Heroes of the Cross ; or, Studies in the Biography
of Saints, Martyrs, and Christian Pioneers. By W. H. Davenport Adams. (Masters.)— There is something attractive in the scheme of Mr. Adams's book He brings together men and women, separated from each other by vast differences of temperament and circumstances and belief, but united by the common property of zeal for Christ. Columba, Bernard of Clairvaux, Francis of Assisi, Catharine of Siena, Savonarola, Xavier, Anne Askew, Francis de Sales, Vincent de Paul, Henry Martin, are the subjects of these biographies, and, on the whole, are well handled. Mr. Adams has done well to "abstain from theological bitterness ;" at the same time, there is such a thing as ignoring facts, in order to create the impression of an unity which does not exist. The " Life of St. Francis de Sales " is an instance. The false- hood and treachery which St. Francis recommended to the Duke of Savoy were never repented of. Mr. Adams's "Note" on this subject is most unsatisfactory. We cannot help thinking, again, that an unduly high estimate of the reality of Xavier's work—of his work, let it be understood, not of his motives— would be gathered from this account of his missionary labours. Obscure workers, whose names have never been known to the world, have, we believe, left more permanent results behind them. We are glad, however, to recommend the volume to our readers, as giving in "a compact and available form " lives of which all readers should have some knowledge.
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