publications in the texture of its paper, the, their first bent and direction, and then watchbeauty and clearness of its type, the generaling their progress and developement, this work and inviting neatness of its pages, and the ap- will afford a fund of useful instruction and propriate and well executed original designs by pleasure. which it is illustrated and adorned. It is a happy evidence of the taste and skill which Mr. Dana industriously devotes to the interests of the Union, and must win for him the praise of the discriminating and refined. THE CHRISTIAN YEAR. Thoughts in verse for the Sundays and Holy-days throughout the year. By the Rev. John Keble, Professor of Poetry in the University of Oxford, with an Introduction by the Rt. Rev. George W. Doane, Bishop of New Jersey. New York: Stanford & Swords, 137 Broadway, 1850. Keble's Christian Year has become a text book. It is poetry ennobled and elevated by having had breathed into it the lofty spirit of fervent piety. It is pervaded throughout by a deep religious sentiment. It elevates the thoughts, while it captivates the imagination.— Bishop Doane, the American Editor, himself one of our best poets, in speaking of it, says, "No volume of uninspired poetry has ever giv en me such rich and continued satisfaction."- This sentiment will be responded to by every reader who comes to the perusal of these pa It is not our purpose to furnish a sketch of the contents of this interesting volume. We prefer that our readers should purchase and peruse it for themselves. We will therefore only say, that the three well-sustained allegories are intended to inculcate lessons affecting the christian life. The first represents the members of the Church in the characters of revellers in a magnificent palace, of which the Lord or King is to come suddenly to reward or punish the occupants, according to their preparations, in proper robes and deportment, to receive him. The second, under the figure of the milnight sea, shows the difficultics and dangers which beset us in navigating our frail bark through time to eternity, and how in-ges dispensable it is to success and safety, that we depend upon the skill and strength of CHRIST in all our efforts. The third gives us a picture of the disciples of the LORD as so many sheep in a fold, and in a graphic sketch of a lamb as a wanderer, depicts the ease with which we can be seduced from faithfulness and duty,-the persevering love of our heavenly Shepherd in following us, even when we go astray,-and his promptness in assisting us, and making us, as it were, his burden, whenever we will confess our inability to proceed, and entreat him to bear us in his arms. Every person who purchases this book, and helps to circulate it, is sure to improve the minds with which he brings it in contact, and to instruct immortal souls in the things which most seriously influence alike their present comfort, and eternal peace. THE LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF ROBERT We have received Part 2 of this work. It brings the history of the author's life from his earliest infancy down to his thirty-first year.-This biography of Southey is written by himself, and is interspersed with letters composed by him at all periods of his life. To those who are fond of tracing back the workings of master minds, to that period when they receive with feelings imbued with the spirit of devotion, and whose taste can appreciate the beautiful and the true. The present edition appears in a neat and appropriate binding. THE CHURCHMAN'S HEAVENLY HOURS, or Daily THE DEW OF HEAVEN: Or Prayers and Meditations for every day in the week, and on various occasions; Being a collection from the most eminent divines and moral writers. These are two little volumes just issued by Stanford & Swords. They contain extracts from the writings of many of the most eminent divines and moral writers; and are adapted for daily use, and also for particular occasions. They will be found valuable aids to private devotional exercises. THE MODERN HOUSEWIFE, or MENAGERE. Il- It is generally admitted, that the consumption of food, or in plain Saxon, eating, is a very important part of the business of life. The exhausting process to which man's physical facul{ties are subjected by the never-ceasing demands upon their active powers, renders it necessary that they should be constantly replenished. Nature has provided the material in its crude state, but has left it to the art and ingenuity of man to dren are to be brought, and adults to come, to Holy Baptism. prepare it for the tastes and the wants of refined and civilized society. Cannibalism is regarded on all hands as a very barbarous and unchris- On page 20, and elsewhere, there is a mixtian practice, and, although the animal king-ture, and somewhat confusion, in the use of the dom has been made subject to the wants of the terms parents," and "sponsors." Parents are human race, we would not place the man who very properly allowed in our branch of the could enjoy a meal off of them au naturel, much Church, to become sponsors for their children; higher in the scale of civilization than the can- but the two characters are by no means idennibal. Assuming these premises to be foundedtical. in truth, we can heartily recommend the pres- The natural duties and responsibilities of paent volume to all Housekeepers. It contains rents towards their children, as moral and spiritnearly one thousand different receipts; and ual beings, are of the most sacred and awful shows how different articles of food may be nature. To these, however, when they become prepared, with a view to promote economy and sponsors, are added their solemn, formal promprevent waste. We should think that the au- ise and pledge to the Church, that they will be thor had gone through the entire regions of cu- her faithful agents in extending to those chillinary skill, and collected in this volume every-dren her nurturing and admonition, her teachthing that was worth preserving, and he has pre-ing and training. In reference to this, they sented a fund of information which will be are regarded and addressed by the church as thankfully received by all who occupy the oft-sponsors and not as parents. Their spiritual dutimes difficult position of Housekeepers. In ties to their children were imposed upon them addition to what may be termed the culinary by nature, or rather the God of nature, at those department proper, there are also very valuable children's birth. If they are assumed by them at receipts for the nursery and the sick room, and Baptism, it is as sponsors-an office in which directions for family management in all its others may be united with them--the two thus branches. We recommend this as a most ex-forming one class--or be substituted for them. cellent work upon a very important and practical part of the business of life. THE SPONSOR'S GIFT, OR THE CANDIDATE FOR On page 22, confirmation is represented as the proper mode of members of other denominations changing their communion to that of the Church. Whatever may be the current idea on this subject, we regret to see it set forth as a principle, in a work that will probably be reIceived by many as somewhat of authority.-Without entering into the merits of a discussion which has good men on both sides, we still venture to express regret at any thing which may tend to be construed unfavorably to the happily increasing principle and feeling which leads to Catholic Baptism as the proper ground of admission to catholic communion. A neat and valuable little manual, containing much sound and profitable instruction and direction in the sacred and important matters named in the title. With, however, the commendation of it to our readers for its general correctness and excellence, we feel yet compelled to add a word or two of exception. We regret to miss, in the summary of the Apostles' Creed, on page 29, the article respecting "The Holy Catholic Church"-an article which, viewed in the light of scripture, and, as the best rule for understanding this, of what our Church calls her "endeavor for promulgating to mankind what christianity is, and what the truths of the gospel are,"* is fraught with evangelical truth and duty, which cannot con On page 12, the young person is addressed as having been brought forward, for baptism, "to the Holy Altar." To the Holy Font, would be the rubrical and strictly proper expression. We are not advocates for having the font placed at the Church door; but neither do we think the chancel the proper place for it: much less would we in any way sanction the totally un-sistently with the gospel, be overlooked, in a churchlike substitution for the font, of a bowl placed on the altar-a custom which has probably led to the very common inaccuracy of speaking of baptism as a service at the altar. It is the font, be it where it may, to which chil proper estimate of the Baptismal promise and vow. We would also apply similar remarks to the omission, in the same summary, of other articles of the creed. Preface of Book to Common Prayer. |