all, by heaping words and deeds of kindness upon him, melt away his enmity and win him over to the truth. Need we remind Christian professors, that towards each other "brotherly love should continue?" "Above all things have fervent charity among yourselves; for charity shall cover the multitude of sins." The Son of Man came to save men's lives, not to destroy; and in this pursuit he was active and unwearied. So also the right state of every disciple is one in which affection prompts to active benevolence, a disposition to remove all evil, and to dispense every good. Love extinguishes bigotry, intolerance, anger, contention, petulance, and every evil work; and promotes unanimity, concord, and peace. Love is not only happy. in its own possession of pure motives and benevolent designs, but it also diffuses happiness; and by its meekness and quietness casts oil on the waters of strife, to calm their turbulence, and tries to remove the miseries of the erring sons of men. May we therefore be led by these considerations to become true disciples of the meek and lowly Jesus, and instead of "commanding fire from heaven," to avenge ourselves upon our adversaries, let us by acts of love heap melting coals of fire upon their heads; and "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."

"O might our every work and word
Express the tempers of our Lord,

The nature of our Head above.
His Spirit sent into our hearts,
Engraving on our inmost parts

The living law of holiest love.
Then shall we do with pure delight
Whate'er is pleasing in thy sight,

As vessels of thy richest grace.
And having thy whole counsel done,
To God, and his co-equal Son,
Ascribe the everlasting praise."

A "CORNISH ROUNDER."

CHAPEL DEBTS, AND ASSURANCE OF LIVES.

A SHORT time since, we brought under the notice of our readers a plan for paying off chapel debts, that had been employed in two cases to which we referred, and intimated, that if similar arrangements could be made by other trustees, we thought it would be greatly beneficial, for their trusts, to adopt the plan. We have since then had several letters making inquiries on this subject. In order that we might be able to answer the inquiry, made by some of our correspondents, whether we could inform them of any Assurance-office that would advance money to chapel trustees at a low rate of interest, we wrote to a friend who has had much experience as an assurance agent, requesting him to afford us information. We had previously conversed with him, on the feasibility of providing for the extinction of chapel debts, in the way referred to in our previous remarks-and he

fully approved of the plan. Upon our writing to him, he kindly proceeded to make inquiries for us at several of the assurance-offices; and we regret that the results of his inquiries have not been so favourable as was anticipated. We have received from him the following letter:

To the EDITOR,-Dear Sir,

In answer to yours of the 21st ult., respecting paying off the debts on chapels by life assurance, I beg to state that I have made inquiries of both mutual and proprietary offices, and find, that those offices, in which it would be most profitable to assure, are prevented, by their particular acts of Parliament, from lending money upon chapels, circumstanced as Methodist Chapels are. The next best offices refuse to lend money under five per cent. per annum interest; and the Star Wesleyan Methodist Office will not lend to any chapels but those that are settled on trust for the use of the Wesleyan Conference. However, I do not see that chapel trustees should not avail themselves of the aid to be obtained, by effecting life assurances, as the best and most certain means of paying off chapel debts.

Though you cannot borrow money from the best offices to assure in, you can assure in those offices, which, in a few years, will produce greater gain to the trustees, than by assuring in proprietary offices, and borrowing the money from them. For instance, after you have assured eighteen years in a proprietary office, you will have paid as much into the office, interest and compound interest allowed, as your representatives will receive from it at your death. On the other hand, in the best mutual offices, by re-assuring, with reductions from premiums allowed every five years, you will double your capital in eighteen years (see reductions of National Provident Institution for last five years). I am, therefore, satisfied, as I told our friends at Leeds, Messrs. Whiteside and Mallinson, jun., that with a little exertion your chapel debts might be paid off, at the end of the present generation, at a cost, upon an average, of not more than five per cent. per annum.

Kennington, Dec. 15, 1852.

I am, dear Sir, your obedient Servant,
JAMES RICHARDSON.

We shall now lay before our readers another letter, which we have received from a kind friend, who desires the removal of chapel debts :

To the EDITOR,—Dear Sir,

HAVING read your excellent article upon the extinction of chapel debts, in the November number of the magazine, I beg to offer a few remarks upon the subject. The plan proposed is unquestionably a good one; but where are we to find the assurance office that will meet the case for our chapels, one that will advance money at three-and-a-half per cent., and not to be called in until the termination of joint lives? I have made the inquiry of a few offices but without success.

There is, however, one part of the plan within the reach of all, viz. The assurance of a number of young joint lives; the amount of assurance eventually to be appropriated to the extinction of the chapel debt, but the premiums to be paid by the persons effecting the assurance.

The appeals made in aid of liquidating chapel debts are generally made to the most wealthy members of our churches; on whom the calls made for help from other sources are sufficiently numerous; but there are, in most of our societies, a number of young men, just rising into active life, and who are in tolerable easy circumstances, who would scarcely miss

the amount requisite for a joint assurance of 50l., or 100l. The premiums charged by a highly respectable life office in London (the address of which I enclose), are for two joint lives, ages twenty, for 1007., 17. per annum, or 10s. per annum each; for 50%., aged twenty, 10s. per annum, or 5s. per annum each; the last is little more than the smallest missionary subscription for a year; and yet, if we had sixteen of them, we should have 4007. of a chapel debt provided for, to be paid at the death of the assurers. If circumstances should occur rendering it inconvenient for them to continue to pay the yearly premium, it might be then paid by some other friends. F. WHATMOUGH.

Rawtenstall, Bacup Circuit.

If any of our friends should desire any additional information respecting life assurance, we have no doubt the writers of the preceding letters will be happy to answer inquiries.

We were informed, several weeks since, that the Star Assuranceoffice then had applications, from Trustees of Conference Methodist Chapels, for sums amounting to more than the office could advance. We think that the directors of other offices may yet find it to their advantage to advance money to the trustees of chapel property-provided the security be valid.

REVIEWS AND LITERARY NOTICES.

A Treatise on Biblical Criticism; Exhibiting a Systematic View of that Science. By SAMUEL DAVIDSON, D.D., AND LL.D. Vol. I. Old Testament. Vol. II. New Testament. 8vo. pp. 461, and 484. ADAM AND CHARLES BLACK, Edinburgh; and LONGMAN AND Co. London.

THROUGH a long succession of ages, the writings of the Old and New Testament have been transmitted to us; and, until the fifteenth century, when the art of printing commenced, copies of the Sacred Writings were produced by the pen. As might have been expected, numerous errors were unintentionally made by the transcribers; and, in many cases, they introduced words for the purpose of removing what they regarded as obscurities in the text. The original writings of the Prophets and Evangelists have long since been lost. This cannot be a cause of surprise. Various circumstances might occasion their decay, loss, or destruction. There, therefore, cannot now be any appeal to the originals, for the purpose of correcting the errors of transcribers, editors, and printers. There are, however, other means by which many of their mistakes may be detected; and it is to the futherance of this important subject that the learned and able work now before us is applicable.

Thirteen years have elapsed since the learned author published his "Lectures on Biblical Criticism." This work was well received, and has been for some time out of print. When the author commenced the present work, he merely intended to revise his former work for a new edition. But, when he had entered on the work, he found that so extensive were the alterations and additions which he deemed

it needful to make, that he thought he could not do justice to the subject without writing a new work.

It is very generally admitted, by those who are competent to give an opinion on the subject, that a corrected English version of the Holy Scriptures is a desideratum. There are numerous errors in the English version, notwithstanding its acknowledged general excellency, which from the present advanced state of Biblical literature might be corrected. It is not, however, admitted that learned investigations have detected any mistakes which materially affect any of the doctrines which we have derived from the Bible. If all the emendations proposed by learned Biblical critics were introduced into the English version, the doctrines of Christianity would not thereby be affected. But, apart from every other consideration, it is right that we should desire to have our Bibles freed, as far as possible, from errors.

This is the important work of Biblical Criticism. For its accomplishment, soundness of judgment, much learning, and laborious research are required. This is clearly demonstrated by the very able work which Dr. Davidson has produced. An accomplished Biblical critic requires to possess accurate acquaintance with all the languages in which ancient copies of the whole, or parts, of the Bible exist. He must carefully consult numerous ancient manuscripts, and various printed versions; and he must read the works of ancient uninspired theologians, and the writings of ancient heretics, and know how they quoted and applied the words of the Bible. Then, by comparing the different readings of the texts, into which there is reason to believe errors have been introduced, the judicious critic may in many instances detect the errors of copyists, and ascertain what is the true reading.

It is, moreover, of great importance that a Biblical critic should be able to form a sound judgment concerning the relative value of different versions, and as to the genuineness of the works attributed to ancient authors.

Dr. Davidson has, with considerable success, applied himself to this portion of Biblical literature. In the first volume he has given essays on the Hebrew language, characters, and vowels-on the history of the written, and the printed, text of the Old Testament— on the ancient versions, particularly the Septuagint, the versions of Aquilla, Theodotion, Symmachus, the Peshito or Old Syriac, the Targums, and others-on Hebrew and other Manuscripts-on parallel passages, on quotations from the Old Testament in the New-on the various sources of criticism-and the volume concludes with the examination of several passages of Scripture. The second volume brings under notice like topics, to those contained in the first volume, in reference to the New Testament.

Although this important contribution to Biblical Criticism will be most highly valued by those who are addicted to learned Biblical studies, yet, it will afford much valuable information to all intelligent persons, who carefully read and attentively consider its contents. Gratitude and honour are due to Dr. Davidson for his vast labour in preparing for publication a work of such great value.

The Congregational Lectures. New, Cheap, and Uniform Edition. Vol. I. to IV. 12mo. JACKSON AND Walford.

HEARTY thanks are due to the Committee of the Congregational Union, and to Messrs. Jackson and Walford, the publishers, for issuing this excellent and cheap edition of the first four volumes of the Congregational Lectures. These valuable works have not hitherto had an extensive circulation. This has not been because they were not highly esteemed, but on account of the price, at which they were published, being more than the many could afford. We do not mean to intimate that the original publishing price was greater than it ought to have been, to obtain fair remuneration for the cost of authorship, printing, and publishing. Many other works, not possessing anything like the merit or value of the Congregational Lectures, have been published at a much higher cost, and have obtained more extensive patronage. But it is cause of humiliation that few of the members of Christian churches are as much disposed to purchase and read sterling works, from which they might derive instruction and spiritual improvement, as multitudes of irreligious persons are to patronize works of fiction, designed more for entertainment than instruction. How few of the professors of religion take pleasure in reading works on theology, either doctrinal or practical! Many throw aside the most valuable works as unworthy of their attention. If they read a religious magazine, the best articles which it contains are those which, by such unintelligent readers, are least approved of. Unless the work contain. a number of anecdotes and tales, they throw aside the work, and say, "it is not interesting." The fact is they have a vitiated taste-their minds are not brought under proper culture-they know not how duly to appreciate that which, if duly regarded by them, would promote their mental and spiritual growth. We hope, however, that the evil to which we have referred, will be diminished, by the efforts which are being made to create an improved literary taste among those who profess to be earnest lovers of the truth, and devoted servants of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Among other well devised means for the removal of the evil to which we have referred is that of publishing, at a very low price, works of extraordinary excellence. The price, at which any typographical work can be afforded, must greatly depend upon the number of copies which can be sold. The cost of authorship and of setting up the type is equally great for a small number of copies as for a large number. Consequently a price per copy which would not pay the original cost for an edition of, say, one thousand copies, might be reduced by twothirds if ten thousand copies could be sold, and yet leave a fair profit. But it is not always the case that large editions of excellent works, published at a very low price, can be sold. There is, therefore, a great risk in the publication of such cheap editions as that of the new and cheap edition of the "Congregational Lectures."

The present issue consists of the following works: "Christian Ethics; or, Moral Philosophy on the Principles of Divine Revelation. By R. Wardlaw, D.D."-"The Causes of the Corruption of Christianity. By R. Vaughan, D.D."-"The Christian Atonement; its Basis, Nature, and Bearings; or, the Principle of Substitution illus