Isaac Taylor hardly stoops to the details of an attack upon the ancient books of the Hebrews-so pretentious and so pompously introduced, as though it were some new discovery made among the interesting Zulu converts, for the enlightenment of Europe from the shores of Africa. With all these difficulties he has been long familiar, at least for fifteen, and probably for forty years. These, then, he leaves, not to be solved, but hereafter to be used in an opposite sense to that of Colenso. But in the warning tones of one who sees clearly what is before him, and who remembers his own experience, and the still more bitter experience of others, he reproves the tendencies of the book in question, and foretells where it will lead both the author and his disciples, from one maze of scepticism to another, until they become involved in the cold and barren darkness of an unpractical theism. Then, in a paragraph, too long for us to quote, he turns upon the assailant his own weapons : "Several of the exceptions to the Mosaic history upon which Dr. Colenso insists, and which he goes about to establish by his inapplicable calculations, are precisely of the kind which a mind of more grasp and comprehension would seize upon as the most significant evidences of the truthfulness of that history, and especially as indications of its contemporaneousness.” "Let the suit be carried down into the open court of secular historic criticism, and then it will become manifest that the pleas of the plaintiff (or several of them) are convertible in an opposite sense, and may be laid hold of by the counsel for the defence." And in the following pages this is clearly made to appear. But the most popular, if not the most effective, answer to the unfortunate volumes of Colenso that we have yet seen, will be found in the ironical Defence of Colenso, published in twelve letters in the February and March numbers of that very able periodical edited by Dr. Norman MacLeod, entitled "Good Words." This Defence is humorously grounded on the assumption that these works are a literary forgery; that they are utterly inconsistent with the character, functions, and position of a Christian bishop, and must therefore be attributed to some pseudo Colenso, who has for some unworthy purposes borrowed that name and designation. These letters are attributed to the able Professor of the Lancashire College, who has contributed so many excellent articles to the "Edinburgh Review." But whether this be so or not, we warmly commend them to the careful perusal of all, but especially to the juvenile class of our readers. Our limited space prevents us from adding copious extracts. The sermons of Mr. Christien offer solutions of some of the arithmetical puzzles of Bishop Colenso. That one, however, which would get over the alleged difficulty of the increase of the descendants of Jacob to 600,000 men, by a new translation of the Hebrew word "thousand," into "family," or "household," we think untenable. It leads us out of one set of difficulties into another equally formidable. For if the numbers in our translation be much reduced, how shall we account for the anxiety of Pharaoh to destroy all the male infants, to prevent their further increase his express language to justify so barbarous an edict, "Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we," spoken of an assemblage of unarmed slaves and his gathering of all his chariots, all his horsemen, all his army, and probably also a collection, en masse, of a large portion of the people of Egypt, in order to pursue the multitudes of the children of Israel, and compel their return to bondage? But there is altogether another mode of looking at these Bible difficulties which long ago occurred to a Christian bishop of intellect more lofty, and of vision more extensive, than Bishop Colenso. The features on which he founds his frivolous scepticism are not only such as might have been expected in a book 3300 years old; but they are characteristics which testify to its authenticity, and which go strongly to prove its Divine authorship. In truth, the Bible would be less worthy of credence, if there were no problems unsolved, no portions apparently (not really) contradictory, no incomprehensible statements, and no passages not to be readily understood. If it had been thus clear and easy, like a newspaper of yesterday, it would have been more like a book forged by man, and far less in accordance with Infinite intelligence. Is the Book of Nature void of difficulties, free from mystery, without any apparent contradictions, in every part intelligible? Here, at every step, we meet with facts which we must admit but cannot explain. Here are mysteries which we cannot unravel; and the further we proceed into the enquiry for causes, or attempt to make out all the links of the chain which unites all the beautiful sequences we discover, the thicker the darkness grows around us, and the more forcible that naked and rigidly exact truth uttered by Solomon, (Eccles. iii. 11.) "No man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end." The analogy between the constitution and course of nature, in its dif ficulties, mysteries, and unfathomed profundities, with those of revealed religion, long since furnished Bishop Butler with a basis for the most unassailable argument for its Divine origin. There is much concealed, as yet, from the knowledge of man, both in religion and in nature, which is essential, in order to the full revealing of either the works or the words of the Deity. What then? Did not the wisest of men, under Divine inspiration, tell us—“ It is the glory of God to conceal a thing." (Prov. xxv. 2.) The very difficulties which stagger feeble minds are those points upon which the minds of larger grasp, and greater vigour, will plant their most unanswerable arguments for the conclusion, that the great Author and Builder of this universe is also the Author of that system of religion which is revealed in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament. THE MODEL PREACHER. By Rev. Wm. Taylor. pp. 403. London: H. J. Tresidder. WE are unable to divine for what class the author is writing. Does he wish to interest the laity? If so, why does he give them advice that can never be of any use? Or is his aim to instruct his ministerial brethren? If it is, why all that bombast and foolish jesting which abounds in the book? Study is a minister's work, and he does not require to be coaxed into reading by stories and tales, most of which he has heard a hundred times before. If the author has anything useful to say, we should be the last to wish him to refrain from giving the world the benefit of his experience, but let him tell it in a plain straightforward manner, remembering that "a round unvarnished tale" excites most. The extracts from sermons are good. Bunyan's "Fig-tree" is an excellent specimen of his style; and Latimer's "Plough" reads splendidly. Truly there were giants in those days. Has the author ever read "Bridges' Christian Ministry?" We fear not, for if he had, these letters we think would have shewn more gravity, and have had more power in them. Still the book will suit those who must have truth made up into sugar-plums to induce them to receive it. THE ADVISER; a Book for Young People. 1862. London: Houlston & Wright. THIS is the Year's volume of a Halfpenny Monthly Periodical, devoted to the inculcation upon the young of the principles of Total Abstinence from Intoxicating Liquors. It is well printed; has an abundance of pictorial illustrations, and its articles are well adapted to interest the readers, and forward the object it has in view. THE PRINCESS OF WALES: Her People and Country; Her Religion and Marriage. London: John Snow. pp. 140. Price One Shilling. THE title of this work fully describes its object. It is beautifully printed; and not only furnishes an interesting record of the circumstances attending the entrance of the Princess into our kingdom and her marriage, but also supplies much historical information as to the connection between the Danish people and our own during the last thousand years. A DAILY GLEAM FROM THE LAMP OF LIFE. London: Book Society. pp. 128. THE author acknowledges that she is increasing an already numerous supply of text books; yet thinks she is justified in printing in a small space a powerful Scriptural evidence upon twelve important and vitally interesting subjects; each subject occupying a month, and closing with a hymn. We know not that such books can be too numerous. A CHRISTIAN MOTHER; or, Notes for Mothers' Meetings. By Mrs. E. Hoare. London: Wertheim, Macintosh, and Hunt. pp. 58. THESE Notes have been used by the writer in conducting Mothers' meetings amongst the poorer classes. The following extracts from the list of contents will shew the nature of the subjects: " the temper of the wife and mother; the watchful mother; the hasty mother; the weary mother; companions, sloth, &c." The Notes themselves, and the suggestions in the Preface as to the mode of using them, will be found very valuable by all engaged in such meetings. Correspondence. To the Officers and Teachers of Sunday brethren. Now it is very plainly stated Schools. BRETHREN,-In my former letters I called your attention to excursions and anniversaries, permit me now to make a few remarks on the duties and qualifications of teachers, as I feel it is a duty to give them the benefit of my long and general experience, which no doubt to many will be beneficial, and can do others no harm. To my mind, the education of the young is an important topic, and becomes infinitely profound as we approach its results. Indeed, no superficial glance can comprehend its vastness, and few minds are capable of fathoming its depths. We know that the 'political, social, and religious condition of the world depends upon, and will flow out of the education given to the rising generation. But what is this world to the eternal? Life is only the school-day of our being, where at most we can only get the elementary part of our education, but its significance is incomprehensible to the highest archangel. If ever the world is to be converted, it will be in youth, and seeing that we have now about 3,500,000 children in our Sabbath-schools, what an opportunity there is for sowing the seeds of everlasting life. Let us, therefore, examine the subject thoroughly, and if we find our stronghold giving way, or our ideas becoming dim by the presence of brighter light, our duty is at once clear and straightforward. I am prepared to hear adverse thoughts, but don't let us get into unkind expressions, or allow ourselves to forget that we are in the Bible, what work is proper to be done on the Sabbath, and from it I learn that anything which cannot be done on the Saturday, nor left undone until Monday, is properly Sunday employment. So that if we apply our schools to this test, and act accordingly, no evil can possibly be chargeable to us. It would be a departure for me to enter upon the irregularities_often manifested; but I certainly think, that in many of our schools the Sabbath is so secularized, that we unwittingly foster in the child's mind, a want of respect for its holiness. What is teaching writing, ciphering, grammar, reading and spelling, but so many departures from God's express command, and as many steps towards infidelity. I have given some of you offence by speaking of these things in your schools, but sooner or later this prostitution of the Sabbath must give way before the growing intelligence of our nation. If it is wrong to work an animal, surely it is wrong to put the children to do what they are instructed to believe is purely secular, and what can be done either at school or at home. Hence to my mind, there is no difficulty in ascertaining what the duty of a teacher is, and he is justified in confining himself to the highest moral and religious culture of his class, avoiding all controversial points, and leading the children by every possible means to the foot of the Cross. How important is our work! But we will not stop here, as there is another thought which has often deeply affected my mind; it is, that by be coming a teacher, I take upon myself when from the high and holy standing of God's word, we find those duties involving the present, future, and eternal condition of thousands of souls! Indeed we are ready to ask, who is sufficient for these things, especially in these days of unparallelled moral evil? For myself I have but one opinion, and that is, that it is the duty of the middle-aged and senior members of the church, to educate those who are sent to the school. How is it possible for the young inexperienced person to instruct the unconverted, of whatever age or profession? Can a clean thing come out of an unclean? or can one speak of what they know nothing? How then are we to expect results such as we propose, and how can we prevent evils that we endeavour by other means to suppress. the duty of the parent, without divine It appears to me that the church supposes any one qualified for Sunday school teaching, and that most young persons presume themselves equal to the duties; but how mistaken each party appears, Shew me the teacher, and I will describe the character of the pupil. You know, brethren, the happy results of a pious, middle-aged teacher in your schools. This class of persons, backed up by the minister's visits and influence, will never fail to accomplish the most sanguine expectations. I will not enter upon the imperfections of the generality of teachers, as it might tend to discourage them; but what real good can be expected from such persons I am at a loss to comprehend. Certain it is, that wherever we find a middle-aged man of God, from his class will come fruits. I was a member of such a class, and while we were lads, the whole joined the Church; but not one from any other class in a school of about 200 boys. From that time to this, my eye has been steadily fixed upon results, and painful as the facts are, I am obliged to state that not 4 per cent. per annum of the scholars are introduced into the churches, and many of these the children of religious parents, with home assistance. What a humiliating thought! and how it ought to rob us of our self-importance, and trust in means! But this is not all. Out of every 100 prisoners, 39 have been Sabbath scholars; and with all our |