ertson's discourses, they are superior to Robertson's sermons in robust logic, and strong, clear thought, often presenting most forcible and massive views of truth. They are eminently fitted to instruct, and to build up the people in the saving doctrines of the gospel. Some of them are treatises rather than sermons; and, indeed, the author says in his preface, that he has expanded the thoughts in some of the sermons after they were delivered.

We should judge that the main characteristic of Dr. Binney's preaching was a thoughtful, didactic method, calmly explaining and reasoning upon the truth, and drawing out by a process of steady, close thinking, the richness of the Divine word, though sometimes bursting away from the logical method, and rising into strains of brief and powerful eloquence. These discourses are evidently the elaborated ones of a long ministry. They could not be samples of every-day, ordinary, popular preaching, although characteristic of the author's general manner. In a sermon entitled "Man in Understanding," the preacher sets forth his own conception of what preaching should be, which affords incidentally a noble description of his own style. He says (p. 99) "Preaching may be too elementary, and it may not be elementary enough. In some parts of the church, where a very simple style of preaching prevails, there is the constant reiteration of just the three or four truths which make up what we call the Gospel. The people are thus always kept at the alphabet, or in the spelling book, or in the shortest and easiest reading lessons, and are never introduced to the high arguments which lie beyond. In other parts of the church, where a style of preaching more abstruse and argumentative prevails, the result is, that theology is taught rather than religion-the preacher becomes more of a lecturer or professor going through his argument, than a minister in the church speaking 'to instruction, edification, and comfort' and giving to the flock its 'portion of meat in due season.' The ́danger here is, too, that plain, elementary instruction will be gone through, and discussions indulged in, which take too much for granted, and for which the people are not prepared. They will be like reading the higher authors before the pupils have learnt anything of grammar. The great thing is, for Christian people to be such thorough 'men,' that they may delight in being introduced to 'the deep things of God,' and may be able to benefit by the higher forms of discipline and argument. Very simple and elementary preaching is very proper, and very

important in its place; but the Bible is a book which demands, both for explanation and defense, a great deal beyond that. The character and wants of the age, the popular and plausible forms of error, the ignorance in the church, and the subtlety of the world, together with the nature, the magnitude, and grandeur, of Christian truth, all demand, both in preachers and hearers, greater efforts after that manly understanding' which includes in it, among other things, accurate knowledge and large intelligence in relation to all spiritual truth."

·

For the department of sermonizing, which the discourses represent, we know of no finer illustrations than these in modern literature. The sermons entitled "The Words of Jesus, and what underlie them," "The Blessed God," and "Salvation by fire, and Salvation in fullness," are peculiarly to be commended for their richness of thought and power. The discourse on morality in trade, under the title of "Buying and Selling," might be profitably preached in America as well as in England.

LAMPS, PITCHERS, AND TRUMPETS.*-This volume is the first of two series of lectures, printed in England in one work, mostly delivered to the students in Spurgeon's "Pastor's College;" to be followed by the reprint of the second series, the latter to be devoted chiefly to examples in our own time, while this is occupied mainly with the past. The quaint title, we need not say, is taken from the history of Gideon and his three hundred men, their peculiar implements being conceived of as symbolic of different sorts of preachers. It departs from the received standard in books of homiletics, being more anecdotal, as the title-page promises, and much less formal and technical in its arrangement. Indeed, it hardly admits of analysis in a brief notice. The first lecture consists mainly of notices and sketches of Fox, Whitefield, Dawson, and R. Watson, and, going further back, of Bishop Andrewes, with extracts of what is called "the romance of the pulpit," including, also, certain continental preachers in the Reformation, such as Alexander de la Croix, Caturce, and another, martyrs, with later English and American Methodists, and also Edwards

*Lamps, Pitchers, and Trumpets: Lectures on the Vocation of the Preacher, illustrated by anecdotes, biographical, historical, and elucidatory, from the Great Preachers of all ages. By EDWIN PAXTON HOOD. New York: M. W. Dodd. 1869. 12mo. pp. 453.

and again Whitefield. The second lecture treats of the preacher's vocation, as instructive and awakening, addressed especially to the conscience, and demanding the culture of all our powers. The Bible is set forth as a model, and the Hebrew prophets are depicted, with excellent quotations from Dean Stanley. As an example of the Puritans, Henry Smith is described, and among the later preachers, still more fully Robert Robinson, the translator of Saurin. The Jewish Church is the first subject of the third lecture, which gives a representation of Isaiah, and also (the first of what the author calls his "pulpit monographs ") of Paul, as of the apostolic age-an animated delineation. The fourth lecture is devoted to the early Church, giving accounts of Clemens, Origen, Tertullian, Athanasius, Basil, Augustine, and more particularly Chrysostom. In the fifth, we have the medieval and postmedieval preachers, among them noted friars, and an interesting account of Segneri (though of the seventeenth century), called the Italian Whitefield, with citations, followed by a fuller monograph of St. Bernard. The sixth lecture treats of the great preachers of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and is the more interesting as commemorating some not now so familiarly known as they should be, such as Playfere, John Stoughton, Wilkinson (with extracts), Richard Bernard, Trapp, and Everard, adding a fuller sketch of the Puritan, Thomas Adams. The subject of the seventh is wit, humor, and coarseness in the pulpit, with specimens. South is dealt with more severely, and hence more justly than by most writers. The next lecture discusses the use and abuse of the imagination, and the various forms of illustration, analogies, parables, allegories, overwrought descriptions, and gives an ample description of Christmas Evans. "The style best adapted for usefulness in the pulpit," is the subject of the closing lecture. The author would have the preacher study words and cherish enthusiasm, and dissuades him from multiplying other nterpretations and opinions than his own, and from the declamaory and verbose and excessively smooth styles. Interesting extracts are given from Luther, and still more fully from the Abbé Mullois' book, "The Church and the Pulpit." Much account is made of what is called "the power and accent of conviction," and of preaching to the conscience. Illustrations are taken from James Parsons, and full and interesting extracts from Alexander Raleigh, with an appeal for earnestness. From this enumeration of the contents, it will be seen that these lectures are fitted to be

an accompaniment rather than a substitute for other homiletic treatises. Their style, which is free and lively, as well as their arrangement, is more suitable for oral delivery than for the uses of a text-book. To students for the ministry they have the more value and interest as giving an unusual amount of professional and personal information, with many pertinent suggestions and wholesome examples, and the general reader will find in them entertaining reading. Particularly the sketches of Chrysostom and St. Bernard merit high commendation.

A DAILY WALK WITH GOD.*-This is an earnest argument and persuasion addressed to Christians of all denominations in behalf of the liberal use of property, and especially in behalf of daily social worship. First, from Old Testament teachings, showing that, in addition to the weekly Sabbath, by appointing the morning and evening sacrifice, the three annual festivals, the Sabbatical year, and the year of Jubilee, God "released the Jewish Church from toil for the body about one half of the time." Secondly, from the New Testament, showing the practice of our Lord and his apostles, and their first followers, especially in connection with the day of Pentecost. Then, from later historical testimony, that "the daily service introduced by the apostles was continued in the Christian Church," and "generally attended by professing Christians, for more than three hundred years," and "that the neglect of it marks the decline of piety in the Church." The same authorities, among the early Fathers and eminent modern divines, are cited for more frequent communion than is now practised by most churches; and on this point we commend to Congregational and Presbyterian ministers the decided judgment of Calvin and Edwards. The same thing is argued further from the exigencies of the church and the world, and from the blessing that has sanctioned daily assemblages for worship. Another chapter is devoted to answering objections. Inferences are drawn as to the transientness of revivals and the means of continuing them, and the book closes with "an appeal to Christians of every

* A Daily Walk with God, in his own Ordinances: or the Bible Standard of Duty, as exemplified in the Primitive Christians. By Rev. STEphen Porter, Geneva. Fifth revised edition, with an introductory Sketch of the Author's life, by his son, Rev. J. JERMAIN PORTER, D. D., Watertown. Rochester: Erastus Darrow, Publisher. 1869. 16mo. pp. 136.

denomination." The earnest piety of the author pervades all his arguments and exhortations. He writes from long and loving familiarity with the subject, and most fervent desires for the restoration of the practice and the power of primitive Christianity. This fifth edition of his work, published by Darrow, is the more valuable for the Memoir prefixed by his son, and the accompanying tributes, since his decease, from other ministers. "Father Porter," as he was called, was one of the most saintly men in Western New York. We are glad to find his work in increasing demand. Its circulation cannot fail to further the end which above all things he desired. Daily prayer-meetings are so much gained in this direction. Young Men's Christian Associations will do well to avail themselves of this volume in maintaining such services. We desire to see it circulated as being (what is stamped on the cover) "a plea for a daily religious service."

NEW EDITION OF PROFESSOR FISHER'S ESSAYS ON THE SUPERNATURAL.*-The new edition of Professor Fisher's Essays on the Supernatural Origin of Christianity is so much enlarged as to demand a new notice. It is so much enlarged and improved, that it will be necessary for all those critics and students to procure and read it, who would be placed at once in possession of the present state of literature and opinion, in respect to the subject of which it treats. The topics which are here discussed must force themselves upon the attention of every clergyman to whom is committed the important duty of defending the testimony concerning Jesus, and of every thinking man whose faith is assailed by the manifold unbeliefs that are current in every community. The candor, ability, and conclusiveness of the discussions contained in these Essays have been universally acknowledged. The additions made to this enlarged edition consist of an elaborate Introduction of thirty-eight pages, presenting a brief summary of the philosophical and critical aspects of the questions concerning the Supernatural Origin of Christianity; and an Appendix of forty pages, consisting of a series of supplementary notes which are, in fact, extensions of the several Essays. Both these additions to the volume add very greatly to its value. Since the publication of

* Essays on the Supernatural Origin of Christianity; with special reference to the theories of Renan, Strauss, and the Tübingen School. By GEORGE P. FISHER, D. D., Professor of Church History in Yale College. New and Enlarged Edition. New York: Charles Scribner & Co. 1870.