Holy Ghost, composed in honour of God and of Christ? Would he have acknowledged that such a substitution was a development of the truth which was in his mind, when rapt into the prophetic utterance of these sacred lyrics? Are we not sure that he would repudiate the association, as much as he would resent the profanation and blasphemy?

Low indeed must the reverence of the word of God have become among a people who could perpetrate, and tolerate, and justify such things as these, and call them developments of truth. And we can only account for such infatuation on the supposition that God, as in the case of the Jews, does abandon those who first abandon him. And for such men to call the Reformers "miserable apostates" is of little moment when we remember who are the accusers, and what the Reformers had forsaken. To forsake a corrupt communion, which had in itself all the marks of apostasy, in mutilating and changing the word of God, and setting up practices which are expressly forbidden therein, is not a crime, but a duty and a virtue. Until things change their character, and words change their meaning, such false charges will recoil upon the head of the accuser. And it is they who turn aside from God, not they who cleave to him—it is they who worship miserable mortals like themselves, in place of JEHOVAH-it is the idolators of Rome who will be regarded, by men of truth, as the "miserable apostates."

The Parent's High Commission. London: Hatchard and Son. THE object of this excellent little book is to impress upon parents their responsibility-to remind them that Church and State alike look to the guardians of the fire-side circle. Without the training at the mother's knee, the efforts of the schoolmaster are too frequently abortive, and the interference of the magistrate rendered necessary. But this simple, and scriptural, and incontrovertible fact is too much overlooked in the present day.

"In this day of high intellectual culture, of refined taste, and of shining accomplishment (asks the author before us), is the heart schooled? We make the scholar, but do we train the man ?—we adorn the sylph, but do we form the woman?”

We fear these questions must, by a majority of parents, be answered in the negative; and yet it is to the quiet silent work of home that nations have to look for the future character of their clergy, their legislators, their magistrates, their merchants. Private virtue must precede public virtue. Good institutions originate with good men; and these must have been reared by parental care in private before they can act in public.

Illustrations of the Tragedies of Sophocles, from the Greek, Latin, and English Poets; with an Introductory Essay. By J. F. BOYES, M.A., St. John's College, Oxford. Oxford. 1844. WE have some difficulty in expressing our opinion of this work; it is, we believe, the second part of a series, of which Eschylus was the first. As we have not the first part at hand, and do not find any introductory essay attached to the second part, it is not easy to ascertain the exact intention of the undertaking. We are inclined to say, upon opening the volume, "Cui bono?" -whom will it profit? Is it intended for bearded men, or beardless boys? Is it to give increased facility of rendering English verse into the metres of Greek tragedy, or to give greater spirit to translations from the original? These queries may be satisfactorily answered in the essay, so we forbear from speaking very definitely. Thus much, however, we may say, that we think the work would have been much more useful in the exhibition of parallel phraseology, if, first, Sophocles had only been illustrated by English; secondly, if that English had been confined to Shakspeare, Ben Jonson, Beaumont and Fletcher, Massinger, Ford, and perhaps one or two other dramatists; and, thirdly, if the illustration was forcible, and served to exhibit the idioms of the two languages. If these conditions fail, we think a book of illustrations must degenerate into a mere curious commonplace book. For instance, King Lear says

We are glad to know the corresponding idea in Greek, and, accordingly, we thank Mr. Boyes for supplying it, although we believe Elmsley had done it before, and we also remember seeing the same lines used in an exercise that obtained the Porson prize at Cambridge some few years since. At any rate, from whatever source obtained, such illustrations are useful: they are hints how to exactly express English thoughts in a Greek dress, and cannot fail to direct the mind to a comparison of phraseology. Looking at Mr. Boyes's work with this feeling, we cannot fail to notice a vast breadth of reading, both in English Latin, and Greek; but we recognize very few such illustrations as the one above: many are really no illustrations at all, as the corresponding English and Greek passages have only a word or two in common. Thus, in the Ajax, the illustrations with the annexed figures, 169, 264, 286, 418, 513, 622, 747, 832, with several others, do not at all come up to our idea of illustrations. Those marked 636, 660, 795, 843, 1,196, are very different, and might be made practically useful. It is not, however, fair

to speak very definitely without knowing the exact intention of the author; so, in conclusion, we only say, what we can fairly say, that in the volume many illustrations are very happy, many entirely the contrary, and that a vast body of reading is displayed, especially in the older English authors.

The Historian's Common-place Book and Companion; consisting of a Key, and Tabular Arrangements. By the Writer of "Lessons in Ancient History." London: Hatchard; Varty; and Nisbet.

HISTORY rises to the highest degree of importance, and attains its highest dignity of character, when it becomes subservient to religion-strengthening faith by pointing to fulfilled prophecy; consoling affliction by tracing the ways of Providence. The whole arrangement, of the help before us, is novel, and presents much to recommend itself; the tabular part is quite original, and will be found convenient and profitable to students. In the classes of our national schools it might be adopted with advantage; large slates could be introduced on which permanent lines should be drawn, when the pupils might alternately analyze a century, tracing the heads and figures, in chalk, agreeably to the tabular lithograph. Of course young persons should be gradually prepared for this exercise; and, habitually pursued, it must of necessity tend to energize and invigorate the mental faculties. Plato accustomed his followers to the process of analysis; and Abercrombie advocates the use of association to strenghen the memory in what is here offered, both these principles are involved. Again, the tabular arrangement may be used in history as blank maps are applied in geography; the lines answering to those of latitude and longitude, showing at a glance the precise and relative bearings of all that can form the subject of a date. Its design is to make of history what it ought to be a school for virtue and wisdom: its tendency is to ameliorate the heart, enrich the mind, and regulate its stores; not to cultivate one faculty at the expense of another, but by the salutary exercise of each, to give tone to the intellect generally.

A Letter upon the Subject of Confirmation, addressed to the Little ones of his Flock. By an ENGLISH PRIEST. Newbury. 1844.

WE cannot agree with the author, that "there is but little danger of open infidelity in these days." We believe that there

is great danger; and we feel sure, that if our author resided in this metropolis, he would entertain the same opinion. But this is a matter of little importance. The tract itself is likely to be useful.

The Religion of Ancient Britain; or, a Succinct Account of the several Religious Systems which have obtained in this Island from the Earliest Times to the Norman Conquest. Including an Investigation into the Early Progress of Error in the Christian Church, the Introduction of the Gospel into Britain, and the State of Religion in England till Popery had the ascendancy. By G. SMITH, F.A.Š. London: Longmans. THIS work supplies a desideratum in British Ecclesiastical History. Although many particulars are incidentally found in the various writers who have explored the ancient history of Britain, yet a work was wanting which should bring together a condensed view of the whole subject. That work Mr. Smith has now furnished his volume, in fact, may be regarded as a supplement to every existing history of England and Wales. The following are the important topics which he has discussed, viz. :-The ancient Britons, their religion, and subjection to the Romans; the religion introduced into Britain by the Romans; the introduction of Christianity; the arrival and ascendancy of the Saxons; the religion of the Saxons; the progress of Christianity from the departure of the Romans to the mission of Augustine; the progress of error in the Church of Rome prior to the mission of Augustine; the mission of Augustine, and the spread of Christianity among the Anglo-Saxons; the religion of the Saxon and British Churches under the establishment of Romish uniformity; the learning, doctrines, and piety of the Anglo-Saxon Church; the priest craft, corruption, and decline of the AngloSaxon Church. Mr. Smith has carefully weighed the conflicting statements of historians on some points of early British history, and has (withal) happily succeeded in eliciting the truth. Where he has met with important facts well narrated, he has honestly quoted the very words of his authorities; and has so happily interwoven them, as to produce a readable and instructive volume. We have been much gratified with the candid and Christian spirit which pervades the whole work. In the event of a second edition, we would recommend him to reconsider and correct the erroneous views, which he has derived from Lord King and Mosheim, on the subject of primitive bishops. Lord King's assertions were examined in detail, and refuted, by a contemporary writer, Mr. Solater, in "An Original Draught of the Primitive Church"-a work so powerful and convincing as ultimately to bring over Lord King to his opinion. An abridgment of Solater's "Original Draught" was annexed, in the form of very copious notes, to a reprint of the first part of Lord King's "Inquiry into the Constitution, &c., of the Primitive Church," published in 1843, by Seeleys and Burnside.

Authenticated Report of the Discussion which took place between the Rev. John Venn and the Rev. James Waterworth, in St. Peter's School-room, Hereford, on the 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th of February, 1844. Hereford, printed. London: Seeley and Burnside; and Dolman. 8vo. 1844.

MR. VENN has long been known as a devoted parochial clergyman at Hereford. Having ascertained that two of his parishioners were in danger of being perverted to Popery, he exerted himself to prevent them from being led away into error, but in vain. He then invited, perhaps we should say, challenged the Romish priest resident at Hereford, Mr. Waterworth, to a public discussion. Mr. Waterworth, shrinking from the contest, proposed his brother, a Romish priest resident at Newark, as his substitute. Mr. Venn agreed to meet the veteran polemic of Newark, strong in the panoply of truth. The discussion accordingly took place, February 12th, and three following days: and we should not do justice to Mr. Venn if we did not notice the modest and Christian tone with which he conducted his arguments, and which presents a most striking contrast to the insolent behaviour of Mr. Waterworth, which at length provoked the indignation of the audience! In two or three minor points, indeed, Mr. Waterworth had the advantage: but the victory, upon the whole, is most decidedly with Mr. Venn. In conducting his portion of the discussion, he carefully cited the accredited decrees, Breviaries, and other authentic books and documents of the Romish Church: which (however Mr. Waterworth might find it convenient to declare that he "rupudiated" them) yet subsist indelible memorials of the antiscriptural and unscriptural tenets and practices of the Romish Church. We have been particularly gratified with Mr. Venn's proofs of the Mariolatry of Rome, derived from the famous " Psalter" of Bonaventure, a canonized saint of the Romish Church. We commend the Hereford discussion to the attentive perusal of our readers; who, we are assured, will rejoice to learn that the Protestant cause-the cause of truth and of pure and undefiled religion-was not only well sustained by Mr. Venn, but has also gained by it. The volume is very neatly finished, and contains a great amount of most important information at a very small price.

Rhymes for a Royal Nursery. London: Painter. 1844. A MOST acceptable present for children-well printed, nicely bound; and the rhymes, though simple, are not silly, as nursery ditties mostly are.