spectable and reasonably priced work founded on it, would receive our strongest recommendation were it not for the strange absence of ingenuousness in putting it forth, apparently as a new work, whereas in truth it is a republication, without acknowledgment, of an anonymous work published in 1802. We leave the

MATT. Xiii.

Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

4 And when he sowed; some seeds fell by the wayside, and the fowls came and devoured them up.

5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them.

8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit some an hundred-fold, some sixty-fold, some thirtyfold.

editor, publisher, and reader, to settle the morality of this proceeding; and shall conclude our notice with an extract illustrative of the excellent plan of this useful, though surreptitions volume. We omit the fourth column, John, as the parable of the sower does not occur in that Gospel.

LUKE Viii.

5 A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell by the way-side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.

6 And some fell upon a rock and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.

7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.

8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit, an hundred-fold.

From the New Baptist Miscellany. THE IMPORTANCE OF TRIFLES. NOTHING is more common than to speak lightly of trifles. And yet, as mountains consist of atoms, and ages of moments, they are often component parts of circumstances the most important, and lead to consequences pregnant with interest. We remember an anecdote of a Quaker, who, when negotiating with a person in the way of trade, was told, with reference to certain particulars, that they were only trifles, about which they doubtless should not disagree; and they had better, therefore, postpone the consideration of them: to which the Quaker replied, "Then, friend, I think we had better attend to them first, as trifles are frequently the most difficult matters to be settled." And there was much of reason in the importance which he attached to them. For, although trifles, in themselves considered, may be unworthy of notice, and ought not to be tenaciously adhered to, yet in their bearings and results they often assume a very different aspect.

That which a superficial observer may regard, or an interested individual represent, as inconsiderable, will, perhaps, prove the keystone of an arch over chasms of difficulty, and conduct to fields of investigation hitherto unexplored, if not altogether unknown. In Sci

ENCE, this is obviously the case. The intelligent consideration, and collateral evidence, of facts, minute and comparatively inconsiderable, as taken separately, constitute the basis of that inductive philosophy to which science owes so much, and of which the immortal BACON was the patron and father. And, proceeding on the data which he laid down, the no less illustrious NEWTON engaged in specula tions of gigantic extent, and arrived at conclusions characterized by all the certainty of mathematical demonstration. The falling of an apple from a tree, which to an ordinary mind would have appeared as unworthy of consideration, was with him an object of intense interest, involving speculations the most profound, and leading to the establishment of the doctrine of gravitation. In like manner, the casual observance of light issuing through an aperture in a window-shutter has given rise to the most interesting experiments in Optics. And to the trifling circumstance of noticing some movements in the limbs of a dead frog, Galvanism, or animal electricity owes its discovery.

The wary politician and the skilful warrior, also, are careful to turn to advantage every circumstance, however minute. Of the gal lant Nelson, it is said that, at the bombardment of Copenhagen, the Danes ceased firing at the moment when his own ammunition was nearly exhausted. The admiral immediately wrote despatches commanding them to surrender,

and containing his terms of capitulation; but when the officer who was charged with their conveyance was departing, Nelson called him back, stating that he had only wafered the letter, and this circumstance might indicate haste arising from his want of resources, and in consequence prove fatal to the enterprise: he therefore proceeded deliberately to seal it with the British arms; and thus avoiding all suspicion on the part of the enemy, his terms were accepted.

Again: trifles have often been sources of great encouragement and consolation under circumstances the most trying. When Robert Bruce, king of Scotland, "had retreated to one of the miserable places of shelter in which he could venture to take some repose after his disasters, he lay stretched on a handful of straw, and abandoned himself to his melancholy meditations. He had now been defeated four times, and was on the point of resolving to abandon all hopes of farther opposition to his fate, and to go to the Holy Land. It chanced, his eye while thus pondering, was attracted by the exertions of a spider, who, in order to fix its web, endeavoured to swing itself from one beam to another above his head. Involuntarily he became interested in the pertinacity with

which the insect renewed its exertions after falling six times. At the seventh it gained its object; and Bruce, in consequence, was encouraged to persevere until he carried his own. And at a period much later, we have, in the case of Mungo Park, a striking illustration of the use which Providence often makes of the most trifling means to animate the mind. When travelling in Africa he was seized by a banditti, plundered, and left almost entirely destitute of clothing. In this wretched situation he sat for some time around him with amazement and horror. "In the midst of a *vast wilderness; in the depth of the rainy season; naked and alone; surrounded by savage animals, and men still more savage; five hundred miles from the nearest European settlement"-all these circumstances crowded at once on his recollection, and no wonder that his spirits (as he confesses) began to fail him. "At this moment (says he) painful as my recollections were, the extraordinary beauty of a small moss, in fructification, irresistibly caught my eye. I mention this (he adds) to show from what trifling circumstances the mind will sometimes derive consolation; for though the whole plant was not larger than one of my fingers, I could not contemplate the delicate conformation of its roots, leaves, and capsula, without admiration. Can that Being (thought I) who planted, watered, and brought to perfection, in this obscure part of the world, a thing which appears of so small importance, look with unconcern on the situation and sufferings of creatures formed after his own image?Surely not! Reflections like these would not allow me to despair. I started up, and disregarding both hunger and fatigue, travelled forwards, assured that relief was at hand, and I was not disappointed."

In the INTERCOURSE OF SOCIETY AND ENDEARMENTS OF FRIENDSHIP, too, their value is apparent. "Trifles!" said a profound observer of men and manners, "why life is made up of

trifles." Who has not felt the mighty influence of some little office of kindness opportunely and delicately performed in one's behalf? "As in filling a vessel," says Boswell, the interesting biographer of Dr. Johnsonas in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over; so in a series of kindnesses, there is at last one which makes the heart overflow." On the contrary, the first and slightest feeling of distrust, and the merest indication of insincerity or appearance of reserve, may lead to results the most painful, and eventually burst asunder bonds that once appeared infrangible. How important, therefore, in cultivating the charities of life, to beware of the many little things which might cause us either to give, or to take, offence!

In MORALS, their importance is no less evident. As a single leak, though at first comparatively small, may expose a whole crew to the horrors of shipwreck, so the first and most trifling aberration from the path of rectitude, may involve consequences as baneful as they are lasting. One step leads to another, until the strides in folly and guilt are successively lengthened, and become proportionably rapid. At length, a series of actions, like so many confluent streams, which, taken separately, may seem inconsiderable, urge the individual forwards with all the impetuosity of a mighty river, forming habits the most inveterate, and constituting the elements of a character equally depraved and dangerous.

As viewed, moreover, in connexion with RELIGION, their importance is especially worthy of notice. The earliest intimation of contrition for sin, and the feeblest breathings after holiness, may, under the fostering influence of meditation and prayer, prove the germ of permanent and spiritual principles, connected with the salvation of the soul, and bearing the fruit of immortality. "Who hath despised the day of small things?" is the language of God himself. And if he graciously regarded, and condescendingly approved of Abijay, "because in him there was found some good thing towards the Lord God of Israel;" ought we to neglect, either in ourselves, or with reference to others, any, although the faintest, desire towards him, and the remembrance of his gracious name? Should we not rather regard it as the incipient influence of the Spirit of God on the mind, and be solicitous to catch the gale of that Spirit to waft us into the ocean of divine love, and ultimately, to the shores of heaven?

On the other hand, the earliest and smallest indication of the decay of piety or of indifference with regard to the requirements of religion, should be guarded against as a dangerous prelude to consequences replete with mischief. This observation applies even to the minutia of the positive institutions of Christianity. In reference to these, however, it is frequently affirmed that, not being essential to salvation, they are of small importance. But the question is-have they been enacted, and are they enjoined on our observance, by the Christian Legislator and King of saints?-If so, he doubtless, considers them worthy of his notice;ought not we, then, to regard them worthy of

the Divine Being is as well pleased with him as he is with himself. And hence every true delineation of human nature is extremely of fensive and disgusting to him. The cross of Christ is a stumbling block, as it supposes him in a condition before God exceedingly abject and humiliating. His self-confidence perishes as light shines around him, and he who was full, and thought he needed nothing, becomes in his own sight poor, and miserable, and blind, and naked. That heart which was vainly imagined to be so good, appears as a cage of unclean birds, and the seat of all pollution and defilement. A thousand evils and dangers present themselves in the very path where previously he had walked with heedless security, and the desert of divine indignation is at length admitted, however humbling. The heart is broken with sorrow, and the enlightened sinner is taught to cry out, “Oh! wretched man that I am!"

3. Knowledge of others.-An individual will frequently trust society, so far as to pierce himself through with many sorrows. Where he reposed the most unhesitating confidence, there he finds himself deceived and betrayed. The sincerity on which he calculated, proves to be the most refined treachery. If it be a man in the lower orders of society of whom we speak, who has lived in a peaceable country village, and seen but little of human wretchedness, how is such an one confounded, when led into the retreats of sin and misery, furnished by populous towns and cities. He comes from these haunts of vice and wretchedness, horrified at scenes whose existence he had never before suspected. Or is it a Christian whose knowledge of mankind is enlarged? Alas! what an extent of wickedness does a Christian country present to him, when accurately known! What a mournful idea that six hundred millions of his fellow immortals are without hope and without God in the world-that Mahometanism is at this moment much more extensively spread than even the gospel of Jesus Christ! How deplorable to witness the triumphs of Satan, and to see the thousands and the millions who have fallen under his usurpation, who are spiritually dead, and whose bones lie bleaching in the sun and the storm! Must not scenes like these fill the heart of a Christian with grief and dismay? What then, shall we remain in ignorance, and bless ourselves that we are so happy? By no means. Things are as we have described them, whether we know it or not. Our ignorance is no remedy, no alleviation of the overwhelming load of misery. All it can effect will only operate to prevent our attempts to remove the evils; or, which is quite as probable, cause us to add to the mighty aggregate.

We ought to attempt the acquisition of knowledge, were it only that this world, and the future, may each be held in proper estimation. The proximity of the things which perish, give them magnitude and importance far beyond their intrinsic and relative value. It is by an intimate acquaintance with eternal realities, that we learn to treat the things of time with contempt, as mere vanities, when they would claim the heart, and withdraw the mind from God. The distance and invisibility of eternal

things has rendered them diminutive, and of secondary consideration, to the darkened understanding. But after having seen the inanity of worldly good, the mind under divine teaching becomes prepared to receive with proper sentiments and feelings the blessings of salvation. The things of time and sense lessen in our view; their foliage and beauty wither as we approach them; while the glories and blessings of an eternal world discover more to secure our imperishable felicity, the more we contemplate them. Hence they who have had the greatest degree of spirituality of mind, have been the most grateful for present mercies, and the most ready to leave them all at the divine summons.

We ought to possess much self knowledge in order to produce proper feelings of abasement before God, and to give vigour to our application to Christ for mercy. Our pride is the sin most fruitful of mischief and ruin. A sight of pollution spread through the powers of the soul, the knowledge of the narrowed and shrivelled state of the understanding, the obliquity of the will, the carnality of the affections, the discovery that we are earthly, sensual and devilish, will bring us into the dust before God. Our conviction of the demerit of sin, our helplessness, and the justice of the claims of God, will give an unspeakable emphasis to the Gospel of Christ, and lead us to embrace him as the only Saviour. Self-knowledge, indeed, however painful, is essential to salvation, as without it we never shall, we never can submit to receive the righteousness of God: nor can we ever give God the glory which he must and will receive from all who obtain honour, immortality, and eternal life.

Nor shall we exercise proper compassion towards others, or make due exertions for their relief, without much knowledge. The springs of benevolence are opened, and the soul is aroused to compassion as we become acquainted with mankind, and are under the influence of the Holy Spirit. We are never led by the light of God merely to speculate on human Wo. Jesus Christ beheld a perishing city, and wept over it: he saw thousands sinking beneath the weight of their misery, and he hastened to their relief. The Son of God had all knowledge, and his zeal for our salvation was proportionate to it. This knowledge will furnish our most important errands to the throne of grace. We shall be earnest that calamities may be averted, burdens removed, and hearts changed, as our minds are aware of the evils of sin. As we are convinced of the misery of the world, so shall we labour in preaching, in Sunday school teaching, in prayer, and in all means calculated to prevent the shipwreck of immortal souls. J. M.

From the General Baptist Repository. THE COMPREHENSIVE BIBLE; dedicated by permission to his Majesty: containing the Old and New Testaments, &c. &c. 4to. pp. 1480. Price, crown paper, boards, 30s. Samuel Bagster, London.

ESTEEMING this publication one of the most useful and important that has recently issued