Specimen 3.

"Beautiful Zion, built above.' This is sentiment, but the heart can-does rise with it; and I say to 'Clericus,' ' Keep your hands off!' It is too beautiful' to be banished from our Sunday-school hymn-books. Rhapsodic rubbish' is it? Then strike out of Bernard's beautiful hymn-to the sad loss of the Church-these glad, happy, heavenly lines:

O land that seest no sorrow!

O state that knowest no strife!

O princely bowers! O land of flowers!
O realm and home of life!'

“Yours truly,

Dollar, N. B.

"E. D. SOLOMON."

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.

THE BIBLICAL LITURGY, TO WHICH IS APPENDED THE LITURGY OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND (ABRIDGED), FOR THE USE OF CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, HOMES, AND HOSPITALS. Compiled by DAVID THOMAS, D.D. Musically arranged by Rev. S. MARCH, M.A., Christ Church, Sydenham. Compiler of "Inspired Songs," "Anthem Chants," etc. A new, improved, and enlarged edition. London: Hodder & Stoughton.

An extract from the Preface will give an idea of the nature and object of this work:

"The Biblical Liturgy' is not prepared for any particular Church, either Conformist or Nonconformist. Excellent as the Anglican Liturgy is, there is a strong and increasing desire amongst many of its admirers for such a modification as will relieve its irksome repetition, and furnish variety. The compiler ventures to think that a little blending occasionally of parts of the Biblical Liturgy' would greatly heighten the interest, and increase the attraction and usefulness of the Episcopal form of worship. Clergymen, it is believed, will also find it of special service in the conduct of week-day worship in Mission-halls and School

rooms. Being entirely Scriptural, there could be, it is thought, no theological or ecclesiastical objection to its use anywhere by them. But in Nonconformist Churches, such a help is perhaps more urgently needed. Complaints against the formality, dulness, and in some cases irreverence, in what are called 'free prayers' in Dissenting congregations, are becoming more general and emphatic every day. Not that the Biblical Liturgy' supersedes free prayer; on the contrary, it provides space for it, and supplies the highest considerations to stimulate and direct it. Its object is to stir up the whole assembly to plead, personally and importunately, with the Great Father of Spirits.

"Nor is the 'Biblical Liturgy' suited for Churches only. It is adapted for Hospitals, Homes, and Schools, Sunday and day, public and private Schools. The compiler can scarcely imagine a more effective way of instructing children in the leading doctrines of the Bible, interesting them in the great subjects of religion, and inspiring their young hearts with devotion, than the responsory reading and chanting of these Services. Teachers and parents will undoubtedly find it a valuable auxiliary in their endeavours to promote the spiritual culture of their young charge.

"The service for the Visitation of the Sick will, it is hoped, make this volume a welcome visitor in every hospital and sick chamber. The passages were collected by the compiler when a great sorrow urged him to search the Holy Book for such Divine utterances as were suited to administer light and comfort in dying hours, to one who had been the loving and faithful sharer of his sorrows and joys for upwards of thirty years.

"The Biblical Liturgy,' as a help to worship, whilst it avoids the superseding extemporaneous prayer, all injustice to the sense of Scripture, and all tendency to formality of worship, secures the following special advantages:-(1) It draws at the outset of each service the mind of the congregation to the One Great Object of worship, thus it gives unity and depth of impression concerning God. One idea of the Eternal runs through each service. (2) It promotes in the congregation a Scriptural knowledge of the cardinals of our faith. It makes Scripture the interpreter of Scripture, and each service is a Scriptural exposition of some one theological subject. (3) It presents those elements of Biblical truth which have a special relation to the spiritual sensibilities of the soul. The Bible contains two distinct classes of truth, the didactic and the devotional. In these services the latter is brought into prominence as well as the former. The grandest and most soul-stirring passages of the Bible are brought into use. (4) It chants only those scriptural expressions that are of universal and permanent application. In many of the Psalms, as well as in other poetic parts of the Holy Book, there is much that is only local and temporary in meaning, and some utterances that are questionable in spirit and morality. In most of the chant books, even of Nonconformist Churches, these objectionable utterances are used. In one of the most popular, for example, we have such utterances as

these, that They have been consumed by the blow of God's hand,' that 'They are a wonder unto many,' that Their horn is exalted like the horn of a unicorn,' that They are anointed with fresh oil,' that 'Their bones are burned as a hearth,' that They forget to eat their bread,' that They are like pelicans in the wilderness and owls in the desert,' that They are like sparrows on the house tops;' and besides much more like this, they are made to pour forth horrid imprecations upon their enemies: 'Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul,' 'Let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.' Where, in common sense or Scripture, is there authority for the use of such expressions as these in public worship?"

This volume contains TWENTY-FOUR purely Biblical Services on all the leading theological subjects; so that there is such an ample variety as to preclude all danger of "vain repetition." Besides this, it contains the Morning and Evening Services of the Anglican Church, and in addition about 20 original Hymns, composed for some of the most favourite tunes in use in the sanctuary. Some of the hymns are prepared especially for children in the Sunday School. The volume contains about 270 pages; and whilst the former editions, which had not anything like the amount of matter, and no music heading the chants, were published at 4s. 6d., this, we understand, the compiler intends to offer to congregations by the hundred, at 1s. 3d. a volume. Nothing but an enormous circulation can possibly cover the cost of production.

BIBLICAL STUDIES. By E. H. PLUMPTRE, M.A. London: Strahan & Co., 56, Ludgate Hill.

This volume comprises a number of articles that appeared some time ago in a popular religious periodical. The leading subjects are:-The Lord of Sabaoth, The Most High God, Shiloh, The Tree of Life, Caleb the Son of Jephunneh, The Revolt of Absalom, The Earthquake in the Days of Uzziah, The Psalms of the Son of Korah, The Authorship of the Book of Job, The Old Age of Isaiah, Three Generations of Jewish Patriotism, The Babylonian Captivity, Last of the Prophets, The Prophets of the New Testament, Stephen the Protomartyr, Manaen, Simon of Syrene, St. Paul and the Sisterhood of Philippi, Aquila and Priscilla, The Old Age of St. Peter.

These are confessedly subjects interesting and important, and they are here treated as the author is wont to treat great Biblical subjects; examining them vigorously, honestly, and profoundly, and bringing rich stores of learning to prove, illustrate, and enforce. We regard the author as one of the ablest and most useful religious writers of this age. We subjoin the following extract, that our readers may have some means of estimating the character and value of the book; it is on the Prophets of the New Testament. "There remains yet another lesson which we in

rooms. Being entirely Scriptural, there could be, it is th
logical or ecclesiastical objection to its use anywhere
Nonconformist Churches, such a help is perhaps m
Complaints against the formality, dulness, and in
in what are called 'free prayers' in Dissenting e
ing more general and emphatic every day.
Liturgy' supersedes free prayer; on the cor
it, and supplies the highest considerations
object is to stir up the whole assembly +
tunately, with the Great Father of Spi

So every man sdom has its stine, of Hooker ar of great interips,' in all forms of cy has its analogue elaborate teaching of mes with power to the nt to the heart of others, renewed among us. And what the analogue. With that we too d make men confess that God is with icken at the growth of unbelief around which we have not proved, or which the shown to be cumbrous and useless, or which, fire-tipped and poisoned arrows, to savage warfare. Here is the weapon which we need, Spirit, which is the Word of God' (Eph. vi. 17), the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and iv. 12). Not by cries of alarm or railing accusations, may the doubtbe won over, and the gainsayers silenced. That chiefly to the Prophetic Word. Let us speak that

"Nor is the 'Biblical Liturgy' suit Hospitals, Homes, and Schools, Sun The compiler can scarcely imag children in the leading doctri great subjects of religion, an than the responsory readir and parents will undou1 deavours to promote th "The service for t volume a welcom passages were co1 to search the F minister ligh'

ing and fai

years.
"Th
super
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word of reproof, of comfort, and of hope as it was spoken of old by prophets and apostles, by the thousands who, since their time, have the analogy, the accordant harmony of the faith, and it will not fail. It onisms, and will do it yet again. Not the doctors of the schools, but St. has done its work in past ages, in spite of errors, excesses, mutual antagBernard and St. Francis; not the system-builders of Trent or Geneva, but Tyndale and Luther and Xavia; not the Laudian divines, but Leighton, and Taylor, and Baxter, and Bunyan; not the Georgian bishops, but Wesley and Whitefield and Simeon;-these are the names to which we now look back as bright with the glory of the kingdom. So it will be

spirit; let us prophecy according to the proportion,

now.

Let us strive to look at the questions that are vexing us as we now look on those which vexed our fathers. Amid the warfare of half-truths and rash denials let us recognise the Prophetic Word whenever and by whomsoever it may be spoken, accepting it as limited and tested by the analogy of the faith. So we come back to the old words as the truest and the best,' Covet earnestly the best gifts;' Seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the Church; ' 'And yet show I unto you a more excellent way' (1 Cor. xii. 31; xiv. 12).”

h. vi. irit,

ON

MILY

Theology of Shakspeare.

II. HIS IDEAS OF MAN.

"What is Man ?"-PSALM viii. 4.

E have already brought into our pages some of Shakspeare's leading ideas of God, and shown how thoroughly they harmonize with the doctrines of the Bible on the same great subject. We now proceed to bring under the notice of our readers what may be called the anthropological opinions of the great dramatist, in order to see whether they also agree with those of Holy Scripture. Let us consider his views of the NATURE of man. He evidently believed

Nowhere

I. IN THE SPIRITUALITY OF MAN'S EXISTENCE. does he intimate the belief that man is nothing but organized dust, moulded by the laws of nature, animated by a principle of life to run on for a certain time,