of the feventh month, fhall be the Feast of Tabernacles for feven days unto the Lord. On the first day fhall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no fervile work therein. Seven days ye fhall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord; on the eighth day fhall be an holy convocation unto you, and ye fhall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord," &c. In Numbers xxix. 12, &c. the reader will find more particulars.

This Feast of Tabernacles, (fo called because the people dwelt in taber nacles or tents) lafted as we learn from the above paffage eight days, and began on the 15th of the month Tifri, which answered to part of our September and October. It was inftituted by God, for a memorial of the Ifraelites having dwelt in tents or tabernacles, while they were in the defert; or elfe according to others, in remembrance of the building of the Tabernacle; with a typical view, as many fuppofe, to the incarnation of the Meffiah, to his pitching his tabernacle, in human flefh, among us. The defign of this feaft was moreover to return to God thanks for the fruits of the vine, as well as of other trees, which were gathered in about this time; and to beg his bleffing on those of the enfuing year. No feast was attended with greater rejoicings than this, which was owing to the expectation they were in of the Meffiah's coming, and for which they then prayed with particular fervor: nay, the days of the Meffiah were ftiled by the Jews the Feast of Tabernacles.

The following are the principal ceremonies, which were obferved in the celebration of this feaft: 1. They dwelt, during the whole folemnity, in tents, or booths, made of boughs of trees, like bowers, in the open air; and frequently pitched on the tops of their houfes, which the reader need not be informed, were flat and like terraffes. 2. They offered every day a great number of facrifices, befides the ufual ones, of which there is a particular account in the xxixth of Numbers. It is obfervable, that one bullock lefs was offered every day, than that foregoing t. 3. During the whole feast they carried in their hands, branches or pofies of palmtrees, olives, citrons, myrtles, and willows. These they tied with gold or filver lines, or with ribbons; and did not leave them all the day, but carried them with them, even into the fynagogues, and kept them by them all the time they were at prayer. With thefe in their hands, they encompaffed the altar, finging, Hofannah, that is, Save, I befeech thee; by which words, taken out of the 118th Pfalm, they prayed for the coming of the Meffiah;-these branches bore alfo the name of Hofannah, as did the days of the feaft: on the laft of which they prefented at the temple the firft fruits of their latter crop, or of fuch things as were the floweft in coming to maturity.-It deferves attention, that in the fame

The Jerus give no very fatisfactory reafons for this particular circumftance. They talk of an offering of feventy bullocks for the feventy nations of the world, who were to be brought under the government of the Meffiab. Ainsworth fays, 66 By this diminishing of one bullock every day, the Holy Ghoft might teach them their duty to grow in grace, and increafe in fanctification; that their fins decreafing, the number of their facrifices (whereby atonement was made for their fins) fhould alfo decreafe daily-or it might fignify, a diminishing, and wearing away of the legal offerings, to lead them unto the fpiritual and reasonable service, by prefenting their own bodies, a living facrifice, boly, acceptable to God, &c. This Pfalm contains a strong prophecy of Chrift, and deferves the reader's moft ferious perusal.

manner was Jefus Chrift conducted into Jerufalem, by the believing Jews who looking upon him as the promised Meffiah, expreffed an uncommon joy upon finding in him, the accomplishment of thofe petitions which they had fo often put up at the Feast of Tabernacles. See Matt. xxi. 8, 9.-They walked every day, fo long as the feaft lafted, round the altar, with the forementioned branches in their hands, finging Hofannah: during which ceremony, the trumpets founded on all fides: on the feventh day of the feaft they went feven times round the altar, and this was called the Great Hofannah. Upon the last day of the feast, they used to repeat their Hofannah often, faying, "For thy fake, O our Creator, Hofannah: For thy fake, O our Redeemer, Hofannah : For thy fake, O our Secker, Hofannah*: as if they addreffed themfelves to the Trinity to fave and help them.-There feems to be an allufion to this ceremony of furrounding the altar, &c. in Revelation vii. 9. wherein St. John defcribes the Saints as walking round the throne of the Lamb, with palms in their hands, the emblems of victory and triumph, and finging the following hymn, Salvation cometh from our God, and from the Lamb.-4. But one of the most remarkable ceremonies performed on this feaft, was the libations, or pouring out of the water, which was done every day. A prieft went and drew fome water, in a golden veffel, at the pool of Siloam, and carried it into the temple, where he poured it it on the altar, whilft the members of the facrifice were upon it, (but firft mixing fome wine with the water) at the time of the morning fervice, the people finging in the mean time the words out of the prophet jaiah, With joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of falvation‡. As according to the Jews themfelves, this water was an emblem of the Holy Ghoft, Jefus Chrift manifeftly alluded to it, and pointed to the completion of what was figured out, by these ceremonies, when he faid to the people, on the last day, that great day of the feast (that is of tabernacles,) If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believeth on me, as the feripture hath faid, out of his belly fhall flow rivers of living woter. This he spake of the SPIRIT (adds the Evangelift) which they that believe on him, Jhould receive, &c. John vii. 37, &c. Thus as this feftival was commemorative of God's favour to them, while they dwelt in tents and tabernacles in the wildernefs; and was defigned to remind them of their short and pilgrim ftate here below: (See Pfalm xxxix. 12.) So was it intended to forefhadow, that future dwelling of the Meffiah, in the tabernacle of human fleth, whence their greatest comforts were to flow, and through whom they, and all mankind were to receive the water of life, the pirit of grace.

The modern Jews having now no opportunity of going to the temple, nor of performing all the ceremonies prefcribed by Mofes, make, each for themfelves, in fome open place, an arbour or bower of the branches of trees, hung round about and adorned as much as they can. There they eat and drink, and fometimes lie; fuch as are fick or worn out with age are dispensed with from obferving this ceremony; and when it rains hard *See the Jewish Rituals.

+ Η Σωτηρία τω Θεω, και τω Αρνίῳ feems very improperly rendered in our tranfation Salvation to our God, &c.

Ifaiab xii. 3. and iv. 1. The ancient Latin verfion hath properly enough, rendered the last words of the firft paffage here quoted by, The wells of the Saviour.

they

they are permitted to retire into their houses. They have added a ninth day to the festival, which is called, the joy of the law, because on this they compleat the reading of the Pentateuch.

We must not forget to obferve, that the Jews, during the whole folemnity, used and continue to use all imaginable expreffions of an univerfal joy, ftill keeping within the bounds of innocence; fuch as feafting, dancing, continual music, and fuch vaft illuminations, that the whole city of Jerufalem was enlightened with them. The greatness of these rejoicings, and their happening in the time of vintage, hath made fome authors believe, that the Jews were wont to facrifice to Bacchus. Plutarch mentions this, as well as Tacitus.-The Jews, attending to their oracle Maimonides, are fo ftrongly perfuaded, that the branches of the citrontree are effentially neceflary at this feftival, that fuch as live in Germany and other northern countries, fend into Spain, and endeavour to get one every year with the citrons upon it. When the feaft is over they offer the citrons, as a great prefent, to their friends.

And let us, Chriftians, celebrate a feast of grateful joy to the Almighty who has bleffed us with plenty and with peace. He hath not only called back the deftroying angel, but he hath poured down his gifts upon us in abundance. Let our hearts then be impreffed with gratitude, and let thofe who poffefs the means open their hands liberally to their needy brethren, for the fake of Him who tabernacled in human flesh, that he might prepare for us an everlasting habitation.

J. W.

REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. Letters add effed to a Young Man on his firft Entrance into Life, and adapted to the peculiar Circumstances of the present Times. By Mrs. WEST. 2d edition, 3 vols. 12mo.

IT is well known that certain interested connections fubfift between bookfellers and reviewers of a particular clafs; and that the cause of diffention and heterodoxy is thus greatly forwarded. Our Review is conducted on very different principles; we propofe to ourselves but one end -maintaining of Truth. The caufe of Truth and the Church we deem the fame; and in giving our opinion of any work, we regard not the name of the publisher. We wear no man's livery; we are not bound with any man's fetters; our judgment is unfhackled, and we pledge ourselves to ufe the freedom we enjoy, in fuch a way as to promote the knowledge, and further the practice of pure religion, to counteract the artifices of fchifmatics, to aid the friends of the Eftablished Church, and to point out to its members fuch works as will confirm them in right principles, or enable them effe&tually to combat impugners.Under thefe impreffions we would call the attention of our readers to a very interefting publication, which has now reached the 2d edition-" Mrs. WEST'S LETTERS, addreffed to a young man on his firft entrance into life."This work infcribed to the excellent and most accomplished Bishop of Dromore, is avowedly, "defigned exclufively for the profeffed members of the Church of England;" (Introd. p. xvii.) and, at the fame time that it conveys to our youth much good advice on many interefting points; it abounds with accurate information on those topics which it becomes a young churchman to know, and of which it is inexcufable to be igno

rant..

rant. We hardly know any book better adapted to form the morals, to regulate the manners, and to give well-digested and well-timed political and religious information than the work before us;-and therefore as Orthodox Churchmen we recommend it in the strongest terms to all well regulated families.It is written in a free and vigorous ftyle; and whilft it may rank with the best productions of Mrs. Hannah More, in point of compofition, it has none of that leaning towards Methodism which is too often difcoverable in the writings of that otherwife admirable

woman.

It appears that Mrs. Weft was induced to publish her book because of that inundation of fophifticated trafh which difgraces the prefs at the prefent day; and which has nothing but novelty to recommend it.This is a reading age. She was aware of the danger which young people run in devouring indifcriminately the inflaming nonfenfe, and the confuming impiety too often laid before them by those who propofe to themselves none other objects but lucre, and care not what doctrines enter their flimfy novels, or fugitive pamphlets, fo they be greedily read, and plentifully fold.-Let Mrs Weft fpeak for herself, and explain her own motives for printing the letters fhe addreffed to her fon.

The

"An attentive examination of the developement of the human mind (for which a very retired domeftic life, and the care of a young family, have afforded an opportunity) convinces the author of the truth of the old obfervation, that the love of novelty is one of our earliest and most predominant propenfities. She thus accounts for the fuccefs of many admired works, and the circulation of many ftrange opinions, which, but for their being new, muft quickly have funk into that pool of oblivion in which thefe furreptitious invaders have unjustly plunged more deferving candidates for the prize of popularity. Does the author (it may be asked) write a new book to condemn novelties ? She does, and yet does not think herself actuated by the malevolent fpirit of envy to tear a wreath from a rival's brow. kind of religion, philofophy, legiflation, belles lettres, and indeed every species of literature, that is retailed in plays and novels, not to mention a little army of mifcellanies, is, fhe is perfuaded, more dangerous than total ignorance to the morals of the middle classes, among which the readers of fuch works are mostly found, In the convenient form of a pamphlet which may be skimmed over in half an hour, toffed afide, and refumed without fear of injuring the strength of the argument, the clerk or the apprentice, unwarily acquires an engine which he may hereafter employ to undermine thofe principles of modefty and regular fubmiffion which he was, perhaps, fortunate enough to imbibe under the parental roof. He is told, that thofe principles were vulgar prejudices; he is too glad to hear this intelligence, to ftop to aík why. If fear of legal punishment prevents his inftructors from at once initiating him into all the mysteries of the new philofophy, his refpect for that explanation of our duty to our neighbour which is given in our excellent catechifm is whifpered away by infinuations equally wicked and abfurd. It may be asked, have not the fe principles been refuted a thousand times? They have, and with a strength of argument that must flash conviction upon every mind that is open to conviction, and capable of attending to a laborious patient investigation of truth. But has refutation diminished the diabolical industry of the propagators of thefe doctrines? It has taught them precaution, not remorfe. They no longer audaciously demand to be heard at the bar of manly reafon; they know that tribunal is unfavourable. It is to juvenile readers that they now apply: and by those amphibious ephemeral productions, which efcape criticifm, and elude the attention of the learned, they contrive to wage an alarming war against the cause of order and morals: thofe im portant concomitants which never can be disjoined.

"By means of a publication approaching fomewhat to their own level, defultory, aiming at amufement, but founded on better principles, it seemed more eligible to

affail thefe pigmy warriors, than by a learned regular treatife on each difputed point. It is intended to attack many of thefe falfe dangerous opinions in the fucceeding pages. A flight connection between the various parts of the work has been preferved; a very exact form was not aimed at. The author is aware that her defign will expofe her to cenfure as an alarmift, and that the fhall be riciculed for feriously ftating the dangers which arife from perufing that defcription of publications which the apparently thinks contemptible. To these objectors we would answer, that it is of the highest importance what fort of principles the fathers and masters of the next generation imbibe; there being little probability that their habits of life will permit them to break those strong affociations of ideas which have been imprinted on their imaginations in early life by a thousand various combinations. If the defire of tranfmitting to our fateft pofterity the bleffings of religion and law, from which we derive our eminence, be generous, and worthy of a rational being, no degree of alarm which tends to preferve thefe facred inftitutions from ignorance, contempt, and misrepresentation, can be ridiculous or unwarrantable.”

In a fubfequent number, or two, we fhall give fome extracts from this valuable work, more particularly relating to religion, and fuch as will become (what we are proud to call,) the pure pages of the Orthodox Churchman's Magazine.

Remarks on Modern Female Manners, as diftinguished by Indifference to Character, and Indecency of Drefs; extracted from "Reflections Political and Moral at the Conclufion of the War. By JOHN BOWLES, Efq." 8vo. p.p. 18. THE excellent author of this little tract is “ in well-donever weary ing." He is actuated by that "ftrong benevolence of foul," which has characterised in every age the friends of man. But Mr. Bowles is not merely a philanthropist-he is a Chriftian. He difcovers much of the political difcernment of Burke; and at the fame time he has written nothing which Nelson might not have owned. He looks not fimply to the exifting state of manners and measures, but he regards confequences.Certainly a tremendous change has taken place in female demeanour.The delicacy which once diftinguished women, has become far less fenfible than heretofore. They do not fhrink with that horror from the fociety of profligate, or even fufpected females, which once prevented them from coming in contact with contagion; nor do they drefs themselves with that modefty of decoration, and that referve of perfonal expofure, which were once the very marks of women of reputation. Their gait and drefs are copied from the theatre, and thofe of the theatre are taken from the ftews.-The influence of French morals, and the French coftume, in dress, is much to be dreaded. If they be adopted by those who move in the higher sphere of fociety, it is to be feared they will foon affect the fatellites of fashion, and ultimately the whole female fex.--Mr. Bowles makes a spirited refiftance to their progrefs; and we feel it a duty to give every degree of publicity in our power to his remonftrances. He fpeaks with a noble freedom.

"Females of fuperior rank, who give the ton to the polifhed part of fociety, and the influence of whofe example muft extend, through numerous gradations, to the humbleft walks of life, are beginning to lay afide that dignified referve, which formerly kept, at an awful diftance, all who were not clad in the fair robe of unfullied reputation. They are become fo wonderfully condefcending as to affeciate with thofe, whofe approaches they would formerly have confidered as an infult, and the smallest communication with whom they would have deemed infamous."

He