most of this aside may be justly viewed with suspicion. With the extreme skepticism of Kosters in one direction and of Torrey in another Dr. Batten has no sympathy. His conclusions are built upon a very thorough study of the text which enables him to reduce the area customarily assigned to the Chronicler's activity and to extend the area of the original sources. He puts Ezra, as many scholars are coming to do, later than Nehemiah-somewhere in the first quarter of the fourth century, but he still finds it possible to take Ezra and his memoirs seriously. The main point on which he challenges current conceptions is in the story of the early and fruitless attempt to rebuild the temple, immediately after the return: the original text of Ezra has, Dr. Batten maintains, been liberally revised by the Chronicler to make it square with his theory of the deferred building of the temple. ›› The basis of his conviction, however, is no arbitrary assumption, but the discovery, based partly upon extra-biblical evidence, of what he believes to have been the true text. But Dr. Batten can rightly claim that, on the whole, his results are conservative. This able, independent, and scholarly addition to the International Series will be cordially welcomed by those-and many more beside-whom some years ago he put in his debt by his very interesting study of The Hebrew Prophet.

Lu

Luther's Correspondence and Other Contemporary Letters. Translated and Edited by PRESERVED SMITH, Ph.D. theran Publication Society, Philadelphia. 1913. Vol. I, 1507-1521. 834 x 54 inches. 583 pp.

"History is now read more than ever before from the original sources." Thus Dr. Smith begins his preface and so he justifies the series of sources for the history of the Reformation of which this volume is a part. The letters of Zwingli, the contemporary of Luther and founder of the Reformation in Switzerland, are also in process of publication in English by another house. When these two series are completed, students of the history of that period will no longer need to be versed in the New High German or the often barbarous medieval Latin or worse Greek in which these documents were written, so far, at least, as those particular fundamental sources are concerned.

Dr. Smith's work is notable, however, for its inclusion of important letters written neither to nor by the reformer. Other documents than Luther's own, which state or illustrate the attitude of others to the movement inaugurated by him, and throw light on the many attempts to subdue him and the many agencies that were used to that end, are given in abundance. Good judg ment is shown in reproducing from these documents only those parts which are pertinent to the subject, thus keeping the volume of matter within reasonable limits. Short biographical sketches and other notes preface the letters from or to the less familiar characters, and thus the reader is able to estimate in each case the weight and significance of the communication. The warmest commendation and most earnest encouragement are merited by this contribution to sources for the writing and understanding of history.

Die Inspiration der Neutestamentlichen Evangelien untersucht von P. Lic. TH. G. STOSCH, Oberpfarrer in Neuweddel. C. Bertelsmann, Gütersloh. 1913. v-251 pp. 4.80 Marks.

The author of this book has made himself favorably known as the champion of the theory that Scriptural inspiration inheres in the facts of Scripture history rather than in the Scriptures as literary productions. Inspiration is essentially a process of the divine inbreathing and inworking in the af fairs of living men as agents of redemption. The books which record the facts of this inspired history are, of course, also inspired. But they are inspired as parts of the history and as means toward the conservation of it. This thesis Pastor Stosch had endeavored in earlier productions to support by an exami nation of the Old Testament. In the volume before us he explores the field of the gospels for the facts which he thinks bear it out. There can be no question whatever that he has laid hold of a phase of the subject of inspiration which is ordinarily neglected in its discussion. Naturally, however, with the zeal of one who has made a discovery, or who at least thinks he has made a discovery, he overestimates the significance of his thesis for theology. On the other side, he is tempted to bring to its support certain facts in the gospels scarcely contributory to his theory.

In theological seminaries it has become almost a tradition that no study is so uninteresting as biblical theology. How unnecessary such a condition is, provided only that the subject take the broader scope of biblical religion, is found in this volume. The author belongs to the critical school, and incidentally demonstrates both the constructive value and the broad results flowing from critical methods. He aims-and succeeds in his aim-at presenting leading ideas of the Old Testament in their historical setting with some indication of their theological and philosophical value, and of their significance for Christianity." The "fundamental conception" of Scripture, as he sees it, is the personal fellowship of God and man." The scope and orderliness of the discussion are exhibited in the chapter headings: The History as the Source of the Ideas; The Idea of Religion; The Idea of God; The Idea of Man; The Approach of God to Man; The Approach of Man to God; The Problems of Sin and Suffering; The Hope of the Nation, and The Permanent Value of the Old Testament. The result is a volume that for interest, clarity, and (considering the comparative brevity of the discussion) importance has not been surpassed since the issue in 1900 of Dr. G. B. Gray's Divine Discipline of Israel.

The series of little volumes in which this appears, "Studies in Theology," already contains some notable volumes, thoroughly helpful in the departments of biblical introduction, philosophy of religion, and systematic and practical theology. The new volume adds distinction to the series.

peacemaker, and spiritualist. It was his privilege and delight to come into touch with many of the most illustrious men of his time -Carlyle was one of them-and this is what he says of him: "Of all men who have trodden the English ground since first I saw the light, this man was to me the noblest. Nor was that all. In the storm and strife, and still more in the routine and absorbing duties of editorial life, it was Carlyle more than any other man who kept my soul alive, who braced me anew to my work, and whose profound sayings stirred my heart like the blast of a trumpet, in those crises of our life when alone you realize the full significance of time, not so much as a preparation for, but as a part of, eternity."

The Continuation Committee Conferferences in Asia, 1912-1913. Published by the Chairman of the Continuation Committee, New York. 1913. Student Volunteer Movement, 600 Lexington Avenue, New York. 9 x 54 inches. 488 pp. $2. As most of our readers are aware, the Continuation Committee, appointed at the Edinburgh World Missionary Conference, was to carry forward the investigations begun by the eight Commissions and to preserve and extend the atmosphere and spirit of the Conference. The Committee is composed of some forty or more leaders of the missionary force, and exists to serve the missionary societies at the home base and the missions and churches on the mission field."

Cooperation, so essential as a principle in all forms of Christian work, was recognized by the committee as imperative, and to that end Mr. John R. Mott, the Chairman of the Committee, visited the principal mission fields of Asia and conducted a conference of leaders-twenty-one in all. The various committees belonging to these conferences brought in findings or recommendations, and this volume is composed of these as finally approved by the different conferences.

The Salvage of Men. By AGNES L. PALMER. Fleming H. Revell Company, New York. 1913. 71⁄2 x 5 inches. 214 pp. $1 net.

Stories of humanity touched by divinity well describes the sketches in this book of men and women won from dissolute to respectable living, through the sympathetic, Christlike efforts of the Salvation army.