safe-guard of a Prayer Book. Human names have also such credit, that even protestants have too much sunk to this state, judging of sound doctrine by what man says, rather than by what God says. Each class has its human standard, rather than the pure infallible standard of the word of God. We have all fallen into this serious error; and neither the Fathers, nor the Reformers, nor their successors, nor the revivers of evangelical doctrine in modern days, must for a moment be our standard instead of God's truth.

A highly respectable, learned, and devout class of men has risen up at one of our Universities, the tendency of whose writings is departure from Protestantism, and approach to papal doctrine. They publish tracts for the times; and while they oppose the most glaring part of popery, the infallibility of the Pope,-the worship of images,transubstantiation and the like,-yet there are brought forward by them the very principles of popery, under deference to human authority, especially that of the Fathers; overvaluing the Christian ministry and the sacraments, and undervaluing justification by faith. With much human learning and diligent study of the Fathers, with great apparent and doubtless in some cases real devotion, and a devotedness ascetic and peculiar, they seem to the Author, as far as he has seen and known their course, to open another door to that land of darkness and shadow of death, where the Man of Sin reigns.'

Our special difficulties in contending with Popery, Mr. Bickersteth proceeds to remark, arise in part from its intimate connexion with secular politics and political motives, but still more from the causes of the growth of Popery already noticed.

'Of these the chief is corrupted Protestantism. Though there has been an extended revival of real religion, we have very far fallen from our original standing as Protestants. Was the church of England, everywhere, in its ministry, as clear in preaching the glorious gospel of the grace of God, as it is in its articles, prayer book, and homilies, and the writings of its first reformers--were we raised above the world and sensitive of the glory of God and the purity of his truth as they were had we that remarkable spirit of faith, realising God's love and rejoicing in him, which he gave to them-were salvation by grace our theme as it was theirs - then our chief internal difficulties would be surmounted; but it is far otherwise. We have got deeply seated in our very principles of modern theology, that bitter root of Popery, salvation by works; we are greatly secularized and settled in worldly habits, we have fiercely contended among ourselves about minor points, we have forgotten the state of the church of Christ as a despised, suffering, afflicted state, and that the portion of God's elect is bearing the cross now, that we may wear the crown hereafter. The providence of God seems likely speedily to awaken us effectually out of this day-dream of worldly prosperity, and as usual the cross is coming to prove and manifest the truth of the revival which God has also mercifully given.'

But, if we have special difficulties to contend against, we have also given us, Mr. B. adds, great advantages for carrying on the Christian warfare; and he concludes by urging upon all Pro

testants the duties which the aspect of the times so loudly calls upon us to discharge. The following suggestion merits the particular attention of readers of all Protestant denominations.

'TO COUNTERACT THE machinations of the PAPISTS in our colonies, is an immense duty lying upon this country. What is the real fact? a tide of population is pouring from these countries into our colonies, partly uneducated English, partly Irish Catholics, generally with but little religion; they go away from all the means of grace and the scriptural light of this country, and no provision, or most inadequate provision is made for their instruction. The Papists are fully alive to this state of things, and are sending forth their missionaries, east and west, north and south. Protestants should preoccupy the ground, and fill the field with wheat that the enemy may be less able to introduce the tares.'

We rejoice to find Protestant Dissenters awakening at length to the moral and religious claims of the British Colonies, the neglected state of which is, indeed, a reproach upon our Protestant zeal. We hope that Mr. Bickersteth's Remarks, which breathe throughout an admirable spirit, will make a beneficial impression.

Art. VIII.-1. The Book of Genesis: with brief explanatory and practical Observations and copious Marginal References. By the Rev. R. Waldo Sibthorp, B.D., Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, and Minister of St. James's Chapel, Ryde. Royal 8vo. London, 1835.

2. The Christian Expositor; or Practical Guide to the Study of the Holy Scriptures. Intended for the Use of general Readers. By the Rev. George Holden, M.A. In two Volumes, 12mo. London, 1834.

3. Questions and Notes, Critical and Practical, upon the Book of Genesis; designed as a general Help to Biblical Instruction. By George Bush, Author of the Life of Mahommed. 18mo, pp. 468. New York, 1832.

4. Questions and Notes, Critical and Practical, upon the Book of Exodus; designed as a General Help to Biblical Instruction. By the Same. New York, 1832.

5. The Pocket Commentary, consisting of Critical Notes on the Old and New Testament, original and selected from the most celebrated Biblical Critics and Commentators. By David Davidson. 3 vols. 24mo. Edinb. 1836.

6. Notes on the Gospels: principally designed for the Use of Sunday School Teachers and Bible Classes. By the Rev. Albert Barnes. Condensed from the American Edition., 2 vols. 18mo. London. (Religious Tract Society.)

7. A Pocket Expositor of the New Testament. By Thomas Keyworth, Author of the " Daily Expositor," &c. Second Edition, 18mo. London, 1835.

THE accumulation of works of this description upon our table, compels us to adopt the expedient of reviewing them en masse. It is, indeed, a circumstance of happy augury, that so large and constant a demand should have been created for a species of Biblical Literature designed, and so well adapted, to put the people in possession of all the auxiliary knowledge requisite to enable them thoroughly to understand the sacred writings. While the Bible Society does well to adhere to its fundamental principle of circulating the inspired volume without note or comment, thus recognizing and asserting its exclusive authority as the Rule of Faith, and jealously guarding against all additions to the sacred canon; the increased circulation and study of the Scriptures require that the cumbrous apparatus of interpretation and commentary hitherto deemed necessary for the exposition of the text, should be simplified and brought within the reach of the mass of Bible readers. No knowledge that is really useful can any longer be made a professional monopoly; and the time is not far distant, when the scholars of our Bible classes will be, perhaps, placed in a more advantageous position for arriving at a clear understanding of the literal import of the text of Scripture, by means of well sifted criticisms and condensed exegetical illustrations, than our forefathers were, after toiling through a library of ponderous dissertations.

Every well intended effort designed as a help to Biblical instruction, deserves to be candidly appreciated. We rejoice, on the one hand, that none of these works can pretend to any authority; and on the other hand, that no Imprimatur is requisite to allow of their being put forth. Any comment or criticism which requires the sanction of a name is suspicious; and the opinions of the most learned critics can only be of temporary use in relation to matters still doubtful. Let the true reading, or the true import, be ascertained, and the authority ceases to be of value: as in law, where the case is clear, no opinion is needed. Commentary has been too fondly expatiated in for its own sake; and sometimes the exposition has been preferred above the text. But when it comes to be more strictly regarded as subsidiary to the interpretation and application of the inspired pages, a much simpler apparatus will be found to answer every desirable purpose.

Without further observation, we shall proceed to give some specimens of the works before us, a comparative view of which will enable our readers to form a just idea of their merits, better than any formal criticism. We commence with the Old Testament, and shall select a portion of the fourth chapter of Genesis, to shew the respective merits, and the substantial accordance or diversity, of the several annotations.

Mr. Sibthorp's object, in his Exposition of the Book of Genesis, has been, he informs us, to explain, as briefly as possible,

"the true sense of the word of God, wherever a difficulty or doubt ' might be supposed to arise respecting it in the mind of a devout ' and attentive reader;' and to give a brief spiritual and practical improvement of the text. He has adopted the plan of a paraphrastic commentary, placed in immediate juxta-position with the text, and forming a sort of marginal explanation.

and his salvation are nigh to every sinner that is willing to take the benefit of them, feeling conscious of guilt, and inability to

save himself. 10 He needed not to indulge rage or envy against his brother, for Abel's affection would still be towards Cain: as those of the children of God have a proneness towards the children of this world. 11 Have a dominion and superiority over him, such as the children of this world have in their generation over the children of God. '8 And Cain 12 talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field 13, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him 14.

12 On whom this condescension had no effect, but who cherished the deepest hatred in his heart against Abel; concealing his murderous purpose under the disguise of friendly conversation. 13 Having so drawn him out to a distant part of the country. 14 Here is the first death, and that of a martyr, who dies for his religion; and heaven has the first fruits of the dead.Let us not shrink, if we should be called to suffer persecution, for there is a crown of life for all who are faithful unto death.

9 T And the LORD 15 said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? 16 falsehood, and murder. nifestation of human 10 And he 17 said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground 18.

18 His

17 Jehovah, speaking in language expressive of horror and indignation. murder, which might be regarded as including that of his progeny also, called on God for vengeance.Murder is a crying sin, none more so.

19 Drinking it in, as it were, when poured out by Cain, and should now be an instrument of the divine vengeance on him.

20 Or increase; an added sterility, proving the added curse of God on human transgression:- -every creature will be to us what God makes it, a blessing or a curse. 21 A miserable, trembling wretch, for ever haunted by his crime.

22 Or, "my iniquity is too great to be pardoned:" whichever were his words, they were those of awful despair.Satan drives his slaves from presumption to despair.

23 Over the face of the earth, having no secure abode anywhere, and removed from the residence of Adam and Eve. 24 The care and favourable regard of God would