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ELEMENTS OF INSTRUCTION CONCERNING THE tion; and how any member of the Church can be proCHURCH, for the Use of Young Persons. Chiefly perly sensible of the claims of her standards upon from the Fifth Edition of " Theophilus Anglu anus! his respect and cordial adoption; without giving seBy Chr. Wordsworth, D. D., Canon of Westmin- (rious heed to the only consistent and tangible shape in ster; late Head Master of Harrow School. Edited (which the doctrine of a divinely appointed Church, and enlarged by Hugh Davey Evans. Philadel-with its proper ministry and sacraments, can be put. phia: H. Hooker. Pp. 282. 12mo. 1851. The book before us is intended to elucidate and enforce this doctrine. We ask all good, and especially

An intelligent and unprejudiced observer of the then-young Christians, to read it carefully and ponder its in logical discussions, and the state of things, which have structions in the spirit and temper of evangelical faith, characterized Protestant Christendom, during the last and with earnest prayer for divine aid and illuminahalf-century, can hardly fail to perceive that the question. And to increase its usefulness, we would retion of Episcopacy is reduced to this :-Either ordina-spectfully recommend that in future editions, which tion, to be valid, must be had in the line of apostolic we hope will be many, all the Latin phrases be transsuccession, that is, from a Bishop who has derived his lated into English. authority in uninterrupted succession from the Apos We have read this book with very great satisfaction; tles; or it is validly administered in any way which and besides its general interest to all who would engage man may choose to invent and appoint. There were in serious religious inquiry, regard it as particularly once Presbyterians who insisted, as strongly as any valuable in consideration of our Church's wise and Churchman, on ordination in regular transmission from proper introduction, so extensively, into her organizathe Apostles; though they deemed the divinely-ap-tion, of lay representation. That this, however, may pointed line to be that of successive presbyteries; be-befit the Church, which is the body of Christ, and ginning with those of which the Apostles were mem- should be, in all its departments, holy, catholic, and bers. Of this, however, we hear but little now. apostolic, it should embrace none but men earnest in Congregationalism, which, in its looser form, embraces the cultivation of sound evangelical piety, and well the principle of lay ordination, has become so mixed instructed in the scriptural principles, prerogatives, up and identified with Presbyterianism, that the latter and functions of the Church. Otherwise, there is can no longer urge a consistent plea for ordination in great danger of its bringing reproach upon Christ, the line of Apostolic succession; but must admit, and inarring and corrupting the gospel, injuring the Church, dues admit, the orders of any who, in any sect, are and proving a snare to the souls of inen, and an hinheld to be ministers, without regard to the questionderance to their salvation. The idea ought not for a who ordained them. The general prevalence, too, of moment to be tolerated, that the ordinary qualifications unscriptural views of an invisible Church, corrupts the for trusteeship in civil corporations, are all that are gospel, by taking its promises of grace and salvation needed in parochial offices; or that fitness for legisla out of their divinely appointed connection with the sa-tive, or political, or other mere secular business, is craments, services, and ministry of the Holy Catholic the measure of fitness for ecclesiastical conventions, Church, and proposing them to men as to be fulfilled and other religious bodies. Hence, the great value of with little or no reference to that Church, except as it the distinctive gospel and church education for which is considered an invisible body, with which men's men-good men are now so earnestly pleading, and so faithtal states, frames, and operations, are to bring them into union; or union with which is a state conferred on each individual member by a decree of God from all eternity, insuring bis salvation, and removing him from all possibility of its loss.

fully laboring. It is good for the souls of the individuals taught. It is good for the best interests of soci ety and the commonwealth. It is good for the interests of the Church in the various departments in which laymen may be such efficient "fellow-helpers to the The great mass of those, therefore, who deny the truth." When a generation of the sons of Zion shall divine appointment and permanent obligation of epis- have arisen, who have been nurtured in sound Church copacy, and the connection, as of God, between the schools and colleges, and the daughters of Zion, simigrace of the gospel, and the ministry, sacraments, and larly nurtured, shall have infused, by right training ordinances of the Church, do not really hold to such from childhood, into those who are to be enlisted in appointment and obligation touching any mode of ordi- the Church'e work and councils, the true spirit and nation to the ministry; nor to any such connection in understanding of the gospel; means will be provided reference to outward and visible religion at all. If, as for thoroughly removing objections, and remedying the Church teaches, Almighty God has, by His Holy evils, now supposed by many good men to lie in the Spirit, established any order of ministry for His peo-way of lay participation in ecclesiastical concerns; ple; and if, as she also teaches, the sacraments are and "brethren," with full evangelical and catholic pregenerally, that is, for mankind at large, necessary to paration of head and heart, be ready to come up to the salvation, there seeins (and certainly very justly) no help of the Lord, by cheering the hearts, assisting the ground left that is thought worth contending for, ex-counsels, and strengthening the hands, of the "Aposcept that which presents episcopacy, as such order, and the sacraments of its ministration, as thus neces sary.

tles and Elders" whom the Holy Ghost hath made Overseers over the flock."

These "Elements of Instruction concerning the No one, then, can object to the earnest inculcation on Church," are a valuable contribution towards this end. the minds of the youth of the Church, as essential to They are valuable for the catechetical class, for the their proper religious instruction, of her distinctive Church School, for the family, and for the Christian's principles, who is not prepared to dismiss altogether(retired study and meditation. They impart sound the idea of the necessity of any particular mode of or teaching respecting the Catholic Church in its divinely dination to the ministry, and of any sacramental ob-appointed connection with the wondrous scheme of servances. And it is difficult to see how any one can the grace of God, which bringeth salvation through have proper views of the sinfulness and danger of non-Jesus Christ; and with reference to its national ornatural and evasive principles of Biblical interpreta-ganisation in the Anglican Branch of that Church;

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piety, and charity of the gospel; that there is but one Church membership, and that with a visible body; and that the distinction between the good and faithful, and bad and unfaithful members of this Church, is a distinction, not between a visible and invisible Church, but between "states" of Church membership, involv and faithless men here, with all their broad distinction in character, in hopes, in true enjoyinent, in their filial relation to God, and in the kind and degree of His paternal love to them; and which will be distinguished from each other hereafter, as the eternally blessed

in its glory in heaven; and the eternally cursed-banished from the Church forever?

and in that, thence derived, established in this country. Candor obliges us, however, to say, that amid so much that is to be approved and admired, there is one point on which we are constrained to cherish a respect ful doubt. We cannot but think that on pages 9-14 too much prominence is given to the idea of an "in visible Church." Is there any scriptural ground for being the two classes of honest and true, and of false lieving in an invisible Church? Does the Bible tell us of any other Church on earth than that which God has been pleased to make visible; and in which (thereby estabfishing a sacred and morally binding connection between the form and power of Godliness, which man; has no right to sever, or to weaken, or to neutralize,)—forever secure in the membership of God's Church He has ordained outward and visible signs, as means of our enjoying inward and spiritual grace, and as a divine pledge to assure us of that grace, if we use the We are glad to see a chapter added by the Amerimeans aright, and open honest and good hearts to its can editor" on the relations of the Church of England reception! True: this volume expressly disavows to the State." This is a subject of very natural interthe terms "visible" and "invisible" as indicating two est to the American Branch of the Catholic Church as Churches; and uses them merely as describing the reformed in Britain-an interest interwoven in the one Church considered in two different atates.' But feelings of deep veneration and warm affection with is not the application of the term " Church" to the in- which it is our duty and happiness to regard our movisible properties, operations, and features of the mysther Church. We recommend the faithful study of it tical body of Christ, unscriptural, and calculated to mislead? The danger of this is obvious on these very pages, where the invisible "state" of the Church, is so spoken of as a Church, that the mind can hardly fail of being led to think, if not of a Church more or less severed from the visible Church, at least of a Church > within this. We humbly conceive the truly evangelical view to be, that the Church of Christ is essentially visible, and that there is no other Church-that there can be no Church, in the gospel sense, without the gospel ministry and sacraments; that this Church, however, in addition to the moral obligation which God has established for all who would be saved, to be in its membership, and discharge all its outward duties, requires, in order to honesty and consistency in this membership, that the hidden man of the heart be per petually subjected to, and controlled by, that faith and those affections which constitute the invisible communion with God, in the heart-religion that He requires, whereby alone external cominunion is of a gospel character; whereby alone it can be acceptable to God; and whereby alone it can be saved from being guilty of hypocrisy, and drawing down curses instead of blessings.

to all of our own members who love the Church of England for the great spiritual excellences and privileges with which God has endowed her, and feel an af fectionate concern for her spiritual interests, and for her efficiency in the great spiritual work which opens before her in all parts of the world. Having ourselves shared largely in the blessings of that work in other days, we cannot but extend to her our love and our prayers in her continued labors, and our sympathy for her difficulties and trials.

“My kingdom,” said our blessed Saviour, “is not of this world." The Holy Catholic Church, though, while on earth, essentially outward and visible, calling men to an external membership with it as necessary to their due inward and spiritual union with its Divine Head; requiring of them outward tokens and forms of allegiance to their God; and prescribing principles and rules of duty, reaching every position and every connection which man can occupy on earth: and obliged to avail itself of temporal security for the peaceful exercise of its functions, and as a guard against injury at the hands of evil men; is still not of the earth: it is heavenly all its proper ends and ope rations have to do with the kingdom of heaven-the Nevertheless, this invisible communion does not kingdom of grace here, and the kingdom of glory constitute an invisible Church. It is a "state" in hereafter. There may be theories of a State estabwhich the good and faithful are distinguished from the lishment of the Church-of the union of Church and bad and unfaithful members of the Church. All the State-very interesting, and well adapted to the propromises made to the Church, are made to both these motion of God's glory, and man's spiritual and eternal classes, as members of the Church. But they are made good. When, however, have such theories ever been in accordance with the great truth which lies at the seen reduced to practice? When has not an estab foundation of the gospel, that God is the Moral Gov-lished religion tended rather to the secularizing of the ernor of moral agents; and therefore are made condi- Church, than to the spiritualizing of the State? When tionally. God has been pleased, because of Christ's has the spiritual department of a State Church been mediation, to give to every human being power to be regarded by politicians as the chief, as to be supported a good and faithful member of the Church, if that di- and fostered because of its hallowing influences, and vine institution is brought within his reach. If he the blessings it bestows on the civil department; betruly avails himself of this, the promises made to the cause of their duty to learn from it the true principles Church are secured to him; if he does not, they are on which civil and social obligation and responsibility lost to him: the former course, however, does not are to be discharged, and take from it the rules and make him a member of an invisible Church. measures of their discharge; and because of its being the divinely appointed channel of that heavenly grace, whereby alone they can understand their duty, and be enabled to fulfil it; and not rather as what is to be kept in subordination, and used to further purposes of an entirely worldly character? There may be something of hallowed interest in the idea of an anointed sovereign installed into office with the most awful sanctions of religion, and bound by solemn oath to defend and promote that religion in its integrity and purity; being the head of a national Church, and as such, its nursing father, or its nursing mother. It is feared, however, that Christendom does not afford an instance of the realization of this idea, in such

This theory of an invisible Church, as maintained by many, who presume to make special appropriation to themselves of the epithet "evangelical," has done much towards encouraging a spurious and corrupt gospel; ; as, we are confident, none are more sensible than the able and excellent author and editor of this work. Would it not be in closer conformity to the Bible to reject the term altogether, and substitute a diction founded on the evangelical principles, that all the divine promises to the Church are made, and all the great and precious privileges of the Church are pledged, to all its members, all who are in its visible communion; on the conditions, however, of the faith,

a nurturing of the cause of religion as befits its sanctity and claims. Unhappily, our parent Church does not. Now that men of all religions, or no religion, are eligible to the national legislature, to civil and judicial office, and to that counselling of royalty, with out which royalty is unknown in action, and by which alone acts become those of the government; the Church is as much subjected to the State, as it was when every one who served the State officially was required to be in communion with the Church. The Queen's supremacy in Church matters is an idle name -a thing which is not. The real supremacy is with the prime minister, who may not even profess to be a Christian, or if he does, may do it in papal form, or in any other, alien from the established Church; who is always appointed for mere political ends; and who holds office at the pleasure of the popular branch of the national legislature.*

In such a state of things, the Church of England is not allowed-because the Queen, that is, the prime minister, can prevent it-to act for herself, through her only legitimate means of action, her Convocation. "Children of this world" take her most holy interests in hand, bind her with their rules and restrictions, and determine the most sacred questions connected with her faith, discipline, and order. Is a Bishop to be placed in one of her sees? The prime minister advises the Queen whom to nominate. The Queen nominates accordingly, and allows the cathedral officers of the diocese to elect the person nominated; and him they must elect, under grievous penalties for refusing so to do. The Church has not even the privilege of raising objections to his character or fitness: worse than this, there is the solemn-ought it not rather to be called profane and wicked?-mockery, of calling on the Church, or any of its members-and that in connection with holy services, and prayers that all con

* A plausible part of the scheme of the English Church establishment, is, if we understand it right, that the Archbishop of Canterbury, as the Queen's proper spiritual adviser, is a permanent, and the only permanent, member of her council. Though, for the kingdom which is of this world, her advisers may change, as may change the opinious or wishes of her subjects, or popular notions of policy; yet for that kingdom which is not of this world, she must have an adviser sent of God, and who, be the people never so unstable, be the earth never so unquiet, cannot be shaken off, must be always there, to speak, and speak with authority, of things concerning Christ and the Church-how their interests demand that she, the Queen, should act. The ancient Church had, the English Church has had, prelates who could bear the burden of such tremendous responsibility, and stand up boldly, and speak the truth honestly, and give counsel fearlessly, yes, and reproof and rebuke if needed, and yet all with due respect and reverence, before royalty itself. A mournfully different scene has lately been presented in the case of the present Primate of all England. He was requested from a highly respectable source to solicit her Majesty's permission for the meeting of the Convocation, the only proper ecclesiastical legislature, and which can meet only by the royal consent. His reply was, in substance, that under present circumstances, he deemed it most advisable to leave that subject to her Majesty's discretion: that is-and he well knew it--to leave it to the discretion of the political and worldly devotee, who, as prime minister, is to instruct her Majesty what to say and do. Here was a question on which a Bishop in the Church of God should look in its spiritual aspects. It was a question on which godly ministers and members of the Church had long felt deep solicitude. Without raising the point which way the Primace should have determined, what truly Christian-minded man will doubt that it was a ques tion of deep religious bearing, on which he should have his mind made up on principle, and have accordingly avowed his reasons, touching the merits of the question, for not thus petitioning his Queen, or gone boldly before her, in the name of God and of His Church, and told her what he, her proper adviser in all such matters, thought her duty }

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cerned may be rightly directed, and solemn admonition that the duty be faithfully and conscientiously discharged-to say if there is any just impediment in the way of the consecration of the Bishop-elect; when it is well known those objections will not be considered; but be regarded as offences against her Majesty's su premacy. The person thus chosen must be consecrated at the Queen's bidding; or the refusing Bishops be deprived of their Sees, and otherwise most severely punished.

Our mother Church, however, has, thank God, among her sons, good men and true, who feel on this subject, and to their lawful ability are acting on it, as pious Christians should feel and act. It is well for us to study their case, that our love and sympathy for this parent Church may take the right direction, and our prayers in her behalf be "with the understanding" -with a heartfelt conviction of the need she has of the overruling providence and grace of our common Lord and Master.

This volume takes the true view of the relation of the Church of Rome to the Catholic Church. The former, by requiring of all who commune with her, assent and consent to all the heresies set forth by the Council of Trent, under a curse for not yielding it, makes such communion sinful; and therefore deprives herself of all right of jurisdiction over the disciples of Christ. Although, then, her Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, are Bishops, Priests, and Deacons of the Catholic Church; and her baptism with water in the name of the Trinity, administered by her clergy, is Christian baptism; and the communion of her priests, (but not her laity-for she gives them not the Lord's Supper, because she withholds from them the communion of His blood,) is the Christian Eucharist; hindered as the true benefits of that sacrament may be by the heresies therein professed and adopted: yet, because she requires of all who commune with her the profession and adoption of these heresies, she has forfeited the right of spiritual rule over God's people. They cannot come under that rule without sinning against Him. Her organization, therefore, whereby she assumes to exercise this rule, is uncatholic, schismatic, and antichristian. Wherever it exists, catholic bishops and clergy have a right to go in, and provide for the due and proper cure of souls. THE SCHOOL CHIMES; a Collection of Songs and Pieces, designed especially for the use of schools, juvenile classes, and school exhibitions. By B. F. Baker, and L. H. Southard. Wilkins, Carter & Co. Boston.

THE PALACE OF INDUSTRY; a Juvenile Oratorio, illustrative of the Poetry of Labor. By J. C. Johnson. Wilkins, Carter & Co. Boston.

These two little works have been received and partially examined, and so far as we are qualified to judge, they appear to be very well adapted to their purpose. In turning over the leaves, we meet with several old friends. The Palace of Industry shows considerable ingenuity, and inculcates in most of its odes a very healthful and unprejudiced spirit. Great pains have been taken in both volumes to arrange and adapt the music to the capabilities of children, and in such a manner as to exercise them according to the most approved rules. We are very glad to perceive that music is now made an essential part of education in almost all schools and academies, thus developing whatever musical talent each child may possess, and putting it in their power to unite in congregational or social singing. With one more word we close this notice. The music of the present day to us lacks some essentials. It has not the character, the originality, nor the exquisite melody of olden strains. These wants are apparent in every new publication.

PLYMOUTH AND THE PILGRIMS.
Gould & Lincoln. Boston.

Joseph Banvard., THE HEIR OF WAST-WATLAND; a Tale. By Mary
HowILL New-York: D. Appleton & Co. 1851.

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A very interesting volume, well adapted for schools and for general reading. Mr. Banvard announces h's determination to adhere to facts, and this we believe he has done, endeavoring also to be perfectly just and impartial. He has arranged the incidents and anec dotes with great particularity, making the bistory as entertaining as a romance, and reminding us of those ruzzed times, when great hardships were endured by all the settlers of this country. Mr. Banvard hides nothing, the faults and imperfections of the Puritans,, as well as their admirable qualities, are all laid open to the eye of day, by one who is their friend. One word, on the 144th page of the volume, we do not understand at this present time, from our author; the word "audacity," connected with the attempt of the Rev. Mr. Lifford to officiate at Plymouth, by virtue of his Episcopal ordination." If Eider Brewster had used the word then, we should not have felt surprised;, but surely, under the circumstances, it was only a breach of promise at the worst, and of a promise that Mr. Banvard thinks should not be required. This hardly deserves to be censured as an audacious act.

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In the midst of the deluge of light reading which is pouring its waters upon the public, we hail with pleasure any work of fiction that lays down as the basis of the principles which it illustrates and enforces, the inoral and religious responsibilities of inan. Principles and doctrines embodied in books of this kind, appeal to many who, perhaps, otherwise would never take the pains to examine them; but brought before them in this way, an interest is excited which may lead to further examination and subsequent conviction.

Eastbury is a work of this kind. Its appeals are not merely to the feelings, neither are good deeds referred solely to generous einotions; but at the foundation of all, as the chief incentive and motive, is the principle of duty as inculcated by and gathered from the word of God The authoress appears to be a stanch Church woman; and in Lionel Revis, she shows how effectual for good is the working of the Church's system, when carried out by an energetic and devoted Rector. The character of Beatrice illustrates the ill effects resulting from that species of deception which consists in concealing the truth, and the wretchedness thereby occasioned, and which a frank and fearless avowal would We would be glad to know that East bury" has attained a wide circulation.

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A very agreeable and readable book. It contains a sufficient diversity of character and incident to keep the mind of the reader engage, and prevent the interest excited from flagging. We wish that some of our modern novel writers would realize that ejaculations, in which the name of the Deity is lightly used are not only profane, but in wretchey bad taste; and that when these are put in the months of hervices, wis are supposed to be patterns of feminine virtues, they not only add nothing to the emphasis of the conversation, but grate with an unpleasant harshness upon the mind of the reader. Such expressions used in real life would shock the listener; and as the chief object and usefulness of fiction is to represent the different virtues and vices, and to illustrate their effects upon the character of individuals and communities, too great care cannot be taken that the pattern held up should embody a faithful illustration of the principles intended to be enforced.

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This volume, as its title page imports, is composed principally of selections from the diary of the author, who made voyages to many different parts of Europe, and South America, in vessels which he commanded. Some of these voyages were prosecuted between the years 1800 and 1815, a period during which the convulsions of Europe, and, in the latter part, of our own country also, rendered the navigation of the ocean particularly dangerous, and exposed our mariners to the perils of war, in addition to those of navigation. The volume is replete with incident, and will give to the landsinan a good idea of the dangers and hardships inseparable from a sea-faring life.

147

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TO CORRESPONDENTS.-Owing to the unusual length of our Editor's and Book Tables, some articles which we intended for this number are cessarily postponed. Among these is the continuation of the interesting paper on Cowper, and the “Trip to the West." The second part of Pelito's Vision is received, and will appear in our next. We have also a paper on The Women's Rights Convention," and another number of " Bishop Hobart's Principles," in the hands of the printer, but could not find space for them this month. Several other articles are also postponed.

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CALENDAR FOR AUGUST.

3. Seventh Sunday after Trinity. 10. Eighth Sunday after Trinity. 17. Ninth Sunday after Trinity.

24 Tenth Sunday after Trinity.-St. Bartholomew

the Apostle.

31. Eleventh Sunday after Trinity.

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EFORE I came here, I erroneously supposed that one should be immensely struck, and overpowered, and enchanted at first, but that afterward there would be a certain degree of monotony attached to that unvarying sublimity, which I wrongly believed to be the great cha

in its lesser space circumscribed, they seem fully as comprehensive and multitudinous. I have dwelt long on this, because I do not remember to have seen this mighty and transcendent feature of Niagara particularly noticed in any of the descriptions I have read of it, and it has most especially delighted and astonished me.

We were so very fortunate as to have a tremendous thunderstorm here on Tuesday night, and it may be guessed what a tremendous thunder-storm must be here ! The heavens seemed literally opening just over the great cataracts, and the intensely vivid lightning, brighter than day, lit up the giant Falls, and seemed mixed and mingling with dazzling mountains of spray, which then looked more beautiful and beatific than ever. It was a wild, windy night, as if all the elements were reveling together in a stormy chaotic carnival of their own, till it really presented altogether a scene almost too awfully magnificent.

racteristic of Niagara. But, how miserably did I do it injustice! Perhaps the most peculiar and transcendent attribute of this matchless cataract, is its almost endless variety. The innumerable diversities of its appearance, the continual, countless, rapid alterations in its aspect; in short, the perpetually varying phases which it displays, are indeed wondrous and truly indescribable. This is a great deal owing to the enormous volumes of spray which are almost incessantly shifting and changing their forms, like the clouds above. Niagara, indeed, has its own clouds, and they not only give it the great charm and interest of an ever-beautiful and exquisite variety, but also environ it with a lovely and bewildering atmosphere of mystery, which seems the very crown of its manifold perfections and glories. *Extracted from Travels in the United States, &c., during 1849 and 1850. By the Lady Emmeline Stuart Niagara has its changes, like the sea, and Wortley. 12mo. pp. 463. Harper & Brothers.

The deafening roar of the crashing thunder was yet louder than the roar of the cat

VOL. VIII.-NO. IX.

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