one to every 23 voters. As a result of this infamous traffic the death rate from intemperance, the divorces and separations of husbands and wives, and the ratio of murders is larger than in other countries. Mulhall, in his "Dictionary of Statistics," gives the following: Annual deaths from drink in every thousand of the population are, in England, two; Scotland, three; Ireland, two; France, two; Switzerland, three; Sweden, six; the State of New York, twelve. The divorces and separations in every thousand marriages were in 1880, in England, two; Scotland, three; France, nine; Massachusetts, fortyfive. The ratio of murders per million of population has of late been in England, 711; in Ireland, 883; in France, 796; in Germany, 937; in the United States, 2,460; in Italy, 3,024; in Spain, 3,200. That we are only exceeded by debased Italy and by hot-blooded Spain, is a fearful fact.

The addi

What is most shameful in connection with the fact that a large proportion of this demoralization is traceable to the drinking habits of our people, is the complicity of our National and State governments in the criminal traffic. Ninety cents on every gallon of whiskey manufactured in this country goes to the General Government, making the whole people participators in the profit of blood money. tional sums received by the State Governments for licenses, furnish protection and respectability to the traffic, and still further involve the people at large in whatever pecuniary benefit the city or town of our residence thus obtains. In the town of Revere, Mass., the money received from licenses amounts to 'fifteen dollars per capita to the voters, an argument, so it seems by the town's vote recently in favor of license, that outweighs every consideration of morals and humanity.

The recent passage of a High License Law by the lower House of the New York Legislature, indicates a strange infatuation and selfdeception on the part of the professed temperance men who favored it on the ground that High License will diminish the sale of intoxicants, a result that has never followed in the history of such foolish experiments. Fifty thousand dollars expended by the Liquor Dealers of New York to secure this legislation also indicates how those interested view the matter. But in spite of this backward step in the Empire State, the Temperance tide is rising, and must yet sweep the liquor traffic into oblivion. Already the Legislatures of Michigan, Texas, Tennessee, Oregon and West Virginia have granted the petitions of the people to be allowed to vote on Constitutional Amendments outlawing the traffic in alcoholic beverages.

CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE.

1. The Ante-Nicene Fathers. Translations of the Writings of the Fathers down to A. D. 325. The Rev. Alexander Roberts, D.D., and James Donaldson, LL.D., Editors. American Reprint of the Edinburgh Edition. Revised and Chronologically Arranged, with brief Prefaces and Occasional Notes by A. Cleveland Coxe, D D. Vol. I. The Apostolic Fathers. Justin Martyr. - Irenæus. Vol. II. Fathers of the Second Century: Hermas, Tatian, Athenagoras, Theophilus, and Clement of Alexandria (Entire). Vol. III. Latin Christianity: Its Founder, Tertullian. i. Apologetic; ii. Anti-Marcion; iii. Ethical. Vol. IV. Tertullian, Part Fourth; Minucius Felix; Commodian; Origen, Parts First and Second. Vol. V. Hippolytus, Cyprian, Caius, Novatian, Appendix. Vol. VI. Gregory Thaumaturgus, Dionysius the Great, Julius Africanus, Anatolius and Minor Writers, Methodius, Arnobius. Vol. VII. Lactantius, Venantius, Asterius, Victorinus, Dionysius, Apostolic Teaching and Constitutions, Homily and Liturgies. Vol. VIII. The Twelve Patriarchs, Excerpts and Epistles, The Clementina, Apocrypha, Decretals, Memoirs of Edessa and Syriac Documents, Remains of the First Ages. Buffalo: The Christian Literature Company. 1885-1886. Royal 8vo. $3.50 per vol.

Nearly two years ago, on the appearance of the first volume of this American edition of the Fathers, we called attention to its importance, its elegant dress, convenient form, and valuable notes, evincing critical and painstaking editorial ability. Now that the work is completed, and at a price, it would seem, which brings it within the means of the average minister, we desire to give such a notice of the contents of the several volumes as will incite the pastors in our own Church especially, to procure and read these unique Historic Books.

Volume One contains all that is extant of the writings of Clement, Mathetes, Polycarp, Ignatius, Barnabas and Papias-known as the Apostolic Fathers, with the added writings of Justin Martyr and Irenæus, all produced between A D. 97 and 200. They represent the thought, spirit and usages of Christians who lived nearest the time of Christ and the Apostles, and are a valuable help in estimating the place and importance of the New Testament writings. No man need now take his opinions on this important matter at second hand, but can come at once to the fountain-head of all that scholars know on this subject. Next to the New Testament the contents of this volume are the most valuable writings, in showing us just what Christianity was before paganism smothered it in rituals, or corrupted it by the refinements, socalled, of the philosophy of that age.

In the second volume we have the Pastor or Shepherd of Hermas, which, with Tatian's Address, Theophilus' Letter and Athenagoras' Plea, set forth and urge true Christian living, and enjoin various duties and virtues; and then come the writings of Clemens Alexandrinus or Clement of Alexandria, the founder of the first Christian school, and teacher of the doctrines and philosophy of Christianity. Punishment, he says, is administered by the Heavenly Instructor as medicine is given to the sick, or as a vine is pruned of its useless and cumbersome wood; and its infliction is proof that God loves the punished, and is visiting them with stripes for their good. Clement had been the disciple of Socrates and Plato, but putting himself under the instruction of Pantænus, he enters the school of Christ, and rises to great eminence as the teacher of others, and gains the title from Eusebius of being an “incomparable master of Christian philosophy." He was especially solicitous to win pagans from the follies and immoralities of their darkened heathenism, to rest in the truth and live in the purity of Christ, on whose benignity and philanthropy, wisdom, faithfulness, and righteousness he lovingly dwells.

The third volume and a portion of the fourth is given to the writings of Tertullian, selections being made from those composed while he was in fellowship with the Catholic Church, and those written after he became a Montanist. Tertullian was an African, a man of learning, a vehement writer, often enlivening his page with wit and satire, and sometimes with most bitter invective, as in the thirtieth chapter of De Spectaculis, where he announces the joy with which he shall behold the wrestlers "tossing in the fiery billows," at the day of judgment. He prides himself also on his logic, but it often limps in his invectives against the heathen and against heresies. As the greatest, however, of the earlier defenders of Latin Christianity, — -so different

in its modes of thought, its spirit, and the graces of its literature from the Greek, and in some things the preparer of Augustine's mind, Tertullian should be read by those who desire to trace the differences just indicated, and to fix in their minds the historical bearings of the thoughts of the leaders in those early days.

The writings of Felix and Commodian are "thrown in as a sort of Appendix to Tertullian, and iliustrate the school and the Church of the same country" Up to and including their time, Latin Christianity is essentially North-African, and remains so until Augustine, a century later, gives it an Italian coloring. Felix was a lawyer before his conversion to Christianity, and his style is finished and scholarly. He asserts the strict eternity of hell-torments, and represents this as the common opinion of Christians; a statement which must be qualified to mean the African Christians, for certainly it was not the opinion entertained in the Greek school. Commodian or Commodianus, was also a NorthAfrican. Only a fragment of his writings remains, and in it he puts forth theories concerning a thousand years' punishment of the wicked, and then their destruction.

The remainder of the fourth volume — over 450 pages - contains the two great works of Origen: the Principiis, and Against Celsus, to which are appended a fair and impartial account of the life of Origen, by Dr. Crombie. Dr. F. H. Scrivener, "one of the ablest of living biblical scholars and critics," is also quoted as saying: "Origen is the most celebrated biblical critic of antiquity. His is the highest name among the critics and expositors of the early Church He is perpetually engaged in the discussion of various readings of the New Testament, and employs language in describing the then existing stite of the text which would be deemed strong if applied even to its present condition, after the changes which sixteen more centuries must needs have produced. .. Seldom have such warmth of fancy and so bold a grasp of mind been united with the lifelong, patient industry which procured for this famous man the honorable appellation of Adamantius."

Origen emphatically and unambiguously taught, in his De Principiis, the doctrine of the Restoration of all souls (as see chapter vi., Book II.), and his opinion was regarded as Orthodox till long after his decease. Unfortunately the greater part of his writings are not preserved in the original Greek, but in a Latin translation by Rufinus, who took great liberties, as will be manifest to all who, consulting this volume, will read the translation of the Greek, so far as it is known, as placed in parallel columns with the Latin. The work against Celsus, who had attacked Revealed Religion, is instructive in an eminent degree, and ought to be read by those who would know on what grounds the Scriptures were first attacked, how many things sneeringly said at present were said and refuted long ago, and what singular objections were peculiar to that early

age.

Origen's Universalism is also manifest in this reply. See Book V., chapters xv. and xvi.

Volume Five takes the reader back again to the North-African Church, and contains the writings of Hippolytus, Cyprian, Caius and Novatian. The chief work of Hippolytus, "The Refutation of all Heresies," is a recently discovered treasure, being found in a convent on Mount Athos so late as the year 1842. It was at first attributed to Origen, afterwards to Epiphanus, Didymus, Aetius, Caius, and Tertullian. Hippolytus was a believer in literal hell-fire, burning forever. The same is also true of Cyprian, who was an enthusiastic disciple of Tertullian, whom he regarded as almost infallible, and whose fiery spirit he imitated. The writings of Caius and Novatian are brief and fragmentary.

The sixth volume discloses with great clearness the fact that primitive Christianity was Greek and not Latin, in form and character, dogma, worship and polity. Gregory was for eight years a pupil of Origen, whose life, spirit and doctrine he eulogizes in the highest terms. Dionysius was also Origen's pupil. Africanus was a pupil of Heraclas, who assisted Origen at Alexandria. Methodius combats some of Origen's theories, especially of interpretation, and his notions on free-will, but does not combat his doctrine of the final restoration of all souls; but on the contrary, in his "Discourse on the Resurrection," plainly teaches (pp. 364-366) that God will not leave man faulty forever, but "dissolves him again into his original materials, in order that, by remodelling, all the blemishes in him might waste away and disappear." Arnobius was an African, originally a teacher of rhetoric and a vehement opposer of Christianity; but being converted seems to have adopted the tenets of Tertullian and Cypriau. His great work is "Against the Heathen," and is not to be looked upon 66 as a systematic exposition or vindication of Christianity, but as a retort upon the heathen of the charges which they preferred against the Christians." It is difficult to say just what his views of the destiny of the wicked were, as he seems sometimes to teach the annihilation of the wicked, and sometimes their endless suffering.

Volume Seven is largely composed of the writings of Lactantius, the most scholarly of the Latin Fathers. Before his conversion to Christianity, Lactantius had attained great eminence as a teacher of rhetoric, being a pupil of Arnobius, whose fame he far outstripped. His principal work is "The Christian Institutions," or an "Introduction to True Religion." His attempt is to show the falsity of all pagan religions and heathen philosophies, to defend Christianity against all adversaries, instruct concerning the true worship of God, and teach the endless punishment of the wicked and the endless bliss of the righteous. Shorter writings from minor lights in the Latin Church follow. Then come the "Teachings of the Twelve Apostles," as discovered in the library of the Jerusalem Monastery of the Most Holy Sepulchre at Constantinople, by Bishop Bryennios, in 1873. This interesting document, which teaches not one of the distinctive dogmas of the now so-called Evangelical Churches, is followed by what is styled the "Constitutions of the Holy Apostles," probably written not earlier than the fourth century; then come "The Homily ascribed to Clement," written probably in the first half of the second century; and then come what are called three "Early Liturgies," the date of either of which it is impossible to determine.

The eighth and last volume is much the largest of the series, and is made up of a great variety of early documents, including "The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs," an exceedingly interesting collection; the "Pseudo Clementine Literature;" the "Apocrypha of the New Testament;""The Decretals," a collection of stupendous frauds issued

by the Church of Rome, claiming to have been a series of "Papal Edicts" from Clement and his successors during the Ante-Nicene ages, but really the manufactured product of the ninth century; the "Memoirs of Edessa and other Syriac Documents," referred to by Eusebius, but probably "neither wholly genuine nor in details authentic ;" and concluding with several "Fragments of the Second and Third Centuries."

The series as a whole is, perhaps, the most significant enterprise in Christian literature ever undertaken in the New World. Based on the expensive and not orderly arranged Edinburgh edition, this edition has been chronologically arranged, ably edited, furnished with copious indexes both of subject matter and of Scripture references, and is afforded in handsomer volumes, better paper and typography, at one-third the cost of the foreign and inferior publication. The price has been slightly advanced from the orignal subscription offer, which was three dollars per volume, and may possibly yet be still further advanced; but as we stated at the outset, it is now within reach of the average salaried pastor, and ought to be in the possession of every minister who cares to know what the Church produced in its earliest days. The biographical and critical introductions to the writings of each author are models of compact brevity, catholicity of spirit and fairness. The eight volumes average six hundred pages each.

The Buffalo Christian Literature Company, encouraged by the patronage extended to this enterprise, are now engaged in the publication of the Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers, of which we hope to speak more at length hereafter. These are being edited by Dr. Philip Schaff, assisted by a number of Patristic Scholars of Europe and America. We can do no better service to our readers than to advise them to send to the Company for a descriptive Prospectus.

2. Memoir of William Henry Channing. By Octavius Brooks Frothingham. Boston and New York. Houghton, Mifflin & Co. 1886. 16mo. pp. 491. $2.00.

The subject of this Memoir, a nephew of Rev. William Ellery Channing, D.D., was, it is claimed by his biographer, more rich in the great essentials of genius than was his renowned uncle, a claim which at first view seems extravagant, but is fully borne out as one peruses the extracts from his writings which make up so large a portion of the unique Memoir. The biographer had a difficult task before him in attempting to portray the career of a gifted man whose life was so full of great hopes which were never to be realized, and whose brilliant powers, though unflaggingly used, were never to produce the immediate results which he craved, and yet were never wholly wasted energies. But the task has been accomplished with great tact, sympathetic criticism, and in a style that is at once graceful and strong. While the story is not in the ordinary sense of the word autobiographical, but is wholly Mr. Frothingham's marshalling of dates and events, Mr. Channing's letters, essays and sermons are so interwoven with the narrative as to give us his mental and spiritual portrait from his own hand: the portrait of a gifted, sincere, pure-hearted man. His boyhood, passed in his uncle's home in Boston, his college years, and the time spent in his theological training at Cambridge, were characterized by the manifestation of a rare simplicity, gentleness, purity of thought and feeling, and a conscientiousness that was exceptional. After no little itinerant and missionary service, his first pastorate began in Cincinnati, in 1839, and ended two years