The Scripture Doctrine of the Church, Historically and Exegetically Considered.
By the Rev. D. Douglas Bannerman. (T. and T. Clark, Edinburgh.)—This elaborate treatise, one of the series of "Cunningham Lectures," treats the growth of what may be called the religious society, from the call of Abraham and the setting-up of the Church in his house, down to the organisation of the Apostolic Church "in the second period of its history." Mr. Ban- nerman regards the problems suggested by this subject from the Presbyterian point of view. Indeed, he accepts the epigrammatic statement of one of his own communion, that the Apostles were "Presbyterians before they were Christians." He brings much learning to bear upon the discussion of this and other kindred matters. There are weak points in his argument. The proof of "Scripture the Supreme Standard" seems to us to go too far or not far enough. The Scripture to which the preachers and teachers of Christianity appealed was not, of course, the New Testament. Whatever authority this may have, it cannot rest on these texts.
Previous page
