VISITOR. A friend of mine heard this hymn the other day; it was headed 'Assum. B. V. M.'

'Triune God, supreme and gracious,
Everlasting is Thy reign;
Grant the Virgin's intercession
May for us Thy help obtain ;
That when this brief life is ended
Life eternal we may gain.'

And another hymn runs thus:

'Beside the King in glory
Is set the Virgin Queen,
Clad in a broidered vesture
Of glorious golden sheen.
The virgins, too, her fellows,
That bear her company,
Are brought into the palace
And share its jubilee.'

Authority fails them in Virgin Mary's adoration-save only the authority of Rome. Primitive consent indeed? Where is the early Church authority even for that mass of mariolatrous literature which is advertised in Ritualist papers, and popular with the young Catholic neophytes? I have no doubt that Keble wrote innocently enough at first—

'Ave Maria! Blessed Maid!'

But see what it has come to. Another hymn says of Mary:

'Sharer with Him now in glory.'

VISITOR. You call this by the hard name of 'idolatry'? MINISTER. If it is not idolatry, what is? Amongst the early heresies we find the Angelici, who invoked angels; and speaking of the custom, Chrysostom says, 'The Devil introduced it in envy of our dignity! Whilst concerning the worship of saints Augussays, 'Let not our religion be the worship of dead men, for if they were saints they would not wish for such honours, nor if bad deserve it.'

tine

And yet there are those now who, forgetting the sentence, 'Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve', actually worship the Virgin Mary, and pay honours to her which their own so-called Primitive Church never dared to do! It is awful profanity to treat of the Virgin as though another beside the High Priest, had gone within the veil, and that the Virgin is to be glorified. B. V. M? Yes; it only proves that all unconsciously to themselves these Catholic neophytes do not keep even on the questionable ground of the

early traditions; but cull here and there custom and ritual from the Romish Church.

VISITOR. I wanted to ask you why you so disapprove of the word'altar'?

MINISTER. The altar is the one thing that our ecclesiastical friend is so wrapped up in. It must be fenced off-gates are best, if they can be secured-to shut off the chancel altogether; then a flight of steps, then the altar and the super-altar. Then comes a sermon on Catholic usage, and our friend quotes from Dr. Littledale, who says, 'The sacred vessels of early Christian ritual were-pyxes, censers, incense-boats.' Indeed! we almost envy ecclesiastical powers of invention. Apart from verse, we should amazingly like chapter from the early Fathers. We promise our friends to read up again in the extraordinary search.

Early Christian ritual? Where indeed is the record of its modern fripperies; with the altar bedizening which makes it look like a Pagan ceremonial ? How beautiful the simple memorial table! How apostolic and spiritual! How unlike the Gospel dispensation the Anglo-Catholic altar is!

(Abreviated for want of space. To be continued.)

LITERARY NOTICES.

Two GREAT ENGLISHWOMEN. BY PETER BAYNE, M.A., LL.B. London: James Clarke and Co., 13, Fleet Street.

Whatever subject Mr. Bayne treats of he touches with a master-hand. We feel at once the spell of intellectual penetration and literary taste. Seldom do we find aesthetic grace of style so wedded to firm, forcible, masterly mental power. The essays on Mrs. Browning and Charlotte Brontë, are preceded by an essay on Poetry, which in itself is well worth the price of the whole volume. It is a great thing to feel at once that you are in the hands of no mere clever littérateur, but of an author whose philosophic cast of mind lays open to you the very heart of the subject which he treats of. Those who have not yet read 'Chief Actors in the Puritan Revolution,' and 'Lessons from my Masters,' should procure the volumes at once. They should be in every lending library in the kingdom we should not then have difficulties expressed as to what volumes to recommend. The illustrations in this volume from Wordsworth, Burns and Byron help the student to a true appreciation of the relative poetic power of them all. Matthew Arnold's test of true poetry is carefully and ably criticized. We cordially indorse the following estimate of Wordsworth on page 44: To give intensely imaginative expression to a single emotion cannot be pronounced one of the high efforts of poetic genius: and though we admit that Wordsworth has given unsurpassed expression to the sorrow arising in connection with the simple primary affections, we have still to ask for proof that he deserves a lofty seat among those poetic sons of the morning, who excel in the far higher office of quickening life and increasing joy.'

We like the fine critique on Burns, especially when Mr. Bayne notices 'that sympathy with mankind which was his master-passion, and that creative gift of imagination by which he gave form and life.'

We think, too, that Tennyson deserves this little touch of criticism: "Tennyson has an open heart for all English interests and parties, but at these, with freezing precision, he draws the line. In celebrating the deliverance by the Highlanders of the besieged remnant in Lucknow Residency, he makes his verse meaningless by speaking of the "pibroch of Europe," rather than name the land of Carlyle, Scott and Burns.'

This volume would tempt us on and on. We have read it with intense interest and delight, now to ourselves, and again aloud to the home circle; and we emphatically say it is the work of a master-full of rich ripe thought. Some books have their day and pass away, but we prophecy for Mr. Bayne's writings reproduction in years to come. THE CHRISTIAN WORLD' YEAR-BOOK FOR 1883: A Complete Alphabetical List of Ministers of Nonconforming Churches of Great Britain and Ireland. London: James Clarke and Co., 13, Fleet Street. Capital! Here we have exactly what we all want, and have wanted long. We read and keep letters till they are faded and yellow, for the sake of preserving addresses;' but here they are, all distinct and clear, which letters' are not always. Clear capitals' mark out the Churchwe were going to write 'Denomination!' But that is as distasteful a word as Ordinance,' so we will let it give place to the 'Free Church.' The paper is white and not straw-coloured, which is a great gain to the eye. The labour must have been enormous in getting the volume up, and the price is eighteen-pence.

We thank Mr. Clarke heartily for a volume which is a sine quá non-all the year-books in one. Moreover, there is a catholic' unity' about the very look of it! It is a factor in the influences which make all the Free Churches one great force. At the same time our separate year-books have their place and use, and will, we feel quite sure, only be supplemented by this most valuable Christian World' Year-Book. THE RELIGIONS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD. By G. RAWLINSON, M.A. London: The Religious Tract Society, 56, Paternoster Row.

Mr. Rawlinson is the Camden Professor of Ancient History at Oxford, and has, therefore, a pre-eminent claim to teach us about this subject. The religion of the Ancient Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Ancient Iranians, Early Indians, Phoenicians and Carthaginians, Etruscans, Ancient Greeks and Ancient Romans, are all here portrayed with amazing clearness and condensation. The 'illustrations' help our studies, and the erudition of the author is accompanied by great simplicity and purity of literary style. The author says, It becomes necessary for professors, if they wish to advance the studies in which they feel especial interest, to address the world without, through the press.' Quite true! And we shall be delighted to find other such students following the good example, for we want the best minds to write for the multitude.

PROSE BY A LIVING POET: Touches on Many Keys. Part I. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row.

An excellent book for idle hours by the seaside or in travelling. It is full of quickening thoughts, and comforting ones too. No one can

read it without being made wiser, happier, and better for it. There are touches of quaintness and peculiarity about it here and there, but these give pungency to its perusal; and we hope the author will, in time, give us Part II.

BIBLE HELPS; OR, AIDS TO BIBLE STUDENTS. By G. T. GILLINGHAM. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row.

The

For the use of Bible-class leaders and Sunday-school teachers. list of versions, etc., is remarkably well given; and for those whom it is designed to help, the volume is really useful, and remarkably compact. A LIFE OF CONSECRATION: MEMORIALS OF MRS. LEGGE. By one of her Sons. London: James Nisbet and Co., 21, Berners Street. Many minds are much stimulated by Evangelical Biographies of this kind; and this volume, with its accompanying photograph, is a nice giftbook. It shows that a life may be golden without being great! It appears that in the congregation of which Mrs. Legge was a member at Birkenhead, she was much loved, having endeared herself to all classes therein, and especially to the young, who looked upon her as a faithful friend and sage counsellor.' During Mrs. Legge's residence at Fakenham she had a 'quasi-maternal' care of young men, who for several consecutive years received their first training for the ministry at the preparatory College which Mr. Legge conducted there. This volume will be very precious to them, and has beautiful lessons in it for us all. PRESENT DAY TRACTS. The Religious Tract Society. AGNOSTICISM. By the REV. NOAH PORTER, D.D., LL.D.

THE WITNESS OF PALESTINE TO THE BIBLE. BY REV. W. G. BLAIKIE, D.D., LL.D.

THE ANTIQUITY OF MAN. By the REV. G. RAWLINSON, M.A.

We are extremely grateful to the Religious Tract Society for providing such able antidotes to modern errors, and such able and learned defences of the Christian Faith, published at 6d. each. We have no hesitation in saying that they should be in the possession of all students, and defenders of the truth' especially, and that they ought to be welcome everywhere as aids to faith. There is nothing superficial or slight about them, though they are only in pamphlet form; and they will bind up into an admirable volume. We should like to see the circulation a million-fold amongst Bible-classes and Christian Associations. BOY LIFE; OR, NOTICES OF THE EARLY STRUGGLES OF GREAT MEN. By WILLIAM WINTERS, F.R.H.S. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row.

Decision of character is emphasized here, and the etchings given are numerous and fairly well done. Advice is given as to the best books to read, and perseverance is the author's keynote. It is a good gift-book for boys.

THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS. By REV. C. C. TYTE. London: Simpkin, Marshall and Co.

These sermons, dedicated to his own congregation, are useful, earnest, pastoral. They are full of evangelical teaching and rich in spiritual power. THE GREAT MEMORIAL NAME. BY P. W. GRANT. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 27, Paternoster Row.

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The aim of this volume is to take a correct and comprehensive view of the progressive work of Redemption, and to find in the prophetic delineation and historical accomplishment of that work, an independent demonstration of the being and character of God.' In chapter ii. the Primitive and Patriarchal Revelation of Jehovah as the God of Redemption is considered; in chapter iii. the Mosaic Revelation of God as the God of Redemption, supplemented by the Prophetic Revelation-the Messianic Revelation-the Apostolic Revelation--and the Historical Revelation. In the confirmation of the Christian faith it is a very valuable work, and is thoroughly, ably, and earnestly done.

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. BY PROFESSOR P. MARTIN DUNCAN, M.B., F.R.S. Ward, Lock and Co., London and New York. Price 6d. This is one of the Science Primers for the People, and is a marvel of condensation, clearness, and cheapness. We cordially commend the whole series to schools and to parents, as calculated to simplify science and to lay the basis of sound instruction therein.

STEPS HEAVENWARD: A BOOK OF PRAYER FOR CHILDREN. London: Rivington's, Waterloo Place.

A book of daily simple prayer for children is a great desideratum; it is nicely got up, and is exquisitely simple and spiritual. THROUGH THE KHYBER PASS: AN ACCOUNT OF TEMPERANCE WORK AMONG OUR SOLDIERS IN THE CABUL FIELD FORCE. By the REV. J. GELDON GREGSON. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row. All who have at heart the welfare of our soldiers should read this volume. The author has shared their trials and their dangers, and bears his testimony to their courage in danger and their patience in sickness. It is cheering to find that officers and men alike acknowledge that they were much better off without their ration of spirits than they could possibly be with it.' The soldiers, it appears, are especially grateful to those who take a true interest in them; and the temperance men are said to have done their duty more cheerfully, and to endure hardships more patiently, because of their abstinence from intoxicants. The narrative is well written, and we understand now what going through the Khyber Pass really means.

HID IN THE CAVERNS; OR, THE MOUNTAIN REFUGE. SQUIRE BENTLEY'S TREAT, with coloured illustrations. THE YOUNG REFUGEE. London: The Religious Tract Society.

All of them charming little gift-books for children, and all calculated to quicken emulation in Christian courage and constancy.

THE OLD WORCESTER JUG. By EGLANTON THORNE.

The Religious Tract Society.

London :

This title was misprinted in our last, so we renew our notice of this interesting story. Very ably written, it contains in it the promise of greater power! The gifted authoress is no stranger to this Magazine : her contributions to it have appeared, and will appear again. Here is a writer who deserves special encouragement by all Congregationalists. MEYER'S CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL HANDBOOK TO THE NEW TESTAMENT, embracing (1) The Epistle to the Hebrews, by DR. GOTTLIEB LUNEMANN, Professor of Theology, Göttingen (translated by REV. MAURICE EVANS); (2) The Epistles of James and Jude, by DR. J. E. HUTHER (translated by DR. PATON, J. GLOAG and REV. C. H. IRWIN, M.A.); (3) The General Epistles of Peter and Jude, by DR. J. E. HUTHER (translated by D. R. CROOM, M.A., and DR. PATON J. GLOAG). Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark, 38, George Street.

These volumes complete the Meyer series of commentaries, and are of sterling value, although they are not by the pen of the distinguished exegete who executed the greater part of this marvellous series of critical investigations into the text and the significance of the New Testament. We regret to hear that the work of Dr. Düsterdieck on the 'Revelation of St. John' is not to be translated; and this is due to the lack of encouragement to such undertaking from the subscribers. We can do little more than express profound gratitude to the publishers for this invaluable contribution to New Testament exegesis. We have long valued and read with satisfaction Lünemann's commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews. He submits the entire arguments pro and con. the Pauline