But this the author con"It is quite evident," he

lessons and influences from that other. ceives to have mostly fulfilled its office. says in the "Conclusion," "that the free humanistic spirit is rapidly approaching the climax of its development. It is sweeping forward to its final excesses. It has pushed the great body of men into a condition of doubt, of utter indifference to spiritual things, of intense worldliness, like that which characterized the last days of classical civilization. Hence, in accordance with its fundamental law, Christianity must soon undergo another transformation. The sense of spiritual need will again be aroused to its fullest activity. A new age of faith will begin." With this somewhat dogmatic and portentious utterance he stops. How Christianity will antagonize the tendency now dominant to excess, he does not tell us, nor claim to know. We may believe with him that, as his whole argument goes to show, the religion of Christ has resources for this as for every foregoing emergency. It will be asked, as in respect to Ecce Homo, how far this writer is "orthodox," particularly as "the essence of Christianity" would seem to invite a clear deliverance on that question. But he hardly goes beyond saying that "the theology of Christ has for its basis the doctrine of the Divine Paternity," and that He is "a perfect type of character," the "personal ideal," and also "not simply a Master to be loved and revered," but "a Saviour to be leaned upon." The absence of a more distinctive doctrine, when moreover it would fall into the line of his main argument, is significant. It occurs to us that the author is not wholly consistent with himself when he says that under the influence of the idealism of India man "is weighed down by a deep sense of his own unworthiness," (p. 9) and yet that it tended to "the weakening of the moral sense" (p. 24). We cannot but think, also, that as the author represents Buddhism to have been a protest against the Brahminical system, and the doctrines of Pythagoras and Plato against the Hellenic tendency, so there have been always exceptions to systems, and counter-currents to modes of thought, which are numerous enough and strong enough to weaken the force of such generalizations as the author chiefly delights in. Nevertheless, we must recommend his work as a suggestive and profitable handling of a great theme.

SACRED TABERNACLE OF THE HEBREWs.*-That one has willlingly devoted the requisite time and labor to the preparation of so large a work as this on the subject of the Hebrew Tabernacle, is itself a fact that betokens a certain fitness for the undertaking, and all who know Mr. Atwater recognize in him the reverence, industry, fidelity, and patience, which it must demand. The preface tells us that in his "first year of theological study an instructor called his attention to the Hebrew sanctuaries," and thus "determined his specialty," and that "he retired from the pulpit," "after thirty years of work in the ministry," in order to give himself wholly to the subject, as he could not do in a pastoral charge. It shows too that he has availed himself of the modern and less accessible sources of information. One is reminded anew how the long and earnest study of the Bible has created for each department, however minute, a literature of its own, and how far German scholarship has carried the division of labor into every field. The work is divided into two books: the first, the History of the Tabernacle," comprising nine chapters, treating severally of the edifice, its furniture, erection, attendants, sacrifices, lustrations, calendar, migrations, and expenses; the second, the "Significance of the Tabernacle," in eighteen chapters, showing that it was significant, and setting forth its relation to the Mosaic revelation and to Christianity, its symbolism of number, form, color, and various substances, and the interpretation of the parts before noted, and recommending the study of it to Christian readers. Though "intended especially for clergymen," it is meant to be readable for Bible students generally, who will find here a mass of information and suggestions which they could not collect for themselves, and which will not only help their understanding of much of the Old Testament, but show them more clearly the light it sheds on the New.

THE WONDERFUL LIFE.t-Some writer, in noticing this volume, has said that of all the Lives of our Lord, multiplied as they have been of late years, it may seem surprising, yet seems most fit, that the best should be written by woman, for whose sex He has done

*History and Significance of the Sacred Tabernacle of the Hebrews. By EDWARD E. ATWATER. New York: Dodd & Mead, publishers, 762 Broadway. 1875. 8vo, pp. 448.

The Wonderful Life. King's Servants," etc., etc. way. 12mo, pp. 325.

VOL. XXXIV.

By HESBA STRETTON, author of "Lost Gift," "The
New York: Dodd & Mead, publishers, 762 Broad-

39

so much. Without going so far as to call it the best in a department so diligently cultivated and successfully reaped by wellknown writers, we can say that it fills a place no other has attempted to fill, and on the face of it appears well suited to its purpose. In the preface, dated Christmas, 1874, the author calls it too modestly "a slight and brief sketch," which " is merely the story of the life and death of our Lord," adding, "It has been written for those who have not the leisure or the books needed for threading together the fragmentary and scattered incidents recorded in the Four Gospels." "Of late years," she says, "these records have been searched diligently for the smallest links which might serve to complete the chain of those years passed among us by One who called himself the Son of Man, and did not refuse to be called the Son of God. This little book is intended only to present the result of these close investigations, made by many learned men, in a plain, continuous narrative, suitable for unlearned readers." The task, it will be seen, calls for care not only, but rare skill in composition, especially for simplicity, perspicuity, and ease. And while availing herself of the best aids, the writer has succeeded in adapting herself to the unlearned without being vulgar, and, we may add, to children without being childish. The matter is distributed in three books, each divided into short chapters. The first, entitled "The Carpenter," deals with the early life to "the first Passover." The second, "The Prophet," beginning with " John the Baptist," extends to the "last Sabbath." The third, "Victim and Victor," covers the closing scenes. Readers of every class will find a charm in the narrative. We should not wonder if it finds more readers than any of the more imposing volumes in whose track it follows with so much modesty and grace.

THE CHRISTIAN IN THE WORLD.*-By the will of the late Hon. Richard Fletcher of Boston, the sum of five hundred dollars is to be offered biennially, for the best essay, "setting forth truths. and reasoning calculated to counteract worldly influences, and impressing on the minds of Christians a solemn sense of their duty to exhibit in their godly lives and conversation the beneficent effect of the religion they profess." The prize was awarded to the author of "The Christian in the World," in accordance with the provision

* The Christian in the World. By Rev. D. W. FAUNCE. Boston: Roberts Bros. 1875. pp. 326.

of the will of Mr. Fletcher. essay, the donor of the prize understood well one of the needs of our day, and indeed of all days, and we trust his legacy will be the means of great good.

In the selection of a theme for the

The thoughts are

The essay of Mr. Faunce is well written. often fresh and striking, and the book may be read with pleasure and profit. But the writer has attempted too much. There is not sufficient concentration of thought and purpose in the book. Nearly half the essay is devoted to what the author calls "principles," which have about as much relation to any other subject of morals or religion as the one on which he professes to be writing. Of the remaining chapters, that on Prayer is good in itself, but it has no special reference to the "Christian in the World." The two last chapters, one of them entitled the "Christian in his Recreations," the other, the "Christian in his Business," are the only chapters that have a specific relation to his theme, and a more full and forcible representation of the topics connected with these chapters would have answered the purpose of the donor of the prize, and would have been at the same time more interesting and instructive.

We hope that many valuable works will be called forth by the "Fletcher Prize."

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.

HIGGINSON'S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.*-Mr. Higginson has made an interesting book, one which young folks read with pleasure. In doing this, he has, at the same time, succeeded in bringing forward the most important facts which should enter into a narrative of this compass, and in their proper order. We wish that all writers and compilers of school-books would profit by the example which he gives of a clear, simple style. There ought to be some kind of a censorship of school-books, in order that those which are faulty in this respect should be visited with a just condemnation.

BRIEF BIOGRAPHIES OF LIVING ENGLISH STATESMEN.t-This book meets a real want. It is not an easy thing to find just the

* Young Folks' History of the United States. By THOMAS WENTWORTH HIGGINIllustrated. Boston: Lee & Shepard. 1875.

SON.

+ Brief Biographies. English Statesmen. Prepared by T. W. HIGGINSON. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. 1875. 16mo, pp. 363.

kind of information which is here supplied. Mr. Higginson has furnished sketches of eighteen of the most prominent of the political characters of the English parliament: Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Disraeli, Mr. Bright, Earl Russell, Earl Granville, the Duke of Argyll, Lord Cairns, the Duke of Richmond, the Earl of Derby, the Marquis of Salisbury, Sir Stafford Northcote, Mr. Gathorne Hardy, the Marquis of Hartington, Mr. Forster, Mr. Lowe, Sir William Harcourt, Mr. Goschen, Mr. Childers. This admirable little volume is to be soon followed by another, which will contain sketches of English radical leaders; and by a third, devoted to French politicians.

MEMOIRS OF JOHN QUINCY ADAMS* (Vol. V).—The fifth volume of this work opens at the date of the Missouri compromise. Mr. Adams's hatred of slavery is declared in emphatic terms. "The impression," he says, "produced upon my mind by the progress of this discussion is, that the bargain between freedom and slavery contained in the Constitution of the United States is morally and politically vicious, inconsistent with the principles on which alone our Revolution can be justified,”—and much more of the same purport. He favored the compromise from love to the Union, but he questioned whether it might not have been better to call a National Convention and organize a new Union of exclusively free States. As we come down towards recent times, the Diary acquires an increased interest.

LIFE OF DR. GANNETT.-The late Dr. Gannett was a man of upright character, of an honest and pure mind, and a warm defender of the Christian Revelation, in opposition to the infidelity which infected the Unitarian denomination in the closing period of his life. At an early day, he was one of the most decided and prominent champions of the Unitarian theology. He did not alter his doctrinal opinions, as far as we know; but, as he grew older, and circumstances changed, he naturally directed his energies more to the defence and inculcation of the truths which are held in common by Christian believers. His Memoir, by his son, is well written, and will be read with tender interest by the many who held the late Dr. Gannett in high esteem.

* Memoirs of John Quincy Adams, comprising portions of his Diary from 1795 to 1848. Edited by CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS. Vol. V. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co. 1875.

+ Ezra Stiles Gannett, Unitarian minister in Boston, 1824-1871. his son, WILLIAM C. GANNETT. Boston: Roberts Brothers. 1875.

A Memoir by