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1849.]

Ripley's Sacred Rhetoric.

609

"This passage in Milton," says Archdeacon Nares, "being the last known instance of it, has been much misunderstood. It has been read: “all too ruffled,” as if to be ruffled in some degree was allowable; which the author certainly did not mean."

The following editions of the Bible exhibit the reading "break," referred to above, as wrongly substituted for "brake." Quite a number more might be added to the list:

Bagster, 4to. 1828; also in his folio Polyglott.

Edinburgh, 1715, 1748, 1811.

London, 1795, 1833.

Cambridge (Eng.), 1762, 1827.

Bristol (Eng.), 1774, 1802.

Philadelphia, 1782; also fol. 1796, 1798.

It is understood that the American Bible Society, in their future editions, intend to print the words all to in Italic letters; so that the clause will read thus: "and all-to brake his skull." This is done in order to prevent the prevailing misapprehension, by suggesting that those words. were added by the translators, and that the sense is complete without them.

Sacred Rhetoric, or, Composition and Delivery of Sermons. By Henry J. Ripley, Professor of Sacred Rhetoric and Pastoral Duties in the Newton Theological Institution. To which are added Hints on Extemporaneous Preaching, by Henry Ware, Jr., D. D. Boston: Gould, Kendall & Lincoln, 59 Washington Street., 1849. Stereotyped and printed at Ando

ver.

This work was not designed to supersede the well known treatises on Homiletics, but forms a valuable complement to them. Without professing to exhibit a complete and comprehensive view of the entire rhetorical science, it presents a rich variety of rules for the practical use of a clergyman. The rules evince the good sense, the large experience and the excellent spirit of Dr. Ripley; and the whole volume is well fitted to instruct and stimulate the writer of sermons. While it fills a vacuum which has been left by other treatises, it encourages their renewed and thoughtful study.

The Hints of Dr. Ware we have long regarded as pre-eminently valuable. His views are in some respects rather extreme, but on the whole judicious and philosophical. A vast improvement would be effected in our homiletic literature, if preachers would never write extempore, but always with care; if they would extemporize more frequently, so as to gain time and also power for the more labored and accurate penning of such discourses as their hearers, to say nothing of posterity, "will not willingly let die."

We notice that Dr. Ripley uses the word inferential. He may be justified in doing so. Webster authorizes it, without qualification, Worcester allows it, but marks it as "rarely used," and quotes the authority of John Tyler in its favor. Walker, Johnson, Todd, Perry, Richardson, do not, sanction it, and nearly all English as well as many American reviewers condemn it. Still it is a wholesome and useful word, is favored by many analogies, has insinuated itself into the writings even of those who proscribe it, and must be considered as having struggled at last through much persecution into a tolerably safe part of our changeful language.

We alluded, in our last Number, p. 407, to the work of Professor Arnold Guyot, entitled "The Earth and Man." It is now published and is receiving great and deserved favor, and is destined to effect a happy improvement, if not a decided revolution in the study of geography. It unfolds, in a very happy manner, profound and comprehensive views of the structure of the earth and of its wise adaptations to the animal and rational life that people it. The admirable wisdom and goodness of the Creator are made everywhere conspicuous. Though we grieve for the loss which Switzerland and Europe sustain in the removal of such men as Professors Agassiz and Guyot, yet we rejoice to welcome them to this new world as our instructors in the sciences in which they are so eminent. Prof. G. is preparing a course of lectures on History in its relations to the structure of the earth. He will also write, at his leisure, some elementary works in geography. For the felicitous manner in which the Lectures are translated, the public are indebted to Prof. Felton.

Professor Gammell, of Brown University, has written a History of the Foreign Missions established and sustained by the American Baptists. It is prepared in a liberal tone, and in a truly scholar-like manner, and will be welcomed alike by the zealous Christian, the philanthropist, and the man of accomplished taste. It is published, as is the work of Prof. Guyot, by Gould, Kendall & Lincoln, of Boston.

Rev. Dr. L. Coleman, author of the well known works on Ecclesiastical Antiquities and Government, and now teacher of a classical school in Philadelphia, is author of a volume, 489 pp. 8vo., entitled, "Historical Geography of the Bible." It is supplied with Maps, chiefly copied from Kiepert's Bible Atlas (Berlin, 1847), with a Chronological Table, an Index of Texts, an Index of the Harmony of the Gospels, an Index of the Maps, and an Index of Subjects. These Indexes are carefully prepared and are really a most useful feature of the book. A great amount of valuable information is condensed in this volume, from the works of Dr. Robinson, Rosenmüller, Winer, Ritter, Von Raumer, etc., and from the most recent books of travels in the East. We notice in some cases a definiteness of statement which our knowledge will hardly warrant, e. g. the site of Ur and of Haran, p. 53.

1849.]

Bible Dictionary, etc.

611

Winer's Bible Dictionary, from which we have copied the Chronology on a previous page, is one of the most important works for the biblical student, which has been lately published. It is in two volumes, 8vo., pp. 688 and 779, is well printed, and is furnished, bound, in this country, for seven or eight dollars. With all its various merits, many of its articles are to be read with caution and with the necessary exceptions, as Dr. Winer has not escaped the rationalizing influences which prevail around him. In the first date, for instance, in the Chronology, he has neglected the statement of the apostle (Acts 13: 21) in relation to the time of Saul's reign. It is a subject for sincere regret that a work so useful should be disfigured by loose and erroneous statements, and by suggestions and doubts and hypotheses, which are as baseless as they are uncalled for. In the Preface, the reader will be glad to see the following statement: "That upon the whole, there appears to him to be contained even in the Old Testament more true continuous history than is now granted by "many, and that he has learned during his labors this time, to entertain a higher respect for the Bible."

M. Botta, discoverer of the Assyrian Antiquities near Mosul, has been 'appointed French consul at Jerusalem.-Rev. Thomas Gordon is engaged in translating Wieseler's late work on the Chronology of the Apostolic Age to the death of the Apostles Péter and Paul.

The Homerton, Highbury, and Coward Colleges in London, are to be united so as to form one efficient institution, with a larger staff of professors than was connected with the older colleges, and with a more extended course of study in the various branches of literature, science, and theology. An eligible site has been purchased in St. John's Wood, and a building is to be completed within one year from next autumn. Coward College is the continuation of Dr. Doddridge's celebrated Dissenting Academy at Northampton. It possesses many of his books and manuscripts. Dr. Thomas Jenkyn is the instructor in theology. The students attend to the sciences in the classes of the London University, which is very

near.

Dr. Isaac De Costa, a converted Jew of Amsterdam, has a work in press, entitled "Contributions to the History of the Jews from the earliest times to the present day." Caussin de Percival, the well known orientalist of Paris, has published, in 3 vols. 8vo., "Essay on the History of the Arabs before Islamism, during the epoch of Mohammed, and until the reduction of all the tribes under Moslem law." The System of Christian Doctrine, by Dr. C. I. Nitzsch, professor in Berlin, has been translated and published in London.

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The Theologische Studien und Kritiken, edited by Ullmann and Umbreit, for July, 1849, contains, I. Remarks on the Doctrine respecting Sin, with reference to the work of Julius Müller; II. The Testimony which the

fourth Evangelist himself furnishes in respect to his own person, by K. L. Weitzel, deacon at Kirchheim; III. New Testament Lexical Studies and Criticisms, by Dr. G. F. Gelpke, professor in Bern, carefully analyzing the first words which occur, in the lexicon, e. g. äßvooos, ázadós and its compounds, ayahhraw, etc.; IV. Exegetical investigations on Mark 9: 49, 50, by Dr. Bähr of Carlsruhe; V. On the Idea of the Holiness of God, by J. M. Rupprecht, pastor at Krogelstein in Bavaria ; VI. Review of Recent Works on the Church Pericope-System, by Ernest Fink; VII. A Notice of the new edition of the Greek Testament by de Muralto; VIII. Conclusion of an Article, begun in the preceding Number, by Dr. Sarwey, entitled, "Thoughts and Meditations, by a South German, on the Church of Norway."

The "History of the European States," commenced under the auspices of Heeren and Ukert, and published by Frederic Perthes of Hamburg, now contains 23 parts, at the subscription price of 101 Thaler.-The History of France is complete, viz. four volumes by Schmidt, and four volumes by Wachsmuth, on the history of France, during the Revolution. The History of Austria, by Mailath, is complete in five volumes. There are, besides, three volumes on Portugal, by Schäfer, and four on Russia, by Hermann.

The second vol. of Prof. F. W. Rettberg's Church History of Germany has been published. This vol. extends to the death of Charlemagne. Dr. A. Hilgenfeld of Jena has published "the Gospel and Epistles of John, according to their doctrinal Import." J. Perthes of Gotha is publishing a series of Atlases, constructed by E. von Sydow. They contain a hydrographic atlas, a school atlas in 37 charts, a methodical hand-atlas for the scientific study of Geography, in 21 charts, etc. They are beautifully and perspicuously colored, and are commended by Carl Ritter. — C. A. Bretschneider, teacher in the gymnasium at Gotha, is about to publish an Historico-geographical chart of Europe at the time of the Reformation. The price will be about $1,50.

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The third volume of Prof. Torrey's Translation of Neander's Church History is in press, and will shortly be published. - Rev. Dr. Woods's Lectures on Theology will be published in five volumes, price ten dollars. The first volume will be ready about the first of September. It is expected that two volumes of the works of Rev. Dr. Emmons, in addition to the six already published, will be given to the public. Rev. Dr. Joseph Bellamy's Works are in the process of stereotyping, under the auspices of the American Doctrinal Tract Society. The same Society propose to publish, from time to time, the works of the leading theologians of New England of past times. By means of a fund it will be able to accomplish what private enterprize would not be likely to undertake. The works will also be afforded at a reasonable price.

BIBLIOTHECA SACRA

AND

THEOLOGICAL REVIEW.

NO. XXIV.

NOVEMBER, 1849.

ARTICLE I.

NATURAL THEOLOGY.

By Rev. J. Haven, Jr., Brookline, Mass.

Ir theology is the science of religion, natural theology is the science of natural religion, and should not be confounded therefore with natural religion itself. The question is, not whether in fact there is a God, but how do we know that there is one, what is the evidence that there is one, and how shall that evidence be best drawn out and presented; not whether there is in man an idea and belief of a supreme being, an idea and belief sufficient to control his conduct, nor whence he derives that idea, but simply what is the logical value of it. This palpable distinction between natural religion and natural theology, has not indeed always been kept in view by theological writers, yet is manifestly of importance.

If the definition now given be a correct one, natural theology, regarded as a science, lies evidently at the foundation and constitutes the firm basis of all other theological science. As in religion everything rests upon the conviction in the mind that there is a God, so in theology, in like manner, everything rests upon the certainty, the clear and decisive evidence that there is such a being. This evidence, it is the appropriate work and province of natural theology to set forth and arrange. Till this be done, nothing can be accomplished in theology. The science of revealed religion does not include this, any VOL. VI. No. 24.

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