ter: but he does not content himself there; he attends to their spiritual affairs, and has a chaplain to read prayers night and morning. But the advocates of this argument against the system almost always allow that some are the better for the change. A WORD FOR THE PRAYER-MEETING FOR 1848. SOME who read this title will perhaps say it is an "old subject," and will pass it by. Yet it is hoped that the majority of those who peruse this book, will spare a little time to read and think upon this "old subject." to be seen at the prayer-meeting that these words are affectionately addressed; this question is asked, Why are you not to be seen there? It will be unnecessary to insist upon the benefit either of secret, social, or public prayer-all Christians feel its blessedness, The man who lives in the daily, yea, ceaseless exercise of prayer, feels within a strength imparted which enables him faithfully to discharge his duties, and firmly to resist the influence of evil-for God is with him, The household which assembles morning and evening at the family altar experiences the blessing and protection of God. So in the church where the spirit of prayer is a real living principle, the ministry prospers, the pastor and people live loving and helping one another. To an attentive observer, the prayermeeting is a sort of pulse, by which he may often obtain a fair knowledge of the health of a church; for where the lifeblood of true religion flows in all its healthy fulness, there the members delight to meet together to join in the exercise of prayer and praise. It is to those Christians who are never It is impossible to know how every family is situated. All have their own peculiar difficulties and cares. Yet we cannot help learning many a true lesson from observation; and we feel that the disposition will provide the means, We have seen the man of business there, and even some of the young men employed by him. We have seen the mother of a large family there. In neither instance were the respective duties violated or neglected. Ought they Many honourable examples are to be found in most churches. Would that they were less uncommon. not to be? Is it wrong to infer from such cases, that it is not the press of business, nor the greatness of family duties, that present obstacles, but the want of the willing heart, without which no needful arrangement will be made-no sacrifice be submitted to. You own the importance of these meetings. Would that you felt it more. Your minister is expected always to be there, and you would greatly wonder if you heard that he ever neglected to attend. A WORD FROM JEREMY TAYLOR TO THE PERSECUTORS OF THE TRINITY. He who goes about to speak of the mystery of the Trinity, and does it by words, and names of man's invention; talking of essences, and existences, hypostases, and personalities, priority in co-equality, and unity in pluralities, may amuse himself, and build a tabernacle in his head, and talk something-he knows not what; | Spirit of God is shed abroad-this man, but the renewed man, that feels the power of the Father, and to whom the Son is become wisdom, sanctification, and redemption-in whose heart the love of the HYMN AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF WORSHIP. BY THE REV JONATHAN EVANS, though he understand nothing of what is unintelligible, yet he alone truly understands the Christian doctrine of the Trinity. Poetry. Author of "Hark! the voice of Love and Mercy." WHENE'ER We assemble to pray, This question should ne'er be forgot, Let each with humility say, "Is Jesus among us or not?" What's hearing the word of his grace, Though Paul or Apollos should preach? If Jesus be not in the place, The sermon our hearts cannot reach. If Jesus his presence withhold, Our hearts are as lifeless as clay, Our spirits quite languid and cold: "Is Jesus among us to-day?" No ordinance, sure, can be sweet, "Is Jesus my covenant friend? Is Jesus among us or not?" PARTING HYMN AT THE CLOSE OF THE JESUS! in thy dear name we meet, A charm with matchless blessings fraught. And till the season shall return That calls us round thy throne to pray, New mysteries may our faith explore, Foleshill. Review of Books. The PILGRIM'S PROGRESS, from this World to that which is to come. Delivered under the similitude of a Dream. Wherein is discovered the manner of his setting out; his dangerous journey, and safe arrival at the desired country. By JOHN BUNYAN, accurately printed from the First Edition, with notices of all the subsequent additions and alterations made by the Author himself. Edited for the Hanserd Knolly's Society, with an Introduction, by GEORGE OFFOR. 8vo. pp. 560. J. Haddon, Castle-street, Finsbury. THE interest connected with the author of "The Pilgrim's Progress" can never expire, while piety and genius have any existence in our world. We have felt indebted to every writer who has contributed to throw light upon the life and labours of this remarkable man, and especially upon the extraordinary production upon which his fame chiefly depends. We have not been insensible even of the value of such labours as those of Dr. Southey, though he never understood the character he attempted to portray. Still he threw a few glimmerings of light upon certain literary questions connected with Bunyan's eventful story, of which we would not be unmindful. Had he better known the mysteries of the spiritual life, and sympathized more deeply with the victims of priestly persecution, he would have done ampler justice to the memory of Bunyan. We cannot, however, thus speak of "The Life and Times" of Bunyan, by our esteemed friend, the Rev. Robert Philip. No criticisms to which it can be subjected will deprive it of the great merits which pertain to it. And no other work extant | indeed, he had exerted no voluntary supercontains one half the information respecting Bunyan to be found in it. It would be the height of ingratitude, in the progress of critical inquiry, and aided by the lights which Mr. Philip has supplied, to depreciate the value of labours which all candid men will be ready duly to estimate. After making these observations, we shall not be mistaken by our friend, when we say that we regret his change of opinion, recently expressed, on the subject of the scene where the Pilgrim's Progress was produced. Our regret arises from the slender evidence upon which he suffered his former convictions to be overborne, and from the somewhat pertinacious manner in which he sought to sustain a feeble theory. That Bedford Jail was the place in which the Pilgrim was written, we have never doubted; and, if any doubts could have existed with the facts before our mind, they must all have been dissipated by the conclusive evidence, and the not less conclusive reasonings, of Mr. Offor. We wish he had been a little less severe in his criticisms of Mr. Philip, who, after all, did noble service to the character of his chosen hero. Some of these criticisms are in bad taste, to say the least, and but ill comport with that regard which he professes to cherish for his friend and neighbour, and which are due to the first biographer of Bunyan, who ever did anything like justice to his pre-eminent genius and worth. Truth, however, constrains us to acknowledge that Mr. Offor has furnished a most interesting introduction to a reprint of Bunyan's first edition of his great work. It has a dash of bitterness running through it which we could wish to see extracted; but it is an invaluable document; and is worthy of an author who has spent many years in antiquarian researches, and in the stanch support of the great principles of civil and religious liberty. As an authentic copy of the first edition of the Pilgrim's Progress, with correct and painstaking references to all the additions and alterations made by the author himself in his immortal work, the volume before us will be prized by thousands of God's people. Mr. Offor well observes, that "the greatest characteristic of original genius is its spontaneous exertion,-the evidence of having written without labour and without the consciousness of doing anything remarkable, or the ambitious aim of doing a great work. The greatest efforts of genius flow as naturally as it is for common men to breathe. In this view, Bunyan's work comes nearer to the inspired poetry of the Hebrews in its character, than any other human composition. He wrote from the impulse of his genius, sanctified and illuminated by a heavenly influence; as if, vision over its exercise. Everything is as natural and unconstrained as if it had not been intended for public inspection. There has not been found any model with which it can even be compared. It is a beautiful transparency seen as the heavenly light shines through-the renewed spirit alone enjoys the picture in its perfection, with all its chaste but glowing colours. It can be fully appreciated only by him who possesses that spiritual light, without which the things of God and heaven cannot be discerned." We recommend Mr. Offor's masterly critique and edition of the Pilgrim to the attention of all our readers. JEWISH WITNESSES that 'JESUS is the Aylott and Jones. In his Introduction to deeply interesting personal and other narratives, Mr. Herschell has made some very admirable remarks upon the subject of the undue bias charged upon Christians in the matter of religious training: "It has been a common complaint," says he, "of Infidels, and opposers of the truth as it is in Jesus, that men have never been left unbiassed in the matter of religion; that parents and teachers have always been urgent to enforce their own dogmas on the youthful mind; and that thus men grow up disposed to retain and defend these dogmas, instead of dispassionately examining them, in order to ascertain their truth or falsehood. But if this objection were sustained, it would be inconsistent to confine it to religion; on the same principle we ought not to bias the opinions of a youth in regard to matters moral, economical, or political; but leave him, on all such subjects, to form his axioms and code of laws after his own fashion. Indeed, to be truly consistent, we should give no instruction at all; since all instruction, in so far as it is received, gives a decided bias to the mind. If a man believe his religion to be true, it is the thing of all others which he is bound to enforce on the mind of his pupil; if he does not believe the religion he professes to be true, then, certainly, he had better leave religious instruction to be communicated by some one else. "But though it is easy to show the absurdity of the above-mentioned complaint, there is a half-truth in it, which gives it its point and its danger. In a professedly Christian country like this, where a certain amount of religious profession is reputable, the great bulk of such religionists maintain hereditary dogmas without examination, and without any certain conviction of their truth. This not only gives a handle to the infidel, but stumbles and confuses men of thoughtful minds, who, ignorant of true religion, yet, feeling that man is destined for intercourse with the Infinite and Invisible, perceive with dismay that there is no reality in the religion of the men who surround them; that their doleful confession of being miserable sinners; their pas sionate outcries for pardon and spiritual life, are nothing more than a dramatic performance, which it is considered decorous to go through at least once a week. I believe that amid the motley groups of worldly society, there are scattered not a few of these thoughtful ones; who, disgusted with the unconscious hypocrisy of those around them, and kept aloof by prejudices of various kinds from the true children of God, whose confessions and aspirations are the language of the heart, finally betake themselves to some one of those refuges of lies which modern Pantheism has swept and garnished, and adorned with the fruits and flowers of poetry and philosophy." How true is all this! And how excellent is it, as an introduction to a work which contains the testimony of a Jew, that Jesus is indeed the Christ, the Son of God, and the Saviour of the world. We recommend Mr. Herschell's work most earnestly to our readers. It is calculated to do great good to all the nominal Christians who dwell in the midst of us. The FINISHED MYSTERY. To which is added, An Examination of Mr. Brown, on the Second Advent. By GEORGE DUKE of MANCHESTER, 8vo. pp. 428. J. Hatchard and Son. THOUGH there is much in this volume, and in the noble author's theories, to which we cannot give our assent; yet we are happy to be able to say, that the work evinces a deep and reverent piety, and a most commendable acquaintance with the word of God. As a controversial treatise, moreover, we are bound to admit, that it indicates a spirit in accordance with that charity which "thinketh no evil." There is nothing in it to call forth resentment or unkindly feeling, and nothing of that unhappy dogmatism which has too often distinguished the writings of those who sympathize generally with the views entertained and advocated by his Grace of Manchester. We give him credit for the ability to reason calmly, and clearly, and, at times, profoundly; and feel indebted to him for an essay, which, to say the least of it, is entitled to the grave consideration of Biblical students, and which will afford a fair opportunity for discussing theories which are brought before the public in a distinct and tangible form. We feel that our review department, from its necessary brevity, does not afford scope for the tho rough investigation of such a volume as that of the Duke of Manchester; and, therefore, if life is spared, we intend, during the present year, in a series of plain and practical essays, to examine the noble author's chief positions, and to endeavour to ascertain how far they accord with the oracles of the living God. We shall leave our friend, the Rev. David Brown, to speak for himself, as he is well able. Meanwhile, we wish our readers distinctly to understand, that, after reading with great care, and as much as possible without prejudice, the Duke of Manchester's arguments for the personal visible reign of Christ, on the throne of David, we are not convinced of the scriptural character of the theory which he propounds. But more of this, we hope, in the February number of the Evangelical Magazine. DOMESTIC MEMOIRS of a CHRISTIAN FAMILY, resident in the County of Cumberland. With Descriptive Sketches of the Scenery of the British Lakes. By HENRY TUDOR, Esq., Author of "Narrative of a Tour in North America, Mexico," &c. 8vo. pp. 424. J. Hatchard and Son. THERE are several circumstances which prompt the desire that these Domestic Memoirs may realize an extensive circulation. They are, throughout, pervaded by a spirit of fervent piety; they exhibit a lovely specimen of domestic virtue and happiness, modelled upon Christian principles; they discuss, incidentally, many questions in philanthropy and religion, in a clear and scriptural manner; they bear a noble testimony against the corrupt and idolatrous Church of Rome; and, in connection with all this, they contain some vivid and accurate descriptions of the English lakes, which all who are familiar with them will be able immediately to recognise. Some of the topics are greatly elaborated, particularly the chapter on Romanism, in which demonstrative evidence is supplied of the utterly idolatrous character of that anti-Christian system. As the proofs are adduced from Roman Catholic authori ties, we regard them as incapable of fair answer. No doubt Romanists will attempt to rebut the charge of idolatry, in their own subtle and deceitful manner; but, if there be idolatry in all Paganism, it has no surer marks than those which attend its habitual every-day practice in the Papal apostasy. All the disingenuous logic of its chief doctors, with Dr. Wiseman at their head, can never convince an unperverted mind that Romanism is not steeped in idolatry, ―idolatry more flagrant than that of Paganism, because practised under the sacred auspices of Christianity itself. In the volume before us there are very able defences of the British and Foreign Bible Society, the Religious Tract Society, and the Church Missionary Society, showing the great benefits which these institutions have conferred upon large portions of the human race. The profits from the sale of the work are to be devoted to the Church Missionary Society. We hope they will be large, in proportion to the claims of that excellent institution. Will Mr. Tudor pardon us, if we complain a little of his style of reference to the Church Missionary Society. "There are," says he, "but two religious institutions in my humble opinion, that can take precedence of the Religious Tract Society, with regard to extensive usefulness, indefatigable energy, and unwearied industry;-these are the Bible and Church Missionary Societies." We do not object to his estimate of the Religious Tract and Bible Societies; but he ought, with the liberal views which he entertains, to have remembered, that the Church Missionary Society is but one among many such institutions which God has equally blessed. We think this critieism fair and just. It has, also, occurred to us, that if Mr. and Mrs. Gracelove are veritable characters, they have had more personal praise bestowed on them than will be for the spiritual health of their souls. The volume, however, we warmly recommend to our readers. the invaluable work of the late excellent Dr. M'Crie on the same subject. He has, however, added many things, derived from many sources, which the reader will find duly indicated as he advances. "The second part describes the state of things in Italy since the Reformation, and though quite miscellaneous in its subjects and details, it will probably be read with interest by those who desire to know the state of things in that beautiful, but spiritually benighted country. The third part contains as full a notice of the Waldenses, their origin, their country, their history, and their present condition and prospects, as the nature of this work would permit. It does not profess to be a full history of that wonderful peoplea great desideratum, for we have nothing in English which is worthy of the name, Some notice of the Waldenses was necessary in a work which undertakes to speak of Protestantism in Italy, past and present. The beautiful and appropriate insignia of that heaven-preserved people, consists of seven stars surrounding a blazing lamp, encircling which runs the appropriate motto, Lux lucet in tenebris, (the light shineth in darkness). May it ever shine in those valleys, until all the surrounding region shall be full of the light of the glorious gospel of Jesus." Such is Dr. Baird's account of his own labours in the volume before us; and, after glancing over its pages with some degree of care, we can assure our readers, that it is full of incident and touching narrative from beginning to end. As it is one of Collins's cheap series, we cannot doubt that it will have a very extensive circulation. SKETCHES of PROTESTANTISM in ITALY. Past and Present. Including a Notice of the Origin, History, and Present State of the Waldenses. By ROBERT BAIRD, D.D., New York. Small 8vo. pp. 346. Collins, Glasgow; and Paternoster-row, London." DR. BAIRD is an interesting and industrious author, as his former writings have abundantly proved, particularly his "Religion in America." Of the work which we now introduce to our readers he gives the following account: "The author has endeavoured to give the reader such information respecting the history, present condition, and future prospects of pure Christianity in Italy, as it is in his power to communicate. The work consists of three nearly equal parts. The first relates to the rise, progress, and suppression of the Reformation in Italy In this portion of the book he has availed himself extensively of The Use of the Body in relation to the Mind. By GEORGE MOORE, M.D., Member of the Royal College of Physicians, &c. &c. Second Edition. 12mo. pp. 442. Longman and Co. WHEN the first edition of this very inte resting work made its appearance, we did what we could to bring it advantageously before the reading, thinking public; regarding it as an essay of more than ordinary power, upon a topic which claims the consideration of every human being. How true are the following sentiments from the author's pen:-" The physical and spiritual worlds are in perpetual connection, and all our true interests are essentially religious, because they are everlasting; therefore, to separate true knowledge from devout feeling. is to divorce what God has joined together, and thus to produce a profane severance, like that of faith from love, which, as it begins in distrust, must |