Morning journal and courier., 1882-04-12
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.

The valuable work on "Homiletics" by
 Professor James M Hoppin, of Yale College,
 has run through three editions. It has been
 we'll received by the public and adopted as a 1 textbook in several theological schools. A
 revised edition has lately been prepared In it's present form the work is greatly en. larged and in some parts wholly rewritten There IS much of it which is entirely new. The author says in his preface In the course of nearly twenty years of instruction upon these themes there has been wrought, naturally, considerable modification of views. Certain aspects of truth, especially as re- gards the theory of preaching, tending to more thoroughly biblical and at the same time freer spiritual expression, have pre- sented themselves. There has seemed to be opened a profounder philosophy in the in- depreciation of the divine mind through preaching that has led me to ponder deeply a remark made to me by the late Dr. Horace Bushnell that ''of all the branches of instruc- tion in theological seminary he should pre- fer that of Homilectics, as being one which dealt most directly with what God would say to men"-as if he had said that this depart ment is one of vital importance, that it is the consummation and test of the other depart ments, that it goes to the root of things and nearest the spirit and work of Christ; and which, therefore, should not be conducted drily, nor technically, nor incidentally by being left to irregular methods, but scientifl- caly in the best sense of the word, and with the whole energies of a. mind studious of Gods teachings and inspired by the sagacity of higher Christian wisdom and faith. It is, indeed, the crown of ministerial educa- tion-the preparation of men for the pro- phetie office.
 The revised edition will consist of two vol umes. The first of these, book of 800 pages, has already been published. The first part of the volume, after few pages occu- pied with necessary definitions, is taken up with ''history of preaching" from the time of the prophets to the present day, which history contains vast amount of interesting and valuable information. A competent critic says of other portions of the book: FtMueh that is said under the head of 'Classi- fcation of Sermons, as, for example, con CeEulH0 dIL Auu AIeTdES pOHSI III e0AA1OASs and concerning science in the pulpit and concerning variety in preaching is in our judgment exceedingly well said. Perhaps from some that part of the book may elicit the highest praise in which the author treats of Rhetoric Ap- piled to Preaching And their commends- ton might easily be justified if space were allowed for copious extracts. The discussion is very able, and shows great familiarity with the subject in. hand Professor Hoppin, throughout the book, gives abundant eyi- dence of scholarship and reverent thinking. He msgni6es the office of the gospel minis ter and insists that he is first of all a pure medium He is not to bring the human thought, the human philosophy between the heart and the divine word The preaching, he forcibly says, that does not actually con- vert men from the love of sin to the love of God, nor aims to do so, is religious play acting and an ecclesiastical sham.'"
 The book is well printed and bound, and has a complete index. Published by Dodd, Mead $ Co.,, New York, and for sale in this city by Judd the bookseller.