Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/31

 carried out  successfully. But I have  no  hesitation  in  saying  that Dr. Knecht’s success  is  as  great  as  his  programme  is  vast. His work first saw  the  light  in  1883,  and  since  then  twelve  large  editions  have been exhausted. This fact  alone  speaks  volumes  for  his  success. His work marks  an  immense  advance  on  anything  that  has  been  published in this  country. In fact,  we  have  nothing  in  any  way  like  it;  nothing that approaches  it  within  a measurable  distance. Our text-books,  at their  best,  give  but  a good  narrative; at  their  worst,  I fear  to  say  what they do. But best  and  worst  alike  have  entered  into  an  unholy  covenant to give  next  to  nothing  beyond  the  narrative. Now, thanks  to  Dr.  Knecht and his  translator,  we  have  a work  that,  in  addition  to  a good  narrative, supplies a good  explanation  and  an  excellent  commentary. The very' idea that  Bible  History  needs  an  explanation  and  a commentary  will, I suspect, come  to  many  like  a bolt  from  the  blue. But I trust  that after the  appearance  of  Dr.  Knecht’s  work  we  shall  be  ashamed  to  issue any more  Bible  Histories  in  the  good  old  dry-as-dust  style.

The narrative  in  the  Practical  Commentary  is  Dr.  Schuster’s  Bible History. This work  itself  has  already  been  translated  into  eighteen languages, and  has  run  into  I know  not  how  many  editions. Let it, however, be  noted  that  the  Practical  Commentary  is  not  inextricably bound up  with  any  particular  form  of  narrative,  and  it  will  be  found equally serviceable  with  any  other  narrative  that  teachers  may  prefer to take  as  the  groundwork.

In particular,  I would  call  attention  to  the  excellent  “Concordance between Holy  Scripture  and  the  Catechism”,  as  it  is  called,  given  in  the Appendix. In it  the  teacher  will  find  ready  to  hand  an  invaluable  repertory' of Bible  stories  and  explanations  for  illustrating  his  catechetical  instructions.

In conclusion,  I wish  to  re-echo  with  all  earnestness  the  words  of a writer  in  the  Schwcizer  Pastoralblatt: “I  consider  this  Commentary  the best and  most  useful  hand-book  of  its  kind  ... I am happy  to  think that every  day  strengthens  my  conviction  of  its  great  worth,  and  I should like to  see  it  in  the  hands  of  every  priest  and  every  teacher.”  I will only add  that  it  is  indispensable  to  every  teacher  who  would  be  abreast of his  work. To priests  it  will  be  most  useful,  not  only  in  the  school, but also  in  the  pulpit,  as  it  supplies  most  suggestive  material  for  courses of sermons. And I make  bold  to  affirm  that  no  one,  be  he  priest  or teacher,  can  take  up  without  profit  this  excellent  manual,  not  the  least merit of  which  is  that  it  has  imparted  a thoroughly  religious  character to the  teaching  of  Bible  History.

MICHAEL F. GLANCEY.

Stanley house,  Eccleshall.

''May 17. 1894.''