1

ART. XI. SELECT LITERARY INFORMATION.

In the press, Biblical Researches and Travels in Russia, including a Tour in the Crimea, and the Passage of the Caucasus; with observations on the state of the Rabbinical and Karaite Jews, the Mahommedans, and the Pagan Tribes inhabiting the Southern Provinces of the Russian Empire. By Dr. Henderson, Author of a Residence in Iceland.

Dr. Donnegan has just completed, in one volume 8vo., his Greek and English Lexicon, upon the plan of Schneider's very popular German and Greek Lexicon, and adapted to the use of the

English Student from his going to School till he leaves the University.

The Rev. Dr. Morrison is printing, A Parting Memorial; consisting of discourses written and preached in China, at Singapore, on board ship at sea, in the Indian ocean, at the Cape of Good Hope, and in England.

In the press, the Narrative of a Tour around Hawaii (or Owhyhee). By the Rev. W. Ellis, Missionary from the So-' ciety and Sandwich Islands. One vol. 8vo. with several illustrative engravings, and a map of Hawaii.

ART. XII. LIST OF WORKS RECENTLY PUBLISHED.

MISCELLANEOUS.

The Juvenile Friend, or Family and School Magazine; religious, sentimental, and literary expressly adapted to the instruction of the youthful classes in families, and as a reading and reward-book in all schools. Vol. IV. No. 1. 6d.

Second Statement of the Committee of the Edinburgh Bible Society, relative to the Circulation of the Apocrypha by the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society. 8vo. 2s.

The Popular Rhymes of Scotland, with Illustrations, chiefly collected from Oral Sources. By Robert Chambers. 18mo. 6s.

POETRY.

An Essay on Mind, with other Poems.
Foolscap 8vo. 5s.

THEOLOGY.

Hora Sabbaticæ; or an Attempt to correct certain superstitious and vulgar Errors respecting the Sabbath. By Godfrey Higgins, Esq.

A Daily Expositor of the New Testament; in which the Text is divided into Sections, with a practical Exposition, especially intended as morning and evening Portions for pious Families and private Christians. By the Rev. Thomas Keyworth, one of the Authors of Principia Hebraica. Vol. I. Containing the Four Gospels and the Acts. 10s. 6d.

Psalms according to the authorized Version; with prefatory Titles, and Tabular Index of Scriptural References, from the Port Royal Authors, marking the circumstances and chronologic Order of their Composition. To which is added, an Essay upon the Psalms and

their spiritual Application. By Mary Anne Schimmelpenninck. 12mo. 7s.

Vindiciæ Ecclesiæ Anglicana. Letters to Charles Butler, Esq. comprising Essays on the Romish Religion, and vindicating the Book of the Church. By Robert Southey, Esq. L. L.D. &c.

8vo. 15s.

Vindication of "The Book of the Roman Catholic Church," against the Reverend George Townsend's Accusations of History against the Church of Rome with Notice of some Charges in the publications of Dr. Phillpots, the Rev. John Todd, M.A., and others. By Charles Butler, Esq. 8vo. 9s. 6d.

Sermons preached on several Occasions in the Island of Barbadoes. By W. J. Shrewsbury. 8vo. Portrait. 7s.

The Christian Exodus; or the Deliverance of the Israelites practically considered in a Series of Discourses. By the Rev. R. P. Buddicom, M.A. F.A.S. &c. 2 vols. 8vo. 11. 1s.

TOPOGRAPHY AND TRAVELS.

Letters from the East. By John Carne, Esq. of Queen's College, Camb. 8vo. 18s.

The Modern Traveller. Spain and Portugal. 2 vols. 10s. bds.; 126. neatly balf-bound.

Six Months in the West Indies. Crown 8vo. 9s. 6d.

Visit to the Falls of Niagara, in 1800. By John Maude, Esq. Royal 8vo, with plates. 11. 11s. 6d.

Sketches in Wales, or a Diary of Three Walking Excursions in that Prin'cipality, in the Years 1823-24-25. By the Rev. G. J. Freeman, L.L. B, 8vo. with 15 views. 11. Is.

THE

ECLECTIC REVIEW,

FOR APRIL, 1826.

Art. I. Essays on the Evidences, Doctrines, and Practical Operation of Christianity. By Joseph John Gurney. 8vo. pp. x. 566. Price 10s. 6d. London, 1825.

IN noticing this volume before we have reviewed Mr. Gurney's recent work on the Religious Peculiarities of the Society of Friends, we are guided partly, perhaps, by inclination; but it seems the natural order, to consider first the grand points on which we are agreed, before we proceed to discuss those minor ones on which we find ourselves compelled materially to differ. Throughout the present volume,' says Mr. Gurney,

• I have endeavoured to avoid the discussion of any of those points in religion which can with any reason be regarded as peculiar or sectarian. I have considered it to be, on the present occasion, my sole duty, to arrange and unfold the testimonies borne in Scripture to those primary religious principles which the generality of the Christian world unite not merely in believing to be true, but in regarding as of essential importance to their present and everlasting welfare.'

The Evidence and Authority of Revelation are the subject of the first five Essays: the remaining seven are devoted to the following leading topics. The Scriptural Account of the Divine Being. The Union and Distinction in the Divine Nature. The Scriptural Account of the Spiritual Adversary. The Scriptural Account of Man. The Scriptural Account of 'Jesus Christ-in his pre-existence; during his abode on 'earth; and in his reign. The Redemption of Mankind. Faith and Obedience.' This arrangement is simple and comprehensive, and far preferable to that of most divinity systems, which, affecting a greater precision, run into so many subdivisions. The subjects of the first two Essays fall under the first general head of Theology, the title of Calvin's first book, -De cognitione Dei. The next two relate to the actual condition of Man. The last three essays treat of the Mediatorial VOL. XXV. N.S. 2 Č

intervention for his Recovery, comprising all the subjects of Calvin's second and third books. Here Mr. Gurney stops; and it is precisely at this point that the differences between pious Christians of the various Protestant communions begin, their religious peculiarities relating almost entirely to the external means of salvation. Thus it is, that while those peculiarities destroy the uniformity, they do not affect the unity of the Catholic Church.

To these topics, we say, the religious differences which separate real Christians almost entirely relate; for it would not, we apprehend, be going too far to assert, that every sectarian division of the Protestant Church has been founded on a peculiarity of sentiment relating either to the nature of the visible church, the sacraments, or some point of discipline. Putting the modern Unitarians out of consideration, the rise of Independency, the great Nonconformist secession, the origin of the Baptists, the Quakers, the Methodists, and the subdivisions of Presbyterianism, may all be traced to a dissent from the corruptions and usurpations of the Secular Church with regard to the nature or administration of the outward means of grace. Whatever theological peculiarities may attach to these several denominations, they will neither be found to have originated the separation, nor to be essential to the sect The Arminianism of the Wesleyan, the Calvinism of the Baptist, are found, the one in the articles, the other in the received theology of the National Church. And even the characteristic tenets of Quakerism respecting the cardinal doctrine of Divine Influence, do not so essentially differ from the opinions of many learned and pious men of other communions, as the views of Friends on this subject vary among themselves. Differences respecting the extent of redemption, the nature of faith, predestination, and the rest of the five points, have been the fruitful source of controversy in every age and in every church. The indivisible Church of Rome has not been less divided and subdivided against herself, by contending schools, doctors, and orders, than the Protestant Church has been; nor can the smallest existing sect pretend to an entire uniformity of opinion among its members on these points. But then it is consoling to reflect, that nine parts out of ten of the various controversies which have been maintained by theologians on the subjects alluded to, have consisted of metaphysical reasonings and opinions; and of the remaining tenth, one half has been made up of disagreements chiefly verbal. There cannot be a more striking proof of this, than the fact, that the practical and devotional writings of some eminent persons of every com munion, not excluding even the corrupt Church of Rome, have

become the common property of the Church Catholic, and the palpable evidences of its unity. The writings of Bernard and à Kempis, Pascal and Fenelon, Leighton and Beveridge, Baxter and Owen, Watts and Doddridge, Scott and Fuller, are now found side by side in the same library, and circulating among all classes of religious readers. And the work before us affords another testimony to the essential unity of the faith, by shewing how immeasurably more important are the points on which real Christians agree, than those on which they differ. We are not insensible of the objections which lie against Quakerism as a system, but we rejoice to find that its errors will all come under the fourth book of Theology; and we are not at liberty, therefore, to class Mr. Gurney and his friends, the evangelical part of his society, among either heretics or schismatics, according even to the definition of a learned Romanist: For there is to be considered, as to the 'Church, the head and the body. From the head, there is no departure but by doctrine disagreeable to Christ the head. From the body, there is no departure by diversity of rites and 'opinions, but only by the defect of charity.* Words worthy of something more than a golden inscription: they claim to be engraved on every heart.

If ever the various denominations of Protestantism are to be brought into closer union, it must be, we apprehend, not by means of a greater harmony of opinion on minor points, at least in the first instance, but by having their attention more fixed on the grand points on which they agree. The pious 'bishops Ridley and Hooper,' says Howe, had differed somewhat angrily about ceremonies, but were well agreed upon a martyrdom at the stake.' In proportion as the attention is concentrated upon the substantial and prominent parts of religion, we feel to have more in common with those from whom we dissent. This is the true antidote to sectarian feeling. And in proportion as we give their due prominence to these common grounds of faith, we disarm the hostility of prejudice. Such a work as the present is admirably adapted to answer this most desirable purpose,-to fix the attention of Friends, and of readers of every denomination, on the cardinal doctrines of the Christian faith, divested of every thing technical or sectarian in either sentiment or phraseology. The instances are exceedingly few and unimportant in which the Author's religious peculiarities have given the slightest colour to his statements;

P. 146.

* Cassander de Officio Pii, &c. quoted by Howe. Works, Vol. IV.

but throughout the volume, we meet with abundant marks of a catholic spirit, as well as a fervent and enlightened piety.

In the introductory Essays on the Evidences of Christianity, originality was not to be looked for. Mr. Gurney has contented himself with a very brief outline of the argument pursued by Lardner, Paley, and Michaelis, with regard to the credibility and external evidence of Revelation; considering that, to the sincere inquirer, those evidences which are the matter of observation and experience, are not only the most accessible and intelligible, but the most satisfactory. This is true; but if it was necessary, in such a work, to advert to the lower species of evidence, it was advisable to exhibit it in all its force. Mr. Gurney commences his work with some remarks on the strong antecedent probability of a Divine Revelation.' In exposing the unreasonableness of infidelity, this consideration may have its use; for, in fact, the bare possibility of a Revelation lays every man under the most sacred obligations to examine the truth of the Christian religion. All presumptive reasoning, it might be shewn, is in favour of a Divine interposition of this nature. But to Mr. Gurney's readers in general, the fact that a Revelation has been given, will probably appear more nearly approaching to self-evident, than the hypothetical probability adduced in support of the fact; and it strikes us as a great defect, though a very common one, in theological reasonings, to attempt to strengthen indisputable propositions by proofs less certain, or at least less obvious, than the corollary they are employed to establish. The entire force of the à priori argument in favour of the credibility of Revelation, which Mr. Gurney has glanced at, few of his readers will be qualified to appreciate With regard to the believer, it is superfluous. To bring it to bear on the sceptical inquirer, a much wider view of the subject and a more extended induction would be requisite.

:

It seems to us that Mr. Gurney, in these introductory essays, has not had very distinct ideas as to the class of readers to whom he was addressing himself. There are two very different objects which a writer may have in view in treating of the evidence of Christianity the one is, to vindicate it against the attacks of infidels, to expose and confute their objections, and to satisfy the doubts of the sincere inquirer; the other is, to arm the believer against the assaults of infidelity, by putting him in possession of all the evidences of his faith. In the one case, in which the Writer has to gain over a jealous enemy, he has the choice neither of his ground nor of his weapons; he can argue only from what the other party admits, and this circumstance narrows the basis of his reasonings. He has to set out with a concession infinitely derogatory to the claims of Christianity,