maine, and Cecil, and Milner, and Venn, and Robinson, and Newton, had already finished their course, but their places had been ably supplied, and the promulgators of evangelic truth were no longer estimated by tens or fifties, but by hundreds and even thousands.

The same defect of accurate information is evident indeed in almost all Mr. Platt's reasonings ; thus for instance, an uninformed reader of his pamphlet would necessarily infer that the evangelical school feel averse to the language of our Homilies, whereas it was by the efforts of the evangelical clergy of the Church of England, that those Homilies were brought into notice, after having been long comparatively disregarded. These Homilies were at one time indeed looked upon in various quarters, with no very favourable eye. They were not at the period when Mr. Platt first appeared at Cambridge on the list of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. They were not, as far as we can learn, distributed by any benevolent institution, until the formation of the Prayer Book and Homily Society in 1812, though they had been the subject of incessant appeal by those able divines of the last century, to whom, under God, the present revival of true religion is especially owing.

Equally ill-informed is Mr. Platt as to both the doctrinal and practical views inculcated by the large majority of evangelical clergymen. Had his attention been

more fully alive to these topics, he would have found that the views of justification which are recorded in our Homilies, had, some half century ago been extensively circulated in the Essays on important subjects in religion, by the late Rev. Thomas Scott, whose one short Essay on Justification contains more clear and satisfactory information, than Mr. Newman's highly applauded volume; and he would have found in the same small unpretending, but most valuable volume, an outline of Christian and relative duties which might well induce him to modify his observations on the practical preaching of our predecessors. The same topics he would also find ably handled in Robinson's Christian System, and in numerous other publications of the same period.

But how is it that Mr. Platt brought up in the evangelic school, and enjoying the opportunities of which he speaks should be thus imperfectly informed? We apprehend the real truth is, that he was early initiated into a narrow and confined section of that school, and has from the scanty materials presented to his view necessarily formed an incorrect estimate of the statements of the whole body. The evangelical school consists of many compartments. There are on the one hand the regular, consistent, decided, and devoted clergymen of the Church of England-the Romaines, and Cecils, and Robinsons, and Simeons of a former age, succeeded by a worthy list of followers of the present day; men at once zealous for the doctrines of the church, regulating their practice according to the discipline of the church, conscientiously cultivating rubrical exactness in every part of the divine service, and in whose stated ministrations the most careful observer of the rubric could discover no allowed defect. Such we are bold to affirm was the cha

racter of the large proportion of the evangelical clergy at the time when Mr. Platt commenced his career; and of these we maintain that they were the most eminent and excellent of men, of whom nothing was to be desired but increase of numbers and lengthened ability to labour.

But there were other compartments of the evangelic school. Men zealous for the doctrines but caring little for the discipline of the church to which they belonged. Able, and efficient, and popular preachers, but careless and slovenly readers, eccentric in their manners, pressing high doctrines to their extremes, and though free from moral reproach, yet by no means exhibiting that invariable conformity to scriptural injunctions which becomes the ministers of Christ. It is from this, a very inferior order of evangelical clergy, that those irregularities have proceeded for which all who bear the name of evangelical have been censured.

Yet we suspect that Mr. Platt was not exactly brought up in either of these compartments of the evangelical school. His language would lead us to suppose that in early life he had been more conversant with the Surrey Chapel, the Tabernacle, or some other of the dissenting compartments, and that the more recent opportunities of riper years have not obliterated the impressions of an earlier period. At all events the views which he has given of evangelical preaching differ so widely from those to which we have been accustomed, that we can only account for the discrepancy by supposing that he has moved in a very different circle. We appeal with confidence to the recorded specimen of Mr. Simeon's preaching, and more especially to the Six Volumes of the Appendix to the Hora Homileticæ, and which Six Volumes must have been in course of delivery by Mr. Simeon while Mr. Platt was an

under-graduate; and we boldly maintain that there is nothing in those volumes which can justify his observations. We appeal also with confidence to the published sermons of the modern leaders of the evangelical school to Bradley and Cunningham, and Dealtry and Jowett, and Wilson, and numerous other eminent preachers, which cannot in the least justify his repre

sentations.

Our observations have already extended so far as to leave little room for noticing his attack upon voluntary societies, of which he specifies the British and Foreign Bible Society, the Church Missionary Society, the Colonial Church Society, the Pastoral Aid Society, and the Society for educating Young Men for the Ministry; all of which he rudely censures as originating in a spirit of independent liberalism, as defective in their formation, irregular in their proceedings, and unnecessary and uncalled for. Accusations of this have come indeed with a very ill grace from one who has nearly twenty years been connected with the British and Foreign Bible Society, and who is still, if we read him aright, engaged in its employ.

But here the same defective information is apparent which pervades Mr. Platt's whole pamphlet. The Church Missionary Society he contends was unnecessary because the Propagation Society was in existence at the time of its formation; but the Propagation Society was not a Missionary Society at that period, nor for many years after, and it is still so only in a very imperfect degree. Its missionaries to the heathen at this present time when compared with those employed by the Church Missionary Society are only in the proportion of one to four. It is therefore altogether unable to supply the place of the Church Missionary Society; nor should it be forgotten that however desirous

the present directors of the Propagation Society may be of extending its influence and its operations, this was by no means the case some FORTY years ago. The Society was then and for some subsequent years conducted in a most unsatisfactory manner.

It may indeed be adviseable for those who are attempting, from the constitution of the Propagation Society, to deduce inferences unfavourable to the Church Missionary Society, and other voluntary societies, to cultivate some acquaintance with the early history of those societies which they so warmly commend. The Societies for Propagating the Gospel and Promoting Christian Knowledge, were not founded by the Archbishops and Bishops of that period. They arose from the efforts of pious individuals who endeavoured to do good in their several spheres, from Boyle, and Baxter, and Woodward, and Bray, and Horneck, whose first efforts were assailed much in the same way as those of modern philanthropists, but whose plans when more fully developed, were accredited by their spiritual superiors. And this will be found the usual course of events, - the gospel is pro

pagated ordinarily by inferior agents; thus we read that "when the apostles and elders heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John," who doubtless set in order things which were wanting. Precedents of this kind are lost sight of by many, who in their zeal for the dogma, Do nothing without the bishop,' forget that in the beginning it was not so; and at the same time overlook the unquestionable fact, that our most able and exemplary Diocesans find in the districts entrusted to their charge, so much to be done as very much incapacitates them from bringing forwards new plans, or even actually superintending those societies which are nominally under their control.

In conclusion, however, there is one point in which we perfectly accord with Mr. Platt; we unite with him in admiration of the Homilies. We recommend them strenuously to the serious and careful perusal of all our readers, and we are sure that they will form a powerful antidote to many of those evils and heresies with which the Oxford Tract writers are to a considerable extent affected.

THIS distinguished veteran has employed his time in collecting, and his property in printing for gratuitous circulation among the brave defenders of our country, a series of nearly seven hundred extracts from Holy Writ, or from the publications of eminent Christians. An undertaking so benevolent might well disarm criticism, but indeed the selection needs no such apology; many of the extracts are

MARCH, 1840.

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highly valuable, and the author's own observations are well calculated to interest and instruct those for whose use they are compiled. We trust the divine blessing will accompany Captain Willoughby's exertions, and that his declining years may be consoled with the assurance that he has not laboured in vain, nor spent his strength for nought.

come

MR. SMITH has in these pamphlets forward boldly and decidedly as an advocate of the New Poor Law, according to what he conceives its original intention and practical application. At the same time he is alive to its defects, and points out very clearly and forcibly where it especially fails, and what remedies should be applied.

His account of an Union Chaplaincy embodies the observations which have occurred to him while discharging the duties of chaplain to the New Forest Union; and we strongly recommend its being its being placed in the hands of the chaplains and guardians of the different Unions throughout the kingdom.

His Poor Man's Advocate contains two letters to the people of England, and two to the Bishops and Parochial clergy in behalf of the deserving poor; and two letters to the labouring classes in their own behalf, together with an ac

count of the situation and treatment of women with illegitimate children in the workhouse.

Mr. Smith advocates the establishment of alms houses, and a weekly collection at the church for the benefit of the deserving poor. He recommends plans of emigration, and contends strongly for separating the mothers of illegitimate children from other females, especially the young, and subjecting them to certain privations; without which he conceives the Union workhouses will encourage profligacy. His observations on all these points are deserving of serious attention, and as each of his pamphlets are published at the low rate of one shilling, we trust they will meet with extensive circulation. They contain much that is highly instructive, though there are some points on which pious and excellent individuals will differ from our highly esteemed author.

Answer of the Edinburgh Review. Rector of St. Antholin. Letter I.

THOSE who have read the observations of the Edinburgh Review on Mr. Goode's brief history of Church Rates, will find these two letters especially deserving of their notice. They clearly point out the flippancy, unfairness, and ignorance of the Northern Reviewer; and at the same time contain a fund of

valuable information on the subject of Church Rates, which may prove extremely valuable to clergymen, church-wardens, and vestries. They display great industry, and extensive research, and should be carefully read by all who desire thoroughly to understand the Church Rate question.

THE efforts of popery in this populous town and neighbourhood, have recently been so public and extensive, that several clergymen have felt compelled to adopt some more decisive opposition to their influence, than could be effected by the ordinary discourses, and individual testimony, of the parish ministers.

They feel justified in this course

1st. On the general ground of the fatal character of the doctrines, both in a civil and religious view, to which their people are exposed.

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2ndly. With a view to disabuse the minds of the less educated classes, of an impression, largely and disingeniously spread abroad, by the agents of popery around us-viz. that there is no essential difference between the doctrines of the Church of Rome, and those professed by the Church of England.

And 3rdly. The challenge, and actual assault having originated with the opposite party;-the method and matter of their controversy, however harmless in its present aspect, might become injurious, being left unanswered, and without rebuke.

They have therefore commenced a course of Lectures on Tradition, Infallibility, the Seven Sacraments, Original Sin, and Justification. The Mass, Transubstantiation, Purgatory, Invocation of Saints, Image-worship, &c. by which they hope that the primitive truths of the Gospel, as maintained in

the Church of England, may be distinguished from the novelties, and vindicated from the perversions, by which they have been disfigured and corrupt ed in the Church of Rome.

These Lectures are now in course of delivery by Messrs. Stowell, Dalton, Tottenham, Owen, Foye, Fisk, Whittaker, Noel, Barrett, Woodhouse, Burnett, Garbett, Barker, and Kennedy, who wholly disclaim any sentiment of personal animosity against our Romish brethren, "their hearts' desire, and prayer to God," for that ancient Church as for her still elder sister at Jerusalem is, that their antiquity may be no longer found surviving the simplicity of truth, but that they may be persuaded, by the blessing of God, to reject at once all those "traditions of men," which have arrayed them for ages against "the commandments of God."

It is intended to publish the entire course as they are delivered, in a cheap form for popular circulation, at twopence each discourse; and as the series is adapted for extensive distribution throughout any part of the county, or kingdom at large, orders for any quantity of copies, or any subscriptions towards defraying the expenses of so large an undertaking, will be thankfully received by Messrs. Jones and Foster, bankers, Bilston; or by the clergy of the parish; by the Rev. W. Dalton, Wolverhampton, and by the Rev. G. Fisk, Walsall,

EXTRACT of a letter from a Missionary from Brown's Town, Jamaica, addressed to Thomas Clarkson :

'Believing that no information will be more gratifying to you than to hear that the objects of your solicitude and labours have, during the first year of freedom, and up to the present time, acted worthily of the boon they have received, I shall endeavour to give you some information respecting them, especially those residing in the district in which it is my happiness to labour.

The negro population of this district may be estimated at 10,000, of which upwards of 3,000 attend every Sabbath-day at my two stations, Brown's Town and Bethany; about 2,000 more attend other places of worship. If 2,500 be allowed for those detained at their homes by sickness and

other causes, but one quarter are left who are not under regular religious instruction. On the coming of freedom, I had no fear respecting those connected with Christian congregations. I felt confident that they, at least, would act as became Christian freemen; nor have I been disappointed. Respecting the other portion of the population I had fears. I thought there might be idleness, drunkenness, and petty thefts; but at the end of the first year of freedom, what is the result? No one person in the whole district has been convicted of, or even charged with any criminal act! There have, it is true, been a few cases of misdemeanours, but of so trifling a nature as to be punished only by light fines. There have also been acts of immorality committed of which the law cannot take