mine. To this morally atrocious theory a lady replies in another article with a force of statement, a breadth of view, and a strength of argument which, if her opponent have any moral sensibility, any perception of truth, must cover his face with blushes of shame. The lady views marriage as God appointed it, a life-long contract, a guardian of human purity, a builder of homes, a source of happiness, and a necessity of Christian civilization.

THE Westminster Review for February has: 1. "Bibliolatry;" 2. "Girolamo Savonarola in History and Fiction;" 3. "China: A Far Eastern Question;" 4. "A Study of Mr. Thomas Hardy;" 5. "A Teaching University for London; " 6. "Lord Rosebery's 'Pitt;'" 7. "Is Compulsory Education a Failure?" Of these papers the first is a battery of plausible quibbles aimed at men's faith in the word of God; the second outlines the career and portrays the character of Savonarola, and claims that he lost the opportunity of "making an epoch" largely through his failure to oppose the execution of Bernardo del Nero; the third paper intelligently discusses the problem of China's capability to adapt herself without convulsion to the influences of modern civilization. It contends that she cannot, and coolly claims that the best thing western nations can do for China is to take military possession of the country and "divide it into four, five, or six protectorates " under suitable commercial conditions. This proposed subjection of three hundred millions of souls to a foreign yoke is easily achieved-on paper; but Europe will probably pause awhile before she attempts to realize it. The fifth paper objects to a proposed scheme for "a teaching university for London" because it does not include all the educational institutions of that great city in its management and is not sufficiently democratic in its methods. It calls for a plan which will meet the needs of persons who, though employed in daily occupations, are yet eager to acquire a liberal education. The sixth paper pleasantly criticises Lord Rosebery's "Life of the Younger Pitt," giving it a qualified approval. The seventh paper, finding that one child in every four is growing up in almost total ignorance, claims that the compulsory system of education in Great Britain is a failure, owing not so much to the system itself, as to the very general neglect to administer it with becoming vigor.

THE Nineteenth Century for February has two papers which law students may find valuable: one of them treats of "Cross-examination," the other considers the "the Accused as a Witness." In "The Traffic in Sermons" abundant evidence is furnished either of the indolence or incompetency of many English clergymen. It cites numerous specimens of advertisements of ready-made discourses for all occasions and at all prices, taken from religious journals and from book-sellers' catalogues. A paper on "The Ideal University" pleads strongly for such a blending of the educational institutions of London into a university provided with means sufficient to educate not only students who can command both time and money for regular courses of study but also for those who, having to spend their days in business and being unable to pay for instruction, yet

desire to devote their evenings to the attainment of a liberal education. A paper on * Cardinal Manning" sketches his early career and character, describes the causes which gradually alienated him from the English Church, and led him in 1850 to enroll himself among the followers of the man who blasphemously pretends to be the vicegerent of Christ. In still another paper Admiral E. H. Seymour gives a lucid and comprehensive statement of the history, cost, present condition, and future prospects of the Panama Canal. Reckless extravagance has thus far characterized its management and bankrupted its treasury. Great, yet not absolutely unconquerable, difficulties hinder, and may prevent, its completion, at least for the present. The Nicaragua route, the admiral thinks, is more practical, and therefore likely to succeed. By one or the other route, perhaps by both, the day will come when "the ship of the canal" will pass across the isthmus to "the broad waters of the Pacific."

THE Contemporary Review for February treats of: 1. "The Foreign Policy of Italy;" 2. "Reminiscences of Cardinal Manning;" 3. "Colonial Questions;" 4. "The Unhealthiness of Cities;" 5. "The Reign of Terror in Persia; 6. "The Genius of Plato;" 7. "Principal Cave on the Hexateuch;" 8. "Conversations and Correspondence with Thomas Carlyle." The first of these papers explains the causes which led Italy to enter the Triple Alliance. Its writer, lately deceased, thinks her policy was a mistaken one, but is hopeful that the political wisdom of Rudini, the present head of her ministry, may guide her to peace and prosperity; the second, which is a symposium by four writers, is anecdotal. It presents the attractive features of the cardinal's character so charmingly that one is moved to wonder how so good a man could have been so unwise as to give his great personal influence to a Church which in spirit and practice is anti-Christian. The fourth paper has suggestive value to the residents and civic authorities of every American city.

THE New Englander for February treats of: 1. "The Half-way Covenant;" 2. "Some of Ibsen's Women;" 3. "Apologetics in the Pulpit; " 4. 'In Early September with the Birds;" 5. "Does the Church Believe in the Incarnation?" 6. "Distinguishing marks on Ballots;" 7. "Taxation of Church Property;" 8. "Independence in Politics-a protest." Of these we note the third as containing suggestions to preachers respecting the best method of treating the rationalistic criticism of the times in their pulpits; and the fifth as an illustration of the unwisdom of even elaborate attempts to explain the mystery which infolds the doctrine of the incarnation. Its writer, in contending for the absoluteness of Christ's humanity, involves his relation to the divine in perplexing mist.

THE Andover Review for February has: 1. "Ethnic Religion in its Relation to Christianity;" 2. "Our Ethical Resources; " 3. "The Duty of Scientific Theology to the Church of To-day;" 4. "The Figures of Homer;" 5. "Rembrandt as Educator;" 6. "Life in Himself." Of these

ably written papers theologians will prize the first as bringing into view evidence of the fact that nearly all the characteristic mysteries of the kingdom of God are anticipated by the shadowy counterparts of paganism. The third article finds the originating spirit of modern scientific criticism of Holy Writ in Luther's assertion of the right of the individual to test the teaching of ecclesiastical tradition by comparing it with the word of God. Unfortunately, however, modern scientific theology claims the right to eliminate from that word whatever is not in accord with its own concepts of what that word ought to be, forgetting that much which men call wisdom is foolishness in the sight of God.

Our Day for March is unusually rich. It opens with "Signs of the Times in German Theological Faculties." After giving the substance of its writer's interviews with leading German theologians, its writer hopefully concludes that "the Fatherland is having a spiritual uplift." It also contains Mr. Cook's highly appreciative outline of Mr. Spurgeon's character and career. -The Missionary Review of the World for March treats of the Salvation Army; of the persecution of the Russian Stundists, and of mission work in every part of the earth. Its vigor is unflagging. -The Century for March has among its many attractive papers a continuation of Dr. Wheatley's very interesting account of the Jews of New York, a lively description of the pioneer days in San Francisco, and a strong article on that grand swindle, the Louisiana Lottery. As usual its illustrations are superb.Harper's New Monthly for March contains Mr. Bridge's "Personal Recollections of Nathaniel Hawthorne" and Mr. Bigelow's "From the Black Forest to the Black Sea." Its study of "Our Gray Squirrels" is elegantly illustrated, as are several other papers. Lippincott's Magazine for March has for its complete novel "A Soldier's Secret, A Story of the Sioux War of 1890," by Captain Charles King, U. S. A.- -The Catholic World for February has two eulogistic papers on the late Cardinal Manning, whose strange defection from the pure Gospel and entrance into an organization which has been for ages, and still is, a stupendous obstacle to the success of Christianity, is a matter of high jubilation among Catholics. We note also an essay on "The Attitude of the Educated Protestant Mind toward Catholic Truth," by Professor W. C. Robinson, which illustrates the hallucination of the intelligent minority in that Church concerning the dispositions and views of cultivated American Protestants respecting the Papal Church.--The Methodist Magazine for March has several finely illustrated articles. One from the Methodist Times on the persecution of Russian Methodists painfully sets forth the persecuting spirit and methods of the Russian czar, who may yet be made to tremble at a divine handwriting on the walls of his palace. This magazine is admirably edited.The Gospel in all Lands for March, besides many other good things, has a strong article on "The Fate of the Heathen," and a long list of books on missions and mission lands, which will be helpful to writers and readers seeking for sources of missionary information. This is a capital number of a valuable magazine.

BOOKS: CRITIQUES AND NOTICES.

PRIVATE READING.

It is a common opinion that Shakespeare "owed his learning rather to private reading than to the public universities," which in part explains the fact that though indebted to others he always appeared original in information and creative in the products of his art. The secret of the resources of scholars is not genius, not inheritance, not opportunities, but private reading and appropriation of its results, under the law of literary assimilation. The following books should be reserved for " private reading:" Systematic Theology, Vol. I, by John Miley; The Races of the Old Testament, by A. H. Sayce; The Natural History of Immortality, by J. W. Reynolds; The Organic Union of American Methodism, by Bishop S. M. Merrill; and (Sixty) Living Papers Concerning Christian Evidences, Doctrine, and Morals.

RELIGION, THEOLOGY, AND BIBLICAL LITERATURE. Systematic Theology. By JOHN MILEY, D.D., LL.D., Professor of Systematic Theology in Drew Theological Seminary, Madison, New Jersey. Vol. I. 8vo, pp. 533. New York: Hunt & Eaton. Cincinnati: Cranston & Stowe. Price, cloth, $3. It were needless to write another book on theology if it were only to observe the logical processes or echo the conclusions of previous writers. One of the needs of the times is a new theology-new in its systemization of doctrine, new in its discovery of the biblical consensus, new in the ascertainment of the involution and evolution of biblical truths, and new in those conclusions that a profound study of the Holy Scriptures will warrant. In general terms it may be said that Dr. Miley has given theology a new attractiveness, rescued it from unfortunate logical dilemmas, advanced it beyond the fossilized interpretations that have too long prevailed with theological scholars, and extended its authority by arguments that recover the hidden meaning of the Scriptures and place truth at an advantage in its contests with error. It may be added that by the clearness of his conceptions, the perfection of his definitions, the conciseness of his expression, the strength and elegance of his diction, and the literary glamour with which he has invested the entire development, he has relieved the great subject of a certain tedium and metaphysical opaqueness that have been considered indispensable in its treatment. In these particulars the work substitutes itself for all that have preceded it. Necessarily adopting a scheme of biblical interpretation, he frequently confronts opposing views in Augustinianism, rationalism, agnosticism, positivism, pantheism, and naturalistic evolution; but he aims to be just in representing them, and then hews them into pieces as Samuel did Agag. resuming thereafter the more delightful task of elaborating the truth in question. In this process he often withers an error by a sentence and

blasts a theory by a word—the word of the Lord. For the materials of theology he confines himself to nature and revelation, abjuring mysticism, imposing a time-limit on the Romish theory of tradition, and relying only upon what God has declared in the unwritten and written volumes from his hand. The advantage of this limitation is, that he has written his work, if we may so speak, from the Godward side of things as he understands them. In this high attempt at interpretation he employs the reason, not as sole and final arbiter, but as guide and teacher, subordinating it to that supernatural dictum which, with the Christian believer, is seldom an open question. The function of reason in interpretation is admitted, but he condemns its prostitution to the service of deism and rationalism. He holds that the doctrines of the Scriptures, while answerable to reason within limits, cannot be under the dominance of the rationalistic spirit, making it clear that one may be rational without being rationalistica distinction that opens the way for a rational investigation of the biblical doctrines, and for a degree of scientific certitude in matters of religion that hitherto has been absent. It also is this rational spirit that suggests the logical order of arrangement and the synthetic construction of the theological system which it is his purpose to unfold in the two volumes of his work.

With this broad and comprehensive view of his task, and in the belief that he may aid truth-seekers in their findings, he enters upon his labors, giving to the public, as a partial result, the magnificent volume now under review. In absorbing its contents we have been impressed that if he has not exactly discovered new doctrines, the signs of which, however, are striking, he has supported the Arminian conceptions by a class of arguments that will arrest attention because of their originality, aptitude, and conservation of moral truth. Certain it is, that though he has at times followed in the footsteps of other explorers, he has not hesitated to walk alone, even in the densest wilderness, when he believed that truth would be found within its boundaries. This is quite manifest in his elaboration of the theistic conception, in which, affirming the validity of the ontological, cosmological, teleological, and anthropological arguments, he exhibits in a most masterly way the dialectic impotence of all antitheistic theories, proving in the end that, contrary to all of them, God is knowable, and knowable as being and personality. Nor is this conclusion reached by a single process, but from several view-points, and always without circumlocution or indirection. But in this cumulative argument he startles us with removing "eternity" and "unity" from the category of divine attributes, holding that while they are divine predicables, they so inhere and so cohere as to be irreducible to the common classification. This may evoke dissent, but it opens a new window into the theistic sphere. In his treatment of divine attributes he is brief but cogent, explanatory and defensive, but more suggestive than didactic. He recognizes that omniscience is incompatible with the doctrine of divine nescience respecting future contingencies, his chief thought being that "an acquired omniscience is not a thinkable possibility." His exposition of the Trinity,