Edited by G. W. Lewis, M.A., Vicar of Crick, 208. Lights on the Altar. By a Layman, 221. Lindsay Defence of the Orthodox Party in the Church of England. By Hon. Colin Lindsay, 221. Lord John Russell Speech on Papal Aggression, delivered in the House of Commons, Feb. 7, 1851, 163. Lower-The Chronicle of Battel Abbey from 1066 to 1076; now first translated, with Notes, and an Abstract of the subsequent History of the Establishment. By Mark Anthony Lower, M.A., 210. Lomas The Unfruitful Vineyard. A Sermon. By the Rev. H. Lomas, 221. Maberly-On the Mode of Improving Pre sent Opportunities. By the Rev. T. A. Maberly, 220. M'Corry-Was St. Peter ever at Rome? By the Rev. J. S. M'Corry, 220. Maitland-Passages in the Life of Mrs. Margaret Maitland, 187. Markland; a Story of Scottish Life. By the Author of "Passages in the Life of Mrs. Margaret Maitland," 187. Marriott-The True Cause of Dishonour to the Church of England. By the Rev. C. Marriott, 221. Martineau-No Need of a Living Infallible Guide in Matters of Faith; a series of Sermons recently preached in Whitkirk Church. By the Rev. Arthur Martineau, M.A., 216. or, Milman-The Way through the Desert; the Caravan. By the Rev. R. Milman, M.A., 214. Monro-Parochial Work. By the Rev. E. Monro, M.A., Incumbent of Harrow Weald, Middlesex, 149. Morgan A Vindication of the Church of England: in Reply to Viscount Fielding, on his recent Secession to the Church of Rome. By the Rev. R. W. Morgan, 212. Moultrie-St. Mary the Virgin and the Wife, a Poem. By the Rev. J. Moultrie, 219. Moultrie-The Black Fever, a Poem. By the Rev. J. Moultrie, 219. Naturalist, the, a Monthly Magazine. By Papal Aggression, Two Sermons on. Parochial Papers on Missions, 223. M.A., Incumbent of Harrow Weald, 149. Paul-Hand-Book of Medieval Geography and History. By Wilhelm Pütz, Principal Tutor at the Gymnasium of Düren. Translated by the Rev. R. B. Paul, M.A., 194. Pedder-The Position of our Church as to Rome. By the Rev. Wilson Pedder, 220. Peile-" The Church of England, not High not Low, but Broad as the Commandment of God:" a Letter to the Prime Minister. By T. W. Peile, D.D., 220. Perceval-Earl Grey's Circular. By Dudley M. Perceval, Esq., 220. Pew Question, the, 223. Plain Christian's Manual, a; or, Six Plain Sermons on Early Piety, the Sacraments, and Man's Latter End: Uncontroversial, but suited to the Present Time. By John Wood Warter, B.D., 48. Plain Protestant's Manual, a; or, Certain Plain Sermons on the Scriptures, the Church, the Sacraments, &c. By John Wood Warter, B.D., 434. Popery, a Text Book of; comprising a Brief History of the Council of Trent, and a Complete View of Roman Catholic Theology. By J. M. Cramp, D.D., 449. Princesses of England from the Norman Conquest, Lives of the. By Mary Anne Everett Green, Editor of "The Letters of Royal and Illustrious Ladies," 378. Pusey-A Letter to the Bishop of London, in Explanation of some Statements contained in a Letter by the Rev. W. Dodsworth. By the Rev. E. B. Pusey, D.D., 203. Pusey, Rev. E. B.-Entire Absolution of the Penitent; a Sermon, preached before the University of Oxford. By the Rev. E. B. Pusey, D.D., 249. Pusey, Rev. E. B.-The Church of Eng land leaves her Children free to whom to open their Griefs: a Letter to the Rev. W. A. Richards. By the Rev. E. B. Pusey, D.D., 249. Pusey, Rev. E. B.-A Letter to the Bishop of London, 249. Pusey, Rev. E. B.-Renewed Explana tions in consequence of Mr. Dodsworth's Comments. By Dr. Pusey, 249. Pütz-Hand-Book of Medieval Geography and History. By Wilhelm Pütz, Principal Tutor at the Gymnasium of Düren. Translated by the Rev. R. B. Paul, 194. Rawnsley-Sermons, chiefly Catechetical. By the Rev. R. Drummond Rawnsley, M.A., Vicar of Shiplake, 208. Readings for every Day in Lent; compiled from the Writings of Bishop Jeremy Taylor. By the Author of " Amy Herbert," 196. Robins An Argument for the Royal Su premacy. By the Rev. Sanderson Robins, M.A., 206. Rogers-Jesus Christ the sole Mediator virtually denied by Roman Catholics; a Sermon. By J. Rogers, M.A., Canon Residentiary of Exeter Cathedral, 450. Rogers-Roman Catholics hostile to the Free Use of the Bible; a Sermon, preached in Exeter Cathedral. By J. Rogers, M.A., Canon Residentiary, 450. Roman Catholic Claims, as involved in the Recent Aggression, impartially considered, &c. By Amicus Veritatis, 451. Roman Catholics hostile to the Free Use of the Bible; a Sermon, preached in Exeter Cathedral. By J. Rogers, M.A., Canon Residentiary, 450. Romanism, Progress of Beguilement to; a ter to the Bishop of London. By the Royal Supremacy, an Argument for the. By the Rev. Sanderson Robins, M.A., 206. Ruskin-Notes on the Constitution of Sandby-A Practical Address on Recent Scott-Lelio, a Vision of Reality; Herva; Seymour-The Talbot Case; an Authori- By the late Walter Augustus Shirley, D.D., Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man, 205. Sicilian Vespers, History of the War of the. By Michele Amari. Edited, with Introduction and Notes, by the Earl of Ellesmere, 25. Simmons-The Working Classes; their Moral, Social, and Intellectual Condition; with practical Suggestions for their Improvement. By G. Simmons, Civil Engineer, 149. Sinclair-A Series of Texts, arranged for Prayer and Praise, in the Hope of affording Guidance and Consolation in Seasons of Difficulty, Trial, and Affliction. By a Lady. Edited by the Rev. W. Sinclair, 215. Smith-Progress of Beguilement to Romanism; a Personal Narrative. By Eliza Smith, Authoress of "Five Years a Catholic," 486. Smith-Remarks on the Influence of Tractarianism, or Church Principles, SO called, in promoting Secessions to the Church of Rome. By the Rev. Theyre T. Smith, M.A., 219. Sortain-Hildebrand (Pope Gregory VII.) and the Excommunicated Emperor. A Tale. By Joseph Sortain, A.B., 203. Southey-The Life and Correspondence of the late Robert Southey. In Six Volumes. Edited by his Son, the Rev. Charles Cuthbert Southey, 77. Speculation, 189. Statement of the Clergy of St. Saviour's, Leeds, 221. Stanhope-A Paraphrase and Comment upon the Epistles and Gospels appointed to be used in the Church of England on all Sundays and Holidays throughout the Year. By George Stanhope, D.D., sometime Dean of Canterbury. A New Edition, 449. Stephen-A popular Exposition of the Talbot Case, the; an Authoritative and Thorpe-A Review of the Rev. W. J. C. Bennett's Letter. By W. Thorpe, D.D., 221. Thucydides, an Analysis and Summary of. Six Plain Sermons on Early Piety, the Sacraments, and Man's Latter End; Uncontroversial, but suited to the Present Time. By John Wood Warter, B.D., 48. Warter-A Plain Protestant's Manual; or, certain Plain Sermons on the Scriptures, the Church, and the Sacraments, &c. By John Wood Warter, B.D., Vicar of West Tarring, 434. Wagner-God is Love: a Sermon. By the Rev. H. M. Wagner, 223. Whewell- De Obligatione Conscientiæ Prælectiones Decem Oxonii in Schola Theologica habitæ, A.D. 1647. A Roberto Sandersono. With English Notes, including an Abridged Translation, by William Whewell, D.D., 202. Whitley-The Life Everlasting; or, the Holy Life, the Intermediate Life, the Eternal or Consummate Life. By John Whitley, D.D., Chancellor of Killaloe, 208. Williams, Rev. Isaac-The Seven Days; or, the Old and New Creation, 189. Williams-Science Simplified, and Philosophy, Natural and Experimental, made Easy. By the Rev. David Williams, M.A., 215. Williams-The Ecclesiastical Antiquities of the Cymry; or, the Ancient British Church; its History, Doctrines, and Rites. By the Rev. John Williams, M.A., Perpetual Curate of Nerquis, 1. Wilson A Short and Plain Instruction for the better Understanding of the Lord's Supper. By Bishop Wilson. With Notes, by a Priest of the Church of England, 201. Wilson-Narrative of a Singular Escape from a Portuguese Convent; with an Introductory Address. By the Rev. W. Carus Wilson, M.A., 196. Window Tracery-An Essay on the Origin and Development of, in England; with nearly Four Hundred Illustrations. By Edward A. Freeman, 193. Wiseman-Letters on some of the Errors of Romanism, in Controversy with the Rev. Nicholas Wiseman, D.D. By William Palmer, Prebendary of Salisbury, and Vicar of Whitchurch Canonicorum, 437. Woodward-Sermon at the Consecration of the Bishop of Meath. By the Rev. T. Woodward, 223. Working Classes, the; their Moral, Social, and Intellectual Condition; with Practical Suggestions for their Improvement. By G. Simmons, Civil Engineer. Wynne-Dr. Arnold and Rev. W. J. E. Bennett. By John Wynne, 221. THE ENGLISH REVIEW. MARCH, 1851. ART. I.-The Ecclesiastical Antiquities of the Cymry: or, the Ancient British Church; its History, Doctrines, and Rites. By the Rev. JOHN WILLIAMS, M.A., Perpetual Curate of Nerquis, Diocese of St. Asaph. London: Cleaver. THE History of Christianity in the West for the first three centuries presents very few certain facts for the mind to dwell upon. In the first place, it is altogether uncertain at what time or by what means the Christian faith first reached Italy, Africa, Gaul, Spain, Germany, and other western countries of the Roman empire. Without doubt there have been writers in later ages who have given us abundant details of the conversion of these countries to Christianity by the Apostles, or by missionaries appointed by them. We have had numbers of such accounts; and many Churches in the West claim to have been founded by apostolic teachers. But it is now universally admitted by learned men, that such claims, and the legends on which they are founded, are undeserving of credit; the only Church in the West which is undoubtedly of apostolical antiquity being that of the city of Rome, to which St. Paul addressed an epistle. The earliest facts respecting Christianity in France, on which any dependence can be placed, are the martyrdoms at Lyons, A.D. 177; after which, and the historical events connected with the time of Irenæus, we hear nothing further till the middle of the next century, and have then only a few meagre facts. As to Spain, we only know that Christianity existed there in the time of Irenæus and Tertullian: the Spanish martyrdoms were later than those of Gaul. Of Africa we know nothing till the time of Tertullian. The same may be said of Germany. If, therefore, we are unacquainted with the history of the first introduction of Christianity into Britain, we are nearly in the same position which every other western Church, except that of Rome, occupies; and it would be indeed a singular circumstance that Britain alone, of all the western Churches, should be able to produce the particulars of her first conversion to Christianity. So entirely were the western Churches without records of any kind, that the succession of the bishops has not been preserved in any Church; the catalogue of bishops of Rome, even, being only known, and that rather uncertainly, by the writings of Irenæus and Eusebius. There is evidence that the whole Church was, from the beginning, governed by bishops; but VOL. XV.-NO. XXIX.-MARCH, 1851. B there are no trustworthy records of the succession in any western Church, except that of the city of Rome, for the first three centuries. The earliest writer who, possibly, refers to the existence of Christianity amongst the Celtic inhabitants of Britain, is Irenæus, who speaks of "Churches" then existing amongst "the Germans, Celts, and Iberians';" and as Tertullian, who wrote shortly afterwards, says that Christianity had extended even into those parts of Britain which the Romans did not possess, i. e. into Caledonia 2, it is clear that Christianity must have been of no recent introduction into Britain. There was, in fact, nothing to prevent Christianity from spreading there as it did elsewhere; for when Irenæus and Tertullian wrote, the whole of Britain, with the exception of Caledonia, had been reduced to the condition of a Roman province for more than a hundred years; the last symptoms of insurrectionary movement having been crushed, and South Britain finally subdued by Agricola in A.D. 78. Previously to that time Britain was almost continually the seat of war for thirty years-the conquest of the island having engaged the Roman legions for that time; and if Christianity was introduced during that disturbed period, it was not likely to make much progress. But meagre as are the allusions to Christianity in Britain amongst the foreign Christian writers of the first two centuries after Christ, when we turn to our native writers and historians, a number of details on the early ecclesiastical history of England are placed before us. Venerable Bede ascribes the introduction of Christianity to Lucius, King of Britain, and to Eleutherius, Bishop of Rome, about A.D. 177, and subsequent writers have produced the names of the missionaries whom Eleutherius sent, at the desire of the king-the epistle which they conveyed to him, and the names of the archbishoprics and bishoprics which he founded and endowed in every city throughout Britain, in place of the flamens and archflamens of the Druids. On the other hand, Gildas, the earliest British historian, appears never to have heard of this history; for he supposed Christianity to have been introduced here in the time of the Apostles. And the traditions of the Cymry, as carefully collected by Mr. Williams in the elaborate and interesting volume before us, coincide with this view to some extent, representing the origin of British Christianity as coeval with the Apostles. It is our purpose, in the following pages, to offer some remarks on the historical evidence for these alleged conversions of Britain. 1 Irenæus Adv. Hæreses, lib. i. c. 10. 2 Tertul. contra Judæos, c. 7. |