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in the mean time these humble remarks are offered, in hope that they may elicit abler communications.

Some divines have wished that a hymn book might be made and appointed by authority for general use in the church; as being more according to uniformity, and preventing the confusion arising from change and diversity. But I think the plan would be attended with disadvantages far outweighing the supposed advantages. 1. Such a book would probably be a heavy production, as all forced works are, and inferior to the best selections now existing,* 2. It would raise a barrier against all improvement in writing or selecting church hymns for the future. 3. The book itself would not keep pace with the taste and improvements of the age, but would degenerate as it were, and become obsolete. These objections have been remarkably verified in the psalms heretofore adopted in the church, in the case of the Old, and also of the New version. And in the congregations where some one author, as Watts, or Wesley, though very superior, is exclusively used, a measure of the same, or like disadvantages may be observed.

The way to have any article in perfection, is to have a great demand for that article, and to allow full encouragement, and free competition to all who are disposed to furnish it. Thus, out of the efforts of men of various talents, many specimens are obtained, from among which, the most choice prizes may be selected. God, who is rich in manifold gifts, has endued some of his servants in all ages with the

* The inferiority of the selection published by the late Mr. Cottrell, under the sanction of the Archbishop of York, to that which he had previously published for the use of his own congregation, but which he was forced, after an expensive litigation to withdraw, affords a striking illustration of our correspondent's remark.-EDITOR.

special gift of writing psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, for his own praise, and for the edification of his church: and when we are building the walls of the sanctuary, we do not well to refuse any such materials that are provided and ready to our hand. David was gifted above all as "The sweet singer of Israel," but even hehad not the burden or monopoly devolved upon him of executing the whole book of psalms, as the authors of the Old and New versions had of translating them. His book is a selection, chiefly indeed of his own psalms, but including also those of holy men of God in various ages. Our excellent liturgy was not given to the church by one person, or delegation of persons at one time, but was gathered, as our selections of hymns are, from different liturgies, to which different individuals contributed, till it became as it now is, a beautiful collection of prayers, and generally adopted. In fact, the bible itself was not given to the world at once, in one work, but its portions were left here and there, in different ages and places, like scattered diamonds, discovered by their lustre, and gathered together, so as to form a perfect cabinet of jewels.

*

My conclusion is, that the way to attain to perfection in hymn books-and surely it is most desirable to provide the best things for the service of God-is to allow every clergyman to compile them freely from all the materials he can procure and if ever a hymn book is appointed by authority, the best existing selections should be taken for the purpose. But though I would allow all to make selections, I would by no means advise or encourage those who

*It should ever be remembered that the Bible differs from all other books, both as to its contents, and the mode of its publication; and therefore illustrations of this nature are not strictly and entirely applicable.-ED.

have not taste or ability to do so and many such there are, who feel that they are not gifted that way, and would be glad to have the best selections pointed out to them: and if you would review more hymn books for that purpose, it would be a benefit to the public. MINIMUS.

It would very far exceed our limits, to insert any thing like a comparative review of the numerous selections of Psalms and Hymns which continually issue from the press; many of which are indeed utterly unworthy of notice. All we can attempt is to offer a few observations on any particular selection, which from its peculiar character, or the name and position of its author, may call for especial notice. The selection mentioned by our correspondent, in the part of his communication which we have suppressed, deserves commendation on account of the correctness of its principles; but its poetry is, generally speaking, somewhat below par; and when the prosaic hymns, and the por

tions which are not suitable for public worship, are taken into account; the price in itself will not be found particularly reasonable. It appears however in the list of selections recommended by a correspondent in our volume for 1829, p. 306. Those who are desirous of either adopting or preparing a selection of psalms and hymns, would do well carefully to peruse the

observations inserted under various heads in our volume for 1827, p. 30, and 483; for 1829, p. 19, 97, 136, and 303; for 1831, p. 81; and for 1832, p. 303. It may not be improper to add, that a clergyman may usually purchase the number he requires for his own congregation, of any selection whose character is already established, for about two thirds of the price at which he could provide an equal number of a new selection. This consideration is of great importance when the congregation is large, and the Sunday and Charity School children numerous.-EDITOR.

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Review of Books.

LETTERS of the Rev. GRIFFITH JONES, late Rector of Llandowror, Carmarthenshire, founder of the Welsh Circulating School, to Mrs. BEVAN late of Langharne, near Carmarthen, with an Introductory Essay. By the Rev. EDWARD MORGAN, M.A. 12mo. Pp. xxx. and 400. Whittaker.

A SERMON preached at Long Acre Episcopal Chapel, on Sunday, November 25, 1832, on occasion of the Death of the Rev. WILLIAM HOWELS, M. A. Minister of that Chapel. By HENRY MELVILL, M. A. Third Edition, 8vo. Pp. iv. and 50. Seeleys.

IT has been very confidently asserted, that the Welsh church is one of the most ancient Christian churches in existence; that the gospel was preached in Britain by St. Paul; that when the Ancient Britons were driven from other parts of the Island by the ferocity of successful invaders, they retired to the mountains and fastnesses of the principality, carrying with them their religion, their ancient language, their ardent and determined love of freedom; and that these honourable characteristics have been preserved with less violation and interruption amongst them, than amongst almost any other nation. How far these assertions are well founded, we are not able to determine; but there is abundant proof that the Welsh have, in almost every age, been distinguished for zeal and piety, and determined attachment to the cause of civil and religious liberty. Nor are the Welsh of the present day unworthy of their great progenitors; they still evince the same exalted character; they still cherish and cultivate their ancient language; they still are feelingly alive to the interests of true religion; and though the Church of England is less prosperous in comparison with Dissenting and Methodist congregations in some parts of the principality than in England in general; this may fairly be ascribed to the inconsiderate or mistaken policy of appointing Englishmen to the Welsh sees, who, for a long period of years, seemed entirely to

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forget that a very large proportion of the Ancient Britons knew nothing of the English language, and that however eminent and excellent the individuals were, whom the stream of Episcopal patronage placed in the Welsh parishes, they were still as barbarians to those whose language they neither understood, nor took any pains to acquire. To the present Bishop of Peterborough, when Bishop of Llandaff, we are informed, pertains the honour, of first in modern times requiring that those who applied to him for institution in parishes where the Welsh language prevailed, should be able to officiate in that tongue.

Yet still under every disadvantage true religion has prevailed, and we are happy to say, does still prevail in a very eminent degree in the principality. It may in some instances there, as well as elsewhere, degenerate into fanaticism and enthusiasm, and when men of powerful talents, ardent minds, and lively imaginations apply in good earnest to religious subjects, it would be passing strange if in some instances they did not exceed the strict limits of propriety and moderation; but judging from the specimens we have seen of our Welsh brethren, whether as ministers, writers, or private Christians, it is only common justice to state, that they are, generally speaking, far beyond the ordinary standard ; and we are fully persuaded that their zealous, devoted, and disinterested exertions have most powerfully contributed to that revival

of religion, which has, through God's mercy, taken place during the last century in this country.

The life of Mr. Jones, inserted in our vol. for 1809, will in various respects illustrate and confirm this assertion.* The following extract from Mr. Morgan's Introductory Essay is full to the point; he is speaking of Mr. Jones

How much we owe, under God, to those individuals, who, at the beginning and about the middle of the last century, revived spiritual religion in the land, is more than can be told. Among the first of these, as to time, and as to usefulness, is the author of these Letters.

I. As to TIME he was probably the very first. He was born in the parish of Kilrhedin, in the county of Carmarthen, in 1683, was brought up at the Grammar School at Carmarthen, and was ordained by Bishop Bull, in 1708. From the very commencement of his ministry, he preached the evangelical doctrines of the Reformation. It does not appear that he was indebted to any human agency for his religious sentiments. He probably derived them from their proper source-the Bible, and from religious books; for the peculiar doctrines of the gospel were at that time almost unknown in the country. Ever since the age of Laud, the half-popish Archbishop of Canterbury, in the reign of Charles the First, the doctrines of the Reformation had been universally on the decline in the Church, and had arrived at their lowest ebb about the beginning of the last century. There was learning, but no spirituality,-an inculcation of moral duties, but not on evangelical basis, and a formal profession of religion, but no exhibition of its power and influence. It was the body of religion, dressed and decorated, without the animating principle; its figure and form, adorned with human embellishments, but without life and vigour; which, being found and observed to be lifeless, became an object of scorn, abuse, and derision to the infidel, and of disregard and neglect to the community at large. Hence arose the spread of infidelity, and the corruptions of the age in general.-Pp. iv. v.

* An interesting account of Mr. Jones, toge. ther with translations of several of his Sermons, by the Rev. Mr. Owen, Curate of Gaddesby, Leicestershire, has been published by HAMILTON, Paternoster-row. We recommend it to the attention of our readers.

II. As to usefulness, the author of these letters was very eminent.

In great changes, what is of vast importance is the first impulse. It has ever been the case, that prior to any great reformation, some preparatory process has been carried on by the unobserved operations of a gracious providence and then at the suitable time, some one, fitted for the work, is employed to make the first decisive movement. So it was in Germany at the Reformation. Literature had been previously cultivated, and knowledge had spread; so that the enormities of popery were come to light, and many besides Luther groaned under its oppressions, and became disgusted with its errors. But the first movement was made by Luther. He was the first that gave the impulse to the predisposing spirit of the times. Had he been alone, he would have been crushed like some of his predecessors, such as Jerome and Huss: but he was followed and countenanced by others. This is also true in narrower spheres. Wherever a revival of religion takes place, it is generally the case, that some one individual makes the first movement and gives the first impulse, while others are found ready to assist, though not possessing sufficient energy to commence the work. This honour, with respect to Wales belongs to the author of these Letters. He was the first who vigorously began the good work but many were found afterwards disposed to forward his object, as it appears evident from the communications he had while engaged in the business of the circulating schools. He found many in different parts of the country who hailed with joy his efforts for the spiritual instruction of the people.-Pp. x. xi.

His ministry was not confined to his own particular charge. Owing to his popularity, he was frequently asked to preach in the neighbouring churches; and his connexion with the schools led him to distant parts of the country, and he preached wherever he found churches open to him. Though he kept strictly within the pale of the church, yet his ministry was very extensively exercised, more so perhaps than that of most of the dissenters, who are not confined by any ecclesiastical discipline. Practice often differs from theory, sometimes coming short of it, and sometimes exceeding it. It might seem strange, but it is true, that his ministry partook much of the itinerant or

missionary character, much more so than what might be deemed practicable in our church. He preached often in the country around, on particular occasions, where people assembled on festival days and at wakes, for the purposes of vice, revelry, and folly and his efforts were extensively blessed for the suppression of these evils. He was instrumental in putting an end to the wakes in many places. He frequently at such times preached in the church-yard, there being not room in the church to contain the people.

But he was not without opposition, even from his own brethren in the ministry. Attempts were made to prevent his active labours, to stop him in his useful career. But through the influence of his friends, especially of Mrs. Bevan, he was allowed to proceed in his labours of love, without any actual hindrance from authority. He had been more favoured in this respect than his successors in the good work. Had a similar influence been exercised in behalf of Rowlands, he would not have been so shamefully turned out of the church as he was, which eventually proved so great a loss to the establishment. Had the zeal of this extraordinary man been allowed to exert itself in the church, the advantage to it would have been immense. Prejudice is blind, and enmity to the pure gospel, is intolerant: and these have often done to the church incalculable evils.

Great things have often very small beginnings, and arise frequently from circumstances of an ordinary kind. The ignorance of the lower orders has often been observed with no small concern by good men, when no efficient plan had been suggested for its removal: nor was the plan matured in the present instance, when the first trial was made. The first attempt was to instruct the poor of the author's own parish, by forming a charity school, supported by the sacramental money. This experiment was found to

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and spread gradually through most of the counties of Wales, so that in 1760, they were 215 in number.-Pp. xiv-xvii.

These passages clearly evince that Mr. Jones was an honoured instrument in the hands of God, in producing a revival of religion in Wales, many years before any hopeful symptoms appeared amongst ourselves. His zeal and love provoked a godly jealousy among many, and thus the cause of true religion prospered exceedingly.

It is much to be regretted, that the valuable letters contained in the present volume have not been already many years in the hands of the Christian public. They abound in clear and solid statements, in deep and rich Christian experience, and are especially calculated to edify those who desire to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The literary reader will observe a few rough passages, and homely or unpolished expressions; and perhaps the divine of any particular school may occasionally meet with a position which may excite his surprise, disturb his tranquillity, or not exactly coincide with his views; but these letters will be found strictly adapted to the case of the plain Christian, and admirably calculated to assist the young minister in communicating advice and consolation to the people intrusted to his charge. We regret that our limits confine us to the following specimens.

1. The Lord's supper was ordained to be a solemn commemoration of our Lord's death and passion, and to keep up a lively and affectionate remembrance of it in our minds until his coming again.

2. It was also to be a solemn renewing of the holy covenant; in which Christ on his part, makes a solemn delivery of himself to us, and with himself peace, pardon, adoption, his spirit of grace, and eternal life to every worthy receiver; and in which we, on our part, solemnly accept of Christ and his benefits on the terms

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