The Grammar of Prophecy. By R. B Girdlestone, M.A. (Eyre
and Spottiswoode. 6s.)—Canon Girdlestone quotes, by way of conclusion to this treatise, some words written in 1879 by the Rev. Horatius Bonny, and emphasises with italics this sentence : "I feel a vastly greater certainty in reference to the Divine authority and verbal inspiration of the Word of God." This really concludes the argument. If a man of the learning of Canon Girdlestone, who has presumably followed the critical and historical discussion of the last half-century, still holds to verbal inspiration, there is nothing more to be said. As to the special question which is the subject of this volume, it practically follows the same conclusion. Still, there is a peculiar interest in it, and it may be worth while to give a very brief stat ement of the view taken, we believe, by many sober thinkers who heartily accept the "Divine authority" of which Dr. Boner spoke, that pro phecy is essentially a statement of moral truths ; that, as these truths ultimately determine the course of events, powers that deny them falling, and powers that acknowledge them enduring, the prophet has much insight into the future; but that pre- diction, especially when it fixes exact dates in quite remote periods of time, is impossible, and for this reason among others, that the results of human will, continually influenced as it is by agencies good and bad, cannot be predicted as can an eclipse ; that in this sense there is no future to be predicted, the future depending upon when men and nations aceept or refuse the divine guiding that is offered to them. The student may learn much from this volume, but he will not do well, we venture to think, to accept all its premissea.—Side Lights on the Bible, by Mrs. Brightwen (R.T.S., 2s ), is an interesting collection of observations of the social life, the industries, the animal life, the vegetation of the East, and of other kindred matters. —Notes on the History and Text of Our Early English Bible, by George Leader Owen (Simpkin and Marshall, 5s. net), is a collection of a number of facts as to versions, old and new, of the Bible, beginning with the Septuagint. Attention is chiefly given, as the title indicates, to English translations. It is not easy to see the principle on which Mr. Owen has arranged his facts, but that they are worth noting and studying cannot be doubted. --The Child and the Prayer-Book, by John Dickenson, BA. (Church of England Sunday School Institute, is. 6d.), is a series of lessons, one for every Sunday in the year, on the services of the Church.
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