DIVINITY.—A new volume of The Pulpit Commentary, edited by the
Rev. Canon Spence and the Rev. Joseph S. Exell (Kegan Paul, Trench, and Co.), gives "The Epistle to the Hebrews," the " Exposition " being furnished by the Rev. J. Barmby, D.D., "Homiletics" by the Rev. C. Jerdan, and sermons by Messrs. W. Jones, C. New, D. Young, and J. S. Bright ; and the " Epistle General of Sc. James," which has been treated by the Rev. E. C. S. Gibson ("Exposition" and " Homi- letics "). The sermons are furnished by the Rev. C. Jerdan and Rev. T. F. Lockyer. The work continues to maintain its character as a careful and thorough study of Scripture.—An Historico-Critical Inquiry into the Origin and Composition of the Hexateuch. By A. Kuenen. Translated from the Dutch by Philip H. Wicksteed, M.A. (Macmillan.)—An exceedingly interesting introduction reviews the course of criticism on the Pentateuch and Joshua during the last quarter of a century. The "advanced" theory about I SGO was that an editor of the later Monarchy reduced to their present form the first four books of the Pentateuch and Joshua, and added Deuter- onomy. The former he received from the "Yahviat," a writer of the eighth century. The " Yahvist " had based his work on the "Book of Origins," dating from the reign of Solomon, and in the "Book of Origins" there were Mosaic fragments. Professor Kuenen now occupies a very different position. He considers the ritual of the first four books to be post-Deuteronomic. As to the " Book of Origins," be believes that its historical character was annihilated by Colenso, on whose criticism, indeed, he bestows high praise. We can- not examine Professor Kuenen's conclusions, but we may give some of them as specimens of his critical results. The "Blessing of Moses" cannot have been written till some time in the reign of Jeroboam II. The " Song of Moses " appears to belong to the Chaldtean period. Part of the "Song of Balaam" belongs to the seventh century B.C. It will be understood that it is an axiom with Professor Kuenen, as with his school generally, that the allusion to an event must be of later date than the event. Here, of course, the orthodox join issue with him. But the orthodox he does not so much as mention.—Biblical Essays. By C. H. Hamilton Wright, M.A. (T. and T. Clark.)—Mr. Wright's first essay aims at giving a general view of the meaning and purpose of the Book of Job. The second discusses the Book of Jonah. We understand the sub- stance of the argument to be that while the miraculous occurrences are not bars to the credibility of the book, the probability is that it is an allegory. A third essay deals with Ezekiel's prophecy of Gog and Magog. We may quote a passage which seems to sum up its genera/ purport :—" Ezekiel does not describe in the prophecy any special foe of Israel who has already appeared, or who is to appear at some future period, whose armies are to be literally armed, overthrown, devoured, and buried in the particular manner described. The prophecy is a sort of allegory, in which a picture is presented of the ultimate ruin and utter overthrow of those enemies who, when Israel is restored to their land, seek for the sake of greed and gain to destroy the people of Jehovah." "The Spirits in Prison" is the subject of the fourth essay ; "The Apocalypse" of the fifth. We may express our respect for the sobriety and candour of Mr. Wright's reasoning, though we do not always find ourselves in agreement with him.—The Book of Joshua : a Critical and Expository Com- mentary on the Hebrew Text. By the Rev. John Lloyd. (Hodder and Stoughton.)—The Story of Jonah the Prophet, by Alexander Raleigh, D.D. (A.. and C. Black), contains a series of lectures. Dr- Raleigh takes the whole as historical. The value of his book is homiletic rather than critical.—From the same author and publisher we may mention Thoughts for the Weary and the Sorrowful.— Nature and the Bible : Lectures on the Mosaic History of Creation in its Relation to Natural Science. By Dr. J. H. Reusch. Translated from the Fourth Edition by Kathleen Lyttelton. 2 vols. (T. and T. Clark.)—These two volumes contain a most elaborate defence of what may be called the orthodox scientific position. They say, in fact, all that can be said ou the subject. Professor Reusch is thoroughly well read in scientific literature, and meets all opp onents on equal terms. The relation of the Mosaic cosmogony to the discoveries of geology, the question of the occurrence of death before the Fall, the descent of man, the mode of creation, spontaneous generation, the Darwinian theory,—all the subjects, in fact, which belong to the great contro- versy are fully discussed in these pages.—We have also received :- Regeneration in Baptism. By the Rev. G. E. O'Brien. (Griffith, Ferran, and Co.)—The Great Commission, by James Russell Woodford, AD., edited by Herbert Mortimer Luckock, D.D. (Rivingtons), a welcome addition to the too scanty remains which one of the most eloquent preachers of the day has left behind him. Dr. Woodford devoted mach thought to making his Ordination Services as impressive and effective as possible, and he introduced some most desirable changes in the arrangements for the admission of candidates into Holy Orders. Dr. Luckock (who was one of his examining chaplains) gives some very interesting testimony on these points. The volume itself con- sists of the discourses with which the Bishop concluded the medita- tions and services of the Ember seasons, times which, by a wise arrangement on his part, were wholly devoted to the spiritual and practical side of ordination.—In the Footsteps of Heroes, and other Sermons. By the late Enoch Mellor, D.D. (Hodder and Stoughton.) —Notes of Sermons preached by the late Bishop Steere. Edited by the Rev. R. W. Heanley. Second Series. (Bell and Sons.)—Progress in Orthodoxy. By the Editor of the Andover Review. (Ward, Lock, and Co.)—The Valiant Woman : Conferences addressed to Ladies Living in the World. By the Archbishop of Rheims. Translated from the French by Alice Wilmot Chetwode. (If. H. Gill and Co., Dublin.)
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