a hero and poet will have passed into the blackness of darkness, for he that turneth many to righteousness shall shine as the stars for ever and ever. This is to employ genius nobly indeed, when the crown won on earth shall be worn in heaven.

Mr. Philip's Life of Bunyan is an interesting work; and many parts of it are powerfully written. The author never writes so well as when he grasps a difficult subject which calls for the exertion of all his powers. Some of the chapters in this work are very excellent. But we are convinced that Mr. Philip is capable of something better, and we grieve to see him limiting his usefulness by an occasional coarseness and vulgarity of style which is evidently not the result of ignorance or inability to write well; but of carelessness, or even of an affectation of quaintness. He delights in choosing sometimes the very last words which would occur to a man of refined taste; and as if he had not already sufficiently shocked his readers, he gratuitously points out the offensive expressions by printing them in italics. We wish also to express our disapprobation strongly of the vicious practice which is certainly avoided by our best writers, of frequently distinguishing particular words in this way. It must be, in almost all cases, unnecessary; and is either a confession on the part of the author of his own want of perspicuity, or an insult to the reader, as it suspects him of a want of understanding.

Our respect for Mr. Philip's powers of mind and attainments is considerable. Is it too late to expect a more dignified style of writing from him, less characterized by those oddities which offend literary men? We sincerely hope not. The extensiveness of his circle of readers, instead of making him satisfied and selfcomplacent, should operate in a contrary way, and induce tenfold care and study to please as well as to profit. Were his genius chastised and controlled by a severe taste, the number of his admirers would rapidly increase, and his usefulness would be proportionably augmented.

Brief Notices.

The Condensed Commentary and Family Exposition of the Holy Bible containing the Authorized Version of the Old and New Testaments; with the most valuable Criticisms of the best Biblical Writers; Practical Reflections; and Marginal References, &c. By the Rev. Ingram Cobbin, M.A. London: Ward and Co.

Having expressed our favorable opinion of this work on its first appearance, it is only necessary that we should now specify the im

provements which have been made in the present edition. The Indexes have been enlarged, a Scripture Diary directing the reader to a plan for perusing the whole Scriptures yearly' has been prefixed by permission of its author the Rev. John Whitridge, more than a thousand additional notes have been inserted, and the errata of the former impression have been corrected. An increased acquaintance with the work, derived from the daily use of it in our own family, has greatly strengthened our conviction of its sterling worth, and induces us emphatically to repeat our former recommendation of it as the most valuable work of the kind that has yet appeared, and so seasonable that it comes as a desideratum to relieve Christian families from their perplexity in choosing an exposition which, without being too long, should be sufficiently copious, and without being too critical, should be sufficiently explanatory and practical.'

The Philanthropist; or Selfishness and Benevolence Illustrated. A Tale. By a Lady. London: W. Ball.

The work before us though entitled 'A Tale,' does not, strictly, come under that denomination, nor is it to be tried by the tests usually applied to such productions. It has, indeed, a hero, in the person of Mr. Darcy, a man of wealth, intelligence, piety, and public spirit, who is the Philanthropist of the book, but we should not be surprised if they who take up the volume entirely for its title, were to complain of the want of continuous and sustained interest, for it has neither plot nor denouement; while they who read for the sake of the subject will be entertained as well as instructed, for they will find, with perfect variety of object, an abundance of varied and appropriate illustrations. Such readers will discover qualities much higher and more valuable than those of the most skilfully continued and best wound up tale. They will see the root of selfishness laid bare, its most intricate ramifications traced, and its secret insinuations detected and exposed; while a mirror is held up in which many will see the disgusting deformity of that which they have hitherto cherished as a grace and ornament.

Minutes of the Ninth Annual Assembly of the Congregational Union of England and Wales, held at the Congregational Library, May, 1839; with the Report of the Committee and other Documents. Published by the Congregational Union.

Account of the Proceedings of the Twenty-seventh Annual Session of the Baptist Union, held in London, 1839; with the Report of the State of the Denomination and an Appendix. London: G. Wight

man.

Two important and interesting documents which ought to be in the hands of every person who is solicitous to understand the principles and to appreciate the position of the evangelical Dissenters of this country.

482

CORRESPONDENCE with the editOR.

THE following extract from a letter of the Rev. J. Morison, in relation to the article Are we Protestants? which appeared in our August No. is given at his request, and would have been inserted last month had not the Editor's absence from London prevented.

The writer of Are we Protestants?' asks for the thoughts of the preachers on whom he animadverts. I can only say, that though I am not prepared to censure every restrictive clause in the trust-deeds of places of worship, (for in that case we must censure the appropriation of certain buildings to Dissenters, to Protestants, and even to Christians,) I have long thought that some most objectionable trust-deeds exist: trust-deeds which seem designed to chain the free servant of Christ to the minutia which weakness or intolerance has magnified into fundamental principles, which impose duties on the trustees which none but exact theologians can perform,-which indicate a leaning on an arm of flesh, where we ought to lean alone on the power and grace of our Redeemer. But although I apprehend, (so far as I can judge from a hasty perusal,) that I accord in opinion, to a considerable degree, with your reviewer, I do not think that improper restrictions exist to the degree which he apprehends. They cannot exist at all in most of our old places of worship, unless an alteration has been made in the specifications of the trust-deeds; and in that case, it may perhaps admit of a question, whether the alteration is legal? I really do not know the terms in which most of the modern trust-deeds in this neighbourhood are expressed; nor do I know, though I have often thought of it, that the subject of trust-deeds presented itself to me when preparing the sermon on which your reviewer has remarked; but had the subject occurred to me, I should have thought that in preaching before the ministers of Essex, I was addressing pastors who for the most part officiated in places, which when built were put in trust simply for Protestant Dissenters; and hence though my opinion on trust-deeds may, in a considerable degree, accord with that of the reviewer, I should not have been conscious of any incongruity in addressing my beloved brethren as preachers, who without inconsistency and without reserve could say, the Bible, the Bible only, is the religion of Protestants. I shall be glad to see the subject calmly and religiously discussed. It is, however, rather unfortunate that your reviewer has thrown down his gauntlet where it can hardly be taken up.'

*The above is not the only communication which we have received on the subject of the article referred to. We have inserted it because, as Mr. M. is the author of one of the pieces which were reviewed, it seems due to him to admit his defence. We have thought it right, however, to decline the insertion of

other communications, although in favor of the views advanced by us, because, as the Eclectic is not a magazine, we are precluded from opening its pages after the manner of such a work. In inviting the opinions of others, and expressing a willingness to resume the subject, our idea was, (and it may be necessary here more distinctly to explain it,) that some or other of our friends might perhaps be led to give us his thoughts either in a pamphlet or through the medium of the Congregational' or Baptist' Magazines, and that after this, in noticing or reviewing some appropriate publication, we might add to our previous animadversions, or explain, defend, or retract them, as our convictions of truth and duty might require. It appears to the Editor necessary to give this explanation of what seems to have been misunderstood, and he thinks it right to add, in behalf of himself, and the writer of the article in question, that nothing was further from the thoughts of either than throwing down the gauntlet,' or any such warlike notion as the phrase suggests. He thinks it must be evident to any candid and impartial person, that nothing but an honest desire to pursue TRUTH and preserve CONSISTENCY, at all hazards, could have led either to the writing or the acceptance of Are we Protestants?' and that there is nothing in the tone or spirit of the piece inconsistent with Christian respect and deference towards the gentlemen whose writings are referred to

in it.

Literary Entelligence.

In the Press.

Continental India: Travelling Sketches and Historical Recollections, illustrating the Antiquity, Religion, and Manners of the Hindoos-the Extent of British Conquests, and the Progress of Missionary Operations. By J. W. Massie, M.R.I.A. Beautifully illustrated with wood engravings.

The second volume of the Historical Memoirs of the Queens of England,' by Miss Lawrance, is now in the press, and will be published early next month.

The Rev. Dr. Pye Smith's Congregational Lecture on the Relation between the Holy Scriptures and some parts of Geological Science.

The Exiles of Zillerthal : a Narrative of the Persecution and Expatriation of those Inhabitants in the Tyrol on Embracing the Protestant Faith. From the German of Dr. Rheinwald.

Christian Duties, in the Various Relations of Life. By the Rev. T. Lewis, of Union Chapel, Islington. Royal 18mo.

Just Published.

A New Translation of the Hebrew Scriptures. With Notes. By Robert Harness Carne, A.B. Part I.

The Parent's Friend; a Manual of Domestic Instruction and Discipline. By John Morison, D.D.

Government of Canada. Debates of the House of Commons in the year 1774, on the Bill for making more effectual provision for the Government of the Province of Quebec. Drawn up from the Notes of the Right Hon. Sir Henry Cavendish, Bart. Now first published by J. Wright.

The Necessity of Religion. The Substance of a Lecture delivered at York Street Chapel, Manchester. To which is annexed, a Characteristic Sketch of the Rev. R. S. M'All, LL.D.

The Polemic Divine: or Memoirs of the Life, Writings, and Opinions of the Rev. Daniell Isaac. By James Everett.

A Guide down the Danube, from Paris to Marseilles, Ancona, Trieste, Venice, Munich, Strasburgh; and from Vienna to Constantinople, Smyrna, Athens, the Morea, and the Ionian Islands. Also the Route to India by way of Egypt. By R. T. Claridge, Esq. A new edition.

Maxims, Morals, and Golden Rules.

Scripture Illustrations; being a Series of Engravings on Steel and Wood, illustrative of the Geography and Topography of the Bible, and demonstrating the truth of the Scriptures from the face of Nature and the remains of the Works of Man, with Explanations and Remarks. By the Rev. J. A. La Trobe, M.A.

The Life and Times of Selina Countess of Huntingdon. By a Member of the Houses of Shirley and Hastings. Vol. II.

Lives of Eminent Literary and Scientific Men of France. Vol. II. (Lardner's Cyclopædia.)

Ward's Library of Standard Divinity. The Best Match: or the Soul's Espousal of Christ, opened and improved. By Edward Pearse.

Ancient Christianity. Part III. By the Author of the Natural History of Enthusiasm.

Essays on Government.

The Voluntary System: A Prize Essay, in Reply to the Lectures of Dr. Chalmers on Church Establishments. By Joseph Angus, M.A.

Sketches of a Missionary's Travels in Egypt, Syria, Western Africa, &c. By R. Maxwell Macbrair.

The Modern Literature of France. By George W. M. Reynolds. Two Vols.

A General Outline of the Animal Kingdom and Manual of Comparative Anatomy. Part VIII. By T. R. Jones, F.Z.S.

A History of British Birds. By William Yarrell, F.Z.S., &c. Part XIV. Antipopopriestian; or an Attempt to Liberate and Purify Christianity from Popery, Politickirkality, and Priestrule. By John Rogers.

A Memoir of the Life, Travels, and Gospel Labours of George Fox, an Eminent Minister of the Society of Friends.

An Encyclopædia of Rural Sports. By D. P. Blaine. Part I.

Jethro: A System of Lay Agency, in connexion with Congregational Churches, for the Diffusion of the Gospel among our Home Population.

Our Country; or the Spiritual Destitution of England considered; and how far it can be supplied through Lay Agency, especially as Employed by Congregational Churches. By James Matheson, D.D.

New Excitement for 1840.

Sermons to Youth. By the late Rev. Joseph Hague. With a Memoir of

the Author.

Meditations, or a Glimpse of Glory; or a Gospel Discovery of Emmanuel's Land. By Andrew Welwood.

Aids to Preaching and Hearing. By the Rev. Thomas H. Skinner, D.D.