as the most decisive exposition of the Great Evil extant. It is drawn from the most authentic sources, principally the testimony of Southern men, and is largely made up of Advertisements from Southern papers, which certify, in the strongest terms, to the prevalence of all the heinous ills which have been charged against the system. Nothing can be more unexceptionable, in the way of evidence, and we do not think that any exception can be taken to the manner in which it is arranged and commented upon.

Dramas, Discourses, and other Pieces. By JAMES A. HILLHOUSE. 2 vols. 16mo. Boston: C. C. Little and J. Brown. 1839. - This is as it should be, the beautiful works of Hillhouse, collected and published in two of the most beautiful volumes of the day. It is a luxury to look at them. They give a new charm, if it were possible, to our old favorites, Hadad and Percy's Masque, and tempt most invitingly to the perusal of the new piece, we are sorry that there is only one, "Demetria." This is a deep tragedy of domestic life, founded on the two odious passions of a sister's hatred and a lover's foolish jealousy. The story is a painful one, almost to repulsion, but is wrought out with great skill in the disposition of the parts and the delineation of character; full of fine touches of nature with constant beauty of diction and an exciting interest in the tale. It seems to us worthy its place by the side of its two distin guished predecessors. These we consider as having taken their place among the American classics; and although the uninvitingness of the dramatic form in which they exist forbids. the expectation that they should enjoy what is called popularity, there can be no doubt, that with readers, who regard more the substance than the mere form of a work of genius, they will always be held in the highest estimation. They are not hasty, undigested, performances. They have been elaborated with the faithful care of a scholar who understands the dignity of his high art. The modesty of their author, who willingly receives from any quarter the criticism which suggests an improvement, and patiently retouches accordingly, is distinctly evident in some of the emendations to the present reprint, which also gives perpetual proof of the fastidious carefulness with which his own taste watches and perfects his labors. We have been

much instructed as well as interested by the comparison of many passages with the former editions; not always, however, assenting to the judgment of the author, and sometimes greatly preferring the old reading, perhaps only because we were used to it.

*

We have no room for extended remark. We only intend a brief welcome to an author whom we honor for his fidelity no less to religious and moral effect than to poetical. We see no reason, on reperusal, to abate from the praise which was given to Hadad and The Judgment in two former numbers of this Journal; we are not sure that, in their present revised state, we should not assign to them even a higher rank. The three Discourses, which close the second volume, are manly discussions of topics interesting to the scholar and the patriot, containing valuable critical suggestions, and passages of power and beauty, such as one would look for in "the prose of a poet."

The Last Days of the Saviour, or the History of the Lord's Passion, from the German of Olshausen. Mors Christi, vita mundi. Boston: James Munroe and Company. 1839.

This little work seems to be admirably well translated. The English sentences flow as smoothly as if they had first received the thoughts. We should welcome the arrival of all honest and able works into our mother tongue. To scorn a nation's literature is as unworthy, as to be uncivil to their persons, or to reject their natural products. The present work gives evidence of serious thought and earnest feeling. It is in its nature both critical and spiritual, with a vein of the mystical. The apparent discrepances of the Gospels, respecting the Last Supper and the Resurrection, are harmonized as well as we remember to have seen them. We are struck with occasional instances of original discernment of the inexhaustible beauty of that whole scene of the death and reappearance of our Lord. Sometimes we mark picturesqueness in the description, and sometimes grandeur in the conception. The speculations about Christ's glorified body" would seem to be harmless to those not prepared to accept them. And the book can be recommended as pure and edifying, and calculated to excite a new interest in circumstances whose sublimity is unrivalled on the earth.

66

The Future Life of the Good. Boston: Joseph Dowe. 1839. - This is an unpretending little volume, on one of the most interesting and important of all subjects - Recognition and Reunion in another world. It is a subject which seems to

* Christian Disciple for 1821, p. 209. Christian Examiner for 1825, p. 301.

be calling more and more attention. Several small treatises and single discourses have been published upon it, within a few years; but none, to our knowledge, so well fitted for common use and free distribution as this. Yet this is not all that we want, not all that we hoped to find it. The subject demands a more extended and complete view of the whole argument of Scripture and nature, in favor of future recognition. Not that we think it a difficult matter to prove, or that it needs exact proof, or that we can enter into the feelings and fears of those who doubt. We cannot. This life and the other, nature, reason, affection, faith, Christianity, are all dark to us and utterly inexplicable, without the hope and the conviction of future union and eternal intercourse with those whom we have loved here. Every heart desires it. Every sufferer demands it. All that revelation does say of it is favorable; and the opposite doctrine, the only alternative to a social heaven, that of separation, silence, and eternal solitude if not selfishness, is to our view both an absurdity and a horror. Still there are some, perhaps many, who are not satisfied, and cannot be comforted, as they would be with more faith in this blessed prospect. For their sakes, we rejoice in every publication of this kind. The present consists, first, of a long and admirable discourse, on Reunion of Friends, from the pen, we believe, of Mr. Greenwood, followed by others, whose authors we do not know, some of them very good, touching upon different views of the whole subject. They are interspersed with pieces of appropriate poetry, several of them taken from that delightful collection, the Sacred Offering. For that also we are indebted to Mr. Dowe, and we wish it were more known. He has published two distinct volumes of the Sacred Offering. And very few books do we know, none of this kind, that we would more earnestly commend to the lovers of devotional poetry, and all who would gather balm for the wounded and troubled breast.

The Good Housekeeper, or The Way to Live well, and to be well while we live. Containing directions for choosing and preparing food, in regard to Health, Economy, and Taste. By MRS. S. J. HALE. Boston: Weeks, Jordan, and Co. 1839. -Pretending to no knowledge of the Cookery part of this new work, we yet confidently recommend it, from its plan, from the excellence of its general matter, and from the opinion of those who do understand the virtue of Receipts, &c. It is not a common Receipt Book. Its purpose is to give information on the nature of different kinds of food, and on the laws of health.

It follows the system of Dr. Combe, on the Physiology of Digestion, the Principles of Dietetics, &c; a system standing, it is believed, on the soundest views of temperance, but avoiding the excesses of those who would take from us the most common aliment which God has provided. Mrs. Hale does not forbid or dissuade from the use of meat, tea, and coffee; but shows how they should be prepared, and how injurious they may be made, and often are made, by ignorance, error, and excess. This lady writes not from books, any farther than they agree with her own experience, which has been various and long. She offers counsel too, in a very unpretending and sensible way, on the whole subject of Household Economy, gives Hints to Housekeepers, Hints to Help, and a Word to Mothers. Some of these are invaluable, and cannot be read by any one, man or woman, maid or mistress, without advantage. Most of all, the book, without making a formal business of it at all, is pervaded by a clear moral influence; having regard to something higher than animal enjoyment, or mere housekeeping comfort. We respect the author, who can say at the end of such a book, "I have not permitted the name of rum or brandy to sully a receipt in this book. There is no need of these as condiments."

The Theatre, in its influence upon Literature, Morals, and Religion. By ROBERT TURNBULL. 2d Edition. 18mo. pp. 110. We cannot doubt that this is a true case made out against one of the worst institutions of our times, and of all times; and we commend it accordingly. Yet would we not lay a rude or violent hand even upon the Theatre; nor, if we could, destroy it at once. It is, we believe, in the course of a gradual decay, and gradual changes are ever best, before the superior influences of Literature, Science, and Religion. We look with great hope also to the counteracting effects of popular Lectures, and the fine arts, — especially music. With good books, good lectures, good music, and we believe the Theatre would possess but few attractions.

THE

CHRISTIAN EXAMINER.

JANUARY, 1840.

ART. I. The True Intellectual System of the Universe: wherein all the Reason and Philosophy of Atheism is confuted, and its Impossibility demonstrated. A Treatise on Immutable Morality; with a Discourse concerning the True Notion of the Lord's Supper; and two Sermons on 1 John ii. 3, 4, and 1 Cor. xv. 57. By RALPH CUDWORTH, D. D. First American Edition; with References to the several Quotations in the Intellectual System; and an Account of the Life and Writings of the Author: by THOMAS BIRCHн, M. A., F. R. S. 2 vols. 8vo. 1838. Andover published by Gould & Newman.

RALPH CUDWORTH, the son of Dr. Ralph Cudworth, was born at Aller in Somersetshire, in 1617. The father died while the son was a small boy. The mother married Dr. Stoughton, who educated young Ralph with great care. In youth, he was remarkable for the same qualities which distinguished his riper years. Is it not always true "the child is father of the man?" The Oak and the Fern are oaks and ferns as soon as they leave the parent seed. At thirteen he was admitted a pensioner at Emanuel College, Cambridge; six years after, was created Master of Arts," with great applause." Soon after he became an eminent tutor at Cambridge, and at one time had twentyeight scholars under his charge, a great number even for the largest colleges. After a short time he was presented with a rectory that was worth about £300 a year. In 1644, he became Master of Clare-Hall, and the next year, Professor of Hebrew. In 1651, the degree of Doctor of Divinity was conVOL. XXVII. - 3D S. VOL. IX. NO. III.

37