ART. VIII.-CRITICAL NOTICES. With a New-York: Lane & 1. Sketches of Wesleyan Preachers. By ROBERT A. WEST. 12mo., pp. 400. WE have nothing like this book upon our catalogue. It contains sketches of the characters and public labors of Wesleyan ministers. The author's extensive acquaintance with the Wesleyan ministry afforded him peculiar advantages for the accomplishment of his undertaking; and his powers of description, his judgment in the selection of incidents, and the felicity with which he transfers his own vivid conceptions to his pages, impart rare excellence and high interest to the work. The reader will here find both excitement and nourishment, amusement and instruction. The author wields a nervous pen, and often throws off a passage, which, for brilliancy, will compare with the best specimens of English composition. Some of the sketches have been published in the Advocate. These have, however, been greatly enlarged and improved. The book contains many sketches which have never before appeared, of equal interest with those that have been before the public. All who have heard or read of the leading spirits in the Wesleyan Conference will be gratified with the opportunity of making their acquaintance through one who knows them so well, and has the happy art of telling what he knows in a manner so consistent with the principles of good taste and elevated moral sentiment. Let all obtain this book as soon as possible; and that they will read it through when they have obtained it, we consider as certain beyond a doubt. And it is equally certain that they will be both pleased and profited. 2. Lectures on the Law and the Gospel. By STEPHEN H. TYNG, D. D., Rector of St. George's Church, New-York. Sixth thousand. 8vo., pp. 404. New-York: Robert Carter. 1848. 66 THE subject of these Lectures is one of vast importance. The proper distinction between the law and the gospel, and their relations to each other, are subjects which are not sufficiently studied by those who are set for the defense of the gospel." Our author is an evangelical Calvinist, and, consequently, entertains notions of imputed guilt and imputed righteousness held by the old Calvinistic school. These views, however, only give a tinge to the work, not being pushed out to those Antinomian consequences which have sometimes been attached to them. Upon the nature, permanency, obligation, and uses of the law, Dr. Tyng is perspicuous and orthodox. The Lectures glow with a spirit, piety, and zeal, which render them really grateful and attractive to a devout heart. The style of composition is beautifully flowing and powerfully impressive. The book is well got up, and accompanied by a striking likeness of the author. Notwithstanding the exceptions which, as an orthodox Arminian, we take to a portion of the theological phraseology of the work, we still say distinctly that it is a good and useful book-one which will amply compensate the purchase and reading. 3. Recollections and Reflections of an Old Itinerant. A Series of Letters originally published in the Christian Advocate and Journal, and the Western Christian Advocate. By Rev. HENRY SMITH. New-York: Lane & Tippett. 1848. THIS book contains a multitude of good things. Those who have read the letters in the Advocate will be glad to have them in a neat little volume. Father Smith is among our worthies who have labored long and faithfully for the salvation of sinners and the building up of the church, and are now devoutly waiting for their reward. When he shall have gone to heaven, he will yet speak through this pious and instructive volume. Those who wish to see how the fathers labored and suffered, should procure and peruse this book. May it be a means of keeping us in lively remembrance of " the way the fathers trod," and of preserving in healthful and vigorous action our excellent system. 4. Experience and Ministerial Labors of Rev. Thomas Smith, late an Itinerant Preacher of the Gospel in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Compiled chiefly from his Journal. By Rev. DAVID DAILY, of the Philadelphia Conference. New-York: Lane & Tippett. 1848. We WE have here a record of the labors and successes of an ardent and faithful minister of Jesus Christ. The incidents of the book are interesting and instructive. Wonderful success followed the labors of Mr. Smith, and he has noted many singular providential occurrences, which almost wear the appearance of romance. doubt not but the book will be read with great interest and profit by many more than those who were personally acquainted with the subject. The compiler has accomplished his part with great judgment, and is entitled to the thanks of the church. Of course we recommend the work, especially to our own people. 5. The Nature and Ministry of Holy Angels. By Rev. JAMES RAWSON., A. M. NewYork: Lane & Tippett. 1848. In this work the author has brought out what the Scriptures teach upon the subject of good angels. The theme is elaborated and reduced to practical purposes. The composition is chaste, perspicuous, and often elevated. As a manual upon the subject, the work before us has no rival. It seems to be just what is wanted upon the subject, and we hope it will meet with an extensive circulation. We recommend it without the slightest reserve. 6. A Series of Sketches, Literary and Religious, designed for the Improvement of the Young. By ERWIN HOUSE. Edited by B. F. TEFFT, A. M. 18mo., pp. 320. Cincin nati: Swormstedt & Mitchell. 1847. WE are most happy to call the attention of our readers to this book. The style is chaste and elevated, and the sentiment truly evangelical. We cannot do better than to give the editor's account of its character and objects: "The leading object of the book is to furnish useful, and, at the same time, attractive reading, to the young. The elegant literature of the day has become so corrupt, so full of moral poison, that an effort must be made to provide works for desultory perusal, which, while they inform the understanding, shall please the imagination and improve the heart. We have impressed a literary taste upon the minds of the rising generation. Books adapted to their years they will have; and, whatever they have, they will read. This appetite we have spent time, and money, and energy, to create; and, now, we must supply the food. The following Sketches, so various in matter, and so pure in style, may be safely adopted as a work prepared expressly to meet this demand." We could most earnestly desire that this little work might be put into the hands of all our young people of both sexes. It is an admirable and attractive volume. In consequence of an unusual demand for space, in the review department of this number, we have been obliged to lay over a large number of Critical Notices. We must, for this, beg the indulgence of authors and publishers. THE METHODIST QUARTERLY REVIEW. JULY, 1848. EDITED BY GEORGE PECK, D. D. ART. I.-Life and Religious Opinions and Experience of Madame de la Mothe Guyon: together with some Account of the Personal History and Religious Opinions of Fenelon, Archbishop of Cambray. By THOMAS C. UPHAM, Professor of Mental and Moral Philosophy in Bowdoin College. In 2 vols. Vol. 1. NewYork: Harper & Brothers. 1847. A LOVE for the mysterious is among the original instincts of our nature. Whatever is detected by our senses, or comprehended by our reason, is esteemed common, and fails to give interest. Though a thousand known divinities were confessed and duly worshiped, the soul were yet unsatisfied, and would secretly breathe out its aspirations to the unknown God. Nor should these emotions be accounted the mere vagaries of an ill-disciplined fancy. Their source lies deeper; and they argue, not the wreck of man's original character, but his essential spirituality, by virtue of which he is, in all the phases of his social and intellectual condition, a religious being. Endowed with powers of cognizance beyond those of sense, and of perception above reason, the requirements of his nature can be satisfied only by communion with the spirit world. Conscious, from the instinctive intimations of his own heart, of his dependence upon a superior power, he requires as the object of his confidence and worship a being of a superior nature. It is, therefore, as repugnant to sound philosophy as it is to the dictates of divine Wisdom, to require a merely rational theology, or to submit the subtil doctrines of experimental religion to the inadequate tests of reason. It is sometimes assumed with much apparent confidence that religious zeal is a sign of little learning, and want of mental acumen; but we believe that facts disprove the assumption. Dullness may doubt against evidence, and deny the truth, however plainly VOL. VIII.-21 |