sions to genius, and attributes all his acquirements to "that plodding patient, persevering process of accretion, which builds the ant-heap," and knows no other ambition than "to set before the young an example in employing those invaluable fragments of time, called "odd moments." Most heartily do we wish that such an example may stir up the indolent, and encourage the faint-hearted; our schools would soon exhibit the glorious results of similar energy in the improvement of time by our teachers. Let us awake! The book itself may be well described as a spirited crusade against selfishness, for even the one or two lighter papers interspersed tend to the same diffusion of an universal brotherhood, as those avowedly designed for that noble end. Few teachers could read it without starting forth on their errand of mercy with redoubled spirit. We give an extract— NO ONE LIVETH TO HIMSELF. "There is nothing in the universe that stands alone, nothing solitary. No atom of matter, no drop of water, no vesicle of air, or ray of light, exists in a state of isolation. Everything belongs to some system of society, of which it is a component and necessary part. Just so is it in the moral world. No man stands alone, nor high angel, nor child. All the beings lessening down from Infinite perfection to the brink of dreary nothing, belong to a system of mutual dependencies. All and each constitute and enjoy a part of the world's sum of happiness. No one liveth to himself. The destiny of the moral universe is affected by his existence and influence. The most obscure individual exerts an influence which must be felt in the great brotherhood of mankind. Should the hand say to the foot, 'I have no need of thee,' the world would stand still. No human being can come into this world without increasing or diminishing the sum total of human happiness, not only of the present, but of every subsequent age of humanity. No one can detach himself from this connection. There is no sequestered spot in the universe, no dark niche along the disc of non-existence, to which he can retreat from his relations to others, where he can withdraw the influence of his existence upon the moral destiny of the world. Everywhere his presence or absence will be felt. Everywhere he will have his companions, who will be better or worse for his influence. It is an old saying, and one of fearful and fathomless import, that we are here forming characters for eternity. Forming characters? whose? our own? or others? Both? and in that momentous fact lies the peril and responsibility of our existence. Who is sufficient for the thought ?-thousands of my fellow-beings will yearly and till years shall end enter eternity, with characters differing from those they would have carried thither, had I never lived. The sunlight of that world will reveal my fingermarks in their primary formations, and in all their successive strata of thought and life. And they, too, will form other characters for eternity, until the influence of my existence shall be diffused through all the future generations of this world, and through all that shall be future to a certain point in the world to come. As the little silvery, circular ripple, set in motion by the falling pebble, expands from its inch of radius to the whole compass of the pool, so there is not a child, not an infant Moses, placed however softly in his bulrush ark, upon the sea of time, whose existence does not stir a ripple, gyrating outward and on, until it shall have moved across, and spanned the whole ocean of God's eternity, stirring even the rivers of life and the fountain at which his angels drink. To be, or not to be?' is that the question? No! we are; and whether we live or die, we are the Lord's; we belong to his eternity, and henceforth his moral universe will be filled with our existence." Look up; or, Girls and Flowers.-The Sister's Friend. Religious Tract Society. Two excellent books for girls in the middle classes of society. Well would it be for such girls if they were found more frequently in our Sunday schools. A false pride robs them of much valuable instruction they would find there. Matutina: Morning Readings; adapted to the use of the younger Members of the Church of England. By the REV. GEORGE RENAUD. It is a double pleasure in reading a good book, to find it also adapted to its intended purpose, and this we can truly say of the above work. It is chiefly designed for "the use of young persons; and of them, more particularly for youths in the higher forms of our public schools, and the earlier years at college." We know of no similar work so likely to arrest the attention of this large and too often neglected class, and lead them to a practical acknowledgment of their duties as professed members of the Church of God. The purposely modern character of the extracts, gives a life and freshness peculiarly valuable for the purpose. We deem ourselves interested in recommending the book, as its influence would soon be seen in recruiting the ranks of Sunday school teachers. The Jewish Nation; pp. 448. Religious Tract Society. The volumes entitled "Manners and Customs." and "Rites and Worship of the Jews," are so well known and so much valued, that it is sufficient to say of this work, that the subjects treated of in the other two, are here amplified with much additional matter, especially on the laws and civil polity of that wonderful nation. The value of the work as a book of reference, would be much enhanced by the simple addition of a tabular index of the passages of Scripture illustrated, so that a teacher preparing a lesson, might see at a glance if any help could be obtained here. Teachers have but little leasure time, and none to lose. gives twice that gives quickly." Anecdotes of Fontainebleau. Religious Tract Society. "He A pleasing little record of the work of God in the hearts of the simple peasantry of that village; a work that will far outweigh in real importance, the events that have invested Fontainebleau with political interest. Magic-Pretended Miracles and Natural Phenomena. Religious Tract Society. An amusing and useful addition to the monthly series. Protestantism in France, from the earliest period to the Reign of Charles IX. Religious Tract Society. Monthly series. A history of melancholy interest; bearing marks however of being hastily written. Church Catechism made Plain; with Texts. By the Rev. W. W. CHAMPNEYS. 12mo. pp. 46. Fifth Edition. Price Sixpence. Very Scriptural and very plain. A great help for the Sunday school teacher. A Key to the Holy Scriptures for the Use of Cottagers. 18mo. Price Sixpence. A little dictionary of Scripture words and terms. Well calculated for distribution among the poor, as well as for presents to Sunday scholars. Bible Cartoons, for the School and the Cottage. Two Parts. 6d. each. Containing four illustrations of the life of Abraham, and four of the life of Joseph. Well executed, cheap, and admirably adapted to class-teaching. Public Affairs. A REVIEW of the progress of political affairs on the continent, since our last number, will afford little satisfaction to the Christian philanthropist. The revolutions we then noticed, have in every case been followed by commotions, which prove that the breaking up of the old institutions is even more complete than was then supposed. In France, the progress of calamity to classes and individuals, has been unchecked. The general depreciation of property, the enormous increase of taxation, and the insecurity of all forms of government, are striking proofs that rebellion and lawlessness bring their own punishment. So intolerable is the distress, that men turn in any direction for relief, and the last whim of the fierce mob of Paris is to restore the Empire under Louis Napoleon, a nephew of their former military dictator. The danger is averted for the present, but it is not extinguished; a few months might again exhibit France entering on a career of foreign war, under the leadership of another Napoleon. Prussia is again torn by convulsions; the king's bold manoeuvre to place himself at the head of the German nation, having so far proved useless, whilst he is himself at the mercy of the citizens and mob of Berlin. He has plunged Prussia into an unprovoked and unprofitable war with Denmark, for the duchy of Schelswig Holstein, which seems likely to end in a coalition of the northern powers-Russia, Sweden and Denmark, against Germany, unless the mediation of England be accepted. Russia is collecting enormous forces on the borders of Poland, which latter country has been the scene of barbarous outrages on the part of the insurgent peasantry against the landed proprietors, and also, which is worthy of notice, against the Jews. Austria is disturbed internally, the emperor having fled from his capital, where he no longer possessed real authority; and at the same time, she is engaged in a doubtful struggle for her Italian possessions. Should she be successful, we may again see France contending with her on the plains of Lombardy. The Pope has been compelled by his insurgent subjects to declare war against Austria; but his troops have been defeated, and obliged to return home. The po pulace at Rome seem to have succeeded in a division of the temporal from the spiritual power of the Pope, a feature of the times of the deepest significance, as it is very doubtful how long a turbulent people will reverence the Priest where they have extinguished the Monarch. His concessions have, however, for the time, restored his popularity. The other nations of Europe (although all more or less disturbed), call for no particular remark, except that the riots of Madrid have led to a charge of guilty connivance against our Ambassador there, and his consequent dismissal by the Spanish Government. Their Plenipotentiary here being likewise ordered to leave, a feeling of hostility has been excited, but we trust it may be only temporary. Amidst all these convulsions of society there is, however, one very cheering result to notice, which is that the downfall of absolute power has in several cases opened the way for the operations of those Societies which aim at spreading pure Protestant truth, by the circulation of the Scriptures and of religious tracts and books. They have access now to countries, such as Austria, which previously had been rigidly closed against them, through the overwhelming influence of Popery. May they have zeal and wisdom given them to labour with all their might in these new fields for exertion. An exaggerated report of disturbances in Lahore, led to the fear that we might have to fight the Sikh battles over again; but, excepting that two English Civil Officers were killed, the outbreak seems of slight importance. If ever England, as a nation, had cause to offer up national thanksgivings for peace and quietness, it is now that such an acknowledgement should be made. We have, indeed, heard much of discontent and disaffection; but the result of every demonstration of the misguided rioters has been to prove that their cause is hopeless. Our beloved Monarch, Queen Victoria, by the grace of God, sits on a throne which his Almighty power seems to plant more and more firmly, whilst elsewhere, men's hearts are failing them for fear. Now is the time for us to show ourselves sensible of his undeserved goodness, to devote ourselves to his service. God seems to have great purposes in store for England. Let us pray fervently that grace may be given us for our day. Our readers will rejoice with us that the bill for admitting Jews into our legislature, has been thrown out by the House of Lords; whilst the bill for establishing diplomatic relations with Rome, has been silently dropped (at any rate for the present), by the government. Thus has our country been saved from two acts of national guilt. POSTSCRIPT. Whilst going to Press, intelligence has reached us of a fresh insurrection in Paris, attended with fearful loss of life; many thousands on both sides having fallen. The struggle is not yet over, but the issue will most probably be the triumph of the National Guard and the Troops (who represent the respectable part of the community) The over the insurgent populace. Republican Ministers are reported to have resigned. Another terrible lesson is thus afforded us of the evil tendencies of men when they cast off the fear of God, to follow the unchecked imaginations of their own hearts. ADAMS AND KING, PRINTERS, OLD STREET, LONDON. |