direct the conscience of a whole parish, is quite inadequate for the conversion of sinners, much more for the perfecting of saints. Our own opinion is, that we want better-quite as much as more-Clergy, and further that the whole system of Parochial Administration needs to be reconstructed.

The Way of Holiness in Married Life. A Course of Sermons preached in Lent, 1858, in the Parish Church of New Windsor. By HENRY G. ELLISON, M.A., Vicar. Rivingtons.

MR. ELLISON seems to have rather an odd notion of what is suitable for a course of Lenten Sermons. For ourselves we should scarcely have thought that the comforts of marriage harmonized very well with the feelings proper to Ash-Wednesday. But let that pass. He has written a pleasant little volume on a useful subject. And there we should have been content to stop, had not the Author, like other advocates, overstepped the bounds of truth and prudence. He "does not dare," (he tells us) we believe he does not desire, to deny "the piety that may be found in the Christian Cloister," but he attempts to escape the preference given by S. Paul to the unmarried state by reference to the "necessities of the infant Church." But surely this is to deceive himself: S. Paul does not ground his preference on reasons of mere temporary expedience, but on the unchangeable fact that the unmarried person can give the whole of his or her heart "to the LORD," while the other has to think of husband or wife, as it may be. Surely too the writer was somewhat oblivious when he ventured to appeal (as at p. 10) to "the character of the LORD JESUS" in His own person, in favour of marriage rather than celibacy. There are two other matters also we think worthy of consideration on this subject. The Son of God did not become the founder of the New Creation, as did Adam of the earlier, by the process of generation: neither (2) is Adam's union with Eve represented to be the type of Christian marriage, so much as of the mystical relation "betwixt CHRIST and His Church." Mr. Ellison in fact adopts in this matter the same inadequate conception of spiritual things in his interpretation of the Mosaic narrative, as do those Judaizing Christians who imagine our Sunday, and not the Rest in heaven, to be the Antitype of the old Sabbath.

The Brechin Charge and the Six Bishops. A Provincial Letter by PASCAL. Edinburgh: Seton and Mackenzie. London: Masters. Ir must be a terrible humiliation we should think to the Six Bishops that they should have laid themselves open to such treatment as they receive in this clever pamphlet. Never probably did a body of men occupying a high station in the Church appear before the world so selfconvicted. The great point of doctrine to which they committed themselves in their famous Pastoral was that the LORD's Presence was neither "with, nor in, nor under the material substances of bread and wine."

We pass over the view that the necessary inference from such a state

ment, if the doctrine of a Real Objective Presence is at all believed, must inevitably be the Roman theory of Transubstantiation-for certainly if the LORD is really present and yet neither in nor under, nor with the material substances, then it seems to follow that the material things have been themselves mysteriously changed into His very Body and Blood, which we start with assuming somehow or other to be there after Consecration. But if the six Bishops are lost in the mazes of theological distinction, we should at least suppose that they knew what they meant themselves. But here most of all do they break down. Bishop Wordsworth, who is supposed to be the author of the Pastoral, in his published Sermons on the Eucharist, had actually affirmed the very opposite of what he attempts here to rule " The Body and Blood of CHRIST (he there says) are communicated under the consecrated symbols." (See Serm. II. p. 19.) And the three Bishops who issued the Declaration at the end of last year in denying that the Body and Blood were so present in the consecrated elements as to be the proper object of "supreme adoration," had of course affirmed their actual presence nevertheless in the elements.

And then again on the question of adoration, what mere child's play it is to condemn that practice and yet to bid the Clergy teach that the Sacrament should be received with lowly veneration. The latter seems to us we confess the stronger term of the two, implying actual prostration of body.

Mr. NEALE has now put forth the second of the Ancient Liturgies— that known by the name of S. James (Hayes.) It is so important that these Liturgies should meet with a large circulation that we should be very glad if the suggestion of a contemporary to accompany them with an English Translation could have been adopted.

The Scholar and the Trooper; or Oxford during the Great Rebellion, by the Rev. W. E. HEYGATE, (Parker, London,) is a charming book, written in Mr. Heygate's best style. The interesting portion of history to which it refers is accurately and concisely detailed; characters well known by name and beloved by us all are introduced with a happy effect, and the fictitious part of the work, giving an account of two brothers, is very touching and beautiful. It will be specially interesting, we need scarcely add, to all lovers of Oxford.

The Outcast and the Poor, (Rivingtons,) is the general title of a series of Sermons preached by the Rev. FREDERICK MEYRICK, at Whitehall Chapel. They really contain the author's views concerning the existing evils of society, and his plans for ameliorating them. Not a little of the volume must have sounded strangely, we think, in the pulpit, but we are glad, though unable at times to follow the writer in his sanguine anticipations, that a London Congregation should have been made to hear so many home-truths.

We are glad to announce a fourth volume of Mr. NEALE's Readings for the Aged. (Masters.) Certainly no preacher of our day brings out such a combination of "things old and new.”

Many of our readers will be glad to learn, that the article on The Position of the Priest at the Altar, may now be had as a separate tract; and we have received so many testimonials in its favour, that we feel confident in recommending it strongly for circulation among the Clergy.

The Priest and the People, is the title of the last No. of "The Churchman's Library." It sets forth the right notion of the Priest's Office, and is well calculated to commend that view amongst our people, who, it is well known, are prepossessed with a very different notion, as indeed are most of the Clergy themselves.

Archdeacon BICKERSTETH'S Charge, (Rivingtons,) confines itself chiefly, as is meet, to local and Archidiaconal matters, and implies certainly the existence of a considerable amount of new-born energy in the county of Berks-over which the writer presides—in the improvement of churches, church choirs, and church literature.

Readings from Holy Scripture, (Masters,) is a useful and cheap school-book, containing an arrangement of the whole narrative of the Pentateuch history; and when we say that it is done by the accomplished authoress of the "Tales of Kirkbeck," our readers will readily believe that the language is simple and graceful, and the interpretation orthodox. The characteristic feature of Cain's sin, however, which consisted in the offering of unauthorised worship, is strangely missed. The book is printed in excellent type.

Publisher, is also another volume
It does not contain anything

Prayers and Maxims, from the same very well adapted for parochial use. which is above the standard of common people.

Mr. HAYMAN has published an excellent pamphlet, on The Public School System, (Skeffington,) and pleading for its adaptation to "the Middle-Class." We know not a greater boon that could be conferred upon this class, and we rejoice to see that the Provost and Fellows of S. Nicolas' College, Lancing, are proving that it is possible. The vacated buildings at Shoreham have already witnessed the inauguration of the College of S. Saviour, intended for a lower class in the social scale, than are able to bear the expense of education at S. John's, Hurstpierpoint; and the importance of the measure would scarcely be better demonstrated than by the pamphlet before us, which issues from an independent source.

The Poor Incumbent (Bell and Daldy,) is a not unsuccessful attempt on the part of Mrs. GATTY to write a cheap tale for the railway stations. We cannot, however, avoid saying that while it is doubtless well for Bishops to show sympathy towards their poor Clergy, it should scarcely be considered meritorious in Clergymen to marry upon nothing. We do not see why they should be exempt from the common laws of prudence, more than the rest of the world.

We may probably notice Mr. KEBLE's Considerations suggested by a late Pastoral (Edinburgh: Lendrum) at length in our next Number. At present we have only just time to announce the publication, and to commend the pamphlet especially to the study of the Scotch Diocesan Synods, which some of the Bishops are said to be anxious to call into action.

THE MIRACLES OF ANTICHRIST.

THE writer of the following article is desirous of not looking upon the subject simply in the light of a speculative inquiry. If the times of the last great Antichrist are to be distinguished by the performance of Satanic miracles, both unprecedented as well as stupendous in themselves, it is in the very highest degree important that the Church should accustom herself to the anticipation. She will then be able through God's mercy, when the awful time does come, so to maintain her ground as not to be shaken from her confidence by any display of signs, or wonders, or prodigies, which may be used to tempt her to forsake her allegiance as the Bride of CHRIST.

Two propositions, with respect to miracles and miraculous signs, may be safely laid down. The first is, that there never has been an age since time began when they have altogether ceased. The second, that speaking both of a Divine interference with the ordinary laws of what is called Nature, as well as of extraordinary permitted manifestations of diabolical power, distinct from that liberty to tempt which is of ordinary course, it is quite evident that each of those, that is to say, both Divine and Satanic agencies have been far more active at some periods of the world's history than at others.

It will be unnecessary here to point out the Scripture evidence which there is, for a very great variation as to the manifestation of Divine miracles and prophecies during the Old Testament dispensation. But we shall proceed to take notice of two or three periods, in which there seems to have been an extraordinary development of Satanic activity; and which, in so far as they were characterised by a display of miraculous powers, are typical of the rising of Antichrist, and of the end of the world.

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But before entering into this branch of our subject, it may well to quote a passage from S. Gregory of Rome, which brings vividly before us what we may well call the peculiar horror and fearfulness of the latter days, that at the very time when Satanic miracles shall abound beyond all former precedent, true miraculous power shall be all but entirely withdrawn from the Church.

S. Gregory takes occasion from the words, "Want goeth before his face," (which is the Vulg. translation of Job xli. 20, in the description of leviathan), to speak as follows:-"With regard to our knowing that want goes before his face, there is another point for us to expound in a more melancholy manner. For by the

1 Faciem ejus præcedit egestas. Vulg. “Eμπpoσbev avtoû tpéxeî átúλela. LXX. "Sorrow is turned into joy before him." E. V. 3 D

VOL. XX.-SEPTEMBER, 1858.

awful curse of the secret dispensation, before this Leviathan (Satan himself) appears in that accursed man whom he assumes, signs of power are withdrawn from Holy Church. For prophecy is hidden, the grace of healings is taken away, the power of longer abstinence is weakened, the words of doctrine are silent, the prodigies of miracles are removed. And though the heavenly Dispensation does not entirely withdraw them, yet it does not manifest them openly, and in manifold ways as in former times. And this is so caused by a wonderful Dispensation, in order that the Divine mercy and justice may be fulfilled together, by one and the same means. When, therefore, the humility of the faithful is deprived of the manifold manifestation of wonders, by the terrible judgment of the secret Dispensation, there is heaped up more abundant mercy for the good, and just anger for the evil by the same means. Because these signs of power cease in great measure, in Holy Church, before this Leviathan manifestly and visibly. comes, it is now rightly said, 'Want shall go before his face.' For the riches of miracles are first withdrawn from the faithful, and then that ancient enemy displays himself against them with visible prodigies, in order that as he boasts himself on his wonders, he may be overthrown more mightily and more honourably by the faithful without wonders. For though signs will not be wanting to the faithful in their contest with him, yet his will be so great, that those of our people will seem to be rather few or none at all. But their virtue doubtless becomes mightier than all signs, when it crushes with the heel of inward resolution all his terrible deeds which it beholds. But the malignant enemy displays himself against them with so much the fiercer cruelty, the more he grieves that he is despised, even with the brightness of his miracles. He, therefore, gathers himself together for their destruction, and unites all the reprobate with unanimous cruelty for the death of the faithful; in order that he may put forth his cruelty with so much greater power, in proportion as all the members of his body agree with him in the things he seeks perversely to effect."—S. Greg. Magn. Moral. III. 623, 624. Oxf. Trans.

Few, probably, but persons of ultra-montane opinions, or such as write for a party purpose, would be inclined to deny that the extreme paucity of authentic miracles and prophecies in the Catholic Church, at the present day, agrees exceedingly well with what S. Gregory says in that respect with regard to the character of the times which shall immediately precede the coming of Antichrist. And recollecting what S. Gregory says in other places of the miracles of Antichrist, combined with his dreadful persecution of all the faithful, we may well take up our parable with Balaam, and say, "Alas, who shall live when God doeth this?"

Thus we read, “Antichrist at that time rouses himself with such power as to confound, if, possible, even the elect members of