"Upon the late Dr. Milner's reference to the Lambeth Records, I have here no other remark to offer, than that what I have detected in him cannot be contradicted. And of Dr. Lingard and Mr. Butler I now take my leave (for the present) with perfect benevolence, though with absolute dissent; repeating only the powerful observation of one who, in the controversy of former years, thus distinguishes the instrumentality of Cranmer in separating England from the Church of Rome: • The Reformation builds on a rock, removing the hay and stubble, the perishing materials heaped on it by popes, to secure our Church a firmer establishment on Christ the foundation. Cranmer we look upon but as an instrument raised by God to clear away the rubbish and whatever his personal frailties or infirmities may have been, for Christ has appointed men, not angels, for the work of his ministry here, the doctrines of the Gospel by him restored are not the less pure, nor the corruptions he pointed out less abominable; and the better use we make of that blessing which he, by his labour among us, procured for us, we shall esteem him the more highly in love for his work's sake, whatever his faults were in other respects.'

Sermon by the Rev. Dr. SHUTTLEWORTH, preached at the Fourteenth Annual Meeting of the Hampshire Society for the Education of the Infant Poor in the Principles of the Established Church. London, Rivingtons.

WHERE all is excellent it is difficult to select, and if by avoiding it we might hope to induce our readers to judge for themselves, by an attentive perusal of the whole, we should consider that we had amply fulfilled our duty to the public, by thus introducing to their notice, and we would gladly add by indelibly imprinting on their memory, a composition which demands our unqualified approbation. Were it the practice of reviewers to make a single sermon the ground-work of an extended article, with pleasure would we avail ourselves of the present opportunity, for seldom in so few pages have we met with so much forcible reasoning displayed, or so many valuable hints thrown out, upon which we might dilate with profit to ourselves and to our readers. We are aware indeed that neither a small nor an insignificant portion of the reflecting classes of society entertain rational doubts and considerable hesitation respecting the education of the people at large, and more especially respecting that mode alluded to in this discourse, fearful "lest the effect should be the disturbance of the good order of society, by unfitting the minds of the inferior classes for the performance of the humble duties attaching to their allotment in life." P. 10.

Whatever may be the nature of these doubts, whether founded on error or prejudice, we respect them if conscientious and the genuine result of intellectual minds pondering upon a question pregnant with important effects. At the same time we honestly confess that we should doubt their sincerity and purity if they can outlive the weighty reasoning brought to bear upon them by the Warden of New College. There are persons in the world unwilling to receive advice from sermons as the emanations of professional, and therefore biassed and prejudiced writers. To such we would say, read before you decide. We are ready indeed to admit that some sermons may occasionally bear partially and technically upon points of public and general import, and that others assuming too much the character of essays and dry dissertations on the other hand, in some degree lose sight of the rock upon which they ought to be founded, and from which they ought ever to be known. But from both such charges we think the Sermon before us is free; for whilst the abstract Theologian will be satisfied with the piety and orthodoxy of its author, who would render "the humbler classes more contented, more industrious, more religious, and consequently more happy," p. 13-the speculative reasoner will thank him for the soundness of his views, and power of his arguments which may fan "into a flame those embers of the benevolent affections which piety and reflection have previously kindled." P. 6. Which may convince him that as

In the present advanced and active period of man's history, an intellectual being has only to exist, and knowledge of some kind or other is sure to come unsought. He has only to open his eyes and it flashes upon him he may in fact be said almost without a metaphor to imbibe it at every pore." P. 10.

That knowledge moreover is power, and

"That perverted knowledge lying in the way of every member of an opulent commercial nation, however deficient he may be in wisdom of a holier description is power most fearfully destructive both morally and physically of the individual and the commonwealth." P. 16.

That "even that greatest of all earthly blessings, religion itself, (such is the fearful tendency to abuse in our present imperfect condition) will if not properly instilled be converted into bitterness." P. 20.

Convinced of this we repeat the speculative reasoner as well as the abstract Theologian will combine in doing their utmost to inculcate with sobriety and single-mindedness any system

connecting moral and religious virtues, "encouraging the developement of all that is really good and counteracting what is evil.' P. 23. Assured that by so doing they are assimilating human nature" in its noblest, i. e. its unperishable part to the angels of God; its passions subdued; its affections sublimed, its hopes centered on perfection itself; bearing, since it is God's will, with the yoke of its frail and perishable body, but eager for the day when it shall shake off the trammels of the flesh, and reach its immortal destination." P. 8.

A small Dictionary intended principally for the use of the Poor of the Established Church, whether School Children, or grown up Persons, &c. &c. By the REV. EDWARD CURTIS KEMP, M.A. Curate of Lyndhurst, in Hampshire. London. Hatchard and Sons.

In the present age, when the talents and learning and piety of some of the wisest and best amongst us are making fresh struggles every day to dispel the darkness of ignorance by enlightening the understandings of the poor, we are never surprised to see works calculated to produce this effect issue from our press. Numberless indeed are the volumes written and compiled for the exclusive benefit of the lower orders of the community; and diversified in every varied modification of design and execution to accomplish one common purpose. Of these many, no doubt, have been written by men of very limited knowledge and experience, and of very moderate sense and judgment; whilst on the other hand many, and, we believe, far the greater portion, reflect the highest credit on those who wrote them, in that they are conducive to promote the best interests of those who read them. Whether or no the book now. under consideration may justly claim a place in the latter class, is a point upon which we are anxious to give our opinion.

The author's view in publishing this Dictionary we learn from his preface; the first sentence of which we will quote for the information of those who have not read it before.

"As it cannot but be admitted that the poor ought to have every facility afforded them of understanding the doctrines which they hear from our pulpits; that the comprehension of words is necessary to that of sentences, and that clergymen often cannot write with propriety without using words that are unintelligible to untutored minds, a Dica tionary, written for the convenience of both parties, is considered by the author to be a desideratum in the English language.".

The three positions here laid down none surely will dispute; none at least of the liberal and rational, whose understandings have not been warped by the inveterate prejudices which folly and ignorance first thoughtlessly conceived, and then afterwards wilfully retain. For those who lift up their voices against all education of the poor, because that blessing, like all other blessings, is liable to perversion, we cannot condescend to reason with at all. Mr. Kemp then remarks that there is the strongest probability of such a work being beneficial in its consequences to the poor, though it may not possibly make them more ardent in the cause of religion than they might have been without it."It is presumed to be sufficient," he further remarks, "that numbers of the present day have long felt the necessity of the assistance to be derived from it, which they are desirous to receive and are willing, but know not where, to seek."

any

The whole preface explains the author's design, and also makes a sufficient apology for any the least deviation from strict grammatical and philological propriety, to which he may where have been driven by the peculiar nature of the task he has imposed upon himself. He was restricted in a manner in which no ordinary dictionary-writers are; for they dedicate the fruits of their labour, not to any particular class of men, but to all alike; whereas he has appropriated his to the poor, to those, who have indeed the Gospel preached unto them, though often ineffectually, through their incapacity to comprehend the simple language in which it is conveyed to their ears by the preacher.

Any man, that zealously steps forward to instruct his poorer brethren in the knowledge of the things pertaining unto everlasting life, deserves our love and esteem. Mr. Kemp therefore is entitled to our thanks, even for his good intention. Let us now see how far he may be entitled to them for the mode in which he has carried that intention into effect. That his object is good, none but those will doubt who would rejoice to find it bad. This however is not by itself enough to justify any man in sending forth his lucubrations into the world. In common charity it is to be hoped that many of the injudicious works, under which the press is groaning, were written with the best intent; though at the same time condemnation must fall upon the authors for having attempted to perform more than their qualifications warranted them to undertake. Whether in the present instance greater hopes have been held out in the preface than have been made good in the work, we will soon, as far as our opinion can, determine.

The words are well explained, except perhaps in some cases, where the incapacity of the ignorant to understand the close significations, necessarily precluded a more strict and legitimate mode of explanation. The giammarian may, if he pleases, pick out particular words, which, according to his accurate ideas of correctness, may not have had their full force given to them. He may cavil, and perhaps with partial success; but he should at the same me remember that this little book was never intended for all sorts and conditions of men, and that therefore the only question is, whether the meanings attached to the different words are either in one or more cases so erroneously given, as to mislead that particular class of persons, for whose information they are solely intended.

We must consider this book not as a subject for ill-natured critics to carp at on account of any deductions not rigidly and logically deduced, but as a plain and simple volume of instruction for the benefit of the poor, principally those of the Established Church. If indeed any words can be pointed out, as having been falsely interpreted, then the character of the dictionary, as a dictionary, no matter for what description of men it was intended, is lost. We have carefully examined whether any words have been so interpreted, and we can conscientiously assert that they have not; loosely indeed they may have been in some few instances, and for the reason before assigned, but falsely, never.

Whilst, however, we bestow our approbation, both upon, the design and execution of this Vocabulary, for such it may be called, consisting, as it does, of words selected from the great body of our language; we cannot refrain from suggesting one improvement, that may hereafter be made, should it come out, as we hope it soon will, in a second edition. There appear to us to be more words explained than it is advisable to burthen the memories of the poor and their children with. We conceive that many words are inserted, which clergymen, in preaching to country congregations, ought not to use: for instance, such as "interpolation," "anchorite," " extraneous, "reciprocation," "encomiastic," "exuberant," " polemic," "reversion," "speculatist," and several others. It would cer tainly be better to imbue the minds of poor children thoroughly with a moderate number of words, and their respective meanings, than to teach them so many, that they cannot well retain them distinctly in their memories. And surely no one will deny that the more they have to learn, the less likely are they to learn it well. Whilst, therefore, a greater danger of their being ill instructed exists, when they have, suppose, 1400 words