Vol 04 - PROVERBS.

PROVERBS.

580 ALLEN (ROBERT. Puritan). Concordances of the Proverbs and Ecclesiastes 4to. 1612. 2/6. An ordinary concordance will answer the purpose far better; but the wonderfully wise, half-crazy Cruden had not compiled his invaluable work in Allen’s days.

58x ARNOT (WILLIAM, D.D. Died 1875). Laws from Heaven for Life on Earth. 2 vols., cr. 8vo. S. 7/6. 1858. Also I vol., cr. 8vo. 7/6. Edinb., Nelson. 1869. S. 5/-

We wish Dr. A mot had gone steadily through the whole book, ffor his mind was of an order peculiarly adapted for such a task. Those passages which he dilates upon are set in a clear and beautiful light. For a happy blending’ of illustrative faculty, practical sound sense, and spirituality, Dr. A mot was almost unrivalled.

582 BRIDGES (CHARLES, M.A.) An Exposition. 2 vols., I2mo. Lond., Seeleys. I850. S. 6/. The best work on the Proverbs. The Scriptural method of exposition so well carried out by Bridges renders all his writings very suggestive to ministers. While explaining’ the passage in hand, he sets other portions of the word in new lights.

583 BROOKS (J. W., M.A.) A New Arrangement of the Proverbs of Solomon.

12mo. Lond., Seeleys. x86o. 1/- We do not see the use of the arrangement; but those who want the Proverbs classified have the work done for them here.

584 CASE (R. J.) A Commentary. 12mo. Lond., 1822. S. 6d. The Proverbs themselves are plainer than this author’s exposition of them.

585 DAY (WILLIAM. Formerly Missionary to the South Seas). A Poetical Commentary. 8vo. 14/- Lond., Simpkin, Marshall & Co. I862, S.

3/’ The author says, he has “a taste for building rhymes,” and he has here gratified it. That is all we can say for his book.

586 DELITZSCH (FRANZ, D.D.) Biblical Commentary. Translated from the German, by M. G. Easton, D.D. Vol. I. [In progress.] Edinb., T. & T.

Clark. 1875.

587 DOD (JOHN. Puritan. Died x645). A Plaine and Familial Exposition of Proverbs, Chapters IX. to XVII. 4to. Lond., x6o8-9. [The comment on Chapters XIIL and XIV. appears to have been the work of Robert Cleaver. In our copy, con- taining Chapters XXVIII. — XXX., the names of both Dod and Cleaver are given, and the last chapter was “penned by a Godly and learned man, now with God.”]

Both Dod and Cleaver were popular as preachers, and their joint works were widely circulated. This book can rarely be met with entire.

588 FRENCH (W., D.D.) and (SKINNER, G., M.A.) A New Translation, with Explanatory Notes. 8vo. Lond.,1831. S.1/3. These translators endeavor to produce faithful renderings of the text, giving to each word the same sense in all places. They are calm, dispassionate, judicious, and able.

589 HODGSON (BERNARD, LL.D.) The Proverbs of Solomon, with Notes. 4to.

Oxf, I788. 2/6.

Darling says: — ” A good translation; the notes are chiefly philological.”

We set no store by this mass of letter-press, and we question whether any one else does.

59o HOLDEN (GEORGE, M.A.) An attempt towards an improved Translation, with Notes, etc. 8vo. Liverpool, 1819. 4/6.

Horne says of this work: — ”It is one of the most valuable helps to the critical understanding of this book.” It is certainly one of the best of Holden’s productions. We may be wrong, but we could not conscientiously subscribe to Horne’s opinion.

591 JACOX (FRANCIS). Scripture Proverbs, illustrated, annotated, and applied. Thick cr. 8vo. 10/6. Lond., Hodder & Stoughton. x874. S. 6/- This work illustrates many of the proverbs scattered throughout the Scriptures, and some of those collected by Solomon. Mr. Jacox seems to have read everything good and bad, and hence he pours forth a medley of fact and fiction more entertaining than edifying. He reminds us of the elder Disraeli and his “Curiosities of Literature.”

592 JERMIN (MICHAEL, D.D. Died x659). Paraphrastical Medi- tations upon the Book of Proverbs. Folio. I638. 9/6. Very antique, and full of Latin quotations. Jermin does not err in excessive spirituality, but the reverse. Those who can put up with his style will be repaid by his quaint learning.

593 LANGE. (See No. 578.)

594 LAWSON (GEORGE, D.D. 1749 — 1820). Exposition of the Book of Proverbs 2:1-22 vols., 12mo. Edinb. 1821. 6/- to 7/- A thoroughly sound and useful commentary. Lawson wrote popularly and vigorously.

MILLER (JOHN. Princeton, N.J.) A Commentary, with a New Translation, and with some of the Original Expositions Re-examined.

Demy 8vo. 7[‘ Dickinson & Higham. 1875. This author’s interpretations are new, and in our judgment very far removed from accuracy. Certainly the old interpretations are better in many ways. His theory that the’ Proverbs are spiritual and not secular will not hold water. He needs reading with very great discrimination: if read at all “Too great innovation” is the author’s own suspicion of his work, and we quite agree with him, only we go beyond mere suspicion.

596 MUFFET (PETER). A Commentary on the whole Book of Proverbs 8:1-36 vo. x596. [Reprinted, with Cotton’s Commen- taries on Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon, in one of the volumes of Nichol’s series. Cr. 4to. 7/6. Zonal., Nisbet. 1868.] Homely, but not very striking. Mr. Nichol’s choice of commentators for reprinting was not a wise one.

597 NEWMAN (WILLIAM., D.D. Formerly President of Stepney Theol.

Institution). An improved version. 18mo. Lond., 1839. x/- Merely the corrected text. A very small affair.

598 NICHOLLS (BENJAMIN ELLIOTT, M.A.) The Book of Proverbs, explained and illustrated from Holy Scripture. 12mo. Lond., Rivingtons. 1858. I/3.

Contains very sensible suggestions for the interpretation of proverbs, anti gives instances of explanations by geography, natural history, etc. It is a somewhat helpful work.

599 NOYES. (See No. 579.) 600 STUART (MosEs). A Commentary on the Book of Proverbs 8:1-36 vo. New York, 1852. 4/-to 5/-

We have not met with any English reprint of this useful volume. Dr. Stuart purposely adapted his work to beginners in Hebrew study. He has set himself to prepare a commentary of explanation only, believing that a hortatory and practical comment every minister ought to be able to make for himself Stuart’s introductory matter is highly instructive, though no reader should blindly accept it all.

601 TAYLOR (FRANCIS, B.D.) Observations upon the three first chapters of Proverbs 4:1-27 to. Lond., 1645. An Exposition [as above] upon The 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Chapters, etc. 41o.

1657. 18/- to 25/- Two volumes (in one) of rich, old-fashioned Puritan divinity.

602 THOMAS (DaviD, D.D.) The Practical Philosopher. Thick8vo.

12/6 nett (published at I7/6). Lond., Dickinson. 1873.

Dr. Thomas of the “Homilist” is a well-known writer, and a man capable of great things. This work does not equal his “Genius of the Gospel.” It contains a large amount of practical comment, written in a rather grandiose style. We can hardly fancy men of business reading this book from day to day as the author proposes.

603 WARDLAW (RALPH, D.D.) Lectures. 3 vols., cr. 8vo.

3/6 each. Edinb., Fullarton. I86L S. 6/6.

Wardlaw is diffuse, and his views upon “wisdom” are peculiar; but he always repays the reader, and neither Bridges nor A mot have rendered him obsolete, for he works a different vein, and expounds in a manner — peculiar to himself.

604 WILCOCKS (THoMAs, Puritan. 1549 — 1608). A Short yet Sound Commentarie. [ Works. See No. 336]..

Wilcocks briefly sums up the teaching of the verses, and so aids in suggesting topics; in other respects he is rather wearying.