New-York tribune., 1884-01-28
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

VrRMoNs PREACHED IN ENGLISH CHURCHES
BY the REV. PHILLrs BROOKS. svo, pp. Bill Z
2. Dutton 4 Co. .
These fourteen sermons are we'll worth perusal.
In style they are beautifully clear and limpid
in thought they are vigorous and catholic In toae
they are reverent and uplifting. and their ann Is
pre-eminently that of alltru preachers-the ouiio
ing of character.
1t needless here to go into any extended anaiy-
sis Of Mr. Broolxs's power as preacher bu' ~ may
he we'll TO indicate briefly one or two OF the n"S'
salient of his sermons. First oil these
NAV be mentioned their practical aims Ihey arc
preached for men and women in the daily Walks OF
life They are not theological treatlses they are
not arguments for tho bostering up of sectaran
creed Their Illustrations taken from the common
things of lfe the trees the fields clad In verdure
the mountains batbed in light and shadow, or the
beauty and grandeur of the never-resting sea- Thus
the preacher speaks not i'll the dialects OF the
schools but in "a tongue understanded OF the
peo; e."
Again, Mr.. Brooks is careful not to give to
churches what was meant for men. In the Rood
sense Of that overworked word he stands forth as
Liberal. There is IN his utteranccs no compromis-
ing of what he believes TO be true. The DAINTY
sceptic, dabbling in unbelef" will lind no comfort
in these sermons. But in his preaching ne mas
learned what so many preachers but dimly con-
tirely compatible, and that it is sacred duty "
sneak the truth in love- because it is the truth
Humanity and not sectariaDsm Is built up by
such sermons as these.
Mr. Brooks is q man preaching to men about the
struggles and triumphs of men Ihe aosuact siu'
of abstract people are of little value IN mouidng
character. And he alleged decadence OF the
modern pulpit may be partly explained by the Iact
that preachers have been too often contented Win
the denunciation of abstract sins. MI BROOKS does
not simply analyze a text he analyses the living
hearts before him. Deity and dehcately
he brings home TO those hearts the
Md vet ever new lessons of righteousness,
TEMPERANCE and Judgment to come and they go
away, not with the thought that they have listened
TO fine DISCOURSE" but TO the impassioned words
of a fellow sinner with themselves.
No ono can envy such a man the high position
he holds among preachers. As a teacher OF moral
ity fred with Christianity. as leader in true prog
ress his words merit the respectful hearing OF men
of all creeds.
LECTURES ON PAINTING, Delivered to the Students
the ROYAL Academy By EPwbRP Sons H.
The lectures embraced in this volume arc a
selection from those delivered by Mr.. Armitagc
during the period of his profcssorship in the Royal
Academy from 1876 to 1882 Although intended
in the FIRST place for students they not severely
technical. aud all of them suite for general
readers who are interested in art Only three or
four are critical and of these three or four the most
interesting are the discussions of David and his
school, and of the modern schools of Europe as
represented in the Paris International Exhibition.
Mr. Armitage has not exalted idea Of the present
condition of painting in France, nor is he SATISFIED
with the tendencies of art in most of the Con-
tinental schools. On the other hand he has lively
annreciatlon of the qualities of intellectually and
refinement IN English art. His judgments are brief
and summary, not entering into any profound dis
cussiOn of aesthetic principles and as criticism GER
tanly leaving something to be desired, but IN gen.
eral they arc plain sensible and independent The
Lectures devoted to the technical branches of his
subject such drawing, color composition, finish
etc. are full of practical advice and will be found
of great service to those who would learn how to
Judge of tho merit of paintings as well rs to young
artists Tho amateur will find the whole book ex-
ccedingly readable.