LUTHER AND THE REFORMATION, by James Mackinnon, Ph.D., D.D., Regius Professor of Ecclesiastical History, University of Edinburgh. Vol. III. London: Longmans, Green and Co.
In this volume Dr Mackinnon continues his masterly biography of Luther from the time of the Diet of Worms to the Conference of Marburg. If he has not been able to bring to bear on this part of his subject, new material he certainly has made excellent use of what was at the disposal of former biographers of the great Reformer. The volume covers a momentous period in Luther’s life. His voluntary imprisonment in the Wartburg, his work at Wittenberg, his famous translation into German of the New Testament, the von Hutten and von Sickingen movement, the rising of the Peasants and Luther’s attitude to the same, his conflict with Erasmus, the two diets of Spires and the great Sacramentarian Controversy are all dealt with in the thorough and painstaking manner which characterise the preceding volumes of the biography. Luther’s scholasticism, it is pointed out, had a good deal to do with the adoption of the Consubstantiation theory and at the Marburg Conference the Reformers were divided on the doctrine of the Lord’s Supper—Lutheran and Reformed pursuing their respective courses till this day.
MARGARET MACDIARMID OR BEAN A’ CHREIDIMH MHOIR, by the Rev. Alexander Macrae, Tongue. Second edition. Price 6d; post free, 7d.
A second edition of the biography of that eminent Christian, Margaret Macdiarmid, or Bean a’ Chreidimh Mhoir, has been reprinted. It is a very interesting short biography which relates many vivid instances of the great faith, bright intellect, and cheerful spirit of Margaret Macdiarmid. There is a very good photograph on the front page. It may be had from Rev. Alexander Macrae, Tongue, Sutherland, or from our Glasgow agents, Messrs Maclaren, 360 Argyle Street, Glasgow. Any profit is to be used to erect a suitable stone at her grave. We bespeak it a good sale.—N. C.
JUDSON OF BURMA. by Alfred Mathieson. Glasgow: Pickering and Inglis, 229 Bothwell Street. Price 2s.
This is one of the publishers’ series of Bright Biographies. The name of Adoniram Judson has an honoured place in missionary annals. His is one of those rare and inspiring lives that make one feel that one has done nothing in comparison with the labours, privations, sufferings, and sorrows endured by the devoted missionary. Mr Judson was an American Congregationalist, and set out for Burma as such, but on adopting Baptist views he was supported by the American Baptist General Convention. The story of his life is well told by his biographer. His desire for literary fame, his lapse into atheism, his remarkable conversion, his trials in Burma, his sufferings in prison, his sorrows through the removal by death of those near and dear to him are a moving story. While filled with admiration for the sacrifices of this noble missionary of the Cross we do not agree with his statement: “I could not find a single intimation in the New Testament that the children and domestics of believers were members of the Church or entitled to any Church ordinance in consequence of the profession of the head of the family. Everything discountenanced this idea.” The book is well printed and has a number of excellent illustrations. At the published price it is remarkably cheap.
PROTESTANT TRUTH SOCIETY PAMPHLETS.
This Society (3 St Paul’s Churchyard, E.C. 4) has published two excellent pamphlets—”The Vatican and Temporal Power” and “The Vatican and Education” (each twopence). The former is of special interest in connection with the restoration of the Pope’s temporal power. The new King of the Vatican City has received from the Italian nation, through Mussolini’s Convention, a huge monetary endowment. There is a cash payment of £8,152,000, and, in addition, £10,869,000 in Italian State Bonds. The present Pope cannot say with Peter “Silver and gold I have none.” The other pamphlet is also of great importance as setting forth Rome’s efforts and successes in the world of Education. We miss from this otherwise excellent pamphlet any reference to the Church of Rome’s extraordinary position of vantage in Scottish Education bestowed upon her by the notorious Act of 1918.