sistent refusal of compliance, procured a recognition of the validity of their mar riages, in the very act which compelled all other Dissenters to conform to the ceremony of the Endowed Church. 12. Because the spirit and character of the present times imperatively demand that the more numerous and influential denominations of Protestant Dissenters should no longer exhibit to their fellow countrymen that egregious lack of proper feeling and becoming energy which their past conduct has betrayed. 13. Because the limited class of Dissenters called Unitarians, upon whom this law certainly presses with aggravated weight, having during several successive parliaments brought the subject before the legislature, it has already undergone full discussion in both houses, where the principle has been universally conceded, on which an efficient measure of general relief may be founded. 13. Because the way having been thus prepared by others, and the only obstacle which impeded the successful prosecution of the object being removed by the recent accomplishment of parliamentary reform, the orthodox Dissenters will be utterly inexcusable, if, when a new House of Commons is to be freely elected, they longer hesitate to take such steps as may be necessary to secure the speedy passing of a decisive and effectual measure of redress for a grievance which, having long been oppressive and vexatious, has now become intolerable. At a meeting of the Committee of the Congregational Union of England and Wales, held at the Congregational Library, July 9th, 1832, it was resolved, "That as a new Parliament is about to be elected, it is, in the opinion of this Committee, the duty of the dissenting body to connect with their exercise of the elective franchise an effort to secure the support of their future representatives to a measure for such an alteration in the law relating to marriage, as will save the Dissenters from being compelled to worship contrary to their consciences at the altar of the church of England. (See the PATRIOT of July 18, 1832.) ON THE RATING OF CHAPELS. MR. EDITOR, A paragraph having appeared in the Morning Herald, "That all the proprietory chapels in the parish of St. Marylebone are to be rated for the poor, &c., and a proposal to the same effect having been made in the vestry of St. Pancras respecting Tottenham Court Chapel (but was postponed at present), I beg to suggest to the friends of truth and benevolence the propriety of obtaining from all candidates that may apply for their suffrages a pledge that they will support a bill in parliament to exempt all Kentish Town. THE BOOK OF ENOCH. (To the Editor of the SIR,-A friend having put into my hands your Magazine for the present month, I am induced to trouble you with a few observations, which seemed called for by a notice respecting the "Book of Enoch" which appears in that number. After mentioning the English translation of Enoch by Rev. Dr. Lawrence in terms of commendation, the writer of the article proceeds to say, that "About the year Evangelical Magazine.) 1828, this translation was withdrawn from circulation, and every copy was bought up with the utmost avidity. The cause of this suppression is not certain; but it is thought that some short-sighted persons had impressed the translator with an idea that if the Book of Enoch became well known, the opponents of Christianity might make use of it for building an argument against the authority of Jude, who could quote from such a book, &c. I, therefore, give this short notice of this curious book, in order that it may take the attention of the readers of this Magazine to a subject worthy of further enquiry: and I should strongly recommend the work to be republished, if a copy can any where be found." Now, Sir, I think you will be gratified to learn, and to inform the generality of your readers, that the foregoing observations are founded wholly on mistake. Dr. Lawrence is not a man likely to have any such short-sightedness or timidity as is imputed to him by the writer of that article. The translation was not withdrawn, and no single copy was ever bought up with a view to its suppression. It is indeed true that for some years past no copy has been for sale; but this has arisen wholly from the demands of the public having completely absorbed the impression. Dr. Lawrence, now Archbishop of Cashel, was apprized of this, and was requested to permit a re-impression of the work; but the more important active duties of his station did not allow him time sufficient to pay due attention to the request. These solicitations, how f ever, becoming more numerous and pressing, the archbishop has at length revised and corrected his work; the University of Oxford has undertaken its publication; and at this moment four sheets of the revised and enlarged edition are actually printed under my superintendence, and the whole work may be expected in a month or six weeks hence. As to the writer's suggestion "to any person who might procure a copy, to reprint it," on a minute's reflection you will perceive, first, that this could not be done without a positive violation of the laws of property; and, secondly, that in such case, the public would merely have an unauthorised publication thrown amongst them, and less correct than that which they were likely to receive from the legitimate quarter, the translator and illustrator of the work. This suggestion of R. M. Beverley, therefore, had better have been omitted. I have the honour to be, Sir, Christ Church, Oxford, POETRY. JAMAICA. 1832. Oh! tremble not, ye friends of freedom's cause, Though passionless he clanks his chain, Or care for liberty "Tis but that manhood, pent to-day, May gather strength to burst away, Oh! tremble not, ye friends of holy men, Though scorn abides them now, and deep disdain, Though misconceived their self-denying love, Home, comforts left-false tongues against them move, August. And, shepherds spoiled in hatred's vengeful war, 'Tis with the righteous well! Though now, perforce, they hide, they fly, The harvest soon shall swell, Oh! tremble not, ye friends of truth, though now Have ye not heard of plants that, trampled, grow, 'Tis not so long to be: Though strong appear its deadly foes, And soon, revived, shall raise its head, E. S. REVIEW OF RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS. A SHORT MEMORIAL OF MISS HENRIETTA THIS brief account of a young lady who was a member of the church assembling at the chapel, Above Bar, Southampton, is affectionately dedicated to the young persons of the congregation by their pastor. It is a judicious sketch of the life, last illness, and death, of one who was taken away from an endeared circle of friends, from interesting prospects in life, and from the communion of the saints on earth, to join the assembly of the church in heaven, in her nineteenth year. She dated the formation of her religious character from the privileges she enjoyed under the ministry of the Rev. T. Adkins for two or years previously to her decease. Placed in circumstances in which there is often too much that is flattering to the human heart, three and fascinating to the imagination of youth, to admit of that separation from the world and its pleasures which evangelical Christianity demands, she was happy in having parents who wisely encouraged her in the course she was enabled to adopt; and the grace of God strengthened her to make that choice of which she never repented, and of which she now enjoys the fruition in a nobler state of being. This well-written and affectionate tribute to departed and youthful excellence is particularly calculated to be useful to those young persons in genteel life who are seeking for happiness without decided religion. In the delineation of Miss Raitt's character, previously to her becoming a disciple of the Saviour, many may recognize their own condition. Amiable, elegant, moving in a superior sphere of society, and the idol of her friends, she was still only "not far from the kingdom of God;" she was, however, as much excluded from its privileges as those who are at the greatest distance. When, however, she came under that divine influ• ence, which alone can add the last finish to the human character, by imbuing it with the humility and spirituality of the gospel, she found that satisfaction which the world in vain promises, and which it cannot give. The commencement of the Christian character, and the internal workings of Christian experience, are thus pleasingly exhibited in a letter which Miss R. wrote about this time to one of her friends : "I do not,' she writes, feel that unreserved love to my Saviour that I could wish; my heart seems very, very cold. I try to rouse it by thinking of his great love to my soul, and of all that he has done for me. Do tell Henrietta why it is thus, and pray for her, that she may not grow cold in the service of her best friend. What a vile heart is this! -will it ever be fit to join the family above? Why does it thus linger on the road that leads to eternal life? Can the world give that enjoyment and peace which it has felt at a throne of grace? Oh, no, it cannot! I know it cannot ! And must I pass through all this coldness of affection and hardness of heart, ere I reach my heavenly home? It seems to be almost impossible that Christ should love me, when he meets with so poor a return; for what would be all my love when compared with his? And it grieves me still more when I think, that had an earthly friend done for my soul what Christ has done, I fear that I should feel to such an one more love and gratitude than is in this heart towards my Saviour. How is it he bears with me so long? Can I be a child of God? is a question I often ask myself; but I think if I were not, these things would not be so often in my mind. I have given myself to God in private and in public, and having put my hand to the plough, oh, forbid it that I should look back! But what love, what joy will there be in eternity! 'Tis worth meeting with all these trials by the way, if at last we gain that home, where my heart will no more sigh that it is so cold."' The simplicity of mind and beauty of character possessed by this young convert to our holy faith is further instructively evinced in the following extract : "With what feelings and motives she approached to the table of the Lord may be gathered from the following short extracts, addressed to her pastor on this occasion. 'My reasons for wishing to join a Christian church are, that I think it my duty to show to those around that I have chosen Christ as my portion in preference to the world-to comply with His injunction, who has said, "This do in remembrance of me;" there to commemorate his sufferings; there to view his love to man, and to feel my love to him increased, and my faith in him strengthened; there to feel a greater hatred to sin, as the cause of his sufferings and death, and to have my fellowship with his people renewed.'And it is my earnest prayer that I may love God more and more; may more closely follow the example of my Saviour in his humility and obedience; and feel more the influence of the Holy Spirit in teaching and guiding me. That life, which was once devoted to the world and its vanities, I would now devote to God.'" It was in April, 1831, that the first symp toms of that fatal disorder made their appearance which takes off so many of the young and the beautiful, just when the most interesting scenes are opening to their view. Many of the fairest flowers of humanity are "no sooner blown than blasted" by the deadly breath of consumption! This was the case with the subject of the present memoir. She, however, appeared to recover very considerably from the first attack, when she was, in July of the same year, again unexpectedly afflicted with a second hæmorrhage from the lungs. Her state of mind during her last illness may be seen from the following short statement among others that are recorded : "After the last hæmorrhage she said, 'My dear Miss G. will you give my affectionate love to my beloved parents, and request them not to grieve for me, for I am only going home; tell them, I am so happy! I long to be gone, though willing to wait the Lord's time! Tell them, further, that Jesus is very precious to me, and I am passing to a state where I shall have done with sorrow, pain, and death. I am going to pass through the valley of the shadow of death, but I do not fear, for Jesus will be with me there ;-tell them I cannot come to them, but I hope they will come to me. Do not weep,' said she to me; we have loved each other on earth, and we shall love each other in heaven. I am going home a little before you, and I am sure that you, who have been so affectionate and kind to me, cannot wish to detain me from perfect happiness.' Her end was peace, and her last words were" What am I waiting for? death?-no, life-eternal life! I shall lie down in green pastures; I shall be led by the still waters; I shall walk the golden streets with Jesus, where they need no candle, neither light of the sun, for the Lord God and the Lamb are the light thereof. Am I dying?it is like going to sleep!" Thus, in her nineteenth year, died the lovely Henrietta Charlotte Raitt, affording, at once, a touching illustration of the vanity of human life, and a glorious monument of the supporting power of the gospel. Her mortal remains, according to her expressed desire, were interred in the burial-ground adjoining the chapel in which she had been accustomed to worship; when the solemn service of the interment was performed, in the absence of her pastor, by Professor Hoppus, of the London University." We are able sincerely to recommend this short memorial, as highly calculated to answer the end which its esteemed author has in view in publishing it. It will amply repay perusal; and, in the deficiency of books of this kind, we know of no one more adapted to supply the chasm, or better calculated to form a present to young persons of a certain class in society who are exposed to those worldly fascinations which are so apt to. banish serious reflection. The author has done a service to the world, and justice to the memory of the departed, in rescuing from general oblivion those traits of early piety which otherwise would have been embalmed only in the hearts of attached friends and endeared connexions; and we trust the me moir will be highly and extensively useful. THE HARP OF ZION: A Selection of Hymns, chiefly Devotional. Edinburgh: Lindsay. London: Nisbet; Hamilton and Adams. SACRED poetry has been eminently blessed of God for awakening and cherishing devout feeling, and for fixing the lessons of religion in the memory. While truth in a cold and abstract form is often seen without interest, it seldom fails to engage the attention and to charm the heart when it utters its voice in " 'the living lyre." Verses despised in the fastidiousness and pride of refinement have been made the instruments of imparting grace and comfort when other means had failed to influence. We by no means wish to excite the unqualified to engage in such a task; but we make that remark to encourage the efforts of modest merit; to illustrate the sovereignty of that grace which puts the treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be seen to be of God; and to make the reading of such poetry a task for the heart and an effort for eternity. "The Harp of Zion" was not formed to be hung on the willows, but to be tuned to the praise of Him to whose worth the harps of heaven' are devoted. Many persons eminent for piety and genius have engaged in the composition of sacred poetry, and have felt the purest delight in the thought that, by their verses, childhood and youth might be formed to godliness, and that, by their strains, the sick and the mournful might be soothed and cheered, and languid devotion happily stimulated. Selections from the poetry of such writers have been in considerable request, on account of the variety in talent and in themes which they exhibit. The motives which led VOL X. the compiler of this handsome little volume to present this selection to the public are detailed in a well-written preface, rich in pious sentiment, and breathing an excellent spirit. The selection is very judicious; and there are some original pieces by the selector, which, in our estimation, possess considerable merit. We most cordially recommend this work as exhibiting religion in a form truly beautiful, and we wish that its utility may amply gratify the pious feeling which has led to its publication. THE NAVAL, MILITARY, AND VILLAGE HYMN Book, being a selection of Psalms and Hymns from the most approved Authors, designed to aid the Public and Private Devotion of Christians of all Denominations. Compiled by RICHARD WEYMOUTH, Commander, Royal Navy. London: Holdsworth and Ball, St, Paul's Churchyard. W. Byers, Devonport. Ir has been justly remarked that had Dr. Watts published no other work than his Psalms and Hymns, that was sufficient to have transmitted his name fair and fragrant to the latest posterity; and Mr. Montgomery declares that he would rather be the author of a few hymns which should become an imperishable inheritance to the people of God than bequeath another epic poem to the world, which should rank his name with Homer, Virgil, or our greater Milton. With such authorities we hail with pleasure every attempt to render psalmody an interesting engagement to every class of professing Christians. In this we are happy to say the compiler of the present work has admirably succeeded. Having studiously avoided controverted doctrines, he has brought out a work whose compositions are strictly evangelical, are at once elevated and simple, and are highly adapted to the learned and unlearned, the old and the young. Sunday-schools will derive much advantage from this compilation; it will raise the tone of sentiment and feeling in these important institutions. The volume contains 500 hymns from various authors; and we thank the compiler for the pains he must have taken, and the industry he must have bestowed, to render the work respectable and permanent. He has given us a very judicious arrangement of subjects, and a clear and comprehensive index, and those pointing out hymns for particular classes and circumstances,-as to manner rather novel, but peculiarly useful, and we think an additional recommendation to the work. On the whole, we unhesitatingly recommend these hymns, not only to those useful institutions of our country for which they are principally intended, but also to aid the family and social devotions of spirituallyminded Christians of all denominations. The seaman and the soldier in his birth, and the 20 |