notes of solidity and breadth of demonstration and clarity of exposition are if anything more essential to a work on so vital a subject as the existence of God and His relations to the universe. It need hardly be said that in these respects the present work can hardly be surpassed. The opening chapter contains a thorough exposition of the principle of causality-on which, of course, the arguments for the existence of the First Cause depends. These arguments are subsequently solidly established, though the fifty pages devoted to them are by no means too many. The author has shown his sense of the fitting by holding to a simple scholastic style which rightly eschews rhetorical phrasings and thus allows the thought to shine through unclouded. DIE BRIEFE DES APOSTETS PAULIS AN TIMOTHEUS UND TITUS. Pp. viii.+302. There has not been in recent times an excessive multiplication of Catholic commentaries on the Pauline Epistles. Thus the author whose recent works are here introduced cites but two on the Pastoral Letters-Mack (1836) and Bisping (1866)—and the same number on the Epistle to the Ephesians-Bisping (1855) and Henle (1890). All these are in German. Over against these figures might be mentioned about a dozen in the former and about eight in the latter case by Protestant authors. The relative paucity in Catholic exegesis is principally due to the wealth of already preëisting-Patristic and subsequent commentaries—notably the monumental work of Cornelius A. Lapide, which, though written almost three centuries ago, is, as Professor Belser observes, still in many respects unsurpassed, though indeed it is seldom, if ever, noticed by Protestant commentators. The learned professor of Divinity at Tübingen has done a distinct service for Catholic students by bringing together in compact and convenient form the wisdom of the older commentators and combining therewith what elements of newer knowledge textual and exegetical criticism and historical research have brought to bear on these letters of the inspired Apostle. This service will be mostly appreciated by those who have pondered over the deeply mystical and hence obscure thoughts which abound particularly in the Epistle to the Ephesians; whereof long ago St. Jerome declared, "Nullam Epistolam Pauli tanta habere mysteria, tam reconditis sensibus involuta." That the latest translator and interpreter makes perfectly plain what the early author of the Vulgate found so difficult, one must hesitate to affirm. That, however, with the accumulated thought of many ages at his command, Dr. Belser has been able to shed not a little light on the obscurities may be safely attested. Certainly Biblical students will profit by consulting these volumes. ERASME ET LUTHER: Polémique sur le libre arbitre, par M. Claude-Humbert. One vol. in 16. Bloud et Cie, 7 place Saint-Sulpice, Paris. Owing to the vast number of works published on the subject of the Reformation, it would seem that all or at least nearly all has been said or written on Luther and the beginning of the Reformation. One fundamental question, however, has hitherto escaped general notice, probably for the reason that its treatment and solution requires the services not only of a historian, but of a theologian also. The polemic discussion held by Erasmus and Luther on free-will and the other questions connected with freewill places us at once in the very heart and centre of the doctrinal element of Lutheranism. On this point the theological activity of Protestants and Catholics was destined to concentrate their respective forces for nearly two centuries. In order to account for the history of dogmatic theology down to the decline of Jansenism, and to understand the direction or development it received during that period, the student must have a precise knowledge of the antithetical positions established at the very beginning of that new era of modern theology by Erasmus and Luther. This point of departure is admirably presented to the reader in the volume of M. Humbert Claude, which is a profound study containing vast treasures of information for the theologian and adorned with those embellishments of style and I clearness of treatment which cannot fail to win his sincere approbation. HISTOIRE DE L'EGLISE DU IIIe AU XIe SIECLE. LE CHRISTIANISME ET L'EMPIRE, par Albert Dufoucq, professeur à l'Université de Bordeaux. Bloud et Cie, 7 place Saint-Sulpice, Paris. In this publication the learned author continues the series of his valuable works on the Christian past. The period treated of in this book cannot fail to interest deeply the student of Church history. The destinies of Christianity and those of the Roman Empire possess throughout these centuries a solidarity which began to disappear soon after the close of the eleventh century. The renaissance in the East and the awakening of the West forced the Empire to retreat from its prominent position, caused it to break up gradually, and finally transformed it. The Church seemed destined to share in its ruin, but it wisely separated its lot from that of the Empire, evacuated the East and took deeper root in the West. Such is the momentous history which M. Dufourcq presents with a striking loftiness of view and a thorough minuteness of scholarship. Side by side with this picture of political events, the author has placed a masterly exposition of the development of Christian thought during this period. Origen, St. Athanasius and St. Augustin are the master-minds on whose doctrines he dwells most extensively and with the utmost ease. This distinguished work will assuredly be welcomed both by theologians and by historians. RELIGIOSI JURIS CAPITA SELECTA ADUMBRAVIT. Raphael Molitor, O. S. B. Typis, Fr. Pustet. This new work is most elaborate and is the result of deep and wide research. It comprises 560 pages and contains seven chapters. The first three of these treat of the religious profession and the religious state. The fourth chapter has for title "De Verborum Significatione," and explains the meaning of the different terms employed to designate religious societies, v. g., the terms Religio, Ordo, Congregatio Religiosa, etc. The fifth chapter, "Qualis sit Religionum Potestas Regiminis," treats of the nature of the power exercised in the government of religious orders exempted from episcopal jurisdiction. The sixth chapter, "De Variis Religiosorum Familiis," shows the various sources whence arises the distinction of religious orders, v. g., their end, the kind of life they profess, the nature of vows taken, etc. The concluding chapter, seventh, "De Abbatia Regulari," treats at great length of the power and prerogatives of the abbatial authority. The author avows his intention of selecting for treatment such matters as are in no way treated or only lightly touched upon by modern writers, although these matters are of the greatest importance. Amongst them he dwells particularly upon the question of the elements of the religious profession, the various constitutions of the religious orders, the different families of religious. He insists strongly upon the necessity of having distinct names and terms for distinct things. He devotes one whole chapter to the subject of the signification of terms. The work is a most useful and invaluable contribution to this important branch of ecclesiastical science. LES ARGUMENTS DE L'ATHEISME, par I. de la Paquerie. Bloud et Cie, 7 place Saint-Sulpice, Paris. M. de la Paquere has already supplied us with a valuable work of Christian Apologetics, entitled elements d'apologetique, which, under a complete view of the subject, vindicates the truth and correctness of positive doctrine. The entire Catholic press has bestowed the highest eulogies on the work, in which all find proof the most abundant of the clearness, the originality, and the scholarship of the distinguished writer. Mgr. Mignot, Archbishop of Albi, addressed the following lines to the author, which may be found at the beginning of the second edition: "You have at last given the fruit of 50 years of study and meditation. I am highly pleased with it. You have not, of course, said everything; but that was not possible; but what you have said was uncommonly well chosen. You meet the pressing needs of our contemporaries by expounding the truths and facts which are confirmed by common sense, by the lights of correct reason, and by the most certain conclusions of history and erudition." In the present volume the author directs his efforts more particularly towards the refutation of our adversaries. With much moderation and praiseworthy tolerance he points out that the doctrines of M. M. Uebert and Le Dantee are the outcome of the system of Kant and of the agnosticism of Spencer. In a clear and concise form he offers us the just estimate of these recent doctrines and of the arguments advanced for their support. BISHOP DE MAZENOD. His Inner Life and Virtues. By Very Rev. Fr. Eugene Baffle, O. M. I. 12mo., 458 pages, with portraits. Cloth, net, $1.80. New York: Benziger Brothers. Bishop De Mazenod was the saintly Founder and SuperiorGeneral of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Father Baffie's book is much esteemed by the clergy and Religious in France, and is used for spiritual reading in seminaries. Years pass so rapidly that it seems but a little while since his Eminence Cardinal Perraud, of beloved memory, selected Father Baffie's book to be read aloud in the refectory, during a pastoral retreat at Autun, in which he himself took part. His Eminence later on wrote to the reverend author as follows: "You have done a very great service to your own religious family, and to ecclesiastics in general. The members of your congregation will find in your book a rich inheritance, a treasure-house of instruction and example. The bishops and priests who will have the advantage of reading the work will admire therein an attractive pattern of all the priestly virtues and they will perceive that these virtues are not beyond our strength, since they were practiced in such a high degree during his long life by the venerable Bishop and Religious whose inmost soul you picture so pleasingly and se well." PETITE HISTOIRE DE L'EGLISE CATHOLIQUE AU XIX. SIECLE, par Pierre Lorette. One vol. in 16. Bloud et Cie, 7 place Saint-Sulpice, Paris. At the present time, when religious questions are so keenly discussed, it is all-important to have an exact knowledge of the history of the Church. Thence the timeliness of the little volume published by M. Pierre Lorette. It affords the reader the means of making a precise, though rapid, study of a period in the history of the Church, which was undoubtedly one of the most stormy ever known, and, at the same time, one that gave very strong evidence of life and vigor. All the problems that arose in the course of the past century are clearly exposed to view. The reader can realize the importance and necessity of being familiar with these problems, if he wishes at all to be able to act upon his contemporaries, or to influence their life and opinions. The volume presents a clearness of narrative, a neatness of plan, a correctness of division, an abundance and preciseness of references, which render the use of the book both pleasant and convenient, even for such as are already well versed in the subject. The writer has combined strict orthodoxy with the most rigorous and scientific information, a generous degree of moderation, and a lively appreciation of the needs of the hour. ROUND THE WORLD. A Series of Interesting Illustrated Articles on a Great Variety of Subjects. Vol. VII. 12mo., pp. 223, with 100 illustrations. New York: Benziger Brothers. We predicted success for this series, and called attention to the very wide field on which it could draw for succeeding volumes. The appearance of the seventh shows that our prediction is being verified and the field being worked. This number of the series does not fall behind any of its predecessors in interest and instructiveness. It is made up of twelve articles on interesting subjects, well and profusely illustrated. The first article, on "Trees, Historical, Wonderful and Ordinary," catches the attention at once and holds it. Not, however, to the exclusion of the articles on "Mountain Climbing in America," "Canoes and Canoeing," "Outdoor Bird Taming" and the eight others, for we find when we begin to enumerate that they are all interesting and instructive and worthy of mention. The series would make an acceptable addition to the family library, for young people, and old ones, too, would always find |