compeers. It is brilliant in its exterior, and there is much in its contents which prefers claim to favourable notice. The illustrations are remarkably good. We perceive from a concluding notice that it will henceforward pass from the editorial care of the Rev. E. H. Bickersteth, who has nurtured it in its tender years so ably and genially; and that Lady Barker, who has been one of the principal contributors to its pages, will be the future Editor. We sincerely wish her success in her responsible task.

Family Prayers. By the late Mrs. Geo. Gilbert Scott.

Edited by Sir G. Gilbert Scott, R.A. London: Dalton. 1873.-There is interest attaching to this volume. The eminent architect, so well known as the restorer of our cathedrals and churches, and with ancestral claims upon the sympathy of Evangelical Christians through his descent from the great Commentator, has so far admitted the public into the privacy of his home, that we see there an altar erected to the God of his fathers. The prayers contained in this volume were partly composed, partly collected from old writers, by the pious care of Sir Gilbert's late wife, to whose memory they are affectionately dedicated, and were in use in the family circle for which they were devised. We share the conviction of Sir Gilbert that it would have been matter for regret if so much devoted labour had been limited to the use of his own family; and though the press teems with volumes intended to assist household devotion, we are not sorry that he has added yet another which prefers many claims to favourable consideration, and which may not be without considerable value in the extension of family religion. The volume contains many holy thoughts clothed in appropriate language, and has the additional merit that it is not so much a volume containing expositions of Scripture, as that it is what it professes to be, a book of prayer in which the soul utters its wants and aspirations to God.

The Bible Educator. Edited by the Rev. E. H. Plumptre, M.A., &c. London: Cassell.-The first volume of this, in many respects, valuable publication, is now before us. It contains much that will be found both profitable and instructive to students of the Word of God, the fruit of ripe and varied scholarship. This is the prevailing tone of the work, and on this account we speak of it in terms of commendation. This commendation, however, is not without some reserve; we have had some hesitation when noticing the first numbers about pronouncing unqualified eulogium upon the soundness of the views propounded in all cases, and we still deem it a duty to warn our readers that it must be consulted with discrimination as a book not without some serious blemishes. The latest criticism is not always the best criticism, and we cannot help feeling anxious and jealous when young students especially, whose judgments are immature and learning is limited, are brought to confront doubtful theories suggested in the midst of much which is unquestionably useful, and in accord with the mind of the Spirit of God, so far as we can profess to discern it.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

In our last number we notified the coup d'état by which Mr. Gladstone strove to surprise the country into a verdict favourable to the continuance of his Ministry. A surplus of five millions, to be disposed of by a financier of unrivalled ability, was the golden bait suspended before the nation. We strongly, however, incline to the opinion that, as it is often the last drop which makes the cup run over, so that in this instance the extreme disquietude which was aroused throughout every home in England by the sudden confusion resulting from this unexpected dissolution has precipitated the overthrow of Mr. Gladstone, and made his discomfiture more signal and more irretrievable. Under the protection afforded by the Ballot, it is highly probable that very many Liberal electors, as well as Conservative, recorded their disapprobation of this violent escapade. It is not pleasant for any except perhaps very ardent politicians, with whom the fray is as great a delight as the triumph of their opinions, to be kept in a perpetual fever as to what terrible surprise may be impending over them. Thunder in a serene sky has always been looked upon as a phenomenon, and has been felt to be of doubtful augury. The answers made by the country to Mr. Gladstone's challenge, which he had contrived almost to make a personal affair, has been his unqualified ostracism. When his appeal was made to the country, he had probably a majority, although not a very reliable one, of sixty votes; the recent election has converted this majority into a minority of fifty. The Conservatives have gained signal successes in the Metropolis and its vicinity; and even in Scotland, which has now for a long period returned almost exclusively Liberal representatives, there has been some reaction. But this has been most marked throughout the country generally. In few places has it been more conspicuous than in Bradford, which Mr. Miall did not venture to contest, and for which Mr. Forster was returned, despite the most virulent hostility of the strong section of Nonconformist voters. It is quite clear from the general result that those who have gained political victories have been more anxious to reap the fruits of them than to be precipitated into further struggles, and that those who were not prepared for any additional sacrifice of existing institutions have exerted a potential influence. We may therefore hope that there will be a pause and a breathing time, and some opportunity given to ascertain how far recent changes have been beneficial, before fresh demolition takes place. We

would most cordially acknowledge that not only Mr. Gladstone, but also many members of his Cabinet, Mr. Cardwell more especially, sincerely desired the national welfare, and have, moreover, introduced measures to which we have given our meed of approbation. Their tenure of office has not been unfruitful of wholesome legislation. Still there have been instances when a tyrannous use has been made of the giant's strength with which the country had furnished Mr. Gladstone, which we not only deemed injurious, but which filled men's minds with apprehension for the future. This was especially conspicuous in the encouragement given to the pretensions of Rome, and in many fatal ecclesiastical appointments of a most mischievous character. We cannot therefore feel serious regret at Mr. Gladstone's resignation, and will venture to express a hope that the policy of our new premier may, upon Church questions at any rate, be the reverse of that of his predecessor. Such a reversal will not be inconsistent with reforms which may go far to strengthen our Zion against future assaults, by the removal of abuses which now impair her strength and furnish vantage ground to those who seek her destruction. It is hardly our province to comment upon the discomfiture of the Nonconformists in the recent elections. Possibly the more sober and more spiritually minded among them will now feel that they have made a grievous mistake, by mixing themselves up with Secularists, and the advocates of what, however plausibly disguised, would prove a system of godless education. They have not gathered strength by this going down into Egypt, from which their forefathers would have recoiled. It will rejoice us to find them once more hearty advocates for the scriptural training of the young, and fighting with the Church, and not against the Church, in giving the Bible its due place and prominence in our system of national education. They may have meant this, but their mode of expressing their meaning was most unfortunate.

The new Cabinet formed by Mr. Disraeli contains many names conspicuous for ability. Lord Cairns will be the new Chancellor, the Earl of Derby goes to the Foreign Office, the Marquis of Salisbury to the India Office, Mr. R. A. Cross to the Home Office, and Mr. Ward Hunt to the Admiralty; Mr. Gathorne Hardy will be the new Secretary of War, the Earl of Carnarvon takes the Colonies; the Duke of Richmond is to be Lord President of the Council; Mr. Disraeli will himself be First Lord of Treasury, with Sir Stafford Northcote for his Chancellor of the Exchequer; Lord John Manners is to be Postmaster General. It is reported that for the present, at any rate, Mr. Gladstone will not lead the Opposition, but will seek some rest from the arduous labours which he has undergone.

Turning away from political strife, we may notice that during the past month the Mission, as it is termed, or rather the Revival, under the auspices of the Metropolitan Bishops, has been successfully prosecuted, and we would fain hope with much blessing resulting to many souls. We have not attempted to conceal our apprehensions lest, under cover of this movement, unscrupulous Romanizers should urge forward the revolting system of the Confessional. We believe they have done so in defiance of their Bishops; but we still trust that, despite this noxious element, substantial good has been wrought, and that the many stirring addresses and fervent prayers, which have found utterance during the week of the Revival, have not been in vain. Even some extravagance, and some practices of which we might disapprove, are preferable to spiritual lethargy; we will therefore thank God and take courage.

While there has been so much excitement amongst ourselves, there has been a comparative lull among Continental nations. The Court of Russia has still been intent upon festivities, in which the Emperor of Austria has recently been a participator. Some anxiety has been felt about the health of the Emperor of Germany, but we trust that all danger has passed away. In that empire, Prince Von Bismarck is steadily pursuing his repression of Ultramontane fanaticism. The Archbishop of Posen has been imprisoned in Ostrowo, a small town on the confines of Russia, for contumacy. It is probable that refractory ecclesiastics will be exiled beyond the frontiers of the empire. In France, political intrigues abound, but as yet without any definite result. There are rumours that the Eastern question is likely to be again a source of anxiety to politicians. We trust, however, that such disquieting apprehensions may be premature, if not unfounded.

From the Gold Coast, a telegram has just arrived from Sir Garnet Wolseley announcing the capture of Coomassie after five days' severe fighting, in which our army was completely victorious, but suffered serious losses. The reports from India of the famine in Bengal are still most unfavourable, though rain has fallen, and will tax severely not only our administrators upon the spot, but the energies of our new Ministers to cope with this terrible calamity. Serious political troubles are anticipated in Japan.

Dr. Strauss, the celebrated infidel writer of the Leben Jesu, and M. Michelet, the French historian, are dead.

THE LESSONS OF THE RESURRECTION.

We shall not attempt to reconcile the different accounts given by the four Evangelists of the visits of the Apostles and of the holy women to their Lord's Sepulchre on the morning of the Resurrection. We abstain from any attempt at the construction of a harmony, not because we believe their accounts incapable of reconciliation, but because, in our ignorance of the details of the facts of which the Evangelists have recorded only the outlines, all such attempts must, in our judgment, be little more than conjectures.

It may be that, in that light in which alone we shall see light, these and all like difficulties will vanish; and it may be reserved for the faithful, as one of the joys of an admission into the presence of their risen and ascended Lord, that they may not only be permitted to gaze upon the scars of His passion, but also to hear from His own lips the account of His Resurrection.

But whatever uncertainty there may be in the exact order in which the events related by the several Evangelists occurred, the great and permanent lessons which were taught mankind on the morning of the Resurrection are in no wise impaired by any ambiguity which may exist as to the order of their occurrence. And when those events are seriously and thoughtfully considered, they will be found to reflect an amount of light upon man's future state of existence which will become clearer and brighter in proportion as human prejudices are abandoned, and as Scripture, compared with Scripture, is received as the one supreme authority on a subject on which the light of nature serves only to disclose the extent of our ignorance.

One of the first things which strike the careful student of Vol. 73.-No. 436.

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