6. Eglise appelée à confesser. The Church called to maintain the Truth. 7. Enfans de Dieu. The Children of God. 8. Etudes Chrétiennes. Christian Studies. 9. Foi et Science. Faith and Science. 10. Miracles, ou deux Erreurs. On Religious Liberty. Most of these publications are pamphlets of from twenty pages up to sixty or eighty. The last named is a volume of some 200 pages, and was called forth by the state of things in Geneva last year, and is alluded to in the Discourse on Puseyism, where the author speaks of his having played the part of Cassandra, in what he had said respecting the recent Revolution in his native Canton. But Dr. Merle's great undertaking is his History of the Reformation in the XVIth Century. The first volume of this admirable work appeared in 1836. Two others have, at intervals, followed. The author is now engaged on the fourth, in which he is well advanced.* It treats of the Reformation in Great Britain, and is expected with very different feelings, by different religious parties in England. Nor is its appearance anxiously looked for by people in England only. It is not probable that the fourth volume will appear in French before the end of this present year, if even so soon. The fifth and sixth volumes-for it is Dr. Merle's intention to make six volumes instead of four, if God grant him life and health—will The fourth is just issued from the press. 1846. not be published for some years. It is no easy task to write a History of the Reformation upon the plan which Dr. Merle pursues, that of making authentic documents speak for themselves. It is not my intention to write a critique on Dr. Merle's work. It needs it not. The world has learned and acknowledged its surprising merits. It may almost be said that the History of the Reformation was never written until his matchless talent, for judiciously selecting and skilfully arranging facts, and graphically presenting them to the reader's mind, was brought to the subject. With the art of a conjuror, if I may so speak, he causes scene after scene to pass before us, on which the dramatis personæ are brought forward with almost the vividness of the objects which are presented to the bodily eye. For the first time, vast numbers of readers will learn the true characters of Luther, and Melancthon, and Calvin, and the other Reformers. And for the first time, the Reformation, with all the various and boundless. benefits which it has conferred upon the world, is beginning to be, in some measure, comprehended by mankind. Three translations of the three volumes of this great work which have appeared have been published in Great Britainthose of Messrs. Walther, Kelly, and Scott-of which the first and the last are better than the second. Mr. Kelly's, however, has had a wider circulation in Great Britian than either of the others, because of the low price at which it has been published. Mr. Scott's translation is the latest of all, and is not only extremely faithful but is also accompanied with valuable notes. It is published by the Messrs. Blackie, at Glasgow, in twenty-two numbers, each for a shilling, and every second one is adorned with an admirable portrait of one of the principal personages who figured in the Reformation-Luther, Melancthon, Tetzel, Leo X., Calvin, the Elector of Saxony, etc. This edition would be called by the French an affaire de luxe; but no one who could afford to pay for it would regret the difference of the price. It may be insignificant to remark—but it will answer some inquiries which have been addressed to me-that Dr. Merle d'Aubigné is a large fine looking man, of most agreeable manners; and personally, as well as mentally considered, he would be pronounced by every one to be altogether worthy to speak of Mar tin Luther, John Knox, and the other giants of the Reformation. Nevertheless, I am pained to say it, his health does not correspond with the robustness of his frame, nor the vigor of his appearance. He suffers much at times from complaints of the chest. I am sure that in making this statement, I shall secure the prayers of many a reader, that his valuable life may be spared many years to bless the Church and the world. NEW YORK, Jan., 1843. R. B. |