CALENDAR FOR JANUARY 1816. I. The Name.-This Month derived its Roman name from Janus, one of their divinities, to whom they gave two faces; because, on the one side, the first day of this month looked towards the new year, and, on the other, towards the old one. II. Jewish, or Roman Catholic, or Church of England fasts and festivals. The Jews keep the second as a fast, occasioned by the first ap the Creator would be seen with additional pleasure; and, in the domestic circle, one of the most important, he must appear with new interest. One reason why the child is often eager to spend his evenings from home is, because he finds little there to engage his lively disposition. The same dull round occurs, or a want of system prevails, and it seems a mere accident if the evening is pleasant: time seems to hang heavily even in the parents' hands. Opportunities continually present themselves, in the smallest family, for communicating useful knowledge. A spirit of inquiry should be ex-proaches of Nebuchadnezzar in cited and encouraged, and this the siege of Jerusalem; (Jeremiah, can only be done by an ability xxxix. 1.) and which Zechariah is in some one of the family to con- supposed to call the Fast of the tribute information. It would be Tenth Month. The thirtieth is well if the head of a family would called by the Jews, New Year's devote one evening in the week Day, for the trees bud on this to the acquisition and communi- day: also, the daughters of Shiloh, cation of philosophical informa- clothed in white, went into the tion, or, at least, that he was fields to dance. Judges, xxi. 21. able to afford those hints and illustrations that would render his society increasingly desirable. He would soon find, that the evening was anticipated, and the occasion not suffered to without his being reminded of the engagement; and it would be his own fault, if it was not even a religious opportunity. pass With some such view, it is intended, occasionally, to submit a few reflections, through the medium of the Magazine, on a variety of Philosophical Facts. May the divine blessing attend them. Let it be seen, that the volume of nature, and the volume of revelation harmonize; yea, that they illustrate and explain each other: and let praise and glory be ascribed to Jehovah, for the beautiful works of creation, as well as the glorious works of redemp tion. In the Church of England, 1, Circumcision; 6, Epiphany; 25, Conversion of St. Paul; 30, King Charles I. the Martyr. III. Astronomical Occurrences. The Sun enters Aquarius at 11 min. past 2 in the morning, on the 21st. The Moon: First quarter the 7th, -Full the 15th,-Last quarter, 21st.--New Moon, 28th. For the conjunctions, quadratures, &c. of the planets, the immersion and emersion of satellites, &c. see the Nautical Almanack, or Time's Telescope. IV. Naturalist's Diary.-The redbreast begins to sing-Larks congregate and fly to the warm stubble for shelter, and the nuthatch is heard. The shell-less snail, or slug, commences its depredations on garden plants and green wheat. The hedge-sparrow and the thrush are heard. The N.Ñ. wren also 'pipes her perennial lay' astronomer was cited before the Holy Inquisition, and forced to abjure the Copernican, or true system of the world. After go mony, he stamped with his foot on the earth saying, è pur si muove; it moves notwithstanding! 13 Jan. 1790, Monastic establishments suppressed in France. 17 Jan. 1792, Died, George Horne, Bishop of Norwich. even among the flakes of snow. The farmer exerts all his care in tending the domestic cattle. Early lambs and calves are housed and watched with almost paternal soli-ing through the humiliating cerecitude. The sharp-eyed fox steals from the wood, and makes his incursions into the hen-roost and the farm-yard. The cold-blooded animals, as the frog, snake, and lizard are quite benumbed by the cold, and so remain till the approach of warm weather. Snow, ice, and frost, are mere strangers in England, if we reflect on their long stay in more northern countries, and their almost perpetual residence among the storm-beaten rocks, and vast glaciers of the Alps. The admirer of nature in all her primeval majesty, must visit the Simplon, St. Bernard, or St. Gothard, before he can form any adequate idea of the wonders of snow and ice. Flowers.-The rosemary--The winter aconite--The bear's footThe mezerion-The red deadnettle The snow-drop-The crowfoot-The crocus. Towards the end of this month, the daisy is in full bloom. During hard frosts, in the fens of the Isle of Ely, men, women, and children, use their snowpattens, or skaits, almost as much as they do in Holland. The skaiters of Norway, however, eclipse all others. V. Remarkable Events.-1 Jan. 1801. Union of Ireland with Great Britain. 7 Jan. 1558. Surrender of Calais. The English had retained possession of it more than two hundred years. VI. Births and Deaths of Illustrious Men.-3 Jan. Before Christ 107, Cicero, the Roman orator, born. 8 Jan. 1642. Galileo died near Florence: This celebrated 20 Jan. 1790, Died, at Cherson, John Howard, the philanthropist. This excellent man was a member of the church in WildStreet, with the late Dr. Stennett. 21 Jan. 1793, Louis XVI. beheaded at Paris. 22 Jan. 1561, Francis Bacon, Viscount St. Albans, born. 28 Jan. 1547, Died, King Henry VIII. 30 Jan. 1649, King Charles I. beheaded. Remarks. 1. Our juvenile readers may see an illustration of many of these particulars in Time's Telescope, for 1816, from which valuable work we have freely borrowed.—Aikin's Calendar of Nature-Martinet's Catechism of Nature-Butler's Geography; and Audley's Companion to the Almanack. 2. When Christ, the prince of peace, came into the world, the temple of Janus was shut at Rome. We congratulate our readers that Great Britain is now at peace with all the world. May the peace be lasting and productive of the greatest blessings to all nations! 3. As the new-year's day will bring to recollection the union of Ireland, let the reader reflect how much remains to be done by the British government—the British parliament-and the British public, for the best interests of that long neglected country. Obituary. Mrs. FRANCES BOTTOMLEY. The energy with which she united in singing the hymn, of which we have copied a verse, seemed to indicate that she anticipated those joys there referred to, and, into which, in a few While returning home with Mr. hours, her immortal spirit entered. Bottomley, in the evening, she spoke with feeling on what she had enjoyed during the services of the day; and added, she was at the Lord's table; "but," said she, "it must be so, and perhaps our's will be empty soon." Her conversation having turned on the recent deaths of several of our friends and brethren in the church, and ture being at hand, she took octhe probability of her own deparcasion from hence to argue the DEATH is the king of terrors, from whose dreadful grasp we have no reason to expect exemption. Towards some he advances with slow and perceptible steps, giving them repeated warnings before he accomplishes the object of his mission. On others, he darts like a lion on its prey, despatching the immortal soul from its earthly tabernacle without pre-sorry to see so many places empty vious warning. It was in the manner last suggested, death seized on the body of Mrs. Frances Bottomley of Brampton, in the county of Huntingdon, who departed this life on the evening of the first of October, 1815, in the 47th year of her age. The deceased appeared early at the house of God, on the morning of the day above-necessity of working while it is mentioned, in perfect health, and in high spirits; her countenance divine ordinances, while we have seemed to convey the sentiments a capacity of so doing. Such of David, when he said, "I was were the subjects of conversation glad when they said unto me, let while returning from the house us go up to the house of the Lord;" of God to her own home, which but little did she or her friends was about four miles. Well would apprehend that that sabbath was it be for Christians were they often to introduce her to a sabbath that thus to converse together in going will never end. She expressed to and from the sanctuary. Thus peculiar interest in the morning far we pursue the deceased discourse, founded on the follow-through an earthly sabbath with ing passage of scripture, Eccles. satisfaction; but here the scene xi. 1. Cast thy bread. changed: She was almost immeupon the waters, for thou shalt find it after diately seized with a violent pain in many days." In the afternoon, the head, which rendered her incashe united with the congregation pable of entering the doors of her in singing that sublime song of praise of Dr. Watts's, which begins thus: "Give me the wings of faith to rise Within the veil, and see day, of embracing and improving abode without assistance. Medi cal aid was immediately sought, and soon obtained, but means were ineffectual, and, before eight the same evening, she entered (we trust) into the joy of her Lord. Thus, by one fatal stroke, her husband has lost a valuable companion, her children an affectionate mother, and the church a sincere friend; but he that first gave, had an undoubted right to take away, and we ought to bless a taking as well as a giving hand. Reader! consider, thou art liable to a similar stroke; the messenger may be fast advancing towards your habitation, yea, he may be just at the door. "Therefore, be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the son of man cometh." RECENT DEATHS. Died, at Hampstead, on the 9th of November 1815, the widow of the late Rev. James Wraith ; having survived his decease only six months. Her death was improved, to a numerous congregation, in a sermon, by Mr. Jacob Snelgar, from the following words: "Be ye, therefore, ready also; for the son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not." Luke, xii. 40. On the 20th of November last died, at Cheltenham, Mrs. Williams, wife of the Rev. H. H. Williams, of that place. Review. Biblical Gleanings; or, a Collection | of Passages of Scripture that have been generally considered to be mistranslated in the received English Version, &c. By Thomas Wemyss. 8vo. pp. 296. WE feel much obliged to the author of this publication. He has been a very industrious, patient, and persevering gleaner; and we hope, for the benefit of the public, he will long continue in the field. A gleaner should have good eyes, and this qualification, with others, the author possesses in a high degree. Our readers will see what they may expect from the following summary of the chapters: "Collection of miscellaneous passages altered from the common English version-Collection of various readings of note-Passages illustrated by notes Trajections or transpositions-Passages altered by a new punctuation- Passages applied to particular doctrinal purposes-Titles of Christ-Passages affected by the article-Passages illustrated by translating the proper names-Passages cavilled at by the DeistsLudicrous passages in the common version-Passages deficient in perspicuity, or in grammatical purityWant of uniformity-Passages deficient in delicacy, or in propriety— Latinisms-Syriasms-HebraismsArticles not now ascertainableImproper division into chaptersLearned terms retained-Order of the apostolic epistles - Want of uniformity in proper names-Passages which appear contradictoryGreek synonyms-Symbolical language of scripture-Table of passages from the Old Testament cited in the New Testament - List of books connected with biblical studies-Index of texts quoted." This single volume contains a great deal of information for the Biblical Student, which the author must have collected from a multitude of large and expensive works, after toiling through many a long and weary page. We heartily wish he may meet with every encou ragement to proceed in his learned and useful labours, A Map of the World: In which is IT is melancholy to reflect, that darkness has covered the earth, and gross darkness the people; and that the benighted world is full of the habitations of cruelty. When Christ began that work and ministry, which was undertaken to demolish the works of Satan in this world, which the Divine Power had made, every thing was considered God but God himself. Superstitions the most foolish and degrading, cruelties the most inhuman, and immoralities the most odious were predominant amongst men. tribes of the earth. God is this moment pleading his own cause of truth and righteousness in a glorious way; and we rejoice to know, that the scriptures are translated, or are translating into the vernacular tongues of nine parts out of ten of the whole family of man. Missionaries are publishing the gospel in the four quarters of the globe, and in the islands of the sea; and, already, the Author of truth has given extensive success. To him who either feareth God or regardeth man, it must be highly gratifying to gaze on the field of missionary labour, and to mark the stations of the soldiers of Christ, who are fighting the good fight of faith; and of those who have fought, conquered, and are gone to enjoy the peace of eternity. The map before us gives an opportunity of enjoying this felicity. It exhibits the stations of the United Brethren-The Society for promoting Christian Knowledge-The Society for propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts-The Baptist The London-The Church,—— and The Methodist Missionary Societies. It is now more than eighteen centuries since the Baptist announced, in the wilderness of Judea, the coming of the Lord, who was to be a light to enlighten the Gentiles, and the glory of the children of Israel. But, still, after so many pious men have said: "O! may the way of the Lord be known upon earth, his saving health among all nations." After so many faithful servants On the same sheet of God have laboured in this with the two hemispheres of the great field, more than one half of globe, is a correct account of the human race, are at this mo- the whole population it contains, ment, idolators; and, out of a divided into Pagans, Mahometans, population of seven or eight hun- Roman Catholics, adherents to dred millions of the human race, the Greek Church, Protestants, not more, perhaps, than forty and Jews; giving the numerical millions even profess Christianity, proportion of each, with clear, in a tolerably pure state. The neat, and satisfactory explanaRomish and the Greek churches tions of all that the whole map are enveloped in ignorance, and contains, with reference to the enslaved by superstition. Bless- moral state of the whole earth, ed be the God and Father of our and the missionary stations in Lord Jesus Christ, who, accord- every part of it. The hemispheres ing to his abundant mercy, hath are each fifteen inches and a half excited his faithful servants to in diameter. The whole is most vigorous exertions in the dissemi-beautifully coloured and execunation of Christian knowledge ted. The price is nine shillings, among the benighted nations and and it may be had of Messrs. VOL. VIII. F |