warm appeals to the conscience, and earnest persuasives to the life of faith. The volume well deserves a place among the biographies of the age; and the sermons are excellent specimens of the kind of preaching upon which we may expect the blessing of God.

ASTRONOMY and SCRIPTURE; or some Illustrations of that Science, and of the Solar, Lunar, Stellar, and Terrestrial Phenomena of Holy Writ, By the Rev. T. MILNER, M.A.

The study of Revelation and astronomy has too rarely been combined in the same person. This is the more to be regretted, as, on the one hand, there are none of the works of God to which the Scriptures more frequently refer us, and from which they borrow more striking illustrations of their sentiments, than the movements of the heavenly bodies; and, on the other, acquaintance with these bodies, apart from the truths of Scripture, is deprived of its essential benefit. Mr. Milner has endeavoured to remedy this defect, in the volume which is here presented to our notice. It contains much popular information on the science, expressed in language as beautiful as it is simple and intelligible to the meanest capacity. Several plates adorn the volume, but none that are not necessary as explanatory of the remarks with which they are connected. The episodes that are scattered throughout the volume, relating to the fire-worshippers of Baal, the sun-dial of Ahaz and Hezekiah, the darkness of Egypt and at the crucifixion, and the standing still of the sun and moon at Gibeon, are replete with valuable instruction, and happy elucidations of Scripture phraseology. Sketches are given of the history of astronomy and astronomers, from Copernicus and Galileo to the great Newton, and from the latter to the Herschels of modern times. Young persons who have not leisure for more abstruse works, will find this volume an admirable compendium on the subject;

nor

can any one attentively peruse it without having his mind imbued with just sentiments, his style of thinking and writing improved, and his love of revealed truth and its Author enlivened and augmented. Altogether, the volume would form a suitable companion to the work of Dr. Pye Smith, "On the relation between the Holy Scriptures and some parts of Geological Science;" and would supply to our young friends materials for thinking on the works and the word of God in connection, that might prove as favourable to the advancement of their piety as to the improvement of their intellect, and the gratification of that thirst for knowledge which is the

extract from the work before us, as serving to correct a popular error, and to give a specimen of the style in which the volume is written:

"Besides affecting the atmosphere, it has been from time immemorial an almost universal opinion, that the lunar influence has an intimate connection with organic life. There is a passage in the Psalms, which seems to involve this idea: 'The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.' The opinion is common throughout the East, that the beams of the moon are deleterious, and it appears to be countenanced by well-authenticated facts. The two great physicians of antiquity, Hippocrates and Galen, believe the lunar influence to operate largely in cases of disease, especially of epilepsy and insanity. Amongst the moderns, Mead, Hoffman, and Sauvage, have adopted the same opinion. Our word lunacy expresses the same idea, as does also the Greek word used in the New Testament. It can, however, form no objection to the Scriptures, to any reasonable mind, when it is considered that, for wise and important purposes, they speak in a popular and conventional style, to say, that this particular notion is now generally discredited. Yet, neither by its friends nor foes has it been sufficiently tested by statistical observations. Sound philosophy may admit, and does admit, that health and sickness materially depend upon the state of the atmosphere: and therefore, by affecting the terrestrial atmosphere, the moon may have an influence upon the general organism of its inhabitants. But to suppose insanity, or any disease of the brain, to be exasperated at the change of the moon, as an effect of that change, may be safely dismissed, as an idle dream. Let the fact be incontestably established, that such exasperations occur at such intervals, and it only proves a coincidence, and leaves the question of connection untouched. There is an adaptation of the human constitution to the time of the earth's rotation upon its axis; and as tertian and quartan fevers require three or four rotations to evolve the symptoms of disease, so may insanity require thirty for the same end, without any reference to the moon's place in the heavens."

SABBATH-DAY Book; or, Scriptural Meditations for every Lord's-day in the Year. By J. LEIFCHILD, D.D. 12mo. pp. 368.

Religious Tract Society.

We deeply regret that, by an unintentional oversight, this very interesting and instructive volume has so long escaped our

notice. It deserved something better at our hands. But it is not too late to apprize our readers, that, in our humble judgment, the Religious Tract Society has not a more appropriate or useful publication on its list of modern works. Every page exhibits marks of discriminating thought and sound biblical interpretation, accompanied with very stringent appeals to the conscience, and warm enforcements of experimental godliness. Although the "Sabbath-day Book" is, strictly speaking, a series of discourses upon interesting texts of Scripture, the pulpit character of the compositions has been so far dispensed with as to adapt them more effectually to personal and private reading; yet not so as to deprive them of the pungency and pathos, by which the public addresses of the author are so happily distinguished. We are confident that this volume will be a special favourite among the very useful class of publications to which it belongs; and if evidence were required to prove that the mental energy of the writer is in no degree impaired by the labours of more than forty years, it is here abundantly supplied.

CHINA; its Creeds and Customs, with reference to Missionary Labours. By the Rev. ROBERT PHILIP, Author of the "Life and Times of Bunyan."-(Nelson's

British Library of Tracts for the People.) We are happy to introduce this interesting tract to the notice of our readers. The attachment of Mr. Philip to the cause of missions in China is well known, and earnestly do we wish that this little work may be useful in exciting in the minds of thousands a portion of the interest for that vast country with which he is himself so thoroughly impressed. It may seem preposterous in a penny tract-though, thanks to the enterprise of the publisher, the amount of letterpress given for that small sum is astonishing-to treat of the creeds and customs of upwards of three hundred millions -of more than a third portion of the human family. We doubt, indeed, whether the facts and documents have yet been given in the English language which would enable a student to form a correct opinion regarding the philosophy and character of the Chinese. Mr. Philip has had recourse, however, to most of the sources of information within his reach. He ought, perhaps, to have come to a different judgment on some points, and there are others of which, we doubt not, his opinion will yet be modified. Meanwhile the results of his investigations will be read by multitudes, and it is certainly an act of merit in him thus to circulate "the substance of his knowledge of that wonderful nation." Enough is known of China to show

that it is a lovable land, notwithstanding all the idols and vices that defile and deform it." It has been Mr. Philip's object to set this forth, and he has done so successfully. There are many characteristics of the Chinese to excite a strong sympathy for them among the friends of missions. A noble field is destined for Christian zeal and enterprise. The door which was opened, in Providence, by the "opium war,' as Mr. Philip unfortunately calls it, is being thrown more and more wide. It is great and effectual. May it be our author's happiness to know that he has induced many to press into it!

HISTORY of the REFORMATION of the SixTEENTH CENTURY. By J. H. MERLE D'AUBIGNE, D. D., President of the Theological School of Geneva, and VicePresident of the Société Evangélique. Vols. I. to IV. Vols. I., II., and III. translated by H. WHITE, B.A., Trinity College, Cambridge, M.A. and Ph. Dr., Heidelberg; and carefully revised by the Author, who has made numerous important additions, not to be found in any other Translation; and Vol. IV., being the English Original, by Dr. D'AUBIGNE, assisted by Dr. WHITE. 8vo. pp.692. 6s.

Religious Tract Society.

brated History, though matter of great rejoicing in itself, render it next to impossible for the public press to do justice to the spirit of enterprise which has arisen in connection with the appearance of this remarkable work. So powerfully have we been impressed with the importance to the Protestant cause of Dr. D'Aubigné's labours, that we have felt it to be a conscientious duty to notice every edition that has come to our knowledge. We heartily rejoiced when the difficulties were removed about the publication of the fourth volume and on the fact of so many thousand copies of such a work finding their way into the hands of the Christian public, at a time when Romanism is putting forth new forms of its malign power, we cannot but congratulate the friends of evangelical Protestantism.

The numerous editions of this justly cele

We welcome the Religious Tract Society's edition with peculiar satisfaction. It is a most compact and elegant volume; and though the four volumes are included in one ordinarily sized octavo, yet the type is distinct and readable, even by persons of imperfect sight.

WORKS RECENTLY PUBLISHED.

1. The Evangelical Alliance; its Origin and Development; containing Personal Notices of its distinguished Friends in Europe and America. By

J. W. MASSIE, D.D., M.R.I.A., author of "Continental India," "Recollections of a Tour," &c. Crown 8vo. pp. 478. John Snow.

2. Additional Remains of the Rev. Robert Murray M'Cheyne, late Minister of St. Peter's Church, Dundee; consisting of various Sermons and Lectures delivered by him in the course of his Ministry. Second Thousand. Crown 8vo. pp. 540. John Johnstone, 26, Paternoster-row.

3. The German Reformation of the Nineteenth Century; or, A Sketch of the Rise, Progress, and Present Position of those who have recently separated themselves from the Church of Rome; with a short Notice of the state of Protestantism in Prussia, Bavaria, and the Prussian Baltic Provinces. By the German Correspondents of "The Continental Echo." Crown 8vo. pp. 490. John Snow.

4. A Treatise on the Physical Cause of the Death of Christ, and its Relation to the Principles and Practice of Christianity. By WILLIAM STROUD, M.D. Crown 8vo. pp. 502. Hamilton, Adams, and Co.

5. History of the Reformation in the Sixteenth Century. By J. H. MERLE D'AUBIGNE, President of the Theological Seminary, Geneva, and Vice

President of the Société Evangélique. Assisted in the preparation of the English original, by H. WHITE, B.A., Trinity College, Cambridge, M.A. and Dr. Ph. Heidelberg. With Notes, by DAVID DUNDAS SCOTT, Esq., Translator of the first two vols. Illustrated with Portraits, 3 Vols. Svo. Blackie and Son.

6. The Provincial Letters of Blaise Pascal. A New Translation, with Historical Introduction and Notes. By the Rev. Tuos. M'CRIE. Crown 8vo. pp. 412. John Johnstone.

7. Observations on Sunday-school Instruction; being the substance of an Address delivered to Sunday-school Teachers. By the Rev. JOHN GREGG. A.B., Minister of Trinity Church, Dublin. Longman and Co.

8. The Great Commandment. By the author of "The Listener," "Christ our Example," &c. Crown 8vo. pp. 346. Seeley.

9. Posthumous and other Poems. By CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH. 12mo. pp. 272. Seeley.

10. Sabbath-Day Book; or, Scriptural Meditations for every Lord's-day in the Year. By J. LEIFCHILD, D.D. 12mo. pp. 368. Tract Society.

JOSEPH JOHN GURNEY, ESQ.

We have to record, with unfeigned regret, the death of this devoted Christian and distinguished philanthropist. The event, which took place on the 4th of January, was somewhat sudden and unexpected. To the very close of his brilliant but unostentatious career, he was found occupied in his Master's work, "going about doing good." We hope next month to furnish a memoir of this eminent member of the Society of Friends, who was fairly claimed as the common property of the Christian world.

MRS. BArfett.

Died at Grantham, September 9th, 1846, after a few days' illness, Ann, the beloved wife of the Rev. J. Barfett, pastor of the Congregational church in that town.

She had not been united in marriage to her now bereaved husband more than four months. Her funeral sermon was preached

by the Rev. T. Adkins, of Southampton, on Lord's-day evening, September 20th, from Isaiah xxxviii. 1, "Set thine house in order, for thou shalt die and not live," to the largest congregation ever known within the walls of the chapel.

Mrs. Barfett had been a holy, consistent member of the church at Grantham for twenty-three years, and always one of the most liberal and willing contributors to its interests, as well as to other institutions not local. She was a Christian lady, marked by strong intellect, by a sound, discriminating judgment, by great prudence, by high principle, and by long tried, sterling piety.

By his brethren and fathers in the ministry, to whom the deceased was known, Mr. Barfett was deemed peculiarly favoured in his selection of such a partner.

In the heavy trials to which he has been successively called, our esteemed brother has the deep sympathy of a numerous and attached circle of friends.

DISCUSSION IN REFERENCE TO STATE
EDUCATION.

We have been and still are deeply interested in this controversy. It may be discreditable to our powers of discernment, and to our decision of character, but, hitherto, we have not been able to make up our minds fully on the one side or the other. Were

the question as between voluntary educa tion and the despotic government plan adopted in Prussia, we could not hesitate for a moment. But as we are convinced that no minister of the crown in this country, and no House of Commons, can venture to look to the continent of Europe for their model of a system of national education, we have found it no easy task to determine, in our own minds, whether voluntary effort (which is the question practically viewed) could or could not be justly, safely, and advantageously aided by parliamentary grants and state endowments?

As we have examined with care, and we may say with profound admiration, Mr. Baines's luminous and powerful letters to the First Lord of Her Majesty's Treasury, we have felt as if it were impossible for government to meddle, without injury, with the education of the people. And then, again, as we have pondered the weighty arguments of Dr. Vaughan and Mr. Swaine, our decision has begun to falter, and we have almost brought ourselves to the conclusion that some greatly modified system of state interference might be resorted to, in order to supplement the defects of the voluntary principle, more especially in those sections of our rural districts where an energetic benevolence has but slender scope.

Meanwhile, amidst the pressure of conscientious difficulties, we have not been lacking in proper gratitude to those nonconforming champions who have bestowed so much pains in ascertaining the present state of education south of the Tweed, and whose statistical tables, gleaned from various sources, have done much, with whatever imperfection may pertain to them, to place the grand question of national education fully before the public mind, so as to enable statesmen, and British subjects at large, to determine for themselves what is and what is not required to meet the educational wants of the people. Never before were such ample materials supplied for reaching a calm and enlightened judgment upon this topic of all-absorbing interest, upon which considerable variety of judgment exists among men equally well informed, equally conscientious, and equally pledged to the great principles of civil and religious liberty. We can as little suspect Dr. Vaughan as Mr. Baines of any recreancy to the cause of nonconformity-a cause which both have

served with noble and unflinching purpose of mind, and of which, in their different spheres, they are distinguished ornaments. Yet these two sound-hearted Protestant Dissenters differ very widely on the grand question, "Ought, or ought not, the State to interfere in the education of the people?" Mr. Baines thinks it ought not: and Dr. Vaughan thinks, to some extent, it may. We cannot help believing, then, that either view may be held by enlightened and consistent Dissenters; and we would endeavour, as far as it may be in our power, to persuade our beloved brethren, on both sides of this controversy, to think and speak of each other with the respect due to conscientious convictions, in no way mili. tating against those views of Christ's kingdom which they mutually entertain. may differ among ourselves, as Nonconformists, upon this and other topics; but we must avoid, as much as possible, all rancour and animosity upon questions which do not vitally affect the grounds of our separation from the Established Church.

We

Having, in the spirit of sincere and heartfelt conciliation, given expression to these sentiments, we shall now briefly sketch the views of our valued friends on the subject of state education. After which we may venture on a few thoughts of our own.

Mr. Baines, in his masterly letters, has expressed a strong and becoming jealousy for the preservation of the voluntary action of the public mind, already greatly roused on the subject of the education of the people. In his first letter, he deprecates state interference, lest this voluntary action "should be greatly impaired, and even almost destroyed." This we cannot help regarding

as a very reasonable jealousy; for it is difficult to conceive of any general plan of state education that would not have the effect of checking the current of spontaneous benevolence, and diminishing the interests of the people in educating themselves. Our author, therefore, stands up "for the English, the free, the voluntary method," which he holds "to be accordant with the national character, favourable to civil and religious liberty, and productive of the highest moral benefits to the community at large."

In his second letter, Mr. B. contends, "that all legislation should be founded on correct principles." The truth of this position he well illustrates by a reference to many pregnant examples of wrong and mischievous interference on the part of government. "No wise legislators," he observes, “and no wise people, will suffer their laws to be founded on false principles." He regards the fundamental principle of state education, viz., "that it is the duty of a government to train the MIND of the people," to be essentially erroneous. It is the duty