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becomes closely connected with the general history of the Reformation; but though possessed of a more quiet interest, it involves many topics worthy of attentive consideration. To these the concluding volume

of Mr. Smedley's work will be devoted; and the same diligent spirit of inquiry and accurate investigation of cause and effect which characterise the portion already published, will not, we are persuaded, be wanting to render the undertaking equally valuable throughout.

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A Vindication of the Church and Clergy of England from the Charges contained in the Epistle Dedicatory, by William Howitt, prefixed to the New Edition of the Memoirs of the Life of John Roberts. By the Rev. JOSEPH OLDKNOW, B.A., Scholar of Christ's College, Cambridge, and Curate of Nevill Holt and Welham, Leicestershire. London: Longman and Co. Hicklin Nottingham: and Co. 1834. 12mo. pp. 61.

THE friends of the Church of England have too long relied upon the rectitude of her cause, in the fond imagination that a dignified silence was the best answer to the attacks of her calumnious enemies; forgetting, it should seein, that falsehoods impudently repeated without refutation vindicate to themselves the character of truth. We, therefore, hail with peculiar satisfaction the appearance of such spirited and nervous replies as the one before us. It is recommended, moreover, by the interesting fact, that Mr. Howitt's ferocious assault upon the clergy in the preface to his republication of the "Life of John Roberts," is manfully resisted, with complete success too, by a fellow townsman; so that even there, in Nottingham, one of the strongest holds of dissent, this furious Quaker has met with an opponent fully competent to demolish his feeble batteries, to refute his swaggering exaggerations,-to rectify his wicked mis-statements, and to stay the plague of his mischievous opinions. So soon as he has opened his lips to

utter, in vulgar abuse, his ruffian aspersions, even on the very spot, an able and prompt defender of the Church and Clergy of England, armed with Ithuriel's spear, sallies forth to meet, and, having met, to conquer this uncircumcised Philistine, whose overweening estimate of his intellect has provoked him to assail with rancorous malice and incurable hatred the citadel of our Ecclesiastical Establishment! Were it possible for such writers as Mr. Howitt to be silenced when refuted ;-did such conceited sciolists know when they had been irrefragably convicted of error; we should hear no more of his impotent calumnies, and be for ever relieved from the pain of listening to his rabid howlings against the Church, the doctrines of which he has not the faculty to comprehend, or patience to investigate; and the discipline of which the unsubdued violence of his temper will perpetually urge him to despise. We anticipate, therefore, further displays of wrath from the pen of this "ceremony-hating" dissenter, though, doubtless, the severe castigation and the cutting retorts inflicted upon him by Mr. Oldknow will teach him a much-needed lesson of caution.

Our limits forbid us to enter upon a detailed review of the conclusive pamphlet, on our table;, and, we beg to assure its talented author, that we notice his seasonable Defence with the hope that he may be induced to keep a vigilant eye upon the movements of Mr. Howitt and his legions in Nottingham, being "ready always

to give an answer" to their statements, whenever they may dare to assail that Establishment, of which his present "Vindication" proves him to be a well-informed, an active, and a fearless champion.

Mr. Oldknow has undertaken to establish the following points:

"1st, That a religious establishment is sanctioned by the word of God, and may be a powerful instru ment for promoting the welfare of

man.

"2dly, That the evil effects, described by Mr. Howitt as flowing therefrom, have not in our Own country any existence."--P. 5.

We need not add, that, in our judgment, he has completely succeeded. We have no room for extracts, but we must assure our readers that the matter and the manner of Mr. Oldknow's pamphlet are equally good. He is a ripe scholar, as well as an orthodox divine; and we would close our willing notice of his Defence by saying, in reference to this his virgin publication, that we hope it is but the first-fruits of an abundant harvest, of which we entertain the fullest persuasion that we shall reap it with unmixed satisfaction, "cum tales fuerint primitia." We must beg leave to make another observation; and we intreat the noisy advocates for Church reform, who talk so feelingly of the hardships of the working clergy, to observe that the author of this spirited Defence of the Church and Clergy of England, who would maintain her in the integrity of her possessions, is no "rich and roseate Rector," but an humble Curate of two obscure villages in the county of Leicester!!!

Sermons. By the Rev. PLUMPTON WILSON, LL.B., Rector of Ilchester. Vol. I. Third Edition. London: Rivingtons. 1834. Pp. xii. 400. WE congratulate the taste of the public on this third edition of these earnest, eloquent and forcible Sermons. It is consolatory to know that, despite all that is said of "the spirit of the age," this country still contains a large proportion of hearts

open to the calm and mild persuasion of christian argument and eloquence; and that the world has not so entirely engrossed the thoughts of its inhabitants, as to leave none to follow the musings of sublime and devotional spirits into the regions of enduring truth. This new edition contains an exceedingly beautiful Sermon for the S. P. C. K., delivered, we understand, at the Wrington Anniversary in 1832. We cordially wish Mr. Wilson every blessing upon his labours, which, for the public's sake, no less than for his, we hope may be duly appreciated and rewarded.

Plain and Popular Subjects of Religion and Morality, treated in a Plain and Popular Manner. By the Rev. ANDREW HUDLESTON, D.D. Incumbent Curate of St. Nicholas, Whitehaven, &c. &c. Cambridge: Deightons. London: Rivingtons. 1832. 8vo. Pp. xv. 341. WILLING to bring up our arrear of notices of such works as may have escaped attention, we have turned over the books on our table, and found the present, among others, which ought not to be passed over in silence; simply stating, what the title has not expressed, that it is a volume of sermons, containing much valuable instruction in a "plain and popular manner. We will merely say, that the collection will be added with advantage to several volumes of a like nature, which are used for family instruction.

A Family Record; or Memoirs of the late Rev. Basil Woodd, M.A. Rector of Drayton Beauchamp, Bucks, Minister of Bentinck Chapel, St. Maryle-bone; and of several deceased Members of his Family. London: Seeleys & Co. 1834. Pp. iv. 226. THIS volume illustrates what is said under the head of the last notice; for we have here a whole family of Woodds, a sort of Sylva Christiana. The great oak of this pious forest is the excellent man whose likeness faces the title. Several of the memoirs are reprints from the Christian Observer.

The "conclusion" contains allusions to, and quotations from, the recorded opinions of Mr. Basil Woodd upon controverted points, especially those in which we are glad to see there have been mistakes amongst many who knew him living. We conscientiously think, that his opinions are the most rational of the party to which he belonged. He was certainly not an Arminian, but he was also not a Calvinist, according to the modern scheme of Calvinism. He rejected the doctrine of reprobation, but considered also the 17th Article of our Church too strongly worded,— "I would," he says, "rather it had not been inserted: it is a little too strongly expressed for me, though the concluding paragraph enables me to assent to it," (p. 214). There is much sound sense and practical importance in the judicious observations he has made on "moderation," and we heartily commend those remarks to the consideration of some of our Boanerges brethren.

Memoir of the Rev. Cornelius Neale, M. A. formerly fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge. To which are added his Remains, being Sermons, Allegories, and various Compositions in Prose and Verse. Collected and edited by the Rev. WILLIAM JOWETT, M. A. late Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge. London: Seeleys & Co. 1834. Pp. xxiv. 384.

THIS volume is a reprint of one circulated in private, a short time since, amongst the most intimate friends of the pious subject. Books of this class must do good; and even if, as may sometimes occur, there are readers who will not go the length of any given author on particular points of doctrine, still there can, we think, be found but a few who do not hail the evidence of devotedness such as this Memoir establishes, and rejoice that so many tried and faithful servants are found in these days of lukewarmness and infidelity. St. John's College may be proud of many of her sons, who, like Mr. Neale, have risen to the highest University honours; but Neale as well as Martyn confer greater honour by their piety, faithfulness, and zeal, than

all the senior wranglerships which their college numbers.

Mr. Neale's Memoirs (properly so called) do not occupy more than, if so much as, a third part of the volume. The remainder is occupied with the Sermons, &c. mentioned in the titlepage. The partiality of friends and relatives have probably been less sparing in the selection (though there be nothing objectionable, nothing incorrect) than an indifferent person would have been. We say this with reference to more volumes than one- -Miss Graham's Memoirs, for example. We think the great objection to these frequent publications of memoirs is, that the editors overshoot their object, and run on into dissertations which are not actually called for, as well as introduce other parties only indirectly connected with the topic itself; and thus the memoirs of one individual become a sort of joint-stock memorial of half-adozen others. But it may be urged, that good is done by this; if so, we object to the increased price of the books.

The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. With a Commentary, consisting of Short Lectures for the daily Use of Families. By the Rev. CHARLES Girdlestone, M. A. Vicar of Sedgley, Staffordshire. Part 111. containing the Acts of the Apostles, and the Epistles to the Romans and Corinthians. Oxford: Parker. London: Rivingtons. 1834. 8vo. Pp. x. 374.

A Concordance to the Psalms of David, according to the Version of the Book of Common Prayer. By the Rev. C. GIRDLESTONE, M. A. London: Rivingtons. Oxford: Parker. 1834. 12mo. Pp. 179.

Or these publications the latter is simply a book of verbal reference to the Psalms, precisely similar to other works of the same kind, except that the Common Prayer Book version is chosen as the basis, as being more familiar than the Bible translation to most ministers and members of the Church of England. Respecting the other we have heretofore spoken in terms of merited commendation; and

we shall now merely advert to the Author's Advertisement to the present Part, for the benefit of those who are not acquainted with the nature of the work. It is intended to furnish masters of families with an exposition of the New Testament for daily reading, at the hour of domestic worship. The Scripture is divided into paragraphs of a convenient length; and the explanatory and practical matter is digested, under each paragraph, into one consecutive lecture, so as to demand of the reader no previous pains and attention." We are happy to hear that the completion of the work may be expected about Christmas.

Short and Plain Sermons for reading in Families. By the Rev. JOSEPH S. PRATT, B.C.L. Prebendary of Peterborough, &c. London: Cochran. 1834. 12mo. Pp. xii. 309.

As far as their moderate length and simple diction is concerned, these sermons may answer the object which the writer has had in view in their compilation. We know not, however, that we can pass them from us with a cordial approval on the score of doctrine. The sermons on Regeneration, for instance, and that on Salvation by Grace, are at least vague and inexplicit, if they are not positively unsound.

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A Clergyman's Remarks upon a Dissenting Teacher's Tract, circulated in Hounslow and its neighbourhood, entitled "A Plain Answer to an Important Question." By the Rev. W. BOLGER. Hounslow: Gotelee. London: Hurst; Nisbet. Pp. 52. WHATEVER may be said of these Remarks, none can call them unfair, for their author has published with them his opponent's tract at full length. This shows, at least, confidence in the strength of his cause: and, as we think, a confidence which he was fully entitled to entertain. The tract is, indeed, as vapid and ignorant a production as well may be; but that does not prove that it has not been influential, or that it ought not to have been answered. It is in truth, only the stump of

that thrice batter'd god of Palestine," Micaiah Towgood, clumsily set up in his place again. Mr. Bolger has done his iconoclastic work with a steady and unsparing, hand, and demolished the "plain answerer" for ever. Still 'we think he has not dealt his blows from so elevated a position as was

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open to his choice; and that he has made concessions, especially about baptism and confirmation, which were not required by truth. Perhaps this may result from some leaning to Calvinism. If so, this is another proof that our Calvinistic brethren are not (as slanderously reported) indifferent to the fate of their Church.

Scenes and Sketches from English History. Vol. I. London: Parker. 1833. Pp. viii. 314. (Published under the direction of the Committee of General Literature and Education appointed by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.)

A VERY pleasing and well-written volume indeed. It contains the anteNorman history of our island, in the form of short chapters, wherein events are treated at more or less length, not so much on account of the time they occupy, as of their interest and narrative character. It is a very acceptable present for youth, but by no means confined to the instruction of that period of life. The engravings

are

numerous-the subjects judiciously chosen, and well executedthe style animated and perspicuous. It is highly creditable to its author, and to the useful Committee under whose patronage it appears.

The Ultimate Object of the Evangelical

Dissenters Avowed and Advocated. A Sermon preached at the King's Weigh-House, London, previous to notice being given that Petitions to Parliament for the Removal of Dissenters' Grievances would lie for Signature in the Vestry during the Week. By T. BINNEY. London: Jackson & Walford. 1834. Pp. 44. MR. BINNEY possesses a very unenviable notoriety-and he seems to be better pleased with evil fame than with none. We only notice him now for the purpose of observing that he has the effrontery to state that the CHRISTIAN REMEMBRANCER " exults in the fact that anti-evangelical clergymen are an overwhelming majority.” We deny the fact, and therefore can

not exult in it. After this specimen of Mr. Binney's capability of expounding the ninth commandment, it may not be necessary to say more about his Sermon.

The Case of the Church of England. Reprinted from Fraser's Magazine for February 1834. Pp. 19. An article written in "Regina's" best style, in which an able parallel is

drawn between the Church and the Schismatics.

Report on the State of Public Instruction in Prussia, addressed to the Count de Montalivet, Peer of France, Minister of Public Instruction and Ecclesiastical Affairs, by M. VICTOR COUSIN, Peer of France, Councillor of State, Professor of Philosophy, Member of the Institute, and of the Royal Council of Public Instruction. With Plans of School-houses. Translated by SARAH Austin. London:

Wilson. 1834. Pp. xxxviii. 333. We have long been acquainted with the facts stated in this work, and have seen the working of the system described in different parts of the Prussian dominions; and being impressed with the usefulness of the plan, are truly glad to see such an able expose of it laid before our countrymen. There are some things to which we object in it: ing the Lord's day in Prussia, where amongst the rest, to the mode of keepit is more of a holiday than a holy day. Nevertheless, we wish some such plan of a general school-instruction were introduced into England. Had the National system been adopted universally, as that of Prussia is in Prussia, and made a sine quá non, under certain limitations of voluntary education, we should not have seen England split into parties as it is, nor the lower orders so easily seduced by designing men. We are glad to find that the public attention is a little more alive than it was to this important topic; and we hope Mrs. Austin's able translation of M. Cousin's Report will be productive of much assistance in awakening general thought upon this national means of national reformation.

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