this cardinal article with that Cobbett-like clearness and force in which he occasionally excelled. It is this circumstance which, in many quarters, makes Antinomianism go down where otherwise it would not. There can be no occasion to guard or qualify this doctrine, if the other doctrines of religion are as scripturally preached. Never let it be forgotten, that Christianity builds on the ruins of self-righteousness, and that the method of reconciliation is the threshold to the temple.

We wish we could suppose that' zeal against popish errors' had any share in misleading the Antinomian teachers of the present day. No such excuse can be made for them. But a zeal on the part of their hearers, against an inefficient mode of stating the Protestant doctrine, has doubtless operated, in some instances, to their advantage, and indirectly contributed to the spread of their dogmas. The chief source of Antinomianism, however, is, we apprehend, ignorance in combination with spiritual pride. In some persons, indeed, it seems to spring from a passion for the extravagant and paradoxical; in others, it is received on the faith of some theological oracle of orthodoxy; in not a few, there is too evident reason to believe, that it has been taken up from the necessity of the case, which required that the creed should be made to square with an Antinomian practice.

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But there is, as we have already remarked, a style of preaching which, though not justly chargeable with Antinomian error, both indicates a leaning to such doctrines, and acts as a predisposing cause of their reception. It is often characterised as high Calvinism; it might be more properly styled ultra-Calvinism, for these men soar far higher than Calvin." In the preaching of these individuals, the doctrine of Election is, for the most part, made to take the place of the Atonement as the basis of the Christian system; the covenant is substituted for the cross of Christ; and Justification is made the ultimate end of religion, instead of its beginning,-the essence of regeneration, instead of an attendant on it. Yet, few positions will be advanced, that can be controverted or regarded as in themselves objectionable; but the effect of the whole is to leave an impression which, though the variation of outline is scarcely perceptible, proves the doctrine to be counterfeit. Things go on, however, very comfortably, the congregation pleased with the preacher, and the preacher with the people, till something arises to trouble the waters, and they are found to be stagnant. Let the minister who has fondled this congregation into listlessness be removed, and another of a different stamp take his place; the practical effects of such preaching will then too unequivocally manifest themselves. Surely, the state in which a minister leaves a congregation over whom he

has had the oversight for a term of years, is some criterion of the character of his instructions, unless it has ceased to be a just axiom," By their fruits ye shall know them."

The distinguishing feature of Antinomianism in all its forms and stages, is justly pronounced by Mr. Fuller to be selfishness. ، Such is, he remarks, “ the doctrine, and such the spirit it 'inspires,' Whatever doctrine inspires this spirit, then, we may safely pronounce to be of Antinomian character. In the following portrait, this judicious Writer has succeeded in fixing some of those general traits which, like a family likeness, run through all the various species of religion which bear an affinity to this monstrous corruption of Christianity.

'The love of God as God, or an affection to the Divine character as holy, is not in this system..... Love, as exemplified in its patrons, is mere favouritism. God having, as they conceive, made them his favou rites, he becomes on that account, and that only, a favourite with them. Nor does it appear to have any thing to do with good-will to men as men. The religion of the Apostles was full of benevolence. Knowing the terrors of the Lord, they persuaded men, and even besought them to be reconciled to God. Jesus wept over the most wicked city in the world, and Paul, after all that he had said of the doctrine of Election, in the ninth Chapter of his Epistle to the Romans, protested that his heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel was, that they might be saved. He did not pray for them as reprobates, but as fellow-sinners, and whose salvation, while they were in the land of the living, was an object of hope. In his treatment of the most decided enemies of the truth, though he sometimes rebuked them sharply, and used an authority which was committed to him as an extraordinary character; yet, there is no malignant bitterness or low abuse in his language. But the religion of which I speak is, in all these respects, the very opposite. It beseeches not the unconverted to be reconciled to God, because it is God only who can turn their hearts. It refuses to pray for their salvation, as not knowing whether it would not be praying for the salvation of the non-elect. It has no tears to shed over a perishing world, but consigns men to perdition with unfeeling calmness, and often with glee. And as to its adversaries, it preserves no measures of decency with them: personal invective, low scurrility, and foul abuse are the weapons of its warfare.

Nor is it less a stranger to the love of Christians as Christians. The love which this species of religion inspires is mere party-attachment, the regard ofpublicans and heathens," any of whom could love those who love them. If any man oppose their opinions, whatever be his character for sobriety, righteousness, and godliness, he is without hesitation pronounced graceless, a stranger to the new birth, and an enemy of Christ.'

* Another mark of this species of religion, is, a disposition to interpret all favourable events in providence as proofs of their being favourites of heaven, and all unfavourable events towards their adversaries as judgements for their conduct towards them, and, as it were, an avenging of their quarrel. This is a natural and necessary effect

of a selfish religion. From wishing every thing to be subservient to the gratification of self, it is an easy transition to think it is so; for opinions are greatly governed by desires. Hence, if an adversary be unsuccessful in business, it is the blast of God upon him; if afflic tions befal him, they are the arrows of the Almighty discharged at him; or, if he die, he is cut off as a monument of Divine displeasure; and all because he has offended God by offending this his culiar favourite.'

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• Antinomianism, having annihilated moral obligation, might be expected to lead its votaries to the denial of sin; yet, strange as it may appear, there is scarcely any people who speak of their sins in such exaggerating language, or who make use of such degrading epithets concerning their character as they. But the truth is, they have affixed such ideas to sin as divest it of every thing criminal, blameworthy, or humiliating to themselves. By sin, they do not appear to mean their being or doing what they ought not to be or do, but something which operates within them without their concurrence. In all the conversations that I have had with persons who delight in thus magnifying their sins, I cannot recollect an instance in which they appeared to consider themselves as inexcusable, or indeed ever the worse on account of them. On the contrary, it is common to hear them speak of their sinful nature with the greatest levity, and, with a sort of cunning smile upon their countenances, profess to be as bad as Satan himself; manifestly with the design of being thought to be deep Christians, thoroughly acquainted with the plague of their own heart.'

By such persons, the Writer remarks, the spiritual principle and its opposite, "the new and the old man, are considered as agents, and the man himself not an agent, but a passive spectator of their conflicts. And “ natural men" are despised, as though destitute of common understanding. Thus, there is not left a single tenet of the Christian system, but is wrested to an application the very opposite of its native purpose and tendency. And yet, no one tenet is outwardly renounced; but truth is exaggerated into error, till it reaches the consummation of a most diabolical orthodoxy, the vampire of the moral world.

But we should greatly err, we should be ourselves chargeable with Antinomian bigotry, were we to consider all persons who cherish notions belonging to this system, as destitute of true religion. It is not for us,' remarks the same excellent writer, to pronounce upon the degree of error which may

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permitted to accompany the truth. I have no doubt,' he adds, that many good men have been deeply tinctured with these principles, though it is not from them that their goodness has proceeded.' Others have perceived the real tendency of the system, and have receded. The only preservative is, to take alarm at its earliest symptoms. A zeal for orthodoxy apart from its practical influence; a fastidious,

critical temper in hearing; a sectarian attachment to our own church or party; a morbid passion for religious excitement; a diminution in the strength of our natural affections and attachments; and an indifference to missionary exertions and objects of general benevolence ;-these are some of the sure indications that the deteriorating influence of selfishness has begun to operate within us. But "the wisdom that is from above, is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be en"treated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, "and without hypocrisy."

Mr. Cottle's strictures are written in an excellent spirit, and we give him full credit for being reluctant to lend a wider publicity to the horrid expressions which he cites. His book forms altogether an important but revolting document. Mr. Birt's tract is a mild and argumentative exposure of the defective character of Dr. Hawker's theology. We have seen no publication more proper to be put into the hands of any serious person who is in danger of being beguiled by Antinomian subtlety.

Art. IV. 1. Memoirs of India, comprising a brief Geographical Account of the East Indies; a succinct History of Hindostan. By R. G. Wallace, Esq. 8vo. pp. 504. London. 1824.

2. Historical Essay on the Rise, Progress, and probable Results of the British Dominious in India. By John Baptist Say. 8vo. pp. 36. London. 1824.

3. Memoir of the Operations of the British Army in India, during the Mahratta War of 1817, 1818, and 1819. By Lieut. Col. Valentine Blacker. 4to. pp. 527. With a Volume of Maps and Plans. London. 1821.

OUR attention has of late been much taken up with works

relating to our Indian possessions, and we have, in our recent Numbers, brought down to the present period, the general summary of information respecting those extensive and important regions. Other publications on the same general subject have since come to hand, which, though they do not enable us to continue the series of historical facts to a later

date, will afford us a desirable opportunity of adverting to a few points, which we have, of necessity, either left untouched, or illustrated from imperfect documents.

We regret exceedingly that we were induced to form our estimate of the general state of India on the work of Mr. Prinsep, rather than on that of Colonel Blacker. The latter is in comparably the superior writer; he thinks for himself, and though he gives his opinions in a cautious manner, they are from that very circumstance entitled to the more regard. He

18 a military man, evidently well versed in the various branches of his profession, and his book may serve, if we may be al-. lowed the phrase, as a sort of clinical lecture on the conduct of an Indian campaign. Mr. Prinsep is, as we observed in our review of his volume, a courtly writer,' and talks of our achievements much in the style of the Government Gazette. But Col. Blacker writes with discrimination and independence: careful of reputation, he yet does not hesitate to criticise with" firmness, though with fairness. From the extreme complica-" tion of the details connected with the complete history of the Pindarry and Mahratta war, his book requires much attention in the reading; it is not adapted for the window-seat, nor for an after-dinner lounge; but, by those who will give it a regular perusal, it will be found full of interest and instruction. Its value is much enhanced by the volume of clear and admirably executed maps and plans.

In our review of Mr. Prinsep's book, in the October Number, our attention was chiefly directed to the three most conspicuous features of the singular contest which originated in the neces sity for putting down the predatory system that had been so extensively organised by the Pindarries, and of which the leading powers of India had availed themselves to make onemore desperate effort against the galling yoke of a foreign power. The attacks made on the respective residencies of Poonah and Nagpoor, and the decisive battle of Mehidpoor, were distinctly described by us, and though we could add some interesting particulars from Colonel Blacker's details, we shall only advert to them incidentally. The great victory of the campaign seems to have been mainly achieved by the intrepidity of Sir John Malcolm. The well-contested action' of Meheidpoor, says Mr. Wallace,

⚫ continued from noon till three o'clock, during which time the enemy's cavalry pressed upon the reserve, and several times attacked the baggage, but the Mysore auxiliaries behaved with great spirit, T and met their charges in every direction. Seventy pieces of cannon were taken, together with the whole of the enemy's camp equipage, i and the plain was strewed with upwards of 3000 of their killed and a wounded. The success of this battle was, in a great measure, owing to the chivalrous conduct of Sir John Malcolm, who led the most desperate of the attacks on the left, and cheered the troops by the most fearless personal exposure. His noble and commanding figure was seen by the whole line to outstride their ardour, and his lofty plume, often waved by his right hand, was a banner of union to the line. Great in his political character, and renowned as an elegant writer, this scientific soldier has, on various occasions, displayed an unsurpassed intrepidity, and a coolness of judgment in the hour of danger, VOL. XXII. N.S.

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