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The Scottish Christian Herald. Edinburgh: Johnson. 1836. THIS is a useful publication. It seems to be published weekly, and the quantity of matter given to the public for three-halfpence, is quite astonishing. It consists mainly of sermons, and extracts from standard authors. The names of Chalmers, Gordon, Barr, and other eminent ministers of Edinburgh and Glasgow, occur often, and are a sufficient guarantee of its interest and respectability.

Harvest-Time: a Sermon. By a Country Clergyman. London: Groombridge. 1836.

PLAIN and appropriate; quite suitable to a harvest-home.

The Old Testament, with a Commentary, consisting of Short Lectures for the Daily use of Families. By the Rev. CHARLES GIRDLESTONE, M. A., Vicar of Sedgley, Staffordshire. Part I. GENESIS and EXODUS. London: Rivington. 1836. MR. GIRDLESTONE's work is most excellent. We have long been familiar with his Family Commentary on the New Testament. It is intended that the Scripture text and the corresponding commentary should be read aloud at family prayers; and the arrangement is admirably adapted for this purpose. The work is quite unique: nothing of the kind has ever been attempted: it is also most judiciously executed. It is unfortunately rather expensive. But this difficulty should be obviated by wealthier individuals and parochial reading societies lending copies to their poorer neighbours. We recommend Mr. Girdlestone to finish the next edition, so that each book with its commentary may be bound, and, if possible, sold separately. We trust that he will have to publish many editions, for it is a work suitable for devotional reading in every family in the kingdom.

The Book of Common Prayer; wherein the Service of the Church of England is illustrated by Proofs from the Holy Scriptures. By the Rev, JOHN VENEER, late Rector of St. Andrew's, Chichester. To which is prefixed a Concise History of the Liturgy of the United Church of England and Ireland, together with a New Version of the Psalms. London: Kelly. 1836. THE preface begins-"The main design of the following work "is to prove that the Liturgy, or Common Prayer, now in use, "of the Church of England, is wholly collected out of the Scrip"tures, or agreeable thereto," and this design is well accomplished. We hear that The Concise History of the Liturgy,

signed T. K., is written by the present Lord Mayor. It is most excellent. It comprises accounts of the antiquity of liturgies, the liturgies of the reformed churches, the history of our own Prayer Book, and of that of the American Episcopal Church. Many testimonies to the value of our liturgy are also collected. The scripture references to the notes in explanation of the various services are very numerous and instructive. The embellishments, fourteen in number, do much credit to the respective artists. We particularly recommend all who wish to be convinced of the scriptural character of our devotional services to peruse this edition, and judge for themselves.

1. Walton's Important Considerations; or Vindication of Queen Elizabeth from the charge of Unjust Severity towards her Roman Catholic Subjects, by Roman Catholics themselves. Preface and Notes. By the Rev. JOSEPH MENDHAM, M. A. London: Whittaker. 1831.

2. Mede's Apostasy of the Latter Times; with an Introduction. By T. D. GREGG, A. M. London: Groombridge. 1836.

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THE subjects discussed in these works are of the greatest importance. They involve the most essential points of difference between the Protestant and the Romish faith. Mr. Mendham has been long known to us as a most valuable writer. His Literary Policy of the Church of Rome is a first-rate work. Watson's tract is very curious. It was printed in 1601, and is protest of the secular priests against the Jesuits, in defence of Queen Elizabeth's treatment of her Romish subjects. He tries to convince all "who are not wholly jesuited" that her reign was both mild and merciful towards her sworn foes. He does not spare his brethren. He speaks of their "foul treacheries, treasons, conspiracies, and other vices, rising of the Jesuits and "their confederates," and of "the Jesuits' intended bloody "invasion." Mr. Mendham's preface is what a good staunch churchman's ought to be; there is no mincing matters; no truckling with either the liberals who have power or the Dissenters who want it. It is good sound Protestantism of the old school; the perusal of it is quite refreshing. With one remark we were much pleased. He says, "it would be ungrateful in a "humble minister of the Church of England to refrain from " acknowledging how much that Church is indebted to the chris"tian fellowship of the Rev. J. A. James (of 'Birmingham noto"riety' REVIEWER) for the best defence of the Church of England in the English language, and which could be supplied by none so effectually as by a dissenter."

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MEDE's works are well known. The tendency of this tract is good, though we do not pledge ourselves to every sentiment,

The Introduction, by the Rev. T. D. Gregg, of Sheffield, is sensibly and judiciously written. The re-publication of such tracts as these is always useful.

Eight Discourses preached at St. James's Chapel, Marylebone. By the Rev. T. WHITE, M. A. London: Burns. 1836.

Two of them against popery are excellent. The rest do not display any talent, nor contain any matter of general interest.

The Rev. P. A. Holland, M. A. of Oving, near Chichester, has printed a useful Sermon, entitled, a Warning against the Revival of the Roman Catholic Religion in England.

The Book of the Prophet Isaiah, translated from the Hebrew. By the Rev. ALFRED JENOUR. 2 vols. 8vo. Seeley & Burnside. 1830.

WE have long been acquainted with Mr. Jenour's work on Isaiah; and having had many opportunities of comparing the translation with the original, we find it on the whole faithful and correct. The critical notes are usually good: the "explanatory notes" are often too diffuse. The translation of the celebrated passage in the seventh chapter might be improved, while the note omits some points which ought to be brought forward in explaining it. The work is well worthy of the attention of the Clergy, who may desire to explain this prophet to their congregations.

The Afflictions of Life and their Antidotes. By Mrs. HENRY CRUSO. London: Hatchard. 1836.

THIS little work consists of three tales, entitled Separation and Constancy; Death and Re-union; Illness and Resignation. The first is a tale of captivity in Palestine, during the Crusades. The Afflictions are all touchingly told; and the Antidotes are taken from that alone which can produce peace, when the mind is crowded by affliction and trial-the gospel of Jesus Christ. We trust that the reception which this little work is likely to meet with by the public will amply reward the fair authoress; we wish it every possible success.

Memoirs of Spain during the Reigns of Philip IV. and Charles II., from 1621 to 1700. By JOHN ĎUNLOP, Author of the "History of Fiction," &c. 2 vols. 8vo. Edinburgh: Thomas Clarke. 1834.

THE period in the history of Spain which Mr. Dunlop has selected for historical research, has never yet been made familiar

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to the English reader. It includes the reigns of Philip IV. and Charles II., the closing princes of the Austrian dynasty. general histories, this period is usually hurried over, as unimportant; yet Mr. Dunlop has rendered it exceedingly interesting. The negotiation carried on between the courts of Spain and England, concerning the projected marriage between our first Charles and the Infanta, are detailed with minuteness and spirit. Foreign wars, court intrigues, and domestic amusements, are all brought vividly before the view of the reader. Mr. Dunlop is very happy in his illustrations of the private life and the political manoeuvres of the grandees of Spain. His concluding chapter, on the "Religion, Government, Manners, and Customs of Spain in the Seventeenth Century," is well written, and presents us with a complete picture of what Spain was in those days of pomp and chivalry.

The Young Churchman's Catechism. (Anonymous.) London: Seeley. 1836.

THE Young Churchman's Catechism points out, in a clear manner, the apostolic form of the government of our Church, and the purity of her doctrines. The author has well succeeded in his object; and we strongly recommend this little work.

The Works of Sir THOMAS LAWRENCE, P. R. A.

Hodgson & Graves.

London:

THE very names of Hodgson and Graves are sufficient to secure the attention of the public to their engravings. These spirited men are now publishing a series of the works of Sir T. Lawrence; and the parts which we have seen are extremely well executed, and pourtray both the grace and excellence of this distinguished artist.

1. An Essay on the Spirit and Influence of the Reformation of Luther. By CHARLES VILLIERS, Esq. Translated by James Mile, Esq. and Abridged by the Rev. W. Marsh, M. A. Rector of St. Thomas, Birmingham. 12mo. Holdsworth.

1836.

2. Guido and Julius. The Doctrine of Sin and the Propitiator. By the Rev. F. THOLUCK, D. D., Professor of Divinity in the University of Halle. Translated from the German by James E. Ryland, with an Introductory Preface by John Pye Smith, D.D. 8vo. W. Bale. 1836.

THE first of these works is an antidote to Popery, the second to Neology. A prize was proposed by the National Institute

of France, in 1802, on the following subject: viz. "What has been the influence of the Reformation of Luther on the political situation of the different states of Europe, and on the progress of knowledge?" Mr. Villers' essay gained it; and this abridgment presents a useful compendium of the manner in which the Reformation affected the political condition of the European states. The chapters on the moral impulse which it originated and kept alive, on the liberty of thought-on the study of the Scriptures, and sacred literature, are well worth perusing; while the necessity of an established and recognised form of sound religion is illustrated by Dr. Tholuck's work. He is a serious and spiritually-minded German professor, who has experienced much of the shallowness and deceitfulness of the system of Neology, and has written this short tract in defence of the orthodox creed of the atonement. The Introduction (by Dr. Pye Smith) is very suitable to the work. We have the highest respect for Dr. Pye Smith: his theological reputation stands very high even with the divines of our own Church. We are only sorry that he is the advocate of some very extreme and injurious opinions on Dissent. The present volume, however, is not tainted with any thing sectarian: it is slightly tinctured with the mysticism of German metaphysics; but is, on the whole, a correct exposition of the nature of " sin," and the office of " the Propitiator."

Hints to Religious Ladies on the Importance and Advantages of Mental Cultivation. London: Seeley. 1836.

THE Hints in this little tract are good as far as they go; but there is nothing peculiarly valuable in them. There are some hints that sensible persons do not need; and when ladies are destitute of sense, they need more than "hints."

Manchester its Political, Social, and Commercial History, Ancient and Modern. By JAMES WHEELER. 12mo. London: Whittaker.

ALL that any one can wish to know about this town of mobs and cotton is crowded into this volume. We have the history of its wardens and members; seditions and petitions; its railroads and factories; its canals and its schools; its commissioners of gas and constables of police. As we are not expert in the mysteries of the "fly-shuttle" and "drop-box," we are unprepared to enter into the merits of the rival "mules," whether "self-acting" or not; and must leave the controversy where it ever will remain, between the "spinners" and the "piecers." Had we not met with Mr. Wheeler's elaborate work, we should have remained in happy ignorance of the dignity of the borough-reeve,

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