charity, and would, were it not a little too selfish, cover the multitude of canonical sins which Wesley and his followers have committed.

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Of the propriety of this measure, the reviewer has strong doubts. These are founded upon the "love of caste." Were the Methodist preachers admitted to orders, they would be exalted to an equality with their elder brethren. This, he thinks, would never do. It would, notwithstanding the purifying process of consecration by a true legitimate in regular succession from the apostles, corrupt the blood; yet he has a remedy. What is it, think you, gentle reader? Why, he proposes to introduce a new, or rather to revive an ancient order, which, for convenience, he calls "sub-deacons." These should be a sort of "lay clergy," forming a connecting link between the lower class, the shop keepers" and "stock jobbers," and the higher classes, and between the " high born," the older sons of the church, or, in other words, the regular clergy of the Establishment, and the rabble. This is a most admirable expedient, and must be quite flattering to the Wesleyans. It is as if he had said, The Methodists may have the privilege of associating with our servants in the kitchen, if they will consent first to acknowledge that they are all illegitimates, and then receive absolution for their crimes by an approving smile from the lord of the mansion.

To what does all this amount? To just this, and no more: God has owned and blessed the Methodists in such an unparalleled manner, that they are now the largest and most flourishing denomination in the Protestant world. If we let them alone, they will "take our church and nation." What shall we do? Why, "we will entice them." They shall intermarry with us, provided we may have the privilege of celebrating the nuptials, and then they shall do our work, and we will enjoy the benefit of their toils. We hope the Methodists, on both sides of the Atlantic, will beware of this snare.

Both of the writers above noticed speak in flattering terms of Wesley, and of his followers. But they take good care to let us know what they think of us, nevertheless. For more than a century, we have been making an unjustifiable innovation upon the church. All the ordinances administered by us have been desecrated. Our children have been profanely baptized, and the Lord's supper not "duly administered." And now these gentlemen, in great charity, come forward, and most kindly offer us the cloak of succession, to cover our nakedness, and to screen us from impending wrath!

Now, the simple question is, Are the Methodists prepared to acknowledge that for nearly sixty years they have been deluding the people with the erroneous idea, that they have had the "pure word of God preached, and the sacraments duly administered?" Are they prepared to succumb to the doctrine of succession—a thing which has no existence but in the fancy of high churchmen and Romanists-and which Mr. Wesley declared he knew to be "a fable?"

13. The Nestorians; or, the Lost Tribes. Containing Evidence of their Identity, an Account of their Manners, Customs, and Ceremonies, together with Sketches of Travel in ancient Assyria, Armenia, Media, and Mesopotamia, and Illustrations of Scripture Prophecy. By ASAHEL GRANT, M. D. 12mo., pp. 385. New-York: Harper & Brothers. 1841.

THIS is a most interesting and instructive volume. One third of the book is occupied with sketches of the author's travels among the Nestorians and neighboring tribes. These people live in the mountains between Armenia, Media, and Mesopotamia. They are, in all respects, a most singular and interesting people. They profess Christianity, into which profession they were probably brought by the apostles of Christ or their immediate successors. The author's graphic descriptions of the wildness of the country and the rude

ness of the people are enchanting. But the fact that the way seems open for the revival of religion and a higher state of civilization among the inhabitants of these mountains is by far the most important presented in this work.

The remainder of the volume consists principally of an argument to prove the Israelitish origin of this singular people. This part of the work, whether it may be deemed entirely conclusive or not, is well worthy of consideration. In this investigation the author has shown both learning and research. The mass of facts, prophetic, historical, topographical, and philological, which he brings to bear upon his argument, is indeed striking, and cannot fail to awaken in the reader's mind a deep interest in the Nestorian Christians, though it should fail to secure his full assent to the author's theory with regard to their origin. Success to Dr. Grant and his book.

14. Themes for the Pulpit; being a Collection of nearly three thousand Topics with Texts, suitable for public Discourses in the Pulpit and Lecture Room. Mostly compiled from the published Works of ancient and modern Divines. By ABRAHAM C. BALDWIN. 12mo., pp. 324. New-York: M. W. Dodd, Brick Church Chapel, opposite the City Hall. 1841.

THE book now upon our table purports to be designed as a help to ministers in finding passages suitable for the various occasions which present themselves in the course of ministerial duty. Such assistance may, in some instances, be needful, and may relieve the burdened mind of the preacher, whose pastoral duties scarcely give him time to read his Bible; but it looks to us quite probable that it will much more frequently encourage indolence, if not a neglect of the Scriptures. For ourselves, we look with suspicion upon these labor-saving expedients; especially such as will relieve a preacher from the necessity of a thorough acquaintance with the Bible.

15. The Poetry and History of Wyoming, containing Campbell's Gertrude, with a Biographical Sketch of the Author. By WASHINGTON IRVING; and the History of Wyoming, from its Discovery to the Beginning of the present Century. By WILLIAM L. STONE. 12mo., pp. 324. New-York and London: Wiley & Putnam. 1841.

THIS is a volume of no ordinary interest. Campbell's poem, entitled "Gertrude of Wyoming," as a composition, has long very justly been admired. But the interest of the History will generally be regarded as vastly greater than that of the fictitious tale, however beautifully told. The History is a detail of facts, gathered from authentic records and living witnesses. The facts have been collected with commendable industry, and, in general, are accurately and elegantly drawn out.

Our relation to the beautiful valley of Wyoming, and to many of the heroes of the story, doubtless gives the colonel's book an interest in our feelings which it will not have in the feelings of all its readers. This far-famed valley is our earthly home. We stand connected by marriage with the family of Mrs. Myers, whose story our author took from her own lips. We are intimately acquainted with the primitive settlers, who still survive, and have long been accustomed to listen to their tales of wo and grief-of blood and slaughter-of fire and flood-of nakedness and famine. No one will dispute our right, under these circumstances, to welcome the History of Wyoming by Col. Stone. Had the author gathered all the interesting anecdotes which may still be collected from the survivors of the scenes he describes, his book would have been much larger, and not at all diminished in its interest. The colonel's sketches are not pretty fancies; they are rather dim outlines of the reality.