severe paroxysm of pain, "He began to speak: We have the reconciling death of Jesus Christ, his body and his blood.' While saying this he raised himself up, his features became more animated, his voice grew clear and strong, and with priestly solemnity he continued: Are you one with me in this faith?' His family assenting aloud, he went on, 'Let us then receive the supper of the Lord, There can be no need of the sexton.-Quick, quick, for it is not the time to think of forms.' While the service was preparing, his friends waited with him in solemn stillness. When every thing was ready, his countenance lightened up with indescribable brilliancy; his eye beaming upon them with a higher glow of love, he commenced the words of invocation for the introduction of the holy ordinance. Then, repeating the form of consecration in a loud and distinct voice, he administered the bread and wine, first to his family and then to himself, with the remark: 'I abide by these words of scripture, they are the foundation of my faith.' After he had pronounced the blessing, his eye turned once more with the expression of perfect love, first to his wife, and then to every individual present, and in those deep and earnest tones which penetrate the heart, he continued: 'In this fellowship and faith we are then one, and will remain so.' In a few minutes after this he breathed his last. Can we doubt that one who thus loved and worshipped Jesus Christ, who thus chose on his death-bed as the confession of his faith, the Redeemer's precious words: This is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins,' was in all essentials right? May we not believe that his bewildering speculations, like the dreams of night, were all dispersed at the dawning of his eternal day? Much therefore as there is of a pantheistical character in some of Schleiermacker's writings, we believe he was saved by his early Moravian faith, from ever making pantheism his real belief, and that he should not be classed with the modern Hegelians, whose system is the latest and worst form of infidelity. We venture to ask, whether, considering the peculiar state of opinion in some parts of our country, Mr. Ripley could do a better service, than by employing his talent for felicitous translation in giving to English readers Schleiermacher's Discources on the Gospel of John? The Doctrine of the Will determined by an appeal to consciousness. By Henry P. Tappan. New York, Wiley & Putman: 1840. pp. 327. This is a work which we content ourselves with announcing, in hopes of presenting in a future number an examination of its doctrines; though we would rather wait until Mr. Tappan has completed his whole plan, which we understand includes an application of his theory to Theology, to be given in a future volume. Lücke's account of Schleiermacher's last illness, quoted by Mr. Ripley, Letter third, p. 128. An Historical Presentation of Augustinism and Pelagianism, from original sources, by G. F. Wiggers, D. D. Professor of Theology in the University of Rostock, &c. Translated from the German, with Notes and Additions by Rev. Ralph Emerson, Prof. of Eccl. Hist. in the Theological Seminary, Andover, Mass. Andover & New-York: Gould, Newman & Saxton. 1840. pp. 383. Those at all acquainted with the mysteries or difficulties of the conduct of a periodical Review, will easily believe that the relegation of a work to the short notices is no evidence of a low estimate of its value. Editors cannot always command the time to do full justice to every work which has even strong claims on their attention. The seasonableness of Prof. Emerson's publication, the importance of the subject, the high standing of the translator, are sufficient to guarantee the extensive circulation of the above mentioned work. A form of Public Profession, Scriptural, Reasonable, and in accordance with the practice of the primitive and other churches. Charleston, 1840. This the third number of a series of tracts on Presbyterianism, by the Rev. Thomas Smyth, of Charleston, South Carolina. Mr. Smyth is a frequent and copious writer, and is much to be commended for the zeal and ability with which he advocates what he regards as important truth. We are so happy as generally to coincide with his views, but are forced to differ from him entirely as to the propriety of the form of public profession for which he contends in the tract whose title is given above. Our objections to this usage are that it is unnecessary, that it is anti-presbyterian, and that it is of evil tendency. This is not the place to expand and sustain these objections. It is enough to say that the Presbyterian church is a regular organized body with its public acknowledged terms of ministerial and Christian communion, which no individual presbytery or pastor has a right to depart from, or to vary. These terms however are indefinitely varied, when each pastor calls upon the new members to take a covenant and profess a creed framed at the pastor's discretion. One may require the adoption of the whole Westminster Confession, by every communicant young or old, white or coloured; another of certain portions of it, and a third of some substitute. If this custom should become prevalent, it would soon bring us to the state of the churches in Western New York, where, as Mr. Calvin Colton informs us, one minister has sometimes fabricated fifteen or sixteen different creeds. It is evident that this usage is founded on a different view of the church, from that which our standards recognize. Where every congregation is a separate church, with its own terms of communion, its own creed and covenant; and where every new member takes part in the government, there is some propriety in demanding a public assent to the terms on which the society is organized. But with us private members are received merely as Christians. The governing power is not in their hands; the responsibility of preserving purity of doctrine and practice does not rest with them, but with the officers of the church who are pledged to her standards. Apart, therefore, from the wrong views of the nature of the Lord's Supper which this usage is suited to promote, and the distraction of mind which it is likely to occasion, we regard it as objectionable, as conflicting with the nature of our ecclesiastical system. The Missionary Character. An Address delivered before the Society of Inquiry in the Theological Seminary in New Haven, April 1, 1840. By Eli Smith, Missionary of the A. B. C. F. M. to Syria. New Haven: 1840. The exhibition here given of the Missionary character, comes with peculiar weight from one who has had the experience of the duties and trials of the missionary work, which Mr. Smith has enjoyed, and who in other respects is so well qualified and entitled to speak with authority on such a subject. The Address is full of important truth, well suited to make a deep impression on the minds of those who contemplate devoting themselves to the preaching of the gospel among the heathen. The Bland Papers: being a selection from the Manuscripts of Colonel Theodorick Bland, jun. of Prince George county, Virginia. To which are prefixed an Introduction, and a Memoir of Colonel Bland. Edited by Charles Campbell. In two volumes. Vol. I. Petersburg: Printed by Edmund and Julian C. Ruffin. 1840. pp. xxxi. 160. Collections of this kind form the true basis for history, and the more we have of them the better. Col. Bland was one of the most distinguished Virginians of the revolutionary period, and their remains are well worthy of preservation. Mr. Campbell has rendered a service to the public by gathering and preparing for the press these Sibylline relics. The editorial part of the work is highly respectable; the introduction, memoir, and notes bearing marks of scholarship and taste. Mr. Campbell is an easy and vivacious writer, and has done every thing to recommend a somewhat dry material. It will be discreditable to Virginia, if the publication, thus begun, should be arrested for want of patronage. Rede, gehalten bei der feierlichen Eröffnung der deutschen evangelischen Kirche in Philadelphia, am 16. Februar, 1840. Von Heinrich Ginal, dem Stifter und Prediger der Gemeinde. Philad. 1840. This discourse was delivered at the opening of a new German church in Philadelphia, by the founder and pastor of the same, and is prepared for the press by a zealous hearer. Never was there a greater misnomer than to call a church tolerating such doctrines Evangelical. It is the gospel, not of Jesus, but of the English Freethinkers and German Rationalists, which is here set forth. Fifth Triennial Report of the American Mission Seminary. Jaffna, Ceylon. With an Appendix. January, 1839. Jaffna: Press of the American Mission. pp. 49. 8vo. This pamphlet of our honoured brethren of Ceylon ought to be reprinted in America; if for no other reason, to stop the mouths of those who censure the Missionary Boards for the care and expense which they have bestowed on Schools. The question is well argued, and the facts are irresistible. Memoranda of Foreign Travel. Containing Notices of France, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. By Robert J. Breckinridge. Philadelphia: Joseph Whetham, 1839. pp. 342. 12mo. It is intended by the author of this interesting and striking work, as soon as circumstances will permit, to issue a second and a third volume: for which reason we have deferred that extended notice to which it is entitled. Meanwhile, we owe it to our readers to say that the volume now before us is no ordinary production. On every page it bears marks of that originality, vigour, and argumentative power for which Dr. Breckinridge is distinguished; and evinces, what had not been so manifest in his previous writings, a remarkable talent for observation, and facility of bold and impressive description. No book of Travels in Europe, within our knowledge, has displayed equal vivacity and strength. The defence of liberty and the gospel which it contains should commend it to every Christian: especially as it strikes irresistible blows at the Romish church. The typographical accuracy of the work is not such as the matter deserves. CONTENTS OF NO. III. ART. I.-Three Sermons upon Human Nature, being the first, second, and third of fifteen Sermons preached at the Rolls Chapel. By Joseph Butler, LL.D., late Lord Bishop of Bristol; as published in two volumes at Glasgow, in 1769. ART. II.-A History of the Rise, Progress, Genius, and Character of American Presbyterianism. Together with a Review of the "Constitutional History of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, by Charles Hodge, Professor in |