veneration for Christ, and a devoted attachment to Christianity. Still the topic is a painful one, from the contemplation of which love shrinks and faith is unwilling to ask for fresh confirmation in previous assurance of the reality of His most precious death. We could not, therefore, urge the indiscriminate perusal of the book, but there may be a class of minds to whom its contents will be of absorbing interest; and if such speculations must be entertained, it is well to have so safe and competent a guide in them. A letter from Sir James Simpson to Dr. Hanna is appended to the treatise, from which we quote the concluding passage :

“It has always appeared-to my medical mind at least—that this view of the mode by which death was produced in the human body of Christ, intensifies all our thoughts and ideas regarding the immensity of the astounding sacrifice which He made for our sinful race upon the cross. Nothing can possibly be more striking and startling than the appalling and terrible passiveness with which God as man submitted, for our sakes, His incarnate body to all the horrors and tortures of the crucifixion. But our wonderment at the stupendous sacrifice only increases when we reflect that, whilst thus enduring for our sins the most cruel and agonizing form of corporeal death, He was ultimately • slain, not by the effects of His corporeal frame, but by the effects of the mightier anguish of His mind; the fleshy walls of His heart-like the veil, as it were, in the temple of His human body-becoming rent and riven, as for us . He poured out His soul unto death ;'--the 'travail of His soul,' in that awful hour, thus standing out as unspeakably bitterer and more dreadful than even the travail of His body."

The Sayings of the Great Forty Days, with an Examination of Mr. Newman's Theory of Development. By George Moberly, D.C.L., Bishop of Salisbury. Fourth Edition. London, Oxford, 8. Cambridge: Rivingtons. 1871.—This work is so well known, and has met with so much general acceptance, that it does not need more from us than a passing recognition that it has reached a fourth edition. It is hardly necessary to say that we do not sympathise with many of the views it propounds ; but there is often so much that is reverent and so much that is profitable in the writings of High Churchmen of the class of Bishop Moberly, that we are always willing to pay our tribute of acknowledgment of what is for edification in them, while we prefer safer guides for general readers than those who hold Sacramentarian theories so strongly as the Bishop does. In the preface to the second edition, published in 1845, prefixed to this volume, Dr. Moberly enters the lists with Dr. Newman on the question of Development. It is curious to witness the pain which it causes him to differ from the great Tractarian, while he contends manfully against what he justly terms “the true cause and provocative of all the manifold schisms of later years, the aporov teūdoc of debased Christianity, the doctrine of the supremacy of the Pope, or the absolute need of submission to him in order to membership of the Church of Christ, and his consequent infallibility of doctrine.”

Strange Dwellings : being a Description of the Habitations of Animals. By the Rev. J. G. Wood, M.A., F.L.S. London: Longmans. 1871.—This very interesting book is an abridgment of a larger one, “Homes without Hands." Young folk who are already interested in Natural History, will devour its pages with eager interest ; and we have seldom met with a book better calculated to create an appetite for such studies in those in whom the taste is yet undeveloped. To man three or four lines only are devoted : in the rest our author discourses eloquently on the habitations “of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes." The illustrations, too, are choice and numerous. We can most heartily and unreservedly commend the volume as one well calculated to subserve what we deem a high and holy purpose, that of inducing young minds to form an intelligent acquaintance with the wonderful works of God.

Present Day Thoughts : Memorials of St. Andrews' Sundays. By the Author of “ Recreations of a Country Parson.” London : Longmans. 1871.–We had occasion, some time ago, to notice a similar volume from the accomplished author of these Sermons. It was entitled “Changed Aspects of Unchanged Truths.” We felt it a duty then to comment upon sundry points which we deemed unsatisfactory : we regret to notice a recurrence of them in the present volume; as an instance, we may refer to the Sermon on “ The Peculiar People.” Now we do not for one moment object to the most scathing denunciation of the faults of professing Christians, where it is really necessary; or, we ought rather to say, to the most solemn warnings against everything in them inconsistent with their high and holy calling; and we go heartily along with him in condemning “a spirit of self-conceit on account of fancied superiority.” But we do not like to meet a preacher of God's Word, who is not jealous for the sanctity of the Lord's Day, and who may be reckoned on the side of those who are indulgent to themselves on this point. The little parties, the quiet walks after church, of which he speaks, may or may not be harmless : in the absence of evidence, we pronounce no judgment on them. But we are convinced that it is the duty of a faithful ambassador, speaking in God's name to souls for which Christ died, not even in seeming to be on the side of those who will be only too ready to put a wrong and probably mistaken construction on his words. We have referred to this as one exceptionable point, but it is not the only one. At the same time, we are not insensible to much that is deserving of commendation, much betokening shrewd common sense and in accordance with the teaching of Holy Scripture. We could earnestly wish that we had no occasion to find any fault at all.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

In such space as we can afford it would be impossible to give an adequate account of the succession of petty conflicts in and around Paris, which have been taking place during the past month between the Government of M. Thiers and the partisans of the Commune. Still less so to reproduce an enumeration of the outrages against property and against persons which have characterised the proceedings of the upholders of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity. It would be unfair to assert that the Parisians have no grievances to complain of, who during

so many years have been remorselessly held down by a hostile garrison and by masters more unscrupulous than the sternest German conqueror; but the justification for such tyranny, if there can be any, is furnished by the frantic brutality, the revolting blasphemy, the frenzied visions, which, to the exclusion of every high and noble feeling, animate the demagogues and democracy of Paris alike. In the absence of patriotic leaders, foreign swindlers head the levies of the Commune. It would, we think, be hard for any one, even for a theoretical Republican, endowed with any self-respect or regard for his political creed, to sympathise with a struggle conducted under such auspices. During this period the rest of France is as though it were non-existent; it makes no sign ; it utters no voice ; it expresses no sympathy; it has been literally effaced as a political entity. If anything can more than another unmistakeably mark the degradation of the national character of France, it is that not one man of mark has come to the front on any side ; for the veteran leader of the Versailles Government belongs rather to the past than to the present or the future, and he stands alone.

One other point in foreign affairs claims attention, and that is the excommunication of the learned Dr. Döllinger, who is unable to explain in any non-natural sense, such as some would affix to our Articles, the recent dogma propounded at Rome concerning Papal Infallibility. “I have little left," he is reported to have said, “to hope or fear in this world; and, with the grave opening before me, I am resolved not to go down into it with a lie in my mouth.” He is strongly upheld in not accepting, “as a Christian, as a theologian, as a historian, as a citizen,' such doctrine, by his sovereign the king of Bavaria, who has refused permission for the decrees of the Vatican to be promulgated in his dominions. It would not be easy, in the present attitude of Germany in Europe, to exaggerate the importance of this emphatic protest against Papal tyranny.

In home affairs, the Budget, which Mr. Lowe has just opened, has created much interest, and given rise to much dissatisfaction. Able statesman as he is, he has never apparently acquired the art of conciliating popular sympathy, or of executing unpleasant tasks in a gracious manner. He has now been compelled to surrender both the tax on matches, which formed one main feature of his scheme, and the increased legacy and succession duties; and to remedy the deficit by the simple expedient of adding twopence in the pound to the income-tax.

À most important measure has been introduced by Mr. Bruce, largely affecting licensed victuallers, and imposing many restrictions on the liquor trade. Although not all we could wish, yet we trust, in the interests of morality, that it may substantially pass, so that some of the more grievous scandals connected with the traffic may be abated. Formidable opposition, however, against it is “brewing " throughout the country, organized by interested parties.

We notice with regret that Mr. Reed's motion to remedy the hardships inflicted upon letter-carriers by Sunday delivery has been parried by Mr. Gladstone. We would earnestly call the attention of our friends to help forward, so far as they can, a satisfactory adjustment, both of this measure, and of that previously noticed.

Lord Sandon's Bill on Parochial Councils secured a fair hearing in the House of Commons, and is postponed to another session ; we trust that in the interim provision will be thoughtfully and temperately discussed by clergy and laity, so that an acceptable measure to both parties may result.

The Westmeath Committee has sat and reported what was known before. The remedy suggested for the terrorism prevalent, is a suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act. For the present, the consideration of the Report itself is suspended. In Ireland interesting discussions have been held in the Synod of the Church, arising out of Master Brooke's Report; we postpone notice of them while yet pending, and of the Report itself, which is most interesting.

Five thousand clergy, headed by sundry colonial bishops now domiciled in England, have joined in a remonstrance against the Purchas Judgment. They do not profess to have exhibited themselves in vestments, nor to have stood before the Communion table with their backs to the people. Unquestionably, the vast majority of them have done neither, and perhaps not a hundred have done either at any period of their ministry, even within the last few years. It is not easy, therefore, to understand why a large body of well-meaning men should, to rescue a turbulent clique of agitators condemned by lawful authority, compromise themselves as they have done. It would carry us back to the times of Dr. Sacheverell—were it not that now popular feeling is not aroused-to find an historical parallel ; the clergy, then,“ seeing, as they conceived, the solemn attempt to crush one of their own body, stood up in defence of their order.” It is a matter of regret that by such factious opposition to the laws of the realm the Clergy should impair their own legitimate influence. It is a heavy price to pay, even for a chance of reversing the Purchas Judgment, which chance has since proved a delusion. In the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, the Lord Chancellor has said, that

“With respect to the two petitions to her Majesty, their lordships would feel it their duty to recommend that their prayer should be refused. With respect to the petition to their lordships, they should recommend her Majesty that no further proceedings should be taken thereon. After carefully weighing the arguments offered to them in support of the petitioner's case, the Committee considered that grave public mischief would ensure if such a petition were complied with. The petitions would, therefore, be dismissed with costs," SIA

PRINCIPLES OF ACTION, NOT SUCCESS, OUR CHIEF CONCERN.*

(By the late Rev. Jour Venn, Rector of Clapham.) THERE are various circumstances and situations in life, in which it is of the utmost importance to us to have our minds well grounded in the Christian maxim, that the principles and dispositions which guide and animate our conduct, and not the success which we enjoy, ought to be the principal objects of our regard.

Thus, for instance, suppose a person endeavouring, out of pure love to God and man, to do good to his fellow creatures, and pursuing his intention with unwearied labour and study for a long time. Suppose, however, that it should happen, as it not unfrequently does, that all his good designs should be frustrated; and perhaps he himself, after having suffered in his fortune, health, and peace of mind, should at length be treated with neglect or contempt as a foolish visionary. What conclusion are we to form in this case ? Are we to suppose that all his labour has been lost because it is not crowned with success? Are we to arraign the conduct of Providence, and think that God is indifferent to the endeavours of His people to serve Him-that He does not notice them or care about them? No, such conclusions would be very rash and unfounded. We shall take a false view of the matter if we look at the event or the success only. It is the disposition which the person has been exercising, the love to God and man which has animated him, the fortitude and zeal with which he has struggled against difficulties and opposition; these are the proper measures of the excellence of the work; by these God is honoured; these are what God regards. To illustrate this, we will offer a few remarks.

* Not before published. Vol. 70.-No. 402.

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