New-York tribune., 1879-12-19
A CRITICAL AND DoCrRINAL COMMENTARY uPo.
- TiiE EpISII.E OF ct. PAUL TO THE KOMASs
BIZ WILLIAM G. 4. sHEDD u. D. l2mo pp. 43y. Charlie
ScriDDeT's

A
By VILLAS G. +. snEDD D. u. l2mO, pp. 4S9 Charles
Like the previous writings of Professor
shedd this learned and scholarly volume is remarkable
for the acute insight with which T. applies profound
philosophical principles to the eIucdston OF religious
doctrine He considers the reasonngs OF Paul IN the
Epistie TO the Romans the expression of peculiar
human experience which is be be interpreted by the
lights of sound psychology less than by the rules OF
grammar criticism La the opinion OF the author IL
contains the fullest and cearest account Of mans moral
and gous nature, and his innate knowledge OF the
Divine law. st. Paul. he alrms, did not contemn the
natural endowmcnts OF the human intellect he meas
ures them by high standard and accords to them an
exalted place bota because this ia in harmony with the
facts and the greatness Of the ain committed IN
their abuse Professor Shedd therefore brings his ad
rirabe powers OF argument and illustration to an al
alyss OF the spiritual facts which the basis ~ st.
Paus theology. He handles the subject not only as an
acnie pLilol0grst, but wise observer or human
nar Hts conclusions the result both OF sagacious
insight and OF sound reflection He relies less upon the
knowledge Of verbal subtices than on the study OF
religious emotion His illustrations are drawn not only
from the comparison OF lexicons and textbooks Of
exegcsis but from a wide range OF poetry aud
literature JOHN Calvin and Shakespeare stard side by
side In their respective spheres authorities
plcs singularly happy Instance OF this the appca
ton OF Halct speech to L1ertes excusnS his conduct
on account o his being beside himself 10 the language
Of Paul explaining DIS tendency 10 eN Df tc power ol
dweng sim" In urging the theologan to the close
and lifelong study OF tbs Episc, which he pronounces
the most important document in the New Testament.
after the Gospels Professor ehedd adduces the
PIE OF Demosthenes who read Thucyd!des. over and
over for the sake OF forming his concise and
energetic style. Whoever reads ST. paul's E?stle to
the Romans and over" he remarks. " not seven
only but seventy times seven. will feel an nhu-
cnce as distinct definite that from Leydcn jar
Bu, the study Of 81 Paul Ike that Of the speeches in
Thuoydidcs. must bo patient analysis Tho great char
acterisc o. this piste Is the closeDess Of its reasoning
The line Of remark concentration Ike that Of chain
arrnor OF which each link hooks directly into the next,
without intervening matter The process OF an eregete
must. consequently, be that by which blind man gets
knO1 ledge of chain. lie must do 10 by the OF
touch He handle each link sopara ely. and actually
the poiu contact with the preceding link and the
succeeding" The work is intended for the Of clergy
men and theological students rather than for popular
reading and hence the Greek text is printed at the top
page for the sake OF convenient reference. In
this the author for the most part, has followed Lach
aud Tischendorf though in some instances. he has
adopted "a punctuation of his own.