Miscellaneous Essays, Critical and Theological. By Rev. William Kirkus, LLB.
(Longmans.)—That the Rev. W. Kirkus is a man of some boldness and originality of mind may he inferred from the fact that, though a Dissenting minister, he speaks in the highest terms of the Book of Common Prayer, and states that he holds it to be "perhaps the wary gravest of the misfortunes almost inseparable from his position, that he is unable to make constant use of it in public worship." Nor will the perusal of the volume before us tend at all to invalidate this -conclusion. Those of Mr. Kirkus's essays which are purely critical in their nature are not, indeed, very remarkable ; but he handles theological subjects with a force and freedom which can hardly fail -to attract the attention of the public. Perhaps the best thing in the -volume is a thoughtful and suggestive paper on "The Morality of 'Religious Controversy." In another, which is sure to attract notice, be expresses a strong objection to Evangelicalism, pronouncing it to be 4' the most complete of all denials of a Gospel which have been able to assume and maintain a form of Christianity." The most amusing of his essays is one entitled "Pulpit Fortune-tellers," which is a very -forcible and effective attack on Dr. Cumming, suggested by one of that -divine's later prophetical works. An extract or two from this paper will give the reader a fair idea of Mr. Kirkus's ability as an assailant. 4' it is not likely," he begins, "that the readers of this essay will care a single straw whether Dr. Cumming publishes his sermons or not. It is much less likely that they will cross the palm of this inveterate
• fortune-teller with so large a sum as seven shillings and sixpence." Again—" Dr. Cumming seems almost to have obeyed the Apostolic precept, and become a fool,' oa the chance of some day becoming wise.'" Once more—" Now, if this is not impudent and ignorant trumpery, we should be glad to be informed what is. A blow on the face would be a smaller insult to a man of sense than to offer this trash to him as an explanation of the fifth chapter of Genesis, and expect him
to be fooled by it On the principles of interpretation which ex- position like this requires, we would undertake to prove anything whatever out of the Bible—that Napoleon In, for instance, was Alexander the Great come to life again ; that Satan contended about the body of Moses with the Bishop of Oxford, and that Balsam's ass smote the devil with a staff; that the whale that swallowed Jonah was ex- treme unction ; or even that Dr. Cumming is a wise and learned divine." Mr. Kirkus is evidently accustomed to think for himself, and to say what he thinks without reserve.
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