"would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond "the word of the Lord, to do less or more." To what sufferings and imprisonments did Jeremiah's predictions expose him! Samuel, at the end of a long administration as a prophet, and as a judge, could say, Behold, here I am; witness against me before the Lord and before "his anointed; whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? 66 or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose "hand have I received any bribe, to blind mine eyes therewith? and "I will restore it to you. And the people said, thou hast not de"frauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any "man's hand. And he said unto them, the Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found "ought in my hand. And they answered, he is witness*." Which of the priests that conducted the heathen oracles, could make such an appeal? or produce, like the prophets of the Lord, a palm unstained by bribery? 66 66 The Fifth and the grand distinction relates to MATTER. Rollin has, with much justice and force, given a description of heathen oracles. He says, "their general characteristics were ambiguity, obscurity, and convertibility;" that is to say, the " answer would agree with several various, and sometimes directly opposite events." The prediction was so framed that whatever should be the issue, the oracle might not lose its credit and popularity. There are two instances in point, which are also generally known; and they shall suffice as an illustration of this position. When Croesus was about to invade the Medes and Persians, he consulted the oracle at Delphos as to the issue of his expedition. The answer was, "that by passing "the river Helys, and making war upon the Persians, he would ruin "a great empire." What empire? Was his own, or that of the Medes, to be ruined? One of these two opposite events was certain ; and in either case the oracle would be right. Men are always ready to believe that which they wish. Croesus flattered himself that the ruin of the Persians was intended. He made the attempt-lost his crown and was on the point of losing his life. In like manner when Pyrrhus made war upon the Romans, he consulted the same oracle. With matchless address the answer was couched in a single line in Latint, which cannot be so rendered into English as to express the equivocal construction of the original: but from the arrangement of the words, it may be read, either "that Pyrrhus should conquer the Romans ;" or" that the Romans should conquer Pyrrhus." The issue is well known: Pyrrhus returned, mortified and defeated, to his country, after a long and disastrous struggle. Tertullian appeals to these instances in charging the heathen oracles with subtle ambiguity; and such was their general character. 1 Sam. xii. 3-5. † Aio te, acida, Romanos, vincere posse! In oraculis autem, quo ingenio ambiguitates temperent in eventus, sciunt Crœsi, sciunt Pyrrhi. Tertull. Apologet. p. 24. Lutet. edit. 1634. See also Rollin's Anc. Hist, vol. i. Pref. p. 54.; Encyc. Brit. vol. xiii. Part I. Art. Oracle. The contrast to this darkness and equivocation will be found in the clearness and perspicuity of prophecy, as we pursue the future discussion of this interesting part of divine revelation. In general the prediction is so decisive, that the event appears only a transcript of the prophecy. Language capable of a double or changeable construction, is never employed: and when obscurity hovers over the prophecy, it arises from one of these three causes either it is not accomplished, and has not received the interpretation of providence : or the history which should elucidate it has perished with the wrecks of time; or we are ignorant of the imagery, the customs, or the language itself, in which it is contained, and to which it relates. Those, therefore, who wish to draw a parallel between Scripture Prophecy and heathen oracles, for the sake of placing them upon the same basis, tracing them to the same source, and condemning them together, are acting unfairly, dishonourably, and dishonestly by Revelation.* Shuckford's Connection. THIS celebrated production of Dr. Shuckford is well known; the whole of whose title, in 5th Ed. 1819, Baynes, stands thus :-" The Sacred and Profane History of the World connected, from the Creation of the World to the Dissolution of the Assyrian Empire at the death of Sardanapalus, and to the Declension of the Kingdoms of Judah and Israel; under the Reigns of Abaz and Pekah; including the Dissertation on the Creation and Fall of Man." But on comparing this with the extent of the work, there appears a manifest discrepancy between them-the third Vol. ending with the death of Joshua. In Vol. IV. there is no continuation of the History, as it is filled with the "Dissertation;" in the Introduction to which, dated "Canterbury, June 2, 1753," the author says, " if I should live and have health to finish my Connection" (p. 112.). Now in a Biographical Dictionary, Dr. S. is stated to have" died in 1754 :" and if this be correct, are we to conclude that he did not finish his work? Is it known, however, whether he left any MSS. for its completion? But ought not the Editors of his "Connection," in justice to the public, and the memory of the learned writer, give some explanation of these matters? Why "James Creighton, B. A." who professes to have" revised, corrected, and greatly improved" the work, has completely overlooked these considerations, or entirely omitted any notice of them, appears unaccountable: and truly obliged shall I feel for satisfactory information; as for this purpose alone these lines are requested a place in the Depository of Sacred Literature. Chorlton. INVESTIGATOR. * Collyer's Lect. on Script. Prophecy, pp. 1-5. 11-34. 38-62. ALPHABETICALLY POURTRAYED, In the Proverbs of Solomon, ch. xxxi. ver. 10-31. WILL the Editors allow a page or two, for the special service of their Female readers? for they doubtless have some of them; nor needs it be said, how much an increase of their number would extend the benefits of this excellent periodical. The number of "Female Hebraists" is on the increase in the present age: this is earnestly hoped, as well for the credit of" pious women," as for the public good of our Holy Religion. May such considerations be exemplified more generally than ever! To do justice to this incomparable description,† it must be exhibited in the powerful and beautiful language in which it was originally written; in parallel lines, therefore, of Hebrew and English, it may appear after the following manner: The general Contents are, her character and value, ver. 10; confidence of her husband, 11, 12; her laborious Industry, 13, 14; arrangements of family, 15-19; public generosity, 20; fearless attentions, 21, 22; husband honoured, 23; commercial business, 24, 25; prudent speech, 26; happy children, 27, 28; just and public eulogy, 29–31. אשת חיל, מי ימצא ? ורחק מפנינם מכרה ! בטח בה לב בעלה ; ושלל לא יחסר. גמלתהו טוב ולא רע, כל ימי חייה. דרשה צמר ופשתים; ותעש בחפץ, כפיה. היתה כאניות סוחר; ממרחק תביא לחמה. ותקם בעוד לילה; לכיתה ותתן טרף וחק לנערתיה. זממה שדה, ותקחהו: מפרי כפיה נטע כרם. חגרה בעוז מתניה ; ותאמץ זרועתיה. A WOMAN OF ARILITY,‡ who can find? She recompenses him good and not evil, And worketh with pleasure, with her hands. She even riseth while it is yet night; She considereth a field, and taketh it: She girdeth with strength her loins ; And maketh firm her arms. A very gratifying account of some is given by Dr. Burgess, in his "Motives to the study of Hebrew," pp. 90-94. +This, with some omissions, is companionized with extracts from the "Gentoo Laws," by the late Editor of Calmet, Fragments, No. LXXXVI, p. 146. Of "strength," of "activity," or of " Virtue," according to the old Roman acceptation of that word. In Gen. xlvii. 6. ↳ (chil) is translated, "activity:" in Exod. xviii. 21. 25; "able," or ability in 2 Sam. xxii. 40. " strength :" and in 1 Kings i. 42. " valiant," or valour. It must here be understood in a moral and practical sense. : These last two lines formed but one in the original communication: but we have taken the liberty of dividing them, as is evidently correct from their parallelism; "task" being parallel to "food," and "maidens" to "house," or household.-Ed. a טעמה כי טוב סחרה : לא יכבה בליל נרה. ידיה שלחה בכישור ; וכפיה תמכו פלך. כפה פרשה לעני וידיה שלחה לאביון. She taketh heed that her merchandize is good : Her lamp is not extinguished by night. Her hand she stretches forth to the afflicted: For all her household she has clothed double.† Silk and purple are her clothing. When he sitteth with the elders of the land. Fine linen she makes and traffics; And a girdle she giveth to the trader.§ : Shefears not for her household, because of snow לא תירא לביתה, משלג : כי כל ביתה לבש שנים. מרבדים עשתה לה : שש וארגמן לבושה. נודע בשערים בעלה ; בשבתו עם זקני ארץ. סרין עשתה ותמכר; וחגור נתנה לכנעני. ; Strong and magnificent is her apparel עוז והדר לבושה; ותשחק ליום אחרון. פיה פתחה בחכמה; ותורת חסד על לשונה. ;She overseeth the goings of her household צופיה הילכות ביתה ; So that she does not fear for an after day. Her mouth she openeth in wisdom; And a law of goodness is upon her tongue. And the bread of slothfulness she will not eat. Her children rise up and bless her : False is comeliness, and vain is beauty. Give to her of the first fruit of her hands: ולחם עצלות לא תאכל. קמו בניה ואשרוה ; בעלה ויהללה. רבות בנות עשו חיל: ואת עלית על כלנה! שקר החן, והכל היפי: אשה יראת יהוה, היא תתהלל! תנו לה מפרי ידיה: .Andapplauded shall HER works be in the gates ויהללוה בשערים מעשיה. A CAMBRIAN. A spindle or turning pin, which regulates the position of the thread from the distaff. (phelak) must be the distaff, and therefore ɔ (kishur) is some other part of the apparatus; but what cannot be precisely ascertained without knowing the structure of the ancient spinning instruments.-Parkhurst's Heb .Lex. p, 360. + With "double" garments, so the Vulg. and others. "Scarlet" is here improper.-Boothroyd's Bib. Heb. ii. p. 213. Among the Israelites the gate of the city was the forum or place of public concourse. (Prov. i. 21, and viii. 3.) There was the court of judicature held for trying all causes, and deciding all affairs (Deut. xxv. 7; Ruth iv. 1, 9; Ps. cxxvii. 5; Amos v. 15.) There also was the market, where corn and provision were sold. (2 Kings vii. 1. 18.)-Taylor's concordance.-Nearly the same observations might be extended to the other ancient nations of the east. Gen. xxxiv. 20, 24; Job v. 4; xxix. 7. and xxxi. 21; Esth. ii. 19; iii. 3; and v. 9. 13; Dan. ii. 49. Compare Harmer's observations, Vol. II. p. 524, and others; and Shaw's Travels, p. 253. Literally the "Canaanite." O! that the modern Canaan were but the • Merchant" of Christianity; filled with the commerce of the word of God ! Scripture Tracts. "Have tasted the good word of God." THE Editors are requested to excuse a few desultory remarks and enquiries on this subject; and to give them publicity in an early number of their important and extending Publication. Would it not be very desirable to have a Series of Biblical Tracts, in the words of Holy Scripture, placed in the most interesting form, for general circulation? Here are ample materials for selection, in the shape of History, or Anecdote, or Song, or Parable, &c. &c. These might be prefaced with a bare detail of the Contents, together with a reference to the Book, Chapters, and Verses in the Bible, without any farther note or comment. The excellent plan of Reeves' Bible, in regard to Sections and Paragraphs, might be adopted. The Bible is confessedly a very large book, and by the operative classes of society is seldom read, still more partially understood. An interesting selection of Scripture facts or instructions, would almost uniformly be attractive: while, at times of leisure, they would also be induced to search and see for themselves, the connexions whence these extracts were taken. It is surely no expression of our regard, either for Divine Revelation itself, or for the Scriptural happiness of the poor, to occupy their limited, little time in reading the mere works of man, when they might and ought to have the pure word of God. A few minor alterations might be made in the present "English Vulgate ;" such as omitting the italic additions, exchanging the textual for the marginal readings, placing the Psalms in their (natural) metrical form, and the like; but every material change should be carefully avoided, as it would really be not required. The advantages of such an undertaking, if judiciously and ably accomplished, would be manifold: particularly, in pioneering the distribution of the whole Scriptures by Bible Associations-in exhibiting the word of God under a novelty of aspect, and thereby exciting a more general attention to its perusal-in counteracting the sad influence of Ballads and Infidel publications—and in promoting, throughout all classes, a more scriptural faith and feeling in the concerns of religion. But these are mere suggestions, respectfully and seriously submitted; in the hope of being favoured with some communications, either from the Editors or Contributors, at no distant period. Banks of Medlock. A BIBLICIST. We cheerfully insert the above paper, and hope that some of our correspondents will favour us and the writer with their ideas upon a subject which certainly claims attention.-Ed. |