is out of the power of any conscientious man. To rebut the charges brought against them, or against the rulers of the church for permitting or tolerating them, much more for abetting them, is utterly impossible. On all sides, therefore, the church is exposed to contempt, reproach, and danger. She has lost the respect, esteem, and confidence of millions, who, had things been otherwise, would never have left her pale. The consequence is, she is so rapidly on the decline, that without a speedy, and I had almost said an unlooked-for change for the better, she will certainly fall; and I will leave those who are wise in politics to say, what will then become of the civil constitution of the state." p. 138. In the fourth and last chapter, Mr. A. urges the "necessity of returning to the original intentions of the founders of the church, with regard to all the plans which they devised, and the regulations they adopted; in order to render her efficient for the purpose intended, to regain the confidence of the people, and to preserve her in existence. His admonitions are chiefly directed to the bishops. With much seriousness and praiseworthy fidelity, he exhorts their Lordships to "take heed to themselves, and to the flock;" points out the various remedies which it is in their power to apply to the evils and abuses he has exposed, particularly with regard to the appointment of suitable ministers, and the diligent inspection and visitation of their dioceses; and reminds them of the awful responsibility connected with their dignified stations. This portion of the work has our unqualified approbation. Happy shall we be to learn, that many priests and prelates have profited by it. We cannot withhold from our readers one short extract : "The true preaching of the cross is that alone which draws all thoughtful, serious, penitent, and devout persons unto it. Even others see in it something that excites their attention, and wins their regard. And though they cannot give a just reason of the cause, they naturally conclude that there must be Something very important attached to it, when it had its foundation in the death and sacrifice of the only begotten son of God. This is the true foundation on which the real church of Christ is built. To adhere to the Gospel of the Redeemer, in all its truth, fulness, freeness, and simplicity, is the only bond of the church's unity and safety. Love it-preach it—and live upon it-and the church will stand and flourish ;but neglect it-depart from it-preach something else in its stead-and live like the unthinking world;—the church will fall, ber destruction will be inevitable." p. 168. Our analysis of Mr. Acaster's volume has been so minute, that we have very little space left for the other works mentioned at the head of this article. A brief notice of their contents is all that we can afford. The author of "Church Reform," is a clergyman of twenty-five years standing. He sets out with the concession that "the Reformation in this country never was completed,” (p.4.) He thinks that the present is the proper time for finishing the work. "Never did public men seem more intent upon carrying into effect great measures of amelioration and improvement. They appear to be disposed to lay aside party and political feelings and prejudices, and to contribute each what he can to the great work of temperate and prudent reformation. And never, perhaps, did the beach of bishops contain more men of distinguished talent and learning, united with simplicity and integrity of character, and a deep heartfelt anxiety for the advancement of real religion." p. 11. "In compliance with the feelings and the temper of the times, a spirit of general improvement has gone forth, and pervaded the whole of our systems of legislation. Surely the church ought not to be the only body not benefitted by the intellectual progress of the age." pp. 11, 15. The volume comprises much valuable information on "Church DisciplineChurch Law-Church EndowmentsChurch Pluralities-Church DignitiesChurch Service-Church Liturgical Offices - Church Edifices-and Church Property." It differs, however, from Mr. Acaster's work, both in the compreheusiveness of its inquiries and the spirit in which it is written. It is evidently the production of a cool, calculating mind, and contains some excellent suggestions, which the members of the upper orders of the hierarchy would do well to consider. The "Churchman" recommends the omission of the phrase, "Most religious King," as used in the liturgy; advises that the damnatory clauses in the Athanasian creed should be expunged; and submits the propriety of some slight changes in the "occasional offices" of the church. For instance, he asks, (p. 153), "Is it necessary to retain the rubric about dipping the child?" We should say, not at all; get rid of it as soon as possible." With these exceptions, the anthor scarcely touches the religious view of the subject, but is chiefly intent on the introduction of certain alterations and improvements, which might stop the mouths of complainers, and preserve the secular advantages of the ecclesiastical corporation. Mr. Hall possesses an accurate mind, and often writes powerfully. We have been much pleased with some of his observations; they evince diligent study of Scripture and Ecclesiastical History, and considerable independence of thought. The general drift of his work is the same as that of the "Churchman's" volume. He proposes that a "Commission of Inquiry" should be immediately appointed, in order to examine the articles, creeds, and liturgy of the church, with a view to the adoption of such changes as (he hopes) might conciliate dissidents, and unite the nation in one great religious body. He is particularly severe against the Athanasian creed. cessity of submitting to those who are lawfully set over them in the church. Are these feelings to be kindled in a church be created by a creed? Is it not rather a without any necessity? Should dissensions bond of peace? The boundaries of the kingdom of heaven are not to be declared by man." Pp. 49, 57. But it is time to bring this article to a close. We cannot but regard it as somewhat surprising that neither of these writers has adverted to the great principles of dissent, which they must have known are entirely irrespective of those peculiarities or abuses to which they refer. They suppose that nothing is wanting to remove our objections but a pious ministry, the redress of some ac, knowledged grievances, and certain minor alterations in the services of the church. Mr. Hull says "If some of the inquiries hereinafter suggested were satisfactorily made, it is not unlikely some changes in our creed, and articles, and liturgy, would be the result. And if, after such changes, all religious tests were abolished, in respect to fitness for civil employments; and no individual presumed unchristian in this Christian land, without evidence to that effect; it seems probable that the Church of England would soon number the great mass of Protestant Dissenters among the adherents to her communion.” p.7. To this observation we are prepared to give an immediate reply. Let pluralities be abolished-residence made obligatory-the liturgy revised and curtailed-the Athanasian Creed softened "The Athanasian creed should be struck-tithes modified--the canon law reout of the Prayer Book, or be disused, or formed-discipline restored—every pulshould, at least, be there explained by some rubric; or be so altered, that its plain words may express its plain meaning. There is not any warrant for Christians so to declare accursed any one class or individual, Christian or not Christian; and if there were, we do not meet together on Sundays for such a purpose. When it is read, every man must have seen others sit down, and shut their books; and every layman must have seen and heard, continually, both in church and out of it, dissatisfied features and honest complaints. Some stay away from church on the Athanasian creed days; others leave the church when the Athanasian creed is begun; and many sit it out, burning, rightly or wrongly burning, with shame and indignation, yet repeating to themselves the ne pit in the Establishment filled by a pious and evangelical preacher-and the bench of bishops adorned with all the excellencies of true religion;-the reasons of dissent would still remain unaltered. We honour genuine godliness, wherever it may be found; we rejoice in the increase of faithful ministers, and "esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake;" but our estimate of the system which by their means is upheld is the same, nor do we think error or superstition a whit less criminal, because they may happen to be patronized by good men. While the Church of England substitutes articles it to be, "the substance of a sermon and creeds for the word of God-ex- preached in the course of his ordinary changes the laws of God for Acts of ministrations." It would not have ocParliament-usurps a lordly power over curred to us as peculiarly meriting the faith and conscience-acknowledges a publicity which is solicited by its publitemporal head-barters the simplicity cation; there might, however, have of Christian worship for a semi-popish been local reasons, and very good ones, ritual—and maintains her alliance with for the adoption of this measure. We the State-she is essentially antichris- do not, then, by any means, censure tian, and we are bound to obey the it; we should judge that a congregavoice that saith, "Come out of her, tion to whom such communications are my people." These evils cannot be common, are not ill-instructed. removed by such retrenchments and reforms as the authors of the volumes now before us recommend. The description of the Jewish community, in its corrupt state, is too applicable-sufficiently characterize the sermon.— "The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint." Schemes of reformation, Gospel. [The discussion answers the folcomprehension, and union, are utterly lowing queries.] 1. What difficulty can useless, so long as the Church of Eng- arise in the mind of a criminal, to prevent land retains her worldly and antichris-him [his] understanding the proclamation of tian character. Till she becomes " his pardon? 2. What difficulty can ever arise in the human mind, from the mere fact a The second discourse, by Mr. Wood, is solid and judicious. The text is Eph. ii. 19. "the mystery of the Gospel," and the divisions will, of themselves, "Let us, I. Direct our attention to the of a reconciliation between two parties who have been long standing in a state of oppo congregation of faithful men, in which the pure word of God is preached, and the sacraments duly ministered accord-sition to each other? 3. What difficulty ing to Christ's ordinance;-till she restores to divine revelation its lost honours, and to the people their just liberties;-till she ceases to be a creature of the State, a kingdom “ of this world;" till then, we are Dissenters. 1. The Proper Province of Religious Inquiry and Concern; a Sermon preached at Maldon. By R. BURLS. 2. The Simplicity and Incomprehensible ness of the Gospel; a Sermon preached in Jewin-street Chapel. By the Rev. T. WOOD. 3. The Pulpit, No. 341. THIS is a most prolific age in every department of literature. Hence, our readers will excuse us, if, instead of reviewing the Sermons and other minor theological publications, from time to time, one by one, we introduce several to their notice at once. The first of these discourses, by Mr. Burls, is distinguished by its general neatness and good taste. It is sensibie, but not striking. It contains internal evidence of being what the author states can any one suppose to exist in the mere annunciation of liberty to the captive? 4. What difficulty can perplex any mind in the mere fact of applying the balm of consolation to the distressed? 5. What is there of difficulty in the mere fact of mortality being exchanged for a state of immortality? The Gospel, then, in its communication of facts, is the very essence of simplicity; bat in its doctrines, it must be considered-II. As altogether incomprehensible. [By the bye, we should rather have used the term mysterious.] This applies, 1. To God himself, in the unity of his being. 2. To the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. 3. To the incarnation of Christ. 4. To the mode of the Holy Spirit's operations on the human heart. 5. To the mode of the resurrection." The Pulpit abounds with sermons. In this Number we have two; dissimilar in character, but neither of them possessing much merit. Mr. Mortimer's on Mal. vi. 13. is a specimen of the manner in which a preacher may twist his text round various points, without making any real progress in the communication of instructive sentiment. It is full of warmth and zeal; as delivered, probably it had an enlivening effect for the moment, but it is sadly defective in real matter. The preacher is throughout in a hurry. He flies from thing to thing. Here is all the form of method, but none of the reality. It is evangelical: so far, so good. The other sermon is by Mr. Simeon, on Zech. xiv. 9. The divisions and the manner, any body that had ever heard or read Mr. Simeon might almost have predicted. "I. The importance of the prophecy-1 To the world at large. 2. To the church in particular. 3. To every individual of mankind. II. The blessedness of the period to which it refers. Surely it will be a season of great temporal prosperity: then, also, shall spiritual blessings abound." We cannot help noticing that a predominance is given to the Clergy in the Pulpit, and of the denominations very few comparatively of the Baptist denomination make their appearance. The Pulpit, it appears, is about to appear in the thirteenth volume, with an enlargement of the plan. It is to assume more of the character of a Magazine, and to have a theological review, with essays, biography, poetry, &c. This, in our opinion, is no improvement. It had been better to have preserved its uniqueness of character, and have become less, rather than more discursive in its object. Variety, it is true, is the taste of the day; but we are by no means sure it is the best taste, or the most lasting. versations between a Mother and her Children. In 2 vols. Seeley and W. Burnside. learn how to exercise their thoughts, and turn their inquisitiveness to a good account. We do not pledge ourselves to the accuracy of all the sentiments upon religion these volumes contain, yet in general they are such as we approve, and adapted, in the manner of their communication, to the capacities of young persons, from infancy to their mend the views of the writer, which teens. We fully appreciate and recomare thus expressed : "Are there not many who are earnestly desirous of adopting some plan for theis children, which may secure at once both their mental and their spiritual advancement; and who are unable, from the want of early development in their own case, to It is to such that this book is addressed. It attain, in any satisfactory degree, the object? does not presume to lay down a regular system either of scientific or of religious education; but it is designed to shew that maternal instruction, founded on the basis of ful to the subjects of it; and that it is not love may be at once interesting and delightthe quantity taught to a child, but the qua lity of the teaching, which makes it either useful, or worse than useless. In short, that it is not by tasking the memory, but by suggesting continual subjects for reflection faculties of the child, that the true business and inquiry, and thus eliciting the natural of instruction is to be conducted." The Sabbath Scholar's Friend. Price 1d. We have perused the first six monthly Aids to Development; or Mental and Numbers of this little work, which comMoral Instruction exemplified, in Con-plete the first volume. Speaking ge"erally, its contents are well adapted to amuse and instruct Sunday scholars. We venture to suggest, that the piece continued through several of the Numbers, entitled " Heaven, a Vision," is A too fanciful for such a class of readers. Such conjectures, we think, come under the description of "intruding into things not seen," and ought not therefore to be indulged. The work is well got up, and is certainly very cheap. We hope it THIS very excellent work is constructed on the right principle in education, namely, that of self-instruction. mother holds continual conversations with her children, in such a manner as to elicit their own mental energies, and to graft her instructions upon their own natural sagacity. The work is both instructive to maternal teachers and will realize "profits" for the use of the their children; the mothers may learn objects to which they are devoted, viz. from it how to conduct conversation" the system of education in Ireland and with their children, and children may the East." NEW PUBLICATIONS. 1. A Catechism of Geography; compris- by which their Circumstances might be im ing the leading Features of that important proved, and their Respectability and UsefulScience, and including the most recent Dis-ness promoted. Baynes. coveries. Second edition, carefully revised and improved. By Hugh Murray, Esq. F.R.S.E. &c. Ed. and Lond. Not so carefully revised and improved as it might have been. For instance, the inelegant term huge is repeatedly used, and without necessity. "Immense fields of ice, called glaciers, often slide down upon the plains." This description of the glaciers conveys a very incorrect idea to an Englishman. A field of ice suggests the conception of an extended flat surface, whereas a glacier is not only uneven on its surface, but overspread with pyramids of ice and snow. This Catechism, however, is a very pretty book, and exceedingly adapted to the little gentlemen and ladies for whom it is in tended. For a few pence, a person may here furnish himself with very useful information; calculated at once to stimulate and to direct his benevolence. The position assumed, of inadequate support," is unquestionably correct. The state of things, both in the agricultural and commercial world, is at present against the application of the remedy; yet is it so easy, as here described, that if it were heartily attempted, it might be done without inflicting burdens on any. 5. The Sabbath Minstrel; a Collection of Original Hymns for Sunday Schools. By John Taylor. Good in sentiment; but in poetry not superlative. 6. The Commandment with Promise. By the Author of "the Last Day of the Week." There is no dearth of books both for young and old; if there were, the former class might find some instruction, seasoned with piety, in the small work before us. Christ. An interesting and cheap little volume, written for the same juvenile classes with Discourses and Parables of the Lord Jesus 7. Scripture Questions on the principal the preceding, and we believe in serio with others of a similar description, on the His-America. This is one of the publications By the Rev. Albert Judson, of tory of England, Scotland, &c. Considering the diminutiveness of its size, it is very not our recommendation. It requires only of the Religious Tract Society. It needs comprehensive in its range of subjects, and so far as we can discover, correct both in its science and theology. 3. Temporis Calendarium; or, an Almanack for the Year of our Lord 1830. By William Rogerson, Greenwich, Kent. to be announced. In the Press, &c. Shortly will be published, Parallel Miracles, or the Jews and the Gypsies. By This very comprehensive and useful pub- Samuel Roberts. Demonstrating the latter lication has, it appears, been printed ten people to be the descendants of the ancient years, and although it never came under our Egyptians, denounced by the Prophets Isaiah, notice before, we do not hesitate to pro- Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, to be desolate among nounce it one of the best constructed, and the nations that are desolate, according to upon the whole, least objectionable, of any the prediction, being cast out of their mighty similar work. It wears a religious aspect, kingdom into the open fields of all lands, and we are happy to find that the columns there to remain without idols and without usually devoted to foolish predictions, cou- images forty years, but at length to be retain a series of arguments by Mr. Roger-assembled in their native country, under a son, in proof of the existence of Deity, Saviour and a Great Oue, and to be there drawn from the book of nature, &c. Its brought to a knowledge of the Lord. Also, astronomical and miscellaneous departments are important, extensive, and interesting; and from Mr. Rogerson's connection with the Royal Observatory, their accuracy may be fully depended upon. 4. The Duty of all who hear the Gospel, to render towards it pecuniary Assistance Hints to remedy the present inadequate support afforded to many Dissenting Ministers, including Suggestions respecting the Means that the fulness of the Gentiles being come in, the Jews-during three thousand years the contemporaries, and the denounced guilty fellow-sufferers of the Egyptians, will be likewise gathered together, and elevated to their promised exaltation in the neighbouring country of Judea. On the 1st of the 11th month, 1829, will be published No. I. of the Friends' Monthly Magazine, price 1s. |