The Ceremony of Laying the Foundation Stone of a New Church, at Skipton, in Craven, on Wednesday, June 21, 1837; containing an Address delivered on the occasion. By the Rev. HAMMOND ROBERSON, M.A. Incumbent of Liversedge, and Prebendary of York. Second Edition. London: Burns.

THIS little tract deserves extensive circulation it simply delineates the excellences of the system and public services of the Church of England.

The occasion itself must have been highly interesting, and the more from the various associations inspired by the spot itself; Skipton being one of the most beautiful sites in the most romantic portion of the county of York.

The Spare Minutes of a Minister. Dublin: Milliken and Son. London: Fellowes. Pp. 136.

THESE pages are the fruit of the spare minutes of one who has in his recreations still served that blessed Master to whom all the opportunities of selfconsecration are equally due. There is a simplicity, and at times an elegance in the author which proves that he has not mispent the leisure hours which he has devoted to poesy. He has produced a volume certainly of more than ordinary worth. It bears the impression of a retired, peaceful, and humble spirit, and we earnestly hope that this author will again come before the public as an illustrator of scriptural and religious subjects through the medium of verse. We cannot have too many good christian poets.

The Parables of our Lord explained, in familiar Conversations between a Mother and her Children. By the Wife of an Irish Clergyman. London: Seeley and Burnside. Pp. 207. THIS volume contains much that is very excellent; we cannot, however, regard its style and general character as equally praiseworthy with that of Miss Parry's highly valuable work upon the Gospels, entitled, "The Young Christian's Sunday Evening." Occasionally points are touched upon which

it would perhaps be more judicious to have omitted. Thus in the first conversation, which, on the whole, is most admirable, our authoress ventures on an explication of the expression, 'Bearing fruit, some an hundred-fold, some sixty," &c. to this effect, that these words may imply not merely the diversity of men's works according to their different circumstances, but the difference in the desire of doing good which may follow from the different degree of grace severally imparted. Something more simple would have been better suited to the class of readers for whom this little book is intended. The name of Dr. Adam Clarke is occasionally introduced; but with all due deference to his admirers, we cannot look upon him as an authority. He was an extremely fanciful and uncertain thinker; but, if he anywhere excelled in his Commentary on the New Testament, it was in his practical illustrations of the Parables.

"The Beast and his Image" or, The Pope and the Council of Trent. With the Number, Name, and Mark of the Pope, and the Mark of his Name in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Being a Commentary upon Revelation xiii. By FREDERIC FYSH, M.A. of Queen's College, Cambridge. London: Seeleys. Pp. xvi. 547.

BISHOP NEWTON has evidently been the favourite authority with Mr. Fysh, who, however, is by no means a servile imitator or adopter of any previous theory; for, whenever he thinks he has sufficient grounds, he not only boldly expresses his opinion, but maintains it with great talent and ingenuity. The volume is, in a word, a valuable and interesting commentary upon Revelation xiii.; and deserves an attentive perusal from all who look to the fulfilment of the prophecies directed against Popery; and the value is much enhanced by the comprehensive and enlightened review of the history of the Jesuits, whose subtleties are ably exposed, and their unchristian traditions and theories strongly denounced. We fear, however, it is too prolix for the general reader, although, for

ourselves, we could gladly have followed our ingenious author through another tome.

The Two Brothers: a Narrative, exhibiting the Effects of Education. London: Groombridge. Edinburgh: Sutherland. Dublin: Robertson and Co. 1837. Pp. 99.

We have perused this publication with much pleasure. It is written in a style which is sure to entertain, and in a spirit which is calculated to leave none but the best impressions. It is inscribed to "Fathers and Mothers, and the Instructors of Youth;" and we shall be only happy if the circulation of this little book is as extensive as are the classes to whom it is dedicated. It is one of those works which even the juvenile peruser would find no difficulty in taking up a second, if not a third time. This hint will, we trust, induce the author to find leisure again to amuse and edify his readers; and we must add, that to effect both these objects together, is, in our opinion, no slight merit.

The Life of St. Chrysostome. Translated from the German of Dr. Neander, Professor of Divinity at the University of Berlin, &c. By the Rev. J. C. STAPLETON, M.A. F.L.S. &c. Rector of Teversal, Notts. Vol. I. Pp. x. 438. London: Seeleys.

DR. NEANDER, who has long been known by his "Ecclesiastical Lives," and other distinguished writings, is, in the present instance, peculiarly fortunate in his translator; for a more accomplished scholar, or one better versed in the early history of the Fathers, could scarcely have been found. Mr. Stapleton, indeed, has conferred a great favour upon his clerical brethren, and we might say, on the christian community at large, by the spirited and accurate manner in which he has produced the present work; and we sincerely hope he will not be long in completing the task for which he has proved himself in every respect so eminently qualified, especially as St. Chrysostome is a name

familiar to all the readers of an admirable liturgy, and his history must ever possess the most enduring interest.

The Christian Warrior wrestling with Sin, Satan, the World, and the Flesh. By the late Rev. ISAAC AMBROSE. Abridged, Methodized, and Improved by Rev. THOMAS JONES, of Creaton, Northamptonshire. London: Seeleys. 1837. Pp. 160. THIS truly formidable title will easily show the nature of the work. It is piously intended; but it belongs to a school of theology which is not exactly to our taste. The writer's notions are not over clear about Churchgovernment, as will be seen by the following quotation from 134:page "None are so likely to fall into heresies as those who are fond of wrangling about trivial points. If the form of Church-government had been as necessary to salvation as the doctrine of Christ, he would not have left one in the dark when the other is made so clear. All ought to avoid doubtful disputations, and to view them as the devices of Satan against the saints. One of the best books on this subject is Irenicum, by Mr. Stillingfleet."

The Form and Order of the Service performed, and Ceremonies observ ed, in the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, in the Abbey Church of St. Peter, Westminster, on Thursday, the 28th of June, 1838. London: printed for the PrayerBook and Homily Society. Spottiswoode. 1838.

WE think the public greatly indebted to the Society for thus rendering the august and majestic service for the Coronation accessible to all in a cheap, but elegant form. We trust the sale will fully answer expectation, and aid the funds of this excellent Institution. We cannot, however, forbear remarking that, if our memory rightly serves, the

present service is somewhat shortened, and in a few respects deteriorated from that performed at the coronation of his late Majesty, William IV.; as the service then used was a departure for the worse from that of the preced

ing monarch, which was the ancient rite in all its fulness and majestic beauty. What a pity it is that the improving hand of Whig-Radicalism cannot leave anything untouched, and that the result is universally the same from some evil star which rules its destiny. We would point out as one instance the well-known hymn, Veni Creator Spiritus; the beautiful simplicity of the authorized form of which in the Ordination Service is sadly marred. Let one line suffice"And warm them with thy heavenly fire," is substituted for,

"And lighten with celestial fire." Surely the substituted words are anything but an improvement in point of taste and style; while the image of light in the original expresses far more than the very vulgar word warm. We also protest against the curtailment of the rite of unction, a thing which would never have been thought of, except in an age of pinching economy, of a delicacy which has degenerated into mawkishness, and of sentiments which are without true dignity, destitute alike of imagination and affectation, and "all the higher qualities of human nature!" Verily, we may ask, what next? Is it, however, not a pity that those concerned had not been previously admonished, that every attempt to make the service palatable to the Radicals and Infidels would be a vain effort, and would not avert the profane and blasphemous attacks upon religion and royalty, of which the late coronation was the innocent occasion, a fact which an inspection of the radical and low periodicals sufficiently attests. Even the Papist, O'Connell, turned it into ridicule! May the Almighty Governor of all speedily deliver our youthful and innocent Queen from their counsels and machinations! Amen.

The Protestant. A Poetical Appeal. By F. S. THOMAS. No. I., to be continued occasionally. In aid of the Funds of the Protestant Association. London: Dalton. 1838. Pp. 15.

A VERY Constitutional and effective piece of poetry, which we cordially recommend.

Pictures of Private Life. Third Series. By SARAH STICKNEY. London Smith and Elder. 1837. Pp. 367.

THE design of the fair authoress is to show in this work, to which she has given the title of "Pretension," that the elegances and accomplishments of the female sex are not incompatible with spiritual Christianity. This is a point which, surely, does not need a religious novel to prove it! We have here a lady who comes up to the standard of spiritual religion required by the authoress; another young lady who imitates her, but, after all her efforts, fails; she is a decided coquette, and steals away the affections of a young gentleman from his betrothed, who does not possess the charms of Miss Bell, the second aforesaid young lady. The book is very cleverly written, and shows a great knowledge of human nature, and particularly of the female character. However, the morbid anatomy of the human heart here displayed does strike us as going somewhat too far, and giving a very erroneous impression of true religion. As we have no wish that our fair friends should turn Methodists, we warn them that they must read this very interesting novel cum grano salis! We, certainly, after all, do look with some suspicion on the first lady who (as we are told at page 264) "had attained eminence in the religious world," and are almost afraid that such eminence is most usually accompanied by as high a degree of "pretension" as the various other failings and affectations to which the authoress has here given that title. By the way, we hear this most unscriptural and self-contradicting phrase, "the religious world," so frequently in the mouths of certain persons, that we have often sought for a definition, but in vain. We suppose it means the frequenters of Exeter Hall, where, certainly, religion is not that secret and awful thing which the Scriptures assure us, a something "not of the world," but far above it, whose "conversation is in heaven;" but a very bustling, busy, worldly thing, rejoicing in oratorical displays, the clap ping of fair hands and the waving of white pocket handkerchiefs; full of

anxiety about raising funds at any rate, and by all sorts of ways and means; with no small share of worldly wisdom, and not a little "PRETENSION!"

Plain Conversations concerning the Church of England, and the “Sayings and Doings" of her Enemies. By a LAY MEMBER OF THE CHURCH. London: Rivingtons. Pp. vi. 128. THE evidence, daily forced upon us, of the " unholy alliance existing amongst all denominations of professing Christians against the Established Church, loudly calls upon her sons to prepare themselves for the impending contest. With this view the above tract has been penned; and it is not only well executed, but calculated, by its plain but forcible language, to be of essential service to the cause; supplying the unlearned" with plain answers to the various false arguments that are now daily employed by Romanists and Dissenters, and their agents."

Sermons on Miscellaneous Subjects.

By WILLIAM I. E. BENNETT. M.A. late Student of Christ Church, Oxford; Curate of All Souls; and Minister of Portman Chapel, St. Marylebone. Volume the First. London: Cleaver. Pp. xvi. 351. TWELVE Sound, practical sermons; which, we are happy to observe, constitute only the first volume. They are evidently the production of a deepread and profoundly-thinking minister, and cannot be too extensively circulated.

An Enquiry respecting Love, as one of the Divine Attributes. By T. GISBORNE, M. A. Prebendary of Durham. London: Cadell. Edinburgh: Blackwood. Pp. iv. 165. A MORE attractive subject of contemplation for a Christian than the love of God could scarcely have been imagined; and our author has contemplated it in a proper spirit. The manifestation of God's love to man in creation and redemption, before and after the fall, are particularly interest

ing; and cannot fail forcibly to arrest the attention of the reader, and induce him to "return unto the Lord his God" with increased reverence and holy love.

Analysis and Scripture Proofs of the Homilies of the United Church of England and Ireland. By J. A. THORNTHWAITE. London: Groombridge. Pp. x. 60.

"A LAYMAN'S offering to his church," and a most acceptable one.

Strictures on a Life of William Wilberforce. By the Rev. W. Wilberforce, and the Rev. S. Wilberforce. By THOMAS CLARKSON, M. A. With a Correspondence between Lord Brougham and Mr. Clarkson; also a Supplement, containing Remarks on the Edinburgh Review of Mr. Wilberforce's Life, &c. London: Longman and Co. Pp. xv. 136.

THE venerable author of this "Defence," for such it is in reality, vindicates his claim to be considered the "person who substantially begun the controversy, and brought forward the question" of the horrors of the slavetrade. He has performed his task with ability and mildness; and we are quite sure his friends and the public will not question the truth, the candour, and the sincerity with which the "History of the Abolition" was written, in consequence of the insinuations of the naturally partial biographers of Mr. Wilberforce.