which we thank the venerable Doctor. Personal reminiscences, thrown out in this form, are not only more readable, but generally more impregnated with the "seeds of thought" than when uttered in a more didactic and common style. This pamphlet belongs to the important documents which serve to illustrate the history of our Church. DR. JANEWAY has led an eventful public life, and his influence in our Church has been holy, evangelical, and vigilant. The Lord bless his faithful servant, and all them that live to his praise!

THE COMMUNION SABBATH. By NEHEMIAH ADAMS, D.D., Pastor of the Essex Street Church, Boston. Published by John P. Jewett & Co., Boston; Jewett, Proctor and Worthington, Cleveland; Sheldon, Lamport and Blakeman, New York. 1856.

The name of Dr. NEHEMIAH ADAMS is already known in our Church. The present volume will extend his reputation within the bounds of its circulation. "The Communion Sabbath" is prepared with a view to edify those "who leave the House of God when the Lord's Supper is to be administered" as well as for "Communicants." The topics discussed are, I. Christ died for us. II. One sacrifice for sins. III. Miracles at the crucifixion. IV. The three crosses. V. Membership in Christ. VI. He showed them his hands and his feet. VII. Communion with Christ. VIII. Salutations at the Sepulchre. IX. The walk to Emmaus. X. Thou preparest a table before me. XI. The Sacramental Hymn. XII. The first and last Exodus. XIII. Expostulation. Dr. Adams writes in a pleasing style, and conveys much instruction on the solemn and important topics brought to view. His theology is not altogether that of the old-fashioned sort; but, although the phraseology does not at all times suit our views, the true evangelical spirit pervades the volume, and we heartily wish it a large circulation. The publishers have issued the work in a truly elegant form.

POST-BIBLICAL HISTORY OF THE JEWS; from the close of the Old Testament, about the year 420 B.C. E., till the destruction of the Second Temple, in the year 70 C.E. By MORRIS J. RAPHALL, M.A., Ph., Dr., Rabbi, Preacher at the Synagogue, Green Street, New York. In two volumes. Philadelphia, Moss and Brother, 12 South Fourth Street, 1855, pp. 405-486.

The title of these volumes indicates their Jewish authorship, and we confess that this circumstance increased our interest on taking them up for perusal. Other things being equal, no one is so competent to write a history of that people as a Jew; and the competency of our author can scarcely be questioned, considering his high official standing, and the evidences of diligent, honest, and thorough research which are apparent in the work. The language is good, and the style agreeable. This is the first production of the kind, he informs us, ever prepared for the American people, by a man of Hebrew origin; and, so far as we have examined the work, we should think it a reliable history. We have found little to disapprove, with the exception that he expresses his hostility to the Christian religion. This, indeed, we were prepared to anticipate, from his official position as contained in the title page; yet, if he introduced the subject at all, he has said as little as we might expect, the whole being disposed of in a single paragraph; and this seems to have been introduced chiefly for the purpose of saying that Christianity formed no part of Jewish history. He does, indeed, allude to the subject in the Introduction, in the way of

complaint against the views entertained by Christians, in regard to the course of those fearful calamities which have for eighteen centuries befallen the Jews. But this also was to be expected; though it is remarkable that he makes no attempt to solve the wonderful problem, how it has occurred in the providence of God, that his ancient covenant people should have lost their nationality, and been dispersed abroad in nearly all countries on the globe, from the time of their rejection of the Messiah. Whatever competency he possesses as a Jewish historian, of which these volumes have given us a favourable opinion, we regret to perceive that on the most vital of all subjects, though a "Rabbi preacher," he needs some Apollos to expound to him the way of God more perfectly. We hope he may live to write an additional chapter, to show that Christianity has an important connection with the history of that once highly favoured but now depressed and suffering people.

THE YEAR BOOK OF AGRICULTURE: or, the Annual of Agricultural Progress and Discovery, for 1855 and 1856. Exhibiting the most important Discoveries and Improvements in Agricultural Mechanics, Agricultural Chemistry, Agricultural and Horticultural Botany, Agricultural and Economic Geology, Agricultural Zoology, Meteorology, &c.-together with Statistics of American Growth and Production, a list of recent Agricultural Publications, Classified Tables of American Agricultural Patents for 1854 and 1855, a Catalogue of Fruits adapted to the different sections of the United States, &c. With a Comprehensive Review, by the Editor, of the Progress of American and Foreign Agriculture for the year 1855. Illustrated with numerous engravings. By DAVID A. WELLS, A.M., Member of the Boston Society of Natural History, formerly Chemist to the Ohio State Board of Agriculture, Member of the Pennsylvania Historical Society, Pennsylvania State Agricultural Society, Editor of the Annual of Scientific Discovery, Familiar Science, Knowledge is Power, etc. etc. Philadelphia: Childs & Peterson, 124 Arch Street. 1856.

Agriculture is the great fundamental interest of society. There is no branch of human industry which has more need of intellect to give the highest efficacy to its operations. Every agriculturist ought to hail the assistance of a Year Book. The present volume is edited by Mr. Wells, whose name alone is a guarantee of judgment and ability. The divisions of the work are 1. Agricultural Mechanics and Rural Economy. 2. Agricultural Chemistry and Geology. 3. Meteorology. 4. Agricultural and Economic Botany. 5. Horticulture. 6. Agricultural Zoology. 7. Agricultural Statistics. 8. List of Books, Pamphlets, &c., pertaining to Agriculture. There is also a list of Patents for Agricultural Implements for the year. A large mass of important information is contained in the volume. It is the first of a series of Year Books, whose value will increase with the progressive development of the author's plan. Not only will intelligent farmers read the book with profit, and find it important for reference, but farmers' wives will often consult its pages with interest and pleasure. A likeness of the lamented A. J. DOWNING is in the volume. Three splendid coloured engravings of the cotton plant adorn its pages; and a large number of engravings on wood illustrate the progress of agricultural science and art. Messrs. CHILDS & PETERSON deserve well of their country for this undertaking, on which they have spared no expense or pains, and for which, we trust, they will receive adequate remuneration in the advancement of agriculture and in the pecuniary returns which constitute the harvest of professional enterprise. This book is worthy of the patronage of farmers, agriculturists, and gentlemen of leisure.

DR. KANE'S ARCTIC EXPEDITION.-Since the return of this distinguished explorer and naturalist, it is stated that he has been busily engaged in preparing a narrative of his voyage into the Arctic regions. This will undoubtedly be the Wonderful Narrative of the Age. Messrs. CHILDS & PETERSON, of Philadelphia, have made the most liberal and extensive arrangements to produce the work in a style worthy of the author, its subject, and their own enterprise. Its estimated cost is at least $20,000, and it will be one of the most elaborated and splendid works ever issued from the American press. The paintings and drawings from sketches by Dr. KANE are being prepared by the distinguished artist, JAMES HAMILTON, ESQ., who has devoted several years to the study of Arctic subjects, in connection with Dr. KANE. There will be twenty-five steel line engravings, including portraits of Dr. KANE and Mr. GRINNELL, executed under the superintendence of J. M. BUTLER, Esq., who stands unrivalled in this department. The wood-cuts will be engraved in the highest style of the art by Messrs. VAN INGEN & SNYDER, making in all upward of three hundred illustrations. We have been favoured with a sight of some of these engravings, and have never seen them surpassed, either in the interest and variety of their subjects or in the style of their execution. The work will be in two volumes, and at the moderate price of five dollars. We are glad to see that the legislatures of Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey have passed suitable resolutions expressive of the public sentiment in regard to Dr. Kane's explorations, and the spirit and success with which they were conducted. The forthcoming Narrative will have the largest circulation of any similar work ever published.

Statistics.

THE SHIPPING OF THE WORLD.

THE shipping of the world is estimated at 145,500 vessels, and the aggregate tonnage at 15,500,000. Hunt's Magazine estimates that at $50 a ton the shipping of the world is worth the enormous amount of $775,000,000. Of this fifteen and a half millions of tonnage, more than ten and a half millions belong to the Anglo-Saxon race; United States, 40,500 vessels, and 5,661,416 tonnage; Great Britain, 35,960 vessels, and 5,043,270 tonnage.

We heard a member of the British Parliament say in his place less than two years ago, that the tonnage of America would in a few years exceed that of Great Britain. At that moment, as we ascertained the next morning by consulting the proper authorities in the banking house of Baring Brothers, it was greater, and now we have the evidence that both the number of vessels and the amount of tonnage of the United States exceed that of Great Britain! Is not this a most wonderful fact? And does it not exhibit strikingly the rapid growth of the commerce of this country?

GAIN OF TIME.

THE difference between rising every morning at six instead of eight o'clock, in the course of forty years amounts to 29,500 hours, or three years, 121 days, and 16 hours; which is eight hours a day for exactly nine years; so that rising at six will be the same as if nine years of life were added, wherein we may command eight hours of every day for the cultivation of our minds and despatch of business.

Miscellaneous Bints.

PROSPERITY AND ADVERSITY.

PROSPERITY is the blessing of the Old Testament; adversity is the blessing of the New, which carrieth the greater benediction and the clearer revelation of God's favour. Yet even in the Old Testament, if you listen to David's harp you shall hear as many hearse-like airs as carols; and the pencil of the Holy Ghost hath laboured more in describing the afflictions of Job, than the felicities of Solomon. Prosperity is not without comforts and hopes. We see in needleworks and embroideries, it is more pleasing to have a lively work upon a dark and solemn ground, than to have a dark and melancholy work upon a lightsome ground; judge therefore of the pleasures of the heart by the pleasures of the eye. Certainly virtue is like precious odours, most fragrant when they are incensed or crushed; for prosperity doth best discover vice, but adversity doth best discover virtue.-Lord Bacon.

THE DYING SCHOLAR.

A POOR Sabbath-school girl was found by a lady in a hospital, very near her end. The lady asked her, "My child, what do you most of all things desire ?" She replied, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me!"

LADY.-Have you no fear of death?

CHILD." Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me !"

L.-But are you not afraid that some of our sins are yet unpardoned?

C. "If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin."

This little story shows us, first, the importance of storing the memory with texts of Scripture in youth; and, secondly, the value of texts in a dying hour.

CONSIDER ONE ANOTHER.

LOVE is the very life, soul, and genius of Christianity; it is that bond of perfectness without which the Church of God could not exist in the world. True Christians are the "body of Christ, members one of another." Now, in the human body, which is the Divine illustration of this mystery, every member serves its fellow. The eye sees, the ear hears, the mouth tastes, the hand handles, and the feet walk, not for themselves, but for the body. Aim a blow at the eye, and the hand with instinctive courtesy, is lifted up in an instant to shield it. Were it otherwise, were these members to live and act for themselves only, the human body could not continue to exist, for dissolution would necessarily ensue. And it is the same with the body of Christ-its very existence depends on it thus being bound together. Let Christ's people think of themselves only, and Christ's Church must cease. If they desire its continuance to the glory of its great name, they must drink in the exhortation of the Apostle-they must consider one another.