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The sorrows of the children of God become a part of the heritage of God's people, hence this volume speaks to all most tenderly. It is an offering of the heart's best affections, and is fragrant with the graces of the Christian nursery, and full of the warmest expressions of sympathy upon the part of pious friends. No parent can take up this little volume and read it without feeling his heart stirred with the deepest sympathy for the bereaved parents, and being impressed with the loveliness of little children born within the covenant and early consecrated and sedulously trained for God. While the book is written with much of a parent's partiality, still there is much in it that cannot but afford comfort and good hope to the many who have in their houses The Empty Crib which death has sadly given. The book is commended to any who mourn the loss of children.

A volume replete with genius is this one received from the pen of Miss Phelps.† That it was but reasonable to expect an author whose grandfather was the celebrated Moses Stuart, and whose father (Prof. Phelps of Andover Seminary, Massachusetts) an equally gifted gentleman and scholar, would write eloquently and forcibly; and here we have a work that fascinates the reader by the glowing influence of its truth and power. The employments and enjoyments of saints in heaven are conceived in a quaint and original spirit, and when portraying the feelings of those who have lost near and dear friends the interest of the story becomes intense. A gentle and human Christian faith and hope are everywhere inspired-a faith and hope which walk firmly in the rough pathway of earthly duty and sacrifice, while the sufferer looks serenely and almost seraphically into the world of spirits, giving to this prose poem its crowning grace and surpassing excellence.

The home influences of New England are given in a pleasant volume of Poems, in which is sketched with infinite skill and truthfulness genuine New England life in its literal truth, sacrificing benevolence, ardent patriotism and fervent piety, as such a life is gilded and transformed by genuine poetic feeling.

* THE EMPTY CRIB. A Memorial of Little Georgie; with Words of Consolation for Bereaved Parents. By Rev. THEO. L. CUYLER, Brooklyn. New York: R. CARTER & BROTHERS, 530 Broadway. $1.

THE GATES AJAR. BY ELIZABETH STUART PHELPS. 12mo. Boston: FIELDS, OSGOOD & Co. $1.50.

POEMS. Breathings of a Better Life. By LUCY LARCOM. Square 12mo. Boston: FIELDS, OSGOOD & Co. $1.50.

There is great satisfaction in knowing that the work you are reading is thoroughly complete, and you have it here in Dr. Wm. Smith's Dictionary of the Bible,* as published by Hurd & Houghton of New York. It is not only 'unabridged, but Prof. H. B. Hackett, D.D. and Ezra Abbott, LL.D., the American editors, are making great and important additions. Whilst they keep intact the work of seventy English scholars, they avail themselves of contributions brought down to the latest date from such men as President Woolsey, Profs. Bartlett, Day, Fisher, Hovey, Park, Peabody, Robbins, H. B. Smith, Talcott and Warren. The object of the editors is to so exhaust all sources of knowledge, that this dictionary will be the best and fullest authority in all questions of biblical science and literature in the English tongue for many years to come; and they will succeed in their work, combining, as it does, the theological treasures of past ages with the latest theological and biblical researches of the present day. It is a treasure-house of pre-eminent value, containing everything coming within the domain of biblical literature. The mode of publication brings it within the reach of pastors and students of the Bible, being in numbers of 112 pages, at 75 cents per number, with numerous illustrations. Let the people see to it that in the MANSE this Unabridged Dictionary of the Bible finds its appropriate place.

The Minstrels of Scotland have given to the world some of the sweetest flowers of song, and this volume † contains a well-selected collection from the best of them. The poems are elegantly illustrated, and the work here presented to the public is exceedingly beautiful, and would make an acceptable gift for the MANSE.

The author of The Revelation of Law in Scripture has the reputation of being one of the most learned men of the age, and this volume is one of the ablest yet given to the Church and the world. The subject is one of great importance in its relation to idealism, pantheism, rationalism, materialism and other kindred

HURD & HOUGHTON'S AMERICAN REPRINT OF DR. WILLIAM SMITH'S UNABRIDGED DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. Profusely illustrated and elegantly printed. New York: HURD & HOUGHTON, 459 Broome street.

SCOTIA'S BARDS. The Choice Productions of the Scottish Poets, with Brief Biographical Sketches. New York: ROBERT CARTER & BROTHERS.

THE REVELATION OF LAW IN SCRIPTURE, considered with respect both to its own nature and to its relative place in successive dispensations. The third series of the Cunningham Lectures. By PATRICK FAIRBAIRN, D.D., author of the Typology of the Scriptures, etc. 484 pp. 8vo. New York: ROBERT CARTER & BROTHERS. $3.50.

errors of naturalists, as well as in regard to the errors of many who receive the word of God as inspired. It is a full examination of all the revelation of God in respect to law. Nine lectures are taken up with this subject. These are followed with three important supplementary dissertations, one of which is a discussion of the question, Whether a spirit of revenge is commanded in the writings of the Old Testament? The negative is conclusively shown. The whole concludes with minute expositions of no less than sixteen of the most important passages on the law in the Epistles of Paul. The work can be recommended with confidence to theological readers of all classes, and its judicious and truthful views are entitled to a wide circulation. There was never greater need than now of a correct understanding of the relation which the Law sustains to the Gospel, and this work of a learned and truthful Bible student goes as far as any one toward meeting it, and is well calculated to correct the false notions regarding the place and authority of the law in the divine administration which are but too popular at the present time.

There have been many essays written upon the Sacraments,* but the indefinite language of the authors has rendered their treatment somewhat obscure. In this volume, however, the Reformed doctrines of the sacraments are clearly and satisfactorily set forth. The author excels in precision and definiteness of statement, and the reader will derive great satisfaction from its perusal. He gives the origin and meaning of the word "Sacrament," the number of sacraments, the design, efficacy, mode and proper subjects of baptism and the Lord's Supper; and the condensed volume gives all who wish a clear and understanding faith in Church ordinances.

This work is truly national,† for which, as a people, we should be thankful, and in the MANSE it will surely find a place. It would be an admirable gift to begin the library with, for, besides the Bible and Confession of Faith, there is no volume that more thoroughly comes within the absolute necessities of a scholar than this wonderful book. Its thoroughness is beyond expression: there is added a vast variety (over 3000 in number) of classi

*SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH. By the Rev. S. W. CRITTENDEN. 16mo. pp. 174. Philadelphia: PRESBYTERIAN PUBLICATION COMMITTEE, 1334 Chestnut street. 75 cents.

AN AMERICAN DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. By NOAH WEbster, ll.d. Thoroughly revised and greatly enlarged and improved by CHAUNCEY A. GOODRICH, D.D., and NOAH PORTER, D.D. Springfield: G. & C. MERRIAM, State street. Quarto. Illustrated. pp. 1840. $12.

fied illustrations of almost every physical science embraced in the studies of the age, with various other departments, and the work is the richest book of information in the world. There is probably more real education in it than can be bought for the same amount of money in any language. It is unquestionably the very best dictionary of our language extant. Its great accuracy in the definition and derivation of words gives it an authority that no other work on the subject possesses. It is constantly cited and relied on in our courts of justice, in our legislative bodies and in public discussions as entirely conclusive.

The publishers have shown a commendable degree of public spirit in issuing this Annual,* and it comprehends all that is required to form a just judgment of what is transpiring in the scientific world. This work was established in 1850, and a complete set of nineteen volumes will be sent for $34. Each volume contains the portrait of some distinguished scholar. They form a special library in themselves, and would do good in any community.

An effort to establish a series of good books for Sabbath reading in the household has been commenced by the celebrated firm of J. B. Lippincott & Co., of Philadelphia. One of the series † is devoted to a review, with selections, of the devout poetry of England, and the reader gathers an insight into the mode of thought and form of expression adopted by the poets from the thirteenth century to the present time. As poetry is the cream of a people's thought, some true indications will be found in its religious verse, and the author has succeeded in setting forth these indications in a remarkable degree.

This volume gives in a popular manner a full account of three

THE ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY; or, Year-Book of Facts in Science and Art, for 1869, exhibiting the most important Discoveries and Improvements in Mechanics, Useful Arts, Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Astronomy, Meteorology, Biology, including Zoology, Physiology and Botany, Mineralogy, Geology, Geography, Antiquities, etc., together with a list of recent Scientific Publications; a classified list of Patents; Obituaries of eminent Scientific Men. Edited by SAMUEL KNEELAND, M.D. With a fine likeness of Prof. JAMES D. DANA, LL.D. 12mo. Cloth. Boston: GOULD & LINCOLN, 59 Washington street. Price, $2.

ENGLAND'S ANTIPHON: An Historical Review of the Religious Poetry of England. By GEORGE MACDONALD, M.A. 12mo. illustrated, fine cloth. Philadelphia: J. B. LipPINCOTT & Co., 715 Market street. $2.

SEEKERS AFTER GOD. Rev. F. W. FARRAR, M.A. COTT & Co. $2.

The Lives of Seneca, Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius. By
Illustrated, 12mo., fine cloth. Philadelphia: J. B. LIPPIN-

great heathen philosophers, who, amid infinite difficulties and surrounded by a corrupt society, devoted themselves to an earnest search after those truths which might best make their lives "beautiful before God;" and the modern reader will fain admit that some among these heathen showed themselves to be nobler, loftier, holier, freer from vanity, freer from meanness, freer from special pleading, freer from falsehood, more spiritual, more reasonable, and on some points more enlightened, than some who live in this latter half of the nineteenth century.

The memoirs of good men form the choicest portion of the life of the Church, and this volume* more than sustains the interest which attaches itself to the lives of those who represent the Church in heathen lands, very rich in the details of missionary work, written by an appreciative friend, and should be in the library of every MANSE. It will do wonders toward arousing a missionary spirit among the people, besides guiding and instructing those seeking a foreign field.

The firm of George Routledge & Sons, of London, and 416 Broome street, New York, understands in a pre-eminent degree the wants of a large circle of intelligent readers. Their catalogue includes many works of the most popular authors, and the style and execution with which they issue their publications are all that the most cultivated tastes can demand. The firm is represented in the United States by Joseph L. Blamire, a gentleman thoroughly acquainted with every phase of literature. They are also special agents in the United States for Alexander Strahan & Co., publishers. A late work† contains the contributions of writers favorably known to the Christian world, and is written in a simple, natural style, and with such an abiding faith in the goodness of God that it cannot fail to fix the attention and strengthen the faith of the reader. The text upon its title-page

"There's fruit in each wind-wafted seed,
Waiting its natal hour”—

explains the design of the editors-to give to the world a series of short sermons, tracts and stories, replete with wholesome advice and moral precepts, conscious that some will fall upon good ground and yield returning fruit.

* THE TENNESSEEAN IN PERSIA AND KOORDISTAN. Being Scenes and Incidents in the Life of Samuel Audley Rhea. By Rev. DWIGHT W. MARSH, for ten years missionary in Mosul. 12mo. pp. 381. Illustrated with portrait and engravings. Philadelphia: THE PRESBYTERIAN PUBLICATION COMMITTEE. Tinted paper, $1.75.

† WIND-WAFTED SEED. Edited by NORMAN MACLEOD, D.D., and THOMAS GUTHRIE, 12mo. pp. 443. New York: GEORGE ROUTLEDGE & SONS. $2.

D.D.

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