-

stone which you thought to be such an one, even though it was hard, you would try to break it: perhaps you would knock it with another stone, or put it upon a large stone and try to break it with another; and if you did not succeed, you would carry it a great way, and ask some person to break it open for you with an iron hammer. Now, the stone might only be a common stone after all, and you be mistaken in thinking that it had valuable crystals in it: but, if a portion of God's word seems hard, still, be sure, that it has what is valuable something very beautiful in it-and which will pay for all the pains in breaking it. Sometimes one text will open another, or two together may : we may understand one from the others. If, when we do not understand a text, we will go to God in prayer to enable us to understand and to receive it, it is quite surprising how we shall be able to understand: but we must not give over for one attempt made in vain, nor for another. It will well repay us when we get it opened. Perhaps, after all, we may, by taking it to some other Christian who knows more than we, or to some minister, by God's blessing, get it opened to us. It is true, that there are in Scripture some things which we are to expect always to find hard, and we must be content if we cannot fully understand them but those texts which concern our spiritual state or our duty, God will, in time, and, if we seek in patience, enable us to understand. D.

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

Mornings among the Jesuits at Rome; being Notes of Conversations held with certain Jesuits on the subject of Religion in the City of Rome. By the Rev. M. HOBART SEYMOUR, M.A. London: Seeleys. Pp. 251.

This most interesting work contains a detailed account of conversations, on the leading subjects of controversy between Protestants and Papists, which Mr. Seymour had in the year 1846 with some learned Jesuits at Rome, The reader will find in this volume able confutations of the Popish dogmas of infallibility, transubstantiation,

Mariolatry, and saint worship. Mr. Seymour argues with great logical ability; but this would not of itself have enabled him so satisfactorily to refute his learned and acute opponents. He had on his side the clear testimony of the revealed word of God, and he conducted the discussion with constant prayers to God for direction, and for the teaching of the Holy Spirit. Here was the secret of his success.

We fervently trust that Mr. Seymour's labours may be blessed to the bringing back into the true faith some of those unhappy persons who have been seduced into Romanism by the artful subtleties here so ably exposed.

Facts in a Clergyman's Life. By the Rev. CHArles B. Tayler, A.M., Rector of Otley, Suffolk. London: Seeleys. Pp. 419.

Mr. Tayler's new work contains a recital of some interesting facts in his ministerial experience. Every work from Mr. Tayler's pen is written with ability, and with abundance of picturesque sketches of places and characters. But the volume before us has far higher recommendations than these. It is one of the most edifying books which we have read for a long time. It shews in every page marks of deep prayerful study of the word of God, and great skill in meeting the spiritual wants, so varied in their character, which fall under a faithful pastor's notice.

The Edinburgh Christian Magazine. Edinburgh: Paton and Ritchie. London: Hamilton and Co.

We have received the two first numbers of this magazine, which is edited by a minister of the Church of Scotland. Both numbers are got up in a very creditable manner. The "Christian Treasury," another Edinburgh periodical, chiefly conducted, we believe, by members of the Free Church, is a most valuable magazine, to which our pages have been frequently indebted. Neither magazine, so far as we have observed, shews any signs of sectarian animosity, a symptom, as we trust, of the return of better feeling in Scotland, which we are delighted to see.

The History of England; written for Young Persons. By MRS. TRIMMER. New edition. Revised and brought down to the present time, with a Series of Questions for Examination. By MRS. MILNER, Author of the "Life of Dean Milner," &c. London: Grant and Griffith. Pp. 431.

A new edition of a well-known and excellent work. Mrs. Milner, so far as we have observed, has executed her task of continuing the history to the present time in a very commendable manner. The narrative is brought down to the marriage of our present gracious Queen.

FOR THE WEEK-DAY TEACHER.

REGULATIONS FOR THE EXTERNAL DISCIPLINE OF THE HIGH SCHOOL OF EDINBURGH.

THE Rector and Masters of the High School feel it to be their duty to remind the ingenuous youth educated in this venerable institution, that the moral well-being of man is paramount even to his intellectual advancement. You are, accordingly, affectionately admonished to seek that fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisdom; and, while you are not slothful in business, in the days of your youth to remember your Creator, in the two great departments of duty-love to God, and love to man.

It is incumbent on those entrusted with your education, to see that you are trained to conduct yourselves, in all the various relationships of life, as Christians and as gentlemen. In addition to the direct bearing which the religious instruction you here receive has upon this great object, the branches of polite learning in which you are disciplined, will, no doubt, contribute to this result. You will, besides, reflect that with you rests the reputation of the school, not for scholarship merely, but for habits of Christian virtue and manly urbanity. Such considerations, it is hoped, will not fail to produce among you a high-toned morality combined with a polite demeanour. But you are also warned, that duty, if not voluntarily discharged, must, for the common safety, be enforced by penalties.

The internal discipline of each class is confided to its own individual Teacher. With regard to the external discipline, it is impossible to lay down such regulations as shall embrace every case. But the following rules comprehend the duties mainly to be enforced; and other violations of the great principles of right, while

you are earnestly warned against them, will be dealt with as each case may require :

1. All flagrant violations of the moral law-lying, dishonesty, swearing, obscenity, immodesty of every kind are forbidden under the severest penalties, as most displeasing to God, degrading in their own nature, and hateful in the eyes of men.

2. It is proper, though, it is hoped, hardly necessary, to enjoin upon you cleanliness of person and dress, as seemly in itself, and productive of health and comfort.

3. Punctuality and regularity of attendance are essential to your improvement, and will be rigidly exacted, except for necessar

causes.

4. You are forbidden, while going to or from school, to do anything which is annoying to your fellow-citizens, which is unworthy of the education you are receiving, or which may bring the discipline of the school into disrepute.

5. The masters and teachers are entitled to respectful behaviour, not only from their own, but from all the pupils of the school.

6. You are enjoined to behave courteously to your schoolfellows, loving your neighbours as yourselves, in honour preferring one another. The seniors are enjoined to comport themselves in a kindly manner to those who are younger and weaker, and any attempt at oppression will be regarded as a proof of an unmanly spirit, and energetically repressed.

7. There is no desire to interfere unduly with your amusements; on the contrary, you will receive every encouragement and protection, compatible with a proper discipline, in all manly and in all healthful sports. But you are forbidden to engage in such amusements as are injurious to the property or person of others, or are hurtful or dangerous to yourselves.

8. Fighting, and such amusements as naturally lead to irritation and violence, are forbidden.

9. Disturbing any of the classes in the course of your games, or by shouting, staring in at the windows, or in any other way, is peremptorily forbidden.

10. The splendid building provided by the munificence of the city for the education of its youth, it will be your pride to preserve from injury. All climbing on any part of the building, all playing against it with marbles, balls, or anything else, is, on that ground, forbidden. You are, also, cautioned against carrying on any of your amusements so near the building, as to expose you to the hazard of breaking any of the windows.

11. You are required to abstain from the offensive and vulgarizing practice of writing on the walls, and from defacing in any way any part of the building.

12. No bludgeons, sticks, or other instruments that may be employed in games or otherwise, so as to injure the building by chipping off the edges of the mason work, or otherwise, are to be brought within the grounds.

13. You are earnestly desired to assist in preserving for the common benefit, what has been expressly provided for that purpose. This you can do by your advice and example. And you are for bidden, under pain of severe penalties, wantonly or carelessly to waste the water, to injure the water-cocks, or anything else pro❤ vided for the public convenience.

14. You are reminded that, in addition to the punishment due for any injury committed against property, your liability for the damage occasioned by the transgression of the rules, will, on all occasions, be strictly enforced.

15. You are absolutely forbidden to climb on or run along any of the walls, or climb on or over any of the railings, or to leave or to come to school by any other than the ordinary modes of egress and ingress; and it is necessary, from the vicinity of pleasure-grounds to one part of the wall, to warn you against making your way into them, on any pretext whatever. You must submit to occasional losses at your amusements, rather than infringe the rights of property.

16. Missiles of every description-whether stones, gravel, or snow-balls-are absolutely forbidden.

17. No gunpowder, fireworks, or fire-arms of any description, are permitted to be brought within the grounds, under penalty of confiscation, and such punishment as may be necessary.

18. In addition to the spacious play-ground provided by the patrons for your recreation, you have the free range of the Calton Hill, at fit opportunities; you are only forbidden, for the purpose of securing your own safety, to go on that precipitous part of the hill immediately behind the school, situated between the two lower walks.

19. In your enjoyment of this, and of all your privileges, you are warned against molesting or injuring others in any way. You are especially forbidden to come into hostile conduct, by throwing stones or otherwise, with any other boys, or assemblages of boys, and this, notwithstanding any pretext whatever.

20. With such an ample field for recreation you can have no excuse for playing on the streets while on your road to or from school,