know, be suddenly checked, but viewing them as they appear to-day, and as they have appeared during the present century, what growth, what greatness in the future are shadowed forth for them! "When we reflect upon the history of the United States during the past fifty years, and more particularly upon its material development and growth; and contemplate what is still going on around us, we are filled with amazement and wonder. There is no parallel in history. Consider the immense territory, ready for the reception of emigrants; the favorable climate, the fruitful, generous soil; and the immense mineral deposits of every kind. Consider the inexhaustible beds of iron and coal alone, and bear in mind that these minerals form the very basis of all material prosperity and greatness; nay, even afford the measure for determining such material prosperity and greatness in the future. They are the mute' but not the less fruitful interpreters, of the will of Providence as to what soonor or later shall be the favored future of this broad territory. Consider, also, the configuration of her coasts, And the extent of her river navigation; the innumerable indentations, bays, inlets, rivers, and lakes; the Mississippi, and her tributaries. No equal amount of territory in the civilized world has the promise from nature of such a commercial future.

Consider, finally, the manner in which this territory, so rarely endowed, has been, and is still being, peopled. With the strong' Anglo-Saxon blood as the basis of her population, she is receiving emigrants from all the world; but the vast majority come from communities of the Caucasian race. These differ ent races cannot mix their blood without deterioration; yet a mixture of a blood of different nitions of the same race has always been productive of increased health and vigor. The Caucasian emigrants on this continent are mixing their blood, under the most favorable circumstances; but, 'miscegenation is a failure,' for it is unnatural, and but very little mixture of the blood of different races is to be found here. Observe this fact, And then say whether natural causes are not now in operation to secure for this American territory, in the not distant future, A population of that freshness, vigor, and vitality, which have

always characterized a people formed from a mixture of blood of the same rave. Consider these facts collectively, and then .say whether we are going too far when we assert, that they indicate some great destiny which the God of nations has in store for this country; not for this nation alone, but for the whole country. It may he for one nation, or many nations; no human wisdom can foresee or determine. Again, we are told, generally, that there is a movement of the common mind upward, and that a stronger individuality is to be observed throughout the civilized world, upon the part of the masses. VVhile we do not propose to review the many reasons advanced in support of this assertion, it maybe of interest, in connection with the ideas that we have been suggesting in this paper, to remark, that such a fact, if fact it be, is only what we might naturally expect as a result, as a reaction upon the individual life, .of the many acknowledged social and religious advantages enjoyed by this age and generation; advantages, so far as the masses are concerned, more elevating and invigorating than any heretofore enjoyed. And it may be true, that we are now at the threshold of one of those epochs, one of those crises, in the cycles of progress, in the history of action and reaction between the moral, the social, and the religious tendenciess of man, in which the individual, recently improved, elevated, and advanced, by the influences of superior social and religious privileges, evinces higher aspirations; 'and is, even now, moving onward and upward to demand and grasp ahigher sphere of social or of religious life, as well as a larger measure of power in shaping his social, or, it may be, his religious fu-ture.

1. An CLERUM: Advices to a Young Teacher. By Joseph Parker, D. D. Boston: Roberts Brothers. . The reader is sure in advance, that he is taking up something written with ability. Dr. Parker, a British divine, is the author of it, as he also is of Ecce Deus, a book which, written, on the basis of - true doctrine, is as largely read as its counter' part, Ecce Homo, which owes at least some of its popularity to the doubtfulness of its teaching. The subject at once attracts attention. The world has more at stake just now, in the character and power of the Christian ministry, than in anything else that concerns its welfare. A really good book of advice to a young clergyman is something to be thankful for; nevertheless, the general reader might be disposed to avoid a work with this title, as likely to be as dull as it is good. To modify any such impression, let him read the following extract. The author is urging it upon the minister to ‘ be natural ’: ‘ A ministerial acquaintance of mine is entirely innocent of imitating any one, and yet a more unnatural speaker never addressed an audience. . . . I have heard him give a public announcement of a tea-meeting,-tickets, ninepence each, in a manner quite as solemn and urgent as if, in one hurried breath he had been announcing that there was a flood in England, a tire in Scotland, and an earthquake halfover the continent of Europe. The consequence was, that no timid persons ventured to go near the tea-meeting, and not more than half a dozen adventurous' youths took a nine-penny ticket each, in order to see what was going to happen! He cannot,be easy: he cannot lower his pompous tone to an ordinary key. If he were to ask a chamber-maid for a candle, he would leave on her mind the impression that the morning would rise in the smoking ruins of the house.

'" Well, madam ", he said, addressing my wife one day late in Aprih. " the days are gradually attaining a very agreeable continuity."

'With a most reprehensible simplicity my bewildered wife merely answered—" Yes."

'" The services, madam," he continued, " which are now in contemplation will be sustained under auspices of a character decidedly flattering to our denominational status."

'With scandalous absence of mind, my wife amiably replied— "Indeed "!

'" Quite so, madam. Not only the worshipful, the Mayor, but also the whole corporation, arrayed in full official costume, will condescend to honor us with their patronage; and I.do fervently hope that we may be favored firmamentally as well as municipally."

'Now when a man talks in this manner about the anniversary of a ragged school, what may you expect when he begins to preach'?

Taking this extract as a specimen of the book, the reader's foregone conclusion as to its dulness, if he entertained any, may well find sufficient correction. In Ad Clerum there is no scarcity of wit and not a little humor; much of it is superior to what we have given, though not so quotable. On looking still farther through these pages, the verdict may be arrived at, that Dr. Parker is not sparing of sarcasm, and the reader, though he may be unhurt by his snap at Comptism, and other follies, may find nevertheless what may touch some special foible of his own. As illustrative of the sarcastic vein to which we have alluded, take the following:

'Another class of unsuccessful men may be ironically described as hyper-super-intellectualities, something in spite of the ugly word, very aerial and sublime. These magnificent and unapproachable royalties throned among the stars, and clothed with clouds of many colors, extend their lines in one desperate determination to say something that is not in the New Testament. The moment they are about to put a word of Gospel into their sermons, they recoil from the vulgarity as from a temptation to be profane. As a consequence, they excel in not preaching the Gospel. They delight to prove that they are "abreast with the foremost thinkers of the day "; they refer with great familiarity to "a certain school of thought", and with infinite skill, gibbet Neo-Platonists, Trancendentalists, Pantheists, and Positiveists, before a wondering, if not an applauding, audience. But their chief joy, their sweet, precious, transporting joy,—their joy of joys,—their dancing, screaming,, delirious joy,—is to discourse upon a most mysterious, dangerous individual called Comte. When a reverend snob of the hyper-sxiper class can bring in the name of Comte, he is sure that it will instantly show the features, and the might, and the majesty, and the glory of the learned minister. He would not, for the world, refer to Baxter, or Henry, or Doddridge, or Watts, or Owens: Bates, Charnock, and Howe, he does not deign to know: he knows Comte (as far, at least, as translations can reveal that personage)—and is not that the last reach of culture,—the crowning-pdint of attainment? M. Comte himself would wonder, could he know how many magnificent nobodies conjure with his name'.

We are half afraid now, from the extracts furnished, that the reader will begin to doubt whether, among all the qualifications Dr. Parker may have, as a teacher of young divines, he possesses as much as could be desired, of a truly pious spirit. In order that this may be judged of, permit us to quote still further, some passages which show the fervid temper of the man. 'Truly in us who are called to preach Jesus Christ, the word of God ought to dwell richly and abound. ... I venture to say again and again, that unless you be shut up, as it were, with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, in secret retirement,— no unction will rest upon your ministry, however eloquent your language, or splendid your illustrations, or vehement your public appeals. It is impossible to disguise the spirit which comes of profound contemplation of religious subjects: it is impossible to conceal the fact which is produced by prolonged and loving intercourse with the Saviour. If the countenance itself do not shine with an unearthy lustre, there will be in the whole manner an influence which will proclaim itself to have been originated by the highest intercourse. Let us