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was practicable. In this most ungenial spot (fit only to be a sort of ergastulum literarium,) it was impossible for him to hold any communication with learned or enlightened society, or to have access to libraries. And though he had expended, in a manner, a fortune, in the formation of a very extensive collection, provided with most of the best works in classical and biblical literature, yet many still remained, which, however requisite, were beyond his power at once to procure. These were, as the author had opportunity and means, sought out and procured for the second edition.-Vol. Ï. pp. xxix. xxx.

We now come

2. To the alterations, additions, and improvements in this second edition. The punctuation of the text has throughout been most carefully revised and considerably improved. As the system of Greek punctuation is defective in being unprovided with a semicolon, Dr. Bloomfield has endeavoured to supply that deficiency by employing occasionally the period, or full point, followed by a small instead of a capital letter, as answering to our colon; and the Greek colon as corresponding with our semicolon: and he has further employed the period followed by a capital letter, in order to mark the semi-sections. Minuter changes in the punctuation are rarely introduced, except on the authority of one or more of the principal editors of the Greek Testament, since the time of Wetstein; or occasionally on the authority of Robert Stephens, in his celebrated edition, commonly called the "O mirificam," from the initial words of his preface.

The marginal parallel references, which were those of Courcelles, have been carefully examined and corrected. Those on the first two Gospels have been transferred to the notes, where they have been printed in italics within brackets; and the space formerly occupied by them is filled by the addition, at one view, and in immediate juxtaposition, of references to all the portions of the other two Gospels, which are parallel in subject as well as in words, to any portion of the Gospel under perusal. Of course where no such marginal parallels are found opposite to any portion, it is to be presumed that such portion is peculiar to the Gospel in which it is contained.

In the text, which is printed with singular accuracy, very few alterations have been made, as indeed none were necessary beyond the correction of those few errors which are unavoidable in such a work : some improvements, however, have been effected, especially by the frequent introduction of those marks which indicate the variation of manuscripts, or of printed editions. But in the annotations we observe great and essential alterations and improvements. The critical notes, which discuss either the readings of the text, or the more minute proprieties of Greek phraseology, are far more numerous than in the former edition, and many of them have been re-written. On the quotations from the Old Testament, Dr. Bloomfield has accomplished more in this than in the first impression, especially in reconciling or accounting for the seeming discrepancies between the Hebrew text, the Septuagint

version, and the New Testament. Introductions are now given to all the books of the New Testament, varying in length according to the importance of the subjects; but the most important additions will be found in those notes which are strictly exegetical: many of these, if printed in larger type, would assume the form of excursus, or dissertations. Of this description we have observed nearly fifty notes, among which we may particularize the notes on Matt. i. 1, and Mark i. 1, on the sources of the first three gospels; xiii. 1, on parables; xx. 28, on the atonement and universal redemption; xxviii. 19, on christian baptism; Acts vii. 1, on the scope of St. Stephen's speech; Acts xxvii. throughout; 1 Cor. xii. xiv. and xv. throughout; 1 Tim. iii. 16, "God manifest in the flesh," &c.; and 1 Pet. i. 19-21, on the interpretation of prophecy. The most extensive additions will be found in the annotations on the Gospel of St. Matthew, (two-thirds of which are stated to have been re-written,) and on the epistles to the Romans, Corinthians, (1 and 2,) Galatians, Ephesians, and above all to the Hebrews. The value of this impression is enhanced by the addition of two ample indexes, both of matters, and of Greek words and phrases.

Having given numerous specimens of Dr. Bloomfield's annotations in our critique on his first edition, we do not think it necessary to select any others on the present occasion: and we cannot close this notice of his very important labours better than by saying that, in its present greatly improved state, it is a very cheap and a very useful edition of the Greek Testament.

LITERARY REPORT.

Vies des Saintes Femmes, des Saintes Martyres, et des Vierges Chrétiennes, pour tous les jours de l'Année. Janvier. Bruxelles: J. P. Meline. 1836. 12mo. Pp. 174.

WOULD the reader be informed of all the saintly deeds of the principal female saints of the Church of Rome, with all the miracles which they have worked both in life and death, the places in which their entire remains are preserved, or their relics are scattered, -sundry of them, by the way, must have an extraordinary proportion of legs, and arms, and fingers, and toes, and noses, and ears, &c. &c.-would VOL. XVIII. No. III.

the reader, we say, know all this, the twelve little volumes, of which we have here the first, will give him the desired information. It is really surprising that such legendary lore is still cherished in Catholic countries; and perhaps it is even more surprising, that the truly excellent lessons of christian morality, which are built upon the examples of the saints, should be found in company with such trash. The writers must know better themselves, and ought to be ashamed of practising imposition upon others. This little biography is well written; and were it not for the miraculous part of it, would be a useful publication.

T

Romanism incompatible with Christian Liberty: a Sermon preached before the University of Cumbridge, on Sunday, December 13, 1835. By WILLIAM MANDELL, B.D. Fellow of Queen's College. Cambridge: Deightons. London: Seeleys. 1836. Pp. 30. 12mo.

A CHEAP, well-reasoned, and wellwritten Discourse, full of important facts and observations. We hope it will have an extensive circulation.

Sermons preached in the Parish Church of Prestwick, Lancashire. By THOS. STONE, M.A. of St. John's College, Cambridge, Theological Lecturer in the College of St. Bees, Cumberland. London: Hatchards. 1835. Pp. xii. 214.

THESE Sermons are highly creditable to the author's discrimination, knowledge of Scripture, and attachment to the Church. The first Sermon on the Virgin Mary contains nothing particularly new, and might as well have been omitted, at a time when the worship of the Virgin is made so prominent a feature of instruction in the schools of English Romanists. We are not particularly favourable to the superstitions connected with the Virgin; but it strikes us, that the idea of Mr. Stone, that the Virgin suffered bodily and mentally at the birth of the Saviour is contradictory to the traditional opinions of the Church, from the earliest ages, upon that mysterious subject. In other respects the volume is excellent.

The Rationality of Revealed Religion, illustrated in a Series of Sermons; to which are added, an Essay on the Merits of Modern Fiction, and a Lecture on the Diffusion of Knowledge. By PIERSe Edmund Butler, B.A. Curate of St. Margaret's, Ipswich. Ipswich: Deck. London: Hamilton & Co. and Simpkin & Co. 1835. Pp. xvi. 367.

THERE are many parts of this volume of a character far beyond the usual run of modern sermons; the style, the language, the spirit and the reasoning

of the author are very evidently the proofs of a well-educated, thoughtful, and pious mind, intent on vindicating "the ways of God to man." Mr. Butler's mind was evidently cast in an argumentative mould, and it is gratifying to see powers of intellect of such an order employed in so hallowed and useful a cause. This volume, which will amply repay perusal, has become invested with an additional interest by the recent recantation of an Unitarian preacher (Mr. Ketley of Ipswich,) who has announced his adoption of sound scriptural views on the Atonement to be the result of Mr. Butler's reasonings with him on that subject.

By

To

Thoughts concerning Man's Condition and Duties in this Life, and his Hopes in the World to come. ALEXANDER LORD PITSLIGO. which is prefixed, a Biographical Sketch of the Author. Edinburgh: William Whyte & Co. Booksellers to her Majesty. London: Longman. 1835. Pp. viii. 203.

THE political career of Lord Pitsligo, as a partizan of the Pretender, and his literary productions, are already too well known to require illustration at our hands. The Memoir which precedes the present reprint of the "Thoughts," &c. seems to us to be drawn up with some taste and skill, and is very interesting, from the fact, that the editor had access to "the most authentic materials," and "all the oral testimony on the subject of Lord Pitsligo's Life."

Parochial Sermons. By JOHN HENRY NEWMAN, M.A. Vicar of St. Mary the Virgin, Oxford, and Fellow of Oriel College. Vol. III. London: Rivingtons. 1836. Pp. xvi. 424. THESE Sermons are destined to do great good, notwithstanding the peculiarity of style, which, at first sight, appears to make their title a misnomer; for they seem too argumentative and close in their reasoning for a mixed congregation of "low as well as "high." But on perusal, this very peculiarity of style makes their excel

lence: there are few volumes of serions which contain so much sterling matter in so compact a space. The general aim of the author seems to be the intention of putting into practice the theory of the Church of England doctrines respecting her government and rites; and certainly very powerful reasons are given in every case under Mr. Newman's inspection. But we might differ with him, if we would, as to his assertion respecting circumcision, that the Jewish rites had no substance of blessings in them; they were but outward signs and types of spiritual privileges. They had in them "no grace and truth." (P. 301.) Does not this imply, that circumcised Abraham had no more grace than when he was uncircumcised? and that, therefore, God's covenant with him, of which circumcision was the seal, was valueless? It may be true, that some Christians may rely too much on the parallel between circumcision and baptism; but to rely too little on it argues nothing against a correct consideration of either. The former distinguished the Jew from the heathen; the latter, the Christian from the Jew; and St. Paul expressly says-"Circumcision profiteth if thou keep the law," (Rom. ii. 25,) but how could it profit if it did not confer, or admit to some grace? The very controversy in Acts xv. (see verse 1,) tells us, that salvation was made available to the Jew by circumcision; but this certainly does not disprove the typical nature of circumcision, nor degrade baptism to a mere rite; nevertheless how was salvation available but by grace?-not christian grace, assuredly, but still grace.

There are a few other points which might cause us to object to Mr. Newman's putting of his arguments; such as mentioning "English Catholics," "Greek Catholics," and "Roman Catholics," which cannot be, since catholicity is of no nation, though any nation may be catholic, as the Catholic English, Catholic Greeks, Catholic Romans. Nothing is gained by a concession to the Romanists: they take all that is allowed, not as by courtesy, but as by right; nor does civility in argument weigh with them

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ON a former recent occasion, the first volume of Mr. Fowle's Sermons received our favourable notice. The present is by no means inferior to that first volume; if any thing, it excels it. It conveys, to use the words of the Preface, plain truths in plain language. We have been much pleased with the Sermon on Psalm cxvi. 11, 12, on occasion of the author's deliverance, together with his seven children, from a dangerous affliction. This is as it should be, and must have been a useful lesson to his flock. Mr. Fowle has our best wishes.

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The Christian Husbandman: a Sermon, delivered to a Congregation, consisting chiefly of Husbandmen, on Whitsun-Tuesday, 1835, in the Parish Church of Buxton. By the Rev. G. JARVIS, B.D. Curate of Buxton, and Vicar of Tuttington, Norfolk. Norwich: Fletcher, London: Simpkin & Marshall. 1835. (3d. each, or 2s. 6d. per dozen.) Pp. 24.

A SERMON likely to be beneficial, and one which we willingly recommend to the directors and guardians of parish clubs.

St. John in Patmos; or, the Last Apostle. A Sacred Poem. From the Revelations. By the Rev. W. L. BOWLES. To which are added, some Minor Poems of Early Youth. London: James Bulcock. 1835. Pp. viii. 154 and 31.

LIKE all Mr. Bowles's performances, this volume bears an impress of talent and feeling; and like the note of the dying swan, his poem will not fail to be admired. We give the opening lines, which to us are very tender and touching:

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War, and the noise of battle, and the hum Of armies, by their watch-fires, in the night,

And charging squadrons, all in harness

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o'ercast,

And sadder comes the moaning of the blast)
To God would consecrate a parting lay
Of holier homage-ere he pass away.—
P. vii.

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Devotions for Family Use. By the Rev. CHARLES GirdlestonE, A.M. Vicar of Sedgley, Staffordshire. London: Rivingtons. 1835.

WHEN man communes with his Maker, his thoughts and language should correspond with his employment. But, "Suffer us not to faint, or flag, or falter," &c. and "Give us the forgiveness of our trespasses, and give us grace to forgive our brethren theirs," are, surely, bad specimens of this language. This little book is in the author's intention better than its execution; but the subject is very difficult, and if he has failed, he has many companions; his labour is, however, notwithstanding, a labour of love.

The Soldier's Help to the Knowledge of Divine Truth: a Series of Discourses, delivered in the Chapel of the Royal Military Hospital, Chelsea. By the Rev. G. R. GLEIG, M.A. Chaplain. (John iii. 14.) London: Rivingtons. 1835. Pp. x. 387.

AN interesting volume. The subject, object, and accomplishment, are well considered, and well executed. Mr. Gleig, a soldier, has spoken like a soldier of Christ, to his brethren in arms. He has wielded the spiritual sword to good purpose, and followed his Captain manfully. There is one sentence, however, which we shall wish to see altered in a second edition: "On the other hand, let your latter years be devoted in sincerity to God's service; and over the errors and sins of your youth a veil will be drawn, which shall not be removed for ever." (P. 386.) Standing as it does with the context, it does not convey the meaning it does singly; but it is too unqualified to pass muster, and Mr. Gleig himself will allow that it defeats the end of his volume. It requires tact to show how to deal with "old soldiers," but we are persuaded that pensioned bravery will not, in worldly warfare, atone for subaltern cowardice: why should it in divine things? Yet such, we think, is the interpretation which night be put on this passage.

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