Six Lectures on Protestantism, delivered before the North of London Auxiliary to the Church of England Young Men's Society, in October, November, and December, 1851. With an Introduction by the Rev. W. W. CHAMPNEYS, M.A., Canon of St. Paul's Cathedral, and Rector of Whitechapel, London. London: John Farquhar Shaw, 27, Southampton-row, Russell-square, 1852. Pages, 8vo., 196.

THE Circumstances of so many pious and learned men, both amongst the clergy and laity, devoting so large a space of time to improving the tone of feeling and raising the standard of information both amongst the lower and middle grades of society, is one token, amidst many we can discern, that God has yet purposes of great mercy to us as a Protestant Christian nation.

The time was, when instruction through the medium of lectures was rare. Gradually the mysteries of science began to be unfolded orally to assemblies by learned men.

But it is only during the last few years that this pleasing and interesting mode of conveying intelligence has been properly appreciated, and now there is scarcely a subject connected with religion, morals, or science that is not brought before young people of each sex, and amongst all ranks by men of mind and learning. In most instances the lecturers devote their time and talents gratuitously for the benefit of their fellow-men.

The volume before us contains a great mass of useful information upon subjects of great interest to the rising generation.

We hail it not only in this point of view, but as an indication that the pastors of our Church are increasingly alive to the great questions at issue between the Protestant and the Roman Catholic.

The points brought forward are deeply important, and much study is

necessary ere a man can appear before an audience fully prepared to prove every statement.

There is evidence of much prayerful study and diligent attention to the subjects of these lectures. How true, how spirit-stirring the following lines at page 25, in the Lecture on Protestantism the Basis of National Prosperity, by Rev. H. Hughes" What elements of greatness there are in these three principles, Liberty, Order, Truth! And these are the principles of Protestantism, the principles of our common, our beloved faith."

In opening up the subject of Romish traditions contrasted with the truths of the Bible, the Rev. W. Cadman quotes Dr. Newman's language, at page 38, "No conclusion is trustworthy which has not been tried by an enemy as well as a friend." No tradition has a claim upon us which shrinks from criticism, and dare not look a rival in the face. "Now proceeding," says the Rev. Lecturer, "on this principle, if we look at the Romish traditions in the face, we shall be led, I think, to reject them as making void the Word of God; because, on contrasting them with the truths of the Bible, we shall find that there is presented to us the contrast between uncertainty and assurance, between complexity and simplicity, and between puerilities and realities."

In the commencement of his lecture on "The liberty enjoyed by Protestants contrasted with the slavery of Romanism," the Hon. and Rev. M. Villiers says, page 54, "At one time I thought that the duty of the Protestant minister was simply to declare the truth, to preach the Gospel, and leave the Gospel to do its own work; experience and the change of circumstances in the last few years, have compelled me to own that we have still a further duty to perform; that it becomes our duty from time to time, not only to preach the Gospel in all its simplicity, proclaiming the

truth in its fulness, but it is also necessary to point out the errors of Romanism."

Mr. Villiers shows in an able manner, page 65, that Romanism is tyrannical, Ecclesiastically, Civilly, Intellectually, and Morally."

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The following passage, at page 109, merits notice in the lecture on "The Doctrines and Practices of the Church of Rome, accommodating the truths of Christianity to the desires and feelings of the natural heart," by Rev. T. Nolan.

"What the natural man wants is present ease against the attacks of conscience about his soul's future welfare. This can only be attained by some pretended authority from God, to transfer to his priests the care of his salvation.

"Rome supplies him with this in the mystified authority of the Church. The man is a willing accomplice against himself; and Rome, taking advantage of the illusion, moulds him to her purpose.”

The "Lecture on au Aggressive Protestantism the best Safeguard against Romish Encroachment," by Rev. E. Garbett, abounds in striking argument, and a quotation or two may serve to encourage those who would be inclined to despond. Speaking of the efforts of the Church of Rome against our own beloved Church Mr. Garbett says, at page 143 :-" It is against her that Rome now directs all that mingled force and craft which she knows too well how to wield; concentrating as it were, strength from all other parties against this one point of attack. From within by Jesuit emissaries, she has endeavoured to corrupt her doctrine, and to destroy the very essentials of her strength. Happily she has not succeeded; she has withered, indeed, a bough here and there; she has fixed upon a rotten branch, or on some feeble twig the excrescences of her own poison. But the heart of the goodly tree remains sound and true, and the roots twined deep round the Word of God still diffuse the pure sap of truth throughout her frame with more vigour than ever. From without she assails her with an un

wearied proselytism well worthy of our imitation."

Page 153, "Every man that lives has his sphere and talent, and with that sphere and talent every man that loves the truth, and especially all the young men of the Church of England ought to be the aggressors in this holy war. Not in a spirit of mere partisanship; not with a negative Protestantism, by which I mean Protestantism which protests against error, and yet does not savingly accept the truth; but in a spirit of deep religious devotion, and the zeal of a self-denying love."

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The facts detailed in the last lecture by the Rev. A. R. C. Dallas, on the present position of Popery and Protestantism in Ireland, are of thrilling interest; we cannot but commend them to the reader's attentive consideration. "Paul Cullen," says Mr. Dallas at page 176, "came to Ireland with the evident determination to prevent the people from being educated at all, and thus to crush altogether that germinating inquiry which had been planted in the minds of the Romanists."

We would strongly advise the managers of country and parochial libraries to place this volume on the book-shelf and promote its circulation.

Isabella Hamilton: a Tale of the Sixteenth Century. By the Author of "Aids to Development; "The Memorial of Two Sisters; "Gift at Confirmation," &c. London: John Farquhar Shaw, 27, Southampton-row, 1852. Pp. 95, 12mo. We introduce this truly touching narrative to the notice of our youthful readers, by transcribing a few lines from the preface, which informs us shortly respecting the object and subjects of the tale.

The tale of "Isabella Hamilton " was published many years since under a different title; though all the copies of it were sold in a few months, and it has been frequently inquired for since, the author has never consented to print a second edition.

The circumstances of the present day, in which the spirit of Archbishop Hamilton is revived, seemed to render

its republication now peculiarly appropriate.

"The heroine of this little volume, though partly a fictitious character, is a fair portrait of many who lived in those times of persecution, and hence the author has not scrupled in the course of the tale to use the very words of the writers and martyrs of those days, and to bring in both the hymns they sung, a sermon, and many passages from their conversations.'

Christian mothers will do well in placing this "tale" in the hands of their daughters. It may strikingly contrast with and form a useful antidote to the insipid works of a questionable tendency which too often are presented to the youthful reader.

Would that England's daughters were imbued with the stedfast faith and steady courage of Isabella Hamilton and her friend Janette Douglas!

The Pope's Supremacy, a thing of Priestcraft, alike unwarranted by Holy Scripture or Tradition; being a Compendious Refutation of the Arguments by which Modern Romanists attempt to support Papal Usurpation. By CHARLES HASTINGS COLLETTE, Author of "Romanism in England exposed," "Popish Infallibility." London: T. Bosworth, 215, Regent-street, 1852. Pp. 149, 8vo.

THERE appears to be much learning and sound scriptural argument in this publication. It purports, in part, to be a refutation of two pamphlets, written by a Fench Abbé, Abbé Miel, entitled, "The Pope and the Holy Scriptures," and "The Pope and the Primitive Church." Mr. Collette states, in his Preface, that "these two pamphlets are confessedly written for circulation among Protestants. In them we find collected together, as will be proved in the following chapters, an incoherent mass of perverted facts, scriptural texts, and patristic writings, mis-quoted and mis-interpreted.".

It may be objected, says Mr. Collette, that Abbé Miel is not such an authority in the Romish Church, that his writings should be taken as the basis of a particular refutation. In reply, I would observe, that "the pamphlets in

question are, as already stated, expressly written for circulation among Protestants. In a concise manner, and within a narrow compass, the Abbé develops the arguments, or rather the dogmatic assertions, of Bossuet and his follower Dr. Milner. He also borrows largely from De Maistre, all of whom derive their information from the celebrated Papal champion Bellarmine.

"These pamphlets, therefore, seem to afford a more satisfactory ground of argument than dealing in generalities; a course which Romanists might denounce as admitting of imaginary cases, framed for the purpose of being demolished.

"It can scarcely be denied, that the subject under discussion is to Romanists of the very greatest importance.

"All their advocates centre the whole sum and substance of Christianity in this, That on Peter Christ built his Church, and appointed him head of that Church, which pre-eminence the Roman Pontiff now holds as his successor, and reigns as Christ's Vicar on earth."

We have quoted these passages from the Preface to show the object of the work, and we would remark, that, not only will the correspondence between the Abbé and Mr. Collette be found highly interesting and important, but we think the subject is treated in a superior manner, and the information and extracts from the fathers and early writers will be found most valuable.

The Church of Rome: her Present

Moral Theology, Scriptural Instruction, and Canon Law. A Report on "The Books and Documents of the Papacy," deposited in the University Library, Cambridge, the Bodleian Library, Oxford, and the Library of Trinity College, Dublin, A. D., 1840. "And upon her fore

head was a name written MysTERY," (Rev. xvii. 5.) Partridge and Oakey.

To those who have followed the Rev. R. J. M'Ghee in his researches into Popish documents, and in the results of his Investigations, which he has brought before so many public meet