1. A Charge delivered to the Clergy of the Diocese of Bath and Wells, at the Visitation of the Diocese, in May and June, 1831. By GEORGE HENRY LAW, D.D. F.R. S. F. A. S. Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells. Wells: Backhouse. London: Rivingtons. 1831. 4to. Pp. 23.

2. A Charge to the Clergy of the Diocese of Lincoln. By JOHN, Lord Bishop of Lincoln. Delivered at the Triennial Visitation, in 1831. London: Rivingtons. 1831. 8vo. Pp. 36.

Ir may naturally be expected, that the attention of the heads of the Church, in their authoritative charges ex cathedra, will be powerfully directed, in these times of awful expectation, to the duties of their Clergy, as more immediately concerned with the dangers with which the established religion of the country is beset. In the former of the two addresses which are now before us, the reverend Prelate adverts to the means which may be most advantageously employed to arrest and stay the popular outcry; insisting with peculiar force upon the benefits which would in all probability result from a more frequent inculcation of morality, as built upon the dictates of natural, as well as upon the precepts of revealed religion for the proofs which the works of Creation afford of the being and attributes of God, will form an apt introduction to the admission and be

:

lief of the great mystery of godliness, ," which is set forth in the word of Revelation. He then advises the critical study of the Scriptures, as essentially necessary to their exposition; and, lamenting the mischievous ignorance of unauthorized and itinerant teachers, exhorts his Clergy to provide against their encroachments by an efficient discharge of their parochial duties. A few cursory remarks on passing events conclude the charge. in connexion with the same alarming state of things, the Bishop of Lincoln developes, in the most eloquent and impressive terms, the obligations attaching to the ministerial character; and more VOL. XIII. NO. XII.

especially as regards the part which the Clergy necessarily bear in the recommendation of future ministers. The paramount importance of a personal knowledge of his moral qualification, in order to the conscientious signing of a candidate's testimonial, is enforced with reference to the true and solemn meaning of the ordination question, as to his belief that "he is moved thereto by the Holy Ghost:" and the due fulfilment of all the other requisites to a title for orders are fairly and fully stated. The Bishop's own part, which is necessarily confined to an examination of the candidate's literary qualifications, is then explained; and we shall make no apology for submitting the following observations to our readers :

"That a certain portion of learning is necessary to a Minister of the Gospel, will be denied by few; nor do I think that I shall be charged with fixing too high a standard of qualification, when I say that the candidate ought to be thoroughly conversant with the Greek Testament; with the chronology of Scripture, and the connexion of profane with sacred history; with Jewish antiquities; with natural theology, or the argument in proof of the existence and attributes of the Deity, derived from the phenomena of the physical world; with the evidences of Christianity; and with the doctrines of the Established Church, as propounded in the Articles and Liturgy. Unless he is furnished with theological learning, at least to this extent; he must ever be liable to be assailed by objections to which he can return no satisfactory answer, and thus to bring discredit by his ignorance, not only on himself, but on the Church of which he is a Minister. Bishop Tomline, while he presided over this diocese, pointed out certain works, to which he required the candidates for ordination particularly to direct their attention. In doing this, he rendered them no inconsiderable assistance; for though, if a candidate possesses the requisite learning, it may appear to signify little through what channel that learning was obtained; yet, if he was

5B

left to make his own selection from the infinite variety of theological writers who offer themselves to his notice, he would probably waste much time upon that from which he would derive little benefit. Looking, however, at the increased and continually increasing diffusion of knowledge amongst all classes of the community in the present day, I must confess, that a candidate conversant only with the works enumerated in Bishop Tomline's list, would, in my opinion, be scantily provided with theological learning. To the works, therefore, enumerated by him, I would add, Prideaux's Connexion, Horne's Introduction, a very useful compilation, Paley's Natural Theology, Burnet on the Articles, and Bishop Butler's Analogy. Let me, however, earnestly caution the student against diffusing his reading over too wide a surface: to read a few good authors thoroughly, is better than to read many hastily and cursorily." Pp. 23, 24.

The Prelate proceeds to comment upon the advantages of the course of academical study previous to admission into Holy Orders; and concludes with some further remarks upon the nature and intent of titles, and upon the unalterable obligation of clerical duty in the possible, however deplorable, event of a disunion between Church and State.

An Essay, showing the intimate Connexion between our Notions of Moral Good and Evil, and our Conceptions of the Freedom of the Divine and Human Wills. By ROBERT BLAKEY. Edinburgh: Black. London: Longman. 1831. 8vo. Pp. xii. 216.

BETWEEN the human species and the brute creation, there is this grand mark of distinction, that while the latter are blindly led by a compulsory instinct, the former is conscious of an intellectual responsibility: and this responsibility is so closely connected with the notion of moral freedom, that we neither act, nor speak, nor think, without a tacit conception of the praise or censure which our thoughts, words, or actions are calculated to elicit. This connexion is admirably traced in Mr. Blakey's Essay. The following remarks are so pertinent and beautiful,

that we cannot withhold them from our readers :

"It cannot be denied that our common and familiar language, on moral and intellectual subjects, is strongly tinged in its composition with necessity. We talk of being under a binding obligation to do this or that action; that we must do certain deeds before we can obtain praise or incur censure, and that nothing appears to give such a complete security for the exercise of a virtuous disposition, as when we talk of a person considering himself bound by necessity to act according to the dictates of moral obligation. But in all those instances where necessary connexion seems to be expressed or implied, it would aid us materially in forming just notions of the sources of moral approbation or disapprobation, were we to cast our eyes inwardly for a moment, and see what is really meant by such phrases as these: We must of necessity act in this manner.' 'These were the reasons which compelled me to act as I have done.' I could not help doing what I have done.' Now, it appears to me, in all these instances, it is not a positive or absolute necessity which is here implied, but a relative or conditional one. Whenever we make use of such language, it is always understood, both by others and ourselves, that we have no (a?) power within us of acting differently; that in no instance is it supposed that this power is ever subdued; and when we say we have not the power to do this action or that, we simply mean that we can perform of ourselves the prohibited action, but we will not perform it.”Pp. 185, 186.

"To so great a length, indeed, do we carry this repugnance to every thing like compulsory influence over our minds and moral powers, that a very striking fact may be noticed here, respecting our relation to the Deity, namely, that we conceive ourselves, to a certain extent, beyond even his direct or immediate power. Though reason and piety both impress upon us the truth that he is our Creator, and the upholder of our existence; that in him we are truly said 'to live, and move, and have our being;' and though we

manner.

express our entire conviction of this truth, in its abstract shape, almost every moment of our lives, yet we do so only in a qualified and conditional We are so constituted that we are obliged to place the whole man, to a limited degree, beyond the sphere of His immediate agency or control, in order that we may form to ourselves correct conceptions of the nature of our intellectual and moral faculties and our various duties, and of the justice of those rewards and punishments which are annexed to their performance or non-performance. We do not conceive that the Almighty is, in an absolute sense, the author of every individual thought, or every individual action we think or perform, nor do we conceive that it militates against either philosophical truth or strict piety, to say that we have mental and moral powers within ourselves, to do, to a certain extent, whatever we please. The reason of this is obvious. It is this conception of mental and moral liberty which constitutes us rational creatures; and it is impossible for us to perceive the least shadow of moral obligation, if our every thought and action were referred to the Almighty's immediate power, or to any subordinate agents he might please to appoint.”— Pp. 187, 188.

Tales from the Scrap-Book of a Country Clergyman. By the Rev. J. E. M. MOLESWORTH, M. A. Rector of St. Martin with St. Paul, Canterbury; Author of the RickBurners, &c. London: Rivingtons, Hatchard, &c. 1831. 12mo. Pp. iv. 115.

SINCE the publication of the "DeathBed Scenes, we have not met with any thing which has given us more unmixed gratification than this trifle. It consists of four tales, addressed, indeed, to persons in a humbler walk of life than the readers of Dr. Wharton, but in a tone and spirit of conviction and affection closely allied to the interesting narratives of that excellent pastor. Each tale may be had singly for distribution; and we cordially recommend an extensive circulation of them among that class of persons for whose edification they are intended. The little volume

is dedicated to Mrs. Howley; and, under such patronage, can scarcely fail of doing that good, which the friends of true religion and good order, at this fearful crisis, must be anxious to promote.

1. A Letter to R. M. Beverley, Esquire, being an Examination of his Tombs of the Prophets. By the Rev. W. T. WILD, Curate of Newarkupon-Trent, Nottinghamshire. Newark Ridge. London: Hatchards. 1831. 8vo. Pp. 74.

2. Reformation not Subversion: A Sermon, preached before the Corporation of Beverley, on the Day of their Majesties' Coronation. By JOHN SCOTT, M.A., Vicar of North Ferriby, &c. London: Seeleys. 1831. Pp. vi.

46.

3. Reply to a Letter of R. M. Beverley,

Esquire, addressed to His Grace the Archbishop of York; and Remarks on his "Lay Sermon," called "the Tombs of the Prophets." By JOB NOTT the Younger. London: Straker. 1831.

WE recur to Mr. Wild as an able and affectionate minister of the Church of England, firmly attached to her principles, and defending her interests through evil report and good report. But, with respect to the controversy in which he is engaged, we shall leave it entirely in his hands, and in those of his fellow-labourers in the same cause, Mr. Scott and Mr. Nott. For Mr. Beverley we care nothing, and for his malevolence less; but those who wish to see his absurdities exposed, his mistatements detected, and his wilful falsehoods pointed out, will do well to peruse, with attention, the complete and masterly, yet calm and dispassionate, pamphlet of Mr. Wild. With Mr. Scott we differ widely on certain points of Christian doctrine; but in the sermon before us, there is, for the most part, nothing to censure; and we thank him sincerely for his defence of our common doctrines, and of the Church of which we are members conjointly with himself.

The writer of the other pamphlet at the head of this article is also entitled to the praise of treating a disgusting subject with temper, judgment, and effect.

Clerical Legacy; or, a Manual of Sermons, chiefly preached before the University of Oxford, and now published for the Use of the younger Clergy in the Diocese of Bangor. To which are subjoined two Discourses in Welsh. By P. WILLIAMS, D. D. Rector of Llanbedrog. London : Longman & Williams. 1831. 12mo. Pp. xx. 252.

some

In this parting bequest of an octogenarian Clergyman to his younger brethren, we have seven good discourses, involving some of the most material points of doctrinal theology. Though we cannot exactly subscribe to the opinion of the author, that their contents, as far as theology is concerned, would be a sufficient apparatus for a student's examination, either for his degree or for orders, we will nevertheless admit that they contain " thing worth being remembered." It is the worthy Doctor's opinion, that every book which can boast of thus much merit ought to be accompanied with an index; and accordingly we are indulged with a very copious appendage of this useful nature to the "Legacy." So minute, indeed, is this alphabetical monitor, that it should seem to belong to a bulky 8vo. rather than a small 12mo. We fully agree, however, with our author, in his admiration of an index; and, wishing that his advice may not be thrown away where it is much needed, we transmit his Legacy, with our probate annexed, to a discerning public.

On the Incarnation of the Eternal Word. By the Rev. MARCUS DODS, Belford. London: Seeley. 1831. 8vo. pp. xii. 573.

A DOCTRINE has lately been set on foot by Mr. E. Irving, that not only was "the Word made flesh," but that it was made sinful flesh; and it was evidently against this unscriptural, or rather antiscriptural tenet, that Mr. Dods has taken up his theological pen. In order to the refutation of this position, he has traced the Incarnate Word in the discharge of all his offices of Prophet, Priest, and King; proving, by the most solid arguments of reason, the necessary absence from Him of

every thing to which the terms fallen or sinful could in any sense be applied. On any other supposition, no satisfaction to the Divine justice, which could not have been as reasonably made by another man, could have been effected by his dying for the sins of the world. To the evidence from reason is added the testimony of Scripture; and the opinions of the Fathers of the four first centuries, respecting the human nature of our Lord, are collected in the second part of the treatise. The publication is not only well-timed, but valuable and important; and, without pledging ourselves to the author's views in all the collateral bearings of the subject, we do not hesitate to recommend an attentive perusal of his pages.

Scripture Prints, with Explanations in the Form of familiar Dialogues. By MRS. SHERWOOD. London: Seeley. 1831. 12mo. Pp. viii. 254.

It is the object of this little book to fix the attention of children in reading the Scriptures, by exhibiting the most striking incidents in the Bible to the eye, by means of pictorial delineation. The mind of a child will dwell upon a print, though it will be led by any trifling circumstance to wander from a lesson; and the plan devised by Mrs. Sherwood may possibly be advantageously adopted in order to make the Bible attractive to the infant reader. The present volume contains a series of prints illustrative of the Book of Genesis: and, upon the whole, we are disposed to judge favourably of the undertaking.

Remarks on the Moral and Religious Character of the United States of America, supported by numerous Extracts from the best Authorities. Addressed to the Author of "A Reply" to the Charge lately delivered by the Archdeacon of Colchester. By OBSERVER. Colchester: Swinborne. London: Rivingtons. 8vo. Pp. viii.

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THREE months since, we had occasion to notice, in connexion with Archdeacon Lyall's Charge, the ignorant and malignant "Reply" of

“Observer;” and we were led by the title of the present pamphlet to expect another morsel of malevolence from the same quarter. As it turns out, however, this "Observer" is not that "Observer; " for though he has assumed the same name, he is of a very different character. The "Remarks are intended to furnish an authoritative refutation of the assertion that "in America, where there is no national Church, religion prevails more than in any other country;" and if ever a fact was established by clear and circumstantial evidence, the citations from American works of recent date, which the writer has given at length and in abundance, fully and unequivocally confirm the statement which the Archdeacon rested upon similar, though less ample, proofs. Having called attention to the tract, and adverted to the non-identity of the two "Observers," with a view to prevent a misconception into which ourselves had nearly fallen; we shall leave the disputants to settle the case between themselves, and we have no doubt of the issue of the contest.

Bible Letters for Children. By Lucy BARTON. With Introductory Verses, by BERNARD BARTON. London: Souter. 1831. Pp. xxxv. 269.

THESE Bible Letters are the simple and unsophisticated expression of a pure and well-ordered mind, consecrated to a task which few first-rate intellects can condescend to, but which, nevertheless, has claims of paramount importance upon all classes of society, and all gradations of talent.

The

Scriptures are often a hard language and dead letter to children; and any invention which can facilitate them to the infant mind, is entitled to our deepest respect and consideration. It can be of no use to quote from these Letters, because they are merely a transcript in plain words, and in an epistolary way, of the pages of the Bible.

Should the authoress be called on, which we doubt not she will very shortly be, to prepare another edition, we would recommend a revision of some of the notes. They appear to

us hardly explanatory enough. It is from definitions that all problems and sciences depend. To children they are utterly useless, unless clear. We give, as an example of our present objections, the first note, on the word "reconciled." The illustration is correct, but the explanation wrong. "To reconcile," does not simply mean, "to make friends those who were not so before," but those who are in a state of enmity, having once been friends.

Questions and Answers for Young People of the Church of England, to guard them against its Enemies. By a LAYMAN. London: Roake and Varty. 1831. Fifth Edition. Pp. 23. We recommended this small pamphlet, some two years ago, to the notice of our readers, as being valuable for the guidance of the young; and a fifth edition proves that our advice has been well received. We need only add, that our opinion of its merits remains unchanged.

The Protestant Journal; or, the True Catholic's Protest against the Modern Church of Rome. London: Whittaker and Co. Nos. III.-VIII.

WE announced the appearance of this Journal in our Number for April last; and then intimated that we might recur to it on some future occasion. We have now much pleasure in stating, that the "Protestant Journal" is conducted with increasing ability. The articles on "Papal Bonds," "Popery in Hungary," and on the juggle of liquefying the supposed blood of Saint Januarius; the translations of Mollard; Lefevre's two letters on renouncing the errors of Popery; and the occasional exposures of the machinations of the Romanists in making proselytes, strike us as peculiarly valuable. But truth requires us to state that we do not admire the poetry, (if it can be so called,) entitled, "Our Lady in London." Certainly the author of it was not inspired by any of the Parnassian nymphs; and

we

would recommend the editor to omit all such (misnamed poetical) effusions for the future: although, in justice, we