trines, and seen the different religious customs of so many nations, he will be able to serve effectually the Church of Christ here in England, of which he is now a Minister. We anticipate for this volume an extensive circulation, and shall be glad to know that our anticipations have been realised. Doctrines and Duties; or, Faith and Practice. London: Whittaker and Co. 1839. 18mo. P. 336. We have been greatly pleased with this unpretending but truly excellent little volume. It treats of most of the doctrines of the Christian Church, in a brief, but in a manner satisfactory and interesting to the pious Christian. Each topic is introduced witha question, to which an answer is to be found in passages of Scripture referred to. Then follows an essay, short or long as the writer seemed inclined to make it; and at the end a piece or pieces of poetry, selected with great judgment and taste. The volume is dedicated to the Queen, and a perusal of it would do her Majesty no harm, and might do her great good. It is well adapted as a present for youth. Discourses in behalf of the Jews. Extracted from the Works of the late Rev. Charles Simeon, M.A., Senior Fellow of King's College, Cambridge. London: Holdsworth. 1839. 24mo. P. 346. MR. SIMEON's name, character, and views are so well known as to require no comment from us. We should have been glad if he had been a more consistent Churchman than he was, as he probably would have been had he been permitted to live his time over again. His observations in behalf of the Jews in this little volume, however, are well worthy of perusal by all friends of the Jews, concerning whom we confess ourselves to feel as every Christian must feel, great interest. The volume is exceedingly neat and cheap. The Autobiography of Thomas Platter, a Schoolmaster of the Sixteenth Century; translated from the German by the Translator of Lavater's Original Maxims. London : Wertheim, 14, Paternoster-row. 18mo. P. 106. 1839. He Or all the fascinating tales we ever read this is certainly the most interesting, and especially so as it is not fiction but reality; a faithful, true, and particular account of a veritable person of the name of Thomas Platter, who, from being a goatherd, became a Professor of Hebrew and of Greek. was born in the year 1499, and lived, there fore, throughout the important era of the Reformation. Thomas was, as all were at that time, a papist, but he afterwards became a Protestant, and argued ably against popery. The whole course of his life was fraught with singular incidents, and is related here with all the simplicity of truth and nature. He first becomes a goatherd, then a travelling scholar, then begins to study, then turns rope-maker, Hebrew professor, armourbearer, schoolmaster, warrior, professor of Greek in Basle, then turns printer, then professor again, and then dies. The translation of this admirable little work from the German has been accomplished by the daughter of a Clergyman, who deserves great praise for the excellent manner in which she has performed her task. The little work is sure to have a large sale, and we shall be very glad if these remarks shall tend to promote it. Restitution to the Church, a Sacred duty; or, How can the Church be made to meet the Wants of the Nation? London: Burns. 1839. 12mo. P. 52. THE title of this capital pamphlet fully expresses the nature of its contents. It points out in a forcible manner the iniquitous con. duct of this nation in robbing the Church of a tremendous amount of property, the retention of which will bring upon it a tremendous amount of punishment, for God will not be robbed with impunity. Restitution, blessed of God, may avert what is, we fear, at length beginning to overtake us. But we must refer to the excellent pamphlet itself for a complete epitome of the question. An Exposition of the Thirty-nine Articles of the Church of England, by Gilbert Burnet, Lord Bishop of Salisbury; with an Appendix, containing the Augsburg Confession, Creed of Pope Pius the Fourth. Revised and Corrected, with copious Notes and additional References. By the REV. J. R. PAGE, M.A., of Queen's College, Cambridge, Minister of Carlisle Chapel, Lambeth. London: Scott, Webster, and Geary. 1839. 8vo. WHATSOEVER may be thought of Burnet's Exposition of the Articles, no Theological Library will be complete without it. We do not agree with him in what he considers, in many particulars, the true sense of the Articles, nor do we admire many parts of his life and character, considering them injurious to the Church, and to individuals far superior to Burnet in talent, judgment, and disinterestedness. Notwithstanding, however, he was a man of great powers of mind, and his Exposition will live for generations yet to come. We should not like to be without it, and this edition, by Mr. Page, is far superior to any other of which we have any knowledge. The notes, which are some of them selected, and others original, illustrate the text and add great value to the work, rendering it more complete for the modern reader. The Rev. Editor deserves great credit for the industry and research by which he has enriched this standard work, and thus rendered it much more convenient and easy for the theological student. The work is handsomely got up, and is in that respect worthy of a place in any gentleman's library. TO A BELOVED CHILD, POETRY. ON THE COMPLETION OF HER TWELFTH YEAR, AND RECOVERY FROM A WEEK'S SICKNESS. Thy birth-day now at length arriv'd, Reminds me of my promised task; From me you've many a boon derived, But never such as now you ask Long may you live! from sorrow free, Long may you live, from care quite free, May all thy trust on Him be stay'd, Long may you live! from error free, Long may you live! from danger free, And when at length in ripen'd years Be hush'd in calm and sweet repose: Thy spirit then shall watchful be,- Σ. THE CHRISTIAN'S HAPPY HOME. I love the hearth where evening brings Her loved ones from their daily tasks, Where virtue spreads her spotless wings, And vice, foul serpent, never basks; Where sweetly rings upon the ear The blooming daughter's gentle song, Like heavenly music whisper'd near, While thrilling hearts the notes prolong. For there the father sits in joy, And there the cheerful mother smiles, And there the laughter-loving boy, With sportive tricks the eye beguiles; And love, beyond what worldlings know, Like sunlight on the purest foam, Descends, and with its cheering glow Lights up the Christian's happy home. Contentment spreads her holy calm Around a resting-place so bright, And gloomy sorrow finds a balm, In gazing at so fair a sight; The world's cold selfishness departs, And discord rears its front no more, There pity's pearly tear-drop starts, And charity attends the door. No biting scandal fresh from hell Grates on the ear, or scalds the tongue; There kind remembrance loves to dwell, And virtue's meed is sweetly sung ; And human nature soars on high, Where heavenly spirits love to roam, And vice, as stalks it rudely by, Admires the Christian's happy home. Oft have I joined the lovely ones, Around the bright and cheerful hearth, With father, mother, daughters, sons, The brightest jewels of the earth; And while the world grew dark around, And fashion called her senseless throng, I've fancied it was holy ground, And fair girl's, a seraph's song. And swift as circles fade away, Upon the bosom of the deep, When pebbles toss'd by boys at play Disturb its still and glassy sleep, The hours have sped in pure delight, And wand'ring feet forgot to roam, While waved the banners of the night Above the Christian's happy home. The rose that blooms in Sharon's vale, And scents the purple morning's breath, May in the shades of evening fail, And bend its crimson head in death; And there, amid a holier sphere, To execute his perfect law, Amid the Christian's happy home. 350 VARIETIES. THE POPERY OF DISSENT.-The news of Oliver Cromwell's death being brought to those, who were met to pray for him, Mr. Peter Sterry, one of Oliver's Chaplains, stood up, and desired them not to be troubled" For," said he, "this is good news; because, if he was of use to the people of God, when he was amongst us, he will be much more so now, being ascended into heaven at the right hand of Jesus Christ, there to intercede for us, and to be mindful of us upon all occasions."-Echard's History of England, Vol. II., p. 825. THE CHURCH IN ADVERSITY.-The temporal advantages, respect, and influence, which, by the blessing of God, the Church has enjoyed, and which Churchmen may rightly enjoy, in times of tranquillity, when kings are her nursing fathers, and queens her nursing mothers, I duly appreciate. But in contemplating the obligations of the pastoral office, our best lessons of duty will generally be found in the history of the Church in a different state. In this view there is not, perhaps, a brighter page in the history of the Church of England than the grand rebellion, if we consider it in a Christian spirit; when we view seven or eight thousand men suffering every privation, and every insult, and every calumny, for truth and righteousness' sake, and exercising the duties of their office at every risk, for the benefit of those who still adhered to them.Dr. Walker, Bishop of Edinburgh. THE APOSTOLICAL AGE OF THE CHURCH. -There was, at first, no distinction of sects and opinions in the Church; she knew no difference of men, but good and bad; there was no separation made, but what was made by piety or impiety, or, which is all one, by fidelity, and infidelity; "for faith hath in it the image of godliness engraven, and infidelity hath the character of wickedness and prevarication." A man was not then esteemed a saint, for disobeying his Bishop or an Apostle; nor for misunderstanding the hard sayings of St. Paul about predestination; to kick against the laudable customs of the Church was not then accounted a note of the godly party; and to despise government was but an ill-mark and weak indication of being a good Christian. The kingdom of God did not then consist in words, but in power, the power of godliness; though now we are fallen into another method; we have turned all our religion into faith, and our faith is nothing but the productions of interest or disputing; it is adhering to a party, and a wrangling against all the world beside and when it is asked of what religion he is of, we understand the meaning to be,-what faction does he follow; what are the articles of his sect; not what is the manner of his life; and if men be zealous for their party and that interest, then they are precious men, though otherwise they be covetous as the grave, factious as Dathan, schismatical as Korah, or proud as the fallen angels.-Bishop Jeremy Taylor. CHRISTIAN COWARDICE. It is a reproach, I believe, peculiar to the Christians of this age and nation, that many of them seem ashamed of their Christianity; would not perhaps be said to have thrown it aside, yet would by no means be imagined much in earnest about it; and therefore study, if possible, to conceal their way of thinking; or, when they are attacked upon it, excuse their piety, as others do their vices, with a sort of laughing half-defence; and shift off the subject as well and as soon as they can. A most astonishing treatment of what our eternal happiness depends on; especially when our Saviour expressly requires us to confess him before men, as even we expect that he should confess us before his Father which is in heaven. It is not meant that we should be affectedly forward in talking of our religion; but, whenever we are called to do so, unaffectedly own it, and stand by it. In such a case, dissimulation, or even reserve, is a mean-spirited desertion of the worthiest cause in the world: and the words of the holy Jesus on another occasion are justly applicable to this, that he who is not for him is against him. Whoever is unwilling to be taken for a pious and good man, runs a good risk of soon becoming a profane and bad one.-Archbishop Secker. HOW TO OPPOSE CHURCH-RATES.-Slender as was our belief in the cuckoo-cry "conscience," we were perfectly astounded with the fact deposed to on Thursday last by Mr. Benjamin North Rockley Batty, one of the Huddersfield magistrates. To this evidence in the Aldmondbury church-rate case we direct the attention of all our readers, and of all our Conservative brethren of the broad sheet. "I remember," said that gentleman, "that some accounts came before me for me to pass, in which there was a charge of £3, which had been paid to men who were hired at 1s. a-head to go to a church-rate meeting, and shout and hold up their hands against the rate." Mr. Batty, after considerable entreaty, then named the individual, and appealed to the books for proof of what he had uttered, daring any man to contradict him. We need make no comment of this exposé. Many of the churches in this neighbourhood have become shamefully dilapidated, in consequence of the opposition of "the conscientious;" here is the secret of their success. The dishonesty of this action is exceeded only by the hypocritical impudence with which the accounts containing such an item were laid before a magistrate for the purpose of obtaining his signature. Happy are we that that magistrate was Mr. B. N. R. Batty; and, in the name of the lovers of the church, we thank him for thus exposing the dirty and illegal manoeuvre of her enemies. CHRISTIANITY. Wherever Christianity goes, civilization follows in her train; whereever she goes, the duties and the rights of mankind are practised and recognized; the fetters of the slave are lightened and removed; the female sex are restored to their natural situation and their kindly influence in society; and the profession of godliness is shewn to be great riches, as contributing to the wisdom, the wealth, and the happiness of the nation which receives it.Let us compare our present condition with that of our forefathers while the Gospel was yet unknown to them! Let us recollect that the poorest man who now hears me is more warmly clad, more comfortably lodged, enjoys a mind better stored with ideas, and greater security of liberty, life, and property, than a king among the wild Americans or the ancient Britons; and we shall feel and understand the blessings of a religion, which has been a principal agent in a change so beneficial; a religion by which the ignorance of man is enlightened, and his manners rendered gentle, which, by protecting the fruits of industry, has encouraged every useful invention, and which, even amid the increasing luxury of the rich, has lessened the distance between them and the poor, by calling the attention of both to that awful moment when all shall be equal in each other's eyes, as they are now in the eyes of their Maker!-Bishop Heber. DESPOTISM OF POPERY.-We hardly know in what terms to speak of the attempt which is made to shew that the Church of Rome did not and does not exhibit despotic power. Gracious God! Who were the perpetrators of the French massacre at Lyons, wherein 100,000 fell in three months? The Papists! Who slew the 10,000 of the Albigenses and Waldenses? At whose instigation did the Duke of Alva slay 36,000 in the Netherlands? The Papists! Need we speak of the slaughter of Merindol, in 1545?-need we refer to the thousands, and tens and hundreds of thousands, which have been swallowed up and engulphed in that hell upon earth, the INQUISITION? What can we say for the Spanish cruelty in America?-what of the bloody edicts of Pope Julius, and our own Queen Mary? Who, but the Pope and his emissaries, plotted against King James, in the accursed gunpowder conspiracies? Who but the Pope issued his bull of excommunication against our Queen Elizabeth, and absolved subjects from their oaths of allegiance?-Pope Pius V. commencing his bull thus:-"Regnans in excelsis hunc unum super omnes gentes, et omnia regna Principem constituit, qui evellat, destruat, dissipet, desperdat, plantet, et ædificet"—that is, "I, Peter's successor, am Prince over all nations, to pluck up, destroy, scatter, consume, and build as I please!" Is this despotism? We pause for an answer. -- HISTORY TEACHING BY EXAMPLE. The store-house, and the very life of memory, is the history of time; and a special charge have we, all along the Scriptures, to call upon men to look to that. For, all our wisdom consisting either in experience or memory, experience of our own or memory of others, our days are so short, that our experience can be but slender. We are but of yesterday (saith Job); and our own time cannot afford us observations enough for so many cases, as we need direction in. Needs must we then ask the former age, what they did in like case; search the records of former times, wherein our cases we shall be able to match, aud to pattern them all. Solomon saith excellently. What is that that hath been? That that shall be: and back again, What is that that shall be? That that hath been: and there is nothing new under the sun of which it may be said, it is new, but it hath been already in the former generations. So that it is but turning the wheel, and setting before us some case of antiquity, which may sample ours, and either remembering to follow it, if it fell out well; or to eschew it, if the success were thereafter. For example: by Abimelech's story, King David reproveth his captains for pursuing the enemy too near the wall, seeing Abimelech miscarried by like adventure, and so maketh use of remembering Abimelech. And by David's example (that, in want of all other bread) refused not the shew-bread) Christ our Saviour defendeth His disciples in like distress, and sheweth that, upon such extremity, Necessity doth even give a Law, even to the Law itself.-Bishop Andrewes. LANCASHIRE. On Monday, October 7th, the beautiful new church at Openshaw was solemnly set apart for the worship of Almighty God. The Bishop and Clergy first visited the noble school which, together with a house for the master, has been erected by John Needen, Esq., a native of Openshaw. Here more than 300 of the Sunday scholars were assembled, and most kindly addressed by his Lordship. After the consecration of the church, dedicated to St. Barnabas, and the spacious burial ground, morning prayer was offered by the Rev. John Whitley, B.A., the new Incumbent. His Lordship then delivered an argumentative discourse, from Acts xxvi. 8; after which a collection was made, amounting to £56. The Bishop, Clergy, and friends, were hospitably entertained by Mr. Whyatt, and the day's proceedings concluded with an entertainment to the teachers and friends, who were addressed and exhorted to persevere in their valuable labours by the Rev. John Whitley, Rev. William Hutchinson, and Rev. E. J. Wrottesley, G. Whyatt, J. Ryder, &c. The church is built in the early English style, and calculated to hold 900, of which nearly half are free sittings. SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL IN FOREIGN PARTS.-CONSECRATION OF COLONIAL BISHOPS.-The Church in the colonies has recently been strengthened by the erection of two new episcopal sees, which are formed by a division of the dioceses of Nova Scotia and Montreal; and on Sunday, August 4, the Venerable A. G. Spencer, D.D., Archdeacon of Bermuda, and the Venerable John Strachan, D.D., Archdeacon of York, Upper Canada, were consecrated Bishops of Newfoundland and Toronto respectively. The island of Newfoundland is, perhaps, the most spiritually-destitute portion of the colonial church. The society, therefore, determined to make a great effort to strengthen the hands of the new Bishop by increasing the number of his Clergy, and accordingly came to a resolution to offer £200 a-year each to four additional missionaries, who should be found duly qualified for their arduous and responsible duties. The following gentlemen were approved by the Bishop:-The Rev. William Bowman; Rev. G. A. Addison, B.A., Trinity College, Cambridge; Rev. J. Vicars, Trinity College, Dublin; Rev. Thomas Boone, LiterateVarious meetings have been held during the last quarter in all parts of England; and the society, while thankfully acknowledging the increased support which it has received, recommends most earnestly, as the best way of raising means at all adequate to its claims, the formation of parochial associations. Great success has already attended them in many parishes. The following calculation is taken from a paper of suggestions on the subject, which has been extensively circulated :— "There are in England about 1,600,000 families in communion with the Church: if each family gave on the average 2s. 6d. a-year (which is scarcely more than one halfpenny a-week), the amount contributed would be £200,000. The rich may be reasonably called upon to give much more liberally of their abundance; but surely there NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. We are much obliged to "Clericus Dunelmensis" for his kind efforts in getting the Magazine taken by his parishioners, for that is the way to promote our object, of making known the principles which we love, and believe many others who now dislike them would love too, if properly and diligently explained to them. Our Correspondent will be glad to hear that our circulation is constantly and steadily increasing. Thanks to "A Constant Reader."-" T. F.," "Respectful Subscriber" and a "Member of the Church of England," have been received. The statement of the latter that the Rev. Mr. Cherry, Rector of Burghfield, Berks, actually employs a popish schoolmaster in his parish, is useless without his name. Mr. Cherry will probably think it best to contradict the report, as it is getting wind.-To "K." we have to say that he may rest satisfied on the subject of his letter. Good principles are by the course we adopt getting amongst the very parties who most need them, and we can assure "K.," are doing good; we could name instances. Our object will now be evident to him, and we doubt not satisfactory.The Rev. Mr. Ingram is not Incumbent of Settle, as stated in our last, but we hope he is by this time Vicar of Giggleswick.-The Poetry alluded to by a Correspondent we should like to see. We are much obliged to the friend who sent us The Weekly Herald of New York; we should like to have it always if convenient, Will some friend send us regularly The Leeds Intelligencer when done with? The Dublin Statesman, The Manchester Courier, and The St. James's Chronicle, we should also like to see regularly, if ever so old. We hoard up all the facts which we cull from all quarters for either present or future use. We are very thankful for the Newspapers which we have already received. |