The Portland daily press., 1884-02-02
A GOOD COMMENTARY.

Inc fourth volume of "The Popular Com.
mentary on the New Testament" was received
several weeks ago, and we have paid it the
compliment of delaying this NJ tice till we
| could give the volume more than a cursory ex-
animation. critical survey of its contents
has assured US that tbs present volume equals
the previous ones in all the conditions of first
class commentary judged by the highest stan
dard of scholarship In our age.
| DR.. Scbaff, the editor, is himself fully
equipped at all points, and 9 has called to his
aid other scholars of the highest reputation.
The letter press, illustrasisls mapa, paper and
binding are all ia keeping with the literary
matter. which is characterizsd by eruiition,
research and a catholic temper.
The Epistles included in this volume are the
Epistle to the Hebrews, the first and second OF
| st. Peter aud the second aud third of st. John
AMI tie Apocalypse or Book OF Revelations.
Among questions of special interest is the
disposed authorship Of the Epste to the He
| brews, the second of St. Peter, the second aud
third of St. John, and of the Apocalypse. The
writer OF the commentary on each Epistle sub
Jects 1t to rigid scrutiny in this as in other
particulars. External and internal evidences
are a3duced and carefully sitted.
The history of the literature connected With
the subject il surveyed, and the conclusions
reached are stated With the utmost fairness.
The result OF the investigation seems to con-
firm the historical view, while the weight OF
internal proof is decidedly in the same direc-
tion. One conclusion is certain, viz, that If
| Paul did not write the letter to the Hebrews
John the second aud third Of those which are
currently called his, and Peter the second of
his name, it is impossible to establish By equal
evidence the claims o. any other persons to the
honor of their authorship.
Another point in favor of this Commentary
is that it is not written from sectarian stand-
point. The writers hare no theory to sustain,
but aim at an impartial rendering of the au-
thor's meaning, SO far as it can be determined
by candid exegesis. AS an example OF fair
ness, we may mention the passage relating to
the three witnesses in /. John Y. Z, which is
bracketed and virtually surrendered because
not found in the earlier MSS.
When we consider the cost of tirst-cIass
Commentary like this of DIR. Schalf's 3, the cost,
we mean, in investigation study of localities,
times and seasons, historical research, critical
analysis, COLLATION. of manuscripts, minute COM
parisoa of texts, and candid use of all the
learning and literature of Biblical criticism,
we conclude that il our people are not mighty
in the Scriptures the fault is certainly not with
those who. like Dr. Schaff, have furnished
such ample means of study. The only plea
that can be made nog is that Bible readers,
from the Sunday school scholar to the studio
minister, are embarrassed by the riches which
are thrust upon then, till the mind is in dan
ger of being distracted, il not enfeeblsi by the
variety and extent OF tae assistance offered.
The fallness and abundance oyerlay and
weigh down the faculties, till they lose their
elasticity, and 50 CEASE to be critical or even
active. But this is obviously by an abuse, rath-
er than the use of what is in itself good.
1t should be added that each volume of this
Commentary is complete 10 .tself.
EXCURSIONS OF AN Ev0LUTIoNIsT
Mr.. John Fiske of Harvard College is we'll
known as an able and eloquent advocate of the
theory Of evolution. IN this volume, entitled
Excursions of an Eyolutionist," we have
collection of essays ca several aspects of this
theory with special references to the Aryan race
~ ~ sSAoPSN IA A1utOpos Sfo u1fb graphic PIC
lures of Europe as it was before the advent of
the Aryan type Of mankind, and sketches OF
the growth of This racs from infancy 10 man
hood. OF course the pictures are painted from
the standpoint Of an Eyolntionist who assumes
the substantial correctness Of that theory. It
certainly furnishes good working hypothesis
around which Darwin and Others arrange many
facts which seem conclusive.
The theory, however, can hardly he na:d to
be proved beyond reasonable doubt. It's
weakest side is the mental. How mind could
be evolved from the lover forms OF matter has
never been satisfactorily explained. Nor can
it be truly said that the world OF mind is less
potent than the world Of matter Mental and
material phenomena are wholly different, and
there is no evidence that the higher has been,
or can be, edaced from the lower. Thought is
something generically different from any ma
teral attribute, and no evolutionist has been
able to discover passage from one 70 the oth-
or. This fact will be admitted by eYolutionists
il intelligent and candid, and Is virtusllg con-
ceded by Mr.. Fske, who is By no means ma
terialist Reading his essays as contributors
to solution OF these great problems we shall
find them fresh, suggestive aud highly instruc-
tive. The author is not 50 much scientist, as
sayan who has studied carefully the works of
scientists, and brings the powers of an acute
and trained intellect to apply the principle of
evolution to the phenomena of history, more
especially the history of Europe aud Amelica
The enthusiasm of evolationists just nov in
cites them 10 apply their fayorite theory to
more Thugs in heaven and earth than are irIy
included 10 its verified features. Evolution by
natural selection, for example, cannot be sid
to have been verified IS the theory of gravits-
ticn has been verified. That is to say, it does
not as set, and perhaps it never will, account
for all the facts which it must account II
before it is fairly and finally accepted.
VALENTINES.