God in his providence are often very mysterious. 2, Learn the uncertainty of all human prospects. 3, Learn the danger of neglecting the important concern of the soul, and the necessity of immediate preparation for death. 4. Learn to prize the merciful opportunities you now enjoy. The Sermon was so well received, that Mr. Slate was requested and urged to print it.

A Sermon, occasioned by the death of the Rev. T. Spencer, preached at Brighton, by J. Styles. 18. 6d.

Ir is somewhat remarkable that this funeral discourse was delivered in the place, and at the very hour, in which Mr. Spencer had engaged to preach for Mr. Styles. The voice of our departed friend,' says the preacher in the exordium of his sermon, was this night to have addressed you on the things which belong to your peace; you were again to have listened to that eloquence which you never heard with indifference, and to have been warmed by that piety which so often glowed with seraphic ardour. But the arm of the unsearchable God has removed him from our world; the instructions he had meditated for us are locked up among the inscrutable mysteries of the tomb; we shall see his face, we shall hear his voice no more. HE recedes, to give place to a monitor who has a right to be heard with profound reverence and holy submission: the ETERNAL himself breaks the silence of death, and says to our humbled and almost broken hearts, Be still, and

knew that I am God.'. This is Mr. Styles's text; in which he considers the Divine Being presenting himself to our view as the Mysterious, the Efficient, the Independent, the Righteous, and the Merciful Governor of the world!' These particulars are treated in Mr. Styles's usual lively and spirited manner. Some extracts from Mr. Spencer's pious letters are introluced, and a reference made to ome expressions in his last sernon preached the evening before is death, and in his conversation fter sermon in private.

ΧΙΧ.

We insert an extract from the character of Mr. S. by the preacher.

As a man, he was intelligent, amiable, and interesting; without suspicion, without guile. He car ried his heart in a crystal vase, which all could see. Nature had formed him of her finest materials, and moulded him in her loveliest form.

As a Christian, his piety was rational, refined, and exalted; he had the simplicity and gentleness of Christ; he was forgiving of injuries, and that upon principle.

'As a Preacher, his talents were held in a degree of estimation, and possessed an extent of influence which have seldom been equalled in the annals of pulpit eloquence. His discourses were rather persuasive and hortatory than argumentative or disquisitive; they were addressed more to the imagination and affections than to the judgement, and this, apparently, not so much from any deficiency of talent as from a firm persuasion, that, in matters of religion, the avenues of the understanding are chiefly to be sought in the heart; and that those religious convictions alone can be permanent which have been prece ded by a strong impression on the feelings. His sermons, thus constituted, were adorned with a felicity of expression, and delivered in an unremitted fluency of language, altogether surprising in extempo

raneous discourses. These essential qualities of excellence were assisted by an uncommonly distinct articulation, a tone of voice singularly melodious, and great grace

fulness of action.'

The death of such a man is, in every sense, a public loss; it reads to ministers a solemn lesson, and speaks to Christians in general with an impressive voice!'

He murns the dead, who lives as they desire.'

Mr.Styles's sermon is interesting, and does honour to the preacher, as well as to the amiable youth whom

he laments.

Just as we were closing this Review, we received Mr. Roby's Sermon for Mr. Spencer; which we shall notice in our next.

Poems on Sacred Subjects; interspersed with several Exhortations to the Jews. By Benjamin Slim. Ir the poetry were equal to the piety displayed in this little volume, we should be glad to recommend it to our readers. These humble rhymes are the production of a person engaged in a laborious occupation; and are published, by the advice of his friends, in order to relieve his distresses, and contribute to the support of a numerous and increasing family. In this ease Criticism retires, and gives place to Charity.

The Air-Balloon: a Poem, addressed to Youth. By J. Wafford. 12mo, Price 6d.

THE modest advertisement prefixed by the author to his poetic

effusion, is intended to disarm crie ticism of its severity. As the au thor's employment,' we are informed, is connected with the rising generation, particularly in boarding-schools, he thought a few lines, addressed to youth, might be read by them to advantage. A design of this nature merits approbation; and we think the writer deserves credit also for the manner in which his design is executed. He discovers an affectionate and ardent desire to direct the attention of his youthful readers to the things which belong to their peace;' and his composition, although not uniformly accurate, is distinguished by no small degree of poetic imagery. As a specimen of his short poem, we select the following

passage:

This, this, ye young immortals, is the road
Ye have to pass. O may ye ne'er he tost
On the wild surge of chance!-that ocean broad,
Where myriads dash, and all the cargo lost!
Then how, Ó how, will ye steer safely through?
It is a dang'rous track, a boist'rous sea,
Where changeling currents roll, and fierce storms blow,
And on whose sunken rocks lie cast away
Many a well-trimm'd vessel, whose spread sails
Oft caught the longing, wishful, hopeful eye,
Expanding swell'd with pleasing prosp'rous gales,
For which the bosom heav'd an anxious sigh,
That it might steer its course, and stem the tide,
And clear the rocks and shoals, and reach the shore,

And o'er each stormy billow safely ride,

And land where seas and storms shall roar no more;
But like the late seen bubble just descry'd,

Without a helm to guide, no hold could keep,

Split on the fatal rocks of carnal Pride,

And sunk at last into a stormy deep.'

LITERARY NOTICES.

Mr. W. Jones has issued Proposals for publishing the History of the Evangelical Churches in Piedmont, &c. usually called The Waldenses and A new edition of Mr. Russell's Albigenses, in one vol. 8vo, 10s. 6d. Letters and Poems is in the press.

SELECT LIST OF RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS.

Observations on the Constitution, Order, Government, and Discipline of a Gospel Church. By Wm. Newell. 1s.

A True and Complete Portraiture of Methodism; or, the History of the Wesleyan Methodists. By Jon. Crowther. 8vo, 8s.

Letter to the Independent Church it Coggleshall, by J. Fielding, con

taining Observations on 2 Dialogues on Baptism, by Rev. R. Mant. 6d.

Vol. V, of the Works of Mr. McLean, of Edinburgh; containing a Paraphrase and Commentary os the Epistle to the Hebrews. 45.

A Funeral Discourse, occasioned by the Death of the Rev. T.Spencer, and preached to his afflicted Congre gation, Liverpool. By W.Roby. i

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

BIRMAN EMPIRE.

MA. PRITCHET, who has been for some time at Rangoon, has thought it expedient to remove to India. It was his intention, even after the death of his worthy colleague Mr. Brain, to remove to Ava, or some other city in the empire; but the present distracted state of the country appeared to render it unsafe and unpracticable. Rangoon seemed to be the only place where a Missionary could with propriety continue; and as that had been pre-occupied by the Baptist Missionaries, Mr. Pritchet did not wish to interfere with them. He also received a pressing invitation from the brethren Gordon and Lee, at Vizigapatam, who, in consequence of the death of Mr. Cran, and afterwards of Mr. Desgranges, and the ill health of Mr. Gordon, earnestly desired assistance. The following is an Extract from their Letter to Mr. P.

Oct. 8, 1810.

Our numerous labours and destitute circumstances, together with the very unsettled state of Brother Gordon's health (which we fear will oblige him to remove) urged us importunely to solicit help from the Society at home. The field which we occupy is very extensive, populous, and important. The Telinga language is spoken throughout a large extent of country, and we entertain hope that, in the space of a few years, our Friends will carry the glad tidings of the Gospel from hence to all its idolatrous inhabitants. If you think it expedient to come over and help us till the mind of the Directors is known, we shall receive you with open arms.

Bellary is also an important station: if therefore you feel any inclination to go thither, and assist Brother Hands, it may tend to further the cause of the Directors.

On these accounts Mr. Pritchet thought it his duty to remove to Galcutta, where he arrived Jan, 21, 1811, and was kindly received by Dr. Carey, and other friends. He will proceed to Vizigapatam as soon as opportunity offers.'

Journals and Letters from the Namacqua country, in South Africa, have been received by the Directors; but they are written in Dutch, and must be translated. We hope, hereafter, to present our readers with some interesting extracts from these papers.

The Jamaica Conventicle Act.

Our readers cannot forget the disposition, which has been repeatedly manifested by the Government of Jamaica, to suppress the preaching of the Gospel in that island; nor can they forget the kind and generous interference of the British Government to prevent the execution of the persecuting laws. Notwithstanding this, the Rulers of Jamaica have again had recourse to regulations, plainly intended to prevent, if possible, the instruction of the Negroes by those who alone will take the pains to bestow it.

An Act was passed in Jamaica Nov. 14, 1810, entitled, An Act to prevent Preaching and Teaching by persons not duly qualified, and to restrain Meetings of a Dangerous Nature, on pretence of attending such Preaching and Teaching.'

The Preamble of the Act states the necessity of some precaution for the purpose of excluding from the exercise of sacred functions all ignorant and ill-designing persons; and then proceeds to point out the qualifications necessary for a Preacher, which are nearly the same as required in England, only