have pleasure in recording our impression of its gentle and loving spirit, and of its polished and elegant form. It breathes a lowly, meditative, plaintive tone, reminding us occasionally of the exquisite Sermons of Consolation, by Greenwood, and it will be read as a closet exercise with advantage by cultivated minds. Some passages are very beautiful, and others somewhat bold and striking. We have only space for a brief extract or two. In the sermon on 'silence and meditation,' the author says, 'Milton's mind gave itself at once to the discords of politics below, and the symphonies of seraphim above; Vane mingled with the administration of colonies and accounts of the navy, hopes of a theocracy and meditations on the millennium; and it was no more natural for Cromwell to call his officers to council than to prayer.'

In the discourse on the single and evil eye,' amongst many striking illustrations of erroneous views of truth, he says,—'He whose very light has become darkness treats the privative as positive, and the positive as privative; he sees the single double, and the double single; with him nothing is infinite, and the infinite is nothing. The great prism of truth is painted backward, and the rainbow of promised good is upside down; and while he cannot espy the angel standing in the sun, he can read the smallest print by the pit-lights of Tophet, that threaten to blind the spirits, and smoke out the stars. To the evil eye, the universe is not simply hidden, but reversed.' With these favourable specimens of style we close our notice of a work, which, if it has fallen short of what we were led to hope for from the author's first announcement, has, nevertheless, yielded us considerable pleasure in its perusal.

III. The Elements of Moral Science. By FRANCIS WAYLAND, D.D., President of Brown University, and Professor of Moral Philosophy. Edinburgh: Maclachlan, Stewart, and Co. 1847. Foolscap 8vo.

It is a lasting disgrace to our country that such a work as Paley's Moral Philosophy still holds its ground as a text-book in our universities. If our doctors are not content with Butler, but want some more systematic and detailed development of his principles, and cannot perform for themselves the needful work, it is time that they should submit to borrow from America, where Dr. Wayland's book has gained, during a trial of more than ten years, an increasing reputation, which has extended to this country. For those who know the work, it will be enough to mention this reprint, with the praise which its execution well deserves. Those who do not know it may be induced to read it, when they are informed that it embodies the teaching of Dr. Wayland in his lectures, and that he was induced to draw up in consequence of his dissatisfaction with the use of Paley as a textbook; and when they see the philosophical and religious principles on which it is based, as exhibited in the following extract from the Preface:'The author, to whom I am under the greatest obligations, is Bishop Butler. The chapter on "Conscience" is, as I suppose, but little more than a development of his ideas on the same subject. How much more I owe to this incomparable writer, I know not. As it was the study of his

it

Sermons on Human Nature, that first turned my attention to this subject, there are, doubtless, many trains of thought which I have derived from him, but which I have not been able to trace to their source, as they have long since become incorporated with my own reflections. Entertaining those views of the sacred Scriptures which I have expressed in the work itself, it is scarcely necessary to add here, that I consider them the great source of moral truth; and that a system of ethics will be true, just in proportion as it develops their meaning. To do this has been my object; and to have, in ever so humble a manner, accomplished it, I shall consider as the greatest possible success.'

IV. German University Education, or the Professors and Students of Germany. To which is added, a Brief Account of the Public Schools of Prussia, with Observations on the Influence of Philosophy on the Studies of the German Universities. By WALTER C. PERRY, PH. D. Second edition. London: Longmans and Co. 12mo.

We have no knowledge of Dr. Perry beyond that furnished by his book, which is dated from Bonn, and the title-page of which announces him as a graduate of the University of Göttingen, while its contents evince the good use which he has made of his opportunities for personal observation. The book is well written and useful. It is not to be expected that any one, especially that any admirer of the system, should write upon the German Universities without expressing an opinion on the question of state education, but that question occupies so small a space in the present volume, that we only refer to it in order to prevent any misapprehension as to what the volume really contains. It is a statement of facts; accurate in the main, so far as our knowledge extends; sufficient to give an inquirer all needful information, without entering into details which would be tiresome and unintelligible to all but German students themselves; and, more, over, well arranged, and pleasingly related. Among other interesting matters in the volume, is a graphic narrative of the affair of King Ernest and the seven Göttingen professors, by which Georgia Augusta' was shorn of her glory. We regret that we cannot give more space to this volume. We should much have liked to have extracted entire the chapter On the Characteristics of German Universities.' The book is an excellent manual of the subject.

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V. Lessons of Life and Death; a Memorial of Sarah Ball. By ELIZABETH RITCHIE. John Snow.

A most affecting memorial of one of those examples of genuine, but unobtrusive youthful piety, which are among the very choicest confirmations of our faith, and to furnish which would seem to be the one work which some have allotted to them on the earth. We, who well knew the subject of this memoir, feel rather disposed to offer to Miss Ritchie the tribute of gratitude than of praise, for the admirable skill with which she has executed her simple and faithful narrative of a 'life and death' so full of lessons' to the young

VI. A New Solution of the Seals, Trumpets, and other Symbols of the Revelation. By the Rev. R. GASCOYNE, M.A. London: Longman, Brown, and Co. 1847.

We have read this book with some attention, but have not found out the new principle on which the author professes to have constructed it, and are, therefore, unable to determine its precise value. The attempt to unlock the symbols of the Apocalypse with the key supplied by the fulfilled predictions of Daniel is not very novel; and this, so far as we can judge, is the method adopted by Mr. Gascoyne. The work is constructed in the form of a paraphrase or comment on the first seventeen chapters of the Revelation. Assuming that the rise and fall of the Papacy are the great themes of its visions, the author has traced out much in the institutions and genius of the Romish church corresponding with the predictions. Without pledging ourselves to an approbation of all the interpretations of our author, we have much pleasure in testifying to the general moderation and scripturalness of his views. He has collected a large amount of historical and other information within the compass of a small volume; and has wisely forborne to meddle with what he regards as the unfulfilled part of the prophecy, holding that the key already in our possession will make us to understand these symbolical prophecies, when they have been fulfilled.' VII. Liberty of Conscience illustrated, in Lectures, by J. W. MASSIE, D.D. London: J. Snow. 1847.

The great subject of liberty of conscience is discussed in this book rather historically than dogmatically, and principally by the facts of distant history. Taking for his text Herbert's picture of the Independents asserting liberty of conscience, in the Westminster Assembly of Divines, Dr. Massie traces the struggle for Christian freedom from the days of Constantine, through the dark ages, at the era of the Protestant reformation, and in the history of the Puritans in England. An epitome of church history is thus presented to view, and a large amount of valuable matter compressed into a remarkably small compass. The narrative is interspersed with anecdotes, and is redeemed from all approach to dulness by the lively and animated style of the lecturer, who appears to have transfused much of the viva voce spirit of the lectures into the printed page. We think this is likely to prove one of Dr. Massie's most popular works, and heartily wish for it a circulation proportioned to its merits.

VIII. The Millennium in its three-hundredth Centenary. By OMICRON. London S. Oughton. 1847.

We have no very exalted opinion of the poetical powers of Omicron, nor have we much sympathy with his theological views, the nature of which may be indicated by the fact that he chronicles his book as 'written in the year 1847 of the Satanic state of the fallen world.' We can imagine no one a gainer by this publication but the printer and trunk-maker.

IX. Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Epistle to the Romans. By the REV. ALBERT BARNES. Edited by the REV. INGRAM COBBIN, M.A. London : William Tegg and Co.

Notes, Critical, Illustrative, and Practical, on the Book of Job; with a new Translation, and an Introductory Dissertation. By the REV. Albert Barnes. Edited by the REV. JOHN CUMMING, D.D. Vol. I. London: George Routledge.

We entered so fully in our last number into the question of Dr. Barnes's merits as a commentator, that we feel it hardly necessary to say more of the above works than that the forms in which they are presented to the English reader are such as the established reputation of their Editors would have led us to expect. The Commentary on the Romans' is already well known; of that on Job, Dr. Cumming gives the following estimate in his prefatory advertisement. 'The Commentary of Barnes on this book is perhaps that successful commentator's masterpiece. It is more elaborate and learned than his other commentaries, and in all respects worthy of a good scholar and a sound divine. I have read it with no ordinary delight. It will prove a treasure, I am confident, to thousands, and do more to bring out the beauties, and force, and application of this patriarchal book than any other attempt at explaining the Book of Job.'

X. An Essay on the Ancient Topography of Jerusalem, with restored Plans of the Temple, &c., and plans, sections, and details of the Church built by Constantine the Great over the Holy Sepulchre, now known as the Mosque of Omar, and other illustrations. By JAMES FERGUSON, F.R.A.S. London: John Weale.

We regret that this work did not reach us till after the article in our last number on the site of the Holy Sepulchre was written. It is one of the most valuable contributions yet furnished for the elucidation of the topography of the Holy City, especially from its being enriched with a series of beautiful and elaborate architectural plates. Mr. Ferguson's chief object has been to settle, if possible, the question of the site of the Holy Sepulchre ; but to the discussion of this subject he has prefixed an essay on the Ancient Topography of Jerusalem. Respecting the site of the sepulchre itself, he agrees with Dr. Robinson in rejecting the site of the present church, and he satisfactorily refutes the arguments of Williams, Findlay, and others, in its favour. Not content, however, with this negative result, he endeavours to establish the identity of the site of the Holy Sepulchre with that of the Mosque of Omar, or Dome of the Rock.

XI. The Church of England Mission in Sierra Leone. By the REV. S. A. WALKER, A.M. London: Seeley, Burnside, and Seeley. 1847.

Mr. Walker is already favourably known to the friends of Christian Missions by his work on 'Church Missions in Western Africa.' In the present volume, while contracting the subjects of his history, he has entered into more minute illustration, and collected with great diligence all the

interesting incidents connected with the mission to Sierra Leone, from its commencement, in the year 1809, to the present period. The book contains an historical and topographical sketch of the colony, and a narrative of the Niger expedition. It is well written, breathes a Christian spirit, and furnishes numerous illustrations of the power of the Gospel to exalt and purify the most debased and polluted of our species.

XII. The Ministry of Christ, viewed as a manifestation of Divine Perfections. By the REV. ISAAC BROWN. London: Ward and Co. 1847. Crown 8vo. 18mo. (Second thousand.)

This work is an interesting treatise on the most interesting of subjects. The aim of the author is to demonstrate that the ministry of Christ is a manifestation of Divine attributes. He has selected those of truth, lovę, majesty, and holiness, and has shown in clear, earnest, and pathetic language that they are, each of them, manifested in the person and work of our Lord. It is impossible for the devout reader to accompany the author through the glorious regions of sacred truth, on which he has entered in the four chapters of this book, to follow out in private reflection the train of sublime thought there suggested, without becoming more deeply impressed with the wisdom and mercy displayed in the plan of redemption, and feeling a more ardent love to the Mediator. The work is concluded by a practical address, which, being faithful, energetic, and affectionate, is calculated, when accompanied by God's grace, to be highly useful. The work is written with a simplicity rendering it intelligible to the cottager, and it is also distinguished by correctness of style. It is thus adapted both for the library and for distribution, to which twofold end it is further fitted by the two forms in which it is issued, the low price of the small edition making it accessible to all readers. The sense entertained of its merits by a large portion of the public has already been seen in the rapid sale of about a thousand copies; and we anticipate that its circulation will soon extend to a far wider circle.

XIII. Missionary Labours in British Guiana.
London: J. F. Shaw.

By the REV. J. H. Bernau. 1847.

On the emancipation of the Negroes in our colonies, Mr. Bernau was sent out by the Church Missionary Society to labour in Jamaica. Unexpected difficulties in that island led to the transference of his services to the Corantyn coast of Berbice. For about nine years he acted as a missionary to the Indians, and appears to have been successful in turning many from idols to the worship of God. He describes the manners, customs, and superstitions of the aborigines, who are melting away like other red tribes, at the approach of Caucasian races. Not the least interesting part of the book are the notices of the geology and natural history of that part of the South American continent to which it refers. We have pleasure in commending this work as one that will amply repay a careful perusal. Several well-executed wood-cuts enhance the value of the volume, which is beautifully printed.