The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-05-04
AMONG THE REVIE VS.

ui'0ueses variety OF living questions.
Three OF the articles are on the Diaconate,
but the names of DR.. Girardeau and DIR.
Lefevre are guarantee that the subject
Is ably handled. These eminent divines
take different views. We think that the
argument OF Dr. Lefevre that the Elder
ship includes the Diaconate is made out,
and his second article "The Diaconate of
Scripture is particularly forcible. DIR.
Adger contributes an interesting history
OF the Bible Revision question, and ably
vindicates DR.. R. ]. Breckenridge and
DR.. Thornwell from the unjust attack
made on them in this connection by the
Rev. o. S. Robinson in Scrq6ner's Maqa-
zane. He writes with some evident anx-
lety as to the changes which the Revisors
may have admitted into the new version.
Dr. Dabney has capital article on The
Influence of the German University Sys-
tenn on Theological Literature" We
hope every young minister in the Pres
byterian Church will read this article.
1t is written by one who is competent to
discuss it, and it exposes most thoroughly
the shifting, arbitrary character of Ger
man speculation. Rev. H. B. Pratt con-
tributes the leading article in a paper en-
bodying the substance of sermon preach
ed last year before the Synod of S. Carolina,
entitled Goods Righteousness to be Uni
versally Confessed" 1t is timely protest
against the sentimentalism of the day.
One of the most interesting articles is
that of the Rev. VIM. E. Boggs, D. D., OF
Atlanta, on The Philadelphia Council.
1t is an excellent presentation of the do
ings of that body, and review of the
Council Volume containing the papers
read on that occasion. What should we
do without the sparkling article at the
end of each number on Recent Publica-
tons?
In the May number of the North
american Review we have remarkable
article by Mr.. George @. Cannon in de-
fence of Mormon Polygamy. Another
article is from the pen of DIR. Schaff on
The Old Version and the New" but no
| light is thrown on the character of the
new revision, of which we can only Judge
when we see it. David Dudley Field has
an article on "The Capitalization of the
Federal Government" and M. Desire
Charnay continues his papers on Mexican
Archaeology. "What morality have we
Ii it p is biting satire on Spencer's and
Mills philosophy in its bearing on ethics.
An unusually good article on In
spiration is mtng the contents of the
Presbyterian ReUlea0 for April, by Prof.
A. A. Hodge and Prof. B. B. Warfeld.
Speaking of the historical accuracy of
the New Testament writer's, the rem ark
is made that the names of some thirty
Roman emperors, princes, high priests,
leaders, ETC., are mentioned in the New
Testament, and that all these charac-
ters excepting Theudas and Barabbas)
are also mentioned in the contemporary
history or monuments; and the New Tes
lament notices are found, on comparison,
to be absolutely accurate in every, even
the minutest, detail. This is especially
noticeable in view of the fact that the
period was one of general confusion and
disorder. Even Tacitus trips sometimes
1t was long asserted that Luke was in
error in making Lysanias contemporary
tetrarch with the Herodian rulers. But
it is now admitted, even by Renan, that
Luke was right. Again, it was long
contended that Luke had fallen into
mistake in assigning proconsul to Cy-
prus, and now Gen. Cesnola publishes an
inscription which mentions the veritable
proconsul Paulus named by Luke.
And SO it is with regard to the geo.
graphical accuracy Of the sacred books.
In no single instance has there been
slip; although between forty and fifty
countries are named, and about the same
number of foreign cities. Still more to
the purpose, .thirty-six Syrian and Pales-
tenian towns are named, the great major
ity of which have been identified.
The value of this evidence is this that
it goes to establish the strict accuracy Of
the hooks of fhe Pib1a a,or - .oea.I 4.