men, who, differing as they did on many questions of less importance, agreed in all the great principles of the Protestant Reformation.

The work seems to be faithfully compiled from the original authorities, and it contains in condensed statements the most important events in the church history of England, though neither the style of the writing nor the character of the reflections will give it a prominent place in English literature.

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The Acts of the Apostles: according to the text of Augustus Hahn; with Notes and a Lexicon: for the Use of Schools, Colleges, and Theological Seminaries. By JOHN J. OWEN, D.D., Professor of the Latin and Greek Languages and Literature in the Free Academy in New York City. Accompanied by a finely engraved Map. New York: Leavitt & Company, 191 Broadway. 1850. DR. OWEN, the Editor of this work, is already favorably known as the editor of several of the Greek classics for the use of schools. He has now added to his series the Acts of the Apostles, in an approved text, and an uncommonly beautiful typography. In the Notes, syntactical and idiomatic difficulties are often resolved by reference to the best grammars of the Greek classical language, and where peculiarities of the New Testament Greek occur, reference is made to the grammars of Winer and Stuart. In the remarks, which partake of the nature of a commentary, the editor acknowledges his obligations to Kuinoel, Bloomfield, Trollope, and others. The Lexicon attached, is abridged from Dr. Robinson's Lexicon of the New Testament. The whole appears to be judiciously executed, and will serve as a pleasant and able introduction to the entire volume, of which the Acts are a part.

The Gospel its own Advocate. By GEORGE GRIFFIN, LL.D. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 200 Broadway. Philadelphia: G. S. Appleton, 164 Chesnut street. 1850. 8vo. pp. 252.

WE think this is one of the best written books which has recently come from the American press. It has several of the chief excellencies of style without any prominent defect; perspicuity, energy, and beauty. Every proposition is stated directly and without circumlocution. Every argument is laid down with a precision which is the natural result of habits of mental energy. There is no lifeless accumulation of words indolently substituted for the single expression which a mind in action would seize on; nor is there any soaring mysteriously in fog. At the same time, there is a vigor which reminds one of the contest of animated debate. We only mark as somewhat detracting from the elegance of the diction, an occasional use of trite metaphorical language. With respect to the matter, the author does not profess to advance any new arguments, though he attributes more weight than is usual to several particular considerations. If however, the force of an argument is to be estimated by the impression which the statement of it makes upon the mind, then, there are many arguments in this treatise which will have all the force of new ones, though they are not absolutely new.

Studies in Christian Biography: or, Hours with Theologians and Reformers. By SAMUEL OSGOOD, Minister of the Church of the Messiah in New York. New York: C. S. Francis & Co., 252 Broadway. 1850. 12mo, pp. 395. New Haven: Thomas H. Pease.

THE Theologians and Reformers commemorated in this book are the follow ing-Augustine, Chrysostom, Jerome, John Calvin, Teresa of Spain, Faustus Socinus, Hugo Grotius, George Fox, Swedenborg, John Wesley, Jonathan Edwards, John Howard. The life, the times, and the associates of these distinguished men are written with great thoroughness and research, and with remarkable spirit and facility of illustration and style. There are but few

men who can write such biographies as these. Their characters and writings and influence are viewed from the stand point of the author, but with no sectarian littleness and with a good degree of sympathy for the devout spirit in whatever form it is seen. The book is well worth the reading, and deserves a place in the library of the scholar.

The Literary Remains of the late William B. O. Peabody, D.D. Edited by EVERETT PEABODY. Boston: Benjamin G. Greene. 12mo, pp. 448. WE are glad to see this volume, which is a fit companion to the Memoirs and Sermons which we noticed in our No. for August, 1849. It will be welcomed by the numerous circle of friends who lament their author. The selection of prose writings seems to have been made with judgment and taste, by his eldest son, and to consist of those contributions to the North American Review, which are of permanent value, and which are most characteristic of their author. We are pleased that the three felicitous papers, on "American Forest-trees," "Habits of Insects," "Biography of Birds," are included. On subjects like these, Dr. Peabody possessed a large fund of accurate knowledge, which he poured forth most lavishly by means of the most felicitous and delightful combinations of style and imagery. Some of the gems of poetry which he contributed to our literature, accompany the prose selections. A faithful and touching engraving from the portrait of Dr. P. is added, and will awaken in many, saddened memories of the past.

The Miscellaneous Works of Oliver Goldsmith, including a variety of pieces now first collected. By JAMES PRIOR, Fellow of the Society of Antiquarians; Member of the Royal Irish Academy, Author of the Life of Goldsmith, Life of Burke, &c. In four volumes. Vols. III. and IV. New York: George P. Putnam, 155 Broadway. 1850.

WE have already noticed the first and second volumes of this new edition of Goldsmith, in our February and May numbers. We need do no more now than announce the completion of the edition. We commend it to our readers as the best American edition. It is elegantly got up, it being well printed on good paper, and each volume having a fine steel engraving; and it is complete.

The Life of Luther; with special reference to its earlier periods, and the opening scenes of the Reformation. By BARNAS SEARS, D.D. Am. Sunday School Union. 1850. pp. 528.

THIS is a valuable contribution to our popular religious reading, a volume which will command respect from the candor of its discriminating judgment, the accuracy and the thoroughness of its research and the popular and pleasant style of its narrative. We know of no publishing society in the country which is so pains-taking and so successful in the preparation and selection of its publications as the American Sunday School Union.

Poetry for Schools: designed for reading and recitation. The whole selected from the best poets in the English language. By the author of "American Popular Lessons," &c. A new and revised edition with additions. New York: C. S. Francis & Co., 252 Broadway. 1850. 12mo, pp. 396. New Haven: Thomas H. Pease.

THESE selections are various and tasteful, and accompanied with such biographical and critical additions as to supply a want which is felt by many teachers, who desire a reading book somewhat higher than those which are ordinarily used in schools.

The Christian Parent. By Rev. A. B. Muzzy, author of "The Young Maiden," &c. Boston: Wm. Crosby and H. P. Nichols. 18mo, pp. 320.

THIS is a pleasantly written and useful book, on which much pains-taking has been bestowed, and which abounds in faithful and sometimes striking observations. It is written by a Unitarian clergyman, and on the Unitarian theory of religion, but on some points, it is better than books written on the more correct system of religious truth.

The Stars and the Earth; or Thoughts upon Space, Time, and Eternity. Second American from the third English Edition. Boston: Wm. Crosby and H. P. Nichols. 1850. 24mo, pp. 88.

THIS little tract contains much that startles and surprises and delights. It uses these aroused thoughts, to lead to noble trains of reflection, and leaves behind permanent impressions of the greatness of the universe and of God. Ingenious minds will thank the author for the contribution.

A Treatise on the Structure of the English Language, or, The Analysis and Classification of Sentences and their Component Parts, with Illustrations and exercises adapted to the use of Schools. By SAMUEL S. GREENE, A.M., Principal of the Phillips Grammar School, Boston. Philadelphia: Thomas Cowperthwaite & Co. 12mo, pp. 258.

First Lessons in Grammar based upon the Construction and Analysis of Sentences; designed as an Introduction to the "Analysis of Sentences." By SAMUEL S. GREENE. Philadelphia: Thomas Cowperthwaite & Co. 12mo, pp. 192.

We recommend these books to all teachers and students, as containing the elements of the only philosophical system of grammar and their application to the English language.

Elements of the Art of Rhetoric. Adapted for use in Colleges and Academies, and also for private study. By HENRY N. DAY. Hudson: W. Skinner & Co. 1850.

WE regret that want of room cuts short somewhat the notice we had intended to take of this book. The treatise shows research and much discrimination in arrangement and classification. We give the general plan of the work. After an Introduction on the object of the Art of Rhetoric, the author divides the work into two general divisions, Invention and Style. Invention is divided into Explanation, Confirmation, Excitation and Persuasion. Style is treated of under Absolute Properties, Subjective Properties and Objective Properties. There is also an Appendix containing a collection of Themes, arranged under heads corresponding to the several parts of Invention. We think teachers and others will be interested in examining this treatise.

WE regret being obliged to postpone the notices of Bishop Hopkins's “History of the Confessional," and of Dr. Lardner's "Railway Economy in Europe and America," published by Harper & Brothers; and, also of Stephens's "Farmer's Guide to Scientific and Practical Agriculture," published by Leonard Scott & Co. The delay, however, will afford us an opportunity to give a fuller account of the last two very important publications.

THE

NEW ENGLANDER.

No. XXXII.

NOVEMBER, 1850.

ART. I.-THE CONDITIONS OF MISSIONARY SUCCESS.

Home Missions. A Sermon in behalf of the American Home Missionary Society; preached in New York and Philadelphia, May, 1849. By ALBERT BARNES.

In this sermon Mr. Barnes takes a survey of the Home Missionary field, compares the difficulties and encouragements attending the work, and by striking a balance between them, endeavors to form a judgment as to the probable issue. We have not seen any examination of the subject marked by more common sense and good judgment, nor any more just and candid estimate of the real magnitude of the obstacles to be encountered.

In determining the probable success of the Home Missionary, or any kindred enterprise, the first and most natural impulse is to adopt this method which Mr. Barnes has chosen, and balance the difficulties to be overcome against our available resources. Indeed, this kind of investigation, conducted without extravagance, and with careful sifting of facts, such as we see in Mr. Barnes's discourse, is essential to a judicious prosecution of the enterprise.

But there is another mode of determining the question; there is another class of considerations which seem chiefly to have interested the minds of the apostles in thinking of their missionary work; there are conditions of success more deeply fundamental than any that pertain to outward resources and obstacles-conditions which are absolutely necessary and absolutely decisive; and the great question for the churches respecting their benevolent enterprises is, whether they are based on these principles and

accord with these divinely appointed conditions. Says the apostle, "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds." Whatever may be the external obstacles or resources, the church will assuredly triumph, when, not relying on "carnal weapons," in which may be included all agencies which depend for their efficacy on the wisdom and power of men, she employs, in their full strength, spiritual weapons, so as to be mighty through God. In determining, then, the result of our missionary undertaking, we may dismiss the arithmetic of worldly wisdom, and casting out of the account as differentials, exterual obstacles and resources, proceed directly to the answer by the unerring calculus of faith. For in the words of Bishop Hall, "Faith is never so glorious as when she hath most opposition and will not see it. Reason looks ever to the means, faith to the end; and instead of consulting how to effect, resolves what shall be effected." Therefore, whatever the report as to external difficulties and encouragements brought back by those who have gone to spy out the land, it is permitted us to say calmly, as did Caleb and Joshua, "If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land and give it us."

To exhibit these fundamental principles, these divinely appointed conditions of success in missionary enterprises, is our present object.

The instrumentality employed must be the truth which the Holy Ghost has revealed.

It must be the truth of the gospel in distinction from error. Those doctrines which cluster around the cross, the sovereignty of God, his holy character and law, the evil and the eternal punishment of sin, the ruin of fallen men, the atoning sacrifice of the incarnate God, justification by faith, regeneration and sanctification by the divine spirit, with their affiliated truths, are the spiritual weapons which are mighty through God. No fervor of missionary zeal nor multiplication of missionary labors can avail without the preaching of God's revealed truth, in its substantial completeness and purity.

It must be the truth in distinction from all inventions and revolutions. The last two years have emphatically taught the impotence of those political revolutions which are wont to awaken in the popular mind such a delirium of joy; and though in the incessant laudations of the steam engine and telegraph, we seem to hear the Aarons of our tribes proclaiming, "These be thy gods," and the iron horse is taking the place of the golden calf, yet it is not these, but the truth of God renovating individual hearts that must make man blessed.

The apostles, when selecting the instrumentalities for their great work, said, "We will give ourselves to the ministry of the