The Book of the Prophet Isaiah, translated from the original Hebrew ; with a Commentary, critical, philological, and exegetical. To which is prefixed an introductory Dissertation on the Life and Times of the Prophet, the Character of his Style, the Authenticity and Integrity of his Book, and the Principles of Prophetical Interpretation. By the Rev. E. HENDERSON, D.D., Author of "Lectures on Divine Inspiration," etc., etc. Second Edition. London: Hamilton and Co. 1857. 8vo. pp. 520.

WE are glad, on two accounts, to have to present to our readers a new edition of Dr. Henderson on Isaiah; first, because the fact is an indication that the exegetical study of the Old Testament goes on in England; secondly, because we feel it a pleasing duty to do all honour to the school of native Biblical criticism and interpretation, which has been often unjustly disparaged in comparison with the schools of foreign growth. There is a solid good sense in the character of the English mind which makes its productions more safe than those of our continental neighbours; provided, only, that the results of the learned researches of the latter are not despised or disregarded, but carefully laid under contribution for our benefit. That Dr. Henderson sees the importance of combining the labours of all scholars with his own, will appear by the following extract from his Preface:

While, in this country, our prophet has been comparatively neglected, the critics of Germany have subjected his book to rigid processes of philological and exegetical investigation. The Scholia of the younger Rosenmüller, and the commentaries of Gesenius, Hitzig, and Hendewerk, though lamentably abounding with infidel sentiments, far surpass anything of the kind hitherto published, viewed as works of pure criticism and sources of appeal for successful interpretation. This remark applies especially to the two first;-to Rosenmüller, on account of the copiousness with which he exhibits the views of ancient and modern writers, and the acumen which he generally displays in arriving at his conclusions; and to Gesenius, on account of his accurate knowledge of etymological and syntactical niceties of the Hebrew language, his judicious use of the cognate dialects, his profound historical and geographical research, and his careful investigation of the difficulties which lay in his path.'

In reference to this second edition, the author says that, "the work, as a whole, remains substantially the same, though it contains a few additions derived from more modern research, and such slight alterations as I have deemed absolutely needful." This, we think, is satisfactory; though some of our contemporaries have complained that Dr. Henderson has not made more use of the recent Assyrian discoveries. But there is great danger in being too hasty in disturbing current opinions on Biblical subjects by every new discovery. Not until such novelties have attained some scientific certainty should they be exalted to the place of aids to Biblical exegesis; and the writer of a commentary, who avails himself of the results of modern activity, whether in philology or antiquities, with precipitation, will not only sometimes do harm to the truth, but also be compelled, with shame, to retrace his steps.

We consider Dr. Henderson's works on the Holy Scriptures, now

extending over the whole of the Prophets, as forming a noble monument of his piety and erudition, and we commend them to the notice of such of our readers as are not yet acquainted with them.

Analecta Nicæna: Fragments relating to the Council of Nice. The Syriac Text from an ancient MS. in the British Museum. With a Translation, Notes, etc. By B. HARRIS COWPER. London: Williams and Norgate. 1857. 4to. pp. 42.

MR. COWPER has devoted much time and labour to the study of the Syriac language, some fruits of which have appeared in our pages. He is now editing a Syriac Grammar in English, founded on that of Dr. Hoffman, with additions and exercises; and we feel sure that his longcontinued researches among the Syriac MSS. in the British Museum have added to his competency for such a task. The work before us is lithographed from the author's copy of the MS., portions of which are here printed for the first time. The "Fragments" are twelve in number:-1. A letter of Constantine, summoning the Bishops from Ancyra to Nice. This has long been regarded as lost, and is affirmed actually to be so by Hefele, in his Conciliengeschichte.-2. The Decree of Constantine against the Arians.-3. The Nicene Creed.-4. The Creed of Constantinople.-5. The names of the Bishops who subscribed the Nicene Creed.-6. Title of the Nicæan Canons.-7. The Colophon of a Book of the Canons.-8, 9. Two fragments referring to the Council of Nice.-10 and 11. Canons VI, and VIII. of the Council of Nice.12. The subscription to the letter from the Bishop of Rome to the Bishop of Constantinople, written in A.D. 452, or less than fifty years before the date of the Syriac MS.

It will be at once seen that considerable interest attaches to these Fragments, and the notes and illustrations of Mr. Cowper much enhance their value.

A Manual of the whole Scripture History, and of the History of the Jews, between the periods of the Old and New Testaments: including Notices of Biblical Antiquities and Geography, Oriental Manners and Customs, Historical Parallels and Contemporary Events, the Structure and Import of the Jewish Ritual, and a Survey of the Nature and Design of the successive Dispensations, Patriarchal, Mosaic, and Christian. With Questions for Examination. For the use of Schools and Families. By the Rev. J. E. RIDDLE, M.A., Incumbent of St. Philip's, Leckhampton. London: Longman and Co. 1857. 18mo. pp. 464.

THIS book belongs to a class of works demanding great labour, and of the very highest value to students of the Scriptures, which yet procure for their authors only the credit of careful compilation. Men like Mr. Riddle are true benefactors to their generation, in being thus willing to labour in a good cause, and to find their reward in doing

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good. The long title we have quoted gives a pretty fair idea of the contents of the book, which shews extensive knowledge of Biblical subjects, and great discrimination in selecting them and grouping them together. Having taken the pains to look carefully through the volume, we are able to bear testimony that it is well able to carry out the purposes for which the author designed it. Mr. Riddle says, "My chief aim has been to provide a Manual for the use of our middle and higher schools; but I trust that the design and contents of this history will be found to include also much that may commend it to the attention of students in our universities, candidates for sacred ministry, and other intelligent readers. I may add, that the construction of the book renders it available for use either as a Class Reading Book, as a Book of Exercises, as a Manual for superintendents of Bible classes, and other Biblical teachers, or as a work for private perusal."

The Sabbath made for Man; or, the Origin, History, and Principles of the Lord's Day. By the Rev. MICAIAH HILL. London: Shaw. 1857. 12mo. pp. 532.

THIS work obtained a prize, out of many competitors, offered by the Evangelical Alliance. It will be found to advocate opinions on the Sabbath nearly the same as those fully defended in our present number. The divisions are as follows:-"God and the Sabbath, Moses and the Sabbath, Christ and the Sabbath, the Apostles and the Sabbath, Christianity and the Sabbath, Morality and the Sabbath, the Physiology of the Sabbath, Hallowing the Lord's-day, Historical Survey of the Sabbath, Sabbath Observances and Sunday Desecration in Europe and America.'

1. The New Testament Translated. Part the First: The Gospel by St. Matthew; the Epistle to the Romans. By the Rev. T. S. GREEN, M.A. London: Bagsters. 1857. 8vo. pp. 100. 2. The English Bible, and our Duty with regard to it. With an Appendix, containing a Concordance of the most important terms in the New Testament, compared with the original Greek, adapted to the English reader. By PHILALETHES. Dublin: Mc Glashan and Gill. 1857. 8vo. pp. 50.

3. Revised English Version of the Holy Scriptures, by the American Bible Union. I, and II. Thessalonians, p. 49 to end. London: Trübner. 1857. 4to.

THREE more publications called forth by the present movement regarding the revision of the English Bible. Mr. Green is well known as a Biblical scholar, and his emendations ought to have some weight. But he has given no reason for his changes, except in a very few instances; and this will, we fear, make the work less interesting to most readers. Philalethes writes sensibly, and contributes some materials for the

settlement of the question he discusses. On the labours of the American Bible Union we have more than once expressed an opinion, and given our readers opportunities of judging for themselves.

The Paragraph Bible in separate Books, with Marginal Renderings, Introductions, Alphabetical Indices, and numerous Maps. Complete in Four Volumes. London: Bagsters. 12mo.

THIS edition of the Holy Scriptures is now complete, and we embrace the opportunity of speaking in praise of the whole work, as we have done more than once of the separate parts. The type is large and clear, the paper good, and the whole execution leaves nothing to be desired. Nothing critical and nothing novel is to be looked for in this edition of the Bible, as far as the contents are concerned; but the shape in which it has been brought out will tend, we feel sure, to make it highly useful. For the sick bed the separate portions are invaluable. Messrs. Bagster will not increase their fame as publishers of learned works by these volumes, but they will do more-they will, in an humble and unostentatious manner, administer the bread of life to thousands of the members of Christ's flock.

An Analytical Index to the Four Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, designed to facilitate the study of those books. By WILLIAM STROUD, M.D. London: Judd and Glass. 1857. 12mo. pp. 80.

THE labours of Dr. Stroud on the Greek text of the New Testament were proved to be abundant and practical, by the publication of A Harmony of the Four Gospels in Greek. This circumstance necessarily disposes us to attach a value to the little work before us, which, although small, is the result of much close study of the evangelists. What is designed by the author we will allow him to explain in his own words:

"The following Analytical Index to the Four Gospels comprehends the whole of their contents, divided, according to the nature of the subject, into parts, sections, and paragraphs; and arranged, as far as can be ascertained, in the order of time. That order is very generally observed by the evangelists themselves, except in the middle portions of the gospels of St. Matthew and St. Luke, where, for the purpose of restoring it, much transposition conducted on strict principles has been practised, with great advantage to the connection and perspicuity of the narrative, and without any disparagement to the sacred writers, who doubtless had good reasons for the more devious course which they pursued. Each portion of the Index is headed by a short description, and a reference to its source, whether in one or more gospels; but, in order to avoid undue prolixity, the ultimate analysis of a good many of the paragraphs is left to be completed by the reader. More than half the united text of the four gospels consists of peculiarities, or passages furnished by a single evangelist, and the remainder of concordances, or passages common to two or more evangelists; and in the synopsis here presented, these two classes of passages are to a considerable extent distinguished. The several gospels differ much in this respect; St. John's gospel consisting almost entirely of peculiarities, and St. Mark's of concordances. In the two other gospels these constituents are more equally divided;

the peculiarities, however, predominating in St. Luke, and the concordances in St. Matthew. Supposing the whole amount of each gospel to be expressed by the number 100, the proportion of peculiarities in St. John's gospel would be denoted by 92, in St. Luke's by 59, in St. Matthew's by 42, and in St. Mark's by 7; the remainders from 100 representing, of course, their respective concordances. These details serve to confirm the explanations previously offered respecting the origin of the four gospels, and to furnish satisfactory reasons for their number, the order of their publication, the character of their contents and omissions, and the extent of their resemblances and diversities; circumstances which, without such explanations, are apt to perplex the conscientious student of the New Testament, and to strengthen the objections of the sceptic."

Modern Anglican Theology: chapters on Coleridge, Hare, Maurice, Kingsley, and Jowett, and on the Nature of the Atonement. By the Rev. JAMES RIGG. London: Heylin. 1857. 12mo. pp. 404. SOME of the chapters of this volume have appeared as essays in the London Quarterly Review, where they were considered to be productions above par, both as to information, and the taste and style of the author. Mr. Rigg belongs to the Wesleyan denomination, and this fact rather incapacitates him for taking the most enlarged views of the Church of England, whose theological writers he subjects to a keen criticism. The great fault found by Wesleyans with Southey's Life of Wesley was, that he was too much outside the community founded by the subject of his biography to do justice to its aims and motives. The same may be said of Mr. Rigg in relation to the Church of England; his stand-point giving him only partial glimpses and disproportionate measurements of some of the topics he writes upon. With this exception, his volume is highly interesting. He has published a most readable book, conveying solid matter for reflection in a pleasing style.

Life in Israel; or, Portraitures of Hebrew Character. By MARIA T. RICHARDS, author of Life in Judæa. Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark. 1857. 12mo. pp. 382.

THE accomplished authoress of this beautiful volume endeavours to give interest to the narrations of the Old Testament, by uniting their scattered portion with a web of fiction. The tales are highly interesting, and young persons will have the localities, persons, and events of Bible history more deeply fixed in their memory, if they read this volume with that object in view. There is some danger, however, as in the case of all historical novels, of the fiction occupying the whole field of vision, to the neglect of the real and true.

The Book of Jonah: illustrated by Discoveries at Nineveh. By the Rev. P. S. DESPREZ, B.D. London: Judd and Glass, 1857. 18mo. pp. 133.

In this little work, Mr. Desprez has taken some pains to present in a popular form the results of the discoveries at Nineveh, so far as they