dant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft; of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of waters, perils of robbers, perils by mine own countrymen, perils by the heathen, perils in the city, perils in the wilderness, perils in the sea, perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Besides those things that are without, that which cometh.upon me daily, the care of all the churches."74 This is the man who is "troubled on every side, yet not distressed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed."75 Brave, magnanimous Paul!

Such a man is an unfailing friend. There is such a depth of love and sweep of affection in his soul, his friendliness so springs out of the very purposes of his life-is so tempered by all that is purest on earth and holiest in heaven-that his friendship is as enduring as life itself. Nor could he fail strongly to attach others to himself. The love his brethren bore him, is shown in his last recorded interview with the elders of the church of Ephesus. They had come down to Miletus, twenty or thirty miles, to bid him farewell, as he went up for the last time to Jerusalem. He reviewed his intercourse with them; alluded to his labors and sufferings on their behalf; exhorted them to remember, that for the space of three years he ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears; and, aware that only bonds and afflictions awaited him, he told them that they should see his face no more. And then "he kneeled down and prayed with them all. And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more.' What tenderness was here, and how fully was it recipro

cated!

9976

View the character of Paul on whatever side you will, it is equally extraordinary. Nor can we fail to perceive that what is morally great in him-what is noblest and most oblivious of self-is drawn from his religious life and faith. It is Christian truth that begets that uncompromising fidelity 75 Ib. iv. 8, 9.

74 2 Cor. xi. 21-28.

76 Acts xx.

to principle, which is the very soul of his heroism. Paul is never self-willed; but he is as firm in the right as right itself. He readily yields to the innocent prejudices of the world, and adopts every harmless expedient to win the souls of men. Thus, he circumcised Timothy," whom he had called to be an assistant among the Jews; and entered into charges with those who had taken the Nazaritic vow.78 But he would not permit prejudice to be imposed upon him as a principle. Hence he refused to circumcise Titus,79 that the truth of the gospel might remain with him. He never mistakes the impulses of his own personal desires for the commands of duty; but when God bids it, he walks with a firm step into the very jaws of death.

Whether we study the wondrous character of his conversion, the multitude and magnitude of the dangers he braved, or his superiority to the influences of his Jewish education, we perceive in all the transforming power of Christian faith and love. From the moment that Paul understood that Jesus was the Christ, that he " gave himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time,"80 and that the love which prompted his self-sacrifice, extended equally to every member of the race, he rose superior to Jewish pride and exclusiveness, saw the middle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile broken down,81 and recognized the lowliest of men as fellow heirs of an immortal inheritance. He saw, indeed, universal condemnation and death as the consequence of universal sinning; but he saw, also, through faith in Christ, the dead quickened into life again. The good pleasure of God, which, through Jewish blindness, seemed a great mystery, was clearly made known to him-" that in the dispensation of the fulness of times, he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him." And, though the Jews for a time might stumble at this fulness of grace, they should not utterly fall; but having commended the salvation of the gospel to the Gentiles, they themselves shall at length accept it; and so all Israel shall be saved.85

83

It was from the repose of such a faith, that Paul's greatness sprang. He had seen the Saviour. He had breathed

the airs of Calvary. He had heard the prayer of Stephen, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge."86 He knew that the power of such love, would lead every soul to "confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." He counted not his life, therefore, dear unto him. The persecutions of the world could not appall him. He died daily. And through the long period of thirty years, his example, in rectitude of purpose, in fidelity to truth, in heroism of soul, transcends all others, and will remain forever the admiration of men and of angels.

A. A. M.

ART. XIII.

Literary Notices.

1. The New American Cyclopædia: A Popular Dictionary of General Knowledge. Edited by George Ripley and Charles A. Dana. Volume XIV. Reed-Spire. New York: D. Appleton & Company. Boston: Elliot & White. 1862.

We always hail the appearance of a new volume of the New Cyclopædia with especial satisfaction; for we find that it serves us more frequently and more satisfactorily, than any other book of reference, the dictionary only excepted. Particularly in reference to the progress of the rebellion-whose annals we daily read with such painful interest-we find that, in point of utility, the Cyclopædia comes first, Colton's Atlas second, and Lippincott's Gazeteer third. With these works for reference, we have been enabled to localize, and comprehend the local bearings of most of the leading events of the war. For example the first articles which took our attention on receiving the present volume, were "Richmond," "Savannah," "Slavery," and, especially, in view of the important domestic influence exerted by the article described, so seriously to the disadvantage of the rebels, we have found the article "Salt" very instructive. The new volume is particularly instructive in the department of biography-for examples the articles on "Richardson," "Ritter," 66 Robertson," "Rothschild," "Russell," "Schelling," "Scott," "Shakespeare,"

"Smollett," "Soult," "Southey." The article "Roman Catholic Church" is worthy of especial notice as an example of the impartiality which has proved the distinguishing merit of the New Cyclopædia. We confess ourselves unable to determine from the article alone, whether the writer is himself Protestant or Catholic! There are comprehensive articles under the heads "Russia," "Sardinian States," "Scotland," "Sicilies," and "Spain.' It will be seen that the work is nearly complete. It will prove invaluable to the student. We are happy to learn that it is meeting with the success it merits.

2. Margaret Howth; A Story of To-Day. Boston: Ticknor & Fields. 1862. pp. 266.

Quite a difference of opinion has arisen among the critics as to the sex of the unknown author of Margaret Howth. A Philadelphia editor, and a number of others, have spoken confidently of the writer as a woman, saying, in confirmation of this opinion, that "No man could have drawn the characters, showing us the heart of the heroine, nor created such a being as poor Lois." These characters are indeed skillfully and powerfully drawn, and none other than a steady and confident hand could have delineated them. There is also a peculiar strength in the style in which the discussions are carried on between Mr. Howth and Dr. Knowles; also in the fearlessness with which the writer goes into the depths of Holmes' iron-clad heart, and with a bold hand strikes out the line between the good and evil therein, and paints its lights and shadows. This perfect familiarity with the hardy nature of a man like Holmes, and the vigorous treatment of the entire list of characters, would seem to indicate a masculine mind and experience, while the gentleness and charity that breathe through the whole speak of a woman's heart in the work. The book cannot fail to interest, and the author or authoress,-who has evidently studied, thought, and seen much,-has only to strive faithfully to take a place among the first novelists of our land.

3. The True Story of the Barons of the South; or, The Rationale of the American Conflict. By E. W. Reynolds. Boston: Walker, Wise, & Company. 1862. pp. 240.

It was our desire to prepare, at some length, a review of this work-one that should give somewhat of its substance as well as purpose. But we find it impossible to make room for more than the customary "notice." This however we can indite with a will, for to our taste, the book is the most instructive, and the best executed specimen of literature the war has occasioned. With the patience of a true historian the author has probed the root of the rebellion; has found this far back in our annals; has

found it in the fixed aversion to democratic principles which must be the distinguishing characteristic of a people who do not scruple to take by might what they cannot receive by right; who seek systematically and on principle, to build themselves up, by keeping a class of their fellows down. Advising, urging our readers to read the book and judge of its merits for themselves, we wish to give all the space we now have to spare, to an extract from the introduction, written by the Rev. Samuel J. May. "That the Barons of the South' and their retainers have long been preparing for this diabolical rebellion, and have intended to be utterly unscrupulous as to the means they should use to effect their purpose, is daily becoming more patent. Their dark secrets are being brought to light. Every day new revelations are made of their impious, infernal plot. Evidences of their malice long prepense are continually coming from unexpected quarters. Inquiring eyes have discovered proofs of their guilt as black and damning as that of the rebel angels.' The modest author has been impelled to come forth from his loved retirement, as a witness against them. It has been our privilege to hear, from the manuscript, the greater part of what he now offers to the public. We have advised the publication of it, because, though much to the same effect has been given in sundry speeches and newspaper articles, we have seen nothing so thorough, so radical. He has indeed gone to the root of the matter. Everything in this book is racy, evidently the result of the anthor's own investigations; the product of his own thought. Some parts of it are wholly original. The reader will find in it a few facts more startling than any other explorer has brought us from the arcana of American despotism. He has shown us again, that 'the children of this world have been wiser in their day and generation than the children of light.' He has shown us that 'the Barons of the South,' as the illustrious John Adams first called them in 1776, have, almost from the beginning, hated democratic principles and purposes. They have foreseen and forefelt the utter incompatibility of a democratic government with the permanence of their peculiar institution,'-that worst system of tyranny, and therefore they early determined to rule or to ruin the Republic; to change its character; to make it a ruthless despotism under a better name; or else to break away from it, rend it in twain, tear it in pieces. All this is made to appear on the following pages. We earnestly commend them to the attentive perusal of every one who is willing to know how implacable is the temper, how impious the purpose, of the leaders of this great Rebellion."