our own hand at our palace of Lambeth, on the twenty-third day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-one.'

Extracts from an Encyclic of Bishop Samuel Gobat, successor of the late Bishop Michael Alexander.-(Printed in the Jewish Intelligencer of January, 1852.) 'Samuel, by Divine permission, Bishop of the United Church of England and Ireland at Jerusalem, to all the brethren, who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, and especially to those whose hearts' desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may by saved: Grace, mercy, and peace be multiplied.

The power of darkness is displaying an activity altogether frightful, to prevent the light of the Gospel from penetrating into this dark abode of superstition and worldliness.

This Bible Reader has been the means of exciting a spirit of research amongst a good number of Priests; but they are so strictly watched that it would not be prudent to enter into any details, except that latterly one, a young man, who began to show his attachment to the Gospel, has been suddenly removed to some confinement hitherto unknown to me.

‹ The third Scripture Reader, Michael, has been engaged for some time in the spring in visiting the low country, Ramlah, Lidd, and Jaffa; but there he found a strong opposition to the Gospel; people afraid of one another and of their priests, did not dare to speak to him. He could, however, collect a few in some retired places, when he learned that a good number of persons are secretly reading the word of God. He has spent several summer months at Nazareth. He could not visit Salt on account of the disturbances which have scattered our friends of Salt into the mountains.

Although the general movement mentioned in my two last letters has considerably subsided, yet there is a door open in this country for preaching the Gospel to the natives; and I am most thankful to state that the Church Missionary Society have resolved to send missionaries into this open field of labour. One, the Rev. Mr. Klein, has been already two months occupied in learning the first rudiments of the language, previous to his settling as pastor of the Protestant community of Nazareth. Another is expected here in a few days, who, being well acquainted with modern Greek and Turkish, will in the first place labour among the thousands of ignorant pilgrims who yearly visit Jerusalem. Here, in Jerusalem, there are many Latins, Greeks, and Armenians, who more or less earnestly seek the truth; but they are almost all poor, and their dependence on the convents is to them a formidable obstacle; for when any one begins seriously to read the Bible, or sends his children to my school, or attends the Bible and Prayer meeting in Arabic (in Michael's house), he is at once ordered by his Priest to desist; and if he does not immediately submit, he is driven out of his dwelling, belonging generally to a convent. Thus latterly, two families, belonging formerly to the Latins, were at once driven, or were rather thrown, out of their dwellings, because they would not give up their Bibles to be burnt. When thus driven out of their lodgings for the word of God's sake, which

we endeavour to preach and to spread, it would be too cruel not to provide houses for them, although they may not yet have given proof of a thorough conversion of heart. I therefore generally pay house-rent for them, as long as they do well and need my help.

With respect to Nablous, it would require volumes to relate all the intrigues, bribes, repeated promises, and threatenings, which the bishops and monks of the Greek convent here have employed, in order to stop and to destroy, if possible, the good work' going on at Nablous, on the one hand; and on the other hand, the simplicity, and good sense, and superior wisdom, with which it has been given the Evangelical Christians to stand their ground, and to baffle all the cunning and efforts of their opponents. The convent began by sending a cunning and clever deacon to Nablous, with presents for the influential persons in the place, to open a school in which several modern languages were to be taught, and in general superior to my school. When all the people were invited to send their children to that school, with the promise that the convent would pay tribute to government for all those who should send their children, about twenty fathers of families signed a letter to me, asking me what they should do. As I have always endeavoured to soften their feelings towards their ecclesiastical superiors, whom they did not trust, I wrote in answer that, provided they take the word of God for their guide in all things, I should advise them not to accept bribes, but to keep on good terms with the deacon, and if they thought it was for the good of their children, to send them to his school. Some of them did send them, so that my school was reduced to twenty boys. However, after two or three weeks they felt uneasy, and after consultation they went in a body to the deacon, to ask him to teach the Bible to their children. "We read and teach the Psalms," said the deacon, "and that is enough." "It is not enough for us," said the men ; We want the whole Bible to be taught to our children." And then the deacon told them he would not introduce the Bible into his school, they took their children away to my school again, in which I am thankful to say the children continue to make good progress in the knowledge of Scripture. It contains now thirty-eight children, chiefly boys. After the above, the monks, observing that in all things the people ask, and are disposed to follow, the advice of my agent, made all their efforts to bear upon him; flattery, direct and indirect promises and threatenings, all were employed to draw him into their nets. But in all this he has behaved as if inspired by Divine Wisdom.

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'In consequence of the tyranny and persecution formerly exercised at Nazareth against those who read the Bible, about twenty families have been led to leave their churches and constitute themselves into a Protestant community, now recognised and protected by Government as such. This step was premature, and I do not wish to convey the idea that those Protestants are really converted persons. The Rev. Mr. Bowen, of the Church Missionary Society, has spent some months this summer in Naza

1 Dr. Gobat says afterwards, 'However, I have desired Mr. Schwartz to come and spend next winter at Nazareth and Nablous, to labour with the Rev. Mr. Klein, until the latter is better acquainted with the language and character of the people.'

reth, and finds that there is a great mixture of pure and spurious motives at work among them; but yet he is convinced that there are individuals who really seek the saving truth, and, at any rate, there is a good opportunity for preaching the Gospel in Galilee.

· Finally, beloved brethren, I thank all those of you who have hitherto helped and supported us-by your prayers, your advice, and your moneyto carry on the work entrusted to us; especially the London Society for Promoting Christianity amongst the Jews, and the Church Missionary Society.

'And, commending myself and fellow-labourers, both lay and clerical, together with all the subjects mentioned above, to your intercessory prayers, I remain, your humble servant and brother,

'Jerusalem, Oct. 30th, 1851.'

'S. ANGL. HIEROSOL.'

Some sound 'Letters on the Supremacy,' (Masters,) have been published by Mr. Jones, of Bideford.

The Reports of the 'Tithe Redemption Trust' and the 'Scottish Church Society' are of unusual interest.

'The Herb of the Field,' (Mozley,) is the title of a reprint of Chapters on Flowers,' originally published in the 'Magazine for the Young.' There is much information, as well as proof of a poetical spirit, in this collection; it betrays a reverent and religious appreciation of scenery, and exhibits the notion of a Flora Christiana, and this without affectation.

Of single Tracts and Sermons, and works of a similar practical cast, we have to mention-1. and with especial commendation, Mr. Carter's Day of Prayer ;' also, 2. 'Devotional Aids for the private Use of the Clergy;' both published by Masters. In the latter Manual, some affectations may be pardoned for its general propriety of aim. 3. The Mirror of Young Christians,' (Masters,) translated and adapted from the French, and which received an imprimatur from the Bishop of Brechin. 4. 'The Christian Servant,' (Masters,) an excellent idea well worked out. 5. 'The Slavery of Sin,' (Macmillan,) an unusually practical Prize Essay, by Mr. Alfred Lee. 6. The Church's Office towards the Young,' (J. H. Parker,) a beautiful Sermon by Mr. Armstrong. 7. 'The Healing of the Conscience,' (Bedford: Timæus,) a Visitation Sermon by Mr. Carr. 8. A Voice from Mines,' (Wolverhampton: Parker,) a volume by Mr. Pearce. 9. 'Sermons to the Blind,' by Mr. Johns, (Simpkin,) suitable, however, to others also.

SHORTER NOTICES OF BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS.

R. CLAY, PRINTER, BREAD STREET HILL.