466 Review. Gurney's Essays. All these important subjects are treated most evangelically, and are evidently the production of a spiritual and devout tion of the reader the personal and mind, intent on enforcing on the atten Absolutely pure as is the Supreme | tion in the Divine Nature-The Scriptural Being, and infinitely glorious in the perfec- Account of the Spiritual Adversary — The tion of those moral qualities which his own Scriptural Account of Man - The Scriptural law prescribes, it is a fact which admits of Account of Jesus Christ; viz. 1. His preno doubt or denial, that in some of the crea- existence; 2. On Christ during his stay on tures of God moral evil exists and abounds. earth; 3. In his reign—On the RedempWhen we remember the omnipotence of tiou of Mankind; viz. 1. The Scriptural Jehovah, when we call to mind that from Doctrine of Atonement; 2. The Merits and him, and through him, and unto him, are all Advocacy of Christ; 3. The Scripture things' -we may with reverence acknow- Doctrine of the Spirit-On Faith and Obeledge, that this fact presents to our narrow dience :-Conclusion. and inadequate understandings, a mystery which we are utterly incapable of penetrating or explaining. The ways of an infinite God are indeed unsearchable; and all that we can safely say on the subject is this that moral evil is permitted to exist, for some wise, though to us incomprehensible purpose; and that all things will unques-practical importance of the doctrines of tionably be found, in the end, to have been working together for the glory of God, and for the welfare of them that fear him. But, no sooner do we take a step further, no sooner do we entertain the idea that God, in the common sense of the expression, is the author of iniquity-that he actually appoints it as the means of greater goodthat he not only permits, but approves itthat he attaches misery to it, not because it deserves to be punished, but because the suffering, as well as the sin, is one link in the chain, which is always to end in the good and happiness of the sinner-no sooner do these preposterous doctrines obtain a place in our minds, than we involve ourselves in the most dangerous errors. Then is our standard of right and wrong destroyed; and while it is impossible for us, with any colour of justice, any longer to assert that God is holy, we naturally sink down into the conclusion, that virtue and vice are matters of indifference, and, in fact, exist only in imagination." pp. 122, 123. We regret that the confined limits of our Miscellany, preclude the possibility of giving further quotations in support of our opinion, in regard to the excellency of these well-written and elaborate Essays. For the purpose of inciting our readers to purchase and read the volume, we give the titles of the chapters of which it is composed "On the Probability of a Divine Revelation to Mankind, and the genuineness of the New Testament On the Credibility of the New Testament, and of the Evidence of Miracles The Evidence of ProphecyThe internal Evidences of Christianity. The Divine Authority of the Holy Scriptures The Scriptural Account of the Divine Being The Union and Distinc The author says, grace, and the duties of Christianity. We were a little surprised, too, that so judicious a writer should have made references (p. 230.) to the apocryphal books of the "Wisdom of Solomon" and of "Ecclesiasticus," as if they were "parts of the Old Testament;" and this, too, in proof of the important Scriptural doctrine of the pre-existence of Christ as the Son of God. Surely the most that can be fairly inferred from those books on that subject is, that the writers used the term "Word" probably in reference to the Son, in the same sense as the sacred writers have spirit and deportment of Dr. Ryland, without receiving an impression, which became deeper by better acquaintance, that his piety was very eminent; and it is our opinion, that these selections from his manuscripts harmonize perfectly with such a view of his character. done. It may serve for illustration, but certainly not for argument. Is not this like "going down to Egypt for help?" Some of the most valuable parts of this book are what the author calls "Recapitulation" of the respective Essays. In these there is a judicious condensation, of all his statements and arguments, brought luminously before the mind, and impressed on the recol-cond, but we doubt not that it will be ' lection of the reader. For our readers as worthy of public patronage as the who can consult the learned notes, containing Hebrew, Greek, and Latin quotations, there is a feast provided of extensive information and critical research. Had we not been acquainted with the author's peculiar views, as a minister of the Society of Friends, we should have really thought that when he was writing the chapter "On Obedience,” and especially of "Positive Commandments," that he had forgotten the two institutions of the Gospel, Baptism and the Lord's Supper. That he has overlooked them is certain, and in this respect we, of course, consider his work essentially defective. No one could /learn from what is here written, that Baptism and the Lord's Supper were instituted ordinances of the Lord Jesus; or that the apostles ever enjoined them upon the disciples of Christ; or that the primitive Christians were all baptized in water, as the first act of homage to Jesus Christ; or that they all partook of the Lord's Supper, in order "to shew forth the Lord's death," &c. It is due, however, to Mr. Gurney, to say that he has not attempted any defence of his own principles on these subjects, nor scarcely hinted at them. With the exceptions above mentioned, we admire the work, and cordially recommend it, especially to biblical students. It is, as a whole, a most useful publication: the author is entitled to the thanks of the Christian world. What we now advance respects the first volume; we have not seen the se one of which we at present give our opinion. The Memoir, it seems, could not be prepared in time for this volume, which consists entirely of sermons, exactly in that state, we believe, in which the Doctor prepared them for his use in the pulpit. The subjects here treated on are very numerous and important, but we fear it will be thought, that instead of thus occupying two volumes, it would have been far better to have limited the work to just half the intended size. Instead of notes of sermons on eighty-six subjects, the number contained in this first part, it would have been preferable perhaps to have given us only twelve of these selections, with a narrative of the holy and useful life of their author. As affording a fair specimen of the subjects before us, we give the following : "The Character of Caleb," from Numb. xiv. 24." The Joy of the Lord the Believer's strength," from Neh. viii. 10.-"The Benefits of Affliction," from Job v. 17, 18.-"The Beauty of the Divine Image," from Ps. xc. 17.-" God the Supreme Governor," from Ps. xcvii, 1.-"The Pleasantness of Religion," from Prov. iii. 17. Such themes as these deserve most serious attention; and if all who peruse what Dr. Ryland has here written, should become as much interested by them, as he evidently was, their lives will be useful and happy, and death will introduce them to a state of immortal sanctity and blessedness. We extract one of the Sermons as a Pastoral Memorials; selected from the No wise and good man observed the "Ps. xxiii. 3. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness, for his name's sake. "David, in this psalm, celebrates the . divine care and goodness, especially as exercised respecting his spiritual concerns; and beautifully illustrates it by a metaphor, exceedingly plain and easy to be understood by all, and peculiarly suited to his own case, as being taken from that employment in which he was engaged in early life. David himself had been a good shepherd, and had ventured his life for his sheep. He knew the toils and cares of that occupation, and the attention necessary, especially in oriental countries, to the most useful and most defenceless species of creatures which God has formed for the service of man. He knew also the strong propensity of those animals to wauder; and he knew his own heart, his original apostacy, and remaining propensity to wander from God. Ps. cxix. 176. Perhaps his great backsliding had not taken place when he composed this psalm; yet he had room for this humble acknowledgment—My soul will he restore; he will lead me in the paths of righteousness, for his name's sake.' Have not we need of the same consolation, and for the implied confession? Let us consider, my brethren "First, the necessity of the blessing. "We have all wandered from God in our natural state. All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned aside, each to his own way.' Not all so far, or so visibly; God has hedged us in and prevented us, by education, affliction, or various restraints; at which we have perhaps murmured, instead of being thankful for. "Was there not a time when you took no delight in God, when you paid no regard to his authority, when, perhaps, you had no thought of your own eternal interests? If you regarded God at all, it was merely the effect of fear, not of love. You had no relish for his green pastures, you loved to wander, and attempted to derive your chief happiness from another source. "Happy is it, if you have now returned to the shepherd and overseer of souls!' But will you not own it was the Lord who brought you back? Even since you have known the Lord, and tasted that he is gracious, have you never found a propensity to depart from him? Are you not chargeable, at least with heart backslidings? Have you no proneness to forget the Lord, to intermit the exercise of faith and holy love? If you forsake not the assemblies of the saints, yet are not your closets seldomer visited than formerly; and your private devotions more slightly performed? Has no idol intruded into your affections? Have you no room to say, 'O that it were with me as in months past!' Cannot he whose eyes are as a flame of fire, and who declares that all the church shall know that he searches the hearts and the reins, say, 'I have somewhat against thee?' If not, yet beware; you are yet in the body. But many must own this: yea, still worse, their zeal has visibly abated: yea, they have evidently turned aside from God. Ab! foolish and ungrateful souls, how forgetful of all his benefits! Yet, blessed be God for his restoring grace! Let backsliders implore it. Let us all prize it. Consider, Secondly, the value of this blessing. How great a thing was it to be brought back to God at first! Never should we have returned to him of ourselves. Sheep are seldom known, like some domestic animals, to return. Sinners never do return, and never would return, were not the good Shepherd to seek them. " 'Jesus found me when a stranger," &c. He himself is the way; never could we have had access to God, but through his righteousness. His Spirit alone guided us into the way of peace. He induced us to comply with the call of the Gospel. He made us willing to return unto God. "O, what mercy has been manifested in healing our backslidings since! notwithstanding all the baseness and ingratitude that have attended them; though we have sometimes given occasion to the enemies of religion to reproach the ways of God, or at least have not honoured God as we ought to have done. And we should probably have wandered much further, had not the Lord nterposed for our restoration. Sometimes providences, surprising and unexpected, or perhaps painful and severe, have been subservient to this purpose; sometimes stated ordinances; sometimes brotherly reproof. But whatever means were used, it was the Lord who gave them efficacy, and rendered them successful to bring us back to himself. He has inclined us to place our happiness in him, to seek him in the way he has prescribed, to return to a state of voluntary subjection. "Which leads us to consider, Thirdly, the evidences of our partaking of this blessing. "Have we been thoroughly convinced of our original departure from God, its reality, iniquity, folly, and ruinous tendency? Have we been convinced that it is our duty and privilege to return home to God, that this is best, wisest, and happiest? Do we heartily acquiesce in God's method of saving sinners, in a way that shall demonstrate his righteousness and magnify bis law; even through the mediation of that Saviour on whom the Lord laid our iniquities, and who laid down his life for the sheep? Are we willing and desirous of walking before God in the ways of righteousness, regarding his blessed word as our directory in our conduct towards mankind, as well as respecting the immediate worship of God? Do we consider the law | sitions, both in prose and verse, that the appearance of a new volume, written or edited by him, is always hailed with joy, and we hasten to possess ourselves of the treasure. of God as spiritual, requiring truth in the inward part; and extending to our temper, as well as to our outward visible practice? When we wander from God, are we filled with pain and shame, and do we find that we cannot be happy till our souls are restored, and we return to the paths of righteousness? Are we conscious that we need the continual attention of our good Shepherd, to keep our minds from being bewildered with error, our wills from disobedience and rebellion, our affections from being inordinately fixed on some inferior good, if not on some forbidden object; or to prevent us from degenerating into self-righteousness, sloth, or worldly-mindedness, Nevertheless, we have not been so much gratified with "The Pelican Island" as with some of Mr. M.'s former productions. It is written in blank verse, which, in our opinion, is not well suited to his poetical powers. We could have wished, too, that he had chosen some other subject, better adapted to general usefulness; for though the poem contains many exquisitely wrought descriptions, and its tendency is uniformly good, yet there is less scope for the manifestation of that fervent spirit of evangelical piety for which Mr. M. is so happily distinguished, than in his other "Do we long for further progress in the good ways of God; to know, love, serve, and glorify him better; desiring to walk on as pilgrims, till we arrive at a state of absolate perfection? Are we conscious that what our gracious Lord has done for us is all of his sovereign mercy? He hath wrought it for his name's sake, and not for our righte-works. We are sorry that we cannot ousness' sake. All our salvation flows from the riches of his grace. Do we earnestly wish to honour God's name, and to live to the praise of the glory of his grace? "Oh! let us admire and adore the Lord our Shepherd, and acknowledge our obligations to his matchless goodness, as displayed both in our first conversion and in all our subsequent experience. May they who are still wandering away from God, have their feet directed into the way of peace; be led into the ways of righteousness, and find them ways of pleasantness, and paths of peace!" 1. The Pelican Island, and other Poems. 2. The Christian Poet; or Selections in justify these remarks by an analysis of the poem, which would require more space than we can conveniently spare: our readers must therefore be referred to the volume itself, and they may be assured that the perusal will confirm all their previous feelings of esteem and admiration of its author. From the minor pieces contained in the volume, we select the following, which we regard as one of Mr. M.'s. happiest efforts: : "A Theme for a Poet. And soon of me it must be said, A few may weep a little while, We are happy to see that Mr. Mont-Shall I bequeath to deathless Fame, Let Southey sing of war's alarms, And millions sacrificed to fate, To make one little mortal great. Let Scott, in wilder strains, delight The hills that form a world on high, Let Byron, with untrembling hand, Go down and search the human heart, Let Wordsworth weave, in mystic rhyme, Yet so our yielding breasts enthral, And strangely pleased, we start to find Let Campbell's sweeter numbers flow Transcendent Masters of the lyre! I sing the men who left their home, Where'er the curse on Adam spread, Strong in the great Redeemer's name, To feel his love their only joy, To tell that love, their sole employ. O Tbou, who wast in Bethlehem born, -O Thou, enthroned, in filial right, Till earth, like heaven, thy name shall fill, And men, like angels, do thy will: Thou, whom I love, but cannot see, "The Christian Poet" is a selection of extracts, nearly four hundred in number, from our best authors, chronologically arranged, from Chaucer to Bishop Heber. We have given some specimens at p. 463 of the present Number. The pieces are well chosen, frequently from scarce publications, and writers little known by modern readers. Biographical and critical notices are occasionally interspersed, and in the "Introductory Essay" Mr. M. examines, and very successfully combats, Dr. Johnson's philip- pic against religious poetry. We doubt not that this volume will obtain, as it deserves, an extensive circulation. Mr. Montgomery has also favoured us with a valuable "Introductory Essay" to Cowper's Poems, which abounds with elegantly-written and judicious criticism on the productions of that amiable and gifted author. We cannot withhold from our readers the following remarks on the malady by which the life of the Poet was embittered: — "With regard to his malady, there scarcely needs any other proof that it was not occasioned by his religion than this, that the error on which he stumbled was in direct contradiction to his creed. He believed that he had been predestinated to life, yet, under this delusion, imagined that God, who could not lie, repent, or change, had, in his sole instance, and in one moment, reversed his own decree, which had been in force from all eternity. At the same time, by a perversion of the purest principle of Christian obedience, he was so submitted to the will of God, that, to have saved himself from the very destruction which he dreaded, he would not avail himself of any of the means of grace, (even pre |