cular Letter to his Clergy on the subject of these Meetings, in which his Lordship says:

"To give success and permanence to such Meetings, we should provide business to occupy and interest those, who may be disposed to meet for friendly and professional communication. In these momentous times, if no other employment for these occasions were proposed, but PRAYERS for the Unity of the Church, for Nutional Reformation, and for our own success in the Ministry of the Gospel, the Meetings could not be said to be without interesting occupation. But with this duty might be connected other suitable and useful employments, such as reading and explaining some portion of the Scriptures ;-taking Minutes of the Distribution of Pamphlets distributed by the Society; reporting the local wants of particular Parishes ;—the progress of Sunday education, &c. A Book might be provided for each Deanery for the purpose of entering the minutes of the Meetings. The course of business might be prefixed under some such heads as follow: 1. Prayers to begin and end the Meeting.

2. Reading a chapter in the New Testament.

3. Reading literary contributions, such as corrections and explanations of the common version of the New Testament, selected from Hammond, Whitby, Doddridge, Pearce, Bowyer, &c.

4. Entering Minutes of the distribution of Tracts, &c.

5. Minutes of Books and Tracts wanted for distribution.

6. Minutes of hindrances to the Ministry.

7. Minutes of hints for forwarding the success of the Ministry:

8. Allot portions of Scripture to different Members for selection. (See No, 3.) 9. Allot Tracts for translation into Welsh.

A very great advantage derivable from these Meetings would be the opportunities which they will afford to young Clergymen, of profiting by the experience, conversation, and advice of their elder brethren. It would add to the usefulness of the Meetings, if, by a small monthly contribution, or otherwise, one or two monthly literary and religious publications were to be taken in for the convenience of the Members.

I am, Rev. Sir,

Your affectionate friend and brother,

T. ST. DAVID'S.

Then follows an account of the rules of the Ultra-Ayron Clerical Society; amongst which are,

"That the object of our Society, or the purpose for which we meet, be to edify one another, and to promote the success of our ministry by friendly and professional communications.

“That every Member of our Society, whether he be a house-keeper or a lodger, has or will endeavour to have family prayer at home.

"That every Member of our Society has or will endeavour to have a Sundayschool in his parish or parishes.

"That every Meniber does most faithfully observe the 75th Canon of our Church.*

* We insert here the 75th Canon of the English Church, for the convenience of our readers: it is contained in the 42d Canon of the Church of Ireland :"No ecclesiastical persons shall at any time, other than for their honest necessities, so much as resort to any taverns or ale-houses; neither shall they bourd

"That brotherly admonition be administered and received in the spirit of love, without giving or taking offence.

"At every Meeting a subject, a text of Scripture, or some useful question in Theology, is proposed to be considered and discussed at our next meeting: and every Member is expected to bring an essay, or at least come prepared to speak on the subject to be discussed."

Then follows this prayer, for the success of Religious Socie

ties:

"O Almighty God, who, by thy Holy Prophet hast assured us, that the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea and by thy Son Jesus Christ, hast taught us, that the unity of his disciples should be both a proof of their faith, and a means of establishing the truth of the Gospel; bless all religious Societies for promoting charity and union among all the disciples of Christ and especially among the Ministers of thy Holy Word; and for the instruction of the poor and ignorant in the knowledge of thy Gospel.

"O Lord, increase the number of these Societies, and grant them all to chuse the best and most inoffensive means of accomplishing their pious and salutary ends; and so direct them with thy Holy Spirit, that they may take no other interest or satisfaction in the pursuit of their endeavours, than so far as they may conduce to thy glory, to the good of their neighbours, and their own salvation. Perfect holiness more and more in the hearts of all their members; and unite them to one another in thy truth, and in the bond of love; and make them ever zealous of all good works according to the command and example of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, for whose sake we beseech thee to hear us," Amen.

Your readers, I doubt not, will join me in heartily wishing, that the state of every Diocese throughout the empire admitted of the whole of his Lordship's plan being put into execution.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE CHRISTIAN EXAMINER.

SIR, I send you the following passage from Dr. Calamy's Life of the Rev. John Howe: your readers will find it at p. 35, 36, of the edition printed in London, by Sam. Chandler, 1724. It appears to be interesting and suitable to the present periodalthough the observations on the Apocalyptic Churches may not perhaps be agreed to by all your readers.

J. C.

"It so fell out that Dr. More being at a Lecture at St. Laurence's, sat in the same seat with Dr. Sharp, who was afterwards Archbishop of York, who when sermon was over, asked him where he intended that day to dine: he told him he had

or lodge in any such places. Furthermore, they shall not give themselves to any base or servile labour, or to drinking or riot, spending their time idly by day or by night; nor shall they give themselves to playing at dice, cards or tables, or any other game unbeseeming their function; but at all times convenient, they shall hear or read somewhat of the Holy Scriptures, or shall occupy themselves with some other honest study or exercise, always doing the things which shall appertain to honesty, and endeavouring to profit the Church of God, having always in mind that they ought to excel others in purity of life, and should be examples to the people to live well and Christianly, under pain of ecclesiastical censures to be inflicted with severity according to the quality of their offences."-EDIT.

promised to dine that day with Mr. Howe, whom he saw there present in another pew. Dr. Sharp invited himself to dine there too; and the company of two such persons was highly pleasing to Mr. Howe, who was in his element when in the company of men of letters. After dinner, among other things that were freely discoursed of, they at length came to talk of the Revelation of St. John, which was one of the doctor's most common and favourite subjects. The doctor who was very fond of the notion that the epistles to the seven Asian churches, which we meet with in that book, were prophetical, said, and repeated it over and over again, that he thought he had very good evidence to prove that we were now in the Sardian state; with which Mr. Howe was not displeased, though Dr. Sharp seemed not much to relish it, thinking it no great compliment on the present ecclesiastical constitution. Being informed of this conversation, I took the pains to turn to Dr. More's works, to see what account he gives of the Sardian church; and I find in him these words, when he is giving a particular description of it: Tho' the Sardian church be well rid of the foul idolatries, and gross trumperies of the Papal church, yet her state as yet is but carnal. It is not the dispensation of the Spirit of Life, but the main stir is about external opinion and ceremony.* And he adds a little after: As mischievous a mark as uny, of her carnality, is her dissension and schismaticalness, even to mutual persecution; as also the unnatural and unchristian wars of one part of reformed Christendom against the other. So that Mr. Howe was not singular in his sentiments, in firmly expecting that a much more flourishing state of religion would in time take place, than that which was brought in by the Act of Uniformity, in which so many were for acquiescing, without advancing so much as a step farther, for fear of I know not what ill consequences that might ensue. But as to him, he had a large soul, and could not bear the thoughts of being cramped or pinioned. He was for the union and communion of all visible Christians; and for making nothing necessary to Christian communion, but what Christ hath made necessary, or what is indeed necessary to one's being a Christian. And he was convinced that such a union must be effected, not by mere human endeavour but by an Almighty Spirit poured forth which (says he) after we have suffered awhile, shall karaprioaι, put us into joint, and make every joint know its place in the body, 1 Pet. v. 10. shall conquer private interests and inclinations, and overawe men's hearts, by the authority of the divine law, which now, how express soever it is, little availeth against such prepossessions, Till then, he says, Christianity will be among us a languishing withering thing. When the season comes of such an effusion of the Spirit from on high there will be no parties. And amidst the wilderness desolation, that cannot but be till that season comes, it matters little, and signifies to me (says he) scarce one straw what party of us is uppermost. The most righteous as they may be vogued, will be but as briars and scratching thorns; and it is better to suffer by such, than be of them.†

*See Dr. More's Prophetical Exposition of the Seven Epistles, sent to the Seven Churches, chap. 7.

† See Mr. Howe's funeral sermon for Mr. Mede, Ducd. p. 54, 55, 56.

50

MISCELLANEOUS COMMUNICATIONS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE CHRISTIAN EXAMINER. LIST OF BOOKS ON THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CONTROVERSY. (Continued from our last Number.)

In a former Number of the EXAMINER, the most important books on the Roman Catholic side have been mentioned; in addition to them we shall now name

* Abridgment of the Christian Doctrine :-Coyne, 8d. This is a Catechism published by approbation, and we believe, it is the book referred to by Dr. Doyle-it has the Second Commandment, but considerably weakened in its force by explanation. A new edition is now preparing under the revision, we are informed, of Dr. Doyle.-Butler's Catechism and the two Abridgments have not the Second

Commandment.

1 vol. 8vo. 8s. making part of

• Catholic Principles or a Catechism for adults, By Hornihold. It has the apapprobation of Dr. Troy, Dr. Murray, and others. C. Butler praises it highly,- Hornihold may be called the Bossuet of England. It has the Second Commandment; but as in the former book, the first, whilst in all, the 10th is divided into two. • Ritual-or, Ordo Adminis. Sacram et alia officia, &c. Coyne, 2s. 6d. This is an extract from the Roman Ritual, it gives the form of absolution and the ceremony of Baptism, &c.

* Directorium-seu Ordinam Divin. Office. Appointed by Dr. Murray; it is a Calendar for all the Masses to be read in Ireland, 8vo.-at the end it gives a full account of the several indulgences that prevail in Ireland, &c.-1s. 6d. Coyne. It is absolutely necessary in stating Roman Catholic doctrines to give them precisely from their own authorised works. Roman Catholics often complain of being misrepresented.

It would be easy to enlarge this list. a first sketch.

We present it merely as

We shall now give a detail of works important on the Protestant side of the controversy. It is not, perhaps, needful to remark, that the great sources of information on the subject of this controversy are the Sacred Scriptures, Ecclesiastical History, and the Writings of the Fathers. With those sources the student cannot be too minutely acquainted, especially with the first two. A collection of texts from the Word of God should be made under the several heads of controversy, and kept ready for use. We shall mention a few books that will give considerable aid in forming this collection.

* Popery not founded on Scripture; or, the texts which R. C. cite from Scripture in support of their doctrines; 1 vol. 4to. an old work, scarce. It consists of a series of valuable tracts on the most important points of the controversy.

** A collection of texts of Scripture with notes against the principal Popish errors; being a summary of the doctrines of the Church of Rome. A small and exceedingly valuable book. It is an old work- the subjects of controversy are selected from the Canons of Trent, Bellarmine, and other works of authority. Under each subject the texts of Scripture are arranged-the notes are ju

dicious. A new edition is now in the press by Curry; it is revised, corrected and improved. Every person desirous to have a ready reference to Scripture, at all times, should carry a copy of this book in his pocket. A new edition has lately been published by Tims.

**Touchstone of Truth: a collection of texts against the chief errors of Rome. 1s. A valuable little book.

* Warden's System of Revealed Religion: an extremely valuable Commonplace book to the Scriptures-giving the passages arranged under all points of doctrine. It is the best work on the subject.-2 vols. 8vo. 21s.

* Strutt's Common-place book to the Bible; 1 vol. 8vo. 12s.-A very valuable book; but inferior to Warden. No clergyman should be without a Common-place book-it is not perhaps needful to say he should not be without Cruden's, or some other good Concordance.

CANON OF SCRIPTURE.-The following Works on this subject are important.

** Cosin, Bishop of Durham's Scholastic History of the Canon of Scriptureconcerning the Apocrypha.-1 vol. 4to. scarce.

**Gray's Key to the Old Testament—this treats also on the Apocrypha.-1 vol. 8vo.

** Craig's Refutation of Popery; 2 vols. 8vo. This is a very valuable work—it treats ably on the topics, Supremacy, Infallibility, &c. It is mentioned here in reference to the Canon.

Blair's Canon of Scripture- this is referred to by Buck. Theol. Dict.

* Jones on the Canon; 3 vols. 8vo. A valuable work on the New Testament. Dupin on the Canon of Scripture, and Prideaux's Connexions.

Michaeli's Lectures on the New Testament—an important work.

** Jacksons two main Questions-the two questions are the Rule of Faith, and the Authority of the Church--a valuable work.-1 vol. 8vo. 9s.

* The incurable scepticism of the Church of Rome concerning the Rule of Faith. 1 vol.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.-this ranks next in importance to Scripture, for the purpose of controversy.

The history of the period, within which the four first Councils were held, should be well known. The reader will soon see that the errors which distinguish Roman Theology, have been long since that period added to their creed.

**Wake's genuine Epistles of the Apostolic Fathers; 1 vol. 8vo. 12s.

* Cave's Primitive Christianity; 1 vol. 8vo. scarce.

Primitive Church, by Sir P. King: 1 vol. 8vo. scarce.

Original draught of the Primitive Church, by a Presbyter of the Church of England. A reply to King; 1 vol. 8vo. scarce.

* Eusebius's Eccles. History; 1 vol. folio, scarce.

* Bull's Primitive Christianity; 3 vols. 8vo. 30s. 1816.

Cotelerius's Apostolic Fathers; 2 vols. folio, scarce.

The works of the other Fathers, both Greek and Latin, are of importance they are too numerous to mention.

* Daille, on the right use of the Fathers; 1 vol. 12mo. scarce.

Reeves's Apologies of the Fathers; 2 vols. 8vo.-Reeves treats like Daillè on the right use of the Fathers.