Notices of Books. The Priest and the Huguenot; or, Persecution in the Age of Louis XV. By L. F. BUNGENER, author of the "History of the Council of Trent," &c. Crown 8vo. Pp. 445. London: Nelson and Sons. 1854. THE Messrs. Nelson have done good service to the public by issuing so cheap an edition of this valuable and highly interesting book. Its value is not a little enhanced by a short sketch of the author. M. Bungener is a distinguished Professor at Geneva, and is well known both on the Continent and in this country, from his "Preacher and the King," which has passed rapidly through fourteen editions in France, and his "History of the Council of Trent." Both of these works have been translated into English, and have received an extensive circulation. We are glad that the much maligned and almost forgotten Huguenots have at length received a modicum of justice; and that our author has employed his powerful pen in recovering from "oblivion's tranquil depths "those illustrious dead, whose destruction proved the moral ruin of unhappy France. The characters of the dominant and oppressed are here portrayed with a fidelity that must carry conviction to the mind of every reader. There is no exaggeration-no false colouring for the sake of effect; nothing but truthfulness and impartiality pervades the work from beginning to end. Whether be conducts us to the splendours of Versailles and opens to our view the dissolute and worthless Court of Louis XV., or to the Cevennes, and sets before us the crushed and down-trodden Protestants in the midst of suffering without a parallel, possessing a peace, Royalty sighed for in vain, we never feel he has over-coloured a statement, or pronounced a judgment too severe. While some may think the form a little objectionable, they will not have read far before they discover that the author has only one aim throughout the whole. The artistic drapery he employs is the means, not the end. And, however he may appear to linger, while he narrates an anecdote or records a discussion, we soon perceive that he has a higher end in view. His aim is not to make a book, but to prove from history that the bitter fruits | which France reaped at the Revolution, and is still reaping, were the necessary result of the unprecedented persecution that preceded and followed the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, and which drove half-a-million of France's best citizens and most virtuous inhabitants into perpetual exile, and almost depopulated the fair province of Languedoc, sent her sons to the life-long horrors of the galleys, and immured her daughters in prisons and convents; and hunted the peaceable Cevenols from valley to valley, and dragged them from their beloved homes in "the desert," to shed their blood like water on a thousand scaffolds, for no crime whatever-unless the worship of God be a crime. He confronts Popery and Protestantism in the persons of their most distinguished supporters, and thereby demonstrates their respective influence on the progress of truth, and the well-being of nations. To detach any one passage from so admirable a work is scarcely possible. So complete is its unity that each part must be seen in its bearing on the whole to catch its force and appreciate its merit. Yet there are scenes so pathetic, so sublime, that they touch every chord of the soul, and imprint themselves deeply on the memory. Few will ever forget "the Cevenol's Story," or fail to be moved by the touching "Monologue of the venerable missionary on the eve of preaching before all Paris." But we must refer our readers to the work itself, warmly recommending it to their perusal. The Chemistry of Common Life. By JAS. F. W. JOHNSTON, M.A., F.R.S.S., L. and E., &c., author of "Lectures on Agricultural Chemistry and Geology," &c., &c.-No. I. Edinburgh and London: William Blackwood and Sons. THE "Chemistry of Common Life," as regards air and water, food, prepared beverages, narcotics, odours, and the circulation of matter, is here to be explained in a series of eight monthly parts, at a cheap rate, and illustrated by engravings. From the plainness of style which characterises the opening Part, and from the way in which the author takes occasion to impart mental and moral instruction in dealing with his subject, the work, when completed, will form an excellent manual for schools in the department of natural science. We make no apology for enriching our pages with the following illustration of a passage in Scripture, from the chapter entitled, "The Water we Drink:" "Well-waters sometimes contain vegetable substances also of a peculiar kind, which render them unwholesome, even over large tracts of country. In sandy districts, the decaying vegetable matters of the surface soil are observed to sink down and form an ochrey pan, or thin, yellow layer in the subsoil, which is impervious to water, and through which, therefore, the rains cannot pass. Being arrested by this pan, the rain-water, while it rests upon it, dissolves a certain portion of the vegetable matter; and when collected into wells, is often dark-coloured, marshy in taste and smell, and unwholesome to drink. When boiled, the organic matter coagulates, and when the water cools, separates in flocks, leaving the water wholesome, and nearly free from taste or smell. The same purification takes place when the water is filtered through charcoal, or when chips of oak wood are put into it. These properties of being coagulated by boiling, and by the tannin of oak-wood, show that the organic matter contained in the water is of an albuminous character, or resembles white of egg. As it coagulates, it not only falls itself, but it carries other impurities along with it, and thus purifies the water-in the same way as white of egg clarifies wines and other liquors to which it is added. Such is the character of the waters in common use in the landes of the Gironde, around Bordeaux, and in many other sandy districts. The waters of rivers, and of marshy and swampy places, often contain a similar coaguble substance. Hence the waters of the Seine, at Paris, are clarified by introducing a morsel of alum; and the river and marsh waters of India, by the use of the nuts of Strychnos potatorum, of which travellers often carry a supply. One or two of these nuts, rubbed to powder on the side of the earthen vessel into which the water is to be poured, soon causes the impurities to subside. In Egypt, the muddy water of the Nile is clarified by rubbing bitter almonds on the sides of the water-vessel in the same way. In all these instances the principle of the clarification is The aluminous matter is coagulated by what is added to the water, and in coagulating it embraces the other impurities of the water, and carries them down along with it. These cases, and especially that of the sandy landes of Bourdeaux, and elsewhere, throw an interesting light upon the history of the waters of Marah, as given in the fifteenth chapter of Exodus: So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were qitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people murmured against the same. Moses, saying, What shall we drink? And he cried unto the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree, which, when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet.' As in our European sandy climes, the waters of the sandy wilderness may contain an albumen-like substance which an astringent plant will coagulate." Physiology in Harmony with the Bible, respecting the Value and Right Observance of the Sabbath. By JAMES Miller, F.R.S.E., Surgeon in Ordinary to the Queen for Scotland; Professor of Surgery in the University of Edinburgh, &c., &c. Edinburgh: Johnstone and Hunter. 1854. "THESE pages contain the substance of two Lectures, which, in connexion with the working of the Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society, were lately addressed to the medical pupils of the Edinburgh school, and have been re-delivered to a more general audience, by desire of the Young Men's Sabbath Observance Society." The name of Professor Miller is a sufficient guarantee for the science, and we cordially answer for the theology, of this volume. It is gladdening indeed to see matter so good welling forth from the heart of a man so busy. A right noble defence of the Sabbath, and a right honourable testimony is this to the whole truth of God as it is in Christ Jesus. Rather than speak ourselves, we extract a brief paragraph:"Working-men! be not cajoled, and flattered, and befooled by Crystal Palaces, and their interested touters. Fine arts, of themselves, will never make you fine men. Look at Rome! Sunday fêtes, spectacles, gala-days, will never make you happy, conLook to France; tented, loyal, and free. look to Paris, where one-third of the entire population die in the public hospitalsscarce houses to live in, no homes to die in. Do you want peace and liberty? 'The work of righteousness shall be peace: and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance for ever.' You will be 'free indeed' only when Christ shall have made you free. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.' We earnestly commend the pithy little volume to the attention of our readers. " Ocean Lays: or the Sea, the Ship, and the London: Robert Theobald. 1854. THIS is a beautiful little volume. It is compiled by one who evidently knows a sailor's tastes and feelings. It is a gathering of all the best pieces of all our best poets about the sea, ships, and sailors. It contains nothing inconsistent with the Gospel, and here and there are short pieces in which The Believer's Charter. By D. DEWAR, on its first appearance, and we feel, from the specimen volume before us, that its excellence was not overrated. We believed that there were few men in the kingdom better fitted for the undertaking than Mr. Gilfillan, and his fresh, brilliant sketches of the authors of this excellent volume, together with the interesting notes, fully justify this opinion. Even in these days of cheap literature, they are almost worth the price of the entire volume. Nor has Mr. Nichol come behind the Editor in performing his part. That volunies so large, with paper, type, and binding of the first quality, should be produced at 3s. 6d. each, proves to us that the publisher could only have ventured on the enterprise with the hope of a very extensive circulation, and to such, we can assure our readers, he is amply entitled. THAT "string of pearls," as it has been called, the eighth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans, is here expounded in a series of short sermons, in all twenty-two in Incidents in the Life of our Saviour, illusnumber. To those who are acquainted with trative of his Divine Character and Dr. Dewar's style of theological writing, it Mission. By the Rev. A. L. R. FOOTE, is unnecessary to state that the "points" of Brechin. London: James Nisbet and the "Believer's Charter" are here explained Co., 21, Berners-street. 1853. and enforced with much sound reasoning, THIS elegant volume is an excellent specimen and, at the same time, with much plainness, of what was more familiarly known in the and with a copious use of Scripture lan- olden time than in our day by the name of guage. A suitable use and application of "Lecture." The system of lecturing is Scripture quotations is, to some extent, a still widely prevalent in Scotland; it is but want in the pulpit elocution of modern little practised now in England. Of all times; and a sad want it is, for, wherever methods of discoursing the lecture is the it is manifested, it indicates a forgetfulness most profitable. Man grows in the love of of the fact that Gospel ministers are com- it; and the Spirit of God greatly blesses manded not merely to preach, but to preach and honours it. When the Word of God is the Word. In this volume we have the thoroughly expounded on the Sabbath, Scriptural style of the old divines, in com- people read it with the understanding and bination with that brevity and explicitness with the heart during the week. It secures which is required in modern literature; and, variety. We have listened to sermonizers, withal, there is a union of good old-fashioned who, whatever the text, presented us soundness in doctrine, with an earnest. Sabbath after Sabbath with their views of practical application of the truths enforced. the Gospel divided into the orthodox three An Essay on Human Happiness. By C. B.heads. A lecture presents us with the truth ADDERLEY, M.P. London: Blackadder and Co. 1854. THIS little work is the first of an elegant WE called attention to the prospectus of of God as God presented it to us: a sermon, Mr. Foote's volume is an admirable specimen of popular pulpit lecturing. With the exception that here and there the style is somewhat loose and iterative, and that, occasionally, words are employed which are not "level to those who are of meaner capacities," we think the volume deserving the highest commendation; and hope it will find a wide circulation. The doctrine is sound, and good, and wholesome; the exegesis is sober and accurate; the practical appeals to heart and conscience are powerful and eloquent; and the views presented of the person of Christ, the God-man, are good for the understanding and the heart also. This last is the chief feature of the work-Christ viewed in his manward aspect. The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary." Forasmuch, then, as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also himself likewise took part of the same." Macariodos; or, the Happy Way. Hamilton, Adams, and Co., London. To this book, with somewhat of a strange title, we gain the key-note in the last chapter. Hints indeed there are scattered throughout the volume sufficient to show that the writer is giving his own experience, showing the way by which he was led to believe in those truths he commends with so much earnestness. The chapters on "The Tests by which a Man's Spirit bears witness that he is the Child of God”— "Doubts and Anxieties of Sincere Men Removed" and "Reasons why some Persons derive no Happiness from Religion," are specially valuable and instructive. A little condensation, and a more liberal use to of the critic's pen, in striking out all irrelevant matter, would have improved the book. Specially is this true in the way our author quotes Scripture. He seems forget that the maxim "bonus textuarius est bonus theologus" is true only when the text quoted not only proves and establishes the point discussed, but is itself in turn illustrated and explained. Saturday and Sunday: Thoughts for Both. Glasgow: J. Maclehose. London: Hamil ton and Co. WE do not like this title, but the book itself is a gem. It is divided into three portions, which were originally published separately as Spare Moments;" "Green Leaves;" and "Aims and Ends." We are glad to see them again in this new and elegant form, and we sincerely trust they may live to adorn many a library, and edify a numerous circle of readers. The Powers of the World to Come. By Dr. CHEEVER. Collins, London and Edinburgh. THIS is one of the most solemn and powerful works that Dr. Cheever has written. It must leave a deep, if not a lasting, impression on every one who reads it. Most earnestly do we wish that it may be very widely circulated. Sunshine; or, Believing and Rejoicing: a Series of Home and Foreign Missionary Sketches. By M. A. S. BARBER. James Nisbet and Co. MISS Barber has rendered substantial aid to the cause of Missions by her fluent and industrious pen. She conducts a Children's Missionary Magazine (for which these Sketches were originally written), and through which she has raised for missionary objects, since 1848, upwards of £1,000. It is an admirable work for juvenile libraries, and will be read with interest and profit by the elder children in Sabbath Schools. son. The Soul's Life. Its Commencement, Progress, and Maturity. By the Rev. EDWD. GARBETT, M.A. London: T. D. ThomTWENTY very excellent discourses on vital ful preparation. The Author is earnest and Christianity. They bear evidences of careevangelical, and, judging from portions of the Sermons we have read, we can recommend the volume as containing a valuable amount of sound scriptural instruction. Daily Bible Illustrations. Being original Readings for a Year, on subjects from Sacred History, Biography, Geography, Antiquities, and Theology. Evening Series:-"The Apostles and early Church." By JOHN KITTO, D.D. Edinburgh : Oliphant and Sons; London: Hamilton, Adams, and Co. THOSE who have perused the preceding volumes of this excellent Series will regret to find that this is the eighth and last. There are few works possessing, within the same compass, so large an amount of Biblical knowledge, displaying such extensive scholarship and research, and yet written in a style so chaste and captivating that the elder scholar in a Bible-class, or the erudite student of Scripture, could scarcely commence a perusal of the work without going to the end of it. The present volume is a fit companion to its predecessors, and is embellished with no fewer than twenty-eight beautiful illustrations of Scripture. We tion to our biblical literature, and recom thank the author for this valuable contribu mend it most cordially to the attention of our readers. Practical Sermons, designed for vacant Congregations, and Families. By the Rev. ALBERT BARNES, Philadelphia. Edinburgh: T. and T. Clarke; London: Hamilton and Co. THE Author tells us that these sermons are not doctrinal but practical, and "were intended to be such as would be adapted to impress on the mind the importance and necessity of personal religion, and to urge the necessity of a holy life, as the first great duty of man." Few men are better able to write practical sermons than Mr. Barnes ; and although we take exception to some of his doctrinal views as set forth in his "Notes on the New Testament," we consider the present volume calculated to be highly useful to the interests of true piety. Happily, free from a sermonizing" style, the discourses are faithful and earnest, and we trust they may be widely circulated on both sides of the Atlantic. Presbyterian Church in England. 28 37 HOME MISSION FUND. Association.-London-wall, London, for past six months, per Mr. Wm. Tulloch ... ......£7 9 0 Collection.-Grosvenor-square, Manchester, per Mr. Alex. Waddell.. 48 8 10 Ditto.-St. George's, Liverpool, per Mr. James Adam Ditto.-Cape, Smethwick, Birmingham, per Mr. John Craig.... Ditto. St. Andrew's Free Church, Manchester, per Mr. W. Clark Ditto.-Broad-street, Birmingham, per Mr. G. S. Dowling. Ditto.-Wigan, per Mr. William Thorburn Missionary-box.-Sabbath - school, Cant Ditte.-Southampton, per Mr. A. Lamb.. Ditto.-Laygate, per Mr. W. Black Ditto.-Horncliffe, per Mr. James Paxton 8 0 0 10 0 0 6 0 0 1 19 0 0 26 4 7 0 2 10 0 2.10 Ditto.-Crewe, per Mr. J. Andrews Ditto.-Ancoats, per Mr. William Wilson Collection, North Shields, per Mr. George Hall 806 Rev. Ditto, North Sunderland, per Ditto, Birkenhead, per Mr. John Ditto, Trinity Church, Newcastle, Ditto, Blyth, per Mr. John Newman Manchester, 2 Chelsea-Collection Donation-Mr. Thomas Dickson, 60 80 Manchester, per Rev. Alex. Munro 200 Collection-Falstone .... £2 11 0 Missionary box, ditto, per Mr. Matthew Milburn 06 0 Donation-Mr. Wm. Hay, 0 0 0 per Mr. Alex. Waddell........... 9 17 5 Collection, Bishopwearmouth, per Rev. Dr. Paterson Ditto Ancroft Moor, per Rev. Wm. Ditto, Norham, per Rev. W. Ryder. Ditto, Groat Market, Newcastle, per Mr. Henry Dryden 17 3 0 0 11 2 1 7 6 Ditto, Woolwich Sabbath-school Children, Ditto, per Ditto, Belford, per Rev. D. Terras. Sunderland 20 0 0 500 Collection-John Knox's, London, per Mr. Alexander Anderson.... Donation, Chelsea-Mrs. General Hunter Blair, per Rev. Thomas Alexander 4 0 2 only. |