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NINEVEH its Rise and Ruin, as illustrated by Ancient Scriptures and Modern Discoveries. By the Rev. JOHN BLACKBURN.

London Partridge & Oakey.

In a few popular lectures, Mr Blackburn has applied the recent Assyrian discoveries to the purpose of scriptural illustration. The works of Layard and others have supplied him with ample materials. Without professing to go far into questions of criticism and chronology connected with the subject, he has culled a variety of particulars in explanation of Old Testament references to "that great city Nineveh," and the empire of which it was the strength and pride. Acquaintance with these discoveries cannot fail to impress the reader with a conviction of the historic truth of the sacred records,

and to administer rebuke to the enemies of revelation, who have ever been forward to impugn the verity of inspired history as one of their likeliest methods of attack. We cordially approve of the method Mr Blackburn has taken to turn eastern antiquities to a profitable account, seeing that the subject is available for popular instruction as well as for the benefit of the learned.

THE ORIENTAL BIBLE. By Rev. INGRAM COBBIN, M.A.

London: Partridge & Oakey. THIS edition of the Bible possesses very decided claims to favourable attention. It is well printed, on good paper; and the text is sufficiently large to be pleasantly readable. Each page has a central column of marginal references and various readings. There are numerous wood engravings, having relation to places and usages mentioned in the Scriptures, and these, by their accuracy and elegance, happily unite instruction with decoration. Besides the engravings there are nine maps, which have the advantage of being coloured. A principal value of this edition of the Bible lies in its copious notes; and we only regret that they are printed in a type so small as to be better adapted to younger eyes than our own. These notes, in conjunction with the engravings and maps, illustrate the scenes, customs, history, geography, and oriental

isms of the Bible. At the close of the volume there is an index to the notes, by which the reader can easily find the expla nation he is in search of, and by which, without straying to other treatises, he has in a great measure the benefits of a Biblical Cyclopedia. In fact, the labours of such men as Robinson, Wilson, Roberts, and Kitto, here yield their richest fruits, while the reader is spared the expense and labour of consulting the works of these oriental expositors. With all this condensation

of valuable matter, the Bible, if not just a pocket one, is easily portable. To a large class of society, it would form "a Family Worship Bible" of the choicest description.

JOHN MILTON: A BIOGRAPHY; Especially Designed to Exhibit the Ecclesiastical Principles of that Illustrious Man. By CYRUS R. EDMUNDS. 12mo.

London: Cockshaw.

WITHIN the last twenty years, Milton's writings, as a political and ecclesiastical reformer, have acquired a celebrity which they had not possessed before since the era of the Revolution. In the lustre of his renowned poem, the services he had done to the state were lost sight of by most of his biographers; and of those who knew his works as a political writer, the larger portion of his admirers as a poet, followed the lead of the bigoted and spiteful Dr Johnson, to reprobate and rebuke him for his prose. There was need that his life should be sketched by a writer holding full sympathy with his views as a Nonconformist and a liberal politician. This is done, and well done, by the author before us. Besides recording the main incidents in the life of the great poet, Mr Edmunds takes up in succession the prose works of Milton, relating the circumstances in which they were written, and reproducing, in the form of analysis, their extended arguments. The biography is well fitted to promote the extension of the lofty and liberal principles which Milton maintained, and as such we wish it a wide circulation.

SKELETON THEMES; intended to Assist in Teaching and Acquiring the Art of Composition. By MARGARET THORNLEY, Author of "True End of Education; and the Means adapted to it.":

Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark. THE object of this book is to supply a guide in a department of education daily acquiring greater pre-eminence. It is intended for the pupil already initiated into the mysteries of sentence-making, and proposes to aid him in acquiring the art of original composition. Such a youth has not yet the power of originating, or of following out,

without suggestion, a train of thought. We do not know any book, so well adapted as this volume, to aid in supplying materials for composition, in such a manner as to induce, at a more mature period of life, the power of independent thinking. Beginning with a series of narrative and descriptive subjects, affording a few themes for the exercise of imagination, sketches for historical composition, invaluable to the beginner as suggestive models, it proceeds to more difficult subjects, for the exercise of judgment and discrimination; abstract themes, and subjects intended to develope the power of conducting a process of reasoning. A careful study of the models presented in the last part would be a means of correcting the loose and inconclusive modes of declamation, adopted by young men, in debating and mutual instruction societies. We strongly recommend the book to all our young friends who are struggling, through many difficulties, to improve themselves in the art of composition. With its assistance they will soon be able to "see their way," to essays on the 107 subjects, of which skeletons are here furnished. Teachers will find it invaluable for their most advanced pupils.

KATHERINE DOUGLAS; or, Principle Deve

loped. By S. SELBY COPPARD.

Bath Binns & Goodwin.

THE "principle" developed in the sketch of Katherine Douglas, is of the highest kind, christian and evangelical. There is nothing romantic or extraordinary in the incidents related, but this renders the lessons taught all the more extensively practical. The headings of the different chapters would lead us to conclude that the story is constructed stage after stage with the view of bringing out certain principles of christian character, on the plan of Miss Martineau's Illustration of Political Economy; and though this gives the book more of a didactic air than if the plot were the main object, and the lesson only a subordinate one, we are not disposed to quarrel with the writer's plan on that account. Indeed, we should have preferred to have the book still more didactic in form.

Had the writer arranged a series of principles she wished to illustrate, and told, in illustration of each, the facts which her observation and experience have furnished, bearing upon it, after the method of some of Jacob Abbot's books, she would have accomplished her excellent purpose quite as well as by weaving them into a continuous narrative, of which the earnest reader is ever standing in doubt how far it is fact and how far it is fiction. Following her own way, however, which, we know, mul

titudes will prefer to ours, the accomplished author presents in a striking and impressive view the development of christian principles in such circumstances as the following:-in self-denial for the temporal benefit of others; in resisting the motion of mere feeling, when opposed to judg ment; in serving God where he has placed us; in dealing with hollow politeness; in judging of a neighbour's motives; in trusting to God instead of man for temporal happiness; in caring for the souls of domestics. In this enumeration, we have not indicated a third part of the topics exemplified in the story of Katherine Douglas.

A MEMORIAL of the GREAT INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION of all NATIONS in London, 1851.

London: Partridge & Oakey.

THIS is a chart, admirably designed and lithographed, presenting, along with two pictorial views of the glass palace, a sentence of Scripture in upwards of a hundred different languages. The sentence chosen is appropriate to the scene, "God hath

made of one blood all nations of men." To the biblical student, the chart suspended on the wall of his study, will serve for appropriate ornament, and as collating, in brief, specimen forms of writing or printing in so many human languages, it will be useful for occasional reference.

RAGGED SCHOOL RHYMES, Dedicated to the Rev. THOMAS GUTHRIE, D.D. BY ALEXANDER MACLAGAN.

Edinburgh: Johnstone & Hunter. SOME of the strains included in the "Ragged School Rhymes" are exquisitely simple, sweet, and touching. The author writes as one who knows from close observation, "the short and simple annals of the poor," and who looks upon the poetical gift as engaged in its highest vocation when It seeks to befriend the friendless. We fear that the prevailing tone of the sentiment expressed in the Rhymes of Part I., in relation to the causes of juvenile destitution, is somewhat poetical; yet the balance of truth on this subject will not suffer, though the charitable view be sometimes pressed exclusively on public notice, to counteract the selfish and sluggish influences which incline to the opposite opinion. The picture of "The Outcast," which the note appended shows to be no fancy sketch, is drawn in a few simple strokes of great beauty, and as an authenticated case, will go far to vindicate many acts which may turn out to be mistaken kindness rendered to the destitute. Of the songs supposed to be sung by the children

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attending Ragged Schools," one or two are of rather an infantile sort; but others, such as Oh, I will be a Builder," "The Sailor Boy," "Hurrah for the Mighty Press," and the songs to Guthrie, Argyle, Bell, and Ashley, are much superior to the verses ordinarily used for celebrating school-boy themes. Part III. embraces "Songs of Brighter Days," of which the sentiment is of a more elevated order than that in the preceding Parts, and the expression more elaborately wrought. The author is evidently at home and awake amidst the beautiful and sublime in nature. The Rhymes receive ample justice at the hands of the publishers, who have not been sparing of pains to prepare a handsome and exquisitely illustrated book.

BIBLE CHARACTERISTICS. BY CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH. 18mo. Pp. 125.

London: Partridge & Oakey.

UNDER this title are comprehended eleven sketches of scripture worthies-each sketch illustrative of some feature of character for which its subject was distinguished. Thus we have Nehemiah, a model of decision; Daniel, of faith; Jonathan, of attachment; Joseph, of plain-dealing. The mode of illustration resembles that pursued by Dr Candlish in his "Scripture Characters and Incidents." The volume is one of sound excellence,-weighty, and scriptural in sentiment; vigorous, pleasing, and attractive in style.

Religious Entelligence.—Foreign.

ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSIONS.

Malacca.-A bishopric was established here as early as 1553; but when the settlement fell under the British in 1825, it was reduced to the state of a mission, and administered by a vicar-apostolic. In 1838, when a new bull was issued from Rome, carrying out in a general manner the ecclesiastical changes necessary, the two Indo-Portuguese priests, who at that time administered the settlement, refused to submit to the commands of the holy see, and, in 1845, declared themselves independent of Rome, and drew the church with them into schism. A few adhered to Rome, and a small church thus remained under the authority of the vicarapostolic. The great misfortune which is complained of among the people is ignorance, caused, it is alleged, by the neglect of their former pastors. One of the most efficacious means for raising up again this nation, they remark, will be to establish good schools: and a church also must be erected; all which is yet prevented, by the state of extreme destitution in which the mission is at present. The most recent intelligence from the mission consists only of some details of one or two journeys among the tribes of the interior. At first the missionary came to a simple and harmless class of savages; but so scattered, that it would be difficult to form them into congregations. They appeared to possess dispositions the most favourable of all the pagans he had seen for the success of their preaching. He found them kind and respectful. But, advancing farther into the interior, he encountered more suspicion in the natives; found the journey toilsome and painful, and the danger considerable, from both man

and beast. He gives some notices of the character, religious opinions, and customs of the Orang-Benuas, who occupy the south of the Malayan peninsula. They believe in a Supreme Being: some of them spoke of Adam as the first man, and had some confused idea of Abraham and Moses, but no knowledge whatever of Jesus Christ. They have no calendar of months or years, and neither know their own age, nor that of their children. No kind of writing appears to be known to them. Their numbers are few; their habitations of the most primitive kind. Their chief occupation is the chace: their food consists of the flesh of all kinds of animals, and of a great variety of fruits and roots, which the forest yields them. Although surrounded by the Malays, the Chinese, and other vicious pagans, they have preserved marriage in its state of purity and primitive unity, with this difference, however, that they permit divorce. With the bodies of the dead they inter the weapons which belonged to them, and generally add rice, water, and tobacco; for which practices they can give no reason, save that it was the custom of their ancestors. The idea of punishment consequent upon sin is much stronger on their minds than that of rewards to the just.

Persia. Very little has of late been published by the Romish Propagation Society respecting the state of their missions in Persia. These missions have been chiefly among the Nestorians, and other Christian sects, on the western confines of the empire. They complain, in their last references to them, that of all the churches of the Levant, that of Persia has been most interfered with in its onward progress; that even the blood of their missioners had flowed by the

lance of the Kurds. They attribute all the resistance offered them to Russian policy against Catholicity; but for which, thirty thousand Nestorians would by this time have returned to the unity. But they congratulate themselves that the mission has at least neutralised the spread of Methodism, which had already enveloped the country in its net-work, and which would now have prided itself in the conquest of Chaldea as one of the most beautiful florets in its crown. This allusion to Methodism has respect to the American mission at Ooromiah, on the borders of Kurdistan, which, by latest accounts from themselves, is in a very flourishing condition. The present state of the Romish mission in Persia is as follows:-They occupy two stations, Oroomiah and Chosrovah; at each of which there are schools for boys and girls. Their mission staff consists of three missioners, two brothers, and twenty young Levites. The Nestorian priests are being converted; and a seminary has just been established for training up native priests in ecclesiastical virtues and knowledge. This last work is that which chiefly engages the attention and zeal of the missioners.

JEWS.-CONTINENT OF EUROPE.

The missions of the Episcopal Jews' Society upon the Continent occupy twentyfour stations. We shall give some details as to their progress at these stations, as reported at last anniversary of the society. At Amsterdam they have three agents, who have met with increasing opposition, through the instigation o the rabbies. One family of seven had been baptized; and the baptism of a young Jew had been prevented by his being forcibly carried off when on his way to receive that ordinance. Yet they have many openings for the Gospel, notwithstanding the violence of opposition; and Bibles, Testaments, and Christian expositions are widely circulated while the conduct of the proselytes is, on the whole, consistent. At Frankfort-on-theMaine one Israelite has been baptized, and two continue under instruction; while nine others have been for some time giving attendance. The Jews of the district may be classified as Rabbinists, Anti-Rabbinists Deists, and Atheists. The Anti-Rabbinists do not profess to reject the Bible, but say, that the Word of God is contained in the Bible; reserving to themselves the liberty of choosing in it what they are to hold as the Word of God. In Strasburg, two Jews and one Jewess were baptized; but the missionary has not many opportunities for aggressive efforts there he finds the Jews in the surrounding localities more accessible. The Jews in Alsace continues

marked by worldly-mindedness and infidelity on one side, and bigotry and Talmudical fanaticism on the other. At Gothenburg, in Sweden, the prospects of the missionary are very dark, with little hope of a brighter dawn. The Jews live in complete indifference to their religious interests; not even the Talmud is studied: riches and pleasure alone engross their minds. Berlin.-The last official return gives 219,000 Jews in Prussia. The large proportion of the Jews of the district are rationalists. Twelve have been baptized by one of the missionaries; and he had been informed of twelve other baptisms. At Dantzic, two baptisms had taken place during the year; the demand for the Scriptures had increased; and in many instances it had been for schools, to supply the place of the Talmud. Rationalism is now more frequently encountered by the missionary than Talmudism. At Konigsberg, the moral and religious condition of the Jews, who number, in the whole province, about 7000 souls, is similar to what has been noticed of it in other places,deism, rationalism, and ignorance, with indifference. One Jew has been baptized. In the Grand Duchy of Posen few Jews profess Christianity, on account of persecution by their brethren. They have not such a horror as formerly of its saving doctrines, when mentioned to them. The Talmud is losing ground daily, and rationalism prevails. There are nine schools supported by the society. At Warsaw, eighteen have been baptized: the proselytes are to be found in every calling, rank, and grade of society. At Trieste there have been two baptisms, and one is receiving instruction. As it is at other places, the foreign Jews who come to Trieste are the most accessible to the Gospel; the Jews of Trieste being so much taken up with endeavours to amass wealth. At Salonica, in Turkey, the Jews are characterised as ignorant, bigoted, and self-righteous; and they are shrewd disputants, and bitter opponents. The Jewish population is spread over the surrounding towns and villages, and therefore journeys among them are an important feature of the labours of the missionaries.

CHINA. SHANGHAE.

Among the missionary brethren who, for sometime past, have been engaged at this station in revising the translation of the Scriptures into Chinese, one, belonging to the London Missionary Society, whose residence is at Amoy, about 400 miles farther south endeavoured to render himself useful to the strangers trading to Shanghae, who spoke the dialect of the province where he had his station. He rented a room for preaching,

and tried other means of drawing their attention to Christianity. His efforts have been so far blessed that, under date of February, 18th ult., he had to report the baptism of eight of them; and again, under date July 15th, he writes that other eight were approved for baptism. There had been still other applicants, but he had kept them back, taking in the meantime only those that seemed most decidedly in earnest. They all profess firm conviction of the truth of Christianity, and regard it as the only system whereby they can be saved from the dominion and consequences of that guilt and sin of which they are conscious. Those first baptized are adorning their profession by a consistent life.

DEATHS OF MISSIONARIES.

The London Missionary Society has been called of late to mourn the removal from them, by death, of several useful and eminent labourers. The loss of their excellent secretary, Mr Freeman, has been rapidly followed by that of Dr Philip, and of Mr Robert Hamilton, of the Kuruman mission, in South Africa, and that of Mr Kenyon in Berbice. The death of the eminent missionary, Rev. Charles Gutzlaff, who so long laboured for the evangelisation of China, has also been recently announced. May many others, having a double portion of the Spirit, be raised up to fill their places.

Entelligence.—United Presbyterian Church.

PRESYTERIAL PROCEEDINGS.

Annandale. At a meeting of this presbytery, on 15th December, Mr James Rome was licensed to preach the Gospel. The ordination of Mr David S. Goodburn, at Waterbeck, was appointed to take place in the last week in January.

the following resolutions for adoption by the presbytery:"1. That the presbytery have learned with the highest satisfaction, that in consequence of vigorous measures adopted by the British government, the Brazilian Slave Trade has been diminished during the past year by more than onehalf. 2. That forasmuch as treaties, stior-pulating for the entire abolition of the slave trade, were solemnly entered into with the British government, and on the footing of which the independence of Brazil was acknowledged; as large sums of money had been paid by Great Britain to compensate for losses which it was alleged would result from such abolition; and as the interests of humanity are very deeply involved, the presbytery, while not holding it to be within their province to judge respecting the means most expedient for the fulfilment of these treaties, are strongly of opinion that every constitutional and unexceptionable method should be adopted for accomplishing the object contemplated, and so terminating a traffic in the last degree repugnant to morality and religion." Dr Taylor supported the resolutions, and several of the other members expressed their hearty concurrence in the proposal, and the desirableness of securing the co-operation of town-councils and other public bodies; after which, the resolutions were unanimously adopted, and a copy of them ordered to be transmitted to Lord Palmerston, her Majesty's Secretary for Foreign Affairs. The presbytery appointed their next meeting to be held in Burnside Church, Cupar, on Tuesday, the 6th January.

Arbroath. This presbytery held its dinary meeting at Arbroath on the 9th of December the Rev. A. R. Johnston, moderator. It was reported from all the congregations, excepting one, that the annual collection for the Synod's General Fund had been made in them. A student of theology, received by transference from an other presbytery, was placed under the care of a committee, appointed at last meeting, to superintend the studies of the other students. On the remit from the Synod, on the subject of the more liberal support of the gospel ministry, the presbytery agreed to express their approbation of the deliverance of Synod upon the matter at their last meeting; and to suggest that, in order to carry it out with success, measures be taken to put the financial affairs of our congregations in a regular and active condition; that the tracts on the subject, now in the course of being issued by the Synod's committee, should be printed in a cheap and convenient form, and widely circulated among the members of our congregations; and that deputations be sent to visit the congregations, with a view to their instruction and excitement in this matter. meeting of presbytery is to be held at Montrose, on Tuesday the 3d of Feb. next.

Next

Cupar.-This presbytery met on the 4th November-Mr Borwick, moderator. On the subject of the Brazilian Slave Trade, Dr Taylor, of Auchtermuchty, submitted

Dumfries.-This presbytery met at Dumfries on the 20th November, to ordain Mr John Torrance to the pastoral charge of the congregation, Queensberry Street. Mr

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