of Geneva. But he has long been naturalized in this country, as a clergyman of the Church of England; and he wields the English tongue with almost complete mastery. Mr. Malan's soul has been stirred within him into no little upheavings of anxiety, in consequence of the divergences from the gospel and from the Bible, which are eventuating in English society, but which, in their distinctive characteristics, are a mere decoction of German infidelities. He detects elements of these divergences in Dean Stanley's Lectures on the Jewish Church; and, hasting to the rescue, he subjects the first five of the Dean's lectures to a very trenchant review. He is certainly successful in exposing much of the unwarrantable assumption, and much of the vain and vainly vaunted criticism of the existing latitudinarian school. And, while we can by no means echo every shibboleth of his opinions, and regret an unnecessary intensity of devotion to his own section of the Christian Church, we rejoice in his work, as an earnest and able defence of the Bible, as such, and of Bible-teaching, as such. A Divine Providence in relation to Rinderpest and other Plagues. Discourse delivered in St. Andrew Street Chapel, Leith. By the Rev. Professor Hunter. Edinburgh: Seton & Mackenzie. 1866. A masterly discourse combining, in fine proportions, philosophic discussion, philological disquisition, and glowing practical aspiration and appeal. Everlasting torments Unscriptural. Two Lectures to the Students at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, in reply to two addressed to them by Rev. William Barker, and prefaced by Rev. C. H. Spurgeon. By William Gibson Ward. London: Stock. 1866. Mr. Ward pleads with great energy and zeal in behalf of his peculiar views,his views not only of future punishment, but also on several affiliated topics. He objects, for example, altogether to the expression, "immortal soul," and holds that "it is monstrously antichristian to teach this immortal soul nonsense." (p. 59.) It grieves us to differ from any earnest man. But we certainly are unable to occupy Mr. Ward's peculiar stand-points. We deem them to be alike aside from Scripture and from true philosophy, and from the real moral wants of human nature.Paedo-Baptist Arguments Examined: being a Letter to the Rev. John Guthrie, M.A., on his Baptismal Sermons, together with Strictures on his Reply. By William Landels. London: Passmore, &c. 1866.- -Baptist Arguments Examined: A Letter to the Rev. W. Landels, in reply to his Letter and Strictures. By John Guthrie, M.A. London: Paul. 1866. These two publications naturally go together. Mr. Guthrie's reply is, in our opinion, exceedingly able,-eminently convincing and satisfactory.--Miscellaneous Poems. By E. Davidson. Respectfully inscribed to Wilfred Lawson, Esq. Alnwick Blair. 1866. A beautiful little volume; and breathing, from every page, a sweet christian spirit. Mrs. Davidson's heart seems to glow with love to the Saviour, love to children, love to the entire family circle, love to all whom the Saviour loves, and for whom he lived and died. Like her Saviour, she would fain do good to all. Her desires are thus touched and magnetised by Christianity. They are, moreover, pervaded by a thought-element that is beautiful. Hence they have shaped themselves into poetry. To one who looks at her lines from a stand-point that recognises sympathetically a Christian's and a mother's feelings, there is a quiet, earnest, gentle charm, illumined with intelligence, which beams forth from them all. The Ages and the Purposes of God. By John Andrew, minister of the gospel, Barrhead. Glasgow: T. D. Morison. 1866. A volume in which the author unfolds, lovingly, and honestly, and ingeniously, the results of much earnest investigation into the word of God. Very likely many of his brethren may not be able to occupy several of his standpoints, standpoints that are with Mr. Andrew very favourite resorts, and that are regarded by him as eminences on the great Mountain-Range of Divine Revelation. But all will appreciate the sincerity, fervour, and aspiration, which are characteristic at once of the man and of the author. OUR FOURTH SERIES. A minister in England, long a member of the Repository Brotherhood, and thus himself a Brother beloved, unexpectedly offered to write A word in season to the Brotherhood, on occasion of the conclusion of the Third Series of our Serial. We could not decline his kind and generous offer. We are indeed profoundly grateful for it, and hope that it will not be unacceptable to the Brethren in general. We trust also that our Brother will excuse us for having struck out some of the kind and encouraging things which he was pleased to say in reference to the Editor. "A Word to the Repository Brotherhoood. "By the special permission of our friend, the Editor of this Magazine, I am permitted to address you. I am totally ignorant of the number of the Brotherhood. But that does not matter much; for I am quite sure that most, if not all of you, will sympathise with me in the object which I have in view. "I take it for granted that the great majority of those who read the Repository are more than satisfied with the manner in which it has hitherto been conducted, and with the variety, and quality, as well as quantity, of its articles. Doubtless it may have contained some things to which some of us might take exception. But that is just saying that we do not see eye to eye in everything. Could any reasonable man expect it? Truth is many-sided, although thereis a strong tendency in the best of us to forget this, and to become rather one-sided in our notions and views. I like, for my own part, the Repository for its many-sidedness, as well as for its fearless tone, its transparent candour, and its hearty Christian earnestness. It utters no uncertain sound. And I think that you will agree with me, when I say that its contributors have no sympathy with the magic-lanthern school. They have honestly and manfully told us what they think, and have shown us, too, the grounds upon which they have reached their conclusions. I very gratefully acknowledge my indebtedness to the Repository, and, to some extent, I have testified my gratitude by endeavouring to increase the number of its subscribers. "This brings me to what I wish, more particularly, to say to the Brotherhood. The present is the last number of the third series of the Repository. Its writers have, through twelve long years, quarter after quarter, spoken to us in wise and loving and strong and tender words. From their pens we have had much that throws light on some portions of sacred Scripture. We have had old truths presented to us in fresh and beautiful forms. We have had the great evangelic truths presented in especial prominence-the truths which cluster around Him who is "The Truth," and thence derive their beauty and their glory. May I not add, that we have been drawn by these truths closer to the Master Himself? "Well, if we have had our spiritual life quickened, and our faculty of thought aroused;-if we have been led into fresh realms of investigation, and, in one word, have derived much mental and spiritual benefit from the Repository;-it will certainly seem a reasonable thing,-not to say an act of gratitude,-to do a little toward the extension of its influence and power. "I assume that we all, more or less, sympathise with the theological views which it advocates, with its philosophical substrates, and with the intensely practical spirit by which it is distinguished. And I cannot help thinking that we could not better strengthen the hands and encourage the hearts of the writers, than by each one of us endeavouring to increase the number of their readers. The present seems to me to be a most favourable time for making such an effort; and I would suggest to each member of the Brotherhood the duty of securing at least one new subscriber to the New Series. I am sure that this can easily be done if we try; and I am equally certain that we cannot do it without doing good. "There are many things in praise of the Repository which I would like to say; but, as you must all be determined in your action by your own judgement and feeling, I forbear; only expressing, in conclusion, the ardent hope that the fourth series of the Repository may be welcomed by a greatly increased circle of readers.-I am, dear Brethren, "ONE OF YOURSELVES.” After the above was in type, and just as we were going to press, we received from a minister of the gospel, in the United States, a letter which greatly cheered us. We beg to extract from it the following paragraphs : "The "I have just finished reading your most excellent article on Decalogue and the Sabbath," in the last number of the Repository, and cannot help dropping you a few lines expressive of my heartfelt thanks for the very essential benefit I have received from it. I had been imbibing of late more or less of the loose and vague opinions on the Sab bath, as held and advocated by such men as the late F. W. Robertson, F. D. Maurice, Dr. Macleod, and others, and was somewhat unconsciously drifting away from the moorings of sound faith and doctrine, when your very able, lucid, and logical exposition of the Law and its relation to the Sabbath, came just in time to replant my wavering feet upon the rock of truth more firmly than ever. And for this great service I beg you to receive my most sincere thanks. It feels so good, after having been tossed to and fro in the deep trough of doubt and unfixedness, to be once more lifted up into the light, where one can see clearly, and the soul be at rest. "Your entire Magazine is, indeed, one of the very highest merit. I consider some of its articles and numbers as invaluable. And it is doubtful whether-in even and well-sustained ability, in suggestiveness, soundness, and strength, the Repository has within the whole sphere of sacred journalism its superior, or even its equal. I have reason to say, that incalculable good has already been done by it, and that many souls are now revelling in the glorious light of Bible truth, which, but for the Repository, would yet have been subject to the dark bewilderment and confusion of a heterodox orthodoxy and an unsatisfactory faith. But much remains yet to be done before the truth as it is in Jesus will reign triumphant over christendom and the world. Wherefore, my Brother, I bid you God speed upon the continuation of your noble enterprise, assuring you that your labours are not in vain in the Lord." Grateful for the past, we invoke a smile for the future. For that smile we look both upward and around. Shall we receive it from you, dear Brethren of the Brotherhood? Shall we meet you, with some of your friends, within the margin of our Fourth Series? When we meet, will there be, on the countenances of you all, the radiance of a generous welcome? Adieu, jusqu'au revoir. INDEX TO VOLUME IV. THIRD SERIES. Belief not working by love, 28. Bushnell's Vicarious Sacrifice, 296. Candlish's Fatherhood of God, 52. Christ, his faithfulness, 1;-a poet, 7; a Coldstream, Dr. John, 69. Confession of Faith (Westminster), 11. Dalgliesh, Mrs. John, 46. Davidson's Miscellaneous Poems, 305. 296. Deal kindly with the erring, 91. Doedes, Oratio de Libertate, 230. Calderwood's Divine Government, 236. Drake's Early Traces of Man, 236. Ends and Means, The law of, 77. |