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TO THE

SECOND EDITION OF THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION.

VOLUME I.

The Editor of this edition of the translation of HAGENBACH'S HISTORY OF DOCTRINES, believes that it may be well to inform the readers of this work in what respects this edition differs from the former which appeared in 1846.

The especial difference consists in its having been compared by the Translator, Mr. BUCH, with the second and greatly improved edition of the German original; this has afforded the opportunity for introducing many of those improvements which Dr. Hagenbach considers to be of especial importance,-so much So, that the author laments, in the preface to his second edition, that Mr. Buch was unable to use that edition as the basis of his translation: he says of Mr. Buch's version: "An English translation of the first edition (published as the third volume of Clark's Foreign Theological Library, Edinburgh, 1846,) executed by C. W. BUCH, has reached me as a friendly present, for which I return my public thanks to the Translator, and only lament that it was out of his power to use this second edition as the text of his version."

The principal additions made by Dr. Hagenbach in his second edition are derived, he says, from works on the history of doctrines which had been published since the appearance of his first edition. We have not thought it needful to specify these, as the works cited are constantly mentioned throughout this volume.

Mr. Buch left England after he had prepared this volume for the press, and, in consequence, it has thus been placed in the hands of the present Editor, whose responsibility has not been great.

In carrying the work through the press, the original has been used continually for reference; and it has appeared to the Editor that the Translator has manifested considerable judgment in the selection which he has made from amongst the Author's additions. Although the Editor has not professedly revised the translation, yet the continual comparison with the original has often suggested slight corrections; these have mostly been found in cases in which some technical expression, or theological term, was so translated as to give a rendering of the German rather than the exact phrase to which we are accustomed in English in order to express the idea: there have been other minor corrections of the Editor's which he does not consider necessary to particularize; for these alterations neither are nor pretend to be a revision of Mr. Buch's satisfactory translation.

The use of such a work does not depend on the sentiments of the author, so long as he faithfully delivers the opinions of the writers who have lived from age to age there is, however, but little in Dr. Hagon

bach's expression of his own sentiments on which the Editor would be even inclined to remark. Perhaps, however, it sometimes seems as though a doctrine were brought forward as something new, when the only novelty consists in the fact, that definite statements are found on subjects never before denied ; and these statements are only the very words or the very ideas of scripture. No developement of true doctrine can ever add to what God has previously given in Holy Scripture; but when fundamental truths of the Christian religion (e. g. the Trinity in whose name we are baptised, the Godhead and manhood of the Lord Jesus Christ) are denied, then accurate definitions become needful, which previously had not been required.

It may also be remarked, that it is easy to suppose that writers express inconsistent or contradictory views, when, in fact, they only state the different aspects in which the Scripture presents the subject; as an instance, we may refer to the sentiments of Irenæus relative to the Holy Ghost: there is no contradiction in his speaking of the Holy Ghost, as properly God, and his also mentioning him as a gift bestowed by God.

The Editor perfectly agrees with Mr. Buch, that the History of Doctrines, as such, has not engaged the attention of writers in this country. We have commonly had the subject treated as a part of church history, or else in systematic statements of doctrine (such as the admirable and orthodox work of Bishop PEARSON on the Creed), the controversies on each point are treated of separately-both modes of study

ing the subject have their advantages; the historic mode has this to recommend it, that it takes the mind away from mere crudities of statement, and leads it into an apprehension how opinions were formed, and in what connections they were held.

The importance of this subject to theological students is most obvious; how often do we find some repulsive theory brought forward which strikes many as novel? the historical theologian, however, can immediately detect its fallacy, and can show how such sentiments were advanced in former ages, how true Evangelic doctrine meets them, and how Holy Scripture ("the testimony of the Holy Ghost") refutes them. Thus will the History of Doctrines be found an important handmaid to every really considerate Biblical student.

March 12, 1850.

S. P. T.

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