its appearance, extends its arms over a large part of Asia, the north of Africa, passes over into Spain, and besieges Christendom from the east and the west. The crescent and the cross rival each other in civilization, and commence their conflicts for the mastery of the world. Whilst these important movements are going forward on the continent, the British isles play an insignificant part on the plain of history. Their wars at this time, according to one of their own historians, were not of much more historical importance than the battles of so many kites. During this period, the Eastern empire still stands, but is surrounded and besieged by innumerable warlike tribes, that look upon it with lustful eyes, as the prize held out to their courage and valor.

The three remaining Maps delineate in succession other equally important changes in the aspect of European affairs from the eighth to the fifteenth century, embracing the interesting period of the cru sades, when the north and the south, Christian and unchristian nations, fought in deadly conflict for the spread of their respective creeds. The sixth and last Map brings us down to the present era; already Europe presents a modern appearance, and is readily identified as substantially the same as that which it has been for the last three centuries. The Mohammedan faith, originating in a species of wild fanaticism in the barrens of Arabia, has become an immense political power, extending from India on the east, to the waves of the Atlantic on the west. It has robbed Christendom of more than half of its territory, embracing some of the fairest lands the sun has ever shone upon. It has erected a barrier on the south of Europe, apparently impervious to Christian arms, and not content with that, it has taken possession of Constantinople, one of the capitals of Christendom, and threatened Rome, the other. In its sanguinary course it has burned down thousands of Christian churches and erected in their place the temples of its own flat, monotonous worship. The places rendered sacred by the labors of the Saviour, the Apostles and the Fathers, have fallen a prey to the false prophet, and been desecrated by the unhallowed feet of his followers. This equilibrium of the two contending powers, we may remark, is substantially the balance of power in the old world even at the present time, and it remains to be seen, whether it is destined to be maintained. The allied armies are professedly contending for it, but we doubt very much whether they will ever secure it, even though they should come off victorious. The colossus of Mohammedanism is already effete, and it must soon fall, whether by the arms of the Russian or of the Allies, it is altogether immaterial. The crescent must wane, whilst the cross arises sublimely victorious above the confusion of its enemies. From present indications, at no distant day, a new balance of power and a new arrangement of nations will be formed in the old world, in which the Christian element shall in all directions be the predominating one. This will give the future historian abundant material for the construction of a seventh chart of the world, which we hope and pray may be the best and the last.

It remains for us merely to add, that the Historical Atlas is got up in the best style, and that in itself it would be an ornament to any library. To clergymen, who take an interest in historical Theology, it would be of great value and assistance in their studies.

T. A.

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES; OR THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH IN THE APOSTOLIC AGE. By M. Baumgarten, Doctor of Philosophy and Theology, and Professor in the University of Rostock. In three volumes, pp. 456, 459, and 383, large duodecimo. Translated from the German, first two volumes, by the Rev. A. J W. Morrison, Curate of Little Wittenham, Berks; Translator of Ritter's History of Philosophy; Guericke's Manual of Ecclesiastical Antiquities, &c.; and the third, by the Rev. Theod. Meyer, Hebrew Tutor in the New College, Edinburg.

GERMANY has come to be regarded amongst all intelligent persons as the principal seat of theological and classical literature for the last ,quarter of a century and longer. It is not without just cause, that such a view has come to prevail. The Germans are emphatically a literary people. Their leading minds seek distinction in this particular direction, and hence devote themselves, with untiring diligence and unabating energy, to literary and theological research. Nearly all the works of theological and classical literature, distinguished for any depth of thought or thoroughness of research, which have issued from the press for years past, have proceeded from a German source; and even the few productions of this character, which have had their origin elsewhere, have, in most instances, been greatly indebted to the Germans for the material which has been wrought up in them. It is not a matter of surprise, therefore, that men of learning and character should place a high estimate upon the treasures of knowledge, which are to be obtained from this particular source.

The celebrated publishers, T. & T. Clark of Edinburg, Scotland, have fallen in with this prevailing idea of the learned; and hence, have been engaged for several years past, in publishing what is termed "Clark's Foreign Theological Library," which is made up of translations of the works of the principal divines of Germany. Quite a number of most valuable works, such as Olshausen's Commentaries, &c., have in this way been made accessible to the English public. The three volumes, the titles of which are given above, form the second, third and fourth volumes, of a new series of the Theological Library, which has recently been commenced. They are most able commentaries upon the Acts of the Apostles, and contain a fund of information, which must prove invaluable to every student of the Bible and of the history of the Apostolic Church. No minister of the Gospel, who can raise the means to purchase them, should be without these volumes, or of any of the others included in the "Library." A

congregation would consult their own interests, were they to procure them for their pastor, where the ability to purchase is not possessed by himself. They are to be had from Smith & English, Booksellers, 35 North Sixth Street, Philadelphia.

F.

VISITS TO EUROPEAN CELEBRITIES. By William B. Sprague, D. P. Boston: Gould & Lincoln. pp. 305. Smith & English, Philadelphia.

THIS is a very interesting volume. The author made two tours to the continent of Europe, in 1828 and 1836. In these tours he sought acquaintance with the most distinguished men, and especially divines, of the countries he visited. Of the interviews he had with them, he took copious memoranda at the time, including an account of each individual's appearance and manners. The material thus provided has been very properly suffered to remain in the author's diary, until nearly all the persons to whom it relates have passed away. It is now brought out from its concealment, and thrown together in the form of a volume. The matter thus given to the public will be generally well received and read with interest. The observations are judicious, and often highly instructive as well as entertaining.

F.

THE TEACHER'S LAST LESSON: A Memoir of Martha Whiting, late of Charlestown Female Seminary. Consisting chiefly of Extracts from her Journal, interspersed with Reminiscences and suggestive Reflections. By Catharine N. Badger, An Associate Teacher. Boston: Gould & Lincoln. pp. 284. Smith & English, Philadelphia.

THE subject of this memoir was a teacher by profession. In early life, she gave marked indications of her peculiar talent and taste in this direction. She was encouraged and successful in her favorite pursuit. From small beginnings, in the midst of untoward circumstances, she attained to eminence in her profession. To her instrumentality, the celebrated "Charlestown Female Seminary" is mainly indebted for its existence, as well as for the prominence it has attained as an institution of learning. She was, however, withal eminently pious, and it is this circumstance especially that gives a peculiar charm to her character. She early professed religion in the Baptist Church, and maintained a promiment position as a truly meek and devoted follower of her Saviour to the hour of her death. The memoir of such a person cannot be read without interest and profit, especially as it details mainly in her own language, the workings of evangelical piety in a highly cultivated mind.

F.

ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY or Year Book of Facts in Science and Art for 1855, Exhibiting the most important Discove ries and Improvements in Mechanics, Useful Arts, Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Astronomy, Metereology, Zoology, Botany, Mineralogy, Geology, Geography, Antiquities; A Classified List of Patents; Obituaries of eminent Scientific Men; Notes on the Progress of Science during the Year 1854, &c., Edited by David A. Wells, A. M. Boston: Gould & Lincoln. pp. 394. Smith & English, Philadelphia.

THIS Volume embodies, in as brief a compass as possible, all the important discoveries which have been made in the various departments of the Arts and Sciences during the past year. Its preparation must have cost its author an immense amount of labor and research. The work is an invaluable one for all engaged in Scientific and Mechanical pursuits, and, at the same time, may be of great service to all intelligent practical men.

F.

CHRISTIANITY VIEWED IN SOME OF ITS LEADING ASPECTS, By the Rev. A. L. Foote. Boston: Gould & Lincoln. pp. 182. Smith & English, Philadelphia,

A series of six discourses makes up the contents of this volume. In them Christianity is successively viewed as a Life, a Work, a Reward, a Culture, a Discipline, and a Fellowship. We have read them with much interest, and, we trust, not without profit also. In the midst of this rationalistic age, in which the tendency to strip Christianity of its mysteries and reduce its solemn realities to the level of the mere human understanding, is so prevalent, it is truly refreshing to meet with a work like the present, and that, in a quarter from which it would be least expected, in which the religion of our Saviour is presented in its more attractive and real life-forms.

F.

THE

MERCERSBURG QUARTERLY REVIEW.

OCTOBER, 1855.

ART. I.-THE PARABLE OF THE LEAVEN.

Matthew 13: 33.

THE phrase, "kingdom of heaven," has several significations in Scripture. At one time, it carries our thoughts to the place where God sits enthroned in visible glory, surrounded by the family of the blessed. At another, it is descriptive of the state and economy of the Church under Christianity, opposed to the Jewish and Mosaic economy. Then again, it denotes the reign of grace by which Christ rules in the hearts of men. I see no reason at all for doubting that as used by our Lord in this parable, it relates to Christianity in its workings with the race. Nor is there even the semblance of evidence in the parable itself to justify the interpretation which Vitringa and others have put upon it, as though it were a representation or foreshadowing of the corruptions which should arise in the Church or the heresies which should vitiate the Gospel. Leaven is often used in the New Testament as a figurative expression for designating an efficient power whether for good or evil It is used in a bad sense, Luke 12: 1, where it is made the image of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, and Gal. 5:9, where it represents the injurious influence of false doctrine, and 1 Cor. 5: 6, where the corrupting power of bad example is likened to it. It is indeed most frequently used in the Scripture as the symbol of something evil. True it is, also, that under the image of a woman, there seems to be represented more than once in the Word of God, an apostate Church with its ministers.