DOCTRINE AND DUTY. By Rev. GEORGE CUSHMAN, D.D. New York: T. Whittaker.

Here are twenty-five pulpit discourses on a great variety of subjects. Though the author is a man of reading, reflection, and ability, he is not marked by catholicity. He seems to study the Gospel within the narrow precincts and under the dim light of what he calls the Church of England, and not on the sunny and lofty hills of an oecumenic and untrammelled Christianity. Then, for example, he declares the rite of confirmation to be amongst the first principles of the doctrines of Christ, and urges the "laying on of hands," in Hebrews iv. 2, as meaning the "laying on" of hands of the bishops. He is constantly referring to "our church" as some grand "she" that is the depositary and arbiter of all truth. Why an assemblage of men and women should be represented as a "she" surpasses our comprehension. Notwithstanding, however, the author's rigorous ecclesiasticism, and sad lack of catholicity, his discourses are worth reading. They abound with historical information and team with thoughts of a lofty type, given forth, not unfrequently, in flashes of rare eloquence.

THE PROBLEM OF CHURCHES AND POOR IN OUR LARGE TOWNS. By K. MILNE, M.A. London: Blackwood and Sons.

This book consists of several chapters: General view of the numbers and conditions of the lapsed populations in large towns-An inquiry into the principal causes of the present condition of the lapsed populationsRemedial measures, secular, by the state, by associations and private individuals, and by the poor themselves, by the Church of Scotland, by subordinate agencies, denominational and undenominational-Co-operation of all the Evangelical Churches, and recognition of each other's work, necessary for the complete solution of the problem-Wherein the Church of Scotland needs a new departure in her efforts towards the recovery of the lapsed, (1) in the introduction of new or the expansion of present agencies, (2) in the vast multiplication of individual missionary effort on the part of the members of the Church-The Church's mission to the cultivated and sceptical classes outside the Churches-Summary and appeal. This book has a purpose, and that purpose is the Christianisation of the masses, the ignorant, degraded, and all but starving millions. This work is pre-eminently the work of the Church, and if what is called the Church had been always an assemblage of Christly men-Christly not only in theology but in ethics and in spirit, the work would have been done long ago. The first thing to be done is the reformation of the Church, the replacing of a conventional Christianity by the Christianity of the Sermon on the Mount. A Church in the true sense should control all

human affairs.

It should inspire, animate, and control the State, the market, and all secular concerns. Ministers of the Gospel are beginning to find fault with the State. They ask, why does the State not interfere and prevent drunkenness, which is one of the great sources of human degradation and misery? And some of the most thoughtful of them ask why it does not interfere and put down that heartless and grasping landlordism that has robbed the people of England of their lands, so that they are not only left without sufficient earth to cultivate, in order to get supplies for their physical wants, but without sufficient space even to afford them a decent habitation, so that they are bound to crowd together in miserable hovels? A question this that is coming up, and that every Church, if it would effect an improvement in the social and moral condition of the people, must urge upon the legislature. The ministers who harangue and write about the "cries of" outcast London, and only urge the multiplication of more places of worship, thinking men will rank amongst the canting hypocrites of the age. Into a Church that is not in itself thoroughly Christly we would not have the Christless enter. Let the Church of England, and all the Nonconformist Churches, rise as one man to demand the Government to put down not only the drunkenness, but the injustice and cupidity of those who monopolise that earth which God gave to the children of men. We heartily recommend this book. How deeply Archdeacon Paley, the illustrious moral and political philosopher, felt the monstrous iniquity of this landlordism. He says, "If you should see a flock of pigeons in a field of corn, and if (instead of each one picking where and what it liked, taking just as much as it wanted and no more) you should see ninety-nine of them gathering all they got in a heap, reserving nothing for themselves but the chaff and the refuse; keeping this heap for one, and that for the weakest, perhaps worst, pigeon of the flock, sitting round and looking on all the winter, whilst this one was devouring, throwing about, and wasting it; and if a pigeon more hardy and hungry than the rest touched a grain of the hoard, all the others instantly flying upon it and tearing it to pieces; if you should see this, you would see nothing more than what is every day practised and established among men. Among men you see the ninety and nine toiling and scraping together a heap of superfluities for one (and this one, too, oftentimes, the feeblest and worst of the whole set, a child, a woman, a madman, or a fool), getting nothing for themselves all the while but a little of the coarsest of the provision which their own industry produces, looking quietly on while they see the fruits of all the labour spent or spoiled, and if one of the number take or touch a particle of the hoard, the others joining against him and hanging him for the theft." We heartily recommend this book.

REVELATION RECONSIDERED. By W. EWING, M.A. London: Geo. Bell & Co.

The following extract from the introduction of this book will put the reader into possession of the author's great canon by which he interprets the great Apocalypse. "It may seem a great presumption for any one to hope to catch the attention of the thoughtful reader by a book on the Revelation of St. John. Many have had but a small measure of success in the same attempt, so that many readers are unwilling to embark on that subject. What can justify another attempt? Will one find credit if he should say that he has found a key which unlocks every part, and shows a consistent plan in the Book from first to last? There are but two alternatives; he must either keep it to himself or he must declare it at once, and tax the reader's patience as little as possible. This latter method shall be tried. The key is this:-The Jewish Church of old and the Christian Church are, in their outward fortunes and in their whole careers, wonderfully parallel. In the Old Testament we have the history of the former. In the Apocalypse we have a prophetic and enigmatic history of the latter." Now as we do not believe that there was such a thing as a Jewish Church, for the Old Testament reveals rather a Jewish pandemonium than a Church, we scarcely think that the author's scheme will unlock this book, albeit there is a great deal in this production that is at once enlightening and suggestive, and will well repay a thoughtful and devout perusal.

THE LIGHT OF LIFE. By REV. F. J. SCOTT, M. A.

London: Hatchards & Co. This volume contains twenty-seven Sermons. Amongst the subjects we have (1) A Reply to the Cry, Watchman, What of the Night? (2) What is Truth (3) Nicodemus, the Timid Disciple. (4) The One Thing Wanting. (5) Faithfulness Over Few Talents. (6) The Sights in the House. (7) The Presence of Our Lord at United Worship. (8) Christ the Food of the Soul. (9) Saul the King, and Saul of Tarsus. (10) Christian Confidence and Christian Duty. (11) Neglected Opportunities (12) The Requirements of God. (13) The Canaanite Mother. (14) Repentance. (15) The Absent Lord Watching Over His Church. (16) Prayer for the Holy Ghost. (17) Memory. (18) Stewardship. (19) The Saviour's Rejoicing and its Cause. (20) The Work of the Church and of Each Member of it. (21) The Dwelling-place of the Lord. (22) The Position of a True Christian. (23) Praying Always with All-Prayer and Supplication. (24) Publican's Feast. (25) The Lord showing to Man His Thought. (26) Death of the Righteous. (27) The Light of the Blessed. All the discourses are conventionally Evangelical. They breathe a piety strong and earnest, and a fervid aspiration for the salvation of souls, and some of them throw light upon dark passages.

BEACH & BARNICOTT, Bridport. Tonic Sol-Fa

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JUST PUBLISHED, THIRD EDITION.

A MANUAL FOR MINISTERS AND DEACONS:

OR

Practical Hints on the Constitution, Discipline, and Services of Congregational or Independent Churches.

REV.

BY

SAMUEL MCALL,
Late Principal of Hackney College.

INDEX.

1. The Church. II.-Intercourse Proper to Church Membership. III.Pastors. IV. Deacons. V.-Deaconesses. VI.-Ordination of Ministers. VII. Church Discipline. VIII.-Church Meetings. IX.-Baptism. X.-The Lord's Supper. XI.-Marriage. XII.-Pulpit Preparation and Preaching. XIII. Conduct of Public Service. XIV.-Pastoral Visitation. XV.-Funerals and Funeral Sermons. XVI.-Concluding Hints & Topics for Consideration.

LONDON: W. MACK, 28, PATERNOSTER ROW; and 38, Park Street, Bristol.