over, is, the constant improvement of society as settlements grow older, and population becomes more dense. In no county or State within our knowledge, has there been any deterioration. As the country becomes filled up with inhabitants, virtue and intelligence increase. Even the administration of the code of Judge Lynch, which has been the temporary resort in a few cases in remote districts, where courts and juries could not operate efficiently, has had the salutary effect of breaking up combinations of lawless men, and been followed with quiet, order and law.

We have not space in this article to amplify facts; but in their existence we cannot be mistaken. In an article in process of preparation, and on which we intend to bestow more than ordinary attention, we purpose to elaborate the elements of Western character, and exhibit the progress of civilization and Christianity on this part of the American continent.

Rock Spring, IU., July 15.

J. M. P.

ARTICLE VI.

CHALMERS' DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS.

In

Hora Biblica Quotidiana. Daily Scripture Readings. By the late THOMAS CHALMERS, D. D. LL. D. three volumes 12mo. pp. 1326. New York, Harper and Brothers, 1848.

IN these days of bustling excitement, when so many influences conspire to lead forth and fix the regards even of sober minded disciples of Christ on the external, the active, the far off duties and interests of religion; it cannot but be reckoned eminently seasonable that well directed and judicious efforts should be put forth to call back our thoughts and endeavors to the means requisite for invigorating the interior and hidden spiritual life. It must be admitted that a former generation of Christians excelled

us in this respect; while it may be honestly and truthfully claimed that in our times we may somewhat excel our fathers in some other respects. There surely is no real incompatibility between the internal and external manifestations of the divine life. As well might it be pretended that vigorous, healthy, internal action of all the vital functions of the body, would be unfriendly to the putting forth of powerful muscular exertions, or to the capability of enduring long continued fatigue. As there is a mutual sympathy, a reflux action between the internal and external functions of our physical nature, requiring and constantly tending to their harmonious adjustment; so is it emphatically with our moral, spiritual, religious constitution. Nor can a disregard to the healthful exercise of either the external or internal, for any considerable length of time, fail of its legitimate and disastrous results, in the dismemberment and mutilation, or the general paralysis of Christian vitality.

Now in all our multiplied improvements, our startling discoveries, our daily progress in reform, there can be found no adequate substitute for the regular systematic reading of the sacred Scriptures, in order to secure our spiritual nourishment, that we may grow in grace and in knowledge; our spiritual guidance, that in our rapid movements we may not err from the good and right ways of the Lord; and our spiritual health, that we may be neither faint and sickly, nor morbidly affected with spasmodic convulsions. The words recorded in the holy book of God are spirit and life to the soul; they are our pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night; nor are there any waters of bitterness in all our journey, which may not be healed and sweetened by casting in the boughs and leaves of this blessed tree. Children of the pious and bible-lov. ing pilgrims as we boast ourselves, can it be needful to illustrate and confirm, to our own conviction by their precious example the priceless and ennobling influences which a daily visit to the inspired fountain of light and love fails not to cherish?

True there are now found in the multiplicity and varied attractions which the prolific press is daily sending forth, a diversion and hindrance to the sacred and systematic and daily reading of the holy scriptures. It is one of the principal draw backs to our high joy in view

of the vast augmentation of good books and periodicals in our day, that peradventure some of the careless disciples may allow them to become the occasion of withdrawing their minds from the fountain of all good. Still it should be remembered that this is by no means a necessary, perhaps not a common result. We doubt if the fear would be verified by a careful and extensive induction. Let the search be widely made, and we have no little confidence it would be found generally true, that those who read the Bible least, are the very individuals who least profit by or use the superabundance of good books now accessible to them; and on the contrary, those who most sedulously avail themselves, not nominally but really, of these helps, adjuncts and varied illustrations of God's word, are the very individuals who with honest relish and most sacred constancy repair to the living fountain.

The volumes named at the head of this article are an instance and proof of this remark; they will also prove, we hope most extensively, a means and excitement to its more general verification. How lovely the spectacle of a great and world-wide renowned man like Dr. Chalmers, after intermeddling with all wisdom, a great mathematician like Newton and La Place, a philosopher like Bacon or Des Cartes, a controversialist and reformer like Luther or Knox, an eloquent pulpit orator stirring the deep thoughts and gathering the dense crowds of men, like a Bourdaloue or Robert Hall,-to see such a man diligently sit down and in the maturity of his mental vigor, amid the very opulence of his renown give himself up, pen in hand, to the careful daily reading of the Bible, on purpose that he might enrich his own soul, and leave the secret of his elevation and his excellence as his best and richest bequest to his survivors.

For nearly a third of a century we have been accustomed to read with profound admiration, and healthful excitement the works of Dr. Chalmers. His astronomical discourses opened new and sublime vistas of thought in our college days; and ever since we have devoured with keen zest whatever his versatile pen has sent forth. But never has the simplicity of a truly Christian moral sublimity so captivated us, as in these volumes, the first series of his posthumous works, edited by his son-in-law the Rev. Dr. Hanna. We hope to perform an acceptable

service to all who read our pages, by making them acquainted with the origin and nature of this somewhat unique contribution to our biblical literature.

The daily scripture readings of Dr. Chalmers were commenced in October 1841 and continued uninterruptedly to the day of his death, a period of nearly six years. His editor says, "go where he might, however he might be engaged, each week day* had its few verses read, thought over, written upon, forming what he denominated Hora Biblica Quotidiano. Not a trace of haste, or of the extreme pressure from without, to which he was so often subjected, is exhibited in the manuscript of these volumes. Instead of being a first copy, written often in the midst of a multitude of engagements, they look more like the last corrected copy of one who had few other tasks to occupy him. His great desire was to take off from the sacred page as quick, as fresh, as vivid, and as complete an impression as he could-and in using his pen to aid in this, his object was far more to secure these by a faithful transcript of that impression, than either critically to examine, or minutely to describe the mould that made it. His own description of these sketches was, that they contained his first and readiest thoughts, clothed in what to him were the first and readiest words. And yetthough both as to thought and expression of such instant and easy and natural growth-we have here the mature fruits of a whole lifetime's study of the divine oracles, conducted by one who tells us more than once that the verse in all the Bible most descriptive of his own experience is the utterance of David, "My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath to thy judgments at all times."

This sketch of the manner in which these readings were composed, will give a tolerably correct idea of their character. There is little-too little some mere scholars will think of verbal criticism or its direct results, though

On each Sabbath, he pursued essentially a different plan, though with equal uniformity. Every Lord's day he read two entire chapters, one from the Old Testament and the other from the New, making each the occasion, the starting point of a devout meditation; in which without so much regard to the explanation of the chapter, or even the meaning of its entire scope (as the daily readings show), he interwove the feelings and sentiments which at the time were uppermost in his mind; and generally rose into the form of a direct address or prayer to God. These Sabbath Musings are to be published in a separate series.

there is not wanting abundant evidence that a true scripture interpreter presides over the entire work. All the real difficulties which science has suggested are candidly met, though not always technically and minutely dissected. But you feel the confidence at each step, that you are accompanying one who sees real difficulties and is able to remove them-but who does not conjure up fantasies of objection only to glorify his own skill and shrewdness in rendering them harmless. He does not, like the celebrated commentary of Patrick and Lowth, a century and a half earlier-amuse us on the first chapter of Genesis with the conceit, that when the heavens are mentioned before the earth, in creation, it was to show that God's works are not like ours; for He begins at the top, we at the bottom; that is He first made the fixed stars and all beyond them, then this lower world! Nor will you find on the seventh chapter of Genesis, in the account of the deluge, what Patrick gravely states, that the tops of the highest mountains may well have been covered with water" for there is no mountain above thirty miles high, upright!" On the contrary Dr. Chalmers from his familiarity with the ascertained results of scientific investigations, becomes a most valuable guide, while humbly taking the place only of a companion. The finest touches of natural feelings are occasionally manifest, and they burst from the good man's heart so naturally, as to win the full sympathy of the reader. Take this specimen, p. 20 vol. I. He had been recording with gratitude, the happy and abiding influence on his own mind, made by the picture of scripture scenes in his boyhood, and thus breaks forth"Perhaps when I am mouldering in my coffin, the eye of my dear Tommy [his grandson scarce six years old] may light upon this page, and it is possible his recollections may accord with my present anticipations-endearing still more to him the holy word of God. May it tell with saving effect on his conscience, in whatever way it may effect his imagination; and let him so profit by its lessons of faith and piety that after a life of Christian usefulness on earth we may meet in heaven, and rejoice in the presence of our common Father."

So again, p. 149, where the first commandment with promise had been under consideration, his heart finds utterance in these words "I cannot now pray that God