slightest degree. Her clear and distinct averment is, that "In HOLY SCRIPTURE is fully contained what we ought to do, and what to eschew; what to believe, and what to love, and what to look for at God's hands at length."

SHORT NOTICES.

THE TABERNACLE OF MOSES PRACTICALLY CONSIDERED. In Sixteen Discourses. By the Rev. W. MUDGE, B.A. London: Nisbet. 1842.

THIS work is an attempt to unfold the typical meaning of the Jewish tabernacle, for the purpose of practical instruction rather than of mere speculative inquiry. Its nature almost precludes a lengthened review, unless we were to launch into the wide subject of scripture types in their largest extent. And certainly the strange reasonings of Mr. Sibthorp, in his recent pamphlet, to justify his perversion to Rome, would seem to indicate that even many teachers in the Church need very much to be enlightened upon this important branch of theological research.

We shall at present, however, content ourselves with a simple recommendation of the little volume before us. It has perhaps no great claims to depth or originality, but the latter is sometimes a very questionable excellence; and in sacred subjects, above all others, old truth is far preferable to novel and specious falsehood. The work is simple, practical, and earnest in its style, sound in its doctrinal views, and rich in scriptural illustration. The author keeps everywhere in view one great object, to magnify the grace and perfections of the Saviour. In some cases we are disposed to think that this very desire itself has been injurious to distinctness of interpretation, and that there is a greater variety in the true significance of the sacred emblems than the excellent writer seems to apprehend. But this is of minor importance, compared with the general soundness and spirituality of the exposition.

The following paragraph of the preface deserves the attention of every Christian, from its deep truth and practical interest :--

"That there are yet undiscovered treasures of wisdom and knowledge in the Old Testament Scriptures, becomes more and more manifest, with the cultivation of Hebrew literature, and the appliance of spiritual intellect to this particular department of sacred study. Indeed, the writings of the great Jewish lawgiver would seem to be almost an unexplored region of divine

inspiration. Very many readers of the holy word, do greatly slight Moses and the Prophets. Should the author of the present volume be found to have opened a door of admittance to the sacred field, and to have gathered a few flowers of thought within the hallowed enclosure, and thereby, other more proficient labourers be induced to pursue the subject, he will feel greatly thankful. Certainly, very much land yet remains to be possessed and cultívated in theological learning; and these Sixteen Discourses on the Tabernacle of Moses, do but form as it were preludia to the fulness of Gospeltype and similitude to be discovered in the Pentateuch. Israel thought scorn of that pleasant land: Do Christians always value as they ought their goodly heritage? or cherish, as they might do, acquaintance with the mind or will of their beloved Lord, in the glorious fulness of its revelation?”— (p. vii.)

We shall content ourselves with one short extract further, which may give some view of the general style of the work, and at the same time unfolds a vital doctrine of our faith. The subject is the anointing oil and its divinely-appointed ingredients:—

"When our thoughts and cares have been mainly directed to the cultivation and acquisition of holiness, irrespective of the foundation laid for our faith in the Gospel, no marvel that we are subject to perpetual alternations of joy and sorrow, hope and fear, gain and loss, in our experience. Sanctification, although confessedly, the result of grace in the heart, must necessarily remain a partial and imperfect work until mortality itself be swallowed up of life; now, no imperfect work can avail for pardon and for peace; and therefore must the righteousness of God, and the righteousness of God alone, form the simple ground of our dependence and our trust. Christ alone is righteous of all the race of Adam, and looking off all other objects of religious confidence both within and without ourselves, unto our only Lord, we shall realize the blessed security of a justified state, and know in very deed that there can be no condemnation where the Father justifies and the Redeemer pleads. At the same time, although separable in both theory and in fact, we shall discover that justification and sanctification are likewise inseparable adjuncts of a gracious whole; like the calamus and the cassia of the sacred ointment. God acquits the sinner in order to make him holy. The faith which appropriates Christ to personal justification, is holy in its essence, and necessarily productive of holiness in practice. Still the respective works of the Son and of the Holy Ghost must not be so blended in our conception of them, as to pervert their separate uses, and thereby to lay another foundation than that which is already laid. Only believe; is the command of Christ, Mark v. 36; and only let us exercise a simple faith in the extraneous work and sufferings of our gracious Lord, sustained and wrought so freely on our behalf, and we shall presently feel strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience, and long-suffering with joyfulness; giving thanks unto the Father who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. Col. i. 11, 12. Our prospects will brighten as we climb the heights. Incipient holiness there must already be, where holiness is desired, or the desire to be holy could not exist; time and eternity will develope the principle in glorious strength and fulness of perfection.

"Failures in duty; struggles with temptation; relapses even into the sin long repented of and most earnestly deplored, are among the all things which God in sovereign mercy, will overrule for good, and for the furtherance of that very holiness we sigh and pray to attain but cannot reach. The chastenings of our Father's love are by no means the least valuable portion of his children's heritage. O no: the Lord will not cast off for ever: but though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.

Lam. iii. 31-33. The lowliest in their own esteem, rank highest in Divine regard and any experience, however mortifying to our self-love and selfdependance, is to be valued as a gracious discipline in the school of Christ. The prophet's horn of oil, poured upon the head of some distinguished man, does but symbolize the power and sanctity wherewith God the Spirit will anoint his child. 1 Sam. x. 1. It is because of this very impartation of grace, that therefore we are so tempted, tried, and troubled. The one is a consequence of the other. And when we are alarmed and distressed about our state, as though we must needs sit down in hopeless helplessness, we should do well to adopt the reasoning of Manoah's wife unto her fearful husband; If the Lord were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt-offering and a meat-offering at our hands, neither would he have shewed us all these things, nor would as at this time have told us such things as these. Judges xiii. 23. First, God's provision of a sacrifice, and then his acceptance of it, should preclude all needless hesitation and perplexity in our minds relative to our justification by faith; and again, the things already told us, should confirm our confidence in all that relates unto the future. All the promises of God in Christ are, Yea; and in him, Amen, unto the glory of God by us, 2 Cor. i. 20; and therefore is our Lord emphatically, The Amen, because he will ultimately accomplish in us as well as for us all the Father's merciful and benignant will.”—(pp. 259–261.)

In conclusion we very heartily recommend this little volume to our Christian readers, as a most instructive manual for holy and profitable meditation on the word of God.

THE RELIGIOUS HISTORY OF MAN, in which Religion and Superstition are traced from their Sources. By D. Mo12mo. 1842.

RISON.

It is difficult to give an opinion of this work in a few words, and we have not space for a long review. Looking only at its defects, we might say it is occasionally vague and uncertain, and sometimes defective and erroneous. But there is much that is striking and profitable, and we are glad to see the attention of Christians directed to those interesting, but less regarded subjects, of which we have important intimations in the holy Scriptures. It will, we doubt not, help to lead them on to the fuller discovery of those spiritual treasures of knowledge and wisdom which are hid in the Bible for our use, and which teach us to see in the whole face of creation, revealed truth and the glories of redemption by Christ Jesus. There are thirty-one chapters on a variety of subjects, such as the Creation, Scripture Geology, the First Man, Languages, Hieroglyphics, the Cherubim, the Firmament, the Flood, the Path of the Just and the Way of the Heathen, the Messiah, Antichrist, and the Times of Refreshing; subjects to the elucidation of which the most enlarged knowledge and learning may be well applied.

A SERIES OF THEOLOGICAL LECTURES, delivered in the Cathedral Church of Chichester. By the Rev. HENRY ATKINS. Vol. I. 12mo. 1842.

THE establishment of a Lecture in Divinity was connected in 1259 with the Prebendary of Wightering, to be read in the cloisters of Chichester Cathedral, by the Prebendary. It has been revived, and the plan of a regular course of lectures adopted, of which we have a favourable specimen in the present volume, which consists of three courses. The first course is on the Names and Titles of Christ, and the second and third course on the Personal Characters of his Apostles and Evangelists. There is much that is very pleasing, Scriptural and profitable in this volume, though we cannot but be sensible of want of depth and enlargement of thought. The following remark on Milton deserves attention :—

"In the poem of his latter days, 'Paradise Regained,' we cannot fail to perceive, not only a decay of that sublime genius which, to adopt his own words, had soared into the Empyrean,' but also a departure from that high tone of Christian theology which distinguishes the greater part of his former work: a signal and melancholy instance of the fatal effects of that hasty spirit, to which I alluded in the preliminary lecture, in unsettling religious opinions, and driving its victim, like a wandering star, through the shades of error, into the darkness of scepticism and infidelity.”—(pp. 474–476.)

We are sorry to observe remarks, in pages 474-476, which would go far to prohibit the pious among the laity from teaching the poor, and would confine their religious instruction to the Clergy. However justly peculiar official duties in the public ministry of the word and the administration of the sacraments are confined to the Clergy, it is a grievous mistake to discourage Christians from a course which is only obeying the Divine direction of exhorting one another daily, while it is called to-day. (Heb. iii. 13; x. 24, 25. 1 Thess. v. 11.) If it be a great duty to minister to their bodily wants, it is a still higher office of love to minister to their deeper spiritual necessities. We the rather remark this, because all the efforts of all the piously-disposed throughout the land, fall vastly short of meeting the moral darkness and the spiritual necessities of our great cities. Nothing but ignorance of the actual condition of vast masses of society in them, could lead an amiable and pious Lecturer, like the author of these volumes, to discourage efforts made by well-disposed persons for their religious instruction.

THE TONGUE OF TIME; or, the Language of a Church Clock. By the Rev. W. HARRISON. 12mo. London: Cradock.

THIS is a spiritual little Treatise, intended to improve practically and devotionally the twelve hours of the day, to the edification of the soul. The author avails himself of scriptural suggestions and occurrences in the life of Christ. We quote one passage, which may shew the spirit of the work :

"What a power of thought lies in those Christ is the sum total of a Christian's life. subject is Christ. Every thought is Christ. thou say as much? If not, rise from thy lethargy and pray."

little words: to live in Christ!' Every moment is Christ. Every Every design is Christ. Canst

Each hour of the day has a direction from the Holy Scriptures, in words corresponding in number to the hour, as follows:-1. Watch. 2. Fear God. 3. Honour all men. 4. Be careful for nothing. 5. The Lord is at hand. 6. Why sleep ye; rise and pray. 7. Ask and it shall be given you. 8. I am the vine; ye are the branches. 9. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh. 10. Let your spirit be always with grace, seasoned with salt. 11. Walk in wisdom towards them that are without, redeeming the time. 12. Here have we no continuing city, but we seek

one to come.

Thus the great duties and principles of the gospel are associated with each hour of the day; and we trust that Christians may find this a useful little memento and help for the promotion of the divine life.

HISTORICAL SKETCHES, SPEECHES, AND CHARACTERS. By the Rev. GEORGE CROLY, L.L.D., Rector of St. Stephen's, Walbrook, &c. London: Seeley and Burnside. 1842.

THIS is a volume of much variety, and containing many things which posterity "will not readily let die." Foremost stands the unequalled essay,-"England the Fortress of Christianity," which has already, as a tract, been scattered, in tens of thousands, over the land. Then we have the characters of Pitt, Burke, and Nelson; a sketch of the Church in Ireland; a memoir of Zuinglius; one of Luther; a character of Napoleon, and several speeches. It has been imagined that the volume contains merely a reprint of former