POSTHUMOUS WORKS of the Rev. THOMAS CHALMERS, D.D., LL.D. Vol. III. Edinburgh Sutherland & Knox. London: Hamilton, Adams, & Co.

RICH in all the qualities of its predecessors, and not in any point a whit behind them. We speak of these meditations in the character in which they are given, which is rather that of devout reflections on the contents of scripture, than expositions of the text. For the solution of exegetical difficulties, the author frequently refers "to the commentators;" satisfied with recording the results of his own investigations, and hastening to the main business of feeding his longing soul with the aliment which the sacred page so plentifully furnishes. Frequently, however, the masculine intellect of the writer seizes, as with instinctive grasp and penetration, on questions of another kind, the ethical, and sometimes the casuistical, on which, in a few plain words, he seldom fails to throw out something pertinent and satisfactory. The whole is a fine comment on Dr Chalmers' own maxim, so justly and so forcibly urged by him as an advocate of revelation, that so soon as the question of evidence is settled, the sole inquiry of the reader should be, "What saith the Lord," "How is it written?" With this principle constantly before his eyes, or more properly written on his heart, we see the genius, the eloquent orator, and the sage, taking his daily Bible lesson with the docility of a child. How venerable the character, and instructive the example, of this truly admirable person; and how precious in this, as in other points of view, these relics of his pen!

CATHOLIC THEOLOGY; or, the Basis of the Evangelical Alliance Unfolded. By J. DE K. WILLIAMS, E. A.

London: John Snow. 1817.

THIS book consists of eleven chapters, nine of which are devoted to the nine articles of the Basis of the Evangelical Alliance, while in the remaining two the author treats of Christian harmony and charity. Mr Williams gives evidence throughout, that his attachment to the Evangelical Alliance is intelligent as well as ardent. His treatise is professedly an expansion of its principles; and he has succeeded, we think, in reaching his object, by presenting (to use his own words) "a clear view of all the chief features of revealed truth, without any of the spirit of controversy.' The volume is enriched by much evangelical sentiment, lucidly expressed, and pervaded by a catholic spirit. Its main defect lies in a certain vagueness of thought and looseness of expression, which are probably inseparable from such an undertaking. The articles of the Evangelical Alliance, however admir

able in their own place, were never meant to be made the basis of a new system of theology. It is obvious that, if they are thus regarded, they must either be virtually enlarged so as to please some party, or so unsatisfactorily discussed as to please none. They are intended rather to concentrate the action, than to compress the thought, of the christian world.

Although Mr Williams has in some degree overlooked this fact, his book is nevertheless unobjectionable as to its principles, written in a pleasing style, and calculated to be very useful to a large class of readers.

A BRIEF SKETCH of the LIFE of SARAH MARTIN of Great Yarmouth, with Brief Extracts from her Writings and Prison Journals. 18mo. Pp. 140.

London: Religious Tract Society. As exemplifying the value of individual Christian effort in humble and apparently unpromising circumstances, it would be difficult to find a parallel to the Memoir of Sarah Martin. Devoting all her energies, for a period of twenty-three years, to instruct and reclaim the inmates of Yarmouth jail, she acquired a degree of influence over the most degraded criminals, and effected for them an amount of good, such as the wealthiest philanthropy might reckon worthy of its highest ambition. The specimens which the volume contains of her addresses to the prisoners-short sermons, founded each on some plain and weighty scripture text, display a correct and elegant use of language, as well as sound religious feeling; and prove that a truly earnest heart, refined by the grace of God, is a better preparation even for tasteful writing than is the most elaborate course of mere literary education.

THE HISTORY OF GREECE: From the Earliest Times to A.D. 1833; for Schools and Families. 12mo. pp. 382.

Religious Tract Society. THIS work belongs to a modern class of educational books--a class to which the Tract Society has been the chief contributor-the object of which is to enable the young to read ancient history in the light of evangelical religion. It seems to us quite a successful effort. Without any parade of Christian piety, it bears clear evidence that the author writes under the restraint and guidance of Bible truth. He is, as far as we have seen, accurate in his facts; while his arrangment is perspicuous -his style simple and elegant-his reflections appropriate, weighty, and evangelical. The latter part of the volume, bringing up the history to A.D. 1833, supplies a want which has long been felt. To religious schools and families the book will be highly and most deservedly welcome.

The JEWISH EXILE: or, Religion exemplified in the Life and Character of Daniel. By the Rev. JOHN KENNEDY, Stepney.

London: John Snow.

THIS is a series of discourses, brief, pointed, and practical, on the history of the prophet Daniel. The author addresses himself particularly to the young; and, while his method of illustration and appeal is well adapted to gain the attention which he specially requires, it will interest and edify the more advanced also. His great object seems to be what every religious teacher should aim at-to make the word of God speak to the present generation, suiting it, not to please their corruption, but to meet their wants, and correct their errors. His style of thought and language, accordingly, partakes of the elegance of modern literature, while the spirit of earnest active piety breathes throughout his pages. We have been much pleased with Mr Kennedy's little volume, and cheerfully commend it to the notice of Sabbath school teachers, and

others concerned in providing for our juve

nile libraries.

THE BIBLE NOT OF MAN; or, the Argument for the Divine Origin of the Sacred Scriptures, drawn from the Scriptures themselves. By GARDINER SPRING, D.D., New York. 12mo. Pp. 280.

London: Religious Tract Society. Ir is an improvement in the spirit of christian literature, that writers, on the authority of revelation have learned, in our times, wisely to abstain from magnifying the one great branch of evidence at the expense of the other. Undoubtedly the Bible itself recognises both branches-the internal and the external-as important, each in its own place; and, to speak of either of them as unnecessary, is as if the hand should say to the foot, I have no need of thee.' The matter in debate between the parties in this question, regards the value of external evidence; the worth of the other being generally admitted. But, surely, when we find the Saviour himself appealing to prophecy and miracles in supporting his doctrine, it is unwarrantable to speak of these proofs as if they were of small consequence. If the question be asked, which of the two has been most extensively operative in producing, through the agency of the Divine Spirit, the faith which has been found in the church?- -we should have to answerthat while, in the first ages of christianity, the argument from prophecy and miracles had probably the wider range of influence, in our own day the superiority belongs to the argument from the Bible itself. "This, says Dr Spring, is emphatically the poor man's argument-hidden peradventure from

the wise and prudent, and revealed unto

babes."

The volume before us presents the "poor man's argument" in a very perspicuous and convincing form. After a preliminary essay, devoted to the question of the necessity of a Divine revelation and the fitness of the time selected for the introduction of the gospel, the author, in successive chapters, proves that the Bible is above the invention of the human intellect, that the spirit, of its doctrines and instructions is superhuman, that its moral principles, its ресиliar doctrines, and the religious worship it inculcates, prove a Divine origin, that its sustained unity, its universal adaptation to the character and wants of man, its influence on the heart and life, and its accordance with the demands of enlightened reason, all go to support the same conclusion. Under these heads, the self-evidencing power of Scripture is illustrated with much ingenuity, raciness, and force. Perhaps the effect of the argument as a whole would be increased, if the plan pursued stood out more palpably to the readers. The preliminary essay, for example, however excellent in itself, does not in proportion to its length forward the general object of the work, and would seem to have been prefixed to this treatise after being prepared for a different purpose. The titles of the different chapters do not mark with sufficient distinctness the different topics treated under them. That of the first chapter, "the Bible, above the invention of the human intellect," is comprehensive enough to include the subject of the whole book; so that we should have expected the subsequent divisions to be so many subordinate sections rather than what we find them to be, separate chapters. Perhaps, however, the author will not hold himself responsible for this apparent want of logical accuracy in a table of contents, the preparation of which may have been left to the printer; and, indeed, as we find a different and a much more satisfactory description of the contents in the running title at the head of each page, we are disposed to acquit the author in this matter. The following, from the preliminary essay on the fitness of the time selected for the introduction of the gospel, will afford some idea of the vigorous and attractive style of the book.

"Christianity stands upon high ground. Her infant-author first announced himself to an age celebrated in story, and immortalized in song. His apostles travelled over classic ground. They established churches in the land of Euclid, of Aristotle, and Longinus; of Demosthenes, Solon, and Lycurgus; of Homer and Pindar; of Terence and Varro; Atticus and Cicero ; Sallust and Livy; Horace, Ovid, and

Virgil. Lands that had given birth to such men were not likely to shut their eyes upon the gradual encroachment of a religion that counteracted all their previous notions, and that poured contempt upon their altars and their gods. Rather would they scrutinize with the utmost severity every item of the evidence by which a religion claiming to be from heaven was supported. Reckoning from the birth of Augustus Cæsar, a few years onward we find a constellation of bright and splendid men, throwing their light over the Roman empire. Seneca, the preceptor of Nero, and perhaps more distinguished for his moral virtues than any other heathen

philosopher, Lucian the poet, Quintus Curtius the historian of Alexander the Great, Pliny the elder, the celebrated philosopher and natural historian, who perished during an eruption of Mount Vesuvius, Josephus the celebrated Jewish historian, Martial, Epictetus, and Quinctilian, the last of whom, an orator and critic of great celebrity, was patronised by the emperors-established a school of rhe toric at Rome, and whose work remains a text-book in the modern universities of Europe. These were the men, and such as these, who exerted an influence upon the Roman intellect and character at the period when christianity began its progress."

SYRIA.

IN the several stations where missionaries of the London Jews' Society are located, their labours go on with very little variety of interest. At Jerusalem they have a house of industry, and an hospital, besides a staff of missionaries, who have also the labours of Dr Gobat, the Protestant bishop, to assist them. The house of industry is meant as a temporary asylum for inquirers and proselytes, who, it is supposed, must become dependent on the missionaries for temporal support, so soon as they place themselves under Christian instruction. The necessity for this is pathetically pleaded by Dr Gobat in his last annual episcopal letter: and if it must be admitted, it is certainly deeply to be deplored. That the influence of Christianity, when first introduced into families, cities, and nations, is to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, and to make those of a man's household to become his foes, was known from the beginning; and is realized by many converts in our own country, and to a greater or less extent by converts in all the fields of missionary labour: children are persecuted by parents; servants turned off by masters; and labour withdrawn from the workmen. But all this does good: it puts their sincerity to a severe trial; and manifests the more gloriously the moral power of that truth, which enables them to leave all and follow Christ; to embrace poverty for the sake of the better riches, and to rejoice in being counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And He who feeds the ravens and the sparrows, will not leave to starvation those who are of more value than many sparrows. But it must

incur great hazard to the purity of missionary influence, if the bribe of temporal support be held out to the poor Jew, or to any starving Gentile, who will consent to enrol his name as an inquirer. Their hospital is doing real good in the relief of suffering. A church, in connexion, we believe, with the British Consulate, is nearly finished. Eight Israelites had been baptized during the past year; and, on an appeal made to the Turkish Government, it has been declared that a Jewish convert is perfectly free to choose for himself in matters of religion; which, it was previously alleged, no Turkish subject was permitted to do. The society has attempted schools; but had to relinquish them from want of scholars. The labours of their missionaries at Jaffa and Aleppo, have, through ill health, or other causes, been suspended. A depositary is kept at Jaffa at Safet one missionary labourer is at present resident, and a missionary at Beyrout; but nothing favourable is noticed from these stations, excepting the distribution of the Scriptures, and frequent opportunities had of conversing with individual Jews. The American Presbyterian missionaries stationed at Beyrout, have had the door for the present closed against them in Hasbeiya, the Greek-Arab village at the foot of Mount Hermon, where about a third of the com. munity sought the ministrations of the missionaries, and for many months enjoyed these; but have, through heavy persecution, been forced back into the Greek Church. Late intelligence from Syria gives some revival of hope that the station is not wholly lost; a number having imbibed too deeply the Protestant faith to cast it off again. There is at Beyrout regular preaching in Arabic; and five schools are

kept up, containing 188 pupils. The mission press is active. At Abeih, another station fifteen miles south, preaching and schools are maintained; and in the adjoining parts of Mount Lebanon the truth is rapidly spreading. The number of scholars is 340. In Sûk, a village four or five miles off, a Protestant secession from the Greek Church has been in progress for some months, and is increasing in interest. In Damascus the Free Church of Scotland has a mission on behalf of the Jews, encountering, as usual, much opposition from the anathemas, not of Jews only, but also of Greeks, Catholics, and Mussulmans.

Bagdad and Bussorah the London Jews' Society have missionaries stationed, whose presence has called forth the usual anathemas from the Jewish authorities against all who may listen to them. Yet some continue to vis t them; and a spirit of inquiry pervades all classes of Jews. Two of the missionaries were directed to take up their residence in Ispahan; but the latest intelligence informs us, that after enduring for ten months the opposition of a lawless and fanatical population, and encountering the strong influence of the Papists, amid a disorganized state of government, in the province, they found it impossible to prosecute missionary work, or even to go out; and therefore resolved to abandon the station.

PERSIA.

THE American missionaries in Ocroomiah are enjoying large encouragement in their labours among the Nestorians. The number of scholars under their care is 538; whose progress in reading, and other branches of useful learning, is most gratifying. And it is more interesting to have to record, that an important awakening in personal religion has appeared among the pupils, as the result of very especial prayer on the part of the teachers. The teachers had resolved to select every day an individual for whom they should pray, and whom they should endeavour to lead to the Lamb of God. No extraordinary means were employed with them; but in a few days, in both the male and female seminary, many were inquiring, "What shall I do to be saved?" The voice of prayer was heard in every direction; and often individuals arose from their beds, while others were asleep, to renew their pleadings at the throne of grace. "I have never," says the missionary who has charge of the boys' seminary, "witnessed more thorough convictions of sin, or a deeper sense of their lost and ruined state, and inability to save themselves, than they generally manifested. Days and weeks together were devoted almost exclusively to religious conversation with inquirers: and the work still continues silent, deep, and progressive. Almost all who are more than ten years of age, including about half of the school, have been deeply affected; and some under that age are hopefully converted. This work has not been confined to the seminaries, but has spread among the people. A number of the ecclesiastics have passed from death unto life of thirteen in one village, nine give more or less evidence of a thorough change of heart." The Shah of Persia has appointed an Armenian of influence to be governor of the Nestorians of Ooroomiah, for the purpose of protecting these Christians from the injuries and oppressions which they have so long suffered.

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SOUTH AFRICA.

A SEASON of severe trial has been passing over the missions in South Africa, by the influence of that warfare on the eastern borders of the British colony, which not only spread alarm, and confusion, and suffering, all over the immediate scene of it, but threw the whole colony into such a state of excitement, as to affect injuriously the operations and condition of most of the mission Churches. The missionaries of the different societies have been located partly within the colony, and partly around it. Within the colony, about one-fourth of the population are of those negro tribes which, up to the period of emancipation, were held in a degrading and depressing bondage; the remaining three-fourths are European colonists or their descendants, chiefly Dutch, with a mixture of coloured families who have been long in the possession of freedom. Among the English portion of the colonists the labours of the missionaries have been very effective; and recent accounts lead to the hope that the prejudices of the old Dutch settlers are beginning to give way. But it is to the negro portion of the population that their labours are mainly directed, and respecting them chiefly that the missionaries report in their journals; as in most cases their churches and congregations are entirely composed of them.

The chief trouble which the war has given to the mission churches in the interior and western division of the colony, has been by the compulsory enlistment of the men to serve in the army; which has caused a great diminution in their congregations, much destitution among their families,only partially relieved by the supplies at length procured from Government, and occasioned much anxiety and discouragement both to the missionaries and their flocks. The accounts from many of the missionary stations in the interior, report the return to them of the Hot

tentots who had been serving in the war, with very little loss of life; and although the missionaries had reason to be gratified by the testimony borne to their general conduct while in military service, yet on many of them they soon perceived that an unfavourable influence had been produced. The spirit of religion seemed to have decayed; and they were so much better provided for, so far as food and raiment were concerned, while in the service of Government, and with so much less labour and anxiety, that on their return home they betrayed symptoms of discontent, idleness, indifference, and actual unfaithfulness.

Other afflictions followed. The severe drought with which they were visited, drove their people from any attempt to cultivate their own grounds, and scattered them among the farmers in quest of work. A real famine was brought on by the war and the drought, and disease followed in their train; so that many deaths took place from typhus fever and dysentery. It cannot be wondered at, that in such an unfavourable state of things, we should have it reported from several missionary stations, that no increase of membership was made during the year. Only this has not been generally the case; as from many others of them a small addition to their number is stated: and, with few exceptions, the missionaries continue to speak in the language of encouragement. The sufferings of the stations within the scene of war, and the fate of many of them, has been very melancholy. On the outbreak of the war, the missionaries in Caffieland received timely notice of the coming danger, and retired with all their families to the nearest military cantonments. A great destruction of mission property ensued: although it is stated, in justice to the Caffres, that their destructive attacks on the chapels and dwellings of the missionaries appear not to have proceeded from enmity to the gospel or its messengers, but from a desire to deprive the colonial forces of the shelter and protection which these buildings would have afforded had they remained standing. Upward of twenty stations were abandoned and destroyed. Of the converts in Caffreland, the greater number retired with their missionaries to places of safety; and conducted themselves, throughout this trying period, to admiration. Few of them, it is believed, engaged in the war: and, if any did so, it is believed that it will appear, that they were urged and compelled by threatenings from their chiefs to take up arms against the colony. It is cause of lively gratitude, that the mission families have been mercifully preserved from personal violence: although many of them

were exposed to so much privations and alarm, as seriously, and perhaps in one or two instances, fatally to injure health. Some of the South African stations are so remote from the scene of war, as not to have been affected by its influence. At Port Natal, in the east, the American Presbyterian missionaries are labouring in hope, and perceive some encouraging symptoms. Their attendance on public worship are numerous and the field of labour is deemed one of the finest in South Africa. To the north of the colony we have the Corannas, Bassontos, and other scattered tribes, with the missionaries of various societies occupying stations among them, and cheered in these sequestered scenes of labour with evidences that the Spirit of God is with them. At Philippolis twenty-nine members were added to the church during the year; and some intelligent native youths were being trained as schoolmasters. And from others of the stations they write, that though no conversion may have occurred, yet real progress has been made; that most of the principal men attempt to acquire a knowledge of reading; some read the Testament pretty well, and relish the explanation of passages which they find difficult: they adopt European clothing, and are desirous of acquiring the advantages of civilisation. In several of the stations among these tribes, the attendants on public worship are counted by thousands; at Thabauncu 4000; at Platberg 3000; at Kamastone 1000. At Kuruman, or New Lattakoo, the scene of Mr Moffat's labours, the progress of civilisation is astonishing. The merchant upon the station, during the past year, disposed of L.1000 worth of goods, consisting of haberdashery, hardware, and tools; besides what was sold by other traders. Since the receipt of the Bechuana New Testament, nearly L.100 worth have been sold, and a sum above L.30 has been received for hymn-books. The number of church members is 246: six native assistants are employed in missionary work. A great portion of the scriptures has been rendered into their language: and other portions are in progress. Besides schoolbooks, an edition of 10,000 copies of the Assembly's Catechism has been printed: and the missionaries are carrying through the press a version of the Pilgrim's Progress. The schools are in an efficient and prosperous condition; and the number of readers is rapidly increasing. In Namaqua Land, about twenty-two days journey north of Cape Town, the Wesleyan missionaries number, at several stations, the attendants on public worship at 5700: and there are other stations occupied by the London, and the Rhenish missionary societies.

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