INTRODUCTION, In the Theological department of the work will be found the titles of the best books written in French on Theology; but should the reader be desirous to procure only some of them, a few observations are necessary to point out those which ought to form a part of every Library. With respect to the versions of the BIBLE, enough is perhaps said in the article on that subject, and it may, therefore, suffice here to state, that the edition most used by French Protestants, is that of MARTIN. The best commentary extant, in the French language, on the Scriptures, is CALMET'S "Dictionnaire Historique et Critique." Respecting the New Testament, it may be a sufficient recommendation of BEAUSOBRE's translation, that the work is constantly used at the English Universities, On the evidences of the Christian Religion, one of the most esteemed French works is ABBADIE'S "Traité de la Vérité de la Religion Chrétienne," and on Ecclesiastical History, FLEURY'S Work is one of the most valuable existing, not only in French, but in any language, BERGIER'S "Dictionnaire de Théologie," though the author be a more zealous than impartial defender of Catholicism, is a work which may always be consulted with advantage on all subjects connected with Theology. The great reputation which PASCAL and NICOLE have so long enjoyed, renders it necessary only to mention their names, in order to suggest the propriety of their forming a part of every Library. Sermons form a very rich branch of French Literature, and among those which may be considered as indispensable, are the compositions of BOSSUET, BOURDALOUE, MASSILLON and SAURIN. Of living Theologians, those which enjoy at present the greatest reputation amongst the French, are the Abbé GREGOIRE, M. de la MENNAIS and FRAYSSINOUS. Finally, to the reader who wishes to become acquainted with the Theological writers of every age and country, no better work can be recommended than DUPIN'S "Bibliothèque Universelle des Auteurs Ecclésiastiques." THEOLOGY, &c. ABBADIE (Jean.) Traité de la Verité de la Religion Chrétienne, &c. La Haye, 1743, 4 vols. 12mo. "The Treatise on the truth of the Christian Religion, by Abbadie, for powerful reasoning, and forcible writing, is the best work we have on the subject."-Barbier's Bibliothèque d'un Homme de Goût, vol. 5, p. 390. "At the head of the defenders of the christian religion, I should place Abbadie, whose admirable treatise is indisputably a master-piece of the kind."---Formey's Conseils pour former une Bibliothèque, p. 8. AGIER (Le Président.) Les Psaumes, nouvellement traduits sur l'hébreu, et mis en leur ordre naturel, avec des explications et notes critiques. Paris, 1809, 2 vols. 8vo. -Commentaire sur l'Apocalypse, par l'auteur des explications des Psaumes et des Prophéties. Paris, 1823, 2 vols. 8vo. -Prophéties, concernant Jésus Christ, et l'Eglise, éparses dans les Livres Saints, avec des explications et notes. Paris, 1819, 8vo. "A valuable little manual of Scripture Prophecies, relative to Jesus Christ."-Horne's Introduction to the Study of the Scriptures, sixth edition, vol. 2, (Appendix.) p. 185. |