ART. VI.-BROWN, ON THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PETER.

Expository Discourses on the First Epistle of the Apostle Peter. By JOHN BROWN, D.D., Senior Minister of the United Presbyterian Congregation, Broughton Place, Edinburgh, and Professor of Exegetical Theology to the United Presbyterian Church. New York: Robert Carter & Brothers, 285 Broadway. 8vo. pp. 800.

THE first epistle of Peter is one of the choicest books of the New Testament. It is not characteristically discursive as are the epistles of Paul, nor meditative as are those of John, nor ethical as is the epistle of James, but it is instructive, devotional and practical all in one. It presents the great facts of the Christian faith, in statements singularly compact, forcible and full of meaning. It kindles the feelings by the very force and interest of the truths which it utters, accomplishing by a word or a hint what might be expanded and repeated, in a variety of forms. It draws from these truths, the most important practical duties, by natural and conclusive inferences without the formality of deduction. The manner of the writer, so far as it is peculiar, arises preeminently from his felicity in condensing into striking statements, truths which furnish their own evidence from the manner and form in which they are uttered. There is no single book of the New Testament which within the same extent contains more, perhaps none which contains so much, of the Christian system of doctrine and of duty, as this epistle of five chapters. For the reasons which we have given, it has always been a favorite book for public exposition and private reading. No book is more frequently opened for familiar remarks in the lecture-room; none is more fruitful of meditation in the closet.

Of all the commentaries upon this favorite epistle, that which stands highest in the estimation of the church, is the commentary of Archbishop Leighton.-" Next to the inspired Scripture, says Coleridge, "yea, and as the vibration of that once struck hour remaining on the air, stands Leighton's Commentary on the first epistle of Peter." Dr. Doddrige, his editor, calls Leighton "this great adept in true Christianity," and speaks with enthusiasm of "the delight and edification which he had found in the writings of this wonderful man." Dr. Henry Miles, a correspondent of Doddridge, says with truth: "There is a spirit in Archbishop Leighton I never met with in any human writings; nor can I read many lines in them without being moved."

Leighton is always just in thought, generally correct and even felicitous in his exposition of the meaning of the apostle, but always felicitous in the exposition of practical Christianity. His style is uncommonly pure and correct for its time. It often rises into passages of exquisite beauty, and is studded with images which are strikingly appropriate, and satisfy the mind with serene and delightful associations. The occasional formality of expression suits well with the authority of one speaking with the positiveness suited to a long experience of the power of the gospel. The dash of quaintness gives variety and freshness to that sweetness and melody, which otherwise might cloy and tire. The mystic vein to which the author was inclined by his natural temperament and a long life of sorrow, differs as widely from the forced and second-hand imitations which obtrude themselves upon the public in these days, as the fragrance that loads the atmosphere of a breezy day in June differs from the stifling and sickening odor that is emitted from a conservatory of plucked and fading flowers.

It may naturally be asked, If Leighton is so good, what occasion, or room even, is there for another exposition? Surely all attempts to rival Leighton must be vain. This is true. Leighton cannot be rivaled or equaled upon his own ground. But he has not occupied the whole ground. We have now ample means by which to elicit the exact meaning of the sacred text. The truths of Christianity must now be brought to face the antagonist opinions that are peculiar to our times. The duties that the gospel enjoins, though the same in principle, and similar in their leading features, need to be illustrated with reference to new conditions of society, and to be enforced against mighty systems of error, that, in the name of Christian reform, overturn the foundations of Christian ethics, and abjure the very spirit of Christ. Besides, Leighton is not sufficiently close and specific in unfolding the truths and duties of his text to meet the wants of those in every generation who look to an exposition, not only for principles but for their particular applications.

The exposition before us is evidently the work of a superior man and an industrious scholar. The author had at his command the most important appliances which the Latin, English, and French commentaries could furnish, and the aid of a translation from the German work of Steiger. It is obvious that he has made diligent use of these helps, and what is of more consequence, that he has sagacity and good sense in seizing upon the meaning of his author, and the power of stating that meaning in condensed and felicitous language of his own. This last peculiarity is rare. To understand an author, even to the incer

shades of meaning, and the delicate turns of expression, is one thing; to translate that meaning into brief, striking expressions, doing entire justice to the author, and meeting the wants of the reader, is an art of more difficult attainment. The translation of the epistle which is prefixed to the exposition, is a decisive proof, that Dr. Brown has no common skill in this important requisite to the successful expounder of the Scriptures. Such translations often obscure, or weaken, or degrade the sense. This translation makes the meaning more clear, and though we miss, as we always must, the familiar words that have been consecrated in our minds by their inherent strength, and by long association, yet we are not repelled by the want of force or dignity in the words which are used in their place.

The commentary was originally delivered in the form of expository discourses to the author's congregation. It has been recast however, though it retains many marks of the use to which it was originally applied. The text is broken into passages of a few verses each, such as would naturally be selected for the theme of a single discourse. Minuter points of criticism are disposed of in separate notes at the end of each discourse, while topics of graver difficulty are the subjects of a more extended discus

sion.

The exposition as a whole we regard as successful, and the book though very large is very readable. We do not mean by this that it is readable because it contains matter on every page which is good yet commonplace, nor that it is true yet trivial; nor do we intend that it is warm-hearted yet weak, nor that it is ingenious yet rambling, nor that it is imaginative yet running wild into a tangle of conceits; but that it is the product of a man of strong sense and superior scholarship, who has applied himself with earnestness to the work of finding out the meaning of his text and of communicating that meaning by extended and forcible illustrations. We mean, also, that the author in a good degree gives to his discussions, unity, freshness and point, qualities in which preachers, and especially expository preachers, are so often deficient. We think it a very great objection to the work, that it is so large. It would be far more useful, were it much shorter, and it might have been shorter, had the author sought to make it so. There are more pages than there ought to be, in which the author indulges in remarks which by the force of reiteration become meaningless commonplaces. There are others, in which passages from the Scriptures are quoted, rather for their remote pertinency than for their close-fitting application. The style is now and then dragging, or schleppend as the Germans phrase it, which term is more expressive than its

English rendering, we suppose, because the Germans have themselves furnished such numerous and wearisome illustrations of its import. Notwithstanding these defects, the work stands out from the mass of works of the kind, with marks of decided superiority.

The matter of the exposition is in general correct. The author is a moderate but decided Calvinist, who is by no means confined to the set phrases, certain of which he freely uses, betraying a Scottish rather than an American origin. But he does not sink the interpreter in the divine. He has the honesty to give the meaning of the text, as he understands it, and not as the Westminster divines have referred to it. He does not care to prove election by a text which does not prove it, merely because the catechism has referred to this as one of its proofs. He scorns the dishonesty of causing his battery of proof texts to appear the more formidable by making it bristle with the muzzles of sundry spiked cannon. The interpreter is, however, not wholly independent of the divine, and we notice several instances, in which the exposition of the text and the doctrine which it contains, suffers not a little from the attempt to find in the text, all the meaning which has been put there, by an artificial system of theology. For a Scotchman however, the author is very moderate in these failings; yet we wish they were not present.

In the enforcement of practical duties, Dr. Brown is very successful. In discoursing of the duties of husbands and wives, of masters and servants, &c., his principles are sound, and the application of them is faithful and useful in the highest degree. These discussions are very extended, and they recommend this volume as a valuable book for the use of Christian families. In respect to ecclesiastical polity he is decidedly Presbyterian, though he does not so much discuss the scriptural authority of "the eldership" as enlarge upon the duties which the office involves. The wise suggestions which are made in this connection can be readily transferred to church officers of another name, and the duties of the flock which are enlarged upon, will be felt to be due to pastors as well as to the session.

While, for the reasons suggested, we recommend this book as valuable for the use of lay and clerical readers, it may be of especial service to clergymen as furnishing the example and enforcing the duty of "expository preaching." It was principally for the sake of offering a few suggestions on this subject that we placed this volume at the head of this paper. We do not know the work, which is on the whole a better example of what this kind of preaching ought to be, and of what it may be made to be by needful effort. Though by no means a perfect or even a

safe model, it demonstrates the fact, that this kind of preaching can be as interesting as any other. It proves, also, that in several particulars it is far superior.

We are well aware that the very phrase "expository preaching," will, with many of our readers, awaken feelings of displeasure and disgust. Our clerical brethren will be reminded of sundry abortive efforts at expounding the Scriptures, which were attempted as make-shifts in cases of extreme necessity, or at best of irregular and rambling remarks, which have consumed the half hour at a weekly lecture. Our friends of the laity will recall certain dry and tedious statistical enumerations, or uninteresting historical particulars, or loose-jointed discoursings, which have strangely contrasted with the compact argument, the eloquent description, the impassioned appeal, the earnest expostulation, and above all the finished oration, which they are accustomed to call "a fine sermon." This method of preaching has, so far as we know, rarely been practiced in the pulpits of New England, nor in those in which New England sympathies and the New England theology have predominated. A strong and determined dislike to it prevails among most of the churches of New England and those planted by the New England stock.

The other churches of this country are more or less accustomed to this kind of preaching. The Presbyterian churches of Scotland expect the morning lecture, as regularly as they do the evening sermon, and the habit of following the exposition with the open Bible, strikes an American as a pleasant peculiarity. The Dissenting churches of England tolerate it also, and a course of expository sermons from the pulpit is not unusual.

We believe, however, that in regard to this subject, the prejudices of some of the New Englanders are beginning to relax, and that fashion shows signs of change. It is with the hope of speeding the change onward and making it safe and salutary, that we venture the following suggestions in regard to the requisites and the advantages of successful exposition.

An expository discourse must possess unity of subject and unity of method. One of the most fatal objections to this kind of discourse from the pulpit is, that an extended passage presents more than one topic, and embodies a great number of thoughts, each one of which is equally prominent with every other, and all in the preacher's view must necessarily receive equal attention. The preacher selects his passage, and beginning at the first phrase, takes each regularly in its turn, and marches on with even step till he comes to the last, treating each proposition, allusion and appeal as of equal importance; and, regardless of the fact that they are all related to a single theme,