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The appendix contains the gem of the collection, by A. Monod, on the Delivery of Sermons, every line of which deserves to be learned by heart by every preacher.

The volume is furnished with short biographical notices of the preachers, and a fine portrait of Monod. It will be much sought for, we trust, for it is fitted to be eminently useful.

We call attention also to a second series of the posthumous works of Dr. Harris, published by Messrs. Gould & Lincoln.* They have much the same characteristics of thought and style which we ascribed to the first series in a former notice. The subjects, however, are quite different, pertaining to man-as created, as fallen, as redeemed, and as made the servant and aid of Christ in His kingdom of grace. The volume contains fifteen sermons, and four charges given at the ordination of pastors. Among the ablest of these sermons are those in which the author sets forth his views of the Christian ministry and of the proper education for it. This second volume is equal in merit to the first, and will be a valuable accession to any library, whether of minister or layman.

We have received several little tracts, entitled "Truths for the Times."t Those which we have read are the first, second, and fifth of the series. The subjects of which they treat are "The Reasonableness of future endless Punishment,"-"Instantaneous Conversion, and its Connection with Piety," And "Our Bible."

The author of these tracts is well known in the literary and religious community, as a man of scholarly tastes, whose intellect is directed by a peculiar sentimentality. He regards everything, not so much from a broad view of right and wrong, but as it is related to his own feelings. This quality is apparent in his method of treating fundamental doctrine which consists in the illustration of the old arguments by pleasant metaphors. Nothing is added to the defenses of truth, but they are repaint

Sermons and Addresses delivered on special occasions. By JOHN HARRIS, D. D., late President of New College, London; author of the Great Teacher, &c., &c. Second Series. Boston: Gould & Lincoln, 59 Washington street. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman & Co. Cincinnati: George S. Blanchard. 1858.

Truths for the Times. Number one. The reasonableness of future, endless punishment. Number two. Instantaneous conversion and its connection with piety. Number five. Our Bible. By NEHEMIAH ADAMS, D. D., Pastor of the Essex st. church, Boston.

ed and hightened to the eye of the spectator. These little treatises popularize the often repeated answers to objections against the evangelical views, on the topics of which they treat, but do not grapple the present difficulties which surround these themes, and which now constitute the battle-ground of Christianity against unbelief.

The first tract is introduced by a correspondence between a noted leader of the liberal school in theology, as it is named, and the author; but there may have been other reasons which prompted the minister of the Hollis street church to request a repetition of the discourse in his pulpit than its acknowledged ability. We have no means, however, of judging concerning the controversy, since the reply has not been read. These pamphlets may be profitable to those who are unacquainted with the the evidences from Scripture for the doctrines of which they treat, although we should hardly select Dr. Adams as a safe expositor, if we were to take the following vindication of an inspired record as a fair specimen.

"The story of the Levite and his concubine is another instance of the same kind with the foregoing. Why introduce such a sickening tale into the sacred word? For one most important reason, if for no other. The event there related was the occasion of the most fearful civil war which ever happened to Israel. The tribe of Benjamin was greatly depopulated by it. The history of the Hebrew nation demanded that all the incidents belonging to such an eventful page of it should be faithfully recorded. And is there no moral for every nation in that sad passage of Israel's history? Every people which is divided on any moral question relating to their internal affairs, is instructed by the spirit and the manner of the proceedings which, in this case, resulted in the slaughter of more than ninety thousand brethren by the hands of brethren." No. 5, p. 10.

The author of "South Side View," in the sentence which we have italicized, intimates that it would have been better for the Levite to have silently endured the horrible wrong, and for the nation to have sanctioned it, by refusing to punish the crimes of cruelty, adultery and murder. With such an opinion, if Dr. Adams had any logical acumen, he would hardly undertake to defend "the reasonableness of future endless punishment."

We call attention to a republication by Messrs. Mason Brothers, of New York, of "Young's Inquiry into the Origin of Evil."* The author

* Evil not from God: or, The Mystery, being an inquiry into the origin of evil. By JOHN YOUNG, LL. D., Edinburgh. New York: Mason Brothers. 1858.

is an able writer as all know who have read his "Christ of History." The subject is difficult, though important. As we intend to do more than give a literary notice of it, we pass it for the present with this brief

announcement.

The somewhat ambitiously written "Literary Attractions of the Bible"* may be safely commended, so long as we have no better book upon the same theme. It is, in our view, however, quite below "the hight of its great argument"-in some measure, perhaps, because its tone is apologetic, and still more because the variety and richness of the Bible is not conceived from the stand-point of historical criticism. If the author had studied "Herder's Spirit of Hebrew Poetry," till he had become imbued with its most valuable principles, and been excited by its fine sympathies, he would not have written in a way so formal and cold, and, to a great extent, powerless. Notwithstanding, his style is elegantly correct, and many of his laudatory paragraphs are as well rounded as could be desired.

No man, in our view, can write well about the Bible, who thinks himself constrained to defend it. He must first have a conviction of its unsurpassed and unsurpassable superiority, not merely as the revelation of God to man, but also as overflowing with the wealth of historic simplicity and poetic fire. Believing and feeling thus, he would write about the Literary Attractions of the Bible in some other tone than that of "A Plea for the Word of God, considered as a Classic." Let men of philosophic discernment, or warm literary sympathies, assert, demonstrate and enforce what the Bible is on its human side, and the complacent and patronizing tone of our literary dilettanti in regard to it would be rebuked and cowed, as their utter ignorance would be exposed.

Childhood and the Church,f is the title of a posthumous fragment, written with an earnest spirit, and designed to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and promote Christian nurture. The author's doctrinal views are not, however, in our judgment, in accordance with the Word of God, and we think that walls and coping, which are built on such a foundation, must fall. One who teaches that "the unconscious

The Literary Attractions of the Bible: or, A Plea for the Word of God, considered as a Classic. By LE ROY J. HALSEY, D. D. New York: Charles Scribner. 1858. 12mo. pp. 441.

+ Childhood and the Church. By T. F. RANDOLPH MERCEIN, A. M., Author of "Natural Goodness," "The Wise Master Builder," etc., etc. New York: A. D. F. Randolph.

1858. pp. 53.

babe is a Christian babe, justified and regenerate," that the nurture it needs is "the development of a nature already in the soul, * * a restored or regenerate nature," and that "the application of the absolving and regenerating properties of the great sacrifice to every child as it enters life, is a moral necessity in the divine government," and who can twist our Saviour's conversation with Nicodemus so as to favor this view, cannot be commended as a safe expositor of divine truth, however much we approve his desire to have every eye recognize the true place of childhood in the church of God.

We have received a compact, forcible and vigorous argument on the thesis, "Immersion not Baptism," which is worthy of attention as a contribution to the discussion of ordinances. The thoroughly Scriptural character of the argument, and the clearness with which it is stated, make this little treatise valuable for those whose minds may be troubled concerning the validity of their baptism, because of the claim so frequently made that "immersion is the only true baptism."

Messrs. Sheldon, Blakeman & Co. have published selections from the writings of Spurgeon, with the title of "Spurgeon's Gems." The popularity of this preacher is remarkable. The popularity of his published works is no less so. His style is diffuse and flowing, not epigrammatic, and yet a book of culled passages has been made, which, we doubt not, will attract and interest many persons who have been repelled by the great diffuseness of his sermons and writings as heretofore published in full.

Messrs. Sheldon, Blakeman & Co. have also sent us a little book illustrating the Saviour's life, of which the title is at once explanation and recommendation. It is "Glimpses of Jesus; or, Christ exalted in the affections of his people," by W. P. Balfern.

*Immersion not Baptism. By Rev. JOHN H. BECKWITH. Boston: John P. Jewett & Co. 1858. pp. 47.

+ Spurgeon's Gems, being brilliant passages from the Discourses of the Rev. C. H. SPURGEON. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman & Co. For sale by F. T. Jarman, New Haven.

Glimpses of Jesus: or, Christ exalted in the affections of his people. By W. P. BALFERN. From the second London edition. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman & Co. 1858. For sale by F. T. Jarman, New Haven.

We are late in mentioning "The Memoirs of Gennesaret," 99% a book which has already found its way to the affections of very many Christians of different denominations. It is published by Messrs. R. Carter & Brothers. The author has grouped together as themes for instructive consideration, the various scenes in the life of our Saviour, which give such interest to the shores of Tiberias.

Thoroughly acquainted with all the recent works on the topography of the country, and with the critical treatises of the best modern scholars, he has succeeded in presenting the most charming descriptions of the different localities, with expositions of the moral bearing of what was done and said by our Lord, which are full of beauty and power.

We cannot do better than give the following extract, taken almost at random, where we have a description of the "sacrifice of self," as it was exhibited by "Matthew, the publican."

"We have just now spoken of Matthew's sacrifice of the World; there was another still greater sacrifice he proved by his deeds he was willing to make— THE SACRIFICE OF SELF.

"The unpretentious, unboastful, unostentatious spirit of this Israelite is beautifully exemplified by one or two almost unnoticed touches in the inspired records. As if covered with shame and confusion at the remembrance of the past, he seems anxious to utter no word which would go to magnify himself, or exalt his own character and doings.

"While other Evangelists speak of a 'Great Feast' he made, and to which he invited Jesus, he says nothing as to its greatness in his own Gospel-all the reference he makes to it is, 'Jesus sat at meat in the house.' While Luke speaks of it as his own house, he leaves the particular house indefinite.

"Again, in speaking of forsaking his calling at the bidding of his Saviour, while St. Luke speaks of him as leaving 'all' and following, he himself omits the words 'LEFT ALL.' But for the fidelity of his brother Evangelist, the amount of his selfsacrifice would have been left unrecorded. He is content with the more modest entry, He rose and followed.'

"The other Evangelists, in classifying the Apostles two and two, give him the precedence of Thomas; he reverses the order, Thomas first, himself last.

"While the others put a becoming veil over his former life by inserting his other name, (Levi,) he has no such scruple, but adopts the old title with the unenviable notoriety it had on the shores of Gennesaret. Nay, more, if you consult his list of the apostleship, and compare it with the others, he would seem desirous to hide from view all in himself that was praiseworthy, and to magnify the grace of God in his conversion, by bringing into prominence all that was blameworthy. In the list of Apostles given by his fellow Evangelists there is no account given

*Memoirs of Gennesaret. By the Rev. JOHN R. MAC DUFF. New York: R. Carter & Brothers. 1858. pp. 388. For sale by F. T. Jarman, New Haven.

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