The work of Andrew Symson, Lexicon Anglo Graco-Latin. N. T., London, 1658, fol., is rather a dictionary than a concordance, and formed on so bad a plan as to be of little service. A much better book is A Concordance to the Greek Testa ment, with the English Pershm to each Word, the principal Hebrew roots corresponding to the Greek words of the Septuagint, with short Critical Notes, and an Index, by John Williams, LL.D., Lond. 1767, fol.
The first concordance to the English version of the N. T. was published without date, Mit cer• tainly before 1540, by 'Mr. Thomas Gybson,' being chiefly, as appears probable from the prefa tory epistle to the reader, the work of the famous printer John Day. It is entitled The Concordance of the N. 7:, most necessary to be had in the hands of all soche as desire the communication of any place contained in the N. T. The first English concordance to the entire Bible was by John Mar beck—A Concordance, that is to sale, a Worke wherein by the order of the letters of the A, B, C, ye mane redely find any worde conteigned in the whole Bible, so often as it is there expressed or men tioned, Lond. 155o, fol. Till the year 1555, when Robert Stephens published his concordance, it was not customary to mark the verses in books of this sort. At first it was thought sufficient to specify the chapter with the letters a, b, c, d, as marks to point out the beginning, middle, and end of each chapter. But in 1545 Robert Stephens divided the Bible into verses, thus preparing the way for a more exact reference in concordances, etc. ; but Marbeck does not appear to have been under the influence of this improvement, as his work refers merely to the chapters. In Townley's Bib. Lit. vol. iii. p. IIS, may be found some inter esting particulars respecting Marbeck's condition in life, labours, and ill-treatment.
The following work, which appeared in the same year as the last, is a translation from the German— A and a Compendious Table, in maser of a Concordance, openyng the waye to the peincipall Histories of the whole Bible and the most e0111011 articles grounded and comprehended in the Nerve Testament and Olde, in maser as amply as doeth the great Concordance of the Bible. Gathered and set forth by Henry Bullinger, Leo 7ude, Conrade Pellicane, and by the other ministers of the Church of Ligurie. D'aurlatecl from the Hygh Almayne into Englysh by Walter Lynne. To which isadded, a Translation of the Third Boke of llfachabees, Svo 155o. Lynne, the translator, was an English printer, who flourished about the middle of the 16th century, a scholar, author, and translator of several books.
Several English concordances of greater or less value were superseded by the correct and valu able work of Alexander Cruden, entitled A Com plete Concordance to the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, etc. ; to which is added, a Concordance to the books called Apocrypha, 1737, 40. Three editions were published by the author during his life, and many have ap peared since his death. The London edition of iSro is the best standard edition. The work is complete, the definitions accurate, and the refer ences correct. Several useful. editions of Cruden have been put forth by the Messrs. Bagster, which are worth far more than their cost. The same publishers have issued An Alphabetical Index of the Holy Scriptures, comprising the Names, Charac ters, and Subjects, both of the Old and New Testa ment, in two different sizes, which the biblical student will find very serviceable. In a 'Memoir of Mr. Alexander Cruden,' prefixed to an edition published in 1823, and since, are given some in teresting but painful particulars respecting this worthy and industrious man, to whom the religious world is so deeply indebted.
At a time when German theological literature is beginning to receive some of its merited attention, it may not be unacceptable to mention a valuable concordance for the German Bible — Eiblische Hand- Concordanz it Religionslehrer und alle Frezende der Heiligen Schrefi', Leipzig, 1841. The work is more comprehensive than similar writings in the English language. It is divided into three parts ;-1. A full and complete register of all the words found in the Bible ; 2. An index of the most important things, subjects, and ideas found in the Bible, with references to the places where they lie in the sacred volume ; as, for instance, under the head— Lord's Supper—a meal com memorative of the death of Jesus—it brings us into intimate fellowship with Christ ;—the worthy participation of the same ; spiritual enjoyment of the flesh and blood of Christ,' etc. The third part gives the leading doctrines of Christianity systema tically arranged, drawn up according to Luther's Catechism, and accompanied by Scriptural proofs. (Orme's Bibliotheca Biblica ; Watt's Bibliotheca Britannica ; Winer's Handbuch ; Rohr's Kri tirche Prediger-Bibliothek, 1841, and the articles in this work under the name of the authors. )—J. R. B.