of Newton, would be ridiculous characters; but by no means so criminally inconsistent as a clergyman who is unread in the Scriptures."

This we have long perceived to have been the source of deep injury to the Church; and to this may be traced that unsettled state of the hearers which too often inclines them to dissent. But, when Mr. Mathias charges the Clergy with neglect in studying the Word of God, and proceeds from this charge to further remarks, we think the condemnation more extensive than the truth; and we are of opinion, that he should equally have recommended those studies which lead to the true interpretation of the Scriptures; for, he must have known that the various sects appeal to the Scriptures as their authority, therefore, that the question, which is correct? can only be determined by a review of the interpretations affixed to them. Nevertheless, Mr. Mathias is right in his observation, as far as the inconsistency goes; and we trust that the time is not far distant, when not only the classical languages, but the Hebrew, shall be required from those who, by office, interpret the Testaments; then probably will schism be dismissed, and the respective congregations be enabled to give a reason of the hope that is within them.

Although the sermons of Mr. Mathias abound with pious reflections, yet, as we cannot discover in them any thing particularly striking, we must not occupy ourselves with extracts from them.

Those of Dr. Moberly are better written, and are more comprehensive in their views. That on the parable of the rich man and Lazarus or rather on that part of it which relates to the belief of Moses and the Prophets being equally efficacious with the resurrection of a sinner to effect conviction on the living Jews, may be selected as an advantageous specimen of the writer's talents. The historical sermon, likewise, on Christ's meekness; those on the Comforter and Christ the resurrection and the life; those on the disobedient Prophet and the Resurrection and Ascension, may be enumerated among the best in the series; and with those on ordination, are sufficient to establish Dr. Moberly's character as a preacher.

The parochial Lectures on Apostolical Succession, by Mr. Irons, now claim our attention. In his first lecture, the remarks in which he indulges on the inward call, to which some fanatics presumptuously pretend, and the prerogative of making ministers of religion claimed by the Government of a country, are exceedingly in unison with our minds; and his view of the Calvinists, semi-Calvinists, Arminians, and Pelagians, who believe a kind of essence of Christianity, the existence of which in individuals is to be tested by their possession of a sort of religious sense, according to which they are "regenerated, elect, enlightened, renewed, born again," and whatever

6

else they can "accommodate" in any verse of the Bible, is proved to be correct by daily observation. Thus

"A new intangible meaning is found for every term; every thing must be sublimely docrinal. The very precepts of holiness are looked on as consequences,' which need not, therefore, be too formally insisted on. The Sacraments of Christ are elevated' or extenuated into 'shadows' or signs.' The Church itself is evaporated into an 'invisible' essence!" The exposition of the doctrine of an Apostolical Succession, and the detail of the evidence are clever; and it is very properly alleged, that since every man knows that his Church is the Church of his forefathers, who were baptized in it before meeting-houses were thought of, and that since even those who depart from it generally retain some similar outward forms both of sacraments and ministry; the Church is a FACT, borne witness to on all hands-a sure and stable REALITY. As from Eusebius we learn, that the Apostles selected various parts of the world, as the scenes of their separate labours, so must we imagine that they transmitted the office of the ministry to others, ordaining "overseers" or "presidents" of the Churches; consequently, if each Apostle had ordained only one, there must at least have been from the first twelve Apostolical lines; but as we cannot assent to such a strict limitation, we must suppose, that, from the beginning of Christianity, there were several of such lines. How great then is the error of the Romanists, who assume the exclusive transmission of one Apostolical line!

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If our readers wish to examine how this Apostolical succession was preserved, they will find the subject most ably treated in this volume and if they will peruse it with the candour with which they would peruse an ordinary history, they will not fail of being convinced by the writer. The consideration and refutation of the objections will equally demand their notice, and the summary will afford to them a talented condensation of the arguments. We would therefore recommend this book both to the Churchman and to the Dissenter: to the Churchman, that he may be grounded and rooted in his faith-to the Dissenter, that he may repudiate his errors, and seek that one fold of Christ from which he is wandering.

In the preface to Mr. Parson's sermons is a masculine defence of our Church, and a clear proof is given, that she is essentially Catholic, but accidentally Protestant; whereas the other so called Protestant Churches, which are destitute of Apostolical ordination, are not essentially Catholic. In this preface there is deep research, and there is solid argument. The sermons are plain, as their title implies, and more fitted for village-reading than any thing else. We think Mr. Parsons has misunderstood the parable of the unjust steward; but we have not space to controvert his opinion, since, where sermons are our subject, we are compelled, by their multitude, to be brief.

To Mr. Edwards' sermons we invite the public attention: they realize our notion of practical sermons; and Mr. Edwards having, on a very important occasion, done real and lasting good to the Church, by having been the means of defeating a conspiracy against her, which was projected by certain of our modern illuminati in power, has a decided claim on the consideration of all her members. On this and their own merits, we rest our recommendation of his

sermons.

The next in order is the volume of the Bishop of Calcutta. Eloquent, deeply thinking, and closely applying the truths of Holy Scripture to the human heart, the Bishop sketches the vast benefits which Christianity has conferred upon mankind, and glances, in contrast, at the state of Mohammedan and Pagan countries. In these sermons we find a correct analysis and right comprehension of the Scriptures-in fact, a knowledge of Scriptural interpretations, the absence of which we often regret as sermons come before us in this branch of our review. Many preach, many publish, but all are not Scriptural critics. Among general excellence particular selection becomes difficult; but we would mark the nineteenth sermon as one of peculiar weight and dignity; but specifying this we do not detract from the rest. Every where the Bishop is sober; and we rejoice to have seen these sermons from his pen, when we consider the important trust that has been confided to him.

On th

The Bampton Lectures of Dr. Lawrence, Archbishop of Cashel, are the next in succession. In vindicating the Articles of our Church from the charge of Calvinism, which, in its strictest sense, is synonymous to blasphemy, he has but extended the useful knowledge which preceding theologians have imparted to us. subject of Calvinism, when we reflect on the ignorant and gros misrepresentations of the original Scriptures, by which it is sup ported, we are more than half-inclined to lose our patience. Those who would degrade the God of Christianity to the Fate, the eipappern of the heathens, are sadly wanting in dignified notions of a beneficent and righteous God; and their contracted system has been so frequently and so fully refuted, that Now it can scarcely require a discussion.

These lectures are rendered particularly valuable by the sound historical matter which they contain: dogmatism is thrown aside, and clear evidence is brought before the reader. The articles which are selected are those which have been falsely charged with Calvinism; and the charge is disproved by historical facts and ecclesiastical documents. Those which have been distorted from their meaning are restored to the sense designed when they were written, and are explained according to the Scriptural doctrines on which they are founded. The notes which follow them, contain a

store of this particular sort of learning, and, with the lectures, will be esteemed useful aids by every student of theology.

Mr. Bennett's Sermons are written in a polished style, and vigorously support our Church and her ordinances. They declare many wholesome truths, and the preacher is fearless in his application of them. They are rendered occasionally interesting by references to Ecclesiastical history, and are made very useful by their vindication of our present practice. Though we abstain from making extracts, the brief character which we have given to them will, we hope, suffice to direct our readers to them.

Mr. Shepherd's volume is a second series of Family and Parochial Sermons, which he has been induced to publish, in consequence of the great success of the first. And we shall be much disappointed if this work is not equally, or even more, esteemed than the first series. The Sermons are sound and practical, and written in a true strain of Christian piety. They are well suited for family reading.

Much praise is due to the sons of the late Mr. Marriott, for publishing his very excellent Sermons. They are what Sermons should be, plain and practical. They speak to the heart, in language the most eloquent and touching. We were particularly gratified with those entitled "the Duties and Responsibilities of the Christian Ministry," and "the Danger of Schism;" the first should be read by every candidate for holy orders-the second by every Dissenter in the kingdom.

The Condensed Discourses, or Pulpit Helps, by a Minister, are epitomes of Sermons, which "occupied an hour or an hour and a quarter." We do not see any thing in them which attracts our attention in a striking manner, and we have a strong objection to the quotations from dissenting hymns, with which they are interspersed. They are very commonplace productions. We do not clearly perceive their qualifications to become pulpit helps; a sameness and a dearth of originality pervade them; and the texts are no where treated in a manner worthy of the critic. We wish the Sermons preached in our Churches to be of a higher order than any which are likely to be framed on these models. Indeed, we are far from being satisfied, that a Clergyman of the Church of England is the author of the series.

Mr. Hugh McNeile's Sermons are preceded by an introduction illustrative of the subject. The sermons enter largely into our Saviour's prophecy, as it stands connected with that relating to the destruction of Jerusalem, and into the prophecies on the last Advent, which are elsewhere in the New Testament. Mr. McNeile evidently expects a millennium; and is occasionally apt to wander into imaginary conversations, such as that between Simeon and the Jews, and that between a Christian and a company of Jewish priests in

our Saviour's time. We have a great dislike to the introduction of this undignified style in a sermon, which, in almost every instance, is excessively puerile, and not unfrequently propounds ideas which could not have existed in the minds of the imaginary speakers. In other respects the sermons well merit a perusal.

A New Illustration of the latter part of Daniel's Last Vision and Prophecy, &c. By JAMES FARQUHARSON, LL.D., F.R.S., Minister of the Parish of Alford. London: Smith, Elder, and Co. 1838.

ALTHOUGH We do not exactly approve of the Hebrew Criticisms, this work is one of considerable ingenuity. It will form an admirable text-book for a fuller inquiry; but there are many points which will require amplification, and others which (Mr. Farquharson will excuse us) seem to exact a more deeply critical scrutiny. Much pruning will certainly be necessary to get rid of some extravagant fancies, which seem to have misled him; and the translations from Daniel will need a rigorous examination and correction. As an instance, we would observe, that, among the reasons which have induced the writer to identify the Archangel Michael with our Saviour, the meaning of the name is one, which is rendered, "wha is like unto God, or supplying the obvious ellipsis, He, who is like unto God;" which is absurd; for every Tyro in Hebrew Literature knows, that is interrogative, not affirmative; consequently, that the very foundation of the hypothesis is destroyed. Nevertheless, among many things, which are irrelevant and cannot be accepted, the book has here and there some good hints, and is, though faulty, ingenious.

Temple Offering; or, Contributions in Prose and Verse, by various Authors. Edited by the Rev. JOSHUA FAWCETT, M. A. Royal 8vo. pp. 235. M'Dowall, Gough-square, London.

THIS work consists of contributions from the pens of some of the most eminent writers of the day. The names of Archdeacon Wrangham, Professors Smyth and Whewell, Lord Morpeth, the Rey. Messrs. Blunt, Bowles, G. Townsend, Le Bas, T. Myers, and T. Dale, are sufficient to recommend it to the attention of the most refined in taste, and the most religious in feeling. The poems are the most touching and devotional, the typography and style of "getting up" is very superior: and when our readers are informed that the object of the publication is to furnish funds for enlarging a Church in a very populous district, they will procure an exquisite literary treat, while they promote a most praiseworthy object.