OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.

Primitive Christianity Revived in the Faith and Practice of the people called Quakers: written in testimony to the present dispensation of God through them to the world; that prejudices may be removed, the simple informed, the well-inclined encouraged, and the truth and its innocent friends rightly represented. By William Penn. To which is prefixed a memoir of Penn, by James M. Brown, of Virginia. Philadelphia: published by Miller and Burlock, George street, above Eleventh. Price, fifty cents.

"The name of William Penn is fondly and widely cherished in the State called by his name. He was one of the noblest of men, and his words and acts are immortal. We are glad of the republication of this admirable work, and to see the memoir of Penn on the printed page. The example and lessons taught by him will do good where they are known, and become the subject of reflection. Mr. Brown has placed the State of Penn and others under special obligation for securing the publication of this work. It contains 150 pages, and is neatly bound."—Christian Chronicle.

"The above-named work, by William Penn, has always been acknowledged by the Society of Friends as a clear and candid, though brief, exposition of its belief upon the great and cardinal doctrines of Christianity. It is a sufficient answer to the cavils that have been renewedly put forth by some in the present day, who appear anxious to have it believed that our early Friends were not orthodox in relation to the divinity of Jesus Christ and the atonement made by him for the sins of the whole world. It also fully sets forth and demonstrates what the author lays down 'as a main fundamental in religion,' and the 'ancient, first, and standing testimony' of Friends,—viz.: 'That God through Christ hath placed a principle in every man, to inform him of his duty, and to enable him to do it; and that those who live up to this principle are the people of God, and that those who live in disobedience to it are not God's people, whatever name they may have or profession they may make of religion.'

"We are glad to find that a member of another religious denomination than our own has become so much interested in this little work as to be at the labour and expense of publishing an edition of it; and we hope he may succeed in spreading it widely among persons of all professions. He has prefaced it with a short biographical notice of William Penn, including the principal parts of Foster's refutation of the calumnies of Macaulay.

"The whole work contains 150 pages, and is sold for fifty cents a copy."—The Friend.

"We have received a copy of this work from the author of the memoir, who announces himself a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

"Having met with the treatise of William Penn, he was interested in its contents, and concluded to republish it in its present form. He appears to have formed a correct idea of the character of this distinguished man, both as a Christian and legislator, and in the memoir prefixed to the work has introduced him as an example to the rising generation.

"'Primitive Christianity Revived' was written by William Penn soon after the death of his eldest son, and was 'intended to show that the principles of Friends are the same as those of the Primitive Church, and that the life and power of religion, when received in faith and obeyed without reserve, will produce the same fruits of holiness as in the morning of the gospel day.'"—Friends' Intelligencer.

"Penn's Primitive Christianity Revived.—We have received a copy of a new edition of this short but valuable treatise, to which is prefixed a brief Memoir of the Author, by James M. Brown, of Virginia; also, Dixon's refutation of the 'Macaulay Charges.'

"J. M. Brown is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and, in stating the reasons for his interest in the reprint of a work of William Penn's more than one hundred and fifty years after its first publication, says:—

"'Read the work attentively, and consider well the character of the man in connection with the condition of the world at that time,—its moral darkness, the prevalence of dishonesty, priestcraft, superstition, intolerance, bigotry, and church pride,—in short, every thing hateful to a man like William Penn, who was too wise to be cheated by the vanities, empty professions, or promises of this fleeting world; and then judge whether it be not high time to recur to first lessons and first principles, and whether there be a man, woman, or child who would not be not only gratified but much profited by a careful and proper reading of this little volume.'"—Friends' Review.

"A most interesting volume lies upon our table, from James M. Brown, of Virginia, the 'Primitive Christianity' of William Penn; a treatise from the founder of Pennsylvania, on the essential principles of Christianity as held by the Quakers. The Christian community at large will thank Mr. Brown for reviving this work, for, whatever may be our dissent from a few of its most 'Quakerish' notions, it is a noble 'testimony' for evangelical orthodoxy in general. It is seasonable also in its appearance. Quakerism is disintegrating throughout this country; Parkerism is taking its place. William Penn is summoned to remonstrate against this declension. The book should be universally circulated among the descendants of his people, and it can hardly be less useful among others. It is introduced by a good biographical sketch, and is embellished by a portrait of Penn, and an engraving of the famous 'Treaty Tree.'"—Christian Advocate and Journal.