No. CCCXLVIII.

The Highest Life.

"AND NOW, LITTLE CHILDREN, ABIDE IN HIM, THAT WHEN HE SHALL APPEAR, WE MAY HAVE CONFIDENCE, AND NOT BE ASHAMED BEFORE

John was a

"And now,

The term "little children" is a term of endearment. man of love, those who loved Christ he loved dearly. little children," or better, my little children. The good have a property in the good. The words imply three things: I. AN ACTUAL EXIST. ENCE IN CHRIST. You cannot "abide" in Him unless you are actually in Him. What is it to be in Christ? To be in His school as His disciple, in His family as His brethren, in His character as His imitators. Spiritually, all men live more or less in the character of others. The existing generation lives in the character of its predecessor, loving children live in the character of their parents. To live in His character is to live as the branches in the tree, as the members in the head, &c. To live in His character, actuated in all things by His Spirit, guided in all things by His principles, is the highest state of existence for man. "If any man be in Christ he is a new creature," a new creation. The words imply: II. THE POSSIBILITY OF LOSING THIS STATE OF EXISTENCE. If not, why should we be exhorted to "abide?" First: The constitutional freedom of the soul implies the possibility. It would be contrary to the constitution of the moral mind to be bound inevitably to any state. It is the characteristic of the moral mind that it can change its orbit, it can reverse its course. Secondly: The corrupting influences of society are hostile to this state of existence. The maxims, the spirit, the tendencies of the age are inimical to this life, the moral atmosphere of a corrupt world is not congenial to its growth and prosperity. Thirdly: The exhortations of Scripture imply the danger of its decay. "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." "Be steadfast," &c.

The words imply: III. The NECESSITY FOR CONTINUING IN THIS STATE OF EXISTENCE. "When He shall appear we may have confidence and not be ashamed at His coming." Or, according to the NEW Version, "That if He shall be manifested we may have boldness, and not be ashamed before him at His coming." The idea is that a continuance of this high state of existence, this life in Christ will enable you to meet Him with unabashed confidence. Sooner or later He will come to all. He comes to all at death. "Be ye therefore ready,

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for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh." Would you meet Him without the agitations of terror, without the burnings of shame, then "abide in Him."

No. CCCXLIX.

The Abiding Earth.

“THE EARTH ABIDETH FOR FVER."-Ecclesiastes i. 4.

We may look at the durability of the earth: I. AS A CONTRAST. It abides in contrast with very much whose only constancy is the constancy of change. (1) The earth abideth in contrast with its own ever-varying appearances. Every year tells of the change of the seasons in which earth changes her raiment, and what does not geology tell of cycles in which the earth has changed her countenance and form beyond all that we can describe. But the earth-whatever is true of her dress and of her countenance, is established and cannot be moved." (2) The earth abideth in contrast with human structures. Houses, villages, cities, citadels, where are they? Some utterly swept away: some in ruins : all destined to decay. (3) The earth abideth in contrast with the lives of individual men. To say nothing of what the ocean or the mountains utters to man about the fleetingness of his little sojourn here, the mere babbling brook laughs at his mortality.

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(4) The earth abideth in contrast with the existence of nations. The history of Babylon, Egypt, Rome, are but as shadows passing in swift succession over the surface of the enduring earth. The earth, like a dial, tells by these human shadows, how short the hour of man's life, how brief the day of a nation's history. We may look at the durability of the earth, II. As A TYPE. It is a type of much that will outlast itself. (1) Of Man. His animal nature may pass; his mental and spiritual being shall continue. He shall "The darkening universe defy, To quench his immortality.'

(2) Of Truth. Here again, like man's body, like the moods of the seasons, the forms of truth may change.

"Our little systems have their day,

They have their day and cease to be."

But Truth is eternal. (3) Of God. All that is most lasting in nature is used to illustrate some attribute of God-rocks, sea, &c., but when they have told all that remains to be uttered about the Great God in all His works, "They shall perish, but Thou remainest.” URIJAH R. THOMAS.

Literary Notices.

[We hold it to be the duty of an Editor either to give an early notice of the books sent to him for remark, or to return them at once to the Publisher. It is unjust to praise worthless books, it is robbery to retain unnoticed ones.]

THE REVIEWER'S CANON.

In every work regard the author's end,

Since none can compass more than they intend.

THE NEW NAME, and other Sermons. By Rev. David Davies, Weston-super-Mare. London: Yates & Alexander.

This volume, which is just issued from the press, has on it many of the marks of the higher order of sermons. We say the higher order, because there is no room for doubting that the sermons of our time include the coarsest and crudest as well as the noblest utterances of the English language. But Mr. Davies is evidently a man of the genuine hearted and clear headed type. Hence he deals with the variety of topics over which the twenty-nine sermons of this book range, with a simplicity of aim, a boldness of touch, a picturesqueness of style, and a practicalness of tone that must invest any pulpit with an unusual charm. Whilst of course the printed page lacks much that the sermons possessed in the pulpit, it is not too much to say that we find here a good deal of the courage of the prophet, the reverence of the priest, and the insight of the poet. For the first we might specially turn to his discourse on "The Temptation of our Lord," for the second, to that on "The Burning Bush," for the third, to that on "The Duty of the Church towards its Young Members."

CHARLES KINGSLEY: Letters and Memories of His Life. Edited by His Wife. Abridged Edition. Kegan Paul, London.

Deep and wide as was the influence Charles Kingsley exercised at the time of his too early death, there is little doubt that to-day that influence is deeper and wider still. And this not only because of the continued circulation of his writings-his Sermons, Essays, Lectures, Novels, Poems-but largely because of the biography Mrs. Kingsley gave us of her great husband. That biography at once

took its place by the side of Stanley's Life of Arnold, and Stopford Brooke's of Robertson, and with them made multitudes familiar with the strength and beauty of some of the strongest and most beautiful lives of our time. But that biography was large, and, though it has run through nearly a score of editions, it was too expensive for all to buy, and perhaps too voluminous for all to read. We rejoice therefore to call attention to a smaller edition, which Mrs. Kingsley has prepared, we believe specially for young men. There is the condensation of some portions of the former edition, but there are also some valuable additions of matter which was not before forthcoming. Our readers would especially be interested in some striking passages giving Mr. Kingsley's "Views on Preaching to a Village Congregation,”—views, we need scarcely say, as unconventional and manly as they are altogether wise. We could scarcely use words too strong to counsel the more thoughtful of our readers to obtain this noble woman's biography of a noble man, and so at once to become at home with a life that will not fail to convince them that the age of Saints and of Heroes has not passed.

STORIES OF THE CITY OF LONDON.

By MRS. NEWTON CROSLAND.

London: W. Allen & Co., Waterloo Place. "I am well aware," says the authoress, "that each of the following stories either has been, or might be, made the subject of a separate instructive volume, but elaborations of history, with all their wide-spread ramifications, are only really acceptable to the mature and already well informed reader. To the young there must ever be a gradual acquirement of all sorts of knowledge, and those histories which are most diffuse, and those biographies which are most ample, do not always make the deepest impressions on youthful minds. Remembering this, my aim has been to re-tell these true stories graphically, yet succinctly, believing that interest may be maintained through forty pages when it would flag under a more prolonged effort, and knowing that it is that in which we are really interested which the memory retains most faithfully." These stories, which are really well told in such a way as to interest old as well as young readers, are about London Bridge-The Temple Church-The Royal Exchange-The Tower-The Great Plague of London-The Great Fire of London-The Gordon Riots, and the Thames Tunnel. The volume contains illustrations which are all strikingly expressive.

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO SATAN. By STANDISH GREY, M.A. London Kerby & Endean, Oxford Street.

A quotation from the author's preface will put the reader in possession of the character and aims of this book. "Deeply impressed with the conviction of the rapid growth in our land of irreligiousness under the garb of true religion, as well as of scepticism and godlessness openly avowed, I send forth this book, not as being a full exposition of even some of the errors of our own time publicly accepted, nor yet as essays against palpable evil doctrine, but as a warning against the subtle teaching which, while pretending to be the result of advanced knowledge, and of the higher development of free thought, is in reality a masterpiece of delusion whereby Satan seeks to blind man's apprehension of God's truth, and by pandering to man's desire after more accurate deduction from reason to lead him by paths that appear right in a way that is the direct opposite to the revelation of God." The author labours with a manifestly good purpose, and with evident sincerity and earnestness.

INDEX RERUM. By REV. JOHN TODD. London: C. Higham, Farringdon Street.

This work is, of course, well known, for what theological student has not read the priceless volume entitled, "The Student's Manual,' by the author? The author's introduction and directions for using the index are invaluable. The suggestions of Rev. Mr. Neil, the editor, as to the use to be made of the appendix, enhance the value of the work not a little. Mr. Higham deserves the gratitude of students for introducing this invaluable work.

THE LADIES' MULTUM IN PARVO FLOWER GARDEN. By SAMUEL WOOD. London: Crosby & Lockwood, Paternoster Row. This work shows what to do to get the most enjoyment out of a small parterre at the least expense, with instructions how to form and plant the miniature rosary and the compound carpet garden, also how to make the ladies' miniature nursery ground and the fernery, how to raise seedlings; and contains a list of the most troublesome insects, and how to destroy them. This book will be a most valuable help to those-and their number is increasing every day-who are interested in the healthful, instructive, and delectable work of gardening.