with a familiarity and a domestic fondness which a pulpit address would scarcely allow. He shows his people that he is not merely their stipendiary minister, executing an appointed task as meted out by his predecessors, but one who merges the clergyman in the friend, the teacher in the Christian; one who, because he feels that Christ is precious, would kindle, by every method within his power, the like flame of devotion in others. Take, for instance, the following extract, as confirming what we have said :-

"It is no doubt a homely illustration, but I write for homes; I wish to meet you at your own firesides. I could desire this subject not to be confined to the Church and to the Sabbath, but to interest your thoughts and meditations in the quiet retirement of your dwellings. And after all, is not the illustration before you the more impressive from its very homeliness? To mark that even in these small and happy circles time and death have found an entrance, and deal their usual work, and thinned your ranks, and marred your innocent festivities."-(Vol. iii. Posthumous Sermons, p. 296.)

In these addresses the lamented author spake as a man to his fellow-men, as one of like passions, like bodily infirmities, knowing their wants from a sense of his own, pitying their sorrows, because his own affliction was a large one; appreciating, no doubt, their struggles after wealth and honour, their temptations, their very disappointments, because he too had talents, position, influence, zeal, aye, all that might minister to ambition; yet when God thought fit to take away, he confessed that even this was working for good.

When we read the death of the aged and holy Polycarp, his epistle to the Philippians seems to have been written with added unction; and though in these days the fiery trial has passed away, the last address in this volume will be read with mournful interest, because the author survived its publication but a few months.

We have purposely omitted a notice of the Sermons contained in this volume, because in a recent review we considered Mr. Blunt as a preacher, and we can only say that they fully sustain his name.

We conclude with an extract from the last address he was permitted to make on earth, when increasing weakness told him that his course was nearly run, and he spake as though from the grave. We have chosen this, too, because it shows that Mr. Blunt was perfectly alive to the theological errors of the times, though withdrawn from active labour. The subject is the Lord's Supper. He did not drag his people to the table in the tone of one driving lambs to the slaughter; he did not urge them to come as though the bread taken could feed without faith in the recipient: he considered this blessed memorial only valuable because the acknowledgment of a heartfelt confidence in the cross of Christ. Listen to his words

"All that the word of God says upon the necessary degree of preparation for this holy ordinance is simply this:- Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup." All that our Church in perfect harmony responds to this is, when asked what is required of them that come to the Lord's supper, 'To examine themselves, whether they repent them truly of their former sins, stedfastly purposing to lead a new life, have a lively faith in God's mercy through Christ, with a thankful remembrance of his death, and to be in charity with all men.' No man, therefore, who is not willing to examine himself upon such points, and to pray and to strive to be enabled to give in all godly sincerity, answers of peace upon each of these solemn heads, is invited to the table of which we speak, or could by possibility suppose himself a welcome guest. But then we have no hesitation also in saying, that no man who is conscious of that love to the Saviour, which induces him to seek his table in a thankful remembrance of his death, mourning for past sins with that repentance not to be repented of, which is the Saviour's gift, and with that yearning after holiness to God and goodwill to man which is the work of the Saviour's spirit, both springing from a lively faith in God's mercy through Christ, need be under any the slightest apprehension that he shall ever be sent empty away."-(Vol. iii. Posthumous Serm. p. 357.)

SKETCHES FOR YOUTH. By CESAR MALAN, D.D. London: Seeleys. 1845.

SKETCHES and tales for youth, when well written, are of great value. Our readers will know what to expect from the pen of Dr. Malan. We rejoice that he still lives to cheer the aged and instruct the young. It is now but little short of five-and-twenty years ago, since we met our venerable brother in the rooms of Charles Simeon at Cambridge. He was then, we believe, and has often since been, in the furnace of affliction-the companion of his brethren "in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ." But thus it is that men are trained to strengthen others -to feel for and to feed the sheep and lambs of Christ's flock. While engaged in this "work of faith and labour of love," may our brother be enabled still to cherish "the patience of hope,' and, at length realize the gracious promise" When the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." The last of these ten sketches-" Grief and Consolation"--will show in what school Dr. M. has been training, and how well he can minister the comfort wherewith he himself has been comforted. We regret that this little volume does not admit of quotation in brief, and a mutilated sketch would please no one. The volume, we have no doubt, will soon tell its own tale.

LIGHT IN THE DWELLING: or, a Harmony of the Four Gospels: with very short and simple Remarks, adapted to Reading at Family Prayers, and arranged in 365 Sections, for every day of the year. By the Author of " the Peep of Day," "Line upon Line," &c. Revised and corrected by a CLERGYMAN OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND. London: Hatchards. 1846.

We have long felt that works of this description were much needed ―remarks rather than commentaries on holy scripture, brief, simple, devout-works, which, like the present," do not aspire to interest the learned, or to attract the polite: but endeavour to fix the inattentive, to awaken the unreflecting, to enlighten the ignorant, and to benefit the simple minds which are to be found in ordinary households." The Author of "the Peep of Day" and its sequel" Line upon Line,"-two most valuable series of early religious instruction for the infant mind,―could not have done better than apply her powers to the production of such a work; and we are happy to report that she appears to us to have done so with great success. "Light in the Dwelling" is doubtless a great advance upon her earlier efforts, but the work is worthy of her pen, and a very fitting sequel to them. We heartily pray that she may reap the fruit she desires, and which she has so well and touchingly expressed in the following passage:

"It is my comfort to know that feeble attempts may yet receive an abundant blessing from that gracious Lord whose glory I have sought, and in whose power it is to bestow or withhold success.

"And what is success? No circulation however extensive,-no approbation, even of the wise and good,-could be deemed success, if unattended by the conversion or edification of immortal souls. But if, at the last day, it should be made manifest that, through the means of this humble work,some thoughtless girl, removed from a beloved home and sojourning among strangers, had been led to cry, My Father, thou art the guide of my youth; -that some ignorant boy, in times past, unprofitable to all, had, like Onesimus, become profitable to his employer and to the Church of God;-that some self-righteous person, faithful to her earthly master, but a rebel against the best of masters, had been brought, in her declining years, to seek His righteousness, and devote herself to His service-that some unhappy wanderer, stained with secret crime, and tormented by the pangs of a guilty conscience, had been encouraged to plead for pardon, and to wash in the Saviour's precious blood:-that some little child sitting at the feet of its father, or of its mother, turning over the leaves of its first Bible, had learned to love the Friend of little children:-this,-this,-would indeed be SUCCESS. Will the reader join his prayers to mine that such a boon may be granted me by the FATHER OF LIGHTS, from whom cometh down every good and perfect gift?"

For ourselves, we welcome every such effort, and are very san

guine that such will be the success of this valuable contribution to our family-helps. We need not quote an author who can already imprint upon one of her works-Thirty-seventh Thousand. It may be desirable, however, to name the authorities upon which her arrangement and remarks are based. She says

"Aware of the paramount importance of soundness in doctrine in the humblest as well as in the greatest works, I have carefully studied the invaluable commentary of the Rev. Thomas Scott: and anxious to explain the allusions (in which the Scriptures abound) to Eastern customs, I have generally consulted the Pictorial Bible: while in the arrangement of the sections, I have taken as my guide the Harmony of the Rev. George Townsend, Prebendary of Durham.

"Conscious, however, of my own insufficiency, I submitted my work, some years since, to the judgment of Christian friends and before I ventured to send it to the press, solicited a clergyman to undertake its revision.

"Yet after all my own labour, extended through a period of eight years,and after all the aid I have derived from others, I am aware that many defects must have eluded observation, and that many more are incapable of correction. To overlook these I must throw myself upon the indulgence of the reader."-(pp. iii. iv.)

We can only say that this ample apology was little needed. The author is well equal to her task, and we hope this will not be her last contribution to the Church.

THE

CHURCHMAN'S MONTHLY REVIEW

AND CHRONICLE.

MAY, 1846.

HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. Volume the Fourth. By J. H. MERLE D'AUBIGNE, D.D.: assisted in the preparation of the English original by H. WHITE, B.A. Trinity College, Cambridge. Edinburgh: Öliver. 1846.

It is a remarkable fact, that from 150,000 to 200,000 copies of the former volumes of this work are already in circulation in the English language, among ourselves and in America-while, in France, the number hardly exceeds 4000. "This," as the Author observes, "is a real adoption, naturalizing this work in the countries that have received it with so much favour." For ourselves, we will only say, that it appears to us worthy of the favour it has received, and we sincerely trust that the essential principles of the work, so far as we have them developed, will be greatly promoted by the attractive, though not quite canonical, dress, in which they are presented.

Our readers will be glad to learn, that this continuation of M. D'Aubigné's History is published as an original work in English, and that a new edition of the first three volumes will speedily appear, carefully revised by the Author, with a new preface and other additions. A revised edition was much needed, and will, we have no doubt, command an extensive sale. "The best translations," Dr. D'Aubigné well observes, "are always faulty: and the Author alone can have the certainty of conveying his idea, his