self to the task of tabulating, in arrangements of striking and cumulative force, the various declarations of holy writ which bear upon the mystery of the Holy Trinity. Many scholars as zealously Trinitarian as himself will, undoubtedly, demur to the use made of some passages, and even deprecate the employment of a style of argument and of biblical interpretation so minute and mechanical as is his in some of its parts. Indeed, there is reason to fear that an ingenious man, constructing his arguments upon the same plan, and with the same disregard of textual and analogical connection, might "prove" that a great many irrational, immoral, and heterodox things are taught in the Holy Scriptures. Still, the great outlines of the argument are sound and irrefutable, while the skillful arrangements of related passages, printed in full, render the book a convenient manual of reference upon the subject. The Introduction by Dr. Huntington is a feature of considerable interest in this American edition, inasmuch as in it the late convert from Unitarianism replies to the numerous criticisms which his sermon, entitled "Life, Salvation, and Comfort for Man in the Divine Trinity," called forth from his former ecclesiastical associates. He thinks a considerable part of these criticisms is sufficiently disposed of by reminding their authors, firstly, that his sermon was not a systematic and exhaustive treatise on the doctrine, but merely an exposition of some of its practical uses; and, secondly, that it did not pretend to state the doctrine in the identical terms of any particular symbol. He then discusses the sources of light upon the question: 1. Holy Scripture. This of course is first and foremost. 2. Man's higher intuitions and cognitions. These he grants need "educating," need to be "developed under the best conditions," in order to lend any confirmatory evidence. Unitarians will be likely to differ from Dr. H. as to what the "best conditions" are. 3. Its providential history. Here he very successfully maintains the great points contended for by the best Trinitarian historians. Altogether the book is likely to find many readers. WI. The Cloud Dispelled; or, the Doctrine of Predestination Examined. By JOHN KIRK, Edinburgh. With an Introduction by Rev. DANIEL CURRY, D. D. 12mo., pp. 293. New York: N. Tibbals & Co. 1860. Scotland, so long the peculiar and loyal domain of Calvinism, is beginning at last to revolt. One large and growing Arminian denomination has recently sprung up on its soil. And the latest and, in some respects, the best history of the life of Arminius is from the pen of a Scotchman. The present work is a new token of good. It consists of a series of popular lectures, seventeen in number, originally delivered in Edinburgh, and published in 1847. It devotes one lecture to the consideration of Calvinian Predestination as related to each of the following topics: The Foreknowledge of God, Wisdom of God, Justice of God, Truth of God, Love of God, Crucifixion of Jesus, God's Purpose in Jesus, Wickedness of Men, Stumbling of Men, Infatuation of the Reprobate, Hardening of Hearts, Death of the Reprobate, Foreordained Judgment, Book of Life, The Bible View, Security of Believers, Foundation of Hope. It will be seen that this extensive plan enables the author to traverse the whole wide field of the pretended practical, metaphysical, and biblical advantages of Calvinian views, and bring to bear the whole power of Arminian ordnance. In style he is plain and clear. Scotch piety and common-sense mark every page. It would be difficult to find any other work so admirably adapted for popular service as an antidote to old-fashioned Calvinistic predestination as is this. Several members of the general synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, in 1859, having examined an English copy of the work in possession of a Scotch family with whom they boarded, it was recommended for publication under the auspices of the Lutheran publishing house at Philadelphia. Kritisch-Praktischer Commentar über das Neue Testament. Von Cincinnati: L. We have received four numbers of Dr. Nast's Commentary, handsomely printed in octavo form, containing in each number sixtyfour pages, at thirty cents per number. The work is to embrace from thirty to thirty-six numbers, comprising at minimum more than seventeen thousand pages at nine dollars for the entire work. Yet, by the happy expedient of publishing in numbers, the formidable amount is diffused and rendered practically easy. Dr. Nast has full possession of the best critical literature of the German as well as the English languages. Besides Olshausen, Stier, Neander, and Tholuck, he has made much use of Lange, Meyer, Lisco, Ebrard, and others. The work was commenced at the instance of the General Conference of 1852 for the use of our German brethren. It is gratifying that such is the state of our German "work," that such a publication should be imperatively FOURTH SERIES, VOL. XIII.-11 and increasingly demanded; it is a cause of double gratulation that the demand can be met, and met so well. Two hundred and fifty pages at the commencement are devoted to a General Introduction to the New Testament. Herein are ably discussed, in seven leading chapters, the canon, the authenticity, and the historic credibility of the New Testament, and the evidences arising from the personality of Jesus. The inspiration, the relation to the Old Testament, and the principles of interpretation, are discussed in the three closing chapters of the seven. A prominent characteristic of the commentary is the separation into different departments. A copious introduction prefaces a paragraph of the text; then the exegetical, the practical, and the topographic and historical departments are placed under separate headings. This is original with Dr. Nast, and yet it bears a curious resemblance to the classification of the old English commentary of Dr. Scott. The method has its advantages, and Dr. Nast does wisely doubtless in its adoption; and yet, on the whole, we prefer the happy blending of all the related elements into one natural impression. A separate place in a commentary for homiletics is to us slightly irksome. The spirit and practical power of the text lies in and should vivify its entire presentation in the comment. They should, we think, be not an extract from, but consubstantial with it. Dr. Nast's commentary will be gratefully accepted by our Church and the public. As he well remarks in his preface, the completion of a Biblical commentary cannot be the work of a single mind. It must be the result of many intentional and unintentional contributions, and grow as well as be wrought. Every new product will rightfully lay its predecessors under free and skillful contribution, and yet bear the traits of a new individualism. In both these respects the present work will bear the test of close review. John Albert Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament. Pointing out from the Natural Force of the Words, the Simplicity, Depth, Harmony, and Saving Power of Divine Thoughts. A New Translation. By CHARLTON T. LEWIS, A. M., and MARVIN R. VINCENT, A. M., Professors in Troy University. Volume I. Philadelphia: Perkinpine & Higgins. New York: Sheldon & Co. 1860. This edition of Bengel we welcome with pleasure from the hands of the two young scholars whose names it bears, and of whose future labors in the cause of sacred literature it is a promising first fruit. As editors, they have struck out from the original Bengel such passages as the advanced criticism of the present century has rendered, in their judgment, palpably obsolete, and have substituted in their place suggestions of the most eminent critics of modern times, carefully distinguishing the additions and giving the proper credits. It is, therefore, a revised Bengel. Those who think that worthless matter ought to be preserved because it is Bengel's, who prefer the entireness of the author as such to the actual utility of the work, will, of course, disapprove of such revision. The general judgment, however, approves of abridgments precisely according to the judiciousness of the execution and the practical value of the result. An abridged "Student's Gibbon," an expurgated classic, a volume of "Elegant Extracts" or "Beauties," will be made and used just so often as taste or advantage demands. The reverence for the author is rather enhanced than impaired by the process. The unchanged editions of every standard author will remain in our public libraries for reference, while the utilized modifications of their works go out better fitted for popular use. Especially in a work so desultory, so utilitarian, and so liable to be outstripped by time as a commentary, the reverence which would forbid it to be so modified that the name and work of the author should be rendered acceptable to successive periods is not only injuriously prudish and superstitious in itself, but oppressive to the author's reputation which it assumes so sedulously to guard. It is unnecessary for us to commend a work so well established in reputation as the Gnomon. Quite as needless it is for us to indorse the additions which the present learned translators have made from such writers as Alford, Lücke, Meyer, Neander, Olshausen, Stier, Tischendorf, Winer, and others. The work is without the text. The commentary is in its character desultory, wanting in continuity, grouping, coloring, and completeness of finish. But it is concise, intuitive, suggestive, and abounding in single master strokes. Commentary on Ecclesiastes, with other Treatises. By E. W. HENGSTENBERG, D. D., Professor of Theology, Berlin. Translated from the German by D. W. SIMON. 8vo., pp. 488. Philadelphia: Smith, English, & Co. New York: Sheldon & Co. The great reputation of Hengstenberg every publication that bears his name. two hundred and sixty-three pages are will attract attention to Of this handsome octavo devoted to a commentary on Ecclesiastes. It is critical and full. He does not attribute the work to Solomon, but to an unknown and much later author. Next we have Prolegomena upon the Song of Solomon. He discusses the form of the book, its authorship, attributing it to Solomon, the historical origin, and the interpretation, which he strongly asserts to be allegorical. We have then a lecture on the book of Job. He denies the historical existence of Job, but holds that the narrative is a sacred parable for a didactic purpose. By an analysis of the book Hengstenberg endeavors to demonstrate and develop the sacred lesson. Next comes a lecture upon the Prophet Isaiah, forming a very rich chapter of the work. A more extended piece discusses the origin and nature of sacrifices, their relation to prayer and other points. Finally comes the relation of the Jews to the Christian Church, with a discussion of the future destiny of the Judaic race. The lover of biblical studies will find much that is very fresh and suggestive in this volume. Philosophy, Metaphysics, and General Science. The Vocabulary of Philosophy, Mental, Moral, and Metaphysical, with Quotations and References, for the use of Students. By WILLIAM FLEMING, D. D., Professor of Moral Philosophy in the University of Glasgow. With Additions by CHARLES P. KRAUTH, D. D. 12mo., pp. 662. Philadelphia: Smith & English. New York: Sheldon & Co. Boston: Gould & Lincoln. Professor Fleming first constructed this work for the benefit of his collegiate classes in the prosecution of their philosophic studies. In its completion he had the valuable aid of Mr. Morell and Dr. M'Cosh. Well aware of the exceeding delicacy of the attempt to define things so subtle as metaphysical terms, he has given at some length the definitions and uses of the words in the original authors, with such additional illustrations as he could devise. This difficult task he has executed with remarkable skill. The result is one of the most practically useful manuals in that department of thought which the press has furnished. The great difficulty of clearly and fixedly conceiving and maintaining the meaning of its terms is one of the opprobriums and obstacles of metaphysical study. Chemistry has been able to take on a nomenclature so clear and exact that its universal and immutable adoption followed of course. But in metaphysics each new attempt of this kind seems only to elaborate a new confusion. The same term is thus made to pass through a variety of meanings, |