New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-09-03
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

MENIs J By the Rev r arMsS Ascot cS
f'he genius for popular exposition, which seems
hereditary in the family OF the author receives sigma
Illustration IN the character Of this vo"me. .no
rurose of Mr. Abbott to furnish the practical Cnrs1an
worker with convenient ED In the discharge Oh MS
duties whether as teacher lay preacher
clergyman or the head Of Christian family WITHOUT
snsne into the details doctrinal pathological dis
cusson he presents the results of the latest research anu
nj the soundest scholarship In q form auap'cu 7"
the wants Of intelligent students OF the nip"'
furnishing them with vast amount oi i''
nation which has been gathered from wide and various
nelds OF learning and arranged with singular cieanes
GOOD taste and aptness Of illustration. The received
English version Of the New Testament the basis OF the
work. all references to the original creek are
accompanied with the English equivalent, all"
an exact translation is given OF all quotations. iou
French German Latin and Greek authors MT. Aooo''
nos ,ateu great care TO present latest and most a
proved text pointing in the notes such various e"
iugs as are OF practical doctrnal signincahce "he
ever the English version fails to express the sense VI @
ORIGINAL new translation Ia given in the notes. Inc
general scope OF the more important passages If
shown by a note at the commencement OF the
commentary or analysis, paraphrase or generii
summary nj the close Topics interest," such
as the baptism the temptation the trial. anu 'he
Hxon Of Jesus treated In separate dsSer'auohs' WIN
greater ,lpes of detail and breadth of discussion than
comparatively limited space is afforded to pracuci OF
devotional reflections although the essential religious
lessons OF the different passages are suggested py spec
paragraphs that purpose Free use has peeh mace Vi
the best thoughts of the best thinkers especially s"e s
are not likely be with by most American readers
Parallel and contrasted passages Of Scripture arc poug
Together in the notes. full Scripture references are
anpeued to the text The work, as Is claimed py e
author is not written in the interest OF any theological
system In those which have called forh o'Ver
sy Of opinion among scholars, their derent VIEWS W.
weli as the conclusions Of the author himself, are
frankly stated for the purpose OF controversy
This however is not be understood as denoting any
axty of conviction, tendency to skepticai erVciS'
IA the writer nowhere betrays the iahtest s!ihihs
with the modern speculaons which are Mt war Win e
current sense Sacred Writings But while be hous
fast to the received interpretations OF the church, e
often presents its theories in a modified FORM which,
as he conceives, are in accordance with the
spirit OF the Bible, and the intelligence OF the age
Thus in regard to the cardinal question OF nspatoh ne
maintains that the writer's of the New Testament spoke
upder the impulse and authority of the Divine SPIRIT nut
from influence which is more properly styled moral
than verbal inspiration BY verbal inspiration, he I'M
derstands the immediate divine communication 10 inc
writer's OF every word which they wrote or as IL IS eN-
pressed by Trcgelles the sfxtysx books OF the oo
Testament and the New Testament arc verbally the
word Of God absolutely as were the Ten CoHniano-
ments written by the finger OF God upon the two tables
of stonev However this may be tho case, says Mr.
Abbott with certain passages in which the Writer'S were
mere amanuenses that the chief portions OF inc Ne"
Testament were thus written is think. clearly not true
This method he argues, does not accord with the general
principles OF the divine action nor with the Claims Oh e
sacred writer's They distinctly imply the existence OF
human element of personal thought and feeling IN their
work. il il compatible with the verbal discrepancies
which are evident where two writers narrae inc
same event is less inconsistent with the suDse-
ouent history the New Testament since we nave not
the original words i'm which books written and,
with exception of few scholars the great majority
of Bible readers dependent upon confessedly uh-
spired Translation OF confessediy Dinspred copy In
ne the theory of verbal inspiration or the Inspiration
of the words and letters, so far from prompting
a reverent study Of the essential truths OF the
Bible produces directly opposite effect, and is pro-
ductive neither of Scrptura scholarship nor true spirit
ual culture The temptation OF Christ furnishes good
specimen of Mr. Abbots method of interpretation Or
six different theories which he describes he inciines to
the enc which explains the as dramatic repre-
senaton OF an internal experience in which the temper
was really present whispering the suggestions OF evil
to the soul Jesus" 1t succession OF pictures
which passed the imagination of Christ i'll which
Satan endeayored TO entice him away from fidelity TO
his mission As Mt Abbott suggests although Satan is
more distinctly embodied in this narrative than in any
other, yet he is repeatedly referred to in Scrip
ture as bringing trouble or temptation In cases
In which no other than purely spiritual
presence is indicated. This tendency to soften
down the literal sense of difficult passages, without
sacrificing their essential spirit is so prevalent through
out work that it be mentioned as one OF the
peculiar characteristics by which 1t Is distinguished from
most orthodox commentaries for popular use. How far
this may prove passport to wide acceptance in the
religious world be tested only by experience, but
we think it is quite certain that there is large number
Of persons with slight speculative systematic tenden-
cies, and weary with the hard, dry doematc method
of reading and explaining the Bible. To whom IL VIII
offer a decided recommendation The skin with which
Mr. ma
and profound learning for popular Illustration will
probably present acceptable feature to the majority
of readers The marks of thorough and exact scholar
ship are evident in the composition Of the work. is
clearly production OF extensive research and thoughtful
study. There are signs of haste WEAKNESS, Of
superficial treatment formal task work in its prepare
ton There is not symptom of pedanty or OF the critical
and ingenious subeties which late Prof Stuart OF
Andover set damaging example TO young students of
the Bible but everything is plain, direct, transparent
and Of obvious practical application. Mr. Abbotts state
ments as a rule marked by exactness well as
clearness without any trace Of the loose hortatoy
method in which many commentators on the Bible de-
light to indulge. An exception to this may perhaps be
pointed out in the contrast presented between the
teachings OF natural religion and Christianity IN
regard to the knowledge OF God. He quotes
Mr. Herbert spencers dctum Of the First Cause being
"unknowabls" in opposition 10 the explicit revelations
Christianity that subject but closes his argument
with that the God Of Christian experience
is unknown TO the intellect" though known to the
heart a proposition we apprehend that the school Of
Spencer does not call in question On this point Mr.
Abbott appears to take the ground Sir William
Hamilton and Dean Msnsel from whose principles the
deductions OF Herbert Spencer largely drawn that
the Infinite land hence Deity is not the object Of
knowledge but OF faith. Mr. Spencer denies that God
can be known by the intellect Though the existence of
Supreme Cause is a necessity OF thought and Mr. Alb