to the value of differing readings. We should here, as before, be somewhat copious in our selections, but we must content ourselves with the following positions, with which we wish the biblical student to be familiarized. "786. Readings certainly genuine, ought to be restored to the text of the printed editions, though hitherto admitted into none of them, that they may henceforth be rendered as correct as possible; they ought, likewise, to be adopted in all versions of Scripture; and, till this be done, they ought to be followed in explaining it." "795. Probable readings may have so high a degree of evidence, as justly entitles them to be inserted into the text, in place of the received readings much less probable. Such as have not considerably higher probability than the com. mon ones, should only be put on the margin; but, they, and all others, ought to be weighed with impartiality." In the course of his remarks, (sections 752 and 788) the Profes sor discusses the evidence for the different readings in Luke xi. 2, 4. Acts xx. 28. 1 Tim. iii. 16. and seems in all these cases to prefer those of the received text. He however refers to Griesbach, to whom we also refer our readers.— Respecting the doxology subjoined to the Lord's prayer, he seems decidedly of opinion, that it is an interpolation; yet from, we suppose, an accidental error, classes it among those cases, in which it is difficult to come to a decision. He closes the chapter with a full, yet concise representation of the controversy respecting 1 John, v. 7, 8. from which he leaves the reader to conjecture his opinion, and to form one for himself. The second chapter respects the explication of separate words; and in it the author considers the combination of letters into words, irregularities in the form and flexion of words, the signification of words, the usage of nouns, of verbs, and of particles; and the difficulties in determining the parts of speech. The third has for its object, the explication of combinations of words. The difficulties considered under this head, are those in punctuation, in syntax, in idiom, and in the meaning of phrases; those arising from the grammatical figures, and from the rhetorical.We must observe in our rapid sketch, that in considering the difficulty of Eph. iv. 29. (in section 967) the Professor does not notice, that the reading Teos oxodoμ TAS TISEWS has very considerable authority.In the section on punctuation, the reader will find several valuable criticisms. difficulties in the circumstances reThe fourth chapter treats of the lating to the books of scripture. These are, in the connections of particular parts, in plan and distribution, in scope and design, concerning the occasion, time, and authors, and in the different sorts of composition. In the first section are some judicious remarks respecting the modern, and often faulty, division into verses; of which we must quote the following. "1043. This division, by breaking the Scripture into small parts, often obstructs our attending to, or perceiving, the connexion and dependence of the several sentences, and how one of them is explained, or limited, by others with which it is joined. "1044. It would, therefore, be an advantage, that the Scriptures were published without any breaks, and the verses only marked on the margin, for facility in references: at any rate, we should, as much as possible, read them as if they were thus printed." The fifth chapter treats of the apparent contradictions of different parts of scripture, in quotations, in historical passages, between predictions and their accomplishment, and in points of doctrine. earnestly wish that the Professor had entered more fully into the se We cond of these classes, viz. apparent contradictions in historical passages: the section is by far too general and cursory. At the close of it, in one paragraph he dispatches the subject of harmonies, which, from a previous reference, we expected would be discussed at some length. This chapter is in our estimation the least valuable part of the whole work. The last three chapters respect seeming contradictions to reason and morality, and to matters of facts; and complicated difficulties arising from different various readings, or in the sense, or in the sense and readings combined.— The subjects, though certainly very important, are SO cursorily discussed, that we are inclined to think the Professor was near the conclusion of his session, and that he was as much pleased in bringing his course to a conclusion, as we are to close our critique: not however on our own account, for we calculate so highly the value of this work, that if our limits would have permitted, we should have rejoiced to have brought forward many more passages, and to have enlarged upon many considerations which we have very slightly noticed. ART. VII. Illustrations of the Four Gospels, founded on Circumstances peculiar to our Lord and the Evangelists. By JOHN JONES, 8vo. pp. xxviii and 644. WE regard the records of our may think that they err in some of Lord's public ministry as the most their interpretations, and that they important part of the New Testa- miss the truth by pursuing it with ment; and we fully agree with an incorrect and preformed biasses; author whose work is noticed in the but it is seldom that a man whose preceding article, that though they heart is sincerely devoted to the acdo not contain a complete account quisition of evangelical knowledge, of the words and actions of our Sa- and who reads the scriptures with viour, yet as many things are re- his own eyes, gladly receiving the corded as are necessary for our assistance of others, but not subfaith in his mission, and knowledge mitting implicitly to their guidance, of his doctrine." We by no means will fail of detecting some important say this from lightly esteeming the principles before undiscovered, of other invaluable relicts of the first removing some difficulty before opteachers of the gospel; but we are pressively felt, or, at least, of diimpressed with the belief that the recting the thoughts of others into words and actions of our Saviour are such a channel that they will be mathe foundation upon which chris- terially hastened in their progress tian doctrine is chiefly to be rested, towards clear and extensive and that a lively conviction of their tions of gospel truth. reality, and a familiar acquaintance with them and their respective circamstances, most powerfully tends to strengthen and invigorate our faith in the great truths which he taught, and our reverence for his authority. With these views we are always glad to see men of learning and talents devote their attention to these parts of the christian scriptures. It may not be that their sentiments accord with our own; we The work before us indicates great activity of mind, and an earnest desire to make the circumstances of the evangelical narratives better known and understood. The author is obviously a man of vigorous imagination and extensive learning. We cannot agree with him in many of the results to which his principles of criticism have led him; nor do we think that the most correct, at least what are to us the most satisfactory, of his deductions, are altogether so novel as they ap. pear to himself; but we are of opinion that to a large class of readers the work will communicate a great deal of new and valuable information, and that where he does not succeed in eliciting truth, he has often furnished useful materials to others who, like himself, determine to think for themselves, and to search whether these things are so. The primary objects of the illustrations are, to disclose those circumstances in the situation of our Lord, as it respected himself personally, or the success of his religion, which would naturally influence his modes of conduct or his discourses; and those circumstances in the situation of his historians, particularly as it respected those persons for whose benefit they wrote, which would naturally influence their modes of relation; and to shew in what way these circumstances actually did operate in some of the most striking peculiarities of the events recorded, or in the manner of the records themselves. We feel a want of evidence as to some of these circumstances. We cannot satisfy our minds that they so occurred as to enable them to have the commanding influence ascribed to them by our author; nor do we see sufficient proof that they really possessed that influence. We are fully aware that new views respecting passages of scripture which we have ourselves long been accustomed to interpret in a different way, ought never to be rejected without great hesitation where supported by evidence; and we know by experience, that very frequently interpretations which at first sight strike the mind as decidedly objectionable, by degrees, when somewhat familiarized to us, have a different appearance, and at last are received as correct, when the first impulse was to reject them as alto gether erroneous. We think that every reader of Mr. Jones's work ought to bear in mind these considerations; and we hope we have ourselves done it; but we must acknowledge, that, in many of his remarks, we are not able to follow him, and that we think he has sometimes urged too far a principle of criticism which we believe he has the merit of first making a primary object, and has sometimes sought for the sources of words or actions in circumstances too remote and uncertain. Horne Tooke somewhere remarks, that men often err by digging for truth too far below the sur face; and we have often, in our own scriptural investigations, been led to apply the remark which the philologist directed to the speculations of the grammarian. Mr. J. has in various places succeeded in tracing out those delicate links of association which do not obtrude themselves upon the observation of the reader, and are often therefore unnoticed; but we cannot avoid thinking that on revising his work, he will perceive in several places modes of expression which give an artificial, we had almost said artful, appearance to the conduct of our Lord and of the evangelists, which, we are satisfied, must be as dissonant from Mr. Jones's feelings as from our own. The author" unfolds the process, by which he arrived at the conclusions peculiar to him." "The prejudices of education, and the authority of learning, however beneficial to the interests of truth, serve, in many cases, to entail error; nor can that man expect to add much to the stock of biblical knowledge, who is not enabled, by diligence and vigour of mind, to examine ancient records, indepen dently of those who have gone before him. For this reason, the Writer of these sheets declined to consult the him, till he had formed, and generally critics and commentators, who preceded composed, his own sentiments on any subject; and he was hence able to supersede many difficulties, which perplexed, and to avoid many idle disputes, which divided, his predecessors. He has, however, seldom dismissed any difficult passage, without perusing the works of others; and in general hia pains have been well rewarded. On some occasions he has copied the sentiments of other critics in their proper language, as preferable to his own; and such observations as appeared important and instructive, he scrupled not to copy for the edification of his readers." We must stop here to observe, that we are convinced the plan mentioned at the beginning of this paragraph is the best that can be pursued in the present state of criticism, provided the student have made a respectable acquisition of biblical apparatus, and feel able to give up his own opinion when the better founded opinion of another opposes it. The beaten track is not to be left because it is such; but if persons are resolved to go in it for that reason, they must often go retrograde with respect to truth. "But the writer has always kept in mind, that he is not in this Work discussing learned questions, but addressing himself to men of plain sense, who seek religious improvement. The reader, therefore, is not to expect, in the performance before him, classical quotations, learned references, or verbal criticisms, but an analytical detail of the sayings and works of Jesus Christ, together with the explanations of obscure passages, founded on facts, as far as they could be collected from historical investigation, or deduced from the circumstances of the case, by an active, but regulated, imagination. "The founder of christianity was not educated in the school of human learning. The instructions, therefore, which he delivered, are not. the offspring of speculation, composed agreeably to the rules of art, and implying the precision and regularity of system; but a series of observations and doctrires, dictated by the wisdom of God, and called forth as opportuni, ties required. Hence the doctrine of the association of ideas, which, in the absence of artificial order, is the only law that regulates the human mind, becomes a principle of high importance in the examination of the four gospels; since the critic, who, by the help of history, and a well-governed imagination, can place himself in the circumstances of our Lord, will be able, on most occasions, to perceive a close connection between the language and the objects by which he was surrounded; and thus to discover propriety, beauty, and order in passages which, before, appeared irrelevant, obscure and incociple is a broad and distinguishing feature herent. The application of this prinin the present publication; and it may not be too presumptuous to say, that the great law of association, when properly attended to, and skilfully applied, as it tends, while it elucidates the meaning, to confirm the truth, of the evangelical records, will form a new era in the history of christianity. ed controversial points. Wishing to write "The writer has, throughout, avoidfor the benefit of all christians, he has endeavoured to supply materials in which out controverting the tenets which distinall christians are deeply interested, withguish any party. And the volume, if it claims, and, it is hoped, deserves, the cannot please all denominations, praise of offending none. The author, following the example of Christ and his evangelists, has given, what he con without a blow, to expire, in its proper ceives to be the truth, and left error, time, with the prejudice or ignorance on which it is founded." The remaining part of the preface is not equally satisfactory. It appears to us that the author has there advanced several positions which, if not incapable of satisfacnied with it. If he would wish us tory proof, are at least unaccompato specify them, we should point out all the leading statements respecting Simon, which can have a tendency to explain the gospels; and we wish, that if he retains his present ideas on this subject, he may be led to reduce his views as to Simon's system of opposition to our Saviour and his doctrines, into a form which may yield a more ready conviction as to their foundation and importance. In considering the circumstances recorded in the gospels, Mr. Jones has, we believe, adopted the order of Dr. Priestley's harmony. If he had made an arrangement for himself we should have wished for some statement of his principles; and we equally wish that he should have stated on what grounds he considered as correct the arrangement which he has adopted. In an enquiry of the kind which Mr. J. has undertaken, it is of peculiar importance to ascertain the order of events as far as is practicable; and we regret that this has not formed a part of his plan. Many of his remarks suppose some arrangement to be adopted; and, certainly, to develope accurately the occurrences of our Lord's ministry in a natural manner, the order of nature, that is of time and place, should be determined. We also wish, that in order to enable his reader to know what passages he considers as correspondent, he had given a table of the chapters in the New Testament, corresponding to each section. Our limits will not enable us to follow our author step by step through his whole work; but we shall select, generally in the order in which they occur, such passages as it seems desirable to lay before the reader, for the sake either of illustrating the author's manner and plan, or of stating our own opinion respecting his positions. The first section has the introduction of Luke's gospel for its subject. Mr. J. translates Tig Twy πεπλεροφορημένων εν ήμιν πραγμάτων, accomplished in the midst of us, referring the former words to the accomplishment of the ancient predictions respecting the Messiah, and inferring from in the midst of us, that some, at least, of the things which the evangelist was going to record, feli under his own notice and inspection. We cannot object to the translation of, but we see no ground for the inference; and the author has himself given a sufficient explanation of it, when he says, "By us is meant the whole body of the disciples." In fact it appears to us evident from various parts of Luke's gospel, that he was not an eye witness; but had, some years after the events occurred, employed the most accurate and diligent investigation in order to give a full and faithful narrative of the events of which he and the "whole body of the disciples," had the fullest conviction. The sense given by the author to the word googe is unauthorized by the usage of the New Testament. He refers us to 2 Tim. iv. 5. and Acts xx. 24. for a justification of it; but in the former passage, there is no reference to the accomplishment of a prophecy; and in the latter the word is not employed. He Mr. J. decidedly objects to Mr. Marsh's hypothesis respecting the origin of the first three gospels. In a note to the section we are concern. ed with, he combats that critic's opinion that Tagaxoλoude does not imply personal knowledge. adduces an instance from Theophrastus in support of his own opinion; but, as appears to us, he retains a signification which has no reference to any personal knowledge of the occurrences. "He professes farther," says the author, "to have gained an exact knowledge of every particular from them, or, more conformably to the original, to have followed with exactness, in every part, the account which those eyewitnesses delivered to the body of believers." Archbishop Newcome, in his margin, translates the words, exactly traced; which agrees with our author's rendering; and so far |