perverted forms.

His book is not controversial, but eclectic and supplementary. He starts with expounding the true ideal of Christian consecration, and shows how various are the aspects in which it presents itself, how broad and many-sided the culture it demands, how strenuous the effort it involves. Christian principle is something more than ecstatic feeling and earnest resolve, it is more than a quiescent faith and elevated contemplation. Conflict, tribulation, dissatisfaction, perils, and other such words are not unknown in the Christian vocabulary, and we are here made to feel how real they are, and how blessed may be their results to those who abide faithful. Mr. Mackennal is a careful and concise thinker. The tone of his sermons is healthy and invigorating, and he speaks as one who knows the age in which he lives. His position is equally remote from that of the dreamer and sentimentalist on the one hand, and from that of the materialist and necessitarian on the other. His teaching gathers up the elements of truth in Optimism and Pessimism alike. Young men, especially, will be profited by his sermons. They are occupied with questions of every day life, and discuss them from a manly Christian stand point. Such discourses as

"The Endeavour of the Christian Life," "God's Gentleness," "God's Joy," "The Perils of Wealth," &c., are invaluable, and give us a specimen of the preaching which, in our day, we especially need.

THE BIBLE RECORD OF CREATION TRUE FOR EVERY AGE. By P. W. Grant. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 27, Paternoster Row. 1877.

THE relations of science and scripture are discussed to-day with an eagerness and a zest-may we not

also add, with a fearlessness and a'candour-which would have surprised our forefathers. Mr. Grant has entered into the discussion con amore. We do not know whether he is a professed theologian, or whether he writes as a layman (if we may use the term under protest), but he is certainly a man of considerable scholarship and culture. He has read extensively, both in theology and in science, and his mind has reacted on what he has read. In expounding the first three chapters of Genesis, he necessarily travels over somewhat wide ground and discusses topics of very varied character and interest. But the work is nevertheless pervaded by a unity of purpose, and is more or less an illustration of the only principle by which, in the author's view, the Scripture record can be justly interpreted. His principle is

that the order in which the creation works are recorded in the narrative was not intended to reveal the order of physical development now brought to light, more especially by the science of geology. The author's arguments in support of this principle are as simple as they are ingenious-that is their strong recommendation, for there is nothing strained or unnatural about them, and they are, if not absolutely conclusive, as nearly so as in matters of this kind they can be. The "days" are regarded as indefinite epochs, and this being so, the vaunted difficulties brandished in the name of science disappear. Professor Huxley would candidly read Mr. Grant's book, we venture to think that he would never again speak of "barbarous Hebrew legends." He would at least see that we have as strong and valid grounds for our faith in Scripture as he has for faith in science. There are various details, in regard to which we differ from Mr. Grant, but with the bulk of his book we heartily

If

agree. Let our intelligent young men who are interested in such questions by all means read it. They will find in it a storehouse of information on scientific and biblical subjects. The author has familiarized himself with the facts of physiological, astronomical, geological, and other sciences, and reproduced them in an independent and an attractive form, and his criticisms on current theories-particularly on the Darwinian hypothesis, the baseless character of which he clearly shows are shrewd, keen-sighted, and telling. He is also a fair Hebrew scholar, and has spoken wisely on the controversy relating to the divine names as well as on other matters of general interest. The book may not satisfy all demands, but it is an honour to have produced it, and the author may be assured that it will render service of no small importance to large numbers who desire to be loyal both to reason and to faith, and who cannot doubt that both scripture and science are from God.

2. ST. PAUL IN GREECE. By the Rev. G. S. Davies, M.A., Charterhouse, Godalming.

3. ST. PAUL IN ASIA MINOR AND AT THE SYRIAN ANTIOCH. By the Rev. E. H. Plumptre, M.A. 4. ST. PAUL AT ROME. By the Very Rev. Charles Merivale, D.D., D.C.L., Dean of Ely. London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 77, Great Queen Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields. THE idea of this series of books is in itself so admirable that it would be quite superfluous to commend it.

The life of the great apostle of the Gentiles possesses an undying attraction for men of the most opposite types of character, and its study was never of greater value than now. We cannot, however, understand it, unless we have also a clear conception of its surroundings-not merely in the geographical sense, but in respect likewise to the intellectual, the social, the political, and religious condition of the people among whom he moved. It is the aim of this series to supply in a compact and popular form the requisite information, and the aim has been carried out in a singularly effective manner. The four writers to whom the task has been entrusted are men of the highest reputation as scholars and historians, and they have displayed in these small books the same fine insight, the same powers of description, and the same soundness of judgment as have gained so hearty a recognition in their other works. Canon Rawlinson deals with "St. Paul in Damascus and Arabia "—the epoch, i.e., of his * conversion and of his "three years" retirement before he began his missionary labours. The section on "St. Paul in Greece," by Mr. Davies, is particularly fresh and vigorous. There is a charm about that classic land to which the most unimaginative reader must yield, and its influence is felt throughout the whole of these pages. The political position, the national character, the religion, the art and the morals of the Greeks, are all succinctly and vividly described, and to a large extent we are enabled to realise the exact conditions under which the

great apostle must have been brought into contact with its marvellous, The though then decaying, life. discussion on the relation of art to morals is one of the most judicious we have seen. Of Professor Plumptre's volume it will suffice to

say that it will take rank with the very best works which this accomplished scholar has yet produced. No places gather around them more sacred associations than Antioch, Ephesus, and Galatia, and Mr. Plumptre has here told us all that, as intelligent Biblical students, we need care to know. The same may be said of Dean Merivale's "St. Paul at Rome." A book on this subject, by one who has gained distinction as the historian of the "Romans under the Empire," requires no eulogium from us. And yet we cannot deny ourselves the pleasure of expressing a cordial appreciation of its merits. It is a model of lucid and pithy writing, revealing on every page the genius of a profound scholar and a powerful thinker. We may refer to the descriptions of the Roman law-of the nature and influence of the stoical philosophy-especially in connection with the life of Seneca and the sketch of the persecutions under Nero, as illustrations of our meanThe work will prove ing. invaluable help to the student of the closing scenes of the apostle's career. In fact, the entire series demands the heartiest recognition as one of the most suggestive and helpful which has yet appeared in relation to a subject of perennial interest.

an

ENGLISH PICTURES DRAWN WITH PEN AND PENCIL. By the Rev. S. MANNING, LL.D., and the Rev. S. GREEN, D.D. London: Religious Tract Society, 56, Paternoster Row.

THE cordial reception which has been given to previous volumes of this series, which have proceeded from the able pen of Dr. S. Manning, will, we are quite sure, be extended to this volume, in which Dr. Green also has contributed to the letter-press portion of the work.

The subjects selected for illustration are varied and numerous, and all of them famous for historical interest or picturesque belonging. The artistic portion of the volume is of the highest order, both of invention and execution. The reader of this volume who has travelled through his native land (and not to have done so in these days of facile locomotion must be either a reproach or a calamity) will recall to mind many pleasant memories of holiday entertainment. The pleasure will be heightened by the privilege of being chaperoned through scenes of exalted interest and bewitching beauty by the learned editors, whose vigorous descriptions will do more even than the pictorial adjuncts of the book to indent the various subjects upon the memory. Our readers will be troubled to find a volume equal in beauty and usefulness to this at three or four times its very moderate cost of eight shillings.

FOR THE

PURE GOLD SUNDAY SCHOOL. A new collection of Songs. Prepared and adapted by the Rev. R. LowRY and W. HOWARD Edited by London: DANIEL

管理

DOANE.

SEDGWICK. Sampson Low & Co. Price 4d. THE ROYAL DIADEM. Songs for the Sunday School. Prepared and adapted by the Rev. R. LowRY and W. HOWARD DOANE. Edited by DANIEL SEDGWICK. London: Sampson Low & Co. Price 4d. THE former of these little books contains one hundred and seventythree, and the latter one hundred and sixty-nine compositions for the use of Sunday Schools. By far the greater portion of the two collections consists of the productions of American authors, and of the jinglejangle species of versification, which, in our humble opinion, is already

sufficiently represented in modern hymnology. No imputation whatever is intended by our criticism of the excellent motives of the authors, editors, and publishers of these recent additions to the psalmody of the church; but, in the interests of the rising generation, we must enter our protest against the lowering of the standard of taste, and the ultimate enfeeblement of the service of song to which the use of such compositions will infallibly tend. Confused metaphors, imperfect rhymes, forced analogies, inaccurate rhythm, strained epithets, and tortured verbiage, are never more out of place than in the hymnology of the young.

We do not wish to imply that there is nothing in these little books which may be wisely included in children's services; but

there is far too much of the labouring-after-effect, at the cost of weightier matters, to enable us to give our unqualified approval, and, therefore, we reluctantly decide that the "gold" is not "pure gold," and the "diadem " has mingled with its gems a considerable proportion of paste.

THE SALE OF CALLOWFIELDS. By Mrs. PROSSER. London : The Religious Tract Society.

THE name of Mrs. Prosser is a sufficient guarantee for the excellence of any volume which she publishes. All things considered, we do not think any of the numerous productions of her pen superior to this bright and pleasing story.

Leeds, York Road, September 18th.

Todmorden, September 6th.

Tooting, Surrey, September 28th.