XXIII. A DICTIONARY OF THE HOLY BIBLE, for General Use in the Study of the Scriptures, with Engravings, Maps, and Tables. American Tract Society. For sale in Philadelphia at the Tract House, 929 Chestnut Street. pp. 534. Dr. Robinson published in 1833 a "Dictionary of the Holy Bible, for the Use of Schools and Young Persons." The Tract Society having procured the use of the copyright, have embodied about twothirds of that work-though without any assistance or responsibility on the part of Dr. R.-in the present edition. They have added to it matter from Dr. R's. Biblical Researches, from the Bible Dictionaries of Brown of Haddington, Professor Eadie, Bost, Kitto, &c. A Chronological Index, by Rev. Dr. Angus, follows. The work is very handsomely printed and illustrated. XXIV. THE GUILT OF SLAVERY AND THE CRIME OF SLAVEHOLDING DEMONSTRATED FROM THE HEBREW AND GREEK SCRIPTURES. By George B. Cheever, D. D. Boston: Jewett & Co. 1860. pp. 472. This work contains Dr. Cheever's discussion touching slavery in the Bible, from the Bibliotheca Sacra, greatly enlarged, and uttered in much more violent language. XXV. THF LIFE AND TIMES OF HEROD THE GREAT, as connected, Historically, and Prophetically, with the Coming of Christ, and Incidental Portraitures of Noted Personages of the Age. By William M. Willett. Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston. 1860. pp. 384. This is a very ambitious work. It is divided into twelve books, each of which has a "proem" and three or more chapters. The Roman history, that of Herod, and that of those who surrounded our Saviour, are blended together. The plan of the book is very good, the objection to it is its floridness, its straining after effects, its gathering up odds and ends that do not properly belong to it, and its very curious mixing of figures in its style. The author was not content with carrying out in a simple, clear way, his excellent plan; he thought it necessary to give us a great deal of fine writing, to create, in a word, a sensation book. Here are two or three samples of his style: "There was also possibly carved thereon, the sword of Apollonius, who was slain by the hand of Judas Maccabæus in his first battle, and used by him ever afterwards." That is, it appears, Apollonius was used by Judas ever afterwards. For what purpose? He thus describes Herod: "His physiognomy was not altogether Jewish; it had a certain tincture about it that savored at no very remote date, of a foreign stock." Here Herod's face had a tincture that savored of a stock. What do the following words mean? "Here and there the mountain sides opened and formed as it were narrow gullies (improved into streets) beyond the level area; but, tracing them, they soon abruptly terminated." Who or what traced them? the mountain sides? or certain people? if so, did the people terminate? or, if the gullies, improved into streets, did the tracing, what did they trace? themselves? The author thus speaks of Pompey: "When he was first seen from the towers and walls of Jerusalem, with his light armed and heavy armed troops, winding round the base of Olivet, (having left Jericho early that morning,) the descending sun reflected from the golden-tipped eagle standards in the lengthened array and order of their usual march, as Jupiter holds the thunderbolt ready to launch it forth, so Pompey at this time held in his single hand nearly the whole power of the Roman Republic." A little further on he exclaims: "The propinquity of the palace to the temple, how interesting!" Besides reforming his style, the author should give up the affectation of keeping his characters incognito, like some platform orator who tells a moving story about himself when he was a boy; and then, precisely at the right moment, breaks out with-"That boy stands before you!" If Mr. Willett will consent to strike out all the fine writing, and change the whole from a stage play to a story, he will then produce, in a second edition, a book that will be very well worth reading. XXVI. THEOLOGY IN ROMANCE; or, The Catechism and the Dermott Family. By Mrs. Madeline Leslie, Author of "Home Life," &c., and Rev. A. R. Baker, Author of "The Catechism Tested by the Bible," &c. Boston: Jewett & Co. 1859. Two Volumes. pp. 227, 238. This is an odd title for such a book. It is a series of stories illus-. trating each question of the Shorter Catechism. We learn from those who have read some of these stories to children, that the little folks are much pleased with them. The principles of the questions seem well brought out. We are much gratified with every attempt to illustrate the Shorter Catechism, a most admirable summary of Christian doctrine, whose massiveness and comprehensiveness it seems difficult to reach in the style of our times. XXVII. AN ARCTIC BOAT JOURNEY IN THE AUTUMN OF 1854. By Isaac I. Hayes, Surgeon of the Second Grinnell Expedition. Boston: Brown, Taggart & Chase. Philadelphia: Lippincott & Co. 1860. pp. 375. This interesting volume contains the account by Dr. Hayes of the journey of a portion of Dr. Kane's Expedition when they attempted to reach Upernavik, but were obliged to return to the Advance. It also gives Dr. Hayes' reasons for supposing that the North Pole can be reached. This gentleman, as is known, is preparing for another expedition in which he expects to solve the great problem. The reader will be much pleased with the entire style and contents of the book. XXVIII. THE CHRISTIAN LAWYER: being a Portraiture of the Life and Character of William George Baker. New York: Carlton & Porter. 1859. pp. 320. This is a memoir of a lawyer of Baltimore, belonging to the Methodist Church, who seems to have been a man of very excellent character, and a devoted Christian. He died at the age of forty-six. He was a member of the Maryland Legislature and of the Baltimore City Council. XXIX. THE EIGHTEEN CHRISTIAN CENTURIES. By the Rev. James White, Author of a "History of France," with a Copious Index. From the Second Edinburgh Edition. Philadelphia: Parry & M Millan. 1859. pp. 588. The idea of this excellent manual is to give the salient points in each century, with the leading rulers and distinguished men. It seems very well done. "The prevailing thought" of each century is preserved. Of course, there will be some difference of opinion as to what is the leading thought of some of these centuries; but, on the whole, the work is to be commended as having succeeded well in its object. XXX. THE WARS OF THE ROSES; or Stories of the Struggle of York and Lancaster. By J. G. Edgar, Author of "History for Boys," &c., &c. With Illustrations. New York: Harpers. 1859. pp. 470. Interesting and well done. Mr. Edgar thinks that the Wars of the Roses were not mere contests between factions without political significance; but that the great King-maker was struggling firmly against despotism. The descriptions are good, and the kind of reading just such as we recommend to boys. XXXI. THE PRAIRIE TRAVELLER. A Hand Book for Overland Expeditions. With Maps, Illustrations and Itineraries of the Principal Routes between the Mississippi and the Pacific. By Randolph B. Marcy, Captain U. S. Army. Published by Authority of the War Department. New York: Harpers. 1852. pp. 340. Everything necessary to be known seems to be embraced in this manual. in travelling across the plains Capt. Marcy has spent a quar ter of a century in frontier life, and no other person coming forward to give the practical information needed, he has done so. The work descends to all the particulars of the case, and thus becomes more use ful. XXXII. SKETCHES FROM LIFE; or Illustrations of the Influence of Christianity. Second Series. American Tract Society. For sale in Philadelphia at the Tract House, Chestnut Street. pp. 486. This volume is composed of Articles from the American Messenger, the well-known periodical of the Tract Society. It extends to the close of the sixteenth volume. These Articles are widely known to be evangelical and well written, and calculated to be useful wherever read. XXXIII. SKETCHES OF NEW ENGLAND DIVINES. By Rev. D. Sherman. New York: Carlton & Porter. Philadelphia: for sale by Perkinpine & Higgins. 1860. pp. 443. These are short biographies of New England ministers, looked at from the Methodist position. There are John Cotton, Richard Mather, Roger Williams, Increase Mather, Cotton Mather, Eleazer Mather, John Warham, Jesse Lee, Jonathan Edwards, Elijah Hedding, Timothy Dwight, Wilbur Fisk, Ezra Stiles, Lemuel Haynes, Billy Hibbard, Timothy Merritt, Jonathan D. Bridge, Nathaniel Emmons, Joshua Crowell, George Pickering, Stephen Olin. While the reader will, of course, not expect entire impartiality in these sketches, he may look for much that is interesting, valuable and catholic. XXXIV. THE ATONEMENT: being Five Discourses by the Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol, Thomas Chalmers, D. D., LL. D., William Archer Butler, M. A., Robt. Hall, M. A., John Maclaurin. American Tract Society. Philadelphia: Tract House. pp. 176. The subjects of the sermons are, 1. Christ's Death, a Propitiatory Sacrifice; 2. The Power of the Gospel to dissolve the Enmity of the Human Heart against God; 3. Christ Sought and Found in the Old Testament Scriptures; 4. The Substitution of the Innocent for the Guilty; 5. Glorying in the Cross of Christ. A happy thought, to bring together from various denominations these testimonies to the same great truth of the Cross. XXXV. LETTERS ON PSALMODY: a Review of the Leading Arguments for the Exclusive Use of the Book of Psalms. By William Annan. Philadelphia: W. S. & A. Martien. 1859. pp. 216. It is unhappily necessary to discuss the subject of these letters. Our Seceder and Covenanter brethren have so extraordinarily and pertinaciously adhered to "Rouse's Version," and their attacks on us, who prefer a different method of Psalmody, are so constant, that a defence becomes necessary. Mr. Annan seems to have gone thoroughly into the subject, examining carefully all that has been said on the other side, and we are pleased that such a manual has been prepared. It is but a few days since a clergyman of our Church wrote to us inquiring where such a work could be obtained. |