The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-10-05
LITERARY NOTICES.

Der, and December In TWO volumes, LIMO. Dy
William Jay. New York: R. Carter Brothers.
For sale by Gray q Ballantyne, Washington, D. G.
The venerable author of these volumes has
but a short time since passed from the scene
of his useful labors and loved ministrations, to
his great reward. Too well known for years
in the religious world to need eulogy, it is we'll
that " though dead, he yet speaketh, to the
hearts of many a Christian, by his "Villagc
Discourses," and other productions of his pen
Among these, none have been moro deservedly
popular than his I" Morning and Evening Er-
ercises,n of which this is new edition. It is
kind of book we'll fitted to train to devo-
tional spirit and call to meditation-a duty
too much neglected in the present stirring life
of even the Christian world. Communion with
ones own heart reflection on the Scripture 30
fraught with lessons for every duty and every
trial, are needed far more than practiced in
the formation of that sterling character for
principle which the age demands, amid the
conflicts of opinion and the calls to high-toned
action, that are made on every one who has q
part to act in life OF all this class of books,
there are mono which can be more safely rec
commended as likely to reward the frequent
use than these volumes. They give medita-
ton, in the simple language of earnest piety,
for every morning and evening. They show
that the author has drank deeply into the spirit
of the Gospel of Christ; and happy will be
the reader who may imbibe the same love for
Gods word in its simplicity and beauty of
adaptation to the heart of man; happy the
preacher that can catch similar facility of
reaching his object of doing good to souls
taught him by these lessons of William Jay
We are glad to see them so neatly presented
to the public, from the press of the Carriers
and hope that their sale may be equal to their
worth. S.
THE PAsToR's GIFT; OR, OUTLINES OF CHRISTIAN
DUTY. By Rev. A. JOY A. NJ. New York Ed
ward II. Fletcher, &c. 1854.
This book comes to us from the West Its
author resides, we believe in the State of Ohio.
His object is a good one. The subjects On
which he touches are 80 numerous, that in the
short compass of some 300 pages, or more, he
could not be expected to treat them to any ex-
tent. Yet, as he ventures in his preface to ex-
press the "humble hope that" his pages a are
not wholly unadapted to the object proposed"
and says, they had their origin in the neces-
stiles of the author, as felt by himself while
young Christian, and also during his subse-
quent lsbors, as pastor" we are happy to
accord to him the merit of having produced
~ IL.
higher commentator Of more than one Chris
tan heart, directed and strengthened in the
path of duty, and led to aim at higher progress
in life of holiness and usefulness. Mr.. Joy
writes clearly; tersely, directly, and through
the whole volume evidently bresthes the spirit
of one who means to instruct and improve his
readers. His views are evangelical and truly
catholic. The book itself does not state to
what particular denomination he belongs it
is not sectarian, but adapted to all churches
which receive the great truths of the Bible
while in his remarks on the treatment of other
denominations he urges spirit of kindness
and good will. Let" says he, "let members
of different communions act together where
they can see, feel, and act in harmony; and
where they cannot, let them freely and kindly
separate All should love as brethren and. as
they have opportunity, do each other good"
If received in the same spirit and practicsd on,
we venture to say, our authors remarks on
this and other subjects will make this little
duOdecmo work of lasting usefulness. S.
NOTES OF THEOLOGICAL STUDENT. By James
Mason Hoppin. New York: D. Appleton 4 Co.
1854. For sale by R. Farnham Washington, D C.
THE pieces in this volume" we are told in
the preface are gathered from previous pub
locations in fugitive forms" This fact is an
important one in the estimate to be placed on
the book, as now presented in a shape of great
er permanence. How much is the revision to
which they have been submitted, we are not
told. They are interesting as they are, as
views of life abroad, "of a period partially
passed in quiet study in Germany" and also
on visit to Greece and the Holy Land, coun-
tries with which are connected 30 many asso-
Citations of the historic page, as well as sacred
events, that we all feel desire to be better
acquainted with them. We are disposed, there
fore, to welcome the observations of every such
intelligent traveller, for, though scarcely a
month passes but some new work relating to
these subjects claims the attention of the read
ing public, yet, as every one, too, has his par
ticular point from which he takes his view. 80
the picture is more complete to the tarry-a at
homo traveller 1.-THE more varied is the as
poet and the shifting phases by which he may
look forth upon it in its mingling hues and
shades, as it were through multitudinous eyes,
Sketches prepared as these have been have q
freshness that gives them the charm of present
life, though they may at the same time be
wanting in some of the characteristics of more
elaborate articles Mr. Hoppin writes in an
easy and graceful style, free from the turgid
and meaningless phraseology too common, we
regret to say, among some admired writers of
the present day, and which wells poverty of
ideas with words, under the pretext of an over
flow of enthusiasm. His sketches relating to
Germany and which give us the portraitures
of her great men, such as Luther, Neander.
Ritter, Ranke Sohelling, Humboldt, and others,
are, to our view, the best both in matter and
style. Those on Greece we think more faulty.
though some may admire them for their bean.
ties of description. The whole volume is cred.
table to Its author, and will afford pleasant
and instructive reading to any one who wants
an interesting book to beguile few hours, and
which he may lay down again with the re.
Election that if his mind has not been tasked
his heart has contracted no faint but has bean