24 MAY 1873, Page 23

Essentials of New-Testament Study. By W. E. Little wood, M.A.

(Long- mans.)—This is a very complete book of its kind. A brief account of the MSS. of the New Testament, and of each writer, with the special and distinguished characteristics of his book or books, is followed by a harmony of the Evangelists and a Chronology of the Acts. Then comes a "Dictionary of Difficulties," wherein such passages as "the woman ought to have power on her head, because of the angels," are discussed with much learning and good. sense. After this, we have a "List of Words in the Authorised Version which have become Obsolete," "A Dictionary of Biography and Geography," and "A List of Quotations from the Old. Testament." All these appear to be very well executed. We may be inclined to doubt whether in the harmony Mr. Littlswood does not strain the sense of the documents which he seeks to reconcile. But then the writers whom he follows have done the same, and doubt- less familiarity with the process is regarded. as "one of the essentials of New-Testament Study." Mr. Littlewood is, anyhow, more candid than some. He does not attempt to reconcile the genealogies, or the two accounts of the end of Judas. An index would be an improvement to the book, which, indeed, deserves to be made as complete as possible.