SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.
[Under this heading we notice such Books of the week es have not ion reserved for review in other forms.] God and the Sinner. By J. Denton Thompson. (Longmans and Co. 2s. 6d. net.)—This is the second edition, partly re-written and enlarged, of a work originally published some seven years ago. We gladly take the opportunity of saying a few words. It deals with the Parable of the Prodigal Son, treating in twelve chapters (including the introduction). It is a plain, practical exposition of some of the great principles of religion. It is as little controversial, as simply addressed to the heart and conscience, as possible. We would especially recommend to the notice of our readers chapters vii. and viii., in which the
symbolism of the reconciliation is dealt with, the robe, the ring the sandals are treated. The only fault we find with it is what is said of the elder son. After all, the man's irritation was not without some justification. Why had he not been sent for? Possibly, it has been suggested, because he was a " But we must not venture to draw such an inference. The fact is that the parable has one single purpose—the blessing of recovering the lost. The father is so delighted with the recovery of one of whom he had given up all hope that he forgets everything. All this is very human; we are apt to lose this humanity when we draw out all the details in a theological treatise. Surely there is a note of apology in what the father says to the elder son. This is difficult to fit in with a theological appreciation, but it intensifies the significance of the parable. Everything, even justice, is forgotten in the delight of recovering the lost.
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