The true Democrat., 1857-03-03
The Apostate Methodist Preacher.

We have just finished the perusal of vo- ume from the pen of the Rev. Thomas Mad din, D. D., from the Book Concern, Nashville, Tennessee. It would be but reasonable to ex- pect from the title of the book, learned and astute discussion of that vexed question, which has elicited so much angry and unprohtable discussion, among the different denominations of christans,-th possibility of apostacy-but to my agreeable surprise, all enlightened ortho- dox christians can and will endorse the sentl- inents of the entire work.
 The author manifests no sectarian bigotry has not lauded the established tenets of any particular church, nor has he presented for our admiration an immaculate and unerring minis try, necessarily so by virtue of their holy or ders and profession, but he has, with boldness peculiar to himself, drawn vivid picture, the fearful correctness of which will be recognized by every impartial observer, and cannot fail to serve as beacon to warn many d talented en- thusastic young minister of the dangers that beset his pathway. The writer has not like Boswell been content with detailing with gra- phic fidelity the opinions and expressions of others, nor like Horace alpole been caustic observer of events and men, nor like Addison a splendid essavst, painting most inimtably the vices and folies of the times neither is he like some very learned divineS particularly an- xious to display the extent, profunditity and power of his scholastic acquisitions; but posses sing many of the highest qualifications which have secured for the most instructive and taS- cinatng writers their enduring popularity he adds the sagacious wisdom of cultivated mind of the highest order, guided ly the eX- perlence, which he has accumulated from hay ing acted well his part in the great moral re- form which has given tone to society in the Mississippi valley.
 The reader is enchanted with the truthful ness of his pOrtraiture of the secret motives which urge his Hero, to action, and the crcum- stances, appariently unmportant which give colorng to his after life, and the animation and grace which embelish his descriptions, and give zest to his characters through the entire valume. He joins in delightful union of wit with wisdom, and has given us book eminent ly combining utile ct dulce," and has not on- ly filled a ninche in church literature which has hitherto been unoccupiei, but is in itself valuable contribution to the literary world.
 h it you will find keen. frequent, but ne- yer malicious satire, the scintillatons of an n- tellect that could appreciate merit wherever found, determination to endorse nothing wrong and at the same time to condemn nOth- ing right. It would be difficult to find vol- tune in the language in which the consequences ot slight departure from moral rectitude has been productive of more terrible rasults,-and the youthful reader could not procure a book which teaches more fnrcbly and unmistakea- ply the necessity of acting from moral princi- pie, not from impulse or passion, to ensure re- spectabllty anl high position in the moral world-the only sure passport to the society of the enlightened and the good. This promin- ent feature alone, even if it contained no other striking characteristic, should be amply sniff cent to give 1t high position among the best
 works of the day. The sublime teachings of
 the bible in its purity, form the great sub stra- tum of the work, and not a solitary paragraph or alusion but is an elucdation of the divine l teachings of " Him who spake as neer man | spake." Unlike the ephemeral productions teeming in superabundance from our presses possess no redeeming or commendable feature except their pictorial illustrations and often 1 glcri ying v'ce and dressing 1t up in the garb ot vlrtuc-every chapter contains some i'm J pottant truth, or defence of some great moral principle, which no one can read attentively without having his religious feelings strength ened, sustained. We were particularly pleased II we may be permitted to infer incidentally to portion of the work, with the authors de- fence of the purity and justice of the admins traton of the NJ. E. Church, illustrated in the acton of the conference, in the trial and ex- puIslon of the hero of the work
 To the clergy of all denominations especial ly the youthful and inexperienced, we would particularly commend this volume, as we'll as to the reading public. JUNIUS. UantsviAe dla.