The following list of the contents will show the nature of the topics which are introduced:

"Introduction-The low state of religion among Christians considered, and the importance of ascertaining the causes of the evil. Primary cause, the depravity of the human heart. Other causes stated and illustrated in the following chapters:-Chap. I. Neglect of the bread of life. II. Improper connections with the ungodly. III. Spiritual indolence. IV. Want of a suitable control over our thoughts. V. Neglect of prayer; particularly of secret prayer. VI. Temporal prosperity. VII. Desecration of the Sabbath. VIII. Too great precipitancy in the admission of candidates to church fellowship. IX. Violent religious excitements. X. Extensive prevalence of the opinion, that the influence of religious principle cannot be expected, in most cases, to be steady and constant. XI. Perversion of the doctrine of grace. XII. The manner in which Christian ministers too often spend their time when out of the pulpit. XIII. Prevalence of the opinion, that on the pastor of a church is devolved nearly the whole work of promoting the interests of religion in the place where he resides. XIV. Manner in which Christians frequently treat the Holy Spirit. XV. Neglect of the daily exercise of repentance towards God, and of faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ. Closing Address."

All these topics are judiciously illustrated. The style is clear and simple, yet nervous and dignified. We think, that pastors will do well to recommend this book to their churches.

3. Lives of Virginia Baptist Ministers. By JAMES B. TAYLOR, Pastor of the Second Baptist Church, Richmond. Richmond. 12mo. pp. 444.

1837.

This interesting volume contains biographical sketches of eighty Baptist ministers, who lived and labored in Virginia. It is creditable to the industry and skill of the author. Besides the charm which belongs to biography, a large portion of the history of the Virginia Baptists may be learned from these notices of men, who founded churches, and endured persecutions, and toiled, amid much evil report and suffering, to advance the Saviour's kingdom in Virginia. In that State, the book must possess a high interest; and it may be read with profit by all who love Zion. All may be benefited by these details of ministerial fidelity and Christian character. Many of these names belong not to Virginia alone. Robert B. Semple, Noah Davis, Abner W. Clopton, and Lott Cary, made themselves extensively known by their good works. Lott Cary is the subject of one of the longest sketches. It is doing no injustice to the other excellent men who are mentioned in this volume, to say, that Lott Cary, notwithstanding his African blood, had few-perhaps nosuperiors among them, in talents, in piety, and in native grandeur of soul. From the condition of an ignorant slave, he gradually rose, till he became so skilful an assistant in a tobacco warehouse, that his employers offered him a salary of $1000 per annum; he learned to read and write, and obtained considerable useful knowledge; he

redeemed himself and two children from slavery, by paying $850; and he became a zealous and eloquent preacher. He at length resolved to leave all his opportunities of gaining wealth at home, and go to Africa, for the purpose of aiding to spread civilization, freedom and happiness, over that dark continent. In Africa, he became one of the main pillars of the Liberia colony, of which he was chosen the vice agent. After a course of honorable services, of the utmost value to the colony, he was unhappily killed, by an accidental explosion of the magazine, in November, 1828. The sketch given by Mr. Taylor is very interesting, and does full justice to the character of Mr. Cary. His memory will live in the history of Africa. He was a kindred spirit with the venerable father of modern missions; and he has aided to make CAREY

"One of the few, the immortal names,

Which were not born to die."

We wish, that the Baptists in other States would imitate the example of their Virginia brethren, in their care to preserve their own history, and the memory of their distinguished men. No other State has any thing to be compared with Semple's History of the Virginia Baptist Churches, and with the book before us. Mr. Taylor is preparing another volume on the history of the Baptists in Virginia.

4. Address delivered before the Literary Societies at the Wake Forest Institute, North Carolina, November 24, 1836. BY THOMAS MereDITH. Newbern. 8vo. pp. 14. 1837.

This address contains many excellent suggestions, well expressed, respecting the discouragements which obstruct the course of a student, and the motives that ought to cheer and impel him onward. We hope, that the students at the flourishing seminary at Wake Forest will profit by the advice of Mr. Meredith.

5. Memoir of Alvan Stone, of Goshen, Mass. By David Wright, Pastor of the Central Church, Westfield, Mass. Boston. pp. 256. 1837. This little book contains an account of the life and character of a young man, who was born in Goshen, Mass., August 15, 1807; became a member of the Baptist church in Cummington, May 25, 1828; entered Amberst College, September 24, 1829, with a view to obtain an education preparatory to the work of the ministry; left college, March 31, 1831, and went to Illinois, where he kept school, till he died, at Alton, of a pulmonary disease, February 13, 1833, in the twenty-sixth year of his age. Mr. Stone possessed unquestionable piety, and a good mind. His letters and other papers are evidences of respectable talents. If his health had permitted him to enter the ministry, he would, we doubt not, have been a faithful and useful laborer.

* Since the preceding notice was written, we have received a neat little book, of 108 pages, containing the biographical sketch of Lott Cary, alluded to above. It well deserves to be republished in a separate form. There is a short appendix, on the subject of colonization.

6. A new Translation of the Hebrew Prophets, arranged in chronological order. By GEORGE R. NOYES. Vol. II. Containing Nahum, Zephaniah, Habakkuk, Obadiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations. Boston. James Munroe & Co. 12mo. pp. 293.

Every attempt to elucidate the Holy Scriptures, either by an improved version, or by judicious notes, claims the approbation of all Christians. Mr. Noyes has acquired, by his previous works, the character of an able translator; and this elegant volume will tend to confirm the public opinion. Objections may doubtless be made to particular passages. We have put the book into the hands of a friend, who is well 'qualified to estimate its merits. If his leisure shall permit, he will favor us with an examination of the work.

7. A Brief Narrative of the Danish Mission on the Coast of Coromandel. By BARON STOW, Pastor of the Baptist Church in Baldwin Place, Boston. Boston. New-England Sabbath School Union. 126. 1837.

pp.

This little book contains an interesting account of the missionary labors of Ziegenbalg, Swartz, and others, in the southern part of India. These labors were commenced more than a hundred years ago, and they were successful in leading many souls to the Saviour. Our Sabbath school libraries cannot have too many such books as this.

8. The Sabbath School Truant; or Temptation not resisted. Written for the New-England Sabbath School Union, and revised by the Committee of Publication. Boston. pp. 91. 1837.

This book contains a useful and interesting story, the main incidents of which are declared to be "not fictitious." We are glad to see the spirit with which the New-England Sabbath School Union are issuing new books. We hope, that they will be encouraged to proceed.

9. Class Book of Natural Theology, or the Testimony of Nature to the Being, Perfections and Government of God. By the Rev. HENRY FERGUS. Revised and enlarged, and adapted to Paxton's Illustrations, with Notes, selected and original, biographical Notices, and a Vocabulary of Scientific Terms. By the Rev. CHARLES HENRY ALDEN, A. M., Principal of the Philadelphia High School for Young Ladies. Second edition, revised. Boston. Gould, Kendall & Lincoln. 12mo. pp. 252. 1837.

This book is on the same general plan as Paley's admirable work on Natural Theology. It treats many of the same topics, but it introduces several new ones, and it is adapted to the present advanced state of scientific knowledge. The chapters on the Ocean, Water, the Atmosphere, &c., are excellent. It has a more devotional tone than Paley's work. It will not, however, supersede it. It is designed for a different class of readers. "A distinct object with the editor of the following work has been, to render it strictly appropriate, both to the public and private education of young ladies."

It is well printed, and is adorned by illustrations, which have been before appended to Paley's Theology, but which are pertinent and useful here. This book, thoroughly studied in early life, would help to fortify the mind against skepticism, and dispose it to adore and love the glorious Being, whose attributes are here so beautifully displayed.

10. The Comparative Advantages of Written and Extemporaneous Sermons. By JOSEPH A. WARNE, A. M. Boston. pp. 48. 1837.

This treatise was first read as an essay, before the Conference of Baptist Ministers in Massachusetts. It is well written, and it discusses, in a temperate and able manner, the arguments and objections which are connected with the subject. Mr. Warne endeavors to prove the superior advantages of extemporaneous sermons; i. e., of sermons carefully studied, but not written. Much may be said on both sides. We do not believe, that abstract principles can decide this question. There is so wide a diversity in the character and talents of ministers, in the circumstances of congregations, and in the nature of the themes to be discussed in the pulpit, that a style of preaching, which would be proper and useful for one minister, or congregation, or subject, would be unsuited to another. The free, direct style of extemporaneous address is, undoubtedly, the most natural, and, where other things are equal, the best; but it may not follow, that, in all circumstances, it is to be preferred. Walking is the only natural mode of locomotion for man; but it is not, therefore, in all cases, the best. We would urge all young ministers to acquire the power of preaching without writing; but we would also press on them the truth, long since taught by Cicero and Quinctilian, that he who would speak well without writing must be in the habit of writing much. EDITOR.

ARTICLE XV.

MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE.

LITERARY.

Messrs. Gould, Kendall & Lincoln have in press a translation of Gesenius's Hebrew Grammar, by Rev. Professor Conant, of the Hamilton Literary and Theological Institution.

A "History of the Baptists in Western New-York," by Messrs. John Peck and John Lawton, is in press.

Professor Nordheimer, of the University of New-York, is preparing a Hebrew Grammar.

An edition of the complete Works of President Davies, with a new Memoir of his life, is in preparation.

The Rev. Dr. Holmes, of Cambridge, who lately deceased, is said to have left some valuable lectures on the ecclesiastical history of New-England.

Two volumes of the correspondence of Henry Martyn have been lately published in London.

Rev. Adiel Sherwood is collecting materials for a History of the Baptists in Georgia.

BIBLE CONVENTION.

We gave, in our last number, a hasty notice of the organization and proceedings of the Bible Convention, which was held at Philadelphia, April 26, 1837. We have since received the official account, and a sketch of the discussions. We will now present some additional particulars:

The whole number of delegates reported is three hundred and ninety, viz.:

The Convention thus purported to represent twenty-three States and one District. In a few cases, societies or churches in one State were represented by delegates who reside in another State. It will be seen, moreover, that while eight of the States had but one delegate each, New-York had one hundred and twelve representatives, Pennsylvania, ninety-seven, and New-Jersey, fifty-nine. This fact is of no importance, except as it proves, that the Convention did not equally represent the whole denomination; and that, however respectable for the talents and piety of its members, it was not empowered to legislate for the denomination. It was, in fact, a voluntary meeting for free consultation; and its decisions can, of course, bind no one, except those who voted for them, and those who may deliberately adopt them.

We copy from the minutes the Constitution of the American and Foreign Bible Society, as adopted by the Convention:

"ART. I. The name of this Society shall be, THE AMERICAN AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

ART. II. The object of this Society shall be, to aid in the translation, printing and circulation, of the sacred Scriptures.

ART. III. Each contributor of three dollars annually shall be a member. ART. IV. Each contributor of thirty dollars at one time shall be a member for life.

ART. V. Each contributor of one hundred and fifty dollars shall be a lifedirector.

ART. VI. Every Baptist minister, who is a life-member, and all life-directors, shall have the privilege of participating in the deliberations of the Board.

ART. VII. All Bible Societies, agreeing to place their surplus funds in the treasury of the Society, shall be auxiliaries; and the officers of such Societies shall be ex officio directors of this.

ART. VIII. A Board of Managers shall be appointed, to conduct the business of the Society, consisting of thirty-six brethren in good standing in Baptist churches, sixteen of whom shall reside in the city of New-York, or its vicinity; the whole Board to be elected annually by the Society, and to hold their office until superseded by a new election. The Board shall have power to fill such vacancies as may occur in their number.