Religious Opinions of the late Rev. Chauncy Hare Townshend. (Chap-
man and Hall.)—Mr. Townshend was chiefly known during his lifetime, outside the large circle of his private friends, as an advocate of mes- merism; since his death his name has become more widely known as the donor of a magnificent collection of jewels which has been added to the riches of the South Kensington Museum. The volume before us repre-
sents the results of many years' reflection on theological subjects, com- mitted by him to writing, and left to the care of his "literary executor," Mr. Charles Dickens. It possesses considerable interest and some value. Mr. Townshend could hardly be said to have much either of acuteness or of steadiness of judgment ; but he was a cultivated, large-hearted man, who had thought much on religions matters, had struggled through much difficulty, knew and sympathized with the difficulties of others, and was all the while, in the midst of some seeming heterodoxy, steadfastly loyal to the truth of revelation. The "throwing overboard" of the Old Testament, in the sense of not binding oneself to defend all the infer- ences in spiritual or ethical matters that may be drawn from its teach- ing and history, the denying of the personal existence of a devil, the disbelief in the eternity of punishment, will not seem shocking to most of our readers. If they look at the chapter "On Christ and the Atone- ment " they will probably think that Mr. Townshend, in attempting to explain the doctrine of the Trinity, has passed beyond safe limits. But whether they agree with or differ from the author, they cannot fail to be impressed by the earnestness and charity of the writer, nor will they forget to be grateful to Mr. Dickens for the scrupulous care with which he has put together these " religious opinions."
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