PEDEN THE PROPHET: A tale of the Covenanters. Founded on Fact. By the Rev. A. Morton Brown, LL.D, Cheltenham. Author of " Evenings with the Prophets,' ""Salvation and the way to secure it," etc. London: John Snow, Paternoster-row. 1859.

IT is impossible to speak of the Covenanters, "whose religious convictions moved them to the very depth of their interior being, and whose sacrifices in the cause of truth and of freedom rose into the sublime, without being stirred in spirit, and doing homage to the majesty of moral principle. The Covenanters

were

men whose lofty spirit "neither defeat nor punishment could subdue." Though hunted down like wild beasts, tortured till their bones were beaten flat, imprisoned by hundreds, hanged by scores, exposed at one time to the license of soldiers from England, abandoned at another time to the mercy of bands of marauders from the Highlands, they still stood at bay in a mood so fixed and firm rather than savage, that the boldest and mightiest oppression could not but dread the audacity of their despair."

It was the persevering and determined effort of James and Charles to introduce Episcopacy into the Scottish Church, which gave birth to those scenes of persecution and of suffering that darken and degrade the history of the seventeenth century. If the Reformation in Scotland was chiefly indebted to Knox as its prime mover, the people were all but prepared for the same mighty movement. Whatever may be ascribed to the energy of his will, character, and eloquence, he could have achieved but little without their concurrence and co-operation. To the true Scot, his spiritual liberty has ever been as

dear as his national independence, and the same sentiment as nerved the arm of Wallace to his deeds of daring, fired the soul of the Covenanter in his grander struggle for freedom of conscience. Knox left behind him men who were faithful to their God and devoted to their country. The people became imbued with their spirit - with their love of liberty and of truth, and hence the earnestness with which they continued to struggle for a pure church and a free constitution. The Reformation had raised religion from the tomb of decay,. and endued it with renovated life and glory. Its lessons had been accepted with a fervour corresponding to their magnitude and their importance. In thousands of good and honest hearts, it was not simply a fact believed-it was a power felt. It acted with all the energy of a spiritual force, which exalted and strengthened men for deeds of daring and of glory. Christianity is essentially heoric. It teaches its disciples to add fortitude to their faith; and there are times of conflict which challenge all the fortitude and all the heroism that the soul can exhibit.

But for what did these men struggle, and suffer, and die? Was it for anything less or for anything lower than principle? Grant that the principle was not a broad one-that it was neither so wide nor so comprehensive as to meet our ideas-still "they had principle, and they kept by it." They were wrong in seeking to subordinate the State to the Church, but not less wrong were the ruling authorities in seeking to make the Church the creature of the State. Of all despotisms, the ecclesiastical is the most crushing and the

most destructive; and therefore it was well that the men of the Covenant did not gain the ascendancy, though they were fully justified in resisting the encroachments of the civil power on their spiritual domain.

The story of these noble men is told by our author with masterly skill and tact. The tale, which is founded in fact, is rich in incident and spiritstirring in tone. To the faithfulness of history there is added the fascination of romance. A few of the characters are perhaps overdrawn, but, as a general rule, the portraits are life-like and true. If "a writer of history must be a man of warm sympathies, he must, too, be a man familiar with the world; a man of great observation;-if fame must not be his motive at all, but rather the pleasure of his work-for unless the work be a pleasure to the author, it will not be a pleasure to the reader-if he must be patient and scrupulous, yet easy; critical, yet eloquent; full, yet simple and clear;" then firm is the ground on which Dr. Brown can rest his claim. Most heartily has he entered into his task, and successfully has he achieved it.

Not only has he given worthy information in terse and lucid language but he has touched and kindled those "first affections" of Duty and Piety,

Which, be they what they may,

Are yet the fountain-light of all our day. Peden the Prophet was a man of rare mould. Strong and calm in faith, he was no less strong and quick in action. Dark and rugged as was the path which he was called to tread, there was no halt in his step, no hesitation in his course. He stood erect in the most crooked and perverse generation, and facing every form and every variety of antagonism he was valiant for God and for truth. He lifted no broken shield, and turned not away from the thickest of the fight.

Peden was first and pre-eminent of the Covenanting host. For the freedom of his and his country's

church he not only lived and suffered, but was willing to die.

Our author has done no injustice to the other noble men who stood side by side with Peden in his glorious struggle. He is not exalted that they may be lowered and depreciated, but they are grouped around him as the central figure, that in connection with him they may appear all the more conspicuous and all the more illustrious. While he was allowed to

lay himself down and die in peace,

not a few of them were called to seal their testimony with their blood, and to find in the fire and flame that chariot

"Whose drivers are angels on horses of whiteness,

And whose burning wheels turn upon

axles of brightness."

It was to assert and render certain our claim "to feed upon immortal truth" that they counted not their lives dear unto them; and to them we owe it, that while in the ark of their covenant, they laid up the charter of our liberty, they laid up in the ark of the same covenant that manna on which we their children might feed. In the wilderness they spread that table at which we are now seated, and there drank to its lowest dregs the cup of suffering, that they might pass to us the cup of richer, mightier blessing.

But we must pause. There are a few inaccuracies in the volume, which we trust will cease to be the errata, because they have been the emendations of a second edition; but these and some other slight defects, are not to be named in comparison with the general merits of the work. These merits are very high, and entitle Dr. Brown to no common place among our best descriptive writers. Whoever takes up the book and begins to read, will be most reluctant to lay it down till he has read it through. young men, this coming Christmastime, we especially recommend it. The interest is sustained to the last, and the reader, like the reviewer, will take leave of his author with a farewell of respect and regret.

For

A MEMOIR OF THE LIFE AND LABOURS OF THE REV. WILLIAM HENDRY STOWELL, D.D. Edited by William Stowell, B.A. Judd and Glass, Hamilton and Adams.

THIS book claims attention as the 'memoirs of one who was for a time connected with this publication as a contributor, and then as joint-editor. It is besides an account of the life and labours of a man of great ability, varied accomplishments, and considerable eminence as a pastor, tutor, and writer. Assuming that good ends may be secured by publishing memoirs of every man who has distinguished himself in any of these capacities, and especially if in all of them; and allowing that a son or daughter is a fit person to prepare them for the press, we must accord to this work a cordial expression of approval. The memoir is eulogistic; but who would wish a son's estimate to be otherwise? There is some indiscrimate praise, but we should not expect a son's judgment to be as astute as a critic's, and we would not have enjoyed the memoir so much as we do, but for the warm nature that gives bright colouring to a father's portrait. There is, however, a pervading apologetic and somewhat defiant tone, as if to ward off any possible accusation, or to defend from some undefined and unexpected charge, which we do not altogether like. A high appreciation of the real excellencies of Dr. Stowell, a loving and reverential regard for him as a father, a grateful remembrance of his ministry, which was most judicious, devout, and impressive; a keen feeling of disappointment and sorrow that he was not more truly known, led us to wish for a frank acknowledgment of imperfections and errors. The reputation of Dr. Stowell would not have suffered by the fullest admissions of this kind that truth and justice could demand, whilst his real worth would have come at length to be duly appreciated.

Mr. Stowell's book, however, is skilfully constructed, and cleverly written. The son plainly inherits the

father's gifts. We might quote passages of exceeding beauty of composition. It is divided into four books. Book I. consists of an introduction, and describes the boyhood, early education, conversion, and college life of Dr. Stowell. Book II. is an account of the North Shields period, and includes his early ministry and pastoral character. Book III. is the Rotherham period, during which Dr. Stowell was both pastor and tutor at Rotherham, and enters largely into his labours in these departments. Book IV. describes his life at Cheshunt as tutor only, and concludes with an affecting account of his last days, and their closing scene.

With the thread of the narrative are interwoven some beautiful letters and valuable extracts from discourses and college prelections-most of his published works are analysed as described. There is an appendix of twelve sermons. We have read the book with deep interest. Dr. Stowell was a peer among a band of great men, in the Independent denomination, of which few remain. Ely, Hamilton, Stowell: their names often rang together while they lived, and now are they mourned as the names of the dead.

We trust that this volume will stimulate younger men to imitate the tireless energy of Dr. Stowell, that they may fulfil the work he and his contemporaries have left undone.

CHRISTIAN ORATORY. An Inquiry into its History during the first five centuries. By Horace M. Moule, of Queen's College, Cambridge. McMillan and Co., Cambridge.

A SPLENDID theme is announced in the title of this book, in the elaboration of which the profoundest learning should have mingled with lofty spiritual sympathies and graceful eloquence. We regret to say the grandeur of the theme has attracted no one in possession of these qualities in Cambridge. Mr. Moule's volume is for the most part a reproduction of accepted criticisms, from a few of our well-known Church historians, especi

ally Neander and Dean Milman, which, though well-worn from their popular currency, yet have the clear golden ring in them which contrasts strikingly with the tin-like chink of those passages which have Mr. Moule's own superscription. The subject is one which many recent events, such as the publication of Bunsen's Hyppoly tus, "Tracts for the Times," and other books, which have thrown dim light upon the early patristic literature, serving only to unsettle and confound our antique notions of it, to awaken fierce and yet unalloyed controversy, and made it peremptory for any one who undertook such an inquiry as is announced in the title page of this book, to show the results of much patient research, and of candid judgment founded on the original materials at his disposal; but Mr. Moule is devoid even of the semblance of scholarship, and his criticisms are quotations.

Occasionally, indeed, are we favoured with some such meagre and insipid bit of criticism as the following the schoolboy's tameness and simplicity has carried us back to long bygone days-when in leanest, pithless phrase the weekly theme was concocted. Mr. Moule has evidently not outgrown the influence of Dr. Syntax, or forgotten the benefits of his instruction when he writes thus in the nineteenth century from the University of Cambridge upon the famous Origen.

"It is universally allowed that few men of his age equalled Origen in piety and active benevolence; that in point of learning and understanding, he occupied the very first rank; and that a greater amount of valuable knowledge, both sacred and profane, might be derived from his writings than from those of any other ecclesiastical author. Not that he was by any means exempt from eccentricities and practical errors: but they were in general calculated to hurt nobody but himself; and in consideration of his acknowledged merits, they might have been overlooked, or, at all

events, opposed with calmness and moderation."

We can well understand that the youth of the university should be stimulated to enter on such inquiries as the History of Early Christian Oratory; and the Hulsean prize may be the crown to excite strenuous rivally, and reward successful competition; but in this diluvian age of books, we might suggest that these crude and tentative efforts should be confined to the schools, and burked when they are born. They have served their educational purpose when the prize is won; and we must protest even against the will of good John Hulse, that infliction might be spared both the critic and the public of the annual publication of essays which recite the most commonplace information mixed with innocuous effusions of juvenile criticism, which tantalize and provoke the reader by the unworthy handling of important subjects, and needlessly bring the name of the University and of England into discredit. We can say, and willingly do so, that this book discovers a creditable amount of reading for a young student, and an innate sincerity of purpose. It is a fair college exercise; but having said so much, we have exhausted our charity; and regret that it is not now lying in Mr. Moule's desk to be fondly treasured, and often thumbed as his first ambitious literary effort, instead of becoming the butt of critics and the drug of the book market.

Mohammedanism, the two mighty delusions which, like the malaria of the swamps, spread moral desolation all over the land. It exhibits the blessed effects of Christian missions, and powerfully appeals to English hearts to devise more liberal plans, that the evangelical provision may be more proportionate to the widespread necessity than it is at present. It adduces some splendid exhibitions of the sustaining and ennobling influence of Christianity during the disastrous struggles of 1857 and 1858.

In Ireland we trace her social prostration to the underletting system, so in India the Zemindar and Ryot system has been an incubus on the people's energies. They have been kept down, and every attempt at social improvement and self-elevation has been repulsed by the tyranny of the Zemindar. Mr. Storrow has done ample justice to this part of his subject, and put before his readers illustrations of the working of the system, which will induce every right-minded Englishman to wish for its abolition. Under the new régime the social prospects of India wear a brighter aspect than they did under the old; it remains now to be seen, whether evangelical Christians will turn the present favourable circumstances to a good account, and send a large number of able ministers of the Gospel into this widening and extensive field of missionary enterprise.

Mr. Storrow's book is written in a clear manly style, and will most amply repay any one who will give it a careful and candid perusal.

LIGHT IN LIFE'S SHADOWS; OR HYMNS

FOR THE SORROWING. London: J.
Haddon.

OUR language is very rich in devotional poetry, and no collection made with ordinary judgment can fail to include verse that will richly minister to religious feeling. We are glad, therefore, to see books of this kind multiplied.

This selection is intended for the especial use of "the sorrowing," for our use, accordingly, when a hymn or a

MAY 6

prayer moves us much more than an argument. It is judiciously made, and includes our chief favourites of its class-with the addition of a large number of original compositions-for which, if we cannot put the predicate of immortality upon them, we may yet claim devout feeling and good

sense.

PERSONAL NARRATIVE OF A VOYAGE TO JAPAN, KAMTSCHATKA, SIBERIA, TarTARY, AND VARIOUS PARTS OF (THE) COAST OF CHINA, IN HER MAJESTY'S SHIP BARRACOUTA. By I. M. Tronson, R.N. With Charts and Views. London: Smith, Elder, and Co.

THIS book is decidedly worth reading, though neither as well written as it might have been, nor quite as interesting as we expected to find it. We shall certainly be glad to learn that its success has been sufficient to encourage the author to further efforts, and have no doubt that his second book will be superior to his first. He will probably, before the time of its publication, have come to the opinion that the details of treaties are not what are expected in a narrative of personal observation; that he should not expect his Admiral on board ship momentarily," but immediately, and that when he has occasion to tell how the Kamtschatka dogs lose their native hardiness, and soon die on being transported to China, he should not avouch this fact upon his "own experience," but on his observation, lest the keepers of the public conscience should suspect him of holding the Buddhist heresy of the transmigra

tion of souls.

Putting aside a few minor defects, the book has many excellencies. It shows that the author both observes and appreciates the phenomena of nature as well in her lesser and generally unnoticed as in her more striking and splendid displays. We are glad, moreover, to recognize in Mr. Tronson a gentleman of large-hearted and manly piety, not less than of usefu 1 accomplishments, and shall be glad to see the results of his further expositions.

1918