schists and limestones, such as abound in the chain of the Alps, from which almost every trace of animal life has disappeared. And we think nothing can be more evident than that the condition of the earth at any rate in the ages immediately prior to man was not one of great heat. If mists and fogs then covered the globe, they must have arisen, at least in Europe, rather from cold than heat. Great glaciers streaming down, in many places to the sea, from the mountains of Wales and Scotland, from the Alps and many other of the ranges of Europe, icebergs floating in a chilled ocean over the submerged lowlands of Europe,-such is the picture that Geology gives us of the latter ages of the Tertiary period. But if it be supposed that this period has not recurred since the first elements of life were introduced into the world, then we would remark that this theory of an incandescent nucleus is one that is daily growing more and more into disfavour with the best Geologists, and will probably ere long, like most other assumptions made upon insufficient data, be abandoned.1 We think also that the state of Geological science at the present day warrants us in saying, that the theory of general convulsions and universal exterminations of the inhabitants of the globe must be abandoned. Partial ones there may have been, though many very able Geologists doubt even this: but if we imagine a universal destruction of life to have taken place immediately before the introduction of man upon the earth, we must imagine more than ninety per cent. of the mollusca (to omit the other families of the animal kingdom) to have been recreated or to have escaped the destruction.2

Such being the case, we regret that Mr. Hoare has countenanced a theory which is fast becoming antiquated.

On the question of the extent of the deluge, in reply to those who consider the deluge not to have destroyed all animal life on the globe, he says:

"Whatever difficulties may occur in accounting for the recorded phenomena, difficulties as to the supply of water necessary to drown the whole inhabitants of the earth, as to the number of beasts in the ark, or how they were provided with food; these and such like difficulties are nothing to those which are presented to us in the whole field of geological research, and which the utmost abilities of the most learned and assiduous investigators of nature have failed entirely to remove. How the flints got in between the chalk; by what process of fusion it came about that in the composition of both of them there should be contained the same species of shells: the whole history of the quiet infection of so many myriads of fishes, insects and animals, with liquid matter dissolved from rocky or mineral masses: these and many similar phenomena though the results are visible to the eye are extremely hard

1 See Sir C. Lyell's Principles of Geology, ch. xxxi. and xxxii. for an elaborate investigation of this hypothesis.

2 See page 154.

to conceive of as to the manner of operation. Yet till these things be satisfactorily explained it is vain to throw all difficulty on the Scripture side, &c."-P. 162.

With regard to this passage we will only remark that we cannot entirely approve of the particular geological difficulties, which Mr. Hoare has brought forward. Most of the processes, which he here instances, are going on every day before our eyes and admit of easy explanation. We cannot therefore but regret that he has weakened his argument by an error from which a better acquaintance with practical geology would have saved him.

1

The remainder of the book is chiefly devoted to the consideration of the "days" of the creation, and to the different ways in which they may be understood. Mr. Hoare mentions the different theories which have prevailed about them, more especially that of the late Hugh Miller, who considered them to be separate visions in which the leading features of the great geological periods were revealed to the prophet. Ultimately he appears to refer the creation recorded in the first chapter of Genesis to the last2 act of GOD's, in which the earth was finally prepared for the habitation of man: although he is by no means disposed to press too strongly the literal meaning of the word "day." "For ourselves, we adhere to the belief, that the strata were disposed of during the great antecedent periods and we see no need for finding them a place among the days,' or for otherwise disturbing the impression which would be conveyed to an ordinary reader by the literal text of Genesis."3 "Then came on the preparation of the earth for the immediate occupancy of man, which is said to have been a 'six days' work,' but which we are now at liberty, through the vision-theory, if indeed it helps us no further, to conceive of as having really occupied an indefinitely longer period."

We would gladly enter more at. length on this part of Mr. Hoare's book, but space forbids it. Even if in every case we cannot quite concur in all that he says, we thoroughly admire the spirit in which he has addressed himself to his work, and while we have ventured to differ from him in one or two of the conclusions he has drawn, we cordially express our admiration of the way in which he has executed his task. We sincerely recommend his book to the attentive perusal of our readers, and trust that he will before long apply his learning and talents to the other parts of the Pentateuch, and give us a book on them, as valuable as the one we have now had the pleasure of reading.

1 Testimony of the Rocks.

3 P. 251.

2 See page 183.

4 P. 250.

DUTIES OF CHURCHMEN.

1. Sacrilege and its Encouragement. A Letter to the Lord Bishop of London. By BRYAN KING, M.A., Rector of S. George's in the East. London: Masters, 1860.

2. The S. George's Riots: a Plea for Justice and Toleration. A Letter to the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M.P. By F. G. LEE. London: Masters, 1860.

3. The S. George's Riots and High Churchmen. A Letter to the Rev. F. G. Lee. By a London Curate. London: Masters, 1860. 4. More United Action. Two Addresses to Members of the Manchester Church Society. By the Hon. COLIN LINDSAY. London: Masters, 1860.

5. A Letter to T. Davidson, Esq. By Hon. R. LIDDELL, Incumbent of S. Paul's, Knightsbridge. London: Hayes, 1860. 6. Some Remarks on the Recent Election of Churchwardens at Knightsbridge. By Sir A. EDMONSTONE. London: Hayes, 1860. 7. Sacramental Worship. A Sermon. By E. STUART, M.A.,

London: Palmer, 1860. 8. First Report of the English Church Union, with a Sermon by W. Gresley, M.A. London: Hayes; Parker; Rivington; Masters.

A FEW years ago, when a great danger seemed to threaten the Church of CHRIST in these lands, the hearts of her true sons were marvellously drawn together to combine in her defence. Principles which had been held sacred for centuries were rudely assailed, and there seemed a determination on the part of our civil rulers to use the power which circumstances had given them over the Church, for her complete and utter degradation. The monstrous pretensions advanced by the Crown lawyers in the Hampden case, as to the right of the Sovereign to appoint a convicted felon, if such was the royal pleasure, to a bishopric, and the legal obligation of the Chapter and Metropolitan to elect and confirm, filled with alarm all who believed the Church of GOD to be something more than an ecclesiastical department of the government. And when close upon this came the successful assertion of a claim to decide in the last resort all questions of doctrine, and when the putting this claim into action issued in the licensing opinions directly contrary to the letter of the formularies, no wonder that Churchmen, alarmed at what was coming, flew to arms and banded themselves together to stave off if possible worse evils. It was a time of much excitement, but withal a time which drew out and brought into light wonderfully, the hidden life and spirit of the Church.

One of the outward manifestations by which Churchmen made it known that they were resolved to resist further aggressions upon

the spirituality, was the formation of Church Unions in various parts of the land. The capital, as was to be expected, took the lead, and the existence of two Unions, the "London" and the Metropolitan," agreeing in the main, though with some difference of internal arrangement, evidenced that London Churchmen were not behind their provincial brethren in their zeal for the well-being of their Church. Coventry, Gloucester, Norwich, the southern counties, the great county of Yorkshire, all moved, and for some time, by regular meetings, circulation of papers, and constant correspondence with authorities, it seemed as if a new life had been infused into the Church, new wants met, new machinery supplied. And yet if we ask now what has become of these Church Unions; what has been the result of all this meeting, pamphleteering, consulting, and speaking, we must confess to something very akin to disappointment. The "Unions," we believe, exist, we do not know whether they meet. At any rate, they are much thinned in numbers. In an incredibly short space of time, "decay's effacing fingers" have swept over them. Why is it? Is it because the danger is past? because the ark of the Church has righted herself, and the storm passed, is sailing quietly over unruffled seas and under placid skies? Is it because the State is less hostile, because the Bishops are more disposed to defend the Church's doctrine, because the clergy are possessed with a more Catholic spirit, or the laity more disposed to "receive with meekness" the truth which once they opposed? No one in his senses can attribute the present apathy of the great body of Churchmen, compared to the excitement of a few years ago, to such causes. No; if we look around us, we shall find many of the old evils existing in as aggravated a form as ever, many newly started into life. The fault must be with ourselves; and if the new call to rally made by the circumstances in which we find ourselves does not move us,-if we are not at once up and doing for God's truth and for principles which we profess to hold dear, it must be only because a spirit of slumber has taken possession of us, and a deep sleep fallen upon our eyelids. Defeated we may have been (for we lost the Hampden, the Gorham, and the Divorce battles,—the truth is better told), and perhaps a cautious policy has prevented another demonstration; but there are not wanting signs, and these multiplying very fast, that the time has come when the Church party, if it would maintain its own, must rally its forces once more, we do not say to attack others, but to defend itself, entrench itself within its lines, and bid defiance to the enemy. The time has come for shaking off our slumber, and for buckling on our harness, lest if we delay, the foe like a flood sweep us all away.

We said there are not wanting signs that the time has come for Churchmen to arouse themselves once again; and these signs are twofold, signs of danger, signs of hope. "When the night is

darkest the day is nearest," and the present rampant attitude of Puritanism is no reason why we should quail before it, but rather why face it like men.

Now we are quite willing to admit, that since the days of the Great Rebellion, Puritanism never threatened so furiously to overwhelm us as at the present time. All its coarseness, its narrowmindedness, its ignorance, its prejudice, its intolerance, its "evilspeaking, lying and slandering," have been reproduced before our very eyes in all their intensity. People who are not acquainted with the controversial literature of the seventeenth century, would be surprised to find how the parallel between Puritanism of 1640 and 1860 holds in minutest details. The ravings of the Knightsbridge churchwardens, the tirades of the vestry of S. George's in the East, the follies, and ignorances, and calumnies of the "Protestant Public" and Protestant papers, the wicked pandering of some Bishops and many of the clergy to the worst feelings of the mob-and this in their worst forms-find their parallel (and only there can they find their parallel) in those unhappy times when the Primate's martyrdom was followed by that of the LORD's anointed, and the Prayer Book was consigned to the same sepulchre which held their bodies. No wonder that a thoughtful and learned writer, to whom we all owe so much, and whose right to address us on this occasion we all so willingly recognize, should find in this unhappy parallel matter for solemn consideration, and seek to impress upon his hearers its terrible significancy.

It is impossible not to discern many features in the present time which bear a strong resemblance to those which preceded the outbreak of the Great Rebellion, two centuries ago, when the Constitution of our Church and State was overturned by a mingled religious and political fanaticism. By some, no doubt, it will be said, that such an alarm is needless. With a popular sovereign, and an attached people, what fear is there of a revolution like that in which the King and Archbishop were put to death, and the Clergy driven from their posts? But I think, brethren, that those persons who hope to overturn the Church, and yet bring no risk or loss to themselves, by a political convulsion, are over sanguine. At least, they go against the whole experience of history. Can they point out a time when any great religious change was ever effected without political struggles? Do they know so little of the philosophy of the human mind as not to be aware that to interfere rudely with the deep-seated religious feelings, or even prejudices of men, is apt to stir up the inner depths of the soul? And, when earnest men are moved, there are not wanting designing men who make the excitement of their feelings the instrument of their own purposes. It is true (and we have to thank GOD for it), that political parties have not yet gathered round the question of the Church. They seem afraid of it; and they may well be so. It is a tremendous risk to meddle with a nation's religion, little as some superficial persons seem to think of it. But can any one believe that this state of things will last, if the