others. Then there is the whole body of the Psalms, of which we yet want a familiar exposition, for the use of the lower orders; and how well qualified Mr. Berens is to give us this, the present Lectures on the Penitential portions abundantly testify. We are far from presuming to dictate to a writer, whose pen is clearly never idle, and who knows much better than we do what should be done but it has often been a source of much pain to us to reflect how lamentably ignorant the majority of congregations are of those noble compositions which form so large and prominent a part of our Church service, and contain so many striking prophecies confirmatory of the Christian faith, so much consolation in the hour of trouble, so much practical admonition, and so many perfect models of devout praise, thanksgiving, and prayer.

But we have too long kept our readers from the Lectures before us: and we must still beg to confine our present remarks to those on the Catechism, reserving the others for a future consideration.

Those on the Catechism are six in number: their titles are, 1. Baptismal Vow; 2. Creed; 3. Duty towards God; 4. Duty towards our Neighbour; 5. Lord's Prayer; 6. Lord's Supper. Where all are so good, we know not what portion to select; and selection is less necessary, as the public are not now to judge for the first time of the style of the author. There are passages, however, as 'we read them, which struck us as peculiarly happy, and in Mr. Berens' best manner: we would particularize the following:

"The mention of the Christian name at the beginning of the Catechism, naturally leads to the occasion on which that uame was given; and, I would remark, that the circumstance of our bearing a Christian name, ought constantly to remind us, both of the privileges which were then conferred upon us, and of the engagements into which we then entered. Let every one, says the Apostle, that nameth the

name of Christ, depart from iniquity*; and, let every one that bears a Christian name, beware of doing or saying any thing which would be unworthy of the Christian dishonour on the name of Christian. profession, any thing that would reflect

"You will observe that Baptism is represented as placing us in a new state. The assertion that in Baptism, each of us 'WAS MADE A MEMBER OF CHRIST, THE CHILD OF GOD, AND AN INHERITOR OF THE fore Baptism we were in a less favourable KINGDOM OF HEAVEN,' implies that be-condition. Before Baptism we were in our natural state, that state which in Scripture is called the flesh, and the old man; and St. Paul assures us, that they that are in the flesh cannot please Godt, that they that live after the flesh shall die ‡. This

sinful and mortal nature we inherit from our first parents, who by transgressing the command of God brought sin and death into the world. By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned §. It is in compliance with these and other passages of Scripture, that the Catechism speaks of men in general as

BEING BY NATURE BORN IN SIN AND THE CHILDREN OF WRATH. To deliver us from this state, the Son of God, who was with the Father before the creation of the world, became man, and died upon the cross; and he appointed Baptism to be the regular means of admission into the feltion in the benefits which his death was delowship of his religion, and to participasigned to purchase. In his conference with Nicodemus, Christ said, Except a man be born again-born of water and of the Spirit-he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. And his last charge to the Apostles was, Go ye, and teach' -or make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost ¶. To which is added in the parallel passage in St. Mark, He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned**. As Baptism, therefore, is the appointed means of admission into the fellowship of Christ's religion, we are therein MADE MEMBERS OF CHRIST, CHILDREN OF GOD, AND INHERITORS OF THE KINGDOM. P. 2.

"But though admitted to this glorious inheritance, though placed in a capacity of

peared to have experienced no intermission of these joyful feelings; and he answered, For some months past never, and never the smallest rising of any thing like impatience or complaint.""

"He conversed with the greatest animation all the day, and almost all the night, preceding his death, principally on the joys of heaven and the glorious change he was soon to experience; often exclaim ing, What a happy hour will the hour of death be!' Once in the night he said to his mother, Surely you are not in tears? Mine is a case that calls for rejoicing, and not for sorrow. Only think what it will be to drop this poor, frail, perishing body, and to go to the glories that are set before me!' Finding himself extremely languid, he took a little milk, and desired that air might be admitted into the room: and on being asked if he felt relieved at all, said, Very little: I can hardly distinguish, indeed, whether this is languor or drowsiness which has come over me; but it is a very agreeable feeling.' Soon after, he said suddenly, I surely must be going now, my strength sinks so fast;' and on

my making some observations on the glorious prospect before him, he added, ‘Oh, yes! I am GLAD to go, if it be the Lord's

trembling. For four long years this unhappy man was left by his overconfident or fanatical companion, in all the darkness of scepticism, During so long an illness, opportunities must have occurred to this person, of effectually introducing,under the Divine blessing, the subject of religion. If in such a case of awful responsibility, he had felt his own inability to reason with a man of Dr. Bateman's intellectual powers, yet some other friend might have been called in, or God's own minister was surely at hand, whose lips are appointed to "keep knowledge. If overlooking the manner in which God, if only to stimulate man's exertion, is pleased to act by secondary causes, he purposely left his friend without human help, waiting God's good time, when he might be pleased to act on his heart, we do not hesitate to denounce this as a

upon

fanatical tempting of God, and a dereliction of that duty which had fallen him. "I have planted," says the Apostle; "Apollos watered; and God giveth the increase." This person, whoever he may be, needed to have searched no farther than these words of the Apostle, to have been convinced that it was his duty to leave no human means untried of bringing his friend to a sense of religion, fervently imploring in the meanwhile the Divine blessing on his endeavours. But what was the course pursued? Dr.. Bateman was left solely, as far as man was concerned, to the workings of his own heart; and for four years, during which he might have been taken off by death, he was suffered to remain in the undisturbed maintenance of his sceptical opinions. We do not say that he would have given up these earlier,

had another line of conduct been but we do say, that it was pursued ; the duty of his attendant not to have deprived him of those means of grace, by which God ordinarily acts upon men..

And what, humanly speaking,

might not have been the happy consequence? The four years passed in the distressing and dangerous darkness of infidelity, might have been spent in the light of the truth. During this time his powerful pen might have been employed in publicly retracting his former errors, and labouring to establish the truth. Every word in favour of religion would have come with double weight from his mouth. He owed it to the medical world, as well to wipe off the stigma which had been cast on the profession by his scepticism, as to guard the youthful student from falling into the same errors, and to recover, if possible, many whom the influence of his name might unhappily have led into them. It might have been mortifying to human pride to have done this. Dr. Bateman's life, however, was not passed in the privacy of a village, but in the very heart of the metropolis; his opinions had been held publicly, and as publicly should they have been retracted. The mischief which he must have done to others by his example, and the duty incumbent on him of making all the amends in his power (and much was in his power,) appear never to have entered into his thoughts, and were never suggested by his companion.

The Apostle doth indeed say, that" with the heart man believeth unto righteousness;" but the writer of this Memoir appears to have forgotten what applies most forcibly to Dr. Bateman's case, that "with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

Far of course are we from wish. ing or presuming to set limits to the mercy of God through the Lord Jesus Christ; but equally far should we be from trifling with a brother's soul, and speaking peace where the Scriptures have not spoken it. Where is the scriptural warrant for that confident assurance assumed by Dr. Bateman from the first, and continued with scarcely any abate

ment to the last? In what respect is it calculated to check the youthful infidel in his headlong course of sin, and inculcate the awful necessity of a patient continuance through life in well doing? One instance of the acceptance of a late repentance is indeed given in the Scriptures; but it is an instance far too particular to be advanced into a general rule; it has been graciously recorded to prevent despondency : it was never intended to encourage presumption.

In one respect we are ready to admit that this Memoir may do good; inasmuch as it adds another proof, that wherever the truths of our most holy religion are duly considered, and the reasonableness and blessedness of its commands contrasted with the brutality and misery of vice, the former will ever, under the divine blessing, prove triumphant. Yet still who will not deeply regret that a victory that might in the present case have been made so influential on others, was suffered to pass unacknowledged by Dr. Bateman himself, during his life, and was so tarnished at his death by a train of thought and language, that savours far more of the presumption of the enthusiast, than the humble and sober, yet animated, faith of the Christian*.

Kάτожтроv τ Поiμvns, Speculum Gregis; or, Parochial Minister's Assistant. By a Country Curate. Second Edition. 5s. Rivingtons. 1823.

WE have been long anxious to notice this little work: it pretends to

*Since writing the above, we are informed that this Memoir appeared originally in the Christian Observer, and that it is the production of a Lady. Of neither of these circumstances were we aware. It came to our hands as an anonymous pam

phlet, and we have regarded it on its own merits.

little, but really may be productive of much good. No Clergyman can use it without making himself thoroughly acquainted with his flock : it is, as it were, a glass, as its title imports, in which he may at any time look, to be reminded of their spiritual condition-the virtues that are to be encouraged-the faults that are to be corrected-the vices that are to be exposed, and the wants that are to be supplied. The plan adopted will best be given in the author's own words :

"Supposing the Clergyman to make an imaginary enumeration of the houses in his parish; he begins from North to South or from East to West, or at such other point as the form of the place or other circumstances may suggest; he then obtains (by the help of his Clerk or Churchwarden, if he be a new Incumbent or Curate) the Names, Occupation, &c. of his respective Parishioners, including even the youngest members of every family, who will probably become objects of his future care and attention. The leading columns thus filled up, the book is fit for his own private use; he directs his parochial visits accordingly-be adds his notes, marking, for instance, with an S in the proper column, such as are Communicants, or with B or P those who have a Bible or Prayer Book-making such observations against each name, as he may deem necessary, either by way of momento of what is needful to be done on his own part, or of

remark on the state of each respective parishioner. With these helps of his own constructing, his closet will become, as it

were, a Camera Obscura, reflecting every movement of his surrounding flock, and directing his thoughts to every point of his duty. He will there see the effects, under the blessing of God, of his own watchfulness-he will there experience

the conscious reward of his own faithfulness-and will there exercise the privi lege of offering his private prayers to Almighty God in behalf of those wanderers, who remain perhaps deaf aline to his personal admonitions, and to his public exhortations." P. 4.

A specimen is subjoined in which the columns are duly filled up, and several very good observations inserted: this is followed by "Hints for the improvement of a Parish,” which, however, we could have spared, as being, in our opinion, unnecessary where there is a vigilant and active Pastor; impracticable, where there is not, and farther objectionable on other grounds. The remainder of the book consists of blank columns ruled for use: it is of a pocketable size, and neatly bound, and may certainly be used by a young Clergyman on his first entrance on his parish with good effect. Whatever tends to bring the Pastor acquainted with his flock deserves to be encouraged; and we therefore join in the hope of the author; "that his humble endeavour will find acceptance with those to whom it is

submitted."

Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.

THE following works, chiefly intended as reward-books for schools, have been admitted, since our last

notice, on this Society's Supple mental Catalogue.

The History of Animals.
The History of Columbus.
The History of Prince Le Boo.

Beadon, G. G. to the rectory of Axbridge, Somerset ; Patron, The Bishop OF BATH AND WELLS.

Bean, J. P. to be third master of St. Paul's School.

Belli, C. A. M.A. to the vicarage of South Weald, Essex; Patron, the BISHOP OF LONDON.

Berkeley, J. to the vicarage of the Holy Trinity, Cork.

Bradley, W. M.A. of Brasenose college, Oxford, to be domestic chaplain to Earl Howe.

Brown, T. to the lectureship of St. Andrew's, Plymouth. Burgh, T. J. M.A. rector of Ballinrobe, to the deanery of Cloyne. Burrow, E. J. D.D. to be domestic chaplain to the Lord Bishop of Winchester; also to the chaplaincy of the Free chapel of Epping, Essex; Patrons,

t

: the TRUSTEES.

Calvert, F. M.A. Fellow and Tutor of Jesus college, Cambridge, to the rectory of Whatfield, Suffolk; Patrons, the MASTERS AND FELLOWS OF THAT SOCIETY.

Casberd, J. T. LL.D. of St. John's college, Oxford, and prebendary of Llandaff and Wells, to the living of Lanover, in Monmouthshire; and a dispensation has passed the great seal to enable him to hold it with the vicarage of Penmark, in the county of Glamorgan, and diocese of Llandaff.

Casberd, J. R. St. John's college, Oxford, to the rectory of Porthkerry, in the county of Glamorgan and diocese of Llandaff.

Champnes, T. W. vicar of Upton, Bucks, and rector of Cottisford, Oxfordshire, to the rectory of Fulmer, Bucks; Patrons, the DEAN AND CANONS OF WINDSOR.

Cotton, R. L. M.A. Fellow of Worcester college, to the vicarage of Denchworth, Berks; Patrons, the PROVOST AND FEL LOWS OF THAT SOCIETY.

Downes, S. B.A. of Wadham college, Oxford, and Master of the Free Grammar School, Tamworth, Staffordshire, to the living of Kilham, Yorkshire; Patron, the very RLV. THE DEAN OF YORK.

Paul's school.

Gooch, W. to the rectory of Benacre with Easton Bavant with Northales, Suffolk; Patron, Sin T. GOOCH, BART. Grantham, T. M.A. fellow of Magdalen college, Oxford, to the living of Thorpe, in Glebes, Nottinghamshire.

Green, R. B.A. curate of Hurworth, Dur

ham, to the living of Long Horseley, Northumberland.

Gronow, T. to the perpetual curacy of Languke, Glamorganshire.

Hughes, W. G. vicar of Mathyry, Grandstorn, and St. Nicholas, Pembroke, to be rural dean of that part of the deanery of Dewsland, of which the late rev. David Evans, M.A. was rural dean; Patron, the LORD BISHOP OF ST. DAVID'S.

Jones, H. C. M.A. to the archdeaconry of Essex, and to the rectory of Aldham; Patron, the BISHOP OF LONDON. Lowndes, J. M.A. formerly of Queen's col lege, Oxford, to be chaplain to the right hon. the Earl of Glasgow, Lowndes, T. B.D. fellow of Magdalen college, Oxford, to the vicarage of Worldham cum Tisted, in the county of Hants, Patrons, the PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF THAT SOCIETY.

Melhuish, T. jun, to the rectory of Ashwater, Devon.

O'Neil, J. T. to the united rectories of Portlemon and Porthangan, Ireland; Patron, the BISHOP OF MEATH.

Prowde, R. to the rectory of Hinderwell,

Yorkshire.

Ridding, C. H. 8.C.L. fellow of New college, Oxford, to be second master of Winchester college.

Robinson, H. M.A. fellow and tutor of St. John's college, Cambridge, to be perpetual curate of the parish of St. Sepulchre.