Reviews and Notices.

The Exercise of Faith: a book for Doubters. By the late Rev. Miles Mahan, D.D. (London: Palmer.) This is a treatise which should be studied widely and carefully. But unfortunately the English edition is not presented to us in an attractive or convenient form. The pages are large and the type small, and neither chapter nor subject are marked at the top of the page, whereas, since it consists very largely of comments on isolated passages of Scripture, the editor would have done well to have resorted to the old method of summarizing the contents in the margin, so as to make reference as easy as possible.

Dr. Mahan is of course known to many as the author of a singularly interesting History of the Early Church. He was further a man of very warm sympathies and clear understanding, and the volume before us was composed with the view of helping some with whom he was brought in contact, to see through the fallacious arguments by which Roman Catholic controversialists are constantly endeavouring to entrap unskilled debaters. The thesis which

he set himself especially to combat is that the Catholic Christian ought to test what he reads in Holy Scripture by appeal to a living teacher. Against this view, equally as against its Protestant contradictory or opposite, Dr. Mahan, with all sound Anglican theologians, maintains that we must check (not Scripture itself indeed) but our interpretation of Scripture, as well as the views of individual teachers, by appeals to the voice of the entire Church as expressed in her Creeds and in the writings of her most approved theologians of early times. And it is the especial characteristic of this treatise that the author not only weighs the question historically, but shows also that the mode of proof just referred to is such as to commend itself to our acceptance on all moral grounds. Argument after argument is culled from Roman writers and shown to be inconclusive and improbable. It will be fair to the author to give one example, and it shall be this.

"Mr. Newman argues, against the natural inference from the slight regard shown to Papal decisions, first by the Eastern Bishops in the controversy with regard to the time of keeping Easter, afterwards by Cyprian and others, and finally, (when the Papal claims reached their acme,) by the whole Oriental Church, that no Empire establishes itself without resistance and rebellions. This is true of human despotisms, which invariably grow by a chain of successive usurpations. But in all divinely-appointed Governments the first governors are those whose sway is most absolute, and their powers most clearly defined and universally acknowledged. Thus Moses and Aaron governed more absolutely and with clearer evidence of Divine authority than any of their successors. The Apostles likewise had no indefinite or vaguely comprehended authority. The early Bishops, as is abundantly shown in their writings, were not slow in comprehending the nature of their authority or in defining it to the comprehension of others. It is the Papal Infallibility alone, (the most necessary to be clearly understood of all others on the Roman

theory, as upon the submission to it the very exercise of faith depends,) which required ages to make it clear, which during all the fearful controversies of the first ages was only half understood, and which at last was no sooner asserted in a distinct and unquestionable form than half Christendom rejected it as the very harbinger of Antichrist."

The Life of Prayer, (Masters,) by the Rev. W. H. Hutchings, Sub-Warden of the House of Mercy, Clewer, has been brought into its present very complete shape from a series of Lectures delivered by the Author in All Saints' Church, Margaret Street. We doubt if any more valuable treatise has appeared in recent times; for though, as the subject-matter implies, it is essentially practical, it could not have been written by any one who was not a good theologian. In order to the composition of a devotional work it is needful that a writer should have some experience in the guidance of souls, should be thoroughly familiar with Holy Scripture, and also should have some acquaintance with writers of scientific theology, such as S. Augustine and S. Thomas Aquinas. All these qualifications are possessed in full measure by Mr. Hutchings, and the result is a work which will certainly live for many a generation. The book is divided into six chapters,—on the Nature of Prayer, the Necessity of Prayer, Objections to Prayer, Conditions of Prayer, Mental Prayer, and Vocal Prayer.

A History of the Crusades, by the Rev. W. E. Dutton, with a Preface by the Rev. William Denton, M.A. (Hodges, London.) In this concise and clearly written work the author has done justice to a fascinating subject -historic truth is proverbially difficult of attainment, but it must always be so in an especial manner where the religious element pervades the subject, and the records of the past are coloured by the theological views of the historians. This is, of course, eminently the case in respect to the Crusades, but Mr. Dutton has conscientiously laboured to arrive at a true comprehension of all the circumstances connected with that great movement, and in this effort he has been very successful. The sympathy with which, as a sincere member of the Church Catholic, he cannot fail to regard the promoters of the Crusades does not render him blind to their failings, or to the admixture of human motives with the holy purpose of these religious wars. Mr. Denton's Preface is also valuable, as it points out how much many countries, including England, are indebted to the Crusades for their present wellbeing.

A very pretty little book as to its external appearance and its internal contents is the Legend of S. Christopher and other Poems, by Mary E. Shipley. (William Poole, London.) The versification is easy and graceful, and the poems both in subject matter and style give evidence of a cultivated and devotional mind.

The Sunday Scholar's Companion for 1877 (Church of England Sunday School Institute, Bridge Street, London) is a goodly volume of very various contents, both amusing and instructive, which with its numerous excellent illustrations will certainly gain it a welcome with the young people for whom

it is intended. Generally speaking Church principles are fairly enunciated throughout the book, but we regret to see that in the leading serial tale "When we were Boys," (otherwise a good one,) there is a very defective exposition of the nature of Confirmation.

Jewel Stories, by Minnie Young, (William Poole, London,) are a set of bright little stories ingeniously founded, each one, upon the history of a different gem, and no doubt will be found amusing by school-girls, for whom they seem to be intended. We trust, however, that there are not many young ladies who would be so foolishly attracted by trinkets as the heroines of these tales are supposed to be.

It is no surprise that among the many Hymnals which have lately appeared The Hymnal Companion to the Book of Common Prayer, with accompanying Tunes, (London: Sampson Low, Marston, Searle and Rivington,) should have found favour with some. It would be strange, if in a book like the present, containing over 500 tunes-varying in style and character from ancient chorales to American Revival songs—there was not something to be found meeting the requirements of most people. Considering the almost ceaseless flow of new verses from the pen of the poet, and not being of opinion that the same words must always necessarily be sung to the same music, we are not inclined to find fault with composers for giving us from time to time fresh melodies, or the same melodies reharmonised. It seems to us to be no question of hard and fast rules, but, to a great extent, to be one of taste only. Though a book with which the name of such an able and devout musician as the late Dr. Dykes is associated must always have its value, we think that in many instances the music is not at all happily chosen ; and while we admire amongst others such tunes as Nos. 16, 273, 274, 337 (1), 425, and approve of some of the adaptations from the great masters, (Beethoven, Mozart, &c.,) there is much in the volume before us from which we entirely dissent. If, however, these Songs shall be the means of kindling the spirit of a truer devotion-for this, we take it, is the end of all Church Music-in the hearts of GOD's servants to make them worship and serve Him the better, the editor will have done a good work. The book is beautifully printed, and upon the whole we recommend it.

The Irish Church Society has now converted its "Journal” from a quarterly to a monthly periodical. The articles which it contains are generally of a very high order, and are worthy of a wide circulation on this side of S. George's Channel. The Journal is published by Ponsonby and Cornish of Dublin, at the price of only one penny.

Mr. Dunwell has completed his Commentary on the Four Gospels, (Clowes and Son,) in fifteen parts. And he is certainly entitled to the credit of having put forth the most complete work on the subject which exists in our language. We trust that he may be well repaid for the great labour and risk that he has incurred.

Correspondence.

[The Editor is not responsible for the opinions of the Correspondents.]

To the Editor of the Churchman's Companion.