not conceal. These hillocks of superabundant vegetation, as the wind rustled through the corn, seemed the most affecting monuments which nature could devise, and gave a melancholy animation to this plain of death."-pp. 252-254.

We infer from a few instances

of unscientific expression, that the "American" is no artist. He tells us, for example, that the columns at Pæstum rest" without pediment upon the floor of the temple," we presume he means pedestal, and even then the obser

vation was unnecessary, as the Greeks never made use of that awkward and heterogeneous member. The base of their columns rested on a plinth; and the pediment rested on the entablature of the Portico. If we recollect

rightly, the Doric columns of the hypethral temple at Pæstum have neither base nor plinth, and this may possibly be the meaning of the present writer. The volume is beautifully printed by Bal lantyne.

Five Lectures on the Gospel of St. John, as bearing Testimony to the Divinity of our Saviour; delivered on the Fridays during Lent, 1823. By

C. J. Blomfield, D. D. 12mo. pp. 90.—London: Mawman, 1823.

WE are always gratified when we find able men, of different views on inferior points, meeting on one common ground, to maintain and enforce the cardinal doctrines of the Gospel. Among these none can claim a higher rank, none can lie more completely at the foundation of our faith, than the assertion of the proper divinity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; and as none have been more fiercely assailed, so have none been more resolutely or more successfully defended. The oppugners of this tenet have been, of late, unusually active; they have put in exercise the various engines of dissemination, with a zeal, which when manifested by us they call fanaticism, but to which we shall not permit ourselves to apply any offensive term. In whatever, motives this opposition to divine truth may originate, or however restlessly it may be urged, we have not the smallest apprehension for the result, but, lamenting deeply the propagation of destructive error, we feel intense anxiety for its immediate counteraction, and for the rescue of immortal souls from its fatal delusion. With these senti

ments, we cannot but rejoice to witness the promptness and decision with which men of learning and talent, from all orthodox associations, come forward in defence of the common salvation. Churchmen and Dissenters meet in amity on this ground; Magee and Pye Smith, Lawrence and Wardlaw, are in harmony and alliance here; and their joint efforts have placed in a strong light, and established by irrefutable argument, the divine character and the vicarious sacrifice, of the Son of God.

Dr. Blomfield have been long known to the world as an able and learned man, nor will the publication before us diminish his reputation. It contains five lectures on the Gospel of St. John, “not so much in a historical point of view, as with reference to the great and sublime doctrines which it inculcates, of the divine nature, and mediatorial office of Jesus Christ," and in the execution of his task, the author has succeeded in com pressing much ingenious illustration and powerful argument, into a small space. In a few instances he seems to have been crampt by the limits which he had imposed on himself, and we should hope that in another edition, he will take a little more room for the developement of several important sugges-tions which are now too rapidly passed over. Dr. B. commences with the following observations.

"There is scarcely any part of the Sacred Volume, especially of the New Testament, how often soever he may have read it, which will not, upon a careful re-perusal, furnish a Christian with new matter of instruction and reflection. If those persons, who have leisure and ability for the pursuit, would frequently read the Gospel History, each time with a view to some particular point of inquiry, they would find their labour amply repaid, by a clearer insight into the force and consistency of all its parts. For instance, I would at one time study the narratives of the Evangelists, with a view to the peculiar opinions which the Jews entertained concerning their expected Messiah. I would read them again, with reference to the personal character and conduct of our Saviour; at another time, for the purpose of comparing all the parables which speak of the kingdom of heaven; at another, with an eye to the fulfilment, or abrogation, of the Mosaic law: and lastly, with a particular attention to that important and capital feature of the Gospel dispensation, the office and nature of our blessed Saviour.

"The Gospel of St. John was written several years after those of the other Evangelists; and evidently with a different object. They relate the principal incidents of our Saviour's life; St. John is more diligent in recording his discourses. The other Evangelists enumerate a great variety of miracles; St. John describes only a few of the most remarkable, which had a more immediate reference to the

particular object of his Gospel. They repeat the discourses which Jesus held with the people, mostly in Galilee, in the form of parables and short moral. sentences: John has preserved the longer and more argumentative conversations of our Saviour with the learned Jews, on the subject of the Messiah; and those in which he explained to his disciples the nature of his mission and office.

"Now it is very plain, that whatever other objects St. John may have had in view, this was one; to convey to the Christian world just and adequate notions of the real nature, character, and office of that great Teacher, who came to instruct and redeem mankind. For this purpose, he studiously selected, for his narrative, those passages of our Saviour's life, which most clearly displayed his divine power and authority; and those of his discourses, in which he spoke most plainly of his own nature, and of the efficacy of his death, as an atonement for the sins of the world. The object, which this Evangelist had in view, is very clearly stated in the words of the text. It was not to accumulate as many instances as possible of the miraculous power exerted

by Jesus; but only those, which most distinctly illustrated his peculiar office and nature: Many other signs truly did Jesus, in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing, ye might have life through his name.' This expression seems to prove, that those persons are wrong, who suppose that St. John wrote his Gospel, merely to supply the defects and omissions of the other Evangelists. The real difference between them is, that they wrote a history of our Saviour's life; but St. John, of his person and office.

St. Matthew and St. Luke begin by relating the circumstances attending the birth of Jesus; and trace his genealogy from David, whose descendant the promised Messiah was to be. But John introduces him at once in his divine character, as having existed before the world began, himself the Creator of the world. And having thus, in the very opening of his Gospel, announced the transcendent dignity of his subject, he takes occasion to inculcate the same truth throughout the whole of his subsequent history. With this notion of the scope and purpose of the Evangelist, his Gospel is clear, consistent, and intelligible: upon any other supposition, it is obscure and inexplicable."-pp. 1-6.

These passages may be considered as the explanatory exordium of the discourses, and will their character than we could have give a more adequate notion of communicated by a dry analysis. We shall farther extract a pithy note on

"Colossians i. 16. By Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible. He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.' The Unitarians would explain this to mean,

that all things were done by Christ which relate to the Christian dispensation!''Let not such interpreters,' says Dr. Balguy, complain of the hardship of subscribing to human articles. To all appearance they will never be at a loss, to accommodate any article to any doctrine.'"-pp. 8, 9.

When there is so much that is excellent, we shall not be minute in pointing out defects. We should, otherwise, be disposed to censure the unnecessary introduction of one or two minor points of controversy. In a work of this kind, we should have thought that Dr. B. would have found little temptation to step

66

out of his path for the sake of a hit at Calvinism, or a reproof to the presumption of those who would separate the regenerating process" from "the outward sign of water," in the ordinance of baptism. Neither will we complain that in a controversial work a fair opportunity of introducing a few sentences of evangelical exhortation is sometimes missed. Dr. B. ex. plains in his brief Preface that he uses the distinguishing epithet Unitarian by courtesy; we agree with him that "the term Humanitarian is more proper," and we wish divines would always use it.

We have been more than usually gratified by the perusal of this Sermon and Address. Every thing connected with our educational institutions is, to us, a subject of deep anxiety; we rejoice in their prosperity, and are depressed by every cloud that may pass over them in the vicissitudes of all human affairs. There are many points of importance, suggested to us by this pamphlet, which press upon us for consideration, but we are compelled to dismiss them, for the present, and to confine ourselves to a brief notice of the very interesting publication before us. From Philip pians ii. 16. Mr. Innes infers the laborious character, the important design, the joyful anticipations, of the Christian ministry. His sermon is of peculiar excellence, and it is with regret that we are obliged to confine ourselves to a brief speci

spirit which is of God,' will reckon among her brightest ornaments. Men whom the impartial page of history shall effectually vindicate from all the false charges brought against them, whether mics, or by ill-informed and drivelling by well-informed but slanderous polenovelists. Take these men as your examples in the scripturalness of their creed, in the holiness of their conduct, in the spirituality of their temper, in their superiority to the frowns and fascinations of the world. Nor forget the worth, nor cease to emulate the zeal, of those whose ministry, in the day which immediately preceded our own, was the means of awaking the Christian Church from the torpor into which they were sunk, and who gave the impulse to those noble and united efforts which are now directed to the salvation of the whole world' which lieth in wickedness." "Pp. 45, 46.

Dr. Winter's Address is a brief but well-constructed historical account of the Institution. His allusion to the death of the Rev. Samuel Newton of Witham is exceedingly impressive.

The circumstance of his having prosided on this occasion in the last year, unavoidably places him before our minds. The ability with which he conducted the examination in the languages will not be forgotten by my young friends, who were the subjects of that scrutiny. The acumen and good taste of his observations, the extended information on topics of literature and science which he manifested, and the affability and kindness of lection of the Students, and indeed on his manner, have left traces on the recolexamination, not to be obliterated. Neithat of the company who attended the ther can any of us who were present on that occasion lose the impression produced by his manly, dignified, but truly affectionate address to our yourg friends at the close of the examination, and by the prayer with which he dismissed the meeting.

"It had been planned-O how limited is human foresight!-that he should have closed this solemnity, by committing the important work now commencing to the of his departure, his almost sudden deblessing of Almighty God. Ah! we think parture, with feelings of deep regret. But they are not, blessed be God, feelings of despondency. He who raised up that excellent man, can raise up others in his room. And when we think of the high gratification which this day has awakened; when we look on these promising, well-instructed, and pious young men; and when we anticipate in them the future pastors of our churches, can we doubt that He who has been mindful of us, will bless us?'"-pp. 63, 64.

We have, as in former instances, devoted a large portion of our present number to the proceedings of the different religious and benevolent Societies, which have held their meetings during the month of May. In the preparation of our abstract, we have directed our attention chiefly to facts, and we believe that in this respect, our report will be found as satisfactory as some which profess to give larger details. It would be unfair not to mention, that we have derived considerable assistance in this compilation, from materials supplied by the Philanthropic Gazette.

In our last year's intelligence, we gave the precedence to the PROTESTANT SoCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, and we shall proceed on the same plan at present, excepting that we shall give the whole of what has been pointed out to us as the authorised report of Mr. Wilks's impressive address. We cannot, however, but express our regret that the speech seems to be very negligently reported.

The twelfth Anniversary of this important Society, was held on Saturday, May 17, at the City of London Tavern, Lord Dacre in the Chair.

Mr. John Wilks, the Honorary Secretary, rose to address the meeting. The worthy gentleman began by adverting to the spring time in which they were assembled. It was a season which inspired every lover of nature with gladness. But in leaving the soothing quiet of rural loveliness for the metropolis, he felt still more glad at the spring time that brought him to lovelier objects and a better home. At that meeting he saw flowers equally fair and less fading. There he saw venerable men more noble than the aged oaks of the forest. There he saw youths, who would long flourish and adorn that association and the land to which they belonged. In the country, with all its beauties, silence reigned, broken only by monotonous echoes. In that meeting sympathy and life warmed and dignified the scene. Such had been the spring times past, and the return of the season made him glad again. He wished in the course of his address to avoid any political allusions. He sought to inform rather than to excite-to be a professor rather than an advocate. His duty appertained more to the grove or the porch, than the amphitheatre of conflict, or the forum of debate. Nor did he intend to raise hostility to the church. Such a course would be an ill return for the noble patronage they had received.

They might disapprove the establishment, though they might respect its members. Among the established clergy had shone many names of the brightest lustre. He need only mention Palmer, Ridley, Taylor, Hall, and Leighton; nor could the names of Tillotson or Hoadley be forgotten, and more recently Porteus, Horne, and Bathurst. If their Christian spirits had survived in their successors, many of the complaints of the Dissenters would cease, and that society, like the ancient Romans, or brave Americans, who had achieved the triumphs of their country, might retire well laurelled, but not unmindful to enjoy no inglorious peace. He thanked them for their attention to his former hints at preceding Anniversaries, and after alluding to some congregate disputes at Amersham and Guildford, related the results of some proceedings which were pending at the last meeting. He then entered upon the circumstances for the present year; and first, according to custom, he would advert to the subject of pecuniary demands. As to turnpike tolls, a new act had been passed since their last Anniversary, introduced by Mr. Frankland Lewis. By this act, 3d G. IV. chap. 126. sect. 32. it was enacted, that no tolls should be taken" of or from any person or persons going to or returning from his, her, or their proper parochial church or chapel, or of or from any other person or persons going to, or returning from his, her, or their usual place of religious worship tolerated by law, on Sundays, or on any day on which divine service is by authority ordered to be celebrated." By sect 53. a penalty, not exceeding £5. is enacted for demanding a toll from persons exempt; no appeal is allowed, unless the penalty exceed 40 shillings. On this subject the Committee had bad several applications, and in several instances the imposition of tolls had been successfully resisted. Success was of importance not as a mere pecuniary relief. There was nothing small or narrow connected with the principle on which they contended for exemption. The object was to preserve the rights and equality of the Dissenters, and prove that in that respect they were not unworthy of the honoured men whose names they bore, and whose glory they should emulate. As to the next branch of pecuniary demands, those for assessed taxes, the Committee had had applications from the Rev. Mr. Smith, of Hartland, in Devonshire, respecting a claim (or land tax) on his chapel.