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of justification; or to the opposite doctrine of the standards of the church of England, and of her daughter-church in America?" This question he meets with boldness, and after an Introduction, and statements preparatory to the right estimation of the Oxford doctrine of justification, and its righteousness, he proceeds, in ten chapters, to compare it with the doctrines of the schoolmen, the Council of Trent, the Romish church, and the Anglican church, on the same subject; in the course of which he also exhibits its effects upon other doctrines and parts of Christianity. He claims to have thoroughly studied the system, as it is exhibited in the Tracts and the other sources referred to by Dr. Pusey. The result is a settled conviction that, whatever may have been the intention of those who maintain it, this divinity is in fact an abandonment of the distinguishing principles of the Protestant faith, and a systematic adoption of the root and heart of Romanism, from which have proceeded all its corruptions and deformities. The first step of its departure from the Protestant faith, is its rejection of that cardinal doctrine of the Reformation, justification by faith. This is pronounced, by Newman, Pusey and Keble, "an abuse of the doctrine of justification,”—“a real corruption," "another gospel." According to their system, baptismal regeneration lies at the foundation of justification before God. An inherent righteousness, they maintain, is communicated by the sole instrumentality of baptism, and is the only ground of justification; and for sins committed after baptism, they more than intimate their confidence in the Romish doctrine of penances and indulgences, excepting for "mortal sins," for which neither Oxford nor Rome has made provision.

Such are the characteristic doctrines of that Ancient Christianity which is attempted to be restored by the Oxford divines. To these may be added several external forms of worship, the duty of praying for the dead, etc., all of which are in accordance with the usages of the Romish church, and have heretofore been strenuously rejected by Protestants.

In the work before us the whole system is discussed and resisted with much point and directness, and with an accumulation of proof, which shows the Bishop of Ohio to be thoroughly at home in the subject. The book is also written in a spirit of courtesy and charity which is highly creditable to the author. We cordially commend it to the perusal of all who feel an interest in the Oxford controversy, and especially to our brethren of the Episcopal church, whose Protestantism has been, and perhaps still is, not a little endangered by the

specious and learned disquisitions of the Oxford divines. While we thus express our high opinion of the substance of our author's work, we regret that our friend the Bishop has not trained himself to a more condensed style of writing. His argument is unnecessarily expanded, and the volume, we think, is much larger than was needed. It is, however, well "got up" by the publisher, and presents an attractive appearance to such as can afford to gratify a taste for handsome books.

2.-Institutes of Ecclesiastical History, Ancient and Modern;

much corrected, enlarged and improved from the primary Authorities by John Lawrence von Mosheim, D. D., Chancellor of the University of Gottingen. A new and literal Translation from the original Latin, with copious additional Notes, original and selected: by James Murdock, D. D. In three volumes. Second Edition, revised and enlarged. New-York: Harper and Brothers. 1839 pp. 470, 484, 506.

The original work of Mosheim appeared in 1755. It was originally written in Latin, and such was its popularity that it was soon translated into the English, French, Dutch and German languages; though many distinguished scholars have devoted their lives to this department of investigation, the "Institutes" continue to be held in the highest estimation. Prior to 1832, the only English translation of this work was that of Dr. Maclaine, which was published in 1764. In his preface, the Doctor admits that he has "taken considerable liberty with the author,-following the spirit of the narrative, without adhering strictly to the letter, and often adding a few sentences to render an observation more striking, a fact more clear, a portrait more finished." Indeed, his translation is no translation at all; it is a mere paraphrase; and the liberty taken is the more unpardonable, as he gives us no clue by which to detect the changes he has made.

The

Dr. Murdock has performed an important service, therefore, in offering to the public "a close, literal version,-containing neither more nor less than the original." But this is far from expressing the full extent of our obligations to him. translator is himself profoundly learned in all that relates to the Church; and his notes have greatly enhanced the value of the work. Indeed, we know of no single book, in any language, which is so valuable to the student of ecclesiastical history.

In preparing the present edition, Dr. Murdock has compared the translation with the original, sentence by sentence; the

references, to a considerable extent, have been verified anew; and several topics have been subjected to further investigation.

3.-HARPERS' SCHOOL-DISTRICT LIBRARY; THIRD SERIES. NewYork: Harper and Brothers. 1840. 50 volumes, 12mo.

The two preceding series of this Library, the first of 50, and the second of 45 volumes, were noticed with commendation in the Repository for January, 1840. At the same date, we announced the third series as in the progress of publication. It has since been completed and submitted to our examination. It is truly a choice selection of books. Fifty volumes, the works of authors of established reputation, prepared under the eye of competent revisers and readers, printed in the most economical manner and bound in an attractive and uniform style, are no trifling possession for a family or a neighborhood. Added to the preceding series they constitute a library of 145 volumes, most of which are among the best books to be found on the same or similar subjects, for popular reading and instruction; embracing History, Voyages and Travels, Biography, Natural History, the Physical Sciences, Agriculture, Manufactures, Arts, Commerce, Poetry, Belles-Lettres, Philosophy, etc., etc. In respect to some of these volumes, different opinions may be formed by the best judges, and some of them might doubtless be exchanged for better works; but, as a whole, the collection is admirably adapted to its object. The enterprising publishers, aided by the counsel of the Superintendent of Common Schools of the State of New-York, and other able advisers, have thus provided, for all who will avail themselves of this selection, what the organs of no single school district could have procured without their aid, a well arranged and uniform library of the most approved works on so large a variety of the topics of useful knowledge.

The Third Series contains several works which we have already noticed in the Repository, viz. Keightley's History of England, 5 vols. ; Murray's British America, 2 vols.; Upham's Outlines of Imperfect and Disordered Mental Action; and Dick's Sidereal Heavens Illustrated. The following are the remaining volumes of the series:-Hale's History of the United States, 2 vols.; Renwick's Life of Dewitt Clinton; Renwick's Practical Mechanics; Parry's Voyages for the Dis covery of a Northwest Passage, 2 vols.; Mackenzie's Life of Commodore Perry, 2 vols.; Irving's Life and Writings of Goldsmith, 2 vols.; Bryant's Selections from American Poets; Halleck's Selections from the British Poets, 2 vols.; History

of the Moors of Spain, translated from the French of M. Florian; Lives of Distinguished Men of Modern Times, 2 vols. ; Dr. Nott's Counsels to Young Men; Head's Life and Travels of Bruce; Page's Life and Writings of Dr. Johnson, 2 vols.; Potter's Political Economy; Life and Travels of Mungo Park; Brougham, Sedgwick and Verplanck on the Advantages of Science and Literature; Dana's Life before the Mast; History of Lost Greenland; American Husbandry, 2 vols.; History of Massachusetts, 2 vols.; History of New Hampshire, 2 vols.; Renwick's First Principles of Chemistry; Renwick's Lives of Jay and Hamilton; A manual of the Duties of Domestic Life; Dwight's History of Connecticut; Miss Sedgwick's Stories for the Young; Crowe's History of France, 3 vols.; Walter Scott's History of Scotland, 2 vols.

The influence of such a library, owned and read in the school districts of our country, would be beyond the bounds of calculation, in elevating the thoughts and promoting the intelligence and refinement of the nation. A plan so well devised cannot be too highly commended to the favor of the rising and spreading population of our great republic. It will be well if books, thus selected with care, shall be so appreciated as to take the place of much of the indiscriminate and light reading which now everywhere obtrudes itself upon the attention of the young, to dissipate and enfeeble the mind and corrupt the

taste.

Several of the works embraced in this series are worthy of separate notices. Among these we would name the volumes on Chemistry and Mechanics by Prof. Renwick. But our space will only allow us to add, that we regard them as excellent elementary works, well worthy of a place in a select District or Family Library.

4.-Essays on the Distinguishing Traits of Christian Character:

by Gardiner Spring, D. D. Sixth Edition, Revised by the Author. New-York: J. A. Hoisington. 1840. pp.

123.

This little book, we presume, is the familiar acquaintance of many of our readers. It was first published in 1813, and, as the present title-page indicates, has passed through several editions. We have read it in former years with profit, and have known it to be blessed of God in guiding inquiring minds to the knowledge of the Saviour, as well as in detecting the false dependences of the deceived. It now appears in an improved form, but with no change, as the author assures us, "except in a single page in the last Essay."

5.-The Principles of Physiology, applied to the Preservation of Health and the Improvement of Physical and Mental Education: by Andrew Combe, M. D., Physician Extruordinary to the Queen in Scotland, and Consulting Physician to the King and Queen of the Belgians. From the Seventh Edinburgh Edition. New-York: Harper and Brothers. 1840. pp. 360.

The writings of Dr. Combe are too well known and too highly appreciated, to need a formal commendation from us. The work here named is perhaps the most popular and useful of his publications. More than twelve thousand copies of it have been sold in Great Britain, and a translation, in Germany, has met with a favorable reception. In this country several large editions have been disposed of. The present edition is prepared with questions and answers, at the end of the chapters, to fit it for the use of schools. In this form it has been successfully introduced into several of our best academies and other seminaries of instruction. It is gratifying to perceive the evidence afforded, by the reception of this book, that the great importance and usefulness of physiological knowledge is beginning to be properly appreciated, as an indispensable branch of general instruction.

6.-A Greek Grammar, for the use of Learners: by E. A. Sophocles, A. M. Third Edition. Hartford: H. Huntington, Jun. 1840. pp. 284.

7.-A Greek Reader, for the Use of Schools, containing Selections in Prose and Poetry, with English Notes and a Lexicon; adapted particularly to the Greek Grammar of E. A. Sophocles by C. C. Felton, A. M., Eliot Prof. of Greek Literature in Harvard University. Hartford: H. Huntington, Jun. 1840. pp. 453.

We are glad to perceive, in the department of classical education in this country, many signs of encouragement and promise. We have scholars whose merits are acknowledged in the high places of learning in other lands: we have books. which are inferior to none of their kind: we have teachers who are laying the broad and sure foundation of a thorough and finished scholarship.

These volumes we regard as among the signs of better things to come. The work of Mr. Sophocles has been placed, by the most competent judges, at the head of the numerous grammars which are now used in this country. Those who

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