CLASSIFIED AND REVIEWED.

219

but it is directly subversive of, and opposed to, the whole tenor of the New Testament doctrine."

• The

"The lack of discipline, besides rendering impossible a separation between the believer and unbeliever in the use of external or. dinances, is a cause of sin to the minister himself. In the Burial Service he must employ, in speaking of the avowed unbeliever, an unrepentant, open transgressor, language which, if there be force in words and intelligibility in the intention of our services, belong only to true believers and consistent followers of Christ. author has resigned his own benefice, while he rejoices that others holding the same views, do not see it necessary to go so far. He is in connexion with the Church of England alone, and holds no other doctrine than that of her Articles and Homilies. The causes of complaint are blemishes, no essential part of the Church of England system. An injunction, such as was several times issued in the pious reigns of Edward VI. and Elizabeth, would free the clergy from obligation to use expressions to which they conscientiously object, and thus much ought forthwith to be done, if pious and enlightened men are to be retained in the ranks of the ministry, or hereafter to be admitted.'"

There are many other topics touched on in this sermon which we would gladly notice did our space permit.

By

III. HISTORY, TRAVELS, AND BIOGRAPHY. The Monarchy of France; its Rise, Progress, and Fall. William Tooke, F.R.S. London: Low and Son. 1856. This volume should have received some notice in our last number, for it is one of great merit and considerable importance. The earlier portions of the volume give us a philosophical and well drawn-up history of the French monarchy to the period of the first Revolution. Of course it is but an abridged account, or rather a precés, of the annals of the country; but the author has kept in view the principles of government, and has exhibited the growth of the various institutions which made up the French constitution, till at last the work, which had been so ably begun by Louis XI., was consolidated by Richelieu, and finally systematized by Louis XIV. and his ministers. The student, who has no other work to refer to than this of Mr. Tooke's, will find all the chief facts well digested; and he who can have recourse to other historians will still do well to consult this for its political and philosophical accuracy. The latter portion of the work will be less acceptable to the general reader. It was natural that Mr. Tooke should be deeply interested in those

wondrous events which were going on under his own observation, and equally natural that he should consider them as invested with the same interest for others; but the real value of this part will be like those French memoirs which our author praises so rightly as "Memoires pour servir á l'historie.” We congratulate Mr. Tooke on so solid, so valuable, and so endurable a volume.

The Aged Pilgrim and his Songs; or, Memoir and Poetical Remains of the Rev. James Raban. By Thomas Ray. London: Ward. 1856.

The annals of a humble, simple, and affectionate pastor afford but few materials for the biographer and still fewer for the reviewer; yet Mr. Ray has contrived to make this little volume eminently interesting by the way in which he has treated his subject. We shall not enter into the particulars of Mr. Raban's life, but extract a few of those anecdotes which are so plentifully sown through these pages. The subject of this biography was born at Olney, and was much connected with the circle in which Cowper moved; of the poet and his friends we find many notices, and an anecdote of Mr. Bull is far too piquant to be omitted:

"The Rev. W. Bull was accustomed to pray with his eyes open -a habit now become unusual; though the eminent Dr. Chalmers was an exception to the more devotional and refined custom, that of closing the eyes. Mr. Bull was engaged to preach in a village chapel, where he could see from the pulpit every one that passed through a field adjoining it. As he was engaged in prayer, with his eyes open, he saw a milk-maid with her pail upon her head. She was walking carelessly, and, somehow or other, unduly attracted the attention of the good man. A large dog happened to be running, and perhaps sportively, when he without the least apology, rushed against the maid, giving her such a violent shock, that the pail was shaken from its steadiness, and discharged its contents over its luckless owner. In the sudden emotion which such a scene produced, Mr. Bull exclaimed, I thought it would come to that!' I thought it would come to that!' Some of the hearers were surprised, but the good man recovering himself, continued his prayer.”

---

Another anecdote of Cowper himself is worth citing :"On one occasion the Rev. W. Bull had invited the lowlyspirited Cowper to dine with him. The poet accepted the invitation; and for an exercise before the entertainment, walked to the house of the venerable divine. When he had arrived, foot-sore and faint, the good man received him most cordially, though with some degree of confusion. He had forgotten the invitation, had

CLASSIFIED AND REVIEWED.

221

made no preparation, and had sent his wife some few miles in the country on special business. Ceremony was not wanting between these two humble and lowly characters. The absence of mind in the one, and the extreme disappointment of the other, only served to excite the smile, and give them some topic for the future, on which to dwell with pleasantry and amusement.

"The back of the Academy-house was not one of the most suitable for the purposes designed. Cowper tells us that Mr. Bull took him after the light dinner they had-when no preparation had been made to a favourite seat, where he sits and smokes, with his back against one brick wall, and his nose against another.'"

6

And the following letter will give an amusing idea of the kind of correspondence in which Cowper was wont to indulge. It is addressed to the same person :

"MON AIMABLE ET TRES-CHER AMI,-It is not in the power of chaises or chariots to carry you where my affections will not follow you. If I heard that you were gone to finish your days in the moon, I should not love you the less; but should contemplate the place of your abode as often as it appeared in the heavens, and say, Farewell, my friend, for ever! Lost! but not forgotten! Live happy in thy lantern, and smoke the remainder of thy pipes in peace! Thou art rid of earth, at least of all its cares, and so far can I rejoice in thy removal; and as to the cares that are to be found in the moon, I am resolved to suppose them lighter than those below-heavier they can hardly be."

We would gladly extract characteristic anecdotes of Mr. Pentycross, Lady Huntingdon, Mr. Berridge, Mr. Romaine, and many others which we have noticed here, but we must content ourselves with two or three :

6

"It is related of the celebrated commentator, Thomas Scott, that on one occasion he appeared in trouble. Mr. Bull, the minister of Newport Chapel, observed it, and ventured to say, ' My friend, you are in trouble; you are unhappy; I read it in your countenance.' Mr. Scott replied, he had been so, but was better. Come then, my friend,' said Mr. Bull, I will expound to you the cause of all your anxiety. You are too common; you make yourself cheap. Visit your people less, and converse more with your own heart. How often do you speak to them in a week?' Thrice.'-' Ay, there it is. Your sermons are an old ballad; your prayers are an old ballad ; and you are an old ballad too.' I would wish to tread in the steps of Mr. Newton.'-'You do well to follow his steps in all other things, but in this instance you are wrong, and so was he. Mr. Newton had a path which no man but himself could have used so long as he did, and he wore it out before he went from Olney. Too much familiarity and condescension cost him the estimation of his people. He thought he should insure their love, to which he had the best possible title, and by those very means he lost it. Be

wise, my friend-take warning; make yourself scarce, if you wish that persons of little understanding should know how to prize you."

"The

The next two concern Mr. Raban himself. We do not like such distinctions as "The Olney Washer-woman," Olney Thresher:" we hope for the sake of their Christian humility that the individuals in question never heard of their peculiar designations.

"In a season of general distress, I happened to know, from my private visits, something of the poverty of this poor but pious widow, The Olney Washer-woman.' She, with her two or three

young children, dwelt in a poor cottage in

'The deep abyss of Silver End,'

as Cowper called the vicinity of his own lofty old mansion, and one of her windows gave her a peep into the poet's garden and summerhouse. Having, after our usual weekly prayer-meeting, mentioned this good woman's seeming destitution, we collected some small sums for her relief, and which, on the next evening, I hastened to convey to her. I was most agreeably surprised, just after a hard day's work at her washing, to hear her exclaim, 'I am glad indeed to see you, to tell you how happy I have been in my soul all day; for I have had no food myself to-day, having given my poor children all I had in the house, before I sent them to school for the day. Then I prayed to the Lord to support me, either by sending me food, or taking away my appetite: and my soul has been so very happy in thinking over the promises and consolations of the gospel, that I have really not wanted any food for my poor body. Bless the Lord, who has answered my poor prayers! And now, my dear friend,' said I, joyfully, 'the Lord has sent you relief for your bodily wants,'-handing over the sum I had collected for her. This visit was closed with prayer and thanksgiving.

6

"The next anecdote was related by himself many years after his visit, for the encouragement of those who are tried in a similar way.

"I well remember, though many years ago, after an evening's prayer-meeting, on conversing with my poor hard-working friend, the Olney Thresher,' that he mentioned what a severe conflict he had met with in the morning. He was unable to procure anything better for his breakfast than barley-bread and water. But,' said he, my rebellious heart, aided by the temptation of Satan, would not submit to this poor fare. So, after arguing the matter over with myself, and praying to the Lord to strengthen me, I resolved to punish my proud stomach by keeping on my threshing till I became hungry and thankful; and then, between eleven and twelve o'clock, I should enjoy my breakfast, and bless the Lord for my barley-bread and water!' Let the poor of the flock,' who may be called to endure many privations, think of this anecdote in the hour of trial, and it may surely do them good. Behold,' says the

CLASSIFIED AND REVIEWED.

223

Apostle James, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.'

Studies from History.

Vol. 2. Savonarola and Dawn of the Reformation: Melancthon and Spirit of the Reformation. By the Rev. W. H. Rule, D.D. London: Mason. 1856.

This volume is fully equal in merit, though somewhat less picturesque, than Dr. Rule's previous work on Richard I. and Mohammed II. The view he takes of Savonarola is quite in accordance with that we have ever entertained, and he fairly makes out his case both against Roscoe and the Romanists. The sketch of the Life of Melancthon is a valuable contribution to the History of the Reformation. We would suggest to Dr. Rule, Anselm and William the Conqueror, as well deserving, and well qualified, to repay such a mode of treating history as his. We must again call the reader's attention to the evident fact that these books are not second-hand compilations. Dr. Rule has made his own researches for his own purposes.

Syria and the Syrians; or, Turkey in the Dependencies. By Gregory M. Wortabet, of Beyroot, Syria. 2 Vols. London: Madden. 1856.

Numerous as the works are which appear on the subject of Syria and the Syrians, each new one is sure to be welcomed on account of the deep interest attaching to the subject. The dependencies of the Turkish empire present so many points which concern our commerce, call forth our philanthropy, or appeal to our religious feeling, that any production which tends to throw light on their condition,—and on this especially, the chiefest of them all,-cannot but be welcomed. M. Wortabet is a Syrian Christian of intelligence and education, and has given a graphic account of his own land, showing how hopeful is its condition, and what bright prospects it opens to those who are willing to aid in civilising and christianising it.

IV. NATURAL HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY. Tenby, a Sea-Side Holiday. By Philip Henry Gosse, A.L.S. London: Van Voorst. 1856.

Regularly as the hot weather sets in, and we feel those periodical longings to escape from the great brick-and-mortar