LITERARY NOTICES | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 17, 1895

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 21, No. 41.

LITERARY NOTICES.

“LINCOLN AND DOUGLASS, POLITICAL SPEECHES AND DEBATES, 1854-1861.” Edited by Alonzo T. Jones. International Tract Society, Battle Creek, Mich.; 59 Paternoster Row, London, Eng. The work may also be obtained of the Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal. Price in buckram cloth binding, $1.75.

The reprint of this valuable work, made more so by arrangement and style, is timely just now in the history of the republic. When these debates were in progress, vital issues to people and nation were at stake; the same is true to-day. Men now as then are seeking “to turn a free people back into the hateful paths of despotism.” Then the Constitution was attacked in one of its holiest utterances; it is no less so now. Then a decision of the Supreme Court had perverted the Constitution (Dred Scott decision); there is a recent decision which does the same thing (that of Dec. 29, 1892). It begins with Lincoln’s speech at Peoria, Ill., 1854, giving the whole history of the great question at issue up to the repeal of the Missouri Compromise in that year. Next comes Lincoln’s speech at Springfield, June 26, 1857, which carries the history up to the Dred Scott decision in that year. Then follows Lincoln’s speech to the convention which nominated him for senator, followed by the debates between him and Douglass. The book closes with Lincoln’s first inaugural, with his Gettysburg speech and second inaugural added. The arrangement is such as will make it of special help to the student. It should be read by every thinking man and woman who prize the principles of liberty.

OUR LITTLE FRIEND, VOLUME 5. Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal. Price by mail, $1.00. The fifth bound volume of Our Little Friend comes to our table in bright blue dress pleasantly pictured. It is said that a thing of beauty is a joy forever, and this is especially true of the child heart. And as we look over Our Little Friend, with its bright, interesting, and instructive pages, we do not know where a parent could better invest $1.00 for mental food for his child than in purchasing a bound volume of this little paper.

“CORRUPTIONS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT,” by H. L. Hastings (editor of the Christian), 47 Cornhill, Boston, Mass.

This little book of 96 pages is a bound number of the Anti-infidel Library. It is written to give in brief compass a part of the great mass of argument and fact which demonstrate the authenticity of the New Testament writings. This little treatise places before the common people in a convenient form some important facts generally overlooked by skeptical talkers and writers. The little book is a splendid condensation of facts, and deserves a wide circulation.

“VEST POCKET COMPANION FOR CHRISTIAN WORKERS.” By R. A. Torrey. Fleming H. Revell Co., New York, Chicago, and Toronto. 118 pages. Bound in red leather, with gilt edges, superior paper, with alternate pages blank, 50 cents; in red leather, red edges, no blank pages, 25 cents. Orders may be sent to Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal.

This little book is gotten up on the idea that there is medicine in the Bible for every sin-sick soul, and it has therefore arranged what to the author seems the best texts for different soul ills; for instance, we have the “Best Texts for the Careless and Indifferent,” with subdivisions; “Best Texts for Those Who have Difficulties,” with twenty-two of the various difficulties; “Best Texts for Those Who Entertain False Hopes,” “for Those Who Lack Assurance,” “for Backsliders,” “for Skeptics,” “for Those Who Wish to Postpone Decision.” This little book may prove a help to the beginner who is not familiar with his Bible and does not know by personal experience the Mighty Helper. The best help is God’s word. This little book recognizes that in that it gives nothing but Scripture. May the word thus given prove a blessing, only let not the worker cling to that.

“THE STRUCTURE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT” is a little brochure of 70 pages by I. Panin, Grafton, Mass., in which the author shows by numbers of words in books, in passages, in the whole New Testament, in a dozen different ways, that the whole New Testament, written by eight different men, covering a period of thirty-five years, is after all the plan of one Mind, the evidence of which is placed within the Book itself. It is a remarkable testimony to the verbal inspiration of the original autographs, and is interesting to the Bible student. It may, we presume, be obtained by addressing the author.

THE English press generally seems to admit the superiority of the “Standard Dictionary” above all others. The conservative and authoritative journal, St. James Budget, declares of the “Standard,” “Nothing can be more complete than this, nothing more exhaustive.” And it is true. The “Standard” is the best.

R. H. Woodward Company, Baltimore, Md., will soon issue a new book, by Talmage. It gives an account of his recent travels around the world, and will be very liberally and beautifully illustrated, several hundred illustrations being used. The book will be sold by subscription.