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The Gospel Narrative of the Holy Week Harmonized, with Reflections. By the Rev. ISAAC WILLIAMS, late Fellow of Trinity College, Oxford. London. 1843.

THIS very pleasing volume is divided into four parts. 1. The Approach to Jerusalem. 2. The Teaching in the Temple. 3. The Discourse on the Mount of Olives. 4. The Last Supper. Each of these chief divisions embracing many sectional subdivisions. Thus, for example, under the part which is entitled "The Approach to Jerusalem," we are presented with very interesting descriptions of the supper at Bethany, Christ weeping over Jerusalem, the cursing of the fig-tree, &c. None of our readers can require to be reminded of the peculiar sanctity with which the closing days of our Lord's ministry upon earth were ever regarded by the early Christians. The whole week was devoted to the strictest fasting and humiliation; and several of the heathen emperors marked their veneration for it, by causing all law-suits to cease, tribunal doors to be shut, and prisoners to be set free. Our Church employs all the means in her power to perpetuate this feeling of reverence and love; there is, therefore, something peculiarly solemn and touching in the subject which Mr. Williams has selected for his narrative.

The title of the book explains, in some measure, its character. It is a harmonized history of a passage in the life of Jesus Christ, with reflections; the records of the Evangelists are contrasted-one ray of holy light is brought to shine upon another-and the path of the student receives considerable illumination from these different beams of the same sun of inspiration thus converging upon one object. Bishop Hall, in his "Contemplations," and Bishop Taylor, in his "Life of Jesus," afford the most celebrated examples of biographical narrative, embellished and applied. Mr. Williams is not an unworthy disciple-he has something of Hall's sweetness and picturesqueness of description, and something of Taylor's happiness of adapted illustration upon some points of doctrine, as well as of practice. The predilections of Mr. Williams lead him into opinions which we deem to be dangerous; but they are not prominently or unpleasingly brought forward in this present volume. Passages of gentle wisdom and of unaffected pathos are frequently to be met with, and we were much pleased with the following remarks, in allusion to the cursing of the fig-tree :

"We may well suppose that the thoughts which must have filled our Lord's mind on this morning, while proceeding to Jerusalem and the Temple, must have been such as nothing could explain to his disciples, no human language could give utterance to. He spake, therefore, to his disciples, then, as he does to us all now, and at all times, not so much by word of mouth, written or spoken, as by the daily occurrences and the order of nature, and by natural objects. For even now many are the lessons beyond all power of language which he would teach us; and does so by events that occur about our path, and the silent language of nature blooming and withering as he wills. For it is with reference to this divine in

struction they impart that it is said of the visible creation, they

have neither speech nor language, but their voices are heard among them. In the same manner, then, also did he make Nature herself speak to his disciples; but it was as it were in a manner beyond nature, the more particularly to fix their regard. For deeds with Christ are parables, and parables are often deeds, or but the account of his deeds."

There is a little obscurity in the last expression that might have been easily avoided. We should have been happy, had we time and opportunity, to have referred our readers to several other very pleasing illustrations of this author's graceful style and devotional earnestness. Of that school of theologians of which Mr. Williams is a distinguished member, we have, on previous occasions, delivered our fearless and deliberate opinion, and with this precautionary remark we bid him farewell.

The Life of St. Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch. No. I. London: Clarke. THIS little tract forms one of an intended series of Lives of the Fathers and Saints. We are not aware whether more numbers have been published; but we trust that the series will be continued. The present number contains the "Life of Ignatius." We are convinced that the history of the early fathers and saints has not been sufficiently studied by the members of our Church. Even among the clergy there is a sad lack of knowledge on this subject. And if the clergy are only partially informed, what must be the state of the people generally? This attempt, therefore, is calculated to be very useful in directing the minds of the public to a very neglected branch of study and reading. This number is admirably suited to the young. All the particulars respecting this saint and martyr are detailed in a manner that cannot fail to arrest the attention and touch the heart.

The Estatica of Youghal compared with the Wonders of the Tyrol: in a Letter to the Earl of Shrewsbury. By the Rev. J. ALDWORTH, Rector of Youghal, Ireland. London: Dalton. 1843.

In our last number we devoted a separate article to the exposure of these Romish impositions; and we are glad to see Mr. Aldworth's careful and well-digested compilation of unquestionable documentary evidence, "which do credit to the Protestants of Youghal, in laying bare the gross fraud and blasphemy of the Romish priests;" which quackery the Popish bishop at length admitted was "no miracle."

A Treatise on the State of the Soul, with reference to the Dead to this Mortal Life; interspersed with some useful Reflections. London: Painter. 1843.

THIS pamphlet is marked by deep thought and reflection. The subject is an important one, and the author enters upon it with much seriousness. It is a topic on which, though all are concerned, few meditate with much ability. The author has performed his task well.

An Attempt to Determine the Sense of the Book of Common Prayer on the Doctrine of Baptismal Regeneration: with a Sermon on the Office and Duties of Sponsors. By the Rev. J. H. GREEN ARMYTAGE, M.A. London: Seeley. 1843.

WITHOUT pledging ourselves to all the statements contained in this small volume, we can nevertheless recommend it to our readers, as containing much grave argument on a very important subject. The course adopted by the author appears to be a middle one. His reasoning is entitled to consideration; and the sermon on the "Duties of Sponsors" should be weighed well by those who undertake that important office. Probably the present volume will be viewed as presenting a somewhat new view of this much agitated question. At all events, the author has well reflected on the subject; and his views are put forth with much modesty.

The Holy Bible; accompanied throughout with a brief Hermeneutic and Exegetical Commentary and Revised Version. By the Rev. T. J. HUSSEY, D.D., Rector of Hayes, Kent. Parts I., II., III., IV. London: Colburn.

THIS is really an important work. Dr. Hussey gives the authorized text, and also a careful revision of the authorized version, in a separate column, in which the commentary is exhibited in italic characters, with a short but very important paraphrase for the elucidation of the text. We can only say that the author deserves every encouragement; and we cannot but entertain the hope that his labours will be rewarded by a very large circulation.

The Works of William Jay, collected and revised by himself. Vol. VI. The Christian Contemplated, in a Course of Lectures. London: Bartlett. 1843.

MR. JAY is a Dissenter, but he has long been known as a practical writer of considerable eminence. We, of course, cannot agree with him on various questions which are handled in his writings; but on almost all those subjects which are strictly of a practical character we consider him to be not merely sound, but one of the most useful writers of the day. We are happy also to add, that most of his writings are of this nature; and perhaps the present work, “The Christian Contemplated," is one of the most practical of all his practical works. It was published many years ago; but the author has now embodied it in this collected edition.

The British Church, and other Poems. By the Rev. D. J. WAUGH, A.B. London: Seeley. 1843.

THE principles of this unpretending volume are such as to commend it to all who love the Church of their fathers; while the poetry will be found to be of considerable merit. In the preface the author very modestly states his object in the composition of the volume. We recommend the book to the perusal of our readers, feeling assured that it will be read with interest.

How shall we "Conform to the Liturgy of the Church of England?” By JAMES CRAIGIE ROBERTSON, B.A., of Trinity College, Cambridge. London: Pickering. 1843.

WE regard this volume as a very interesting and valuable commentary upon those matters of ritual observance to which the attention of the clergy and the laity has been recently directed with so much earnestness. It embraces a general view of the daily service, of the ornaments of the Church and the ministers, of the offertory, of the eucharistic elements, of sermons, &c. The observations of the writer are characterized by a temperance and a candour which are deserving of very high commendation; and the production of his authorities communicates an importance to the argument, which it would be absurd to attribute to the common theological disquisitions of the day. The reader will form an idea of Mr. Robertson's mode of argument, if we condense a few of his observations respecting the performance of daily service. Looking at the practice of those eminent men who belonged to the class of parochial clergy, we find Hooker, on fasting-days, retiring into the church, and locking himself up many hours. Herbert read service morning and evening in Bemerton Chapel; and during the two visits which he made weekly to Salisbury Cathedral, his absence was supplied by his curate from Fulston. Now, Fulston was the parish church, and unless we adopt what Mr. Robertson calls the very improbable supposition that the curate read each service twice a day on these occasions, making four distinct services, we are obliged to conclude, that upon these occasions, when the church of Bemerton was open, the church of Fulston was closed. That Sanderson, while incumbent of Boothby Pagnell, used daily service, has been inferred by Bishop Mant, upon a very uncertain allusion of Walton. Hammond had prayers in his church twice on holy-days and their eves, and on Saturdays; once on other days. Heylyn read prayers in the church of Arlesford every morning. Bull took his family to church on holy-days, and tried to bring his people to observe Good Friday by having "a sermon besides the service of the church." Kettlewell had prayers both on holy-days and their eves; and also upon Saturdays in the afternoon. Now it is to be remembered, that the practice of these eminent persons is advanced by their biographers, "as something uncommon, and especially deserving of our admiration ;" and it cannot, therefore, be received as any indication whatever of the religious temper of the times. The other topics which distinguish the present "theological movement," as it is called, are treated with similar clearness and impartiality With reference to the practice which the Bishop of London censured in his last Charge, of some clergymen adorning their altars with flowers, it may be noted that Ferrar decorated his church with flowers; and if he is tolerated as a model for one observance or ceremony, it seems not immediately obvious why he should not be imitated in others. The employment of evergreens at Christmas is universal. We can recommend Mr. Robertson's book to all candid and sincere enquirers.

1. A Companion for the Sick Room; being a compendium of Christian Faith and Practice, chiefly compiled from the Writings of Divines of the Holy Catholic Church. London: Burns.

2. Brief Thoughts on the Things of God and the Soul. By EDWARD DALTON, Secretary to the Protestant Association. London: Wright and Co.

3. Pastoral Letters to the Inhabitants of Stoke Gifford. By EDWARD PARKER, Vicar. London: L. and G. Seeley.

SELECTIONS of passages from those writers who flourished in the golden ages of theology and eloquence will always receive a warm and an affectionate salutation from us, when they appear to have been made with a discriminating taste, even in a pure and earnest spirit of devotion. In this compendium for the "sick room," we meet with many beautiful thoughts and consolatory reflections from the works of Barrow, Hooker, Pearson, Beveridge, Taylor, Leighton, Sutton, and others. The benefit resulting from the perusal and digestion of such passages must, under God's grace, be great and effective. May we all lay them to our hearts, not only in our sickness, but in our strength; and while we bless God's holy name for all his servants departed this life in his faith and fear, may we beseech him to give us grace so to follow their good examples, that with them we may be partakers of his heavenly kingdom.

The peculiarity of these "Thoughts" of Mr. Dalton is, that they are written in words of one syllable; for what reason, or from what motive he has subjected himself to so much trouble, we are not informed, and have no right to enquire. The thoughts themselves are earnest, and sometimes forcible; and the necessary simplicity of language ought to recommend them to the young and the imperfectly educated. It is, however, proper to observe, that the author seems to have indulged in a Socratic irony, when he entitled his book "Brief Thoughts"- the brevity being confined to the words. Surely a thought, reading like a quotation from a sermon, and extending over three or four pages, cannot, with any accuracy, be called brief.

Mr. Edward Parker, being detained from his pastoral duties by severe and prolonged indisposition, addressed these "Letters" to his parishioners, with the humble hope that they might, to some extent, compensate for the want of pastoral intercourse, and help to keep in memory what he had preached to them. Of a writer who feels and declares that the earthly house of his tabernacle is fast dissolving, and must "shortly be put off," criticism presumes not to speak; but we confess that we read with extreme pain and sorrow such passages as the following:-"The glaring absurdities and demi-popish fooleries of an Irving, a Pusey, and those other small fry, who, by obscuring or clouding revelation, are causing many to fall from their steadfastness." No scholar could write, and no Christian ought to write in such language as this. Are we still obliged to say to their successors, as our blessed Lord said to the apostles themselves "Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of !"

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