posing that the opposition to him on this score proceeded from New Lights. It came rather from men who claimed to be conservative and to be moved by a desire to resist an innovation on the established freedom of the New England churches and colleges. For aught we know, they may have been impelled by what they knew of the English universities, and of the vast amount of hypocrisy and avowed insincerity resulting from compulsory subscription to the Articles. The author of this review is probably too well acquainted with the annals of the great universities not to blush at the notorious and disgraceful perjury of which that requirement has been the occasion. If he is not familiar with the subject, we might refer him to many authorities, and among others to the Autobiography of Gibbon, where he will find an instructive commentary on the practical force of university creeds.

We never read from "Churchmen" homilies on the sanctity of creeds, without opening our eyes in astonishment. How many clergymen of the Anglican church thoroughly and heartily believe each of the thirtynine Articles? What shades of theological opinion in that church, from the border-ground of Popery to extreme Rationalism! What does all this recent contention at Oxford, about the Atonement, signify? We have this moment on our table a book on the Inspiration of the Scriptures, by a clergyman of theEnglish church, Mr. Macnaught, which comes as near to bald Naturalism, as a believer in miracles can come. But we need not specify instances: when was there a time that Latitudinarians did not enjoy a safe refuge in that church? Whenever we hear ourselves reproached by "Churchmen" for not having creeds enough, we are reminded of the question of Robert Hall: "in which of two given situations will a doctrine last the longest, where it is believed without being subscribed, or where it is subscribed without being believed?"

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The Article which we have in hand is written in the high tone which "Churchmen" sometimes assume when speaking of us ignorant dissenters. An affecting mention is made of "those who unhappily have little to connect them with the past,"-meaning ourselves; the author of the Discourse, "does justice" to President Clap, "so far as he is able," but not being a Churchman "we doubt greatly" whether he derstands him;" they who rest simply "on a modern local creed," "narrow themselves down into the hopeless position of a sect as regards the faith;" and more in the same condescending strain. Is mental ability, power to see the nature and bearing of historical events, and a proper historical feeling, the exclusive possession of "Churchmen?" It is strange that such persons as the writer of this review do not see how unmanly these

pretensions appear to intellectual and educated men outside the coterie with which he is familiar. It is strange that he does not see that a supercilious and exclusive spirit towards Christians of a different ecclesiastical order, is the very essence of a sect; and that his Article is therefore intensely sectarian. We do not mean to accuse "Churchmen" in general of showing this supercilious temper which arrogates superiority on merely factitious grounds. We have commonly observed that the degree of churchly assumption bears an inverse ratio to the real power and merit of the writer. We do not meet this offensive tone in the Coleridges, the Hares, the Arnolds, the Trenchs, the Stanleys and the Robertsons. Men of their stamp, endued with genius and solid learning, do not find it necessary to put on airs. They are content to stand on a level with all thinking men, and to rest their cause, whatever it may be, on grounds of reason and Scripture. They understand well that scholars and authors are to be judged by their fruits, by the wisdom of their thoughts and the thoroughness of their researches, and not by the accident of an ecclesiastical connection.

We need hardly say that we bear no ill-will towards the author of the Article before us; he will not complain if we have exercised the same freedom in reference to his production, which he has used in discussing the Discourse which he has chosen to review.

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

THEOLOGY.

THE readers of the New Englander are already aware that a volume entitled "Practical Sermons," by the late Rev. Dr. Taylor,* has been given to the public since our last number appeared. The announcement is made in a short preface, that "it is proposed to publish hereafter, in uniform detached volumes, such selections from his theological lectures, essays and discourses, as shall be deemed advisable." We hardly need to say here, that we shall look for the appearance of these several volumes with the highest interest. They will be a most valuable contribution to ethical and theological science. We congratulate the multitude of the friends and admirers of Dr. Taylor, in all parts of the country, on the prospect of their being speedily published. We know they will be joyfully welcomed by those who have, in years past, heard them, in substance, from his eloquent lips, and retain the memories of them among their pleasantest and most sacred recollections.

As we have so lately published an Article-May, 1858-giving a general view of the life, and character, and works of Dr. Taylor, and are expecting to give a more extended review when the proposed series of volumes is sufficiently advanced in the course of publication, we shall content ourselves at present with a simple announcement and brief notice of this first volume.

The editors and publishers of Dr. Taylor's works have done well to begin with these "Practical Sermons." There is a felicitous fitness between them and the present time. They were almost all written, and were preached repeatedly, in seasons of revived religion. They are discourses full of power, prepared with special reference to bringing sinful men, under the ministration of the Holy Spirit, to immediate repentance toward God, and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. We had thought it possible that we might be disappointed in reading them; for we had heard them nearly all, and some of them repeatedly. But we are im

* Practical Sermons. By NATHANIEL W. TAYLOR, D. D., late Dwight Professor of Didactic Theology in Yale College. New York: Published by Clark, Austin & Smith. 1858. For sale by F. T. Jarman, New Haven.

pressed anew with their excellence and power. Though we miss the majestic mien, the positive and commanding air, the speaking eye, and the sonorous voice of the beloved preacher, we find that they are sermons to be read, as well as sermons to be heard. The reason is, there is so much truth in them, so strongly and pertinently expressed. They are full to overflowing of great truths respecting God and His attributes, His works, His laws and government; respecting Christ and the gracious plan and measures of salvation by Him; respecting the Holy Spirit in His renewing and sanctifying influence; respecting eternity, with its awful and glorious realities; respecting man in his noble capacities, in the strength, obstinacy, freedom, baseness and ruin of his sin, and in his ability and consequent obligation to accept at once the gracious offers of the Gospel by repentance and faith-full of great truths like these, urged with a close, continuous, unavoidable and overwhelming pressure upon the intellect, the conscience and the heart. We have never seen a volume of sermons at once so pertinent and powerful in their adaptation to a period of religious awakening. The force with which they prove and impress the duty, and practicability of repenting and believing, and that "now," is wonderful. We could wish that this volume might be put into the hands of every preacher in our country, and of multitudes in their congregations. It is a marvel that any one can hear or read such undeniable and pertinent truths, and such powerful appeals, and still remain impenitent and negligent of the great salvation!

We

The present year seems a very harvest for volumes of sermons. have received from Messrs. Sheldon, Blakeman & Co., a book containing a selection from the sermons and discourses of President Wayland,* which merit the thoughtful consideration of Christian men.

The titles and subjects of these sermons are: The Apostolic Ministry; The Church, a Society for the Conversion of the World; Christian Worship; A Consistent Piety, the Demand of the Age; Slavery to Public Opinion; The Perils of Riches; Prevalent Prayer; Responsibility for the Moral Condition of Others.

The first of these sermons has been already published and widely circulated. The others are written in the same earnest spirit and with the mind fully set on great practical results. They are all most honorable to the Christian simplicity and earnest zeal of the author, who seems to rejoice most of all in the exercise of his gifts for the Christian ministry,

*Sermons to the Churches. By FRANCIS WAYLAND. 12mo., pp. 281. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman & Co. 1858.

and to find refreshment in the approaching evening of his life, in ministering to the edification of the flock of Christ.

We should not agree with all the views of the author, nor think all his suggestions the most wise or comprehensive, but we honor his spirit, and sympathize with his apostolic zeal.

Another volume which has been sent us by the same publishers, should have received a notice at our hands in the August number. It bears the title of "The New York Pulpit in the Revival of 1858."* Few of the discourses possess high artistic merit, yet, as earnest, practical sermons, many of them are admirable. They are not, we are glad to see, mere moral essays, nor religious orations, but their praise is that they are what they profess to be-sermons. We doubt not that they were blessed by God in the conversion of souls! They will be to all an acceptable memorial of the great religious awakening of 1858, while by those who have personally, or in their families, shared in the spiritual blessings God has of late bestowed, they will be received with peculiar interest.

Messrs. Poor and Fish have prepared an exceedingly useful and acceptable volume for the American public, and especially for preachers, in their "Select Discourses" from distinguished foreign pulpit orators. It is well for the preacher to make himself familiar with as great a variety of models as possible, that he may give variety to his own performances. It is especially desirable that he should avail himself of the best specimens of preaching on the continent. In France and Germany, the conception of a sermon is so different from that which is commonly received among us, that a mind bent on success, and bold enough to venture a little from traditional ways, cannot but derive important advantage from studying the sermons of their best preachers. No finer examples can be furnished than are given in this volume. We have six discourses from the much lamented Adolphe Monod, the prince of modern French preachers; eight from the admired F. W. Krummacher, so well known among us by his Elisha; four from the beloved Tholuck; and four from the thoughtful and finished Julius Müller, whom to see and hear is to esteem and admire.

*The New York Pulpit in the Revival of 1858. A memorial volume of serNew York: Sheldon, Blakeman & Co. 1858.

mons.

+ Select Discourses, by Adolphe Monod, Krummacher, Tholuck, and Julius Müller; translated from the French and German. By Rev. H. C. FISH and D. W. POOR, D. D. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman & Co. 1858. 12mo. pp. 408.