Luther's own theology is set forth through an analysis of some of his principal writings, taken in chronological order. The relations of Calvinistic to Lutheran theology are the subject of a perspicuous discussion. More modern theology, as that of Schleiermacher and his school, and the systems connected with the recent philosophers, as Kant, Schelling, Hegel, is well described. We regret that the translation is so defective and inelegant. The Scottish mind is not linguistic; if it were, men would learn the German language, even in the process of translating one of these volumes. The very title-page is made unintelligible; besides that the term "ober-consistorialrath" is left untranslated for the reason, apparently, that Mr. Dobson did not know that it means "Member of the Upper Consistory." Dorner's graceful preface is printed in German, but is horribly mangled in the translation. It makes him say: "I will [will for shall always, as I perceive, have at least to share in bearing the responsibility of so introducing it, and of this translation (which I have sanctioned without being in a position to undertake any control in connection with it), as well as of the venturous act of this preface." This is a favorable specimen of the style which the translators have adopted. In many cases it is only by conjecturing what the original was, that we can arrive at any sense. The explanatory notes of the translators are ludicrous for their misunderstanding of the author's meaning. For example, Dorner (p. 18) makes a fine remark on the excessive esteem of orthodoxy in the Greek Church, as if right character necessarily resulted from right opinions. "This," he says, "is the Greek form of determinism,"-i. e., of philosophical necessity, the fixed relation of choice to antecedents. The translator favors us with this note: "Determinismus' is the technical name for a theory of the way in which the religious and moral action of man is determined." Verily, a clear and profound definition! The Messrs. Clark should do by Dorner's work what they did in the case of Müller's Treatise on Sin,-have the work translated anew by persons more competent.

BARNUM'S EXPOSITION OF ROMANISM.*-The titles of the chapters in this work are, "The city of Rome and its connections;

Romanism as it is; an exposition of the Roman Catholic System for the American people, &c., &c., the whole drawn from official and authentic sources. By Rev. SAMUEL W. BARNUM, Editor of the Comprehensive Dictionary of the Bible. Hartford, Conn.: Conn. Publishing Co. 1871.

"The

"General view of the Roman Catholic Church system; Popes and their Sovereignty;" The Pope's allocutions, bulls, and other official communications; "The Cardinals and the Roman Court;""Ecumenical Councils;" etc., etc. It aims, in short, to exhibit the Roman Catholic Church from authentic sources, with many quotations from documents, yet in a popular and interesting style. The author is an accurate and conscientious writer. He has not composed a tirade against Romanism or attempted to excite the passions of men against it; but has rather designed to state facts which are drawn from Catholic as well as Protestant sources. As a book for popular circulation, it is valuable. The full index renders it easy to consult its pages on any particular topic, and at the same time shows how great a variety of information is introduced into the volume. The type and paper are excellent. The wood cuts are correct, but ugly.

-

LANGE ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN.* The readers of the New Englander have had the volumes of this Commentary so frequently introduced to them by us, that we need only to call their attention to the fact that a new part of the work has now appeared-the Commentary on the Gospel of John. This volume is edited by Dr. Schaff himself, though the work of translation, and, thus, the fundamental part of the preparation of it, was done by the late Dr. Edward D. Yeomans and by Miss E. Moore. Dr. Schaff has added much from his own lectures and annotations, and has, thus, given to it the impress of his own scholarship. We are glad to see that Dr. Schaff, with all his commendation of Lange, acknowledges in this volume that "he has often sorely tried his patience." This is just what he has done to our patience in other parts of his commentary. It was Daniel Webster, we believe, who said that his great rule of criticism with reference to his own performances was, "Strike out!" The application of this excellent rule to Dr. Lange's works would have saved, perhaps, one half of the labor of preparing the translation for the press,

* A Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal, and Homiletical, with special reference to Ministers and Students. By JOHN PETER LANGE, D.D., assisted by a number of eminent European Divines. Translated from the German, revised. enlarged, and edited, by PHILIP SCHAFF, D.D., in connection with American Scholars of various Evangelical Denominations. Vol. III of the New Testament; containing the Gospel of John. New York: Charles Scribner & Co. 1871. 8vo, pp. 654.

and one half of the expense of the volume to the purchasers. Dr. Schaff's remark, that, in his opinion, Lange "has dug more gold and silver from the mine of this Gospel than any single commentator before him," is one with which we cannot agree, and we do not believe that those who use the commentary will agree with him. In our view, Dr. Lange is decidedly a second rate commentator, and is destitute of some of those qualities which are of the highest importance in a writer on this part of the New Testament.

For Dr. Schaff's own work in the preparation of this volume, as of the others, so far as he has edited them, we give, most cheerfully, our word of commendation. The volume before us contains much from his pen that is valuable.

COMMENTARIES BY DR. HALL AND DR. WHEDON.*-These two volumes, which we introduce to our readers together, are intended for the same uses in two different departments of the church. The one by Dr. Hall, embracing notes on the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, is designed for the Sunday School teachers and other members of the Episcopal denomination, while that by Dr. Whedon is prepared for his brethren of the Methodist body. They both belong to the class of commentaries which, in the Presbyterian denomination, are represented by the Notes of the Rev. Albert Barnes. The two authors are already known, more or less widely, Dr. Hall's book having reached its second edition, after an interval of some years since its first publication, and Dr. Whedon having already written volumes of corresponding size and character on the earlier portions of the New Testament. Commentaries of this class are not usually very profound and are not intended to be so, but they serve a very useful purpose. They will not, ordinarily, circulate very much beyond the circle of Christians who are connected by church sympathies with their authors. We presume, therefore, that these two volumes will not be extensively used by Presbyterians and Congregationalists. They seem to be carefully written and to give evidence of study.

*Notes, Practical and Expository, on the Gospels; for the use of Bible Classes, Sunday School Teachers, Catechists and Other Pious Laymen. By Rev. CHARLES H. HALL, D.D., Rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Brooklyn, N. Y. In Two Volumes. Vol. I. New York: Hurd & Houghton. 1871. 12mo, pp. 429. Commentary on the New Testament. Intended for Popular Use. By D. D. WHEDON, LLD. Vol. III. Acts-Romans. New York: Carlton & Lanahan. 1871. 12mo, pp. 402.

Dr. Whedon is quite prominent in his own church, and his books contain the views and arguments of his church in the case of controverted passages. His commentary on the Epistle to the Romans has the merit of brevity-if that be a merit-as well of clearness of statement. He has evidently examined the Epistle with care, and has considered the views of able modern writers. Dr. Hall's volume will be of service to those who use it.

DIATESSARON.*-This little volume, by Rev. Dr. Gardiner, who has recently become known to the public through his "Harmonies of the Gospels" in Greek and English, is a Life of Christ in the language of the New Testament. It is, in other words, a presentation of the history of Jesus' life in a connected and continuous form, by arranging the Gospel narratives in the order which the plan of the Harmonies would suggest. The book is, of course, an unpretending one, but it will be found very convenient for all who wish to have the story thus before their eyes, and to find the parts of the narrative, which are given by the different Evangelists, located in their proper place and order as related to one another. The author has deviated from the ordinary text, and from the language of the English version, only in rare instances, and where a change seemed to be clearly required.

MEMORIES OF PATMOS.-The name of the author is itself a guaranty for the spirit and the readableness of this book. It is a series of fervent and devout meditations, twenty-five in number, on the Apocalypse, and these are grouped in three parts:-" the things seen, or the opening vision, with Christ's charges to the seven churches,"-"the things which are,' or Christ with his Church universal on earth," and "the things which shall be hereafter,' or Christ in heaven ruling his Church militant and triumphant." The preface shows the limits which the author has prescribed to himself, from reverence as well as caution. He expressly disclaims "the design of becoming a volunteer in the ranks of prognosticators and soothsayers," and still more "of claiming

*Diatessaron. The Life of our Lord; in the words of the Gospels. By FREDERICK GARDINER, D.D., Professor in the Berkeley Divinity School. Andover: Warren F. Draper. 1871. 16mo, pp. 259.

+ Memories of Patmos; or some of the great words and visions of the Apocalypse. By J. R. MACDUFF, D. D. New York: Robert Carter & Brothers. 1871. 12mo, pp. 353.

the ultimate solution and fulfillment of any part of the ambiguous symbolism of the Book in those tragic events which, while the present pages are passing through the press, have been convulsing the nations." "He undertakes to expound or defend formally and systematically no one of the varied prophetic theories, be they 'historical,' 'preterist' or 'futurist,' which divide apocalyptic expositors." Yet he finds, in the descriptions and testimonies furnished by the Revelator's visions, enough less debatable materials for edifying thought and for encouragement to all believers. "The great words and visions" selected are "mainly from the opening and closing chapters." Without being in the form of a commentary, the work shows careful study of the language, with the use of approved recent helps. The style is animated, and the method fitted to arrest attention and leave salutary impressions.-We notice on p. 44 the phrase, “ In their midst," which (as also “ midst ") has been complained of as an Americanism. Worcester gives it as "of recent introduction," but cites Ec. Rev. and J. Montgomery for authorities.

our

THE SEALS OPENED.*-The author takes the ground that the Apocalypse was written by John the Apostle, near the end of his life and after the overthrow of Jerusalem. His summary of the arguments in support of these positions is brief, but clear and forcible. He adopts the general plan of interpretation which has been more commonly received by evangelical commentators, following Newman and Newton; but does not attempt to determine the events foretold so minutely as some of his predecessors. He supposes the opening of the seven seals to foretell the progress of Christianity and the persecutions attending it to the time of Constantine; the seventh seal, however, indicates in brief all that the trumpets more fully disclose, and declares the final triumph of the Church. The trumpets foretell the overthrow of the Eastern and Western Empire, the rise and conquests of the Mohammedan power, and the corruption of the Church under the Papacy. The two witnesses, prophesying in sackcloth, are the faithful in the dark ages; their death is the seeming triumph of the Romish Church in suppressing their testimony; their resurrection is the Protestant Reformation. In respect to the three days (years)

* The Seals Opened; or, the Apocalypse explained. By ENOCH POND, D.D., Professor in the Theological Seminary, Bangor. Portland: Hoyt, Fogg, and Breed. 1871. 16mo, pp. 240, with a portrait of the author.