HELPS TO FAITH AND A HOLY LIFE. By J. P. Barnett. London: Hodder & Stoughton.

MR. BARNETT has done well to print these twelve sermons. Not that he claims to have "any new doctrines to propound, having every reason to be satisfied with the old;

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nor does he "make any pretension to originality, either of thought or method." But one thing he certainly has done in his discourses as here published. He has put his own individuality into them, and so made them real and living. We have little hesitation in saying that they will, on that very account prove, to be what he wishes them to be-"helps to faith and holy life." There certainly is "something of the continuity of a series " in them, although it is occasionally difficult to see the link of connexion. The first sermon treats of Christian ministers as fellow labourers with Christ, and points out that ministers are associated with Him in their ministerial office, in the qualifications required for their work, and in the spirit in which it should be pursued. Then follow discourses on "the Gospel hidden to the proud and revealed to the humble," and on Regeneration no Marvel." The remainder of the sermons are entitled, "Our Almighty helper;" "The Saviour absent, but not neglectful;" "The prodigality of love;""Friendship with Christ;" Deliverance; ,, "Disobedience;" "Pilate's Dilemma; " "Faith aided by experience;" and "True religion." There is a great deal of excellent thought in the first sermon, forcibly expressed; and much tenderness of feeling in the fifth; but the sermon that we like the least is entitled "Disobedience." From the outset Mr. Barnett seems to be consciously in antagonism with some hearers, real or imaginary; and there is, perhaps without intending it, a consequent hardness of tone. The polemic is more visible than the preacher of the Gospel. We are, however, bound in all fairness to say that this is the only sermon in which we have been struck with this as the prevailing characteristic. Men are not brought to the true by being shaken to pieces in the grip of a remorseless logic. We gladly turn away from this subject to the preceding sermons in the volume. There is a sweetness and devout helpfulness in the delineation of the Saviour's care for His people in His absence; a healthy stimulus in revealing something of prodigality of love ;" and a quiet thoughtfulness, thoroughly refreshing in the discourse on Christ's friendship.

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The style of these sermons is clear and forcible; but, for our taste, a little too full of Latinised English. Not, be it understood, that there is any Johnsonese in it; but rather that Mr. Barnett does not invariably select the simpler and more Saxon words. The character of the sermons as a whole may be summed up as thoroughly evangelical; revealing considerable knowledge of the sophistries of the human heart, and an aptness to deal with them; showing a quick sympathy with Christian men in their difficulties and daily needs, and an earnest desire to help them. They are clearly arranged; vigorous, often to robustness; well considered; and certain to be of no small value to those who will read them. We thank Mr. Barnett for his thoughtful volume. J. J. G.

THE NEW TESTAMENT, TRANSLATED FROM THE PUREST GREEK. By John Bowes. Dundee: 75, High Street.

ONE value of this revision of the authorized version of the New Testament is, that it shows "how not to do it." It is, we regret to say, a painfully misguided effort, and is calculated to bring revision and revisers into contempt. It is very necessary, no doubt, that our new translation should be from "the purest Greek;" but it is quite as necessary that the people should be able to read "in their own tongue," in good, familiar Saxon, "the wonderful works of God." But there is in this revision a general adoption of long words of Latin or Greek derivation, and a pertinacious avoidance, for no reason we can discover, of the strong, nervous, and homely language of the Testament commonly received amongst us. We could supply illustrations in shoals. We have "transpired," for "come to pass;" "enacted," for "made;" "interminable," for "endless;" "phenomenon of the star," for "the star appeared;" "nourishment," for "meat;""not competent," for "not able;" "privation," for "want," and so on. Again, John x. begins, "Amen, amen, I say unto you;" and John iii. 3 reads, "Jesus answered, Assuredly, assuredly, I say to thee." Seeing it is the same word in both places, we say, Verily the old is better." Once more. Is it a gain to call "bishops" overseers, and "John the Baptist" John the Immerser? Should not the word bishop be extended in its application to all pastors, rather than introduce a word into the Testament which has so strong an

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odour of beadledom ? In those instances where doctrinal bias, caprice, or impure text vitiates the Authorized Version, this rendering is mostly an improvement; but such amendment can never compensate for an indiscriminate rejection of the admirable Saxon of King James's Bible.

BAPTIST HISTORY. By J. M. Cramp, D.D. London: E. Stock.

A sapient curate discoursing with a young Baptist in a village not far from London, urged upon her the absolute necessity of having her children sprinkled if she wished them to go to heaven, and amongst other equally wild things, stated that the Baptists were not more than a hundred years old. In Dr. Cramp's volume we have Baptist History from the foundation of the church to the present time. First, "Out of the mouths" of sprinklers of babes it is proved that the early church was decidedly and universally Baptist; then, the rise of false and unscriptural notions about baptism is carefully traced, and evidence of the prolonged and original practice cited; false charges against Baptists are refuted, and the progress of the distinctive sentiments of Baptists since the Reformation described. The book is well printed, well bound, and well illustrated, and will be a most acceptable present to young Christians, as well as a fit addition to our church and school libraries. We heartily commend it. It is more necessary than ever that our young people should not be unacquainted with our history.

HOURS OF CHRISTIAN DEVOTION. Translated from the German of A. Tholuck, D.D., by G. R. Menzies, D.D. Edinburgh and London: W. Blackie & Sons. IT is not an easy task to prepare a work for the nurture of the spiritual life. Great dangers are ahead. The writer may lapse into extravagance of sentiment, or morbid self-scrutinizing, till his work loses all power to rouse to exertion, or to cultivate a healthy and robust piety. On the other hand, it may be so elaborated as to stir the intellectual faculties in excess, and produce

speculation instead of worship, reasoning rather than faith. Professor Tholuck has escaped both these dangers, and given us a book which evinces great experience of practical and meditative religion, and a clear perception of the best methods of feeding the hunger of our whole nature, of intellect and heart, conscience and aspiration. Written by a man of the broadest culture, and the most thorough learning, as well as of deep piety, it is comprehensive in its range of illustration, evangelical in its principles, rich, sweet, and refreshing in its devotional tone, distinct and clear in its conceptions, and fitted in every way to make the hours of devotion, "times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord."

MILLY'S ERRAND; OR SAVED TO SAVE. By Emma Leslie. London: E. Marlborough & Co.

THIS is a tale of sea-side life, pervaded by such an air of reality, such decided yet unobtrusive goodness, and written in such a pleasing style, that all young people will read it with intense delight. Mothers, buy it for your daughters. R. C.

TRACTS.-We have received from Mr. Stock, Publisher, a dozen or more of the tracts of the Weekly Tract Society. The purpose of this society is to dif fuse religious instruction amongst working men and women, chiefly by the agency of subscribers, who are the chief distributors of the publications of the society, each subscriber having a large part of his subscription returned weekly, monthly, or quarterly in tracts. The specimens forwarded to us are well suited to the working classes. The substance is usually some stirring narrative, or a series of brief anecdotes, all pointing to one conclusion, and the style is simple, direct, and forcible. Those who are engaged in evangelistic work may use them with great advantage.

PERIODICALS, ETC. RECEIVED.

Appeal Church-Congregational Miscellany-Gilead-Rainbow-Sunday Magazine-Sword and Trowel-The Flock of Christ, by Rev. G. Dorey, (Stock) etc.

NEW YEAR'S THANK-OFFERINGS FOR THE CENTENARY FUND. IT is earnestly hoped that liberal New Year's Gifts for the Centenary Fund, from members of our churches and congregations who have not yet contributed, will be

forwarded to the ministers of the churches, or direct to the Secretary of the Fund; and that all the Sunday schools of the denomination, without exception, will join in the Pence Subscription on the first or second Sabbath in January. T. GOADBY.

MINISTERIAL.

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RECOGNITION SERVICE. - On Saturday, Nov. 19, a welcome tea meeting was given to the minister elect of Lineholme chapel, the Rev. R. Silby, of our College. took tea together. Rev. T. W. Mathews presided at the public meeting, and addresses were given by the Revs. J. Maden, C. Springthorpe, R. Hardy, R. Silby, and Messrs. J. Midgley and J. S. Gill. It was a most enthusiastic and successful meeting.

REV. H. WATTS, of Stanningley, has accepted the pastorate of the Baptist church at Barnsley.

RE-OPENNG OF CHAPEL AND
SCHOOL-ROOMS.

LONDON, Borough Road.-Our friends here have long been in quest of a site for school-rooms. They have been unable to get one, and therefore have recently raised the chapel and put a set of capital rooms underneath, at a cost of some £1,200 or more. Dr. Landels preached at the reopening services on Tuesday, Dec. 6. On

MRS. CHAPMAN, LOUTH,

Was the daughter of John and Mary Wallis, of Loughborough. Her father was for many years an elder of the Baxter-gate church, a highly respectable occasional preacher, and remarkable for his exceedingly amiable, peace-loving, and peacemaking disposition. Her mother was a very Martha in her hospitable efforts to promote the entertainment of Christian friends, and especially Christian ministers. Mrs. C. was born at Loughborough, in 1816, and from a child possessed several of the distinguishing excellences of both her parents. In gentleness of spirit few excelled her, and nothing could pain her more than to have refused relief where she had the remotest suspicion that it was really needed. In a case of known want she would have given her last penny, and shared her last meal.

At a very early age she gave her heart to Jesus, was baptized, united with the church, and made herself active in the Sunday school, and in all departmentscoming specially within the range of female work-connected with our church organizations. In January, 1845, she was married to W. Chapman, pastor of the church at Longford. In her new sphere, Mrs. C. soon endeared herself to a large number of the church and congregation. During eighteen years' residence she never made an enemy, but the affection first inspired deepened and widened to the last. Imme

diately after the birth of her second child an abscess formed in her side, which so thoroughly prostrated her that it was feared she would be brought to an early grave. For four months she was absent from Longford, at the home of her parents at Lenton. But though the pain from the abscess was most acute, and her trials in other respects were very severe, all was borne without a murmuring word.

Mrs. C. had four children, two sons and two daughters. The youngest, a boy of remarkable beauty, of angelic sweetness of temper, and of precocious mental development, a bright warm sunbeam in the house in the darkest day, died first, and when only two years and four months old. The blow came with such overwhelming weight that it almost crushed the mother's heart. For a time reason reeled on its pivot. No murmur escaped her lips even then, but the days of her mourning over the transplanting of this beautiful flower were very many. Never, indeed, did she really recover her former cheerfulness and buoyancy of spirit. Her next affliction was a premonitory warning of her end. About fifteen years ago, Mrs. C. was seized with inflammation, and an able physician of Coventry pronounced it inflammation of an internal tumour. Again was she brought so near to death that she could scarcely endure the noise of a person walking across the room, or to speak to her even in a whisper. For one whole night especially

her life seemed to be suspended on a breath. This affliction also, though painful beyond description while the inflammation lasted, was borne with her accustomed meekness and patience. Not a word of irritation, or a word in the least unbecoming a child of God escaped her lips.

A short time before her removal from Longford to Melbourne, she had the happiness of seeing her eldest son baptized, and united with the church, and to listen to his first efforts at public speaking. Her "life was bound up in the life of this lad," and she watched the development of his piety and his ability with all a mother's love and a mother's delight. Those who knew this lovely youth only during the last four or five years of his life, would scarcely credit a faithful description of what he was in childhood and early boyhood. A more lively, frolicsome, venturesome, and sometimes boisterous child, seldom lived. He knew no fear. Amid even the thunder and lightning, watching the vivid flashes of the one, and trying to imitate the roar of the other, he would stand, his eyes sparkling, and his countenance beaming with positive delight. At the close of his first year at Shireland Hall School, he obtained a certificate of merit from the Oxford local examiners, and at the close of the second went up for the A. A. examination, and passed in every subject but one. Never, while memory holds its seat, will the writer forget the look of disappointment, and at the same time of pious resignation, with which the announcement was received. Giving evidence of undoubted piety, and of superior preaching ability, he was received, when about 18 years of age, into Chilwell College. His unassuming modesty, united with his superior attainments, endeared him both to the tutors and the students. Perhaps a higher eulogy has seldom been uttered in regard to a student than was once uttered by the President of the College in regard to this youth. It was said of him-"If I had to make a student all that I think he ought to be, I should have to make but little alteration in him." His aspirations were of the highest and purest kind. He lived only that he might become an able minister of the New Testament. In a little more than twelve months, however, this son, so promising, came home smitten by a fatal disease. His studies were suspended by the committee for a year. About three months of that time he spent in the school of Mr. Evans, of Swansea, where he endeared himself as a teacher, and preacher, and as a Christian youth, to all around him. After his return home he was taken considerably worse, and in the course of a few weeks he somewhat unexpectedly passed away. Mrs. C.

had no idea that the idol of her maternal heart was so near his end; and when, a minute or two before he died, an intimation was given that he was going, in an agony of soul she exclaimed-"Oh! it cannot be," and immediately fainted away, fell on the floor, and before she recovered her first-born and almost idolized child was gone. It is impossible to describe the effect of this bereavement. For hours together would she gaze on the photograph of her angel boy, and read his sermons and scraps of sermons which he had written while at College. Though she would never force the subject upon unwilling listeners, she would never tire of speaking of his excellences to friends who knew how to sympathize with a mother's wounded heart.

In 1867 Mrs. C. removed to Louth. She had not been there long before another flower was cut down by the reaper death in the person of her eldest daughter. By this time the tumour had considerably increased in size and painfulness, and she began to think that she herself would soon leave the friends of earth, and join those who had gone to heaven. Her pain at times, for months, was very great. She visited Leicester during the Association, and the friend and distant relative with whom she stayed thus writes:-"I have often thought of her cheerful manner, so much like her in former years, and very like her dear father." Here she consulted an old medical friend, but could not persuade herself to undergo an operation of any kind. She rallied a little after her return, but soon became more and more feeble. On Sunday morning, Nov. 13th, she came down stairs, and it was instantly seen that death had marked her for a speedy prey. During the last week of her life her meekness and patience were very touching. She seemed to care for everybody more than for herself. Her expressions of unworthiness were very earnest, and her humility before God very profound. Nothing, however, could shake her trust in the work, and love, and grace of Christ. She felt that she was nothing, and Christ everything to her. And in this faith, about half-past four o'clock on Lord's day morning, Nov. 20th, 1870, she calmly fell asleep in Jesus, and, on the day of rest, entered into the rest remaining for the people of God. On the Tuesday fol lowing she was laid by the side of her eldest daughter, in Louth Cemetery; and on Lord's-day evening, Nov. 27th, her death was improved by Rev. E. W. Cantrell, from Luke x. 42, to a large and deeply interested congregation. W. C. MIDDLEBROOK.-Nov. 27, at Allerton, Yorkshire, Sarah Ann, the beloved wife of T. Middlebrook, aged twenty-six.

THE LATE REV. ANDREW

LESLIE, OF CALCUTTA.

From the Baptist Missionary Society's Herald. MR. LESLIE was, we believe, a native of Edinburgh, and was born in the year 1798. His first religious impressions were the result of attendance, as a scholar, on one of the Sabbath-evening schools, where he became acquainted with the doctrines of revelation, and acquired that habit of Scriptural research which marked his future course as a minister of the gospel. But though the foundations of Scriptural knowledge were laid, some years elapsed before he experienced the grace of God as a living and vital power. Having entered a printing office in his thirteenth year, he soon fell under the influence of evil companions, drank deep of the poisonous streams of scepticism and universalism, and threw off the restraints of godliness. The instructions of the Sabbath school were not, however, obliterated, so that when, in the Providence of God, he was led to resume attendance at public worship, in the sanctuary where the late Christopher Anderson, with pathos and power, published the good tidings of peace, his earlier feelings recovered their sway, and he was gradually led to forsake the paths of evil, and to give constant attention to the claims of piety. "I saw," he says, "nothing would do but decision in religion, and I was therefore compelled to give up my evil practices, and attend to the commands of God."

Becoming acquainted with a pious young man, a member of Mr. Innes's church, Mr. Leslie was at length admitted to its fellowship, a month after he had completed his seventeenth year. Soon after this his occupation led him to Glasgow, where, under the ministry of the late Dr. Wardlaw, he acquired clear conceptions of divine truth, and a full experience of the joy and peace which are the portion of the faithful followers of the Lamb. By that eminent man Mr. Leslie was encouraged to devote his life to the missionary work, either as a printer of the Scriptures, or as a preacher of righteousness; and he eagerly availed himself of an introduction to Dr. Steadman and Mr. Kinghorn, who had come

to Glasgow in the year 1818 to preach on behalf of the Mission, to lay before them his desire. A year passed without result, when Dr. Wardlaw wrote on his behalf to Dr. Ryland. An answer came from Mr. Dyer, and in due time Mr. Leslie was transferred to the Bristol Academy, to spend some time in preparation for the sacred employment to which he aspired. How diligently he used the advantages he there enjoyed his subsequent career amply testifies. The impression made upon others cannot be better expressed than in the language of a fellow-student, the Rev. Thomas Horton, of Devonport, who has kindly furnished us with a few reminiscences of Mr. Leslie's college life. "I was his senior at Bristol," says Mr. Horton, "and well remember, when he came, he immediately impressed us all with the conviction that he was thoroughly a man of God. He united himself at once with a few of us who met statedly for special prayer, that we might be kept from evil, and fitted for the great work for which we were preparing. His industry, his devotedness, and indeed all he said and did, spoke the man of God; and from those who were my juniors I subsequently learnt that he closed his course at Bristol in a way which secured him the esteem both of students and tutors."

At times, however, Mr. Leslie's mind wavered as to bis duty. He had many painful feelings and thinkings, he says, but 66 they came only when I had lost sight of the millions of my fellow-men perishing for lack of knowledge, and the glory of my Redeemer." But the sky cleared. "I am grieved now," he continues, "that I should ever have felt the least reluctance to go far hence to the Gentiles. But reluctant feelings now no longer exist, and I will go if you will send me."*

The ordination service preceding Mr. Leslie's departure took place at Coventry on the 14th October, 1823. Dr. Ryland gave the charge; the Rev. John Franklin, his father-in-law, offered the designation prayer; and the Rev. John Dyer, with

*For these extracts and other particulars we are indebted to the narrative read by Mr. Leslie at his ordination, and carefully preserved by the Rev. John Spooner, of Long Preston.