ducing the effects, as all counterfeits, even though undetected, work differently from the true. In his case, it was a reality: God was with him, and wrought through him; and how was it possible but that the result should correspond with the almighty cause from which it proceeded! Nor were the presence and agency of God unperceived, in the case. Christ gave manifest proof, to the consciences of all who heard him, that it was under this divine authority alone that he acted. Even Nicodemus acknowledged, "We know that thou art a teacher come from God; for no man can do these miracles which thou doest, except God be with him." He stood as God's spokesman to the world,-the one Mediator between God and men." All that he taught and did, was in the name and with the power of the Father, who had charged him with the mission. As St. Paul says, "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself."

Here, then, is the source of that immeasurable power which Christ exerted through his doctrines, precepts, and example, the immediate authority of God. And this divine authority still rests on his gospel, making it, now, as it always has been, "the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” We feel-mankind feel,that it is God who speaks and appears to us, through Christ and his gospel; that the gospel is not the doctrine of man, nor, properly speaking, of Christ himself; but the message of God to us. Our sense of the divine sanction sets home every truth, command, and exemplification, as mere human authority, or as mere abstract conceptions, never could do,—makes them bear on our souls with all the sacred, subduing weight of God's presence and dictation. It is with God that we deal, and not with human speculations, in all our concerns with the message which he has given us through his only begotten Son.

VOL. XI. 8

H. B. 2d.

ART. VI.

Literary Notices.

1. Outlines of Universal History, from the Creation of the World to the Present Time. Translated from the German of Dr. George Weber, Professor and Director of the High School of Heidelberg, by Dr. M. Behr, Professor of German Literature in Winchester College. Revised and corrected, with the_addition of a History of the United States of America, by Francis Bowen, A. M., Alford Professor of Natural Religion, Moral Philosophy, and Civil Polity, in Harvard College. Second Edition. Boston: Jenks, Hickling, and Swan. 1853. 8vo. pp. 559.

To make such a text-book of Universal History as should meet the wants of our colleges and professional schools, would be one of the most difficult achievements in literature. The problem is, to compress, without spoiling, the story of the civilized world, for three thousand years or more, into a compass that can be mastered by the student in the short time allotted to this very important branch of learning. It will not do to give him a mere catalogue of events ; for that is not history. Nor, on the other hand, will it do to unfold the scenes as they passed in actual life, with their complicate relations; for, though that would be history, it would occupy far too much space for the purposes now in view. There seems to be needed the brevity of a catalogue with the comprehensiveness of a philosophical narrative, two things apparently incompatible with each other, though it is possible perhaps to unite them, at least approximately. We think it is plain, that for one to profit in any great degree by the study, he should be well-grounded in the general knowledge of universal history, as a preparation for a more thorough acquaintance with particular portions that may be specially important to him. If he is wanting in the former, he will not understand the place which the latter hold in the movement of the world, nor perceive their vital relations with the whole: he will be as one looking through a narrow vista at certain objects that stand out in light, while all the encompassing horizon is wrapped in mist. Let him have a broad view, in order even that he may have a clear and just view of individual points.

Can we not conceive of a work, vigorously condensed without becoming dry, which should give a clear view of the main course of events, together with the successive conditions of the world, while, by a suggestive manner of narrating, it should sufficiently indicate the character, causes, and influence of those changes and transactions, and also the general political truths demonstrated by them. If exe

cuted by a competent master, it might open with an introduction setting forth the internal laws and outward conditions that most immediately determine national progress or decline, so far as they can be ascertained by the past experience of states; and the narrative itself might then be accompanied with marks of reference to those causes, as often as they severally come into play, with a notice in each case of the modifications they receive from peculiar circumstances. This would present history somewhat in the character of a science, as resting on principles, care being taken not to shape the history to an hypothesis, but to draw the principles only from the facts. At the end of every section, the best popular works on the topic in hand might be named, so as to direct to the means of studying more thoroughly such portions as should be thought of special importance.

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Such is our idea of a text-book of universal history. We find none, however, that answers to this description. In all works of the kind, that we know of, there are great defects in the general plan, as well as in the execution. Tytler's is distinguished by an excellent method of dividing and grouping his subject, but it is written in the diffuse style of public lectures, and wants, moreover, the light which subsequent inquiries have brought out. Müller's valuable and highly-finished work was designed for those "who were already well versed in the details of history," and who were thus prepared to apprehend its genius or spirit." Taylor's Manual (edited by Dr. Henry) wants but little, except a more condensed, pointed, and lively style, to make it the best that we have; even with its dull and spiritless movement, it still ranks among the best. Pütz's series (translated from the German by Arnold and Paul) follows the analytic method perhaps to excess, dissecting the living web of history, and laying all its components apart. At every step in his progress, he separates his matter, giving us here the geography, there the events, here again the form of government, there the religion, and under another head the arts and sciences,-somewhat after the manner of Mosheim. Of course, there is little continuity of narrative. Still, the work, in many respects, excels; it is clear, precise, compressed, and covers the whole field. Perhaps the best-arranged manual, and the richest in suggestions, is Heeren's History of the Ancient States and of Modern Europe, translated by Mr. Bancroft: a free sketch, executed apparently at a heat, while the materials lay thoroughly digested beforehand in the author's mind, with all their relations and significance in plain view. Notwithstanding the sketchy appearance it wears, it unites comprehensiveness with exactness, and often seems to overflow with meaning. As it was expected, however, to be illustrated with oral instructions by the teacher, according to the custom of German schools, it is probably not altogether adapted to our mode of study.

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After an imperfect examination of Dr. Weber's Outlines, we are not prepared to say that, on the whole, it excels all the works just named. The narrative is more continuous than in the most of them, and marches forward with a livelier air,—sometimes perhaps with a little of rhetorical swell. The highway of events, over which it passes, is quite narrow, especially in the ancient portion; but, considering its narrowness, this way is, in one respect at least, judiciously laid out, since it takes in those facts, and those only, which are the central and culminating ones. All details, and all correlative matters, on either hand, are left out of sight. This, however, is in conformity with the author's purpose. My effort," says he, has been so to bring together the events of the world's history in their more prominent aspects and decisive moments, that the reader may obtain a clear idea of them; that the important facts may be exhibited together with their causes and consequences, and thus be more strongly impressed upon the imagination, and consequently upon the memory; and that the course of the narrative may not be disturbed or broken by interpolations or remarks which might require a further explanation. Instead of following the usual course of compendiums, text-books, and outlines, by heaping up a mass of materials in the smallest possible space, and thus forming a kind of skeleton-register of the events of history, I have rather endeavored to limit my materials, giving place only to the most important and influential, and arranging these in historical succession." These objects, we think, he has attained in a very good degree. Whether the field of vision which he aims to take in, as he goes along, is quite broad enough, is a question that may bear dispute. The ancient part is perhaps too scanty in almost every respect. Let us also suggest that, in this part, a fuller supply of marginal dates would help the student to keep each event or fact in its chronological place. The divisions of the work are so arranged. as to make the transition from the history of one state to that of another seem easy and natural.__ In addition to the text of Dr. Weber, but distinguished from it, Prof. Bowen has inserted, at their proper places, sketches of the Colonization of North America, of the French and Indian Wars, of our Revolutionary struggle, of the forming of our Federal Constitution, and of Political Events in our country from 1789 to 1815. It should also be observed that he has followed the helpful custom, lately introduced, of marking the accented syllable in Greek and Latin proper names, wherever they occur. The work, thus enlarged and adapted to the wants of Americans, is offered as a text-book to be used in our colleges. May the facilities of the kind, which are multiplying among us, serve to direct a greater share of attention to the subject!

It is surprising that the study of history has been so much neglected in our courses of liberal education. In many even of our colleges, it hardly has a place; in none of them, we think, is it hon

ored as one of the prominent branches, or pursued far enough to make the scholars well-grounded in its outlines. And yet civil and political history is obviously the very science for a people who make their own government and determine its administration. A statesman or a politician, ignorant of the lessons which the experience of past ages has wrought out for him, is but poorly qualified for his business, unless he is inspired for the purpose directly from heaven; and we do not learn that even the Transcendentalists hold the politicians of this day to be inspired from that quarter. In these circumstances, it seems a duty which our higher institutions of learning owe the country, to provide their young men liberally with the means of acquiring the knowledge on which so much of our public safety depends.

2. A History of England, from the first Invasion of the Romans to the Accession of William and Mary, in 1688. By John Lingard, D.D. From the last Revised London Edition. In Thirteen Volumes. Boston: Phillips, Sampson & Co., &c. 1853. 12mo.

Those of our readers, who are not already acquainted with this work, may perhaps form some notion of its general character from the following facts: It is a history of England, much fuller and more particular, in the early parts, than Hume's, and at the same time more closely written; it is by an accomplished scholar, of strong mind, and of great research, who evidently aimed at impartiality, but who, being a decided Roman Catholic, had the strong prejudices of his profession, as Protestant historians have had the prejudices of theirs; it is carefully, and, for the most part, accurately drawn from the very sources, some of which have been but recently laid open, and it is composed with the advantage of an intimate acquaintance with the modern works upon the subject; it has little of what is called the philosophical manner, but is occupied chiefly with the statement of facts and of their more obvious relations; and, finally, it is the latest history of England, from the beginning, that claims to rest immediately on the original documents and authorities. The first edition appeared in England in 18191825; and it was reprinted in this country in 1827. The last London edition, with the author's final revision, was published in 1849, 1850; and this is the one that is followed in the present copy.

We may add that, to the curious in this portion of history, whether they be Protestants or Catholics, it is highly requisite, not only on account of the original research of which it is the fruit, but also from the circumstance that it gives the Catholic side of the story; and no impartial student will fail to take both sides into view. The following notice, by Mr. Smyth, the Professor of History in the University of Cambridge, England, may doubtless be taken as expressing a fair judgement of the work: Here, says he, we have the views and reasonings of those who are members of the Roman Catholic com