advocate persevering endeavours in the great object in view. We give a short extract: "In the variety of plans and systems actually pursued, we see different means and prospects of success. We conceive this to be no longer a matter of speculation, but demonstrated by every day's experience. Any plan for compelling all the varieties of schools to give way to one inflexible form, would in our opinion be a great mistake. We should say so, even if that particular form had approved itself to be practically good; but we think it would be a still greater and more dangerous error, to act exclusively on any new principle, while its merits should rest only on a theory. From the Baptist Magazine. TO A SCEPTIC. Thy desperate venom to instil; Of wind, which wasteth as it blows; Of flowers that fade, and leaves that fall; Talk not to me of myriad shapes Of life, endowed with wondrous powers; The sense of elephants and apes, Which, mocking, thou would'st match with ours. When man's immortal yearnings fail; When our proud hopes to these are given; Then shall thy deadly doubts prevail, And wake us from our dream of heaven. Think'st thou, in truth, because our lot Is lowly, fleeting, thronged with woes, That God beholds, but heeds us not; And our dark life has darker close? Think'st thou, because the son of crime Treads down the feeble at his will, And vengeance cometh not in Time, That God but laugheth at our ill? Thy thoughts and mine are like two streams, But mine flows towards a land of beam Thine towards the frosty realms of These, these are things which com power, With light and eloquence to me! And show, beyond life's closing hour, The home of man's nativity. Lift up those eyes which God has give Look on the sky, when clouds are dri Athwart the sun's unquenched mirt What seest thou? Are not hope and There written in letters, bright and Comes there no spirit from above,From the clear stars, and wanderin Is all this plentitude of power Look on the sea-look on the earth This vast magnificence of sceneWasted on creatures that an hour Will make as they had never been? Does love-does wisdom thus conden Our splendid pathway to be trod, While fears torment, while miseries h Thus are we taught the love of Go No!-if our only life were here, We surely then should feel at rest, With nought beyond to hope or fear, This world had been a world more Nature's omnipotent decree Our spirit to our fate would bow; And brighter, longer then would be Our only life than life is now. But 'tis not thus:-stern glooms invoOur souls, as clouds the bright sky They darken-but, they soon dissolve The immortal sky hath altered not From its unruffled depths of blue The stars their living splendours r And thus, if Nature's voice be true, Glows, even in death, the unscathe From the Evangelical Magazi LEGH RICHMOND CONTEMPLATED-ESPECIALLY AS A WHO did not feel, when it was a that Legh Richmond was no more? telligence created a universal, most p indeed, undefinable-sensation. emotion to be felt, not mentioned." racter of the inestimable deceased wa lent and useful; his ministerial qua were so diversified and peculiar; his and charming" writings were so e. known and so justly appreciated; his in the cause of God had been so vi themselves, and so beneficial and im their results; and his sweet temper sition had secured for him so much and won for him such profound es admiration; that the whole Christ felt, "to its very centre," when i nounced, with regard to Legh Richm "the dust had returned to the earth and that the spirit had returned unto gave it;" and the exclamation of c almost instinctively, and with great curred to remembrance-" My fath thereof." I must confess, in consequence of the profound veneration and unbounded esteem in which I was induced to hold the deceased, when it was announced to me that his spirit had fled from its "tabernacle of frailty and clay," I was utterly unable to repress my emotions of deep sorrow; and the language of an inspired penman appeared to me the most appropriate language I could employ-" Help, Lord, for the godly ceaseth, and the faithful fail from among the children of men." We all loved Legh Richmond as a man. The mild glance of his eye-the beamings of benevolence in his countenance-the amiable and lovely dispositions which the "features of the face" unequivocally and broadly expressed-awakened our esteem and admiration. To look upon Legh Richmond, especially when his "heart was full and warm" in the cause of God, was like looking on the face of an angel. He evidently appeared to be a man of "no common mould," and withal, simple, artless, and unpretending, as a little child. I need not remark, that Legh Richmond, as a minister of Jesus, awakened instinctive and almost unbounded admiration. A minister of more beautiful simplicity, of more glowing affection, of more ardent and impassioned zeal, of more genuine and admirable talent, or of more affecting persuasiveness, I never had the felicity of meeting with or hearing. "How brightly did he shine among the stars!" By his decision, by his unaffectedness, by his sweet simplicity, by his energetic effort; by his enthusiasm in the service of Christ, and by the affection, extensiveness, and constancy of his pastoral visits-he has accomplished wonders, and has been rendered an inestimable blessing to the church, and to the world. How commanding, but insinuating, was his eloquence, in announcing the truths of salvation! How sweetly would he plead the interests of the Tract Society! with how much energy and ardour would he come forward in support of the claims of the Bible Society; and with how much beauty and effect would he advocate, with concentrated zeal and affection, the sublime cause of Missions! and yet he made little noise. No herald went before him. No trum pet's blast announced his approach. He did not "turn the world upside down." Wonders were accomplished, but without parade, without noise, and almost without effort. "We saw, we heard, we admired; and more -we felt." Legh Richmond has left us, but he will never be forgotten: "Memory holds him in her shrine." The place which did know him, now knows him no more; but while Turvey stands, the name and excellencies of Legh Richmond will He is not one of those who astonish and overpower us by the energy, the majesty, and the comprehensiveness of their intellect; but though he does not ascend to the highest elevations in the regions of mind, he takes us into many a lovely vale, and stretches before us many a beauteous scene; and the views he has presented to the mental and the moral eye, have often inspired feelings which we neither define nor express. There are four properties in the writings of Legh Richmond, which I cannot but term their characteristic and peculiar features; to each of which I will respectively, though very concisely refer. can The simplicity of these writings is at once admirable and exquisite. It has been said that "they are as artless as artlessness itself." No pomp, no studied effort, no elaborate strokes or touches. No artifice can be perceived. They are the effusions of sweet simplicity, chastened, purified, and ennobled by the Gospel of Christ. Legh Richmond did not wish to write finely or ambitiously, but plainly and unaffectedly. He felt solicitous to do good, and therefore he has written "plainly to the people:" and the natural, chaste, and simple air, with which every thing is invested, interests and inspires. I must acknowledge, that this impressive simplicity appears to me, to constitute one of the most powerful recommendations, and fascinating charms, of the writings of this distinguished man. They are lovely and majestic in their own simplicity, and the language which I heard him employ, in allusion to the representations of the word of God, will most accurately and beautifully apply to his own compositions-" they are sublimely simple, and simply sublime." The beautiful descriptions in which the writings of Legh Richmond abound, render thei deeply and peculiarly interesting. His touches are exquisite for their loveliness, as well as for their simplicity. He is a fine painter of nature, and a striking painter of the heart. Nothing is more foreign from his writings than display, and yet they are full of charming specimens of real eloquence. No man knew better how to bring "a rich and sunny tract" of country before us, than Legh Richmond: "We see and we admire." And he does it in so artless and unambitious a manner, that our highest and most unmingled admiration is awakened. What Clare is in poetry, Legh Richmond is in prose. They are both sketchers of pure nature; they both stretch a scene sweetly and prominently before us; only Legh Richmond, whenever he takes us out into "the wide world of nature," reminds us of Him, who "fills the sun with light, and clothes the meadow with beauty." The genuine pathos which the writings of genuine sensibility, much less of devout feeling, can refrain from weeping, while reading that most touching of touching tales. How a mother, who had lost a sweet girl about the age, and exhibiting the disposition, of "little Jane," would feel with the tale before her! it would be almost overwhelming in the effect it would produce. It would almost occasion "her maternal heart to break :" and yet there is no effort "no pomp or circumstance." It is as simple and unpretending as nature or truth itself. "I never read Legh Richmond," observed one, "without weeping, because the strain of his writings is so unaffected and powerful for its pathos; and I can no more refrain from feeling most deeply, than I can stop the circulation of my blood, which flows freely and unceasingly throughout every part of the material system." From the Evangelical Maga BURDER'S VILLAGE SER ALMOST every person who feels t interest in the cause of evangelica holiness, has read these interesting ble discourses-so widely circulate estimated, so extensively and perm ful. If it were only for the sake of as an expression of lively and affe teem in his favour, and of cordial g his diversified and long-continued the Church of Christ, they ought chased, carefully perused, and entr children; as the legacy of a man to Jesus, and who vigorously exert centrated his energies, for a cons riod, that the moral condition of ma be meliorated, the boundaries of t rial empire be widely extended, an be converted into a vast, magnifice ing temple, in which every hear animated and warmed, and every l vocal, with redeeming love. Ind however, of this consideration, tho is sufficiently forcible and conclusiv mons ought to be procured for th trinsic and commanding excellen are modestly termed "Village Ser discourses more simple, more appr ostentatious, or more beautifully ad condition and capacity of those for struction and benefit they were spe tended, could not be composed. tingly acknowledge, that I have s courses at all comparable to them, a adapted to villagers, except it be r One truth conspicuous-this is not my rest." sermons of Beddome and Kidd, wh some of the most beauteous and ad "He lived with men, but walked with God." cimens of this kind of preaching to It is abundantly apparent, too, that Legh Richthe language. Still I cannot hel mond, in all his writings, only felt solicitous after a most careful and frequent to do good. Literary fame, posthumous and the productions of Mr. Burder are splendid renown, were, with him, "trifles light plete in their adaptation, than alm as air." He was ardently desirous of training mons to which allusion can be ma up the young for glory and immortality; of met with individuals who have be pointing the poor trembling sinner to the only raptured with them, and who have refuge; and of animating, directing, and inmuch more highly than any religio vigorating, the believer, as he proceeded to the promised land. And his wishes have been grati- cept it be the inspired volume. M "He sows the seed, and God has blest tainments, character, or talent, ha clergymen of every gradation, as i the soil." I often think what an amount of the most unequivocal opinion resp good must have been secured by the publica- commanding and peculiar excell tion of Legh Richmond's compositions. Permore decisive proof of this fact c sons of every name, of every age, of every cha-nished than the following-that racter, of every degree of attainment and intellect, have been rivetted by them, unspeakably interested and blessed; and, in "the day of awful doom," I have no doubt that hundreds will arise to testify that they were directed by the "Young Cottager" to the Cross, or sweetly led by the "Dairyman's Daughter" to the celestial paradise. It is delightful to anticipate heaven, where we shall meet with such a man; The writings of Legh Richmond are also most admirable for the glowing piety which they breathe, and for the great design which they are specifically intended and calculated to produce. Who cannot see, in the writings of Legh Richmond, the uniform and prominent features of the Christian character, most strikingly and fascinatingly exhibited. Almost every sentence shows the man of God, and in every page there is the mind of Christ "beaming most clearly and resplendently." Unless Legh Richmond had been distinguished for his devotion-for his unaffected simplicity of character-for his intimate and most endeared communion with heaven, he could never have written in the manner that he has. On all he wrote, fied. "There stands imprest, "mix communion sweet" with such a distin- "Farewell, blest spirit, till we meet have been more highly valued, or their composition and publication, was to do good. He does not wish to exhibit talent; to show "how far the force of mind can go;" to indulge in bold and lofty speculations; to pursue trains of vigorous and profound argumentation; to throw a resplendent light around him, by the illuminations of a pure and elevated fancy-to accomplish this was not his "intent nor aim;" "He tower'd above considerations such as these." momentous truths which constitute the great attraction and glory of the Bible. The sinner is immediately and affectionately pointed to the Lamb of God in every sermon. The way of redemption is most luminously and impressively marked out in every sermon. The obvious and distinctive features of the Christian character are most accurately delineated in every sermon. There is no indifference discovered in relation to the main points of Christianity. There is no barbarous or unmeaning trifling with the souls of men. Intellectual He might have endeavoured to render his serefforts, however vigorous and overpowering, mons models of pure and eloquent composiare not substituted for "the truth as it is in tion; he might have filled them with consecu- Jesus;" and this is one of the most exquisite tive and abstract reasonings; and have "put fascinations, with which the "Village Serforth" as much intellectual power as possible; mons" of Mr. Burder are clothed. We can -but then they would not have done for vil-perceive, at once, what are the obvious and lagers; they would not have been "interesting leading views of the writer; what is the oband sweet" to the humble and unlettered cot-ject of his profoundest and most hallowed soter, because they would have soared beyond his "mental grasp." They were originally designed to be Village Sermons," in the strictest and most unqualified sense of the phrase; and a careful examination of the various volumes will strikingly show how appropriate and admirable is its application. These sermons are excellently adapted for villagers, because they are short. They come to the point at once, in the most natural and direct manner possible. The most interesting and prominent ideas in the subject under discussion, are embodied in them; and then, a concise and powerful improvement, of a practical nature, "winds up the whole." Now, this conciseness is very important: it is more adapted to men who seldom think-who are more the creatures of circumstance and feeling, than of intellect-who are unused to take long mental flights, and probably incapacitated. Besides, the sermons, in consequence of their brevity, are more deeply imprinted on the memory; a pleasing impression is produced in favour of the author, and thus the principles he advances, and the illustrations he furnishes, tell more powerfully on the mind. These sermons are excellently adapted for villagers, because they are exquisitely plain and simple. A "sweet simplicity" is the peculiar characteristic and most powerful charm of Mr. Burder's mind; and this enchanting grace is most strikingly displayed in his "Village Sermons." In these discourses, every thing is so plainly told, and so simply thought, that a child can, in some degree, appreciate and admire the excellence which they possess. There is no complexity of phrase-no difficult words are employed-no recondite allusions are discernible -no remoteness or abstruseness of thought is discovered-no ambitious efforts to be pro licitude: not, specifically or primarily to gratify the taste, feed the intellect, or delight the fancy; but to bring sinners out of the world, and to direct them affectionately and earnestly to Him, who is emphatically "the chief among ten thousand, and the altogether lovely."There are many other obvious features which characterize these sermons; such as the affectionate and tender feeling they display-the ardent and prevailing desire to save sinners which they every where exhibit-the uncompromising fidelity with which "sin is marked, and man is warned"-and the pungent and searching appeals in which they abound.These sermons must have been rendered extensively beneficial. What hallowed impressions must they either have produced or deepened! What a sublime tone of feeling must they have induced or exalted! What a class of inspiring and important associations must they have awakened! When it is contempla. ted how widely they have been circulated; how strongly they have been recommended; with how much avidity they have been read; how frequently they have been listened to by congregations of almost every kind, as it regards numbers, character, and talent; and how admirably calculated they are to convey accurate and impressive views of the malignity of sin-of the superlative beauty of holiness and of the transcendent glory and perfection of Jesus Christ;-it is natural to suppose, that the good effects of which they have been productive, can scarcely be fairly estimated.When I think of the inestimable benefits they have been rendered instrumental in imparting, I am disposed to rank them with "Alleine's Alarm," " "Baxter's Call to the Unconverted;" "Doddridge's Rise and Progress," and many other most valuable publications of a similar kind, to which allusion might be made. The follow his bier, and strew flowers o'er his "Young flowers, and an ever-green tree, From the Sunday School Teacher's Magazine. FOR THE SHEFFIELD SUNDAY SCHOOL. TIME grows not old with length of years; Stars in perennial rounds return, -We are not for one hour the same. Spring flowers renew their wild perfume, Our bloom is sweeter,-yet we dic. Yet stars, like flowers, have but their day, -A living and immortal soul! Lord God! when Time shall end his flight, Thy love in Christ may we adore. To Thee, O Lord, we thus draw nigh, In us, as babes in Christ, appear. When up to manhood's prime we grow, And O, if onward still we move, Let us, when old, at thy command, As fathers to the churches prove, As mothers in thine Israel stand. With hope that bears the spirit hence, With these, united all in one, As varying Schools are blended here, May we when once our cour From the Eclectic Review. THE EARLY LIFE OF CHRIST AMPLE TO THE YOUNG. March, Author of Sabbaths at Hon Pp. 188. Price 4s. London. 182 We cannot too strongly recomme mirably conceived and judiciously work. It is the reproach of modern that so little practical use is made of ple of Christ; that it occupies so place in the doctrinal system, and is or so slightly dwelt upon, as sup grand motive to virtue, as well as th of Christian morality. As a moral of education, we fear that it is still m valued or neglected. Yet, to the to of a child, nothing can be more af form of instruction more impressive life and example of the Saviour. the principle of imitation is so stron argument from example is direct a beyond every other. The affection cially that most salutary instinct of admiration, are readily excited; a almost said, it is the teacher's, th fault, if a child is not taught this i yet the highest in the Christian love and to copy the Lord Jesus Ch It may perhaps have been thoug scriptural materials for lectures or life of our Lord, are too scanty ground-work for any lengthened or hibition of his character as an exar young; at least, without the ind much fanciful speculation, or the e misplaced ingenuity. Nothing, ho be more sober and judicious, than in which Mr. March has availed hi brief account of our Lord's early li St. Luke, of which, in fact, this vol an admirably simple, yet in mar J. M. original exposition. The praise o cannot be withheld from him; but t shown in accommodating the langua ture to a sense foreign from the i the inspired writer, or in wire-d sacred text. The instructions an remarks which occur under each h from common-place, yet, they never ed, and they are often the more st their very simplicity; naturally ri the subject, although not so obvio anticipated. The passage upon wh hibition of our Lord's example is introduced with the following obser "When it is considered WHO H what that errand was on which He the world, how natural is it that th arise an intense curiosity to know of His earlier days. How natural t of ardent desire to become acquaint circumstances that marked those t that long proportion of His brief so earth; to know what indications of greatness, and wisdom, and power, by Him during the progressive st life, from infancy to youth, and fro manhood. But, however contrary diaannoi na to |