experiment may succeed experiment, and scheme follow scheme, but the affliction will continue, without any material abatement, in spite of the legislature. The province of true legislation is limited. In regard to commerce and colonies, it generally does most for their benefit when it does least, unless in the way of undoing its previous enactments. When all has been donc that can be done by either of the great parties in the state, or by both, should the cry of calamity happen to unite them, still wants, vast and pressing, will remain, which nothing can supply, and hardly any thing mitigate. Legislation cannot ultimately defeat the purposes of divine providence; but by delay it may double the difficulties of obedience, and prolong the calamities which it is intended to alleviate. Carefully surveying the present state of the globe, with the history of past times before me, and with the condition of our country full in view, I am reluctantly, but irresistibly, led to the conclusion, that England is on the brink of a great era-an era marked by difficulty, distraction, convulsion, and peril. But her affliction will, in the end, redound to her honour and glory. She will be summoned to the self-denying task of sowing the seed of her people, her institutions, her arts, her sciences, and her piety, in far distant lands. The people of England must, at a day not very distant, emigrate by millions; and the process, at brief intervals, will be repeated. This, however, will, no doubt, be attended with sore, although temporary trials, to the separated parties; but these will diminish with time, and soon be much mitigated by circumstances; while the benefits to posterity and mankind will be boundless and endless. "Taking a wide view of the whole question of civilization, of which the grand element is Christian missions, I conceive that prophecy, providence, the temporal welfare of England, and the general good of all nations, alike and urgently call for British emigration upon a scale which no country has ever yet attempted. This measure, wisely conducted, will be fraught with a multitude of benefits. To England it will be profitable at once in point of wealth and of morals, both of which will be increasingly and fatally affected by the perpetuity of things as they now stand. Want apart, it is not desirable to cover England with buildings, and thus to convert the whole island into one great city. Emigration, on right principles, commercially, politically, morally, religiously considered, is a measure which well merits the support of every true friend to England and to mankind. Let cities rise in the wilderness, and let the desert echo the accents of Englishmen. Let the virgin soil of fertile regions, which have lain waste since the deluge, be broken up, that they may pour their treasures into the lap of man. Let those regions be replenished with British subjects, alive to wants numerous and various, which only Britain can supply, and British canvas will still continue, with increase, to whiten every sea, and the manufactories of England be kept in busy play, teeming with well paid, intelligent, virtuous, and happy men. It sickens the very soul to see how lightly human life is estimated in England. A man is often little more accounted of than a dog! The feelings of nature, too, are shocked, and the laws of propriety are violated, in relation to the increase of mankind. Children are actually considered a 'cumbrance,' a great family, a great misfortune. This language is heard only in England. In America the feelings which prompt it have no place. Where such sentiments exist, and children are a hardship, there is something wrong. They ought to be viewed, as scripture represents them, in the light of a blessing. The feeling here condemned is that in which infanticide originates !"-pp. 429-431. "England could at present spare four or five millions of her people, without in the least degree impeding the operations of either her agriculture or her commerce; and, consequently, the withdrawment of such a body would serve powerfully to invigorate the whole system of society, while their location on other shores would lay the foundation of new and civilized kingdoms, open for England fresh and valuable markets, and give a rightful importance, as well as impart a substantial felicity, to multitudes of immortal beings who now feel existence to be a burden, and are tempted to curse the day that they were born! On these, and other grounds, my lord duke, I consider Christian protestant missions as the great and paramount work of the present age,-missions first to our colonies, and then into all the world. The establishment of the former in great power, because among great numbers, will most materially facilitate the latter. By multiplying great centres of evangelical operation, at wide distances over the earth, we shall proportionately augment power of action."-pp. 432, 433. Far from thinking that the results of missionary exertion bear no proportion to the cost and labour, as some have said, Dr. Campbell maintains, that the aspect of the horizon is so much brightened during the last half century as to furnish abundant cause for congratulation and thankfulness. Speaking of the alteration of public opinion, among lite rary men and legislators, as well as in the churches of Britain and America, he says, "Surely the finger of God is here! Brethren, even if nothing had yet been done or begun, in foreign lands, still to have brought about such a revolution in the mind of a great empire, extending itself to the churches in America, within the short space of fifty years, is surely a stupendous result! Yet this is only the beginning of the wondrous recital. Allow me to recommend to those who are sceptical upon the subject, to sit quietly down and peruse the reports, for the past year, of the Baptist, the London, the Methodist, and the Church Missionary Societies; and, when they have completed the task, let them speak their honest opinion. Let them take care to weigh well the difficulties attendant on the conversion of men under any circumstances, but especially in heathen lands; let them compare the result, in the missionary field, with the agency; and then let them tell us whether the reaping, to say the least, has not been in full proportion to the sowing."-p. 444. And again, "To all who honestly ask us, What have ye done? We reply, Come and see! What hath God wrought? In all parts of the world in which we have sown, we have already received at least the first-fruits, and in many regions we have already reaped a very considerable harvest. The Lord hath no where left us without witYou may, with all safety, even on this point, challenge a comparison with the success even of home ministrations of the gospel, under analogous, although infinitely more favourable circumstances. You may ascertain the number nesses. of true Christian missionaries, of all denominations, now at work in the foreign field; you may calculate the aggregate amount of their period of service; you may then determine, as far as practicable, the number of converts they have made, of hearers they have gathered, of schools they have established, of scholars they have assembled; you may next ascertain the catalogue of school books, and of religious treatises they have composed, or translated, and printed; and lastly, the number of translations of the sacred scriptures which they have made: and when you have done all this, you may se lect an equal number of evangelical ministers from Christendom at large, all ordained within the same period, all ordained to new stations, and the aggregate amount of whose period of service is the same as that of the missionaries, and then you may compare the former with the latter, point after point, as above specified. Let this be done, and, if the result of the process be not decidedly, prodigiously, in favour of the missionary body, my reading, observation, inquiry, and experience, have entirely misled me.' pp. 447, 448. These extracts will recommend the work more effectually than any sentences of commendation which we could frame. They give, however, but an inadequate idea of the amount of instructive and animating thought with which it is replete. It is a work which could not have been penned at any earlier period of this world's history; which required for its production stores of diversified knowledge derived from ancient and modern literature, and which could only have been written by a man of independent and powerful intellect, strongly excited by his theme. BRIEF NOTICES. the sources of biblical imagery, are so different from our own, that some acquaintance with their peculiarities is quite essential to an accurate perception of the meaning of many parts of the sacred writings. An Englishman, knowing only the habits acquired in our cold climate, under the influence of institutions totally differ ent in their genius from those of Asia, will thing would appear quite natural, and will meet with difficulties where to an oriental every attach mistaken notions to incidents, proverbial remarks, and prophecies, which familiarity with the eastern world would have effectually pre cluded. Books of this kind, therefore, in which the disclosures of modern travellers, and pertinent observations made by ancient writers, are collected and brought to bear upon the elucidation of scripture, are exceedingly valuable. Dr. Paxton's work has long been in good repute, and the additions made by Mr. Jamieson augment its value. The two volumes before us relate to pastoral life, agriculture, habitations, dress, meals, marriage ceremonies, contracts, funerals, public games, military affairs, and other kindred topics; two others are to appear soon, one on the natural history of Palestine, the other on its geography. It is a work which will be found especially serviceable to village preachers and the instructors of youth, furnishing illustrations level with the apprehensions of those whom they address, and intrinsically important. Notes on the Acts of the Apostles. By ALBERT BARNES. With a Map. Reprinted from the Tenth American Edition, 1841. London: 8vo. pp. 292. Price 68. Having had occasion recently to characterize the expository writings of this author, it is not necessary to say more of this work than that it is similar in plan and execution to its predecessors. His erroneous views of baptism are brought into notice more frequently, of course, in commenting on the Acts of the Apostles than they would be in treating of other portions of scriptare; but we have observed nothing to censure in his manner of discussing the subject, however decidedly we may differ from his opinions. This constitutes the thirty-sixth part of Ward's Library of Standard Divinity, and is a valuable addition to our expository literature. The Goodness of Divine Providence explained and illustrated. By ROBERT MAXWELL MACBRAIR, Author of "Sketches of a Missionary's Travels," &c. London: Nisbet and Co. 8vo. pp. 249. Though the judgments of the Most High are unsearchable, and his ways past finding out, it is not only lawful but advantageous, to meditate on those parts of his procedure which are mysterious, with the desire of discovering wisdom, justice, and mercy, when at first sight there is an appearance of severity or impenetrable gloom. This the author of the present volume has attempted with considerable success, applying himself to the elucidation of difficulties in the providential system of the Almighty, and to the illustration of that goodness which pervades his works. We cannot go with him, however, in all his conclusions: when he maintains that "every person is brought into life in that particalar situation which is best calculated to minister to his welfare, according to his natural talents, and the means afforded for their improvement, or, according to God's knowledge of the use which he is disposed to make of those gifts," he seems to us to substitute human for revealed philosophy. In sovereign and inscrutable wisdom, according to the views which it appears to us the scriptures teach, God bestows upon some, in their birth, education, and moral training, advantages which others do not enjoy, who yet have no right to complain; but advantages the distribution of which to their possessors can only be traced to the exceeding riches of his grace towards them, which he has intended shall issue, through the influence of his Spirit, in their complete salvation. Surely, special kindness to some, which is not shown equally to all, is taught in the declaration, “ I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion!" A Brief Memorial of Mrs. James, late of Kettering, Northamptonshire. By MATTHEW HENRY CROFTS, Baptist Minister of Ramsey, Huntingdonshire. London: Ward. 16mo. pp. 144. The subject of this memoir was born in 1803. Her life was eventful; as her reception of the gospel led to her expulsion from her father's Decision, promptitude, and integrity, are exhihouse, and experience of painful vicissitudes. bited more conspicuously in the portraiture of her character, than some other habits of mind which would have been advantageously connected with them; but the author has with great propriety pointed out, in some cases, a better course than that which in the early part her career she adopted. The uncertainty of earthly things was exemplified in her end. The troubles with which she had been exercised appeared to have passed away; she had witnessed the conversion of some of her connexions; and she had found a comfortable home; but disease smote her, and she was taken from her husband and infants, Aug. 19, 1841. Zaida: a Tale of Granada; and Minor Poems. By LEWIS EVANS, Author of the "Pleasures of Benevolence." London: Houlston and Stoneman. 16mo. pp. 187. When Mohammedanism and spurious Christianity grappled in the south of Spain, and the alternative offered to a prisoner of war was to embrace the religion of the conqueror or endure the worst effects of his cruelty, the bosoms of many unhappy captives must have been agitated by powerful and contending emotions. Some of these it is the object of the principal poem before us to describe; but the motives actuating the sufferers are almost exclusively, what they probably were in fact, motives drawn from worldly reputation and interest, not from the higher principles of relation to the Supreme Ruler. The volume evinces considerable poetic talent. Unfulfilled Prophecy respecting Eastern Nations, especially the Turks, the Russians, and the Jews. London: Snow. 12mo. pp. 262. As we are informed that this is the work of a respected baptist minister in the northern part of the island, we introduce it to the attention of our readers, though we are unable to express concurrence in the opinions which it is intended to promulgate. On such a subject it becomes reviewers, as well as authors, to speak with diffidence; and, as we cannot now enter into the discussion, it may suffice to say, that prophecies are treated in this volume as unfulfilled which we believe to have received their accomplish 23, 1842. By WILLIAM BROCK, Pastor of the Baptist Church, St. Mary's, Norwich. Norwich 18mo. pp. 34. : Mr. Brock has availed himself of a fair oppor ment many ages ago, and others are interpreted literally, the true meaning of which appears to us to be spiritual. Like many others, the author seems to have overlooked certain principles clearly taught in the apostolic writings, which bear very directly and extensively on the inter-tunity of bringing our sentiments respecting pretation of the Old Testament prophecies. The preface states that "the chief design of the following attempt is to illustrate the doctrine of the literal restoration of the Jews,-to point out the dates of the periods specified by Daniel, of which some are also found in the Revelation of John,-to prove the application of what is said by Daniel, in the eleventh chapter, concerning the king who does according to his pleasure, to the Ottoman power,-and to show that the modern Czar of Russia is there designated 'the king of the north,' and is elsewhere called Gog and the Assyrian, and will be overthrown in Palestine, prior to the conversion of the Jews and the millennial glory of the church." The Modern Persecutor Delineated. London: This tract owes its origin to the lamentable fact, that in many districts dissenters are experiencing severe persecution from landlords, customers, and employers, who require all who are in any degree dependent on them to go to church, and not to the dissenting chapel, and in many cases to send their children to the schools of the established church, and not to the schools connected with dissenters. The writer shows that persons who pursue this course are aliens from the spirit and letter of British law and of the British constitution; that they are doing more than any other class to strengthen feelings of opposition to Christianity and of insubordination; that they offer a bounty upon religious hypocrisy; that their conduct proceeds on the odious maxim, that it is well to do what is wrong in morals, for the sake of what is deemed right in religion; that it makes the institutions of a particular church of greater importance than the Christianity common to all churches; that they contract an awful measure of that kind of guilt which attaches to the men who sent the protestant martyrs to the stake; and that their course, as being thus contrary to the will of God, and to the rights of humanity, must in the end be at. tended by discomfiture and shame. The tract evinces the hand of a master, and is written in that gentlemanly style which adapts it for distribution among those classes on whose misconduct it animadverts. The Royal Baptism: a Dialogue between Truth and Candour. Second edition. London 12mo. pp. 24. The identity of one of the interlocutors in this case is questionable. It was apparently a friend of Truth, one who was acquainted with her sentiments on sponsorship and baptismal regeneration, that conversed on this occasion with Candour. Had it been Truth herself, we think she would not have said, "I highly approve of the baptism of the infant prince." The Baptism of the Heir Apparent. A Sermon, preached on Lord's Day Morning, Jan. baptism before the public. He assigns three The Candidate for Christian Fellowship encour This little work is the production of a pedobaptist minister in Northamptonshire. The title well explains the subject. The book itself is plain, sensible, and suitable to be put into the hands of that interesting class of personscandidates for church-fellowship. One chapter is injured, in our apprehension, by the writer's theory that baptism should be received in infancy: it is that on the nature of the Christian profession, and the act of union with a church of Christ. He treats of making a profession of Christianity and joining a church as of one "You are now to think," he says, thing:"when joining the church, I am making a In our judgment profession of Christianity.' they are two things, quite distinct from each other. A profession of Christianity is made in baptism; joining the church is uniting with one particular community of Christians,-an act of obedience devolving on those who have made a profession. It is of great practical imfounded together by the candidate for commuportance that these acts should not be con nion. With this exception, the manual is adapted to its purpose, containing much faithful and pertinent advice. The History of England, from the earliest period to the present time." Adapted for youth, schools, and families. By MISS JULIA CORNER. Author of "Questions on the History of Europe;" "A Sequel to Mangnall's Historical Questions," &c., &c., &c. London: 12mo. pp. 311. Price 3s. 6d. Believing that the histories of England generally used in schools are very detrimental to the religious interests of the rising generation and the political well-being of the country, we always regard with complacency any attempt to supersede them. The peculiarities of the present volume are three: first, the writer has borne in mind, throughout, that simplicity of style was essential to her purpose; secondly, she has endeavoured to select those facts which were best adapted to give to children a general idea of the events and the customs of the successive ages; and, thirdly, she has avoided the high church and tory spirit with which books of similar pretensions are usually imbued. Five engravings and a small map elucidate the narrative. For a child of ten or twelve years of age this is decidedly preferable to any other work on the subject with which we are acquainted. Sketches of Sermons, designed for Special Occasions. By a Dissenting Minister. Author of" Four Hundred Sketches and Skeletons of Sermons" "Sketches of Sermons on Types and Metaphors;" "Sketches of Discourses for Sunday Schools, and Village Preaching," Se, yc., &c. London: Houlston and Stoneman. 12mo. pp. 311. This volume, which is one of a series, is from the pen of one of our brethren of the General Baptist denomination. It has evidently been his desire to avoid controverted topics, and elu cidate the first principles of gospel truth. Considerable ingenuity is displayed in some of the discourses. They are intended for openings and anniversaries of chapels-missionary occasions-school anniversaries-ordinations-funerals-the commencement and the end of the year-and, what we should not have expected, services intended for Christmas day, Good Friday, and Easter. reception of it as genuine by Irenæus, whe, from his connexion with Polycarp and Smyrna, was so well qualified for forming a correct opinion-and with its apparent reception by Ignatius within ten years from its supposed date-it is I conceive not altogether valueless." The pamphlet deserves the attention of inquirers who desire additional evidence on the subject to which it refers. RECENT PUBLICATIONS Approved. The Christian's Triumph over Death. A Funeral Sermon occasioned by the death of Mr. Frederic Cox, preached by the Rev. JAMES SHERMAN, of Surrey Chapel, at the Rev. Dr. Cox's Chapel, Hackney, on Sunday Evening, Jan. 9, 1842. Revised by the Author. With a Biographical Sketch. London: 8vo. pp. 24. Price 6d. Christian Baptism Explained, and Modern Evasions of Believers' Baptism Examined and Refuted. By T. H. HUDSON. Sheffield: 12mo. pp. 28. Price 2d. Ancient History. History of the Persians. From Rollin, and other Authentic Sources, both Ancient and Modern. With two Maps. London: (Tract So Connerion of Sacred and Profane History; ciety) royal 8vo. pp. 124. Price 2s. being a Review of the Principal Events in the World, as they bear upon the state of Religion, from the Close of the Old Testament History till the Establishment of Christianity. By D. DAVIDSON, Author of " The Pocket Commentary," ," "Biblical Dictionary," &c. Edinburgh: 24mo. pp. 576. Price 4s. The Eclectic Review. No. II. February, 1842. London: Price 2s. 6d. Fox's Book of Martyrs. Edited by the Rev. JOHN The Scenery and Antiquities of Ireland Illustrated. From drawings by W. H. BARTLETT. The Literary Department by N. P. WILLIS, Esq. Part XI. London: Virtue, 4to. Eyes which have an instinctive aversion to small type and crowded pages are hereby cautioned against this volume; but readers to whom cheapness and condensation are of primary importance may find in it much to instruct and delight them. It contains an epitome of the history of mankind from the time of the Baby-rican Scenery, Switzerland, Scotland, &c. From lonian conquest of Judea to the time of the Drawings, by W. H. BARTLETT. The Literary Dedestruction of the Hebrew community by the partment by N. P. WILLIS, Esq. Part XXI. LonRomans, with a constant reference to the bear- don: Price 28. ings of the political events to which it refers on the religious interests of mankind. Two New Arguments in Vindication of the Genuineness and Authenticity of the Revelation of St. John. The First, from Contemporary but hitherto Unnoticed Evidence; the Second, from certain unheeded and unurged Circumstances connected with the Early History of the Asiatic Churches. By JOHN COLLYER KNIGHT. London: Rivingtons. 8vo. pp. 44. The first argument is that Ignatius, a disciple and friend of the apostle John, evidently alludes to a sentence in the epistle to the church at Philadelphia (Rev. iii. 12), when he says, writing to the same church, "If they do not speak concerning Jesus Christ, they are but sepulchral pillars, and upon them are written only the names of men" (Epist. ad Philad. 6). The second is based on historical minutia which the author adduces, and respecting it he says, "The argument furnished by the unostentatious accuracy insisted upon is not indeed demonstrative; but taken in connexion with the reception of the book as genuine by Justin-with the like Canadian Scenery Illustrated. Uniform with Ame A Declaration of Views and Principles on various Questions agitated at the Present Crisis, which affect the Duty and Reputation of Independent Churches. Adopted at the Autumnal Meeting of the Conham, October 21, 1841. gregational Union of England and Wales, at NottingLondon: 12mo. pp. 12. Price 10d. per dozen, or 6s. per hundred. |