of publishing, or leaving for publication, an Exposition of the Epistle to the Romans, "which might have some claim to the threefold appellation of a grammatical, historical and logical commentary." Epistle, which he regards as the "nearest approach of anything in the sacred volume to a systematic view of Christianity," he has made the subject of critical study for more than forty years, having carefully availed himself of all the most valuable helps for this purpose, and having repeatedly presented his illustrations of it, in substance, and enlarged and corrected from time to time, to classes of theological students. The work, however, on this large plan, we are sorry to learn, is still so far from being what he thinks it ought to be, that he cannot expect to be able to complete it, at his advanced age, which, from an allusion in the Dedication, we infer to be near fourscore. The present work is an abridgment and condensation of the larger and completer work which had been his aim and hope for so many years. In it he has endeavored to present, in the plainest words, the true meaning and force of the statements, contained in the Epistle, concerning the doctrine and law of Christ, and the arguments in support of the one, and the motives to comply with the other; and in such a manner that the general reader, acquainted only with the English language, will see and appreciate the evidence that the real import of the Apostle's words is given. In doing this he leaves out the grammatical and historical features of the larger Commentary, which he had planned; though on their basis he forms the logical or analytical exposition to which he confines himself. Brown, in our judgment, has done well what he has proposed to himself to do in this volume. While we cannot but regret the lack of that thorough and satisfactory discussion of some of the more difficult parts of the Epistle, which doubtless we should have had in the fuller and complete work, we are sure that for the general reader this is one of the most safe and instructive expositions extant of this very important part of the Sacred Scriptures. It is very gratifying to us to find that Dr. Brown's conclusions on theological questions, accord with those of New England theology, as expounded by its later, and most accredited teachers.

Dr.

* Analytical Exposition of the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans. By JOHN BROWN, D. D., Senior Minister of the United Presbyterian Congregation, Boughton Place, Edinburgh, and Professor of Exegetical Theology to the United Presbyterian Church. New York: Robert Carter & Brothers, 530 Broadway.

Prof. Eadie has made a valuable contribution in aid of Biblical study by an Analytical Concordance of the Bible, which is a decided improvement on any that have preceded it; and Messrs. Gould and Lincoln have done good service by publishing an American edition of it." "The Analytical Concordance" is the whole Bible, distributed under appropriate heads according to subjects. It differs from the common Concordance, Cruden's, for instance, in being an orderly arrangement of subjects, in stead of leading words, giving in that arrangement all the contents of Scripture, and placing those passages which relate to one subject under one general head, and distributing them under subordinate heads. It differs from the common Scripture Manual or Topical Text-book; first, in embracing all the topics contained in the Bible, instead of those only which are theological or doctrinal; and secondly, in containing the whole, instead of a part, of the Bible. Its design is to enable a Biblical student to find, in one place, all the passages of the Bible which really pertain to any one subject.

The pioneer in this department of aids to Biblical study, was Matthew Talbot, a worthy layman of Leeds, England, a currier by trade, who published his "Analysis of the Holy Bible" in 1800. This work was reprinted in 1853, in this country, by Rev. Nathaniel West, D. D., under his own name. But West's work was only a new edition of Talbot. The few slight variations which he made, and the imperfect index which he added, did not justify him in publishing the work as his own, "based on the work of the learned Talbot." Prof. Eadie awards to Talbot the credit of the original production, and acknowledges that his collection suggested to him the idea, and has, to a large extent, guided and assisted him in his work; which, however, is much more than a new edition of Talbot: for he has gone over the whole ground anew, and in almost every section has made additions, or subtractions, or changes. Talbot, and West after him, have but thirty general heads. Prof. Eadie has forty-two. They use a passage only once, leaving some sections very brief and inadequate. Prof. Eadie has repeated many passages frequently, his only limit being the fear of making too large a volume.

* An Analytical Concordance to the Holy Scriptures; or the Bible presented under distinct and classified heads or topics. Edited by JOHN EADIE, D. D., LL. D., Professor of Biblical Literature to the United Presbyterian Church, Author of "Biblical Cyclopedia," "Ecclesiastical Cyclopedia," ""Concordance to the Holy Scriptures on the basis of Cruden," &c. "Comparing things spiritual with spiritual." I Cor. ii, 13. Boston: Gould & Lincoln, 59 Washington street. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman & Co. Cincinnati: George S. Blanchard. 1857.

But the greatest improvements by Prof. Eadie, in our judgment, are in the synopsis that he has prefixed, which is quite full and gives a birdseye view of the whole, and in the extended, full and accurate alphabetical index which he has made. By these, the synopsis and the index, one may easily find what the Bible says, and all it says, on almost any subject. The imperfection in these respects, of the new edition of Talbot, by Dr. West, renders it far inferior to this work of Prof. Eadie; which we heartily commend as an admirable aid in the study of the sacred Scriptures.

Mr. Orestes A. Brownson has given to the world some "leaves" from his experience. Viewed in one aspect, his book might be entitled "The Pursuit of a Religion under Difficulties." The first part of it is full of laughable descriptions of the Author's early associates and adventures. Its recitals of his own experience are very much like the drollest pictures we see in Punch, and it must take a large measure of the supernatural grace of Faith, which is only imparted to devout Roman Catholics, to receive them as anything else than a comical carricature of his early history. The humor begins at the point where he says that, as a boy of ten years, living far away in the wilds of Vermont, he "seemed to hold a spiritual intercourse with the Blessed Mary, and with the Holy Angel Gabriel, who had announced to her that she was to be the mother of the Redeemer. I was rarely less alone than when alone. I did not speculate on the matter. It all seemed real to me, and I enjoyed often an inexpressible happiness. I preferred to be alone, for then I could taste the sweets of silent meditation and feel that I was in the presence of Jesus and Mary and the holy angels." It culminates when he tells us that on a day's notice he joined the Presbyterian church in Ballston, N. Y., with the distinct purpose of abandoning the guidance of his own reason, and with the resolution to yield himself to the authority of the church, or, as expressed in his own language, “I am incapable of directing myself. I must have a guide. I will hear the church. I will surrender, abnegate my own reason, which hitherto has only led me astray, and make myself a member of the church and do what she commands me." "What the church believed was of little consequence, since I had resolved to abnegate my own reason and take the church for my guide."

*The Convert or Leaves from my Experience. By O. A. BROWNSON. New York: Edward Dunigan & Brother. 1857. 12mo. pp. 450.

We can imagine that some hundred years hence, when the edifying life of St. Orestes, the Patron Saint of Boston, shall be composed for the instruction of all good Catholic girls and boys, these passages shall be wrought up into a glowing recital of the extraordinary grace of “Our Lady" of Royalton, Vermont, who condescended, like the Lady of La Salette!! to appear in bodily presence to the poor Puritan boy and point out his future destiny. Surely our acute logician, our consecutive reasoner, our strong and earnest writer, 'the foremost philosopher of America,' must have forgotten himself when he penned this record. He could not have foreseen the certain consequences, unless he aspires after the honors of canonization and desires to survive in the odor of sanctity.

This recital of Mr. Brownson's early life, has left this one impression upon our mind. A man who understands Protestantism, and, we venture to add, his own experience of Protestantism, no better than Mr. Brownson, is not to be trusted in interpreting the teachings and the spirit of the church of Rome. We intend no disrespect to Mr. Brownson's intellect. We acknowledge the compactness and force of his logic, and are charmed with the directness and energy of his style. If we give him his premises and grant him his facts, he carries us triumphantly to his conclusions. But the faculty of interpreting facts and of generalizing them into premises, seems to be wholly denied him, and we listen to him just as we imagine we should have done to the redoubtable William Cobbett, that most irresistible of humorists, who passed his life in blissful unconsciousness of the impression he made on his fellow We are impressed by the energy with which Mr. Brownson's mind grasps truths of the first importance, and we envy the power which he has to urge them on others. We are amazed at that whimsical and capricious fantasy, that sees other truths with but half an eye, or that scarcely sees them at all. And yet he is so downright and so direct in his ways, so earnest for something noble and good, that we wish him all the comfort he can possibly take in his present faith, and the church of Rome all the good which a spirit so bold and free may work within her communion. That church has an important rôle to play in this country. We have no disposition to meddle with her efforts to Christianize and educate those of her population which she can retain, and devoutly hope that those who relapse from her faith, may not fall into atheistic heathenism.

men.

Viewed in another aspect, Mr. Brownson's book is full of wholesome counsel for Protestant ministers and Protestant laymen. Its caricatures

of our own teachings and practical counsels, and its misrepresentations of our religious life, deserve to be pondered, for they are fraught with interesting and profitable lessons. We, Protestants, have much to learn, and there are not a few things which we may learn from the church of Rome, which is not the ridiculous and contemptible power which our ordinary platform declaimers are wont to declare. Let, then, the intellectual culture of our Protestant church be as liberal and generous as it may, let its ethical spirit be as uncompromising on the one hand and as tolerant on the other, as is that of the New Testament; let its Theology be as rational as are the teachings of the Scriptures, and as believing also, and, above all, let its charity be as self-denying and as abounding in good works as that of the Primitive church, and we shall need no arguments for Protestantism, and there will be little occasion for the inquiry, 'where is the church ?'

Two series of sermons from Professor BUTLER, with a brief Memoir, have been published by Messrs. Parry & McMillan. They are, in their way, as interesting to the preacher and the private Christian, as are the lectures of which we shall speak on another page, to the Theologian and Philosopher. The Memoir gives us the brief outline of an earnest Christian who died at the early age of thirty-four, in the active and zealous performance of the duties of a Pastor and Preacher to a country congregation in Ireland. For he performed the double service of lecturer at the Dublin University, and of Rector in a rural parish, during ten years, the entire period of his public life, from 1837 to 1848. In the famine which afflicted his own parish, he postponed the studies in which he most delighted, to the duty of ministering with his own hands the needed supplies of food to the starving. In the midst of active pastoral and literary labors, he was struck down by fever. But he left his memory and his writings behind. These last, especially his sermons, were in an unfinished state, but they have been edited from his manuscripts by friendly hands.

It is difficult to characterize these sermons. They are glowing and earnest to our severer taste and colder temperament, perhaps somewhat diffuse and overdrawn. The diffuseness is not a monotonous repetition, nor a wearisome expansion of the same thought. Nor is it a dainty

* Sermons Doctrinal and Practical. By the Rev. WILLIAM ARCHer Butler, M. A., &c., &c. With a Memoir of the Author's life, by the Very Rev. THOMAS WOODWARD, M. A. Philadelphla: Parry & McMillan. 1856. First and Second Series. pp. 446 and 399. Price $3.00.