For some years previous to this period many of our religious writers were at the height of their popularity and their books were having immense sales. Much of this success was due to the writers' influence in the pulpit. Among the most prominent was the Rev. J.R. Macduff, whose first and best known book, and the one that had the longest vitality, was "The Faithful Promiser." Originally written with the intention of being sent only to his old friends as a memento of his connexion with the parish he had just left, it found favour with a much larger public who eagerly purchased edition after edition until hundreds of thousands of copies were sold. Next in popularity was his "Morning and Night Watches," which also had an enormous sale, and his "Memories of Bethany," the sale of which ran into many thousands. All the books of this author were more or less successful (and he was a most voluminous writer), but the sale of the majority has now very greatly decreased, while some are seldom, if ever, inquired for. Dean Goulburn's "Thoughts on Personal Religion" was once to be found in every bookseller's shop throughout the kingdom, and at the height of its popularity had an annual sale of nearly ten thousand copies; now its circulation is of a very limited character. This was one of the books which Mr. Gladstone generally gave to the young men who were fortunate enough to come within his sphere of influence. Another author whose books were formerly very popular was Bishop Oxenden. The one which had the biggest sale was "The Pathway of Safety," but most of his works sold by their tens of thousands. Mention should also be made of those by the Rev. Horatius Bonar, especially his "Hymns of Faith and Hope," each volume as it appeared passing through many editions. The following names will bring back to many readers the titles of books which have been appreciated by young as well as old: the Rev. John Angell James, the Rev. Newman Hall (over a million of the latter's "Come to Jesus" have been disposed of), Miss Havergal, Miss Marsh, the Rev. James Hamilton, the Rev. W. Jay, and the Rev. C.H. Spurgeon. These names represent a few only out of the many writers of religious books which were then popular. Most of them have greatly decreased sales, while others have fallen out altogether and are probably quite unknown to the present generation. There were also issued about this time many religious works published anonymously. These caused a great stir, and met with an extensive demand. Amongst them were "Able to Save," "Pathway of Promise," "Meet for Heaven," "Throne of Grace," "Heaven our Home," but, like the works already noticed, they have also run their course.