"A Constant Reader and Contributor" can have no conception of the extreme difficulty of compiling our Clerical Intelligence with even tolerable correctness. Our only sources of information, except when the Notices of Preferments are forwarded direct, are the local newspapers, in copying from which the errors are necessarily retained: and even direct communications are subject to the inaccurate transcription of illegible writing. We may take the opportunity, afforded by this notice, of stating that Rhoslie is a Rectory, not a Curacy, as described in our Number for August. As to the addition to the designation of Mr. Hughes, our Correspondent will observe that it does not fall in with our plan.

We have before hinted that we shall be indebted to those of our readers who will favour us with any Psalms or Hymns, alike remarkable for their simplicity and their devotion, which we may incorporate in our projected volume: and also, if they would refer us to tunes which are excellent and popular.

"W. W. S." has our best thanks for his Psalm; "G, H." for his "Notice;" and "P. H." for his communications and his candour.

One upon Parochial Psalmody will

The Sermon of "E. N. D." has been received. be acceptable, and shall appear as soon as possible. "A Constant Reader" will see that his wishes have been attended to. Our thanks are due to "Timidus" for his Hymn. The "millions" shall be examined.

The observations of "B. R. B." upon the "Tributes of Respect" are sensible, and worthy of some consideration. Our only motive for collecting and publishing those which have appeared was, to convince the world that the Clergy were not quite so much despised as our enemies impudently asserted. The lists we have given have frequently been copied into the Provincial Papers.

THE

CHRISTIAN REMEMBRANCER.

NOVEMBER, 1834.

REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.

ART. I.-The Fathers not Papists: or, Six Discourses by the most eloquent Fathers of the Church; with numerous Extracts from their Writings. Translated from the Greek, by HUGH STUART BOYD, ESQ. A new Edition, considerably enlarged. London: Bagster. Sidmouth :

Harvey. Pp. xlviii. 448.

THIS book contains an observation which may excite alarm in some, and ridicule in others; for ourselves, we are not ashamed to confess that we read it with some tincture of the former.

It appears to me that the Dissenters must be blind indeed if they cannot perceive what is the end and object of the unslumbering Roman Catholics. I understand that, in this country, Popery is making the most rapid and gigantic strides. Should our national church be done away, I think there is no doubt (humanly speaking) that, in forty or fifty years, perhaps in a less time, Popery will again be the established religion! Then will the Dissenters groan in the anguish of their hearts: they will repent of what they have achieved: they will weep at the remembrance of the good old times; but their repentance and their sorrow will be too late.-P. xxvi.

The whole question indeed turns upon the single point of the preservation of the national establishment. As long as that is maintained, some limit will exist to the encroachments of Popery; but let that perish, and the result seems tolerably clear. The present confederacy between popery and dissent is manifestly preserved by self-interest only-for a common interest there cannot be between the principles of blind submission and lawless rebellion. The truth is that the Dissenters expect to divide the spoils of the Church, apportioning, perhaps, to Rome a small consideration for her assistance, or, perhaps, returning barren thanks only; while their popish allies, much shrewder, perceive plainly that the Dissenters are only the inferior animals attending the lordly lion to the chase. Suppose the victim in their paws; suppose the church degraded from her sovereignty, who would step into the vacant throne?

"Nor, should their members in a synod meet,
Could any church presume to mount the seat
Above the rest, their discords to decide;
None would obey, but each would be the guide;
And, face to face, dissensions would increase.
For only distance now preserves the peace;
All, in their turns, accusers and accus'd:
Babel was never half so much confus'd.

What one can plead the rest can plead as well;

For among equals lies no last appeal,

And all confess themselves are fallible."*

So wrote a Roman Catholic concerning the dissenters—having before testified of our communion,

"Your Church alone,

Of all usurpers, best could fill the throne."

This truth is well known to modern papists, and accordingly they labour to overthrow the "usurpation," well knowing whither, that object accomplished, the crown will return. The extravagancies of dissenters would wear themselves out. A sober nation like the English could never sit out a twenty years' farce of “ Presbyter and Independent," like that which was enacted when

The follies of popery are nothing to this-and this is the result of disunion, while Popery boasts her eternal union; union would then be the great object of the nation's sighs, and even from Rome it would not be then unwelcome. The Papists are providing for this crisis. In Ireland, they have alarmed ministers for their places, and accordingly a partial extermination is promised; while O'Connell, when reproached by his friends for not moving the entire extinction of tithe, informs them in a published letter, that he tried for no more than he could get, resolved to accept whatever the Commons would give, and then to press for more! In England, as well as Ireland, we hear daily of churches and CATHEDRALS!!! opened with all possible attractions for the eye and ear, and of course, with sermons, detailing to crowded audiences the glories and "evidences" of Popery. We are credibly informed that there is not in England one ecclesiastical situation, from the primacy to the smallest benefice, that has not a popish nominal occupant, ready to be converted into a real one, when the proper opportunity arrives! The emissaries of popery are numerous and active. Schools and colleges + Ibid. 446.

* Hind and Panther. II. 463. seqq.

Hudibras. III. ii. 7. seqq.

are constantly rising in our cities and towns, and the most attractive parts of the country. "Catholic Tract Societies" are in course of establishment in all parts of the kingdom, to which popish noblemen are munificently contributing. And no artifice is spared to shew that the creed of Pius IV. is that of the purest ages,-of the Apostles themselves; while the timid are told that Popery is synonymous with Christianity; that if they are not papists-there is but one alternative -Infidelity.

Were the people of England at large deeply read in the Romish controversy, there would be much less to apprehend. But this the majority never can be; and of those who can, there are many who will not, and many who love a deceit which promises so fairly for both worlds. Nevertheless, there can be no doubt that, from the leisurely and the capable, the times imperatively require an investigation of the subject. The Fathers have always been a favourite ground of Romish reliance; while Protestants, disclaiming them as arbiters of faith, have, very improperly, neglected the study of their writings, which, to the literary man, to the historian, to the divine, to the controversialist, are highly valuable and interesting. In managing the controversy with Rome, some acquaintance with their productions is indispensable. We must never forget, however, to force the papists back upon their own argument. Primitive authority is still their clamour; then drive them upon the most primitive of all-the Bible. "The early Fathers!" they crythen bring forward the earliest-the Apostles and Evangelists. Rome cannot stand in the presence of Scripture, however she may endure the light of meaner lamps

"The touch of kindred earth new strength supplies,

But, hold her up to heaven-the Monster dies."‡

If this argument were constantly applied: You claim primitive antiquity; show that you agree with the MOST primitive—if the papist were not allowed to quote his Fathers till this point were settled:

* At Bruges, the Lady Superior of the English Benedictine Nuns, not long since, expressed to an English Romanist gentleman, in the presence of a Protestant friend, her sanguine anticipations of the spread of Popery in England. It is suspected that much of the money for building Popish chapels and colleges comes from abroad.-Ed.

On the increasing insolence of Popery, we may here observe that a protestant clergyman was bullied out of his office by a popish priest at the last Sheriff's inauguration dinner at the Mansion House, where grace was said by Mr. Sheriff Raphael's confessor. The Chairman who could suffer such a grossness was unworthy of his place. The law allows Mr. Raphael to hold his present office, and the law allows, and does right to allow, that he should, if he pleases, retain a clergyman of his communion as confessor. But of chaplains the law knows nothing, except where they are of the Church of England. Mr. Raphael's spiritual adviser, therefore, had no more right, in etiquette, tó say the grace, than any other person present.

Smedley's Lux Renata, 609. We are happy to take this opportunity of earnestly commending to our readers (if any can be unacquainted with it) this highly scholarlike, poetical, elegant, and logical composition.

there would soon be an "end of controversy." Yet it is well, if the papist shifts his ground, to shew him that this is untenable too; and this is what we have lately been endeavouring, and what is professed by Mr. Boyd.

A volume, indeed, well answering to the title "The Fathers not Papists," might be compiled with small difficulty, and would be exceedingly useful at the present juncture.* Mr. Boyd's title is, we think, unfortunate. It is very true that, in his noble selections from the Greek Fathers, he occasionally produces passages which emphatically condemn Popery; but the great bulk of his numerous extracts do not in the smallest degree bear on the subject. What he says of a small poem of Gregory of Nazianzum, "I give this translation as a specimen, not of orthodoxy, but of the taste and genius of St. Gregory," seems the key to his general plan. Taste and genius, rather than controversial weight, seem the causes of selection; and if the reader should expect a systematic refutation of Popery he would be disappointed. In every other view, the work is eminently beautiful. Mr. Boyd is a fine Greek scholar, an eloquent writer, and a zealous Churchman. In the two latter characters we will first present him to our readers.

To some persons, perhaps to many, it seems probable that in a few years, the Church of England will be no more! And then-God knows what then. If He have decreed her fall, it behoves us to bow in meekness to his heavenly dispensation. As Christians we must be resigned; and yet-can we refrain from tears? It is not sinful if a child put on mourning for its parent. And oh is not she our parent? Her benediction visited us almost as soon as the breath of heaven. She washed us in her baptismal fount: she hallowed our infancy she taught us to lisp the endearing names of God and of Christ: she nurtured us in her bosom: she laid before us whatever is great and dignified, whatever is august and glorious, in religion, philosophy, and learning! Unto her are we indebted for a Hooker, and a Taylor; for Bacon, and Newton; for Bentley, and for Porson!-And now, that she is every where reviled and persecuted; now that she is hunted down by Papists, by Unitarians, by Infidels; and—can it be that professing Christians join them? if we cannot save her from destruction, shall not we bear her pall, and be the mourners at her grave?—She sat by our cradle: let us gather round her tomb. There is one death to which her enemies cannot doom her. They cannot efface her from our remembrance. O Angel of our childhood; instructor of our youth; director of our age; thou, whose enemies would degrade thee to their level, because they cannot attain thy greatness; thou wilt not perish altogether! Thou wilt be enshrined in the temple of our hearts; embalmed in gratitude, and immortalized with praise.-Pp. xxiv. xxv.

Mr. Boyd, our readers will perceive, has studied the Greek Fathers with effect. His language is Chrysostomic. He is able to understand and to enjoy the great orators of the Greek Church:—and, with one exception, he conveys to the English reader a very competent idea of

We should like to see Mr. Rose undertaking the Apostolic fathers-the Bishop of Lincoln, Justin Martyr, Tertullian and Origen—and Mr. Croly, Chrysostom, Basil, and Gregory of Nazianzum.