An Introduction to the Articles of the Church of England.
By the Rev. G. F. Machar, D.D., and the Rev. W. W. Williams, M.A. (Macmillan and Co.)—Dr. Machar takes a moderate and reason- able view of the Articles. They were intended to be an Eirenicon, and it is as an Eirenicon that he treats them. After a brief ex- amination of other Reformation formularies and of earlier drafts of the Articles themselves, we come to the systematic discussion of them in their present form. Each Article is given in both Latin and English, the customary Scriptural authorities are quoted, and general bearing of the formulary discussed. A commentator on the Articles is of course encountered by difficulties which he cannot wholly escape. In Article ii., for instance, he has the phrase " to racmcile His Father to us," and can hardly allow the fact that it unscriptural. On Article xxii., "of Purgatory," Dr. Machar holds that its object was to condemn the " extreme party." What an uaroar was raised when the Tractarians maintained that it was th3 Ronsish doctrine that was condemned ! And how curiously opinion has changed since then. The Romish doctrine is hardly more in favour, but there is a very common belief in a Purgatory of some kind. Generally, this is a painstaking and careful work, from which much information may be derived, and which may safely be followed by the young student.
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