official, is in unison. But we contemplate no unisons. We say let the Independent note be heard ; let the note of the Church of England, and the Baptist note be heard; let the note of my brethren of the Free Church be heard; let the note of the Church of Scotland be heard; and let the harmony that results from their combination, their union, rest on the same stave. It is thus that the Alliance is calculated to achieve good, and if Christ be the key-note of union, and the Spirit of God be the breath that sweeps over the strings of this Æolian harp, then the result may be, and the result, by the blessing of God, will be, the evolving of those tones that have long been sleeping, and the production of that harmony which began at the Cross, and which shall be continued and only completed when Christ takes the crown, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good-will toward men." The same light enables the peasant to read his Bible which enables Queen Victoria to read her's. The same atmosphere you breathe is breathed by prelates, priests, judges, and nobles; and the same law that enables the planets to maintain their spheres, to maintain their foundation, keeps you upon the benches which you occupy, and me upon this platform. Do we not then see certain grand elements of unity, so grand that they are exhibited in principle and only the variety is displayed; whether we look to the least, or the largest of creatures; whether we look to the youngest child on the earth, or the oldest cherubim in glory; whether we look to the dewdrop on the leaf, or the mighty ocean with its eversleepless eye; whether we look to the smallest molecule of polarized light, or the most magnificent planet in the system ;-All are bound by the same laws-all have one great principle of unity, but one grand manifesta

tion of variety. It is these analogies which teach us, in the world of creation and the world of Providence, precious lessons of the kingdom of grace. And let me say, that I solemnly believe that all the divisions that have taken place in Christendom are upon the surface. They have not touched the heart. The heaviest storm that strikes the ocean agitates only the surface of the water. It never reaches the deep, deep sea; and I believe the sorest conflicts which have swept across the Christian Church have not reached the deep springs that are beneath,-springs too deep to be frozen in winter, too sheltered by the attributes of God to be evaporated in summer-the springs of our common life, our common peace, our common joy, and our common hope. And let me add, that it is not our constitutions, but circumstances that have kept us asunder. If, for instance, you were to take a cup of quicksilver and dash it to the earth, what would be the result? It would split into ten thousand little globules. What would keep them apart? The inequalities of the surface on which they are spread. But use a little conciliation, remove the inequalities, bring the globules together, and they will amalgamate into one great mass, reflecting the countenance of him that gathers them. It is so with Christians. We are separated by things that are of the earth, earthy. Bring them together on such a platform, or in such an alliance as this, and the result will be that they will constitute one great mass, reflecting the glory of our common God, the hopes of our common heart,-eternity our common lifetime, and infinity our everlasting home.'

The Rev. T. S. Grimshawe said,

'I have long wished for such a time as this, and I can appeal to my honoured friend, if he will allow me

to call him so (Dr. Bunting), that eight or ten years ago I suggested to him whether it was not desirable, and if desirable whether it was not practicable, to approximate the different sections of the great Christian community, and to make the experiment whether, if we are members of Christ, we cannot visibly manifest ourselves as members of one another. And I believe I made a similar proposition some time before that to Mr. Morrison. What was then a wish is now an accomplishment-what was then an imaginary desire is now a great reality; and I am sure Christ would never have commanded us to love one another unless in were practicable to do so, and possible to carry it out by some actual demonstration of our piety and our love and zeal.'

Review of Books.

THE SABBATH-DAY BOOK; or, Scriptural Meditations for every Lord's-day in the Year. By J. Leifchild, D.D. Religious Tract Society.

WE can feelingly enter into the value of this book of which its pious author says he "has had chiefly in view the benefit of those whose circumstances compel them to spend the whole, or a portion of the Lord's-day in their own abode." It consists of meditations on various portions of Scripture, brief, practical, and eminently adapted to supply the loss of the public ordinance of preaching; leading the mind, under the influence of the blessed Spirit, into a train of serious and profitable devotional exercise. That sweet brotherly spirit, that careful avoidance of minor points of difference on which this estimable divine has been so successful in endeavouring to build up a fabric of union and love among Christians, pervade the book; it is truly valuable, and ought to be highly valued.

THE DAWN OF LIFE; or, Scripture Conversions. By a Clergyman. Seeleys.

SOME beautiful sketches of various characters delineated in the Holy Scriptures, exhibiting the first dawnings of grace in the soul and its final triumph alike under the former and the latter dispensation, with reference to its bearings on the different circumstances and conditions of its objects. It is written with great spirit, in a beautiful style, full of Scripture, replete with admonition and encouragement, and is altogether a most engaging volume. The Gospel is preached throughout, clearly, faithfully, and fully. Who the author is we know not, but with the work we are exceedingly pleased.

THE MOUNT OF OLIVES, and other Lectures on Prayer. By the Rev. James Hamilton, National Scotch Church, Regent's Square. Nisbet.

MR. HAMILTON does not write to those whom he addresses on paper, he actually talks to them. They hear his voice, see his cordial and affectionate smile, and feel that he has at heart the individual good of each individual auditor, as much as if that person were the sole object of his care. This is a most rare and precious gift, much, very much will be required at the hands of him who possesses it, and we bless God that hitherto our dear brother has exercised it most wisely and with the happiest effects. The present volume, though small, FEBRUARY, 1846.

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