XIII. Reading without Tears; or, a pleasant mode of learning to read. By the Author of "Peep of Day," &c. New York: Harpers. 1857. pp. 136. A very pleasant reading book, carrying the little folks, step by step, through pleasant pictures and easy stages to the desired consummation. We commend it cordially. XIV. The Child's Book of Nature. For the use of Families and Schools. Intended to aid Mothers and Teachers in training Children in the observation of Nature. In three parts. 1. Plants; 2. Animals; 3. Air, Water, Heat, Light, &c. By Worthington Hooker, M. D. Illustrated by numerous engravings. New York: Harpers. 1857. pp. 120, 170, 179. Dr. Hooker seems to have done his work well; the instruction seems to be thorough and yet simplified. It is illustrated by an occasional narrative. The book is very nicely got up. The parts can be had separately. V. Olshausen's Commentary on the New Testament, Vol. III., 168 VI. Commentary on the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. By VII. Monarchs retired from business. By Dr. Doran, VIII. Life of Rev. Michael Schlatter. By Rev. H. Harbaugh, IX. Works by A. S. Roe. James Mountjoy; The Star and ib. X. Guericke's Manual of Church History. By Prof. Shedd, 174 XI. Sanders' School Speaker, ib. XII. Major Williams' History of the Invasion and Capture of ib. XIII. Reading without Tears; or, a pleasant mode of learning to read. By the Author of "Peep of Day," XIV. The Child's Book of Nature. Three Parts. By Worth- ington Hooker, M. D., ib. 1 THE PRESBYTERIAN QUARTERLY REVIEW. SEPTEMBER, 1857. No. XXII. ARTICLE I. GOD'S ARRANGEMENTS SUCCESSFUL.* THIS text gives to us the results of a specific divine arrangement. Joshua and the army of Israel were sent out to the battle-field to fight with Amalek. Moses was required to take the Rod of God in his hand, and go with Aaron and Hur to the top of a neighboring hill. Every man in the army knew that he was fighting under the eye of Moses, and still further The following Article will be recognized as the discourse delivered by Rev. L. P. HICKOK, D. D., Vice-President of Union College, on resigning the chair as Moderator of the General Assembly. It is thought best, on account of the peculiarity of the occasion, to preserve the form of the Sermon. The text was, Ex. xvii. 11, 12, 13: "And it came to pass that when Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands were heavy: and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon: and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side: and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword." EDITORS. VOL. VI.-12 to encourage and excite, every man could see the symbol of God's power and protection lifted up towards heaven. In this arrangement there was a combination of both the natural and the supernatural. The army was a physical force with carnal weapons, led on by the military skill of a human Captain; and yet God also was there, and had his own great purposes to secure under his own appointment and direction. That mystic rod, pointing steadily towards heaven, was wholly of God's ordinance, and concerning its propriety or efficiency, human wisdom had nothing to say or to do. When all was thus carefully arranged and faithfully executed, success was certain. Every part in its place, and all at their work; Israel constantly triumphed. But a derangement in one part, put the whole cause in jeopardy. Moses' weary arm occasioned a lowering of the sacred rod, and the disastrous effects were immediately felt all over the distant battle-field. Amalek gets courage, and gains ground. Aaron and Hur then seated Moses on a stone, and stood one on each side and held his hands with the rod steadily towards heaven till the going down of the sun, and the victory was complete; "Amalek was discomfited with the edge of the sword." From this particular example so specifically narrated, I feel warranted in deducing a general principle; and here affirm, that God's arrangements, faithfully executed, will always be successful. This will be found eminently true, in reference to God's institution of the Christian Church. I give, therefore, to the proposition a definite application, and say: The Church OF GOD THOROUGHLY ORGANIZED, AND FAITHFULLY AT WORK, SHALL BE PERPETUALLY TRIUMPHANT. The complete development of this truth may be best secured by a particular investigation of the three following divisions: I. The Christian Church is God's institution. II. All parts of this divine organization must work together according to the grand design. III. Such harmonious co-operation will secure constant suc cess. I. The Christian Church is God's Institution. God has made some things to be essential in the organization of the Christian Church, without which there can be no church, but a merely human association. There must be credible evidence of piety; some visible form of public recognition, and mutual bond of covenant relationship; and an assent to a scriptural creed. Provision must also be made for Gospel officers, ordinances, and discipline. The whole must rest on the foundation of Jesus Christ, and his sovereign authority must be recognized in the prayers and praises and personal consecration of all the members. There may be good men where there is no such organization; yea, there must be good men, in order to such an institution; but those good men can constitute no gospel church in the absence of these requisitions. The forms in which these elements shall be combined, have less consequence; suffice it here to say, the substance must be present. With these essentials of church organization, many other things may be left to personal preferences and a wise Christian. expediency. Very many and very wide differences of form, and even differences in doctrines, which are not foundation principles, should not be allowed to sunder the communion and fellowship of Christian brethren. Many deficiencies and errors may still be consistent with the full acknowledgment of a true church standing. Where the foundation principles are right, Christian charity should be widely tolerant. All church authority is originally in and from the Lord Jesus Christ; but under commission from him, the source of ecclesiastical power is in the body of the church, and their covenant bonds constitute them an associated and united brotherhood, competent to institute and execute all regulations necessary for church order and discipline. The officer is not the primal source and substantial ground from which the church originates and on which it rests; but the church itself is the permanent and substantial, while the officer exists for her sake, and is her minister and executive functionary. The primitive apostolic office and distinctive work had no succession, and while the Gospel bishop is Christ's commissioned embassador, yet is he distinctly appropriated, ordained and accredited by the Church; and when any exigency demands, he may be directly and independently originated by the church members. While we may then admit as true churches of Christ, such as account them |