In the 7th verse of the 15th psalm, the first line in our book reads The man who by his steady course. In the English edition before me, it is The man who by this steady course ; which makes better sense than the other reading. In the 6th verse of the 26th psalm there is another variation. The verse runs in our books, I'll wash my hands in innocence, The word in italicks differs from the English edition, which reads My welcome shall be sure, an expression more intelligible, more grammatical, and certainly more evangelical than the other. In the 65th psalm, 4th verse, in our book, we read, "Whilst we at humble distance taste," instead of humbler, which is far preferable. "Proud opposers," in the 2d verse of the 110th psalm, according to the English book, should be "proud oppressors. In the 150th psalm, 4th verse, we meet the odd phrase, of "instruments of various string," for "instruments of various strings," as it is properly expressed in the English editions, without exception, so far as I have had the opportunity of comparing them. It would be tedious to produce more instances of variation, which are generally, if not always, to the disadvantage of our book. Indeed, it would not be necessary for my present purpose, which is merely to suggest the great importance of ascertaining the genuine text of Tate and Brady, by a collation of the oldest and most approved editions which can be procured; and where the original expression cannot be satisfactorily ascertained, to endeavour to select the best; that, in the next edition of the prayer book, our admirable version of the psalms may be presented in its purest, most accurate, and perfect state. I have also found errours in punctuation in our book, tending to mislead the unwary reader, who recites them in publick, a comma being often substituted for a semicolon, or colon. In reading the psalms, where the pointing seemed to be incorrect, I turned to the English edition, and almost invariably found it in this respect different from ours. One instance may suffice for an example. In the 6th psalm, 5th verse, we find the punctuation thus : For after death no more can I Thy glorious acts proclaim, The want of a semicolon, which is employed in the English edition, after the word "proclaim," naturally induces, unless great caution is used, an improper inflection of the voice. I intended to have added some further observations on the hymns, but will not farther trespass on your patience at present. ADVERSARIA. 1. B. SELF KNOWLEDGE IN PREACHERS AND HEARERS. Were hearers to know themselves, they would not take upon them to dictate to their preachers, or to teach their ministers how to teach them, (which as St. Austin observes,* is the same thing as if a patient, when he sends for a physician, should prescribe to him what he would have him prescribe;) but, if they happen to hear something not quite agreeable to their former sentiment, would betake themselves more diligently to the study of their bibles, to know whether those things were so.† And were ministers to know themselves, they would know the nature and duty of their office, and the wants and infirmities of their hearers, better than to domineer over their faith, or shoot over their heads, and seek their own popularity rather than their benefit. They would be more solicitous for their edification, than their approbation, (the most palatable food is not always the most wholesome,) and, like a faithful physician, would earnestly intend and endeavour their good, though it be in a way they may not like; and rather risk their own characters with weak and captious men, than withhold any thing that is needful for them, or be unfaithful to God and their own consciences. Patients must not expect to be always pleased, nor physicians to be always applauded. Mason on Selfknowledge. p. ii. chap. 9.. (TO BE CONTINUED.) RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. NEW JERSEY. THE fortieth annual convention of this diocese assembled in St. John's church, Elizabeth Town, August 20, and 21, 1823. There were present, of the clergy, the bishop, six presbyters, and four deacons, two only being absent; of the laity twenty-two, the representatives of eleven churches. *Norit medicus quid salutiferum, quidve contrarium petat ægrotos. Egroti estis, nolite ergo dictare quæ vobis medicamina velit opponere. † Acts xvii. 2. No material change has taken place since the last report. The ill health of the bishop prevented his visiting the whole “All canons, and other acts of the convention shall be signed by the bishop, for the time being. In case of his declin- || Vestry room, & fence around the church ground, built this year. Sunday school, but not flourish **Congregation steady, regular, devout, united, and rather inChurch open §§ A missionary association, formed by the ladies The great number of funerals reported, is in consequence of the grave yard being publick ed for divine service every Sunday afternoon. Attendance punctual. of the parish. In 14 congregations 675 families and contributors, 610 Individuals, In 66 15 congregations 133 funerals, 17 GENERAL CONVENTION OF 1823. THE publication of the journals of the convention has been so long delayed, that our readers, we are sensible, have by this time abandoned the hope of hearing any thing respecting its proceedings. We neither can account, nor are answerable for this delay, except for the last two months. The following abstract ought to have appeared in the November or December number; but a pressure of other matter prevented it. The convention was attended by seven bishops and deputies from thirteen states; in this list the bishop of North Carolina is included, whose consecration was the most interesting event which marked this session of our ecclesiastical congress. The states represented were Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. The latter was now for the first time received into union. House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. President, The Rev. William H. Wilmer, D. D., of Virginia. Secretary, The Rev. John C. Rudd, D. D., of New Jersey. Assistant Secretary, The Rev. James Montgomery, of Pennsylvania. Committees were appointed on the state of the Church, on the General Theological Seminary, and on the General Domestick and Foreign Missionary Society. The reports of the first two of these committees we shall give at the end of our abstract. That of the committee on the Missionary Society recommended the adoption of certain alterations in the constitution of the society, which had been proposed by the house of bishops, and their report was adopted. The proposed alterations of the first article of the constitution relative to the time and place of the meeting of the general convention was adopted, ten states voting in the affirmative, and three in the negative. By this alteration, the time of the year, as well as the place of meeting, is to be determined by each convention. We shall, in our next number, insert the constitution as it now stands, and as it is printed in the appendix of the journal, of which we are giving an abstract. The following resolutions were adopted, and sent to the house of bishops. 1. That a joint committee be appointed to consider, and report to the next general convention, whether any, and if any, what alterations it is proper to make in, or addition to, the Book of Psalms and Hymns in metre, now allowed to be used in this Church. 2. That the said committee consist of three bishops, to be appointed by the house of bishops, and seven clergymen and seven laymen, to be appointed by the house of clerical and lay deputies. 3. That seven members of this committee be a quorum for transacting business, provided there are included at least one bishop, two clergymen, and two laymen; and that the concurrence of the three orders shall be necessary to constitute a decision of the committee," |