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and Essays. By Henry B. Smith. D.D., LL.D. Edited with an Introductory Notice by George J. Prentiss, D.D. Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark. 1878.-Dr. Prentiss justly says of the lamented Henry B. Smith: Whether regarded as a theologian, as a philosophical thinker or as a general scholar and critic, he was one of the most accomplished men of his time.' The present work is a collection of Addresses and Reviews delivered on various occasions, and published in different literary journals. The title of the first is given to the book, as being indicative of its general character. Messrs. Clark have rendered another good service by collecting and publishing in this country the scattered and most valuable productions of a great American thinker. These Articles and Addresses deal in a masterly way with many of the great theological and philosophical questions which agitate our times. One of the ablest and most valuable is that on The New Latitudinarians of England. The shallowness of the writers of Essays and Reviews, their disreputable unacquaintance with the literature of the subjects which they treat in such a revolutionary spirit, is exposed with terrible trenchancy. A steady growth of power is observable in the successive productions arranged in this volume according to the date of their original publication, at least as far as the tenth inclusive: Whedon on the Will: a lucubration which has much interest and instructiveness for Arminians. Dr. Smith evidently sees where the pinch of the question is; but even his intellect is baffled by the metaphysics of the subject, and candid and clear-headed as he is, he misconceives the Arminian position; no doubt owing mainly to unskilfulness and defectiveness of statement on the part of Arminian advocates.

Letters to a Young Clergyman. By John C. Miller, D.D. London: Hodder and Stoughton. 1878.-To the two very able works on the duties of young Ministers noticed in our March number, we must now add a third, equally practical and devout. The form in which Canon Miller has written makes his book less a systematic treatise than a series of godly counsels, written in an almost colloquial style, indeed, precisely what a veteran soldier of Christ might say to his own son in the Gospel. His chief topics are: The Aportionment of the Minister's Time to his various Duties, Pulpit Preparation and Visitation. On the last-mentioned subject his advice is especially valuable, deserving the careful attention of all Ministers who study to show themselves approved unto God.' We fully endorse his views upon

the vast importance of the pastoral office, concerning which he says: I am quite sure that average preaching, with diligent and loving visitation, will tell in time upon most parishes more effectually than mere preaching, however eloquent or popular. It will tell more effectively for the true, deep, lasting work of the Minister.' Whilst writing directly for the benefit of young Clergymen, Dr. Miller has produced a book which every Methodist Preacher would find exceedingly helpful. We should be glad to see it in the possession of all our young Ministers.

The Origin and History of the New Testament. By James Martin, B.A. Third Edition. London: Hodder and Stoughton. 1878.-In this handy volume the author has given a thoroughly good popular account of the origin and history of the New Testament. His aim has been to show how under the influence of the Holy Spirit the various books were written, gradually gathered together and the Canon finally fixed. The concluding chapters give a brief sketch of the principal texts, and especially of the English Version. To Sunday-school teachers and other Bible students who have not the opportunity of reading the more expensive and elaborate works of Canon Westcott (to whom Mr. Martin acknowledges considerable obligations), this book will prove exceedingly valuable, furnishing them with what so many require, a short and trustworthy history of the New Testament Scriptures.

An Autobiography of the Rev. Josiah Henson (Mrs. H. Beecher Stowe's' Uncle Tom'). From 1789 to 1877. Edited by John Lobb, F.R.G.S. Ninety-fourth Thousand. 'Christian Age' Office. 1878.-A book of which ninety thousand copies have been sold in twelve months hardly needs a reviewer's commendation; still we are glad to call the attention of any of our readers who have not already seen it, to this most touching narrative of Uncle Tom's' Life. The chapters which describe his slave life, his cruel sufferings from his master's heartless treachery, and afterwards from hunger and weariness, and then his final escape to Canada, rival in pathetic interest the most thrilling parts of Mrs. Stowe's well-known story, and abundantly justify her against the charge of exaggeration.

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The Scripture Doctrine of Future Punishment. Three Lectures by Alexander Thompson, D.D. Manchester: Tubbs and Brook.

The Penalty; or, The Eternity of

Future Punishment. By the Rev. J. H. Hitchens. London: John Snow and Co.Two sixpenny tractates which we warmly recommend. Mr. Hitchens excels in the exposition of principles; Dr. Thompson in the exposition of texts. People who lack the leisure to digest large volumes will find the gist of the orthodox argument in these pamphlets. Minute criticism might find an objectionable phrase or two in both authors, rather more in Mr. Hitchens than in Dr. Thompson; but on the whole both publications are as beneficial as they are opportune.

Straight Street; or, The Church and the World: A History and an Allegory, in which will be found numerous Sketches of Men and Manners; of Things Past and Present; of Sects, Societies and Institutions, Godly, Godless and Diabolical. Viewed in their Relation to the Cause of God and Truth. By Serjeant Laverack. London: F. E. Longley.-As the title suggests, this bulky book is a curious medley. Upon a slender thread of allegory are strung an enormous quantity of quotations, opinions and discussions about 'Scepticism, Evolution, Ritualism, Popery, Religions Equality, the Liquor Traffic, Christian Experience, Denominations, Forms of

Prayer, with illustrations of Christian life in its many phases,' and 'other topics." Serjeant Laverack means well; but the thread of allegory is not strong enough to carry the weight attached to it, and with most of his extracts most readers are familiar.

The Seven Topics of the Christian Faith: A Manual of Theology, Orthodoz and Unsectarian. By the Rev. P. Maclaren. London: S. W. Partridge and Co.-Mr. Maclaren, Professor of Theology in the Union College, Adelaide, felt the want of some handbook that should contain the cardinal doctrines of the Christian creed, and yet be suitable for students of different denominations. This he has not unsuccessfully tried to construct in the present volume. It shows how much the different sections of the Protestant Church are agreed in accepting, and contains nothing that any Christian could fairly object to. The unavoidable defect of such a compilation is that on many impor tant subjects the teaching is meagre. Mr. Maclaren is as impartial as possible, and displays much ingenuity in seizing on and expressing the points common to various theological schools. He is master of a clear and pleasant style.

OBITUARY.

MR. GEORGE ROBERT WRANGHAM, of Driffield, was born in the year 1819. His parents were members of the WesleyanMethodist Society, and by them he was brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. When at school, in Doncaster, the ministry of the late Rev. W. Harrison was blessed to his conversion; and from that time to the day of his death he was kept by Divine grace in the way of holiness. Gifted and devoted to God, he was soon employed as a Local Preacher. From the commencement to the close of his career his sermons were clear and well-digested expositions of the Word, and were attended with the Divine blessing: sometimes they were delivered with much emotion, and wrought the best effects on the minds and in the lives of his hearers. He had an intelligent acquaintance with the doctrines and discipline of the Wesleyan body, and was attached to both; and evidenced that attachment by setting forth its doctrines, by loyalty to its discipline in times of strife, and by a cheerful and generous support of its institutions. For

many years he adorned the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things, and realized a true, inward and abiding peace, as he ever testified at Love-feasts, Band-meetings and Class-meetings. Amiable, intelligent, pious; a good son, a loving husband, a cheerful companion, a trustworthy friend, a wise counsellor, a pillar in the Church, a man of position in the town, he was universally beloved, and his death universally regretted. His last illness was short, and his decease sudden. The day before his death he was so far recovered as to sit for a time in his garden. When the next morning dawned, God had taken him. But he did not leave us without having taken a survey of the past, present and future. He said, 'I have peace.' The peace of forgiveness and of holiness was his; the peace of a strong and unwavering faith, which disarms death of its terrors, He knew that he should be found of God in peace. A perfect man, and upright, his end was peace. He entered into rest, August 17th, 1876.

HAZELL, WATSON, AND VINEY, PRINTERS, LONDON AND AYLESBURY.

T. D.

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WESLEYAN-METHODIST MAGAZINE.

OCTOBER, 1878.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE REV. WILLIAM NAYLOR: BY THE REV. JOHN E. COULSON.

(Concluded from page 650.)

IN 1826 Mr. Naylor removed to the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Circuit, where a blessed revival broke out in one of the colliery villages. Two drunken pitmen quarrelled over their cups, and fought in the street until one of them was nearly killed. The other was sent to prison. The one at the point of death was brought to repentance, became a new man and recovered. The prisoner became alarmed, sought salvation and found it. On the first opportunity after his release he went to a Class-meeting; and, to his astonishment, found his old antagonist there before him. Their mutual feelings were such that they rushed into each others arms and wept and kissed each other, and all present were melted into tears. The revival began there and then. Many of the worst characters in the village were added to the Church.

The aggressive endeavours to extend Methodism in the interior of Northumberland, locally known as the Wark Mission, was promoted chiefly by Mr. Naylor's instrumentality.

In 1829 Mr. Naylor removed to City Road, London; in 1832 to Spitalfields. In London he sustained one of the heaviest strokes of his life. His wife had been for many years an able Class Leader and a zealous worker in several departments of usefulness. During the London Conference of 1834 she had exerted herself beyond her strength in carrying out arrangements connected with it, and two or three months afterwards died very suddenly. The Theological Institution was formed during his residence in London, and he was one of its most active and earnest promoters. The Connexional disturbances which arose out of it were a great distress to him, but he skilfully steered his own Circuit safely through the storm. The Rev. Richard Watson and the Rev. John James, who died within a few months of each other, were his personal friends. He preached Mr. James's funeral sermon and published it. On the afternoon in which he attended Mr. James's funeral, he started on a missionary deputation in which Mr. James was to have been his companion. A part of his work was to attend a public meeting in High-Wycombe, at which Benjamin Disraeli, Esq., was one of the speakers. From London Mr. Naylor removed to Birmingham, to take charge of the Cherry Street Circuit, formed that year. His prudence and administrative ability were of great service in carrying out the complex arrangements necessary at such a time. Here he sought to repair the breach made in his

VOL. II.-SIXTH SERIES.

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