Psalmwill listen to our petitions, and grant us according to our ist on another occasion, My voice shalt thou hear in the heart's desire. To be successful, however, in our applica- morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer to tion, we must be careful to make it in the appointed way. thee, and will look up.'Every day that I rise I will bless The Psalmist speaks of God's hearing him out of his holy thee, and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.' hill.' His holy hill was Mount Zion. There the ark of the And if God is pleased to sustain us in our midnight slumcovenant was deposited. That was the ark of God's pres-bers, and give us the comforts of quiet and unbroken repose, ence; from it he was pleased to give his answers to those even when the storm of adversity is raging around us, (which who sought him by prayer. And David had respect to this is probably what David here particularly alludes to,) still institution, as originating in the wisdom and authority of the warmer then should be our gratitude, and still louder our song Being to whom he offered up his supplications, and trusted of praise. Staying ourselves upon his grace and power, and to it for obtaining the blessings which he asked. Now, in maintaining a good conscience towards him, we shall find that like manner, we must look to God as seated on a throne of his loving kindness extends to all the circumstances of our grace, made accessible to us by the blood of Christ. He is lot, and neglects nothing which is conducive to our personal to be approached only by that new and living way' which comfort, or our ultimate safety. And having seen what he he himself has appointed. Every petition we prefer to him has done for his suffering people in this respect, or, it may be, must be preferred in the name of Jesus, in a dependance upon having realized it in our own case, let us give glory to him the merits of his death, and the efficacy of his intercession. for his goodness in the time that is past, and continue to trust If we neglect to take refuge in this ark, when the floods of in him for all the time that is yet to come. Why should we divine wrath, and of temporal adversity, are sitting in upon be afraid of ten thousands of people that may set themselves us, most assuredly we shall perish; and all the methods of against us round about? They are as nothing when they dare deliverance we can have recourse to will be of no avail to our to contend with the Almighty, by assaulting and persecuting salvation. But if, agreeably to God's revealed plan of mercy, his servants. He will arise and take to him his great power, we regard it as the resting place of our hopes, and seek to it and save us out of their hands, and scatter them as chaff bewith confidence in its sufficiency, as well as its necessity, fore the wind. He is able to 'smite all our enemies upon the to rescue us from the surrounding deluge, then the overflow-cheek-bone,' so that they shall no longer be capable of harassing of the waters will pass by, and we shall be safe amidst ing us with those bitter reproaches, and cruel calumnies by the perils which sink the unbelieving and the ungodly into which they have hitherto endeavoured to wound and to destroy perdition. Relying on the atonement and righteousness of our us. He is able to break the teeth of the ungodly,' so that mighty Redeemer, we may come with boldness to the throne with all their rancorous hostility, and all their demonstrations of divine grace, and there implore,' with the expectation of re- of malice, they shall not have the power of inflicting upon us ceiving, mercy to pardon, and grace to help us in our times any severe or lasting mischief, or of carrying into effect one of need. Thus crying unto the Lord, and thus praying to of all the schemes which they have laid for our ruin. He is him in faith, he will hear us, as he heard the Psalmist, out not only able to do these things in our behalf, but he has often of his holy hill. And in answer to our believing entreaties, accomplished them in the history of his persecuted church. he will impart to us support and consolation, and deliver-They are recorded for our learning, that we, through patience ance; so that though we be troubled on every side, we shall and comfort of the Scriptures, may have hope.' not be distressed; though perplexed, we shall not be in des- This hope, then, let us cherish amidst all the vicissitudes pair: though persecuted, we shall not be forsaken; though of our life, and even in the darkest hour of tribulation. Whatcast down, we shall not be destroyed.' ever be the evils that we suffer, and whatever be the evils

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But while the Psalmist refers with emphasis to God's ex-with which we are threatened, let this great truth be constanttraordinary interpositions in his behalf, when his foes increased, ly remembered, and firmly believed in, that salvation beand his situation was full of danger, he does not forget to longeth unto the Lord.' He is mighty to save, let our enemake mention of the divine care exercised over him in the mies be as formidable, and our circumstances as desperate as common habitudes of his life. He laid him down and slept; they may. It is his prerogative to save; for there is salvaand he awaked, for the Lord sustained him.' Habits of piety tion in none other. It is his good pleasure to save; 'judgin the mind, and correct views of providence, will lead us to ment is his strange work,' but he takes delight in the exercise acknowledge our obligations to our Heavenly Father, even in of that mercy which rescues from the pressure of calamity, our most tranquil hours, and in our least considerable mercies. and from the jaws of death. And it is his promise to save; It is not only when we come safe out of the ensanguined field, he has assured us that he will deliver them that put their trust or escape from the dreadful shipwreck, or are raised to unex-in him out of all their troubles, and the fulfilment of this aspected honours and affluence, it is not only then that we surance is as certain as his faithfulness is unchangeable, and

his strength omnipotent. Let us only be among the number | Epistles be taken for example. If it be taken up and read, as of his people, and all will be well with us; his blessing will they often are, as an independent writing, it will be found, to be upon us, and his is a blessing which maketh rich, and addeth no sorrow.' Men may revile us, our spiritual foes a very great degree, unintelligible. References will be found may assail us, all external things may seem to be against us, which cannot be explained, and assertions to the comprehenand not one feature of our condition may indicate that there is sion of which there is no key. And it may be read over many any hope for us; but, being the people of God, justified by his times without any distinct impression being made upon the grace, sanctified by his Spirit, and devoted to him in the af-mind, or any real information having been derived from it. If fections of our hearts, and in the obedience of our lives, we the same writing be taken up again, after information has been shall be the objects of his tender regard; a regard which will

increase in proportion to our necessities; and being blessed of obtained in regard to the writer, the circumstances under God, we shall be blessed indeed. All things shall be ours;' which it was written, the persons to whom it was addressed, whether prosperity or adversity, joy or sorrow, life or death, the object and purpose for which it was written, it will apthings present or things to come. Every coming day will find pear like another production. Difficulties will be cleared up, us enjoying that peace of God which passeth understand

ing,' and which depends not on the favour of men, or on the dark passages will seem quite intelligible, and the epistle will wealth of the world. And at whatever time it shall please our give new information and light, as often as it is considered. Heavenly Father to remove us, the blessedness which he gives I have seen a Bible-class astonished and delighted at the upon earth will be exchanged for the blessedness which he amount of knowledge in regard to one of St. Paul's epistles, gives in heaven; and as a gracious recompense for all our ser- which a mere reference to the circumstances contained in his vices, and a happy termination to all our sorrows, we shall enter into the regions of immortality, and into the felicity of 'the just made perfect.'

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NOTICES OF RECENT PUBLICATIONS. The Journal of two voyages along the coast of China, in 1831 and 1832; the first in a Chinese Junk; the second in the British ship Lord Amherst with notices of Siam, Corea, and the Loo-choo Islands; and remarks on the policy, religion, &c. of China. By Charles Gutzlaff, New York: John P. Haven, 1833. Pp. 332, 12mo.

The title indicates the nature of this volume and will

history in the Acts was able to communicate. Such kind of information is here collected in a compact and convenient form, and I cannot but hope, that the publication of this work will be found a real service to the youthful readers of the Bible among our churches."

Memoir of the Rev. George Burder, author of the "Village Ser-
mons," and Secretary of the London Missionary Society. By
Henry Foster Burder, D.D. New York: Jonathan Leavitt.
Boston: Crocker and Brewster, 1833. Pp. 381, 12mo.

The subject of this memoir was one of the most useful men of the age. He was born in London in 1752. He began his ministry among the Methodists, but did not long remain in connexion with them, at the age of twenty-six, he was ordainawaken in many a desire to become acquainted with its con-ed to the pastoral office and settled over an independent church tents. The first Journal appeared sometime since in the at Lancaster. Five years afterwards he removed to Coventry. Chinese Repository, a work published at Canton, and from Here he laboured with great faithfulness for twenty years, thence was copied into many of the periodicals of our land. when he was called to London as secretary of the Missionary The second is now for the first time offered to the public. Society and editor of the Evangelical Magazine. He also The author is a very remarkable man. He was born in Prus- took the pastoral charge of the church in which he was born sia, and received a medical education. Seven years since, he and baptized. Here he laboured incessantly until his death devoted himself to a Missionary life in the East. Since that in 1832. His principal publications, beside his contributions time, he has been abundant in labours and sufferings, and to the Evangelical Magazine are, "Early Piety," a book for has been very successful too in the cause of his Master. He children-his "Closet Companion," "Village Sermons," appears to possess a zeal and faith truly apostolic. It is delightful to learn the fact, that the religious prospects of China are brightening, that her millions are accessible through the medium of Tracts and the printed Word. Armed with these weapons, a few such men as Gutzlaff would soon effect wonderful changes in the Celestial Empire.

"Cottage Sermons," and "Sermons for the Aged." He also published "A Series of Observations on the Pilgrim's Progress," and an abridgment of "Owen on the Spirit." His "Village Sermons" have probably had a wider circulation than any other in the language.

The life of so useful and distinguished a man cannot but be interesting. Though the volume before us does not contain The Bible Companion, designed for the assistance of Bible classes, much of striking incident, yet in his diary and letters there is families, and young students of the Scriptures, illustrated with that amiable simplicity of character, ardent piety and soundmaps and engravings. From the last London edition. Re-ness of judgment manifested, that will richly reward the vised and adapted to the present times, with an Introduction reader for a careful, and indeed repeated perusal.

by Stephen H. Tyng, D.D., Rector of St. Paul's Church, Philadelphia. Edward C. Mielke, 1833. Pp. 149, 18mo.

Polynesian Researches, during a residence of nearly eight years
in the Society and Sandwich Islands. By William Ellis.
From the latest London Edition. In four volumes 12mo.
New York: J. & J. Harper, 1833.

The increasing study of the Holy Scriptures is one of the most interesting facts the age presents. The publication of all books tending to facilitate this, ought to be cordially welcomed and sustained. The work before us is one of this description. It contains in a small space the information that is The first English edition of this work appeared in 1821. necessary to a profitable study of the Bible, and will prove pe- It has since passed through several editions, and is now for culiarly acceptable to those whose limited means and circum- the first time offered to the American public. The author stances preclude the possession and study of larger works. was for eight years a Missionary at Tahiti. From his daily Its chief value consists in the analysis which is presented of journal, from printed and manuscript documents in the poseach book of scripture. On this subject Dr. Tyng justly re-session of the London Missionary, Society, and from the commarks, "it is amazing to an unpractised student, what degree munications of various Missionaries, the materials for these of light is thrown upon the doctrinal statements, as well as volumes have been drawn. They contain a brief but satisthe historical references found in them, by a previous consid- factory histofy of the origin, progress, and results of the eration of the scope and design of the work. Let one of the Missionary enterprise, which, during the last thirty years,

has transformed the barbarous, cruel, indolent, and idolatrous much in descriptions of flowers and natural scenery. The inhabitants of Tahiti, and the neighbouring islands, into a style is in the main, chaste and unaffected, and there are not comparatively civilized, humane, industrious, and Christian infrequent passages of beautiful simplicity.

people. They also comprise a record of the measures pur- The author has an almost hysterical horror of "reform,” sued by the native governments, in changing the social and her solicitude for the fate of the establishment, and that economy of the people, and regulating their social intercourse of the world which she seems to think dependant thereon, is with foreigners, in the promulgation of a new civil code (a sometimes amusing.

translation of which is given,) the establishments of courts of justice, and the introduction of trial by jury. Besides information on those points, they furnish an account of the intellectual culture, Christian experience, and general conduct of the converts; the proceeding of the Missionaries in the several departments of their duty; the administration of the ordinances of Christianity; the establishment of the first churches, with their order and discipline; the advancement of education; the introduction of arts; the improvement in morals; and the progress of civilization.

Exposition of Psalm CXIX. as Illustrative of the Character and Exercises of Christian Experience. By the Rev. Charles Bridges, M. A. Vicar of Old Newton, Suffolk. First American from the sixth London edition. Philadelphia, George Latimer & Co. 1833. Pp. 360, 12mo.

Mr. Bridges is one of the most spiritual and popular writers of which the establishment can boast. His work on the "Christian Ministry," has been widely diffused and highly appreciated, and the exposition has passed through six ediScenes in our Parish. By a Country Parson's Daughter. tions in three years—a fact alike creditable to the author, and First and second series. New York: Published by Harper & to the church which thus evinces an increasing demand for Brothers, 1833. Pp. 260, 12mo. sound evangelical truth. The writer informs us that this Psalm was selected in consequence of its peculiar adaptation This will be a very popular book among the serious lovers to Christian experience, that his main design in its study was of amusing literature. We are disposed to believe the anony-to furnish his own mind with a correct standard of evangelimous author when she tells us that she is a country parson's cal sincerity in the habitual scrutiny of his own heart and to daughter, and that the scenes she describes are from real assist others in that important duty. The composition of the life. She evinces great vivacity of mind, a fine susceptibility work is diversified with as much variety as the nature of the to the beauties of nature, a heart to feel for the sufferings of subject will allow. The descriptive character of the book will her race, and a desire to promote their highest interests. She be found to be interspersed with matter of discussion, perhas, too, a delicate sense of the ludicrous, and what is re-sonal address, hints for self-inquiry, and occasional supplicamarkable for one who has so much poetry about her, a goodly tion, with the earnest endeavour to cast the mind into that meshowing of strong common sense. Better than all, a vein ditative, self-scrutinizing, devotional frame, in which the new of apparently sincere and genuine piety runs through the book. creature is strengthened, and increases and goes on to perShe is quite too discussive in her habits, and deals too fection.

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