Reviews. A NUMBER of little publications have come to hand for notice; and some others, which, had they been sent in time, should have been referred to in our last number. It is somewhat late to notice ALMANACS and DIARIES for 1851; yet of these we have received some, at which we wish to give a passing glance. Here is GREEN'S SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER'S POCKET BOOK for 1851, containing, besides an almanac and abundance of ruled paper for engagements and diary, with blank pages for sabbath memoranda, much useful information for Sunday school teachers in a very compact shape. We commend the book to the notice of all teachers as a very useful companion in their important work. GREEN'S ILLUSTRATED ALMANAC for 1851 is quite up to all its predecessors, and will keep up the popularity of the work with our Sunday scholars, for whom it is specially designed, and on the walls of whose cottage homes it will form no mean ornament. Then come the CHRISTIAN ALMANAC, and the PENNY ALMANAC, both by the Religious Tract Society. Both very excellent and cheap books, well known, and deservedly most popular. Of periodicals bound up we have received some interesting volumes. Here is the "MOTHER'S FRIEND," published by Mr. Green, and edited by Ann Jane, one of the best writers of the day for mothers as well as children. Every page of the book has something useful and interesting on it, and its numbers should be taken in by all the mothers of our land who can spare twopence a month to buy it with. Its perusal will do them good, and its principles reduced to practice will go far to give them happy homes, and make them useful, honourable mothers. The CHILD'S COMPANION for 1850, published by the Tract Society, is another useful periodical. It is a most beautiful and interesting little book, full of pleasant tales, useful information, and religious truth; all lighted up by a most happy spirit and cheerful style on the part of those who write for it. The "FAMILY SUNDAY BOOK," by the author of "Pleasant Pages," and published by Houlston and Stoneman, deserves a large circulation among Sunday school teachers and christian families. It contains scripture lessons for each sabbath, beautifully illustrated, and affording at once a great help in the religious instruction of children, and a fine model of a style of teaching divine truth, worthy of general imitation. We strongly commend the work. The "SCHOLAR'S FRIEND," published by Mr. Bartlett, is a new little periodical, containing two simple conversations with Sunday scholars, one about "Enoch," and the other about "The Ear of Corn;" the style of which is simple and intention good. The "UNION MAGAZINE" is already well known to our Sunday school teachers, and in its new form deserves to be still wider known. A new series is commenced with this year, with which every effort will be made by its conductors to render it in every respect a useful and interesting work for our teachers. Of other sorts of books we have only room to notice "SUNDAY SERVICES AT HOME, for Young Children," by different Authors; edited by the Countess of Ducie, and published by John Hughes, Ave Maria-lane. A work of this kind has long been wanted, and we are glad to see the present volume issue from the press. It is an attempt to supply a short sermon and simple prayer, adapted for a children's service at home on the sabbath day, and in many respects is well fitted for the end designed. Some of the addresses are very excellent, and the whole book calculated to do good. We hope such services will be made more common by a perusal of the work. They are eminently fitted to make happy sabbaths for the children while they pass, and secure lasting good to all their souls for after years. Chapter of Varieties. THE WORLD AND CHANCE. yet this is more easy to be imagined, than how the innumerable blind parts of matter should rendezvous themselves into a world.-Tillotson. TROUBLE TO HIS FRIENDS. An aged and shrewd business man, casting a glance at a youth who was sporting much dandyish paraphernalia in the shape of cane, gold chains, and a coat on which many a yard of lace had been ex How often might a man, after he had jumbled a set of letters in a bag, fling them out upon the ground before they would fall into an exact poem, yea, or so much as make a good discourse in prose! And may not a little book be as easily made by chance, as this great volume of the world? How long might a man be in sprinkling colours upon a canvas with a careless hand, before they could happen to make the exact pic-pended, very significantly remarked, ture of a man? And is man easier made by chance than his picture? How long might twenty thousand blind men, which should be sent out from the several remote parts of England, wander up and down before they would all meet upon Salisbury Plain, and fall into rank and file in the exact order of an army? And "He will be a trouble all his days to his friends." How probable! And yet how many more similar troubles may everywhere be seen springing up. MERCY. Christ is a full mercy, replenished with all that answers to the wishes or wants of sinners; in him alone is found whatever the justice of an angry God requires for satisfaction, or the necessities of souls require for their supply. Christ is an unsearchable mercy; who can fully express his wonderful name? who can tell over his unsearchable riches? Hence it is that souls never tire in the study or love of Christ, because new wonders are eternally rising out of him; he is a deep which no line of any created understanding, angelic or human, can fathom. Lastly, he is an everlasting mercy; same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever." All other enjoyments are perishable, time-eaten things; time, like a moth, will fret them out; but the riches of Christ are "durable riches," the graces of Christ are durable graces. All the creatures are flowers that appear and fade in their month; but this Rose of Sharon, this Lily of the valley, never withers. -Flavel. FRAGMENTS. "the NECESSITIES. There are many things that are not necessary. It is not necessary that we should be rich or great in this world, or that we should be gay and gaudy in our dress, or that we should enjoy sensual pleasures. It will not be a pin to choose, ere long, what part we have acted here; when the sceptre and the spade shall have one common grave, and royal dust shall be blended with the beggar's ashes. But it is necessary that we should be born again; it is necessary that we should be acquainted with God, and make him our portion; it is necessary that we should submit to the yoke of Christ, and own his commands, and live to the Lord: there is nothing necessary but this. FORGIVENESS. "My heart was heavy, for its trust had been abused-its kindness answered with foul wrong; so turning gloomily from my fellow-men, one summer sabbath day, I strolled among the green mounds of the village burial-place, where I was reminded how all human love and hate find one sad level, and how, sooner or later, wronged and wrong-doer, each with meekened face, and cold hands folded over a still heart, pass the green threshold of a common path, whither all footsteps tend, and whence none depart. Awed for myself, and pitying my race, our common sorrow, like a mighty wave, swept all my pride away, and tremblingly I forgave!"-Whittier. |