Reviews.

Six Lectures to Working Men on Chris- sulted so happily for you. She claims sometianity, by GEORGE W. CONDER, Minister thing at your hands, which history must of Belgrave Chapel, Leeds. London: accord. But she feels-at least, some of Benjamin L. Green, Paternoster-row. her ministers and servants feel-that she is 1850. Pp. 134.

not doing all she ought, and all she may, to win your love and bless you in return:" p. 4.

That our author is not only skilled in the use of arms, but that he knows the precise spots at which to take aim, we quote the following example:

A well-planned, well-executed defence of Christianity against infidelity, written in an earnest, spirited style, well calculated to attract and maintain the attention of the reader. We have reason to thank the te- "The way in which Christianity has been merity of the enemies of truth who chal- treated, has been much as if one should go lenged our author to publish his lectures. to a man, utterly ignorant of all the maGood service has been done, at least to one chinery of the civilized world, to prove to party, for it is a work highly calculated to him what consummate fools Englishmen build up the believer on his most holy faith. were, to waste their money in making Some expressions might disturb the fasti- steam-engines to manufacture their clothing, diousness of dilettante writers, but our and the like, and should begin by showing author wields the sword of the Spirit, pro- him drawings of its separate parts. First ceeds upon the certainty that we have not he produces a boiler. What a stupid thing, followed cunningly devised fables, that that,' he might say, 'to make a piece of "this thing was not done in a corner:" and addresses himself to his work just with such instruments as he deems most suitable to affect the minds of the class of persons which he had called before him as his audience; and we are not surprised to learn that the leaders of the opposition could not sit quietly under such crushing arguments.

Advancing at every step with the firmness and certainty of a conqueror, our author has always treated his opponents with urbanity and consideration. But while according to them the great advance of their class beyond that of former days, their progress in civilization, their political status and influence as a body, he has widely and justly attributed their present position, and the possession of all they hold so dear, all their advantages, and all their influence, to the very cause of which he is the advocate, thus converting his very concession into a powerful argument,-one to which their conscience must assent in favour of Christianity. But there is something more than conciliatory in the termination of his sentence-something which may suggest to Christians, individually and collectively, a lesson both in saying and doing.

"Not that you owe nothing to religion for your present advancements, for it was she, mainly, who opposed, and finally overthrew the feudal tyranny which reckoned you as serfs It was she who trampled the power of her own lordly priests, who kept you ever from the tree of knowledge with her mumming rites. It was she gave the impetus to the educational movement which has re

cloth with.' Then a fly-wheel, then a beam, then a crank, and finally a fire-box. It would be very possible to dilate upon the absurdity of each of these, as a contrivance for producing some piece of exquisite cr delicate manufacture, until you excited your audience into the profoundest pity or contempt for the superstitious fools who believe in steam-engines, and positively spend their precious money by heaps in making such absurd monstrosities. Yet that is precisely the way in which Christianity has been handled. Nay, in a way still more ludicrous! For ingenuity and enthusiasm have been expended by the bushel, to demonstrate the absurdity of particular and isolated parts of Christianity, without the slightest reference to the end it professes to seek, and for whose accomplishment alone it exists:" p. 24.

In clearing his way to the true exposition of what Christianity is, our author has most judiciously repudiated, in the most unqualified language and public manner, that current and popular lie, which men call Christianity,-that which every believer should unite with him in denouncing as publicly as opportunities permit.

"What if you could have all the world, to-morrow practising outwardly all the Christian virtues! Christianity would acknowledge only such as were the fruits of real intelligent choice, and love of the acts done. Do not, then, I beseech you, confound with Christianity that respectable, hollow, hypocritical formalism, which to-day can go to church and give a shilling, and to-morrow can grasp and oppress; to-day

can say, 'Forgive us our sins, as we forgive stance and position to develope. Out of this, them that trespass against us,' and to-mor- too, sprung the terrible dogmas of the susrow can fight a duel, or do a hard and unjust pension of the right of private judgment, thing;-can sing and pray one hour, and and the unfitness of the Scriptures for the swear the next; or which can satisfy itself multitudes. If the throne on which the with going to the place where other people pope had seated himself was to stand secure, do this, themselves not joining further; do it became imperative to shut up the light not confound this with the aim of Chris- which the New Testament would have poured tianity; do not call this religion! You hate upon it, and to forbid every man to utter a and despise it; so does Christianity. More thought, or even dare to think in opposition withering, bitter denunciation you cannot to his will. For centuries did this blasting, give, than does the Christian Book, of all withering corruption of Christianity consuch sham and petty doing, be it real hypo- tinue. Through ages it grew to fearful crisy or fatal self-delusion." p. 34. maturity, and brought forth but too abunAfter giving a brief and graphic descrip- dantly its deadly fruits. Men did cease to tion of the primitive churches, he accounts think,-did cease to question. The religion for the origin of that monster of superstition, of the people became superstition; their cruelty and tyranny, which converted the faith credulity. The priest had but to mifair edifice of God into a charnel-house, the nister to this, and therefore intelligence, dread and the abhorrence of all. except in the shape of cunning, was utterly "Under such influence, (the establish- needless for their office. Ignorance soon ment of Christianity by Constantine,) the marked alike priest and people. With ignolife was soon dwindled into formalism, and rance always goes cruelty and persecution,the imperial pastor soon became lord of despotism fattens and grows strong upon it,— God's heritage. An established religion absurdity and impiety may have full license. must have a creed and a unity. The power And but that corruption must in time eat itthat establishes must either determine self away, one might, under such an aspect what this is, or must compel the collected of humanity, have given oneself up to church to do it, or must give to some one despair." p. 54.

pastor the power to do it; and whichever Alike just and graceful are his admission plan be adopted, it is fatal to the develop-of, and apology for those peculiarities of ment of life which spurns your outward the Puritans, which to our more refined tastes restraints, and will die rather than be com- may appear so repulsive. We can quote but pressed into your moulds and forms. Here, the concluding paragraph.

then, began the evil. Religious teachers "But what of all this? Is Christianity to were invested with imperial authority and be condemned for it? Rather, every honest power. It was but a natural process that man will say, let them be brought to the led very soon to the assumption, on the part Book, and tested by that. If that be done

What a pity that there should be a fly in this precious pot of ointment! But what can we say to the following?

of one man, to be a successor to the apostles, we should be compelled to acknowledge and the sole medium of the communication that their "nasal twang," their bitter spirit, of the divine will for the time being. Only their severe austerity, were but the uncouth put a man into possession of power, and he dress, the partial disease, the almost adwill soon find you a reason for exercising it. mirable mistake of a life which was beautiful Having claimed this splendid endowment, and great:" p. 61. what remained but for him to demand unconditional obedience, and to enforce it as he could,-for was he not God's vicar or vicegerent? As the ambassador of God in this "A Mohammedan may be made by his stately sense, ought not kings to bow to him, kissing the Koran in proof of his belief and states to own his right to claim their that 'there is one Allah, and Mohammed is wealth, their honours, their armies, their his prophet.' A Christian can be made only entire power, for God's service? And if this by penitentially confessing and forsaking his were conceded, would he not use all these sins by the help of Jesus Christ, through things to the utmost, to deck his system in whom he receives consciousness of pardon, all the pomp of the earth, to enforce his and with it spiritual life" p. 119. creed and practice by every possible means, Surely the man must first be a Christian to establish and surround it with abundant before he can "penitently confess and formeans of support? Splendidly, magnifi- sake his sins ;" and to be a Christian he cently, arrogant as these claims appear, must be a believer, and to be a believer he when viewed by themselves, they were but must not only have power to believe, but the natural products of the evil tendencies know what to believe, that is, the Spirit that lie hid in most men's hearts, and need must first take of the things which belong but the fostering influence of suitable circum- unto the Father and the Son, and reveal

them to him. But our author adds, and alive the spiritually dead, and to convert the italics are his own, "He has, in common the sinner from the error of his way, by with all men, the religious capacity, and giving unto him repentance to the acknoweven the religious tendency.......He has the ledgment of the truth, turning him from capacity to know-to receive truth,-truth darkness to light, and from the power of which lies beyond the evidence of his senses." Satan unto God. What then, we reply, is the meaning of the Our author's warnings are not only judifollowing language of God himself," The cious, but many of them particularly well carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is timed. At p. 61, he says, "The devout not subject to the law of God, neither, in- and sanctified imagination may be legitideed, can be." "The natural man re- mately employed in collecting and combining ceiveth not the things of the Spirit, for they the beautiful and the sublime in the visible are foolishness unto him, neither can he world, and all that is excellent and glorious know them, because they are spiritually dis- in men and angels, that the understanding cerned." "No man can say that Jesus is the may be furnished with materials for reflecLord, but by the Holy Ghost." With this tion, and that its views of Him who is infiexception, we highly commend the work. The perusal of it will amply repay the reader, and especially furnish those who, from local or other circumstances, may need to have a few stones in their sling ready against the next rencounter, not with prosey reasonings, but with telling, undeniable facts.

Heartily, most heartily do we wish for ourselves, our readers, and for all who love the Lord, that the following was engraven on our souls, and carried out with living energy into our daily walk and conversation.

nitely above them all, may be enhanced; but if it go further than this, it ventures beyond its province. In contemplating God, faith, through the medium of an enlightened understanding, must be in exercise, and the imaginings of a lively fancy, however devotional, must be repressed. All pictures and images of the invisible Spirit are blaspheLectures on the Existence and Attributes of mous, as well as irrational; for how can he the Divine Being. By THOMAS SWAN. be described? The woman whom John saw Pp. 266. London: Houlston and Stone-in vision, sitting upon a scarlet-coloured man. Birmingham: John W. Showell. beast, was full of names of blasphemy,' The dedication of this volume "to his which is characteristic of idolatrous churches, church and congregation, by their minister," more especially that of Rome." informs us that it contains "a series of lectures designed for their spiritual benefit." We have no direct evidence that these lectures had first been delivered vivá voce; but an expression at the foot of p. 246, leads us to conclude that they first emanated from "In whatever sphere Christians may the pulpit. They are the productions of an move, high or low, this should be their chief amiable, zealous, and pious mind, and are desire, that in all their spirit and conduct, designed to exalt the conceptions of the they may reflect the glories of this holiness, reader on the extent, perfection, and sub- that it may shine in them, in the promotion limity of the divine attributes. From en- of purity in themselves and others, in the larged and correct views of Him "whom church, and in the world. This will best the heaven of heavens cannot contain," occa- show that they fear God, and desire, above sion is constantly taken to comfort, cheer, all things, to glorify his name. As he who and encourage the humble and affectionate hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all child of God by the very greatness and manner of conversation; because it is writpower of such an omniscient and omnipotent ten, Be ye holy, for I am holy.""-p. 197. Friend and Father, and to stir up the believer's gratitude and love; while the sinner is as constantly warned that the same piercing eye, the same resistless arm, which The Conversion and Death-bed Experience is over his people for good, is "against them of Mrs. Little. By JOHN LITTLE. London: that do evil." The thoughts of the writer John Snow, Paternoster-row. Thirty-seven often glow and expand with the grandeur thousands of this little work have been of his subject, and clothe themselves in printed, and much good, we believe, has corresponding language. Indeed, nothing resulted, under God the Spirit, from their is tame in the performance. Earnestness circulation. With Mrs. Little's views of breathes through every page. universal redemption we cannot be expected Although we should a little differ from to agree. Let the following statements in Mr. Swan in the manner of his addresses to the Appendix be compared. "The question the unconverted, we are convinced, from is, on whom and when is Jesus (the gift) much that he has written, that he attributes bestowed? We answer, on the sinner and to God alone the will and the power to make before he believes, that is to say, Jesus is

BRIEF NOTICES.

given to him as a gift, prior to his faith.", the text, "O Israel, thou shalt not be for"What does Jesus (the gift) contain? The gotten of me," delivered on occasion of the Holy Spirit replies, Perfect Holiness,' recent efforts of Papists. It is full of evan'Full and complete Forgiveness,' 'God's gelical instruction and encouragement,own Righteousness,' and Eternal Life."" a suitable antidote to the alarm which many "The Gospel is to be preached to every crea- have felt lest the ark of God should fall into tare; therefore Christ died for every creature the hands of the enemy. is again the Gospel. But you, reader, are one of the every, and consequently Christ died for your sins." If all this be true, the entire human family will be saved. We believe that the gift of Christ was bestowed upon sinners-upon sinners before their conversion, but upon sinners chosen in Christ,

whom the Lord our God would call. We conceive that the additional force of consistency would have distinguished the "Guide to Peace with God" by the adoption of this view of redeeming love, nor would the value of the book, as to its main object, have been at all impaired.

Dissent and the Papal Bull.-No Intolerance, a response to the cry of " No Popery." By NEWMAN HALL, B. A. London: John Snow, Paternoster-row. A firm protest against the spirit generally prevailing upon the subject of the "Papal Aggression." With Mr. Hall, 66 fair advantage" of the Papists, and unwe scorn to take any ununchristian and sparingly denounce, as has been said and done in reference to this injurious to the Protestant cause, much that all-engrossing affair. But we are keeping our eyes and ears open. A system like that of Romanism, religious only in form and The Last Enemy, and the Sure Defence. pretence, must be watched in its progress, By W. LEASK. London: B. L. Green, and its first attempt at any thing like poliPaternoster-row. The writer of this small tical power, firmly resisted and crushed. volume is evidently in earnest. He writes Let us be careful, however, lest in a moas a dying man to dying men. Still we ment of excitement, we practically deny the must complain of an occasional want of clear- principle of civil and religious liberty, and ness in the presentation of Scripture truth. forget to do to others as we would that others For example, after quoting John xv. 1-9, should do to us. he adds, "The happy and fruit-bearing union here spoken of, is effected by faith in Jesus Christ." We understand the union of The Signs of the Times, which are preGod's people to Christ as effected by atoning ceeding the Second Coming of Christ, and mercy, and realized by faith. The collection his Personal Reign on David's throne at of "dying testimonies" (Chap. v.) is valuable. Jerusalem. By W. GOSLING. London: Houlston and Stoneman, Paternoster-row. The Mother's Friend. A Monthly Maga"The author believes that the destruction zine. Edited by ANN JANE. London: of apostate Rome is at hand, and that this B. L. Green, Paternoster-row. The design circumstance will immediately precede the of this admirable periodical (a specimen of second coming of Christ," that the innovawhose style and spirit we have given on tions now attempted by the Pope are but a page 42, of our present number) is "to aid struggling gasp for life, and fully indicate and encourage those mothers who have little that his days are numbered, and that his time to read, and little money to spend upon destruction is nigh." We forbear to enter books."-The talented and pious Editress on the Millenarian controversy, and leave asks very small monthly contributions of Mr. Gosling's readers either time or money. If wives will contri- selves."

bute the little time, perhaps husbands who

to search for them

"love their wives" will see to it, by the con- The Crisis; a Prize Essay on Senior tribution of the little money, that no single Classes in Sunday Schools. By HENRY month shall pass away without a visit from HALL. London: B. L. Green, Paternoster"The Friend" to their own firesides. row. The second of two prizes from the Committee of the Sunday School Union was Our Mighty All. By JOHN Cox. London: awarded to Mr. Hall for the essay now Ward & Co., 27, Paternoster-row. Three before us. The subject is highly important, faithful and affectionate discourses upon and the manner in which it is handled Christ, as the Way, the Truth, and the Life. (with hardly an exception) creditable at Also by the same authoronce to the piety and intelligence of the author. We wish that every Sabbath School An Animating Assurance, or Tranquil- had its Senior Class, and that every conizing Thoughts for Troublous Times. This ductor of such a class would read "The tract contains the substance of a sermon from Crisis."

Again, we denounce this doctrine, because under its working, an unscriptural and unmeaning ceremony is substituted for the regenerating influence of the Holy Ghost. The legally ordained priest claims it as his sole prerogative to christen children, by which he teaches them to believe they are made "members of Christ, children of God, and inheritors of the kingdom of heaven."+ That they are "hereby made the children of grace." So that it is clearly seen the popish delusion of baptismal regeneration, so opposed to a personal change of heart, in order to the attainment of everlasting life, if it does not arise out of the idea of "apostolical succession," is wrapped up in it, and perpetuated by it. Let the one be destroyed, and the other dies with it.

Again, we look at the distinctions which | bishop has ordained him. Then, although the doctrine maintains among the professed he should be a wicked man, we are told,his servants of the Redeemer (as archdeacons, services will be acceptable. "Neither is the bishops, and archbishops) together with the effect of Christ's ordinance taken away by lordly and domineering spirit which it en- their wickedness, nor the grace of God's gifts genders, and compare it with the mind of diminished from such, although they be the "meek and lowly" Jesus, as we find it ministered by evil men."* recorded in Matt. xxiii. 8-12. Also Mark x. 42—45; “Be ye not called Rabbi; for one is your Master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren. He that is greatest among you, shall be your servant," &c.; and we find it so directly opposed to both the letter of the word, and the spirit of Christ, that we again denounce it as anti-scriptural, and unworthy the countenance of any good man. Again, we denounce it, from the unholy influence it has produced, wherever it has been received and retained. Just look for a moment at the condition of Catholic countries; see their moral degradation,-fine resources, yet deplorable poverty; their national bondage; and what is worse than all, their spiritual ignorance; all may be traced to the influence of the crafty priest, which influence he derives from the belief the people have that he is a successor of the apostles. To say nothing of Ireland, poor groaning and bleeding Ireland, let us come to our own country, and look at the condition of hundreds and thousands, not only in the rural districts, but in towns. Multitudes go to the building called the parish church all their lives, yet never hear the gospel of salvation; and if by chance there happens to come a servant of the Lord to preach the gospel within their reach, they are taught to despise both him and his message, and if not to persecute, yet to pity those whose hearts are opened to receive the truth as it is in Jesus. Now what is the cause of this? The reception of the baneful doctrine of apostolical succession. But for the belief of this doctrine, numbers who now Occupy the pulpits of our churches, would never have taken upon themselves the clerical office, and if they had, they would have been rejected with scorn by the people; but under the influence of this popish doctrine, the people believe them to be legally authorized to the cure of their souls.

We denounce this notion, because it substitutes what are called holy orders for spiritual qualifications, in making ministers. According to this, it is not that a man has "tasted that the Lord is gracious;" not that the love of Christ constrains him to preach the gospel; not that he even believes the inspired testimony concerning Jesus; not that his conduct is moral; but because the

Again, we denounce the doctrine, because it has always fostered a spirit of persecution towards those holy men whom God has raised up and sent forth to preach the word, without submitting to the hand of the bishop. To justify this remark, we need only refer to the oppressions and sufferings inflicted upon the Nonconformists, from the accession of James I., in 1603, to the passing of the glorious act of toleration in 1688. Their possessions, to an enormous amount, were confiscated, themselves imprisoned, their persons maimed, and in at least two instances, their lives were taken away, by burning at the stake;§ the whole of which may without difficulty be traced to the influence of the anti-christian doctrine of "apostolical succession." Seeing, then, brethren, the unscripturalness of the doctrine, its lordly character, its domineering influence, and its baneful effects, let us come out from it with disgust, and retire from its precincts as far as possible, lest we be contaminated with its hateful breath. I regret we are not wholly free from it. The Rev. often prefixed to our names, indicates a reluctance to get wholly clear from the scarlet strumpet. That sacred word occurs but once in the inspired volume. We well know it comes from the same root which is usually translated fear; and what does this seem to say, but that it was adopted to create a fear and an awe in the minds of the common people, towards those to whom it was applied? And such an effect has been produced by it to a

See Catechism.

See the 26th Article of the church. † See the second answer in the Catechism. § Bartholomew Legate was burnt in Smithfield, March, 1611, and Edmund Wightman was burnt at Coventry, April, 1612. Many also died in prison.