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state, is from the pen of the gentleman, who has favoured the public with a choice Selection of Hymns and Psalms for social worship, an improved edition of which has recently been published at Cambridge. Though from the nature of the works, something will be found in common with others of a similar class, they appear before the public as original. We regret the necessity, which our limits at present impose upon us, of dispensing with an extended notice of what may be regarded as their distinctive merits. The union of variety with strict simplicity and appropriateness of devotional sentiment, which is the greatest difficulty in the composition of a collection of prayers, has in general been happily attained. We should say, that this was particularly characteristic of the smaller of these volumes; in which will be found a large variety of brief but expressive forms, marked by great purity and solemnity of sentiment and diction. The more extended forms in Mr Sewall's collection will be acceptable to those, who are favoured with leisure and opportunity to devote a large portion of time to religious duties. The volumes together, will, we think, be regarded as among the best manuals we possess, of domestic and private prayer ; and we feel ourselves under obligations to the authors who have so successfully contributed to the supply of one of the great spiritual wants of the community.

3. Hints for the Improvement of Early Education, and Nursery Discipline. Last American, from the Fifth London Edition. 12mo. pp. 168. Salem, James R. Buffum.

THE years passed in the nursery are decidedly among the most important in life. For seeds, of good or evil are doubtless sown even in the mind of the infant, which strike their roots deep, and send out their branches wide into the whole character of the man. Nor is their growth less sure or less vigorous, because we cannot tell where or when, or recollect the pains with which we committed them to the soil. A careless word, or look, or gesture, perhaps, makes an important impression on the mind of a child, which with all its train of consequences, goes with him to the grave;-an impression, it may be, which we would not have given him deliberately, for the world. This single reflection must make such a work as that before us, of inestimable value to every conscientious mother, who feels the full weight of her responsibleness. By such an one it appears to have been written; and to the wants of such, and to make such, it is admirably adapted. In style and substance, we regard it the very best manual for the

purpose expressed in its title, we recollect to have seen; and, in giving it to the public, the distinguished clergyman, who, from his own deep conviction of its value, prepared this beautiful edi tion of it for the press, has, in our view, conferred no small favour on the community at large. We hope it will be in the hands of every mother, and especially of every young mother. It is written in a plain, perspicuous style, and is throughout characterized by a practicalness, which its being the simple result of experience' alone could give it. Especially do we prize it for the tone of religious sentiment that pervades it, and the just importance it gives to the early, and judicious inculcation of religious principle,-a topic which we do not think has always received, in works of the kind, all the attention its vast moment deserves.

4. American Journal of Education. Vol. I, Nos. 1 and 2. Boston, Thomas B. Wait and Son.

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We are glad the conductors of this work are encouraged to proceed in an enterprise so deserving of public patronage, as that in which they have engaged. It is a work to be published periodically, and 'devoted exclusively to education.' Among its objects, a leading one' is promised to be, to furnish a record of facts, as to the past and present state of edu cation,' at home and abroad, whether it be physical' or 'moral,' ' domestic' or 'personal,' the education of one sex or the other. But, although it will not omit the higher branches of science and literature, nor the training preparatory to professional pursuits,' its efforts are to be chiefly directed to early and elementary education,' as this is regarded, and justly, as more important than that of any other period or department.' give this abstract of their prospectus, which, after all, is a very imperfect one, to show how wide, and how rich a field these Journalists have entered. And they have entered it with a bold and vigorous step, and, we doubt not, will explore it faithfully, cultivate it skilfully, and reward the patrons of their labours with an abundant harvest of improvement.

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3. Hints on Family Religion. 18mo. pp. 16.

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THESE Hints make a valuable appendage to the smaller of the two Collections of Prayers, which we have already noticed, and deserve the serious attention of every head of a family in the community. As they were intended for popular use, we do wish the author of them had given less frequent occasion for the complaint of obscurity and difficulty in apprehending his

precise meaning. This complaint cannot reasonably be made so often, however, as to require us materially to qualify the opinion of them we have just expressed.

Dedications and Ordinations.

On the 8th of February, a new granite church for the use of the First Parish, Portland, Maine, was solemnly dedicated to the Most High The Sermon was by Rev. Dr Nichols, the pastor of the parish, who was aided in the services of the day by Rev. Dr Parker of Portsmouth, N. H. The interior of the house is 82 by 62 feet, containing on the ground floor 138 pews, and in the gallery 34. Every pew, except 9, which were specially reserved by the parish, has been promptly sold; the sale producing $22,289.'

On the 15th of February, was dedicated to the service of Almighty God, a new church for the South Parish in Portsmouth, N. H. The Introductory Prayer and Selections from the Scriptures were by Rev. Mr Ware of Boston; the Dedicatory Prayer, by Rev. Dr Nichols of Portland, Maine; the Sermon, by Rev. Dr Parker, the pastor of the parish, from Psalm xciii. 5. Holiness becometh thy house, O Lord, forever. The church is built of granite, is 92 feet long, 66 feet wide, and 28 feet high from the basement to the coving; with a portico projecting 17 feet and supported by four granite columns.—On the 16th, 42 pews were sold, and the proceeds, we understand, were about $17,000.'

On the 28th of December, Rev. Thomas R. Sullivan was ordained as Pastor of the Congregational Society in Keene, N. H. The Introductory Prayer was by Rev. Mr Ingersoll, of Burlington, Vermont; the Sermon, by Rev. Mr Brazer of Salem, from Acts xxvi. 1. Thou art permitted to speak for thyself; the Ordaining Prayer, by Rev. Dr Thayer of Lancaster; the Charge, by Rev. Dr Bancroft of Worcester; the Right Hand of Fellowship, by Rev. Mr Lincoln of Fitchburg; the Address to the Church and Society, by Rev. Mr Ripley of Waltham; and the Concluding Prayer, by Rev. Mr Gannett of Boston.-A Church was publicly gathered on the evening preceding the day of ordination, when a Sermon was preached by Rev. Dr Thayer, from 1 Cor. x. 17.

On the 15th of February, Rev. Bernard Whitman was ordained Pastor of the Second Congregational Church and Society in Waltham. The Introductory Prayer was by Rev. Mr Field of Weston; the Sermon, by Rev. Mr Whitman of Billerica; the Ordaining Prayer, by Rev. Dr Lowell of Boston; the Charge, by Rev. Dr Abbot of Beverly; the Right Hand of Fellowship, by Rev. Mr Ripley of Waltham; and the Concluding Prayer, by Rev. Mr Francis of Watertown.

TO READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS.

The letter of' Clericus' shall appear in our next Number.

To the author of a piece on Faith and Reason,' necessarily reserved for our next Number, we say, that he holds too good a pen not to be often employed in our cause, and we hope to hear from him frequently.

The length of our article of Review, has compelled us to omit several articles of Intelligence and Notices of Recent Publications, as well as the whole List of New Publications, prepared for this number;--a sacrifice, which our readers will doubtless not complain if we make as often as there is a similar call for it.

THE

Christian Examiner.

VOL. III.] March and April, 1826.

Faiscellany.

[No. II.

ON THE INCREASE OF CLERICAL LABOURS.

SIR,

TO THE EDITOR OF THE CHRISTIAN EXAMINER.

I read some months ago, with great interest, as I doubt not many of your readers did, a sermon from one of our brethren, on the demands of the age upon an earnest and faithful ministry. Removed, as I am, from the sphere of that immediate intercourse and syınpathy with other members of my profession, which are the privilege of most of our clergy, this appeal was to me, perhaps, doubly needful as well as peculiarly gratifying. I still remember it with pleasure, and I wish it, and every other effort, to arouse us to a sense of our momentous duties, all success.

But I wish now to bring forward this subject for a different purpose. I wish to bring before your readers the great increase of clerical labours, in consequence of the demands of this age, as an argument for a reasonable and charitable estimate of them.

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The rule which Paul lays down for himself, it is proper, or at least it is undoubtedly desirable, that every minister of the Gospel should adopt-that he is ready to do as much as in him is.' It is desirable, that a clergyman should be placed in circumstances, that will permit him to devote his whole strength and life to the ministry; and if he is so placed, it is proper that he should so devote himself; he is bound to do it. He is bound, that is to say, not by a pecuniary compensation ;-

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for if any recompense of this sort can claim the service of a man's life, it is not to be met with, at least in this country;-but he is laid under this obligation by the magnitude and importance of his work.

I admit, then, that the ability of a minister is to be the measure of his exertion, of his studying, of his preaching, of his parochial care. But in considering what he can do, we are to take into the account his talents, his health, his situation, and, I will add again, the circumstances of society, the demands of the age upon him. And these last, I repeat, are the considerations, which I am about to propose as an argument for a fair and candid consideration of clerical labours.

Every year, Sir, strengthens my conviction of the importance of that good understanding between the clergy and people, which it is better to preserve by anticipating difficulties, than by explaining them. And one yearly article of your Miscellany would not be lost, I believe, if it should tend to promote that mutual consideration and harmony, on which so much of the benefit of public instruction depends. And much of this benefit is, undoubtedly, thus depending;-I was ready to say unhappily depending. At least, it is an indication of a low state of moral sentiment, that any portion of the community should make the character of a minister the standard of their religion; that their religion should rest more on the conduct of others, than on their own reflections and purposes; that they should consider every fault they can find with the clergy as an apology for their own sins.

You will easily infer, that I consider this subject as open to discussion. Certain I am that it finds ample discussion in the community. The account between the clergy and people, you will agree with me, I believe, is not yet settled.

It is curious to observe how much men are governed by names, and how opinions once attached to these names descend with them from generation to generation. I know not but the rise of sects and parties, both religious and political, originates partly in the difficulty, which this fact furnishes. There seems to be no way to put certain ideas out of the general mind, but to put away the names, with which they are associated. And thus, we have in the rise of sects and parties, little more than the succession of old principles under new denominations.

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