Mary Stuart. By the Rev. Joseph Stephenson, S.J. (W. Paterson,
Edinburgh.)—Mr. Stephenson's subject is one that is comparatively fresh,—the early life of Mary Stuart. It has the advantage, also, of being less involved and difficult, and can b3 treated in a way that will command the assent of most reasonable persons. The author of this volume has taken much pains with his work, and presents a careful picture of the French Court and of Mary's life. It will be under- stood that the point of view from which be regards these matters is not exactly the same as ours. But he gives references for his state- ments, and is, we should think, sufficiently exact. It is his inferences to which we should object. It is not true, for instance, that the Reformation asserted "that to make laws and to rule by laws is proper only to God," except in the sense that all Christians would assert the same. There were anarchic sects then, as there always have been, and probably always will be. Bat to ascribe anarchism to the Reformers en masse—to Luther, for instance, who was even savagely opposed to anything that savoured of it—is a ludicrous mistake that seriously discredits its author.
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