position as to satisfy the average mind of its strength and truthfulness. In this view of the subject the book has its mission, and, we are happy to state, is fulfilling it, in the judgment of those who are observers of its influence in the realm of the earnest seekers after the best expression of truth.

Bible Studies from the Old and New Testaments. Covering the International SundaySchool Lessons for 1889. By GEORGE F. PENTECOST, D. D., Author of "In the Volume of the Book," "Out of Egypt," etc. 16mo, pp. 402. New York and Chicago: A. S. Barnes & Co. Strong paper cover, 50 cents.

ers.

Gospel Sermons. By JAMES MCCosн, D).D., LL.D., Litt.D., Ex-President of Princeton College, Author of Method of Divine Government," Intuitions of the Mind Inductively Examined," etc. 12mo, pp. 336. New York: Robert Carter & BrothPrice, cloth, $1 50. Studies in the Book of Acts. 8vo, pp. 178. The Sermon Bible.

By J. WILLIAMS, D.D., LL.D., Bishop of Connecticut.

New York: Thomas Whittaker. Price, cloth, $1 50.

Genesis to 2 Samuel. 12mo, pp. 500. New York: A. C. Armstrong & Son. Price, cloth, $150.

Dr. Pentecost has produced a superior commentary, both as to its literary form and the exhibition of the spiritual meaning of the Scriptures within the limits of the Sunday-school lessons.

Dr. McCosh is not more of a philosopher than preacher. He has studied the Scriptures perhaps more than the speculative questions of evolution and intuition, embodying in this treatise the results of his pulpit preparations for a life-time. It is gratifying to turn to these pages as they reflect the sober thought of a great thinker, and the transparent expression of a devout and humble mind. Though the sermons are less doctrinal than didactic, they are upon themes of great interest to the Christian, and, for the most part, are quite in harmony with the Arminian thought of these days. In "The Sifting of Peter," the preacher had the opportunity of investing the discourse with a Calvinistic halo, but he did not avail himself of it. The truth is, that this book is the final theological utterance of the great divine, and he seems' in it to have indirectly recorded himself against those ultra forms of thought that once dominated the Frinceton realm. We welcome these sermons as a good exponent of perhaps unconscious Arminian influence in the stronghold of a venerable but antiquated theology.

Interpreting The Acts of the Apostles as a record of missionary heroism and success, Dr. Williams has amplified and illuminated it by ascholarly analysis of its contents, and in a manner most refreshing and fascinating. No uninspired history of missionary achievement equals Luke's account of the struggles and triumphs of the early Church, and this book greatly assists in an appreciation of the magnitude of the apostolic labors and the magnificence of their results.

It is not clear to us that The Sermon Bible, made up of fragments of sermons or paragraphs of opinions from eminent divines, has a special function or will be of any value either to the ministry or laity; we there fore consign it to the "tomb of the Capulets."

The Tabernacle of Israel in the Desert. A Companion Volume to the Portfolio of Plates, explanatory of the Particulars, with Detailed Plans and Drawings, and Letter-Press Descriptions. By JAMES STRONG, S.T.D., LL.D. Quarto, pp. 106. Providence, R I.: Harris, Jones, & Co. Price, $5.

Until the reader shall have mastered this work he can have no just conception of the difficulties of the subject, or of the erudition, patience, skill, and the scholarly searching and application required to overcome them. The first impression that the volume makes upon the student is of the exhaustless ability of the distinguished author, and of the final solution of the problems that have perplexed the biblical inquirer for ages. With giving the history of the tabernacle, and that incompletely, most writers, Jewish as well as Christian, have been satisfied; but Dr. Strong, like an architect, here presents its structure, elucidating and vindicating the fabric and mode of combination in minute detail, so that it can be perfectly reconstructed from these specifications. And he has carefully and cautiously interpreted its symbolism, having found a "functional import " in the several apartments, which is in entire harmony with its sacred design and with the principles of religion. Accompanying the volume of letter-press are six magnificent colored lithographs, each 30x42 inches, representing the ground-plan of the Tabernacle, front views, furniture, vestments, etc., so that the text, as one reads it, will have illustration and verification in these pictures, which, without the book, almost declare the truth themselves. As the treatise is original, it is refreshing; as it is the product of a reputable scholar, traveler, and thinker, it may be accepted as trustworthy in detail, and reliable as a whole; as no other work equals it in breadth, or so closely conforms to the scriptural account of the tabernacle, it must at once supplant all others; and as the solution of the enigma is complete and unanswerable the approval of the learned world may be anticipated for it in advance, while the individual examiner of the solution will breathe easily, and go on to further conquests in the field of biblical history.

The Book of Jubilees. Translated from the Ethiopic. By Rev. GEORGE H. SCHodde, Ph.D., Professor in Capitol University, Columbus, Ohio. 8vo, pp. 131. Oberlin, Ohio: E. J. Goodrich. Price, cloth, $1. Here is an historic curiosity, a work handed down from the Hebrew, through the Greek and Ethiopic, from the first century of the Christian era. The translator describes it as an haggadic commentary on portions of Genesis and Exodus, and a representative example of the manner in which the learned contemporaries of Christ perverted biblical books for their own purpose. In contents it exhibits the Judaic spirit and tendency of New Testament times, or the nomistic principle of Jewish theology in opposition to the Pauline doctrine of justification by faith, giving us a glimpse of the conflicts of the Christian preachers with the Judaizing teachers in those days of religious controversy. In addition to its corroboration of Moses, it contains stories and fables concerning the fathers in Israel, and explains events by circumstances and a detail of processes and methods that discredit the events themselves. Still, the 10-FIFTH SERIES, VOL. V.

scholar should carefully study this book, and, as this translation is superior to any extant, one may read it with all confidence and be able to judge of the value of the original document.

ECCLESIASTICAL LITERATURE.

The Evolution of Episcopacy and Organic Methodism. By Rev. THOMAS B. NEELY Ph.D, D.D., Author of "Young Workers in the Church," "The Church Lyceum," "Parliamentary Practice." etc. 12mo, pp. 448. New York: Phillips & Hunt. Cincinnati: Cranston & Stowe. Price, cloth, $1 50.

Owing to the supercilious attitude of so-called Churchmen who worship their walls of partition, and an alleged but quiescent tendency to thirdorderism in the Methodist Episcopal Church, a restatement of the doctrine of the Church respecting episcopacy is opportune, both to enlighten the uninformed, to check the aggressive spirit of those in sympathy with an ecclesiastical hierarchy, and to settle once for all the position of the Church before the world on a subject that really troubles our neighbors more than ourselves. Having accomplished these ends in his book, Dr. Neely may be regarded as an exponent of the Methodist stand-point of episcopal history and prerogative, and until his facts are invalidated his conclusions must pass in all Church circles as final and authoritative. In its Methodist aspect, episcopacy is the result of an evolution that, commencing with the early Christian Church, has expressed itself in changes in every episcopal organization since that period. We hold it to be incontrovertible that the providential origin of an institution, or system, or Church is as authentic and divine as its more immediate scriptural authorization and induction into position and influence. Our episcopacy, as providential in origin as the Christian Church itself, makes no apology for its existence to those who, with false dates and stained robes, would ally themselves by a chronological chain with the apostles. To us the providence of our history is more important than the perishable beauty of a broken chain upon whose supposed strength Churchmen depend for Churchship. Disputing the ecclesiastical chronology of the Church of England, on which the false claim of apostolical succession is made to rest, it is clear to those who are familiar with Church history that our Methodist episcopacy is in line with the apostolic beginnings, of which, indeed, it is the final evolution. With historic data at hand, Dr. Neely, after considering the simple forms of authority in the early Christian Church, exhibits the modification of episcopal function in the Church of England after the Protestant Reformation, following it with Mr. Wesley's variant view of that function, which passed over into American Methodism as its presiding element, and as the standard of episcopal character and life. In this evolution the author makes free use of authorities in the Church of England-as the Rev. Edwin Hatch, Dean Stanley, Archdeacon Farrar, and obtains a stronger affidavit from Bishop Onderdonk of the diocese of Pennsylvania-who on the questions at issue

are as affirmative as either Mr. Wesley or Francis Asbury. Historically, Dr. Neely's argument is unanswerable, and, as the key to the controversy is history, it should end with the summoned testimony of history. While the book openly, though incidentally, exposes the sepulchral character of the dogma of apostolical succession, its primary and ultimate purpose is the vindication of Methodist episcopacy, both as to its history and character, the author maintaining with characteristic vigor that the third order dogma is foreign to all Methodist teaching and usage, and to be reprobated as the offspring of the hierarchical mind.

Standing on this impregnable conclusion, he readily, but perhaps with less animation of style, since it is unnecessary, establishes the validity of Methodist ordinations, and the propriety and legitimacy of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In examining this able work it has occurred to us more than once that, instead of explaining Mr. Wesley's high-handed departures, and legally and historically upholding our episcopacy as though it needed defense, the burden of history should be shifted to the Church of England, and Henry VIII. should be vindicated by Dean Bradley, or by next year's Lambeth Conference. For the present we rest the case with the author's masterful exposition of it.

The People's History of Presbyterianism in All Ages. By ROBERT P. KERR, D.D., Author of Presbyterianism for the People. 12mo, pp. 284. Richmond, Va. : Presbyterian Committee of Publication. Price, cloth, $1 25. The frontispiece is a picture of Calvin; the spirit of the book is in favor of the Presbyterian principle; and the outlook is one of complete domination of that principle in the church-world. Presbyterianism has written a long and eventful history. It has related itself to civil government, affected the domestic affairs of nearly all countries on the globe, and influenced the lives and destinies of many millions of the race. For the people's sake it deserves a larger record, a more comprehensive develop ment of its progress, and a broader philosophic account of its results than is here afforded. The author's apology, that the masses have not the time to read a more elaborate work, will hardly avail in this case. Taking it, however, as we have it, the Presbyterian reader should be satisfied with the showing of his denomination in the moral conflict of the world, for, even if now and then extravagant in claim, it is a sincere description of the Presbyterian factor in human history. All denominations, indeed, are sharers of the heroism, integrity, and achievements of the Church that, however erroneous in some of its staple doctrines, has stood for truth, and sanctified its faith by its blood. All Christians may profitably study these pages, and rejoice in the steadfastness of a people who, holding to the doctrine of decrees, have not been idle in the matter of evangelizing the world. So far as the author has occasion to refer to the Methodist Episcopal Church he is in unconscious error, the correction of which is our duty. Defining Presbyterianism as "spiritual republicanism," he says (p. 22) it is the opposite of Episcopacy." Episcopacy, he intimates, is an oligarchical form of government, which, strictly and rigidly maintained by the Prot

estant Episcopal Church, is becoming quiescent in the Methodist Episcopal Church. "The principle of self-government," he says, "has saturated almost the entire body;" that is, the Presbyterian principle of republicanism has "saturated" the Methodist Episcopal principle of oligarchy, and modified it into harmony with the spirit of the age! It is well known that Arminianism has "saturated" Calvinism until it is quiescent, if not non-existent, and if in return the republicanism of the old Church has molded Methodism into democratic form we should be grateful; but we have not so read history, and do not interpret episcopacy as oligarchical. There is an oligarchical episcopacy, but it is not Methodist episcopacy, which, by its denial of a third order for its incumbents, is as democratic as Church rulership represented by an order or office can well be. Space does not permit us to exhibit republicanism in Methodism; it is sufficient here to emphasize its presence and authority, not as derived from the Presbyterian leaven, but as original in its constitution, and as the providential birth-mark of its history. On page 239 the author has the courage to represent that the Presbyterians outnumber, both in communicants and adherents, any other Protestant denomination in the world! This may be so, but who believes it? In our library this book shall stand beside Stevens's History of Methodism, the contrast of the two denominations suggesting itself to us every morning by the size of the respective histories.

The Nonsuch Professor in his Meridian Splendor; or, The Singular Actions of Sanctified Christians. By the Rev. WILLIAM SECKER. Minister of Al-Hallows Church, Londonwall. With an Introduction by Rev. T. L. CUYLER, D.D. 16mo, pp. 367. New York: Robert Carter & Brothers. Price, cloth, $1 25. This is one of those books, more rare in other denominations than among Methodists, intended to assist the Christian in the attainment of all the possibilities of grace. Rich in thought, sweet and holy in the affectional spirit, chaste and devout in expression, it constitutes a "breviary of religion" suitable for use by all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. In showing that the Christian should do more than others, and how he may do more than others, it becomes a manual of practical godliness, stimu lating in its suggestions, and educational in its teachings. It makes not against it that it is not a new book, nor that its style is less modern than the book of yesterday, nor that the title is almost meaningless; for its atmosphere is holiness, its thunder is that of Sinai, its tenderness that of Gethsemane, its redemption that of Calvary, its hope an apocalypse. Who reads it will be wiser; who observes it will be holier.

PHILOSOPHY, METAPHYSICS, AND GENERAL SCIENCE. Principles of the Economic Philosophy of Society, Government, and Industry. By VAN BUREN DENSLOW, LL.D. 8vo, pp. 782. New York: Cassel & Company. Price, cloth, $3.

The day is prolific of treatises on economics, some of them superficial and written from a political bias, intending to affect pending elections, while