took them all with him to heaven; that those who were once disobedient in Noah's day were persons who repented before the flood destroyed them and therefore were received into the inferior paradise, and were among those to whom Christ there preached. The work is the result of patient and faithful study, and probably presents as strong an argument for the positions taken as can be made. DR. WM. M. TAYLOR'S SERMONS.*-A modern poet complains, that "The Word of Life, is well nigh preached to death." And before he ends his strain he describes the preaching that seems desirable "We want the Book Translated into life, not the mere look Of Life embalmed and shrouded in the Book." If the poet is still in search of such preaching, here are some good sermons for him. He may miss the "inbreathed spirit" of the preacher's utterance in the volume; but here are some admirable maps of thought, by one who handles the "Word of Life" according to the poet's mind. one on We are glad to meet, in this permanent form, a few discourses, the fame of which "we have heard with our ears," notably the sermon on "Christ before Pilate: Pilate before Christ," and the "What is the Chaff to the Wheat?" The excellent address upon the "Inductive Study of the Scriptures," delivered to the theological students at Yale, Princeton, and Rochester, is also deserving of the place it holds in this handsome volume. Issued as the book is, at the request of its publishers, and because of the bearing of the sermons upon "topics of great present importance; and because of many testimonies to their helpfulness," we give it great praise in saying that its readers are likely to find its contents justifying its preface. The Sermons are what they profess to be, "helpful," they are neither startling nor learned, neither novel nor critical, not even theological, nor are they meant to be;-they are what all sermons ought to be, good for food, sermons to be desired because they make men wise unto salvation. *Contrary Winds and Other Sermons. By Wм. M. TAYLOR, D.D., LL.D., Pastor of the Broadway Tabernacle, New York. New York: A. C. Armstrong &Sons, 714 Broadway. 1883. LAND AND ITS RENT.*-This little book contains the substance of four lectures delivered in Harvard University in May, 1883. President Walker's views in regard to rent are fully developed in his large work on that subject, and while the present volume contains an exposition of his theory, which is that of Ricardo, its object seems principally to be to criticise the arguments of Bastiat and Leroy, Beaulieu, John Stuart Mill, and Henry George, and to reply to Mr. Henry C. Carey. The discussion is conducted with great directness and vigor. If the reader is not convinced it will not be because the author is not entirely sure of the correctness of his positions. UHLHORN'S CHARITY IN THE ANCIENT CHURCH.-The author of this interesting volume is well known to English and American readers by his work, especially, on the Early Conflict of Christianity and Heathenism. In the present book, he sets forth an attractive characteristic of the primitive and early churches,their liberality in dispensing charity. At the present time, when the topic engages a somewhat general interest, and when votaries of economic science seem disposed to push their theories to a dangerous extreme, a historical discussion of this nature is quite timely. Independently of this consideration, the theme, handled as it is by a Christian scholar who is qualified for the task, is fraught with interest. One point to be observed is that charity among the early Christians was much more judicious than in the mediæval age. PLATO'S BEST THOUGHTS.-Generally speaking, persons of taste and culture prefer to make their own selections. If passages are to be culled from great writers, one is disposed to pick the fruit for himself. We want to see not only a part of what an author says on an important topic, but all that he says. The context is often of the highest consequence. Plato, however, is so voluminous a writer, the number of readers who will not take *Land and its Rent. By FRANCIS A. WALKER, Ph.D., LL.D. Boston: Little, Brown and Company. 1883. + Christian Charity in the Ancient Church. By Dr. GERHARD UHLHORN. New York Charles Scribner's Sons. 1883. Plato's Best Thoughts compiled from Professor Jowett's Translation of the Dialogues of Plato. By Rev. C. H. A. BULKLEY, D.D., Professor in Howard University. New edition. Charles Scribner's Sons. 1883. up Jowett, much less the original Greek, is so large, the value and suggestiveness of his thoughts are so peculiar, the alphabetical arrangement adopted by Dr. Bulkley, in the arrangement of his excerpts, is so convenient, and the book as a whole, which he has prepared, is so engaging, that we cordially commend it to those who have not time for a larger endeavor, or wish to taste of the viands before they sit down to the meal. DR. SCHAFF'S CHURCH HISTORY, VOL. II.*-Dr. Schaff has submitted to the labor of thoroughly revising-in fact, re-composing--the portion of his Church History, which covers the period from A. D. 100 to the Council of Nicea,-he having previously re-written his history of the Apostolic Age. This new volume gives fresh proof of the learning, the candor and the indefatigable industry of this veteran scholar. One very valuable feature of the book, as of its precursor, is the full guide to the literature which is furnished under the proper heads. It is to be hoped that Dr. Schaff may have the strength, and the leisure from other employments, which shall enable him to carry his important undertaking to a completion. THE MAGAZINE OF ART commences a new volume with the December number. It contains an original etching by R. W, Macbeth of "Lady Bountiful." "North Tuscan Notes," by Vernon Lee, with eight engravings. "The Poachers Surprised," from the picture, by Hugo Kauffman. Madrazo, the Spanish painter, by David Hannay, with two engravings. Sketches in Egypt, with six engravings. "Venetian Glass," by Madeleine A. Wallace Dunlop, with three engravings. "On the Ebb," from the pictures, by Mesdag. "A Note on Realism," by Robert Louis Stevenson. Some portraits of Martin Luther, by Richard Heath, with seven engravings. "Pens and Pencils; Hazlett & Northcote," by J. Ashcroft Noble. The Constantine. Ionides Collection, from David to Millet, by Cosmo Monkhouse, with six engravings. American art notes. The chronicle of art. Yearly subscription, $3.50. Single number, 35 cents. Cassell & Company, limited, 739 and 741 Broadway, New York. *History of the Christian Church. By PHILIP SCHAFF. New ed., thoroughly revised and enlarged. Vol. II. Ante-Nicene Christianity, A. D. 190-325. York: Charles Scribner's Sons. 1883. New The "CALENDAR OF AMERICAN HISTORY "* compiled by Miss Lyman is something more than a bare list of important events which have occurred on the different days of the year. Miss Lyman has aimed to give, in connection with each event which is mentioned, a brief account of the circumstances which attended it. Many of these accounts are quite noticeable for the clear and succinct way in which what is most important is stated. Often they are very happily illustrated by quotations from the poems of our best American authors. The range of subjects is large. They include events which occurred in our colonial history, in the revolutionary period, and in the civil war. A place has been found for a large number of the political questions which have at different times agitated the country. Descriptions are given of the leading religious denominations, of the most valuable inventions, of the most popular authors. We feel confident that as the sheets are torn off during the coming year, the conversation at thousands of breakfast tables will be directed to the most important topics in our national history, and the interest of many a person will be awakened afresh in what were not very long ago living questions, while many a youth will be led to seek further information in the standard histories. THE ART AMATEUR for December, the first number of the new volume, contains working designs for a teapot (Japanesque decoration), a dessert plate (wild geranium), a hand screen (shepherdess), embroidery (a fan, Christmas-card box, doilies and mitres), repoussé work (cockatoos and dolphins), wood-carving and jewelry; two beautiful designs of children, with minute directions for painting in oils and mineral colors; an illustrated report of the Feuardent-Cesnola trial; a biography of Charles Sprague Pearce, with numerous original drawings; an illustrated notice of the Huntington gift to the Metropolitan Museum: reviews of the National and Pennsylvania Academy exhibitions, the Sketch Exhibition, and the National Exposition at Paris; dramatic and musical feuilletons; some fine illustrations of Derby porcelain ; practical articles on decoration, needlework and china-painting; correspondence, literary and editorial notes. Price 35 cents; $4 per annum. Montague Marks, Publisher, 23 Union Square, New York. * Miss Delia Lyman's Calendar of American History. G. P. Putnam's Sons. New York. The December (Christmas) MAGAZINE OF AMERICAN HISTORY contains four historical Essays on Christmas and its observances in various parts of early America and among different nationalities. John Esten Cooke contributes the leading article on "Christmas Time in Old Virginia," illustrated with portraits of the Pages, Carys, Pendletons and Nelsons of the "Old Dominion," with pictures of ancient churches and historic houses; Norman McF. Walter, of New Orleans, follows with a charmingly picturesque description of "The Holidays in Early Louisiana,"-among the Creoles; John Reade, F.R.S.C., of Montreal, describes "Christmas-Tide in Canada," among the earliest French settlers; and Mrs. Lamb, Editor of the Magazine, writes of the "Christmas Season in Dutch New York." Publication office, 30 Lafayette Place, New York City. RECENT PUBLICATIONS. G. P. Putnam's Sons. A Righteous Apostate. By Clara Lanza; author of "Mr. Perkins' Daughter." 12mo, 423 pp. Phantoms of Life. By Luther Dana Waterman. 95 pp. Diothas, or A Far Look Ahead. By Ismar Thinsen. 12mo, 358 pp. The American Girl's Home Book of Work and Play. By Helen Campbell; author of the Ainslee Series, etc. 12mo, 410 pp. Putnam's Handy Book Series, of Things Worth Knowing. Work for Women. The Handbook Dictionary. A Practical and Conversational Dictionary of the 214 pp. How it rose, increased, became great, declined and decayed, with an inquiry into the conditions essential to its resuscitation and future prosperity. By David A. Wells. Hand and Ring. By Anna Katharine Green, author of "The Leavenworth Case," etc., etc. 608 pp. American Colleges. Their Students at Work. By Charles F. Thwing. Second edition; revised and enlarged. 12mo. 213 pp. The Wonders of Plant Life under the Microscope. By Sophie Bledsoe Herrick. 12mo. 247 pp. The American Girl's Home Book of Work and Play. By Helen Campbell, author of the "Ainslee Series," etc., etc. Illustrated. 12mo. 413 pp. The Literary Life. Edited by William Shepard. torian Authors. 238 pp. Pen Pictures of Earlier Vic D. Appleton & Co., New York. Appleton's Home Books. The Home Library. By Arthur Penn, editor of "The Rhymester." With illustrations. 154 pp. History Primers. Medieval Civilization. By George Burton Adams, Professor of History in Drury College. 142 pp. The English Grammar of William Cobbett. Carefully revised and annotated. 254 pp. 398 pp. |