on it, and the larva of the case-flies (Phryganea) had glued to it its tube-house of particles of shining sand, and bits of stick and small stones. We might have, with even more propriety, let fancy run riot, and have written an account of the physical characteristics of the present epoch, under the title of "The Story of an Oyster Shell," than Mr Geikie can claim for his able review of the leading formations of the earth's crust under the heading, "Story of a Boulder." In style of treatment, Mr Geikie is a close imitator of the late Mr Miller. As we expect other contributions to the literature of Geology from a young author who has begun so well, we advise him, in future, to break away from the fascination in the mode of handling every subject to which Mr Miller turned his great mind. Hugh Miller's style was to Mr Geikie's as Wallace's sword to modern blades. Any attempt to imitate it by one who has only something of Fancy where Hugh Miller had a grand Dante-like Imagination, Talent where he had Genius, and a Lady-like capacity of treatment where he had the grandeur as of a Giant's grasp, must ever suggest contrasts anything but favourable to the imitator. But, notwithstanding these drawbacks, we regard Mr Geikie's book with much good-will, and trust that it will obtain public favour, as an able guide to a science which has peculiar attractions to the young, and which speaks to its advanced students with a voice growing in majesty and meaning the longer they study it.

We began to read "The Creative Week" with a strong feeling of misgiving. From a sense of duty, in connection with recent controversies on the first chapter of Genesis, rather than from any strong love for the subject, we set ourselves to ascertain what the author of this book, which we had heard a good deal of from friends, had to say on the matters debated. We have recently read many works on the same subject with not a little disappointment: some of them written by men who might have been addressed in the style of Boileau to

Grand Monarque," when he turned to versifying. Having asked the bitter critic's opinion of his lines, he received the answer— "Sire, nothing is impossible to your Majesty. You determined to write some bad verses, and you have succeeded to perfection!" The most charitable view we have been able to form of the recent semitheological works of some able geologists, who have rushed into the controversy ill instructed in theology, is, that the books are so far below the powers exhibited by their authors in departments of pure science, that they must have intentionally made them weak to perfection! But this class of works is really not so discreditable as that whose authors, having some theological knowledge, pick up a scantling of science from books, and elbow their way into the contending crowd as if fully equal to the settling of every controversy-if we may receive their estimate of themselves. "The Creative Week" does not belong to either class. Both in scientific and theological knowledge, the author is fitted for dealing with the subject which he reviews. We cannot, however, promise that any one beginning to read this volume will, at the outset, find it interesting. Its look is not very attractive; and though the discussions in philology give evidence of much ability, they have little of the sunshine which might be let in on such discussions, and

will thus not keep up the attention of any, except of those who have a native taste for them, or of those who read in order to guide others. The author asks a hearing. We have listened to him with all patience, and recommend our readers to do the same. The knotty threshold understood and passed, they will find on pp. 72, 73, statements which will reward them. The theory there indicated may not indeed meet all their difficulties; it will, however, suggest a ground of rest which they may not have before thought of. The author arranges the physico-theologians under four classes:-1st, The à priori men, who hold that a long period intervened between "the beginning" of Moses and the first creative day; 2d, The à posteriori men, who regard the seven days of the Mosaic record as geological periods; 3d, The ne utri men, who accept the statements of Geology, that a long period existed before the creative week, but hold that the Mosaic account makes no direct reference to that period; and, 4th, The ex nihilo men, who deny the existence of the globe before the creative week, and press the whole phenomena of creation into the six days. Notwithstanding our author's able but severe remarks on the scheme held by the first, or à priori class, and while we would certainly not accept their scheme as final, we think he has not made out a case, either on the ground of language or Geology, against their views of the expression, "in the beginning." Neither has he rightly interpreted their views of chaos. Indeed, they plead for nothing more as to this than what is here admitted (p. 121). His remarks on the advocates of the Age-theory men are able, trenchant, and to the point. The third, or ne utri class, is that with which he identifies himself. He accepts, on geological evidence, an indefinitely long period before the six days' works; holds that Moses (p. 73) never makes the slightest allusion to this period; and believes this is what might have been expected, "because it is not the object of revelation to instruct mankind in the truths of science." His references to the ex nihilo men show that he has taken up very strong opinions against them. This is right enough; but it seems to us that he goes out of his way in speaking with such contempt of the views of the Westminster divines on Creation. But, apart from this, we hope our remarks will lead others to "The Creative Week." They will find much in it worthy the special attention of all who take an interest in the controversies with which it deals.

1. The Rise of the Papal Power. By ROBERT HUSSEY, B.D., Regius Professor of Ecclesiastical History, Oxford. Parkers. Pp. 209. 2. Modern Romanism, British and Continental. A Popular View of the Theology, Literature, and Practical Workings of Popery in our Time. By the Rev. JAMES A. HUIE, Wooler. 2d Edition. Edinburgh, Moodie. Pp. 149.

It requires no ordinary ability, and no common attainments, to qualify a man for grappling effectively with the subject of Popery. The ramifications of the Romish system are so vast and intricate, its errors harmonise so closely with corrupt propensities, its perversions of Divine truth come so directly across the path of the most momen

tous doctrines of the Gospel, its history is so interwoven with records of the world and of human opinion for more than a thousand years, its polemical literature is so varied and extensive,-in a word, it touches human life, and history, and literature, and philosophy, and politics, at so many points, that to take a clear and comprehensive survey of so vast a topic, demands an amount and versatility of powers and acquirements which but very few possess. It is rare, indeed, to meet with the requisite qualifications for embarking successfully in the Popish controversy, and expounding the principles and procedure of the Church of Rome, so eminently combined as in the authors of the volumes before us. In perusing them, we have often felt how inadequately the importance and value of books may be represented by their size.

Oxford looked, with good reason, on the late Professor Hussey as one of her ablest and most learned sons. As the editor of Socrates and Bede, he had gained the gratitude of ecclesiastical students. The little volume, whose title is given above, is the only original work which he published during his fourteen years' occupancy of the Church History Chair at Oxford. It is valuable as tracing, with much ability and general accuracy, the rise of the Papal power -the successive assumptions of the Roman See. Mr Hussey assumes that Papal Infallibility is unquestionably a tenet of the Romish Church, and that she is to this day bound by all the persecuting edicts of the medieval Pontiffs. Logically, we have no doubt she is so. Nor do those who, while they repudiate the principle of the Pope's infallibility, claim it for the General Councils, escape from the dilemma, because the fact of the martyrdom of Huss and Jerome of Prague by the Council of Constance pledges the concilianists to the doctrine that it is right to put "heretics" to death. In a Romanist controversial pamphlet, recently forwarded to us, we observe an attempt made to set the death of Huss in a new light. It is stated that the Church had no hand in the matter, but that it was demanded as a political necessity!

In point of style, Professor Hussey had not the graphic power which belongs to his successor in the Chair of Ecclesiastical History, the accomplished biographer of Arnold. All must, however, share the regret which, since his death, has so often been expressed by Oxonians, that he was taken away from his labours when not more than fifty years of age. In this little work he has left the proof that, had he been spared, he might have done much good service in the Popish controversy.

No one can peruse Mr Huie's book without perceiving how extensive a course of reading its author must have gone through before he could write it, and how thoroughly he has the results of his reading at his command. But while he gives evidence of an uncommonly extensive and familiar acquaintance with patristic and mediæval literature, it is not from these sources alone, or chiefly, that he has taken his view of Romanism, as exhibited in this volume. It is from its movements in our own day, at home and abroad. And here Mr He has looked with his own eyes, not with those of others,-has collected his own facts, and made his own reflections, not borrowed

them from previous writers on the Popish controversy. And to this we owe, in a great measure, the pleasant air of freshness which pervades the volume. The controversy with Rome is at once a wide and a well-wrought field, in which it is not easy to find a corner which has not been recently cropped. But Mr Huie has produced a work in which even well-informed men will find much that is by no means familiar, and will discover a deep significance in many circumstances which they may possibly have hitherto dismissed from their minds as trifling or accidental. Obviously in these 150 pages we have the elaborate result of long years of careful reading and keen observation, reading ranging over the literature of many centuries, and of various languages; and observation keeping a watchful eye upon the Church of Rome throughout all her borders, and in all her machinations.

After a rapid historical sketch of Popery from the Reformation to the close of the eighteenth century, Mr Huie enters upon the consideration of Modern Romanism in Britain. He exhibits the reviving zeal and energy of the Romish priesthood about 30 years ago, and notices their anticipations of better days than they had seen for many generations; develops the character, and estimates the influence, of Tractarianism in promoting the cause of Popery; discusses the lack of "pulpit power" among the clergy of the Church of Rome, and points out the causes of this deficiency, and its bearing upon her attempts at proselytism; presents the statistics of Romanism in Britain in connection with chapels, schools, convents, etc.; explains her weakness, as acknowledged by the Dublin Review, "in that middle element which forms the sinewy strength and motive power of every social body-the mercantile, professional, manufacturing, and trading classes;" and unfolds, with the freedom and precision which only an intimate and extensive acquaintance with the subject can impart, the distinctive characteristics of the literature which modern Romanism has originated, and now wields in her service. It is here, as much as anywhere, that our author's strength lies; and it is here that some of the freshest glimpses of Popery, which his book affords, are to be found. He notices, in a brief but able and graphic manner, the Popish periodical literature of the time, and presents to us vivid sketches of the more prominent Romish writers, from Cardinal Wiseman down to Priest Keenan of Dundee, photographing, as it were, Dr Newman, Archdeacons Wilberforce and Manning, and others. Passing to France, he displays the same familiarity with the movements and attitude of Romanism in that country, and especially with the modern French literature, both of Popery and Protestantism. Then turning to Germany, we have topics of equal interest handled with no less ample knowledge and vigour of touch.

We commend Mr Huie's work to our readers. The general glance which we have given at its contents will indicate that there is no other volume, in the British literature of the Popish controversy, in which the same topics are dealt with.

INDEX

TO THE

TWENTY-NINTH VOLUME OF THE NORTH BRITISH REVIEW.