Contemporary Literature [pp. 541-573]

55 4 CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE. [July,
From the sasme house we also receive, OnI Holy Ground, by EDWIN
HODDER, a graphic account of places and objects in Palestine, which the
author has personally inspected.
Scribner, W,lford & Armstrong have imported for special use in this
country, an edition of the itirodclion to t/hie -'azine Eiistles, by PATON J.
GLOAG, D.D., well known as the author of several important works, doctrinal,
practical, apologetic and exegetical. This massive volume, just published by
the Clarks of Edinburgh, is afforded here at $5.25. It is designed especially
as an antidote to the destructive criticism of Baur of Tubingen in Dr. Gloag's
judgment, "a theologian who has exercised greater influence on modern
theological thought than any recent writer, not excepting Strauss or Renan."
For this reason it is well fitted and much needed to supplement the shortcomings and c:)rrcct the errors of D)avidson's Introduction. It is thoroughly
sound, scholarly, and judicious.
It begins vithl an extended introductory chapter in rcegard to Paul's life and
authorship of tihe Epistles ascribed to him; their authenticity, style, matter,
and above all the principles of their interpretation, particularly as this is
affected by their divine inspiration. This iirportant subject he treats with
great justness and force. Irrespective of this, even if he were uninspired, the
comnpetent interpreter must bringi to his task candor and a reasonably sympathetic insight into the respective circumstances and states of mind of the
author and those addressed by him, and an honest effort to find the former
consistent with himself. But the inspiration of a sacred author brings in
other considerations which may not be overlooked, and whl-ich exegetes of the
lax and destructive kind contend ought to be ignored. These, of course, depend on what is meant by inspiration, which it is outside the author's purpose thoroughly to discuss, or formally to define. But we think the following -iew of it as- unquestionable and important as it is temperate and
cautious.
"If this element of inspiration be admitted to exist, it must, by logical necessity, modify our methods of interpretation." We must bring to our exegesis
that faith which receives the writer's statements as the word and testimony of
God, not to be explained away when we cannot understand or do not like
them, but as divine mysteries which, for the present, surpass our comprehension, and demand of us, not to reject them, but to bow before them, and
wonder and adore. So the Apostle, Rom. xi. 33-36. Those who deny the
supernatural and miraculous must always wrench out of all Scripture asserting
them some naturalistic make-shift.
" Further, by inspiration, a unity is imparted, not only to all the writings
of Paul, but to the whole of the books of Scripture. Therefore, all parts are
to be in mutual consistency, that which is obscure determined by what is plain,
and of two interpretations, ceterisfaributs, that which is most in harmony with
the whole scope of Scripture is to be preferred." It is vain to oppugn principles so obvious or to attempt to evade their just consequences.
In respect to each particular Epistle, Dr. Gloag first points out its general
purpose and scope, as shown by its internal contents, in relation to the cir