An EXPOSITION, with PRACTICAL OB- James Nisbet. This is a most precious fragment, rescued from the oblivion of years, by a worthy descendant of the excellent author. It will need no argument to identify it to those who are familiar with the style of the Henries. As a closet and family com. panion, it will be invaluable; consisting as it does of notes, taken at the time, of Philip Henry's family expositions of the word of God. SUICIDE. A Sermon delivered in Orange- Nisbet and Co., 21, Berners-street; Relfe and On whatever grounds, either ancient or modern writers may profess or attempt to defend suicide, certain it is that it receives not even the shadow of support from the ethics of Christianity. Not that we think such an act capable of defence even when the argument in its favour is derived either from the light of nature or from the dictates and decision of reason; but we prefer making our appeal at once to the Christian standard. For though suicide may not in so many words be forbidden in the Bible, and though we may concede that the law which enjoins, "Thou shalt not murder," a law which is clothed with all the sanctions of supreme authority, does not immediately affect the present question, yet nothing can be more evident, we think, than that the entire genius of our religion is wholly opposed to such a line of conduct. Of this we have the most satisfactory evidence in the form of powerful and well-sustained argument in the discourse before us. The whole subject is handled in no common-place manner. It is the production of a vigorous and highly cultivated mind, all whose power of thought and feeling has been brought to bear upon the question. And considering that it is one, to the discussion and settlement of which attaches no little difficulty, we cannot but congratulate Mr. Dobson on the success of his effort. The circumstances which led the esteemed author to select such a theme for a public discussion, in the painfully-affecting death of the young female who threw herself from the Monument, are sufficiently notorious. The unhappy victim had been in the habit of attending his ministry, and there was an obvious propriety in his seizing on such an occasion to call attention to a subject so seldom approached, and to instruct and counsel men against an evil so deeply marked by moral turpitude. And well he has performed his task. The delivery of the sermon was preceded and accompanied by no ordinary sensations in various direc tions, and the author has acted wisely in listening to the repeated solicitations of his friends and others to give it to the public in its present form. The great leading points at the elucidation and establishment of which Mr. Dob. son aims, are, "that the self-murderer becomes chargeable with acting an irrational and impious part, inasmuch as, in the first place, the life which he terminates is not his own; inasmuch as, in the second place, what he does generally brings unutterable, and sometimes long-continued infamy upon surviving kindred and friends, and is, for the most part, injurious to the public; inasmuch as, in the third place, it argues a temper of mind flagrantly at variance with those sentiments and dispositions which the Bible teaches us to cherish and exemplify, and with all which is there revealed concerning the nature and operations of genuine piety; and inasmuch as, in the fourth place, it is in all likelihood, attended with irreparable damage to the individual, who thus dies in the performance of an action highly displeasing to the Majesty of heaven, and cuts off the possibility of any further preparation for an eternal state." On this latter point, Mr. Dobson thus forcibly and with great feeling expresses himself, (and the extract may be taken as a fair specimen of his mode of argument and address.)—“ If, indeed, the self-murderer were sure that what he resolves upon would prove an effectual remedy for his complaint,-if he were sure that death would be annihilation, and that there is nothing beyond the grave,-if he were sure that there is no future state, or if there be, that it is not a state of misery, but of happiness alone,—the blame attached to his conduct would be materially diminished, and grounds might often be made to appear, on which that conduct, if not perfectly justifiable, would, nevertheless, admit of great palliations, and, to a considerable extent, cease to be either matter of astonishment or regret. But, my friends, we can no more put ourselves out of being than we could at first give ourselves existence. Immortality is the attribute of our nature. The man who determines that he will die, is met by an omnipotent and irreversible decree that he never shall die; and, after all, the suicide does but change the mode of his existence -he does not terminate that existence. He may paralyse and he may reduce to ashes, and he may render, for a season, apparently useless, the materialism of his constitution, but he cannot touch the vitality of the spirit; that still lives on,-that passes immediately into the presence of a God who will not be mocked; and there it stands with the criminality fresh upon it of having rushed thither uncalled, unsanctioned, and in daring contrariety to Jehovah's revealed will ;-there it stands in the shuddering consciousness of having cut itself off from all possibility of ever becoming, in the Divine estimation, acceptably penitent, or of ever securing an interest in the Christian forgiveness; and thence, quailing beneath the frown of insulted Majesty and rectitude, it takes its reluctant departure into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.' "Men and brethren, let us not be denounced as harsh and uncharitable, because we thus speak. We have all along regarded cases of insanity and delirium as exceptions; and what are or are not such cases, must, for the most part, be left with God. And further than this, we are quite willing to allow that it is barely possible for the voluntary suicide to secure himself an opportunity of repentance, by the gradual death which he pleases to die. But, alas, the temper of mind in which he destroys life, and the views which God must entertain of his rebellion, surely furnish him with but little hope that he will become penitent. And if the action by which he dismisses himself from this world be in itself a criminal action, unrepented of before dismission can have been accomplished,—and if the other world know nothing of repentance, and if sin not pardoned here, be unpardonable there, at what conclusion can we arrive different from that which has been stated? at what point can we stop short of the tremendous and appalling consummation, to which your thoughts have now been directed? "Ah! my hearers, it is this terrible believing foresight of the state after death which causes the blood to curdle, as it does, in our veins, when we hear of any one thus sending himself away in his wickedness.' He has, it is true, got rid of the pains and troubles of mortality, but he has banished a never-dying spirit to neverending torments. He has, it is true, passed beyond the poverty and crosses of the present life, but he is gone to sink, and sink, and sink for ever, in the gulf of perdition. He can, it is true, be no longer injured by his fellow-men, but he has wronged his own soul, he has ruined his own soul,-he has damned his own soul!" We most earnestly recommend the entire discourse to our readers. It cannot obtain oo wide a circulation, or be too generally and seriously perused. FISHER'S DRAWING-ROOM SCRAP-BOOK, MDCCCXL. With Poetical Illustrations. By L. E. L. and MARY HOwITT. 4to. Fisher, Son, and Co. As the former gifted editor of this pleasing annual has sunk into an early grave, by which the public are deprived of all future benefit from her sprightly pen, we are glad to perceive that Mary Howitt has consented to occupy her place. If the present volume is to be regarded as an earnest of what the public are to look for in future years, we cannot anticipate any decrease in the sale of Mr. Fisher's popular annual. Miss Howitt's critique upon the genius and writings of L. E. L., prefixed to the volume, is equally just and beautiful, and evinces, in a high degree, the taste and talent of the writer. The following lines, which conclude the sketch, and which refer to the late editor's pieces which appear in the present volume, are characteristic, and highly poetic. "Farewell, farewell! thy latest word is spoken; The lute thou lovedst hath given its latest tone; The JUVENILE SCRAP-BOOK, for 1840. By MRS. ELLIS, Author of "The Women of England." 8vo. Fisher, Son, and Co. Mrs. Ellis's well known talent for clear, forcible, and high-principled writing will be a strong recommendation to the present number of the Juvenile Scrap-Book, which bears distinct marks of her accustomed good sense, acuteness, and careful discrimination of character. Parents need have no fear of putting this volume into the hands of their children; it will amuse without exciting the passions; and teach the best moral lessons, without supplanting the principles on which true morality can alone rest. The pictures will please the youthful eye; and in every instance they form a kind of motto to the writing which follows. WORKS RECENTLY PUBLISHED. 1. Lowndes' British Librarian; or, Book-Collector's Guide to the formation of a Library in all branches of Literature, Science, and Art, arranged in Classes, with Prices, Critical Notes, References, and an Index of Authors and Subjects. Class I. Religion and its History. Parts I., II., III., and IV. 2s. 6d. each. Whittaker and Co.-If the author takes care of his critical notes, this will be a most valuable work when complete. Scripture. 18mo. Religious Tract Society.—An excellent condensation of the best works on Bible geography, with two well executed maps. 4. Primitive Christianity; or, the Ancient Apostolical Christians. A discourse, delivered by the Rev. JOHN GOSSNER, on quitting Munich. Translated from the German. 18mo. Religious Tract Society. A richly evangelical tract, well suited to the times. 5. Life and Services of Viscount Horatio Nelson, Duke of Bronte, Vice-Admiral of the White, K.B., &c. From his Lordship's Manuscripts. By the Rev. JAMES STANGER CLARKE, F.R.S., Librarian and Chaplain to George, Prince of Wales; and Joas M'ARTHUR, Esq. LL.D., Secretary to Admiral Lord Hood. Vol. I., 8vo. Fisher, Son, and Co. By the 6. Divine and Moral Songs for Children. Rev. ISAAC WATTS, D.D. Illustrated by Anecdotes and Reflections, by the Rev. INGRAM COBEIN, M.A. Embellished with beautiful wood cuts. 18mo. Ball and Arnold.-Mr. Cobbin has shown his usual ingenuity in his illustrations of these inimitable songs for children. 7. Popery in the Ascendant; Sufferings of the English Protestant Martyrs; 1555, 1556, 1557, 1558. Compiled from Fox and other writers. By THOMAS SMITH, 18mo. Simpkin, Marshall, and Co.-Let Englishmen read their own history, if they would know the true spirit of Popery. 8. A Review of Mr. Newman's Lectures on Remanism, with General Observations on the Oxford Tracts, and Dr. Pusey's Letter to the Bishop of Orford. By the Rev. C. NEVILLE, Rector of Wickedly, Lincolnshire. 12mo, pp. 236. James Ridgway, Piccadilly. 9. The Fathers and Founders of the London Missionary Society. Part VIII. Containing Memoirs of Rev. Edward Parsons, the Rev. Dr. Simpson, the Rev. William Roby, the Rev. G. Lambert, and the Rev. Samuel Greatheed. By JOHN MORISON, D.D. Fisher, Son, and Co. OBITUARY. THE REV. JOHN CHALMERS, Late of Stafford. WE have to record, with unfeigned regret, the death of this truly devoted servant of Christ, which took place, at his own house, at Stafford, on the 14th of September, 1839. He was a native of Scotland, had resided for twenty-five years in Stafford, and was, for a considerable period, pastor of the Independent church in that town, till the state of his health compelled him to resign his charge; since which he has been usefully and influentially employed as an instructor of youth. The complaint of which he died, was disease of the brain. His funeral was attended by a large circle of attached friends, among whom were many of his pupils, one of his college companions, (the Rev. Thomas Smith of Sheffield,) and the Rev. Messrs. James, Sylvester, Fernie, and Jenkyn. Mr. James delivered the funeral oration at the grave; and Mr. Hill, of Salford, the funeral discourse on the following Sabbath. He was "a good man; and full of the Holy Ghost, and of faith." We knew him well, and loved him much. His piety was of a distinguished character, and his spirit was most amiable and kind. MRS. PHILIPS. Died, September the 10th, in full assurance of hope of a glorious immortality, Mrs. Philips, of Chedworth, the second wife of the Rev. Stephen Philips, late pastor of the Independent church in that place. NOTICE TO WIDOWS. The Editor begs to inform the Widows of pious Ministers receiving assistance from the Evangelical Magazine, that, as the next half-yearly distribution of profits will take place (D. v.) early in January, 1840, their applications must be sent to the Publishers, addressed to the Editor, on or before the 25th of December, 1839. AN UNOFFICIAL MISSIONARY TOUR. To the Editor of the Evangelical Magazine. SIR,-Having been one of the tourists in the following excursion, I feel some difficulty in writing an account of it even to you. You know me too well, however, to ascribe the inevitable egotism to vanity, or to any wish for publicity. I am conscious of no motive in speaking of myself, but the conviction that you and many others would accomplish, on a similar trip, far more than I attempted; and that, like myself, you have friends who would gladly accompany you on such a tour. Our venerable friend, Mr. Luke, of Taunton, pressed me, four years ago, to join him in visiting the late Lady Barham's chapels in the Gower, and his old friends in Swansea, with a view to revive the missionary spirit in that quarter of Glamorganshire. Last year also, he renewed his urgency, whilst I was his guest at his romantic cottage on the cliffs of Goodwick bay, in Pembrokeshire. Then, however, I could not command time. I need not say that, this year, the subject was not less interesting at Poundsford park than when the tour was first proposed to me. The old motives had acquired new force with me. My friends were to be my companions. We accordingly left the park heavily laden with tracts and reward books, and missionary papers, to visit all the churches and Sunday-schools we could touch at, on our way from Bristol to the Gower. On our arrival at Bristol, we just saw and heard enough of the missionary anniversary there, to warm our hearts, and then sailed for Chepstow, where Mr. Thompson and myself had an opportunity of pleading the cause of missions and schools, before a good congregation. The only thing which mortified us was, to find that the guardians of the poor-house shut its doors on the worthy Independent minister, more closely than on the Popish priest, although the inmates plead with tears for his preaching. Next morning, before starting for Usk, we visited Channor Falls, the beautiful seat of one of the Noel family. It is a spot which, between its woods and waters without, and its ancient portraits of the Barham family within, would tempt any one to linger, who was travelling only for intellectual gratification. We were not. I was even so vulgar as to calculate how many wells of salvation might have been opened in China or Africa, by one half of the money expended upon the Channor cataracts and cascades. This was not very polite towards one of the party; but she had too much missionary spirit to reprove me; and by the time we reached Usk, we had forgotten all lands but the heathen lands. The bellman had prepared our way very effectually, although somewhat oddly; and I was soon preaching with a tablet behind me in the pulpit, which said of the just pastor of the chapel, that he "had only souls for his hire." It was easy for me to have no other wish: I was not labouring at my own expense. It was, however very honourable to him. And yet, perhaps, such examples of disinterestedness have not, upon the whole, been the best thing for Wales. But, be this as it may, my sermon without a collection for missions, won the promise of doubling the last year's contributions next sabbath; and Mr. Thompson's address to the Sunday-school, with the books distributed by his good lady, drew out all the schools next morning, for "a second benefit." The impression made by the attentions paid by my friends to the young, may be judged of by the fact that one of the schools was nearly doubled on the next Sabbath morning. A gentleman, who spoke to me in the street of the induential name of my companions, and of the good likely to accrue from their disinterested zeal, was, I found afterwards, a faithful and useful clergyman in the neighbourhood. After visiting the fine ruins of Usk Castle, we started for the populous and thriving town of Newport, where we spent the Sabbath. The Bishop of Llandaff arrived at the same time; and as he came to the same hotel, we had some hopes of being invited to join him at family worship, but we were not asked. It was, therefore, evident that the bells were not ringing for us next morning. Church and Dissent, however, divided pretty equally the atten tion of Newport that day. More than a thousand children assembled in the afternoon in the Baptist chapel, to hear the address of my colleague, and to be rewarded by his lady; and I had the opportunity of |