In an octavo volume of 402 pages, not closely printed, the writer has contrived to condense twenty-one sermons; and the subjects dilated on justify Mr. Raleigh's assumption of "Quiet Resting Places." To give copious extracts is beyond the space we can afford; and we can only offer a specimen taken here and there from a very scanty selection. In fact, extensive extracts would be manifestly unjust to the writer, by impairing the full benefit aimed at, to say nothing of the possible consequence of such a process proving an interference with, and a hindrance to, the fair reward of laborious toil. We will therefore confine ourselves to a few illus trations, we may call them, of Mr. Raleigh's glowing and attractive style, taken somewhat promiscuously. The first sermon appropriately claims attention. It gives the title to the volume, and is founded on Isaiah xxxii. 18: "And to quiet resting places.' After an exordium explanatory of the origin of the text and its general drift, we are reminded of some of the many promises of rest to Israel of old; and, by an obvious transition, reminded of man's need of that blessing in his present pilgrimage state. Five illustrations are offered:

"1. THE EVENING.

"The close of each day should bring over the soul some shadow of solemnity and rest. A sacred hour, even in Eden, was the end of the day. Isaac went out in the field to meditate at eventide. Jesus often left His disciples about sundown, and wandered up among the Syrian hills to find some sequestered spot where he might feel himself alone in the full presence of God. The breeze that fanned the leaves of Paradise will touch our cheek, and make coolness at the close of our day, if we will but cease from care and sin. The same sun shines and sets on us, which lightened and left the patriarchs day by day so long ago. The same night shadows us that gathered around the Saviour of the world. And the same soulrest will be ours, if we seek it, when even is now come.'

"To a devout soul the evening is like the secret place of the most High.' It is the shadow of the Almighty.' It is a closet of which God builds the walls, and shuts to the door. It is a quiet resting-place in which the soul may soothe weariness, recruit strength, look on the face of purity, and grow up into the image of God.

"2. THE SABBATH IS A QUIET RESTING PLACE.

"In the beginning God rested from His work, and blessed and hallowed the day for all time; and never has there been a Sabbath on earth in which men have not been entering into the very rest of God. Like all His gifts, it has been much perverted. To some it has only been dark bondage-a day of which the 'heavy burdens' have become heavier still. To others it has been a day of license and frivolity-the worst and not the best of the seven. To most on earth, alas! it is little or nothing different from other days. But believing and penitent souls greet the first day of the week with fear and great joy. Amid the toils and cares of the other days, many of them long for its coming round, and to them it returns with a brightness caught from the heaven out of which it seems to have rolled; with a calmness drawn from the Sabbath of eternity, which it types; with a healing put into it by the hand of the Physician of souls. Hail to the Sabbathday! God's selectest gift of time! man's highest opportunity! mount of clearest vision! land of purest air! spot nearest heaven's gate!

"3. THE PROVIDENTIAL CHARGE.

4. THE GRAVE IS A QUIET RESTING-PLACE."

Extracts on these third and fourth Meditations could not be made without depreciating the force and interest as a whole. Much of the third point is taken up more elaborately in the sermon entitled--“Our own Company." We cannot refrain from a brief extract, taken from the concluding suggestion:

"5. HEAVEN IS THE QUIETEST RESTING-PLACE OF ALL.

"Of that resting-place we can know little or nothing here. We know much in general, but nothing exactly. We are consoled and strengthened by the assurance that it will be perfect rest; but of what elements it will be composed, and what the enjoyment of it will be, we must wait to know. It lies not only beyond the bounds of earth, but so far beyond our earthly experiences, that we can hardly even imagine what it will be. Let this be enough for us. Christ will prepare it, and to all who are prepared for it will in due time secure its everlasting enjoyment. The preparation for it will be achieved in the diligent use of the other resting places which are opened to us as we pass on our way. In the meditation of the evening, in the worship of the Sabbath, in thoughtfulness amid change, in patience under trouble, and in the last sweet sleep of the grave, our preparation will be completed for that rest which will be rapture, and for that glory which will crown all earthly graces."

The difficulty of selection from a volume abounding with excellences is such, that we fear lest we have marred instead of raised Mr. Raleigh's claims to notice. There is in the volume very little to provoke criticism. We decline cavilling, because our desire is to commend. Here and there statements may provoke questioning, and some may speak of redundancy of ornament, of Scotticisms, and some imperfections in the editorial branch. For ourselves, we feel to have been refreshed, and brought into green pastures and beside still waters of comfort. We are thankful, too, that wide as are the incursions of Broad Churchmanship into the dominion even of Dissent, there are yet sweet untainted pastures among our Nonconformist brethren.

"Do it with thy Might;" or, Our Work in the World. Addressed to those who ask, What shall we do? By the Author of "What my thoughts are; or Glimpses and Guesses of things seen and unseen." Jarrold and Sons, London.-The tender advice and admonition, so judiciously mingled in this unpretending little volume, is addressed to those who honestly inquire, What have I to do here? what is my mission in the world? have I mistaken my path and my calling? A clue to those oft-repeated and frequently perplexing questions is here pointed out, by which both the temporal and spiritual calling and position of a Christian may be ascertained. The key which, if rightly applied, will unfold a life of usefulness, contentment, and satisfaction, is but a single sentence from the Scriptures, i.e., "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might;"plainly deducing the inference, "that our opportunities indicate our mission." Thus, to those who in simplicity and sincerity ask, "What shall we do?" the answer is given-" Whatsoever thy hand findeth ;" therefore it would follow, that the opportunities and apparent accidents of daily life, combined with a just estimate of our talent and ability, will, as a rule, pretty plainly point out what our position in life is. To the hundreds of young people who are about entering the < battle of life in real earnest, the perusal of this work will prove bene ficial, since on the most important step it gives sound instructions how to arrive at decisions which may affect the remainder of life. We read that the "fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;" and instruction here given is derived from the Bible. We are reminded, too, that we cannot too carefully mark the circumstances that would indicate our path; that it can never be right to relin

quish known duties for a self-elected course; in short, that we must do God's will, not our own will, and in His way, not in our's; and for this it is evident that watchfulness, humility, and a true estimation of our own ability, is essential. There are some restless people whose ambition leads them to a continual yearning after what they term a larger sphere of usefulness, which is frequently but another name for a larger sphere of self-exaltation. To these the above instructions equally apply "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might." The Almighty being satisfied if we make the best of our opportunities.

There are cases, it is true, in which, after careful watching, we are unable to discern any circumstance to indicate the path we should pursue. In such cases, since we cannot see, we must feel our way; and exertion, trial, and frequent endeavours alone will show the position or calling we are best capable of fulfilling. These cases are fortunately rare, but still they do occur; but even then, the principle, "that our opportunities indicate our mission," holds good; for, as has been well observed, Christianity is a set of principles, not a set of laws-the application of those principles being left to every man's individual conscience. And even in the latter class of cases, it is quite possible that in some instances opportunities may have been permitted to slip by before real watchfulness has begun. Such is a general outline of this work, and that too in almost the words of the author.

Glimpses and Songs of the Coming Kingdom. By the Rev. Edward Nangle, M.A. London: Nisbet and Co.-Mr. Nangle has long been a hard worker amongst the Roman Catholics of Ireland; not restricting his labours to his Protestant parishioners. In conse quence, he has had a life of danger and of constant trials, but we believe he has had his reward in the conversion of many. It appears from this little volume, that he has often solaced himself with "glimpses and songs of the coming kingdom." The glimpses are those which are revealed only to the eye of faith; the songs are not cast in the mould of poetry, but are rather the anticipations of a believing soul as to the glory to be revealed. On the whole, the work may be designated as a series of expositions, in which unfulfilled prophecy takes rather a prominent place, and the views of the author are in favour of a speedy return of our Lord and Saviour. But whether the reader agrees with Mr. Nangle or not upon these points of unfulfilled prophecy, he cannot fail to respect his learning, and to profit by his piety.

The Victory over Death; a Practical Exposition of the Fifteenth Chapter of St. Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians. By the Rev. William Niven, B.D., Incumbent of St. Saviour's, Chelsea, Author of "Thoughts of the Kingdom of God." Hatchard. 1864.-It is with pleasure that we again meet Mr. Niven. As an author he is always sound and practical, and interests the reader in what he writes. In the passion for something new and something exciting, which now prevails, it is to us a great refreshment to meet with a book which affects no novelties, and appeals to no passions,-in which old truths

Mr.

are presented, so as to appear "ever charming, ever new." Niven has this gift, and makes use of it for the glory of his Master, the instruction of his flock, and the edification of his readers. He belongs to that class of writers who are seldom to be found except within the sober precincts of the good old Church of England.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

THE anniversaries of our great religious societies have this year possessed more than usual interest: not that the eloquence was remarkable, or the Christian feeling of a warmer tone, though in both respects they were highly satisfactory,-but that the circumstances of the times invested them with unusual importance. These meetings have really become what synods and convocations aspire to be-exponents of public feeling, and, to a great extent, its guides. They are the great balance-wheel of our ecclesiastical machinery, both in the National Church and other denominations. Discussion is free; the control of the chairman is never oppressive; laymen and clergymen speak with equal courage on every point, doctrinal or practical; and if the speaker possesses a share of that dexterity, without which he is quite unfit for Exeter Hall, he may engraft very remote and unexpected trains of thought into a Bible or missionary speech. Thus these great meetings always bear down upon the most important topics of the day; and often with amazing force. They bring out the sense of religious people of every class upon the latest heresy or the most threatening symptom of approaching danger. Whether it is well that this should be so, is not the question we are now discussing; although at present we do not hesitate to avow our conviction that there is in it far more good than evil. This year, for instance, the May Meetings, one and all, have uttered such a protest against the follies of Colenso and the Essayists as must reassure the most timid; and they have so spoken on the question of the inspiration of the Bible, and other solemn points affected, or supposed to be affected, by the recent judgment of the Judicial Council, that the heart of all the Churches seems to be relieved of an anxious load. The wound is not incurable; the whole head is not sick, nor the whole heart faint; it must needs be that offences will come, and they have come thickly of late; but all men feel that we are weathering the storm, and that a blessing is still amongst us. "God will help us, and that right early."

Other ecclesiastical matters do not call for much remark. The Bill before the House of Lords, to remove the disabilities of the episcopal church in Scotland, is not, we believe, likely to pass. It would place

the Scotch episcopal clergy on a better footing than our own colonial bishops. It would be an affront to the National Presbyterian Church of Scotland; and, until the semi-popish Communion Office is altogether renounced and expunged from their prayer-book, it would be a measure full of danger to the purity of our own Church. We cannot believe that it will be allowed to pass. The Royal Commission for the revision and repeal of Tests and Subscriptions has not yet proceeded far with its inquiries. But we are informed that great unanimity prevails amongst its members, and we have reason to expect that some important concessions will be made. The feeling increases, that this may and ought to be done, and that it would not, of necessity, expose the Church to any real danger.

War in the north of Europe still continues, and the tide has turned against the unfortunate Danes. The Conference of the great powers is now sitting in London, from whose exertions it was hoped that peace might be restored. But the prospect is not hopeful. Prussia, it is said, will not consent to yield up her gains in the conquered provinces, and it is rumoured that the Conference has even consented to a partition of Denmark; but this seems utterly incredible. Great Britain, at least, could never consent to a repetition of the crime which blotted out Poland from the list of nations; nor will she suffer an ancient Protestant ally to be trampled down by the great European monarchies. But speculation is fruitless; happily we cannot long be called upon to endure suspense.

America presents a wretched picture. The army of the Potomac has at length ventured to move in the direction of Richmond. It encountered the Confederates, under General Lee, on the 5th of May. A series of sanguinary battles followed; such as for the waste of human life were never known in Europe, whether in ancient or modern times. The Federals acknowledge a loss of forty thousand men; and that of the Confederates, though not so great, is still enormous. Within a week 70,000 men have fallen. Yet, after all, General Lee is not defeated; neither has General Grant been able to advance many miles. "The whole field," says one writer, "must be the most awful charnel place that ever mortal eye witnessed, or mortal ear heard of. Six days' incessant carnage, and the battle still raging! If there was a pause, it was a pause for a fresh encounter ; if a lull, it was but the sullen stillness which precedes another roll of the thunder-storm. The survivors closed their ranks,

mingled company with company, took their ground, charged, fought and fell as their comrades before them. It seems as if the powers of hell had for a space dominion over that reeking spot of the blessed earth now paved with dead and dying men."

Still the end seems no nearer! Neither party seems to entertain the remotest intention of giving way. We shudder and turn aside in silence. God has a controversy with the land, and it would seem as if the vials of His wrath are not exhausted; "His arm is stretched out still."

Yet into this distracted country the stream of emigration pours with a rapidity hitherto unknown. Another Irish exodus has set in ; and it is ascertained that not less than a thousand emigrants every