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of those who are inimical to popular institutions, and despise the spirit of democracy. In 1659, when first it was introduced into England, James Harrington, a gentleman of Northamptonshire, a commoner of Trinity College, Oxford, whose classic mind identified the Ballot with the freedom of the Greek republics, and the sturdy independence of the antique Roman, was its only* advocate;-the Ballot is now advocated by the great majority of the public journals of Great Britain and Ireland. When Harry Nevil, an ingenious and well bred gentleman,' (see Wood's Athena Oxonienses) shortly afterwards, moved a resolution in Parliament, in favor of BALLOT, there were eight votes with him :-Mr. Grote's motion was upon the last division in the House of Commons, supported by TWO HUNDRED MEMBERS! The question will wax stronger and stronger; and, if the Reformers act consistently, in the present crisis, its speedy triumph is certain.

Beside the newly incorporated towns of Manchester, Bolton, and Birmingham, there are in England and Wales 178 boroughs, whose householders are exposed to the vitiating influences we have described. The existence of such evils, among so vast a mass of the population, cannot be regarded with indifference. The municipal towns, instead of being the fortresses of an oligarchy, locked with a golden key, must be rendered, what they were intended to be, nurseries of public spirit and liberty. But before they can be freed from Tory usurpation, provision must be made against frivolous objections to voters; provision must be made to protect the franchise of men who have proved their title and still hold their qualification; the period during which proof of the payment of rates is required must be abridged; and lastly, the BALLOT must be established!

Brief Notice.

Evangelical Synopsis. The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, containing the Text according to the Authorized Version, with Marginal Readings and Parallel Passages; and Notes, explanatory and practical, selected from the writings of the most esteemed Divines and Biblical Critics of various Denominations; interspersed with original remarks. By Ingram Cobbin, A.M. London: Berger.

Though this volume is but part of a larger work comprising both Testaments, it will be observed that the title is so printed as to exclude

* He published a tract entitled' The Use and Manner of the Ballot.'

VOL. VIII.

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all reference to the Old Testament; which gives it, not improperly we think, an entirety within itself, and has been done for the accommodation of purchasers who may desire a commentary with reflections on the New Testament only. Mr. Cobbin, the editor, considers that in the whole list of commentaries, there is not one to be found on the plan of 'the Evangelical Synopsis. There is no other that avails itself in the same ample way of the information to be obtained from previous writers; no other that generally embraces writers of all denominations; and no other that claims the name of evangelical, retaining those sacred principles which the name implies, while it brings to its aid writers of every sect, and yet inculcates, in the spirit of the apostle, love to all those who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and truth.''

We are glad to find that all this has come within Mr. Cobbin's design, but we cannot accord the praise of the comprehensive catholicity to the Evangelical Synopsis' alone. In which of the above particulars is the Tract Society's commentary deficient? And what was Mr. Cobbin doing when he compiled the Condensed Commentary? Did he not then derive his materials from writers of all denominations, or did he then inculcate a spirit different from that described above? We have yet to learn that there is any ground for the exclusive claim of the Evangelical Synopsis to genuine evangelical catholicity; and are sorry that in order to set forth this, Mr. Cobbin should have deemed it necessary to depreciate other works.

The Evangelical Synopsis is, however, entitled to recommendation partly from the great variety of sources, critical, geographical, and doctrinal, whence its materials have been derived, partly from its varied adaptation; for it is not only calculated to assist the inquirer who may be anxious to ascertain the sense of the obscurer passages of the sacred volume, but to serve the purpose of a devotional commentary. At the close of every chapter we find a series of reflections not only pertinent but edifying. These are mostly from Scott, but occasionally from Guyse, Boothroyd, Henry, Gill, Ostervald, and others, and some few are original. Every book is preceded by an appropriate introduction. And at the close of the work, there is a catalogue of the authors quoted in the New Testament, and an index to the principal subjects contained in the notes.

An idea of the manner in which the notes are put together may be obtained from the following extract, which is on Eph. ii. 4, ‹ But God who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us.'

4. Rich in mercy, for his great love.] The causes of our salvation are mercy and love. These are to be distinguished; the object of love is the creature simply, the object of mercy is the creature fallen into misery. Parents love their children but if they be fallen into misery, love works in a way of pityDr. Goodwin on Eph. We must remark, that there are two kinds of graceone of which is simply gratuitous, the other which besides is merciful. That which is purely gratuitous, is that which God manifests towards the innocent creature that which is merciful is that which he displays towards the miserable and sinful creature.-Du Bosc. Rich in mercy] a fine and full expression, in that impassioned and noble style of inspiration so peculiar to the apostle Paul. Who can exhaust the riches of a GOD?-and those riches are

here exhibited as consisting in mercy-the very kind adapted to supply the need of the impoverished and perishing sinner!-Editor. We may oppose and compare the two subjects in this verse, dead in sin and rich in mercy, as being two extremes -extreme misery, and extreme mercy; one in us, and the other in God. The greatness of our crimes manifests the riches of God's mercy; and the riches of his mercy absorb the greatness of our crimes. Had our sins been less, it must indeed have been mercy to pardon our sins, but not riches of mercy. If God had been only lightly inclined to mercy, he might indeed have pardoned smaller sins; but this would never have extended to persons dead in their sins; this belongs only to extraordinary and abounding mercy.-J. Claude. For his great love wherewith he loved us.] This God, without anything in us to induce him to it, has from all eternity set his love in a peculiar manner upon us, whom he has chosen and called, designing therein to bless us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: chap. i. 3, 4.—Dr. Guyse.'

The preceding extract will show that some of the sources of which the editor has availed himself are such as the mere English reader is not yet familiar with. We observed with surprise that the name of Du Bosc was omitted in the catalogue of authors cited. If we may express surprise on another account, it is that the editor, whose familiarity with the best productions of the French pulpit is well known, should have made no effort to produce Du Bosc's Sermons on the Ephesians in an English dress. Former years were perhaps unfavorable to such an undertaking; but is there now no Library of Standard Divinity' in which these noble expository discourses might be included? To return-the work now noticed has two tolerably good maps, and in page 141 is a woodcut illustration after Lensden, the phylacteries worn by the Pharisees.

Literary Entelligence.

In the Press.

A Critical Examination of the Rendering of the word Barrio in the Ancient and many of the Modern Versions of the New Testament. By F. W. Gotch, A.B., Trinity College, Dublin.

British Guiana: the results of a long sojourn and residence in that Country; including a Journey into the Interior Parts-to the Parime, or El Dorado,' and to the Carib Chief, Mahanarawa; together with Remarks on the Indian Tribes-their Habits and Government, &c. By John Hancock, M.D. One vol. 8vo., with a Map.

Just Published.

A Winter in the West Indies described in Familiar Letters to Henry Clay, of Kentucky. By Joseph John Gurney.

Park's Biographical Sketch of Tholuck-Tholuck's Life and Character of St. Paul Sermons, &c. (Biblical Cabinet. Vol. 28.)

The Introduction of the Evidences of the Divine Origin of the Christian Religion. In Question and Answer, for the use of Schools and Young Per

sons,

The City of the Magyar, or Hungary and her Institutions in 1839-40. By Miss Pardoe. 3 vols. 12mo.

The Hora Paulina of William Paley, D.D., Carried out and Illustrated in a continuous History of the Apostolic labors and writings of St. Paul, &c. By James Tate, M.A.

The Illustrated Commentary on the Old and New Testaments. Vol. 2. Joshua-2 Kings.

A Sketch for Apronaos as it were in the Temple of Wisdom.

Recollections of the Lakes and other Poems. By the author of 'The Moral of Flowers' and The Spirit of the Woods.'

The Mabinogion. By Lady Charlotte Guest. Part 3.

The Works, Published and Posthumous, of the Rev. Daniel Isaac. By John Burdsals. In three vols. Vol. I.

History of the Carthaginians, from Rollin and other Authorities.

The Biblical Atlas, containing seventeen Maps, with Explanatory Notices. An Essay on a Congress of Nations for the Adjustment of International Disputes without Resort to Arms. By William Ladd, Esq.

What Can be Done to Suppress the Opium Trade? By William Groser. Rose and Crown Lane; or a Sketch of my Neighbourhood.

Fisher's Drawing-Room Scrap-Book for 1841. With Poetical Illustrations by Mary Howitt.

The Juvenile Scrap-Book for 1841. By Mrs. Ellis.

Forget-Me-Not. A Christmas, New Year's, and Birthday Present for 1841. Edited by Frederic Shoberl.

A Memoir of the late Mrs. Sarah Budgett, of Kingswood Hill, Bristol. By John Gaskin, M.A.

Church Principles Considered in their Results. By W. E. Gladstone, Esq., M.P.

Olla Podrida. By the author of 'Peter Simple.' 3 vols. 12mo.

Memorials of Miss Mary Fishwick. With an Introduction by the Rev. Peter M'Owan.

Letters from under a Bridge and Poems. By N. P. Willis, Esq.

The Parlor Table-Book. Written and Selected by the author of 'Lives of the English Sacred Poets.'

Familiar Lectures to Children on Religious Subjects. By R. Maxwell Macbrair.

Popular Errors Explained and Illustrated. By John Timbs.
Joseph, a Poem. By Sir J. D. Paul, Bart., D.C.L.

Peace with China! or the Crisis of Christianity in Central Asia: A Letter to the Right Hon. T. B. Macauley. By Robert Philip.

Statistical Exercises on the Maps of Great Britain and Ireland. By E. C. Nunn.

An Attempt to ascertain the True Chronology of the Book of Genesis. A Lecture. By George Smith.

Mehemet Ali, Lord Palmerston, Russia, and France.

History of the Christian Church. From the First to the Nineteenth Century. For the use of Schools and Families. By Christiana Buchan. The Pictorial Edition of Shakspere. Part 26.

Lectures on Important Doctrines of Christianity. By Edward D. Griffin, D.D. (Ward's Library.)

GENERAL INDEX.

VOL. VIII. NEW SERIES.

American abolitionists, works on, 154;
increasing importance and interest of
the anti-slavery cause, ib.; its rapid
spread, 156; present position of the
American abolitionists, ib.; question of
women's rights, 158; leading dogmas
of the leaders of the woman's rights
question, 161; injury inflicted by them
on the great cause, 162; views of the
originators of the anti-slavery cause, 163;
London anti-slavery conference, 164;
design of the exposition of facts, 165.
Annuals, the, for 1841, 704; light litera-
ture, ib.; Fisher's drawing-room scrap-
book, 705; Katharine Airlie, ib.; Nef-
tah in the Jereed, 707; Juvenile Scrap-
Book, 708; the Pilgrim's Rest, ib.; the
Forget Me Not, 709; the First-Born,
ib.; Willis's Letters from under a Bridge
and Poems, 711; the Noble Boy, 712;
the Parlour Table-Book, 713.
Anti-slavery Convention, proceedings of,
227; origin of the British and Foreign
Anti-Slavery Society, ib.; proceedings
leading to the Convention, ib.; interest
excited on the subject, 228; character
of the first meeting, extract, 229; ad-
dress of Henry Beckford, 231; proceed-
ings in reference to American slavery,
ib.; religious fellowship with slaveholders,
extract, 233; slavery in connexion with
France, 236; Cuba, ib.; Mohammedan
slavery, extract,ib.; Texas, extract, 237
free and slave produce, extract, 238;
rapid progress of the improvement of

VOL. VIII.

;

emancipated negroes, extract, 240;
commendation of Baptist missionaries,
241; slave-trade supported by British
capital, 242; general character of the
convention, 245; lines from Whittier,264.
Ballot, the, 713; working of the Munici-
pal Corporation Act, ib.; qualifications
of electors, 715; system of registration,
717; scenes at a municipal election, 722;
mode of voting, 723; importance of the
ballot, 724.

Bennett, Rev. Dr. J., Justification as re-
vealed in Scripture, 312; rise of the
controversy on justification, ib.; results
of its being misunderstood, 313; its
condemnation by Rome, 314; move-
ments at Oxford, ib.; the author's cha-
racter as a writer, 315; analysis of the
volume, 317, et seq.; errors of Mr. New-
man's book, extract, 318; covenanted
mercy, 321; sacramental superstitions,
323; influence of the Oxford move-
ment on evangelical religion, 324; duty
of the clergy, 326.

Bible, Illustrated Commentary on, 599.
Binney, Rev. T., Righteousness exalteth a

nation, see Church of England contro-
versy.

Boddington, Mrs., Poems, 334; recent
death of the author, ib.; character of the
volume, 335; solitude of the wilds,
336; Pisa, ib.; character of the author's
poetry, 337.

Bull, Dr. T. the maternal management of
children, 600.
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