ARTICLE XI.

NOTICES OF RECENT PUBLICATIONS.

ENGLISH AND AMERICAN WORKS.

THE WORKS OF AURELIUS AUGUSTINE, BISHOP OF HIPPO. A new Translation, Edited by the Rev. Marcus Dods, M.A. Volumes I. and II. The City of God; translated by Rev. Marcus Dods. Volume III. Writings in Connection with the Donatist Controversy; translated by the Rev. J. R. King, M.A., Vicar of St. Peters in the East, Oxford; and late Fellow and Tutor of Merton College, Oxford. Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark; New York: Scribner, Welford, and Armstrong. 1871-72. The history of the doctrines of the church cannot be thoroughly learned without a careful attention to the writings of Augustine. If one will acquaint himself with the forms of religious doctrine and also of Pagan philosophy which prevailed before and during the age of Augustine, and if one, in the light of this antecedent as well as of contemporaneous history, will examine in the original all the works of that Father, and give the results of his study to the world, one will do more than has ever been done yet, more than can be done in any other way, for elucidating the history of doctrines as they have been held since the Augustinian epoch. A young man, intending to devote his days to dogmatic history, can serve his generation far better by devoting them to this fundamental study of the writings of Augustine than by extending his studies over the whole body of patristic literature. The writings of this father are not yet understood; are often misunderstood. Many of the errors in regard to him result from misapprehending the systems of Aristotle, Plato, and the other philosophers who before Augustine's day had exerted an influence on the theology of the church. To acquaint one's self with these philosophical systems and with their bearings upon the theology of Augustine and his predecessors, and then to give a fair and comprehensive view of Augustine's opinions, in their various mutations and phases, would be the labor of a long life.

It is a labor, however, which few men, if any, will undertake. The professed students of Augustine confine themselves either to the thorough examination of select parts of his works, or to a superficial examination of them all. For our theologians in general it is doubtless better to examine carefully a few of his best treatises, than to read cursorily the larger part of his works. To those who do not make the writings of this church Father a specialty, the translation of them into the English language is a convenience. His Homilies and his Confessions have been extensively circulated among English readers. His City of God is nearly as well

known as his Confessions. Every well educated minister regards it as a treasure. Augustine's writings in connection with the Donatist Controversy are less familiar to our pastors. They deserve, however, to be studied. It was by the writings of Augustine, more, perhaps, than by any other single cause, that the Donatist schism was checked. The present new translations of the works of this Father will commend the works to the English reader. They are printed in an attractive style, on a fair octavo page. The Messieurs Clark, to whose publishing house we are indebted for these volumes, as well as for many others invaluable to our clergy, intend to publish in the autumn the first volume of Augustine's Letters, his Treatises against Faustus the Manichaean, etc. etc.

A GUIDE TO READING THE HEBREW TEXT; for the Use of Beginners. By the Rev. W. H. Vibbert, M.A., Professor of Hebrew in the Berkeley Divinity School. 8vo. pp. viii. and 67. Andover: W. F. Draper. 1872. One of the cheering signs of the times is the increasing study of the language of the Old Testament scriptures; and books which really facilitate this study are to be cordially greeted. The "Guide," by Professor Vibbert, is eminently of this character, and the student who follows its guidance cannot fail to read the Hebrew text with ease, certainty, and fluency. One thing only is taught at a time, and that with such clearness and fulness of illustration that there is no escape from understanding it completely. The capacity for reading the Hebrew text has probably not been generally required for admission to our theological schools, simply because of the difficulty of its attainment without a teacher. After entering upon a regular theological course, but a part of the student's time can be given to Hebrew, and the drudgery of learning to read drags along with weary tediousness to both teacher and pupil, with a probability of its being imperfectly accomplished at last. By the aid of this little book the difficulty may be perfectly overcome beforehand, and our seminaries will certainly gain by making it a requisite for admission. At the close are ten pages of Hebrew text from Genesis, printed with the utmost clearness and accuracy; and this is followed by an appendix of a few pages, giving, with admirable brevity and clearness, rules for the formation of the verb, together with the characteristics of the various parts of the verb, noun, and suffixes, with a page of hints for finding words in the lexicon. The type and paper of the whole leave nothing to be desired.

BIBLICO-THEOLOGICAL LEXICON OF NEW TESTAMENT GREEK. By Hermann Cremer, Professor of Theology in the University of Griefswald. Translated from the German, by D. W. Simon, Ph. D., and William Urwick, M.A. 8vo. pp. 635. Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark; New York: Scribner, Welford, and Armstrong.

It is a great convenience for the English scholar to have a Greek dic

tionary with English definitions. He may be familiar with the Latin or German language, yet when a Greek word is defined in Latin or German words he often obtains only an indefinite idea of its meaning. He is in haste when he consults the dictionary, and satisfies himself with dim conjectures when he ought to obtain exact knowledge. The English definition comes home to him; is not only more perfectly understood but is also longer remembered.

For these as well as other reasons, we are happy to see the English translation of Cremer's Lexicon. Dr. Simon, with whom our readers are familiar, translated pages 1-120, 177-220, 277-381. Mr. Urwick translated the remainder. The English work was printed by Trowitzsch and Son, Berlin, Germany; and this fact accounts for several typographical errors in the volume. The original Lexicon is said to have procured for its author his appointment to his Professorship of Theology in the University of Greifswald; and a translation of the work is now in progress in Holland. The Lexicon is not printed in double columns like those of Schleusner, Bretschneider, Wahl, and Schirlitz. The perusal of it therefore, is like that of an ordinary treatise, grammar, or commentary. The merits of the work are obvious and well-known.

There is a tendency of a lexicon to intrench on the province of a grammar, as of the grammar to intrench on that of the lexicon. The Dictionary of Cremer is free from this tendency. It does not proceed too far into the etymology of the words defined, and is by no means liable to the charge of favoring visionary hypotheses in tracing the derivation of words. It is acute and discriminating in its treatment of synonymes, as is seen in the definitions of Κήρυξ, Κηρύσσω. It is fair in its chronological and statistical statements, as is seen in the remarks on Baσideús, and gives many fine illustrations of the rhetorical element in lexicography. Of course its chief value is, as it ought to be, in the exegetical department. See for examples, the words "Αδης, Αιών, οὐρανός, πιστεύω, πίστις. It proceeds on the principle that lexicography is no objective science, and, therefore, does not give its definitions for the accommodation of the learner, but for the sake of doing justice to the words defined. It gives a circumlocution, where no one English word will exactly express the meaning of the Greek. A lexicographer is always tempted to introduce some one short word or phrase in English, as corresponding with an equally short one in Greek; but the Greek term has certain shadings of meaning which the English term does not intimate. We regard the Lexicon of Cremer as in this particular very accurate. It does not explain the meaning of a word by its use in an isolated passage of the New Testament, but it accounts for its use in that passage by the etymology or chronology or rhetorical affinities of the word. We presume that the work will find an extensive patronage in this country.

SACRED GEOGRAPHY AND ANTIQUITIES. With Maps and Illustration. By Rev. E. P. Barrows, D.D. 12mo. pp. 685. New York: American Tract Society.

"Within the present century the investigations of missionaries and intelligent travellers have shed a flood of light on many points once involved in obscurity. Still clearer light may be expected as the result of further investigations. Meanwhile it seems eminently desirable that the great mass of valuable information already collected, which is scattered through so many volumes, should be condensed and put into a methodical form, that it may thus be made available to the great body of biblical students. In the present Outlines of Sacred Geography the attempt is made to perform this work with as much brevity as is consistent with a clear statement of the various topics that come up for consideration. In the Geography of the Holy Land its natural divisions have been followed, all of which lie in a north and south direction. To the description of each division is appended an account of its principal cities and villages, with the scriptural reminiscences connected with them. Then follows a brief account of the Countries adjacent to Palestine — on the south, on the southeast and east, on the northeast and north; and finally a notice of the More Distant Empires and Regions in their relation to the covenant people." (p. 4).

This volume has cost its author much study. It is indeed the result of a life devoted to Biblical investigation. We are glad to see that the American Tract Society have secured for clergymen and teachers of Sabbath-schools so learned and valuable a work. It is written in a lucid style, and its arrangement of multifarious details is orderly. A vast amount of labor has been expended on its references and indexes. Some of its pictorial representations are admirable. They transport us at once to the scenes which they represent. We are not acquainted with another work on Biblical Geography which adapts to so many minds so large an amount of information.

THE LIFE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST: A complete Critical Examination of the Origin, Contents, and Connection of the Gospels. Translated from the German of J. P. Lange, D.D., Professor of Divinity in the University of Bonn. Edited, with additional Notes, by the Rev. Marcus Dods, A.M. 8vo. 4 vols. pp. 544, 504, 512, 500. Philadelphia Smith, English, and Company. 1872.

The first of these volumes is translated by Miss Sophia Taylor, and J. E. Ryland, M.A.; the second, by Mr. Ryland, and M. G. Huxtable; the third by Rev. Robert Ernest Wallis, Priest-Vicar of Wells Cathedral, and Incumbent of Coxley, Somerset, and by Rev. S. Manson; and the fourth by Rev. S. Manson, and Rev. Robert Smith.

Lange's Life of Christ has been for a long time before the public. The author's Preface is dated in 1843, and the British Editor's Preface, in 1864.

The work, however, is worthy of being now republished in the United States. It is replete with learning and acute criticism. Dr. Lange is imaginative and not seldom mystical. It is very difficult to translate his peculiar sentiments into idiomatic English. In despite of his occasional obscurities, however, he is an instructive writer. If we do not always believe all that he asserts, we believe more than would have occurred to us if he had not suggested it. He makes his readers think, and this is one of the most valuable powers which belong to an author. Many questions are discussed in a masterly manner by him in these volumes as well as in his commentaries.

AN ELEMENTARY GRAMMAR OF THE GREEK LANGUAGE, with Exercises and Vocabularies. By Samuel H. Taylor, LL.D. Based on the twentyfifth Edition of Kühner's Grammar. 8vo. pp. 394. New York: Ivison, Blakeman, Taylor and Co. 1872.

The revised edition of Kühner's Elementary Grammar was commenced by Dr. S. H. Taylor, late Principal of Phillips Academy, Andover, " early in the autumn of 1870. At the time of his decease the manuscript was prepared so far as page 138. It seemed best to the Publishers that the work should be finished, and it has been done as nearly as possible according to the plan of Dr. Taylor. Though as a basis the last edition of Kühner has been strictly adhered to, the compiler has not hesitated occasionally to insert what his experience as a teacher has taught him would be of use."

This Grammar is not designed to be an exhaustive treatise on the Greek language, but, as its name indicates, is purely elementary. It is designed to be sufficiently simple for beginners and yet to embrace all the more general principles of the language. We think that the arrangement of the etymology is very felicitous. The classification of the nouns of the third declension amply illustrated by paradigms, and pre-eminently the arrangement of the verb (which has been copied by several authors) are well worthy a careful investigation. The syntax is clearly arranged and with mathematical precision, yet is not so full in some directions as many other grammars. There is added to this edition a catalogue of verbs, embracing nearly all presenting any irregularity, which may prove of great convenience to the student. The exercises which were formerly with the text have been abridged and placed together at the end of the book.

"The grammatical principles of this work, so far as they extend, are the same as those contained in the larger Grammar" of Dr. Kühner, translated by Dr. S. H. Taylor and Prof. B. B. Edwards. The plan of it "is admirably adapted to carry the student forward understandingly, step by step, in the acquisition of grammatical knowledge. As soon as the letters and a few introductory principles, together with one or two forms of the