year last mentioned, he had many a battle to fight-but he issued forth from his home, near Chesterfield, generally to conquer. Cities spent countless wealth to keep the rail from them; and then spent more in bringing to their gates what they had denounced. It was not till 1842, when the Queen began to use the Windsor line, that the antipathies of the most prejudiced, except Colonel Sibthorp, were effectually set at rest. Before that time, indeed, he who had been accounted mad for getting so fast in advance of the world, was stigmatised as "slow" by "professional men," for asserting that a speed of above forty, or from that to fifty miles an hour, was not consistent with safety. He could construct an engine, he said, that should complete one hundred miles an hour, but it would be practically useless. He also advocated level lines and the narrow gauge. He was beloved by his pupils and assistants; and if bitterness ever did find expression in him, it was when he was assailed by opponents whose professional education was esteemed by them as superior to his training and experience, and on whom he might have better afforded to expend his contempt than his wrath.

His retirement was only temporary, and even then he was busy in promoting the carriage of coals by railway, and other useful measures. Thirty years after he had been a worker at a pit in Newcastle, he travelled from that city to London, behind one of his own locomotives, in nine hours. Liverpool gave him, or itself, a statue. Municipalities asked him to honour them by accepting "the freedom of the city." Kings and queens abroad sat down with him to hear him familiarly describe the geological formations of their kingdoms; and the English Government, ever forward to recog nise merit, and to reward it, offered him a superb piece of patronage-the right to appoint the postman between Chatsworth and Chesterfield, which official was to receive 12s. a week!

He did not care for honours. Leopold made him a Belgian knight; but the chevalier never wore the insignia. Knighthood was ultimately offered him at home, but he refused the infliction. Some one asked him what his "ornamental initials" were, for the purpose of appending them to a dedication. "I have to state," said Mr. Stephenson, "that I have no flourishes to my name, either before or after; and I think it will be as well if you merely say 'George Stephenson."

In his closing years he lived the life of a useful, active, country gentleman. He was never idle. In the business of his colliery property, limeworks, and in correspondence and audiences with numerous persons who resorted to him for advice or aid, he employed many hours. One thing troubled him in his garden: his cucumbers would grow crooked. They baffled all his attempts, till he clapped the growing vegetables into glass cylinders, and produced them perfectly straight. With this achievement he was delighted; and he was not less pleased when he beat the Duke of Devonshire in his pines. He was therefore no tuft-hunter. He was not the man, when he dined with a baronet, to have a paragraph to that effect inserted in the papers. When he did go, he was very acceptable company. Three years subsequently, after very gradual decay, this "Nature's gentle man was attacked by intermittent fever, of which he died, in the sixtyseventh year of his age. We are sure that we shall only increase our readers' respect and satisfaction when we add that, to poor Richard Gray, of Newburn, who acted as bridesman when he married his first love, Fanny Henderson, "he left a pension for life, which continues to be paid him.”— Athenæum.

REVIEW AND CRITICISM.

Gnomon of the New Testament.

By JOHN A. BENGEL, with Notes Explanatory and Illustrative. Revised and Edited by Rev. A. R. FAUSSET, M.A. Vols. I. and III. Edinburgh: T. and T.

CLARK, 38, George-street.

THE "Gnomon " has long been regarded as one of the best critical works in German on the New Testament. It is singular that it has been so long in finding an English translator. We are indebted to the enterprising firm of T. and T. Clark, of Edinburgh, for this as well as many other treasures-the produce of the Evangelical party in Protestant Germany. The edition before us follows that brought out originally by Ernest Bengel, the son of the eminent critic of that name. In this admirable work, the criticism displays a mind of great breadth and of the most ample resources. As a tutor in a theological seminary the Author had to go through the New Testament with his pupils annually, and his custom was to prepare explanatory notes for each lecture. Thus he went on accumulating materials for more than twenty years, and these materials were laid largely under contribution in the preparation of the work before us. In the "Gnomon" we behold the workings of a mind which disdained to be trammeled by sectarian views and prejudices. Though a German, he has none of the rationalism and naturalism for which many of his learned countrymen have acquired such unenviable notoriety. He was slow to submit to Creeds and Articles of Faith of man's devising, but was ever ready to bow implicitly to the authority of Divine Revelation. In one of his works he observes

The truth of God must be our dearest object, whether the popular system accord with it or not. Far be it from us to wrest or force Scripture into compliance with any favourite hypothesis. It never can be right to invent dogmas, and then go to Scripture in order to prove them. It is better to run all lengths with Scripture truth in a natural and open manner than to shift and twist and accommodate. Every single truth is a light of itself, and every error, however minute, is darkness as far as it goes. Here, then, is an argument for prizing the most simple truths as invaluable jewels. Every Divine communication carries, like the diamond, its own light with it, thus showing from whence it comes. No touchstone is required to discriminate it. * The properties of Scripture may be summarily enumerated as follows:-1. All of it is clear and intelligible enough to persons who sincerely desire to conform the heart and life accordingly. 2. The Word of God is found to be of special effect upon the human heart, for conviction, conversion, instruction, and comfort, in all ages and nations, and hereby evinces-3. Its Divine authority; whence it follows-4. That it is the standard for determining every controversy in matters of faith. is perfect as containing whatever is necessary to be known and believed in order to salvation, 6. It is also profitable as containing nothing irrelevant or useless. 7. The Providence of God has watched over it, so that it retains its purity unsullied, and can be enjoyed now as it ever could be from the beginning.

5. It

These are noble sentiments. Would to God, that all who presume to expound the Sacred Scriptures would adopt them rigorously in

their examination of the Divine Record. Bengel, not only uttered such views, but conscientiously followed them out in all their consequences. Our Author, in the critical parts of his work, is equally remarkable for the depth of his lore, and the acuteness of his critical faculty; in the Exegetical, he is "unrivalled in felicitous brevity, combined with what seldom accompanies that excellence, namely, perspicuity." Terse, weighty, and suggestive, he, as a modern writer observes, condenses more matter into one line, than can be extracted from pages of other writers. This most valuable publication has our best wishes. Certainly, every Minister should have it in his Library.

Papers for the People. No. I. London: JUDD and GLASS, New Bridge-street and Gray's Inn Road.

This is a cheap publication devoted to the elevation of the Working Classes. The number before us treats two subjects, viz.: 1. The Position of the Working Classes. 2. The Acquisition of Knowledge. The Author is, or has been, one of the working class. He is evidently a man of a warm heart and of a good head. We just give one quotation, which will show the character of the work. He is attempting to supply the working man with motives to

THE PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE UNDER DIFFICULTIES,

You say, your want of time and means, is an effectual barrier to your progress in the pursuit of knowledge. I can imagine such to be your thoughts and feelings. I honestly sympathise with you. I know what it is to work hard for twelve hours a-day, sweating at every pore, and then to return home weary and exhausted. I admit there is not much relish for the abstractions of philosophy and the technicalities of science then. The body wants repose; and I don't much wonder you should sometimes feel inclined to neglect the cultivation of your minds, and struggle on through life as best you may. But is that wisdom? Is that fortitude? We should never lose confidence in ourselves, or despair in an attempt to improve our position. Something higher and nobler than anything we have yet attained is accessible to us. Steadily fixing our minds upon it, we should aspire high-have an onward and upward aim. Other men have been situated as we are, and by manly courage and persevering effort, they have gradually risen from poverty and obscurity to wealth and honour. Their example should stimulate us. What has been achieved by others, is not unattainable by us. We have the same powers of nature, and perhaps greater opportunities of position than many whose names are left upon honourable record. We should, therefore, imbibe their spiritresolutely enter into their pursuits. It was a maxim of Sir William Jones, one of the greatest men of his age, as a poet, a scholar, and a lawyer, that what had been done by others, could be done by himself. He resolved upon neglecting no opportunity of improving himself, and was never deterred from any pursuit by its difficulties. As the result, he acquired a knowledge of twenty-eight languages, and of various subjects in literature, art, and science, while discharging the duties of a lawyer. He died at the early age of forty-eight, and up to within a few weeks of his death, he was engaged in studying the grammars of several Oriental languages. Many similar examples of devotedness, industry, and success, in the pursuit of knowledge might be quoted from among the working-classes, in which you will see that others have struggled with poverty and difficulty, as you

are now doing, and yet they have raised themselves to a position of social and literary eminence.

There was Heyne, a German critic, and the son of a poor man. He wished when a boy to learn Latin; the son of a schoolmaster offered to teach him for fourpence a week, but he had no money. His mother one day sent him for a loaf to his godfather's. He was crying. The baker learnt the cause, and offered to pay the schoolmaster's fee. The lad was overwhelmed with joy. He ran along the street tossing his loaf in the air, till he had the misfortune to toss it into the dirt. His mother's scolding brought him to his senses. He applied himself to learning; fought his way through untold difficulties, and became one of the greatest scholars of his country. A native of France, named William Postellus, was a domestic servant in a college. During his leisure hours he applied himself to study, and soon became a very learned man. Once a wretched-looking man wandered through Germany singing ballads, then begging, then weaving. His name was Wolfgang Musculus. He began to study Hebrew, and became one of the first of Hebrew scholars. You have heard of Dr. Franklin. He was seif-taught, and from a printer's boy he rose to be a senator, and an ambassador, and has benefited the world with his wisdom. There was Thomas Simpson, a countryman of our own, a poor weaver, turned out from home because he paid more attention to his books than to his shuttle, and took up his lodgings with a poor widow in Derby, whom he subsequently married out of gratitude. He became acquainted with a pedlar, who pretended to have some knowledge of astrology. The pedlar lent him a few mathematical books, and such was the devotedness of Simpson, that soon the poor weaver became a professor of mathematics, member of the Royal Society, and author of several mathematical books. Old John Bunyan was a tinker, became converted, improved his mind, began to preach, and wrote in Bedford Gaol his immortal allegory, " Pilgrim's Progress." A lad named Edmund Stone was employed to carry mortar for masons. He was working one day at the Duke of Argyle's mansion, and occasionally refreshed his mind by looking at Newton's "Principia." The Duke was walking in the garden and saw the book. He supposed it had been taken from his own library, and ordered its return. Stone appeared and claimed the book. "Yours?" replied the Duke, " do you understand geometry, Latin, Newton?" "I know a little," was the reply, and then the lad detailed the progress of his education. A servant had taught him to read, and, with a knowledge of the twenty-four letters of the alphabet, he thought he could learn anything. The duke encouraged him, and ultimately he became author of several valuable works, and a member of the Royal Society. Our immortal Shakspere was the child of a poor man, while Robert Burns, of Scottish celebrity, was a ploughman, and often struggled amidst the sorrows of poverty. Ferguson acquired a knowledge of the stars with a string and beads, while tending sheep, and afterwards constructed a celestial telescope. You have heard of Sir Richard Arkwright. He was the thirteenth child of a poor man, and a penny barber till he was thirty years of age. He began to dye hair for ladies. He then made an attempt to obtain perpetual motion. He failed; but in his failure invented the spinning machine, which immortalized his name and benefitted the world. George III. conferred upon him the honour of knighthood, and the barber's wife became Lady Arkwright. A man named Samuel Parkes was a petty grocer; he went to London when forty years of age, commenced a course of study, and published "A Chemical Catechism," which brought him 5000l. Robert Bloomfield was a boy attending shoemakers in a garret. He became a poet, and composed his poem, entitled "The Farmer's Boy," while working at his trade. Dr. Adam Clarke was apprenticed to a linendraper. He hated the trade

offered himself to John Wesley-became, by self-education, a commendable scholar-published a Critical Commentary on the Bible, with many other important works-had a diploma and other degrees conferred upon him, and was a member of several learned societies. Dr. Carey was a shoemaker. He taught himself, and became professor of Oriental languages in India, under the British Government. Samuel Drew was a shoemaker studying metaphysics as he stuck to his last. Then editing a magazine, and publishing elaborate books on the "Existence of God," the "Resurrection of the Body," and the "Immortality of the Soul." Professor Lee was apprenticed to a country carpenter. He learnt fourteen languages whilst employed at the bench, and though he had never studied in college, he became Professor of Hebrew and Arabic in the University of Cambridge. Professor Farraday was a poor bookbinder. He was binding a volume of an Encyclopædia, and met with an article on electricity. It laid the foundation of his future greatness. Sir William Herschell was the son of a music master. He entered the band of a regiment, then became organist at Halifax, and afterwards at Bath. He taught himself astronomy, and then constructed a telescope and became the discoverer of worlds, one of which is often called by his name. There was George Stephenson, of whom an interesting memoir has recently been published. He was the son of poor parents, and was employed at a colliery in the north of England until after his marriage. He was industrious and enterprising, acquired a knowledge of different subjects, invented a safety lamp contemporaneously with Davy, gave birth to our system of railway travelling, and was honoured by his countrymen and the world. Have you heard of Dr. Kitto? He was taken from a workhouse, poor and deaf, yet he worked his way to be one of the first biblical scholars of the age. Horne, author of the celebrated "Introduction to the Critical Study of the Scripture," a book which contains a mass of learning, was a common shoemaker. During our last political election, you would sometimes see and hear the name of Alexander Dumas, a Frenchman, who was then in London, taking notes of our election proceedings for French newspapers. Well, that man at twenty-one years of age had nothing to do, and knew scarcely anything. He resolved to rise; he studied sixteen hours a day, and he is now a distinguished traveller, novelist, and poet.

What, then, do you say to these things? More of such instances could be adduced were it necessary. The above have been selected almost at random ; and are they not sufficient to show that, despite all outward disadvantages, you may rise to social comfort, to literary fame? And in view of such facts do you not feel inspired by a desire and resolution to work your way up, to become rich in knowledge, in virtue, and in honour? Try, and you shall succeed. Advantages crowd upon you which were unknown to many of the illustrious men of a former age. Mechanics' Institutions, select classes, cheap publications, efficient teachers, are accessible to you. Will you slight the example others have set, abuse the gifts they laboured to bestow, neglect the opportunities and powers which call out for improvement? No, you won't. I have faith in your resolution and fortitude, and faith in your success. You will gird up the loins of your minds; you will henceforth combine mental with physical toil, literary with mercantile pursuits. A brilliant future is before you. Chaplets of honour and palms of victory await your noble efforts. Brethren! have faith in yourselvesfaith in each other-faith in your destiny-faith in God! Nothing can then prevent your success. I feel honoured in being associated with you. Accept my humble services. It is my ambition to aid in the development of your powers, in the enhancement of your joys. Will you grant me your sympathy, favour me with your co-operation? I anticipate a favourable response, You will not disappoint me-you will join me in literary

pursuits.