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for the Lord of Hosts, but we are at issue with them about the means employed to accomplish the evangelization of Ireland. We remind them that the gospel conquers only when it wins over the heart with its confidence and its affections. We remind them that past experience shows it to be in vain to send the gospel as part and parcel of the law of the land, as the royal will. We must not say the religion of England ought to be the religion of conquered Ireland. The Word of the Lord must go forth out of Zion, not out of an earthly court. It seems, if we understand the "political creed" of this lady and her friends, that the legislature of the empire ought to be an "assembly of divines sitting at Westminster," so that from the same quarter we might learn what taxes we are to pay and what doctrines we are to believe. We put the subject in this light, that its absurdity and presumption may be seen. And we would urge our friends, from whom we differ so widely on this subject, to consider what we say.

It is our lot to differ from Mrs. C. E. Phelan on another subject, which occasions frequent animadversions in her volume. We refer to the national schools. They are often mentioned in this book, and never but with the most severe reprobation. "This National Board plan is not a sin of mere passive connivance-it is a sin of which the government vaunts-a confederacy deliberately entered into with popery and infidelity to secure their present possessions against the intrusive claims of the Lord Jesus Christ."-p. 207. "Useful knowledge," we are surprised to find, frequently comes in for a large share of condemnation, as does also the Temperance Society, and every ameliorating inAluence except one-" the whole Bible." Now, we agree with the evangelical high church party, whom our authoress represents, in wishing to see the millions of Ireland brought under the dominion of the gospel. We wish to have the whole Bible read and believed by the whole population, and we are fully convinced that never until the word of life shall be published throughout the country will a period be put to the maladies under which it groans. We cordially join, also, with the party from whom we differ in other respects, in praying that the man of sin may be consumed by the breath of the Lord's mouth and destroyed by the brightness of his coming. Agreeing then as we do thus far, still we differ altogether from the views of those who maintain that no instrumentality is to be employed unless it will embrace in its results all the ends at which we aim. We would not be unwilling to secure a degree of improvement, if we could not at once gain all the improvement we desire. If we cannot by a mighty bound at once reach the goal, we would be willing to make our journey by successive steps. We would be thankful at first to introduce the thin end of the wedge, and shall hope to rend the gnarled block sooner than they who condemn us. If we cannot at once impart saving knowledge, yet would we not withhold "useful knowledge;" if we cannot be heard as preachers of righteousness, we would even teach" temperance;" if we cannot induce the reading of the whole Bible, we would even give a part; if we cannot get the juvenile population into scripture schools, we would be glad to see them in the "national schools." And on the subject of these national schools we would remark, that the question is not whether we would be willing to place the whole Bible in the hands of

the children where we can do so, nor whether any earthly tribunal is empowered to sit in judgment on the word of God, and to pronounce a decision as to the portions that are to be received and those that are to be rejected. These are the questions discussed by Charlotte Elizabeth and the other opponents of the schools, but they are irrelevant to the subject. The public mind ought to be disabused; the question is this:In the peculiar circumstances in which the great bulk of the Irish population is placed, is it not our duty to give them that portion of the Scriptures they are permitted to read, rather than permit them to remain in a state of total destitution. The priest maintains that the Roman Catholic child or parent ought not to receive "the whole Bible," and with few exceptions he has power to enforce his dogma. Are we to wait until such a change has been wrought in the principles of the Romish priesthood as to admit of the introduction of the whole Bible? Or shall we embrace the opportunity we possess of giving "useful knowledge" and a valuable portion of scriptural information to the youth of Ireland? In favour of the plan of the National Board, it should be considered that where even a portion of God's word has been learned, there will often be created a desire for more. And abused (for a party purpose very often) as the books of extracts have been, we say that they furnish very valuable portions of the sacred volume for the instruction of the children. And may we not say in relation to this subject," No man having drunk old wine straightway desireth new for he saith, the old is better."

May we not hope that many of those children who are now drinking at the stream will at last enquire for the fountain?

It should be considered also, that supposing the priest to superintend these schools, he does so with the eye of the nation upon him. His school is accessible to the Protestant visitor, who has the right to see that the rules of the Board are kept, and to report any deviation from those rules. And this national surveillance must exert a very salutary influence on the state of the school. Unless through the supineness or the prejudice of the Protestant part of the community, the deeds of the national schools need not be deeds of darkness. We have entered one of these institutions, which we found to be an excellent building for the purpose, well lighted and ventilated, filled by 500 or 600 scholars, whose cleanly aspect ought to have satisfied any English visitor, well supplied with books and maps and slates in the boys' department, and the proper apparatus of female education in the girls'. Over the door of each school was a printed placard, teaching that we should not hate persons who differed from us in religion, but should love them all the same, and dwell with our neighbours in love. The answers of the boys displayed no lack of information or of love for their learning. In the girls' school, we found the books of scripture extracts evidently in constant use; they were read to us, and well read. It is true there were four nuns in this school, beside the mistress, but those nuns were teaching the Roman Catholic girls to read the writings of Watts, Cowper, Mrs. Opie, and the beloved Q. Q.

If Irish Protestants will lay aside party prejudice and exclusiveness, they may, by the means of these schools, greatly elevate the character of their country. We are grieved that they should be found in virtual

alliance with that uncompromising devotee of Rome, the popish bishop M'Hale. We understand that the controversy between him and the Romish archbishop of Dublin, respecting the national schools, is referred to the Pope for decision. We do sincerely hope that Dr. Murray will be allowed to go forward, in connexion with the Board, in the important work of sending the light of scriptural truth and of "useful knowledge" among the youthful portion of his church.

In reference to what is so often said in this volume, and by other writers, as to the mutilation of the word of God by the National Board, we feel convinced that it is scarcely necessary to point out to our readers the difference between mutilating the Scriptures and making extracts from them. In her zeal against the " Extracts," our authoress very cooly describes the National Board as having its prototype in satan himself:

"The devil knew how to wield such a weapon: he took extracts, and made a slight verbal alteration or two, as the worthy translators have done in their class book; and then used it to oppose the work, and to grieve the spirit of Christ; but a whole bible he never would venture to bring forward."—p. 124.

This is very ingenious. If we are to say more, if we must say that it establishes the grand doctrine that all who make extracts from the Bible are the children of the devil, and are doing his work, (and all this is intended,) then where is Mrs. Trimmer, and where the whole class of those who have made "extracts" from the Bible for the reading of the young? Nay more, what becomes of those who have appointed extracts from the Scriptures to be the Lessons of the Church throughout the year? Yea, what shall we say of the whole church itself, which has never given any thing in the way of regular reading but these "extracts." We would have Mrs. Phelan pause and be cautious. These are times when the church will not be trifled with. And she is very anxious for the "health of our souls!"

That abuses have crept into the national schools, we are free to admit. But, at the same time, we think that many of these abuses are chargeable on those who cry out against them. If the Protestant made no effort to have the school near his sanctuary, is it wonderful that the priest should point out a site near the chapel? But we would ask why any argument should be built on these abuses. With such logic, we could overturn every good institution in Ireland and every other country.

On the subject of national schools, we are happy to present the opinions of Mr. Noel. In reference to the "Short Tour," we would only observe that it is throughout characterized by the enlightened and catholic mind of its author. His enquiries into the condition of the Irish peasantry have led to very painful discoveries. The new poor laws will, we hope, soon alleviate much of the temporal wretchedness which this book details, and we could only wish for Ireland that she had a larger number of such friends as the honourable and reverend gentleman by whom her cause is pleaded in these pages. We would recommend the whole volume to the perusal of our friends, and on the national school all that is written from page 308 to 336. The subject is fully discussed in the form of six objections and answers. From these we have room only for the following quotations :

"The whole offence of the National System is, that yielding to a wide-spread prejudice, it has chosen to provide schools without the scriptures, for an immense majority of the people who would have had no schools at all."-p. 309.

"If a few thousands of Roman Catholic children should unhappily be withdrawn from a more complete acquaintance with the scriptures, hundreds of thousands, on the other hand, who would have been ignorant, are by the same means brought to know much important scripture truth, through the extracts, which they are willing to receive."-p. 310.

"Objection 3rd.-By establishing a system of national education without the Bible, the legislature dishonour it."

"Answer. The legislature may be entirely convinced that the Bible ought to be the basis of all education; nor do they, by this system, intimate the contrary; all that they do pronounce by it, is that if a nation is so prejudiced that it will not allow its children to read the Bible, it is better for those children that they should have a partial acquaintance with its truths through a series of scripture extracts, than none at all. Would it honour the Bible to leave some millions of persons in total ignorance of it, because they are too prejudiced to receive the whole?"-- p. 310.

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Objection 4th.-This system mutilates the scriptures."

"Answer. It does not in any sense mutilate the scriptures. The extracts are not given as the whole Bible, but as lessons drawn from it, and almost entirely in the hope of their leading to a more general and more profitable perusal of the word of God ;'* they can, therefore, be no more termed a mutilation of the scriptures than the extracts which are made in a sermon or a treatise can be so termed."-p. 311.

In answer to the statement that the" extracts" are not used, Mr. Noel says,

"In the schools which I visited, I generally found proof that the scripture extracts were in use; and at the last inspection, out of 352 schools which had been inspected up to the time of the presentation of the third report of the Board, 285 were found to use them; whence it appears that they are used in above fourfifths of the schools."-p. 313.

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Objection 6th.-All knowledge without religious principle is mischievous, because it confers the power to do greater evil, and often leads the possessor to greater misery.

"Answer. The nature of this objection is as follows:-Knowledge may be used by a wicked man as a means of doing mischief, therefore keep the Roman Catholic population in ignorance. Let us apply this argument in other things. Health and strength will make a rogue more daring and more mischievous, therefore render every labourer a sickly cripple. Riches tempt irreligious men to various excesses, therefore dry up the sources of national wealth. Clever men are more apt to become rogues than stupid ones, therefore stupify the entire community. Is it fair to apply an argument as valid on one subject which is repudiated as unsound in every other? Teach them the knowledge of agriculture, and you will enable them to obtain three times their present return from the soil. Teach them to read and write and think, and they are better able to make their way in every land to which they may wander. Teach them the state of the civilized world, and they will better appreciate the superiority of Protestant communities. Let them read the effects of spirit drinking, and the progress of temperance societies, and they may save a shilling from the whiskey shop. Let them read any useful and instructive books, and with minds exercised to discriminate between truth and falsehood in common matters, they must eventually see how destitute of all evidence in their support are the peculiar doctrines of Romanism." -p. 315.

We cannot but express our hope that the enlightened sentiments thus advanced will triumph over the narrow prejudices to which they stand

"Preface to the Scripture Lessons, No. 1."

opposed. We long to see Ireland "a land of light and liberty," and we are not without some expectation that the national schools will assist in the regeneration of her millions. One society for Ireland out of the many who are seeking its welfare, demands our special regard and support. The Irish Evangelical Society is founded on a truly catholic basis, and at the same time it admits the diffusion of the principles to which this Magazine is devoted. Let that society have increased succour from our churches, let its ministers receive our adequate maintenance, let the churches of both countries share in the advantages of a christian union, and Ireland will eventually reward all the efforts we can make for her. She will stand under the full blaze of divine light, she will be in a moral sense in the position in which Charlotte Elizabeth observed her when about to pay her recent visit, “just under the sun."

"Towards evening, as I watched the sun's westward progress, the splendid reflection which renders a sun-set at sea so glorious, suddenly appeared; a stream of light seemed to descend perpendicularly from the flaming orb, still high above the horizon, and to settle on the wave beneath in a body of effulgence ;-it was like a carpet of silver tissue interspersed with diamonds, a little larger than the sun's apparent diameter. At that moment my young Hibernian friend approached. 'Do you see that, Robert?' I asked, pointing to the brilliant object before us. 'Yes,' he replied; and Ireland is just under it.'"

CRITICAL NOTICES.

Light: its Properties and Effects. Square 12mo. Religious Tract Society. THIS elegant little volume blends the leading principles and the more popular demonstrations of Optical Science with interesting narratives, well-attested facts, and scriptural truths. We have no doubt that it will become a popular work among the religious and well-educated youth of our great community. Its style, its illustrations, and its embellishments, combine to render it attractive; while its scientific truths and scriptural sentiments and devout reflections will not fail to render it a means of promoting the improvement of its readers.

Journal of an Expedition from Sincapore to Japan, with a Visit to Loo-choo, &c. by P. Parker, M.D. Medical Missionary for the American Missionary Board. Revised by the Rev. Andrew Reed, D.D. Smith and Elder. 12mo. pp. 75.

"THREE Japanese, the only survivors of a junk's crew of fourteen men, landed on Queen Charlotte's Island, and were captured by Indians; and were afterwards redeemed by an English gentleman at the Colombia River Settlement, and by him sent to England, and thence to Macao, where they were under the direction of H. M. chief Superintendent, who placed them in the family of the Rev. C. Gutzlaff. Here they were employed in teaching him their language. Some time in March 1837, four more of their countrymen, who had been wrecked on Laconia, arrived from Manilla. With the benevolent object of restoring these shipwrecked mariners to their country, the house of Olyphant and Co. despatched the ship 'Morrison,' Captain D. Ingersoll, for Yedo, the residence of the emperor of Japan."

In the hope of advancing the interests of commerce, science, and religion, the Rev. Dr. Parker, with other gentlemen, sailed in the vessel, with the captain, and the Japanese strangers.

The excessive jealousy of the Japanese authorities, prevented the accomplish

N. S. VOL. III.

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