ART. VIII.-SHORT REVIEWS AND NOTICES OF BOOKS.

(1.) WHEREVER the Divinity of Christ is denied, human depravity is denied also. Our readers who wish to see the full tendency of Socinian doctrine, may find it in "Discourses on the Rectitude of Human Nature, by GEORGE W. BURNAP, D. D., Pastor of the First Independent Church of Baltimore:" (Boston: Crosby & Nichol, 1850: 12mo., pp. 409.) Dr. Burnap believes that theology is altogether behind the other sciences; that the modes of reasoning which prevail upon it are such as would be wholly unsatisfactory in any other branch of human knowledge. His contribution to a “thorough revision" of theology consists in these twenty-four Discourses, designed to prove that human nature-not as it was originally created, but in its actual, positive, historical presence on the earth—is essentially pure; that Adam was not the federal head, but the symbolic type, of mankind; that the Scripture account of the fall is an Oriental apologue designed to show, not how all men fell in Adam, but how every man falls for himself; that the general sinfulness of mankind is the fruit of human freedom and of human ignorance, aggravated by the law of habit, by the outward circumstances of a state of probation, &c. In short, these lectures give a summary of all the arguments commonly brought against original sin. We do not see that Dr. Burnap has added anything new to the stock, and are inclined to the opinion that the "new revision" of theology will require methods different from his to insure it success.

(2.) THAT "the former times were better than these," is a cry repeated in every generation. Methodism, of course, has had its croakers also; signs of degeneracy have been seen in abundance, by acute, fault-finding eyes; and predictions of decay, and even of ruin, have not been wanting. A sufficient answer to all such will be found in "The Present State, Prospects, and Responsibilities of the Methodist Episcopal Church, by Nathan Bangs, D. D.:” (New-York: Lane & Scott, 1850: 18mo., pp. 326.) The healthful tone of Dr. Bangs' pages-the pages of a veteran, who, according to the usual course of things, might be expected to grumble at the times, or, at least, might be excused for it if any one could-contrasts strongly with the morbid, complaining spirit so often shown in younger men. Not that he is blind to existing defects, or afraid to speak of them; we only wish that every one else, who has the right to be, were as free in speaking out his mind. But with his eyes wide open, and with the experience of his long life of work to aid his vision, he sees the signs of healthful progress, of natural and consistent growth, everywhere manifest in the Church-in her zeal for the education of the people, in her devotion to the cause of missions, and in her love for vital religion. After supporting his hopeful and cheering view of the state of the Church by a great variety of facts and arguments, he sets forth the true means of preserving and increasing this perpetuity-namely, the holiness of the Church; that is, the holiness of the individual members of the Church

and the spirit of union and activity that holiness necessarily inspires. We trust that the book will be widely read, and will be useful, not merely in strengthening the confidence, but in reviving the zeal, of Methodists.

The Appendix of ecclesiastical statistics, though brief, is very comprehensive and valuable.

(8.) No book of reference has appeared of late years with greater claims to a place on every library-table than "The World's Progress, a Dictionary of Dates, with Tabular Views of General History, and a Historical Chart, edited by G. P. PUTNAM :" (New-York: G. P. Putnam, 1850.) The work is a large 12mo., of nearly seven hundred pages, full of facts, so arranged and classified as to be always easily found. The first division (illustrated by a chart of history on Priestley's plan) contains tabular views of universal history in parallel columns, bringing the chronology down to 1850. Next follows a dictionary of dates, (more properly of facts,) founded on Haydn's; and after this is given a chronological list of authors. The work concludes with a pretty copious biographical Index. This enumeration of the contents of the book is enough to commend it to all those who, like ourselves, feel the need of every sort of time-saving help in literary labour.

(4.) "Popular Education, for the Use of Parents and Teachers, by IRA MAYHEW, A. M., late Superintendent of Public Instruction in the State of Michigan:" (New-York: Harper & Brothers, 1850: 12mo., pp. 467.) Well-written books of this class cannot be multiplied too much. The work before us grew out of a series of lectures delivered before the Legislature of Michigan-now collected and published at the request of that body. We are glad to see that several chapters are devoted to physical education, a matter in which the Americans, as a people, are far behind the European world. We commend the work, not merely as a useful manual for teachers and school committees, but as one to be read by the people-every man, woman, and child of whom is interested in the subject of which it treats.

(5.) MESSRS. LANE & SCOTT have just issued a new edition of "Mental Discipline, with Reference to the Acquisition and Communication of Knowledge, and to Education generally, by Rev. DAVIS W. CLARK, D. D.:" (18mo., pp. 320.) This book by no means aims to give a theory of the human mind, but simply to unfold some of the laws of its development, and to give simple and practical rules for its cultivation. It has specially in view the wants of students for the Christian ministry-and particularly of those, we suppose, whose means of early education have been limited. To all such, its lessons must be invaluable—and, indeed, it has claims to even a wider sphere of influence. Appended to the work is a topical course of Theological Study, with references to books under each head. The list of names is purposely narrow-too much so, we think, for the present state of culture in our Church.

But in this, as in every other part of the book, Dr. Clark's aims have been modest and he has made a book of far greater practical utility than many of more pretension.

(6.) We noticed some time ago, with marked commendation, a translation of Pütz's Manual of Ancient Geography and History. It is now followed by a "Hand-book of Mediaval Geography and History," translated from the German of Pütz, by Rev. R. B. Paul: (New-York: D. Appleton & Co.: 12mo. pp. 211.) This work is characterized by the same fulness of matter, clear. ness of arrangement, and conciseness of expression, that marked its predecessor. It is furnished with a set of questions, adapting it for practical drilling in schools, and also with a modest list of references to accessible sources of information, by the American editor, Professor Greene.

(7.) WE have received a copy of Dr. Thomas Smyth's book on the "Unity of the Human Races," (New-York: G. P. Putnam, 1850: 12mo., pp. 404,) and find it marked by the industry and earnest research which characterize the other works of the respected author. More extended notice of the work will be given in an article on the general subject now in preparation. In the mean time, we commend the book to the attention of our readers-especially our clerical readers, who will probably find it necessary to study the subject in view of the new interest that has been given to it in this country by the publication of the views of Professor Agassiz and others.

(8.) "The Country Year-Book; or, the Field, the Forest, and the Fireside, by WILLIAM HOWITT:" (New-York: Harper & Brothers: 12mo., pp. 423.) That delightful and popular work by the same author-the "Book of the Seasons"--owed much of its attractiveness to the pleasant way in which it treated of botany, natural history, horticulture, &c.; the present volume aims principally to illustrate the "pleasures and pursuits of human life in the country." It has a chapter for each month in the year, with poetry in prose and verse, pretty descriptions, and stories, appropriate to the changing skies of the revolving year. The calendar for December includes a strange but attractive budget of remarkable dreams, warnings, and providences.

(9.) WE have received two additional volumes of Abbott's excellent series of histories for young persons,—the "History of Xerxes the Great," and the History of Madame Roland:" (New-York: Harper & Brothers, 1850: 18mo.) Mr. Abbott shows hardly less skill in the choice of his subjects for these historiettes than in his admirable manner of treating them. The coming generation of American youth will remember him as a benefactor. We heartily renew our commendation of the series as containing reading at once unexceptionable on the score of morality, and as attractive as romance for youthful readers.

(10.) “Success in Life; the Mechanic, by Mr. L. C. TUTHILL,” (New-York: G. P. Putnam: 12mo.,) is a series of illustrations of the value of virtue and industry as means of securing what is commonly called "success in life ”— that is, respectability and wealth. The lives of Fitch, Franklin, Fulton, Rumsey, and others, are used to point the moral of the book. Though the motives to which it appeals are not the highest, it offers pleasant and not unprofitable reading for youth.

(11.) Ir is a pleasant thing to receive from the hands of a layman-and from one, too, who long held the foremost rank in a profession generally deemed not the most congenial to religious thinking—such a book as "The Gospel its own Advocate, by GEORGE GRIFFIN, LL. D.:" (New-York: D. Appleton & Co., 1850.) The book is an eloqueut exposition of the Christian evidencesand, as the title intimates, it unfolds chiefly the internal evidence, though the external is by no means neglected. Its pages glow with a genuine Christian enthusiasm; while, at the same time, they afford substantial refutations of the common objections brought against the Gospel.

(12.) THE beautiful paper, printing, and binding of the annual gift-books are too often but a setting-off of worthless wares. We are glad to chronicle the appearance of one in which no such deception is practised, namely, “The Token of Friendship: a Gift-book for the Holidays, for 1851, edited by Bradford K. Pierce:" (Boston: C. H. Pierce.) It contains a collection of articles of rare excellence, chiefly contributed by Methodist ministers, among whom are some of the most eminent names in the Church, and others that are rapidly rising to eminence. We trust that its success will be so decided as to insure a continuance of the enterprise in successive years.

(13.) WE should be glad to give extended extracts from the second volume of "Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Thomas Chalmers, D. D., by Rev. W. HANNA, D. D.:" (New-York: Harper & Brothers: 12mo., pp. 547.) It carries on the biography from his thirty-sixth to his forty-third year, and covers the period of his highest pulpit power and popularity in the ministry at the Tron Church, Glasgow. It illustrates, even more strikingly than the first volume, Dr. Chalmers' indomitable energy and industry, while it affords affecting glimpses of his personal tenderness, as well as of a constantly growing religious life. His humility increased with his popularity; his piety with his reputation. The volume closes with his transfer to the chair of Moral Philosophy at St. Andrews.

(14.) “Five Years of a Hunter's Life in the Far Interior of South Africa, by R. GORDON CUMMING, Esq.:" (New-York: Harper & Brothers: 2 vols., 12mo.) Mr. Cumming may tell a true story in this book; but his pages contain almost as many marvels as Munchausen. Taking the book for truth, it

is full of attraction for those who have a taste for wild and savage sports. One day he shoots half a dozen antelopes; the next, he chases a herd of ostriches; again, he lies down to sleep at night with a venomous snake under his pillow, and droves of wild dogs baying around him; anon, he careers through troops of buffaloes, and only leaves them to engage an army of elephants or giraffes; but he is not satisfied until he stands face to face with the king of beasts, and shoots down lions as other men do rabbits. It is a “wild and wondrous" tale; yet it may be true, as we have hinted. The book abounds with interesting notices of the native tribes of Southern Africa, and with anecdotes of the habits of the various animals that frequent the far interior of that continent.

(15.) THE "Autobiography of Leigh Hunt" (New-York: Harper & Brothers, 1850: 2 vols., 12mo.) is not only a graphic record of a life of rare vicissitudes -mostly vicissitudes of sorrow-but also a running comment upon the lighter literature of the last half century. It abounds also in pleasant recollections of the literary men of that period, with most of whom Leigh Hunt was connected, either as friend or enemy. We should be glad to stop our notice here; but it is our duty to inform our readers that the author imbibed from his father-a refugee lawyer from America, who turned parson in Englandthe poison of Universalism, which he seems to take great delight in distilling freely for the behoof of the readers of his autobiography. The tendency of the book, taken as a whole, is evil.

(16.) Messrs. GOULD & LINCOLN, of Boston, have published a new edition of the "Life and Correspondence of John Foster, edited by J. E. RYLAND,” in one handsome 12mo. volume. We have nothing to add to our favourable notice of the first American edition of the work.

(17.) "A New Method of Learning the German Language, by W. H. WOODBURY:" (New-York: M. H. Newman: 12mo., pp. 504.) This book has already reached a second edition. It is designed to embrace both the analytic and synthetic modes of instruction, and to facilitate, as far as possible, the studies of those who are compelled to pursue the language without a teacher. Theory and practice are combined from the beginning, and the student is led on, step by step, through all the difficulties of the study. A synoptical view of the Grammar is given at the end of the volume, with reading lessons, and a vocabulary. The book is one of the most complete of the many German elementary books that have been put forth of late years.

(18.) "The Eminent Dead; or, the Triumphs of Faith in the Dying Hour, by BRADFORD K. PIERCE:" (Boston: C. H. Pierce, 1850: 12mo., pp. 502.) This is a collection of the dying testimonies of great and good men, of all denominations of Christians, and of many lands. An unambitious compila