ILLUSTRATIONS OF SCRIPTURAL FACTS AND CUSTOMS,

By analogous Reference to the Practice of other Nations.

HANDMAIDS.

Gen. xvi. 1, 3.-" Now Sarai, Abram's wife, bare him no children; and she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. And she took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife."

Gen. xxix. 24.-" And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah, Zilpah her maid, for a handmaid." Also Gen. xxix. 29. Gen xxx. 3, &c.

The people of Florida generally married one wife, and she was obliged to continue faithful to her husband. The men, however, did not conceive themselves bound by this law, but connected themselves with other women, which custom prevailed amongst all the Indian nations of the new world. This connexion was, however, always conducted with a deference to the first legitimate wife: the others being rather handmaids than wives, acting as servants; their children were illegitimate, inferior in rank, and incapable of inheriting with those of the lawful wife.-Ensayo Cronologico, v. 2, p. 6.

THEOLOGICAL STUDIES.

Ir will ever be our wish to render all the assistance in our power to the young Divine, in prosecuting his Theological studies. With this view we have commenced, in our present number, a series of papers on the "Early Fathers ;" and shall be happy, at any time, to give such information on any particular subject, as our limits and our plan will permit. In accordance with the solicitations of several of our friends, who have been anxious to be furnished with a comprehensive list of books which are absolutely necessary, or more especially serviceable, for the student in divinity, it is our intention to submit one to their consideration. Previously, however, to so doing, it has been thought advisable to re-publish, in a few successive numbers, several lists, which have been recommended by different Bishops, and other eminent divines of our Church, which may serve as a direction, according to the method of reading which any individual student may wish to pursue. Our own list will be arranged in such a way, as to point out, in the first place, the works, with the subjects of which a candidate for holy orders, whether deacon or priest, who would wish to distinguish himself at his examination by the Bishop, ought to be thoroughly acquainted :-Secondly, Those which the young clergyman will find it advantageous to peruse, in the further prosecution of his theological inquiries:-and lastly, Such standard works as seem essential to the formation of a small, but select and comprehensive Theological library. In order to make the list as valuable as possible, we shall add the current price to each work, and the dates of the best editions.

Proceeding, therefore, with the lists in our possession, in Chronological order, we commence with the books recommended by Dr. Waterland, in his "Advice to a Young Student," which will be found in the sixth volume of his Works, edited by the present learned Bishop of Durham, page 315. We have not thought it necessary to include the course of Classical reading recommended to the young student.

No. I. DR. WATERLAND'S LIST.

Books to be read during the Student's Undergraduateship.

May Hoadley's Sermons. Tillotson's Sermons, Clagget's Sermons, Bennet on Popery.

Norris's Practical

Discourses, 3d and 4th parts.

June South's Sermons.

Supposing now that you have in four years gained a competent skill in Greek and Latin authors, and in the arts and sciences, and that you have laid some foundation in English Divinity, from reading sermons; and that you have a general view of the controversies on foot from the books mentioned, and some insight into Church history; next (if not done already) learn Hebrew: then take in hand some good commentator, Grotius or Patrick, and read it through. You may take Josephus's History along with it, and Dupin's Canon of the Ŏld Testament. From thence proceed to the New Testament, which also read carefully over with some commentator, Grotius, Hammond, or Whitby; the last I should prefer to be read through, and the others to be consulted on occasion. From thence go on to the Church writers, taking them in order of time; first seeing a character of their works in Dupin, or Cave, or Bull; and let Bingham's Ecclesiastical Antiquities be consulted, where he treats of such matters as you meet with, that have any difficulty in them. Thus go on till you come to the fourth century, at least, if your time, business, and other circumstances will permit. If not, you must be contented to take the easier and shorter way; and study such books as may more immediately serve to furnish you as a preacher: which may be these that follow, besides those beforementioned.

ON A SINGULAR COINCIDENCE IN SUPERSTITIONS
RESPECTING CHRISTMAS-DAY.

MR. EDITOR,-The following extracts are so singularly coincident in allusion, that I cannot help requesting you to insert them for the amusement of your readers. The origin of the former superstition may be familiar to many; and that of the latter is, probably, to be found in the traditional remembrance by some early colonist of the notions of his forefathers. There are several passages in the ancient writers, which make mention of a consternation amongst animals on occasion of an extraordinary birth; and, probably, both the superstitions of the Devonians and the Canadian Indians, may have been derived from an earlier date than that of Christianity, although applied to one of its mysteries; since, as is well-known, Pagan nations were, in the first ages of our era, Christianized for the benefit of converts.

A superstitious notion prevails in the north of Devonshire, that at 12 o'clock at night, on Christmas-eve, the oxen in their stalls are always found on their knees, as in an attitude of devotion; and that, (which is still more singular,) since the alteration of the style, they continue to do this on the eve of Old Christmasday. There is an old print of the Nativity, in which the oxen in the stable, near the virgin and child, are represented upon their knees as in a suppliant posture. This graphic representation has, probably, given rise to the above superstitious notion on this head.-BRAND's Popular Antiquities, Vol. I. p. 354.

When it was midnight, I walked out, and strolled in the woods contiguous to the house. I was suddenly roused from a delicious reverie by observing a dark object moving slowly and cautiously among the trees. At first I fancied

it was a bear, but a nearer inspection discovered an Indian on all-fours; for a moment I felt unwilling to throw myself in his way, lest he should be meditating some sinister design against me; however, on his waving his hand and putting his finger on his lips, I approached him, and, notwithstanding his injunction to silence, inquired what he did there. "Me watch to see the deer kneel," replied he; "this is Christmas night, and all the deer fall upon their knees to the Great Spirit and look up." The solemnity of the scene, and the grandeur of the idea, alike contributed to fill me with awe. It was affecting to find traces of the Christian faith existing in such a place, even in the form of such a tradition.”Sketches of Upper Canada, by JOHN HOWISON, Esq. p. 191.

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Such a parallelism in the superstitions of people put asunder, as far as the east is from the west," by civilization, localities, and religions, is, at least, curious.

C.

MONTHLY REGISTER.

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.

Diocesan Committee within the Diocese of Ely.

Ar a General Meeting of the above Committee, holden in the Combination Room of St. John's College, on Tuesday, November 17, 1829; the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Ely in the chair: the list of Benefactors and Annual Subscribers for the year ending at the Audit in November 1829, having been presented, the following statement was read and unanimously adopted ::

The Sub-Committee have to report, that in each year since the year 1821, they have distributed the number of books and tracts as undermentioned, viz.

Bibles, 3,388 Testaments, 9,945 Prayer
Books, 47,744 other Books and Tracts.

The Sub-Committee have great satisfaction in stating that the increased distribution of the present year has arisen in a great measure from the extension of Sunday Schools in the Diocese.

The Sub-Committee state, with regret, that the Rev. Richard Duffield has signified his wish to resign the office of Secretary to this Committee.

After which, the following resolutions were proposed and unanimously agreed to:

1. That a donation of 30%. be remitted to the Treasurers of the Parent Society.

2. That the best thanks of this Committee be given to the Rev. Richard Duffield, for his valuable services during the time he has discharged the office of Secretary.

3. That the Rev. John Graham, Fellow of Jesus College, be requested to accept the office of Secretary to this Committee.

SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL IN
FOREIGN PARTS.

THE Fourth Annual Meeting of the Society established in the Diocese of Ely and University of Cambridge, in aid of the Incorporated Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts," was held in the Town Hall, on Tuesday, Nov. 17, and respectably attended.

The Lord Bishop of Ely, on taking the chair, requested that the report, which had been prepared, of the proceedings of the Society during the past year, might be read.

The Rev.J. Griffith, B.D. Secretary, then read a satisfactory report of the operations of the Society, in which several facts were detailed of an interesting nature. In allusion to the

local state of the Society, it appears that during the last year the sum of 247. 1s. has been received in donations, and the annual subscriptions amount to 2331. 5s. In the latter there has been a diminution, which is accounted for from the circumstance of many members having quitted the University, who consequently have discontinued their subscriptions.

Some able speeches were delivered by the Bishop of Lincoln, Dr. Chafy, Dr. Turton, Professor Sedgwick, and others, pointing out the claims which the Society has upon us as Christians, and the encouragements which we have to persevere in so good a work.

CLERGY MUTUAL ASSURANCE SOCIETY.

County of Huntingdon.