A Paraphrase of the Books of the Minor Prophets. By J. C. WHISH, M.A., with Notes from various sources. London: Seeley, Jackson, and Halliday.

SOME time since, Mr. Whish published Isaiah on a similar plan. The plan is, by somewhat developing the expressions of the text to exhibit a clear and consecutive sense. Foot-notes are added either to justify the sense adopted or to explain, still further, something which seems to call for a remark. The work appears to be honestly and carefully done, and although it is impossible for us to say the true meaning has always been hit upon, we can say that the meaning conveyed is almost always intelligible. As the object of the author has been to paraphrase, and not to expound, he has not always indicated the application which he would make of individual predictions. Occasionally such indications occur, as at Haggai ii. 7: "And I will shake all the nations of the Babylonish empire, and their desirable things shall be brought, and I will fill this house with glory, saith Jehovah, God of hosts."

Aonio Paleario: a Chapter in the History of the Italian Reformation. From the French of M. BONNET. London Religious Tract Society.

:

uncommon man.

AONIO PALEARIO was, undoubtedly, an He was, however, little known among us until recent times. Bibliographers were aware that he wrote a book on the "Benefit of the Death of Christ," which was so popular that it passed through many editions, and was translated into most European languages, but which was so effectually suppressed by the Romish party, that it was supposed to be hopelessly lost. It was also known that he suffered as a martyr for his faith. But the discovery of several copies of his work led to its republication, and to enquiries respecting himself. In addition to other short notices, Mrs. Young, a lady who had long resided in Italy, published a large memoir, in two octavo volumes. This book was, however, too large to be popular, and we, therefore, welcome the compendious and graphic volume of M. Bonnet, which is not an abstract from the work of Mrs. Young, but an independent history. It is more than a memoir of Paleario; it embodies many of the chief events in the history of the reformation in Italy. It is true that it may, and must be, viewed as mainly an episode in that history, but it is an episode of such a kind that it suggests the character of the whole. The author has made researches at Rome and Florence, and visited all the places where Paleario lived, in search of information. The future martyr was born at Veroli about 1503, but his early years were passed in obscurity. In 1520 he went to study at Rome; and ten years later he entered Sienna, with which city he became intimately connected. In 1543, the book on the "Benefit of Christ's death," appeared anonymously at Venice, in Italian. About the same time, Paleario was assailed with accusations of heresy, but fortunately he escaped; and in 1546 was elected professor of eloquence at Lucca. Nine years later, he became

professor at Milan, where, about 1566, he was prosecuted on the charge of heresy. The trial was transferred to Rome, where he appeared, and was condemned to die in October, 1569, but was not actually put to death till July 3, 1570. He was first beheaded, and then burnt. The volume is one of great interest, and exhibits an admirable portrait of this talented and devoted man. It has our warmest commendation.

The Rise and Progress of Religious Life in England. By SAMUEL ROWLES PATTISON. London: Jackson, Walford, and Hodder. THIS good-looking volume is made up of portions of our national religious history-taking the word national in a wider sense than it is sometimes employed. The materials out of which it has been carved have been selected, not with a view to the scholar and recluse, but the serious and well-informed members of the community generally. It is observable, too, that the author has not compiled his book in the interest of any particular form of church life, although his tendencies seem to be towards congregationalism. He is favourable to the genuine spirit of Puritanism, and on the side of doctrine is evangelical. The contents of the work is very miscellaneous, and extend from the introduction of the Gospel into this country to the end of the last century. Mr. Pattison has bestowed much research upon his compilation, and relates, in a pleasing manner, many interesting and important facts, some of which are little known.

Jésus. Par ERNEST RENAN. Eleventh Edition. Paris: Michel Levy frères.

THIS is the shilling edition of the Life of Jesus. The author tells us he has suppressed in it the Introduction, the notes, and some passages which imply an acquaintance with critical researches. He has, we are bound to say, removed some of the most offensive passages, as for instance, the famous one about the resurrection of Lazarus. In the preliminary announcement the author says, "This time it is a Christ in white marble, which I present to the public, a Christ carved out of a block without stain, a Christ simple and pure as the sentiment which created him. My God! perhaps it is thus more true." A Christ in white marble, created by a sentiment however simple and pure, is assuredly not the Christ for a world of sinners who want a divine and living Saviour.

A Charge Delivered to the Clergy and Churchwardens of the Archdeaconry of Sudbury, at the General Visitation, April, 1864. By Lord ARTHUR HERVEY, M.A., Archdeacon of Sudbury. Published at their request. London: Simpkin, Marshall and Co. AFTER some remarks upon what are, to us, seocndary matters, this charge deals with the late judgment of the Judicial Council in the Essays and Reviews' case; and with the Oxford Declaration. From the judgment in question, not much danger is anticipated, and as it

regards the Declaration, it is treated as open to several objections. The observations upon these two matters appear to us very judicious, and worthy of attention. At the same time, the fact that the judgment of the Judicial Council is on one side, and that of the Court of Arches on another, shews that the same circumstances and language may be very differently appreciated, and suggests that the principles embodied in the authoritative standards of the Church are not so sharply defined as to prevent two sets of interpretations.

Sanscrit Literature. The Ramayana. By GUSTAVE MASSON, B.A. London Batty, Brothers.

Buddhism, its Origin, History, and Character. By GUSTAVE MASSON, B.A.

THESE brochures are interesting and fitted to be useful. Information concerning Indian epic poetry and literature, is generally to be found only in books which the public cannot understand, have not access to, or do not relish; and the same is true of Buddhism. Yet both subjects contain a host of attractions, and properly understood, would serve to elevate and expand the popular mind. The fact is, that not one in a hundred ever heard of the Ramayana, notwithstanding Professor Williams's valuable work, and Buddhism is the name for something very dreadful. But still, we may hope that the secret endeavours of learned men among us to teach our countrymen more about the history, literature, and faith of so many millions of their fellow-citizens, will do good. We are very much obliged to M. Masson for printing these two pamphlets. They embody much curious matter, and are, we repeat, both interesting and fitted to be useful.

The Gospel of Common Sense; or, Mental, Moral, and Social Science, in Harmony with Scriptural Christianity. By ROBERT BROWN. London Jackson, Walford, and Hodder.

We already have the Gospel according to common sense, but what we want is common sense according to the Gospel. In the hope of doing something to shew that there is no reason why the Gospel and common sense should not be reconciled in fact, as they are in principle, this book has been published. We quite believe with the writer, that mental, moral, and social science are in harmony with true Christianity; but we quite feel that it is necessary to bring out this harmony, for men to see, hear, know, and rejoice in it. Two musical instruments may be in perfect harmony, but the fact might be denied and argued against any length of time, unless some skilled performers stepped in, and by the magic touch of experienced fingers brought out the hidden truth. The contrary to all this might happen. Mr. Brown writes. clearly and forcibly, and his little book deserves to be carefully read. It is full of thought, but we object to some things in it.

NEW SERIES.-VOL V., No. X.

I I

The Antediluvian History and Narrative of the Flood, as set forth in the early portions of the Book of Genesis; Critically Examined and Explained. By Rev. E. D. RENDELL. Second Edition.

London: F. Pitman.

If we were to undertake to review this work we should have the somewhat ungracious task of saying that it is founded upon a theory to which we are quite opposed, and of rehearsing the grounds of our opposition. We prefer not to do this. The author treats the history as not history in the ordinary sense, but an allegory, in which everything is symbolic of something. Mystical interpretations appear to be quite consistent with religious feeling, and may, perhaps, act more directly upon the affections than some other methods. They seem, however, to necessitate an amount of freedom with the "Queen's English," which would shock the Dean of Canterbury, and is not pleasant to us. It is curious to see how the peculiarities of the earlier disciples of Swedenborg in style as well as in thought are perpetuated.

The Wisdom of our Fathers. Selections from the Writings of Lord Bacon. With a Memoir. London: Religious Tract Society.

A small volume, but replete with gems of thought. The memoir, though brief, is admirable for its completeness, and the justice it does to our great author. The selections are chiefly theological or religious, and, as the editor remarks, they shew how deeply Bacon's mind was impressed by the great truths of revelation. His ethical and philosophical works abound in Biblical allusions, introduced with the ease and freedom of one who was habitually conversant with the Bible. If any are in doubt as to the character of his religious opinions, we commend them to this book as a ready and effectual way of removing uncertainty. We can have no hesitation in saying that he was what is called an evangelical orthodox Christian. His scientific and philosophical enquiries never led him to depart from the teachings of Scripture. In the presence of this book he was silent, or a devout admirer and worshipper. The extracts here given are ranged under five heads, according to the class of Bacon's writings from which they are taken: 1, Theological works; 2, Ethical works; 3, Philosophical works; 4, Forensic works; 5, Miscellaneous works. The book thus compiled is full of interest, and is one which few who begin to read it will be likely to lay aside until they have gone through its pages. We are always safe in speaking highly of Bacon, and it is no slight recommendation of this very judiciously executed book, that it contains Bacon's best thoughts upon the best and holiest of themes.

A Commentary, Practical and Exegetical, on the Lord's Prayer. By REV. W. DENTON, M.A. London Rivingtons.

WE really cannot do better than repeat Mr. Denton's own account of his agreeable and edifying volume. It is, he says, almost wholly composed from the copious materials to be found in the writings of the

commentators and homily writers of past times, not of any one age, but of the latest as well as of the earliest. The authors thus made use of are indicated in the margin, and their actual words are often quoted in the notes. An appendix supplies examples of paraphrases of the Lord's prayer in prose and verse; and some additional notes are given in the supplement. Thus, while the work is exceedingly well fitted for general reading, it contains elements which render it worthy of the attention of the more learned. On a few points we should not receive the teaching of Mr. Denton's authorities; but we should probably have the same to say of any work on a similar plan, and, as most intelligent readers exercise discrimination, we would retract nothing from the commendation we have already pronounced. The laborious and ingenious author has our best thanks for what he has done.

The Apostle Paul and the Church at Philippi. An Exposition, Critical and Practical, of the Sixteenth Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, and of the Epistle to the Philippians, with an Introduction illus. trating the Doctrine and Character of the Apostle Paul by contrast with his contemporaries, with special reference to the Alexandrian Philo. By the late Rev. J. F. TODD, M.A. Cambridge: Deighton, Bell, and Co.

FULL as the above title is, it does not by any means exhaust the list of contents of this volume. The author clearly devoted to its preparation much time, thought, and labour. The introduction contains a series of useful observations of a somewhat miscellaneous character, and the following section relates to searching the Scriptures. In the third section, we have Acts xvi., with a considerable array of learned and critical notes, followed by a detailed exposition in the next section. Then comes the Epistle to the Philippians, with critical notes; followed in like manner by a lengthened exposition. A note on Philo's doctrine of the Logos forms an appendix. Footnotes throughout the book supply a vast number of illustrations from Scripture and other writings. This glance at the form of the volume will suggest only, to some extent, the unusual variety of matters touched upon in it. The author must have been a man of extensive reading, and of uncommon diligence, to have amassed such a store of materials bearing upon his leading topics. The work is thoroughly earnest and outspoken, and leaves no doubt as to the strong faith and sincere religious feeling of the writer. It is possible that, if he had lived, he would have modified some of his expressions; but his surviving friends have done well in giving it to the world as they found it, for whatever exceptions might be made to some of the details, no one can deny that the work is fitted to be useful in more ways than one.

The Living God the Saviour of all Men. A Sermon by R. W. Dale, M.A. London: Jackson, Walford, and Hodder.

THE REV. Mr. DALE, the preacher of this sermon, delivered it before