Reviews. CHRISTMAS PRESENTS AND PRIZES. We have not space enough for a separate notice of each of the following volumes, but strongly recommend them to those who are on the look out for books for the young :Tales of the Northern Seas. London: Religious Tract Society.-Lucy the Light Bearer. By GEORGE SARgent. London Religious Tract Society.Frank Bennet. By Mrs. CUTHBERT ORLEBAR. Second edition. London: Bemrose & Sons, 21, Paternoster Row. The Wood Carvers. By the Author of "Geoffry and his Prize Marrow." London: The Religious Tract Society.-The Vagabond. By Mrs. F. MARSHALL WARD. London: Bemrose & Sons, 21, Paternoster Row.-George Clifford's Loss and Gain. By the Author of "Stories and Pictures from Church History." London Religious Tract Society.Percy Roydon; or, Self Conquest. By EMMA LESLIE. London: Sunday School Union. Millicent's Home. By CRONA TEMPLE. London: Religious Tract Society.Eva and Bertie. A Tale for Little Children. By the Author of "Hungering and Thirsting." London: The Religious Tract Society.-The Child's Own Magazine for 1871. London: Sunday School Union, 56, Old Bailey.-Miss Herbert's Keys. By Mrs. H. B. PAULL. London Sunday School Union, 56, Old Bailey. : Songs of Gladness. With Tunes original and selected. London : Sunday School Union, 56, Old Bailey. OPEN to grave objection, as all the poetical compilations which issue from the Old Bailey are. Sermons for Sunday Evenings. The Religious Tract Society. A VOLUME of short, simple and practical sermons, evangelical in doctrine, wise in counsel, forcible in illustration, and altogether excellent. Doctrine and practice, reverence for Scripture, and a sound knowledge of human nature, are most happily combined. The author, whose name is not given, possesses no mean order of sermonising power. Jesus Christ: His Life and Work. By E. DE PRESSENSE, D.D. Translated by Annie Harwood. London: Hodder & Stoughton. 1871. WE cordially welcome the appearance of a popular edition of M. De Pressensé's large and well known work in reply to Renan. It is adapted for general readers by the omission of all that is purely scientific. The author's high reputation is an ample guarantee of the excellence of the book. We should like to see it circulate by thousands. The issue of a still cheaper edition, such as would bring the work within the reach of the poorest, would be a great boon. Original Sin. An Essay on the Fall. By JAMES FRAME. Second edition. Longmans, Green, & Co. THIS treatise is professedly written from the Arminian stand-point, on one of the most difficult subjects which can engage the thought of man, and on which Christian thinkers have always been more or less divided. We do not agree with all its reasonings, nor can we accept all its conclusions, but are pleased to find in it so thoroughly Christian a spirit. Mr. Frame has presented the augument on his side of the question in as clear and strong a light as is possible, and on that account his essay is worthy of the attention of all theological students. Lon Bye-Paths in Baptist History. A Collection of Interesting, Instructive, and Curious Information not generally known concerning the Baptist Denomination. By the Rev. J. JACKSON GOADBY. don: Elliot Stock. 1871. IN our September number we gave an extract of eight or nine pages from Mr. Goadby's pleasant and instructive "Bye-Paths," so that our readers will already have some idea of its worth. It is a valuable companion to Dr. Cramp's "Baptist History," and is published in the same form and style. The "Bye-Paths" yield many glimpses of the life of our forefathers, "not obtainable along the dusty and wellbeaten highway," and thus possess a character of their own. Mr. Goadby gives us the history of several of the most ancient Baptist Churches of the country, the different sections into which the denomination has been divided, their struggles for liberty of conscience, the persecutions to which they had to submit for conscience sake, their discipline, their confessions of faith, &c. Customs which are now obsolete, such as the imposition of hands, fasting, washing the feet, and anointing the sick, are also fully described. The volume is the result of wide and patient research, and answers in every way the description of its title-page. It should be in the hands of every member of our Churches. to Lectures, Exegetical and Practical, on the Epistle of James. With a new Translation and Notes on the Greek Text. By Rev. ROBERT JOHNSTONE, LL.B., Arbroath. Edinburgh: W. Oliphant & Co. 1871. IN the elucidation of Scripture, the principle of a division of labour has been generally, and we think happily, accepted. The resources at our command in the departments of grammar, exegesis, doctrine, and history are now so abundant that no single mind can thoroughly grasp them, and commentaries devoted to one special end are, therefore, found requisite. Mr. Johnstone's aim, however, has been to produce a popular exposition of this Epistle, and "one that may at the same time be of some help to students of the original." He has succeeded so far as to show the validity of the basis on which his exposition rests, and it is interesting to note the critical processes by which his results have been reached. His book may certainly be of great help to ministers, though it will not supersede the need of purely exegetical works. The lectures, which constitute the main part of the volume, are by no means unworthy of a place beside the similar productions of Dr. John Brown, and this is high praise. The arrangement of the work is good. First comes a revised translation, and then notes on the Greek text; and, lastly, the Expository Lectures. The notes are in some instances extremely good, and show that the author has thoroughly studied the grammar and diction of the Greek Testament. He has paid special attention to the particles, the tenses of verbs, and other similar matters, which are of far greater importance than is generally imagined. The lectures embody the results of careful critical and exegetical research. They display an intelligent reverence for Scripture, an earnest desire to discover its true meaning, and a pointed application of its truths to the needs of our own day. We have found in them considerable freshness of thought and aptness of illustration. We commend the book to the attention of ministers especially, as a specimen of the style of preaching which, once at least every Lord's-day, we should like to see generally adopted. Expository preaching ensures a greater variety than any other method, and is the most efficient means of instructing and edifying a congregation. The Sunday School Teachers' Pocket Book and Diary for1872. London: Sunday School Union, 56, Old Bailey. INVALUABLE to the teacher. In addition to much useful information, we notice with pleasure the increasing importance of the statistical returns which it contains. The Impending Crisis of the Church and the World. By the Rev. J. A. WYLIE, LL.D. London: Hamilton & Adams, 1871. THIS book, as the title page goes on to explain, is a consideration of the Franco-German war in relation to prophecy. It is characterised by all the ingenuity of works of its class, but is far above the mass in clearness and truth of reasoning. The author, however, in some cases seems to arrive at conclusions different to those of Bishop Newton and others who have written on this subject. Many shrewd guesses at political riddles are found in this book, and its writer seems to us more keen in tracing the intrigues of modern European power than in tracking the obscure lines of ancient prophecy. But the work before us is healthier than most of the species, and to those who like its kind we recommend it as not very injurious. Family Prayers for Four Weeks. Edited by J. HALL, D.D., New York. Edinburgh: Johnstone, Hunter, and Co. WE can very confidently recommend this book to those who are in want of such assistance at the Family Altar. The most gifted will find in it much that is suggestive, both as to the subjects and method of prayer. Next to the observance of worship, its improvement should be a subject of constant concern to the Christian. The Temperance Manual. By Rev. By MRS. S. C. HALL. S. W. Two very energetic publications in the interests of total abstinence. Dr. Edwards presents some frightful statistics of the evils of intemperance. Our American brethren speak and write with great vigour in denunciation of the use of wine and malt beverages. It is of great importance that their consistency should be evidenced by their practice, not only at home but abroad. A Critical English New Testament; presenting at one view the Authorized Version, and the Results of the Criticisms of the Original Text. Second Edition. London: S. Bagster and Sons, 15, Paternoster Row. WE felt great pleasure in commending this work to our readers on the appearance of the first edition, and should be glad to think that we had assisted in promoting the demand for the second issue. We are not acquainted with any publication which so comprehensively and accurately furnishes the latest revisions of the New Testament text. If we had the means, not a pastor in our churches, nor a student in our colleges should be without the book. It is one of not a few evidences that the Messrs. Bagster are not mere traders, but are animated by earnest desire to advance devout, scholarly study of the WORD. Tales of the Northern Seas. London: Religious Tract Society, 56, Paternoster Row. YOUNG people could not possess a more interesting or instructive account of the Arctic regions than this. The natural history of the Polar world, the mysteries of the whale fishery, and the more noble labours of the Moravian missionaries, are all graphically described, and the engraver has joined the writer in admirable efforts to amuse and enlighten the youthful reader. Krummacher: An Autobiography. Second Edition, revised. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 38, George Street. DR. CAIRNS's preface quite meets our views. "This Autobiography needs no introduction or recommendation from any quarter." Having previously commended the work to our readers we can only congratulate the publishers on its success, and express the desire that it may still extend its influence. Krummacher made a deeper mark on English religious thought and feeling than any other German divine. Scripture Object Lessons and Outline J. F. Shaw & Co., 48, Paternoster THERE is much valuable suggestion in this book, calculated to foster ingenuity in the teacher. It is, however, far too sensational. If young America is so blasé as to require this strong stimulant, we are glad to think it is not so yet with young England. The Footsteps of Christ. Translated from the German of A. Caspers, &c. Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark, 38, George Street. no THIS work of Provost Caspers is popular in Germany, and will doubt meet with a favourable reception in our own country. It comprises a number of meditations on the work of Christ and life in Him, eminently evangelical, and distinguished also by great originality and terseness of style. There 18 much freshness throughout the work, and the numerous poetical excerpts are rendered with a freedom rarely attained in a translation. The Scripture Pocket Book for 1872; The Young People's Pocket Book for 1872. London Religious Tract Society, 56, Paternoster Row. THE former of these for the wife, and the latter for the children, then the household will have good store of Scripture truth and handy information for 1872. The Problem of Evil. By ERNEST NAVILLE. Translated from the French by E. W. Shalders, B.A. Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark. 1871. THE problem of evil is confessedly the profoundest of all the problems with which the human intellect has essayed to grapple, and is in some of its aspects insoluble. It has given rise to controversy both barren and injurious, and apart from the light thrown on the matter by Scripture, all is "dark, dark, yea, irrecoverably dark." If our thoughts are directed to the evil which most concerns ourselves, and our aims are practical as well as speculative, this book will be highly serviceable to us. It is a wise, learned, and eloquent production, consisting of seven lectures, delivered to crowded and enthusiastic audiences at Geneva, in which all classes of society and all degrees of culture were represented. The manifestations of evil in nature and humanity, the various solutions of the problem having been passed under review, the lecturer proves at the Christian great length that dogma of the fall of humanity contains the philosophical dogma which most reasonably accounts for those facts of experience which give rise to the problem of evil." Then follow lectures on"The Battle of Life; or, the Struggle with Evil," and on "The Succour which God affords to those engaged in "the struggle, or the means of achieving the victory." Like M. Naville's Evil" is well adapted to the state of previous works, "The Problem of existing thought, and ought to be widely circulated, especially among young men. Rays from the East; or, Illustrations of the Holy Scriptures, derived principally from the Manners, Customs, Rites, and Antiquities of Eastern Nations. London: The Religious Tract Society. AN elegant drawing-room book, enriched with most graphic pictures, and containing also much valuable illustration of Scripture, drawn from nu merous sources. |