ART. VII. Observations on the Doctrines of Christianity, in reference to Arianism, illustrating the moderation of the Established Church; and on the Athanasian Creed, purporting to prove that it is not damnatory, nor metaphysical, nor contradictory; with an Appendix, concerning the state of the Presbyterian Church of Ireland; occasioned by the Sermons of William Bruce, D.D., Senior Minister of the First Presbyterian Congregation of Belfast. By George Miller, D.D. M.Ř.I.A............. PAGE 348 ... 357 VIII. The Trial of the Spirits, or a Demonstration of the .... 365 368 374 380 XIII. A Grammar of the Hebrew Language with Points. By the Rev. Moses Marcus 391 XIV. The System of Infants' Schools. By William Wilson, A.M... 3.92 ART. 3 XV. Memoir of the late John Bowdler, Esq. To which is XVII. The Doctrine of the Church of Geneva illustrated in a ...... PAGE 406 420 424 428 434 XIX. Sermons on various Subjects: with an Appendix containing an Examination of certain supposed Points of analogy between Baptism and Circumcision. By the Rev. John Edward Nassau Molesworth, A.M. XX. A Practical View of the Redeemer's Advent. Series of Discourses. By the Rev. James Haldane Stewart, M.A. ... 437 .... In a XXI. Lectures on the Essentials of Religion, Personal, Domestic, and Social. By Henry Foster Burder, M.A. 439 XXII. A Charge delivered at the Primary Visitation of the Diocese of Gloucester, in the months of June and July, 1825, by Christopher, Bishop of Gloucester.. 443 XXIII. Catholic Principles of Union in the Church of England compared with the Principles of Union maintained in the Church of Rome; in a Charge delivered to the Archdeaconry of London, May 10, 1825.. By Joseph Holden Pott, A.M. XXIV. A Sermon preached at the Consecration of Christ Church, in the Parish of North Bradley, on the 2d of September, 1825. By the Rev. Archdeacon Daubeny, LL.D. XXV. A Sermon preached in Lambeth Chapel, on Sunday, XXVI. A Sermon preached in the Cathedral Church of St. 445 448 450 454 XXVII. A. Sermon on the Vice of Gaming, preached in the 457 ᎪᎡᎢ. XXIX. The Reunion of the Wise and Good in a Future State. A Sermon preached in the Old Jewry Chapel in Jewin Street; on Sunday, June 19, 1825, on occasion of the Death of the Rev. A. Rees, D.D., F.R.S., F.L.S., &c. who departed this Life on the 9th of June, in the 82d Year of his Age. By Robert Apsland; to which is added, the Address delivered at the Chapel over the Body, on Saturday, June 18, 1825, previously to its Interment in Bunhill-fields. By Thomas Rees, L.L.D., F.S.A. .... PAGE 459 NOTICES. Letters to a Sceptic of Distinction in the Nineteenth Century.... 462 Facts, Arguments, and Observations, tending to prove the Truth of Revelation. By the Rev. R. Walker, M.A......... 463 The Lay of Truth: a Poem. By the Rev. James Joyce, A.M. ibid. Hymns for Private Devotion for the Sundays and Saints' Days throughout the Year. By the Rev. Samuel Rickards.. 464 A Course of Sermons for the Year: containing two for each Sunday, and one for each Holy-day: abridged from the most eminent Divines of the Established Church, and adapted to the Service of the Day. Intended for the use of Families and Schools. By the Rev. J. R. Pitmán, A.M. An Address to the Rising Generation, on the Truth and Excellency of the Bible, and the Blessing of Christianity, principally meant for young Persons between fourteen and twenty-one Years of Age; with a short Advice to Parents. By W. C. Boyd... ..... Sermons Scriptural, Practical, and Occasional, preached in 1818, Discourses of a Father to his Children, on some of the leading ibid. 465 ibid. 466 ... ibid. 467 481 498 505 ....... Debates in Parliament relative to the Church Biblical Memoranda (No. I.) Law Proceedings relative to the Church State of the Dioceses in England and Wales A Historical Sketch of the Episcopal Church of Scotland QUARTERLY THEOLOGICAL REVIEW. SEPTEMBER, 1825. An Inquiry into the Origin and Intent of Primitive Sacrifice, and the Scripture Evidence respecting it; with Observations on the Opinions of Spencer, Bishop Warburton, Archbishop Magee, and other writers on the same subject: and some Reflections on the Unitarian Controversy. By JOHN DAVISON, B.D. 8vo. Pp. 200. Price 7s. 6d. London. Murray. 1825. THE origin of an Institution so widely prevalent as that of Sacrifice, is a subject in all respects calculated to excite the attention, and to stimulate the inquiry of the learned. The ample field of theology scarcely presents any topic, upon which the abilities and erudition of the most eminent divines have been more frequently or more warmly exercised. Nor can it be regarded as a subject of mere literary curiosity: it is a question of great religious interest, arising from its connection with the Levitical law, and with the Christian doctrine of atonement. It derives, too, especial importance from the relation it bears to prophecy; for, if the Rite of Sacrifice be a divine institution, it must surely be invested with a typical character,—that is, it must have been intended as a symbolical representation, adapted to prefigure the expiatory sacrifice of the Son of God. Writers, however, the most competent to the discussion, have given different judgments on the question-whether Sacrifice is to be attributed to a divine or human origin. Among the many distinguished theologians who have advocated the former opinion, Archbishop Magee, on account of the acuteness of his intellectual powers, and the skill with which he wields his vast erudition, holds a conspicuous rank. His "Discourses and Dissertations on the Scriptural Doctrines of Atonement and Sacrifice," are justly esteemed the classical work in defence of VOL. II. NO. IV. U the divine origin of sacrifice. Mr. Davison, on the contrary, maintains that we cannot insist on the divine institution of sacrifice in its earliest age, nor build any thing on that assumption. A cursory statement of this opinion he had occasion to deliver in his recent and elaborate " Discourses on Prophecy," (p. 125, et seq.) but in the work of which we are now to give an account, he resumes it again, and treats it more fully, in deference to the dignity of the subject itself, as well as to the authority of those who have maintained another judgment upon it. We are not inclined, and our office does not require us, to pronounce authoritatively any decision upon a point which is still open to controversy, and no doubt will yet call forth the learning and talent of many able men. Ours shall be, for the present, the more humble task of drawing up as full an analysis as our limits will permit of Mr. Davison's publication, together with such observations as have been suggested by an attentive examination of his theory, and of the reasoning by which it is supported. The positions which Mr. Davison offers, as the result to which the investigation leads, are these:-First, That a Divine Appointment of sacrifice cannot be maintained, as the more probable account of the origin of that mode of worship. Secondly, That its Human Institution, if that be admitted, does not intrench in any manner upon the honour and sanctity of the Mosaic Law; nor invade, much less invalidate, the essential doctrine of the Christian atonement. Thirdly, That if any person shall still prefer to ascribe the First Sacrifices to a Divine Appointment, there is yet no tenable ground for the belief that any revelation of their intent, in reference to the future Sacrifice and Atonement of the Gospel, was joined with them. Of these positions the first is evidently the most important, and has consequently demanded the greatest share of the learned author's attention. The proofs by which he endeavours to establish it are sought both from the historical and from the doctrinal evidence of Scripture. Beginning with the historical evidence he first remarks, and he attaches much weight to the observation, that there is a total silence in Holy Writ as to the rise of sacrifice. "When the offerings of Cain and Abel," says he, " the first recorded instance of that, or any other worship, are introduced, the record adds nothing as to the authority or the appointment of that kind of religious service. Whether commanded of God, or framed by man, the text leaves wholly unexplained. Not only is there no direct information, but neither is there any implied evidence in the history of the facts, |