this spiritual taste, and even account it It has a vast and extended view. It has enthusiasm.

seen the beauty and glory of Christ, and There are various marks or character- cannot, therefore, admire “the goodly istics of a spiritual mind. Self-loathing buildings of the temple :” as Fenelon is a token of such a mind. The axe is says of Christ,—he had seen his Father's laid to the root of a vain-glorious spirit. house, and could not, therefore, be taken It maintains, too, a walk and converse with the glory of the eartbly structure. with God. “Enoch walked with God." There are various means of promoting There is a transaction between God and a spiritual mind. Beware of saying of the spiritual mind: if the man feels dead this or that evil, “ Is it not a little one ?" and heartless, that is matter of complaint Much depends on the mortifying the before God. He looks to God for wis- body. The temper is too apt to rise ; dom for the day—for the hour—for the the will let itself loose ; the imagination business in hand.

will often hurry us away. Vain company A spiritual mind refers its affairs to will injure the mind; carnal professors God. “Let God's will be obeyed by me will especially—we catch contagion from in this affair!" His way may differ from such men. Misemployment of time is that which I should choose ; but let it be injurious. Another man's trifling is noso! “Surely, I have behaved and torious to all observers; but what am I quieted myself as a child that is weaned doing? Avoid all idleness ; "exercise of its mother: my soul is even as a thyself unto godliness;" plan for God. weaned child.” Indeed, a spiritual mind Beware of temptation: the mind that has has something of the nature of the sensi- dwelt on sinful objects will be in darktive plant : “I shall smart if I touch this

ness for days. Associate with spirituallyor that." There is a holy shrinking away minded men : the very sight of a good from evil.

man, though he says nothing, will reA spiritual mind enjoys, at times, the fresh the soul. Finally, contemplate influx of a holy joy and satisfaction, so Christ; be much in retirement and that when bereaved of creature-comforts, prayer; and study the honour and glory it can find such a repose in Christ and his of your Divine Lord and Master.-Cecil. promises, that the man can say, "Well! it is enough, let God take from me what else he pleases."

I know not how it is that some Chris. A spiritual mind is a mortified mind. tians can make so little of recollection The Church of Rome talks much of and retirement. I find the spirit of the mortification, but it is not radical and world is a strong assimilating principle, spiritual. The spiritual mind must mor- and sinking me in among the dregs of a tify whatever would retard its ascent carnal nature. I am obliged to withtowards heaven; it must rise on the draw myself regularly, and to say to my wings of faith, and hope, and love. heart, “ Where are you? What are you

This spiritual mind is a sublime mind. I doing."-16.

MATERIALS FOR THOUGHT. In the worst condition, the church hath storms, there is sea-room enough in the two faces: one towards heaven and infinite goodness of God for faith to be Christ, which is always constant and carried on with a full sail. Of all troubles, glorious; another towards the world, the trouble of a proud heart is the worst. which is in appearance contemptible and A believer never carves for himself, but changeable. God is often nearest to his he cuts his own fingers. — Toplady's church, when he seems furthest off. In all / Works,

Unless the mind be under the regu- A regard to public utility exists and lating power of religion, it will be perpe- improves private friendship. tually losing its balance, and changing To promote the glory of God, his own its tenour. At one time it will be acce- virtue, and the good of his fellow-crealerated into indecent and dangerous tures, is the great and constant aim of speed, through the impulse of desire, am- every good man. bition, or revenge; at another time, it is As none is too wise to learn, it is a chilled into languor and inaction, through proof of affection to communicate useful fear, despondency, and disappointment. hints; and a high proof of wisdom to We may behold the same person, now take and use them, from whatever quarbelieving things incredible, and attempt- ter they come. There is one Being ing things impracticable; and anon, only, who is not to be instructed. “For staggering at the shadow of a doubt; and who hath known the mind of the Lord ? shrinking from the slightest appearance Or who hath been his counsellor?” of danger. Insolent, fierce, and over- Though we cannot successfully imibearing in prosperity, the unsteady crea- tate eminent men in certain particulars ture becomes groveling, dispirited, and of conduct, or in the display of talents mean in adversity. “It is a good thing," which may be denied to ourselves; yet therefore, " that the heart be established we are not thereby precluded from the by grace.” Grace, that calm, steady, exercise of the inferior talents which we uniform principle, which veers not with possess, and from a virtuous emulation, every wind of doctrine; it rises not nor where it is possible to succeed. Let me falls, like the mercury in the tube, with strive to be a Moses in some things, every variation of the atmosphere, with though I am conscious I must fall inconregard to disappointment and success, ceivably behind him in most others. censure and applause, health and sick- Whatever wisdom we may have learnness, youth and age. In the day of ed, whatever pleasure we may have enprosperity, religion saith to the soul, joyed, whatever comfort we possess, what* Rejoice ;” and in the day of adversity, ever hope we feel,—all is of Thee, pure, “Consider;" for a wise and merciful eternal, unchanging Source of light, and God hath set the one over against the life, and joy !—Ib. other. This Divine principle corrects immoderate joy, saying to the happy, “ Be not high-minded, but fear :" it con

Frequent retirement from the world is soles and supports the miserable, by necessary in order to our enjoying combreathing the sweet assurance, that “the

munion with God. The prophet Ezekiel light affliction, which is but for a mo

was to leave his .countrymen, and retire ment, is working for us a far more exceed

to the plain, where God promised to talk ing and eternal weight of glory." --Dr. with him; to shut up himself in his Hunter,

house, where God visited him. Thus ministers must find time, much time, for

study; and give themselves to reading, That is not fortitude, but folly, that meditation, and prayer, that they may unnecessarily exposes ourselves, or those be fitted for public worship; and their whom we love, to hardship and danger. friends who hinder them by expecting “If any provide not for his own house, long and unnecessary visits, injure both he bath denied the faith, and is worse their ministers, their fellow-Christians, than an infidel." It is our care, not and themselves. It is the duty of all so to our labour and reflection, which we are contrive their affairs, that they may have encouraged to cast upon God.-16. time for religious retirement.-Job Orton.

confound all distinctions by a sameness of Judas ; Acts i. ii.-II. The Descent of the
exposition ? Let the epistles teach us Cbris. Holy Spirit at Pentecost; Acts ii.- III. The
tian doctrine, and the Acts make us ac. first recorded Miracle wrought by the Wit-
quainted with ecclesiastical history. It had nesses of Christ's Resurrection; Acts iii.
been easy and pleasant to indulge in theo. -IV. The first Persecution of the Apostles ;
logical reflections wbere Luke has confined Acts iv. 1-31.–V. The Sin and Punish-
himself to facts; but he who makes us ment of Ananias and Sapphira ; Acts iv. 32;
better acquainted with the inspired history v. 16.–VI. Imprisonment and Deliverance
of the church, is the real expositor of the of the Apostles; Acts v. 17, to the end.-
Acts.

VII. The Institution of Deacons; Acts vi.
It may, however, be asked, why expound 1.7.-VIII. The first Christian Martyr ;
this book at all? Is it not a narrative sufi. Acts vi. 8 ; vii. passim.-1X. The Gospel
ciently plain? Are we not, by such attempts, going forth from Jerusalem into the Gentile
labouring to paint the diamond, or perfume World; Acts viii.—X. The Conversion of
the rose? The Acts were, indeed, intelli. the Apostle Paul; Acts ix. 1.31.-XI. The
gible enough to those to whom Luke imme. Miracles wrought on Eneas and Dorcas ;
diately wrote; but lapse of time, and change Acts ix. 32 to the end.-XII. The Gather-
of circumstances, have given occasion to ob. ing of the Gentiles into the Church, or the
scurities which require an interpreter. Due Throwing Down of the Middle Wall of Par-
diligence would, even now, make the mere tition ; Acts x. I ; xi. 18.–XIII. The Ori-
reading of Scripture more useful than it gin of the Christian Name ; Acts xi. 19 to
usually is; but expository lectures have at the end.-XIV. Peter's Deliverance, and
least this advantage, that they lead to a more Herod's Death ; Acts xii.-XV.The Mission
thoughtful and profitable reading of the of Paul and Barnabas to the Isle of Cyprus;
Divine word. For these lectures I would Acts xii. 25; xiii. 12.—XVI. The Preach-
ask, that each one may be followed, as well ing of the Gospel at Antioch, in Pisidia ;
as preceded, by the reading of the corres- Acts xiii. 13 to tbe end.-XVII. Paul and
pondent portion of the New Testament. Barnabas persecuted, idolised, and restored

"The Appendix to this volume, which is to Antioch ; Acts xiv.-XVIII. The Ex-
a sequel to the same writer's Lectures on emption of the Gentiles from the Yoke of
the History of Christ,' attempts, by aid of the Ceremonial Law; Acts xv. 1-35.-
the Revelation, to complete the inspired XIX. The Entrance of the Gospel into
history of the Church to the end of time. Europe ; Acts xv. 36 to the end of chapter

"Of the chronology of the Acts, the fol- xvi.-XX. Paul at Thessalonica, Berea, and
lowing lectures may be thought negligent, Athens ; Acts xvii.-XXI. Paul at Corinth ;
but so is Luke; and as it is impossible to Acts xviii.-XXII. Paul at Ephesus ; Acts
be sure of the exact dates, the reader is left xix.-XXIII. Paul at Miletus; Acts xx.
to those in the margin of our Bibles, which-XXIV. Paul's final Arrival at Jerusalem ;
are as nearly right as, perhaps, any that have Acts xxi. 1-33.-XXV. Paul's Defence
been framed, from Capel down to our time.” before the Multitude of the Jews; Acts

Such is our author's own account of the xxi. 33, to the end of chapter xxii.-
important volume, which we now introduce - XXVI. Paul's Rescue from the Jewish
with great satisfaction to our readers. We Sanhedrim; Acts xxii. 30, xxiv. to the end.
are sure they will not think that Dr. Bennett -XXVII. Paul's Examination before Felix;
bas overrated his own labours; but, on the Acts. xxiv.-XXVIII. Paul's appearance
contrary, that be bas spoken rodestly of an before Festus and Agrippa ; Acts xxv. xxvi.
andertaking of considerable literary and-XXIX. Panl's Voyage and Shipwreck ;
theological merit.

Acts xxvii.-XXX. Paul at Melita ; Acts
Those who wish to peruse the Acts of the xxviii. 1-11.-XXXI. Paul's Arrival at
Apostles with an intelligent perception of Rome; Acts xxviii. 12-16.-XXXII. The
the series of facts which they record, can Apostolic Ministry to the Jews, at Rome;
scarcely resort to a more terse or enlightened Acts xxviii. 17-29.--XXXIII. Paul's two
guide than the work before us. The thread years' Residence at Rome; Acts xxviii. 30,
of history is admirably preserved, and the 31. Appendix.
great lessons inculcated are brought forth to We have been rather surprised to find this
distinct view with equal ingenuity and force. volume without any table of contents. It is
We must say, there is a great charm in these certainly a defect, and ought to be supplied
lectures, which renders it impossible to lay when a second edition is called for. Indeed,
them aside till all are read. Their piety is considering the mass of interesting matter
fervent, and their theology is after the purest | contained in the volume, and presented to
model, viz., the school of Christ and his the mind of the reader in a clear, scriptural,
apostles.

and convincing manner, we would suggest
The Lectures are thirty-three in number, to our venerable friend that an Index, care-
and are designated in the following maner : fully executed, would add much to the value
I. Matthias chosen to be Apostle instead of of the work. But with or without these

to

appendages, Dr. Bennett's Lectures on the finite reason which includes, but is indeActs of the Apostles must be regarded as a pendent of them all, as belonging to the standard work, which will be consulted with infinite nature of God.” advantage by ministers, students, and pri- II. A second principle is, “ That everyvate Christians, for the years of many gene- thing sustains a relation to the great purrations.

pose, and is made subservient to it." It is not only a law of every creature's existence,

that it is what it is, just because God is The PRE-ADAMITE EARTH: contributions what he is ; but it is equally a law, or pri.

Theological Science. By JOHN mary condition of the creature's existence HARRIS, D.D., author of “The Great that it should contribute to God's Great Teacher,”' &c. 8vo. pp. 382.

Manifestation of himself, in fulfilment of Ward and Co.

his own eternal purpose.

** We can con

ceive, then," observes the author, “ of a (Continued from page 692, in the Supple- twofold reason for everything, ad extra :ment.)