Book Review 717 Book Review Ail books reviewed in this periodical may be procured from or through Concordia Publishing House, 3558 S. Jefferson Ave., St. Louis 18, Mo. Pascal, Genius in the Light of Scripture. The Westminster Press, Philadelphia. 383 pages, 9lj4X6%. $3.75. But a short time ago Dr. Emile Cailliet presented to the American reading public his extremely absorbing investigation The Clue to Pascal, in which he demonstrates that the key to the enigmas of Pascal's life and thought must be sought in the Scriptures. With the assistance of the special Research Fund of the University of Pennsylvania, which he serves as professor of French literature and civilization, the author now offers to his circle of Pascal students a scholarly, detailed life of the famous writer of the pj'ovincial Letters and of Thoughts, in which he further pursues the theme that it was the influence of the Bible that shaped Pascal's life and thiD..king. Pascal today is mentioned very often in connection with Kierkegaard, with whom he has much in common (e. g., the Socratic dialectic), but from whom also he differs greatly both in approach and objective. A genius in many fields, Pascal today is remembered in Protestant theological circles because he represented and defended the evangelical trend of Jansenism domiciled at Port Royal, a movement rooted in Scripture and St. Augustine, which fiercely attacked Jesuitism in its vicious system of morality and its pernicioUS politics. Ultimately Pascal had to submit to Roman authority and denounce his anti-Jesuit controversy, the shock of which led to his gifted sister Jacqueline's death at 31 and his own at 39, she dying in 1661 and he in 1662. To the reviewer it seems as if certain emphases in Pascal's life and work have been overiooked, and he is inclined to doubt certain statements of the author (e. g., that Pascal held to a unique Modalism of his own); but his thesis nevertheless is well sustained, and his excellent book, which evinces indefatigable research and long, painstaking study, will rank high in the ever-increasing Pascal literature of today. One wonders what would have happened had Pascal taken the absolute stand on Scripture over against Roman authority and tradition that Luther took a century before. But in 1623, when Pascal was born, Protestantism was already on the decline. The Roman Counter Reformation had already gotten the victory. In France there was Richelieu, and in Germany the Thirty Years' War had begun. Luther still remains the great modern evangelical pattern, the timeless witness to the Gospel of Christ. JOHN THEODORE MUELLER Appelman's Outlines and Illustrations. By Hyman J. Appelman, Zonder-van Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Mich., 1944. 129 pages, 51hx8. $1.25. Spurgeon's Illustrative Anecdotes. Edited and Condensed by David Otis Fuller, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Mich., 1944. 117 pages, 51h X 8. $1.25. 718 Book Review Choice IDustrations and Quotable Poems. Compiled and Edited by A. Bernard Webber, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Mich., 1944. 120 pages, 5lhxS. $1.25. Effective preaching does more than impart facts and inform the mind. It arouses and deepens faith and stirs to action; it touches the conscience, heart, and will. To accomplish this end, all great preaching uses illustrations as a means to effect visual realization of facts and arguments presented. The three little books listed above offer the minister illustrative material for his sermons. Appelman's Outlines and Illustrations, largely culled from various sources by the author, contains 99 outlines on Old and New Testament texts, most of which put forth Christ as the Redeemer of men. Though rearrangement of thought is desirable in some points and elimination or addition of thought necessary in others, the discriminating Lutheran pastor will find these outlines usable for evangelistic work. Many clergymen are thankful to Dr. Fuller for condensing and arranging in alphabetical order according to subject a number of anecdotes used by C. H. Spurgeon, the "Prince of Preachers." These illustrations have not lost their vitality. They are as fresh today as they were when they fell from the preacher's lips that held and swayed large audiences. A Lutheran minister may not want to use every one of these illustrations; yet the perusal of this book will be stimulating. Choice Illustrations and Quotable Poems is organized on the same plan as the previous book with the anecdotes and poems arranged in alphabetical order. This collection also offers effective material, although some selections are not suitable for pulpit use. ALEx WM. C. GUEBERT Macartney's lliustl'ations. By Clarence E. Macartney. Abingdon-Cokesbury Press, New York-Nashville. 421 pages, 53f4XSY2. $2.50. In the Foreword to this book the publishers say, "As the title indicates, this book is not a general compilation of sermon illustrations, but a carefully selccted collection of illustrations which have been used by Dr. Macartney in his sermons. They are drawn from his wide reading, his extensive travels, his pastoral experience, and from his own imagination." (P.7.) Dr. Macartney is a conservative preacher in the Presbyterian Church. He served churches at Paterson, N. J., and Philadelphia, Pa.; at the present time he is pastor of the First Presbyterian Church at Pittsburgh, Pa. Since a good illustration used in the sermon helps people to understand and to remember what is taught, pastors will welcome a book such as Dr. Macartney's, which supplies an abundance of illustrations. These are topically given in alphabetical order so that one can readily find what one is looking for. J. H. C. F. Light from the Old for a New Order. Volume II. Burlington Literary Board, Burlington, Iowa. $2.00. Dallas C. Baer. The 237 pages, 9X53/4. This is Volume II of Dr. Baer's expository sermons on the Eisenach Old Testament Lessons. The praise we accorded Vol. I we cheerfully Book Review 719 accord also this second volume. The sermons show deep and thoughtful study and are accommodated to the exigencies of the present time. Scholarly in their conception and execution, they are nevertheless popular enough to appeal to the average Lutheran church attendant, offering him doctrine, admonition, and rich comfort. The Eisenach Old Testament pericopes are by no means easy to treat, but the author in these sermons shows a way that offers guida."lce especially to our younger pastors. The reader will perhaps not agree with every statement in the book. Thus in the sermon on Is. 12, "God Is My Salvation," there should have been a definite statement showing that the prophecy is not millennialistic. In some of the sermons there is material that might not be suitable to every congregation. But sermon books are not bought to be preached as they are written. They rather are incentives for pastors to study the text themselves and to draw from it the ever-timely lessons of sin and grace; and these lessons the writer puts before his readers (and hearers) in a striking way, from which the student may learn much for his own sermonizing. JOHN THEODORE MUELLER This Is Judaism. By Rabbi Ferdinand Isserman. Willet, Clark, and Company, Chicago. 238 pages, 5%X8. $2.50. Rabbi Isserman of Temple Israel in St. Louis gives his interpretation of Reform Judaism. He believes that, except for some details, his colleagues in the Reform rabbinate will accept his conclusions. Among other things, Rabbi Isserman says, "Frail mortals speak of the best religion. What matters it to God where men seek him, whether before the ark of the synagogue or the crucifix of the church, the image of the Buddha or under the dome of the mosque?" (P.216.) That is Modernism in its fullest development and gives t,'1e tenor of Rabbi Isserman's book and of his Reform Judaism. We are not surprised to read that Reform Judaism, even as Modernism, says that the Bible "contains inaccuracies and imperfections," and that "human judgment and intelligence must sift out its errors and determine which of its values are temporary and which are eternal." (P. 108 f.) Reform Judaism is not Judaism, but, like Judaism, it has no Savior for sinful mankind. Neither of the two accept the New Testament or the Old Testament. We are reminded that concerning the Old Testament Jesus says, "Ye have not His Word abiding in you; for whom He hath sent, Him ye believe not .. " Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father; there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed Me; for he wrote of Me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe My words?" (John 5: 38,45-47.) Those who desire to have a recent pronouncement on Reform Judaism and Modernism, which, if some of the Jewish customs are eliminated, are essentially the same, will find it in Rabbi Isserman's book This is Judaism. J.H.C.F. The ''Ifs'' of Lent. Rev. R. R. Belter. Brochure. 31 pages. 20 cents. The Lutheran Literary Board, Burlington, Iowa. The Lenten thoughts offered in this booklet appeared first in the author's church bulletin. But they were so well received that he has published them in pamphlet form. The meditations are deeply devo-720 Book Review tional and spiritual and, besides, refreshingly original. Some of the "Ifs" treated are: the "Proving If" (John 13: 35), the "If of Submission" (Matt. 26: 42), the "Evasive If" (John 18: 29, 30). In each a faithful pastor's care for his flock is clearly reflected. JOHN THEODORE MUELLER Books Received From Wm. Collins, Sons & Co., 425 Fourth Ave., New York, N. Y.: Faith for These Times. By Willard Brewing. From Concordia Publishing House, 3558 S. Jefferson Ave., St. Louis 18, Mo.: The Adoring Heart. Daily Devotions from August 23 to October 7, 1945. No. 63. 48 pages. Price: 5 cents per copy, postpaid; 48 cents per dozen, postage extra; $3.00 per hundred, postage extra. Sei getrost und unverzagt. Kurze Andachten fuer die Zeit vom 23. August bis zum 7. October 1945. Rev. Geo. F. C. Beyer. Price same as above. The Christian's Treasure. Rally Day Service. Prepared by Arthur L. Miller. 16 pages. 7 cents each; 60 cents per dozen; $4.00 per hundred. Concordia Bible Teacher, Vol. VI, No.3. Topic: "The Sermon on the Mount." 64 pages, 43f4x7. 75 cents per annum. Concordia Bible Student, Vol. XXXIV. No.3. Topic: "The Sermon on the Mount." 64 pages, 4%X7. 50 cents per annum. To Our Subscribers It has been our custom to retain the names of our subscribers on our llsts for t\vo numbers after the subscription has expired. so that the subscriptions could be continued without interruption in a case a renewal came in late. We were very happy to follow this plan at extra e"'lIense, but we are now unable to continue this policy because of present conditions. Our Government has insisted that we reduce consumption of paper and eliminate all possible waste. Because Gf Ute resnictloll In the us" of paper it will become necessary to discontinue subscriptions for all our periodicals with the last number paid for under the subscription agreement. We shall, however, continue our policy of reminding our subscribers of the expiration of the subscription by inserting the usual numbers of notices in the second last and the last numbers of the periodicals they receive. It is our sincere hope that our subscribers will co-operate with us and the Government by renewing their subscriptions promptly upon receipt of the first notice . .June. 1943 CONCORDIA PUBLISHING HOUSE