of efficiency. While, therefore, we think that it is well to remind such agents from time to time of the theory, the practice is at all times that which we look to discover in any work which professes to be a manual. It is true, the fair author of this treatise was, to a certain extent, precluded from dealing at length with the specific questions of infant training and senior class management-the committee very properly considering that Mr. Reed and Mr. Copper had supplied that lack in their prize essays, but we should rather have had a work more like that of the late Mrs. Davids, in a condensed form, which really was what it professed to be, a Manual for Teachers.

It

Now, while we say all this, we must not be supposed to be unimpressed with the great practical value of a large portion of this manual. abounds in fit illustrations, is very suggestive, and bears the marks of great pains-taking and research. Perhaps it may result from a certain limitation of space, but from some cause, it seems to us that there is a want of completeness in some portions of the work. We take, for instance, the admirable advice given to teachers to keep up their influence over their pupils, to commence and carry on correspondence, to visit frequently, and winning the confidence of children and parents, become their friend, counsellor, and temporal helper. Now, to do this, a practical eye will at once see that there are difficulties in the way, and these obstacles are not in the power of the teacher to overcome. advice should be given complete, with a decided advocacy of the abandonment of that useless plan of moving children incessantly from one class to another-a process by which influence is destroyed, and that without any equivalent advantage. This, and the baneful practice of alternate teaching, would at once render impossible the discharge of the duty so properly inculcated.

This

The book is a readable and useful one, and will form a valuable contribution to the libraries of our Sundayschools of all denominations.

INQUIRY INTO THE ORIGINAL LAN GUAGE OF ST. MATTHEW's GOSPEL; with Relative Discussions on the Language of Palestine in the Time of Christ, and on the Origin of the Gospel. By the Rev. Alexander Roberts, M.A., Minister of the Presbyterian Church, St. John's Wood. London: Bagsters. 8vo. pp. viii. 159.

THE object of this treatise, as stated in the first sentence of the preface, is

to vindicate and uphold the Greek original of St. Matthew's Gospel." The basis of the whole argument is, that the Greek was the prevailing language spoken in Palestine in the time of the Apostles, and that Our Lord himself usually spoke in that language. The general tradition of the early church as to the Hebrew (or Aramaic) original of Matthew is therefore set aside, as relating to a matter beyond the personal knowledge of the Fathers who report it, and being contradicted by the circumstances of the case. We cannot, in a brief notice, enter on the argument, but must confine ourselves to the mere statement of our conviction, that Mr. Roberts has not proved his fundamental point, and consequently his whole superstructure falls to the ground. We do not believe that any one will be convinced by the treatise. Those who already hold with Mr. Roberts the view that there never was any Hebrew Gospel written by Matthew, may readily accede to his statement; for it is pleasant to hear a clever advocate maintain one's own views, and put them in a somewhat new form; * but at least as plausible an argument might be made out in a similar way on the other side, and we should be then, after all, no nearer the truth. Mr. Roberts has, however, risked the whole case on this one point, and states distinctly that "if that can be set aside, or if it fail to convince,” he

is "willing to acknowledge, that nothing else which remains to be stated is likely to be successful, and at once to abandon the argument." (P. 87.) We cannot but think, that with his views of the extreme importance of the question, he has shown more confidence than prudence in this assertion. But the question, after all, interesting and in some respects important as it is, has not that vital connection with revealed truth which Mr. Roberts assigns to it. And we must protest against such language as the following:-" The question, then, which has been discussed in this treatise, is one of vast importance, not only in regard to the Gospel of St. Matthew, but the whole of the New Testament Scriptures. It is, in truth, the very Thermopyle of sacred criticism, on this ground the decisive battle must be fought the fate of the whole inspired Scriptures is, to a great extent, involved in its issue, and when we take up the position of Dr. Tregelles, it is only too plain that the result must prove disastrous to the friends of divine revelation, and that the cause of inspired truth is irretrievably lost." (Pp. 144, 145.) We earnestly advise Mr. Roberts, in any further critical attempt which he may make, not to indulge in such very rash assertions. The cause of inspired truth survived, though Papias in the second century declared that "Matthew wrote his Gospel in Hebrew, and every one interpreted it as he could ;" nor is it yet irretrievably lost, though many of the Fathers in succession reiterated the same statement, and though Jerome in the fourth century added that "it was not certain by whom it was translated into Greek."

THE UNITY OF THE FAITH. By the Rev. A. Leitch. Edinburgh: Elliott. London: Hamilton, Adams, and Co. THE title of this book is not a happy one. It fails to define its proper aim. It is the plea of a thoughtful, cultivated, and earnest mind for Christian

union. The fundamental conclusion of the author we are unable to accept in all its extent. It is this, contradictory interpretations of the Scriptures are errors; they must be sinful in their origin; such conflicting opinions might be corrected; Christians are therefore culpable, that they are not doctrinally agreed. We admit, that there is not only some but much truth in the assertion, that the Protestant sects might and ought to approximate far more closely in their dogmas. But there are causes of theological diversity and purposes for its emergence; mental and moral, which this very simple theory strangely ignores, or does not apprehend. We are not at all sure that the use of dialogue by the author is any relief to the reader, and strongly suspect that it may confuse the thinking rather than sustain the attention of the majority. sinister or ignorant consulter of the volume might make a mischievous use of the paragraphs assigned to the Popish and sceptical interlocutors. With the spirit and general intention of the writer, we feel the deepest sympathy, and admire the great ability with which he has executed his task. We have differed from him with reluctance, but feel the more able to recommend the book with candour to the serious study of all Christians. We have no expectation of arriving at religious unity through doctrinal unanimity. We can only wish that all the readers may cultivate the temper of the writer, and Christian union will be speedily attained without our needing to wait for theological uniformity.

A

THE LIFE OF RICHARD KNILL, of St. Petersburg; being Selections from his Reminiscences, Journals, and Correspondence, with a Review of his Character and a Preface by the late Rev. John Angell James. By Charles H. Birrell. Nisbet and Co.

FEW men in our day have possessed the peculiar and commanding influences of moral earnestness in a

never

swore at him in a very fearful way "Form a circle round him," sai t to his comrades,' and I will sweat at him." They did so. "He sw fearfully, and I wept," says b Knill. Years after he met man a converted man from ". impressions of that her. L consecration to missionary equally characteristic. himself to it body and scul short time he went to MARKE health failing, he returned to I land, and after a little whea St. Petersburg, where he thirteen years.

greater degree than Richard Knill. He was a man of no very remarkable ability; he probably was guilty of a transcendental thought in his life, but his measure of ability was consecrated in its entireness to whatever purpose he had in hand. This was naturally characteristic of him a power of sharp, sudden, entire concentration of thought and of energy-and, when he became a pious man, the great motives of religion were added to the natural tendencies of character; and the whole was suffused with a sanctity and devotedness that made him irresistible. However questionable the wisdom of his projects, it was almost impossible to be critical, or to stand aloof while under the spell of his personal presence and urgency. In the moral results of his life, indeed, far more was accomplished through the impulses of his fervid heart, than the judgment of the wisest head could devise or fulfil. His sublime simplicity of purpose more than wisdom to him. The heart is often wiser than the head. He belonged to the Xavier and Henry Martyn class of men-the seraph class-men who burn-and under similar condition of life, he would have been what they were. Everything about him partook of this simple intensity of character. Nothing that he did can be conceived of as measured, judicial, Whatever his or common-place. hand found to do he did with all his might. He

was

"Moved altogether if he moved at all." He had a passion for music, and thinking that he could gratify it if he could get into a militia band, he

enlisted at once.

His conversion

He

in health, he returned to E. and for eight years was the * agent of the London M... Society. Then he was fr time pastor of the Church al under-Edge, and finally.. pastorate of the COL Church at Chester, where his useful and holy life. bishop of the diocese 15% to his grave, saying the e comfort in taking the last. good man."

was that of the jailer rather than that of Lydia. When the Barnstaple Militia was to be disbanded, he conceived the idea of making every militia maan a tract distributor, and went into the barrack-yard when the were assembled to persuade them to take his tracts. He suc ceeded, although one of the grenadiers

men

66

4

This memoir of his c very largely of selections journals and letters, is ! most interesting incide high spiritual teaching thankful for having p

Mr. Birrell has discha
admirably. His volu
of a refined taste
heart.

It is simple, c
The "

and modest. stands before his frier bore his portrait. of prolix memoir writin commend it as memoir should be.

a

merry, and thoughtless sailor. He goes away for a three years' voyage, to the complete satisfaction of the widow, who wishes to marry her daughter to Dr. Hopkins, a middleaged New England Calvinistic divine, who boards in her house. Word is rought by a survivor that the sailor pusin is drowned; and bowed down the earth in spirit, and gently ged on by her mother, Mary conats to marry the Doctor. Preparans are made for the wedding; but t at the last moment the shipcked cousin returns an altered 1, and marries Mary. The episode Terginie and Colonel Burr, though leasant in itself, is skilfully fitted As regards the main incident of the viz, the wooing and its issue, it perhaps be as well to state that, hsubstantially a fact, it is nly chronologically inaccurate, xtremely so. The Doctor was in 1721; and the date of his arriage was as early as 1748, he was living at Great BarringInstead, therefore, of being an ied man at forty (the age asto him by Mrs. Stowe in 12), he was a benedict at Seven; and when, in 1770, he to Newport, where the scene ale is laid, had been married -and-twenty years; nor did

nteres

piritual ta

Iter har the wife of his youth until Sirrell month of the termination of

Iv. HIST

ned tas

tis sha

aty-second year, when, after

months' widowhood, he himself a second, who surThe . His first marriage took his freight years before Burr, ortraits in the tale, was even born, noir w before the American revoluas a h the story repeatedly re

teristics of the story interest us none the less because of it.

We are forewarned that these facts are more or less re-grouped and modified, and have no right therefore to quarrel with mere anachronisms.

The incident upon which it is founded appears to be the following, which we give in the words of Professor Park and Dr. Patten, who record it :

"A second matrimonial engagement was equally inauspicious. He (the Doctor) had paid his addresses to a young woman, interesting in her appearance and manners, and of a bright intellect, who was also rather a belle. She favoured his suit, and, so far as appeared, there was a mutual attachment. When the time of their marriage was not far distant, a former lover, who had been absent some time, returned, with the design of renewing his attentions; and by indirect, or explicit, manifestations of it excited in her the expectation of an offer to be his wife." So at least say Drs. Park and Patten; their meaning, of course, is" of an offer to be her husband. The intimation," they continue, "engaged her affections; and frankly disclosing the truth to Dr., then Mr. Hopkins, she assured him that however much she respected him, she could not fulfil her engagement from the heart.'"

This, he said, was a trial, a very great trial; but as she had not designed to deceive him in the engagements she had given him, he could part with her in friendship.*

As in "Uncle Tom's Cabin," we have here a beautifully-painted picture of the effects of profound grief in strengthening and deepening charac

ter. Mrs. Stowe excels in depicting the discipline of sorrow. We might easily imagine that she has herself struggled through some great crisis of affliction, and so writes with all the vividness of one who has actually experienced what she portrays. Be this

*Park's "Memoir of Hopkins," p. 53; Patten's "Reminiscences," p. 31.