THIOLOGY AND CHURCH HISTOH7.-2'ha Epistle of St. Paul to the
Galatians. Explained by A. W. Robinson, B.D. (Methuen and Co. ls. 6d. net.)—This is the first volume of a proposed series, entitled "The Churchman's Bible," to appear under the general editorship of the Rev. J. H. Burn. If the series as a whole comes up to the standard now set it will do welL Per- haps, too, we may regard the particular Epistle which has been chosen as an augury of good. There are not a few good men who do not seem to have the faintest idea of what St. Paul really meant by this Epistle. When, for instance, an enthusiastic medievalist puts incense among the things which are of the essence of the faith, what can be his attitude of mind towards the teaching of Galatians ? Mr. Robinson's is certainly a most helpful book. Here are samples of his exposition. On ii. 17 18—" But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we our- selves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin ? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed I make myself [out] a transgressor,"—he has :—" Must they admit that Christ had led them astray in leading them to abandon the hope of obtaining God's favour by means of the Law ? Such a thought could not be entertained for a moment. Condemnation must rather fall on one who was guilty—as St. Peter had been—of the inconsistency of reconstructing a structure which he had previously demolished." The man who had eaten with Cornelius, when he withdrew from social intercourse with Antioch Gentiles, did indeed make himself out a transgressor. And here is the explanation of the famous crux, " Now a mediator is not a mediator of one," &c. : " Mediation implies arrangement between contracting parties, whereas in the case of a promise the giver stands apart, single and alone."- " I Believe." By the Bishop of Calcutta. (R.T.S. ls. 6d.)—A sensible, closely reasoned exposition of the Apostles' Creed. "Wherever there is room for belief, there is room for doubt," puts a great truth very forcibly. " An Agnostic does not neces- sarily mean one who does not believe " is also well said. And there are many such things. It is quite astonishing with what freshness and vigour Bishop Welldon puts familiar things.— Christian Marriage : Some Ideals. By J. F. Vallings. (Skeffington and Son. 2s. 6d.)—Here we have some forty odd thoughts and " essayettes." One use that may very properly be made of them is to supply a minister with the materials for an address in place of the Exhortation in the Marriage Service. We cannot acquiesce in all Mr. Vallings's views, and are inclined to think that some need not have been stated. But his book has not a little thought and beauty in it.—Two valuable contributions to Church history are made in two of the publications of the Church Historical Society (S.P.C.K.) Both of these are from the pen of Professor William Edward Collins. These are The Canons of 1571 in English and Latin (6c1.), and Queen Elizabeth s Defence of her Proceedings in Church. and State (Gd.) Professor Collins pre- fixes a brief account of the Northern Rebellion of 1569. He believes, and gives excellent reason for believing (in Pope Pius's letter to the rebel Earls, given in the appendix), that the rebellion was largely brought about by Papal agency, and that the move- ment was a crusade. Queen Elizabeth's " Defence " was called forth by these events. It was not sent forth, and seems to have been printed for the first time by S. Haynes in 1740. It is now given from a copy in the Record Office, with alterations in the Queen's own handwriting. The Queen was fighting for the life and liberty of herself and her country, and this is a highly interesting apologia for her action.
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