was some how or other informed that, on the following Sabbath, a sermon was to be preached in a meadow near her house. Whether drawn by curiosity, or by whatever other motive, we presume not to say, but certain it was that some effect was that day produced in her heart, for she was not so violent against religion from this time, as she had been heretofore; but still no saving change had taken place in her heart.

A few weeks after the gospel had been thus introduced into the village, a poor man who had felt its value, was removed from the present state, and an improvement was made of his death in a plain and affectionate sermon to the poor cottagers. An account was given of the effect of the gospel on the heart of their deceased neighbour, and of the happiness he experienced on his dying bed. This was more than the poor woman to whom our sketch relates could bear. Her heart was indeed softened, she felt the power of christianity, and was fully sensible of her need of its blessings. The distress she endured on account of her sinfulness, is beyond all description; but she was again and again directed to the fountain set open for sin and uncleanness, and in that fountain she has been enabled to wash, and to rejoice in the pardoning grace of Christ. She is now the humble, devotional, and ardently zealous christian.

Reader, it is true that

Hearts base as hell God can controul,

And spread new powers throughout the whole. Hast thou felt the power of divine grace? If thou hast not, seek it; if thou hast, ever live to him who died for thee.

NATURAL HISTORY.

It is rather a subject of surprise, that in our general associations and connections in life, in times so highly enlightened as the present, when many ancient prejudices are gradually flitting away, as reason and science dawn on mankind, we should meet with so few, comparatively speaking, who have any knowledge of, or take the least interest in, natural history or if the subject obtain a moment's consideration, it has no abiding place in the mind, being dismissed as the fitting employ of children and inferior capacities. But the natural historian is required to attend to something more than the vagaries of butterflies, and the spinnings of caterpillars; his study, con

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sidered abstractedly from the various branches of science which it embraces, is one of the most delightful occupations than can employ the attention of reasoning beings; and, perhaps, none of the amusements of human life are more satisfactory and dignified than the investigation and survey of the workings and ways of Providence in this created world of wonders, filled with his never-absent power: it occupies and elevates the mind, is inexhaustible in supply, and, while it furnishes meditation for the closet of the studious, gives to the reflections of the moralizing rambler, admiration and delight, and is an enjoying companion, that will communicate an interest to every rural walk. We need not live with the humble denizens of the air, the tenants of the woods and hedges, or the grasses of the field; but to pass them by in utter disregard, is to neglect a large portion of rational pleasure open to our view, which may edify and employ many a passing hour, and by easy gradations will often become the source whence flow contemplations of the highest orders. Young minds cannot, I should conceive, be too strongly impressed with the simple wonders of creation by which they are surrounded in the race of life they may be passed by, the occupations of existence may not admit attention to them, or the unceasing cares of the world may smother early attainments; but they can never be injurious, will give a bias to a reasoning mind, and tend, in some after thoughtful, sobered hour, to comfort and to soothe. The little insights that we have obtained into nature's works, are many of them the offspring of scientific research, and partial and uncertain as our labours are, yet a brief gleam will occasionally lighten the darksome path of the humble inquirer, and give him a momentary glimpse of hidden truths. Let not then the idle and the ignorant scoff at him who devotes an unemployed hour,

"No calling left, no duty broke," to investigate a moss, a fungus, a beetle, or a shell" in the ways of pleasantness and in paths of peace." They are all the formations of Supreme intelligence, for a wise and a worthy end; and may lead

us, by gentle gradations, to a faint conception of the powers of infinite wisdom. They have calmed and amused some of us reptiles, and possibly bettered us for our change to a new and more perfect order of being.

CRITICAL NOTICE, THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY'S ASSISTANT: containing a Discourse on Prayer in general, also suitable forms of Prayer for Domestic Worship: Hymns adapted for Family Devotion, and a series of Essays on different subjects. By the Rev. H. L. POPPEWELL. Third Edition. London, printed for the Author, and sold by Westley and Davis, Paternoster Row, 1829.

THE importance of family worship cannot be too strongly, nor too frequently enforced in this professing age. It is indeed to be feared that it is neglected where it ought constantly to be performed, and various have been the reasons assigned for this breach of christian duty. Amongst others, we have frequently heard parties lament their inability to perform it in any mode satisfactory to their own feelings. They have been timid, and afraid to commence-they have been at a loss both for subjects and forms of expression. To such persons, this excellent and truly religious book will afford a useful and almost indispensable instructor. It contains a Discourse under Prayer, on several heads, judicious, scriptural, and plainly written, so as to suit all capacities. In addition to which there are some most excellent and evangelical forms of prayer Hymns adapted for family singing, and five Essays on the importance of retirement and meditation-on the Lord's Supper on visiting the sick-on the religious education of children, and-on the duty of servants, masters, &c.

The author has contrived to make his book not only instructive but entertaining, by throwing in several judicious anecdotes and well written observations, collected from the works of popular authors, at the foot of almost every page. This is useful, as it tends to enliven the book, and presents an attractive feature to the young.

We would particularly point out to the attention of our readers the author's remarks on "the design and tendency of prayer, the advantages of prayer; and the essay on the religious education of children," for while all parts of the book may be read with pleasure these are admirably calculated to profit the mind. The essay ought to be read by all parents, it contains many valuable and judicious observations on the nature of a religious education, and on its necessity and utility.

We regret that our limits will not allow us to extract several passages we had marked, but that regret will be considerably diminished if we can prevail on our

readers to purchase the book. Added to its other claims, it is neatly printed, and remarkably cheap. Its benevolent author has (to place it within the reach of all) reduced the price one half, so that the third corrected edition may now be had for half the price of the former editions. To conclude, we most cordially recommend this work to the notice of the christian world, as being eminently calculated to be useful in inculcating the necessity of family worship, and in directing and improving its performance.

MARRIAGE.-Marriage is honourable in all, it is God's earliest institution for the increase and happiness of the human race. It first diffused its bliss in the bowers of Eden: it was added to complete the felicity of man in innocence, and is graciously preserved to him as a source of solace and relief, amidst the degradation of the fall, and the horrors of the curse. It is an institution pregnant with the most important consequences to the rising generation, to domestic intercourse, to society at large, and to the church of God; it is an institution that in it the closest and the tenderest earthly ties of which our nature is susceptible, dearer than those of relationship and blood. It combines the interests, the fortunes, the felicity of two human beings in bands that death alone can lawfully dissolve, by a contract, the observance of which is guarded by the most tremendous sanctions of holy writ; in an union, the closeness of which has rendered it a fit illustration of that mysterious union which subsists between Christ and his church; and by a devotion to each other, the impugning of which is branded in the Scriptures as a diabolical doctrine, and forms a distinguishing characteristic of a system, whose essence and spirit are from hell.

MISTAKEN BENEVOLENCE.-Men are often lured, in the present day, by the fame and splendour of an institution rather than by its intrinsic merits, to contribute to its funds. There are institutions in which kings and princes, like the suns and the moons of our hemisphere of benevolence, are seen to shine; and in which a bright galaxy of honourables and right honourables gleam. No wonder, then, if many a lesser star should aspire to glitter in such brilliant company, and seek to borrow splendour from association with the great.-Dr. Raffles.

VARIETIES.

LATIMER, AND KING HENRY THE EIGHTH.-Latimer, in preaching before the King, spoke his mind very plainly; which some of his enemies thought to make their advantage of, by complaining of him to the King, that so they might get him out of the way. Soon after his sermon, he and divers others being called before the King to speak their minds on certain matters, one of them kneeled before his Majesty, and accused Latimer of having preached seditious doctrines. The King turned to Latimer, and said, "What say you to that, Sir?" Latimer kneeled down, and turning first to his accuser said, "What form of preaching would you appoint me to preach before a King? Would you have me to preach nothing concerning a King, in a King's sermon? Have you any commission to appoint me what I shall preach ?" He asked him divers other questions; but he would answer none at all: nor had he any thing to say. Then he turned himself to the King; and, submitting himself to his Grace, said, "I never thought myself worthy, nor ever sued to be a preacher before your Grace. But I was called to it; and would be willing if you mislike me, to give place to my betters. But if your Grace allow me for a Preacher, I would desire your Grace, to discharge my conscience, give me leave to frame my discourse according to mine audience. I had been a very dolt to have preached so at the borders of your realm, as I preach before your Grace." These words were well received by the King, as Latimer concluded, because the King presently turned to another subject. At that time certain of his friends came to him with tears in their eyes, and told him, they looked for nothing but that he should have been sent to the Tower the same night.

ENGLISH PAPER.-At the last dissertation of the Society of Arts and Manufactures, the subject delivered was the manufacture of paper. In speaking of the modern manufacture of writing and printing paper, Mr. Aikin remarked, that, from the introduction of "unauthorised" ingredients in the paste, the paper resulting therefrom was generally bad, and of inferior quality. The yellow post Bath paper, for instance, contained a large quantity of gypsum, the presence of which might be ascertained, by examining the coal remaining after burning the paper at the flame of a candle, when a quantity of fine white gritty powder would be observed. The blue and foolscap paper generally was liable to another objection in our daysthat of the presence of a quantity of smalt, which consists of finely pounded glass and

"It

colour, and the effect of which in writing paper was to make it friable, easily torn, and to wear very rapidly the best pen. has been the fashion of late," observed Mr. Aiken, to accuse the geese of effeminacy and luxurious living, in consequence of which they are supposed to produce degenerated quills; but the real reason of quills writing so much less time than heretofore, lies in the roguery of those who have adulterated writing paper." It is manifest to all, that nothing can be worse than the whole of the writing and printing paper manufactured in this country. Its occasional beauty in appearance is a mere deception. flexibility and durability, as well as in the power of communicating a pleasing facility in the use of the pen, the papers manufactured in France and Italy is much superior to our own. We have only to look at the valuable editions of their classics, and compare them with what the press has lately produced in this country of a similar description, to be persuaded of the fact: added to which, the price in England is at least double that of the French, and triple that of the Italian papers.

In

RELIGION.-The sacred Scriptures never authorize us to contemplate Religion as consisting in a System; they describe it as the action and business of the heart; and the only legitimate qualifications of which, taken in its genuine acceptation, the word admits, respect either the reality of its existence in the heart, or the degree of its prevalence in the character.-Religion, then, whether it be taken to imply the habit of devout belief, or the act of worship, is a principle which terminates upon the Divine Being as its object, implying a delightful and affectionate sense of the attributes" of his revealed character.-Josiah Condre.

MECHANISM OF THE NECK IN BIRDS. The contrivance by which the spine of animals is rendered susceptible of varied motion, is by means of a strong chain of bones (vertebræ), locked together by means of knobs and projections to prevent dislocation, a chain which stretches from the head to the extremity of the tail. Every body must have remarked, that in birds the neck is more capable of varied motion than in quadrupeds; but it is not so commonly known, that this can be accounted for from the greater number of bones, and consequently, of joints, in the necks of birds. Except in the three-toed sloth, indeed, the bones in the neck of quadrupeds and of man are uniformly seven in number, the short-necked mole having the same as the long-necked giraffe ; in birds, the number is never less than nine, and varies from that to twenty-four; facts which, we think, are as interesting as they are curi-Mag. of Nat. Hist. No. 4.

ous

The fellest gnaw of the Undying Worm. And so he might, for he had on his hands The blood of souls, that would not wipe away Hear what he was. He swore, in sight of God And man, to preach his master, Jesus Christ Yet preached himself: he swore that love of; souls,

Alone, had drawn him to the church; yet strewed

The path that led to hell, with tempting flowers,

And in the ear of sinners, as they took
The way of death, he whispered peace: he

swore

Away all love of lucre, all desire

Of earthly pomp; and yet a princely seat
He liked, and to the clink of Mammon's box
Gave most rapacious ear. His prophecies,
He swore, were from the Lord; and yet
taught lies

For gain, with quackish ointment, healed the wounds

And bruises of the soul, outside, but left
Within the pestilent matter unobserved,
To sap the moral constitution quite,
And soon to burst again, incurable.
He with untempered mortar daubed the walls
Of Zion, saying, Peace, when there was none.
The man who came with thirsty soul to hear
Of Jesus went away unsatisfied;

For he another gospel preached than Paul,
And one that had no Saviour in't: and yet,
His life was worse. Faith, charity, and love,
Humility, forgiveness, holiness,

Were words well lettered in his sabbath