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It is one of the pleasant and hopeful characteristics of the system of religious faith known by the general name of Unitarianism, that it interposes no barriers to the progress of Science, and that every new discovery confirms those general principles of natural religion with which Unitarianism so exquisitely harmonizes. It places boundless confidence not only in the power and goodness of the Creator, but also in the tendencies of the human mind to truth, especially that truth which reveals most fully the Divine perfections. The sublime revelations of Astronomy are of themselves sufficient confutation of the superstition which represents the Almighty as a partial or a vengeful Being, and as delighting in the prostrate mental degradation of his creatures. Whatever reason some systems of religious doctrine may have for indifference to new proofs of the vastness of God's universe, Unitarianism knows nothing of the feeling. So far from seeing in these accumulating proofs objections to divine revelation, it hails them as confirmations of the truths contained in revelation concerning the Divine perfections. In this spirit Mr. Tagart penned and preached the very interesting discourse of which we have given the title above. We cannot better recommend it to the notice of our readers than by offering them one or two brief extracts.

Thus succinctly does Mr. Tagart state the nature of the recent noble discovery of another planet belonging to the system of which our globe is one :

"The planet has been seen as a star of the eighth magnitude by the astronomers of the continent and of our own country. Its light has been detected by the aid of their powerful glasses; its motion determined, and its weight calculated. Its distance from the sun is stated to be 3125 millions of English miles; and its mass to be about 230 times that of the earth itself. But it is not so much the discovery itself, as it is the manner of it-the anticipation of it-the prophetic predictions for some years before that it would be discovered, which are so striking, so impressive. 'We saw it,' says one of our living men of science, whose intellectual accomplishments and spirit heighten our ideas of human nature, Sir John Herschel we saw it as Columbus saw America from the shores of Spain. Its movements have been felt, trembling along the farreaching line of air analysis, with a certainty hardly inferior to that of ocular demonstration.' It appears that it was the irregularity in the motions of the most distant planet already known the planet Uranus, discovered by the present Herschel's father in the year 1782-that is, about 64 years ago-an irregularity not to be accounted for by the influence of the other known bodies of our system, which led to the inference that there must be a more distant body acting upon it and belonging also to the system. The most refined mathematical calculations, founded on the nature of those perturbations, were then entered upon to determine where this unknown body should be-that is, in what quarter of the heavens it was to be looked for; and the place of it with considerable confidence was thus predetermined. Upon turning the powerful telescopes of observatories in that direction, about a month ago, September 23rd, the stranger was descried in the place expected! What a glorious, what an enviable feeling, must have thrilled the bosom of the writer and receiver of the letter that first announced the discovery, written from Berlin! "The planet, whose position you have described, really exists. On the same day that I received your letter, I discovered a star of the eighth magnitude, not marked upon the charts, and the observations of the following night shewed that this star is precisely the planet in question."-Pp. 7—9.

The "Thoughts" which Mr. Tagart suggests relate to the "vigour and expansiveness of the human intellect" (p. 9); to the value and moral influence, which many can enjoy and appreciate, of such discoveries (p. 11); to the subserviency of knowledge to a rational piety (p. 12); and to the light which these discoveries shed on the revealed word of God. Some of the concluding thoughts are expressed with both elegance and force. The following is a very beautiful passage:

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The planets will continue to roll in their majestic round, the tides of ocean will ebb and flow, the rivers will pour their streams into the everlasting bed, the mountains will lift up their untrodden peaks, when the creatures who have

studied and contemplated the great whole have vanished; when they who have measured the waters, and weighed the mountains, and predicted the periodic returns and courses of the stars, are gone, and the place that knew them shall know them no more. The leaves of autumn are now falling, and already are the buds of spring preparing; but nature seems to say, no second spring is given to

man.

"Still glides the stream, and shall not cease to glide;

The form remains, the function never dies;

While we, the brave, the mighty and the wise,

We men, who in our morn of youth defied

The elements, must vanish.

"And not only so. Even the sweetest hopes and affections which we have cherished the tender relationships which made life dear and gave a motive to virtue and exertion,- these are laid prostrate as we advance; and we die many times in losing those we love. But no! As in the physical world no atom, we are convinced, is ever ultimately lost, so in the spiritual world there may be a law, not so demonstrable, yet probable, and how pleasing! that no good thought, no intellectual acquisition, no pure affection, is formed in vain, and that all our spiritual experiences go to enrich a future incorruptible inheritance. The world of matter, we are confident, is entirely subservient to that of mind.”—Pp. 17, 18.

Characteristics of Men of Genius: a Series of Biographical, Historical and Critical Essays, selected, by permission, chiefly from the North American Review. With Preface, by John Chapman. 2 vols. post 8vo. Chapman, Brothers.

THE series of Selections from the Edinburgh Review recently published, comprising the contributions of Lord Jeffrey, Mr. Macaulay, Sydney Smith and Sir James Mackintosh, as well as the more miscellaneous selection from the Review which preceded these works, have been generally welcomed as valuable additions to the library. The great bulk of a complete set of any one of the old periodicals is excluding these works from all but large collections. Without the assistance of Selections, much that is worth preserving and reperusing will practically be buried in oblivion. Mr. Chapman has applied the same principle of selection to the best general Transatlantic periodical, the North American Review, and the result is, on the whole, an interesting work. Without placing the American on a level with the best English periodicals, we frankly concede to Mr. Chapman the merit of having discovered and preserved many detached thoughts and some entire essays well worthy of an European life. These two elegant volumes contain six historical articles-three relating to Ecclesiastics, and the same number to Statesmen (although five out of the six might be included in the latter term), nine essays relating to some of the great Poets of Italy, Germany and England, and two relating to painting and sculpture in the persons of Michael Angelo and Canova. Biographical details are in several instances mingled with the articles on the Poets and Artists. The prefatory remarks by Mr. Chapman are able and discriminative, and will inspire the reader with confidence in the judgment of the selection. For our own part, we confess, we should have been content if a smaller portion of the volumes had been devoted to poetical criticism, that being exactly the department of literature in which American writers have, in our view, shewn least aptitude; and accustomed as we have been to see the North American Review, we seem to remember a greater number of historical and biographical articles worthy of preservation than are here given. We had marked a passage from the Preface, and another from the article on Loyola, as favourable specimens of the book, but must from want of room omit them. We conclude this brief notice by remarking that these form a part of "The Catholic Series." We hope hereafter again to meet Mr. Chapman in the field of general lite

rature.

The Supremacy of the Scriptures the Divine Rule of Religion. By the Rev. James Davies. With a Recommendatory Letter by the Rev. J. Pye Smith, D.D., F.R.S., F.G.S., President of the Old College, Homerton. 12mo. Pp. 305. London-Ward.

THIS is, we believe, the work of an Independent minister of Haverhill, much respected in his denomination. Without much novelty of matter, and not displaying great ability, it is yet entitled to our commendation as a perfectly honest book on a very important subject. It is designed to shew the insufficiency of natural religion, and to protect the Scriptures from the puerilities and contradictions exhibited in the writings of the Fathers; to shew that neither decrees of councils, nor tradition, nor the "inward light" of the Quakers, are safe guides of faith. It maintains in all their breadth the principles of Protestant Nonconformity. In Chapter VI., on "the Ability and Right of separate Christian Churches to dictate a Rule of Faith," we have some very pertinent remarks on the inconsistency of many of the Protestant sects, which, while they affect to receive the Bible as their guide, are constantly preferring to it some work of human composition. Thus of the Wesleyan Methodists he says, "Their denominational standards are Mr. Wesley's writings, with some others; and in the groove of these writings all their thoughts must run." (P. 191.) Then he proceeds to expose the unreasonableness and violation of Scripture freedom in the demand by the Conference from every preacher of an avowal of cordial belief in the eternal generation and sonship of Christ. He asks, "When will religious people cease to be absurd?-to hold dogmatical notions with a gravity and tenacity proportioned to their folly, and in defiance of right reason and common sense?" (Id.) The Congregationalists receive from our author the praise (p. 193) of being "strenuous asserters of the right of private judgment," but he honestly avows his conviction that their "professions are not always connected with clear and full views of religious freedom, and that they are not always consistently sustained in social intercourse and in transacting religious affairs." (P. 194.)

We look with some suspicion and dislike on the practice, which appears to be growing, of prefixing a "Recommendatory Letter" from some rabbi or master in Israel. We like a free press, and desire not to see good books seeking the imprimatur of any man, however wise or learned. In the present instance, there is little in Dr. Smith's letter, except its kind feeling, to sustain his high reputation.

A Series of Questions, comprising the History of Jesus Christ; intended for the Use of Young Persons, as a Guide for the Critical Study of the Four Gospels, on the Plan of a Harmony with an Introduction. By William Field. 12mo. Pp. 240. London-Chapman, Brothers.

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MR. FIELD published a Series of Questions on the Gospel History so far back as 1794. A few years after, a second and a larger series of Questions (the present work) was not only prepared for the press, but actually printed. The announcement by the late Dr. Carpenter of his intention to publish a new plan of a Harmony induced Mr. Field to defer the publication, and to hold his own opinion in a state of suspense. Ultimately, the publication of Dr. Carpenter's views had no effect in modifying Mr. Field's acceptance, with Dr. Priestley and other theologians, of the common bipaschal theory respecting the duration of our Lord's ministry. He now publishes his Series of Questions prepared in accordance with this theory, adding to them some valuable introductory matter respecting the composition of the Gospels-a few pages of notes, so judicious and instructive, that we wish they had been more extended-and a Calendar for the time of Christ's public ministry.

The question of the duration of our Lord's ministry is involved in such deep obscurity, and the marks of time furnished by the two apostolical Gospels are so faint, that the great majority of biblical students have turned from it

in despair. We confess that, in some degree, we share in this feeling. We regret that we cannot follow with the confidence of faith any calendar of the events recorded in the four Gospels. The fact that two learned and dispassionate inquirers like Dr. Carpenter and Mr. Field, agreeing on so many points, have differed so widely in the discovery of the marks of time, is not a little discouraging to the young student. Thus Dr. Carpenter fixes the baptism of our Lord on January 20, A. D. 29; Mr. Field, some considerable time before the end of A. D. 27. Dr. Carpenter dates the transfiguration, March 25, A. D. 30; Mr. Field, July 17, A. D. 28. Dr. Carpenter dates the crucifixion, April 7, A. D. 30; Mr. Field, on the contrary, March 18, A. D. 29. While, then, we must be permitted to doubt the expediency of founding a course of instruction on the four Gospels to young people "on the plan of a Harmony," we can honestly accord very high praise to the Series of Questions prepared by Mr. Field. They are well calculated to draw attention to the most important parts of the Gospel history, and to suggest the correct interpretation of difficult passages; and we agree with Mr. Field that the young persons who succeed in answering his Questions, will be "no mean proficients" in the Gospel story.

Report of the Western Unitarian Christian Union, with the Resolutions passed at the Second Half-yearly Meeting, held at Plymouth, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 1846. 8vo. Pp. 24.

THIS is one of the most interesting documents ever put forth by any of our Unitarian societies. Full statistics are given of every congregation connected with the Union, including the name and date of settlement of the minister, the number of the congregation, the names and objects of the congregational institutions, and the name of the lay representative in the Committee of the Union. If these reports are periodically continued, most valuable materials will be afforded for the future historian of our Western congregations. Immediate advantage, too, may be derived from these periodical returns. Some ministers and societies may be stimulated to exertion by seeing what others are doing, and some may be roused to timely effort by the signs of declension recorded in the Report. Most honourably distinguished is the congregation at Bristol by the variety and usefulness of its institutions. We extract the paragraph relating to them:

"Bristol.-Rev. George Armstrong, B.A., 1838, and Rev. Wm. James, 1842. Congregation, 700.-The institutions are,-an Endowed Almshouse for 14 aged persons; a Daily Endowed School for 40 boys connected with the same institution, founded A.D. 1722, with residence for a Master; also an endowed School for 20 girls, with apartments for a Mistress; an Infant School, supported by voluntary contributions, containing 150 children, with a house for Master and Mistress; a Daily School for boys and girls, with about 120 children, supported by voluntary contributions; a School Dispensary; Sunday-schools, containing about 160 children and 40 teachers; a Fellowship Fund; a Sunday-school Provident Fund; a Chapel Library; a Sunday-school Library; a Sunday-school Teachers' Library; a Ladies' Working and Visiting Society, with about 60 members, and having under its care 150 poor families; a Tract Distributing Society; a Fund for the Relief of Poor Ministers, their Widows, and Students for the Ministry, sustained by endowment and annual collection; also a Fund for nearly similar objects, founded by a former Minister, the Rev. John Bury,* upwards of a century ago; a Domestic Mission, supported by voluntary contributions; Rev. James Bayley, Missionary; the Mission congregation about 60; its institutions, Sunday-school and weekly night School; Library; Mutual Improvement and Assistance Society. Mr. C. F. Thomas is the Lay-member of the Committee."-Pp. 11, 12.

Tradition also assigns the early management, if not the actual foundation, of this fund to Judge Foster, who was a member, at one period of his life, of the Lewin's Mead congregation.-ED. C. R.

DOMESTIC.

Ragged Schools."

INTELLIGENCE.

In the extracts from the master's diary (C. R., II. 755-758), we have given our readers a slight idea of the difficulties to be encountered in any attempt to raise from their moral degradation these unhappy outcasts of society, difficulties which will soon discourage any but those who are influenced by an earnest, unconquerable desire to follow in the footsteps of the Saviour, who came to seek and to save that which was lost. We will now proceed to give some account of "Ragged Schools" as they are, and then offer a few suggestions respecting what we believe they should be, and the best mode of carrying them on effectively.

The idea is not a novel one of collecting children "from the highways and hedges," and "compelling them," by the force of Christian love, to "come in" and be taught. Our readers will doubtless at once remember the poor cobbler, John Pounds, and other similar instances which may have come within their knowledge. But the first organized attempt of the kind was made in April, 1844, by a meeting held at the St. Giles's Ragged School, London, to concentrate the efforts of the teachers of various Sunday - schools in that great city, who, "having often observed with regret the many children that are excluded from the regular Sunday or Day School, in consequence of their ragged and filthy condition, and also the great numbers who constantly infest our streets and alleys, to idle, to steal, or do mischief,-resolved to establish schools expressly for that destitute and depraved class, in the very localities, courts and alleys where they abound." The result of this determination was, that from time to time schools had been opened, the rent and other expenses being paid generally by the teachers themselves, sometimes by one or more benevolent individuals, in the locality of the school. There was no lack of pupils; numbers very often could not be admitted for want of room or want of teachers, and a policeman in some cases was kept at the door to drive away those who tried to force themselves in. In one case, a number were taught in an open yard or court attached to the school for a considerable

time, while inside the same school there were 120 children. The last report states that there are now about 26 schools in operation, with an average attendance of 2600 children and 250 teachers. These schools are, however, almost entirely Sunday - schools; one only is a Day-school; eight are open only on Sunday; and the others on one or more week-day evening in addition. The education given is almost exclusively religious; the teachers have hitherto been principally voluntary; but as it is impossible always to calculate on the punctuality or regular attendance of such, it is much desired that there should be some paid teachers in addition. Now when we consider that there are estimated to be more than 100,000 children wholly destitute of instruction in the Metropolis alone; that many of these are quite ignorant of God and a Saviour, and do not even know their own name; that their daily employment, if any such they have, is of the lowest and most degrading description, while many pick up a livelihood by stealing, it will be evident that this slight sprinkling of instruction is entirely inadequate to remedy the evil; that a few hours of good influence can do but little to counteract the daily and hourly temptation to crime to which these poor children are subject. Yet these efforts have not been without a manifest good effect. The reports state that in nearly all the schools a marked improvement in habits and feelings is visible, and they mention many interesting instances of individuals who have been led by the instruction given to see the evil of their course of life, and to forsake it. In such cases, efforts have been made by the teachers to enable them to obtain suitable situations, and to give them every encouragement.

The success of the London Ragged Schools has stimulated to the establishment of similar ones in various parts of England. In Liverpool, several have been opened since the summer, the crowded attendance on which shews that the desire of knowledge is not extinguished even in these most degraded children.

Similar schools have been commenced in Birmingham, Brighton, Nottingham and Croydon ; at Windsor, one is conducted by a poor chimneysweep, where a visitor lately found, in a

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