London: "Pickering, 1832,"--or rather 1831is my edition. "Paradise Lost" is a beautiful poem the following passages struck me:

Book i. line 330.--" Awake, arise, or be for ever fall'n."

Book ii. line 1026,--On Satan--is, I think, a beautiful allegory. "Sin and death amain,

Following his track, such was the will of Heav'n,
Pav'd after him a broad and beaten way

Over the dark abyss, whose boiling gulf
Tamely endur'd a bridge of wondrous length,
From hell continu'd, reaching th' utmost orb
Of this frail world; by which the spirits perverse,
With easy intercourse, pass to and fro,

To tempt and punish mortals, except whom
God and good angels guard by special grace."

Book iii. line 40-45.-- 55.

"Thus with the year

Seasons return, but not to me returns 5
Day, or the sweet approach of even or morn,
Or sight of vernal bloom, or summer's rose,
Or flocks, or herds, or human face divine;
But cloud instead, and ever-during dark
Surrounds me; from the cheerful ways of men
Cut off; and, for the book of knowledge fair,

5"Now Spring returns: but not to me returns."
Vide BRUCE. — F. J. P.

Presented with a universal blank

Of nature's works to me expung'd and ras'd,
And wisdom at one entrance quite shut out.
So much the rather, thou celestial light,

Shine inward, and the mind, through all her powers,
Irradiate; there plant eyes, all mist from thence
Purge and disperse, that I may see and tell

Of things invisible to mortal sight."

1831, 12mo. 7th. -A PARAPHRASE UPON
CHAP. IV. 2 TIMOTHY.

-

1

I charge thee, therefore, to preach the Gospel seasonably. Reprove, rebuke, and exhort with patience in thy bishopric, for the time will come, when the Gospel will not be received among men, but they, after their own desires (wishing to hear), will heap up to themselves false teachers, and will not hearken to the truth, but unto fables. Be watchful, bear afflictions with patience; and shew thyself to be a faithful minister of the Lord Jesus, by doing the duties incumbent upon thee with propriety I shall soon be brought again before Nero,2 and expect he will release me. I have fought bravely, and have not erred from the faith. I have won a crown of righteousness, which, at

4

3

the judgment-day, the Lord will give to those that love and fear him. Come to me as soon as thou canst, for Demas loveth this world better than that which is to come, and has forsaken me, and gone into Thessalonica. -Crescens has also gone into Galatia, and Titus into Dalmatia,3 but Luke is with me. Bring Mark with thee, as he may assist me in the ministry. — I have sent Tychicus to thee at Ephesus. Please to bring the great coat with thee, that I left with Carpus at Troy, also my books, particularly the parchments. Alexander the brazier has done me a deal of harm, but the Lord will reward him according to his works; I would advise thee to avoid him, for he has greatly withstood the Gospel. When I was first at Nero's court, no one stood with me-I pray that the Lord will shew them mercy; however, the Lord has strengthened me, so much so, that, by me, all the Gentiles might hear, and he has delivered me from Nero, and shall deliver me from all evil, and will preserve me until I reach his heavenly kingdom to Him be glory for ever and ever, Amen. Salute Prisca, and Aquila,6 and Onesiphorus's family. Erastus stayed at Corinth,7

but I have left Trophimus ill at Miletus. - Be careful to come before winter.-Eubulus, Pudens, Linus (our bishop), and Claudia, with the brethren, desire to be remembered to thee. - The Lord Jesus Christ watch over thy spirit. -Grace be with you. Amen.

NOTES.

1 Bishopric.-Timothy was Bishop of Ephesus at that

time.

2 Nero. Emperor of Rome. Paul was in prison by his order.

3 Galatia and Dalmatia. -The former an upper province of Asia Minor; the latter a province of Greece, lying on the Adriatic Gulf.

7 Corinth and Miletus. --The former a city of Greece; the latter a city of Caria and Asia Minor, lying S. of Ephesus, and N. of the Isle of Rhodes.

8 Linus. - Said to be Peter's successor in the bishopric

of Rome, though some give this honour to Clement.-F.J P.

1831, 12mo. 18th.-Mary Queen of Scots' Latin Prayer before her Execution.

And, fainting, sighing-bend the knee,

To cry, imploring-set me free !"—

Christian Observer.

The

1832, 1mo. 8th.-ON OATHS.-An oath is an appeal to Heaven; but we are forbidden to appeal to Heaven: therefore oaths are forbidden. origin of swearing may be traced, probably, before the flood; it might, perhaps, be used only on solemn occasions originally, but the practice, so limited, rapidly degenerated. When Christ came into the world, he expressly annulled the law by which judicial oaths are sanctioned; and, as profane swearing was never allowed, oaths were abolished, and the offence of taking one ranked under the sin of taking the name of God in vain. This prohibition extends to every Christian in every country, from A.M. 4004 to