philosopher, because we have it on indubitable testimony, that man was created with the physical organization now possessed by him.1 We recommend a study of the evidence on which the first chapters of Genesis are received as an authentic revelation from GOD to all who have any doubts on this subject. It is unphilosophical in the highest degree to slight this long received testimony -received on such evidence as they will see-or to propound theories of the origin of man which must necessarily rest on inductive reasoning of far inferior value, but which yet run counter to it.

A due consideration of this would show to a logical mind not prejudiced against the reception of revealed knowledge that there is a portion of Theological Science which must in reality be antecedent to Natural Science, and that there are historical truths in Theology with which inductive conclusions in Biology can only come into collision at their own peril.

And after all the discoveries of the age, and the triumphs of mind by which it is characterized, it seems to us that an honest and logical mind must acknowledge that there is a domain into which human knowledge can have no hope to penetrate. There is no doubt a continual elimination of mystery going on in all branches of natural science, but there are yet mysteries, such as those of reproduction and the origin of life, which will never be eliminated by any power of unveiling the secrets of creation possessed by man in this stage of his existence. We are no nearer the explanation of these mysteries, even in our present advanced stage of knowledge than we were in the days of Sir Thomas Brown and Sir Kenelm Digby. And not only so, but the further our discoveries go, the more improbable does it seem that we shall ever find out by human intelligence those mysteries of God's handiwork. It may be they are reserved for that higher state of intellect which will in truth be developed hereafter in the New Creation yet to come; but in this world they form still a sealed volume.

If our students of natural science will only convince themselves of these truths, and be logical, we shall have little fear that they will be led into scepticism by their study of the works of GOD. If they will believe that One possessed of the most exact knowledge of every fact and event from the most distant eternity has communicated a portion of that knowledge to us: if they will believe that He is absolute Truth, and could not possibly in that communication give us information which is not exactly true, they will have at least two canons on which to base their researches into the mysterious depths of the natural world in its present condition and

1 If there is the least warrant for supposing a change in his physical constitution, it is a change to a lower character, through the Fall, and not a development to a higher.

its past history. And when such researches are undertaken by those who will reverently give their due weight to these canons (and we think Mr. Darwin is such an one) we have little fear of any final divergence between Natural and Theological Science: but rather conclude that the perfect consistency of truth will be more and more established, whether that truth is arrived at by Revelation, or by inductive reasoning.

REVIEWS AND NOTICES.

1. Marriage with a Deceased Wife's Sister Unlawful. A Letter to the Rev. Dr. M'Caul, by JOSEPH FRANCIS THRUPP, M.A., late Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. Macmillan and Co.

2. Church Rates. By the Rev. JOHN COBBOLD ALDRICH, M.A., Incumbent of S. Lawrence, Ipswich. Masters.

3. Plain Spoken Letters to Dr. Dodge, on the Revision of the Liturgy. J. H. Parker.

We have here three pamphlets, indicating the three chief points from which the Church is now suffering attack. And if they betoken a coming season of trial, experience shows that such seasons bring many blessings indirectly in their train.

1. Mr. Thrupp's letter is satisfactory as far as it goes; but Dr. M'Caul demands a further reply, and we are glad to hear that such an answerer may shortly be expected in Dr. Pusey.

2. Mr. Aldrich treats the question of Church Rates mainly in its social and practical aspect; and his pamphlet will perhaps be more popular than if it took a higher flight.

3. The tone of Mr. " Philip Plain Spoken," is altogether that of banter, which seems to us more suitable for the pages of a newspaper, where these letters originally appeared, than to a pamphlet on a very grave subject proceeding from an Oxford theological publisher.

Sermons preached during the Octave of the Dedication in All Souls Church, Halifax. Halifax: Whitley and Booth.

THESE Sermons, both as regards the subjects selected and the treatment of them, are upon the whole a worthy commemoration of an event very noticeable in the annals of the northern Church.

The Bishop of Oxford's is really a noble sermon; and we can say of it and of all with which it is associated—including one by the Dean of Chichester and one by Mr. Alfred Barry-that there is less of exaggeration and of a controversial spirit, than is usually met with in popular sermons. Taken as a whole, the sermons form a pamphlet which is well suited for circulation among the middle classes of society.

Amusements, and the need of supplying healthy
People. By GEORGE HUNTINGTON, M.A.
Marshall, and Co.

Recreations for the
London: Simpkin,

WE cannot say too much in favour of this little book. The genial, hearty spirit which pervades its pages, and the Christian sympathy of the author with the pleasures of the labouring population, give a power to his arguments that few kindly hearts could resist.

We cannot but hope that the loving spirit which animates him and others, may become widely spread amongst us, that the interests of "high and low" may be merged into one Christian brotherhood, characterized by common joys and sorrows, and that the labouring classes may learn to meet their wealthier fellow-men with grateful manly confidence, from the consciousness that they are valued and appreciated, not only for their strength or skill as workmen, but as brethren, whose personal happiness is consulted and promoted.

We are convinced that free and genial intercourse of religious men with the people, in their hours of relaxation, and a hearty co-operation in their amusements, will do more to promote Christian love and sympathy than any other efforts whatsoever, while religious men stand aloof from participation in their recreations.

Memoir of the Rev. J. A. Cook, M.A., Vicar of South Benfleet and Rural Dean. By the Rev. W. E. HEYGATE, M.A. Masters.

WE are obliged to Mr. Heygate for making us acquainted with the life of a Parish Priest, belonging to a type by no means rare in the Church of England, but yet well deserving of a memoir. There are multitudes of unknown clergy who annually wear themselves out in obscure and unhealthy parishes. This was the case with Mr. Cook; but his labours during the cholera were such as few have undergone; and his general views of duty were much beyond the ordinary clerical average. Yet it was not permitted him by a wise Providence to reap much fruit. The marshes of Essex are an unproductive soil to the spiritual husbandman. But his reward is with the Most High; and we trust that many a faint-hearted Parish Priest will be stimulated to more patient and earnest labour by the perusal of Mr. Heygate's interesting and loving narrative.

The Human Face Divine, and other tales. By Mrs. ALFRED GATTY. London: Bell and Daldy.

MRS. GATTY possesses in a very remarkable degree the faculty of detecting in the most common things the inward and spiritual part in the great sacrament of nature, and this, coupled with the gift of a pleasing style, render her works invariably attractive and profitable. The idea on which her first tale is founded, and which she takes from Lavater, is one which we hold to be both true and noble, viz., that every human being has a primitive physiognomy, their individual portion of the Divine image, which is marred and changed by their fallen nature, but which appearing occasionally in their better moments even here, will ultimately be the eternal aspect of the glorified member of CHRIST: this is indeed a grand thought, and Mrs. Gatty has elaborated it well on the whole, though we must quarrel with her for having in one part

placed so low a standard before her readers as that the acquisition of mere earthly beauty is a natural, if not a sufficient reason for seeking by a conquest over the passions to regain this Divine physiognomy. Surely the desire to grow in spirit like to Him Who is the King of heavenly beauty, ought to be the only motive suggested. But this mistake (the only important one in the charming little volume before us) is another illustration of the justice of a remark we have already made with regard to Mrs. Gatty, that she requires a deeper and more definite knowledge of the nature of our fellowship with CHRIST in His Church than she has yet attained.

The Bible and Prayer Book Expositor. Old Testament Series: 1. Adam in Paradise: 2. Temptation and Fall of our First Parents. New Testament Series: 1. CHRIST Ascended: 2. The First Act of the Apostles. London: Masters.

It is not, we presume, to be attributed to mere fortuitous coincidence, that so many independent writers are turning their attention to the interpretation of Holy Scripture. It is the result of a conviction which has forced itself upon many minds, that this is the weakest part of our theology. At present we do not know of any thoroughly satisfactory Commentary upon any part of Holy Scripture. But the year 1860, it would appear, is destined to witness a great change for the better. For, first, we are led to expect the fruit of Dr. Pusey's many years' labour on the Minor Prophets. Secondly, Mr. Neale's " Commentary on the Psalms," the first volume of which has just reached us, will give full scope for the author's very varied knowledge. Again, a "Cottage Commentary on the Gospels," which is said to be of considerable promise, is announced as speedily to appear, as well as a Catena on the Epistles by Mr. Newland. Meanwhile we have before us the commencement of two series of Tracts on the Book of Genesis and the Acts of the Apostles, which if they do not aspire to the dignity of a Commentary, yet promise to seize in a very spirited manner upon the salient points in two important books. It will surprise any one, we think, on reading the two which are already published on the Old Testament, to see how much of sound theology and valuable exegesis can be compressed into a few pages of print. It would be difficult to name any question of interest connected with the Creation and Fall of Man, which does not here find its solution. The two on the Acts of the Apostles are even still more concise; but they furnish a really graphic description of the Apostolic Church.

Heartiness in Public Worship, by a London Churchwarden, (Wertheim and Co.,) is a very commendable Tract, and may be all the more useful as coming from an unsuspected quarter.

We would venture to suggest to the members of the Guild of S. Alban, that they are going very much out of their proper province in criticizing the doctrines of Mr. Cheyne, and the practice of Mr. King and other Clergy in their Church Work. Another article, which is said to be written by a lady, speaks even yet more dictatorially upon things in general, having for its title "The Trials of Young Men !"

A really admirable Sermon preached at Oxford, by Dr. MOBERLY, on Purity of Heart, (J. H. Parker,) would, in our judgment, have been made still better by the omission, at page 12, of what looks like a depreciation of asceticism.

Mr. GOLDWIN SMITH'S Inaugural Lecture on Modern History, (J. H. Parker,) is worth perusal, not simply as a clever literary production, but as stating in terms of moderation, what is the creed of a considerable and influential party at Oxford and elsewhere. It would be wrong to say that they oppose religion. But taking advantage of the temporary discomfiture of the recent theological movement through Mr. Newman's secession, which intellectually left that party without a head, and politically has given encouragement to an unprincipled combination of its opponents-they desire quietly to put theology on one side; and instead of recognizing religion, as Oxford always has done, as the great motive-power of education, they desire to set up in its place, what is best denominated as social science-i.e., the cultivation of philosophy, political economy, and physical science, as sufficient to promote and secure the best interests of humanity. It is nothing less than this which is claimed.

Illuminated Capitals in the Style of the Middle Ages, (Masters,) will be a valuable help towards a young student. Though so generally practised as an amusement, yet as an art illumination makes little advance, owing mainly to the impossibility of obtaining inexpensive copies. These Capitals are both simple and beautiful, and contain a complete illustration of one out of the many characteristics of medieval missal painting.

There seems to us but one objection to Mr. F. G. LEE's Lectures on External Religious Observances, (G. J. Palmer,) and that is, that the persons who need to be convinced of the importance of a proper ritual performance of Divine service, are just those who would not read any direct reasoning on the subject. We shall be truly glad, however, to find that our judgment on the subject is mistaken, and that Mr. Lee's elegant little volume shall make its way among the members of the Protestant Association, and other such readers.

It is the peculiar misfortune of the Archbishop of DUBLIN, to present the sterling sense and clear views on practical matters, for which he is so remarkable, in language as offensive as egotism and intolerance can make them. A fifth edition of his Thoughts on the Evangelical Alliance, (Dublin: Hodges and Smith,) shows that a large number of persons are still willing to be of the number of his readers, in spite of these disadvantages. In the present case we can truly rejoice that they should: any invasion of the rabid unreasoning type of Protestantism which prevails in Ireland, and thence unhappily spreads to our own shores, must be a gain.

Nine Shillings a Week (Masters) is one of the most admirable little books we have seen on the household management of the poor. It will prove most useful for distribution in country parishes.

The most recent of Mr. Parker's Historical Tales is on a subject which cannot fail to be interesting-the Conversion of S. Vladimir, and the great events in Church History which were connected with that event.