ing has supplanted both the chanting of the liturgical Psalms, and the singing of the liturgical hymns in our parish churches, expediency justifies the use not only of versions of the Psalms, but of metrical hymns composed on the model and breath ing the spirit of those in the Liturgy. "However excellent," observe the editors of the Buckden Selection, "the design of the respective authors (of the Old and New Versions) might have been, something appears still wanting to a Christian congregation something that, in addition to the holy effusions of the Old Testament, may convey that clearer view of God's dispensations, those astonishing hopes and consoling promises, which are supplied by the inspired penmen of the New. For although, in sublime descriptions of the attributes and perfections of the Almighty, in earnestness of supplication, and in warmth of adoration, the Royal Psalmist must ever stand unrivaled; yet his knowledge of Divine things was necessarily incomplete, because the Day spring had not yet dawned from on high. Even under the influence of prophetic inspiration, David saw but as through a glass, darkly, the saving truths of redemption and sanctification. These truths, therefore, taught as they were by our Lord and his apostles, and illustrated by the great transactions of his life and death, may surely form, in a Christian congregation, as fit subjects for devotional melodies, as the events of Jewish history and precepts of the Mosaic law suggested to the holy Psalmist."

It would extend the present article beyond its proposed limits, to inquire what ought to be the description of the hymns admitted into churches. But if, as has been already suggested, our hymns should be composed on the model, and should breathe the spirit, of those in the Liturgy, it follows that a large proportion of the modern hymns should be refused admission,

as their addresses to our blessed Saviour often contain expressions of familiarity and endearment, equally remote from the liturgical and apostolical models. This, however, is but one among many faults in the popular collections. I was grieved to find that a clergyman at Cambridge, in his notes to his sermons lately preached before the University, had so just a cause of complaint against some of the hymns admitted into selections designed for the use of members of the Established Church. The fact ought not so to be. No hymn, whatever may be its devotional merit, ought to be admitted into our churches if it offend against good sense, correct taste, and the rules of fair and manly criticism. The sinner does not feel one degree more self abased in the sight of God for being taught to sing of sinners as being "needy, and filthy, and loathsome, and bare," which is the language censured by Mr. Sharpe, the clergyman above alluded to; though no person who knows his own heart, or the de scriptions given of it in the word of God, will refuse to bow to the general correctness of the idea intend ed to be conveyed by these ill-selected expressions. It is lamentable that a prejudice should be suffered to root itself in the minds of men of intellect and education, and especially in the minds of the higher orders of society, and still more especially among our prelates and other dignitaries, against the judicious introduction of proper hymus into our churches. But such will inevitably remain the fact while so little care is taken to exclude. exceptionable sentiments and expressions. It should, however, be publicly known that the selections made or adopted by very many of the evangelical clergy, are not open to any of the faults at which I have hinted. Yet stit, I think, it becomes both the piety and dig. nity of the Established Church to have a collection of hymns, com

posed expressly for the use of its members. In the present state of things, it is almost impossible to make a selection without giving of fence by some unforeseen play of associations, which are, perhaps, in no two minds quite alike. We need, therefore, quite a new collection to which even prejudice itself shall be able to raise no objection. No one or ten men, I fear, can perform the task; for few poets whatever they may have done well in other respects have written more than a very limited number of hymns that are really of the highest order. Indeed, I am almost ready to believe, that a man who has written one really good one ought scarcely to indulge a hope that he shall ever be so happy a second time. The only possibility, therefore, that I can see for such a collection, as I could desire, would include the united efforts of all the poets of the age during several years; each one allowing his hundreds to be diminished to tens, and his tens to units, till a competent number of suitable ones was procured. I think it would be a step towards exciting the attention of the public to the introduction of a better system, if one of your correspondents would point out, in a fair and candid manner, what are the substantial defects of the popular selections in general use among the religious circles of the community. This, if done in a grave and temperate spirit, becoming the subject, and without entering into exceptionable details, could not be productive of injury. Of the defects of the old system of Psalm-singing in our churches we are all well aware; and I am desirous of seeing a candid examination of the general style that has succeeded it in the churches of the eyangelical part of the clergy. That the change has been much for the better I cannot doubt; and I am, therefore, anxious to know how still further improvements may be attained. H. G.

To the Editor of the Christian Observer. BEING entrusted with the spiritual charge of two country parishes, I never recal to mind the eternal importance of the ministerial office, and the short uncertain continuance of the individual who bears it, without feeling an anxiety which, no doubt, I share with very many of my brethren, respecting the probable dispositions and habits of those who shall succeed me. This feeling, if regulated by a cheerful and steady reliance on the "unchangeable" Head of the Church, is, I trust, not wholly to be condemned; and if it lead to the adop tion of any measure, which, after a minister's removal, may be productive of lasting benefit to his people, it will be to him an occasion of joy and gratitude. Now there is one such measure to which I would respectfully direct the attention of those clergymen who are both able and willing to become thus posthumously useful

that of providing for their resident successors a competent stock of sound theology.

They will bear in mind that these successors may be curates, whose stipends may be small, and their stay in the parish precarious, or incumbents burdened with large families: in these cases, it is proba ble that the study will be scantily furnished: or they may be men, young in years, and younger in experience of erroneous or imperfect religious views, backward in the purchasing or injudicious in the selection of professional books; yet, possibly, not unwilling to make use of such as may fall in their way.

It is obvious that even a village pastor should have easy access, if not to a learned library, at least to such works of reference and illustration as may encourage and assist him in the composition of his own sermons immediately from the word of God; and to such, also, as may tend to improve his preaching style,

nent men espouse it, and by their example encourage others to engage in the same......Those, how ever, who, on one hand, are so easily terrified by the common calamities of the times, and, on the other, by the expensiveness of the design, seem to be little acquainted with the ways of Providence. For if we take a survey of the most considerable transactions both under the Law and the Gospel, it will plainly appear, that generally the best of works have been carried on in the worst of times, and that they have triumphed at last (though after much time and labour), over all the clamour and oppositions that wicked men and devils could raise against them.

"However, it cannot be denied, that the opposition is then most destructive and fatal, when it comes from those who are within the pale of the church, and who, under an external shew of the same confession, destroy the vitals of the Christian Faith."

This last passage is at once consolatory and afflicting ;-afflicting, as it proves that real godliness is offensive at all times to many who are peculiarly called upon to be its natural defenders and protectors -consolatory, because it shews that the opposition of those who oppose vital religion is usually short-lived and unavailing. Let, then, the friends of the Church Missionary Society bear in mind that the same obloquy, which now falls upon them, was once measured out with the same measure, from the same quarter, and in the same cause, to the founders of the So

ciety for promoting Christian Knowledge, which is now supported by the whole bench of archbishops and bishops, and nearly all the inferior clergy of the kingdom.

PAULINUS.

To the Editor of the Christian Observer. Of the arts and refinement that adorn, and the infidelity and pro

fligacy that disgrace, a neighbouring country, we have been favoured by many of our countrymen with very minute and interesting ac counts; but, whether from the difficulty of investigation, or from the superior attraction of the numerous objects of political and scientific curiosity, no statement has appeared, at least to my knowledge, of what to the philanthropist is no less interesting-the situation of the peasantry, and of the lower orders in manufacturing and commercial districts. I should be glad to know, as far as your miscellany is a fit vehicle for such a communication, what is the present state of the poor in France, with respect to food, fuel, clothing, furniture, and habitation. Is it equal to that of our own poor in town and country, respectively? What is the state of the Protestants and Catholics severally, with respect to morals and religious knowledge? Can they in general read, and are they desirous that their children should learn? What books, if any, are to be found in their dwellings? What influence have the priests over them? Are the characteristics of mirth and levity as applicable to them now, as before the Revolution? How are those who are unable, in whole or in part, to maintain themselves, and who in this country would be relieved from the poor rates, provided for? Is there any benevolent intercourse between the rich and the poor? Are the poor satisfied with the government, or do they complain of it?

If any of your correspondents could furnish any new and interesting particulars on these subjects, they would much oblige

A CONSTANT READER.

To the Editor of the Christian Observer. A PERIODICAL work, published in France, and entitled L'Ami de la Réligion et du Roi, has lately taken up, with no small degree of warmth,