A Collection of Hymns, adapted to Congre gational Worship: by William Urwick. -Dublin, 1829.

This very neatly printed and copious collection reflects great credit both on the printer and the compiler. It contains a well written and interesting preface on the nature of Psalmody: the congregational advantages to be derived from it, and the progress of its use in the Christian world. That the Psalms of David and of other inspired men of God were in use in the Jewish Church, there is no reason to doubt, and their Psalmody had therefore all the latitude of subject which that portion of the Inspired Volume possesses, while particular portions of it are appropriated to particular occasions. In the Primitive Church it is probable the same adaptation of these sacred songs

to the service of God took place; though

divines and writers differ as to the distinguishing characteristics of the psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs" that are recommended by the Apostle to the Colossians. That their worship was not confined to the book of Psalms is certain, as we have some remains of uninspired composition used at a very early period in the church, and one of them is incorporated into our service; while the Hymns, bound up with and apparently as authentic as the usual version of the Psalms prove the practice of the Church of England. Considerable prejudice existed in the national Church of Scotland against any psalmody but the literal and sometimes ludicrous version in use among them; but this has been counteracted, and the paraphrases, which frequently rise to animated poetry, have been added to their worship. Watts, the most pious, if not the best of poets, first seems to have rendered the singing of hymns familiar; and since his time, the praise of God has been frequently sung by our best poets, and adapted to public worship, that it may be justly said, the world has not all the good poetry to itself. The present volume contains six hundred hymns on various occasions of public worship, compiled from all writers, from Watts to Heber, Kelly and Montgomery, with some original compositions of considerable merit. In such a collection there

Juvenile Forget Me Not, or Christmas and New Year's or Birth-day Present for 1830. Edited by Mrs. S. C. Hall.-London.

This little volume is an exquisite specimen of what taste, talent, and good nature can do; for all are certainly combined in its design, execution, and embellishments. The engravings are of the highest order, and the most delicate character; and the tales, essays, and poems admirably suited to the juvenile student,

for whom it is intended. Our favourite is, we confess, Mrs. Hall's own tale, the Irish Cabin, which is well worthy of the pen of the author of "Sketches of Irish Character." The banks of the Sheff and the Shipwrecked Boy, are pleasing tales, bauld's on" the Misses," as Miss Chief, and an unpublished essay of Mrs, BarMiss Management, and the rest of the family, possesses all the liveliness of that talented writer. If our readers wish to make a very beautiful New Year's Gift, we can safely recommend the Juvenile Forget Me Not, as calculated to amuse, without injuring the youthful mind, and though not decidedly religious, yet breathing everywhere a respect for the sacred sanctions.

Poems on Moral and Religious Subjects. By Anne Lutton.-Dublin, 1829.

Having our pages nearly made up, we desire to occupy a very limited space in calling the notice of our readers to the above work, which the pious authoress unpretendingly offers to the public, as "owing any value it may possess to the moral and religious truths they inculcate."

We have read the greater part of the Poems in the collection, and venture to say, that, independently of the object aimed at by the writer, "the inspiring and cherishing sentiments, congenial with the spirit and tendency of vital Chris

tianity," she exhibits considerable poetical powers, and we wish we had room to insert the verses to Mercy," or some other of the shorter pieces in the volume, to prove that it might have a place on the table or the book-shelf, along with more honoured and accepted names, who have shown that the powers of the poet may be elevated as well in their means as their object, by the views and sanctions of the Christian.

LITERARY NOTICES. Nearly ready, a Topographical and Historical Account of Wainfleet and the

Wapentake of Chandleshoe, in the County of Lincoln, including Biography of Bishop Waynflete, Rev. Thomas Grantham, Rev. Thomas Scott, Henry Stubbe, &c. With numerous engravings on copper and wood. By Edmund Oldfield. In royal 4to. and royal 8vo.

Just published, Christian Counsel: or a Manual of One Hundred Practical Contemplations, tending to promote Gospel Principles and a good Conversation in Christ. Briefly comprising many of those great Truths which are to be known and practised by a Christian. By an Old Divine. 18mo. 1s. 6d. cloth.

ITALY.

We extract from an American Publication, an article headed, "A Sign of the Times in Italy;" taken from a Prospectus of a New Edition of Martini's Italian Bible: which Prospectus has been issued at Naples; and has been circulated extensively, it is said, throughout the Italian States:

The present are times of great difficulty. Man, more than ever enemy to the truth, renews his attacks every day with increased energy and artifice, with the hope to expel for ever from the hearts of the faithful the sentiments of religion. But the Holy Scriptures are a shield of defence against all attacks; a sword of keenest temper, powerful to resist the assaults of the enemy. Whoever will furnish himself with these sufficient weapons, shall be sure of victory. The promise can never fail. Meditate, then, on the Holy Scriptures endeavour to understand their fullest meaning: feed daily on the Divine Word-you shall thus fortify your faith, and advance step by step in piety and holiness.

"These are our motives for the present publication. The necessity of the case demands it. Other places are exerting all their power in promoting the good work: it would be a disgrace to Naples to be backward. The book will be printed in the cheapest possible form consistent with correctness, that it may come within the reach of all."

BADEN,

In the session of the 9th of May, 1828, of the Chamber of Deputies of

the Grand Duchy of Baden, there was laid on the table of the president a petition, signed by 23 individuals, most of whom were doctors of divinity, physicians, advocates, and professors, praying that the Chamber would make an application to government, legally to abolish the obligations of celibacy imposed on Roman Catholic clergy within the bounds of the Grand Duchy. The petition was sent to a commission, and favourable hopes are entertained of its success.

BAVARIA.

A spirit truly Christian, is beginning to manifest itself amongst the students of the college of Erlangen. Professor Kraft teaches there with increasing success. The lectures on divinity are well attended; and, in the first lecture of this year, he recounted the manner in which he himself had been brought to the knowledge of the truth, after being long a votary of infidelity. The Pastor Brand publishes at Roth, near Nurnburgh, a journal, entitled the "Correspondent," intended to combat the modern adversaries of the gospel. Much of the religious revival which has of late taken place in Bavaria is, under the Divine blessing, to be attributed to the influence of this journal. The Catholic bishop of Ratisbon, Lailer, now a very old man, still continues to exercise a most beneficial influence over the Catholics of Bavaria. Widman, a canon of his, labours in the same spirit with himself, and some of his other disciples, employ themselves much in preaching the gospel at Landshout and

the villages in the neighbourhood. A remarkable revival has taken place amongst the Catholics in the neighbourhood of Ingolstadt-in a country which till now seemed altogether dead by means of the preaching of a zealous priest; and there is every reason to believe that these good effects will still increase.

SWITZERLAND.

On May 12th, a debate took place in the great council, upon a reference from the Council of State, arising out of petitions which had been presented for the enacting of still severer laws against the Dissenters. In that debate, while some of the members proclaimed principles fit only for the mouths of Ferdinand at Madrid, or Miguel at Lisbon, others vindicated, in a very able manner, the rights of conscience, and the character of their persecuted fellow-citizens. A report of this memorable discussion has been published in a Lausanne independent newspaper, Le Nouvelliste Vaudois; and we cannot but cherish the hope that good effects will eventually be produced by this diffusion of sentiment.

But we are afflicted with the information, that the rulers of the Canton of Berne have also degraded themselves by following the wretched example of the Lausanne government. We hear that offence had been given by a schoolmaster, banished from Neufchâtel, who had been permitted to settle at Berne upon condition of not attempting to introduce separation from the church, but who is said to have violated that condition. Whether this was the occasion or not, the deplorable facts are, that religious meetings, not in the establishment, have been prohibited. Several persons have been banished; and a gentleman of noble family has been arbitrarily deprived of his office, as under-secretary of state, and imprisoned, for his attachment to evange lical doctrines and dissenting worship.

SICILY.

Religion in Sicily.-I witnessed at the Cathedral, a grand ceremonial of the inauguration of a new Bishop of Catania. There was little decorum observed in the spectators, principally composed of Priests, who appeared, instead of devout actors in the scene, to have come out like ourselves only to enjoy the show. In consequence of the noise, it was impossible to hear any

Amusements.-The following is an opinion lately delivered by the West Lexington Presbytery relative to indulgence in amusements :

DEAR BRETHREN.-The Presbytery of West Lexington would say, that it is neither consistent with the Christian profession, nor admissible in this church, for members to encourage or permit their children to frequent balls, &c. because it is contrary to the holy precepts of the Gospel, which say

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world; if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.-1 John iii. 15.

Be not conformed to the world.Romans xii. 2.

See that ye walk circumspectly, redeeming the time. Ephes. v. 15, 16.

Train up a child in the way he should go. Prov. xxiii. 6.

Whether ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Cor. x. 31.

From all which it is evident, that parents, when they encourage their children to frequent places of worldly pleasure, do that which is unscriptural, against the authority of God, and in manifest violation of the spirit of the Gospel. It is to cultivate and cherish in the child an attachment to the world, which God has declared to be his enemy; and therefore it cannot be done to his glory; but on the other hand, is utterly hostile to it, as it is a disregard of his holy mandates. Besides, such encouragement given to children in practices like these, is a deliberate act of two-fold rebellion against God. First in the parent, and second in the child. For he who encourages sin in another, is himself a partaker of the same. It is, instead of bringing up the child for God, bringing him up to disobey his high and holy precepts-and is, of course, preparing him for the infliction of that eternal curse which is denounced against every transgressor.

Sunday Schools.-The first Sunday School in the United States was com menced in Philadelphia, in 1791, by persons of different religious denominations. In the year 1803, two Sunday Schools were formed in the city of New York, by the late Mrs. Graham. In 1806, the Rev. S. Wilmer commenced a Sunday School at Kent, in the state of Maryland and in 1808, the same person began a school at Swe< desborough, New Jersey. In 1809, a Sunday School Society was formed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, by which a school was opened in the September of that year, containing 240 scholars. Now the "American Sunday School Union," numbers 2600 schools, 24,307 teachers, and 174,191 scholars. It also gives employment to fourteen printing presses and prints on an average 432,000 18mo. pages a day. Still there are at least 2,500,000 children, between the ages of five and fourteen, in the United States, of whom not more than 250,000

are receiving the benefits of Sunday School instruction, having a balance of 2,250,000 to be provided for.

The General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States, assembled at Philadelphia, on Wednesday, the 12th of August. A sermon was delivered by the Right Rev. Bishop Brownell, of Connecticut, after which the Holy Sacrament was administered. The House of Bishops was organised by electing the Rev. Dr. Wyatt, of Baltimore, President, and the Rev. Benjamin T. Onderdonk, of New York, Secretary. The House of Bishops consists of Bishops White and Onderdonk, of Pennsylvania; Hobart of New York; Cross, of New Jersey; Brownell, of Connecticut; Griswell of the Eastern Diocese; Moore, of Virginia; and Ravensworth, of North Carolina. Bishops

Brown, of South Carolina, and Chase, of Ohio, were absent.

IRELAND.

To the Editor of the Christian Examiner. SIR-It is universally acknowledged that Ireland suffers under the heavy pressure of many great and deplorable evils; but the grand cause of all is not discerned by any eye, except that of the true Christian. He clearly sees it in the prevailing ignorance of the Word of Godthat word which maketh wise unto salvation-which is profitable, not only for doctrine, but also for instruction in rightBousness, and which can make the heart of the most afflicted and distressed of his children rejoice in the midst of their tribulations. This ignorance pervades all ranks, and, by its repelling power, prevents the free exercise of Christian love. It leads the rich to waste the energies that are called forth upon the prosecution of mere worldly objects, while the mighty machine of the mind is suffered to remain unmoved by any power save that of superstition and credulity. It leaves the poor to suspect, to envy, and to dislike their superiors; it produces discontent and hatred,and from thence to rapine and murder, the transition is very easy indeed. Is it any wonder that truth should be found so scarce a commodity in our land, when the book of truth is unread, and the commandments of the God of truth disre

garded? Is it any wonder that falsehood should be daringly uttered and persisted in, when the nature and obligation of an oath are either unknown or set at nought? The assizes which have lately terminated have afforded most decided and melancholy proof, that the demoralization of the people keeps pace with the propaga tion of error, and that we have arrived at a crisis truly appalling. If the same causes continue to operate, the same effects must necessarily follow; and therefore it can be no longer a question, whether it be our duty to exhibit things as they really are, and to bear our most de cided testimony against a system which enslaves and debases the human mindwhich removes the Almighty from the governance of his own world, and makes man the arbiter of his brother's destiny. Contrasts frequently contribute to illustration, and I herewith send you one, taken from a respectable provincial paper, which cannot fail to interest your readers. It presents a record worthy of preservation; and if it be made the means of leading even one individual to peruse and examine for himself the sacred Scriptures which make known a Saviour and a Great One, even Jesus Christ the Righteous, the object proposed by its republication will be fully attained. BEDELL.