toward rationalism, universalism, materialism, and sensualism. Such, in brief, and somewhat in the author's own language, is the course of thought in this new treatise upon one of the great questions of our religion. The book is published by the American Tract Society of Boston, and, as will naturally be inferred from this fact, is of a popular character-adapted to meet the wants and difficulties of ordinary minds. At the same time, it approaches the consideration of the various texts in a scholarly way, and leads the reader to a clear understanding of the reasons for the common orthodox view of their meaning. The argument is carried on, as it seeins to us, with fairness and force. The author meets both the strong and the weak points of his adversaries with skill, and shows himself to be, in no small degree, master of his subject. From our examination of the volume, we heartily commend it to those who would find, in a brief and concise form, the evidence in proof of this doctrine of the Scriptures, and in disproof of the theory of a body of recent authors, who, beyond all doubt, are doing very much to unsettle and disturb the minds of many of our people.

POND'S LECTURES ON CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY.*-Men who distinguish themselves in their generation by surpassing achievements usually have an intense avidity and a vast capacity for labor. Dr. Pond has this characteristic of greatness. During his long public life he has been an earnest and indefatigable worker. He has been occupied, without interruption, with the duties of a laborious profession, first as pastor, then as editor, and finally as professor. In addition to these labors, he has published a large number of volumes, several of which have passed through repeated editions, and been widely read; he has been a frequent contributor to the various theological Quarterlies; and his newspaper articles are without number. While editor of the Spirit of the Pilgrims, he was himself the author of a large portion of the Articles in that spirited and efficient periodical. The churches owe him a large debt of gratitude for long, multiplied, and valuable services.

These lectures, seventy in number, were delivered in his regu

* Lectures on Christian Theology. By ENOCH POND, D. D., Professor in the Theological Seminary at Bangor. Boston: Congregational Board of Publica.

lar course of instruction in theology in Bangor Theological Seminary. They are published in a handsome octavo of 747 pages, and treat in order the topics belonging to the entire course of systematic theology. It is felicitously dedicated to the memory of Dr. Emmons, Dr. Pond's instructor in theology.

To estimate these lectures aright, it is necessary to understand Dr. Pond's method of teaching, to which they are happily adapted When entering on a topic, he first gave out a list of books to be read. Afterwards a lecture was read, and the subject freely discussed. On some topics two or more lectures were read, and the discussion continued. Each student was then required to put his conclusions, and the reasons for them, in writing At a subsequent session these essays were read and criticized, and thus the views of each on the subject brought into discussion before the class. It is the testimony of many efficient ministers that the middle year at the Bangor Theological Seminary, under this method of instruction, was invaluable in giving them discipline of mind, and teaching them to think independently.

The lectures, therefore, make no pretension to large erudition, or to an exhaustive treatment of the several topics. They were intended rather to stimulate and guide the student in investigating the subject for himself. They are characterized by a remarkable perspicuity of thought and style, which continually remind the reader of Dr. Emmons, and demonstrate that the Professor attained, as a theological teacher, some of the best characteristics of his own revered instructor. They are characterized, also, by robust good sense, clear appreciation of the practical bearings of doctrine, a catholic and liberal spirit, simplicity and directness of argument, and sound scriptural truth

The lectures are adapted to be read and studied not by ministers only, but by all intelligent Christians. We wish for the book an extensive circulation.

SCHAFF'S CHURCH HISTORY.*-Dr. Schaff has wisely chosen to write the history of the second period of the Church, extending from Constantine to Gregory, in two volumes, instead of one, and

* History of the Christian Church. By PHILIP SCHAFF, D. D. Vol. II. and III. From Constantine to Gregory the Great, A. D. 311-600. New York: Charles Scribner & Co. 1867. New Haven: Judd & White.

on a scale conformed rather to his "History of the Apostolic Church," than to the volume on the first three centuries, which immediately preceded these. Able and valuable as the earlier parts of the series have been, we think that the new volumes are even better, as if the author had become thoroughly warmed with his theme. Some of their distinctive peculiarities we may briefly indicate:

1. They bear witness on every page to a zealous and concientious study, on the part of the author, of the Fathers and the other original sources of information. There is everywhere a certain freshness which, to an experienced reader, is full evidence that the historian has not taken his facts at second hand, but has resorted to the fountains of knowledge,-has obtained a mastery of the materials on which every authentic narrative must be founded.

2. With the historical writers who have dealt with the same theme, Dr. Schaff is remarkably familiar. At home in the German literature in this department, which, as far as modern works is concerned, is richer than the literature of any other country, he is also familiar with the French and English books that bear on his subject. Not unfrequently we are furnished with an instructive comparison of the views taken by a wide list of critics, as is the case in the discussion respecting the character and motives of Constantine

3. One excellence of these volumes is the biographical matter and the information upon Christian antiquities, which impart a lively interest to their pages. The leading Fathers are described not only as authors, but in the characteristic features and events of their lives. The profounder discussions of theological doctrine are relieved by chapters of more lively interest to the general reader.

4. The portions of the work which are devoted to the history of Christian doctrine, are marked by learning, discrimination, and candor. The Arian controversy, the Pelagian controversy, the Christological controversies, and the Origenistic disputes, are fully described; and the judgments of the author we deem to be in the main correct. The exposition of Nicene orthodoxy in particular is quite satisfactory. Dr. Schaff knows-what most English writers on theology and doctrinal history do not know-how to distinguish between the declarations of the Nicene symbol itself and the metaphysical conceptions of Athanasius. Though these con

ceptions may be inevitably deduced from the Nicene creed, when logic is applied to it, it does not follow that the Council made this deduction on all points, or gave their explicit sanction to the theories and reasonings of Athanasius. Some features of the theological system of Augustine-for example, his theory of sacramental grace which essentially modifies the aspect of his doctrine of Predestination—are brought out by Dr. Schaff, as they are not brought out commonly by the historians of doctrine.

5. The tone of this work is animated, the style is lucid and flowing, and the narrative is so drawn up that it is adapted to the taste not only of professed theologians, but to that of cultivated persons generally. Dr. Schaff is much indebted to the painstaking skill of his translator, Mr. Yeomans. After the foregoing remarks we hardly need add that they have made a solid and a creditable addition to American literature.

THE STORY OF JONAH THE PROPHET.*-Not a few of our readers will remember with interest Dr. Raleigh as one of the delegates from the Congregational Union of England and Wales to the National Congregational Council in 1865. Some of them may have been delighted with hearing one or more of his pulpit discourses, so exquisitely wrought as they were, and yet so delightfully simple, fresh, humble, and Christian. Here and there some person who reads these pages may remember to have heard him preach in the "Old South" in Boston a discourse from "the story of Jonah," of rare pictorial power, joined with the most sober and searching practical applications. The last named discourse forms one in the unique and delightful volume which we commend to all our readers as worthy their reading. It is a genuine product of a truly original and Christian mind, whose gifts are peculiar, and who conscientiously and earnestly works the rich vein of "native gold" with which the master has enriched his soul into products of rare and refined beauty.

Some of the critical and historical interpretations of the author may not please our fastidious and sometimes over-nice exegetes. Some of the turns and applications which he makes might possi bly offend the rigor of those hearers who are nothing if not logi cally critical, but the many finely wrought passages which so hap

*The Story of Jonah the Prophet. By ALEXANDER RALEIGH, Canonbury. Edinburgh: Adam and Charles Black. 1866.

pily unite æsthetic and spiritual beauty will, we are sure, delight all who are so fortunate as to possess this volume. For the gratification of those who will not meet with it, we copy the following:

“We dwell in a great city'—the greatest in the world, the greatest of any age. What a stupendous power this city has to be one thing or the other; to be partly one thing and partly another! What forces lie in her bosom-some of them latent, but most of them active. What patriot, what Christian, will not lament with heavy and dolorous sorrow the strength and increase of the great sin-force of this city of our habitation! The 'violence' of Ninevah would not be suffered in it. The vices of the cities of the plain or some of them would be hunted out of public sight as men hunt wild beasts. But for all that, the terrible sin-breeding force is active and fruitful in a hundred ways. A luxury as enervating as that of Babylon is lolling or reveling in too many of her great houses. Impurities, like those of Corinth, stain, and consume while they stain, large portions of her society. A flippancy like that of Athens rules the most pretentious and popular parts of her literature. The selfishness of Cain walks the streets of London, saying all day long, 'Am I my brother's keeper?' The rapacious greed of Ahab works along the line of her commerce. The folly of the worst fools of old still laughs in her giddy, godless multitudes, who say, 'Let us eat and drink, for to morrow we die.'

"I know the salt of the earth is here, working as potently in this great city as anywhere in the world. But the thing to be salted is wide and deep. Worlds upon worlds of human life and interest are within this city. When you touch one world, you are far from another. The resistance of sin is terrible. The putrescence of sin is swift. Are we gaining or losing? That is the awful question. Is the salt arresting the decayed, and nourishing the springs of life? Or is the decay eating up the salt?

"If we are gaining, although it may be very little, so little as often to be imperceptible, then there is life for the great city in the future, and hope for England, whose deepest roots and springs are here. If we are losing-losing here, and in the other great cities of the land, where the pulse of national life beats most strongly and most symptomatically of the nation's state-then all is being lost. The nation's life is ebbing. The judgments of God are mustering unseen, and-supposing the process of degeneracy unchecked-will expend themselves in swift calamities, or by slow decays, until London, with her sister cities of England, shall have passed away like so many cities once 'great to God,' now little more than shades and names in human history."

PHILOSOPHICAL.

MANSEL'S PHILOSOPHY OF THE CONDITIONED.*-The formal attack of Mr. John Stuart Mill upon Sir William Hamilton and his Philosophy might very naturally summon his chief theological

* The Philosophy of the Conditioned, comprising some remarks on Sir William Hamilton's Philosophy, and on Mr. J. S. Mill's Examination of that Philosophy. By H. L. MANSEL, B. D., &c., &c. Alexander Strahan, London and New York.