The New Testament. American revised edition. Philadelphia: American Baptist Publication Society, 1420, Chestnut Street.

Ir was most fitting that our American brethren should bring out an edition of the revised version with the commendations suggested by the American Committee incorporated in the text. For the most part these corrections are of much value, and if our English revisers had not been timid they would have adopted them. It will strike most observers that in omitting them our own revisers have used more caution than courage, and by no means improved their work. The more we read our own revision, the more we feel its great value, and at the same time the deeper is our conviction that our old form of the New Testament will not be superseded for many a day, and certainly not by the present attempt at revision, admirable though it be.

The Sick Man's Comfort Book. By the Rev. P. B. POWER, M.A. Hamilton, Adams, and Co.

THIS is a choice word of comfort,exactly what it professes to be. We wish we could put a copy under every sick man's pillow. We have placed a short chapter in this month's magazine with the view of pressing it upon the notice of our readers.

Messiah the Prince; or, The Media

torial Dominion of Jesus Christ. By WILLIAM SYMINGTON, D.D., with a Memoir of the Author. T. Nelson and Sons.

THIS great work is most handsomely brought out by the Messrs. Nelson. The memoir is, we suppose, all that could be written, but it is short and sweet. As to the treatise itself, wherein it teaches the supremacy of Christ over all nations, and the duty of nations to serve him, we are heartily agreed with the learned author; but as to whether nations as nations are to set up religious establishments is quite another question, and we suspect that we should have to cross swords with Dr. Symington on that point. The proposition that the State has

nothing to do with religion we deny, and at the same moment we deny the other proposition-that it is the duty of the State to patronize and endow religion. The function of civil government is best discharged under a sense of subordination to the law of Christ, and this sense of subordination should also suggest to the civil governor the limit of his jurisdiction, and prevent his putting forth the hand of Uzzah to steady the ark of the Lord. A ruler may be all the more religious because, as a ruler, he lets religion alone: his awe of God may be best exhibited by non-intrusion into a work which the Lord has entrusted to his own church, but which he never committed to the care of princes, presidents, or parliaments.

The Brethren; their worship and the Word of God at open variance. By ROBERT H. CARSON. Elliot Stock.

THIS is a capital pamphlet for distribution where Plymouths are working after their manner. All other Christians have some feeling of respect for each other; but these do not acknowledge any but themselves, and yet they talk of the one church and of Christian love. The exclusive brethren have no ecclesiastical connection with other believers in Christ, and refuse officially to acknowledge or reply to any communications from them; at least, such is our personal experience. You might as well expect Cardinal Manning to acknowledge the ministerial standing of a Methodist local preacher as hope to have any church dealing with an assembly of brethren. Their spirit, as a body, is the reverse of that of our Lord Jesus. We speak advisedly, and mean all that we say. Dr. Carson handles them as they ought to be handled, that is to say, vigorously and with plain speech, but not with reviling. Their ecclesiastical history becomes more and more sorrowful, for it is a reproduction of the divisions and contentions which other bodies have had to deplore, and yet they are the accusers and the judges of us all. May the Lord give them a better mind. When once they are known their power to proselytize is gone; but such is their subtlety that they need searching out by some such light as Dr. Carson casts upon them.

Half-hearted Churchmen: a Correspondence in "Church Bells" with various writers. By the Rev. CHARLES BULLOCK, B.D. "Home Words' Publishing Office, 1, Paternoster Buildings.

MR. BULLOCK confounds his adversaries by the exhibition of Christian charity, which is a rare grace among those who call him a half-hearted churchman. If he were not very deeply a churchman he would long ago have been with dissenters. He is far more a Christian than an Episcopalian, and in this we could wish that his opponents would copy him; he does honour to himself and pours confusion upon them by simply writing in the spirit of his Lord and Master. In fifty years time it will be difficult to make men believe that it was necessary seriously to advocate the views here set forth by Mr. Bullock: the brutish intolerance of those who denounce all communions but that of the Episcopal body will by that time be universally hooted at. This collection of letters will be exceedingly interesting to all who are concerned in the Nonconformist struggle: they reveal the difficulties of a good man in the Establishment and show how the grace of God expels the bigotry of sect.

The Life of Francis Murphy, Gospel Temperance Advocate, and Founder of the Blue Ribbon Army in America. "Christian Herald," 2, Ivy Lane. SIXPENNYWORTH of information about a good man who is doing a thoroughly good work. The gospel is the glory of the Blue Ribbon Army, and no one takes more delight in it than Francis Murphy. To our great joy we saw Messrs. Murphy and Noble in our College lecture hall the other day, and we gripped their hands with peculiar satisfaction, as true servants of the Lord. Total abstinence is never in their case put before the gospel or in the stead of it, but it is used as an assistant to raise those from the ditch of drunkenness who have fallen therein.

In Bible Lands. By Rev. RICHARD NEWTON, D.D. T. Nelson and Sons. A BOOK of travel in the Holy Land written for the young. A capital idea, carried out by an author who, above all

other men, is suited for the work. He has produced a child's book which those of older growth will love to read. The engravings are excellent, for they are of the usual quality of Nelson and Sons' work; and the letter-press is as instructive as the most learned works, but happily denuded of the hard words which so often deface them. A book of books for the family library.

Reminiscences of Congregationalism Fifty Years Ago. Prepared for the Jubilee Meeting of 1881. By JOHN STOUGHTON, Ď.D. Hodder and Stoughton.

If all those who have had large dealings with men and things would imitate Dr. Stoughton by leaving behind them their own reminiscences, history would become easy work. Our good friend has seen fifty good years, and the story which he has to tell is worthy of a royal listener; as to how well he tells it our readers need not to be informed. Where lives there a better ecclesiastical historian than John Stoughton? A shilling could hardly be better spent than in buying this tractate of about 100 pages.

Companion to the Revised Version of the English New Testament. By A. ROBERTS, D.D. Cassell, Petter, Galpin, and Co.

EVERY student of the Bible who can afford half-a-crown should get this most useful and entertaining volume. It contains the sort of reading which has the most charm for us, for it deals with the Scriptures themselves and their meaning in a most pleasant manner. Reading this" Companion," the alterations of the Revised Version become vastly more intelligible; for one sees the why and the wherefore for each of them. Sitting down to these pages with the two ver sions before us we forget all the worries of life, and beguile the hour in a manner which leaves substantial profit behind. Even if the reader should be innocent of Greek, Dr. Roberts will give him abundant instruction; but if he has a thorough acquaintance with the sacred tongue he will not find the work superfluous. We take the utmost pleasure in commending the little book to all Christian people, especially to those who are teachers of others.

Worthies of the World. A series of original Biographical Sketches. 13 parts, 6d. each. Ward and Lock. THESE thirteen parts will make a noble volume of biographies. Part 12 contains C. H. Spurgeon, Victor Hugo, Homer, and John Bright-a rather singular quartette. Our life will never be quite accurately sketched till we take it in hand on our own account, but in this instance it is exceedingly well done, and the reader will not wonder that it is so, if he recognizes the initials G. H. P. at the end of the article. Of the whole series we are bound to speak in the highest terms. Ward, Lock, and Co. were fortunate in fixing upon the idea, and they have carried it out in a masterly manner. A better sixpennyworth than one of these parts it would be hard to meet with in the realm of books.

Monaco, and its Gaming Tables. By

JOHN POLSON. Elliot Stock. ANOTHER bomb-shell for the gambling Hall of Monte-Carlo. It will be destroyed at last, but a public opinion has first to be formed. Families with sons who are young had better keep clear of Nice and Mentone till these seductive tables are over-turned, for the place is attractive, and the play enchants, and men are ruined before they know it. The passion for gambling is not the only one to which Monaco appeals. Satan's seat is on that charming headland. Friendly Chats with Young Men and Maidens. By H. O. MACKEY. Sunday School Union.

RIGHT glad are we to see Pastor H. O. Mackey, of Southampton, producing a book. Our friend and brother was once a student of the Pastors' College, and he is now in many ways an honour to his Alma Mater. These "friendly chats" are instructive and inspiring, and have all the freshness and naturalness of a young man's words to young men. The Sunday School Union people have done well to adopt the little work as one of their own. Whatever meritorious publications they may issue, Mr. Mackey's book will not dishonour them; it is full of grace and common sense. Let young men and maidens read it, and attend to its admonitions.

Moses or Christ? Being the Argument of the Epistle to the Galatians. By R. GOVETT. Norwich: Fletcher and Son.

VIRTUALLY a commentary upon the Galatians, written in that deeply spiritual vein which is characteristic of Mr. Govett. He has given the heart of the controversy between Paul and the Judaizers in his title "Moses or Christ?" This is to many poor bewildered minds still the question. Happy are they who are free from the law by union to the Law-fulfiller.

By

Poets, Painters, and Players. GEORGE WILSON M'CREE. National Temperance Depot, 337, Strand.

THERE is more of interesting reading in this sixpenny pamphlet than will be commonly found in a six shilling volume. We scarcely remember learning so many facts in so short a time as that which we spent in perusing Mr. M'Cree's hundred pages. Specially were we touched by the story of Turner. To be so great a painter, and so small a man morally and spiritually is a most unhappy combination. Hartley Coleridge again, drunk in a ditch! Oh! drink, those whom thou hast not slain thou hast wounded, and thou hast not spared the most gifted of mankind.

We would suggest that a copy of this fascinating book should be given to every young man of ability. He will read it, he must read it, and he will see how genius itself may become a curse if it be enslaved by the drink-demon. How happy are they who have clean escaped from the ensnaring vice. How earnestly should they employ every hopeful means by which the slaves of this tyrant may be rescued from his chains. Such writing as Mr. M'Cree's acts as a hammer to dash the fetters to pieces.

The portion devoted to players is a sad revelation, and we are glad to see it close with Pollok's lines :

"The theatre was, from the very first, The favourite haunt of sin, though honest

men

Some very honest, wise, and worthy menMaintain'd it might be turn'd to good ac

count:

And so, perhaps, it might, but never was;From first to last it was an evil place."