petual intercession for us, and so apply His perfected work unto our souls. These are the subjects which Mr. Douglas tries to bring home to his readers in such a manner as to compel them to adore that wonderful love which was the animating principle in all the mighty scheme. And he is most successful in his object. His language is plain, his style wholly free from affectation or exaggeration, and he speaks as one who is deeply impressed with that same loving gratitude and holy admiration which he would seek to inspire in others; and so his fervent truthful words go straight to the heart. Some beautiful prayers on the Passion at the end of this work combine to render it a useful manual of meditation for Holy Week, and similar seasons.

The Dark Mountains. By the Rev. E. MONRO. Masters, London. THIS is the sequel to Mr. Monro's last well-known Allegory, "The Journey Home," and it is, if possible, more beautiful than any of his former works of the same description. The deep spirituality of those allegories, and the extreme beauty of the language in which they are clothed, are too universally admitted to require comment on our part; and we shall therefore briefly sketch the matter contained in this new production. The interest of the parable centres in three boys, Edwin, Cyril, and Pietro, who represent three several states in the Christian probation. In Edwin we have the picture exquisitely drawn of one who has never fallen from his baptismal grace, and who like Enoch is early caught up to the bosom of his Saviour's love because he walked with GOD; though unlike the blessed patriarch, he has to pass through the valley of the shadow of death. The author displays a great knowledge of the conditions of the spiritual life in his treatment of this case. Edwin is represented as preserving his innocence with comparative ease till he is about to be called into the presence of his GOD, and then the old watchword of the saints comes true for him, "No cross no crown;" the powers of evil are permitted to make a fearful assault upon him just at the last, and nothing could have saved him but his clinging trust in the love that has been his life on earth, and becomes in heaven his exceeding great reward.

One oversight we must here point out to the author. It does not appear that he intends to pourtray Edwin as a martyr, and it is therefore an error to make him be received into heaven without passing through the intermediate state, where all who have not received the baptism of blood must await their consummation of bliss.

The history of Cyril is one from which a striking lesson may be drawn; with talents and prudential powers far beyond Edwin, his temptations are greater, and he is drawn by the pride of intellect to meet the most subtle form of evil which can assail one who is a true servant of his LORD. He is persuaded by his very ardour in the cause to give himself up entirely to seeking to gain influence over others, till at last he forgets the necessity of humility, and loses sight of his LORD'S glory in his own. Delighted with the homage paid him as a master spirit, he is tempted to be the founder of a new school by swerving

from the faith; and when at length his eyes are opened, it is with the greatest difficulty that he regains the narrow path; once there, however, he strays no more, and enters into rest.

Pietro, the third, is a beautiful example of a true penitent, and of our LORD's unfailing love. He has fallen grievously, and is well nigh lost, when the Good Shepherd seeks him out and bears him back to the fold, and from that hour Pietro never ceases to look on Him Whom he had pierced with his past sin; humble, fearing, often almost despairing, he hastens up the steep hill of penitence and wakes when death is past to find at the feet of GOD that he is more than conqueror through Him who loved him.

We can do no more than thank Mr. Monro most heartily for this new and valuable gift to the library of the Church.

1. Legendary Tales, By Mrs. ALFRED GATTY. Bell and Daldy, 2. The Fairy Godmothers and other Tales. Second Edition. By the same Author.

3. Parables from Nature. Second Series. By the same Author,

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IN "Legendary Tales," Mrs. Gatty's last and largest work, as well as in the Fairy Godmothers," she has departed somewhat from the peculiar style of writing which has made her so great a favourite with the juvenile public hitherto. And although the Tales contained in these volumes are exceedingly well told, and full of talent, we are disposed to regret the change.

In her former works, "Parables from Nature," and "Stories on Proverbs," she had created quite a new world for herself, by opening up with her vivid imaginative powers the internal economy of the animal creation. Nothing could be more charming than her spiritual descriptions of the private life of robin redbreasts, butterflies, frogs, and even of trees and flowers, which could not fail at the same time to draw the attention of the children, for whom they are designed, to the wonders of creation, and the glory of the Creator. In the present volume, however, there is only one of the tales which has the attractive novelty of conversation between dogs, cats, and parrots. The next tale, "The Hundredth Birthday," contains very little incident; but it appears to be founded on fact, and is charmingly told; while the last, "The Treasure-Seekers," is a graphic illustration of an old French legend.

In the "Fairy Godmothers" the supernatural element is effectively made use of, and the last story on the love of GOD is really very beautiful.

We wish Mrs. Gatty all success; for, although there is no distinctive religious teaching in her works, they are yet the product of an earnest and contemplative mind, in which there is, perhaps, more of real catholicity than the lady is aware of; and being such, they are calculated to raise the thoughts and feelings, and to create a desire for something beyond this world, which can only find its satisfaction where, we trust, Mrs. Gatty herself is really seeking it, in the Church of GOD.

Remarks on Secular and Domestic Architecture, present and future. By GEORGE GILBERT SCOTT, A.R.A. London: J. Murray.

HAD this Volume been sent to us six months ago we should gladly have reviewed it at length; but as we so recently treated of "The Future of Art in England," our notice of Mr. Scott must be brief.

In the main we rejoice to see that he agrees-at least as far as his subject leads him—with the views put forward in our own Article. He still appears indeed to retain an ultra-Conservative view as regards the restoration of ancient buildings; and in practice he still goes on, we fear, repeating his own designs, as opportunity offers; but at the same time he seems now quite to realise that Architecture is an advancing art, as indeed the main object of his volume is to maintain that the Pointed style is capable of adaptation to all the necessities, or supposed necessities, of nineteenth century life.

The opening Chapter aims a well-merited blow at our pride, contrasting our modern towns and villages with what remains to us from medieval times, from which we would gladly quote if our space allowed.

Questions and Answers illustrative of the Church Catechism (Churchman's Library.) Masters, London.

WE depart from our usual rule in order to notice this, which is only a new edition of a book which had previously gone through two impressions; because it is a manual which no reader of the Ecclesiastic should be without. The title is a singularly modest one, and by no means expresses what the book in its present form really is. In order to make proper use of the Church Catechism, three things, we conceive, are needful-first, to have thoroughly mastered its literal and grammatical construction (a work in itself by no means easy)-secondly, to be well versed in dogmatic theology-and thirdly, such an acquaintance with the practice of catholic devotion as to be able to make catechizing the basis of plain and exact rules for ordering the daily life of the child. The first edition of the "Questions" attempted only the last of these points: the second added, though briefly and imperfectly, an outline of dogmatic teaching: this new edition retains the third; enlarges and completes the second, and supplies the first. It has become, in fact, a complete comment on the catechism-in no respect going beyond the teaching of the English Church, but at the same time fully developing all that she holds. It is the first manual of which this could be said; and, further, we do not hesitate to say, that there was needed the sifting of the last quarter of a century before such a book could have been compiled. We could wish to see it in every school and family.

We would desire to speak tenderly of Dawn and Twilight, by the Author of "Amy Grant," (J. H. Parker, Oxford,) inasmuch as it appears to be the work of one who has but recently been taken from her sorrowing friends. And truly there is much in it to commend,

although it is likely to be less practically useful than "Amy Grant." The first volume, and part of the second, partake too much of the style of a regular novel; and we cannot think that the description of a fashionable London life can ever be profitable; but the latter part, showing the happiness of the heroine, when at last she turned to GOD, and devoted herself and her substance to His Church on earth, is both useful and interesting; and the whole work is pervaded by the pure and gentle spirit of the writer.

A Plain Manual of Religious Exercises, with Devotions for Holy Communion, (Edinburgh: Lendrum,) without being quite everything that we could wish, contain much in it that is good and catholic.

Mount Gars, or Marie's Christmas Eve, a translation from the German (J. H. and J. Parker, Oxford and London), is a prettily written account of two children lost in the snow on Christmas Eve. There is a great charm in the manner in which Christmas-tide is poeticized in Germany, of which this little work fully partakes.

Hints and Prayers for the use of District Visitors (Skeffington, London; Parker, Öxford,) contains some useful advice for the anomalous class of persons for whose benefit the little book was written; although on some points touching the preponderance of spiritual counsel to temporal relief, we think the author shows himself to be greatly mistaken as to the best method of reaching the sympathies of the poor. A really suitable manual for sisters of charity and others engaged in work among the poor, would be a very acceptable publication, and the little book before us certainly does not supply the deficiency.

The Last Prior of S. Anthony, (Netherton, Truro; Mozleys, London) is a very gracefully written tale on the somewhat exhausted subject of the fate of sacrilege, exhibiting in a very pleasing manner the earnest and devotional spirit of the writer. There is, perhaps, too little of interest and excitement to render it very acceptable reading for young persons, though it is well calculated to raise their tone of mind and feeling.

Ruth and her Friends (Macmillan and Co., Cambridge,) is the production of an author whose powers are fitted for better things than the manufacture of stories for very young children. The life-like characters of this childish tale display an originality which should take a higher flight.

Mr. NEALE has produced another volume of short Tales (Masters,) from the inexhaustible resources of his reading. They are illustrative of the Apostles' Creed, and some few of them have already appeared in separate numbers of Church Papers. We strongly recommend them.

We are glad to find that there is a demand for new editions of Bp. ARMSTRONG's Sermons-both the Parochial Sermons and those for Festivals (J. H. Parker). It is much better to keep approved works before the public than to perplex them with a continuous flow of new commonplace productions.

of 1857, (Ridler: Bristol,) is the best paper that we know o circulating correct information on this most important question

We must confess ourselves quite unable to respond to the se tulations of "the five Clergymen," who have undertaken a re a portion of the Authorized Version of the New Testament; u result should be, contrary to their expectation, to show tha likely to be better without any revision at all. What a sch vision seems especially to require, and which would tend m anything else to render S. Paul's writings intelligible to t English reader, would be a careful distinction between his pre past participles, which are now hopelessly confused under the formula of being reconciled, justified, washed, saved, regenera the like. This, unfortunately, they have not done in the Epist Romans, which is just published (J. W. Parker); and we are to understand how they can defend the omission, save on the g not wishing to offend prejudices.

The influence of all kinds of oratory depends so much on considerations, that it may be inferred, when we meet with delays the publication of his discourses, whether speeches or s till he has already passed the average duration of human life, is publishing for his own gratification, and not for the sake of He wishes some record of his sentiments left behind, in order memory may not be charged wrongfully in time to come at of public opinion. Regarding then in this light the Discour Essays of Archdeacon WILLIAMS (Rivingtons), no one, we ma say, will be able to charge him either with want of learning or doxy, as these things were looked at thirty or forty years ago. as regards the intellectual progress of the human family, a su very present interest, he seems to have maintained a useful a cessful controversy with the Edinburgh Review.

Jesus, God Incarnate, the Object of Adoration in the Holy rist, (Masters), is the title of a warm, eloquent, and Catholic S by the Rev. W. S. REECE, M.A., which at this time especially d acknowledgment.

We do not ever remember to have seen the duty of almsgiv satisfactorily enforced as in a Sermon entitled The Offertory (Mast the Rev. THOMAS TODD. Viewed too in connection with the mo for free and open churches, which has emanated from Manche which city Mr. Todd is one of the most active and efficient priests, it possesses a still more general interest.

The Rev. H. LINTON's Paraphrase and Notes on the Epis S. Paul (Wertheim and Macintosh), seem to show the writer to mild and modest man. We cannot say that they throw any light ever on the Apostle's arguments.