The Press.
London, England, 1858-11-20 00:00:00

EXEGETICAL THEOLOGY.

The Apocalyptical History, contained in the 80,,k
of Revelation, Solved upon an entirely New
and Consistent Principle. With a Copious
Appendix. By Harcourt Bland, Dramatic
Artist, of the Theatres Royal Dublin, Edin-
burgh, Glasgow, Bristol, &c. Glasgow : Mur-
ray and Son.
THE critical and theological interpretation of the
Apocalypse is a task which no writer, from
Irenseus to the present time, has satisfactorily
accomplished. The gifts essential to a rizbt.
comprehension of that most wonderful piece o f
revelation are very rare; and when exercised lii
the best way, their interpretation of that deep
symbolical prophecy is even more
puzzling than
the text itself. A new writer now enters the
throng, and, from a quarter least expected, In-
vites us to fresh inquiry. We have hitherto
looked chiefly to divines and eminent scholars In
cloister and college for theological exposition, but
now the Stage affords an essayist in this sacred
field of study, and Mr. Harcourt Bland, drams!ic
artist, of the Dublin, Edinburgh, and provi. ncial
theatres, steps forward to offer a new principle of
interpretation, and to set aside, to a great extent,
the results of his laborious and often learned
predecessors.
However surprised we may be at a volume on
such a subject from such s quarter, it is our duty

to give it a patient and unprejudiced investiga-
tion. Wisdom is often found where least ex-
pected, and we are taught, on high authority,
that many deep things have been hidden from
the wise and prudent, and revealed to babes. It
is possible, therefore, that Mr. Harcourt Bland
may be right and all previous expositors wrong.
The probabihttes, however, are the other way.
But let us see.
The author begins well, by striking at the root
of an evil practice, followed by nearly every
writer on the Apocalypse, of making the same
bols convertible literally or figuratively at
rwill of the expositor, or in order to suit par-
ticular theories of interpretation. By common
consent it is confessed that the Apocalypse is to
be taken as a prophetical anticipation of history
expressed symbolically. But there is great
difference of opinion as to the principle that
should rule the interpretation of the symbols,
and, whatever may be the theories or conclusions
arrived at, it will generally be found that inter-
preters have gone to work without any fixed rule
at all, and therefore such words as " the earth,"
"a city," " the ea," " fire," and many others,
are sometimes taken figuratively, sometimes
literally, by no rule, apparently, but the caprice
ot'the author or the necessities of his exposition.
Against this practice Mr. Bland protests, and.
what is more, professes to lay down a surer and
safer principle. Here he shall speak for him-
self:—

If it should be asserteJ, or assumed as a basis of apocs-
lyptical interpretation, that the Book of Revelation is an
anticipated history put before us under symbols and meta-
phors, then no solution of any passage can be considered
satisfactory, to en impartial mind, which may be arrived at
by means of a literal interpretation of any one symbol; and
still less can any eommentary of the clue referred to
be considered satisfactory in which whole psasages may be
interpreted literally, whilst all other portions of the book
have been solved upon the figurative hypothesis. (p. 1.)
Now, in order, if possible, to pnt an end to all such
tudinarian principles of interpretation . . . . . . I beg to
submit to Christians universally a method of solution at
once responsible, consistent, and systematic I propose
submitting my whole commentary ( viewed as as historical
solution) to the test of a previously defined system of inter.
pretation. I shall empower the public to judge not only
concerning the correctness of my historical spolications of
the various symbols and metaphors, but (what is of in-
finitely more moment) I shall enable Christians to test
both my honesty of purpose and consistency of prin-
ciple. (p. 3. )

There is some ambiguity in the rather boastful
with which the extract concludes.
tfeurageless, the author's purpose is plainly
spoken, and we now know what we are to look
for in his book. The peculiarity of this author's
volume is in the principles of solution which he
lays down; and we will do him the justice to say
that, quite irrespective of whether those principles
are right or wrong, which we shall examine pre-
sently, he is indisputably right in taking his
ground upon some ;Principles, and the absence of
such preliminary basis is the great weakness of
almost all former works. His first object is to
lay out a neutral ground, about which he thinks
there will be no strife. And it is in substance
this—that the Book of Revelation contains, be-
sides the seven ecclesiastical epistles, a grand
anticipated or prophetic history of Christendom,
and that this history is given by the Prophet to
the Churches, not literally, but figuratively ; in
other words, under a variety of symbols and
metaphors. We think there will be no objection
to this, but it does not help us much ; and we
begin to doubt our author's guidance when he next
plunges into the very midstream of the controversy
by asserting that the symbols and metaphors are
so systematically arranged and harmoniously con-
structed as to be capable of a satisfactory and
correct solution (at some period or other) by those
for whom the book was written—i.e., by Chris-
tian, in general. It is perhaps scarcely fair to be
hard upon an author who makes no profession of
scientific theology, and claims only to be judged
by the rule of common sense and plain English,
or we should be disposed to ask what he means by
"some period or other," and by " Christians in
general." Is the " some period " determinable ?
Is the present that " period" ?
In the third place, Mr. Bland asserts that the
Christian Church ought to be able to determine
with une • accuracy so much of this prophetical
history as is y fulfilled; for he assumes that as
it is eighteen hundred years since the Revelation
!as given, some part of it must needs have been
t.ulfilled by this time; and, further, that if such
wry Cannot be satisfactorily demonstrated to
everY Party, *pi it must be on account of some