LENTEN BOOKS.
A Help to the Spiritual Interpretation of the Penitential Psalms By A. B. Baily-Browne. (Longmans and Co. is. net.)— Thoughts on the Penitential Psalms. By Ethel Romanes. (Riving- tons. 2s. net.)—The first of these little manuals, which has a commendatory preface by Canon Body, consists of extracts from Neale and Littledale's Commentary. That Commentary contains everything of value written upon the Psalms by the ancient Fathers, and the admirable judgment with which it was put together has long been recognised. The extracts here given are chosen with discretion. The second book, prefaced by Canon H. S. Holland, contains original meditations, as well as occasional passages from Neale. It recognises, as the other often does not, the real sense of the verses, and draws upon modern illustrations- Thus, while Mrs. Bally- Browne is compelled to explain Psalm xxxii. 7 by "If they procrastinate their repentance till in tho time of the great waterfilods of extreme tribulation and death, they shall not be enabled to draw nigh Him at the last," Mrs. Romanes is enabled to quote the Revised Version : " Surely when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach unto him." One of the happiest quotations in this little volume, and they include not a few passages from Danfe, Browning, and other poets, is Louis Stevenson's "Celestial Surgeon," quoted (and with an accurate sense of its full import) on "Quicken me, 0 Lord." The meditations themselves are suggestive, and suitable for their purpose ; one on Psalm Ii. 5, "Behold I was shapen in wickedness "—a protest against pleading heredity as an excuse for sin—has something of the trenchancy of William Law.
Previous page
