Abbot Professor of Christian Theology in the Theological Seminary, Andover. Second edition. Andover, 1829.

Lectures on the Inspiration of the Scriptures. By Leonard. Woods, D.D. Abbot Professor of Christian Theology in the Theological Seminary, Andover. 12mo. Pp. 152. Andover.

Lowth's Lectures on Hebrew Poetry, a new edition, with notes. By Calvin E. Stowe.

Advice to a Young Christian, on the importance of aiming at an elevated standard of piety, by a Village Pastor. With an Introductory Essay, by the Rev. Dr Alexander, of Princeton, N. J. 12mo. Pp. 209.

Lectures on the Assembly's Shorter Catechism, addressed to Youth. By Ashbel Green, D.D. 8vo. Pp. 350. Philadelphia.

[A more particular notice of this excellent work may be expected.]

Essays and Dissertations in Biblical Literature. By a Society of Clergymen. Vol. I. Containing chiefly Translations of the works of German Critics. New York. 8vo. G. and C. and H. Carvill. 1829.

[This interesting volume contains, 1. History of Introductions to the Scriptures, from the German of Gesenius. 2. A Treatise on the Authenticity and Canonical Authority of the Scriptures of the Old Testament, from the German of Eichhorn. 3. Essay on the Life and Writings of Samuel Bochart, by William R. Whittingham, A.M. 4. Dissertation on the meaning of "The Kingdom of Heaven," in the New Testament; from the Latin of Storr. 5. Dissertation on the Parables; from the Latin of Storr. 6. Translation of Tiltmann's Dissertation on the Question, Whether there are any traces of the Gnostics to be found in the New Testament. 7. History of the Interpretation of the Prophet Isaiah; from the German of Gesenius. 8. Treatise on the Use of the Syriac Language; from the German of John D. Michaelis.

It is our intention to give a more extended notice of this volume in our next number; at this time, therefore, we merely state its contents, and recommend it to the attention and perusal of our readers.]

William Penn on the Present Crisis in the Condition of the American Indians; first published in the National Intelligencer, in twenty-four Essays. With an Appendix, con

taining a Letter of the Secretary of War to the Cherokee Delegation; Resolutions of the Old Congress from 1775 to 1785; Chancellor Kent's Opinion in the case of Goodell vs. Jackson, touching the rights of the Oneida Indians in the State of New York; Extracts from Judge Story's Centennial Discourse; Treaty with the Choctaws, &c. Pp. 112. New York.

A Key to the Shorter Catechism; containing catechetical exercises, a paraphrase, and a new and regular series of proofs on each answer. First American from the fifth Edinburgh edition.

Memoirs of the Life and Ministry of the Rev. John Summerfield, A.M. By John Holland. With an introductory Letter, by James Montgomery. New York. William A. Mercein. 8vo. pp. 360.

New Views of Penitentiary Discipline, and Moral Education and Reform. By Charles Caldwell, M.D.

A Catechism of Natural Theology. By the Rev. Dr Nichols. Portland. Shirley and Hyde. 12mo, pp. 184.

SERMONS.

A Sermon occasioned by the death of the Rev. Matthias Bruen, preached in the Bleecker Street Church, New York, by Thomas H. Skinner, D.D. 8vo. pp. 48.

Consolation in Death. A Sermon preached at the funeral of the Rev. Matthias Bruen, A.M. late Pastor of the Bleecker Street Church, New York. By Samuel H. Cox, D.D. Pastor of the Laight Street Presbyterian Church.

Regeneration and the Manner of its Occurrence. A Sermon, from John v. 24, preached at the opening of the Synod of New York, in the Rutgers Street Church, on Tuesday evening, October 20, 1829. By Samuel H. Cox, D.D. Pastor of the Laight Street Presbyterian Church. New York. 8vo. pp. 42. 1829.

Baccalaureate. A discourse delivered to the Senior Class in the College of New Jersey, on the sabbath preceding the Annual Commencement, September 1829. By James Carnahan, D.D. President of the College.

Holding fast the Faithful Word. A Sermon delivered in the second Presbyterian Church in the city of Albany, at the installation of the Rev. William B. Sprague, D.D. as Pastor of said Church. By Samuel Miller, D.D. Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Church Government, in the Theological Seminary at Princeton, New Jersey.

The proper mode of conducting Missions to the Heathen. A Sermon delivered before the Society for propagating the Gospel among the Indians, and others in North America, November 5, 1829. By Benjamin B. Wisner, Pastor of the Old South Church, Boston.

The Victorious Christian awaiting his Crown. A discourse delivered on sabbath evening, January 3, 1830, occasioned by the death of the Rev. John M. Mason, D.D. S.T.P. By William D. Snodgrass, his successor as Pastor of Murray Street Church, New York.

A Sermon delivered January 10, 1830, in the Scotch Presbyterian Church, Cedar Street, New York, on the occasion of the death of the Rev. John M. Mason, D.D. S.T.P. By Rev. Joseph M'Elroy, D.D. Pastor of said Church.

A Sermon delivered in the Presbyterian Church, Lancaster, November 1, 1830, on assuming the pastoral charge of said Church. By Richard W. Dickinson.

A Selection of the most celebrated Sermons of M. Luther and John Calvin. To which is prefixed, a Biographical History of their Lives. New York. R. Bentley. 12mo. pp. 200.

THE

BIBLICAL REPERTORY, AND THEOLOGICAL

REVIEW.

FOR APRIL 1830.

CHURCH MUSIC.

How shall a reform in the music of our churches be effected?

In a former number of this Journal, we endeavoured to show, by comparing the original design of church music with the art in its present state, that a reform is both necessary and practicable. The argument, thus far, we presume, has been satisfactory. But here, in the minds of many, a serious difficulty presents itself. A good thing, which is in its own nature practicable, cannot always be carried into effect against the habits and prejudices of the community. To obviate this difficulty, it is necessary to show, somewhat in detail, how a reform can be effected. This is the object of the present article.

We shall take it for granted that in the present day of activity, some share of enterprise and self-denial might be easily enlisted in favour of a reform in church music, if once its full importance were to be distinctly seen. There are men in our country who know how to give an impulse that will be felt in every portion of the land. Only let it be seen that such an impulse is really needed, that the best interests of religion and of good order in the community require it, and the thing will be certainly done.

Time was, within the period of our own recollection, when this position would not have been granted us. Who would have believed, thirty years ago, for instance, that missionary, Bible and tract operations could have been carried forward to such an extent and with such rapidity? Who could have believed that theological seminaries, Bible classes, Sunday schools, infant schools, societies for African colonization, for the observation of the Sabbath and for the promotion of "entire abstinence" would have thus succeeded? But times have changed. Every good thing which is taken in hand at the proper season, and urged forward with christian principle and pious zeal, is found, under the blessing of God, to prosper. Prejudices and habits, are every where to be encountered, but they form no insurmountable obstacle. Nothing of this nature can stand before an impulse which has once been given. The prevailing motto is Onward. Nothing is now seen of a retrograde movement in all this mighty field of effort.

And who that has clearly reflected upon the subject will say that a reform as to the praises of Zion's King is unworthy to be made the object of christian enterprise? Is there any portion of public worship which may continue to be offered in an empty, formal, thoughtless manner, without offending the great Master of assemblies? Yet we have seen distinctly that there is one portion of the exercises of the sanctuary which does in general bear these exact characteristics. Church music, according to the design of the institutions, requires peculiar solemnity, fixedness of thought, and elevation of feeling; but for the most part it is associated with special indifference, and often with weariness and disgust. The words have been instituted as the very basis of song, but these are seldom heard in singing. Music should be superadded to the words in such manner as to operate like a refined species of elocution; yet, in singing, we destroy the character of the words even where the enunciation is in some measure preserved. It is in fact the tune that we are endeavouring to sing, and often a most miserable one it is, and wretchedly executed; while, at the same time, characteristic expression and pious emotion appear to be considerations of no more than secondary interest. Musical cultivations in the Jewish and the apostolic times, and in the days of the reformers, was conducted, as we have seen, under the special guardianship of the church; and men of