20 AUGUST 1864, Page 24

The Genius of the Gospel; a Homiletical Commentary on the

Gospel of St. Matthew. By David Thomas, D.D. Edited by the Rev. W. Webster, M.A. (Jackson, Walford, and Hodder.)—A portly volume of rather common-place exposition, vastly exceeding in length tho Gospel commented on. It is, however, hardly necessary to point out the pecu- liarities of the work, as it is made up of the substance of the writer's sermons, " first spoken from the pulpit and afterwards published in the Homilist from month to month during the last fourteen years." Probably Dr. Thomas has a faithful band of followers for whom his rather pom- pous language and affectation of philosophic depth have charms which we are unable to detect. The spirit of the commentary is good, liberal, and yet orthodox—but all the necessary praise will be found in the in - troduction prefixed by the editor, who has no scruples in laying it on thick.