ART. VIII.-BOOK NOTICES.

A PLAIN COMMENTARY ON THE FOUR HOLY Gospels, Intended Chiefly For DEVOTIONAL READING. In two vols. 8vo. Complete from the London edition. Philadelphia: H. Hooker.

We are sorry we cannot say in the outset, who the author of this Commentary is. One who has so many gifts of grace and learning as adorn his pages, is an object of interest to the public.

No work ever written upon the Holy Gospels has, in our opinion, so many merits and attractions for Churchmen; and it contrasts so gratefully with the Commentaries which are coming into common use, that we shall content ourselves with stating some of its excellences as plainly and as briefly as we may. We think it would surprise many persons to know to what extent such works as Barnes' "Notes" have crept into the public and private libraries of the Church, and how far Pelagian errors have silently spread among our people from such sources.

The plan and motives of the work are fully set forth in the author's Preface. His qualifications may be clearly inferred from his own estimate there stated, of the nature and difficulty of the work in hand. In a word, he seeks to find the true Interpretation of the Primitive Church, and in doing so, uses as aids the results of modern learning, despising nothing that can throw light on the Sacred Text, and bring out its Divine meaning. In the many years of preparation for his work, he appears to have directed his reading and enquiries to this one end. The fruits of his study are apparent on every page. Hardly an apt, terse, or striking remark in illustration of the text, occurs in any eminent author, ancient or modern, which he does not bring to adorn and illustrate his page. His quotations are remarkable as seeming always to be the very words he would have used, never made to show learning or fill vacant spaces. Among the authors he quotes oftenest, we may mention Mill, French, Moberly, Williams, Hooker, Leighton, Pearson, Andrews, and the Greek and Latin Fathers.

The most manifest grace of the writer is a spirit of enlarged charity, coupled with a constant and prayerful reliance on the Divine Spirit for light and direction. It is most profitable to the reader to observe with what reverence he always handles the Word of God. It is to him as His audible and certain utterance. No book that we can point to, puts so much honor upon the Word, work, example and sacrifice of Christ. Every word, and look, and action of His is full of instruction; and is treated as a storehouse of wisdom and grace. Each chapter in the Gospels under his treatment, becomes a living picture of the events and actors in it. Scripture is made everywhere to enliven and interpret Scripture. The events, persons and teaching of the Old Testament are made to confirm and cast light upon those of the New. The comments, with the references backwards and forwards, are one of the best Harmonies of the Gospels to be found. The author's wisdom in the Scriptures is also very remarkable, as shown in the aptness and frequency of his quotations of one part or event to illustrate another. It seems as if his mind and heart were overlaid with the Scriptures, and thought, affection and memory sprang up in them as their life. We consider this the singular excellence of the Commentary, one in which "wisdom is justified of her children." The wisdom, the love, the patience, the gentleness, the grace of Christ, make up the metal in the links of the chain by which the author would draw men to the faith and imitation of Christ. With him the graces of the Spirit have the colors and combinations of all beauty.

We have said enough of the tone and of the moral and intellectual qualities of the Commentary. We will conclude with some remarks on its harmony and agreement with the teaching of the Book of Common Prayer. The words of the Church are often quoted, to show their exact accordance with the words of Christ, and every where is she shown to be Primitive and Catholic in her Teaching and Worship. The reader is struck with the aptness and force with which this agreement is illustrated.

On the Ministry and Sacraments of the Church, he expends much time and learning. Every step he takes is guarded by caution and prayer. His views are not extreme, and have no marks of partisanship. They are in the mould of Primitive Teaching, as he esteems the Prayer Book to be. On all the points of her distinctive teaching, the mind of the Church, all the way from the Apostles, is carefully traced, and her well-considered words recorded. On these subjects no author, after the early Fathers, is so often quoted as Hooker, and in no respect can we see that he departs from or exceeds his plainest and generally received statements.

The Commentary, for the use of the Church, for confirmation of her doctrine, for encouragement of a devotional spirit, for the establishment of a wavering faith, for bringing the reader into an appreciable connexion with the Catholic mind of all ages, and making him a partaker in those Holy sympathies which belong to the One Body of Christ,-is invaluable, and supplies one of the greatest wants of the times. It will prove a fountain of life and devotion in every family where it is read. It will increase our respect for a Church which trains us in the truth, according to the Institutions of Christ, and points out to us "the sure footsteps of the flock." It will also prove a most acceptable and valuable aid to the clergy. Its learning and interpretation, its inspiration. towards habitual devotion, and a full consecration of our powers to the service of Christ as making that service easy and effective, its happy uses of Holy Scripture, in giving point and authority to thought, are sources of treasure to them with which they will enrich the Church, being first themselves enriched thereby. Thus does real good expand and repeat itself.

Not every part of the Commentary is marked with equal ability. In the latter parts, and particularly in the Gospel of St. John, the author's plan of commenting, and his resources, are most fully developed; but altogether no more valuable offering to the literature and devotion of the Church has appeared for a long time. The more it is examined, the longer it is used, the more will its merits be seen and prized. They are real; they are divine, and will brighten and expand all the more for being dwelt upon. We consider the work as conceived and executed in the dutiful, trusting and catholic spirit of the Church; a spirit that is most beautiful from its likeness to the Source of beauty and perfection, and which is never to wear out with age, or be weakened as a bond of perfectness in the Body of Christ.

THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND, FROM THE ACCESSION OF JAMES II. By THOMAS BABINGTON MACAULay. Vols. 3 and 4. New York: Harpers. 1856. New Haven: T. H. Pease.

"What do you think," writes a friend, to us, "of Macaulay's new Romance of the Orangery, as I call it ?" Doubtless it is a brilliant romance. But on the whole, there is rather more of an infusion of historical facts than there was in the previous volumes.

If it be true, as has sometimes been asserted, that Mr. Macaulay's historical productions are of the character of political brochures, and take a coloring from things around, from passing events, and predominating sympathies, we should say that the Church of England was looked upon with more respect by the politicians of the day, than when Mr. Macaulay wrote his first volumes. If, on the other hand, Mr. Macaulay writes with only the interests of truth in view, then, it is clear, that further researches have made him adopt views quite different from those with which he wrote before. For, while he speaks with

almost uniform respect of the Church of England, he shows up English Puritanism, and Scotch Presbyterianism, in a way that has rarely been approached. If Sir Walter Scott's Old Mortality stirred up such an agitation in the kirk, as the heavy pages of poor Dr. M'Cree bore witness to, what tempests may not be expected from the revelations of the late member for Edinburgh? Or, at all events, granting the most favorable view possible for Mr. Macaulay and the Puritans, namely, that he writes with only truth in view, and with his sympathies what they were, still his admissions in reference to the Church, and his revelations concerning Puritanism, are as damaging to the latter, as they are unimportant to the former.

Historically, the best point in the work, is, the exceedingly clear, able, and well-put distinction between the hereditary-right Jacobitism of England, the popish Jacobitism of Ireland, and the clannish Jacobitism of the Highlands of Scotland. If this has ever been worked out at all before, it has never been done so well.

The most brilliant piece of description, to our minds, is the account of the siege of Londonderry. And the best thing, in the way of biography, is the showing up of the obstinacy, imbecility, and incurable wrongheadedness of that inconceivable idiot, James II.

Of matters of present interest, there are some instructive and striking explanations and speculations, concerning the national debt of England; and some dogmatizing after the Sir Oracle style, as silly as it is solemn, about the revival of Convocation. Very possibly, however, by the time Convocation comes up, finally, in connexion with Hoadley, Mr. Macaulay may have gained as much new light on the subject, as he has already attained on kindred ones, since the issue of his earlier volumes.

What makes us specially suspicious of Mr. Macaulay's estimate of character, is his continual reference to Burnet, a writer who was always known to be partial and prejudiced; whom, the publication of the suppressed passages of the "History of His own Times," shows to have been malicious; and whom, the researches of Mr. Napier prove to have been a coward, and a false witness, fully justifying Lord Dartmouth's severe remark: "Thus piously ends the most partial, malicious heap of scandal and misrepresentation, that was ever collected for the laudable purpose of giving a false impression of persons and things, to all future ages.' "Honest Burnet," Mr. Macaulay calls him! Were he living, no doubt he would say, "Honest Macaulay !”

IMPRESSIONS OF ENGLAND; OR SKETCHES OF ENGLISH SCENERY AND SOCIETY. By A. CLEVELAND COXE, Rector of Grace Church, Baltimore. 1 vol. 12mo. pp. 321. New York: Dana & Co.

England has been served up in so many shapes, and seasoned with such varied condiments to suit palates variously stimulated by national, political, or sectarian prejudice, that a mere book of travel in our mother country does not, by its bare announcement, excite any special interest. We require to know who the author is, before our appetite begins to take an edge. We assume beforehand that some men must, if they will at all, produce an instructive and interesting book, while others must, of necessity, compile a dull one. In the present instance, all our anticipations were favorable. For the author had shown, by his various writings, both in prose and poetry, that he possessed, in a high degree, energy, vivacity, insight, and descriptive power-just the qualities to render a book of travels interesting. Mr. Coxe set out on his tour with rare qualifications for an appreciative tour in the mother country. For he possessed an acquaintance with English geography, history, and literature, such as few American scholars can boast. No one can read this volume without being impressed with the evidence of this intimate and thorough knowledge, not gained in the course of travel, but a torch, throwing its light before to illumine the pathway of the traveler. Indeed, it is the thing which more than all else in spite of the author's attractions of style, tends to lift the book above the

range of popular sympathy, by first raising it above the range of the popular intelligence. It requires a great deal of previous knowledge of the history and literature of England to thoroughly appreciate its sketchy pages. The reader must be able to supply many lights and shadows of the picture himself. In this respect the author has disappointed us. He has produced a more scholarly and a less popular work than we had anticipated from his pen. Not that we doubted his ability to do the very thing he has done, but because all his former writings were in clearer sympathy with the popular mind. The author had also secured to himself peculiar facilities for seeing all that was worth seeing in England. For his sacred poetry had gone before him, and made him favorably known among both high and low. And he found a cordial welcome awaiting him, and a ready introduction into society of every rank. The point of view in this work seems to us to be two-fold. Mr. Coxe has been so thorough a student of all that relates to the England of the past, and is so closely united in intelligence and sympathy with the England that now is, and has been following along for the last twenty-five years, that it sometimes seems difficult for him to look at things from a purely American stand-point. And it seems as if he had in his mind's eye an English rather than an American reader. But then, on the other hand, there is abundant evidence that the author, although in close sympathy with all that is great and good in the English Church and nation, is a loyal American at heart.

As a literary performance, then, Mr. Coxe's volume is entitled to take high rank in the class of works to which it belongs. In fact, it reminded us pleasantly of "Eustace's Classical Tour in Italy." And substituting British for Latin authors, we might well style the work before us a "Classical Tour in England."

The author informs us in his preface, that he has purposely "foreborne to dwell on the greater evils of English Society, because these have been thoroughly discussed and exposed, as well by Englishmen as by foreigners." "He confesses, also, that he has the rather confined himself to an exhibition of the bright side of the picture, because he fears that many of his countrymen are sceptical as to its existence." Had not Mr. Coxe forestalled us by these and other considerations, we should have pointed out his passing so slightly over the social evils of our mother country, as a defect in his book. We should, however, do him injustice, if we did not remember the fact that he has often signalized in brief, but strong sentences, some of the worst evils, both in Church and State.

We are reminded, as we write, of the stayless flight of time, and the irreparable loss of opportunity. Many of the characters who stand forth in living colors on our author's canvas, belong already to history, and can be no more seen by the traveler. The Duke of Wellington, seen several times, and once under very interesting circumstances-Rogers, the poet, whose "breakfasts" were shared in the society of the learned and the great-Sir Harry Inglis, that pattern of an English Churchman of the old School-Talfourd, the poet judge, who died, uttering such noble words of conciliation—all have passed from life's busy scene!

SERMONS FOR THE TIMES. BY CHARLES KINGSLEY, Rector of Eversley, &c. New York: Dana & Co. 1856. 12mo. pp. 360. New Haven: G. B. Bassett & Co.

We are glad to see these Sermons of Mr. Kingsley. His former works, especially his "Alton Locke," and his "Yeast," indicated social affinities or idiosyncrasies of some sort, yet precisely where he would place the Church, as the regenerator of society, did not clearly appear. His Sermons settle that question. Although he is said to belong to the "Broads," yet he does not undervalue the Organic Institutions or Sacraments of the Church. He is evidently an anti-technicalist in doctrine, and holds Christianity rather as a Life than as a Belief. Now the latter may exist without the former; but that

the Life can be maintained without a right Belief, is contrary to observation and sound reason. Thus, in his Sermon on "Justification by Faith," Jesus Christ as the distinct object of that faith, is not once recognized. Faith seems to be spoken of as a synonym for the whole Gospel Dispensation. The term Faith is sometimes so used in the New Testament, undoubtedly. But yet, Jesus Christ as the express, distinct object of the faith of a penitent soul, is a cardinal truth never to be lost sight of. The New Testament everywhere so presents HIM. The Early Liturgies, and the writings of the Early Fathers, are full of this glorious, vital doctrine. The Gospel never reaches men's hearts, nor satisfies the interior wants of the soul, when CHRIST is obscured. The Papists conceal HIM behind a usurping priesthood; and the Pelagians do the same thing in another way. But both, alike, desiccate the Gospel, and rob it of its chief glory and power. JESUS CHRIST is a Fountain, as well as a Life and an Example, a Remedy as well as a Pattern.

And so also, there are expressions in Mr. Kingsley's fifteenth Sermon on the "Life of God," which seem to deny that "Christ's Death was a sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction" to the Father, for the sins of the whole world. And there are, throughout the volume, positions taken which are extremely unguarded, and the tendency of which, will be to unsettle men's minds, and lead the unwary astray.

And yet, there is so much of what we believe to be the true spirit of Christianity in these Sermons, that we cannot think the author intends to ignore doctrines so essential as those to which we have alluded. We suppose him to be only assailing that dead, and dry, and barren Faith which has filled the world with infidelity, which is so common among the nominally orthodox. With his keen perception of the evils of Society, he sees the great and all-sufficient remedy to be alone found in a living reception of the Gospel and Church of Christ; and this, we suppose to be the key-note to bis Sermons, and to the man. This is his philosophy. And hence, we may learn to appreciate the opposition which his book will have to encounter.

His style is, at times, exceedingly familiar and colloquial. No American preacher would dare stoop so low, nor would he be tolerated if he did. Notwithstanding his capabilities in the way of fine writing, the careless reader would see little proof of such resources in these Sermons. We have marked an extract from his Sermon on "The True Gentleman," but omit it for want of room. We advise our clergy to read that Sermon, to preach it, to imbue their hearers with its spirit. It is exactly suited to the peculiar wants of society in our country. It holds forth the true type of the perfect Gentleman, such as we wish might be presented before every Christian in our own day.

We have alluded to what we think is the great fault in the Sermons of Mr. Kingsley, as it is also of the School to which he is said to belong. We have no patience with self-opinionated innovators on such points as these. And yet, it would be most unwise in us, not to recognize the perhaps forgotten truth, which these men have seized hold of, and in the bold presentation of which, their whole strength consists.

SQUIER'S CENTRAL AMERICA. Notes on Central America, particularly the States of Honduras and San Salvador; their Geography, Topography, Climate, Population, Resources, Productions, &c., &c., and the proposed Inter-oceanic Railway. By E. G. SQUIER, formerly Chargé d'Affaires of the United States to the Republics of Central America. With original maps and illustrations. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1856. 8vo. pp. 397. New Haven: T. H. Pease.

For many reasons this is a most important and timely work. Mr. Squier's long familiarity with the country, and his capability to judge intelligently upon the subjects on which he speaks, render his book of the greatest value, and it may and will be appealed to as a work of authority. Central America is situated on the isthmus which unites the two continents of North America and South