The Second Coming, &c. By Twelve Clergymen of the Church of England. London: J. Nisbet. 1843. These Lectures contain a very full exposition of the leading events brought before us in unfulfilled prophecy. Most of the writers are well known and much esteemed ministers of Christ, such as Bickersteth, Pym, Dalton, Brooks, Dallas, Stewart, whose names form a sufficient recommendation to the work. It is rather singular that while works like this never fail to excite innumerable cavils, they have almost never called forth one reply. Why should those who are so ready to censure be so reluctant to refute? We give a few brief ex tracts. "Lastly, does it not become the faithful ministers of God's word to call upon the Church to throw off this neglect, to rouse herself, to put on her beautiful garments, and to expect the coming of the Lord? How know we, brethren, that the cry is not now at once to be made- Behold the Bridegroom cometh? At midnight,' we are told, was the cry made.' This is the term by which the Lord characterises the times of mingled disquietude and peace, of slumber and of busy worldliness, that shall precede his coming. Is there nothing in the aspect of the present times which corresponds to this description? On all sides we hear of external peace, inasmuch as there has been a long interval of comparative peace throughout the world; on all sides schemes of worldly policy and gain are eagerly pursued; and while men will admit that there are whispered fears of danger, many will repeat one to another, that all will yet be well. Others, while their hearts are secretly filled with boding expectations of events that are coming on the earth, are ready to scorn those who would refer them to God's word for guidance. But that is no true peace which is not based upon God's word. It is when men shall say, Peace and safety,' we are told, that sudden destruction shall come upon them, and they shall not escape.' We see in the lowering clouds of Popery aud superstition the threatenings of a stormy midnight. We hear in the sullen whisperings of Infidelity and lawlessness the presage of coming judgments. Is there not much to make us think that it is now our part to lift up our voice as a trumpet, to proclaim the fact-Behold, the bridegroom cometh!' Oh, that that cry might be heard, might be heeded! He that bath ears to hear, let him hear."" Pp. 44, 45. "What, now, are those notable events which form the successive links in the prophetic chain, of which we have been speaking? "1. The preaching of the Gospel in the prophetic earth. Matt. xxiv. 14; "3. The Pagan persecutions. Dan. xi. 32, 33; Rev. ii. 10; xii. 4. "4. Pagan Rome christianised. Rev. vi. 2. “5. The decline and fall of Rome, or fourth kingdom. Rev. xvii. 10, "6. The rise of the ten kingdoms. Dan. vii. 7, 24. "7. The Rise of Papal Rome with her triple crown. "8. The rise of the Eastern Antichrist. Dan. viii. 23; "9. The 1260 years of Papal oppression of the saints. xii. 6, 14. Dan. ii. 41; vii. 24; Dan. vii. 8, 24. Dan. vii. 21; Rev. "10. The consumption of the Papacy by the breath of the Lord's mouth. 2 Thess. ii. 8. "11. The heaving of the great earthquake, by which the powers of Christendom should be shaken. Rev. vi. 12. 12. The wasting away of the Eastern Antichrist. "13. The going forth of the three unclean spirits. Rev. xvi. 12. "14. The preaching of the Gospel to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. Rev. xiv. 6. 15. The pity of the Lord's servants for Zion. Psalm cii. 13, 14. "16. The sign of the Son of man in heaven. Matt. xxiv. 30. “17. The first resurrection, and rapture of the saints. Rev. xx. 4-6; 1 Thess. iv. 15-17; 1 Cor. xv 23. 18 The coming of Elijah the Prophet. Mal. iv. 5. "19. The judgments upon the ungodly world. Isaiah xxxi. 1-8; lxvi. 15, 16; Dan. xii. 1; Matt. xxiv. 21; Rev. xvi. 18, 20, 21. "20. The Lord's descent upon this earth. Acts i. 11; 1 Thess. iv. 16; Rev. i. 7. 21. The restoration of Abraham's seed. Jer. xxiii. 3-8; xxxi. 7-12; Ezek. xxxvii.; Dan. xii. 1, 7, &c. "22. The thousand years' reign of righteousness and peace. 23; Rev. xx. 4, 6." Pp. 73-75. Isaiah xxiv. I pass on, however, to the express language of our text-" Blessed is he that WATCHETH." This admonition extends beyond sobriety of mind; the latter referring to the inward frame, the former to the outward conduct. Be vigilant. Stand upon your watch-tower. Mark the movements of the enemy. Think not you are safe because you have obtained partial success, nor vainly imagine that, having passed the day securely, the night will not bave its dangers. Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord when he shall return from the wedding, that when he cometh and knocketh they may open to him immediately.' "This vigilant spirit, in regard to the coming of our Lord, implies the expectation of this great event. For men are not set to look for the arrival of a person who is not expected; nor do we watch for the coming of a friend, when no intimation has been given concerning his approach. Here, therefore, it is understood, that from the study of the sacred Scriptures, and from an assured faith in their truth as the Word of God, an expectation is wrought in the mind that this event will undoubtedly happen; that he that shall come will come, and will not tarry;' and, that unto them that look for him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.' "There is also implied a consciousness of the uncertainty of the hour in which this event may happen. Although esteem for a friend we love may, long before the time, beget an earnest desire for his arrival, it is not until near the day he has fixed for coming that we expect his approach. When, therefore, it is said, 'Blessed is he that watcheth,' it implies a consciousness of uncertainty as to the time when the event shall come to pass. He may come in the first, or the second, or the third watch. He hath not so precisely fixed the very time, that we can say at what moment He will arrive. It may be at even, or at midnight. or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning.' I must, therefore, be watching; for I cannot say when it will be. "An earnest longing for His appearance is also implied; so that in the anticipation of His coming we are led to watch the movements of his Providence, and feel the time to be long while He is absent. The believer will say, Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the wheels of His chariot? Or he will partake of the spirit of David, when he said, 'My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say more than they that watch for the morning. Until the Lord shall appear it is night-time with the Church; and she longs for the day; she watches for the streaks of the early dawn, and is ready to hail with gladness the first tokens of the coming of her Lord. As when some very dear friend is expected the eye almost involuntarily turns, when the hour of his arrival draws near, toward the quarter from whence it is believed he will come, so he who watches is longing for the advent of his Lord. He loves His appearing. He says from his inmost soul, Come quickly. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.' Such, beloved friends, will be the state of mind of one who partakes of this blessed character. Oh! that this may be the spirit in which every one now present may be looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God.' "All that I have stated is implied in the expression, Blessed is he that watcheth. But it is not the whole. The counsel given by our Lord, like an order from a great military commander, is short, but most expressive. A single word, Watch!' but this one term contains a volume. For it includes not only this diligent preparation for His coming, but a spirit of constant vigilance. That we watch the providences of God, so as to meet the Lord in His ways; that we watch the first risings of sin in the heart, so as to check it in the very germ; that we watch against whatever may grieve the Holy Spirit;' since it is by His active grace that the spiritual life is begun, maintained, and advanced; and that we watch, in a very special manner, against the dangers with which the Church of Christ is encompassed. And who, my beloved friends, can measure the extent of these dangers in these perilous times?"" Commemoration of the Bicentenary of the Westminster Assembly of Divines, and of the Centenary of the Reformed Presbytery, by the Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Scotland. Glasgow: Marshall. 1853. Discounting some Cameronian peculiarities, attaching themselves to some parts of this work, it is a valuable and interesting publication. It has more of an exclusive, and less of a catholic, air than the other Commemoration Report: still we can read it with pleasure, and consult it with profit. Journals of the Rev. Messrs Isenberg and Krapff, Missionaries to the Church Missionary Society. London: Seeley. 1843. As we hope ere long to return to this volume, we shall do nothing more than notice it at present. The first part of it consists of a learned geographical treatise upon Eastern and Central Africa, extending to nearly one hundred pages. The second and chief part of it is occupied with the journals of those eminent missionaries. The whole book is of great value and interest, both to the Christian and the man of science. It contains two valuable maps of the eastern portion of Africa. The Wheat and Chaff gathered into Bundles; being a Statistical Contribution towards the History of the Recent Disruption in the Scottish Ecclesiastical Establishment. By JAMES M'COSH, Editor of the Dundee Warder, Perth: J. Dewar. 1843. We must wait till the great day of the Lord for the gathering into bundles of the wheat and chaff. Any attempt to judge before the time' is stepping beyond our province. Hence, the title of the above work lies open to very strong objection, which we trust will be remedied in another edition. The work itself is very valuable, and the information it contains will furnish matter for the future historian of the Church. No small labour must have been expended upon this statistical contribution,' in order to ensure that accuracy which, with one or two very slight exceptions, pervades the work. The Plea of Presbytery, &c. By Ministers of the General Synod of Ulster. Third Edition. Sixth Thousand. Belfast: M'Comb. 1843. A short Vindication of Presbytery, with twelve Essays on the Church. By the late REV. G. WHYTOCK. Edited by REV. THOMAS M'CRIE. Edinburgh: Kennedy. 1843. Both of these admirable works have been before the public for some time, so that there is the less need for any lengthened criticism upon their merits. The Plea of Presbytery has reached its sixth thousand, which fact, of itself, speaks more loudly in its favour than any eulogy from us could do. Yet we would earnestly recommend the work to our readers' notice, as in every respect worthy of their notice and study. This last edition contains some very valuable additions which enrich it even beyond former editions. We trust that it will meet with a circulation commensurate to its value, which, indeed, it has already in some measure done. The second of these works comes to us stamped with the imprimatur of the Rev. Thomas M'Crie, who says of it in his preface, the main recommendations of this treatise are simplicity and comprehensiveness. It bears the impress of two leading traits in the author's character, mildness of temper, and shrewdness of intellect. It exhibits in a condensed yet lucid form the leading arguments in favour of Presbytery, and is written in such a candid and dispassionate manner that few can take offence at its statements.' In the Essays,' which embrace the latter half of the volume, the reader will find many able and valuable pieces of controversy and criticism. In the conclusion of the preface Mr M'Crie mentions that Mr Richard Whytock of Edinburgh, the only surviving son of the author, has made a present of 500 copies of this work to the Education Fund of the Free Church, and the publisher (Mr Kennedy) has kindly undertaken their disposal for the above object, without profit to himself or any charge beyond the necessary expenses. In purchasing the work our readers will both confer a favour on themselves, and throw a mite into the treasury of the Free Church Education Committee. ་ The History of the Church of Scotland. By the Rev. W. M. HETHERINGTON, A.M. Third Edition. Brought down to the disruption. John Johnstone. 1843. This well-known history has now reached its third edition. It has done much already to forward our cause, and to clear up our principles, as well as thoroughly to expose to shame those of Moderatism; and we trust its usefulness is only beginning both in England and Scotland. We need not spend time in eulogizing it. We do most heartily wish it success. May it circulate wide and far, and may the blessing of a gracious God go with it. Evangelical Training, &c. By WILLIAM MUNSIE. Second Edition. Glasgow: D. Bryce. 1843. A Catechism of Scripture Biography. By JOHN YOUNG. Gallie. 1843. Glasgow: G. The former of these little works we have already commended to the notice of our readers when it first appeared. It has now passed into a second and improved edition, which will not make it less worthy of the attention of those interested in Sabbath schools, for whom it is especially intended. The second is an excellent catechism of Scripture biography for the use of families and Sabbath schools. It would have been more valuable and useful, we think, had it preserved a more regular chronological order in its questions. Still it is an excellent manual. Enter into thy Closet; or, Secret Prayer and its accompanying Exercises, &c. By Rev. J. M'GILL, Hightae, Lochmaben. Glasgow: D. Bryce. 1843. There is much that is excellent in this volume, and much that is fitted to be useful in stirring up Christians to pray more, in these prayerless days. May it be blest for this end! Still we cannot help saying, that there is in it more of the air of duty to be performed, than of privilege to be enjoyed, in the spirit of assured sonship and happy reconciliation with God. The Necessity of Reforming the Church, presented to the Imperial Diet at Spires, 1544, &c. By Jous CALVIN. Translated by HENRY Beveridge, Esq., Advocate. London: Dalton. 1843. Thanks to Mr Beveridge for this most seasonable work. We shall not attempt to commend Calvin, but we do recommend this work to the notice aud study of our readers; and we would also Beza's eulogy on this treatise, which may have some weight-I know not that anything on the subject, either more nervous or more solid, has appeared in our age.' Gladly would we take up this subject at large. At present we cannot. Possibly we may return to it. When, since the Reformation, did the churches of Christ more need reforma. tion than now? Dominici Diodati, de Christo Christo Græce loquente exercitatio, &c. Edited, with a preface, by ORLANDO T. DOBBIN, LL.D. London: John Gladding. 1843. We expected by this time to have presented to our readers a lengthened review of the above curious and learned work. In this we have been disappointed. We hope ere long, however, to be able to gratify them in this respect. But in these days of bustle and over-labour, disappointments such as the above must too frequently occur. The Flock in the Wilderness, or the Secession of 1843. Our brethren of the Presbyterian Church of Ireland have done us good service. Their sympathy with us in our sufferings is decidedly the strongest and most cordial of any. They remember us before God. They have liberally given us of their worldly things. They defend our principles from the pulpit and the platform. They have made our cause their own, and we thank them for all this. God himself is the only safe retreat in time of trouble, for His suffering Church; yet it is no small consolation to have the warm sympathy of earthly friends who befriended us, not because of earthly ties, but because we are bound together by the strong bond of principles found in the Word of God, and, therefore, we feel as if we had a kind of asylum for our sacred cause in the breasts of our Irish brethren. We often thought, before the painful disruption of our Church, that many of our ministers yielded too much to a false delicacy in declining to bring the doctrine of Christ's Headship prominently before their people, and giving it a place of equal importance with the other |