racteristics; and if the united literary efforts of the Scottish Episcopal clergy can only produce such a serial as this, their abilities must be small and their energies less. We are by no means certain that the vulgar pomposity and "ensation" leaders of the defunct Journal did not afford more amusing reading. What the Scottish Guardian guards it would be difficult to say. It is scarcely possible to notice all the pamphlets and essays that appear in reply to the theological and rationalistic heresies of the present day. Those, however, that deserve a special commendation shall not be passed over. Amongst these is a very able paper by Mr. Gregory Smith of Brazenose College, On Modern Scepticism and some of its Fallacies (London: J. H. and J. Parker) distinguished alike for its calm argument, deep thought, and clear language. The value of Catholic tradition is forcibly and fully brought out at page 25, and will be recognized more and more as the controversy widens. The founder of that grand imposture, the Anglo-Continental Association, Mr. Frederick Meyrick, has stepped forward unsolicited to take part in the controversy between Dr. Newman and Mr. Kingsley, with a shallow sixpenny tract entitled But isn't Kingsley right after all? (London: Rivingtons), which, for uncalled-for insolence and calm impertinence, is beyond praise. According to Mr. Meyrick, Dr. Newman is to be held responsible for all the theological opinions of S. Alphonsus, which would be just as reasonable as to father Mr. Jowett's "views" on the ex-fellow of Trinity. People very frequently take some time to learn to mind their own business, -an acquisition which, in Mr. Meyrick's case, undoubtedly lies in the future. All who take an interest in the present Catholic revival in the Church of England should at once procure for themselves The Case of the Rev. Alfred Poole, M.A., (London: Masters) which places on record a series of acts of singular injustice on the part of the Bishop of London, instigated by an idle clergyman named Baring. Incidentally the whole question of confession was defended, and though Mr. Poole himself suffered, the "Poole Case," as it was technically called, settled the matter of confession. Bishop Tait has, we believe, again and again expressed regret that he allowed himself to be misled by prejudiced fanatics, and cordially congratulated Mr. Poole on being appointed the incumbent of a quiet out-of-the-way village in Hampshire. We presume that we are indebted to the incumbent of St. Mary's, Aberdeen, for a beautifully-printed copy of the Service for the Solemn Blessing and Opening of that church. It is judiciously compiled, and having been sanctioned by the Bishop of Aberdeen, may prove the ground-work of similar services in other dioceses. The system of antiphons, and special blessings for special places and things, is wisely and properly recognized and restored. It can be obtained from Messrs. A. Brown & Co., booksellers, Aberdeen. We are pleased to mark that the Norwich Spectator (Norwich: Cundall) keeps up its original character for orthodoxy and interest. The Conservatives are beginning to learn that their opportunity for serving the Church must not be neglected. Legislation, whether in general or detail, must either be Christian or non-Christian. It will be a sad day if the clergy of the English Establishment are induced to swerve from a sound Tory policy. As far as Mr. F. Lygon is concerned-who wisely reprints his excellent speech University Tests (Oxford: J. H. & J. Parker)-he fails not to point out what should be the resolute attitude of Churchmen with reference to severing the connection between the University of Oxford and the Church of England. An anonymous writer has published a letter to Robert Brett Esq., on The Second Death (London: Church Press Company), which points out the not improbable dangers that may arise from the coalition between Catholics and Puritans, and treats the theological question under consideration with sound judgment and considerable acumen. Sermons on Union and Unity are evidently on the increase. All such are thoroughly welcome. If Mr. Arthur Dawson's, entitled Christian Union (Dublin: W. M'Ghee), is not exactly to our taste in all particulars-and we are free to confess that it is not-we can, nevertheless, cordially approve of much that it contains, and commend the good intentions of the author, while, at the same time, we respectfully advise him to leave off the practice of denouncing his Roman Catholic brethren, which can do no good, and is neither calculated to heal the breach between us, nor to advance the cause of re-union. Of all people under the sun, clergymen of the Irish Establishment live in a glass house, and should not indulge in the dangerous practice of throwing stones. Mr. Robert Liddell's sermon On the Inspiration of Holy Scripture (London: Masters) is a well-written and thoughtful discourse, which, if not very deep, is calculated to do good. The strong language, towards its conclusion, should only be used by those who intend to follow it up by a bold and resolute policy. Res non verba is a motto which some Anglo-Catholic clergymen very frequently forget. We should do Mr. Liddell an injustice, however, if we dreamt of including him amongst the number. He is always frank, and generous, and honest. Many of our readers will be glad to learn that "School Offices" and "Parochial Offices" have been republished separately from the Priest's Prayer Book, and may be had for a mere nominal price of Mr. Masters. A short story entitled Edna Grant, or Never Lonely, by F. H. London Masters), is evidently the production of a warm, earnest, and religious mind, and is chiefly commendable for its truly Catholic : tone. We sincerely sympathise with the writer's desire, that the "cause of the crossing-sweepers may not be pleaded in vain ;" for it is a sketch of some successful work amongst this neglected class that is brought before us in this tale. A small volume of verses, by Mr. Walter Evans, entitled The Mission of the Earth (London: Richardson & Son), deserves commendation rather for the good intentions of its author, than for anything very remarkable in the book itself. There are, nevertheless, some more than creditable compositions, while the excellent tone and sound principles of the writer are all that could be desired. Hatherleigh Cross, a tale, by Mrs. F. J. Mitchell (London: Masters), is exceedingly simple in character, and intended for quite young readers. While it contains much that is good and harmless, we most strongly object to that portion of it which uncharitably and untruly accuses others of "giving these carvings" (viz., figures of our Lord crucified, and of the blessed Virgin with the Holy Child) "the reverence due to God alone, and of thinking these images could save them from all evil." We cannot conceive how an authoress, whose publisher is Mr. Masters, could have written anything so absurd for the edification of youthful minds. The Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament has issued a small manual, entitled Offices of Spiritual Communion (London: Masters), compiled with moderation and success. No translations of Italian rhapsodies are given, and all extravagant and questionable language is wisely avoided. The Mosaic Cosmogony-A Literal Translation of the First Chapter of Genesis, with Annotations and Rationalia By Robert George Suckling Browne, B. D., formerly of Caius' and of St John's Colleges, Cambridge; Fellow, twice elected, of Dulwich College; and Vicar of Atwich, Yorkshire, (London: Masters.) This work "is designed," as the author tells us, "to obviate and clear away difficulties, by affording a correct view of the Mosaic account of the creation." The difficulties, according to him, arise from the idea of ar ex nihilo creation, which, he asserts, "is not the dictum of the Creator," but an hypothesis of human invention. "It may have in it a qualified truth; it contains an indubitable assumption. Its plea of piety, in witholding the characteristic of being eternal from every claimant save the eternal God alone, is specious. Piety does not presumptuously rush to an undemonstrable conclusion, which the eternal Fountain of Truth has left undeclared." (It is some comfort to see that by what follows soon after, that Mr. Browne does not really believe the eternity of matter.) Unfortunately Mr. Browne fails to see that the apparent difficulties to which he refers are equally well explained (though we ourselves doubt whether even this is the true explanation) on the hypothesis, that the long periods required for the production of geological phenomena may quite well come in between what is described in the first two verses of Genesis, and what is described in the third verse. He himself places the geologic periods previously to the event recorded in the first two verses, which verses he renders, "In the beginning God restored to order the heavens and the earth. Seeing that the earth had been and was in existence, an exceeding desolation, and darkness (was) on the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God brooded on the face of the waters," -devoting much space to prove (what we do not deny) that the Hebrew word rendered in the authorised version "created" does not necessarily mean made out of nothing." To prove that such a meaning is, moreover, absolutely precluded in the said passage, he quotes, Is. xliii. 7, not perceiving that the climax there is conclusive against his view. "I have created him [at first, out of nothing]; I have formed him [i.e., given him a shape]; yea, I have fashioned him [in all the minutia af the utmost detail]." The only other argument adduced by Mr. Browne, and which can be considered of any weight at all, is based on our Lord's words, "Have ye not read that He which made them at the beginning," &c., where it is assumed that "the beginning" is that of the whole creation, and not of the human species alone. It is to be regretted that in one place "Beings" [sic] "who are omniscient as well as omnipotent" are spoken of as having created man, though this, we believe, is a mere lapsus calami. When, however, we add that in the "literal translation" there is scarcely a verse which does not contain at least one grammatical blunder, the writer being an enthusiastic admirer of that "illustrious authority" (!) the late Professor Lee of Cambridge, the marvellousness of whose grammatical crotchets, or rather absurdities, has only been equalled (alas for the low ebb of Hebrew learning in England!) by the marvellousness of their reception; our readers will probably agree with us in thinking that the time, paper, ink, and money, expended on their production might have been much better employed in other ways. The book consists of a preface, then two or three verses of Genesis, then several pages of commentary, then more verses, followed in turn by more commentary, and so on to the end of the chapter: after which there is a "recapitulation" (in which, by the way, we are told that "I am the door" and "This is My body" are merely Hebraisms for "I am as the door" and "This is as My body," and that Christ "changed the Hebrew name Cephas into Peter," Greek being the ordinary conversational language of Christ and the Apostles,-and then "a literal and a readable translation of the first chapter of Genesis," given in parallel columns, and in which all the grammatical blunders were faithfully repeated. But enough, and more than enough. ART. XVIII.-The Acta Sanctorum. Acta Sanctorum quotquot toto orbe coluntur vel a Catholicis Scriptoribus celebrantur, &c., collegit, digessit, notis illustravit JOANNES BOLLANDUS, Theologus, Societatis Jesu. Servata primigenia Scriptorum priorum, Operam et Studium contulit Godfridus Henschenius, ejusdem Societatis Theologus. Editio Novissima, Curante Joanne Carnandet. Paris Apud Victor Palmé, Bibliopolam. Januarii Tertius Tomus. 1863. ATTENTION was called in a former number to this new edition of the Bollandist Acta Sanctorum (vol. ii., p. 220), which is now coming out under the superintendance of the noted Joannes Carnandet. We spoke in round numbers when we stated that the work was to be completed in fifty-six numbers; for the fifty-eighth number or volume of the new and present Bollandists, the fourth which they have issued, and the tenth volume for October, leaves them still sixty-eight days ere their labours shall have reached their consummation. We can never expect to see the end of this great work, and many generations must come and go before the hagiology of the entire year shall have been completed. Our business will not be now with the four new volumes belonging to the month of October, but to make a few general remarks upon the January volumes of this new edition. May we again repeat what we have said before, that the cost of these magnificent volumes is only twenty-five shillings each, and that the library of no Churchman who possesses a library at all will henceforth be considered as complete without these books being found in it. They are, from a secular point of view, marvellous chronicles drawn from contemporaneous sources of the times of which they treat. To the historian their value is priceless; they furnish us with a contemporary record of matters which, except by these means, would never have come down to us. For the lives themselves, they are written with all care, and with all moderation every old chronicle, all the earlier biographies have been thoroughly sifted, and, while that which is worthless has been cast aside, that which is valuable has been retained. The extreme moderation of the Bollandist Fathers was the cause of their sufferings, and of the temporary suspension of their work. Because Papenbrock, the third of the original Bollandist Fathers, denied that the Prophet Elijah was the founder of the Carmelites, the Acts were con : |