Page images
PDF
EPUB

the church. Here, again, Dr. Smyth departs from the usage in a large portion of the Presbyterian Church, and shows how much we may differ, on minor points, and yet belong to the same ecclesiastical organization, and move on harmoniously in prayer and labors for the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom. We gladly commend this small volume to the attention of all who desire information on the subjects of confirmation and public profession.

7.-The Name, Nature and Functions of Ruling Elders; wherein it is shown from the Testimony of Scripture, the Fathers and the Reformers, that Ruling Elders are not Presbyters or Bishops: and that, as representatives of the people, their office ought to be temporary. With an Appendix, on the use of the title Bishop. By THOMAS SMYTH, D. D. New-York: Leavitt, Trow & Co. etc. 1845. pp. 186, 18mo.

We like this book much. It is a clear, convenient and convincing statement of facts in respect to the Eldership in the Presbyterian Church, going to show that Elders are not Presbyters, and that their office was originally, and should be now, temporary. Dr. Smyth will, doubtless, find many, in his own portion of the Presbyterian Church, to differ with him, on some points. This he expects, and in his Preface takes pains to prepare the Church for these differences, by contending that we must not seek for uniformity, but only unity. We like the book for this, as much as for other things in it, because it is just what we have always believed, and because we perceive in it sentiments at war with some action of the Assembly of 1837, and tending strongly to union, on proper and liberal principles, among those who do not materially differ in doctrine or discipline.

8.-Elizabeth Thornton; or the Flower and Fruit of Female Piety. With other Sketches. By SAMUEL IRENEUS PRINCE. Second edition. New-York: M. W. Dodd. 1845. pp. 211, 18mo.

Elizabeth Thornton, judging from the narrative, which we doubt not is truthful, was one of those sweet, lovely persons whom God has made to win the affections of all they meet. Her naturally amiable character was sanctified by grace; and thus qualified, she went forth to do the service of her Master, in her own quiet way, and was honored with the privilege of setting some gems in her Redeemer's crown.

Like her, there are many in the private walks of life, whose names are never blazoned in the heraldry of earth, but who, walking in the steps of Jesus, and adorned with the humility of the gospel, the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, will reap their reward in the rest of heaven, and find their names recorded, in illuminated letters, in the Lamb's Book of Life. To be such an one, is better far than to be known as a world's hero to "the utmost verge of this green earth:"

better to wear the robe of righteousness than the robe of state-to inherit the crown of glory, which fadeth not away, than the heaviest gemmed-crown of emperor or king.

Let others learn, from the example of Elizabeth Thornton, to go and do likewise. Of the sketches, so well known and so well appreciated by our readers, we need add nothing.

9.-Expository Lectures, or Discourses on Scriptural Subjects, designed for the improvement of Christian Knowledge and Piety. By LEWIS MAYER, late Professor in the Theological Seminary of the German Reformed Church. Harrisburg: Hickok & Cartine. 1845. pp. 268.

These Lectures are from the pen of one whose personal acquaintance we have enjoyed, who has long labored faithfully for the advancement of the German Reformed Church, in knowledge and piety. We trust the present volume, so full of sound doctrine and wholesome practical instruction, and written in so chaste a style and so good a spirit, will be extensively circulated among the ministers and members of his own denomination. Nor do we, by any means, wish its circulation limited to those of his own church, but desire that many more may read its instructive pages.

The Lectures, among others, embrace the following subjects:The Christian Ministry warned against false and unworthy Exhibitions of Christianity-Connection of Faith and Holiness-Causeless Anger-On being Righteous Overmuch-Self Deception in Religion-The Sin of offending Weak Brethren in Christ, etc., etc. The last mentioned, the fourth in the volume, is a clear and satisfactory exhibition of the principles of the Gospel in respect to things indifferent, and of the duty of the strong toward the weaker brethren. We commend it to the attention of those who doubt as to the propriety of certain courses of conduct.

10.-Domestic Slavery Considered as a Scriptural Institution: in a Correspondence between the Rev. Richard Fuller, of Beaufort, S. C., and the Rev. Francis Wayland, of Providence, R. I. Revised and corrected by the Authors. New-York: Lewis Colley. Boston: Gould, Kendall & Lincoln. 1845. pp. 254, 18mo.

.

We are glad the Discussion of Domestic Slavery fell into hands so well qualified to execute the work. Dr. Wayland is better known to us at the North than Dr. Fuller, yet at the South, the reputation of the latter is quite on a par with that of the "Author of the Moral Science." These letters are a beautiful specimen of controversy, imbued throughout with the spirit of love and of a sound mind. We have never read so clear and strong an argument in favor of the inetitution of slavery, as that presented by Dr. Fuller in this volume;

and yet we think the statements and reasonings of Dr. Wayland are such as are not and cannot be met by any process of reasoning. It strikes us that the chief difficulty about the argument of Dr. Fuller is, that it looks too exclusively at the mere abstract question of bondage; yet no one can peruse his letters without the conviction that great forbearance and kindness are demanded of those, who advocate abolition. The book ought to be read by every one.

11.-Republication of the Penny Magazine. New-York: J. S. Red

field.

This Magazine is already too well known to require any special notice. Suffice it to say that it contains a vast amount of valuable information, adapted to the wants of a family, and there is scarcely any book which children will consult with more eagerness. Its pictures attract their attention, and its interesting matter pleases their taste. Mr. Redfield is issuing it in large royal octavo numbers, of about 140 pages each, in good style and with an illuminated cover, at the low price of 25 cents each. How much better this than the miserable trash so plentifully huckstered about.

12.-Vital Christianity: Essays and Discourses on the Religions of Man and the Religion of God. By ALEXANDER Vinet, D. D., Professor of Theology in Lausanne, Switzerland. Translated, with an Introduction, by Robert Turnbull, Pastor of the Howard, street Church, Boston. Boston: Gould, Kendall & Lincoln. 1845. pp. 353, 12mo.

With Professor Vinet's writings we had been already somewhat familiar: and we remember to have said to a friend, after reading his Essay on Religious Convictions and the Union of Church and State, "There is a rare book, such an one as it is profitable to read, and such as you very, very seldom meet with in these days. It is full of thought, exceedingly suggestive, and cannot be perused without awakening thought." We cannot but rejoice, therefore, that the Rev. Mr. Turnbull has made his Essays and Discourses on other, more general subjects, accessible to the English public. Vinet has been called the "Chalmers of Switzerland." Without his reputation as a preacher, he certainly resembles him in many of his characteristics, and differs from him in others. He is more analytical, more acute, more profound in philosophy, whilst he wants the brilliancy and energy, and profusion of imagery which belong to Chalmers.

He is an elegant scholar, a forceful reasoner, a spiritual Christian, and is now exciting a powerful influence on France, and indeed on Europe, by his advocacy of the independence of the Church.

The Essays and Discourses in this volume, so well translated by Mr. Turnbull, are rich in thought and adapted to secure the attention

of educated men, who think on the subject of personal religion, but whose views are rather skeptical. To such, especially, but by no means exclusively, we recommend the careful reading of these Essays. We should be glad, indeed, to find such discourses constituting more of the intellectual repasts of Christians.

13.-WILEY AND PUTNAM'S Library of Choice Reading. Undine and Sintram-Imagination and Fancy-Diary of Lady WilloughbyTable Talk-Opinions on Books, Men and Things-Headlong Hall and Nightmare Abbey-The French in Algiers-Ancient Moral Tales-The Crescent and the Cross.

In our last number we spoke of Wiley & Putnam's plan of a Library, and commended it, with a notice of the first two volumes. We now have ten additional numbers, all of them interesting and valuable books, even less exceptionable than Eothen and the Amber Witch.

The

Undine and Sintram, by La Motte Fouqué, are acknowledged to be among the purest and most beautiful tales in the German language. Imagination and Fancy, by Legh Hunt, is a book of choice selections from the English Poets, with critical notices of the writers, and Legh Hunt's answer to the question, "What is Poetry ?" Diary of Lady Willoughby, is a lovely development of the inner workings of the heart of a loving and confiding wife and mother-a pleasing picture of domestic life among some of rank in the days gone by. Hazlitt's Table Talk, and Opinions of Men and Things, are volumes of no ordinary interest, and of real value. Hazlitt is noted as one of the most remarkable writers of his day, a man of vigorous thought, of elevated genius, and of acute critical power.Headlong Hall and Nightmare Abbey-a satirical representation of the Times, abounding in humorous passages, reflecting, as in a mirror, the spirit and manners of the Age.-The French in Algiers, a book in two parts, one by a German Lieutenant, the other by a French naval officer, both communicating what they saw in Algeria, during the struggle of the French for dominion there. The book unfolds new things, and sets Abd-el-Kader in a somewhat different light from that in which he sat for his portrait as given in the newspaper reports.— Ancient Moral Tales, from the G sta Romanorum, is a volume popular in style, and containing much singular information, and wholesome instruction.-The Crescent and the Cross, in two volumes, by Eliot B. G. Warburton, Esq., is a work somewhat similar in its character to that of Eōthen, in some respects perhaps surpassing it, written in the same off-hand style, and we think looking upon the religion of the East rather too believingly, or with too much indifference to truth and error. Valuable information, however, is to be gleaned from these amusing and interesting pages.

14.-A Dictionary of the English Language, containing the Pronunciation, Etymology, and Explanation of all words authorized by eminent writers; to which are added a Vocabulary of the Roots of English Words, and an Accented list of Greek, Latin and Scripture Proper Names. By ALEXANDER REID, A. M. With an Introduction by Henry Reed, Professor of English Literature in the University of Pennsylvania. New-York: D. Appleton & Co. Philadelphia: G. S. Appleton. 1845. pp. 564, 12mo.

When we first saw the plan of this Dictionary announced in Edinburgh, we were favorably impressed with it; and having now seen the work, we cannot but express our gratification with its execution. Some of its advantages are the following:-Its orthoepy is correct -it contains all authorized words-it gives the primitive word in each case, and then the derivative alphabetically-the original term and the language from which each primitive is derived-a vocabulary of the roots of English words-an accented list of 15,000 Greek, Latin and Scripture Proper Names.

Its definitions are generally clear and accurate; and embracing, as it does, 40,000 of the words of our language, carefully selected, and appropriately arranged on the above plan, we unhesitatingly pronounce it the best school Dictionary we yet have.

15.-Ocean-Work, Ancient and Modern; or Evenings on Sea and Land. By J. HALL WRIGHT. New-Yo k: D. Appleton & Co. 1845. Philadelphia: Geo. S. Appleton. pp. 168, 18mo.

No better idea of this volume can be given than by copying some of the titles of chapters: e. g., The Ocean as Rock-maker-as Polisher-as a Mausoleum-as Valley-cutter-as Lapidary-as Fossilizer-as a Shark's Workshop-as Fertilizer-as Destroyer—as a Shell-Factory-as Mermaid's Hall-as Volcano Quencher, etc., etc. In thirty-six evening conversations, the wonders of science in respect to the vasty deep, are here unfolded to the capacity of the young. A useful and interesting book.

16.-A History of Germany; from the Earliest Period to the Present Time. By FREDERICK KOHLRAUSCH, Chief Counsellor of the Board of Education of the Kingdom of Hanover, and late Professor of History in the Polytechnic School. Translated from the last German edition, by James D. Haas. With a complete Index, prepared expressly for the American edition. New-York: D. Appleton & Co. Philadelphia: Geo. S. Appleton.

pp. 487.

1845.

Kohlrausch's History of Germany is one of acknowledged authority on the Continent; and in its English dress supplies a want which has been felt. Although a country of so much importance in the his

« PreviousContinue »