children, and ourselves, have sat. Hence the object of this volume: to present to our readers such a Delineation of Romanism as will exhibit its true nature and character, and to shed upon them the light of divine revelation, by which alone they ought to be examined and proved, and thus to prevent others from being led astray by this manifest 'deceivableness of unrighteousness.""

(Ibid., p. x.)

From a volume consisting, like the present, of a carefully-arranged system of extracts, and of observations upon the numerous subjects to which they refer, it is exceedingly difficult to make any selections, for the want of some principle or other to guide us in fixing our choice. If we wished to illustrate the abilities of the author, or of the English Editor, these are to be seen, not by means of any detached portion, but by the composition of the entire work. Of a work of this kind, the excellence consists in its altogetherness; and mere extracts could give nothing like an adequate conception of the skilfulness required for the selection of the materials, and their combination into one complete whole. A shaft taken from this pillar, and a column from that; a piece of moulding from one part, and a portion of a doorway from another; would give but a very imperfect idea of the architectural power which had united details so numerous and minute as those are which constitute, when united, those noble structures which are the architects' chief monuments. Let this volume be read, -the more carefully the better,and we are much mistaken if the reader does not rise from the perusal convinced of that untiring industry, keen and accurate research, and power which comprehends an extensive whole, and, continually keeping it in view, with successful precision refers to it all the necessary details so as to secure both completeness and harmony, which, in our own judgment, are exhibited throughout. It would not have been very easy to give extracts for the purpose of illustrating the character of Johnson's Dictionary when it first appeared. A shilling pam

phlet, by Burke, would have supplied more and better; but the Dictionary was not the less valuable.

Mr. Stamp's references to his own share in the volume are few and brief. He says,―

"In this publication of Dr. Elliott's work, the text has undergone almost universally a strict revision; much additional matter being introduced to illustrate more efficiently the arguments which are brought forward, and the statements which are made. The additions which the Editor has thought proper to introduce, will be found inclosed in brack

ets, ([]) in the text and also in the notes.

"Being ignorant of the edition of those patristic and other ecclesiastical authorities, to which the industrious author of the Delineation has referred his

readers, the Editor has judged it fit, in most cases, to adhere to those translations which Dr. Elliott has himself given, being satisfied with introducing in copious and extensive notes, extracted from those ancient writers, the original pasthe best and most approved copies of sages, that the learned reader might ascertain, as far as possible, the meaning which was primarily intended to be conveyed. A list of these authorities, including other works on the Popish controversy, that have been largely consulted, will be found at the conclusion of the volume." (Ibid.)

We shall return to the subjects thus referred to by the Editor; but, before appending to them any observations of our own, we transfer to our own pages the following paragraph, with very sincere plea

sure:

"In preparing this work for the press, the Editor has had to acknowledge with gratitude the great assistance which he has derived from that national emporium of literature, the library of the British Museum; and also, from that valuable collection of the writings of the Fathers, and of Protestant and Roman Catholic Divines of by-gone days, which are contained in the library of Sion College; to the President and Fellows of that Society his expressions of thankfulness are equally due. In no ordinary degree does

the Editor feel himself under powerful obligations to that veteran polemic in the cause of Protestantism, who, in exposing the flagrant errors of Romanism, has, by his numerous and lucid publications,

done more than any other individual now living, the Rev. Joseph Mendham, M.A., of Sutton Coldfield, who, with his gifted son, the Rev. Joseph Mendham, jun., M. A., of Clophill, Bedfordshire, has encouraged and assisted him by many important suggestions, as well as by numerous and highly valuable communications with which the present volume is enriched, so far as the Editor could avail himself of them; while those of which, at present, no use has been made, will serve to render future editions of this work, should they be called for, still more worthy the attention of a Protestant community. With the Rev. Thomas Hartwell Horne, B. D., Rector of the united parishes of St. Edmund the King and Martyr, and St. Nicholas Acons, Lombard-street, London, author of the Introduction to the Critical Study and Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures,' &c., the Editor has been in constant intercourse; from whom, by his knowledge of the controversy, and extensive acquaintance with ancient ecclesiastical literature, he has derived most important aid. To the Rev. John Evans, M. A., Vicar of Prees, Salop, and author of The Statutes of the Fourth General Council of Lateran, recognised and established by subsequent Councils and Synods down to the Council of Trent,'and to the Rev. Josiah Allport, Minister of St. James, Birmingham, whose name is well known in the history of the controversy with Rome, as the indefatigable Editor of the Protestant Journal, and other equally useful and popular publications, who have assisted him with kindly suggestions and advice, he also presents his thanks." (Ibid., p. xi.)

It will only be common justice to the Editor to state, rather more fully, what the present volume owes to bimself. The additional matter is very copious, amounting to not less than one-fourth of what is now given to the reader. But this is not all; nor even, in such a work, the principal. Availing himself of those opportunities which Dr. Elliott would have rejoiced to have within his reach, which a residence in London furnishes, and to which, in the last extract, reference is made, Mr. Stamp resolved to verify all the quotations, and correct those errors which, a moment's recollection will be sufficient to show, the absence of his comparatively superior and pe

culiar advantages might so easily occasion. Some of these errors related to the numbers, &c., of chapters, sections, &c.; some were typographical. Sometimes the original author copied the quotations which he found in former controversialists, and errors have in some instances resulted. It was sometimes important, too, to enlarge the quotation, and give, not merely the precise words on which the argument might rest, but the connexion in which they stand, that, by having more of the writer's language, the reader might be more certain of his meaning. Nor will the student think it a small advantage to have the reference given sometimes to superior (more approved) editions. The result of such additions and emendations is most important. The reader has here, up to a certain point, a carefully-arranged Thesaurus of the controversy, the authorities being original and decisive. Of course, in a work so extensive, embracing such a large and almost bewildering number and variety of subjects, whatever care may have been taken, some errors may have passed unnoticed. Even against these, however, we see Mr. Stamp has guarded as far as possible. The errors which have been detected, and which are chiefly typographical, are stated at full in a page of Corrigenda, which will enable the reader to rectify his own copy. But typographical accuracy is but a trifle, compared with what may be termed editorial fidelity. This, to the reader, will make the present copy of the "Delineation" truly valuable. The quotations are correctly made, all the original ones having been carefully verified, so that the reader may depend on this, that he really has before him the language of the writers professedly quoted. In fact, it is a great advantage of the work that, as we have already intimated, it may be taken either as a summary of the controversy, in which case the stu dent will really have (except as be fore excepted the whole subject before him, so that by attending to it, and digesting it, he may make it entirely his own; or, if he pleases

so to use it, he has in it a guide to the further investigation either of the whole subject, or of any one portion of it, in which case also we have no hesitation in assuring the reader that the work will furnish him with invaluable aid,-aid which, either in regard to the breadth of the subject or its minuteness, he will not easily find elsewhere.

Nor must we forget, in pointing out the advantages which it has been sought to give to the present edition, to notice its indexes, valuable in more senses than one. There is an excellent, and to a certain extent analytical, "table of contents prefixed to the work, which of itself gives a good sketch of the controversy. The appended indexes are three. 1. Of Scriptures, more or less illustrated; containing eighteen closely printed columns. 2. Of the principal authorities, consulted, referred to, or quoted; containing fifteen such columns. And, 3. General Index, referring to the subjects on which the work treats, one hundred and seventeen of these columns. This will be seen to be very copious; and while it will be found useful as enabling the reader to turn to any particular subject to which he may wish to refer, it will not be unuseful as affording him the means of rapidly glancing at the number and variety of the topics which this controversy includes.

We have quoted from Mr. Stamp's "Introduction." This is brief, but his Conclusion" is still more so. Contenting himself with editing nearly eight hundred pages, (and such pages!) selected from other writers, having completed his task, he modestly, but feelingly, takes leave of his readers in one page; referring in that, not to himself, but to his subject. From this "Conclusion" our last extract shall be taken.

"The whole record of divine revelation inculcates the important fact, that the religion of the heart, which alone the Most High can recognise and hallow, is individual in its application and enjoyment, and that every one is distinctly and separately responsible for himself alone. So then every one of us must give an account of

himself unto God.' The tendency of that system which is partially delineated in the preceding pages, counteracts this. The laity are taught, that they can receive no spiritual profit, except through the channel, and by the intervention, of the priesthood, who arrogate to themselves the supreme management and control of the understanding and conscience of the flock, blasphemously asserting, that 'he alone is safe who believes as the Church believes.' Thus the personality of religion is discarded, and a substitute is provided by the Papal hierarchy, for the awful requirements of the Gospel of God. The holy Scriptures teach, that in order to receive the salvation of the soul, man must be justified and made holy, and that these blessings are enjoyed by all who, with a penitent heart, exercise faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ: but when a sinner sceks forgiveness, instead of directing him to the 'Lord,' who 'justifieth the ungodly,' he is deceived with an absolution uttered by a Priest; and for that holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord, he is supplied with consecrated water and unmeaning ceremonies.

"In opposition to this system of darkness and of death, we advert to another which is also at work. Its basis is knowledge, and its operation is threefold: by general education, by the free and universal circulation of the Scriptures, and by the preaching of the Gospel to every creature. The only atmosphere in which Popery can flourish, is composed of uninquiring ignorance, and a passive subjection to human authority. Infuse into this compound any uncongenial element, and its withering influence on the man of sin' is at once apparent. When the Bible was a sealed book, and the preaching of the Gospel was prohibited, the power of the Paparchy was oppressive, rampant, and extended. When the blessed martyr Latimer was dragged to the stake in company with his fellowsufferer Ridley, he exclaimed, 'We shall this day light such a candle in England as, by God's grace, shall never be put out.' The prediction has until now been verified; and we entertain no fears with regard to its ultimate realization. have seen a painting which represents the Reformers from Popery sitting round a table, on which is placed a lighted candle, which the Pope and Cardinals, with infernal assistants, are endeavouring to extinguish, while they cry one to another, in accents of despair, We can't put it out! we can't put it out!' We anticipate a similar result attending the

We

efforts which are being made to render nugatory and of none effect the glorious Protestant Reformation, by the open and secret abettors of Popery in this country. They, too, shall exclaim, 'We can't put it out! We can't put it out!' "Every plant which our heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.' That gorgeous and magnificent temple,

in which the mother of harlots,' the 'great whore' of Babylon, has erected her altar, and where she receives the fulsome adorations of her thousands of besotted worshippers; which is cemented by the blood of martyrs, and which resounds with the groans, and is watered with the tears, of an oppressed and enslaved people; shall be shaken with the hand of a mightier than Samson, the edifice shall fall, and bury in its ruins every thing that offends, every thing that is opposed to the Gospel of Christ, amid the grateful acclamations of an enraptured and emancipated throng! Ignorance, superstition, and violence shall depart; the Heathen shall cast their idols to the moles and bats; Mahometanism shall abjure the great Impostor; the wandering Jew shall with compunction look on Him whom he pierced; and Popery, with every corruption which has disgraced and defiled the name of Christianity, shall be swept from off the face of the earth, and Christ alone be acknowledged and adored as the universal Prophet, Priest, and King."

(Pages 770, 771.)

As we expressed, and have repeated, our thankful acknowledgments to Dr. Elliott for the original work, we now take this opportunity of acknowledging, likewise, the great obligations under which Mr. Stamp has laid the Protestant public for this very valuable and well-timed contribution to their polemic literature. It is the very work that was wanted. That Popery may be properly assailed, it must be known; and known it will be by all who read this accurate and minute "Delineation." Indeed, the volume goes far beyond mere delineation. The erroneousness of the tenet is always pointed out, under each separate

head; that is, not only is it truly described in point of fact, but in point of character also. The name of the English Editor is thus inscribed indelibly on the list of those who have laboured in the holy cause of Protestant, that is, evangelical truth. And faithfully has he acted as a Christian

watchman.

He has sounded the

note of warning, and it is no uncertain sound which his trumpet gives forth. At all events, he has delivered his own soul. Yes; and many, we believe, have heard the stirring note, and have taken the warning. Already is there an increased attention to the subject, and for this, under Providence, we are indebted to Dr. Elliott and Mr. Stamp. They have pointed to the quarter whence the enemy is ap proaching, and they have shown how he may be met and repelled. They have poured, as all who read this volume will find, floods of light on the various questions connected with the doctrines and practices of

Popery; and on such questions light and victory are synonymous. When rightly answered, they are best confuted.*

Should another edition be called for, the omissions we have mentioned can easily be upplied; and as this supply would consist of matter, not to be wrought up and mixed with the former edition, in various places, but to be appended to it, as requisite for its completeness, no injury would be done to the purchasers of the present edition; as such additional matter

might be printed separately, and thus be purchaseable by them at their pleasure. We trust,

therefore, that Mr. Stamp, while his hand is in,

will continue a little longer his acquaintance with the writers, whose tomes he has been in the habit of consulting so frequently for the last twelve months or so, and compose such a continuation of Dr. Elliott's work as is now required for the purpose of rendering the "Delineation" complete. The manner in which be has verified, and, where necessary, rectified, and even extended, the original references and citations, and the numerous and important additions that he has made to them, prove how well qualified he is for the task, and how efficiently he could perform it. The "Delineation" would then be a thorough Cyclopædia of reference for the Popish controversy.