The herald., 1893-08-13

by L. BEHYMER
James Pott & Co. OF New York, the
veil known Bible publishers, have just
issued book based upon The Old Testa
nent. 1t is entitled The Old Documents
md the New Bible. an easy lesson fol
the people in Bible criticism. The au.
thor, ]. Paterson Smyth. L. L. B., B.
D. in Senior Moderator and Gold Medal
1T, and Primates' Hebrew Prizeman, in
trinity college, Dublin. In our grand
athers' days in the simple loving rever-
Ince with which the Bible was regarded
almost seemed to men as If clasped
md covered complete, like the image OF
The goddess Diana. 1t was much too
lscred thing to be the subject of criti-
nal inquiry to admit the possibility OF
mistakes in its text would have been
little short OF hereey; while as for max
ng an investigation into the compost
lion and genuineness of its books-why,
man would as soon have thought of
Dotanising upon his mothers grave.
But, "old times have changed" In
this aga of criticism nothing is too sac
red to be questioned and Investigated,
and the present generation is accus-
toned to see the most vital questions
sonnected with Bible discussed with the
utmost freedom. Nor is the discussion
sonfned, as in former days, to the
sircle ~ scholars snG theologians.
The sounds OF attack and defense
have reached the ears OF ''the people"
outside that circle, and excited spirit
Df inquiry which, unsatisfed, may
easily pass into one OF doubt and un-
besiness, but which, rightly directed,
cannot fail to lead to a more intelligent
belief in the Bible and Its elaine. A
rood example of this uneasiness, before
mentioned, is confirmed in a graphic
manner in reading an account OF the
criennial convention of the American
church, held in January OF 1890, where
pne report states OF 90 ample matter
As the publication of the revised bible;
mot all the assaults of scepticism have
10 shaken the ancient reverence for the
lcriptures in the minds of Christians at
large!" What an amount of ignorance
about the Bible must be in the ''minds
pf Christians at large" If that report
vas correct Could we have stronger
proof of the need there is OF telling peo-
pic hlt tuhb Cdu 10 tOlu tucH duOuJ Inoil
Bible? And that is the principal rea-
son why Mr.. Smythe has written this
thorough work. People want to be told
without reservation all that can be told
them about this Bible of theirs; on
What foundation it rests; why they
lhould believe in its genuineness, its au-
thority, it's inspiration, its correctness
bf transmission through all the centu-
Pina Nouar hafnvn narbanc fhara
% much of unsatisfied popular question
nge (often unspoken questlonings)
about these matters a. at the present
day. This book is one of series in
answer to these popular questionings.
It covers only one part of the ground.
It is not book of evidence in favor of
the bible, but an attempt at an i'm
partial history of facts. 1t is not an
srudite treatise for scholars and students,
but simple effort to "shift knowledge
into a more convenient position" for
plain people who have little opportunity
Df studying such subjects for them
selves. Therefore the writer has writ
Ten in as simple style as possible, aim
ng at clearness rather than at complete
ness. Therefore, he has az far as posi-
Die avoided cum bering it's pages with
reference to learned authorities which
would be quite out of the reach OF such
readers as he has in view. The plan of
the book consists of three parts. The
hrst deals with the old He rev docu-
nents and the question OF their correct
ness the serond tells of other old docu-
nents and their use in testing
he and correcting the Hebrew; while
;hird part. in series OF easy illustrations,
10 show how his testing and correcting
done The three Photographic are
rom Palaeogrephia, Sacra P.ctoria, the
property of Professor Westwood Of OK
lord. ANY studeht or reader interested
n this subject will ind it fine study of
he Bible, and shoutd read it attentlvely
md with profit. IL will be found partly
historical, partly photographed and
,artly critical, deserving the attention
# the large number of protesting
christians who cannot devote the time
20 the larger histories of the English
Bible. and is Indispensable to the Bible
reader who wishes to have in email
compass sn account and explanation of
Incient manuscripts.
xF%
A very refreshing and restiul little
toiume has just been issued by Raphael
Tuck & Sons of New York city. 1t is q
hever little novelette, oy Mr.. /. Zang-
will, entitled, Merely Mary Ann This
publication appears to be the first ex-
pertinent in a series named The Breezy
Library, which the poblicans claim to
,e IAN attempt to disassociate q shil-
Ing from a shocker, and TO supply
ather q series of shilling eoothers. es-
,ecially in the matter of paper, print
md covers. They also promise that
the breath of originality will blow re-
reehingly" through every volume. This
promise is certainly flltilled in the pres
mt contribution, which is also enlivened
~ much piquancy and easy gayety. Tne
,ook is hardly as good as the authors
children of the Ghetto, but is superior
o his Bachelors Club. The principal
Genes are laid in an apartment
louse in Piccadilly. juet across the
Waterloo bridge. 1t is a bright, witty
omance, partaking of Bohemianism
With spice OF radcalism. The romance
,enters in a young musician struggling
or professional recognition and q young
,irl taken in from the charity hotee by
he landlady to do chores and wait OH
he boarders and dodgers. Alter several
ears the girl unexpectedly inherits
ortune from her brother and becomes
desirable party. The situations, although
rery often comical, are well drawn, and
he description OF the ups and downs OF
he intermediate and lower classes is
graphically drawn. AS an entertaining
look for a summer day il rapka with the