Review of Religious Publications. Alfred; by Joseph Cottle. 3d edit. their great overthrow at Eddington. and concludes when the Danes received 2 vols. 12mo. 12s. It was but last year we introduced to our readers this respectable writer, as the author of a poem under the sacred name of "The Messiah." The work before us appears to have escaped our notice in two editions, probably from its title not bringing it within the class of Religious Publications. The name of Alfred, however, is so dear to the friends of religion and the Bible, and his story is so well fraught with moral instruction and pious reflections, that we are persuaded the work will be highly acceptable to our poetic readers, and the more especially as the department of religious and moral poetry is by no means crowded. * It is unnecessary to expatiate on the well-known character of Alfred." By the general concurrence of mankind, he has been ranked among the most illustrious of commanders, legislators, and monarchs; distinguished in private life for every thing which was amiable, and in public for all that was great; the admiration of other countries, and the peculiar glory of our own.” It seems too late to criticise upon a work that has twice passed the fiery ordeal of public criticism, and received every degree of improvement of which the author thinks it capable; and in the present edition is accompanied with a body of notes, historical and illustrative, no less useful than entertaining. We shall therefore simply give a specimen of the author's versification in the following lines, which contains a recipe for the universal medicine-that balsam of life which confers on mortals immortality. The Hermit thus continued. Hear me, son! Fail to support the breast, which toils beneath Their proudest blessings, and endures them all Rather than owns their worth; what is there here Wisdom may covet, and the deathless mind Esteem its greatest good?---Virtue alone, Whose basis is religion.-Love to man-- • This is the pearl of price unspeakable! Let those declare the extent of earthly power To stay the mind, whose restless hearts have sought But found it not: tho' disappointed, still Grasping at shadows, vainly seeking rest, Vol. 1. p. 176. He translated the Psalms, and perhaps other parts of Scripture, into his native tongue. Evening Exercises; or an Illustration XXIV. Discourses, on Subjects selected from the First Chapter of Jonah. By James Simpson, Minister of the Gospel, Edinburgh. 8vo. 10s. 6d. THE author of these Discourses is respectable minister of the Anti 3 E common burgher Communion in Edinburgh. in the present instance, seems to exclude The discourses are, we believe, his us from the comfort of such a solution; first avowed publication, and they are and the course of divine dispensation highly creditable to his talents and very generally confirms it. If a man piety: they discover no set himself resolutely, at all events, to a powers of research and discrimina- course of duty, he is thwarted at every corner, and innumerable difficulties comtion. The arrangement of thought is pass him about. But, let him listen, judicious; sentiment is condensed, like our prophet, to temptation; let him not amplified: the style is always rebel against the authority of heaven, plain and correct, sometimes ener- and every difficulty is removed. Instead getic and elegant; and throughout, of being opposed or detained, every fastrong reasoning is combined with cility is afforded for the execution of his faithful appeals to the conscience of purpose. The ship and the seamen are the sinner, and sweet consolations to the heart of the saint. perfectly ready; wind and tide are quite favourable. At the moment desired, which he wanted, "a ship, going" to the "he finds" the very accommodation very place to which he was destined, to Tarshish." 66 The introduction, which is appropriate, contains a variety of excellent hints on the proper mode of interpreting scripture, particularly of exOn the whole, these discourses are plaining historical and typical pas- adapted especially to the young, and sages, especially when these are tend to guard them against the fasciblended. The Book of Jonah is of nations of the world, and the cavils of this kind. The first chapter of that his infidelity; and to urge a cheerful comtorical and partly typical account is pliance with the divine will, an attenthe general subject of the sermons. tive regard to Providence, and unThe titles and particular topics are as shaken confidence in the God of Salvafollow:-1. The character of Jonah; tion. We therefore heartily recom2. The comparative corruption of great mend this volume to their perusal, cities; 3. The vain attempt; 4. Fatal and, indeed, to the perusal of all. success; 5. Sinful pleasures dearly bought; 6. The boldest sinner the Baptism. greatest coward; 7. The superstitious Facts and Evidences, on the Subject of infidel; 8. The unavailing sacrifice; 9. The guilty sinner the most secure: [Continued from our last, p. 347.] 10. The alarm; 11. The discovery; IN our last number we took some 12. Every station has its own snares; notice of this novel and interesting 13. The confession; 14. Consistency; publication, which consists of "Three 15. The Substitution; 16. Legal la- Letters to a late Deacon of a Baptist bours, spiritual troubles; 17. The mi- Church," in addition to three former Letters on the same subject, which were reviewed in our last volume, PP. 376, &c. racle of the whale. From this enumeration, our readers will perceive that Mr. S. takes an extensive and practical view of the subject. Where there is so much excellence, and a connection SO close, it is difficult to select, and to select without mutilating. We shall only give a short extract from the fourth sermon, entitled "Fatal success-Jonah, i. 3. He found a ship going to Tarshish." Among other forcible and just arguments, the writer insists on taking Scripture in the most strict and accurate sense, as well on practical points as on doctrinal; on this principle he establishes, beyond all reasonable tween OIKOS and OIKIA, as already denial, the important distinction beobserved, which absolutely excludes "Was it on the persons only of the the household of Stephanas from being wicked that the sun of prosperity shone, identical with his family; and by the or only against the persons of the righ- same strictness, he satisfactorily teous, that the arrows of the Almighty proves, from the very words of the were directed, we might still be able to sacred text, that "the brethren" to see the ground of the dispensation, and to justify the wisdom of God. We whom Paul and Silas returned at might distinguish between the person and Lydias, were Timothy and Luke; his conduct, and even admire the discri- and not, as the Baptists have fancied, minations of that wisdom, which, while either sons or servants of Lydia. it spareth the sinner, yet taketh vengeance on his inventions. But our text, At the close of the introduction, page 74, the author introduces a plate of great curiosity, representing the mode of baptism, in the earliest period of the church. One of the figures is an internal view of "the Chapel of the Baptistery, in the Catacomb of St. Pontianus, on the wall of which is a painting of the baptism of Jesus Christ. This Baptistery is said to be of the first century; it was used for privacy during the persecutions, being under ground many feet; it was concealed from all inspection, yet the mode of Baptism here represented is by pouring! This is one of the earliest vestiges of primitive Christianity that can be now existing; and it admits of no doubtful reading or other occasion of error. But we have no such change enacted, no hint of it; and the practice of the Apostles was in diametrical opposi tion to it; for they baptized whole families, containing children in all stages of life, without exception. The history of infant circumcision, as practised among the Old Testament saints, with the responsibility they attached to children in early years, is placed in a strong and powerful light; and very little doubt, if any, can be entertained respecting the prevalence of the same maxims, in the Christian church, in the gospel day. "We have seen (says the author) that historical Scripture expressly states the baptism of families, and families are comThe first of the additional letters, posed of all states of life, infants, little the fourth of the series, contains a ones, children, &c.; we have seen the history of adult circumcision, from the apostle Paul acknowledge that he bap days of Ishmael, descending through tized, or was the cause of baptizing, his posterity; a rite which also is in many families; we have seen the apostle full vigour in the present day. It of the church, as to be fit subjects of his John address children as so far members seems, that the Mahometans, Turks, apostolic care; and this in an epistle and Persians, assign exactly the same general to the churches: we have seen reasons for postponing circumcision, this disciple at one remove, affirm the as a mark of their faith, as the Bap- sanctification of the state of infancy by tists do for postponing Baptism. They Christ, and the ritual sanctification of plead, 1. Divine authority, "circum- the persons of infants by baptism; we cise Ishmael thy son," then thirteen years of age. 2. Uninterrupted practice and tradition from their ancestors. 3. The dictates of common sense, under which head the author has produced some very curious passages from Mahometan writers, forbidding the performance of the rite, till the subjects of it, being arrived at years of discretion, are in a state to assign reasons why they believe," and "to understand the import of the confession they 66 make." have seen the Christian writer who, of all others, took the greatest pains, by inquiry, by travelling, by close examina tion, purposely instituted and long confrom the apostles the injunction to confer tinued, --he says, the church received baptism on infants; and all this is in the very earliest ages of the church; all within two centuries." The whole is concluded with two inferences. The first is, 'that we know does, or ever did,reject infant baptism.' of no Christian [national] church that 2dly, In all these churches baptism The fifth letter is employed in shewing, that notwithstanding all the ob- is, and ever was, a consecration to the jections which could then be made Trinity:' no one uses, or ever did use, against it, notwithstanding all the any word in the administration allusive to the burial of the person baptized, sarcasms to which it was exposed, from the persecuting Ishmael and his as Christ was (say they) buried. Had carnal seed, yet it pleased God, be- our Lord intended any such allusion, he would have said so. It would yond all doubt or controversy, to adopt infant circumcision as the mode have been, observes this writer, of admission into his ancient church. very extraordinary, that in a religion The writer asks, Whether, if it had been the pleasure of Jesus Christ to change this principle of early admission, he would not have given explicit directions for that purpose? If he had thought proper to annul the Jewish, and to adopt the Ishmaelite practice, would he not have left commands to his church distinctly and clearly? having but two rites, both should signify the same thing. Consecration to the true God he considers to be the design of the initiatory rite of baptism one act, which ought not to be repeated; while devotedness to Christ is frequently to be renewed, in the ordinance of the Lord's Supper. We should have been better pleased with this work, had the order been have adverted to the practical infla more distinct and lucid-for the want ence of the grace of God, in forming of which, however, the author makes the principles and character of the an apology; and as his arguments are truc subject. Philemon's prayer defensive, he was, of course, obliged and thanksgiving dilate on too many to follow the order of the attack made topics to be quite in character, and in on his principles and practice. Ne language too closely imitated from vertheless, on the whole, we think the other authors. But we conceive that religious public greatly indebted to Mr. S. is capable of a work of greater him, for throwing much light on this originality. His spirit too is truly contested subject; and we conceive serious and unaffected, and his versifihe has effected more towards bringing cation is usually harmonious, and the controversy to a period (though sometimes impressive. To enquiring that consummation, we fear, is rather and thoughtful minds, the performance to be wished for than expected) than will be very acceptable. most of his predecessors. Our narrow Poem. Foolscap 8vo. 2s. limits prevent our doing any thing A Sketch from Nature. A Rural like justice to this elaborate performance: but we cordially recommend the perusal of the whole to our readers, THIS Sketch, though it does not especially to any who may have en- display talents of the first class, may tertained doubts as to the propriety of be read with pleasure by the admirers infant baptism, and to those also who of sacred poetry. Indeed, so ill is practice it, for the confirmation of that department of literature protheir sentiments against the specious arguments which have been, and possibly may continue to be, advanced in opposition to the primitive usage. We have only further to remark, that we discover certain omissions in these letters, which cannot be supposed the effect of ignorance or inadvertence: whether these may be taken as indicating an intention of pursuing the enquiry to its ultimatum, we do not know. If report be correct in affirming, that the writer has received from an active friend (copied from ancient tomb-stones) a list of more than FIFTY baptized infants, of the earliest ages of the church, we cannot but wish that those decisive and convincing evidences may, in due time, be laid before the religious public. The Broken Heart; a Sacred Poem, in Four Parts, with a National Hymn. By James Sherring. 3s. SACRED poesy, when it corresponds to its name, is always sure to meet with a welcome reception on our tables; and the perusal of this small work afforded us sincere pleasure, not indeed as a display of great originality, but as a happy specimen of respectable talent, consecrated to the cause of truth and holiness. The Convert' would have been, however, a more suitable and less repulsive title than that of The Broken Heart.' This would have enabled Mr. S. to 6 vided for, that we are always happy when we can recommend to young persons any thing above contempt. The concluding paragraph, while it displays the writer's object, will, we hope, recommend the piece to the perusal of our readers. Four Sermons, preached in London before the Missionary Society, May 8, 9, 10, 1816; with the Report of the Directors, and List of Subscribers. 8vo. 3s. WE gave so liberal an analysis of these Discourses in our June Magazine, that we feel it now necessary to do little more than announce their publication, especially as it is equally difficult for a Reviewer, as a Preacher, to be original, after 20 anniversaries. Mr. Brown began the series, by re-, viewing the success with which Mis sions have been already crowned. Mr. Fletcher carried back his auditory to the first Gentile Mission, as a model of all subsequent ones, and argued from the former in favour of the latter.-Mr. Townsend's discourse took a general view of the doctrines of the cause of Dissent, and the sermons salvation, and of the promise of its to the ministers and people are chauniversal spread, and was introduced racterised by a peculiar unction, a by a circumstance peculiarly interesting to the preacher- -it was in that chapel (and he pointed to the spot) where he was first made a partaker of the salvation he now proclaimed. Mr. Julian closed the series by pointing out the encouragements to perseverance, and endeavoured, by a most animated address, to excite the Society to perseverance with new energy and zeal. The Report, an abstract of which electrified the congregation which heard it read, has received some important additions in an Appendix. It is hoped that Subscribers will not be satisfied with having merely attended the public service, and contributed their mite. Every man who gives his guinea to an object of benevolence, and especially such a one as this, should pray and watch for the effect, with the same solicitude as the husbandman watches to see the seed which he has sown spring up with the promise of a future harvest; and most assuredly, "in due time we shall reap, if we faint not." Discourses at the Public Settlement of the Rev. H. Tyler, at Wattsfield; by W.Chaplin and T. Craig. 8vo. 1s. 6d. And Discourses delivered at the Ordination of the Rev. J. Yeckney, at Islington; by W. Walford, Dr. Collyer, and Dr. Winter. 8vo. 2s. 6d. rich and abundant flow of gospel simplicity and fidelity. We have classed them together, because they were preached nearly at the same time, and because, too, we cannot find space for a more extended report of them. We reflect with gratitude on the coutinued succession of faithful and able young ministers in our churches, and we fervently implore the abiding ins fluence of the Holy Spirit on our juvenile pastors and their respective congregations. The Sorrowing of a Bereaved Church; a Sermon occasioned by the Death of the Rev. Geo. Lambert, Hull, by Mr. Parsons, of Leeds; the Address at his Interment by Mr. Gilbert, of Rotherham; and The Last Charge of their dying Pastor to his Church. 8vo. 2s. MR. Parsons had the honour of paying this last tribute of respect to the memory of one of the best of men and of ministers, and he was qualified for the solemn task. His text (Acts, xx. 38,) "Sorrowing most of all," &c. was well adapted to the occasion, and was treated in a manner worthy of the subject; the character of the decease is interwoven in the discourse, and exhibits a servant of Christ, whose loss might well be deplored. Our narrow limits will not allow us to transcribe it; but we hope, at a future time, to give a full account of this excellent man. THOUGH Ordination sermons possess a local interest merely, their pubThe Address at the grave, by Mr. lication may yet prove beneficial. Being extant, they may be occasion- Gilbert, is a descant on those impresally perused, and thus at least both sive words, “Man goeth to his long pastor and people may, by this means, home," and is very pathetic. We rebe reminded of their mutual obliga- commend the whole as a serious and tions. These obligations were once useful publication. powerfully felt, and the lapse of years should tend rather to increase than diminish them. And where such The World Improving; a Sermon preached at Newington Chapel, Liverreciprocal feelings are cherished, it pool, Jan. 18, 1816. By the Rev. not only secures the happiness of Robert Philip. Second Edition, 1s. Christian Societies,but diffuses through THE text selected is, Eccles. vii. an extensive eircle the most benign and benevolent influence. A perma- 10, "Say not thou what is the cause nent minister, and a peaceable, pros- that the former days were better than perous people, prove a blessing, not these, for thou dost not inquire wisely merely to the present generation, but concerning this." The preacher proposes, 1. To ascertain what constito posterity. The introductory discourses are tutes comparatively good times. 2. very able and candid vindications of To examine the assigned cause of the |