nquiring mass. This platform was offered, and we sprung with eagerness to the vantage-ground, to which it raised us." The design is further explained in the Preface, where it is said,

"It appears very desirable that systematic attempts should be made by public lectures and otherwise to educate the working classes in the true principles of abstract discussion, as well as to acquaint them fully with the various lines of

evidence which combine to prove the truth of Christianity. The popular lectures of the day are excellent of their kind; their object, how ever, is the communication of a little scientific knowledge, rather than the training of the hearers to habits of close and frequent thought. A series of lectures upon moral philosophy, or upon the analogies between natural and revealed religion, or some other department of the Christian evidences, would not only acquaint the audience with a highly important class of truths, but would elevate the taste of many, and lead them unto regions of higher contemplation than they had previously been accustomed to."-p. v.

The lecturers, accordingly, intended to adapt themselves to men fond of discussion, having no perception of their spiritual poverty, but disposed to look at Christianity, if they looked at it at all, with the cool indifference of self

sufficient philosophers. There are two ways of dealing with such persons. One is to bring before them the gospel, exhibit its glories, show its adaptation to their wants, appeal to their consciences, and urge it upon them as an authenticated message from God; the other is to meet them on their own ground, opposing philosophy to philosophy, and speculation to speculation, refuting their objections, and reasoning with them in the same unimpassioned manner as they themselves employ in arguing against the truth. This last course is that which the lecturers have chosen, and they have adhered to it steadily. The subjects are: — Man's Responsibility the Immortality of Man-the Character of God-the Character of Jesus Christ-the Morality of the New Testament-the Necessity of a Divine Revelation-the Eternal Duration of Future Punishments- the Moral and Social Benefits of Christianity-the Testimony of the Apostles to the Truth of Christianity - the Evidence from Miracles and the Evidence from Prophecy-and the Argument for Christianity from its Origin and Suc

cess.

The Age and Christianity. By ROBERT VAUGHAN, D.D. London: Jackson and Walford. 8vo., pp. 323.

The hope of being able to give to this work something more than a passing notice such as we have now to present, has occasioned delay for which we do not find ourselves able to compensate by an extended critique. It contains the substance of lectures delivered in London last spring before numerous and attentive audiences. The author assumes, with obvious propriety, that "our age, amidst its many forms of scepticism and worldliness, is ill at ease; and in common with all preceding ages, exhibits an irrepressible yearning of the human spirit after

something more settled and satisfactory than it has found." His object is, he tells us, "to demonstrate to some of these bewildered and weary wanderers, that the old path is, after all, the true one; that the new paths opened out on either hand, are harder to make way upon than the one on which we may trace the footprints of our sires; and that, seeing all men are compelled to be believers in some shape, it is really a much easier thing, and assuredly a much happier thing, to believe after the manner of a Christian, than to believe after any other manner." It is of the characteristics of the age in reference to the proofs of Christianity, the truths of Christianity, and the Christian

religion itself, that he treats; and that not as those characteristics appear among the busy masses, but as they are developed among the dabblers in pantheism, mysticism, formalism, naturalism, and other recondite follies. It is superfluous to say that Dr. Vaughan has brought forward much that deserves to be read and pondered.

Memoirs and Manuscript of Isabel Hood. By the late Rev. JOHN MACDONALD, Free Church Mission, Calcutta. With an Introductory Notice by HUGH MILLER. Third Edition. Edinburgh and London: J. Johnstone. 24mo., pp. 104.

A poor Scotch woman who was born in 1734 and died in 1810, is the subject of some of these pages and the writer of others. The author of the Introductory Notice speaks of her case as embodying the whole gist of the controversy between Dr. Alison and Dr. Chalmers on the pauperism question. "Send into the thatched, one-paned garrets,' says Dr. Alison, 'a weekly quartern loaf, and a weekly peck of potatoes, and a few yards of duffle per quarter, and an annual pair of shoes; and then, if the inmates don't take to whisky-drinking, they will be pretty sure of clothes to wear and food to cat.' There is an obvious simplicity in the scheme, and at present, at least, it promises to cost the country not much more than £800,000 a year. Dr. Chalmers's scheme is different, and somewhat cheaper. 'Send into the onepaned hovels,' he says, the principles of Isabel Hood, and the humble inmates will find duffle, and shoes, and potatoes, and quartern loaves, for themselves.'

Rhymes of Royalty. The History of England in Verse: from the Conquest by William, Duke of Normandy, to the reign of our Most Gracious Sovereign Queen Victoria. With an Appendix, comprising a Sketch of the Character of each Monarch, and a Summary of the leading Events of each Reign. By S. BLEWETT. Designed chiefly to assist Young Persons in the study of History. London: Grant and Griffith, 1849. 16mo., pp. 208.

The plan of this work is excellent. The author, "having been for some years engaged in the tuition of young persons, has invariably observed that descriptions in verse, of past or present events, make an immediate and lasting impression on the memory, whereas, similar subjects in prose are frequently forgotten in the space of a few hours, even by pupils considerably advanced." Many others have observed the same and attempted to versify chronological summaries, but none of them, we believe, very successfully. This is the best thing of the kind that we have seen; but the versification is rough and inharmonious, and often omits items which should have been included. The author has aimed at impartiality and moderation; but he has not always risen above prejudices which we should be sorry to see infused into the coming generation, as, for example, in the case of Cromwell,

The People of Persia, By JOHN KITTO, D.D. London: R. T. S. Monthly Series. pp. 192.

This work describes the country inhabited by the Persians, their dwellings and domestic economy, their habits of life and character, their religion and its festivals, with a chapter on the system maintained by some of them called Soofecism. References to the great doctrines of the gospel are interwoven with the general information imparted. It is an appropriate companion to the monthly volume recently published under the title of The Court of Persia, by the same author, and, like that, contains much biblical illustration.

The Moral Statistics of Glasgow.

Bu

WILLIAM LOGAN, Commissioner of the Scottish Temperance League. Dedicated by Permission to the Hon. James Anderson, Lord Provost of the City of Glasgow. Glasgow and London. 16mo., pp. 74.

Illustrations of the connexion of intemperance with disease, mental derangement, pauperism, prostitution, juvenile delinquency, and crime in general.

The Lord's Day in London withheld from the Working Man by God's People and others. By J. M. JONES. London. pp. 32, price 2d. A serious appeal to ministers and others as to the propriety of some habits which interfere with the natural rights and religious privileges of the working classes.

The Unveiling of the Everlasting Gospel; with the Scripture Philosophy of Happiness, Holiness, and Spiritual Power. Specially addressed to the Ministers and Church of God, at the present crisis. London: Hamilton, Adams, and Co. pp. 270.

A Word in Season; being a Faithful and Affectionate Address to Young People, on leaving Sabbath and other Schools connected with Places of Worship. By ANNE MARIA SARGEANT, Author of " Tales of the Early British Christians," &c. London: John Snow. pp. 108.

Earnest appeals to inexperienced youth, going forth into a world full of temptation. The topics are,-Brief Summary of Christian Nature of Conversion and its Necessity-On Doctrines-Persuasives to Early Piety-The the Due Observance of the Sabbath, Reading the Scriptures, and Prayer-On the Importance of Truth-On Honesty-On SobrietyConclusion

Examination, and Passages of Scripture for Prayers, Questions for SelfMorning and Evening Meditation. All much fitted for usefulness.

A Christian Companion for the Chamber of Sickness. By a Minister. London: R.T.Š. 32mo., price 2s.

What ought to be done? elapsed since this work was

Seven years have published, and yet

we have never noticed it. It is better to confess the omission, though it may seem to deserve censure, than to leave those who trust to us for information on such subjects unacquainted with the fact that such a book exists, and that it is exceedingly well adapted for the service indicated in the title-page. It was intended to be, and it is, "adapted to those varieties of character with which, in our intercourse with the sick, we have to deal;"-a book which may be" taken up at any moment of comparative strength and ease, and laid aside with the first feeling of exhaustion."

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Approved.

[It should be understood that insertion in this list is not a mere announcement: it expresses approbation of the works enumerated,-not of course extending to every particular, but an approbation of their general character and tendency.]

The Sunday School Teacher: designed to aid in Elevating and Perfecting the Sabbath School System. By the Rev. JOHN TODD, Pastor of the First Congregational Church, Philadelphia, Author of the Student's Manual," &c. A New Edition. London: B. L. Green. 12mo., pp. 249.

Wilberforce, D.D., Bishop of Oxford. By WILLIAM FERGUSON, Minister of the Congregational Church, Bicester, Oxon. London: Ward and Co. 8vo., pp. 34.

Cyclopædia of Moral and Religious Anecdotes : a Collection of nearly Three Thousand Facts, Incidents, Narratives, Examples, and Testimonies, embracing the first of the kind in most former collections, and some Hundreds in Addition, Original and Selected. The whole Arranged and Classified on a New Plan, with copious Topical and Scriptural Indexes. By the Rev. K. ARVINE, A.M., Pastor of the Providence Church, New York. Part II. London: Ward and Co.

Tracts of the Weekly Tract Society. Published during the year 1848. London: Printed by the Weekly Tract Society. 12mo.

Bunhill Memorials. An account of nearly Three Hundred Ministers who are Buried in Bunhill With the InscripFields, of every Denomination.

tion on their Tombs and Gravestones, and other Historical Information respecting them, from authentic Sources. Edited by J. A. JONES. Part XIV, and XV. London: James Paul. 8vo.

AMERICA.

BOSTON SOUTH BAPTIST ASSOCIATION.

The old Boston Association having been divided into two, on account of its great size, the southern division recently held its annual meeting at Roxbury. The following particulars are extracted from the account given in the New York Recorder.

The association was called to order by the clerk of the original body, and Dr. Sharp was chosen moderator, and W. H. Shailer, clerk. The venerable moderator accepted the honour done him with expressions of gratitude, and took occasion to announce his purpose to occupy the same position no more in future, and that he did not wish his brethren to regard him as a candidate hereafter. To this decision the doctor declared himself to have come, not because he supposed himself disabled by age, but solely from republican or democratic considerations. It is indeed magnanimous for one whom his brethren delight to honour, and for whom they cherish sentiments of profound veneration, voluntarily to decline their expressions of confidence and esteem. Long may Dr. Sharp be continued to us, as a bright example of Christian and ministerial character and virtues.

The reading of the letters indicated, on the part of the churches, a higher degree of prosperity than has been enjoyed for several years past. Almost every church had received additions by baptism, and some of them quite a number.

The general statistics of this association are as follows: churches 27; pastors, 21; added by baptism durng the year, 111; by letter, 133; restored, 4; dismissed, 118; erased, 3; excluded 45; deceased, 59; total number in the churches, 4095.

The meetings were of a delightful character, animated by a lovely spirit, and it was truly good to be there. Devotion glowed in many heart, and was expressed by many a tongue. It is to be hoped that this first meeting of this new body may, as it respects its harmony and peace, be an earnest of its entire future history.

GRANDE LIGNE, CANADA.

A visit to this interesting field of labour has recently been paid by some of our New York brethren, one of whom has communi

cated to the New York Recorder particulars, a sight of which will gratify some of our readers.

It was nightfall when we reached the mission house, and a large group, comprising the mission family, a considerable number of the converted Canadians, as well as several guests whose arrival preceded ours, were assembled at the door to welcome us. The mission premises struck us as singularly appropriate, combining the marks of good taste, economy, and Christian simplicity. The house itself is of stone, three stories high, and surmounted with a cupola and bell. It has a chapel which extends across one end when fully opened, or, half-closed, leaves an ample and convenient school room. The dining room is a large apartment in the rear, in a wing attached to the main building, and furnishing likewise room for kitchen, &c., with dormitories above. The generous grounds in front are neatly covered with grass, excepting the well arranged carriage drive, while on either hand are large gardens, one of them for vegetables exclusively, the other for vegetables and flowers, and both exhibiting the most perfect and profitable, as well as the most tasteful cultivation. I do not know that I ever saw a more conclusive illustration of what may be done by industry and good taste for the improvement and beauty of grounds, without the expenditure

of money.

In the evening, after our frugal meal, the brethren delegated by the churches, and other brethren visiting the mission, among whom, we are glad to state, was the Rev. Dr. Maclay of New York, were organized into a council for the examination of Mr. Narcisse Cyr, with reference to his ordination. The Rev. Mr. Girdwood of Montreal, was elected moderator, and the Rev. Mr. Normandeau, of the mission, and the Rev. Mr. Parker of Burlington, Vt., were chosen secretaries. I need not give the details of the proceedings, these having already been officially communicated. Enough to say, that the large and very respectable council concurred with entire unanimity in the ordination of Mr. Cyr, whose examination was more than ordinarily thorough. Mr. Cyr was educated partly at the mission school, partly in the United States, and during five years at Geneva, Switzerland, from which place he brings a diploma bearing the well-known name of Dr. Merle D'Aubigné. His attainments are of a high order, and these, com