(!!nurnrbtu IDlJtnlngtrul jlnut41y Continuing Lehre und Wehre (Vol. LXXVI) Magazin fuer Ev.-Luth. Homiletik (Vol. LIV) Theol. Quarterly (1897-1920)-Theol. Monthly (Vol. X) Vol. II April, 1931 No.4 CONTENTS Page ENGELDER, TH.: 1st der Papst der Antichrist? ........ 241 KRETZMANN, P. E.: "Hielt er's nicht fuer einen Raub," Phil. 2, 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 244 ENGELDER, TH.: Zurueck ZLl Luther I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 258 KRETZMANN, P. E.: Luther's Use of Medieval Hymns.. 260 WENGER, F.: Studie ueber die Eisenacher Epistel des Sonntags Misericordias Domini... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 273 Dispositionen ueber die von der Synodalkonferenz ange- nommene Serie alttestamentlicher Texte............... 283 Theological Observer. - Kirchlich-Zeitgeschichtliches. . . . .. 294 Book Review. - Literatur ................................. 312 Ein Prediger muss nicht allein weiden, alBa daBs er die Schafe unterweiBe, wie sie rechte Christen Bollen seill, sondern auch daneben den Woelien wehren, dass Bie die Schafe nich t angreifen und mit falscher Lehre veduehren und Irrtum ein· tuehren. - Luther. Es ist kein Ding, das die Leute mehr bei der Kirche behaelt denn die gute rredigt. - dpologieJ Art. 2.9. If the trumpet give an uncertain Bound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? 1 Cor. 4,8. Published for the Ev. Luth. Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States CONCORDIA PUBLISHING HOUSE, St. Louis, Mo. ARCHIVES 312 Book Review. - ,gUerntur. tors, bie tiJie flirrenbe ~affen flingt ober toie bas Dtaufcljen einer ~ro~ lJfjetenljarfe, fo baf3, toenn irgenbtoo - unb es gefcljiefjt fjeute nicljt feIten - ein 2utfjertoort aitiert toirb, bie lmenfcljen ftilIf±efjen unb fagen: @lo lonnte nur ein 2u±ljer flJrecljen, bas ift bie Shaft 2u±fjersJ @llJraclje unb ~nfjalt laffen ficlj bei ~rolJljeten niclj± ±tennen. ®s ift i:i:ljnIiclj toie bei ber ~ibeI: lman fann ifjren @linn, auclj iljre @li:i:l,?e, mobern toiebergeben, aber ber einfaclje lmann fag±: S\)as ift nicljt bas ~ibeItoort. . .. ®in ,uberfel,?ter' ,2u±fjer fjat niclj± meljr bie Shaft 2u±fjers. Ob ba bie lmenfcljen noclj ftilI~ ftefjen, ob fie ficlj bafur in±ereHieren toerben? Ob fie einen ;ite6t toei±er~ lefen lllerben, bem bie Shaft ber OriginaIiti:i:t, bie unbergleicljHclje lmeIobie ber @llJraclje 2u±fjers, genommen if±? einen ;ite6i, ber im Original iYunfen flJrulj±, aber in ber ftberfel,?ung oft langllleiIig if±? S\)as ift unfere iYrage, unfere @lorge. lman fjat fcljmeraIiclje ®rfafjrungen mit mancljem Sl!ircljen~ Heb gemacljt, bas man ,berbeffern' toolIte; cocnfo mit @)ebet~ unb Sl!ircljen~ bilcljern ber m:r±en. Eiegt barin nicljt eine 2eljre? lman lllm 2u±fjer toieber 3um Gi:fjrif±enboIf reben laffen; aber einen 2u±ljer ofjne bie 2u±ljerflJraclje? ~ir gefjen fo toeit, au beljaulJ±en: ®in gana einfacljes ~ort 2u±fjer~ in ber 2u±ljerflJraclje fcljli:i:g± ein; unb bebeutenbe ~or±e 2u±ljers oljne feine @llJraclje iDerben uberfjiirt." ~ir fragen: ~f± es lllidIiclj toafjr, baf3 unferm Gi:fjriftenboIf 2u±fjers '1leu±fclj niclj± meljr berf±i:i:nbIiclj iff, lllie ~olfgang lmel,?ger beljaulJ±et? ~ir macljen bie gegen±eiIige ®rfafjrung. s\)ie lmiffouriflJnobe fja± beinalje, fo~ lange fie beftefj±, ,,2u±fjers llMfsbibIio±fjef", "Eu mul,? unb iYrommen bes lu±fjerifcljen (lljrif±enboIfs ausgetoi:i:ljr±e bolIf±i:i:nbige @lcljriften D. lmartin 2utljers u n b e r i:i: n b e r ± unb mit ben niitigen erIi:i:uternben ~emerfungen abgebrucft", in breif3ig ~i:i:nben. Unfere @)Iaubensbrilber in ber iYreHirclje bon @lacljfen u. a. @l±. fjaben lllofjl an bie ljunber± ,,2utljerljefte" mit furaen ~emedungen, aber ebenfalls mit hem u n b e r i:i: n her ± e n 2utljerte6±' Unb fotJJoljf tJJ i r in unferer ".\3utljers 18oUsbibHo±fjd" lllie fie in iljren ,,2utljerljeften" tJJerben bon unferm Iu±fjerifcljen Gi:fjriftenboIf berf±anben. S\)as llliffen lllir au~ ®rfaljrung. iY. lIS. Book Review. - £iteratur. His Very Own. Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians. By Norman B. Harri- son, D. D., Pastor, Bible Teacher, and Evangelist. The Bible Insti- tute Colportage Association, Chicago, Ill. 176 pages, 5X7%. Price, $1.00. We are dealing here, not with a detailed exegetical exposition, but with a series of lessons presenting the outstanding thoughts of this re- markable letter. The following are the topics treated: What We May Expect to Find in Ephesians; The Most Wonderful Story Ever Told; The Most 'Wonderful Body Ever Formed; The Most Wonderful Building Ever Built; The Most Wonderful Walk Ever Undertaken; The Most Wonderful Bride Ever Wooed and Won; The Most Wonderful Warfare Ever Waged; The Church of Christ: His Very Own. - It is a matter of rejoicing that books of this type still appear on the American market; for though Book Review. - £itetatut. 313 there is a tinge of Arminianism (or synergism) on page 32: "So far as every man in the world is concerned, he is free to accept Christ .... The Gospel invitation is his. He can and should accept," and of millennialism on page 90: "In the coming day the number of the lost will be forgotten, so infinitesimal in comparison with the company of the redeemed" (cp. Matt. 24, 22; Luke 17, 33-36, etc.), yet these bad sections are more than compensated for by the splendid exposition of Eph. 2, in which the truth is very ably and emphatically set forth. There are outstandingly impressive sections also on pages 100, 102, lIO, and the explanation of redemption, atonement, and mystery is in every case very much to the point. Even if the trumpet is uncertain on a few notes, it is, on the whole, very clear, and the book is well worth studying. It is bound in cloth, with gold stamping on cover and back. P. E. KRETZMANN. Why Thousand YearsP By Rev. William MasseUnk, Th. M., Th. D. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, Mich. 224 pages, 5%X8. Price, $1.50. Issuing from the press of the Dutch Reformed Church, in which Dr. Masselink is a minister, this book is the best critique of Chiliasm that has appeared in many years. Not only the unscriptural scheme of Dispensationalism, but the lack of Scriptural proof for the various details of the chiliastic scheme are treated with great fulness. While this material might be found in other books, the wider implications of the Fundamentalist type of Chiliasm had never been systematically treated until Dr. Masselink analyzed them in his chapters on the chiliastic rejec- . tion of infant baptism, on their perversion of the concept kingdom of God, their opposition to creeds, their confusion concerning Law and grace. We have scant hope that the reading of this book will convince millennialists of their error. If that were possible, the publication, two years ago, of Mr. Philip Mauro's The Gospel of the Kingdom would have resulted in a series of public retractions on the part of Fundamentalist spokesmen. But while the leaders in the movement seem to be beyond the pale of rea- sonable argument, a book like Why Thousand Years? should act as a de- terrent for many who have become infected with the viewpoints of the Scofield Bible and other millenarian writings. There are Lutherans, too, who are greatly in need of a corrective like that supplied by this Dutch Reformed writer. THEODORE GRAERNER. ~ie I5djii~un!J b'e~ Onicinin~ liei ijlauid ~ofelJiju~. ~ine Untetfud)ung: ~at fid) iYlabius :;s of ell~us in bet i:latietung bet befannten Sd)ntung (£uf. 2, 2) geittt 1 mon Dr. !ill. £ 0 b bet. metIag bon i:liitffling unb iYranfe, £eillaig. 96 SeHen 6X9. !l\reis, fartoniett: M.4. i:liefe ~onograll~ie ift ein luertboUer fBeitrag au ber bielber~anbelten iYrage tiber ben ,8enfus b~s Ouirinius, £uf. 2, 2. i\'aft aUgemein ~at Me mob erne .Rritif unb ~);egefe ben ~bangeliften £ufas ~ier eines d)tono(ogifd)en :;Stttums befd)ul~ Mgt unb be~aulltet, bab ber ,8enfus erft ae~n :;Sa~te fllnter ftattgefunben ~abe. ~usfti~rlid) ~anbelt tiber biefe Sad)e Sd)titer in feinem bdannten ~aulltluede tiber Mefes ®ebiet, lI®efd)id)te bes itiMfd)en moues im ,8eitalter :;S~fu @;~rifti", unb fteUt ell aIS :tatfad)e ~inf bab £ufas fid) geittt ~abe, Iuenn et fagt: lIi:las ~aulltbebenfen gegen ben fBetid)t bes £ufas ift abet: ein untet Ouitinius ge. ~altenet ,8enfull fonnte nid)t in bie ,8eit bes ~etobes faUen, ba Ouirinius bei 314 Book Review. - ~itetatut. ~eli3eiten bes S';)etobes niemals <5tatt~artet in <5~tien tuat. II (1,534.) 5Det fiit3Hd) betftotbene befannte S';)iftotifet \\:buatb rrJle~et fd)teilit in einem feinet letten ®etfe, "Utfpttinge unb ~nfiinge bes ~~riftentums", bat ~ufas ein gtolies d)tonologifd)es metfe~en begangen ~abe, inbem et ben bon Ouitinius bUtd)~ gefti~tten Senfus bon <5~tien unb !j:!aIiiftina in bie Seit bet ®eliutt ~~tifti fete. (~obbet, <5. 2.) ®it Tannen ~iet nid)t bie gan3e ir'tage auftoUen, lietonen abet auniid)ft, bat, feIlift tuenn tnit einmnl eine d)tonologifd)e <5d)tnietigfeit unb einen betmeintlid)en ®ibetfptud) mit ben ~ngaben bet®eitgefd)id)te nid)t lofen fiinnen, bet liefenntngtteue ~ut~etnnet mit ~ut~et f agt: ,,5Die <5d)tift ~at nod) nie ge~ it'tet" (XV, 1481) unb mit ~alob: "Nullus error vel in leviculis, nullus memoriae lapsus, nedum mendacium ullum locum habere postest in uni- versa Scriptura" (Baieri Compendium, ed. Walther, 1, 105). ~liet ie unb ie ~aben fid) bibeIgliiuliige \\:;!;egeten aud) mit biefet ir'tage auseinanbetgefett. <5tiicb !'JatDt, in feluet IImibHfd)en ®efd)id)te beil lJleuen :teftnments", hie bei gana ein~ fad)et 5DatfteUungstneife auf fotgfiirtigen <5tubien tu~t, Metet eine ~iifung bet <5d)tnietigfeit in ein pant <5iiten. (<5.9. 10.) ~.~. ®tiilinet fd)tieb einen aus~ fti~tHd)en ~rtifd im Theological Quarterly, III, 187, "The Census in the Days of Herod", unb teme barin bide \\:in3eH)eiten mit, bie bet lietti~mte fd)ottifd)e S';)iftotifet unb~td)iiolog <5it ®illiam lftnmfa~ 3ufammengettagen ~atte in feinem mud) Was Ghrist Born at Bethlehem? !j:!. \\:. Jhetmann lieanttnottet bie ir'tage: "vVhen was Jesus Born?" im THEOLOGICAL MONTHLY, V, 353. lftamfa~ ~at bann feine <5tubien unb ir'otfd)ungen tneiter fortgefett unb in feinem ®etfe The Bearing of Recent Discovery on the Trustworthiness of the New Testament me~tete ~apitel batilbet batgeboten: "Luke's Account of the First Census", "The Augustan Census System", "V'IIhen Quirinius was Governing Syria", <5tubien, bie aud) bet metfaffet bet bot'Iiegenben Untet~ fud)ung fennt unb fd)iitt. (<5. 64. 71. 72. 91.) lftnmfnl), bet gat nid)t :t~eolog bon lBetuf ift, aliet fid) liefonbets filt ben ~pofter !j:!aulus unb feinen <5d)tilet ~ufas ~iftntifd) intmffictt, ~at, tuie fd)on biefe ~apiteIillictfd)tiften aeigen, bas ganae tiimifd)e Senfusfl)ftem unb feine ®efd)id)te butd)fot'fd)t unb nad)getniefen, bat bet f d) i e ben e f 0 I d) e <5 d) ii tun g e n ft a t t fan ben. <5eine <5tu~ bien finb liefonbetet lBead)tung tnett, unb tnit feten nut einen <5d)lutfat ~ietljet; "This theory is an astonishing example of modern European capacity for making false judgments. From Strauss to Schmiedel, what a series of dis- tinguished and famous scholars have blindly assumed that their inability to estimate historical evidence correctly was the final and sure criterion of truth! This we can now say freely because the whole matter, so far as the census is concerned, has passed out of the sphere of speculation into the region of definite historical truth. We know that Luke was right in the external facts because the records have disclosed the whole system of the census" (p. 253 f.). ~ud) bet bctannte amctHanifd)e neuteftamentfid)e \\:&eget ~. :t, lftobertfon fagt in feinet Tmnsl(btion of Lukc's Gospel au ~uf, 2, 2: "Luke has been wonderfully vindicated by modern discovery in the his- torical statements in these verses" (p. 148). - Unfet metfaffet gteift nun bie <5ad)e bon einet anbem <5eite an. Dr. ~obbet ift ein niebetliinbifd)et ®ele~ttet, bet Hebet in feinet smuttetfptad)e bie Untetfud)ung betiiffentHd)t ~iittej abet bas S';)oUanbifd)c ift eben telne ®eftfptad)e tnie bas 5Deutfd)e, \\:nglifd)e unb ir'tan~ 3iififd)e. \\:t fteUt bas !j:!toblem fo: ,,\\:nttnebet ~at ~utas fid) geitrt, alS Ct ben Duitinius bie <5dJatung nod) bel ~eb3eiten bes S';)etobes (alfo bot bem ~a~te 4 nad) ~~tifto) butd)filljten liilitj bann ~at ~ofepljus ted)t. Obet ~ufas ~at ted)tj Book Review. - .\JUetatur. 315 bann ~at ~ofep~ug irrtlimlid) bie Sd)iitung minbej'teng ae~n ~a~te lIU fpiit an" gefett. . .. lSon ben meiften .Rtitifetn Itlirb ber ~rrtum .\Jufag aur .\Jaft gelegt .... !!Bit' miid)ten bie altleite !illiiglid)feit in irrage fteUen unb untetfud)en, ob nid)t ~ofep~ug fid) bieUeid)t geitrt ~at." (S. 2.) Unb et j'tent nun eine einge~enbe Untetfud)ung an libet bie QueUen beg ~ofep~ug flir bie ~a~re 37 biS 4 bot @:~rifto, be~anbe1t bie s:laten bet Itlid)tigften ~teigniITe aug S'jerobeg' letten .\Jebeng" ja~t:en, ~ofep~ug' ~bfd)nitte liber Quiriniug unb libet bie %iitigfeit beg Qui" riniug in S~rien unb mad)t nii~m ~n\Jaben liber bie 3eU bet Sd)iitung. Unb er fommt nad) einge~enben fd)arffinnigen Untetfud)ungen lIU bem lRefurtat, bafl ~ofep~ug, Itlie bag aud) fonft bet i~m borgefommen ift, fid) geitrt ~at; unb getabe aUf ~ofep~ug ~aben bie mobernen .Rritifet, bie immer bem .\Jufag ben ~rrtum lIufd)t:eiben, fid) betlaffen. So ift biefe Spe3ialunterfud)ung ein ltlertboUet !Beittag au bet irragt be!! 3enfug beg Quiriniug. .\J. ir li r b r in g e r. Christian Doctrine. By Prof. E. Hove. Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis, Minn. 1930. 474 pages, 6X9. Price, $4.00. This book by the late Dr. Hove, who graduated from Concordia Semi- nary, St. Louis, in 1887 and taught dogmatics at Luther Seminary, of the Norwegian Lutheran Church, from 1901 to 1927, is, for the most part, such a helpful compendium of Lutheran dogmatics that we wish we could recommend it unreservedly. Reading it, one is carried back to the days when we sat at the feet of Dr. Walther. It is a pleasure to trace in it the influence of Dr. Walther and the other standard Lutheran dogma- ticians. First of all, "as will be noted in his dogmatics, Dr. Hove's motto has been 'It is written'" (J. A. Aasgaard). The book is refreshingly lavish with Scripture-quotations, and the use the author makes of Scripture to prove and unfold his doctrinal statements reflects his firm belief in the verbal inspiration and the consequent absolute inerrancy and the supreme and sole authority of Scripture. In presenting these Scripture-teachings, he employs the method and terminology of the Confessions and the ortho- dox dogmaticians, so that one who has studied Baier-Walther, Graebner, Pieper, finds himself in familiar and congenial surroundings. And the language employed is of the plainest, frequently most impressive in its simplicity. (The spots which show faulty English and some typographical errors can be attended to in a subsequent edition.) But with all this the book has a serious fault. It lies in the presen- tation of the doctrines of conversion and election. The doctrine of con- version is presented correctly in thesi. The synergistic antithesis is also correctly presented - in general terms. "The view that a man may co- operate with God before or in his regeneration is what is known as syn- ergism, which is rejected in the Lutheran Church. . .. Scripture speaks of no intermediate state between life and death, nor can we conceive of any such state. . .. The quickening power is communicated in the quick- ening, in regeneration, not before regeneration" (p. 247). "When others accept the call and are converted and saved, it is not because God's call in that case is more earnest and efficacious nor because these men are by nature better than the others" (p. 241). And all of this is substan- tiated with a multitude of clear and emphatic Scripture-statements. But still the presentation of the synergistic antithesis is faulty. It is too general. It does not deal with the developments of the present day. The 316 Book Review. - .\3itetatut. synergistic terms given currency in the late controversy are neither mentioned nor analyzed. That must be done - in the interest of the unity of faith. The treatment of the doctrine of election is altogether inadmissible. "The Lutheran Doctrine of Election" is presented in two sections, the first of which, § 225, gives verbatim the Eleventh Article of the Epitome. That is proper and in order. § 226 has the heading: "Notes on the Lu- theran Doctrine of Election, Based Chiefly on Rom. 15,4." We have here on twelve pages a fine, eloquent, comforting dissertation on the Chris- tian hope; but the doctrine of election is not unfolded. While in the other chapters there is a wealth of proof·texts, here the pertinent, familiar passages, such as Eph. I, 3 if.; Rom. 8, 28-30, are not as much as men- tioned. The only text quoted that mentions election is Rom. 8, 31-39, and that is adduced in proof of the statement: "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord of hosts" (p. 406) . The important discussions of the last sixty years are ignored. Article XI certainly gives the doctrine of Scripture. But there are those who dissent from Article XI. And nothing is said about that. The nearest approach to a presentation of the doc- trine of election is found on page 402: "Scripture assures us that what- soever God does for our salvation here in time has been planned and decreed from eternity; it is not the result of chance nor of a transitory impulse or a changeable caprice, but it is the result of eternal counsels and decrees, proceeding from infinite love and wisdom. Scripture reveals furthermore that God from eternity has not only planned the salvation of mankind in a general way, but also thought of the individual, that He has taken counsel with Himself and planned how He might apply His universal grace to the individual, how He might lead the individual into, and keep him in, the way of salvation, how He might guide and deal with the individual, what particular ways and means He might employ in each individual case, what particular dispensations, crosses, trials, and tribulations might be beneficial to each individual, might help to chasten and improve him, to guard him against evils and dangers, and help to keep him faithful unto the end. That I, the insignificant individual, have not been overlooked or forgotten, but that, from ages eternal, God has thought about me, has cared for me, and provided for me in accordance with my particular circumstances and needs, is a very com- forting thought. This strengthens my faith and my assurance of final salvation. And this is the chief purpose of the much·discussed doctrine of election, as Scripture plainly shows. To be assured of our election is the same thing as to be assured of our final salvation." We can sub- scribe to every word of this. But those who do not really distinguish between the universal will of grace and the decree of election could pos- sibly also subscribe to it. The trouble is that nowhere is the exact doctrine of election presented in definite, clear·cut statements. Besides, how could the author avoid the discussion of the intuitu fidei? (In passing, we might point out that on page 80 :n:e6yvwIJI' is given the meaning of foreknowledge.) We do not know what to make of it. In other matters the author takes a determined stand. He treats of mil- lennialisl11 thoroughly, and though a party of the Norwegian Lutheran Church accepts it, he rejects, with the Confession, both the gross and Book Review. - S3itetntut. 317 the subtile Chiliasm with its thousand years, gives a full exposition of Rev. 20, and on the basis of a most exhaustive and fine, scholarly study of Rom. II, 25-27, on sixteen pages, rejects the dream of a universal conversion of the Jewish nation. The same direct method of treatment should have been applied to the doctrine of election. In view of the merit of the greater portion of the book we have written the greater portion of this review most reluctantly. TH. ENGELDER. Peter the Fisherman-Philosopher. A Study in Higher Fundamentalism. By John Murdoch MacInnis, Ph. D., D. Litt. Harper & Brothers, New York, N. Y. 150 pages, 5X7%. Price, $1.75. This book is a demonstration of the fact that it is neither wise nor safe to try to effect a compromise with the theology of the "social gospe!." The reviewer read the book with a great deal of interest, for there is much that is thought-provoking and stimulating; but it certainly is not the correct interpretation of Peter and his message. The author is an expo- nent of a false mysticism, on the Schleiermacher model. In so many places the presentation falls just short of the truth. In addition, there are many downright errors in the book. The author's effort to explain the mystery of inspiration lamentably fails to meet the standard. He seems finally to place it on a level with the inspiration of some good hymn or other poem (p. 55). But the poorest part of the book is that which attempts to portray redemption. The author often uses the old orthodox expressions, but he invests them with inadequate meanings. Statements like the following abound: "God is always carrying up the sins of the people in His purpose of redemption." That certainly does not agree with the definite statement of the Letter to the Hebrews con- cerning the "once and for always." To explain the sufferings of Christ by a reference to the sufferings of millions of soldiers in the World War (p.79) is 80 totally inadequate as to approach the blasphemous. We can, not understand how G. Campbell Morgan could recommend the book. But we can understand why the Board of the Bible Institute in Los Angeles had the plates of the original edition of the book destroyed. It would have been better had it never been republished. P. E. KRETZMANN. Through Nature to Nature's God. By Frank S. Arnold. Fleming H. Revell Co., New York, N. Y. 191 pages, 4%X7%. Price, $1.50. The author seeks to draw from discoveries of modern science, and also from some of its hYP9theses, lessons for faith and conduct based upon real or fancied analogies. The purpose of the book is to counteract the materialistic view of nature, and to this end the author seeks to adapt the older cosmological argument to the modern scientific view of the universe. THEODORE GRAEBNER. Sermon Sketches on the Old Epistle Peri copes. By J. A. Dell. 158 pages, 6Y2 X 8%. Cloth, gilt lettering. The Lutheran Book Con- cern, Columbus, O. Price, $2.00. This volume offers Lutheran pastors, as the title says, sermon sketches on the old Epistle pericopes. Each sketch, elaborated on the basis of a gen- eral theme and appropriate parts, emphasizes and correlates the out- standing thoughts of the text and applies them to present-day conditions. 318 Book Review. - mtetntut. On the whole, the author has produced a helpful, stimulating, thought- provoking book, which, we are sure, will prove itself a fine guide to busy pastors who wish to preach on the old Epistle pericopes. Quite obviously it was the purpose of the author to incite the pastor to serious thinking and research rather than to mechanical copying of a given material. For this reason he refrained from a detailed exegesis of the text and has confined himself to the chief lessons which the text suggests. However, the sketches must be used with care. Sometimes the author suggests sentences that are hardly in accord with the dignity of the pulpit. Cpo p.91: "I read the sport page and the so-called funny page," etc. In places the illustrations are misleading, as, for example, on p. 98, where the relation of faith to love is explained in terms of electrical mechanics. Sentences such as: "Love establishes our relationship to God" (p. 98), must be rejected as theologically incorrect, even though the statement is somewhat modified later on. The parts do not always conform to the theme, and this at times makes the treatment of the sermon awkward. Strict attention to the fundamentum dividendi will always benefit the sermon. Occasionally the introductions to the sermons begin with rather irrelevant matter, as, for instance, on p. 125, where the author introduces the sublime thought of "God's Covenant with Man" with a reference to the Versailles Treaty, the League of Nations, etc. In directing the reader's attention to these defects, the reviewer, however, does not mean to deny that with proper care this volume of sketches may be of real help to the judicious pastor. J. T. MUELLER. In the Presence. Prayers and Meditations for the Quiet Hour of Re- membrance and Devotion in the Holy Lententide. By Paul Zeller Strodaoh. 157 pages. The United Lutheran Publication House, Philadelphia, Pa. Price, $1.00. We are much dissatisfied with this book and sorely disappointed. Not only is the presentation couched in language so obscure that the ordinary reader cannot readily understand it, but the author utterly fails clearly to present the fundamental fact of Lent, to wit, that Jesus suffered and died as the sinners' Substitute, that by Him full salvation has been acquired for all sinners, and that through faith by the grace of God this salvation is received and enjoyed. A sample is herewith given. On page 35 we read: "Through the hard realities of life is the way of the cross; and the cross was raised in the midst of them, because of them, and remains because of them. The Victor of the cross harvested His victory because He proved the divine end possible to be lived and accomplished mid this workaday existence of mine. Because of its far·swung turn away from God and His will and life the life that won through the way of the cross came and, having come and lived, accomplished the swing back. This, in the glory of the divine will, is the normal life of the follower on the way over against the normal life of the world. But the former is lived and won in the latter." When the author says, page 29, "Jesus is ready always with His share; my faith is my part," he speaks as though the sinner were saved not merely by faith, but beoause of his faith, which, of course, is un- scriptural. J. H. C. FRITZ. Book Review. - 53itetatut. 319 iSeefforge an ).}en ~ugenbndjen. mon ~ a u ( ?S (a u. 232 l5eiten 6X9. ~teis: M. 8. - iSeefforge an ben (l;r\t1adjfenen. mon ~ au ( ?S (a u. 228 l5eiten. ~reis: M.8. SDtucf unb metiag bon ~. ?Settegmann in ®liters(of). SDet etfte ?Sanb bef)anbelt in neun ~afJite1n bie fJtaUif d)e l5ee1f orge am ~leintinb, im mnbetgottesDienft, im ~onfitmanbenuntenid)t, in bet moHSfd)ule, in bet f)iif)eten l5d)ule, an bet mannIid)en unb ttJeibHd)en :;sugenb, ttJaf)tenb bet 3ttJeite ?Sanb in 3ef)n ~(lfJite1n Die l5eelforge im SDotf, in bet ~leinftabt, in ber :;Snbufttiegemeinbe, in ber ®toliftabt, in bet :;Snlanbs, nnb ~uslanbsbi(lffJota, in ~tanfenf)aufern unb :;snenanftalten, an ~nof)omern unb ®eiftesfd)ttJad)en bef)anbelt. SDie ein3elnen ~afJitel finb bon berfd)iebenen metfaffern gefd)rieben. ?Seibe ?Sanbe nef)men nat lit lid) Uiiicffid)t aUf beutfd)Hinbifd)e merf)(iltniffe, finb aud) nid)t bom ed)tlutf)etifd)en I5tanbfJuntt gefd)rieben, unb bod) entf)alten fie tncmd;es, lMS aud) flir bie !J}aftoren unfers 53anbes unbunferer 6gnobe bon lJCuten f ein fann. % f) e o. 53 (i t f d). The Christian Family. By G-eo. Walter Fiske, Oberlin College. The Abingdon Press, New York, N. Y. 138 pages, 5X8. Price, $1.25. This is one of a series of religious-education monographs which the Abingdon Press is issuing under the general editorship of John W. Lang- dale. Professor Fiske "pleads for the incorporation into the family life of America of those essentials of Christian teaching, example, and inspira- tion that will reestablish the Christian home as an unfailing source of regenerative power in the religious, economic, and political development of the nation and the world." He speaks frankly of the evils of our day resulting from the lack of proper home-training and shows how the work of the Church must fall down without due parental cooperation. Unfor- tunately the author's theology is liberal. He states: "Our home instruc- tion in religion should unerringly aim to win our young folks to the re- ligion of Jesus Christ, to an acceptance of His teachings as the purest the world knows, an adoption of His ideals as their own personal stand- ards of living, and an acceptance of His personality as the guide and master and savior of their lives." Again: "The combination of all the world's noblest and purest ideals in the heroic personality of Jesus Christ, who lived the human life of God, makes Him our Savior from sin and low ideals and the Master of our consciences and wills." However, the educator will find many useful thoughts and suggestions in this otherwise well-written volume. W. G. POLAOK. (l;ingegangene £iteratur. SDie folgenben l5i)nobalbetid)te finb famtHd) im Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, Mo., erfd)ienen. Proceedings of the Fifty-Fifth Convention of the Western District. 24 pages. Doctrinal Papers: "Archeology and the Bible," by Prof. W. A. Maier, Ph. D. "Living Up to Augsburg," by Rev. F. Niedner. In outline: Worin besteht die Staerke der Kirche? by Prof. Th. Engelder, D. D.; Vom Privatstudium der Heiligen Schritt, by Rev. Fr. Brust. Price, 25 cts. 320 Book Review. - 53iteratur. Fifth Convention of the Northern Nebraska District. 50 pages. Doctrinal Paper: "The Relation of Synod to Its Members," by Rev. J. Holstein. Price, 16 cts. iJiinfte ~aijreBlterfammrung beB \)lorb=l.neliraBfa=~iftrirtB. 47 SeHen. lite. ferat: ,,:£lie ~igenfd)aften @otte~." mefmnt: ~rof. ~g. 53iitfd). ~reg: 20 (ns. fBieqeijnier Sl)noliallicrid,t beB Siib=~mnoiB=~iftriftB. 92 Seiten. lite. ferate: ,,:£ler red)tfettigenbe unb feIigmad)enbe @laube." lIteferent: D.~. ~. ~retmann. "Why Do We Subscribe to the Augsburg Confession after Four Hundred Years 1" meferent: P. @eo. 18eibetl1lieben. ~rei~: 40 [g. Fifty-Sixth Convention of the Central District. 95 pages. Doc- trinal Papers: Die Geschichte des Mittleren Distrikts, by Rev. P. Eickstaedt. In outline: "The Augsburg Confession," by Prof. E. J. Friedrich; "The Lutheran SundaY·school," by Rev. P. Dannen- feldt. Price, 40 cts. ~djtunbfiinf5igfter Sl)noballieridjt neB \lnidjigan=~iftriftB. 80 SeHen. lite. ferate: ,,:£las :;subtliium unfmr 18efenntngfd)riften eine ~lufmuntcrung aUt ~teue im 18efenntniS. 1I meferent: P. [. :;So 18et)erIein. "Christ for Us - We for Christ." :£leutfd)e i'tberfetung be~ engHfd)en mefemts bon P. lID. O. 53eit. ~rei~: 17 [g. Proceedings of the Fifty-Eighth Convention of the Michigan District. 67 pages. Doctrinal Papers: "Christ for Us - We for Christ," by Rev. W. O. Leitz. "The Jubilee of Our Confessional Writings an Admonition unto Faithfulness in the Confession of the Truth," by Rev. C. J. Beyerlein. Price, 16 cts. Proceedings of the Twelfth Convention of the English District. 100 pages. Doctrinal Paper: "The Preparation of the Church for Its World Mission," by Rev. W. H. T. Dau, D. D. Price, 29 cts. Please Take Notice. Kindly consult the address label on this paper to ascertain whether your subscription has expired or will soon expire. "April 31" on the label means that your subscription has ex- pired. Please pay your agent or the Publisher promptly in order to avoid interruption of service. It takes about two weeks before the address label can show change of address or acknowledgment of remittance. When paying your subscription, please mention name of pub- lication desired and exact name and address (both old and new, if change of address is requested). CONCORDIA PUBLISHING HOUSE, St. Louis, Mo.