Essay on the Habitual Exercise of Love to God, considered as a Preparation for Heaven. By Joseph John Gurney. pp. 165. Seeley & Co. No one whose mind is under a sacred influence, can rise from the perusal of these pages without a consciousness of having been admitted into privileged society. The principles, spirit, and tendency of this work, are eminently important. Were they but permitted to exercise that practical dominion over the judgment and conduct of men generally, to which they are fully entitled, a change as marvellous as beneficial would be the result; in the evidence of which its divine nature and origin would be abundantly manifested. The work is divided into the following sections:—"General Remarks on Meetness for the Heavenly State—On the Contemplation of God in Nature and Providence—On the Contemplation of God in Redemption; the Father, the Son, the Spirit—On Communion with God—On Submission to the Will of God, and Conformity to his Attributes—On Love towards Man—Conclusion." Our sincere wish is that this work may obtain a very extensive circulation.
Helen of Coquetdale, or the Fair Bondager; a Tale, in two Cantos: with a few other Fragments, in Verse. By a late Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford. pp. 140. Oliphant.—The principal article in this small volume contains many pious and some excellent passages; yet, as a whole, we fear it is not destined to be a favourite. We scarcely know what to say as to public taste, in relation to poetry, in the present day, except that we are apprehensive it is too refined to be attracted with the versification, &c. of "Helen of Coquetdale." We were ourselves much more favourably impressed with two or three of the minor pieces.
Illustrations of the Bible, &c. Part 12. Churton.—The continuation of these admirable engravings is entitled to, and we hope is receiving, enlarged public attention and support. The following are the illustrations contained in the twelfth part: "Belshazzar's Feast—The peaceable Kingdom—Esther kissing the Sceptre—Death of Absalom—Solomon's Charge—The Death of Sampson—Jonah cast into the Sea—Hezekiah beholding the Sun-dial."
1. Fruits and Flowers. By the Author of the "Wheatsheaf." pp. 212. Darton.
2. The Garden. By the Compiler of "Fruits and Flowers," and the "Wheatsheaf." pp. 263. Darton.—These elegant little volumes cannot but be highly acceptable, especially to our pious young readers; they contain such a selection of prose and verse, presented in a form so attractive, that we may fairly presume upon their becoming favourites to a very great extent.
Sober Views of the Millennium. By the Rev. Thomas Jones, of Creaton, Northamptonshire. Seeley and Burnside.—This little work answers to its title in a very great degree. Let the Millennarians be induced soberly to read and consider its contents.
The Christian Journal. Conducted by Members of the Relief Church.—No. 27, for March last, contains a Review of Mr. Anderson's Funeral Sermon for Dr. Carey, and several other highly interesting articles.
MR. H. H. FREEMAN
Henry Hawkins Freeman was born at South Sydenham, in Devonshire, in the year 1767, where he resided under the parental roof until he attained the age of sixteen, when he was placed as an apprentice to a ship-builder at Plymouth, whom he faithfully served; during which time he occasionally, with worldly companions, sought pleasure on the Lord's-day; but has declared he found no gratification therein: but on the contrary, his conscience witnessed against him when so engaged, and left him miserable. His cousin, Mr. Henry Hawkins, Baptist minister of Stroud, Gloucestershire, then residing at Plymouth, exhorted him to attend the means of grace, and seek the salvation of his soul. While attending the Baptist chapel, How's Lane, under the pastoral care of the late Philip Gibbs (for whom he cherished a strong affection), the Lord was pleased to meet with him. The sermon blessed to his conversion was from Numb. xxiii. part of the 10th verse: "Let me die the death of the righteous," &c. The observation of the preacher, that unless he lived the life, he could not die the death, of the righteous, fastened upon his mind. He felt he was a sinner before God, and was led to cry for mercy, which he obtained through Christ. He united himself to the people of God, and, through divine grace, was enabled to walk consistently, so that the enemies of religion have acknowledged him to be a good man. He was a friend to peace, and possessed a meek and quiet spirit. For many years he filled the office of a deacon. In 1820, he was removed by Providence to Honduras; and during his stay there, it may be said of him, "He was a light in a dark place." He felt much pleasure in directing the negroes to the Lamb of God; and, although for four months at a time, in the interior of the country, and with no companions but the sons of Africa and his Bible, he was quite happy, and declared that "the word of the Lord was precious to him in those days."