SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.
[Under this heading tee notice such Books of the week as have not bees reserved for review in other forms.] The Life Superlative. By Stopford A. Brooke. (Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons. 6s.)—If we understand the preface, Mr. Stopford Brooke is responsible, not for the appearance of this volume, but for its contents. These are sermons and addresses delivered during his ministry at Bedford Chapel, Bloomsbury, reproduced from manuscript or privately printed copies, and now revised and enlarged by himself. Whatever Mr. Brooke writes will always be read with pleasure. This his literary power ensures. It is quite possible that this particular book may also be read with profit. If it is indeed true that " the spirit of Pharisaism is one of the greatest perils which beset our country," these discourses ought to help us, for they certainly do not flatter. "The one thing conspicuously absent from the politics of England, from her home government, is magnanimity." " England, by its representatives, has little notion of large expenditure for the welfare of the people." Such things are easy to say ; but would it not be well to put them into some concrete shape,—to say what ought to be done, and where we may find examples to imitate ? Two passages we would single out for criticism of another kind. Mr. Brooke enlarges on the words "we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses," and draws a picture of those "who are watching our race." But the words for "cloud of witnesses " are vIpos p.apr6pow. One would expect Oeavar, but the writer seems purposely to avoid it. These heroes of the past are not looking on us, but witness to the greatness of Him who hps been their helper and will be ours. The history of the Church, with its
saint-worship, is a significant commentary on the writer's choice of a word. The other is the remark that "we have no right to keep Good Friday as a day of gloom." Surely we are bound to do so as long as we see about us, and are conscious in ourselves of, the sin that "crucifies the Son of Man afresh."
Previous page
