Daily Bible Illustrations: being Original Readings for a Year, on subjects from Sacred History, Biography, Geography, Antiquities, and Theology. Especially designed for the Family Circle. By JOHN KITTO, D.D., F.S.A. Editor of the "Pictorial Bible," &c. &c. Moses and the Judges. April-June. Edinburgh: W. Oliphant, and Sons. 12mo., pp. 514.

This is the second volume of a series, the characteristics of which were described in the

Baptist Magazine for February. The first volume pleased us much, but this pleases us more; perhaps because the subjects discussed have been less frequently illustrated by competent writers than those derived from the book of Genesis. "The work before the reader," says Dr. Kitto, "is not a history-not a commentary-not a book of critical or antiquarian research-not one of popular illustration-nor of practical reflection-but is something of all these; it is whatever the author has been able, in his plain way to make it-whatever it has grown to in his hands, under the influence of his earnest and prevailing wish to produce a work which might promote an intelligent apprehension of the Sacred Book, and contribute to encourage a habit, not merely of reading, but of thinking over its contents. These objects could only be achieved by presenting in a readably familiar form, suited for general use, some of the results, most available for this purpose, of a life's labour in sacred literature." Our estimate of the work would be much higher than this language would indicate. The volume contains ninety dissertations which biblical scholars may read to advantage, and from which well educated young people will derive pleasure as well as profit. All heads of families who do us the honour to follow our advice will obtain this work,

Three Essays. The Re-union and Recognition of Christians in the Life to Come; The right Love of Creatures and of the Creator; Christian Conversation. By JOHN SHEPPARD, Author of "Thoughts on Private Devotion." &c. London: Jackson and Walford. 16mo. PP. 236.

The venerated author of these Essays devotes his leisure to an excellent purpose, in preparing for the press his musings on subjects which are interesting to educated Christians but rather too refined for the pulpit. Many of the topics discussed in these pages would be scarcely substantial enough to be the theme of a discourse delivered to the busy, hardworking, and anxious assemblies, meeting for worship on the Lord's day, yet among the intellectual and devout, they are pleasant matters for conversation and thought. Nor are they devoid of practical importance. Mr. Sheppard justly remarks that, "There is more relation between the subjects of these Essays than may at first view be observed. If, according to the argu

ment of the first, Christian love and friendship, in conjunction with a supreme devotedness to God, are to be perpetuated hereafter; then it must be of the greater moment to investigate what the second examines, namely, how the sentiments of love to God and love to man should be cherished and regulated; and also to consider, as is attempted in the third, how our present intercourse with friends and associates may be best guided and improved."

The Late Rev. Robert Hall. Lithographed by R. J. LANE, Esq., A.R.A. London: Proofs with Autographs, 5s. Prints with Autograph, 3s. 6d.

the living man was withdrawn from the view of More than nineteen years have elapsed since the persons who will criticise this performance. Their latest remembrance of his countenance will be as it appeared when increasing age and protracted sufferings had deprived it of some of its natural vivacity. Their recollections of it will be further affected by subsequent familiarity with an engraving that has had possession of the public eye in the interim, which, though it was never deemed very satisfactory, was as good as in the circumstances under which the picture was taken could be expected. We apprehend, therefore, that first impressions respecting this portrait will be generally unfavourable; but we believe that the surviving friends of Mr. Hall at Cambridge and at Leicester, will at once recognize the likeness to what he was in his meridian, and that the more they look at it the more they will be pleased. His strong reluctance to sit for his portrait is well known; we are informed that this is the only one which he ever knowingly permitted to be taken, but that he was induced to consent in this instance by his benevolent desire to promote 'the reputation of the artist-a daughter of the late Rev. Thomas Eden of Whitehall, near Bristol. She died in 1827; but this production of her pencil, being now beautifully lithographed, will perpetuate ber memory, we doubt not, for many future years.

The Men of Glasgow and the Women of Scotland. Reasons for Differing from the Rev. Dr. Symington's View of the Levitical Marriage Law. Written by Request, for the Information of one of the Gentlemen Deputed, at a Public Meeting recently held in Glasgow, to proceed to London with a Petition against the Marriage Affinity Bill. By T. BINNEY. London: 8vo., pp. 61. Price One Shilling.

That Mr. Binney has the right side of the question, we have not the slightest doubt. He discusses it with much freedom, and in doing so says some things that are startling; but even these will be found to be more correct on examination, we think, than they will appear to many readers to be at first sight. The pamphlet deserves to be studied, not only on account of

its argument in reference to marriage, but for its bearings on other parts of the Levitical law.

Incidents in the Life of the Rev. J. Asher, Pastor of Shiloh (coloured) Baptist Church, Philadelphia, U. S., and a Concluding Chapter of Facts Illustrating the Unrighteous Prejudice existing in the Minds of the American Citizens toward their Coloured Brethren. With an Introduction. By WILSON ARMISTEAD, Esq. London: Charles Gilpin. 24mo., pp. 80.

Mr. Asher has been for some months in this country, having come hither to collect contributions towards the place in which the people to whom he ministers worship, and this by the advice and with the recommendation of the pastors of eleven Philadelphian baptist churches. We do not think that the disciples in the ancient Philadelphia, at the time when John was in Patmos, would have sent an African brother so far for such a purpose, if they had been as numerous and as wealthy as the white baptists in the modern Philadelphia are; but the kindness which has been shown in introducing Mr. Asher to our acquaintance we will reciprocate, by taking leave most cordially to recommend the eleven to invite him to preach for them on his return, assuring them that we have heard him with pleasure. His grandfather was stolen from his home when a child, it appears, and the biographical sketches in these pages are painfully interesting.

The Imperial Cyclopædia. Dedicated by Permission to Her Majesty. I. The Geography of the British Empire. Part II. Barnstaple -Birmingham. London. Super-royal 8vo.

Price 2s. 6d.

In noticing the former part of this highly respectable work, last month, we did not mention the embellishments. These consist of maps and elevations. The maps in a work of this kind are often an incumbrance, being so folded as to require very great care in using them, and even then being liable to be torn. Here they are presented to the eye at one opening of the book, judiciously planned and delicately executed. In Part I. we have a map of England, and one on a larger scale of South Wales; with small but beautiful pictures of seven public buildings at Birmingham, and nine others at Bath and Bristol. In Part II. we have a map of the British possessions in Australasia, and one of North Wales, with seventeen of the principal edifices of Dublin and Edinburgh. There are also minature plans of these cities.

Missionary Encouragements in India; or the Christian Village in Gerjurat. Ry WILLIAM CLARKSON, Missionary in Western India, Author of " India and the Gospel." Second Edition. London: 24mo., pp. 138. Price 1s. 6d.

A larger volume by the same author is the basis of our principal review in the present number. This contains topical notices and personal incidents which are interesting in themselves, and well adapted to cherish hope respecting the future.

The Eclectic Review. Edited by THOMAS PRICE, LL.D. Contents: I. Warburton's Conquest of Canada. II. The Roman; a Dramatic Poem. III. Miller's Foot-prints of the Creator, Law versus Miracle. IV. Exeter Hall Lectures. V. Ship Passages in Central America to the Pacific. VI. History of the Newspaper Press. VII. Mure's Language and Literature of Greece. VIII. War of Independence in Hungary. IX. Metropolitan Interments Bill. June, 1850. London. 8co. Price 2s. 6d.

The Christian Treasury: containing Contributions from Ministers and Members of various Evangelical Denominations. June, 1850. Edinburgh: Johnstone and Hunter. 8vo., pp. 47.

Half Hours with the Best Authors. London: C. Knight. 8vo., pp. 96. ¡

are indications of improvement — in some churches at least. Our chapels are almost every where crowded with attentive congregations; many of our people are zealous in their efforts, and earnest in their prayers for the advance ment of the work of God; seldom a week passes but some of us have the happiness of being applied to for advice and instruction by earnest inquirers after salvation, or backsliders returning from the error of their ways; and, notwithstanding the falling away of many of our people, and the lukewarmness of others, I cannot but hope that, ere long, God will again graciously pour out his Spirit upon us in rich abundance.

"The forty-one churches sending reports contain 18,481 members, and 1,511 inquirers. In the day schools connected with them there are more than 3,000 children, and in the sabbath school nearly 8,000 children and adults. "The total number of members in our mission churches is about 30,000.

"Our Theological Institution at Calabar is supplying some of the churches with useful ministers. In this parish we have now three native pastors and three assistants, who are labouring in harmony with their European brethren, and with much acceptance, and no small amount of success amongst the people. "The distress which has prevailed during the last two or three years in this colony has rendered it a work of great difficulty to sustain our mission, nor is the difficulty yet lessened. Had it not been for the aid we have received from members of the Society of Friends, most of our schools must have been closed; and but for the assistance of other Christian friends, our Theological Institution could not have been carried on. In consequence of the pecuniary distress, some of our chapel debts press upon us heavily, and many brethren have to endure great privations."

EUROPE.

FRANCE.

An esteemed correspondent writes thus :France has at present most distinguished men in science and in literature. Auguste Compte, has been styled the Bacon of the 19th century. The most wonderful work I ever read is his great work entitled "Cours de Philosophie Positive." While France is truly great in science and in literature, her theology and her preaching are, in most instances, wretched and contemptible. In the catholic church, Lacordaire seems to be the only great man, but how inferior to the Massilons, the Flechiers and the Bourdaloues of a former age! For nine years Lacordaire tells us he was an infidel, but he suddenly became a priest. With the celebrated Abbé de la Mennais and Montalembert he was associated for some time. These three men conducted a periodical, called L'Avenir, the great objects of which were to promote the restoration and regeneration of the church, and the separation of church and state. Mr. Turnbull informs us, that a school for children was formed upon these principles, and no less persons than Lacordaire and Montalembert were its teachers. The school, however, was broken up, by order of the government, and Lacordaire was cited before the tribunal. He came off victorious, and the affair caused great excitement. An appeal was made to the pope, who reprimanded his priests, and showed them that church and state could not be disunited, and that the thought of progress and improvement in religion was a most rank and pernicious heresy. In 1832 the infallible head of the catholic church declared :-

1. That all idea of a certain restoration and regeneration is entirely preposterous and deeply injurious to the church.

2. The maxim that liberty of conscience is to be secured to all is at once absurd, erroneous, or rather a delirious extravagance. 3. That the liberty of the press is a monstrous evil, and to be regarded only with horror.

4. That all association among men of different religious creeds ought to be proscribed.

5. Finally, that all separation of the church and the state is contrary to the welfare of the church and the state.

This encyclical letter put an end both to the school and the periodical. Mennais was indignant, and he soon abandoned the church; Lacordaire, however, submitted, and a more faithful son of the church the pope never had. He is still for progress, but it is for progress backwards. As a speaker, Lacordaire is powerful and energetic, and detests being thought a common-place preacher. Speaking of a point which he had sufficiently

illustrated, he added, "But this is a commonplace, and, by the grace of God, we have a horror of common-places." It has been said that protestantism, rationalism, infidelity, and atheism are, in his view, one and the same thing; and that nothing would gratify him more than to see the whole protestant world, books and institutions, men, women, and children, consumed in one general conflagration. Such is popery, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.

As much has been both said and written during the last few weeks respecting church and state, I thought that your readers might feel interested in the opinion of his holiness on that question of questions-the separation of what, not God, but man has joined together.

ANNUAL MEETINGS.

BAPTIST UNION.

The thirty-eighth annual session of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland was held at the Mission House, London, April 19, 1850, and was numerously attended.

Shortly after ten o'clock the session was opened by the Rev. Jeremiah Asher of the United States engaging in prayer: after which an introductory discourse was delivered by the Rev. B. Godwin, D.D., of Bradford.* The Rev. T. Winter of Bristol then further engaged in prayer.

The session was then called to order by the Rev. Jabez Burns, D.D., of Paddington. It was then moved by the Rev. Dr. Hoby, seconded by the Rev. Dr. Murch, and resolved

"That such Christian friends, not members of

the Union, as may desire to be present during the

transaction of the business of the Session, be cor dially welcomed."

It was moved by the Rev. Dr. Cox, seconded by the Rev. Joseph Angus, M.A., and resolved

"That the Union are greatly indebted to the Rev. Benjamin Godwin, D.D., for the discourse, so full of important sentiments, and so eminently appropriate to the times, which he has now delivered, and presents to him their unfeigned thanks for his kindness. They add their earnest prayer that, although withdrawn from stated labour, he may yet be permitted to render much occasional aid to the holy cause he has so faithfully served, and happy by the gracious smiles of his approving that his latest days may be rendered eminently

Lord."

It was moved by the Rev. Dr. Steane, seconded by the Rev. Edward Bryan of Oxford, and resolved—

"That the Rev. Dr. Godwin be requested to allow

This discourse may be found in our Number for May.—ED. BAP. MAG.