that dangerous and unlicensed assumption, which opens so wide a door to licentiousness and immorality, namely, that a sinner on his reception of Christ is at once justified in the sight of God, so that his reconciliation actually takes place before his faith has been productive of any of the fruits of righteousness which subsequently flow from it. Was not Abraham justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?'" Far otherwise St. John Chrysostom, who saw no licentiousness in that assertion of his, which is quoted toward the end of the first part of the Homily of Good Works: "I can show a man that by faith without works lived, and came to heaven: but without faith never man had life. The thief, that was hanged when Christ suffered, did believe only, and the most merciful God justified him. And for that no man shall say again, that he lacked time to do good works, for else he would have done them: truth it is, and I will not contend therein; but this I will surely affirm, that faith only saved him." And thus Theodoret, commenting on the third verse of the fourth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans, observes, that St. Paul, in his account of Abraham's justification, passes by all mention of his good works. And as our Lord said, "Wisdom is justified of her children," so says St. James that "a man is justified by his works," and in no other sense; and thus understood, he is not set in opposition to the whole of Holy Scripture, as he is by those who, with Dr. E. T. Gregory, denominate the proposition that we are justified by faith only, "the lethargic proposition." That Dr. Gregory is a clergyman of the most benevolent intentions, we do not doubt; and whilst we have nothing in common with his Whiggism, to which he frequently alludes in the notes that accompany the discourses and letters, we are happy to add that he is, if we mistake him not, an old Whig, not a new Whig, and that he was always, as such, in the proper meaning of the terms, an opponent of what is miscalled "Roman Catholic Emancipation." The discourses are followed by two letters, entitled "Pulpit Jurisdiction," addressed to the Rev. T. P. Magee, A.M., LL.D., Archdeacon of Kilmacduagh, Prebendary of St. John's, Dublin, Prebendary of Wicklow, and Rector of its dependencies, Drumkey, Kelpell, Glanely, Killcommon, Rathmore, Killesky, and Killoughter, (one union of eight parishes.) These letters are written in a very caustic spirit; and whilst we cannot but dissent both from this style of writing and from the impotent effort in the second letter to prop up the Irish Education System, we equally regret the bitterness which has been evinced, as well by Dr. Magee as by his opponent the Whig Rector of Kilmore. Nor do the complaints of Dr. G., as far as they are of a personal nature, appear to be altogether unfounded. With Dr. Gregory we are not ashamed to agree at least in one particular, in the condemning of the novelty of extempore prayer before sermon. Whatever prayers are used in the pulpit should be either truly liturgical or precomposed. But a long prayer extempore before sermon, by way of filling up, we suppose, the deficiencies of the liturgy, is too absurdly presumptuous to be called worship. LITERARY REPORT. Ward's Companion; or Footsteps to Experimental Chemistry; consisting of brief Outlines and Directions to the Young Chemist, for performing, by means of simple apparatus, with facility and success, a series of varied and interesting Experiments; with an Attempt to explain the Theory and Rationale; together with some Hints on Chemical Manipulation: and also intended as a Guide to R. B. Ede's Youth's Laboratory. By THERE is no science, which of late years has assumed a greater importance, or been more successfully pursued, than chemistry. In fact it is become one of the regular branches of liberal education: and every effort to facilitate its acquirement deserves the warmest encouragement. In this point of view we know of no work, in so small a compass, that contains so much valuable information as the one now before us. Mr. Ward's Companion ought to be every body's companion— and his Footsteps cannot be too closely followed by the student who would arrive at distinction in the science. But commendation is superfluous: the book must sell. Hints to Chairmen; or Precepts for Presidents. By PRESES. London: Hearne. Pp. xii. 72. WE had some doubts whether this excellent and indispensable little manual could be legitimately noticed in our pages; but upon a careful perusal we find hints, of a most admirable and practical nature, addressed to Chairmen of Magistrates, and of Select Vestries, both of which merit the attention of the clergy. Independently, however, of this, there is so much savoir faire, so many available observations, written with such sound sense, and in so happy a humour, that we cannot choose but say, Buy;-especially as we feel that any man, who entertains a distant relation but once a year, will be able to do it with more satisfaction to himself and his guest after a perusal of "Hints to Chairmen." The Godly Discipline of the Church, requiring that all Baptisms be performed before the Congregation, and that only Communicants be Sponsors, simply explained and enforced in an Address from a Clergyman to his Parishioners. By R. M. CHATFIELD, M.A., Vicar of Wilsford and Woodford. Salisbury: W. B. Brodie and Co.; Rivington, London. Pp. 19. 1837. THIS is a useful little tract; and we only grieve that the clergy generally do not more uniformly endeavour to impress the solemn nature of both sacraments upon their parishioners, and at the same time to repress that continual profanation of them and of all religion, which arises from the neglect of the 29th canon, and of the rubrics that preface the Communion Service. So far are too many amongst us from regretting, with the compilers of the Liturgy, the disuse of a godly discipline and of a thorough reformation in this respect, that it has been unblushingly pretended by some, who Hold themselves in duty bound to maintain every thing as it is, and to oppose all repair lest the building should fall, that to desire a return to a system of church-discipline, is to find fault with the Reformation, and to affect the Puritan! Such, however, are not the persons who will add to the stability of the Church in the searching crisis that yet appears to be advancing and not the less surely, because without external commotion. What can be more disheartening to the pastor, than to be called upon from time to time to administer baptism in the presence of sponsors, of whom he literally knows nothing, or of whom he knows nothing but what is disheartening? to ask such to promise to keep God's commandments, who in the morning broke a commandment openly before all by absenting themselves from the table of the Lord? to ask such, within, perhaps, a few hours after, to promise in the sight of God, that which they only know how to promise by the instruction of the parishclerk? It is thus from the sacraments having been so habitually profaned, that our congregations do not enter into the spiritual nature of the sacraments; whilst Dissenters make a laugh and scorn of that which, if they were sincerely religious, they would never allude to but with undissembled grief. It was not the intention of the Church that the sabbath breaker, the brawler, the swearer, the drunkard, or even the man whose only notorious offence was his notorious indifference to religion, should be brought forward in the face of the whole congregation to fill up the complement of sponsors. What has been the effect? To reduce the conception of the poor in respect of baptism, to the simple notion of giving names to their children. The writer of these lines speaks upon his own knowledge, and has for some time acted upon the canon on which Mr. Chatfield grounds his "Remarks," entitled "The Godly Discipline of the Church," &c. And thus at least an open profanation of this sacrament is avoided, although, the parish being small, public baptisms are consequently rare, It would however be but to dis semble, were we at the same time not to hint at the desirableness of removing from the same canon the restriction by which parents are prevented standing as sponsors for their children. We know that in numerous instances this restriction is as little heeded as the other, it being next to impossible to procure otherwise any sponsors at all (at least in agricultural districts). Nor can those who really respect primitive antiquity object to our hint; for the restriction is itself an innovation of the dark ages, we mean, of that period which the ecclesiastical historian, Romanist as well as Reformed, would thus denominate. The Holy Bible, written at various periods during 4000 years, the One Design of One Eternal Mind. A Series of Texts illustrating the Connexion between the Old and New Testaments; as given in a Series of Exercises to the Children of the St. Anne's Society Schools. By the Rev. DAVID LAING, M.A., St. Peter's College, Cambridge; Honorary Chaplain to the Schools, and Chaplain to the Middlesex Hospital. London: Smith, Elder, and Co.; Nisbet and Co. 1838. Pp. 86. THIS little book will be found of great use by all who are engaged in the religious instruction of youth; which cannot be more securely advanced than by judicious compendiums of Scripture itself, impartially and scripturally selected, and without the addition of unscriptural notes. We are careful thus to limit our statement, from the very popular and equally fallacious argument now in fashion, by which the friends of the Government scheme of education in Ireland would convict those who differ from them of inconsistency. Thus Dr. E. Tighe Gregory, in a letter to Archdeacon Magee, entitled Pulpit Jurisdiction, thus represents,or rather misrepresents, a question which he does not appear desirous of sifting, if we may judge by his "oratorical" method of treating it: "The objections to them (i. e. the Scripture Lessons) are extremely shallow the volume of the Holy Bible, forsooth, 'is not set out as a whole,', 'not as itself,' but in detached, selected, accommodated passages." The same objection would lie against Sellon's Abridgement, our Saviour's Sermon on the Mount, his Parables, Miracles, Discourses, published separately by the Association for Discountenancing Vice.'" Mr. Magee has no occasion to fear such oratorical retorts as these, but it is not unlikely that they may blind those who are willing to be blinded. To return to Mr. Laing's very serviceable little work, or rather compilation, we could have wished that he had brought out the doctrine of the Holy Trinity in a more formal manner, in these selections: it might have been preferable, but this is a matter of judgment. There is, we believe, no intentional neglect of this or of other doctrines materially affecting the design of his work. We would however suggest the propriety of an alteration in p. 50, "the NAME of glory." The reference is to Phil. ii. 9-11, in p. 53. This to us appears unintelligible. A Practical Exposition of the Epistles to the Seven Churches of Asia. By the Rev. HENRY BLUNT, A.M., Rector of Streatham, Surrey. London: Hatchard; Hamilton, Adams and Co. Pp. xi. 249. MR. BLUNT is sure to write well, and learnedly; but we very much question the correctness of the position he has taken in the present instance. The addresses to the Seven Churches appear to us to have been directed more especially to the existing heresies and schisms, which, even in the apostolic ages, began to rend the seamless garment of our Saviour's righteousness; and not to have had any direct or exclusive reference to popery. It cannot fail to strike the reader, that the sublime description of the Son of God in each several address, is characterized by its peculiar adaptation to the condition of the Church to which he is graciously pleased to speak; and this renders the personal identification to which we allude, perfect; besides which, by confining the prophecy to Rome, we destroy, in a great degree, the efficacy of the message; since not only popery, but heresy and schism of every shade and degree receive their awful warning from the voice of the Son of God; and in the address to the Church of Thyatira especially, all sorts and conditions of men, who wilfully build up their own temples, and walk in their own ways, and make priests to themselves, unauthorized by God, and unqualified by station, or legitimate ordination, are fearfully exhorted to "repent of their fornication." We say therefore, not to the Papists alone, but to one and all, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches." A General Outline of the Animal Van Voorst. Part I. pp. 48. Part THE principles of zoological arrangement, as based upon the organization of animals, is the groundwork of this excellent publication; and Mr. Jones, by the simple elegance of his style, and the plain, though at the same time scientfic delineation of "the general outline of the animal kingdom," has occupied a position in the literary world, which has been too long neglected. The extreme beauty and accuracy of the embellishments cannot fail to secure the approbation of the public; and if the work progresses as it has commenced, it will decidedly prove one of the most valuable additions to our popular libraries of science and art. The Christian Examiner. An Exposition of the Basis of Christianity, developing the Operation of the Spirit Incarnate, or Divinity in Human Nature, through the reasoning Soul of Man. By the AUTHOR OF "AN ESSAY ON MAN." No. I. Published quarterly. London: Wirgman. Pp. 16. We have great doubts whether metaphysical disquisitions and scholastic subtleties are calculated to promote true religion. "The secret things belong unto the Lord, but the things that are revealed, to us and to our children for to do them." We cannot therefore commend the zeal which seduces men from their proper sphere; and we advise all theoretical writers to remember, that there are knots in religion which our puny hands can never untie, infinite mysteries which our utmost finite powers can never comprehend. The Scottish Christian Herald, conducted under the superintendence of Ministers and Members of the Established Church. Edinburgh: John stone. London: Nisbet. Dublin: Curry. Part XXXIII. Pp. 64. WE are not in the habit of calling the attention of our readers to periodical literature; especially when, to a certain extent, it assumes the same position as ourselves; but there is so much excellence, so much zeal with knowledge, in our northern contemporary, that we cannot withhold our meed of praise, nor neglect to wish it "God speed." Belfegor. London: Simpkin, Marshall and Co. Pp. 134. IT must ever be a source of regret, that talents of the highest order, and poetic fire sufficient for a first-class poem, should be wasted in trifles, or, what is worse, misspent upon subjects better let alone. The author of the legendary lore before us is clearly a Whig, and we fear not a very sound divine. But in justice we must say, that in many portions of the story there are flashes of genius which we would gladly see devoted to more worthy topics. If we are rightly informed, the present work is from the pen of the author of "Bay Leaves;" and we do not think we could confer upon him a greater benefit, than by recommending him to follow the career commenced so auspiciously in that beautiful and song-inspired volume. An Address to Parents who have Children at National, Infant, and other Schools. By the Rev. S. HOBSON, LL.B. Curate of Kirstead, Norfolk. London: Roake and Varty. 1838. Pp. 22. MR. HOBSON has treated the several points necessary to be addressed to parents on their own duties, as well as of their children who may belong to our national and other schools, with so much good sense and christian feeling that little need be added. His language is simple, and his appeals are forcible; we therefore think the distribution of this little tract will be productive of much good. Questions and Answers for Young People of the Church of England, to guard them against its Enemies. By A LAYMAN. Sixth Edition. London: Roake and Varty. 1837. Pp. 25. As Ir affords no sinall proof of the value of this little tract, to which we some time since affixed our imprimatur, that it has arrived at its sixth edition. we then observed, the questions and answers contained in it are of vital importance to all who are desirous of obtaining clear ideas upon the nature of a true Church, as well as of the duties of those who wish to be its faithful members. The notes subjoined evince extensive knowledge in ecclesiastical history, and also a thorough acquaintance with the doctrines and discipline of our Protestant Church; we have therefore much pleasure in being again called upon by the present reprint to commend the "Layman's Questions and Answers" to the serious notice of the youthful members of the Church of England. |