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have ventured to make, and that he will be able to produce a standard work on the subject of his favourite study which will become a text-book in many of our literary institutions.

Country Cousins. pp. 286. Designed to show how a Christian may be in the world, yet not of the world.

George Somerville; or the boy who would be a minister. pp. 88. Amos Armfield; or the leather-covered Bible. pp. 123.

The Gospel among the Bechuanas and other Tribes of Southern Africa. pp. 296.

Learning to Think, by the author of Learning to Feel and
Learning to Act. pp. 180.

Wings for Holiday Hours, with Illustrations. pp. 102.
Don't and Do. pp. 62.

Guide to the Saviour, pp. 157, designed for Sunday school and other children.

THESE are among the recent publications of the American Sunday School Union, an institution which is quietly prosecuting its important work of fostering Sunday school instruction and of providing books for Sunday school libraries. By long experience its managers have learned to adapt their publications to the class of persons for whom they are designed, and they seem to be constantly endeavouring to elevate the standard both as to the contents and getting up of books intended for the young. They are certainly doing a great work, and have a strong claim to the confidence and support of all denominations of evangelical Christians.

An Exposition of the Acts of the Apostles in the form of Questions and Answers. Designed for Bible classes, associations and country congregations. By J. J. Janeway, D.D. Part I. Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Publication. 1846. THE catechetical method of exposition, adopted by Dr. Janeway, has great advantages. It presents in a definite form the points to be explained, and gives the explanation in the form adapted to the difficulty. It serves also to arrest and fix attention on the doctrines and contents of the scripture, and to bring them intelligibly before the mind. We hope the venerable author may be able to prosecute his plan, and give the church such an exposition of the whole of the New Testament.

The Bible Manual; comprising Selections from Scripture, arranged for occasions of private and public worship, both special and ordinary. Together with Scripture expressions of Prayer, abridged from Matthew Henry. With an appendix consisting of a copious classification of scripture text, presenting a systematic view of the doctrines and duties of revelation. By W. W. Everts, Pastor of Laight street church, New York. New York: Lewis Colby & Co. 1846. pp. 325. Appendix pp. 114.

THIS copious title page gives a clear idea of the design of this work; a design which must at once commend itself to the reader as important. It will of itself awaken an interest in the work, and a desire to obtain it as a valuable assistance both for pastors and private Christians. To give an idea of the plan on which the systematic view of doctrines, &c., contained in the appendix is carried out, we select the head, "Justification before God." "Promised in Christ. Is the act of God." "UNDER THE LAW, Requires perfect obedience. Man cannot attain to. UNDER THE GOSPEL. Is not of works. Is not of faith and works united. Is by faith alone. Is of grace. In the name of Christ. By the imputation of Christ's righteousness. By the blood of Christ. By the resurrection of Christ. Blessedness of. Frees from condemnation. Entitles to an inheritance. Ensures glorification. The wicked shall not attain to. BY FAITH, Revealed under the old dispensation. Excludes boasting. Does not make void the law. Typified, Illustated, Exemplified." Under these heads reference is made to proof passages of scripture. The reader will at once see the assistance such a book is likely to afford in the investigation of any scriptural subject.

An Exposition of the Confession of Faith of the Westminster Assembly of Divines. By Rev. Robert Shaw. Revised by the Committee of Publication. Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Publication. 1847. pp. 352.

THIS book is strictly what it purports to be, an exposition of the Confession of Faith. The contents of the Confession are given section by section, and the exposition follows as a comment. From the extent of ground to be passed over, the exposition is of course brief; but it is sound, popular, judicious, and comprehensive.

Secret Prayer and its accompanying Exercises. By Rev. James McGill. Hightae, Lochmaben. Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Publication. 1846. pp. 276.

THIS work is designed to assist young persons and others in acquiring devotional habits, without aid from written forms. It contains practical remarks on the several parts of prayer, adoration, confession, petition, &c., all designed not only to explain but to enforce the duty and to be a guide in performing it.

Anecdotes, illustrative of a select passage in each chapter of the Testament. By John Whitecross. In two volumes. Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Publication.

THE adage that example is better than precept, though a fallacy, contains a form of truth. Doctrines or precepts when presented in the concrete form of example, often attract attention and make an impression, which an abstract proposition would fail to do. We have found the anecdotes of Mr. Whitecross on the Catechism an attractive book for children, and we doubt not in its measure, an useful one; effects, we admit, due neither to their pertinency nor to their inherent worth, but simply to their being facts, historically stated, and having a humanizing tendency. We therefore hope that these volumes, which appear to be of a higher order, will be still more entertaining and instructive.

Popular Lectures on the Epistle to the Hebrews. In four quarterly numbers. Nos. I. and II. September and December, 1845. By Joseph Augustus Seiss, Pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Shepherdstown, Virginia. Baltimore: Printed at the Publication Rooms, No. 7 South Liberty St. 1846.

THE mode of exposition by popular lectures has many advantages. It enables the exegete to take up the subjects treated of in any particular book of scripture, in their order, and to set them forth with all the additional light and illustration borrowed from other parts of the word of God, and to enforce them by appropriate inferences. Thus Mr. Seiss takes up the general subjects of the "Superior excellence of the gospel," "The Deity of Christ," "Christ's superangelic dignity," as topics embraced in the first chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews; and in this

way he goes through the whole boook. The lectures evince judiciousness and an evangelical spirit.

A Comprehensive Lexicon of the Greek Language, adapted to the use of schools and colleges in the United States. Third edition, greatly enlarged and improved. By John Pickering. Boston: Wilkins, Carter & Co. 1846. 8vo. pp. 1456.

So much of the comfort and progress of a student of any language depends on the Lexicon he uses, that the choice he makes of this essential and constant companion, is a matter of great importance. What he needs, especially if a beginner, is such an arrangement as shall facilitate the finding any word he wishes to examine. Secondly, that its various inflexions should be so far given as to enable him to determine its class and peculiarities. Third, that its meanings should be concisely and clearly stated in their natural order of descent from the primary signification of its root. Fourth, that the mode of construction with other words should be pointed out, and that the modification of its meaning thereby effected should be indicated. Fifth, that a sufficient number of examples should be given to illustrate and authenticate the meaning and constructions assigned to the word. Sixth, that its etymology and combinations should be so far stated as to enable the student to ascertain the family connexion, so to speak, to which it belongs.

This Lexicon of Mr. Pickering fulfils all these conditions, as far as we have been able to examine, satisfactorily, some of them more fully indeed than others. The alphabetic arrangement, the copious detail of the various forms of the words, and the separate mention of the principal dialetical and irregular forms, will be found a great assistance to the student. We are less favourably impressed with the arrangement of the several meanings which do not always seem to follow in their natural order. The quotations from authorities are sufficiently numerous to answer the purpose of the student in the first stages of his progress. The volume is further recommended by the clearness of the type and whiteness of the paper.

The lexicon of Liddell and Scott has some advantages over Mr. Pickering's Dictionary for advanced students, but for beginners, the latter is probably the best lexicon that has yet been published.

VOL. XIX.-NO. I.

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A Brief Compend of Bible Truth. By Archibald Alexander, D.D., Professor in the Theological Seminary, Princeton, N. J. Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Publication. pp. 207. THIS Volume "comprises a brief system of theology, and may be found useful to such as may not have the opportunity of studying larger works. As it is not intended for the learned, but for plain, common readers, technical phrases and abstruse disquisitions have been avoided; yet, the author has attempted to establish every doctrine advanced, by solid arguments, derived from reason and scripture."

The Doctrine of the Direct Witness of the Spirit as taught by the Rev. John Wesley, shown to be unscriptural, false, fanatical and of mischievous tendency. By Frederick A. Ross. Philadelphia: Published for the author, by Perkins & Purves. 1846.

THE doctrine of Wesley on the direct witness of the Spirit, is carefully stated by Mr. Ross from the writings and in the words of Wesley himself; the several epithets applied in the title page to this doctrine are then made the heads of the discourse; anfi the changes involved in them are sustained with great clearness and force. Mr. Ross is an excellent controversial writer; cautious in his statements, cogent in argument, and lucid in his order. This little work is well adapted to correct a very mischievous error, and to open the eyes of the Christian public to the leaven of fanaticism which entered into the original composition of methodism, and which it is to be feared is by no means yet purged out.

A Progressive German Reader, adapted to the American Edition of Ollendorff's German Grammar: with copious notes and a vocabulary. By G. J. Adler, A. B., Professor of the German Language and Literature in the University of the city of New York. New York: D. Appleton & Co. Philadelphia: Geo. S. Appleton. 1847. pp. 309.

THE increasing attention to the German language and literature, in this country, creates a demand for such works as the above. They ought to be prepared by real scholars, in order that the language should be unfolded in its true principles and the learner introduced into that path which will conduct him to a thorough knowledge of its structure and peculiarities. A great

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