ESSAYS FOR Sabbath Reading :-By J. GREAVES. Cloth, 12mo, pp. 374.

London: Ward and Co., Paternoster-row.

66

This volume is rather of a miscellaneous character: its contents are without classification. Each essay stands detached and alone, without exhibiting even the relation of suggestion. We have no doubt, as he states in his preface, that the author's aim was a high one," and that he has done what he could. There is much that is pious and devout in the volume; and to a certain class of readers it will prove more or less acceptable. A different arrangement might have been adopted in the order of subjects which the writer has selected, and more manly vigour thrown into the composition, which would have been an improvement.

THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL, illustrated in a course of serious and practical Addresses, with Devout Meditations and Prayers. Abridged. By PHILIP DODDRIDGE, D. D. 18mo. pp. 36. Price Threepence.

London :-James Dinnis, Paternoster-row.

We are glad to see this cheap reprint (though abridged) of a work which is destined to live as long as our language may be spoken, or while there is a soul to enlighten and save.

THE CHRISTIAN NATURALIST. By the Rev. EDWARD Budge, B. A., Launcells. In Twelve Chapters. 12mo. Cloth. pp. 216. Price Three Shillings.

Launceston :---Cater and Maddox.

London :---Simpkin, Marshall, and Co.

This is one of those brilliant productions, which only now and then make their appearance, and which never fail, in a country like England, to confer celebrity on the author. It is worthy the attentive perusal of the christian reader; the plan of the worthy clergyman being, to set forth the works of God as they display themselves, upon a grand scale; and only so far as they may be made subservient to the divine word,-a few of the broader and more brilliant pages of the book of nature are unrolled, and the reader assisted and encouraged to peruse them by the mingled light of science and revelation. We have followed the writer, with no small degree of pleasure and profit, through the principal scenes of "the rolling year.' have taken a glance at the stern features of Winter;-surveyed the characteristic beauties of Spring, Summer, and Autumn;-examined the most interesting of its insect tribes ;-meditated upon the wonders of the starry heavens;-ascended the lofty summits of the cloudcapt Cornish torrs; -expatiated over the waves of the ever-rolling ocean;—moralized upon the falling leaf;-and reflected upon that period which closes the calendar of nature, and shuts up the scene of

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her revolving drama. The volume is neatly executed, and is dedicated to the Rev. H. A. SIMCOE, of Penheale, Cornwall, of whose holy zeal and self-denying efforts in the cause of Christ, we have heard much. We trust, that the "Christian Naturalist" will receive a wide and very extensive circulation. We close our notice of this interesting work, with a short extract from the chapter entitled, "THE SEA." We regret our limits will not permit a more lengthened quotation, especially as the article is so characteristic of the design of our pages :

What a series of ideas crowd upon us from the Sea, when we look at the ships that are crossing to and fro upon its ample bosom. How naturally does the Psalmist, while beholding a similar spectacle, observe,-"There go the ships!" What a number of interesting reflections are included in these few words! SHIPS and the OCEAN are the connecting links of that great chain of existence that runs round the globe. What unites the merchant of England and the merchant of India? What enables the poor man of our own country to make the luxuries of distant lands his own? What furnishes the christian Missionary with the means of carrying the glad tidings of salvation to the New Zealand cannibals-the antipodes of the British shores? What has brought about this connexion with the opposite regions of the earth's surface, but ships and the ocean?-Ships, which display as much of the mastery of human art, as the ocean does of the wonders of the divine hand. Who then, when he thus looks at the blessings enjoyed-at the combination of advantages thus resulting from the ocean, can refuse a tribute of praise and adoration to Him, who made the sea for the same purpose as he made the land, to shew forth his glory, and to teach man his dependance upon him "who sitteth above the water-flood, and remaineth a King for ever!"

Valuable, however, as the ocean is to man, and richly as he is indebted for it to the Lord of all, there is one thing, but for which its value would have been but little known. Without the magnet, man would never have obtained that dominion over the seas, which Providence has assigned him in the present day. And viewing this fact, in regard to the spiritual consequences that may now result from it, and which have already resulted from it, in the conversion of many a heathen, we can only look upon it as another proof of that divine superintendence in human affairs, which nature and revelation abundantly declare. Looking also at the sea as an emblem of the present world, we have reason to bless God, that he has not left us to chance or skill in crossing the great ocean of human life. What the mariner's compass is to the seaman, the Bible is to the christian,—it is the heavenly needle by which he may steer his bark through the waves of time, and direct his course to a better land. Happy, thrice happy, is the man, who with Christ for his Pilot, and the holy gales of the Spirit to waft him onwards in his voyage, keeps his eye continually on this compass; for thus will he be enabled to navigate with skill and safety all the seas he may have to cross,—to weather out all the storms of life,—and, at length, like some gallant ship, that has long and nobly buffeted with the waves, to drop anchor in the haven of eternal blessedness.-page 176-178.

M.

Monthly Chronicle.

APPALLING AND INCONTROVERTIBLE FACTS.

[Continued from last CHRONICLE.]

SHUT out from that refined and softening influence, which pervades the scenes of domestic and social life, our seamen have become proverbial for their depravity. There is no degree of pollution-no species of wickedness-with which they are not familiar.

Through their prevailing vices, society is greatly corrupted,-crime encouraged, and poverty increased. If they have families, they reduce them to beggary,-their cottages are the habitation of extravagance and want of riot and wretchedness-of misery and sin. Their children grow up uneducated, unheeded-familiar with every form of crime and vice.

To the one sin of drunkenness is to be charged six-tenths of the wrecks, with the details of which our ears and our hearts are yearly pained. If ONE THOUSAND ships are lost, SIX HUNDRED are lost in consequence of the intoxication of the masters or men.

As a consequence of these wrecks, much valuable life is sacrificed, while the nation sustains an actual loss of property to the amount of THREE MILLIONS sterling.

Such were the scenes but too often exhibited on board, that our ships were denominated "FLOATING HELLS. And, to a most lamentable extent, the description is still true.

Nor can it be denied, that when they have passed the seas, and are seen on some distant shore, our seamen far exceed even pagans and idolators in their dark and diabolical practices.

There is scarcely a missionary station, in which their footsteps have been seen, in which they have not left behind them the darkest traces of their depravity. Their conduct has swept, like some desolating blast, over some of the fairest portions of the garden of God.

How can it be otherwise? The sailor is deprived almost wholly of all religious advantages. His lot is cast in the midst of wicked

associates, from whom, even if he would, he cannot escape,—and is pressed on every side by the most unholy influence.

No sanctuary

It is but seldom that a sabbath is known at sea. throws open its doors to invite the sailor. There is no altar,--no ministry, no instructor,-perhaps, no bible on board.

The probability of his salvation therefore is diminished, in proportion to the fewness of his opportunities, and the want of the appointed means.

Yet to our seamen we are nationally indebted. In the time of war they defend our "island-home." In peace they contribute more than any other class to our national wealth.

Through them our commerce is carried on with the most distant nations. It is to their instrumentality, under God, that we owe our freedom-our intelligence-our independence-our very existence as a people.

Seamen are still employed to go out, and seek to open a communication with other nations, with a view to the civilization of those they visit; and without our seamen this would not be accomplished.

Nor can our Bible, Missionary, Tract, and other Institutions, carry out their schemes and designs of mercy without our seamen.

Now what has been done for these men? In some places, we have Sailors' Homes,-Sailors' Orphan Asylums,-Shipwrecked Sailors' Societies, and Seamen's Friend Societies. These are all neededall excellent, and ought to be multiplied.

But what has been done for the salvation of our seamen ? Let the

christian church give the answer. Let Britain and America reply.

In both Britain and America there are numerous PROVINCIAL PORTS in which there exists no provision whatever adapted to meet the exigencies of the case. Seamen are left out of the calculations of christian benevolence. They are treated as if they had no souls.

In the continent of Europe, the destitution is still greater. With two or three exceptions there is no organized system of means—the sailor is left to live at pleasure.

The same may be affirmed of the tens of thousands who visit foreign lands: the Cape of Good Hope, Sydney, New Zealand, the South Seas, China, the East and West Indies, with their unnumbered ports.

But why should our seamen be thus passed over and neglected? Are they inaccessible? Are they invincible? Is there no possibility of reaching and impressing their hearts? Or what is the cause of their neglect? Let the christian church say, why these brave and generous men are in their present ignorance and degradation.

They can be reached. Their hearts can be easily affected. They are prepared for instruction, they are willing to embrace the opportunity offered to hear the gospel. But few captains of vessels now refuse to hoist the Bethel flag;-but few seamen object to attend the Bethel service. Numberless facilities at this moment exist to carry among them the "glad tidings of great joy," But then comes the chilling fact, we have not MEANS to employ a sufficiently enlarged agency. More could be done if the moral machinery were but increased and extended.

On the Thames there are but TEN agents, where there should be TWENTY or THIRTY. Several of the provincial ports are but feebly sustained; while many others, both at home and abroad, are wholly destitute.

In this great mercantile city, there is not a sanctuary which seamen can call their own! Though appeal has followed appeal for the new Metropolitan Chapel and Schools, the erection of which is estimated at THREE OF FOUR THOUSAND POUNDS, up to this day not ONE THOUSAND has yet been subscribed! Can this be believed? Is this the estimate which England, the queen of nations, has formed of her seamen ?

TWO HUNDRED BETHEL CAPTAINS are now solemnly pledged to maintain the cause of God among their brethren. And is this the manner in which they are to be strengthened and encouraged? Are they not to have the sympathy and co-operation of the christian church? Around the standard which they have raised, is there to be no gathering of the faithful? Are their colours to be borne by themselves alone? We conclude with their own pure and burning words :

"With TWO HUNDRED tongues, moved by two hundred beating, throbbing hearts, we plead for ourselves and our brethren. God is witness, that our supreme concern is, to awaken the whole church of Christ into action in behalf of the perishing sons of the ocean. We charge it on your consciences, that the salvation of seamen is committed to you by God himself ;-that from this duty you can never be released; and that a spirit of apathy or neglect may involve the most tremendous consequences;—their blood may be required at your hands, their condemnation may be charged to your account! Oh! bear with us! We are pleading for our brethren-our kinsmen accord