it the civillest name,-is not likely to be backward in asserting itself. But while we are unable to endorse the sanguine views of the unqualified admirers of these mixed assemblies, in which some of our contemporaries expand, we are glad to see much of the English spirit, both in the way of Church principles, and of a solid practical spirit, in the members. What is really important is, that we seem to see indications that the mere fact of meeting in Synod forces even a Bishop whose Churchmanship was not of the most vigorous character, upwards.

An amusing, and we ought to add, a well-principled, letter has been printed, being a Reply to the Westerton Committee,' &c. by Mr. R. Tomlins. (Masters.)

A Calendar of Lessons, for Every Day in the Year' (J. H. Parker), by Earl Nelson, supplies, on an excellent principle, a lectionary companion, so to speak, to any system of family worship. 'The testimony shadowed forth for each week by the Epistle and Gospel,' is carried out by appropriate selections from the different books of the Holy Scriptures.' Headings for each week are prefixed, chiefly suggested by Mr. Isaac Williams's 'Sermons for Sundays and Saints' Days,' and designed, like the old Antiphons or Benedictions, to strike the key-note of the passage. The passages for the week always include an historical example of the subject of teaching. Such a Calendar has long been wanted; and the pains bestowed on the present one ought to render it widely acceptable to Churchmen.

A third edition of the same noble author's Book of Family Prayers' (J. H. Parker), has also appeared. We have seen no reason to depart from the opinion we expressed of it some years ago, that it is the best manual of the kind which we possess. Its leading characteristic, it may be remembered, is the adoption of a distinct topic for each day of the week. This is the great point. But its contents and plans are also (we speak from experience) such, as, with variations easily introduced, bear the test of time and of continual use.

A Selection from Bishop Ken's Poems' (Hamilton), is a pleasing evidence that in these spasmodic' days there are some who, in sweet and simple religious thoughts, can forget the ruggedness of the verse, and that dulness which we fear marks the majority of Bishop Ken's poetry.

Mr. F. H. Dickinson's able letter,Convocation and the Clergy' (Ridgway), though advocating conclusions which are at issue with principles enounced in these pages, deserves and will command great attention as the production of a conscientious and thoughtful layman, whose many labours in the Church demand our respect. Mr. Dickinson, too, speaks with the experience of one who has studied the subject: and in the future of the English and Colonial Church, hints and cautions such as Mr. Dickinson's are never out of place. Both in his case and in that of Mr. Henry Hoare, who is doing good service in the same direction, we must take care not to disregard the wise counsel of friends. In such laymen is an element of strength and hope which the Church must turn to good account.

The Last Days of the Rev. W. Ewbank' (Hayes), is the work of his

companion in travel, Mr. Skinner, late of S. Barnabas, Pimlico. It is a graceful and interesting sketch, and is not only valuable as an evidence of the amiable writer's really sympathising spirit, but shows how, amid many and serious differences, two minds, both penetrated by real religious earnestness, can coalesce. Apart from this value, the topographical notices of the Sinaitic district have their interest. Mr. Ewbank died in the desert under very sad circumstances, while on the road to Jerusalem.

6

Mr. Darling has commenced the second part of his Cyclopædia Bibliographica. This is a catalogue of books arranged according to 'subjects,' and promises to be equal in importance and accuracy to the two handsome volumes of the Theological Catalogue, according to authors,' which we have already spoken of with warm commendation.

6

We often have to thank Mr. Brudenell Barter for an honest, outspoken indignation, not only thoroughly characteristic of himself, but very useful to us all. He says, and says very intelligibly, what many of us think, but are too refined, or have too many over-sensitive friends, hearers or readers, or social connexions, among whom the rough and ready style of the rector of Burghclere would cause something worse than ear-tingling. Mr. Barter follows up his warning on the Progress of Infidelity' (Masters), and he illustrates its advances by what has happened in London during the spring of 1857,' especially by the progress of the Divorce Bill, by the 'Exeter Hall preachments,' and by the countenance given at Lambeth and elsewhere to the Evangelical Alliance. It may be that Mr. Barter has not a very delicate way of saying a thing: but we say it at once, we should like to see some of his faithful and zealous spirit in more influential quarters. Here is a passage, which is at least inteliigible :

'Some few years since I found it to be my duty to examine the teaching of Mr. Smith, the high priest of the Mormonites, and of his proselytes especially on the subject of Holy Matrimony; and in reading lately the 'debates in our House of Lords, I have been very much struck with the similarity of the arguments on this subject, used by Mr. Smith and his 'friends, with the reasoning of the Chancellor of England and the noble 'Lords who have voted with him, including some Bishops, in the matter of the Divorce Bill. They attach the same perverted meaning to passages 'from Holy Writ, and they treat with equally arrogant and supercilious contempt the authority of Christ's Catholic Church. Let none of these men venture to speak lightly of Mr. Smith's talents or success: he 'exercised greater power than any of tl.em ever had, or are likely to have on the human mind; he assembled his congregations as nearly as possible on Lord Shaftesbury's model; ... and persuaded them, by the force of his 'eloquence, to give up their relations and friends, and even life itself, in 'order to follow him. Rather let those members of our highest House of 'Parliament who have used the same argum nts with Mr. Smith, and ' manifested the same spirit, take shame to themselves, that whereas he did 'it consistently, professing to teach a new religion of his own, they have 'done it inconsistently, professing at the same time to hold the Catholic Faith, and to be members of Christ's Holy Catholic Church.'-Pp. 7, 8.

We make another extract:

'The policy of the first King of Israel and of the preachers in Exeter 'Hall, is characterised by the same short-sightedness, the same presump'tion, or, to use one comprehensive term, by the same irreverence. They 'both violate the customs of God's Church; on this count they are equally guilty the one violates it with regard to the persons who are appointed 'to minister in holy things, the other with respect to the places appointed for their ministrations. They both have apparently good intentions, and 'the defence of their transgressions is the same,-namely, the expediency or the necessity of the deed: and if such excuses are to be of any weight ' in the matter, it is manifest that on these grounds stronger reasons may be advanced in favour of the sacrifice than of the preachments. For Saul had apparently no choice, in his utmost need, between offering no sacri'fice to God or offering it himself; whereas, the preachers in Exeter Hall, ' however great their conviction of the necessity of those preachments may be, have a choice between the aisles of their cathedrals, and the uncon'secrated buildings which they have preferred. By giving the preference to the latter, they have not only violated the custom of God's Church, 'but they have plainly signified their indifference to the sacred character ' of those holy edifices which were raised by the piety of our forefathers 'for the glory of God and His Christ.'-Pp. 4, 5.

With an eye keenly alive to immediate necessities, Mr. Ridley, of Hambleden, is among the first to ask, and to answer, the question, What can we do with our Fellow Subjects in India?' (Mozley). Under this title he has printed a seasonable and practical tract.

We desire to recommend, as quite a model of biblical commentary, the two volumes, 'Plain Commentary on the Psalms,' published by Mr. J. H. Parker. Founded chiefly on St. Augustine, it admirably combines the devotional and practical elements: and, while breathing of ancient piety, such good sense has guided the general construction of the Commentary, that it does not, which is sometimes the case with patristic books, look so much like an antiquarian curiosity as a living manual.

INDEX TO VOL. XXXIV.

(NEW SERIES.)

ARTICLES AND SUBJECTS.