"Protestants of England! your country expects you to do your duty in this crisis. What brought liberty and light and science into our land? What banished despotism and cruelty, and gave an asylum for conscience among us? Was it not the Reformation ? To the principles of Protestantism, as derived from the word of God, we owe our freedom of thought, and action, and worship. But Tractarianism blasphemes the Reformation, and would roll back upon us the tide of darkness, superstition, and death. Shall it be? If the glorious gospel in our midst fall under the united attacks of Popery and Puseyism, then may we write upon our hitherto triumphant banner,'ICHABOD, the glory is departed.'

"Disciples of Christ! of every name, arise! Understanding the signs of the times, and seeing the destinies of the church depend upon the issue of the present conflicts, conflicts so numerous, so different, and so powerful,-form a sacred brotherhood, and, with one heart and one soul, exclaim, as Moses did when the ark set forward, Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered, and let them that hate thee flee before thee." "

We will only add, that this is one of the most creditable efforts at early authorship it has fallen to our lot to peruse.

THE OATH of GOD a PLEDGE of MISSIONARY SUCCESS. A Discourse delivered before the London Missionary Society, at Surrey Chapel, on Wednes day, May 12th, 1847. By GEORGE SMITH. 8vo. pp. 48.

London: J. Snow, Paternoster-row.

There are subjects which challenge the compass and force of human thought; they rise into such sublimity and expand into such vastness, as to mock every effort of mind. We can know but in part. Instead of attempting to define and express the love of God to man, an inspired apostle rests satisfied with the simple affirmation, -"God so loved the world as to give his only-begotten Son." Definition would have baffled him. No language could have embodied his idea. Into the mysteries of this love even the angels desire to look. Theirs is but a state of discipleship. They are still learning by the church the manifold wisdom of God. Their intellect is too limited to grasp that which it will require uncounted ages to develop. The purposes and plans of heaven on behalf of our world are preg. nant with eternal interest. But resting on the law of progression, they are both gradually unfolded. Every age increases the light and enlarges the field of discovery.

Events are running on to their consummation; the end is not yet. And were the history of our world wound up, futurity rises upon our view. Eternity is a state of advancement. For ever we shall find ourselves in the midst of clearer light and fuller revelation.

Impressed with some such thoughts, the author of the discourse before us must have selected his theme, not supposing that by any single effort he could treat the great subject, in all its immediate and remoter bearings on the government of God, and the interests of his moral universe:-but in the hope that, by a more condensed and practical view of it, he might incite the church of God to a wider dissemination of that truth which, by the accompanying power of the Spirit, is to regenerate our race, and fill the world with the glory of the Lord. In the products of Divine grace we have the highest models of created perfection. Being changed into the image of God between their nature and his, there is the closest correspondence, while the glory or moral excellence with which it is impressed, throws every other form of beauty and of grandeur into infinite distance. Most judiciously our author passes over the manifestation of the Divine character, as it appears in the constitution and government of our world, and affirms, that its most perfect disclosure, is to be found in the revelation of his written word, and its highest form is to be seen in the cross of Christ." He then passes from the NATURE to the SCENE of this revelation, and shows that this our earth has been made the theatre of the first and grandest desire of infinite wisdom and love; and that man has been selected as the object of that mercy, which is the most astonishing modification of Divine goodness. Nor is this revelation limited. The world is to be enlightened; man is to be blessed. Nothing could be more COMPLETE. The whole earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord. Nothing could be more CERTAIN. The prediction rests upon the Oath of God. He has pledged his existence for its accomplishment.

The preacher next proceeds to point out the bearing of his subject on the obligations and hopes of the Christian church. God having revealed his purpose to fill the earth with his glory, we are thus instructed as to the object at which we should aim, as being the first, the most sublime and godlike which we can contemplate,-the instrumentality that we are to employ in its prosecution, the spirit in which we must seek to compass this sublime purpose; -while our hope of success is made to rest in the immutable character and oath of Jehovah, which (whatever may be our difficulties

and delays) render absolutely certain the predicted consummation, when the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord. Our preacher thus closes his discourse:

"The Oath and promise of God are brought to our help. They have ever been a comfort to the church in her deepest sorrows as the rainbow round about the throne in her storms and conflicts-the silver fringes of the densest cloud that shed its baleful shadow on her path-the rock which has sustained her hope, when it was ready to perish. We are cheered by their influence, as we review the past. Every prophecy and promise that has received the seal of confirmation becomes a witness for the fulfilment of unaccomplished predic tions. This is true alike of judgment and of mercy and oh! if the days of compas. sion be long delayed, the promise before us enables us to extract the materials for hope, from deepest discouragements, amidst the most humiliating events. * * * We look around on the wide-spread formalism of Christendom ;-we hear the notes of discord in the church, and mark the apathy of multitudes who belong to it;afar off the gigantic structures of superstition, yet formidable in their decay ;—we see a missionary perish by the hands of savages in the Isle of Erromanga; we see the persecuted church of Christ in Madagascar burning but unconsumed, or trembling like a taper in the midnight storm;-we see the ravages of war desolating hopeful fields in Africa;-we see the first fruits of Tahiti rudely perishing beneath the infuriated grasp of modern persecution ;-we mark everywhere the preparation for a great conflict between the principles of light and darkness, between the powers of heaven and hell,

;-we see

as the Lord of hosts mustereth the host for the battle ;"-but amidst all the confusion and fear called forth by our present position, we hear a great voice out of heaven, saying, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the heathen; I will be exalted in the earth. As truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord."

The whole subject is treated with great clearness and force, nor is it wanting in true eloquence. There are two or three points on which we wish that the estimable author had bestowed more concentration of thought, and brought out in bolder relief. But there are spots on the sun. We cordially recommend the discourse to every lover of missions and of truth. It embodies the sublimest principles of our faith, carefully illustrated and faithfully applied.

The PATRIARCHAL AGE; or, The History and Religion of Mankind, from the Creation to the Death of Isaac: deduced from the Writings of Moses and other Inspired Authors: and illustrated by copious References to the Ancient Records, Traditions, and Mythology of the Heathen World. By GEORGE SMITH, F.S.A.. Member of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, of the Royal Society of Literature, of the Irish Archeological Society, &c. 12mo. pp. 632. Longman and Co.

We feel that it would be impossible, within our narrow limits, to do justice to a work of the learning and research of the one which we now introduce to our readers. We can only venture on a very brief reference to an undertaking which it would require a very lengthened and critical article to set forth its true merits. When we state, that the laborious and gifted author has spent full twenty years in the prosecution of these studies, of which we are here furnished with a portion of the result, it will be sufficient to conciliate the favour of all biblical scholars in favour of his literary zeal and perseverance. He informs us, that "his first and ruling idea was to arrive at the TRUTH respecting the origin and history of the human race. Two reasons induced him to make the Bible his text-book throughout the inquiry. FIRST, he saw that, in reference to several important topics, no light could possibly be obtained, except through Divine Revelation: this is the case with regard to the origin of mankind, the Divine purpose respecting the human race, and man's future destiny. On these subjects, if any information is attainable, it must be through explicit communications from the Author and the Governor of the universe. SECONDLY, the volume of inspiration is the only source of information which we know to be unalloyed by error and unadulterated by fiction. For these reasons, the scriptural account has been regarded as of paramount authority. But while it has been the primary object of the author to give a true account of this portion of history, it has been no less his design to make it as full and complete as possible; and, for this purpose, every profane historian of eminence, whose writings contain allusions, however brief, to the events connected with the earliest ages, has been consulted; the annals of every ancient nation have been examined; the cloudy regions of tradition, mythology, and fable have been explored. From all these sources, information bas been obtained, which the author has endeavoured to concentrate into the smallest compass consistent with explicitness, and to reduce the whole into homogeneous narrative,

which may present a complete view of the history and religion of the age."

On the author's plan, we have the following observations: "A general view of the subject soon rendered apparent the necessity of settling the chronology of those primeval times, and of exhibiting, at least, a general and connected outline of the intelligence and learning possessed by the early generations of mankind, before we enter upon the literary history itself. This has been attempted in the Preliminary Dissertation;' the conclusions at which we have arrived, from a careful examination of the whole subject, being, that the Septuagint chronology is alone entitled to our confidence; and that letters and learning were extensively cultivated and diffused in those ages of which we have undertaken to treat, and were most probably coeval with our race; and consequently of Divine origin."

The author's concluding remarks, in his Preliminary Dissertation, will convey to our readers the nature and value of his important labours:

1. "We shall not be surprised," he observes, "if the freedom with which we have referred to errors in the sacred text, should, by some individuals, be thought deserving of grave reprehension. We assure all such persons, that we write under the influence of the most reverential credence of the revealed truth of God. But we do not think that the concealment of error is calculated to promote truth. And, as we have previously observed, we think it impossible to over-estimate the combined wisdom and mercy united to place in the hands of three independent religious communities as many separate copies of the word of truth before the excision of Israel took place, and the desperate energy of that people was exerted against the gracious purposes of God and his Anointed.

"2. We are also apprehensive, lest the stigma affixed to such tampering with the Scripture as in honesty of purpose we have been compelled to call a fraudulent corruption of the sacred text,' should be ascribed to a spirit of bigotry. Perfectly unconscious of the existence of such an uncharitable feeling, we are confident that it cannot have exercised any influence on the judgment which we have formed. The Jews of that day were placed in circumstances which their descendants can scarcely estimate; and the efforts employed to mystify and adulterate certain dates which we have been compelled to detail, and which we sincerely believe actually took place, are no more to be regarded as a reflection on the principles or religion of the Jews generally, than is the excision of the second commandment by the early Saxon church (effected, as it was, with the concurrence of our great Alfred) to be

regarded as a reflection on the Christianity of England in the present day.

"3. No one who will be at the trouble of perusing the entire work will charge us with any disposition to shrink from upholding the authority of Holy Scripture, however it may be impugned by the professed wisdom of the world. There is no part of our duty to which we shall address ourselves with greater diligence and devotedness than to the resistance of the pretensions of science falsely so called,' in its proud and insidious aggressions on the truth of Revelation. But this determination imposes on us the necessity of the utmost vigilance fully to ascertain what is actually revealed truth, lest, by vindicating error on the hallowed plea of inspiration, we injure the cause we are so anxious to uphold, and truth be impaired in the hands of its friends. We believe this has been done; and the practice has had a most pernicious influence. Revelation and sound knowledge have been placed in opposition. Let a man carefully study the history of Egypt, Assyria, or China, or even of astronomy, and he is instantly confronted with facts bearing the impress of startling historic truth, which directly contradict the abbreviated Hebrew chronology. Does not his mind naturally deduce the conclusion, that revelation can be sustained only by the abandonment of legitimate research? that revealed truth can only stand by the renunciation of historic truth?

"The chronology which, by the force of evidence, we have been compelled to adopt, frees us from all difficulty. We are aware of, and we can explain, the myriads of years which are presented to us in the fictions of Indian and Egyptian fabulous history; but of this we are certain, that no fact, sustained by ordinary evidence, is presented to us by any nation in the ancient world, which extends beyond the chronology of the Septuagint. This, in itself, is an important consideration; and, taken in connection with what has been advanced, fully assures us of the soundness of our decision.

"4. Having, as far as our means and limits extend, settled the chronology of the early ages, we proceeded to investigate the intellectual character and learning of mankind during this period. In this pursuit, we first found reason to reject entirely the doctrines which certain philosophers have promulgated, and which have obtained much popular support; namely, that mankind first arose into being in a state of ignorance and barbarism, and that speech and language were afterwards and gradually acquired. We have shown that in this case reason and revelation unite to prove, on the contrary, that man was created in the Divine image, in knowledge as well as holiness; and that,

although a measure of this intellectual power was lost in consequence of the fall, this could not have reduced Adam below the condition of his most favoured descendants. It is, therefore, evident, that the earliest generations of mankind were as fully equal to their successors in the attributes of their minds, as they were in the firm and physical structure of their bodies. The

idiotic barbarism which has been ascribed to the first generations of mankind is as flatly opposed to reason and history, as it is to revelation. And the dignity of primitive human nature is asserted and praised.

"5. We have shown, that alphabetical characters were in all probability in use from the beginning; that the traditions of all nations attest this, and that the most ancient records support the conclusion. We have also found corroborating evidence in the repeated allusions to an early literature, which are found in various nations, and proofs of the existence of which meet us in sacred and profane records. We have also seen that indications of the early existence of science are prevalent in all authentic accounts of the first ages, and that these are presented to our view in a manner which strikingly corroborates the scriptural narrative of the deluge, and what in other respects accords with the entire history of the period.

"6. It is an important consideration, that the results of the investigation perfectly harmonize. The chronology casts light upon the state of learning and science, and allows the admission of historic evidence which on any other theory would stand arrayed against it; while, on the other hand, the whole scope of our inquiries into the literature of the age, confirms and establishes the chronology. When inquiries, independently conducted, produce these harmonious results, it is a circumstance which must greatly strengthen our confidence in the soundness of the principles upon which they have been conducted, and in the conclusions which have been elicited."

After thus clearing his way, the author proceeds to investigate the History and Religion of Patriarchal Times; applying, as he passes along, the criteria established in the "Preliminary Dissertation." The light thrown by him on a variety of momentous topics, is interesting and instructive in the highest degree. If we are not greatly mistaken, no work has appeared in our times more pre-eminent for its calm research, and sound critical investigation. When the author shall have produced the two remaining volumes promised, the work will take a first place in the library of the biblical student.

An EARNEST MINISTRY the WANT of the TIMES. By JOHN ANGELL JAMES. Small 8vo, pp. 260.

Hamilton, Adams, and Co.

The subject of this essay ought to secure for it a hearty welcome from all our beloved brethren in the ministry. The title is an arousing one, by implication; and the affectionate manner in which our revered friend has dealt with his theme cannot fail, by God's blessing, to carry home the impression of it with power to the minds of thoughtful and considerate men, who may be disposed to look, with conscientious earnestness, at the real state and prospects of our ministry. It would be to us painful proof that some serious blight has come over us, were anything like an indisposition indicated to listen to the voice of timely warning from a friendly and experienced counsellor. We will not even surmise the possibility of such a feeling on the part of our brethren. For ourselves, we reason thus: "If our pulpit ministrations are in a healthy and efficient condition, we can receive nothing but stimulus in the right direction by the eloquent and searching appeals of our valued brother; and if perchance there should be something existing in our ministry which needs to be put away from us, in order to the more copious descent of the Holy Spirit, we know of no work of the modern press more adapted to secure the recessary reforma. tion." Do not the most earnest, the most devoted, and the most successful of our brethren require to have their "pure minds stirred up by way of remembrance? be said, that there is ONE among us who has reached the lofty standard of apostolic faithfulness, zeal, and self-denying labour for Christ and souls. And are there not some who need to be roused from obvious lethargy, whose ardour has become extinct, and whose flocks are suffering the fearful blight of their unwatchful tending? We cannot suppose that this will be questioned.

Can it

But is there not something beyond all this which needs to be looked at with a steady and truthful eye? When the number of young men now being trained in our colleges is taken into account, is it not a very painful fact that large and respectable vacant churches find it so difficult to provide themselves with suitable pastors? Is the fault wholly, or only in part, with these churches? We dare not conclude the former. Neither can we charge incompetency upon the professors of our colleges, who are in general a very gifted and devoted class of men. Will our younger brethren pardon us if we venture to hint, with the greatest kindness, that they are, in some instances, at least, cultivating a style of preaching too little marked by the spirit of

apostolic times,-too scantily imbued with the element of Biblical Theology, and too much resembling the sentimental literature of the age. We thoroughly believe that in proportion as this taste prevails, except where genius sustains the preacher, the spiritual power of the pulpit will of necessity decline. We have observed likewise, among some of our young men, a disposition to overrate their learning. We believe that our ministry had never better means of education than it now enjoys; but, after all, efficient labour in the vineyard of Christ is the only evidence of a satisfactory result; in the absence of which, all the learning we can acquire will leave our churches in a feeble and decrepid state Let the studies, then, of our dear young brethren, be directed by their tutors and by themselves to the one grand object of making them popular and acceptable preachers. Learning will aid this; but not if it is made the primary object in a college curriculum. And beyond

all this, there must be fervent love to the grand elements of gospel truth, and a determination to give them that prominence to which they are entitled, and which they received in the ministry of inspired men. With a ministry baptized with the Spirit of love, and the doctrine of the cross, it is impossible that our churches should fall into decay; and without these qualities, it is unreasonable to suppose that Nonconformity should be able to keep its standing, to say nothing of its progressive advance.

We are truly thankful to find that one so well qualified by age, experience, and successful ministration, as Mr. James, has turned his attention to the subject of the Christian pulpit. He has, in our humble opinion, done ample justice to his theme. If there is, at times, a dash of gloom and melancholy in his representations, the exaggerations, even, are in the right direction. We need all of us to be roused. Our responsibilities are great beyond expression. The claims of the age are peculiarly solemn. We must inevitably retrograde if we do not go forward. We do want "an earnest ministry," a ministry full of spiritual life and power. Learning and intellect will be our snare and our ruin if they are not directed and consecrated to their proper object. We have felt reproved and humbled as we have read many parts of Mr. James's work; but we recommend it to our brethren with all the earnestness and affection which we can commend. We can compare it with no other work extant except Baxter's "Reformed fastor ;" and we scruple not to say, that it is far more adapted to our times and to our ministry than even that immortal production.

Largan and Co.

It is impossible to read a page of this very interesting volume, without being drawn into a warm affection for the distinguished author. He sees through, at a glance, the over-wrought pretensions of Rome, and of the English episcopate. Would that we could say that he thoroughly understands the nature of Christ's spiritual kingdom. But whenever he passes from the contemplation of Christianity as uniting the soul to Christ himself, and constituting the vital elements of spiritual religion in the hearts of all true believers, he seems to get into a dreamy notion of social religion as manifesting itself through the medium of State arrangement. Now we can very readily see how religion, embodied in the hearts and lives of faithful citizens, will favourably effect the condition of civil governments; but we cannot see, upon the scriptural theory of the vitality of religion which Dr. B. advocates, how he can suppose it possible that it can be appropriately manifested through the medium of any secular government that has ever yet existed.

This, we find, is the last of a series of publications by the same author, which have realized a very wide circulation, and which have been extensively blessed by God, both in America and in this country. It would be difficult, perhaps, to refer to any works of the experimental class, which have been read with greater profit. We are the more thankful for this fact, as the author's views of Christian doctrine are, in our judgment, not only fervently evangelical, but strictly in accordance with the mind of the Spirit. Few men's theology is more scriptural than that of our author. He was taught in a good school, and has remained steadfast in the path of scriptural truth.

We are much gratified by the perusal of his