JOHN MILTON: A Biography. Especially Designed to Exhibit the Ecclesiastical Principles of that Illustrious Man. By CYRUS R. EDMONDS. Albert Cockshaw, 41, Ludgate Hill. 12mo. pp. 260.

Who has not read and admired the poetic works of John Milton ? His Paradise Lost,' to say nothing of his minor poetic productions, is, as Dr. Johnson remarks, not the greatest of epic poems, only because it is not the first. Much as the Iliad of Homer may have been admired, the subject of the blind poet of England leads the mind of the reader to far nobler themes, and is adapted to subserve far loftier and more useful ends than the immortal productions of the Grecian bard. Milton was a christian, a devout believer in the sacred oracles; and his profound devotion to the love of revealed truth, combined with his almost superhuman learning, and his high poetic inspirations, qualified him, beyond all other men, to produce a poem, which, while it is an honour to our language and our race, and will live in the hearts and the memories of the devout and contemplative in every age, is designed to justify the ways of God to men.'

Of Milton himself, and of his prose writings, it is remarkable how little is generally known. With the exception of the brief sketches of his life, frequently prefixed to his poetical works, and a few general traditions, the mass of those who delight in his Paradise Lost,' have read but little about him. His prose works are in the hands of but few, and many of those who do possess them, have been deterred from enriching their souls with their treasures, because of their bulk, their latinity, and some general prejudice against his extreme opinions, which has been industriously diffused by the party he ever opposed. Milton's peculiarities, however, were those which have now become popular among the true and earnest friends of religious and civil freedom; and his prose works, when carefully perused, will be found to be eminently adapted to meet VOL. 13.-N.S. 2 C

some of the leading controversies of the present day. In this respect they deserve to be carefully studied; and no one who becomes at all familiar with them, will feel that the labour he has bestowed upon them to attain this acquaintance has not been amply repaid.

On this account we are very thankful to the author of the present volume, which we do most cordially recommend to our readers. Mr. Edmonds, in this well-digested publication, tells us that it is his purpose, to present Milton afresh to the public as the champion of political, and especially of religious liberty; and while delineating the few incidents of his life, to present such passages from his prose writings, especially on ecclesiastical subjests, as may invite the attention of the public to the whole of those much neglected but immortalized productions."

Mr. Edmonds has executed his task with great ability and judgment. In combination with as much notice of the events of the times as was necessary to enable the reader to understand the occasion of the different writings of this great man, he has given the chief incidents of his life, and an analyses of the various works which he produced: these being presented in their chronological order, and their most striking passages being given in Milton's own words, and sometimes at length, enable the reader to accompany him throughout his eventful career; and will cause him to have a better comprehension of Milton's character, sentiments, and course, and to cherish a deeper sympathy for him than in most cases he ever felt before. We shall be very glad if our notice of this work induces our readers generally to obtain it for themselves. As to the majority of them, the whole of Milton's prose works will be beyond their means, and as to such as may have them at their command, we can assure them that the careful perusal of the present small volume will be the best preparation they can have for the intelligent study of the original.

THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND in the Reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, and Mary: with Preliminary Notices of the Ecclesiastical History of our Country from the Earliest Times. Albert Cockshaw, 41, Ludgate Hill. Part I and II. Vol I. THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND in the Reigns of James I and Charles I. Vol II. Part I.

THE library of the times,' of which the above shilling numbers form a part, promises to be a very useful compendium of the ecclesiastical history of this country. The notices of the early history of the church which are given in the former part of the first volume, are not only useful as a preliminary to the subsequent narrative, but from the care and fidelity with which they are prepared, will give to the general reader a more correct impression as to early corruptions than he could perhaps obtain from the perusal of several volumes. The history of the Church of England from the time of Henry VIII, down even to the present day, is sad and melancholy. It displays the operation of those elements

which are inherent in our ecclesiastical establishment. The power of the crown, the subserviency and tyranny of the prelates, and the persecution and proscription which were their natural results, are here laid bare for the instruction of all.

Those of our readers who have not perused the histories of Neal, Price, Brooks, and others, will find in this series much important information. And those who are familiar with the haughty tyranny of the Tudors, and the contemptible and abominable proceedings of the Stuarts, will be glad to find in these pages a welldigested compendium of their proceedings, written in a fair, impartial, and truthful temper and spirit. We have much pleasure in commending this series to our readers, and hope that the library of the Sabbath-school and of the college will not fail to receive such a valuable addition to their treasures. No one who is well master of the contents of these volumes will ever feel himself at a loss, either to vindicate his own dissent, or the nonconformity of his ancestors.

THE ACADEMY.

Sawley, Sep, 18th, 1851. DEAR SIR, AS the late Treasurer of the Academy, allow me, through the medium of the Repository, to explain an error which appears in the cash accounts of the Report just published. For the satisfaction of the friends generally I may say, the accounts are substantially correct, and that it is simply an omission of the printer which has produced the discrepancy. From some cause or other the balance of the preceding year, amounting to £68 8s. 3d., is not inserted on the Dr. side of the balance sheet; which sum, if our friends who are in possession of the Reports will have the goodness to insert, they will find the accounts properly to harmonize.

And now, Sir, if you will allow me a short space, I feel disposed to make an additional remark or two. Though I have retired from office, it must not be supposed that I have lost all desire to promote the prosperity of the institution. The longer I live the more deeply I am impressed that to secure the increase and respectability of our connexion we must have an educated ministry. I am not one of those who look upon our college as a kind of secondary institution; to say the least it ought to rank as high as any other in our

body. What would be the use of watching over, with such intense anxiety the talented youths of our churches, and of endeavouring to instil into their minds a desire for the work of the ministry, if we had no suitable seminary to which we could send them for the requisite training, in order that they might be workmen who need not be ashamed.' Where would be the utility of appointing committees to seek out suitable localities for new stations, and of raising the necessary funds, unless where this is done we have ministers properly qualified to send to them; in short, what propriety is there in putting forth exertions to increase the funds of our Foreign Mission without also raising up and qualifying missionaries to occupy the field, when our present devoted men have finished their work and entered into their reward. I rejoice in the fact that some of our churches do form a proper estimate of our Academy, and manifest commendable zeal and liberality in its behalf; still how many there are who whilst they subscribe liberally to other institutions never contribute a fraction towards this. It is really delightful to read the manifestations of christian liberality on behalf of Sunday-schools, as recorded in your valuable periodical, where £20, £30, and even £35 are collected; but at the

same time we cannot repress feelings of an opposite character when we consider that these very churches never do any thing for the Academy. Whilst they make such ample provision for the religious training of the young, they seem to forget altogether their duty as regards providing an efficient ministry. As all are entitled to partake of its advantages, so all ought to render it support. Could not the Committee take up this matter, and by a little gentle remonstrance, or by the use of a few arguments of a persuasive nature, induce these churches to do their duty? Wishing that our academical institution may meet with more united aid, and become more useful to us as a denomination, I remain, dear sir,

Yours in the bonds of the gospel,
WILLIAM BENNETT.

'DISCIPLINE.'

QUERIES ANSWERED.

DEAR SIR,-In your last number, at page 429, there are two or three Queries, under this head, on which I beg to forward the following observations; and unless something more to the purpose shall have been received, I shall be obliged if you give them insertion in the October Repository.

W. H. asks, 'Is it right to dismiss a member to another sister church when that request is not signed on behalf of the church to which he or she is going? that is to say, when the request is only signed by minister or deacons, and not the authority of the church attached to it?"

If I understand the Querist, I suppose he means that when a person wishes to be dismissed from one church to another, he should apply to the church with which he desires to unite, and that that church should apply, by its minister or other officers for such dismission, and should write this request on behalf of the church.' This I have known to be done, and, as it appears to me, there is no impropriety in

such a course.

But as church membership is a voluntary union, it does not appear to me improper when an individual has removed to another locality, or is in circumstances which render his connection with another church desirable, for the individual himself to make the application for his dismission. He may then state his removal, the reasons why he desires this dismission, &c., and the church would be doing right, supposing he was in good standing with them, to accede to his request, and forward to him, or to the church in question, his letter of com

This is a

mendation' and dismission. very common proceeding, and I do not see anything objectionable in it.

The case supposed, then, must be answered in the affirmative. For if it be not improper for an individual himself to apply for his dismission, neither can it be so for him to request the minister, or the deacons of the church he wishes to join, to write this application for him without any previous reference to the church itself; nor would the church to which the application was thus made be justified in refusing to accede to it on the ground of informality. The desire of the individual in question to be dismissed to another church, is the chief affair, and if that be presented to the church in a way that is clear and plain, and there are no valid objections to such dismission on other grounds, the precise form in which it is presented is comparatively of little moment.

Church membership is a personal voluntary affair; and as every individual was received, and permitted to become a member at his own request, so at his own request, he may be dismissed to any other sister church.

The Queries of W. D. R., are worthy of consideration, as many persons have allowed themselves to be mystified by the 'moral character' of religious delinquents, so as to feel unable to proceed against them in the way of christian discipline.

W. D. R. asks, 'What is the most prudent and scriptural way for a church to act towards individual members who do not fill up their places as members of the church to which they belong? He, moreover, supposes two cases which have a specific difference, but as far as church order is concern. ed, they have a general agreement.

If there be any difference in the import of the terms 'prudent,' and 'scriptural' in the mind of the querist, I should think it well to have that at once disposed of. Is any course 'prudent' that is not scriptural'? or scriptural' which is not 'prudent."? I hope W. D. R. does not imagine that prudential considerations can by any means be allowed to supercede scriptural authority. If he does, I beg him at once, and entirely, to abandon such an idea. If a course be clearly and manifestly scriptural, then it is not prudence simply, but duty and obligation which require us to pursue it. In church order as well as in every thing else, the law of Christ, and the practice of his apostles, authoritatively claim our obedience and imitation. Any principles of expediency, or tampering with the laws and institutions of our Lord and his apostles, is fraught with danger, and tends to give countenance to the semi-infidel notion, that christianity requires some modification in