the system, and by quotations from the objections of leading opponents. The essential points in the theory are thus stated : Darwinism includes three distinct elements. First, evolution; or the assumption that all organic forms, vegetable and animal, have been evolved or developed from one, or a few primordial living germs; second, that this evolution has been effected by natural selection, or the survival of the fittest; and third, and by far the most important and only distinctive element of his theory, that this natural selection is without design, being conducted by unintelligent physical causes. Neither the first nor the second of these elements constitute Darwinism; nor do the two combined. . . . . . It is neither evolution nor natural selection which gives Darwinism its peculiar character and importance. It is that Darwin rejects all teleology, or the doctrine of final causes. He denies design in any of the organisms in the vegetable or animal world. He teaches that the eye was formed without any purpose of producing an organ of vision. . . . . . It is the distinctive doctrine of Mr. Darwin that species owe their origin, not to the original intention of the divine mind; not to special acts of creation calling new forms into existence at certain epochs; not to the constant and everywhere operative efficiency of God, guiding physical causes in the production of intended effects; but to the gradual accumulation of unintended variations of structure and instinct, securing some advantage to their subjects. (Pp. 48, 52, 53.) This point, our readers know, was ably argued in our last issue. Dr. Hodge, as we have intimated, devotes considerable space to the elucidation and discussion of this characteristic distinction and fatal error of Darwinism. The sum of the discussion is this: The conclusion of the whole matter is, that the denial of design in nature is the denial of God. Mr. Darwin's theory does deny all design in nature; therefore, his theory is virtually atheistical; his theory, not he himself. He believes in a Creator. But when that Creator, millions and millions of ages ago, did something-called matter and a living germ into existenceand then abandoned the universe to itself to be controlled by chance and necessity, without any purpose on his part as to the result, or any intervention or guidance, then He is virtually consigned, so far as we are concerned, to non-existence. . . . . . We have thus arrived at the answer to our question, What is Darwinism? It is Atheism. This does not mean, as before said, that Mr. Darwin, and all who adopt his views, are atheists; but it means that his theory is atheistic; that the exclusion of design from nature is, as Dr. Gray says, tantamount to atheism. (Pp. 173, 176). The justice of this conclusion will commend itself to the careful readers of Dr. Hodge's fresh and lucid treatise. Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. The Prophecies of Jeremiah. BY C. F. KEIL, D. D. Translated from the German by DAVID PATRICK, M. A., B. D. Edinburgh: T. W. Clark. New York: Scribner, Welford and Armstrong. 2 vols. Octavo, pp. 419, 485. Students of the Old Testament will welcome these volumes from the hands of the learned and judicious commentator. Dr. Keil divides the prophecies of Jeremiah under the ordinary classification of those relating to the theocracy and those against foreign nations into four sections. The first comprises chapters ii-xx, and contains general admonitions and reproofs belonging to the time of Josiah; the second (chapters xxi-xxxiii), special predictions of the judgment to be accomplished by the Chaldeans, and of the Messianic salvation; the third (chapters xxxiv-xlv) gives an account of the labor and suffering of the prophet before and after the conquest and destruction of Jerusalem; the fourth (chapters xlvi-li), records the prophecies directed against foreign nations. The Introduction discusses the Times of Jeremiah, the Person of the Prophet, the Genuineness of the Book and the Integrity of the Masoretic Text. Introduction to the Pauline Epistles. By PATON J. GLOAG, D. D., author of a Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles, etc. Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark. Octavo, pp. 480. Dr. Gloag has prepared a book which gives proof of industrious reading, and which presents in a clear manner the commonly received opinions with regard to Paul's Epistles. There is nothing marked in argument or discussion, but the book will be useful to those who wish in a convenient form a presentation of the topics ordinarily discussed in an Introduction to the portion of the New Testament written by Paul. Christian Ethics. By H. MARTENSEN, D. D., Bishop of Zealand. Translated from the Danish, with the sanction of the author, by C. SPENCE. Octavo, pp. 468. We can now only call attention to this elaborate and profound ethical treatise, with the hope of a future notice less unworthy of its theme and its contents. It will be found a fit companion to the author's discussion of Dogmatic Theology, not long since given to English readers. Messrs. Scribner, Armstrong and Company, of New York, have imported a special edition for use in this country. Price of the volume, three dollars. The Historic Origin of the Bible. By EDWIN CONE BISSELL. New York: A. D. F. Randolph and Company. Duodecimo, pp. 432. This work contains a history of the Canon, introductions to the various books of the Bible, an account of the principal MSS. and versions, a history of the English translations of the Bible, with a discussion of the present movement for revision. It gives the latest information upon these subjects, is clear in statement, presents many interesting particu lars, and is an admirable hand-book for the study or class-room. The Tribune, New York, Lecture and Letter Extras. No. 9. Pamphlet Edition, 20 cents. The Tribune has certainly done good service, and met a gratifying popular demand, by the issue of its "Lecture and Letter Extras." The number before us contains six lectures (illustrated) on Astronomy, by Prof. R. A. Proctor, and the lectures of Prof. Agassiz at his school on Penikese, with a poem on Agassiz by Whittier. These occupy 65 large octavo pages of small but legible type, and may be had for the nominal price of 20 cents, or in the ordinary newspaper form for half that sum. There are now about twenty of these "Extras," covering a wide variety of subjects, such as Prof. Tyndall's American Lectures on Light, Mr. Beecher's Yale Lectures on Preaching, the Proceedings and Papers of the Evangelical Alliance, etc. We wish the Tribune's enterprise in this direction the greatest success. A Grammar of the New Testament Greek. By ALEXANDER BUTTMAN. Authorized translation, with numerous additions and corrections by the author. Andover: Warren F. Draper. Octavo, pp. 474. The title page of this book quotes aptly the saying of Melancthon that "Scripture cannot be understood theologically, unless first it is understood grammatically." The work rightly presupposes a thorough acquaintance with classical Greek. The language itself must be understood to have its subsequent modifications appreciated. If we take into account the influence of the conceptions of Christianity, for example, faith and justification, in ennobling and expanding the Greek tongue, we shall pronounce the language of later times not inferior to that of the classical era. The grammar before us justly explains some of the idioms of the New Testament Greek from the fact that it was the language of the people. The uneducated, in place of an abstract principle, give a particular illustration of it; instead of saying, "Wisdom is (in general) justified in her children," they say, "Wisdom was (in a particular case) justified in her children;" hence, the use of the Aorist in such cases (pp. 202, 322). In general, the explanations which the grammar gives of the peculiarities of the New Testament Greek are apparently the result of careful investigation, and show a natural transition from one period of the language to another. The grammar is most conveniently arranged. The first part contains the peculiarities of form, the second of construction, while the indexes are admirably adapted to the wants of the student. It is easy to find the view of the grammar on difficult passages. It is an indispensable, and, perhaps, the best, grammatical help to the critical student of the New Testament. On Missions. A Lecture delivered in Westminster Abbey, on December 3d, 1873. By F. MAX MÜLLER, M. A., Professor of Comparative Philology at Oxford. With an Introductory Sermon by ARTHUR PENRHYN STANLEY, D. D., Dean of Westminster. Pp. 77. New York: Scribner, Armstrong and Company, 1874. The Sermon and Lecture, delivered in conjunction and here bound together, are already well known to many of our readers through the newspaper controversies they called out. We cannot accept either Dean Stanley or Prof. Müller, able as they both unquestionably are, as satisfactory expositors of Christianity or of the true methods of Christian missions; but we can listen respectfully and with advantage to all they have to say. There are many valuable suggestions, alike for exegesis and for practical evangelistic measures, as well as much rare learning, in this little volume. HIGHER EDUCATION IN GREECE. From the Schedule of the Courses of Study in the National University of Greece, just received from Athens, the following items are condensed: The President of the University for the present academic year is Dr. George Maccas. The president is elected annually from among the members of the faculty, and bears the ancient title of Prytanis. The University includes four faculties or schools. These four faculties comprise seventy-one instructors. The Theological School is under the care of four professors ordinary, and three extraordinary. In the Law School there are eight professors ordinary, one honorary, and five lecturers. The Medical School includes fourteen professors ordinary, three extraordinary, and five lecturers. The Philosophical Faculty is composed of seventeen professors ordinary, four extraordinary, and four lecturers. There are nine collections or museums belonging to the University, physiological, philosophical, anatomical, etc., exclusive of the library (of more than 100,000 volumes), and the Numismatic collection. There are also seven affiliated institutions, or appendages of the University, among which are a botanical garden, an observatory, and an eye infirmary. The following is the programme of studies in the Theological School: Pastoral theology, ecclesiastical archæology, dogmatic theology, Hebrew archæology, Hebrew grammar, hermeneutics of the Old Testament, introduction to the Old Testament, interpretation of Genesis, introduction to the New Testament, interpretation of the Gospel of John, interpretation of the Epistle of James, symbolics, encyclopedia of theology, history of doctrines, homiletics. These are the subjects for a single semester only. In the Philosophical School for the same semester the studies are: History of ancient art, Thucydides,' archæological exercises, Seventh Book of the Iliad, Greek literature, Thucydides, history of modern philosophy, Elegies of Tileullus and Satires of Juvenal, worship of the divinity among the ancient Greeks, history of the Greek people, philosophy of history, Pindar, Horace, with exercises in Latin composition, Cicero pro Milone, history of Roman literature, Ajax of Sophocles, Herodotus, with exercises in Greek composition, medieval history, anthropology, logic, Antigone of Sophocles, comparison of Greek and Latin grammar, Plautus. The number of students in attendance is about 1,200. 1 Two professors have each a class in Thucydides. THE BAPTIST QUARTERLY. ELEMENTS ESSENTIAL TO A TRUE THEORY OF IT 1 Forgiveness and Law, Grounded in Principles Interpreted by Human [T is not essential to salvation that one believe any theory of the Atonement. From "the beginning of the gospel" until now, Christian believers have "trusted in Christ," a majority of them probably in their faith embracing only the main facts of Christianity, with the truths most obviously implied in them. Such a faith is described by the apostle Paul as "the gospel" he preached to the Corinthians: "For I delivered unto you first of all that which also I received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures." This plainly implies some common belief as to the person and character of Christ, who and what he was; a common confession of guilt; a common hope of salvation; and the belief that their salvation depended on the death of Christ. But the number of those who have formed or intelligently apprehended a theory by which to account for the death of Christ, to demonstrate why it was necessary for him to die, and how his death secures the forgiveness of sins, is probably not large. Many, perhaps most Christians, it may be presumed, have made no attempt in this direction. Theories of religion have not interested their minds, and their simple practical VOL. VIII.-No. 4. 11 Corinthians xv. 3, 4. (379) |