[British Critic, April 1841.]
Dr. Mill has published his “Christian Advocate’s” publication for 1840 (Rivingtons), for which we have been some time looking with great interest. It is the first part of a profound reply to the Pantheistic Principles of Strauss.
To Dr. Wall’s very interesting volume (2nd) on “The Ancient Orthography of the Jews,” (Whittaker), we cannot do more in so brief a notice as this than direct the reader’s attention. As his former volume was intended to establish the miraculous origin of alphabetic writing, so this illustrates the value of the gift by showing the low state in which learning must have remained, had mankind been confined to the use of such means of writing as they have invented for themselves. A third volume is to follow, principally on the subject of China.
The subject alone is sufficient to make “Egyptian history deduced from Monuments still in existence,” (Fraser), deeply interesting. The first part, which is all that we have seen, extends from Menes to Osirtesen. We are glad to see that it observes that reverence for Scripture history which is often wanting in such investigations.
Mr. Girdlestone’s “Commentary on the Old Testament,” Part V., on Job and the Psalms, (Rivingtons), is written with a careful attention to the details of moral duty, which is particularly seasonable in this day, and which, we may trust, cannot fail of a beneficial result.
“The Book of Illustrations,” by the Rev. H. Salter, (Hatchards) is condemned by its very length, which runs to 532 closely printed octavo pages. Illustrations should be written in a terse and pithy style; so large a book therefore must either have a great many indeed, or they must be spun out. Again, it is condemned by its being original and selected, for illustrations are not likely to be expressed vigorously unless thrown off by the author. Mr. S. seems too to belong to a bad school in religion; yet we cannot help feeling kindly towards him for his advocating the principle, which is most philosophical and true, that teaching should proceed by means of visible things, or that religion is mystical.
Dr. D’Oyly has, in his second edition of “Sancroft’s Life” (J. W. Parker), added some extracts from the Archbishop’s letters, the three sermons which he published himself, and the celebrated treatise called “Modern Policies,” attributed to him.
Mr. Pope, in his “Roman Misquotation,” (Holdsworth), shows that the Roman work called “The Faith of Catholics,” used by Dr. Poynter, the Bishop of Strasburgh, &c. is not at all to be depended on in certain of its extracts and translations of the early Fathers.
We observe that “Geraldine” has got to the third edition, and really do not know how to be sorry for it. It contains incomparably more truth than error, and is far more powerful against the Protestantism of the day than in behalf of Rome. Some few converts it may make to its own creed; but on the whole we doubt not its circulation will work beneficially for our Church; and even as regards its converts, we have always to inquire what they were before conversion. The chance is that they will be found in the judgment of the sober Anglican to have gained by it. We are no palliators of superstition, but England is not in so orthodox a state, that Romanism is the worst of heresies.
Two new Tracts have appeared in the series called the Tracts for the Times, No. 89, “On the Mysticism attributed to the early Fathers of the Church;” and No. 90, “Remarks on certain Passages in the Thirty-nine Articles.” The latter is creating a great sensation.
Mr. Bickersteth “completes a series of theological works begun in 1815,” with “a Treatise on Baptism” (Seeley). This looks like “labor actus in orbem,” and perhaps indicates the beginning of a new and improved cycle. The spirit which dictated the following words is progressive: “Let us be led by these considerations to a more full and entire confidence in the Lord, and a more diligent, believing, and practical observance of every direction of our God, though at the time we may little discern its full meaning and importance.”
“The Case stated,” with reference to the late meeting of the subscribers to the Curates’ Fund at Leeds, is a little tract, published at Leeds, in defence of the vicar of that parish, who it seems had been attacked by Mr. William Sinclair and another clergyman of the Parish of Leeds, and Mr. Atkinson, a solicitor, for some observations he had made on the Pastoral Aid Society. It is noticed here for two reasons, to express our satisfaction at finding that church principles “have progressed” in Leeds, and that with the progress of church principles, there has been a progress of church temper. The assailants of the vicar of Leeds seem to have displayed some asperity of temper, and to have indulged not in hard arguments, but in hard words, from which the writer of this pamphlet has carefully abstained. As to Dr. Hook’s speech itself, if we may judge from the report of it given in the Leeds Intelligencer for Feb. 6, a more impressive and beautiful one never was delivered at any meeting.