for them to play merry bo-peep with the sunbeams and the winds, among the moss and leaves, where the passer-by, attracted by their perfume, would have to search for their sweet blossoms, than that they should stare every stranger in the face, and, uncovered, should be exposed to the scorching sun and fierce winds. However, they would not be persuaded. Then the fairy queen herself rode down on a sunbeam to punish her discontented children. First she tried to make them happy with their lowly places, but they kept on murmuring. So she folded her wings, drooped her head and went slowly back in her bright chariot to fairy land. Suddenly the violets started up on bright, high stalks, in the heat of the sun. Not being used to this strong light, it dazzled their eyes. Now they all wanted the leaves to cover them; but these leaves were far down on the ground. Some of the violets tried to bend down to the shade, but in doing their tall stalks broke, and they soon lay withered on the earth; the others, also, scorched by the sun and withered by the storms of wind, soon lost all their beauty and died.

So,

tented child. In summer time, his brothers and sisters set off for their holiday ramble; but they love him much, and so they lead him to a safe and quiet place by the side of the wood, and promise soon to come back and lead him home. He hears their merry laugh as they leap over the narrow rill and bound away into the depths of the forest. He never frets, never murmurs that he cannot go with them; but he makes the best of his trouble, listens to the rippling water, sings a sweet song and gathers a few wild flowers-he knows them by the touch-and binds them into a nosegay he will never see. Even he is not discontented. And shall we, then, not learn to be more contented than we are -we who can see the flowers and have so many things to make us happy which others have not? Let us remember how little we deserve and how much God gives us. Let us think how much Jesus deserved, and yet how many things we have that He went without. The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head." Contentment is a lesson to be learnt-and a hard one too--but the sooner we begin to learn it the faster we shall get on with it. Paul learnt it and learning this made him so happy that he could say, "I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content."

:

NEW BOOKS.

rival of a new and original Essayist. We are not sure, indeed, that its title is justified by its contents. For a more stimulating book, or one requiring more constant thought, it would be difficult to find. Two or three pages of it will convert the " quietest hour" into an hour of active, if not restless thinking. It would be easy to say that its style is too epigrammatic, too antithetic, too sparkling; and for most purposes it would be so. But it is adapted to its own purpose, and it is eminently suggestive and beautiful. We shall be disappointed if it does not attain a high place among the Essays of the day.

Sermons. By the Rev. JOHN KER, Glasgow. Edinburgh: Edmonston and Douglas.

THIS is no ordinary volume of sermons. The discourses lack, perhaps, the flash and glitter which secure an ephemeral popularity for the productions of some modern preachers; and most certainly they lack the dulness and emptiness which some critics are pleased to consider the characteristic of the pulpit of the day. The style is subdued, calm, and tender, but strong. The writer

strikes out into many rarely-trodden fields of thought and reflection, but you never feel afraid that he will lose his way, or lead you wrong. We can scarcely forbear quotation, but our space lays us under inexorable restraint. The book is well worthy of a place on the minister's shelves, and if wisely used will benefit both him and his flock. We heartily wish for it a large circulation.

A Refutation of the Personal Reign of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and a Vindication of the Restoration of the Jews. In twelve letters, to a friend. By H. W. MORTIMER. Second edition enlarged. London: Elliot Stock. THIS Volume comes from the Antipodes, and yields evidence of the spirit and earnestness with which our kinsmen on the other side of the world discuss questions of the day. In the letters of which the volume consists, the two much debated topics-the Personal Reign of Christ on earth, and the Restoration of the Jews to Palestine, are fully and ably treated. The former is very conclusively and scripturally refuted; and the latter is very earnestly and dispassionately, although not demonstratively, upheld. The two questions are generally united and equally admitted. Not so in the case of Mr. Mortimer. But whilst with him we feel that the gravest objections may be urged against the Personal Reign, we also feel that manifold and insuperable difficulties forbid the acceptance of the doctrine of the restoration of the Jews to Palestine.

The Cross and the Crown: or, the Rewards of Faithful Service. A Discourse preached on Sabbath morning, Dec. 21st, 1868, on the decease of the Rev. Thomas Adkins. By the Rev. R. FERGUSON, LL.D. London: W. Kent and Co.

AN eloquent tribute to the memory of a very useful and much-honoured servant

of Christ. It will be seen that we have borrowed largely from Dr. Ferguson's Sketch of the Life of Mr. Adkins. The Great Cloud of Witnesses: or, Faith and its Victories. Abel to Moses. By W. LANDELS, D.D. London: Religious Tract Society.

THIS is a good book, earnest and honest. It is however sometimes wire-drawn, and occasionally a little strained, and running out into a kind of tinselled platitude. Had the book been briefer and more condensed in thought and style, we should have been more edified in reading it, and more grateful to the writer.

The King's Daughters; or, Words on

Work to Educated Women. By ANNIE
HARWOOD. London: Hodder and
Stoughton.

THE object of this little book, as stated in the preface, is "to speak of the effect of mental cultivation upon truly feminine work;" on the value of every gift and every acquirement of a cultivated woman as a means not only of brightening and enriching her own home, but of ameliorating and elevating the condition of her less favoured fellow creatures-the poor, the sick, and the ignorant. Suggestions towards this end are here given with much insight and beauty, and evidently from the pen of one who has had a blessed experience in laying out her talents for God. We heartily commend this book to educated Christian women, especially to the young.

The Garden Oracle and Floricultural Year Book. An almanac for 1869. Edited by SHIRLEY HIBBERD, F.R. H.S. Eleventh year of publication. London: Groombridge & Sons.

WE would very earnestly recommend our Suburban Londoners to possess themselves of this shilling "Oracle," and to study its instructions. A most healthful occupation this will be after the confinement and worry of their city offices.

The Triumph of the Cross. By JEROME SAVONAROLA. Translated from the Latin, with notes and a biographical sketch, by O'Dell Travers Hill, F.R.G.S. London: Hodder and Stoughton.

THERE is an interest, almost a fascination, about the character of Jerome Savonarola, which we cannot resist. And yet we feel that we understand the man but very imperfectly. With all that historians and novel writers have done of

late years to illustrate his life and character, there is a mystery, a noble mystery, about him, on which sufficient light has not yet been thrown. In the book before us he is neither fanatic, nor prophet, nor reformer, but a calm, clear, sound reasoner on the first principles of Christian evidence. And we agree with the editor when he says:-"The very conception of such a work as this-a rational defence of Christianity, conducted without appeal to authority or tradition, by a Dominican monk of the Middle Ages-is in itself a marvel." The biographical sketch, of forty pages, is well and fairly written.

The Temperance Bible Commentary:

Giving, at one view, Version, Criticism, and Exposition, in regard to all passages of Holy Writ bearing on "Wine" and "Strong Drink," or illustrating the principles of the Temperance Reformation. By FREDERIC RICHARD LEE and DAWSON BURNS. Second Edition. London: S. W. Partridge.

THIS is a very remarkable commentary. The research and scholarship it evinces, cannot fail to command for it respect and commendation, even at the hands of those who may dissent from some of its conclusions, or the general drift of its investigations. No one, indeed, who looks into the pages of this Commentary can question that the philological and Biblical grounds on which Total Abstinence takes its stand have, at least, the semblance of breadth and solidity. It may be appealed to by all total abstainers as a learned and elaborate vindication and enforcement of their views, whilst from its careful and extended investigations all readers may learn something.

Busy Hands and Patient Hearts; or, the Blind Boy of Dresden and his Friends. Translated from the German by ANNE HARWOOD. London: Hodder and

these are furnished by what we may consider the principal lessons designed in the Epistles indicated." In working out his plan he gives a careful exegesis of large portions of these Epistles. The book may be of service to those who wish to study, not merely to read, these profound and sublime parts of God's Word, but who have not the opportunity of consulting more elaborate and expensive commentaries. The style is practical, and the tone earnest.

Witnessing for Jesus in the Homes of the

Poor. Edinburgh: Oliphant & Co. "THE writer of this book is a lady, who has been engaged for several years as a missionary among the poor, under the auspices of the Church of the Ascension, in the city of New York." We quote from the preface. This record of facts from personal experience is given with modesty and good taste. There is evidence of real adaptation for the work, and those similarly engaged may find some good help here, both as to the spirit and mode of working for the Lord among their poor brethren.

Cheering Texts for Days of Trial: A Com

panion for Invalids. The Book Society, Paternoster Row.

THIS is a very good collection of Texts, with the addition of a hymn verse for each day of the year.

Queer Discourses on Queer Proverbs. By

OLD MERRY. London: Hodder and
Stoughton.

"OLD MERRY" is now well-known as a lively and genial writer for the young, and this book is quite in his own vein, full of Christian kindliness and common sense, with some touches of humour. It may thus commend itself to many young persons who would turn away from moral "discourses" of a graver

Tales, Essays, and Legends. By JOHN
HARRIS, Author of "Lays from the
Mines," &c. London: Hamilton,
Adams & Co. 1868.

JOHN HARRIS, "the Cornish poet," is favourably known to a goodly number of readers, by several publications. He gives us here a pleasant little volume of verse and prose, Cornish scenes and Cornish history being his principal and favourite themes. His poems are characterised by simplicity and sweetness, and occasionally show considerable vigour. The hymns in this volume are given tentatively; if they are welcomed,

the writer promises more. For our part we shall be glad to meet him again in this field. The prose pieces, forming about sixty pages of the book, although pleasantly written, seem scarcely worth putting into a permanent form, and we would rather have had the poems by themselves.

The True Nobility.

Sketches of the Life and Character of Lord Haddo, fifth Earl of Aberdeen; and of his son, the Hon. J. H. H. Gordon. By ALEXANDER DUFF, D.D. London: The Religious Tract Society. WE cannot too strongly recommend this little volume-to young men especially. The Child's Own Hymn Book. Edited by JOHN CURWEN. London: Tonic Sol-Fa Agency.

THIS is one of the first, if not the first, of the many hymn books prepared in recent years for the use and benefit of children. It is published at several prices, from a penny upwards, and is still worthy to hold its ground among younger rivals.

"Clean your Boots, Sir?" or, The History of Robert Rightheart. London: The Book Society.

Little Jack: or, Mend your Nets. By the Author of "Bob, the Crossing Sweeper." London : The Book Society.

THE Editorship of the Book Society may be accepted as a sufficient guarantee for the wholesome teaching of these attractive shilling volumes.

Daily Thoughts on Christ alone. By ZETA. London: William Macintosh. The Mother's Text Book. London: The Book Society.

THE first of these books contains thirtyone devout meditations on various titles of Christ, or aspects of His character. The second contains a text, and a verse of a hymn, for every day in the year. Both are entitled to a place in the class to which they belong.

An Almanack for the Year of our Lord 1869. By JOSEPH WHITAKER. London: J. Whitaker.

ANYTHING more complete than this Almanack we cannot imagine. We need not say what it contains; the difficulty would be to say what it does not contain in its 370 closely-packed pages.

Jan. 22, 1869. East London Congregational Association. Report was given of Evangelistic Work.

NEW CHURCHES FORMED.

Jan. 28. BRIGHTON, Lewes Road. Rev. A. Foyster, Pastor.

Feb. 2. EASTWOOD (Pastor, Rev. J. R. Wolstenholme, M.A.), by Revs. T. Colledge, W. Crosbie, M.A., and J. Matheson, B.A.

10. CARDIFF. Rev. W. Watkiss and congregation have seceded from the Free Methodists, and declared themselves Independents. Chairman at Recognition Service, Rev. J. Waite, B.A. Prayer, Rev. D. M. Jenkins. Addresses by Revs. F. S. Johnstone, H. Oliver, B.A., and J. Davies.

Rev. D. HORSCRAFT, Bourne, to New Hampton.

E. CORBOLD, Knaresborough, to Royston.

R. WYATT, Queenborough, to Billericay.

H. HUSTWICK, Honley, to Market Drayton.

W. G. HORDER, St. Helen's, to Abbey Road, Torquay.

F. S. ATTENBOROUGH, Uckfield, to Leamington.

G. ROBBINS, Slough, to District Secretaryship of the British and Foreign Bible Society.

H. E. THOMAS, Welsh Church, Birkenhead. to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.

R. NOBBS, Fareham, to Dudley.
E. BOLTON, Brixton Hill, to
Preston.

D. DAVIES, East Grinstead, to
Bromsgrove.

R. FOX THOMAS, Torquay, to Harrogate.

E. BARKER, Picton, to Garafraxa. W. HAY, Belleville, to Scotland, Ontario.

RESIGNATIONS.

23. Rev. T. EVANS, Shaftesbury. Age, 75. Length of ministry, 50 years.

Feb. 2. Rev. H. PAWLING, Aston Tirrold. Age, 80. Ministry, 53 years.

Feb. 19. Rev. EVAN LEWIS, B.A., Offord Road. Age, 39. Length of ministry, 16 years.

DEATH OF MINISTERS' WIVES. Dec. 10, 1868. Mrs. KEAN, wife of Rev, J. R. Kean, Canning, Nova Scotia. Jan. 21, 1869. Mrs. CONDER, wife of Rev. E. R. Conder, Leeds.

25. Mrs. DICKINSON, wife of Rev. John Dickinson, Slaidburn. Feb. 13. Mrs. ABRAM, widow of the late Rev. R. Abram, of Tock holes. The MERCHANTS LECTURE will be delivered on Tuesday, 9th March, at the Poultry Chapel, at 12 o'clock precisely, by Rev. J. Spence, D.D.