knew,—the prefix "fore" seems to denote not "looking into the future," but simply "before now," the writer looking back into the past. God hath not cast off his people which in time past, ever of old, he recognized as his own." He is unchangeable, and his past choice and purpose shall stand. L. S. POTWIN.

II.

RECENT AND STANDARD HYMN-BOOKS.

Of the making of many hymn-books there is no end; and much study of them, with a view to the adoption of a new one, is a weariness to the flesh of pastors and church committees. A brief notice of some recent ones, with incidental reference by way of comparison to others less recent but still standard, may be of service to such.

One of the very best hymn-books, not only of the year but of the century, is the "Church Hymnary," compiled by Edwin A. Bedell. The clear type, clean page, rich binding, and good paper leave little to be desired in the way of mechanical execution, and the selection of hymns is in keeping with the general appearance of the book. It instantly suggests comparison with "Laudes Domini," 2 which it greatly resembles in size and appearance. The Church Hymnary has gained somewhat in clearness of words and music by omission of hymns. Exclusive of chants and doxologies, Laudes Domini has one hundred and seventy-four more hymns than the Church Hymnary, on twelve less pages. This, practically, is the difference between the books. The selection of hymns in either book is almost beyond criticism: though perfection is impossible, and a preference is allowable. The number of hymns in the Church Hymnary (994, exclusive of chants, etc.) is larger than any congregation will sing familiarly; but the pastor or chorister of a church, having adopted a large collection, usually expects to find in it whatever he may need, and is disappointed by every omission. The nearly two hundred additional hymns in Laudes Domini will prove acceptable to such. The

1 The Church Hymnary: A Collection of Hymns and Tunes for Public Worship. Compiled by Edwin A. Bedell. New York: Charles E. Merrill. 1892. (Pp. 278. 72x4%.)

2 Laudes Domini: A Selection of Spiritual Songs, Ancient and Modern. Edited by Charles S. Robinson, D. D., LL. D. New York: The Century Company. 1887. (Pp. 520. 7x4%.)

Uniform. Laudes Domini Abridged. The same. 1888.
Uniform. Laudes Domini for the Prayer-Meeting.

(Pp. 244.)

Laudes Domini for the Sunday-School. The same.

(Pp. 261.) The same. 1890.

1888. (4%x64.)

Church Hymnary contains some new hymns, well chosen; among which we notice the beautiful "Like a cradle, rocking, rocking," from " Saxe Holm Stories," which is here credited to Helen Hunt Jackson. As this hymn is published by the authority of the Scribners, there can hardly be further doubt of the long-disputed authorship of that series of tales, if indeed doubt had not already been removed. This book contains twenty-five pages of indexes, against twenty-nine in Laudes Domini.

How to make the singing in the Sunday-school contribute to the singing of the church is a difficult problem. Some of the Episcopalians attempt to solve it by making the entire selection of songs for their Sunday-school book from their Church Hymnal, with opening and special services from the Prayer-book. That the hymns chosen are good goes without saying, but the collection will strike many Sunday-school workers as rather dry and lacking spontaneity. Most schools have an entirely separate collection in which jingles predominate. The multiplication of books of this character is significant. "Gospel Hymns No. 6" has recently been issued; and Excell's "Triumphant Songs" 2 is already out in its third number. These books belong among the better portion of their kind. The songs are easily learned, and have usually a pleasing melody; but as a rule they do not fit the child to appreciate and sing a better quality of music. Many of the hymns are fairly good, and some are excellent: but others are bad theology, diluted to the consistency of milk and water, and flavored with mixed metaphors of every conceivable sort. The Bible Readings in this number are fewer, but better than in the former one, where several bad mistakes are conspicuous,―among them the omission of a part of the tenth commandment. Speaking of omissions, Why may not the hymn-book publishers who include responsive readings give purchasers choice of editions containing or omitting the interpolated clause "He descended into hell," in the Apostles' Creed? So far as we now remember, all include it,—this certainly is true of the shelf of books before us, which is unpleasant for churches whose other services omit it; as, for instance, Congregational churches using the Creed and Covenant of 1883. Mr. Excell has done a neat piece of work in connection with his "Triumphant Songs, No. 3." in issuing it also in a pocket edition, on bible paper with morocco binding. Though diminutive in size, it is clear and dainty, and makes one of the best specimens of process reduction we have seen.

Among recent hymn-books suited for meetings of all kinds, that which will probably be most conspicuous is Rev. T. DeWitt Talmage's new book,

1 Prayer-Book and Hymnal for the Sunday-School. Compiled and Edited by Rev. Geo. W. Shinn, D. D., and Rev. Edwin Coan, Mus. Bac. New York: Thos. Whitaker. 1885. (Pp. 170. 6x43⁄4.)

1892.

2 Triumphant Songs, No. 3. By E. O. Excell. Chicago: E. O. Excell.

"Many Voices." 1 "We need a larger supply of battle-shout," says the editor, and so he has given us "this combination of the old classic hymnology and the modern chorus, the marriage of 1790 with 1890, the majesty of the one with the spontaneity of the other." However much or little he may have had to do with the remainder of the book, this preface is evidently the work of Dr. Talmage himself, and as such will commend itself to those who enjoy that sort of thing. The further work of the editor seems to have been the omission of two hundred and seven hymns from Carmina Sanctorum "2 and the addition of one hundred popular hymns of his own selection. It is a very good sort of hymn-book; rather, it seems to us, because of the features retained from the labor of the editors of the earlier work, than of those added by Dr. Talmage. The effort to produce a single book suitable for all religious services, gives rise also to " Hymns New and Old." It is a cheap and neat collection, but the new and ephemeral predominates, and the old is not in every case the best. For such purposes, and where little money is available, Spiritual Songs for Social Worship "4 is a better book. Dr. Richards' "Songs of Christian Praise "5 is still excellent for the same purposes, but is rather bulky for social meetings, and hardly full enough for the demands of churches wishing a full collection. We know of no collection combining more of the qualities essential to a single book for all services,— cheapness, durability, portability, and a comparatively small collection of hymns well gleaned,—than the “Manual of Praise." Small enough to be carried in the pocket, and weighing only a fraction as much as "Songs of Christian Praise," it contains only sixty-five less hymns, and these no less carefully chosen; and, pleasant as it is to find whatever hymn one wishes, no congregation will sing familiarly more than half the number (600) in the Manual of Praise. This also is about the number contained in Laudes Domini Abridged," which will prove very satisfactory to some congregations.

1 Many Voices; or, Carmina Sanctorum. Evangelistic Edition. Prepared by T. DeWitt Talmage, D. D. New York: A. S. Barnes and Co. 1891. (Pp. 330. 68x53%.)

2 Uniform. Carmina Sanctorum. Edited by Roswell Dwight Hitchcock, Zachary Eddy, Lewis Ward Mudge. The same. 1886. (Pp. 447.)

3 Hymns New and Old. Revised. For Use in all Religious Services. By D. B. Towner, T. T. Eaton, D.D., LL. D., George H. Simmons. Chicago and New York: Fleming H. Revell Company.

Published by the Century Company.

5 Songs of Christian Praise. Selected and Arranged by Rev. Chas. H. Richards, D.D. New York: Taintor Bros. and Co. 1880. (Pp. 394. 644x438.)

6 Manual of Praise for Sabbath and Social Worship. Selected and Arranged by Hiram Mead and Fenelon B. Rice. Oberlin, O.: E. J. Goodrich. (Pp. 432. 54x3.)

Where separate books are to be used in the different departments, the Laudes Domini series, with separate books for church, prayer-meeting, and Sundayschool, can but work well together, and are all individually desirable.1

Among the best responsive scriptural services are that arranged by Dr. Richards, and bound with "Songs of Christian Praise," and Dr. Van Dyke's arrangement of the Psalter, with the Church Hymnary. Both, we believe, are sold separately.

Among the efforts to secure the singing of better hymns in our Sundayschools, that of the Union Park Congregational Sunday-school of Chicago. deserves notice. Its superintendent has issued a little book of choice hymns with which it supplements the collection in use in that school. 2 Printed in inexpensive form, it is now offered to other schools.

One of the handsomest hymn-books, and one of the best, is that edited by two of the professors at Andover under the title of "Hymns of the Faith. The hymns are comparatively few for so large a volume, but are choice, and are set to the best music. The arrangement of the hymns is on the basis of the Apostles' Creed, and each hymn closes with "Amen" to emphasize the worship which should accompany song. The litany and selections from the Psalms accompany the work, not as an appendage, but as a constituent part of the book. It is the result of conscientious labor on the part both of the editors and publishers.

A choice collection of Unitarian hymns has just reached us. Beside the hymns whose doctrine is common to all Christians, some of the best orthodox hymns are inserted slightly altered. "Nicæa" appears with the first and fourth stanzas combined so as to omit the line "God in three Persons, blessed Trinity," and remains otherwise unabridged and unaltered. The stanza of “O Sacred Head, now wounded," containing "Mine, mine was the transgression," etc., is omitted and the rest of the hymn appears. The topical arrangement is discarded that hymns may be arranged more easily with appropriate music. A devout spirit pervades the work. While some of the best hymns, as we regard them, are conspicuous for their absence, the appearance of this book suggests the inquiry whether when we shall all be one, as our Lord prayed, the basis of union may be not a church manual or a creed, but a hymn-book. W. E. BARTON.

1 "Laudes Domini for the Prayer-Meeting" has just been reduced in price, making it the cheapest as well as the best book for the prayer-meeting. 2 Selected Sunday-School Songs: From Various Sources. Chicago: Congregational Book Store. 1892. (Pp. 35. 61⁄2x3.)

3 Hymns of the Faith. With Psalms. For the Use of Congregations. Edited by George Harris, D. D., and William Jewett Tucker, D. D., Professors in Andover Theological Seminary, and Edward K. Glezen, A. M., of Providence, R. I. Boston and New York: Houghton, Mifflin and Company. 1890. (490 Hymns. 6x4%.)

4 Hymnal: Amore Dei. Compiled by Mrs. Theodore C. Williams. Boston: George H. Ellis. 1891. (Pp. 249. 68x434.)

Revised Edition.

345

ARTICLE IX.

NOTICES OF RECENT PUBLICATIONS.

A HEBREW AND ENGLISH LEXICON OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, with an Appendix containing the Biblical Aramaic, based on the Lexicon of William Gesenius, as translated by Edward Robinson, late Professor in the Union Theological Seminary, New York. Edited with constant reference to the Thesaurus of Gesenius as completed by E. Rödiger, and with authorized use of the latest German editions of Gesenius' Handwörterbuch über das Alte Testament. By Francis Brown, D. D., Davenport Professor of Hebrew and the Cognate Languages in the Union Theological Seminary, with the co-operation of S. R. Driver, D. D., Regius Professor of Hebrew, and Canon of Christ's Church, Oxford, and Charles A. Briggs, D. D., Edward Robinson Professor of Biblical Theology in the Union Theological Seminary. Boston and New York: Houghton, Mifflin, and Company. 1891. Part I. - Pp. xii, 8o. 8x5%. 50 cents.

66

This is the first Part of a much needed work. The remaining Parts are to appear at irregular intervals." We sincerely hope that earnest effort will be made by the Editors and Publishers to reduce these intervals to the shortest possible. It too often happens in work of this kind when the field is once pre-empted, so to speak, by an introduction or announcement that the necessity of energetically pushing the undertaking to completion is overlooked. The present need demands despatch.

The Publishers insert an introductory note in which they congratulate themselves on procuring "the aid of the admirably equipped scholars who are working together in the preparation of this edition." We know of no En

glish and American scholars better qualified for this work. Professor Driver discusses the Pronouns, Prepositions, and other particles, and the words etymologically related to them; Professor Briggs discusses the words related to Religion, Theology, and Psychology; the remaining terms and general editorship are committed to Professor Brown. The prefatory note by the Editors

is brief. We shall look for a more extended Introduction on the completion of the work.

The need of a new Lexicon is apparent to all. Up to date, we have been compelled to choose between Davies' Hebrew Lexicon and Robinson's Gesenius. The former, the present reviewer has always recommended to beginners in Hebrew because of its convenient form and superior typographical execution. It facilitates, by reason of these excellencies, the work of the untutored in searching out the vocabulary. But since we have adopted the plan of discarding the use of the Lexicon until a later period, and of learning a voVOL. XLIX. NO. 194.

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