REVIEW OF RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS. The Religions and Religious Ceremonies of all Nations; accurately and impartially described, with numerous Engravings. By the Rev. J. Nightingale. 12mo. (668 pp. and Map of Jerusalem.) 10s. 6d. bound. Sir R. Phillips and Co. WE cordially agree with Mr. Nightingale, that," Religion, rightly understood, is nothing less than a divine prin ciple, operating on the human heart, refining, regenerating, and moulding it into virtuous forms, and producing virtuous habits: it is the grace, or favour, of God, appearing to all men-teaching them." But we differ from him materially in applying this to the various religions of mankind, which, according to our author," all point to the same goal -all ultimately arrive at the same end." On the contrary, we conceive, that where this divine principle is implanted in the heart, it leads to a harmony of sentiment on all the fundamental points of revealed religion, as well as moral practice. The present work, however, has chiefly to do with the external part of the various religions of mankind, their religious ceremonies and forms of worship, which are illustrated by no less than 100 engravings in wood, very neatly executed, and chiefly copied, as the Preface informs us, from those voluminous and expensive works, Dr. Hurd's Religious Ceremonies, and Broughton's Dictionary,* *Picard's Religious Ceremonies, and Solvyn's Hindoos (both splendid works,)—and the more recent and correct publications of Mr. Ward on the Hindoos, and Mr. Mills on the Mahometans, with many others. We give the author credit for his general candour and impartiality, from which he had the less temptation to deviate, since he considers all religions as tending" to the same end." That part of the work which relates to doctrinal points, we consider, however, as by far the least valuable, being generally superficial, often inaccurate, and some * Broughton is an incorrect and obsolete author, and the work named before this is not by the learned Bishop Hurd, but by a Paternoster-row author, who was indebted to a late puffing bookseller both for his name and his degree. XXIX. times grossly partial, of which it is our duty to state some particulars. In the close of the account of the Roman Catholic Religion,which is placed most prominent, and occupies 74 pages, we not only have a minute description of the principles and ceremonies of that tation from the infidel author of The religion; but, at the close, a long quoof two of the worst points of that reliLife of Chaucer" (Godwin,) in favour gion, Auricular Confession, and Masses for the Dead. He states, that the idea of selves to form a sufficient restraint on the Supreme Being is "too unlike our vice:" (p. 81.) Here then paganism has the preference to Christianity; for, of the gods of the heathen, it may be truly said, that they that worship them are "like unto them." The Catholic is, by this author's account, still more happy; he finds " some man, venerable by chapriest, who enters into his situation with racter and profession," that is, some more tender sympathies than Protestants can expect to find in the great (the Catholic priest) enters" the chamHigh-priest of their profession!" He ber of the dying man," which is here ludicrously represented as "the toilet of the immortal soul, at which it must be delicately and splendidly attired, before it presumes to enter the courts of the King of heaven." (p. 83.) Here then the poor wretch is tricked out with 66 66 a thousand awful ceremonies," before mysterious voyage"-and holy water, he is "dismissed upon his dark and and holy oil, and holy wafers, are to prepare the soul for the eternal world, instead of humble faith and confidence in the blood and righteousness of God our Saviour! tr cording to our auther, is but a religious All this preparation, however, acfarce. Death is "not much"-it is but an inevitable accident"-we must "die "as we "can," and not be "too anxious" about it.-"Let not the thought of death taint all the bewitching pleasures, all the generous and heroical adventures, of life." (p. 83.) But is this religion? Is it" a divine principle, operating on the heart?" Surely Mr. N.'s Catholic friends will not thank him for this account of their religion! In some parts, likewise, Mr. N. dis covers his partiality to the Unitarians. Y "If we except the Roman Catholics (he says, p. 261.) perhaps there is not a sect or denomination of Christians that has been so greatly and so uniformly calumniated and misrepresented, by their fellow Christians, as the Unitarians," whom, in the next page, he calls "this learned, moral, and respectable body." But he is not so candid to the Trinitarians. "All Protestants profess to abhor idolatry; YET the greater part of them worship the trinity and unity, and use a liturgy" (p. 136)-strongly implying that both practices are idola trous! In the close of the volume are added a few pages, containing a list of minor or extinct sects, with an explication of ecclesiastical terms, chiefly connected with the Church of Rome. But this is The neither complete nor accurate. former may be excused by its brevity, as containing little more than 100 pages for the whole alphabet: of the latter we give only a few instances out of many. The Angelites, we are told, "held, that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, are not the same "-same what? if we supply "person," they were so far orthodox: if we supply "God," it contra dicts the sentence following, "that each is God by a participation of the Deity." Again, the Farrelites are described to be a Christian sect of the 16th century, so called from their founder, Wm. Farrel, who, about the year 1525, taught, at Geneva, the doctrine of the Samaritans, particularly the efficacy of the sacraments. He persuaded his disciples, that a man, to save life and goods, might deny or dissemble his faith before persecutors. By this means he gained over a great number of followers, who outwardly professed all sorts of religion, but secretly followed their own doctrine, which consisted in believing alone, without being obliged to practise any good works. Calvin, whose influence in Geneva was very great, prevailed with the magistrates to banish Farrel, &c. Now here is a jumble of all sorts of errors.-Farrel (or rather Farel) was an honest, zealous, and intemperate preacher of the doctrines of the Reformation-but he formed no "Christ hath seet: he taught that prescribed for us a perfect rule of life" he suffered persecution for his doctrine-and instead of being banished by Calvin, was banished with him, in 1538. See Middleton's Biographia Evan. vol. îi. pp. 98, 99. So much for the accuracy of our au thor. We know not, whether he or his bookseller, is answerable for the blunders in the descriptions of the cuts, which neither agree with the cuts themselves, nor with the pages in which they occur. There are also some gross errors in the cuts themselves; e. g. p. 224, the Deacons of the Kirk of Scotland are represented as administering the cup before the bread; and the very first cut in the book, "Auricular Confession," has much the appearance of a caricature; the priest is either asleep or shamming it. We must repeat, however, that the book contains much information and entertainment, but must not be implicitly relied on as an autho rity. The Insufficiency of Reason, and the Necessity of Revelation, to demonstrate the Being and Perfections of the Deity. By Andrew Horn. 12mo. 5s. Cadell & Co. As Revelation can be imparted only to reasoning creatures, this title imports, that Revelation is the only means whereby they can learn that there is a God. The questions therefore naturally arise-1. Are there rational beings who can derive no advantage from Re velation? 2. If there be, are they inex cusable for ignorance of God? 3. Yet, are they not "perishing through lack of knowledge?" 4. How, then, is this result to be reconciled with the perfections which Revelation ascribes to the Deity? To the first of these questions, the author of this volume suggests an affir mative reply, by citing the testimonies of Crantz, Mr. Kicherer, Dr. Vander kemp, Mr. Salt, Capt. Ross, Mr. Marsden, (the historian of Sumatra) and Sir W. Jones, to the existence of nations that have no idea of any Deity whatever, nor any kind of religious worship. Such nations, therefore, can derive no advantage from Revelation, however clearly or fully it was originally given to mankind in general; all vestiges of opinions and customs arising from it, being to them irrecoverably and immemorially lost. To the other three questions, so naturally and closely connected with this, we do not perceive that the author has adverted. If, therefore, he had estab lished every position that he has adas many of vanced, (which, however, them are universal negatives, was impossible for him to do) he would rather have demonstrated, than have diminished, the difficulty of the subject. If he pursues the discussion, we do not doubt that he will abate the dogmatism with which he began it. We fully admit the occasion for divesting natural Religion of plumes borrowed from Revelation, with which she has been decked by her admirers, both infidel and Christian. We also give the author full credit for his zeal on behalf of Divine Revelation; though, in some respects, it does not appear to us to be "according to knowledge.' In his Chapter entitled, "On the Argument a priori," the whole reasoning is a posteriori. He strangely dates the Exodus 400 years after the death of Abraham. Both Latin and English words are often unaccountably spelt, Many of his arguments militate against the capacity of mankind to conceive, (without Revelation) the existence of any spiritual being, equally as that of one who never began to exist. The latter, when revealed, still remains utterly incomprehensible; and therefore, with out direct or indirect aid from Divine Revelation, seems impossible to have entered the heart of man; but the mere existence of mind, separately from matter, stands on a very different foundation. We apprehend that neither a superficial, nor the most profound attention, to 66 things that are made," nor any degree of observation either of the usual course, or extraordinary phenomena, of Divine Providence, in the present imperfect state, would suffice to discover that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all;" or that he “is love; and that he who dwelleth in 1 love, dwelleth in God, and God in him.” But we think every rational being inexcusable, who does not, from what exists around and within him, earnestly desire to know whence all things come, to what they tend, and on whom he is dependent for all things. Persons anxious, and deeply distressed on these subjects, have repeatedly been found by Missionaries among the most ignorant tribes and classes of the heathen. That such an exercise of reason is very rare, is implied by the conduct of most to whom the Gospel itself is preached, which God has provided, adapted, and appointed, for the conversion of all mankind. Should any one object, or neglect, to send the Gospel to the heathen world, on the plea, that one in ten-thousand of them might probably be saved without it, he would only prove himself destitute of love to God and man: while a denial of the possibility of this, seems to derogate from redemption by Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit, in proportion to the additional stress which it lays on means and instruments. LETTERS to a Young Clergyman. By Stevenson Macgill, D.D. Professor of Divinity in the University of Glasgow. Second Edition, corrected and greatly enlarged. 12mo. 65. Longman and Co. Ir gives us too much pleasure to announce a second and greatly improved edition of these highly profitable Letters, not to be mixed with regret for a delay in doing so, which has been wholly accidental. Could we ascertain that all the copies of the former edition had fallen into the hands of ministers only, and more especially of those ministers who might derive most benefit from them, it would indeed complete our gratification. Though particularly calculated for the meridian (or rather the latitude) of Scotland, we will venture to say, that there is not a minister of any denomination, in any part of Christendom, who may not profit by a perusal of this volume. Yet, shall we speak the whole truth?-We are nearly as jealous about it, as many popish (and too many protestant) priests are, about the Bible, lest it should be widely circulated among the laity. What may they not think of pride, vanity, worldly policy, uncharitableness, party spirit, levity, love of company, indolence, indiscretion, and spiritual indifference in their clergy? And such are the heads of these twelve letters! We have omitted but one-Solitude, which though surrounded by qualities of so compro- « mising a description, may, by its unsociable character, escape contagion by them. In fact, every letter is properly a Concio ad clerum: and if we could hope that all who might profit by them, read Latin as fluently as English, (for they are written in very good as well as very plain English), we should earnestly recommend this whole impression to be bought up immediately by the Clergy, and the next to be printed in Latin. But in whatever language, we are apprehensive that copies would be chiefly found in the libraries of those ministers who least needed them—we mean those who most desire to shun both the reality and the appearance of the evils against which Dr. Macgill's friendly admonitions are directed. Much knowledge of the world as well as of the Church, and of the human heart as well as of the manners of mankind, is here strikingly displayed, apparently with the best of purposes. May it be with the bestpossible effect! This edition is handsomely and appropriately inscribed to Mrs. H. More. It forms a desirable sequel to her numerous didactic works; and it could not so well have been addressed to the Clergy by her, as by a Professor of Divinity. The circumstances of those of the Kirk of Scotland also, forming a medium between those of the Episcopal Clergy, and of the various denominations of Dissenting Ministers, the very profitable advice here imparted, is better adapted to general benefit, than it might have been, if it had originated from a different department of the Church of Christ. Missionary Anecdotes. In Two Parts: Exhibiting-1. The Idolatry, Superstition, and Cruelty of the Heathen in all Ages-and, 2. The Effi. cacy of the Gospel in their Conversion, in the Successive Ages of the Christian Era. By Geo. Burder, Secretary to the London Missionary Society. A new Edition, enlarged and improved. 12mo. 5s. Westley. AN opinion of the first edition of this excellent book was given in our Mag. (vol. xix. p. 279,) and the second edition is now presented to the public with considerable improvements. The whole of the First, and much of the Second Part, has been newly arranged; and many additional anecdotes have been introduced under their proper heads, which not only exhibit the attention that has been excited, and the exertions which have been made towards evangelizing the nations of the earth, but also the present state of Christian Missions in various parts of the world; and the necessity there is for more earnest prayers, more liberal funds, and, above all, more abundant effusions of the Holy Spirit, that the Gospel may be "made known to all nations for the obedience of faith." To offer any eulogy on the Editor or his Work would, in this place, be certainly offensive; but a friend may be permitted to say, that he thinks it a valuable present to Missionaries of every communion, and a book that no Missionary should be without; also, cordially to recommend it to the various officers of Auxiliary Missionary Societies, as containing, in a small compass, a great portion of multifarious information, on various subjects connected with the general cause, and a sketch of the exertions of the different Missionary Societies, and of the character of their most distinguished Missionaries, as Swartz, Brainerd, Vanderkemp, &c. It is but justice to subjoin, that this edition contains a considerable addition of matter, without any advance in price. C. G. A Series of Addresses to Young People. By J. Hooper, A.M. 12mo. 5s. 6d. Burton and Co. THESE discourses, Mr. Hooper informs us, were delivered as Annual Addresses, on New Year's Days, to the young people of his own congregation We doubt not they will, by the divine blessing, serve to revive many serious and desirable impressions made on the various occasions of their delivery from the pulpit; and whilst they will be gratefully received by those to whom they were originally addressed, we trust they will be read with interest and advantage to a much greater extent. They display much good sense and good feeling, and are distinguished by that strain of affectionate solicitude for the best interests of the young, which is well adapted to find an avenue to the heart. The subjects are as follows: - The youthful Jesus, proposed as a model for imitation-The gain of wisdom recommended as the best acquisition-Parental affection and conceru, a motive to filial excellence-Parental dedication by baptism, a motive to personal dedication-A persuasion to church communion in early life-The honour attached to early piety-Portrait of an excellent young female-Young men cautioned against the prevailing dangers of the present day-Seasonable admonitions, in reference to conjugal life -On the value of the soul-The divine claims-On numbering our days. As a specimen of Mr. Hooper's distinct and judicious method of selecting and distributing the materials of his discourses, we give the following outline of the eighth Sermon. It consists of valuable and seasonable cautions against the dangers to which young men are exposed in the present day. Mr. Hooper Specifies the following: I. Frivolity and fashion. II. Habits of intemperance and dissipation. III. Deterioration of the moral principle. IV. Contempt of constituted authorities. V. An undervaluing of the inspired volumes and of the erdinances of religion. To these cautions are appended the following important advices:-1. Make a wise and judicious choice of companions. 2. Be cautious in the selection of books. 3. Cultivate habits of diligence. 4. Check all unreasonable expectations. 5. Learn to treat things sacred with the utmost reverence. 6. Seek the possession of genuine, heartfelt religion. These exhortations are concluded by earnest appeals to the principles and feelings of his youthful auditory. The Aged Minister's Encouragement to his Younger Brethren. Two Sermons, occasioned by the Death of the Rev. Thomas Scott, late Rector of Aston Sandford. By the Rev. D. Wilson, A.M. 8vo. 2s. 6d. G. Wilson. THE Substance of these Sermons was delivered, April 27th, at the church of Haddenham, the adjoining parish to Aston, the use of which was granted on account of its more commodious size; and the whole was preached at the author's Chapel, in London, on Sunday the 29th. The charming text-2 Tim. iv. 6-8. "I have fought the good fight," &c. which is very frequently the subject of funeral discourses for ministers, has seldom been applied with more exact propriety than in the present instance. The author first considers the language of the text, in reference to the Apostle Paul himself, as expressive of the calmness with which he contemplates his approaching death; the gratitude with which he records the whole period of his labours; and the holy exultation with which he anticipates the crown of glory prepared for him. He secondly illustrates the words by depicting the character of Mr. Scott-his public and private character-the manner of his departure and the glory of his crown. These topics are largely treated and intermingled with many judicious and valuable observations on the doctrines of grace, and the opposition made to them. The third general division is-the application of the subject to the congregation, which is truly faithful and affectionate. The Appendix contains some admi rable "Hints for promoting a Revival of Religion," which we have given above (p. 281) and beg leave to recommend to the serious attention of our readers, and especially of ministers. It is almost needless to add, that we highly approve of these able and useful Sermons, or that we expect they will obtain, what they deserve, an extensive circulation, both on account of their intrinsic value, and the highly estimable character of the deceased. These Sermons contain a pretty full account of Mr. Scott's character, minis try, and writings; but we are glad to learn, that a larger Memoir may be expected from the pen of his affectionate. Son. The Death of Eminently Good Men, a Source of great Lamentation to the Church. A Sermon, preached at Selkirk, after the lamented Death of the Rev. George Lawson, D.D. Minister of the Associate Congregation in that place, and Professor of Divinity to the Associate Synod. By Adam Thomson, Minister of the Gos-. pel, Coldstream. 2d edit. Edinburgh.. THIS Discourse is a highly respectable monument of grateful affection, raised to the memory of a venerable theological tutor in the Secession Church of Scotland, by one of his pupils; and, while it contains what we know to be an unexaggerated account of the very extraordinary talents, acquirements, and excellencies of its subject, is every way creditable, both to the head and the heart of its author. The text is happily chosen, Acts viii. 2.; the division natural, and the illustrations appropriate and impressive. The author adverts, under the first division, to the faith-the subjection to divine influence-the extensive acquaintance with the scriptures-the wisdom, intrepidity, and faithfulness, by which Stephen was distinguished. Under the second head, he gives a short, but accurate and com prehensive, view of the character of the devout men who mourned the death of Stephen. And, under the last, he illustrates the manner in which they expressed their regard for the martyred saint-by carrying him to his burial, and making great lamentation over him. The whole of the discussions on these points is then, with considerable ingenuity, applied to the peculiar object of the discourse. We think the public obliged to Mr. Thomson for the account he has |