and good humour displayed at court, very calamitous both to the church and to those who dared to dissent from it. To the former, by depriving it of 2000 of its ablest preachers and most respectable ministers, and to the latter by subjecting them to a cruel and protracted persecution. It might have been supposed that a monarch, who himself had suffered persecution, (as friend Penn told him) though not indeed for his religion; and whose temper was remarkable for pleasantry and good nature, would never have listened to persecuting measures against his unoffending subjects: but suffering does not always teach wisdom; and worldly men, who make no profession of religion, and care for none of these things," are often most bitter against men of severe virtue and conscientious principles.

James II. indeed pleaded hard for toleration; but it was evident that his object was only to introduce his favourite superstition, Popery; and then it is easy to judge what would have been the state of toleration, either toward the Church of England or the Nonconformists. The Revolution introduced the first toleration act in this country. William and Mary were certainly friends to Religious Liberty, so far as the subject was then understood, and so far as was thought consistent with the public safety.

as

observe with surprise and indignation that the two leading points in Mr. Brougham's plan of National Education are to exclude all Dissenters from being employed as schoolmasters, and the use of every other catechism beside that of the established church. We cannot enlarge here; but the infringements of toleration in Anne's splendid reign form the contents of our author's fourth chapter. Chapter 5. considers the government of George I. as favourable to toleration, and the religious controversies of his reign as means of diffusing liberal principles on this subject. Chapter 6. relates the liberal extension of the benefits of toleration under George II. Chapter 7. reviews the reign of his late Majesty, and the prevalence of Religious Liberty under a sovereign, who is justly characterized "the firm patron of Religious Freedom." Such is the outline of the work before us; and the conclusion is the author's statement of the nature and advantages of Religious emancipation," in which Mr. B. takes some pains to obviate the objection, that such a measure would be fatal to the existence of the Church of England. "To prevent the possibility of alarm, it ought to be distinctly understood, that the measure now proposed for unbiassed consideration, by no means implies the abolition of the Episcopal Church. The rights and claims of the Episcopal Church to the protection of the state, are equally just and powerful as those of any other church in the world. Yet the same legislative power that erected the establishment of Episcopacy, can with equal ease and with equal justice take it down, and at the same time leave episcopacy, the use of the liturgy, and the forms of worship with all that appertains to Episcopal government, untouched, excepting so far as they infringe on the native rights of mankind.

These three reigns occupy the three first chapters, and more than the first 200 pages of Mr. B's second volume; and bring us to the trying times of Queen Anne, who possessed the heart of a Stuart, and in the latter part of her reign being, like Nebuchadnezzar, iifted up with national prosperity, or rather foreign victories, shewed her gratitude to God in the oppression of her best subjects. The measure which most interests us at the present moment was the Schism Bill, some of the ill-boding features of which resemble a bill now in the House of Commons too strongly to be passed over without remark. The bill was intitled " an act to prevent the growth of schism, and for the farther security of the Churches of England and Ireland, as by law established;" and its two leading features were, to prevent Protestant Dissenters from being employed as schoolmasters, and forbidding any catechism being taught but that in the Common Prayer Book. We are far from attributing to Mr. Brougham the intolerant principles of Queen Anne's ministry; but it is impossible not to

XXIX.

All Ecclesiastical im-positions may be rescinded without the least encroachment on the natural rights of any individual in the land; and the Episcopal Church be fixed on the original foundation of the Church of God, which is that of a free and vo luntary society." (p. 521.) Such are the sentiments of our auther, and be might have remarked in confirmation of his argument, that Episcopal Churches subsist in Scotland and in the United States of America; but then it must be admitted that their prelates do not "lift their mitred fronts in Parliament." In remarking generally on the work

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before us, we are compelled to brevity. Our readers will perceive that the work Eselfconsists chiefly of historical details, interspersed with appropriate remarks, either of his own or borrowed from writers of great respectability, some of which he appears to have forgotten to acknowledge. The style has certainly the first quality of prose writing, perspiuity, with ease and neatness generally; and is not deficient in spirit and energy when the subject called for it. The author's theological sentiments appear to accord with our own, so far as we have observed, unmixed with sectarianism or illiberality. We can therefore give the work our cordial recommendation; and the more so, as it is a subject which requires to be better studied, and must be long studied before the nation can be brought to embrace this author's enlightened views.

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The Doctrine of the Trinity, as contained in the Scriptures, explained and confirmed, and objections answered. Also the Supreme Deity of the Son and the Holy Ghost, and their equality with the Father in all Divine Perfections and Glory, proved. By the Rev. James Sloss, M.A. 12s. THIS is a new edition of a work, first published in 1736, by Mr. Sloss, an Independent Minister at Nottingham. He was pastor of the church in Castlegate, in which Mr. Plumbe was, and Mr. Alliott now, is minister. The editor, therefore, is mistaken when he calls him one of the brightest ornaments of the established church," and "a minister in the church of England, and had the living of St. Mary's, at Nottingham." He was a dissenting minister of the old school, and one of those who stedfastly maintained "the faith once delivered to the saints," when many of the deseendants of the orthodox nonconformists were falling into the Arian heresy, which was industriously spread by some of Mr. Sloss's neighbours; between whom and himself several letters passed, particularly on the disputed authenticity of 1 John v. 7. These letters are added to the 18 Sunday Evening Lectures which compose the present volume.

The Nature and Obligations of Personal and Family Religion. By Daniel Dewar, LL. D. late Professor of Moral Philosophy, Aberdeen; and now minister of the Tron Church, Glasgow. 12mo. 3s. 6d.

DR. DEWAR, so well known from his observations on Ireland, which were the result of his missionary labours there, intends this little work as an incentive, through the blessing of God, to the more extensive cultivation of personal, and more particularly of family religion. One of his leading motives was, to counteract the increasing profanation of the Sabbath, and other irreligious practices, by inducing those who profess the faith given by our Redeemer, to cultivate more assiduously their pious duties and labours of love in their families. The reasons which he advances are clearly and forcibly stated; and we sincerely pray that the blessing of God may follow his labours.

The Welsh Cottage. 12mo. 4s. THOUGH We are no friends to the rapid increase of Religious Novels, yet to

works like this we know not how to

object, since its object is to convert querulous Old Maids into useful and valuable members of society. Such is Miss Owen, the heroine of this work; and though it may be a fiction, so far as regards any lady of that name, we are happy in believing there are many ladies, passed the bloom of life perhaps, who devote their talents to the science of benevolence, and employ their time in the practice of doing good, by instructing the ignorant, and visiting the sick poor: we only wish there were a thousand more Miss Owens in this country, and we can assure our readers there is room for their exertions. We only add that this work is neatly written, neatly printed, and embellished with a neatly engraved frontispiece, which makes it the more suitable present to a lady.

More Minor Morals; or an Introduction to the Winter Family, with Aunt Eleanor's Stories interspersed. 12mo. 5s. 6d. ANOTHER maiden lady, a little antiquated, but really so good and so useful, that we wish we had many more like Miss Owen and Aunt Eleanor, though we have the happiness to believe there are not a few.

Why our author chooses to call these morals minor, we cannot tell, since they embrace some of the principal duties of religion, as the observation of the sabbath and public worship, which are very properly enforced: they are in

1. An Historical Research concerning the most ancient Congregational Church in England, showing the claim of the church worshipping in Union Street, Southwark, to that distinction. By Benjamin Hanbury. 2s. 2. Brief Biographical Memorials of the Ministers and Proceedings of the Protestant Dissenting Congregation of the Baptist Denomination, Harlow, Essex. By Thomas Finch. 2s.

MR. HANBURY and Mr. Finch have taken pains to collect information respecting the abovementioned congrega. tions; and though that information may be interesting to few persens, except those who are connected with them, yet they will be serviceable to futuré church-historians. We think therefore the editors are to be commended; and wish that the ministers and deacons of former times had been equally diligent. In the latter pamphlet we have a full declaration of the church in favour of Free Communion.

1. An Affectionate Address to those

Dissenters from the Communion of the Church of England, who agree with her in the leading Doctrines of Christianity. By S. Wix, A.M. F.R.

and A.S. 6d.

2. The Dissenter's Apology, in a letter to the Rev. S. Wix, containing some reasons why the Orthodox Dissenters feel obliged in Conscience not to comply with his Affectionate Address, &c. By S. Newton. 6d. MR. WIX is certainly a friend to union:

for some years he has been labouring

to reconcile "the Church of England and the Church of Rome," for which purpose he recommended a council of the heads of both: but here arose a difficulty which the Rev. Gent, seems not to have anticipated. The Church of Rome is infallible, and can do no wrong, and consequently make no con

The object of Mr. Wix's first proposal of Union was evidently to strengthen the Church against Dissenters; that plan failing, he would now fain re-unite Protestant Dissenters with the Church, we suppose to defend her against the Roman Catholics. The best apology, we can make for Mr. Wix is, that he is sadly ignorant of the controversies with which he intermeddles. We leave him however in the gentle hands of Mr. Newton, a cool, candid, liberal, enlightened, and orthodox dissenter, and if he does not learn something from such a teacher he must be incorrigible indeed.

Means of doing good, proposed and exemplified in several Letters to a Friend, by John Brown, Minister of the Gospel, Whitburn. 1s. 6d, WE say every thing for this useful and pious little manual, when we assure our readers that it faithfully fulfils the promise of the title-page. The means of doing good which Mr. Brown proposes, are all directly or indirectly intended to diffuse the knowledge of the gospel of truth, and to fan the flame of devotion, where it is already kindled, into a more bright and abiding blaze. No class of persons escapes his kind and fatherly admonitions; and no sort of exertion which may tend to enlarge and strengthen the Redeemer's kingdom, is overlooked. The little work is particuanecdotes of such worthy disciples of larly enriched and greatly enlivened by Christ as Hervey, Edwards, Boston, the Erskines, &c. &c. which will make it, we doubt not, a great favourite with young readers.

A Sermon preached at the Funeral of Mr. Noble, of Penruddock, in Gumberland, in 1708, by S. Audland; with a postscript concerning the deceased.

A PIOUS individual, descended from Mr. Noble, was induced to reprint a few copies of this discourse for the use

FOREIGN.

SPAIN.

Ir appears from the public prints that events have recently taken place in Spain, which promise to be favourable to the interest of true religion. The Inquisition has been totally suppressed-the exclusive privileges of the clergy in reference to the execution of the laws and liability to public burdens abolishedno new convent shall be founded, nor any novice in future admitted; while an annual pension of 100 ducats shall be given to nuns who renounce their vows-the trial by jury has been established—and a system of national education is expected to be soon adopted.

RUSSIA.

From the Rev. Dr. Henderson.

St. Petersburgh, Oct. 18, 1820. Ir is a pleasing fact, that, when an enquiry was instituted at Okotsk by the Governor, respecting the want of the Holy Scriptures, copies were found in quarters where they were least expected; which is attributed to the zealous and indefatigable exertions of our countryman, Captain Gordon, whose track from Okotsk the whole way through Siberia to Astrachan, and thence through Persia to India, is marked by the most tender solicitude for the welfare of the inhabitants, a diligent investigation of their spiritual wants, and an adoption of such measures for their relief as the circumstances of his immense journey would allow.

From the accounts recently transmit. ted by this singularly zealous traveller, the most encouraging prospects are opening for the dissemination of divine truth in the Persian empire.

A Russian captain, lately returned from Persia, mentioned to a friend in Astrachan, that when he was in that country, he happened one day to go into the house of a native, where he

was

surprized to find between twenty and thirty Persians assembled, and listening with attention to one who was reading a book. They no sooner noticed the stranger than the book was laid aside and concealed, and it was with some difficulty that he could prevail upon them to tell him what book it was.

At last they informed him that it was the New Testament; and said, that the reason why they endeavoured to conceal it was, that they were not permitted to read it publicly. How pleasing the idea, that many of the other copies which have been introduced into that empire, may also have their select circles to which they are proclaiming the glad tidings of redeeming mercy and love, and that here and there may be a Nicodemus inquiring, under the shade of concealment, How can these things be? On the subject coming before the tribunals of the country, who will not be afraid to demand, Doth our law judge any man before it hear him, and know what he doeth? Let such an investigation once take place in regard to the doctrine and life of our blessed Lord, and we know what will be the result.

SOUTH AFRICA.

THE following paper, written by a well-informed friend in South Africa, has appeared in one of the public prints, and we insert it as it may be of important use to persons who have thoughts of emigration.

THOUGHTS ON EMIGRATION ΤΟ THE COLONY OF THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

By a Gentleman resident there. MUCH of the prosperity of the present scheme must depend upon the characters, dispositions and capacities of the settlers. If they are chiefly from the agricultural districts of the country, or from the islands of Scotland, it may be presumed that they will bring along with them sober and industrious habits, and the emigration to South Africa would in this case be of service to the colony; but if they are the refuse of our manufacturing towns, men of immoral habits, and licentious or turbulent principles, those who may be employed in the business of their settlement will have little pleasure in the undertaking. And even in these respects, if their character be good, the greater part of British manufacturers who have been accustomed to work at only one branch, where the division of labour is ex