able with the common blunder of confounding, or teaching ris readers to confound, the widely distinct characters of priest and presbyter. The legal or ceremonial purity required in the Levitical priest, is repeatedly alluded to in the New Testament, but not as implying the slightest similarity of office or character between priests of old and ministers of the Gospel: it is in reference to the general body of believers, that St Peter says, "But ye are a holy priesthood"; and that St. Paul beseeches those whom he is addressing, to present their bodies "a living sacrifice." With regard to the appropriateness of the Ordination Service, Mr. J. must think and let think'. In the section on Tithes, we have the following remarks: From the case of Abraham giving the tenth of all the spoil to Melchisedeck, the priest of the Most High God, and from that of Jacob vowing and solemnly promising to give to God the tenth of all that God would bless him with, we see that tithes are of very ancient origin. Almost all the nations of the earth, particularly the Greeks and Romans, have agreed in giving a tenth part of their property to be employed in religious uses. Reason seems to point out the propriety of consecrating part of one's substance for the support and subsistence of ministers of religion, who were obliged to devote their time and labours to the work of the ministry, and consequently were deprived of the opportunity of providing for themselves in any secular way. And experience found out that a tenth part was a necessary and just proportion for that end. Hence this mode of supporting the Priests and Levites was instituted by God himself as the most rational and just, and thus, the law of tithes was enacted.' As to the antiquity of tithes, there can be no controversy; nor will any one be found to deny the propriety of consecrating part of one's substance to the maintenance of religion; and further, as a general rule, the tenth of a man's income may be with good reason deemed a proper portion to be set apart for that purpose. Some divines have insisted upon this as the law of Christian liberality, and many private Christians have conscientiously acted upon it. But would our Author contend, that the tenth of a man's income should therefore be taken from him by the State, to be distributed among the clergy and the parish poor? We presume not. His reasoning, therefore, which, if valid, would prove too much, proves, in respect to the modern law of tithes, nothing. Neither in the design, nor in the circumstances, nor in the application of the Jewish tithes, is there the slightest analogy to the existing tithe-system, which, had it no other support than it derives from reason, experience, and Scripture, would long since have fallen to pieces. No real Christian can consider himself as consecrating', in the tithe the law exacts from him, a part of his substance to God. It is there fore, a sad abuse of words, to adopt such language in reference to it. In deciding what proportion of his income he should set apart for purposes of piety and benevolence, he must put what the State demands of him in the shape of tithe and poor's rate wholly out of his calculation. He then can do no better than adopt the rule of a tenth; and the advocates and receivers of tithes, to be consistent, should themselves set him the example; remembering always the Apostolic direction: "Every "man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity for God loveth a cheerful "giver." On the whole, while we wish that Mr. Jones had kept clear of these vulgar errors', we do not hesitate cordially to recommend his work, which does great credit to his industry. A short section on the geography of Palestine, though not strictly within the Author's plan, would, perhaps, have rendered the volume more complete as an introductory help to the understanding of the Scriptures. Art. VI. Metrical Epistles chiefly from Florence. 12mo. pp. 148. Price 5s. London. 1821. WE have readers to whom the most varied or elaborate Number of our Journal would be incomplete without a poetical article; and such is the prolific exuberance of our versifiers, there seems to be no danger that we shall be at a loss for matter to gratify them. The work before us is a trifle, but an elegant one; and it suits our present purpose better than a volume whose higher pretensions might tempt or force us into critical discus sions. Florence is or was very recently-high in the favour of English emigrants of the beau monde. These Epistles from Mr. M., aud Mrs.——, and the Lady's Maid Jane, contain a tolerably lively and faithful description of the sights and the perils, the sweets and the sours, the wonders and the drawbacks attendant on tourification and a winter in Italy. We have been much amused with the letters of the Lady's Maid. For instance, her description of the horrors of the Simplon, is what hundreds of her betters have thought and felt, though they have not dared disclose it. In the Valais I gaz'd on the wonderful Craws, At mid-day we stopt at the sign of the Lion, I wonder they give such a name to a place But a danger at distance will often appear To those who for our sakes are buried in snow? We travell'd for miles without seeing a face: I don't count the men with their shaggy black locks, Then by mountains and rocks that seem'd turrets and walls: pp. 20-2 The following is her mistress's more polished description of the scene. As onward we climb to the mountains of snow, But calmly we toil round the perilous steep, When the guide points his hand to the miniature town; Where the mountain-pine waves in the desolate grove; To have seen a fair model of beauty and grace : And warm him, and cheer him, and snatch him from death." They were starting from chaos, and bursting to light. i And wild rose the Glaciers and mountains of snow. * Genevieve lives at the third house of Refuge, on ascending the Simplon, from Brigg.' An avalanche may fall at a sound or a breath, When the storm is abroad, and the snow-drifts appear. O thus, when we reach life's invisible bourne, May we look to our Refuge, nor sigh to return!' pp. 38--41. These lines are very pleasing; but we must turn over to another leaf of the waiting-maid's journal, dated Florence. Well, my travels are ended! to Florence I'm come, "Is the Jeu worth the Chandelle?" I heard t'other day They can't leave their stay-at-home neighbours at rest; To acquire" je ne sais quoi," and be quite "comme il faut.” To hold up her head as she sits at her table, And say with her guests, "I have travell'd that road, To gaze at the pictures and statues they meet! Mark'd" this way to the hall," and the Red Lion near They both promis'd comfort and English good cheer. And talk of my virtue, by some call'd vertû. I have strain'd my short neck, and have blinded my eyes, |