Selected Letters. Edited by the Rev. T. CHAMBERLAIN. London: Burns. 1842.

FROM time to time, as we pass through the somewhat wearying, but not therefore less important routine of daily duties, we find ourselves delightfully called aside to talk with the great departed. By such intercourse are we refreshed and invigorated. Their mighty thoughts live within us, and in some degree animate us to deeds and lives like theirs. We felt this particularly while reading some of the letters contained in this pleasing volume; and what we especially approve is, that the editor has not confined himself to subjects of daily occurrences, but has given some epistles upon unfamiliar and somewhat startling subjects. He has done well. There are those whose trials are not of a common character, and it may be that his volume may give them advice, consolation, and information. Such especially are two letters from the venerable Archbishop Sharpe to a lady, whose mind was much perplexed with blasphemous thoughts. have known a like case.

We

Questions on the Bible. By a CLERGYMAN'S WIFE. London: Painter.

Prayers on the Building of a new Church. Latin and English. Toovey.

Tracts on Christian Doctrine and Practice. Vol. III. London:
Burns.

The Visit to Clarina. An Irish Story. London: Seeleys.
An Horology, or Dial of Prayer. London: Burns.
Mary Atkins; or, Nature and Grace. London: Seeleys.
Sixpenny Books-Fourpenny Books-Penny Books-Halfpenny
Books. London: Burns.

HERE we have a host of little books; and as we believe by little books no little good or harm is done, we shall not allow this conglomeration to escape us.

First, then, we would remark that it does not at all follow, because a book is published by Mr. Burns, or ornamented with red lines and red letters, and here and there a little bit of modern illumination, that it must be "Popish," or even "Puseyite." No, not even if there is a nasty scrap of Latin here and there. Nor, on the other hand, does it follow, that if a book proceeds from Mr. Seeley's establishment, even if recommended by Mr. Baptist Noel or Mr. Bickersteth, that therefore it is Low Church." We know of no one who may not be benefitted by

reading" Clarina ;" or the series by Mr. Burns, mentioned below. We will mention a few which we think especially deserving of approbation :-"Robert Marshall, the cleverest boy in the School," "Select Allegories," "What is a Gentleman?" "The Earthquake at Lisbon," "Dreamland." The last indeed is rather out of place. It is a beautiful little poem, but that the point would be missed by its intended youthful readers. The "Questions on the Bible" do the "Clergyman's Wife" credit: her Sunday-schools are no doubt well attended to. Nor ought we to omit the third volume of "Tracts on Christian Doctrine and Practice," were it only to notice the life and labours of Mr.Bold. The "Prayers on the Building of a Church" may perhaps be objected to by some as verging towards Popery, more especially as they are Latin on one side and English on the other; but though this is remarkably suspicious, the tract seems

safe.

The Works of William Jay. Corrected and revised by himself. Vol. IV.: Morning and Evening Exercises from October to December. London: Bartlett. 1842.

WE have previously noticed the three preceding volumes of this elegant collection of Mr. Jay's works, and can here only apply to the present tome what has been already said of the former ones. When we say that we see no difference between Mr. Jay's writings and those of many excellent clergymen, we are saying that which is a great praise to Mr. Jay, but very much the reverse to the other parties; for it shows that Mr. Jay, writing as a Dissenter, has nothing (save here and there a single expression) which is contrary to the Church's doctrine, while the writings of many of her sons have nothing to identify them as such. A Dissenter would call this Catholicity--we call it laxity. Nevertheless, Mr. Jay's prayers are good prayers, and his remarks of a highly practical character.

Intimidation; a Political Satire. By CATO THE CENSOR. London: Eden. 1842.

WE are no admirers of political satires, such as they generally are; for there is no class of writings on which a mistake as to a man's capabilities is more easily made, or more fatal when actually committed. "Intimidation" is a satire by no means devoid of point, but we cannot praise very highly the spirit in which it is written; nor are the Duke of Newcastle and Lord Cardigan quite worthy to be coupled together.

A Companion to the Baptismal Font, being an Abridgement of a Treatise on Baptism, designed as a help to the due improvement of that Holy Sacrament, as administered in the Church of England. By the Rev. E. BICKERSTETH, Rector of Watton, Herts. London: R. B. Seeley and W. Burnside. EVERYTHING Coming from the pen of Mr. Bickersteth deserves consideration and respect. This treatise on baptism, like his other numerous works, is replete with well-intentioned advice, exemplary piety, and admirable expressions of devotion. There, however, our praise of it must cease, as it seeks to establish another sense to the word "regeneration," inconsistent in its explanations with the plain reading and literal interpretation of the services of the Church. The early fathers of the Universal Church-the best authors contemporaneous with the reformation and all the baptismal offices then existing the best writers of modern times on this subject, such as Bishops Bethell, Waterland, and Dr. Wall, all agree to confine this word to the administration of this holy sacrament. As sin, guilt, and condemnation may be predicated of an unconscious and unsinning infant, before he has acted, reflected, or spoken-so of the child, -unconscious and unsinning, washed in the waters of baptism, may holiness, acceptance, and favour, be predicated.

Baptism is the implantation of grace-the bestowal of a new spiritual nature; the effecting an important change in the relationship between God and the infant; the conferring certain inestimable privileges-if any men fall away from these privileges, and show themselves in their future conduct to be unmindful of these blessings; but there is no reason on this account to deny the bestowal of these privileges. The son of a nobleman may act unworthy of his high descent, and may sink down into the lowest rank of the commonalty; but that his noble birth and lofty lineage and family form privileges cannot be denied. So the baptized person is regenerate in baptism, though, by the fault of his education, or by the wilful perverseness of his own desire, he fall away into a life inconsistent with the greatness of his privileges. The Church thus maintains that regeneration is conferred in baptism; that a child is placed in the channel of grace, and attains the promise of salvation, and the certain presence of the Holy Ghost; while she demands to the eternal salvation of the baptized, the future steps of repentance, and faith, and sanctification. The due discrimination of the use of these words-the confining the term "regeneration " to the act of participation of the sacrament, and to the reception of the spiritual grace and new nature then confirmed, would lead to a unity of

VOL. XIII.-R

sentiment, and to a more general agreement in this matter. Mr. Bickersteth, in the use of the word "regeneration," in a sense different to that given it by the compilers of our admirable service, which sense is confirmed by all existing liturgies, falls into serious inconsistencies, and loses much time in attempting to explain what is most clear, if it were not involved in difficulty, by the use of terms, as if they were synonymous, which in reality have, in the teaching of the Church, meaning widely different. We have not time to go through the whole of this treatise. Mr. Bickersteth having pointed out, in the first three chapters, the baptism of the Old Testament, as containing a system of instruction shadowing forth the truths to be taught in this sacrament of the Christian Church, the appointment of baptism by our Lord, and the three holy names invoked in its sacred administration, proceeds in the fourth chapter to speak of the benefits to be given in baptism :

"The blessings following baptism (he says, p. 31), rightly received and improved, are all blessings of the Gospel; which may indeed be included in that one word "regeneration." Regeneration is not a mere instant act, but a life of principle, holiness, and blessedness, that never ends, having many parts and helps in all our Christian course; but the sole author of all its holiness and blessedness is God himself- the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Regeneration, in this comprehensive sense, includes the whole spiritual life here, and the life of glory hereafter."

Such is the statement of Mr. Bickersteth. Such a definition, however, of regeneration cannot be maintained by reference to the creed, articles, or offices of the Church of England, or of any other portion of the Catholic Church now existing in any nation of the world. The sentence quoted above gives an account indeed of the blessings following baptism, and they may be described in the language of Mr. Bickersteth, or in some other terms, as conversion, renewal, restoration, and sanctification; but these blessings, as here recounted, cannot be included in the word "regeneration," which is a term confined to the reception of baptismal privileges. Again in p. 73, Mr. Bickersteth says:

"It is clear, from the Scriptures, that baptism is not universally attended with spiritual charge of regeneration. Where there is no real faith in exercise, it is righteous in God to withhold his grace."

What is this, but the utter denial of baptism as a sacrament; the efficacy of which depends on the appointment of God, who has affixed grace to due administration of the means of grace? Who is to judge moreover of the reality of the faith in exercise? No, this teaching is inconsistent with the statements and defi

nitions of a sacrament, as given by the Church in her catechism. It leads to difficulties and to the discussion of questions, which a due attendance to the use, and a careful difinition of the sense of words would prevent; and it presents the appearance of different opinions prevailing in that society, in which the ministers and rulers at least, should be united and agreed. We must withhold, with whatever pain, the seal of our approbation to this treatise, though we pay the tribute of our unfeigned respect to the character, attainment, and single-purposeness of the author. Louisa; or, the Bride. By the Author of the "Fairy Bower." London: Burns. 1842.

OUR great fault with the "Fairy Bower" was, that the sayings and doings of children were made matters of vastly too much moment to parties without the circle of their own families. In the next production of the same author, the "Lost Brooch," the same fault appeared in a shape even aggravated; and in the production before us, which is in many respects superior to both, we have the little scandal of a village magnified by an oxyhydrogen microscope, and dissected for the instruction of the world. All this is vastly too minute. Yet we like the bride and her husband, though the latter is one of those monsters of perfection about whom one never feels warmly. The author has made Richardson her model, and copied his littlenesses; but, at the same time, it is but justice to her to say, that she has succeeded in copying his merits-and let her be assured, this is not slight praise.

Torrent of Portugal. An English Metrical Romance. Now first published from an unique MS. of the fifteenth century, preserved in the Cheetham Library, at Manchester. Edited by JAMES ORCHARD HALLIWELL, Esq., F.R.S., F.S.A., &c. London: Russell Smith. 1842.

MR. HALLIWELL is an indefatigable collector of all that concerns English literature, more particularly in its earlier stages. Among other places which this diligent antiquary has ransacked stands the Cheetham Library, at Manchester, one of the most interesting in the kingdom. Here did Mr. Halliwell disinter the curious and interesting romance now for the first time given to the public; it is, as the title imports, taken from an unique MS. of the fifteenth century. This is a kind of literature particularly unobtrusive, and by no means lucrative; we trust, however, that Mr. Halliwell will find sufficient encouragement to give us further reminiscences of our forefathers' modes of singing and relating.