all objects, the amelioration of the heart. It is in subduing pride, passion, and selfishness, and implanting sentiments of patriotism, benevolence, and piety; in rendering the wonders of nature a theme of praise to the divine Creator, and the lessons of history a warning against vice or an incentive to virtue, that education will perfectly fulfil her high vocation. Without this, however proudly the tree of knowledge may lift its aspiring head, we shall seek in vain for shelter beneath its branches, or

devotes one chapter to the consideration of the much contested subject of emulation, and the scriptural arguments by which he maintains its propriety we will proceed to quote.

principle of self-emulation on which we have always placed so much reliance, being thus awakened, we were at all pains to encourage him to make similar remarks, which every day became more and more shrewd; not satisfied with emulating himself, he soon took no less delight in rising above his Lilliputian companions; and his ordinary place, at length, in a class of 24 or 25, was about third, or fourth; while he not unfrequently rose to the top. It is well worthy of remark, that, from the time he thus began to rise in bis class, he never heard any thing more of indignities offered him by those whom he was now surpassing. In place of declining to be spoken to, no-sweetness from its fruit. Our author thing now gave him greater pleasure than to have an opportunity of display; and whenever he saw the author approaching for the purpose of examining his class, bis countenance began to brighten, and he used to turn round to his class-fellows on either side of him with much eagerness, exclaiming, There's Mr. Wood, there's Mr. Wood.' His general aspect, too, now indicated greater intelligence, and undoubtedly greater happiness. As a proof of this, we may mention the following incident: a lady, who happened to see him soon after his admission into the school, having occasion to repeat her visit, requested, in the course of it, to be taken to the class where Jamie was. The truth was, she had already seen that class, and had heard this very lad examined at uncommon length, along with the rest of his companions, but had not recognised him. We had much difficulty in convincing her of his identity. She said, that in consequence of his being so much taller than those about him, she had taken particular notice of him; but from the intelligent answers which he returned, and his happy looks at the time of giving those answers, so different from what she bad seen him on her former visit, she had immediately banished from her mind all idea that this was the same individual."

Alluding to an opponent of this principle, Mr. Wood says:

"Mr. Cambell sweepingly tells us, that the apostle Paul expressly proscribed emulation, as one of the works of the flesh.' But if the apostle, in the passage referred to, is to be considered as proscribing under the word emulation' all generous rivalry, as well may he be supposed to have condemned under the word wrath' in the same passage, all just and virtuous indignation; and under the term variance,' all difference of sentiment, however honest and sincere; nor assuredly is it in the practice of the great apostle, that we shall find any proscription of the principle. No man knew better than he, its predominance over the human soul; or ever wielded it more powerfully towards the accomplishment of his own important ends.

He tells us himself the use he made of it, in his attempt to convert and save his own countrymen, by twitting them with the superior privileges which the Gentiles, whom they despised, were now earning to themselves. With an When knowledge first threw off its evident reference to a passage in one of old and cumbrous disguises, and began their prophets, recently quoted by him, to walk abroad among all classes, in a which contains the following remarkable new and more inviting dress, memory expression, recognising the same principle: was the first faculty taken into his serI will provoke you to jealousy by them which are no people;' the apostle proceeds, vice, and was unhappily elevated above, I say, then, have they stumbled that they instead of being made only the hand- should fall? God forbid! but rather through maid of the nobler qualities of the mind; their fall salvation is come to the Gentiles, but this error is corrected, and the cul- for to provoke them to jealousy. For I tivation of the intellect is beginning to speak to you, Gentiles, inasmuch as I am receive the attention it merits; while the apostle of the Gentiles. I magnify mine office, if by any means I may provoke to in the seminary we have been consider-emulation them which were my flesh, and ing, as well as in many others, both are might save some of them.' Nor can any rendered subservient to the highest of thing exceed the skill with which he em

ploys the like principle, in the management, ful of the motives which urge mankind of his various churches. To the Macedo- to the pursuit of excellence, previous ninus he boasts of the forwardness of the to the implantation of a religious princhurch at Corinth to contribute for the ciple; and even then it is not discarded, for our divine Master himself not only proposes his own glory as our ulterior object, but graciously encourages us to run with diligence the race set before us, by the promise of his favour here, and the future possession of that "crown of glory" which he has promised "to them that love him." Self-love then, which is often confounded with selfishness, though the latter is rather the rust of depravity which gathers upon it, is an allowed motive even in the Christian course, and as it relates to worldly affairs, it is most evidently one of the essential conditions of our exist ence. The principle of emulation is only one of its manifestations. In order

saints; while to the latter, he is careful to communicate this boast, in order that they might shew themselves worthy of it. I know,' says he to the Corinthians, the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your faith hath provoked very many. Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready: lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that are say not ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.' What a contrast does a tact like this, founded on a thorough knowledge of human nature, exhibit to the visionary schemes which are our present object of consideration." pp. 118.

We particularly invite the attention of Sunday School teachers to this rea-"to love our neighbour as ourselves;" soning, as we fear those invaluable in it is not necessary that we should restitutions have in many cases received fuse to exert our skill and industry, much injury from the well-meant, but because we will not surpass the ignorinjudicious attempts to exclude emula-ant or the idle; the former must of netion.

cessity win, and the latter lose the prize. For ourselves we think that the na- By attempting to be wise above Scripture of the feeling excited among chil- ture, fastidious beyond nature, and dren by the plan of precedency and jealous without reason, many errors prizes, has been much misunderstood. have been introduced into other matIt does not appear to us so much a ters as well as into systems of educaspirit of rivalry as a desire of approba- tion. Some persons decline uniting, tion and reward. On younger children even in the noblest schemes of benevoespecially, we have observed that merely lence, because they cannot perfectly getting above their fellows has little approve the characters and motives of effect, unaccompanied by the expecta- all the individuals with whom they must tion of entitling themselves to the ticket associate. Others refuse their aid to or other mark of distinction attached to societies because some of the regulathe highest place. We believe that the tions are opposed to their own peculiar feelings of the solitary child, instructed views and prejudices on minor points. by maternal tenderness beneath the do- Many truly pious and estimable indivimestic roof, on receiving the promised duals of contracted views, tremble at kiss, or book, as a reward for mental the progress of knowledge, and keep exertion, will be found very near akin, aloof from Mechanics' Institutes and if not precisely similar to those of the other similar institutions, with which pupil at a public school on having at- religious information is not professedly tained the head of his class; his plea- connected, fearing lest the snares of sure does not arise from looking back with infidelity should be concealed under the self-complacent exultation upon those specious guise of free discussion, and he has surpassed, but from looking for- atheism lurk beneath the philosophy of ward with the consciousness of success- nature. But these apprehensions, howful exertion, to the praise of his tutor, ever unfounded, should rather lead them and the possession of the merited re- to take part in these plans, in order ward. It is the most pure and power- that their influence may be exerted in

ten on that part of the sacred volume which the lectures before us attempt to explain, it may perhaps be justly afWHATEVER be the cause which pro-firmed, that these human expositions duces it, we have reason enough to la

to indicate that we must wait until Jones exhibits the rise, progress, and
Providence has shed more light on these deformities of popery and Mahometan-
at present dark pages, before we can ism, two of the most filthy and ferocious
attain to a certain knowledge of what systems of evil that have ever degraded
they represent.
and ruined man.

But whatever be our opinion of the The style of these discourses is manly
wisdom of attempting at present to ex- and perspicuous, and their author every
pound the volume on which Mr. Jones where appears distinguished by a desire
has laboured, we deem his Lectures to benefit his readers. He has, with
now on our table equal, if not superior, becoming diligence, referred to the
to any thing on the same subject that soundest authorities on all the subjects
has hitherto appeared. They are re- where information was needed, and in
plete with historical and theological in- a very condensed form, given a vast
formation of the highest worth. The amount of that valuable commodity.
historical is full and various, and the That the work on which we have
theological generally respects the per- animadverted is not perfect we admit,
sonal dignity and official character of but its delinquencies are few, and
Jesus Christ, the nature of his kingdom | scarcely deserving of notice. Mr. Jones,
on earth in all its parts, and the glory of we think, is sometimes too confident of
that state of eternal blessedness into the correctness of his opinions and ex-
which he will finally elevate his servants.planations; a fault too common with
Indeed, our author manifests throughout men of an independent spirit. A part
his work an extensive knowledge of the of the sacred writings on which such
Scriptures, and great ability in using men as Bishops Newton, Hurd, and
that attainment. Nor does he ever for Warburton; and Messrs. Lightfoot,
get that Jesus Christ is the only monarch Scott, and Faber, have given different
of the true church, and that men should expositions, should be treated with that
only obey his laws, as they are found in modesty which effects all it can, and
the inspired page.
The ecclesiastical then almost trembles lest some of its
enactments of popes and monarchs he labour should be incorrect. We fear,
treats with just as much respect as the too, that our author is disposed to con-
chaff that has been left on the top of a tend for an agreement in thought among
mountain would receive from a mighty good men, of greater exactness than he
wind. He is uniformly the determined will ever see realized on this side hea-
enemy of that corrupt and malignant ven; and that he is not quite enough
union of ecclesiastical and civil policy in love with that union of affection that
and power, in the government and ex- does live on earth, and may be still
tension of the Christian church, which further extended.
have been too often employed; a union,
as faithful history shews, that has de-
based religion, created, extended, and
maintained heresy; and shed rivers of
the blood of the best part of the popu
lation of our earth.

In these Lectures, no fair opportunity is omitted of conflicting with every corruption of the doctrines and institutions of the Gospel; the author acting, as it appears to us, under the just conclusion, that the principles and rites which descended from heaven, under the divine influence, are alone able to sanctify and save the human soul.

In a clear and able manner, Mr.

As a specimen of the style and spirit of these Lectures, we give the following passage. Remarking on Rev. xiv. 9-11, this able Lecturer says

"I cannot forbear remarking to you, my brethren, a consideration, which the bare reading of these verses is calculated to impress upon all our minds, namely, that it is no trifling concern for any of the human race to be found following in the train of the beast, or dwelling in the camp of those who worship his image, or even to receive his mark, either in the hand or forehead. matters, in this the day of their merciful Thoughtless mortals may trifle with these visitation, and say, as thousands are saying daily, What does it matter whether we

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