reasoner. The author has a power of condensation, or concentration, which we have never seen surpassed. And as to logical clearness and conclusiveness, geometry can furnish nothing more convincing, than many of his brief arguments. A third thing remarkable in this author, and indeed almost singular, is his propensity to change old words into a new form, and to coin words entirely new. He may possibly have belonged to the school of Jeremy Bentham, or may have been accustomed to read his works. In this respect, we cannot admire the liberty which the writer has taken with the established language of his country. It savours strongly of affectation. And no man who introduces so many new forms of speech can reasonably hope that his innovations will be adopted generally, and they undoubtedly place a stumbling block in the way of many readers, and will so effectually disgust a part, that they will lay down the book, and never take it up again. And, if every ingenious writer should use the same liberty as this author, how soon would the English language be like the tongues of Babel? To show what liberties Mr. Rogers has used in respect to language, take the following. Instead of Popish or Papal, he says Papite; for Romanist, Romanite; for priestly, priestal; for primacy, primaty; for supremacy, suprematy; for hereafter, nowafter, for perhaps, perhap, &c. We greatly regret that so sensible a writer should have deformed his style by so many unauthorized terms; not that it materially detracts from the force of the argument, but it produces disgust, lowers our opinion of the judgment of the author, prevents many from reading the work, and hinders the effect on the minds of those who do read. As the volume is small, we shall not give any large extracts, for we wish every one to read it for himself; and if any will do so, and not feel his convictions strengthened, that Popery is an enormous mass of corruption and superstition, we shall be much disappointed. The only part of the work which we shall extract is merely the titles of the points discussed, in the volume. 1. Papal Primaty. 2. Infallibility. 3. Vulgate, Apocrypha, Tradition. 4. Knowledge a proscribed thing, and the Bible a forbidden book. 5. Unknown Tongue: or the Latin the general language of Popery. 6. Transubstantiation. 7. The Sacrifice of the Mass. 8. The Worship of the Host. 9. Half Communion; or no cup to the laity. 10. Idolatry. 11. Merit. 12. Purgatory. 13. Priestal Absolution, and Excommunication. 14. Auricular Confession. 15. Celibate of the Clergy. 16. The Seven Sacraments. 17. Priestal Intention. 18. Superstition. 19. Blasphemy. The Christian community are indebted to the Rev. Mr. Sparrow, for bringing out this volume so seasonably, from the American press; and for a copious index, which adds much to the value of the work. As the book is cheap, we strongly recommend to all who may read this notice, to buy it and read it, for pleasant entertainment, as well as sober conviction. The writer is sometimes severe and even harsh in his language, but never illnatured or malignant. Churchman's Library. No 3. The Authority of Tradition in matters of religion, By the Rev. George Holden, M. A. Philadelphia: Hooker and Agnew. 1841. pp. 124. In a preceding number we commended to our readers the enterprise of Messrs. Hooker and Agnew, in the execution of which the third number of the Churchman has just appeared. While so many and such vigorous efforts are making to introduce into Protestant churches, the spirit and tenets of the Romish apostacy, it is the duty of all who have the interest of religion at heart, to do every thing they can to vindicate and propagate the truth. The question as to the rule of faith is the pass of Thermopylae in the contest between Protestants and Romanists. If we, Protestants and Presbyterians, maintain the ground that the Bible is the rule of faith, all is safe; if we lose that position, all is lost. Mr. Holden's book is worthy of an attentive perusal, as he vindicates in a satisfactory manner the main points in the true doctrine, as to the rule of faith. The Sermon before the Bishops, Clergy, and Laity of the Protestant Epis copal Church in the United States of America, in General Convention, at the consecration of the Rev. Alfred Lee, D. D., to the Episcopate of the Diocese of Delaware. By the Right Reverend Charles P. McIlvaine, D. D., Bishop of the Diocese of Ohio. Published by order of the convention. New York: 1841. The character of this discourse may be inferred from that of its author. It is faithful. The text a pregnant one. Take heed unto thyself and the doctrine; continue in them; for in so doing thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee. "The preaching of the gospel," says Bishop McIlvaine, "as distinct, though not separated, from all other means, is the one great ordinance for the bringing of sinners to repentance, and for the building up of penitent believers in their most holy faith." He thus takes ground against the doctrine that the sacraments are the great means of communicating spiritual blessings; the sacraments as administered by men prelatically ordained; and hence, that those who do not receive those sacraments at the hands of such men, are out of the pale of salvation: and those who do receive them, even without faith, provided they do not positively resist their influence, are saved. This is the great doctrine of antichrist. The pith and spirit of the dreadful apostacy, by which religion is transferred from the heart, to outward ceremonies. We know nothing in the history of the present century which forbodes greater evil to the church of Christ and the souls of men, than the revival of this doctrine among nominal protestants. Another great truth to which the Bishop bears his testimony is that the Holy Scriptures are the only divine rule of faith and practice. So long as this is maintained, the church, under God, is safe. But when tradition is brought in, either as "an authoritative interpreter," or as "a joint rule of Faith," then the allegiance of the church is transferred from God to men. Now, as in the days of Christ, men make void the law of God by their traditions, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. If any man wishes to know what tradition comes to, let him look into the twenty folios of the Talmud, containing the mass of folly with which the Rabbins have perverted and made of none effect the law of Moses; or into the ritual and formulas of the Romish church, which contain the perverse inventions with which the Christian Pharisees have set aside the gospel of the grace of God. But what has been, will be. Though we admire the fidelity with which Bishop McIlvaine and others of kindred spirit, resist the mystery of iniquity which doth already work, we greatly fear that the evil will not be arrested, even among us, till that Wicked be fully revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming. A Grammar of the New Testament Dialect. By M. Stuart, Professor of Sacred Literature in the Theological Seminary at Andover. Second edition, corrected, and mostly written anew. Andover: Allen and Morrill. New York: Day.on and Saxton. 1841. pp. 312. a Prof. Stuart states that his object in preparing this work, was to make " Grammar which in itself would serve to introduce any student to a knowledge of the xový diáλexros of the Greek, with appropriate notices of departures from this by the writers of the New Testament." It may be commended for this end, to the students of Greek, as a copious, satisfactory, and elegantly printed book. The Retrospect or Review of Providential Mercies; with anecdotes of various characters. By Aliquis, formerly a lieutenant in the Royal Navy, and now a minister in the Established Church. From the Seventeenth London Edition. New York: Robert Carter. 1841. pp. 255. Any work that reaches a seventeenth edition, must possess solid merit, or great attractions. There is in the above work such a mixture of naval adventures and pious remark, that we should not be surprised if the popularity of the work in America, should equal its success in England. Onesimus: or the Apostolic Directions to Christian Masters, in reference to their slaves, considered. By Evangelicus. Boston: Gould, Kendall, and Lincoln. 1842. pp. 53. This is a calm, scholar-like, and Christian examination of the teachings of the sacred writers as to a most important class of duties. Its whole spirit and tendency are the opposite of the Anti-Slavery publications, which have produced so much evil. It states simply, and, as far as a cursory examination enables us to judge, correctly, the leading principles of Christian duty, on the subject of which it treats. CONTENTS OF NO. I. ART. I.-Revivals: or the Appropriate Means of Promoting True Reli . 1 ART. II.-The Kingdom of Christ Delineated, in two Essays on our ART. III.-1. The Nestorians, or the Lost Tribes, containing Evidence 2. The Remnant Found, or the Place of Israel's Hiding Dis- covered. By the Rev. Jacob Samuel, Senior Missionary to the Jews, for India, Persia, and Arabia; Author of a He- ART. IV.-1. Reports of the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland for the years 1834 to 1839 inclusive. 2. Reports of the Committee to the Annual Meeting of the So- ciety for promoting the Education of the Poor of Ireland, held in Kildare Place, Dublin 1839 and 1840. 3. Speech of the Lord Bishop of Norwich in the British House of Lords, May 21, 1838, on the National System of Educa- tion in Ireland, with an appendix of Letters on the causes of 4. Irish Education. Speech of Thomas Wyse, Esq., M. P., in the House of Commons, May 19, 1835, on moving for leave to bring in a bill for the establishment of a Board of 5. Thoughts on the mixed character of government institu- tions in Ireland, with particular reference to the System of 6. Defence of the National System of Education in Ireland, 7. State Education; considered with reference to prevalent 45 ART. V.-History of the Great Reformation of the sixteenth century, in ART. VI.-The Prelatical Doctrine of Apostolical Succession Examined. And the Protestant Ministry Defended against the Assumptions of Popery and High-Churchism, in a Series of Lectures. By Thomas Smyth, Pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church, Charleston, S. C. ART. VII.-Sermons on Important Subjects. By the Reverend Samuel Quarterly List of New Books and Pamphlets. 129 142 170 |