Keito Unlock the Bible. By Joseph Agar Beet, D D.
(LT.& se. 6d.)—Professor Beet, whose place among the best exegetical writers of the day is assured, gives us here an excellent summary of Biblical knowledge. He states conclusions rather than argu- ments. The compass, of his volume makes any other course impossible. He has, then, to be trusted by his readers. But he is so sane and cautious, and withal so obviously determined to be honest, that such trust is well deserved. We hail the publica- tion of the book by the Religious Tract Society as an omen of good; it distinctly breaks with the unreasoning conservatism which is still dominant in too large a region of Christian thought- The concession, for instance, that the book of Daniel, as we now have it, is much later than its apparent date is important. It is of no very great importance in itself, but it implies much. We do not, indeed, agree with all Professor Beet's views. " The chief interest of prophecy is with unfulfilled predictions" is, for instanceta questionable statement. Surely the chief interest lies in the enunciation of great moral and religious principles. The man who looks deep into the meaning of the past and present will often see much of the future, but his main function is to appreciate the meaning of what is going on about him. Rigid views on the fulfilment of predictions contradict the doctrine of human freedom. That doctrine forbids us to believe in an abso- lutely fixed future which can be definitely foretold.
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