With reference to the hymn at the title-page, which we take to be original, it should seem that the venerable Archdeacon is no poet; but the substance of his address will exhibit him in the more honourable and enviable light of a sound theologian, and a zealous and affectionate pastor of the flock of Christ. A Charge to the Clergy of the Archdeaconry of Durham, and of the Officially of the Dean and Chapter. By C. THORPE, B.D. Archdeacon of Durham. London: Rivingtons. 1832. 8vo. Pp. 31. We have read this Charge with much satisfaction. In it are briefly but ably discussed the advantages of religious establishments; and replies are given to the popular objections of the day against ours, as drawn from her revenues. The whole is written in an elegant and convincing manner, and well deserves the perusal of every Clergyman in the kingdom. Twenty Parochial Sermons, adapted to the Use of Families, with an Appendix, containing Helps for Family Devotion. By the Rev. C. GIRDLESTONE, M.A. Vicar of Sedgley, Staffordshire. Second Series. Oxford: Parker. London: Rivingtons. 1832. 12mo. Pp. xiv. 346. By including the present series of sermons in the commendation, which we felt it our duty, no less than our inclination, to bestow upon their predecessors, we should scarcely do justice to the estimation in which we regard the pastoral exertions of Mr. Girdlestone. Not only is this new volume an additional proof of his persevering usefulness, but we think every sermon we read in it improves upon the last. Many of the present selection have been digested from the publications of others; and we agree with the writer that beginners in the ministry more especially would find it profitable, both to themselves and their congregations, "to take often some of the sermons of our many excellent divines for the foundation of their own compositions." Not that we mean to affix any superior merit to the compiled discourses in Mr. Girdlestone's volume; for we are equally pleased with those which are purely original. We merely advocate the principle, upon which he has so ably acted. In conclusion we must not omit to notice another recent publication of our author, for the purpose of urging its universal adoption. "The Church Catechism, broken into more Questions and Answers," is the best Village School Manual with which we are acquainted. The Church its own Reformer. By MR. SANDFORD. A PIECE of gratuitous impudence, in which the speech of Mr. Stanley, noticed by our correspondent, "A Churchman," in our number for September last, is introduced with approbation. To that letter we refer our readers. The Church is handsomely abused for not reforming itself, when no Convocation has been called to reform it. Not one word does Mr. Sandford say on the unconstitutional suspension of the Convocation. It would only be dealing him his own justice to tie his hands behind him, and whip him for not washing them. But, perhaps, the poor fellow means well, though he knows no better. At all events, he has made a good cast for the patronage of a government which calls Stanley brother; though we fear there are so many family demands, and claims of old standing, that he will not have a very good immediate chance. A Harmony and Exposition of our blessed Lord's Last Prophecy, in which the Difficulties that have hitherto perplexed Commentators, are satisfactorily explained. By JOHN FANNIN, A.B. Dublin: Fannin and Co. 1832. 8vo. Pp. 67. LET the author of this little pamphlet state his object in his own words: "So lately as 1830, Professor Lee, of Cambridge, published an exposition of the Apocalypse, which professes to prove, that the whole of that remarkable prophecy has long ago been fulfilled;' and the exposition commences with a recital of the very prophecy of our Saviour's which we are about to examine. It has been hitherto considered, that those parts contained in Matt. xxiv. 15--22, Mark xiii. 14-20, and Luke xxi. 20-24, had reference to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, and were fulfilled in that event. In this light they have generally been quoted and applied by commentators; and in this sense they are used by Professor Lee, to support his views with respect to the Revelation of St. John. "The principal design of the present essay, is to prove that the details, which are given in the passages above alluded to, refer to two events,-different, distinct, and distant from each other: the one the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, an event long since past,-the other, still future, and fikely to occur about the time of the restoration of the Jews." Mr. Fannin has manifested considerable ingenuity in the arrangement of his Harmony, and the argument which he has built upon it is worth an attentive perusal; but whether conviction will follow, is another question, the discussion of which is too important to be dismissed in the brief space which we can allot to it. SECOND EDITION. The System and Practice of Congregational Dissent unfavourable to Religion. By a Layman. Extracted from the June No. of the Christian Remembrancer, Vol. XIV. No. 6. London: Rivingtons. 12mo pp. 24. 1832. We have the greatest pleasure in announcing the Second Edition of this admirable little pamphlet. The irrefragable arguments which produced so decisive an impression on the mind of the reflecting writer have already operated powerfully on other candid and ingenuous minds, and they cannot be too extensively disse minated. They are now given to the public in so cheap a form (one penny each, or 8s. per 100) that no person who can read and reflect ought to be without a copy. We particularly recommend the work to the Clergy for distribution. It is so short that all may afford time to read it; and none, except the most inveterately prejudiced, can fail to experience some portion of its force. Our habitual readers, who doubtless remember the essay, need not be told that the author was bred a dissenter, and has embraced, from conscientious conviction, the faith of the Church. We quote the following from the advertisement: "The Author of the following pages may conscientiously declare, that, in seceding from the Communion of the Dissenters, and joining the Church of England, he was influenced by no secular motive, it was sure to injure him professionally, at least for a time; for he first avowed the change when he removed to a town where all his connexions were Dissenters. It is no easy task to eradicate opinions and feelings implanted in the nursery, and confirmed by education and long habit. It is no light cost to disclaim what has been publicly professed; to abandon the faith of nearest relatives; to risk the estrangement of earliest and dearest friends; and to incur the certain hostility of a party which never quite forgives a deserter. But when, through the observation of years, the surprise and regret, with which he first discovered serious evils in the practice of Dissent, led him to doubt the soundness of its principles; and at length gave place to a conviction that its religion is the politics of sectarianism; its life, the zeal of a party; its energy, the parent of contention; its peace, a frozen torpor; its wealth, the forerunner of Socinian infidelity; while its triumph would be the destruction of all that, as Englishmen, we hold valuable; he dared not remain longer in a tabernacle upon which no glory rested." The principal improvements in the present edition are, that the passages of most peculiar force are printed in italics, and some additional notes are given. A SERMON FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT. ON THE DIVINE AUTHORITY AND PROFITABLENESS OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. 2 TIM. iii. 14-17. (Concluded from p. 686.) Now, my brethren, if we believe these things to be indeed true,— if we feel assured that the Scriptures are not merely the word of men, but in very truth the word of God; that they are a revelation from the God of heaven to fallen, sinful, and miserable man; that they are thus profitable to him in so high and eminent a degree; that they make known to him such important and awful doctrines, and, in fact, are able to secure for him happiness both here and hereafter,-what ought to be our feelings towards those Holy Scriptures? how ought we to regard them? how should we act with respect to them? A modern and living writer has placed this question in so striking a point of view, that I think I cannot do better than quote her words: "Suppose," says she, "we had now no revelation, and it was given out, on authority which we believed, that upon a certain day a book would be seen descending from the skies, bearing to us the written will of God, and filled with intelligence upon all points connected with men's eternal welfare, from God himself,-would not the whole kingdom be in an agitation? would not every one rush to the appointed spot? would not each try to get a copy of it? and when procured, would not every sentence and line and word be searched and explained and applied?" It is remarkable that the very case which the writer has only supposed, has actually occurred almost to the letter in this land. There was, we well know, a time when the inhabitants of this Christian country were virtually without a revelation. There was a dark and gloomy period when persons calling themselves Christian ministers had the will and the power to deny the Holy Scriptures to the people,-when the Gospel was therefore, to all but themselves, a sealed book. At length, however, when the light of the glorious Reformation shone forth, this crying evil was removed. What then took place is positive matter of history. "At length," we are told, "the royal license (for reading the Bible) was procured; and the incumbent, or chief minister of every parish, was desired to provide himself with a copy, that he might instruct both himself and his parishioners from the written word of God. And a copy was placed in some of the churches that the people might have an opportunity of reading it, or hearing it read; and, what is worth remarking, is, that it was actually chained to the desk on which it stood to prevent its being stolen away. And such was the eagerness of the people in general for the word of God, that all ranks partook of the sensation, and actually flocked to receive the glad tidings of salvation delivered to them in their own language. The rich eagerly bought the sacred volume, while the poor and unlearned assembled to hear it read to them. Groups of persons of all ages were seen surrounding the desk from whence it was read. Age forgot its debility, manhood its labour, and childhood its sports, in order that they might enjoy the privilege of being made wise unto salvation, through faith, which is in Christ Jesus." * Sargant's Life of Cranmer. And may we not take a lesson from this history? May we not derive most useful instruction from the example here afforded us? we must of course make some allowance for the effect of novelty, and for the influence of natural curiosity: but still, I do think, that if we really remembered that the Scriptures are the word of the Most High himself, written and delivered to us for our great and endless comfort, we should all display more of that spirit and conduct which is there described. If we constantly regarded them as conveying to us a message of the most vital importance from our divine Creator, we should surely be more eager to read, more earnest to study, and more anxious to understand the Holy Scriptures than is, alas! too commonly the case. Let it not, however, be supposed, that even this of itself is sufficient. There is a peculiar frame of mind and disposition of heart in which the Scriptures must be read and examined. If we indeed consider them as a revelation from Him who made and preserves us; from Him who knows whereof we are made, and therefore what is best for us; and view them as pointing out to us the course by which we may be made wise and happy, both here and hereafter, surely we ought not only to study them, but to study them with a most solemn desire and resolution to be guided by them in all things, with an humble and submissive readiness of mind, to believe every doctrine which they reveal, to practise every precept which they enjoin. But I cannot, I believe, enforce the absolute importance of this requisite upon you more effectually, than by relating to you the substance of a speech made but a few minutes before his execution, by Sir John Yates, who was put to death in the reign of Queen Mary. "I have lived," said he, in words of warning to those around him, "as viciously and as wickedly all my life as any in the world; and yet I was a great reader of the Scriptures: a worse follower (of them) there was not in the world; for I had read them not to edify, but to dispute, and to make interpretation after my own fancy. Take heed, therefore," he adds, "how you read God's Word, and play and game with his holy mysteries: for except you humbly submit yourselves to God, and read his word charitably, and to the intent to be edified thereby, it will be but poison to you and worse.' This naturally leads me to insist on one other important requisite, as absolutely necessary to the study of the sacred volume;-I mean prayer. The Scriptures constantly represent the disposition of mind. and heart required in those who would read them profitably, not as the work of men, but as the work of God himself; and nothing is more positive than their assurance that we cannot effectually and habitually observe a single precept of the word of God, unless the power of divine grace precede, accompany, and perfect all our weak and unworthy endeavours. And how are these things to be acquired? The answer is ready: By accompanying our constant and sincere study of the Scriptures, with earnest, heartfelt, and persevering prayer to God, through Christ, for the blessing of his Holy Spirit. Daily should we read,-daily should we pray, that whilst we read, God will open our eyes more and more, that we may see the wondrous * Sargant's Life of Cranmer, p. 122. things of his Law, that He will open our hearts that we may understand the Scriptures, and that he will, above all, grant us both to perceive and know what things we ought to do, and also give us grace and power faithfully to fulfil the same, through Jesus Christ our Lord. My christian brethren, we all profess to be assured that the Scriptures are all holy, and all given by inspiration of God; that they are profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, so that the man of God and every individual Christian may be perfect, being thoroughly furnished unto all good works; that in fact they are able to make us all wise unto salvation: but do we act towards them, as if we really regarded them in this their high and distinguished character? Do we read them with that attention, that earnestness, and that constancy which they deserve, as coming from God himself? Do we daily study them, endeavouring to understand their true meaning? Do we read and hear them with an humble, teachable disposition of mind, with a desire and resolution to believe and do whatever we find they require of us? Do we read them with serious prayer, that they may be profitable to us? "Never, perhaps," says the present learned and pious bishop of Limerick, were the sacred Scriptures more largely circulated than at the present day. But the question may be asked more readily, than it can be answered satisfactorily, whether the study of the divine volume keeps pace with its diffusion, whether any considerable number of its professors, so apprehend, so feel, so apply, and so reduce to practice its most holy principles, that this age is materially better than the last, and the present generation an improvement upon the generations that are past and gone?"* Let us, my brethren, examine ourselves upon this point, as one upon which we must give account. Let us judge ourselves, brethren, that we be not judged of the Lord. 66 1. Let us inquire how the Scriptures are regarded amongst us, with reference to the young: the words of my text particularly mark the importance of the young being early instructed in the word of God. St. Paul pointedly reminds Timothy of his having known the Holy Scriptures from a child as a point worthy of being deeply impressed on his memory. A child, then, may be instructed in the sacred truths of Scripture, according, of course, as they are suited to his age and talents; so far as to be said, not only to be acquainted with them, but also to know them. Now how are we influenced in our conduct by the knowledge of this fact? Do we ministers of the Gospel sometimes adapt our addresses from the pulpit to the understandings of the young? Are you who are parents encouraged by it, through the help of the Bible, to bring up your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord? Do you read to them such parts of the holy volume as are easily understood? Do you teach them to read them, to reverence them, and to obey them? Ye godfathers and godmothers, do you in consequence, see that your godchildren are taught, so soon as they are able to learn, all those things which a Christian ought to know and believe to his soul's health? And lastly, |