HENDERSON'S COMMENTARY ON EZEKIEL.*-This volume of Dr. Henderson's commentaries was the last one which he published previous to his death. It is prepared upon the same plan, and in accordance with the same principles of interpretation, which have characterized the other volumes already introduced into this country. It is, however, breifer in its annotations and less elaborate than those on Isaiah and the Minor Prophets, a peculiarity which has been accounted for by the fact that it was prepared so late in the author's life. We think it is too brief for its highest usefulness. Dr. Henderson was a man of learning and of laborious and patient research. But the opinion has been already expressed in the NEW ENGLANDER, that his method of interpretation is a wrong one-making the events of history the measure and test of the prophet's meaning. We cannot, therefore, regard his works as of equal value with the best German commentaries on the prophet's writings. They have, however, met with a favorable reception both in England and America, and, to those who have used with satisfaction the former volumes, we think the present one may be commended.

SORROW. This subject has been often chosen for a single poem or sketch or essay, but seldom before for a whole volume. One wonders that it should have been thus adopted, as if its aspect were itself alluring, or as if being once entered upon it held the writer as by a spell. The title itself is enough to repel most readers. We were not surprised when a critic in a prominent journal —who, however, we suspect, had not looked much beyond the table of contents,-judged it not worth while to draw so much more attention to sorrow itself than to its mitigation. But the name of the author should lead one to look beyond first impressions, since his earlier work engaged the attention of many thoughtful readers. And in fact, though singularly enough his chief subject here is sorrow rather than consolation, his clear, calm treatment, with the aid of touching examples and not infrequent quotations, gives it unexpected attractions, appealing health

* The Book of the Prophet Ezekiel, Translated from the original Hebrew. With a Commentary, Critical, Philological and Exegetical. By E. HENDERSON, D.D. Author of Commentaries on the Book of the Minor Prophets, Jeremiah and Lamentations, Isaiah, etc. Andover: Warren F. Draper. 1870. 8vo., pp. 228.

Sorrow. By JOHN REID, author of "Voices of the Soul answered in God." New York: Robert Carter & Brothers. 1870. 12mo., pp. 373.

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fully to our knowledge of human life and our sympathies, and keeping clear of the morbid fancy or the narrow sentimentalism that lie in wait for most writers on such subjects. The work is a series of brief essays on the kinds, causes, and effects of sorrow. Among the subordinate topics giving titles to the chapters, are "the sorrow of great minds," sorrow at home," sorrow as affected by "loneliness," that which is connected with "love between the sexes,""the sorrow of children," "the Bible and sorrow," that which is for "the dead," "the man of sorrows," that which is "pleasing," that which is "beautiful," its "bearing on the higher themes of existence," and " sorrow because of the shadows that fall upon us from the other life." The last four are on the sorrow of parents in the loss of "infant children," the " 'mystery of sorrow," ," "sorrow alleviated and destroyed," and "God and heaven as thoughts of power to the sorrowful." It will be seen at once that these topics of consolation have not so large a place in the book as the reader would expect or think desirable, and yet he is not pained or wearied, as he might have feared, with the delineations of grief that fill so many more of the chapters. Sombre as is the theme, it is relieved by delicate distinctions and many beautiful thoughts. We know nothing of the author's history, and we confess some curiosity to learn how he should have been led to so large an utterance in this plaintive monotone, but he seems to have

" an eye

That hath kept watch o'er man's mortality."

A mind so reflective and observant will invest any subject that it handles with a charm. While commending the style in general, we must take exception to something of formality in the transitions from one subordinate point to another, partly in the italicising of certain words as if to mark distinct heads of thought, giving a sermonizing air that might be better dispensed with. But this is of the less account, since the more desirable qualities of good sermons appear throughout the work in the devout temper and the earnest faith of a Christian minister.

HE THAT OVERCOMETH.*-Mr. Boardman's former work, "The Higher Christian Life," made him favorably known several years

* He that Overcometh; or a conquering Gospel. By W. E. BOARDMAN, author of "The Higher Christian Life." Boston: Henry Hoyt, 9 Cornhill. 12mo., pp. 303.

ago in the circle of earnest Christian people in this country who, instead of resting satisfied with the standard of practical religion exemplified in the church at large, aspired, for themselves and others, to a higher plane of piety. Of those whose wants it met some have passed into the clearer vision of the objects of faith, while others still surviving will welcome the further treatment of the same themes from the same pen. The present volume may not attract as much attention, since works of this kind have been more multiplied, yet we judge it to be not less fitted to further vital piety. Like the other, it has to do with Christian experience in the proper sense of that phrase. It is distributed under three heads, "Life," "Work," and "Results;" and each of these is in several chapters,-under the first, for example, "Man in Creation," "the Perversion," "a Conversion," "the Test," &c., several sketches being interspersed as illustrations from facts in life. The drift of the whole is in keeping with this sentence from the preface:-"There is but one way of silencing naturalism, and that is by power and presence of supernaturalism." The spiritual and supernatural elements of Christianity are uppermost in the delineations here given of piety. Justification by faith, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the efficacy of "praying and working," pervade the book. The tone is cheerful and hopeful, the style clear and direct, and the method fitted to guide and stimulate various classes of readers in the best aims. It has occured to us that bere and there more ample explanations of true statements might have been profitable, and yet, on the whole, the work is one of the best lately issued for the improvement of Christian character and efficiency.

LIGHT AND TRUTH.*-In the 414 pages of "Light and Truth,” Dr. Bonar has set forth a series of eighty-three short devotional meditations and lectures on various topics, suggested by texts in the Acts, and in the Epistles to the Romans, and the Corinthians. In their scope and intent these papers remind us of Jay's Morning and Evening Exercises, being popular, pious, and helpful; not remarkably brilliant, nor attempting much in the way of exposition; but, so far as we see, unobjectionable in sentiment and spirit, reverent in their treatment of the text, and full of gospel truth. The titles of the papers are, in many cases, attractive and suggestive,

* Light and Truth; or, Bible Thoughts and Themes. ger Epistles. By HORATIUS BONAR, D. D. New York: thers, 530 Broadway. 1870. pp. 414.

The Acte and the larRobert Carter & Bro

but at other times they cover more ground than the discussion which they introduce; sometimes too, the discussions might have gained in force by being restricted in range. Still, the author has confined himself to "Bible thoughts and themes," and writes with the intent to instruct and bless mankind.

THE EARLIER Years of Our Lord's Life ON EARTH *—In this first of a series of six volumes, Dr. Hanna makes a valuable contribution to the large list of works devoted to Jesus and his life on earth. Writing in a style remarkably fresh and spirited, without any parade of learning, and having the advantage of personal familiatity with many of the localities mentioned in the gospel history, he has been very successful in giving vivid sketches of events familiar to every reader of the Bible. Should the remainder of the series be executed in the same way, we think the work, while open to criticism in details, will deserve to be put in the foremost rank of popular presentations of the life of Christ.

It is, of course, a mere slip of the pen when the author allows himself to say (page 123) that Jesus "had no earthly parent;" but it is an obvious, perhaps a common misapprehension of the text, when he cites the aged Simeon's words, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace," as an "expression of his desire." (page 63.) The nunc dimittis is surely not a prayer. Dr. Hanna contradicts himself, as well as the scripture, when he affirms (page 118) that when Joseph and Mary went up with Jesus to the passover, they had not been in Jerusalem since the time when they presented him as an infant in the temple. The hypothesis that Simon was the son Alphaeus, and that he was called the Canaanite [Cananite] because of his connection with the village of Cana, are altogether too farfetched and improbable to support any conjecture concerning the family for whose sake Jesus changed the water into wine. Some such blemishes as these excite the wish that the work had received a more thorough revision, by which it would have gained in accuracy without losing in popularity.

* The Earlier Years of our Lord's Life on Earth. By the REV. WILLIAM HANNA, DD., LLD., [D.D., LL.D.] New York: Robert Carter & Brothers, 530 Broadway. 1870. 12mo. pp. 400.

THE FAMILY AND THE CHURCH.*-The Position of Father Hyacinthe, in relation to Rome and the Roman Catholic Church, is so conspicuous, every help to a knowledge of the man and of his principles is important. Inasmuch as he has never been an author of books or pamphlets, those who would become acquainted with him, and cannot hear him, are compelled to accept the reports (generally imperfect and fragmentary, though sometimes revised by himself) of his spoken discourses. A volume of such reported discourses, hastily collected but carefully translated, was com mended to our readers in the last Number of the New Englander. Another volume is now before the public; and in its contents it is the complement rather than the orderly sequel of its predecessor. In the first volume, we have the fourth of the five courses of Advent conferences, that on the relations of Christianity to Civil Society on the State. The present volume gives us the third of those courses, and the fifth,—on Domestic Society or" the Family," and on Religious Society or "the Church." It contains, also, the memorable speech at Malines on "the education of the working classes," and a brief tribute to the memory of Bishop Baudry, who had been his teacher in theology, and whom he honors as his spiritual father. A spirited and well informed essay on "Father Hyacinthe and his Church," by the Hon. John Bigelow (reprinted from Putnam's Magazine), forms an appropriate Introduction; and Bishop Dupanloup's Letter to his clergy against the dogma of Papal Infallibility is given as an appendix. The two volumes contain everything that Father Hyacinthe has written or revised

for publication.

It has been given out, on we know not what authority, that the great preacher has been released by the Pope from the monastic vows that bound him to the Carmelite order, and has been restored to the ranks of the secular clergy; and from this it has been inferred that, by some surrender of the principles professed in his letter to the General of his Order, he has made a dishonorable peace with his adversaries at Rome. We have no private or special information which authorizes us to contradict the story ;

* The Family and the Church. Advent Conferences of Notre Dame, Paris. 1866-7, 1868-9. By the Rev. Father HYACINTHE, late Superior of the Barefooted Carmelites of Paris. Edited by LEONARD WOOLSEY BACON. With an Introduction by JOHN BIGELOW, Esq., late Minister of the United States at the Court of France. New York: G. P. Putnam & Son.