the “Guardian," a Tractarian paper, on that formulary had been the defor making what he considered an er- clared doctrine of the majority of the roneous statement respecting him, and clergy, many of them eminent for their refusing to insert his letter in answer piety and learning, ever since the days to it, which letter is inserted in the of the disgraceful Savoy Conference. “Record.” The “Guardian” asserts It would, therefore, have been a puthat “Mr. Gorham, a clergyman of nishment without notice, and without the Church of England, avowed doc- precedent. But to avoid this dilemma, trines, on a most important point, di- the Judicial Committee cautiously rectly contradictory to the letter and avoided the mention of the very bone spirit of her formularies ; a court of of contention, our chameleon Baptislaw determined that, notwithstanding, mal Service, and substituted declared he should not be excluded from eccle. doctrine in its stead. Thus, I say, in siastical preferment.” To this Mr. this case the “Guardian" and Mr. Gorham answers, that all the members Gorham were in some sense both of the Judicial Committee who were equally correct. But when we come present, except Mr. Knight Bruce, to the true and natural meaning of unanimously agreed in opinion, “that the service, the “Guardian” has unthe doctrine held by Mr. Gorham was doubtedly the Prayer-book on its side. not contrary or repugnant to the de- However the Evangelical clergy “get clared doctrine of the Church of Eng- over” and explain the service by their Jand, as by law established, and that various interpretations, it as as plain Mr. Gorham ought not, by reason of as that two and two make four, that the doctrine he held, to have been re- the doctrine of that formulary and the fused admission to the vicarage of Catechism is, that every child baptized Brampford Speke."

in the Church of England is made “a Now, Sir, it appears to me that there member of Christ, a child of God, and is truth in both these statements. The an inheritor of the kingdom of hea“Guardian” speaks of the formularies; ven.” Look, Sir, at the service, what but the Judicial Committee speak of do we there see? First, a succession the declared doctrine of the Church of of prayers for the blessings, and finally England. They seem to me to have a thanksgiving that they have then, at cautiously avoided the mention of the that time, been all received. For formularies, though one of them was instance: we pray that the child, the point in question, to the natural “ coming to thy holy baptism, may meaning of which Mr. Gorham did, in receive remission of sins by spiritual his examination before the Bishop of regeneration ... that he may be born Exeter, certainly object, and therefore again, and be made an heir of everin this sense the “ Guardian” is right. lasting salvation : that the old Adam But to the doctrine of the Articles and may be buried, that the new man may Homilies Mr. Gorham did not object; be raised up in him ... sanctify this and to these standards we must appeal water to the mystical washing away of for the declared doctrine of the Church sin,” &c., &c. And after all these peof England. That the Twenty-seventh titions, we return thanks to God for Article contradicts the formulary on those benefits now received, in these infant baptism is generally admitted, words : “We yield thee hearty thanks, and as Mr. Gorham's sentiments were most merciful Father, that it hath in accordance with that Article, the pleased thee to regenerate this infant Privy Council most wisely judged that with the Holy Spirit, and to receive he ought not to be deprived of his pre- him for thine own child by adoption." ferment. But even if the committee It is often asserted that our Church had mentioned the office for infant has not defined its meaning of regebaptism, and agreed with Sir Herbert neration, and thus that different opiFust that Mr. Gorham's doctrine was nions may be held concerning it. But contrary to the natural, literal, and can any definition be clearer than what grammatical meaning of that service, we find in this service? Whether this they would not have been justified in definition be scriptural or not, is not rejecting him, because his sentiment now the question; but whether the Tractarians or the Evangelicals are people in one sense and by themselves right in their interpretation of it. As in another. an old Evangelical, I give it up to the I am aware that these few remarks former, and maintain that those cler- ought to be sent to the paper from gymen who do not hold, according to whence I have made my extracts; but the Bishops of Exeter and Oxford, that though I have been a subscriber to that every child that is baptized according valuable journal above twenty years, to our service is at the time regene- I know from experience that they rated by the Holy Spirit, must get would be thrown into the fire; for, over” the service as well as they can, though the editor of that paper proby some non-natural hypothesis or tests as strongly as you do against the evasion. It is true that the Judicial “figment of baptismal regeneration": Committee have, by their judgment in (to use his own terms), he will never Mr. Gorham's case, in some measure own that it is clearly and plainly desanctioned this mode of interpreta- clared in the baptismal service. There tion, but still it does not relieve the it stands, whether we believe it or not. consciences of those who grieve at

I am, Sir, yours, &c. having to use a formulary which, by

T. G. T. its plain words, is understood by the

Holton Rectory.

Rebiews, and Short Notices of Books. A LETTER TO Sir Robert IngLis, Philpotts to send forth this poor apo

BART., M.P., on certain statements logy, was indeed a tremendous attack. in an article of the Edinburgh Re. We have no conception who the wriview, No. 193, entitled “ Bishop

ter could be: but he is evidently well

fitted and prepared to grapple with Philpotts.” By Henry, Lord Bi such an adversary. He has watched SHOP OF Exeter.

the proceedings of this disturber of

the Church, and he knows his man. This letter is a phenomenon. It ex. He is not one who takes our views of hibits Dr. Philpotts on the defensive. Scriptural Truth, or who appears to Instead of hurling unmeasured vitu- have any special liking for Evangeliperation and defiance upon an ad- cal Religion, or any zeal for those versary, he finds himself under the Protestant Doctrines which Henry of necessity of apologizing for himself, Exeter so fiercely impugns: but, takand labouring hard to rebut the ing his stand upon the ground of comcharges which have been brought mon sense and worldly propriety, he against him. In this defensive war- sees and feels how indecent, and how fare he is by no means so much at outrageous has been, and yet is, the home as when he takes up offensive conduct of this unhappy individual. weapons, and acts the part of an as. From this Review we must transcribe sailant. He seems to feel throughout a passage or two; as it will enable that he is placed in an unpleasant and our readers the better to understand humiliating position; and, as much the necessity which was felt of atof the vigour of his usual style arises tempting something in reply. from the overbearing insolence and continual vituperation, to which he

" Yet we do not accuse the Bishop, as so unscrupulously resorts, - when

many do, of being carried away into these weapons will not serve his turn,

these extravagancies by uncontrollable

violence of temper. On the contrary, we he becomes feeble and tame: Quan- believe all this vituperation to be pretum mutatus ab illo.

pared and uttered deliberately, on sysThe Article in the last Edinburgh tem, in conformity with his sense of ex: Review, which has compelled Dr. pediency and of the fitness of things. It

FEBRUARY, 1852.

is the fashion to call him an incendiary. nant regret how completely he mistook but if he is an incendiary, it is not his profession when he became a clergypurely out of a love of mischief; he is nian. His great abilities would have one of those who burn down a house on won equal wealth and influence, had they calculation, for the sake of pocketing the been exerted in a more congenial sphere, insurance. To judge him fairly, we must with less destruction to his peace of always keep in mind that words are his mind, and less damage to his reputation. instruments and weapons, the arms with Had he failed to obtain that Oxonian which he fights, and the tools with which Scholarship which decided the destiny of he works. And this consideration will his youth, he might now have been the lead us to estimate more charitably the richest attorney in England. Or again, second great means by which he has had he been born on the other side of the gained his ends, namely, the non-natural Channel, he might have rivalled O'Conuse of words. We question at the same nell as a successful agitator, levied an time, whether anybody in his position ampler repeal-rent from the gratitude of was ever exposed to the humiliating nen his countrymen, and led the band of cessity of retracting so many personal Cullens and M‘Hales, who shake the misstatements. Take for one example Rotunda, and fulmin over Erin. But (in his governmental character) the rash fate doomed him to a career less fitted assertion,outofzeal for surplice-preaching, for his character ; circumstances made that one of his clergy had publicly offici- him a clergyman; and the regal supreated in no other robe than a great coat; macy (which he now repudiates) made and for another, (in his controversial him a bishop. And certainly, if this character) the scandalous imputation on were a specimen of its usual operation, Archdeacon Sinclair, of having falsified a we should own that the supremacy of the quotation from Thomas Aquinas. The Crown was the subversion of the Church. way in which Dr. Philpotts accounted We will not say that no man so unfit to for his having fallen into this latter error wield the crosier ever won the mitre. is a singular acknowledgment of contro. But yet we have searched history in vain versial levity : 'Your argument seeming to find a complete parallel to Bishop to me to require • Patres,' I fancied on Philpotts. Cyril, Bishop of Alexandria, memory that this was the word used by the excommunicator of Nestorius, Bishop you.' Such a method of substituting the of Constantinople, appears to have been subjective for the objective may explain as intolerable a firebrand among the the phenomenon which so much puzzled Churches of the East. Hildebrand was Mr. Goode, “that the fourth edition of as great a master of vituperation; Becket the Bishop's letter to the Archbishop. was no less addicted to excommunicawas delivered to him on the same day on tion; Borgia may vie with him in nepowhich it was first published. Whatever tism, and practised it on a grander scale; excuse may belong to a histrionic nature, among ourselves, Warburton was almost it must be allowed the Bishop is emin his equal in intemperate language; Atnently entitled to it. In the silver tones terbury in political intrigue ; Kitchia in and fulsome adulation which be occasion- sineerity. But to make up the character ally adopts to suit his purpose, or in the of Bishop Philpotts, we must combine outbursts and theatrical performances the special qualities of all these different with which all persons acquainted with prelates, and we shall still find several the diocese of Exeter are familiar, he is ingredients wanting to the compound." equally an accomplished actor, only that in both instances he overdoes his These passages may suffice to shew part.”

what sort of an adversary Dr. Phil

potts has to deal with. To pass by "Under these circumstances, there must such a foe, was neither in the characbe potent causes in the frame of English

ter of the man, nor suitable to the society which hitherto have maintained the Bishop in undisturbed prosperity, and

position in which he has placed himenabled him still to enjoy the dignity of

self. He attempts an answer; and his cathedral throne, the wealth of his

he first shelters himself under a name golden stall, and the luxury of his Italian

which is universally respected, by villa, while he hurls defiance against the

addressing it to Sir Robert Inglis. laws and constitution which have bestowed But at the next step he breaks down: these benefits upon him. Yet in the for he commences his Letter with asmidst of the splendour wbich surrounds suring us that he has never read the him, he must sometimes feel with poig- article to which he undertakes to reply!!

This is a strange step for such a prac- say for himself,--as not to have a tised controversialist. Those may plausible story to tell,-especially so believe it who can.

far as he is allowed to be his own Moreover, he only undertakes to witness. We are, therefore, somewhat reply to two of the matters contained anxious to see what rejoinder will be in the Review,-his conduct in re- made by his Reviewer, on those points spect of “The Roman Catholic Relief to which he endeavours to reply. In Act;” and secondly, what relates to a the mean time, we are more concerned trial for libel at Exeter in March, to observe that there is a vast portion 1848, arising out of a speech made of the charges brought against him, by Lord Seymour to his constituents to which no answer is attempted. His at Totnes. There is, indeed, an Ap- insolent and schismatical excommupendix, in the shape of a “ Letter to nication of the Archbishop of Canterthe Bishop of Exeter, from Ralph bury, in spite of the “ peculiarly Barnes, Esq., his Lordship’s Registrar stringent oath of obedience and reveand Secretary,” with reference to his rence" which he had taken “to the Nepotism, and his love of lapses. But superior whom he now disobeys and really the position of that functionary insults;" his schismatical and rebelis such, that it looks very much like lious Synod at Exeter; the mischievo the testimony of an accomplice to the ous results of his turbulence and innocence of his principal.

insubordination; his “unmeasured viOn the first point Dr. Philpotts has tuperation of opponents," rising in a great deal to say; for it occupies outrageous insolence with the dignity by far the greater portion of his Let- of his opponent; and his non-natural ter. Yet to our minds he says very use of words ;-all these remain unlittle : nay, we are not sure that he touched, unrefuted, undenied. So that does not, in some respects, make the the force of such passages in the Rematter worse for himself than the Re- view as those which we have quoted, viewer had made it for him: for it is not affected by the attempts at rewould seem that,- decided and even ply to some of the particular charges, violent as he had appeared against which form the substance of this LetEmancipation,-he had always taken ter. The Review, therefore, places good care to leave himself a way of him in a most disreputable position, escape, of which he might avail him and marks him as a scandal to that self, if the minds of public men should Church to which he professes to bechange. We should say that, on his long. And for ourselves, we cannot own shewing, he was little better than but remember a: solemn question a traitor from the first. And when which was put to him at one of the the fatal year 1829 came,mif he did most solemn moments of his life : not write in favour of the Bill (which "Do you trust that you are inwardly it seems he dares not expressly deny) moved by the Holy Ghost to take he yet maintained a guilty silence; upon you this office and ministration, and was careful not openly to con- to serve God for the promoting of demn or denounce that measure, His glory, and the edifying of His which, as he tells us, he all along people?" It would be well if he disapproved. And this is, as we hap- (and hundreds more who have enpen to know, exactly the view of his tered upon the sacred office of the conduct which was taken by some ministry) would sit down, and earsoon after he obtained his bishopric, nestly examine themselves, (“not as if it had been said: “You do not lightly, and after the manner of disand cannot approve ?-Well, well: semblers with God,”) whether they keep quiet; and it shall not interfere had, or could have, any good reason with your promotion.”

to answer, (as they did before God But we must not suppose that one and the Church,)“I trust so”? or so practised in all the arts of contro- whether they lied unto the Holy versial writing, and of politic manage- Ghost in making that reply? We ment, could ever be so entirely at must say that we entirely agree with fault as not to have a great deal to the Edinburgh Reviewer, when he

says, “ Yet in the midst of the splen- Mr. Birks has had his attention didour which surrounds him, he must rected to this subject by the preparasometimes feel with poignant regret tion of a Supplement to the Horæ how completely he mistook his pro- Paulinæ of Paley, which has been fession when he became a clergy- published under the title of Horæ man.” That he neither has exercised Apostolicæ, but during the progress his sacred office, nor does exercise it, of that work his field of labour en“ to the promoting of God's glory," larged, and he found it necessary “to or “the edifying of His people,” is enter fully on those difficult quesbut too evident.

tions, which have been long debated If he has not read that Review to and variously solved, with regard to which he so tamely attempts to reply, the origin, the mutual connexion or it is high time that he should read it. independence, and the historical harAnd if he be capable of any thing mony, of the Gospel narratives.” that resembles Christian feeling, he T he peculiar phases of the infidelity will and must mourn, in bitterness of of the day, render it most necessary soul and brokenness of heart, to think that they should be met by works, what scandal to the Church, what whose authors, like Mr. Birks, bring disgrace to his Christian profession, such a rich store of sanctified knowand what dishonour to God, he has ledge and research to dissipate their occasioned by a course of conduct poisonous influences. The idea that which could furnish opportunity for the Gospels may be but “legends," such an article. There are several “ideal conceptions of the Messiah,” expressions in that article, to which, not written until the fall of Jerusaon scriptural grounds, we should ob- lem, or even the close of the first ject: yet we think that on the whole century," is quite enough, by reit will tend to “the interest of reli- ducing the words of inspiration to the gion and of the Church”: and we join level of mere Romish fables, to spread with the writer in the hope with which incalculable mischief wherever such it concludes, “ that the more devout notions may be covertly dissemiand single-minded Churchmen, who nated. have permitted Dr. Philpotts to ap- Nothing that we could say, or inpear as their foremost champion," deed any detached portions that we will“ be at last ashamed of acknow- could insert, would give a just view ledging his leadership and serving of the great importance of this deunder his banner.” If not, it will be fence of Gospel truth against the a sad and plain proof, in addition to sophistries of modern infidelity. It is many others, of the utterly Antichris- but due to Mr. Birks, that we give his tian spirit which animates the whole own statement of the ends he had in party.

view in the volume before us.

“ The object of the following work is

to extend the argument from internal HORÆ EVANGELICÆ, or the Internal

evidence, which Paley has applied with Evidence of the Gospel History, fc. such power to the Acts and St. Paul's &c. By T. R. BIRKS, M.A. pp. 550. Epistles, in connexion with the Four Gos

pel Histories. The nature of the subject, Seeleys.

however, requires here a very different To give our readers a proper idea mode of development. We have to comof the actual value of this work, were pare four narratives of the same life, very to transfer very large portions of the similar in their structure, in order to de

tect the causes of their agreement or disvolume to our own pages. As we

agreement, and thereby to establish the cannot do this, or indeed afford so

genuineness of each narrative, and the large a space as we could wish, we

substantial truth of the whole history. must be satisfied with giving in a few

The relations of the Gospels to each other words the general character of a work

will first be deduced, by a careful and which, to the ministry, in their pre minute comparison. Their probable dates paration for the pulpit, will be of ex will then be assigned, by a reference to traordinary value.