VII.-Letters on Practical Subjects, to a Daughter. By William Buell Sprague, D. D. 12mo. New York,

1831.

This is a new and improved edition of a work first published in the year 1822, without the author's name. It consists of a series of Letters, actually addressed to an amiable and promising daughter, whom a distressing bereavement, at an early period of her youth, had rendered motherless. These Letters were originally intended to remain in manuscript, as a private legacy to the beloved child to whom they were addressed. Unexpected circumstances, however, led to their publication. And such is the public estimation of their value, that the author has been induced to yield to the demand of the religious community for a second edition, with which he has, very properly, we think, connected his name.

Dr. Sprague, in this publication, has made to his young female readers a present of sterling value. He judged well in guarding against too great an enlargement of the volume, which would have very much contracted the sphere of its circulation; and, at the same time, he has made it sufficiently comprehensive to embrace most of the topics which it was desirable to have discussed in such a work, and has treated them at as great length as was adapted to answer his purpose. The whole is remarkably smooth, attractive, and beautiful in style; rich and weighty in thought; and abounds in counsels which we can safely recommend to our daughters, and to all with whom our opinion may have any weight.

In reviewing a large work, by the same truly respectable writer, in our last number, we offered some remarks on the importance of every thing which has a bearing on the intellec tual and moral character of the rising generation. We hardly need say, that our impression of the vital importance of this whole subject is by no means diminished by further reflection. On the contrary, the longer we contemplate the subject of the education of youth, and especially of the female part of the community, the more clearly we see involved in it the most precious interests of society. It has often been said, and said truly, in reference to the mighty influence of the clerical character on any given population, "Like priests, like people." In the same spirit, we should say, without hesitation, "Like woman, like people." Where FEMALE EDUCATION is wisely conducted (and without the prevalence of the knowledge and spirit of EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANITY,

without, in a word, making the BIBLE the basis of the whole, it cannot be so conducted) society will be comparatively pure; the principles and institutions of benevolence will flourish; the Church of Christ will prosper; efforts for spreading the glorious Gospel will multiply and triumph; and all the interests of civil and religious society will be lifted up. We feel not a little indebted to Dr. Sprague for his truly valuable contributions to this result. We hope the "Letters" before us, as well as his "Lectures to Young People," will be extensively read, and produce benefits corresponding with their high excellence.

VIII.-Advice to a Young Christian, on the importance of aiming at an elevated standard of Piety. By a Village Pastor; with an Introductory Essay, by the Rev. Dr. Alexander, of Princeton, New Jersey. 18mo. pp. 196, second edition, New York, G. C. & H. Carvill,

1830.

The excellent advices contained in this volume, are introduced to the reader by the Reverend Professor Alexander, in an instructive, and highly interesting essay-"On the nature of Vital Piety; its sameness in all ages and countries; and its various aspects in different circumstances." Had the "Village Pastor" done nothing more than draw forth this "Introductory Essay," he would have conferred a favour on the religious public. But while he has done this, he has also added a truly acceptable and valuable favour from his own pen, contained in thirty "Letters," which treat on a variety of subjects, corresponding with the general title, and well adapted to instruct and edify.

XI.-1. The Constitution and Laws of the Board of Education of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States.

2. Circular Letter of the Board of Education of the Presbyterian Church.

We hail the appearance of these publications. They announce the re-organization of the Assembly's Board of Education, under an improved system of rules, and a new plan of agency, which promise, we think, with the Divine blessing, entire success, and eminent usefulness. The principles on which this Board has resolved to conduct its operations in future, appear to us decisively preferable to those of any other

similar Board, with which we are acquainted. Its funds, drawn from the pockets of Presbyterians, are not to be expended in training young men for the ministry for all Pro. testant denominations indiscriminately; but are devoted to sustaining candidates for the Presbyterian Church. The sys tem of unqualified loans is rejected, and in its place the fol lowing happy medium is adopted. Every applicant for aid is taught to consider himself as standing in a relation to the Board, acting as the organ and representative of the Church, similar to that of a son to a parent. The aid furnished him is not considered either, strictly, as a pecuniary loan, nor yet as an eleemosynary donation. But yet, if the son, in the course of Providence, should ever be able to make a return in kind, and the parent should need such return, the son will be bound, not in form of law, but in conscience, and on Christian principle, to make the return; in other words, he will be morally bound to do all in his power to extend to others, in equal need, that aid which was extended to himself. Neverthless, if any young man should prefer receiving an appropriation as a loan, and to give his written obligation therefor, he may be accommodated agreeably to his wishes. All returns of appropriations are to be made to the auxiliary Presbyteries, from which they were received: thus a large accumulation of funds by any one Board or Body is effectually prevented. Each Presbytery is at perfect liberty to send its own students to such academies, colleges and seminaries, as it pleases, without any control, by the Executive Committee of the Board. The maximum of annual appropriations to bene ficiaries under the care of this Board is, in no case, to exceed one hundred dollars. The minimum is to be limited by the discretion of the Executive Committee. The Board, moreover, has felt itself warranted in giving notice that it will refuse no applicant for want of funds; in other words, it engages to receive and sustain every youth who makes appli cation for assistance, and who comes adequately recommended. And we are happy to add, the Board assures the public in its Circular Letter," that the "principles of the constitution under which it acts, as well as the pledge given at its re-organization," render it impossible that the Board should become the organ of any exclusive party in the Church. "Our field," say they, "is the Presbyterian Church, in reference to the world. Our desire and our aim shall steadily be, to unite in this common cause the real

friends of the Church and her institutions, amidst those shades of party which exist among us, so far as they consist with a support of our venerable standards, and the essential order of the Church. We say from the heart, "in things necessary, unity; in things not necessary, liberty; in all things, charity." This is a noble recommencement; and we cannot doubt that the intelligence and piety of the Presbyterian Church will sustain the enterprize.

VOL. III. No. IV.-4 F

Select List of Recent Publications.

THEOLOGICAL.

Directions to Persons just commencing a Religious Life, and a memento of Affection from Christian Pastors, to those who, under their care, have commenced a religious life.

Aids to Devotion, in three parts, including Watts' Guide to Prayer.

The Communicant's Guide, or an Introduction to the Lord's Supper. By J. P. R. Henshaw. Baltimore. Toy & Lucas. 12mo. pp. 227.

Conversations between two Laymen, on the strict and mixed Communion. By J. G. Fuller. With Dr. Griffin's Letter on Communion, and the Review of it by Professor Riply. Boston. Lincoln & Edmands. 18mo. pp. 321.

The Comforts of Piety. Taught from Four heads of Religion-Faith, Hope, Holy Spirit, and Prayer. By Jeremy Taylor. Boston. 32mo. pp. 96. A Help to Professing Christians, in judging their spiritual state and growth in grace. By Rev. John Barr. Boston. 18mo. pp. 307.

The Means of Religion. By John Howard Hinton, M. A. With an Introductory Essay. Boston. 18mo. pp. 103.

The Westminster Shorter Catechism. Explained by way of Question and Answer. Part 1. On what man is to believe concerning God. By several Ministers of the Gospel. Philadelphia. 12mo.

HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY.

Memoir of the Rev. John Townsend, Founder of the first Deaf and Dumb Asylum, and the first Congregational School, instituted in Great Britain, with Extracts from his Diary, Letters, Original Essays, &c. Boston. Crocker & Brewster.

The Life of Emanuel Swedenborg. With some account of his writings; together with a brief notice of the rise and progress of the New Church. Boston Allen & Goddard. 12mo. pp. 188.