Quarterly List of New Books and Pamphlets [pp. 463-470]

466 Quarter1~ List of New 13ooks. [JULt
lume the cardinal and distinctive truths which lie at the foundation of Chns
tian experierice, set forth, vindicated, distinguished from those counterfeits of
them which so largely abound at this day, and applied to the heart and conscience with clearness, force and fidelity. He will find such topics as the na-'
tural depravity of mankind, the blindness of the natural understanding and
conadence in spiritual things, regeneration, the renovation of the heart, the
illumination of the ~nderstanding, sanctification and perseverance, operations
of the spirit on the unregenerate, justification, the prophetical, kingly artd
priestly offices of Christ, faith, repentance, holiness, the final judgment, the
respective destinies of the righteous and wicked, treated in a style so lucid,
cogent and faithful, as cannot but leave definite and durable traces on his
memory, increase his stock of religious knowledge, and const~ain the assent
of his mind and conscience, if they do not win his heart. One trait in these'
sermons is, that while they abound in clear and conclusive reasoning on those
vital truths which have been so much assaile~' of late, they reason out of the
Scriptures. If our philosophic divines who talk so largely of the province
and discoveries of reason and philosophy in theology, will give us reasonings
and discoveries based on Scripture, instead of prostrating the authority and"
testimony of God under their own reasonings, we will bid them God speed,
and welcome whatever "new light" they can gather from this source. Dr.
Foot uniformly summons us to the law and the testimony, and pretends not
to offer any religious doctrine for our belief, which we cannot prove out of the
Holy Oracles to be the doctrine of God. Hence he speaks with authority arid
not as the scribes. And who are the ambassadors of God, that they should'
even presume to preach aught else beside the word? In our judgment this
feature is a chief source of that unusual convincing power which seems like a
torrent to sweep away all opposition before it, that is so conspicuous in their
discourses.
Although these discourses in point of style and manner are by no means
faultless models, especially that larger pror3orticn of them which had never
been prepared by the author for the press, yet they have soin qualities which
deseive the attention of young preachers. They are always lucid. There
Can be no nristake as to hts meaning and aim even when he is treating the
prof~~irndest topics of Theology.
We will add that this volume is well fitted to be an antidote to the new
theology and new measures, whereever it is read. All the Calvinistic doc-'
trines which are now most impugned, are enforced by scriptural proofs so
abundant, apposite, and skilfully arranged, as to be absolutely irresistible. This
is not all. Dr. Foot was situated for several years in the state of New York,
during the reign of those spurious revivali~ts, measures and doctrines, which
have made such fearful havoc with that portion of God's heritage. Such a
man wss not slow to discern their true nature and tendency. He became their
steady and unflinching opponent, and was a strong man among the champions
of truth. He saw their heresies, and most ably exposed and demolished them,