صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

and Ridley on the Lord's Supper. Several of these have appeared in the excellent selection of the Religious Tract Society, published in twelve volumes, but not all.

Setting aside the peculiar work to which our Reformers were called—to roll away the stone from the mouth of that sepulchral cave where Christian doctrine had long been buried-to loose the graveclothes of the captive, when God had called him forth, and let him go free, through the length and breadth of the land-setting this, their active employment, aside, we are yet conscious, that men who were daily expecting to seal with their blood the testimony which they gave, must have been deeply anxious to discover the whole truth, and rightly to set it forth to others. Worldly inducements they had none; the popularity attainable by them was but a sure step to the dungeon and the stake. Standing on the extreme verge of mortal existence, on the very point of appearing before the Lord, what imaginable solicitude could they have, but to approve themselves to Him, and richly to impart to their brethren the same holy confidence that made them so joyful in tribulation? It was peculiarly theirs

To preach as though they ne'er should preach again;
To preach as dying unto dying men.

This renders their writings so inexpressibly valuable in the sight of that Church, of which their blood was the seed. The effectual, fervent prayer of those righteous men, has availed to carry down through succeeding generations the blessing invoked by them upon their recording pages. Studious divines,

sitting at ease in their elbow chairs, beside a cheerful fire, with all the helps and encouragements imaginable around them, have produced sound and valuable works. Minds heated by enthusiasm, and revelling unchastised in the wild regions of speculative inquiry, have struck out flashes of startling light, and thereby led many to delight in the same unprofitable paths: but the student immured in a dungeon, with no enjoyment but the presence of the Comforter, and no help but His guidance-the confessor, whose zeal was put to every test that men and devils could devise to quench it, and whose speculations on unseen things were about to receive an immediate realization-these men thought, and taught, and wrote with an unction peculiar to their awfully privileged circumstances: and really if our shelves were too crowded to admit of an additional volume, or our purse too exhausted to purchase it, we know not, among uninspired writings, which we would hesitate to displace or to barter, for the rich legacies of our gifted and glorified REFORMERS.

FIFTY-TWO SERMONS by the late Rev. William Howels, Minister of Long-Acre Episcopal Chapel. Printed from notes taken by Henry Hopley White, Esq. Seeley and Burnside.

6

Of these sermons, we are told, some were taken fully, others only in substance, and a few are almost reduced to the character of analysis.' We rather regret that the volume is not confined to the first of these classes; for the two latter will by no means

[ocr errors]

do justice to the preacher, in the sight of those who were not accustomed to hear him. Happily, these are not numerous; while many full and rich discourses commend the volume to every reader. Mr. Howels' style of preaching was very discursive: he was frequently, as Mr. White remarks, led away from a strict adherence to the outline he had originally prescribed' in his notes; and his transitions were often so abrupt-the link that connected succeeding paragraphs so delicate-that even a slight omission, or alteration of his words, produces the appearance of extreme incoherence. If the reader occasionally finds, in the few first sermons of this collection, a number of disjointed remarks run together in a long unbroken paragraph, he must not conclude that such was the manner of William Howels. The jealous affection of one who long delighted in his ministry, prompts this reservation ; while recommending this book as abounding in all the excellences that distinguished the pulpit of Long Acre. The best testimony to real usefulness is found in the fact, that scarcely any of that congregation were led away by the specious delusions which made such havoc among the orthodox of London; and which in some degree still prevails, though in a mitigated and, we hope, an expiring form. We also recognize throughout the work those wisely and justly guarded views with which Mr. Howels was enabled to restrain his flock from the heights and flights of ultra-Calvinism. Mr. White has conferred a benefit on the church of Christ by this publication.

CHRISTIAN CONSISTENCY; or the Connexion between Experimental and Practical Religion. Designed for Young Christians. By the Rev. E. Mannering, of Holywell Mount Chapel.

A WEIGHTY and valuable little treatise, which we can conscientiously advise Christian parents to put into the hands of their youthful disciples; not neglecting to peruse it themselves. The style is clear and vigorous; and every sentiment hedged in with scripture, well selected and applied. We wish to see such books as this supplanting the pernicious novelties so ably denounced by our valued correspondent G. E. M. in our last number.

IRELAND: its Evils traced to their Source. By the Rev. James R. Page, A. B. (formerly of the Diocese of Tuam) Minister of Carlisle Chapel, Kennington Lane, Lambeth; Author of Letters to a Priest of the Church of Rome,' &c. &c. Seeley and

Burnside.

[ocr errors]

IRELAND again!' Yes. Somewhat more than thirty years since, the great despot of France, in the plenitude of his usurped power, prepared to invade our little island. He collected a formidable fleet, equipped it, and having marched his troops down to the destined point of embarkation, held the expedition in readiness to descend upon our shores. A mightier hand than his or ours withheld the menaced visitation; but we, as a matter of necessary precaution, built watch-towers, erected signal posts, and established a line of rapid telegraphic communication

[ocr errors]

throughout our sea-girt territory; while keeping up such a vigilant look out, that not a manoeuvre could be executed among the enemy's boats, but we had notice of it, even in the remotest inland villages. We appeal to those among our readers who remember the period, to say whether they heard any complaints of over-watchfulness at this juncture-whether they recollect to have heard the remark, The coast! I am weary of news from the coast. What is the French flotilla to me? I wish the people of England would let those harmless Frenchmen alone, that I might hear no more of Toulon or Brest.' Whatever our thoughtless friends may say, the comparison is not overstrained: what is now going on in Ireland, affects our national prosperity, our national existence, not one whit less than did the preparations for that hostile descent. More, perhaps: for then we were wakeful, united and resolved-now, we are slumbering in false security, without a shadow of organization, or a purpose of meeting the foe.

It has been much the fashion of late, for English gentlemen to take a flight through Ireland, and, sketching a bird's-eye view, to present it to their countrymen, as a just picture of the green isle. A just picture it may be, of her natural features-a clever portraiture of her exquisite scenery; a too faithful description of the wretchedness that abounds among her population; rendered perhaps, more characteristic by finishing touches illustrative of their wit and credulity, their hospitality and ferocity: but utterly destitute of that information which it is, to be sure, out of the power of such locomotives to afford. We happen to have resided for some years in Ireland; and we happen to KNOW that without

« السابقةمتابعة »