Who can be indifferent to the plea- much of what our Essayist has introsures of literature, or not desire to duced, as that we complain of his omissecure and employ leisure for its attain- sions. Suppose the unholy, who admire ment? Nor will a competent acquaint-elegant, light, and amusing works, ance with the best methods of educa- | would have desisted from perusing this tion, and a knowledge of the right course of reading and study, be ever justly deemed unimportant. And we shall all willingly become his pupils who promises to assist us in attaining abilities for conversation, a habit of decision, a spirit of noble enterprise, and a disposition wisely to enjoy success; while no one can object to statements that exhibit the value of philosophy, classical learning, and the union of religion and literature, and which stimulate to the use of the means by which they may be attained. Such are the subjects of the Essays before us, and if they are destitute of original thoughts, and do not abound in beautiful illustrations and striking passages, they are composed in an elegant style, and pleasingly communicate very useful information. As we have here referred to the language of Mr. Hathaway, it may be quite proper to introduce a short passage from his first Essay relative to style. "It must uot, however, be concealed, that many are apt to indulge very mistaken views on this subject. Anxious to show their superiority to the uneducated part of society, they verge into the extreme of pedantry, and by supercilious airs and a fondness for pompous expressions, they not only betray their own vanity and ignorance, but succeed with many in holding up a learned education to ridicule. Since other guides have succeeded to Addison, Swift, and Temple, high-sounding epithets and phrases have multiplied with so amazing a rapidity, that an unusual degree of caution is necessary to avoid adopting them, and to express ourselves on all occasions with a wished-for simplicity and ease." volume the instant they found it as much devoted to the interests of evangelical piety as was consistent with the discussion of its topics that can be no good reason for being shy of these immortal concerns. We were grieved to find these Essays nearly destitute of all indication of an ardent desire to introduce, as often as it could be effected, evangelical sentiments. We were not well satisfied with the representation in the 38th page, relative to the value of a good store of information in old age: how much superior to all other is evangelical knowledge! In p. 74, Gospel penitence is avoided as fully as if its necessity was not believed ; and the representation of what the Redeemer visited the earth to accomplish, (p. 142.) is not such an one as Pau! would have given; and the description of the war which should be waged against indwelling sin (p. 144), is such as would be given by one nearly altogether unacquainted with the Gospel. Unitarianism Abandoned; or Reasons assigned for ceasing to be connected with that Description of Religious Professors who designate themselves Unitarians. By JAMES GILCHRIST. 8vo. pp. 81. London. Hunter, St. Paul's Churchyard. WHEN we read this singular pamphlet, we could not avoid contrasting it with a work published with a similar design, and noticed in our Number for Dec. 1826. In that, the compunctious feelings of the heart for having embraced dangerous errors were strongly expressed; it bore evident marks of a mind imbued with the influence of orthodox sentiments. But in this, so far as appears, It is not to be expected that any bu- the author, though he has “ abandoned man production will be found without Unitarianism," is still the speculating defects; and we do not willingly refer enquirer, rather than the simple-hearted to any that respect the highest interests believer. We greatly fear that he has of man, in a work otherwise respect-never yet soberly considered that Diable. It is not that we disapprove so vine declaration, so as experimentaliv to We fear it will be unproductive labor to attempt reforming the vain and empty mortals who exhibit and admire what is here so justly condemned. understand its spiritual import" Ex-fitable to men. I have been, after many cept ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven." years' abstinence, to bear the popular preachers, and it is impossible for me to express how much I have been grieved with some of them; for it seemed to me as if they were ex-crucifying the Son of God afresh, and putting him to open shame," p. 80. The pamphlet is made up, almost clusively, of a tale about the writer's self, either in the form of narrative, or in that of extracts from his Sermons, preached while he was an Unitarian. The following extract gives us an awful picture of the demoralizing effect which that system had on his mind: "I was now, from my coming to London, in the focus of Unitarianism, and could not but act with the Unitarians, without taking a position for which I was not then prepared. I had rejected Unitarianism, but I could not make up my mind to reject Christianity, though there was a considerable tendency to its rejection in my habits of thinking and reasoning; and my discourses and writings were for some time Unitarian, merely as Unitarianism is a system of negation, Indeed my mind was often so unsettled, that I knew not what to think; and it was frequently so reckless, that I cared not what I said or wrote. Such was particularly the state of my mind when I published by request, A Discourse delivered at South ampton, before a Society of Unitarian Chris tians established in the South of England, for promoting by the distribution of books the true knowledge of Holy Scripture, and the practice of virtue.' I preached the said Discourse in a state of mind bordering on distraction, with doubt and perplexity (which was too frequently the case when called to preach Unitarian Lectures); and when I wrote it out for the press, I may truly say, such was the desperation of my spirit, that I neither feared God nor regarded man!" pp. 14, 15. who the popular preachers were whom It is not possible for us to conjecture Mr. Gilchrist charges with "blind zeal and stark absurdity." It is more than probable, however, that he applies these epithets to the sentiments of the Trinitarians, "concerning the doctrine of atonement by our Lord Jesus Christ." If so, we greatly pity him, as we feel persuaded he has not yet received" the faith as it was first delivered to the saints;" and we respectfully advise him so to "exercise his reason," as to bow implicitly to the dictates of Revelation. He has yet to attend to the inspired advice, 1 Cor. iii. 18. "Let no man deceive himself: if any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise." HAD we not known that the author of this sermon was young in the ministry and self-educated, we should not have conjectured either, from this (we believe) his first publication. The subject which he has discussed is deeply interesting to all, and especially to Christian parents who have been deprived of infant children. It has been too often treated so injudiciously, as to have in It is very awful that such should have been the sentiments and feelings of one who, speaking of himself, adds, " I had experienced the religious and moral power of the Gospel, and I had wit-creased rather than relieved the heartnessed it in others." p. 15. felt anxiety of many bereaved parents. Our readers will be disappointed if We cannot conceive of a more finished they conclude that Mr. Gilchrist, after picture of human woe than that given having "abandoned Unitarianism," has by an Evangelist, "In Rama was there embraced Trinitarianism. He says. a voice heard, lamentation and weep"Much would I rejoice to see a respect-ing, and great mourning, Rachel weepable middle body of Christians, between the Humanitarians on the one extreme, and those on the other who discard the exercise of reason altogether in religion, as if blind zeal and stark absurdity could be acceptable to God Lonourable to the Saviour, or pro ing for her children, and would not be comforted because they are not."- Nor can we think of a more generous bene factor to his species than the man who, by spiritual arguments and solid rea soning, would endeavour to relieve such a disconsolate heart, and to wipe away such briny tears. - these Say, are they lost or sav'd? "If death's by sin, they sinned, for they lie here; 46 If Heav'n's by works, in Heav'n they can't appear: "Reason, ab! how depraved! Revere the sacred page, the knot's untied; They died, for Adam sinned: they live, for Jesus died." Had our limits permitted, we should have gladly given a specimen of the au thor's perspicuous style and nervous reasonings. Instead of this, we thought it better to copy his plan, and respect God; 3. Are all infants saved? Then how extensive is the plan of redeeming mercy; 4. Do infants obtain salvation? Our limits will only admit of the Then, how profound is the wisdom of skeleton of this well composed sermon. Jehovah. 5. Are departed infants now It consists of three distinct parts I. in heaven? Then what an inexhaustible "Preliminary Observations - that in- spring of comfort is opened to the befants are not saved because they are reaved parent; 6. If infants are saved innocent; nor because their sufferings salvation cannot be the reward of humake an atonement for their guilt; nor man merit." The sermon concludes by because they are descended from pious the introduction of an epitaph written parents, nor because they have partici- by the Rev. R. Robinson of Cambridge, pated any of the ordinances of Chris. and inscribed on a tomb-stone in Linton tianity.” — II. “Establish the point that church-yard, Cambridgeshire, all who die in infancy are saved :— "Bold infidelity, turn pale and die; arguments are classed under "the dis-"Beneath this stone four infants' ashes lie: tinctions of presumptive evidence, and positive proof:-their salvation is certainly possible, it is highly probable." Under this last particular is noticed "the sinfulness of the opposite conclusion: the benevolence and merciful character of the Deity; the greatness of and the number of the redeemed ;the regard which God has shown to the temporal happiness of infants." Under the head of positive proof, our author observes, "It is certain that in fants after death will never experience bodily sufferings :-that they will be raising the sermon we only say, its illustra ed from the grave: -- that their resurrection comes through Christ, and is a consequence of the completion of his work;" and “that the testimony of the sacred volume favours the conclusion that all infants are saved." He then considers the following objections: 1. "Is not this view of things subversive of some of the doctrines of the gospel, and especially of the important doctrine of God's sovereign and eternal election? 2. Infants cannot repent or believe the gospel, and without repentance and faith there is no salvation.-3. We ought not to attempt being wise above what is written: secret things belong unto the Lord our God, but those which are revealed belong to us."-III. Inferences which arise from the subject — J. Are all who die in infancy saved? Then there is no need to baptize an infant to ensure its salvation; 2. Are infants saved? Then salvation must origiginate in the discriminating grace of tions are not inferior in merit to the outline of its particulars. We most heartily recommend it as one of the most useful sermons that has been lately published; the author does credit to the able preaching under which he was trained up for the work of the ministry. 1. An Appeal in Behalf of the Views of the Rev. Joseph Proud, a Minister in THE talents and temper of Mr. Noble, in his Appeal are apparent and com mendable; but the system they are em- | from his being said to intercede, that he uses intreaty and prayer with the Father in behalf of man. How vain is it for those believe in two Gods, and those also of opwho believe this to deny, that in heart they ployed to defend, even under his able management, is still liable to imputations which must prove fatal to its adoption, by Christians of every deno-posite natures! for how can the God who mination, whose reverence for divine truth, in some of its most important statements, will not suffer them to depart from its obvious interpretation. supplicates and intreats be the same God as he who is supplicated and intreated? How can the nature of the God, who, without any feast on another's sufferings to appease his another God to lay aside his wrath, be the offended justice, intreats and supplicates same as that of him who only lays aside his wrath in compliance with such intreaty and supplication; in which also he is continually reminded of the sufferings to which the suphow can the God who cannot raise man to plicant has submitted to appease him? Nay heaven of his own free motion, but must first obtain his forgiveness of another God by prayer and supplication, be any God at all? Does not the supposition fully imply, two Gods, as any two human beings are two that the Father and Sou are as completely men; and that they differ as much from each other as a subject from an absolute sovereign? All this fiction, also, respecting the Lord's mediating and interceding for man by praying to the Father, has been in The measures resorted to for the purpose of communicating a speciousness to the notions of Swedenborg, have been equally successful in imparting plausibility to other schemes, which, however dissimilar in some respects, in fancy and fallacy might almost compete with the one in question; but, then, they are also open to the same serious objection, that they are at variance with the acknowledged rules of scriptural interpretation, destroy the analogy of faith, and encourage such a treatment of the inspired volume, as no one, who is suitably impressed with its authority and importance, would presume to indulge. Besides which, this legerde-assurance: I say NOT unto you,' says he, vented in direct contradiction to his own main, so far from lessening any of the real or supposed difficulties of revelation, ordinarily multiplies them, as in the case before us, to an extent which must for ever leave in hopeless distance all whose credulity may not be equal to the admission of the grossest absurdities. that I will pray the Father for you; for the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God."" p. 487. As to the Funeral Sermon, our readers will excuse us from saying more than that the above sentiments, we suppose, are advocated by the preacher; and were those, also, in which the deceased departed, to appear in the presence of Him before whom the church, on earth and in heaven, unite in saying, us from our sins in his own blood; and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” In examining works of this description, amidst the wood, hay, and stubble, which we are sure to encounter, we anxiously look for the "things that accompany salvation," which may authorize our hope as to the final safety of" Unto him that loved us, and washed the founders and supporters of these heterogeneous systems; but if we unhappily find any of the fundamental principles of Christianity denied and derided, we immediately feel it is our imperative duty to announce the fact, and admonish all whom it may concern. Now, we cannot do that, in the present instance, more effectually than by citing the following passage from Mr. N.'s Appeal, which we shall leave, without comment, to the reflections of our readers: "It is commonly believed, from the Lord's being called a Mediator, as well as A Summary of the Laws peculiarly affecting Protestant Dissenters. With an Appendix, containing Acts of Parliament, Trust Deeds, and Legal Forms. By JOSEPH BELDAM, of the Middle Temple, Esquire, Barrister at Law. 12mo. pp. 196. London. Butterworth and Son. Price 78. THIS very useful work will recommend itself to our friends by the importance of its subject. Nor will they be disappointed by a perusal for here preceded by a Chronological table, dithey will find a compendious digest of vided into three periods: the first exthe laws affecting dissenters; including tends from the invasion of Agricola, civil disabilities and exemptions—reli- A.D. 80, till the Romans finally abangious restrictions, oaths, and declara- doned Briton, A. D. 422. The second tions--the penalties,immunities, exemp-terminates in the subjugation of the tions, rights, and liabilities of dissenting Scots by the Picts, and the Union of ministers the qualifications, rights, those two nations, under Kenneth, A.D. and disabilities of dissenting school- 843. The third embraces the reign of masters and all enactments relating the Scotish Kings, from Kenneth till the to places of worship: with an Appen- Union of Scotland and England under dix, containing the most important sta- Anne, A.D. 1702. tutes still in force, the oaths required of dissenters, and forms of indictment, certificate, trust-deed, and legacy. We hope that all our ministers and congregations will speedily procure this volume. The Suttees' Cry to Britain, containing Extracts from Essays published in India, and from Parliamentary Papers on the Burning of Hindoo Widows, showing that the Rite is not an integral Part of the Religion of the Hindoos, but a horrid Custom opposed to the Institutes of Menu, and a Violation of every Principle of Justice and Humanity; respectfully submitted to the Consideration of all who are interested in the Welfare of British India; and soliciting the Interference of the British Government and of the Hon. the Court of Directors of the Hon. East India Company, to prevent this suicidal Practice. By JoSEPH PEGGS. pp. 82. London. Seeley &c. Price 1s. We regret that our limits will not allow us to furnish our readers with an analysis of this very cheap and excellent pamphlet. The ample title-page quoted above will, however, enable them to judge of its importance. It is evidently the result of much labour and research, and is well calculated to promote the benevolent design the author has in view. We shall be happy to hear that it has an extensive circulation. The History of Scotland from the Roman Invasion till the Suppression of the Rebellion in 1745: with Exercises for the use of Schools, or private Students. By the Rev. A. STEWART, Minister of Douglas. pp. 463. Oliver. Price 5s. THIS useful work is well adapted to accomplish the author's design. It is The history contains nineteen chapters, divided into convenient sections: these are numbered, and with them the divisions of the exercises, which occur at the end of every chapter, are made to correspond. The reader who wishes to obtain clear, and yet concise information respecting this important branch of the British Empire will find this volume admirably suited to his purpose. In the close of the preface the author says: "A fuller History of Scotland, on a scale somewhat similar to that of Goldsmith's larger History of England, is a desideratum in our literature, which the author is now engaged in attempting to supply." The Great appointed Day, or Two Ser- |