men would, by God's blessing, "turn the | world upside down." Pascal's "Provincial Letters," as translated by Dr. M'Crie, and accompanied by an impartial Memoir of his Life and Times, will find many fresh readers. We have no hesitation in pronouncing Dr. M'Crie's renderings of the work to be the best in the English language. He has well guarded, too, against the indiscriminate admiration of the Jansenist party, while he has awarded them their just meed of praise. Mr. Begg's Hand-book of Popery is a volume peculiarly seasonable, and is the production of a champion of the Protestant cause. In a cheap form, ordinary readers may here learn all that it is essential for them to know in defence of Protestant truth; and they will rise up from the perusal of the work, as we have done, with the conviction that much may be done successfully to carry storm into the enemy's camp, and to rescue multitudes of deluded souls from the vassalage of the Man of Sin. Dr. M'Ilvaine's treatise on the External Evidences of Christianity cannot have too wide a circulation in this age of German Spiritualism, when an attempt is being made to make man's own intuitive feelings in religion the only standard of truth. We must counteract the labours of such preposterous reasoners by a fresh appeal to the External Evidences of Revelation. Dr. M'Ilvaine's work is of standard value. DR. SPRING'S writings, as theological compositions, are all highly Scriptural, and have the charm of great perspicuity, and of no little eloquence of appeal. He has long sustained the rank of a distinguished preacher in New York, who rarely fails to interest the numerous and respectable classes which resort to his place of worship. The three works referred to in the title-page have all attracted considerable attention, not only in America, but in Great Britain; and, with the volume which we now introduce to our readers, deserve a place in every Christian library. The volume before us is a noble testimony to the character and work of the Divine Redeemer. It shows His pre-existence to be the principal subject of supernatural revelation; exhibits the glory of His Divine Nature of His Incarnation-of His Human character-of His Preaching-of His Miracles -of His Transfiguration-of His Humili ation-of His Resurrection-of His Ascension, -in the Mission of the Holy Ghost-in the Character of His followers-that His glory must be spiritually discerned-that it is the wonder of angels-that it will be specially seen in His millennial reign-in His character and work as final Judge-in the destruction of His enemies-and that He will be himself the glory of heaven. There is a larger supply of fine theology in this work than is common in the best writings of the age. Those who wish to see the premillennial-reign scheme sifted and confuted, should possess themselves of this masterly treatise; but we especially commend the work as a striking exhibition of the attractive excellence of Him who "is fairer than the children of men." HARMONY OF SCRIPTURE AND GEOLOGY; or, The Earth's Antiquity in Harmony with the Mosaic Record of Creation. By JAMES GRAY, M.A., Rector of Deben, Hants. Post 8vo., pp. 304. Second Edition. John W. Parker. to see a new edition of this most interesting WE are truly happy, though not surprised, volume, the best compendium of its kind in our language. In its adaptation to meet the necessities of those who have not leisure or opportunity to consult larger works, and in its peculiar fitness to relieve the scruples of those who have feared the anti-Biblical tendency of geological theories, it stands unrivalled among the publications of the day. Its plan, too, is comprehensive; so that more information may be gleaned from its pages of an elementary and satisfying character than from works of far higher pretensions. It has candid tone; being removed alike from abthe merit of being written in a lucid and struseness and dogmatism. On a second perusal, we have been more than ever pleased with the work; and, with the improvements and additions introduced to the present edition, recommend it with who are beginning to take interest in the study conscientious cordiality to those of our readers volume to diminish, but everything to increase, of geology. They will find nothing in this their reverence for the word of God; while they will be delightfully impressed with the beautiful harmony which obtains among all God's revelations to his intelligent creatures, both in his works and in his word. HEROES OF THE BIBLE; or, Sketches of Scripture Characters. By W. S. EDWARDS, Congregational Chapel, City-road. 12mo., pp. 358. John Snow. THE Author of these impressive Sketches has established for himself the reputation of a popular preacher, and valued pastor, in the British metropolis. He has diligently cultivated his excellent natural gifts, and surpassed, in position and prospects, many who enjoyed early advantages far superior to his own. At Brighton, Craven Chapel, and now in his new sphere in City-road, he has won for himself golden opinions both as to character and ministerial ability. Long may he be spared to make full proof of his ministry! So far as we know, the volume before us, which is dedicated to Dr. Leifchild, is the Author's first effort from the press, of any note; and, as such, it is highly creditable to him, and full of promise for the future. He has ventured on a field, if we mistake not, well adapted to his mental peculiarities. has a considerable gift in the delineation of character; knows how to seize on what is prominent; and how to adjust all the minute fillings up, so as to produce an effect at once realizing and harmonious. He There is much in this volume to interest all classes, but especially the young. The Author evidently aims at seizing on their warm hearts and lively imaginations; and we cannot doubt his success. Though the volume is full of sprightly illustrations, and glows with fancy in every page, its evangelical character is prominent throughout, and its close appeal to the heart and conscience such as not to be mistaken or evaded. The characters sketched are Abel-Enoch -Noah-Abraham-Job-Jacob-Joseph -Moses-Joshua-Gideon-Samuel-David —Elijah—Isaiah- Daniel - Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego-John the BaptistStephen-Paul-and "The First and the Last." One feature of these Sketches, which adds greatly to their fascination, is the excellent selection of oriental illustrations with which they abound, and by which the biography of Scripture is greatly enhanced. If we have doubts on any point,-and we admit it to be a minor one, it is the title of the book. It is only by a highly figurative use of language, perhaps scarcely allowable, that many of the characters delineated can be denominated heroes; and it rather offends our sense of propriety to make a hero of Jesus Christ. Indeed we have a growing feeling that too much has been yielded, in the use of such terms, to the Carlyleism of the day. Not that Mr. Edwards has introduced a particle of matter savouring of German extravagance. THE CONSTITUTION AND DESIGN OF CHRISTIAN CHURCHES. A Lecture delivered at the City of London Literary and Scientific Institution, Aldersgate-street, May 2, 1852. By JAMES BENNETT, D.D. London: Houlston and Stoneman. THIS valuable and very seasonable Lec In ture was addressed by Dr. Bennett to his church and congregation during their tem porary occupancy of the City of London Literary and Scientific Institution. Those who listened to it when delivered, justly deemed its important doctrines worthy of the more permanent form and the wider circulation which the press can command. this Lecture, therefore, we have presented to the public, in a clear, condensed, and vigorous form, the great lesson of Scripture respecting "The Constitution and Design of Christian Churches." Nor, we are satisfied, can any one bestow upon it a patient and candid perusal without admitting that the church-views of Dr. Bennett are founded on numerous and explicit statements of the New Testament, and sustained by the evidence of fact and experience. In these times, when there is not only a manifest disposition to return to mediaval notions in ecclesiastical architecture and church forms, but to yield to the reimposition of the worst doctrines and practices of Romish superstition, the circulation of this admirable Lecture among all classes of the people could not fail to be attended with the most signal benefit. It is so clear and simple that the dullest and the most unlettered may understand it; and is at the same time so chaste and forcible in its style and arrangement, that those who are given to habits of thought and reading must admire and be instructed. All the early vigour, skill, and acuteness of Dr. Bennett will be found in this Lecture. Time's "effacing fingers' have in no way touched or enfeebled his mental power. NEW TRANSLATION, EXPOSITION, AND CHRO Viewed NOLOGICAL ARRANGEMENT OF THE BOOK OF PSALMS; with Critical Notes on the Hebrew Text. By BENJAMIN WEISS, Missionary to the Jews. 8vo. pp. 439. Oliphant and Sons. THE Book of Psalms has ever held a high place in the estimation of every enlightened student of the Holy Scriptures. simply as among the earliest specimens of lyric poetry, they have never been surpassed for sublimity of sentiment, beauty of style, and purity of language; but their value is greatly enhanced when we take into consideration the peculiar qualifications possessed by the sweet singer of Israel. David, the son of Jesse, the principal penman of these sacred odes, was eminently fitted, both by nature and grace, for the position which he was destined to occupy, as the great "Master of Song in the house of the Lord." Trained in his youth to the pastoral life, amidst the rich and varied scenery of the Holy Landan occupation which has ever been consi dered favourable to the cultivation of poetry and music; possessed of an exquisite taste for the beauties of nature; of a soul attuned to harmony, and of that originality of mind which we call genius, and which enables the poet to seize on the principal objects on the picture before him, and to describe, with fidelity and felicity of expression, the various passions and emotions of the human heart; the Royal Prophet enjoyed, in addition to these gifts of nature, that unction from above which neither art nor nature can supply-his harp was attuned to the loftiest themes, and its sublime and thrilling strains were uttered under the immediate inspiration of the Holy One. "The Spirit of God spake by him, and His word was in his tongue; the Rock of Israel spake to him:" the varied incidents of his eventful life, many of which are interwoven in the Psalms, served to heighten the interest of those Divine compositions, and to impart that pathos and tenderness to his style, which can be successfully learned only in the school of adversity. His peculiar vocation, as at once the ancestor and type of the Messiah, his greater son and Lord, both in his humiliation, as the subject of persecution and trial, and in his subsequent exaltation, as the leader and commander of the people, qualified him, in an eminent degree, to "testify beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow: " while the temptations into which he was permitted to fall, gave him a deep insight into the depravity of the human heart, and enabled him the better to express the devout breathings of the penitent soul, and the ardent desires of the returning backslider to be restored to the joys of God's salvation. The greater part of the Psalms were originally designed to be sung in the Courts of the Lord's house; and when set to music, and delivered into the hands of the assembled Levites, arrayed in their white linen vestments, and furnished with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, with the priests sounding the trumpets, lifting up their voices with one accord, and "making one sound to be heard," the effect must have been truly sublime, and the minds of the assembled multitude, who filled the spacious courts of the temple, must have been elevated to the highest pitch of devotion;-and still, with all the superior illumination which the Christian enjoys, under the more perfect dispensation of the gospel, the "Songs of Zion" are felt to be the most appropriate vehicles of praise, and possess an unction of spirit, a richness of imagery, and an elevation of style, which no human compositions, however carefully composed or generally admired, can boast of. In this venerable and wonderful collection of spiritual songs, are found sentiments and expressions suited to every capacity and to every age. The child with lisping tongue be- | gins his first attempts at praise, with "The Lord's my Shepherd:" the man of grey hairs, while he gratefully acknowledges the lovingkindness of Him who has taught him from his youth, gives utterance to the hopes and aspirations of his heart in appropriating the language of the 71st Psalm as his own"Now, also, when I am old and grey-headed, O God, forsake me not!" The man of science feels that no words can better express the admiration with which the beauty and the amplitude of creation inspired him than those of David in the 104th and 8th Psalms, "O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all." Again, "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of him?" The magistrate and the judge can find no better model for their guidance in the discharge of their important functions, than the resolutions expressed in the 75th and 101st Psalms. The quiet citizen studies to form his character on the pattern presented in the 15th and 127th: the persecuted Church gives utterance to her griefs in the language of the 44th and 80th: the Christian Missionary arms himself for the conflict with the powers of darkness, and strengthens his faith and hope, by singing the 67th and 72nd: the afflicted believer turns with instinctive fondness to the plaintive strains of the 102nd; while the dying saint finds his highest aspiration after future happiness fully within the prayer of Asaph, as recorded in the 73rd, verses 23-26. In fact, there is no phase in the Christian life which does not find its counterpart in some one or other of the Book of Psalms. It is an admirable manual of devotion-a rich mine of religious experience, and a compendious summary of evangelical truth. In this last point of view, it presents a valuable body of evidence to the truth of the Christian system. Without going the whole length of the Berean theory, that every Psalm refers to Christ, there can be no doubt that many of them are prophetical of the person, character, work, and offices of the Messiah; they present a complete commentary on the gospel history, and almost every incident in the Saviour's life may be illustrated by a reference to these prophetic intimations. There is no part of the Old Testament Scriptures more frequently quoted in the New. Our Lord repeatedly refers to the words of David respecting himself, in his controversies with the Jews; and he taught his disciples, that the things that had happened to him, had all fallen out in fulfilment of what was written "in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms concerning him;" the apostles also, both in their preaching and in their writings, frequently refer to the Book of Psalms in confirmation of their testimony. The principal Messianic Psalms are the 2nd, 22nd, 41st, 45th, 69th, 72nd, 89th, 110th, and 118th. It is sometimes difficult to distinguish between those which are descriptive of the Psalmist's own feelings under persecution, and those which are prophetical of the Messiah's sufferings. Many of the Psalms admit of a threefold application;-to the personal history of Dávid-to the experience of the awakened sinner, or penitent backslider, and, to the humiliation and sufferings of Christ. Such being the prominent place occupied by this book in the volume of inspiration, it is no wonder that it has engaged the special attention of the Biblical interpreter, and occupied the pens of many learned and pions writers in attempting to elucidate its beauties, and to enforce the lessons it is fitted to impart. A list of the principal Commentators on the Book of Psalms is to be found in the 2nd volume of Norris's Introduction, pp. 764 -768. Among these may be mentioned, Dr. Hammond, Bishop Horne, the late Bishop Horsley, and the Rev. Dr. Morison, of London, the able and judicious Editor of the EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE. Calvin's Commentary, which may be found in an English dress in the late edition of his works, is also worthy of the reputation of that eminent theologian; and, more recently, we have had two German works on the Psalms, translated into English, Rosenmüller and Hengstenberg. portant question to an issue, whether the Messiah were not already come, and where he was to be found; but, as might have been expected, this effort of the youthful inquirer, to awaken the attention of his brethren, led to no serious result. His mind continued in this anxious and doubtful state for some years, when he accompanied his father to Leipsic fair; and, while walking in the environs of that city, he met with an English Missionary, whom Providence directed to the spot, and who conciliated his respect and confidence by his knowledge of the Hebrew tongue, and the friendly interest he manifested in the spiritual welfare of the young Israelite. By the advice of this gentleman, he went to Jassy in Hungary, and placed himself under the instruction of the Rev. Mr. Edwards, Missionary, who had been sent forth by the Free Church of Scotland, to seek after the lost sheep of the house of Israel in that city. This ultimately led to his making an open and public confession of his faith, and to his reception by baptism into the Christian Church. After continuing some years as an assistant to Mr. Edwards, he visited this country, and in the course of his journeyings was led to Dundee, where he attracted general attention by his public lectures on the Old Testament Scriptures; and has resided there for the last three years. His humble, pious, and consistent deportment soon procured for him the respect of all denominations of Christians in that city; and at the suggestion and solicitation of many of his friends, he was induced to undertake the new translation of the Book of Psalms, which forms the subject of the present notice. Before the work was well through the press, he was appointed by "The Scottish Society for the Conversion of Israel" (supported by thr United Presbyterian, Independent, and Baptist Churches) as a Missionary to his countrymen in Algiers; and having been ordained in Dr. Wardlaw's Chapel, Glasgow, he sailed from Dundee on the 14th of April, for London, with a view to embark, with his wife, for the scene of his future labours. The author of the present work is already favourably known in the religious world, by his Critical Investigations into the Rites and Ceremonies of the Mosaic law, as embodied in the Pentateuch. He is descended from an ancient Jewish family, of high standing among their countrymen, for their superior acquirements in the language and literature of the Hebrews. He was then at Lemberg in Austria, and trained in the strictest sect of the Jewish religion. When only about eleven years of age, he began to entertain doubts as to whether the Messiah was not already come. These impressions were produced by the The work commences with an Introsimple study of the Hebrew Scriptures, which ductory Essay in four parts:-the first, on the he was early taught to read, and commit to Prophecy of Jacob respecting the Shiloh,memory, by his father, who attached little the second, on the Inspiration of the Prophets, importance to the Talmudical writings. The with a Special Reference to the Qualificaprediction concerning the promised Shiloh tions of David for that Office, the third, on first awakened suspicions that the Messiah the Value of the Psalms as an Adjunct to the must have appeared, for he plainly saw that Worship of God under both Dispensations, the sceptre of royalty and of government and the fourth, of a Miscellaneous Character, was departed from Judah. Receiving no embracing the division of the Psalms among satisfaction from the answers given by his the Jews into five parts, their arrangement parents to such inquiries, when only in his in chronological order, the different authors fifteenth year, he published a tract, addressed to whom they are ascribed, a dissertation on to his countrymen, calling upon them to set the import of the word "Selah," and on the on foot a candid and impartial investigation meaning of the Hebrew title, "Lamnatzeach," into the subject, so as to bring the all-im-prefixed to many of the Psalms, rendered in our version "To the Chief Musician." These different topics are discussed with considerable ability, and with a knowledge of the English language highly creditable to the talents of the author. Some of his definitions have the merit of originality, if they do not always approve themselves to the judgment of the critic. The name, Shiloh, which has been understood to mean the peacemaker, and which others derive from the Hebrew verb, Shalach, to send, Mr. Weiss regards as a compound of two words, "Shai," a gift, and "lah," to her, in reference to the promise made to Adam respecting the seed of the woman. Lamnatzeach (the second term above alluded to), he considers a title of God, derived from the word Netzach, superiority, excellence, victory, &c.,-and renders it" To the chief cause of events,"-the author and finisher of all things. Parkhurst translates it, from Aquila, "to the victor, or giver of victory." It is difficult, at this distance of time, to fix its exact meaning. It might not inaptly be rendered, " To the overseer." With respect to the present arrangement of the Psalms, it is obvious, at first sight, that they are not placed in chronological order; for the 3rd Psalm was composed (as the title bears) when David fled from Absalom, and the 142nd, when he was in the cave of Adullam, nearly forty years before; but the difficulty is, how to find out and restore the chronological order;-this is easily done where, as in Psalms 52nd, 54th, 56th, 57th, 59th, and 60th, express reference is made in the title to the occasions on which they were composed; but where no such clue is afforded, the date of the Psalm must, in a great degree, be a matter of conjecture, especially where there is nothing in the Psalm itself to indicate that it was meant to apply to any particular event in the history of the writer. This is the case, for example, with the 145th, as Mr. Weiss himself admits. The present arrangement is very ancient, as it seems to have existed at the time when the Septuagint translation was made, and to have been recognised in the days of the apostles; for what was then the 2nd Psalm (Acts xiii. 33) still occupies the same place in the collection. It is not certain by whom the present arrangement was made; but the individual employed seems either to have considered it a matter of no consequence, or to have despaired of being able to ascertain the date, in all cases; and if it were felt to be a difficulty then, it must be much more so now. We have also been accustomed, from our childhood, to the present order, and any attempt to transpose the Psalms, according to their supposed dates, only introduces confusion into our ideas, and is attended with so little advantage to the Biblical student, that it may be doubted whether he would be a gainer or a loser by the change. This leads us to notice one great defect, in the hurry of getting up this volume, viz., that while there is a table prefixed, showing in parallel columns the relative position of each Psalm, according to the common arrangement, and the chronological order, no index is given to point out the page in which any particular Psalm is to be found; so that the reader is at a loss where to look for it, and must turn over a great part of the volume ere he can find out the Psalm he wants. Much better would it have been to allow the Psalms to stand in the order in which they are placed in our Bibles, merely stating their supposed date and chronological order in the title, or referring the reader to the table at the commencement of the work. The object which Mr. Weiss has in view is, to interweave the Psalms with the events in David's history to which they are thought to refer, thus forming a continuous narrative, as it were, of the whole. On this plan he places the 23rd Psalm first in the series, as bearing internal evidence of its having been composed at an early period of David's life, while feeding his father's flocks in Bethlehem,―a pleasing conjecture, indeed, but a precarious foundation on which to build a hypothesis.* The In regard to the merits of the translation, we are disposed to award to the author the praise of a sincere intention to adhere as closely as possible to the original; but we are not sure that he has always expressed himself intelligibly, or improved on the authorised version. The lines are arranged, as in Lowth's translation of Isaiah, according to the supposed measure of the original verse; but the version abounds in Hebraisms, which give it a harsh and rugged character, and it wants the majestic step and mellifluous cadence of the received translation. Hebrew student will of course judge for himself how far the new rendering is an improvement, and faithfully expresses the meaning of the inspired writer; and to the mere English reader we would say, be cautious how you deviate from the received version, which in general may be regarded as preserving the strength and beauty of the original, in a degree not excelled by any modern translation in any language with which we are acquainted. Yet we are far from wishing to detract from the merit of Mr. Weiss' work, which is worthy the attention of the Biblical critic, as exhibiting the sentiments of a converted Jew on this important part of the Old Testament Scriptures. We think he is sometimes disposed to deviate unnecessarily from the English version, and to express him * The reader will find an account of Calmet's chronological arrangement of the Book of Psalms in Horne's Introduction, vol. iv. pp. 100-103. |