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hate our own lives also, or we cannot be his disciples. But to all this the attention of professing Christians of the present day is little directed.

From that mode of instruction, which I have ventured to condemn, there results a course of conduct perfectly analogous. Let any one look round upon professed Christians in general, and say what tokens he perceives among them of separation from the present evil world. Is their's the spirit and temper of those who feel themselves strangers and pilgrims here; who are seeking a better country, that is an heavenly : and do they act and live as those who have here no continuing city ? Are their affections chiefly set upon their heavonly inheritance ? Are they temperate in all things? Are they striving to keep under the body and to bring it into subjection? Are they employed in repressing and subduing every improper temper? And is it their aim to attain conformity to him who was meek and lowly in heart; who when he was reviled, revil. ed not again; and who, when he suffered, threatened not ? Is it their chief concern to glorify him who has bought them with his blood ? And are they therefore endeavoring, by the consistency of their lives with their professed belief, to recommend religion to all around them, and to convince and silence the gainsayers? Let their conduct an

swer.

But it is of very little use to point out evils without proposing an adequate remedy. And undoubtedly this must be sought in the removal of the source from whence they flow. Let minis.

ters fix the attention of their hearers more upon those practi. cal subjects which have been so much neglected. While they do not cease to testify repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ, let them likewise carefully exhort their hearers to bring forth fruits meet for repentance, and to walk worthy of the vocation where. with they are called. Let them call their attention more to the enemies of whom they are in dan. ger.

Let them point out the necessary and certain fruits of the doctrines of the gospel, where received in the love of them, and declare that, when unaccompa nied by such conduct, they are only a savor of death unto death. Let them not so much shew how far a man may go in sin and yet be a saint, as how far he may go in profession and yet be a sinner. Let them not be so much employed in searching out and dwelling upon the lowest attain. ments of grace, as in exhorting their hearers to press forward to the highest.

When this conduct is general. ly adopted, we may hope that amendment will take place; and that hearers, instead of disputing upon the mysteries of religion, will turn their attention more to what it requires of them. And finding how short their practice falls of the requisitions of the the gospel, they will aim to bring up their lives to its standard. By a course of life, suited to their high profession, they will obviate the scandal and reproach which they have incurred, and convince the world that there is a reality in religion. Ch. Ob.

REVIEW.

The Evangelical Primer, containing a Minor Doctrinal Catechism, and a Minor Historical Catechism, to which is added The Westminster Assembly's Shorter Catechism, with short explanatory Notes, and copious Scripture Proofs and Illustrations: for the use of Families and Schools. By Joseph Emerson, Pastor of a Church in Beverly. Printed by S. T. Armstrong, for Farrand, Mallory, & Co. Boston.

THE vast numbers of children, with which our towns and villages, and all our dwellings are filled, cannot be viewed but with a lively interest, by the friend of humanity, or the lover of religion. They are the treasure of the country, and the hope of the church : but a treasure, which requires the most provident management; a hope, which demands the most assiduous care. The lessons of the wise and the examples of ages, the maxims of philosophy and the precepts of religion, unitedly inculcate the immense importance of the early and sedulous nurture of young minds. The increasing atten. tion, therefore, to our schools and to other means of general education, is deserving of high commendation and of warm encouragement. It cannot, how. ever, have escaped the notice, even of the least observing, that the religious instruction of our children has been far from keeping pace with other parts of their education. It is notorious

indeed, that, for several years past, until very lately, while, in other parts of their education, there has been a very pleasing advance, in their religious instruction, there has been a no less lamentable decline. Nay, the sentiment has been but too openly avowed, and not by the professed adversaries of christianity only, that the minds of children ought not to be imbued with any distinct religious principles; but to be so left, in this respect, that when they come to years, they may form for themselves, uninfluenced by previous instruction, their religious opinions. Under the influence of this, and other sentiments congenial with it, and derived from the same source, the teeming abyss of infidelity, the Bible has been adjudged unfit for our schools, and scarcely admissible in our families; the catechisms by which our childhood was nurtured, have been condemned to disuse; and the direction to train up children in the way they should go, in so far as religion is concerned, has been discarded, as incompatible with that freedom in regard to religious matters, which in this cn. lightened age should not be infringed. We trust, however, and we are happy in the confidence, that the spirit to exclude religious instruction from the general system of education has received a check. We deem it matter of gratulation to the christian public, that the Bible is gaining a readmission to our schools; that religious catechisms

are again coming into use; and that the sentiment, that, to initiate children in the rudiments of christianity is improper, is losing ground.

For ourselves, we are deeply impressed with the vast importance of religious instruction; and we are persuaded that this most interesting part of the edu. cation of children can scarcely be too early begun, or too assiduously pursued. As soon as the young mind is capable of receiving ideas or useful impressions, it should begin to learn something of God, of Christ, and of the gospel; and for its subsequent religious nurture, too much attention, or

care, or pains cannot be employed. The injunction of God to his ancient people, to this effect, was most impressive.

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"And these words

which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart. And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." And not less impressive are the injunctions and directions in the New Testament, to bring up children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." Nor is an observance of these divine injunctions and directions a vain thing. The experience of the church for ages can testify, that a faithful and diligent attention to the religious education of children is of the happiest and most important effect; often have parents and instructors been most agreeably surprised, at the facility, with which young minds receive ideas and impressions of

religious truth; and of those, whose lives have adorned the christian profession, a very great proportion have been ready to acknowledge, with gratitude the inestimable benefit to them of religious instructions, received in their childhood. In one word, as important as it is, that our children should be a seed to serve the Lord, so important it is that they be early the subjects of religious nurture.

Such being our views of the importance of religious instruction, we have no hesitancy in pronouncing, that the person who gives to the public a good book, for the initiation of young minds in the rudiments of divine knowledge, deserves well of the church and of society at large; and this praise we cheerfully award to the author of "THE EVANGELICAL Primer,' "" now before us. This little book contains "A MINOR DOCTRINAL CATECHISM,' ""A MINOR HISTORICAL CATECHISM," and "The WESTMINSTER ASSEMBLY'S SHORTER CATECHISM, with short explanatory Notes, and copious Scripture Proofs and illustrations."

The Minor Doctrinal Catechism contains about fifty questions with the answers, which are short, simple, and well adapted to the capacities of children. The arrangement is systematical and well connected; almost every question seeming to be naturally suggested by the preceding answer. In two respects we think this superior to that excellent little catechism, composed by Dr. Watts; it is better connected, and more enriched with precious and momentous truth. The following,

which are the first eight questions and answers, we present as a specimen.

"WHO made you? God.

What else did God make? He made the stones and hills, the brooks and trees, all living creatures, the sun, moon, and stars, and all other things. Of what did God make all things? Of nothing, Heb. 11:3.

For whom did God make all things? For himself.

How long has God lived? Always, without beginning.

Where is God? Every where. When does God see you? By day and by night; he sees me, when I do wrong, and always sees me.

What does God know? He knows all things. If I tell a lie, he knows it; if I speak an idle or wicked word, he hears it. He knows every word that I speak, and every thought, that I think.

What has God done for you? He has made me, and kept me alive; he has given me food to eat, and clothes to wear, and all other blessings, that I have enjoyed."

The Minor Historical Cate. chism "coutains an outline of Scripture history." It is divided into forty-six Lessons, and comprises more than five hundred questions and answers.

It may be considered as a work almost entirely original, though the author appears to have taken a hint

can be conveyed to the young mind more clearly and impressively, than by interesting passages of sacred history.""It is necessary that children should have some acquaintance with Scripture history, in order to understand other parts of the Bible, to profit by sermons which they hear, and religious books which they read." This Catechism, indeed, we think peculiarly calculated to render the study of sacred history pleasant and useful to the young pupil. Though so easy and so well adapted to engage his attention, that he may learn it in a few days; yet the valuable information conveyed in it, is surprisingly various and extensive. The mat. ter is well selected, well arranged, and well expressed. As a specimen we give the first Les

son.

"Who was the first man? Adam.
Who was the first woman? Eve.
Who tempted Adam to sin? Eve.
Who tempted Eve? The serpent.
Who is the serpent? Satan.

Who was to bruise the serpent's head? The Seed of the woman, Gen. 3: 15.

Who is the Seed of the woman? Christ.

Who murdered Abel? Cain.
What became of Enoch? He was

of his plan from a few questions carried to heaven without dying, in the common Primer.

From

the nature of the subject matter, this Catechism may be more easily understood, and more pleasing to children, than the former. In his Preface to this Catechism, the author very well observes, "The attention of young children be directed to Scripture may history with great advantage. It is easily understood, very engaging, and full of instruction. Perhaps there is no way in which moral and religious information VOL, II. New Series.

Heb. 11:5.

Who was the oldest man? Methuselah.

Who walked with God, when the

earth was filled with violence? Noah.

How did he manifest his faith? By building an ark to save himself and his family from the flood."

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work may be formed from a single article.

"Did God leave all mankind to perish in this state of sin and misery? God, having out of his mere good pleasure from all eternity elected some to everlasting life,* did enter into a covenant of grace to deliver them out of this state of sin and misery, and to bring them into a state of salvation by a Redeemer. Elected, Chosen.

Salvation, Deliverance of men from hell and bringing them to heaven.

Eph. 1:4. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before him in love.

Acts 13:48. Rom. 8:28-30, 33&9:11 &11:5,7,28. Eph. 1:4,5,11. Matt. 20: 23&24: 22,24,31&25:34. Mark 10:40 &13:20, 22, 27. Luke 18:7 Col.3:12. 1Thes.1:4. 2Thes.2:13. 2Tim.1:9. Tit.1:1. 1 Pet. 1:2. 2 Pet. 1:10. Rev. 13:8.

This may be considered as a fair specimen of the work at large. Some of the answers however, have no explanatory notes, and many have no Scriptures referred to, besides those which are quoted entire; while under others the references are much more copious, than in the sample now given. The explanatory notes are those of Dr. Watts with considerable omissions and alterations, and, we think, improve. ments. The Scripture proofs inserted at large are judiciously selected, and many of them dif ferent from those of any Proof Catechism we have seen.

The

most striking feature of this part of the Primer is the very copious references to Scripture, under the several articles of the Catechism. These references appear to have been selected with great

attention and judgment, are generally arranged according to the order of Scripture, and may be used with much advantage, by those who love divine truth, and delight to employ themselves with

the testimonies of God.

A small index to Scripture references, and three excellent Hymns complete the pages and inhance the value of this excellent little book. On the whole, this Primer, (which is of good lieve to contain more matter, paper and well printed,) we beand to be really more valuable, than any other book of the same price; and we sincerely hope, that the attention and labor which the author has bestowed upon it, and which must have been great, will not be in vain.

If to any, this Review appear disproportionate to the size of the book, we have no apology to offer, other than the deep interest we take in the immortal welfare of millions, to whom, by bringing them ear. ly acquainted with many most important facts and truths, and engaging their attention to the Scriptures at large, the Evangelical Primer, may be singularly useful.

A Biographical Dictionary, containing a brief account of the First Settlers and other Eminent Characters among the Magistrates, Ministers, Literary, and Worthy Men, in New-England. By John Eliot, D. D. Corresponding Secretary of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Bos

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