The New York herald., 1878-10-28
THE BIBLE COMMENTARY.


The FIRST volume OF the Speakers "Commontary on
the New Testament" Is just issued in this city by
Charles Scribner's Sons. Tho "Spsakor's Common.
tary on the Old Testament" has boon widely noticed
and variously criticised that that the Now Tes
lament awaited with NO little interest. Tho list
Of contributors to this commentary has, owing to
doalh or altered position. undergone considerable
change. The Introduction 70 the synoptcal gospels
was written as originally intended, by tho Archbishop
oil York. Dean Mansel, who had undertaken the com.
mentary the first two gospels, died in July, 1871
but left complete notes on twenty six chap.
tcrs OF ST. Matthew. Those notes, We are
assured, are printed without auy alteration
or addition, except a few references to
which have been published. and the head
ings the sections, which, in accordance with the
general plan OF the Commentary, have beon inserted
by the editor, Canon Cook, OF Exeter, who has also
flushed ST. Matthew, and takes upon himself the
sponsiblty OF ST Mark ST. Luke was prepared by
Dr. Jones before he became the Bishop OF ST Davd's
rho Introductory essay IS clevery and brilliantly
The result Of his inquiries does not throw
mucn light upon tho autnonticity OF tho iour
gospels, and shows In his summing up that the
higher criticism has done its In It's attacks
upon tho authenticity Of tho gospels good spcci-
OF tho Archbishops style Is found In the follow
ing from the summary OF tho Gospel OF St Matthew
into the broad ned oil the Church, We lind that this
most anciont Gospel has acquired ana mas kept tue
confidence OF the iaitniul all agcs and the test
they have applied 10 II Is, IL rough one, still de-
cisivq; the Gospel shows us Jesus, wnom We sseK.
What bo said Tor book than that IL has
been received universally by tue Church Droduc-
top Of the nrst age Of ChrstiaLiy. that mas been
attributed UNANIMOUSLY TO The author whose namc
IL bears, ana lnat its contents arc nrm
and complete tracing OF the likeness oil the
Lord OF Lief Criticism IS OF course possible on oil
tneso points IL may make work ior itself anywhere;
nay, lts work may oc useful any where 70 q certain
degree But perhaps one Of It's uses is to teach US
together According TO divers writer's Matthew IS tho
oldest writer, the odest Greek writer, but
u Hebrew his work the foundation OF the Gospel Of
Mark, but drawn from that earlier, simpler record;
IL Is the work oi Apostle, but there are positive
reasons against regarding IL as IRON an Apostles
with skiliul knife disscct out tho various
nbrcs Of tendencies which make IL so mani
fold and little consistent with Itself. Its
UNITY Is scli-cvident ana yet u never continued
decades the same SO active were the editors
In making u arcsh. Its Inconsistencies with tho other
gospels start out to careless eyes, YET hands
were constantly ut work bring ny gospel TO bear
another anu altering each by the light oil the other.
these being tho results, we have right 10 suspect
the method. IL is even allowable to doubt whether
tncrc can any true principles on which results SO
discoruant can be based.
Dean Mansci In hts notes seems to follow IN the
wakc OF Archbishop Trench. Tho best OF his
those 10 which ho discusses the day OF the Cru
cHxion. The nrst volume OF tho Now Testament CON-
men,ary Improvement those Of the Old aud Is
every way worthy OF the serious consideration that
is sure TO receive.