3 JANUARY 1880, Page 32

The Life Militant. By Ellell. (Griffith and Farran.)—In the pre-

face, consisting only of a few lines, the author of these sermons states his purpose to be that of "helping the clergy and others who hold them" in their cottage meetings. It seems to us that the simplicity at which he says he has aimed is by no means uniformly attained. We trust there are many, clergy and others, who can. speak, out of their own heads, as children say, something more to the purpose ; or rather, that knowing the joys and sorrows of their audience, they can speak from heart to heart. But should any such make use of this book, we trust they will avoid the chapters on heaven and hell, and the one on the Magi, the latter containing many of the old legends so sure to be misinterpreted by such an assembly.