prehensive Dictionary," in editing an edition of Johnson, with improvements from Todd and Walker, and in abridging Dr. Webster's Larger Dictionary, together with his extensive reading with special reference to the lexicography of the language, points him out as more competent, probably, than any man living in our country, for such an enterprise. Few labors are more fatiguing than those of the lexicographer; and in very few are the results of great diligence in investigation condensed within so small a space. The slow aggregation of materials for a new dictionary, which shall take rank above its predecessors, notwithstanding all the help to be derived from them, the careful weighing of words, in order to detect meanings and shades of meaning, to discover etymologies and authorities, as well as the settling of many other questions that arise, require no small share of industry and application. The talent to give an exact definition of words, within the least possible compass, is one of rare occurrence; and to have performed it wisely and well is not only to have done a great work, but to have conferred an immense benefit on the world. This talent Mr. Worcester seems to possess in an eminent degree. A work of less labor and patience would make far more show; and perhaps, in the judgment of the inexperienced, would entitle a man to higher praise. But the successful prosecution of such a labor as this is like the rearing of an Egyptian pyramid; or still more properly, like laying a wide and deep foundation for those immortal structures. When the lighter edifices of an ephemeral literature have vanished away, this will stand with works of sterner material and of durable construction, the companion and expounder of them all. The smaller volume of Mr. Worcester has claims to stand by the side of the larger volumes of Dr. Webster; and, we believe, notwithstanding the acknowledged high merits of the latter, the former will not suffer by comparison. The Dictionary of Mr. Worcester is printed on a smaller type than Dr. Webster's, and many articles are much more condensed. English names are generally inserted as authorities, that the student may know whether a dubious word, or a word in an unusual sense, has the sanction of authors in the mother-country, or is only a provincialism. Besides the names of authorities, the more important etymologies of the words are also exhibited, in the manner of Dr. Webster. Not the least valuable portion of the Introduction is the History of English lexicography, and the catalogue of English Dictionaries, Encyclopædias, etc. The work of Mr. Worcester will prove a lasting monument to his diligence and ability, and entitles him to the praise and gratitude of American scholars. We are proud that in this department of literary labor, America has thus again asserted her superiority to England, laying the mother-country under obligation to the daughter.

By

4. The Life of Martin Luther, gathered from his own Writings. M. MICHELET. Translated by G. H. SMITH. New York. Appletons. 1846. 12mo. 314 pp.

No human name fills so high a niche in the temple of theological fame as that of Luther. Though he has now been dead just three hundred years, his name and his deeds are as familiar as those of a man who died but yesterday. The great Reformation, which took

place through his instrumentality, is a constituent part of his history; hence, while this is remembered and its growing influence is felt, so long he will be an object of interest to the whole Christian world. In his voluminous writings he left abundant materials for a delineation of his character and life; these, taken in connection with the authenticated accounts of the scenes in which he shared most largely, constitute a body of information concerning him, which a skilful biographer could use to great advantage. Mr. Michelet, the accomplished historian, has succeeded in forming a volume which will be read with great delight. Every page is full of interesting things which the Reformer either did or said. All the principal persons who figured in the Reformation are also here seen; most of them appear in the simple familiarity of private life and free intercourse, and thus show us distinctly and without reserve what sort of men they were. The book will be read with avidity wherever it is known, as well as with great profit. It is worthy of an attentive perusal.

5. Essays on Decision of Character, etc. By JOHN FOSTER. From the Eighteenth London Edition. New York. Robert Carter. 1846. 12mo. pp. 352.

After what we have said in the present number of Mr. Foster, as a literary man and a writer, no separate commendation of any of his works can be required of us. Even if it were, this volume has already found its place among our permanent literature, where it richly deserves to be enshrined. The publisher has issued it in a beautiful volume of good size, far more readable and more worthy of the splendid materiel than the Boston edition of 1833.

6. The Deaconship. By R. B. C. HOWELL, D. D. Philadelphia. Am. Baptist Publication Society. 154 pp. 18mo. 1846.

This is the only treatise or extended discussion on the office of Deacons, which we have ever seen. The subject has occasionally called forth an essay at a minister's meeting, which has been read, approved, and laid aside; but nothing of any importance has before found its way to the press. The treatise of Dr. Howell is calm, clear, full and scriptural. In nine brief chapters, it exhibits the origin and nature of the deacon's office, the qualifications for the office, the election and ordination of deacons, their general and specific duties; the means of creating and sustaining the necessary revenues in the church, deaconesses, the duty of the churches and the ministry to cooperate with their deacons, and the importance of faithfulness on the part of the latter. The chap ter on the revenues of churches seems to us to have but a loose connection with the subject under discussion; and although its principles may be sound, we doubt if it had not better been reserved for another occasion. Dr. H. takes the ground that the office of deacons is perpetual, and that their calling is to take care of all the temporalities of the church. Hence he assigns to them not only the customary duties of deacons, but also, ex-officus, the duties which in New England are commonly devolved on a Society's Committee and Treasurer. He recommends that a person elected by the church to the office of deacon

should be presented by the church to the pastor, who is to pray for and afterwards to lay his hands upon him. He suggests that in all well regulated Baptist churches, there are female members who are, though not by express designation, deaconesses; that they are needed and useful in all countries, and in oriental ones, indispensable. Our modern churches have retained the office without the name. The volume is a sound and sober exhibition of opinions which we believe are, on the whole, capable of being sustained by Scripture,-well arranged and well expressed. We hope the little book will find a wide circulation, and do good in promoting among the churches uniformity, order and piety.

7. Sacred and Miscellaneous Poems. By WILLIAM B. TAPPAN. Boston. B. B. Mussey. 1846. pp. 332. 8vo.

This gorgeous volume is extremely creditable to the esteemed author. It contains selections from his earlier volumes, with several other poems, never before collected, and new pieces. Many of the sacred poems are true gems. The same may be said of some of the Miscellaneous Pieces. They are distinguished no less by taste, than by deep poetic feeling. The plain and modest title is a commendation of the work, especially in these days, when sounding titles are sought after, as a lure to entice, if not to deceive. The splendid manner in which it is manufactured does honor to the publisher, and will, doubtless, commend the volume to the lovers of religious poetry as a suitable gift of friendship or affection.

8. Remains of the late Rev. A. Nettleton, D. D., consisting of Sermons, Outlines and Plans of Sermons, Brief Observations on Texts of Scripture, and Miscellaneous Remarks. Edited by BENNET TYLER, D. D. Hartford. Robbins & Smith. 1845. 408 pp. 12mo.

A most acceptable offering to the community is this volume of the Remains of Dr. Nettleton. When an individual, during his lifetime, has been signally successful in the duties of his profession, it is natural to us to wish to know where his "great strength lieth." The scenes of the labors of Dr. Nettleton are, in an important respect, holy ground. Many will cherish the memory of his sermons with everlasting gratitude; and many others, who never saw him, will rejoice to learn how he preached the gospel, how he confirmed the believer, how he encouraged the penitent, how he alarmed the careless, and how he confounded the objector. The present volume will recal the past to those who knew him; it will gratify the wishes of many to whom he was unknown. The volume contains thirty-seven sermons, more or less full, with a few skeletons, and miscellanies, as the title indicates. Many of the sermons are in the hortatory style, but some are eminently doctrinal-treating of doctrine in a manner truly practical. They are stirring in sentiment, unadorned, but not inelegant in style, clear in method, striking in their appeals and evangelical in spirit. In such a volume, placed in the hands of a careless and indifferent person, or of a penitent person, or of a Christian lacking in fervency and life, the revered author would preach again to excellent purpose, as if from the domains of eternity. The book bears the strong impress of Dr. N., as we have been accustomed to conceive of him, and is a valuable addition to our

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theological literature. The discourses are toto calo unlike those of Howe, of South, of Jay, of Fuller, or of Hall; but in clear thought, fervent appeals, and invulnerable statements, and in the exhibition of an intense interest to justify God and save the souls of men, they hold a very high rank, and merit a general circulation.

9. An Examination of the Testimony of the Four Evangelists by the Rules of Evidence administered in Courts of Justice. With an account of the Trial of Jesus. By SIMON GREENLEAF, LL. D., Royall Professor of Law in Harvard University. Boston. Charles C. Little and James Brown. 1846.

This work Prof. Greenleaf dedicates, in accordance with the design with which he has prepared it, to the members of the legal profession. His object has been to call the attention of this class of readers to the study of the most important historical portion of the Christian writings, and to show that they are bound, according to the rules of evidence which they admit every day in the practice of the law, to receive these documents as presenting a true, authentic account of the events which they relate. This peculiar feature of his plan he has kept constantly in view; and has thus exhibited here an array of facts and pursued a style of reasoning, which are not to be found in any other work. The position which the author consents to occupy, for the sake of argument, obliges him to give chief prominence to what are usually termed the more negative evidences of Christianity; but these, presented in the manner that they are here brought forward, acquire in reality the force of the most direct proof. The volume consists of two principal parts-Preliminary Observations and a Harmony of the Gospels. The former may be studied with advantage by intelligent readers of every class. Though intended more specially for those conversant with the facts and principles of legal science, and capable of being fully appreciated only by such, the style of discussion is still essentially free from every thing of a technical character. The general force of the reasoning is such as must produce a strong impression on the mind of every well-informed person. We would recommend to every theological student in particular to examine attentively this introductory portion of the work. It will enable him to contemplate the study of the gospels from a somewhat different point of view from that ordinarily taken by the Biblical critic. He will find the mode of treating the objections which have been drawn from the alleged discrepancies of the evangelists, adopted in these Observations, highly useful as supplementary to the usual manner of viewing the subject. Of the deeply religious spirit, the feeling of entire reverence for the word of God and hearty conviction of its truth, which mark the production, it is unnecessary to speak. Its character in this respect is what would be anticipated from the well known evangelical sentiments of the author.

The Harmony presents the contents of the four gospels in English, arranged in conformity with the results of the most approved criticism. The Notes which accompany the text are few, and confined for the most part to such points as would naturally require attention in a more cursory reading of the evangelists. The best English authorities have been consulted in the preparation of this part of the work; but we miss here our highest critical names, and those results of exact philological

study and historical research, which distinguish the later German treatises in defence of the gospels. Without any of the cumbrous parade of learning, or destroying essentially the practical character of the book, very useful materials, as we think, might have been derived from this source.

We welcome the work most cordially as an important auxiliary to the defence of Christian truth, and rejoice that it comes forth to the public under the authority of so commanding a name as that of the author. We cannot doubt that the attention of many will be attracted to it, who are in danger of overlooking the works of a similar character, which proceed from professional Christian teachers.

H.

ARTICLE X.

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

AMERICA.

Messrs. Allen, Morrill & Wardwell, of Andover, will soon publish a book of Hebrew Exercises, or Practical Assistant to the Study of Hebrew Grammar, with extracts from the Greek Testament for translating into Hebrew, by H. B. Hackett. The work will be furnished with references to the principal grammars in use in this country.

In connection with much of evil that is perpetually issued from the American press, we are happy to observe much that is truly good. Since our last number, the great Greek Lexicon of Liddell & Scott has been issued by the Harpers, New York. This work will probably take the lead of Greek lexicons among us for a long time to come. The Greek Lexicon of the late distinguished philologian and scholar, Mr. Pickering, has appeared in Boston. G. & C. Merriam, of Springfield, have published a specimen of a new edition of Webster's Dictionary, now in the process of stereotyping. The two volumes of the 8vo. edition, with all the additions and improvements, are to be embraced in a single quarto. The work is edited by Prof. Goodrich, of Yale College, assisted by several literary gentlemen. It is printed on a smaller type, with three columns on a page. The pronunciation of every word is marked by means of characters attached to the vowels, which are explained at the foot of every page, and the difficult words are respelled. In several instances, the definitions are enlarged or improved. Among the improvements, besides, are the addition of several thousand words, embracing numerous terms belonging to the various sciences, tables exhibiting the pronunciation of Greek, Latin and Scripture Proper Names, with a list of Geographical Names, in number from 3000 to 4000. Also, a Memoir of Dr. Webster. The various improvements introduced by Prof. Goodrich will render the work, so nearly perfect before, as noble a specimen of English lexicography as could be desired. The combined labors of minds so highly disciplined