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NOTICES AND REVIEWS.

A Companion to the Font; or, the Parent's Manual for Infant Baptism. By D. R. Morris, Esq. London: Forbes and Jackson. 1837. pp. 53. THIS is an unpretending, but a very useful, little work, and deserves an extensive circulation. It is principally designed to remind Christians of their duties as parents and sponsors; and the admonitions and suggestions it contains are written in a very earnest and pleasing style, which is calculated to make a serious and lasting impression on the reader's mind. In chapter i. are some sound remarks on the great sacraments of Christianity. Mr. Morris does not scruple to say that they are "the means of communication between God and man, and instruments of his grace;" and he backs this assertion by two admirable quotations from the 5th book, c. 57, of Hooker's " Ecclesiastical Polity." The practical suggestions on infant baptism, in chapter ii., are, in the main, truly excellent, and the following passage may be advantageously quoted :

"Oh! that ye might know in an acceptable time the things that belong to your own and your children's peace! The church is waiting, like a fond mother, to receive another member to her bosom, and Christ is waiting to be gracious, and the Spirit is, as it were, moving on the baptismal waters, and angels are bending to peruse the mystery of the observance; and ye who are so nearly interested, have ye no sighs, no groaning that cannot be uttered, no prayer that pierceth heaven to help forward the intention of the Lord and the travail of his church ?"-p. 11.

At p. 7, Mr. Morris compares baptism with circumcision; but he is, doubtless, aware how transcendently the former surpasses the latter ordinance in glory and value. "In Christ Jesus," says the apostle, "neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but (Kain KTίOIS) a NEW CREATION," i. e., baptism, as may be seen by a reference to the context; and of the enactments of the Jewish church (of which circumcision was one) it is written, " They are a shadow of things to come, but the BODY is of Christ." Chapter iii. contains an exhortation to parents to bring up their children in the true faith and fear of God. "The plant," says Mr. Morris, "which has been set in the fruitful soil of the Lord's vineyard is learning to thrive, and ye must tend it sedulously, and day by day invite the sweet south wind to blow upon this plant, that the spices thereof may flow out: the blossom of life will be gradually expanding and taking shape and colour; and ye will long earnestly, and endeavour zealously, that it may be fashioned into a heavenly likeness, and may brighten with hues caught from the bow of the everlasting covenant." (p. 19.) Chapter iv. comprises an "Address to Sponsors," which may be strenuously recommended. Chapter v. is a concise commentary on the "office for the baptism of infants;" but is not the statement in p. 44 somewhat too like an artificial adaptation of the language of our Prayer Book to a certain class of opinions? and is it not decidedly at variance with the general principles of Mr. Morris's work? That gentleman

observes, "The declaration that the baptized child is regenerate, and the thanksgivings that follow, are based upon the verity of God's promises, and the fidelity of the sponsors and congregation. If the minister perform his duty as a routine service merely, and the sponsors and parents bring the children without faith and prayer, and the congregation retire from the ceremony, [?] or look on with listless indifference, then the parties have no sort of right to expect the powerful operation of the Spirit with the water; and to give thanks for an imaginary benefit would be a mockery of God's high majesty." Is not this a harsh judgment, so far as the infant is concerned? Shall we not rather believe as follows, with Hooker (to whom, by the way, Mr. M. in other places reverently appeals,) and the universal church for the first fourteen centuries? viz., " that God, by covenant, requireth in the elder sort [adults] faith and baptism, in children the sacrament of baptism ALONE, whereunto he hath also given them right by special privilege of birth within the bosom of the holy church; that infants, therefore, which have received baptism complete, as touching the mystical perfection thereof, are, by virtue of his covenant and promise, cleansed from all sin." Eccl. Pol. b. v., c. lxii. § 16. Mr. Morris goes on to say " Alas! all who have been baptized have not become regenerate; the aspect of society shews it." The words which are printed in italics are a key to Mr. M.'s opinions with reference to the nature of regeneration. Does he not, like some other writers, confound it with renewal, which is the fruit of regeneration, though not necessarily? Does this view arise from his holding that grace is indefectible, and that if God's Holy Spirit is once given to the soul, it must infallibly accomplish its conversion, sanctification, and salvation? Be this, however, as it may, does not this reasoning appear to affix a meaning to the word "regeneration" not authorized by the church, and then deny that infants are regenerated in baptism, because it does not always appear from their after lives that they were converted by that sacrament?

The high opinion which the writer entertains of Mr. Morris's piety and talent, and the general excellence of his work, have induced him to make the above animadversions, which he trusts will be taken in the same spirit in which they are offered.

A Little Book for Little Readers. By the Editor of the "Parting Gift." London: Darton and Son. 1837.

THIS Lilliputian volume consists of a collection of short pieces of poetry, selected expressly for young persons. The chief authors from whom the selection is made are Wordsworth and Cowper, with some from Southey and others. The beautiful stanzas entitled, "The Three Sons," are given from Moultries's poems. It is, at least, a little book which may be safely recommended to those for whom it was intended. The editor ought, however, to assign the poem, "We are Seven," to Wordsworth, and not to Coleridge.

Sermons on the Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments, &c. By the Rev. John H. Pinder, M.A., Curate of the parish of St. Mary, Lambeth. London: James Duncan. 1837. Small 8vo. pp. 340.

It is truly refreshing to meet with a volume of sermons like these by Mr. Pinder. Orthodox and eloquent, plain to the meanest understanding, yet lacking none of the graces of composition, comprehensive, earnest, and instructive, they may be studied with pleasure and profit by every class of readers. The subjects discussed are, the history of the liturgy, morning and evening service, the ten commandments, communion service, baptismal office, confirmation, the creed, the Lord's prayer, solemnization of matrimony, visitation of the sick, burial, ordination, and commination services. In the first lecture Mr. Pinder recounts the peculiar advantages of a stated liturgy; the first of these, he thinks, arises from knowing beforehand what devotions we are going to use; another, from the remembrance that we are, though locally separated," with one mind and one mouth glorifying God" with our brethren, not in the churches of Great Britain and Ireland only, but on the banks of the Ganges, the St. Lawrence, the Ohio, in the islands of the Pacific, and in the Western Ocean. A third great blessing derived from our Common Prayer is this, that it gives a fixed character to our faith. The Bible is acknowledged as the standard of truth by all Christians; yet infinite are the interpretations given to the blessed volume. But by placing before the mind, in the settled form of devotion, the leading truths of the gospel, as received and handed down (semper, ubique et ab omnibus) by the church in every age, we are kept steadfast in all vital doctrine. Seen in this light, our prayer-book appears a hallowed repository of primitive doctrines, and the advantage is also apparent of circulating it hand in hand with the Bible, as a safeguard against heretical and perverse interpretations of the written word. The second sermon, on the morning and evening prayer, contains the following eloquent remarks on the Te Deum:

"How sublimely are all the servants of God brought before us in the act of joyful worship! The whole earth, the angels, the cherub host, the throng of seraphs, the glorified apostles, the train of prophets, the army of martyrs, the church throughout the universe,-are, by faith, seen bowing before the Father, Son, and Spirit. To us, poor ransomed sinners, is that part of the hymn most dear which reminds us of Christ, now, indeed, the enthroned King of Glory; once taking on him human nature in the womb of the blessed virgin, enduring, overcoming the sharpness of death, opening the gates of heaven to all believers, and returning again in the clouds to be our Judge."—p. 33.

At page 58, Mr. Pinder suggests the restoration of weekly communion, a restoration devoutly to be desired; and the language he employs with reference to the "real presence" in that sacrament is truly excellent. "Every one," he observes, "who brings a penitent heart and lively faith eats the flesh of Christ spiritually, and spiritually drinks his blood, and is one with Christ, and Christ with him. What words are these! But are they of higher import than those of Jesus himself? Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me and I in him.'. . . . Dispute not as to the manner in which a closer union of spirit takes place between Christ and his members.

Only believe; all things are possible to him that believeth.'"p. 113.

Equally valuable are Mr. Pinder's remarks on holy baptism :

"It is plainly, then, a just interpretation of scripture, according to the learned and pious fathers of the church, that where baptism is rightly received, the soul is regenerate, or new-born, and is grafted into the church; the promises of forgiveness of sin, and of our adoption to be the sons of God, by the Holy Ghost, are visibly signed and sealed. Faith is confirmed, and grace increased, by virtue of prayer unto God. In the case of infants, who cannot, by any wilful wickedness, oppose the grace of God, we may joyfully believe, according to the views of the primitive church, that they are washed clean from Adam's descending guilt and defilement, taken into the blessed company of God's children, joined to Christ by the communication of a divine life, through his Spirit, and placed within the influence of covenanted grace, so that, if they fail of salvation, no blame shall presumptuously attach to Him who would have all men to be saved. Nor may we doubt that when a grown person comes to the font, convinced of sin, penitent, looking unto Jesus as the Author and Finisher of faith, and seeking grace to live for the world to come, the promise is no less surely fulfilled. Released from all past sin, he also is born anew, and made an heir in Christ of everlasting salvation." pp. 153, 154.

The sermon on the visitation of the sick deserves a most attentive perusal; particularly pages 245, 246, which refer to sacerdotal absolution, and pages 256-258, on the benefit of priestly intercession at the bed of death. There are also some good remarks on the "power of the keys," the church, and the episcopal succession, in the sermon on the commination service.

Answers to " Questions on the Old and New Testaments." In Two Parts. Principally designed for Students in Divinity. By the Rev. Samuel Tennison Mosse, A.B. of Trinity College, Dublin. London: A. H. Baily & Co. 1837. pp. 196.

THESE "Answers" may be recommended to all "students in divinity." They are a good compendium of scriptural knowledge, and ably discuss certain great points of Christian doctrine about which candidates for ordination are sometimes not sufficiently informed. Mr. Mosse is evidently a well-informed and pains-taking clergyman, and his work cannot fail to become popular among the class of readers for whose advantage it is principally composed.

The Christian Warrior, &c. By the late Rev. Isaac Ambrose. Abridged, methodized, and improved, by the Rev. Thomas Jones, of Creaton, Northamptonshire. London: Seeley & Burnside. 1837. pp. 160.

MR. AMBROSE was considered an eminent divine by his puritan contemporaries, and Dr. Doddridge mentions him in terms of high commendation. Churchmen, of course, cannot assent to every statement contained in the above volume; but they may nevertheless peruse its pages with gratification and profit.

The present State and Prospects of the World and the Church. By a Clergyman of the Establishment. London: Seeley & Burnside. 1837. 12mo. pp. 340. IF the author of this volume be a "clergyman of the establishment," he certainly is not a consistent churchman. His work, one is pained

to perceive, is written too much in the style of modern spiritualism. At p. 105, he observes, "Let no denomination attempt any more to monopolize the church to themselves;" and thus he virtually affirms, that the communion to which he officially belongs is merely a sect among sects! He considers faith, without the sacraments, all that is requisite to constitute a man a member of Christ and a child of God; and at p. 77, in the true rationalistic spirit, he boasts of having solved the stupendous problem of the atonement.

There is, alas! too much truth-though many persons will consider the description overwrought-in his remarks on the vices of the age; and his observations on modern liberalism, and the unworthy conduct of the bulk of the modern dissenters, are unexceptionable. At the same time, the writer indulges in fierce and bitter denunciations against popery. Although he is ready to offer the right hand of fellowship to every "evangelical" ultra-protestant sect, and says, that "to act in this spirit, and not in that of bigotry and prejudice, 'hateful and hating,' is the way to please Christ," (p. 105,)-on the other hand, he scruples not to exclude the Romish communion from the pale of salvation. He says, "between the church of Rome and every orthodox church, there is a difference, as wide as between heaven and hell," (p. 43); that that church is "simply the old putrid carcase of heathenism, covered with the glittering mantle of Christianity;" that "it is that superstructure of wood, hay, and stubble, which the Lord has doomed to utter perdition," (pp. 44, 45.) "The scarlet whore, THE MOTHER OF ABOMINATIONS, drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus, and, accordingly, devoted to irretrievable destruction," (p. 39.) These are sweeping anathemas; but whether this be the most likely spirit to win back Romanists, or even to preserve protestants from falling into their errors, is another question. At p. 51 there is a portraiture of the spread of popery, written in the same spirit towards that form of Christianity. See also p. 36.

The reviewer cannot but think there may be apprehensions concerning another system which deserve some attention also, although that system is more favoured by this author-a system which strikes at the root of many great church principles-the efficacy of the sacraments, the apostolical succession, and the visible unity of the church; a system which rationalizes upon the atonement, and introduces a vague mysticism in the room of apostolic truth. Rome has its errors, and we are in danger from it, but so has also the opposite extreme to Rome; and the reviewer cannot think that this volume, which goes so far towards that extreme, takes a judicious or effectual mode of opposing Rome.

Eighteen Sermons on various Subjects. By the Rev. Charles Henry Minchin, M.A., Prebendary of Kilgobinet, and late Assistant Chaplain of St. George's Chapel. Dublin: D. R. Bleakley. 1837. pp. 338.

THESE Sermons have some pretensions to eloquence, and display great goodness of heart, and a creditable knowledge of Holy Scripture. The reviewer cannot subscribe to all the theological statements which they contain; indeed, he fears that he must class them among the ultra