the christian community at large, we are indebted to him for a kind consideration of various relations and circumstances in which serious persons may be placed, and for a happy provision of counsel and help in reference to the religious duties and exercises which may be required. Mr. Jay's "Family Sermons" are admirably in keeping with the nature of the services which their name contemplates. They will be found to be plain, without being common-place-refined, without being abstruse or metaphysical-and in happy illustrations of scriptural truth, by striking examples and apt resemblances, they abound.

"The Closet Exercises," designed to aid in the profitable and pleasant duty of retired holy meditation, must commend themselves to every sober mind. In using other productions of this character, we have felt that something was wanting, without being able precisely to define the defect. Mr. Jay has supplied the desideratum, and imparted to these exercises a character which renders them gratefully subservient to their important design. No one can use them for a few days, without being struck by the writer's skill in gathering beautiful hints from "the incidental strokes of the sacred penmen," ," and borrowing appropriate allusions from the "neglected portions of the inspired volume.” The brevity, the animation, the pathos and the piety of these instructive meditations, render them as well suited for the sick and the infirm and the aged, as for the regular daily use of young persons, and of those who have not much time to devote to such exercises. The family prayers, intended to aid those who prefer a written form in worshipping at the domestic altar, will be found quite as much varied as the joint devotion of a pious household ordinarily requires; and for special occasions, special prayers are provided.

In a day when so much freedom of opinion is tolerated, and so much diversity obtains as to points of minor importance in theology, it is scarcely to be expected that the views of any one man will harmonize, in all respects, with the sentiments of the various individuals who may peruse his writings. Those, however, who admire Newton's works, and the practical view of Wilberforce, will be likely to take but little exception to the creed, and none to the spirit of this author; and I am satisfied that few will consult his pages, without being won by his pleasing style, captivated by his christian feeling, and benefited by his pious instructions. Yours, very respectfully,

Baltimore, Nov. 26, 1832.

MESSRS. ARMSTRONG & PLASKITT:

J. JOHNS, Rector of Christ Church.

I entirely concur with Messrs. Henshaw and Johns in all that they have said, in commendation of the works of the excellent Mr. Jay.-I should in vain attempt to say better what they have said so well, and will only, therefore, add, for the sake of any, who, through partiality, may value my judgment of a book, that these writings of Jay I possess, and very highly prize, and daily, with pleasure and, I hope, profit also, read; and that I most sincerely wish a copy of them of your edition may be permitted to occupy a prominent place in the library of every family of the congre gation to which I minister in holy things, Yours, very respectfully,

Dec. 1, 1832.

W. NEVINS, Pastor of the 1st Presbyterian Church.

I consider the Rev. Wm. Jay as one of the most valuable practical writers of the present day, and am highly gratified to find that it is intended to publish his entire works in a form acceptable to all. It will be a work highly valuable in every christian family. G. T. BEDELL, D. D. Rector of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church.

Philadelphia, Nov. 27, 1832.

Jay has been for some years a favourite writer with me, and I most cordially agree with the above recommendations of his entire works. THO. B. SARGENT, Minister of the Methodist E. Church, East Baltimore Station.

With very great satisfaction I recommend to all with whom my opinion may have influence, the works of Wm. Jay as highly practical and instructive in their character. It is a subject of pleasant reflection that the present edition of them contains many productions of his never before published. STEPHEN H. TYNG, Philadelphia, Nov. 29, 1832. Rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

It gives me great pleasure to recommend the entire works of the Rev. Wm. Jay, as recently published by Messrs. Armstrong and Plaskitt, Baltimore, to the christian public. He is a writer eminently catholic in spirit, truly evangelical,-rich, sprightly and devout, remarkably happy in the use of scripture, and better fitted than almost any writer with whom I am acquainted, to circulate without offence among the people of God of every name. JOHN BRACKENRIDGE.

Philadelphia, Dec. 1, 1832.

Late Pastor of the 2d Presbyterian Church, Baltimore.

Having for some time been intimately acquainted with the writings of the Rev.
Wm. Jay, and having also a high esteem for his works, it affords me great pleasure
G. W. PERRY,
to recommend the same to the christian community.
Philadelphia, Nov. 29, 1882.

MESSRS. ARMSTRONG & PLASKITT.

Pastor of the 1st Baptist Church.

I have long been an admirer of the Rev. Mr. Jay, as a writer of great purity and beauty of style,-with a rich vein of elevated thought, and a strain of most fervid piety and christian benevolence as universal as the principles of the gospel of our ALFRED GRIFFITH, Divine Redeemer. Presiding Elder, Baltimore District.

Baltimore, Dec. 15,

1832.

MESSRS. ARMSTRONG & PLASKITT,
GENTLEMEN:

It has been intimated to me by a respected friend that you would be pleased to have my opinion of the standard works of the Rev. William Jay, of which you have just given us a neat and accurate collection; and, though it certainly would not have occurred to me that my opinion was of sufficient importance to volunteer it, yet, after such a hint, it would seem ungrateful to refuse to say to those who have furnished the feast how agreeable I have found it.

I was not an entire stranger to the works of Mr. Jay, having, heretofore, seen several of them, separately; and such has been the pleasure as well as profit which I have derived from every new tract of his that has fallen in my way, that I have been long desirous of meeting with just such a collection of them as you have now given us.

I consider Mr. Jay as belonging to the first class of christian and moral teachers. He has a mine of prompt, powerful and beautiful thought, and a clearness and felicity of expression that would have made him a distinguished writer in any age or nation. Even apart from his religion, there is a vigor and grace in his compositions that might render them an intellectual banquet to the mere scholar and man of taste. To the christian, they are a treasure of inestimable value. There is nothing sectarian about them. They breathe the true spirit of primitive christianity. They are so simple as to be level to the humblest apprehension, and yet so full of strong and manly sense as to give new energies to the highest. Rich in instruction on every duty in life, they teach us how to think and feel and act in all the variety of situations in which we can be placed, and coming home still nearer to our secret bosoms and the business of the closet, they educate and train the heart of the reader to that close and constant communion with God, which is the best preparation either for life or death.

Such works are worthy of a place in every family, and of becoming the morning and evening manual of every christian. There is no mind however strong and prolific in itself, that might not profit by the possession of such a magazine of thought; no heart however pious, that may not catch new impulses from so bright and burning a spirit. I wish it were in my power to commend these works, successfully, to WM. WIRT. public patronage. I should feel that I had done good service in the best of causes. Baltimore, Dec. 2, 1832.

TO MESSRS. ARMSTRONG & PLASKITT:

I have been acquainted with some portions of Mr. Jay's works for years, and have frequently read them with pleasure and profit: I cannot hesitate to recommend them to all who admire a beautiful style and a vein of genuine piety, which runs through WM. RYLAND, the whole. Chaplain U. S. Navy.

Washington City, D. C.

An acquaintance with some of the works of the Rev. Mr. Jay, justifies me in expressing my gratification at the prospect of possessing the whole of them, and in cordially recommending them to the favor of the christian public.

Georgetown, D. C. Jan. 12, 1833.

MESSRS. ARMSTRONG & PLASKITT,
GENTLEMEN:

JOHN T. BROOKE, Rector of Christ Church.

It is certainly useless, and may seem ostentatious in me to recommend the writings of such a man as the Rev. William Jay, especially after the high commendation of them, which you have already received. As you request it, however, I would cheerfully say, that I esteem them very highly. No man can read them without great benefit. I should rejoice to see them in the hands of every member of my R. POST, congregation; to whom, and to all others with whom my name may have any weight, Yours, very respectfully, I would cordially recommend them. Pastor of the 1st Presbyterian Church. Washington City, Jan. 11th, 1833.

I have been highly entertained and gratified in looking over the Messrs. Armstrong & Plaskitt's edition of the works of the Rev. William Jay.

For a number of years I have entertained the most exalted opinion of Mr. Jay as a religious author; and I assure you this opinion has been in no degree weakened by the opportunity afforded me of examining such of his works as had not previously fallen under my notice.

If works on religion, to make them entertaining and useful, should be replete with sound sense and rational morality-if they should appear in a style, simple, chaste, pure and perspicuous, then, no well disposed mind can peruse the works of the Rev. Wm. Jay without deriving from them both pleasure and profit.

The publishers are certainly entitled to great credit, not only for the elegant form in which their edition of the above works appears, but also for the pains they have been at to furnish the reading public with so valuable a collection.

Washington, January 11, 1833.

J. M. HANSON.

The works of the Rev. Wm. Jay like those of the author of that invaluable tract the Dairyman's Daughter, will be ever held in the highest estimation by all who sincerely love the Lord Jesus Christ, and I doubt not but they will be instrumental in bringing many sons and daughters to the Lord Almighty.

God bless Wm. Jay for all his labors of love in the common cause of our Almighty Redeemer. Judging him by his works, he has a heart and soul full of the love of his Divine Master, and no one whether Catholic or Protestant, who has the means, should for a moment hesitate in placing them on the centre table, the toilet, and by the sick and dying bed, for daily use. WM. HAWLEY, Rector St. John's Church.

Washingtan City, D. C. Jan. 14, 1833.

唱

The Rev. William Jay has long occupied a prominent station in the Church of Christ. His works, which are truly evangelical in sentiment, and clothed in a style alike admirable for its beauty and its simplicity, have been, as they are well calculated to be, extensively useful.

In publishing an entire edition of these works, Messrs. Armstrong and Plaskitt, have rendered a valuable service to the community. And I earnestly recommend it to all who can afford to purchase it, to put themselves in possession of a book so rich and so varied in matter, and so entirely free from any thing that can give just offence even to the most fastidious. JAMES LAURIE, D. D. Pastor of F street Church

Washington, January 10, 1833.

The works of Jay are so full of the simplicity and energy of divine thought, so instinct with the beauty of christian holiness and charity, that I cannot but wish every christian, with whom my opinion may have any weight, should possess them. There is, especially in his "Morning Exercises for the Closet," and his "Christian Contemplated," a spiritual raciness—a savor of the very bread of life, so refreshing and invigorating to a devout mind, that it were impossible they should be read by any who wish to run in the way of God's commandments without essential profit. He is one of those writers whose freshness of holy sentiment and whose scriptural purity and tenseness of diction, keep the mind and heart of the reader all the while, near the fountain of wisdom. He appears to have learned both how to gather manna, and how to draw water from the wells of salvation-how to feast upon them himself, and how to give to him that is weary. vors perhaps more of Siloa's brook and of the garden of God, than may well suit a His words are fitly spoken. His imagery safastidious literary taste-and his comprehensive views of christian duties and privileges, are too faithfully copied out from the DOCUMEnt of faith, to please those who do not cleave unto the divine testimonies.

But to all such, who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, and who delight themselves in his service, the entire works of Jay will be held as among the most precious of their CLOSET LIBRARY. CHAUNCEY COLTON, Rector of Trinity Church.

Washington City, D. C. January 12, 1833.

TO MESSRS. ARMSTRONG & PLASKITT,

GENTLEMEN:

To the high recommendations which you have already received of the works of the Rev. Mr. Jay, it affords me much pleasure to add my own. quaintance with these volumes extend, I heartily accord with all that has been said As far as my acin their favor by the reverend gentlemen who have recommended them. Desiring myself to be more familiar with these writings, I could wish a copy of them were in every family of my parish. F. W. HATCH, Rector Christ's Church, Washington Parish.

Washington City, Jan. 15, 1833.