of power, from following the example of the most arrogant of his predecessors. One of the conditions on which he offers to the whole Roman Catholic world the "full forgiveness of all their sins," in the year 1826, is, that they will pray, " Ibique pro Sanctæ Matris Ecclesiæ exaltatione, hæresium extirpatione:"For the exaltation of Holy Mother Church, and the extirpation of here sies.' What that is which the Church of Rome denominates heresy, and the means which she deems herself authorized to employ for its extirpation, are no secrets. They are recorded in the bloody annals of the Inquisition, and in the revolting history of every country where Popery has been dominant, and scriptural Christianity has been revived. SELECT LIST OF BOOKS RECENTLY PUBLISHED, CHIEFLY RELIGIOUS. With occasional Characteristic Notices. [The insertion of any article in this List is not to be considered as pledging us to the approba tion of its contents, unless it be accompanied by some express notice of our lavourable opinion. Nor is the omission of any such notice to be regarded as indicating a contrary opinion; as our limits, and other reasons, impose on us the necessity of selection and brevity.] The Ecclesiastical History of the Second and Third Centuries. Illustrated from the Writings of Tertullian. By John, Bishop of Bristol, Master of Christ's College, and Regius Professor of Divinity in the University of Cambridge. 8vo. pp. 591.-Tertullian flourished towards the conclusion of the second and the beginning of the third century of the Christian era. He was a man of a rugged and severe temper, and in the latter years of his life seceded from the church, and became a zealous follower of Montanus. His numerous writings are didactic, hortatory, aud controversial; and while they display the strictuess of his principles, and the peculiarity of his character, throw considerable light upon the state of the Christian church at that early period. In the volume before us, the few facts relating to his personal history, which have beeu handed down by ancient and authentic writers, are stated and scrutinized; his works are ably analyzed, and the information which they furnish concerning the doctrines, ceremonies, and government of the church, is specified in detail; as well as the heresies and divisions which then prevailed among the professed followers of Christ. The volume is drawn up by the learned Prelate with great care, and will be read with considerable interest and advantage by the student of ecclesiastical history. It corrects some of the mistakes of Mosheim, and supplies his defic.encies, In Tertullian's day, Christianity was considerably injured by the admixture of Pagan philosophy with its sacred truths; and yet, at that period, the church was happily free from most of those pernicious peculiarities by which the Church of Rome has been subsequenly distinguished. The Philosophy of Religion; or, An Illustration of the Moral Laws of the Universe. By Thomas Dick, Author of the Christian Philosopher, &c. 12mo. pp. 638.-In this very spirited volume, there is much to admire and applaud; and there is also something cousiderable to blame. The author does not profess to deduce the principles of religion from the facts and speculations of philosophy, but from the declarations of Scripture, to which he avows the most complete de ference. He considers religion to consist in two principles,-love to God, and love to all mankind, with their correspondent fruits; and his philo sophy is brought in to show that our obligations to cherish and exercise these principles arise from the character of God, and the relation in which we staud to him and to one another; and that the tendency of these prin cip.es is, to promote the happiness hoth of society and individuals,-aud that the opposite principles, by which mankind have been characterized in all ages, uecessarily produce wretchedness and misery. His illustrations are very copious, and embody a considerable mass of philosophical and historical information, expressed in language at once forcible and elegant. In contrasting the actual conduct of men in all ages, with the requirements of the divine law, Mr. Dick has furnished an awful demonstration of the depravity of human nature. The great defect in his volume is, that it does not render sufficiently prominent the guilt in which the malignant affections of the human heart involve mankind, and the consequent necessity of pardoning mercy, through a divine atonement; and that it does not show by what means those malignant affections may be counteracted, and the heart become the seat of holy love. The subject of divine grace is only incidentally introduced; and the impression which is left on the mind of the reader is, that this mighty change in our nature is to be effected by the influence of rational motives and reflections. Whereas, according to the inspired records, "love is of God;" (1 John iv. 7;) it is a "fruit of his Spirit;" (Gal. v. 22;) it" is shed abroad in the hearts" of believers "by the Holy Ghost which is given unto them;" (Rom. v. 5;) and when it is communicated, by the Divine Spirit, he renews the heart by his gracious power. (Deut. xxx. 6.) Mr. Dick is greatly enamoured with natural science, and centures Christian Ministers for not introducing more fre quently in their public discourses an account of the magnitude aud variety of the works of God. In detailing therefore the obligations under which men are laid to love God with all their hearts, he expatiates the most largely upon the divine goodness as displayed in creation aud providence. Whether Mr. Dick is himself a Minister, we know not; but we can state, as the result of our own experience and observation, that if he thinks the demon of malignity can be expelled from the human heart by arguments deduced from such topics, or by any other means than that of the direct agency of the Holy Ghost, he will find himself greatly disappointed. To every mere reasoner upon the beauties of creation, and the munificence of providence, however scientific and eloquent, the fiend will say, in a tone of sarcastic defiance, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who art thou ? " We do not mean to say, that Mr. Dick either denies, or has overlooked, the doctrine of atonement and of divine influence: for he avows his belief of the former, and occasionally adverts to the latter; but we do declare it to be our full conviction, that unless Christian Ministers and prac tical writers give a greater prominence to these blessed truths, thau Mr. Dick has done in the volume before us, they will fail in their endeavours to counteract "the carual mind, which is enmity against God," and to supersede it by the love of God, and of all mankind for his sake. On some other points we also differ from the excellent author, particularly in regard to what he has advanced respecting the future misery of the wicked. In describing that misery, he does not advert to any positive inflic tion of punishment by the justice of God; but describes it as consisting in the dominion of malignant affections; and, as we think, with singular inconsistency, he remarks, that the duration of that misery must be determined by its influence upon the temper of lost souls. He intimates, that if it should produce in them repentance and reformation, that is, if it should humble them, and produce in them the principles of divine love, they will be elevated to future blessedness; but that, if they continue the enemies of God, and of one another, their misery will be commensurate with their existence. To imagine that the misery arising from the direct influence of malignaut tempers, will inspire the heart with holy benevolence, we think, is as contrary to sound "philosophy," as it is to experience and to divine revelation. Nothing but the energy of the Holy Ghost can produce in the heart that love which is the end of the commandment," and which forms the only qualification for heaven. The question, therefore, respecting the duration of future misery is, Are those who have died in their sins finally abandoned by God to their own depravity and wretchedness; or are they still in a state of probation, and therefore visited with the gracious influence of the Holy Spirit, in order to their conversion and salvation? In favour of the latter theory, the Scriptures maintain an absolute silence; but on the subject of the endless punishment of the damned, their language is awfully decisive. Notwithstanding these defects, and some others of minor importance, this volume will be read with superior advantage by those persons whose minds are established in the knowledge and belief of divine truth; but, like most other publications in which the doc trines of revelation are mixed up with philosophy, to novices in theology, in many instances at least, its effects will not be altogether salutary. In describing the general character of mankind, and in charging them with the want of benevolent affections, the author has certainly not done justice to evangelical Christians of either the present or any former age; and in his sweeping censures upon nearly all 332 classes of men, we fear he has in some degree exemplified the fact which he is so anxious to establish,-that there is a lamentable want of true charity and benevolence in the earth. His reasonings on some subjects, however, are eminently just and forcible; and we intend, at a future opportunity, to gratify our readers by transferring to our own pages some valuable extracts from this volume, of which it would furnish a considerable number. Narrative of a Tour through Hawaii, or Owhyhee; with Remarks on the History, Traditions, Manners, Customs, and Language of the Sandwich Islands. By William Ellis, Missionary from the Society and Sandwich Islands. 8vo. pp. 442.-Hawaii is the largest of the Sandwich Islands, and has obtained considerable celebrity from the circumstance, that our distinguished navigator Captain Cook was murdered upon its shore by some of the infuriated natives. In the year 1823, Mr. Ellis, of the London Missionary Society, and two excellent Missionaries belonging to the American Board of Foreign Missions, made the tour of the island; and the volume before us contains the result of their united observations and inquiries. The manners and customs of the inhabitants, the general appearance of the island, its productions, and principal objects, both natural and artificial, are described in detail; and the volume contains a valuable body of information on these subjects, which will be read with avidity and lively emotion, both by the Christian philanthropist, and all who feel an interest in the history of human nature. Ellis's descriptions of the burning chasms at Ponahohoa, and of the extensive volcano at Kiranea, are particularly curious; and the facts he has recorded respecting the sanguinary wars which have been waged among the natives, their treatment of the vanquished, their horrible practice of infanticide, and former idolatries and superstitious rites, present an awful view of the depravity of human nature, and of the miseries of savage life. The system of idolatry, which had long been practised in Hawaii, and which was particularly cruel in its rites and impositions, was abolished by the natives themselves in the year 1819, from a conviction that their false deities could confer no benefit upon their worshippers; and in the following year it pleased the Almighty in his merciful providence to send a number of excellent Missionaries from America, to the Sandwich Islands, to bring the people Mr. to a knowledge of himself as " the only Mr. Ellis bespeaks the candour of We By The Moral Dignity of the Missionary Enterprise; a Sermon, delivered before the Boston Missionary Society, October 26th, and before the Salem Bible Trans. lation Society, Nov. 4th, 1824. F. Wayland, jun., Pastor of the First Baptist Church at Boston. Sixth Edition. With a Recommendatory Preface by R. Wardlaw, D.D., Glasgow. 8vo. pp. 46. This eminently beautiful and impressive sermon was inserted in the Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine for April and May, 1825, and will no doubt be acceptable to many of our readers in a separate form. Select Bible Anecdotes, Historical and Biographical, interspersed with Occasional Remarks. By George Betts. Two Volumes, 12mo. pp. 263, and 262. -These volumes contain a judicious and delightful selection of anecdotes, illustrative of the love which good men bear to the sacred volume, of the benefits arising from the devout perusal of it, and of the misery which is necessarily consequent upon rejecting its momentous truths. Every work which is designed to throw light upon the Holy Scriptures, or to stimulate men to read them, if respectably executed, is worthy of a cordial reception; and we trust Mr. Betts will receive due encouragement for the valuable service which he has rendered to maukind by this excellent publication. His work, however, would have been entitled to more extensive patronage, if he had given his authorities, and if greater attention had been paid to the typography of the second volume. A Catalogue of Books, in every department of Oriental Literature: Including the Philology, Religion, History, &c., of Eastern Nations: The Holy Scriptures in Hebrew, and in the various Oriental Versions; with Critical Introductions, Analyses, and Commentaries: Sacred History, Antiquities, Geography, Natural History, &c., and Jewish and Rabbinical Literature: Together with a Collection of Oriental Manuscripts. By Howell and Stewart, 296, Holborn, London.-The collection of works illus. trative of the Holy Scriptures, described in this Catalogue, is particularly rich and extensive; and the notices, descriptive of several of the articles, are selected from works of authority. The Catalogue itself will be found to be a useful book of reference to the biblical student. A Few Thoughts on the Abolition of Colonial Slavery. By Thomas Chalmers, D.D., Professor of Moral Philosophy in the University of St. Andrews. 8vo. pp. 16. On Cruelty to Animals: A Sermon Preached in Edinburgh on the 5th of March, 1826. By Thomas Chalmers, D.D., Professor of Moral Philosophy in the University of St. Andrews. pp. 40.— Almighty God has subjected brute creatures to the service of man; but when he abuses the authority with which he is invested, by subjecting them to unnecessary pain, he pursues a conduct which has an injurious effect upon the temper of his own mind, and which is certainly a crime of no ordinary magnitude in the sight of his Maker. In passing a law, therefore, to protect the animal creation from wanton cruelty, the British Parliament acted a part worthy of a Christian legislature; and the gentleman who brought forward that measure in the House of Commons, and has been so laudably active in enforcing its requisitions, will long be remembered by the benevolent and humane, with feelings of cordial respect. That such a subject would be treated with ridicule, is what every one must have anticipated who is acquainted with human nature in its present state. As the mild spirit of Christianity, however, prevails, the ferocious character of ran will be changed, and the inferio animals will share in his affectionate sympathies. An annual lecture on this branch of Christian morality has been instituted in Edinburgh by an excellent lady; and the discourse now before us was preached by its distinguished author as the commencement of a series on the same subject, to be delivered by a succession of Ministers in future years. A copious extract from this very powerful and eloquent sermon will be found in the miscellaneous department of this Magazine; and to that we refer our readers as a fair specimen of the whole. We trust that other Ministers, in different parts of the kingdom, will, not merely in a casual manner, but at stated times, and of set purpose, call the public attention to the same topic, and remind the human savage, whether vulgar or polite, scientific or ignorant, that the cattle upon a thousand hills" are all the property of "the Father of mercies," who "heareth the young ravens when they cry," and who will in due time "bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing." By this means, much misery will, in all probability, be prevented; and some thoughtless and daring minds may be arrested in that career of cruelty which not unfrequently terminates in capital offences. The Christian Hearer: designed to show the importance of Hearing the Word, and to assist Christians in Hearing with Profit. By the Rev. Edward Bickersteth, Assistant Minister of Wheler Chapel. 12mo. pp. 339.-Great praise is due to the excellent author of this volume, that, in the midst of pressing avocations arising out of his connexion with the Church Missionary Society, he finds time to write so many books on the different branches of practical religion, all of which are published in a cheap form, and calculated to be very useful. His publications contain not unfrequent reference to his religious creed, which is Calvinistic, and to the Established Church, of which he is a Minister, and for which he manifests a laudable zeal; but serious Christians, of all denominations, may derive spiritual profit from his writings; and especially from the volume now be fore us, which is designed to enforce the duty of a regular and devout attendance upon the public ministry of the Gospel. It is written with great simplicity and earnestness, and is honourable to the piety and benevolence of its author. Familiar Dialogues, Instructive and Entertaining, for Sunday - Schools. Part II. By a Teacher. 18mo. pp. 52. This Tract, which is printed in a neat and inviting form, contains four dialogues between Sunday-Scholars, on various subjects connected with those institutions. The sentiments are not only unexceptionable, but important, and adapted to promote the best interests of the rising generation; and the manner in which the dialogues are drawn up is lively and interesting. APPEAL IN BEHALF OF THE NAVAL AND MILITARY BIBLE SOCIETY. [THE following Appeal has been just issued by the Committee of the excel lent institution to which it refers; aud we have great pleasure in laying it before our readers.-EDIT.] It will be in the recollection of some of the generation now passing away, that a considerable body of troops was assembled in Hyde Park, in the year 1779, to preserve the peace of the metropolis, at that time disturbed by faction. A humble individual, who witnessed with pious concern the depraved habits of the soldiery, was led to hope, that advantage might be taken of that eventful period to attempt a reform amongst the troops by distributing the Bible to them.* This suggestion was communicated to that eminent philauthropist, Mr. Thornton, who gave life and vigour to the plan by a donation of £100, which sum he soon doubled. In the year 1780, the Society was regularly organized, assuming at first the designation of "The Bible Society," as at that time there existed no other Institution for the express and sole purpose of distributing the Holy Scriptures. The Rev. Messrs, de Coet logon and Romaine were the first among the Clergy to advocate the cause of this infant Society, by preaching in several churches. Two Bishops and many of the Clergy, with persons of other denominations soon joined, and cordially aided in promoting the objects of the Society. The first sermon preached for this institution was from I Samuel iv. 7. "And the Philistines were afraid; for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us, for there hath not been such a thing heretofore."-In 1794, fourteen years after the formation of the Society, the result of its labours exhibited an issue of 22,000 copies of the Holy Scriptures, chiefly to the army. In 1804, its designation was changed from, "The Bible Society," to that it now bears, "The Naval and Military Bible Society," in consequence of the formation of The British and Foreign Bible Society," which occurred that year: the number of copies of the Word of God distributed had increased to 34,000 : the subscriptions and donations received that year amounted to £183. 13s. 10d. and there were only two Naval or Military Officers on the list of contributors. In the succeeding ten years a much * See Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine for 1823, p. 736.-EDIT, brighter scene was exhibited. In 1814, the issue of Bibles and Testaments had amounted to 100,000: collections made in several churches and chapels yielded nearly £3000; subscriptions and donations reached almost £2000 ; and the number of subscribing Naval and Mili❤ tary Officers had increased to 109. The Society had now burst forth into the most distinguished notice, and was honoured with the most splendid patronage. His Royal Highness the Com. mander-in-chief had hecome Patron: their Royal Highnesses the Duke of Gloucester and Prince Leopold, VicePatrous: His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, President: the Archbishop of York, Bishop of London, and many other Prelates, with the Duke of Wellington, the First Lord of the Admiralty, several Cabinet Mi. nisters, besides many Noblemen, Admirals, and Generals, had accepted the office of Vice-Presidents; thus affords ing a direct sanction to the substantial benefit the Society was diffusing far and wide. The correspondence at that period was replete with subjects of the highest interest.-An Officer com manding a troop of Horse Artillery, wrote, that the greater part of his men had requested to set apart a portion of their pay for the benefit of the Society. Another Officer wrote from on board a frigate at Spithead, that most of the Seamen and the whole of the Marines had voluntarily subscribed one day's pay for the same purpose: and on the memorable battle of Waterloo, when all Europe stood more astounded at the Christian forbearance of British troops in the hour of victory, than their undaunted courage in the hour of battle, the Naval and Military Bible Society was not without the most respectable testimonies, that much of this spirit could only be traced to the influence of that sacred volume, which had now been extensively distributed throughout the army. In the years 1814 and 1818, His Royal Highness, the Patron, in order to give a more distinguished and public mark of his solicitude for the prosperity of the Society, condescended to preside at their Anniversary Meetings; on the latter occasion, His Royal Highness was supported by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, the Bishop of London, and many of the Vice-Presidents of the Society. In the year ending May, 1825, the Society issued 6049 Bibles and |