New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-25
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

Charles scnbner's Sons issue 1.-THE Higher Crit
sdsm of the Hexsteucha by Charles Augustus Briggs
D. D., which Is simply portion OF Professor Brlggss
answer to the charges made against him In his recent
trial before the New-York Presbytery. AS the case
Of the distinguished author is 10 come up again be-
fore the General Assembly, which Is TO meet In May
the points covered in the volume are particularly
timeiv from q controversial and ecclesiastical point
OF yiew But the book also possesses u value rs
contribution 10 the critical literature on the Bible
which Is so remarkably prolific at the present ume
II cannot be claimed. however, that Dr. Briggs mas
said anything as the authorship OF the Hexateuch
q word used 10 describe the first six books OF 'he
Bible, which has not been more fully SAID by many
other great Biblical scholars. But this was inev-
table since the book forensic array OF acts pear
ing on the higher criticism rather than on original IN
yestgation Of the subject. The arguments ar" pu'
strongly and clearly and present the theory OF he ooc
umentary origin OF the Hexateuch In way that VIII
convince most people who do not hold bref on 'he
other side. 49,
In @The Documents OF the Hexateuch' by W. H.
Adds NJ. A., OF Baiol College, oxford Co. 4. f"'
nam,s s1ns, the supposed original documents that
were dcvetailed together by some unknown " Keoac
tcrs to make the first six books OF the BlDie' are
separated and printed In different kinds OF type.
work OF this kind Is itself argument In favor OF
the documentary theory that Is at least striMng II
not absolutely conclusive. For there is continuity
and vertsimiitude In the various narratives thus
picked out OF the composite story that would lhoi
cate their earlier Independent origin. Moreover the
documentary theory largely explains numerous NEON
Rruitics In the Biblical narrative Even the casual
reader for instance. must notice that there are TWO
accounts Of the creation and Of the flood In the book
od Genesis which not harmonious In all points
But when these two accounts are separated their
discrepancies are easily explained by assuming that
they were originally two distinct narratives, which
some one Noses Ezra incorporated INTO his own
story MIR. Adds has spent many wears in studying
the works OF the great German and lutch biblical
critics. and his volume will be found to give the
most approved conclusions OF these critics as to the
origin Of the Hexateuch
Volume third OF scriptures. Hebrew ana Chris
tiapn by Professor John p Peters. OF the University
of PENNSYLVANIA &c. p. Putnams Sons) takes up the
first three Gospels. the Acts and the Epistes IT is
an sxpository and exegcc commentary, supplemented
BY a table OF quotations from the Old Testament.
The reputation OF Professor Peters as q profound
student Of the Bible Is well established and In this
volume he shows that this reputation is fully DE-
served The reader will miss, and be glad to miss
q largo number Of pletistic phruses used by many
expository writers, which have almost degenerated
into can't The tone Of the book Is healthy, human
and scholarly without being pedantic.