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social and religious life, or the achievements of one of the most remarkable of Hebrew monarchs, whether we contemplate him as a warrior, statesman, parent, or poet. The author traces the checquered, many-sided life of the youngest son of Jesse from the time of his tending his father's flock until, as an absolute monarch, he wields the sceptre over the whole of Israel in the zenith of his natural life. He deals with this period not only as the centre-point of Old Testament history, but also in its relation to the future kingdom of the Messiah. This being the most pure and complete form of the theocracy, is also the most perfect type of the reign and kingdom of 'David's greater son.' Much interest and instruction is added to the narrative by the juxtaposition of many of the Psalms with the events which are supposed to have called them forth. The reader will also find here a copious treatment of the prophecies which speak of David and his kingdom as receiving their complete fulfilment in that of Christ. Dr. Smith handles this period in all these complex relations. The style of the work is simple, clear, and graphic, its arrangement of details is methodical and complete. It is popular and interesting, without being superficial and inaccurate. Dr. Smith is no hero-worshipper, but he gives a fair and faithful picture of the life of David. While he throws no palliation over his obvious and grievous faults, he pays due regard to the nobler features of his character and the sublime piety of his habitual life. It is clear that the many-sided nature of this monarch ought not to be measured by the standard of commonplace humanity. We know of few books that are at once so readable and reliable as the volume before us, and that present the result of so much research in such an attractive form.

Discipline, and other Sermons. By the Rev. CHARLES KINGSLEY. London: Macmillan & Co.

Mr. Kingsley's characteristics as a preacher of sermons are familiar enough admirable directness, simplicity, and earnestness, strong and tender human sympathies, and judicious brevity. A vein of strong genial common sense, moreover, runs through his discourses, and sometimes they are marked by acute discernment and felicitous applications of scriptural instances and principles to the practical experiences of modern life. The fundamental principle of his gospel, which he urges with a never-wearying repetition, is the greatness and blessing of selfsacrifice; into this he resolves the whole doctrine of the Christ, and the whole duty of his disciples. His faults are a kind of dashing inexactness of statement. He cares very little about the critical meaning or the original purpose of a text. He is somewhat loose and hazy in his statement of doctrine, and not infrequently erroneous in his citation of historical and even of scriptural fact. We hardly know which is the greatest solecism, Mr. Kingsley as professor of history, or Mr. Kingsley as a teacher of theology. We must confess that we are far more satisfied with him as novelist and poet. When we read his Professorial Lectures we dismiss all historical solicitude, just as when we read his sermons, we never expect to find light thrown upon theological opinions. We go elsewhere for this, and simply surrender ourselves to the moral and religious impulses which he never fails to give us. He may not make our heads much wiser, but he always makes our hearts better.

Christ is All, and in All; or, several significant similitudes by which the Lord Jesus Christ is described in the Holy Scriptures. Being the substance of many Sermons preached by that Faithful and Useful Servant of Christ, RALPH ROBINSON, late Pastor of Mary Woolnoth, London. London: Richard D. Dickinson.

Another of the reprints of the Puritan theology of the Commonwealth. It consists of fifty-three discourses, setting forth as many Scripture metaphors of the Lord Jesus Christ; and abounds in the ingenious conceits that were so characteristic of the school to which the preacher belonged, as also in their holy fervours. We can hardly imagine modern readers perusing these sermons as a whole; but they are full of rich passages which will be acceptable to devout hearts, and suggestive to preachers. The sermons are strongly commended by Simeon Ash, Edward Calamy, and William Taylor, which on the laudata laudari principle, is a strong presumption of their excellency.

Notes, expository and critical, on Certain British Theories of Morals. By SIMON S. LAURIE, A.M. Edinburgh : Edmonstone and Douglas.

In these Notes' the principles expounded in the author's previous work on the Philosophy of Ethics are applied to the examination of the most important systems of morals from Hobbes to Professor Bain. The reader must not look here for a general criticism of these systems, but of those points only which illustrate the author's principles. The distinctive features of his ethical philosophy consist in the prominence he assigns to the essential difference between transitive and intransitive acts, and the importance of distinguishing pleasures, qualitatively as well as quantitatively. Throughout both his works he lays great stress on the gradation of felicities, a fact which he maintains has been almost entirely overlooked by utilitarians, Mill not excepted. The author himself is neither an intuitionalist nor a utilitarian (although he evidently inclines to the former), but a subjective eudæmonist. He believes that the elements of the reconciliation of a strife between these two systems, which has lasted for more than 2,000 years, is to be found in a non-personal subjective eudæmonism. According to him moral life has its origin in conflict. He maintains the existence of a moral sense, distinct altogether from a sense of interest, but he makes felicity qualitative or quantitative the sole criterion of rightness and duty in conflicting acts and states of the will. In all cases, that which is productive of the greatest felicity, either on the ground of its quality or quantity, will be preferred. The author seems to consider the pleasurable synonymous with the preferable. He therefore uses an old term in an entirely new meaning, and treats duty and pleasure as identical. His criticisms are candid and highly instructive, e.g., those of the views of Bentham, Mill, and Bain. He manifests great aptitude in detecting radical defects, in exposing logical inconsistencies, and in denuding the legitimate tendencies of philosophical systems.

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Twelve Discourses on Subjects connected with the Liturgy and Worship of the Church of England. By C. J. VAUGHAN, D.D. London: Macmillan & Co.

Dr. Vaughan has put forth a second and enlarged edition of his book on the Revision of the Liturgy.' It appeared just after our criticisms of the first edition-in the article on The Book of Common Prayer'— in our last number had gone to press. We regret to say, however, that we have nothing to retract. Dr. Vaughan reproduces the passages that we cited, with one or two verbal alterations, but in their unqualified original sense. We can only regret to see a man, for whom we have so great a respect, adhering to principles of interpretation so untenable, and to principles of morality so questionable. We must refer our readers to our former examination of them.

Conferences with God in the Morning Hours of every day in the Year. By C. C. STURM. Literally Translated from the Fourteenth Edition. Hanover. By a LAYMAN. London: J. T. Hayes.

Many of our readers will be acquainted with the Reflections' of Pastor Sturm,- -a devotional book, popular some half century ago. These 'Conferences' are similar in character-they are short meditations or monologues of about a couple of pages each, suggested by phrases of Scripture. They are characterized by much devout evangelical fervour (sometimes somewhat mystical), and will be very acceptable in moods when sentiment is more suitable than thought.

Ecce Homo. By the Right Hon. W. E. GLADSTONE. London: Strahan & Co.

Mr. Gladstone's papers on 'Ecce Homo' are remarkable chiefly for their authorship. While Lord Derby has given himself to poetry, and Mr. Disraeli to novel-writing, Mr. Gladstone's bent has been towards theology. Unquestionably, if the State has gained a great statesman, the Church has lost a great preacher. It is a matter for congratulation that the foremost statesman of England should be one of its most reverent and pious men. Mr. Gladstone's critique on 'Ecce Homo,' although somewhat expanded, is, like everything that he does, very acute and able. It is a vindication aiming to show that whatever the defects of the book, its positive argument is strongly inimical to scepticism. As to the method of the writer, Mr. Gladstone furnishes the most conclusive defence of it that has yet been advanced-it is virtually, that Christian teaching observes a certain order of succession in its process. Christ did this -the whole line of God's revelation does this, and this is what the author of Ecce Homo' has thought it wise to do. All the objections to it, particular interpretations excepted, resolve themselves into objections to this method. Mr. Gladstone's name will invest Ecce Home' with a fresh attraction.

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London:

Hamilton's PhiloTrübner and Co.

Review of J. S. Mill's Examination of Sir W. sophy. By GEORGE GROTE.

1868.

This pamphlet, which has appeared already in the pages of the Westminster, is chiefly devoted to a laudatory review of Mr. Mill's opinions

and writings in general, and especially of his examination of Sir W. Hamilton's philosophy. The reader of Grote's Plato need not be informed that the reviewer and the author reviewed are of the same creed and school of thought. They agree on nearly all important points, such as the nature and functions of logic, causality, and the freedom of the will. Mr. Grote's criticism, however, of the points on which they differ is acute, clear, and instructive, as for example, Mr. Mill's assertion that the infinite' in the abstract has no meaning, or, if it has, can only express a farrago of contradictions,' comprehending under it the infinitely good and the infinitely bad, the infinitely wise and the infinitely foolish, &c., leads Mr. Grote to reply that, if the infinite includes a farrago of contradictions,' so does the finite, of which it is a negation. He maintains that both are intelligible, and partially apprehended by the mind, conjointly and in contrast. We feel sure that this statement is much nearer the truth. The knowable is not absolutely known any more than the so-called unknowable. All knowledge is relative; time and space matter and force, the ego and non-ego, are only relatively known. In saying, therefore, that we do not know God absolutely, we are only asserting what is true of all objects of knowledge. Our knowledge of Him is the same in kind as our knowledge of the material world. Our knowledge of the infinite and of the finite is the same. The only other exception of any importance is made to Mr. Mill's estimate of general notions. If Mr. Grote does not manifest as much acumen and profundity of thought as Mr. Mill, he frequently shows greater perspecuity of thinking, and more accuracy in the use of terms. The review deserves a careful reading, both on account of its spirit and power. It fully justifies the concluding words, Amicus Hamilton, magis amicus Mill, amica ante 'omnes philosophia.'

Sophoclis Ajax. Edited by R. C. JEBB, M.A. London: Rivingtons.

The Ajax is one of the sublimest compositions of antiquity. There is no play of the great tragedians which exhibits higher skill in the arrangement of its terrible materials and presents richer ethical lessons. The spotless hero, by his overweening spirit, of which the god-sent frenzy is the punishment, is involved in hopeless ruin and disgrace, out of which suicide is the only escape. The play furnishes a comment on the superiority of φρόνησις to ανδρία, the two constituent elements of dpern, and presents in a concise and vivid form the chief lessons of the Iliad and Odyssey, the theme of the former being the incitement of fate by the overweening and fearless, the theme of the latter, the final triumph of wise self-restraint. The moral of the play is conveyed in the words of Agamemnon to Teucer, vv. 1250-1252, It is not the burly nor the broad-shouldered men that are safest, but the prudent conquer ' in every field.' We have probably pourtrayed in the character of the hero, one which is altogether unique, a general picture of humanity, as seen by the Greek mind, in its relation to superhuman powers. Mr. Jebb presents us with a brief history of the Ajacian legends in their growth and treatment by different poets, Greek and Roman, from Homer down to Pacuvius and Attius. The notes are characterized by all the excellen cies of his edition of the Electra. These two are, in our opinion, the best of the series which have hitherto appeared. Many instances might be adduced of successful renderings and apt illustrations of passages, especially by parallel expressions from other plays. We unhesitatingly recommend it to every one in need of a good edition of the play.

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Neuordnungen und Gesetze für die höhren Schulen in Preussen. (Regulations and Laws relating to the Higher Schools of Prussia). Herausgegeben von Dr. L. WIESE. Berlin: Wiegaudt & Grieben. London: Asher & Co. 1867.

Dr. Wiese, the editor of the above work, stands at the head of the department, which has to do with the higher schools of Prussia; this circumstance alone constitutes him an authority on the matters to which his book refers; but he is also a man of great insight in educational questions, as he showed in a volume of letters on English schools published many years ago. The regulations and laws are arranged in ten chapters, with the following headings:-(1.) The legal basis of the Higher Schools, .e., in public law and in the Constitution. (2.) The various kinds of Higher Schools and their Inspectors, with the duties of the latter. (3.) Their establishment and maintenance. (4.) Course of instruction:-general course, special courses, individual subjects. (5.) Education and discipline. (6.) Various arrangements and general principles laid down for the Higher Schools. (7.) Examinations and testimonials. (8.) The value of the testimonials in relation to public matters, both civil and military. (9.) Public schools with boarders-Protestant and Catholic. (10.) Specimens of school statutes, instructions for Inspectors, forms of vocation for Directors and Teachers, and the rules of various Institutions.

An appendix relates to schools for the superior classes of girls. So far as the method and spirit of the Prussian higher school system can be learnt from laws and regulations, they can be learnt from Dr. Wiese's book. At a time like the present when the subject of education is under so much discussion, and in consequence of the events of 1866, Prussian Institutions are regarded by many people with so much admiration, a collection like the above will be very welcome to those who are able to make use of it. If we were writing an article on the question of education we should have much to say in the way of criticism of the Prussian system, suggested both by the laws relating thereto and by our own observation. Some of the regulations would almost drive parents, teachers and pupils crazy in England. The school hours are also, to our own mind, much too long. We content ourselves at present with commending the work to the careful attention of our readers.

Das Buch der Richter. Mit besonderer Rücksicht auf Geschichte seiner Auslegung und Kirchlichen Verwendung erklärt von Dr. J. Bachmann. (The Book of Judges interpreted with special references to the History of its Exposition and Ecclesiastical Use.) Berlin: Wiegandt & Grieben. London: Asher & Co. 1867.

Dr. Bachmann is professor of theology at the University of Rostock, and his commentary is written from the thoroughly orthodox point of view of the Lutheran Faculty, of which he is a member. In this respect he is at one with Drs. Keil and Delitzsch, whose series of commentaries on the Old Testament includes also one on the Book of Judges. The present volume comprises prolegomena on (1.) The compass and limits of the period of the Judges (2) Its position and significance in the Old Testament History: (3.) Its religious, political and moral features: