Mrs. Sherwood; Mrs. Hemans; the Author of "Michael Kemp; Samuel Drew; John Clare, the Northamptonshire Peasant; One of the Authors of Hymns for infant Minds, who will hardly be recognized under the maidenly style of Mrs. Ann Gilbert,'-the elder Sister of Miss Jane Taylor; Josiah Conder; Miss Corp; Miss Mitford; Rev. F. A. Cox; James Edmeston; John Bowring; Edwin Atherstone; John Holland; Mrs. Hofland, &c. &c. If the Amulet has not the power to charm, it clearly cannot be charged on the Editor, whose anonymous contributions occupy a modest proportion of the work. Here are ingredients various enough to form a powerful spell; and, to make it firm and good, enchanting all that is put in,' the arts of graphical and typographical embellishment have not been wanting. It is, in truth, a very pleasing and elegant volume. The historical and narrative plates are from designs by Westall, Martin, Brooke, and Corbould; besides which, there is an interesting view of the Mount of Olives, from a sketch by Sir Wm. Chatterton, and one of Lambeth Palace, the Canaan of the English hierarchy."

We know not whether our readers will expect us to give any specimens of the contributions. The work will, we think, sufficiently speak for itself. A more elegant Christmas Present or New Year's Token could scarcely be desired. The subject of one of Martin's designs is Elijah in the Wilderness, the poem by Mr. Montgomery: the angel is all light, and the print is almost a transparency. Need we say more of the poem, than that it is worthy of the theme and the Writer? One of the most interesting contributions is an Account of the Chaldean Christians, communicated by the Rev. Dr. Walsh, Chaplain to the British Embassy at Constantinople. The information it contains; is highly curious. "Joan of Kent," by the Rev. Charles Taylor, is a beautiful sketch: every one will like it.' The other tales, we will honestly confess, we have not had time to read through; but, good or bad, these are certain to be read; and, the names of Mrs. Sherwood, Miss Corp, &c. are vouchers for their religious tendency, We feel it to be due to the Editor, however, to remark, that some of the Writers on whose names he seems to have relied, have not done justice either to him or to themselves. In the next volume, we doubt not that he will be better supported by many of his contributors. We take the following poem as of convenient length, and though by no means faultless, the thought is simple and very striking.

The TRUMPET. By MRS. HEMANS

• The Trumpet's voice hath rous'd the land.
Light up the beacon-pyre!

A hundred hills have seen the brand,
And waved the sign of fire!

A hundred banners to the breeze
Their gorgeous folds have cast.
And hark! was that the sound of seas
A king to war went past.

• The chief is arming in his hall,
The peasant by his hearth;

The mourner hears the thrilling call,
And rises from the earth!
sfer The mother on her first-born son
Looks with a boding eye;-

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They come not back, tho all be won,

Whose young hearts leap so high.

• The bard hath ceas'd his song, and bound
The falchion to his side:

E'en for the marriage altar crown'd, conic The lover quits his bride.

And all this haste, and change, and fear,
By earthly clarion spread!

daw How will it be when kingdoms hear
The blast that wakes the dead?

Art. IX. The Importance of eminent personal Holiness to the Chris tian, Minister. A Discourse delivered before the Patrons, Tutors, Mand Students of Homerton College. By Henry March: 8vo. PP 32. London.. 1825,Jingo zhi to shi ofn. QU

THIS

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HIS is not entitled a Charge, nor is the Preacher â lordbishop; it is, however, an admirable specimen of all that an episcopal charge ought to be. Contrasted with the average run of of those singularly vapid publications, it exhibits to great advantage the superior qualifications for the office of spiritual overseer, possessed by many individuals in the unendow's ed, untitled ministry of our Dissenting Churches. 39In this diss course, there is no parade of learning, no assumption of super riority, no attempt at oratory; a remarkable simplicity cha ,no racterises the composition; but it combines in a very high' degree the merit of an able exposition of the passage, with the most judicious and affectionate pastoral counsel. The text is 1 Cor. ix. 26, 27, in reference to which, after observing that holiness, being foreign to man naturally, must be in every instance the fruit of a superinduced principle, the Preacher lays

down as marks of eminent personal holiness, 1. A constant keeping in view of the great end; 2. An habitual conflict with all hindrances; and 3. A prevailing dominion of the spirit over the flesh: each of these characteristics is shewn to have been conspicuous in the great example of the Apostle. In the second part of the discourse, the importance of this grand qualification is illustrated as it regards both the individual's personal interests and his influence on others;-important to himself as being essential, 1. to his freedom from every moral enthralment;-2. to his happiness.

True happiness is the result of a certain state of mind, made up of several ingredients, of which an essential one is self-approval. Not the self-approval of the self-righteous, but that which the Apostle speaks of, when he says, "our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world." Here we see that the Apostle's rejoicing, or happiness, was occasioned by the testimony of his conscience, that, through the grace of God, he was simple, sincere, upright, holy; or, in other words, that he was, what he professed to be.

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It cannot be doubted that a great part of the secret unhappiness which soine ministers suffer, a arises from an opposite consciousness, namely, that there are some things attaching to them that are not consistent with the sanctity of their calling. If the man whose work it is to call sinners to repentance, and saints to self-denial, renunciation of the world, and to crucifying the affections and lusts; if he be conscious of covetousness, love of pleasure, sloth, or carnal indulgence, how can he be happy, unless he have a seared conscience Will not the thought of his inconsistency degrade him in his own eyes; hinder his intercourse with God; be as lead in his heart, cold and heavy; drink up the life of his spirit; deaden his zeal and tivity; and render his pastoral and ministerial duties generally burdensome, and sometimes, almost insupportable? Unhappy man! He runs, indeed, but only as uncertainly he fights, but only as one that beateth the air. He is conscious of this, and he is wretched and so it is well that he should be.

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- But, oh, the rejoicing" of him, who, "strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus," holds in subjection the appetites of the body, and cleanses himself" from all filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord." He, "watching all things, enduring afflictions, doing the work of an evangelist, making full proof of his ministry." shall be glad in all his labours, shall be cheered by an approving conscience, shall walk in the sunshine of the divine favour, and exult in hope of the glory of God.

The great importance of eminent personal holiness to the christian i minister, will yet further appear, if we consider that it is necessary, eydty, To a well grounded assurance of the divine approbation, ?

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keep under my body," says the Apostle, "and bring it into subjec tion, lest that, by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a cast-away." Many, now present, know that the word here rendered "cast away," means, reprobate; disapproved; rejected, after trial. It is plainly used in reference to the Isthmian games, from which the Apostle here borrows his striking illustrations. When the race and the combat were ended, the competitors were referred to certain judges, whose office it was to decide on their claims. He who, on examination, was proved to be the victor, was crowned; the others, of course, were disapproved, rejected, cast

away.

In allusion to this the Apostle says, "I, therefore," having the greatest prize in view, so run, and so fight, as that I may obtain it. To this end, I aim at it constantly, I oppose every obstacle, I lay aside every impediment; I inure myself to temperance, to self-denial, to hardihood, lest there should befal that dreadful result, that, "having preached to others," setting before them the prize, urging them to pursue it at whatever loss, “I myself should be”, at last rejected.

I apprehend that the Apostle by no means expresses himself thus as doubting or fearing respecting his final salvation. But, he states a possible case. An apostle might perish as well as another man; a Paul as well as a Judas. And Paul would perish, as certainly as Judas, if he, like Judas, were unholy. The prize is for the victor only; “if a man strive, yet he is not crowned," whatever his pretensions or claims may be, "except he strive lawfully.” “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name; and in thy name have cast out devils; and in thy name done many wonderful works ? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me ye that work iniquity."

This is an unspeakably awful subject! Oh, that we who are called, and who call ourselves, ministers of Christ, might be suitably affected by it! Since the Saviour has declared that “ many," who bear our name and office, will be rejected by him in the last day; might it not be profitable sometimes to put the trembling anxious enquiry, "Lord, is it I?"

Fathers and brethren in Christ Jesus; it is allowed that those temptations and dangers which are unseen and unsuspected, are of all the most to be dreaded. Now, such as these, lurk in that path in which we tread. They, whose studies, and plans, and abours, are ར། ། pursued chiefly in reference to the salvation of others, are in peculiar 9 danger of neglecting their own; or, at least, of too much taking it for granted that they themselves do, undoubtedly, believe, and feel, Otand practice what they enjoin on others. But, may not he who prays -much in public for others, pray but little, in private for himself? May not he who preaches often to others, preach but seldom to himself! May not the Bible be used more as a text book from which to

discourse to others, than as a directory for his own faith, conscience, and life? And thus, for want of heart-searching, humiliation, vigilance, self-denial, and secret communion with God, may there not, at last, be occasion given for the bitter question, "Thou that art confident that thou art a guide to the blind, a light of them who are in darkness; thou, who teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law, dishonourest thou God?"

This extract will sufficiently shew the spirit which pervades this discourse, on account of which we have chiefly been led to select it from the crowd of single discourses. The view which it takes of the pastoral office, and of the prime requisite for its adequate discharge, is at once so important and so scriptural, that we could wish it were put into the hands of every candidate for the sacred function."

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Art. X. A Sermon preached before the Incorporated Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in foreign Parts; at their Anniversary Meeting in the Parish Church of St. Mary-le-Bow, on Friday, February 18, 1-25. By the Right Rev. Christopher, Lord Bishop of Gloucester. Together with the Report of the Society for the Year 1824. 8vo. pp. 334. London, 1825.

with

A SERMON, together with a Report, is a strange title for the annual account of a Society's proceedings; it reminds us of what Addison, if we recollect rightly, says of a lady's letter, that the main part is the postscript. The Bishop's sermon occupies thirty-one pages; the abstract of the proceedings one hundred and twelve; the remainder is occupied wi financial documents, and a list of the subscribers and diocesan and district committees, which is ingeniously eked out, for the benefit of the stationer and printer, by inserting the names of subscribers in many cases twice over according to their several residences. Our readers will, perhaps, be surprised to learn, that the annual income of this venerable chartered Society, which has the Archbishop of Canterbury for its president, and "the bench of Bishops for its vice-presidents, arising from donations, subscriptions, legacies, and congregational collections, does not amount to 40001.; the dividends from the funds and rent of estates amounted within the year to 35001; the Parliamentary grants to upwards of 20,0001.; and the balance carried forward against the Society, after the sale of 20001, 3 per cents, is not less than 26641. And yet, we have a list of no. fewer than one hundred and sixty-six diocesan and district committees! Such is the efficiency of the clerical apparatus on which this Society relies for the increase of its funds! In the