cess of interpretation as that which applies to human compositions, do not pretend to lay down any other principles, by the aid of which its meaning can be ascertained, and by which those perversions of its sense which may result from a heated imagination, or an exuberant fancy, can be effectually guarded against. The conséquence is, that instead of speaking with precision and certainty, that volume which is the gift of inspired wisdom, the rule of all faith, and the ground of all hope is made to mean anything or nothing, according to the caprice of those who claim the privilege to discover its meaning, independent of all human aid." p. 201.

In anticipating the improvement which will follow a more diligent and general study of the Scriptures, we attach the greatest importance to its influence on the distinctive opinions or creeds of religious bodies. The Christian church has been too long divided into sects, marshalled under the authority of respective systems of divinity, and commentaries. And we think it might be shown that many of our popular expositions have been eminently sectarian, i.e. they have not only had their respective differences of opinion, but have been devoted to the design of erecting these differences into a standard of

all his powers into more than the reverence of common minds. All his attainments should make his reflections turn with overwhelming force on his own character and probable destiny, as a sinner privileged to consult the records of immortality. We know of no divine influence which is the privilege of ignorance and indolence, and though we do not speak of this influence in general as the reward of literary research, yet placing it in sole connection with devotion, and supposing that devotion prompts to study, we believe that the Christian who is ardent in the subserviency of literature to scriptural knowledge, may have a larger measure of it than others. We place the moral disposition involved in the study at the foundation of our reasoning, and advancing on this maintain, that while our improvement is ascribed to divine influence, it will always be in proportion to the moral disposition, and the biblical information conjoined. There may be instances in which the disposition being strong, without information, appears to create a fund of enjoyment; but in those cases, in which the comparison makes it appear, that the mere fervour of feeling in the absence of knowledge has been productive of greater devotion, than in other cases where the union exists; we imagine that it is a merely natural fervour essentially distinct from divine influence, so that there may be as much devotion, or spiritual feeling in the calm student, as in the man excited into contempt of his studies and tranquillity. This is frequently capable of the most direct evidence from the details of the experience of the uninstructed man, since enquiry shows his gross misapprehension of particular passages, when perhaps his greatest ex-progress of truth must be gratifying to citements are combined with his greatest errors, and when to insist on his case in connection with divine influence, as an objection to the utility of biblical study, would be to involve the doctrine of this influence in the odium of contradiction and absurdity.

"The persons (Mr. C. observes) who refuse to subject the Bible to the same pro

public faith, or failing this, to consolidate the minor opinions and prejudices of a feeble party. The consequence has been the neglect of independent enquiry into the will of God, till at length it

would seem that the recorded charac

teristic of the Bereans was a pagan vice, rather than a Christian virtue. The design in many instances to perpetuate denominational distinctions is a questionable one, but whatever be the dread of latitudinarianism, the prospect of the cessation of party strife, ere the

every one. We rejoice in the hope of a period when, by the abandonment of logomachies, and the loss of metaphysi cal subtleties in the simplicity of scriptural representations, the greater proportion of our controversies will pass into that Lethean gulph into which many of the ancient heresies, and the abortions of schoolmen have long since sunk. The preparation for this period

period, for instance, which has elapsed since Dr. Campbell urged to the systematic study of the sacred volume in place of profound deference to human authority, has been distinguished by almost as much indolence and mental succumbency in religion, as if his remonstrances and directions had never been uttered. We have now our literary and scientific institutes, and why should not the friends of the Bible put in their claim to public regard, and amass and arrange the rich materials which are widely floating abroad, for a systematic and efficient establishment of biblical

does not consist only in amiable and glowing inculcations of charity by a Mason or a Hall, but chiefly in the extension of a diligent study of the Bible. With the increase of facilities for this, there will be a profound deference to the authority of holy writ; prejudice will decline; ignorance, which has led to the occupation of untenable positions, and furnished prejudiced and inflamed passions for their support, will be destroyed; when the truth of the gospel, in the simplicity and unity of its discoveries, will disperse those mists, in which the reality and proportion of the objects of vision have long been dis-learning? Mr. C. has preceded us in guised..

this suggestion. He proposes the formation of a " Biblical Institute," to embrace lectures, classes for the study of Hebrew and Greek, and a library for reference and circulation. We are not convinced that his plan is sufficiently matured for adoption, and it is obvious

the form of a Biblical Institute, should proceed on the principle of extensive co-operation with the whole Christian church, and be distinguished by caution and laborious preparation in all its details. In dwelling on Mr. C.'s suggestion, we see many objections to societies which could in any way admit of com

We expect in some quarters little sympathy, either with our regrets, or our anticipations. We are prepared, however, to maintain our dissatisfaction with the measure of regard paid to the Bible, and our confidence in the connection of the future triumphs of Chris-that the establishment of any society in tianity with its improved and general study. Indeed, this seems an instrumentality for the attainment of the end to which our religious efforts are directed, as necessary as it is powerful; and if public attention to it, be not speedily roused through the pulpit and the press, we shall participate more than we have ever yet done, in the de-parison with Mechanic's Institutes. We spondency, at least, of certain seers of modern times. In preaching let not the simple beauty and the practical import of a sacred text be neglected for the discussion of doctrinal subtleties, into which the peculiarities of some system are introduced to the loss of all serious impressions, as much as to the destruction of all unityof design. Through the press, let works be multiplied calculated to assist in the pursuit of biblical information, our youth, our junior ministry, and the enquiring of all classes. In addition to these general suggestions it may be seriously enquired, whether something cannot be added to the machinery of our institutions bearing on this point? It is a humiliating and a cautionary fact, that the general suggestions of men of talent and piety have failed to remedy the evil of which we complain.

The

should fear for their becoming secular, possessing a purely literary character, and prompting an unhallowed speculation in this department of learning. We wish to make Christians students in the literature of the Bible, without urging to mere curiosity by turning the stream of unsanctified philology and talented arrogance in this direction. We feel a difficulty in making such societies as are proposed, decidedly religious; and we dread some of the consequences which would result from their extra ecclesiastical character. Though we object to the universal application of the poet's dictum, "a little learning is a dangerous thing," yet from its nature, and the situation which multitudes occupy on the borders of the gulph of infidelity, we think that a small portion of biblical information, particularly re

tempting to render it intelligible, he has evaded many points, to which he has brought his reader, prompting a curiosity which it was inconsistent with his plan to gratify, and turning from the point by a reference of the unlearned to the literature inaccessible to them. The second series, containing twelve lectures on biblical interpretation, is by far the most valuable part of the volume. The success with which Mr. C. has shown how the principles of interpreting other works may be safely applied to the Bible, entitles his volume to the patronage of the public, and will make it we trust, subservient to that improved study of the Scriptures which we are anxious to promote.

quires the security of Christian humi- of the subject precludes the possibility lity. And we should regret, though we of both a protracted and profitable dismight emulate their profound acquire-cussion of it, for the class of readers ments, to see among us the counterpart selected by the author. Hence, in at of some continental scholars, trifling with the fundamental doctrines, and violating the plainest precepts of the volume, in the critical investigation of which they might display the profoundest learning and acumen. For ourselves we confess, we can see safety, only in one of these two methods, to place biblical societies in close connection with our churches, and as much as possible under the influence of men of reputation, who are pledged to the maintenance of deep devoted piety, or to direct our energies to the establishment of an institution which might take a literary character of the highest order, and exert a metropolitan and national influence. This is to be contemplated as combining the energy, acquirements, and piety of all our denominations, at least those which are now capable of uniting in our Bible and Missionary Societies; and in addition to popular classes the most profound and recondite research, improving among the learned biblical study to the greatest possible extent, and diffusing its advantages throughout the kingdom.

We have left ourselves little space for remarks on Mr. C.'s volume. His lectures are called "popular," as in tended for the unlearned Christian. But we think he has adopted a plan inconsistent with exclusive appeals to the unlearned; and which, establishing an incompatibility between his topics and the capacities of the persons for whom he professes to write, renders his volume not sufficiently popular. His lectures are in two series. The first contains five lectures on biblical criticism. Those relating to the text of the Bible, comprise a view of its present state, its corruption and its correction, with explanations to the unlearned! of various readings, with discussions on their value or relation to the integrity of the text. These five lectures, we think might with advantage have been compressed into one introductory lecture. The nature

There is one view of literary labours for the multitude, which we have often entertained, and with the brief explanation of which we shall conclude this article. The attempts which are now making in every department of learning and science for popular education, require the presidency of the best instructed and most watchful minds. In the accommodation of subjects which were once barred against the multitude by a fence of technicalities, and by every treatise presuming on the preliminary instruction of schools and colleges; there is a temptation of amusing instead of improving. In rendering a certain branch of learning or science popular, there is not only an attempt to simplify, but to evade such things as are difficult of comprehension to the tyro, who expects a royal road laid open to the eminence of fame. There are obviously some subjects which are incapable of being made popular to the extent to which others may be, and with regard to which technicalities cannot be dispensed with. Latin and Greek are indispensable, and the most unwearied application to study; solitary musings beneath the waning of the midnight lamp, absolutely necessary to knowledge. If a man deliver popular

On the other hand, Captain Hall appears, with all his intelligence as a traveller, and all the charms and fascinations of his style as a writer, at least equally solicitous to reconcile Britons to their old established forms in church and state. He seems, indeed, anxious to supply an antidote to what he may deem the morbid and pernicious influence of the "Notions." Both in America and in England, it will be very useful to read these interesting and invaluable productions together; they will serve to digest each other.

lectures on these subjects, or publish | civil, which distinguish their land of popular introductions, he amuses with- liberty and equality. out informing, and merely talks "about it, and about it," without disciplining his gaping auditory in the real advance of mind. The most which can be done in such cases is to afford the elementary instruction of schools and colleges to those who cannot enter them, but the elementary instruction must be essentially the same. Otherwise the display of the lecturer's own learning, and his benevolent condescension to the capacity and ignorance of his hearers will prove little better than empiricism, on this principle we question the propriety of lecturing at length to "the unlearned," on the Hebrew and Greek texts of the Scriptures, their corruption and their various readings, their manuscripts and versions, unless as opening the course for them, and stimulating them to the pursuit of learning for themselves. The great object of accommodating of that kingdom which is "not of this learning and science to the unlearned, must be to afford them facilities for learning.

Notions of the Americans. By a Travel-
ling Bachelor. 2 vols. 8vo. Colburn.
Travels in North America. By BASIL
Simpkin and

The American, however, appears far most competent to give us just conceptions of the state and progress of religion in that vast country, where establishments are unknown, and where it has been deemed the wisest policy of the magistrate to let alone the concerns

world." Upon this subject, the most egregious and unaccountable errors are entertained in England. Some writers would fain persuade us, that for want of an establishment, like the episcopalian of England, or the presbyterian of Scotland, a large proportion of the AmeHALL. 3 vols. 8vo. rican population is positively retrograd- · Marshall. ing into infidelity, if not into heathenAMONG the numerous publications as-ism. It is a great consolation to be piring to supply that great desideratum assured, that neither our migrating in English literature, an ample and ade- countrymen, who are seeking settlequate view of the United States of ments in the unoccupied territory, nor America, the works above mentioned the natives of those half-cultivated reare of very high pretension. The first gions, are in danger of learning a reliof these has been longest in circulation: gion from the Indians. On the conit contains (though not avowedly) the trary, there are innumerable evidences Notions of an American, and of one that the Gospel, independently of all most intelligent and competent to the human legislation, is in its own nature arduous task. These "Notions" cer- adapted to move on with the progress of tainly convey the idea that the Ameri- civilization. Christianity is borne along cans entertain views of that great and with the tide of population, let it flow growing republic, which to European | where it may, and with much more monarchies appear anything but modest. certain efficacy than if it were enacted In fact, there are no bounds to their imaginings of what that power may ultimately become, which is so gigantic in its infancy. Entertaining these "notions," there appears much indeed to commend, and little, if anything to censure, in all the institutions, sacred or

that a steeple should invariably form the centre, around which man must construct his habitations. Another fact also is highly gratifying, viz. that the subdivisions of Christians into sects and parties, where all are left upon an equality, and no one elevated as the