Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

to subscribe to that first: a set of remedies which Mr. D. fully considers and rejects.

Mr. D. then offers nine observations on some general characteristics of the Doctor's epistle. He here remarks on the Doctor's indecorous treatment of Lord Teignmouth; and on his use of the authority of Lambeth Palace,' giving a hint, which he knew would be tolerably well understood by many a country clergyman, who is far beyond the reach of argument.' - Mr. D. p. 239.

Mr. D. then concludes with examining some minute parts of the Doctor's Letter, in taking a general review of it.

In spite of all the diligent rummage for information, which Dr. W. has been giving to the various Reports of the Missionary, SundaySchool, Tract Societies', and other publications, we are unable to congratulate him on the flourishing expansion of the foliage which, had we been brisk enough, we might, before it appears, have thoroughly drawn out of the germ. He calls upon us to ruminate on portentous combinations, and calamitous effects; and then we are left like gazers on a certain mountain, to wonder and to smile at the little unoffending result. Resolved to make the Bible Society answerable for every sprig and spray growing within sight of its citadel, he has laboured to involve in perplexity an establishment, the nature of which is as simple as the blessing it communicates. The sort of Christian charity which he teaches, is however provided with a little indirect illustration from his having had the candour to impute the strife which he and his friends have en Landing, to the radical incongruities of that Institution. Assuming te contend against schism, he ings to it with sech fond attachment, that we might almost suspect his epistle to be written on the principles of some new distribut of man in natural history; that we had all been unavoidably clawed under the titles of Churclimen, Method ts. Independents, &c. and that to attempt any harmonious association between these, were just

as absurd as to invite a course of friendly converse among birds, beasts, and fishes. Dr. W. has, we think, shewn less acrimony in this epistle than in his former one; but the whole pamphlet is a pompous jumble of entanglement, irrelevancy, and misrepresentation.

In the course of Mr. Spry's shallow declamation, some particles of candour are mingled with many very vindictive breathings. We shall not. however, do him or Dr.W. the injus tice of reducing them to the level of the anonymous Country Clergyman. We could pity and weep over the shocking rancour of that heart which could derive a production like this, from the blackest recesses of bigotry, and the fumes of a malignant, bilious, and insolent spirit. We are persuaded that the temper here manifested, is such as directly tends to every moral outrage against the peace of society. The principles which we find in his pamphlet, as well as in that of Mr. Spry, are so plentifully leavened with Popish dogmas, that we cannot but be surprized that any two clergymen, in this age and country, should have thus ventured to unfold them. Our feelings as Protestants are shocked by a sort of pathetic effusion from the latter, over the departed glories of ignorance and priestly despotism!

We return, with very different sentiments, to Mr. Dealtry. For that acuteness which separates and throws off from an important discussion a load of darkening irrelevancy, placing before us at once the naked truth, in a form simple and perspicuous, for a well ordered arrangement, for fulness and variety of information, for unsophisticated, close, logica reasoning, - above all, for an enlivening flow of pure Christian benevolence, we pronounce Mr. Des argument fully to merit particular attention..

We sincerely hope that we may now take our leave of the mys teries and alarms of Dr. W. and his fellow-labourers. It is, however, truly distressing to see men clad in the specions garb of Champions for God and Religion, struggling for pre-eminence, by fomenting enmity

and schism among those who, in another world, must for ever banish all these little earthly strivings, and compose one great family, without any diversity of interests, sentiments, or joys. These opposers have undertaken, but not fulfilled a most solemn engagement. They have miserably failed in their accusation at the tribunal of the public; may they be furnished with some better plea for it at another and a higher

bar!

Biblia Hebraica; or the Hebrew Scriptures of the Old Testament, without Points, after the Text of Kennicott; with the chief Various Readings, from Hebrew Manuscripts and Ancient Versions. Accompanied with English Notes, Critical, Philological, and Explanatory, &c. Part I, Genesis,4lo, 58.

THIS publication is the commencement of a Herculean labour, to point out failings in which is much more easy than to achieve the thousandth part of it. It is neatly and clearly printed; but we have observed some inaccuracies. The collection of Various Readings is only selected from a much larger mass; yet it will be very useful to the Biblical student; and we may safely affirm, that no other work, however scarce and co-ly, presents the same advantages in a manner equally commodious. The Notes are principally occupied in philological and interpretative discussions, or in explaining allusions to history and customs. The editor, to whose exertions for the advancement of sacred learning we cordially wish abundant success, is the Rev. Benj. Boothroyd, of Pontefract.

Sunday School Tracts, Religious, Moral, and Entertaining, 12mo, Vol. I. Price 3s. 6d.

We cannot better introduce this cheap and neat volume to the notice of our readers, than in the words of the editor: The following Series of Tracks was entered upon with the intention of supplying REWARDS or the best readers in Sunday Schools. Some care has been taken to pre

serve a uniformity of quantity on the several subjects, and to avoid every expression that might administer occasion of offence to any party of true Christians.'

The distribution of Religions Tracts among the poor, is a species of Christian charity, which tends to turn multitudes from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God.' We therefore rejoice in any accession to the number of those which are written on truly evange lical principles, especially where a due measure of entertainment is mingled with scriptural and practical advice. We think there is entertainment enough in this volume to attract the reader's attention; and yet, at every turn, he will find some religious or moral lesson, plainly expressed, or evidently implied. The histories are drawn from occurrences actually taking place in humble life; and they are well adapted to instruct the poor, for whom they are designed.

Some of the tracts are said to have been written by the Rev. Mr. Watkins; but, be this as it may, we heartily recommend them to the Conductors of Sunday-Schools, and to those who give away such articles among their poor neighbours, or on their journies. The style is, as it ought to be, very perspicuous, the sentences are short; and there is a degree of uniformity preserved, which could scarcely happen, except the same person revised the whole. We understand, a new penny tract continues to be pubfished monthly; and that they now amount to 60 Numbers. Among the subjects in this volume are, Charles Crawford, -- Sophia Carter,

Natural History, A DreamBook, Danger of deceiving one's Parents, Blacket, the ChimneySweeper, The Lost Opportunity, Powder Plot, History of the Reformation.

We will present our readers with two extracts, each of which contains some useful instruction. The first is from No. 25 : -

What have you particularly observed in the conduct of Pitchel, who seems so merry about the commencement of the New Year, and

has got his relations together upon

the occasion ?'

"Ah! he is a good blacksmith; and when you have said that you have said all! The farmers and the farmers' men will lament him when he dies; because he is an excellent farrier, and always has a mug of ale for any of his customers. But I have observed him on Sundays, when he has been making his charges in his books, instead of being in the house of God, where he might have learned to render unto all their due; and I have heard him say to himself when putting the prices to the ironwork that he did to my Lord's house, Why, what is a hundred or two of iron out of his pocket? and it can't be taken up now and weighed. I know they do so in London; and my Lord's steward knows so too." I have found Pitchel indeed very honest to those who would not be cheated; and then he makes a wonderful boast of it. He has got ten a good deal of money out at use; and he is so wretchedly wrong in his mode of thinking, that he justifies every thing, whether good or bad, that promotes his gains. I hope before another year is expired, he will think solemnly about the words of our Saviour, What is a man profitted, if he could gain the whole world and lose his own soul, or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?'--and that thieves and liars in trade, as well as out of trade, shall have their portion in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.'

The other extract is from the History of William Wilkins, the hackney coachman. It is the latter part of a conversation respecting a loss, by dealing in the lottery.

Mrs. Hife. Will you lend me 10? I know you are a managing woman, and have more than that sum at command.

• Vrs. Wilkins. Dear. Mrs. Iliffe! That would have been putting myself into the same trouble into which you have been brought, I must say by your own imprudence.

Mrs. I. Imprudence, Madam! What, to make my husband easy and comfortable in his old age, and

to provide pretty fortunes for my poor girls!

Mrs. W. If all this could have been done by honest and fair means, it would have been an excellent thing; but all the prospect of it is gone; and the endeavour was not such an one as, they say, God blesses.

Mrs. I. I thought that old washer-woman would at last make you as big a Methodist as herself. Why, I never did any body any harm, by thought, word, or deed?) and why should not God bless me ?

Mrs. W. If that were true, you ought to be the happiest woman alive; and then you would have no reason to grieve, as you now do.

Mrs. I. Why, it is enough to make any body angry to find no friend to help one in distress! I see no goodness in refusing to lend a neighbour a few paltry Guineas, which are lying by, without doing any body any good. I detest nig gards!

Mrs. W. But, Mrs. Iliffe. it would have saved you this trouble, had you taken better care of your money. However, as the case is, I'll tell you my opinion about gam bling of all sorts. If any one is a gainer, somebody must be a loser; and why should we be so foolish as to lose for others gain, or so raquish as to wish to gain by another's loss. You have lost £ 15 in the lottery; and it will be a great grief to your husband when he knows it, and cause him many inconveniences; and they who have got £15, have done that you see in gambling, • what's so at the price of your trouble: so one man's meat, is another man's poison.' Money, when gotten by gambling, seidon wears well. I and my husband have always said, A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.'

Here Mrs. Iliffe angrily stopped Mrs. Wilkins, by saying, Weil, the short and long is this: If you cannot. or will not, lend me a rifle, six hours moralizing will not satisfy my husband, nor pay our rent. Your prudence has done no more for me than my poverty could do for you; so I am under no obligations to you, Madam ———.’

Literary Notices.

A beautiful pocket-edition of the Bible, by Mr. Reeves, is just completed; and will be published very shortly.

Rev. Mr.Parsons, of Leeds, has an abridged edition of Neale's History of the Puritans, prepared for publication, in two thick vols. 8vo.

The greater part of Mr. Cecil's Works (4 vols. 8vo) being engaged by his friends, few, if any, will remain for sale. Those who wish to secure copies, and to benefit the family, are requested to forward their namies to the Rev. J. Pratt, Doughty Street, immediately, as the Works will certainly appear in May.

Mr. Burder's Missionary Anccdotes are in the press; and will certainly be ready in April or May at

farthest.

A gentleman, engaged in a Gene ral History of Sunday-schools, will be obliged by any communications,

[blocks in formation]

An elegant edition of Toplady's Historic Proof, in 4to, embellished with 200 portraits, is preparing for publication.

Mr. Hervey's Theron and Aspasia, with the Author's last corrections is intended for publication, at Edinburgh, very shortly.

SELECT LIST OF RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS. The Holy Bible, called The Reformer's Bible, one vol. 4to, with plates, and notes by the Reformers, £3; roval, £ 4. 16s.

The Works of the late Rev. Robt. Traill, A. M. 4 vols. in 2, 8vo, 17s.

The Second Exodus, or Reflections on the Prophecies of the Last Tunes. By W. Ettrick, M. A. Two vols. 8vo, 14s.

Parkhurst's Hebrew Lexicon, royal svo (6th edition) £1. 10s. Select Psalms, in Verse, with Critical Notes, by Bishop Lowth and

others, 8vo, 8s.

Twenty-one Sermons, by the late Rev. J. Williams, A. M. Rector of Begelly. 12mo, 5s. 6d.

Letters to a Sister, by a Lady, 38 6d Friendship with God: an Essay Ly R. Jones, 12mo, 3s.

Observations on Parochial Schools and on the Established Clergy.

Ep. of Durham's Charge, 1810, 2s. A Funeral-Sermon for Mrs. Trimmer, by T. Staverfield, M. A. Is 6d. A Fast Sermon, at Boston (America) by W. E. Channing.

Aeries of Discourses, on the Peculiar Doctrines of the Revelation. By Rev. D.Saville, 8vo, 10s 6d The Scripture Gazetteer, or Geography of the Bible. By the Rev. 3. Crowther. In one vol. Svo, with Maps, second edit. 9s.

A Dissertation on Daniel's Prophecy of 70 Weeks. By G. S. Faber. 8vo, 12s.

No. XXII, of the Transactions of the Missionary Society. Is.

A Letter to the Lord Bishop of London, occasioned by his Primary Charge in 1810. 1s. 6d.

Practical Sermons, by the Rev. E. Cooper, vol. 2, 12mo, 5s. with a new edition of vol. 1, uniform, 5s.

Ecclesiastical Biography; or, Lives of Eminent Men connected with the History of Religion in England, with Notes, by Chr. Wordsworth, M. A. Dean and Rector of Bocking, &c. 6 vols. 8vo.

The Nature and Perpetuity of the Influences of the Spirit: a Sermon at the Monthly Association of Congregational Ministers, &c. By W. B. Collyer, D. D. 8vo, 2s.

A Sermon, preached in the ParishChurch of St. Westberg, Derby, Dec. 10, 1810, on the Death of the Rev. James Stubbs, M. A. By the Rev. T. Gisborne, M. A. 8vo, ls.

Peace with Heaven: a Sermon before the Sussex Mission Society at Brighton. By J. Burder, M. A is

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

Superstition of the Greek Church. ed as a barbarous representation of the Trinity.

THE attention of Christians has lately been laudably directed to the miserable state of the heathen world; and active endeavours are used by various societies for the propagation of the gospel among them. The same philanthropy has led some persons to contemplate the pitiable condition of the Greek Church, the ignorance and superstition of which reduces them almost to a level with Pagans; - and to devise means for their better information, a valuable book has lately been published, — Dr. Clarke's Travels through Russia, Tartary, and Turkey, which throws much light on this subject; but, as it is an expensive work, and probably in the hands of very few of our readers, we conceive that a few extracts from it will not he unacceptable to our readers :

The cathedral of Novogorod, dedicated to St. Sophia, was built in the 11th century. Many of the pictures seem to have been there from the time at which the church was finished. Little can be said of their merit. They are more remarkable for their singularity than their beauty. In the dome of a sort of anti-chapel, as you enter, are seen the representations of monsters with many heads; and such a strange assemblage of imaginary beings, that it might be supposed a Pagan rather than a Christian temple. The different representations of the Virgin, throughout Russia, will shew to what a pitch of absurdity superstition has been carried. believe most of them are found in all their principal churches; and though they are all objects of adoration, they have each of them particular places, in which, as tutelary deities, they obtain more peculiar reverence. These are principally The Virgin of Vladimir ; The Virgin with the Bleeding Cheeke; and,-spectatum admissi, risum tenratis? - The Virgin with Three lands! This sceins to have been originally paint

I

Many of these absurd representations are said to be the work of angels. In the Greek Church they followed the idols of Paganisın, and have continued to maintain their place. They are one of the first and most curious sights which attract a traveller's notice; for it is not only in their churches that such paintings are preserved, every room throughout the empire has a pic ture of this nature, large or small, called the Bogh, or God, stuck up in one corner, to which every person who enters offers adoration, be fore any salutation is made to the master or mistress of the house; and this adoration consists in a quick motion of the right hand in crossing, the head bowing all the time in a manner so rapid and ludicrous, that it reminds one of those Chinese mandarin images seen upon the chimney-pieces of old houses. which, when set a-going, continue nodding, for the amusement of old women and children.

Upon the bridge leading from the town to the fortress of Novogorod, is a small chapel, where every peasant who passes, either deposits his candle or his penny. Before this place, which is filled with old pictures of the kind I have described, and which a stranger might really mistake for a picturestall, devotees, during the whole day, may be seen bowing and crossing themselves. A Russian hardly commits any action without this If he is to previous ceremony. serve as coachman, and drive your carriage, his crossing occupies two minutes before he is mounted. When he descends, the same motion is repeated. If a church is in view. you see him at work with head and hand, as if seized with St. Vitus's dance. If he makes any earnest protestation, or enters a room, or goes out, you are entertained with the same manual and capital exercise When beggars return thanks for alms, the operation lasts a long t

« AnteriorContinuar »