master-piece) as entertaining and instructive, as the subjects illustrated are important and wonderful. Notwithstanding a few stiff or antique phrases, I cannot but esteem the works of this author among the most valuable compositions extant in our language.”—And Dr Doddridge, in a note to the "Improvement" of the eighty-fifth Section of his Family Expositor, referring to the beautiful exemplification of the power and importunity of faith in the character of the Syrophenician woman who interceded with the Saviour for her daughter, thus expresses himself:"The pious, moderate, and elegant Bishop Hall has a fine Contemplation' on this subject, to which I refer the reader with pleasure; and take this opportunity of observing, that (allowing something for the peculiarities of the age in which he lived) I have met with no devotional writings on the historical parts of Scripture, which have generally given me so much entertainment as his." He elsewhere characterises the CONTEMPLATIONS as "incomparably valuable, for language, criticisms, and devotion."

R. W.

GLASGOW, April 1st, 1831.

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ATTESTATIONS TO THIS EDITION.

We, the undersigned, with pleasure attest the genuineness of Messrs BLACKIE & SON's New and Im proved Edition of our late Father's Self-Interpreting Bible. We have examined this edition, at the desire of the publishers, and are happy in being able to say, that, in our opinion, it is, in various respects, preferable to any former edition. By carefully examining and comparing the whole of the marginal references, and by adding the most judicious and valuable of those appended to other commentaries, this invaluable part of the work has, in this edition, been cleared of many errors which had crept into former editions; and its usefulness to ministers, and private students of the Scriptures, has thus been greatly enhanced.

The numerous additional various readings and renderings, and the Editorial notes given in the margin, illustrative of eastern manners and customs, natural history, geography, &c., and which are carefully distinguished from the notes of the author, are interesting and judicious. They are quite in harmony with the evangelical principles of the original work, and add materially to its usefulness and value. We have much pleasure, also, in bearing testimony to the merit of the very full and excellent Index appended to this edition of the work, and which we think by far the most complete and useful which we have ever seen subjoined to any English edition of the Scriptures.

The original Memoir prefixed to this edition was written by our esteemed relative, the Rev. Joun BROWN PATTERSON, of Falkirk, with our special concurrence, and revised and corrected by us. It was composed from documents and information supplied by us and other surviving branches of our Father's family, and may be depended upon as faithful and accurate. We hope that its publication will, by the Divine blessing, prove of benefit to many, both ministers and private Christians.

Wishing extensive circulation and effect to all those productions of the press which disseminate, in purity, the Everlasting Gospel, We are,

May, 1830.

JOHN BROWN, MINISTER, Whitburn.
EBENEZER BROWN, MINIster, Inverkeithing.

In the above attestation of Messrs BLACKIE & SON's New edition of the Self-Interpreting Bible, I
most cordially concur, and have no hesitation in saying, that in my opinion it is in many respects the
best edition of that work which has hitherto been given to the public.
JOHN BROWN, D.D., EDINBURGH.

EDIN. 12th May, 1830.

HALL'S CONTEMPLATIONS on the Historical Passages of the Old and New Testaments. With an Essay on his Life and Writings, by RALPH Wardlaw, D.D., Glasgow. Two vols. 8vo. cloth, 18s.

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CONTEMPLATIONS.

BOOK I.

CONTEMPLATION I-THE CREATION.

WHAT can I see, O God, in thy creation, but miracles of wonders? Thou madest something of nothing, and of that something all things. Thou, which wast without a beginning, gavest a beginning to time, and to the world in time. It is the praise of us men, if, when we have matter, we can give fashion: thou gavest a being to the matter, without form; thou gavest a form to that matter, and a glory to that form. If we can finish but a slight and imperfect matter according to a former pattern, it is the height of our skill: but to begin that which never was, whereof there was no example, whereto there was no inclination, wherein there was no possibility of that which it should be, is proper only to such power as thine: the infinite power of an infinite Creator! With us, not so much as a thought can arise without some matter; but here, with thee. all matter arises from nothing. How easy is it for thee to repair all out of something, which couldst thus fetch all out of nothing! Wherein can we now distrust thee, that hast proved thyself thus omnipotent? Behold, to have made the least clod of nothing, is more above wonder, than to multiply a world! But now the matter doth not more praise thy power, than the form thy wisdom. What beauty is here! what order! What order in working! what beauty in the work!

Thou mightest have made all the world perfect in an instant, but thou wouldst not. That will, which caused thee to create, is reason enough why thou didst thus create. How should we deliberate in our actions, which are so subject to imperfection; since it pleased thine infinite perfection (not out of need) to take leisure? Neither did thy wisdom herein proceed in time only, but in degrees: at first thou madest nothing absolute; first, thou madest things which should have being without life; then, those which should have life and being; lastly, those which have being, life, reason: So we ourselves, in the ordinary course of generation, first live the life of vegetation, then of sense; of reason afterwards. That instant wherein the heaven and the earth were created in their rude matter, there was neither day nor light; but presently thou madest both light and day. While we have this example of thine, how vainly do we hope to be perfect at once! It is well for us, if, through many degrees,

we can rise to our consummation.

But, alas! what was the very heaven itself without light? fused! how formless; like to a goodly body without a soul, without thee. Thou art light, and in thee is no darkness,

A