His idea of the true mode of dying touched me much when I first
saw it. He declared that he would make no spiritual parade of his
last hours, but if possible continue at his usual works, and depart
this life as a person in the midst of business leaves the room to
attend to a knock at the door. Accordingly he was occupied with the
correction of his proof sheets as at other times, and the last
messenger summoned him to his rest while his hands were full. This
reveals a calm, well balanced mind, and unveils many of those
singular characteristics which enabled him to become the laborious
recensor of the various M.S.S., and the pioneer of true Biblical
criticism.
The Critical English Testament. A Critical New Testament,
so compiled as to enable a reader, unacquainted with Greek, to
ascertain the exact English force and meaning of the language of
the New Testament, and to appreciate the latest results of modern
criticism." Such is the professed aim of this commentary, and the
compilers have very fairly carried out their intentions. The whole
of Bengel's Gnomon is bodily transferred into the work, and as one
hundred and twenty years have elapsed since the first issue of that
book, it may be supposed that much has since been added to the
wealth of Scripture exposition; the substance of this has been
incorporated in brackets, so as to bring it down to the present
advanced state of knowledge. We strongly advise the purchase of
this book, as it is multum in parvo, and will well repay an
attentive perusal. Tischendorf and Alford have contributed largely,
with other German and English critics, to make this one of the most
lucid and concise commentaries on the text and teachings of the New
Testament.
Alford's Greek Testament, "for the use of Theological
Students and Ministers", is an invaluable aid to the critical study
of the text of the New Testament. You will find in it the ripened
results of a matured scholarship, the harvesting of a judgment,
generally highly impartial, always worthy of respect, which has
gleaned from the most important fields of Biblical research, both
modern and ancient, at home and abroad. You will not look here for
any spirituality of thought or tenderness of feeling; you will find
the learned Dean does not forget to do full justice to his own
views, and is quite able to express himself vigorously against his
opponents; but for what it professes to be, it is an exceedingly
able and successful work. The later issues are by far the most
desirable, as the author has considerably revised the work in the
fourth edition.
What I have said of his Greek Testament applies equally to
Alford's New Testament for English Readers, which is also a
standard work.
I must confess also a very tender side towards Bloomfield's
Greek Testament, and I am singular enough to prefer it in some
respects to Alford; at least, I have got more out of it on some
passages, and I think it does not deserve to be regarded as
superseded.
The Commentary by Patrick, Lowth, Arnald, Whitby,, and Lowman,
is said by Darling to be of standard authority, but you may do
without it with less loss than in the case of several others I have
mentioned. The authors were men of great learning, their
association in one commentary is remarkable, and their joint
production has a place in all complete libraries.
Dr. Wordsworth's Holy Bible, With Notes and Introductions,
is a valuable addition to our stores, but it is rendered much more
bulky and expensive than it needed to be by the printing of the
text at large. It gives many precious hints, and much of the
choicest thought of mediaeval writers, besides suggesting catch
words and showing connections between various passages. although it
is occasionally marred by the characteristic weaknesses of the
Bishop, and has here and there foolishnesses at which one cannot
but smile, it is a great work, such as only an eminent scholar
could have produced.
I am not so enamoured of the German writers as certain of my
brethren appear to be, for they are generally cold and hard, and
unspiritual. As Dr. Graham says, "there are about twenty or thirty
names in the literary world who have gained a conspicuous place in
theological circles; and in German commentaries these are
perpetually introduced. In some of them the bulk of the work is
made up of these authoritative names, and quotations from their
works. This gives their writings the appearance of prodigious
learning and research. Every page is bristling with hard words and
strange languages, and the eye of the common reader is terrified at
the very appearance, as the peaceful citizen is at the pointed
cannon of a fortress." I do, however, greatly prize the series
lately produced under the presidency of Dr. Lange. These
volumes are not all of equal value, but, as a whole, they are a
grand addition to our stores. The American translators have added
considerably to the German work, and in some cases these additions
are more valuable than the original matter. For homiletical
purposes these volumes are so many hills of gold, but, alas, there
is dross also, for Baptismal Regeneration and other grave errors
occur.
The Speaker's Commentary is issued (August, 1875) as far as
the Lamentations. It is costly, too costly for your pockets, and I
am therefore somewhat the less sorry to add that it is not what I
hoped it would be. Of course it is a great work, and contains much
which tends to illustrate the text; but if you had it you would not
turn to it for spiritual food, or for fruitful suggestion, or if
you did so, you would be disappointed. The object of the work is to
help the general reader to know what the Scriptures really say and
mean, and to remove some of the difficulties. It keeps to its
design and in a measure accomplishes it.
I must also add to the list A Commentary, Critical,
Experimental, and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments. Of
this I have a very high opinion. It is the joint work of Dr.
Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and Dr. David Brown. It is to some extent
a compilation and condensation of other men's thoughts, but it is
sufficiently original to claim a place in every minister's library:
indeed it contains so great a variety of information that if a man
had no other exposition he would find himself at no great loss if
he possessed this and used it diligently.
Several other works I omit, not because they are worthless, or
unknown to me, but because for scant purses the best will be best.
I must not omit upon the New Testament the goodly volume of
Burkitt. If you can get him cheap, buy him. He is the
celebrated "Rector" whom Keach "rectified" in the matter of infant
baptism. Burkitt is somewhat pithy, and for a modern rather rich
and racy, but he is far from deep, and is frequently common place.
I liked him well enough till I had read abler works and grown
older. Some books grow upon us as we read and reread them, but
Burkitt does not. Yet so far from depreciating the good man, I
should be sorry to have missed his acquaintance, and would bespeak
for him your attentive perusal.
The best commentators, after all, are those who have written
upon only one book. Few men can comment eminently well upon the
whole Bible, there are sure to be some weak points in colossal
works; prolixity in so vast an undertaking is natural, and dulness
follows at its heels--but a life devoted to one of the inspired
volumes of our priceless Bible must surely yield a noble result. If
I find myself able to do so, at some future time I will introduce
you to a selection of the great one book writers. For the present
this much must suffice.