occasion to discuss the doctrine of the Incarnation. He shews in the first place," that this was a title appropriated to himself by Jesus Christ, designating his human nature, yet conveying an intimation of something more than human; it represented a Divine Being, in a state of weakness and humiliation." He then proceeds, after pointing out the importance of belief in the Incarnation, to shew that it was necessary for the due execution of his various offices, that Jesus Christ should have in his own person both the divine and human natures inseparably united; a short quotation from the last division of the Discourse, will shew the manner in which the argument is conducted.

"The same union has been decreed by infinite wisdom in Him who is appointed to be Judge of quick and dead. The power and right to execute judgment resides, like all supreme power, in the Deity. But the particular exercise of that power at the last great day has been committed by the Father to the Son; and for this especial reason, because he is the Son of Man* Not, as some would render the words, because he is a son of man, that is a mere man; for how can a fallible man judge the world? No; but because he is THE SON OF MAN; God incarnate.-He, uniting in himself the perfections of the godhead with sympathy for his fellow-men, is peculiarly qualified to execute judgment under that dispensation, in every part of which mercy and truth meet together.'" P. 138.

On this subject the author evidently writes, con amore, and we rejoice in seeing it treated in such a manner as to excite a very pleasing interest; because we may say of this, as we said of justification, and would say again of all the great and leading doctrines of our faith, that they may be made intelligible to the meanest capacity, and must be constantly brought forward for the instruction of the ignorant, the confirmation of the wavering, the refutation of error, and for laying a sure foundation for practical exhortation. We know no subject so convincing and so fruitful in these respects, as this of the Incarnation. We can conceive nothing more powerful and more persuasive. We have seen the good effects of inculcating a stedfast belief in the divinity of our Redeemer; and we most anxiously intreat the Clergy of our Church, as far as our feeble voice may reach, to be frequent, and firm, and earnest in enforcing the importance of a right belief in this respect, whether they address themselves to the polished audience of the metropolis, or to the lowest congregation that gathers round the village preacher. If they desire to impress their hearers with the loftiness and magnitude of the subject, and excite them to a due consideration

* John v. 27. See Middleton on the Gr. Art.

of it. We cannot do better than recommend the perusal of the concluding paragraph of Mr. Bowdler's Discourse, which we have much pleasure in extracting.

"In this title, then, the Son of Man, assumed by our Saviour, and evidently distinguishing him from others of the human race, you see before you a proof of that leading doctrine of our religion, the Incarnation of the Son of God. And if your thoughts, my brethren, ascend in any proportion to the dignity of the subject, or its interesting nature excites corresponding feelings in your hearts, you will not deem the time or labour misapplied, which may be given to investigations such as these. For in the Incarnation of Christ you see infinite wisdom providing a satisfaction for divine justice, in such a manner as to excite the offender to love, to gratitude, to the practice of holiness: you see, not the beginning only of man's redemption, but a principle which pervades all the parts and circumstances of it: for you see that whether the Son of Man appears as a Teacher, or a Saviour; whether he offers an atonement; or calls the nations to his judgment-seat; for the due execution of every office, an union of the divine with the human nature is absolutely necessary. How low, then, how cold, how uninteresting are those views of our religion, which would sink the Redeemer of mankind to a level with those lost creatures whom he came to seek and to save; and by banishing the doctrine of a propitiatory sacrifice, would throw away the most powerful incentive to generous feeling, elevated piety, undissembled humility, and unwearied love! Be watchful then, lest you be tempted to sepa. rate the divine and human nature in Christ Jesus. Be upon your guard, lest you be induced by any specious arguments to question the truth of His incarnation; remembering that if God was not manifest in the flesh, ye are yet in your sins unatoned, and therefore unpardoned. Range in thought, as you will, through all the marvellous works of God; meditate, as you will, on all his glorious attributes; let the various proofs of his loving-kindness excite your gratitude; but let this be ever present to your minds as the greatest of his works, and the highest instance of his love, that He who is the King of glory, and the everlasting Son of the Father, when he took upon him to deliver man, did not abhor the virgin's womb.'' P. 140.

There is another subject, closely connected with this, which occupies two Discourses, namely, "The Word of God;" in discussing which the author goes into a patient investigation of the use of the term, for the purpose of shewing that it is the proper title of the Second Person in the Trinity, and pointing out the various appearances, which He is supposed to have made, and in which He acted as the Agent and Instrument for the Deity, and the Mediator between God and his creatures. Our limits will not allow us to follow our author through his investigations;

* The Desire of all Nations. The Preacher of the Gospel. The Preacher of

and we must pass by the other subjects discussed in this Volume, for the sake of giving some account of that with which it concludes, the "Signs of being in Christ."

The author begins with a caution against the misinterpretation of Scripture phrases; to obviate which he lays down two simple and easy rules: first to discover the meaning which is generally given to any particular word by the inspired Writers; secondly, to examine the context, and thus ascertain the sense of the whole passage, and the object of the Writer. These rules are exemplified in several expressions from Scripture, which are of rather an unusual signification, and a few passages which are sometimes interpreted, may we not say perverted, so as to support the Calvinistic doctrines. We were perhaps the more pleased with this part of the Discourse, because we recollect a neighbour, a person in a low station, but of no ordinary attainments in Religion, expressing much satisfaction at the explanation which we had incidentally given of one of those which Mr. Bowdler has produced, that, namely, in which it is said, that "Esau found no place for repentance;" and it struck us forcibly, that the difficult passages of Scripture, those more particularly which are liable to misconstruction, ought to be from time to time carefully explained to the common people. Mr. Bowdler then proceeds to apply those rules to the explanation of his own text, " If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature ;" and having shewn the different ways in which the expressions may be understood, he points out some scriptural signs of being in Christ, namely, baptism, faith, keeping the commandments, the being conformed to his image, and partaking of his body and blood in the Eucharist; shewing under each head how a person, by being united to Him, becomes a new creature. Having indulged our own curiosity in examining the Sermons upon this subject, we have thought it possible, that we might gratify that of our readers by this report of them. We have only to add, that the doctrines contained in them are strictly correct. But we have no room for extracts, nor is it necessary to make any. The author indeed seems to have kept himself down in these Discourses to the capacities of country congregations; and we may add, respecting the whole volume, that we suspect he has subjected himself to some difficulty, by having an eye at once to the pulpit and the press. Though we would have every one of the subjects before us addressed even to the poor, yet a different style is then certainly necessary from that which would be suited to a more polished

the Gospel to the Poor. The Light of the World. The True and Living Way The Good Shepherd. The True Vine.

audience; and he will perplex himself not a little, who desires to please both. Not that any person of real taste will be be displeased with Sermons addressed to the lower orders: -there will probably be a simplicity, an affectionate kindness, a persuasiveness, a sincerity, if we may use the term, which will be very fascinating. But, especially, when any deep or doctrinal subject is submitted to the press, we certainly look for a leftier tone, a wider range of fancy, and more tasteful illustration than might be proper or even intelligible, if delivered from a country pulpit. The ornaments which will, in the one case, be thought to set off and illustrate the subject, will in the other case obscure it. Mr. Bowdler is always sound in his doctrine, correct in his view of the nature of the Gospel, and in his interpretation of Scripture plain and persuasive. We will not say, that his sentences might not acquire force by compression, or that we do not sometimes desire a greater elevation of language, and vigour of imagination; yet the following extract from the Sermon on the "Desire of all Nations" will perhaps please more fastidious critics than ourselves. He is speaking of the means by which the Magi learned to expect a future Sovereign, the Star which should come out of Jacob, and the Sceptre which should rise out of Israel; and proceeds thus:

"The ages meanwhile roll their appointed course; the season of the fulfilment of promise draws nigh;-the heathen oracles are silent;—an universal peace prevails, giving leisure_for_calm thought and contemplation ;-the eyes of men are turned to Judea, which is pointed out as the birth-place of the Sovereign of the world; and lo! a star of extraordinary appearance announces to those who were in the habit of contemplating the heavenly phenomena, the birth of the Messiah; and, like a faithful messenger, guides their willing steps to the court of Herod and the manger at Bethlehem; there, to prostrate themselves before Him, who was born King of the Jews, and present gifts, gold, and frankincence, and myrrh.'

"Such were the first-fruits of the Gentile world, offered to the infant Jesus, the pledge and promise of a glorious harvest: such the proof of an expectation prevailing, not only among the poor, the illiterate, and the credulous; but among the rich, and the wise, who could investigate causes, and distinguish the truth. Oh, that such were never blinded by a false philosophy! Oh, that none who possess the pomp of wealth, or the pride of learning, now that the Day-star has risen upon their hearts, and the full blaze of Revelation shines around them, were ashamed to bend before the manger at Bethlehem, in humble adoration of the incarnate God!" P. 161.

The chief merit of these Discourses, however, is that they

lead the reader directly to Him, who is "the Author and Finisher of our faith," and they explain with success the doctrines of the Gospel, and illustrate that union of justice and mercy, which is the striking characteristic of the dealings of God with his creatures. Would that these high and lofty themes were always so contemplated! That man would not think to do honour to God by a partial view of his works, and a partial reverence of some of his attributes! -In the Deity, in his counsels as far as we can comprehend them, in his works as far as we can view them, and particularly in the greatest of his works which has been revealed, the salvation of men, all is perfect and entire, and exactly balanced, and all his attributes display themselves in perfect harmony and perfect beauty. And it is only by thus viewing them, that we can truly comprehend his ways and dealings, and pay Him the honour which is due. In the words of the author before us,

"It is one of the perfections of the Deity to make even those principles, which appear to be discordant, harmonize in a perfect union. It is the frailty of man, that he separates what God has joined; either magnifying divine mercy to the injury of eternal justice, or detracting from its excellence, that he may build on the false foundation of his own works. To our eyes, if we draw our instruction from the fountain of truth, all the dispensations of God will appear tending to one great end, even our sanctification. We shall see mercy and truth meet together, righteousness and peace kiss each other.' Drop down ye heavens from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness; let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together." P. 501.

ART. VIII. An Inquiry whether the Disturbances in Ireland have originated in Tithes, or can be suppressed by a Commutation of them. By S. N. 52 pp. 8vo. Milliken, Dublin. 1822. ART. IX. A Letter from an Irish Dignitary to an English Clergyman, on the Subject of Tithes in Ireland. Written during the Administration of the Duke of Bedford, with the Addition of some Observations and Notes, suggested by the Present State of this Momentous Question. 36 pp. 8vo. Milliken, Dublin. 1822.

ART. X. A Sketch of the State of Ireland, Past and Present. A new Edition revised by the Author. 76 pp. 3s. 8vo. Murray, 1822.