20 NOVEMBER 1909, Page 13

Studies in the Old Testament. By George Jackson, RA. (Robert

Culley. 3s. 6c1. net.)—Those " studies " are a reproduction of lectures which Mr. Jackson gave to the students—the general, not theological, students—of an American University. He prefaces them by a frankly expressed acknowledgment of the benefits of the Higher Criticism. He does not believe that Genesis is a scientific cosmogony, or that the story of Jonah is fact; but this does not trouble him, does not interfere with his general faith. Books of this kind axe always welcome. We are glad to see, in particular, that he pronounces against the use of some at least of the imprecatory Psalms. "One would imagine," he writes, "that to many of our brethren, both clergy and laity, in the Anglican Church it would be a great relief to be delivered from the necessity" of using them. At the same time, he protests against the exaggerated language used about these things. After all, there are instances of humanity in the Old Testament which cannot be matched in ancient literature; Elisha's dealing with the Syrian captives is one.