NOTICES OF BOOKS.

The Character of St. Paul: Hulsean Lectures for 1862. By T. G. Howson, D.D., Dean of Chester. Third Edition. London: Strahan. 1873.-So many must be familiar with the contents of this interesting volume, favourably reviewed by us some years ago, that we need not commend it again at any length. In its revised form, the book furnishes most attractive and profitable reading. Many of the chief characteristics of the great Apostle are treated with much skill and loving sympathy. It will be found very useful for young clergymen and students in theology, but no devout Christian who peruses it will regret making acquaintance with it, if it has hitherto been unknown to him. Further, in the present edition, in order "to give the volume a more popular character, large portions of the notes, which were added before," are omitted.

The Missionary History of Sierra Leone. By the Rev. H. Seddall, B.A. London: Hatchards. 1874.-The story of Christian philanthropy displayed in Sierra Leone has been told on many a platform, and recounted in many a volume, and been brought before the public with zeal and ability commensurate with the importance of what may fairly claim to be an event in our national history. There was still, however, room for a lucid and connected story, which should tell the tale ab ovo to its present consummation. This has been successfully accomplished by Mr. Seddall in his interesting volume, which will be found a complete and trustworthy repertory of the main incidents of this arduous struggle, in which love for the souls for whom Christ died triumphed over human weakness and infirmity. The story is not novel, but has a charm beyond that of novelty.

Manuals of Religious Instruction for Pupil Teachers. Edited by J. P. Norris, M.A., Canon of Bristol. Rivingtons: London, Oxford, and Cambridge. 1874.-The Rooks of Genesis and Exodus. With Analysis and Notes. By Henry Morris, Madras Civil Service. London: Longmans. 1873.-Canon Norris has honourably distinguished himself by his zeal for religious instruction in our National Schools. Among his endeavours to promote it has been the production of these little manuals on the Old and New Testaments and on the Prayer-Book. They are, as might be anticipated, what may be termed High Church in doctrine, but not extravagantly so, and compare favourably with many publications now entrapping the unwary. As an instance of the manner in which Canon Norris allows his zeal to outrun his discretion, we may notice his statement that in 1865 Convocation advised the abrogation of the 29th Canon, forbidding parents to be sponsors for their own children; it is not stated, but it is implied, that this advice was of some efficacy: we wish it had been; but Canon Norris knows that it had none. It would have been well to omit the allusion, which can only serve to mislead. The chief value of the Manuals is that probably questions will be set out of them; and prudent managers will therefore have recourse to them betimes.

Mr. Morris's Manuals are intended for candidates for the Cambridge Local Examinations. They are unpretentious in character, and contain that kind and amount of information which is usually expected by examiners. We think that it was somewhat superfluous to reprint the text of Scripture, which every learner must already possess. It adds to the expense and not much to the utility of the Manuals.

Ashley Priors; or, The Beauty of Holiness. London: Mozley. 1874.-A tale for children, compounded in pretty equal proportions of slang and ritualism. The Honourable Harriette Ashley talks of "flaring up." The choicest of the choristers garnishes his talk and enforces his sentiments with "by jingo." The characters are sometimes "awfully glad," and at others "awfully jolly." A painful difficulty occurs about going to a "hop" the night before a confirmation by the Lord Bishop of the diocese. "I do love seeing a confirmation," exclaims Cecil, "the dear old bishop looks so well in his robes." With all this there is a large admixture of anthems and moonbeams and unreality, that could only, even without the vulgarity, be very pernicious to youthful readers. Compared with such books as this, the Arabian Nights and Tales of the Genii are most wholesome and profitable reading, for at least they cannot mislead, even when the children who devour them are carried into dreamland. We presume the intentions of the author or authoress were good; our regret is, that the result is so at variance with our ideas of what is useful. The tale may, for aught we know, be a fair reflection of the feelings and sentiments of certain circles, and may be a genuine reproduction of their language and sentiments; but we should be sorry if those in whom we feel special interest talked, thought, or acted after the fashion delineated in Ashley Priors.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

THE most important measure which has passed through the House of Lords during the past month has been the "Public Worship Regulations Bill." When it was first brought forward, it presented itself in so questionable a shape that it was hard to tell whether it might not be productive of as much harm as good. But the amendments which have been introduced have been so important and so judicious, that it may be heartily welcomed as an instalment of wholesome legislation, calculated to restore peace and order to the Church, which is being convulsed to its very centre by the unrestrained lawlessness of a turbulent and factious minority, who might be comprehended in a fair-sized room, and who yet loudly arrogate to themselves the claim that they are the Church of England.

Especially great is our satisfaction at the prospect of the abolition of all the idle paraphernalia of ecclesiastical jurisdictions, which have been so long a remora on discipline. The country is much indebted to the zeal and ability which have been displayed by the Earl of Shaftesbury in giving to the Bill the shape with which it will go down to the House of Commons. With some indiscretion, the Bishop of Peterborough had unscrewed the lid of the pot in which the fumes of ecclesiastical disorder were; and when they issued forth he started back aghast at the spectre which he had evoked. By the exercise of some ingenuity and more discretion, he managed to restore them to their former concealment, and a needless scare was the only result of his attempt at interference with the progress of the Bill. It would be superfluous, therefore, to comment upon suggestions which have so completely evaporated. We do not now record the provisions of the Bill, as it has yet to pass the ordeal of the Commons, where we trust it will not suffer material alteration. Perhaps the most remarkable feature in the passage of the Bill through the House of Lords has been the extreme unanimity of the Peers in passing it in its present form, and the unexpected feebleness of Ritualistic opposition in a quarter where it was supposed to exercise some influence.

The Archbishop's Bill has been supplemented by a Bill proposed by the Bishop of London, subsequently withdrawn, to deal with Rubrics. It would have been obviously absurd to have intrusted to a body such as Convocation is, at any rate in its present unreformed state, the task of remodelling the rubrics of the Prayer Book; we are glad therefore to find that the Bishop of London has exercised the sound discretion for which the Bishop of Peterborough has been recently so remarkably conspicuous, and has wisely felt that retreat was preferable to defeat.

The "Church Patronage Bill" for Scotland has passed through the House of Lords. Not only communicants, but other members also of the congregation, will be entitled to vote in the election of ministers.

As the House of Lords has been busily occupied with Ecclesiastical Legislation, so questions affecting the Liquor Traffic have mainly engaged the attention of the House of Commons. Sir Wilfrid Lawson's "Permissive" Bill has been once more rejected by a large majority. Mr. Secretary Cross's "Bill for Regulating the Sale of Intoxicating Liquors " has passed the House of Commons, and will be before the House of Lords. We much regret the extension of hours resolved upon. If the Bill will tend to the closing of Night Refreshment houses in London, as Mr. Cross asserts it will, there will be a gain so far. By a majority of 373 against 128 Mr. Richard's motion for

the repeal of the 25th clause in the "Education Act" was rejected. Several of the members of the late Government, amongst whom Mr. Lowe was the most conspicuous, voted with Mr. Richard.

Mr. Cross's Bill for limiting the hours of employment of women and children to fifty-six and a half hours a week, was carried, on the second reading, by a large majority. It was opposed by Mr. Fawcett in the interest of the crotchets of political economy.

We regret to have still to report that the Labourers' Strike has not yet been concluded. Large meetings have been held in Manchester and London to promote the further agitation of the question.

Strenuous efforts are being made to convert St. Paul's Cathedral into a huge Jesuit Church, with all the oppressive and vulgar gorgeousness characteristic of that false taste which is the concomitant of false doctrine.

Foreign news is not of especial importance. The Carlist cause has been suffering fresh defeat in Spain. Political excitement is intense in France, and is finding vent by personal attacks on M. Gambetta, accompanied with violence. Confusion is the order of the day in Paris. In Germany steady repression of Ultramontane intrigue is proceeding without intermission.

We omitted to notice last month the death of M. Van de Weyer, the eminent Belgian diplomatist, so well known in England. Bishop Harding, late of Bombay, has been gathered to his rest at a somewhat advanced age.

NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS.

We are compelled to notice again that we cannot undertake to enter into correspondence with friends who favour us with communications which we are compelled to decline, nor can we pledge ourselves to return articles. It must be understood that they are forwarded at the risk of the senders.

ERRATUM.

At page 443, line 16, of the June number, instead of "is identical," read "is not identical."

THE PRESENT WORK OF OUR BLESSED LORD IN HEAVEN IN REFERENCE TO HIS SACRIFICE.

THERE are not a few questions with which Theology has much exercised itself, which might thankfully have been allowed to sleep in peace. But the daring genius of men like Augustine of old, followed by the audacious but systematic speculations of the scholastic divines, opened questions which, for good or for evil, will continue to be discussed as long as the restless mind of man chafes against the bars of its prison-house. Among these questions, the one suggested in the heading of this article might well have been so left. We might feel that to attempt to define the work of our great High Priest, who has withdrawn within the veil, and intentionally concealed that work from sight, might savour of unhallowed presumption. might be content, and more than content, to say-" He has wrought for me a full salvation. He has offered one sacrifice for me and for all, complete and sufficient. The Word of God tells me, and faith assures me, that in His present Kingly and and Priestly life He is doing all that wisdom suggests and power enables, in order to make that salvation assured to me for ever. Why, then, should I intrude into that august presence, and scrutinize the actions of my King?"

We

This might have been; but it cannot be now. Theology has pressed into those sacred precincts. It has presumed to utter assertions about the present sacrificial work of our Saviour, which are made to involve momentous consequences. The Priest in heaven is declared to be occupied about a certain offering in which His subordinate priests on earth are ever following Him in closest imitation. He is offering (so this