It is not possible, in the short space which is allowed us, to say all that is suggested by this interesting volume. We have been familiar, for many years, with the name of Christmas Evans, as the Whitefield of Wales; but we never knew, until this biography taught us, how truly he deserved the title. No one can read the memoir, without acknowledging of its subject, that he was a great man, and an eminent servant of Christ. Powerful intellect was united with extraordinary imagination. His argument in a singular manner embodied itself in the imagery of a native rhetoric. We no longer wonder at the estimation in which he was held by Robert Hall. The effects of his preaching were almost without a parallel.

Although Mr. Evans left the Presbyterians for the Baptists, we, who do not give rites the chief place, are content with the change; for the Presbyterians whom he abandoned were unsound. Wales presents the anomaly of Calvinistic Methodists and Arminian Presbyterians. Mr. Evans was a thorough-paced Calvinist; not a follower of Williams or of Fuller. For a time he was entangled in the meshes of Sandemanianism, but he escaped as from a dangerous error, and his testimony to the unspiritual and soul-lulling influence of that scheme is intelligent and valuable. We can freely recommend this unpretending book, to all who can prize an uncut diamond.

The Book of Poetry: Prepared for the Presbyterian Board of Publication. Philadelphia: 1844. 12mo. pp. 264. WE respect the policy of the Board which has led them to issue works of beautiful exterior. The Religious Tract Society of London, like ours an evangelical and Calvinistic body, has found the advantage of the same method. This volume is eminently beautiful, and Dr. Engles has furnished us with a selection of delightful Christian poetry. With scarcely an exception, we regard the pieces as worthy of this elegant garb, and the volume as highly deserving the praise which has been bestowed on it in the public prints. It is peculiarly fitted to be presented as a token of Christian friendship.

The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul. By Philip Doddridge, D.D. Philadelphia. Presbyterian Board of Publication. 1843. 12mo. pp. 323.

For us to recommend such a work, would be an imperti

nence. Its best praise is the thousands whom, by the blessing of God, it has led to the Redeemer. It has so long taken its place by the side of the immortal works of Bunyan and Baxter, that all we have to do, is to tell our readers where they may find it in a new edition, which has every good quality they could desire. It is embellished with a pleasing likeness of the author.

Remarkable Places mentioned in the Holy Scriptures. Prepared for the Presbyterian Board of Publication. Philadelphia: 1844. 18mo. pp. 124.

THIS is a little book of plates and descriptions, of Mount Ararat, Sinai, Jericho, Babylon, Nineveh, Damascus, Tyre, Zidon, Jordan, Carmel, Jerusalem and places adjacent, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Tiberias and Patmos. It is not only a scriptural but a beautiful work, and we welcome it as a suitable present for Bible-reading youth.

The Lives of the British Reformers, embellished with twelve portraits. Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of of Publication.

1844. 12mo.

In the estimate of any good judge, the lithographic impressions which adorn this work, are worth its whole cost. It gives the lives of those great Reformers, whose works have been published by the Board in twelve volumes. These witnesses for the truth include Wickliff, Bilney, Tindal, Lady Jane Grey, Latimer, Hooper, Bradford, Ridley, John Rogers, Knox, Jewell, Fox, Bale and Coverdale. The memoirs are well prepared, and comprise a fund of instruction with regard to the reformation in Great Britain. As the Introduction suggests, it is adapted to the use of those who cannot conveniently purchase the whole set of the British Reformers. Of this, as of all the publications. of our Board, the typography, plates and binding are of the very first order.

The History of the Church of England to the Revolution, 1688. By Thomas Vowler Short, D. D. Bishop of Sodor and Mann. First American from the third English edition. Philadelphia: James M. Campbell & Co. New York: Saxton & Miles. 1843. pp. 352.

THIS is a very compactly printed and neat volume, containing a great deal of matter at a very low price. The work

itself is valuable, partly because it treats of the origin and progress of one of the most important divisions of the Christian church, and partly because the author has condensed a great deal of information in a comparatively short compass. The book is of course decidedly Episcopal in its principles and spirit; but it is not Laudean. Though decided in asserting the full claim of prelacy, it is not indiscriminate in its praise of "church men;" nor denunciatory in its tone towards other portions of the one, catholic, apostolic church. This in our days is a great deal.

The History of the Church of England however is yet to be written. There is no work extant which fully and fairly develops the principles on which it was founded; which shows how and why its form of government is what it is; how and why her liturgy and rubrics are what they are; which traces the history of doctrine among her members and shows how the conflicting elements of her standards have worked themselves out, sometimes the Calvinism of her articles and sometimes the Popery of her liturgy gaining the ascendancy, and still more frequently the worldliness of her clergy obliterating in a great measure both forms of doctrine which are mixed but not mingled in her formularies. There is no work which enables us to answer the question, how she has fulfilled her vocation; how far she has taught the gospel to the millions committed to her care; how far her teaching has been accordant with the scripture, so far as it has reached, and how large a portion of her charge has been allowed to grow up in ignorance around her. These are the really important points of her history, which ought to be brought out. Her excellencies and defects would thus be made apparent, and the Christian world would see how far the extension of her principles and influence is desirable or otherwise.

The Great Change: a Treatise on Conversion. By George Redford, D. D., LL.D. Philadelphia: American Sunday School Union. 1843. pp. 179.

SUCH a work as this ought not to be lightly commended. Any book which proposes to teach men what they must do, or what they must experience, in order to be saved, is a very serious matter. The writer and publishers of such a book incur a heavy responsibility, which is shared by all those who endeavour to promote its circulation. The great desideratum of all such works is of course, truth; the strict

accordance of all its doctrines with the word of God. The quality next perhaps in importance, is perspicuity or simplicity in its statements; and thirdly, a right spirit, which supposes the writer to feel the power of the truths which he presents, and to have the good of his readers directly and constantly in view. We think this little work has all these excellencies in an eminent degree. We have seldom read a book of the kind, which made a deeper or more favourable impression on our mind. We believe few persons will read it without wishing to place a copy of it, in the hands of those dear to them whom they are anxious to bring to the knowledge of the truth.

The Great Aim of the Sunday School Teacher. Philadelphia: American Sunday School Union. 1843. pp. 127. THE appearance of this book, a 16mo. beautifully printed, is somewhat deceptive. From its diminutive size, we took it up under the impression that it was a child's book; but we soon found that it was written by a man and for men. Our only fear is that its strongly marked intellectual, and somewhat philosophical, character may elevate it above the reach of many of our Sunday School teachers. This peculiarity is indeed counteracted by the perspicuity and strength of its style, and by the decidedly religious and practical character of its principles and aim. The Sunday School teacher will be surprised to find how difficult, dignified and responsible is the work in which he is engaged; and if the book has on him the effect it is eminently fitted to produce, he will feel that he cannot acquit himself of his obligations, without strenuous effort and much prayer.

Sermon on the Design and Duties of the Christian Ministry. By the Right Rev. John Johns, D.D. Delivered before a convention of the diocese of Virginia. Alexandria: 1843. pp. 19.

THERE is no one subject which affords a surer touchstone of a man's doctrine, as it concerns popery or protestantism, than his views of the Christian ministry. If he regards the minister as a preacher of the word, you may confidently conclude that he is a Protestant; if he regards him as a priest, you may as confidently infer that he is, to all intents and purposes, a Papist. The latter term designates the adherents of a certain system of doctrine, and not the mere advocates of the supremacy of the pope. That Bishop

Johns concurs on this germinating point with the founders of the Church of England, and with the whole of Reformed Christendom, our readers will be prepared to expect. His sermon might have been preached by Cranmer, or Luther or Calvin, of the days of the Reformation, or by Moore or Green in our own time and country. We should hear little of controversy about mere forms of government, if the pure gospel were but preached by those who exalt the church above Christ, and forms above truth, as it is preached by Bishop Johns and other honoured men of the Episcopal church. The end of the ministry, says the author of this excellent sermon, is to save those that hear. It isappointed for the salvation of sinners." "The ground, and the only meritorious ground of our pardon and acceptance with God, is to be found in the merits of the obedience and the atoning efficacy of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. In this righteousness we become personally interested by faith. This faith is a fruit of the renewing influences of the Holy Ghost." "We are saved meritoriously by Christ; efficiently by the Holy Spirit; instrumentally by faith, the ordained means of producing which, and its blessed effects, is the preaching of the word of reconciliation."

We should like to go on and extract much of this interesting and faithful discourse, but our space forbids, and our object is merely to express our grateful pleasure in reading such words of truth, from one whose talents and station promise so much for the promotion of true evangelical religion in our land.

Homely Hints, chiefly addressed to Sunday School Teachers. By Old Humphrey. New York: Robert Carter. Pittsburgh Thomas Carter. 1844. pp. 241.

THIS work appears to be characterized by the sound sense and raciness which distinguish the other productions of this popular writer. Sunday School teachers may find in it much to aid and encourage them in their work.

The Believer: A Series of Discourses, by Rev. Hugh White. First American from the Seventh Dublin edition. New York: Robert Carter. Pittsburgh: Thomas Carter. 1843. pp. 252.

THESE discourses are practical rather than doctrinal. Their chief recommendation seems to be their fervent de