finances of the Church. The salaries given by Government are so very inadequate, that in every parish where there is any feeling of religion left, a supplementary collection is made from the people. In country parishes this seems principally derived from seat-rents, which are often complained of by the peasantry as being burdensome; few of our readers probably are aware how large a number of the country parish churches are pewed up to the very door with high unsightly boxes. In the towns the chairs are let by contract, and a successful preacher will raise the revenue of a particular chapel there, just as in this country. We recollect seeing it mentioned as one of the marks of returning confidence after the election of Louis Napoleon, that the chairs of the Madeleine at Paris had been let for a considerably larger sum than last year. The sous are collected during the service, often at the most solemn part of mass, and custom seems to have reconciled them to a practice which to our minds appears very unseemly. In addition to this, at some period of the mass, one of the attendants goes round with a little leather bag, which he jingles to catch the attention of the people who are absorbed in their devotions, and utters a very audible Merci Monsieur, or Madame, for each additional copper. We cannot help favourably contrasting the solemn offertory of our own Church, with its appropriate words of Holy Scripture, and the subsequent presentation of the devotions of the people on the altar.

(To be continued.)

REVIEWS AND NOTICES.

Of GOD, or of the Divine Mind, and of the Doctrine of the Trinity. Also of Pantheism. In a series of letters to an Undergraduate. By a TRINITARIAN. Oxford, Vincent; London, Rivingtons. 1849. THIS lengthy and somewhat cumbrous title-page may perhaps deceive some into the belief that the book to which it is prefixed is a rival in magnitude to the mighty folios of our theological library. However, the volume in question is a singularly small one, of 110 pages, and so barely removed from the pamphlet size. The question naturally occurs: Can subjects of such great importance as those which this book treats of be adequately discussed, or even alluded to in so short a compass? Not that we would ever be advocates for large books, where small ones would answer the purpose; but in cases where the question (like that discussed in the book now before us) demands, through its awful importance, a long discussion, in all patience and reverence, it is at least unjust to hurry over it superficially.

The object of the work in question appears to be to remove from the mind of an undergraduate sundry confusions and doubts with respect to the great doctrine of the Most Holy Trinity; these doubts having been engendered by the perusal of the "able and learned" pages of an American Unitarian-Professor Norton.

The writer sets out with the lemma that "unintelligible propositions are not objects of faith," (p. 5.) In one sense, no one will venture to deny this, it is the mere assertion that a nonentity is not capable of being believed in; that a set of words which have no meaning present nothing for our faith to lay hold of. This is very true; but the sentence in question is susceptible of another sense, which our author seems rather disposed to concede to it, "that propositions, of which we do not or cannot comprehend the premises, are not to be accepted as objects of our faith," an assertion which just breaks down the barrier between intellectual assent, and that moral assent, the assent of the will, which we term Faith; and so opens the doors to the very wildest Rationalism.

Unhappily the succeeding letters only tend to show more fully that this view was in the author's mind when he came to the assistance of his undergraduate friend. The Divinity,--that is, as it ought always to be called, the Deity,—of our LORD, is made to consist in His being the personal manifestation of that ALMIGHTY FRIEND and FATHER of us all” (p. 33,) rather than the χαρακτὴρ τῆς ὑποστάσεως, and ἀπαύγασμα Ts dons, those glorious words in which it was granted to the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews to declare to the Church the mystery of the Word. Again, S. John's only object is stated to have been to lay down "the doctrine of GOD in CHRIST, or of CHRIST and GoD, as affected by, or as it might be held in connection with, the philosophical theories of his time." (p. 47.) And, lastly, the author evinces a decided leaning towards the Sabellianism of the Archbishop of Dublin and Dr. Hawkins, speaking with approbation of "the very important sense in which the doctrine of the divinity of FATHER, SON, and HOLY GHOST, and that of the Unity, are clearly compatible," (p. 51,) i.e. the decidedly heretical position, that the Persons of the Most Holy Trinity are none other than relations or attributes personified.

Pantheism is dismissed in five pages, which abundantly show to us that the author is entirely unaware of its real nature, of the downright atheism of the doctrines of the unhappy Benedict Spinoza, whom his admiring followers pronounced "a God-intoxicated man."

It is hardly necessary for us to proceed farther in the examination of the work before us. We can only repeat, what has been over and over again laid down by the best divines, that in subjects like that of the present work, which Bishop Butler would approach with "cautious reverence," it is indispensable that we should begin at the right end, and show throughout the whole course of our reasoning, our dependance on that external authority through which God has willed that we should receive everything, even His Inspired Word itself, It is not by specious appeals to the reasonableness, or credibility of a certain doctrine, or its easy reconciliation with the proud creatures of a selfidolizing intellect, that we may or can expect to lay it down aright; it

is by humble and confident trust in GoD's mighty working through that pillar and ground of " the truth as it is in JESUS," the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church. It is thus alone that we can be armed at all points to meet the coming of that fearful tide of infidelity, that very onslaught of "the son of perdition," which seems to be visibly hastening onwards; it is thus only that we can hope to stand, faithful among the faithless, in the great apostacy of the latter days, at the second coming of the Son of Man.

Scenes where the Tempter has triumphed, by the author of the Gaol Chaplain." (Bentley.) This is a series of moral reflections on some of the more remarkable causes celèbres, both ancient and modern, down to the trial of Rush. Many of the narrations are exceedingly interesting and curious. The author however, would have done better, we think, if he had allowed them to speak more for themselves.

We had hoped before this to have noticed Mr. FREEMAN'S History of Architecture (Masters) more worthily in another part of our Magazine. But as we have been disappointed in this expectation, we will just now briefly sum up its characteristics, and leave our readers to consult the volume for themselves. We may certainly call it the most important work in Architectural literature that has yet appeared. In several points-especially regarding nomenclature, and the merits of the several styles of Architecture-we do not agree with our author. And further, we would suggest a considerable chastening in his composition, which is both redundant in words, and oftentimes exaggerated in sentiment. But after all deductions, it is really an able and valuable work.

There are perhaps no persons, who, as a body, act upon such false principles of morality as servants; nor is there any class, it may be safely said, whose temptations and difficulties are greater. Much praise, then, is due to the author of the Servants' Hall (Rivingtons), who, in a very lively and instructive manner has here pictured the actions and modes of thought which are common among domestic servants when collected in an ordinary establishment. The writer is quite mistress of her subject in all its details, and the moral and religious tone which pervades the narrative is calculated to do great good.

Pietas Metrica; or, Nature suggestive of GOD and Godliness, by the Brothers THEOPHILUS and THEOPHYLACT, (Masters,) betokens very considerable thought; and there is a certain peculiarity in the system which helps rather than impedes the "suggestiveness" of the poetry. The authors have manifestly drunk deeply of the English seventeenth century Poets, and have studied Nature closely under her manifold relations.

The Pastor of Wellbourn (J. H. Parker) is the picture of a Parish Priest of the patriarchal kind, who makes it his business to become acquainted with all the affairs of rural life, believing that "people by what they understand are best led to what they understand not." The

book contains a number of conversations well calculated to instruct village-readers, in which Nature is in this way made successfully to interpret Scripture.

Mr. JACKSON, the Rector of S. James's, London, has published a small volume of Sermons, forming a Lenten course, on The Sinfulness of Little Sins. (Skeffington.) They are pleasingly written, and go rather more into details than the run of popular discourses.

The Rev. JOHN SANDFORD'S Vox Cordis (J. H. Parker), though not formed exactly on the model of ancient examples, will, we think, commend itself by its real religiousness of tone to many good Christians.

A new edition of the Oxford Psalter with Gregorian Tones has just appeared (J. H. Parker) in a very convenient little volume. The previous arrangement of the tones, which upon the whole could scarcely be changed for the better, has been adhered to; but a very great improvement is effected by introducing a system of accentuating words or syllables. Thus those which are emphatic are marked (`), and the less important ones have the short mark of prosody printed over them. The only other alternative by which the awkwardness of the syllabic method could be got over would be making a specific arrangement for each Psalm. But here we should introduce the greater evil of having varying uses in different churches. Upon a careful consideration of the whole question, therefore, we are persuaded that Mr. HEATHCOTE has taken the wisest course; and we strongly recommend the general adoption of his Psalter. It is in itself the best method, and possesses the very great advantage of proceeding throughout by rule.

Moral Songs, by the author of "Hymns for Little Children,” (Masters), form a worthy companion volume to the "Child's Book of Ballads" mentioned in our last. The spirit and tone of the writers is the same; the poetry is equally good and suitable for the young; and the illustrations are of the same chaste character. Upon the whole, we do not hesitate to pronounce them the two most valuable contributions to this class of literature which the season has produced.

"The Country Pastor," who writes four Letters to Lord John Russell on the Evils of the Policy pursued towards the Church," (Ollivier,) has certainly abundant cause to justify his alarms both at home and in the circumstances of France, Germany, America, and Scotland, to which he alludes. As the title of the pamphlet indicates, the author touches chiefly on the Church's external aspect and condition.

The author of An Essay on the True Church (Arthur Hall, Virtue, and Co.) is at great pains to assure us that he is a member of the Church of England. We trust he can show some better proof of membership with what he means by the True Church." We certainly must disown him; and we would fain hope that he belongs to a class of professing Christians well nigh extinct-a class, i. e. who, without possessing any conceivable qualifications, set to work extracting a scheme of doctrine for themselves from the Bible. The present Essay is just what might be expected under such circumstances.

WHISTON AND WESLEY ON CATHEDRAL ABUSES.

1 Cathedral Trusts and their Fulfilment. By the REV. ROBERT WHISTON, M.A., Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, and Head Master of the Cathedral Grammar School, Rochester. London: Ollivier. 1849. pp. 125.

2 A few words on Cathedral Music and the Musical System of the Church, with a plan of reform. By SAMUEL SEBASTIAN WESLEY, Mus. Doc. London: Rivingtons. Leeds: Slocombe.

FOUR months ago we submitted to our readers an outline of what we considered the only wise or safe method of reform as regards the distribution of the property of the Church, and its concomitant responsibilities. We did not hesitate in that article to admit that there are abuses and defects, which give occasion not only to the animadversions of enemies, but to the regret of friends. And what is most of all lamentable, the very institutions which should be the Church's glory and strength, are precisely those which will least bear examination. We allude, of course, to our Cathedrals. There is not one single point in which their condition can be said to be satisfactory. Whether we look to the condition of the fabric, to the character of the services, or to the habits of the Clergy who are appointed to minister in them, we are destined alike to meet with disappointment.

It is now almost ten years since the last attack was made on Cathedrals in Parliament,-and how were they then defended? Not certainly on the merits of the then holders. It was admitted on all hands that existing Deans and Chapters were without excuse-unless excuse it could be called to say that they had acquiesced in a corrupt system, rather than had themselves made it what it is. Their retention even on the reduced scale to which they have been brought was advocated, not on the ground of what they were, but for what they might become and ought to be. What, it was asked, can present a more magnificent idea than the theory of a Cathedral? And may we not hope that a better spirit is arising in the Church; and that enlightened public opinion will no longer tolerate the indolence and selfishness which have heretofore characterized these Establishments. Alas! it must be confessed with shame, the hope has not been realized. No substantial improvement has taken place in Cathedral bodies. They are still as open to censure as formerly: yea their efficiency has been even impaired; and while all other departments of the Church have been advanceing, Cathedrals for the most part, have either retrograded or been stationary. We do not say this from any desire to find fault. VOL. VIII.-SEPTEMBER, 1849.

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