Literature.

The Road to Rome via Oxford; or, Ritualism identical with Romanism. By the Rev. J. A. Wylie, LL.D., author of The Papacy, &c. London: S. W. Partridge & Co., 1868.

In this treatise we have an exposure, as thorough as it is seasonable, of the attempt now being made in the Church of England to put the new wine" of the Gospel into the "old bottles" of Ceremonialism ̧ The battle with Ritualism is substantially that of the old prophets with Baalism, of Paul with Judaism, and of the reformers with Popery. It is here fought by one who knows his antagonist thoroughly well, and who is master of his weapons.

The blow which Dr. Wylie here deals against Ritualism is twohanded. Taking up its leading dogmas and practices in succession, he demonstrates their identity with those of Popery. Then, grappling with them in argument, he proves, by a perfectly fair but unsparing and resistless logic, their contrariety to Scripture and to reason.

In making it clear that Ritualism is not merely in essence and germ, but to a very large extent in form and development, sheer Popery, Dr. Wylie has done a great service. We used to think it was Popery in the blade; it is here shown to be Popery in the ear, and in many instances in the full corn in the ear. We believed it to be the daughter of the Mother of Harlots; many who read this treatise will be startled to find how like in form and feature, in speech and habit, in full-grown stature moreover, the child is to the parent. Ritualists, indeed, do not blush to own their affinity to Rome. They glory in it. They boast that the Anglican Church alone shares with the Roman and Greek Churches the honour of being the one holy Apostolic Church, whose priesthood is the only valid ministry of Christ on earth, and whose sacraments alone convey grace into the souls of men. Dr. Pusey expressly repudiates the name "Protestant," and the design of his book called "Eirenicon" is to show that the Anglican Church is so entirely one with the Romish Church on all vital and fundamental points, that there ought to be a visible and incorporating union between them. Still, many have charitably clung to the belief, that if Ritualists could be stripped of their millinery, and made to put out their candles, and give up their childish pantomimes, they would be found Protestant essentially and at heart, after all. Dr. Wylie-and in the interests of truth and Protestantism we thank him for it-has effectually dispelled the amiable illusion. He has shown that, so far as the system they are carrying out is concerned, those men, in eating the bread of a Pro

testant Church, are Popish wolves in sheep's clothing. Placing the most authoritative utterances and known practices of the Anglican Ritualists alongside of the canons and rubrics of the Church of Rome, he has made it plain to every reader that, as regards the fundamental points of apostolic succession-of sacramental efficacy-of the infallibility and supreme authority of the Church of the worshipping of images and departed saints of transubstantiation and the idolatry of the mass of priestly confession and absolution-Ritualism and Romanism are one in everything but the name. Let our readers examine the evidence here so clearly and abundantly presented for themselves, and they will rise from the examination, as we have done, persuaded that Dr. Wylie does not exaggerate when he says

"Ritualism is Romanism, of that we may be assured. It is Popery as rank, as rubrically cut, and as full of ghostly assumption, as any that ever trod Italian soil, or counted beads in Italian cathedral, or thundered excommunication from the Italian Vatican. If it has not as yet 'Mystery' written upon its forehead like her who sits upon the 'seven hills,' it has 'Mystery' written in its right hand; and the day is not far distant when it will make no secret of the name, but will wear it as plainly on its front as it now wears it in its palm. Now, therefore, is the time to resist it."

By thus stripping the wolf of its sheep's clothing, and proving the identity of Ritualism and Romanism, Dr. Wylie has effectually condemned it in the judgment of all true Protestants. But not content with this, he has furnished a full and, in some cases, elaborate refutation of its dogmas and pretensions on grounds of reason and of Scripture. We wish our space would permit us to give our readers an idea of the acuteness and power of logic, edged here and there, when the subject calls for it, with the keenness of polished sarcasm, with which he makes short work of the sometimes plausible sophisms of Dr. Pusey and his disciples. All through, however, it is by pouring the light of God's Word upon the deceits of this thinly disguised Popery, that he shows how subversive these are of the Gospel-how dishonouring to all the three Persons of the Godhead-how destroying to the souls of men. It is alike deplorable and alarming that by the 2,000 Ritualistic priests (as they delight to call themselves) who eat the bread of the Church of England, there should be held forth every Sabbath "another gospel, which is not another -a gospel which puts a human priesthood in the room of Christ, the sacraments in the room of the Spirit, the Church in the room of the Bible, the mummeries of Popish superstition in room of the spiritual worship which God, who is a Spirit, alone will accept. Dr. Wylie shows reason for believing that among these men there are not a few Jesuits in disguise; one thing is plain, that in point of fact the whole of them are doing Rome's work far more effectually than if they were avowed

Romanists; for by their means a large section of the wealthy and educated classes in England are being gradually and effectually prepared for being led back in one mass, at no distant date, into the Romish fold, without being scarcely conscious of the transition. In the light of this fact, and of all the growing aggressions of Romanism from without, who does not feel the justice and force of the closing sentence of this book!" Unless the manhood and the Christianhood of our country rouse up itself, and that speedily, 'nothing,' say we, in the words of Lord Shaftesbury-nothing but a miracle can save the Reformation in England!'"

The Public Worship of God: Its Authority and Modes: Hymns and Hymn Books. By James Gibson, A.M., D.D., Professor of Systematic Theology and Church History, Free Church College, Glasgow. London: James Nisbet & Son. 1869. WE have read this book with great satisfaction, and cordially thank the author for its publication. Like all Professor Gibson's productions, it is plain, practical, and unmistakeable in its objects and tendencies. It is moreover thoroughly Scriptural, and out-and-out Presbyterian. Laying down as his basis, the great Scriptural and Protestant principle, that the only acceptable way of worshipping the true God is instituted by Himself, and so limited by His own revealed will, that He may not be worshipped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scripture-the author shows that this is the only principle by which mankind ought to be regulated in the worship of God. It is what God Himself requires. "What thing soever I command you, observe to do it; thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish therefrom." It is what our Lord Jesus Christ, the great Lawgiver of the Church, equally demands. "Go ye therefore," said He to His first commissioned public servants, "and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." It is what therefore is binding upon all worshippers in all nations who are favoured with Divine revelation, and from which no departure or deviation can warrantably be made; and what, if faithfully carried out, will be found to be at once the main defence of purity of worship, and the great charter of Christian liberty; while the opposite principle will be found to be not only the badge, but the instrument of tyranny on the one hand, and of slavish submission to the impositions and inventions of men on the other.

Applying then this principle to the important subject which he is discussing-viz., Whether there is any Scriptural authority for the use of human hymns in the public worship of God-Dr. Gibson clearly and conclusively shows that there is no such authority, the use of all

such hymns being directly opposed to the great fundamental principle he had laid down from the Word of God. We cannot enumerate the arguments, nor follow the close and consecutive reasoning which the author employs for establishing the truth of his main proposition. This our space will not permit us to do. We may state that, besides confirming it by a number of cogent positive arguments, he shows at the same time, and in the most convincing manner, the utter futility of the different pleas which the advocates for the use of human hymns in the public worship of God bring forward in support of their views. The searching examination to which he subjects the opinions held on this subject by the late Rev. Dr. James Hamilton, of London, is particularly worthy of attention; while the review which he presents to his readers of a number of modern hymn books, including that issued by the Established Church of Scotland, the United Presbyterian Church, the Presbyterian Church in England, and the hymns compiled by ministers of the Free Church, is not more truthful and just, than it is telling and edifying. As we cannot afford room for extracts, we only further warmly recommend the book to the careful perusal of our readers, being assured that they will find in it an able defence of the Divinely inspired Psalmody, which the Spirit of God has given to the Church to be employed in the praises of God, to the entire exclusion of all human productions.

Voluntaryism of the United Presbyterian Church Unchanged, and directly opposed to the Distinctive Principles of the Free Church of Scotland; including a Reply to Dr. Rainy. By Rev. William Balfour, Holyrood Free Church. Edinburgh: Johnstone, Hunter, & Co. 1869.

THIS is the production of a man who has plainly studied his subject carefully, and speaks out his mind regarding it with the manliness and fervour of one who loves the truth for the truth's sake. To our mind, he has established the position indicated in the title of the pamphlet conclusively and with much force. The substance of what we have here was delivered as a speech in the Edinburgh Free Church Presbytery, in moving the transmission of an overture, praying the General Assembly to adopt measures "to secure the maintenance and promulgation, in all their integrity, of the whole distinctive principles of the Disruption struggle," not only as regards the doctrine of Christ's Headship over the Church, but also as regards the doctrine of His Headship over the nations. That the Presbytery should have rejected an overture, simply praying for the maintenance of the distinctive principles of the Free Church in all their integrity, by a majority of 31 to 22, will appear to our readers at once very singular and very significant. Its opponents indeed took care not to stultify themselves by moving simply that the overture be not transmitted. They

adroitly opposed to it an overture which had been proposed in the Glasgow Presbytery, and which, though identical in import and design with Mr. Balfour's, was yet so much less definitely worded as to permit of their twisting its meaning to suit and cover their own views. By carrying this latter overture, they managed to keep up a show of consistency, and at the same time to inflict what seemed a defeat on the party who are resolved not to compromise their principles for the sake of union with Voluntaries. Such strategy one sees occasionally in the arena of worldly politics. Many will think it rather out of place in a Court of the Church of Christ.

The Christian Treasury. Edited by the Rev. H. Bonar, D.D. Edinburgh: Johnstone, Hunter, & Co.

THE editor of this periodical, we need hardly say, is not a man to pander to the popular taste for secular and amusing reading on Sabbath. From regular perusal, we can testify that it contains nothing likely to put the heart of one who wishes to be "in the Spirit on the Lord's day" in the least out of tune. There is much to stimulate and nourish devotion; nothing, so far as we can see, to repress it. We do not of course say that a miscellany like this should set aside those regular treatises on doctrinal and practical religion, the thoughtful perusal of which will alone give fibre and robustness to the religious principle within. But there are fragments of time on Sabbath and week-day when there is neither leisure nor inclination to peruse a systematic treatise, and to those who would gather up these fragments profitably we cordially recommend the Christian Treasury. In addition to the usual variety of interesting and edifying matter, its current numbers contain extracts from rare old religious works not likely to come under the notice of ordinary readers. These "waters from deserted wells" are very pure and fresh.

The Children's Hour: a Magazine for the Young Folks. Edited by M. H.
Edinburgh: Johnstone & Hunter.

"STORIES about Quadrupeds," "Sketches of Italian Scenery," "Wild Flowers for Children," are the titles of series of papers now publishing in this delightful little monthly, which convey useful instruction in a highly interesting form. Children need to be excited to read as well as furnished with profitable reading, and both ends seem to be admirably gained by the Children's Hour. As April began a new volume, we would suggest to parents who can spare threepence monthly for the benefit and delectation of their young folks, that they should subscribe at once.