Let it not be thought that such are ideal or Utopian schemes. We believe that the accomplishment of such purposes as these, was one great end of the establishment, by a Society of Clergymen,' of that very Periodical for whose pages we are, at this moment, writing; and was contemplated, also, in the first origination of another, which moves in a somewhat different orbit, though it revolves round the great centre of the same system in which the Christian Guardian would ever desire to be found fulfilling its course. We need scarcely say, that we refer to that valued cotemporary Periodical-the Christian Observer-to which we shall probably have occasion, before we conclude, to make more minute allusions.

We may observe, at the same time, also, that not only was this end contemplated by the Magazines of which we speak, but that, to a great extent, and for a considerable time, it was realized by the Conductors and their friends, with much benefit to a large portion of the Church of Christ. Many causes might be assigned for the retrograde movement which has, in this respect, been observable in these and similar Periodicals; some of them such as naturally arose out of the change of circumstances which time has produced in many matters connected with the Church and the country at large. For others we cannot so readily account, and we are fain to inquire of our evangelical brethren-lay or clerical-Is it well that thus it should be? With this question we leave the present head of our investigation, and proceed to touch on another of the advantages of Periodical Literature, which, is that—

4. Such publications afford opportunities for treating on a variety of subjects which might be mentioned, superior to what would be presented other mode that could be made use of.

by any

This may have already suggested itself to our readers, and has, in fact, in a measure been implied under a previous head, where we spoke of passing occurrences of importance as affording very suitable matter for notice in a Magazine. But we would carry the idea still further. Many subjects which are of sufficient interest to be submitted to the agency of the press, do not appear of such importance as to warrant a separate publication. Possibly a few pages may suffice for an adequate notice of them, and, limited within that compass, they may be really valuable to a considerable portion of the community.

Now let us mark the difficulties with which such publication would be attended. To launch a small pamphlet into the ocean of literature, always flowing before the public of this country, without the recommendation of a well known author's name, and without public advertisements, would be about as hopeful a process as lowering a Cambridge Funney into the Atlantic with despatches for the Governor of Newfoundland! Both would be about equally likely to reach their destination, and effect their object. However worthy, then, be the author of the supposed publication, there is small hope of any success attending his efforts to benefit his fellow-creatures, unless he make a volume of his tract, and spend something like the price of an edition in advertising in the public journals!

What is the consequence of this? It is of a twofold nature. The ambitious and self-complacent author, confident of his own powers of gratifying and instructing the public, ventures upon the risk which he can frequently ill afford, and inflicts on the world one of those worth

less productions which squander the money, and waste the time, of the few who are credulous enough to purchase or peruse it; which load the bookseller's shelves and oppress his warehouses; and which-far worse than all-tend to produce a distrust in the minds of the public, who have found their confidence abused; and thus effectually overlay, or impede the circulation of other really valuable though less obtrusive volumes. It matters not that there may be few authors who do not profit by the old adage, that the burnt child dreads the fire;' the population is rapidly increasing, and the race of authors seems to increase in something like a geometrical proportion. Thus an endless succession is kept up, and the current of literature flows on with a width that may appear to make amends for its want of depth; and the public, it is to be feared, are gradually learning to regard quantity as a much more valuable attribute than quality in the works which issue from the press. The other branch of the evil will be readily anticipated. Really worthy and judicious authors, partaking largely of the modesty and diffidence with which the others are unacquainted, shrink from the fearful odds with which they must contend in coming before the public; and by degrees resolve, that themselves and their productions shall remain in that comparative obscurity, from which it requires such almost hopeless effort to emerge. They have too much sense to swell their pamphlet into a volume, and too little money to publish and advertize it, if they did.

Now to both these classes the pages of a Periodical might be extremely useful. The less hopeless of the first class might possibly be induced to take the advice of the Conductors of judicious publications of this description, and to restrain their impetuosity in rushing to the press; and there might possibly be found some Periodicals injudicious enough to afford room for the most rhapsodical productions of these self-complacent authors! By such a method of proceeding, the authors themselves might be saved much expense, and the time and money of the public spared; while the various other evils to which we have alluded might likewise be, in great measure, averted.

But to the modest and judicious author, the pages of approved Periodicals are gladly opened; and thus, without trouble or expense to himself, an appropriate channel is provided for him to convey to the public suggestions from which they may receive real benefit. Å favourable opportunity, also, is afforded him, for testing his powers of authorship; and, what is, with him, of far more importance, a considerable number of readers are thus secured to him, whom he may address on matters which appear to him intimately connected with their temporal and spiritual welfare. And, in addition to this, we may observe, that his observations will thus be enrolled in a chronicle where they are far more likely to be preserved for future reference, than if they had been brought before the public in the isolated form of a separate pamphlet, or than they could have occupied in the columns of a more ephemeral publication. As another advantageous use which may be, and is, to a great extent, made of Periodicals, we may mention,

5. The very favourable opportunity afforded by them for the recommendation of useful and profitable books for the perusal of the public in general, or of particular classes of the community to whom they are more especially adapted. In connection with this is also to be men1844.

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tioned their utility in discountenancing worthless or injurious productions, and cautioning the public before their money and time have been thus fruitlessly or mischievously expended.

In noticing this subject we do not propose to enter on the minute examination of the wide field presented when we touch on those Periodicals which are wholly dedicated to the review of other works, or on the review department of Magazines not primarily designed for this purpose. We only observe, in the general, that no subject is more worthy the attention of the intelligent public, and more especially of the truly christian portion of it. Such cannot but be aware of the danger which exists at all times, but most peculiarly in this day, of books being placed in the hands of their families or those with whom they are connected, which, so far from ministering to intellectual culture, or "godly edifying," have oftentimes tendencies directly opposed to both. From the actual want of time to investigate these volumes themselves, parents or guardians of youth are frequently compelled to depend on the testimony of others, or to run imminent hazard in the choice of the works perused by those who are placed under their superintendence. Can anything then be more valuable to such, than brief but clear testimony, by competent reviewers, to the character and value, or the contrary, of the most important works which are issued from the press? May it not at once serve to guide their choice, and satisfy their minds which must otherwise be in a state of anxiety and disquietude, lest that which they had intended as food should turn out to be poison to the youthful minds to which it has been administered? or lest, perhaps, their limited resources should have been expended in the purchase of what is worse than useless as respects the purposes for which it was intended?

The only point on which they are first required to satisfy their own minds, is, that the authorities to which they are accustomed to defer in this matter should be such as are really worthy their confidence; or, in other words, that those engaged in the important task of reviewing the works of other authors, should be such are possessed of decided piety, competent ability, sound judgment, freedom from partiality, and other kindred requisites. On this matter we may touch again in an after part of this discussion. Of its importance we can hardly express too high a sense, especially in a day when Tractarian heresy, or other flagrant error, is wont to be not only infused in copious streams, but insinuated in homœopathic doses into every conceivable species of publication, calculated for the perusal of every member of the community, from the most profound disciple of science or literature, down to the humblest infant who can scarcely spell out its reading made easy,' or lisp its mother-tongue.

We notice as another matter of value in such publications, that,

6. Important and interesting intelligence may be given with respect to the proceedings of Religious Societies, or those instituted for the purposes of general benevolence, or the furtherance of literature and science-according as the case may demand, or the nature of the Periodical may seem to indicate.

This might seem, at first sight, to appear unnecessary in what we may term a general Magazine, when we take into account that almost every such Society of great importance and large dimensions, has its

own organs for the circulation of such intelligence, issued either at longer or shorter intervals of time. But, when we remember the very limited opportunities possessed by the public in general, for the perusal of these numerous and often lengthy productions, it cannot fail to strike us that something like a digest of the whole or a portion of them, in which the pith is extracted by a judicious hand, that it may be placed before the almost overburdened mind-which must otherwise reject the whole-so far from being a work of supererogation, turns out to be one of no ordinary value and importance. Those whose time and opportunities allow of their having recourse to the original stores of information, can either pass by the secondary sources unnoticed, or, perhaps more wisely, refresh their memories by an abstract of what they have already studied; and others, not so highly favoured, will thankfully welcome the modicum of useful knowledge thus presented to their minds, and adapted to their circumstances. We need scarcely remark that for such purposes as these, the pages of a Magazine present advantages which it would be vain to look for in any other species of publication.

The last point to which we shall call attention in this connection is, 7. That Periodical publications, and more especially Magazines, present very favourable opportunities for the re-production of articles of value from the works of authors of other days, which seem specially applicable to the circumstances of our own.

We need scarcely observe, that a very large majority of the readers of Magazines, have little or no means of access to standard works of by-gone days. With their authors and their contents they are alike unacquainted and how should they be otherwise? Many of these works are too expensive for them to procure, or too voluminous for them to peruse. But, notwithstanding this, the experience and testimony of such authors, is neither beyond their capability to understand, nor their wisdom to profit by. Can a more valuable service, then, be rendered, than to present them with extracts from such authors, judiciously selected; whether as intrinsically valuable, or as rendered so by the circumstances of the times, or the parties for whose perusal they are intended and adapted? and, can any illustrative addition be made to such extracts, more likely to engage the attention and improve the mind of the reader, than a concise and welldigested biography of the authors quoted or alluded to; shewing how they steered their course amidst the shoals and quicksands of the ocean of life, ere they reached the quietude and composure of the haven of Eternity? Surely it must be allowed, that he at least who with piety and judgment accomplishes such a task, for the benefit of the religious public, is worthy to be compared to a scribe instructed into the kingdom of heaven,' whom our blessed Saviour likened unto " an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.'

Having thus, as we hope, placed before the readers of the Christian Guardian, several advantages to which we think Periodical Literature is well capable of being made, to a very considerable degree, subservient ; we purpose to postpone, until another number, the concluding portion of our remarks on this subject. If spared to complete our design, we propose, on that occasion, to offer the suggestions alluded to at the commencement of this portion of our remarks, with respect both to the conductors and the perusers of Periodical Literature.

(To be continued.)

THE RETROSPECT.

"The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage."-GEN. XLVII. 9.

"YET I loved Jacob," saith the Lord by Malachi. The deep pathos of the mournful Patriarch's retrospect, can never be listened to without feeling, or felt without inducing to reflection. Why had this "loved one been so much the least happy of the distinguished three, whom God had chosen to be a name unto himself? Was He not called the God of Jacob, as well as of Abraham and of Isaac?

Abraham's life of an hundred and three score and fifteen years, was one of extraordinary prosperity; the Lord blessed him in all that he had, and made him a blessing wherever he went, and whatever he did he made it to prosper in his hands. What he left behind when he went out from his kindred and his father's house, we know not: he took with him what was nearest to himself, Sarah his wife, and Lot his brother's son: the next in descent while he was childless. Childless though he was, it was not long, according to the then progress of human life, before he received the promise of seed as the stars for multitude, and received with it so much evidence and so much faith, it must have been to him throughout rather the enjoyment of a prolonged anticipation, than the heart-sickness of a hope delayed.

The greater trials of his life seem to have been of very brief duration : mostly prepared for by previous communications of the divine purpose in them, and always followed by increasing manifestations of God's truth and love. The lesser ills and crosses of social and domestic life, inseparable as they are from it, were sweetened in his case by constant intercourse and communion with his Father in heaven; by angels' visits and celestial visions; the favour and acceptance of even the strangers among whom he sojourned; and the abundance of earthly good, enjoyed and distributed among his numerous household; until the last personal promise was fulfilled- "Thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age."

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Isaac, his only son Isaac, whom he loved, heir of the covenant and the child of promise, shared all his father's blessings while he lived: and "it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac." He too sowed, and received a hundred-fold the first year, and waxed great; and "went forward and grew until he became very great: he received a wife by the especial guidance of the Most High; "and Isaac loved Rebekah." By the same favour, even the envy of his enemies was subdued, and he too lived in peace in the strangers' land. It was late in Isaac's life-for Esau was forty years old, when his guilty intermarriage with the heathen, brought a curse into this chosen family, and became a grief of mind to Isaac and Rebekah.. It was later still, when "Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim that he could not see," that sin brought a greater misery into the patriarch's tents: the sin of the mother who wished to transfer to her favourite son the blessing she believed to belong by birthright to the elder; the sin of the father, who probably wished to bestow upon