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society, so that if desired, some of its pages may contribute to their enjoyment and instruction, while at work, and thus his single copy accomplishes its work on hundreds of minds. The good which it is capable of producing is in some degree secured, and at last i returns to him like a faithful servant, which has done its work.

Another man reads his copy, and leaves it, a few days, to be read in his family, and then shuts it up in a dark closet, idle and unemployed forever. It has done good perhaps to ten minds, when it is just as capable of doing good to an hundred. The story which it has told to a few, it is ready and willing to tell with equal fidelity to many, and if its possessor does not avail himself to the utmost of its power, he loses a great portion of the value of the work, and incurs moreover the guilt of keeping his means of doing good buried, not employed.

THE SUMMARY.

TO OUR READERS. We have already stated in general terms, what is to be the object and design of our work. The particular methods by which these objects are to be accomplished, will appear as we proceed. We shall devote a few columns at the close of each number, to such subjects as deserve a passing remark, whether they relate to the Magazine itself, or to the events of the day, or to those new works appearing from month to month which are interesting to the religious world.

We do not intend that the Magazine shall be exclusively religious. It is intended for a christian family, and anything may properly find a place in it, which may be interesting or useful at the Christian fireside. While we shall hope, by a direct and open

exhibition of evangelical truth, to promote personal religion, we shall aim also at awakening and encour aging a taste for intellectual pleas ures. We wish to cultivate intelligent, efficient and happy piety. Our field, in a word, is as wide as that which a faithful pastor might occupy in his influence over his people, whether by his preaching in the pul pit, or his conversation at the fireside. We cannot, however, too distinctly state at the outset, that we believe that every effort for the im provement of human character, must be based upon the principles of the gospel;-on thorough conviction of personal guilt, and on hopes of redemption through a Saviour, and of sanctification through an influence from above.

We wish our correspondents to

adopt a plain, direct and familiar style, such as one will naturally fall into, if his object is to exhibit his subject, and not his own literary powers. Affectation of eloquence and fine writing will be out of place, we hope, in our pages. The whole object of the work, is useful effect, not literary display. We consider how ever that giving pleasure is producing useful effects; and consequent ly, we should not certainly reject an article, which would really interest a religious family, because it did not directly teach a moral or religious lesson.

We shall occasionally insert reviews, and we wish to say a word on that subject here. A review, according to the usage of that word, may assume either of three forms.

1. It may be simply a description of the book; exhibiting its nature and design, and an analysis of its contents, giving extracts as specimens.

2. It may be a criticism on the work, recommending or condemning it, and giving extracts as proofs.

3. It may be simply a dissertation on the subject of which the book

treats.

We mention these distinct sorts of reviews for the purpose of saying that the first and last varieties, will be those which we shall most frequently admit, or perhaps the first and last combined.

We intend seldom to express opinions on books in this magazine. When we do, however, we mean that they shall be deliberate and cautious, that our readers may at least rely upon their being our own independent and matured opinion, or else that of some other individual, whose judgment and impartiality we prefer to our own. We shall not intentionally insert commendation of a

work, dictated by personal friendship, nor censure, which can have proceeded from personal enmity.

BRIDGEWATER TREATISES. The Earl of Bridgewater who died in 1829, appropriated one thousand pounds to be paid to certain persons, to be appointed by the President of the Royal Society, who were to write treatises, illustrating the Power and Wisdom and Goodness of God as displayed in the works of creation.

The following is the list of authors appointed, with the subjects assigned to each.

DR. CHALMERS; On the adaptation of External Nature to the Moral

and Intellectual constitution of man.

PROF. J. KIDD OF OXFORD; On the adaptation of External Nature to the Physical condition of man.

REV. WM. WHEWELL OF CAMBRIDGE; On Astronomy and General Physics.

SIR CHARLES BELL: The Hand; its mechanism and vital endowments as evincing design.

DR. P. M. ROGET; On Animal and Vegetable Physiology.

REV. PROF. BUCKLAND OF OxFORD; On Geology and Mineralogy.

REV. WM KIRBY; On the History, Habits and Instincts of Animals.

DR. W. PROUT; On Chemistry, Meteorology and the function of Digestion.

The first three of the above are already published, and two have been reprinted in this country. The others are ready and will appear immediately. The works will unquestionably, from their subjects, possess great interest, and from the distinguished character of the authors appointed, they will be of the highest authority.

The two volumes published contain about 300 pp. each. 12mo; price 75 cts.

MINISTERS AND PEOPLE. The modern practice of freely inviting a minister from one pastoral charge to another, has made a great change in the tenure of the pastoral office; as any one will at once see by comparing the deaths with the removals, in his own vicinity. In Boston the case stands thus. The last minister who died at his post here, was Dr. Baldwin. Since his death, which took place eight years ago, there have been twenty four removals. We state this on the authority of the Boston Centinel.

Aged christians in the country, often mourn for what they call the good old times, when a minister, once settled, devoted himself for life to his charge. There are advantages in both systems, but when we come to twenty-four removals to one death, it may be worth while to enquire whether we are not going to an extreme.

SPEAKING A SHIP. The following is an extract from a private letter of one of the Editors of this work. It may interest some of our readers who are not familiar with scenes at sea.

"Just spoke a vessel. After one or two false alarms of "Land ho," we descried a sail ahead. She was coming down upon us almost before the wind, at the rate of ten or eleven knots, and we, who were sailing very near the wind, made five or six. It is astonishing to see with what rapidity distance vanishes, as two ships at sea

approach each other, under such circumstances. I ran upon deck from dinner table and found she was within about two miles. I descended again to my seat and after remaining there but a moment, I ran upon deck again. She was almost upon us. The Captain stood with his trumpet in his hand, giving orders to facilitate his "speaking." As she came near to us, she was a splendid sight I assure you. She was the first vessel we had spoken, although we had seen and passed several. She was a brig. The waves were running very high. The wind was strong, and the sea of that deep, fresh, green, which is made so clear, like polished serpentine, by its contrast with the white capped waves. She mounted and tossed like a cork. Every now and then she would plunge most magnificently. You would think she would dive through the wave just rising on her prow. But just when you would expect to see her decks swept with the sea, she is sky high, her bowsprit pointing to the highest star.

When we were opposite, the Captain's stern voice, from the speaking trumpet made its way above the noise of the winds and waves,-"How do you make Kinsale head to bear?" "North by East," is quickly returned. "Thank ye. Where are you bound?" "To Limerick ;"-and they were out of hearing-and now they are out of sight.

TO READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS. Two or three communications from valued correspondents came too late for this number.

We invite the particular attention of our readers to the notice on the second page of the cover.

THE

RELIGIOUS MAGAZINE.

No. II.

NOVEMBER, 1833.

THE SPIRITUAL SEED TIME.

AN ADDRESS TO A CHRISTIAN CHURCH, ON THE DUTIES OF THE COMING SEASON.

Another season has just passed away, if we speak in reference to the fruits of the earth, but if we have in view the sup ply of food for the mind and soul, it is more proper to say that the season has just commenced. The summer brings forward the harvests of the field, but the late autumn and the winter bring the months of reflection, and the richest harvests of the intellect and the soul. Now therefore, that the sultry days of summer are over, and autumn has come, with its cool and bracing air, its falling leaves, its fading verdure, and the serious and contemplative influence which it breathes over the soul, the question ought to arise with every one, what progress is the Redeemer's kingdom to make in my heart, and in the circle in which I move, during the months which are to come. As the family gathers together once more from the green fields and out-door occupations of summer, to the duties and pleasures of the home and the fire-side, what influence, what feelings, what enjoyments are to reign in the re-united circle. Is our community to go on, pervaded by a cold, worldly, irreligious spirit, or is an influence from above to descend, awakening holy joy and peace in these hearts, bringing penitence for sin, ar

VOL. I.

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dent love for God, the glow of benevolence and the delights of prayer and praise. Is the church to remain as it is, or is it to be doubled and trebled during the approaching winter. Is religious feeling in the hearts of its members to continue cold, and formal, and meagre, or is it to be awakened to a warmer glow of gratitude and love, and deeper desires for spiritual blessings, and for more complete and happy union with God.

We all admit that it is only to an influence from above that we can look for these blessings. We never actually deny this truth, but we strangely forget it. The need of divine influences to renew the heart and to supply it with spiritual life, even if once firmly believed, will gradually fade away from the mind, until the Christian goes about to effect his own spiritual progress, or that of his children, or of his brethren in the church, with feelings of self-sufficiency, which cannot be blessed.

It is however, unquestionably true, that if any thing is to be done to promote the spiritual prosperity of our land during the coming winter, the foundation must be laid in the most complete humility, and self-abasement; and in the most thorough views of our dependence on God. Let us look then, a little at this subject, that we may recall to our minds what the word of God declares. The following passage gives the inspired account of the conversion of sinners.

"1. And you hath he quickened, [that is, brought to life,] who were dead in trespasses and sins:

2. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience :

3. Among whom also we all had our conversation, [that is, lived and acted,] in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh, and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, [that is, proper subjects of God's displeasure,] even as others.

4. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

HATH

5. EVEN WHEN WE WERE DEAD IN SINS, QUICKENED US together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6. And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

7. That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

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