The Secret of a Great Influence. By Mrs. Horace Porter.
(Macmillan and Co. 3s. net.)—The sub-title of this book is "Notes on Bishop Westcott's Teaching." The reader, accordingly, has set before him considerations as to the Bishop's ethical and dogmatic teaching,—the central truths of the Incarnation and Resurrection, the Work of the Holy Spirit, and the Atonement being successively taken. Ho then passes to the subject of "Bible Study,"—with reference (1) to difficulties; (2) to the general aspect under which the Bible is to be regarded ; (3) to the general principles and methods of study. The fifth section treats of Bishop Westcott's teaching on " The Christian Church " and "The Christian Creed " ; the sixth is devoted to " Worship," public and private; "Foreign Missions" and a variety of other subjects aro also mentioned ; and finally we have a paper on " Bishop Westcott's Commentaries,' " by the Rev. A. Westcott. We have preferred to describe this book rather than to criticise it. But we would especially indicate our general agreement with the writer's apologia for the Bishop's "obscurity." "No human teacher can make clear divine mysteries," and the peril is great that a writer who seeks to be definite and precise will be narrow and partial. The Bishop, when he had to deal with a practical subject, could go to the point and put things as plainly as any man. The man who conducted the great arbitration that distinguished his tenure of the See of Durham was not really the victim of mental indecision and obscurity.
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