A CHILD'S PRAYER TO THE SHEPHERD. GENTLE Shepherd, pity me When the storms of life arise,- When the tempter we behold,- Bistorical and Biographical. THE BEGINNING OF NEWSPAPERS. "THE first newspaper was issued monthly, in manuscript form, in the republic of Venice, and was called the Gazetta, probably from a farthing coin peculiar to Venice, and which was the common price at which it was sold. Thirty volumes of it are still preserved in a library at Florence. It was long supposed that the first newspaper published in England was at the epoch of the Spanish Armada, but it has been discovered that the copies of that bearing the imprint of 1588, in the British Museum, were forgeries. There was no doubt that the puny ancestor of the myriads of broad sheets was not published in London till 1622-one hundred and fifty years after the art of printing had been discovered, and it was nearly one hundred years more before a daily paper was ventured upon. Periodical papers seem first to have been used by the English during the times of the Commonwealth, and were then called 'weekly newsbooks.' Some of them had most whimsical titles. It was common with the early papers to have a blank page, which was sometimes filled up, in the paucity of news, by selections from the Scriptures. "The first newspaper in North America was printed in Boston, in 1690. Only one copy of that paper is known to be in existence. It was deposited in the State Paper Office in London, and is about the size of an ordinary sheet of letter-paper. It was stopped by the government. The Boston News-Letter was the first regular paper. It was first issued in 1704, and was printed by John Allan, in Pudding Lane. The contents of some of the early numbers are very peculiar. It had a speech of Queen Anne to Parliament, delivered one hundred and twenty days previously, and this was the latest news from England. In one of the early numbers there was an announcement that, by order of the Postmaster-General of North America, the post between Boston and New York sets out once a fortnight. Negro men, women, and children were advertised to be sold; and a call was made upon a woman who had stolen a piece of fine lace worth fourteen shillings a yard, and upon another who had conveyed a piece of fine calico under her riding-hood, to return the same or be exposed in the newspapers." The statistics of newspapers we shall take some future occasion to present to our readers. DR. ALEXANDER THE ORIGINATOR OF RELIGIOUS NEWSPAPERS. "The Presbyterian" says, "After all that has been said as to the relative claims of various parties to the honour of having originated religious newspapers, it seems that it belongs to the late Dr. Alexander. Under date of 1810, in his biography he is quoted as saying: In considering the wants of the people and the difficulties of reaching the multitude with religious instructions, I conceived the plan of a religious newspaper, a thing at that time unknown in the world. But as the thing was new, I mentioned it to none but two or three of my ruling elders, and it met with approbation. It was suggested that we had a printer, who was a well-informed young man, John W. Scott. I conversed with him, and he drew up a wellwritten but rather florid address, to accompany a prospectus. Before the plan was carried into effect I was removed to Princeton; but Mr. Scott went forward with the enterprise, and published for a number of years, before any other work of the kind was thought of, The Christian Remembrancer. "This paper, having been published in Philadelphia in 1810, was the pioneer of this class of journals, and is entitled to rank as the oldest religious newspaper. As to Dr. Alexander's connection with the matter, it is well known that he was true to his idea of the importance of this agency for usefulness to his dying day, having, as is well known, written very extensively for the religious newspapers, especially in the later years of his life." THE GRAVES OF TENNENT AND FINLEY. AMONG the many interesting incidents connected with the church of Abington, Pennsylvania, (one of the oldest in the country, having been organized in 1714,) is the following: In 1853, a lady of Philadelphia, a granddaughter of Rev. GILBERT TENNENT, asked me if we would consent to have the remains of her grandfather interred at Abington. I answered, "Certainly, madam; we shall esteem it an honour to have the dust of such an eminent servant of God among us." When the old church at the corner of Arch and Third Streets was sold and torn down, the remains of Gilbert Tennent and President Finley were taken up and put in a strong box, and placed in the family vault of the late Charles Chauncey, Esq. There they remained until the time specifiea above, when they were transferred to our graveyard, and a handsome marble monument placed to mark the spot. From the inscription it ap pears that both those celebrated ministers were born in Armagh, Ireland, nearly at the same period. Both laboured in establishing the kingdom of Christ in this country. They lived in closest bonds of intimacy, died near the same time, and sleep together now in the same grave. "They were lovely in their lives, and in their death they were not divided." Yours, &c., R. STEEL. Keview and Criticism. GLIMPSES OF THE TRUTH AS IT IS IN JESUS. By the Rev. OCTAVIUS WINSLOW, D.D., author of The Glory of the Redeemer, Midnight Harmonies, &c. &c. Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston, 1856; pp. 273. THIS work contains the substance of discourses delivered by the author from the pulpit of different Christian denominations during a recent visit to Scotland. Their publication being requested, the form of sermons was changed to that of chapters, though the texts (eight in number) are retained, and the general structure of the discussion is doubtless the same as when delivered in public. The author is not unknown to our readers; and his reputation as a sound, evangelical theologian, and an earnest, nervous writer, is sustained in the present volume. Though the topics discussed have no immediate connection with each other, they all relate to Christ and to our salvation by him. The titles of the chapters are as follows:-The Voice of the Charmer; Alone with Jesus; The Pastor's Request for the Prayers of his Flock; A Word in Season from Christ to the Weary; The Axe laid at the Root; Broken Cisterns; The Coming of the Lord, in its relation to Nominal Christianity; Christian Love a test of Christian Character. His views on the coming of the Lord appear to be millenarian, though he enters into no formal discussion of this theory, and the practical application of the train of thought which he pursues is equally pertinent to the doctrine of a spiritual as to a personal reign of Christ. The volume contains much that is interesting, instructive, and useful. TRACTS OF THE PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION. Five new tracts have just been issued by this important Board of our Church,-viz.: The Aged Believer's Triumph over the Infirmities of Old Age, extracted from Romaine's Triumph of Faith; The Great Giver; The Duties of Ruling Elders, by the Rev. C. C. Riggs, Pastor of the Sewickly Presbyterian Church, Pennsylvania, published by request of the Presbytery of Redstone; The Army Surgeon; A Chapter for Sabbathschool Teachers. The titles are generally a sufficient index to their subject-matter; and their endorsement by the Board is a guarantee of their excellence. We have read them with pleasure; and have no doubt that their circulation will be beneficial to those for whom they are severally intended. At the first glance, we thought we detected Dr. Plumer's sententious style in the tract entitled "The Great Giver." The discussion is comprehensive, tender, and practical. AN INQUIRY INTO THE ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT OF THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH, particularly with reference to the claims of Episcopacy. By ALBERT BARNES. Philadelphia: Presbyterian Publication Committee, 386 Chestnut street. New York: Iveson & Phinney, 321 Broadway. [Price, 40 cents.] The substantial part of this book was published about twenty years ago in the Christian Spectator. The Essays were then expanded by the author into a volume, which was published in 1843. The work, in its two previous forms, created no small stir; and in its present and more permanent form it is still destined to keep up that healthful excitement against hierarchal claims which is a preservative against their nonsense. Mr. Barnes is an able writer on Episcopacy, logical in his statements, perhaps a little too diffuse here and there, but candid, courteous, and convincing. We are glad to see this excellent work in a new and handsome edition. ALLEGHAN, a Poem, in Nine Books. By N. M. GORDON. Cincinnati: Moore, Wilstack, Keys & Co, 1856. Alleghan is a song of the early efforts of the Culdees to plant Christianity in America, recounted in blank verse, and covering 343 pages. The writer has executed his idea with resolution and industry, and has interwoven many interesting incidents into his narrative. A deep religious spirit pervades the book. The great quantity of the composition, however, has interfered with high literary attainment; and we doubt the wisdom of undertaking such a diffuse poem under any circumstances. Blank verse requires genius to make it readable even for a few pages. Whilst the public will not award, perhaps, sufficient merit to this poem for various reasons, yet we think that its author deserves to be commended in his aim. This tribute of missionary story, laid at his Master's feet, will doubtless be accepted when the trash of higher and more perverse literary composition will be rejected for its vanity and evil influence. This is an age which will not tolerate long prosy sermons or poems; nor can orthodoxy of sentiment calculate on much homage without the gifts requisite for its popular inculcation. SUMMER VACATION ABROAD; or, Notes of a Visit to England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Italy, and Belgium. By Rev. F. DE F. W. WARD, author of "India and the Hindoos," &c. Rochester: Erastus Disbrow & Brothers, 1856. A sprightly book of travels is always pleasant reading. Some authors, with a few dashes of the pen, can give to readers a better sight of scenes than others with elaborate descriptive effort. Mr. Ward is a fine penand-ink sketcher. He draws on a back-ground of good sense. He frequently embellishes with facts and remarks that are very striking. thank Mr. Ward for his instructive, entertaining, and modest volume. The Rochester publishers, the Messrs. Disbrow, deserve credit for its handsome external appearance. We THE CHILD'S STORY-BOOK. By Cousins Martha and Mary. Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Publication. Here If children must have "story-books," let them have good ones. is a good one, written by Martha and Mary, both sitting at Jesus' feet. Pious cousins may do much good among their relatives; and religion has been much indebted to their efforts in other spheres. Let all encouragement be given to females in writing books for the religious instruction of the young. WHO ARE THE BLESSED? or, Meditations on the Beatitudes. Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston, 1856; pp. 197. These Meditations, though anonymous, are the production of a clergyman. The substance of them, it is stated in the preface, was presented by the author to his people in the house of God. He states, further, that the best commentators have been consulted, and he particularly acknowledges his indebtedness to Tholuck and Stier. The work is designed as a practical treatise on the Beatitudes of our blessed Lord-a theme which affords a rich field for pious and edifying discussion. No attempt is made at learned criticism; but the sense is given in a clear and intelligible manner, and the author's reasons are usually assigned for the views he maintains and for not adopting the views held by some others. Without endorsing every sentiment, we believe that he generally furnishes the true exposition of those inimitable sayings of our divine Master. The style is agreeable and sometimes strong and impressive. We have perused the "Meditations" with interest. Doctrinal discussion is valuable and important in its place; but we need also works of an experimental and practical character, and none are so well adapted to our spiritual necessities as faithful expositions of Scripture, which is the source of all practical godliness. The careful and frequent perusal of such works is one of the best means of growth in grace. Blessed, thrice blessed, is he who possesses the spirit and pursues the course of life inculcated by our Saviour in his Sermon on the Mount! HOME SERVICE: a Manual intended for those who are occasionally hindered from attending the House of God. With Sermons and a Selection of Hymns. By the Rev. WILLIAM BACON STEVENS, D.D., Rector of St. Andrew's Church, Philadelphia. Philadelphia: E. H. Butler & Co., 1856. Dr. Stevens has happily conceived and executed the idea of providing a series of Home Services for those who are providentially hindered from attending the house of God. The original sermons are evangelical, practical, and worthy of the reputation of the eloquent divine. The selection. of hymns is also excellent. The basis of the liturgical parts is, of course, the Book of Common Prayer. The Doctor, with that liberty which he himself uses at times, gives a rubric for extempore prayer in one of the services, (the second service, p. 66,) where the rubric readeth thus:"The sermon ended, the reader of the service may say, 'Let us pray;' when, all kneeling, he may either make an extempore prayer, or use the following." It is fortunate that the preparation of such a book did not fall into the hands of a dry High Churchman, who would have ceremonialized the service, and in vain have attempted to edify the worshipping family by homilies on baptismal regeneration, apostolic succession, laying on of bishop's hands, and other intolerabiles ineptias. Whilst Dr. Stevens keeps within the line of propriety as an Episcopalian, he does not offend other churches as a Protestant. We congratulate our brethren of the Episcopal persuasion on the possession of a book for "Home Service," which will supply the wants of Christian families when detained at home on the Sabbath. |