Short Notices [pp. 722-738]

Short Notices.
While, therefore, we do not accept the author's theory in
full, because truth is not always at the contrary extreme from
error, we nevertheless appreciate his effort to contribute to the
correction of a serious evil. And, according to the standard
he set before himself, his work seems to us exceedingly well
done. The number of hymns in the collection is between six
and seven hundred. We know not where else to find, within
the same compass, so large a number of standard hymns, that
have been dear to the church in all ages, and are fitted to
awaken pure and deep devotional feeling-so rarely interlarded
with anything offensive to a refined and intelligent Christian
mind. If the principle he has adopted has served to winnow
out some wheat, it has, doubtless, winnowed out a larger
amount of chaff. While we give only a partial acceptance to
his theory, we welcome his work as a valuable contribution to
our hymnology.
A Consideration of the Sermon on the Mount. By Major D. H. Hill, Pro fessor of Mathematics in Davidson College, North Carolina. Philadel phia: William S. & Alfred Martien. 1858.
Religious books written by laymen are seldom of medium
quality. So far as our observation extends, they are among
the best or the poorest in our religious literature. The nonprofessional writer, in any department, is liable to overlook
some things which are essential to any adequate treatment of
the subject, and thus to produce a one-sided, superficial, perfunctory work. If, however, he masters his subject sufficiently
to surmount this danger, he is apt to display a freshness and
force in handling it, which are rare with routine writers of the
profession. This book of Major Hill is decidedly of the latter
kind. We have had cause to know that he is a man of mark
in his own department. His power does not forsake him, when
he passes into the sphere of Christianity.
This volume unfolds the doctrinal and practical teachings of
the Sermon on the Mount. It is critical and exegetical only so
far as is incidental and subservient to its main design. Without adopting every minute point in the author's interpretations,
we are free to say, that he has evolved the solid doctrinal and
practical import of our Saviour's discourse with great justness
and force. His analysis of the varied topics that arise is lucid
and vigorous, his discussions of experimental casuistical points
are able and terse, his enforcement and application of truth is
searching and pungent. We have seen few recent books of
this class, containing more than this, that is "profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."
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