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of his whip lays low the head of an aspiring thistle." He seems to characterize worship as "transparent monkey-shines of a mock devotion." Setting forth God's desire to draw us into sympathetic fellowship with Himself he says, that if He saw us spontaneously disposed thereto, "He would be more than content never to get a genuflexion from us again while the world lasted, nor hear another of our dreary litanies while sheep bleat and calves bellow." He does not think we are much better off for revelation. "Compared with heathen nations, we are indeed as baked apples to green; but I do not see that apples plucked green from the tree and assiduously cooked, as we have been, are near so likely to ripen in the long run as those which are still left hanging upon the boughs, exposed to God's unstinted sun and air." Only Swedenborg can ripen us!

One of the singular things about this book is the habit of the author of putting a new and unwarranted sense upon familiar words of established meaning. It is more than Dr. Bushnell's fashion of departing somewhat from the settled English significations: Mr. James makes entire departures. Thus, morality with him is “a sentiment of self hood or property in ones' own body!" and religion is a sense of the loss of God's favor, and an impulse to make sacrifices to regain it. Thus, too, “infinite," as applied to God's love to man, is made to mean, "untainted by the least admixture of love to Himself," or "unlimited by self-love." So non existence is spoken of as a nature-i. e., an existent one! subjected to death; and this is vivified (or brought out of non-existence into existence) by the Creator's allowing His infinitude to be "swallowed up in the finiteness" of the (non-existent) creature!

The caricature Mr. James gives of the orthodox doctrine of Atonement, founding it on the ascription of "essential malignity," or a "Divine appetite for vengeance" to God, we shall not allow ourselves to quote. It is quite in keeping with this that he should call the Christian Church "an embodiment of our sottishness in divine things," "the refuge and citadel of a frenzied egotism and unbelief."

NOTES, PRACTICAL AND EXPOSITORY, ON THE GOSPELS. By Charles H. Hall, D D., Brooklyn, N. Y. Hurd & Houghton. Pp. 428 and 400.

Barnes, Jacobus, Ripley, and the rest, who are accepted expositors with their respective denominations, are here followed by a well-read Episcopal rector, who aims to do a like service for his own sect. The execution is creditable, the learning employed respectable, though not so high as prevails in non-Episcopal circles, the style less careless and prolix than in some popular commentaries, neater and more fitting, and the illustrations, maps, etc., sufficient for the limited purposes contemplated. Dr. Hall is careful to say that his Notes are "respectfully offered to churchmen;" he devoutly quotes the Liturgy here and there; he makes it part of his preface to Mark's Gospel to inform us that "the Feast of St. Mark occurs April 25," following this with the "Collect for St. Mark's Day"; he says a good word for "our

church," when he conveniently can; he supports his interpretations by the Fathers, in place of the most learned and accepted commentators; and he accompanies his acknowledgment of obligation to Barnes for the form of his own work, with the disclaimer-"No opinion of Mr. B has been copied, since, so far as they were peculiar to him, they were novelties." In his Introduction he says: "Think who wrote the Christian Scriptures Christian Bishops. Who have guarded them in all ages? Christian Bishops. Who have taught you how to think by creed, prayer, etc.? The ministers, the mothers and fathers of the Church. *** The doctrines of the Church, as they appear in the Prayer Book, are the true guide to you in the study of the Gospels." In the Preface to this (second) edition he avows that his idea is "to present the liturgical forms of the piety of the Church, as the proper commentary on both the words and deeds of Christ Therefore the Prayer Book has been largely incorporated in the Notes. It was believed that Christian teachers of the young would in this way catch the spirit of our well-ordered services," etc. etc. A commentary less sectarian in purpose and shaping is more to our taste.

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THE PHYSICAL CAUSE OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST, AND ITS RELATION TO THE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF CHRISTIANITY. By Wm. Stroud, M.D. New York: D. Appleton & Co. Chicago: S. C. Griggs & Co. Pp. 422. 12mo. Price $2.00.

The chief point of this monograph (a republication) is to show that the immediate physical cause of the Saviour's death was not the ordinary sufferings of crucifixion, but an actual rupture of the heart, as the consequence of intense mental emotion The case is ably argued, both negatively and positively, by a skillful and eminent physician, strongly reinforced by other competent opinions, and the conclusion made to appear highly probable. A greater amount of information is here collected in regard to the phenomena of crucifixion, bloody sweat, the effect of emotion in producing lesion of the heart, and related topics, than it is easy to find elsewhere. If the mind at first recoils at such a surgical analysis of this stupendous redemptive act, it is well to remember that in such a discussion, if valid, we have-first, a remarkable and unexpected testimony of science to the most artless of narratives; and, secondly, a singular confirmation of the intensity of the spiritual conflict with which our salvation was purchased. The related doctrinal discussions of the volume are interesting, as the views of a devout and intelligent layman, and few students of the Bible will fail to derive many valuable suggestions from the entire treatise.

BOSTON LECTURES, 1871. Christianity and Skepticism; comprising a Treatment of Questions in Biblical Criticism. Boston: Cong. Pub. Society. Chicago: G. S. F. Savage. Pp. 473. 12mo. $2.

Including the Introductory one, here are eleven lectures mostly by wellknown and able men. They are as follows: The Relations of the Bible to the Civilization of the Future, by Prof. Phelps. The Primeval Revelation,

by Prof. Mead, of Andover. Moses, by Dr. J. P. Thompson. Joshua and Judges; or, The Heroic Age of Israel, by Prof. Tyler. The Hebrew Theocracy, by Dr. Bacon. The Prophet Isaiah, by Dr. John Lord. The Gospel of the Hebrew Prophets, by Dr. Cheever. The Apostle Paul, by Prof. Fisher. Criticism Confirmatory of the Gospels, by Prof. Thayer. Jesus Christ himself the All-sufficient Evidence of Christianity, by Prof. Talcott. Exclusive Traits of Christianity, by Dr. Hopkins. To enter upon any intelligent criticism of so many diverse discussions would be impracticable; we will not, therefore, undertake to characterize individual lectures. It is enough for us to announce them, and to say that they claim to be, and are, a Series of Studies" upon the Bible, “not assuming to form a systematic treatise or an exhaustive discussion of all the great questions respecting it;" that they are to a good degree popular in their method, as well as thoughtful in character; that some of them are of very marked inter st and ability; and that as a whole they constitute a quickening and profitable course of reading, both for ministers and laymen, and are well adapted to keep them informed of the present aspects of religious discussion. The volume should find its way into their libraries.

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TREATISE ON REGENERATION. By William Anderson, LL.D., Glasgow. Philadelphia: Smith, English & Co. Chicago: H. A. Sumner. Pp. 311. 12mo.

The subject-matter of this volume is treated in seven sections: the nature of regeneration-the necessity-the instrumentality—the actuating agency -its state as produced and developed-its procuring cause, and its manifestation. The arguments under these several beads are extended and conclusive in character. Native depravity is accounted for on the privation theory (p. 65). The whole discussion, with a very few exceptions, is carefully discriminative. The composition is in sermon style, and much of it rather loose at that. Sentences of infelicitous construction are not rare. The following (on p. 40) would bear retouching with profit: "But there are mysteries enough in our faith without any one should make gratuitous, superstitious additions to them."

If, on the next revision of the work, it should be thoroughly sifted and portions of it recast, a volume considerably reduced would be more edifying to the reader and more creditable to the author.

THE ATONEMENT: IN ITS RELATION TO THE COVENANT, THE PRIESTHOOD, AND THE INTERCESSION OF OUR LORD. By Rev. Hugh Martin, MA. Philadelphia: Smith, English & Co. Chicago: H. A. Sumner. Pp. 288.

12mo.

The author, a Scotchman, a close thinker and lucid writer, has given a thorough discussion of the subject, as he understands it. The theology of the discussion is Federal, and corresponds substantially with the Westminster exposition. Our limits allow only a few beacon points along the vigorous march of the discussion. All sinners one with Adam; all believers one

with Christ. Christ bears the sin of all believers, and His righteousness is imputed to them, as the ground of their justification Christ died, not simply as a passive sufferer, but, as an acting priest, offered Himself a sacrifice, and thus fulfilled an essential condition in the covenant of grace, thereby laying a sure foundation for His office, as intercessor. Hence his intercession has not for its object to influence the Father to do what other. wise He would be unwilling to do, but officially to present a fulfilled condition in a plan of salvation which originated in the love of God. Christ, in the sacrifice of Himself, was for our sake treated as a sinner, just as we for His sake are treated as righteous. Conversely, He was made sin for us, in the same sense that we are "ma le the righteousness of God in Him."

The atonement in its provisions is ample for all, but in its application is limited t the elect Mr. M. does not recommend to modern preachers the antiquated formulas of statement, but earnestly contends for the root and essence of the matter, as discussed in his book.

We do not indorse all the statements of the volume in form and strength; and yet, while so many weak dilutions of the doctrine are abroad, in wuich we are told that Christ was simply a self-sacrifice as a grand example of self-denial, or a sacrifice as a law of being, or a martyr to produce a sublime moral effect, or a governmental display, etc., it is refreshing to read so thorough a discussion, founded not on a philosophical theory which may be received to-day and exploded to-morrow, but oa Biblical interpretation. We cordially recommend the volume to the careful reading, especially of the younger ministers. Coming after the perusal of some other treatises, it will be as roast beef after a diet of water-gruel.

THE PIOUS DEAD OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. By Henry J. Brown, A.M., M D. Philadelphia: Higgins & Perkinpine. Pp. 320.

It is well sometimes to take men religiously on the side of their occupations in life and professional education. Dr. Brown attempts this in eight brief, well-drawn biographical sketches of medical men. Wes e only matter for commendation in the design and the execution. Three short and interesting essays are prefixed, on the Cross in the Life-Union-in Nature -in Medicine.

ELEMENTS OF ASTRONOMY. By J. Norman Lockyer, editor of "Nature," F.R.A.S., etc. New York: App etons. Pp. 312.

Lockyer ranks abroad, as an author, with such men as Aisy. MacMillan's edition of his Elements is h re condensed and adapted to American use. Some practical additions are made, and Arago's Charis of both Celestial Hemispheres appended. Lockyer makes good use of Spectrum Analysis, and his own discoveries. The book is "up" in the latest results; the order of topics, beginning with the stars, more easy and natural than that of other treatises; the style of explanation and statement lucid and terse; the colored and other illustrations abundant and superior.

QUALITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS. By Charles W. Elliot and Frank H. Storer, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. New York: Van Nostrand, Pp. 191.

One of these authors has, since this publication, and that of Elliot and Storer's Inorganic Chemistry, become President of Harvard. This book discloses how he would use analytical scientific study as a means of intellectual discipline, especially in reasoning and the attainment of truth. The discovery of the elements contained in compound substances is here pursued chiefly in respect to inorganic solids and liquids, and comprises thirtyfour chemical elements out of sixty-five. It is hardly necessary to say that the text-book is one of great merit, and singularly compact and satisfactory.

THE LIFE OF BISMARCK, PRIVATE AND POLITICAL. By J. G. L. Hesekiel. From the German. New York: Harper & Bros. Pp. 491.

We could advise none but reviewers to attempt the first eighty pages of this goodly volume. There is a heavy introduction by the English transla. tor, an interminable and elaborate genealogy and family history, and a series of sketches of Bismarck's homes. The author reaches the 101st page before he gets his hero even born. After that, with true German minuteness and exhaustiveness, he goes through the details of his childhood, school. days, and youth, his wild "mad," roy stering university life at Berlin, Göttingen, and Berlin again, at the latter university his study companion being our Minister and historian Motley, his boon companions, army officers, his marriage, domestic and agricultural life, entrance upon political duties, membership in Diet and Upper Chamber, ambassadorship, premiership, and who'e public career. He was born at Schenhausen, where he first resided, the estate from which his new title of Baron is derived, April 1, 1815. His full name is Otto Edward Leopold. He belongs to the North German knightly families, the landed aristocracy of Saxony and Branden. burg. A vein of rollicking humor, an intense relish for the broadly comical, ran through his early days. Who would recognize the grave, astute, imperturbable, sternly-purposed statesman in the writer of this description of a table companion at a rural hotel? "A fat frog without legs, who opens his mouth before every morsel like a carpet-bag, right up to his shoulders, so that I am obliged to hold on to the table for giddiness.' A robust man is Bismarck, of powerful physical make, and all his days a great horseman and ardent hunter. Heligoland, in the North Sea, which he has just demanded from England, was one of his youthful resorts. He was evidently a hard drinker and smoker, but a hard thinker too, an unu sual combination. He cut university lectures, and read up for examinations like a race horse. An intense royalist from the start, holding to sovereignty and thrones by divine right, the inflexible foe of democracy and liberalism, with love for the Prussian army running "like a red line" through his whole political life; a man of firm countenance, and co'd glance, imperious and fearless; believing implicitly that Prussia must be distinct

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