under the name of scholarly "historico-critical" interpretations, results like that of Volkmar, who by an "impartial" exposition has found out that the apostle Paul is the beast in Rev. xiii. 11–14. His conclusions in general harmonize with evangelical doctrine. His work is suggestive and instructive, and well repays a careful study.

THE COMPREHENSIVE CHURCH.*-The New Englander long ago attained its majority, but we have here a treatise which was first published before the New Englander was started, and which is now issued with but slight emendations, as an expression of firm adherence to views which the author propounded nearly forty

years ago.

Bishop Vail starts with the postulate that there can be "no Christian union without ecclesiastical unity," and bewailing the evils of "sectarism," he proposes "to unite all the existing Christian denominations of our country into one Church." "No existing Christian denomination should be excluded from the Comprehensive Church, neither Protestant Episcopalians nor nonEpiscopalians," and everything non-essential should be yielded for the sake of union. But inasmuch as "Protestant Episcopalians are conscientiously persuaded of the necessity of three orders to a regular ministry," while their brethren regard the matter as non-essential, "they must be indulged in what they hold to be éssential to the constitution of a regular Christian church."

The inference follows that the existing system of the Protestant Episcopal Church affords the best basis for Christian and ecclesiastical unity, and the greater part of the volume is devoted to an exposition of the system, as it is, by way of showing that "it is, if not the bounden duty, certainly the privilege of all Christians who love their Lord, and wish to keep his commandment of unity, to unite themselves at once, even if it be at some personal sacrifice, with it."

Moreover the Bishop, in his large-hearted charity, not only invites all the denominations to enter the communion of his church at once, but gives assurance that if they will come in and direct its affairs, they may re-construct and re-arrange everything as they will, because it is "a Church capable of infinite modi. fication."

*The Comprehensive Church; or, Christian Unity and Ecclesiastical Union in the Protestant Episcopal Church. By the Right Rev. THOS. H. VAIL, D.D., LL.D. 12mo, 292 pp. New York: D. Appleton & Co.

We have the highest personal regard for Bishop Vail, whose labors in a remote missionary field are arduous and constant; but his definitions and proposals seem to us weak and impracticable. He defines a church to be "an association of all the true disciples of Christ, acknowledging his gospel for their rule of faith and practice, of every variety of personal opinion and talent and temperament and condition." Obviously then, the organization of which he is a distinguished member, standing aloof from the great multitude of true disciples, is not a church. Such vagueness of expression, of which this is but a solitary illustration, may be pardoned; but what are the signs of the practicability of the Bishop's plan? It has been in the hands of the public since 1841, and he tells us "there are several-a considerable number-of the older clergymen in our communion, who were attracted or aided to their present ecclesiastical relations by its perusal." No doubt the growth of the Episcopal Church has been largely due to proselytism from other churches. We cannot forget, however, that within this period the unity of its House of Bishops has been broken, once and again, by withdrawals, now to the Papacy, and Dow to a church founded on a more comprehensive platform than that which Bishop Vail commends. Remembering the circumstances which led to the formation of "the Reformed Episcopal Church," and the manner in which its founders were put out of the ministry of "the Comprehensive Church," we do not think the time propitious for summoning all true Christian people to rally within the pale of Bishop Vail's communion. Indeed, we believe that there is to-day no greater obstacle to the unity which the Bishop desires to see, than the exclusiveness of his church in denying the ministerial standing of the great body of clergymen in our land; and his plan is impracticable, if for no other reason, because it expects Methodist bishops and Presbyterian elders and Congregational deacons, to enter the "Comprehensive Church" not as office-bearers but as privates, with no right to preach or administer ordinances until they shall have submitted to re-ordination and pledged conformity to the doctrine and worship of the church.

Does our author really expect that this is the way in which the unity of Christ's people is eventually to be manifested?

THE SUPERNATURAL IN NATURE.*-The book of which we have here given the title-page entire is anonymous. But it is dedicated to the Lord Bishop of London, and the author is highly commended by one of the most useful and honored Congregational ministers of London, who sent it to us with the suggestion that it should be mentioned in our book notices. It is certainly worthy of notice as an able and earnest effort to reconcile science and religion, and several things are clear in regard to its unknown author. 1. He is a man of much learning. His numerous and choice quotations from a very wide range of ancient and modern literature remind us of the gems that sparkle in the pages of Dr. Thomas Browne's Lectures on the Philosophy of the Human Mind. At the same time he is manifestly familiar with the whole field of mathematics and the modern physical sciences. 2. He believes with all his heart in the truth and authority of the Christian Scriptures. His believing and waiting spirit is seen in the concluding sentences of his preface. "To our readers we say, 'Omnia cunctanti,' everything to those who wait, for as splendor from galaxies of stars afar off goes forth in different periods of time and arrives at the earth in widely separated intervals; so there are beams of truth traveling from the great source which have not yet shone upon our mind, but will surely gladden us When the grass has withered and the flower faded, when the Scripture Record has a new setting in the light beyond the veil, we shall find, some to our glory and some to our shame, that 'The Word of God abideth forever." 3. He has a supreme undoubting confidence in the perfect harmony of science when it is established and revelation when it is fully understood, and with rare impartiality applies each to the interpretation of the other. The leaders of science, on the one hand, "having scorned the statements of Scripture as too human-rendering the work of creation too man-like-are reduced to the necessity of endeavor ing to find a mechanical equivalent in the ultimate atoms which turn the key of every mystery and possess in some incomprehensible manner the promise and potency of all terrestrial life." Some of our religious teachers, on the other hand, "knowing but little of physics, use exploded arguments, maintain untenable positions, and thus imperil the very cause which they seek to vindicate." 4. He conducts the argument with as much ability as

and

* The Supernatural in Nature. A Verification by Free Use of Science. Verbum Domini Manet in Aeternum. London: C. Kegan, Paul & Co., 1 Paternoster Square. 1878. 484 pp.

fairness, usually in solid and massive reasoning, but sometimes in a rapid and playful succession of questions or objections and answers to them. As an example of the latter, take the following from page 353, after the main argument has already been brought to a close: "If we neglect gravitation we shall be dashed in pieces at the foot of a precipice, or be crushed by a falling rock; if we despise sanitary law, we are destroyed by pestilence; if we disregard chemical laws, we are poisoned by a vapor." Yes, we reply, because God, who likes simple folks, approveth not simpletons. It has been proposed that we erect two hospitals; in the one the patients are to be "physiced," in the other, "prayed for." Evidently the proposer had need of both remedies. The wisdom and order of divine conduct cannot be tabulated by man; sickness unhealed as well as sickness healed may be for the glory of God. We know that out of folly wisdom may be got; by gravitation, levitation; from sickness, healing; and poison, not always deadly, becomes medicine; so things contrary turn to our part. Walking on the sea is a plain reversal of laws; but so, antecedently, is sending a message under the sea." 5. The book is written in a pleasing style, somewhat ornate and ambitious, but clear and vigorous, not less rich in thought than affluent in diction, with thoughts and arguments well arranged in well chosen words, and all suited to the theme.

The main object of the treatise is to show the possibility, nay, the necessity of a creation and a Creator in the light of modern science, and the consistency of the Mosaic account of the creation with the most approved doctrines of the most advanced scientists. Of the twenty-two chapters, or "Studies" in which he pursues this theme, some are chiefly remarkable as a learned and skillful exegesis of Scripture, while others read like a rapid and appropriate resumé of one after another of the physical sciences; and, though different readers will doubtless charge him with conceding too much to Scripture on the one hand or science on the other, none can deny that he is honest, candid, and intelligent in both. We wish the book might be widely read on both sides of the Atlantic. There are few of the votaries of science or the ministers of religion who would not be instructed and admonished by it.

THE GREAT SLIGHTED FORTUNE.*-In the quaint language of the author of this book, "The Great Slighted Fortune," is man's * The Great Slighted Fortune. By J. D. BELL. New York: Published by T. G. Crowell, No. 744 Broadway. 452 pp. 19

VOL. II.

own nature; "The Wonderful House" is his body; "The Inestimable Interior Heritage" is the soul; "The Princely Possession" is the will, or "The Power of Push; " "The Ever-living Produce" is influence; "The Mystic Personality" is presence and the presence force; and "The Prime Condition of Avail" is selfcommand, or knowing how to be one's own. These are the titles of the book and of its six chapters, each of which is subdivided into from half a dozen to a dozen sections, on some of the most vital themes which concern every human being and which men in our day are especially tempted to neglect. "Politics, philosophy, art, literature, economics, social life," says the author in his Preface, "all seem pointed toward the Vale of the Salt Sea rather than toward the Olive Mountains. And this is the reason why: The progress and the improvement which mark the period are continually without men, and only slightly within them. Hence this volume, which is a plea for that great fortune of manhis own nature." It is a great subject wisely and ably treated, a grand object heroically attempted and successfully achieved. The style is open to criticism. The writer must have been touched in his youth by the spirit of Carlyle. But he has also not a little of Carlyle's wealth of wisdom, and depth of philosophy, and force of eloquence, and felicity of illustration. Young men, especially the young men in our colleges and in the professions, should read it. Aside from the author's own thoughts and arguments it is enriched with the facts of history and adorned with the choicest gems from a wide range of ancient and modern, English, French, and German authors, which they will find in the highest degree instructive and stimulating, at once a treasure in themselves and inspiring them to make the most of the Great Fortune which men are so prone to slight, of the Inestimable Heritage which we in our day are in such peril of losing.

THE HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH BIBLE.*--The now familiar story is told again in this compact volume, in a scholarly way, by one of the gentlemen connected with the English revisers of the authorized version. Most of the contents have previously appeared in the Bible Educator, and are here put in a more permanent form. While borrowing freely from previous investigators, Dr. Moulton has made independent examination, and given special attention to

*The History of the English Bible. By the Rev. W. F. MOULTON, M.A., D.D., Master of the Leys School, Cambridge. London, Paris, and New York. Cassell, Petter & Galpin. 16mo, pp. 232. Price $1.50.