" (Psalm cxliv. 15.) Happy are the people that are in such a case; yea, blessed are the people that have the Lord for their God."

"We are now," says Mr. Rowlatt, "in the condition described by the Royal Psalmist; in the enjoyment of those advantages which result from a state of general tranquillity. We are recovering rapidly from the effects of a war of almost unexampled extent and duration. Our commerce and agriculture, which for a time were depressed by a combination of circumstances, into which it is not for me to enter, are reviving with augmented energy and success: insomuch, that I know not whether any period could be named in our annals more flourishing than the present, or in which wealth and content were more widely diffused over all classes of the community. Surely, then, it is in such circumstances that our gratitude should be warmly excited to the Almighty Giver of all good things, the sovereign controller of the destinies of individuals and nations."

Touching, then, upon the prevalent opinion that nations, like individuals, are subjected to certain laws of growth, maturity, and decay; and arguing, with Mr. Burke, that "we may more piously (perhaps more rationally) ascribe such events to the occasional interposition and irresistible hand of the Great Disposer," yet that we are bound to act as if the issue depended on ourselves, he shews that "we are indebted to God for the very elements of all which constitutes our national or individual glory and felicity." Our insular position and temperate climate may be considered as a source and safeguard of our political eminence, not only protecting us from the worst miseries of warfare and affording great advantages over continental states, but enhancing too all the benefits of peace.

In moral and spiritual things our country is not less favoured; possessing, as it does, a pure religion and enlightened morality. The partial distribution of this class of blessings to different people in the several quarters of the globe can afford, it is well contended, no more objection against Christianity as a divine institution, than the diversity of natural advantages which infinite wisdom has assigned to various nations. As we, however, are distinguished by a greater share of temporal prosperity, and our obligations and gratitude to God, and benevolence to man are therefore proportionably greater than those of less favoured nations, so should our superiority in religious knowledge lead us to fulfil the duties which arise from it, with a zeal commensurate to our most valuable privileges. Christianity, like the "grain of mustard seed," was, when first planted by its author of small dimensions; but it was his intention that it should be propagated throughout the world; and, though it has encreased to a goodly

tree, it has not yet attained its predicted growth, it does not yet overshadow the whole earth.

"Now it is plain from this that it is the clear duty, not only of every Christian community, but of every individual Christian, to co-operate as much as possible, not violently and rashly, but temperately and peaceably in the dissemination of his Holy faith. And if it should appear that any nation is intrusted by Providence, with greater means and facilities than another for this good work, that nation is undoubtedly bound to make more than ordinary efforts in this sacred cause. Are we not then," asks Mr. Rowlatt," that people? do we not seem to be especially fitted by the Almighty, to be instrumental to this great end?"

Mr. Rowlatt concludes by observing that there never was a period more favourable for the exertions of the pious in the propagation of the Gospel; and that among the many signs of advance towards the fulfilment of prophecy is the fact, that "intelligence was never so widely and so systematically diffused every where amongst all classes of people. It is a new era in the history of man, this anxious desire for his mental cultivation; it will honourably distinguish the existing age from those which have gone before it." It is unquestionably a great step towards the universal reception of the "glad tidings of salvation," towards that happy consummation, the theme of prophecy, when "at the name of JESUS every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

The Universal Diffusion of the Christian Faith considered, in a Sermon preached in the Parish Church of St. Martin, Leicester, on Friday, Nov. 24, 1823, being the Third Anniversary of the District Committees of the Societies, &c. By the REV. GILBERT BERESFORD, A.M. Rector of St. Andrews, Holborn. 8vo. 28pp. 1s. 6d. Rivingtons. 1824.

PSALM lxv. 5. "Thou shalt shew us wonderful things in thy righteousness, O God of our salvation; thou that art the hope of all the ends of the earth, and of them that remain in the broad sea."

This discourse consists of four principal parts. In the first part is displayed the prophetic character of the Psalm from which the text is taken. In the second, the excellent nature of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge is generally ex

plained. The third division gives a short view of the advan tages resulting from the connexion of the "Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge," with the "National Society for the Education of the Poor. The fourth enumerates some of those wider fields of exertion which have been successfully cultivated by the joint efforts of the first of these societies, and the "Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts."

I. In the composition of the Psalm from which the text is taken, the mind of the inspired author appears to have been occupied at once with the wonders of the creation and the mercies of Redemption. Under the most sublime imagery which a contemplation of the power of God exerted in the operations of nature can supply, "the universality of spiritual blessings is shadowed out, and the certainty of that glorious epoch depicted, when all the nations of the earth shall see the salvation of God." Three passages in this Psalm are pointed out, which bear decided marks of a prophetic character; namely, that contained in the second verse, that selected for the text, and another in the eighth verse :

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They plainly intimate, that the most remote nations who shall not have been brought to the knowledge of God by the display of his wonders in the creation, preservation, and government of the world, but have worshipped the creature more than the Creator, shall at length be converted by the wonders of redemption, and brought to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent." P. 11.

II. It is with the spirit of this prophecy, then, and of many other predictions of similar import in Scripture, that the exertions of the joint societies, "The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge," and "The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts," appear to be in unison. From his situation as Rector of St. Andrew's, Mr. Beresford has had good opportunities of observing the proceedings of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, as well as many occasions of trying the solidity of the advantages to be procured by its assistance.

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Considering it not only (the not only has slipped out of its place) as a neighbour of a most interesting character, I am naturally become anxious for its progress and general welfare, but have learnt to esteem it, in some sort, as a parishioner actively engaged in aiding my ministerial duties, facilitating the intercourse between the pastor and his flock, communicating its valuable treasures of Christian knowledge on the easiest terms to thousands around me."

After enumerating the various kinds of assistance which the parish of St. Andrew's receives from his bountiful parishioner, Mr. Beresford gives this decided testimony to the excellence of the society-a testimony in which we most cordially concur: "I firmly believe, that it is a most valuable ally of the church, a faithful dispenser of evangelical knowledge, aud an instrument in the hand of Providence for checkiug superstition, infidelity, and schism; and for promoting the stupendous plans which the God of our salvation hath devised for the conversion of mankind." P. 15—16..

III. In order to bear out the opinion expressed in the last quoted passage, the connexion of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, with the "National Society for the Education of the Poor," is first explained.

"There is a society fortunately influential by the indefatigable activity of its direct exertions, and those of its subsidiary committees, in almost all parts of the kingdom, and the foreign possessions of the crown; by the enlargement of its designs on every new increase of its resources; a society under the guidance of sound discretion, disinterested benevolence, and unostentatious piety; consisting of clergy and laity, who devote much of their time, their talents, and their labours to counteract, what is most to be dreaded, the effects of irreligion in general, and of hostility to our establishment in particular; and who spare no pains to give a right direction to a system of Education, which without such direction might prove a greater curse than ignorance; and, instead of helping to fix sound principles of religion in the minds of our population, tend to the subversion of all religious principles whatever." P. 17.

The 350,000 children daily instructed in schools united with the National Society for the Education of the Poor, cannot, by the terms of union, be supplied with any other works for the purpose of their education, than the Bible, the Book of Common Prayer, and such tracts doctrinal, devotional, and practical, as are to be found on the well-approved list of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.

IV. Under this head of the discourse, are enumerated some of those wider fields of exertion which have witnessed the joint labours of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, and the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts.

"Under the joint auspices of these societies, the Madras system, sanctified by its union with our ecclesiastical establishment, is making a surprising progress in the three Presidencies of India. They have long supplied the dependencies of the crown of England on the American Continent, and the adjacent islands, with the means of religious instruction, according to the doctrine and discipline of our church. Upwards

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of eighty missionaries are there employed. They have contributed their aid to the erection of churches, the circulation of the Scriptures, Prayer-books, and religious tracts. Under their patronage, the National System of Education has, of late years, been introduced into the three principal provinces dependent upon England; and the advantages already derived from it, sufficiently prove its great influence in the improvement of the moral and religious habits of the people." P. 21.

A just tribute is then paid to the memory of the late Bishop Middleton, whose zeal has so materially opened the way to further improvements in British India. And the discourse closes with an impressive exhortation to unity and charity amongst ourselves as members of the Church of England.

Well informed as Mr. Beresford evidently is on the general subject to which he wished to direct the attention of his hearers, and perfectly conversant with all the operations of the Societies, before certain district committees of which he was called upon to preach, we are not surprised to find in his discourse a seasonable statement of many interesting and important facts. Its excellence is not, however, confined to dry detail. Both in style and in spirit it is worthy of the preacher, and of the cause he advocates.

A Sermon on the Duty of providing for the Christian Education of the Poor. By the REV. WILLIAM KILLETT, A.B. Vicar of Keninghall, Norfolk. 8vo. 18pp. 18. Rivingtons. 1824.

"From a child thou hast known the Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus."-2 Tim. iii. 15.

The allusion here made to the advantages of early instruction which Timothy had enjoyed, leads the author to remark, that under each of the religious dispensations delivered to mankind from heaven, the welfare of children, bodily and spiritual, has been especially regarded. In countries under the influence of these dispensations, a value has been set upon the tender offspring of man, wholly different from that at which they were wont to be esteemed amongst idolatrous and heathen nations.

In a short proem, the inference is drawn from the authorized admission of children into covenant with God by the rite of circumcision, from the language which our Saviour constantly used when children were brought under his notice, and from the practice of the primitive ages, that it is consonant to our Lord's