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Church of England, Mr. Gilly's system cannot be carried into such extensive operation as is desirable. The Parish Priest analyses Mr. Gilly's work as follows.

"After shewing that catechising is the uniform practice of the Roman Catholic clergy both abroad and in England, and is attended with abundant success, and proves a powerful instrument of proselytism, Mr. Gilly states how generally it is practised by the foreign Protestant clergy, and details the happy effects it produces amongst their simple flocks. He then describes the measures which have been adopted in England to enforce catechising on the part of the established clergy, and shews how partially they have been pursued, and how miserably they have failed to effect the grand purpose which the church has had ever in prospect,-a purpose of the highest and most beneficial import, namely, in the words of your Grace's chargethe letter is addressed to the present Archbishop of Canterbury-that of placing the rising generation in the view of the minister, of giving them in the tenderest infancy the advantage of his paternal protection, and sending them to the church, to be publicly instructed by him in faith and morals. The liturgical formularies of the church, conceived on an accurate notion of the relation between the pastor and his flock, are designed to connect them by a regular intercourse, and to direct the conduct of both parties in the performance of their respective duties. As the ground-work of this plan, it is her peculiar object to bring the parishioner, from his earliest days, into immediate contact with his spiritual teacher and guide.' Mr. Gilly then observes, that the theory of catechetical instruction has always been admitted to be beautiful; but with strange inconsistency, the practice has ever been slack and irregular; and following up this striking remark, he proceeds to shew whence the lamentable remissness on this point has originated, and corroborates your Grace's assertion, that it is imputable, neither to the neglect of the ecclesiastical governors,-for they have constantly remonstrated against it, -nor to the indolence of the parochial clergy; but has arisen from the insufficiency of the rubric to revive effective catechising, from a mistaken idea that its necessity is superseded by the National School system, and from a low estimate of its importance on the part of some, and a sense of its difficulties on the part of others. Mr. Gilly has discussed these several topics with his accustomed ability, and has proved, from motives derived from the baptismal and ordination services, from the practice of the Apostles and their successors, from the attention paid to it by the early church, and from the opinions of the early Reformers, and other

eminent men, how important is the duty, and how great are the advantages of public catechising. And he farther shews, that, notwithstanding the numerous and apparently formidable objections which have concurred to defeat it, the system is by no means to be abandoned altogether; but it becomes a question, whether it may not be improved, and whether a spirit of emulation may not be stirred up by other and higher motives than a legislative enactment. And he boldly inquires, whether the letter of the law being dead, or considered so, by those who forget their subscriptions and declarations of conformity, is there not some ever-living spirit of the rule by which we may be guided and governed? Yes, my Lord, there is such an ever-living spirit of the rule, and ever will be so long as the holy Scriptures, the Liturgy, the Articles, and the Homilies of our church continue to be the guides by which the conscientious ministers of it direct their steps. And it is highly to the credit of Mr. Gilly, that he has success. fully endeavoured to shew how the everliving spirit of the rule may be embodied, and brought into full life and vigour. This is, in fact, the one great object of his book, and he proves that public catechising in church may be rendered effective by improving the practice by such modifications as would render it popular as well as useful. These modifications, proposed as substitutions for the half-hour prescribed by the rubric, after the second lesson at evening prayer, and for the dry custom of confining the ordinance to a repetition of question and answer, as set down in the catechism, were originally given to the world in your Grace's admirable charge in 1822, and are as follows:-I. A short space before or after the church service, devoted to the examination of the children. And, II. An examination judiciously interspersed with short explanations, which might be generally edifying to the congregation, leaving these matters to the judgment of individual clergymen, and the suggestions of local circumstances."

Mr Gilly, my lord, has practically adopted your propositions, and has embodied your modifications in a lovely and harmonious system, which he has exhibited at large for the benefit of his brethren in the ininistry. In regard to the first improvement, noticed above, he has preferred a space immediately after the evening service, because there can be no interruption whatever to the congregation, and the time employed may depend entirely upon circumstances, i. e. upon the nature of the examination, and upon the interest which is taken in it. If the children and bystanders shew no symptoms of weariness, it may be lengthened at pleasure; whereas a space before the evening prayers must necessarily terminate, when the hour for prayer shall arrive. These, and other reasons which the author adduces, abún

dantly justify the preference which he gives to the time after evening service for the performance of this interesting duty. With respect to your Grace's second modification, namely, the interspersed explanations, and the mixed character of the practice, Mr. Gilly has shewn at length, and in the most interesting and able manner, the methods of rendering catechising attractive, and has given examples of the system in reference to the Catechism, to a Scriptural examination, to interrogations on the principal articles of religion with Scripture answers, to miscellaneous doctrines explained in answers from Scripture, and to explanations of words and phrases. He has further detailed how the system has been adopted at Somers' Town and at Durham, what has been the progress of the children under it, the popularity that has attended it, the benefits it has conferred, and the stimulus which it has given to domestic instruction." State of Curates, pp. 4-8.

Such is the outline of Mr. Gilly's argument, the filling up of which contains many very important facts and quotations. The example of the Roman-Catholic priests, which he particularly adverts to, may shew us what is the duty-we had almost said, the policy--of Protestants; and the subject is invested with peculiar interest at this particular mo

ment.

"I bear willing testimony to the zealous and affectionate manner in which the - Romish clergy acquit themselves in this duty. The Council of Trent had the sagacity to make catechising one of the most binding of the sacerdotal services, and in the Preface of the Catechism which was first published by order of this council, a curious remark occurs, which shews how great an advantage is to be gained over our adversaries by strict attention to this duty. The age is sadly sensible what mischief the Protestants have done the Catholic church, not only by their tongues,

but especially by their writings called Catechisms.' Gilly, pp. 7, 8.

66

Nothing can be more kind or parental than their catechetical examinations. They do not leave it to parish clerks, or to teachers of an ordinary stamp, to drawl through the same form of words, day after day, and to secure rote without meaning, but they themselves are the judicious expounders. I have entered churches in France, in Italy, and in Switzerland, and

have witnessed the same beautiful scene of a parish priest, surrounded by children of various ranks and ages, mildly questioning, patiently explaining, exhorting, reproving, and instructing like a man of God,' rewarding with smiles of approbation, and rewarded in return by the happy and ani

CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 329.

mated looks of the cheerful circle. In almost all the cases to which I allude, I myself was the only spectator; and that too, often-times unseen by the priest, who therefore was manifestly discharging this interesting duty, not to be heard or seen of men, but to obtain that influence over his juvenile audience, which the sanctity of his office may justly claim." Gilly, pp. 9, 10.

The same system is practised by the Roman-Catholic clergy even in England, and Mr. Gilly attributes much of their recent success in making converts, to the practice.

"Their catechetical instructions are not given, as on the Continent, merely with a view to the benefit of young hearers of their own communion, but to seduce such of our people as may chance to drop in, possible notoriety is extended to the proand listen to them. For this purpose all of putting forth such apologetical, familiar, ceeding, and the opportunity is embraced, and attractive, expositions of their doctrine and discipline, as may lead astray the unsettled and wavering professors of a purer

faith.

:

"This sort of effort answers the purpose better than all the controversy in the world; it is the argument of an active life which convinces common understandings and if our own clergy would take similar pains to render their personal office a pattern of zeal, marked by affection, they would be rebuilding the church upon & basis of moral strength, against which the storm raised by papists or separatists would beat in vain.' Gilly, pp. 11-14.

We trust that these suggestions will not be lost upon the members and ministers of our own apostolical communion. We may learn wisdom from our opponents, as well as from our friends; the latter of whom, however, Mr. Gilly also quotes, and especially the clergy of the secluded valleys of Piedmont, as powerful examples of the benefit of pastoral catechising. The Waldenses, he says, would long ago, in all human probability, have been overrun by the incursions of Popery, but for disthis preventive educational cipline.

The difficulties which the Parish Priest urges as standing in the way of a system of pastoral catechetical instruction, at least in many country parishes, are doubtless formidable. In numerous cases, the curate officiates at two or three churches; he 2 S

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has baptisms, marriages, and funerals; he is overworked both on Sunday and during the week; he has a large family and a scanty income, and is obliged for a main tenance to take pupils. The population is perhaps scattered; the roads are bad; the church is cold and damp; the cattle must be attended to; and the parish affords no persons able and willing to prepare the children, by previous training, for the minister's more public instructions. We notice these difficulties, not with a view to admit that they are insuperable; far from it; but to suggest the importance of providing against them. The great difficulty respects the clergy themselves; many of whom are able but not willing, and many are willing who are not able, at least in any thing like a fair proportion to their anxious wishes. Our church wants, as a general system, a due medium between wealthy pluralists and needy curates; it wants a body of men universally qualified for the duties of their vocation, interested in them, and fairly paid for the conscientious discharge of them. Pluralities, and consequent non-residence, are our chief bane. Take an example: two country livings, of three or four hundred pounds a-year each, would maintain in comfort two respectable resident incumbents and their families, devoting themselves piously and zealously to the welfare of their parishioners, endeared to them, acquainted with their character and wants, and able and willing to promote their best interests. But give both these livings to one clergyman, and one at least of the parishes must have a stipendiary and migratory curate, totally unable in most cases, even if willing, to perform for the parish, out of his scanty income and his over-taxed exertions, a tithe of what a resident incumbent might have effected without inconvenience. Thus one at least out of the two parishes must suffer; and probably both; not only because the incum

bent's attention is divided, but because the pecuniary emoluments of this cumulative system make it worth the while of patrons to view the whole affair as a matter of commerce, and perhaps to appoint a clergyman whose highest wish is to receive the tithes, and to give himself and his parish as little trouble as is consistent with a regard to a general respectability of professional character. There are numerous and most honourable exceptions to this natural working of the system; and we doubly respect those who constitute them; but they, we feel assured, will be among the first to acknowledge the evil which we lament; nor less will those revered prelates who are exerting themselves to the utmost to fill their dioceses with faithful and efficient pastors, but who find their efforts constantly impeded by the anomalies of our plurality and non-resident system. We are aware, that to laud the present state of our ecclesiastical patronage, and its results, is in some quarters considered, as our parish priest expresses it, "the surest proof of orthodoxy, the truest token of loyalty, and the unerring test of religious zeal;" but be this as it may, we shall never cease to lament and denounce it. It does not work well; it does not fill our parishes, generally speaking, as they ought to be filled; it works ill, very ill; it keeps out much good, and brings in much evil; and the acknowledged respectability, and the large infusion of true piety, and active zeal, and pastoral affection which are to be found in our church, are not in consequence of it, but in spite of it. We are persuaded that if but half a dozen of our bishops and nobility, and as many members of the lower house of parliament, would determine with the same earnestness and perseverance which distinguished the career of the abolitionists of the slave trade, or the leaders of the Catholic question, to bring our church to that state in which every parish should have a resident and

adequately paid incumbent, their success would in the end be inevit able. They would indeed encounter much obstinate opposition from the cupidity of some, the well meaning scruples of others, and the indifference or party-spirit of more; but the result would amply reward all their efforts. It would be from the first a growing question; the large body of religious and well-judging persons would favour it; large opposing majorities could not overwhelm it; and before twenty years, it would be thought as great an anomaly for one clergyman to preside over two parishes, as for one officer to serve in two ships or two regiments. There want but a few bold, independent, yet prudent minds, to master the whole subject in detail, reduce it to its elements, to chalk out a plain and effectual plan; and then, without fear, favour, or compromise, to impress it upon the legislature, the government, and the country from year to year, in order ultimately to effect the object.

Sermons, chiefly Practical. By the Rev. E. BATHER, M. A. Archdeacon of Salop, and Vicar of Meole Brace, Salop. 2 vols 8vo. London. 1829.

IN introducing these discourses to our readers, we have followed the plan which we have often pursued in reviewing volumes of sermons, of enabling them to decide for themselves as to their merits, by laying before them a whole discourse as a family sermon. From this lengthened specimen in the present instance, they may judge that they will find Archdeacon Bather's sermons full of scriptural and valuable matter; plain and popular; familiar some times to negligence of style, and even to quaintness; but uniformly conversant with the most important topics of faith and practice; truly orthodox and evangelical; never written for

display, but always faithful and unshrinking in their appeals to the heart and conscience, for the use of edifying. To say less, would be unjust'; to say more, after the ample extract we have given, would be needless.

We have hearty satisfaction in recommending the volumes to the attentive consideration of our readers; and may the especial blessing of God attend the perusal of them, as we doubt not it did the publication of them from the respected author's village pulpit, or archidiaconal chair. How shall we be sufficiently thankful to God, that such doctrines and such exhortations as these are now so widely echoed, whether in our parochial assemblies, or in the high places of our church?

A Sermon on the Judgment. By the Rev. H. REVELL, B.A. Cambridge. 1828.

WE should not think it requisite to notice this discourse, were it not that the author states, that "be has published it as a specimen of his writing," in order that the reader may judge for himself "whether he would wish to read more;" which, if he do," he can easily be accommodated with an octavo volume, which the author has just published," intending further, "if sufficient encouragement is given, to put to press some lectures on the Holy Spirit." That our readers may judge for themselves how far they should wish for this "accommodation," we shall exhibit, without note or comment, from the author's own culled "specimen," a brief illustration;-first, of sentiment; and secondly, of style.

Sentiment:

"That man is a religious animal, has long ago been remarked. In what respect some of the emotions of mind experienced by Mohammedans differ from those of real

Christians, is difficult to determine.......

It is perhaps a change of object rather than passion, which renders devotion acceptable to God."

Style:

"One action inclines the soul with a disposition to a perpetration of similar actions;" and "the train of thoughts is aggravated by perpetration." Our Saviour, to exercise "ubiquity," ," "must require the sagacity and watchfulness of Argus!!" The sinner at the judgment will "find himself a microcosm of misery, and epitome of hell!" whereas "the diadem of immortality" of the righteous, will be "more incorruptible than the chaplets of Olympia!" There will be "a patefaction of Deity in the person of Christ ;" and we are exhorted to make our calling and election sure, because “we are playing a deep game; the dice are in our hands; we may make what throw we please; we win or lose; 'tis heaven or hell the stake."

We make no comment, except to recommend A. B. to postpone his intended lectures, at least till he is D. D.

1. The Works of the English and Scottish Reformers; edited by the Rev. THOMAS RUSSELL, A. M. Vol. II. (the First published). 10s. 6d. London. 1828. 2. The Works of the British Reformers, from Wickliffe to Jewell, in separate volumes. 4s. 8d. per volume in cloth. London. 1828.

THE works of our great Reformers are often disparaged by being spoken of as if they were mainly valuable for their arguments against Popery. It is true, valuable they are, incomparably valuable, in this respect; and most happy are we, for this among many other reasons, to find, that they are beginning to re-assert their too much forgotten claims upon the public attention. But they are valuable for much more than their arguments against Popery: they are valuable for their plain unsophisticated exhibition of Christian doctrine, and Christian holiness. Their highest claims are forgotten, when they are incorrectly

viewed as inere controversial treatises: a portion only of them are directly controversial, and admirable are these portions; but the great mass is for spiritual instruction and edification. The reader finds in them not only what Popery is, but what Protestantism ought to be: he is conducted directly to the Scriptures as the fountains of living water, and sees the truths which they contain explicated and applied with a native simplicity and correctness, far more interesting and affecting than the measured line-andrule treatises of many later doctrinal and controversial divines. Whether therefore, in reference to the claims of venerated antiquity, or to the imperishable excellence of simple scriptural instruction and exhortation, or to the controversy with the Papists, which the circumstances of the present times have rendered a subject of momentous public interest, the works of our early Reformers are of inestimable value, and deserve a conspicuous place in every Christian library.

These works, even as separate treatises, were often very scarce and expensive, and no complete edition. of them has ever been published. Mr. Legh Richmond's excellent selections from them have been long out of print, and complete sets cannot be procured. But the deficiency seems likely to be more than compensated for by the two series announced in this article. Mr. Russell proposes, in about sixteen handsome and closely-printed octavo volumes, issued quarterly, at a very moderate price, to comprise the whole of the works of many of the Reformers, with sufficient selections from the writings of the remainder. We cordially wish him success in this undertaking; which ought not to be superseded, and we trust will not be, by the other series which

we are about to notice.

This series is published by the Religious Tract Society, and is intended to be comprised in about seven or eight closely printed duo

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