predict; but that those who carefully study it will find it highly profitable, we cannot for a moment doubt. Dr Brown's powers of accurate and vigorous thinking, his attainments in biblical and theological science, his vast stores of reading, his deep and manly riety-matured by years and experience, and mellowed by many and varied trials-are all such as to render a work of this kind from his pen one of no ordinary interest and value; and we cannot hesitate, therefore, confidently to recommend it to all classes of our readers.

It would be vain to attempt, within the limits to which we must confine ourselves, to give any thing like an analysis of the three portly volumes in which these discourses are contained; and hardly less fu tile to condescend on particular discourses, and supply our readers with a summary of them. It were easy, indeed, to mention a number of discourses which have particularly struck us, as surpassingly rich in the statement and enforcement of important evangelical doctrine or practice. We may mention, among others, that on the peculiar privileges of Christians, and that on their condition and duties "as free," and yet the servants of God:" also the discussions on the text, "Honour all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, honour the king;" and " the sufferings of Christ as an encouragement to Christians suffering in his cause.' But in making selections we would hardly be doing justice to those omitted; for in few works of such a compass, and so great variety of topics, will there be found such an equal and sustained excellence from the beginning to the end.

as

on

وو

The following is a specimen of Dr Brown's mode of dividing and preparing a subject for discussion and illustration. On chap. i. 6-9,-after remarking that the passage contains a direct assertion and a parenthetical statement; and that the direct assertion, though expressed in the present time, refers to the future, he goes on to say: "The meaning of the apostle would have been more evident to an English reader, had the assertion been rendered in the future time; "in which time,' i. e. in the last time, ye shall greatly rejoice-(though now for a season, since it is needful, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations; that the trial of your faith, which is more precious than that of gold which perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found to praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ: whom, not seeing him, but believing on him, ye love, though ye have not seen him)-ye shall rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls."-"The passage thus interpreted, contains a beautiful and instructive comparison,

or rather contrast, of the state of Christians in the present and in the last time, on earth and in heaven. The points of comparison or contrast are the following:-I. Now and here, Christ, the great object of their affection, is not bodily present with them, is but imperfectly known by them, and all their knowledge of and intercourse with him is by means of faith: Then and there he will be bodily present with them, intimately known by them, and their knowledge and intercourse will be direct and immediate. II. Now and here, they are exposed to manifold trials: Then and there, they will enjoy the glorious results of these trials. III. Now and here, complete salvation is a subject of faith and hope: Then and there, it shall be the subject of enjoyment. IV. Now and here, they are for a season in heaviness: Then and there, they greatly rejoice; they rejoice with a joy unspeakable and full of glory."

Generally, however, his plan is less formal than this, as, "On the sufferings of Christ," &c.; in which he treats,-First, Of the illustrious sufferer; Secondly, Of his sufferings; Thirdly, Of the nature of his sufferings; Fourthly, Of the design of his sufferings; and, Fifthly, Of the consequences of his sufferings, as stated in the text, and fitted to serve the purpose for which they are brought forward by the apostle.-In this discourse, the author necessarily has to discuss that crux criticorum, the "spirits in prison." In this part of the discourse, more than, perhaps, in any other part of the work, we have a specimen of Dr Brown's critical sagacity, in the manner in which he mentions and sets aside the more common interpretations which have been adopted. His own view is, that the spirits in prison are spiritually captive men, to whom Christ, quickened in spirit or invested with spiritual life and power, went, by his spirit and by his messengers, to proclaim liberty, and announce the opening of the prison, "bringing out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sat in darkness out of the prisonhouse." To this discourse is appended an interesting discussion on the facts of Old Testament history alluded to in the passage.

Perhaps some of the most practically useful of these discourses are those in which the relative duties of Christian masters and servants, husbands and wives, office-bearers and members of the church, are treated of. The discussions on the last of these subjects are worthy of the attention of all the elders-both teaching and ruling elders of our church. Notwithstanding the excellent treatises, recently published on the Christian eldership, they will find many things here, on the qualifications, the duties, and the spirit both of rulers and ruled, not to be found

in such treatises, and all instinct with the authority and spirit of the great Master. How important would it be that the following sentiment, however well known it may be, were deeply engraved on the conscience of every ruler, and scrupulously acted on: "The fundamental part of this (the elder's) duty, so far as the society is concerned, and without the careful performance of which, the other duties, whether to the society or its members, can only be very unsatisfactorily performed, is to take care that it be composed of the right materials." "Nothing can be plainer from the New Testament than this, that though Christian churches are the grand means for converting the world, the apparent conversion of the worldling must precede, not follow, his admission into the church. The great ends to be gained by Christian churches, whether in reference to their Lord, as living manifestations of his truth, and holiness, and grace; or in reference to their members, edification in knowledge, faith, love, and christian excellence and usefulness generally; or in reference to the world, lying under the wicked one-their conviction and conversion will be gained just in the degree in which these societies are formed of men who really know and believe the truth, and have felt its transforming efficacy." How obvious must it be, that only when such is the composition of the church, it can be natural or possible to expect the members to perform their duties to the elders, as well as to the head of the whole body? Are these members expected to render all due submission to the eldership as to an ordinance of Christ? Are they to honour them, and esteem them very highly in love, for their works' sake? Are they to be submissive to them, especially when they themselves are subjects of church discipline, and do all they can to aid the elders in promoting the purity and order of the church? Are they to be mutually subject to each other, and to be "clothed with humility," remembering that "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble?" How irrational, how absurd to expect all this, and much more, of one, however moral, who has never submitted himself to Christ, but remains a child of disobedience, an enemy of the cross of Christ, a proud rebel against God!

But as we have said, it would be vain, in a short notice like this, to condescend on particular parts or subjects of an exposition so extensive, so full, so varied, and where each is treated with great plainness, but also with propriety and force. The passages we had marked for quotation, characteristic of Dr Brown's style of expounding or philosophizing on sacred topics, of expanding or compressing his illustrations, or of ap

All

pealing to the consciences of his hearers and readers,-must also be left out. we can do further is, to mention one or two of Dr B.'s principal characteristics as a preacher and a divine.-And we mention soundness in the faith, not as particularly characteristic of him-for, we trust, it is not less so of all the ministers and preachers of our body-but we mention it as undoubted, and as the first and foremost of his excellencies. Dr B.'s theology, indeed, is (if we may discriminate) that of the Scriptures rather than of the schools: he. does not always express himself in the set language of the systems; but he is, above most men, so guarded, and considerate, and scrupulous, in all he says or writes-he is so profoundly acquainted with his Bible, and has so profoundly considered all his opinions in the light of it--he so seldom deals in matters of doubtful disputation or questionable casuistry; and never dogmatizes without a plain dictate of inspiration to support and authorize him:-this is so much his character as a preacher and as a theologian, that what was said of Leighton may safely be said of him,-" No one can exceed him in scriptural orthodoxy."

In connexion with this may be mentioned, the clearness of his views on all subjects which he discusses. His style

You

is sometimes sufficiently complicated and parenthetical, though, in these volumes, this has struck us less; but his language is always plain and unpretending, and his thought clear and impressive. always know what he means; there is no need of re-perusing and reflecting on what. you have read or heard from him, in order to apprehend the sense. That you cannot miss; and as it is generally as important as it is plain, and as forcibly stated and satisfactorily supported by Scripture, as it is important, it comes home, therefore, with a degree of conviction and power which lodges it in the memory at least, if not in the heart and conscience. This may tend, perhaps, in some instances, to give Dr Brown's statements an air of authority, not to be relished by some; but it is an authority which every preacher should, after the example of his great Master, seek; and which, when backed by scripture, he should never be afraid or ashamed to display. He should speak "as one having authority, and not as the scribes." This, in Dr Brown's case, especially when accompanied with his own correct and forcible elocution, has been, we doubt not, a main element of his acceptability and success as a preacher.

We cannot but notice, as a very distinguishing characteristic of these discourses, the fulness and appropriateness of Scripture quotation. We have heard it remarked in

depreciation of a preacher of the gospel, that "he knew nothing but his Bible." This cannot be said of Dr B.; but it is plain that, while he knows much more of books generally, and of good books in particular, than most men, he is at the same time best acquainted with the best of all books. Many of our readers will remember the peculiar propriety with which Dr Brown's

Dr

Fidus Achates," the late Dr Balmer, quoted and applied scripture. Dr Brown is not behind him in this suitable and valuable accomplishment of a preacher of the word, though there be a difference. Balmer excelled in the happy accommodation-Dr Brown excels in the authoritative application, of scripture. Dr Balmer cast the radiant beauty of scripture over his sentiments, giving them tenfold attractiveness-Dr Brown works the very thought and language of scripture into his, giving them tenfold power. Dr Balmer embroidered the lovely creations of his mind with suitable scriptures-Dr Brown weaves them into his. In the one case, beauty is the more distinctive result-in the other, force. Every page, almost, of this exposition, would furnish abundant illustration of the power of the author in the use of the words of the Spirit, and of the manner in which he inweaves them into his own composition, making it, as has been beautifully said, "a golden weft thickly studded with precious stones, from that mine," and in dicating such an acquaintance with scripture as is seldom indeed to be met with. And this is not all the truth about the author's familiarity with the lively oracles. You find not seldom in his quotations, either by the use made of them, or by a parenthetical explanation appended, or by a more formal comment, a new and valuable light thrown on the meaning,--in fact, an interpretation given to them, as important as it is unexpected. Multitudes of instances of this occur in these volumes. Seldom, indeed, does the author make but a passing use of a passage, without, if the case admit of it, throwing on it some new interest of this kind; so that his book be comes the more valuable to the student of Scripture, and also the more edifying to every child of God.

One more characteristic feature of these volumes, may be noticed-and it is also a characteristic of the whole of Dr B.'s ministry-the frequency with which he presents to the reader a short, comprehensive, impressive, view of the gospel salvation. We do not know how many such exhibitions of the "saving truth" we could find in this work-all harmonious with each other, all in fact "the same things;" yet, being presented in different connexions and for different pur

poses, far from being "vain repetitions," as far as one limpid stream or living fountain is from being a vain repetition of another. How useful they must be we need not say; this is another point in which the word of God at once vindicates and exemplifies that which, to many classes of hearers and readers, is not likely to be so palatable as it is fitted to be profitable.

We cannot conclude without mentioning the seven admirable discourses on different highly interesting and important subjects, contained in the third volume. The two sermons on "the Son of man and his going" (Matt. xxvi. 24; Luke xxii. 22), are truly noble discourses. They are perhaps more indicative of a fine and powerful imagination than any other of Dr Brown's publications; and show us that, if he does not often give scope to it-if, in fact, he aims too much at being pointed and useful to be very imaginative, it is not because he could not soar. We have in our mind's eye, a late father of the Secession Church, and father of a late honoured missionary, who was admired by all who knew him for his fine genius-his sanctified imagination. These discourses are just such as he might have preached, bating a slight eccentricity of thought into which he might have occasionally run, but from which all Dr B.'s habits of mind and study restrain him. But if these be noble sermons for lofty and impressive thought, those which follow on the duty of "Keeping ourselves in the love of God," &c., are rich in scriptural and experimental reflection, and in no ordinary degree fitted to edify and improve the christian. The last discourse-a lecture on "the details and results of the public ministry of Jesus Christ,"'-was delivered at the opening of the Divinity Hall last year, and is full of sound philosophy, both in regard to the evidences and contents of the gospel testimony, and the results of our Lord's own exhibition of that testimony.

We only add that these volumes have been got up with great care, though a few unimportant errata have occurred in the printing. They are preceded by a new translation of the Epistle, in which the author has chiefly aimed at giving a literal version, and to which many valuable notes are added. The tables and indices given, to enable the reader to refer at any time to any subject, are fitted to be extremely use-ful; especially that (of which we do not remember ever seeing a counterpart) prefixed to each volume, "for finding out the exposition of any verse or clause" in the epistle. This, with the full table of contents, and the indices of subjects, texts remarked on, &c., must have cost very much labour, and is fitted to make the work exceedingly valuable as one of reference

May the Divine Head of the church smile upon this effort to promote his honour and cause! And may the word of the Lordthe truth as it is in Jesus,-by means of this valuable exposition, have the more "free course, and be glorified!"

The FATHERS and FOUNDERS of the UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. History of the Origin of the Secession. By the Rev. ANDREW THOMSON, Edinburgh.-An Account of the Rise of the Relief Church. By the Rev. Dr STRUTHERS, Glasgow.

Edinburgh: A. Fullarton & Co.

THE desire to rescue from oblivion the halfforgotten works of our forefathers, which has been so strikingly developed of late years, has not always been gratified in the most judicious manner. The wholesale republication of the writings, either historical or theological, of former ages, is not calculated to be either useful or popular; and we are accordingly not at all surprised to learn, that several societies which have been instituted for this purpose are rapidly falling to pieces. The projectors of the present series have avoided the rock on which others have made shipwreck, and have judiciously limited themselves to selections from the more important productions of the fathers of the United Presbyterian Church; at the same time varying these by original works illustrative of the character of the writers, and of the time in which they lived. The first volume of the series is now before us; it is a production of first-rate excellence; and if the volumes which are to follow fulfil the promise thus held out, we venture to predict that the undertaking will meet with brilliant success.

Mr Thomson's sketch of the origin of the Secession Church, which occupies somewhat more than half the volume, displays all the author's characteristic excellencies, and is clear, elegant, succinct, and comprehensive. We have read with peculiar delight the brief, yet perspicuous and most complete, account of the Marrow controversy. Such sketches as these, as the author justly remarks in his preface, though neither fitted nor designed to supersede more full and elaborate narratives, yet present the subject in a form so condensed as to be capable of being read by all, and at a price so low as to be capable of being purchased by all.

The narrative of Dr Struthers is worthy of his high reputation as the historian of the Relief Church, and displays on a miniature scale all the fidelity and spirit of the full-length portrait. The style is terse and pointed; and the narrative is enriched by many profound philosophical remarks,

never needlessly intruded, and always arising naturally out of the events related. As a specimen of the work, we select the description given of Boston's first sacrament after leaving the communion of the Established Church:

mense.

The

"The first time Boston dispensed the sacrament the concourse of people was imThe town on Saturday was crowded with strangers from Edinburgh, from beyond the Forth, from the fertile vale of the Merse, and from the upland districts to the west, where father and son had so long laboured with so much acceptance. According to the practice of that part of the country at that period, the ordinance was to be dispensed in the open air. spot fixed on was a little holm called the Ana, on the banks of the Jed, and close by the town. It was as if art and nature had made it for the purpose to which it was that day to be devoted. It is shaped like a parallelogram. At the one end is the access to it from the public road. Along the one side flows the rippling Jed; along the other a long line of orchards and trees, shutting out the view of the town; at the other end or bottom, though it is nearly level, there rises a high precipitous brae with red scaurs from the shooting down of the earth, and here and there a few trees struggling to hold their position in its almost perpendicular face. The Jed strikes the face of the brae, and is turned away nearly at a right angle, and escapes by a concealed outlet covered by trees with their leafy shade. At the base of this natural wall or brae, a temporary pulpit was erected. The communion-tables stretched out from it in two long rows, covered with linen white as

snow.

The day was all that man could wish. The sun shed down his sweet lustre from a forenoon sky without a cloud. The little vale was filled like the area of an immense cathedral. The face of the almost perpendicular rising ground behind the pulpit, was studded over with parties who could find the root of a tree or a projection on which to fix themselves. There was no bustle, but a calm solemnity becoming the sacred day, and the simple solemn service in which they were to be employed. Every head was uncovered when Mr Boston, attended by his elders and the magistrates of the place, walked on to his allotted station, from whence he, unaided, was to dispense among all these thousands the bread of life. The wide dome of heaven spread over his head, made him feel that he was worshipping in a nobler temple than was ever constructed by the hands of man. smile of a gracious Master sustained him. The sacrament on the Ana is a day which children, then unborn, have learned to talk of with rapture; and the stranger is still

The

taken to the spot where Boston and his people first pledged their love to each other over the memorials of a bleeding Saviour." We cordially recommend the volume to the attention of our readers, and trust that it will receive the extensive circulation which it deserves.

SABBATH "TRACTS FOR THE TIMES." THE publication of this valuable series of tracts still proceeds; and many of them have already obtained a very extensive circulation. Several of those which were first issued were most generously sent by post to every minister in the United Kingdom; and we know of three, at least, which have been transmitted to the members of both Houses of Parliament. The adoption of two of the series by the London Tract Society has brought into play a new agency of circulation; while the translation of some of them into various continental languages, and their wide circulation, especially in Germany and Switzerland, is bringing the great question of the Sabbath before the continental churches, and leading serious men to new scriptural inquiry, bringing them to more rigid and scriptural views. We know of several clergymen of the Church of England, who having hitherto held by Paley's plausible but untenable hypothesis, have confessed themselves converts to the views of Sabbath obligation and observance, which it is the design of these tracts to expound and enforce. While beneficial influence has thus been exerted on the minds that are to teach others, it is pleasing to know that extracts from these short essays have meanwhile been circulated in tens of thousands among the masses of our population; and that there are villages, and even towns, in which copies have been supplied to every family. Will our readers believe that all this is the fruit, not of the combined energies of an Alliance, but of the benevolent enterprise of one man?

It is certainly not the least gratifying result of the proposal of these tracts, that more than one of the authors engaged to prepare one of the series has almost involuntarily been drawn, while only intending a tract, into the production of a volume. This was the case with the excellent Mr Jordan of Enstone, who has given to the world a treatise of much acuteness and earnestness, that, we rejoice to learn, is doing effectual service in the Church of England, of which he is himself a clergyman and an ornament. And we have now before us another volume by Dr Hamilton of Leeds, having much the same literary origin. Its title is, "Horæ et Vindicia Sabbaticæ; or, Familiar Disquisitions on the Revealed Sabbath."

The respected and justly-renowned author tell us in his preface, that he "was invited to co-operate with the zealous advocates and assertors of the Sabbath in Scotland. The theme assigned to him he was unable to compress according to the original plan. Instead of penning a tract, he has been carried out to fill a small volume." We are far from regretting this expansion of thought upon a loved and congenial theme. No work that has ever come from our author's

prolific pen-from his " 'Nuga Literariæ to his elaborate work on the "Eternity of Future Punishments "-affords a more favourable reflection of his genius and piety. There are passages in the book that remind us of the quaint felicities of Bishop Hall and others, that rise from eloquence into poetry, and remind us of some of the rich conceits of old George Herbert. We like the fine old Puritan spirit that breathes throughout the volume, and trust that it reflects the spirit and theology of English Congregationalists generally.

The PROPHECIES of ISAIAH, Earlier and Later. By JOSEPH ADDISON ALEXANDER, Professor in the Theological Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey. Reprinted under the editorial superintendence of JOIN EADIE, LL.D., Professor of Biblical Literature to the United Presbyterian Church. 8vo. pp. 968.

Glasgow: W. Collins.

THE evangelical churches of Britain and America have begun to reap precious fruit from their reviving taste for exegetical study. For a long time, they seemed to look upon the critical investigation of scripture, as they regarded geology and the modern astronomy, with strong disfavour, as branches of inquiry that were hostile rather than otherwise to a sound and settled faith in Christ; and the Rationalists of Germany, being left to appropriate almost exclusively to themselves this field of study, made it yield fruit by no means pleasing or nutritive to evangelical piety. But like geology and astronomy, which though for a while they were each paraded by the infidel as a formal demonstration of the falsehood of the Bible, were discovered, on the application of patient and scripturally enlightened research, to be not only in harmony with inspiration, but illustrative and corroborative of its doctrines; so the application of a sound exegesis has developed hidden beauties in the style of the inspired writers has brought out interesting illus trations of vital truth-and has disclosed veins of internal evidence which the simple faith of the gospel has explored with joy and profit.

We in Great Britain are deeply indebted