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Hotices of Books.

CATECHETICAL LESSONS ON The Parables-Parts I. & II,
(J. H. & J. Parker),

Are designed for the aid of the clergy in their public catechising; and they make part of a series of catechetical aids,' which are at present in the course of publication. Their usefulness had previously been tested 'from week to week in a large suburban parish, and they differ from most others, in requiring no book but the Bible to enable the learner to answer all the questions that are proposed in them.' The definition of a parable is thus given:-'A parable is a narrative of some real or probable event, designed to illustrate a moral or religious lesson by a figure or similitude drawn from natural objects.' No answers are given to the questions, but in some instances, references are given to texts of Scripture; and each parable is distinguished by a number indicating the order in which our Lord appears to have spoken them. These lessons will be found most convenient and excellent aids' to clergymen and catechists in their labour of love, in feeding the lambs of their flocks with the bread of life.

CATECHETICAL NOTES ON THE THIRTY-NINE ARTICLES.

(Parker).

In arranging the chief formularies of the Church into a three years' course of catechising, the author placed the Articles in the third year, the Catechism in the first, and some portions of the Liturgy in the second year. He justly thinks that the prominence into which they have been drawn, makes it desirable that every member of the Church should have some acquaintance with them, and should feel that there is no contradiction between them and the Catechism or Liturgy. The Thirty-Nine Articles are the protest of the Church of England against the anti-Christian dogmas of the Council of Trent. They have,' says Bishop Taylor, 'now a new article of faith ready for the stamp, which may very shortly become necessary to salvation-we mean that of the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary.' Well, on the 8th December, 1855, the stamp was given, which, in our opinion, developed THE Antichrist; and we have seen in the public prints that among a number of presents sent by the hand of his legate à latere to the septino-octave head of the Beast is the horrid act of blasphemy of a MODEL of the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary!

THE ENGLISH HYMNAL, (Parker, 1856).

This is a new edition of a hymn book for the use of the Church of England; but it were much to be wished that our governors would decide upon and establish a certain collection, so that our whole Church might glorify God, in music as in prayer, with one mouth and

one voice. This is one of the best hymnals which we have seen, and we could most devoutly wish that our village musicianers' would sing with life and spirit, and that our organists would not 'break the connexion, and distract and weary the congregation,' by playing interludes between the verses, which is also a waste of time. We recommend this little volume to the attention of our readers.

THE EARNEST COMMUNICANT, (Wertheim and Macintosh).

This is a course of preparation for the Lord's Table, by the Rev. Ashton Oxenden, rector of Pluckley, in Kent, whose 'Pathway of Safety' we noticed in our number for June last. The object of this little book is, 'to offer helps to one who is already an earnest communicant, or desires to be so; and it is intended, under God, to assist him in rightly preparing himself for that holy ordinance,' which consists of meditations, heads of self-examination, resolutions and prayers. There are none of these companions to the altar that are perfect, nor that suits every one's wants and requirements; but this Earnest Communicant is a very good week's preparation for the holy table, and supplies many excellent prayers and meditations.

FAITH IN GOD as to Temporal THINGS, (Houlston and Stoneman),

Is an account of the rise and progress of the new Orphan House, Ashley Down, near Bristol. Both in its origin and support it is one of the wonders of the age; and it is a bright example of the apostle's assurance, that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous person availeth much; for this institution, from its first beginning in a small dwelling house, to its present large and extensive establishment on Ashley Down, has been entirely supported through the prayers of its founder. It is our intention in our next, to give an extended description of this establishment and its founder, who is a Prussian, and of his plans and system; but, in the meantime, we entreat our readers to send contributions, however small, to the Rev. G. Müller, which may help to provide a breakfast of porridge and milk for three hundred orphans, and thirty-five overseers, teachers, and servants.

A MANUAL OF PRAYERS FOR SCHOOLS, (J. H. & J. Parker),

Is compiled from all the well known fathers of the post-reformational Church of England, which is a sufficient recommendation of itself; but, besides, the prayers are well arranged and sufficiently brief, and yet comprehensive, for each day in the week. In our early years there were no such devotional helps for the young or the aged as are now so abundantly supplied; and, under God, the fruit unto righteousness will appear in the succeeding generations. This manual will be an excellent gift to sons or daughters on departing for school, and, as such, we recommend it.

CAN YOU DIE HAPPY? (Wertheim and Macintosh),

Is a question easily asked, and the object of this tract is to help its readers to answer it satisfactorily. It is a translation from the pen of a French Protestant, Adolphe Monod, who attacks that kind of latent and unavowed infidelity which exists in the minds of multitudes who would not like to be called infidels,' but who, in reality, deserve that title by living without God in the world, as much as those who avowedly deny the Being or the Attributes of the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. No doubt, none but those who have fought the good fight and who have kept the faith can die happy; for they have the full assurance that a crown of righteousness is laid up for them. But it is possible that men may deceive themselves and others, by a certain vague phraseology which does not reach the heart nor influence the conduct. M. Monod shows that the humble believer in Christ can alone really die happy; and his chief object is to direct his fellow sinners to the Corner Stone-the sure Foundation which God has laid in Zion.

ANNIE LESLIE; OR THE LITTLE ORPHAN, (Wertheim and Macintosh),

Is the history of the earliest years of a young girl, who was left an orphan in infancy, and who was educated by an aunt, who broke in a wayward disposition by judicious firmness and kind advice; but the story ends rather abruptly and unsatisfactorily by her being sent to school.

SUPPORT UNDER SUFFERING, (Wertheim and Macintosh),

Is a series of letters to a young relative, with a short sketch of her life, by Rev. Thomas Furlong, of Tonbridge Wells. The life of the young lady contains extracts from her diary, which gives some account of her experience and of her feelings, which she seems to have mistaken for faith; and this short sketch is given chiefly to serve the purpose of introducing Mr. Furlong's own letters, which compose the greater part of the tract. They are affectionate, consoling, and cheering; and were published at the young lady's dying request; because, she said, 'Perhaps some other afflicted child of God might derive that support under suffering from some of them, which she herself had experienced.'

A PLAIN COMMENTARY ON THE BOOK OF PSALMS-PARTS I. and II., (J. H. & J. PARKER),

Is probably by the author of the 'Plain Commentary on the New Testament.' It is being published in parts from the Prayer Book version, and the parts now before us contain from the first to the twentieth psalm. Such a popular work was much wanted, and will be found more convenient for cottage economy' than Bishop Horne's commentary. The Book of Psalms is one of the divisions of holy writ which our Lord recognised as the scriptures; and they are

a complete storehouse of devotion, of consolation in affliction, and of laudation in joy. Therefore, such a commentary will be of essential service to those who have not considered their spiritual import; for the name of David may, in almost all cases, be changed for that of the Messiah.

THE PATH OF THE USEFUL MINISTER IN DAYS OF CONTROVERSY, (J. H. & J. Parker),

He

Is a sermon by the Lord Bishop of Moray and Ross, which he preached at Cuddesden, on Trinity Sunday, 1856, at the ordination of the Lord Bishop of Oxford, when a dear friend and worthy contributor of ours took his first degree' in the ministry, in which we trust he will be found faithful. It was published at the request of the Bishop of Oxford, and it is worthy of the man and of the occasion. strongly recommends his young hearers to avoid controversy, at least not to provoke it; and especially to avoid 'introducing controversial subjects in sermons, and stating points of difference between ourselves and others, in villages and other places, where no such subjects or such points of difference would be even known, unless we had mentioned them.' He strongly recommends catechising as the best possible mode of preaching; and he cites the words of Bishop Andrews, that if ever the Romanists shall get the advantage over us again, it will be from their more frequent catechising than ours.' It is an excellent sermon, and we hope those who heard it will now purchase the published discourse, and read, mark, learn, inwardly digest, and take it as their professional model.

LESSONS OF BEREAVEMENT, (J. H. & J. Parker),

Is a sermon preached in the Cathedral Church, Bridgetown, Barbadoes, in January, 1853, by the Rev. T. Barker, at the time when the violence of the yellow fever was beginning to abate. He addressed many who had to mourn the loss of relatives, and his words of comfort were the more intense, in that he himself had to lament the loss of his own wife. It is a good sermon and admirably suited to the mournful occasion, and may comfort the hearts of mourners at home, who are in any trouble or adversity. To such we recommend this excellent and practical sermon.

SPECULATION, (J. H. Batty),

Is the substance of a sermon preached on the death of Mr. Sadleir, M.P., by the Rev. H. W. Tibbs, curate of Oxtou, Notts; and it only consists of four pages, price only one penny; so that it can be bought by the bushel, and given away where needful. The preacher's reflections on that wretched impostor and suicide are good and practical; and he bids his hearers 'beware of ever making more cares, or providing more temptations for yourselves than those which fairly fall within your lot.' Wonder is often expressed what became of £30,000 which it was known that Sadleir had received the day before he poisoned himself. It does not need much sagacity to see that it would go to Rome to purchase a safe conveyance out of Purgatory.

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A LIFE OF SAINT PETER.

In our last, we endeavoured to show that Peter was not the Rock on which the Church is built; but that Jesus Christ, who is the subject of the testimony of the prophets and apostles, and His Messiahship, which was the doctrine that Simon Peter had just confessed, is the Rock on which the Church is founded. Simon was with great propriety named Peter, or the Rock, on account of his confession of that doctrine on which Christ intended to build his Church, as on a Rock; for the solidity of a rock is an emblem of the eternal stability of the gospel and its covenant.

We proceed now to the second division of our Lord's words; which were, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven.

Our Lord, immediately after this solemn scene, began to speak to unwilling ears of His own death, burial and resurrection; and although He Himself was not the Church, but its Head and Rock-for the living temple of the Church was not then built-yet he comforted them with the assurance that hades, or hell, should not be able to retain Him, nor prevail against Him, the Head and Rock, nor against the Church universal, His Body and Spouse. But the Roman branch of the Church has assumed that these words of our Lord are meant for them; and that, in consequence, the Church of Rome shall be firm and immoveable as a rock, VOL. X.

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