Literary Notices.

[We hold it to be the duty of an Editor either to give an early notice of the books sent to him for remark, or to return them at once to the Publisher. It is unjust to praise worthless books; it is robbery to retain unnoticed ones.]

THE REVIEWER'S CANON.

In every work regard the author's end,

Since none can compass more than they intend.

COMMENTARIES ON THE NEW TESTAMENT.

THE EPISTLES TO THE ROMANS AND THE GALATIANS. By H. AUGUST MEYER, LL.D. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark.

THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS.-The scholars and theologians have, during the last half-century, presented invaluable contributions of literature in New Testament exegesis.

Dr. Meyer's name stands pre-eminent amongst these literary benefactors. Numerous are the commentaries extant on this epistle, some pernicious, some worthless, some of tolerable value, and others of very high merit. None as purely exegetic excel, and few approach, this. Dr. Meyer's sole aim is to ascertain the grammatical and historical meaning of Scripture in accordance with the legitimate principles and in the use of the proper resources of interpretations, leaving the result thus obtained to be turned to due account by the theologian, the preacher, and the critical inquirer. The first part of this commentary appeared in 1832, and it has ever since been receiving alterations and additions down to the spring of last year.

COMMENTARY ON GALATIANS. All we have said in relation to the former volume is true of this. It is not theological or homiletic. It is purely exegetic, and, as such, of unspeakable worth.

Alas! the author of these volumes has recently been called away from his useful labours on earth. After a short illness, he passed away on June 21 last. The following is a brief sketch of the life of this distinguished scholar :

Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer was born on January 10, 1800, at Gotha, where his father was shoemaker to the Court. He attended the Gymnasium of his native town, where he was imbued by Schulze, Doering, and Rost with the most earnest zeal for the study of the classical languages; and while at school there he laid the foundation of those higher and more solid attainments, and of that grammatical acuteness and precision, by the application of which to exegesis he has established so wellfounded a reputation in the theological world. At the age of eighteen he finished his school course with the greatest distinction, as primus omnium, and entered the University of Jena, with a view to study theology under the

1

guidance of Gabler, Danz, and Schott; while he also attended the prelections of Luden on history and of Fries on Philosophy. After two years and a half of study there, he left Jena, passed his examination, and went to Grove, near Göttingen, to act as resident tutor in the Academy of Pastor Oppermaun, whose daughter he afterwards married. In January, 1823, after having been examined afresh, he was appointed to the pastoral care of the hamlet of Osthausen. On the dying out of the Gotha line, Osthausen was annexed to the duchy of Meiningen. While he settled there, he issued his edition of the Libri Symbolici Ecclesiæ Lutherana, which was published in 1830, by Vandenhoeck & Rupretcht, at Göttingen. He had already acquired, in the year 1827, by Colloquium from the Consistory of Hanover, the necessary recognition ad eundem in that kingdom; and in January, 1831, he became pastor at Harste, near Göttingen. Here he commenced the work, to which with untiring zeal he devoted himself (mostly during the earliest hours of the morning) down to the end of his life-his Commentary on the New Testament. In the autumn of 1837, he was called to Hoya as Superintendent, and after four years was transferred to Hanover as Consistorialrath, Superintendent, and Pastor Primarius in the Neustädler Kirche. In 1845, the degree of Doctor of Theology was conferred on him by the Theological Faculty of Göttingen. A very painful abdominal affection, in the year 1846, which compelled him to refrain entirely from work for a considerable period, tended to mature his resolution to give up a position which involved too great an amount of labour, and to devote himself to the Consistory alone. He did so accordingly in the summer of 1848. In May, 1861, he received the title of Oberconsistorialrath. On the 1st of October, 1865, he retired, retaining at first the superintendence of certain examinations, which however, he soon also gave up. During the night of the 15th of June in the last year, he was seized with intussusception, which proved beyond the reach of medical skill, and which, after a painful illness, put an end to his busy life, on the 21st of June.

THE BIBLE EDUCATOR. Edited by Rev. H. PLUMPTRE, M.A.

Vol. I.

Cassell, Peter & Galpin. London, Paris, and New York. The object of this work is admirable. It is to throw light upon dark passages of Scripture, to clear away the difficulties that moral scepticism has discovered and magnified, and to make the word of God clear to the intelligence of the earnest inquirer. Although its contents, character, and aim are very similar to what you may find in our best Biblical Cyclopædias, such as those of Drs. Kitto, Fairbairn, and Smith, the articles are fresh and independent. No man in England is more competent to conduct a work of this kind than the able Editor; and he has been successful in securing the services of not a few of our best "Biblical scholars" and religious writers. We recommend it with the utmost confidence, and heartily wish it a very large circulation.

JOHN BUNYAN. An Autobiography. The Religious Tract Society, 56, Paternoster Row.

This is the autobiography of a man whose name is a household word in all Christendom. We have read it with interest and with care. We cannot say that it has heightened our estimate of the healthfulness of his mind, the scripturalness of his theology, or the unselfishness of his religion. For years he seemed to live in a theological mist, and primarily influenced by the dread of hell and the hope of heaven. That he was a man of invincible conscientiousness and surpassing genius, no one can doubt. He was, indeed, the prince of dreamers; but his ideal of a Christian falls, we trow, far below that which Jesus of Nazareth held forth in His teaching and embodied in His life. How contemptible do Justice Keeling, Justice Chester, Justice Blundauld, and Justice Snag, who insulted him at their tribunal and condemned him to jail, appear in his majestic presence on the stage of history! This is indeed a beautiful book, independent of its literary contents. The engravings, which are numerous, are most life-like and striking: the paper and type are alike of the best quality, and the whole "get up" is æsthetically complete.

COMMENTARY ON THE PROPHECIES OF JEREMIAH. By C. F. KIEL, D.D. Vol. I. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark.

We are glad to welcome another expository volume from the able pen of Dr. Kiel. This volume takes us on to the twenty-ninth chapter of the prophecies of Jeremiah. Those who are acquainted with the scholarly attainments and the exegetical methods of the Author have no need that we should characterize or recommend this work. No one who desires really to understand the writings of this prophet can well dispense with this volume, which we predict will find its place in the library of every preacher "who needeth not to be ashamed."

APOSTOLIC TIMES AND THEIR LESSONS, FROM THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. By Rev. C. H. RAMSDEN, M.A. In two Volnmes. Vol. I. London: Hatchards.

"I have," says the Author of this work, "wished to furnish some little help towards the profitable reading of a most blessed part of God's own Book, and specially with a view to family worship. Perhaps what I have written may form a kind of sequel to 'Light in the Dwelling,' and other works of a similar character. I have endeavoured to arrange each portion so that it should only take five minutes, or sometimes perhaps a little more, to read it aloud; and I have sought to leave on the memory one or two practical lessons drawn from each passage. I have not attempted anything critical; that I leave to others. I have sought help wherever I could find it; and thankfully acknowledge my obligations to

Bishop Wordsworth, Dean Goulburn, Dr. Vaughan, and Dean Howson; as well as to Calvin, Bengel, Hammond, and others."

The work is,-what the Author represents it to be,-plain, practical, and devout.

CHRISTIAN ETHICS. By H. MARTENSEN, D.D. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark.

We hail the increase of works of this class; for ethical truth is but little known and less practised in Christian England. Without endorsing all the views of the Author, we attach to the book a very high value. The thinking is independent, philosophic, and devout, and the language is clear and forceful. The following extract, on what constitutes great men, may be taken as a sample both of treatment and style :

"The great men, in the highest sense of the term, the heroes, are those who predominantly relate themselves to society, not as receiving, but as bestowing, and are therefore entitled the benefactors of the people. Though they may receive influences from society, these have no independent significance, becoming only means and material for their own too unfettered creative activity. The great man is not merely the genius; for although this is inseparable from him, yet the genius is by no means always a great man. Shakspeare is a great poet, Raphael and Mozart are great artists; but on that account alone to call them great men would be a misapplication of terms. It necessarily belongs to the great man, that the influence of genius should be inseparable from the influence of the great personality, and that he not merely applies himself to one side of human receptivity,—not merely works on individual circles of society, but affects society as a totality, by his creative activity calls forth an organization of society, with the whole multitude of circles, powers, and objects."

EVERLASTING DESTRUCTION. By J. H. BELL. London: J. F. SHAW & Co. The author, after a broad and earnest examination of the Old and the New Testaments, has come to the conclusion, that neither in the Old Testament nor in the New has he found one, out of the hundred texts he has examined, which affords the least countenance either to the doctrine of Annihilation or of the Cessation of Punishment. Although the doctrine of Annihilist seems to us alike unscriptural and unphilosophic, and that of Eternal Misery inconsistent with our primitive beliefs respecting the character of the Creator, and repugnant to the deepest sentiments of our nature, we feel that we ought not dogmatically to pronounce on either of them. The Bible is obviously indistinct on the subject; and religion does not require that on it we should have a clear assurance. The obligation to be religious is utterly independent of heaven or hell.

AT NIGHTFALL AND MIDNIGHT. By FRANCIS JACOX. London: Hodder & Stoughton.

Mr. Jacox is an author of no ordinary merit. He is fertile in thought,

rich in information, and apt in communication. He not only knows all the names of the great authors of all time and lands, but the most striking incidents in their history, and their choicest thoughts. His are books that will always be read with interest. In the Homilist he made, if we mistake not, his first appearance as a writer; and through its pages he first became known to thoughtful and appreciative readers. It is not necessary, therefore, for us to indicate his merits or characterize his style.

THE MYSTERY OF THE BURNING BUSH. By T. M. MORRIS, Ipswich. London: ELLIOT STOCK.

This volume contains twelve sermons, the subjects of which are―The Mystery of the Burning Bush-Pleasing Ourselves-The Two SistersThe Three Crosses-The Secret Search-The One Cross and Threefold Crucifixion-The Eaglets and the Nest-The Hard Lesson-The Blessed Awakening-Growth-The Cloud and the Glory-Vain and Valuable Thoughts. On all these interesting subjects there is a large amount of good thinking, glowing sympathies, and strong utterance. There are no platitudes, sentimentalities, or rhapsodies here; but wholesome truth, told out by a true and earnest man.

SOUL-SAVING PREACHING. An Essay by GEORGE WARNER. London: George Lamb.

A discriminative, vigorous, enlightened, and well-written Essay on preaching. Let all ministers procure a copy and read it.

Books on our table to be noticed for next month :

THE NEW HANDBOOK OF ILLUSTRATION. London: Elliot Stock.
TYPES AND EMBLEMS. By C. H. SPURGEON. London: Passmore &

Alabaster.

PAUL AND CHRIST. By J. M. CRAMP, D.D. London: Yates & Alexander. BOWING TO UNIFORM. BY THOMAS CHESHIRE. London: Elliot Stock. THE LOST FOUND, AND THE WANDERER WELCOMED. By Rev. W. TAYLOR, M.A. Edinburgh: W. Oliphant & Co.

THE EARLY HEROES OF THE TEMPERANCE REFORMATION. BY WILLIAM LOGAN. Glasgow: Temperance League.

THE ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICE, and THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD. By
JOHN BUNYAN. Blackie & Sons, Paternoster Row.

WITCH OF ENDOR. By JABEZ COLE. Helmsley: William Allenby.
THE SYSTEMATIC BIBLE TEACHER. London: Partridge & Co.

CHATTERBOX.

SUNDAY. Edited by ERSKINE CLARKE, M.A. London:

W. W. Gardner, 2, Paternoster Buildings.

THE CHRISTIAN YEAR. THE QUIVER. WINGED ARROWS. THE WISHING CAP. Cassell, Petter & Galpin, London, Paris, and New York.

BOOK OF MARVELS. By W. ANTLIFF.

DIVINE GLORY. By Dr. CHARLES J. BROWN.

JANET DARNEY'S STORY. BY SARAH DOUDNEY.

ODD FIVE MINUTES. F. BOURDILLON, M.A.

PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON. BY FERGUS FERGUSON.