UNITED STATES.

Books.

Charles Scribner's Sons. "Christ and Christianity Studies on Christology, Creeds and Confessions, Protestantism and Romanism, Reformatory Principles, Sunday Observance, Religious Freedom, and Christian Union," by Philip Schaff. We give the whole title of the book as best showing the variety and character of its contents. The several chapters are composed of Addresses delivered on various occasions, and Essays and Papers contributed to various periodicals during the author's intensely active life. As the public are already somewhat acquainted with the matter of the volume, as portions of it appeared from time to time, we need only say that the bringing of the whole together in this convenient and permanent form adds to the value of the contribution as a whole. Every part of it bears the marks of patient industry, painstaking care and accuracy, and vigor and independence in treatment, which are so characteristic of Dr. Schaff.-"Movements of Religious Thought in Britain During, the Nineteenth Century," by John Tulloch, D.D., LL.D. Same publishers. The esteemed author of this graceful and timely volume is senior Principal of the University of St. Andrews. The book is one of more than ordinary interest, and can scarcely fail to aid the reader in his conception of the great "movements" which it portrays with a clear insight and a skillful hand. He confines his view to Great Britain, with an occasional glance at the large field of Continental criticism and speculation, and limits himself to the first six decades of the present century. He gives an intelligent and graphic narrative of the chief religious movements and the work accomplished by the leaders of the chief schools -Coleridge and his school; Whately, Arnold, Milman, Newman and Pusey; Mill, Maurice, Carlyle, Kingsley, Robertson, Irving, etc. We have not only a pen portraiture of the chief actors in the field of religious thought, with the meaning and results of their several movements, but also a sketch, and a highly interesting one, of the more important movements in modern English literature.

Robert Carter & Brothers. "The Period of the Reformation" (1517-1648), by Ludwig Häusser, edited by Wilhelm Oucken. Translated by Mrs. G. Sturge. New edition, complete in one volume, 702 octavo pages. We are glad to see this excellent history in this improved form. It was first introduced to the English-speaking world in 1873. It contains not only a spirited sketch of the history of the Reformation in Germany, Switzerland, France, Denmark, Sweden and England, by this distinguished German Professor, but also gives a comprehensive survey of its influence on the course of thought and action

during the period of which it treats, and offers, in a compact form, information which has otherwise to be sought for over a wide field of literature.-" Mental Science, a Text-Book for Schools and Colleges," by Edward John Hamilton, D.D. Same publishers. Prof. Hamilton, of Hamilton College, needs no introduction to our readers. He has long been known to the reading public by his manifold contributions to the literature of Mental Science, and especially by his former book entitled, "The Human Mind," which was received with marked favor by critical and competent judges. The present work has grown out of the former. "Mental Science," says the author, "is now offered as an educational manual, and as a compend for the reading of those who would inform themselves respecting the doctrines of an earnest philosophy without entering upon non-essential details... It has, however, been the aim to present a true history of every normal activity of the intellect." We regret that our space precludes such a notice of this work as its high merits deserve.

Funk & Wagnalls. "Prayer and its Remarkable Answers," by the Rev. William W. Patton, D.D. When a volume has reached its "twentieth edition," there does not seem to be any need or room for introduction or commendation. This volume has been revised for its new issue, and two supplementary chapters have been added by its venerable author. It has been, and is now, the recognized authority upon the entire subject of prayer. There is no attempt at subtle argument in it; its illustrations are its arguments. It arrays facts of indisputable authenticity in proof of the literal truth of God to all the Scripture invitations and engagements. To the inspired promise, "Ask, and you shall receive," it offers in reply the testimony of a throng of Christian believers, each saying: "I have asked, and I have received.' For ministers and theological students it is a treasure-house of help.-"Sunrise on the Soul," by Hugh Smith Carpenter. Same publishers. A rare book to the lovers of beautiful thought; a book to be read and reread in order to get at its wealth of meaning and exquisite beauty both of conception and expression. We can but repeat what we have said elsewhere. Its author is one of our foremost preachers, strikingly original and suggestive in thought, and often surprisingly beautiful and eloquent in expression. The seventy-nine distinct papers which comprise the volume, are each a gem, flashing with the brilliance of sanctified genius and Christian thought and feeling. The selections have been made from the choicest thoughts of a lifetime and embrace the very cream of the author's best sermons, which are equal, in many respects, to any to be found in the sermonic literature of the world. Preachers may find in

the book "the seeds of thought," unique topics for sermons of unusual interest, and suggestions and illustrations that will prove most helpful. Literary men will read it for its high literary merit. Christians of deep experience and thoughtful minds will read it with keen relish, and often with wonder and delight, as new light and beauty shine from its pages and suffuse them as with a heavenly glow. Confident we are that no man or woman of thought and Christian sensibility can read the book and fail to transfer many of its rare gems to their scrap-book. Those who remember his former book, "Here and Beyond," will not forego the pleasure of reading this new one from his pen. "Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver," is a fitting description of it.-"Parker's Apostolic Life." Vol. III. Same publishers. This volume, in form and character, is similar to the previous volumes of this series. The characteristics of Dr. Parker's writings are too well known to the readers of this REVIEW, and their merits are too Lighly appreciated, to call for any commendation or explanation from us.

Periodicals.

North American Review (Oct.) "America and the Vatican," by William W. Astor, is a bit of diplomatic history that will deeply interest American readers, briefly sketching the means by which, in his capacity of United States Minister, the writer secured exemption from confiscation the American College at Rome, which had been given to the Propaganda by Pope Pius IX. before the national occupation of Rome, and upon which considerable sums had been expended by American Catholics.

Andover Review (Oct.) Prof. Torry has an able and learned paper on "The Theodicée' of Leibnitz." Dr. W. Barrows makes a highly interesting contribution on "Commerce, Civilization and Christianity in their Relations to each other." He answers the following questions: "Has civilization an ethical code? Are the principles of national morality distinct from those of personal morality? Is civilization the elevating and saving of a nation in its separateness, or does it necessitate subjugation and absorption? Is nominal Christianity anything more than a civil polity? Do the scenes of a great civil violence originate mainly in nominal Christendom? How do the violent aggressions of nominal and commercial Christianity stand related to the spiritual extension of real Christianity? How is the claim for Christianity, as of divine origin, affected by its slow conquest of other religions?" He rapidly sketches the history of the great conquests of modern times. After giving the chief facts of France's outrage upon Madagascar, he says: "It is difficult to speak justly and mildly of this French movement in Madagascar and on the Continent. From the outset the presence of France, claiming local rights as against the natives and their governments, was an intrusion; and any movement in

force was an invasion. The assumption to take lands and offices and cities against the protests of hereditary owners and traditional and acknowledged authorities was national robbery. On the highway of nations imperial France challenged the weaker power to stand and deliver. To plead a treaty right is the plea of a burglar, on a contract signed by his victim under a revolver. She has lapsed a hundred and fifty years into some of the Indian barbarities of the old French War, and by her greed for territory and power and glory, and by her gross injustice and brute force in subjugating the weak and defenseless, she has thrown the moral sympathy of Christendom in favor of the heathen." He concludes: "Christianity has been burdened with the objection that its tardy growth weakens the claim to its divine origin. The objection is not superficial, nor necessarily captious, but its force lies in the perversion of Christianity. Too many have accepted Vattel's assumption, in his Right of Nations,' that our religion is merely a political system. Kings and cabinets have used it as such for national aggrandizement and secular ambitions, and so the system of Christ, so pure in itself and so full of equity and love and mercy as the expansion of the Golden Rule, has been compelled to be responsible for the invasions and oppressions and national robberies which have been achieved by a nominal and political and mercenary Christianity, A sense of equity and fairness and honor, in even a heathen mind, repels such a system, and so makes the growth of our holy religion very tardy and laborious in pagan lands, and exposes its divine origin to impeachment."

Bibliotheca Sacra July. Among the noticeable papers in this number we name "The Old Tes tament Covenant," by Prof. Schodde, Capital University; "The Study of the Hebrew Language Among Jews and Christians," by Prof. Pick, Allegheny; "Mill's Use of Buddhism," by Rev. M. L. Gordon, Japan, and "The Descriptive Names Applied to the New Testament Books by the Earliest Christian Writers," by Prof. Warfield, Western Theological Seminary. As is well known, Mr. Mill used Buddhism to prove that mankind can perfectly well do without belief in a heaven or a future life. His essay on the Utility of Religion closes thus: "The Buddhist religion counts probably at this day a greater number of votaries than either the Christian or the Mahomedan. The Buddhist creed recognizes many modes of punishment in a future life, or rather lives, by the transmigration of the soul into new bodies of men or animals. But the blessing of Heaven which it proposes as a reward, to be earned by perseverance in the highest order of virtuous life, is annihilation; the cessation, at least, of all conscious or separate existence. It is impossible to mistake, in this religion, the work of legislators and moralists endeavoring to supply supernatural motives for the conduct which they were anxious to encourage; and they could find nothing more

transcendent to hold out as the capital prize to be won by the mightiest efforts of labor and self-denial than what we are so often told is the terrible idea of annihilation. Surely this is a proof that the idea is not really or naturally terrible; that not philosophers only, but the common order of mankind, can easily reconcile themselves to it, and even consider it as a good; and that it is no unnatural part of the idea of a happy life, that life itself be laid down, after the best that it can give has been fully enjoyed through a long lapse of time, when all its pleasures, even those of benevolence, are familiar, and nothing untasted and unknown is left to stimulate curiosity and keep up the desire of prolonged existence. It seems to me not only possible but probable, that in a higher, and, above all, a happier condition of human life, not annihilation but immortality may be the burdensome idea; and that human nature, though pleased with the present, and by no means impatient to quit it, would find comfort, and not sadness, in the thought that it is not chained through eternity to a conscious existence which it cannot be assured that it will always wish to preserve." But it is clear from the resumé of Buddhism given by this writer that Mill knew very little about it. He sums up thus: "We have thus gone over the entire field of Buddhism, and so far from finding among its votaries proof that annihilation may be agreeable 'to the common order of mankind,' we have the most complete and satisfactory evidence of its rejection by them. Multitudes who accept the words of Gautama upon other subjects as the highest wisdom, have been and are unwilling to accept the idea of annihilation, or even to forego all knowledge of the future, and have persistently projected their hopes be yond the limits of the present life. From the millions of Ceylon, Burmah, and Siam in the South; from the many more millions of Thibet, China, Japan and other countries in the North, the voice of humanity, speaking in many languages, declares Mr. Mill's argument to be utterly with. out foundation, and that this pleasing hope, this longing after immortality,' is one of the ineradicable instincts of the human soul."

Methodist Review (Sept.) "The Danger of Apostasy," by the Editor, Dr. Curry; "Christ's Education of His Body," by Dr. Lapscomb; and "Southwestern China and Prospective Trade Routes," by Rev. E. B. Otheman, are all very readable papers. The "Editorial Miscellany" of this magazine is always full and informing, and often furnishes the best reading in it. Revised Old Testament" is discussed in this issue by the editor with discrimination and judicial candor, quite in contrast with the hasty crude and sweeping way in which many have treated the grave subject.

"The

Christian Thought (Sept.- Oct.) contains, as usual, several timely and able papers, and among the number, Dr. Deems' "Anniversary Address," as President of the Institute of Chris

tian Philosophy, in July last; "Primeval Man," by Dr. George D. Armstrong, of Virginia; and "Ethics and Religion," by Prest. Hyde, of Bowdoin College. And in this connection we would add, that this "Institute," which has done noble service already in the cause of Christian Truth, and bids fair to make its influence widely felt, has issued the "Second Series" of its annual contributions, making a stately and beautiful volume of nearly 500 pp., and is sold for $2. We know not how $2 could be better invested by any clergyman or intelligent layman, than in the purchase of it. Not only will he get the full worth of his money, but at the same time he will aid a worthy society in the prosecution of its Christian endeavor.

GREAT BRITAIN.

Nineteenth Century (Oct.) "The Uniformity of Nature," by the Bishop of Carlisle, and "Parliament and the Church," possess the most interest to American readers. The first combats ably the postulate of the absolute uniformity of Nature on which Hume predicated his argument against the possibility of miracles. The paper admits not of a synopsis; we indicate its drift by a passage or two: "The uniformity of Nature instead of being capable of being defended as a postulate, is, so far as it is true, the result of very hard scientific fighting. In the region of celestial mechanics it may be said to have gained absolute sway, because the motions of the heavens resolve themselves into the ordinary laws of mechanics, supplemented by the law of universal gravitation; and from this region there is a very intelligible tendency to extend the assertion of the principle to other departments of scientific investigation. Such extension. however, must be made with caution; even in the solar system itself, the moment we go beyond mechanics, all uniformity appears to vanish. With regard to size, arrangement, density-in fact, every element of planetary existence-variety, which defies all kind of classification, not uniformity, is the undoubted order of Nature. "In truth, a widespread rebellion amongst some of the most thoughtful of mankind must be the result of any attempt to press the sup posed principle of uniformity to the extent of denying all facts and phenomena which do not submit themselves. Religious faith is necessarily conversant with such facts and phenomena; and though even here a familiarity with the conclusions of science may be useful in steadying the mind and fortifying it against superstition, still there are supernatural truths bound up with the Christian creed, towards which it behoves all to bow with respect, and which cannot be refuted by any appeal to the uniformity of Nature.... To sum up the views which I have endeavored to express in this paper: I trace the belief in the principle, described by the phrase the unformity of Nature,' to the direct and indirect influences of the successful application of mathematics to the phys ical theory of the solar system. The principle

so established may be used as a working hypothesis in physical investigations, so far as it predisposes us to seek for law and order in all parts of creation. But it must not be dealt with as an absolutely true principle, if for no other reason at least for this, that it has not been found practicable to define its meaning with precision. And especially we must take care not to assume it even as an hypothesis, except in cases in which it is quite clear that nothing but physical causes are concerned. Which last consideration should be regarded as a warning, that the introduction of the principle into theological questions may very possibly lead to most erroneous conclusions."

Contemporary Review (Oct.) Cardinal Newman replies in a very spirited manner to Principal Fairbairn's criticisms in the May number on his "Apologia," under the title, "The Development of Religious Error," claiming that he has been shockingly misrepresented. The Duke of Argy 11 discusses the Irish Question, "Land Reformers," in a sensible and intelligent way. The results of the last "Irish Land Act" are anything

He

but hopeful, according to his showing. holds that it is a fatal blow to ownership-that "an arbitrary re-adjustment of rents every fifteen years" will work incalculable mischief to ownership. "The consequence of this legislation now is that the State is placed in the ridiculous position of having to offer a large bribe to induce men to purchase land in Ireland, although of all countries in the world it is the one in which land hunger' most extensively prevails. Moreover, this bribe is offered, not to capitalists, but exclusively to the existing tenauts, who, over a large part of Ireland, are notoriously impecunious. I do not know whether that bribe will succeed or not. My own impression is that it will not, and that for the simple reason that until rent is restored to its natural position-until the State ceases to regulate price through the intervention of a body purely arbitrary in its actions-no confidence can be restored to men who seek to own the commodity which is subject to such a process. The ownership of land in Ireland has become unsaleable, because the law has made it a worthless article."

NOVEMBER 1st, 8 P. M.-As we take our stand facing the south this evening, we have before us the Zodiac constellation Aquarius-The Water Bearer that of Capricornus having passed to the west. It is a very large and irregularlyshaped constellation, across the middle of which the sun journeys between the 14th days of February and March. It extends very nearly up to the star Enif, now an hour and a quarter past the meridian, about two-thirds of the way up the sky, and almost touches the first magnitude star Fomalhaut, which we see low down in the sky, within six minutes of its meridian passage. The faint stars in Aquarius above Fomalhaut seem to be disposed in lines trending to the southeast; and it is these which probably suggested the idea of water flowing from an urn, and, therefore, the name of the constellation.

They

Directly above Fomalhaut, but very much higher in the sky, are two stars, now within a few minutes of their meridian passage. The lower of these two is Markab; the other, about fourteen degrees higher, is named Scheat. are the first two stars of the well-known Square of Pegasus, and are of the second magnitude. The other two, forming the Square, are just one hour to the east of these; the lower one being Algenib, of the third magnitude, and the upper one Alpherat Of these four stars, Markab, Scheat and Algenib are in Pegasus, and Alpherat, which is the brightest one, is in the constellation of Andromeda. An imaginary line drawn from Markab through Alpherat is somewhat remarkable as including five notable stars, all of the second magnitude, and situated at about the same distance from each other. These are as follows: Markab in Pegasus, Alpherat in An

dromeda, Mirach, and then Almach, also in Andromeda, and last, Mirfak, in the constellation Perseus. Another interesting object situated in this region of the sky, can be now easily iden tified. It is the Great Nebula of Andromeda, in the middle of which a faint star has lately ap peared, only to fade away after a few weeks of comparative brilliancy. The Nebula, which presents the appearance of a faint patch of lightsomething like the tail of a small comet-is situated about one-third of the way on a line drawn from Alpherat to the constellation Cassiopeia, and somewhat nearer to the star Mirach than it is to Alpherat. It is the largest nebula visible to the naked eye in the northern heavens, thongh not so bright as the one in Orion.

Turning to the north, we see the Pointers exactly below the Pole. Most of the faint stars seen above the North Star are in the constellation Cepheus. This mythological king seems to have been greatly honored by the ancient astronomers, as his Queen Cassiopeia and their lovely daughter Andromeda, and her lover and husband Perseus, each have a beautiful constellation named after them, forming quite a family tableau in this part of the heavens.

The constellation Perseus, which we have just identified by its principal star, Mirfak, is one of the most beautiful in the sky, being very rich in small stars that are crowded along a line in the centre of the constellation, and on the edge of the Milky Way. It also has a large and well-defined cluster of very small stars, called the Cluster in the Sword Handle. It can be seen between Mirfak and Cassiopeia. The account of a still more interesting feature of this constellation we will defer till December.