Review of Books.

A CHARGE DELIVERED TO THE CLERGY OF THE DIOCESE OF CHESTER, at the triennial visitation in 1835. By John Bird Sumner, D. D., Lord Bishop of Chester. Hatchards.

BOLD, faithful, beautiful; and to the last degree encouraging, in this day of rebuke against our national church. If all our prelates take the high and holy ground chosen by the bishop of Chester, if all their clergy act up to the example set, and to the admonitions given, we shall entertain no more fear for the ultimate security and triumph of our church than we do for the stability of her immoveable foundation. Dr. Sumner has published what, if it contribute not most largely to the prosperity of that church, will become a fearful witness against her careless ministers. Our gracious Lord is raising up pastors after his own heart; and therefore do we thank Him, and take courage.

MISSIONARY RECORDS. Tahiti, and the Society Islands. Religious Tract Society.

ANOTHER Volume added to the missionary records, abounding interest. We have, after some general information with respect to the country and its inhabitants, a succinct history of the progress of the gospel in Tahiti, from the year 1797, when the Duff first landed her precious missionary freight upon its shores, to 1834. No Christian, we should think, can peruse this book without feeling both humbled and thankful-humbled under the consciousness of our individual and national short-comings in the important duty of proclaiming Christ to the Gentiles ;— thankful for the abundant measure of success given from on high. If man was as willing to work as God is to bless his feeble efforts, what a harvest would be gathered in!

SERMONS ON THE SPIRIT OF HOLINESS : to which is added a Sermon on Sanctification through the truth. By James Harrington Evans, Minister of John Street Chapel. Second Edition. Shaw.

LETTER OF A PASTOR TO HIS FLOCK. the same.

By

Few ministers of our day stand higher in Christian estimation than the author of these volumes, as regards those who enjoy his immediate teaching, we may confidently say, none. His sermons remind us of discourses long left on record by those who were emphatically orthodox non-conformists, in days when

LETTERS OF A PASTOR TO HIS FLOCK.

79

men who preached Christ cared not to fall out, much less to bite and devour one another, on points which the most overstrained bigotry on either side can scarcely venture to denominate essential matters of faith. In the spirit of love and of a sound mind, Mr. Evans has treated this important subject-the spirit of holiness. His affectionate letters to his flock, during a temporary absence from them, are the genuine breathings of a Pastor's heart, towards the souls committed to his care. We cordially recommend the books.

A COLLECTION OF MORAL AND RELIGIOUS POETRY, for the use of Families and Schools. Whittaker and Co.

We have not a word to say against this collection, which is suitable for the purpose expressed in the title-page; and contains some popular little poems with others less known; and, we imagine several originals. To be sure we do not consider the name of Thomas Moore as a recommendation to any book whatever but the two short and well-known pieces of his will do no harm. As to the beautiful hymn, 'Thou art, O Lord, the life and light,' it is not his : we believe it is Hannah More's. It is a pity that any thing known to proceed from a corrupt and bitter fountain, however it may imitate the sweet waters of life, should be allowed to mingle with them. The Editor mentions having occasionally 'considered it advisable to deviate from the original of the author.' We do not detect much of this in

her selection, but we crave permission to enter our protest against that unjustifiable custom. In our congregational and other selections, what havoc is made with pieces that the menders could never have composed! It is difficult to know what was written by Watts, Charles Wesley, and that by-gone race of nervous poets; so very numerous and so very contradictory have been the mutilations perpetrated by would-be improvers. We once knew a small party of pious friends agree to sing the noble hymn, 'Jesus, and shall it ever be,' without book-each thinking that he knew it by rote. They were compelled to desist, on finding as many versions forthcoming as there were individuals present. It is exceedingly annoying to living authors to find their names tacked to other people's ideas of poetry; and a most unfair proceeding, with regard to those who are no more. These remarks, however, are not particularly levelled at the book which has called them forth.

LAYS OF ERIN'S ANCIENT HARP; for the sons and daughters of Song. By D. O. M.

For the better information of our readers, who probably are not very extensively versed in Celtic lore, we give the title of this little book in English: but the whole volume is in the ancient Irish language and character. We are led to notice it, because however unintelligible the work itself may be, to the generality of our friends, the circumstances that called it forth are interesting, and its encouragement much to be

desired. Every body knows the wretchedly demoralized and disorganized state of the bulk of Irish peasantry, and most people are aware by what power they are held down in this wretched thraldom: but the principal means are not so well understood. There is not a people in the world more devoted to song: their national melodies are in many an English house; not unfrequently accompanied with poetry little akin to spiritual minds: but far more debased and dangerous are the songs in use among the native peasantry than any thing that reaches the eye or the ear of the educated female. A compound of revolting superstition, profligacy, and the most exterminating hatred of every thing English-which means, among them, every thing Protestant-clad in highly-wrought language, calculated to call the fiery passions of these excitable people into vehement action, and disguised in a language scarcely known beyond their own rank in life; these are the compositions that, adapted to the most beautiful and touching melodies, resound through every cabin in unhappy Ireland. By them is the fierce flame continually fanned; and the vilest of mankind can produce nothing too bad to be received and adopted by these enthusiasts, if he have but the artifice to adapt it to a national melody.

It occurred to some friends, to procure a small number of poems, partly original, partly translations, and all bearing the stamp of pure Christianity, carefully adapted to the most favourite airs, and with the additional, indeed the indispensable recommendation of being in the native tongue. These have been very well executed by a thorough master of the language, gifted also with considerable poetical

G