The Ascent of Elijah. A Seatonian Poem. By the Rev. RICHARD PARKINSON, M.A. of St. John's College, Cambridge, and Lecturer in Divinity at the Clerical Institution, St. Bees. London: Rivingtons. Cambridge: Deightons.

ACADEMICAL prizes are generally interesting rather as pledges of future and more matured efforts, than as productions of present excellence. In the little poem before us, however, we have the effusions of a bard not wholly uninitiated in the mysteries of Parnassus; and it contains some passages of considerable force and beauty. We subjoin, without further comment, the following extracts:

And who are they?—The god-like front, sublime,

The hair just wither'd with the touch of time,

The forehead high and dark, that strangely shews

The blended lines of mightiest joys and

The anxious gaze, bent ever on his Lord, To catch his secret wish, his feeblest wordTell that the form,now fix'd as mimic stone, Is-true Elisha, man of God-thine own! Pp. 8, 9.

With such a smile as dying saints bestow, In their last hour, on him most loved below, The Prophet cheer'd his son; and gently laid

The hand of blessing on his trembling head. "Well hast thou stood, my friend! no servant now!

A martyr's crown adorns thy living brow!

He mark'd the train of heavenly light expire

In a long vista of receding fire;

He heard the seraph tones, that hymn'd on high

Elijah's welcome to the happy sky! But where is then the promise? where the sign

Of delegated power, and grace divine? The heavenly splendour now fades fast away,

Mark'd in the sky by one bright lingering

ray.

-Yet is that ray o'ershadow'd !-Something seems

With disk opaque to blot its ruddy beams! Lower and lower it descends! and sails, With flickering motion, borne on evening gales,

Rapidly on; and gently seeks the ground, Before Elisha's feet, with whispering sound! What tongue may speak the rapture of that hour?

It is! it is!-the Robe of magic power! Elisha dash'd his vesture to the ground, And with his Master's Mantle wrapp'd him round;

And stood, from that day forth, before the Lord,

His Power on earth-his Wisdom-and his Word!-Pp. 18-20.

gross mistake to suppose that the private diary of even the best of men is always adapted for the public eye; and we cannot but remember the injury which the publication of his "Private Thoughts," by an injudicious admirer, inflicted upon Bishop Beveridge. We have no doubt that Mr. Payson was an excellent man; but still such passages as the following, which we select at random, are not, in our opinion, likely to produce the effect intended by the compilers of his biography.

"Oct. 26. Was assisted to-day in writing, and had a precious season in prayer."

Oct. 28. Was almost insupportably happy, and could hardly refrain shouting aloud for joy.”—P. 331.

In other places, the immediate aid of the Holy Ghost is declared, and ejaculations uttered still more objectionable than the above. We do not wish to quarrel with a man for expressing his gratitude to God for every blessing he enjoys; but we do condemn the publication of expressions, which are clearly the result of religious enthusiasm acting on an ill-regulated mind. We can participate in the holy rapture of the Psalmist, and join in the exclamation, "Not unto us, O Lord; not unto us!" and with the holy men of old, "Give God the glory due unto his name.' We can accompany the minister of the Gospel to the table of our Lord, and pour out our whole soul in gratitude for all his mercies vouchsafed unto us ever since we came into the world; but never should we think of attempting to embody our feelings in language, much less to proclaim abroad the depth of the love and adoration with which we approach the discharge of our bounden duty.

One thing, however, we cannot help admiring in the volume before us; namely, the filial devotion of this really good man towards his mother, and the manner in which he attempted to console his wife and family when on his death-bed: though even here, the language adopted to express his hope and confidence is very different from that of those eminent and truly pious Christians, whose death-bed scenes Mr. Clissold has recorded.

Epitome of English Literature; or, a Concentration of the Matter of Standard English Authors. Edited under the Superintendence of A. J. VALPY, M. A. late Fellow of PemLondon : broke College, Oxford. Valpy. 1831. Nos. I. and II. [Paley and Locke.] Small 8vo. Pp. xxxix. 278. xxiv. 288. Price 5s. each.

Of the numerous monthly publications to which the literary epidemic, at present raging in this intellectual generation, has given rise, those which proceed from Mr. Valpy's emporium have hitherto met with our cordial approval. The "English Divines"

stand first and foremost in utility, in editorship, and in elegance: and the "Family Classical Library" cannot fail to be a gratifying present to the admirer of ancient literature, and more especially to those who have not the power of becoming acquainted with the originals themselves. It is a duty, however, which we cannot neglect to perform, to withhold our commendation from this 66 Epitome of English Literature." Only imagine Paley, the concise, yet elegant Paley, who never says a word too much or too little, shorn of half his bulk, "under the superintendence of Mr. A. J. Valpy!" We are told, that "in history no fact, and in philosophy no reasoning, will be omitted or distorted, so as to render a reference to the original author requisite." Now we should be glad to know in what respect Hume's History, reduced to half, or a third of its size, will differ from any other abridgment of English history; Goldsmith's, for instance, or Mavor's? In fact, this said "Concentration" is a mighty useless affair altogether; and we have no doubt that the good sense of a 66 discerning public" will soon learn to estimate it at its real value.

A Practical Exposition of the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Mark, in the form of Lectures, intended to assist the Practice of Domestic Instruction and Devotion. By JOHN BIRD SUMNER, D. D. Lord Bishop of Chester. London: Hatchard. 1831. 8vo. Pp. vii. 623. Price 9s.

HOWEVER cheerless the prospect which the present state of things holds out to the inquiring eye of the sincere believer, there is at least one ray of hope for better things to come, in the increasing prevalence of family devotion among the well-disposed orders of the community. Hence the several Manuals of Prayers, adapted to families and individuals of different stations and conditions, which have lately multiplied upon us; and hence too the visible effect produced in the deportment of the peasantry, to which the Clergy, in various parts of the kingdom, can bear a grateful testimony. As an aid to that essential part of

family religion which consists in the daily perusal of a portion of the Scriptures, more especially of the New Testament, the volume before us cannot be too strongly recommended. Such a practical guide has long been a desideratum, and we are happy to see it supplied. True it is that we have Expositions of the Scriptures in abundance, and some of them of the most valuable description; but none of them are precisely the kind of thing which is calculated to instruct and interest the humbler members of a family. Perhaps the best suited to this purpose, is Scott's Bible; but the Calvinistic tenets are so closely interwoven with the otherwise excellent observations which it contains, that even the most careful reader, were he in no danger himself of catching the infection, must find it extremely difficult to separate the tares from the wheat. Doddridge's Expositor is another excellent work; but the text, and the notes, and the paraphrase, cannot be read, in their disjointed state, without perplexing the minds of the uneducated, who become fatigued before they arrive at the "improvement" affixed to the section which has been read to them. In the Bishop of Chester's Exposition, these objections have no place. The Gospels of Matthew and Mark-and the other historical books are to follow-are divided into portions of an easy length; and accompanied by a lecture, in which the principal features of the narrative are explained, and the reflections suggested thereby improved, in language adapted to the humblest capacities. Indeed, the work may be regarded as a kind of model, upon which a master of a family might conduct an oral exposition of the Bible, not only to the edification of those for whose spiritual welfare he is deeply responsible, but to the enlargement of his own personal acquaintance with the oracles of God. The book is also as cheap as it is useful; and we trust that it will find a place in every Christian “Family Library."

Biblical Notes and Dissertations;

chiefly intended to confirm and illustrate the Doctrine of the Deity of

Christ; with some Remarks on the practical importance of that Doctrine. By JOSEPH JOHN GUrney. London Rivingtons and Arch. 1830. 8vo. Pp. xvii. 480. Price 12s.

In order to appreciate the deep learning and elaborate research which are exhibited in these notes and dissertations, the reader must have recourse to the volume itself; and, if his mind be open to the force of apposite illustration and sound argument, he will be amply repaid for a close and attentive perusal of its contents. We should have felt it a duty to have furnished a lengthened review of the work, had it been of a nature to admit of such extracts as to convey a just estimate of its value to those, who would go no further for the information which they require. But of the twentytwo papers which compose the volume, there is not one which does not need to be studied entire; and, though each is perfect in itself, the subjects discussed form a complete and convincing refutation of the Unitarian doctrine respecting the divinity of Christ. The passages selected for examination are those which have been regarded either as the strong-holds of the Socinians, or contain the most decisive arguments against them, and consequently afford the most striking instance of the perversion of the sacred text, into which the maintenance of preconceived opinions, at once the most blasphemous and absurd, has driven the professors of the simple humanity of Christ. It is, at least, a strong presumptive proof of the merit of the work, that it is recommended in the Theological List of the Bishop of London.

The Nature of the Proof of the Christian Religion; with a Statement of the Particular Evidence for it. Designed for the Use of the more Educated Classes of Inquirers into Religious Truth. London: Rivingtons. Pp. 148. Price 3s. 6d.

"THE proper line of duty for the guardians of the Christian faith, whether among the clergy or the laity, in times of peculiar and much irregular

excitement like the present, is, to seek, not so much to curb or depress the spirit of universal inquiry, as rather, to restrain it only, and direct it in such channels as may be productive of the most permanent, because wellfounded, satisfaction, and enable men to rise to the highest useful capabilities of their being." With this view, expressed in the introduction, our author has produced a really excellent little book.

The 1st chapter is "On the Nature of the Proof of the Christian Religion." And the 2d, "On the Particular Evidence for Christianity."

The arguments in general are deduced from Butler's Analogy, a work of most sterling merit, and Paley's Evidences, which is held in too great estimation to need any eulogium from us. From these, and other equally authentic and unimpeachable sources, a manual has been formed, calculated from its purity and force to stem the sceptical tendency of the present day, and to confirm the wavering in the true faith.

Introductory Lecture to a Course of Political Economy: recently delivered at Columbia College, New York. By the Rev. J. M'VICKAR, D. D. Professor of Moral Philosophy and Political Economy in that Institution. London: Miller. Pp. 34.

WE are not profound political economists; but having, as a matter of courtesy, directed our attention to the pamphlet of Dr. M'Vickar, we must say, that in general we think his views upon this science just and sound; and that some of our own professors, both in the Universities and Parliament, might at this moment peruse the following passage on one of their favourite theories with advantage :

frage has not yet wrought out its full "The experiment of universal sufwork in our city councils. It is a giant, which has put forth but half its strength. Its arm is but half extended. Whether that shall be stretched out for weal or woe to our city, time alone can determine. But which ever it be, let us now remember it is an arm of power which can crush, as well as build up; and let it be our

wise and present care, that the strong man be not sightless, lest guided in his blindness by some fiendish hand, he bow himself upon the pillars of the state, and involve all in one common ruin. In the old governments of Europe, such would doubtless be the issue of power intrusted to such hands. It would eventuate in a conspiracy of the poor against the rich; the scythe of equality, to use the language of the French levellers, would soon be made to pass over our land, and such, no doubt, are the dark machinations of many who have imported with them from abroad, the bitterness and malignity with which they have there learned to regard not only power and wealth, but religion and moral discipline, and the institution of marriage, and the sacredness of property, and whatever else it is which gives to society its safety, its dignity, and its comfort. Against this danger our remedy is the same. Education, religious, moral, scientific, and among these, not the least, economical, by which I mean the diffusion of that science which demonstrates the comforts of the poor to be linked inseparably with the prosperity of the rich, which gives the best pledge of security to wealth, by making every man, however poor, feel himself interested in the laws for its preservation."-Pp. 23, 24.

The Great and Little Red Lions. A Dialogue on Reform. London : Roake and Varty, Strand. Price One Halfpenny.

"THE Universal Passion," as Reform may justly be called, is here well handled, and the folly of persons meddling with what they are unable to comprehend, is the subject of a smart encounter of wit between Joe and Tom,—the former of whom is clearly a sensible fellow; and we have no doubt the people would be far happier, if, like him, they would exclaim,

I have business enough of my own to think about, thank God, without bothering my head about Reform!" We have not room for the Red Lion joke, but recommend the hand-bill for extensive circulation, as calculated to cause a reaction to the existing excitement amongst a deluded populace.

On the Laws and Liberties of Englishmen. "Britons ever shall be Free." London: Roake and Varty. Pp. 15. Price 1d.

Ir ours were a political publication, we should be inclined to devote a considerable space to this sound and constitutional exposé of what really constitutes freedom. As it is, we can only recommend it to the serious attention of our readers, by giving a brief outline from the tract itself of its contents: - "Here then we have been briefly shewn the invaluable materials of which the British Constitution is constructed. First, its foundations were laid in the most remote ages, in the common-law of the land, transmitted from father to son by tradition and precedent; Second, the famous Dome-Book of King Alfred drew together in writing all these traditions and precedents; Third, the laws of Edward the Confessor ratified and enlarged those of his predecessor; then, fourth, Magna Charta; Fifth, The Petition of Rights; Sixth, The Habeas Corpus Act; Seventh, The Bill of Rights; -and, eighth, The Act of Settlement, successively enlarged, consolidated and confirmed it." All this, together with the Established Church, the reformers would destroy, and the Clergy are expected to look on passively.

A Plain Statement with Respect to Wages; addressed chiefly to Agricultural Labourers. Second Edition. London: Roake and Varty. Pp. 23. Price 1d.

ENEMIES as we are upon principle to the many wild and visionary theories propounded by the pseudo-philosophers, and friends of humanity, of late years, the theory of wages, and practical illustration of the benefits accruing from industry and frugality here laid down, command our unqualified approbation. And we agree with the writer in thinking, that Old England, under a more active and general religious practice, will "again become what it once was, the land of pure religion, of honesty, of plenty, of hospitality, of peace, and the pride and wonder of the world!"