the soul-supporting meditation. Its origin is touching. It was written for the Sabbath communings of an afflicted sister, now in heaven.

25. Spirit Rapping Unveiled! an exposé of the origin, history, theology, and philosophy of certain alleged communications from the spirit world. With illustrations. By Rev. H. Mattison, A. M. New York: Mason & Brothers. 1853.

A book for the times, and a well aimed shaft at one of the most bold, bare-faced delusions ever concocted. Its presumption and audacity fill the mind with horror, and in nothing more than in its professed familiarity with the awful realities of the invisible world. Its direct tendency is to discredit religion and to unsettle the public mind. That there are some well attested facts in its history does not, in the least, justify its iniquitous pretensions. It is nothing, more nor less, than the perversion of some natural law to the destruction of truth and holiness. Mr. Mattison has gone into the subject filled with holy indignation at the vauntings of this child of the devil. The extravagant, crack-brained ravings to which this remarkable hallucination has given birth have received from him a severe rebuke. The principal questions raised by the movement are discussed, and the developements are given from the advocates of the delusion themselves. The book is a timely and powerful antidote to this wonderful poison.

26. Abbeokuta; or sunrise within the tropics: an outline of the origin and progress of the Yoruba Mission. By Miss Tucker. New York: Carter and Brothers.

The history of this recently founded and populous African city, and of the introduction and prosperity of Christianity in it, is given by Miss Tucker, in an authentic and pleasing manner, and is replete with romantic interest. The establishment of Christianity in that remote inland city is full of promise. The natives, in sagacity and thrift, are far superior to many of the surrounding tribes. The return, from Sierra Leone, of about 300 recaptured slaves, who had received their impressions of civilization and religion at that station, was the origin of the flourishing mission at Abbeokuta.

27. Christian Progress; a sequel to the "Anxious inquirer after Salvation directed and encouraged." By John Angell James. New York: Carter and Brothers.

1853.

A deeply interesting tract, from one of the most practical religious writers of the day, on the following topics; the necessity; the nature; the means; the mistakes; the hindrances; the motives; the encouragements to progress in the divine life.

28. The Story of Mont Blanc, By Albert Smith, New York: G. P. Putnam, 1853; is a graphic description of various adventures in ascending its summit. That of the author, in 1801, is related with a bold hand, portraying with thrilling vividness the perilous passages effected, until he stood on the

crown of the monarch of all the Alps; a dizzy, fearful height; the reward of temerity, and a labor without profit, except for scientific purposes; more to be appreciated in the narrative than in the exploit.

29. Hand-Book for American Travellers in Europe; collated from the best authorities; By Rev. Roswell Park, D. D., President of Racine College, Wisconsin; New York: G. P. Putnam, 1853, gives very minute and copious details of all the information necessary for the best possible tour of the Continent. As many Americans annually make it, we advise them to consult this convenient and reliable Hand-book.

30. Essays for Summer hours. By Charles Lanman. Third edition revised. New York: M. W. Dodd. 1853.

These effusions are from a pen not unknown to the public. Mr. Lanman, not long since, favored us with "The Private Life of Daniel Webster;" a work on which we have expressed an opinion. These essays are sprightly and instructive. They are disconnected, suggested by the incidents of the season, and may be read with profit and pleasure.

31. The Claremont Tales; or Illustrations of the Beatitudes; New York: Carter and Brothers, 1853; is a laudable attempt to imbue the youthful mind with a knowledge of Divine truth by illustrative stories. All persons acquainted with the inculcation of Scripture doctrine upon the minds of children, appreciate the necessity and effect of apt representations. This is the pious design of the author.

32. Stuyvesant; A Franconia Story; By the author of the Rollo Books; New York: Harper and Brothers; 1853, is one of Abbot's serials for children. It portrays scenes, more for the purpose of awakening the moral sentiments in them, than to impart direct moral instruction. And we know how effectually, in the bosoms of children, these sentiments will arise spontaneously with the scenes represented. No one has the faculty of addressing children more happily than the Abbots; and their reputation is a guarantee for the kind of sentiments they would excite.

33. Justification by Faith. A sermon delivered before the Synod of New York and New Jersey, in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., on Wednesday evening, Oct. 20, 1852. By the Rev. Jonathan Stearns, D. D. Published by the direction of the Synod. Second edition. New York: M. W. Dodd. 1853.

We have read with satisfaction and edification this admirable discourse. The doctrine is very fully explained in its principal points, and maintained by sound Scriptural arguments. The imputation of Christ's righteousness, as here stated, is divested of much of its repulsiveness, although the theological use of the term is sharply contended for. We have a much stronger objection to another dogma which it teaches; the priority of regeneration to faith, although, strange to say, the office of faith in justification is beautifully set forth. The sermon we regard as decidedly able.

34. Open Communion: or the principles of restricted communion examined and proved to be unscriptural and false, in a series of letters to a friend. By S. W. Whitney, A. M., late pastor of the Baptist Church, Westport, N. Y. New York: M. W. Dodd. 1853.

This is an age of progress, and though all progress is not necessarily good, this is an instance in which it is undoubtedly so. Our Baptist brethren have made a false issue with other Protestant Churches, and they must and will ultimately see it and abandon it. It will cost them many a struggle, but the rapidly increasing light upon the true nature of Christ's kingdom and Christian fellowship will dispel this remnant of sectarian bigotry. Let them hold to immersion, let them hold to Calvinism, but do not let them exclude from the Lord's Supper those whom they concede to be the Lord's people. This plea for open communion is written by a Baptist minister, and addressed to the Baptist Church, upon the basis of their own principles. A Baptist is arguing with a Baptist on an alleged error; and his arguments must be met, or the absurdities which they demonstrate must be assumed; the entire Protestant world must be unchurched, and close communionists be the sole heirs of the visible kingdom of Christ. This is a nail in a sure place, and he who draws it will give proof of his strength. We recommend it to the Baptist Churches in the South, if they are willing to receive a piece of advice from the North.

35. Hymns for schools and families, specially designed for the children of the Church. Edited by Thos. O. Summers. Published by John Early, for the Methodist E. Church South. 1853.

The utility of a collection of sacred lyrics for children, as well as for adults, is founded upon reasons so obvious, that we deem it unnecessary to urge them upon those who are likely to peruse these pages. It is enough for us to inform them, that the work has been accomplished by the untiring industry and that union of qualities so happily blended in our present book editor, upon the general plan adopted for our Church Hymn-book. Those in that hymn-book adapted to the youthful mind are transferred to this, with such others as the extensive information, sound judgment and good taste of the editor enabled him to select from widely different sources. He has done it upon the combined principle of Watts and Wesley; not only letting the hymns down to children's perception, but lifting their perceptions up to a higher standard. The theology and style of the hymns make them a meet adjunct to those sung in the congregation, and a fit training for those who are soon to succeed them. All our Sunday-schools and families should employ this little, cheap songster in preparing the rising generations of our Zion to sing the high praises of God.

ART. IX.

CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE.

Kitto's Journal of Sacred Literature. July, 1853: London. I. The riv ers of Damascus. II. Armenian Translation of Eusebius. III. On the Samaritan Pentateuch. IV. The Sinaitic Inscriptions. V. Collation of the Gospels. VI. The Historians. VII. Syriac Metrical Literature. VIII. The Meaning of Scripture Silence. IX. On the "Running" of St. Paul. X. Correspondence.

Bibliotheca Sacra. July, 1853. I. Characteristics, Duties and Culture of Women. II. Lucian and Christianity. III. The Relation of the Grecian to Christian Ethics. IV. The Religion of Geology. V. On the use of the Preposition εiς in the Phrases εἰς κατάκριμα. And εἰς δικαίωσιν ζωῆς in Rom. 5: 18. VI. From Antipatris to Emmaus. VII. The Law of Remorse and the Law of Repentance: or the Passage from Natural to Revealed Religion. VIII. The Certainty of success in Preaching. IX. Britschneider's view of the Theology of Schleiermacher.

The Biblical Repertory and Princeton Review. July, 1853. I. Idea of the Church, (concluded from April No.) II. The Bible in the Counting House. III. Journal and Letters of Rev. Henry Martin, B. D. IV. Theology in Germany. V. The General Assembly.

The Evangelical Review. July, 1853. I. The Influence of the Bible on Literature. II. The Church, as set forth in the Confessions of Christendom. III. Contribution to the Christology. IV. Notes on Prophecy. V. Scripture Doctrine concerning the Resurrection of the Dead. VI. Our Nation's Jewels. VII. Letter to a Sceptic. VIII. Our Foreign Missionary Operations. IX. Tischendorf's Edition of the Septuagint.

The Theological and Literary Journal. July, 1853. I. Dr. J. P. Smith on the Geological Theory. II. The Rev. Albert Barnes' notes on Revelations xx. 4-6. III. The Princeton Review on Millenarianism. IV. The Distastefulness of Christianity. V. English Universities. VI. Dr. Nevin's Pantheistic and Developement Theories.

The Freewill Baptist Quarterly. January, 1853. I. Introductory. II. The Progress and Defects of Civilization. III. Modern Sceptical Tendencies. IV. Daniel Webster. V. Hebrew Poetry. VI. Soul Freedom. VII. Religious Biography.

Methodist Quarterly Review. July, 1853. I. The Bacon of the Nine

teenth Century. II. Strong's Harmony of the Gospels. III. Daniel Boone. IV. Socrates. V. Exposition of I Cor. iii, 1-17. VI. The Heathen and Mediaeval Civilization of Ireland. VII. The Signs of the Times. VIII. Father Reeves. IX. Miscellanies.

The Electic Magazine of Foreign Literature. September, 1853. 1. John Knox. 2. Balzac and his Writings. 3. The Bocarme Tragedy. 4. Herman Melville. 5. Ampere in Philadelphia. 6. The Preacher's Daughter. 7. The Daughters of Charles I. 8. Chloroform. 9. The Prussian Court and Aristocracy. 10. Traits of the Trappists. 11. Laplace and Biot. 12. Popular Education in the United States. 13. Political Satires under George the Third. 14. Wainwright the Murderer. 15. The Cost of Iniquity. 16. Gillray's Caricatures. 17. The Lady Novelists of Great Britain.

Putnam's Monthly. September, 1853. 1. New York Church Architecture. 2. Curiosities of Puritan History: Witchcraft. 5. Salt Lake and the New Saratoga. 4. The Tree of Life, (concluded). 5. The Lovers. 6. Statistics and Speculations concerning the Pacific Railroad. 7. The day owls of North America. 8. Wensley, (continued.) 9. Our New President. 10. Reminiscences of an Ex-Jesuit, (continued.) 11. The Medical Profession. 12. The Doom of Would-Be Poets. 13. The American Association for the Advancement of Science. 14. London Knockings. 15. From the Summer Diary of Minerva Tattle.

The National Magazine. September, 1853. The First Methodist Meeting-House in Ohio. The Charter House. Life and Times of Johnson. The Death of Moses. Lusie. The History of Sermons. Ebenezer Elliot. A Specimen of Wilber Fisk. Pascal-His Life and Works. The Duel of D'Esterne and Daniel O'Connel. Discords in Music. "Our Father who art in Heaven." The two Prisoners of the Conciergerie. Wayside Words. Chinese Ladies' Dinners and Love Letters. The Australian File. The Member for Bumbletown, and his Maiden Speech. Character of Rousseau. The Vision of a Godless world. Freestone Quarries, Portland, Conn. The Convalescent. The Emperor Monk.

The Southern Ladies Companion. This Methodist periodical, continues its welcome monthly visits. Its varied and interesting contents, render it worthy of a far wider circulation. It ought to be in every Methodist family in the Southern Methodist Church, which can afford to pay its very moderate subscription price.

The Sunday School Visitor. We cannot speak too highly in favour of this paper. The editorial career of Dr. Summers, has demonstrated the wisdom of the General Conference, in assigning him to the responsible post which he occupies. Would that every family under Southern Methodist influence, would consent to receive this delightful and instructive visitor, into their homes. Its tendency is to make the family circle more