Worship of the Apostolical Church. Chap. I. The Ministerial Office in General. Topics: Its origin and design; Its derivation from the apostolate-distinction into church and congregation offices; Election and ordination of officers; Support of ministers; Relation of officers to the congregations. Chap. II. Church Officers: The apostolate; Prophets; Evangelists.— Chap. III. Congregational Officers: Presbyter-bishops; their office; Deacons; Deaconesses; Angels of the Apocalypse.Chap. IV. Divine Service. Topics: Signification of Christian worship and its relation to the Jewish; Sacred places and seasons; Sunday; Year Festivals; Separate parts of Worship; Baptism; Infant baptisin; The Lord's Supper; Other Sacred

Rites.

Book Fourth treats of Doctrine and Theology. Chap. I. The Apostolical Literature and Theology in general: Origin of the New Testament-The Historical Books-John and the other Evangelists-The Acts of the Apostles-Didactic Writings -The Apocalypse-Organism of the Apostolical LiteratureLanguage and Style of the New Testament. Chap. II. The Apostolical Types of Doctrine: Origin and Unity of the Apostles' Doctrine-Difference-Jewish and Gentile ChristianityJewish Legal type of James-James and Paul-Jewish Prophetical type of Peter-Matthew, Mark and Jude-Gentile type of Paul-Luke and the Epistle to the Hebrews-Ideal type of John. Chap. III. Heretical Tendencies: Conception of Heresy-Division and general character of Heresies-Typical Signification of the Apostolical Church.

We quote in conclusion a portion of the author's Preface, exhibiting his own idea of the work he has undertaken and its general purpose or plan:

"To portray with conscientious fidelity to original documents, in clear life-like representation, the History of the Church of Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Son of God and Redeemer of the world, to reproduce her inward and outward fortunes, her conflicts and victories, her sorrows and joys, her thoughts, words and deeds, with ardent love for the truth and broad catholic feeling, and to hold up this picture of eighteen centuries to the view of the present time as the most perfect Defence of Christianity, for instruction and warning, for edification and example:—this is a task, well worthy to engage the best powers of a long life, and carrying with it the largest reward, but at the same time so vast and wide, that its execution, if it is to be in any measure satisfactory, can be reached only by the co-operation of the most various agencies. The single workman, especially one of sub

ordinate capacity, must count it honor and happiness enough, if he be permitted to contribute some stones merely to the gigantic structure, which in its very nature cannot be completed till the Church shall have reached the goal of her history. For science grows with experience, and becomes ultimately complete only by its means.

"My plan aims, under the guidance of our Lord's twin parables of the Mustard Seed and Leaven, and from the best sources within my reach, to sketch as far as possible a true and graphic picture of the internal and external progress of the Christian Church from its foundation down to our time, for the bene fit both theoretically and practically of ministers and theological students, and to aid in this way a proper understanding of the present and a wise hopeful activity for the interests of the future. As regards compass, I propose to steer mid-way, between the synoptical brevity of a inere compend, and the voluminous fulness of a work which seeks to exhaust its subject and is designed simply for the professional scholar. The number of volumes will correspond probably with the periods presented in the General Division. I know too well already however the uncertainty of any such calculation, to lay myself here under any fixed bond in advance, or even to promise absolutely the continuation of the work. The volume now published has turned out much larger than I at first designed. The Apostolical Period however, in view of its fundamental and normative significance, is fairly entitled to a more extensive treatment than the Periods that follow; and it seemed to me necessary moreover to take account directly and indirectly of the late efforts of Baur and his school, having for their object, with no small outlay of learning, sagacity and art, a reconstruction of Primitive Christianity, or more properly its destruction-which has had the effect of swelling considerably the number of notes.

"While now my book shows signs on every page of its Ger man origin, it is still primarily and immediately designed for American readers, and written, so to speak, from an American, or more strictly, Anglo-Germanic position. I have accordingly had regard more or less to the more important productions of English literature, touching on the same field; and propose in later parts of the work, in case it is continued, to treat of English, Scotch and American Church History at much greater length, than is done usually in German works of the same size. Germany has no lack of books on Ecclesiastical History; even since this volume has been under the press, three valuable new compends have appeared there from Lindner, Fricke and Jaco

bi-with which however my work, from its difference of plan and size, comes into no conflict. Widely different is the case in America, where it has been the fashion heretofore in almost all Theological Seminaries, as in England also, to rest satisfied with a translation of Mosheim. Quite recently however translations also of the works of Neander and Gieseler, still unfortunately incomplete, are coming to be widely studied, and the time is not far distant, when this energetic restlessly active nation of the future shall do its part likewise in the independent culture and promotion of the science of general church history. Of this we have a guaranty already, in the able contributions that have been made to particular sections of this discipline, as well as in the distinguished success with which several highly gifted Americans have been crowned in the department of profane history. Would that I could do something, in my humble measure, to encourage an impartial study of historical theology in my adopted country, and excite to works that may leave my own far behind! Education and outward position seem to impose it on me as a duty, in this time of critical transition and on this ominous muster field of all the good and bad powers of waning Europe and youthfully fresh America, to labor in the service of German theology for American use, and as far as in me lies to mediate thus between the most theoretical and the most practical of existing nations, between the Greeks and the Romans of the modern world."

We trust the work will find proper patronage and favor. If its circulation be in any sort of proportion to its merits, it cannot fail to be both lasting and wide.

J. W. N.

THE

MERCERSBURG REVIEW.

JULY, 1851.

VOL. III.--NO. IV.

OUR NATIONAL RELIGION.

How many quires have been filled with glowing descriptions of the already acquired greatness, and prospective glory of the Young Republic of North America! How many writers have vied with each other, in attempting to delineate in appropriate colors, the extent, fertility and natural beauties of her vast territory, and to exhibit in adequate numbers the sum of her agricultural wealth, and rich, ever expanding mineral and commercial resources! How many volumes might be gathered, if all that loving enthusiastic hearts, and admiring minds, have spoken and written, in the patriotic oration, the thoughtful essay, or the racy narrative, could be found and rescued from the must and moth! And yet the tithe of the reality has not been told. Although the subject has been the theme of many of the liveliest imaginations, and ablest pens, and much that was even wild and hyperbolical has been spoken and written upon it, no adequate conception of what our country really is, much less of what she promises to be, has yet been formed. The tithe of it has not been thought. Indeed the tenth of it has not yet had time to develope itself. Many even of our keenest-eyed Statesmen, though occupying a position commanding by its height a farreaching view, have but recently begun to comprehend the ter20*

VOL. III.-NO. IV.

ritorial interests involved in the millions upon millions of acres of unoccupied, unexplored land, included in our national possessions. Even when facts are numerically or statistically known, it requires time before proper conceptions of them are formed in the mind. But if this is true in reference merely to the pecuniary interests involved in the territorial extent of the country, how much more imperfect must be the prevailing conception of other and higher interests claiming consideration in a case like this! Who shall say or who shall conceive, what will be the actual wealth, the political power, the national influence of Our Country, when all the latent resources and treasures of its timbered hills, and verdant valleys, its mountains of iron, coal, and copper, its lakes of salt, and rivers of gold, shall be fairly brought out, and be fully developed! And still more who shall conceive the actual state and position of our country, as well within itself, as in its relations to the rest of the world, when the latent intellectual and moral resources, of minds and hearts, moulded amid scenes and by circumstances like those existing and abounding here, shall approximate toward their proper development!

No wonder that earnest and thoughtful men, have gazed upon the solemn prospect, which the contemplation of such a future opens, with trembling bewilderment. The narrowest secular considerations involved in the case, may well create profound concern. It requires no keen prophetic vision to foresee, that a Government holding control over such vast interests, must speed:ly acquire an amount of political and moral influence, far surpassing what has ever been possessed by any other secular power; that the day is rapidly approaching, when, humanly speaking, the political and social system of our country, will be the mind and heart of the world, and when the pulse that beats here, will thrill through all the arteries of the Race.

And who that has the faintest conceptions of this, can be indifferent to the character of the unlimited influence, which will then be possessed and exerted? Who that has the prosperity of his country, the welfare of society, and the glory of God at heart, can regard with unconcern the elements which are now daily mingling, more and more freely, in the production of this influence? Above all, who that knows how indispensable correct religious principles are to its purity, and how hopelessly and potently pernicious it must be without them, can be else than anxious to know whether such principles have been mingling in due proportion with other formative elements, and to what extent they are likely to do so in the future? Are these principles the salt of every social system, and shall we not care to know