and leads to; St. Peter's suggests even more by the inexpressible moral gratification which it infuses. Like the rites of the Church, while it pours a flood of half bewildered joy through the spirits, yet it composes, calms and satisfies."

We are compelled to differ with him in toto, whether it be from difference of temperament, or that we cannot be moved with him by stately ceremonies, tossing clouds of incense, soft shining marbles, or indeed by any exhibitions however grand and flowing, where the aim or effect would seem to be to transfuse body and soul in a bewildering thought.

Better far to us than such illusions that

In soft slumbers lull the sense
And lap it in Elysium,

better the "sacred and homefelt delight" that belongs to other climes and another communion, where the aim is simple, and the vision more clear, and the distinction between body and soul, between this life and the next, is not an indifferent thing.

To love and aspire for such exhibitions might indeed really seem but a hankering after the "lusts of the imagination"; whether produced by brilliant and imposing rites, or by attempting to tame the vast and the immense into soft dallying architectural blandishments, with gleaming of bright coloured marbles, and illusions of proportion; not the northern German Gothic, a pure emanation of the Christian imagination, aspiring after another life, but-to use a few large words-pouring around you an apparent plenitude of glowing comfortable satisfactions-that entire contentedness with this life, the special doctrine and delusion of a soft, worldly Paganism.

W

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS.

I.-SEVEN MILES AROUND JERUSALEM. By REV. HENRY S. OSBORN. Philadelphia: JAMES CHALLEN & SON.

THE surveys for this beautifully executed map were taken by the author, who is a highly respectable Presbyterian minister. It is finely colored.

II. THE EARTH AND THE WORD; Or, Geology for Bible Students. By S. R. PATTISON, F. G. S. Philadelphia: LINDSAY & BLAKISTON. 1858. Pp. 139.

THE author begins by assuming as undeniably true both the Bible and Science. He goes on to give information as to the present condition of geology and the methods of reconciliation proposed between science and revelation. The book is plainly and sensibly written, and is admirable in its tone in relation to Scripture.

III.-A VINDICATION OF THE SCHEME OF REDEMPTION, contained in his Discourses on Prophecy. By JOHN G. WILSON, minister of the Word of God. Philadelphia: For the AUTHOR. 1858. Pp. 70.

THIS is a reply by Mr. Wilson to Mr. Lord's notice of him contained in the Theological and Literary Review; a very courteous allusion to our notice of him in this Review, with a statement of the respects in which he supposes his views to differ from Universalism; with some miscellaneous matters. Mr. Wilson is always earnest and Christian in his method of writing.

IV. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH AND SHORTER CATECHISM, pp. 56. THREE QUESTIONS-PRACTICAL AND PERSONAL. Is it well with Thee? Is it well with thy Husband? Is it well with the Child? By Rev. JACOB HELFENSTEIN. Presbyterian Publication Committee: PRESBYTERIAN HOUSE. 1858. pp. 60.

Two tracts of the Publication Committee, who are steadily holding on their way and freeing themselves from their pecuniary difficulties. The first is a pamphlet, which we are greatly delighted to see, the Confession of Faith and Shorter Catechism together, and all for six cents. We hope that our ministers will forthwith send for one for each of their families.

Mr. Helfenstein's is an excellent practical treatise, published, also, in three separate tracts. It is a warm and affectionate appeal

in regard to the spiritual welfare of beloved members of the family circle. We hope it will have a wide circulation.

V.-MEMORIES OF MY LIFE WORK. The Autobiography of MRS. HARRIET B. COOKE. New York: CARTERS. 1858. Pp. 356.

MRS. COOKE, after a life of more than threescore and ten, writes a sketch of it, "to strengthen many weary, sinking pilgrims, and encourage them in their efforts to educate our youth for God's service." She states that the numbers taught in the different seminaries under her instruction was 1850. Sixteen teachers and pupils from these schools consecrated themselves to the work of foreign missions, and many more went to the West as missionaries or teachers.

The constant effort of Mrs. Cooke seems to have been to lead her pupils to the Saviour. She speaks of several revivals of religion, and very many conversions, in her schools, especially at Bloomfield, N. J. While in this place she very naturally speaks of the warm interest taken by her pastor, Mr. Duffield, in the conversion of the young ladies under her care, who became a part of his pastoral charge. Many incidents are related, and conversations which she had with her pupils while laboring, and often successfully, to lead them to the Redeemer.

By

VI.-A CONSIDERATION OF THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. MAJOR D. H. HILL, Professor of Mathematics in Davidson College, North Carolina. Philadelphia: W. S. & A. MARTIEN. 1858. Pp. 282. PROFESSOR HILL takes up each verse of the Sermon on the Mount and gives a running commentary. The views are, in the main, sensible and evangelical. The work has, almost inevitably, the fault arising from its non-professional character, of a failure to know what is original and what commonplace in the premises. While, of course, we can have no objection to a layman writing commentary on Scripture, if he think it for edification, yet to a professional eye it must have the defects of the soldier writing on law, or the physician on military tactics. The layman often brings to his pastor a discovery in theology, which is discussed every year by the students in the theological seminary. The style of Major Hill is rather abrupt and dogmatical: it lacks calmness and smoothness.

Still, the work is very candid doubt, do good wherever read. but on the whole it is sound.

and earnest, and will, we have no There are fanciful points in it,

VII.-MEMOIR OF JOSEPH CURTIS, A MODEL MAN. By the Author of "Hope Leslie," &c. (Miss SEDGWICK.) New York: HARPERS. Philadelphia: For sale by LIPPINCOTT & Co. 1858. Pp. 200.

MR. CURTIS appears to have been a man of much kindliness and benevolence. He especially interested himself in the education and reformation of youth in connection with the public schools, House of Refuge, &c., in New York. He seems to have manifested a lovely temper, too, at home, and to have won very many friends. The memoir is written with much feeling, and, of course, with a fine taste.

It is painful especially in view of a death-scene without one recognition of an atonement—to mention that Mr. Curtis appears to have been first a follower of Elias Hicks, and then to have constantly attended upon the preaching of Dr. Dewey and Dr. Bellows. He never communed; nor is there, we believe, one allusion to the Cross, either by himself or the gifted authoress, throughout the memoir, albeit it is the life of "a model man," and though Paul has said, "God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world."

VIII. SERMONS BY THE REV. JOHN CAIRD, M. A., Minister of the Park Church, Glasgow, author of "Religion in Common Life"-a Sermon preached before the Queen. New York: CARTER & BROTHERS. 1858. Pp. 398. ONE of the best things ever done by Queen Victoria was the unearthing of Mr. Caird. Every one who read his sermon must have been pleased with the manner in which a common topic was made to glow with originality; but this would hardly have prepared them for the uncommon beauty and strength of the discourses in this volume.

We will analyze one of them for the benefit of the reader who has not seen the book. The text is: "I have trodden the wine-press alone," and the theme is: "The Solitariness of Christ's Sufferings." The first thought is, that there is always a certain degree of solitude about a great mind. The introduction elaborates this idea, and then naturally passes into the main theme, that He was the "Solitary Sufferer of humanity," for I. His sorrows were all clearly and fully foreseen. God mercifully hides from us the future, but words ever and anon dropped from His tips which showed how constantly the dread thought of the hour and power of darkness were present to His mind. II. They were the sorrows of an infinitely pure and perfect mind. As is the greatness and holiness, so is the capability of suffering. III. 'It was the sorrow

of a Creator amid His ruined works. The inferences are, 1. Gratitude. 2. Warning-there was reason for this awful sorrow. 3. Encouragement-the great work has been done. "When the ripe corn tempts the sickle, the wise husbandman will not let it be destroyed."

To any one who wishes something for his Sabbath reading that will make him both think and feel on the most sublime of all subjects, we recommend Caird.

IX. THE HISTORY OF MINNESOTA: From the earliest French Explorations to the Present Time. By EDWARD DUFFIELD NEILL, Secretary of the Minnesota Historical Society. Philadelphia: LIPPINCOTT & Co. 1858. Pp. 628. WE are much indebted to our friend Mr. Neill, for this contribution to the history of the country. It is very thorough. Beginning with the history of the Dacotahs, it relates at length the French explorations and the early American settlements, almost all the latter of which he saw, and no inconsiderable part of which he was. Mr. Neill is a historian by nature, one who loves history for its own sake. Every incident of his adopted State is interesting to him. A large amount of information is given as to the customs of the Indians. Sketches of each of the French explorers are given at length. Not an incident of interest or importance, which was in any way accessible, seems to have escaped the author. The work will grow more and more valuable as that noble State fills with inhabitants. Several old French and English maps enrich the volume, which is very handsomely brought out by the Messrs. Lippincott.

X.-RATIONAL COSMOLOGY; Or, The Eternal Principles and the Necessary Laws of the Universe. By LAURENS P. HICKOк, D. D., Union College. New York: APPLETON & Co. 1858. Pp. 397.

DR. HICKOK is a thinker not only of remarkable clearness, but of wonderful boldness, as any one may see from the mere title of this book-it is an effort to determine the eternal principles and necessary laws of the universe.

The universe must have such principles and laws, else it would not be a cosmos at all, but a mere choas. They were clear to the Divine mind, before any thing finite existed. But the finite mind cannot determine them from mere intuition. Nor can it do so from the mere facts of nature. Hence the plan Dr. Hickok pursues is to seek for an apprehension of these principles, more or less inadequate as it must be, and then to follow them out by a reference to the