as a Publican: so this, from one of a calling, in dis-repute, and suspected, may not only instruct the more precise of garb, and form of honesty, but show us that in any vocation, a man may take occasion to be just and faithful."-p. 288 There is a strange rambling "Resolve" about the Puritans, in which there is nothing more remarkable than the strange turn which Felltham gives to part of

the book of Ecclesiastes:

"I have more faith in one Solomon, than in a thousand Dutch parlours of such opinionists. Behold then, what I have seen good! "That it is comely to eat, and to drink, and to take pleasure in all his labour wherein he travelleth under the sun, the whole number of the dayes of his life, which God giveth him. For this is his portion. Nay, there is no profit to man, but that he cat, and drink, and delight his soul with the profit of his labour" For, he that saw other things but vanity, saw this also, that it

was the hand of God. Methinks the reading of Ecclesiastes should make a puritan undress his brain, and lay off all those phanatick toyes that gingle about his understanding. For my own part, I think the world hath not better men, than some, that suffer under that name: nor withal, more scelestick villanies. For, when they are once elated with that pride, they so contenn others, that they infringe the laws of all humane society."-p. 7.

We shall cite but one passage more, the close of a paper entitled, Something upon Eccles.

2. 11."

"Nothing endureth under the sun; and this not enduring, if there were no more, is enough to confirm that all is vanity when any thing comes to nought

it vanishes, which in plainer English is, it groweth into vanity; and shall not one day all the world do this? Though the earth be said to remain for ever, that ever is but comparatively, and the sense is, that it shall not decay so soon as the other creatures that depend upon it. But this," depending on the sun's enlivening influence, may in course of nature be capable of change, and when we need it, fail us. What then shall we do? Or whither turn to find a repose for the soul? All the mass of creatures put together is too narrow a palace to contain the soul of man. It flies in a moment to the deeps and oceans springs, not only to the roots of mountains, but in a moment pierces quite through the earth's condensed globe, to the stars,

and highest convex of the bounding sky. so far as the creature reaches it goes and finds no rest. God only is capacious, in him do all its vast extensions rest: unlimited thoughts in him a limit find and when we do lose the creature, still we do find him. Beyond the bowed ex-pansions of the firmament, where we cannot guess what may be, there we are sure this God incorruptible dwels. He is farther off than the soul can reach :

nearer than it can avoid. All things else are sea, and storm: nor is there any haven but here. Hither must we mount, beyond the sun's rais'd eye. In the courts of the Father of this sun, dwells truth, and joy, and constancy. While I live here, I must look for tydes and ebbs, waves, and sands, and rocks, and more cross winds than knows the saylor's compass. Nor may I hope for safety but by anchoring above the sun; even in his mercies, who is this sun's Sun, who is the life, and light, and soul of all. If I can fix here, I will think I have made an escape from earth and by his noble attraction, having a mind rais'd gloriously high, may stand as a wellbuilt structure, though outwardly soiled and clouded with the fume of terrene things, yet by the gratious shine of the Almighty, bright within."—p. 354.

The second part, entitled, Lu soria, contains poetry, "a brief character of the Low Countries," and letters. The first has a few stanzas of merit, but on subjects not adapted to our pages. There is an Elegie, which sets out in the following portentous style :What means this solemn damp quite through the Strand

To Westminster? Oh! see how sad they stand!

In the description of Holland there is much humour, though excessively overcharged. The letters have no peculiar interest; one of them is in reply to an epistle sent him by a Jesuit, persuading him to turn Catholic.

A Priest to the Temple, or, the Countrey Parson, his Character and Rule of Holy Life. The Authour, Mr. G. H.-18mo. pp. 168.-London: 1652.

We have already given our readers a sight of Isaack Walton's portrait of" that sweet singer of the

Temple," Mr. George Herbert, and we shall now hold up to them a second likeness of the same individual, drawn by his own pencil, for no one who has contemplated the former, can hesitate a moment in assigning the features of this con amore sketch to its worthy Author himself; "I have resolved," says he, quaintly, "to set down the form and character of a true pastour, that I may have a mark to aim at, which also I will set as high as I can, since hee shoots higher that threatens the moon, than hee that aims at a tree." Having thus introduced our limner, we shall leave the following sketches to speak for themselves.

"THE PARSONS LIFE.

"The countrey parson is exceedingly exact in his life, being holy, just, prudent, temperate, bold, grave in all his wayes. And because the two highest points of life, wherein a Christian is most seen, are patience and mortification; patience in regard of afflictions, mortifications in regard of lusts and affections, and the stupifying and deading of all the clamorous powers of the soul, therefore he hath thoroughly studied these, that he may be an absolute master and commander of himself, for all the purposes which God hath ordained him. Yet, in these points, the labours most in those things which are most apt to scandalize his parish. And first, because countrey people live hardly, and therefore as feeling their own sweat, and consequently, knowing the prize of mony, are offended much with any, who by hard usage, increase their travell; the countrey parson is very circumspect in avoiding all covetuousnesse, neither being greedy to get, nor nigardly to keep, nor troubled to lose any worldly wealth, but in all his words and actions slighting and disesteeming it, even to a wondring that the world should so much value wealth, which in the day of wrath, hath not one dramme of comfort for us. Secondly, because luxury is a very visible sinne, the parson is very carefull to avoid all the kinds thereof, but especially that of drinking, because it is the most popular vice; into which if he come, he prostitutes himself both to shame and sin, and by having fellowship with the unfruitfull works of darknesse, he disableth himself of authority to reprove them; for sins make all equall, whom they finde together; and then they are worst, who ought to be best. Neither is it for the

servant of Christ to haunt innes, or tavernes, or ale-houses, to the dishonour of his person and office. The parson doth not so, but orders his life in such a fashion, that when death takes him, as the Jewes and Judas did Christ, he may say as He did, I sate daily with you teaching in the temple. Thirdly, because countrey people (as indeed all honest men), do much esteem their word, it being the life of buying, and selling, and dealing in the world; therefore the parson is very strict in keeping his word, though it be to his own hinderance, as knowing, that if he be not so, he wil quickly be discovered and disregarded; neither will they believe him in the pulpit, whom they cannot trust in his conversation. As for oaths, and apparell, the disorders thereof are also very manifest. The

parsons yea, is yea, and nay, nay; and his apparell plaine, but reverend, and clean, without spots, or dust, or smell; the purity of his mind breaking out, and dilating itselfe even to his body, cloths, and habitation."—pp. 6—9.

This is Herbert in common life : let us look at him in the pulpit.

"THE PARSON PREACHING,

"The countrey-parson preacheth constantly, the pulpit is his joy, and his throne. If he at any time intermit, it is either for want of health, or against some great festivall, that he may the better celebrate it, or, for the variety of the hearers, that he may be heard at his returne more attentively. When he intermits, he is ever very well supplied by some able man who treads in his steps, and will not throw down what he hath built; whom also he entreats to press some point, that he himself hath often urged with no great success, that so in the month of two or three witnesses, the truth may be more established. When he preacheth, he procures attention by all possible art, both by earnestnesse of speech, it being naturall to men to think, that where is much earnestness, there is somewhat worth hearing; and by a diligent, and busy cast of his eye on his auditors, with letting them know, that he observes who marks, and who not; and with particularizing of his speech, now, to the younger sort, then to the elder; now to the poor, and now to the rich. This is for you, and this is for you; for particulars ever touch, and awake more than generalls." pp. 21, 22.

Our readers, we are persuaded, will now gladly follow this amiable personage to his house.

"THE PARSON IN HIS HOUSE.

"The parson is very exact in the governing of his house, making it a copy

and modell for his parish. He knows the temper, and pulse of every person in his house, and accordingly either meets with their vices, or advanceth their vertues. His wife, is either religious, or night and day he is winning her to it. Instead of the qualities of the world, he requires onely three of her; first, a trayning up of her children, and mayde, in the fear of God, with prayers, and catechizing, and all religious duties. Secondly, a curing, and healing of all wounds and sores with her owne hands; which skill either she brought with her, or he takes care she shall learn it of some religious neighbour. Thirdly, a providing for her family in such sort, as that neither they want a competent sustentation, nor her husband be brought in debt. His children he first makes Christians, and then common-wealthe-men; the one, he owes to his heavenly countrey, the other, to his earthly, having no title to either, except, he do good to .” ***—pp. 38, 39. both."

We can only afford room for another sketch; would to heaven that such a character as it exhibits, was more frequently to be met with in these days of refinement and politeness.

"THE PARSON IN JOURNEY.

"The countrey-parson, when a just occasion calleth him out of his parish, (which he diligently and strictly weigh eth, his parish being all his joy and thought,) leaveth not his ministry behind him; but is himselfe, where ever he is. Therefore, those he meets on the way, he blesseth awdibly, and with those he overtakes, or that overtake him, hee begins good discourses, such as may edify, interposing sometimes some short and honest refreshments, which may make his other discourses more welcome, and lesse tedious. And when he comes

to his inn, he refuseth not to joyne, that he may enlarge the glory of God to the company he is in, by a due blessing of God for their safe arrival, and saying grace at meat, and at going to bed, by giving the host notice, that he will have prayers in the hall, wishing him to informe his guests thereof, that if any be willing to partake, they may resort thither. The like he doth in the morn

ing, using pleasantly the outlandish proverb, that prayers and provender, never hinder journey. When he comes to any other house, where his kindred, or other relations give him any authority over the family. If hee be to stay for a time, hee considers diligently the state thereof to Godward, and that, in two points: First, what disorders there are, either in apparell or diet, or too open a buttery, or reading vain books, or swearing, or breeding up children to no calling, but

in jolleness, or the like. Secondly, what means of piety, whether daily prayers be used, grace, reading of Scriptures, and other good books, how Sundayes, holydays, and fasting days are kept. And accordingly, as he finds any defect in these, hee first considers with himselfe, what kind of remedy fits the temper of the house best; and then, hee faithfully, and boldly applyeth it, yet seasonably and discreetly, by taking aside the lord or lady, or master and mistress of the house, and showing them clearly, that they respect them most, who wish them best, and that not a desire to meddle with others affairs, but the earnestnesse to do all the good he can, moves him to say thus and thus."-pp. 70-72.

The above extracts have been made almost ad aperturam libri To those who love to converse with the worthies of the olden time, not on the arena of polemical strife, but amid the quiet seclusion of their hermitages, or in the bosoms of their families,every page of the little volume before us will communicate deep delight. There is a humanity, if we may so speak, in Herbert's writings, which at once wins our heart-we forget the critic in the friend. And even were we disposed to criticise, the beauty of thought, and point of sentiment, that we so frequently meet with in the writer, would effectually disarm us.

"That countrey parson," says a note on one of the blank pages of our copy, in the hand writing of a worthy minister of the last century," that can spare 12d., and yet want this useful book, is scarce excuseable."

There is " a prefatory view of the life and vertues of the authour" prefixed to this volume, which we believe was written by a Mr. Barcly, to whose care Mr. Woodnot, the intimate friend of Herbert, consigned the manuscript for publication after the author's death. A letter to N. F. (Nicholas Farrer), and three Latin poems, are inserted at the end, and a few apothegmes, some of which we have transferred to our Varieties, close the volume.

parentage and education, in addition to which the principles of truth were fostered in him by a faithful gospel ministry. Upon this however, after he became of sufficient age to know the value of it, he had opportunities of only an occasional attendance," most in the night-time," and generally with great labour and difficulty, and sometimes with no small hazard.

We venture to predict that every young Christian, who may peruse the plain and artless narrative before us, will, in some degree, sympathize with the writer in those passages of his early history, which are recorded between the 1st and 30th pages. Among these we particularly recommend to the notice of the young convert the instances in which certain texts of Scripture presented themselves to the recollection of the youth, well read in the sacred volume, and afforded instruction and relief to his mind, while under the deepest impres sions, and subject to the most agitating conflicts. Not less worthy of attention is the powerful effect produced by particular discourses, which were delivered in Mr. Reid's hearing, in determining him to be entirely the Lord's, to cast in his lot with the persecuted Covenanters and to devote himself to the service of God in a private but solemn act or covenant. To these passages of the narrative before us, we the rather call the attention of the younger branches of Christian families, as they describe the spiritual conflict of a young convert, in times when a conscientious adherence to the truth was a measure of no small risk, and the motives to it, arising from deep conviction, may fairly be presumed to have been proportionably powerful.

In this little book the reader will find the same phraseology employed to describe the mental exercises and conduct of the Christian, which has been held up to public ridicule in the works of one of the most popular novelists of the present day, such as "seeking the Lord"declaring against spiritual defection," and " entering into covenants." Much do we lament that such talents for composition as have been displayed by that writer, the author of the "Tales of my Land

lord," should have been so awfully misemployed in an endeavour to expose to the scorn of the present generation, the memories of those who, in former times, suffered the loss of all things for a good con. science towards God, and that the same pen should have attempted to irradiate the darkest features in one of the darkest characters of those times. We refer to the infamous Grahame, of Claverhouse→→ a man whose relentless butcherics of the human race, compared with the means which were entrusted to his disposal, are not exceeded in any instances, either ancient or modern, within our recollection.

By way of contrast and antidote to the misrepresentations and satires of the popular novelist, we recommend the life of Mr. Reid as deserving an attentive and extensive perusal among professing Christians. It exhibits facts equally remarkable; and which evince greater fortitude and magnanimity, with courage more illustrious on the part of the sufferers, than those which appear on the pages of the novel; but above all it exhibits the finger of God, employed in directing the path, securing the interests, and bringing about the reward of the righteous. We are, therefore, persuaded that our readers will peruse it as we have done, with pleasure, and will follow Mr. Reid through all his vicissitudes to the end of his journey, with feelings of Christian sympathy. They will observe his devotion of himself to God. his sufferings for consciencesake, his patient submission to injuries, and loss of property, brought on him through the avarice and treachery of false friends, and the cruelty and violence of the open persecutor. They will particularly notice his attention to Christian principles and duties, his resignātion to the will of God, and experience of the supporting influence of divine grace, in the midst of all his distresses, and even when driven into exile; and the fortitude and devoted attachment of his amiable wife under all these circumstances: and after following the hero of the tale (if we may be permitted to use this unhallowed phrase) in his pilgrimage through the valley of humiliation, the Chris