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of the matter being in fair train by the time the Author has gathered such a body of adherents as may, from their permanent, coincidence with him in opinion, render the attempt necessary, in order to a strict adherence to time, and to ensure regularity of proceeding.

A revised and enlarged" edition of Mr. B's work has made its appearance while these pages were passing though the press. It calls however for little additional comment. As to revision, the emendation of Acts ii. 45., which we have shewn to be a mere reading, and moreover a rejected reading in Griesbach's margin, has acquired additional weight with Mr. B., as he now states it to be a correction for which Griesbach gives "the best authority." And we are again told in the very teeth of the truth, that the disciples in their meeting (recorded John xx. 19.) were not aware of the resurrection. The part of the pamphlet enlarged is that comprising the argument upon Acts xx. 7-12., where we find it concluded, however unsatisfactorily to our conviction, that because" the morrow" ensuing the day upon which the disciples met at Troas, "does not necessarily involve the idea of a different

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day," it must necessarily mean the contrary; morrow,” τῇ ἐπαυριον (ἡμερᾳ

und.) we are told, means simply "the morning, of which in fact it is a corruption." Dr. Johnson indeed bad derived it from the Saxon MORGEN, and informed us that although its original signification was perhaps "morning," yet that it always implied the day after the current one. But Johnson, we suppose, with other authorities must be set aside as antiquated and corrupt; for, mark the advantage! the subsequent part of the Lord's day shall thus be found secularized, the meeting of the disciples being inferred to have taken place at the commencement of the evening; and, therefore, without analogy from that noted in John xx. 19. as having been sanctioned by our Saviour's presence at the close of the day. We before complained of a want of Scripture reference; we must do our author the justice to say, that be has now been abundant in proof of at least one point; viz. that the civil day of the Jews was reckoned from evening to evening at six,-a point upon which no one ever entertained a doubt. He has also advanced more boldly to the position of a total denial of the Sabbath rest; telling us, in conclusion, that it necessarily follows from his remarks, that " the Sabbath does not derive any new or additional authority or obligation from the resurrection, nor from the New Testament dispensation; and that the only question remaining to be considered is, whether Christians, especially Christians from among the Gentiles, are bound to observe it upon the authority of the Old Testament." This is somewhat more open and undisguised, and we may fairly anticipate that the author's next pamphlet will emancipate Christians, at least Christians from among the Gentiles, from the further observance of their day of rest;-of course the remainder of the Decalogue must be likewise abrogated. We, however, shall desire, with the Great Apostle of the Gentiles, to remain of the number of those who "do not make void the law through faith."

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4

A Narrative of three years residence in Italy, 1819-22, with Illustrations of the present state of Religion in that country. 12mo. London, J. Murray, &c. 1828. When our attention was called by our Publisher to this work, we confess we sat down to its perusal with a desire to find in it the materials of a Review. And this our anxiety in its favour arose from information that reached us that it was written by a fair country woman, and that it has been published to serve a benevolent purpose. Besides, we have been for some time on the look out for a work, amongst the many with which the press teems, that would serve as an excuse, even if it did not individually supply us with materials, for an article on the state of religion in Italy; and had actually prepared such a paper, and had it in

type for the present Number, when, in consequence of circumstances that must ever attend the arrangements of a Periodical, we have been obliged to let it lie over until our next publication.

We shall therefore for the present content ourselves with calling the attention of our readers to this small and unpretending volume, as containing a considerable quantity of information on Italy,conveyed in an agreeable manner, where there is much to edify, much to affect, and nothing to offend. Our fair traveller, indeed, claims a fellow-feeling from us, for she is what we presume to call ourselves a Christian Examiner. Whatever she sees she looks on with the eye of one who wishes to make her observations and recollections subservient to the cause of religion, and as aware that religion is the great main-spring that sets in motion the machinery of social and individual happiness, she has passed through Italy, not as a connoisseur or a virtuoso, not as an agriculturist or a geologist, but as a Christian philanthropist.

We repeat that want of space permits us to give in our present Number, not a review, but a recommendation; and desire now merely to state, that our fair traveller set out from her native land, not, as she expresses it, "with a desire of seeing foreign countries, or of seeking any amusements in them which are not to be found in her own, but simply because she desired to follow much beloved relatives with whom she had hitherto shared all her joys and sorrows;" and accordingly we find in her narrative a too mournful illustration of the often-experienced case that they who leave home may exchange their clime, but not their capability of health or happiness, and, as in this instance, may travel far, but to sink under foreign malaria, and fall into a foreign tomb. Our traveller has, indeed, given a melancholy interest to her journal by recording the death after death of her many dear Christian friends; and after witnessing the young and the old, the promising child, the lovely maiden, the accomplished youth, the matured man, all pass away before her into the eternal world, she closes her melancholy experience of the insecure refuge of a southern climate as follows:

"To those travellers who are sent abroad for their health, I can only say, that from what I have had an opportunity of observing, the benefit seldom answers their expectations, and unless the invalid travels with the utmost caution and with every comfort and convenience, the risk is very great; surely it is cruel in medical men, when every reasonable hope of recovery is precluded, to send their patients abroad to die deprived of all the soothing alleviations which domestic solicitude provides, and of the still greater supports and consolations of religious intercourse."

There is one death recorded in this volume which affected us more than is perhaps usual or seemly with more experienced reviewers; and when introduced to Anny, the author's niece-the graceful, the joyous, the beautiful Anny-so young, and yet so benevolent-so inquisitive, and yet so spiritual;-to see her wither off at fourteen, and fall like a primrose before the mower's scythe, called forth from us unbidden tears.

We shall close our present notice with the account of the final scene of poor Anny's mortality; we give it as a specimen of the

spirit in which the work is written, and we advertise our readers, that in our next Number we shall again take up the work, along with some others, in order to take a review of the past and present state of religion in Italy.

"The Doctor thought from the strength of her pulse that she might continue to linger for some time, and every one left us. My sister talked to her of the blessed abode in which all the redeemed of God are securely sheltered, and that even now the door stood open to receive her. To which she answered with very frequent repetition, "Oh let us all keep together." About twelve o'clock I asked her if she knew me, she answered. "yes, aunty." I watched that darling child, who from her infancy was dearer to me than my own existence, passing through the dark valley of the shadow of death. And I did not shed a tear. An immortal spirit had been permitted to make a transient abode among us, and washed from its earthly contaminations by the blood of the Saviour, was now struggling to escape from its prison house, that it might reascend to its native regions.

"I read the 34th Psalm; and falling on my kness, I offered up my supplications, that my darling might depart peacefully from this troublesome world; and that the Lord Jesus might receive her spirit. My sister begged me to do nothing to excite her, which had been the particular desire of the Doctor. She answered for me, my aunt is right, mamma, let her go on." She became quite calm, and joined me in prayer, repeating over and over again, "Lord Jesus receive my spirit." She looked at my sister with an unutterable expression of fondness, and said, "my mother, my good mother, my dear mother, God bless my mother, and God bless my dear father." She then prayed for each of us, repeatedly saying, "Lord grant we may all meet in beaven." She also prayed for the maid servant whom she saw standing at the foot of the bed-" and God bless Mary." Then every breath was prayer, "Lord help and Lord save me," until she could no longer articulate. After half-past six o'clock on Friday morning the purified spirit fled to the bosom of its Redeemer."-Page 235.

The following beautiful lines were written as a memorial of Anny :—

"As the sweet flower that scents the morn,

But withers in the rising day :
Thus lovely was our Anny's dawn,
Thus swiftly fled her life away.
She died to sin, she died to care;
But for a moment felt the rod
Then springing in the viewless air,

Spread her light wings and soar'd to God.

This the blest theme that cheers my voice,

The grave is not my darling's prison:

The stone that covered all my joys,

Is rolled away-and she is risen."- Page 241.

Observations addressed to the Clergy of the Diocese of Meath on the Formation of an efficient Fund for the benefit of their Widows and Children. By the Rev. R. Ryan, Vicar of Rathcore.-Dublin, Watson, pp. 16.

We have great pleasure in calling the attention of our readers to the subject brought before the public in the little pamphlet at the

VOL. IV.

2 Q

;

head of our article, which is marked by all the straight forward right-headedness, (to coin a word) of its intelligent and benevolent author. We know not indeed a more important subject, one more truly afflicting in its details, or that calls more loudly upon the charitable feelings of the affluent and the charitable, than the situation of the inferior clergy of the church and their families upon them rests "the burthen and heat" of the ministry, the most important station in the Christian world, and one that calls for the most implicit devotedness of heart, and feeling, and attention. Shall we add too in our Author's just and forcible language that, "The Clergy of the Established Church in Ireland, have also many expenses to meet, peculiar to this country; they often find themselves placed in large districts, in which they alone are the only persons who expend within it One Shilling of the income derived by the Proprietors of the soil, and therefore on them devolve all those expenses which attend the relief of the misery that surrounds them. An appeal to absent Proprietors may procure a reply, or it may not― when it does the application is not always very successful; a long discourse on charity and an offer of five pounds may come from one, and a remonstrance against an outlay which was never before incurred, from another.”—page, 7. And when this is true of the clergy generally it must apply with peculiar force to those of the inferior order. Can it be supposed that men, from their education and habits feelingly alive to the excitements of domestic life, can experience that disengagement of mind from this world that should accompany their ministerial exertions, when they see nothing but poverty awaiting their families, on the occurrence of an event that soon must take place, or that they can give with that bland feeling that would prompt the donation, when the convictions are, that every sixpence given to relieve the wants of others, is plundered from the necessities of their own family? We know that we have overstated the facts, and that the laborious exertions of the clergy, and their liberality to those who have no protectors but them, is seldom restrained by either of the prudential motives we have mentioned, but that very circumstance is in itself a sufficient reason why the public should think for those whose disinterested feelings prevent them from thinking of themselves. The case of superannuated curates, and the widows and orphan children of the clergy generally, present an appeal to benevolence whose strength has only been diminished by its familiarity. Mr. Ryan's excellent pamphlet applies itself principally to the latter circumstance, and his observations draw especial attention. We shall subjoin to this article a letter we have received from a valued and pious correspondent, who writes from experience upon the former of these subjects, and we need scarcely assure our readers that our own knowledge of facts will far more than bear out the accuracy of the afflicting statement. Let such a reproach be rolled from us ;-let every diocese* in Ireland

We prefer by much the plan of making such funds diocesan-it gives the individuals concerned a more lively because a nearer interest in the matter, and attaches from locality and personal knowledge all the feelings of the persons connected with the management.

come forward to support its poorer labourers and their families; and when we remember that we have at the head of the metropolitan see, one who by his talents adorns the church he has so vigourously defended, we are convinced that an application to his Grace would be so attended to, as to put a fund for these desirable purposes on a permanent footing, and encourage the benevolent laity to give their contributions to this noble object. We shall only add, that we wish Mr. Ryan's pamphlet to be generally read, and his liberality extensively circulated :

"The first movement must however be made by the Clergy themselves. If money is once obtained, there will be less difficulty in collecting subscribers and devising a system of management. The principal difficulty will be at starting, to obtain a sum sufficient to excite interest and hope. Towards effecting so desirable an object, I propose to give Ten Pounds as a donation towards forming a Capital Stock, on which I further propose to relinquish any other claim than such as I may derive in common with any future subscribers. As some expences of management may be incurred at the outset, I will also subscribe One Pound a year towards the expences of management for three years, until all the details are arranged; and I will devote my services in any way until the Fund is placed on a firm footing,

And we offer our pages as a vehicle for laying any plans connected with the subject before the public.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE CHRISTIAN EXAMINER

Would we not, Mr. Examiner, be inclined to question the sincerity of a professed friendship, which, beholding the object of it infected with a disease which had already paralyzed the limbs and spread the pallid hue of death upon the countenance, should withhold the application of a remedy, on the pretext of not alarming the fears or shocking the feelings of the Patient. We think, Mr. Examiner, that such is the character of the regard which many profess for the Established Church; they seem to think that flattery is friendship, and that reproof and enmity are synonimous.

We trust that you will vindicate the character of your publication from the imputation of such friendship for the Establishment, by granting a place in your next Number to the following observations.

I am confident that your readers will acknowledge that I do not overstate the matter in asserting, that, generally speaking, the weight of parochial duty falls on the curate of the Established Church; and should he sink under the pressure, which not unfrequently happens, his salary is immediately withdrawn, and he is turned adrift on the world, to sink or swim as he can,-turned adrift by an Establishment, in whose service his health and strength have been expended, and which cannot plead a deficiency of pecuniary resources in justification of such conduct.

Now, Sir, this grievance will appear doubly cruel if we consider the circumstances of the individuals whom it affects. The persons who retain the situation of curates are ordinarily men possessing neither private fortune nor interest with the great, and therefore the small salary of Seventy-five Pounds, which to others would be no object, is their sole means of support; this is withdrawn from them at the very time when they most need it-when the distressing lan

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