rents were going to supply such an abundance of spiritual aliment to the people, "building them up in the Faith," and "nourishing them unto eternal life," (especially remembering about the butcher, baker, and beef-steak,) we confess we never suspected before, and do not very clearly understand now.

The distinction between Missionary and Parochial work seems to be plausible. But let us look at it for a moment, and see whether any such rigid separation actually exists, or is indeed possible, where the Church is a living thing. Free seats are confessed to be "necessary in the effort to enlarge her borders;" and where is the Parish whose "borders" are incapable of further enlargement? Free-seats are confessed to be necessary "to bring men within her pale;" and where is the Parish in which there are no men yet to be brought within her pale? The Free-seat system is confessed to be "the Church acting aggressively upon the world ;" and where is the Parish in which there is nothing more left of "the world," for the Church to conquer? Show us such a Parishnay, in addition to the above impossible requirements, show us the Parish where no more young couples are to be married, and no more children to be born, and no further increase in the Church population is to be expected by emigration or otherwise; and then and there we will grant that there is a Parish where the Pew-system will not hinder the growth of the Church-simply because any further growth would then and there be impossible. There is no city, nor town, nor village, in all this land, sufficiently finished to answer the conditions of the hypothesis. Everywhere there are new families rising up, or moving in; everywhere there are Dissenters, Romanists, Worldlings, Nothingarians, Infidels, and blasphemers, to be converted and gathered unto the growing Fold. Everywhere Church-extension is possible, and it is therefore everywhere the first practical duty.

And yet our friend grants that "the Pew-system is not well adapted to the purposes of Church extension." Our argument he declares to be "quite conclusive." He "entirely agrees" with us. Our "doctrine is true." That admission settles the whole question. It is not the providing of spiritual edification to the people, it is not the building up of the Church's children in our most Holy Faith, it is not the nourishing the flock unto eternal life, that is the main charm of the Pew-system in the eyes of its friends. It is the "regular and reliable support" of the ministry-it is the "reliable contracts" with the vestry for salary-that with them so decisively

outweigh all the superior efficacy of Free-seats in the glorious work of Church-extension. They are willing that the work should stagnate; so that the clerical oxen may only grow fat in their stalls. They would demoralize or disband whole regiments of the rank and file in the armies of the Church militant, so that they may only double the rations and multiply the perquisites of the officers. They cry out that the wheels of the conqueror's chariot shall be stayed in mid career of victory; in order that His hungry body-guard may fly upon the spoil.

It is not thus that we have learned the relative importance of the Bread of Life, and the Loaves and Fishes. Growthnot "a regular and reliable salary "is the first great law of practical life in the Church. "Preach the Gospel to every creature," and "in all lands," is the command. "Let him that heareth say Come." The constant daily public and private prayer of all Christians everywhere is, Thy Kingdom come and it is their duty to act it as well as pray it. We know, moreover, that before that "end come," the Gospel must first "be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations." "Increase and multiply," is the great command of the new creation under the second Adam, as well as to the old creation under the first Adam. It was therefore that we said before, and now repeat,-"To increase, to multiply, to grow, to gather in-this is the chief work the Church is ordained to do. She is the great treasure-house of God's grace, and she must draw all men unto her, that they may receive of Christ and be saved. Growth by the Spirit; growth by the Bride; growth by the Ministry; growth by the voluntary labors of the laity; growth by the spontaneous coming of "whosoever will," that he may take the water of life freely; this is the one prime, all-controlling, all-overwhelming instinct; the indispensable and ineradicable law of life, to the Church of the living God. This must be obeyed first, no matter what else may be postponed or neglected. It is impossible that any practical consideration can ever, under any circumstances, be for an instant weighed against it. Whatever clashes with this, therefore, must be done away. Whatever impedes it must be cut asunder. Whatever smothers out the life of it, must itself be destroyed."

The admission, then, that "the Pew-system is not well adapted to the purposes of Church extension,"-that "the argument is quite conclusive,"--that "the doctrine is true,"—is fatal to the advocates of pews." Any further defense of their system is a simple impossibility. There is nothing more to be said. Causa finita est.

Only one word more, and, for this time at least, we are done. Our friend is rather free in his use of words. "Quixotic rage," "moon-struck," "all fudge," "merest nonsense," "falsehood," "rodomontade," and similar phrases, are perhaps not the most persuasive amenities in a friendly discussion. But they call for no reply, and hardly for this brief and quiet notice. They stir in us no unpleasant feeling, and no desire for unhandsome retort, Nay, we find it easy to look with good-natured unconcern upon hard words which are only used as a sauce piquante for arguments that are so soft, for self-contradictions that are both plentiful and palpable, and for admissions which kindly, and completely cover the whole ground in dispute.

BOOK NOTICES.

THE PRINCIPLES OF POLITICAL ECONOMY APPLIED TO THE CONDITION, THE RESOURCES, AND THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. BY FRANCIS BOWEN, Alford Professor of Moral Philosophy and Civil Polity, in Harvard College. Boston: Little, Brown & Company. 1856. 8vo. pp. 546.

As we propose to discuss the subject treated of in this volume at some length in our next No., we simply announce the work here, and add a few remarks upon its design and character.

Political Economy is comparatively a modern science; and is undoubtedly one of the most important sciences of modern times. There is indeed a sense in which it may be called the theology of our age; for no deity is worshiped more sedulously than Mammon; and Political Economy is regarded by most men, and in its practical phase, as the science of wealth, and its acquisition. Even in this point of view alone, a work on this subject would be deserving of, as it most certainly would receive, careful and considerate attention.

But it is not for this purpose, nor in this view of it that we have called Political Economy one of the most important sciences of modern times. Not only is it concerned with, and the science of, the material well-being of a community, but so intimately connected is this well-being with many of the deepest questions of polity and of civilization itself, that to it, we must look for a solution of many of the most important and fundamental problems of the future. The social position of the laboring classes-the possibility of civil liberty and political equality, all depend upon questions embraced and discussed within the province of Political Economy.

It

Professor Bowen has undertaken and executed his task, in no mere spirit of a book-making trade; but apparently with a full appreciation of the momentous interests with which he is dealing. He has entered upon the work in a spirit of calm philosophic insight into the nature of man and of society, and has prosecuted it with a most patient and diligent investigation of the facts and statistics by which his conclusions must be determined. It is in a general view of it, the best general treatise on the subject that has yet been published. states with ample fullness and the most perfect fairness the great theories of Adam Smith, of Ricardo, and of Malthus, on free trade, rent and population, and answers them in a way, which if it do not prove satisfactory to the readeras we think it will-will nevertheless present him the grounds upon which to form his own opinions. He has also discussed at great length the theory of money, of paper currency, and of banking, though in our opinion the discussions on this point are not quite so satisfactory as those on the preceding.

As a text book for schools and Colleges it may be thought somewhat too large and full. But if so, it will be only the more satisfactory for the private student and the better adapted to his wants. The fact that the Prof. has had our own country, its resources, institutions, and its experience always in view and drawn his facts and illustrations from that source to so great an extent, will be found to give to the work an additional and peculiar value.

One criticism alone have we to make. It is this: that while the Author has shown great familiarity with every European writer of any note, whether English or Continental, he has not that we recollect so much as once noticed our own countryman, HENRY C. CAREY. This seems a strange omission, not only on account of Mr. Carey's European reputation, but for the reason that he has devoted especial attention to those European theories of Smith, Ricardo, Malthus and Say, which Professor Bowen feels called upon either

to refute altogether or to show to be inapplicable to this country. We have been accustomed to regard Mr. Carey's as one of the great names in the science of Political Economy, and one that will stand hereafter only second to that of Adam Smith, and second even to his, only because he was the founder of the science. We think he is beginning to be so regarded in Europe also. It can hardly be possible that Prof. Bowen does not know how nearly he agrees with Mr. Carey on many of the most important points of his theories. And yet there are several places in Prof. Bowen's work where we have fancied that his own statements would have been somewhat improved if he had possessed as much familiarity with the writings of our countryman, Carey, as with his British and European authorities. But, as it is, we consider it the best work yet published, and as such commend it to the public.

RELIGION IN AMERICA; or an Account of the Origin, Relation to the State, and present condition of the Evangelical Churches in the United States. With Notices of the Unevangelical Denominations. By ROBERT BAIRD. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1856. 8vo. pp. 696. New Haven: Durrie & Peck.

This is in all respects a curious book, and in some respects one of considerable value. In a country where the government tolerates all religions, it is an important question, What is the present status of Religion? Which of all the various forms of Religion is most in accordance with our civil Institutions } Which is best suited to the genius of our people? Which is advancing most rapidly &c., &c. The author, the Rev. Dr. Baird, is and has been for many years connected with the "Evangelical Alliance" movement, and has for the last twenty years resided much of the time on the Continent of Europe. This large portly volume has grown out of a desire in Europe to know something of the condition of Religion in the United States, which seems to be regarded both as an enigma and a bugbear; and from a small work the volume has increased to its present dimensions. It has attracted much attention in Great Britain, especially among the Dissenters; and a former edition was translated into French, German, Swedish, and Dutch, and was extensively circulated all over the continent of Europe. The present movement among ourselves looking toward the great doctrine of the Unity of the whole Body of Christ, can never be discussed intelligently without just such information as this volume proposes to give; and, in fact, the" Evangelical Alliance," so called, is but another attempt to attain a similar important end, though upon an entirely different basis. There is proba bly no man living who has devoted so much attention as Dr. Baird to an examination of the present condition of the religious denominations in the United States, and the book abounds in information which can hardly be found anywhere else; as will be seen from the account of its contents. It will be noticed that he makes no mention whatever of some scores of Sects with which our country swarms; nor does he stop to ask, over this heterogeneous mass, IS CHRIST divided?" But he does name the more important denominations, and, by a standard of his own, divides them off into "Evangelical” and “NonEvangelical." The Contents are as follows:

The First Book is devoted to preliminary remarks, &c.

The Second Book treats of the early colonization of the country now forming in the United States, the religious character of the first European colonists-their Ecclesiastical institutions-and the state of the "Churches" when the Revolution took place by which the Colonies became independent of the mother country. The Third Book treats of the changes involved in and consequent upon that event-the influences of those changes-the character of the civil governments of the States-and the relations subsisting between these Governments and the "Churches."

The Fourth Book exhibits the operations of the Voluntary System in the United States-and the extent of its influence.