unrivalled in his deep and penetrating insight | into the mind of the Spirit. More frequently than in consulting any other expositor have we found relief, when pressed with difficulty, in referring to this prince of interpreters.

Dr. Owen's translation is very easy and flowing, and his duties as an editor have been performed in a very scholarly manner. His Preface is, in many respects, a valuable document. The type, press-work, and paper, combine to make a beautiful volume.

We cannot but wish the highest possible success to the Calvin Translation Society. It is performing a noble service to the church, especially in an age when the taste for sound theology is on the decline by reason of German importations. We cannot but hope that the subscribers to this admirable scheme will be so increased, as to encourage the hope of the whole of Calvin's works being published under its judicious auspices. Those who wish to benefit by the scheme should lose no time in forwarding their subscriptions to the Secretary, 9, Northumberland-street, Edinburgh.

ing to a series of Sermons, the one will be purchased and read, whilst the other is left to slumber in the warehouse of the booksellers, and, it may be, at length to reach the hands of the trunk-maker. We might suppose that the reverse of this would have been the case in an age like the present, when the excitement, and business, and engrossing toil, leave but snatches and fragments of time for multitudes to furnish and refresh their minds with reading. Might we not imagine that, as Christians in countless instances have not leisure to peruse elaborate treatises and learned disquisitions, they would welcome with great cordiality, volumes of sermons distinguished by taste, vigour, soundness, and unction. When the evening brought round its hour of leisure, and the Sabbath its season of holy calm, what more fitting than that the Christian should take up and peruse a sermon, which oftentimes condenses within the limits of a few pages, what in books of more sounding pretensions is spread over as many sheets. Had this been the case, we cannot help thinking that, in many instances where

SERMONS. By DANIEL KATTERNS.
London: John Snow.

PUBLISHED Sermons, whatever their merits, are excluded from the reading of many, who are wanting neither in piety nor ability to appreciate what is excellent. It is difficult, perhaps, to account for this on grounds that are satisfactory. But so it is. Let a volume be divided into chapters or sections, and ushered into the world with a sounding, flashy, taking title, appropriate or otherwise, and although it may be distinguished neither by the consecutiveness, nor the ability belong

become dim, the one would have been invigorated, and the other would have shone with augmented brightness.

We are inclined to hope, that a tase for the perusal of able, and thoroughly evangelical sermons, is on the increase. Several volumes of this stamp have lately appeared, and have, we cannot doubt, obtained a wide circulation. And why should it not be so? If sermons are of the class that edify, stimulate, and save in the sanctuary, why should they not in the family and the closet? Truth, when rightly and forcibly presented, rather gains than loses in efficiency, amid the calm and meditative tone of mind which belongs to the solitary reader, or the family group. It may not dazzle like a passing pageant, or agitate like a dramatic scene; but, like the voice of faithful friendship, when the world is shut out, it enters the deep places of the soul, and gives birth to thoughts at once solemn and salutary.

The Sermons by Mr. Katterns, now before us, are of the right stamp. Pronounced in public, they must have edified, stimulated, and impressed his audience. In some instances they must have produced those melting, thrilling, pentecostal impressions which are only the fruits of sacred eloquence of a high order. Dark indeed must be the understandings that were not enlightened, and stony must be the hearts that were not melted, by these sermons. They are not merely sound, faithful, and thoroughly evangelical expositions of Christian doctrine, boldly confronting, and, by implication, denouncing the rationalistic tendencies of the age; but are, in not a few instances, models of that

vigorous, manly, and mind-breathing_elo- | quence, which attests the earnestness of the speaker, and stirs the deepest thoughts and feelings of the hearer or reader. Did our space admit, we could quote many samples of this. The Sermons on Providence, on Temptation, on Boldness in Prayer exemplified, on the Sacrifice of Isaac, on The Pillar of Salt, on the Value of the Soul, on the Character of David, and, indeed, the entire volume, will furnish the reader with abundant instances of the superior order of pulpit eloquence to which we refer. Let us give one short sample, and that, not because it is the best, but because it is to be found in the first Sermon in the volume.

pre

"Religion is your business; Providence is the prerogative of God. Indeed, it is one of the proper and necessary fruits of godliness to exercise prudence and diligence in the conduct of worldly affairs; but since those affairs prosper or not, according to the Divine will, it is in vain for you to rise up early, and to sit up late, and eat the bread of carefulness,' while you neglect to seek God's favour, and pretend to make your own happiness, independently of your allegiance and of his glory. Know yet further, that prosperity is no more prosperity, adversity not ad versity, if the light of God's countenance shine upon the one, and his frown darken upon the other. I will curse your blessings.' Their table shall become a snare before them, and their welfare shall become a trap.' Oh, dreadful words! Listen to them, ye worldlyminded sinners, with tingling ears and with repenting hearts. Build up the fabric of your hopes; heap together silver as dust, and pare raiment in the day;' yet, if He but blow upon your projects, they wither; or, if He permit them to succeed, your very prosperity shall become your wretchedness. 'I will curse your blessings.' What avails the greatest confluence of earthly good, the splendour of wealth, the refinements of luxury, the blaze of reputation, the majesty of power, if there hangs over them all a threatening, which not only embitters them in the possession, but foretells the utter extinction of all worldly hope? On the other hand, He, who can turn the blessing into a curse, has promised to those that serve him, that he will turn the curse into a blessing. Be that service your choice; and then, you need neither be unduly anxious for prosperity, nor unduly afraid of adversity. You cannot command the one, nor dismiss the other. Both belong to a scheme of government, the reins of which are held by an Almighty hand, and, whatever may befall, must be wise, and just, and good. Your great concern is to secure 'a name and a place' among that happy number, to whose ultimate redemption all the dominion of nature, providence, and grace are

directed. Rank yourselves with His servants. Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.' Then, while you are devoted to him, and are living to his glory, you will find that he directs your steps, governs your affairs, provides for your wants, turns all things to your advantage, infuses new and celestial sweetness into every cup of lawful pleasure, extracts the sting from every affliction, brightens the whole journey of life, and, finally, will convert even the shadow of death into morning."

We very cordially commend this volume to the attention of our readers, assuring them that it will amply repay an attentive and prayerful perusal.

SUDDEN DESTRUCTION: A Discourse, delivered at Islington Chapel, on Sunday, January 11, 1852, on the Loss of the Amazon; with a Description of that noble Vessel, and her terrible Destruction on the Morning of the first Sunday of the New Year. By the Rev. B. S. HOLLIS. 8vo. pp. 42. Partridge and Oakey.

WE greatly commend the author for seizing on the catastrophe of the wreck of the "Amazon," as an occasion of usefulness to his flock. The sermon is most impressive, and is in a high degree suggestive of the lessons which so fearful a calamity ought to instil into the public mind of Great Britain. Mr. Hollis has done what he could, and done it well, to render an awful providence instructive and admonitory to all ranks and classes among us.

IS SALVATION BY WATER-BAPTISM THE DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND? A Letter to the Rev. Dr. Mc Neile, occasioned by his Letter to the Bishop of Exeter, entitled, “Baptism doth Save." By BIBLI 8vo. pp. 32.

CUS.

J. F. Shaw.

THIS is a Letter well worthy of the deep and serious consideration of the Evangelical portion of the clergy and laity of the Established Church. Those who are too confiding in the purely Protestant bearings of the Book of Common Prayer, will here find abundant reason for hesitation and doubt.

REMAINS OF THE REV. WILLIAM HOWELS, late Minister of the Episcopal Chapel, Longacre, London; being a Collection of Extracts from his Sermons, taken down when preached, by the Rev. WILLIAM PRIOR MOORE, A. M. Second Edition. Small 8vo. pp. 386.

James Nisbet and Co.

Those who knew good Mr. Howels as well as ourselves, will not doubt the fidelity and accuracy of these extracts. They are invaluable materials of thought,-outbursts of an original, profound, and singularly devout mind,-theologically accomplished beyond

istics of Miracles" is evidently the production of an author of some power; but it is fanciful, and ought to be read with caution. "Ancient Oriental Palaces" is a delightful article of its kind. The whole number is full of interest,

MEMOIR OF THE LATE MR. JOHN PRYCE, BERWICK-UPON-TWeed.

THE following sketch is designed to rescue from oblivion the memory of a devoted servant of Christ, whose life has too long remained unrecorded. Into the causes of this delay it is unnecessary now to enter. But it is believed that, while such a brief memorial is only an act of justice, too tardily rendered, to one who now rests with God, it exhibits an example of devotedness in life, and serenity in death, fitted at once to stimulate and to edify. It is the simple picture of a man of good natural abilities, polished manners, and energetic disposition, who, called to the knowledge of Christ comparatively late in life, retained to the close all the fervour of a first love,-devoting himself, with uncommon zeal and singleness of purpose, to the work of doing good; first, in the more private walks of Christian usefulness, and finally, in the more conspicuous position of a preacher and pastor, till disease and exertion together bore him to a premature grave. May the brief record serve to enkindle a similar zeal, and animate to effort in the same glorious cause!

Mr. John Pryce was born at Shrewsbury, in the year 1794, of highly respectable parents. Having reared him in the tenets of the Church of England, and given him a liberal education, he was, at a suitable age, apprenticed to one of the leading drapers of the town. Here he continued for nine years, earning for himself, by his diligence and integrity, a high place in the esteem and confidence of his employer. At the close of this period he removed to Manchester, and for several years held the situation of traveller for a mercantile house, with credit and success. Soon after the death of his father, he commenced a wholesale and extensive business on his own account, and in 1823 formed a happy matrimonial connexion with Ann, third daughter of Thomas Rae, Esq., Palliasburn Cottage, Northumberland.

He had now reached his thirtieth year, auspiciously settled in life, and remarkable for his devotion to business, the purity of his morals, and his strict Churchmanship. With all this, he was still a stranger to the power of

VOL. XXX.

true religion, when it pleased God to visit him with a severe illness, which confined him to his room for several months, and sowed the seeds, for life, of a painful internal malady. But this season of affliction bore also happier fruits. It laid the strong man low, brought him to serious self-communion, probed the secrets of his heart, and sapped his confidence in the power of morality to support the soul in the prospect of the grave. While these impressions were still fresh upon his mind, an incident occurred to ripen and confirm them. Soon after the late Dr. McAll's settlement in Manchester, Mr. Pryce was led, in the gracious providence of God, to listen to his thrilling discourses on the Sabbath evenings. In the elevation and splendour, as well as earnestness, of Dr. McAll's style, he seems, from his remarks at the time, to have found a quality of which he had often painfully felt the want in other preachers, and which appeared at length to do justice to the grandeur of the theme. But the ardent admirer became ere long the sincere convert. His views and feelings gradually underwent an entire change; the sense of his sinfulness and insufficiency grew upon him daily; and he began to feel the need, and craved the possession, of a better righteousness and a higher life than any earth-born morality could yield him. Difficulties attaching to the scheme of salvation cleared one by one away, and he was at length enabled to repose, in peace and joy, on the deep foundation of a Saviour's merits.

His views once settled, his course was taken with characteristic decision. Worldly amusements were given up, worldly friendships renounced, though the sacrifice was sometimes painful as the cutting off a right hand. Some time elapsed before he formally disconnected himself with the Establishment; but at length he saw it his duty to offer himself for membership to the church under Dr. McAll's pastoral care. Here, new scenes of enjoyment and usefulness opened upon him, into which he entered with ardent interest. The prayer-meeting, the churchmeeting, the week-day evening addresses, as well as the Sabbath-day services, found him

M

one of the most punctual and animated worshippers. It happened too, about this time, that district prayer-meetings were set on foot by the pastor's desire. Mr. Pryce gladly took his turn in accommodating them; and as it was customary when the pastor could not attend, for the master of the house to conduct the service, and give an address, these exercises proved the germ of Mr. Pryce's future labours as a preacher of the gospel.

Other opportunities soon presented themselves of employing his talents for speaking. He had become an active member of a Christian Instruction Society, connected with the church, for the purpose of searching out the ignorant and depraved, and bringing them, if possible, under the sound of the gospel. Grieved at his small success, he at length determined to try the experiment of carrying the gospel to them. It was attended with the happiest results. Though at first he could hardly get a house to preach in, and his first attendance was but three, the three soon grew to thirty, and the poor people came heartily to offer their houses. It pleased God to open many hearts to attend to the things which were spoken; and not a few individuals, some of them of the very lowest grade, were here truly led to the Saviour, of which Mr. Pryce had the happiness to hear some testify, on their admission to the church. Not a few interesting occurrences could be detailed, if space allowed, arising out of his self-denying efforts, both in preaching to the poor and visiting the sick. But his Master was about to call him to another sphere, and employ him in still more arduous service.

In the spring of 1842, Mr. Pryce paid a lengthened visit to the venerable parents of his wife, now residing in Berwick-uponTweed. During this visit, he was invited by the town-missionary employed by one of the Presbyterian congregations, to give an address to the people who were accustomed to assemble at the mission-station. His services proving acceptable, they were repeated, from time to time, and a deep religious interest appeared to be awakened. On the termination of his visit, a general desire was expressed for his return. Other circumstances seemed to pave the way for the choice of Berwick as a permanent place of residence, especially the wish to add to the comfort of his parents-inlaw, by giving them, in their old age, the society and watchful care of a daughter justly dear to them. Accordingly, though to the rupture of many ties, and at a considerable sacrifice both of spiritual and temporal advantages, he saw it right to wind up his business affairs, and bid adieu, as it proved for ever, to scenes hallowed by not a few sacred and delightful associations.

On settling at Berwick, he attached him

self to the church enjoying the pastoral care of the Rev. Dr. Balmer, and soon became known as an active promoter of every scheme for the religious welfare of the town. He particularly interested himself, in connexion with the ministers and other Christian friends, in organizing a systematic distribution of tracts, was occasionally engaged in advocating various benevolent societies on the platform, and resumed, also, his work of visitation and occasional preaching among the people, who had heartily welcomed his return.

While thus happily occupied, however, circumstances of a somewhat painful nature occurred, which placed him under the necessity of, in some degree, changing his course. He was for some time at a loss how to act, when the earnest entreaties of some who professed themselves benefited by his preaching, to make use of their dwellings for the purpose, decided him to go on with his work. Increasing evidence seemed to be given of the blessing of God upon his labours; and though oppressed with his growing responsibilities, he proceeded to open a Christian instruction class for young females, which increased till it numbered above sixty members.

Matters now put on a new and more serious aspect. A strong desire was manifested on the part of many attending these meetings, to form themselves into a separate communion, in accordance with the views which had been growing up in their minds. He was urged by a few friends to meet them for consultation on the subject. And the final result was, the formation of a church on Congregational principles. Not wishing, however, to take so grave a step without the advice and direction of experienced men, he laid the case before various individuals of eminence in the Congregational body. But, though heartily encouraged in some quarters, no practical response could be obtained; and the people, weary of suspense, resolved at last to take the matter into their own hands. Having met, to the number of sixteen, they solemnly constituted themselves into a church, and their next step was to choose Mr. Pryce to take the oversight of them. After due deliberation and prayer, he consented, on the condition that as soon as the church could afford to support a pastor, he would feel himself at liberty to retire. With this understanding, he was set apart by prayer to the responsible office.

Thus strangely, and by the gradual unfoldings of a providence which, while it took him by surprise, seemed to him clear and distinct, did Mr. Pryce find himself involved in all the duties and responsibilities of a Christian pastor. Placed there, as he believed, by the hand of God, he resolutely, though in much fear and trembling, addressed himself to the work. A large room was hired, in