Reviews. The Protestant, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Encyclopædia: being a condensed Translation of Herzog's Real Cyclopædia; with Additions from other sources. By Rev. J. H. A. BOMBERGER, D.D., assisted by distinguished Theologians of various denominations. Parts I. to VII. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark. BEYOND casual allusions and occasional extracts, we have not yet noticed the translation of Herzog's Real Encyklopädie für Protestantische Theologie und Kirche, which Messrs. T. & T. Clark, of Edinburgh, are reproducing in this country. The appearance of Part VII., which completes the first volume, furnishes a fitting occasion for calling the attention of our readers to it. Biblical scholars who possess only the slightest acquaintance with German literature are familiar, by reputation at least, with Herzog's great work. Assisted by more than a hundred contributors, which include some of the greatest names in Germany, he is rapidly carrying towards completion an encyclopædia which will cover the whole range of Biblical, theological, ecclesiastical, and religious literature. It is a perfect specimen of the patient research, profound learning, and thorough exhaustive treatment which so remarkably characterise the writers of Germany. To ourselves, and to many others, it is matter of regret that the original work is not being reproduced in its entirety. We presume, however, that few publishers could be found, either in Great Britain or America, to venture upon a work of such dimensions. We must, therefore, be "thankful for small mercies," and accept this abridged and modified version, since nothing else is forthcoming. Indeed, Herzog himself, in a letter addressed to the editor, admits that condensation and modification are not merely desirable, but necessary, in an English translation. Assuming the correctness of this view of the case, we are bound to say that the work has been done as well as possible. How full and various the contents of the Encyclopædia are, may be gathered from the articles given under a single initial. Taking the twenty pages from the commencement of letter B, we find the following articles :-Baal, Babel, Babylonian, Babylonian Captivity, Babylas, St., Baccanarists, Bacon Roger, Baden the religious Conference of, Baden the Reformation of, Bader, Bahrdt, Baius, Balaam, Balaamites, Baladan, Balak, Baldachin, Balde, Balsam, Balsamon, Balthasar, Baluze, Ban among the Hebrews, Ban, Church Censure, Banquets, Bans of Marriage, Baptists, Baptisteries, Barabbas, Barak, Barbara, St., Bar-cochba. Of course, many of these topics are despatched in a few lines; but among them are several of considerable length and value. We may mention those on Baal, Babylonia, and the Babylonian Captivity. Some of the articles seem at first sight to be remote from the scope and design of a theological and ecclesiastical encyclopædia; but they are not so really. Under the head Banquets we have an account of the festal usages of the Jews. Barley gives occasion to a brief but valuable article, containing much information as to the period of the barley harvest, and the use of barley among the Hebrews. The paper on Roger Bacon shows his place in the history of theological opinions, and fairly estimates his influence on doctrinal development. It would be manifestly impossible to speak in terms of equal approval of articles so various and emanating from such different sources. But, as a whole, we may express our very high admiration of the learning, piety, and impartiality they display. We would not venture to assert that nothing savouring of heterodoxy is to 3 к VOL. II.-NEW SERIES. be detected here and there; but we do most gladly recognise the devout and reverential spirit in which Scripture is constantly spoken of, and the decided manner in which its supreme authority is asserted. This is especially evident in an able article on Demoniacs, from the pen of Ebrard, which we hope speedily to reproduce in the pages of this magazine. The manner in which our own denomination is spoken of is thoroughly fair and impartial, contrasting favourably with the offensive and contemptuous arrogance of tone affected by our Established Church, and imitated too often by the writers of other sects. The article on Baptisteries concedes all that we require as to the practice of the early church. The notice of our organisation and history, though brief, is favourable. The biographical notices of eminent members of our body, such as Bunyan and Carey, are thoroughly eulogistic, and, for an encyclopædia, of considerable length. From the article on Bunyan we learn that during the last fifteen years as many as four separate translations of the "Pilgrim's Progress" have been published in Germany. The principal defect we have noticed in the parts which have appeared is an occasional disproportion between the length of the article and the importance of the subject. Few topics deserve and require more elucidation than the history of Balaam, yet he is despatched in about half a column; whilst Baius, an obscure German preacher of the sixteenth century, receives nearly a column; and Balde, a minor poet, is honoured with more than two. Again, Dante and Damianus occupy much more space than David and Daniel. Sometimes, too, the bulk of the article is occupied with the discussion or illustration of what is merely incidental to the subject, whilst that which is essential to it receives very summary treatment. It is only fair to Herzog to say that these blemishes are, for the most part, due to the translator, and do not appear in the original German edition. These, however, are but venial defects. To those whose knowledge of German does not enable them freely and readily to use the encyclopædia in the original we strongly recommend this translation. It will form an invaluable addition to the libraries of theological and ecclesiastical students; giving, as it does, a vast amount of information, compiled and condensed from sources not generally accessible, upon subjects of vast importance, by men of the greatest eminence in their respective departments. From the publisher's preface in the part just issued, we are glad to find that the work is being welcomed as it deserves. An Earnest Exhortation to Christian Unity, by the Chief of Sinners. London: Partridge & Co. THIS is a splendidly "got-up" volume; the paper is excellent, the printing beautiful, and the binding superb. The exterior is emphatically attractive. In the interior we become acquainted with some of the particulars of the early life of the author-particulars that, in some measure, account for his self-designation as "the chief of sinners." He magnifies, however, the riches of divine grace as illustrated in his history, and seems resolved to live for some grand purpose. We know not the denomination with which he is identified, but we more than suspect that though not a member of the "sect everywhere spoken against," he belongs to the one which is too guilty of regarding every denomination as sectarian except its own, and of speaking against every sect but itself. His views of the plan of salva tion are evangelical, and in order to "induce all real Christians, of every denomi nation to form themselves into one united general phalanx of Christian brotherhood, under the single banner of the great Captain of their salvation, and so most zealously fight the battle of true Christianity against the common enemy of mankind with all his host;" he enlarges on "the state of disunity and sinfulness" (quoting at full length the Epistle to the Galatians, the Epistle of James, the first and second Epistles of Peter, all the Epistles of John, the Epistle of Jude, and the letters to the seven churches), " on Baptism," "on the Lord's Supper," on "Paradise and Hell," "on the state of Christian unity and righteousness," quoting the whole of the Sermon on the Mount. Though we cannot speak of his cogency in argument, we cheerfully grant that he says many good things in a very earnest spirit; not a syllable more eulogistic, however, dare we utter. We have met with so much of the comical element in the book that, coupled with the sombre tone that ever and anon mingles with it, we are compelled to regard the whole as one of the finest specimens of medley that can in the whole range of Christian literature-ancient or modern-be supplied. We should like to buy up every copy of the work that has been printed. We are persuaded its circulation will do vastly more harm than good. Such a jumble of what is represented as religious truth will make religion itself, in some quarters, a laughing stock. We consider the writer has sadly mistaken his calling, and as this is his "first essay to cater for the public weal," we hope it will be his last. We have, in our progress through the volume, alternately smiled and sighed―laughed and lamented. Who can read the following extracts which we think it our duty to give, to sustain the verdict we have pronounced-without regretting that the religious press should ever allow such crudities to see the light. A favourite idea with the writer is found in the resemblance which, in some particulars, he can discern between salt and the gospel. Alluding to that condiment he declares, after quoting Isaiah lv. 1, 2:— "Such is the prophet's invitation as regards the antitype. Now hear it as applied to the type, with a slight transposition of terms:-'Ho! everyone that eateth meats and herbs (or vegetables), and all kinds of pleasant food, come ye to the waters (the salt springs), and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy salt, without money and without price. (For salt is like the manna, which God sent, and came down from heaven; all that the people have to do is to gather it.)" Once more, when warning the Christian against "casting pearls before swine," he thus writes : "Would it not be an act of the greatest indiscretion, were a zealous but indiscreet disciple of Christ to procure a ticket for the opera or the theatre, not for the purpose of going there to see the performances, or beholding the vanities thereat; but in the midst of the assembled concourse, and whilst their attention was excited to the utmost at witnessing some intense tragic, or their risible faculties stimulated at beholding some comic, scene, to get up and proclaim the truths of the glorious gospel in contradistinction to, and in condemnation of, such empty vanities and vices. Methinks, were anyone to do such an act, that something of a rather more serious character than zeal, would be attributed to him. But as more simply exemplifying this precept, an anecdote, or rather caricature of the old coaching days, occurs to my mind, and probably may to my readers. It is this:-A zealous servant of Christ was represented as sitting on the box of a coach by the side of a son of Jehu, who had in his hands the reins of four steeds, who were anything but obedient to his guiding; which caused him, in addition to the application of the whip with the one, and the controlling power of the reins with the other hand, to bring the tongue likewise into requisition, in giving utterance to epithets which were anything but agreeable to the ears of our zealous but indiscreet friend sitting by his side; who, in the midst of the equestrian intractableness and Jehuan irritability of temper, put his hand upon the shoulder of the latter, saying 'Patience, patience, my dear friend, remember Job; patience, patience;' and by his suddenly checking him in the management of his steeds, was nigh unto capsizing the coach; whereupon Jehu's son replied, 'Yes, yes, sir, it's all very well for you to talk about patience and Job, but did he, Job, ever drive three blind'uns and a bolter? This was such a bolting reply to our zealous but indiscreet friend, that had he been anywhere else but on the box of a coach, the probability is that he would have bolted altogether; for it is presumed that he was so dumfoundered by the Jehuan reply, that he opened not his mouth again during the whole journey, for we hear nothing more of him; whereas, had he abided his time, he might have given him a dissertation upon the laws of swearing, and intemperance, both of appetite and temper, until they had arrived at the place of their destination. And so it is sometimes with zealous but indiscreet members of the church of Christ. "Even so," we can imagine is the response of our readers who perhaps, look for an apology from us for detaining them with such effusions; all that we have to say in reply is, we deem it right that they should know what stuff reviewers have occasionally to handle. S. The Street Preacher, being the Autobiography of Robert Flockhart. Edited by THOMAS GUTHRIE, D.D. Edinburgh: A. and C. Black. THE subject of this autobiography was a remarkable man. Born of humble parentage in the West of Scotland, he received such education as five years' attendance at the parish school could afford, and afterwards served seven years' apprenticeship to a nailer; but, being of an unsettled disposition, he enlisted as a soldier when nineteen years of age, and continued in the army till he was pensioned off in 1813, at the early age of thirty-five. He lived forty-four years after this, and died in the autumn of last year. The early part of his career was one of more than ordinary profligacy and desperate wickedness, escaping the halberts and gallows when many of his comrades suffered who were not worse than himself. His regiment, when in India, having been visited by the Baptist missionaries stationed near its cantonments, several were converted, and formed themselves into a church for communion and mutual edification. These stood aloof from Flockhart as one hopelessly depraved, but when he was laid aside by sickness at Burhampore, one of them, observing some thoughtfulness in the sick man, spoke to him, and brought the profligate to repentance. As he slowly recovered, he attended the domestic ministry of the excellent Chamberlain, by which his faith was confirmed. The regiment removing soon after to Calcutta, Flockhart, having been received by the church on the 22nd, was then baptized by Mr. Ward, in August, 1810. After the expedition which took the Isle of France from the French, he was invalided and sent home, being finally transferred to the 9th Veterans, stationed in Edinburgh. This city became the scene of his eccentric, but well-meant labours, till his death. Outrageous in wickedness before conversion, his zeal for the truth, after that event, was scarcely less so; while in garrison, on guard or off, he ceased not to reprove the wickedness of his comrades, and even of his superiors, in language less pleasant than plain, and no doubt owed his dismissal from the army to a desire on the part of the latter to get quit of so bold and pertinent (or impertinent) a reprover. It must be owned that then, and long after, though calm when unopposed, he was wont to get excited, and used expressions in rebuking sin which no prudent Christian would utter. The truth is, though it does not appear in his autobiography, that his illness in India, the result of vicious habits and exposure to the sun, had slightly affected his brain, and he was never altogether free from occasional aberration, especially when checked in what he considered his special calling. He had been received into the church under the care of the late Christopher Anderson, but in its meetings he would break out into audible prayer and exhortation, in language which obliged the females to retire and the others to remove him, which he resisting, the interference of the police had to be called in. He was examined by medical men, one of whom was Dr. Stuart, the well-known friend of the Serampore Mission, who certified that he was of unsound mind, and sent him to the lunatic asylum. This the good man, writing forty years after, in his old age, puts down to persecution, and the unnecessarily harsh treatment he met with in the asylum is charged on the excellent persons who first saw the necessity of some restraint being put on his eccentricities; but it is evident his memory, remarkably clear on the events of his youth, fails him greatly respecting the middle part of his course, when of unsound mind. He was often under charge of the police of Edinburgh, who were always tolerant to street-preacherrs as can witness, when the thoroughfare was not interrupted, nor decency outraged. we Advancing years brought their usual sedatives, and Robert, with unabated, but better directed zeal, continued to preach in the corners of the streets when the police allowed him a standing, to visit the hospitals and jails, where his conversation in quiet was more likely to be useful than his public addresses, and to reprove the profanity and vice which he daily met with. He was much respected in his latter years, and when death closed his course, the public, for whose reformation he had so long and disinterestedly laboured, awarded the old soldier the honour of a public funeral. Though for many years he had worshipped with the Presbyterians, he maintained to the last his views of Christian baptism, which are well expressed in p. 69. The reminiscences of intercourse with Flockhart, by Mr. Robertson, add considerably to the interest of this little volume, to the perusal of which we invite our readers.* A. need no introduction to the memoirs of which flowed on sun hath gone Christian lady (3), whose " POETICAL. John Snow. 2. Instauration: a Poem. & Co. 3. The The readers of the "Baptist Magazine" 1. Sorrows, Aspirations, and Legends Mr. Rhodes. Enriched as our pages have from India. By Mary E. Leslie, Calcutta. been by some of the ablest productions of By R. S. R. Partridge & Co. the ablest men among us, few contributions have attracted more attention or awakened and Fancies in verse. By H. M. RathStrawberry Girl; with other Thoughts more admiration than these memorials of bone. Longman, Brown & Co.-4. Sundeparted piety and genius. We are glad light in the Shade. to see the memoir reproduced in this Jones. Hamilton, Adams & Co.-5. The By Mary Amelia enlarged form, and desire for it a very wide circulation.-From the memoir of a recluse Poetry of Teaching; or, the Village School. A Poem, by Jas. Malcolm. Partridge student we now pass to that of an active tradesman (2). The contrast is striking, and may serve to illustrate the universal From Miss Leslie-the daughter, we adaptation of Christianity to "all sorts and presume, of our esteemed missionary in conditions of men." Jonas Sugden was a Calcutta-we receive a volume of poems (1) noble specimen of a wealthy devoted Wes- of considerable merit. The rise and proleyan layman, who, with a princely fortune, gress of the mutiny are traced in a series dedicated his time (a noble example to our of thirty-six sonnets, the first of which men of business, for he, too, was neck-deep describes, in lines of great beauty, the exquiin business), his talents, and his wealth, site spring of 1857, which opened in tranwithout stint, to the advancement of quil loveliness over thousands who, in religion. Few denominations have been so fancied security, little suspected the storm favoured as the Wesleyans with admirable about to break upon them. The subsequent specimens of Christian laymen. From this events, down to the fall of Delhi and the memoir we gather that Mr. Sugden deserves relief of Lucknow, have each a sonnet to take his place among the noblest of devoted to them. When we remember the them.-From the active, pushing man of scenes of horror through which the English business, we pass to a modest, retiring in India have passed, we cannot wonder, * A correspondent, in calling our attention to the foregoing biography, adds :-" Being stationed for a short time near a Baptist church in Ireland, he went to the pastor and said he wanted something to do,' and he says the pastor laughed for joy,' and gave him some labour. Now my object is to make our pastors laugh for joy,' by inducing many to go to them with the same request. How many are there in our churches and congregations who, beyond their attendance at public worship, and contributions to the cause they are connected with, do nothing in the service of Christ. If there be first a willing mind, there is abundance of work for all; and if all the members of our churches did their duty in this respect, how much greater power would the Church have, and how much more glory would be gained to God." |