it may be said, as of Lord Brougham, that he wielded the club of Hercules entwined with roses!' This generation will never look upon his like again ; a single century cannot afford to produce his equal. It may listen to much lucid exposi tion, much close and powerful reasoning, much tender and earnest appeal, much beautiful and varied imagery; but never from the lips of one man can it be stirred by vigor of argument fused by a seraph's glow, and pouring itself forth in strains which linger in the memory like the chant of angels. The regret has been expressed that his unwritten sermons had not been presented through the labors of a reporter. It is well the attempt was never made. What invented symbolscould convey that kindling eye, those trembling and varied tones, the expressive attitude, the foreshadowing and typical gesture, the whole quivering frame, which made up in him the complement of the finished orator! The lightning's flash, the fleecy clouds embroidered on the sky, and the white crest of the ocean wave, surpass the painter's skill. The orator must live through tradition; and to meet this tradition we have described one of whom it may be said, as once of Ebenezer Erskine, He that never heard him, never heard the gospel in its majesty." "-pp. 548 52.

·

Dr. Thornwell died in July, 1862, in the fiftieth year of his age-having before suffered severe family bereavements, including the recent death of a bright and noble son in the Confederate army. He had achieved what is given to few men to do, who live their four-score years. We cannot bring this notice to a close without touching on another sphere in which he was prominent, especially near the close of his life, and which is signalized by his biographer, who eloquently defines his own as well as Dr. Thornwell's position-indeed, quite largely and representatively that of the Southern Church and people, who trusted no leaders and teachers more than these. We of course refer to the late civil war (anxiety about which in its early stages, Dr. Palmer thinks, hurried Dr. Thornwell's death) and its underlying causes-slavery, state-sovereignty, and secession-not only of the Southern States, but the Church. Upon this we shall be very brief.

Of state sovereignty, Dr. Palmer indicates his own doctrine when he says of South Carolina, in reference to the nullification struggle of 1832 :

"She demanded that this tariff should be conformed to a revenue standard. Failing to secure this modification by Congressional legislation, she interposed her prerogative as a sovereign state to judge, in the last resort, on all questions affecting her own rights, restraining the general government from collecting this revenue within her limits."-p. 469.

He proceeds to deny, as he has done in still stronger terms in his late correspondence with Dr. Nelson, that "the tremendous hazard (of the war) was incurred in the interest and for the preservation of slavery. Indeed, this was never more than the occasion of the war, either North or South. It was a mere rallying cry on both sides, to marshal the hosts into the ranks-a concrete and tangible issue on which to concentrate the masses. The cause lay deeper, in the irreconciliable theories maintained as to the nature of the

him. The philosophical acumen of Howe, the gospel unction of Owen, and the rhetoric of Hall unite in this discourse; and, in my humble opinion, no sermon has been preached in our century, in my day, in any pulpit, equal to it."

government, in comparison with which all the interest and prosperity vested in the 'peculiar institution' were as dust in the balance."-p. 482. If all this be correct, our national government is impotent, and the Union " a rope of sand." The bringing of the government to this helpless condition of subjection to state sovereignty is still, if we may judge from this volume, the aspiration of an influential part of the Southern people. As to the cause and occasion of incurring the hazards of the late war, we think slavery sustained both relations to it. It was alike the efficient, final, and occasional cause, which alone was of power to impel to it, and the security and spread of which constituted the end professedly sought by it. State sovereignty, in fact, was scarcely more than causa sine qua non. The literature and documents of the times, including Dr. Palmer's famous thanksgiving sermon, are sufficient proof of this. Indeed, we had marked for quotation from this volume abundant and overwhelming confirmation of the subtantial justice of the view given in the last number, of the causes of the secession of the Southern Church, and of the relation of Drs. Thornwell and Palmer to it. But we much prefer to leave them out of sight, in view of the more propitious outlook for fraternal relations, on equal terms, between us and the Southern Church. On such terms, but on no other, we now, as heretofore, ardently crave not only fraternal relations, but as soon as may be, organic union.

As reference has been made by Dr. Stanton, in the April number of this REVIEW, to a private statement of Dr. Thornwell on the African slave-trade, we think it right to quote his last public statement known to us on the subject.

“The great mass of the Southern people were content with the law (prohibiting the African slave-trade) as it stood. They were and are opposed to the trade, not because the traffic in slaves is immoral-but because the traffic with Africa is not a traffic in slaves, it is a system of kidnapping and man-stealing, which is as abhorrent to the South as it is to the North."-p. 595.

But we must stop. We earnestly hope that this volume may have a wide circulation in all parts of the country, and especially among Presbyterians, not only on account of those attractive features of it which we have noticed; but no less that they may have a true view of the thinking and policy of leading men of the South in regard to those matters, political and ecclesiastical, in which they differ from us. It is only as the two sections of the country thus know each other through the expositions of their respective leaders in church and state, that they can know how to deal with mutual differences wisely and well.-L. H. A.

Art. XII.-CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE.

THEOLOGICAL AND RELigious.

The Ministry of the Word, by WM. M. TAYLOR, D.D., of the Broadway Tabernacle, New York, is issued in neat style by Randolph. It comprises his Lectures on Preaching to Yale Theological Seminary, on the Lyman Beecher foundation, portions of which have been repeated in Princeton and Oberlin with great benefit and acceptance. We had the pleasure of hearing some of them. The elevated character of these we find, on reading the book, fully sustained through the course.

We have no hesitation in saying that no volume on homiletics or sacred rhetoric conveys, within an equal space, and in a style so clear and forcible, so much profitable instruction on the matter and manner, preparation and delivery of sermons.

It has the great advantage of coming from one who has no superior, and few peers, among us as a preacher of the gospel. He has the great advantage, too, of knowing himself, and the sources of his power. He also understands those sources of pulpit power, which are accessible to the average preacher as well as those which are specially so to the more gifted. He gives the ideal of effective preaching and the most facile method of reaching it. The comparative merits of topical and expository discourse, and the best methods of success in each, are well set forth.

The suggestions in regard to illustration and ornament are exceedingly just and valuable. His description of the manner in which he himself acquired the power of enriching his discourses with fresh metaphors and vivid illustrations, after having formed the habit in his early ministry of sermonizing without the help of such imagery, is worth the study of all preachers, young and old, whose discourses now shed only the dry light of logic, and show too much the pallor and thinness of cadaverous abstractions.

But while he emphasizes the due use of illustration, and the right method of attaining it, he reprobates the extravagance of those who devote themselves to "constructing ornament, instead of ornamenting construction;" and who substitute for the glorious ministration of the word a string of anecdotes or driveling tales, miscalled sermons.

Dr. Taylor's book is true to its title, "The Ministry of the Word." Whatever counsels or teachings he gives, it is not as any substitute for, or supplement to, the Word; but as a means of bringing out its living import into quickening and life-giving contact with the understandings, consciences, and hearts of men. It is from first to last an exhibition of the most effective ways and means of preaching the Word, and commending the truth to every man's conscience in tue sight of God.

In the Vineyard: A Plea for Christian Work. By REV. E. F. Burr,

D. D., author of "Ecce Cœlum," etc. New York: T. N. Crowell, 744 Broadway.

Dr. Burr, although waiting in the quiet and seclusion of his rural study till a comparatively recent period, before entering on his career of authorship, has made up for this delay, not only by the fecundity, but by the substantial merits, of his publications. At first they were largely controversial and apologetic against some of the later forms of so-called scientific skepticism. Successive volumes of this de cription commanded wide attention, and exercised a salutary influence. His later works have been devoted to practical religion. The present volume is an excellent specimen of this class. Scriptural and evangelical in tone, it founds Christian practice upon its proper doctrinal basis. It sets forth the proper measure, method, and motives of the various kinds of Christian work. It is not tame or spiritless, but enlivened by that fresh and vivid style, which its author has successfully cultivated. Those duties the most common are urged in a style far from common-place. The book does not repel nor stupefy the reader with cant, monotony, or hum-drum. It kindles a lively interest by its glow and fervor-its fresh and sententious utterances. It forms a desirable addition to our current books on Chris.ian service and work.

The Presbyterian Committee of Publication, Richmond, have issued The Family in its Civil and Churchly Aspects, an Essay in Two Parts, by B. M. PALMER, D. D., a volume quite worthy of its distinguished author. The family is analyzed in all its parts and their mutual relations, while these are defined according to the scriptural platform. With especial force and discrimination the author unfolds the various exhibitions of conjugal, parental, filial, and servile duty, as these are presented in the Pauline epistles. This little volume has its own special place in the literature devoted to the most primitive and fundamental institution of human society. We find a depth and substance, and scriptural solidity in its inculcations which are greatly needed, but not often seen in books of this kind. Many hostile influences now threaten and assail the family, and subverting that divine order in its organization and working, which make it "the chief remnant of Paradise," surviving the wreck of the Fall, turn it intɔ a miniature pandemonium, or moral pest-house. Too often they are coming to overthrow it altogether, till society becomes a mere waste of hotels, boarding-houses, and places of prostitution, where God no longer "sitteth in solitary in families,” on which he commandeth his blessing, even life forevermore.

We even think the portions of this book devoted to servants and masters are well worthy of study by all who occupy those relations, whether under the form of voluntary or involuntary servitude. Those in the former relation need to have its divine duties and privileges set forth quite as much as the latter. From ignorance or neglect of these, multitudes are now suffering immeasurable loss for this life and the life to come.

We do not overlook the fact, that Dr. Palmer emphasizes the obligations of obedience and fidelity in the case of bond-servants. So far forth he simply follows the word of God. We note, still further, that he does not appear to

regard it as an abnormal state, to be borne with where it exists only till preparation can be made for emancipation as the normal state. But he rather treats it as if it were the normal condition of human society. We regard it otherwise. And just here, we find that root of the difference between the North and a large portion of the South, out of which most other antagonisms have grown. It is not in the question, whether slave holding is necessarily and always a sin, but whether it is the normal order, and ought to be conserved and extended. We do not find this expressly asserted, but the whole argument is constructed as if this were so (as Dr. Palmer elsewhere maintains), and we observe no intimations to the contrary. While Dr. Palmer finds in Christianity a balm for what he styles this "lowest and coldest of human relationship;" we do not see that he looks to its abolition, or preparation for such abolition, or any proper remedy or palliative. While we note this feature, we do not mean that the interest and value of the work are thus impaired.

We have before us an Outline of the Historical Evidence of the Truth of the Christian Religion, by ALEXANDER MACKNIGHT, Professor of Theology, Halifax, Nova Scotia, filling a large and closely packed octavo pamphlet of nearly eighty pages. It presents the argument from history, and the undoubted facts, which no skeptical assaults have been able to break the force of or disprove. It shows the absurdity of the mythical, materialistic, and other recent forms of sceptical antagonism. It closes with a well-wrought demonstration of the possibility, credibility, and doctrinal relations of miracles. It is a solid and judicious brochure in apologetics

Randolph, of New York, and the Presbyterian Publishing Committee, Richmond, Va., issue a monogram by REV. Dr. WM. S. PLUMER, entitled The Person and Sinless Character of our Lord Jesus Christ. The author maintains that Christ, although temptable through his humanity, was both sinless and impeccable through his divine personality. He fortifies his position by cogent arguments. If by impeccability we understand that which consists in and is ensured by holy dispositions, perfect and unchanging, we do not see how his position can be successfully assailed.

Report of the Union Conference held in 1875, at Bonn. Edited by Dr. FR. HEINRICH REUSCH. Translated by Rev. SAMUEL BUEL, D.D. New York Whittaker. The above Conference held at Bonn, on the movement of Dr. von Döllinger, has its chief interest in the question, whether the Eastern (Russian) Church and the Old Catholics and the English and American Episcopal Churches can unite on one doctrinal platform. Many good people seem to think that if the Western (and Anglican) Church would only give up the present form of the Nicene Creed as to the procession of the Holy Ghost, that the main difficulty would be out of the way. Accordingly, this Conference at Bonn prepared a series of propositions about the Holy Ghost, from the writings of John of Damascus, the last real theologian of the Greek Church, who lived in the ninth century. They seemed to think that if theologians could agree in these, they could in everything else. And this is