It has laboured for nine years in this field; and, during that period, it has sent forth nearly forty Clergymen and Missionaries, of the Church of Scotland, to British North America, besides ample supplies of the Scriptures, and of catechisms, books and tracts of all kinds. Its effects have been mainly instrumental in leading to the formation of a Presbytery in New Brunswick; a Synod in Nova Scotia; and a Synod, consisting of five Presbyteries, in Canada. A A very few years ago, these colonies were nearly destitute of Presbyterian Clergymen connected with the Establishment, and now they contain, within their borders, a most respectable representation of the principles and worship of Scotland's beloved Church. The walls of our Jerusalem have thus been building in distant lands, and "Zion, the city of our solemnities," has been lengthening her cords, and strengthening her stakes. In Cape Breton, where 20,000 poor Highlanders were crying for the bread of life, a most interesting mission has been established by the efforts of friends in Edinburgh, and the labours of Messrs. Farquharson and Stewart, the Missionaries in that island have been eminently useful to its simple, but grateful inhabitants. The Society lately suffered a severe loss, in the melancholy death of the Rev. Matthew Miller, of Colburn, U. C. It has still many faithful labourers in the service, while its managers regret the utter inadequacy of the supply to the vehemence or the extent of the demand. We wish we could induce some of our young men, who possess a Missionary spirit, to choose British North America as the field of their labours. It is of vast moment to visit with the means of grace the settlers, at their first emigration; and yet, even when they have sunk by neglect into spiritual apathy, they become, on that very account, the most proper objects of Christian benevolence. They are in the state, not of suspended animation, as at their first arrival, but of spiritual death, in its most affecting forms. No symptom of surviving vitality do we discover; no whispers of spiritual sensibility, however faint, do reach our ears. The desire is exactly in the inverse ratio of the need; and, while the cold, calculating spirit of the system which makes merchandize of souls, would bid us "let them alone," Christian liberality ought to hold out to them a helping hand; and the resources of a Christian community should be made to bear substantially on their relief. 179 NOTICES OF BOOKS. Eastern Manners, illustrative of the Old Testament History. By the Rev. R. JAMIESON, Westminster. Edinburgh: W. OLIPHANT & SON. p. p. 364. 1836. Or late years, public attention has been turned to the illustration of the Scriptures, by an explanation of Eastern customs, much more than formerly. By means of small and popular works, this kind of knowledge has, happily, become pretty general. In the volume before us there is one peculiarity, giving large explanations, in the way of narrative, rather than by any formal statement of the Eastern manners. Thus the work is most attractive, while it is exceedingly instructive. Not merely is the matter good, but the style is excellent. It is obviously the production of a scholar, simple, chaste, and dignified. In one respect, we felt disappointment, that there is too little of an evangelical strain pervading its pages. There might, and ought to have been much more frequent and distinct reference to the great subject of the Old as well as of the New Testament, the Messiah promised to the Fathers. The subjects of the volume are, Patriarchal life-Egyptian life-Life in the desert-Life in CanaanBabylonian and Persian life. It is a most suitable work to be put into the hands of the young, while all will derive from it profit and entertain ment. Remarks on the Christian Principle of Benevolence: a Discourse on behalf of the Society for Relief of the Destitute Sick. By the Rev. R. S. CANDLISH, Edinburgh. WAUGH & INNES, Edinburgh. p. p. 38. 1835. THIS discourse is founded on the parable of Dives and Lazarus. It is plain, able, and faithful, seizing upon the prominent principle laid down in the parable, prosecuting it through its various applications to the business of life, and turning it to much practical account. It is creditable to its author, and deserves an extensive circulation. Christ our Life; or, the Scripture Testimony concerning Immortality. Dublin: 1835. A Reply to the above. By the Rev. PATRICK POUNDEN, Ballinasloe. W. CURRY. Jun., Dublin, WHILE we look at these two tracts upon our table, we may truly say, our "bane and antidote are both before us." The first is a baneful attempt to disprove the eternal duration of the punishment of the wicked. The second, is an able, temperate, and triumphant reply to it. Is it possible, that any one holding the views advocated in the first can call himself "a Clergyman of the Established Church?" Or that, if the writer is known to the authorities in that Church, he can be allowed, for a day, to bear the appellation? We imagine we know the author, and have long observed and lamented his gradual departure from the truth. Alas! that he should have made such rapid progress in so short a period, But error spreads fast, in both the heart and the world. Our Protestant Forefathers. By W. S. GILLY, D). D. 1836. Fourth Edition, A SEASONABLE, rousing, instructive, and able tract! In a few pages, it presents a mass of most valuable matter to the reader. Particularly, it presents a clear and convincing view of the uniform testimony borne against the errors and usurpations of Popery, from its first appearance till the time of the Reformation, by the true servants of God. It contains, also, an interesting sketch of the life and labours of many of these worthies. Every effort should be made to put such a tract into extensive circulation, in times like the present. An Account of the Regium Donum issued to the Presbyterian Church of Ireland, with the Number belonging to each Congregation of Presbyterians, Methodists, Independents, and other Dissenters. By G. MATTHEWS, Esq. ROBERTSON & Co., Dublin. THE remarks in this pamphlet are founded on official documents in the office of the Chief Secretary, in Dublin. They will be found deserving the attention of all classes in the community, but especially of Presbyterians. Much valuable information is conveyed, in a short compass; and, we doubt not, the publication will be attended with various good results. It advocates the distribution of Regium Donum, on the sound principle, that Ministers of the Gospel are among the best servants of the Government, inasmuch as they form the people to useful habits of life; it advocates the payment of Ministers on the equitable principle of proportioning their salary to their labour; and it maintains the fundamental principle of Establishments, as consistent with the soundest views of Church polity, while it treats the voluntary principle with, perhaps, too much contempt, considering how many wise men there are who have been so foolish as to advocate it. We noticed a few inaccuracies in the pamph. let, but we would be glad to see it circulated. The tables, shewing the strength and attendance of each Congregation, are interesting. It would be well to give to these all the publicity possible. Scripture Characters and Events. No. I.-The Fall of Peter. By the Rev. J. CARLILE, Dublin. W. CURRY, Jun. & Co., Dublin. p.p. 32. 1835. THIS is the first of a series of tracts, to be published by the author, on the principal characters and events in Scripture history. Should they all equal the present, we hesitate not to say, they will prove both exceedingly interesting and useful. The history of Peter's fall is fully related and explained, so as to afford a clear exposition of the doctrine involved in it, and this is followed by a most practical and useful deduction of the lessons taught by such a passage of the Apostle's history. The avowed object of the writer is "to contribute to the elucidation and application of the Scripture narrative ;" and so far he has been successful. SIR, Your late numbers have brought the subject of Missions before your readers in a mournful attitude, that of death, and that death as a Judgment on our Presbyterian Church, for being so slow in entering into the Missionary field. I need scarcely say, that the death referred to is that of the Rev. Mr. Leslie, and that the idea of this death being a judgment, has been prominently brought forward in your number for December, in the outline of a sermon preached in Belfast, on the melancholy occasion. Now, Holy Writ informs us, that when the judgments of God are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world should learn righteousness. Isaiah xxvi. 9. And one way in which they should learn righteousness is, by directing their attention more closely than they were wont to do, to the great and momentous subject of Missions. It has, therefore, been suggested to the writer of this article, that a series of papers on Missions might usefully follow up the sad announcement respecting the much esteemed and lamented Leslie. And should nothing occur to interfere with his plan, he proposes to consider, consecutively,-1st. The object of Missions.-2d. The history of Missions.-3d. The importance of Missions.— 4th. The instrumentality they employ.-5th. The success of Missions. And 6th. The motives which should induce us to promote them. May the God of Missions, who sent his own dear Son as First in this sacred cause, send down on us that Holy Spirit, by which alone this mighty work can be carried on with success. What, then, 1st, is the Object of Missions? 1. It is not merely to civilize the rude and savage, and to bring them to the practice of moral duties. That such a change is much wanted, there can be no reasonable doubt. I am aware that Elysian fields of heathen happiness have been exhibited; but they have no more reality than the dreams of Virgil, on the same subject; and the men who have described them, have known no more of the real state of the case, than Virgil knew of what was doing under the earth. If you wish to know the real state of heathens, ask the Rev. J. Campbell what he saw in Africa, and he will tell 66 of the you hateful and hating one another," of which Paul speaks, being so prominent, that his savage attendants dare scarcely close their eyes in sleep, till the light of day dawned, lest they should be murdered by one another. Ask Tyerman and Bennet, with whom the friend of Missions can circumnavigate the globe without leaving his own fireside, and they will tell you, from fearful observation, of the murderers and devourers of their own fellow creatures; for, from the fangs of such cannibals they scarcely escaped, at the Island of New Zealand. Any man who wishes to see the true state of the heathen world, should read the journals of these gentlemen, as edited by the renowned poet Montgomery, and he will there see what God has wrought by the instrumentality of Missions. That Missionary exertions, wherever they succeed, will civilize and moralize mankind, is also certain. The light which the Gospel diffuses will shew the horrid cruelties of heathenism in such clear colours, that the perpetrators of them will be ashamed of their abominations. The life which the grace of the Lord Jesus will impart, will enable them to cast off the works of darkness. Even where the Gospel has not a sanctifying and saving effect, it will have a reflective influence on society to counteract gross impurity, and to introduce a higher tone of morals. Civilization will as surely follow the influence of the Gospel, as the shadow follows the living and moving body. Yet, still, Missions aim at far higher objects than mere reformation. If they went only thus far, they would only make clean the outside of the cup and platter, and would form only whited sepulchres, fair outside, but, within, full of rottenness and uncleanness, and thus totally unfit for the kingdom of heaven. II. It is not the object of Missions merely to collect men into congregations, for the purpose of hearing evangelical truth. It is, indeed, desirable to effect this object, because faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. But do we not know, by melancholy experience, that men may be collected in congregations, and a minister may preach to them, from Sabbath to Sabbath, and both pastor and people may be quite satisfied with the forms of godliness, when they may be not only devoid of the power of it, but deniers of it also. It |