The Ecclesiastical History of L'Abbé Fleury; from the Second Ecuminical Council to the end of the Fourth Century, translated. With Notes, and an Essay on the Miracles of the Period. Oxford: Parker. 1842.

WE find it perfectly impossible to bring the subject of this volume fairly before our readers without going into disquisitions quite incompatible with the space we can devote to it. It may seem strange, that having so many ecclesiastical histories as we have -histories of all periods, of all sizes, to suit all ages and all principles-we should here find one given to us translated from the French, with a very long prefatory essay, by no less a personage than the Rev. John Henry Newman, B.D. When, however, we came to examine the preface, and find that, in addition to the sufficient credulity of M. Fleury, Mr. Newman systematically advocates the belief of the fourth century miracles, our eyes were opened, and our wonder ceased. What will be the next step?

An Exposition of some of the most important differences between Scripture and Calvinism. By the Rev. E. C. KEMP, M.A. London: Bell and Wood. 1842.

WE are no Calvinists; and we think that Mr. Kemp has done fairly what in his title-page he avowed his intention of doing-he has shown how incompatible with Scripture are the doctrines of Geneva. But we wish much that he had also consulted Archbishop King on Romans viii. If he had looked to the "Tracts of the Anglican Fathers," he would have found it with a preface and notes, which would have left nothing to be desired. The pith of Lawrence and Faber, by far the most able writers on the subject, is there extracted in notes, and the metaphysical argument is treated of in a copious preface.

As it is, however, we are pleased with Mr. Kemp's work, and wish it well; for of this we are well convinced, that the doctrines of Calvinism are as contrary to apostolical order as they are to evangelical truth.

Athanasian. Second edition. Also Miscellaneous Poems. By the Author of "Christian Ballads." New York: Wiley. WE are very glad to see a volume of American poetry; it diverts our minds so agreeably from the consideration of dollars and cents, which are becoming so inseparably connected with the very name of America, that, were there no other reason, we should rejoice at the appearance of this book. It contains, however, some good sentiments, strongly, but rather roughly, expressed.

The Human Mind. A Lecture delivered at the opening of the Ninth Session of the Literary and Scientific Institution, Staines, Nov. 1st, 1842. By the Rev. ROBERT JONES, D.D., M.R.S.L., Vicar of Bedfont, and President of the Institution. London: Painter. 1842.

DR. JONES, in taking on himself the presidentship of an institution, which he has thereby turned from evil and to good, has both conferred a benefit on the Church, and set a valuable example to the clergy to direct the movement which they neither can nor ought to stop. As to the applicability of the subject to lecturing, the Doctor observes

"But suppose there were no tangible fruits which the study of metaphysics yields that it was merely an exercise of the understandinga palestra without a crown, where only courage gained strength, evolution, dexterity. This would be much, in days like our own, of endless frivolity and debilitating sentiment. Therefore it is, that I choose this subject; therefore it is, that, lecturing in this Institution, I have constantly chosen what no doubt are called pedantic subjects, but which I deem mentally nutritive and morally useful."

He is right. We agree with him, too, on the subject of phrenology. He says—

"I hope I may not be accused of unmanly, unscientific obedience to popular taste, by adverting to phrenology; a subject which has excited equal ridicule and attention. By some, phrenology is treated as a wild, conceited, unsubstantiated theory; by others, revered as a novel, valuable, infallible index, not only of mental, but moral faculties. The truth lies, as in other cases, between extremes. That certain general configurations of skull indicate superiority or defect of talent, is forcibly felt and freely admitted; but that each peculiar capacity resides in a sectional isolated bump is, in my opinion, not only a vain fallacy, but a dangerous delusion."

And, with regard to the infidel results which some have attempted to deduce from it, he well observes

"I consider the human mind as the whole of man-not dependent upon accidental organic structure; but all his talents, tempers, acquirements, affections, mingled, lost in one beautiful spiritual power, purifying the life, ennobling the ambition, formed for high destinies, severe duties, and tender mercies-capable of, as it longs and strives for, undefinable improvements. If you please, reverse the picture-let vice poison the heart, ignorance wither, or craft beguile, the understanding, and all is desolation. In either case, it is the entire man that forms the mind. I arraign not the disciples of phrenology with ungentle names, but I cannot credit their doctrines. They may be sincere in their opinions;

so am I."

Were this passage alone drawn out into all its consequences, we should have in it a system of high and pure philosophy, both mental and moral.

On the Dress of the Clergy. By a CLERGYMAN. London: Painter. 1842.

THIS is a very sensible pamphlet; which, while it recognizes the importance of its subject, yet speaks temperately and quietly about it. What follows we would cordially commend to our brethren :-

"We come now to consider the authority by which the re-adoption of the canonical dress should be enforced. And here we may say that we cannot look with comfort on the attempts of any individual clergyman to resume it. Their intentions, indeed, as wishing to act up to the letter and the spirit of the canon, are laudable. But whatever good may have been done in individual instances by this course, it has been accompanied with a large amount of evil; for the person adopting it by himself is always deemed a precisian, and suspected, however wrongly, of a secret leaning to Popery. And he who becomes thus singular will be induced to be always thinking of his dress, and meditating what others think of it."

And again:

"But at all events, no private clergyman would be justified in adopting the clerical habit, or recurring to any other canonical but obsolete custom, without first asking the advice and obtaining the sanction of his ordinary."

There is much reason in the subjoined observations:

"The military dress increases brotherly feeling among the officers and soldiers; and perhaps the clergy would not quarrel so much with their brethren, when their brother's very habit reminded them that he was a brother; and whenever the clergy met, they would know and acknowledge one another. The separate dress of the army has its effect in keeping them separate from the civil inhabitants around them-an object of importance, to make the soldiers obedient, in acting against a mob, or quelling a riot, or enforcing the law. And we may say that the clergyman is not to be of the world, though he is to be in the world; and his wearing his dress would seem to call him out on every occasion to testify against sin, and to speak a word for his Master, Christ. As all men are able to see the difference between an officer, when with his regiment or away from it-when on full pay or on halfpay, by his wearing his uniform or not, so would all men be able to see the difference between those "having any ecclesiastical living," to whom the canon recommends it, and other ecclesiastical persons whose engagements are not exclusively clerical, and in whom the canon does not require it."

due

The English Wife. A Manual of Home Duties. By the Author of the "English Maiden." London: Clarke. THIS is a neat little book, and very pleasingly illustrates the duties of a wife. We are pleased to be reminded of the way in which our beloved Queen performs those duties; but we should prefer it to be done by other means than a bad cut.

Faithfulness in the Stewardship of the Mysteries of God. A Sermon, preached on Monday, Oct. 10th, 1842, in the Cathedral Church of St. Paul's, at the Visitation of the Right Hon. and Right Rev. Charles James, Lord Bishop of London. By the Rev. THOMAS DALE, M. A., Vicar of St. Bride's. London Seeleys. 1842.

THE Charge of the Lord Bishop of London, in October last, on which occasion this excellent sermon was preached, excited a very general attention. Both the choice of Mr. Dale to preach one of the sermons, and the subsequent publication of it, amply prove that, however strenuously and (we will add) wisely his lordship insisted upon APOSTOLICAL ORDER, he was by no means disposed to underrate the importance of EVANGELICAL And most faithfully, as well as most eloquently, did Mr. Dale discourse concerning the faithfulness of stewards-a topic on which all his hearers were so deeply interested. We trust that they will long and profitably remember the tenth day of October, 1842.

TRUTH.

Nature a Parable. A Poom in Seven Books. By the Rev. JOHN BRANDE MORRIS, M.A., Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford. London: Rivingtons.

1842.

OUR firm belief is, that when the Rev. Mr. Morris had finished this book, he sat down under the innocent delusion that he had been writing poetry. Such mistakes are, alas! not uncommon, and we would advise the reader of books in general, not to read this of Mr. Morris if he can get any other-for it is too dull to laugh at and too stupid to admire; and except when the author gets hold of a glorious thought of Chrysostom or Augustine (which, by the bye, he spoils by putting into indifferent verse), there is nothing in the whole infliction to break the monotony of a series of yawns. No! if Mr. Williams has persuaded all the young Tractarians to woo the muses, we shall have sad stuff to be drenched withal; but we hope better things, and that the gentlemen in question will restrain their genius to Latin hexameters and Greek alcaics.

Hymns and Scenes in Childhood; or, a Sponsor's Gift. London: Burns. Nottingham: Dearden. 1843.

THERE are many beautiful poems in this volume; but, on the whole, it seems to us not within the grasp of very youthful minds. We know that it is a sad mistake to talk childishly to children; but, on the other hand, it appears a rather greater mistake-as the authors of this volume sometimes do-to talk metaphysics to them.

Provincial Letters from the County Palatine of Durham, exhibiting the Nature and Tendency of the Principles put forth by the Writers of the Tracts for the Times, and their various Allies and Associates. By the Rev. GEORGE STANLEY FABER, B.D., Master of Sherburn Hopital, and Prebendary of Salisbury. Vol. II. London: Painter. 1843. Ar length we congratulate ourselves on the second volume of the "Provincial Letters." They are, indeed, masterly; scarcely a point of the Tractarian hypothesis is left unanswered. Mr. Maitland and Mr. Newman, Dr. Pusey and Mr. Williams, Mr. Froude and Mr. Burgh, Dr. Todd and Mr. Palmer (of Magdalen College, Oxford), all in turn are set up to be knocked down; and what is more in this case, they know they are knocked down, and we shall have no reply to the "Provincial Letters." No; some younger members of the school may state, with vast satisfaction to themselves, that Mr. Faber is really a very ignorant man, and especially on points of Church history and ancient theology; but the heads of the party are wiser, they will treat the book and the author with "silent contempt!" and very judiciously will they act in so doing.

Meantime the party have had three successive attacks: one from Bishop M'Ilvaine, one from Mr. Goode, and one from Mr. Faber, to none of which have they ventured any reply. Mr. Goode, who really did present some vulnerable points, they were glad to let alone; for he had demonstrated that the very Coryphæus of the party was but indifferently skilled in the fathers. And now, we think, the affair is pretty well settled; some of them will perhaps go on to Rome, a few will gradually veer round to Geneva, but the major part will, we hope, quietly and dutifully return to their mother the evangelical and apostolical Church of England, whom, if they have not formally forsaken, they have at least left in spirit.

Bertha's Journal, during a Visit to her Uncle in England; containing a variety of interesting and instructive information adapted for Young Persons. London: Murray. 1843. We sincerely hope that this really interesting, safe, and orthodox little manual will overthrow the Whiggish, treacherous productions, going about under the name of "Peter Parley." We have never seen a book written for daily reading lessons as this is, which contained so large a fund, both of amusement and information. It is interspersed, too, with religious remarks and notices, all having a proper Church tendency, and feeding the mind (without cramming it) with wholesome food. We are glad to see "Fifth edition" on the title-page.