The Author has been more than once urged to write a treatise on visiting the poor and the sick, which notwithstanding Stonehouse's Treatise, is a duty not yet perhaps sufficiently illustrated. It is a general duty incumbent on all Christians as well as ministers, and involves many important practical considerations. An index of all the texts on which sermons have been published to the present time is wanted. Cooke's edition of Letsome's Preacher's Assistant is now scarce and dear, yet it was published nearly fifty years since, did not contain many older sermons and treatises, and might now be advantageously enlarged by subsequent works. Many very valuable old books remained unknown and unprofitable for want of fresh editions. Much has been done within the last 20 years to bring them into circulation by reprints. There are yet however many works that it would be advantageous to have reprinted. A few are subjoined as specimens. Alsop's Anti-sozzo. Godly Letters of the Martyrs. James Blair on the Sermon on the Harmony of the Confessions. Mount. Brown on Prayer. Binning's Works. Cruso's Works. Frank's Christ the Sum and Substance. Lamothe on Inspiration. Morning Exercises. Several of S. Ward's Tracts. Stillingfleet on the Satisfaction of Extracts from the general writings of eminent authors, with the best pieces of larger works would be very useful. Dr. Wilson of Southampton has shown this in his selections from Owen, Leighton, and Hopkins, and Mr. Young, in his from Baxter and Owen. A work of reference to books on subjects in religion, such as is comprehended in the Second Part of Watt's Bibliotheca, and Wilkin's list in his Gift of Preaching, only more minute, referring not merely to books, but to the pages where the subjects are treated, would much facilitate studies on particular parts of Theology, A more close connexion and a more ready interchange of publications among the Protestant churches is to be desired. Some excellent works have now been printed in America, that would promote Theology if circulated in this country. Persons residing in London have not that full interchange of religious publications even with Edinburgh and Dublin which might be useful. Might not also more be done to facilitate both the knowledge of such works as are sound and evangelical, published by our Protestant brethren on the continent, and the more readily obtaining these works in this country.. ...The five following works were suggested by a friend, as yet deficient. 1. A Practical Treatise on the perfections and attributes of God, as displayed in Jesus Christ. All falsë religion takes its rise in ignorance and forgetfulness of God. The sensualist making for himself a God who cannot see, or hear, or understand, or avenge the hourly sins which he commits, gives himself up to his sinful indulgences. The thoughtless man making to himself a God, in whose character indifference or a weak compassion is the chief ingredient, refuses to see or believe his infinite purity and perfect justice, and so is unconcerned about him. The self-righteous fancies to himself his idol, one that is pleased with exterior appearances, and will accept such as a palliation and excuse for sins committed, and thus neglecting the interior disposition, he abounds in mere formalities. The Pelagian losing sight of the everlasting and supreme government of God, vainly con ceives that the obtaining of heavenly bliss is not supremely directed by the sovereign will of the Most High, but mainly depends on the choice and efforts of the creature. The Antinomian contemplating his sovereignty and justice in the abstract, does not duly regard his holiness, and in his selfish admiration of love displayed to sinners in pardon, forgets the equal love displayed in purifying the pardoned, by him who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity. Charnock on the Attributes is too metaphysical, and Bates too much confined to one point, to answer the purposes of a practical, familiar Treatise. Wishart has much that is valuable. 2. A clear and succinct view of the principles of Christianity held by the primitive Christians, and its developement in their lives, showing its identity with Protestantism, and marking with precision and distinctness the steps by which the corruptions of Romanism were introduced. Echard's Ecclesiastical History, Cave's primitive Christianity, Reeve's Apologies of the Fathers, Weisman's and Milner's Church History, and the controversies with the Papists would furnish some materials for the work here contemplated. 3. A History of the people of Israel from Abraham to the present day, as an interesting and instructive narrative, elucidatory of scriptural truths, for the use of youth, in one small volume. Josephus, Basnage, Hannah Adams and others, would assist in this. 4. A Brief Sketch of the plan of Salvation, or God's way of bringing a sinner to Heaven, in its origin, its tendency, its design, and its influence, as an exposition of Rom. viii. 29, 30. or of the 17th Article; not as a 2 B matter of controversy, but of devotion and practical influence. 5. Lives of real saints, not Roman Catholic, but Christian; a Biographical Dictionary, in one volumez distinguishing individuals not by their rank in the eyes of the world, but by the services which God has enabled them to render to his church. Clarke, Wordsworth, Middleton, and separate lives would furnish more than ample materials. Would it not be well for authors to consider to what books God has given the most influence in producing extensively a spirit of religion. If I were to name twelve works in our own language, I should name Adam's Private Thoughts. Baxter's Call. Baxter's Saint's Rest. Beveridge's Private Thoughts. Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. Doddridge's Rise and Progress. Milner's History of the Church. These are books not written in the spirit of controversy, but in the spirit of love, with the single object of practically advancing the spiritual welfare of man. It is evident that such writers seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. We want more of such invaluable works. There are several similar works that greatly help to maintain a spirit of religion, such as Corbet's SelfEmployment in Secret, Kempis's Imitation of Christ, many of Owen's and Baxter's works, Newton's Letters, Scott's Commentary, Leighton on Peter, and the like Thomas à Kempis has been eminently useful; but there are some drawbacks; it is devotional to a high degree, but still with some tincture of mysticism, 1 and a slight infusion of Popery, and grounded upon very obscure views of gospel doctrine. The dependance of sanctification on justification, which is so plainly revealed, (Rom. v. vi.) is but obscurely exhibited in Thomas à Kempis; yet is the Saviour manifestly the spring-head of that devotional unction with which the work abounds, and hence its extensive usefulness, An account of Foreign Works, and translations of extracts from them, on the plan of Erskine's Sketches of Church History would be interesting and useful, A collection and translation of the authorised Catechisms of different Churches, similar to the Confessions, would be valuable for reference. Larger works in Theology would be very useful could they be accomplished. The Author gives the following suggestions. A Bibliotheca, like Dupin's, on more fixed principles of Analysis and Review, by Protestants of evangelical principles, and continued to the present time. Such a work might occupy twenty volumes, 4to. and would, with a good Index for constant reference, be a Library of Divinity, of invaluable use. A Bibliotheca, or account of books like Walchius, but in English, continued to the present day. An Introduction to Theology at large, similar in nature to Mr. Horne's Critical Introduction to the Scriptures, but embracing general Theology, as well as what directly relates to the Scriptures, would be of great advantage. A Synopsis in English, like Poole's in Latin, including the subsequent criticisms, but excluding the infidelity of Neologianism. An improved Polyglot, with all the advantages |