The concluding chapters treat of "The practical tendencies of faith in the unity of the divine procedure," and "Christian simplicity essential to christian consolation." We abstain from making farther extracts, although strongly tempted to close this notice by quoting one or two of our author's judicious introductory observations. Most cordially do we commend this volume to "mourners in Sion."

The Young Man's Great Inquiry. By PETER MACINDOE, A.M., Kilmarnock. Second thousand.

YOUNG men form an interesting class of the community. They are soon to fill the stations now occupied by their fathers; and all who are concerned for the glory of God, the prosperity of the church, and the good of their country, must rejoice in the efforts made for their instruction and improvement.

In the

Amongst the many publications intended for the benefit of the rising generation, this little work deserves to be mentioned as calculated to be useful. It is in the form of a sermon, founded on the words of the Psalmist, (Psalm exix. 9)—" By what means shall a young man purify his way?" The subject is personal purity, which is considered as internal and external. Under the former aspect it is exhibited as originating in regeneration-progressive through life-consummated at death-and as forming a necessary qualification for the enjoyment of the heavenly blessedness. The several topics embraced under this division of the discourse are illustrated with ability; and the reader is furnished with a brief but clear view of the all-important process of sanctification. second, where the subject is external purity, instead of a vague general description of the course of action, suited to the renewed nature, we have a distinct specification of several prevailing evils, against which it concerns all, but especially the young, to be on their guard. These are "the insidious, demoralizing, and ruining influence of infidelity"—" mere intellectual improvement, apart from the cultivation of religious principles and moral feelings". "the pernicious influence of much of the light literature now obtruded on the country" and "that political feeling, which is not purified and regulated by christian principles"-" the prevailing violations of the Lord's day"-" the drinking usages, which have become so prevalent in this country" and "the indiscriminate pursuit of public amusements.” Against these evils the young are earnestly warned; and happy will it be for those who, through grace, shall be enabled to perceive and avoid the snares which are set for their feet.

In attempting so many topics within such narrow limits, the writer's remarks have at times a cursoriness and generality which detract from their usefulness. For example, to make the real scope of his observations on "political feeling," &c. understood, he should, in commenting on the evil of irreligious politics, have added a word or two on the hypocrisy of political religion. There might have been more matter had the style been less declamatory.

The Rustic Bower: or, Sketches from Nature. By WILLIAM MACKENZIE, Author of "The Friend of Youth," &c. Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd,

1844.

MR MACKENZIE is already favourably known to the public as the writer of a work entitled "The Friend of Youth." In the volume beforeus, he hows himself not unworthy of the name. It consists of a series of Essays

on Nature, intended to imbue the youthful mind with a taste for Nature's innocent and benevolent pleasures, and to lead it up to Nature's God. Himself an enthusiast in his subject, the author does his utmost to impart to the youthful reader a kindred inspiration. The moral tendency of the book is excellent; and, in particular, we cannot but refer to the observations on drunkenness-p. 233-241,-which are just and powerful, and written with the earnestness of one who has the best interests of the young, and of his race generally, at heart. It is to be wished that the references to the Great Author of Nature had been still more frequent and direct the more especially as the volume is professedly intended to show, that "His presence, who made all so fair, perceived, makes all still fairer.”

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RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.-FOREIGN.

SURVEY OF MISSIONS.-China.-The recent important political events in relation to China, by which five principal ports of that empire have been thrown open to commerce, and a British settlement formed upon its coast, on a small island now ceded to Britain by the Chinese authorities, have caused quite a sensation among the friends of christianity in both this country and America. Believing all events in the political world to be under the direction of Him who is "made head over all things to the church," their expectations have been very naturally excited in no ordinary degree by what may turn out to be an opening to christianity, as well as to commerce, for the hundreds of millions of that vast portion of the human family, hitherto shut up from all direct attempts to instruct them in the pure doctrines of the Bible. A general movement towards China is accordingly taking place, on the part of the missionary societies both of Britain and America; some of them re-inforcing their missionary establishments previously formed there, others seizing the favourable opportunity for commencing, as the British possession of Hong Kong is quite contiguous to the Chinese coast, and in the five ports opened for commerce, European consuls, with their families are to be resident. Missionaries can now settle themselves not only in that island ceded to Britain, but also in these five Chinese seaports, with entire security to their persons, and freedom from the contempt and insult to which hitherto they were incessantly exposed, when they ventured to set foot on Chinese ground. As illustrative of their condition in China prior to these recent events, Mr Medhurst, in his late interesting work remarks, "Missionaries may come to China as chaplains, to instruct their fellow-countrymen; in which capacity they are called Story-telling devils;' but they dare not attempt to proselyte." The London Missionary Society has one missionary there, another on his passage out, besides two medical missionaries. The Church of England Missionary Society has two missionaries destined to China and about to sail. The Medical Missionary Society has one physician there. The American Board has four missionaries and a printer in China. The American Baptist Missionary Society has three missionaries, besides a medical missionary on his way; and the American Episcopal Missionary Society one, who is at present on a visit home. The arrangements of these different groups of labourers, as to their settlement and course of operations, are yet only in preparation, as so much will depend on the amount of liberty granted them by the Chinese authorities in carrying on direct missionary exertions. They are, however, making a most auspicious commencement, by uniting together for accomplishing a thorough revision of the existing translations of the holy scrip

tures into the Chinese language; no translation hitherto made being found, on more mature acquaintance with the language of that remarkable nation, to be fit for general circulation. In this most important undertaking there are united the missionaries of the London Missionary Society, the American Board, the American Baptist Board, and the Morrison Education Society; who, after harmonious consultation, have agreed to proceed on principles and arrangements which must impart confidence to all the friends of Bible translation. Among the resolutions adopted by them are the following:-"That the whole body of Protestant missionaries to the Chinese do form a general committee, for the purpose of revising the translation of the scriptures in the Chinese language; and that this committee be subdivided into local committees of stations, each to consist of all the missionaries at that station. That the work of revision be sub-divided and apportioned to the several stations. That when each local committee has completed its task, a transcript thereof shall be sent to each station for farther revision; and then these transcripts, with the corrections upon them, shall be submitted to the original revisers. When the whole of the New Testament shall have been thus revised, each station shall select one or more of its most experienced men to act as delegates in a meeting of the general committee,-it being understood that each station shall be entitled to one vote only, and these shall be the final judges as to the propriety of each revision; after which the whole shall be submitted to the Bible Societies in Great Britain and America for their acceptance." In relation to the point of difference between the Baptists and Pædo-Baptists in the rendering of the word "baptize," it was resolved that they proceed harmoniously in the work of revision, employing the talents of missionaries of both these sections of the church to conduct it, and to bring it to as perfect a state as possible; and that when this was done, should difficulties still exist on this subject, each section should be at liberty to recommend for publication separate editions of the same version, agreeing in all other respects, and only differing as to the rendering of this term; and that the revision go forth to the world, not as the work of one party or of the other,

but as the result of the combined efforts of the whole.

May the Spirit of light and of truth direct and uphold them in this holy undertaking!

The

Siam.-In this country missionaries have been stationed since about 1831. Siam is the largest of the three empires contained in the peninsula beyond the Ganges. Its population is composed of different nations; some of whom have attained a certain degree of civilization; but other tribes, occupying chiefly the mountain regions, are in a very rude state. government is despotic; and the person of the king deemed so sacred, that it is said his subjects cannot even venture to utter his name. The prevailing religion is Buddhism; with the priests of which superstition the land is overrun. The settlement of the missionaries is at Bankok, the capital of the empire. Here the American Board has six missionaries and two female teachers. The American Presbyterian Mission has one missionary. And the American Baptist Society two, and one printer. A very clear view of the state of their labours may be gathered from the following recent statements of the missionaries of the American Board :-" The labours of this mission are divided between the Siamese and the Chinese resident among them; there being of the latter, according to common calculation, 500,000. The Chinese are more accessible than the Siamese. Among the Chinese there is no obstacle to the multiplication of prosperous schools; while Siamese children are obtained with great difficulty. The number of Chinese who now attend on public worship is about twenty; of Siamese about thirty. No restrictions have been laid on the missionaries. They go where they please, preaching the gospel, and no man forbids

them. Books and tracts have been freely and extensively circulated; by means of which, and by oral instruction, the missionaries suppose that a partial knowledge of the truth has been carried to almost every part of the kingdom. They are not without the hope, therefore, of soon reaping a glorious harvest. Preaching has been maintained at three places by the mission,-at the Chinese station, the Siamese station, and the Tract House. At the two former only on Sabbath; at the latter also on two or three week days, in connexion with the distribution of books. The indication of an increase in the number of hearers at this station are not very numerous. Very few attend who are not in some way employed by the mission, or mission family. The reason of this, as we think, has not been through fear of us, but through a disinclination to listen to the word of God. În the Sabbath service at the Tract House, the average of hearers was at first about thirty; latterly it has diminished; sometimes only six are present, at other times from fifteen to twenty. Our books are eagerly sought for by the great mass of the people, though probably in most cases, with a desire to obtain a new book, rather than any great desire to be benefited by its contents. Yet readers are to be met with among various tribes of this empire who are not only glad to obtain a book, but who will, in many cases, listen to the explanations given of its contents. Boats come in large numbers, and from the most populous places in the kingdom, to Bankok for trade, and much pains has been taken the past year to furnish each boat of this description with a portion of the Bible, and tracts, to read and carry home to their friends. Probably in no previous year since the mission was established has so much labour been bestowed upon this people as during the past year; and although we do not see such results as we desire, still we are not wholly without evidence that good has been done. Much truth has, in various ways, been communicated; and we doubt not that the plan of salvation is now better understood than it was a year ago. We see nothing to discourage us in our work, except the difficulties that are always to be met with in labouring for the salvation of idolators."

Singapore. In this island, which is a British settlement, at the southern extremity of the Malay peninsula, the London Missionary Society has two missionaries, having recently suffered an afflictive bereavement in the death of the third, Mr Dyer. By the various means employed at this station, there has been a large diffusion of christian knowledge."

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Malacca. In this British settlement the same society has one missionary, an Anglo-Chinese college for the training of Chinese youth, besides a Malay school. But as it is in contemplation to remove the college to Hong-Kong, this station will probably be then relinquished.

Penang. This is also an island in British possession, lying off the west coast of the Malay peninsula, in which the London Missionary Society has two missionaries and a schoolmaster. In this, as in the two previous stations, the attention of the missionaries is divided betwixt the Chinese and Malays. It is stated that the Chinese schools afford encouragement, and that the Malay schools exhibit decided improvement. The English service is generally crowded, and the Chinese services also possess increasing interest.

Burmah.-Missionaries have been labouring to establish christianity in this empire since 1807, chiefly under the auspices of the American Baptist Board. This empire lies along the west side of that of Siam, and is of large extent, although somewhat less than the latter. A district of it was acquired by Britain in 1826, known generally by the name of Tenasserim, within which the above society has four principal missionary stations, besides out-stations, and eleven missionaries with assistants, about to be reinforced with three other missionaries and assistants now VII. VOL. I. 2 U

on their passage. At two of these stations the attendance on public worship is stated to be from 800 to 900: the members 581, of whom 312 are Karens, a very interesting race, scattered over various parts of the Birman Empire, who have shown a peculiar readiness in receiving christian instruction, and submitting to the gospel. They are said to occupy different mountain ranges, and to be a primitive industrious people. School instruction, and the work of translation and printing, are carried on vigorously. A Burmese monthly religious newspaper is published by them, specially for the benefit of native Christians. În relation to other two of these stations in British Burmah, it is stated, that "the principal attention of the mission is bestowed upon the Karens." The missionaries have been principally devoted to preaching, and to efforts to improve the social and domestic condition of that people, by the establishment of permanent homes. A Karen dictionary and grammar have also been prepared; and preparations were making for putting the whole New Testament in their language to the press before the close of the year. Within Burmah Proper there are two stations, Rangoon and Ava, where no American missionary at present resides, but where native churches, the fruit of former missionary labour, continue to show more or less of prosperity. It is stated "the Karen churches in Burmah have rest from persecution. The Christians meet in large congregations; the assistants travel and preach in the most public manner, and the government look on in silence. It is reported that the king, during a late visit to Rangoon, inquired concerning the Karens who had embraced a foreign religion; and on being told that they were a quiet people, and paid their taxes, he replied, Then let them alone!' The number of Karen converts in Burmah Proper is unknown; but it is stated, that within the limits of the whole of these missions, there are from twenty to thirty Karen churches, with more than 1500 members; beside from 2000 to 3000 Karen converts not associated into churches, and tens of thousands waiting to receive the gospel, while the number of American preachers specially devoted to the Karens is only five."

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.-DOMESTIC.

UNITED SECESSION CHURCH.

PRESBYTERIAL NOTICES.

Stirling and Falkirk. This presbytery held a meeting in Glasgow on the 6th of May, when inter alia they agreed to transmit to the Synod petitions in favour of the Relief union, from the first and second con gregations of Stirling ;* and a meeting on the 7th, at which a call from the congregation of Tillicoultry to Mr George Hunter, preacher, was sustained. The presbytery met at Falkirk on the 4th of June for missionary and other business. A letter from Mr G. Hunter intimating his acceptance of Tillicoultry call, was read. The presby tery sustained the subjects of trial assigned him by another presbytery, and agreed that he be requested to deliver part at least of his trials, at next meeting, to be held at Stirling on the 30th of July. Two students having been recommended for admission to the hall, they were appointed to be examined at that meeting; Mr M'Farlane to conduct

Most of these petitions expressed their desire for the union, with the understanding that it be on "a scriptural basis."