to be able to guide others in this delicate nd important exigency, may I request you to solicit few papers on the subject. I rejoice to nd that your periodical is xtensively read by the ministers and mem bers of our churches, and my hearty prayer is, that it may be rendered a blessing to all. I am, dear Sir, yours faithfully, A COUNTRY PASTOR. Notices of Books. THE GREAT REDEMPTION. AN ESSAY ON THE MEDIATORIAL SYSTEM. BY WILLIAM LEASK. Pp. 346. London: Benjamin L. Green. Very valuable writers may be injured by injudicious praise. To mention Pollok with Milton, or Douglas, of Cavers, with Bacon, was a wrong to those excellent authors. And it certainly strikes us that some of the reviews of this admirable book may do it similar harm. Its great merit is, that Mr. Leask accomplishes what, in his preface, he states to be his object, namely, to "present a systematic view of the system of Redemption in a popular form." The book is, then, intended not for the study of the theologian, but for the sitting-rooms of the people, and it is well adapted for that purpose. The "common people will read it gladly," at least such of them as are at all educated, or of a reading and thinking turn. The Antiquity, Sovereignty, Completeness, Adaptation, Freeness, Efficacy, and Design of Redemption, with an Introduction, form the subjects of its eight chapters, which are again divided into very numerous sections; so numerous indeed as somewhat to impair, in appearance at least, the continuity and flow of thought, and to give somewhat of a fragmentary aspect to the work. Mr. Leask excels in combining the Scripture statements bearing on "the Great Redemption," and harmonizing scattered passages into one view. We do not think him so happy when he touches on philosophical, or semi-philosophical questions, such as human liberty, Divine sovereignty, election, the origin of evil. His reading seems to have been less in the books of philosophers than in the book of Divine philosophy, -a circumstance which we trust, and indeed are sure, will be his great commendation to the vast majority of our readers. His style is very free, nor will it be the less acceptable to the people for incorrectnesses at which a critic might carp. We could wish, however, it were not so uniformly sententious, that it assumed more frequently the forms, the natural forms we mean, of argument, rather than that of a series of Such a book is necesassertory sentences. sarily argumentative; and when a work is so, it is no gain to evade the kind of composition required by the topic, and to approach in style nearer to the Proverbs of Solomon than to the vigorous reasonings of Paul. We have no knowledge of Mr. Leask but from this book, and as it is one of such high promise, and we presume him to be a young writer, we throw out these hints with the utmost kindness. We cordially recommend his work to our intelligent young friends especially; but as our readers are used to honest reviews from us, we are confident that our commending with limitation will be more effectual with them than undiscriminating praise. ENGLAND IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY; OR, A HISTORY OF THE REIGNS OF THE HOUSE OF HANOVER, FROM THE ACCESSION OF GEORGE I. TO THE PEACE OF AMIENS. Pp. 438. London: Religious Tract Society. This is a useful and, on the whole, well written little work. It is by no means "Alison abridged," though the writer seems to like quoting from that author. The views are moderately liberal, conspicuously Protestant, and, of course, evangelical. The writer is also a thorough free-trader and anti-war man, at least he heartily denounces the "glory of war." It is an important feature, too, that the immoralities and sins of kings and statesmen are not passed over. The work is free from the anti-French and anti-American spirit, from the attempts to glorify Pitt, and from the slang and scoffing tone of writing which so grossly disfigures the otherwise valuable "Pictorial History of England" in describing the same period. We heartily commend it to our young readers. For remarks on one portion of the work, we refer our readers to the article on page 117. SONGS OF FREEDOM, FOR THE SCHOOL It was said by a great man a long time since, "Let me make the songs of the people, and I care not who makes their laws." There is a great truth implied in this sentiment, and one which it would be well for us ever to remember. Who can forget the effect of the Marsellaise Hymn in France during the Revolution? or of "The good time coming," which is to be heard now at every street corner in our own land? or the better effect of Watts's Songs and the Nursery Rhymes" upon his own infant mind? It is lamentable, however, that this important agency has so seldom been used for the highest social and political ends; and we hail the interesting publication before us, as a step, and by no means a small one, in the right direction. Miss Pyer, in a modest and right-spirited preface, declares her object to be "the growth and establishment of high, independent principles of action, based upon a just appreciation of individual and social responsibility, in those who will hereafter be called upon to maintain and defend the Rights of Manhood." We can sincerely testify that the work is well-fitted to serve this great object. The principles defended are noble, and the language in which they are expressed is often inspiriting and beautiful in a high degree. The songs will be found, many of them, strikingly adapted to the most popular airs; and the work is beautifully printed so as to be quite an ornament to the table. We trust many of our readers will purchase this cheap little work, and, if they use it aright, we are sure they will thank us for introducing it to them. A SELECTION OF SPIRITUAL POETRY, BY THE REV. JAMES SMITH. Pp. 384. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. This is the third of a well-designed and hitherto well-executed series of little works under the title of "The Christian Minister's Family Library." For our readers it is only necessary to say that it is edited by our excellent correspondent, Mr. James Smith, whose competence for the task of preparing such a publication, our pages quite sufficiently prove every month. May Mr. Smith's prayer be fully answered, that "a good and gracious God may bless it to the edification of his people, the honour of the Lord Jesus, and the furtherance of his blessed cause." MEMOIRS OF EMINENT SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS, WITH TWO ESSAYS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF SUNDAY SCHOOLS, AND ON THE OFFICE OF SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHING. BY THE REV. THOMAS TIMPSON. Pp. 376. London: J. Snow. To a large class of our readers Mr. Timpson's name appended to this work will be quite a sufficient proof of its utility and excellence. It contains one hundred biographical examples of eminent Sunday School Teachers; and these are selected from the various classes of ministers, ministers' wives, missionaries, deacons, superintendents, and philanthropists. The Essays, which occupy nearly one-third of the volume, contain many useful suggestions, and are well worthy an attentive perusal. FAMILY SCENES IN A MINING DISTRICT. We most confidently recommend this interesting little work. Happening to know "the Resident," we have ascertained that the "Family Scenes" are family facts, and they are arranged in a form every way adapted for usefulness. Teachers of senior classes in Sunday schools, and visitors of the poor man's cottage, will find the book well adapted for their purposes, nor will they peruse it themselves without interest and profit. We give, however, one of the many scenes (page 127). THE DOMESTIC WORSHIPPER: CONSISTING OF PRAYERS FOR MORNING AND EVENING, SELECTED SCRIPTURE PORTIONS FOR READING, AND HYMNS OF SACRED SONGS: the whole adapted for general use in Families, and intended to aid the Regular Performance of the pious resolution, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Edited by the Rev. SAMUEL GREEN. Nos. 1, 2. London: Benjamin L. Green. The title of this work enters so fully into particulars, that it is not necessary we should say much about it. To many a household it will be a welcome visitor, and where such a work is needed, we do not think a better can be used. It will be completed in eight or ten parts, and its total cost will not be more than five shillings. TRUTH FOR THE YOUNG. A CATECHISM IN VERSE FOR SUNDAY SCHOOLS. D. JENNINGS. London: A. Hall & Co. Children like rhymes, and these are easy, as well as orthodox on the baptismal question. We should have thought, how By ever, that children so young as to prefer rhymes did not need any on the profound subject of election. THE REFORMER, Nos. 1 to 4. Edited by the NORWICH OPERATIVE. An admirable monthly paper. We strongly recommend our readers to order the numbers which have been published since January. We think they would make their order a permanent one. A Page for the Young. BRIEF MEMOIR OF AN ONLY SON. I need not enter very minutely into the early life of my late beloved child, my only son, William Henry Perry. I shall merely remark, that his birth took place at Boston, Lincolnshire, on Thursday, the 24th April, 1834, and that, from his birth, he has been the child of many prayers; and as he grew up began to display a sweetness of disposition that rendered him very amiable in the eyes of all those who knew him; though an excessive timidity kept him from associating freely with children of his own age, and threatened to unfit him, had he lived, for mingling much in the business of life. At about eight years of age, he was attacked with fever; and the result of this attack was that weakness which has ever since marked his constitution. His chest became affected, his respiration frequently short and difficult, and many premonitory symptoms threatened a future consumption. The prognostication was too surely verified in the disease under which he has been suffering, more or less, for the past eighteen months. It was during this last affliction, and especially within the latter half of the time, that my dear boy began to manifest more than usual concern about his immortal interests. At the first, when spoken to on spiritual themes, he would at once burst into tears, and weep so excessively as to prevent much freedom of intercourse. We could merely ascertain that he prayed, and the substance of his prayer was that God would create in him a new heart, and renew a right spirit within him. He began also to read his bible with attention, and to peruse religious tracts and books with apparent pleasure. At that time, we have reason to know, he made solemn resolutions, that if the Lord raised him up again he would walk circumspectly in the ways of truth. But he seems not then to have known the depravity of his own heart, nor the deceitfulness of sin. He did partially recover in the Spring of the year, and his improvement in strength was so rapid, that even medical practitioners entertained an idea of the possibility of his restoration. But just as his fond and anxious parents began to cherish this thought with some confidence, a fresh exposure to cold brought on a renewed attack, which assumed a serious character, and placed his recovery beyond hope. It was now that the work of grace began to display itself most satisfactorily. Now he acknowledged that his partial restoration had only been attended with comparative indifference to the things of God, that the season of returning vigour had been neglected,-and that God was recalling him by a severer stroke, to a more entire self-renunciation, to a more exclusive dependence upon Christ. “I "Papa," said he, one day, "I wish for an opportunity of telling you something about my soul." He wept much as he spoke. "My dear," said I, “this is a convenient season; now tell me all your heart." feel," he said, "a conviction of sin, but I fear it is not deep enough. I have never had the terrors that some people speak of." "Certainly, my dear, some do feel very deep and terrible convictions; but it is not proper to make their experience a standard for others. God has various methods of bringing sinners to himself. He draws by the cords of love, or he alarms by the denunciations of his wrath. However, if he has given you such convictions as cause you to feel yourself a lost sinner in his sight, and to rest entirely on the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ for the pardon of all your sins, and for acceptance with God, your convictions may not, indeed, be equal to the greatness of your guilt, but your soul is in safety, because you have fled for refuge to the hope set before you in the gospel." On this and other occasions many passages of Scripture that seemed appropriate, were pointed out to him. His mind was now gradually brought to entertain the hope of mercy. He had read various interesting biography, and about this time an highly esteemed friend sent him the small work, entitled, "Christ is all," which proved a source of light, and a treasure of consolation to his mind. About two months since, when we thought he was dying, he sat up in bed, panting for want of breath. He saw we were filled with much anxiety, and tried to console us by declaring with calm composure, "Christ is my hope." At the time, we expected these would have been his last words, but he was graciously spared a little longer, to utter other expressions of his faith and hope, and to give affectionate admonitions to several of his young friends. "When I think," said he, one day to his mamma, "when I think of some young people attending the chapel and Sabbath school, how careless of their souls, and thoughtless of their eternal interests, I feel a cold shudder creeping over me." То а young friend whose mother had called on us, he sent a solemn message,-" Tell him life is short; there is an awful precipice before him, and may he be prepared for entering into eternity." To another young friend he put the solemn question, "How is your soul ?" To a third he said, "Had you any concern or impressions of a serious nature when your sister died, or when you had like to have been killed by a fall? These were warnings, and my death will be another, and if,” he added, "these warnings be not rightly improved, they will turn to a more dreadful condemnation." His peace of mind was uninterrupted by any dark cloud of doubt or fearful foreboding. The nearer he approached the last enemy, the less he seemed to dread his ter He was also much delighted with several hymns which he thought suitable to his condition, or expressive of his feelings. The lines in Toplady's "Rock of Ages," "Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling,"— Cowper's beautiful hymn, commencing "There is a fountain filled with blood, Drawn from Immanuel's veins," and that hymn of Dr. Watts, "There is a land of pure delight, Where saints immortal reign," were often alluded to with evident satisfaction, and sometimes he attempted to sing them. In some of the happiest moments during his illness, he was favoured with what almost amounted to a vision of the Saviour. He called them glimpses of Jesus. He had several such ecstatic moments, and when they came upon him, he lost all sense of bodily pain in the exuberance of delight and joy. But such intervals were of very brief duration. They were not aberrations of intellect, or dreams of enthusiastic delusion; for his understanding and collectedness of mind never failed him. They seemed to be the result of a lively anticipation of that glory to which he was hastening. They made him willing to depart; yet such was his entire submission to the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, that he was not unwilling to remain. "Whether would you sooner go, or stay with us a little longer, my dear?" said his mamma to him one day. "I have no choice," he replied, "Christ must choose for me." But it is impossible to record every interesting expression of his last hours. He suffered very severely through the whole of Tuesday night (the night preceding his decease) from a difficulty of breathing almost amounting to suffocation, and from an entire incapacity of swallowing even so much as a drop of cold water. Yet he never murmured nor uttered a syllable of complaint. On the contrary, he spoke in the most grateful terms to the kind and valued friend who, along with his mamma, had been assiduously waiting on him all night. He had evidently a vivid impression of her disinterested kindness, and seemed afraid of giving unnecessary trouble. On the morning of his death, his sister Caroline came into the room, and enquired how he had passed the night. "It has been a hard struggle," I said. He turned on me a very expressive glance, and exclaimed, "A blessed struggle !" These were almost his last words. Not an hour before his departure, his mamma said, "My dear, are you in pain ?" He whispered, "No." She asked him again, "Are you happy ?" He could not speak. She said, "If you are happy, my dear child, hold up your hand." His right arm at the moment lay extended on the bed; with a slow and gradual movement he raised it to a perpendicular from the elbow, and gave us a look that afforded perfect satisfaction. Soon afterwards, he sank into an apparently unconscious repose, -a slumber in which, with entire silence, excepting the noise that was occasioned by a short and difficult respiration, without a moan, a sigh, or a struggle, with a very slight and almost imperceptible movement of the under jaw, he breathed his last, a little after two o'clock, on Wednesday, the 10th of October, 1849. Thus our beloved child fell asleep in Jesus, his happy spirit at once, doubtless, realising the truth and fulness of the apostolic declaration, "Absent from the bodypresent with the Lord." My young reader, be you "a follower" of him who "through faith and patience now inherits the promises." THE TWO MAMMAS. FOR HENRY AND EDWARD. By Fanny Forester, (the present Mrs. Judson). Years since, you had a dear mamma, Her Father, God, looked down from heaven, And so her cheek grew wan and pale Then dear papa grew sad at heart, Oh, very sad was he! But still he thought 'twould make her well To sail upon the sea. He did not know that God had called, And so she kissed her little boys, With white and quivering lip, And while the tears were falling fast, They bore her to the ship. And Abby, Pwen, and Enna* went- Thus parted-three upon the land, And slept among the dead. Where none but strangers rest, They broke the cold earth for her grave, And heaped it on her breast! And there they left her all alone Her whom they loved so well!Ah me! the mourning in that ship, I dare not try to tell! And how they wept and how they prayed, How one great grief came crushingly, And Pwen, and Enna too; But poor papa's sad thoughts turned back To Burmah and to you. He talked of wretched heathen men, With none to do them good; Poor orphans far away, Of those, who for the Saviour's sake, And when I knew how good he was, I thought it would be sweet to live * Pwen and Enna, names of endearment among the Burmans, very commonly applied to children. + The second Mrs. Judson died on her return to America, and was buried on St Helena. |