Studies in Christian Character, Work, and Experience. By the Rev.
W. L. Watkinson. First and Second Series. (Charles H. Kelly. 25. 6d. per vol.)—The reader will find in these two volumes some resemblance to that noticed above. The material is not so uncommon in character, nor so finely wrought, but it is sterling and substantial. Mr. Watkinson does not deal with doctrine or exegesis. Sometimes be uses the preacher's license in employing texts in a non-exegetical way. And he does not venture beyond safe limits in speculation ; but he is a thoughtful observer of men and morals, makes some excellent suggestions for practical conduct, and has a way of penetrating into the obscure region of mixed motives. Sometimes he rises to a real height of imagination. Take the following. He has been speaking of the glimpses of great thoughts which we sometimes seem to get and lose again. "Is there not a great purpose and blessing in these elusive insights and moods ? We say 'lost,' but are they lost? Are they not more to us than the thongkts we manage to imprison in definitions P The naturalist gets a good deal out of things seen and lost. The stuffed bird is a dingy creature; the impaled butterfly loses the magical lustre of his so;ngs. So things seen and lost constitute the best treasure of the spiritual man ; the lost chord gives a deeper meaning to lall familiar music ; if
we are caught up to paradise for the twinkling of an eye, all ordinary truths and experiences gain vitality and force." The next chapter, on " Calling and Character," is, by way of contrast, severely practical, with its home-truths about the ordinary occupations and recreations of men. We may compare with it what Plato says about the arbraiaa, and Sallust's remark about moral responsibility. Some men, he says, live vehttipsregrinantes, without any sense of moral restraint. We may be allowed to remark that it was not on Olympus, but on the Capitol. that Jupiter sat. Zeus was a very different conception.
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