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character. In connexion with Schelling, the founder of the Nature-Philosophy, but now a firm believer in revelation, the amiable and simple Schubert pursues his course of instruction, which is attended by many Catholics, and endeavours to infuse the spirit of religion into the investigations of nature. On the other hand stands the Catholic Görres, the famous editor of the "Mercury of the Rhine," which appeared in 1814-15; who has renounced the character of Demagogue and Pantheist, and become an advocate of Scholasticism and the Hierarchy. In the Catholic Church, the aged Bishop Sailer, continues his labors with the most blessed results in Regensburg, and the Canon Widmann co-operates with him in the same spirit. In and about Landshut, the gospel is preached by several excellent disciples of Sailer, and in a district not far from Ingolstadt, which in a religious respect, was formerly in a most deplorable condition, a Catholic clergyman has produced an excitement by preaching the word of God, which will, it is hoped, through the zeal of his converts be extended far and wide. May the spirit of God soon fan these scattered sparks into a flame, which shall illumine the night of unbelief, which still broods. in darkness over the land of our fathers.

[From the Evangelische Kirchen Zeitung.

Neufchatel.

THE income of Preachers, in the Principality of Neufchatel, is in the genera! very small. No one is therefore under the temptation to seek the ministerial office, from mercenary motives, especially as a man must sometimes wait ten years, in consequence of the great number of young theologians, before he receives an appointment. Young men from pious families are almost the only persons who devote themselves

to the sacred office. In order to become a candidate, Proposant, (as those in the first stage of preparation for the minis. try are called,) a person must be at least eighteen years old -a native of the canton-and have given at least three months notice of his intention-during which inquiries are made as to his morals and piety. Should these result satisfactorily, the candidate is admitted to an examination— on the ancient languages, rhetoric, literature, philosophy, and Hebrew grammar. Rejections are by no means infrequent, although the schools are far from being neglected. The candidate is subjected to a strict superintendence; it is expected of him to lead a quiet and retired life, and seek intercourse with the clergy. Neglect of public worship— frequent attendance of dissipating society-a want of seriousness and diligence-draw down upon him severe disapprobation. A four years course of study, and the performance of various exercises are required before ordination. Public lectures are not delivered, but the deficiency is supplied by private study and the instruction of able clergymen. The text-book for theology is commonly Osterwald's Compend, for Church History Mosheim. Turrettin, Werenfels, Vernet, Beausobre, Sally, Abbadie, Pictet, &c., with the more important of the Fathers, are recommended to be studied in private.

The classis (as the Synod of the clergy is called) has› since a few years, appointed a committee of its members, to superintend the studies of its candidates, which consists of a President, two Assistants, and a Secretary, and assembles every fourteen days for a session of at least three hours. All the candidates of the canton must attend these meetings, some important work (for example Calvin's Institutes) is regularly gone through, and each brings his remarks on the part previously studied at home. The exegesis of the New Testament is also attended to, or the time is occupied in exercises of a homiletical or doctrinal character. Every year in April, every candidate has an examination to sustain,

in the presence of the assembled clergy, should it not be sustained, his ordination is deferred another year. During the four years, ten sermons are preached, which must meet the approbation of the above named committee; these sermons are not delivered in the church, but in the chapel of the hospital. Those who have completed the four years course, stood the four examinations, and delivered ten satisfactory sermons, should the Synod have no objection to make on other grounds, are admitted to a final trial, which consists in two trial sermons and four examinations, at intervals of fourteen days, on the various branches of theology and philosophy. To every sermon three days are allowed. If the candidate pass this trial, he is ordained, after prayer has been offered for him in all the churches in the canton, which is done on the Sabbath preceding his ordination. After the ordination, which is private, the individual ordained bears the title, Ministre du St. Evangile, and is authorized and bound as Apostle, to preach in every church in the land wherever it may be necessary. An Apostle receives 12 Louisd'or, (less than 48 dollars,) as a yearly salary. The successive steps of subsequent advancement, are assistant preacher, (suffragant,) then Diaconus, and finally preacher or pastor. Only the last are members of the consistorium (la Compagnie,) the two Deacons have together only one voice. The classis meet the first Wednesday of every month.

The departure from the pure evangelical doctrines, has never been general in Neufchatel-fidelity to the confession of the church has been preserved-and rationalism would have been abhorred as heresy, had it attempted to force its way into the canton; although, true vital piety has suffered from the prevalent spirit of the times, it has never been extinct, and of late indications of the most favourable character have appeared.

From the Kirchen Zeitung.

Scripture Natural History; or a Descriptive Account of the Zoology, Botany, and Geology of the Bible. Illustrated by Engravings. By WM. CARPENTER. pp. 606. Price 14s. Wightman.

THAT study which, of all others, is the most important and the most comprehensive, is the study of the inspired volume. To a knowledge of its principles, with which eternal life is connected, more than human resources and finite instruction are indispensable; for "this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." But no man knoweth the Son but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him." It is this most elevated department of biblical study which should occupy our first and chief solicitude, and about which we should be continually anxious to engage the attention of others. Though this is unspeakably the best knowledge that can be obtained of the Holy Scriptures, and nearly the whole of what is attained by considerable numbers who daily and devoutly peruse them, yet that a correct understanding of a large proportion of their sacred pages is not to be possessed without the inferior aids of critical investigation and scientific research, we presume will be universally admitted. No eminence of piety, therefore, can entitle persons to treat with indifference those labors whose object is, by the illustration of the economy of nature, as exhibited in the Scriptures, to develope the infinite wisdom, power, and beneficence of the Creator.

This volume on Scripture Natural History, will form a very acceptable companion to Mr. Carpenter's recent publication, entitled "A Popular Introduction to the Study of the Holy Scriptures." Like that, his present work will be found to be comprehensive, perspicuous, and highly interesting to all who are desirous of enlarging and strengthening

their acquaintance with that book, whose value and impor tance are inconceivably superior to that of any other. It is divided into three parts, Zoology, Botany, and Geology. Under Zoology there are six chapters, containing representations of man, beasts, birds, fishes, reptiles, and insects; Botany includes five chapters, in which are descriptions of grass and herbs, plants and shrubs, trees, doubtful plants and trees, and vegetable substances; Geology, in three chapters, gives an account of stones, earths, and metals. The explanation of these subjects is assisted by forty-three engravings.

The scientific reader is well aware of the difficulty which must attend any attempt to impart intelligible information, on subjects so multifarious as the above analysis necessarily includes, within the confined limits of a single octavo; our author, however, in encountering this difficulty, appears to considerable advantage, as may be seen in the following example :

"THE WILD BOAR.

So the wild boars spring furious from their den,
Rous'd with the cries of dogs, and voice of men;
O'er their bent backs the bristly horrors rise,
Fires stream in lightning from their sanguine eyes;
On every side the crackling trees they tear,
And root the shrubs, and lay the forest bare;
They gnash their tusks, with fire their eyeballs roll,
Till some wide wound lets out their mighty soul.
Iliad, xii. 163; xiii. 598.

"This animal, which is the original of all the varieties of the hog kind, is by no means so stupid nor so filthy an animal as that we have reduced to tameness; he is something smaller than the domestic hog, and does not so vary in his color, being always found of an iron-grey, inclining to black; his snout is much larger than that of a tame hog, and the ears are shorter, rounder ånd black; of which color are

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