LITERARY NOTICES. " &c. and essays on a great variety of subjects, in prose and poetry, elegantly written, by pupils in the free-schoois of New York city. "The Foot-Prints of the Creator; or the Asterolepis of Stromness," by Hugh Miller, author of "The Red Sand-Ston e,' As Mr. Miller is wholly a self-educated man, his "The Western Journal and Civilian," pubvarious writings prove him to be, without a ished in this city, by Messrs. Tarver & doubt, one of the greatest geniuses of the age. Cobb, has come out in a new and improved In disproving the "Development Hypothesis," he combats Infidel Geologists on their appearance. This valuable journal is devoted to "Agriculture, Manufactures, Mechanic own ground, vanquishes them with their own weapons, and thus performs an important ser- Public Policy, and Polite Literature. Arts, Internal Improvements, Commerce, vice for Christianity. He is one of the great of the articles in the last number are original, est living geologists. But we keep our judg and some of them of great interest. Business ment suspended, in regard to the merits of Geology, as a science, till we shall have men, who can afford to take it, will not be opportunities to make as thorough an investi- without this publication. Most gation as the nature of the case demands. "Arvine's Cyclopædia of Anecdotes."-This Though we do not deny all the conclusions in work is to be published in eight numbers, at reference to the antiquity of this globe, to Boston. Each No. will contain 90 pages, and which the students of this science appear to when completed, make a volume of more than be led; yet, neither do we at once and im- 700 pages. Price, 25 cents a number. It will plicitly yield our assent. The science is in be filled with "Anecdotes of literature and its infancy, and the fact that Mr. Miller has the fine arts, containing a copious and choice demonstrated the falsity of the Development selection of anecdotes, of the various forms theory, heretofore regarded as fundamental of literature, of the arts, of architecture, ento the science, shows a disagreement among gravings, music, poetry, painting and sculpgeologists so great, that it is not safe to rely fure, and of the most celebrated literary chawith too much confidence on its uncertain racters, and artists of different countries and conclusions. ages," &c. The work is printed on paper of the first quality, and has many illustrations. Gould & Lincoln, publishers, 59 Washington street, Boston. "The Princeton Review," for October, con- The Method of the Divine Government, Relation of the Old to the New Dispen- Schaff's Church History, We have as little doubt as the most enthusiastic geologist, that a great portion, if not all that part of the earth's surface which is now inhabited, was once the bottom of the ocean. There are appearances, shells, fossil remains, &c. in the different strata beneath its surface, which demonstrate this. But why should we suppose that this earth existed and was inhabited millions of years before Adam, in order to account for these appearances? Does not the Bible account respecting the flood, afford a satisfactory solution concerning all such phenomena? Whether it does or not, we should be cautious about receiving any theory that seems to undermine the authority of the Bible. When Moses says, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth;" geologists make this word "beginning," refer to a period of duration, many ages prior, and not included in the six days work. Moses ought to be permitted to explain himself: In Exodus, he says "In six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is." Here the creation the Casket. of the heavens and the earth is a part of the six days work. We are satisfied with Moses' interpretation. We question Lone of the facts of Geology, but only some of its conclu sions. "The Good Heritage of American Citizens." W. R. Long, of this city, for a copy of This is the title of a Discourse, by the Rev. which, we are indebted to the politeness of the author. We have read the discourse, not only with approbation, but with pleasure, and intend to transfer some of the paragraphs to "The Resurrection of the Body,"—a Dis-' course, in pamphlet form, by the Rev. W. T. discourse some time since, and should have Hamilton, D. D. We received a copy of this noticed it before, but for the fact that it got "Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver," is misplaced. The subject is very ably discussthe title of a beautiful volume, handsomely ed. The views of the Preacher are clear and printed and bound, and intended as a gift book scriptural. We should like to give an extract for all young persons of a literary taste, of only that we had a lengthy article on the same The contents are compositions subject, in the last number of the Casket. both sexes. ELEVEN MORE GONE.-In our last number we gave the Over $600,000 worth of postage stamps have been disposed names of eleven ministers who had lately departed this life. of by the Department at Washington, since the 1st of We have to add the names of eleven more. viz: Rev. E. Cur-July. rie, Rev. John M Fulton, Rev. James Hopkins, Rev_ John S. Ely, Samuel Ralston, D. D., Arch. Alexander, D. D., COST OF THE BIBLE IN CHINA-Owing to the extremely Rev. Hamilton Scott, Samuel S. Graham, D. D., Rev. Rich-low cost of materials and labor in China, a Bibble in the ard Graham, Rev. Jacob Green, Rev. Dugald McIntyre, and Chinese language, can be sold for about six cents. the Rev. A. A. Case. What an admonition to those who survive. IMMIGRATION -Foreigners who arrive in the port of New York alone, for the year 1851, will amount to 300,000. OCCUPATIONS. The number of farmers in the United States, is 3,719,952; all other occupations 437,939, or less than one-eighth of those engaged in farming. On the 6th of Nov. the Presbytery of St. Louis excommunicated and deposed P. J. Heyer, a German minister, for gross immorality, The Rev. M. W. Jacobus has entered on his duty, as Professor in the Western Theological Seminary, at Allegheny. Dr. McGill declines to go to Cincinnati, and Dr. W. Lord has received and accepted a call to become the Pastor of the 7th Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati. A FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT occurred in New York, Nov. 20th, by which 48 children were killed in one of the public schools. It was caused by an alarm of fire. The stair bannister gave way, and hundreds of children were precipitated from the second story, on the marble pavement below. Col. Fremont has sold his estate in California, for one million of dollars. The Westminster Review has been sold to Mr. John Chapman, the publisher of the Infidel party in England. The Unitarian Church in this city, the corner stone of which was laid July 1st, 1850, was dedicated on Friday, Dec. 7th. The cost of it was about $75,000, and it is the largest and most magnificent church edifice in this city. The Rev. S. B. McPheeters was installed as Pastor over the Westminster congregation, on Sabbath evening, Dec. 14th. In Ireland, the number of Romish Clergy is 2,769; of Episcopal clergy 2.261; of Presbyterian clergy 662; of Methodist ministers 248; of Congregational ministers 26; of Baptist 16; of United Brethren 12. REV. JOHN A. MCCLUNG.-This eminent divine has received a call to Indianapolis, Indiana, which he has accepted. MISSIONARIES TO CHINA.-There are now 75 Protestant missionaries in China, connected with fifteen different missionary Societies: being an increase of 55 in nine years. Of these 48 are Americans, 25 English, 3 Germans, 2 Swiss, 1 Swedish, and 1 unconnected. The Roman Catholics of Ireland now exceed the Protestants only by 500,000: the Protestants have been but little diminished by famine, disease, and emigration, while the Catholics lost 1,700,000: and conversions to Protestantism have been numerous within a few years. A ROMISH PRIEST RECEIVED.-A German, by the name of Heinen, and until recently a Roman Catholic Priest, appeared before the Presbytery of New York, at its recent session, and, after a formal renunciation of Popery, and a cordial assent to the Confession of Faith as held by Presbyteriaus. he was received under the care of the Presbytery. More Bibles have been sold in Hungary the last two years, since the Revolution, than any time previous for twenty years, notwithstanding the mass of the people are so nearly beggared by the losses of the Revolution and Austrian extor tion. It is estimated that ihe city of New York pays $10.000 a day for cigars, and only $8,500 a day for bread. It is also computed that 20,000 persons, every year in America, go into the grave from the use of tobacco. The lofty spire of the 1st Presbyterian church, corner of Fourth and Main, Cincinnati, was mounted with a huge human hand, a few days since. It can be seen from almost any part of the city, the large fore finger pointing upward, steadily and forever, alike through tempest and sunlight. But two of the elder poets of England now survive, we believe-Moore, at the age of 72, and Rogers, at 90 years. They are relics of a past age, soon to fall away. A NEW QUARTERLY.-The Synod of Pennsylvania, [New School,] at their recent sessions, adopted a resolution, on motion of Rev. E. W. Gilbert, D. D., commending the establishment of a new Quarterly Theological Review' to defend and maintain the distinctive views of that wing of the Church, to which the Synod belongs. It is to be issued from Philadelphia. ARCHBISHOP HUGHES A CARDINAI.-Archbishop Hughes, of New York, writes the correspondent of the Newark Advertiser, from Rome, on the 26th of October, "Is to wear the scarlet cap after all. The appointment is said to have been made without the approbation, if not in face of the express protest of all the Roman Catholic Bishops in the United States save one, and contrary to the opinion of Chief Justice Taney." AMERICAN BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS.-The income of this missionary society, for the year ending July 31, was $273,902 21, and the expenditure, $284,830 56. MORAVIAN MISSIONS.-The Moravians commenced their first mission in Surinam, in 1733. They have now 68 stations, 281 missionaries 66,557 converts and persons under instruction, of whom 20,373 are communicants. Of these, 3,285 are Greenlanders and Esquimaux, 450 Indians, 55,948 persons of color, and 6,874 Hottentots and other natives of South Africa. The Rev. Dr. Herschell, of London, has issued a call for a meeting of converted Jews in that city, to confer on the best measure for spreading Christianity among their "brethren according to the flesh." The venerable and everywhere esteemed Poet, James Montgomery, is dead. He had completed his 80th year. On his 80th birth-day, he planted an oak tree in the lawn in front of the Sheffield Infirmary. EXPEDITIONS.-The Liberia Packet, which sailed from Baltimore, July 12th, is daily looked for. On her arrival she will be immediately dispatched with emigrants from Baltimore and Savannah. This is expected to take place about January 1st, next. It is also intended to send a vessel from New Orleans on the 10th of January. Some three or four hundred could be shipped at this time, did the resources of the Society justify. About two hundred will be afforded passage, who will be emancipated for the purpose. Cannot the friends of the cause rally, and afford the means for sending the whole number? The great suit between the Methodists North and South, has terminated in favor of the Southern church. The English papers received by the steamer America, state that a house in Westminster street, London, belonging to a carver and guilder, was set on fire, and nearly destroyed by a meteor, which descended on the roof in the shape a ball of fire. The enlarged Capitol, according to the correspondent of the New York Journal of Commerce, will cost $5,000,000. The marble and setting for the exterior, must cost at least $1,200,000, and that for the interior as much more. MRS. HAMILTON.-This lady, widow of Gen. Alexander Hamilton, has just returned to Washington, having been absent during the summer. Since the death of Mrs. Madison, she is the only female residing in Washington, whose name is familiar to the American people, as having mingled familiarly and socially with Washington and his illustrious contemporaries. The Presbyterian Synod, which met at Spring Hill, Ten.. a few days since, have determined to locate their College at Huutsville, Alabama. Mrs. Sherwood, the well-known authoress, died at her residence, at Twickenham, England, on the 22d of September, at the advanced age of seventy-seven. VOL. III. THE CASKET. SERMON. FEBRUARY, 1852. BY REV. S. J. P. ANDERSON. NO. II brilliancy of the shekinah warned the faithful to uncover themselves and listen in awe and reverence to the will of their king-nor does the Eternal speak forth his laws from the cloudy and lightning corronetted brow of Sinai. He lays before us the open page of Son, go work to-day in my vineyard: Mathew xxi, his written word, and bids us read his will xxviii. The context of this passage proves that in it our Savior means to represent by the father, the Creator, who is the God and Father of us all-by the son, his intelligent creatures of the human family; and by the vineyard, the world in which we are required to labor, for his glory, and the good of our fellow-men. and our duty there. To this more sure word of prophecy he sends us and tells us that it is able to make us wise unto salvation. We are not left to the fitful gleams of an occasional revelation whose brightness is followed by darkness which is the deeper by the contrast, but he calls us to walk by the illumination of this perpetual column of light whose beams If this interpretation be true, then the text no earthly clouds can obscure, and no daring is the voice of God to each of us, solemnly hand of infidelity extinguish, and which ever and authoritatively informing us that we have reveals to us infallibly the path to glory and a duty to perform-to work for Him, and a to God. The Bible is the only infallible rule time in which to do it-to-day. I have said of faith and practice. And in that blessed that this command is addressed to each of us book God keeps a constant communication personally, and individually. And it is no with his creatures. It is fair then to conclude superstitious use of Scripture, nor is it an as- my hearers that in the text God speaks to you sumption of being wise above what is written, as distinctly and as individually as if your thus to regard it. The time has been, when names were called out from the vaults of God revealed his will to those for whom He Heaven, and in a voice of deafening power, had a communication by special revelation. He said to you by name "son go work to-day He commissioned Moses as the leader in my vineyard." and law-giver of Israel, from the burning But while the Bible is thus so explicit as bush called Samuel with an audible to human duty, and while we should ever revoice, in the deep stillness of night, and member that it alone is our authoritative guide, brought the news of the Saviour's advent to yet it is often wise to blend the light of nathe Judean shepherds, in songs of praise, sung ture with the light of a written revelation, and by rejoicing angels. But the time of direct join their concentrated beams on the path communication has passed away. The Urim along which we ought to walk. I shall thereand Thummim have lost their efficacy-the fore in the succeeding discourse gather as best breast-plate of the high priest no longer sends I may from every source-from the infallible out its mystic gleam of radiance on the path records of truth, from the world of nature of duty. The oracle is silent. God no long-around us and the wonderful world of er calls to us in the still, small voice that nature within us, light on this propositionwhispered to the prophet, when the storm was that God has a work for every one to do, and hushed, and the fire had ceased to consume, gives a time in which to do it. I say a work and the quivering of the earthquake had been and I mean what I say. It is befitting the stilled-nor does he direct us from the blazing butterfly to flit from flower to flower u: mindaltar of the holy of holies, where the blindingful of the chilling blast, but even here if we A |