Reviews and Notices.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS.

STRUGGLES FOR LIFE; or, the Autobiography of a Dissenting Minister. Philadelphia Lindsay & Blakiston. 1854. (pp. 384.)

This book we can recommend. The title of the book gives us a correct idea of the nature of its contents- Struggles for Life." It is a faithful and very interesting record of the struggles of the author to secure an education, and prepare himself for usefulness in life, and the difficulties and trials which he met and surmounted. The book furnishes another striking example of the pursuit of knowledge under difficulties, and cannot fail to exert an encouraging influence upon young men who are "faint yet still pursuing" after wisdom andusefulness.

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The author's story is the story of many a youth awake to life, and earnest in its struggles. To know," he tells us, "became the verb of my existence, the ruling passion of my being. I had a craving for books, a craving which could not be satisfied." When a youth can once say this, and feels it, his destiny is sure; he will overcome every obstacle; he will know, he will be wise, he will make himself known and felt for good in the world. Every youth who has this desire after knowledge will also understand the following: "My time at Moorness would have passed pleasantly enough, but for the restlessly longing after something-I could not tell what-something higher, future, mysterious. With boys and iads on the farm I had very little mental sympathy." What nonsense-and yet how often it is attempted to chain down a spirit, in which burn the unquenchable fires of genius, to clods, shovels, dung-forks, ploughs, harrows and work-shops! Not that these are not respectable-they are so-but they are for those who have a taste for them, not for those to whom they are shackles and prisons. Every one in his place and his calling.

"Whither shall I bend my steps?" exclaimed the youth as he was about to step from the threshold of his home. 66 Possibly I may hear of an opening in some mercantile house, where a clerk is required. But no; Liverpool is all very well for those who are wedded to pounds, shillings and pence. I want to go to some seat of learning. Oxford, Cambridge, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburg; these are all before me. Simpleton! what are you dreaming about? Twenty five shillings is the entire amount of your wealth; the sum of your possessions! Ah! true; I forgot that! Well, never mind!"

We cannot, however, give the whole story of these " Struggles"-enough, he got safely through them all-became a useful, self educated man. Go, young reader, buy and read the book-then go and do likewise.

The book contains many exquisite passages. We give the following section on

CHARITY.

"True charity is a lady of exquisite beauty, of noble mien, and perfect form. The light of benevolence plays on her countenance, and there is a mingled expression of holy sadness and joy in her eye, which assures the poor and the fallen that she weeps in secret over their afflictions and sins, and that her heav n upon earth arises from efforts to relieve and restore. Her eye affecteth her heart, and the sympathies of her tender soul are drawn out by the pale cheek of hunger, and the trembling steps of age. In the feeble wail of the little orphan, and the furrowed brow of the widow, she hears and sees that unwritten monody whose pathos stirs her spirit. The chief characteristic of her nature, and that which gives beauty and glory to all the rest, is the love of man as the wandering child of God. She loves angels with calm complacency, because, good herself, she cannot but delight in goodness; but she loves men with benevolent compassion, because,

taught of God herself, she would lead them back to the Father. The supply of bread to the hungry, and of clothes to the naked, are, in her hand, religious acts, because her motive is regard to Him who, though He was rich, yet for our sakes became poor, that we through His poverty might be rich; and whilst she ministers of her substance to the body, she ministers with still greater earnestness to that mysterious life within, of which the body is but the frail casket; and, in a word, she needs not, like those who, coveting her fame, imitate her voice and manner, the repeated strokes of skilful argument or cunning flattery, to elicit the warm spark from her heart, for the living flame is already there, the sacrifice is accepted, because it is offered willingly as to the Lord, and not to men.

"But has charity counterfeits? What more likely? There have been many false Christs, and why not many false charities? The true gospel creates the true charity; but there are many gospels, and each of them, in imitation of the true, has its accompanying charity. There is the gospel of counsel, which, like the drug vender, gives "advice gratis ;"-its charity consists of words, which tell you how to proceed, but it neither puts shoes on your feet nor a staff in your hand. There is the gospel of sentiment, which pathetically describes the wants of the poor; its charity is employed in calling upon others to remember the children of woe; but it sells its appeals at so much per sheet. There is the gospel of the ball-room and the public dinner, which proclaims its message by the dance and the wine cup; its charity hands the surplus' to the refugee and the society; but without the dance and the wine her heart would have felt no warmth. There is the gospel of imitation, which makes the list of subscribers the standard of duty; its charity has no particular reference to the merits of the case, but thinks it would be mean to refuse when so many neighbors have given. There is the gospel of ease, whose charity opens her hand that she may get rid of a troublesome applicant. And there is the gospel of popular fame, whose charity gives one thousand pounds, with the well-understood condition, that the name of the 'princely donor' shall appear in the newspapers, be loudly cheered at the public meeting, and surrounded with a cloud of incense in the annual report. This charity does things only on a magnificent scale. The minute and the obscure are beneath her notice. She comprehends a whole, but sees not the use of parts. She will build churches, endow a bishopric, found a college, glorify a sect, colonize a wilderness, or emancipate a nation of slaves; but a sovereign to a village pastor, whose soul is wrung between the fear of debt and the fact of poverty, or a castoff coat to a brother shivering in the cold, or any other trifling gift which would attract no notice, except the warm thanks of the recipient, and a place in his prayers to God, is foreign to the practice of that magniloquent charity that is born of the gospel of fame.

"Each of these charities has its work to do in the many-sided world, and each of them has its reward; but, though bearing the name, neither of them is, in the remotest degree, related to the greatest sister of the heaven-born three."

FORESHADOWS. LECTURES ON OUR LORD'S MIRACLES. By Rev. John Cumming, D. D. Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston. 1854.

Dr. Cumming is a very popular preacher in London. These Lectures were delivered to his people from notes, reported, and now published under the revision of the author, but without any material change. They have, therefore, of course, not that scholarly polish, and scientific completeness which characterizes Trench. Yet they are rich, earnest, and suggestive discourses. They are characterized by much vigor and freshness, both of thought and style. He acknowledges himself "deeply indebted," for many leading thoughts, to Olshausen, and also, in some degree, to Trench, "whose obligations to the same author are very many and very great." This is a commendation to the Lectures, as no one can, at this age, claim to be heard in such a department of Theological Science, who does not know the German Masters. Any German scholar will instinctively feel, when he reads these Lectures, that the mind and heart of the Fatherland throbs in them.

The volume is gotten up in fine style, and though it contains 378 pages, it is sold at the very low rate of 75 cents.

From this volume we take the following beautiful and impressive section from the Saviour's first miracle at the wedding in Cana of Galilee.

JESUS AT THE MARRIAGE.

"Before I enter upon this miracle clause by clause, let me notice how graciously Christ begins bis career of miracles and mercies. The day begins, not with a burst of meridian splendour, but its dawn peeps from behind the hills, tinges the sea with its beautiful and rosy colours, and then shines more and more "unto the perfect day." So rese softly, beautifully, and progressively the Sun of righteousness. His first miracle was not a miracle of tremendous power, but one of quiet and gentle beneficence. The Saviour's first miracle dawned in the form of a nuptial benediction upon a young couple, beginning the journey, and about to attempt the battle of life. He heightened domestic joys before he went forth to mitigate domestic sorrows. He began rejoicing with them that do rejoice before he went on his pilgrimage to "weep with them that weep." Jesus sympathized first with the happy before he went forth to succour the miserable and the unhappy. And who was it that so sympathized? Who was it that had a heart thus opened to the softest and most responsive sympathies? He on whose soul there pressed the load of a world's transgressions. He who saw a long and rugged road before him, and at the end of that road the cross to which he should be nailed. He whose spirit was thus heavy with the prospect of coming agony, could yet pause in that rough road, and step aside to that little cottage in that sequestered hamlet, to show that while he could expiate a world's sins, he would recognise the remains of Eden happiness and Eden bliss even in the humblest and poorest of mankind. And it is at such a time, let me add, such a time of happiness and joy, as that which is described at the marriage feast of Cana, that we need the presence of our Lord. Hence I must correct a very common misapprehension. When we are placed in affliction, or trial, when we have lost the near and the dear, or when our property has been swept away, at such a time we are very willing to say, "This is God's doing;" but is it not strange, when joyful things come, and bounding hearts testify that they have come, when prosperity sheds its splendours upon us, and hope draws us forward to scenes of increasing happiness, that we then think "this is our own doing?" If we are in affliction, we begin to pray--I speak of Christians; but strange that in prosperity we should never think of beginning to praise. Does it not indicate the original sin of our hearts, that we associate God and wrath together, instead of associating God with every thing that is beautiful and holy, beneficent and bright? We come to think Christianity is a capital thing for burials, but that it will do bridals no good at all; we come to suppose that the gospel is most appropriate when we weep, but that it is not fit to be put in the same category with rejoicing. My dear friends, you mistake it; it sweetens and sanctifies, not saddens, the happiest ; and it sustains, and cheers, and strengthens the sorrowful and suffering. It was more needed at the marriage-feast of Cana in Galilee than it was at the deathbed of Lazarus. It is as much needed to sweeten and to sanctify our joys as it is to mitigate and diminish our sufferings and our sorrows. Let us then ask the presence of a Saviour at sick beds and funerals, but let us also ask the presence of a Saviour at marriages and at festivals: let us pray that he may be present when the cup is empty, or filled with gall; or when the cup is full and overflows, and the trembling hand can scarcely hold it steadily.

I notice in this parable, that our Lord came not to destroy society, but to descend into its depths, and sweeten, and cement, and sanctify it. He came not like the Goth to raze, or like the Socialist and the Communist to disorganize, but, like the Christianity of which he is the Alpha and the Omega, to illuminate, to inspire, and to sanctify. He did not come to build in the wilderness a huge convent for all Christians to withdraw from the world and dwell in, but he did better; he came to uphold, to sanctify and sweeten human life, human joy, and human sorrow; he came, not to put an end to common life, but he came to bring the gospel into its hidden recesses, and its deepest depths, to make all its paths beautiful and its voices harmony. Christianity does not call upon you who are tradesmen to shut up your shops, but to be Christian shopmen; it does not call upon you not to mar. ry, but to marry in the Lord; nor to lay aside your titles, as a recent denomination does, but to be Christian peers and peeresses; it does not call upon you to detach yourselves from society, in order to avoid its evil, but to go into the midst of society, and meet its hostility, master its evils, and make it reflect the glory, the beneficence, and the goodness of God. Hence, the first act of the ministry of Jesus was not isolation from society, but going right into the heart of society, beginning at its root and centre, in order to bless, to beautify, and make it good."

A NEW PICTORIAL HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. With Questions for Schools. By J. B. Booth. Philadelphia: Leary & Getz, 1854. (pp. 244.)

This book was politely handed us, a few days ago, while moving back and forth along the well-filled shelves of the book store of MURRAY & STOEK. We think it an admirable school book. It is written in good style, and very appropriately illustrated. Messrs. Murray & Stoek select their stock with great care, and always keep good books. They have especially a good assortment of Sabbathschool books from the various Sabbath school Unions and Boards; so that any Sabbath-school can make a selection to just suit its own taste. These are furnished at city prices. Let Sabbath-schools note this.

TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS.

DURING the last month many of our subscribers have received bills; a goodly number have responded, for which they will please accept our thanks.

But what we wish particularly at this time to say, is that if any mistakes have occurred in sending out the bills, our friends will please inform us, and all will be made straight. The clerk, who kept our books, having lately removed, it was necessary to make new arrangements, by which the books were transferred into new hands. On looking over the books it was found that a great deal more money stood unpaid than should be the case-many owing for three, four, and five years. We have accordingly made an arrangement by which the collection of what is outstanding will be effected as soon as possible. In so large a number of small accounts mistakes will sometimes occur; our subscribers will please mention, if any are found, and they will be very cheerfully corrected.

We have transfered the books and business of the Guardian entirely into the hands of the Publisher, Mr. JOHN H. PEARSOL, who is a correct and experienced hand in such business. This will remove from us a vast amount of care and labor, and thus enable us to bestow greater care on the Editorial department. We ask our subscribers and correspondents, therefore, to observe the following two things, 1. Direct all Letters containing money, or that refer to business, to J. H. PEarSOL, Lancaster, Pa.

2. All letters having reference to the Editorial department are to be addressed, as before, to the Editor.

THE PUBLISHER requests us to state, that he contemplates a series of improvements in THE GUARDIAN, as soon as his arrangements can be completed, which will add much to the interest and value of the work. Among these is a series of fine wood-cut engravings, illustrating a great variety of instructive and interesting subjects, in addition to a fine steel-plate embellishment for each volume. The next volume will also appear in a much improved dress-altogether rendering it the cheapest and one of the most attractive periodicals in the country. $1 a year.

The Euardian.

VOL. V.-JULY, 1854.-No. VII.

NEW ENGLAND SUPERSTITION.

BY THE EDITOR.

"I'll tell the tale as it was told to me."

"SUPERSTITION.-The Boston Post says that the following took place in Jewett city, Connecticut. About eight years ago, Horace Ray died there of consumption; 'since then two of his sons have died of the same disease; and another son being sick with the same disease, his friends, under the belief that the dead brothers were feeding on the living, went to their graves on the 8th, dug them up, and burned the corpses! This is an instance of superstition such as missionaries tell us of among the heathen.""

The above paragraph, which met our eye the other day in a paper, attracted our attention. We commend it to the consideration of all such as have been taught to believe that there are none but wise men in the east. While we are willing to confess to much darkness reigning in the middle States, we protest against that affectation and credulity which assents to the idea that there is no superstition and ignorance in New England, while reproach is cast, in this respect, upon Pennsylvania, and especially upon the Germans. Yea, we go farther, and say that in superstition, intolerance and childishness, especially in public, civil and ecclesiastical acts, New England has always gone far ahead of German Pennsylvania. To say the contrary is slanderous, or betrays an ignorance of history too gross to be endured.

We appeal to history.

1. Upon no page of the history of German Pennsylvania are there to be found such silly and childish laws as are to be found among the "blue laws" of Connecticut. We have them not now at hand, and cannot quote instances; but having met them in a small volume several years ago, the impression is yet fresh in our

memory.

2. In regard to intolerance and religious persecution, show me one act of public religious intolerance, sanctioned by law and authority, in the whole history of Pennsylvania.

Now, look to New England. In 1635, Roger Williams was

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