A Catechism of the Common Prayer. By the Rev. ALEXANDER WATSON, M.A., Curate of St. John's, Cheltenham. London: Burns.

THIS little work is an attempt, as Mr. Watson informs his readers, to supply a manual illustrative of the Book of Common Prayer. He has drawn considerable supplies of instruction from Dean Comber, and other writers upon similar topics of theological interest; and so far as we have been able to examine his production, it has afforded us very great satisfaction. We recommend it to our youthful readers especially, or to those from whom youthful readers are accustomed to receive directions for their studies. We give a short extract, which will sufficiently explain the nature and objects of the volume:

"What do you mean by rubrics ?-Rubrics are the rules or orders directing how, when, and where all things in divine service are to be performed.

"Do they contain directions for the clergy, or for the people?-For both.

"How do you know which are the rubrics in the Prayer Book?—If a Prayer Book is properly printed these directions are printed in red ink. In other Prayer Books they are printed in a different type from the prayers-called italic type.

"Why are they called rubrics?-From rubrica, or ruber, which, in Latin, means a red colouring."

Conciones Academica. Ten Sermons, preached before the University of Cambridge. By J. W. BLAKESLEY, M.A., Fellow and Tutor of Trinity College. London: Fellowes. THE first of these discourses is an Assize Sermon; the following form the course delivered by the author, as select preacher at Cambridge, upon one occasion; and the remaining four were delivered before the University upon another.

There is an extraordinary announcement in the "notice," commonly called the preface, of these sermons, which we must not fail to notice :

"The nature of the subjects discussed renders them obviously unfit for any but an academical pulpit."

Now, we ask, with every feeling of respect, why the author of these sermons should deem it necessary to preach in a different style before the University from that which he would preach in any other parish church? Are the graduates and undergraduates, before whom these sermons were delivered, of different material from the rest of the world? Or is it only learning, and philosophy, and morals, apart from spirituality, that can do them real service? We must ever protest against the absolute dryness of which the sermons before us so largely partake.

That they are learned, and philosophical, and studied, we cannot deny; but that they are spiritual, we cannot assert. The author has not, indeed, drawn his materials from that rich treasure-house which never fails, or from that pure font of living water which is never dry; but he appears chiefly to have founded his ideas upon several of the heathen writers, and to have quoted them in his sermon most unadvisedly. Tacitus, Juvenal, Aristotle, Persius, Plato, are quoted one after the other; and then, as if for the sake of variety, a quotation from the "Sonnet to Venice," by Wordsworth, is introduced, and another quotation from Shelley. All this may tell well for essays, but cannot possibly be countenanced for sermons.

The author would do well, should he again be appointed select preacher, to impart scriptural knowledge to his hearers, and to carry out the great and vital objects of preaching; or he may rest assured that he will rather injure than promote the cause which he professes to advocate.

But, to speak definitely of the work before us, we must say that it contains compositions learned, and occasionally eloquent; but it is very deficient, if not injudicious, as a volume of sermons.

Village Pencillings, in Prose and Verse. By ELIZABETH PIERCE. London. 1842.

Ir is not every lady who ventures to publish poetry that can claim the title of poetess, and certainly not the authoress of "Village Pencillings." But we must refrain from speaking harshly. The motive of this work is good, viz., to promote among the youth of England the true principles of religion and virtue. Besides the poetry, several tales are introduced of a religious nature; and we are happy in being able to give them our approbation and meed of praise. They are well adapted to effect their desired end, and alone have secured our recommendation of the work. Parents cannot do better than purchase it for their children.

Instructive Biography. London: Burns. 1843. THIS is a very nice and interesting book indeed. It is illustrated with several wood-cuts, which makes it more valuable. Its contents are the "Life of William of Wykeham;" "Histories of Bishops of the Ancient Church;" "Stories from Bede, with a Sketch of his Life ;" and the "Life of George Herbert;" all popular characters, and characters which should be well known by every Churchman. The work, which is worthy a place in any library, is well adapted to be of service to every one of its readers.

Rome as it was under Paganism, and as it became under the Popes. London: Madden and Co. 1843. Two vols. THIS is one of those endeavours which are at the present moment making to infuse Romanism in an attractive form into every species of English literature; and in this, as in many other instances, no name appears to indicate personal vanity as the motive for publication; nor is the subject so attractive as to enable us to assign gain as the motive for writing a romance about Rome, and weaving it into all the most striking associations which occur to the mind of a Roman Catholic when thinking on that spot of ground which forms the centre of unity for the faith of his Church. And it seems evident that a desire thus indirectly to propagate the Roman Catholic faith is the only intelligible motive for the publication.

We do not write this in the way of blame, and would that all the arts of the Romanists were as irreprehensible; we only mention it that our readers may know what the book is, which they would not gather from its title. The matter does not profess to be original, but gathered from those whom the writer considered as the best historians; and it is accompanied by two plans of Rome, taken from the publications of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. It also contains engravings of Rome in its present state, and Rome restored to what it may be supposed to have been before the buildings fell into decay. These plates are dry and liny, with no pretensions to picturesque effect, and aiming only at showing what the forms and propor

tions were.

We never look on works like these without profound melancholy, as symbolical of that unnatural combination which Rome has endeavoured to effect between Paganism and Christianity, or rather between the natural and the spiritual man; by which both are sufferers, and it is difficult to determine which has suffered the most. Look at ancient Rome and at the old Romans→→→ with all their faults, how grand! how imposing! Look at modern Rome and at the Italians-with all their religion, how wretched how contemptible! And why is this, but because the Papacy has lain like an incubus upon earth's choicest region and man's noblest race! And instead of doing the stern work of Christianity, and slaying the old man with his affections and lusts, that so the new man, renewed in Christ Jesus, might appear, Rome has endeavoured to adopt and incorporate Paganism into Christianity, to the injury of both.

Although this book is not at all to our taste, and therefore we write thus, we must in justice say that it is well written and

contains a good deal of useful information on the early history of the Church-the Romanists always assuming that the Church at Rome and the Roman Church mean the same thing; whereas for many centuries the Church at Rome was Catholic, and held the doctrines of all the orthodox throughout the world; and those doctrines which are peculiarly Roman are of much later growth. It is against these comparatively modern doctrines that the term Romanist is properly directed.

Aids to Catechetical Teaching; being the Church Catechism illustrated by Parables and Anecdotes, By a CLERGYMAN. London Seeley and Burnside. 1843.

A GREAT proportion of the illustrations of this work, as the author tells us, particularly the anecdotes, have been extracted from books in which they occur, and applied to the Catechism; the object of the author being to select such as he met with, which appeared suitable, and to supply the remainder from original sources. The anecdotes are very interesting of themselves; but certainly, in most instances, the effect of the application fails. The Church Catechism should be explained and enforced, and if it be not then received and understood, we cannot suppose that either fiction or anecdote will be the means of making youth understand it, or adults receive it, as a Catechism upon the chief articles of their faith.

1. Family Prayers for One Month; by various Clergymen. Arranged and Edited by the Rev. CHARLES HODGSON, M.A., Rector of Barton-le-Street, Yorkshire. London: Seeley and Burnside.

2. Devotions for the Morning and Evening of every Day in the Week. London: Burns. 1843.

As this is a collection of Family Prayers by different clergymen, we were not surprised to find them varying both in style and merit. The object of the work is to procure a sum of money for the purpose of supplying the necessary means for the erection of a new school-room in the parish of Barton-le-Street. It is more painful to us than our readers can possibly imagine not to be able to give our hearty recommendation to works that have so good an object in view as have the Family Prayers. But, as honest reviewers, we cannot flatter, or give praise when no praise is due; and this is the reason why we are compelled to withhold it on the present occasion from both the above works.

A Treatise on Astronomy, displaying the Arithmetical Architecture of the Solar System, &c. By E. HENDERSON, LL.D., F.R.A.S. London: Cotes. 1843.

DR. HENDERSON is a lecturer on astronomy, and this is a sort of text-book, giving the substance of his lectures, in the magnitudes, distances, and periods of the heavenly bodies; with every other particular concerning them which it is in general necessary that we should know; the whole illustrated by very good woodcuts, in which the relative magnitudes of the planets are preserved by their being all drawn to the same scale. We are always glad to see such popular treatises as these, in which some of the most sublime discoveries of science are brought down to the capacities, and placed within the reach, of the common people; for the only way in which instruction can be safely extended to all is by furnishing them at the same time with subjects upon which their newly-acquired powers may be safely exercised; and next to the Bible, the heavens, which declare the glory of God, and the firmament, which showeth his handiwork, is the noblest and most ennobling object of contemplation which can occupy the mind of man. These are the occupations which, as education is extended, would be the most likely to save many, who are out of the reach of the clergy, from becoming prey of the infidel or the tool of the demagogue. And any contemplations, which lift man so far above the narrow and local every-day occupations of ordinary life, do in their very sphere and objects associate our thoughts with God and eternity, and so open the way rather to him who is the minister of religion and of the Gospel of peace, than to those whose every word breathes discontent, turbulence, and strife.

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Even as a book of reference, to lie upon our library tables, Dr. Henderson's book will be found very useful. It is so clear and concise that we can at once turn to any fact we want; and all the calculations are given, not only in the text and in the explanatory notes of the appendix, but also in the tables, where we may at once compare any one number with all the others of the same class. The phenomena of eclipses, and the theory of tides, are also clearly explained and illustrated by corresponding figures; and the many comets and their times and orbits, together with the various kinds of stars, double, revolving, and nebulous, are noticed: so that it forms a complete synopsis of all that is at present known concerning the heavenly bodies.

Elegiac Poems. London: Moxon. 1843. SUCH is the brief title of the small volume which we submit to the notice of our readers. The work contains some excellent pieces, which are calculated to excite serious thought and reflection. Many may read it with profit.