We wish to make here an amende to Mr. Ryan, for having, in our last month's notice of his recent work on Ireland, neglected to give him credit for making, on behalf of his poor Romanized countrymen, admissions such as we demand, of Popery being the root of the evils that we all deplore among them. We repeat that he, the author, under similar perversion, would have made a formidable Ribbonman; and we bless God that his talent and energy are so directed as to render him a zealous, an efficient champion of Protestant ascendancy in his dear country.

A TREATISE ON BAPTISM; designed as a help to the due improvement of that Holy Sacrament as administered in the Church of England. By the Rev. E. Bickersteth, Rector of Watton, Herts. Seeley and Burnside.

Twenty-five years ago, that valuable work the 'Scripture Help' was published by Mr. Bickersteth, and a help indeed it has proved to many an inquiring Christian. This was followed by the Treatise on Prayer;' the work 'On the Lord's Supper' came next; then the Christian Hearer,' and the Christian Student;' and now, we are told in the preface, the series is completed by this volume on 'Baptism.' Such announcement is in itself a sufficient notice to Christian readers that a book is published which ought to be on their tables forthwith; but we cannot refrain from adding the expression of our thankfulness that now, when to darken counsel by words without knowledge is so much the tendency of opinions put forth by a new, a numerous, and a most subtle body of teach

ers in our church, this work should appear, from such a hand, on a point where they specially labour to mislead God's heritage. Of course we allude to the Puseyite party, who can only succeed in sowing the tares of their false doctrine where the ground is not pre-occupied by good grain.

Mr. Bickersteth's writings contain in themselves the refutation of every error, by their clear elucidation of scriptural truth. The present book contains nothing of a controversial character; indeed, he carefully avoids it, and is highly devotional throughout. The first part treats of the appointment of baptism, tracing the institution through both portions of God's word. Altogether, it is a valuable winding-up of a work for which the church has cause to be deeply thankful.

The volume is dedicated to Lord Ashley, in a very neat inscription, yielding a just testimony to those works which so brightly distinguish that estimable nobleman-his labours on behalf of the poor factory children; his efforts to maintain Christian education by the state; his firm Protestantism; zeal for the spiritual good of mankind, and love for Israel. Who that can appreciate any of these things does not love Lord Ashley?

EVERY-DAY DUTIES; in Letters to a Young Lady. By M. A. Stodart, Author of Hints on Reading.' Seeley and Burnside.

A valuable book to place in the hands of any young lady. Miss Stodart's former volume treated exclusively of intellectual culture; the work was therefore

incomplete as to forming the character of woman in her own proper sphere of domestic usefulness. We regard the present as a sequel, and richly calculated to aid our sex in putting on the adornments which shone so brightly on 'holy women of old.' Spiritual duties are first and forcibly insisted on; then the fruits to be looked for from the exercise of habitual faith and prayer, in the various duties of home; and all appropriate works of benevolence. It is a most engaging volume, interspersed with several sweet pieces of poetry.

MEMOIRS OF JAMES AND GEORGE MACDONALD, of Port Glasgow. By Robert Norton, M.D. Shaw.

We are always reluctant to take up the pen for the purpose of condemning books. Our plan is to read what we can out of the multitude submitted, and to notice such as we deem most useful, passing others by. Nothing is more disgusting than the discharges of spleen, conceit, malice, and not unfrequently of envy, which the riflemen of the press fire off from their ambuscade in the form of criticisms against brethren or sisters of the pen, seeking to demolish books which they never could have written, and on which they are not competent to sit in judgment. In the present instance we feel compelled to warn our readers that the work before us is a strenuous effort to revive the delusion that so troubled the church some ten years since, on the subject of miraculous gifts. It is intended to illustrate a work that preceded it, called Neglected Truths,' and to prove that the Macdonalds were actually endowed from on

high with the spirit of prophecy, and the power of speaking an unintelligible language. The title of Irvingites is disclaimed by their biographer, for himself and for them; but when we find the whole party avowing and justifying the blasphemous heresy concerning our Lord's human nature, which caused the church of Scotland to eject Mr. Irving, we must number them with those who were deluded to believe a lie of Satan's forging, and honestly apprize our readers of the tendency of these books.

It is a very common, a very dangerous plan, to take up and purchase a religious work, as a gift to a young friend, and to bestow it without farther investigation; or to leave it within the reach of unguarded inquirers. Every passing day renders caution as to books more imperatively a duty; for many are the snares that the enemy of souls induces even God's children unwittingly to assist him in weaving or spreading.

We have seen with much pleasure the first part of a publication, entitled 'The Union Harmonist, a Selection of Sacred Musie,' brought out by the Sunday-School Union in Paternoster-row. It affords at a remarkably moderate price, 24 beautifully-printed pages of sacred music, on very superior paper, and' harmonized for several voices. A musical friend, taking it up from our table, expressed so much admiration at the design and execution of the work, that we feel bound to record the recommendation of a more competent judge than ourselves. By all means would we encourage sacred harmony, being decidedly of Martin Luther's opinion that in such case, The Devil hates music.'

THE PROTESTANT.

AN INVITATION TO THE LADIES OF ENGLAND.

A SUBJECT has lately engrossed much of my thoughts, which I desire to bring before the Christian ladies of the land, as one peculiarly important to them. Simply as females, it nearly concerns them every one: as sisters, wives, mothers, it is of thrilling moment; and as Christian members of a community, as being among the lights of the world, the salt of the earth, patterns of good works, and exemplars to those in humbler life, they stand engaged before God not to neglect what appears at this juncture their peculiar calling.

It has pleased the Lord to set over us, on the throne of these realms, a female monarch; youthful, and consequently inexperienced; confiding; therefore open to receive impressions from the opinions and actions of those around her. It has also pleased the Lord, in his inscrutable wisdom, to permit Satan at this time to raise up among us a system, which, in point of moral atrocity, actually outdoes all that we have ever heard of among the most abandoned of barbarous heathen nations; a moral atrocity springing from what is not merely a negative atheism, a disbelief in the existence of Deity, but such a raging hatred of the very name of God, such an active, rest