Literary Notices. [We hold it to be the duty of an Editor either to give an early notice of the books sent to him for remark, or to return them at once to the Publisher. It is unjust to praise worthless books; it is robbery to retain unnoticed ones.] THE REVIEWER'S CANON. In every work regard the author's end, Since none can compass more than they intend. THE LIFE OF JABEZ BUNTING, D.D. By his Son. THOMAS PERCIVAL BUNTING. Vol. I. London: Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans and Roberts. MEMOIR OF THE REV. E. HENDERSON, D.D., Ph. D. By Thulia S. HENDERSON. London: Knight and Son. WE have associated these Memoirs not only for the measure of resemblance in their subjects, but that each is a product of filial piety; the son of Bunting, and the daughter of Henderson, appearing as the biographers of their fathers. In the practice thus exemplified there are advantages, and there is the risk of injury. In the case in question, the advantages appear to us to have been secured, and the evils, by sagacious and delicate carefulness, escaped. DR. BUNTING, as men know, was a power in his time. Going back as his early life does to the founders of Methodism, there cannot but be in the first volume a peculiar charm for the denomination most concerned, and a strong interest for all who study the histories of great religious movements. The biographer has hitherto, we think, performed his task well. We shall look with some anxiety for the Second Volume, which, dealing with the part enacted by Bunting in the maturity of his powers and influence, under the full eye of the public, in a period fresh in the memory of the present generation, will make still greater demands on the judicious faithfulness of his son. DR. HENDERSON was for many years a faithful, and not unrecognized servant of his denomination and of the general church, an amiable man, a profound scholar in the Shemitic tongues, an efficient professor of theology. We congratulate Miss Henderson on the manner in which she has executed her task. We can hardly conceive of any thing better of the kind; and we heartily commend the volume to ministers, students, and private Christians of all denominations. ILLUSTRATIONS, EXPOSITORY AND PRACTICAL OF THE FAREWELL DISCOURSE OF JESUS: Being a Series of Lectures on the 14th, By the late REV. JOHN B. PATEdinburgh: T. and T. CLARK. 15th and 16th Chapters of John. Or the four biographers of Jesus "the beloved disciple," with eagleglance, penetrated the farthest into the mysterious depths of His being, and drew in the largest measure of the etherial breath. He on His Master's breast In mystic sleep reclined; The result is that we have the profoundest views of the Son, and the reports of some of the loftiest utterances of the Word, only in the fourth Gospel; which may be regarded as a lesser and holier sanctuary within the larger temple of Scripture; and these latter chapters as the Holy of Holies. The work before us is from a man who seems to have been favourably distinguished from many of his countrymen by less of that repulsiveness, hardness, and dryness, by which they are characterized; not because they are Scotch, but because they are trained from the beginning to conceive of Christianity rather as a system of abstractions than as fellowship with a Living Christ. We are glad to see this Second Edition, which will not only perpetuate the remembrance of the worthy author, but also do something towards producing a better appreciation of Christianity as appealing to and ennobling our affections. AN HOUR WITH THE PILGRIM FATHERS AND THEIR PERSECUTORS. A Lecture by BENJAMIN SCOTT, Esq., Chamberlain of the City of London. Longman, Brown and Co. The subject and author of this Lecture invest it with special interest. The subject is one of the most stirring chapters in the history of this country; and the author is a gentleman eminent for literary ability, enlightened philanthropy, and social position. Those who desire to spend "an hour" of profitable excitement can scarcely do better than peruse this admirable lecture.-SHALL I FOLLOW CHRIST? By the Rev. JOHN KENNEDY, M.A. London: Ward and Co. It is almost impossible to conceive of a line of argument, more adapted to bring the soul to a decision for God than you have in this earnest and thoughtful tract. If its circulation does not equal that of "Come to Jesus," it will not be because it is not equal to that popular tract in most respects, and superior in some.-FOUNDATION TRUTHS. A Discourse by the Rev. JOHN WILLIAMS, Glasgow. London: J. Heaton and Son. A full and honest statement of the Cardinal truths of the Christian faith.-THE GOOD TIME COMING. A Lecture by THOMAS ROBERT STEVENSON. Ilkiston. A very spirited production; there is fire in every sentence. We shall be glad to meet the author soon again. A MESSAGE TO YOUNG MEN. By the Rev. JOHN STENT, Notting Hill. London: Bayam and Green. This is another Discourse of the true type, evidently the product of a mind untrammelled, vigorous, thoughtful, and in earnest about the highest interests of humanity. THE SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN BOOK. Compiled for the Leeds Sunday School Union. Charles Goodall, Leeds. We can commend this collection of Hymns for children; they are selected with great taste and judgment, and the book is decidedly one of the best we know of for Sunday Schools. MAN: HIS CREATION, PRESERVATION, AND IMMORTALITY. By JAMES J. MORTLOCK. London: Wertheim, Macintosh and Hunt. The author of this little book has chosen a comprehensive subject, which he has not exhausted in his pages 205. PHILOSOPHY OF THE PLAN OF SALVATION. A Book for the Times. By AN AMERICAN CITIZEN. London: The Religious Tract Society. A very slightly altered reprint of a work which has already been many years in circulation, of which we can only say, that while the exposition which it gives of the Biblical development and of the characteristics of Christianity, fails to give complete satisfaction to men of breadth and culture, it is yet, from its freshness and soberness, adapted for the instruction of a very large class of the young,-THE GLOAMING OF LIFE: A MEMOIR OF JAMES STIRLING, By the Rev. Alexander WALLACE, Glasgow: Scottish Temperance League. If every drunkard in the kingdom could be strapped down in his chair until he had read this admirable little book, he might, when released, rise "a sadder and a wiser man." -THE TITLES OF OUR LORD ADOPTED BY HIMSELF IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. By J. MONTAGUE RANDALL, Vicar of Langham. London: The Religious Tract Society. This was written under great physical difficulty, and the work was evidently prompted and continued by the desire of an honest heart to do good; for which, among a very large class, the book is well suited.-THE POWER OF JESUS CHRIST TO SAVE TO THE UTTERMOST. By the REV. A. J. CAMPBELL. London; James Nisbet and Co. Without professing entire acquiescence in all which this book contains, we have great pleasure in recording our general satisfaction, by reason of its freshness and vigor, and rare adaptation for service to diseased souls. It ought to circulate widely. A HOMILY ON Man-Worth. "And have not charity I am nothing."-1 Cor. xiii. 2. HE greatest thing in the universe is MIND. Earth, sea, stars, suns-all material systems would lack completeness and meaning, were there no mind to observe, study, and worship the Great Invisible, whose will they obey, and whose glory they declare. Nature is a theatre, disclosing scenes of stupendous interest, but without mind, there is no spectator; no eye to see, no heart to feel, no voice to applaud. Nature is a temple furnished with all the apparatus of worship; all the elements to awaken devotion are there; but without mind there is no one to bend the knee, feel the inspiration, or sound the notes of praise. Moreover, mind is the brightest mirror of the God-head. The emanations of reason are more refulgent rays of the "Father of Lights," than the radiance of all suns. Conscience gives a sublimer idea of Eternal order than the utmost regularity of material forces. The abysses of thought and emotion impart a deeper impression of the exhaustless "fountain of life," than perennial rivers or fathomless seas. ture's ten thousand cadences give no idea of Divine harmony equal to that which springs from a soul reconciled to itself, and dwelling in the calm serenity of love. Na The greatest thing in mind is LOVE. Here the great Apostle teaches, that whatever a human intelligence may be, have, or do, if it is destitute of love, it is nothing. What is this love, without which humanity is "nothing?" It is not the gregarious Vol. VIII. 2 P sentiment which links us to, and gives us an interest in, our species. All sentient creatures have this-it is an instinct common to animal existence. In some men it is stronger than in others. Those who possess it to the highest degree, are distinguished as amiable, or good-natured. Much of what is termed domestic love and social benevolence is nothing but a development of this constitutional sentiment. We regard this element as a blessing, but not a virtue. There is no morality in it. Man is no more to be praised or blamed for its existence, than he is for the conformation of his frame, or the color of his skin. A good broad layer of it in our nature may be necessary to the formation of a pre-eminently great character, but is neither greatness nor virtue in itself; it can feed the upas as well as nourish a tree of life. Nor is it theological love; that affection which one has for those of his own faith and sect, but which will look coldly and heartlessly upon all besides-an affection which pours forth tender and pathetic benedictions upon all within the narrow precincts of our own creed, but fulminates, in savage tones, anathemas upon all in the great heterodox world. This is a love-no, we will not profane the holy word-an affection which we cannot reprobate too strongly. It is a demon working under the mask of an angel. In the sacred name of Jesus it dissocializes the race, and disgraces Christianity. It reduces the Gospel to a dogma, and man to a bigot. It leads its possessor to look upon all who follow not himself, rather as the spawn of hell, than the offspring of God. Nor is it sacerdotal love. The love which speaks from ecclesiastical chairs and consecrated altars, and seats of political power; which speaks eloquently about the cure of souls, and church extension; but whispers no accents of sympathy for the physical and social woes of the race. A love which will lecture men on their duties, but rob them of their rights; gives them Bibles, but steals their bread; rears for them steepled houses for the Sunday, but |