other, the Healer of every breach, the Remedy of every woe, the Giver of life, the Resurrection from the dead: -"A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of his people Israel."

But everywhere, at Jerusalem and at Rome, in Judea and in Greece, the apostles had to meet the question, Is Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified, He? In that despised man, "smitten of God and afflicted," "the friend of publicans and sinners," the co-partner in suffering of thieves, are we to recognize the Son of David, the Lord of all, who shall judge the quick and the dead? The devout Jew said, "We trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel;" but to the unbelieving Jew he was a stumbling-block. The Gentile, when he "heard of the resurrection of the dead," mocked; to him Christ was foolishness. Nevertheless the apostles witnessed "both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: that Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles." Such is the subject of the Acts of the Apostles.

This book, then, holds a most important place in the records of God's dealings with men. We unroll and read the passing over of the old dispensation, and the "times of ignorance," into the new. We trace the harmonious conjunction of the present with the past, and witness at the appointed time the outward flow of the secret purposes of God. Hence the unceasing references made by the apostles to the history of his ancient people, the anxiety they displayed to produce the testimony of Moses and the prophets, and the careful dovetailing of the new facts in the divine procedure with those that had gone before. The genius of the book is, therefore, essentially, necessarily, historical. Its didactic portions are very few, and always subservient to the historical application; and the various facts of Christ's life and death are employed according to the condition of those persons to whom these important events are announced.

No exposition can reach the requirements of the case that does not trace these essential features, and mark with distinctness their historical relations. And this becomes the more important

since the world is still divisible into the same two classes; the gospel has even now to be presented to Jew and Gentile. The hopes of Israel are yet unfulfilled. The Son of David has no admitted authority over the Jew. Gentile lands, too, continue fertile in crime, and gross darkness covers the people. Hundreds of millions, alas! remain ignorant of Him who is the only hope of humanity. "We see not yet all things put under him."

Many interesting and important questions, therefore, arise in the perusal of this story of the promulgation of our faith, and its success in the hands of the first missionaries of the cross. Such as the best method of presenting the great facts of Christianity to the unconverted of both these classes; the causes of success; the applicability of apostolic example to present circumstances and to local peculiarities; the connexion of Christianity with the past history of our race; its place in the divine purposes as developed in ancient prophecy; its historical aspect towards Judaism; its application to the idolatry of the Gentile world; the class of men to be devoted to this work; and their furniture and equipment. To all which must be added, the mode of securing the results thus obtained; the form and perpetuity of the church; her offices and ministry.

These are topics of pressing and immediate interest. The church's energies seem to be becoming paralysed. The cry of perishing multitudes is heard, but no adequate resources appear to answer it. Nay, we are even called to defend our own hearths and altars; the church herself is uttering her moan for her absent Lord. Will a return to apostolic example and practice help us? We turned to Dr. Bennett's book, hoping there to find some reply to our questionings, some of these topics discussed, and a practical direction given to the truths and examples discoverable in apostolic precedent. Such an exposition is, however, yet to be written. Dr. Bennett has satisfied himself with a merely literal explanation of the book, seldom turning aside even to urge the ordinary practical results which naturally flow from the matter of his lectures. General views are but seldom taken, and then in a very cursory manner. The lectures abound in that species of learning which our biblical cyclopædias and

purely grammatical interpreters have rendered familiar to us, while they are entirely wanting in the higher qualities of true scriptural exposition. The result is a work of much less utility and value than could have been expected from the endowments of the expositor, taking rank much below the well-known and truly valuable notes of Barnes.

Some of the paraphrases are, however, felicitous; and a few of the new renderings proposed not without merit. Here the lecturer has made advantageous use of the Syriac. Yet the literal character of some of his translations makes but poor amends for their occasional baldness and want of intelligibility. Now and then our powers of selfcommand are put to the test; as when we are informed that "Corinth may be said to be familiar to the unlearned, by means of that foreign fruit which we call currants, which derive their name from Corinth," page 285.

On the subject of baptism, Dr. Bennett has not been behind his contemporaries in favouring us with some new views. The fertility of late of our pædobaptist brethren on this topic has rendered it somewhat difficult to keep pace with them. One view after another is discarded or displaced so rapidly, that it can scarce be said what they believe, or in what they are united, except in opposition to the truth.

It is with reference to the jailor of Philippi weread the following language:

"He asked, 'What must I do?' and the apostle told him, Believe in Christ;' he asked to be saved, and the apostle promised he should be saved, and his house too. It is observable that the apostle adds, what is too often overlooked, and thy house.' This is no novelty. We have just seen it in the house of Lydia; and our Lord had already said, 'This day is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as this (Zaccheus) is a son of Abraham,' to whom God said, I will be a God to thee and thy seed. The jailor had been addressed in the singular: Believe thou, and thou shalt be saved;' but 'thy house' is added. That the house signifies the family, needs not to be proved. That salvation was promised to it, on the jailor's believing, is clear. But when it is said, by some, That is, if they believe,' is not this making void the word of God? For this might be said of any man's house, or of the jailor's, if he did not believe. The last part of the apostle's address would thus be made nugatory. If we would avoid this, we must

admit that, when a man believes, then salvation comes to his house, in some real, important sense, which I am not here called to unfold.”— Page 265.

has in this very page informed us that Now, considering that Dr. Bennett the apostle subsequently gave a "more ample explanation of the nature of the salvation of the soul, by believing in Christ," and that in the very next verse it is written that "they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house," an expression clearly implying that the jailor's family were of believe the gospel, we think that he is years to understand, and therefore to called upon, by every consideration of his office as a teacher of the gospel, "to unfold" the nature of that salvation which was enjoyed through the jailor's faith. And the more especially since he gives the practical exhortation,

"Nor let it be forgotten that salvation comes to the house of him who embraces the gospel of Christ. Rejoice domestically, ye heads of houses who have believed personally!”—Page 268.

Has

In what are they to rejoice? That their children's souls are saved by their parent's faith? What is that "real and important sense" in which salvation is received through another's faith? not the lecturer told us before that "the salvation of the soul is by believing in Christ?" Then what is this salvation that can be obtained, or is enjoyed, without believing? Have we not a right to demand, and will not every parent be most anxious to learn, what is the nature, the extent of the blessing thus summarily and by proxy obtained? Surely a principle so subversive of the necessity of personal piety and of a living, vital faith to the enjoyment of the blessings of redemption, is not to be so readily admitted. Is it to be thought that the apostles were unmindful or ignorant of the purport of their commission, which runs, "he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;" that they readily admitted to baptism, and declared to be saved those who had not, and could not be supposed to have believed? To baptize, or rather to profess to baptize, without faith, has been for three hundred years the practice of some pædobaptists, but to proclaim a salvation, in some sort "real and important," without faith, is indeed a new and unlooked-for novelty. That without

the neophyte into the Christian church? Has he for ever discarded the basin for the shallow tank or bubbling stream, leading down into it the infant boy already saved in some important sense by his father's faith? If not, again we ask, where is the candour, or the fairness of such arguments? Till our opponents practise what they believe, their reasons are somewhat worse than worthless. If pouring is baptizing, let them pour; the command is authoritative and clear, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, pouring them into the name of the Father," &c.

On the second reason of the lecturer we shall not detain our readers. We are indeed not a little puzzled to know how it comes to pass that because Philip was not immersed, therefore the eunuch was not. Certain it is that something was done to the eunuch that was not done to Philip, but by Philip, for it is said that he baptized him; but the proof here said to exist that Philip did not immerse the eunuch, is to us perfectly

Our remarks shall close with the following passage. Of its delicacy and sagacious wisdom we leave our readers to judge:

"With regard to females, many reasons exclude the notion of their being immersed; for to whatever part of the body the water of baptism is applied, that part must be naked,* otherwise it is the dress, and not the person, that is baptized. (!) If antiquity is pleaded for immersion, antiquity would prove that even the females were baptized naked.-Page 136.

We close Dr. Bennett's book. He has not added to his reputation by its publication, nor, we fear, to his usefulness.

The italics are Dr. Bennett's.

Four Lectures on the Advantages of a Classical Education, as an Auxiliary to a Commercial Education. By the Rev. JOSEPH ANGUS, M.A. Delivered in the Theatre of the City of London School. London: Printed by Tyler and Reed. 8vo. pp. viii. 64.

About a year and a half ago, the committee of the City of London School announced two prizes for written lectures, intended to benefit the humbler class of scholars, those destined for trade or the middle grades of commercial occupation, by showing them the advantage of attending to classics, and of combining a classical with a business education; to combat the feeling which is generally entertained by youths of this description, or by their parents, against this branch of study; and to show that classics are a great auxiliary to all who choose to make them available for their own improvement and for relaxation from business, and have often proved the prelude to advancement in the world. Mr. Angus was one of the two success ful competitors, and these lectures were publicly read in the school previously to the annual examination last year. This year, the other set of lectures will be read, which were the production of a gentleman named Pycroft, a master of arts of Trinity College, Oxford. We are not surprised that the first place was adjudged to Mr. Angus, for he has performed his undertaking with great zeal, and evinced an extensive acquaintance with the subjects to

which he had to refer, combined with a mental discipline which furnishes in itself an illustration and proof of his theory. He maintains that a classical education excites our interest, exercises the memory, forms the judgment, enlarges the mind, trains it to habits of clear noblest examples of beautiful and impressive and comprehensive thinking, furnishes the language, and cultivates the taste. His conclusion is, "That no study is so adapted to exercise and perfect the whole mind as the study of classical languages."

Glimpses of the Truth as it is in Jesus. By the Rev. OCTAVIUS WINSLOW, A. M. Second Edition, Edinburgh: Kennedy. 16mo. pp. x. 344.

In a recent visit to Scotland, the author delivered several discourses from different pulpits which he was earnestly requested to publish. The substance of them is contained in this volume. The subjects are, The Voice of the Charmer-Alone with Jesus-The Pastor's Request for the Prayers of his Flock

A Word in Season from Christ to the Weary-The Axe laid at the Root-Broken Cisterns-The Coming of the Lord in its Relation to Nominal Christianity-Christian Love a Test of Christian Character. It is scarcely necessary to add that the sentiment is evangelical and the style popular.

One Hundred and Twenty-nine Letters from the Ren. JOHN NEWTON, late Rector of St. Mary Woolnoth, London, to the Rev. William Bull of Newport Pagnell. Written during a Period of thirty-two years, from 1773 to 1805. London: Hamilton and Co. 12mo. pp. 312.

The ease, humour, and transparent simplicity of Mr. Newton's style rendered him a delightful correspondent; and these letters possess the yet higher recommendations of adaptation to cherish devout and holy emotion. The prevailing sentiments in the writer's mind were these: that all things are under the government of Christ; that it is good to realize this in reference to every incident in daily life; that it is desirable to treat of every subject referred to in writing to friends on this principle, and that it is proper to keep up in friendly intercourse an unremitting reference to the obligations under which we lie to Him who gave himself for our sins, and who now watches over us with the wisest and most gracious purposes. In every page of such correspondence, conducted by a man of real talent, as Mr. Newton was, there will be found something to gratify a spiritually minded reader. The publication of these letters is, however, at the present time peculiarly scasonable. We wish they may circulate extensively, especially among the evangelical members of the church to which Mr. Newton belonged. To persons whose recollections go back no more than twenty years it will seem astonishing, almost incredible, that such affectionate and confidential intercourse should have existed between a clergyman and a dissenting pastor. What will they think of a clergyman drawing out a plan for the education of dissenting ministers, sitting on the committee of a society for this purpose, nominating candidates, busying himself to point out stations for dissenting preachers to occupy, and recommending individuals to the pastorate of destitute dissenting churches, with fraternal, or rather paternal care! Such things were, fifty years ago, as may be seen in this volume, the influence of which will be beneficial wherever it meets with the acceptance it deserves.

Ancient History. The History of Rome, from various Authentic Sources, both Ancient and Modern. With a Map. London: Religious Tract Society. 8vo. pp. 459. Price 7s. 6d. cloth.

One of the most powerful objections to the plan which some advocate of entrusting to government the superintendence of secular education is, that even secular education may be so conducted as to interfere materially with the interests of religion. The history of Greece or Rome may be so written as to predispose to infidelity, Romanism, or genuine Christianity. To say that it may be so written is indeed to say too little; it must have some bias or other. The facts of an extensive history cannot be set forth so drily and so impartially, human nature being what it is, as to be quite devoid of moral or immoral, religious or irrcligious tendencies. Even in every day life, we see that the spirit in which a tale is told has a powerful influence upon the mode in which the incidents are stated and the impression they make on the

hearer. Immense mischief has been done during the last century by historical works in general circulation, and usually employed in tuition. Parents ought to be far more attentive than they usually are to the character of the school books used by their children, and to those works of higher pretensions that are acquisition of knowledge. We have, therefore, perused by young persons who are eager for the long thought the preparation of good historical works by the conductors of the Religious Tract Society one of the most important parts of their labours; and we cordially welcome this large and closely printed volume, as a suitable companion to the other volumes of ancient history by which it has been preceded.

The History of Rome: from the Earliest Period to the Close of the Empire. Adapted for Youth, Schools, and Families. By Miss CORNER, Author of the History of Italy and Switzerland, &c., &c. London: Dean and Co. Though this book does not contain more than one-tenth part of the reading of that to which we have just directed attention, it the author of many historical works for the deserves respectful notice. Miss Corner is which are free from the pernicious characteruse of schools and young people generally, istics of those produced by many other writers. The authorities she has followed principally in this case are Niebuhr, Arnold, and Keightley, and parents will find her volume a safe and interesting introduction to Roman history. Doctrinal Puritans. On Indwelling Sin; and on the Mortification of Sin in Believers. By JOHN OWEN, D.D. London: pp. 264 and 142. Price 1s. 4d. cloth.

Two valuable treatises, which we read with advantage at the commencement of our minis terial course, and which we can cordially recommend to our younger brethren. They constitute one of the volumes published monthly by the Religious Tract Society, under the general title of The Doctrinal Puritans and Divines of the Seventeenth Century.

Works of the English Puritan Divines.

Charnock, London: Nelson. pp. xxvii. 283. A volume pertaining to a series which furnishes substantial theological reading at a remarkably low price. The pieces included are, The Chief of Sinners objects of the Choicest Mercy-The Knowledge of Christ Crucified-The Sinfulness and Cure of Thoughts-SelfExamination-The Pardon of Sin-A Discourse of Delight in Prayer-A Discourse of Mercy Received. A Memoir of the Author, who was born in 1628 and died in 1680, is prefixed.

The Three Divine Sisters, Faith, Hope, and Charity. The Leaven, or a Direction to Heaven. A Crucifix; or a Sermon upon the Passion. Semper Idem; or the Immutable Mercy of Jesus Christ, &c. &c. &c. By the Rev. THOMAS ADAMS, Minister of Willington, Bedfordshire. With Introduction, by the Rev. W. H. STOWELL, Independent College, Rotherham. London: pp. lxiii. 284. Price Is. 6d. cloth.

Another volume of the same series, contain