it will suffice to say that the pamphlet is eminently characteristic; and to all others we say, read it for yourselves, do this immediately and with ordinary candour, and we shall be surprised if you do not admit that the theory to which the author is opposed, is thoroughly demolished, without any such exhibition as frequently mars the triumphs of controversialists.

The Apostles' School of Prophetic Interpretation; with its History, down to the Present Time. By Charles Maitland, Author of The Church in the Catacombs.' London: Longman and Co.

In this work it has been attempted to collect together everything that the apostles taught the Church on the subject of unfulfilled prophecy— to ascertain all that the primitive believers might know as Jews, and all that they believed as Christians. This school of prophecy is next traced historically, through its fallings-off and its revivals, down to the present time. An appendix contains a short notice of the principal counter-interpretations. Thus far Mr. Maitland in his statement of intention. That the intention has been most diligently carried out, we willingly testify. The plan adopted is to give copious extracts from the wide field of authorities-Jewish, Apostolical, Patristic, and more modern, through which the author ranges: these quotations being set in a lively historical commentary. As the work is historical, it is needless for us to enter on the disputed points. It will be enough to mention that, according to Mr. Maitland, the apostolic school is the one which, scouting the year-day theory, maintains that no prediction containing a set time' is to be fulfilled in any other measure of time;' regards Antichrist as an individual man yet to appear; holds the pre-millennial advent; and professes to be the only consistent, intelligible, literal, and apostolic interpreter. Mr. Maitland has collected a large mass of valuable historical proofs of the early, widespread reception of these views; principally those parts of them which have reference to the four monarchies, the identification of Babylon with Rome, and its distinction from Antichrist. To all students of prophecy, who are desirous of studying the history of its interpretation, the book will be very valuable; and to less learned readers it presents many attractions. Although prepared evidently with indefatigable labour, it is by no means a dry synopsis of criticismsbut absolutely runs over with animation. Mr. Maitland emerges from the chest of musty tomes as fresh and lively as if he had been wandering among hedge-rows green.' His style is one of unflagging vivacity-often forcible, often picturesque, full of sly hits and quiet sarcasm-which mingle oddly enough sometimes with the patristic learning round about them; but which, nevertheless, make the work what is called 'readable,' and will not make the mass of erudition which it contains less likely to be retained by the student. People who conceive that books which are solid must necessarily be heavy, may differ from us; but, for ourselves, we heartily thank Mr. Maitland for his valuable contributions to doctrine and history, and wish some other labourers in the same field would take a leaf out of his book.

The Poetical Works of James Montgomery. Collected by himself. London: Longman and Co.

THE name of James Montgomery needs no introduction to the readers of the Eclectic. It is a familiar sound, and has long been associated with their ideas of poetic genius, large philanthropy, and devout feeling. That such an author should be popular, to the extent of calling for two large editions of his collected poems-one in 1836, and the other in 1841-is a pleasing indication of the state of the public mind, and must be eminently gratifying to Mr. Montgomery. We rejoice in the fact on his own account, but we rejoice in it yet more as proof of the prevalence of sound taste and of healthful moral feeling. It is the more gratifying as Mr. Montgomery's early career was fiercely assailed by some of the leviathans of literature, whose hostility to his religious sentiments gave point and venom to their critical awards. The prefaces and notes contained in this volume greatly add to the value of the edition, which is printed, the author modestly tells us, in a more condensed form, with the hope that compositions, which at intervals through more than a quarter of a century, had previously obtained considerable attention, may yet secure some measure of similar indulgence for a few years longer.'

We need scarcely say that the style in which the volume is brought out, is worthy both of the poet and of his publishers. It is at once tasteful and elegant-fitted alike for the drawing-room and the study. It is not needful to say one word in its commendation. A more appropriate or beautiful present could not well be made to a cultivated friend.

A Life of Christopher Columbus. -By Horace Roscoe St. John. London: S. Low.

We have read this small volume with very considerable pleasure, and can honestly and warmly recommend it to our readers. It supplies, what has long been wanted in our language, a brief, yet accurate sketch of the romantic life of Columbus, written by a man of cultivated taste, and of sufficient information rightly to appreciate the services of the great navigator. The volume was prepared without the aid of Washington Irving's work, and was originally intended to be much larger. The appearance of the latter probably led Mr. St. John to abandon his design, while it enabled him readily to fill in the slighter details of his narrative. He pays a generous tribute to his contemporary, congratu lating Washington Irving on his work, and America on the historian of her discovery.' This is as it should be, alike honourable to both parties, and worthy of imitation. Mr. St. John's volume bespeaks extensive knowledge, sound judgment, and a right appreciation of his hero. It is written with ease, fluency, and taste. The style is, in fact, in harmony with the theme, and the two make up a volume, the perusal of which, when once commenced, few will be content to leave unfinished. If,' says the author, in a preface, the modest and generous temper of which cannot be praised too highly, not elaborate in

its details, or complete in its execution, this narrative be found a true sketch of his career, it will have served its purpose. As it is modestly presented, so I hope it will be considerately judged.'

Grace and Truth. By Octavius Winslow, M.A. London: Shaw. THIS volume is full of devout reflections, couched in language of a kind eagerly read by many good people, whose highest eulogium is beautiful book.' The author's evident piety is worthy of all respect, his themes are deeply important, and to many, his book will be very comforting. To us, we confess, it has, like most modern volumes of its school, a somewhat sickly religious sentimental aspect. We miss in the practical religious books of the present day, the bone and muscle of their rough predecessors; and we would willingly give a ton of the comparative refinement and feebleness, guiltless of all thought, which our devotional writers seem now-a-days to think the necessary accompaniment of their pious observations, for one grain of the former. We commend to Mr. Winslow, giving him all credit for having written what many will highly value, an old advice, add to your faith-virtue' manhood.

A Voice from the North; or, the Foundation and Philosophy of Legislative and Governmental Principles: the Ways and Means of Social Amelioration deducible therefrom, and their bearings upon the true Happiness of Man. In a Series of Letters, dedicated and addressed to the leading British Statesmen of the day. By a Minister of the Church of Scotland. London: Wilson.

THIS concise and lucid title-page fronts seventy pages of the same sort of stuff, designed as an introductory epistle to the leading British statesmen, &c.-unfolding the author's political fundamental principle, that the Mosaic law is a digest of the elements of legislation and rule for all nations at all times. Apropos to this, we have a history of the world from Adam; a sketch of the French revolution; an eloquent plea for the admission of the Jews into Parliament; several apocalyptic speculations; and a few other matters, set forth in a style the reverse of the old divine's profession, 'for the matter largely, but for the manner in few words.'

The Self-Instructor in German. By Falck Lebahn, Author of German in One Volume,''Practice in German,' &c. London: Simpkin, Marshall, and Co.

1850.

THE high repute which Mr. Falck Lebahn already enjoys among the professors and the students of the German language, will be in every way enhanced by the present volume. His first book may be said to have been the portal; his second was the avenue of approach; but he has now entered the interior, and presents us with two comedies-the one from the pen of Kotzebue, the other from that of the powerful and prolific Schiller. They have been judiciously chosen, and are remarkable for their interest. A full vocabulary, and copious explana

tory notes, lead the learner through the intricacies of the plays, with all the facility of an accomplished guide. We recommend the 'SelfInstructor' to the notice of all who have entered on the study of the German tongue, which is in itself rich in resources, and has become a favourite and fashionable study in this country. The book will prove a most valuable master, and if accompanied by its predecessors forms a library of instruction in the language. We speak thus confidently from actual experience. All we know of German we have learnt from Mr. Lebahn's books, and the British press has borne a universal testimony in their favour. We owe thanks to a gentleman of high literary and classical acquirements, who leaves his country to diffuse among us a knowledge of his native language. It is, therefore, perhaps, superfluous to repeat that we consider the 'Self-Instructor,' and its companion volumes, entitled to the highest praise that can be bestowed on writers of this class. They are plain, practical, complete, and wellarranged.

Brief Outline of the Study of Theology, drawn up to serve as the basis of Introductory Lectures. By the late Dr. Friedrich Schleiermacher. To which are prefixed, Reminiscences of Schleiermacher,' by Dr. Friedrich Lücke. Translated from the German, by William Farrer, LL.B. Edinburgh Clark.

MISTINESS is generally supposed to be an attribute of German theology in its best form, while some good folks shrewdly suspect that to the smoke is added in large measure the fume of brimstone. It must, we should think, somewhat surprise those who have fancied that we English possess a monopoly of clear, definite ideas, to find that the most methodical, rigidly precise ground-plan of the entire science of theology, exhibiting all its parts in their mutual connexion and relative value to the whole, existing in our language, is this translation of a German work. It gives, what our theological literature has long wanted, a skeleton of the objects of theology, apart from a discussion of the various opinions held upon them; furnishing the student with a broad, comprehensive outline of the whole range of his science-a sort of block-plan of the city, or geological map of the country-in contradistinction to the systems of theology which we have been accustomed to, and which, in the author's own words, are material, rather than formal, encyclopædias, discussing the contents of the various branches of the science, rather than their organization." This is an object which, excepting a few introductory lectures from a few professors of divinity, our English theologians have almost lost. sight of. Instead, we have had monographs from them on all subjects-bones very many; but they have never, as they ought, supplied us with an outline of the principles on which bone is to come to bone-the scattered truths to be knit together in one. We do not enter here on any discussion of the correctness of Schleiermacher's division, but simply notice the fact, that this volume supplies us with a masterly sketch, developed with an aphorism-like compression, both of thought and language, and with a calm, clear breadth of vision, ranging

over the whole field, without ever losing sight of the unity of the whole, which leaves nothing to be desired.

Mr. Farrer has executed his task in a manner deserving the highest praise. He has put the book into English; which is more than we can say of the numerous half-competent translators, who are flooding us with a Babylonish dialect, unintelligible to anybody of either nation. We are glad to see that he intimates an intention of continuing his work on other of Schleiermacher's writings, if the present volume should be favourably received. We trust that the intelligent students of theology in England will soon relieve him of any doubt on that point.

Literary Intelligence.

Just Published.

The English Gentry must save the Church. A Letter to the Hon. Mr. Cavendish, on Occasion of his Address to the Bishop of London.

The Sunday School Senior-class. An Essay. By J. A. Cooper.

Exposition of the Gospel according to St. Luke, in a Series of Lectures. Chapters IX.-XX. By James Thomson, D.D. Vol. II.

Missionary Encouragements in India; or, the Christian Village in Gújúrat. By Rev. Wm. Clarkson.

Memorials of Worth; or, Sketches of Pious Persons lately deceased. By Rev. Robert Simpson.

The Crucifixion, and other Poems. By James Waymouth.

The Theory of Human Progression and Natural Probability of a Reign of Justice.

A Sunday in London. By J. M. Capes, M.A.

Latter-day Pamphlets. Edited by Thomas Carlyle. No. VI. Parliaments. In Memoriam.

An Historico-critical Introduction to the Pentateuch. By H. A. Ch. Havernick. Translated by Alex. Thomson, A.M.

The National Cyclopædia of Useful Knowledge. Vol. X. R-Siege.
A Life of Christopher Columbus. By Horace Roscoe St. John.
History of Hannibal the Carthaginian. By Jacob Abbott.

The Amyott's Home; or, Life in Childhood.

A Review of the Jewish and Christian Commonwealths, forming an internal Proof of the Divine Origin and Truth of Christianity.

A Plea for the Spiritual Element of Education. By E. R. Humphreys, LL.D.

A Letter to the Most Noble the Marquis of Lansdowne, on the Reform and Extension of the Parish School System of Scotland. By Robert S. Candlish, D.D.