has been further augmented by £40, the proceeds of the sewing meeting during the year. The redemption fund now stands at £500.

I trust that with this successful commencement of the fund our friends will be encouraged to persevere in their efforts until the estate is practically clear of debt. Better still if they keep in view the entire extinction of the debt, for then there will be a free house on the estate which, if too large for the minister to occupy, will more than cover the cost of the convenient house in which he now lives. The precise form these efforts for the reduction of the debt will take is not at present determined; but I hope each year will witness something done. However modest the diminution of one year may be, it leaves so much less to be done the year following, and in such proportion makes the ultimate extinction more practicable. If our chapel debts could only be reduced five per cent. per year, in a comparatively limited time our chapels would be free. But the probability is that when a congregation begins earnestly to grapple with a debt it will fall by a much more rapid process than by five per cent. stages.

Allow me respectfully to urge upon our friends in Liverpool who have been engaged in this effort to keep in view a free chapel and a free manse. May I apply the appeal to our circuits generally. They will then be able more generously to support their church institutions, and will be stronger by far to sustain aggressive enterprises.

WILLIAM LONGBOTTOM.

WOLVERHAMPTON.

Our chapel in this town has been burdened with debt for a long time. The last Conference made such an offer of financial help as induced the friends to set seriously about reducing their liabilities by the sum of £1070. The efforts culminated in special services held on Sunday and Monday last, January 10th and 11th. Sermons were preached on the Sunday by the Revs. J. Pritchard and E. Franks. Above 300 attended the public tea on the Monday. The public meeting was most enthusiastic and successful. The Rev. T. G. Horton (Congregationalist), and the Rev. G. Hallatt, a former superintendent of the circuit, gave addresses. The Mayor (a Churchman) called Mr. J. Whitehouse, treasurer of the building fund, who said that, owing to serious difficulties with the contractor, and with legal expenses, the cost of the premises had amounted to nearly £5000, and for some time the debt had been standing at £2700; and as the building had been erected for the good of the population around, he had good ground for asking public support. Rev. E. Franks then said that he had received from all sources £878 10s. 6d.-viz., Conference grant £350, several donations of £50 and £25 and smaller sums, and one of £100. Sunday's collections and tea about £50. Mr. E. Sunderland, of Birmingham (Wesleyan) was the next speaker, and he challenged the congregation to make up what was required there and then, and he would give £50, or, if there was an absolute necessity, £85, leaving £100 for the congregation. Rev. E. Franks said he would undertake to get £50. The Mayor added £5 to the 10 guineas he had given. A lady handed a £5 note; others sent in their names for guinea, half-guinea, and two-guinea subscriptions. Mr. W. H. Jones (Congregationalist), ex-mayor, gave an address, and added £2 to his former £5; and it was announced that the total had been promised and the £1070 were realised. Rev. J. Pritchard (Primitive) then addressed the meeting, and another or two of Sankey's hymns were sung. The usual votes of thanks were given, and the meeting closed with prayer by Rev. G. Hallatt.

LEICESTER.

DEAR MR. EDITOR.-I gladly avail myself of your promise to allow me a little space for a few lines about our effort to extinguish the debt of £1200

upon St. Paul's Chapel. It is a great undertaking for the few friends who are able to give, work, and beg, so that we need all the help which sympathising friends in other parts of the Connexion may be able and willing to render.

We must be honest while we plead for assistance, and acknowledge what has already been promised towards this laudable and indispensable object. The Conference has generously offered £450, Mr. Love has nobly followed suit with £100, four friends here have guaranteed £200, while another has given £10; so that £440 have to be raised to complete the effort.

The ladies are doing what they can (but they are very few) to provide goods for a bazaar to be held at Easter. This is a work of great difficulty, but with the aid of the young people in the school we hope the result may prove a success. If a few of our wealthy friends would send us presents of money, or if, being manufacturers, would send us goods for sale, they would cheer and inspire us very much.

Hoping that these few lines may elicit practical sympathy,—I am, yours very truly,

29, Evington Street.

Notices of New Books.

THOS. HOLCRoft.

A Survey of the Unity, Harmony, and Growing Evidence of Sacred Truth. By WILLIAM COOKE, D.D. 4, London House Yard.

THE author has set forth his aim in this volume so concisely and clearly that we transcribe his words. "By 'Sacred Truth,'" he says, "I mean the Truth unfolded in the Bible. By 'The Unity of Sacred Truth,' I mean that, though the Bible consists of various parts, historical, biographical, prophetical, poetical, &c., one grand purpose pervades the whole volume of revelation-namely, the salvation of men through Jesus Christ. By 'The Harmony of Sacred Truth,' I mean the perfect agreement of its principles under all dispensations, and the subordination of its facts during all ages to this purpose, giving cohesion, symmetry, and ultimate completeness to the system of revelation. By 'The Growing Evidence of Sacred Truth,' I mean that its evidence, as well as its revelation, has been progressive; that though its revelations were completed by the writings of the Apostles, its evidence is still accumulating, and will continue to accumulate and brighten down to the end of time. I call this work a 'Survey,' because its design is to glance at these topics as unfolded in the history of the Church, and recorded in the holy Scriptures, and I adopt the word 'Survey' because the limits of the work admit of no more than a general view over so wide a field of observation."

All the readers of this Magazine will know what to expect in a volume from the pen of Dr. Cooke, of which the above is a correct outline. They will expect to see the outline filled up in a way satisfactory alike to their intelligence and their piety; that is, they will expect to see the execution of the work marked by sound learning, extensive and accurate research, cogent argumentation, fearless avowal of convictions, and burning zeal for evangelical truth. Nor will the perusal of the volume disappoint their expectation; on the contrary, we shall be surprised if the most ardent admirer of the Doctor does not find in it all his anticipations surpassed. We are not sure whether our acquaintance with his numerous and excellent

writings is sufficiently particular and thorough to qualify us to give a positive judgment, but it strikes us that this work is the best the author has written. Certainly it seems so to ourselves. As we have gone over its pages they have enchained our attention. The vast stores of information collected in them, and the masterly manner in which they are applied to the purpose for which they were obtained, enkindles our high admiration, and makes us proud that so able a champion of the Word of God is found in the communion to which we belong.

The Canadian Methodist Magazine; Devoted to Religion, Literature, and Social Progress. January, 1875. Toronto: Samuel Rose, Methodist Book-Room.

THIS is the first number of the Magazine to be published by the Methodist Church of Canada. It consists of ninety-six pages, and is well printed on good paper. In its getting up it is most creditable to the Book Committee and the Canadian press, the very look of it impressing the mind strongly in its favour. Nor will that impression be weakened by an acquaintance with its contents. The articles are mainly on interesting subjects, and written in an excellent style. We have transferred the article on “The General Conference" to the pages of our own Magazine, as we thought it might help our readers to form a correct idea of the motives and objects of our Canadian brethren in forming the union which has of late caused so much anxious discussion amongst ourselves. While on some points with regard to this union we have not been able to see eye to eye with them, yet their intelligence, their zeal, their devotedness to the service of their Master, commands our profound respect. They are evidently bent on being a power for good in the Canadian dominion. They mean Methodism to tell on their national, as well as on their domestic and personal life. We honour them for this, and wish them God speed in their work. We should have been glad to be able to state where this Magazine might be procured in our own country. Surely, among the various Methodist denominations in England, there will be many who would, if they had the opportunity, become regular purchasers of it. An intercharge of our literature is very desirable on many grounds. Of course all who are willing to bear the expense may have it mailed to them direct from Canada by sending to the publishing office their subscription and address. The postal charge we cannot definitely give.

Aids to the Study of German Theology. Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark. Price 4s.

WHATEVER opinions our readers may hold respecting German theology, they cannot do wrong in making acquaintance with the contents of this little work. The views of a German author, as the writer remarks, cannot be unveiled by the mere translation of German words into an English vocabulary; they are the ideas, and not the words, which require to be interpreted. In these "Aids" such an interpretation is attempted, and admirably effected. German ideas are transmuted into the garb of English thought, and with such intelligibleness that the perusal of the work is a most interesting and profitable exercise. To the general reader, and to theological students in

particular, we give the book a sincere recommendation. If ministers who are fond of denouncing German theology from the pulpit would read it, they would know perhaps more accurately that whereof they affirm, and speaking more intelligently, would speak with more effect.

Critical and Exegetical Handbook of the Gospel of St. John. By H. A. W. MEYER. Vol. i. Translated by WM. URWICK, M.A.

Critical and Exegetical Handbook to the Epistle to the Romans. By H. A. W. MEYER, Vol. ii. Translated by J. C. MOORE, B.A., and EDWIN JOHNSON, B.A. Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark.

In the first number of Dickinson's "Theological Quarterly," our ministerial readers will find an interesting biographical and bibliographical account of Dr. Meyer, by Albert H. Newman, Rochester, New York. We commend that memoir to their perusal. It will enable them to form a correct estimate of the character of his commentary, and we shall be surprised if it do not result in the speedy placing of their names on Messrs. Clark's subscription list for so invaluable a work. The subscription is one guinea for four volumes, payable in advance. No Biblical student will regret the outlay.

Theology of the Old Testament. By Dr. GUST. FR. OEHLER. Vol. i. Translated by ELLEN D. SMITH. Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark.

WE can scarcely in a brief notice adequately express our estimation of the value of this work as a contribution to the right understanding of the Old Testament Scriptures. The author's stand-point may be clearly ascertained from his own words:"It is true of every intellectual product, that it cannot be rightly esteemed by those who concern themselves only with its outer features, or with individual fragments of it; and of the Bible this is peculiarly true. What is here unfolded is the great economy of salvationunam continuum systema, as Bengel puts it—an organism of Divine deeds and testimonies, which, beginning in Genesis with the creation, advances progressively to its completion in the person and work of Christ, and shall find its close in the new heaven and earth predicted in the Apocalypse; and only in connection with this whole can details be rightly estimated. He who cannot apprehend the Old Testament in its historical context may produce in detail much that is valuable and worth knowing, but he lacks the right key to its meaning, and therefore true joy in the study of it; then he easily stops short at the puzzles which lie everywhere on the surface of the Old Testament, and from them he condemns the whole. Now, to introduce to organic historical knowledge of the Old Testament, is the very business of the discipline to which these lectures are to be devoted."

Those who are interested in the subject of the work we advise to procure it. They will find it a general unfolding of the truth our Lord enunciated to the woman of Samaria when at Jacob's well:-"Salvation is of the Jews."

The present volume, which embraces the doctrines and ordinances of Mosaism, is to be followed by a second, embracing Prophesy and Chochma. When the work is finished, a complete register of names, matters treated, and quotations will be given.

Biblical Commentary on the Proverbs of Solomon. By FRANZ DELITZSCH, D.D. Translated from the German by M. G. EASTON, D.D. Vel. i. Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark.

THIS is a learned work, but it will not on that account be found unserviceable to the English student; on the contrary, he will reap from it a fund of interesting and useful information, which will largely qualify him for the fulfilment of his duty as an expounder of the Scriptures to others.

The Year of Salvation.—Words of Life for every Day; A Book of Household Devotion. By J. J. VAN OOSTERZEE, D.D. The Festival Portion of the Year. Translated by C. SPENCE. Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark. THE title of this book we have given at length because it pretty clearly indicates its plan and purpose. It forms the first volume of a series about to be issued by Messrs. Clark, entitled the "Foreign Devotional Library." The idea is a good one, and we hope will meet with practical encouragement, for, as the publishers say, "It is well known that Germany and Holland are rich in works of a healthy devotional nature, which have, along with hymnology, maintained a pious spirit among the people, even when Rationalism filled the pulpits." The volume we now notice contains a series of expositions of a portion of Scripture suitable to the day, embracing all church festival days from Advent to the end of May. The papers are short and simple, and, judging from those we have read, are suggestive of holy thought. It is a book to which we shall often have recourse for devotional stimulant.

Wemoirs and Recent Deaths.

MR. KINGLEY ROBERT MOORE,

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA,

FORMERLY of Chelsea, London, and still more formerly of Tatbank, Oldbury, was born in Birmingham, on the 5th Oct., 1830. He was baptised in the Established Church, but changes certainly took place in the religious views of the family, for the great Rowland Hill preached the funeral sermon of his mother, who must have been a godly woman to have elicited Mr. Hill's remark: "that if ever woman had gone to heaven, she had." When Mr. Moore had become a man, his life was so far from being good and godly as to be wild and wicked. Not only was the Bible his sainted mother had given him never opened, but his conduct was so extremely wrong and wretched, that his wife prayed that the afflicting hand of God might be upon her as a means of compelling him to ponder his ways and turn into the "narrow way that leadeth to life." Illness, sharp, severe, and dangerous followed the doubtful prayer. But the sickness was not unto her death nor his spiritual life, for as she got better physically he spiritually became worse. Her recovery was his relapse.

Living at this time at Tatbank, Oldbury, where Methodists, who would pray anywhere when the door opened, sought whom they could save, the wife adopted a far, far better plan. She opened her house for prayer meetings. The ark of the Lord might attract the blessing of God, even life for evermore. Her house becoming a temple, God might save all who dwelt therein. A most reasonable expectation. That house where God's people meet to pray shall not fail to obtain the blessing of God. Oh, that many a fond wife, whose life is cursed by the conduct of her husband, would not grumble