ARTICLE X.-NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS.

THEOLOGY.

COLENSO'S PENTATEUCH AND BOOK OF JOSHUA CRITICALLY EXAMINED.* The now world-known, or rather world-notorious, Bishop Colenso has given to the public the second part of his work on the Pentateuch and the Book of Joshua. In this part he ventures upon the field of positive assertion and criticism. In the first part his efforts were directed to show that these portions of the Old Testament were not historically true, and could not have been written by Moses. In the second, he attempts to explain where and by whom they were written. His own opinion is that the Pentateuch originated with Samuel, in a noble effort "to train the people in the fear and faith of the living God." "For this purpose he appears to have adopted the form of a history, based upon the floating legends and traditions of the time, filling up the narrative, we may believe-perhaps to a large extent-out of his own imagination, when those traditions failed him. In a yet later day, though still probably in the same age, and within the same circle of writers, the work thus begun, which was, perhaps, left in a very unfinished state, was taken up, as we suppose, and carried on in a similar spirit, by other prophetical or priestly writers." That part of the story in which Elohim is employed as the appellation for the Divine Being is the part written by Samuel, being "little besides about half of the book of Genesis and a small part of Exodus." "Large additions were made to this unfinished historical sketch of Samuel by his disciples, Nathan and Gad, or by some other prophetical and priestly writers of that and the following age; and these included the principal Jehovistic portions of Genesis, as well as the greater part of the present books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers."

The evidence on which the Bishop relies to establish his theory, is the fact that a certain portion of the Book of Genesis uses freely and

*The Pentateuch and Book of Joshua critically examined. By the Right Rev. JOHN . WILLIAM COLENSO, D. D., Bishop of Natal. Part II. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 1863. 12mo. pp. 303. [New Haven: Peck, White, & Peck.] Price, $1.25.

the other disuses entirely the appellation Jehovah. Colenso also insists that these two portions in some points contradict each other. This is not conceded by his opponents. He urges that the name Jehovah was not first revealed to Moses, for if it had been, the use of it "in the mouths of persons of all classes from the days of Eve downward" cannot be explained, and the Jehovistic part of the Book of Genesis "cannot be historically true. This involves at once the historical truth of all the other statements of the Jehovist." In further proof that the name Jehovah, was not in use before the days of Samuel he urges "that through the history in the book of Judges, there is no single name which can be appealed to with confidence as compounded with Jehovah while there are names compounded with the Divine Name in the form of EL." And yet, when he finds such names in the Book of Chronicles, he very cooly sets them aside with the assertion that it is scarcely possible to doubt that the Chronicler has invented these names." Moreover, he finds aditional evidence that the appellation Jehovah was itself invented by Samuel, in the circumstance that in some of the Psalms of David, Elohim is used, and in others Jehovah; the first are, therefore, set down as composed in the early part of David's life; the second, in the later, as he became gradually accustomed to the newly devised appellation.

It is on these grounds that the author concludes, that Samuel conceived and in part executed the project of writing the partly true and partly legendary history. He was an Elohist, but he devised the appellation Jehovah "as a New Name for the God of Israel." In order to give it authority and sacredness, he records that it was revealed to Moses. His disciples, Nathan and Gad, and others of the school of Samuel, enlarge the history, employing the appellation which their master had consecrated.

These are the principal points made by the Bishop. The illustration and defense of them occupy the pages of the volume.

It is not necessary for us to comment or refute them. For our readers will not need any criticisms of ours to be convinced that whatever theory may be required to clear up all the questions which concern the composition or structure of the Pentateuch and the Book of Joshua, the theory of Colenso is simply absurd and self-destructive.

LECTURES ON THE SYMBOLIC CHARACTER OF THE SACRED SCRIPTURES.*-From Colenso the Doubter to Silver the Dreamer, is a sudden leap. From the credulous non-belief of the Prelate to the credulous all-belief of the amiable Swedenborgian, is to pass from the treacherous darkness that is certain to mislead and shipwreck the navigator, to the bewildering but glorious halo that forbids him to take a distinct observation. To all those students, who may, like ourselves, have sought in the writings of Swedenborg himself for the mystic key that should open the door to the divine "science of correspondencies," we should recommend this work in vain. To all those who have not been foiled in the bewildering quest, and who are disposed to make the search for the pot of gold that lies at the end of the rainbow, we would commend this most amiable book of a most amiable writer, because it is shorter than that of his master.

WALWORTH'S GENTLE SKEPTIC.-Still another stride from the Swedenborgian to the Roman Catholic defender of the Old Testament. Rev. Clarence Walworth writes in a lively strain and his book is exceedingly valuable. Indeed we can safely pronounce it to be one of the cleverest productions of Roman Catholic literature which this country has produced. Though writ ten by a Roman Catholic it is not offensive to Protestants, nor is there much in the argument which would not be as readily accepted by the one as by the other. In a few instances even Protestant authorities are cited in rather a rare spirit of liberality, though in general it is only Romish theologians who are recog nized. The discussions are engrafted upon a pleasant story which is enlivened by racy dialogues and made cheerful by an occasional vein of humor, to say nothing of a quiet love scene which is kept pretty well in the back-ground, till near the denouement at the close. There is an occasional obtrusion of Romish tenets and an unsuppressed insinuation against Protestant principles, which are out of

* Lectures on the Symbolic Character of the Sacred Scriptures. By Rev. ABIEL SILVER, Minister of the New Jerusalem Church in New York. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 1863. 12mo. pp. 286. [New Haven: Peck, White, & Peck.] Price, $1.25.

Edited by the 12mo. pp. 368.

† The Gentle Skeptic, or Essays and Conversations of a Country Justice on the Authenticity and Truthfulness of the Old Testament Records. Rev. C. WALWORTH. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 1863. [New Haven: Peck, White, & Peck.] Price, $1.25.

keeping with the liberal spirit which in general breathes throughout the volume. With these exceptions, the work may be safely recommended as an able and acceptable addition to our literature, on a subject which occupies the attention of so large a portion of the religious public.

MAN'S CRY, AND GOD'S GRACIOUS ANSWER.*-We have even another "Contribution to the Defense of the Faith," from Messrs. Appleton & Co. One that is quite unpretending indeed, but not therefore deserving of neglect. Rev. Mr. Franklin has thought earnestly, and not without success, upon the great topics which his title describes. Theism and Christianity are the two divisions of his little book, and both are treated with no inconsiderable strength of thought and earnestness of feeling. The limits of this little tract forbid any very profound argumentation, but not some weighty and timely suggestions. There is an occasional incongruity, not to say crudeness of thought, which is somewhat out of keeping with the prevailing excellence of the work. The book is a good one to influence a thoughtful and earnest mind.

KRUMMACHER'S RISEN REDEEMER.t-This volume is made up of twenty-one sermons upon the scenes and circumstances of the Gospel history from the Saviour's Resurrection to the Day of Pentecost; the first sermon bearing the title of "Easter-Even " and the last that of "The Pentecostal Community." The fervid preacher has taken for his subject the great fact of facts-the Resurrection of the Lord from the dead. From the cursory examination which we have been able to give to his work, we judge that it presents the same graphic and lively description, blending with sound evangelical teaching, which belongs to his previous publications. Both in the preface and in various passages in the body of the work, we find a full recognition of the fundamental

*Man's Cry, and God's Gracious Answer. A contribution toward the Defense of the Faith. By the Rev. B. FRANKLIN. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 24mo. pp. 94. [New Haven: Peck, White, & Peck.] Price, 50 cts.

The Risen Redeemer. The Gospel History from the Resurrection to the Day of Pentecost. By F. W. KRUMMACHER, D. D., Author of Elijah the Tishbite. Translated from the German by JOHN T. BETTS, with the sanction of the Author. New York: Carter & Brothers. 1863. 12mo. pp. 298. [New Haven: F. T. Jarman.] Price, $1.

significance of this crowning miracle of the Saviour's resurrection, both to the Apologist in repelling infidelity and to the theologain in expounding the way of life.

THE LAST DAY OF OUR LORD'S PASSION.*-The subject of this collection of pulpit lectures renders it a fit companion of the work of Krummacher, noticed above. Dr. Hanna takes up the Gospel narrative at the Betrayal of Christ and follows it through the record of His Burial. There is some discussion of disputed points in the narrative, but the predominant end that is aimed at is the edification of the reader. We observe that the author adopts the theory that Judas Iscariot betrayed the Master, under the expectation that Jesus would be led-obliged, in a sense-to set up His kingdom and overwhelm its opponents through the exertion of Divine Power. This hypothesis, in our opinion, is not supported by the facts-especially when it is remembered that avarice is attributed to him by the Gospel writers.

TRIUMPHS OF THE BIBLE, WITH THE TESTIMONY OF SCIENCE TO ITS TRUTH.-This work has the merit of taking up questions that are of living and present interest, and although we might not coincide with all of the author's methods of refuting objections, we feel safe in commending his production as one likely to do good.

JUBILEE ESSAYS.-The writer holds himself in obscurity, and for that reason his book may not find readers so soon or so generally. But it will be read, and read by the best class of minds. If the author's design was to present merely a popular argument for an unselfish life, he has missed it; the book does not cater to the popular taste; he has overdone the thing. He enters the list in a jeweled dress, and yet strikes with such weight of iron sinew

*The Last Day of our Lord's Passion. By the Rev. WILLIAM HANNA, LL. D., Author of the Life of Dr. Chalmers. New York: Robert Carter & Brothers. 1863. [New Haven: F. T. Jarman.] Price, $1.25.

Triumphs of the Bible, with the Testimony of Science to its Truth. By Rev. HENRY TULLIDGE, A. M. New York: Charles Scribner. 1863. [New Haven: Judd & Clark.] Price, $1.50.

1862.

Jubilee Essays; a Plea for the Unselfish Life. Boston: Crosby & Nichols.