and the churchman generally. It contains, as an appendix, a most useful list of works on the constitution of the church, establishments, &c. &c.

A Sketch of the Church of the First Two Centuries after Christ, drawn from the Writings of the Fathers, down to Clemens Alexandrinus, inclusive, in a Course of Sermons before the University of Cambridge. By the Rev. J. J. Blunt. Cambridge: Deighton. 1836.

MR. BLUNT has given us, in this useful volume, the fruits of his own study of the writings of the fathers of the two first centuries, and has shewn the hints which may be collected from them to explain the nature of the ministry, the discipline, and unity, the form of worship, and the doctrines, of the primitive church. Instead of giving any reason to suppose, as latitudinarians wish to assert now, that there was little form or rule, we learn, from these writings, that there is every proof that there was strict form and rule, and that our own church adheres very closely to it. Nothing is more satisfactory than independent testimony to the same point; and they who find that Mr. Blunt, with his wonted accuracy and industry, draws the same conclusions from the same passages as Bingham or others have done, but from his own study of them, will feel fortified and supported in their own adherence to a church which follows the apostolical model. The arrangement, too, of Mr. Blunt's work is very convenient for argument's sake, and the student will find it of much service to him in that way.

There is but one point for anything which is not perfectly the language of eulogy as to Mr. Blunt, and that is, his style. In all material respects, a mind of as solid and substantial a mould as his, fed with the wholesome food which he gives it, must improve every year. But his style, which was at one time most agreeable, is far from being so much so now. He seems to aim at peculiarity of idiom and short inharmonious sentences. There is no doubt that an odd style will catch attention most, but it will not retain it. The writers who retain attention, and to whom we recur for ever, are those who have no signposts stuck up to gain attention-no awkward styles to get over to remind us that we are walking, and not flying-but who let us go smoothly and gently on, exciting no attention till we find how agreeably we have finished our journey.

An Essay on the Spirit and Influence of the Reformation of Luther. By Charles Villers, Esq. (? Would not a French gentleman be rather surprised at this title?) Translated by James Mill, Esq., and abridged by the Rev. W. Marsh, of Birmingham. London: Holdsworth. 1836. 12mo.

THIS is a translation of the well-known prize essay on the Reformation, read by M. Villers before the French Institute, in 1802, which has gained more credit than it deserved. Still it is worth reading; and, as it refers only directly to the political consequences of the Reformation, and its effect on the progress of knowledge, and not to religious

matters, any shallowness of view in it is of the less consequence. Such shallowness there unquestionably is, in the second department especially, where, very frequently, all sorts of nonsense, as to protestantism and its effects, are talked; for example, in p. 173, where we are told, from Greiling, "that it is the repulsive power with which reason is endowed to throw off or remove anything which would occupy its place !" its place!" The author's ignorance as to England is curious, See p. 120. But the most remarkable point which strikes one is the entire ignorance of Luther's own character, which is shewn in this and every work which appears concerning him. Dr. Isaac Milner is the only English writer who has done anything; and he has left, not from his own fault, but from want of access to materials, at least half to be done. Nothing but a very long, patient, and laborious study of Luther's voluminous writings will do justice to the inquiry, which is one of no small importance-certainly of no small interest.

Mr. Marsh's notes are not always, if he will permit the reviewer to say so, of great value. A curious specimen of the way in which men speak of books which, in all probability, they never read, occurs in p. 193, where M. Villers pronounces, ex cathedra, that Kant's incontrovertible principles and conclusions will for ever remain as the cardinal points of thought, as brilliant pharoses in the obscurity of metaphysical inquiries! And Mr. Marsh corrects this by saying that Kant's philosophy is not founded on induction, nor drawn from experiment, and that it will not bear a strict analysis, but that it is ingenious! Kant, pronounced by his admirer to be as luminous as a pharos! and by his non-admirer admitted to be ingenious!

The Divine Glory manifested in the Conduct and Discourse of our Lord. (The Bampton Lectures for 1836.) By the Rev. C. A. Ogilvie, (late Fellow of Balliol,) and Chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury. Oxford: Parker. 1836. 8vo.

MR. OGILVIE tells us (p. 7) his design, which is, to draw from the evangelical history some of the leading illustrations and instances, which it has been providentially appointed to preserve, of the great mystery of godliness-God manifest in the flesh; to apply to practice the Christian doctrine on the union of the divine and human natures in our Lord, by bringing into notice some of the principal facts, events, and circumstances of the four gospels, in which that great doctrine is assumed, and, so to speak, exhibited in action. Of the importance and interest of this subject it is not easy to speak too highly. As Mr. Ogilvie observes, it is by the union of those natures in our Lord that God's attributes of justice and benevolence, which most nearly concern us, as subjects of his moral government, are made distinctly intelligible, and shewn to be exercised on principles in accordance with our apprehensions and sentiments; while his attributes of power, knowledge, and purity, are so benignantly accommodated to our feelings as to encourage our reliance on them, and our hope of being benefited by them. In this view, the gospels have been too little thought of, much as they have been examined in every other. Again, such an examination of

them will instruct us to look rightly to our Lord as an exemplar-as one in whom the imitable attributes of God are displayed and brought down to our perceptions, by their union with the sinless but sympathizing nature of man. We learn, through him, what is that perfection in which we are to become like our heavenly Father, and that his human virtues will not have their due influence on us till we behold them in their just relation to the Godhead.

Such is an outline of the object proposed. It is only bare justice to say, that it is pursued in a manner perfectly worthy of it. The use made of our Lord's parables especially, and the sound and judicious view taken of their intention and of the proper way of interpreting them, shew how well qualified Mr. Ogilvie was and is to be placed in the teacher's chair. There is a calm wisdom, a Christian feeling, and a deep piety about these lectures, which recal the style of feeling and thinking in the best days of the early church, and widely distinguish the writer from the fashionable and sentimental religious authors of the present day. The book, it should be mentioned, is both meant and adapted for general use; while the notes are more especially directed to the scholar, and will lead the student, it may be confidently hoped, by a judicious selection of extracts, to feel a deep interest in studying the fathers.

Esther of Engaddi: a Tragedy, translated from the Italian of " Silvio Pellico." London: Whittaker, Treacher, and Co.

THIS translation does great honour to the translator's taste and powers of language, as the conception and feelings do to the author. The tragedy was written in the prisons of Venice.

THE third of Mr. Hatchard's Masterpieces of English Literature contains "Locke's Treatise on Education," with a very respectable engraving of Locke. Mr. St. John's preface is of the same order as that to Milton-common kind of declamation about a priest-ridden rabble and the ignorance of monks and clergy in the middle ages, &c., &c. If Mr. St. John would read some of those clergy's writings, he would perhaps find that he must write differently. To mention two men, who lived all their lives in the world and in troublesome employments, Peter of Blois, and John of Salisbury, Mr. S. would find that no one in the present day has a wider or more complete command of every Roman author's prose and verse than Peter of Blois; and that John of Salisbury was perpetually engaged in reflecting on the Greek systems of philosophy, as he found them in Cicero. To do Mr. S. justice, however, he has read "Augustine's Confessions," and seems to have enjoyed it. He has some taste for literature. Why, instead of writing idle declamations, does he not study that curious and most unknown subject, the actual state and mode of education during the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth centuries?

The Events of last month noticed a most interesting ceremony at Colchester, the laying the first stone of a new church in the parish of St. Botolph's, which has so long wanted it, and which must be

known to so many antiquaries by the very interesting ruins of the early church which still exists. On that occasion, the Rev. J. Anderson, of Brighton, preached a sermon, which is thus recommended to general notice.

An excellent Ordination Sermon, preached at Oxford, by the Rev. F. Oakely, of Balliol, must not be passed without especial notice.

The first vol. of Winkles' English Cathedrals (Tilt, Fleet-street,) is finished. The supplement, which completes it, contains ground plans of the seven cathedrals described, a scale and measurements, with plans of the groinings.

Farther examination of the beautiful volume published by Mr. Murray, Laborde's Travels in Arabia Petræa, has fully confirmed the high sense expressed in the last number of its merits. Another volume, of great beauty and interest, Mr. Wordsworth's Athens and Attica, has just been published by Mr. Murray.

Mr. Churton's excellent Reply to the Edinburgh Reviewer of the Oxford Malignants should be read by everybody.

MISCELLANEA.

MILL HILL ACADEMY.

THERE is a most curious account of the annual exhibition at the dissenting Academy at Mill Hill. One part of it was a representation of a debate in Parliament; the subject, the expulsion of the bishops from Parliament. This is to teach the ingenuous youth of the sectarian blood to be kind in their feelings and unprejudiced in their views! Then we have all read the thousand diatribes of the dissenters against plays. In consistency with them, we find that they exhibited a scene from Shakspeare, and then a scene from the new and over-be-praised tragedy of Ion, written by Mr. Sergeant Talfourd, whom the "Record" asserts to be a democrat and a unitarian.

The Caffre Chief, who was the great lion at this great academy's exhibition, must have been highly edified.

CHURCHES BUILT OR REBUILT.

CHICKLADE church, Wilts, wholly rebuilt. Rev. John Still, rector.

New church at East Cowes, in the parish of Shiffingham, Isle of Wight. Hon. and Rev. F. P. Bouverie, rector.

New church at Catchem's Corner, Sedgley, Staffordshire. Rev. C. Girdle

stone.

New church at Speen, or Speenhamland, Berks.

New church at Warminster, Wilts. Rev. Wm. Dalby, vicar.

Church wholly rebuilt at Holdenhurst, in the parish of Christchurch, Hants. Rev. Wm. Burrow, vicar.

Church at Ipswich, built at the sole expense of the Rev. I. T. Nottidge, of St. Clement's, Ipswich.

New church at Weymouth, by the Rev. G. Chamberlain.
New church at Fleet, near Weymouth, by the Rev.

Gould.

VOL. X.—July, 1836.

(Continued from Vol. ix. p. 556.) No. 6.

There are Fifteen Non-residentiary Prebendaries, who receive each an annual Stipend of £20.

↑ In addition to this fixed Stipend, there are Allowances called Adoptions given in different portions to each Canon, according to seniority.