Our readers cannot have forgotten the famous opening of the mummy at Boston, so illustrative of the learned Consul's "Egyptological" knowledge. The opening, with its "amusing equivoque of gender," as Mr. Gliddon calls it, is thus described by a popular New York writer: "The Egyptian princess created one of the periodic fevers of Boston. The enthusiasm of our sister city amounted even to romance, and poets made anticipatory sonnets to the Theban princess. The company was worthy of the interest of the subject. Scientific men, the erudite Agassiz, and the accomplished Bigelow, with a host of others, were proud to lend their aid to the unfolding of that mystery, which, for the time, was to throw into the shade the lectures of a Hudson and the antitheses of a Parker. Day after day, the enlightened assemblage gazed upon the rapidly diminishing envelopes, when it was discovered that the mummy was a man! Dr. Bigelow blushed, and Professor Agassiz put his hands in his pockets." The researches of Mr. Layard confirm with surprising accuracy the details of Scripture history; results which he devoutly records in the following terms: "I could not doubt that every spadeful of earth which was removed from those vast remains, would tend to confirm the truth of prophecy and to illustrate the meaning of Scripture. But who could have believed that records themselves should have been found, which, as to the minuteness of their details and wonderful accuracy of their statements, should confirm, almost word for word, the very text of Scripture? And remember that these were no fabrications of a later date, in monuments centuries after the deeds which they professed to relate had taken place, but records engraved by those who had actually taken part in them." These researches and synchronisms of Layard go back eight hundred or a thousand years beyond the Christian era, confirming in each period, by every fresh discovery, the chronology of the Bible. But when now we pass from Assyrian to Egyptian discoveries, Mr. G. finds, in all these, but one single result that accords with the representations of Scripture. It were a pity to deprive our readers of the benefit of a coincidence, at once so remarkable, and so characteristic of the man; but it is of such a character that it cannot be committed to these pages. These authors repeatedly entertain us with a summation of their results. We beg leave, in imitation of their example, to conclude our Article with a similar summary: 1. This book makes an entirely false impression. With great show of research and ethnological science, it gives us eighteen pages from Agassiz and about thirty from Dr. Morton, which only prove to what extravagances the enthusiasm of men of genius, may carry them. The remainder is stuffed with sceptical "inanities" and impieties, which, under the color of science, are, just so far as received, calculated to unsettle the faith of men in all that is dear to them in the truths, and hopes, and consolations of revealed religion. Its pictures of skulls and Assyrian and Egyptian antiquities, amount to very little, for the main purpose of the book, beyond the expressive word humbug. 2. The Second Part of the book, especially, is the production of a mind inflated with the most extraordinary conceit with which any one ever deceived himself into the impression, that he was a man of learning and abilities. 3. As an attack on the Scriptures, the work is at once the most crude, the most impotent, and the most impious of recent times. 4. It has no one element of a work of science; it contains no sound induction, and establishes no reliable principle of ethnology. 5. As a literary production, it has scurrility without wit; pedantry without learning; theory without argument; conclusions without premises, and heartless, revolting scepticism with scarcely a redeeming quality. We feel sufficiently good-humored to give, at parting, a little advice to the author, from a classic sage, of whom he has no doubt heard, though he may not be able to read him: Sumite materiam vestris, qui scribitis, æquam ARTICLE II. 1. Four Discourses on the Sacrifice and Priesthood of Jesus Christ, and the Atonement and Redemption thence accruing; with supplementary Notes and Illustrations. By JOHN PYE SMITH, D. D., F. R. S. Third Edition. London. 1847. pp. 375. 2. The Atonement and Intercession of Jesus Christ. By WM. SYMINGTON, D. D. New Edition. New York. 1842. 3. The Extent of the Atonement. By JAMES RICHARDS, D. D. Tract Committee of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. Philadelphia. 1853. pp. 27. 4. The Atonement in its Relations to God and Man. By N. S. S. BEMAN, D. D. With an Introduction, by S. H. Cox, D. D. Second Edition, revised and enlarged. New York. 1844. pp. 171. 5. The, Christian Doctrine of Forgiveness of Sin. An Essay, by JAMES FREEMAN CLARKE. Boston. 1852. pp. 172. 6. Die christliche Lehre v. d. Versöhnung in ihrer gesch. Entwicklung v. d. altesten Zeit bis auf die neueste. Von Dr. F. C. BAUR. Tüb. 1838. pp. 764. 7. Christi Person und Werk. Darst. d. Evangelisch-luth. Dogmatik, vom Mittelpunkte der Christologie aus. Von Dr. G. THOMASIUS. Erster Theil: Die Voraussetzungen der Christologie. Erlangen. 1853. pp. 463. THE list of works here given might be much extended, if we desired to include only the monographs devoted to the subject of the Atonement, and especially if we admitted works in which this was the principal topic of discussion. It is, however, extensive enough to show that the writer of some recent Articles in the Westminster Review is probably mistaken, when he asserts that the doctrines of Atonement and Sacrifice do not represent the convictions of even those who profess to sustain them, that the conscience of human beings is in revolt against them, that they are upheld only by interested classes, who dare not confess how much of them they do not believe, and by a certain kind of public opinion which always resists every great moral improvement and contends for every false religion. This impression will be much strengthened when the spirit of the works themselves is observed. This is, in all instances, earnest and grave, such as seldom characterizes discussions in which the writers are contending for mere interest, or authority without conviction and impression. We have not unfrequently been told before, that the essential doctrines of Christianity, and even all that distinguishes it from natural religion, were doomed, and that no texts of Scripture, or verdicts of centuries, could preserve them from burial. A little patience, however, is all that is needful for discovering the falsehood of such assertions. Our age is, indeed, too earnest with reference to all spiritual questions, to allow dogmas that have no vitality to receive much respect, but for this very reason, we argue, that there must be a remarkable power in the doctrine of the Atonement. Never were men more unsparing of what rests merely on authority, and yet never were there clearer indications that there is something in this doctrine which meets the convictions and the intuitive consciousness of the human heart. A good deal that has been connected with it, no doubt, must be, and even has been, given up. We have already observed this in our notice of the "Historical Development of the Doctrine of the Atonement."* Like Plato's sea-god, Glaucus,† who by long movement among marine objects, became so marred, battered, maimed, and overgrown with shells, stones and sea-weed, that his original form could scarcely be recognized, we sometimes found our doctrine so obscured by additions, or diminished by defects, that its power and characteristic form were nearly gone. But its essential nature as a method of forgiveness through the expiatory sacrifice of an incarnate Redeemer, has never been generally lost, and never seemed less likely to be, than now. In the Article alluded to, we expressed some doubt whether our readers would be interested in pursuing the subject further. We have, however, been so repeatedly invited to continue our discussion, that we venture to present our readers with a view of the present state of opinions, on the doctrine of Atonement, in the Christian world. We have selected the works enumerated * Pres. Quart. Rev. Sept. 1853. pp. 246-280. † Plato De Repub. Book X. Chap. II. at the head of this Article, not so much to review their special contents or character, as to use them for indications or representatives of public opinion, in the communities to which their authors belong. We may, however, say of them, that they are all written with sufficient care and ability to be regarded as among the best of their respective classes. The first has long been a standard work, and received the additions and corrections suggested by the studies of its late amiable and accomplished author, during the many years which intervened between. the publication of the first, and the appearance of this much enlarged edition. No one can read it without feeling that his mind was too elevated to be governed by partisan or selfish attachments, and that he is here communicating the results of a very extensive investigation, of careful criticism, and of profound reflection. And yet the modesty, clearness, and firmness with which his positions are maintained, are very well adapted to secure our hearts, with our convictions. Whatever is regarded as a divine revelation, whether in the volume of nature or in that of inspired men, is sure of his affectionate attention and submission. If some should think him deficient in boldness, he cannot fail to delight those who more highly esteem the rarer qualities of thoroughness and love of truth. The next three works are to some extent controversial in their design, and are intended to present the views of particular portions of the Presbyterian body. That of Dr. Symington may be regarded as an admirable epitome of those portions of the works of Hill and Dick which relate to the same subject. Its author believed in an Atonement sufficient for all men, but designed only for such as God foresaw would believe on Christ. So far as the influence of the latter sentiment prevails in it, we regard it as liable to serious objections, but for clearness, precision, and arrangement, it was well worthy of being adopted by the Board of Publication in Philadelphia, as the best statement of the views of that portion of the Presbyterian Church with which they are connected. On the "Extent of the Atonement," however, we look upon the little work of Dr. Richards, published by the Tract Committee of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, as far preferable. Those who enjoyed the privilege of listening to his theological lectures, have much |