The New York herald., 1878-12-30
LITER ATU RE.
The Popular Commentary on the
New Testament.
POETRY AND FICTION.
American Artists Biographies--Stage Rem
iniscences--Book Notes.
MATTHEW, MARX AND LUKE.

The first Of four volumes of the Popular Com
mentary on the New Testament Charles
Scribners Sons. New York; is on our table,
1t includes the first three Gospels. with an
introduction the labor of all which is divided
between DR. Philip Schaf and DIR. NJ. b. Riddle. of
Hartford The introduction consists of three parts
First to the New Testament; second, general intro
duction and. third. q special introduction to the
Gospels. Under the general introduction the editor
discusses the name, origin canon. character organic
arrangement and preservation of the text Under the
special introduction he considers the name and di-
vision. the harmony and chronology. the origin of
the synoptic Gospels, and then OF the four Gospels
separately.
The commentary aims to present, in an evangelical
catholic spirit and in popular form the best results
of the latest biblical scholarship for the instruction
of the English reader of the Word OF God. 1t en-
braces the authorized version, marginal emenda-
tions, brief introductons and explanatory notes on
all difficult passages together with maps aud iustra-
tions Of Bible lands and Bible scenes derived from
photographs and apt to facilitate the understanding
Of the text The work has an international and inter-
denomnational character 1t is the joint production
of experienced and well known British and American
scholars who have made the Bible their life study.
Among the former may be named Professor Mllgan.
Of Aberdeen: DIR. Moulton. of Cambridge Dean How
son. OF Chester: Canon Spence, of London; DR..
Dods. Of Glasgow and among the latter Rev. w. II.
Thompson, ID. D. late of Beirut Syria, and w. II.
Thompson. NJ. d. of New York; Professor
Guyet, Of Princeton. N. j., and Drs. Riddle and
Schaf. The plan of the present WORK was conceived
by DR.. schaf about thirty years ago. 1t gives the
text in paragraphs, with the numbers Of the verses
marked on the margin. In the comments the heavy
letter of the text distinguishes it from the comment
Of the style of the book itself it is needless to write
and is well and richly bound. The type is large
enough to be read with ease even with weak eyes.
which is not the with commentaries that run
five hundred pages. The tive great theological
questions that have interested the public lately
the duration of future punishment and the
premillennal advent Of Christ-are treated
briefly. but from the evangelical standpoint
On the first the commentators say that if eternal
punishment ends. then eternal life may end also
that the word punishment expresses positive
misery not annihlation. and that especially "life'-
the contrasted expresson-means far more than mere
continued existence. Endless and boundless life is
contrasted with endless and boundless misery. The
two factsone transcendently glorious the other un-
speakably awful-are revealed; the details. bssful
and terrible alike. wisely withheld. The doctrine
OF the premennial advent is not distinctly fore
told in the Gospels which constitute the present
volume in the later writings of the New
Testament; but where Christ answers the
disciples questions in Matthew xiv. regarding His
coming our commentators say that His questoners
must have had in mind appearance after death to
usher in the end Of the dispensaton of things
not the destruction OF the world. They add ALSO in
verse twensy-seven of the chapter that the
sense OF the is that Chrsts coming win be sud-
den and all-pervading. unmistakable and fearful;
visible. too. glorious and purifying also. like the
lightning. And only personal coming of Christ will
fulfil this prediction. They to lean little
toward the view held by the late Prophetic Confer
but guard their language very carefully that
no need be disturbed in his present faith this
great subject.