The Kingdom and the People ; or, the Parables of
Our Lord Explained and Applied. By Mary Seeley. (Religions Tract Society.)—The - writer of this book has grouped the parables according to their sub- jects, and then after each separate parable has given comments, which are not only wise and good on the whole, bat expressed in terse and suitable language. To these comments are added examples, taken. chiefly from contemporary, or nearly contemporary, history, private and public, illustrative of the lessons enforced. Some of these ex- amples are almost too well known, but others of them are well worthy of being revived, as being known only to a few, especially that of "D.," the worker in St. Giles's of long ago, taken from Charlotte
Elizabeth's "Chapters on Flowers." But the remarks on the Parable of the Tares seem to us unworthy, as well as the accompanying hymn, of the rest of the book. We share the writer's feeling that the step from Enghtnd to Rome ecclesiastically is a retrograde one ; but we should be sorry to class among the " tares " some of the great and good men who have taken that step, much as we may regret their action; and with regard to the hymn, when there are so many beautiful hymns on all conceivable subjects, it does seem a pity to choose for republication the one given on page 214. We also fail to see the connection of the first part of the title with the subject of the book, but probably the publishing Society rather than the writer is responsible for that. The print and general appearance of the book are remarkably good.
Previous page
