opinion, leaving rivalry all the more without adequate excuse. Spirited meetings have been held in various places, to express to Dr Price the confidence in him entertained by the friends of the Voluntary principle, and their pledge to support his journal. We trust the effect will be to secure for the Eclectic Review a wider circulation and influence than it has yet commanded.

ELEGY.

OUR sister dear is lying
Where summer blossoms

grow;

And plaintive winds are sighing

Above her grave so low;

Oh! when we gathered round her bed,
What bitter tears of grief we shed
For her so early dying!
Yes;-but in glory now!

Alas! from our loved chorus,
One gentle voice has gone!
But in the bright world o'er us,
It swells-a seraph's tone:
When wakes our hymn on Sabbath even
We think she's echoing it in heaven;
Where she has gone before us,

To Jesus' bosom gone.

Sweet sister! we are learning
A song to sing with thee,

And now our souls are yearning

In thy pure home to be.

Oh! when we join the ransomed throng,

A Saviour's love shall be our song;

With holy rapture burning,

That song we'll sing with thee!

A. H.

NOTICES OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.

Unfulfilled Prophecy respecting Eastern Nations, especially the Turks, the Russians, and the Jews. London: JOHN SNOW.

"WATCHMAN, What of the night? Watchman, what of the night?”—is the natural language of an intelligent mind, contemplating from year to year, the events which in modern times are passing before it. Sometimes, indeed, the stillness of the hour may lull to a temporary slumber, but every new occurrence, every movement in the shadowy scene, again arouses the inquiry. Man is beginning to feel that he has come to a period different from the past, and the delightful though solemn consideration is pressing itself upon the Christian, that the mystery of God hastens rapidly to a close, and that our earth, ere long, shall be the witness of manifestations, such as faith at once trembles and rejoices to anticipate.

With pleasure, therefore, we hail every effort through the medium of scriptural argument to arrive at accurate conception on a subject so full

NO. I. VOL. II.

D

of interest; and this gratification is greatly increased when we find, as in the present volume, lessons of doctrine intermingled with illustrations of prophecy, and the spirit of piety shedding its radiance around us, while conducted through regions still unknown to time.

The author considers the predictive portion of scripture as divisible into two very distinct parts, the one having for its object the European nations in the west, and the other embracing the Asiatic tribes in the east. It is the latter department chiefly that is the subject of the present treatise, and the restoration of Israel-the corresponding prophetical dates-the ultimate destinies of the Turkish and Russian empires, are the leading particulars brought before the reader.

The first of these-the prominent figure in the picture which prophecy seems to present of the future East, is an event, the prospect of which is intensely interesting. If, as the writer expects, the seed of Abraham shall be politically re-established, the effect produced upon the surrounding nations would obviously be of the most exciting character; even the whole human family might feel its influence. The remarkable situation of the Holy Land, in reference to the general surface of the globe, has been long remarked, and it is quite a possible thing that, as the destinies of our race are gradually unfolded, Jerusalem, as a central point, may acquire an importance in a political, a scientific, and perhaps a religious aspect, hitherto scarcely imagined. As an instrument of christianizing the heathen and Mahometan tribes, the conversion of the Jews, an accompaniment of their national re-union, will easily be appreciated.

"Where is the country or the province in Asia that can compare with Judea as a centre and emporium of light and civilization? In a circle round about Palestine, the great peninsula of Arabia, Egypt, Abyssinia, the States of Barbary, Asia Minor, and divers nations on the north and the east of Canaan, now the least affected by the gospel of the nations of the earth, and perhaps with few exceptions, on the whole, the least accessible, and the least prepared for moral cultivation, the Jews will receive the gospel, and display its marvellous light. If the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall be the receiving of them but life from the dead ?"-Pages 227, 229.

In Chapter III, the reader will find an account of the manner in which it is proposed to calculate the great period of 2300 years, at the close of which the sanctuary is said (Dan. viii, 14) to be cleansed. We are inclined however to prefer the reading of Jerome, "2400," and to fix the commencement at the taking of Babylon, A.м. 3466, thus making the terminating era to fall about A.D. 1866, the more interesting to us from its now near approach. The "cleansing" is viewed by the writer, we think correctly, as referable to the Mahometan superstition at present predominant in Palestine. At the appointed time, whatever that may be, we anticipate with him, a change, how brought about we can but conjecture, which shall remove from the once sacred soil even the external marks of Islamism, the first, perhaps, in a series of revolutions which shall ultimately affect the whole of Asia, and rescue from the thraldom of ages the mental energies of the largest portion of our globe.

The supposition that by the Gog and Magog of Ezekiel is to be understood the modern Russian empire, appears to us to have every probability on its side. The marginal translation indeed, "Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, "might be expressed in later geography almost without a change of names, the mind instantly recurring to "Russia (proper) Moscow and Tobolsk," as the countries or cities pointed out, while in their front towards Judea we recognize the gigantic Koh, Gog or Caucasus,* as the prophetic symbol of their future sovereign,

*These vocables are, it is probable, etymologically the same, signifying, "the mountain," identical indeed with the German Hoch (high). Ma-gog, "the inhabitan of the mountain," the mountaineer.

proud and doomed. It is extremely remarkable that a prediction so vividly descriptive has not excited more general attention, and seems to afford an instance of that singular apathy which, in ancient times, not even the living voice of the prophets could arouse. If our interpretation is a correct one, the wrongs of Poland shall yet be fearfully avenged in the terrific and overwhelming destruction of its oppressor.

In the application, however, of the character and history of " the king of the north" (Dan. xi.) to the sovereignty of the Czar, we are obliged to differ from our respected author. Even the remark (page 62) that "the tidings from the north," which, according to this view, are to be addressed to the Russian Autocrat, require the transference of his court to a southern position, seems to involve improbability. The exposition of Bishop Newton appears to us superior, namely, that the description from verse 40 to verse 45 relates to the Turkish empire, and that the Russian Court itself is the northern quarter from which troublous tidings shall come, filling the heart of the descendant of Othman with alarm. Under this aspect, the very expression with which the passage closes is remarkable, "none shall help him." Without attaching more importance than the circumstance merits, we cannot but be reminded of the language in which the native weakness of Turkey, and her dependence on other European states for her political existence, are every day spoken of. "The hour of peril or adversity in which the protection which has more than once saved it from destruction may be hoped to be extended ;”—the hour of need, when "the good offices" of the British government may be required, are exhibited even in the grave style of the official despatch, as what, in the future history of the Porte, are not unlikely to occur. To what other state in Europe, though altogether inferior in magnitude, are such sentiments wont to be expressed. In treating, with what other government does the diplomatist recognize thus openly the necessity of that "help," destined one day to be voluntarily withdrawn, or, if still continued, to be found utterly unavailing.

The design of the treatise excludes, as we have already intimated, the predictions relating to Western Christendom. In these we might, particularly in the present time, be disposed to feel more personally interested. But, if we are led in a right spirit to long for the coming of "the kingdom," no part of the earth, considered as the theatre of its display, will be to us without the deepest interest. Besides, as is justly remarked (page iv.), the two divisions of prophecy must inevitably meet at certain points. For the whole is but one grand scheme, the different parts of which have always a relation more or less intimate with each other. Whether, therefore, from Europe or from Asia, whether

From Greenland's icy mountains,
From India's coral strand,
Where Afric's sunny fountains
Roll down their golden sand,

or from some spot on earth, as yet "unknown to song," the heavenly day-spring is reflected, Christian hope hails the coming glory, and will watch with delight its progress, until every land shall be visited by the celestial ray. With the following extract (page 247) we shall close our brief review.

"After the expiry of the millennial period, the light of prophecy may be said to cease. The church is henceforth guided by the light of the gospel, waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. And thus it is substantially with ourselves. Yet, in the fulfilment of prophecy, we recognize the truth, and see the hand of God. ProLord Aberdeen's despatch to the British Ambassador of Constantinople, 16th January 1844.

phecy, for those reasons, demands our profound attention, and will ever be a rich source of instruction and improvement. Are not our minds enlightened, and our views enlarged in proportion as God's great purpose in governing the world is unfolded to us by the prophets? Matters of a merely local and temporary interest cease to engross our thoughts and affections. The same emotion, also, of benevolence and joy which are awakened by the progress of the gospel in distant lands are stirred up by the contemplation of its certain and glorious triumphs among mankind in ages yet to come. We learn, moreover, to turn away from the changes and corruptions which time has introduced among the professed worshippers of God, to the original constitutions of heaven, and rejoice in the belief of the complete and universal restoration of the laws and ordinances of the Head of the Church."

Essays on Christian Union. London: Hamilton & Co. Edinburgh: W. Oliphant & Sons. Glasgow: D. Robertson.

"Is Christ divided?" His body, the church, is indeed one; but its unity has long ceased to be apparent. Assuredly, however, it ought not so to be. Where unity exists, the followers of the Son of God should both feel and show it, that the world may know that God hath sent him. The church has too long confined herself to the duty of confessing and lamenting her divisions. As if in despair of finding a remedy, few have set themselves to the task of curing the evil. This comes, in part, of the visionary schemes of uniformity and comprehension in which the men of other days delighted, and which, by the intolerant and ensnaring maxims on which they were framed, tended to disunite rather than to conciliate. The error lay in attempting too much, and that in a wrong way. Complete visible unity is impracticable, so long as men think differently on matters of importance, and have freedom to express their thoughts; and corporate oneness effected by compulsion or by bribery is no unity at all. But what should hinder that, so far as there is real unity, there shall also be visible union? Why should not brethren walk together as far as they are agreed? Such intercourse would bring into view their numerous points of coincidence, and pave the way for increased harmony of sentiments, and for more extended co-operation. It is not more to be lamented than wondered at, that this principle should be heard of as something new, and as now to be put to the test of experiment. But better late than never. The sentiment having been advanced by Dr Balmer at the Westminster Bicentenary meeting, "gave origin," we are told, "to these Essays, his speech having suggested to a friend of union who was present, the idea of instituting some measure to promote that christian unity, of which the paramount claims had been so admirably stated by our departed friend." The volume which, by the liberality of the friend of union referred to, has been thus presented to the public, will, we doubt not, draw more general attention to the subject, and tend to diffuse the spirit which it is designed to exemplify and commend. Dr Chalmers worthily takes the lead as the " Apostle of Union;" and in an Essay, rather brief, enforces with characteristic power, but with somewhat less than his wonted splendour, the apostolic injunction,-whereunto we have already attained, to that let us walk. The Essays of Drs Balmer and Wardlaw deal more with principles than any of the others, and give us the ablest exposition of the subject in an argumentative form. Dr Candlish views union in connexion with the propagation of the gospel. His Essay exhibits acute thinking, but is deficient in pointed application to a practical end. Mr James and Dr King supply interesting details relative to the state of religious parties, interspersed with suitable and interesting observations. Dr Struthers' subject is party spirit in its prevalence and insidiousness. With the view of exposing its prevalence, Dr Struthers devotes a portion of his Essay to show that "nearly the whole existing denominations are agreed on the great essential doctrines of religion." In making good his

position, Dr Struthers sometimes passes over differences of creed too lightly: thus, "Some think that the dispensation of the Lord's Supper, by pastors properly ordained through the laying on of the hands of bishops, necessarily conveys saving grace; others, that the advantage of the Lord's Supper flows not from any virtue in the ordinance itself, or in him that doth administer it; differing a little, as these do, as to the efficacy of the sacraments," &c. Again, "One would have the support of the gospel made compulsory, to which the other (the Voluntary) demurs." For our part, we more than demur to both these modes of speaking. There is no want of pungency, however, in the second part, in which the author takes the various denominations to task for the sectarianism with which he says they are infected. The Established Church is exhibited in its self-isolated position; the Reformed Presbyterian is charged, on the evidence of its own testimony, as "literally a church which admits of no fellowship with any other church ;"-" the United Secession have more of sectarianism in their denomination than what some of themselves perceive ;" it is graciously conceded, however, that "there is among them a great advance in liberality;"-the Relief Church, "having got hold of a right principle, they are apt to make too much of it as a sectarian distinction "the Original Seceders "shut out many whom Christ has received;"-as to the Free Church, "they have framed their formula so as to give themselves a sectarian aspect. They have required assent to the whole doctrine' of the Confession, without making even its intolerant and persecuting principles matters of forbearance. They have apparently forgotten that they do not now take the oath of allegiance, by the command of the state, before they sign the Confession, and thus get their signature qualified by the civil constitution of the country." Turning to the Congregational Churches, Dr Struthers finds that "there is in many cases as much, and in others far more illiberality, than among those of the presbyterian order;" and that "there is coldness, and distance, and repulsiveness among Scotch Christians of every sect and name." In handling the unity of the heavenly church, and the influence which the prospect of it ought to exercise, Dr Symington, amidst many excellent reflections, guards his views of christian union, as a present practical question, with such reservations and qualifications, as show that the idea of making the volume an example of the union which it commends, has been realized only on the principle that harmony comports with variety, and that good men may be united in their wishes, though differing very considerably as to their means of giving them effect.

Logic, designed as an Introduction to the Study of Reasoning. By JOHN LEECHMAN, A.M. Second Edition. Glasgow: James Maclehose.

AN excellent manual,-clear in its arrangement, accurate in its distinctions, apposite in its illustrations ;-and altogether, in point of method, precision, and perspicuity, a good example of the science of which it undertakes to give account.

The Life of Isaac Milner, D.D., F.R.S., Dean of Carlisle, President of Queen's College, and Professor of Mathematics in the University of Cambridge. By his Niece, MARY MILNER. London: Seeley, Burnside, and Seeley. 1844.

THE Life of Dean Milner afforded excellent materials for an interesting and instructive volume of biography. His success was the result of early and well-directed exertion, in which the ardour and determination of his character were strikingly developed from the moment when, by the help of