point out excellences rather than faults and defects. We notice from the use of the author's "we," an occasional ambiguity when he would speak of his personal feelings and experience. His passing criticism on Ps. iv : 6, we regard incorrect. He makes the italicised word "any" the emphatic one. Instead of which, the true idea is gained by its omission. The cry is not for " any good"-as if none were enjoyed, and " would do; but for "good," i. e. absolute good, that which would "satisfy' the soul, and which had not been secured by the attainment of much that was good as far as it went. The book, though otherwise well executed, contains sundry minor typographical errors, which will doubtless be corrected in subsequent editions.

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CHRISTIAN CONSOLATIONS. Sermons designed to furnish Strength and Comfort to the Afflicted. By A. P. PEABODY, Pastor of the South Church, Portsmouth, N. H. Third Edition. (Boston: Crosby, Nichols & Co. 1857. 16mo., pp. 438.)

This volume contains thirty-three sermons, five of which were not included in former editions. In many respects they are admirably suited to comfort the afflicted child of God. His character as our heavenly Father, the paternal love evinced in the afflictions he sends, the wisdom and goodness of his providence, the unspeakable joys of heaven, the fraternal sympathy of Jesus, “our Divine fellow sufferer," and many other topics of consolation, are dwelt upon with much tenderness of emotion, vividness of illustration, and classic beauty of style. These Sermons may be read with profit and pleasure by the most orthodox believer in the divinity of Jesus. The fact that the writer is a Unitarian clergyman is apparent only by the omission of those frequent references to the cross of Christ, and his atoning sacrifice for sin, which so abound in the Scriptures, and in the sermons of Trinitarians. His view of Divine Providence is such as to satisfy the most rigid Calvinist, and his exalted ascriptions of praise to " the Divine Founder of our religion," of "reverence, love and gratitude," of "the warmest devotion” to the great Mediator, seem to us hardly compatible with any doctrine which makes him less than God.

EXPOSITIONS ON THE CREED, THE LORD'S PRAYER, AND THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. BY ROBERT LEIGHTON, D.D., Archbishop of Glasgow, with an INTRODUCTORY ESSAY, by JOHN PYE SMITH, D.D. (New York: Carter & Brothers, Broadway. 1858.)

The subjects treated of in this work, the character of its author, the Introduction by Pye Smith, and the imprint of its publishers, all attest its general excellence, and make a reviewer's praise well nigh superfluous; we may, however, express our pleasure at its issue in a form so well adapted to general circulation.

AN EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISM, with Practical Inferences from each Question, as exhibited in Dartmouth, 1688. By Rev. JOHN FLAVEL. (New-York: R. Carter & Brothers, 530 Broadway. 1858.)

Of course, the usual heresies, as we deem them, on the act and subjects of baptism, and one or two kindred points, are defended in this, as in every work based upon the Assembly's Catechism. With this exception, we regard the Catechism itself, and the present Exposition of it, as valuable compends of religious truth. The spirit of this work is eminently fervent, it being the last labor of its godly author. The catechetical mode of instruction, while liable to great and obvious abuse, has alз0 undeniable advantages. This is the plan of the author, who explains each question of the Catechism by several other subordinate questions, and introduces the "practical inferences" also in the same way, so that the book is, in fact, a Catechism upon a Catechism. Both Exposition and Inferences are abundantly backed, if not always sustained, by proof.

texts. We think the general usefulness of the book would have been enhanced by an index of topics, and we wonder that this did not occur to the publishers. As it is, to refer to a particular topic, unless one has a copy of the Assembly's Catechism, he must find that topic by turning over the pages.

SERMONS OF THE REV. C. H. SPURGEON, of London. Third Series. (N. Y., Sheldon, Blakeman & Co.; Boston: Gould & Lincoln; Chicago: S. C. Griggs & Co. 1857. 12mo., pp. 448.)

These twenty-nine sermons need no recommendation of ours. Whatever critics may think of their style, the people have stamped them with the seal of their approval, and the Holy Spirit has blessed them to the conversion of souls. As specimens of the best method of presenting sacred truth to the popular mind, they are unrivalled, and the suc cess of their author is destined to create a revolution in the art of sermonizing. Let him describe them in his own words:

"We must preach as Christ did; we must tell anecdotes and stories and parables as he did; we must come down and make the gospel attractive. The reason why the old Puritan preachers could get congregations was this-they did not give their hearers dry theology; they illustrated it; they had an anecdote from this and a quaint passage from that classic author; here a verse of poetry, here and there even a quip or pun-a thing which is now-a-days esteemed a sin above all sins, but which was constantly committed by those preachers, whom I have ever esteemed as the patterns of pulpit eloquence." "There are multitudes who cannot understand words composed of Latin, but must have the truth told them in round homely Saxon if it is to reach their hearts.'

Fifty thousand volumes of the first two series of his Sermons have already been sold in America, and we anticipate for this series equal popularity. It has a beautiful view of Surrey Music Hall, where Spurgeon weekly preaches to 10,000 hearers.

THE BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY. From its Origin in Greece down to the Present Day. By GEORGE HENRY LEWES. "Man is not born to solve the mystery of Existence; but he must nevertheless attempt it, in order that he may learn how to keep within the limits of the Knowable.-GOETHE.

"For I doubt not through the ages one increasing purpose runs,

And the thoughts of men are widened by the process of the suns."-TENNYSON. New Library Edition, much enlarged and thoroughly revised. In one volume. 8vo., pp. 835.

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The first edition of this work was published about ten years ago. This new edition "may almost be considered a new work." Scarcely a paragraph remains unaltered," and many important additions have been made. We have only space to indicate the main purpose of the author and give a few extracts illustrating his style of thought. He is a disciple of Auguste Comte, a thorough disbeliever "in the possibility of metaphysical certitude." He says: The history of Philosophy presents the spectacle of thousands of intellects-some the greatest that have made our race illustrious steadily concentrated on problems believed to be of vital importance, yet producing no other result than a conviction of the extreme facility of error, and the remoteness of any probability that truth can be reached. The only conquest has been critical, that is to say psychological." Philosophy has been ever in movement, but the movement has been circular." The difficulty is impossibility. No progress can be made, because no certainty is possible."

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He places in strong contrast with this the "linear progress of science." The only value he attaches to the mighty efforts of Philosophy, is that it has been "the great initiator of science.' Having done this, its part is played. Our interest in it now is purely historical. The purport of this history is to show how and why the interest in philosophy has become purely historical." He does this by brief but comprehensive sketches of the lives and doctrines of the most celebrated philosophers of all ages, from Thales to Cousin. (strangely omitting, however, Sir William Hamilton, and some others,) and writes upon them all, "weighed in the balances, and found wanting." He divides the history into eleven epochs, the last of which is entitled: "Philosophy finally relinquishing its place in favor of positive science." The "Cours de Philosophie Positive" of Comte, he here pronounces "the grandest, because, on the whole, the truest system which philosophy has yet produced;" in short, the whole work may be called an attempt to destroy all prcceding philosophies, in order to enthrone Comte, whose philosophy is essentially materialistic and Atheistic, on their ruins.

The philosophic mind, however, which prefers a pure religious faith to Comte's speculations, will be far from admitting all he claims for that "powerful thinker," and will be led by this history, so far as it proves the uncertainty of all human reasoning, to bow more humbly at the feet of Him who alone is "the true light."

MENTAL PHILOSOPHY, including the Intellect, Sensibilities and Will. By JOSEPH HAVEN, Professor of Intellectual and Moral Philosophy in Amherst College. (Boston: Gould & Lincoln. 1857. 590 pp. 12mo.)

Our first thought on seeing the announcement of this work was that a new text-book of Mental Philosophy was much less needed now than a few years ago; and we rather wondered at the judgment of Prof. Haven in bringing forward this new candidate for public favor, when other works of acknowledged merit in the same department had scarcely been issued long enough to be generally known. But this suspicion of the author's wisdom soon yielded to a decided approval. His work has some qualities not often combined in one treatise, and in every respect is well adapted to the purpose for which it was intended.

As the title page indicates, the Sensibilities and the Will are the subject of discussion as well as the Intellect. The intellectual powers are classified as follows, viz: the Presentative Power, or Perception by the Senses; the Representative Power, including Imagination and Memory; the Reflective Power, including Generalization and Reasoning; and the Intuitive Power, corresponding to what Upham and Wayland call Original Suggestion.

The treatment of each subject is clear, and at the same time concise, while the style is both pure and elegant. A history of opinions on each of the general topics is appended to the discussion of that topic, and the sentiments of other writers are reviewed with candor.

An important characteristic of the book is the exact and clear analysis of each chapter,-a characteristic of great importance, but too seldom found in text books. If others judge as favorably as we of Prof. Haven's work, it will become the text-book in Mental Philosophy for colleges and higher seminaries of learning.

THE LIFE AND TIMES OE AARON BURR, Lieutenant-Colonel in the Army of the Revolution, United States Senator, Vice-President of the United States, etc. By J. PARTON, author of " Humorous Poetry of the English Language, ""Life of Horace Greeley," etc. (N. Y.: Mason Bros. 1858. 12mo., pp. 696.

The lives of few men have abounded with more remarkable vicissitudes, and scenes of thrilling yet tragic interest, than that of Aaron Burr,

The child of parents illustrious for intellect and piety-the grandson of Jonathan Edwards-we should have anticipated for him a career of distinguished honor and usefulness. But as we trace him through his chedkered history as we see him first an orphan, then a talented student, impressed with religious convictions, but confirmed in impenitence by the well-meant but injudicious counsel of Dr. Witherspoon, then the intrepid and successful soldier of the Revolution, the accomplished lawyer, the loving husband and doting father, the gifted senator, the honored VicePresident, then the wily politician, the blood-stained duellist, the fugitive from justice, the intriguing adventurer-and perhaps traitor-the criminal at the bar, the penniless, almost starving adventurer in foreign lands, the execrated outcast from society, but through all these changes cheerful, undaunted, of most winning manners, yet a sceptic and a debauchee, without principle or conscience, and at last dying at the age of 81, as he had lived, "without God in the world," pity and indignation at the wreck of such glorious powers, alternately struggle for the mastery. Mr. Parton, with the amplest facilities at his command, has done what he could to rescue the character of Burr from the oblivion of infamy, and by presenting the noble traits which unquestionably adorned it, as well as the bad ones by which it is chiefly known, has aimed to show that "he was no angel: he was no devil; he was a man and a fillibuster." The marvelous story is told in a pleasing manner, enlivened by numerous anecdotes, and sketches of the great men and parties of those eventful times, not without occasional hints of the biographer's own opinions, both political and religious. He attempts to palliate and partly to excuse some of the most glaring faults of his hero, but tried even by Mr. Parton's standard,-which is far below that of Christianity,-it must be confessed that Burr's life was a sad failure, and replete with lessons of solemn warning.

THE VIRGINIA SPRINGS.. BY JOHN J. MOORMAN, M.D. Second Edition, (Richmond, Va.: J. W. Randolph. pp. 319.)

We found this an interesting and valuable hand-book during a sojourn last summer among the Virginia Springs; and we can cordially commend it to all who propose to visit those far and justly famed fountains of health. It furnishes all needful information on the subject of routes, lively and, as far as our knowledge goes, correct descriptions of the various localities, the peculiarities of the several waters, and practical directions for their use. An Appendix, containing notices of natural curiosities in the "Spring Region," and a Map of Virginia, with the most recent lines of travel laid down, add to the value of the work. The author is a practical physician, for several years resident at the Greenbrier White Sulphur Springs, who may therefore be supposed to speak advisedly, having not merely theory but large experience, as to the nature and tendencies of mineral waters. His style is unpretending, but interesting, and perfectly perspicuous. Other pens not less able contribute to the book. The notice of the Healing Springs, from a young physician now no more, is glowing and beautiful. And we think that and similar notices would be serviceable not only to those who purpose visiting the Virginia Springs, but in inducing others so to do.

THE GREYSON LETTERS: Selections from the Correspondence of R. E. H. Greyson, Esq. Edited by HENRY ROGERS, author of "The Eclipse of Faith," etc. (Boston: Gould & Lincoln. 12mo. 1857. pp. 511.)

Mr. Rogers is the author, and not only the editor, of these very piquant letters. He is already known as one of the ablest religious writers of the day, and a most successful defender of Christianity against the covert assaults of modern skepticism. This volume contains one hundred and eleven letters on a variety of subjects, but all of them bearing more or less directly on the gravest questions-religious and social-of the times.

We notice among the most interesting of these letters one on Death Bed Consolations; another on Christian Evidences; a third on Pulpit Style; four on Novel Reading; five to an Incipient Neologist; three on The Atonement, eight to a Friend who had become a Deist; three to a Homoeopathist; two on "Prayer;" one on the Argument for Immortality; and one to a Gentleman who would be a Christian, yet disputed all the peculiar facts and doctrines of historical Christianity. In the solid argument which forms the substratum of them, and the playful wit which decorates and enlivens the reasoning, they remind us of stern, rugged rocks, half concealed by climbing ivy, and adorned by blooming flowers springing from every crevice. They cannot fail to command a large and delighted circle of readers.

LITERARY AND THEOLOGICAL INTELLIGENCE.

FOREIGN.

N. Beets, Paulus in den wichtigsten Augenblicken seines Lebens und Wirkens. Biblische Schilderungen. Aus dem Hollandischen von C. Gross. Dr. J. Konig, die Theologie der Psamlen. 528 pp. Jordan Bucher. Das Leben Jesu und der Apostel. Geschichtlich dargestellt. 1. Lfg. It is to consist of sixteen or twenty parts. H. Heppe, Dogmatik des deutschen Protestantismus im. 16. Jahrhundert, in three volumes, from the press of Perthes. Ebrard, Die Lehre, von der stellvertretenden Genugthung, as taught in the Scriptures. Corpus_apologetarum christianorum saeculi II. Edidit Joh. C. Thdr Otto. Jac. KittInhalt des Talmuds und seine Autoritat, nebst einer geschichlichen Einleitung. Aus den ersten Quellen geschopft und unparteiisch behandelt. E. J. Meyer. Kritischer Kommentar zu der eschatologischen Rede Matth. 24. 25. 1. Thl.: Die Einleitung. Dr. L. Remke, Die messianischen Psalmen. Einleitung, Grundtext und Uebersetzung nebst einem philologisch-kritischen und historischen Commentar. 1. Bd.

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D. G. M. Redslob, Die biblischen Angaben ueber stiftung und Grund der Paschafeier vom Allegoristisch-kabbalistischen standpunkte aus betrachtet. pp. 63.

The Studien und Kritiken completes with 1857, the thirtieth year of its existence. Its founders, Ullmann and Umbreit, still remain at the head of this valuable periodical. But many of its more distinguished contributors, as DeWette, Neander, Lucke, Gieseler, have passed away. A copious Index (Register fur die Jahrgange 1848-1857) accompanis, has just been issued. The titles of some of the articles in the last number of the work are: "The Last Words of David," by Fries; “Renewed Occupation with the Book of Job," by Umbreit; and "Some Further Remarks on the Passover Controversy of the Second Century," by Steitz. A second edition of Auberlen's "Der Prophet Daniel, und die Offenbarung Johannis," is in the press.

Meyer has published a third edition of his Commentar ueber den Brief un die Galaten. A writer in the September number of the Literarishes Centralblatt makes some strictures on the author's style of exposition, which are carried too far. Lunemann, one of Meyer's collaborators, has prepared the volume on the Epistle to the Hebrews.