phrase has another sense at once Protes tant and holy. Are there not such things as transmitted duties, as well as transmitted privileges? May not the Providence of God, in the events of a particular country, visibly raise up a particular denomination, whose special work it shall be to assert and vindicate great truths and invaluable rights, until they shall have triumphed in a universal acceptance? And may there not be hallowed associations connected with the rise of that church, and with its first assertion of those principles, which it shall be at once the advantage and the duty of succeeding ages to cherish and hold sacred?"

Believing that there are, and desiring to see the members of our church intelligent professors of their principles, prepared at all times to maintain and act upon them, we welcome the series so happily commenced as a boon to the denomination, and wish it the full success it so well merits.

The

The first volume is occupied in nearly equal portions by the two narratives. Mr Thomson divides his work into four chapters, entitled respectively-the causes-the origin-the consolidation--and the results of the Secession. The arrangement is happy, and indicative of the clearness and precision that prevail throughout. first chapter takes a rapid, but very distinct bird's eye view of the state of the Church of Scotland from the Revolution settlement to the origin of the Secession, presenting at greater length the celebrated Marrow controversy, so important for its influence on subsequent events. The second and third chapters relate the rise of the Secession, and embrace the period extending from 1732 to 1740, when the last link that bound the fathers to the establishment was severed by their deposition. The last chapter is, like the first, a survey, succinct but interesting, of the subsequent history of the Seceders, their division and reunion, with the part taken by them in the great questions that have agitated the country during their century of existence as a body. The conclusion contains an estimate of the results of the entire movement under three aspects. 1. As regards the preservation of gospel purity. 2. The interests of religious liberty; and, 3. Contributions to the literature of the country, enumerating and characterising, with great judgment and taste, the eminent men who, since its commencement, have adorned the history of the church.

Mr Thomson has done his subject the fullest justice. He has not produced a mere compilation of details, or an epitome of a general history, but a narrative that bears evidence of having been fused in his own mind, and cast afresh. This gives it the

charm of novelty, "evens to those whose knowledge of the details enables them to anticipate his course, and makes it arrest the attention and maintain it to the close. The style is felicitous. With a tendency, not unfrequently, to season it with epigramma tic point, it is yet easy, flowing, rich, and warm, kindling, as it rises with the subject, into the fire of true eloquence. As illustra tions of it, and of the life infused into persons and events, we might instance the manner in which Ebenezer Erskine in the second chapter, and Wilson, Moncrieff, and Fisher in the third, are introduced and por trayed; the description of the first Sabbath in the parishes of the Seceding ministers after the deposition; and the medallions of the distinguished ministers of the denomi nation, that closes the narrative. We would gladly transfer some of these to our pages, did we not believe that the volume, if it is not already, shortly will be in the hands of all the members of our church. The spirit of the reflections interwoven with the narrative is of the most healthful kind-a thorough sympathy with our seceding fathers, with neither an unreasoning adherence to them in all they said and did, nor unreasonable hostility toward all with whom they came into collision.

Dr Struthers, already honourably known as the historian of the Relief Church, has performed his part, as might be expected of him, with the hand of a master. His narrative is not an abridgement of his history. "He has brought forth out of his treasure, things new and old." As he himself in.. forms us in the preface, some points are of necessity more briefly adverted to than in the history, but others again more fully, with the object of giving an ample view of the doctrines and ecclesiastical polity of the Relief Church. Dr. Struthers proves himself every where at home with his subjecthe turns it as easily as he grasps it strongly. There is a vigour, a point, and raciness in his style that give interest to all he touches; a keen sarcasm on occasion intermingled, that borrows its edge from its truthfulness, and yet shed over the whole that warm glow of christian charity which becomes one who argues so stoutly for the unrestricted communion of the saints. The great interest of the narrative centres, of course, in Gillespie himself; and it is im possible to read it without both loving and admiring the man for that singleness of eye and heart which formed the prominent feature of his character. We know few cases in the history of the church that show so strikingly how much may be done by a man undistinguished by genius, by splendid ta lents, or glowing eloquence, but possessed with a firm conviction of duty, and a reso lute determination to follow its path, fears.

less of consequences. A very interesting chapter traces the course by which the son of Boston of Ettrick was brought to the res cue, forming, with a third accession Mr Colier from England--the first Relief Presbytery, 22d October 1761. For the graphic power of Dr Struthers in description, we may refer to his account in this chapter of Boston's first sacrament, on the Ana at Jedburgh. The two concluding chapters present a view of the doctrines held by the Relief Church, more particularly its distinguishing principles in regard to the spiritual nature of Christ's kingdom, and free communion. Strong, and, considering the period, clear views on these points prevailed in the body from its origin. It bore reproach for them in days when they were less understood and appreciated than now; and it is, therefore, with laudable pride, that Dr Struthers points to that stedfast testimony, and the growing homage it is now receiving.

His

The length to which the remarks on the series in general, and on the first volume of it, have extended, leaves less space than we could have wished for adverting to Vol. II. We regret it the less, that we shall probably have opportunity of referring to the patristic literature of our church, and the advantages of reviving it, on the appearance of some future volumes of the series. Meantime we must bear witness to the great judgment and care with which Mr Smith has discharged the duties of editor. work, in his own words, was " First, to make a selection of doctrinal sermons only. Secondly, to select such a number of these as would faithfully exhibit Ebenezer Erskine's views on all the great leading doctrines of the gospel. Thirdly, to alter nothing, but throughout allow Mr Erskine to express his own ideas in his own language; and lastly, to comprise the whole selection in a small duodecimo volume." For securing these different objects, Mr Smith has chosen a highly judicious course. To have given entire discourses, would, from their great length, have been to occupy the volume with but a few, and to have given extracts disjoined from their connexion, would have been to mar their effect. A plan between these has been adopted. What is not doctrinal, has, in each discourse, been excluded, and the whole re-arranged as far as the omissions rendered it necessary. We have compared several of the sermons thus re-cast with the original forms, and have admired Mr Smith's discrimination in se lecting, tact in re-arranging, and scrupulous fidelity in presenting Ebenezer Erskine as he really spoke and taught. The volume is an admirable one, and will do much, we trust, to make the names of these sermons again familiar in our churches as household

words; to increase in ministers the desire to give, and in members the taste to receive, that pure milk of the word with which they every where abound. We can only wish, with Mr Smith, that "while our ministers and preachers were as eloquent as Robert Hall, as profound as John Foster, and as learned and refined as Philip Doddridge, they might, above all, be as plain, as scriptural, and as evangelical as Ebenezer Erskine. Like him, may they all be 'determined to know nothing save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.?".

It would be unjust to deny their meed of praise to the enterprising publishers. They have "set apples of gold in pictures of silver." The style in which these two volumes are got up in exterior, accompanying engravings, and general appearance, places the series unquestionably at the head of all similar publications we have yet seen. They have laid the church under a debt of gratitude which we hope to see acknowledged in the support given to their spirited undertaking. For the sake of the church itself, we desire earnestly to see this series finding its way into every family connected with it. The two bodies recently united, will learn to honour, not only each its own, but each the other's ancestry. They will see a like origin and aim, like men and measures, and as the union scarcely can be said to need consolidation, since it is already so complete, that a disruption in the United Presbyterian Church to-morrow, would hardly, by any supposition, rend it in the line of the late alliance, it will receive at least approval and illustration. Great ends have been gained by the separate rise and existence of the two denominations. They have been allowed, each in its own channel, more free development; they have drained a larger amount of territory; brought to the common confluence more copious streams; and, whereas an earlier and immature junction might have caused more grievous separation, they have been kept like two chemical elements in distinct vessels, till, pouring them into one, produces assimilation immediate and complete. But greater ends are to be gained by them united. God, we believe, has not an unimportant place for us in conflicts that are passing and impending. Without arrogating exclusive pioneership, we cannot but perceive that our distinctive principles are touched on every side by the momentous questions of the age, and that we are not only invited but provoked to action. We possess a vantage ground in our position and principles if we know well how to employ them. The past will teach us much—“ what our fathers have told us, and what God did in their days." From their faith and firmness, their doing and daring for the purity of Christ's

gospel, and the freedom of his church, we shall descend with a holy impulse, and, with members well instructed in their principles, and resolved to maintain them, we shall do our part, and judge our people as one of the tribes of Israel.

DISCOURSES, DOCTRINAL and PRACTICAL. By the late Rev. ROBERT BRODIE, A.M., Glasgow. 12mo, pp. 448.

Glasgow: David Robertson.

We are so well pleased to have got this volume at last, that we can resist, more easily than at one time we had thought it possible to do, the temptation to express our gathered dissatisfaction at its delay. That a volume of sermons, from Mr Brodie's pen, would be given to the public after his death, was what all who knew him expected as a matter of course. It was known to many that his own sensitive modesty, his dislike of every thing having any semblance of ostentation, and the high standard of literary composition he had set up for himself, prevented the publication, during his lifetime, of numerous discourses, which friends, well competent to judge in such a case, had deemed worthy of publicity, and had solicited the author to send forth in a printed form. But it was concluded that, when the barrier offered by his own personal feeling should be removed, justice to his memory, and the claims of the church of Christ, would elicit some public memorial of pulpit exercises possessing so rare merit. We are glad to find that this expectation has not been disappointed, The explana tion of the delay, though it has surprised us a little, we willingly accept. The imperfect state of the MSS., as referred to in the preface, is, we confess, what we had not at all anticipated, remembering the polish and completeness which ordinarily characterized the author's Sabbath addresses; and yet, on reflection, we can understand that the fact stated is fully consistent with the circumstances which had made us think it improbable. A man of cultivated taste is sometimes so ill to satisfy in the matter of expression, that he finds nothing good enough for him while calmly sitting at his desk at the work of composition; and it needs the pressure of strong necessity, such as that which bears upon him when addressing a public assembly, to determine his choice as to the verbiage in which he will clothe his idea. Having obtained this explanation in regard to the publication before us, we have no more to say about the delay; but have now only to thank the accomplished editor that he has kept so steadily to his work of revising and "deciphering," and that he has at length fur

nished us with such valuable fruit of his friendly and congenial labours.

The first fifty pages of the volume are occupied with a brief preface, and with "biographical sketches," extracted from various addresses delivered and published on the occasion of Mr Brodie's death. The editor states, that it was at one time contemplated to prepare a separate biographical notice; but that, upon reflection, he was persuaded the preferable mode was to reprint the sketches which had formerly appeared. We almost regret that the excellence of these said sketches was so decided, as to afford some plausible ground for the editor's self-indulgent determination in this matter. If, however, he wished his readers to coincide with him as to the plan "originally contemplated," he should have abstained from writing the preface; in which the taste and tact displayed, harmonizing so well with the general style of the volume, only make the reader wish they had been exemplified on a more extended scale. In short, Mr M'Dougall has got off too easily with his three pages of preface; and we tell him it was expected he would be more free with his pen in portraying a character so uncommon, and which he was so well competent to sketch, for general advantage. It may be long ere such an opportunity of honourable and useful authorship occur to him again!

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The discourses here collected are twentyone in number; of which, we observe, four are reprints. The circumstance of re-publication to this extent, so far from diminishing the worth of the volume, serves, in one view, very much to enhance it. Not to speak of the value of the discourses anew presented to the public, and the propriety of securing that they should be preserved in a more permanent form than they obtained in their first fugitive character, it was only due to the author that we should have here a specimen of his writing, revised and published under his own eye. "Simon bearing the Cross," Negative Error in Matters of Faith," "Christian Worship delineated," and "Death a Sleep," are the discourses which have enjoyed this advantage. Other two addresses, formerly printed one, which appeared in the Scottish Pulpit, on Matt. xxvii. 52, The first Fruits of the Saint's Resurrection;" another, on Phil. i. 27, published separately after the Glasgow riots of 1819-are, for some reason or other, not included in the present collection. We are not without hope, that the demand for a second volume will afford occasion for the re-appearance in print of these performances, which are, in all respects, worthy of the author's reputa

tion.

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As there is no system apparent in the

selection of the discourses, the editor, we presume, has been to a great extent guided by the state of the MSS. entrusted to him, and, as was due, has fixed on those which seemed least to stand in need of his editorial function. Taking the volume as an average sample of the author's pulpit labours, we should conclude him to have been more than usually practical in his preaching. Seldom does he dwell long on any doctrine of systematic theology; and when he does, it is not in the systematic form. In presenting the great saving truths of the New Testament (and as an evangelical divine, he declares these truths with a degree of prominence and distinctness which proves that he thoroughly apprehended their import, and deeply appreciated their value), he seems studiously to avoid the use of such language as might indicate that he hath taken his creed from any source inferior to the fountain of inspiration. In the opening of the first discourse, this reverence for the "words which the Holy Ghost teacheth" in preference to all phraseology of human invention, is brought strikingly into view; the text is 2 Cor. v. 21. "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him,"- -a text bearing obviously on the great doctrine of

atonement.

"When doctrines, which are the subjects of religious controversy, are considered apart from the terms in which they are discussed, there is much less difference of 'sentiment than is indicated by the definition given of the terms employed. This should not make us indifferent about accurate definition; but it ought to make us conscientiously careful not to use scriptural terms in a sense, in any measure removed from the scriptural acceptation of them as ascertained from the places and the context of the passages, in which they occur. In speaking of the plan of salvation, theological writers speak of the righteousness of Christ. The expression commonly used in Scripture on this subject, is the righteousness of God.'-The righteousness of Christ, again, is divided by them into active and passive, which have each their separate efficacy. The Scripture is satisfied with tracing our pardon, acceptance, and salvation, to the obedience of Christ unto death on the cross. Human refinements on this subject neither illustrate the statements of Scripture, nor add to the impressiveness of its doctrines."

While the author admits the advantages of correct definition, and seems to allow that the terminology of divines helps to the attainment of this object, his jealousy of the systematic theology is perhaps overstretched. The refinements referred to

were necessitated by the efforts of heterodox teachers to explain away the natural meaning of scripture language; but as the adoption of that language was no evidence that the person using it received the doctrine which the orthodox understood it to convey, something else,-some refinement, if we must give it such a name, was required to distinguish the things that differed. It would appear that, in the progress of human language, statements expressive of a common belief need, like the inscriptions on monumental stones, to be periodically revised and refreshed, if clearness and accu

racy are desired. Familiarity with the words has something of the effect of abrasion; while a perverse logic gathers a mould, first obscuring and then concealing the truth designed to be perpetuated. For this reason, the thirty-nine articles, at the time they were drawn up, were useful to elucidate scripture; and for the same reason now, that Arminians and Anglo-Catholics in the English Church contrive to explain their creed, to their own satisfaction, at least, as consistent with the Arminian and Puseyite views; a new symbol, refining more closely than ever, might be requisite to explain the thirty-nine articles themselves. Without this revisal and refreshing, there is some danger that we begin to use our theological phrases as the Algebraist does his symbols, which, even when they are taken from the beginning of the alphabet, a, b, &c., as expressive of known quantities, are liable, in the process of solving an equation, to be treated as mere signs, the thing signified being for the time kept out of view. Much advantage, therefore, may be reaped, albeit at some risk, from preaching possessing the peculiar quality of Mr Brodie's, teaching the hearer to analyse for himself the stereotyped phraseology in which Christian doctrine is commonly expressed.

In the discourse to which the sentences just quoted belong, the preacher, adopting a plain textual division, illustrates; I. The personal character of Christ, "without sin," II. His mediatorial office, "made sin for us;" and, III. His benevolent undertaking, "that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." The plea, founded on the text for the vicarious and expiatory nature of the Saviour's death, is put with admirable clearness and force.

The opening of the second discourse is so characteristic of the author, that a reference to it will illustrate better than pages of criticism, his general manner of handling the word of God. The text is Matt. xxvi. 30, the verse which closes the evangelist's narrative of the institution of the Lord's Supper" And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the Mount of

Olives." Looking at the "Mount of Olives," in the view in which it is presented in the subsequent verses, namely, as the scene of our Lord's agony and the disciples' temptation, the exercise in which they engage immediately before they went out, acquires a new meaning. Contemplated in the shadow of this dread and trying scene, the doctrine, deduced by the preacher, is that the spirit of praise is the spirit in which the Christian will meet most successfully the trials of life. This precious truth, which the author seems to have quarried for himself out of a commonly quoted, and yet much neglected text, forms the basis of a sermon full of original and striking thought. Other discourses in the volume corroborate the notion, which this one would lead us to form as to the manner in which Mr Brodie selected the topics of his pulpit exercises. He seems to have started usually from some idea struck out in the course of his private reading of the word, without note or comment; and then. after entertaining the idea in his mind, night and day, and gathering round it the thoughts to which it was fitted to give rise during this prolonged and earnest reflection, to have poured out the fulness of his mind on the page before him. There is

thus a degree of freshness and individuality about his discourses, too seldom exemplified in such compositions, whether published from the press, or merely spoken. "Simon bearing the cross," "Isaiah's vision," "no temple," "the timid disciple," "the characteristics of Daniel's piety," appear to us to display more particularly the marks of this independent thinking.

A paragraph from the discourse above noted, on the spirit of praise as qualifying for the encounter of trials, will show the cultivated style of preaching to which the church of Campbell Street was accustomed. If it be alleged that criticism on a work of art is out of place in the pulpit, we reply, that whatever field of illustration serves best to exhibit and impress valuable Christian truth to a Christian congregation is open to the preacher. It is to be remembered that Mr Harvey's picture of "The Covenanter's Sermon "-one of a series, in which that distinguished artist has illustrated, with a power of genius previously unapproached in that walk, the ecclesiastical annals of Scotland-was an object of great public admiration at the time Mr Brodie was writing. He has spoken of the witnessing remnant in the times of Scotland's persecution for conscience' sake, as examples of joyous praise in the midst of suffering:

"This feature in the character and history of our covenanting forefathers, establishes the correctness in some points of the

.

pictorial representations which some of the living artists have attempted of these scenes. To the fidelity of the general outline of the piece designated, 'The Covenanter's Sermon,' no exception can be taken. It cannot be disputed that they assembled on the mountain heath and under the canopy of heaven. It cannot be disputed that persons, of both sexes and of all ages, were there-that the babe in the arms was there-that the silver locks of those who were bending to the grave were seen there-and that martial accoutrements were in strange combination with the volume that contains the charter of our heavenly hopes. It has been thought, however, that the impression given to the figures in this motley group, was too calm and staid for the circumstances in which they were placed. The objection proceeds from forgetfulness of the character of genuine religion. Even under these circumstances, it is calm and staid. It is the soul arising in devout admiration, and fixed on God. The mind is possessed of but one idea-the pervading presence of him who rides on the whirlwind, and directs the storm; and who, on the clouds which sometimes encircle his chosen people, has im-` pressed the rainbow of his promise and the sign of his benignity. The representation, which the artist has given of the faithful of former days, is not more consistent with theological accuracy than with historie truth.

We find ourselves obliged, from want of space, to refrain from the plan we had in view, of noticing the discourses severally and in succession. We can make room only for another brief extract-one of many which we had noticed, in the prospect of transferring them to our columns. The subject is Daniel's piety, as manifested in relation to the decree of Darius; and, among its other characteristics, the preacher is illustrating its heroic quality, when he presents the following contrast between the heroism of the martyr and that of the warrior :

:

"From the almost exclusive character of the eulogies bestowed on the courage of the soldier, it seems to be assumed that the field of battle is the place for the highest display of that quality. Little account is made of the heroism of the confessor and martyr. A slight degree of reflection, however, will show that the courage displayed in the one [the latter] case, is far more entitled to our admiration than that displayed in the other. When the soldier enters the field of battle, it is with the expectation that he shall come off, not only victorious, but unhurt; whereas the martyr knows that he must die in the conflict. After the soldier is once engaged in the work of carnage, his