be estimated independently of all deeply-interesting Syrian Churches the dissensions and animosities of Malay-ala. which have disgraced its professed disciples; points out the probable designs of God in permitting such evils; and inculcates what ought to be the spirit and conduct of the different churches and sects of the Christian world, in reference to their respective differences and to each other. This prefatory Essay is followed by a valuable introduction, consisting of a rapid sketch of the history of the church, from its foundation to its reformation, abridged from the appendix to an essay on the spirit and influence of the Reformation of Luther, by C. Villiers. The arrangement of the work is scientific. It is divided into, I. The Churches and Sects prior to the Reformation: II. Those commencing with the Reformation, with others subsequently arising out of it, in existence at the present time. Under the former of these divisions, after describing at large the baptized paganism of the Church of Rome, the author conducts us, successively, through the Waldensian Church in the Protestant valleys of Piedmont valleys which, from their difficult passes and bulwarks of rock, seem, says an old writer, to have been designed from the beginning, by the All-wise Creator, as a cabinet wherein to put some inestimable jewel, or in which to reserve many thousand souls, which should not bow the knee to Baal; through the cold and childish formalities of the Greek Church; the pictureworshipping and amulet-wearing Russian Church; the fasting and less hopeless Church of Armenia; the Semi-mahometan Georgian, the incense loving Coptic, and the corrupt, but independent and papalhating Abyssinian, Churches; and, lastly, the ancient, isolated, and The second part forms an able and interesting guide through the churches and sects commencing with the Reformation, and those subsequently arising out of it, down to the St. Simonians and Irvingites, or Millenarians, of to-day. Leading us first through those of the reformed churches which are connected with a civil establishment, it concludes an account of the United Church of England and Ireland thus: "That there are hundreds, many hundreds of devout and efficient pastors in the church of England and Ireland, it is our happiness to know-and that genuine religion is cherished in the hearts of thousands of the people who Worship in her sanctuaries. But what are these? Is that hive worth preserving, and that at a ruinous expense to the proprietor, which is filled with drones, and who, instead of making stance of the community by luxury and honey, do nothing but waste the subself-indulgence? One very unfavourable characteristic of the clergy at the present moment, is the violence with which they the dissenters to be relieved from various treat the just and reasonable claims of grievances, which all parties acknow ledge to exist, and which the sufferers have long patiently endured. Reasonof the dissenters, and temperate and conable as were the petitions and meinorials ciliatory as was their language, they were indignantly told, that their demands could not be granted consistently with the safety or even with the exist ence of the church. Provoked beyond measure at the audacious attempt to perpetuate their thraldom and degrada tion, the dissenters unhesitatingly deexist in a free country, which was necessaclared that no establishment ought to rily subversive of the rights and liberties of any large portion of the people; and they called either for a redress of their wrongs, or the removal of the grand obsta cle which stood between them and the justice of the legislature. This has fired the hierarchy into a declaration of war, and she is now marshalling her hosts and sharpening her weapons for the field: never was unanimity so complete, or warwhoop so menacing-Dissent must be annihilated. Bishop Blomfield, once su bland and courteous, and whose patronizing smile occasionally glanced recognition of a nonconformist parishioner as he passed him in the street, is now putting on his seven-leagued boots: already he cries, Havoc,-let slip the dogs of war,—and away they run growling and yelling, according to the variety in their nature and breeding; and what will be the issue, sagacity itself is at a loss to divine. His lordship has taken under his special patronage a renegade of the name of Gathercole, who bas found out, to the great edification of the bishops and clergy, that the devil was the first dissenter.' All this, amusing though it be, will not divert the attention of the nation from the crying abuses of the established church. Many begin to view the whole as a mismanaged monopoly; some are anxious that its alliance with the state should be dissolved; others, and perhaps the greater number, wish for its continuance, but desire that its wealth should be more equally distributed; that pluralities and non-residence should cease; that the universities should be thrown open to the nation; and that the support of the establishment should be derived from those only who choose to enjoy the benefit of its ministrations. country, no hearers. Churches built or building in numerous places in which there is to be perhaps sometimes service but never congregations; and where it has happened that a military force has been occasionally necessary to protect the builders from the assaults of the flocks. Meek flocks! Happy shepherds!' This church has made little progress among the people; and the clergy quietly slum. bering upon their livings, seem to be perfectly indifferent to this appalling fact; and Mr. O'Driscol plainly asserts that the church as a body has not only done very little upon the ground of this first of her duties, (enlightening and instructing the people,) but has resisted those measures which appeared necessary in order to open the way for her exertions, and that the clergy, as the people think and believe, are perpetually grasping their substance and the fruit of their labour without equivalent or requital.' We cannot but remember the exposure of the enormous mass of corruption and abuses with which this church is loaded, by Lord Mountcashel in the house of peers, before the lords spiritual and temporal in parliament assembled. But was there one among them all to take up the question, and to second his disinterested and manly ef forts and how have the governors of the church of England treated those who have ventured to bring the subject under their notice? with contumely and scorn, with defiance and contempt. And so pertinaciously do they adhere to things as they are, that they refuse to touch one of the burthens which oppress the people with their little finger. They seem to brave all consequences, rather than a feather should risk the being shaken from the down on which they repose.'"-pp. 441–444. "The time is arrived when all are agreed that changes are necessary. Upon this point there is perfect unanimity. The barefooted peasant upon the mountain, and the citizen who is employed at his trade; the country gentleman, and the professional man, and the farmer; are all agreed that things cannot remain as they are.' This is a kind of instinctive feeling which belongs to our species, intimating that great changes are at hand. It is something of that kind by which the lower animals foreknow the changes of the weather, and We would refer to the sketch are warned to provide for their safety. of the Anglo-Cambrian Church as And how is this feeling met by the an able and fearless exposure of body chiefly interested, who ought to be the first to face the difficulty, and to revolting established abuses. The propose an arrangement fair and equita- chapter on English Presbyteble, and likely to perpetuate that union, rianism, alias Socinianism, disthe dissolution of which they have so much reason to deprecate. In Ireland, covers an intimate acquaintance the roots of most of the evils which with every feature of that religious distract that unhappy country, may be petrifaction. When Socinians, on traced to the present state of its pro- the one hand, are ludicrously comtestant establishment. The immense plaining of the persecuting spirit majority of that portion of the British empire are estranged by principle and of the Three Denominations, and No Churchmen, on the other, are casting a stone at orthodox Dissenters for uniting with Socinians on questions of civil liberty, we cannot do habit from the dominant church. church in the world,' says Mr. O'Driscol, is so singularly placed as the protestant established church of Ireland. A priesthood, but, in many parts of the better than call their attention to the following appropriate remarks: "In the very city where Servetus was condemned, men of the same creed now holding all places of trust and authority in church and state, have perpetrated not one act of persecution, and on an individual, but a series of acts, and against large numbers of devout and excellent Christians, whose only crime is, that they teach evangelical doctrines in opposition to the prevailing tenets of Socinianism. The atheistical philosophers of France, and the modern Socinians of Geneva, both professing boundless liberality and indulgence to all opinions, share the honour of being the only practical persecutors in the most enlightened age of the world."-pp. 542, 543. "The orthodox dissenters of the two other denominations are accused by the high church party, and recently by the bishop of London, of uniting heart and hand with Socinians and infidels for the destruction of the church. Such an accusation comes with an ill grace from such a quarter. We know of no class of dissenters nor of any individuals, who have contemplated the annihilation of the church. Its severance from the state, some have considered as beneficial to its spiritual interests and its real usefulness; but there has been no union for the accomplishment even of this. The dissenters have stood up only for their civil rights and privileges, only for the removal of restrictions and disabilities which degrade them in society, and unjustly abridge their comforts. With Socinians and infidels, as such, they have no more connexion, than with the greatly increasing numbers of liberal churchmen, who enter into their views and espouse their cause. They have no communion with persons of this character, and it was solely to their efforts that the church of England was delivered from the foul disgrace of being compelled to administer to them the Lord's supper as a qualification for office, while the great body of the clergy so pertinaciously clung to it, as essential to the security of the establishment, that the legislature was deafened with their clamour, demanding that Socinians and infidels should kneel at their altar, and receive the consecrated elements from their hands. The orthodox dissenters have not this sort of fellowship with those from whom they differ toto cælo, on the essential doctrines of our holy faith. Nor do they hallow by a sacred service the matrimonial union of Socinians and infidels-giving them the paternal salutation, and blessing them in the name of the Trinity. Nor at their death, do they officiate at their funerals, thanking God, that he has taken the souls of their dear brothers and sisters to himself, and praying him to accomplish the number of his elect. Nor in their churches do Socinians and infidels present to livings, confer advowsons, and enjoy an ample patronage to appoint men like themselves to exercise spiritual functions at variance with their known sentiments and spirit. Protecting associations for the purpose of securing civil rights, and of obtaining a redress of civil grievances, may enrol in their lists men of all religions and of no religion; but can their union for such purposes be considered as a religious combination? But we are now familiar with high church logic, and we know something of its spirit. What right has ever been restored to any injured class of dissentients, what grievance has ever been redressed, against which the church did not protest, as a direct attack upon her existence? The church is in danger!' thank God, this is now become a mere brutum fulmen, If it should chance to be the annunciation of truth, those who raise the cry would do well to examine where the danger lies, or they may perhaps themselves accelerate the ruin which they affect to believe is threatened by their enemies."-pp. 545, 546. The accounts of the Congregational Independents, the Baptists, and the Wesleyan Metho dists, are ably written. We confess, however, we do not think with the author that Mr. Wesley was ever mitred, though he deserved indeed to be tiarad; but his was an order of merit to which such distinctions could add nothing. Though the Book of the Denominations is not the first on the subject of which it treats, in the order of time, it is unquestionably first in the order of merit; for while it is free from the heterodox leaven of one of its predecessors, from the high-church bias of a second, and the heavy dulness of a third, it unites most of their excellences, and adds others peculiar to itself. We cordially join in the opinion we have seen pro nounced on it elsewhere, that though the author has evidently brought to it the result of very extensive reading and research, his perfect mastery of language and of his subject has enabled him to fuse the heterogeneous parts into a perfect whole; imparting to the volume the continuity and unbroken interest of a single narrative. With the following appropriate extract we conclude: "It is our happiness to live at a period of peculiar light, when knowledge is diffusing around us, and the bigotry of ignorance is yielding to the mild influences of heavenly charity. The sword of persecution sleeps in its scabbard, and the tocsin of blood is no longer heard. The murmurings of intolerance are faint, and excite no sympathy. The legislature smiles upon us all with paternal kindness, and a pretext does not remain to keep them separate in heart who are identical in principle. In all communities that reverence the fundamental truths of Christianity, real Christians are to be found. These, in the eye of Heaven, form the Catholic Church, and they ought to be no longer estranged on earth. A great cause demands our united zeal and concentrated efforts. Let us make haste to discover the great points on turning our weapons upon each other, let which we are agreed, and instead of us heartily combine against the common enemy. The state of our country demands it, and the world opens a wide field for our benevolent exertions. The time is arrived when Christians of all persuasions should enlist under the same banner, and forget their own differences, till the last enemy of the faith is conquered."-p. 25. THE EDITOR'S TABLE. The Third Address of the Annual Assembly of the Congregational Union of England and Wales, held at the Congregational Library, London, May 10th, 1836, to the Ministers and Churches of the same faith and order throughout the Empire, 12mo. Narrative of a Journey to the Zoolu Country, in South Africa, by Captain A. F. Gardiner, R. N. undertaken in 1835. Bro. with many plates. Essays on God's Covenant and Church; the Nature and Design of Circumcision and Baptism, addressed to Christians of all denominations. By J. Munro. 12mo. Life and Remains of the late Rev. Wm. Hamilton, D.D., Minister of Strathblane, in two Volumes 12mo. The Oxford Persecution of 1836. Extracts from the Public Journals, in defence of the present Regius Professor of Divinity, and his appointment to that chair, &c. 8vo. The Irish Preacher; A Collection of original Sermons, by Evangelical Minis ters. 8vo. Friendly Letters to the Society of Friends on some of their distinguishing Principles. By R Wardlaw, D.D. 12mo. Covetousness, its prevalence, evils, and cure, by Esther Copley. 12mo. On Covetousness, by R. Treffry, Jun. Christian Liberality, in the distribution of Property, illustrated and enforced, by J. G. Pike. The Return to Faith, exemplified in the Life of William Koellner, a German Protestant Divine, written by himself. From the German, by Samuel Jackson. An Essay on the Spirit and Influence of the Reformation of Luther: the work which obtained the prize of the National Institute of France. By C. Villers, Esq. Translated by J. Mills, Esq. and abridged by the Rev. W. Marsh, M. A. 12mo. The Christian's Daily Treasury: containing a religious exercise for every day in the year. By Ebenezer Temple. 12mo. A Letter to Dr. Hancock from the Children of a deceased Minister of the Society of Friends, on the doctrine of Justification by Faith in Christ crucified. Published by a Member of that Society. Meetings for amusing Knowledge, or the Happy Valley; by Mrs. H. T. Wood, with engravings. 12mo. Memoirs of the Wesley Family: collected principally from original Documents. By Adam Clarke, LLD. F.A.S. Second Edition, revised, corrected, and enlarged. 2 Vols. 12mo. with Portraits, &c. being the first and second Volumes of a uniform Edition of the Miscellaneous Works of that learned Writer. The fifth Volume of the Life and Works of William Cowper. By Robert Southey, Esq. LL.D. Embellished with a Portrait of the Rev. J. Newton and two beautiful Views. SHORT CRITICAL NOTICES. The Pictorial Bible, being the Old and New Testaments, according to the authorized version, illustrated with many hundred wood-cuts, representing historical events, after the most celebrated pictures; the landscape scenes from original drawings, or from authentic engravings; and subjects of natural history, of costumes, and of antiquities, from the best sources; to which are added original notes, chiefly explanatory of the engravings, and of such passages connected with the history, geography, natural history, and antiquities of the Sacred Scriptures as require observation. Super-royal octavo. Parts I. II. III. C. Knight, London. THIS work is not theological and exegetical, like the common run of expositions on the Sacred Scriptures, but is avowedly restricted to those general illustrations and explanatory remarks which will make it "universally acceptable to all denominations of Chris tians." The pictorial illustrations comprise historical subjects-landscapes, and subjects of natural history; of costume and of antiquities. Respecting the value of the first class of illustrations, selected from the master-pieces of the great painters, we do not entertain a high opinion. Precious as those works of art unquestionably are to all who love or study painting, for the force, truth, and beauty by which they are severally characterized, yet the great painters indicated but little regard to the history they professedly depicted; to produce a fine picture was to them a more important object than to afford a good illustration of the narrative after which it was to be called. If "The Pictorial Bible" is to be a picture-book for our little ones, or to please "children of a larger growth," then "the rainbow" of Reubens, with its jolly rustics; or "Lot and his daughters," and "Jacob and his flock," after Guido and Salvator Rosa, are well enough, but what have these, with Jordaen's "Miriam," or West's "Moses," and several others we could name, to do with the objects of the sacred text. We put it to the able persons engaged in getting up this work, how these illustrations can, of themselves, be as Notes of the most interesting and important character ?" We offer these remarks, not in the spirit of hostility to the work, but with a sincere desire that its future pages may only receive those historical engravings which really do elucidate the subject. As to the other illustrations, we must own they are exceedingly interesting and instructive. It is true we have seen much better landscape engravings in wood, yet they will be found far more useful as "notes" than the historical subjects we have named. It is in the subjects of natural history, of costume, and of ment possesses its greatest charm; and antiquities, that the pictorial depart we should not be faithful to our con victions if we did not express our gratification with the beautiful designs of Melville employed to illustrate the ceremonies of the Levitical law, and with those illustrations of the sacred text that have been so successfully gleaned from the Egyptian antiquities in the British Museum. Respecting the printed Notes, we are happy to say that they comprise a tive remarks upon the geography, togreat variety of valuable and instrucpography, natural history, manners, customs, religions, and antiquities of the nations referred to in the sacred pages, and when completed, cannot fail to form a repertory of most useful information. We hope that a very complete index of subjects will be compiled, which will increase the value of the work. While the devotional student of the holy scriptures will find in this work but little to assist think it is well adapted to lead many him in spiritual meditations, yet we readers to a more diligent and unprejudiced perusal of the inspired writings. Illustrations of the Pilgrim's Progress, accompanied with Extracts from the work, and Descriptions of the Plates, by Bernard Barton; and a Biographical Sketch of the Life and Writings of Bunyan, by Josiah Conder. 4to. bound and gilt. Fisher and Co., London. THE Pilgrim's Progress is an English and a Christian classic, and who can |