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CONFESSIONS OF FAITH, AND OTHER PUB

LIC DOCUMENTS, ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE
HISTORY OF THE BAPTIST CHURCHES OF
ENGLAND IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
Pp. 360.

RECORDS OF THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST
GATHERED AT FENSTANTON, WARBOYS,
AND HEXHAM. 1644-1720. Pp. 430.

These are the last two volumes, just issued, of the Hansard Knollys Society. They are edited, with his usual care and judgment, by Mr. Underhill; and they contain much that is interesting and valuable, as adding to the completeness of the view which has been given in the earlier volumes of the series of the religious life and faith, and the kinds of church action, of the Baptist churches of the period to which they belong. We trust these volumes, being the last of the series, will have sufficient sale to induce the promoters to commence, before long, another series in a more popular form. We know that there is much still unpublished, and which if not published soon will probably be lost, which it is most important to preserve, as indicating the religious life of the times, and showing the important part which Baptists took in the struggles and controversies, of which we, in the nineteenth century, are enjoying the results. One collection we have recently had the opportunity of examining, a collection which we doubt not would be easily accessible,—and from that alone might be selected much that would add to the accuracy of our knowledge both of general and ecclesiastical history. For ourselves, we do not like to let these old records slip from us. In their rough bindings, and on their tattered paper, they contain, some of them, in a page, as much thought as would make the fortune of many a volume-writer of the present day. Baptists are rich in these old thinkers. Let us be proud of them, as we may ! SUNBEAMS IN THE COTTAGE; OR, WHAT WOMEN MAY DO. A Narrative chiefly addressed to the Working Classes. By MARGARET MARIA BREWSTER. Pp. 220. London: Hamilton, Adams, and Co. We had much pleasure in recommending Miss Brewster's former book, -" Work, Plenty to do, and How to do it." have quite as much confidence in recom

We

mending this, as one worthy of the daughter of Sir David Brewster, and calculated to do a great amount of good. It is a simple narrative, full of elevated thoughts and valuable practical suggestions, admirably fitted, in all respects, to circulate amongst the working class, though not unworthy of perusal by others besides. The only fault we have to find with the book is its price. Three and-sixpence for a small volume, containing, though, of course, in very elegant style of workmanship, not much more than two numbers of "The Church," is really too high a price for a working man. We earnestly hope, before long, that there will be a sixpenny or shilling edition. It is a work of which we do not hesitate to say, that a large circulation amongst the working class would be an incalculable blessing to them; and if a cheap edition were provided, we think there would be found those who would purchase numbers for gratuitous distribution.

the

THE BIBLE HAND-BOOK; OR, INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF SACRED SCRIPTURE. By JOSEPH ANGUS, D.D. Pp. 660. London: Religious Tract Society. There is an amount of learning condensed into these six hundred pages, such as no one who had not read the book would believe to be possible. It seems to us to be just such a work as an introduction Bible should be; not spread out into heavy volumes, such as those of Hartwell Horne, which have long been so popular, but brief, condensed, and yet full of matter, comprising all that can be required by ordinary readers or students, but nothing more. The first half of the volume comprises chapters on the genuineness of Scripture, the authenticity and authority of Scripture, the peculiarities of the Bible as a revelation of God, and the interpretation and study of Scripture; the second half is occupied with historical, critical, and elucidatory remarks on the various books of the Bible. Such a book cannot be interesting, in the sense in which the word is too often used; but it is a miue of wealth to those who will dig in it; and we earnestly recommend our young men and women to lay aside their "Queechys," and " Wide, Wide Worlds," and other sentimental small-talk, and to give themselves heartily to the study of such

works as this. We congratulate Dr. Angus on the production of such a work, and the Tract Society on having added it to their list of publications.

SERMONS DESIGNED FOR THE SICK ROOM, FAMILY READING, AND VILLAGE WORSHIP. By JABEZ BURNS, D.D. Pp. 436. London: Houlston and Stoneman.

Dr. Burns's sermons are so evidently appreciated, and command always so large a sale, that it is needless for us to say anything to recommend them to the notice of our readers. Counting from the advertisements at the end of this volume alone, this is the eighteenth volume of sermons and aketches of sermons, which have proceeded from the prolific pen of the Doctor; and several of these appear to have passed through more than one or two-one even eight-editions. The sermon-reading taste of the people must indeed be excessive, and not less must be the sermon-making powers of him who is able to meet it! We frankly confess that we should ourselves be better satisfied if the popular reading were somewhat of another kind. We wish, however, that all the sermons that are published and sold in such thousands were as free from fault as these; for though we may not agree always with the view of the preacher, nor approve his taste, still we can but admire the earnest desire for usefulness which has evidently prompted him in his work, and the simplicity to which, for the sake of usefulness, he has been content to adhere. A large class of readers will derive great advantage from this work; to them we can cordially commend it.

THE JUBILEE MEMORIAL OF HORTON COL

LEGE, BRADFORD. Pp. 69. London:

Houlston and Stoneman.

We congratulate the Tutors and Committee of Horton College on having been brought to the Jubilee of their valuable

Institution, and we commend their zeal and judiciousness in having furnished us with so interesting a "Memorial" of the event. The volume consists of two parts, the Sermon preached at the Jubilee service, by the venerable Dr. Godwin, and an Historical and Biographical Sketch, by the Rev. B. Evans. We do not know to which to give the more praise. The sermon is interesting, impressive, and admirably suited to the occasion; and the sketch, though necessarily brief, is graphically written, and is the result of careful enquiry, and of long connexion and sympathy with the Institution. We trust that the next fifty years of Horton College will be as prosperous and as useful as the last, and that whoever lives to see the Centenary, will see the Institution then, under the management of tutors as able and respected as the present, and as well worthy of support. VOLUNTARY ISM IN ENGLAND AND WALES; OR, THE CENSUS OF 1851. Pp. 114. London: Liberation of Religion Society.

Those who know the author of this volume will know that there is no one more capable of dealing with the subject of it' than he. It comprises an able analysis, which only a master of statistics could have furnished, of the recent census as it affects the Voluntary question; and it presents to some extent, also, a view of the arguments derivable from the facts. Some of those facts will be startling in the extreme. A few of them have become already familiar; others present a view of the question entirely new. The volume must exert an important influence on the decisions of all candid minds in regard to the matters involved. We are glad to hear that it is being extensively distributed amongst members of the Legislature, and others to whom it is of consequence that the facts should be made known.

CHAPTER 1.

Children, I am now going to tell you something about my youth. That has long since past, never to return in this world; yet, beyond the grave there is a region of immortal life and beauty, and toward that I believe that the aged friend who now writes

you these chapters is rapidly hastening. Yet he still loves to recall the happy years of childhood, and often lives over again in thought those pleasant past times; happy, because free from the follies and cares of later and busier years.

I was born in the pleasant village of Whitefield, said to have derived its name

I

When I was twelve years old, an aunt of mine, whom I had never seen, died very suddenly, and left a little girl about my own age motherless. My grandmother having obtained uncle Hill's consent, sent for Lucy to live with her as her own child, and at this my joy was unbounded. danced and sang all that day on which she was expected, and before night was on the tip-toe of anticipation, so that when supper time arrived I had no appetite, and quite wondered to see the rest of the family devouring their food so industriously, when so important an event was close at hand.

At last she came,-my cousin Lucy, with soft, brown hair, rosy cheeks, and the sweetest voice in the world. She seemed frightened at first, and after passing through the ceremony of introduction to us all, I saw the tears tremble in her mild, blue eyes, but she stealthily wiped them away, so that grandma and aunt Milly did not see them, and if grandpa did, he, at that time, said nothing. But I ran to her, and throwing my arms about her neck, with all a brother's affection, begged her not to cry for anything, for she would soon find this a pleasant home, if we could possibly make it so to her. She smiled through her tears, but said nothing, until I brought out a store of coloured pictures and games of all sorts, and with the aid of these we made each other's acquaintance so fast, and Lucy seemed so pleased, that I really thought she would never be home-sick again, until I heard at midnight loud sobs through the thin partition which separated her room from my own.

After we had played an hour, the first bell rang for prayers, and though in the midst of game, I knew that a moment's delay would prevent prompt attention to the second; so hurrying pictures and games into their appropriate places, I took my seat near Lucy, while my grandfather read,

in his fine, clear tones of voice, the twentyseventh Psalm. The servants were always present at family worship, and he usually spoke a few words on some particular verse among those which he had read. "When

my father and mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up," was his subjectverse on that evening. He represented God as kinder than any earthly parent could be, as the peculiar friend of the orphan, and as watching over all the interests of his numerous family without change or weariness. He said, too, that when our earthly friends died to us on earth, they yet lived somewhere to God, and it might be that they still remembered those whom they had loved on earth. He said that God claimed our confidence as a Creator, caring for that which he had made, and as a Saviour, loving that which he had died to redeem.

Before I lay down to sleep that night, I prayed for Lucy and myself, and I really think that I prayed then with a humble, reverent spirit; yet I did not always do this, for sometimes I culy said some prayers which I had been taught, without thinking seriously what such solemn words implied.

I have already said that Lucy sobbed until late at night; but after a while all became still and quiet, save the ticking of a small clock on my mantel-piece, or the occasional barking of the house-dog. That house-dog was my Carlo, and little did I dream as I lay there thinking in the quiet moonlight which looked in at the windows, and listening to his usual notes of wakefulness, that I should never hear them again; but so it was, and my first great grief came at a time when I was experiencing my first great joy. His life ended before daylight the next morning, by means of cruel hands, and when Lucy first made her appearance on that day it was to weep with me over the body of Carlo.

Boys, have you ever loved and possessed a noble dog? Have you ever looked into his knowing eyes, and thought them uncommonly expressive? or, stroked his long, dark hair, and patted the head which leaned lovingly against you, until you thought a countless sum could never purchase your valued treasure? If you have, then you know what I once lost, and will not blame me, perhaps, much as I might have deserved it, for forgetting every long-possessed or new-gained blessing in the loss of one,-and that one my dog.

But since that time, death has passed on dearer friends, and under far more painful circumstances than those just related; and, children, I have learned, that all we may love on earth will die, while all that which we love in heaven will endure for ever. Another lesson which I learned earlier than this, was that of forgiveness. The slayer of my Carlo did not long remain undiscovered. It was a neglected and very wicked boy, by the name of Jack Jones. He was offended with me for avoiding his company, and for refusing to let Carlo accompany him, a few days before, on a shooting excursion. I was furious at the discovery, and quite forgot that passage in the Lords prayer which says, "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." That I had considered rather as a form of prayer than an every-day duty, to be performed on my part before asking forgiveness of God. While I was meditating revenge, and determined, if possible, to bring him to legal retribution, my grandfather offered me no sympathy; but when the hour for evening prayer arrived, he read and explained that appropriate passage, "For if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive your trespasses," and said that God allowed no private revenge, nor unnecessary legal retribution. I could see very plainly that personal rights would not be as well defended, if all my neighbours' dogs were wantonly destroyed, but could not determine as clearly that this was my motive in Wishing evil to Jack Jones.

After prayers, as Lucy and I were about to separate for the night, she said, in a low, sweet tone of voice, "Do forgive him, cousin, and then you can love him; now he is an orphan, and aunt Milly says, 'no one seems to care for him."" As she said this, two large tears dropped from her blue eyes, and her voice trembled with emotion, as they looked beseechingly into my own. And I did forgive him, for the sake of Lucy's tears and entreaties; and for this I was never sorry, but, years after, blessed my heavenly Father for all her gentle influences in leading me to forgive, as I hope and trust that I have since been forgiven. I had seen and known many children during my short lifetime, but there were none like her, so still, so gentle, and so quiet, and yet so thoughtful, that I was often startled to hear the strange things which she uttered about this life and another, and I began to

realise that I was far from being one of those lowly ones whom Jesus loves, and for whom he has prepared mansions in that far-off country, whither Lucy was rapidly hastening, though I knew it not.

A few weeks after her arrival came Christmas, that happy time, both for young and old,-happy for the young because they receive the affectionate gifts of kind and loving friends; and for the old because they have the means and the disposition to make them. I received from my grandfather a regular allowance of pocket-money; this had been collecting for weeks, and I had now saved a sovereign, which I meant to lay out for all at home, and not a small share of it for my dear cousin Lucy. My grandfather, knowing that we were both anxious to visit the city on some special errand, and easily comprehending what that errand might be, told us to wait patiently for a few days, and before Christmas we should, Providence permitting, find our desires fulfilled.

Lucy's father was not wealthy, but, know. ing her generous disposition, he sent her before Christmas the united contributions, or rather presents of many friends, which amounted in all to a sum quite sufficient to gratify her benevolent intentions; and this was confidingly committed to the care of aunt Milly, under whose general supervision it was finally employed for the gratification of others.

Among the needy people who came regularly to beg at my grandfather's, was a decrepid man, who added to other infirmities that of partial blindness. This man's name was Joe Bentley, and often, as he sat warming himself by the kitchen-fire, would Lucy sit upon a small seat beside him, and ask him a thousand questions about his family, and home, and early life. Bentley, like all old people, seemed pleased with this attention, and I have sometimes seen the tears fall on his withered cheeks, called forth by some expression of Lucy's heart-felt kindness, as he related a few touching events of a long and chequered life. I was not, then, at all surprised, one morning, to bear in confidence, that among Lucy's favoured friends at Christmas, Joe Bentley was not numbered last or least.

"I shall buy him," said she, "first, a nice, warm pair of mittens; then, a thick wollen tippet; and last of all, a better hat; that old thing which he wears is not at all comfortable."