Chapters from the Autobiography of an Independent Minister. (Williams and
Norgate.)—The " Independent " minister describes his experiences at the theological college where he was trained for his profession, and in the churches to which he has been called to minister. Some of the college arrangements do not fail to astonish us, though, indeed, we do not hear of them for the first time. The students take it in turns to preach in the chapel. Still more sur- prising, the author, one week after his arrival, was sent to minister to a neighbouring congregation. He may be right in thinking that the average Nonconformist sermon is above the average Church of England sermon. But at what an expense do they learn the art ! One is reminded of the proverb, "Wise men learn to shave on the beards of fools." The "Independent Minister," it may easily be supposed, has written an interesting book, not the less so because he has not in the least lost faith in his system, though he sees clearly, and has not indeed escaped a personal and practical experience of its evils and
abuses. But the book would certainly have been the better, if the last hundred pages had been left out, or contracted, at least, to a very small bulk. Very likely they contain the motive of the work, for they record a fierce struggle with tyrannical deacons, whom the author had the satisfaction of vanquishing. But, for all except the persons concerned, they are very dreary reading, and would it not have been more loyal to keep silence ?
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