THEOLOGY.—The (Ecumenical Documents of the Faith. Edited by T. Herbert
Bindley. (Methuen and Co. 680—Mr. Bindley gives us here, for the use of students, in the first place, and for other readers interested in the subject, the text of a number of documents which are more frequently mentioned than seen. These are "The Creed of Nictea," with other symbols, both earlier and later; the "Epistles of Cyril" ; the "Tome of Leo " ; the "Chalcedonian Definition of the Faith." Notes are added, and a translation of some of the documents, when this additional help appears to be wanted.—it Short History of the Ckurch in Great Britain. By the Rev. W. H. Hutton. (Rivingtons. s. 6c1.)—Mr. Hutton has written a good book, which all who occupy the same standpoint will be able to praise without reservation, and which those who differ even seriously from him may read with pleasure and profit. We think that in some points he is seriously mistaken. In the case of Laud something—it may be the filial piety of a." Fellow of St. John the Baptist's College "—seems to have blinded him, One would think, from his account of the Archbishop, that he was absolutely blameless and wise. We do not care to discuss again this much vexed question, but it is quite certain that Land's regime raised against the Anglican Church the fiercest hatred that it ever has encountered. To touch on another but cognate subject, it is not quite exact to say that Isaac Casaubon was "a convert from foreign Protestantism." The treatment accorded to the great Frenchman when he came here did not imply that be was a heretic or schismatic who was to be reconciled.— Pulpit Points from Latest Literature, By J. F. Ii. Tenbury. (Hodder and Stoughton. 5s.)—We do not much like these devices for furnishing ready-made illustrations for the pulpit. Let preachers find them for themselves, and not prepare themselves for the pulpit as a diner-out furbishes up his jokes from Memoirs and other books of the kind. Still, we acknowledge that such volumes have a use. " Best of all," says Hesiod, "is he who himself discerns all things, and next to him the man who learns from others." —A series of "New Testament Handbooks" (Macmillan and Co., 16s.) has been projected under the editorship of Professor Shailer Matthews, who holds the chair of New Testament Divinity at Chicago. Two of the volumes are now before us,— The History of New Testament Times in Palestine, by the Editor, and A History of the Textual Criticism of the New Testament, by Marvin R. Vincent, D.D. Professor Matthews's historical sum- mary of the period included in his book will be found useful. In his first chapter he rapidly summarises the history of Palestine from Alexander down to the early part of the second century B.C. Chaps. 2 and 3 are given to the tyranny of Antiochus and the resistance of the Maccabees. In fact, the term "New Testament Times" is taken in a very wide sense. We do not, as a matter of fact, reach even Archelaus till we are considerably more than half-way through the book. We do not complain. The first half- century of the Christian era cannot be understood without going back. The history of the Pharisees, for instance, is unintelligible unless we trace their genealogy to the Chasidim of the Maccabean time, Professor Vincent's book on New Testament criticism is a most careful performance. The wr'i'er does not conceal his preference for the new criticism. He has no sympathy with the obstinate conservatism of Burgon, and thinks Scrivener too re- luctant to move onwards. But he is opposed to rashness ; nor does he hesitate to suggest a doubt whether Westcott and Hort did not somewhat outrun their authorities. A more convenient handbook of the subject it would not be easy to find.
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