Reviews and Notices of Books.

The Pictorial World. A new illustrated paper, published weekly, at the very moderate price of threepence. It is filled with spirited engravings, and gives all the chief news, besides interesting notes on current events.

Selections from the Poems of Charlotte Elliott; with a Memoir by her Sister. London: Religious Tract Society. Pp. 256.

MISS CHARLOTTE ELLIOTT was the author of the well-known and beautiful hymns, "Just as I am," and "My God and Father, while I stray." This is a handsome volume, containing her portrait, a sketch of her life, and a considerable number of her poems. The greater part of her life seems to have been spent in comparative seclusion, and in enfeebled health; her poems savour of this, but, doubtless, they are all the more suitable and sweet to those who are called to pass through the same experience. Here is a specimen :"When all outward comfort flies, And my heart within me dies, Hear, oh, hear, my troubled sighs: Help me, O my Saviour!

"When the day brings pain and grief, Night, nor respite, nor relief, Whisper, These dark hours are brief:'

Help me, O my Saviour!

"When all human help proves vain,
And my agonizing pain

More than nature can sustain :
Help me, O my Saviour!

"Suffer not my faith to fail,
Let not Satan's darts assail,
Lift the intercepting vail:
Help me, O my Saviour!

"Let me not on man depend,
But on Thee, th' unfailing Friend:
Be Thou near me to the end:

Help me, O my Saviour."

The Martyr of Brentwood; or, Three Hundred Years Ago. By W. H. G. KINGSTON, Author of "The Royal Merchant," &c. London: S. W. Partridge and Co. Pp. 171.

A STORY which we should like to see circulated far and wide. It shows clearly the chief errors of the Church of Rome, and describes the bitter trials which the noble martyrs had to undergo.

Everlasting Destruction. By J. H. BELL. London: John F. Shaw and Co. Pp. 290.

:

THE whole testimony of Scripture on this most important subject is here carefully considered, and the conclusion to which the writer comes is this:"The evidence adduced. is such as to prove in the plainest manner that the judgment of God as revealed in His whole Word is one. Not one text of the hundreds examined affords the least countenance either to the doctrine of annihilation or to that of the cessation of punishment." A New Companion to the Bible. London: Religious Tract Society. Pp. 384. A VALUABLE book. It is intended for the use of Bible-classes, Sundayschools, and families, and contains a large amount of information respecting the sacred books, their language, geography, chronology, &c. It is embellished with some good maps, and gives some useful hints on the study and interpretation of the Bible, such, e.g., as the following:"Before we can be certain that we are prepared to enter into the meaning of particular sections or chapters, it is important that we should be acquainted

with the book in its main scope or drift. To understand the scope or drift of a book is often all that is needed to remove difficulties, and to reconcile apparent contradictions. Thus, we need only to know the scope of the epistles to the Romans and of St. James to see that the respective writers did not contradict each other. but only presented different sides of the same truth, each in accordance with the design which the writer had before him. The epistle to the Romans is designed to prove that, by the performance of the works of the law, no man is justified, because his obedience is at the best imperfect. The object of the epistle of St. James is to prove that no man can be justified by a faith which does not tend to holiness."

Again :

"When we proceed to the examination of particular passages, it is important to observe their context In Psalm vii. 8, for example, David prays, Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness;' which the context shows to mean, 'according to his innocency, in reference to the charge of Cush, the Benjamite."

A Living Epistle; or, Gathered Fragments from the Correspondence of the late Caroline S. Blackwell. London: John F. Shaw and Co. Pp. 380. It is not often that private letters possess much interest for the general public, but we think that few persons can peruse this volume without deriving benefit from it; for the writer, although early called to her heavenly rest, was evidently deeply instructed in divine truth, and her letters are written in a pleasing manner, and abound with interesting illustrations. We transcribe a part of one :—

"I am sometimes so cast down, Bessie, when the enemy comes in like a flood, and the tide of sin and evil within surges up like Kilkee billows. But I am driven to Him who has put away my sin by the sacrifice of Himself, and put away me too out of His sight; and now He looks at us as all fair and lovely in Himself. A very dear and loving sister came from India lately. She was telling us of the coolies, and said she found it almost impossible not to hate them; they were so revoltingly bad. Yet was there as great a difference between them and this dear one as between us and the Lord Jesus? There is all in us to hate, and nothing to love; yet He not only did not hate us, but actually and intensely He loved us, even when we were dead in sins. Oh, may we believe this! He did not wash our crimson stains, and then love us; but He loved, and then washed us (Rev. i. 5), loved us in our filthiness. And now think how fair we are through His blood! We are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. Read Ephesians, and ask Him as you read to open your eyes to the exceeding wonderful portion you have in Him; and nestle to Him, and trust Him, and every sin and sorrow bring to Him; and be not faithless, but believing; and ask Him for me, that I may have an increased horror of myself, and loving adoration for Him, our altogether lovely Lord."

" &c.

Cautions for Doubters. By the Rev. J. H. TITCOMB, M.A., Vicar of St. Stephen's, South Lambeth, Author of "Revelation in Progress, London: Religious Tract Society. Pp. 244.

IN the preface to this little volume the author says: "I believe that religious doubts and difficulties are not in themselves sinful, inasmuch as they frequently force themselves upon men who have the purest and sincerest motives, and who desire to make the most conscientious inquiries after truth. I dare not meet such persons with harshness and severity. I dare not rebuke their independence of judgment and tell them they have no right to think for themselves. I dare not accuse

them of wilful unbelief, or of wavering conscientiousness, or of equivocal morality. I would rather address them, in these pages, as one who has not been himself without a share in their own difficulties, and who, because he has, in former years, felt the same temptation, is now able the better to sympathize with and to appreciate their position. But while, on the one hand, we lay it down as a preliminary point that religious doubt may possibly be consecrated by a spirit of honest search after truth, and therefore is not to be always rebuked as the offspring of a proud, self-righteous heart; on the other hand, there is such a thing as doubt of the latter kind-a spirit of sceptical inquiry, too often indulged in because considered a mark of intellectual superiority; a spirit which not only doubts, but loves to go on doubting, under the idea that it argues a high-toned mind, and reflects the culture of modern thought. With that kind of flippancy this book has nothing to do.. I desire to speak rather, in the following pages, as the friend and helper of all those earnest and anxious and conscientious doubters who, while troubled with difficulties, nevertheless desire to get rid of them, and whose only wish is to gain and grasp the truth, whatever it may cost them." With this object in view, the author brings forward a number of cautionary suggestions relative to the peculiar difficulties of the persons described-cautions which he hopes may, by God's blessing, "help to guide them in their mental entanglements, and restore them to an enlightened faith." We cordially recommend this book.

The Christian Hymnal. London: John F. Shaw and Co.

THE cheapest hymn-book which we have seen. It contains 500 of the choicest hymns, and combines clearness of type with cheapness and portability. It is published in three sizes; the smallest size for one penny (500 hymns for a penny!); the second, sixpence; the third, consisting of large and very clear type, one shilling. It would be difficult almost impossible-to produce a hymn-book which now-a-days would please everybody, and in this case we notice the omission of one or two favourite hymns; but, taking all things into consideration, it is an admirable selection, one of the best we know of.

Deep Roots for Pleasant Fruits. Notes from Rev. E. Lillingston's Sermons and other Extracts. By the Editor of "Possession and Profession." London: Jas. Nisbet and Co.

In addition to their intrinsic worth, these "Notes" will be specially valued, in consequence of the failing health of the beloved preacher. It was with extreme regret we lately heard of the great probability that his long and valued ministry was, apparently, nearly closed. Humanly speaking, in the present state of Christendom, we can ill spare such men as neither fear nor fail to "declare the whole counsel of God." From these "Notes" many a word of instruction, comfort, and encouragement may be gathered; and, no doubt, they will serve to remind and refresh many of the preacher's hearers long after he shall have been gathered to his fathers, and is in the personal enjoyment of his eternal rest.

We have also received-"The Divine Glory of Christ;" "Protestantism: its Ultimate Principle;" "The Companions of the Lord;" "The Secret of a Happy Life;" "Some Thoughts on the Present Aspect of the Crusade against the State Regulation of Vicel" "The Christian;" "The Parish Magazine;" "The Day of Rest," &c. &c.