science; while they toil in philosophical research, or in planting and watering the tree of civil liberty, our adversary sleeps not. Fathers, brethren, ministers of Christ, in the presence of God I charge youI charge myself, with betraying the grand interests of our Master, by refusing to propagate his Gospel. I charge you with the habitual open violation of Christ's command, "Go preach the Gospel to every creature." I charge you with the unspeakable guilt of burying in a napkin those unsearchable riches, which the apostle Paul thought it the honour of his life to preach to the Gentiles. Lastly, I charge you with doing this without shame, without remorse, and almost without an effort to do the contrary." P. 6. The author's turgid style must not induce us to withhold from him the praise of well meant effort; and the inconsistency of his ardent harangues to persuade others to a task from which he himself shrunk, must not turn away our attention from some unpalatable truths. In fact, appeals of this kind have been favorably received by the British public; and that religious spirit which has been increasing in this kingdom, and perhaps in the nations of Europe, for the last twenty-five years, has prevailed to a great extent in giving an impulse to missions. It cannot be said that there is now in England a want of zeal in the cause; still less that there is a want of funds. In the year 1661, under the auspices of the Hon. Robert Boyle, a name as dear to piety as to science, the whole funds of the incorporated Society for propagating the Gospel in New England, amounted to 11527., of which sum there was only an opportunity of spending in that year 7381. (See Brown's History of the Propagation of Christianity, vol. i. p. 68.) In the year 1822-3, the contributions to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, were 51477., besides a Parliamentary grant of 94127.: to the Church Missionary Society 35,4627.; and to the American Board of Missions 13,7787. The Jesuits could have had no funds proportionable to this wealth, when in the course of a century and a half that Society established their 60,000 parishes in Paraguay. The Moravians or United Brethren, who of modern Missionaries have had most success, have been poorest of the poor.. If then there be wanting to our English Missionaries neither zeal nor money, to what cause or causes are we to attribute the slow progress of Christianity among the heathen in our times? Principally we think to want of unity of effort. The Protestant Missionaries go forth as Individuals, to contend single handed, not only against the ignorance and prejudices of the heathen but as theological polemics who are to refute the errors, or supposed errors, of their Christian brethren, in the audience of strangers and infidels, who in consequence of these internal disputes, must look with doubt upon the system. The laity in foreign countries do not always afford the best specimens of English principles and manners; more intent upon pleasure, profit, and power, than upon preserving a religious and moral conduct, their lives do not adorn Christianity, or recommend it to the natives. Thus the Missionaries too often find obstacles among those of their own household: they have no superiors to look up to, who may strengthen and direct them in difficulties, and are left to their own resources, unprepared in mind and body for the real practical evils before them. There are some few solitary instances of persons, a Schwartz, a Brainerd, who have overcome all impediments; but these are rare, and the effect of their labours is insulated,-a small green spot in a vast waste. What individuals have done under so many disadvantages is, however, an encouragement to proceed: from their partial success we may infer the reasonable probability that considerable effects would follow the efforts of a united body like the English clergy; conducted with knowledge and circumspection, as well as animated with zeal. Under the discipline of the National Church we might conclude, that none but fit persons would be selected for the office of Missionaries, that they would be previously instructed in the peculiarities of the situation to which they might be commissioned, and powerfully assisted in difficulties and emergencies. Above all, under such management, we might hope to receive a full, exact, and faithful account of the true state of Missions. A simple statement of matters of fact relating to any one Mission, would avail more to interest and persuade persons of prudence and understanding, and through them the public, than all those reiterated, highflown appeals to the passions, which well meaning men circulate without end through the press (sometimes with childish, disgusting pictures) to the effect of exhausting the funds destined for Missions, in useless publications. Mr. Horne gives some very good advice with regard to the conduct of Missionaries in heathen countries, in his 4th letter, and to the qualifications they should possess, in the 5th and 6th. "The Missionary should possess much self-denial, and be regular in all his habits. He need not have the razor's edge; but he must be as the blade of a well-tempered knife. He must be a man of discipline and self-command. His character should be divested of sloth, effeminacy, and indulgence. He should be more the active man than the contemplative one. A sound constitution hardened to the vicissitudes of the seasons is greatly to be desired; but a mind superior to suffering is a consideration of far more importance. We require in our Mis NO. VI. VOL. III. Сс sionary a disinterested generous way of thinking and acting, above low cunning, servile compliance, and a presumptuous invasion of powers to which his character does not entitle him. We would have him sincere, open, affectionate, &c." P. 86. "Enough, thou hast convinced me no human being can be a Missionary.' "To be a Missionary is indeed very difficult, but not impossible." Surely the Church of England, as a body, should endeavour to provide men suited to this important office, by an establishment for their education at home, and by settlements in foreign countries for preparing native teachers. Colleges or seminaries of this kind have in many parts of the world prospered and flourished under Divine blessing. The English Universities are now full to overflowing; and there seems to be a call from God and man for some national foundation in order to supply persons duly qualified for fulfilling Christ's last command-" GO AND EVANGELIZE ALL NATIONS." A Comment upon the Collects appointed to be used in the Church of England, before the Epistle and Gospel on Sundays and Holidays throughout the year. By the REV. JOHN JAMES, M. A. 12mo. Pp. 300. 7s. 6d. Rivingtons. 1825. THIS is a very unpretending, but a very useful performance, containing much valuable matter, fitted by its cheapness for extensive circulation; and calculated by its clearness of style and solidity of instruction, to be very beneficial to that class of persons, to whom it is addressed, the parishioners of a country town. To many of the younger Clergy, it will also be found very convenient, particularly to those who are in the habit of adapting their Discourses to the subject suggested by the Collect of the day. The hints thrown out in this commentary might frequently, without difficulty, be expanded into a Sermon well suited to the generality of congregations. In his Dedication Mr. James lays, very properly, great stress upon the pre-eminent services of mothers in the religious education of their children: "The first training of the soul for heaven," he justly observes "is a maternal office." And this leads him to reflect, with a feeling, with which every well constituted mind will * Oundle, of which Mr. James is the curate. sympathize, upon the obligations which he himself" owes to a mother, now numbered with the dead." It is evident, that a work of this kind admits not of analysis. It consists of a series of reflections, naturally suggested by each of the Collects which are used before the Epistle and Gospel appointed for Sundays and Holidays throughout the year. These are explanatory of their sense, when necessary;-and their readers are exhorted to the performance of the various duties which they inculcate, by the most powerful arguments; in which zeal is guided by knowledge, and ardour does not degenerate into enthusiasm. There are passages also, which indicate that the author has no mean pretensions to learning; but it is displayed with so little parade and ostentation, that the book is printed at a country, press, which could not supply the proper types for the quotation of Chrysostom and other Greek writers, in their own language. A short specimen or two will, we apprehend, be sufficient to justify the opinion, which we have expressed of this work. Commenting upon the Collect for the Sunday after Christmas-day; and speaking of "Regeneration at Baptism," he observes, that, "Thus changed both in condition and in name, we are, (scripturally speaking) born again-regenerate, changed from a state of wrath, to a state of grace. But spiritual life, as well as natural life, requires to be continually supported; or our new birth will not profit us. To this end, it is necessary, that the grace first given at baptism, as the quickening principle of spiritual life, should be continually renewed in us; because, since day by day we offend against the perfect law of God, we of course forfeit the privileges of the covenant, by breaking the conditions of it; and can recover them only by that grace, to assure us of which, our baptism was the pledge." The Character of St. Paul is sketched with much felicity, in the comment upon the Collect which celebrates his conversion. We can afford room only for a part of it." "To a natural dignity of mind, and a commanding eloquence, he added great attainments. He was deeply learned, and thereby enabled to cope with the learning of his own countrymen, and the philosophy of the Gentiles. All his powers were well directed. He knew all the springs of human action, and touched them with a master's skill. Hence there is a remarkable adaption of sentiment, style, and manner, to the different people or individuals amongst whom he ministered *. To the lawless sailors in the storm, he declared at once his call to be * 1 Cor. ix. 22. divine*. Before the Athenians, who were of elegant minds, smooth manners, and a keen sensibility of any opposition to their rational, or devotional prejudices; before them he studiously avoided an abrupt declaration of his call from heaven. He declared to them no new God; but proposed to open their understanding to a fuller comprehension of the very Being whom they did worship. His address to them upon seeing their altar dedicated to the unknown'-is the finest instance on record of the application of eloquence to the honour of Godt. Indeed, he exhibited in his conduct before all men, a rare combination of different excellencies. Unyielding in principle, he was yet of most finished address, and polished manners ‡. The self-respect which set him at ease before kings, was tempered with an humility, which made him courteous towards all men." We have not selected these passages as being better than the generality of the work, which is marked throughout by sound judgment delivered in perspicuous language; and displays uniformly considerable ability and familiarity with the topics which it discusses. We noticed indeed one observation,—which probably escaped Mr. James in one of those nodding moments, to which all authors are liable,-that seems to us to be hardly correct. Speaking of the conduct of Herod in the murder of the innocents, he describes it thus, "Hurried on to madness by these combined feelings, and not bearing in mind that the spiritual kingdom of the Messiah, could not interfere with him, whose kingdom was of this world, he sent forth and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem." Now we certainly do not mean in any manner to apologize for the inhuman cruelty of Herod but it does seem to be implied here that he possessed a degree of knowledge of the nature of the Messiah's kingdom, which probably neither he nor any of his countrymen at that time had or could have had. It is possible, however, that we ourselves may mistake Mr. James's meaning, and at any rate, it detracts very little from the merit of a work, which we consider upon the whole to be one of the most sensible and useful books of the sort we have ever perused. : *Acts xxvii. 23. + Acts xiii. 22. Acts xxvi. 27, 29. |