CURRENT LITERATURE.
The Church of England and the Church of Rome. By the Rev. J. Llewelyn Davies. (Martin.)—This little volume is written with all the acuteness, and calmness and moderation of temper that distinguish their author. In fact, it is a model of controversial writing, with here and there, where the subject, the store of merit, e. g, at the Pope's disposal, irresistibly invites it, a touch of gentle satire, but always fair and candid. The book consists of eight sermons, printed as they were delivered, on such subjects as "Indulgences," "Infallibility,'' "Saint Saint Worship," &c., the preacher's object being not so much to dissuade his hearers from joining the Church of Rome, a temptation to which, as he says, probably none of them were liable, but to enable them "to perceive with more clearness and satisfaction the true spiritual standing-ground of our own Church." Our readers cannot do better than go to the volume itself to see how this purpose is carried, but we must quote the admirable passage with which it concludes :—
" For ourselves, my brethren, let us try to be spiritual in our concep- tions of Divine things, and in our religious life. Let that which is material and formal, let all ceremony, all dogmatism, be subordinate to the fellowship established by God with mon in the person of his Son Jesus Christ. How God speaks to his children, how we may become more truly children of God,—these are the great questions to occupy us. Superstition thrusts these aside, and would bring us into bondage to outward things,—to a custom, to a document, to a posture, to a shape, to a colour. All such things have their uses ; but it is their business to serve, and not to rule. Let us earnestly resist their usurpations. Let us stand fast in the liberty with which Christ has made us free. Let us wake and arouse ourselves ; we are in presence of serious dangers, of animating opportunities. It is no vain boast to believe that our country and our Church have each of them a high calling. We must not forget that we have our own individual salvation to work out, our personal sins to repent of, personal restoration and renewal to seek ; but it will not hinder or delay us in this task, rather it will help us, if we hold our- selves accountable for our share in the duty and the work of the body of which God has made us members. Let us ask for grace to be good Catholic Christians, good English Christians ; then we may have a confi- dent hope that our life will not be an unworthy one, nor its labour unprofitable."
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