To hear what no ear hath heard; To enjoy what the heart of man cannot comprehend. O my Father, O thou, the best of all fathers, Have pity on the most wretched of all thy children? I was lost, but by thy mercy am now found : I was dead, but by thy grace am now raised again : But am now ready to appear before thee. O my Father, Come now in mercy and receive thy child! Give him the kiss of peace, Remit unto him all his sins, ('lothe him with thy nuptial robe, Receive him into thy house, Permit him to have a place at thy feast. And forgive all those who are guilty of his death. REVIEW OF CHILDREN'S BOOKS, AND NOTICES OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. Memoirs of Eminently Pious Women of the British Empire. A new Edition, revised and enlarged by the Rev. Samuel Burder, M.A.-Price 17. 4s. London, 1823.-Duncan, Ogle and Co. THE writer of religious biography, particularly if it be female biograpby, has a task of almost hopeless difficulty before him. For we know that though there are some few brilliant examples of piety among the distinguished of the earth, religion more frequently chooses her walks among the retired and obscure, to whom the world gives little heed while living, and cares not much to hear about when dead. Among females this must more especially be the case. There is scarce a female in an age whose life affords sufficient incident to make an interesting story. The obscurity which is their safest and happiest path, leaves very little to be known or said about them: and sweet as it is in the enjoyment, the smooth path of domestick duties and delights is not a good subject of history. Religion, so far from changing the case, rather increases it, because it leads them into more privacy, and puts them yet more beyond the reach of the agitating incidents of life. It is true, their names may become distinguished-more nobly distinguished by their character and works of piety, than ever they could have been by this world's greatness-but this rarely changes the even tenour of their lives, or mixes anything in their history worth the recital. Some few striking exceptions to this there certainly are. The Life and Letters of Lady Rachel Russell will be read with interest as long as the language in which she wrote endures-but then her misfortunes and the political situation of her husband took her out from the common mass of women, and gave an interest to all that concerns her. These instances, as we have said, are very rare; and the reader who takes up a work containing the biography of seventy or eighty eminently pious ladies, has no right to expect more than a transcript, seventy times repeated, of what a pious woman ought to be, and to do, and to feel. All these ladies had their distinctive characters no doubt, and their prominent faults and countervailing virtues, from nature, independently of religion. But these are likely to be known only to their husbands and children, and by them not likely to be told. The biographer, therefore, intent on his pious purpose of furnishing a good example, is obliged to supply what he does not know; and being assured that the character he has to paint was distinguished for piety, he simply draws a pious character, more consistently beautiful, alas! than we are wont to see them; but yet most excellent ensamples for our imitation; because, however far all have as yet fallen short, consistent piety and perfect excellence of life and conduct should be every woman's aim. Exactly such is the character of the work before us, nor can we find anything in it to which we can object, except it be the dreams and presentiments of Mrs. Fletcher. But we must be allowed to say it goes to the very extreme of what we have alluded to. The writer knows more of these ladies' hearts than they probably ever knew of their own, and describes their most minute actions on occasions when they are not at all likely to have had witnesses, and are still less likely themselves to have related them. But still the characters are very good, and the book is very good, and every thing in it is good and if you close it in the middle of one life and open it by mistake in another, you will not perceive any interruption. It is reading that may be very useful to young people, because there is scarce a page in it that does not convey some sort of good advice, or repeat some gospel precept. It is difficult from a work of this sort to extract any thing of particular interest to our readers: we shall therefore subjoin only a letter of Lady Jane Grey's, to which the circumstances under which it was written give necessarily some interest. Another letter of this lady's is preserved, which was written at the end of her Greek Testament, and was sent by her to her sister Catherine, the night before Lady Jane was beheaded. "I have here sent you, good sister Catherine, a book, which though it be not outwardly trimmed with gold, yet inwardly it is more worth than precious stones. It is the book, dear sister, of the law of God. It is his testament and last will, which he bequeathed unto us wretches, which shall lead you to the path of eternal joy; and if you with a good mind read it, and with an earnest mind do purpose to follow it, it shall bring you to an immortal and everlasting life. It shall teach you to live and learn you to die. It shall win you more than you should have gained by your woeful father's lands; for as, if God had prospered him, you should have inherited his lands; so, if you apply diligently this book, seeking to direct your life after it, you shall be an inheritor of such riches, as neither the covetous shall withdraw from you, neither thief shall steal, neither yet the moths corrupt. Desire with David, good Sister, to understand the law of the Lord God. Live still to die. Defy the world, deny the devil, and despise the flesh, and delight yourself only in the Lord. Be penitent for your sins, and yet despair not; be strong in faith, and yet presume not, and desire with St. Paul to be with Christ, with whom even in death there is life. Be like the good servant, and even at midnight be waking, lest, when death cometh, and stealeth upon you as a thief in the night, you be with the evil servant found sleeping; and lest, for lack of oil, you be found like the five foolish women, and like him that had not on the wedding garment, and then ye be east out from the marriage. Rejoice in Christ, as I do. Follow the steps of your master Christ, and take up your cross. Lay your sins on his back and always embrace him. And as touching my death, rejoice, as I do, good Sister, that I shall be delivered of this corruption, and put on incorruption; for I am assured that I shall, for losing a mortal life, win an immortal life; the which I pray God grant you, and send you of his grace to live in his fear, and to die in the true Christian faith, from the which in God's name I exhort you, that you never swerve neither for hope of life, nor fear of death; for if you will deny his truth for to lengthen your life, God will deny you and yet shorten your days; and if you will cleave to him, he will prolong your days, to your comfort and his glory; to the which glory, God bring me now and you hereafter, when it pleaseth him to call you! Fare you well, good Sister, and put your only trust in God, who only must help you." A Compendium of Algebra, with Notes, &c. Designed for the Use of Schools. By G. Phillips, Author of a Treatise on Mathematical Instruments.-London, 1824. -Simpkin and Marshall. IN mentioning this little work, we have but to make a few general observations. We hear it asked perpetually of what use it is for young people, girls particularly, for we suppose no one will doubt the utility for boys, to be introduced to studies of this description, and to have their minds exercised in early life on things which cannot be brought to bear on their pursuits and duties afterwards. In one sense it is of no use-and if we were asked what a young woman entering on the duties of a wife and a mother is to do with her Algebra and Mathematics, we might say, forget them as fast as she can. But though decidedly of no use when learned, we are of opinion that to some minds they may be essentially useful in the learning. Every thing that exercises the mind and puts it to effort, strengthens and enlarges it. Every thing that obliges to reflection induces a habit of reflecting; and a perception that has been taught to clear itself, as it were, upon studies of this sort, will be more likely to escape the entanglements of prejudice and folly, and judge correctly on the ordinary affairs and in cidents of life. We believe many a thoughtless, frivolous, indiscreet woman, might have been amended by the early exercise of her mind on these otherwise useless studies. But we speak with limitation-and allude to them not as things necessary, but of probable utility where the natural character seems to require such a corrective. Of this work we have only to remark that it appears to us particularly clear and simple, and fitted for the design it announces. MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS. the THE FRENCH GLOVES. A young lady professing religion, paid her first visit to a fashionable watering-place in company with a lady and gentleman, who afforded her their protection, and kindly contributed to render her little jaunt comfortable and pleasant. It happened that a few days previous to one fixed upon for their return to town, some contraband articles of dress were offered to them for sale, and a few purchased by the elder lady. Miss B. wholly declined the offer, but felt a strong predilection for the gloves, and secretly wished that she had overcome her scruples when she saw the beautiful clothing of her friend's hand. For what connoisseur in dress does not know the superiority of a French glove over an English one-the texture-the workmanship-the tout ensemble of the glove, so congenial to the delicate touch, and so fitted for female display. Another season however gave Miss B. an opportunity of recovering from her scrupulosity, and she purchased one dozen of the favourite gloves. Now could conscience, that silent monitor, have been laid to rest, nothing remained but an exhibition of this specimen of continental taste. Yet not so; for the groping about of the mind after excuses, or what Miss B. would have termed |