but in a most unlike way of realizing their essential spirit. Nevertheless, we love to read such memorials as these, possibly all the more for this very reason. We are not always sure that we understand the experiences of Christian life exhibited; nor that we should indorse every shade of opinion and feeling presented. But, we commend this volume to our readers, praying that they may imbibe from it, as we would ourselves, a far larger measure of the spiritual blessing which the prophet had in view when he wrote: "In quietness and confidence shall be your strength." What a perfect closing up Gossner's saintly career: "Up to the spring of 1858, he corrected proofs and continued his correspondence. The summer previous, he was still able to train his vines. By the end of March he had fought the good fight, and finished the course a young old man of eighty-five."

Parish Papers. By NORMAN MACLEOD, D. D. 12mo.
New York: Carter & Brothers. 1863.

pp. 328.

"ONE of her Majesty's Chaplains for Scotland" gives us in this volume a series of papers marked by strong and substantial thinking, without any attempt at rhetorical display. Yet they are not heavy or out of accord with the times, as the chapter on "Religious Revivals " fully indicates. "The want of all our wants" (says the respected author) "is this, and this only, a Revival of Spiritual Religion; or, in other words, genuine, simple, truthful, honest love to Jesus Christ, to His people, to His cause, and to the whole world." The grave and impressive considerations which he has here placed before the Christian public are well fitted to secure this chief of blessings. The writer takes a close hold upon his subjects, and gives a reason for the faith which is in him. We observe his unflinching maintenance of the doctrine of the Future and Endless Punishment of lost souls, contrary to the mischievous suggestion of Tennyson, which mars his noble “In Memoriam":

"That not one life shall be destroyed,

Or cast as rubbish to the void,

When God hath made the pile complete;"

a question not to be determined by our wishes and feelings, but by the positive words of the Judge himself. This book is worthy a leisurely study.

The Sunday Evening Book: Short Papers for Family Reading. pp. 186. New York: Carter & Brothers. 1863.

16mo.

The Thoughts of God. By the Rev. J. R. MACDUFF, D. D. 16mo. pp. 144. New York: Carter & Brothers. 1863.

AUTHORS and publishers, in these days, seem to be of Goldsmith's mind, that, "if angels were to write books, they never would write folios." These neat little volumes are just large enough for the easiest kind of musing, meditative reading. And if the angels had written them, we were almost going to say that they could not have put within their pages choicer, holier, more nutritious thoughts than are here collected. The last, particularly, overflows with the warmest devotional fervors. Its appeals are direct, searching, soothing, inspiring. The first is a sheaf of the ripened fruit of such men as Hamilton, Stanley, Eadie, Punshon, Binney, and Macduff. Less impassioned in its style, it conveys rich instruction to the Christian understanding, while it also touches, with a potent wand, the deep places of spiritual

emotion.

A Morning beside the Lake of Galilee. By JAMES HAMILTON, D. D., F. L. S. 16mo. pp. 182. New York: Carter & Brothers. 1863. The Risen Redeemer: The Gospel History from the Resurrection to the Day of Pentecost. By F. W. KRUMMACHER, D. D. 12mo. pp. 298. New York: Carter & Brothers. 1863.

THESE treatises cover the same section of the Life of our Lord upon the earth. No period of that wondrous history is more affluent in topics of tender and jubilant contemplation. Dr. Hamilton charmingly says of it: "Interposed betwixt the Gospels and the Acts, like a beautiful bridge, it leaves no chasm." Nor could its elucidation have fallen into better hands than those of these two gifted and hearty (we mean, heartfull) writers. Each of them excels in that religious sensitiveness, that quick feeling of spiritual beauty, without which it is almost a profanation to touch the personal narrative of Christ. Hardly a living preacher has a more delicate and winning imagination than Hamilton, and it plays around the sacred incidents of these forty days "with the silver flame of a soft, subdued, and subduing light." Krummacher's work is the more labored and complete, taking on, with its practical, spiritual purpose, an attitude of defence against the sceptical critics of this history. These books are a good sample of the successful adaptation of the purest Christian truth to the specific mental characteristics and demands of this age, which will endure anything better than naked intellectuality and dry piety.

Speaking to the Heart; or, Sermons for the People. By THOMAS GUTHRIE, D. D. 12mo. pp. 216. New York: Carter & Brothers. 1863.

DR. GUTHRIE carries this same style of address to a still greater extent. We have questioned its desirableness, for the permanent interests of truth, as thus brought into an almost excessive play. We suppose however, that this exuberance of fancy is natural to him; it certainly so appears to a listener; and we have seen the evidence, in his church crowded to suffocation, that it takes strongly with his Scotch auditory. It is doubtless best for every one to work in his own way, be he the Henry Clay or the Daniel Webster of the pulpit, or one of the immeasurably lesser powers. Looking through these sermons, one can readily see, in their bold, graphic, downright, untrammelled treatment of vital gospel truths, why they would be sure to enchain the attention of any congregation. There is nothing in them roundabout, or ambiguous. What the speaker has to say, he comes at by the shortest roads, and delivers in the most peremptory way. We like this speaking with authority, as a prophet (in the true preaching sense) of the Lord; and if the Doctor is more Oriental than most of his class in these Western realms, he has certainly high example to fall back

upon.

Patriarchal Shadows, or Christ and his Church, as exhibited in Passages drawn from the History of Joseph and his Brethren. By OCTAVIUS WINSLOW, D. D. 12mo. pp. 402. New York: Carter & Brothers. 1863.

THE author has struck out a line of ingenious parallelism between the life of Joseph and of Jesus, which may best be given in the titles of some of his chapters; as thus: "The Famished Egyptians sent to Joseph for Bread. Go to Jesus." "The Sacks filled with Corn. A full Christ for empty Sinners." "Joseph making himself known to his Brethren. Christ revealing himself to his people." "Joseph's exaltation in Egypt. The Glory of Christ in heaven." "The Patriarch's Emigration into Egypt. The Christian's Journey." "Joseph Alive. A living Christ the life of the Christian." "Joseph's introduction of his brethren to Pharaoh. Christ's presentation of his church to God." It will at once be felt that the carrying out of such resemblances may tempt the preacher to a forced and strained handling of his material, at many points, while every devout biblical reader has seen the striking correlation of much in the patriarchal narrative with

the attitude and offices of our great "Elder Brother" in human redemption. It would be strange if this danger were here altogether avoided. Though extemporaneously delivered, and printed from a reporter's notes, these lectures afford evidence, in the main, of careful thought and well-balanced doctrinal views. Their expression is often eloquent, always animated. There is more of poetical recitation in them than our severer pulpit taste would approve; we understand that British preaching is much more florid, in this direction, than among ourselves is customary. A very select and (as we think) quite sparing use of poetical embellishment gives impressiveness to certain kinds of pulpit discourse. For popular reading, this series of addresses is excellent. It knows nothing "but Jesus Christ and Him crucified”the light alike of the "shadows" of the earlier, and of the mid-day of the later, dispensation.

Meditations on Death and Eternity.

by FREDERICA ROWAN. Fields. 1863.

16mo. pp. 414.

Translated from the German
Boston Ticknor &

"THE things which are unseen are eternal." A new interest is shed over this intrinsically valuable book, by the information that it aided to prepare the father of a line of British princes for a far more important life than that of earthly royalty, and that it has also been a favorite closet companion of his illustrious wife. It is most pleasant to know that some of those who ride on the high places of the earth are serious-minded Christians. Yet, in the light of such truths as are treated in this volume, all worldly dignities are dwarfed into insignificance. When the veil is withdrawn from the future, God only is great. Zschokke's "Stunden der Andacht" (this is its probable authorship) has furnished these "Meditations." They are solemn, instructive, quickening. Here and there a shading of doctrine (as in the section God is Love') puts an important truth in a questionable light. The author does not expend himself in giving expression to pious feeling. He lays a strong grasp upon weighty ideas, and out of them brings forth a rich and pure devotional fervor. The stream of consolation flows from the smitten rock. It is good to be alone with thoughts like these. The publishers are laying the religious public under many obligations by issuing, of late, so many of these beautiful aids to a deep and generous spiritual culture.

The Slave Power; its Character, Career, and Probable Designs: being an Attempt to Explain the Real Issues involved in the American

Contest. By J. E. CAIRNES, M. A., Professor of Jurisprudence and Political Economy in Queen's College, Galway, and late Whately Professor of Political Economy in the University of Dublin. 12mo. New York: Carlton. 1862.

The Results of Emancipation. By AUGUSTUS COCHIN, Ex-Mairé and Municipal Councillor of Paris. Translated by MARY L. BOOTH (translator of Count de Gasparin's Works on America). 12mo. Boston: Walker, Wise & Co. 1862.

AMONG the multitude of books upon the subject of Slavery which our recent troubles have drawn forth, these have won their way to the confidence of the public as authorities which will repay consultation, being careful in their inductions, philosophical in their methods, good in their temper, and hopeful in their auguries.

"Ministering Children." In Four Volumes; viz: "Ruth and Little Jane"; "Rose, or the Little Comforter"; "Herbert, or True Charity"; and "Patience, or The Sunshine of the Heart." Also, "Tidy's Way to Freedom"; "Trust in God, or Jenny's Trials"; "The Head or the Heart"; "Fire-Light, or Stories for Domestics"; and "Future Punishment." By JOHN TODD. "The Way to be Happy"; "The Little Knitter"; "The Two Ways." Am. Tract Society, 28 Cornhill, Boston.

THESE volumes are a good addition to our Juvenile Christian literature. They are written in modern style, life-like, earnest, interesting and practical in their bearings toward a better life.

ARTICLE IX.

THE ROUND TABLE.

OUR Table invites us to glean a little, as taste, fancy, or convenience may prompt, from the pages of our contemporaries, which bring to it many good things, and some which might be better. We purpose no formal notice of their contents, (that would be much too formidable a task,) but only a dip into them, here and there, as our reading may wander through their flowery meads or thornier thickets. To begin :