folly of bigotted misrule, or the besotted pride of blind superstition, retard for a moment the designs of the Father and Redeemer of mankind for the final enlightenment of the world? No: we trust a day will come when the darkness that surrounds this fair but ill-fortuned country will have passed away-a period when neither foreign despotism nor domestic corruption shall enslave her; nor the light which is guiding the people of other nations and languages to heaven, be hidden under the dark and vain shadows of a paganized Christianity. In what manner this will be brought about, or by the action of what progressive causes she is to be prepared for the change, it would be difficult to foretell. It seems, however, most likely that the present system of European politics will, at no distant period, produce an alteration in the internal policy of foreign governments, that will beneficially operate for the improvement of the people. Should this be the case, a new activity would be given to the public mind, the social virtues would begin to be exercised, industry would have better reasons for its efforts, and the moral character of every class of society be raised and strengthened. To this general change in the morals of the people would succeed, as in almost every case it is found to do, a closer examination into the principles on which their religious systems are founded: and thus they would be brought back to a state similar to that which has existed in almost every country previous to an extensive and radical reformation. If in our own, or a future generation, this should be the case, we may hope that the providence of God-for we must still recur to that for the last and effective cause-would either raise up for the purpose some man of extraordinary piety and genius; or so overrule events, that the truth should be distinctly made visible, and no longer be obliged to seek an asylum in other lands. At such an event as this there is no one who would not deeply and heartily rejoice. For the Christian, as well as the man of letters, Italy is full of sweet and venerable associations. Its capital was the last scene of his labours who first preached the Gospel to the kings and princes of the Gentiles: there, too, was the abiding place of him to whom the great Bishop of our souls gave the first awful charge: and there, in the subsequent eras of the church, the holy and undaunted soldiers of the cross bore witness to the power of the Gospel, and, standing where the gladiator had stood, shewed how the meek and persecuted Christian could die. In all the early part of the church's history, Italy was the scene of the most interesting events, and we venerate her for the fathers' sake. But there are considerations of another kind connected with this subject, which, we doubt not, have already struck our readers. The important conséquences which would result from a religious condition of Italy would be incalculably great. If the relative situation of her different states to other countries; the respect paid to her, even at present, by many nations; and the influence which her example would have in changing their religious habits, be considered, it would seem that there is scarcely any event which would have so astonishing an influence on the state of Christendom, or which might so confidently be hailed as a precursor to the universal establishment of Christianity in its original purity and beauty. We take our leave of Dr. M'Crie, with many thanks for his highly useful and interesting work. We trust, however, he will let but a short interval elapse before he favours the public with the similar work he has promised on the Reformation in Spain, which, if composed with equal attention and ability, will be another valuable addition to the ecclesiastical history of Europe. Exposition of Psalm CXIX. as illustrative of the Character of Christian Experience. By the Rev. CHARLES BRIDGES, B. A., Vicar of Old Newton, Suffolk. London: Seeley and Son. 1827. "The Old Testament is not contrary to the New; for both in the Old and New Testament everlasting life is offered to mankind by Christ, who is the only Mediator between God and man,-being both God and man. Wherefore they are not to be heard, which feign that the old Fathers did look only for transitory promises." Such the declaration of our Church in her Seventh Article-a declaration which too many of her sons have forgotten; from which forgetfulness many serious errors and heresies have arisen. The Old Testament has been made to speak a language not in unison with the New; and some of the most striking passages in the writings of David and the Prophets, have been pared down by men who considered the "Song of Moses" one thing, and the "Song of the Lamb" another. The author of the volume before us, is a man of a totally different school. He has produced a work which, we trust, will live long after he himself shall be gathered to his fathers. And we can promise to our readers much spiritual advancement, under the Divine blessing, from the use of this exposition of the cxix th Psalm as the companion of their private devotions. Our extracts must be brief, but we trust that they will sufficiently exhibit the spirit and character of the volume, to induce our readers to wish for a closer acquaintance with it. A childlike simplicity, blended with much of that wisdom that is profitable to direct, pervades the whole.. There is also a nice discrimination of character, and such a distinguishing between the things that differ, as shew the author to be neither a child in understanding or grace. We had marked down many passages for insertion, but must content ourselves with two: the one taken from our author's remarks on verse 113th, and the other from the conclusion of the volume. From both, it will be evident that the writer of this work is perfectly at home, when describing the conflicts and the encouragements of the Christian. If a connected train of thought or expression fails us, let us only change, not surrender, our posture of resistance, substituting sighs, desires, tears, and groanings for words, and casting ourselves upon our God in the simplicity of wretchedness and yet in the confidence of faith. “O Lord, all my desire is before thee, and my groaning is not hid from thee. Thou tellest my wanderings; put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?" We may always be assured that it is far better to wander in duty than from it. For if any duty be neglected on account of the defilement that is mingled with it, for the same reason the neglect of every other duty must follow, and as the final consequence the worship of God will be abolished from the earth. However, let them (vain thoughts) not cease to operate as endearing to our souls the free justification of the Gospel, as leading us daily and hourly to repair to “the fountain opened for sin and uncleanness;" and to prize that heavenly intercession which provides for the perfect cleansing and acceptance of services even such as ours. Blessed contemplation! Jesus prays not for us as we do for ourselves. His intercession is without distraction-without interruption. If we are then so dead that we cannot, and so guilty that we dare not pray, and so wandering under the influence of "vain thoughts," that our prayers appear to be scattered to the winds, rather than to ascend to the God of Heaven-if on these accounts combined, we are so troubled, that we cannot speak,” yet always is there one to speak for us, of whom it was testified for our encouragement-that there came" a voice from heaven saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." pp. 291-293. In page 460, Mr. Bridges has beautifully described some of the conflicting yet delightful emotions of which the regenerate heart is capable. We believe he did not intend it, but he has evidently let us into the secret feelings of his own while composing his work. We would unite the publican's prayer with the great Apostle's confidence: and while in holy brokenness of heart we should wish to live and die smiting upon our breast and saying, "God be merciful to me a sinner," the remembrance of our seal of adoption would warrant the expression of Christian assurance, "I know whom I have believed, and that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him, against that day:" Yet, as it regards the experience of David, is there not something striking, and we had almost said, unexpected, in the conclusion of this Psalm? To hear one, who has throughout been expressing such holy and joyful aspirations for the salvation of his God; such fervent praises of his love, that we seem to shrink back from the comparison with him, as if considering him almost on the verge of heaven-to hear this 66 man after God's own heart," sinking himself to the lowest dust, under the sense of the evil of his heart, and his perpetual tendency to wander, is indeed a most instructive lesson. It gives an accurate view of the conflict that must be sustained in the believer's heart; and of the opposite graces which meet and flourish there. The highest notes of praise mingling with the deepest expression of humiliation, combine to form that harmony of service which ascends "like pillars of smoke" with acceptance before God. pp. 460–461. Since such is the spirit of the Vicar of Old Newton, we sincerely hope that, like Old Newton himself, he may be spared to a late period of life, to edify the church and to benefit the world. Nature and Grace. By MRS. STEVENS. This excellent woman has long devoted herself to the spiritual improvement of her fellow-creatures. Her labours have been such, as may put many of the other sex to shame. We are glad, indeed, that the present volume appears rather as a series of essays than sermons, though we doubt not many of her readers will find both the pleasure and profit of sermons in its perusal. The subjects are handled well. She writes like one who knows the depravity of the human heart, and the absolute necessity of regenerating grace. We, moreover, much admire the way in which, at the conclusion of each essay, she directs her readers to the unerring declarations of Scripture. The following passage from the section on "Hypocrisy," will give a fair specimen of her style. It is impossible to conceive of a condition more wretched than that of a hypocrite. In every case it is fraught with evil, and must end in destruction. There is no sin that is exhibited in the Scriptures with more decided marks of the Divine judgment, and universally the Lord hath declared it to be most accursed in his eyes. It is rendered still more fearful on account of its hardening power; for it infatuates, and conducts the sinner, step after step, to such a horrible increase of delusion and deceit, that he ceases to be susceptible of those misgivings which in the first stages proved some check upon his way; and having put out his own eyes, walks daringly and presumptuously on the brink of destruction; and stalks abroad in his filthiness and iniquity, forgetting that he is naked, and that God seeth his sin. It is not unfrequently, however, attended with misery; sometimes in the beginning, sometimes in the end, sometimes through the whole life of delusion; there will be in some men a degree of misgiving, in spite of every effort to the contrary; they cannot find the rest they seek: many times they imagine that their fellow-creatures are looking through the flimsy veil they wear, and that their true character is read; they interpret a look, an expression, a discourse, as if meant to carry an arrow to themselves; their mind is chafed by solicitude and fear of detection, and their heart is destitute of peace. When calamity comes, they think that God is about to unmask them, and that his judgments are ready to come down, and every trouble is received as a messenger of death, and a swift witness that must condemn their souls for ever. In instances where this degree of susceptibility is retained, it will frequently occur, that the death-bed is a fearful and frightful season. On this awful occasion, the conscience is roused, and the sentence of God is anticipated; he begins to realize what is meant by the affecting appeal, "For what is the hope of the hypocrite though he has gained, when God taketh away his soul?" Hope, he has none. Desolation and fear take hold upon him, and he dies in the endurance of those pangs, which seize upon the condemned, and are the just wages of sin! It is sometimes the lot of the hypocrite to experience, in reality, what his fears suggested, to induce our readers to wish for a closer acquaintance as shew the author to be neither a child e substi the is Nature and Grace. ombine to form that harmony of service wich ascendo * like the believer's heart; and of the opposite races which, tant and he church and to benefit the world. Newton himself, he may be spared to a late spirit of the Vicar of Old Newton, we sincerely Grace. By MRS. STEVENS. • readers will find both the series of essays than ser The subjects are depravity We had marked down many passages for ourselves with two: the one taken from our 113th, and the other from the conclusion of it will be evident that the writer of this work describing the conflicts and the encouragem If a connected train of thought or surrender, our posture of resistance, groanings for words, and casting ourselves wretchedness and yet in the confidence of before thee, and my groaning is not hid fr put thou my tears into thy bottle: are be assured that it is far better to wand be neglected on account of the defil reason the neglect of every other du the worship of God will be ab let them (vain thoughts) not ceas justification of the Gospel, as fountain opened for sin and cession which provides for Blessed cor such as ours. selves. His intercession In pag 1827. more excellent norp. Both are men more important, of a truly at "it is with great reluctance, we draw the attention of our readers do not consider them "calculated to do e of the September Number of the Christian Re the "scandalous conduct of which the Fellow been guilty; and we further learn in what kind of way of church discipline is to be visited, and for the future conflictir namely, by the VOICE OF AUTHORITY. "Would that capable int us an W that of THE is to ce of these proceedings might rouse the voice of authority to and prevent so scandalous a violation of church discipline as which Mr. Sibthorp has been guilty." (Christian Remembrancer.) e are much obliged to these gentlemen for speaking out. It is very with what weapons they would fight those who differ from them. VOICE OF AUTHORITY, roused by the Christian Remembrancer, denounce as schismatics, if not as heretics, some of the best men of this church and nation. We think that those in authority have, in pulpits. yet this matter, shewn their wisdom in not interfering with the parochial as to what charitable objects should be excluded from their Decided friends and advocates of a moderate Episcopacy, we hesitate not to declare our conviction that any arbitrary use of power, any attempt to crush those by force who cannot be met by ar gument, would tend to set this church in a blaze. We could wish, greatly wish, that the exertions of our two Church of England Mis |