more correct to speak of them as a defence of liberty against the excesses of professed friends, whose zeal outruns their wisdom. They guard it even by insisting that these are essential truths, about which there must be unity, thus meeting the anxieties of many who fear that liberalism means unbelief.

In nothing, perhaps, has the unwisdom of pseudo-liberals been more apparent than in the resolution to drag the doctrine of Conditional Immortality and its supporters into the controversy. The opportunity for a retort upon advocates of that view, who were at the same time defenders of the policy of the Union Committee, was tempting, but a true friend of liberty would have resisted it. The allusion was in miserable taste, but it was even worse in point of tactics than of feeling. It may serve the purpose of Ultramontanes to teach the world that there is no resting-place between Agnosticism and an absolute submission to authority, but the friends of rational freedom could commit no more fatal mistake than to imitate such an example. If the principle underlying this reference to the tolerance granted to the propounders of the new theory about immortality be accepted, the result would certainly be the enforcement of a rigid uniformity everywhere. For let it be once understood that if liberty be granted at all, it must in consistency be so extended as to include those who regard the gospel itself as an effete superstition, and it is not difficult to foresee that liberty will be sacrificed. We shall not allow ourselves to be forced into a desertion of the position which we have always maintained, at once Evangelical and liberal, by these attempts to impale us on the horns of a theological dilemma. Still, we fully agree with Dr. Raleigh in his touching remarks, not the least striking part of his wise and eloquent speech :

I feel that one of the cruelties of the position in which we have been placed is this, that some of us may have to stand with those who are really reactionary, and narrow, and bigoted, and would stand for liberty as stiffly as anybody else; but if I am to choose whether I shall stand with such persons who need more light, it may be, in the defence of what I believe to be the old truth, or whether I shall forsake that old truth and go into another camp, I do not hesitate for a moment to say what I should do.

We are not reduced to this miserable alternative, though everything possible has been done to force it upon us by men so blind to the facts of the case, and so unable to gauge the strongest instincts of Christian hearts, as to fancy that, if they were driven to choose between loyalty to Christ and liberty, they would sacrifice their Master.

But, in truth, a suggestion which practically means that we must either treat all truths as vital, or regard all as open questions in Christian Churches, is simply preposterous. It may be that we, ourselves, could not retain our faith in the gospel if we accepted the dogma of Conditional Immortality; but as a matter of fact its teachers do, and believe that their view enhances the glory of Christ. They are surely not to be excluded from religious fellowship because of some real or supposed vagaries of their logic; nor do we, in recognizing their liberty, bind ourselves to be equally indulgent to those who would deprive us of Christ Himself. In short, the position which the Congregational Union has taken is one that is perfectly intelligible, and as liberal as it is possible to be if it is to preserve its fidelity to Christ. The comments which have been made upon it in the press, whether friendly or hostile, show that there was a real danger of mistake as to its principles and character. One party feared, the other hoped, that it was lending itself to a latitudinarianism which (as a thoughtful Unitarian minister has lately said) leads on to an Agnosticism which is but another way of spelling Atheism. The Union has satisfied its anxious friends, who have heartily welcomed its explanation. But perhaps the best proof of the value of its testimony is to be found in the shrieks of some of the bitter foes of Christianity, among the loudest of which is the Jewish World.' When the excitement of the time has passed away, and it is found that liberty is as secure as ever, while some dangerous tendencies which were abroad have received a much-needed check, we have little fear that the few who have doubted the policy, while agreeing in the substance of the Resolutions, will feel that Congregationalism has been strengthened by a bold resolve to encounter, even at the risk of much misrepresentation, an evil which was more serious and significant than was indicated by the Leicester Conference, and of which that Conference indeed was only a symptom.

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CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE.

HISTORY, BIOGRAPHY, AND TRAVELS.

Carthage and the Carthaginians.

Longmans, Green, and Co.

By R. BoswORTH SMITH.

Mr. Bosworth Smith's masterly outline of perhaps the most romantie chapter in the whole story of the ancient world deserves most thoroughly to become widely popular. It is not a volume simply for the Sixth Form. though they could hardly find one better suited to their wants. Still less is it a repertoire of minute discussions on disputed points in Carthaginian history, though all its statements are the result of the widest reading and the most careful estimate of conflicting views. It is rather written with the hope of interesting as many as possible, whether scholars or not, in the fortunes of a state whose influence over the history of the world must not be judged by the thoroughness with which all traces of her power were ultimately and ruthlessly blotted out. Kirjath Hadeshah, the new town of the Phoenicians, which the Greeks called Charchedon and the Romans Carthage, is to the full in truth as interesting a study as even the Venice of mediæval annals. Twice did her rulers all but nip in the bud the infant Aryan civilization of the West: once when the victory of Himera delivered the cities of the Western Greeks from the son of Mago, on the same day that Salamis brought to a standstill the forward march of the Persian in the East; and once again when the iron endurance of the Roman Commonwealth proved victorious in the long run against the genius of the House of Barca. The stern sentence of Dr. Arnold in one of the most brilliant pages of his history, that 'it was for the good of mankind that Carthage should have been conquered,' weighs evidently on the soul of Mr. Smith, though he dare not absolutely impugn its truthfulness. He is fain to content himself with bringing into strongest relief the cruelty of the conquerors, the despairing heroism of the vanquished, and with mourning justly over the barbaric ignorance which has left us no record of Carthaginian greatness beyond what we can cull from the fragmentary notices of her enemies and her rivals. Passing somewhat lightly over the earlier struggles with the Greek towns of Sicily for the complete possession of the fertile island, from which neither Greek nor Carthaginian could ever quite expel the other, Mr. Smith brings all his strength to bear on the picturesque story of the three wars with Rome, and of the frightful episode between the first and second of the three, the 'truceless war' with the revolted mercenaries--for Carthage, like many more commercial states before and after, waged all her wars with hired soldiers under Punic generals. We must not say that even here we should not turn by preference, for passages in the campaigns of Hannibal or even in the first Punic War, to the stately narrative of Arnold. As a general history of Carthage, we

ness.

History, Biography, and Travels.

211

know, however, no book equal to Mr. Smith's in brilliancy or completeThe concluding chapter in particular, an account of a visit to the site of the lost city, to the island in the port whence long ago her lord high admirals transmitted their orders to every corner of the harbour, or watched to see what stranger ship would dare to sail within the limits of the Fair Head, to the sand-bar which still marks the spot of the decisive operations in the last great siege, brings Carthage even now before our eyes with a vividness for which many, even among scholars, can hardly have been prepared.

Congregational History. Continuation to 1850: with special reference to the Rise, Growth, and Influence of Institutions, Representative Men, and the Inner Life of the Churches. By J. WADDINGTON, D.D. Longmans.

With this volume Dr. Waddington brings his very valuable labours to a close. In the collection of his materials he has travelled thousands of miles in England, America, and Holland. When discovered, they were sometimes almost illegible, the prison papers in particular: written in dark and filthy cells, the sentences were often broken, imperfect, and incomplete.' But he has reduced them into form, and so far arranged them in admirable order, that much which at first sight would appear to have been worthless is found to be a link in a connected chain of narrative, which the historical student will know how to appreciate. Had he done nothing more than this, had he, indeed, done nothing more than indicate the sources from which trustworthy information may be derived-search for which was until recently regarded as hopeless- he would have deserved our heartiest congratulations. But he has done much more than this. He has greatly helped to, at least, lay the foundation of an intelligible and authentic history of struggles for freedom and for conscience, which have contributed not a little to make the British dominion of this nineteenth century what, happily, it is.

This volume has the additional attraction for the general reader that it largely deals with men and things with which they are already more or less familiar. The rise and early history of our great denominational institutions, our colleges, and our missionary and other public societies, are touched upon with great interest, and much that will one day have a value, which it is as yet too early for it to have acquired, has found appropriate record. Some of the personal sketches will be hailed by many with great thankfulness as relating to men whose praise is still in all the Churches,' and whose names will long continue to be household words among us.

6

Our aim,' says Dr. Waddington, has been, in recording the facts of this history, to make the members of the great Congregational family (with its branches widely spread throughout the earth) better acquainted with each other and with the Christian virtues, the noble testimony, the heroic struggles, the abundant labours, and the willing sacrifices of their

common ancestry; not for the inflation of vanity, but to strengthen their faith, to inspire their courage, and to quicken their zeal in the conflicts yet before them, and in the glorious work yet to be accomplished. Without a living faith Congregational union is impossible; without the unity of spirit there must be isolation, estrangement, and consequent dissolution. In the days of the Pentecost, the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul.' In the memorable declaration of faith made in the last assembly of the Congregational Union, a thrill of common sympathy and affection was felt as, with uplifted hands, the brethren said, 'we stand where our fathers stood, on the one foundation.' That sublime act of Christian confession will bind all who joined in it more closely in love to each other and to their common Lord. Our strength as Congregationalists is not in a mechanical organization, but in the new affection that can exist only in those who from the heart have obeyed the gospel.' This last sentiment we heartily endorse.

Should a second edition be called for—and we hope it will be-Dr. Waddington will probably see his way to enhance the value of this volume by omitting some things which hardly belong to the domain of 'history.' With his ample stores of fact, he will easily be able to fill the space thus occupied at present, with great advantage to his readers and not less honour to himself.

History of Congregationalism, and Memorials of the Churches in Norfolk and Suffolk. By JOHN BROWNE, B.A., Congregational Minister at Wrentham. Jarrold and Sons.

Mr. Browne has amply fulfilled the expectations that were formed by his many friends when they heard that he had been induced to accept the generous offer made by Mr. Goddard, now of Chester-le-Street, Durham, at the meeting of the Congregational Union held in Ipswich in 1872, of £100 towards the expenses of a 'History of Congregationalism in Suffolk and Norfolk.' He has produced a volume of great interest and permanent value, which can hardly fail to realize his hope that it may prove a monument to the memory of deservedly honoured men long since gone to their rest and their reward; a faithful record of effort, toil, and suffering in a great and good cause; a stimulus to the present generation of Congregationalists, urging them to conduct worthy of their forefathers; a witness to the world that Congregationalism is not an impracticable theory, but a form of Christian life and effort, rich in blessing to any neighbourhood which entertains it, because it is the embodiment of Christian liberty in its largest possible corporate manifestation.'

No one that has not personally undertaken a similar task can have any conception of the amount of labour which Mr. Browne must have undergone in the mere collection, not to say the arrangement, of his materials. But he has his reward. While the rich variety of personal incident which he has so happily interwoven with his narrative will render his volume exceptionally attractive to the general reader, the contributions which he