KNIGHT'S WEEKLY VOLUME.

SPENSER and his Poetry: Vols. LX. LXVI. and LXXI. Paley's Natural Theology: Vols. LXXII. LXXIII. LXXVII. and LXXIX. British Manufactures. By G. DODD. Series IV. V. and VI. Vols. LXI. LXX. and LXXX. A Legend of Reading Abbey: Vol. LXII. Brougham's Historical Sketches of Statesmen in the Time of George III. Vols. III. VI. Vols. LXIII. LXV. LXXIV. LXXVIII. The Cabinet Portrait Gallery of British Worthies: Vols. III. VI. Vols. LXIV. LXIX. LXXVI. LXXXIV. Chaucer's Canterbury Tales: Vol. LXXV. Capital and Labour. By C. KNIGHT. Vol. LXVII. History of the Horse. By W. C. L. MARTIN.

Vol.

LXVIII. The Romance of Travel.The East. By C. M'FARLANE. Vol. LXXXI. Civil Wars of Rome-Plutarch. Vol. LXXXII. Napoleon Bonaparte his Sayings and his Deeds. By A. VIEUSSEUX. Vol. I. Vol. LXXXIII. Historical Parallels: Vols. I. II.

It is time to return to Mr. Knight's great enterprise in the work of popular illumination, in which, since our last notice, he has poured forth thirty-one additional, and mostly valuable volumes! The works here issued present a striking and happy variety; in the widest sense they are "for all readers." The lovers of Spenser-and, what judge of true poetry does not love him?-will find that Mr. Craik has laid them under not a little obligation by his copious and masterly criticism of the author of the Fairy Queen. As a body of critical thought it is erudite, elaborate, profound, and generally just. Attention is next caught by four volumes of Lord Brougham's "Statesmen" comprising Robespierre, Danton, Desmoulins, Sieyes, Fouche, Camden, Wilkes, John Duke of Bedford, Lord King, Horner, Ricardo, Curran, Neckar, Mirabeau, Carnot, Lafayette, Talleyrand, Napoleon, Washington, Ellenborough, Bushe, Jefferson, Holland, Marquess Wellesley, Allen, Walpole, Bolingbroke, Sir J. Leach, Lord Eldon, Lord Stowell, Dr. Laurence, Sir P. Francis, Horne Tooke, Lord Castlereagh, Lord Liverpool, Tierney, and Nelson. This catalogue of names forms an index to a variety and an amount of talents and attainments, virtues and vices, functions

in

and actions as could not be easily paralleled. Such are the materials on which the giant powers of Lord Brougham have been profoundly exercised, and the result is here placed within the reach of every artizan in England for an average day's wages. His lordship appears again, with Sir Charles Bell, and in company three volumes completes his splendid undertaking. In the whole series, for interest and scientific value there has been nothing, and there will probably be nothing equal to the work. This edition of Paley has rendered every other comparatively worthless. Lord Brougham's celebrated discourse of Natural Theology, with Sir C. Bell's Dissertations, Notes, and Treatise on Animal Mechanics, the whole illustrated by the vast number of eighty-eight woodcuts, have given the work a value that can scarcely be enhanced. Reader, you may become full master of this mighty monument of labour, learning, and genius, for fortyeight pence! Surely, a quarter of a million of copies of this work ought to sell in England alone. Next come three more volumes of "British Manufactures, completing the work. Any recommendation of this work in such a nation as ours must be superfluous. But we do recommend the "Portrait Gallery of British Worthies," which opens a glorious field to Mr. Knight and his co-adjutors. These volumes present beautiful lessons in historical research, correct judgment, and constitutional knowledge. Of the other volumes, special notice is due to that on "Capital and Labour," and the "History of the Horse." Napoleon is well begun. We hope justice, for the first time, will be done to his whole character.

Thoughts on the Holy Spirit, and his

Work. By the Author of "Thoughts upon Thought." 8vo, pp. 347. London: Snow.

AMONG subjects of inspiration there is not a greater than that of the Holy . Spirit and his work, and yet, not one that has given occasion to so much unscriptural, illogical, and unintelligible discourse, or, to speak plainly, ignorant, empty, and vain babbling. While examples of this have most abounded among the lowest class of Christian teachers, it has not been confined to

them; to no small extent it has prevailed among people of true piety and great worth, not excluding respectable ministers. The preachers chiefly in question discourse, with small intermission, about "honouring the Holy Spirit," asserting, or insinuating, that now-a-days, the Holy Spirit is not honoured, unless by themselves and their class,-that his work is overlooked, and that no dependence is placed upon his power by the bulk of "letter-learned preachers." The press, too, has poured forth a small but almost constant stream of matter of a similar description. The law, with its claims and its penalties, and its instrumental power to produce conviction,-Christ in his person, offices, and work,-man in his true character and moral relations, with his duty to repent and believe the gospel, the claims of Messiah the Prince, as founded in his sufferings as the Great High Priest of his people, on their love and service,-the fruits of the Spirit in the life, as a proof of his dwelling in the heart; these momentous points, and others with them connected, in their Scripture harmony and proportions, are not taught, nay, the mere mention of some of them is not only avoided, but abhorred! And all this, too, professedly with the intention of "honouring the Spirit!" These notions have often been a source of obstruction and affliction to able ministers of the New Testament. It is, therefore, of the very first importance that clear and scriptural views of the question should everywhere be diffused among churches of Christ. The great subject has more than once been ably and accurately discussed in larger and costlier productions; but something for the many is still wanted. The work before us, which is got up in a handsome style, is by its price and form placed beyond their reach; but apart from this, its internal qualities are not such as to meet the crying necessities of the case.

the

To a

considerable extent, indeed, they will only aggravate the evil. From an author who, retiring from our gross world of substances and facts, offered mankind a book of "Thoughts upon Thought," they were entitled to look for an improved cast of thinking on this great theme, on which so much has been said by men who thought so little. But such expectation, if it has been cherished, will be disappointed. In this goodly volume there is quite the usual proportion of random assertion, and incoherent state

ment, and unintelligible dissertation; for examples of which we may refer to any of the principal sections. Take that "On the striving of the Spirit." He carries on the strife, we are told, 1. By the "communication of truth." 2. "By the ministry of the gospel.' 3. By "the convictions of sin." 4. "The striving of the Spirit is illustrated in the regeneration of the soul." 5. "The striving of the Spirit is further illustrated in the gradual development and advancing maturity of the Christian character." If this is not random talk, where shall we find it? Let any man ponder Gen. vi. 3, and compare its spirit, matter, and object with these propositions. If it comprises the propositions we have placed in italic, what does it not comprise? What does it, what can it exclude? But this is not all; we are told, the time of the Spirit's strife "on the minds of men is limited," 1st. By "the discontinuance of those means by which the Spirit ordinarily acts on the minds of men.' 2nd. The entire and final bereavement of reason is a painful signal that the Spirit has ceased to strive." 3rd. "The cessation of life is the utmost limit of the Spirit's striving with men." The first of these propositions is an error, the second an absurdity, and the third a truism. Again, take the section "On the intercession of the Spirit." We are there told, that "this part of the Spirit's work is, 1. The commencement of religion in the soul." Is this intercession? 2. "He awakens desires," &c. Is this intercession? 3. "The intercession of the Spirit is carried on by directing the mind to those ample and varied promises," &c. Is this intercession? 4. By his grace sustaining an untiring importunity.' Is this intercession? these things are intercession, what part of the Spirit's work in the soul is not intercession?

If

Now the tendency of such theology as this, issuing in a handsome volume, from such a house as that of Mr. Snow, cannot fail to be seriously pernicious. It must contribute not to overthrow, but to support and extend a style of teaching already too ancient, too popular, and too prevalent. The evil is not so much that it propagates dangerous error as that it does not correctly teach Divine truth. It presents good things jumbled in such a way as to be incapable of communicating either light or heat, or of making the reader either wiser or better. There is no subject of publication on which the churches ought to exercise a larger

measure of godly jealousy; none which the press should watch with more vigilance, and which, when occasion requires, it should treat with more solemn fidelity. The pens are not numerous, and the heads and hearts are still fewer, that can be safely trusted with authorship on this momentous question. Of larger treatises we have already several of superior merit, and we can, without injury, afford to wait the appearance of another Owen, or another Edwards, whom, should the good of the church require it, her Head, at the appointed time, will assuredly raise up. There is no theme on which it is so perilous to encourage anonymous writing. To make any real advance upon what has been already done will require such a combination of natural parts, scriptural knowledge, solid learning, personal attainments in the divine life, spiritual discernment in the things of God, and acquaintance with the work of the Spirit in the hearts of the saints, as falls to the lot of very few men in one generation.

A Doctrinal and Practical Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews, in a Series of Lectures. By the Rev. WILLIAM TAIT, Wakefield. pp. 1254. London: Seeley.

MR. TAIT has succeeded,- -we believe without intending it, for he seems a pious, humble, amiable, well-intentioned man, -in giving to the public a curious specimen of literary singularity. The dedication to the Bishop of Ripon follows the title-page; the preface follows the contents; the contents of both volumes are placed in the first; the folio figures run through both till he reaches page 1254 of the second volume; he then commences afresh, and proceeds to page 16, where he stops. The numerals of the lectures also are similarly managed. But these are small things. Mr. Tait tells us he is "aware that there is a host of writers on this epistle;" but he adds, "I am entirely unacquainted either with the work of Owen, or of Deering, of Gouge, or of Lawson; of Jones, of Vaughan, or of Maclean." Have no commentators then found favour in the sight of Mr. Tait? Yes; Moses Stuart, of America, and the Duke of Manchester! His Grace has given an exposition of the first four chapters of the Epistle, and to that work the author professes to be greatly indebted. Is Mr. Tait's neglect of the works of his predecessors to be ascribed

to an inordinate conception of his own intellectual opulence and intellectual resources? No; "the pressure of parochial cares rendered such research impossible; and even had it been otherwise, such presumption is very far from my thoughts." We believe this; the writer's infirmity seems to lean to simplicity rather than to vanity, and we have only to wish that the same "cares" that prevented his "research" had raised a substantial barrier in the path which led to the printing-press. Under an inability to read, the call to publish is generally doubtful, and the act itself perilous. But for merely pastoral purposes we are not sure that much would have been gained by the adoption of another course. These lectures are throughout clear, sound, faithful, and edifying; such as we could readily listen to the year round. As is most meet, the piety everywhere predominates over the intellect that marks them; while there is abundance of the latter to meet the case of a popular assembly.

The Reformation and Anti-Reformation in Bohemia. From the German. In two vols. 8vo, pp. 443, 442. London: Houlston and Stoneman.

THESE two handsome volumes form a very important and interesting chapter in German church history. The author, in an able preface, clearly sets forth the nature of the undertaking and the difficulties attendant on it. The larger portion of the documents necessary to a complete history are of course laid up in the archives at Prague, at Leitermeritz, at Wittingau, and other places in Bohemia not yet accessible to Protestant historians. Still much has been achieved by our author, who has been in part animated by the thought that "Bohemian blood" flows in his veins. Himself possessed of many valuable Bohemian literary treasures, having access to the works of the exiles in the town library of Zittau, to the collections at Dresden and Gorlitz, and the United Brethren's library in Herrnhut, he has here succeeded to form a narrative which will be read with satisfaction and profit. He has, as he professes, here embalmed the memories of many warriors and sufferers, of many fearless confessors of scriptural truth, and of many undaunted martyrs, who cheerfully preferred death to the defilement of their consciences.

66

The Scottish Church Question. By the Rev. ADOLPHUS SYDOW, Minister of the United Evangelical Church of Prussia, and Chaplain to His Majesty's Court and Garrison at Potsdam. 8vo, pp. 201. London: Nisbet.

An interesting record of a great historical event. The writer displays considerable intelligence, and so far as opinion is expressed, his leanings are liberal, more so indeed than could have been reasonably looked for from the chaplain of a Prussian king. In such a place as Scotland, and in such matters as the disruption, it is no light matter to take up the functions of history, but still more perilous is it to attempt the work of prophecy. The 'Chaplain of the Court and Garrison,” however, has not shrunk from the danger. In closing his work Mr. Sydow opines that "futurity will declare in favour of the Free Church; and either the injustice which has been committed will be redressed, or the present Establishment of Scotland must gradually lose its effectiveness and the respect of the nation-an event which cannot but be accompanied by the most disastrous consequences towards all the relations of the country." To work out this text would require a book as large as that which it concludes. The words we have marked in italic are not very intelligible, and so far as we understand them, they are not very rational. It assumes as fact things that have no existence; it foretells a calamity which cannot possibly happen. It is an absurd inference from a false doctrine. It is the weak prediction of a state-paid prophet, blinded by the splendour of a court," and stunned by the martial music of a "garrison." Were the Scotch Establishment to fall to-morrow, the fact would be disastrous to nothing but the reign of error, injustice, formality, hypocrisy, pride, and idleness. All that is good—and there is still something good

in it-would survive, and from that hour manifest new life and develope new powers and capabilities. Evil only would perish!

An Appeal in favour of Ecclesiastical Unity. By G. B. KIDD. 8vo, pp. 190. London: Ward.

THIS book is very particularly adapted to the times which are passing over us. The spirit which pervades it is not unworthy of its glorious object, and the subject is discussed with superior ability. The writer has what we consider sound

The North British Review. No. 8.
THE present Number contains nine arti-
cles: Australia-Scottish Criminal Law
-Antiquity of the Gospels-Whewell's
Indications of the Creator-Arago's
Eloge Historique de Baron Fourier-
Despatches and Letters of Lord Nelson
-Ecclesiastical Miracles-Explanations,
by the Author of "Vestiges of the
Natural History of Creation"-Thomas
Carlyle's Letters and Speeches of Oliver
Cromwell.

It will be observed that in this Number the subjects are important and very various. The first, on Australia, may be consulted with profit by a large class of our countrymen. That on Fourier, in addition to much that is biographically and philosophically interesting, contains general views on the subject of British education, entitled to particular notice at the present time. The article on the

Despatches of Nelson strikingly illustrates the immense advantage enjoyed by men of Christian principle, other things being equal, over mere men of the world, in discussing all such questions. To the bulk of our readers, and perhaps to the public at large, the great article of the volume is that on Carlyle's Cromwell, which is one characterized by eminent ability and sound principle.

The British Quarterly Review. No. 5. THE present Number contains :-Man in his Moral Relations-Meteorology: its leading Principles-Cromwell's Letters,

&c., by T. Carlyle-Literary History of the New Testament-Chaucer: his Age and Writings-Neological CriticismThe German Catholic Church-The Law of Development in Nature-The Character and Works of Melancthon-Corn and Bullion - Criticisms on BooksForeign Literary Intelligence.

The first of these articles, from the nature of the subject, can hardly be expected to be popular; but it is worthy of the work on which it is grounded, and by competent persons will be duly appreciated. Perhaps the chief article of the volume, as in the North British, is that on Carlyle's Cromwell. These two articles, combined, present the best view of the character of that great man anywhere

to be found a character which has gained exceedingly with time, but the full glories of which still remain to be developed. In these articles, however, something more has been done: a mirror has been presented in which Thomas Carlyle himself-by no means an every-day man— may occasionally look with advantage, for it will present him with a correct and also generous exhibition of his own peculiar likeness. The article on the German Catholic Church is one which will be generally read with interest and instruction. The article on Corn and Bullion is well-timed, and such as might be expected from the meridian of Manchester. The Number, as a whole, fully sustains the character of its predecessors.

CHRONICLE OF THE CONGREGATIONAL UNION OF ENGLAND AND WALES: OF THE BOARD FOR GENERAL EDUCATION AND OF THE THREE SOCIETIES FOR BRITISH MISSIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE UNION.

CONGREGATIONAL UNION.-ANNOUNCEMENTS. -The Committee of the Union announces with great pleasure

1. That the Rev. Dr. R. Vaughan, Theological Professor in the Lancashire Independent College, Manchester, has consented to occupy the chair at the annual and autumnal meetings of the Union for the present year.

2. That the brethren of Plymouth, Devonport, and Stonehouse, at a meeting of the pastors, deacons, and friends of the Independent churches in those towns, together with the tutors of the Western College recently removed to that locality, held on the 16th January, 1846, by unanimous resolution cordially responded to a proposal of the Committee of the Union, that the autumnal meeting in October next should be held among them. Thus the pleasures and

benefits of another of those happy occasions may be carried among beloved brethren in the far west of our common country.

3. As the pressure of business at the approaching annual assembly of the Union in May next is likely to be great, the Committee intends to propose an extension of the too limited time hitherto secured for the proceedings on these important occasions, by the holding of a third session in the forenoon of Saturday, the 16th of May. Many brethren will remain in town for the purpose of advocating the claims of the London Missionary Society on the following day; this will secure an opportunity for their attendance, and will also facilitate that of many London brethren, whose pulpit labours will be thus provided for or diminished. Thus a considerable attendance may be expected, and some important matters satisfactorily disposed of.

HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

THE Directors have the melancholy duty to announce the unexpected death of their late Cor