Murray, Right Reverend Dr., to the of Llandaff & Deanery of St. Paul's Dallas, Rev. Alexander, Yardley V. Herts Hutton, Rev. C., B.A., Episcopal Chap. Shepherd, Rev. E. J., B. A., Trostcliffe Senhouse, Rev. James Lowther, M. A., Moreton Pinkney P. C. Northamptonshire Hook, Rev. Walter Farquhar, M. A., St. Phillip's Lect. Birmingham Allanson, Rev. T., Wistow V. York King, Rev. Charles, Witchampton R. Dorset Ingle, Rev. Charles, M.A., Strensall and Osbaldwick R. York Brydges, Rev. Egerton Anthony, B.A, Denton R. cum Swingfield P. C. Kent Hulton, Rev. Thomas, B. A., Gaywood R. Norfolk Mais, Rev. John, Tintern Parva R. Monmouthshire Barnes, Rev. Mr., New Church, Cheltenham, P. C. Colvile, Rev. Augustine Asgill, M.A., Midsummer-Norton V. Somerset Spooner, Rev. William, M. A., Archdeacon of Coventry Sumner, Rev. C. V. Holme, Farnborough R. Hants Oxenham, Rev. H. J., Whitchurch C. Hants Speke, Rev. Hugh, West and East Elton, Rev. W. T., Whitestaunton R. Shuldham, Rev. John, M. A., Cowley Clerke, Rev. Charles Carr, M. A., St. Mary Magdalen V. Oxford Cosserat, Rev. J. P., St. Martin R. Exeter Streatfield, Rev. William, M. A., East Ham V. Essex Darnell, Rev. W. N., Norham V. North Durham Arnold, Rev. Charles, M. A., Tinwell R. Rutland Bowen, Rev. W., Ewyas Harold, Herts Best, Rev. Thomas, LL.D., Kirby-onBaine, Lincolnshire Sandford, Rev. Wm. M. A., Newport Hutchings, Rev. R., East Cridgeford R. Notts Lupton, Rev. James, M.A, Surrogate, to Bishop of Oxford Moore, Rev. Dr., ditto Gilly, Rev. W.S., St. Margaret P. C. Squire, Rev. John Franklin, M. a., Rusby, Rev. Samuel Stones, M. A., Lonsdale, Rev. John, B. D., Prebend at Lichfield Landon, Rev. J., Bishopstawton V., Bryam, Rev. R. Burgh, M. A., Samp- Kerr, Right Hon. and Rev. Lord Dering, Rev. Cholmondely, Prebend in St. Paul's Cathedral Lewes, Rev. P. J., Cwmyoy V. Herts Smith, Rev. Sidney Smith, St.George's Bloomsbury Jenkins, Rev. James, Llanfoist R. Monmouth Crosse, Rev. Edward, Kingsdon R. Cornish, Rev. Sidney William, M. A., South Newington V. Oxford Smith, Rev. J. B., Sothby R. Lincoln Sutton, Rev. T. Manners, Prebend of Westminster Evans, Rev. William, B. D., Shipstonupon-Stour R. cum Tidmington, Chap. Worcester Faulkner, Rev. Henry, M. A., Nortonjuxta, P. C. Worcester Harries, Rev. George, M. A., Letterstow R. Pembroke Harbin, Rev. Edward, M. A., Kingsweston R. Somersetshire Palling, Rev. Edward, B. A., Tithby cum Cropwell Butler P. C. Notts Eaton, Rev. J., M. A., Handley R. Chester Clarke, Rev. U., M. A., Neston V. Chester Wrangham, Rev. Archdeacon, M. A., Doddleston R. Chester Blomfield, Rev. G. P., Coddington R. Chester Harrison, Rev. W., St. Oswald V. Chester Gedge, Rev. Sydney, M. A., Domestic Chap. to the Earl of Erroll Omitted in the List of Degrees in onr last Number. Moncton, Hon. G. E., of Christ-church, Oxford, B. A. THE CHRISTIAN REVIEW AND Clerical Magazine. APRIL 1828. The History of the Church of Christ: intended as a Continuation of the Work of the Rev. Joseph Milner, M. A., and the Very Rev. Isaac Milner, D.D. F.R.S. By JOHN SCOTT, M.A., Vicar of North Ferriby, and Minister of St. Mary's, Hull, &c. Vol. II. Part I.; containing the History of the Lutheran Church, from the Death of its Founder to the Peace of Religion, A. D. 1555: with an Account of Melancthon to his Death, A. D. 1560; and of the Council of Trent to its Termination, A.D. 1563. 8vo. London: Seeley and Burnside. 1828. WE E are glad again to meet with Mr. Scott. Our opinion of his first volume, in continuation of Milner, is already before the world; nor do we feel disposed to alter or qualify that opinion, in consequence of a poor, puny attack made upon our author by a writer in a contemporary journal. "The British Critic, Quarterly Theological Review, and Ecclesiastical Record," has given judgment against Mr. Scott, and against his work; and we appeal to the orthodoxy of our readers, whether, after judgment so given by the "British Critic, Quarterly Theological Review, and Ecclesiastical Record," all persons who shall read or hear, shall buy, sell, or lend the work of the said John Scott, ought not to be delivered over to the Inquisition, to be dealt with according to the direction of the British Critic, Quarterly Theological Review, and Ecclesiastical Record." But who is this anonymous writer, who thus condemns a faithful and able ecclesiastical historian? The man is himself a "continuator" of the slander and abuse for some time directed against the Evangelicals, by the " British Critic" and "Quarterly Theological Review," separately, and now continued, by the same parties, in one publication, under the management of a sort of joint-stock company. The reviewer thus begins his article: "The fate of continuators has seldom been happy." Then we would reply, Take care, Mr. Reviewer, that this be not your own case you are attacking truths which you do not understand, and casting a slur upon the character of men, whose shoes you might well think it at an honour to carry. Such men were the two Milners. This we may venture to say without flattery, now they are gone; and we leave it to our successors to do full justice to Mr. Scott, when he shall be gathered to his fathers, and rest from his labours. "The radical fault of Mr. Scott's work," according to this reviewer, is, that it is a continuation, and one ill-devised and worse executed. But, continues this anonymous libeller, "there is yet another fault, of still greater dimensions if possible, which belongs not to the genus, but to the individual: we mean, the false principles, as it appears to us, upon which Mr. Milner conceived and executed his history; and to which Mr. Scott clings, and round which he folds himself, as if they were its chief merits and most substantial virtues." The paragraph which immediately follows is too long to transcribe; we give, however, the conclusion of it, that our readers may see what is the opinion entertained by the gentleman who wrote the critique in question. Most probably, had he gone to Hull, and there spoken thus slightingly of Milner, or any thing that Milner did, he would have stood a good chance (notwithstanding his being dressed in canonicals, or even in pontificals) of being hurried away to the Grammar-School, or to the tomb of Milner in the High Church, and there receiving a good whipping for his naughtiness:-"To come nearer to Mr. Milner's own illustration; should we not have just reason to complain, if some provincial literate, the oracle of his own petty circle at Hull, for instance, or Birmingham-hot with parochial zeal, and fired with the enthusiasm of his hundred, were to put together a biography of eminent blubber-boilers or egregious button-makers, to the exclusion of kings, warriors, and statesmen; and then palm it on an inquisitive, easy-tempered, book-buying public, as a true and impartial History of England!!!" But enough (if not too much already) of this reviewer: we only wish him the learning and good sense, and, above all, the real religion, of the great men whose labours he would undervalue. We now gladly turn to the volume at the head of this article. It will be found no way inferior, in execution or interest, to its predecessor: (in fact, we were forced to admit that many pages in vol. I. were already in our possession in the pages of Robertson). The work now under review contains many passages which we had never before met with; and even such as we were previously acquainted with acquire new force by the manner in which they are introduced to our notice, or commented upon by our historian. We really pity the man who does not find his heart melted, and his eyes filled with tears, while reading some of the affecting statements and letters of the holy men associated with Luther in his grand and noble undertaking. By every one at all conversant with the subject it must be admitted, that, next to the primitive days of the church of Christ, there are no days on which the Christian mind so naturally loves to dwell as the days of the Reformation; and, with the single exception just given, there will probably be found no period so interesting or instructive. The singular preparation, by Divine grace, of very remarkable and peculiar men, for the several parts of a very remarkable and peculiar work, may well challenge our notice. The Spirit of God rested in no ordinary measure upon the persons of whom we are speaking: nor without that holy influence could they ever have effected what they did effect. Our secular historians, whom we have been accustomed to read from our boyhood, give us very imperfect sketches of the spiritual character of the Reformers. While we have full accounts of their political views, or public acts, how lamentably little have we of those more deeply interesting points, which stood connected with their trials and joys, their hopes and fears, their simplicity and faith, their devotedness and patience, some of them even unto death, for Christ's sake! But if we would look aright at the Reformation, we must consider, not only what God by his grace prepared these men for, but that work which in his providence he had prepared for them. The circumstances of those times rendered it absolutely imperative to put pious and able men in authority. In a time of acknowledged danger, he would be thought a madman or a fool who should recommend that the command of the forces be given to persons utterly ignorant of military tactics, and unfit to meet a powerful foe. Would that those who appoint to the highest offices in our church, had always been as much alive to her wants and dangers as they were who fought the battles of the Reformation! The blessed Reformers were men of solid learning, of deep piety, of holy boldness, of unceasing labours; ready to suffer and willing to die in the |