diminution; he believes him to have spoken the words, and promulgated the revelation of a righteous God, and he prefers placing his refuge and trust in a firm belief in what the Saviour taught, than in traditionary wisdom, cheerfully admitting that God is true, though every man be a liar. When the Samaritan woman inquired of Christ, whether her countrymen or the Jews were right in their views as to the place where only acceptable worship could be rendered, he seized the opportunity of defining not only the place, but the object of religious adoration, with the distinctive mark of true worshippers. But he did not teach, that adoration was to be offered to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; he gives no traces of the mysteries of the Trinity; but, with perfect consistency, he informs the inquirer, that "neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem only, shall the Father be worshipped, for the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father seeketh such to worship him." Our blessed Saviour was a divinely commissioned messenger, full of grace and truth, and he taught that the true worshippers should worship the Father. And from whom can we learn our duty but from him? whose teachings are sufficient but his? what other name is given to us, by which to be saved? what other way is vouchsafed, by which to flee from the wrath to come? what other Saviour is provided for us? at whose feet must we sit, but at the feet of Jesus, and learn of him? Why persist in calling him Lord, Lord, if we do not the things which he commanded? Yet many, in these latter days, refuse the name of Christian to those who, in obedience to Christ, worship the Father only. But it is a small matter to be judged of men's judgment; the anathemas of zealots are harmless to him, who, believing the well beloved Son of God to be the teacher and exemplar of heavenly truth, which he testified by his blood to that world, whose foolish wisdom has become wise above what is written, therefore earnestly endeavours, after the way denounced indeed as heresy, but in obedience to the commands of Jesus Christ, to worship the Father, humbly seeking to do so in spirit and in truth. ZACCHEUS. www REVIEW. A Family Prayer-Book, consisting of the Prayers added to the second edition of "Sermons designed to be used in Families," by several living ministers; and of others for Families and Individuals, by the Rev. J. R. Beard. -Hunter, 1830. In this age of intellectual excitement, we need every aid that pious men can supply, to awaken and cherish devotional feelings. A revival of the good old practice of worshipping God at the family altar, and introducing religion with all her benign influences into the circle of social love, is a consummation devoutly to be wished, devoutly to be prayed for. Why should we be ashamed freely to recognise within our households, the presence of the angel of peace and blessedness? Why blush to offer up our adorations and thanksgivings to the great Creator and Preserver of man, and to supplicate the blessing of Him, without whose blessing we droop and die and return to the dust of the gracious Benefactor, who is the author and giver of every good and perfect gift? Would not the general adoption of family prayer among our household of faith, be beneficial in increasing within us that which is doubtless too much wanted, a serious and deep sense of godliness within the heart-a fervour of spirit, which would afford the best, the most weighty comment on the excellence of our creed? We wish to see all that is simple and beautiful in the doctrines of Christianity, united with all that is holy and edifying in practice the union of glowing piety, with a rational faith-the warmth of a devout heart accompanying the light of a clear understanding. How blessed to the individual, how beneficial to society, is such a manifestation of the knowledge and power of godliness. We welcome Mr. Beard's volume as a valuable addition to a valuable, and with us, a scanty class of books. There are, it is true, many works of a similar kind; but, in general, the peculiarities of religious belief are so prominently brought forward, that we cannot, without previous examination, use them with confidence and edification. Variety in the use of printed forms, is certainly better calcu lated to excite and sustain the attention (often too apt to flag), than the frequent repetition of the same prayers. The volume before us consists of four parts. The first contains prayers added to the second edition of "Sermons designed to be used in Families." Whoever has read the sermons, will require nothing further to recommend this part of the volume, as abounding with pious, tender, elevated, Christian feeling. The second part, contains Family Prayers, for two weeks (which, with the remaining prayers, are from Mr. Beard's own pen). In these, there is throughout a happy blending of religious with domestic feeling; the tenderest affections of our nature are drawn forth and sanctified by the spirit of devotion. The third part consists of Miscellaneous Prayers for a Family, on the following subjects:-Intercessory Prayer, Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, The Commencement of the Year, The Close of the Year, Christmas, Prayer of Dedication, Commemoration of the Love of God in Jesus Christ, Under a Bereavement, On Deliverance from an Impending Judgment, In Prosperity, In Sorrow and Distress, Thanksgiving for Special Mercies. Miscellaneous Prayers for Individuals, constitute the remainder of the volume. These comprise-Prayer of a Father, Prayer of a Mother, Preparatory to joining in Public Worship, Morning Prayer of a Child, Evening Prayer of a Child, Prayer of a Youth, Prayer of one who is about to partake of the Lord's Supper, After partaking of the Lord's Supper, Prior to any Important Undertaking, For a right improvement of the Holy Scriptures, Prayer against Presumption, Prayer of a person under a Sense of Sin, Prayer to be used in Adversity, Prayer to be used in Sickness, For a person at the point of Death, Prayer of Self-devotement. These prayers contain what, when judiciously introduced, is a great excellence, a copious use of scriptural language. It is but right that we should, by the frequent introduction of Biblical phraseology, redeem it from the erroneous associations with which, by a false theology, it has been too long wedded. Let us avail ourselves of all those touching confessions of sin, and those animating thanksgivings for salvation, which it furnishes with so much propriety to the condition and feelings of all, and which are not less accordant with the truths we embrace, than, by a false interpretation, they seem to be with the errors we oppose. In conclusion, we thank the author for the service his work is rendering to the cause of true religion; and take this opportunity to express a hope, that he, or some other of our ministers, may publish a devotional volume in a pocket edition, on the plan of Bishop Wilson's Sacra Privata, containing short, pertinent reflections on the various trials and incidents of life, accompanied with scriptural illustrations, ejaculations, and prayers. F. H. R. Peace in Division; or the Duties of Christians in an Age of Controversy. A Discourse, by the Rev. James Martineau, Assistant Pastor of the Eustace-Street Meeting-House, Dublin. "UNITARIANISM is," says the opponent, "at its last gasp." This conclusion would hardly ensue from the demonstration of zeal and piety recently exhibited in Ireland. Our opinion is, that it is on the eve of a glorious triumph. "The Unitarian minister," says the opponent, "is as sterile in his soul as he is in his labours." To the veterans of our communion we might refer, and refute the calumny; to those who are in the mid-way of their labours, as well as their existence, we might refer, and refute the calumny. We are led on the present occasion, however, to refer to our younger pastors. Who can despond-who rather is not full of hope, that considers how many young men of the first talents, of rare devotedness, and exemplary lives, are at the present moment engaged among us in the duties of the Christian ministry? Mr. Martineau may, with propriety, be mentioned as the representative of the class of which we speak; and those who read the sermon he has just published, will not think us guilty of exaggeration in the language we have used. G. C. S. The Course of Time, a Poem: by Robert Pollock, A. M. (Continued from page 70.) WHEN the wicked are consigned to the abyss of despair, they are effectually secured with a high wall, which closes around them for ever: "And now the wall of hell, the outer wall, First gateless then, closed round them; that which thou Hast seen, of fiery adamant, emblazed With hideous imagery, above all hope, Above all flight of fancy, burning high; And guarded evermore, by Justice turned "Nor ask if these shall ever be redeemed; The bard speaks as one having authority-as though seated on the throne of God, and acting as God;-" They never shall." What a representation of the God of Love! -eternally wrathful! No, it cannot be; "He keepeth not his anger for ever." And what do we learn, from "all things being subdued unto Christ," and God being "all in all"? Not, surely, that some remain eternally disobedient and wicked, and eternally cut off from God. We have often admired the following prayer of Zollikoffer, and we think our readers must have often admired it too:-" Thou art the Father, the wisest, kindest Father! Never canst thou, who art equally wise and powerful, fail of thy aim; and that is no other, and can be no other, than to render us thy children, sooner or later happy." We are sure, that the belief of the final restoration of the wicked to virtue and happiness, is far more benevolent, than the belief of the eternity of bell torments; and because it is so, we feel persuaded that we are right in concluding, that it is founded in truth, while the other is established upon error. For, that opinion which, in reference to the Almighty, is most benevolent, must be most true; for it is most like God, who is infinite benevolence. Here we will rest; and we will rejoice in the universal and everlasting benignity of the Universal Father. We confess, we cannot understand the following, either on the principles of Scripture or philosophy: "I passed the bounds Which God doth set to light, and life, and love; We prefer to these words, the description in the 139th Psalm, and the following words of the 145th: "The Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works." We prefer also, the following lines of the celebrated Poet of the Seasons; and think them more accordant with truth, and the character of the Divine Being: "I cannot go Where Universal Love not smiles around, |