cal knowledge and discrimination. M. Guizot understands perfectly the reach and the force of the arguments urged by the opponents of the Gospel. While he does not fail to concede to them all they can urge of truth or plausibility, he urges in reply the overbearing force of the counter arguments in support of the truth of Christianity. The volume is worthy of the high reputation of its distinguished author, and cannot fail to do important service in commending earnest and evangelical Christianity to many cultivated men who are inclined to be its despisers.

PASTORAL EPISTLES.*-Under this title we have, from the press of Mr. Draper of Andover, a new volume of Bishop Ellicott's commentaries. It is prepared upon the same general principles and plan with those which have preceded it, and is, like them, to be highly commended. We can only say, that, the more we use these commentaries, the more respect do we entertain for the author's ability and learning, and the more confident do we feel, that the student who will carefully read them and faithfully follow out the line of study which they suggest, will find himself growing in the most valuable knowledge of the New Testament.

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success

In a brief notice like the present, we cannot of course consider, with any fullness, the author's views on individual passages. But we observe, that, with most recent critical scholars of any eminence, he adopts, in 1 Tim. iii. 16, the reading ös, instead of sós, and that he regards the words from is to the end of the verse as probably "quoted from some well known hymn, or possibly from some familiar confession of faith." The expression, “husband of one wife," in 1 Tim. iii. 2, he understands as referring to ive polygamy," and as opposed to a second marriage, "after the loss of a first wife, however happening," whether by divorce or by death. The reference of this passage to "successive" and not to "simultaneous" polygamy is now so commonly admitted, and seems to be so clearly required by the necessary interpretation of 1 Tim. v. 9, that we can hardly doubt that here is the true interpretation of the passage. The verses immediately preceding this one contain the views of the Apostle in respect to the propriety of women speaking in the church meetings, and many of our

* A Critical and Grammatical Commentary on the Pastoral Epistles. With a Revised Translation. By Rt. Rev. CHARLES J. ELLICOTT, D. D., Lord Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol. Andover: Warren F. Draper. 1865. 8vo. pp. 265.

prominent teachers now insist upon the binding force of these views, as directions for the Church in all subsequent time-to such a degree even, that they would prohibit women from voting in such meetings. Would it not be well to consider whether the words, which really exclude those who have married a second wife, after the death of the first, from the number of properly-qualified bishops, are not equally binding for all time? Or rather may we not feel, as we have abandoned the latter direction, that we may at least consider whether we are not, in these distant ages, released from the former-whether it must not "be understood," as Dean Alford remarks, that, "in all lawful things, regulations, even when made by an Apostle, depend on circumstances, and that the superstitious observance of the letter in such cases" is unwise and sometimes mischievous? But we merely raise this question, without desiring to enter upon a discussion of the true position of women in the public assemblies of Christians. We are sincerely sorry for some women, if they are forbidden by inspiration to seek after explanations of the truth, except by asking their husbands at home, but we do not wish to propose any views on either side of the question, for we are only calling attention to Bishop Ellicott's book. In the passage, 1 Tim. v. 9, and ff., the author regards the widows who are spoken of as being a different class from those alluded to in the verses next preceding, and as constituting a special order in the Christian community, "whose duties apparently consisted in the exercise of superintendence over, and the ministry of counsel and consolation to, the younger women,— whose office was, so to say, presbyteral, rather than diaconic." This, as is well known, is the view of a large number of the leading commentators of the day, as Alford in England, and Huther, Wiesinger, &c., in Germany. The passage can doubtless be explained without this supposition. The Bishop's views upon inspiration may be gathered from his remarks upon the interesting verse, 2 Tim. iii. 16:-" All scripture is given by inspiration of God," &c On the word sorvsudros of this verse he says, "While this pregnant and inclusive epithet yields no support to any artificial theories, whether of a 'dynamical' or 'mechanical' inspiration, it certainly seems distinctly to imply this vital truth, that every separate portion of the Holy Book is inspired, and forms a living portion of a living and organic whole. While, on the one hand, this expression does not exclude such verbal errors, or, possibly

such trifling historical inaccuracies as man's spirit, even in its most exalted state, may not be wholly exempt from, and human transmission and transcriptions may have increased, it still does certainly assure us, on the other, that these writings, as we have them, are individually pervaded by God's Spirit, and warrants our belief that they are τὰς ἀληθεῖς [ξήσεις] Πνεύματος τοῦ ἁγίου, Clem. Rom., 1, 45, and our assertion of the full inspiration of the Bible."

But we are transgressing our proper limits, and, as we only desire to call attention to the volume, we leave it, with these few quotations, &c., for the examination of our readers.

JACOBUS' NOTES ON GENESIS.*-One only of the two volumes of explanatory notes on the Book of Genesis that Professor Jacobus proposes to publish has as yet been given to the public. It includes the first seventeen chapters. In typographical appearance, this volume is not unlike those of Professor Bush on this same book, which it is, we suppose, expected to supersede. The various questions respecting the inspiration and authorship of the Book of Genesis, and the "days of creation," are discussed in an "Introduction" which covers some fifty closely printed pages; and throughout the volume the author had constantly in eye the different questions which have been broached by the more modern schools of infidelity.

LIFE LESSONS.--This is a collection of about forty short essays, or sermons, on the objects and duties of life. The subjects discussed are all of a practical character; such as Family Worship; Governing the Tongue; The Power of Example; The Responsibilities of Wealth; Social Discipline. Such topics as these always arrest attention when presented from the pulpit. In this volume they are discussed with a freshness and vigor which cannot fail to render them attractive to a large class of readers. The author is the Rev. Dr. Gillett, of Harlem, New York; and the collection is made and given to the public at the request of one of his parishioners.

*Notes, Critical and Explanatory, on the Book of Genesis.-By MELANCTHON W. JACOBUS, Professor of Biblical Literature and Exegesis in the Theological Seminary at Alleghany, Pa. New York: R. Carter & Brothers. 1865. 12mo. pp. 304.

Life Lessons in the School of Christian Duty. By "The anthor of the Life and Times of John Huss." New York: A. D. Randolph. 1864. 12mo. pp. 407.

HISTORICAL.

NEANDER'S PLANTING AND TRAINING OF THE CHURCH.*-In no other work are the genius, the learning, and the deep, unaffected piety of the illustrious Neander exhibited to better advantage than in this History of the Foundation and First Spread of the Gospel. It is a work of almost incomparable merit-a history, commentary, and theological treatise, all in one. The translation of Ryland, on which English readers have heretofore depended, is in flowing, readable English, and preserves, in the main, the spirit of the original. But it had two defects. In the first place, the changes and additions made by Neander in his last edition are subjoined in an appendix, instead of being incorporated in the text. These alterations are often very important, especially such as relate to the antagonistic views and criticisms of Bauer. The second and more serious defect of Ryland's edition is the frequent inaccuracy of his renderings. Sometimes he allows himself too much liberty in paraphrasing the expressions of the German text, and sometimes he mistakes the sense of the original. Both these defects have been removed in the edition which lies before us, for which the public owe thanks to the skill and diligence of Dr. E. G. Robinson of the Rochester Theological Seminary. We have compared the new edition, in various places, both with the text of Neander and the translation of Ryland (in Bohn's Library), and can bear testimony to the satisfactory character of the new American edition.

It is remarkable that the translations of German theology, which are made in England and Scotland, should need so much emendation. Olshausen has already had the benefit of an American revision. Lange is to enjoy the same advantage through the labors of Dr. Schaff. A like work is needed for the Scottish translations of Hengstenberg, Nitzsch, and many of the other writers who have been introduced into Clark's library. Persons who are well qualified to translate from the German language are seldom willing

* History of the Planting and Training of the Christian Church by the Apos tles. By Dr. AUGUSTUS NEANDER. Translated from the German by J. E. RYLAND. Translation Revised and Corrected, according to the Fourth German edition, by E. G. ROBINSON, D. D., Professor in the Rochester Theological Seminary. New York: Published by Sheldon & Co. 1865.

to submit to the drudgery which is required for full success in this kind of work. Hence it is apt to fall into inferior hands.

MILMAN'S HISTORY OF THE JEWS.*-Milman is a veteran in authorship. He has edited Gibbon, to whom he has added a large body of marginal annotations. Besides his History of the Jews, he has written a History of Christianity in the First Three Centuries; and a much more copious as well as important work, the History of Latin Christianity. Meantime he has not been undis tinguished as a poet. The historical productions of Milman, though of unequal merit, are all marked by similar characteristics. In his style the influence of Gibbon is clearly discernible. There is a constant attempt at vivacity. We feel that the writer keeps up the flow of his enthusiasm by an effort. He seems to be haunted with the apprehension that he may lapse into dullness. Apart from this fault there is little to censure from the rhetorical point of view, especially in the work on Latin Christianity. The introductory work on the First Three Centuries was often diffuse and was inferior in most respects to the later work, its companion. Milman is a truly learned scholar. He has made full and independent researches in the field of study which he has cultivated. In regard to some aspects of Church History, his writings in this department are not excelled. His representation of the past has, so to speak, more flesh and blood in it than are found in several of the contemporaneous German masters, who are his superiors in philosophical depth and in a large appreciation of the vital forces which underlie the movement of history. Milman seems to take the attitude of an interested spectator-a literary on-looker-and to describe things as they appear from such a position. His works have not the living power which belongs to the historian, like Neander, who writes from a deep, undisguised sympathy with Christianity, and as if the cause of Christianity were his own. An externality, sometimes not a little unwelcome, pervades Milman's whole treatment of ecclesiastical history. Hence on the subject of the history of doctrine, his statements are often vague, and, if not superficial, are certainly not deep. And his account of the changing phases

*The History of the Jews: from the Earliest Period down to Modern Times. BY HENRY HART MILMAN, D. D., Dean of St. Paul's. Reprinted from the newly revised and corrected edition. In three volumes. New York: Hurd & Hough. ton. Boston: William Veazie.

1864.