such literary poison into his house. We consider Mr. Roscoe very unworthily employed in thus giving circulation amongst the rising generation to such gross productions; and, more over, we hope he bas mistaken the spirit of the age in supposing such things will now go down with the public; and if we are not much mistaken, it will turn out a bad speculation. The Christian Gleaner, and Missionary Museum, No. I. and II. Dublin: published at the Dorset Institution, 49, Upper Sackville-street, every Second Month. Price 6d. each Number, or 2s. 6d. per Annum. This little religious periodical has been commenced by its editors with a view of supplying our youth, and those who have not leisure for reading larger works, with missionary information, and with the proceedings of religious societies. Without aiming at producing any thing original, it proposes to select from various quarters such interesting matters as may amuse while it instructs. The editors' particular object is stated to be the rescuing from oblivion, those speeches and addresses delivered in Dublin and its vicinity at religious meetings, which otherwise might perish, or bave only a transient existence in the memory of the attentive hearer. The editors also profess that they enjoy facilities for obtain. ing communications from India and America, and that they will largely furnish information obtained from correspondents in those coun tries. pos We can with great truth say, we wish them success. We cannot feel that there is, or can be, any rivalry between them and us; and as far as our circulation goes, and farther if sible, we would wish to extend this useful little periodical. The editors can be guessed at by us, so far as to predict that their piety and prudence are unquestionable; and as the work is chiefly intended for the young, we would wish that every family and school in Ireland were subscribers to it. The first number commences with a very well written "Historic View of the Progress of the Gospel in Different Nations since its First Promulgation." The second number is not inferior to the first in interest or execution. The Snake; and the Fragments. By Charlotte Elizabeth. Published by the Dublin Religious Tract Society. proof. "The Snake" is a very pious series of reflections arising out of a simple incident; and "The Fragments" is an interesting and amusing exemplification of what a juvenile and Christian Poor Richard" might do in the way of "saving to spend." Both tracts would hardly occupy a young person half-anhour in reading, and yet they might assist in producing effects which the widow and the orphan, and the impoverished and the bedridden, could best appreciate, and eternity fully disclose. Sermons by the Rev. James Usher, D.D. Archbishop of Armagh, born 1580, died 1655. London: printed for the Religious Tract Society, 1831. This small volume is one of those published by that useful and indefatigable Association, the Religious Tract Society of London ;and to the lovers of orthodoxy in doctrine, and purity in morals, it is unnecessary to recommend any thing that comes under the name of our countryman, Archbishop Usher.* These sermons were preached at Oxford, when he was driven from Ireland by the massacre, and rebellion, and form a series of discourses on the leading doctrines of the Gospel, which, when delivered, we are told, were attended with signal blessings. To them are added the celebrated sermon on Immanuel, and two on the seal of the Covenant. We pray that the Lord's blessing may accompany the exertions of this Society to call our divinity students from the vain and useless speculations of modern theology, to the manly and searching composition of our ancestors. Thoughts in Retirement. By Three Clergymen. London: Seely. 1831. Thesse Thoughts have appeared in parts, in some of the periodicals of the day, but well deserved to be collected; they possess considerable originality, are neatly and tersely expressed, and breath a spirit of piety and devotion, and serious religion, which fit them for the perusal of the Christian. The view of doctrine taken is that which the world calls moderate Calvinism, but the opinions are always scripturally grounded, and practically enforced. It is a very neatly printed little volume, and deserving of general circulation. The Pillar of Divine Truth, immoveably fixed on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone, shown by the Genuineness, Preservation, Authenticity, Inspiration, Facts, Doctrines, Miracles, Prophecies, and Precepts of the Word of God, the whole of the Arguments and Illustrations drawn from the pages of the Comprehensive Bible. By the Editor of that Work. 8vo. London, 1831. pp. 272. The little works of Charlotte Elizabeth are evidently the overflowings of a Christian and benevolent heart. She seizes with eagerness every incident, however apparently trifling. and converts it into a source of instruction. This is indeed to imitate him whose eye selected the lily of the field, and the sower and his seed, as well as the magnificent battlements Among the subjects of religious controversy of the temple, and whose gracious lips of the present day, our readers are perhaps "speaking as never man speak"-converted aware that the Comprehensive Bible has not them, not merely for his present audience, escaped. After having for years passed curbut for all coming time, into a never-failing rent among the students of divinity, alter fund of varied nd amp le illustration and re- having occupied the Library table and the Study, and received the approbation of many of the most pious and the most learned of our Clergy, it was suddenly discovered to be a most pernicious publication, its notes, to be fraught with infidelity, and its Editor denounced in the most unmeasured terms as a Neologiati. We are quite aware that some of our Evangelical Clergy have as accurate a tact in discovering a Neologian, as the orthodoxy have in tracking a Calvinist; and we do not deny that in such a work as the Comprehensive Bible, and among its many thousand notes, many may be found that are, to say the least, injudicious; but it does seem to us to display quite as much regard for orthodoxy as for charity to convict, upon the strength of such evidence, the Editor of Neology, and then to make the accusation the ground of attack upon the British and Foreign Bible Society, which has employed him, as a man of learn ing and ability, and a Clergyman of the Church of England, to superintend some of its translations. Of the reverend gentleman we know nothing but from his edited works, and a few controversial pamphlets. We entertain a bigh opinion of bis abilities, and certainly no mean one of his beterodoxy, notwithstanding the positive manner in which certain of the clergy have written about him. We have spoken to many of the most pious and accurate divines of our acquaintance, who have used his Bible for years, and they confessed, that they were not quicksighted enough to discover his beterodoxy, and we contess ourselves, to have laboured under the same blindness. Unsatisfactory notes occur, illustrations are to be found, that do not illustrate any thing but the Editor's learning, and many careless expressions, and many unintentional misrepre sentations, but we fear that the evidence on which Mr. Greenfield is convicted of neology, would justify a bill of indictment against most commentators in our own and all other languages, would bring in Prideaux, and Hall, and Lightfoot, and Taylor, guilty of misprision of infidelity. The present volume is published by Mr. Bagster, to vindicate his Bible and its Editor, and we cannot regard it as an unfair or improper expedient, whatever Mr.Thelwell may think. It is certainly very awkward for a man to come forward and deny that he is an infidel, but it is quite reasonable for him to point to his published works as his vindication. The Pillar of Divine Truth contains a great deal of useful and well arranged information. principally extracted from the notes to the Bible in dispute, and answers the purpose of an index to the arguments on the Deistical controversy, and a copious one of texts. The work is well deserving of attention, both to those who are interested in the character of the Bible, and in the Infidel controversy, (as who is not,) and certainly, the Editor seems to be acquitted by it of being a systematic Deist, though not, perhaps, of being occa sionally an injudicious compiler. In fine, we are inclined to think, that the dread of imported Neology, which was applied with so much justice and zeal to the systematic errors of Mr. Milman's History of the Jews, may be carried too far; that it may lead from caution in the application of learning and reasoning, to their banishment from the study of theology, and thus may that divine science be reduced from the manly and noble form it assumed under our older divines, to the meagre and lifeless mass which ignorance and prejudice tend to produce.+ FOREIGN RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. Extract from a letter from the Rev. John Believe me, my dear Sir, it affords me pleasure to greet a brother clergyman of the old world,' as you style yourself, and to render you, as far as able, the favours solicited. In Boston we have five episcopal churchesChrist's, Trinity, St. Paul's, Grace, and St. Matthew's. The present doctrinal and practical aspect of the episcopal church in this country is generally good, and particularly so in this city. 'Sound views of piety' are flour ishing in most of our parishes; and the Armenian and Calvinistic controversies do not do us much injury, although they have occasionally alienated bearts, which should have been knit together in love. Our Church, on the whole, is destined to experience a bright and glorious day of prosperity. The defects found to exist in the systems of most of the dissenting sects, causes the Episcpal church to become an asylum of rest and spiritual edification to many who become wearied with the unprofitable experiments of religious visionaries. Bishop Hobart, without a rival, as an efficient and learned divine, has, by his sudden demise, made a void in our councils, which, to buman appearance, will not soon be filled. No influence in the church, or out of it, among other denominations of professed Christians, has ever been able to stand against him. This prominence made him the dread of all who disliked his policy, but now he is dead; such was the excellence of his character, and his universally-acknowledged since. rity, and persevering fidelity, that there seems but one general burst of simpathy in his premature exit, as well as of admiration for his high rank as a Christian minister. "We have in the United States eleven * We need only refer to a letter, published by us when this Bible first appeared, from an individual peculiarly qualified to form an opinion, and containing a high panegyric on it. + Since this notice went to press Mr. G. has published a powerful defence of himself in a letter to the Editor of the Record. bishops, and between five and six hundred other clergymen. The period is not far distant, when one or more of the Episcopal order will be appointed in states bordering upon the great river Mississippi. At the decease of the bishop of the eastern diocese, which includes the states of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire, it is to be expected that there will be two or three bishops, instead of the Right Rev. Dr. Griswold, who is at an advanced age, and much beloved. The greater part of our bishops perform the duty of parish ministers, in addition to their more appropriate duties. By far the greater portion of our clergy receive moderate salaries, and this, in most cases, is raised by voluntary subscriptions, or taxes on pews. The highest salary paid to any minister in this city, of our church, is £2500. Aesides the regular parish churches in Boston already named, we have a missionary, the Rev. Asa Eaton, D. D. who officiates in a chapel with free seats for the poor; and although this is a city where about fivesixths of the people are dissenters, in so favourable estimation is the Episcopal church held, that the chaplain in the House of Industry is a clergyman of our communion, so also is the superintendant and chaplain of the House of Reformation for juvenile offenders. "Now, my reverend and dear Sir, reciprocate with me, and communicate whatever information relating to your own country may be supposed interesting to the writer. I feel a deep sympathy for all who are labouring in the cause of our Zion, and will assure you, that I am your friend and brother in the Gos'pel. "JOHN L. BLAKE, "Rector of St. Matthew's, Boston, Mass.” United States.-The New York episcopal press is publishing a series of standing works in divinity; the second volume of which is the Bishop of Chester's Apostolical Preaching." ་ The Episcopal Watchman," in noticing what the American newspapers are pleased to call the profligate extravagance of the English government," among the items of which are enumerated" the enormous salaries paid to the bishops," justly informs his countrymen, that our bishops are not salaried" by the state; and that, where their revenues are large, they arise chiefly from the modern improved value of lands given to their sees, in ancient times, when compa. ratively of little worth, and which cannot with any shew of justice be detached from them. The United States' government might as justly be charged with "profligate expenditure," because Trinity church, New York, happens to be very rich, from the rental of lands with which it was endowed long before the revolution, and which have become highly valuable by the growth of the city of New York. VOL. XI. A bill, subjecting to a penalty any person who would instruct free negroes in the rudiments of learning, or even of revelation, has been rejected by the House of Delegates, in Virginia. But then the baseness of the man who moved it, and the minority which supported it! Upper Canada Indians.-The attention of Christians having of late been much directed to the spiritual necessities of the North American Indians, the following brief view of the condition of those within our own territories in Upper Canada may not be unacceptable to our readers. Delawares; population 200; a flourishing school and some progress in Christian instruction. Chippeways; 260; the same. Mohawks; as follows: Grand River, 2000; some tribes unconverted, but an active and successful Church of England missionary among them;-River Credit, 220; a Methodist missionary, two schools, and a vil. lage built by government ;-Lake Simcoe, 200; petitioning for a village and religious instruction ;-Rice Lake, 300; villages are building, and the women knit and spin ;Grape Island has become a Christian community under the Methodists;- Mohawks, 250; have embraced Christianity in connexion with the Church of England, and are urgent for a missionary ;-Kingston, 100; they wish to join their brethren at Grape Island ;-Scattered, 350; but might be collected and instructed. These tribes being within the British territories, and their numbers not very large, plans might easily be devised, at no serious expense, for bringing them all within the range of civilization and religious instruction. The Church Missionary Society has ever been a powerful claimant for Africa and her children; and without its valuable and liberal assistance the plan for civilizing and Christianizing the recaptured blacks at Sierra Leone could not have been effected. The Bishop of Jamaica is doing all he can to crush the operations of this society in his diocese-why should not the truth be spoken ?—a line of conduct to be expected from a prelate whose first achievement was to take to his bosom Mr. Bridges, the libeller of Mr. Wilberforce, the Coryphæus of slavery, and the torturer of his poor female slave, Kitty Hilton; and who has not been even yet suspended by his lordship from his sacred functions, notwithstanding the government at home have honourably done all in their power, but in vain (such are the West-Indian juries, where slavery is concerned), to punish him by the civil arm, and, as the last mark of disgrace, have struck out his name from the list of magistrates. It is known to our readers that there is an auxiliary to the Church Missionary Society at Kingston in Jamaica; and that its members are justly anxious for the extension of the Gospel among the slaves, 4 B POLAND. The majority of the inhabitants (4,088,289 in number) in the kingdom of Poland, profess the Roman Catholic faith, which enjoys the special protection of the government, but without prejudice to entire freedom of con. science and worship with regard to every other creed. Every denomination of Christians is likewise entitled to equality in the eyes of the law, and an equal enjoyment of civil rights. The high Catholic clergy consists of eight bishops, at whose head stands the archbishop of Warsaw, primate of the kingdom. The united Greek church has a bishop; the Lutherans and Calvinists have their Pastors; the Hebrews their Rabis, and the Mahometans their Imans. The extent of each palatinate forms the extent of the corresponding diocese; consequently, there are eight bishops, and their eight dioceses contain 8 cathedrals, 130 117 affiliated churches, 11 diocesan schools, deaneries, 6 colleges, 1638 parochial churches, 151 spiritual congregations of the male, and 29 of the female sex. It so happens, also, that a religious Church reprimanding him for wishing to open his of England periodical publication has late. church to the Church Missionary Society. ly been set on foot in Jamaica, entitled, The Christian Record," which has done much to enlighten the public upon the real state of the slave population, and the du ties of Christians, both in Great Britain and the West Indies, in regard to their temporal and spiritual welfare. A rumour, it seems, has been carried to the Bishop, that some of the friends of the Kingston Auxiliary Church Missionary Society patronize this publication; besides which, the society, to its honour be it spoken, labours under much of the colonial popularity which follows every institution honest ly and efficiently designed to promote the religious instruction of the poor outcast slave. The consequence is, as stated in the Christian Record for December, that the Rev. Mr. Bolton, rector of St. George, Kingston, having given permission to the Rev. G. Griffiths to preach a sermon on behalf of the society, the Bishop interfered, and forbad it; and also issued a circular, prohibiting any sermon " in aid of the funds of any religious society" without his exThe Greek diocese of press permission, the humble petition for Chelmno possesses one cathedral, 21 deane. which is "distinctly to state," not only "the name of the preacher," but also the ries, 287 parochial churches, 1 seminary, and 3 congregations of the male sex. By virtue purport of his discourse!" His lordship further intimates that this permission will of a bull of Pius VII. in the year 1819, 31 be very limited; for he significantly adds, congregations of the male, and 13 of the that one society, the Jamaica Society for female sex, attached to Roman Catholicism, promoting Christian Knowledge-which were suppressed. The number of ecclesias does not profess to be a missionary society to any persons, and least of all the slaves, has "every claim" on the support of his clergy. Not, however, content with either the special countermand of the St. George's sermon, or the general prohibition which provides for all such cases in future, the Bishop, it is further stated, turned a Board of the Diocesan Committee of the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge into an ecclesiastical court; the laymen present ac tually withdrawing from the room, while the Bishop from the chair demanded from the rector of St. George's an account of his conduct; requiring an apology, and tics belonging to the latter creed is 2740; and to the Greek faith 354. The Christian churches, neither of the Eastern nor Western Latin persuasion, are 6 attached to the RussoGreek, 28 to the Lutheran, 9 to the Calvinist, and 2 to the Philippine faith. The former (Russo-Greek) are subject to the synod of St. Petersburgh, or to the jurisdiction of the bishop of Minsk ; the Lutheran and Calvinist churches, to the respective consistories sitting at Warsaw; and the Philippine to their staricks. The Hebrews have 274 parishes, and a similar number of synagogues and rabbis; and the Mahometans, two parishes, and as many mosques and imans. OBITUARY. DIED, at the advanced age of 73, at his house in Dawson-street, ALEXANDER KNOX, Esq. It is so long since this excellent man with drew himself wholly into the retirement of private life, that doubtless, many amongst our younger readers, may be unacquainted with his character; yet few, in reality, have exercised a more deeply-felt influence over a large circle of acquaintance, His bodily structure was so infirm from his earliest years, as to preclude all professional pursuit; but even under this disadvantage, the strong and various powers of his mind But while be shunned the paths of civil advancement, he felt no unwillingness to employ his pen occasionally on political subjects, when he deemed it possible for him to contribute something towards the preservation of order, or the adoption of such measures, as in his judgment were likely to promote the welfare of the community. His exertions in this way were not unregarded, nor his influence unfelt. To religion, however, and the wide field of literature which it associates, he devoted his most ardent attention. It was not possible for his mind to think or feel superficially. The glowing thought which he would have carried with him into every subject, was necessarily drawn out by religion into its fulness of action. This he at once perceived was the provision which the Father of Spirits had made for the happiness of the soul. He felt within him a want of the Divine Being. His reason was convinced, that the same God who had so richly provided for the corporeal nature assigned to human beings, could not have created the soul with necessities, for which an adequate supply was not designed. His faith in the incarnation of the Son of God, was not less supported indeed by an internal illumination, than by the accumulated external evidences of the truth of the Christian system. The liveliness of his affections, and the delicacy of his moral feelings, as well as the strength of his intellectual faculties, found in the religion of our blessed Saviour their proper gratification and their suitable employment. He was not satisfied to understand, he wished also to possess and enjoy. Every thing beautiful in nature, and every thing tasteful in literature, seemed to blend and associate with his perceptions of moral beauty. From his natural temperament of mind, it was not to be expected that he could come into contact with John Wesley in his earlier years, without imbibing for him a warmth of regard. It was ardently returned by that in teresting and eminent man; mutual friendship did not, however, terminate in discipleship. Independence of mind ever continued to be exercised on the one side, and duly respected on the other. and ardent. Never, indeed, were its characteristics more judiciously depicted or its excellencies more engagingly expressed, than in a few publications which issued from his pen, and still more in his animated conversations. But this attachment was not less liberal than it was ardent. It produced no asperity towards other Christian bodies, to each of which he felt Providence had assigned its peculiar function. The opinions which he had been led to form, were at all times firmly maintained, while his liberality of spirit was evinced by his baving selected his favourite books and his most valued friends from very different parties. It was his opinion that the end which Providence designed to effect by the existence of the various Christian denominations, was not sufficiently adverted to, nor the good which they possessed within themselves at all times adequately estimated. He often applied himself to unfold this to the perception of others, and thus to restrain controversy within the bounds of charity and prudence. It is to be lamented that he could not prevail on himself to give to the world a greater number of publications. He employed himself, however, diligently in composition.No prohibition may exist to prevent his friends consigning some of his papers to the press. From his habits of accuracy many of them must be in a fit state for publication. The weakness of his bodily frame, and the general sensibility of mind, exposed him occasionally to nervous depressions. At those times bis fervent prayer was, that bis God and Saviour might in mercy deepen in him that religion, some little portion of which, he used to say, had been graciously produced within him. It The character of his mind was indeed strictly devotional. No one was more convinced of the minuteness of providential government-no one felt more entirely that divine grace was the immediate and efficient cause of every permanent improvement. may be believed consequently, that his prayers were ardent and unremitted, and that he watched every movement of his own heart with the utmost care and circumspection.His friends will be gratified to learn, that for some time previous to his decease all nervous despondencies had subsided- he seemed to enjoy a sober and uninterrupted calm. His last illness was mercifully permitted to be short and gentle. He had studied the Sacred Scriptures, with a depth and minuteness of observation which few have equalled; to the last they continued to present to him previously unobserved sources of moral and spiritual improvement. With the Greek and Latin fathers, as well as It would be difficult to impart to those who with our own most excellent divines, he was did not enjoy his acquaintance, any adequate deeply conversant. Indeed his knowledge of conception of his interesting powers of converDivinity was as extensive as if acquired for professional objects. This he freely imparted in conversation. His acquaintanceship, indeed, was eagerly sought for by those who were anxious for information, and none came from him without a consciousness that he had heard much to improve the heart, as well as to enlighten the understanding. His attach ment to the Church of England was strong sation. His observations on the passing topics of the day, were at all times instructive; but when those higher subjects, which were most congenial to him, engaged his attention, he poured forth a strain of eloquence, which his friends felt to be delightful as well as edifying. A hasty or superficial remark never escaped him; his mind was evidently stored with knowledge, and all his thoughts well consider |