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 relig. ion. 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 entouragement. 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 Biblo 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 education of children can scarcely be too early begun, or too assiduously pursued. As soon as the young mind is capable of receiv. ing 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.

"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 observ

ance 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 instruc tion, 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," DOW before us. This little book con. tains "A MINOR DOCTRINAL CATECHISM," "A MINOR HISTORICAL CATECHISM," and "THE WESTMINSTER ASSEMBLY'S SHORTER CATECHISM, with short explanatory Notes, and copious Scripture Proofs and illustra tions."

The Minor Doctrinal Catechism contains about fifty ques tions 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 momen. tous 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, be 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 Catechism "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 pecul iarly 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 matter 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

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 may be directed to Scripture 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."

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. 2Pet. 1:10. Rev. 13:8.

This may be considered as a fair specimen of the work at large. Some of the answers how ever, have no explanatory notes, and many have no Scriptures re. ferred 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, improvements. The Scripture proofs inserted at large are judiciously selected, and many of them different 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 gen. erally 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 paper and well printed,) we believe to contain more matter, and 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 ap. pear disproportionate to the size of the book, we have no apology to offer, other than the deep interest we take in the im mortal welfare of millions, to whom, by bringing them early 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.

*

THE advantages of biography have been recently stated in our review of Allen's Biographical Dictionary. By referring the reader to our prefatory remarks on that article, we save him and ourselves the trouble of repetition. The author of this volume has some qualifications and means for the execution of such a work, which few others possess. He was born in the metropolis of New-England; was educated at Cambridge; and had the instruction of a father, who was thoroughly acquainted with the civil, ecclesiastical, and literary char. acters and affairs of our country. He was early settled as pastor of one of the respectable churches in the capital; and has been more than thirty years on the stage of public life. With these opportunities of improvement, together with an inquisitive turn of mind, and social disposition, he could not but obtain many notices of men and things, which either would not come within the view, or would escape the observation, of others. His local situation was not less favorable for the procurement of written documents towards such a work, than for "catching" characters and manners "living as they rise."

"His taste always led him to collect curious manuscripts and ancient books; he was favored with many letters of the Hutchinson and Oliver families; and had free access to the books and manuscripts of the Massachuchusetts Historical Society." It

* Rev. ANDREW ELIOT, D.D. See that article in the Dictionary.

the materials, from which this work is composed, long engaged the author's attention; a circumstance obviously of high im. portance to its copiousness and correctness. He has mostly written from one general mass of information, which he has been many years in collecting; but where he has been indebted for principal facts he has pointed to the main source of his intelligence." With what success his diligence of research and labor of compilation have been attended, a favorable opinion might be formed from the testimony of a very respectable historian. Dr. Miller, in his Retrospect of the Eighteenth Century, [II. 384.], "acknowledges his obligations to his friend, the Rev. Dr. ELIOT, of Boston, for a large portion of the information he is able to give respecting the literature of Massachusetts. From a mind so well stored on the subject of American antiquities, he might have drawn more ample materials, had application been made early enough to admit of a leisurely attention to the object."

Much then there was a right to expect. Much is actually accomplished. The writer has managed his materials "in his own way," and produced a work, which has no small claims to originality. He is no copyist. Having long revolved in his own mind the chaotic mass, that he had gradually accumulated, he has at length given it the shape and coloring, which he saw fit. The work has internal evidence, that the author was familiarly ac. quainted with his subject. He is always "at home." When he is describing the first fathers of