HINTS TOWARDS THE FORMATION OF CHARACTER, with reference chiefly to social duties. By A PLAIN-SPOKEN ENGLISH WOMAN. 12mo. 1843.

THERE are many useful practical hints in this work, and it is generally founded on Christian principles, though the work rarely rises to the highest standard of Divine truth. It takes a wide range of subjects, and has many sensible and good thoughts on the different subjects introduced, though occasionally admissions are made and remarks occur, to which we object. Thus, speaking of a shade of ambition as mingling with patriotism and philanthropy, the author observes,-" It is to be hoped that the Searcher of hearts will hold it guiltless, for the sake of the virtues with which it is associated." The Scriptures give us no such false grounds of hope. The author sanctions several things, in a modified way indeed, which we cannot approve. With these exceptions the principles brought forward are scriptural.

We give the following specimen of the character of this work :— "Christianity is the 'Hope of the World,' the only anchorage on which we can rely for safety, amidst the political storms by which the world is shaken. There never was an epoch when its saving, its tranquillizing influence was more needed. Various causes have, during the last century, worked together to produce an impulse, an excitement which is likely to continue to agitate mankind: whether for good or evil, time will show. This, our own country, partakes fully in the excitement. Who, that watches the course of events, perceives not, among other signs, that the thinking faculties of a large class of people, formerly not much given to thought, are aroused? They are, moreover, tormented by desires which, in time gone by, they never knew; desires engendered by comparison of their own lot with the lot of the great and opulent, so ostentatiously paraded before their eyes, and in which they partake not now, even reflectively, as did the retainers of the great of old. All classes are alike seeking eagerly, though, in most instances, vainly, that undefined good which is to render happiness complete. With some, it is riches; with others, rank or fame; with almost all, it is something worldly. "The restless spirit of the present age manifests itself too distinctly to escape the notice of any but the most unobservant. There is no peace, no repose." Society, as has already been stated, is broken into separate parts, acknowledging no common interest: political factions prevail with violence. Religious sects are not less hostile, less bitter towards each other; disputing about immaterial points of faith and practice; losing, as it were, the substance, while grasping at the shadow. Were any great political convulsion to ensue, it is to be feared that such would exhibit a virulence unprecedented in English history.

"Religion then, the religion of Christ, is our sole hope. Like oil poured upon the troubled waters, religion has power to give peace in the most distracted times. Let those who have the care of youth labour incessantly to instil into the yet unformed mind the pure precepts contained in the Bible; and not merely instil, but enforce them by their own example, taking occasion continually to make application of them to the concerns of life."

SERMONS, by the Rev. JAMES GRATRIX, Perpetual Curate of St. James' District Church, Halifax. 8vo. Whitley. 1843.

WE have read many of these sermons with real gratification. They are not mere common-place, but are distinguished by plain good sense, faithfulness, and evangelical principles. It is gratifying to see such a specimen of ministerial labours. They are published that by the profits a parsonage in the author's district may be completed. We trust that not only that object may be attained, but a far more important end, the spiritual welfare and edification of many Christian readers, may be gained.

We will make some extracts on more difficult subjects, that the reader may judge of the principles of this volume of sermons. The general tone of them is exceedingly faithful and affectionate, practical and evangelical.

He speaks thus on the direction, Rejoice evermore.

"Seeing then, that the fruitful Christian is privileged in all situations and under all circumstances to rejoice, I would say to him, 'Cultivate this joy; for it shall be your strength.

Many are reluctant to indulge the Christian with this exhilarating draught, as though it had a necessary tendency to intoxicate those that partake of it. The Apostles were teachers of another cast. They well knew that joy is the main spring of Christian exertion and hence they exhorted their followers to rejoice, and to rejoice always. And to every fruitful Christian amongst you, I would say the same. Why should those who have the only valid title to joy be forbidden to exercise their privilege? How can they commend religion to others, how can they bear up under temptation, persecutions, or adversity, how can they grapple comfortably with the last enemy death, if they are destitute of Christian joy? It is this which must lift up the hands that hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees. It is this which will enable him to say, 'Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.' It is this which will make them eloquent in commending the Gospel rest to others. Rejoice, then, ye believing servants of Jesus; and again I say, rejoice."

On the future glory of Israel he thus candidly and cautiously states the conclusions to which he has come :

"The Jewish nation, in like manner, shall be raised to an extraordinary pitch of glory. In the days of Solomon, the glory of the Jewish nation was very great: but now 'Ichabod,' or 'the glory is departed,' is inscribed upon it. This state of degradation, though it has continued through eighteen weary centuries, will have a termination, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it and then she, who hath so long "lien among the pots," shall become " as the wings of a dove, that is covered with silver wings, and her feathers with yellow gold." In proof of this statement I would refer you to Isaiah Ixii. 1-4; xxx. 26; lxv. 18-23. That these passages refer primarily and principally to the Jewish Church will not be denied, I conceive, by those who have carefully examined the context; and that they promise unto her a more abundant measure of glory, than will be meeted out to any other DECEMBER 1843.

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section of the Christian Church, is, I think, equally apparent. Some contend, that prophecy justifies them in asserting that Christ himself will reign personally" in Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously." On this point it would ill become me to speak dogmatically; but, certainly, such expressions as the following, 'There shall come out of Zion the deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord;' 'The name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there;' 'The King of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more,'-If they do not distinctly prove, that the Lord will dwell corporeally in Jerusalem, when He shall visit his people, and plant them again in their own land, do justify us in inferring, that he will be nearer to the Jews than to any other people yea, that his authority will be more absolute amongst them, than amongst the Gentiles."

In two able sermons on Baptism, there are many useful thoughts. He thus speaks of the insufficiency of any external rite to save:

"Baptism is of a truth a very holy rite and the Lord often puts abundant honour upon it, by making it the mean whereby salvation is brought to the soul and were it more honoured by mankind,-were they more ready both to ask and to expect a blessing in the use thereof, this would much more frequently be the case; for faith honours God: and those that honour him, He will honour. Those, however, who expect everything from the simple administration of the ordinance, and who flatter themselves, that if baptism be administered by one duly authorized by those having authority in the Church, it must needs save those who receive it, lean on a broken reed, and will sooner or later discover,-God grant that they may discover it before it be too late to repair it, their error. As it was with the children of Israel, so it will be with professing Christians; for as all the Israelites were baptized unto Moses in the cloud, and in the sea, and yet multitudes notwithstanding fell in the wilderness, and not a few perished everlastingly; so all professing Christians have been baptized unto Christ in the laver of regeneration, and yet many will live as reprobates, and die in their sins. And of such it is no less clear than it was of Simon Magus, that they had no part nor lot in the Holy Ghost; and that though baptized, they remained in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.

"I would say also, Seek to possess that which this rite so significantly sets forth, namely, a heart and life purged from the pollution and defilement

of sin."

SERMONS designed chiefly for parochial and family use. By the Rev. F. E. TUSON. London: Hatchards.

1843.

THESE Sermons are published to raise a fund for the improvement of the Author's church, and a respectable list of subscribers is prefixed. We regret that we cannot speak as highly of the tone of divinity, or of the depth of theological knowledge, as we are glad to do of the earnestness and affectionate spirit of the preacher. Our readers will discern this when we add, that from the third chapter of St. John's Gospel, the preacher asserts,-" Hence we

derive an authority from Christ himself, for considering regeneration or the new birth, or, plainly, the being born again, ONE AND THE SAME THING WITH THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM." We are sorry to see such a direct contradiction of our 27th Article, and such an unwarrantable conclusion from the words of our Lord. We cannot generally commend these sermons.

DISCOURSES ON THE FESTIVALS OF THE CHURCH

OF ENGLAND. With Notes. By the Rev. J. B. MARSDEN. London: Hamiltons. 1843.

THIS is a seasonable work. When so many are attempting to use the sacred seasons of our Church for the purposes of superstition, it was well to bring forth a treatise showing their practical and devotional character, and endeavouring to lead members of the Church duly to improve them. The author does not enter on the Feasts of the Church, but confines his attention to the Festivals, and goes through them in regular order from Advent to All Saint's Day. Sparkes Scintilla is now antiquated, and Nelson's Fasts and Festivals is, with much useful information, of an unsatisfactory school of divinity. Mr. Marsden's work is evangelical and practical, and adapted to the present state of society, and on four of the Festivals he gives Notes calculated to meet and answer Tractarian corruptions. He states in his Preface, speaking of the character of his work,-"The truths which it contains are those by which we must live and die; justification by faith only in Christ Jesus, sanctification by the Holy Spirit; and the result of both in a godly life, practical holiness, without which all our privileges will be found at last only to aggravate our guilt."

This work will not only be useful in assisting churchmen to improve Church seasons profitably, but may also show Dissenters that they may be made really edifying without any superstition or undue honour given to the departed saints. It is well to remember the cloud of witnesses with which we are compassed. Heb. xii. 1. We think that Mr. Marsden is not justified in limiting his first text (Isa. xl. 9-11.) to the first Advent, and we should not have put his note on the grace of Baptism exactly in the form he has done, though substantially we should come to the same conclusions.

We give the following remarks which close the account of St. Thomas, as illustrating the evangelical tone of this volume.

"Here let us pause, and adore the compassionate High Priest, who is ever touched with the feeling of our infirmities. He can condescend to the weakest of his flock. He can meet them, as it were, in their own way, and upon their own conditions; and he is sometimes pleased to do so. The prayer in which impatience struggles with unbelief, is sometimes answered not in anger, but in deep commiseration for the tempted suppliant. If the gourd withers and we impatiently complain, he provides us with another shelter, and gently asks, Doest thou well to be angry? Many are the humbling recollections of the servant of God, but amongst them none is more affecting than his impatience with the Lord, while blessings were preparing for him; and his unbelief, at the very moment when the clouds were charged, not with storm and tempest, as he thought, but with the rich drops of mercy, the abundant showers of God's refreshing grace. But this is the divine compassion of the Son of man. In this character he delighted to describe himself, even in the word of prophecy: 'He shall feed his flock like a shepherd, he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.'

Nor is the majesty of Jesus less apparent than his condescending pity. He comforts Thomas, but at the same time he rebukes him. He raises him once more to the apostleship which he had forsaken: and at the same time he reminds him of the hardness of his heart, and the depth of his abasement. Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they which have not seen, and yet have believed.' Thy faith is less honourable to me than that of thy brethren; there' are blessings in reserve for them which thou hast well-nigh forfeited. As if the Lord had said, Go and sin no more, lest a worse thing happen unto thee.' Thus when God pardons sin, he leaves a solemn awe and dread of it upon the conscience.

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May we share the blessing which Thomas lost! the blessing of those which have not seen, and yet have believed. How God honours faith in his dear Son! How he pours down heavenly consolation on those who have it! Let us strive, and watch, and pray against every thing which might disturb our faith in Jesus. Sin, or heartless speculation upon the things of God, or a worldly mind, will damp, nay they will extinguish it. It is a strange plant in an unkindly soil-neglect it, and it dies; and then our peace departs, and we know ourselves estranged from God. Rather may it increase more and more; and 'be found unto praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ; whom not having seen, we love; and in whom, though now we see him not, yet believing, we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.' To Him be all the praise of our salvation for evermore. Amen."

The work is beautifully printed; and we hope may have such a sale as to encourage Mr. Marsden to print it in a cheaper form, for more general circulation.

Also

THE MORAL INFLUENCE OF THE ATONEMENT. of Faith, and of its two sorts, conviction and confidence, and of the connection between them. By the Rev. JOHN PENROSE, M.A. Fellowes.

A LEARNED treatise regarding the Atonement, in its moral aspect, but omitting its higher spiritual and evangelical connections. It