been burnt. The former could have been at no great loss, for where no blot exists they can readily make one. When a man approaches as nearly to the perfect as you can expect any man on this side of eternity to do, it is but a few daubs of black paint, and he stands forth a fiend in human shape. This matter of Servetus, however, is a reality. He was burned to death at the stake-burned in Geneva; and Calvin had to do with the sad work of that day. But how much, and how far? It would be interesting to know this. The excellent and trustworthy biography by Bungener shews conclusively that Servetus had allied himself to a party in Geneva which sought to throw into confusion all the goodly work of the past years, and to bring back the reign of anarchy and godlessness; that he thrust himself, by a species of infatuation, into the jaws of the lion; that his conduct under examination and trial was characterised by alternate levity and insolence; and that so far from Calvin being the author of the sentence, and the chief mover in its execution, the whole of protestant Switzerland, formed into a jury, unanimously pronounced, by the voice of its magistrates and pastors, the condemnation of the accused. Berne and Basle, Zurich and Schaffhausen, declared that the blasphemies of Servetus must be cut short; for, like a gangrene, they would eat away the body of Christ. Of all this did Calvin approve? Yes! No other verdict can honestly be given. To expect from Calvin in the sixteenth the ideas of the nineteenth century upon toleration, is to expect a miracle. There is such justice in the remarks of Mons. Bungener upon this point that we give them a place here. "Hence comes the conclusion which we shall see arise out of all the facts relating to this melancholy affair, namely that it is a great anachronism to charge Calvin with this fault, as though it was his own, and one with which his own age must have reproached him. Lament that he had an opportunity to commit it; blame him for having committed it with the bitter zeal which is always and in all things to be condemned; but to accuse him alone of it, when all his friends, including the mild Melanethon, all his enemies, with the exception of Castalio, but including Balsec, and the whole sixteenth century, in short, approved, and, in some sort, committed it with him, is to sacrifice him to the ideas of the nineteenth century, as Servetus was sacrificed to the ideas of the sixteenth. But when this sacrifice of Calvin is demanded by Romish writers, when those who testify so much horror before the stake of Servetus, are those who experience none be fore the thirty or forty thousand fires which were kindled by the Church of Rome in the same century, we will no longer say, Where is justice, but the most common honesty and the most ordinary decency ?"

Had space permitted, it would have given us great pleasure to have presented to our readers some of the interesting details to be found in this volume regarding the more private and domestic life of Calvin; to this we may perhaps return, but meanwhile our best thanks are due to the author for this excellent life of the great reformer; to the translator (name unknown), who has rendered into pure and idiomatic English the beautiful and nervous sentences of Bungener; and to the publishers, who have sent out the volume in a type so large and clear that the eye can peruse it without fatigue.

The Works of Thomas Goodwin, D.D. Vol IV. Pp. 569. Edinburgh:

James Nichol. 1862.

Mr Nichol has now issued to the public the tenth volume in his series of Puritan Divines. We have had three of Goodwin, three of Adams, three of Sibbes, and again a fourth volume of the works of the "sometime President of Magdalene College, Oxford." Of all the ten volumes now issued, there is not one in which the excellence and beauty of the Gospel of Jesus are so fully set forth. The very titles are refreshing-" Christ set forth-the Heart of Christ in Heaven towards Sinners on earth" (what a felicity in that title); "The Glory of the Gospel-the Knowledge of God the Father and his Son

Jesus Christ." Here, we are altogether out of the reign of quaint conceits and smile-provoking wit; all is solid, earnest to the core, and, at the same time, intensely practical. There can be no higher commendation than this, that from beginning to end, the volume is full of Christ; it is just such a book as the Christian, when his soul reaches the higher frames of devotional fervour, will delight to take with him to his closet and peruse, finding "the name that is above every name to be as "ointment poured out." The preacher must, when delivering these discourses (especially when he came to that part of them which he terms "uses "), have cast his whole heart into the beseeching of men in Christ's stead to be reconciled to God. "O, therefore," he says, "come in unto him. If you knew his heart you would. As they that crucified him knew him not, so neither do those who believe not in him. If you had been on earth with him, or if he were now here, and had this day preached these things unto you, and uttered these, his own desires and longings after you; how would you, in troops, go all thronging after him when the sermon were done, and each of you come about him, as those that had diseases did, and beseech him to pardon and save you, and not leave him till you have obtained some word of comfort and favour from him! Let me tell you, he had preached this day, but that he had other business to do for you in heaven, where he is now praying and interceding for you, even when you are sinning, as on earth we see he did for the Jews when they were 'crucifying him.' This, truly, is the kind of preaching which the nineteenth century stands in need of—" Christ and him crucified."

The Temperance Congress of 1862. Pp. 207. London: W. Tweedie.

The probable assembling in London of many thousands from our own and other lands, in connection with the Great Exhibition, suggested to the Temperance Reformers of England, the propriety of holding a series of meetings for the furtherance of the cause which they have so much at heart. The idea of a Congress, at which should be represented the various sections of the great Temperance movement, was happily conceived and successfully carried out. One result of the "Congress "we have now before us, in the careful selection of the papers which were read on the occasion. With a certain class, Temperance literature does not stand very high; their belief being, that it has a strong affinity to that pure beverage which temperance advocates urge upon their audience. Nothing will more readily disabuse these parties of this erroneous impression, than a candid perusal of the papers to which we refer; in point of literary excellence and power, they are quite up to the mark. We have been struck also with the earnestly Christian tone which pervades the whole book; there is no setting of temperance above the Gospel of Jesus. The concluding words of the paper read by the Rev. Horace Noel of Exton, may be accepted as the key-note running throughout all :"But whatever accessory measures are proposed to restrain the torrent of iniquity, may we ever be kept from placing our main reliance on anything but the Word and the Spirit of God!" It is impossible to rise from the perusal of these papers without feeling convinced that here are Christian men, whose eyes are open to the terrible havoc which intemperance is making in our land-who are earnestly striving to make the evil less-and to whom every lover of his kind should bid God-speed. To those who are interested in the rise of this movement, which has, under God, effected so much good, we commend the perusal of the papers written by Mr William Logan of Glasgow, entitled, "The Early Heroes of the Temperance Reformation."

Alfred and his little Dove, by F. A. KRUMMACHER, D.D.; and the Young Savoyard, by ERNEST HOLD. Translated from the German by a Lady. Edinburgh: Johnstone, Hunter & Co.

Both of these simple Tales are of such a kind, that we can not only put

them with safety into the hands of the young, but can very cordially recommend that the young read them, and practise the lessons of kindness and of trust in God which they inculcate. The publishers are conferring a boon upon the rising generation, by sending forth, month after month, these delightful little books, which we know, from observation, are all of them great favourites with the class for whose benefit they are intended.

The Child's Catechism of Scripture Truth. By SIGMA. Paisley: J & R. Parlane.

We could wish that every family in the church were possessed of a copy of this little catechism. No mistake can be greater than to suppose that it is an easy matter to write such a book; let those who imagine that it is, make the attempt, and they will find out the mistake. We have seldom read or used any little manual of Scripture truth, for the little children, equal to this by Sigma. The language is simple, the answers carefully weighed, concise, and pre-eminently scriptural.

Church Melodies; a Book for the Service of Song in the House of the Lord Established Notation Edition. By the Rev. ANDREW HENDERSON, Paisley. Paisley J. & R. Parlane.

This selection of sacred music in the Sol-fa Notation, was noticed by us favourably, and at some length, when it first appeared about four years ago. It now appears in the Old, or Established Notation, with a few changes, all of which are for the better. The printing is beautifully clear and accurate; and the letter-press and musical characters are so large as to make the book highly attractive, and the use of it easy and pleasant. We have no hesitation in pronouncing this selection the best of its kind we have yet seen. These three words-" grave sweet melody," found in the metrical version of our Psalms, form a complete and correct description of the music best adapted for the purposes of psalmody. They express the three prime qualities of psalmody music-solemnity simplicity, and musical power qualities which, in a remarkable degree, characterise the selection before us. "Church melodies reflects the highest credit on the taste and judgment of the editor. The Index of tunes appropriate to the Psalms and Hymns is a happy effort in a needful and most difficult task, and will be found useful to precentors and heads of families. The Christian public are much indebted to the publishers, the Messrs Parlane, for their judicious and spirited endeavours to raise our psalmody music to a higher and purer standard. The book has our warmest commendation, and we hope it will soon get into extensive use throughout the country.

News of the Church.

THE SCHOLARSHIPS.

THE first Scholarship connected with our Church was founded by the NewtonStewart Presbytery. It was first competed for in December 1858. Since that time, other presbyteries have followed the good example of the brethren in Galloway, and now we have in all five Scholarships founded by the following presbyteries, viz. :-(1.) Newton-Stewart; (2.) Dumfries; (3.) K marnock; (4.) Paisley; (5.) Glasgow. The first three are of £10 each annually, and the other two of £15 each.

The regulations for these Scholarships have engaged much earnest consideration on the part of the Hall Committee. In regard to the competition. the rule adopted is, "palmam qui meruit ferat." A spirit of healthrul

rivalry is thus awakened among the students, and much lasting good is thereby secured beyond the mere value of the Scholarship in money. The design is not only to benefit students whose resources may not be abundant, but to promote a higher style of scholarship, and thereby to benefit all who enter the lists as competitors. Hitherto, they have been spoken of as Bursaries, we mean henceforth to speak of them by their appropriate name of Scholarships.

Our students have always held an honourable place in the different Universities at which they have studied. They have, indeed, generally signalised themselves by their superior merit in these great schools of learning, and the records of University honours bear not a few of the names of the students of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. Our ambition is, that they be in all learning first among the foremost-men of accurate and extensive attainments-men of ardent and devoted piety. These Scholarships we look upon with very great favour, as tending to encourage and aid our students during their preparatory career. They are a testimony to those young men who have devoted themselves to the work of the ministry, that the church at large sympathises with them--and every one knows the mighty power of sympathy. In speaking about our students, we may be allowed to say, that we hope they are often remembered by the families of the church at a throne of grace. They have many temptations-many trials. Let their hearts and their hands be strengthened by the prayers of the church on their behalf. Might not parents also do much to encourage their sons, in whom they may discover suitable ability, to consecrate themselves in this service to the Lord. They could not choose a more honourable or more useful life-work. We will not promise them wealth as the reward of their toils, but we can promise that a worldly sustenance sufficient shall not be awanting, and something also infinitely better than all the rewards the world can give. Much responsibility rests with parents in this matter. They can repress or encourage the purpose forming in the youthful mind. We hope to see the noblest and the best heartily giving themselves in ever increasing numbers to the service of Jesus in the glorious work of the ministry. We know full well that our young men will have need of self-denial in turning aside from the many paths which lie open before them to wealth and fame-paths in which many of far inferior ability have risen to eminence. We grudge them not that eminence; the Lord has also need of them; therefore, we the more earnestly seek the sympathy and the prayers of the church in their behalf.

As to the Scholarships, it is matter of much gratification, that contributions are frankly and generously given for them in the different presbyteries. It has been frequently the subject of thought, whether any plan better fitted for the purpose could not be adopted for the obtaining of funds for the Scholarships. It has sometimes been supposed that collections made in the different churches, from year to year, for this end will injure other collections made for the different schemes of the Synod. This we scarcely think likely. Those who contribute for one scheme, from right motives, will be willing to contribute also for others, and to help, so far as in them lies, to forward the Scholarships too. It is a great fact, that the more frequently people give of their substance to the cause of Christ in any of its departments, the more cheerfully and promptly do they contribute to other departments, so far as their means will enable them; while, on the other hand, contributing little, and contributing seldom, tend uniformly to contract the heart, so that such an one will soon give nothing. We are not afraid, therefore, that these scholarships will in the very least degree injure the resources of the Synod's schemes. We would rather expect the reverse to be the case. It has occurred to us, in thinking of this matter, however, that it would be a very noble thing if some of the men of wealth in our church would so contribute as to form a fund, the annual proceeds of which would go to the support of the Scholarships. We would rejoice exceedingly to see this

C

scheme placed in some way beyond doubt. Should any one think of this, the Convener of the Hall Committee will give him information on the subject.

The arrangement which the Committee have meantime fixed upon, is to offer the two larger Scholarships of £15 each to students on entering college, and three of £10 each to students entering the hall. There will therefore be one offered every year in each department.

We have only to express our hope that there will always be a large number of competitors, generous rivals striving together in the honourable effort each to excel his neighbour. There are rewards also, great and good rewards, as they will themselves thankfully discover, for such as may not succeed in gaining the Scholarship.

The following Scholarships are open for competition to all students attending the ministry in connection with the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Scotland:

I. The Scholarship founded by the Paisley Presbytery, of the value of £15 annually, to be held for two years. All students entering the first regular session of College in November 1863 may be competitors.

CLASSICS-Latin,

SUBJECTS OF EXAMINATION.

Virgil's Eneid, Book VI.
Livy, Book XXI.

Greek,......... Edinburgh Academy Greek Grammar, (including the Appendix).

Gospel of Luke, chaps. 1-10.

RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE-Doctrinal part of the Testimony of the Reformed Presbyterian Church.

Tract Society's Companion to the Bible.

HISTORY and ENGLISH LITERATURE-Dr Angus's Handbook of the English

Tongue.

Guizot's Lectures on the History of Civilisation in

Europe.

II. The Scholarship founded by the Kilmarnock Presbytery, of the value of £10 annually, to be held for two years. All students entering the first session at the Hall in June 1863 may be competitors.

SUBJECTS OF EXAMINATION.

CLASSICS Latin,......... Agricola of Tacitus.

Greek,

HEBREW,

MENTAL SCIENCE,

MATHEMATICS,

Augustine de Civ. Dei, Lib. XIII.
Sophocles, Edipus Tyrannus.

New Testament, Epistle to Romans.
First five Psalms.

Paradigms, with the Grammatical Forms, &c., of
the Words.

Mackintosh's Dissertation on Ethical Philosophy.
Euclid, first six Books, with Exercises.

Algebra-Equations, Simple and Quadratic.

The competition for the Paisley Scholarship to take place in the end of October 1863, time and place to be advertised in the September Number of the Magazine; for the Kilmarnock Scholarship, to take place on the day of the opening of the Hall. Intending competitors are in all cases expected to send in their names to the Convener of the Hall Committee four weeks before the competitions take place.

WILLIAM SYMINGTON, Convener of the Hall Committee.