than one hundred years ago by Mr. Wesley in the preface to his "Explanatory Notes on the New Testament," and the use he made of it in his interpretations of the Scripture. He says, "I once desired to write down, barely what occurred to my own mind, consulting none but the inspired writers; but no sooner was I acquainted with that great light of the Christian world, Bengelius, than I entirely changed my design, being thoroughly convinced it might be of more service to the cause of religion were I barely to translate his Gnomon Novi Testamenti than to write many volumes upon it. Many of his excellent notes I have therefore translated, many more I have abridged, omitting that part which was purely critical, and giving the substance of the rest."

The qualifications of Bengel for an expositor of Scripture were of the highest order. To mature scholarship he added a penetrating sagacity, a sound judgment, a profound deference to the authority of inspiration, and genuine piety; all which have been applied with singular industry and perseverance to the interpretation of the New Testament. The peculiar excellence of this work is its clear elucidation of the meaning of the sacred writers, without distracting the reader by diversified opinions, or encumbering the exposition by an ostentatious display of learning. Scholarship there is of a high degree, but it is modestly subordinated to the simple interpretation of God's word.

The author has bestowed great diligence in ascertaining the genuineness as well as unfolding the meaning of the text; and his care as well as his candour wins the confidence of the judicious reader. While the use Mr. Wesley has wisely made of this work has doubtless enriched his own, it by no means supersedes the publication of this; as we have here the process as well as the result, the evidence and reason as well as the conclusion of Bengel's sound judgment on the the text of the New Testament, besides a vast amount of excellent matter which Mr. Wes

ley's notes are too scanty to comprise.

The work was originally written in Latin, in which it was accessible only to the scholar; its translation into English will be hailed as a common boon to the careful student of holy Scripture. In this noble work, which is beautifully got up, the publishers have laid all denominations of Christians under a deep obligation, and we hope their spirited effort, made at great expense to themselves, will be duly appreciated and amply rewarded by an extensive sale of these most valuable and im

portant volumes.

James Montgomery: a Memoir, Po

see

litical and Poetical. By J. B.

King. London: Partridge & Co. FEW of our contemporaries have passed away more beloved, honoured, and revered than James Montgomery. In his fair character we combined the politician, the poet, the patriot, the philanthropist, and the highest style of man-the Christian. And if in any of these there is not the dazzling brilliancy which has marked the career of some, there is a harmonious blending of them all, imparting to his character a mild halo on which the eye reposes with sweet satisfaction. Through his public career, extending to beyond fourscore years, there is much of incident, giving a pretty full development of life in its diversified phases and conditions. Early deprived of his parents, and not liking the restraints of his Moravian education, he soon becomes a wanderer, and carves out his own history. Deriving experience from the struggles of disappointment in youth, he becomes the better fitted for the graver duties of manhood; and by dint of industry he rises from a shop lad to the responsible position of editor of a public journal. Embracing the side of liberty, he is twice incarcerated in York Castle. Free from every blemish on his character, persecution for his principles serves only to excite increasing admiration for his person, and popularity for his productions,

Meanwhile he acquires celebrity as a poet; and adding a more mellowed piety to his literary qualities, his poems aid the devotions of the sanctuary, while his prose writings advocate the cause of freedom and of public good. Retiring at a mature age from journalism, he becomes the patron and promoter of religious and philanthropic institutions; and full of years and of honours he dies as he had lived-the sterling and consistent Christian, the ornament of his adopted town, and an honour to religion. The book before us is written in a lively, pictorial style and in a candid spirit; but the pen is too light for the character of Montgomery, and the religious element is too faintly developed.

The Penalties of Greatness. By the Rev. Robert Ferguson, LL.D., F.R.S.L. London: Ward and Co., 27, Paternoster-row.

THE principle of the author is, that greatness inevitably involves suffering; and for this obvious reason, that as the majesty of intellectual or moral excellence soars so high above the ordinary thoughts and habits of man, it necessarily has to encounter the hostility which ignorant prejudice, fostered selfishness, armed depravity, and sceptred ambition, marshal against truth and goodness; but yet that the greatness itself becomes greater still in its conquest of these opposing powers, and its subordination of the inferior world of mind to its lofty and holy purposes.

In illustration of this principle, the author makes a selection from the panorama of history of the following, as his representative men: Moses, the leader of the great Exodus-Socrates, the man of uncorrupted virtue-Paul, the apostle of the nations-Dante, the father of Italian poetry-Wickliffe, the morning star of the reformation-Columbus, the discoverer of the New World-Luther, the monk that shook the world-Xavier, the man of self-consuming zeal-Tycho Brahe, Kepler, and Galileo-The Pilgrim

Fathers-Cromwell, the name at which the world grew pale. The work is written with ability; it contains many eloquent passages, and the constellation he has selected clearly and forcibly illustrates the principle asserted. It might, however, have been shown with equal prominence, that greatness has its rewards and honours, as well as its penalties. This fact, indeed, does in some degree appear in the present volume.

The Union Magazine for Sunday
School Teachers. Vol. xiv. 1857.
Sunday School Union, 56, Old
Bailey, London, E.C.
The Bible Class Magazine. Vol. x.
1857. Sunday School Union, 56,
Old Bailey, London.

BOTH of the above publications are well got up, and full of good things.

The Church and the Age; or, a Working Church the Want of the Times. By the Rev. J. Stacey. London: J. B. Cooke, Warwick-lane, Paternos

ter-row.

THAT the church needs arousing all admit; and if the power of the pen could effect this awakening, we should soon have it with all its attendant blessings. Treatises, essays, and dis courses, on this subject, are emanating from every quarter. The cry of an earnest ministry and an earnest church is heard as from a trumpet-blast, and with a frequency that implies earnestness somewhere. We welcome these efforts, though we lament their small effect. Thrice within one year has the trumpet sounded within our own encampment, mustering our hosts to battle, and directing them to the assailable quarters of the foe. Happy for us if it be found that these earnest and eloquent calls have been regarded, and that valorous enterprise has pushed onward the conquests of the church. third call to duty echoes in the volume before us, and though it proceeds from a silver trumpet it gives no uncertain sound; it is clear, distinct, and intelligible as the voice of a herald, faithful as the grave admonitions of a prophet, yet animating as the glowing promises of an evangelist.

The

Though the work before us does not shape itself exclusively to the question, "How shall we gather in the masses?

29

it is undoubtedly one of high excellence, and embodies a great amount of important truth, which it is our interest as well as our duty gravely to ponder, and practically to regard. Beauty and power, simplicity and elegance, microscopic investigation and far-seeing vision, are presented in almost every page; and while duty is set forth with a fervid eloquence, it is enforced on the conscience by the higher authority of "Thus saith the Lord."

The first chapter is "On the necessity for united labour," founded on the little that has yet been accomplished for the regeneration of the world, and on the prevailing indifference and apathy of the church.

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Chapters fourth and fifth are devoted to "The duties demanded of the people' -their agency in promoting the efficiency of the regular ministry-a higher degree of personal Christianity-an intense desire for the conversion of sinners the personal employment of all the members of the church in some definite sphere of religious activity. In illustrating these duties and urging them on the church, the author evinces the same glowing fervour, and gives utterance to the swelling emotions of his heart in language and imagery, forcible and beautiful, as if his pen had been dipped in inspiration.

The closing chapter shows "What is necessary to both ministers and people."-A larger measure of Divine power, proceeding from the Holy Spirit, and to be obtained by habitual, continuous, earnest, and waiting prayer, presented in the name of Jesus Christ. The ministry and the people, if filled with this power, become fitted for the great and holy enterprise set before them, the desired success becomes certain, and the word of the Lord must have free course and be glorified. The views of the author on these subjects are pre-eminently clear and scriptural,

are illustrated by some telling incidents, and pressed with an earnestness well becoming their solemn importance, and imperative necessity.

The volume has improved since we saw it in manuscript. A few passages to which we then took exception have been expunged or modified; and others, excellent before, are further enhanced in value by revision and expansion. We would merely add, that we think the remarks on the Calvinistic view of the Divine Sovereignty in page 13 might have been omitted without detriment to the volume. We think also the tone of some remarks on our own ministry, as compared with that of other denominations, is somewhat too depreciatory. The observation that "the affections (of a child) are unquestionably depraved," page 181, we would extend to other powers of the soul as well as "the affections." We should also have been glad to see some stirring remarks on the importance of employing our local preachers more fully in the aggressive action of the church to reclaim the masses from ignorance and vice, and bring them to the enjoyment of salvation. But there is so much in the volume that commands our approval, and not only our approval but our high admiration, that we pass over these few points with this brief indication of our views, and hasten to exhort our friends everywhere to add this treasure to their libraries; and having prayerfully pondered its solemn truths and important statements, to arise at once to perform, with all fidelity and zeal, the imperative duties it enjoins. When our friends have read this able volume, and the brief but soul-stirring essays of our devoted ministers-Messrs. Wright, Saxton, and Robey, they will be richly furnished with matter and motive,-with directions as to the mode and persuasions as to the duty of addressing themselves in good earnest to reclaim "the masses" that are lying everywhere around us in ignorance and sin.

The volume is got up in a very superior style, and does great credit to the printer, Mr. Coultas, of York.

Cassell's Illustrated Almanack for 1858.

London: W. Kent & Co., Paternoster-row, and sold by all Booksellers. Ir is rather late to introduce to our readers an almanack for the present year; yet as some persons perchance may not even yet be supplied with one,

it will not be out of place to notice this, which, for cheapness, the quantity and variety of its matter, and its numerous well-executed illustrations, has high claims to public attention. It contains the usual calendar for the year, with a summary of the necessary operations for the farm and garden; seasonable hints, &c.; illustrations of the marriages in different parts of the world, twelve engravings; chronicle of events, being a résumé of the most important occurrences, from September, 1856, to September, 1857, with twelve large illustrations of interesting occurrences. A great variety of useful information, including a list of bankers, postal regulations, rise and progress of British supremacy in India, obituary, information for emigrants, acts of parliament, stamps and taxes, sovereigns of Europe, the government, principal officers of department, houses of lords and commons, courts of law, valuable statistics, &c.

The Book of Books: A Lay Sermon. By W. Tidd Matson.

MR. MATSON is a worthy member of our society at Britannia-fields chapel. He is both poet and preacher. The sermon before us is on The Excellency of the Scriptures, and the Duty of searching them. It is a very creditable production, and we wish it a wide circulation. (See Advertisement wrapper.)

on

The Revival Advocate, January, 1858. London: J. B. Cooke, 21, Pater

noster-row.

A NEW serial, and one calculated to do good. The first number contains a portrait of the Rev. James Caughey. (See Advertisement on January wrapper.)

Portraits of the Princess Royal and the Prussian Prince. Most beautifully done in oil colours, with appropriate poetry, printed in silver. By Wm. Dickes; and sold by Ackermann, Strand, and by J. B. Cooke, 21, Warwick-lane, London.

THE execution of these portraits, in the new style of oil printing on paper, reflects the highest credit on Mr. Dickes as an artist. They are real gems, and by those who cherish loyalty to the throne, these portraits will be prized as a most appropriate memorial of the interesting event just now occurring the marriage of the princess. Their cheapness renders them accessible to all of moderate means.

The British Workman and Friend of the Sons of Toil for 1857. London: Published by Partridge and Co., 34, Paternoster-row.

A PUBLICATION truly valuable and wonderfully cheap. The sentiments are excellent, being eminently calculated to improve the tone of public morals, promote domestic virtue, and impress the hardy sons of toil with the value and importance of religion. The engravings are numerous and very good.

The Leisure Hour; a Family Journal of Instruction and Recreation, Jan. 1858. Sunday at Home for Jan. 1858. London: 56, Paternosterrow, and 164, Piccadilly.

BOTH these periodicals sustain well the reputation they have won for imparting valuable information, both rare and ordinary, on a great variety of subjects, and for imparting to that information an evangelical tone and a religious effect.