complained that the spirit of religious neutrality had been violated, and that by little and little Protestantism, which is in preponderance all over Holland, had extended its influence to the schools. In 1857, the question came before the houses of parliament, and, in a memorable series of debates, M. Groen Van Prinsterer, one of the most remarkable men in Holland, says our author, maintained the union of religion and education. "No education without religion," said he, "no religion without the adoption of a religious community, else you fall into a vague deism which is only the first step to atheism." Education ought to be common to all without distinction of sects, said his opponents; the school, like the State, ought to take no side in religion." Roman Catholics, Dissenters, Jews, Rationalists of the university of Groningen, in short, the whole liberal party, adopted these principles, which triumphed. The law declares, "That the object of elementary instruction is to develope the reason of the young, and to form it to the exercise of all Christian and social virtues." As was to be expected, these rather vague expressions pleased no party, there was not enough for the Protestant conservatives, and too much for the liberals, who wished to see every religious expression eliminated from the law upon instruction. It was too much for the Romanists also, who were afraid of the abuse which a zealous Protestant master might make of it, in speaking of Christianity to Roman Catholic children (p. 53). The principle of obligatory instruction was not adopted, and the voluntary system has proved quite successful. If we have lingered rather long over these debaters, it is because, as our author remarks, "They are full of interest for the solution of the difficult problem which is at the present moment agitating England and Germany."

While reviewing with pleasure the degree of development to which elementary instruction has attained in some districts in England, M. Desseilligny deplores its very great inferiority in others: "Are we to conclude," says he, "that, contrary to what we have seen in Holland, obligatory attendance at school is alone powerful enough to enable elementary instruction to make rapid progress? Ought we not rather to say, that this insufficiency in the results is the consequence of the very peculiar system pursued in England, of the absence of a central authority, and a consequent unity of effort? I am tempted to think so" (p. 65). On the subject of the Ragged Schools (the appellation of which the author finds fault with, as conveying an idea of degradation), he thus expresses himself: "We see with regret this division, which puts the children of parents in easy circumstances on one side, and the children of the poor and vagabonds on the other, unfortunately it would appear to be necessary; but we cannot help feeling that there is something amiss with the civilisation here; we remember the German and Swiss schools to which all the children are required to come, and where the only difference between them is, that the children belonging to families whose means are small, receive their education gratis" (p. 66).

As for Scotland the author quotes with great praise the principle which is at the basis of the national education, and the act of parliament of 1567 granting the clergy the right of inspection over the

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schoolmasters; and he applauds the statute of 1633, authorising a special tax for the schools. At the same time, judging from the Commissioners' Report, he thinks that much remains to be done in the large towns, especially in Glasgow.

He is right; efforts need to be made everywhere and by all. "Give me education for a century," Leibnitz used to say, "and I will change the face of the world." Is a century enough? Whether or not, let us work. C. de F.

XII.-AMERICAN LITERATURE.

The Bibliotheca Sacra. Andover. January 1870.

The aim

This quarterly was established twenty-seven years ago. of its founders was to make it a Journal, "which should embody the results of profound thought, and the most thorough investigations in theology, philosophy, and biblical literature," and such, in a good degree, the Bibliotheca Sacra has been. The present No. contains the following articles: 1. On "The Incarnation " which presents a comprehensive, and acute critical exposition of the different views that have been entertained on the subject, and a vindication of the doctrine. 2. Dr Barrows continues his papers on Revelation and Inspiration. He presents here the fifth of the series. The subject of it is "The Credibility of the Gospel Narratives." This is an able

discussion of the subject in opposition to the views of Renan and others, who have rejected the Gospel narratives as plain statements of facts, on the ground that no supernatural events such as the Gospels record, can happen, and therefore that no such event can be authenticated. The paper exhibits a beautiful portrait of the character of Christ as it is described in the Gospels. 3. "The Human Intellect ' by Professor Bascom. The article is a review of Dr Porter's (of Yale College) recent work on the same subject. The writer maintains, in opposition to Dr Porter, that consciousness is not a power of mind; not a distinct act or power of mind, but the intuitive, regulative idea, the inseparable condition of mental phenomena, and that sensations and perceptions are purely subjective, and are made the mediums and conditions of a complete knowledge of the external world. The writer also maintains that the inductive and deductive processes of reasoning are radically different, and spring respectively from the form of knowledge due to observation and intuition, in opposition to Dr Porter, who makes the two to rest in their final analyses on the same basis. We have no room to notice the views taken by the writer on the subject of Intuition as opposed to those of Professor Porter, but would recommend the whole article as well worthy of the perusal of all interested in mental philosophy. 4. The fourth article is on "The Progress of Truth Dependent on Correct Interpretation." It is a

discourse which was delivered by Dr Sweetser before a convention of Congregational ministers at Boston. 5. Dr Macdonald of Princeton is the writer of the next paper, on "Bethesda and its Miracles." He gives first a historico-geographical account of the pool of Siloam, which he identifies with ancient Bethesda, and then he treats of the miracles our Lord wrought upon the impotent man there. He rejects the passage (John v. 3, 4.) beginning with the words, "waiting for the moving of the waters," to the end of the 4th verse as spurious. This he does on the authority of the best critics of the original text, and some of the ablest modern expositors. 6. The article on "The Doctrine of the Apostles" based on Messner's "Lehre der Apostel," is here concluded. 7. The seventh article discusses "Recent Theories on the Origin of Language." This is followed by minor papers, on "Assyrian Studies," and on "The Topography of Jerusalem." This Journal does not contain anything like so full a supply of "Notices of Books" as does the Princeton, which perhaps exceeds due bounds in this department.

The Biblical Repertory and Princeton Review. New York. January 1870.

Our excellent Transatlantic contemporary presents eight readable Articles of varying interest in this No. The first treats of the "History and Liberation of Civil Service Reform" as found in the experiences of Roman, and Medieval, and Modern governments. The article is based on Durand's "Des offices considérés au point de vue des Transactions Privées et des Intérêts de l'Etat," published at Paris in 1863. The second paper is on "The early regeneration of Sabbath-school children "-a most important practical subject treated in an earnest intelligent spirit. Next is a review of "The Life of Dr Samuel Miller," for nearly forty years second professor in the Theological Seminary at Princeton. He was "one of the commanding spirits of the day, one of the greater lights of the American Church." "What the Greeks thought of the religion of the Jews is the subject of the next article, being a fragment translated from the "Moralia" of Plutarch from the version of the Abbé Ricard. The fifth article is a review of the Duke of Argyle's "Reign of Law." The "Law" which controls the course of nature, and the operations of the mind of man, his Grace regards as absolute, binding together the whole universe in the relation of cause and effect, as in a chain of necessity which is never broken even by the power of the Deity himself. He discards the word "supernatural," and would define a miracle as the work of superhuman power acting in strict accordance with natural laws. He extends the bounds of the natural so as to include within it whatever is essential to the being of a personal, wise, powerful, and all-controlling God. The reviewer has produced an admirable paper shewing the value of this hypothesis, and at the same time bringing out its defects. The question of the relation between science and revelation is ably discussed. There follow two articles bearing on the recent union of the two branches of the Presbyterian Church in America. In the first of these there is a record, from which we have given an extract below, of

Consummation of the Re-union in the United States. 413

the Proceedings of the two Assemblies which met at Pittsburg, on 10th Nov. of last year, when the union was consummated. The action of these assemblies will henceforth hold a conspicuous place in the history of Christianity in America. The second of these articles referred to, contains some judicious and important observations on the responsibilities now lying on the united church-" The Presbyterian Church-its position and work." We may quote from it a sentence or two." The union has brought into one organisation the largest body of Presbyterians in the world, which, when thoroughly compacted together with buoyant energies and bright anticipations, can do much for the enlargement of its borders. It embraces 4532 ordained ministers and licentiates, 4371 churches, and 431,463 communicants. In sympathy with this church, or brought under its influences, are at least two millions of people."-"The creed is intact. No revision of its statements, no lowering of its doctrines, no drifting from old landmarks have been proposed. The Confession of Faith shall continue to be sincerely received and adopted, as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures,' is the basis which brought the two branches together, and nothing less than this could ever have effected the union-our creed remains the same. It is not toned down to gratify the wishes of any assailant, nor enlarged to guard against or meet every conceivable error. It sets forth no new opinions, it enters into no new domain of thought or speculation."

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This No. contains also an interesting account of "The Life of Joseph Addison Alexander, D.D." Professor of Theology'at Princeton. The biography on which the article has been based, has just been published in New York, in two volumes. The writer of the article, who is, we believe, Dr Hodge, says, "Dr Alexander was ours; our friend; our colleague; our decus et tutamen. He was a Princeton man; and the Princeton Review cannot refrain from placing its chaplet, though withered and tear-bedewel, upon his grave. His memory is loved, reverenced, and cherished here as it can be nowhere else." He is chiefly known in this country as the author of commentaries on Isaiah, on the Psalms, on the Acts of the Apostles, on the Gospel of Mark, and on the first sixteen chapters of Matthew, which evince great learning, profound scholarship, and remarkable power of analysis. As a commentator his method resembles that of Grotius rather than that of Calvin, he is verbal rather than doctrinal, he deals with the text and the context rather than with the truths taught by the sacred writers.

Consummation of the Presbyterian Re-union in the United States.

We make no apology for transferring to our columns the following account of the consummation of the Presbyterian re-union in the United States, from the last number of the Princeton Review. The consummation of a union, so large in its scale, so harmonious in its result, so satisfactory to the friends of truth, and so fraught with the promise of future good, is as delightful as it is marvellous, and presents a scene which has seldom been witnessed in the history of the church. We may safely venture to predict that, in this auspicious event, we see the VOL. XIX.-NO. LXXII.

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commencement of a new era in the annals of Presbyterianism on either side of the Atlantic, and throughout the world :—

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Early on the first day of the session, both Assemblies referred all matters concerning re-union to the joint committee, who arranged the plan of union last sent down to, and approved by, the Presbyteries. The stated clerk of the Old School Assembly reported :— We have thus one hundred and forty-four Presbyteries. One hundred and twenty-eight of these have answered the overture sent down affirmatively in writing. Three-Hudson, Rio de Janeiro, and West Lexington-have answered in the negative. Fifty-eight have been unanimous in the vote. Not including Presbyteries in which the divided vote is not specified in the answers, and those in which the want of unanimity is expressed only by a non liquet and 'excused from voting,' there may be counted two hundred and forty-five negative votes detailed in these returns, and distributed among sixty Presbyteries, and in about equal proportion of ministers and ruling elders. The Presbytery of Nassau has reported a formal protest along with the detail of negative votes.'

"The stated clerk of the New School Assembly reported that, The number of Presbyteries connected with this General Assembly is one hundred and thirteen. Official responses have been received from every one of them. They have all answered the overture in the affirmative. In each of the Presbyteries of Albany, Millsboro, and the District of Columbia, a single negative vote was cast. In each of the remaining one hundred and ten Presbyteries, the vote was unanimous. Respectfully submitted.'

"EDWIN F. HATFIELD, Stated Clerk.

"PITTSBURG, November 10. 1869."

REPORT FROM RE-UNION COMMITTEE.

"Elder Henry Day, Secretary of the Joint Committee of Conference on Re-union, submitted the following report from the Committee:• The Joint Committee of Conference on Re-union met on the 10th of November, 1869, in the lecture room of the First Presbyterian Church. "The following resolutions and plans of procedure for the consummation of the re-union of the churches, were adopted, and recommended as proper to be passed by the respective Assemblies :

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1. That each Assembly should declare the vote of the Presbyteries in the following language:

"This Assembly having received and examined the statements of the several Presbyteries on the basis of re-union of the two bodies now claiming the name and rights of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, which basis is in the words following:

"The re-union shall be effected on the doctrinal and ecclesiastical basis of our common standards. The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament shall be acknowledged to be the inspired word of God, and the only infallible rule of faith and practice. The Confession of Faith shall continue to be sincerely received and adopted, as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures, and the government and discipline of the Presbyterian Church in the United States shall be approved as containing the principles and rules of our polity;'

"Do hereby find and declare that the said basis of re-union has been