The other line of thought to which we shall advert, in which our author carries his theory too far, is the excessive multiplication of types -an extreme which is known among the theologians as "Cocceianism," from the name of the voluminous commentator whose works abound in far-fetched analogies. In this work, the author of which is generally so guarded, there are some statements which would give countenance to the error of an obscure revelation of the Gospel being given by the light of nature.

Instead of finding types of the future in some minute records of the judgments of God in the past, we think it would be safer to reason from them in somewhat the following way :-If it be asked, Why is so much of the Bible occupied with Divine testimonies against the sins of God's ancient people and those of other nations, and denouncing judgments against them, the execution of which is also recorded, or seen to be verified in the desolations that have been written on them? It might be answered, one great end of this is to impress on the minds of men, from the immutability of the Divine character, the certainty that similar sins must be visited with corresponding judgments in the administrations of a holy God, sooner or later, in the experience of sinning nations and societies of men still.

The Decline of the Free Church. By the Rev. Robert M'Corkle, St. Ninians.

Edinburgh: James Wood.

THIS is a work of great value, as it contains an unanswerable argument against the gradual and progressive defection of the Free Church. There are few more exact observers of the signs of the times than the author; and few who have so thoroughly studied and mastered the principles of the Reformed and Covenanted Church of Scotland, the Bible principles which our reforming ancestors were honoured to arrange systematically in their standards of doctrine and rules of administration-compilations unique in extent and excellence in the annals of the Church. In all the debates on principle in which Mr M'Corkle takes part, he is ever at home, and evinces that he is master of the subject, while others are more or less at sea and often betraying ignorance.

He refers in graphic terms to the way in which business is conducted in the Free Assembly, which is giving just cause of complaint to the more intelligent members of that Church, and is a kind of outrage on Presbyterian parity on the one hand, and the decorum of a judicial court and a deliberative assembly on the other. In very important cases nearly the whole time is occupied by two or three speakers, while all others are ruffed or hissed down. This is a state of matters which demands instant reform. He sees also that the doctrine of

universal atonement, which the majority of the Free Church seem to make light of, threatens to issue in the denial of a real atonement altogether, or in explaining away the true nature of the atonement. Of this we have an alarming specimen in a volume by the late Dr. Campbell, of London, which was lately issued from the press, and is likely to do extensive damage to the cause of gospel truth. We fondly hope that Mr. M'Corkle's labours, in exhibiting the principles of the Reformed Church of Scotland to the members of the Free Church, will not be in vain, though the reception which has hitherto been given to the able treatises, which he has put in circulation, has been cold enough. The eyes of a people are frequently opened at certain eras, and it is probable that the eyes of a number in the Free Church may be so opened at the present crisis, as to lead them to see and value the principles which Mr. M'Corkle has been advocating with such ability so long with so little apparent effect.

A

Thoughts on Providence, with Illustrations. By Rev. E. Ritchie, Colmonell. 1867. THIS is a very interesting pamphlet on an important subject. It consists of two parts-Judicious doctrinal statements, and striking historical facts, as to Divine interpositions in mercy and judgment, which are calculated to make salutary impressions on the minds of readers. The following is given as a specimen, which we can attest, having heard it related in nearly the same words by the individual himself, whose experience our author records:

"When stage coaches were running, but not always accessible, the Rev. T. G. of K-y, rode on horseback, one Saturday, to assist at a Communion in M—, a small village a few miles south of the Tweed. On arriving at a ford to which his road led, and when he was about to cross the river, he was stopped by a man who was only half dressed, who called to him from the opposite side, You must not venture in there, sir; the river is down, and if you go in both you and your horse will be drowned.' He inquired, 'What, then, am I to do?' The man replied, 'You must go back about a mile, and take the road to the left, which will lead you to the bridge farther up the stream.' Mr. G. arrived in safety, and at the close of the Communion services on Monday, he was told, when he came to the manse, that a person wished to speak to him. The stranger was introduced, and the following dialogue passed between them: -Stranger: 'Do you remember on Saturday hearing a man calling to you from the other side of the Tweed not to cross at the ford.' Mr. G.: 'Well do I remember it, and I feel greatly indebted to him for preserving my life, for when he called I was just about to enter the river.' Stranger: I am that person, and there is something so strange about the circumstance of my being there at that particular time, that I could not allow you to return home without informing you of it. On Saturday I was making ready for the church, and, when only partly dressed, I fell into a sort of reverie, and thought I would go down from my house to the river side. I went as I was, and began to reflect, what am I doing here? How foolish it is for me to be here, when all my time will be required that I may be at th urch before worship commences, and just at that moment you arrived at the ford.""

H

The Ecclesiastical Catechism: being a series of questions relative to the Christian Church, with Answers and Scripture Proofs. By the late Alexander M'Leod. D.D. New York. New Edition, with Introduction by William Binnie, D.D. Paisley: Alexander Gardiner, Publisher. 1868.

THIS, as might be expected from the known character of the author, is a very able and satisfactory work, treating of subjects in which Christians at the present time have more than ordinary need of instruction. A number of points are also ably discussed in an appendix in the form of notes. It embodies information on the following subjects:-The Church; Church Fellowship; Government Officers; Courts; Religious Worship; and Church Discipline.

The Sabbath on the Rock, and the Gospel in the Decalogue. By a Sabbath-School Teacher. With a recommendary preface by the Rev. Alexander Duff, D.D. London: S. W. Partridge & Co. 9, Paternoster Row. 1867.

THIS is a new edition of this able work. It is an elaborate treatise, which takes up the questions in relation to the Sabbath in its various aspects, and in particular meets and effectually exposes the views of Dr. M'Leod. Regarding it Dr. Duff says "The most closely compacted and argumentative work on the subject in the English language."

Elijah: The Desert Prophet. By the Rev. H. T. Howat, author of Sabbath Hours. Edinburgh Johnstone, Hunter, & Co. 1868.

THIS is an ably written volume on a subject which, though frequently discussed, can scarcely, if entered into with spirit, ever become stale, and assuredly it does not do so in the pages of Mr Howat. And if the style of the author is excellent, that of the publishers in their departments is equally worthy of commendation. Our notice shall consist in a few quotations, to which many might be added, the sentiments in which will command the approbation of most of our readers. As to the necessity of boldness in the cause of God, his words are

"No mere trimmer or time-server was Elijah, but fearless of consequences; and so standing manfully up for God, God took care he should suffer no wrong. 'And who

is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?' Boldness for God is needed still-in the workshop, where free-thinking has obtained a hold; in the family, where a pious wife, alas! unequally yoked, has been afraid to be seen reading her Bible or going to church; in the learned society, where men have bowed out revelation, and begun to frame a new history for the world and a new origin for man. We have known mothers who, in view of a husband's wrath, found it great daring to teach their little children to pray; and God-fearing sisters, whose lives were made miserable by scoffing brothers on whom they depended for daily support; and young men, who were made fools of by thoughtless companions because they were religiously inclined -and was not boldness required in circumstances like these to take the stand for God, and to keep it too?

"The God who has strengthened them for their trials, alone knows the number of those who have been and are His secret martyrs; who in the silent night-watches have recorded their vows, and through many a long, bitter day, in spite of all ostracism, have maintained the struggle for Him. All honour to the early Christians, and their boldness for God in days of trouble and rebuke. All honour to the noble men who, amid the faggots of Smithfield, in the valleys of the Vaudois, or away on northern hills in our own land-great sacramental hosts of martyr memory-counted not their lives dear by reason of their all-consuming love to Christ. And yet, in circles less patent to public view, let not those be forgotten who, with everything of the world to lose and nothing to gain, have had the heroism to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand.""

In reference to the execution of the priests of Baal, his words are—"We are utterly unable to share in the maudlin sentimentalism which has been expended in connection with this act of Elijah. Look at the other side of the picture. To the death of how many prophets of God had Jezebel and these very Baalites not been a party? How many Samaritan homes had they not rendered scenes of lamentstion and woe? How many innocent children, even, had they not cruelly sacrificed, when they 'built the high places of Baal, to burn their sons for burnt-offerings unto Baal?'"

In regard to parental example and instruction, he says

"No child will forget the godly words and ways of his father. He may not imitate them, he may think them too strict and straight-laced, he may even go off in an entirely opposite direction; but he will and must remember them, and that memory, under God, may prove in some evil hour his very rock and rescue.

"We have here, again, abundant evidence that the busiest are called on to worship God. Shaphat and Elisha had no time to be idle, and yet they were able to cultivate their souls as well as their fields. There be thousands, alas! among us very different indeed, who are busy about everything but one, who have time for the market-place, the opera, the ball, the last new novel, but never time for a serious thought as to where eternity is to be spent."

In regard to the scarcity of ministers and missionaries we have some impressive statements, from which we can only give a sentence

or two

“We could name one instance where a most exemplary young man was disinherited, because he had resolved to become an ambassador for Christ. Is money, therefore, everything, and are souls nothing? Where would we as a nation have been at this hour, if in former days the cold calculation had been made, as to whether the service of the altar paid? Suppose Paul had acted thus, or Augustine, or Luther, or Knox." The mournful extent to which spiritualism has spread in America, is given on the authority of Chambers's Encyclopædia, vol. ix.

"In 1859, the Spiritualists reckoned 1,500,000 avowed adherents of their system in America, 1,000 public advocates of it, and 30 periodicals devoted to its cause. Amongst its adherents are many persons of high social position and good education, and even some of superior literary and scientific attainments."

And among the author's remarks as to this we find the following"This revival of Pagan superstition would neither deserve mention nor serious refutation, were it not for the hold it is taking of the popular mind, especially in the United States, where we are amazed that a nation, so acute and quick-sighted in most other matters, should be juggled out of the truths of their English Bibles, by raps upon tables, or the ridiculous presagings of idle girls, Away with your mediums,

their bandaged eyes and pencilled messages, hands waving in the air, and all the dark arts of this latest charlatanry, the most wretched and profane of all modern shams."

The Sunbeam's Story; or Sketches from Beetle Life. By Mena B. Bickesteth. Edinburgh: Johnstone, Hunter, & Co.

In this little volume the youthful reader is at once amused and instructed in an interesting department of knowledge, researches in which have been left too exclusively to the naturalist. Here we have a wonderful glimpse afforded us into one of the glasses in which the wisdom and goodness of the great Creator are marvellously displayed. Few books can be put with more safety into the hands of the young, and it is only a few of the old that are so versant with the subject that their knowledge will not be increased by its perusal. We regret that the space left us does not admit of giving extracts.

AT a meeting of the Ayr Presbytery of United Original Seceders, held at Ayr on the 27th January last, Mr. Patrick, preacher, under call to the congregation of Dromore, Ireland, gave in the remainder of his trials for ordination, which, being sustained and approved, the Presbytery appointed his ordination to take place at Dromore on Wednesday, the 4th of March-the Rev. John Sturrock, Stranraer, to preside. At the same meeting, a call from the congregation of Kilmarnock, addressed to Mr. A. J. M'Clennaghan, preacher of the gospel, was laid on the table and sustained as a regular gospel call. Mr. M'Clennaghan being present, the call was presented to, and cordially accepted by him. The Presbytery afterwards prescribed subjects of trial for ordination to Mr. M'Clennaghan.

ORDINATION AT DROMORE.

THE Ayr Presbytery of United Original Seceders met at Dromore, County Derry, Ireland, on Wednesday, 4th March, for the purpose of ordaining Mr. James Patrick, preacher of the Gospel, to the pastoral oversight of the congregation there. The public services were commenced with devotional exercises, conducted by the Rev. Ebenezer Ritchie, Toberdony. The Rev. Thomas Robertson, Kilwinning, preached from Ephesians iii. 15-"The whole family in heaven and earth." A discourse in defence of the Presbyterian form of Church Government was delivered by the Rev. John Sturrock, Stranraer, who thereafter narrated the steps of procedure which had been taken with the view of obtaining a settled dispensation of ordinances, and put the questions of the Formula to the pastor-elect. These having been satisfactorily answered, Mr. Sturrock offered up the ordination prayer, during which Mr. Patrick was set apart by the onlaying of the hands of the Presbytery to the pastoral office. Addresses to pastor and people were delivered by the Rev. John Robertson, Ayr. The solemn and interesting services were concluded with devotional exercises, conducted by the Rev. William B. Gardiner, Pollockshaws. At the dismissal, the members of the congregation gave a cordial welcome to their young minister. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather the attendance was large, every available seat being occupied.