hood of every true Christian. By priesthood the author means not merely the function of offering sacrifices to God, but any form of official mediation between man and God, by virtue of ordination or any exterior rite authorizing persons to dispense salvation to others. In the two first lectures the author examines the New Testament to prove that priesthood is not recognized in it as an order in the Christian church. In the third he discusses the alleged orders and lineage of the priesthood as recognized in Sacerdotal churches, and shows that the claim of apostolic succession is groundless. In the fourth, fifth, and sixth, he discusses the alleged functions of the priesthood at the altar, in which he considers the doctrine of the real presence and of the Lord's supper. The seventh and eighth are devoted to the discussion of the Confessional.

The work treats of the subjects which have been debated in the Tractarian and Anglican controversies in Englaud, as well as of the Sacerdotalism of the Church of Rome. The lectures are the fruit of much study, and are full and elaborate in the treatment of the several subjects.

DR. MAHAN ON SPIRITUALISM.*-While the author is aware that many impositions connected with spiritualism have been exposed, he believes that there are many indisputable facts not explicable in accordance with any laws of nature at present known. He aims to prove that these facts can be accounted for as the effects of natural causes, without the intervention of disembodied spirits. He thinks that they imply the existence in nature of a "polar force not yet distinctly recognized in philosophy, a force having when developed very strong attractive and repulsive power; a force, the direction of whose action, when certain conditions are fulfilled, accords with mental states and is determined by the same; a force, finally, through which the mental states in one mind may be reproduced in others." The author adduces a multitude of facts, and reasons from them in the elucidation and support of this general position. The reputation of Dr. Mahan will attract attention to the work, and the work has intrinsic value as a contribution to the elucidation of the subject.

New Price

* The Phenomena of Spiritualism scientifically explained and exposed. By Rev. ASA MAHAN, D.D., first President of Oberlin College. A. S. Barnes & Co. York, Chicago, and New Orleans. 1876. Small 8vo, pp. xiv, and 421. by mail, postpaid, $2.50.

THE FOOTSTEPS OF ST. PETER.*-The readers of Dr. Macduff's "Footsteps of St. Paul" will understand the design of this work when it is called in the preface "a companion volume." While of late years so many elaborate works have treated of the character, writings, and travels of the "Apostle of the Gentiles," it seems the more suitable to give separate attention also to his great associate "of the Circumcision," who was a companion of the Master and a leader in the inauguration of his religion, and if not the most cultured or eloquent was not less intrepid, faithful, and effective among the Jews. He is generally allowed a certain precedence, though not the primacy asserted by the Romanists, and his life takes us into the scenes of the gospels and the most favored society of Jesus. It is the writer's purpose to trace that life by all the light shed upon it from Scripture and authentic tradition, and he seems to us to have carried out this aim with diligence and skill. It is meant not so much to add to learned investigation as to furnish intelligent and devout reading, and cannot fail to make the apostle's character and labors more familiar and interesting to all classes.

THE MORALS OF TRADE.t-An excellent little book to be put into the hands of business men-at once useful and handsome enough for a gift to young men in business. The first Lecture is "an Inquiry into the actual Morality of Trade;" the second "into the Causes of the existing Demoralization, and the Remedies therefor." Foot-notes and an Appendix add to their value, especially by citations from eminent authorities on the points in question. It is a good sign of our times that so much attention is drawn to this subject, and this lecturer properly considers it an indication not so much of increase in the evil exposed as of the awakening of conscience in this direction. His treatment of the questions presented is at once high-toned and practical. The style is that of a scholarly clergyman, perhaps not so direct and simple as one might wish for the class of readers chiefly in view. We question the quality of the word “skimp" (for sharp dealing), and also for exhibit used as a noun, the latter being a technical term in law and now obtruding itself more than before in connection with the labels in the Centennial Exposition.

*The Footsteps of St. Peter: being the Life and Times of the Apostle. By J. R. MACDUFF, D.D. New York: Robert Carter & Brothers. 1877. 632 pp.

The Morals of Trade. Two Lectures: given in the Anthon Memorial Church, New York. By R. HEBER NEWTON. New York: T. Whittaker, 2 Bible House. 1876. 110 pp.

"THE JUDGMENT OF JERUSALEM."* By Rev. WILLIAM PATTON, D.D. The ten chapters of this neat volume give an account, with the help of some plans and pictures, of the city and temple of Jerusalem in our Lord's time; of his prediction concerning it; of the causes of the war, and the safety of the Christians; of "the six signs," "the trench about the city," and the sufferings of the besieged; of its capture by the Romans, and the destruction of the temple; and of the "subsequent history of the Jews." A leading object is to show the fulfilment of our Lord's words in that terrible catastrophe as it is described to us principally by Josephus, and to impress the appropriate lessons. Dr. Patton's style is plain and direct, and he has evidently taken pains to gather and arrange the materials to the best advantage within the limits of this work. It is adapted to popular use, and ought to have a good circulation,

THE COLLEGE HYMNAL.-The appearance of this neat little book, prepared "for divine service at Yale College in the Battell Chapel," seems to deserve notice in these pages. The work of selection, arrangement, and editing has been, as is well known to many persons connected with the College, a labor of love performed by one who was remarkably fitted for it, as well by his familiar knowledge and love of sacred verse as by his power of faithful industry and dread of prominence for himself. The book is to be used at daily morning prayers and in the Sunday service of the chapel, and is of course adapted to the peculiar congregation for which it is prepared. It therefore omits entirely certain classes of hymns, as designed for occasions which do not occur in the experience of a college church. In all classes too the selection for such a purpose as this is naturally somewhat more rigid and exclusive than in preparing a book for the use of an ordinary church. For instance, hymns adapted rather for private use, which make the hymn book a help to personal devotion, are rather less fully represented in this collection. There are fewer doctrinal hymns (for only by that adjective, inappropriate as it seems, can the class be described), fewer of sad strain, fewer containing the phraseology of the Old Testament, than are usually found. In

* The Judgment of Jerusalem, Predicted in Scripture, Fulfilled in History. By the Rev. WILLIAM PATTON, D.D. New York: Robert Carter & Brothers. 1877. 231 pp.

†The College Hymnal. New York: Henry Holt & Company. 1876.

be

other directions a similar limitation will be found, which may ascribed partly to the necessarily restricted size of the book, partly to severity of taste. It may serve to indicate the wide range of selection and also the conscientious industry of the editor, to state that of the 511 hymns, 38 being anonymous, the remaining 473 are drawn from 151 different authors. We may compare it in this respect with the "Songs for the Sanctuary," which happens to lie nearest at hand, and in which of 1342 hymns, 284 being anonymous, there are 228 authors. On the other hand more than twenty authors are represented in this book who do not appear in "Songs for the Sanctuary." The anonymous hymns are about per cent. of the former and 21 per cent. of the latter collection. But in the College Hymnal the old favorite authors are not by any means neglected. Watts leads the list, as he deserves to in any collection, with 85 hymns; next come Charles Wesley with 32, James Montgomery with 24, John Newton with 18, Doddridge with 17, and J. M. Neale with 15. No other author contributes more than ten. Here are also many hymns from more recent English authors, which are comparatively unknown among us now but may well become familiar in our churches. We miss some hymns that we should be glad to find in the book; among these are "Inspirer and hearer of prayer," "Lord, forever at thy side,” "Welcome, sweet day of rest," "My God, the covenant of thy love," "To our Redeemer's glorious name," and others. But on the whole this is certainly an admirable collection, not less interesting and valuable in itself than well adapted to its special purpose. It has so peculiarly the latter merit that it might well be adopted by any collegiate institution with such a congregation as that at Yale, and we hope it will become known and be used in many such places. To each hymn is prefixed a brief phrase from Scripture, and the full name of the author is added at the end. The utmost care has been used to give the pure original text of the hymns, and the appearance of the volume does great credit to the good taste of the publishers.

JOHN THE BAPTIST.*-The "Congregational Union of England and Wales" have reflected honor on their own denomination, and on English evangelical non-conformists at large, by "the well

* John the Baptist; a Contribution to Christian Evidences. The Congregational Union Lectures for 1874. By HENRY ROBERT REYNOLDS, D. D. Second edition. A. S. Barnes & Co. New York, Chicago, and New Orleans. 1876. pp. 548.

known series of works entitled Congregational Lectures," prepared at their request and under their auspices. It is understood that they are not necessarily delivered, before publication, to miscellaneous audiences, and the preface of this volume informs us that its contents have been first given only to a select class of students in a theological college of which the author is an instructor. As might be inferred from the request made to him for a treatise to be placed in such a series, Dr. Reynolds holds a high position in his own communion, and this work will make him still more favorably known in a wider circle. He has been happy in the choice of his subject, for while John the Baptist has ever been one of the most striking figures in the New Testament, and his career claims an important place in "Christian Evidences" and generally in the literature of the Bible, but few monographs have been devoted to him, and the discussion to which he has necessarily given rise in more comprehensive treatises makes the reader desire a fuller treatment, such as he will find here. This theme, however, is closely related to others in recent biblical criticism, and hence is necessarily expanded. We can now only indicate the course of thought by the titles of the several lectures: "The significance and sources of John's Biography;" "Examination of the Biblical Record of his nativity;" "John the Exponent of the Old Testament dispensation;"" the Preaching in the Wilderness;" the Baptist's "transitional work;" his "later Ministry and Special Revelations;" "the Ministry of the Prison;" "Results, Echoes and Lessons of his Ministry." Under each of these heads interesting subordinate topics and questions are discussed, and an appendix to the whole is added. The author's studious reading, judgment, and candor appear throughout, and not less his evangelic fervor, the latter especially in what is said of prophecy on pages 210 to 215. He is acquainted with the latest criticism whether orthodox or rationalistic. The style is clear and manly. It is a work that not only meets the wants of theological students but must interest and profit all intelligent and devout readers. They will find it the amplest exposition of our Lord's judgment (cited on the title page) that while none had been greater than the Baptist, "the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”—The word "bulked" (for enlarged or swelled) we suppose to be a Scotticism,