This work, which is issued under the auspices of the Protestant Reformation Society, is, as we are told in the preface, the first attempt made on the Protestant side to deal with the points of dispute between Romanists and Protestants by means of a dictionary. There are 67 contributors, including the two editors. Among these one finds the names of some of the foremost biblical scholars and ecclesiastical historians of the day, such as Dr. Margaret Gibson, Principal Lindsay, Professor Margoliouth, Bishop Moule, Professor Orr, and Provost Salmon. One is also glad to see the names of such sound Protestants as Rev. Dr. Robertson, Venice; Rev. Thomas Connellan, editor of the Catholic; and Mr. Walter Walsh, author of the Secret History of the Oxford Movement, etc. The subjects dealt with cover the whole field of controversy between Protestants and Romanists. None of the articles is exceptionally long, and there may be a feeling of a certain lack of adequate treatment in reading some of the articles, but the editors forestall all such criticism by saying that the Protestant Dictionary does not profess to be complete as a historical or theological lexicon. Dr. Wright deals with the Apocrypha in an interesting article. The article on the Atonement is written by Dr. Wright’s co-editor. It deals more particularly with the nature of the atonement, and in so doing dwells on its substitutionary character as opposed to the moral influence and governmental theories. Mr. Neil also writes the article on Redemption, which contains a statement which, to say the least of it, is misleading in its phraseology. The statement is as follows:—”Some who teach particular redemption, as Calvin taught it, hold with Calvin the theory of universal atonement, and others who are hyper-Calvinists maintain that of a limited atonement.” The writer here, it is probable, is referring to the gospel offer. No Calvinist believes in a universal atonement. The great majority of them believe in the free offer of the gospel to all, but that is quite a different matter. Considerable space is devoted to Justification and Sanctification. The biographical articles on Huss, Wyclif, Luther, and Knox are fairly lengthy and satisfactory. Professor Cowan, of Aberdeen, who writes on Knox, acknowledging his sternness, says, “But a man of gentler mould could hardly have accomplished the signal work which was given him to do, and he stands forth as the greatest and noblest Scot of his age—heroic in his absolute fearlessness, sublime in his single-minded and disinterested devotion to duty, with a love of country subordinate only to his love of truth, and with an underlying tenderness which was repressed only by the constant necessity of conflict and the
1 A Protestant Dictionary, edited by the Rev. C. H. H. Wright, D.D., M.A., Ph.D., and the Rev. Charles Neil, M.A. (London: Hodder & Stoughton. 1904.)
stern sense of responsibility.” But why is there no special biographical article on Calvin? Surely a place might have been found in a work like this for an article on one of the greatest reformers and profoundest theologians that the Church ever possessed. The articles on Liberius, Honorius, Galileo, and the Popes should yield some painful facts for infallibility-Papists. One of the most interesting and instructive articles in the book is on church music. The writer, Rev. N. Dimock, M.A., of St. John’s College, Oxford, makes it very plain that in the Early Church Christians had no desire for instrumental music in worship, and that a great number of the English reformers were strongly opposed to it. But the field which the book covers is wide, and it can only be a mere fragmentary notice that we can give at best.
In concluding, it may be as well to quote Professor Nicol’s reference to our own Church in his article on the Scottish Churches:—”Another section of the old Free Church,” he says, “is found in the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland. It had its origin in a secession from the Church on account of the Declaratory Act of 1893, by which the Free Church, in the estimation of the seceding ministers, had departed from the ancient testimony. The number of ordained ministers in the Free Presbyterian Church is twelve, and there are over twenty sanctioned charges, with a number of mission stations besides. There are five students preparing for the ministry. It has a considerable body of adherents in different parts of the Highlands. Like the remnant Free Church, it holds fast by the Establishment principle, and is opposed to the use of hymns and organs in public worship.”
Were this a review instead of a short notice reference might be made to the articles on Hades, Paradise and Hell. They are not as satisfactory as one would wish, but taking the work all in all, it will be invaluable to everyone interested in the great controversy between Romanists and Protestants. Its price, 15s., may put it beyond the reach of many. It is, however, issued to subscribers by the Protestant Reformation Society for 10s. 6d. It is a large book, containing over 830 pages, well printed, and of handsome appearance. It is also enriched by some good illustrations.
D. B.
THE CHURCH IN SARDIS AND THE GLORY TO FOLLOW. By M. J. Benson. (London: Farncombe & Son, 30 Imperial Buildings, E.C.)
This little booklet in cloth contains the reflections of a spiritual mind on the present low condition of the Church at large, and on its future glory during the good days to come. Unfulfilled prophecy is at all times a difficult subject to handle, and Miss Benson realises this. She expresses her anxiety not to write “anything contrary to the mind of God in His Word,” and we are pleased to see she does not advocate pre-millenarian views. If Miss Benson
adds nothing very original to the study of prophecy, her reflections may at least stir thought in the minds of others. In an interesting chapter on “The Times of Antichrist,” where indeed there is nothing dogmatically asserted as to the exact dates of future events, Miss Benson considers it probable that the millenium will begin about the year 1972. The price of the booklet is ninepence, and may be had from the authoress at 108 Ditchling Rise, Brighton. J. S. S.