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Still, all gentle readers will overlook such blemishes for the sake of the golden fruit. The author writes ex corde. He looks upon rhetorical rules as the Turk looks upon the infidel, with orthodox contempt. Blair, Campbell, Jameson and other Scotch worthies, we suppose, he never heard of, or at least, he keeps them at a respectful distance. His own cousin-Germans, the methodological, encyclopaedical race meet with as little quarter at his hands. Now, if all writers had as bright parts as Mr. Schauffler, we should have no objection to the extermination of rhetoric. We would ourselves help to its dethronization, as the coronation people say. But while men are, as they are, Campbell must be re-printed, and we must not let any Peter the Hermit preach up a crusade against the 'schools.'

All those who love unstudied nature, the outbursts of genuine religious feeling, an unfettered style, graphic delineation, fine religious sensibilities, with no contemptible exegetical talent, will certainly possess themselves of these Meditations. They invest the last days of the Redeemer with a new interest. They lead us back to the Pietists of the Halle school, to the days of Ambrose and Cyprian, or rather to the blessed company who listened to him who spake as never man spake.

5.-Cursory Views of the State of Religion in France, occasioned by a Journey in 1837. With Thoughts on the means of communicating spiritual good generally. In twelve letters. By John Sheppard, author of "Thoughts on Devotion," etc. London: William Ball, 1838. pp. 148.

The very copious correspondence of the New York Observer, the communications of our countryman, the Rev. Robert Baird, and the increasing amount of intercourse between this country and France render the re-publication of such volumes as this of Mr. Sheppard unnecessary. The book is, however, characterized by good sense, and serious practical views. The author seems to have travelled in the less frequented parts of the country, and gives us considerable insight into the habits and feelings of the people of the provinces. The letters are on the subject of irreligion, superstitions, efforts of societies, private endeavors, good tokens, various facilities, aid to societies, hints to travellers, motives and objections, additional arguments, the French confessors, and influence of France. Under the last head, there are some striking remarks on the nature of the influence which is exerted by Frenchmen, and of the importance of its being pervaded by the Spirit of Christ.

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6.—First Annual Report of the Morrison Education Society, and Catalogue of books in its library. Canton: Office of the Chinese Repository, 1838. pp. 136.

The Constitution of the Morrison Education Society was adopted November 9, 1836. Its object is to improve and promote education in China by schools and other means. Chinese youth of any age, of either sex, and in or out of China, may be received under the patronage of the Society. The Report contains some highly valuable remarks on the population of the empire, different classes of people, population of males and females, different kinds of schools, number of scholars, age, books, methods of teaching, hours of study, school-rooms, examinations, rewards and punishments, etc. In Nanhae, a large district of Canton, two or three tenths of the people devote their lives entirely to literary pursuits. In other districts, not more than four or five tenths can read; and only one or two in a hundred are devoted to literary pursuits for life. The number of Chinese females able to read is very small, probably not more than one in a hundred. Among the most opulent people in Canton, a few female schools have been opened. In respect to the number of years spent at school, there is great diversity. The better course of common education occupies the student five, six, or seven years. The rich generally give their sons the advantage of a full course in the study of the classics, with the opportunity, if they wish it, to com. pete for literary honors. In common schools, the number varies from ten to forty. Various other interesting particulars respecting the Chinese schools are added. The books belonging to the library of the Morrison Education Society amount to 2,310 volumes; the whole were presented to the Society unsolicited. Thomas R. Colledge, Esq. gave 685 volumes; J. R. Reeves, Esq. 655, and John R. Morrison, Esq. 709. The object of the Society is worthy of all encouragement, and it seems to be prosecuted with praiseworthy

energy.

7.-Assemblée Générale de la Société Evangélique de Genére, Sixième Anniversaire. Genéve, 1837.

The president of this society is M. Henri Tronchin de Lavigny. The Secretary is M. Ch. Gautier-Boissier. The treasurer is M. A. G. Vieusseux. The professors of the theological school are MM. A. G. L. Galland, S. R. L. Gaussen, and H. Merle-d'Aubigne. The objects of the society, and which were supported by its funds last year, are the theological school at Geneva, home and foreign missions, the system of colportage, religious libraries, tracts, sacred music, construction of chapels in the departments of the Saône and Loire, etc. Towards all these objects, there were contributed

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98,748 francs. The pamphlet contains the opening speech of the president, at the anniversary, the annual report, and the speeches of various individuals. The association are laboring with much energy and good fruit.

8.-A Discourse on the Traffic in Spirituous Liquors, delivered in the Centre Meeting-House, New Haven, Conn. Feb. 6, 1838. By Leonard Bacon, pp. 54.

This sermon has special reference to the laws of the State of Connecticut licensing the sale of ardent spirits. Mr. Bacon takes hold of the subject with a strong hand, not having the fear of the rum-seller before his eyes. It is one of the most fearless and thorough discussions which the temperance reformation has brought forth. He remarks that the license laws are all founded on the idea that the use of ardent spirits is in a high degree dangerous to the individual and to the community. They do not attempt to interfere with the consumption of ardent spirits in families, except in particular cases. They make a wide distinction between selling ardent spirits for the purpose of being used as a drink on the spot, and selling it for the purpose of being carried away and used elsewhere. They make no provision for licensing and tolerating a dram-shop. They are designed to protect the community from the very evils which flow from the dram-shop system. Mr. Bacon then remarks that the business of dram-selling may be prohibited and punished, as a crime against the public policy of the State; it is an offence against public order and comfort; against trade and industry; against property; against the morals of the community; and against health and life. In an appendix, Mr. Bacon has industriously collected a great variety of startling facts. In the city of New Haven, there are eighty places where liquor is sold. Out of 100 adults, who died in the city in 1837, 33 were drunkards. One of the dealers acknowledged that his business was a bad one, but he considered himself merely as executing the will of the Almighty, in acting as his agent to inflict a curse on the people.

This sermon well deserves a wide currency in Massachusetts, where the friends of rum-selling, or as they term themselves, the friends of real temperance, are bestirring themselves wonderfully to procure the repeal of the license law which is a bar to their efforts in the promotion of temperance! Some of them are such strenuous advocates for sobriety, that they threaten to drink rum on principle. Being men of lofty principles and of the purest patriotism, we presume that fifteen gallons will not be too large a quantity for their use. The larger the quantity drunk, the purer the principle.

9.-The Old Testament, arranged in Historical and Chronological Order, (on the basis of Lightfoot's Chronicle,) in such a manner, that the Books, Chapters, Psalms, Prophesies etc. etc. may be read as One Connected History, in the words of the Authorized Translation. With Notes and Copious Indexes. By the Rev. George Townsend, M. A., Prebendary of Durham, and Vicar of Northallerton. Revised, Punctuated, Divided into Paragraphs and Parallelisms, Italic Words Reexamined, a Choice and Copious Selection of References given, etc. By the Rev. T. W. Coit, D. D. Late President of Transylvania University.

The New Testament, Arranged in Historical and Chronological Order; with Copious Notes on the Principal Subjects in Theo logy; The Gospels on the basis of the Harmonies of Light foot, Doddridge, Pillington, Newcome, and Michaelis; The Account of the Resurrection on the Authorities of West, Townson and Cranfield; The Epistles are inserted in their places, and divided according to the Apostle's Arguments. By the Rev. George Townsend M. A., etc. and the whole Revis ed, divided into Paragraphs, Punctuated according to the best Critical Texts, the Italic words reexamined, Passages and words of doubtful authority marked, a choice and Copious Selection of Parallel Passages given, etc. By the Rev. T. W. Coit, D. D. etc. Boston: Perkins and Marvin. Philadelphia: Henry Perkins, 1837, and 1838. pp. 1212, 927.

We have copied the title of this valuable work at full length as containing the best explanation of its plan and object which we are able to give in so few words. Our readers will understand that it is THE BIBLE, in the words of our common English Translation. But the events recorded in the Bible are here arranged according to the order of time in which they are either known or supposed to have occurred, and the Books, Chapters, Psalms, Prophecies, etc. are so transposed and intermingled as to correspond with the order of suc cession, in which they are understood to have been originally revealed and recorded.

The peculiar excellence of this edition of the Bible consists in its arrangement. And here it may be proper to remark, for the relief of such as may feel any conscientious scruples on the subject, that the disposition of the several parts of the Bible and its division into chapters and verses are not matters of divine appointment or inspiration. The sentiments and the original language of the Sacred Books may be regarded as inspired; but the arranging of them is wholly the work of man, as much as the transcribing or the printing of them. The learned author of this arrangement therefore has not performed an unauthorized work. He has accomplished, with immense labor

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and research, what has been considered an important desideratum ever since the completion of the canon of Scripture, and what has been attempted by numerous christian divines and scholars, of whose labors he has availed himself in the work now presented to the American public. That this arrangement is in all respects perfect, we neither believe nor affirm. In the reasons for some parts of it we cannot concur with the author. But having examined it with some care, we do not hesitate to pronounce it a great improvement upon previous attempts of the kind.

Our author first arranged the Books of the Old Testament, on the plan of Lightfoot's Chronicle, in such a manner that they might be read as one unbroken history. Then, to render this continuous narrative attractive, and more easily remembered, he divided it into Periods, Parts and Sections. By this means the reader who is unable to devote much uninterrupted time to the study of the Old Testament, may, without burthening his memory, take it up and lay it down, as he would any other history or narrative.

The Periods-into which this part of Scripture History is divided are eight. The First Period contains the history of the world and the church from the Creation to the Deluge, and includes the first nine chapters of Genesis. The Second Period comprises the history of the time between the dispersion of men and the birth of Moses; and includes the remaining chapters of Genesis, the Book of Job and the first chapter of Exodus. The remaining Periods need not be described in this notice. We have named the above simply to show the reader in what manner the Old Testament history is divided. The Parts and Sections under the several Periods are numerous. These too are divided according to the sense of the narrative and the chronology of the events and instructions which they record, without any regard to the enumeration of the chapters and verses in our common English Bibles, which, however, for the convenience of reference, are noticed in small figures in the margin.

Passing from the Old to the New Testament, our author considers the latter as the completion of that great system of religion which began at the fall and will continue till the consummation of all things. The object of this arrangement, therefore, is to place before the readers of the New Testament the gradual development of the dispensation of Christ, and the Holy Spirit, in the order in which the true light shone upon the christian church. He begins with a Harmony of the Gospels, in commendation of which we copy the following paragraph from his very able "Introduction."

"All the harmonies which have been hitherto submitted to the world have been formed on one of two plans. The contents of the four Gospels have been arranged in parallel columns, by which means the whole of the sacred narrative is placed at one view before the reader, or they have been combined into one unbroken story, in which the passages considered by the harmonizer to be unneces

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