SQUIRE DOWNING'S HEIRS.

This little volume is intended to illustrate the truth that "the way of greatness is the way of duty." The story is well told. The language is plain. There is no attempt at fine writing. Every opportunity to inculcate virtue and religion, is embraced. The moral to be learned is thus stated at the close, "Sufficient to our object is it to assure you all, that only in a simple, unostentatious life of duty, little duties, humble duties, self-denying duties, faithfully performed, lies the way to all true greatness."

BESSIE IN THE CITY. By Joanna H. Mathews, author of "Bessie at the Sea Side." "Little drops of water, little grains of sand, make the mighty ocean. and the pleasant land," is an index to the book. The characters are true to nature. The incidents and adventures keep up the interest. The tone is healthful.

DOLLY'S CHRISTMAS CHICKENS; MAGGIE AND THE SPARROWS. By the author of "Little Kitty's Library," "Cosmo's Visit," &c.

Pleasant and entertaining stories for little folks, by a popular writer. We have received the Catalogue of works published by Robert Carter & Brothers. We take pleasure in recommending to our readers the works published by this firm. The Catalogue is extensive and the terms are reasonable.

COURSE OF LECTURES on the Principles and Practice of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, delivered to the Renwick Reformation Society, Philadelphia.

"Evidence in our own church of a spirit of indifference to former attainments, and a neglect to practically carry out our principles," originated this society. Its object is to maintain and practically carry out our Scriptural Covenanted Testimony in all its entirety. Certainly very laudable. To accomplish its object, it is the intention, we infer from this pamphlet, to have delivered in its behalf a course of lectures. The introductory lecture, and an address, are here published. The former is entitled "Ground and Position occupied by the Reformed Presbyterian Church." The latter is "On the subject of Ecclesiastical Union." The author is Rev. Dr. Scott. The subjects are discussed ably and satisfactorily. We are glad to see them published, and are sure good will result from their perusal.

We have received Nos. 4 and 5 of Rentoul's Cheap Library of Standard Bible Expositors, noticed in our April number. Mr. Rentoul promises to make "provision to complete each work and his contract with his subscribers, in the event of his demise.”

We have also received "Presentation of an Address to the Honorable Charles Francis Adams, by National Freedmen's Aid Union of Great Britain and Ireland;" the Catalogue of the Officers and Students of Lafayette College for 1867-68, the Fourth and Fifth Annual Report of the Board of Directors and Treasurer of the Theological and Religious Library Association of Cincinnati, and the "Princeton Review" for April. The contents of this number are: Truth, Charity and Unity-Mathematics as an exercise of mind-Representative Responsibility-Lord's Old Roman World-Whitney on Language-Spectral Appearances; their causes and laws. The mysterious disappearance of this number prevents our giving a more extended notice.

Notices, &c.

W. J. GILLESPIE, who was licensed by Pittsburgh Presbytery at its late meeting, has accepted the appointment of the Central Board of Missions, to go as a Missionary to the Northwest, and has already commenced to labor in that field.

THE answer to the Scriptural Riddle, published in the last number, is "Pharach's Prophetical Dream.

WE again state, communications must be accompanied with the name of the writer.

CALLS have been made out by the congregations of Old Bethel, Ill., and Rehoboth, Iowa, for Jas. A. Black; and by the congregation of Craftsbury, Vt., on A. W. Johnston.

EXTRACTS.

HUMILITY.—If thou art a vessel of gold, and thy brother but of wood, be not high-minded. It is God that maketh thee to differ. The more bounty God shows, the more humility he requires. Those mines that are richest are deepest; those stars that are highest are smallest; the goodliest buildings have the lowest foundations; the more God honoreth men, the more they should humble themselves; the more fruit, the lower the branches on which it grows. Pride is ever the companion of emptiness. Oh how full was the apostle, yet how low was his language of himself: least of all saints, last of all apostles, chief of sinners no sufficiency to think, no abilities to do: all that he is, he is by divine grace.-Bishop Reynolds.

RELIGION A NECESSITY.-Religion is not a duty; it is a necessity. You might as well talk of the duty of breathing, or of the duty of having the pulse beat, as to talk of the duty of being religious. It is a duty to breathe, to be sure, and it is a duty to have the pulse beat; but we do not talk of these things as being duties. It is one of the indispensable necessities that we should breathe, and that our pulse should beat. And I regard religious life as not only a duty but a necessity. You cannot be a man and not be a Christian. And everything that makes you relatively better than your fellow-men is an indication that you are so far on the way toward a Christian manhood. -Henry Ward Beecher.

THE soul is so made that if it would be good, it must do good; and if it would be happy, it must delight in making others happy.