creased tenfold, if they even excite in them a desire to advance farther in the paths of knowledge. A superficial acquaintance with any subject may, and almost inevitably does, render young people vain; while solid and more extensive study, if under proper regulation, will make them humble, by showing them their own ignorance, and will induce habits of patient and persevering industry, without which nothing, either permanently useful or great, can be performed.

BARZILLAI, THE GILEADITE; or, Considerations on Old Age; addressed to the Old and the Young. By the Rev. John Cormack, A. M. Minister of Stow. 18mo. pp. 243. 3s. Oliphant, Edinburgh.

In our Number for February last, we recommended to the favourable attention of our readers, an excellent work on Old Age, by the Rev. Dr. Belfrage, of Falkirk; and we are now happy to introduce to their notice another volume on the same subject, which, from its general excellence and convenient size, merits an extensive circulation. Mr. Cormack evidently possesses a reflective mind; and his remarks on human life, conveyed, as they are, in a familiar and affectionate manner, will, we trust, be found highly beneficial to the old and the young, for whose improvement they are intended. We have been particularly pleased with the sections entitled, "The Aged Disciple enjoying his Provision," and the "Address to the Aged Believer at the Close of Life." From the last of these we give the following quotation, which is calculated to excite joyful feelings in the hearts of our venerable read

ers:

"My venerable and aged friend,-It would seem to you that you are done with the world -at least with the power of doing any good in it. Every thing that you see and feel, seems to be the bearer of a message to you from the Lord Jesus, saying, 'Surely I come quickly;' while your soul gladly lays hold of the tidings, and says, 'Amen! even so; come, Lord Jesus.' You frequently feel that flesh and heart are fainting and failing;' but you feel, at the same time, that God is the strength of your heart; and that he is, and will be, your portion for ever. And now, aged disciple, my eye follows you to the verge of time. I see guardian angels ready to convey you to the purchased possession. The good Shepherd who laid down his life for the sheep is there. He is there with his rod and staff, to conduct you safe through the dark valley; and I perceive that you fear no evil. Fear evil?-Nay, that is the note of triumph!-Hark, again! O death, where is thy sting! O grave, where is thy victory-The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be

THE GUILTY TONGUE; By the Author of "The Last Day of the Week" Seely & Son. 2s. 6d.

"The Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain."

Many, very many, important lessons may be learnt from this book; the subject of it we should wish impressed upon every heart; and were it not for some of the expressions used in it, we should say, let this book be put into the hands of every child. By the title of this work our readers will naturally suppose it is written with a view to expose the sinfulness of cursing and swearing; these are not the only evils noticed. There are many persons who would shudder at an oath, and yet are in the constant habit of using expressions, such as "My goodness! Gracious me! Upon my life! &c. &c." The author shows the sinfulness of these expressions, and their evil in the sight of God. The language used by many of the persons in this book is such, that it would not be right for many of the children in our Sunday Schools to know; it is true many of them hear the worst and most impious expressions, but there are others to whom they may be new: such being the case, we must at present say this is not a fit book for children. It may be put into the hands of those parents who are in the habit of breaking the third commandment, and it may be read with advantage by teachers, as it will furnish them with many important suggestions and topics for conversation with their children.

HISTORY OF THE TRANSMISSION OF ANCIENT BOOKS TO MODERN TIMES; or, a Concise Account of the means by which the genuineness and authenticity of ancient historical works are ascertained: with an estimate of the comparative value of the evidence usually adduced in support of the claims of the Jewish and Christian Scriptures. By Isaac Taylor. London, B. G. Holdsworth, 1827, pp. 262. 8vo. price 8s. bds.

This is, beyond dispute, a very clever book; and, though, from the nature of the subject on which it treats, not likely to attain a very extensive circulation, it will maintain its ground and acquire increasing respect and esteem in proportion as it gets known. The object which it aims at, is to show the incomparably greater strength of the evidence which supports the authenticity of the Holy Scriptures above that in which the historical and classical writings of antiquity are universally received in our day.

66

Nothing can be more equitable," says the author, "than that the genuineness and authenticity of the Jewish and Christian Scriptures should be judged of by the rules that are ap

plied to other ancient hooka And wadhi

The work is divided into seven chaptersthe first of which treats of "the Antiquity and Genuineness of the existing remains of ancient literature"-the second adduces "Facts illustrative of the history of manuscripts"the third produces "Indications of the existence of ancient literature, from the decline of learning in the seventh century, to its restoration in the fifteenth"-the fourth discusses the "Methods of ascertaining the credibility of historical works"-the fifth presents us with "Confirmations of the evidence of historians derived from independent sources"-the sixth, "General principles applicable to questions of genuineness and authenticity"-and in the seventh we have an estimate of the "Relative strength of the evidence which supports the genuineness and authenticity of the Holy Scriptures." To this is added an Appendix, containing a specimen of various readings found in MSS. of Herodotus, Theophrastus, Florus, and Justin: an interesting account of several restorers of learning in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, particularly Poggio Bracchiolini, Theodore Gaza, Laurentius Valla, Angelo Politanus, &c. &c.; and, finally, some remarks on the Jesuit Hardouin.

We wish it were in our power to lay before our readers the whole of the seventh chapter of this able performance, in which Mr. Taylor draws a comparison between the strength of evidence which supports the genuineness and authenticity of the Holy Scriptures, and that of other ancient writings, which he pursues under the following heads: viz. the number of manuscripts which passed down through the middle ages-the antiquity of some existing manuscripts-the extent of surface over which copies were diffused at an early date-the importance attached to the books by their possessors the respect paid to them by copyists of later ages-the wide separation, or the open hostility of those by whom these books were preserved the visible effects of these books from age to age-the immense body of references and quotations-the equally important corroborative testimony of early versions-the vernacular extinction of the languages or idioms in which the books were written-the means of comparison with spurious works, or with works intended to show the reputation acquired by others-and the strength of the inference from the genuineness to the credibility of the books. Each of these particulars is examined and discussed with the hand of a mas ter, and the mass of evidence for the truth and genuineness of the Scriptures is most complete and triumphant. The writer's dexterity in the induction of particulars, his coolness in examining facts, and his cogency in reasoning from them have forcibly reminded us of Dr. Campbell's Essay in defence of the argument for Miracles, against Mr. Hume.

EIGHTEEN SHORT ESSAYS on Prayer and the Ministry of the Word. By Samuel Green, of Bluntisham, 8vo. pr. 5s. MISCELLANIES relating to the Holy Scriptures, and other Sacred Subjects. By the same Author. London, Wightman & Cramp, Paternoster Row, 1827, 8vo. 6s.

We regret that these interesting v should have been so long upon our table out the respectful notice to which their tant contents entitle them. The first of especially-the object of which is to " and to impress" just views of "prayer a ministry of the word," deserves the can gard of every one who is called by o lead the devotions, or edify the church

When it is recollected that these essa prepared by an experienced father ex with a view to the benefit of his own so settled at Thrapstone), we naturally lo solicitude and tenderness which in othe might not be excited to the same deg we think the attentive reader will not b pointed. For although the author a ledges himself to have been assisted essays by the celebrated works of Drs. Campbell, and Watts; also by Claude, Townsend, and others, yet it is a ver service rendered to such as have not th of procuring these works to have th thoughts brought together in a condens And as originality is the very last qual which we look for in advice, no wise so be ambitious to receive, even from th his father, such counsel as under similar stances was never given before, but wo fer receiving that which had the stam perience, and was confirmed by the testimony of many witnesses. We ca our readers that so much plain and fa struction is seldom met with in the sa pass.

If a kind friend wished to imp manner of a village preacher who has advantages, or to check the exuberan nament sometimes employed by young ers, we know of no book better ad answer his design. As a specimen of and manner we introduce the conclud graph of the essay on preaching, p.

67

"Every name that a minister of Ch in the Sacred Scriptures implies both nour and importance of his work. Is h er?-It is the temple of God about wi employed. Is he a servant?-He is th of God in the gospel of his Son, and o Christ's sake; he serves for eternit watchman, he stands upon the walls of sound the alarm of danger, and to souls as one that must give an accou bishop, or overseer, he presides o whom Christ has purchased with his o As a shepherd, he is to feed his flock w ledge and understanding. As a ster required of him that he be found fai a workman, he is rightly to divide th truth; and by taking heed to himself doctrine, he is to save both himself that hear him. The private and pub ter of a Christian minister, is of th consequence. Thou therefore whic another, teachest thou not thyself? preachest a man should not steal, steal? O, the anguish and miser found a slothful servant! May G the minds of all who sustain the sa tion to greater energy and more diligence in that cause which in most glorious-the most awful con Amen."

Again, p. 131.

"In every discourse the attentive hearer should be able to perceive the way of salvation, and to understand that the doctrine of the cross is the only hope of men. Should it be thought that the constant introduction of this topic infringes upon the beauty, the order, or the excelLency of a discourse, let it be known that this itself is beauty, order, and excellency. If any should think that it disturbs the rules of composition, let them know that no rules can be so sacred as to justify its exclusion from a service intended to instruct men in the way to eternal life. A sermon without Christ is like a statue without life, or a picture of a man instead of the man himself. As there is not a village in the kingdom but from which there is a road, either direct or indirect to its metropolis, so there is no text in the scripture in preaching from which a zealous warm-hearted minister will not find a way to Christ. If the captives in Babylon could say, 'If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning; if I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I do not prefer Jerusalem above my chief joy;" surely a Christian minister when preaching to perishing sinners, should never forget Christ, and redemption through his blood. Is he not infinitely more both to him, and to his congregation, than that city could be to them? What would the apostle Paul have said, had he heard a man professing to be a minister of the gospel address a number of sinful mortals without so much as once mentioning the glorious doctrine of the cross? He would have preached himself immediately after the conclusion, and before they had left the place would have told them of the Saviour and his death, as the only way of pardon and peace for guilty men. What will Christ himself say to preachers who are so afraid lest they should break certain rules of composition as to exclude him from their sermons? When he sent out his apostles, it was to preach the gospel-good news-glad tidings -the love, the grace, the mercy, and the goodness of God, displayed in the salvation of men through his own death. A minister who can frequently preach without adverting to this subject, should examine his own heart, and try and prove his own state, lest in the end the evil spirit leap upon him, and drive him out of his office naked and wounded."

THE substantial agreement of four witnesses is a much more powerful evidence of the truth of their testimony than their relating the same events in precisely the same order, with exactly the same circumstances, and in the same identical phrases. The latter supposition would almost necessarily involve the suspicion of contrivance, and, consequently, of imposture, while the former betrays no effort beyond that of faithfully narrating what has occurred, and thus, in the judgment of all unprejudiced persons, secures the conviction of its veracity.

Such, then, is the testimony of the four Evangelists; whose qualifications to write the sacred history were of the highest order, and whose character, after enduring the test of the severest investigation, continues unimpeached. When they are brought into juxta-position, it is admirable to observe how little they are indebted to the skill and penetration of others to harmonize their statements. That which is principally required is, an ingenuousness in interpreting their narrations, similar to that which so obviously characterizes the whole of their records; this, involving of course such an attention to circumstances as the nature of the case requires, leaves little to be desired but that the mind and heart receive that indelible impression which they are designed and adapted to impart. Every help, however, to a correct understanding of this inestimable section of the inspired volume must be cordially welcomed by the biblical student, on which account we would recommend to his perusal this "English Harmony;" from which, with its explanatory notes and judicious indexes, he cannot fail to obtain considerable assistance in the prosecution of his important inquiries. The following quotation from the preface will suggest to our readers an idea both of the arrangement and of the utility of this interesting work

AN ENGLISH HARMONY OF THE FOUR EVANGE

WORKS RECENTLY PUBLISHED.

Biographical History of the Christian Church; from the Commencement of the Christian Era to the time of Wickliffe, the Reformer. By J. W. Morris. 2 vols. 8vo, 16s.

The Burial and Resurrection of Jesus Christ; according to the Four Evangeliste From tha