others are taken from Mark xiv. 1., and 1 Cor. xv. 29.

"Genesis xliii. 11, &c. "Tyndale's Pentateuch, 1530. 12°. "Than their father Israel sayde unto the, yf it must needes be so now: than do thus, take of the best frutes of the lande in youre vesselles, and bringe the man a present*, a curtesie bawlme, and a curtesie of bony, spyces and myrre, dates and almondes. And take as moch money more with you.

And the money that was brought 'agayne in youre sackes, take it agayue with you in youre handes, peradventare it was some oversyghte.

"Take also youre brother with you, and aryse and goo agayne to the man. And God Almightie geve you mercie in the sighte of the man and send you youre other brother and also Bē Jamin, and I wilbe as a ma robbed of his childern f.

"Coverdale's Bible, 1535. fol.

"Then sayde Israel their father unto the: Yf it must nedes be so, then do this: take of the best frutes of the lande in youre sackes, and brynge the man a present: a curtesy balme, and hony, and spyces, and myrre, and dates, and almondes. Take other money with you also, and the money that was brought agayne in youre sacke mouthes, cary it agayne with you: peradventure it was an oversight. And take youre brother, get you up, and go agayne unto the man. The Allmightie God geve you mercy in the sight of ye man, that he maye let you have youre other brother, and Ben Jamin. As for me, I must be as one, that is robbed of his children.

The articles composing Jacob's present to Joseph are thus given in two MSS. in the Bodleian; the former of which is said to be Wicliffe's translation, the second is called by Lewis the revised translation of Wicliffe.

1. “A lytle of precious liquor of sibote" (the margin has ginne,) "and of hony, & of the liquor of the tree of Storax, and of Stactes the liquor of myrrh tree, and of Therebynt, and of almondes."

2." a little of gum and of honey, and of Storax, and of myrrh, and of therebinth, and of almonds."'

The margin of this last has these notes: "Storax, that is, precious gum."' "Myrrh, that is, a bitter gum."' "Therebynte, that is, reysyus beste." + The second edition of 1534, agrees with the first.

"Matthew's Bible. 1557. fol.

"Than their father Israel sayd unto thera: Yf it must ned? be so now: than do thus, take of the best frutes of the lande in youre vesselles, and brynge the mă a present, a curtesye bawlnie, and à curtesye of hony, spyces & myrre, dates & almiōdes. And take as moche money more with you. And the money that was brought agayne in agayne with you, some oversyghte.

your sackes, take it peradventure it was

"Take also youre brother with you, & aryse & goo agayne to the mã. And God Almightie geve you mercie in the syghte of the ma and send you youre other brother and also Ben-Janin, and I wylbe as a man robbed of his chyldren.

"Cranmer's Bible. 1539. fol.

"And their father Israel sayd unto thē: If it must nedis be so now: than do thus. Take of the best frutes of the lade in youre vesselles, and brynge the man a present, a curtesye bawlme, and a curtesye of honey, spices and myrre, nottes & almondes. And take dubble money in youre hande. And the money that was brought agayne in youre sackes, take it agayne with you, lest peradventure it was some oversyghte.

"Take also youre brother with you, and aryse & goo agayne to the man. And God Almightie geve you mercie in the syghite of themau, yt he maye delyver you youre other brother, & this Ben Jamin, and I shalbe robbed of my chylde, as I have beue.

"Taverner's Bible. 1539. fol.

"Then theyr father Israel said unto them. Yf it must nedes be so now, then do thus, take of the best frutes of the lande in your vessels, and cary the man a present, a quantitie of bawlme, and a porcion of hony, spyces and myrre, dates and almondes. And take as moch money more with you. And the money that was brought agayn in your sackes, take it agayn with you, peradventure it was some oversyght.

And

Take also your brother with you, and aryse and go agayne to the man. God Almyghtye gyve you mercy in the sight of the man and sende you your other brother & also Ben Jami and I wyl be as a man robbed of his children.

"Genevan Bible. 1560. 4°.

"11. Then their father Israel said unto them, If it must nedes be so nowe, do thus: take of the best frutes of the land in your vessels, and bring the man a present, a litle rosen, and a litle honie, spices and myrre, nuttes, and almondes;

"12 And take double money in your hand, and the money, that was broght againe in your sackes mouthes: carie it againe in your hand, lest it were some ouer sight.

"13. Take also your brother and arise, and go againe to the man.

"14. And God Almightie giue you mercie in the sight of the man, that he maie deliuer you your other brother, and Beniamin: but I shal be robbed of my childe, as I haue bene.

Bishop's Bible. 1568. fol.

"11. And their father Israel sayde unto them: if it must nedes be so, nowe then do thus. Take of the best fruites of the lande

in your vesselles, and bring ye man a present, a curtsie of bawme, and a curtsie of hony, spyces and mirre, nuttes and almondes.

"12. And take double money in your Lande, & the nioney that was brought agayne in your sackes, take it agayne with you, peradventure it was some oversight.

"13. Take also your brother with you, and arise and go agayne unto the man.

"14. And God Almightie geve you mercye in the sight of the man, that he may deliver you your other brother, and [this] Beniamin: and thus I am as one that is quite robbed of his chyldren.

"11. Therfore Israel their father said to them: If it must needes be so, do that you wil: take of the best frutes of the land in your vessels, and carie to the man for presents, a courtesie of rosen, and of honey, and of incense, of mirhe,of terebinth,and of almondes. "12. Duble money also carie with you: and

recaric that you founde in your sackes, lest perhaps it was done by an errour: "13. But take also your brother, and goe "14. to the man. And may God Almightie make him favourable unto you and send backe with you your brother, whom he keepeth, and this Beniamin: as for me I shal be desolate without children." P. 85.

There is much new and accurate information in different parts of the volume respecting Sternhold's translation of the psalms. But as our attention will speedily be recalled to this subject, we shall reserve what Dr. Cotton has collected till we have an opportunity of reviewing the recent publication of Mr. Todd, and of exposing, with the assistance of

these adepts in antiquarian lore, the extreme ignorance and inaccuracy of writers of a different class, who have their own reasons for preferring un. authorized to authorized Psalmbooks. Three specimens, however, of the early poetical versions of the first part of the nineteenth psalm are deserving of particular notice. The first is taken from Sternhold's version, printed in 1551, probably the third edition of that writer's book, and a fair specimen of his very extraordinary talents. The second from Arch. bishop Parker's version, which was printed about 1560, and is extremely rare. The third is rendered more curious by the recent controversy respecting English hexameters, and on the whole is a very successful attempt at versification in that metre. These extracts will conclude our brief notice of a work which is highly creditable to the knowledge, taste and diligence of its author, and which will seedily find a place in every biblical library. "Psalms by Sterneholde. Ed. 1551. "Psalm xix.

eye which once becomes accustomed to survey the fabric of Churches, and to report to the Diocesan upon their condition, will soon be induced to extend its examination into every corner of the parochial system, the ministerial functions, and the whole Ecclesiastical establishment. Clergy and Laity will reap equal benefit from close and continued inspection. Wherever there exist real causes for complaint, it will be preferred without hesitation, and the wrong redressed without delay. While the more common cases, those of cap tious and unfounded objections, which can receive no answer because they can be brought to no test, will be so thoroughly exposed, that they must gradually fall into

disuse.

These thoughts have suggested themselves naturally to our minds, as we perused what may be called the posthumous advice of the late Archdeacon of Colchester He was requested and had promised to publish this Charge, but died before it was prepared for the press. His diligence in the discharge of his very important duties was neither his least nor his only merit. He had already effected much good, and steps towards a further improve ment were in active preparation. It is some consolation for the loss of such a man, to know that his successor is not less able than willing to tread in his steps.

The Archdeacon first addresses a few remarks to the Clergy upon the peculiar aspect of the times in which we live, upon the effects which havé been produced and which may be expected from modern philosophy and indifference, and upon the lesson to be learned from the progress of the Catholic question respecting the impolicy and danger of concession. He then enters upon the main business of his Charge, and submits to the consideration of the Churchwardens elect, a statement of the duties which they are required to

perform. The origin of their office is briefly adverted to, and the gradual increase of its functions, the mode of election, and the necessity of appearing at the Archidiaconal visitation are described. The Churchwardens are reminded, in impressive language, of the sacred and binding nature of the oath by which they pledge themselves to a faithful discharge of their offices and the Archdeacon endeavours to assist them in the last by explaining its various parts. The first and perhaps the most difficult question is considered in the following passage.

"I own I feel considerable difficulty when I enter upon the subject of presentments. In times when the hierarchy was in its strength and vigour,—when the con

stitution of the Church was uneufeebled

by the empiricisms of theorists in ecclesiastical polity, while the canon law was less restrained by the jealousies of the civil, -before the spiritual courts were paralysed by the prohibitions of the temporal, -the procedure by presentment was easy, simple, and unperplexed; and it may fairly be presumed, that the censures and penalties, which ensued on proof and conviction, were far from being ineffica

cious in checking those scandals against

religion, and those offences against morals, which fell more immediately under the jurisdiction of our courts. It is certain, however, that blasphemies and crimes of this description were then more seriously considered,--more unfrequently committed, more sedulously concealed from the common conversation, and less lightly espublic eye, less flippantly spoken of in teemed in common opinion.

"It is true, the canon law, though in but few cases uncontrolled by the interference of the civil, continues in this respect in its former force; but having been very rarely resorted to for wearly the of it, I mean by presentment, having beet, last century, and suits upon this branch as I am led to believe, though for reasons with which I am unacquainted, rather discountenanced than encouraged in the higher courts,-it may be said to be at least becoming obsolete; and whether it might be prudent or possible, advanReligion and the Church, to attempt, in tageous or prejudicial to the interests of the present novel spirit of the times, to revive it, appears to be a matter of very

doubtful decision. It would seem, how ever, that while the oath remains in its present form, the Churchwarden cannot otherwise be discharged from it than by presenting such persons and things, as according to his skill and knowledge are presentable.' He will so far have done his duty and discharged his conscience, and it will remain for the Ordinary, whe ther Bishop, Archdeacon, Chancellor, or Commissary, to require or dispense with, at his discretion, the institution of such further proceedings, as the case and the age may justify, and the law has defini tively pointed out." P. 15.

In the recommendation thus given, we most heartily concur. The oath of office is imperative, and nothing can justify the breach of it. And without contemplating any immediate restoration of the power and supervision of the ecclesiastical courts, there are various useful purposes to which presentments might be applied if they were fully and faithfully made. They would enable the Ordinary to take a comprehensive view of the state of morals with in his district. They would assist him in forming a correct opinion of the respective merits of his Clergy; and they might convey information to the government and the legislature upon those subjects, which are so seriously discussed and too often with a very imperfect knowledge of the facts of the case; we mean the actual state of public morals; the effects of the criminal code; of the game laws and of the ale-house system; the use and abuse of the powers of justices of the peace, and other points of minor im portance. It may be hoped therefore that Archdeacon Jefferson's advice will be attended to, and present. ments be considered as something more than a matter of form. His admonition upon the subject will not be easily improved.

now

"Before I dismiss this part of the subject, however, in treating of which I have fouud nyself embarrassed with much difficulty, from the too prevailing sentiments and changed usages of the age, I cannot forbear to press upon your minds, that

whatever obstacles may stand in the way of proceeding by presentment, these cannot discharge you from the very important trust, which both in religion and morals the Church has committed to your care. The law may in a great measure appear to be a dead letter; but it nevertheless becomes you, as you regard your oath and your duty, to consider the spirit of it at least as still in being. It is but a small portion of your duty, therefore, and no more than is required of you independently of your office, that you should be regular in your attendance at the services of the Church, that you should on all occasions shew a just reverence for the institutions of religion, that 6 your conversation should be as becometh the Gospel of Christ,'-distinguished for piety and moral feeling, your habits for sobriety and temperance, your intercourse with society for integrity, humanity, and virtue, that your example should tend to the edification of your fellow-parishioners. ecclesiastical Establishment to which you belong, and which from your earliest age you have, it is to be hoped, been taught to reverence, in an anxiety for the tempo

The

ral welfare and eternal happiness of alt her members, is now about to invest you with the sacred charge of correcting, as far as you are able, the profane and vicious lives of others,-of suppressing, first, by mild and friendly admonition, and, if that is ineffectual, by the penalties of law, whatever blasphemies may tend to invali date the hallowed mysteries or doctrines of Christian faith, and whatever offences tice. You are indeed to consider your may defile the purity of Christian prac selves, if I may use the term, as lay-ecele siastics, intended to aid and support the Ministers of your respective parishes, in repressing disorder, irreligion, and vice,in reclaiming offenders, in repairing those defects, and removing those irregularities in the celebration of the rites and cere

monies of the Church, which negligence in

some cases, and time in others, may have prodaeed; in short, in an earnest and vigorous endeavour to restore in all things that solemnity in religions services, and that reverence in religious sentiment, which the spirit of the present times is more peculiarly calculated to weaken,—if not to destroy." P. 16.

We cannot follow our lamented Author through all the details to which he descends. They embrace the whole of a Churchwarden's functions. The Church, the Church