The Saturday Magazine. Under the direction of the Committee of General Literature and Education, appointed by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. Nos. I. II. III.

THAT exertions, of no ordinary kind, are necessary to stem the torrent of vice and disaffection, which is poured upon the public by means of the cheap publications that daily issue from the press, no one, who observes the avidity with which the nauseous trash is circulated and devoured, will be bold enough to deny. It is a remarkable event in the annals of literature, that nineteen or twenty penny, and halfpenny, papers may now be procured weekly for one shilling; calculated, for the most, to pander to the worst passions of the ignorant, and to set the less educated classes in array against the "powers that be." Against this inundation of blasphemy and pollution, the "Penny Magazine" was the first and foremost to oppose the salutary influence of solid and useful information: and though we are far from approving of the tenour of some of the larger publications of the Society from which it springs, and from which its selections are more constantly made, its columns have been wholly and entirely devoted to the dissemination of useful knowledge and substantial virtue. It was not likely that the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge, would be far behind in the field; and though she has not hesitated to follow closely in the manner of her predecessor in the work, she has considerably improved upon the matter. We shall extract the outline of the Saturday Magazine, as developed in the Introduction.

"An old Latin poet, a very fashionable man in his day, said that the most popular book would be that which mixed up the useful with the agree

able.

We shall make such a mixture in this Magazine. By the side of the truly useful, we shall place that which ought alone to be truly agreeable, and we will do our best to make one reflect VOL. XIV. NO. VIII.

light upon the other. Whether the information which we convey to our readers, be given in the form of an essay or a tale, we shall keep in mind our grand object of combining innocent amusement with sound instruction. We shall not relate ghost stories, except to explain the delusions from which impressions of the reality of such things, have proceeded and will often proceed; we shall tell no Newgate legends of murder and robbery, except sometimes to point out the horrible excesses and dismal end to which a man may come, step by step downwards, from the first dram he drank, the first oath he swore, and the first Lord's day he profaned. But then on the other hand, we shall show forth some of the wonderful things of Natural History; we shall recount the origin and progress of some of the greatest of human inventions, such as, Navigation, Printing, the Telescope, Steam-Engines, and so on; we shall remind our readers of remarkable events in the annals of our own dear country, and of other great kingdoms on the continent; and we shall sometimes, as occasion may serve, indulge ourselves with proving how sweetly the poets of England used to sing, and how sweetly some of them yet live to sing.

One way or another we hope to be popular in this Magazine, which comes out at the end of the week, when most men have a pause from labour. We are not for interfering with the family talk or the friendly walk, much less with religious duties or the study of the Bible-and we trust every one of our readers has one. After all these good things are done and served, there will be plenty of time for perusing these few little pages; and the reader shall never find in any one of them a line which shall be contrary in its tendency to the improvement and the happiness of any member of his fa mily."

Among the most interesting articles in the numbers already published are, those on the Indian idol "Juggernaut" in the first and second numbers,

3 P

ou Architecture, in Number 1, "Botanical Directions" and "Eastern Sports Number 2., and those on Natural History throughout. We especially recommend, however, that on the "Black Pestilence," in Number 3.

A Church Establishment lawful, scriptural, and necessary. By the Rev. S. C. WILKS, A. M. London: Rivingtons. 1832.

To say that this Tract is in the Society's Catalogue, is sufficient to speak for its merits; and we trust the Clergy will be generally active in its distribution.

1. The Church of Rome: a View of the Peculiar Doctrines, Religious Worship, Ecclesiastical Polity, and Ceremonial Observances, of the Roman Catholic Church. By the Rev. H. C. O'DONNOGHUE, A. M. London : Longman. 8vo. Pp. xvi. 341. 2. Historical Memoirs of the Church and Court of Rome, from the Establishment of Christianity under the Emperor Constantine to the present time. By the Same. London : Longman. 2 vols. 8vo.

3. Historical Notices of the Reformation in Germany, England, &c. By the Same. London: Longman. 8vo. Pp. viii. 296.

Or the three works which head this notice, the last is a portion of the second volume of the "History of the Romish Church and Court," printed separately for the use of readers, whose opportunities of research are limited, but who are ambitious of a knowledge of the emancipation which our reformers worked out for us. The two former works complete together a full and accurate view of the papal system, built upon the most authentic documents, and exhibit the true and unalterable features of that religion by which the rights of conscience are fettered by the assumed infallibility of an erring mortal. We take some blame to ourselves, that a compilation so valuable, should have remained for more than a twelvemonth, unnoticed in our pages; but by some mischance

or other, these volumes have been completely overlooked. There are some points of private consideration, in which we should be disposed to differ from our author; but, as a work of documentary evidence, we know no other which is so well calculated to advance the purpose for which it is designed.

The Church of God, in a Series of Sermons. By the Rev. ROBERT WILSON EVANS, Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. London: Smith Elder & Co. 1832. 8vo. Pp. viii. 389.

ON a former occasion we called the attention of our readers incidentally to a course of four sermons, by Mr. Evans, into the subject of which the present publication enters more at large. After proving the necessity of a divine revelation, the preacher investigates the origin and constitution of the Church, develops the foundation upon which it rests, describes the nature and the intent of its worship, establishes the authority of its priesthood, illustrates the character of its members, states the condition and the rewards of their acceptance before God, and enters into a comparative estimate of its past, present, and future opportunities and fortunes. To say that the subject is well treated in all its parts and bearings, would be but faint praise. The argument is in general well sustained; the language eloquent and powerful; and the practical application forcible and impassioned. At the same time we cannot be blind to some points which are over-strained; and to others which are somewhat objectionable.

The Book of Genesis, an exact Reprint, Page for Page, of the Authorized Version, published in the Year MDCXI. Oxford: printed at the University Press. London: E. Gardner. 1832. 4to. Pp. 56.

THE design of this publication is so accurately stated by the delegates of the University press at Oxford, that we cannot introduce it more appropriately to our readers, than by availing ourselves of their prefatory advertisement.

"Complaints having been made, that the English Bibles printed at the Universities, besides necessary alterations in the spelling, differ greatly from the authorized version of the Scriptures, the delegates of the Oxford press have caused collations to be made preparatory to a careful consideration of the subject. They have also commenced an exact reprint in Roman letter of the authorized version, printed in the year 1611, in large black letter, folio, to which will probably be added the various readings of some other editions, printed in the same year or soon after. When this reprint shall have been completed, the public will be enabled to compare it with the Oxford Bibles of the last ten years, and with such as issue in future from the University Press. But as many months may elapse, before the whole work can be correctly executed, the Book of Genesis is now published as a specimen."

We have collated the letter-press of this specimen with a copy of the first edition of the authorized version: it is executed with equal beauty and accuracy, and reflects the highest credit on the press of the University of Oxford. We shall rejoice to announce the completion of this important undertaking.

1832.

Discourses and Sacramental Addresses to a Village Congregation. By the Rev. D. B. BAKER, A.M. London: Rivingtons, and Hatchards. 12mo. Pp. xi. 231. SIMPLICITY, combined with elegance of diction, conciseness, and, above all, fervent piety, are the characteristics of these village discourses; which the pressure of other matters has prevented us from introducing earlier to the notice of our readers,—especially our numerous country readers.

The discourses abound with interesting allusions to those circumstances and seasons, which ordinarily occur in rural life. At the same time the author does not conceal the HIGH (and we must add, correct) view which he entertains of the dignity of the pastoral office, both as it respects the responsibilities of the shepherd, and the obedience of the flock. A few sacra

mental addresses are subjoined: they are very brief exhortations which the author substituted for the more formal sermon of days when the Lord's Supper was not administered. We would recommend the introduction of similar addresses to those Clergymen, whose communicants are numerous; and we hope that this volume will meet with that extensive circulation, which it eminently deserves.

A Dictionary of the most important Names, Objects, and Terms, found in the Holy Scriptures. By H. MALCOM, M. A. Fourth Edition. London: Seeley & Co. 1831. 12mo. Pp. xii. 240.

THIS work is expressly designed for young people. Some of the words might have been better explained: but altogether it will be found a useful compendium.

The Christian Schoolmaster; or, Conversations on Various Subjects, between a Village Schoolmaster and his Neighbours. By the Rev. SAMUEL HOBSON, LL.B. London: Seeley and Sons. 1832. 12mo. Pp. vi. 190. IN times like the present, when our Reformed Protestant Episcopal Church is assailed by the combined forces of popery, latitudinarianism, and infidelity, we hail with pleasure every

accession to the various admirable defences of our Church which are already extant. The "Village Schoolmaster" is a concise and perspicacious manual; into which the author has compressed a great variety of important facts and observations relative to the moral obligation of the Sabbathday, tithes &c., the errors of the Church of Rome, the use and abuse of private judgment, and separation from the Church of England. What renders this volume particularly valuable to Clergymen residing in the country is, the fact that it contains satisfactory answers to the various objections which are very frequently brought against our Church by that very class of persons for whom the author has written. The objections commonly urged are fairly put and, what is of most importance, they are fully