The CCEL Times 6.8 (August 1, 2011)
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To view this newsletter on the Web, go to www.ccel.org/newsletter/6/8 
In This Issue: From the DirectorSummer seems to be accelerating toward a dramatic conclusion, and student work on the CCEL website is starting to go live. The first is the mobile version of the CCEL. Have you used a smart phone or an iPad to access the CCEL site? Why not give it another try. The experience is far better with the new mobile version of the site. It offers mobile-optimized book reading, searching, studying a scripture passage, and a daily Bible reading/meditation. Tablets and mobile devices are much nicer than computer monitors for long-format reading!
Harry Plantinga
What Is Being ReadDictionary of the Bible Dealing with its Language, Literature, and Contentsby James Hastings (1852-1922) The most downloaded book at the CCEL so far this year is the Dictionary of the Bible Dealing with its Language, Literature, and Contents by James Hastings. The book is divided into 4 volumes, and all 4 volumes are at the top of our 2011 downloaded book list. Copyrighted in 1898, each of these volumes contain nearly 1,000 pages of information about the Old and New Testaments. Hastings, in his preface to volume 1, writes, "Articles have been written on the names of all Persons and Places, on the Antiquities and Archeology of the Bible, and its Ethnology, Geology, and Natural History, on Biblical Theology and Ethic, and even the obsolete or archaic words occurring in the English Versions." With so much information readily available and accessible, it’s not too surprising that this dictionary is so popular with CCEL users. James Hastings is also the editor of another of our popular books: Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels (in 2 volumes). Read this classic at the CCEL
What's NewExpositions of Holy Scripture: Second Corinthians, Galatians, and Philippians Chapters I to End. Colossians, Thessalonians, and First Timothyby Alexander MacLaren (1826-1910) Called the "prince of expositors," Alexander MacLaren was a renowned preacher of the 19th and 20th century. Expositions of Holy Scripture brings together many of the sermons over his fifty years in ministry. Although it discusses many different books and passages of the Bible, Expositions of Holy Scripture isn't a commentary in the fullest sense--for example, MacLaren doesn't comment on every verse. Rather, these volumes are MacLaren's powerful sermons, arranged by the text of the sermons. Broadly evangelical in nature, MacLaren's sermons are not historical--rarely referring to the current events of his day--allowing them to retain their interest and power since he first gave them. Expositions of Holy Scriptures is thus highly practical and lively. It makes a wonderful companion to more textually oriented commentaries. To read Expositions of Holy Scripture is to be in the presence of one of the greatest preachers of the last few centuries. Read this classic at the CCEL
Featured HymnLord, You Have Been Our Dwelling Placebased on Psalm 90 Psalm 90 opens Book IV of the Psalms. No other psalm expresses so poignantly our melancholy state as sinful mortals before the face of a holy and eternal God. Yet the psalmist expresses no defiance. Honesty acknowledges guilt, and faith knows God's unfailing love. To that love we can appeal for mercies that bring joy and for blessings that make our work fruitful. Read more about this hymn at the Hymnary
Featured ClassicAmbrose: Selected Works and Lettersby Ambrose (c. 337-397) Although, according to the plan of this “Library,” Commentaries on Holy Scripture are omitted, and the field of selection is thus somewhat lessened, it has been no easy matter to decide which of St. Ambrose’s many treatises should be chosen and which omitted. Obviously the great work on the Faith, De Fide, must be included, and this implied the addition of that on the Holy Spirit. Then the treatise on the Duties of the Clergy, as throwing much light on the ideas of the Fourth Century as to what was expected of ecclesiastics, seemed to claim a place. And after these the difficulty becomes very great. Read this classic at the CCEL
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