cal idol of the day, and this idol has been extolled almost to adoration by some preachers in dissent ing pulpits in the metropolis very lately! we mean Lord Byron, than whom, we fear, there is not a lost spirit, who receives from souls he has ruined by the fascinations of genius, more of upbraiding and bitter reproach. In the world of hopeless woe, misery will be enhanced by the criminations of those who ascribe their perdition to authors, whose writings, after their death, continue to work with poisonous and fatal agency. How many, under sentence of condemnation, fiercely accuse Voltaire as the cause of their ruin ! The contrast to that blessed state, where apostles, martyrs, and confessors, have, in their converts, a theme of joy and a crown of rejoicing.

But this foe of God and man, this eulogized modern poet, who ridiculed all that is sacred, and laughed to scorn Revelation and its believers, with true infidel consistency, was himself the slave of superstitious feelings and fears. This man, who gloried in his contempt of religion, when a boy, was warned by a fortune-teller that he should die in his thirty-seventh year. That idea haunted him unceasing ly; and in his last illness, he mentioned the prediction as precluding all hope of his recovery. It repressed, says his physician, that energy of spirit so necessary to assist nature in struggling with disease. He talked of two days as his unlucky days, on which nothing could tempt him to commence any matter of importance, and alleged, in excuse for indulging in such fancies, that his friend Shelley also had a familiar, who had admonished him that he should perish by drowning; and such was the fate of that gifted but misguided man. Yet these

are the men who could insult the religious as drivellers and bigots, and set their mouths against the heavens.

How instructive is the lesson, that those principles which are the stain of their poetry, were the curse of their lives; and how different would have been their lot, had their genius been hallowed by devotion; and how blest their memory, had the Rose of Sharon been mingled with their laurels.pp. 200, 201, &c.

There is an antiquated puritanic custom, which yet lingers with us, and like the rays of a fine setting sun, enlivens, cheers, and beautifies some of our non-conforming households, and which, notwithstanding the sneers and ridicule cast upon it, the excellent author of this work has vindicated, recommended, and attempted to resuscitate. Should it be raised again, we may say to the Church," Thy dead men shall live; together with it shall they arise: awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust, for thy dew is as the dew of herbs." The obsolete practice here referred to, is the sober and reverential method of anticipating the Sabbath-day; in the observance of which will be found the very spring, essence, and proof of unfeigned piety.

"In reviewing these six questions (on the Fourth Commandment), I trust we feel a stronger desire than ever to hallow the Sabbath, and for this purpose, instead of engrossing the evening of Saturday with a more than usual measure of toil and care, let us redeem a portion of it for those exercises in which the heart will be prepared to seek God: Such impressions of the coming Sabbath, are to the heart and dwelling what the light of dawn, ere the sun rises, is to nature; even a call to the plants to open their leaves to his influence, and to the birds to lift up their voices in his welcome. Indulge not in liberties with the Sabbath, which may be pleaded by others as an apology for their folly. If you interfere

even in the smallest matter with the sanctity of this day, they will think themselves entitled to seek in it their own pleasure. Plead not the disregard of the Lord's day by your neighbours, as an apology for not keeping it so strictly as you should. Your piety should win them, instead of their carelessness corrupting you. They may scoff at your secluding yourselves from the gaieties in which they indulge, but there are afflictions which will come into their families, under which they will feel the want of that piety, in its spirit and consolations, which they now scorn, and may turn to the Lord with weeping and mourning." One quotation more and we have done.

"Let us seek for the casting down of every system or practice that invades Christ's kingly prerogative. How audaciously has this been done by Antichrist, who exalteth himself above all that is called God; who, as an old writer says very strikingly, came in like a fox, reigns like a dragon, and shall die like a dog.

And Christ is dishonoured as a king, when the rights of conscience are invaded, when his ordinances are prostituted to secular purposes, when to wealth and power is committed the appointment of the ministers of religion, and when its teachers are made slaves to popular caprice or dictation. Arise, O God, and plead thine own cause."-p. 117.

our

Should this book be read and studied as it deserves, with diligence and prayer, we may hope to see our Flavels, our Doolittles, our Owens, our Caryls, Howes, our Bateses, again amongst us. These were giants in their days, and they shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the

just, to make ready a people prejust, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

Baptism in its Mode and Subjects considered; and the arguments of Mr. Ewing and Dr. Wardlaw refuted. By Alexander Carson, A.M. Minister of the Gospel. Edinburgh. 8vo. 1831. WHAT! another book on Baptism? Yes, gentle reader, another book on Baptism, consisting

of two hundred and three octavo pages on the MODE, and eightyeight on the SUBJECTS of the ordinance. Yet be not alarmed; for, if the author is to be believed, it is the last work that will ever be written on the subject. And certainly, if rashness of hypothesis, confidence of assertion, pride of achievement, and contempt of opponents, are likely to have any may be taken weight with thee, it for granted, that, if there be the material and an administrator at hand, not many hours will have elapsed after thou hast perused these pages ere thou shalt have submitted to " modern immersion," which, however, the last writer on the subject, whom we have reviewed, has proved not to be Scriptural baptism at all. If what Mr. Carson terms axioms are indeed such, the matter is for ever set at rest; and except prejudice, or an obstinate determination to

reject the obvious dictates of the Spirit, continues to operate, the whole Christian world must forthwith embrace the principles of Anti-pædobaptism.

From what we discovered of the spirit and manner of the author in his work on Inspiration, one of the most crude, uncritical, and unsatisfactory books that ever appeared on that subject, we were quite prepared to expect that he would not be wanting in assumption, arrogance, and dunning announcements of the greatness of his

doings, and the efficiency of his victories; but really, in the present publication, he out-herods Herod himself. "I have, from first to last, proceeded as if I were on oath. If I have not settled that controversy (the import of the word Bar) there is not truth in axioms." "They (lexicographers, critics, and commentators,) have universally, so far as I know,

taken, as a first principle, that which is a mere figment." Speaking of the argument deduced from the representations of Scripture, respecting the pouring out of the spirit, Mr. C. declares: "If I do not blow it out of the seas, I will consent to be broiled on Cobbett's grid-iron." Nay, had I no more conscience than Satan himself, I could not, as a scholar, attempt to expel immersion from this account." (Acts viii. 36) "I would gainsay an angel from heaven, who would say that this (Christ's) commission may extend to the baptism of any but believers. Here then I stand entrenched, and I defy the ingenuity of earth and hell to drive me from my position." But we will not multiply citations. These are sufficient to show our readers, that for dictatorial infallibility, Mr. Carson surpasses any of the popes that have occupied the chair of St. Peter.

The book itself is incapable of analysis, or any thing in the shape of a regular review. Though the author admits that Bar is never used to denote the ordinance of baptism, yet the greater part of his dissertation of more than two hundred pages is occu

pied with criticisms on the word; and so thoroughly determined is he to finish the dispute about dipping, that he asserts the words of the Septuagint respecting the body of Nebuchadnezzar, año rns oporov του ουρανου το σωμα αυτον εβαφη cannot by any possibility be rendered otherwise than "his body was immersed in the dew of heaven!" But how did the action of immersion take place? Oh, not at all! "The Holy Spirit, by Daniel, used the word signifying to immerse, when speaking of the wetting of Nebuchadnezzar by the dew, to enliven the style." Lamented Greenfield! what addition would have been made to thy Neologian sins, hadst thou indulged in such a criticism as this! The second part of the book is made up of quibbles on such parts of the writings of Ewing and Wardlaw, as treat of the subjects of Baptism, which, after all, is the more important part of the controversy. We sincerely wish such of our readers as may expend seven shillings on the volume, health, patience, and good temper to read it through. We entertain no doubt concerning the result.

an

estimable volume to the perusal of our readers, trusting that it will be instrumental in promoting the continued usefulness of the writings of Doddridge, and of diffusing, in our day, that spirit of Christian zeal and love by which he was animated.

Combination; a Tale founded on Facts. By Charlotte Elizabeth. 18mo. Dublin.

1832.

The System; a Tale of the West Indies. By Charlotte Elizabeth. 18mo. London: Westley and Davis, Stationers' Court. 1832.

THESE are effective little Tales, and by an able authoress. The first is already well known to the public: the present edition is a reprint, under the auspicies of the Religious Tract and Book Society for Ireland. The latter will do nothing to impair the fair reputation which the writer has attained: it is a very effective exposé of the "system " of West Indian Slavery; and we only fear it will not be very likely to fall into the hands of those in reality most interested in its perusal. If they give it a candid reading, it will be useful indeed.

Spiritual Perfection unfolded and enforced. By William Bates, D. D. (A.D. 1699) 18mo. London: Religious Tract Society. THIS work is by the "silver-tongued” Bates; and being well known and highly prized, needs no comment nor eulogy of ours. We are only called upon to speak of the manner in which this little volume is got up; and we are bound to say, that it is a very neat and elegant reprint. We trust it will sell well, and secure an extensive circulation. We are convinced it would be well for the religious world, if it would give itself more ardently to the perusal of the works of our great masters, instead of surfeiting itself with the ephemeral trash which is daily issuing from the press, and spoiling at once both writers and readers.

Scripture Portions for the Afflicted, especially the Sick; with Reflections from various Authors. 18mo. London: Religious Tract Society.

THIS is another of the excellent little works lately put forth by the Tract

Society. It is eminently calculated to answer the purposes for which it is sent from the press. It consists of judiciously-chosen passages of Scripture, with some pithy observations of some sound and well-known writer appended to each. It will be found a most valuable manual for the visitors of the sick, and we trust will frequently be found in their hands.

A Memoir of Miss Mary Jane Graham, late of Stoke Fleming, Devon By the Rev. Charles Bridges, Vicar of Old Newton, Suffolk. London: Seeley and Burnside, Fleet-street. 1832. THOUGH not very friendly to the mulseveral very substantial reasons, yet we tiplication of religious memoirs, for must relax the severity of criticism in favour of the very interesting volume

which stands at the head of this article.

In general it may be said that these works are already sufficiently, and more than sufficiently, numerous; that novelty which justify their being given they seldom present any features of to the world; that they occupy time that might be better spent, and generate a taste for very light and unsubstantial reading, which renders the mind unfit for more masculine exercises, and for the acquirement of enlarged and comprehensive views on the very subjects which they professedly treat; and that they not unfrequently minister to youthful vanity, and inspire a wish not very consistent with pietythat the ardent and excited beings who peruse such works, may one day,who knows,-attract the attention of some biographers, who shall favour the world with their letters and their diaries. None of these objections operate where any peculiar and striking features in the experience of the individual may render such publications useful, by supplying a warning or an example which has never terrified or allured the world before. This cir

cumstance is found in the work before us. The dangerous heresies into which the amiable, accomplished, and talented subject of the above memoir fell; aberrations to which, in these days of scepticism and infidelity, the youthful professors of religion are so liable to be drawn, afford a most instructive and salutary lesson. Of the manner in which the work is done we

An Historical Account of the Plague and other Pestilential Distempers, which have appeared in Europe, more especially in England, from the earliest period. To which is added, an Account of the Cholera Morbus, from its first appearance in India; including its ravages in Asia, Europe, and America, down to the present time. Ornamented with a neatly engraved emblematic Title Page. 12mo. 1s. 6d.

The Question, Ought the Professors of Religion to interfere with Politics? considered in a Letter to a Friend. By J. Barfett, 12mo.

Dr. Morrison's Exposition of the Psalms, Explanatory, Critical, and Devotional, in 3 vols. 8vo. is now completed, £1.10s.

The Present State of the Established Church, an Apology for Secession from its Communion. By a Seceding Clergy.

man.

The Main Principles of the Creed and Ethics of the Jews, exhibited in Selections from the Yad Hachazarah of Maimonides, with a Literal English Translation, copious Illustrations from the Talmud, &c., Explanatory Notes, and Alphabetical Glossary of such Particles and technical Terms as occur in the Selec

tions, and a Collection of the Abbreviations commonly used in Rabbinical Writings. By Hermann Hedwig Bernard, Teacher of Languages at Cambridge.

An Argument, à Priori, for the Being and Attributes of God. By William Gillespie.

Embellished with an appropriate Frontispiece, containing a distant View of Ewood Hall, near Halifax, Reflections and Admonitory Hints of the Principal of a Seminary, on retiring_from_the Duties of his Station. By John Fawcett.

American Religion and Church Order, with an Appendix, containing a Manual for Communicants, and a Sermon on Revivals. By Samel H. C D. D. Pastor of the Laight Street Presbyterian Church, New York. Published at the request of several esteemed ministers. The profits to be devoted to the London and Home Missionary Societies.

IN THE PRESS.

The Second Volume of the Friends' Library, will consist of the Life and Travels of Thomas Chalky, price 1s. 8d. The Journals, or Extracts from them, of Edmundson, Ellwood, Fox, Richardson, Gough, &c. &c. are to follow in succession.