ble Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, and (2) to the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts. As a Protestant of the church of England, he is a subscriber (3) to the National Society for the Education of the Children of the Poor in the principles of the established church. As an English clergyman, he subscribes (4) to the Clergy Orphan Society, and (5) to the Sons of the Clergy; as a parson residing in London, (6,) to the Society for the Relief of the Widows and Orphans of the London and Middlesex Clergy, and (7) to the City-of-London Auxiliary National Schools. But as his parish in London is partly situated in three wards, therefore he is expected to subscribe (8, 9, 10) to the Ward School in each. And as he happens to have a trifling piece of preferment in the suburbs of London, in a parish where there is (11) a National School for Boys, and (12) a Parochial School for Boys, he is called upon for his contributions to each of these; while his wife is expected to subscribe to (13) the National School, and (14) the Parochial School for Girls. This I know to be a fact, and similar instances of unavoidable deductions from a clergyman's income, I have no doubt, may readily be found. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, A. E. THE CASE OF JEZEBEL. SIR,-I have not seen in any Commentator on 2 Kings, ix. 35, an attempt to assign a reason why the dogs, who devoured Jezebel, should leave "the scull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands." By referring the customs of the Orientals of the present day to the times of antiquity (and all travellers assure us that they have been unchanged for ages) I think we may discover a cause for this apparently strange and unexpected incident. We are told, 2 Kings, ix. 30, that "Jezebel painted her face" (or, as it is in the margin, " put her eyes in painting") "and tired her head."―orißioaто тovs plaλμovs avrñç. LXX. She blackened her eye-lashes with stibium or antimony. "Again, the missee (a preparation of antimony) is applied to the lips, the gums, and occasionally to the teeth of every married lady, who emulate each other in the rich black produced. * *The eye-lid also is pencilled afresh, with prepared black, called kaarjil; the chief ingredient in this preparation is lamp-black. * * * The mayndhie is again applied to the hands and feet, which restores the bright red hue deemed so becoming and healthy."-Observations on the Mussulmauns of India, &c. by Mrs. Meer Hassan Ali, I. 102. * "Wady Fatme is also distinguished for its numerous henna trees, with the odoriferous flowers of which, reduced to powder, the people of the East dye the palms of the hands, the soles of the feet, or the nails of both."-Burckhardt's Travels in Arabia, II. 92. These extracts will, perhaps, satisfactorily account for the dogs leaving these parts. They could not endure the taste or smell of the antimony, mayndhie, or henna. London, 12th August. T. E. COMMUNION ON GOOD FRIDAY. SIR, I doubt whether the extracts from Bishop Andrewes, by your correspondents T. E. (p. 57) and Q. (p. 183) will be considered decisive as to the intention of our church on this subject. In 1597, Good Friday fell on 25th of March,-a festival, "The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary." Under such circumstances might it not be said, "Festum pellit jejunium"? X. DR. ARNOLD'S CHURCH REFORM. SIR,-In the course of those observations with which you have occasionally favoured the public on Dr. Arnold's scheme of Church Reform, it does not appear to have occurred to you, that whatever the merits of the plan may be, it cannot claim the advantage of being original, since it was both invented and put into practice some years ago in Holland, under the direction of Mr. Canzius van Onder-de-Wyngaart, who called his Society a Christo-sacrum. The following short account of it, extracted from "The Traveller's Guide through the Netherlands,” published at Amsterdam, by Maascamp, in 1816, may perhaps be considered to justify my representation. I am, Sir, your most obedient servant, A. M. RELIGIOUS SOCIETY, BY THE NAME OF CHRISTO-SACRUM. "THIS Society, established a few years ago, at Delft, under the auspices of Mr. Canzius van Onder-de-Wyngaart, has for its aim to re-unite in its bosom all religious sects. The temple which the Society caused to be built contains Calvinists, Lutherans, Mennonists, Catholics, and generally Sectaries of all religions. The Society admit no predominant or exclusive system; they have no priests, but only two orators, who pronounce speeches, standing before the altar. The worship is divided into acts of veneration, and acts of instruction. The first has for its object the demonstration of the grandeur of God, and of the admirable order which reigns in nature. To this effect, they meet every Sunday, from five to six in the evening. The meetings for instruction are held every fortnight, on Tuesday, at six o'clock in the evening; different subjects of revelation are then treated of. Six times a year they meet for celebrating the Lord's Supper. During the prayer and blessing all the assembly lie prostrate."-(p. 171.) SPECULUM GREGIS. SIR,-I was glad to see your notice and commendation of Mr. Exton's little work in your number for January last: may I be allowed to add my testimony as to the utility of that work, and to express my obligations to the author of it? I purchased the "Speculum Gregis" in 1820, when it was first published; and I have ever since, from year to year, constructed a register of my parishioners upon the idea suggested by that gentleman, though upon a plan differing a little from his, which I think unnecessarily minute. I find my register of great and daily use to me, in my intercourse with my flock, in more ways than I can particularize: the chief advantage of it, I think I may say, is, that I have them more individually in my thoughts, and in my heart, than I otherwise could have. In a very large, or in a very fluctuating population, there must of course be great difficulties to a clergyman, in keeping an account of the people with any accuracy; but, with diligence, much may be done under those circumstances. And I can, I think, safely assure my younger clerical brethren, who have never made the trial, that they will find themselves amply repaid for the trouble of keeping a "Speculum Gregis," by the help and satisfaction it will afford them. I take this opportunity of suggesting the great utility of keeping also a muster roll, shewing the attendance of our parishioners at public worship. With the assistance of two or three persons, who are themselves regular attendants, this may be accomplished without difficulty. I will not trespass farther on your indulgence, or that of your readers. If any apology is due for the remarks which I have taken the liberty of submitting, and which I fear bear very much the appearance of egotism, I trust it will be thought to be furnished to me in those words of the Chief Shepherd, (which Mr. Exton has appositely prefixed to his work,) "Iva Anpwon ὁ λόγος ὃν εἶπεν· “Οτι οὓς δέδωκάς μοι, οὐκ ἀπώλεσα ἐξ αὐτῶν οὐδένα. John, xviii. 9. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, C. S. EXTRACTS FROM PARISH REGISTERS. MR. EDITOR,-I send you the following extracts from the parish register of Sheldon, Warwickshire, (a country parish about five miles from Birmingham,) thinking that they will probably interest some of your readers. Yours very faithfully, Aug. 22. MDм.,-No person has died in this Parish for twelve months, a few days excepted. Deo gratias. Nothing like hereunto has happend for 162 years; and without a peculiar Providence, hereby thankfully acknowledged, there may not be the like for the years of many generations.' " July 25, 1737. Memorandum,-There having but three persons, inhabitants of this Parish, been buried since the 11th of June 1734 to this present time-viz., Mrs. Dorothy Archer, aged 80 and upwards, Mr. John Dunton, aged 79, and Humphrey Hobdy, aged betwixt 70 and 80, by appearance; tho' I could not inform myself, by his son, of his exact age, but he believed him to be about 75, according to the account he used to give of himself. So remarkable a dispensation of Providence ought not to go unobserved, without These initials stand for Thomas Bray, D.D., then rector, and Thomas Morrall, A. M., then curate of Sheldon. The memorandum does not seem to be in the handwriting of the rector; probably it was written by Mr. Morrall. + The oldest register of Sheldon begins in 1558. the most grateful acknowledgements to Almighty God, for his goodness and mercy to the inhabitants of this Parish; the number of souls within, which I compute at the fewest to be about four hundred. By Sir Wm. Petty's calculation from the bills of mortality, at an average of seven years together, one in thirty die annually. Whereas in this Parish, for three years together, but one in four hundred have annually died; and the youngest of them betwixt 70 and 80 years of age. Such favourable circumstances of life and health, for so long a time together, are not to be equalled in the whole course of this register, nor, perhaps, in any one parish in England. God grant that this may not lead us into a state of carnal security, nor incline us in the least to defer our preparation for the hour of death, or make us forgetful of that day, which will most certainly overtake us; tho' the all-wise Providence of God hath purposely concealed the præcise time thereof from us, in order to keep us alwaies upon our guard. JONATHAN CARPENTER, Rector." NOTICES AND REVIEWS. Reasons for Thinking Mr. Irving Deceived. By the Rev. P. Blackburn, of Christ's Coll., Cambridge, late Curate of St. Mary's, Lichfield. Cambridge: sold by Hatchards, London. 1833. 12mo. pp. 57. In this publication Mr. Blackburn has attempted, what has not hitherto been undertaken by any one else, to bring into a narrow compass Mr. Irving's views on the gift of tongues, and to shew that they are grounded upon a very erroneous conception of St. Paul's statements on that subject in his first epistle to the Corinthians. It is right to draw the reader's attention to one particular, viz. that Mr. Blackburn has endeavoured to prove, that they who spoke with tongues in the Corinthian church did always understand what they spoke, which is a point, perhaps, not advanced by any interpreter of early or modern times; and this seems to be very important in determining the truth or deceitfulness of the present pretensions. Mr. Blackburn's object has been to give every one satisfactory ground for refusing his belief to these pretensions; for it is to be feared there are many who, though they disbelieve them, would be unable to give an inquirer an intelligent reason for their doing so. It is a sensible, clearly written tract, and does Mr. B. much credit. Walker's Key to Classical Pronunciation, with an Explanation of the Proper Names, Notes, &c., by Rev. W. Trollope, M.A., a Master of Christ's Hospital. London: Fisher and Co., Newgate-street. 1833. pp. 187. MR. TROLLOPE's notes and explanations make this useful book still more useful and generally acceptable, both to schools and to persons whose education has not been classical. Biblical Cabinet, Vol. IV. (Conclusion of Ernesti's Institutes.) Edinburgh: Clark. 1833. Ir is a duty to mention the-continuation of this useful work, and to recommend it to all biblical scholars, with the fervent hope that they may multiply in number. There is nothing to add to what was formerly said as to the work, except that there are some very useful books added to the list of future publications. Poetical Remains. By a Clergyman's Wife. London: Rivingtons. 1833. THESE poems do credit in every instance to the authoress's sentiments, and, where her feelings are called forth, to her talents also. A Discourse on the Sufferings of our Saviour. By C. D. Sillery. Edinburgh: THIS book (intended for the young) may be considered as a connected comment on the last portions of the gospels, with practical reflections. The notes are well chosen for the purposes of illustration, and it may be used with advantage by those for whom it was written. A Sermon preached at the Consecration of the Church at Perry Barr, Aug. 6, 1833. By the Rev. R. L. Freer. Birmingham: Langbridge. 1833. THE dedication of this sermon deserves to be transcribed :-" To J. Gough, Esq. of Perry Hall, who, after munificently contributing to the erection and enlargement of many places of worship in various parts of the country, has consummated his benevolence, by founding and endowing, at his own expense, the chapel of St. John on his own estate at Perry Barr,-this sermon, a sincere tribute of admiration and esteem, is dedicated." Such an act and such a man deserve to be recorded, and Mr. Freer's sermon, which is full of kind feeling and high principle, fully justifies the choice: of the preacher on the occasion. Stephens's Edinburgh Ecclesiastical Journal (from March to August). Edinburgh Stephens and Co. It is only due to the publisher and editor of this magazine to mention, that the episcopalians in Scotland have here a journal of high principle, which may be made of great service to them, and which claims and deserves their best support. Domestic Manners and Social Life of the White, Coloured, and Negro Population of the West Indies. By Mrs. Carmichael. 2 vols. 12mo. London: Whitaker, Treacher, and Co. THIS magazine has avoided the slave question altogether. But it is impossible not to notice so curious and amusing a book as this. It is strongly recommended to general attention: if it is not correct, it ought not to be passed over in silence. A Narrative of the Martyrdom of Mr. Robert Glover and Mrs. Lewes, of Mancetter; with some account of their friend Augustine Bernher, Rector of Southam. By the Rev. B. Richings, A.M., Vicar of Mancetter, Warwickshire. London: Seeleys. 1833. 12mo. pp. 142. MANCETTER had the singular honour, it seems, of furnishing two protestant martyrs, both of them, too, remarkable ones, and well deserving to be commemorated. From a very right and natural feeling, tablets have lately been erected to their memory in Mancetter church. Mr. Richings has given us, in this pleasing and cheap little volume, a very interesting account, from Fox and other writers, of these admirable persons. |