accused, among other things, of "disclaiming of magistracy, denying to assist them either in persons or purse, in any of their lawful commands, doing acts unseemly in the dispensing the ordinance of baptism, not to be named amongst Christians."* The statements of this Confession with reference to the authority of the magistrate are almost wholly in the language of Scripture:

'XLVII. A civil magistracy is an ordinance of God, set up by him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well; and that in all lawful things, commanded by them, subjection ought to be given by us in the Lord, not only for wrath, but for conscience' sake: and that we are to make supplications and prayers for kings, and all that are in authority, that under them we may live a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty.

...

"The supreme magistracy of this kingdom we acknowledge to be the king and parliament. . . . And concerning the worship of God; there is but one lawgiver, . . which is Jesus Christ. . . . So it is the magistrate's duty to tender the liberty of men's consciences, Eccles. viii, 8 (which is the tenderest thing unto all conscientious men, and most dear unto them, and without which all other liberties will not be worth the naming, much less enjoying), and to protect all under them from all wrong, injury, oppression and molestation. . . . And as we can not do any thing contrary to our understandings and consciences, so neither can we forbear the doing of that which our un derstandings and consciences bind us to do. And if the magistrates should require us to do otherwise, we are to yield our persons in a passive way to their power, as the saints of old have done, Jas. v, 4."†

This is the first embodiment of the principle of freedom of conscience for all men in a Confession that represented a body of associated Churches. Those who published it to Dr. Featly, in his scurrilous and indecent "The Dipper Dipt," adds to these accusations a choice assortment of vulgar slanders, such as that the Anabaptists allowed plurality of wives, and even held that none of their sect could commit adultery, because they were so knit to one another as to be all one body (p. 246 sq. Seventh edition. London, 1660). At the same time he is constrained to admit that their Confession is wholly unexceptionable, except in its doctrine of the ordinances.

"Confessions of Faith" (publications of Hanserd Knollys Society), pp. II-48, and Crosby, I, Appendix, pp. 7–26. Compare, also, Articles XLIX and L, the latter of which declares it to be lawful for a Christian man to be a magistrate, and to take an oath. Even the bitter and abusive Featly was compelled to confess that he could find no fault in this Confession, though he slanderously affirmed that the practice and the professions of Anabaptists did not agree.

the world held, in all but a few points of small importance, precisely those views of Christian truth that are held by Baptists to-day. "For substance of doctrine," any of us might subscribe it without a moment's hesitation. On the strength of this one fact, Baptists might fairly claim that, whatever might have been said by isolated individuals before, they were the pioneer body among modern Christian denominations to advocate the right of all men to worship God, each according to the dictates of his own conscience, without let or hindrance from any earthly power.

VOL. VI, No. 21-9

BOOKS-REVIEWS AND NOTICES.

The Associate Creed of Andover Theological Seminary. By EDWARDS A. PARK.*

It is hard to escape from the keen and strong logic of Dr. Park. He is thoroughly in earnest, and the intensity of his convictions appears on every page. He selects his facts carefully, arranges them like a trained reasoner, and pushes forward relentlessly to his conclusions. No reader of this pamphlet can doubt

the purposes of the founders of Andover Seminary to guard well the old Puritan faith, and to preserve the new institution from any change like that which had carried Harvard over to the Unitarian ranks. Nor will he doubt that one who holds to the "New Theology" is morally incapable of signing the Creed imposed, except by a liberal construction of its meaning. Whether such a construction is possible with the words of the Creed, and the intent of its authors, is a hard question for a scrupulous conscience. One can not be surprised that Professor Thayer resigned to escape such a strain on his conscience. And many may wonder how other professors can hold their chairs, when the plain interpretation of the Creed is so strongly against them. Dr. Newman thought (see Tract No. 90) that one could sign the Thirty-nine Articles while rejecting their dogmas; and trustees and professors of Andover agree in thinking that mental reservations are lawful in signing an old Creed. The pamphlet remains as yet unanswered.

A History of the Negro Race in America. Vol. I. By George W. WILLIAMS.†

more than a brief notice To present our readers contents of this volume

OUR available space does not permit of either of the many books before us. with the merest outline of the varied would require several pages. The space of time covered by it is from 1619 to 1800; the second volume carries the history forward to 1880. It was well to begin at the foundation, the question underlying all that pertains to the history of the negro race Boston: Franklin Press, Rand, Avery & Co.

† New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. For sale by Robert Clarke & Co., Cincinnati. Price, $3.50.

in this country-the unity of the human family. Whosoever reads the first chapter on the Biblical argument-"One race and one language, one blood, and the curse of Canaan," will desire to read all the author has to say. A scholarly, critical exegesis, overlaid with comments, broad and brilliant, awakens expectation, and prepares the mind for the next chapter, in which he considers the negro in the light of philology, ethnology, and Egyptology, and shows himself master of the subject and the widely scattered literature bearing on it. His books will justly take a permanent position among the best of their class, and render service of incalculable value to his race..

The Word and Works of God. By GILBERT S. BAILEY.*

THE aim of the author is to set forth in popular form the evidence which establishes the divine origin and authority of the Bible. Applying the accepted "laws of evidence" he shows the nature and limitations of proofs which must decide the questions involved. In citing the sources whence such proofs may be drawn, religious experience is properly given the preference. Personal experience is indubitable and defies refutation. The knowledge it furnishes carries its own confirmation.

History and the fulfillment of prophecy contribute corroborative proofs bearing seals which can neither be loosened nor defaced. The internal evidence afforded by the peculiarities of the Bible is such as baffles the hostility of its assailants. As the bitterest enemies of Christianity now draw upon natural science for their chief support, our author devotes the larger portion of his pages to proving that when the Bible and nature-the material universe-are correctly understood, a complete harmony is apparent, the Bible aiding men in interpreting nature, and nature confirming, by surprising testimonies the divine claims. of the Bible.

Presbyterianism. By Rev. JOHN Macpherson, M. A.†

THIS Volume belongs to the series designed as hand-books for Bible classes, issued by a well-known firm of Edinburgh publishers, intended primarily for use in Scotland, as might be inferred from *Philadelphia: American Baptist Publication Society.

Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark. Cincinnati: Robert Clarke & Co. New York: Scribner & Welford.

BOOKS-REVIEWS AND NOTICES.

The Associate Creed of Andover Theological Seminary. By EDWARDS A. PARK.

It is hard to escape from the keen and strong logic of Dr. Park. He is thoroughly in earnest, and the intensity of his convictions appears on every page. He selects his facts carefully, arranges them like a trained reasoner, and pushes forward relent lessly to his conclusions. No reader of this pamphlet can doubt the purposes of the founders of Andover Seminary to guard well the old Puritan faith, and to preserve the new institution from any change like that which had carried Harvard over to the Unitarian ranks. Nor will he doubt that one who holds to the "New Theology" is morally incapable of signing the Creed imposed, except by a liberal construction of its meaning. Whether such a construction is possible with the words of the Creed, and the intent of its authors, is a hard question for a scrupulous conscience. One can not be surprised that Professor Thayer resigned to escape such a strain on his conscience. And many may wonder how other professors can hold their chairs, when the plain interpretation of the Creed is so strongly against them. Dr. Newman thought (see Tract No. 90) that one could sign the Thirty-nine Articles while rejecting their dogmas; and trustees and professors of Andover agree in thinking that mental reservations are lawful in signing an old Creed. The pamphlet remains as yet unanswered.

A History of the Negro Race in America. Vol. I. By GEORGE W. WILLIAMS.†

OUR available space does not permit more than a brief notice of either of the many books before us. To present our readers with the merest outline of the varied contents of this volume would require several pages. The space of time covered by it is from 1619 to 1800; the second volume carries the history forward to 1880. It was well to begin at the foundation, the question underlying all that pertains to the history of the negro race Boston: Franklin Press, Rand, Avery & Co.

† New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. For sale by Robert Clarke & Co., Cincinnati. Price, $3.50.