Were we disposed to be over critical, we might have charged our author with a disposition to claim an originality, or rather singularity, for his views which they do not really possess. Few preachers, who have made the gospel the subject of earnest and (we say not independent, for that term has been sadly abused, but) personal investigation, can have failed to discover and trace out in their own way the philosophy of evangelism. Bishop Butler, if duly studied, will help many in this task, which, after all, is very much the style of modern sermonising. Still, however, we hail the present volume as a valuable contribution to the cause of evangelical discussion. Without pledging ourselves to the approval of all its modes of statement, we like its spirit, and think that the author has often happily succeeded in fulfilling its design. We have been frequently struck with the power displayed in bringing out the philosophical aspects of Christianity. The student of theology will be the better of perusing it; and for the soundness of its philosophy he may feel assured, when we state that it rests on such authorities as Dr Abercrombie and Dr M'Cosh.

Gatherings from a Ministry. By the Rev. JOHN MILNE, Perth. London: James Nisbet & Co., Berners Street. 1868.

This volume affords a favourable specimen of the diligence and ability with which the author discharges the most important part of the duties of the pastoral function,-that of preaching the gospel. To those who are under his ministry it will have a special interest, and it may be read with pleasure and profit by a wider circle. The matter of the discourses is rather subjective than objective, bearing largely on the believer's exercise and experience; but whatever relates to Christian life and godliness is made to rest upon sound evangelical principles. The style is very perspicuous, and yet attractive, from its simple elegance; beautiful and stirring thoughts often arrest the attention; the tone and manner are earnest and impressive; and, from their whole scope, these "Gatherings from a Ministry" are well adapted for Christian edification.

From Seventeen to Thirty. The Town Life of a Youth from the Country: its Trials, Temptations, and Advantages. Lessons from the History of Joseph. By T. BINNEY. London: James Nisbet & Co., 21 Berners Street. 1868.

This little volume, which is an expansion of a lecture delivered in Exeter Hall, on the 29th of January 1867, to the London Young Men's Christian Association, is on a subject profoundly important to young men, connected as it is with their best interests both in this world and in the world to come. As was to be anticipated from an author who has taught the young before the lessons for making the best of both worlds, he fully sympathises with the aspirations of young men after success in business, whilst reminding them that this is not to be sought at whatever price, nor to be made the principal end of life. His leading object is to give them wholesome advice as to the best means by which right and honourable success in the world can be achieved; to teach them by one of the most singular examples recorded in history, that of Joseph, that this can be done only by the cultivation of pure and lofty Christian principles and habits, of true self-respect and self-control, sustained by faith in God, and that secular virtue is not sufficient, but ought to have a basis in genuine religion, in a filial trust and a holy fear of God. Yet he does not encourage the young, even when they follow the counsels given in this lecture, to gild the future with too brilliant colours-to form too high expectations of worldly success, which, in many instances, would certainly not be realised. "I wish you," says he, " clearly

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to understand, that it is not taught, and it is not to be supposed, either that any of you that likes may, in all respects, become a Joseph or a Cobden, or that you are all to make success, rise, distinction, the one great object of desire and pursuit. All you young men cannot become principals, capitalists, heads of firms, owners of property, or holders of positions sufficient to entitle you to a sheriff's gold chain, or the Lord Mayor's gilt coach. If prosperity come, welcome it, and be thankful; but don't think that the great end of life cannot be attained without it. Especially, don't start with the determination that it shall be achieved at whatever cost. The grand thing to be kept in view is the cultivation of those principles and habits, that course and character, out of which success, if it come at all, may come according to the will of God. It will then be in itself a blessing, and will bring one." This is a volume which ought to be read by every young man, and especially by every young man on quitting his father's house to enter a large city to prosecute, in the midst of many perils and temptations, and, it may be discouragements, the business of life. It is the utterance of the gathered and matured wisdom of a long and shrewd observer-of a master in Israel; and we hope that it will largely accomplish the good for which it was prepared and is now published.

In Memory of James Hamilton, D.D., the beloved Minister of the Presbyterian Church, Regent Square. Died November 24th 1867.

This volume, to the memory of the late Dr James Hamilton, will be welcomed by all who appreciate his writings, and especially by the members of the congregation who enjoyed the inestimable advantages of his pastoral superintendence and instructions. It commences with a very impressive account of the circumstances connected with his last illness, death, and funeral. The introductory narrative is followed by the sermons preached by the Rev. Dr Candlish and the Rev. Henry Allon in the Presbyterian Church, Regent Square, London, on the Sabbath after his funeral. Other tributes paid to his memory are added, consisting of sermons, extracts from sermons and addresses, delivered by various ministers of the Church of England, and of the Independent and United Presbyterian Churches, on the occasion of his death. We are glad to know that a uniform edition of his works is in preparation by the publishers of this Periodical, and that edition ought, we think, to be accompanied with a memoir of his life. His collected works will form the most enduring monument to his memory, and will, we doubt not, be eminently useful to the Church of Christ.

Apologetic Lectures on the Saving Truths of Christianity. Delivered in Leipsic in the Winter of 1866. By CHR. ERNST LUTHARDT, Doctor and Professor of Theology. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 38 George Street, 1868.

Dr Luthardt is an earnest labourer on the side of Evangelical truth in Germany. His lectures on the Gospel of John and on the Fundamental Truths of Christianity have already established his reputation as an able, learned, and sound theologian. The present lectures are not inferior in any of the qualities which have acquired for his previous works the warmest commendations and an extensive circulation. They embrace: The Nature of Christianity, Sin, Grace, the God-Man, the Work of Jesus Christ, the Conclusion of the Work of Redemption and the Trinity, the Church, Holy Scripture, the Church's Means of Grace, and the Last Things. They thus traverse a wide field of theological inquiry, in which there is ample scope for the most interesting and profitable discussion; and touching on themes respecting which the minds of many in the present day need to be en

lightened and established, they are in every sense lectures for the times. These varied subjects the author treats, not exhaustively, which was not his purpose; but the lectures are obviously the result of careful study and well-digested reading. Nor does he give them a controversial aspect by combating error formally; but he meets it more effectively by an eloquent and powerful exposition of the truth. Whilst the author walks in the old trodden paths, there is, along with a remarkable clearness of apprehension and accuracy of judgment, a freshness and originality of thought, and a singular beauty of language, under the spell of which we read these lectures with unflagging interest. We learn with great satisfaction that, when delivered at Leipsic, they attracted unusual and sustained interest; and in their published form, in German and in English, we hope that, by the blessing of God, they will be more extensively useful, both in Germany and in England, in counteracting rationalism, and in procuring for evangelical truth a welcome reception into many minds.

The Word. The Star out of Jacob. By the author of Dollars and Cents. London: James Nisbet & Co., 21 Berners Street. 1868.

In this book every thing is told in a very pleasing and lively manner. It is especially well adapted for household instruction, and it may also be very useful to teachers, by suggesting many topics fitted to excite the curiosity, and gain the attention of the young.

The Work of God in Every Age. By the Rev. W. FROGGATT. London: Jackson, Walford, and Hodder, 27, Paternoster Row. 1867.

The conception of the "History of the Work of Redemption," by Jonathan Edwards has always struck us as an evidence of the transcendent intellectual grasp of that eminent theologian. The fundamental idea of that work, which is to shew how the most remarkable events in all past ages have been, and in all coming ages to the close of time will be, rendered subservient to the accomplishment of the redemption of man, by which is meant, not only Christ's obedience, sufferings, and death on earth, but everything preporatory thereto, and following thereupon, the erection and preservation of the Church, the overthrow of the power of Satan, and the actual salvation of individual sinners-this is one of the most magnificent and sublime conceptions that can enter the mind of man or angel. To carry it out is to write the history of Paradise regained. It exhibits the unity and grandeur of God's plan respecting our world, it harmonises the events of Providence which appear most discordant, and it connects them with a scheme of infinite wisdom and mercy.

Mr Froggatt does not propose a plan so extensive and imposing as that of President Edwards, but his object is to unfold a most important part of it-the work of God, in all ages, in the restoration of individual men to his favour and image-in giving them just conceptions and holy affections in reference to himself, as their Creator, Sovereign, and Redeemer-in bring ing them, as sinful, lost creatures, to genuine repentance and to true faith in Christ as their only Saviour. This subject, which ought to be deeply interesting to Christians at all times, Mr Froggatt has treated in a manner worthy of all commendation. He is wholly free from the extravagant or extreme views which have often done much to bring discredit on the cause of revivals of religion. His theology is that of the old Puritan school, and his soundness of judgment and earnestness of purpose are ever apparent. The field which he traverses is wide, extending from the fall of man to the present time; and his illustrations he derives from every part of the world where the gospel of Christ has been preached.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN EVANGELICAL REVIEW.

OCTOBER 1868.

ART. I.-The Swedish Reformation.

Svenska Kyrkoreformationens Historia. I tre afdelningar. Af L. A. ANJOU. Upsala, 1850. (History of the Reformation in Sweden. In three divisions. By L. A. Anjou. Upsala, 1850.)

E resume the story of the Swedish Reformation, with the purpose of bringing it down to the date of the ConVocation of Upsala, when the triumph of the Protestant cause was finally achieved, and the liberties of the Church were settled on a sure and durable basis. At the conclusion of our last article, we left ecclesiastical affairs among the Swedes in a most confused and discordant state, the result of King John's insane attempt to force a semi-popish liturgy upon his unwilling subjects. Some, indeed, of the bishops and clergy had accommodated themselves to the sovereign's wishes, but a very large number were conscientiously opposed to the reception of the "Red Book," as John's new church-manual was ordinarily styled, and chose rather to submit to the severest penalties than adopt and employ the obnoxious missal. In this determination they were sedulously strengthened by the king's brother, Duke Charles, who was a firm supporter of Protestant principles, and opened up within his own territories a place of refuge for the clergy who were deposed from their charges on account of their refusal to obey King John's unjust commands. It was a time of great trial for the faithful portion of the

• See British and Foreign Evangelical Review for April of the present year. VOL. XVII.-NO. LXVI.

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Swedish pastors; but it was also a time fraught with precious consequences for the future of the Protestant Church. To use the words of Bishop Anjou: "The severity with which the monarch endeavoured to compel the introduction of his prayerbook, was the testing fire which purified the Swedish Church to a clear conviction of the Protestant principles that formed its real groundwork." After the gloomy eclipse of trial, there broke forth the invigorating sunshine of a brighter and better day. Taught by persecution, and reaping salutary lessons from the furnace of adversity, the pastors and people of Sweden were led to see that in order to attain the establishment of reformed truth on a solid and substantial foundation, there must be henceforth no truce with Romish heresies and superstitions, but an unyielding resistance to all that savoured of the gross spiritual darkness out of which they had so recently emerged. And it was such a conviction that bore them victoriously onwards until they reached their goal, and, rescuing the cause of the Reformation from the numerous enemies who assailed it, were enabled to hand it down, in firmly consolidated shape, to their children and their children's children.

Gradually, during the liturgical conflict, the hopes of the Romish Church to regain supremacy in Sweden began to languish and decay. Without doubt, the violent efforts of King John to compel submission to his hated prayer-book had at first given these hopes a certain measure of vitality; but the unconquerable opposition of the stricter Protestant party soon made it evident on what a slender foundation they reposed. Moreover, there were various other circumstances contemporaneously occurring, which tended to damp the expectations of the Court of Rome-notwithstanding that Gregory the XIII. seems, even still, to have cherished the idea of a possible reconciliation between the Swedish kingdom and the Papal See. At all events, that Pontiff wrote a letter to King John, in which he lauds his good intentions, and kindly finds excuses for the king's reluctance to comply with his requests, especially as regarded the Eucharist; while he, at the same time, reminds him that, seeing he had no real priest in his dominions, it would be wise to appoint a Romish bishop, even were it in some remote spot of Finland or Norrland, in order that he might labour for the restoration of the Church. Gregory's missive was conveyed to the Swedish monarch by Possevin, the celebrated Jesuit, who already, in 1577, had visited Sweden, and laboured strenuously there on behalf of the lost Papal power. Shortly afterwards, the decease of Queen Catherine, which took place in 1583, dissevered the bond of connection whereby Rome first embraced the opportunity of making advances to her husband; and as she had