here are equally inefficacious? Does not the very exigency of the apostle's argument require that the subject be not considered here as converted or unconverted, but as under the law or under the gospel; as seeking, whether converted or unconverted, to become holy by the law rather than by the gospel? This brings everything to its proper place, and makes the argument complete. As matter of fact it is true that every man must be either converted or unconverted; but abstraction is often a very important element in carrying on a sound argument.

We are on the whole gratified with the exposition of that most brilliant and exhilarating chapter, the eighth, though to some statements and criticisms we should take exceptions; and substantially the same remark we should make on the exegesis of the ninth chapter..

On the eleventh chapter Dr. Hodge does not tell us distinctly what it is that the Jews fell from, nor what it is that they are to be restored to. That it was not the opportunity of individual salvation that they fell from is perfectly plain, for, so far as this was concerned, they stood on precisely the same ground that the Gentiles did, and actually quite as many of the Jews in proportion to the whole number were then converted and saved as there was of the Gentiles (see Acts xxi. 20; xi. 21; v. 15; v. 5; ii. 94). What was it, then, that the Jews had lost, and which must be restored to them? Nothing, unless it was their pre-eminence as the church of God on earth. In what particular method their restoration will take place Paul does not say; the fact of such a restoration he distinctly affirms.

Our judgment of this commentary is, on the whole, very favorable, both as to its ability and great correctness. It has decided merits as well as glaring faults; and will well reward a discriminating and diligent study.

The great theological conflict, beginning with what is generally called the New Haven controversy, wrong as it was in some of its incidents, has resulted in great good. It has led to more careful definitions; it has at least partially dethroned the old dogmatists, whose word before was law; it has made necessary a closer and wider study of dogmatic history and the original scriptures; and has increased a mutual charity by enlarging the basis of investigation. The commentary of Dr. Hodge, as it appears in this edition, could not have been written at Princeton twenty-five years

ago.

C. E. S.

MANNING AND BROWN UNIVERSITY.1

The title of this volume expresses the double purpose of its author; namely, to furnish a biography of Dr. Manning and a history of Rhode Island College under his presidency. Such a work will be read with

1 Life, Times, and Correspondence of James Manning, and the Early History of Brown University. By Reuben Aldridge Guild. Boston: Gould and Lincoln. 1864.

delight by the friends of sound learning, and especially by the Alumni of Brown University; for common tradition ascribes to Dr. Manning eminent abilities as well as usefulness, and to the college under his administration marked success. Moreover, the recent, centennial anniversaries of the college and the Baptist church in Warren, remind us that a memoir of him who was the first president of the one and the first pastor of the other has not appeared too soon. "Nearly three quarters of a century have elapsed since he passed from earth. Of all Dr. Manning's intimate associates, and of his numerous pupils, not one is now living to aid by personal recollections any endeavor to embody, in a suitable form, memorials of his character and deeds." It is also to be remembered, that the records necessary to a proper delineation of his life were liable to perish, as, indeed, many of them had already perished. "The greater portion of Dr. Manning's papers," says Mr. Guild," being loosely kept in barrels, were, through a sad mistake which good housewives sometimes make, unfortunately destroyed. These papers comprised, without doubt, private diaries, important narratives, records pertaining to the church, the college, the association; in short, ample materials for his own personal history and the history of his times." We are therefore grateful to the accomplished librarian of Brown University for gathering up the scattered leaves which remain, and by careful study preparing for us this goodly volume.

But was it wise to unite the biography and the history in one work? Would not the former have been more interesting and equally instructive, if only such references to the college had been made as were necessary to a description of the labors and character of Dr. Manning? And would not the latter have been more instructive and equally entertaining, if it had been given to the public in a volume by itself? Why attempt to carry along two distinct threads of narrative, and thus distract the reader's attention?. It must be weighty reasons which justify a writer in undertaking so difficult a task. Do they exist in the present case? Dr. Manning, it may be said in reply to this question, was the head of the college during his entire public life. For it he labored with great singleness of purpose and persistency of effort. For it he sundered, though with deep regret, the ties which bound him to the church in Warren. For it he at last resolved to withdraw entirely from the pastoral work which he loved. For it he wrote and journeyed and prayed. His letters bear witness to his perpetual solicitude for its prosperity, his unwearied endeavors to increase its usefulness. More than any other man the founder of the college, he was also more than any other man its life and soul for above a quarter of a century. He was a leader in nearly every movement which affected its interests while he lived, and the history of its progress is therefore the history of his enterprise and action. If now it be added, that very little is known of his childhood and youth, we shall be able to see why a biography of Dr. Manning, occupied chiefly, as it must be, with his public life,

ought to embrace a tolerably full history of Brown University during the period of his connection with it; and we shall hardly object to the insertion of such additional notices of the college as are necessary to a complete view of its position and growth under his presidency.

But what shall be said of the numerous and sometimes elaborate sketches of other men, the teachers, associates, and pupils of Dr. Manning, or the large-hearted, munificent friends of the college? Do not these sketches turn away the mind too often from the central figure, the great personality of the work, and thus enfeeble the impression which his character ought to make upon the reader? Though exceedingly valuable to the student of the past, and most gratifying to all as evidences of careful research, do they not mar the unity and simplicity of the work, and thereby diminish its power for good to the mass of men? Must not a feeling of irritation disturb the reader, when the rapid and glowing narrative is suddenly arrested by a sign inviting him to learn below, in smaller type, what is the writer's authority for the exact shade of thought expressed in the text; or how far some previous historian has misrepresented a particular event; or when and where Mr., mentioned above, was born, graduated, settled, honored, and at last died? All these facts are instructive certainly, and the intelligent reader would be sorely perplexed, if required to specify any one of them which ought to be omitted; but do they not fill the book too full of truth? Do they not weaken the power of one great example, placed distinctly as in broad day before the mind, by calling attention to lesser forms dimly revealed, as in the twilight? This may be true for those who have a morbid love of excitement and a morbid dread of thinking; who delight to float on the surface, grasping at bubbles instead of diving for pearls, and who read history or biography for the same end and in the same way as they read the latest novel; but it will not be true for him who loves the paths of knowledge and understands the price which must be paid for it; who wishes to tread on firm ground in the past and to have its notable men and events set before him as they really were; who believes in history as the record of God's providence as well as man's imperfection, and would reverently study its lessons of admonition, of rebuke, and of encouragement. For such a man the subordinate sketches of this volume will be not only instructive but interesting. They will assist his imagination in reproducing the scenes of the past. Step by step they will bear him back into the society of other days, and cause him to breathe the atmosphere which surrounded the first president of Brown University.

Let us take, for instance, the single item of dates as affording aid to the imagination. The observant reader will of course be struck with the description of Dr. Manning himself. His person was graceful and his countenance remarkably expressive of sensibility, dignity, and cheerfulness; his manners were polite without affectation, his colloquial powers versatile,

his disposition amiable, and his voice an instrument of extraordinary compass and melody. Moreover, he was distinguished for sterling good sense, for superior learning, and for genuine piety. But the fact will also be noted that he was twenty-six years of age when the college was founded. Who then were the men to whom he looked for counsel, sympathy, and support in his difficult enterprise? Were they persons of his own age or much further advanced in life? Were they young, vigorous, hopeful, and perhaps rash; or were they ripe in years, mature in experience, wise in council, but slow in action? Let us look at a single group, by the assistance of these auxiliary notices. As the reflective reader passes on he will observe that Hezekiah Smith and Moses Brown were of the same age as Manning; that Samuel Stillman was one year older, John Brown two years older, Samuel Jones three, Joseph Brown five, and Nicholas Brown nine. To go no further, here is a group of seven in the prime of early manhood, from twenty-six to thirty-five years of age, forming an inner circle, it may be supposed, around their accomplished leader, understanding his views, sharing his hopes, kindled by his enthusiasm, and ready to push forward a noble enterprise to a successful issue. Other groups, composed of older men, will also gradually array themselves before the reader's mind, as, turning his eye ever and anon to the bottom of the page, he takes in at a glance the cardinal events of their history, and assigns them their appropriate places in the mental picture which his imagination is limning. We do not say that the reader will prefer thus to group the friends of Manning and Brown University. He may choose to classify them by means of their local, professional, or ecclesiastical status. But we say that the numerous biographies in miniature, which characterize this volume, will be of inestimable service to him in reproducing the scenes and comprehending the spirit of that age; and we have sought to illustrate this statement by showing how even dates of birth and death, the driest perhaps of all facts, may assist the imagination in giving to men their true place on the historical canvas. Indeed, it is becoming every day more and more evident that no one can be a trustworthy historian without having penetrated the mystery of dates and numbers.

But still further. Whoever would excel in this department of literature must have a well nigh religious veneration for original manuscripts and all the primary sources of historical knowledge. Feeling that nothing is too minute for his patient scrutiny, he will gather up the stray leaves and broken sentences of the past, and transform them into a well-ordered narration; for the common-place of history will be clothed with fresh interest by a writer who has explored its by-ways and hidden retreats, finding in the latter many a record with which to correct, adorn, and enrich the former. Mr. Guild has given us this sort of proof that he was inwardly called to prepare the work which has occasioned these paragraphs. We were surprised as well as delighted to find in this volume so

These are all authentic ex

large a collection of Dr. Manning's letters. pressions of his character. They also indicate the nature and extent of his labors, especially for the college. Moreover, they are a voice from the times in which he lived, touching freely and with a Christian spirit the great questions which filled the thoughts of his contemporaries. They take us through the period of the American Revolution, and enable us to breathe again the atmosphere of freedom in heroic conflict with power. They reveal the heartiness and unanimity with which the Baptists of this country embraced the cause of the colonists, though deeming themselves oppressed in religious affairs by the standing order. And they call out a no less interesting testimony to the fact that their brethren in the old country approved their struggle for civil liberty; for in a letter to Dr. Manning, written soon after the return of peace, the Rev. John Rippon of London speaks of "the late bloody and unrighteons war," adding this remark: "I believe all our Baptist ministers in town, except two, and most of our brethren in the country, were on the side of the Americans in the late dispute a sign and pledge (may we not hope ?) of the position which will be held by a far greater portion of honest men in the same land, should the course of its government and nobility in our present difficulties bring on, at some future day, another conflict with her power.

It was our purpose to have spoken at length of some of the lessons taught by this volume; but circumstances beyond our control have rendered it impossible. The work of Mr. Guild is, however, we believe too instructive and entertaining to escape the notice of those who wish to understand the important period of which it treats, the growth of a flourishing university or the character of a distinguished educator, patriot, and Christian.

A. H.

NEW EDITION OF WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY.1

The following are the contents of the present edition: A Preface by Prof. Porter; Index to a Classified Selection of Pictorial Illustrations; Editor's Préface to the Revised Edition of 1847; Author's Preface to the Edition of 1828; Memoir of Noah Webster, by Chauncey A. Goodrich, LL.D.; A Brief History of the English Language, by James Hadley, M.A., Professor of the Greek Language and Literature in Yale College; Key to the Pronunciation; Principles of Pronunciation, with Explanations of the

1 An American Dictionary of the English Language. By Noah Webster, LL.D. Thoroughly revised and greatly enlarged and improved, by Chauncey A. Goodrich, D.D., LL.D., late Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory, and also Professor of the Pastoral Charge, in Yale College, and Noah Porter, D.D., Clark Professor of Moral Philosophy and Metaphysics in Yale College. 4to. pp. 1768. Springfield, Mass.: C. and C. Merriam; London: Bell and Daldy.