What would have been the history of Europe if Christianity had retained its pristine purity and purifying power, it is in vain to speculate. That Monastic establishments were over-ruled for good, amidst the violence and turbulence of those centuries which are commonly denominated dark, we thankfully confess. And Mr. Hill's work is a valuable contribution to their history.

The Pupils of St. John the Divine. By the Author of "The Heir of Redcliffe." London: Macmillan & Co. 1868. THIS is the first volume of a series announced by Messrs. Macmillan & Co. as a Sunday Library for Household Reading. The series is issued in monthly parts, and the prospectus gives a list of various well known writers as contributors. We cannot say that the volume before us affords us much satisfaction. First of all, we are disposed to find fault with the title. As one-third of the book is devoted to an account of the Apostle himself, and as "the pupils" are the Churches which he founded as well as "those whose biography states that they actually sat at his feet," the title, "The Pupils of St. John," is evidently not so accurate as it might be. The main cause of our dissatisfaction, however, is a much more serious fault. The writer has interwoven into her story the many traditions which are connected with the name of the beloved Apostle, and, in many instances, without the slightest recognition of their slender historical basis, or entire lack of such basis. Even where such recognition is made, it is often done in such mild terms that we feel sure the authoress strongly inclines to the acceptance of the tradition. She seems to be on the point of saying, with queer logic, "Well, there may be some doubt about it; but, after all, it must be true, because-it must!" Doubtless this mode of composition produces a full, graphic, and flowing narrativewritten, in this case, with much grace of style and tenderness of feeling-but we are jealous of such treatment of history. We would rather have a scantier narrative, with the assurance that it can be relied upon. We welcome tradition; but only in its own character-not when put forward as history. Miss Yonge's mode of dealing with tradition, however, is convenient not simply as a literary device, but also on ecclesiastical grounds. Our authoress happens to look at Church history through Episcopalian spectacles of considerable magnifying power. By their aid she sees things which we can't see. And when tradition is made to fill up in

convenient blanks in the past, and to shed light upon dark places, the result is that the writer frequently announces_results which take us somewhat aback. But the battle of the bishops, of apostolical succession, of priests, and all the rest of it, has been fought out so often that we cannot enter upon it now.

Essays from "Good Words." By HENRY ROGERS. London: Alexander Strahan and Co.

THESE Essays, all of which but the last are reprints from "Good Words," are entitled "Thoughts for the New Year," "Novel Antiquities," "Christianity vindi. cated from Alleged Tendencies to Persecution," "The Story of John Huss," "Sketch of the late Samuel Fletcher," "Some Thoughts on Prose Composition," "On Public Executions," "Report of a Dialogue on Strikes and Lock-outs,"

Railway Accidents and Chief Securities against them," and "Les Apôtres."

There is no writer whom we are more disposed to welcome on the credit of his name than Mr. Henry Rogers, and we know of no companion more instructive whether his mood be grave or gay. The ten Essays of the volume now before us are less elaborate than some of their predecessors, but not on that account less valuable, and, indeed, more likely to be popular and useful. It will be seen that the subjects of them are extremely various, and that the only link of connection between them is their common authorship. The last of them, on Renan's work on " The Apostles," is a most incisive and decisive piece of writing. The French Romancist cuts a sorry figure under Mr. Rogers's very polite but very sharp scalping knife.

The Story of a Diamond, illustrative of Egyptian Manners and Customs. By MISS M. L. WHATELY, Author of "Ragged Life in Egypt." London: Religious Tract Society.

"THIS tale (to quote from the preface) has been written to convey some few notions of the country at various seasons of the year, as well as the customs and habits of the people."

The book is a very good one of its class, but it is inferior in interest to its predecessors from the same pen, where the delineations of scenery and manners equally graphic are associated with real, and not as, in this case, with fictitious characters. Possibly, however, "The Story of a Diamond" will prove a more attrac tive title to some readers than the more prosaic one of "Ragged Life in Egypt,"

and handsome binding and illustrations will add to the attraction.

David, the King of Israel: a Portrait drawn from Bible History and the Book of Psalms. By FRED. W. KRUMMACHER, D.D. Translated under the express sanction of the author, by the Rev. M. G. EASTON, M.A. Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark.

WE ought to have paid earlier attention to this volume. It is, in our judgment, worthy of very cordial commendation. We cannot say that we admire the style of the author's very popular work, "Elijah the Tishbite." We greatly prefer the more sober, and natural, and unaffected style of "David, the King of Israel." Exception has been taken to the volume that it does not discuss such questions as are raised on every part of Holy Scripture by modern criticism. But such questions would have been quite out of place in a volume whose avowed aim is practical and spiritual. The only exception we are disposed to take to it is, that it is rather too sermonic. The reader is sometimes hindered in his progress by moralising digressions which are altogether unnecessary, and add nothing to either the expository or the practical value of the book. But this, after all, is but a small matter when placed in the balance with its sterling value.

On Both Sides of the Sea. A Story of the Commonwealth and the Restoration. By the Author of "The Chronicles of the Schönberg-Cotta Family." London :

T. Nelson and Sons.

THIS is a sequel to "The Draytons and the Davenants," which we introduced to our readers some ten or twelve months ago, and will be welcomed by all readers of its predecessor. The name of its author is a sufficient passport to a very large circle. And we are thankful that views of men and things, so fair, truthful, and well-balanced, should have the wide currency which they obtain in the volumes of the author of "The Schönberg-Cotta Family."

From Seventeen to Thirty. The Town Life of a Youth from the Country: its Trials, Temptations, and Advantages. Lessons from the History of Joseph. By T. BINNEY. London: James Nisbet & Co. THIS Volume is the expansion of a lecture delivered in Exeter Hall, in January, 1867, addressed to the members of the "Young Men's Christian Association." It consists of two parts-Part I. From the Family Tent to the City Prison: Part II. From the City Prison to the King's Chariot.

Few subjects are so suggestive of instruction to young men as the life and character of Joseph; and few writers are so qualified to elicit and enforce the lessons of this theme as is Mr. Binney. The theme and the author's name together will secure for the volume, we have no doubt, a large and immediate circulation. May the blessing of God go with it, and make it a light and a beacon to many youths in their passage from the family home to city life.

The Hero of the Desert; or, Facts more wonderful than Fiction. By the Rev. JAMES SPONG. London: The Book Society.

FACTS are more wonderful than fiction, and more instructive likewise. And few facts have more of wonder and instruction in them than those of the life of Moses, whom Mr. Spong designates "The Hero of the Desert." The story of this hero has not yet been exhausted, and, like that of Elijah, it will continue to be studied and told afresh in every generation. Mr. Spong does not aim at the picturesque, or startling, or novel; but, what is better, reviews the strange tale of the life of Moses in a plain, earnest, and straightforward manner, and elicits its lessons in a natural and effective way. We hope his book will find many readers, especially among the young.

A Candid Examination of the Rite of Confirmation, as practised in the English Episcopal Church. By a NONCONFORMING MINISTER. London: Jackson, Walford, and Hodder.

WE ought to have sooner called attention to this very able and important pamphlet. While "candid," it is the reverse of being feeble and temporising. In a most Christian spirit, but with most convincing argument, its author shows the groundlessness of the rite of Confirmation, and the mischievousness of the teachings of the form of its administration in the Church of England. We hope that his tractate will find its way not only among Nonconformists, but among English Churchmen of the better order, to whom it cannot be irritating or offensive, and whose minds it is very specially adapted to enlighten and convince.

Ritualism: Doctrine, not Dress. Notes of Lectures on Ritualism the Development of Tractarianism. Published by request, with additions, including Remarks on the Charge of the Bishop of Salisbury. By the Rev. THOMAS O. BEEMAN. Cranbrook: George Waters & Son. THIS is a pamphlet of 170 closely printed

pages, "price to subscribers, stitched, sixpence"! No wonder that it should be prefaced thus-"Booksellers will be good enough to take notice that as these Notes are published at much less than the mere cost of printing, it is not possible for any trade allowance to be made upon them. Those who may wish to purchase a copy through the agency of a Bookseller, will not, it is hoped, object to pay him a small commission for his trouble." This is a mode of doing business which would soon reduce book writers and book publishers to bankruptcy. And Mr. Beeman has been ill-advised in adopting it. His pamphlet is worth many sixpences, and we see it advertised somewhere, “cloth, lettered, two shillings per copy." It is a storehouse of information respecting the opinions and practices of Churchmen, and will be found of great service to those who have to write or speak on the subject of Ritualism. But should it be reprinted, as we hope it may, we would urge its division into chapters, with a copious table of contents, and a still more copious Index. This would add greatly to its value.

The British Quarterly Review. No. 94, April 1, 1868. London: Jackson, Walford, and Hodder.

THIS is a very able and satisfactory number of "The British." Its contents are "Our Poor Law Administration"-" Nicholas Gogol""The Great Vatican MS. of the New Testament"-"Longfellow's Dante"

ex

"Nonconformists and National Education"—" Michael Faraday"- "Intercommunion of Churches"-" The Irish Church Question," with eighty pages of brief reviews, under the head of" Contemporary Literature." We do not feel that the writer of the paper on "National Education" does justice to the grounds on which those who took what he calls the " treme position' on this subject twenty years ago, are now convinced that they can practically maintain that position no longer. They are not men who need to be reminded that "principle" ought not to be sacrificed under any circumstances, having given pledges of their devotion to "principle," such as few of their contemporaries can appeal to. Nor are we satisfied with the writer's plea for "rating" and for compulsion". for the latter especially. Although in a notice of this sort we can only enter our "demurrer." But doing this does not detract from the earnestness and cordiality with which we recommend this number of the "British Quarterly."

The Fatherhood of God. Being the First Course of the Cunningham Lectures. Delivered before the New College, Edinburgh, in March, 1864. By Rev. S. CANDLISH, D.D. Third Edition, with a Reply to Professor Crawford's Strictures, and a Notice of other objections. Edinburgh: Adam and Charles Black. The Tripartile Nature of Man-Spirit, Soul and Body. Applied to illustrate and explain the doctrines of Original Sin, the New Birth, the Disembodied State, and the Spiritual Body. By the Rev. J. B. HEARD, M.A. Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged. Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark.

The Fatherhood of God, and its relation to the Work and Person of Christ, and the operations of the Holy Spirit. By CHARLES H. H. WRIGHT, M.A., British Chaplain at Dresden. Edinburgh: T.

and T. Clark.

WE place these three volumes together because of the close relation in which they and their subjects stand to each other. Mr. Wright holds substantially Dr. Candlish's view of the Fatherhood of God, and thinks that great light is thrown upon by what he calls "the Scriptural Revelation of Man's Tripartile Nature, so ably discussed" in Mr. Heard's volume. We are not prepared to say Amen to either Dr. Candlish, or Mr. Heard, or Mr. Wright; but it would require many pages to point out wherein we agree and wherein we differ-to say nothing of adequately representing our reasons for differing in some measure from all. At the same time we are bound to say, and pleased to say, that we are in full and earnest sympathy with the great evangelical principles which these three authors are so zealous to maintain. But we do not think that these principles are strengthened by being associated with speculations which, to say the least, are doubtful. Theological students, who have a mind to work, will find in the three books before us materials for close, prolonged, and profound thought; and to the attention of such students we commend them most earnestly.

Margaret Torrington; or, The Voyage of

Life. By EMMA JANE WORBOISE. Lon don: James Clarke and Co. THIS is another story from the ready and fertile pen of Miss Worboise. It is not lacking in interest, or bright and happy sketches of life; still we do not think it equal in power, or so felicitous in idea and execution as some other of her produc tions we have seen. Like all her stories, it is healthy in moral tone and religious sentiment.

The Desert and the Holy Land. By ALEXANDER WALLACE, D.D., Author of "The Bible and Working People," &c. Edinburgh: W. Oliphant and Co.

If any of our readers should desire a cheap and easy tour through Palestine and the Land of the Pharaohs, in the company of an intelligent, fluent, and well-informed fellow-traveller, they cannot do better than purchase and read the volume now before us. Without perplexing them with learned and elaborate discussions respecting disputed rites, ethnological problems, or prophetical and millennial questions, Dr. Wallace will conduct them amid the hoary remains of Egypt, the rugged grandeur and memorable scenes of Sinai and the Wilderness, the magnificence of Lebanon and Damascus, the hallowed places around the Jordan and the Dead Sea, the eloquent memories of Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee, and the ruined and mouldering glories of Jerusalem. And, after such a tour, we feel assured our readers will be ready to express warmest gratitude to their genial and intelligent guide.

Record of Noble Lives. By W. H. DAVENPORT ADAMS. London and Edinburgh: T. Nelson and Sons.

THE noble lives recorded in this volume are those of Sir Philip Sidney, Lord Bacon, Admiral Blake, General Monk,

;

William Penn, and the Australian Explorers, Burke and Wills. The principle of the selection is not very obvious; but the author professes to illustrate the various aspects of English character: its chivalrousness in Sir Philip Sidney; its sagacity and adherence to fact in Lord Bacon; its puritan reign in Robert Blake its steadfast observance of law and order in George Monk; its philanthropy and disdain of show in William Penn; and its interesting enterprise in Burke and Wills. There are several points on which we should dissent from Mr. Adams' estimates of character. But we can recommend his book very heartily as bracing and stimulating, and one of a class from which young readers get their most vivid and tenacious impressions of history.

Bible Class Studies. By JESSIE COOMBS. London: Jackson, Walford, & Hodder. WE have enjoyed this book much. Breadth of culture and sympathy, and warmth of piety, are not always associated as they are here. The author has brought to her study of Scripture a refined taste, and has expressed her thoughts with a vigour, and freshness, and earnestness, which will ensure for them a grateful response in sympathetic minds, and will make an impression even on minds in very partial sympathy with her own.

ASSOCIATION MEETINGS.

March 10.-Nottinghamshire Congregational Union, at Nottingham. President, Rev. C. Clemance, B.A. Topic of discussion was, "The London Missionary Society, and how to make the County Auxiliary more effective."

March 17.-Warwickshire Congregational Union. Chairman, Rev. M. Macfie, F.R.G.S. Speakers, Revs. G. B. Johnson, J. M. Blackie, LL.B., and W. F. Callaway.

March 18.-Hull and East Riding Association, at Hull. W. Irving, Esq., in the Chair. Discussion, on "The best method of bringing Gospel Truth to bear upon the Working Classes of our Land," was opened by Rev. H. Ollerenshaw.

CHAPEL OPENED.

March 31.-Canning Town, Plaistow.

(Pastor, Rev. T. Perfect.) Revs. H. Allon and J. Kennedy, M.A., preached on the occasion.

April 7.-Iron Chapel, Kemp Town, Brighton. Sermons by Rev. Dr. Fer

guson.

CHAPEL FOUNDATION LAID.

March 18.-Boston, Red Lion Street. (Pastor, Rev. J. Shaw), by Benjamin Scott, Esq.

SCHOOL ROOM AND LECTURE HALL OPENED.

March 25.-Grafton Square, Clapham. (Pastor, Rev. J. G. Rogers, B.A.) Revs. S. Martin and Dr. Raleigh preached on the occasion.

CALLS ACCEPTED.

G. W. Hickson, of Western College, to Olney.