most plainly teaches in the parable of the Talents, that men are rewarded according to the improvements which they make; he that had gained ten talents was made ruler over ten cities; and he that had gained five talents over five cities. And He further tells us,-that, in the day of judgment, the condition of Tyre and Sidon, wicked nations which had not received the blessings of the gospel, shall be more tolerable than that of impenitent sinners, under the Gospel, which is perfectly agreeable to the justice of God's providence, and the reason of the thing, since nothing can afford a greater encouragement to piety, than the consideration that the least service shall not lose its reward; for the better any man bẻcomes, the more qualified he will be for the enjoyment of heaven; and on the contrary, the more hardened he is in wickedness, the more sensible he will be of torment, and treasuring up greater measures of wrath against the day of wrath.

In proportion to the magnitude of this subject, it concerns us to attend to the prefixed time of our Saviour's coming to judgment. This is a secret reserved by God to HIMSELF.- -“Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no not the angels that are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father." Now here we are to observe, Christ is speaking of himself, as in his human nature, and as to his human understanding, in which He does not profess to know all things; though, doubtless, now in his glorified state, and as possessing the nature of which, He partakes with the Father, He does know all things. We all know enough of it, to acknowledge the wisdom of preparing for it; because the time of our death will determine the trial we are now undergoing for it: and our condition after our removal from the body, may, in some degree, be compared to that of a suspected criminal, confined in prison till the day of trial: if guilty, of which his own conscience will not fail to upbraid him, he will live in dreadful expectation of being condemned and execu ted:-if innocent, his mind will continue tranquil, under the joyful prospect of being pronounced clear of the crime laid to his charge, and the pleasure of being acquitted by a just and impartial judge, in the presence of all who might have entertained apprehensions of his being guilty, and to the confusion of his enemies and accusers. In the mean time, it behoves us to watch, lest we should be surprised by the awful call, since we are told that the day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night-suddenly and without warning; and the manner and circumstances of it, are also revealed in such terrifying language, that the hearts of all men must quake with fear, that are not supported by the power of Divine Grace." P. 72

The whole of these sermons may be read by the Christian with much advantage and effect,

ART. VIII. Reflections on the Education of the Poor, submitted particularly to the Consideration of the Landholders and principal Manufacturers, 8vo. 52 pp. 2s. Lloyd. 1815, The great cause which, under the blessing of Providence, our NATIONAL SOCIETY have so successfully taken in hand, re

3

quires

quires no less animation and zeal in perpetuating than in com mencing its operations. On this account we notice with satisfaction those publications which appear from time to time, and point the attention of the country to those parts of the system, which a partial view of this vast machine may not have yet discovered, or carelessness may have suffered to pass into neglect. The pamphlet before us is a very able exposition of the general principles, both Christian and moral, upon which we proceed to the holy labour of educating our poor in the paths of religion and virtue, and in the discipline and communion of our Established Church. The part, however, to which we would particular draw the attention of the reader, is to the following extract, which will furnish a most useful hint respecting the application of Dr. Bell's system to schools in great manufacturing towns.

"In effecting this great. object, the chief difficulty with which they will have to struggle, is not the establishment of Schools upon the vast scale, and to the full number required; for, if the indigent pupils are numerous, so also are their opulent employers; and the very largest Schools, constituted upon the new principle, are conducted at an expense comparatively small. The chief obstacle will be the cupidity of the parents, who will grudge to be deprived of the earnings of their children, however scanty.

1

"It might then be worth the consideration of the head manufacturers, whether it would not be adviseable to continue the same wages to them; and, at the same time, allow them perhaps two hours a-day to be taken from their work, and spent in receiving education, Short though the time be, yet from the rapid progress, which children at such schools universally make, it would be in a great degree sufficient. By due arrangements throughout the

to

different manufactories, a fresh set of scholars might succeed each other at the same School, every two hours; thus rendering a much smaller number of schools and schoolmasters necessary, than would otherwise be wanted; and, if the principal manufacturers not only permitted, but encouraged and insisted on this plan being adopted, instruction would soon become so general, that it would be accounted a disgrace not to be educated: and they would then begin reap the fruits which, as has already been shewn, are sure to follow at the last. Their workmen would gradually recover some, idea of what they have now generally lost, (and a grievous loss it is) a value for character. They would be, in some measure, brought back to the influence of knowledge, and restored to the guidance of reason and principle. Early driven by inevitable circumstances from the parental roof, and cast abroad upon a world that lieth in wickedness." they would not go unaccompanied by that heavenly Guide, whose warning voice would reprove their errors, and whose pure precepts could alone preserve them from the taint of corruption.

66 They

"They would moreover acquire (what in the end must be of essential advantage to their employer) that health and strength which, when destroyed in youth, cannot be recovered in their maturer years,—if, indeed, they ever reach maturity. For many of them early sink under the effects of confinement, amidst foul air or unwholesome vapours, and under a length of application unsuited to their tender age. Thus is all the experience which they have acquired lost to the manufacturer as well as to their country, before they have replaced to it the expense of their early subsistence. But, were their daily toil relieved by that rest of body and exertion of mind which School would supply, the mischief would be in a great measure prevented. Instead of meeting every where among them those pale, emaciated and sickly forms, we should find a race of active, robust and healthy tradesmen; capable of much more effectually serving their employer in health, and less likely to burden him and the parish for support, under frequent illness or confirmed disease.

"What is now therefore recommended to the principal Manufacturers, appears to be a duty which they owe to the workmen by whom they are enriched, to the country by which they are protected, to their own best interests well understood." P. 45.

We trust that this good advice will not be lost, but that some. method may speedily be devised of a Christian education to those who are employed in the drudgery of our great manufactures; and that, by some happy arrangement, sufficient time may be allowed to teach the children the first principles of our holy Religion, without any diminution of their earnings. It would be well if those who stand at the head of these vast concerns would expend some thought upon this most desirable object.

ART. IX. The Baptism of John, was it from Heaven, or of Men? A Norrisian Prize. By J. C. Franks, Scholar of Trinity College, Cambridge. 8vo. pp. 86. 2s. 6d. Long

man. 1814.

This is an essay which is peculiarly creditable both to the industry and the attainments of so young a man as Mr. Franks. It is a production, of which a student much more advanced in age and dignity need not be ashamed. The subject is an important one, and is treated with much regularity and order. The peculiar character in which John appeared is considered at length, and the external and internal evidence for the divinity of his mission, are stated with accuracy and strength. Under the former head Mr. Franks considers the miraculous circumstances of his birth, and ably defends the authenticity of the first chapters of St. Luke against ungrounded and absurd attempts of the modern Unitarians.

The

The nature of the baptismal rite, as administered by John, is lastly considered, and compared with that afterwards administered by Christ himself. The observations of Mr. Franks upon this part of the subject are ingenious, but in his desire to exalt the baptism of John to an equality with that administered by our Saviour and his disciples, he appears to forget that the Christian baptism is a sacrament, and therefore a means of grace and not only a means of grace, but an entrance into the Christian covenant, and a participation of that state of justification, in which, as members of Christ, we are placed before God. We could say much more upon this point, but we shall be contented with these hints only, as we are assured that when Mr. Franks proceeds, in the course of his theological studies, to consider the Christian baptism in all its important bearings, he will be the first to correct any error of this nature into which the ardency of a young mind in the pursuit of a favourite subject may have involved him.

The conclusion of the essay, and the recapitulation of his arguments is both clear and strong.

"Here let us close the discussion. It was the object of this Essay to establish the grand truth, that the baptism of John was from heaven, rather than to adjust the disputes of contending parties on subjects of this nature. Having arrived, therefore, at the desired haven, we shall avoid embroiling ourselves with the storms of controversy. We may conclude with a well-grounded conviction of the truth of that express declaration which our Saviour delivered; "Among them that are born of women, there hath not arisen a greater prophet than John the Baptist*." estimating in this manner the lustre and dignity of his character and office, we shall be prepared duly to appreciate the value of those encouraging words which Christ subjoined: "Notwithstanding, he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." The meanest follower of Christ lives under the full display of the divine dispensation. He is blessed with a more complete knowledge of the Saviour, with a more clear and comprehensive view of the truths and privileges of the Gospel, than was ever enjoyed by him who was called the prophet of the Highest, and went before the face of the Lord, to prepare his way."

"In taking leave of the subject, a remark is naturally suggested by the satisfactory result of our inquiries, which ought to excite the most feeling admiration of the wonderful structure of the Gospel-scheme; and the fullest conviction, that the Divine Wisdom has afforded to every one, who is really in search of

* Matt. xi. 11.

truth,

truth, the most ample materials on which to build a solid and rational faith. God, about to communicate to mankind the great revelation of his will, confirmed it by many infallible proofs. He did not even intrust the establishment of the dispensation to the ministry only of one, but caused the Messiah to be preceded by a forerunner, "that in the mouth of two witnesses every word might be established." Now they were not permitted so to discharge their respective functions, as to make their missions independent, which the connexion between the offices of both in fact rendered impossible; but so express was the testimeny given by each to the other, that the credit due to the pretensions of either, depended as much upon the evidence for the authority of his colleague, as on that which established his own. The divine authority of John and that of Jesus, must therefore stand or fall together. If the prophetic character of either could be impugned, the other, having given testimony to him, forfeits at once his own pretensions. But since both can be shewn to have had a divine commission, our holy Religion does indeed rest on a sure foundation. Imposture never was, never can be so supported." P. 83.

We cannot take our leave of Mr. Franks without declaring our opinion of his fair promise as a future theologian, and we trust that we shall hereafter number him among the active defenders of Christianity and the zealous sons of our Holy Church.

ART. X.

Sermons on Practical Subjects. By J. Vincent, A.B. Chaplain at Calcutta. 8vo. pp. 294. 8s. Rivingtons.

1814.

This volume contains seventeen discourses upon various subjects, which are by no means devoid of ability. We have no doubt that they proved useful to those before whom they were delivered, and it is not improbable but that a similar advantage may be derived by those who may read them. They contain indeed nothing that is new, nothing that is recondite, but they are neither without simplicity nor elegance. The principles which they inculcate appear to be good, and the doctrines which they exhi bit are those of pure and unaffected Christianity. Perhaps the best sermons in the volume are those upon a good and an evil conscience; from the latter we shall give an extract, which may be highly useful to those who neglect the still small voice of conscience in trifling offences, till they are gradually steeled agaiust its reproaches in more dangerous errors.

"Fatally strengthening ourselves in our prejudices and our errors by a partial and imperfect survey of our fellow-creatures, we are too easily led to limit and confine the office of an accusing conscience to the grosser and more notorious offenders of our species.