that little truth deserves esteem, and we should consider it as the Lord considered Lot, whom "he sent out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthew the cities in which he dwelt." pp. 238, 239.

In regard to the instruction of children in the truths of religion, he says;

'There are two general ways of teaching children the truths of religion. Some make use of catechisms, which children are made to get by heart. This is an exercise of the memory, but not of the understanding, and therefore nothing is more common than to find children, who can repeat a whole catechism, without knowing any thing more than how to repeat it. The hardest catechisms are certainly the worst; but the most plain are nothing but an exercise of memory. The chief recommendation of them is, they save a parent a great deal of trouble: but does not the death of a child save you a great deal more? Yet who would part with her child on that ground? The other method is by hearing them read some little histories of Scripture, and by asking them questions, to set them a thinking and judging for themselves. This is an exercise of the understanding, and when the understanding is taught its own use, it is set a going true, and if it gets no future damage, it will go true through life. In order to instruct our children, we should inform ourselves; otherwise they may put us to the blush, and on this principle Joshua enforced religious knowledge among the Jews, "that," saith he, "when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean you by these stones? ten ye shall answer them, The waters of Jordan were cut off," and so on.' pp. 327, 328.

The Morning Exercises are much shorter than the sermons, and have more of a secular character. But they contain excellent advice, which a preacher might well spend his time in giving to such congregations as assembled round Robinson.

If we have formed a just estimate of this volume, it is one of the best with which we are acquainted for circulation, and gratuitous distribution, among the less educated and poorer classes of Christians, and we should be gratified, therefore, if by our present article, we may procure it the attention which it seems to us to deserve.

Notices of Recent Publications.

7. Poems and Essays, by Miss Bowdler. Boston, Wells and Lilly, 1827. 12mo. pp. 268.

WE are glad to see a reprint of this sensible and useful volume. It has passed through at least sixteen editions in England, and well deserves its celebrity because of the comfort and aid which it has given to so many minds. We should possibly have been better pleased if the poetry had been omitted, for it hardly increases the value of the book. It is the Essays, full of the natural expression of quiet and sensible thoughts, of subdued yet fervent feeling, of devout and tranquil faith, together with views of life and manners the most practical and correct, which render it a welcome addition to our stock of religious books. It adds greatly to the interest with which it is read, to know that the essays were written to beguile the hours of long continued disease and suffering; and that they present the picture of the author's own mind, who exemplified all the lessons of faith and patience which she inculcates. We recommend the work to our readers' attention, and cannot do it in better or more just terms, than those of Mr Melmoth, quoted in the Introduction. 'does not hesitate to declare that he considers the performance' before us, as a production of inestimable value to every reader, who has a taste for elegant composition, or a heart disposed to profit by wise instruction; instruction the more forcible, as the author was, it is generally said, the bright exemplar of her own excellent precepts. The genuine principles of christian ethics, undebased by the smallest alloy of bigotry or superstition, are judiciously pursued through their important consequences, and applied with singular accuracy to the various purposes of moral agency. The language and the sentiment lie level to the most ordinary understanding, at the same time that the most improved will find much to admire in both. A style that neither seeks nor requires the aid of artificial ornament, distinguishes every page; and a vein of modest eloquence runs through the whole."

He

8. Address delivered at the Eleventh Anniversary of the Massachusetts Peace Society, December 25, 1826. By Timothy Fuller. Boston, C. S. Hamilton, 1827.

THE expectation of universal and permanent peace is often considered as the dream of enthusiasts. Many, however, are 23

VOL. IV.-NO. II.

undoubtedly in favor of all that has been done or can be done to recommend this object, who have never looked for an early attainment of it. They regard it as an end to be constantly kept in view, and promoted, let its accomplishment be never so distant. Centuries may pass away, before the world at large is convinced that its accomplishment would be for their best interest. Yet the blessing of the peace maker may in the meanwhile be actuating more and more strongly the children of God in every land. The prospect may be constantly brightening, their fellow labourers every year becoming more numerous, and that kingdom which cometh not with observation be established in more and more hearts, though a careless observer may consider the hope of final success as still vain and fallacious. But that end ought not to be rashly given up as unattainable, towards which some visible and marked progress has been made; and are there not circumstances in the present aspect of the world, which may allow us to hope that Christianity will finally prevail over war? This religion of peace is gradually and silently taking place of all those delusions which taught men to think war and warlike glory, revenge and the extermination of enemies, were regarded with favor by the invisible powers of heaven. The altars that a few centuries ago smoked with sacrifices to the God of battle, now send up incense to the ever present Jehovah. The breeze that brought with it the noise of the war song now falls upon the ear with the notes of the evening hymn. War itself has lost much of its ferocious nature. It has not indeed ceased, but is disarmed of half its horrors. Massacre, extermination, and slavery are no longer avowed as the objects of war or as its necessary concomitants. Hostile armies, except in the heat of conflict, spare the lives of the vanquished, and often extend to them the offices of humanity.' (Address, p. 6.)

The very existence of Peace Societies proves that great progress has been made in the cause they advocate. The confidence of the friends of this cause is an indication and a source of their strength. The western continent is free, and it is not the interest of freemen to be at war. 'It becomes the virtuous and good of all nations, and especially of our own free and happy States to impart, as far as in us lies, to the rising communities the benign spirit of our own constitution, our laws, and maxims of peace and national justice. Much has already been done by our example; much by the intercommunication[?] of the citizens of our States with those of the new born Republics; and much may be effected by the friendly policy, which our government, in coincidence with the feelings of the nation, has adopted in its diplomatic intercourse with them. It scarcely seems an expression

of exaggerated hope, to predict a system of amity and justice, so humanely conceived and so wisely adjusted between ourselves and all the existing nations of this hemisphere, as to ensure a long reign of harmony and friendship with all its attendant blessings.' (p. 17.) This spirit of freedom, and with it the love of individual peace and enjoyment, may spread more rapidly, when it shall be seen that a greatness and glory may be obtained in peace, which cannot be hoped from war.

When it shall be found that it is the interest of the nations to remain at peace, means will be sought for reconciling national differences without resort to war. Such means have been found by the United States and England. A question has been amicably settled by reference to a friendly power, which was of much greater importance than many which have been the cause of bloody and destructive wars. If one difference has been so settled, many may; and it is not unreasonable to hope that by the mutual consent of several nations, a tribunal shall be formed, to which all their disputes may be referred for adjustment.

These are some of the circumstances which have been ably and fully presented in the Address before us, to induce the friends of peace to rejoice in the hope of its final prevalence, and to encourage them never to abandon the great purposes of their association.'

9. Hymns for Social and Private Worship. Boston, Wait, Greene, and Co. 1827. 18mo. pp. 150.

THIS little volume has been compiled on the principle, that every hymn intended to be sung in public or in private, should take the form of a direct address to the Supreme Being. We do not think this principle a sound one. Our reasons for not so regarding it we have already given.* It seems never to have been so considered by any writers of sacred poetry, and if universally and rigorously applied, would throw into disuse a very great proportion of hymns which we cannot but regard as among the very best in our language. Even in prayer, it is not a principle always followed throughout the exercise, and the consequence often is a great gain in point of force and expression. There is, it is true, great danger of departing from it too far. Nothing can be more revolting than those devotional exercises in which it almost totally disregarded. It is not an age since we heard from a pulpit in this city, and it was an Orthodox pulpit too, what was doubtless intended for a prayer, but what would certainly have been more in place in a lecture on political economy. The system of checks and balances in the constitution of * Vol. III. p. 496.

our national government, was detailed with a minuteness and accuracy which would not have disgraced the pages of the Federalist. So in hymns, there is an extreme of a similar character, which cannot be too carefully avoided. But, if they contain such religious sentiments as a devout christian would approve, and be sung with a solemn recognition of the presence of God, the mere form in which they are written, is, in our view, of little or no importance.

There is another principle which has been followed in compiling the volume before us; viz. that when hymns are sung in concert, they should be sung in plural language to signify a joint cooperation.' This we cannot but think an over refinement. The very act of singing together is a sign of joint cooperation,' nay, is joint cooperation' itself. Besides, if 'we' and 'our' must be used in social worship, 'I' and 'my' are the only proper words for worship in private, and this volume is fit only to be employed for one of the purposes announced in its title. From this last principle we have discovered no deviation; but from the first, departures are frequent, and it would have been a miracle had it been otherwise. Still this collection has been made from the best of motives and the best of feelings; and though we think the rules its compilers have adopted are too exclusive, there are doubtless many who view the subject as they do, and for such persons they have performed, and performed well, a most acceptable service. The volume is a small one, and the hymns generally among the most unexceptionable we have, and may circulate and do good where larger collections cannot find their way. As the profits of the edition, should there be any, are to be given to a most praiseworthy charity, there is another inducement cordially to wish it success.

10. Books for Children. 1. The Advantage of a Good Resolution. 2. The Four Apples. 3. The Confession. 4. The Child who took what did not belong to her. 5. The Botanical Garden. 6. John Williams, or the Sailor Boy. Boston, Bowles and Dearborn, 1827. pp. 92.- -7. Evening Hours, Nos. I, II, III. Boston, Munroe and Francis, and New York, C. S. Francis, 1827. pp. 106.

THE first six little books, whose titles we have given, are the beginning of a series of books for children, which thus far entitle the publishers to the thanks of parents. The number of stories and religious fictions designed for very young readers, in which the sentiments of the popular theology are more or less clearly inculcated, is almost incredible. This, like every other branch of Orthodox influence, is systematized, and the country is likely