In his book :Commenting And Commentators Spurgeon reviews quite a number of paraphrases.Now understand that his "reviews" are quite brief.He arranged book in three categories."The reader will please observe that the books most heartily recommended are listed with *** after the books.Good,but more ordinary works are with **,and the least desirable with *."
Seventeen of the paraphrases received a single *.Nineteen got either **,or ***.I'll deal with the works which he rated with 2 or three stars.
Joseph Hall --A Plain and familiar Explication.**
Job Orton -- Exposition of the Old Testament **
Henry Hammond -- Paraphrase And Annotations **
[Actually Mr.Hammond is mentioned twice.The first mention is his treatment of the Psalms.The second time is his work on the New Testament.:"Though Hammond gives a great deal of dry criticism,and is Arminian,churchy,and peculiar,we greatly value his addition to our stores of biblical information.Use the sieve and reject the chaff."]
A.A. Morgan -- Ecclesiates Metrically Paraphrased
...a carefully written metrical translation make up an elegant work of art"
Joseph Bush -- The Canticles Of The Song Of Solomon **
"A good compilation,with a helpful translation."
Joseph Irons --Nymphas ***
"It is a paraphrase in blank verse,rendered in a very spiritual manner."
Thomas Wilcocks --Exposition **
"Short and somewhat in the manner of a paraphrase."
J.C.Whish --A Paraphrase Of The Book Of Isaiah,with notes **
"The paraphrasing is not prolix,and it does,as a rule,aid the reader in getting at the literal sense."
Edward Barlee -- Explanatory Version Of The Minor Prophets **
"One of the best paraphrases we have ever met with."
David Stokes --Paraphrase **
Desiderius Erasmus -- Paraphrase **
"This paraphrase was appointed by public authority to be placed in all churches in England,and the clergy were also ordered to read it."
John Forster -- The Gospel Narrative With A Continuous Exposition **
"A paraphrase upon a good system,carefully executed,and instructive.Thoroughly Anglican."
George Benson --Paraphrase And Notes On 1 And 2 Thessalonians, 1 And 2 Timothy,Philemon,Titus,And The Seven Catholic Epistles **
Zachary Pearce -- Translation Of 1 Corinthians with paraphrase and notes **
Joseph B.M'Caul -- Hebrews.A paraphrastic commentary... **
A.MacLean -- Paraphrase And Commentary On Hebrews ***
Seventeen of the paraphrases received a single *.Nineteen got either **,or ***.I'll deal with the works which he rated with 2 or three stars.
Joseph Hall --A Plain and familiar Explication.**
Job Orton -- Exposition of the Old Testament **
Henry Hammond -- Paraphrase And Annotations **
[Actually Mr.Hammond is mentioned twice.The first mention is his treatment of the Psalms.The second time is his work on the New Testament.:"Though Hammond gives a great deal of dry criticism,and is Arminian,churchy,and peculiar,we greatly value his addition to our stores of biblical information.Use the sieve and reject the chaff."]
A.A. Morgan -- Ecclesiates Metrically Paraphrased
...a carefully written metrical translation make up an elegant work of art"
Joseph Bush -- The Canticles Of The Song Of Solomon **
"A good compilation,with a helpful translation."
Joseph Irons --Nymphas ***
"It is a paraphrase in blank verse,rendered in a very spiritual manner."
Thomas Wilcocks --Exposition **
"Short and somewhat in the manner of a paraphrase."
J.C.Whish --A Paraphrase Of The Book Of Isaiah,with notes **
"The paraphrasing is not prolix,and it does,as a rule,aid the reader in getting at the literal sense."
Edward Barlee -- Explanatory Version Of The Minor Prophets **
"One of the best paraphrases we have ever met with."
David Stokes --Paraphrase **
Desiderius Erasmus -- Paraphrase **
"This paraphrase was appointed by public authority to be placed in all churches in England,and the clergy were also ordered to read it."
John Forster -- The Gospel Narrative With A Continuous Exposition **
"A paraphrase upon a good system,carefully executed,and instructive.Thoroughly Anglican."
George Benson --Paraphrase And Notes On 1 And 2 Thessalonians, 1 And 2 Timothy,Philemon,Titus,And The Seven Catholic Epistles **
Zachary Pearce -- Translation Of 1 Corinthians with paraphrase and notes **
Joseph B.M'Caul -- Hebrews.A paraphrastic commentary... **
A.MacLean -- Paraphrase And Commentary On Hebrews ***