are like a platform in a political contest-a thing which the most earnest men will be most apt to frame, as setting forth clearly the truth for which they are contending. Men may bid us "fall back on the great Scriptural expressions," as some would have us quiet the present agitations of the country by carrying out the Constitution; but the all-important question is, what does the Constitution, what do the "great Scriptural expressions," mean? and in the determining of this question, which the very necessities of the struggle force upon us, we find ourselves with a creed almost before we are aware. The Saviour is Divine, or he is not; there is a punishment of sin which shall endure forever, or there is not. The great Scriptural expressions mean the one thing or the other, here and elsewhere, and, according as we decide each point, we have-there is no help for it—a creed, and on every vital point that creed must be distinct, or else we are uncertain what it is which we are struggling for, and the "uncertain combatant must sooner or later lose courage and give way. We believe, as strongly as our author does, not only that there are multitudes of narrow-minded advocates of creeds, in the world, but also that they do the cause of Christ much harm; but we fear, on the other side, that much of our so-called liberality and large-mindedness tend directly toward the destruction of all earnest faith and life. But we willingly turn from this point, in dwelling upon which we may have implied what we would not charge upon the writer of this volume, in order that we may join our voice with his in all the earnestness with which he would urge the student to come directly to the Gospels themselves, as the best preventive against both bigotry and unbelief; in all the earnestness also, with which he would bid him attempt the understanding of the truth, as well as the removal of his doubts, by a prayerful study of the Word, and a careful cultivation of piety in the heart. "He who studies our Saviour's precepts about prayer" (see Introduction to the volune) and never prays, can have even intellectually but a meager idea of the subject. He who studies the great law of preeminence among His disciples, will make poor work with the doctrine, until he has sought to realize it in himself, not only by an outward show of obedience, but an inward subjection of his whole nature to its spirit." "We must read the gospels for practical guidance, and, seeking to give ourselves up entirely to their instructions by prayer, by humility of heart, by a warmer charity towards others, by more faithful and obedient lives, with the help which God will * certainly give us, if we seek it thus, in our renovated affections, and the deeper, purer life of the soul, we shall find the faith, and with it the inward tranquillity and repose which we crave." OWEN'S COMMENTARIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN.*-The publication of this volume, which is the third in the proposed series of Dr. Owen, has been anxiously waited for by many admirers of his former commentaries. We feel sure that none will be disappointed, now that it has appeared. Especially for the teachers of Bible Classes and Sunday Schools, it will be found extremely useful; indeed, we hardly know of any more valuable works for such persons, which are to be met with anywhere. The libraries of ministers also, and students, will be enriched by the addition of such volumes as this, and we gladly receive it as a new contribution to the literature connected with this gospel, the unfolding of whose meaning is a thing which must always call forth the gratitude of the church. STIER'S WORDS OF THE LORD JESUS.t-The seventh and eighth volumes of this commentary (bound as one) have been received within the past few weeks, and thus we have the whole work republished in this country. These two volumes contain "The Words of the Passion," and "The Words of the Risen and Ascending Lord." In their general characteristics they resemble closely the earlier portions of the book, of which, a somewhat extended notice was given in the New Englander for May of the present year. To that notice, therefore, we may refer our readers, while we recommend all of them who may be devoted, in any measure, to the study of the New Testament, to purchase all the volumes, and examine them for themselves. THE REVELATION ITS OWN INTERPRETER.―The author of this little volume, which will abundantly repay any one for the time spent in reading it, endeavors to show not only that commentators generally * A Commentary, Critical, Expository, and Practical, on the Gospel of John, By JOHN J. OWEN, D. D. New York: Leavitt & Allen. 1860. pp. 502. 12mo. The Words of the Lord Jesus. By RUDOLPH STIER, Doctor of Theology, &c. Translated by the Rev. William B. Pope, of London. Nine volumes bound in five. 8vo. Philadelphia: Smith, English & Co. 1859-60. The Revelation of John its own Interpreter in virtue of the Double Version in which it is delivered. By JOHN COCHRAN. New York: D. Appleton & Company. 1860. 12mo. pp. 350. have failed in any proper measure to understand the Revelation, but also what is the cause of this failure. This, however, he does in what is the best way, perchance, in all cases, namely, by opening what he thinks a new and better course himself. He begins with setting forth the difference between figurative and symbolic language, and the fact that this prophecy is of the symbolic class. Belonging to this class, it is to be explained in accordance with all the rules of this peculiar language, as well as in accordance with those special characteristics, which are found in the similar prophecies of the Old Testament Scriptures. To the full development of these two points a very considerable portion of the book is devoted. This development, which is, of course, necessary as the foundation for his subsequent argument and application, is carried forward with a good deal of skill, and we cannot but feel that he justifies himself in the charges which, here and there, he brings against those who, disregarding all plan, have discovered all manner of things in the prophecy-now making the language literal, now figurative, now symbolic or allegorical. But the two things on which he most insists, are that the prophetic allegory is everywhere given in a reduplicated version and a quaternal form. At great length he shows that the prophets of the earlier times, Daniel and Zechariah, carefully follow out both these rules, while a distinct declaration is given in Gen. xli, 32, that the double version is "a feature of symbolical representation." The double version in the case of the Revelation is most manifest, the dividing point between the two parts being at chap. viii, ver. 1, where, immediately after the opening of the seventh seal, it is said that there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. The opening of the seventh seal thus opens the reduplication of the first six seals-that is, the second version of the whole prophecy, which was a seven-sealed book. The quaternary or fourfold structure is seen in both parts; in the four horsemen of the first four seals, and in the woman, the dragon, the ten-horned and the two-horned beasts of the twelfth and thirteenth chapters. Since now there must be a unity of design in the prophecy, for this also is a characteristic of the entire symbolic class, it follows that the double version must contribute greatly toward making the prophecy its own interpreter, and that the interpretation which is suggested, if found to adapt itself to both developments of the quaternal structure and to all the points in which the one version answers to the other, will commend itself almost irresistibly as the true The whole argument is presented with much ingenuity, and the volume is evidently the result of a careful examination of the subject in all its parts. As it is almost impossible, however, to set forth, in as few words as the space now at our command will allow, either the course or the strength of the reasoning, we will only add that the author regards the "Revelation as having reference to political dominions and events, and to these alone; the four dominions represented in the quaternary structure of the allegory being the kingdom of God, the Roman Empire, the Roman Papacy, and the Romish church, the first of these being in conflict with the other three and even oppressed for an appointed season, but at last, after the judgments and destruction inflicted upon them, becoming finally triumphant and fully established. The glorious visions of the twenty-first and twenty-second chapters, thus, according to his view, are visions only of the divine glory of the kingdom in this world, and of that peace which the church shall enjoy on earth after its warfare with these three great adversaries shall come to its end. NAST'S COMMENTARY ON THE NEW TESTAMENT.*-We have received the first two numbers of this excellent commentary, which we announced to our readers in our last number. It is very handsomely printed in large 8vo., and sent in monthly numbers of sixty-four pages each, to subscribers, at thirty cents per number, postage free. It meets with entire favor from all who have examined it, and is destined, we hope, to a very wide circulation among intelligent Germans, and American students who read the German language. GAGE'S TRINITARIAN SERMONS TO UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONS. — These sermons were preached to a Unitarian congregation by the author, while his mind was passing through a period of change in his theological opinions. The result of his inquiries and reflections was that he reached the distinctive peculiarities of the evangelical system. One element of interest in this volume arises from the circumstance that each of the discourses represents a stadium in the spiritual progress of the author. He did not remain silent till he had completed the entire cycle of these mental experiences, but as soon as he had adopted new or altered views in regard to a single doctrine, he proclaimed the result to his congregation. We have in these sermons a continuous * Kritisch-praktischer Commenter über das Neue Testament. Von WILHELM NAST, Doctor der Theologie. Cincinnati: Verlag von A. Poe & L. Hitchcock. + Trinitarian Sermons Preached to a Unitarian Congregation. duction on the Unitarian Failure. By Rev. WILLIAM L. GAGE. P. Jewett & Co. 1859. 16mo. pp. 153. With an Intro- history of the mental and moral processes through which the author was feeling his view to a more consistent and better established faith. Aside from the ability of the sermons themselves, they have the freshness and individuality of interest that arises from this cause. Again, these sermons, though Trinitarian in their import, were addressed to a Unitarian congregation, and by one who knew full well the objections, prejudices, and real difficulties that embarrass the minds of such, even in the most unprejudiced and earnest search after truth. To this peculiar condition of his audience, these discourses are adapted, with the various suggestions, explanations and concessions which were dictated by an earnest love of the truth and earnest desire to commend it to his hearers. From these features and the general freshness and versatility of the author's handling of his themes, the volume may be characterized as of more than common interest to all classes of readers, and especially fitted to benefit such as constituted the audience for which it was originally prepared. FULLER'S SERMONS.*-This volume contains thirteen sermons, each long enough, we suppose, to occupy an hour in delivery, with the advantage of readable type and respectable mechanical appearance in general. It deserves to be noted how far the taste of the reading public has veered round, of late years, from its former direction; for printed sermons used to be reckoned a drug in the literary market, while now-a-days newspapers, even of a secular sort, find it for their interest to print them often, and publishers issue them in volume after volume. The press does not always wait for the preacher to die or to grow old, but takes advantage of his present popularity to spread such discourses as he may select before a larger community than his voice can reach. Dr. Fuller is the most conspicuous of the southern Baptist preachers, a native of South Carolina, as we learn from the opening of the sixth sermon in this volume, and settled for some years in that state, but now pastor of a Baptist church in Baltimore. A few years since, public attention was drawn to him the more by his controversy with Dr. Wayland, then of Brown University, on the subject of slavery. His eminence in his own denomination, especially at the south, justified this publication, though a like eminence at the north would ensure a larger circle of readers. And the sermons themselves show sufficient *Sermons. By RICHARD FULLER, D. D., of Baltimore. New York: Sheldon & Co. 1860. pp. 384. 12mo. |