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Biblical and Miscellaneous Intelligence.

431

of the Eckhartian theosophy, which will have much interest for the students of medieval philosophy and theology; and the other a short paper by Professor Ebrard of Erlangen, on the Age of the Nobla Leiczon, or Noble Lesson of the Waldensian Church, a topic on which there has of late years been much discussion in Germany, along with several others affecting deeply the credit and integrity of the ancient literature of that most interesting branch of the Christian Church. There is also an article of much interest on the intercourse which took place between John Wesley and Count Zinzendorf, including a German translation of Wesley's Journal of his visit to Germany in 1738, and the Latin original of the remarkable dialogue which took place between Wesley and the Count, in 1741, at Gray's Inn Walks, London, and in which were brought out very distinctly the theological differences which separated these two celebrated religious founders. These documents are accompanied with interesting biographical elucidations by Dr K. H. Sack, and the effect of the whole is to shew that the well-known disruption which took place between the Moravians and the first English Methodists was not entirely owing, as has often been alleged, to the objection taken by the Moravians to Wesley's doctrine of Christian perfection, but that Wesley had his objections, too, to urge against several things both in the doctrine and practice of the United Brethren.

The bulk of the number is taken up with a long article, of seventy pages, on the Life of Patrick Hamilton, by Dr Collmann of Cassel, which consists almost exclusively of a well-executed translation of parts of Professor Lorimer's monograph on that subject. It contains no new matter, and is presented by the author simply as a reduced version of that work. The preparation of the article appears to have been to him quite a labour of love. He tells his readers that he was at pains to obtain several rare works from the libraries of Cassel and Göttingen, in order that he might verify Professor Lorimer's references; and he speaks of "the joy which it affords him, at his advanced period of life, to be able, with the help of the English work, to lay before his readers "a completer and truer portrait than had before been possible of the noble Patrick Hamilton, in whose example, as Alesius says in his Commentary upon the 37th Psalm, we may learn what is meant by hoping in the Lord,' and by which we may strengthen our hearts, so that our patience may continue stedfast unto the end." This article, and a similar one by Professor Köstlin of Breslau, which appeared in the "Deutsche Zeitschrift für Christliche Wissenschaft" soon after the publication of Dr Lorimer's work, are pleasing proofs of the lively interest which is felt in Germany in the history of the Reformed Church of Scotland, and how much the indefatigable investigators of that country are prepared to value any original researches in this field which may be undertaken among ourselves.

XI.-CRITICAL NOTICES.

Plea for a new English Version of the Scriptures. By a LICENTIATE of the Church of Scotland. London: Macmillan and Co. 1864.

More frequently, perhaps, than any of our contemporaries, have we dealt in the pages of this journal with the important question of Bible-revision. The reasons both for and against a new English version of the sacred Scriptures have, in various articles, been brought under the notice of our readers; and, while we have always professed ourselves, on the whole, decidedly favourable to revision, we have ever sought to guard against all rash, ill-considered, and needlessly extensive innovations on our admirable and time-hallowed version. The subject, then, of the "Licentiate's" work is one in which we feel a deep interest, and which we are always glad to see treated in a calm, dispassionate, and intelligent manner. With some drawbacks which we shall immediately specify, we think that he has made a valuable contribution to the literature of a question, which, every now and then, emerges into public notice, and which, we are persuaded, must, by and by, attract the most earnest attention both of biblical scholars and of the community at large. He has, we believe, made out a very strong case in support of the side which he defends, and has disposed very thoroughly of many of the objections which are usually brought against all proposals to change and amend our authorised translation.

We wish, however, that he had taken time to make himself a little more conversant with what has already been written upon the subject. His acquaintance with the now large and valuable literature which has gathered round the question he discusses is remarkably meagre, if we may judge from the evidence presented by his book. This will be evident when we remark that such well-known works as those of Scholefield, Trench, Ellicott, and others, bearing directly on the point in debate, are not once mentioned. This being the case, we cannot perhaps wonder or complain that the only article in our own journal which is referred to, is one that appeared so long ago as July 1857, and which was expressly stated by the editor at the time to be opposed to his own views on the subject. It was extracted from an American publication, as exhibiting the arguments against revision, and was speedily followed by others which were intended to demolish its arguments, and to support the contrary opinion. The "Licentiate" might have found something not unworthy of his attention, in so recent a number of our journal as that for July 1863, and we would respectfully suggest that he might, both with greater fairness to us, and no disadvantage to himself, seek some acquaintance with the papers which we have published on his own side of the question.

He is evidently possessed of considerable ability for dealing with the question discussed in his work. His reverence for the Word of God is all that could be wished; his objections to the authorised version are generally grave and well-supported; and his knowledge of the original languages is pretty extensive and intimate. But in many points of criticism he seems a mere tyro, and is, therefore, at the mercy of any authority whom he deems it right to follow. Textual criticism is certainly not his forte. Both what he omits, and what he inserts, shew how little he knows of the subject. His abuse of the "received text" is extravagant. We are, by no means, the advocates of its purity, but to speak, as the "Licentiate" does, of its

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"gross" and "flagrant inaccuracy," is simply to betray his own ignorance. There are many passages in which it admits of rectification, and this fact forms a very cogent argument in favour of revision; but it cannot, upon the whole, be decried as inaccurate, and in some remarkable cases (Acts XX. 28) it has at last proved itself superior to the critical texts which threatened for a time to overthrow it.

But, with all the deductions which must be made from the value of this work on account of the crudeness of several of the views which it sets forth, we heartily thank the author for what he has accomplished. His book is divided into six parts: Part I. Introduction; Part II. Inaccuracies connected with the received text of the Hebrew and Greek originals; Part III. Inaccuracies which characterise King James's Bible as a version of the Scriptures; Part IV. Inaccuracies which characterise the authorised version as an English literary composition; Part V. Divisions of words, chapters, and Books; Part VI. Groups of words; and under all these heads there is much acute and learned discussion. Several of his proposed emendations seem to us trifling, as when he quarrels with the expression "without controversy," 1 Tim. iii. 16, and strongly insists on the manifest superiority of "confessedly;" and, when he affirms that "in John vi. 70, the special significance of diáßokos is completely obscured by the improper employment of the technical term devil, instead of slanderer," we think he is himself egregiously in error. We regret also to notice the tone of dogmatism which too often appears in his book, leading him to describe as certain what, after all, is matter of honest difference of opinion among the most learned critics. But good sense and competent scholarship are, on the whole, characteristic of his work; and we give the following passage from the conclusion to indicate in the author's own words, the spirit in which it is written :

"Throughout this treatise, the writer has endeavoured to avoid both latitudinarianism and bigotry. In opposition to the bigot, he maintains that religious truth has no reason to fear thorough investigation, and regards candid critical research, not as an enemy, but as a friend and guardian of Christianity. Hence he can see no evil in scrutinising the authorised version, and calling attention to the numerous mistranslations and other mistakes by which it is characterised. In opposition to the latitudinarian, he believes in the Scriptures as the word of God, and as the authoritative standard of Christian doctrine and duty; and it is on this account that he advocates revision. The divine origin of the Bible requires us to receive it as our infallible guide, and to make ourselves familiar with its contents, in order that we may thereby become thoroughly furnished unto every good work. How necessary then is it, that in the process of translation, the Scriptures should be preserved in their divine integrity, uncorrupted by human mistakes, and that accordingly the community should be supplied with a version, which, besides affording some general idea of the truth contained in the original, shall be accurate in even the minutest particulars, and shall thus merit the confidence of those who devoutly peruse it." We may add that the work is beautifully printed, and is supplied with very complete indices, as well as a copious table of contents. R.

Christ at Sychar: An Episode in our Lord's Ministry. By Rev. NORMAN L. WALKER. London: James Nisbet & Co. 1864.

In twelve short chapters Mr Walker expounds, with much vigour and clearness, that most interesting episode in our Lord's public ministry-his interview with the woman of Samaria at the well of Jacob. Respecting

the narrative of this incident, Matthew Henry remarks-"The Lord's dis course with a Samaritan woman is here recorded at large, while his dispute with the doctors, and his discourse with Moses and Elias on the mount, are buried in silence." And again, "He often preached to multitudes that crowded after him for instruction, yet here he condescends to instruct a single person, a woman, a poor woman, a stranger, a Samaritan, to teach his ministers to go and do likewise." Mr Walker has gone very thoroughly into the whole subject, and has discussed it geographically, topographically, doctrinally, critically, and experimentally. In his dedication to Rev. Mr M'Donald, he notes the variety, the singular diversity of our Lord's early converts-John and Andrew, Peter, Philip and Nathanael, Nicodemus, the woman of Samaria, the courtier of Capernaum, and the impotent man of Bethesda-representing Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, the wealth, the industry, and the poverty of the land. One of these cases of conversion Mr Walker has here discussed, and promises, if this first effort meet with success, to follow it up by another volume, treating of the other cases. We earnestly hope that this little book may meet with the success it deserves, were it only that it may ensure the publication of the promised

Buccessor.

Statistical Tables of Missions in India, Ceylon, and Burmah, at the close of 1861. Compiled from Original Letters and Local Reports, by JOSEPH MULLENS, D.D., Missionary of the London Missionary Society, 1863, London: James Nisbet & Co. 1863.

A Brief Review of Ten Years' Missionary Labour in India, between 1852 and 1861. Prepared from Local Reports and Original Letters, by JOSEPH MULLENS, D.D., Missionary of the London Missionary Society in Calcutta. London: James Nisbet & Co. 1863.

Many years have elapsed since the Rev. Mr, or (giving his recent title) the Rev. Dr Mullens of Calcutta first became known for his statistical researches. His early efforts were confined to the protestant missions of the Bengal Presidency, of which he was wont to publish a tabular statement at the commencement of each year. In 1852, his investigations were extended to the whole of India, and proved to be of much service during the progress of the legislative inquiry which preceded the renewal of the East India Company's Charter, the following year. Parliament and the country generally attach great weight to Mr Mullens's statements. They could not, indeed, do otherwise on learning that he had been at the trouble to issue circulars to all the protestant missions in India, and had received replies from so many that the small number of defaulters could not materially vitiate the result. Dr Mullens felt that it would be interesting to repeat the census after the interval of a decade, and ascertain what progress the missions had made during that period of time. He adopted the same method as on the previous occasion to ensure accuracy; and, in consequence, his figures are only a shade less authoritative than those of a government census would be. He has recorded the result of his recent elaborate investigation, in the pamphlet and volume whose names are prefixed to the present article.

We regret that from want of space we can do no more than present his two most important tables.

It is scarcely necessary to add a word regarding the exceeding value of Dr Mullens's recent publications. As Indian missions have already moved forward from the position they occupied at the end of 1861, our author's volumes cannot now in any way be superseded, but must stand as the only complete record extant of the state of evangelistic efforts in India at that

PRESIDENCIES.

SUMMARY OF MISSIONS IN INDIA, CEYLON, AND BURMAH, JANUARY 1862.

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I 89 140 4719 20,774

7872 129 4820 23 695 29

7119

40 1031 25

946

79

47 119 11 130 118 73 1488 5301
41 40 10
50 53 37 965 2231
146 1575 210 60 270 903 716 20,218 110,287
60 150 37 42

5978
8398 104 4398 14 564 49
44
1798 51 2107 8 112 8 1787 26 1157
75,370 1069 25,061 53 1185 74 6836 151 8988 63 2019
102 224 3859 15,273 37,150 209 8226 8 164 23 1657 110 3844 5 145

879 15 719

6 269

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TOTAL,

659 1865 1190 31,249 158,816 130,588 1562 44,612 101 2720 185 28,877 871 15,899 114 4098 65 411 352 18,439 59,366 87,504 249 3778 7 438 8 586 2 963 3 103

386 2307 541 186 724 1776 1542 49,688 213,182 218,092 1811 48,390 108 3158 193 23,963 373 16,862 117 4201

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