SELECT CHRISTIAN AUTHORS, WITH INTRODUCTORY ESSAYS. 51 SELECT CHRISTIAN AUTHORS, WITH INTRODUCTORY ESSAYS. ART. I. The Imitation of Christ; in three Books; by THOMAS A KEMPIS. Translated from the Latin, by JOHN PAYNE. With an Introductory Essay, by THOMAS CHALMERS, D.D. Glasgow, Chalmers and Collins, and Whitaker, London, pp. 350, 12mo. pr. 3s. 6d. bds. ART. II. The Works of the Rev. John Gambold, A.M. late one of the Bishops of the United Brethren. With an Introductory Essay, by THOMAS ERSKINE, Esq. Advocate, Author of Remarks on the Internal Evidence for the truth of Revealed Religion. Glasgow, Chalmers and Collins, and Whitaker, London, pp. 340, 12mo. pr. 3s. 6d. bds. ART. III. Treatises on the Life, Walk, and Triumph of Faith, by the Rev. W. ROMAINE, A.M. With an Introductory Essay, by THOMAS CHALMERS, D.D. Glasgow, Chalmers and Collins, &c. 2 vols. 12mo. pp. 370 each, pr. 7s. bds. ART. IV. Private Thoughts on Religion, by the Rev. THOMAS ADAM, late Rector of Wintringham. With an Introductory Essay, by the Rev. DANIEL WILSON, A.M. Minister of St. John's, Bedford Row, London. Glasgow, Chalmers and Collins, pp. 300, 12mo. pr. 3s. 1823. ART. V. Treatises on Justification and Regeneration, by JOHN WITHERSPOON, D.D. With an Introductory Essay, by WILLIAM WILBERFORCE, Esq. Author of a Practical View of Christianity. Glasgow, Chalmers and Collins, pp. 340, 12mo. 3s. 6d. bds. 1823. ART. VI. The Redeemer's Tears wept over lost souls; and Two Discourses on SelfDedication, and on yielding ourselves to God. By the Rev. JOHN HOWE, M.A. With an Introductory Essay, by the Rev. ROBERT GORDON, Edinburgh. Glasgow, Chalmers and Collins, pp. 300, 12mo. pr. 3s. bds. 1823. ART. VII. An Alarm to Unconverted Sinners. By the Rev. JOSEPH ALLEINE. With an Introductory Essay, by the Rev. ANDREW THOMSON, A.M. Minister of St. George's, Edinburgh. Glasgow, Chalmers and Collins, pp. 380. 12mo. pr. 4s. 1823. ART. VIII. The Christian Remembrancer. By AMBROSE SERLE, Esq. With an Introductory Essay, by THOMAS CHALMERS, D.D. Glasgow, Chalmers and Collins, pp. 320, pr. 3s. 6d. bds. 1823. WE class these eight distinct publications under one general head, for a very obvious reason. Though each of them may be purchased separate from the rest, the whole are printed uniformly, are published by the same booksellers, and are intended to form part of a select library, which will comprise the most esteemed and approved authors that have instructed and edified the Christian community during the last century. The design, by whomsoever conceived, is certainly a very good one, and has so many advantages to recomitself to every considerate mind. The mend it, that it cannot fail of approving reader who casts his eye over the titles of the books and the names of their authors, will at once perceive that hitherto they have been selected with judgment; and though we may not agree with every doctrinal sentiment of each author, yet it should be carefully remarked, that it is not the immediate design of any of these volumes to discuss doctrinal points; but assuming the foundation of the Christian faith-the fall of man, and the corruption of human nature-the mediation of Christ-justification by faith, and sanctification by the word and Spirit of God, to press home upon the heart and conscience of the reader, the practical influence of these evangelical sentiments-to awaken the careless and unconcerned to a due consideration of the things which most their everlasting intimately concern peace; to reclaim the backslider, comfort the feeble-minded, and lead every professor of the name of Jesus to remember, that genuine religion does not consist in mere accurate speculations upon the sublime doctrines of Christianity, but in "putting on the Lord Jesus Christ," in all his imitable excellencies, imbibing his temper and spirit his perfect love to God, and unwearied benevolence to man-his disconformity to the world-his meekness, gentleness, self-denial, patience under insults and injuries, and keeping up a continual warfare with the world, the flesh, and the devil. It is not to be expected that every reader will think alike of the merits of each author, whose writings form a part of the Select Library; we all have our favourites. Witherspoon and Gambold have our preference, while Howe and Serle and Romaine will be more esteemed by many; and we should be sorry to be thought to undervalue any of them. It certainly was an excellent plan of the publishers, to introduce each author's work by a preliminary dissertation on the contents of the volume; these Introductory Essays cannot fail to give the present edition a preferable claim to others that may be on sale. The names of Chalmers, Erskine, Daniel Wilson, Mr. Wilberforce, &c. are well known, and highly attractive. We shall close this article with adding, that the volumes are well printed on good paper, with a bold and clear type, such as persons of advanced age are in quest of; and the whole series very proper to form a part of a Christian's library. We shall announce the succeeding volumes from time to time, as they appear. Memoirs of the Public and Private Life of John Howard, the Philanthropist; compiled from his own Diary, in the possession of the Family; his confidential Letters; the communications of his survizing relatives and friends; and other authentic sources of information. By JAMES BALDWIN BROWN, Esq. L.L.D. of the Inner Temple, Barrister at Law. Second Edition. London, Underwood, Fleet-street; Tegg, Cheapside; and Westley, Stationers' Court; pp. 700, 8vo. pr. 15s. bds, 1823. THOUGH we did not present our readers with, what may be called, a formal review of the first edition of this interesting work; we nevertheless announced it, in the fifth volume of our Journal, and in p. 1-5. 61-64. 225229, extracted a considerable portion of information from it, relating to the biography of this distinguished individual. We are glad to see the work arrived at a second edition, and presented to the public in a size, and at a price which render it more accessible to the generality of readers. In an Advertisement prefixed to this new edition, we are informed that the work has been a little curtailed in some of its less important details, in order to make room for a few additions and corrections which have been introduced, partly occasioned by the recovery of two of Mr. Howard's memorandum books, that had been mislaid when the Memoirs were originally prepared for the press. Mr. Howard was unquestionably a great character, and we are under considerable obligations to Dr. Brown for the time and pains he has devoted in preserving it from oblivion; but wherein did its superiority consist?-Certainly not in his high birth, for his father was a humble tradesman-not in his classical attainments, for he could barely write his own name, and was absolutely incapable of composing a paragraph fit to meet the public eye; but it was in his resemblance to the character of his Divine Master; in his disconformity to the world, his zeal and intrepidity in "going about to do good;" in alleviating the sum of human misery-ministering to the wants of his fellow-creatures, and turning his back upon popular applause. We cannot, therefore, help expressing our fervent wish, that his present biographer had compiled his Memoirs with a less ostentatious display of his intercourse with "high life." To John Howard, the Philanthropist, the pomp and parade with which his character is here introduced, must have been repulsive in the extreme. We wish we could make room for "Friend" Wiffen's Elegiac Stanzas to the Memory of HOWARD, prefixed to the volume; they are remarkably chaste and simple, and in all respects worthy of the subject; but the whole is too long for insertion in our columns, and we would not do the poet the injustice to garble them. The Young Convert; a Poem, interspersed with Anecdotes, Curious Incidents, and Entertaining Dialogues, designed for the Amusement and Instruction of Young Persons. By S. DEACON. A new Edition, Revised and Corrected, with some account of the Author. By JAMES MILLARD. London, Jones, Lovell'scourt, and Mann, Commercial-road; S. Deacon, Barton; and F. Deacon, Leicester; pr. 2s. 6d. bds. 1824. In a late number of our Magazine, (Nov. 1823, see our last volume, p. 367.) we took notice of a small tract, under the title of "The Strange Sight;" and although we said but little about it, that little excited considerable attention, and caused many to read it, who would otherwise have remained ignorant of it. We have no doubt that the result of this has been the removal of many prejudices against the revealed will of the Lord, and the furtherance of the cause REVIEW OF DEACON'S YOUNG CONVERT. of truth. "The Young Convert" is the production of the same pen; but, with the same object in view, it is a publication of a much higher class, and displays talent of a different order. It is a volume of poetry, exhibiting a simple and artless tale, in which the progress of Divine GRACE, as is frequently inanifested in the churches of Christ, displays itself in the conversion of a sinner, and in forming the Christian character in many of its most interesting features. The poem commences with a description of the means whereby "Johnny," a simple cowherd, was brought to the knowledge of the truth, under the preaching of a Baptist minister in a country village; this is succeeded by his "putting on Christ" in the ordinance of baptism, and joining a Christian church. His history is then traced as a member of the church, in attending its meetings for prayer, exhortation, discipline, &c. till he is called by the voice of his brethren to engage in the work of the ministry, and thus to fill the highest and most important station to which a mortal can be advanced in this world. From a short account of the Author, prefixed to this new edition of his Poem, we derive some very pleasing traits of his history; and are almost led to think that, in relating the adventures of his hero, like Beattie in his Minstrel, he has been his own biographer. Apologising for the quality of his poetry, he proceeds in the following humble strain : "It would be absurd for a mechanic to attempt to write for the gratification, or instruction of the learned and polite; he could not do it were he to try, and the attempt would probably render it unfit for the generality of his readers. If men of a nice and critical taste should despise it, he cannot help that; he can only say he has done as well as he knew how. He did not think it safe to bury his talent for fear of the laugh of men of genius; he had a greater than these to regard; and if he can obtain his approbation he shall think he has abundant reason to be satisfied. His time and talents are both from God; in his cause they ought to be employed; and how can it be done to greater advan tage, than in attempting to show sinners the way of salvation! this is the ardent desire of his heart, and the principal business for which he lives." Again, he tells us, that in writing his Poem, 53 "He has endeavoured to pay a pretty punctual regard to consistency of character in the persons introduced, though it must be confessed, that some of them are comical enough. On this head, his friends have the graver sort think some passages too expressed a different opinion. Some of light. Others think, that those very passages add considerably to its beauty, and will induce many to read it. This weighs much with the author. If it be not read, it cannot profit: and if there be not something to divert the reader, it will tire the mind, especially of young people. He therefore lets them stand without material alteration. He has one fear, and that is, that some of his readers will lay the whole to the author, and consider it all as his.— Thus they may make him a perfect monster. But when he dreams of what a sceptic, a formalist, a fiddler says, he relates it as their discourse, and not his own. And he does it to expose the temper and conduct of such men, and to let young Christians see what kind of treatment they may expect from them and to show them the absurdity of continuing in fellowship with such characters, as well as to animate them to look above the scum of fools, and the scorn of infidels; and to go on cheerfully in the way of holiness, notwithstanding all the opposition they may meet from men of the world." He then goes on to state his view of a "Now rejoicing, home he goes, When he reached his little cot, very charac And then another-and so on; You'll never know when you have done. teristic of the heart of one to whom "all Be brief and wary what you say, things are become new." HYMN. ARISE, my soul, arise! And praise the Sov'reign king; See how the joyous sun, The creatures all combine, How good thou art to me; The dialogue is pretty well kept up throughout the volume; but one of the most interesting episodes is that where poor John meets with a sceptic, who, by his "how do you know," poses him excessively, and sends him to "Mister Dip" (the Baptist minister) for counsel. The following is the advice given to John, and better advice, we think, in such a case could not be given. Even Solomon has directed us to "answer a fool according to his folly." "Be careful what you do, my friend; Of How d'ye know?' there is no end. When one is answer'd, they've another, The evidence of that to smother; And for their better judgment pray. That they may teach, and you may learn. Then answer sceptic's 'How d'ye know!"" Upon the whole there certainly is much useful information comprised in this little volume; and it is presented in a form which must be rather attractive to young persons, for whose use it was more immediately designed, and to whom we cheerfully recommend it, Antinomianism Dissected; being a Reply to Mr. Gadsby's Pamphlet, entitled, "Sandemanianism weighed in the Balance and found wanting," in which the False Weights of that Author are detected and exposed. By HENRY HART. London, Wightman, Fleet-street, and Jones, Lovell's-court; pp. 56, 8vo. pr. 1s. We took some notice of Mr. Gadsby's pamphlet at the time of its appearance, (See New Evan. Mag. vol. IX. p. 154.) little anticipating that any one would think it worth his while to undertake the wearisome task of furnishing a formal answer to it. Yet Mr. Hart has thought it may possibly benefit some of Mr. Gadsby's deluded followers to see his errors refuted, and "the false weights" with which he has pretended HART'S REPLY TO GADSBY.-CHALMERS'S SERMONS. to weigh, what he is pleased to term "Sandemanianism," detected and exposed. He has gone over his pamphlet, page by page, and dissected his Antinomianism; and having done so, he concludes his remarks as follows: "The reader will recollect that I assumed the character of a Sandemanian for the sake of argument. I do not, however, know what real Sandemanianism is, except so far as Mr. Fuller has given a fair statement of it in his Letters on Sandemanianism. I never was in fellowship with the Sandemanians, nor do I believe that either Mr. Stephens, or the Editor of the New Evangelical Magazine ever was. Nor would Mr. Sandeman, if he were living, or any of the churches which follow him, 55 Such of our readers as feel interested in the merits of this dispute, would do well to peruse Mr. Hart's present pamphlet, which, like his former one, evinces considerable shrewdness and dexterity in wielding the weapons of controversy. In his Preface he apologises for any defects which the reader may find in his style and composition, on the ground of his having to support himself and family by the daily labour of his hands-an apology which every candid mind will readily grant him. Though we feel obliged to him for what he has done, we are fully aware that, by throwing his remarks into a more methodical form, he might have given greater point and effect to his critical dissection. Sermons preached at St. John's Church, THIS Volume contains fifteen Sermons, of which the following are the titles and texts: Sermon I. The Constancy of God in his Works, an argument for the faithfulness of God in his Word.-Ps. cxix. 89, 90, 91. II. The expulsive power of a new affection.-1 John ii. 15. III. The sure warrant of a believer's hope.Rom. v. 10. IV. The restlessness of human ambition.-Ps. xi. 1. and lv. 6. V. The transitory nature of visible things.-2 Cor. iv. 18. VI. On the universality of spiritual blindness.Isaiah xxix. 9-12. VII. On the new heavens and the new earth.-2 Pet. iii. 13. VIII. The nature of the kingdom IX. On the of God.-1 Cor. iv. 20. reasonableness of faith.-Gal. iii. 23. X. On the Christian Sabbath.-Mark ii. 27. XI. On the doctrine of Predestination.-Acts xxvii. 22, 31. XII. On the nature of the sin against the Holy Ghost. admit any one of us into communion. But it seems Sandemanianism is become a term of reproach, and Mr. Gadsby, as if conscious of his inability to meet his opponents with fair argument, endeavours to prejudice his readers against them, by calling them Sandemanians. We have passed over several instances, in which he has used such language as a fair, and honourable opponent, whose aim is to profit his readers by the force of truth, would be ashamed of. For instance, in page 16, he informs us that Balaam wanted nothing but presumption to make him a firm Sandemanian. It is a matter of perfect indifference to me, whether I have defended or denied Sandemanianism; I have written what I have learned from the Scriptures. If it be Sandemanianism, I joyfully submit to the reproach it may bring upon me; if it be not, it only shows a man's ignorance, or malevolence, to cast the reproach upon those who do not hold the sentiments. I have now briefly replied to every thing that bears any resemblance to an argument in Mr. Gadsby's pamphlet; but to expose his errors in all their bearings, would require a volume of considerable size. have shown, however, that he utterly fails in his attempt to prove Sandemanianism wanting. He has proved himself unable to weigh, either that, or any other system in the balance. I have demonstrated, that his pamphlet contains gross blunders, palpable contradictions and absurdities; that many of his assertions are in direct opposition to the plain declarations of the word of God: and what is worse than all, that he adds to, and alters the words of the Holy Ghost. In page 12, he makes adto four passages of Scripture, which additions he attempts to impose upon the reader as the words of Inspira--Isa. i. 3. tion there is neither honour nor honesty in this. It is of no use, therefore, to argue any more with a man who takes such liberties with the sacred Scriptures." ditions I Matt. xii. 31, 32. XIII. On the advantages of Christian knowledge to the lower orders of society.-Eccles. iv. 13. XIV. On the duty and the means of Christianizing our home population.— Mark xvi. 15. XV. On the distinction between knowledge and consideration. We took an opportunity last month, p. 20, of offering a remark or two on Dr. Chalmers's style of sermonizing, not then anticipating that we should so |