how does it enhance the pleasure, to reflect that instrumentally it is our own work! They are happy who are the objects of your bounty; but ye who have experienced it can tell that it is more blessed to give than to receive.'" P. 267.

NOTICES.

A Literal Translation of the Psalms of David; solely upon the Authority of the REV. J. PARKHURST, M.A. 8vo. Pp. 164. 10s. London. Wetton. 1825.

ANY work which tends to fix attention upon a certain part of Holy Writ, is in some respects valuable: even its defects may lead to a closer investigation of the original, and a more prac¬ tical knowledge of the inspired writings. Under this impression, we are not disposed to quarrel with a publication, which, being modestly put forth, may induce its readers to follow the example of its author in improving their acquaintance with the beauties of the book of Psalms. Yet we confess that we should have liked more of the royal Psalmist's sublime and impressive poesy, and less of the lexicographer's dry and prosaic rendering. Although we wish to give every due credit to an unpretending performance, we may not pass unnoticed a hazardous assertion in the Preface, "That the Word of God is the same in all material points, whether translated by the pen of the learned, or the diligence of the novice." An intimate acquaintance with the structure of the original languages of Scripture, and of the Hebrew especially, its idioms and peculiarities,—is essential to a correct interpretation. To the presumptuous confidence of the unlearned may be ascribed much of the schism and dissension which unhappily disfigure the Protestant church, and give occasion to its enemies to triumph in its seeming discord. In the volume before us, the variations from the authorized reading, though more numerous than the prefixed advertisement had led us to expect, are generally unimportant, so far as regards the sense.

We transcribe the last Psalm as a specimen.

"1. Glorify JAH. Glorify GoD in his sanctuary: glorify him in his powerful firmament.

"2. Glorify him in his mighty acts: glorify him according to his excellent greatness.

"3. Glorify him with the sound of the trumpet; glorify him with the stringed instruments and the harp.

"4. Glorify him with the timbrel and wind instruments: glorify him with the stringed instruments and the organ.

"5. Glorify him with the loud cymbals, glorify him with the clanging cymbals.

66

"6.

6. Let every thing that breathes glorify JAH. Glorify ye JAH."

A Manual of Devotion for a sick Person; containing Meditations, Prayers, and Hymns, for every Day in the Week: to which are added, Reflections on Recovery. Compiled from the works of eminent Divines. By a Clergyman of the Church of England. 12mo. Pp. 182. 4s. London. Baldwin. 1825.

Of all the afflictions to which our nature is exposed, sickness is most directly a visitation from on high; in the strictest sense, a falling into the hand of the Lord, and not into the hands of men. In the infliction of many species of suffering, the Almighty is pleased to employ the agency of our fellow men, whose weaknesses and passions may stir us up to impatience against them, as the authors of our misery; whilst we forget by whose will alone they are permitted to do us harm. In bodily illness we have no temptation to such distracting thoughts; no intervening instrument diverts attention from the Almighty hand which smites us for our benefit. We are then without excuse if we work not together with him by improving, to our advantage, the dispensations of his Providence. The little work before us naturally gives rise to such reflections as these; and it is well calculated to lead the mind into a right frame, by suggesting profitable meditations in the time of sickness. "It lays no claim to originality, as the plan is avowedly derived, and the matter principally selected from, the works of Thomas-à-Kempis, Dean Stanhope, Paley, Le Mesurier, and other pious divines, long since numbered among the dead." With some curtailment of the prayers, too specific for general use, this Manual might be rendered a valuable addition to the village library; and would be received with approbation by many who have experienced the difficulty of providing such instruction for the lower classes, when lingering under tedious disorders, the forerunners of dissolution. The size and expense of its present form will prevent a circulation so extensive as it deserves.

The Parish Church; or Religion in Britain. By THOMAS WOOD, A.M., Author of the Mosaic History, &c. &c. 8vo. Pp. 412. 10s. 6d. London. Longman. 1825.

WE cannot afford room for more than two short specimens of this judicious and learned work. Our readers will, we hope, be satisfied. Speaking of George the First, Mr. Wood thus delivers himself:

"He was a hearty well-wisher to the Protestant interest; what he suffered for the sake of this cause, and his preferring the crown of Britain to that of Bohemia, affording sufficient evidence. He came to this country to save us from Popery and slavery; for what else could be an inducement? He was a high and mighty prince before he camè among us; had large dominions, and abundance of honours, being the Grand Standard-bearer, Arch-treasurer, and Prince Elector of the Roman empire.” P. 234.

Upon the punishment of Nadab and Abihu we have the following ingenious commentary for the use of the frequenters of the Parish Church."

"Now though they were not expressly, in so many words, forbidden to put strange fire in their censers; yet it was crime enough that God had not commanded it;' it is not a sufficient reason to introduce any thing into religious worship because it is not expressly prohibited. Nadab and Abihu sinned greatly because they offered what was not commanded. In this sense, whatever is not commanded of God, is forbidden by him; who will accept of no homage from us in the matter of religious worship, unless it be enjoined by him, and by him only." P. 263.

It is from the application of this principle, we presume, that Mr. W. has thought it expedient, in writing upon the "Parish Church," to omit every thing which distinguishes it from the Meeting House. As he virtually reduces the authority of the Parish Priest to a level with that of the self-constituted itinerant or local preacher, we should wish to know in what part of the Sacred Volume the ministrations of the latter are enjoined.

The Opinion of the Catholic Church for the first Three Centuries, on the necessity of believing that our Lord Jesus Christ is truly God. Translated from the Latin of Bishop Bull, to which is prefixed a Memoir of his Life. By the REV. T. RANKIN. 8vo. Pp. 312, 8s. Rivingtons. 1825.

Or the great value of the original treatise of Bishop Bull it is

unnecessary to speak; its praise indeed being "in all the Churches." It appears that the translation now presented to the public was undertaken at the desire of Archdeacon Wrangham, to whom it is dedicated. The translator has executed his task fairly; and has added a memoir of the author, and some notes, which render the whole more interesting to the class of readers who are most likely to make use of it.

Six Lectures on Popery; delivered in King Street Chapel, Maidstone. By WILLIAM GROSER. 12mo. Pp. 274. 5s. London. Holdsworth. 1825.

THIS little book, though containing many passages which a member of the Church of England cannot approve, and compiled, in a great measure, from second and third rate authorities, yet is well adapted to set before common readers a clear statement of important facts relative to Popery, and can hardly fail to be useful in its sphere. It is to be regretted that Mr. Groser places so much reliance on Dr. G. Campbell's "Lectures on Ecclesiastical History,"--but it must also, in justice, be observed, that he is very scrupulous in quoting the statements of the Romanists themselves.

A Translation of Bishop Pearson's Annals of St. Paul; to which are added, Geographical and Critical Notes, illustrative of the Life and Labours of that Apostle, taken from the most approved Annotations. 12mo. Pp. 118. Cambridge. W. P. Grant. 1825. THIS, we suppose, like some other of Mr. Grant's publications, is put forth with a view to the ease of the Cambridge Undergraduates. It contains some useful matter in the notes, (which constitute the greater part of the work) collected from good authors, and, in general, not without judgment..

Questions and Answers upon the History and Prophecies of the Old Testament, as illustrated and explained by Passages from the New Testament: intended chiefly for the Use of the Masters and Mistresses of the National Schools. By the REV. W. H. TURNER, B.D., Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Oxford. 12mo. Pp. 154. London. Rivingtons. 1825.

In this little book considerable light is thrown upon the Scrip

NO. V. VOL. III.

Q

tures of the Old Testament by references to those of the New. It is highly deserving of circulation, being quite as well adapted to the purposes of general instruction, as to those to which more immediate reference is made in the title page. It might, however, have been improved by the addition of some short account of each of the Sacred Writers, prefixed to their respective works, with a few dates and geographical illustrations.

A Companion for Pilgrims in their Journey to Canaan: consisting of Divine Songs for their Recreation, Meditations on the various experiences they meet with, and select Texts of Scripture for their food and nourishment by the way. 12mo. Pp. 106. 25. London,

THE preface to this work begins as follows:

"Soon after I knew the Lord, He discovered to me that this world, through which I was passing, was a waste-howling wilderness," &c.

It is signed "An Old Pilgrim," and dated "Dunstable." Our readers will have no difficulty in conjecturing from the phraseology made use of, what is the nature of this publication. Notwithstanding the proximity of Dunstable to Bedford, the similarity of the subjects, and an occasional coincidence in language, he will be miserably disappointed who expects to find in these pages any thing to remind him of the originality and force of John Bunyan.

Hymns. By JOHN BOWRING.

12mo. Pp. 144. 3s. London Hunter. 1825.

MR. Bowring has evidently not studied German in vain. In the little volume before us, he has given us some pleasing specimens of his talents at versification, expressive of sentiments of general piety, with as much variety of metre, and as few of the peculiarities of Christianity, as could well be devised.