get the lovely image of the future glory into your minds. Keep it ever before your eyes. Make it familiar to your thoughts. Imprint daily there these words "I shall behold thy face, I shall be satisfied with thy likeness." And see that your souls be enriched with that righteousness,-have inwrought into them that holy rectitude, that may dispose them to that blessed state. Then will you die with your own consent,—and go away, not driven, but allured and drawn. You will go as the redeemed of the Lord, with everlasting joy upon your heads; -as those who know whither you go,-even to a state infinitely worthy of your desires and choice, and where it is but best for you to be. You will part with your souls, not by a forcible separation, but by a joyful surrender and resignation. They will dislodge from this earthly tabernacle, rather as putting it off, than having it rent and torn away. Loosen yourselves from this body by degrees;— gather up your spirits into themselves. Teach them to look upon themselves as a distinct thing. Inure them to the thoughts of dissolution. Be continually as taking leave. Cross and disprove the common maxim,-and let your hearts, which, they say, are wont to die last,-die first. Prevent death, and be mortified to every earthly thing beforehand, that death may have nothing to kill but your body. Shake off your bands and fetters—the terrene affections that so closely confine you to the house of your bondage;—and lift up your heads in expectation of the approaching jubilee—the day of your redemption—when you are to go out free, and enter into the glorious liberty of the sons of God;-when you shall serve, and groan, and complain no longer. Let it be your continual song,-and the matter of your daily praise, that the time of your happy deliverance is hastening on ;-that ere long you shall be absent from the body, and present with the Lord ;-that he hath not doomed you to an everlasting imprisonment within those close and clay walls, wherein you have been so long shut up from the beholding of his sight in glory. In the thoughts of this, while the outward man is sensibly perishing, let the inward man revive and be renewed day by day. What prisoner would be sorry to see the walls of his prison-house mouldering down, and the hope arriving to him of being delivered out of the darkness that had buried him,—of recovering his liberty, and enjoying the free air and light? The truly generous soul never leaves the body against its will. Rejoice that it is the gracious pleasure of thy good God, that thou shalt not always inhabit a dungeon, nor lie amidst so impure and disconsolate darkness;-that he will shortly exchange thy filthy garments, for those of salvation and praise.-Howe. Heaven, as it is an exceeding,-so is it an eternal weight of glory; and this is that which crowns the joy of heaven, and banishes all fear and trouble from the minds of the blessed. And thus to be secured in the possession of our happiness, is an unspeakable addition to it. For that which is eternal,—as it shall never determine, so it can never be diminished;-for to be diminished and to decay is to draw nearer to an end,—but that which shall never have an end, can never come nearer to it. O vast eternity! how dost thou swallow up our thoughts, and entertain us at once with delight and amazement! This is the very top and highest pitch of our happiness, upon which we may stand secure, and look down with scorn upon all things here below! How small and inconsiderable do they appear to us, compared with the vast and endless enjoyments of our future state!Tillotson. Poetry. IN HEAVEN THERE'S REST. In heaven there's rest, that thought hath power How sweet to the weary,-In heaven there's rest; In heaven there's rest! Oh how deep that repose! And only soft airs, and sweet odours arise, Like the evening incense that soars to the skies! Those sounds breathe sweet music-In heaven there's rest! I long to escape to the land of the blest; Inspired by the prospect through life's busy day, CRITICAL NOTICES OF NEW WORKS. A COMMENTARY ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES in the catechetical form; for the use of Families, Schools, and Bible Classes. The first of a series. By JOHN MORISON, D.D., 18mo, pp. 432. Ward and Co., London. A well executed commentary on the Acts of the apostles has long been deemed a positive desideratum in our theological literature. Even the 'Hora Pauline' of Paley, highly as we estimate the work, but very partially supplies the deficiency. There is no book in the whole canon of the New Testament, to understand which is more important to the public teacher and the private christian. With an intimate knowledge of its chronological events, and historical facts, and moral truths, it becomes in itself a commentary on other books- -a key of interpretation to the apostolic letters. It is to us therefore cause of surprise that none of our biblical scholars have made this interesting record of the first efforts and achievements of christianity, the subject of their most diligent investigation, or brought the more powerful apparatus of sacred criticism and interpretation, to its exposition. The task might not be without its labour and its difficulties, but the results would more than compensate the most intense application and effort of mind. Such a work faithfully executed would be a boon to the church of Christ. A valuable contribution to such a work, has been made by the esteemed author of the little volume now before us. Dr. Morison has laid the foundation for a more elaborate, critical, and exigetical treatise. To produce such a treatise was not his design; and therefore we must treat his book only in reference to its end,—and, so viewed, it is entitled to our cordial recommendation. The style is simple, perspicuous, clear. The matter is sound, interesting, instructive. The method, the catechetical, the very best that could be adopted for the conveying of information to the youthful mind, whether in "home education," in the school, or in the Bible class. The author has intimated that this is the first of a series. If its successors possess and exhibit the same character, (of which we have no doubt) we feel assured that they will obtain a very wide and acceptable circulation. They will prove invaluable to heads of families, and sabbath school teachers; and even the student and the divine, may consult them with advantage. MEMOIR OF MRS. LOUISA A. LOWRIE, of the Northern Indian Mission: with introductory notices by the REV. E. P. SWIFT, W.H. PEARCE, and A. REED, D.D. Reprinted from the second American edition. 18mo, pp. 242. Ward and Co., London. To America, we are indebted for some of the most instructive and impressive pieces of christian biography, which enrich our sacred litera ture. Who that has read the life of Elliot, or Brainerd, or Graham, or Newell, or Judson, or Huntingdon, or Payson, or Winslow, has not felt interested and affected? And these simple narratives of sainted men and women, will be read with equal interest and effect, in future time and distant ages. In their perusal we have that mental experience, which is more or less common to all who are the subjects of the same grace-placed under the same holy discipline, and are training for the same blessed immortality. We feel that they address themselves to our bosoms and our business; and hence it is, that, next to the sacred volume itself, they are read and studied. To these interesting and instructive records, another has been added in the present volume. It is the life of a christian female, called by Divine grace, from the gaieties and pleasures of the world, to give her inmost attention to the high interests of religion and eternity;-of one devoted in heart and life to God and the Redeemer; and who, as an expression of her supreme affection to the Saviour, had consecrated all her active and moral energies to his service among the heathen; - who had just entered, with her now bereaved partner, into the missionary field, and ere she had commenced her work, was called to the scene of her final rest and glory. The work cannot fail to be read with interest and profit by all; but especially by those who may be preparing for missionary labour. Particular attention is due to the letter of Mr. Pearce, on female education in India. This is an object which we know to be engrossing the minds and feelings of several highly estimable christian ladies in this our own land, and for which they entertain the utmost solicitude. Till some eligible and efficient plan of female education in the East is concerted, and female influence, through female piety and activity, is brought to bear on the teeming population of India, we look for its subjugation to christianity in vain. We would therefore suggest to some of our honoured missionary brethren, the expediency of laying such a plan, as their intimate knowledge of the country and the people would lead them to regard as practicable for the attainment of this end. BREAD CAST ON THE WATERS. 18mo, pp. 230. Darton and Clark, London. This is a volume of scraps-fragments of sermons and addresses, "intended solely for the use of seamen :" and certainly contains many good and pious sayings; but, we think, scarcely so important or so valuable as to assume the bulk and character of a book. A little work on some of the more personal and practical subjects of christianity, well written, and deeply interspersed with pointed and pungent appeals to the conscience, would be well suited to the SAILOR, and is positively wanted. Still the present volume may with safety be put into his hand, and rendered very useful. Monthly Chronicle. Another year has for ever closed upon our world, and borne the record of our doings into eternity. And in the retrospect of that period, -in connecting the past with the future,-the day of life with the day of death, the brief hours of present labour, with the great hour of final account,-it is truly animating to think, that we have not been allowed to sink into inactivity, or slumber away the fleeting moments of our redeemed existence. Reviewing the year, we enjoy the high satisfaction of knowing, that we have attempted more than hitherto in the great cause in which we are embarked;—that the labours of our agents have been marked by unprecedented success ;-that a visible change has been effected in the external character of seamen in general;—and that a deeper impression, in favour of the Institution and its objects, has been induced on the minds of many, both in the metropolis and in the country. But the ultimate results of our exertions, on the physical and moral condition of the sailor, must be left to the disclosures of another day. The light of eternity will impress them with their relative magnitude and importance. In connexion with our own efforts, it affords us unmingled pleasure to record the doings and achievements of kindred institutions. The perseverance and enterprise of our American friends and fellow-labourers are entitled to special notice and commendation. Nor should the exertions now being made in various parts of the East be lightly estimated. There is, we rejoice to know, a combination of holy power, which is brought to bear on the state and circumstances of our seamen throughout the world. If not the polar, yet the tropic wave, is wafting to us the grateful intelligence, that on those distant shores there is to be seen, floating in the breeze, the BETHEL FLAG with its dove and olive leaf,—— symbol of universal peace, and precursor of Messiah's golden reign. Still a mighty effort is demanded; and in entering on another year, we would call, with renewed and increased solicitude, on the good and the benevolent of the land, to consider well their obligations to our seaand combine with us in seeking their best-their eternal welfare. Oh! that we had the tongues of angels to persuade and urge the church of God to do her duty! men, AGENTS' MEETING:---HELD ON TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 11th, 1838. The past month has been one of deep affliction. Our brethren have had to sow in tears. Their hearts have been pained in listening to the E |