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wards made by the disciples as they go
downstairs, when their reverence for their
But for the
master has been hurt.
most part the inquirers are reverential,
if their inquiries be not very profound.
Here are are a few samples of Simeon's
talk on these occasions:-

"I once, on a journey to London,
twenty-five years ago, saw a shepherd
who had followed a stray sheep a long
way. When he came up with it, he
lifted up his heavy staff, and I thought he
was irritated, and was about to strike it
down. The poor sheep was hedged up,
and knew not which way to turn, and
cowered from the blow; and my feelings
were roused to anger at the expected
But instead of a
brutality of the man.
blow, the shepherd gently lowered the
staff, and I saw it had a crook at the end,
with which he hooked the sheep and
caught it safe. The incident made an
indelible impression upon my mind; and
I never now read the confession,We
have erred and strayed like lost sheep,'
without its recurring to my thoughts. It
was a beautiful illustration of God's
dealings with sinners."

Again, speaking of Divine knowledge: "But all this knowledge, discerned and tasted by us, has its end for which God is to fill us with it. It is, 'That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.' Look at a balloon; at first it lies on the ground a shapeless and moveless heap of silk. It is slowly inflated with a buoyant gas, and begins to swell and swell scarce perceptibly; and its upper part begins to heave and mount upwards. At last it disdains to touch the ground at all, and rises upwards, but is tied down to the earth with many cords; and the gas within makes it heave, and writhe, and struggle from side to side, endeavouring to get loose. A cord is cut, and it only struggles more violently; another and another is cut, and its efforts to be free are redoubled; at last, every cord is severed, and it soars away to heaven. Such is the natural effect of our being filled with this knowledge of God's will in all wisdom and spiritual perception. It causes us to walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.' It gives a distaste for the world; the inanimate becomes animated; and, as tie after tie is cut, the soul struggles more and more heavenward, until the last tie is cut, and we mount to

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There, then, is the reason why glory. the Apostle prays, did not cease to pray, for the saints at Colosse. And we ought to have this object in our mind when we pray for the knowledge of God's will." As to recreation, he remarks:

"We are made with bodies as well as souls, and our bodies need exercise and recreation. I see no harm in young persons engaging in a game of tennis, or taking horseback exercise, and enjoying it keenly; provided it be done with an eye to God's glory, and in a praying spirit, they should take their recreation with all their might. I think I could enjoy a game of tennis to-day, were I younger. My rides have ever been of the greatest delight to me. Few have more enjoyment in their Bible than I have in my rides; it is my season of intercession for all my dear absent friends, and I ramble over the world without interruption. We may enjoy any recreation which is lawful and expedient; for some lawful recreations are yet not expedient, and some which are expedient for others are not so for a clergyman. Serve God in your recreations, and enjoy Him; but we are too often, like the Jews or like the monks, afraid of God's blessings. We have the spirit of touch not, taste not, handle 'God giveth not,' but this is wrong. us richly all things to enjoy' (1 Tim. vi. Thus, a 17); and we ought to do so. parent may, without idolatry, enjoy his children, always having an eye to God. Dick's Christian Philosopher' is a most admirable and rich little book, showing how to enjoy God in everything. For our rule should be to enjoy God in everything; to feel the delight of affluence, science, friends, recreations, children-in fact, of everything, as coming to us from God, who gives it sweetness, and for whose sake and glory it is. And the counterpart of that rule should be to enjoy everything in God, and, if we are deprived of outward blessings, to feel that God is wealth, then God is all to us. wisdom, friends, relatives, enjoyment, all to us. Enjoy His fulness."

Speaking on the words, "The Lord giveth wisdom," he observed :

-:

"The inward teaching of God is the only way in which our natural hearts can be come enlightened to the realities which the Bible reveals; for we cannot otherwise receive, nor even know, the things of the Spirit of God, because they are spiritually We may perdiscerned.--1 Cor. ii. 14. haps fully understand them with our minds; but who among us, without that

teaching, will apply them to our souls, or perceive how they belong to us, and are adapted to our every necessity? Here is a sun-dial standing open on the grassplot; the hours of the day are marked upon it most accurately to tell whether it be morning or midday or eventide. Go and see what o'clock it is. There are the hours, and there is the gnomon, shaped with unerring exactness, to tell you the true time to a minute. You stand and pore over it in vain; it does not tell you what o'clock it is; and you may stand there till night comes, for it is a dark and cloudy day. One thing only is wanting the sunbeam from the sky. But see! the cloud divides; the sunshine touches the dial; and that, which else you could not have known, is manifested to you in a moment. The dial, without any change in it, and without any miracle, instantly teaches you what you really need to know, yet could not have known but for the gleam of sunshine."

We could give many more such specimens of "Simeon's Table Talk," plain, sensible, shrewd, useful, and often striking observations, inspired with the spirit of evangelical piety; and there is often a breadth of view and a general range of human sympathy, and an independence of conventional prejudices in the good man's conversations, not at all common at the time in that school of theologians to which Simeon was considered to belong.

This volume altogether is a very interesting one; and though we cannot but condemn the narrow sectarian spirit of the author in some of his observationsfor, like many high churchmen who look haughtily on the sects, he has much of the essence of sectarianism in himself we can speak well of the volume on the whole. We have only room enough left

for the following sketch of the hero of the book:

"There was about Mr. Simeon the courtly polish of the old school. Those who knew him intimately, will also remember numberless little occasions, when it was impossible not to observe that affectionate cheerfulness and gentlemanly bearing, that manly patience, that inflexible uprightness, that common sense and tact, which at once commanded the those around. Not even the occasional, respect and conciliated the good-will of quickly passing hastiness of his temper, nor yet the often amusing peculiarities of his manner, could permanently injure the acquired over those around him. An ininfluence which, without seeking it, he

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timate friend would sometimes be admitted from severe illness. It is not easy to forto his room, even when he was suffering get the appearance of the aged servant of God, when labouring under an agonizing ing on his sofa, swaying himself to and fit of gout or other illness, half reclinfro, holding his anguished leg, while perspiration stood on his brow from the pain; yet saying playfully, and with a beaming smile, My brother, you see I vain to find a position in which the gout am chastened with strong pain, trying in will let my leg be easy; but my sad, discontented leg is like a scourged soldier, hit high, hit low, it will not be satisfied. Come, sit you down-at a due distance, mind-and tell me how,' &c.; and then with the tear in his brimming eye, he would break out in his peculiar way, and pour forth his humble confidence in his heavenly Father's love and tenderness; his grateful sense of the alleviations sent to mitigate the sharpness of the chastisement; and his glad comfort in looking forward to the time when sorrow, and sighing, and pain, and the curse would be at an end, and when we should be with the Lord for ever."

The Old Lieutenant and His Son.* WE certainly owe, and we humbly make an apology to two friends in green, square-built, and with maritime badges stamped on their backs in gold, for having kept them so long without one • "The Old Lieutenant and His Son." By the Editor of "Good Words." (London: Strahan.)

VOL. XLI.

word of notice, especially as they afforded us, several weeks ago, the highest gratification by their simple story, winning manners, and good words. "The Old Lieutenant and His Son" are worthy of the acquaintance of all the good and wise. It will make them wiser and better. And as for those who are not good and

D

wise, it will be their own fault if they continue as they are, after knowing the two worthies we now, with sentiments of admiring friendship, beg to introduce to them.

Genius is not always genial. Too often it meets us with haughty scowls, contemptuous sneers, or sardonic smiles; but in this book by "the editor of Good Words,' it meets us with loving looks, eyes full of tender manliness, lips on which the law of kindness dwells, and a grasp of the hand, firm and hearty, which puts you at your ease as soon as you feel it. Then, moreover, geniality is not always accompanied by earnestness. Good-natured minds, full of marvellous power, are sometimes lamentably indifferent to truth and righteousness; but the writer of this volume never trims, and never forgets his responsibilities to God He fights throughout the battle of right against wrong; religion against irreligion; faith against scepticism; and Christ against the world, with all the valour and fire of an old British

and man.

sailor.

The work is not a novel; it can hardly be said to have any plot in it. People

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judgments of men who were disposed to
condemn him because he could not ex-
press himself in their fashion, or of men
who forgot that there are those who, by
reason of untoward circumstances which
attended their early upbringing, must
yet speak and think in advanced years as
children in knowledge,-never having
reached that Christian manhood when
But I
childish things are put away.
believe the captain, after all, had more of
this manhood than any one suspected,
though its growth was rather stunted by
the storms he had encountered. He was
strong in his simplicity, truth, and love,
and was guided in his home teaching by
two great principles. The one was, that
a lie, in every variety, was specially of
the devil. He was, therefore, uncom-
promisingly intolerant of all falsehood,
from the palpable black substance of the
lie direct, on through every shade and
shadow, to the least prevarication or want
of open, transparent truth. I really don't
Both
believe young Ned ever told a lie.
would not have survived such a disaster;
old or young Ned must have perished.
The other grand principle of the captain's
education was, Fear God, and do what is
right; often adding, with great emphasis,
and then defy the devil."

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We do not remember anybody in the book exactly of the type we meet with in the religious novels patronized by cer

who are fond of the hottest curry of tain schools; and we like it all the better romance, as commonly served up in the for that. Scenes on shipboard, converthree volumes of certain fashionable pub-sations among the sailors, attempts at lishers, will find the "Old Lieutenant But for and His Son" rather insipid. delineation of character, and clear, earnest, useful talk, it is from beginning to end first-rate. We like both father and

son-to use an expression of a friend of ours-immensely. Here they are:

"Ned's religious education, as it is termed, was perhaps not cut and squared in the exact pattern of what often passes under that name. Yet it had its own peculiar excellences. The captain's theological knowledge was not, as may be supposed, profound. But there were, nevertheless, a thousand truths moving to and fro in that bald head, without order or method, although he could not deliver them over to the tongue. How one of our scientific infants would have puzzled him! But there was a light too, and peace in that heart, which shone in his face, and was felt in his mind, and spread an atmosphere of gentle goodness and genuine truth about him; such as could not be disturbed by the harsh

doing good, the discipline of a rough rude way of living, sin and its sorrows, and how God brings rude wayward creatures to Himself-are admirably described, with all the truthfulness of nature, fact, and actual life. We cannot resist the temptation to quote the following sample of the way of instructing his shipmates, adopted by Ned, the “ Old Lieutenant's Son":

It was

"The first portion of Scripture which was selected was the voyage of St. Paul, recorded in the 27th chapter of the book of Acts, which he read, explaining, as he was able to do, some of the proper names and less familiar phrases. deeply interesting to watch the men's faces, and hear their remarks. The whole narrative was to them as real as that of any voyage which had taken place in their own time. The interest got so great, that Ned had to borrow an atlas from the captain, and show the ship's course; a favour which Salmond gave with a growl, asking what had an atlas to do with the

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Bible; and remarking that they might as well take a compass into the pulpit.' By the time Ned came to the thirty-third verse, the men were eager to hear the end of the story. And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing. Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not a hair fall from the head of any of you. And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat. Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat. And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls. And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.' Wilson observed, 'Well, I'm glad I was not on board of her. It must have been a wild job, with a leaky ship, a cargo of wheat-shifting too, no doubt-and two hundred and seventy-six souls on board, and she riding by four anchors off a lee-shore in a Levanter! Now, Fleming, as you are up to the Bible, tell me, was that man Paul a regular parson?' 'He was a holy apostle, Wilson,' replied Fleming. That is a parson, is it?' continued Wilson. 'In course he was,' said Lamont. Pity me, Wilson, ye surely hae heard o' the Apostle Paul?' Perhaps I have, as well as you,' said Wilson; but what I

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ax is, was he what we call a parson? For if so, he was not like any that ever I know'd of.' In what way?' asked Lamont. 'Because the most of them chaps I have sailed with, I'm blest if they weren't fine gentlemen, rigged out with black coats that could not stand salt water and the ship's company. Now that man was all alive, I say, and fit for a quarter-deck.' What do you mean?' said Lamont. I meant as how he got rations served out to all hands, for'ard as well as aft, like a man, and kept a bright look-out for the crew, and for the passengers and sogers. And what I say is this, that he was an outer-and-outer! A right good fellow he must have been, when the sea was a washing over that old tub in a gale of wind before break of day, on a lee-shore, for him to rise up in that turmendous crowd of passengers, and to say grace as peaceful as if he was in a church; I say he was a tip-topper, and no mistake; and a man I'd hear preach, I would. Go on, Ned, I want to hear how they got along. It's first-rate.' said Ned, if you would listen to his preaching, I can read you many of his sermons, for there are many of them here.'"

'Well,'

This is capital. We could say and quote much more of a like kind, but time and space forbid; and we can only add, that this is one of the healthiest works of fiction we have ever met with.

Brief Notices of Books.

The Gentile and the Jew in the Courts of the Temple of Christ: an Introduction to the History of Christianity. From the German of J. J. 1. Dollinger, by N. DARNELL, M.A. 2 Vols. (London: Longman.)-It is curious to observe the changes that from time to time come over the spirit of historical inquiry. Some time ago, in presenting the moral and religious aspect of the teachings and habits of the ancients, it was common to find only one unmitigated spectacle of ignorance, folly, vice, and crime. The results so presented were employed for controversial purposes in the warfare against deists. Of late a different temper has been exhibited in the treatment of the old pagan world. Gleams of light are recognised amidst the darkness words of wisdom are found besides falsehoods and barren speculations. Much

in old heathendom is discovered which turns out to be "an unconscious prophecy of Christianity." Perhaps of late the tide has set in too strongly in that direction. Where it is so, the "Gentile and the Jew" will act as a corrective. Here we have the darker side again uppermost. Heathen philosophy and religion are pourtrayed in gloomy but truthful colours. We do not believe that either Dr. Dollinger or writers of another school tell all the truth. If the pagan world had been only what he describes, it could not have existed as it did. If it had been only what others describe, it is difficult to see how the description of it in the Bible could be fair. To use a simile of Simeon's, the truth will not be obtained by keeping fixed to a golden mean, as it is called, but by oscillating-not vacillating-pendulum

like between the two extremes, touching | not one alone but both. There was much that was very bad in the old world, and something very good. For the bad study Dollinger. It is a book wonderful for its learning. In modern times we have had nothing like it. And besides, its style and manner are so flowing and agreeable, that the most common reader can get on smoothly and pleasantly from page to page, finding a great enjoyment in this most erudite of treatises. The philosophical acumen is not on a par with the stores of knowledge. There is a want of systematic treatment of the development of great principles. The onesidedness of the book, too, is against it. Occasionally also-though seldom-the Roman Catholic peeps out. But, on the whole, it is a work which every student ought carefully to read, and if possible possess.

The Mission Pastor: Memorials of the Rev. Thomas Boaz, LL.D., Twenty-four years Missionary in Calcutta. By his Widow. Edited by his Brother-in-law. (London: John Snow.)-Well did Dr. Boaz deserve such a tribute to his memory as the hand of love has reared in this volume. It is a very valuable addition to the library of mission literature which has been steadily growing during the last thirty years, and the friends of missions will peruse it with the peculiar interest which attaches to the foreign field of Christian evangelization. Dr. Boaz was a devout, earnest, indefatigable, influential man, whom we were sorry to lose at the comparatively early age of fifty-five; but his real worth and the extent of his labours, wherein he succeeded and wherein he failed, are not known as they should be. These "Memorials" happily supply the information, and many will avail themselves of it, and find that Dr. Boaz was no ordinary man. The Missionary Life and Labours of Francis Xavier, taken from his own Correspondence. By H. Venn, B.D., Prebendary of St. Paul's. (London: Longman.)— This volume is the result of a good deal of painstaking research, and is executed altogether in a workmanlike way. Mr. Venn has gone direct to the original documents, on which alone a true life of the great missionary can be founded; and therefore, instead of wearying us out by more than thrice-told stories and stupid platitudes, he really increases our information, and suggests more correct conclusions as to Xavier's life and labours. The common veneration for this remark able man will be considerably diminished by this truthful narrative. The lustre of his name will be somewhat dimmed,

though no one can write more impartially than Mr. Venn, and do more justice to the real virtues and excellences which the "saint" possessed. We earnestly recommend the volume to all students of missionary history.

Aphorisms of the Wise and Good. Illuminated by Samuel Stanesby. (London: Griffith and Farren). A number of short, pithy sayings, are here collected and arranged with judgment and taste. Each one contains a condensation of practical wisdom better than rubies. But we are afraid the form will be more thought of than the substance. The "getting

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up of the book is very attractive. It is a good specimen of printing in colours and gold-which, while it lacks the richness, lustre, and delicate grace of original illuminations by the fingers of the cunning artist, is by no means a bad imitation. The title-page is the least beautiful part, and the portrait of Milton has a heavy look. But all the borders are chastely designed, and produce a pleasing effect as you turn over the leaves. The binding is very tasteful, and the book makes a fitting ornament for the table.

Patience Hart's First Experience in Service. By Mrs. SEWELL, author of Homely Ballads," "Mother's Last Words,' "Our Father's Love," etc.

66

The Children of Summerbrook : Scenes of Village Life, described in Simple Verse. By Mrs. SEWELL.

A remarkable power is possessed by this author of interesting readers of the class for whom she writes; and as the influence of her books is always good, we most heartily rejoice both in their appearance and in their wide circulation. The prose work before us, containing a young servant's experience, as narrated in letters to her mother, is written in a very lively and attractive manner, and affords many judicious hints for those who are placed in similar circumstances.

Jesus Calls Thee. By Rev. S. MARTIN. (The Book Society.)-In anything that has room for the pathetic, Mr. Martin invariably excels. The cry of poor Bartimæus, whom the people told to "be quiet," reached the ears of the Master, who graciously commanded the suppliant to be brought to him. The people seeing this, change their voices, and shout, "Rise, He calleth thee!" Upon this Mr. Martin lays his skilled finger, and manipulates a thing of beauty. To every class, condition, and age he addresses a few fervent words, with a 'Rise, He calleth THEE!"

Pastor Gossner, his Life, Labours,

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