To hear the murmuring dove, With those whom on earth alone we love, And to wind through the green wood together. * But when 'tis Winter weather, And friends deceive, To sit and sing Of the friends with whom, in the days of spring, Our readers will perceive that, while we have found ourselves unable to speak in complimentary terms of Mr. Bowles's present performance, we by no means wish to depreciate his just merits. His want of success in this instance, is owing chiefly to his having gone out of his line: he has attempted a song above his compass. A man who can do many things well, may get fairly laughed at for attempting the one thing he cannot do, in which case he has no one to blame but himself. Art. VIII. The Doctrines of Grace conducive to eminent Holiness. A Sermon delivered at New Salter's Hall. By John Boutet Innes. 8vo. pp. 66. Price 2s. London. 1823. THERE are two classes of preachers by whom the position, which this Sermon is intended to illustrate, would seem to be secretly questioned; those who keep back the doctrines, or at least preach them with considerable timidity and reserve, from the fear that they should not have this holy tendency, and those who preach the doctrines exclusively of their practical end. And unfortunately, these two classes too often act as mutual repellents to the extent of driving each other into these opposite extremes; or they furnish each other with a pretext for presenting in either case a mutilated view of Christianity. We have heard it gravely urged in apology for the preacher who has been admitted to confine himself to the statement of doctrine, 'Well, it is a good fault; there are abundance of preachers to set against him, who err on the other side.' And thus, they think, a sort of balance may be struck between the opposite extremes. But even if the two supposed halves of the truth would fit each other, they are never brought into contact. The hearers of the one style of preaching are never found seeking the corrective of the other. Both classes embrace the partial view as the entire Gospel, and both exhibit the mutilated impression in their characters. But let me ask,' says Mr. Innes, Why • should there be partiality? Why should we be indignant at the omission of the doctrinal parts of the system, and tolerant ⚫ of the omission of the practical parts of it?" The very spirit of such persons proves, that there is a large portion of inspired truth with which their minds have not been fairly brought into contact. They delight in the promises of the Gospel, but “to "delight in the law of God" forms no part of their orthodoxy. Jealous of their privileges as set free from the bondage of what is termed a legal spirit, they wince even at the yoke of Christ. Mr. Innes's Sermon comprises an able vindication of the doctrines of grace from the unfounded objections which have been brought against them on the one side, from the Apostolic day to our own, and a seasonable protest against the abuse of those doctrines which prevails on the other. We regret to think that the publication of a sermon on such a topic, is by no means a work of supererogation or a superfluous service. To the preachers of this system, Mr. Innes thus addresses himself in conclusion: 1. We are taught that the interests of holiness will never be injured by a full exhibition of the doctrines of grace. Let us preach them in all their completeness. Let no sentiment which forms a constituent part of them be withheld. Let them be as prominent in our addresses, as they are in the pages of the New Testament. Let us give no just occasion for others to intimate, (and we understand that such intimations are by no means uncommon,) that they are the only persons who are not afraid to preach the Gospel. This is a point on which we need not hesitate for a moment. Let • But while we preach a scriptural scheme, let it be exhibited in a scriptural form. By every principle of allegiance to God, and regard to the best interests of men, we are required to take heed, lest by any incautious expressions we give countenance to those who say, ús sin that grace may abound.' Oh to be personally the subjects of that holy sensibility, which shall instinctively recoil at the base suggestion! which shall constrain us, under the influence of horror, to say, "God forbid! If such be the state of our minds, there will not proceed from our lips that at which the pious would mourn, and the impious rejoice. As good men, out of the good treasure of the heart,' we shall bring forth good things. In publishing the Gospel, let us never forget its character. It is not merely a system-it is a remedy. Let us not imagine that we have only to preach a system, and that the annunciation of it is to act as a kind of amulet or charm, by which we drive away the evil spirits. Such misconceptions, it is to be feared, are not uncommon. Those by whom they are cherished, are in the habit of referring us for illustrations, if not for proofs, to some of the miraculous facts recorded in the Old Testament. Thus we are told, the walls of Jericho fell down, when the priests of the Lord blew the divinely appointed trumpets. The two cases are in their natures to tally different. Such a supposed illustration has no countenance whatever from the New Testament. Paul does not compare his ministry and that of his fellow labourers to the blast of a ram's horn, but to the application of the appropriate warlike instrument which levels opposition before it. The weapons of our warfare,' said he, are not carnal, but mighty through God to pulling down of strong holds.' The Gospel, indeed, is but an instrument, dependent for its success upon the power of God; but it is the appointed and suitable instrument. Let us keep this in view, and then we shall not merely address the faculty of hearing, but commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. Knowing the terrors of the Lord,' we shall persuade men. By the mercies of God,' we shall beseech' them. We shall warn every man, and teach every man.' The judgements of those whom we address, we shall inform on the first principles of the Christian scheme, and prove, by our mode of administering it, that the word of his grace is able to build them up, and give them an inheritance among all them that are sanctified. And whilst we ought not, under any circumstances, to be deficient in doctrinal statement, we shall, I hope, never prove ourselves to be traitors to the practical part of God's Revelation. While some assert that they are not afraid to preach the Gospel doctrinally,-(doughty champions!-considering the predilections of those by whom they are surrounded, they incur no risk-may we prove that we are not afraid to preach the Gospel fully, and that therefore we are not afraid to preach it practically: that we are not afraid to tell the servant the duties he owes to a master, or to tell the master the duties he owes to a servant: that we are not afraid to tell the child the duties he owes to a parent, nor a parent the duties he owes to a child: that we are not afraid to affirm,' and that not only occasionally, but constantly,' and not only generally, but in detail, that they which have believed in God, must be careful to maintain good works. pp. 535. Art. IX. The Word of God concerning all who are in Trouble or Affliction. Second Edition. By a Clergyman of the Church of England, 12mo. pp. 26. Price 6d. Retford. 1822. THIS is a very judicious tract, written with great plainness, and uniting kindness with fidelity. An afflicted mind requires delicate handling, but it is in the time of affliction that truthi must be urged home on the conscience, according as the sufferer is able to bear it. Those only who are accustomed to visit the widow, and the fatherless, and the poor in their affliction, know how difficult it is to be faithful and yet not harsh, to administer legitimate comfort tempered with seasonable counsel. It is frequently impossible to say much, but a silent preacher' like this tract, may be left in the cottage or the garret, with the happiest effect. 2 U Vol. XIX. N. S. Art. X. 1. An Appeal to the Religion, Justice, and Humanity of the Inhabitants of the British Empire, in behalf of the Negro Slaves in the West Indies. By William Wilberforce, Esq. M.P. 8vo. pp. 78. London. 1823. 2. Negro Slavery; or a View of some of the more prominent Features of that State of Society as it exists in the United States of America, and in the Colonies of the West Indies, especially in Jamaica. 8vo. pp. 118. Price 3s. London. 1823. ALTHOUGH little room is left us to notice the important subject of these deeply interesting pamphlets, we cannot let another month pass over without earnestly recommending them to the notice of our readers. The degraded state of our colonial population is a consideration which ought to touch every professed Christian. It is a national sin and abomination, the guilt of which the man is guilty in some degree of participating, who can think of it with indifference, or refuse to think of when it is thus placed before him. We are anxious to stand clear of this guilt, and now take shame for our past supineness. The mistaken idea, that when the Abolition of the Slave Trade received the assent of the British Legislature, every thing was secured, has, we fear, too extensively induced, of late years, a criminal inattention to the ultimate object, the abolition of slavery itself. The details contained in Mr. Wilberforce's eloquent yet dispassionate pamphlet, will dissipate this mistake, and will leave without excuse those who may have hitherto acted, or rather ceased from taking any active interest in the subject, under a false impression. We trust that the pulpit as well as the press, will be employed to urge home upon the consciences of British Christians, their duty and their responsibility in reference to this important object, which, more than perhaps any other, demands immediate legislative interference. That interference, if called for by the public voice, will not, cannot be withheld. We shall take an early opportunity of returning to the subject. In the mean time, we leave withour readers this solemn appeal of the venerable individual who now once more, in his declining years, comes forward with the unspent ardour of his youth, to plead the cause of our African brethren. * ART. XI. SELECT LITERARY INFORMATION. Gentlemen and Publishers who have works in the Press, will oblige the Conductors of the ECLECTIC REVIEW, by sending information (post paid) of the subject, extent, and probable price of such works which they may depend upon being communicated to the public, if consistent with its plan. Mr. J. B. Williams, of Shrewsbury, has been for some time past, employing moments of leisure from professional avocations, in selecting and arranging the numerous MSS. in his possession, and within his reach, of the venerable Philip Henry, with a view to a new and greatly enlarged edition of his Life, by his Son Matthew. Mr. Williams is desirous, prior to committing the work to the press, that he may have an opportunity of inspecting every existing document which may at all bear upon the object, and, therefore, solicits from the holders of such papers, the temporary loan of them-more particularly diaries and letters in Mr. Philip Henry's handwriting-under the assurance that, if forwarded to Mr. W. by coach, they shall be most carefully preserved, and returned free of expense. A volume of Sermons on several Subjects, with notes critical, historical, and explanatory, by the Rev. Charles Swann, late of Catherine Hall, Cambridge, will shortly be published. In the press, The Sunday Scholar's Friendly Instructor, in familiar dialogues. By the Rev. Joseph Kirby. A new and elegant edition of the whole works of Mr. Archibald M'Lean, in 7 vols. 8vo. will be ready in a few days. Mr. J. Mitchell is preparing for the press, Introductory Exercises to the Writing of Greek, on a plan similar to that of his Introductory Latin Exercises. Dr. Gordon Smith has in the press, a new edition of the Principles of Forensic Medicine, which will contain much additional matter. The volume will embrace every topic on which the medical Practitioner is liable to be called to give a professional opinion in aid of judiciary inquiries. Dr. Forster is about to publish, Illustrations of the Mode of maintaining Health, curing Diseases, and protracting Longevity, by attention to the state of the Digestive Organs; with popular Ob ; servations on the Influence of Peculiari-' ties of Air, of Diet, and of Exercise, on the Human System. In one vol. 8vo. Mr. Earle has in the press a work containing, 1. Practical Remarks on Fráctures at the Upper Part of the Thigh, and particularly Fractures within the Capsular Ligament; with critical Observations on Sir Astley Cooper's Treatise on that subject. 2. Observations on Fractures of the Olecranon.-3. Description of a new Apparatus for more effectually securing the Upper Extremity in cases of complicated Injury of the Shoulder-joint and Scapula, and two other papers. In the press, a second edition of the Theory and Practice of Gas Lighting, by T. S. Peckston. In this edition, the author has considerably abridged the theoretical part of the work as given in the first edition; and to render it as useful as possible to every practical man, there is introduced much original matter relative to coal gas, and an entirely new treatise on the economy of the gases obtained for illuminating purposes from oil, turf, &c. Mr. J. Frederic Daniell, F. R.S., has in the press, a volume of Meteorological Essays, embracing, among others, the following important subjects: On the Constitution of the Atmosphere; on the Radiation of the Heat in the Atmosphere; on Meteorological Instruments; on the Climate of London; on the construction and uses of a new Hygrometer. Mr. Robert Meikleham, Civil Engineer, has in the press, a Practical Treatise on the Various Methods of Heat. ing Buildings, by Steam, Hot-air, Stoves, and Open Fires. With some introductory observations on the combustion of fuel, on the contrivances for burning smoke, and other subjects connected with the economy and distribution of heat; with numerous explanatory engravings. Mr. Charles Dubois, F.L.S., is about to publish in a small volume, an easy Introduction to Lamarck's Arrangement of the Genera of Shells, being a free |