abroad, the Bible goes on its way, and it prospers to the end whereto He that thus sends it sent it. The Scriptures take effect upon men-singly and in communities-among whom what is real in human nature, what is strong and great, still subsist the Scriptures come where they come, as the dew; or as the rain from heaven; or they come as the tempest: the word is gentle and germinating; or it is a force irresistible; and it does its office, here or there, as the need may be, where human nature, as to its moral elements, is still in a culturable state, and is still reclaimable: as to those, and at this time they are many, who in respect of the moral elements of human nature, have passed beyond this range by the deadly influence of luxurious refinements-the message from Heaven leaves them where they are and goes forward."

It is with great satisfaction that we refer to the handsome style in which this volume has been issued by the publishers; we are also sincerely grateful to Rev. Dr. William Adams for the comprehensive yet minute sketch of the personal and literary life of the excellent author. Many admiring readers of Taylor will peruse this biographical sketch with no ordinary interest.

ELLICOTT ON EPHESIANS.* This is the second in the series of Ellicott's Commentaries on St. Paul's Epistles, which has been republished in this country. In its main features it very closely resembles the one that preceded it on the Epistle to the Galatians; and hence it seems scarcely necessary, at this time, to do more than refer to the brief notice of that work, which appeared in the NEW ENGLANDER for January, 1861. The same thorough and careful scholarship, the same judicious use of the labors of others, the same appreciation of the author's style and thought, the same revcrence for the Scriptures as the Word of God,-indeed, all the peculiar excellencies, which those who have used the former commentary must have remarked in every part of it, are as conspicuous, or even more conspicuous, here; so that no one, we think, who has become at all acquainted with the writings of this author, will hesitate to purchase the present volume, or will fail to examine it with pleasure and profit. Perhaps the best recent commentaries in the English language, they are certainly the best adapted for students in theology; and no theological class should be without them. It is a year or more since the republication of the volume on Galatians; we hope the publishers will not keep us waiting so long for the succeeding volumes.

* A Commentary, Critical and Grammatical, on St. Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians, with a Revised Translation. By CHARLES J. ELLICOTT, B. D., Pro. fessor of Divinity, King's College, London, and late Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge. Andover: Warren F. Draper. 1862. 8vo. pp. 190. Price $1.25.

STUART ON ECCLESIASTES.*-Professor Stuart's Commentary on Ecclesiastes has been well-known to the public for several years, and the volume, which now comes to us from the Andover press, is only a new edition of that work, with some revision by the present editor. In a long introduction, extending over more than one hundred and fifty pages, the writer carefully discusses the authorship, design, and unity of the book, and then makes some examination of the ancient and modern versions of it. At the end of this introduction, after saying that a work of a high critical character on this book is as yet a desideratum in English, he adds, that it was with the hope of doing something to advance the critical knowledge of it, that he undertook the preparation of this Commentary. The succeeding pages show how well his desire and design were fulfilled, for, with a minute investigation of each chapter and verse, he has presented the results of his most mature scholarship, and opened the meaning of the book before the reader with great care. The students of the Bible in our country owe a debt of gratitude to Professor Stuart for his services, which can scarcely be measured.

PROF. H. B. SMITH'S EDITION OF HAGENBACH'S HISTORY OF DOCTRINES, (VOL. II.)-The additions and improvements introduced into this volume by Professor Smith are of a substantial character, greatly increasing the value of the original work. As in the former volume, the translation of Buch has been corrected throughout, and considerable new matter contained in the fourth German edition, has been inserted. What gives this volume especial value, however, is the contributions of the American editor; in particular, the full account of the progress of English and American theology. Rich as our theology is in matter, the student has been left, for the most part, without a chart or compass to guide him in the study of it. There has been no adequate bibliography accessible; no guide-book such as the German student has always at hand, from the beginning of his theological course.

A Commentary on Ecclesiastes. By MOSES STUART, late Professor of Sacred Literature in the Theological Seminary at Andover. Edited and Revised by R. D. C. ROBBINS, Professor in Middlebury College. Andover: Warren F. Draper. 12mo. pp. 346. Price $1.25.

1862.

A Text Book of the History of Doctrines. By Dr. K. R. HAGENBACH, &c., &c. The Edinburgh Translation of C. W. Bucи revised, with large additions, &c. By HENRY B. SMITH, D. D. Vol. II. New York: Sheldon & Co. 1862. Price per volume $2.00.

Prof. Smith's additions to Hagenbach supply this want, and therefore deserve a grateful recognition. In this volume may be also found a sketch from his pen-brief as, of course, it must be-of the various controversies that have arisen in England and this country, from the Reformation to the present moment, with an explanation of the documents and authorities in which these controversies may be studied in detail.

Of the general character of Hagenbach, as a writer, we have had occasion in previous notices of his writings to speak. In some particulars-as, for example, in respect to Bibliography-his work, as far as we know, is not excelled. Still it is marked by signal deficiencies. We often miss the clear and discriminating statements which accurate scholars require. It is true that this defect is in a measure made up by the copious citations with which the author has enriched his pages from other writers on the history of doctrines more sharply discerning than himself. As a whole, therefore, and for certain purposes, we do not hesitate to say that this work is almost indispensable. To Professor Smith, for his labors in connection with this new edition, the theological public is much indebted.

STEVENS'S HISTORY OF METHODISM.*-Dr. Stevens in a third volume has completed his work, of which we gave a notice on the appearance of the first and second volumes: "The History of the religious movement of the eighteenth century, called Methodism, considered in its different denominational forms, and its relations to British and American Protestantism." The first and second volumes comprised his record of the Life and Times of Wesley, the fullest and best record, we freely say, of the Life and Times of the great founder of Methodism, which has been published.

This third volume includes the history from Wesley's death to the Centennary Jubilee of Methodism in 1839. The author clearly and graphically describes the trials of what he calls the "testing period" of Methodism, during the ten years after Wesley's death

The History of the Religious Movement of the Eighteenth Century, called Methodism, considered in its different denominational forms, and its relations to British and American Protestantism. By ABEL STEVENS, LL. D. Vol. III. From the death of Wesley to the Centennary Jubilee of Methodism. New York: Published by Carlton & Porter.

trials by internal and external controversies respecting its future government, which resulted, however, in its firmly settled polity and its augmented vigor. He then sets forth, in a very interesting and instructive manner, the missionary development of Methodism-its plans and efforts for foreign and universal evangelization. He represents the Methodist church as the most effective missionary church of our age, planting its standards in many parts of continental Europe, in several of the British colonies of the West Indies, the continent of South America, Africa, Ceylon, continental India, China, the islands of the Southern Ocean, and, indeed, on the confines of the whole earth. The volume has quite a charming interest, also, from the life-l ke sketches, which the author gives here and there, of the chief preachers and leaders of the denomination, such as Coke, Bunting, Newton, Adam Clarke, and Richard Watson; and of less prominent, though hardly less interesting, helpers, like Hicks, Dawson, and Saville among the men, and among the women such representatives as Mary Fletcher, Hester Ann Rogers, Lady Maxwell, Lady Fitzgerald, and Dinah Evans, the heroine of Adam Bede. While the author evidently has a high appreciation of the merits of his own denomination, and of its prominent actors, he treats other denominations in the spirit of liberality and justice. His work is a rich contribution toward the history of the universal church. We are pleased to see that the author promises another work, independent of this, yet a complement to it-"The History of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States of America "-the materials of which he has reserved, while giving in the volumes already published sufficient account of American Methodism for a record of the general Methodistic movement, centralizing in the Wesleyan body of England.

GOD'S WAY OF PEACE.*-There is no more convincing proof of the natural sinfulness of man, than the difficulty that is so universally felt in understanding the true nature of a religious life. The object of Dr. Bonar, in preparing this little book, has been to develop the idea that a truly religious life is one of "peace with God." He says very truly, that with most persons "religion is

*God's Way of Peace. A Book for the Anxious. By HORATIUS BONAR, D. D. New York: R Carter & Brothers. 1862. 18mo. pp. 200. (For sale in New Haven by F. T. Jarman. Price 50 cents.)

looked upon as terminating with forgiveness; whereas true religion begins with it." He says "True religion is seen in the holy life of those who, having found forgiveness and favor in believing the record which God has given of his Son, are walking with him from day to day, in the calm but sure consciousness of being entirely accepted, and working for him with the happy earnestness of those whose reward is his constant smile of love; who, having been much forgiven, love much, and show forth, by daily sacrifice and service, how much they feel themselves debtors to a redeeming God, debtors to his Church, and debtors to the world in which they live." He says that it is not good that men should be all their lives "seeking God and never finding him;" that some Christians seem to think that the man who doubts the most about himself is somehow the best believer. To all such doubting believers" he replies in the words of Scripture, "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God;" is born, not will be,—is now a child of God. And then, "Is God a man that he should lie?" "He means what he says!" "His words are not mere random expressions!" "They are true and real!"

TEXT BOOKS.

OWEN'S ANABASIS.*-If to be neat, thorough, and definite, be marks of a good workman, Mr. Owen asserts a strong claim to that title in the work before us. In externals it is quite above most school-books. The binding and paper seem durable, the size suited to the student's hand or table, the type, both English and Greek, clear and neat. As to the Greek, we confess no special fondness for the so-called Porsonian type. On a page of Homer, or Pindar, or Plato, it stares at one with its full, fat form, until the eye is fairly sickened. Perhaps for the tyro it is best, just because it presents a bold and clear outline. But the advanced scholar, who reads the language as a joy and treasure, demands more elegance in the letters to match the native beauties of the tongue.

* The Anabasis of Xenophon; chiefly according to the text of L. Dindorf, with Notes; for the use of Schools and Colleges. By Joux J. OWEN, D. D., LL. D., formerly Principal of the Cornelius Institute, and now Professor of the Latin and Greek Languages and Literature in the Free Academy in New York City. Revised Edition, New York: Leavitt & Allen. 1862.