the New Testament, especially the Epistle to the Hebrews, which in fact would be unintelligible without it.

The Jews divide this book into ten paraschæ, and twentythree siderim: in our Bibles it forms twenty-seven chapters;

V.

―tresspass-offerings for sins knowingly committed, &c.chap. vi. vii.

PART. III. treats of clean and unclean beasts, fishes, birds,

and reptiles,

.chap, xi

I. Of women after child-birth.............

..chap. xii.

..chap. xiii. xiv. ..chap. xv.

PART. IV. The laws concerning purifications; as,

II. -persons infected with leprosy. III. -persons having bad issues....

PART. V. treats of the regulations concerning the great day of atonement, the place of offering sacrifices,—the things prohibited to be eaten,―marriage and various acts of impurity, the sin of consecrating children to Moloch, and consulting wizards,-laws relative to the conduct and persons of the priests, &c........

.............. chap. xvi.—xxii.

PART. VI. The laws concerning the sacred festivals, vows, things devoted, and tithes, &c.

1. The sabbath, passover, pentecost, feast of trumpets, day of atonement, and feast of tabernacles....

...

...chap.xxiii.

II. Various ceremonial and judicial rites relative to the sacred

festivals......

.................chap. xxiv.

III. Recapitulation of the law (Exod. xxiii.) relative to the sabbatical year; the year of Jubilee prescribed, &c.......... chap. xxv.

IV. Prohibition of idolatry, &c.................

V. Of vows, things devoted, and tithes,.

.chap. xxvi. .chap. xxvii.*

* Vide Dr. A. Clarke on Leviticus; Allix's Reflections, pp. 166-214.; Lowman on the Hebrew Ritual; Horne's Introduction, vol. iv. P. I. ch. i. § 4.; Gray's Key to the Old Testament; Bates' Faith of the Ancient Jews.

286

CRITICA BIBLICA.

Characteristic Notices of Biblical Works.

ILLUSTRATIONS of Biblical Literature, exhibiting the History and Fate of the Sacred Writings, from the earliest Period to the present Century ; including Biographical Notices of Translators, and other eminent Biblical Scholars. By the Rev. James Townley, Author of Biblical Anecdotes. Longman, 1821. 3 vols. 8vo. pp. 1618, with Plates. 31. 38.

We regret that a variety of circumstances has hitherto prevented our introducing this valuable and interesting work to the notice of our readers,—it having the strongest claims upon the attention of the Biblical Scholar. The design of these elaborate volumes is, to trace the successive history of the Divine writings from the earliest period to the present eventful times; to offer a comprehensive view of the progress of Biblical translations, and of the literary and ecclesiastical history of the Holy Scriptures, together with bibliographical notices of eminent Biblical Scholars and critics, and such occasional sketches of the history of the manners and superstitions of the darker ages, as may illustrate the advantages derivable from the more general dissemination of the inspired writings. Such is the extensive range which Mr. Townley takes in the field of Biblical Literature. The work is divided into three parts: I. From the giving of the law to the Birth of Christ. II. From the Birth of Christ to the invention of Printing. III. From the invention of Printing to the eighteenth Century. These are again subdivided into Centuries. The multifarious nature of the work renders it impossible to give any thing like an analysis of its contents.

To those persons who wish to become acquainted with the Literary History of the Holy Scriptures we strongly recommend these volumes; and are of opinion that they will find a place in every Biblical Library.

In every part of his work Mr. Townley displays extensive and patient research, a considerable portion of which will be lost upon those who have not been engaged in similar pursuits, though no less valuable to the Biblical student on that account.

1. The Youth's Spelling, Pronouncing, and Explanatory Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, &c. &c. pp. xxxvi. and 409. 12mo. 5s. 6d. boards.

2. An Abridgment of the Youth's Theological Dictionary, &c. &c. By E. Dowson, pp. xviii. and 218. 18mo. Booth, Duke Street, Manchester Square. 3s. bound.

MR. Dowson's Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, although designed chiefly for the use of Sunday School children, will repay the trouble of a perusal by persons of a more advanced age. The arrangement of this work is different from any thing we have before seen. The words are arranged under their respective parts of speech, and classed in alphabetical order, according to the number of syllables. This is intended for the purpose of exercising the mind of the learner, and has, without question, its advantages, although it may, at first sight, appear rather repulsive to the youthful mind. After a little practice, however, in ascertaining the parts of speech, and distinguishing the number of syllables contained in any word, of which the explanation may be required, the reference to the Dictionary will become easy and pleasant.

The work commences with Verbs, to which follow Nouns, Adnouns or Adjectives, and lastly Adverbs. Each word is accompanied with its definition, and occasionally with a short dissertation on the sense which it bears in various parts of the Sacred writings, with such reference to the passages as appears necessary. With some of the words is given their orthoëpy, which will be of considerable advantage in using the work. The whole is followed by a very copious index, arranged in a general alphabetical order and pointing out the part of speech to which the words respectively belong. The introductory part of the work contains a compendium of grammar accompanied with a table shewing the mutual dependence that exists between verbs, nouns, adnouns, and adverbs; what alterations they undergo in the derivations, and how, by their varied terminations, they constitute the distinct parts of speech. The sounds and accents of letters are likewise distinctly marked, as they stand in their varied combinations in the formation of words. Such are the outlines of Mr. Dowson's work, which reflects considerable credit on the

industry of the author, and deserves well of the Christian Public. We sincerely hope that while the enemies of christianity are availing themselves of every opportunity to diffuse their principles, christian parents will see the propriety and necessity of fortifying the minds of their children against the effects of the deadly poison, by placing in their hands such books as the one before us.

The Abridgment of the Youth's Theological Dictionary differs from the parent work, only in the omission of the amplified details which accompanied the definitions of the words in the former. It is on this account, perhaps, better adapted for the use of schools, for which it is intended.

Sonnet.

FROM THE THIRD CHAPTER OF HABAKKUK.

FROM Teman's height, the Lord the righteous came:
From Paran's mount appear'd the vision dread :
His beaming glories o'er the Heav'n were spread,
And Earth was filled with high Jehovah's fame.
His brightness dazzled as the lightning-flame,
While burning coals beneath his feet were shed;
He gaz'd, and lo! the parting nations fled;
He stood and measur'd earth's affrighted frame.
The mountains saw, and trembled at thy nod;
The deep receded from th' appalling sight:
At thy superior blaze, thou fearful God,
The sun, the moon, withdrew their fainting light:
O'er paths of fire thy flaming arrows trod,

And as the morning, beam'd thy falchion bright!

Biblical Illustrations.

JOB, xxxi, 32.

The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller. THE delightful picture of genuine and primitive hospitality, exhibited in this and many other passages of the sacred Scriptures, and which is so strongly recommended by the Apostle Paul (Heb. xiii. 2.), is finely illustrated in the following extracts from the travels of the excellent and indefatigable Burkhardt; which shew that persons of whom he relates the following facts retain many of the patriarchal customs.

66

Hospitality to strangers is another characteristic common to the Arabs, and to the people of Haouran. The traveller may alight at any house he pleases; a mat will be immediately spread for him, coffee made, and a breakfast or dinner set before him. In entering a village it has often happened to me, that several persons presented themselves, each begging that I would lodge at his house; and this hospitality is not confined to the traveller himself, his horse or his camel is also fed, the first with half or three-quarters of a Moud (about nineteen pounds English) of barley, the second with straw; with this part of their hospitality, however, I had often reason to be dissatisfied, less than a Moud being insufficient upon a journey for a horse, which is fed only in the evening, according to the custom of these countries. As it would be considered an affront to buy any corn, the horse must remain ill-fed, unless the traveller has the precaution to carry a little barley in his saddle bag, to make up the deficiency in the host's allowance. On returning to Aaere to the house of the Sheikh, after my tour through the desert, one of my Druse guides insisted upon taking my horse to his stables, instead of the Sheikh's; when I was about to depart, the Druse brought my horse to the door, and when I complained that he had fallen off

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