Selections from Robert Hall, A.M., with a Sketch of his Life; together with Notes and Illustrations, Literary and Theological. By CHARLES BADHAM, B.A., Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Small 8vo. London: Ball, Arnold and Co.

THESE Selections are a gathering of the richest morceaux from the works of the well known Robert Hall upon a great variety of subjects, which are indicated to the reader by appropriate titles placed at their head. It has been remarked, that to represent an author by detached passages picked out of his writings is to act the part of the simpleton in Hierocles, who having a house to dispose of, carried about with him one of the bricks as a sample of it. This observation will not apply in the present instance. Every detached piece is complete in itself, and fairly exhibits the choicest thoughts of the writer upon the subject under consideration. And manifold indeed, and important, are the topics which are treated of in the volume: here is intellectual food for the scholar, the philosopher, the statesman, and the divine; matter which relates to the inward and outward condition of mankind, to various dispositions and states of the mind, and to the different circumstances of life— matter which must be of unfailing interest to us as intellectual and social beings, and as those who are destined to exist when the eye shall no longer see nor the hands handle the works of our fellow-mortals; matter which must be of concern to us, as connected not only with our present life-span, but with all eternity. And all this treated in the superior manner, and expressed in the surpassing language of Robert Hall.

Moreover, the selector has here and there inserted in footnotes, and brought, as it were side by side, the reflections of other master-minds upon the same subjects: hence we are ever and anon enchanted with the "thoughts that breathe and words that burn" of such powerful thinkers and writers as Burke, Coleridge, and Johnson, among the departed; and Brougham, Macauley, and Southey, among the living. Nor are the extracts confined to Mr. Hall's observations on things; they also extend to persons-to those who have won the world's admiration by their genius, its regard by their virtues, and its gratitude by their usefulness; men who have either shone like stars or blazed like meteors; who have blessed the world by their benign influence, or deterred by the wholesome warning of their example. Such being the case, it must at once be apparent, that the individual who has undertaken the task of culling these "Selections," and presenting them to the public eye and public use in a convenient form, has rendered good service both to his author and to his countrymen ;-to his author, by making his

works more generally known, and therefore more generally admired and profitable: he has thus contributed to the wider spread of his well-earned fame, and to the object which was the principal one in the author's view and the dearest to his heart, namely, the bettering of the moral condition of his species. And if it should be said that these Selections are but sips of the author's living water, let it be remembered that they will have achieved a most desirable end, if they should instigate any one who may taste them to imbibe the copious draughts which may be drawn from the well-spring of the entire works.

To his countrymen, the compiler has performed no little good, by placing within the reach of numbers the sentiments of a highly-gifted and good-seeking man on so great a variety of topics; some of vital importance, all of more or less interest. And with respect to the volume before us we may confidently assert, that he who should give it a place on his table, to take it up now and then only for a few minutes, will not fail of satisfaction, on whatever page his eye may chance to rest; and that his mind is little to be envied, if from the more frequent, though temporary perusal of it, he do not find himself a more accomplished, a wiser, and a better man.

The type and the general appearance of the volume is all that the most fastidious person could desire; which is saying a great deal in the year 1840.

The Life of Luther, with Notices and Extracts of his Popular Writings, Translated from the German of Gustavus Pfeizer. By. T. S. WILLIAMS, Johannæum College, Hamburgh. With an Introductory Essay by the Author of "The Natural History of Enthusiasm." London Society for the Promotion of Popular Instruction. 1840. OF Pfeizer's "Life of Luther" we can only say that we are glad to see it in English. With regard to the Society from which the present translation emanates, we shall suspend our opinion. And as to the introductory essay, our sole observation shall be, that were Mr. Isaac Taylor as well endowed with candour as he is with acuteness, he would be a most valuable as well as a most able writer.

A Digest of Hooker's Treatise on the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity. By the Rev. J. B. SMITH, D.D. London: Rivingtons. 1840. A VERY able digest, and one for which students will have to thank Dr. Smith, is this which is now lying before us. We have examined it with attention, and can recommend it. In the present day the arguments of the "judicious" presbyter cannot be too widely circulated.

Propædia Prophetica; a View of the Use and Design of the Old Testament. Followed by Two Dissertations: 1. On the Causes of the Rapid Propagation of the Gospel among the Heathen; and II. On the Credibility of the Facts related in the New Testament. By WILLIAM ROWE LYALL, M.A., Archdeacon of Colchester, Co-dean of Bocking, and Rector of Hadleigh, Suffolk. London: Rivingtons. AN original work-one which is likely to live and maintain its rank, and which, both by the beauty of its style and the value of its contents, deserves to be read over and over again—is a rare occurrence. Such a work we have however before us. The Propædia Prophetica is the substance of fifteen sermons, delivered by Archdeacon Lyall, as Warburtonian lecturer in the chapel of Lincoln's Inn. The leading idea seems to have suggested itself to the mind of the learned author in consequence of a deficiency in Paley. The "Evidences" of that great man are perfectly satisfactory, so far as they go; but he proves his propositions independently of the event; they are proved to be true, even if the designs of the apostles had miscarried, and Christianity itself turned out a failure. Now it is obvious that the establishment of the religion is necessary to prove its divine origin, and since this fact cannot be questioned, Paley has contented himself with adducing it as a proof of that divine origin. Still the former part of Paley's proposition would be true without the latter; and the proof therefore is in so far incomplete, as it would be quite true even if the religion were proved by failure to be not divine.

Now the point the Archdeacon has taken up is to show that the success of Christianity was, in the very nature of things, unavoidable; that were it to occur again, or had it occurred at any other period, the results must necessarily be the same; thus supplying the only link wanting in Paley's chain of argument. The whole work is a most luminous display of evidence derived from prophecy, and is no less clear in its style than convincing in its reasoning.

Lectures on Ancient Israel and the Israelitish Origin of the Modern Nations of Europe. By J. WILSON. Cheltenham: Mimpriss. 1840. THE object of these lectures is to show that all the nations of modern Europe derive their origin from the children of Israel; an attempt which, though made with much learning, is we think far from successful. There are many parts of the book with which we are much pleased, and shall be glad to meet with Mr. Wilson when engaged in some less romantic undertaking.

History of the Great Reformation of the Sixteenth Century, in Germany, Switzerland, &c. By J. H. MERLE D'AUBIGNE, President of the Theological School of Geneva, and Member of the Société Evangélique. Vols. I. and II. London: Walker. 1840.

THIS work, which it is impossible to describe fully, or even accurately to characterize, in so short a space as we can devote to it at present, is undoubtedly an acquisition to the student. That the facts recorded are true, and that the whole work bears tokens of being written by a man of sterling piety, is not however sufficient to make it in all respects a safe guide. The theology of Geneva and the ideas of Church government which subsist still among the members of that communion, are neither, as we conceive, true nor apostolical. The results to which they have led in the lamentable perversion of doctrine, not only in Geneva herself but also in her dependencies, are enough to prove this. But while we, therefore, object to many of M. Merle d'Aubignè's views and reasonings, we set a high value upon his work, which we are glad to see SO well translated. The conflict between Luther on the one hand, and Tetzell and his myrmidons on the other, is most graphically described; and not the least merit of this valuable work is, that we are made so intimately acquainted with the great German Reformer. Were it not that we purpose, when this edition of the translation is completed, to return to the subject again, and to treat of the Reformation, both in Germany, Switzerland, and Poland, we should extend our remarks to a greater length here. "The History of the Reformation (observes M. d'Aubignè) is altogether distinct from the History of Protestantism. In the former, all bears the character of a regeneration of human nature, a religious and social transformation, emanating from God himself in the latter, we see too often a glaring depravation of first principles, the conflict of parties, a sectarian spirit, and the operation of private interests. The History of Protestantism might claim the attention only of Protestants; the History of the Reformation is a book for all Christians, or rather, for all mankind."

The Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Mark Paraphrased, and put into Questions and Answers, on a New Plan; intended for the Use of Parents and Teachers. By the Rev. JOHN ROGERSON COTTER, M.A., Rector of Innishannon. London: Rivingtons. 1840. THE title of this useful but unassuming little work fully explains its nature. It has now reached a second edition; a distinction which it well merits. It is admirably adapted for infant schools, and might be advantageously substituted for some manuals now in use in such institutions.

VOL. VIII.—K K

Ancient Christianity, and the Doctrines of the Oxford Tracts. By the Author of "The Natural History of Enthusiasm." London: Jackson and Walford. 1840. Part V.

WHEN we heard that the present number of this work was intended to contain a reply to objectors, we confess that we had little expectation of finding any reply to the expose of error and unfairness which we made of the four previous numbers in our publication for April. We treated Mr. Taylor with courtesy, while we exposed his errors and unmasked his misrepresentations. We were perfectly well aware, that as we stated facts our objections to Mr. Taylor's work were unanswerable; we therefore repeat we did not expect any reply. While, however, we feel deeply grieved at the glaring falsehood which makes the staple of No. 5, we are somewhat amused at its cool impudence. Mr. Taylor positively takes up a whole number to restate the question, and to answer objections; and his sole answer is, that he has met with no argument against him, but merely virulence. We shall when the work is finished devote another article to it, which, should the author again condescend to answer objections, he will perhaps do well to treat in the same way as he has done the last.

Englishman's Library, Vol. XI-A Practical Discourse on Religious Assemblies. By WILLIAM SHERLOCK, D.D., Dean of St. Paul's, Master of the Temple, and Chaplain in Ordinary to his Majesty. A New Edition, with a Preface by the Rev. HENRY MELVILL, B.D., Minister of Camden Chapel, and Chaplain to the Tower of London. London: Burns. 1840.

THE Englishman's Library is proceeding very satisfactorily: the excellence of Dr. Sherlock's work is too universally acknowledged to need any remark of ours, and we highly approve the selection of it to form a volume of this useful series. Mr. Melvill's preface is, as might have been expected from him, sound, practical, and beautifully written. We may observe too that the typography of the series improves the present volume is the best in this respect. Would that the lessons which it teaches were attended to in this age of carelessness and selfexcommunication.

Moral Contrast. A Tale. By F. BOLINGBROKE RIBBANS, F.S.A. London: Longmans. 1840.

IF our advice could at all avail with this unfortunate gentleman, he would abandon what is with him a "cacoethes scribendi," and substitute for it an "agathoethes legendi."