Complete System of Geography, with Maps. By

Bowen.

Chronological Map.

Biographical Map.

Besides the pleasure attending the study of Geography in itself, a knowledge of the situation of countries and places is of great utility in the reading of history.

Spectacle de la Nature.

To examine into the works of nature, which so evidently display the power and wisdom of the Creator, is both delightful and profitable. God Himself has given us a history of the Creation, at once assuring us (what we should otherwise never have discovered) whose work it is, and encouraging us in the study and contemplation of it. And you who know that the invisible things of God from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood, made intelligible to us, by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead, you will receive singular instruction from meditating on the scenes of nature. To you the visible world will be a glass reflecting the glories of the invisible. The heavens will declare the glory of God, and the firmament show his handywork, not only in the creation, but redemption of the world. By the scale of natural things is the mind's ascent to God. In the old creation you will behold, as in a picture, how all things are created anew in Christ Jesus. By this method it is that God teaches us in His holy Word, describing the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven under natural images and similitudes; and, considered in this view, all Nature will be found to preach the great truths of Christianity; as might easily be exemplified if I had time to enlarge, but I will mention only one instance, viz. that great article of the Christian faith, the Resurrection of the body, which is illustrated and inculcated by a variety of images; the quickening of the

seed that dies and rots in the ground; the return of spring after the dead of winter; the daily rising of the sun; and our own awaking every morning out of sleep. How entertaining, how edifying, is the study of nature, prosecuted upon this plan!

Collier's Essays.

Bacon's Essays.
Pascal's Thoughts.

Truth in a Mask.

Hickes's Education of a Daughter.

Boyle on the Style of the Holy Scriptures.
Belles Lettres de Rollin.

These are of a miscellaneous kind, and put down as they occurred to me; they are of too serious a cast to pass for books of amusement only, and you will not be disappointed in expecting a mixture of the useful and agreeable.

Poets are apt to give a loose to their imaginations, and do not always keep within the bounds of Christian so

briety, on which account it is difficult to recommend them; but whatever is offensive you will know how to avoid. And though these books are mentioned chiefly for amusement, yet in all of them you will find something more; for I have observed, as nearly as I could, the rule laid down by yourself, that nothing can properly be said to entertain which does not, some how or other, at the same time improve and instruct. The number is not large, but might have been considerably increased by any body much conversant with authors in this way. My time is precious, I have little leisure for reading, and therefore must consult improvement, not amusement.

I intended to have mentioned some books as proper to give to the poor of the parish where you. live, but, except Bibles and Common Prayer Books, I know only of two, which are Christianity in short, by the Rev. Clement Ellis, and Ejaculatory Prayer, by the Rev. Mr. Cooke. Indeed, if you were to subscribe a guinea yearly to the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, you would be supplied with all these kinds of books at very easy rates.

After all, this catalogue seems so imperfect, that it can only be called the foundation of a library. Many of the books make part of mine; and if you have a mind to look into any of them by way of trial, they are at your service. Among the books recommended there is no express mention of the Holy Scriptures; but the reason is obvious, you have known them from a child, and in them has ever been your study and delight. They are the fountain of wisdom and knowledge, and cannot be sufficiently valued by us. An old gentleman of my acquaintance, when near four score, observed that

he had not failed reading some portion of the sacred Oracles every day for the last forty years of his life; and whenever he took the book into his hand, his knees were ready to smite together, and he was all astonishment, to think that God should condescend to write a book to teach and instruct him. Such reverence, such veneration had he for the word of God.

W. STEVENS.

No. III.

List of "NOBODY'S FRIENDS" since the Foundation of the Club.

The following list is, it is believed, complete up to the present time; but the notices attached to the several names are necessarily scanty and imperfect. To render them full and satisfactory would have required more space than could be allotted to them in the limits of the present volume.

For obvious reasons the notices of living members are still more brief than those of the departed. "Vivorum censura difficilis."

1800.

1 WILLIAM STEVENS, Esq. Founder.

2 John Bowdler, Esq.

Original Member.-Last appearance among "Nobody's Friends," February 20, 1814.- Died

1823.

This excellent layman took a lively interest in the fortunes of the Scotch Church. He was a lover of good men;" on intimate terms with Mr. J. A. Park, Mr. Davis, and Mr. Turner, in conjunction with whom he in a great measure founded the Church Building Society.