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knows what is in man, and tells us plainly of his saved people, that in them dwelleth no good thing. There are manifestations of the evil character, which may come by surprise on them; but never upon him. His design is to "shew the riches of his mercy" on those who need mercy higher than the heavens, and who need it continually-who have nothing else to stand by. Now, that the gospel is such an absolutely unconditional declaration of the gracious purpose of God, may appear sufficiently from a reference to Jer. xxxii. 38, 39, 40. There the God of Israel takes the whole upon himself with an "I will," and "they shall :" while, in the preceding verses (30-35), the character of Israel is so marked, that it appears nothing else could meet their case. Nor is there just ground left for any one, while he admits it true that God deals thus with his elect, to put away the joyfulness of it by urging"Ah! if I knew that I were of the number." He that believeth-he that is convinced that the divine testimony concerning the salvation of God is true-he shall be saved. So the word from heaven declares; and no supplementary revelation is necessary to tell that believer that he is one of the elect. Indeed, if his hope rested on the ground of any such persuasion, as that he is among the elect of Godit would rest on a ground quite different from the hope of the gospel. That hope is derived from the character of God, as he has revealed his glory in the person and work of his anointed, in the combined perfection of righteousness and of mercy, and from the word that brings nigh his salvation to all alike, who read the report of it in the declaration, that he who believeth that report is justified from all things, and has eternal life-and this on the ground of worthiness too-but the worthiness of Him who died the just for the unjust, and on whose head are many crowns; and in consequence, too, of the fulfilment of conditions-but conditions that have been fulfilled by the Mediator of the new covenant-that surety of his people, with whom the covenant has been made, and therefore standeth fast."

"On the subject of games of chance &c. I am glad that you see, with me, that a Christian ought not to meddle with them; but I am sorry that you should think of imposing your view as a law upon your brethren who do not see it. Are you ready to exclaim at this language, as countenancing the ungodly agreement to differ of the religious world? It does no such thing. The ungodliness of their union consists in agreeing to differ about the revealed truth or precepts of the Lord. But can we say that there is any precept against spinning a tetotum-for determining some circumstances in, perhaps, a geographical game, or letting our children amuse themselves so? I would not do it-1 dare not-and I laboured long with

to convey to him my view of the unsuitableness and inexpediency of every thing of the kind. It grieved me to the heart that I failed; but I am sure that I should sin grievously if I attempted to make a law upon the subject. Perhaps another case will explain my meaning to you more distinctly. One, formerly connected with us in Dublin, got a silver ticket for the theatre, and frequented it more than weekly. What sober-minded Christian could hesitate about the inexpediency and unsuitableness of this? Yet, all remonstrances failed of convincing him of it: and could we pursue it further as a case of discipline? I think not, unless we are prepared to make a law with the religious world, or could lay down (what would be more difficult) how often a man may go to the theatre without doing what is sinful."

Le Keux's Memorials of Cambridge; a Series of Views of the Colleges, Halls, Churches, and other Public Buildings of the University and Town of Cambridge. Engraved by J. Le Keux, from Original Drawings, made expressly for the Work. With Historical and Descriptive Accounts of the Buildings, By Thomas Wright, M.A. of Trinity College, Cambridge. London : Tilt. 4to. and 8vo. Nos. I. and II.

THIS is to be considered as one of the first fruits of the Oxford Memorials; and, as far as one can judge from the two first numbers, this is a worthy successor to that beautiful work. There are four engravings of Trinity College in them. The one from the cloisters, perhaps, hardly gives the character of the place; but this, and the very beautiful view of the side of Trinity seen from St. John's Bridge, VOL. XIII.-Jan. 1838.

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-a most picturesque piece of building, drawn in an artist-like manner, have evidently been chosen in order to keep off the more hacknied points of view. This is, of course, praiseworthy, and gives an interest to the views. There are some interesting wood-cuts, especially the plan of Trinity, from Archbishop Parker's Map. The letterpress is devoted, in these two numbers, to the antiquities of Trinity College, the King's Hall, Garret Hostle, &c.; and the matter seems to be collected with care.

A Home Tour through Various Parts of the United Kingdom, being a Continuation of the Home Tour through the Manufacturing Districts. Also, Memoirs of an Assistant Commissary General. By Sir George Head, Author of Forest Scenes and Adventures in the Wilds of America. London: Murray. Small 8vo. pp. 351.

THIS little volume will be found amusing, and even before this time has probably attained considerable popularity. It is written in the sort of style likely to please the taste of the age. It contains an infinity of nothings graphically described; and an infinity of nobodies pleasantly delineated. The isle of Man, the channel islands, Scotland, and Ireland, are the scenes of Sir George's peregrinations; and his book contains some descriptions of scenery, and a few local memoranda, interspersed with such anecdotes as are likely to be picked up by a man of a lively mind, ever on the watch to turn everything to account which meets him on his way. Thus, a tippling waiter at a tavern in Ireland furnishes nearly a whole chapter. He is cleverly described; and if one asks, cynically, whether it is necessary to describe a drunken waiter at an inn? those who like this kind of lighter travels will answer, that it serves to delineate the state of society and

manners.

There is a long account in one chapter of a Lincolnshire poulterer's establishment, designed to inform those who delight to see a goose smoking on their table at Michaelmas of the wholesale butchery by which so many tables are supplied at once. In short, nothing escapes Sir George, from human beings down to horses, and even poultry and pigs, and he very graphically describes their appearance and habits.

The latter part of the volume is occupied with the memoirs of Sir G. during his service in Spain; and as the arduous duties of a commissary in that eventful war are less trite or familiar topics than the Home Tour affords, they are more interesting; and the work, though written in the same lively style, appears to take a higher tone. Indeed, this portion of the volume cannot fail to be read with great interest. A man whose duties called upon him to provide daily seven thousand rations (7000 lbs. of biscuit or 10,000 lbs. of bread, 7000 lbs. of meat, and 7000 pints of wine or 2333 pints of spiritsp. 285,) must have led a life of no common activity, and been gifted with no common energy and capabilities. Sir G., in one chapter of this part of the book, alludes to the common story of General Picton's having threatened to hang a commissary, and says that it must be meant to apply to himself, but that there is not a word of truth in it. The slight anecdotes and sketches of General Picton and the Duke of

Wellington are very well brought in, and give a good effect to the rest of the memoir.

The Letters of the Martyrs, collected and published in 1564; with a Preface by Miles Coverdale; and with Introductory Remarks by the Rev. Edward Bickersteth, Rector of Watton, Herts. London: J. F. Shaw, Southampton Row. 1837. 8vo.

THIS is a moderately priced reprint, of a very scarce, a very dear, and a very interesting work. The letters of Cranmer, of Ridley, Hooper, Rowland Taylor, Saunders, Philpot, Bradford, cannot fail to speak to the hearts of all who can appreciate the terrors of the fiery struggle of the reformed faith under the Marian persecution, and who can give to high and noble worth that honour and that reverence which is the only tribute human power can give. But to the holy martyr's crown of glory what need is there to add the praise of man! They have their reward; and it will be our privilege to learn from their example that steadfastness of faith which no danger could daunt, and no hardship exhaust. There, are indeed, doctrinal statements in some of the letters to which the writer of this notice could not subscribe; but the patience, the devotion, and the zeal, of these great and holy men, are the lessons which their letters teach best; and strangely, indeed, must that man's mind be constituted to whom this volume is not both interesting and instructive.

Mr. Shaw deserves great credit for having undertaken the republication of the book, and for the neatness of its execution.

Chemistry of Nature, designed as a Popular Exposition of the Chemical Constitution and Relations of Natural Objects, and as a General Introduction to Chemical Science. By Hugo Reid, Lecturer on Chemistry to the Glasgow High School, and Glasgow Mechanics' Institution. Edinburgh Oliver and Boyd. London: Simpkin and Marshall. Small 8vo. 1837.

THIS book contains a large fund of information in a small compass on the subjects of which it treats. The explanations, in general, seem clearly written; and the book appears, on the whole, well adapted to the objects for which it is destined, which are thus stated by the author:

"This work is not designed to convey instructions for performing experiments, but as a book to be read by those who may desire some general knowledge of the nature of chemical phenomena, the method of chemical research, and the manner in which chemical experiments are commonly made,-and who may feel an interest in studying those natural phenomena which consist in chemical actions."-Preface, p. iii, iv.

The account in the last page of the decomposition of bones and shells having led the author to a quotation, such as, "Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return," would have closed not less agreeably, and quite as philosophically, if it had led the author to speak of that within man which is not subject to decomposition and decay-which may be lost, but cannot be destroyed.

Order and Mission: a limited Commission essential to the Sacred Ministry. A Sermon, preached at the Ordination held by the Lord Bishop of Kildare on the Feast of St. Michael and all Angels, 1837. By the Rev. J. C. Crosthwaite, M.A. of Trinity College, Dublin, Dean's Vicar of Christ Church Cathedral. (Published at the request of the persons ordained.) Dublin: Milliken. London: Rivington. 1837. 8vo. pp. 52.

THIS sermon, having been attacked most bitterly before it was published, will now, it is hoped, find its way into the hands of multitudes who may have read garbled statements of its intention and arguments. This is a mode of warfare not unknown on this side of the channel also, and practised by congenial spirits to those who denounced Mr. Crosthwaite. The subject of this sermon was discussed so fully in a letter last month, that more space cannot now be devoted to it than to say that it is both learned and argumentative, appealing to scripture, and to antiquity, and the constitution of our own church, for the view which it advocates. It certainly does advocate the subordination of orders in the church, and it does take the liberty of hinting that each minister has specific duties, within a limited sphere, to attend to; and urges most strongly on each and every minister of the word of God a most strenuous attention to those duties; and all persons are requested to read it, and judge for themselves whether it contains any doctrine which deserves the hard names which it has received. Let them consider well the views put forth, and the authorities for them, and then determine for themselves whether, upon the whole, what is advanced in it has or has not the great writers of our church as authorities, if not in the same words, at least to pretty much the same effect.

THE Ninth and Tenth Numbers of Finden's "Ports and Harbours" have now been published, and complete the work. Although not so striking as some of the former views, these close the series very pleasingly, and creditably to the publishers and the artists.

MISCELLANEA.

EXTRACT FROM THE EARL OF RIPON'S SPEECH ON THE
BISHOPRIC OF SODOR AND MAN.

"DURING the short time he was prime minister a vacancy occurred in the see of Sodor and Man, when it was urged upon him to make some change in the character of the bishopric. So strongly, however, did he feel the importance of preserving its integrity, that he refused to entertain the proposal, and offered the see to a clergyman of high character, talents, and acceptability as an author, who then refused it, but who now held the bishopric of Chester. On that reverend gentleman declining it, he appointed the present bishop, because he knew his zeal, his acquirements, his determination to discharge to the utmost the sacred duties of the episcopal office; and he could now refer with confidence to the success and adVantage which had attended his efforts. The great evil felt in the island was the want of churches. The people themselves being poor, their means of contribution were of course very small; and the present bishop, by his personal exertions, had been enabled to raise, through an appeal to the benevolence, piety, and

charity, of his friends in England, between 8000l. and 90007., and in the parishes of the island nearly 4000l., to be applied to the increase of church accommodation. Several additional churches were built, some were enlarged, and others in a state of dilapidation were substantially repaired. Such had been the success which had attended that part of the present bishop's labours. Then as to another point-nobody could doubt the importance of education in an island situate like that of Man. Bishop Barrow had left out of his own resources a sum of money to be invested in land for the purpose of providing gratuitous education to a limited number of persons desirous of being brought up to the Manx church. The land having considerably increased in value, the bishop thought it advisable to endeavour to augment it by contributions among his private friends, and accordingly, 60007. having been collected, a college was established in the island, where 200 persons received, without any religious test or distinction, the benefits of a liberal and excellent education. Without any considerations of personal interest, the present bishop, out of his very limited income, had himself subscribed 1200. On these grounds, he (the Earl of Ripon) asked, could it be doubted that the island had received the most substantial benefits from the residence and personal ministrations of the bishop? But the chief ground, he was aware, for merging the bishopric of Sodor and Man in the see of Carlisle was, that while the episcopal duties might be sufficiently well performed by a partial residence in the island, the revenues of the see might most appropriately and usefully be applied towards the maintenance of an archdeacon, and in augmenting the income of the poorer clergy. He was ready to admit that the poorer clergy were most inadequately paid, and that some measures should be adopted in order to increase their personal comforts. But that object could, he maintained, be effected by other means, altogether unobjectionable, without violating any principle, and in perfect conformity with the wishes, feelings, and asserted interests, of the people of the island, without touching or alienating the revenues of the bishopric. The clergy themselves, whose stipends would be increased by the plan of the commissioners, used these words in their petition- As to enriching the parochial clergy by the spoils of their bishop, your petitioners dislike the principle and dread the example. They affect not indeed to conceal that the vicars are in straitened, in lamentably straitened, circumstances, from which they would gratefully accept honourable relief: but they disclaim any wish to accept temporal relief at the expense of spiritual loss.' Such were the sentiments of the clergy themselves with respect to the proposed mode of granting them an augmentation of income; but did there not exist the means of increasing their comforts without depriving them of their bishop? The island contained seventeen parishes,some of them very large and populous, of which thirteen were in the gift of the crown, and four in the gift of the bishop. Of the thirteen there were no less than seven in which the crown was not only patron, but lay impropriator of the great tithes, the clergymen in those cases deriving their support from the small tithes and a fund created a long time since by the bounty of Bishop Barrow. He did not see why his noble friend at the head of the government should not advise her Majesty to apply to the maintenance of those poor vicars the amount of the great tithes, 8007. a year, or at least a portion of it. If he hesitated to give the whole, 518/. of the 800l. would raise them all to the moderate sum of 150l. a-year, and no more. He could not conceive any objection, in feeling or in principle, of any kind, to so moderate and reasonable a proposition. The bishop, as a patron of four, received the great tithes, and would not be backward in increasing the incomes of the clergy to a corresponding amount. He (the Earl of Ripon) was authorized to say so on his behalf. He was prepared at once, if the bishopric were preserved, to contribute out of the tithes he derived from those four parishes an equivalent sum, so as to raise the incomes of the vicars to 150l. a-year. A considerable sum, amounting to several thousand pounds, had also been placed in the hands of the bishop, without any express direction as to the mode or object of its appropriation, which, on the condition of maintaining the bishopric, he was ready to apply to the same purposes."

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