Perhaps the most interesting, certainly a very able portion of this volume, is devoted to the doctrine of the Lord's Supper, and occupies two hundred and forty pages. Our limits do not allow us to give an analysis of this powerful chapter.

THE ARGUMENT, A PRIORI, FOR THE BEING AND THE ATTRIBUTES OF THE ABSOLUTE ONE AND THE FIRST CAUSE OF ALL THINGS. By William Honyman Gillespie, of Torbanehill, F.R.G.S., etc. Fifth edition. 1 vol. 12mo. pp. 166. London: Houlston and Sons. 1871. Mr. Gillespie is the author of a work, familiar to some of our readers, entitled, "The Necessary Existence of a God." He aims to prove the being and attributes of Jehovah a priori; also to express his reasonings in a style approximate to the mathematical. At the same time, he introduces into his argument strains of rhapsody, and in several instances violates a delicate taste. The volume suggests many important ideas, as well as acute processes of reasoning. Some of his arguments are solid; others, overstrained.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANT THEOLOGY, particularly in Germany, viewed according to its Fundamental Movement, and in connection with the Religious, Moral, and Intellectual Life. By Dr. J. A. Dorner, Oberconsistorialrath and Professor of Theology at Berlin. Translated by the Rev. George Robson, M. A., Inverness, and Sophia Taylor. With a Preface to the translation by the Author. 2 vols. 8vo. pp. 429, 500. Isaac Augustus Dorner was born in Würtemberg, in the year 1809, has been a professor in various German Universities, and is now one of the most attractive lecturers in the University of Berlin. He has acquired a European fame by his (translated) "History of the Development of the Doctrine of the Person of Christ," and by many of his contributions to the Jahrbücher für deutsche Theologie. The present work, published under the auspices of Maximillian II., King of Bavaria, will increase his already well-earned reputation. The first impression which he makes upon those who hear his lectures is that of his multifarious learning. He seems to have examined all the systems of all the theologians. Of course, some of his investigations have been more extensive than minute. The second impression which he makes upon his hearers is that of candor. He seems to divest himself of all personal feeling, and to be animated by the desire of presenting historical truth as it is. In his History of Protestant Theology he manifests, as usual, a vast erudition and a sincere love of the truth. His German style is by no means facile. The labor of translating it into English is great. Many sentences in the present translation are too literal for perspicuity. To one who is acquainted with the German their meaning is plain, but not to others. In some instances, the idea of Dorner is not given correctly. Still, the English edition, as a whole, is one of great value.

A HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIAN COUNCILS, from the Original Documents to the close of the Council of Nicaea, A.D. 325. By Charles Joseph Hefele, D.D., Bishop of Rottenburg, formerly Professor of Theology in the University of Tübingen. Translated from the German, and Edited by William R. Clark, M.A., Oxon., Prebendary of Wells and Vicar of Taunton. 8vo. pp. 500. Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark. 1871.

The minute history of a general or oecumenical council would often, if not uniformly, disclose the fact that various members of that council were not satisfied with its result. They accepted the result in the way of compromise; were led to acquiesce in it by the hope of personal good or the fear of personal evil. One of the most instructive books on the constitution and working of a council is the folio of Peter Sarpi on the Council of Trent. We admit that it is open to criticism, but it is still a work of great value. Richard Baxter's remarks on the Savoy Confession are applicable in some degree to the decisions of perhaps every council which has been held since the time of the apostles. From this point of view the readers of Hefele's history will look with singular interest upon his veneration for an oecumenical council, more especially as he was a member of the last council under Pius IX. at Rome. He quotes the expressions of Constantine the Great, Athanasius, Pope Leo the Great, Bellarmin in corroboration of the theory, that the voice of a council is the voice of God. Ambrose writes: "Sequor tractatum Nicaeni concilii a quo me nec mors nec gladius poterit separare” (pp. 52, 54).

It is needless to say that the work of Dr. Hefele is one of uncommon value. His statements are very perspicuous, and his citations singularly pertinent. We refer the reader for an illustration of this remark to chapter 2, section 6, pp. 98-116, where the decisions of Synods relative to the baptism of heretics are well stated. The volume is not only one of solid merit, but is also written in a style as attractive as the subject will allow. We have not critically compared the translation with the original, but are pleased with the translator's English style. The typographical execution of the work is also good.

CHRISTIANITY AND POSITIVISM: a Series of Lectures to the Times on Natural Theology and Apologetics. Delivered in New York, January 16 to March 20 1871, on the "Ely Foundation" of the Union Theological Seminary. By James McCosh, D.D., LL.D., President of the College of New Jersey, Princeton. 12mo. pp. 369. New York: Robert Carter and Brothers. 1871.

This volume of Dr. McCosh, being in the form of lectures and designed for oral delivery, is less scientific in its form than the other works of the same author. The advocates of some theories which Dr. McCosh impugns will not accept his statement of those theories; will not regard them as either complete or exact. Still, the volume will repay a careful study;

for like the other works of Dr. McCosh, it is the result of deep thought. The style of the volume is better adapted to a popular audience than to secluded scholars.

We are happy to see that a new, the third, edition of Dr. McCosh's work on the Intuitions of the Mind has appeared. It is published by Robert Carter and Brothers, New York. It has been thoroughly revised but not much altered. We regard this work as the most valuable of all Dr. McCosh's writings.

SCIENCE, PHILOSOPHY, AND RELIGION. Lectures delivered before the Lowell Institute, Boston. By John Bascom, Professor in Williams College. Author of "Principles of Psychology," "Aesthetics," etc. 12mo. pp. 311. New York: G. P. Putman and Sons. 1871.

It is remarkable that a man who writes so much, and on so large a variety of themes, should write so well as Professor Bascom. In the present volume, which is full of valuable suggestions, he opposes the exclusively scientific spirit of the day; defends the doctrine that we have strictly intuitive ideas; explains these ideas, and shows the dependence of science upon them; discusses questions regarding force, cause, the nature of matter, of consciousness, of life; refutes various theories of Comte, Mill, Spencer, Darwin, Huxley; examines current speculations in regard to the liberty of the will, the nature of rectitude, the proof of the divine existence and attributes; and in the general illustrates the relation of a correct science to a correct philosophy, and of all science to religion. His views on the idea of virtue, of obligation, are very clear and just. We cannot subscribe to all his statements in relation to the will, although many of these are pithy as well as true. Professor Bascom has a rich imagination as well as an acute intellect, and sometimes gives us a highly poetical image where we are in want of a precise and exact theorem. His writings must be studied, not merely read; and they will not only reward a laborious investigation but also please an active fancy.

A TREATISE ON the Grammar of NEW TESTAMENT GREEK, regarded as the Basis of New Testament Exegesis. By Dr. G. B. Winer. Translated from the German, with large additions and full Indices, by Rev. W. F. Moulton, M.A., Classical Tutor, Wesleyan Theological College, Richmond, and Prizeman in Hebrew and New Testament Greek in the University of London. 8vo. pp. 880. Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark. The general merits of Winer's Grammar are too well-known to need any remarks. It is a commentary on the New Testament, as well as a Grammar of it. For many years there have been both English and American translations of Winer's Grammar. We do not intend, as it may seem invidious, to institute any comparison between them. We presume that the present English translation of Winer's sixth edition, will be used in Great Britain, and that the American translation of Winer's seventh edition will be used in the United States.

THE

BIBLIOTHECA SACRA.

ARTICLE I.

LECKY ON MORALS.1

BY REV. DR. J. R. HERRICK, PROFESSOR IN BANGOR THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.

INSEPARABLE from each other as are morality and religion, the true principles of ethics, appreciated and embraced, are a great help to practical religion, while in many ways they modify or help to form our theological opinions. On the other hand, false or inadequate conceptions of morals, such, for example, as do not carry us beyond the ethics of interest, would lead us to treat religion and Christianity as means of human enjoyment, instead of subjecting man through religion and Christianity to the service of his Maker; and would satisfy us with a theology that makes the good of the individual or the created universe its highest thought and ultimate end! For instance, how different, how much more healthful, the influence of Cudworth's "Immutable Morality," which, instead of adapting the law of right to the sinful weakness and inclinations of man, vigorously refutes the popular notion of a conventional standard of right and wrong, and makes moral principles as changeless as the throne of God, and alike binding upon all, compared with Paley's system, grounded in happiness and drawing its sanction from personal interest. The former tended to purify the moral atmosphere

1 History of European Morals from Augustus to Charlemagne. By Wm. Edward Hartpole Lecky, M.D. In 2 vols. D. Appleton and Co. 1870.

by raising men's minds from themselves to God and immutable truth; while the latter has actually exerted a very powerful and pernicious influence in fostering the spirit of utilitarianism through all the relations of life. In fact, whatever view of morals we hold, this must needs have a wide application and influence.

But in our day, as might be anticipated from the bold claim of naturalism and positivism that they contain the whole of truth, we have morals and Christianity treated as natural agents among many others in the development of mankind. It follows as a legitimate consequence of rejecting the supernatural, that men must be confined wholly to the sphere of nature, and that whatever comes under the name of morality will perforce conform to laws by which nature works. A very plausible method for this is, first to assume Christianity to be an agent for promoting public morals, and then to look at the external features of moral development.

Whether or not this was Lecky's conscious design we need not here affirm. But in his History of European Morals from Augustus to Charlemagne he treats mainly of the moral condition of the Roman empire before and after it became nominally Christian, and with the intent, apparently, of showing thus the influence of Christianity as an agency, bad or good or mixed, in civilization. The design of the writer, which is not so clearly enounced as to prevent one of his critics1 from pronouncing it " doubtful," is, where he proposes to state objections to the inductive theory of morals, intimated to be "to define and defend the opinions of those who believe that our moral feelings are an essential part of our constitution, developed by, but not derived from, education"; and then to inquire into the "order of their evolution, so that having obtained some notion of the natural history of morals, we may be able to judge how far this normal progress has been accelerated or retarded by religious or political agencies." 2

We ought also to observe what the preface indicates the 1 See Edinburgh Review, July, 1869.

2 Vol. i. p. 34.