brief but clever and humorous exposure of Tractarian Popery. It is supposed to be contained in a letter written a century hence, 1950, and is smartly executed. A short extract will give a better idea of the book than a description can.

"It is little more than a compilation from certain sacred books of the Oldoomanites, called Lives of the English Saints, which were published and read in the apparently enlightened period between 1840 and 1850. It began with an Introduction, in which the nature of a Myth was laid down, the word Myth being explained and defined upon the authority of the author of the Legend of St Neot (v. 4). A myth, it said, relates something about which it is impossible to attempt to determine any thing with any certainty.' (Lives of English Saints, iv. 73.) What it relates is very likely false; but it is told as if it were true: for as it is said by the holy author of the Life of St Hilier (iv. 11)—' The faithful are not particular whether they believe a little more or a little less:' also to quote him who wrote an account of what St Neot did and said— As the question, Were these things really so? cannot be answered, it is no use to ask it.' (iv. 81).

"Now, friends, of St Oldooman, I say with the biographer of St Gundleus (iv. 6,) I know very nearly nothing at all; but there is a process, as he observes, which does for the Christian what investigation does for the children of men,' (iv. 1), and that process is 'Meditation.' For the investigation of facts I have no more opportunity than he who meditated the myth of St Gundleus, (iv. 34); but meditation is within my reach as much as his. I have no information (as he declares he had none) either of the when, the where, the how, the why, or the whence,' (iv. 5); but every thing that happens must happen this way, or must happen that way; and there need no more be authority for the way in which I declare it to have happened, than for that miracle wrought in favour of Alberic, of which there is no mention by any contemporary writer;' yet, says the blessed author, 'I give it because it contains some remarkable circumstances,' (i. 74): who, therefore,

• can reasona

bly find fault,' as says the Legend (iv. 5) with the myth of St Oldooman, any more than with the acts of St Andrew, 'even (as it goes on) though they be not authentic? The angel's visit to St Agnes comes to us,' it says, on no authority; yet the legend teaches us there is nothing superstitious in celebrating it in the church, (iv. 5); and even so the facts about to be related stand for the truth, though they are but like it: and though we cannot say what they are without uttering a mistake,' (iv. 59). However, we learn, with regard to the English saints and their acts, that there is no room for the exercise of reason;' and therefore it is no great task which I require of your faith to take the following myth as the picture of one of them, who did something, if he did not do this." (ix. 5.)

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Memoir of Mrs Mary Lundie Duncan; being Recollections of a Daughter. By her Mother. Fourth Edition. Edinburgh: W. Oliphant & Son, 1845.

We take blame to ourselves for not noticing, on its first appearance,

this beautiful and interesting memoir. Though it has now received an imprimatur from the critical and from the Christian world, which must mark it as an established classic in the department of female biography, we yet gladly avail ourselves of the appearance of a fourth edition, to record our admiration of the character of its subject, and the talents of its author. A father or mother writing the life of a child is rather a hazardous experiment in biography. Few things tend more to bias, or even to blind the judgment, than parental affection; and the public is also apt to be unreasonably jealous of such an influence, even when little of it can be shown to exist. Yet in an experiment, which has often been a failure in the hands of others, Mrs Duncan has signally succeeded. Her "Recollections of a Daughter,” though tinged with that warm maternal feeling which such a daughter might well inspire, are yet given with a truth and a discrimination which must at once commend themselves to every unbiassed judgment. The whole, indeed, are arranged and worked up with much delicacy, both of skill and feeling. This is not the time nor the place for giving-even were it now necessary-an outline of the Life of Mary Lundie Duncan. The brief but instructive and interesting his tory of that much lamented lady must be familiar to all our readers. It is, in a word, the history of a tender, loving, and gifted spirit, fittingly enshrined in a lovely human tenement, but more fittingly adorned with the meek and quiet ornaments of heavenly grace, early and suddenly snatched away, after a proper period of trial, not unmixed with happiness, from this earthly scene which responded neither to its inborn longings, nor its spiritual desires. Such a history must always be interesting to the student of our mysterious nature, and, above all, to one who feels or knows anything of the profounder parts of Christian experience. Both accordingly must admire this memoir, and find in it most precious and profitable matter for their meditations. We need hardly say that we gladly avail ourselves of this opportunity of expressing our high admiration of this piece of Christian biography, our satisfaction at the distinguished favour it has met with, and our hope that it will be the means of encouraging and guiding youthful piety for generations yet to come.

A third and concluding Volume of Posthumous Sermons, with Pastoral Letters. By the Rev. H. BLUNT, A.M., late Rector of Streatham, Surrey. London: J. Hatchard & Son, 1846.

Some time ago we had occasion to notice at considerable length several volumes of Mr Blunt's sermons, and to recommend them warmly to our readers, for their fervency, spirituality, and soundness. Since that we noticed another volume which was afterwards published. And we have now before us the third and concluding volume, the last words we suppose that we shall hear from that honoured minister of Christ, now with his God.

Having already dwelt largely upon the characteristics of Mr Blunt's preaching, and given our readers some specimens of it, we shall not be expected to resume that topic and reiterate our commendations. Like all its predecessors, this present volume is marked throughout with affection of heart and spirituality of soul. Mr Blunt speaks as one who

has seen the Lord, or rather as one who is always seeing him, and always realizing his presence. He speaks in the language of warm love to dying men, and in the language of tender sympathy with the saints. It is the name of Christ that is "the incense" here " poured forth," casting its odour over all.

One might perhaps be inclined to say, that here, as in many evangelical sermons, there is more prominence given to what man has to do in order to be saved, than what God has done in order to his salvation. It is the latter that contains the glorious Gospel; it is to the latter that prominence should be given; it is the dwelling upon the latter that gives power and success to the ministry; and it is, in the latter, that we find the removal of all our doubts, and the ground of our assured peace with God. As preachers of the everlasting Gospel, we come to tell the sinner, not what he has to do, but WHAT GOD HAS done. It is this that is the good news, the "glad tidings of great joy." It is this that is the fountain of present and immediate peace to the believing soul. It is this that keeps the soul in peace from first to last. Looking straight to Jesus is the attitude in which the Holy Spirit places us at conversion, and in which he keeps us to the end,

Memoir of the late Rev. J. Reid, M.A. of Bellary, East Indies, comprising Incidents of the Bellary Mission for a period of eleven years, from 1830 to 1840. By RALPH WARDLAW, D.D. Glasgow: J. Maclehose, 1845.

The church of Christ needs missionary memoirs to awaken its dormant life, and quicken it into real earnestness and energy. It is well for us to have new instances of faith, self-denial, and Christian devotedness continually brought before us, not merely to interest or inform us, -but to arouse us. For how little is there amongst us of lofty self-sacrifice and glowing love; how much of indolence, love of ease, and conformity to the world!

In this memoir much will be found to stimulate our energies, and we rejoice in its publication, were it for this reason alone. We see here what the love of Christ can do, and we are rebuked for our languor and remissness. We see what faith in a Saviour's power can effect, and we are ashamed of our coldness and unbelief. We have here the life of a missionary, whose talents, learning, and piety, place him not behind the foremost in that noble army. We have his whole life before us, from first to last, and throughout it is full of interest. Dr Wardlaw has written it faithfully and well, though some of his very long sentences almost took away our breath, and we felt inclined to crave for a terser and more pointed style. But we take the book, and the subject, and the biographer, and have profited somewhat by the perusal of the many precious records with which these 470 pages are thickly strewn.

A Summary View of the Evidences of Christianity, in a Letter from the Right Hon. Č. K. Bushe, late Chief Justice of the King's Bench. With a Preface and Notes by the Rev. J. WILLS, C.M. Dublin: W. Curry, 1845.

We are greatly taken with this letter, and only regret that it is so very brief. It is admirable for its clearness, terseness, and power of logic. We have seldom read a "summary view of the evidences" so complete yet so concise and interesting.-But while we say all this for the letter, we must say somewhat less for the notes. Mr Wills seems to have some cleverness about him, and considerable fluency as well as power of language. But we have been often sorely puzzled to understand what he would be at. We do not set a very high value on his notes, and yet there are many clever things in them. We dissent from some of his statements, as for instance, from his estimate of Berkley and of Locke. We suspect that he will find that thinking and reasoning men are all coming now to be of opinion, that Locke has been unduly elevated, and Berkley unduly depressed,—that there is less of sound philosophy in the former, and far more of it in the latter than has hitherto been supposed. Berkley was not the fool, or the visionary, or the idealist, which his opposers have taken him to be. Let his works be studied, and men will begin perhaps to rate them at their true value.

The Perpetuity of the Earth: a Discourse, &c. with Notes. By J. LILLIE, New York, 1842.

sion.

Though this work bears the date of 1842, it has only newly reached us. We thank Mr Lillie for it, and for his accompanying little work; and not least for his brotherly letter. The work before us is a vigorous and able performance. It bears the stamp of piety, research, and deciIt is a valuable, and we trust it will be a successful work. The author seems to know something of controversy, and keeps his ground well. He is perhaps sometimes carried away by his fervour; but still he shows himself the thorough reasoner. It is a work which might well be reprinted in this country.

Lectures on the Second Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ, and connected Events. By the Rev. W, BURGH, A.B. London: J. F. Shaw. 1845. With a great deal of this volume we do not agree; and had we room we would point out our differences; but we must be content thus generally to state this, while at the same time we like the author's earnest and so lemn manner, as well as many of his views, which are Scriptural and stirring. But let our readers judge for themselves from the following

extract.

"To the true position of the Christian church in this age and time, the most important practical lesson perhaps taught us by this same expectation. That position then, (which has been briefly adverted to in the preceding Lecture) is, in a word, the position of those who, in the

6

dominions of their rightful sovereign, but in his absence and during the reign of a usurper, maintain their allegiance unshaken, and profess it openly; contented to bear this testimony in suffering, and to share the reproach of him who reigns in their hearts' affections, but is cast out by a world who say we will not have this man to reign over us.' This is the position of the church, I said. No: it is not, but it ought to be; finding her truest glory in humiliation, that humiliation by which she is now identified with her Lord; and in which having shared, she might look to be glorified with him, in the day of his mediatorial triumph and glory. But oh! here indeed it is that we see the extent of the Church's apostacy; in her desire to have her glory now, to have now her millennium, and to reign in the absence of her Lord,-to 'reign as kings,' without him, and without those who suffered with him, that they might be glorified together:' yea, and who shall be glorified with him, when many of these, his disciples,-who have chosen their rest, their prosperity, and their glory here, shall be found wanting; shall, like Lot escaping from Sodom, be saved as by fire, and narrowly escape the judgment on those adversaries with whom they volunteered to be confounded, choosing the plain of Sodom, because fertile and well watered, and leaving the company and renouncing the character of the sojourner. Is it in the light of the Scriptural doctrine of the Lord's advent we learn this is this knowledge of our true position one of its practical results? O then that this effort to direct attention to it-that the revived preaching of it may indeed produce this effect; may enable many to see from whence they have fallen, may restore the disciples of Christ individually to the standing which it is their high privilege now to occupy, and the church at large to its position of militancy and suffering!" Pp. 299–301.

Confessions of a Convert from Baptism in Water to Baptism with Water. London: J. Snow. 1845.

This is really an able, well written book. Some touches of sarcasm and humour might have been spared, for the subject is a solemn one, though some of the events narrated were very much the opposite. It is one of the best books upon the Baptist controversy which we have read of a long time,-clear, forcible, conclusive, and yet written in a popular and animated style. We shall add a specimen of our author's style. It is an interview with his pastor, a Baptist minister.

·

I proposed, therefore, that we should select a few passages, and substitute the words "dip' and 'dipping,' for baptize' and baptism.' To this he yielded his assent. But he did it so reluctantly, as to convey the impression to my mind, that he was apprehensive the result would not be exactly what he desired. I resolved, however, to apply the test; and having taken a concordance, I turned to several texts, and translated them in the new style. A few of these I remember, and will here repeat: I, indeed, dip you with water unto repentance, but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall dip you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.' John did dip in the wilderness, and preach the dipping of repentance.' I have a dipping to be dipped with, and how am I straitened till it be accomplished."