A Year's Ministry. Brief Notices of Books. Second Series. By ALEXANDER MACLAREN, D.D. Christian Commonwealth office. DR. MACLAREN is acknowledged to be a prince among preachers. This volume possesses all the characteristics that have caused former volumes of his sermons to be so highly prized. Vigorous thought, and a keen, incisive, and aptly illustrated style, are united with sound and of ten subtle exegesis. The illustrations are, we think, homelier than in former volumes, and the appeals to the conscience more direct and forceful. To his intense earnestness the fact is no doubt owing that a sentence now and again reminds his readers of the phraseology of the early Methodist preachers, as this: "If there is to be a profound, an all-pervading, life-transforming, sin and devil-conquering faith, it must be a faith rooted deep in penitence and sorrow for sin." If our recollections of a sermon by Dr. Maclaren many years ago, on "Simon the Cyrenian," are accurate, his view of the incident related by the evangelists of Simon's bearing the cross after Jesus has been largely modified. The volume has our heartiest commendation. The Christ of History. By JOHN YOUNG, LL.D. T. Fisher Unwin. THE merits of this reprint have been long acknowledged. On the somewhat narrow basis of facts concerning our Lord Jesus Christ, that nearly all who deny His supernatural claims are ready to admit, Dr. Young constructs a most powerful and convincing argument in favour of His true Divinity. It is not often that a book so severely logical is written in so interesting a style, or is pervaded by so much true feeling. First Principles of Faith. By MARSHALL RANDLES. Author of For Ever, &c. Hodder and Stoughton. THE multiplication of such books as this, is strong evidence that the very foundation of our faith, viz., the existence of God, is being rudely assailed. Mr. Randles divides his work into five parts, dealing respectively with various kinds of Theistic evidence-the doctrine of Causality, Theistic evidence. How the Theistic Argument is affected by the Advances of Science and Philosophy, and the Relation of Natural to Revealed Theology. These points are reasoned out with much clearness and force, and though the cogency of a particular argument here and there is open to question, the value of this compact and able contribution to the literature of a great subject is unquestionable, and it will be found especially valuable by intelligent young men who are called on to give a reason for holding so firmly to the faith of their fathers. The Pulpit Commentary 1. Chronicles; Exposition and Homiletics, by the Rev. P. C. BARKER, M. A. Homilies, by various authors. Kegan Paul, Trench and Co. We do not know how much use preachers generally have made of this book of Scripture, but if we may judge of the conduct of others by our own, they have seldom laid it under contribution. One of the desired results of the publication of The Pulpit Commentary will be that preachers, and, through them, the people, will devote their attention to the study of the Bible as a whole, and not exclusively as before to particular and favourite parts thereof. As in the chapters which seem but a register of names are imbedded "lovely jewels," so those books in the Bible which are often passed over, Hosea, for instance, among the minor prophets, abound in texts that are as real and applicable to the men of to-day as to the people who lived many centuries ago. No volume of the Commentary hitherto issued is more worthy of hearty commendation than this. The Light of the World. Lessons from the Life of our Lord for Children. By the Rev. RICHARD NEWTON, D.D. Author of Rays from the Sun of Righteousness, &c., &c. London: T. Woolmer. THIS very handsome volume must become speedily a general favourite. The author devoted here his best powers to the highest subject, and his easy, pic torial style is aided by the numerous illustrations, mostly of a high order. POST FREE for 6 stamps or Large Edition (bound in cloth), 1s. 3d., from the AUTHOR. CONSUMPTION AND ALL LUNG DISEASES. By G. T. CONGREVE, Coombe Lodge, Peckham. The Nature, Progress, and True Treatment of this Scourge of England, with 133 Selected Cases. The following testimony by the Editor of the " CHRISTIAN GLOBE" appeared in that Journal, December 4th. "Last week we called upon a Mrs. Naish, of Woodbine-terrace, Copeland-road, Peckham, who had been under Mr. Congreve's treatment, and what did she tell us? Before we say what she told us, let us say what we saw. We saw a buxom, healthy woman busily engaged in her domestic duties, preparing her children's dinner, the youngest, a fat healthy little girl, impatiently waiting for her share of the repast, and a finer, healthier little specimen of humanity we have not set eyes on for some time past. Now for what she told us, and every word she said was corroborated by her landlady. When she went to her present residence her landlady was doubtful about accepting her as a tenant, owing to the extreme state of attenuation in which she was. She was simply skin and bone. She was daily expecting her confinement, and her friends hoped that the child might not be born alive, so that it might be saved the few days of misery and wretchedness which otherwise awaited it. That child was the one we saw impatiently, but still good-humouredly, waiting for her dinner. Mrs Naish had been for a year at one of the London hospitals for consumption, and had left there worse than she went. She had exhausted their small means in paying for medical advice, and received no benefit. Well, she was advised to apply to Mr. Congreve, and she did so, and put herself entirely under his guidance; and, we are happy to say, with marvellously successful results. The cure was not immediate. but relief was, and gradually she emerged from the valley of the shadow of death, and she and her child are now in perfect health, the youngster looking as unlike an infant suffering from pulmonary complaint as it is possible to imagine. We did not stop here, however. We communicated with a Mr. Arthur Jones, of Talywain Station, Pontypool, Mon., with reference to a letter of his, which has appeared in print. and he in every particular bears out the statements therein conveyed as to the benefit received by his brother, after he placed himself under Mr. Congreve's charge. Mr. Jones's brother was attacked by Phthisis-and not his brother only, but several of his friends-and he was at death's door. He attributes his recovery entirely to Mr. Congreve's medicine and advice. "A lady from the Isle of Wight, whose name we are not at liberty to publish, sends us quite a list of cures in which she is interested; the sufferers having been induced by her to adopt Mr. Congreve's treatment, and in every case with not only beneficial but marvellous results. We feel that we should be neglecting a plain and manifest duty did we not make known the result of our enquiries, more especially at this period of the year when the poor victims of this dread disease are day by day losing their lives through what it is hardly too strong to designate as The Nation's Curse."" "HOPELESS" CASE of CONFIRMED BRONCHITIS, Reported by Rev. F. J. HARSANT. The writer is a Baptist Minister, of Clayton, Norwich. He says: "I am glad to tell you that through your kindness I have been enabled to be of great service to a friend here-the wife of a deacon of my Church. Her case was one of severe Bronchitis; her cough was of a most distressing character; her medical attendant gave up all hope of her recovery. Thereupon I procured for her your medicine. From the first (the great Master giving His blessing) she began to recover, and is now quite well. May you be long spared to be a blessing in the relief of suffering humanity," CHIEF OFFICE: 38, MOORGATE STREET, LONDON, E.C. ESTABLISHED 1855. CAPITAL £100,000. Directors. Chairman-J. EBENEZER SAUNDERS, Esq., F.S.A., Finsbury Circus. JOHN COOK, Esq., 2, Old Bethnal Green Road, E. CHAS. N. KIDD. Esq., West Hill House, Dartford, Kent. AUGUSTUS K. MAYBURY, Esq., M.D., Holly Lodge, Richmond. J. CARVELL WILLIAMS, Esq., Sergeants' Inn, Fleet Street, E.C. Nanager and Secretary. ALFRED T. BOWSER, Esq., F.R.G.S. Auditors. ROBERT M. MARPLES, Esq., Cripplegate, E.C. GEO. C. SCRUTTON, Esq., Idol Lane, E.C., and Sidcup, Kent. Agency Managers ALFRED MORRIS, Esq., A.I.A. Bankers-THE NATIONAL PROVINCIAL BANK OF ENGLAND. DISTINCTIVE FEATURES OF THE COMPANY. THE GUARANTEE of a large subscribed capital; careful selection of lives; economical management. POLICIES PAYABLE during the lifetime of the assured, without extra premium. DIVISION OF PROFITS in the proportion of 80 per cent. to Policy holders. TOTAL ABSTAINERS and Members of the BLUE RIBBON ARMY and the Independent Order of GOOD TEMPLARS cannot do better than assure in this Office, which fairly gives them all the advantages to which they are entitled, and which transacts Life Assurance in every form. INVALIDS OF SECOND CLASS LIVES assured at tabular rates, on a safe and equitable plan. FREE POLICIES granted, of the acturarial value of payments made, to meet the cases of assurers whose policies have been five years in force, and who may be unable to continue their payments, BONUSES declared in 1860, 1863, 1866, 1869, 1872, 1875, 1878, and 1881. BONUS YEAR, 1884. ALL KINDS OF LIFE ASSURANCE EFFECTED. ALFRED T. BOWSER, Manager and Secretary. The Divine Method of Justification.-By JAMES ROWE Short Studies in the Life of St. Paul: The Interview of St. Peter and Devotional Papers for the Lord's Day. By J. O. KEEN, D.D. Thy King cometh unto thee, O Zion.-By E. Down Mr. Stephen Wells.-By WILLIAM LUKE A BEAUTIFUL LITHOGRAPH PORTRAIT OF THE LATE Rev. WILLIAM COOKE, D.D., With Fac-simile of his Autograph. 12 by 10 inches, for Framing, price 9d., or in Black and Gold or Oak Oxford Frame, Half-a-Crown. A FEW INDIA PROOF COPIES 2s. 6d. EACH. Ministers, the Trade, and Bazaar Committees can have Special Terms for Quantities. As a Large Demand is anticipated, parcels will be forwarded in the order in which applications are received. G. BURROUGHS, 4, LONDON HOUSE YARD, LONDON, E.C. Hop Bitters Are the Purest, Cheapest, and Best Bitters ever made. The oldest, best, and most valuable medicine in the world. Contains all the best and most curative properties of all other Bitters, being the greatest Blood Purifier, Liver Regulator, and Life and Health Restoring agent on earth. NO DISEASE OR ILL HEALTH can possibly long exist where these Bitters are used, so varied and perfect are their operations. Try Hop Bitters to-day. 26, Paternoster Row, London, E.C. Now Ready, Cloth boards. Fcap. 8vo. Price 18. PARSON JAQUES, AND HIS CHIPS AND CHATS. By J. O. KEEN, D.D. "A very clever little book, dealing in a peculiarly racy and fresh style, with many important subjects."-Christian Age. "In a homely and telling way he strikes home many truths and seasonable lessons."-Cambrian. Now Ready. Price 1s. 6d. NIMALS' OWN TALES. By "UNCLE WILL." Royal 16mo. Handsomely Abound and illustrated. "Whoever Uncle Will' is, he is a clever story-teller, and moreover a good naturalist, for he has given the little folks some capital tales which cannot but delight and instruct them. We have the hedgehog's tale, the cuckoo's tale, the donkey's tale, the yellowhammer's tale, and the swan's tale, and they are all so good that we do not know which to prefer. Each one contains a lesson in natural history, and in each one a moral is supplied; so that it is really an instructive book as well as an amusing one. Moreover, it contains six beautiful illustrations, which are really such, and it is printed and bound in very neat style. If you want to give a child a book that it will read and read again, and not get tired of it, by all means give it Uncle Will's tales."-Watchman. |