the Hebrew text of the Old Testament, Jewish Comments, and some ancient versions. A short extract from the preface will give a clear statement of the design of this work. The learned Reader will here find little that is new, but as the works to which the writer has had recourse, are too scarce and high priced to be generally known, he thought he might assist the progress of the Biblical Student, if by extracting from some works that are rare, and by collecting what is scattered through others that are voluminous, he were to digest under a new arrangement the sentiments of those writers, both ancient and modern, who are considered as the ablest discussers of the different subjects; and thus lay before him, in an English dress, the substance of several valuable treatises on topics closely connected with the interesting pursuits of sacred Literature.' The work itself being little more than a compendium, will not admit of a minute analysis, and we shall content ourselves with giving a brief account of the subjects of which it treats. After some introductory remarks on the utility of studying the Old Testament, in its original language, the author proceeds to consider the origin of the term Hebrew, and the antiquity of that language; giving a brief statement of the arguments urged in favour of its being the primeval dialect. Although that distinguished orientalist, Sir William Jones, supposed the original language of mankind to have been lost, the arguments adduced in favour of Hebrew's being that language, are not destitute of some degree of probability, nor are they unworthy of attention. The second chapter treats of the original characters of the Hebrew language, and the controversy concerning the vowel points. Whether the Old Testament was originally written in the present character, or in that which is now called the Samaritan, and exchanged by Ezra, for the Chaldee, which has ever since been in common use, has long been a subject of controversy. The latter opinion now generally prevails. A more important inquiry is that concerning the antiquity and authority of the vowel points. A diversity of sentiments still prevails among Hebrew scholars on this particular, some, but very few, maintaining that their use is coeval with the language itself; others attributing them to Ezra; while a third class assigns them no higher origin than the time of the Massoretes of the school of Tiberias. Our Author briefly states the arguments urged by the opposite parties, but himself adopts the opinion of the latter class, yet without rejecting the points as of no service or importance. On the judgement that may justly be formed of their utility, while divine authority is not attributed to them, the following short extract may be very satisfactory. But, although these arguments against the points should lead as to refuse their claim to antiquity and to divine authority, they are not to be deemed useless; on the contrary, they are of great use in a critical point of view, for pointed copies of the Old Testament teach us in what manner the Jewish critics understood passages, where words of doubtful signification occurred, and furnish us with the views they entertained of the text.' In the third and fourth chapters are considered the various readings of the Hebrew Bible, and the question relative to the integrity of the present text. The writings which have descended to us through successive copies repeatedly transcribed, independently of any designed interpolations, are unavoidably subject to errors, arising from the infirmities of transcribers. It is well known that the text of the Greek Testament is not free from these effects. The collation of various MSS., and a comparison of ancient versions and quotations, refute every supposition of the absoInte purity of the common printed Hebrew text, or of that of any other ancient book. That it would have required a succession of miracles to have preserved it free from error, through its various transcriptions, we admit; but we think the remarks of our author, on this read, very judicious and satisfactory. After a fair investigation of the question, he observes: We may fairly conclude that our original Hebrew text, though injured by the mistakes of transcribers, is, notwithstanding, substantially authentic; and, in all matters of importanee, to be relied on as the unerring word of God.' p. 68. The fifth chapter is devoted to the Rabbinical notes on the Old Testament, in which we have a useful account of these laborious, but, generally speaking, trifling works. The Septuagint version is next considered, and the various accounts transmitted of its origin, are stated at some length, of which the most propable seems to be, 'That this version was made at Alexandria, by different persons, and at different times, as the exigences of the Jewish Church in that place required.' Vide Bishop Lowth's preliminary Dissertation, prefixed to his translation of Isaiah. But whatever opinion may be entertained of its origin, its high importance to the Biblical student is unquestionable. To prevent this article from extending to a length disproportionate to the volume which forms the subject of it, we must pass over the remaining chapters, merely stating that they are devoted to the consideration of the Vulgate or ancient Latin version, the Samaritan Pentateuch, and the Targums or Chaldee Paraphrases. The tenth and last chapter contains a list of the authors whose works have been consulted in forming this compilation. From this summary view of the contents of this little volume, its plan, and the nature of the information it contains, will be sufficiently apparent to our readers. We are happy to add, that its general execution is highly ereditable to the author's industry and judgement, and we cheerfully recommend it to that class of students for whose use it was chiefly designed. We consider it, however, as deficient, in having no index, nor even a table of contents; we trust Mr. Hamilton will have an opportunity, in a new edition, of supplying these omissions, as well as of correcting some typographical errors which we have perceived, especially in the Greek words that occur. A second part also might be added, with great advantage to the young student, exhibiting a list of the most important and useful editions of the Hebrew Bible, the most valuable Lexicons and Grammars, and other helps, tending to facilitate the acquisition of this interesting language; and also with some account of the labours of Lowth, Newcome, Blayney, and other writers, whose studies have been usefully directed to the illustration of the Hebrew Scriptures. We gladly hail every opportunity of calling the attention of scholars, and more particularly of ministers, to the critical study of the sacred writings. It opens a wide field of research, and requires much labour and assiduity; but it deserves, and will repay every exertion. We must at the same time add, that criticism, even when employed on this most interesting of sub jects, should be considered only as an important means to a still more important end, a saving and practical knowledge of the word of God, and an increased aptness in communicating, through the divine blessing, that knowledge to others. Some suitable remarks of this nature, with which our Author has closed his introduction, shall also form the conclusion of this article. Having thus spoken of the utility of an acquaintance with the subjects of this Work, I would offer a few remarks on the general subject of Biblical Criticism, and beg to remind the reader, that many, in pursuing their critical researches, seem to have forgotten, that the Sacred Text was given for the sole purpose of making us wise unto salvation, and that all knowledge which does not lead us to the love of God, or establish us in it, may puff up, but cannot edify. This caution is the more necessary, because many modern works afford convincing proof, that a man may have the sharpest sight to discern every peculiarity of language, every supposed or real mistake in the transcribing, and every undesigned coincidence in the expressions of the sacred writers, and yet be blind, totally blind, to that which constitutes the glory that excelleth, the display they make of the Divine Perfections in blending together Mercy and Truth, harmonizing all the Attributes of God, and teaching how he may be JUST, AND THE JUSTIFIER OF HIM WHICH BELIEVETH IN JESUS. Art. VI. Spain Delivered, a Poem, in two Cantos; and other Poems. By Preston Fitzgerald, Esq., Author of "the Spaniard." cr. 8vo. pp. 100. Price 6s. J. J. Stockdale, 1813. Art. VII. Emancipation, a Poem. By Robert Dornan, Esq, 8vo. pp. 100. Price 5s. J. J. Stockdale, 1814. WE E have not lived so long in the world, without discovering that there is hardly any subject about and about,' which it requires no genius to say a vast deal. The two subjects of these articles, are remarkably prolific; and, even supposing there should be any person so dull, as not to be able to write off one or two hundred pages about either of them, he has only to step into the first coffee-house he passes, and listen to the conversation of the first company he sees there. Whether this was the plan adopted by our two authors, we know not: at all events, they have had the good fortune to write two books, and we, the ill fortune, we were going to say, to read them. Now, because they may possibly immagine, that they have produced two poems, we shall just beg leave to state, how far a man may go, and how much he may do, without writing poetry. In the first place, he may, as we hinted before, say a great deal upon any subject;-for instance, on the subject of Spain Delivered,' he may relate the course of Lord Wellington's victories; how he advanced here, retreated there, killed so many Frenchmen in this place, took so many prisoners in that, stormed this fort, blockaded that ;-he may go on thus, page after page, in prose or in verse, and yet produce no poetry. In the next place, he may ransack his graduses and dictionaries, and rulebooks, for figures and phrases; e. g. instead of saying, that armies are contending at the bottom of a hill, he may use a metaphor, and say, that 'round its base the war-clouds roll;' instead of talking of the blessings of a peace, he may choose to personify and talk of the sway of soft-eyed peace;' then he may introduce a simile, and compare Lord Wellington and Marshal Marmont, to a lion and a tyger;-he may use all these figures, in prose or in verse, and yet produce no poetry. Lastly, he may 6 measure out his syllables' into lines of seven, eight, or ten syllables each, he may search out for rhymes, and find that round and ground, plain and vain, fell and dell, rhyme together; and then he will have the gratification of having written verse ;-but still no poetry. We shall not apply our remarks. That our two authors have written verse, we will venture to say, whether poetry, we shall leave our readers to judge. Restored, at length, to victory's course, And, in the race of glory, gain But cease that strain, nor risk thy flight A stronger wing has scaled the height, Spain Delivered, p. 12. • Gem of unsullied lustre, thou,- Emancipation, p. 16, 17. Art. VIII. Visits of Mercy being the Journal of the stated Preacher to the Hospital and Almshouse in the city of New York, 1811. By the Rev. E. S. Ely, of New York. New York printed. London re-printed. 12mo. pp. 252. price 4s. Williams and Son. 1813. THERE are but few persons in the present day, who refuse to admire Christianity, so far as it respects its general theory. The great majority admit that its morality is pure; and that the observance of its precepts is eminently calculated to bring glory to God, and to promote the happiness of man. But when they are urged to bring into practice the doctrines which, contemplated from a distance, approved themselves lovely and engaging, immediately they seem to undergo a sudden transformation; they are divested of their attractions, their beauty is departed, they are esteemed mean and repulsive, nay by many, even degrading. Should a person whose mind is in a state of morbid sensibility, having been enervated by a course of reading unhappily directed to tales of love and honour, falsely so called, accidentally open a bible, and glance at this passage,- Pure religion and un'defiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless ' and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted 'from the world,'-little conscious of the comprehensiveness of VOL. XI. |