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longer extracts from his works, or a more circumstantial abridgment of the biography.

Herself a Fairer Flower.

She planted me that lovely flower,
She watched it day by day,
She fed it with the kindly shower,

She kept the blast away.

And now the Summer season's come, The lonely flower is in its bloom.

'Tis full in bloom, and all for me,

And for my gay parterre, Come Autumn, and I'll take the tree, And plant it gently there. And oh the joy to watch it so, And think, 'Before she watched it too." She watched it so, the lonely maid Herself a fairer flower, Blooming beneath the quiet shade

Of that dear parent-bower,
Blooming, oh! might I say for me,
In unambitious privacy.

Oh! might I say it-might I too
Like that, transplant thee hither,
Have thee for ever in my view,

To bloom when that shall wither,
As thou hast watched o'er that for me,
Oh! so might I watch over thee!

A Life and Correspondence of the Rev. Henry Venn, Author of "The Complete Duty of Man." By the Rev. John Venn, and edited by the Rev. Henry Venn.

MR. VENN was a man of piety and knowledge, and one of the earliest preachers who obtained the name of Evangelical; he was also a moderate Calvinist. The life written by his son, is composed with simplicity, and answers more closely to the models which we have recommended for the biographers of such persons as Mr. Venn, than most of those that have fallen under our notice. Thus the public

would be informed in a brief manner of the leading circumstances of his life, and the friends of the deceased would gaze with pleasure on the monument which affection had erected to his memory. On the death, however, of Mr. John Venu, the manuscript fell into the hands of his son, the present editor, who has added large extracts from the correspondence of his revered ancestor. That these letters corroborate the belief that we generally entertained before of the sincere piety and profound devotional feeling of Mr. Venn, may be granted;

but they are not further recommended by any elegance of language, any profoundness of remark, or any extent of erudition. We think it would have been a better arrangement to have inserted a few of them in his life; and not to have increased the size of the volume to its present extent, especially as the correspondence reflects little light on the incidents of Mr. Venn's life. The advantage to be derived in the perusal of this work, arises from the probability that the important truths on which it dwells with earnestness and faith, will be more deeply impressed by it on the mind of the reader; and that he will rise up a wiser and better man from the contemplation of the life of one who forsook the world, both in its pleasures and in its profits, to dedicate himself to the great work of the purification of his own mind, and the salvation of his erring brethren.

Trials and Triumphs; comprising the Convict's Daughter, and the Convert's Daughter.

FONTENELLE most truly observes that the true and the natural are to be found, but it must be by a nice search.

"Il ne se trouve que dans la nature finement et delicatement observée; on l'apperçoit que par un sentiment exquis; mais en fin c'est la ce qu'il faut appercevoir, ce qu'il faut trouver."

The discovery certainly has not been made by the author of the former of these tales; for the whole fabric is raised on a tissue of improbabilities. The second story bears with a strong feeling of dislike and suspicion on the peculiarities and assumed virtues of the celebrated Mr. Irving, under the name of Mr. Willoughby; but the tale is constructed without skill, and terminated without a probable combination of events, or an enumeration of causes leading to such issues. We are sorry to say that we cannot disbe derived from the perusal of these cover in what way any benefit is to

fictitious histories.

Modern Claims to the Possession of the Extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit, stated and examined. By the Rev. William Goode, A. M.

ALL reasonable and religious men

1834.] REVIEW.-Goode's Gifts of the Spirit.--Court of Poland.

must be grateful to Mr. Goode for the
luminous, learned, and satisfactory re-
fotation he has given in this work, of
the claims so presumptuously and un-
scripturally advanced by Mr. Irving
and his deluded followers. We hope
and believe that this dream of fanati-
cism and folly is dying away, and that
people are awake to the absurdity of
supposing that uttering discordant and
dreadful sounds, which bear no marks
of language, and carry no meaning,
are proofs of inspiration; and that
repeating the formulary "The Lord
Jesus is coming," is a proof of the
gift of prophecy. We have no doubt
ourselves that for a long time the
members, and particularly the female
members of Mr. Irving's congregation,
were in a high state of nervous excite-
ment both of mind and body; that
this, instead of being calmed, watched,
and judiciously soothed, as it ought
to have been, by the minister, was on
the other hand highly aggravated and
inflamed by the style and subject of
his discourses in public, and his pri-
vate conferences. We once in his
chapel witnessed a manifestation of
the Spirit by two young ladies, after
a discourse by Mr. Irving, on the
punishment of the wicked, and the
terror of the Lord, which was quite
sufficient to overthrow the steadiness
of these persons' minds, and to have
wound up their feelings to a pitch of
the highest and most dangerous ex-
citement. What Mr. Irving may be,
we cannot say, but we fear that the
situation in which he has now placed
himself, must lead him certainly not to
repress feelings and opinions, through
which he maintains much of his em-
pire over the minds of his followers.
As to the dreadful heresy maintained
by Mr. Irving, and which was the
cause of his being dismissed from the
Church to which he belonged, con-
cerning the nature of our blessed
Lord, we can only look on it with
horror and aversion: it appears to
us as much opposed to good logic and
good reasoning, as it is to the feelings
of piety, and to the repeated and ex-
pressed declarations of Scripture.

The Court of Sigismund Augustus, or
Poland in the Sixteenth Century. By
Alexander Bronikowski. Done into
English by a Polish Refugee, 3 vols.
GENT. MAG. VOL. II.

617

THE author of this work died a few months since. He belonged to the Polish army of the grand Duchy of Warsaw, and distinguished himself in his military career, in the campaign of 1814, when he was rewarded with the cross of the legion of honour. After what is called the new organization of the kingdom of Poland, he retired to Germany, and devoted himself to literary pursuits. The opinion which we, who are so remote from the scenes and interests on which this work of historic fiction dwells, may form of it, is of little consequence; for the translator observes,

faithful picture of the customs and opi"That it is acknowledged to contain a nions of the religious and political parties in Poland, during the 16th century."

We cannot however pass over the extraordinary merit of the translation. The style is so pure, so correct, so elegant, and idiomatic, that we could not have supposed it to be the production of a foreigner, who had been but a short time in England: as old Parr said, speaking of a speech of Pitt's,

"We threw our whole grammatical mind upon it, and we could not discover any error."

The

We have often heard of the facility with which the inhabitants of Poland acquire the knowledge of foreign tongues, and the present is a most remarkable instance of success. elegant selection of mottoes from our finest poets, proves also that the translator has acquired his knowledge of our language through the best and purest channels, and that our choicest literature is not unknown to

him. In a note to the second volume we picked up a fact in natural history which we shall transcribe for the use of our friends the naturalists.

"Urochs. The Bison-Bos TaurusLinn.v.Shaw's Natural History, vol.ii.pt.2. p. 329: The statement of the learned author (Shaw) we have just quoted, as well as that of the renowned Cuvier (Regne Animal, t. 1. p. 170), that the Bison is found not only in Lithuania, but also in the Carpathian mountains, is not correct. These animals were formerly very frequent in many parts of the ancient Polish dominions, but now they are confined to a single spot called the Forest of Biala4 I

wieza, situated in ancient Lithuania, and the present Russian government of Grodno. It is remarkable that the Urochs

which is found in the forest of Bialawieza is the only variety of this species, and that there is not in any other part of the world another of the very same kind. The American Bison has many material differences from the Lithuanian one. In order to preserve the race of this curious animal, the Russian government has prohibited its destruction under the severest

penalties. According to Baron Brinken, who has published at Warsaw a very interesting description of the forest of Bialawieza, the number of the Urochs or Bisons existing in the year 1826 was 732 heads."

We must add that the Bison is not of the species Bos Taurus, which includes our wild cattle; but Bos Urus, a species once indigenous in England, and differing materially in conformation from the Taurus.

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away.

We feel most truly the upright intentions, the sincere piety, and the zealous attachment of the author to the Apostolical Church, to which he and we belong. And we are rejoiced to find, that not only the very clever and learned Bishop of his Diocese, but others also not less distinguished for piety and knowledge, have borne willing testimony to Mr. Polwhele's honourable exertions. One thing, however, we presume to be certain, that neither the Wesleyans, nor any other nonconformists, will return to the church without some conditions being granted; for if they did, they must concede one of these two points-either that they originally left it without sufficient cause, or that since they left it, it has been so improved in doctrine

and discipline, that they can return to it salvá conscientia. We doubt their granting either of these points; and though

we feel and lament as much as Mr. Polwhele does, the evils of separation and schism in the once entire mantle of Christ; yet we cannot agree to any compromise which should lower the dignity, or impair the character of our own Church. Mr. Polwhele will, we are sure, excuse our thus far differing from him, in expressing an anxious wish that we should put all things in order in our Church, previous to our inviting others to enter it. We take that to be the first and most important step; and we are convinced that in the present anomalous state of part of our church government and discipline, the Wesleyans would not enter into it, or enter only again to divide, and recede. The points we propose are these:

1. A stricter and more religious education of the persons intended for Holy Orders: i. e. an education (after the general ground-work has been laid), as much confined to theology, as the medical practitioner and lawyer are to their respective professions. For this purpose, a book published by the present Chancellor of the Diocese of Chester, may be consulted with advantage.

2. A good residence, with sufficient glebe, found by law, for every Minister, Rector, Vicar, or Curate, in every parish.

3. A diminution or abolition, when possible, of pluralities, as soon as present incumbents are dead or removed; founded upon such a plan as would givea comfortable, easy, respectable maintenance to every clergyman on his single living.

4. To hasten the abolition of pluralities, a privilege given to every minister who holds two livings to resign one instanter, upon his successor allowing him a certain sum out of it for his life. We really flatter ourselves that this is an unexceptionable proposition, and which ought not to be overlooked by those persons who have the trust devolved on them of altering the present government, and correcting the abuses of the Church. We are convinced that no just and fair means of doing away with pluralities, except this, will be found that will work with equal rapidity and success.

as

5. A reduction of the enormous revenue of many bishoprics; and their fusion gradually into the inadequate revenues of the smaller benefices. It has not been sufficiently observed, how much the possession of an immense revenue (as Canterbury, London, Durham, Winchester, &c. &c.) must affect, generally speaking, the character and manners of the possessors. Surely in a Christian church like ours, the humblest Curate ought to feel himself free, independent, and at ease, in conferring with his diocesan, especially as that diocesan writes to him " his affectionate brother." Now we ask, in sober truth, can it be so? Can a poor Curate, or Vicar, starving on 50 or 60l. a-year, enter the princely hall of his diocesan, without awe, or at least without feelings of a nature we will not dwell on; when every servant who receives him, and ushers him through the apartments, is better fed, better clothed, and better paid than himself. Where can be the pleasure, the advantage, even the possibility of assimilation between one clergyman with 30,000l. a-year, and 30 servants; and one with 60l. a-year, and a dirty halfstarved maid?

6. With this, the whole style and behaviour of the bishops to the clergy should be altered. They should be in reality what they profess themselves to be, their affectionate friends; living hospitably with them; visiting them; receiving them at their palaces; conversing with them; lending them books; advising with them in their studies; sending them presents of learned works; and making themselves acquainted thoroughly with their dioceses.

7. The fees of the bishops and their secretaries, which act so hardly and cruelly on the poorer clergy, and unjustly on all, should be instantly abolished. It is a crying abuse. So ought also to be the fees of the archdeacon, who ought to be paid from other sources than the small livings of an impoverished clergy.

8. Lastly-The Wesleyans will never consent to join the Church of England till the following evil has been removed-" The bishops receiving fees for allowing non-residence." If this is not a grievance, we know not where to

find one? We state it broadly and plainly, and deny it who can.

If a clergyman is inducted to a living, and there is a Parsonage-house upon it, he resides of course in it. If there is not, the bishop receives a fee of one guinea per annum for allowing him to reside out of the parish, so that the poor incumbent is fined for his poverty, and pays his diocesan for having to hire a house when none is provided for him. Among the causes of non-residence has this ever been mentioned? or mentioned, has it been denied?

Now when these and other such evils have been removed from our Church, and when she can, as then she will, be able to look her enemies in the face and say-" Where will you find in Europe a Church more pure, more simple, more learned, more rational, more pious, more useful, and, in fact, more truly Apostolical than ours?"-then shall we most heartily exhort and implore all seceders to return again to her. The evils we have mentioned are not inherent, but accidental, and may be speedily and easily removed. They have grown up among the weeds with which time has covered the venerable edifice. A more learned, enlightened, and pious brotherhood of bishops never were on the bench; a more conscientious and well-informed clergy than the present never existed. Neither the bishops nor the clergy are accountable for the general defects of the establishment. They lie at other doors. Gentle and friendly be the hand, and pious and wise the head that removes them! We only differ from Mr. Polwhele in this one pointthat it is more advantageous to improve the present constitution and state of the Church, than to gain proselytes to it; and further, that it is the wisest, safest, and most successful way of securing our friends, and conciliating our enemies.

Memoirs of the Council of Trent. By

the Rev. J. Mendham, M.A.

THE subject itself, upon which these memoirs treat, must be interesting to every theological reader; but the style of Mr. Mendham is so unpolished-his materials so meagre and

unimportant-his sentences so rugged and serpentine-his language so puerile, that the labour, time, and patience consumed in the perusal of his volume, will be found to be but inadequately remunerated by any accession of knowledge the reader may have derived. The King of England would have need for the assistance of Dr. Chalmers to decipher his hieroglyphic paragraphs, and the Italian Pontiff must indubitably summons a special council, if he be desirous of comprehending the legitimate meaning and object of his protegé. We esteem the dedication of such woeful composition to his Holiness an act of folly and presumption-an unwarrantable exhibition of party feeling and ridiculous envy. The work is compiled as a continuous history, although the MSS. from which the supplies are drawn appear to be epistolary. We shall quote Mr. M.'s reasons for such an alteration of form.

"All this was highly proper to be written, and the fact of the case invites the reflection, that history is studied in a series of letters containing it, far differently, and in some respect, more advantageously, than in a formal narrative written in times posterior to the events recorded; although that method likewise has its advantages. It is exceedingly difficult, and indeed perfectly to do so impossible, to place ourselves in any precise point of time, where what is now past and certain, was future and uncertain, when what we now calmly read as matters of history, were objects of fears and wishes of every intensity, and of plans and conjectures covered with impenetrable obscurity; except so far as the probabilities from the general connexion of cause and effect-the great guide of human duty, where no positive command of God is known-may cast a feeble ray into the region of darkness. This state of things and feelings is most perfectly realized by letters of the parties concerned; and inferences may arise from the scenes and exhibitions which they present, of some value to the reader, both in rectifying his judgment of others, and in regulating his own conduct."p. 33.

In his excursions upon, and expositions of his own tenets, the arguments of Mr. M. are far from being either intelligible, satisfactory, or logical, and the muddle he too frequently creates is

insufferable. The doctrines of the Trinity and Eucharist, above all others, are indebted to him for incomprehensibility; and his lengthened controversy upon the word is, is as luminous as we had anticipated. We must, however, acknowledge that he has collated with much judgment the successive proceedings of the Council, and judiciously corrected several errors amongst the dates; still the performance is too trite to engage interest, too dry and defective to achieve a popular benefit. It may decorate a shelf, but never adorn the mind. The different errors of the alleged heretics should have been fully stated and canvassed, the decrees more extended, the collateral and conflicting interests of each party pourtrayed in feeling coloursthese alone would have afforded an engaging, edifying, and beneficial history, which can never be attained by the dry enunciation of titles, uninteresting catalogues of dates, precise and tedious number of conventions, and the order of processions.

Memorials of Oxford. Nos. XVIII. XIX. XX. XXI. and XXII.

NEW COLLEGE.-The foundation of the illustrious Wykeham, from its importance and magnitude, occupies a larger space in the work than some others. As a collegiate establishment, emanating from an individual who at the same time had founded a princely seminary of a preparatory nature at Winchester, it is entitled to make one of the most splendid monuments of the munificence of a past age.

"It is not without reason that the popular appellation first given to this establishment soon after its foundation has adhered to it ever since. It forms indeed a new era in our academical annals. The design was so grand, and the principal buildings upon the whole so much superior to those which preceded them, that the collegiate system may be said to be completely established by the formation of this society; which served as a model, more or less, to subsequent founders of colleges, both here and at Cambridge."

The Reverend Editor has done justice to the character of this munificent Prelate, who has the honour, in common with two other founders of

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