Obrazy na stronie
PDF
ePub

Review of Books.

THE SUFFICIENCY OF HOLY SCRIPTURE AS A RULE OF FAITH. A Sermon preached at the Cathedral church of St. John, Calcutta, at an Ordination, holden on Sunday, May 2, 1842. By Daniel, Bishop of Calcutta, and Metropolitan of India.-Hatchards.

A BISHOP indeed, is the Bishop of Calcutta! He has, as he says, lifted up a warning voice: as a faithful Watchman, seeing the sword of Antichrist coming on the land of his birth, and reaching even to the far land of his Missionary labours, he has breathed forth such a trumpet-call, as may well startle all his less wakeful brethren, and prove what urgent need there is for them to see to it that they utter no uncertain sound. The Bishop of Calcutta has aimed, in his usual bold, unflinching, and remarkably straightforward way, a tremendous blow at the Tradition wri

ters, as he truly calls them; and has shewn what must be the consequence of longer connivance at this establishment of Popery, under the flimsy veil of Puseyism, in the strong-holds of our national faith. God will not forget this labour of love: baffled as the Christian design of this true Bishop may be, and triumphant as the foe may soon become, whom we so traitorously admit into our holy camp, still he has delivered his own soul. The sermon is a splendid one, surpassing all his former productions; and we bless God on his behalf. May the Bishop of Calcutta go forward, and prosper !

THE TABERNACLE OF MOSES PRACTICALLY CONSIDERED, in Sixteen Discourses. By the Rev. William Mudge, B.A. Nisbet.

IT is marvellous how small a portion of the Christian's time and attention, when engaged in searching the Scriptures, is usually devoted to the glorious subject on which Mr. Mudge has produced one of the most delightful volumes we have met with. In his valuable Preface he forcibly remarks on this too general neglect of the Books of Exodus and Leviticus, abounding as they do in Gospel truth, and bearing the most rich and important testimonies to Christ. Many who protest vigorously against the pernicious "Extracts," which by the craft of Popery have been forced upon the schools of Ireland; do, in effect, render their own Bible, all unmutilated as it lies before them, no better than a Book of Extracts to themselves, by rejecting

a large portion of it from their daily reading. To such we recommend Mr. Mudge's beautiful work for reproof and correction; and to all classes for instruction. In some points there will, of course, exist a diversity of view, where the matter contemplated is avowedly figurative, and where we have no inspired explanation of the minutia: but without going fully with the Author in every single particular, we can truly say we do so with as little exception as ever we took to any work within our recollection. His views of the millennial kingdom and glory are at once bright and sober; his Anti-Puseyism vigilant and vigorous; and the whole purport of the work is most emphatically to "please his neighbour unto edification."

HISTORY OF THE PERSIANS. From Rollin and other authentic sources, both ancient and modern. With two maps. Religious Tract Society.

EVERY succeeding day adds interest to whatsoever treats of the oriental kingdoms; and this interest is one that must necessarily go on increasing while the Church looks longingly and the world wonderingly upon the unequivocal signs of a coming SUNRISE that shall banish for ever the shades of darkness. These consecutive numbers of ancient History are valuable in many respects; and the Christian spirit that animates them, the abundant appeals to scripture, supply a feature, the absence of which in educational books of this class is a serious evil.

"THE KINGS OF THE EAST."

An Exposition

of the prophecies determining, from scripture and from history, the Power for whom the mystical Euphrates is being "dried up ;" With an explanation of certain other prophecies concerning the restoration of Israel-Seeley and Burnside.

THIS is a very spirited and well-written book, on a subject of surpassing moment; and in many respects the author has thrown much light on the prophetic page. He has especially, and we think very successfully, laboured to prove that the British islands are not merely prefigured by "the isles of Tarshish," but that England is, literally and truly THE Tarshish mentioned in so many places, in connexion with ships and commerce. He establishes this position, and several others; but to what he mainly strives to establish we can by no means assent. He considers that, by "The kings of the East," the British East India Company is meant; and in following out this favorite theory he would justify many acts committed in the East, under the authority, or with the connivance of that body, which we hold to be utterly indefensible before man, and highly criminal in the sight of God. This excepted, we can go along with him heartily; and consider the work a valuable addition to the most interesting and important branch of modern literature.

We believe "the kings of the East" to be the Jewish nation: we have always so held; and our opinion is yet unshaken.

[ocr errors]

MEMOIR OF THE CHISHOLM, late M.P. for Inverness-shire. By the Rev. James S. M. Anderson, M.A. Chaplain in Ordinary to the Queen, Chaplain to the Queen Dowager, and Perpetual Curate of St. George's Chapel, Brighton.—Rivingtons.

THE memory of the noble young Highland Chieftain, who for a brief space was permitted to animate our Protesting Band in England, and to strengthen the hands of his Christian brethren in Parliament, is very precious to many who are, nevertheless, ignorant of the loveliness of mind and character pourtrayed in the volume before us. He was indeed, or more properly speaking he is, one of the Lord's rare jewels, which he hasted to remove from this tarnishing world to his own presence above. We never read a memoir that could plead more perfect exemption from the charge of high colouring, or of any labour after effect, than this. On the contrary, we believe that twice the space would not suffice to do moderate justice to the subject, if the beauties of his Christian character were more equally displayed; in point of time, the important change took place indeed, where his biographer has noted it, late in the short period of his mortal career; but during the remaining space of his sojourning he was so burning and shining a light, in his own sphere as well public as private, that we were disappointed in the brevity of the chronicle.

From early childhood the Chisholm was a rare model of filial and fraternal love; of high and honourable manly and generous feeling; and of all that promised well in the world's estimation. But his

[blocks in formation]
« PoprzedniaDalej »