Billeder på siden
PDF
ePub

printed from the corrected London copy, and is complete, with all the additions.'

The application of Chemistry to Physiology and Pathology is comparatively a recent application of it, and, unquestionably, one of the most interesting. When this science comes to aid us in discovering the proper functions of our several organs, the exact relations of different kinds of food to the human organism, and their precise influences on disease; when it discovers that the fat of the animal system is made out of sugar, etc. etc., it is coming near home to all of us, and must awaken a new interest in the minds of intelligent persons. Let such read and study this book.

13.-" Principalities and Powers in Heavenly Places." By Charlotte Elizabeth. With an Introduction, by the Rev. Edward Bickersteth. New York: John S. Taylor, & Co. 1842. pp. 298.

Charlotte Elizabeth's works have hitherto been among the most popular of foreign authors; and the present volume, we think, will be equally so. The subject is unusual in these days, but perhaps, for that very reason the more needful. And the fact that the authoress has taken the Bible as her only guide, without consulting commentators, will excite a special interest to know the results of her inquiries. Part I. treats of Evil Spirits. Part II. of Holy Angels. The nature and relations of both are fully considered; and we hope those who are skeptical on the subject of the Devil and his angels, will read this book, and ponder well the Scriptural evidence of their existence and activity. We are inclined to believe, that they have much more to do in the management of this world than has been generally supposed; and if they have, it is well for us to be aware of it. The fact that we cannot see an evil spirit, is no evidence of its non-existence-that we cannot feel it, no evidence that it is not nigh, even at the door of our hearts.

14-The History of the Reformation of the Church of England. By Gilbert Burnet, D. D., late Lord Bishop of Salisbury. With the Collection of Records, and a copious Index. Revised and corrected, with additional Notes, and a Preface, by Rev. E. Nares, D. With a Frontispiece and twenty-two Plates, 4 vols. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1842.

D.

The publishers merit the thanks of the public for this

beautiful edition of Bishop Burnet's celebrated History of the Reformation. It is issued in four large octavo volumes, in large, clear type, and on good paper; so that those who read it in youth, and wish now, in old age, to re-peruse it, will find it well adapted to their impaired vision. This History has so long been a standard work among Protestants, and its character so well known, that it seems unnecessary more than to announce its re-publication. And yet we should be glad to dwell a little on its merits, had we the requisite space. We can only subjoin an extract from the editor's preface. "Scarcely any other book of equal importance, perhaps, stands so much in need of preliminary explanations, as this great work. And it must often, we think, have been a matter of just surprise to the readers of this History, that, in the editions hitherto published, the errors in the first and second volumes have been reprinted, which the author himself noticed at the end of the third volume. In the present edition, the text will be found corrected as it should be, and many explanatory notes added throughout the work." We must not omit to mention that the price of the four volumes is eight dollars.

15.-General History of Civilization in Europe, from the

Fall of the Roman Empire to the French Revolution. By M. Guizot, Professor of History in the Faculty of Literature at Paris, and Minister of Public Instruction. Third American, from the second English edition, with occasional Notes, by C. S. Henry, D. D. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1842. pp. 316.

This being the third edition of the work, we shall be excused from repeating what has been said before, to recommend it to public attention. The author is so well known, and his talents so highly appreciated, that they are, in themselves, a sufficient recommendation. It is by no means an ordinary history, a mere tissue of facts; but rather, presuming the facts to be known, it is a philosophic generalization of them, an investigation of their causes and consequences, an embodyment of the spiritual of history, a revelation of the interior movements. Some such work needs to be studied in connection with more general histories, or rather subsequent. ly to a pretty thorough knowledge of the facts of any particular period. In this relation it is well adapted to become a text book in Colleges; we should say, in the higher classes.

16.-A Romaic Grammar, accompanied by a Chrestomathy, with a Vocabulary. By E. A. Sophocles, A. M. Hartford H. Huntington, Jun., 1842. pp. 264.

:

This Grammar of the modern Greek, coming from a native Greek, and one who has already proved his skill in the construction of a Grammar of the ancient language, must be presumed to be superior to any of those previously current. Our examination of it has satisfied us that it will furnish the best aid to those, who design making themselves acquainted with this relic of the beautiful language of Xenophon and Plato, sustaining about the same relation to it, as the Italian to the Latin. Greek scholars will very readily acquire a knowledge of the Romaic, just as Latin scholars find little difficulty in learning the Italian. We presume this language will ultimately be numbered amongst those modern tongues which it will be thought desirable to know.

17.-Memoir of Mrs. Mary Lundie Duncan; being Recollections of a Daughter. By her Mother. From the

second Edinburgh edition. New York: Robert Carter, 1842. pp. 268.

We have seldom experienced as much pleasure in reading a memoir as this has afforded us. We could desire that every youthful Christian especially, might have the gratification and reap the benefit of its perusal. Such humility and loveliness have seldom existed in union with so much refinement of mind and taste, prompting so many caresses on the part of admir. ers. Mrs. Duncan appears to us one of the most transparent characters with which we have ever become acquainted. She lived and died an humble disciple of Jesus. The Tablet in the Parish Church of Cleish well describes her: "In the morning of her life, the sweet affections of her heart, and every energy of a powerful and highly refined intellect, were consecrated by the Holy Spirit to the service of Jesus Christ."

"Lovely alike in person and in character, she discharged with fidelity the duties of a wife and of a mother, and prayerfully sought to improve every opportunity of usefulness among the people of this parish; till, unexpectedly, but not unprepared, she fell asleep in Jesus, on the 5th day of Janua ry, A. D. 1840, aged 25."

We must add that, in the Appendix, will be found some beautiful poetry, better adapted to the comprehension of very young children, than most of the hymns in our juvenile collections.

18.-Sacred Songs, for Family and Social Worship; comprising the most approved Spiritual Hymns, with chaste and popular tunes. Published by the American Tract Society. 1842. pp. 343.

"The design of this work," as expressed in the Preface, "is to promote devotional singing in the closet, in the family, and in meetings for social worship. The aim has been to furnish a selection of Spiritual Hymns, classified in the order of subjects, with a nice adaptation of chaste and popular tunes, of sufficient number and variety to meet existing wants." The Committee have enjoyed the counsel and aid of Messrs. Hastings, Mason, Kingsley, Pond, and other celebrated authors of sacred music. We are much pleased, both with the hymns and the music.

19.-The Way of Life. By Charles Hodge, Professor in

the Theological Seminary, Princeton, N. J. Written for the Am. S. S. Union, and revised by the Committee of Publication. American Sunday School Union, Philadelphia. 1842. pp. 343.

The book is divided into nine chapters, embracing the following topics :-The Scriptures are the word of God-SinCauses of indifference to the charge of Sin-Conviction of Sin-Justification-Faith -Repentance-Profession of Religion-Holy Living. An enquirer after the way of Life, will here find counsel on all the great questions relating to his spiritual interests; and we fondly hope that the work will be instrumental in directing many a wanderer into the right path.

The style of the author is chaste and perspicuous, and his method of treating his subjects clear, forcible, and impressive. Professor Hodge has here, undoubtedly, performed a good work, which will cause his name to go down to future gene. rations, and embalm it in the memory of multitudes. The book is as free from peculiar views as it could well be, and consequently has met the approbation of all schools. There are ex. pressions in it, to which some would perhaps object, but, on the whole, the performance is commendable; and the spirit of it is such as will secure a candid reading.

ARTICLE XI.

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

Germany.

The "Archiv" of the city was blown up with the "Rathhaus," at Ham. burg, and with it many most valuable documents connected with the history, not only of Hamburg, but of all the other principal cities and states of Europe, more particularly of England, have perished.-Wilhelm Schlegel announces a series of lectures on Ancient and Modern India.The University of Tübingen, a few weeks ago, received a present from the Directors of the English East India Company, of sixty-seven Oriental works, chiefly in Sanscrit, printed at Calcutta.

Holland.

In a marsh, in the duchy of Limburg, a wooden bridge, 1250 ells long, and about three ells broad, has been discovered. The principal beams are as hard as stone, but the cross-beams are completely decayed. They are covered with an unctuous mass, supposed to have been a kind of cement.

France.

Marshal Soult has appointed a Commission charged to draw up and prepare for publication a grammar and dictionary of the Berber or Kabyle language. It has hitherto been supposed that the various dialects of Africa were more or less corruptions of the old Arabic. This error has now been satisfactorily removed. They bear no similitude either to the Arabic, the Coptic, or the Hebrew, though a few Arabic roots have been admitted into them. In the Royal Library at Paris, a Bohemian manuscript was lately discovered, containing several theological essays by John Huss.

Italy.

A work of some importance to the scientific world has just been published, namely, a description of all the obelisks of Rome, accompanied by as complete an explanation as the recent discoveries relative to the Hieroglyphics of Egypt permitted.

etc.

United States.

Allen, Morrill & Wardwell will shortly publish at the Codman press : A Grammar of the German Language. By Geo. H. Noehden, L. L. D., From the eighth London Edition, by the Rev. C. H. F. Bialloblotzky, Ph. D. Revised and conformed to the present state of German Philology. By Barnas Seares, President of the Newton Theol. Seminary.-James Munroe & Co. have in press The Gorgias of Plato, with Notes by Prof. Woolsey :—also a new vol. by Mrs. Sigourney, descriptive of a Tour in England, Scotland and France, with engravings.-The next number of the Biblical Repository will contain the concluding article on Baptism by President Beecher.

« ForrigeFortsæt »