ancient angari, called chappars, who serve to carry dispatches between the court and the provinces. When a chappar sets out, the master of the horse furnishes him with a single horse; and when that is weary, he dismounts the first man he meets, and takes his horse. There is no pardon for a traveller that should refuse to let a chappar have his horse, nor for any other who should deny him the best horse in his stable. Hanway's Travels, vol. i. p. 262.

The Jews, and inhabitants of other provinces, were compelled by the Roman governors, or the tetrarchs, to furnish horses, and themselves to accompany their public messengers, as those on public business might compel the horses of those on the road to attend them. The Persian couriers wore a dagger as a mark of authority, called hangar, from which the name of angari is supposed by some to be derived. (Chardin's Travels, vol. ii. p. 242.)

A very full and clear account of these messengers is afforded us in Campbell's Travels, pt. ii. p. 92; to which we refer the reader, as also to the Oriental Customs of Dr. Sam. Burder, where many curious and interesting elucidations of Scripture are collected from the most distinguished travellers into the east.

PSALM CXXXIII.

THE object of the sacred writer, in this Psalm, is, by two apt comparisons, to present a striking and lovely picture of fraternal unity, whether viewed in a national, domestic, or religious sense; but the word "skirts," in our authorised translation, being altogether unwarranted from the original, has so veiled the beauty of the allusion, and so weakened the force of its figurative application, as to place it beyond the power of the English reader, either to appreciate its poetical excellence, or to discern its admirable appropriateness. By this absurd rendering, Aaron is represented as having his sacerdotal garments profusely soiled with the consecrated oil which was poured on his head !-An idea both repugnant to fact and common sense; for it is a most unlikely circumstance, that those costly robes, made by Divine appointment, and express direction, were designed to be thus besmeared with ointment; or that the precious unction, designed for the sacred purposes of the sanctuary, was to be so lavishly applied; nor does the transition from the beard to the skirts of the garment at all accord with the usual observances of progressive gradation in poetical description.

The Hebrew word, translated in this Psalm "skirts," primarily signifies the mouth; and by a secondary application the upper opening, aperture, or capacity of any thing; as-a well, Gen. xxix. 3, 8;-a sack, Gen. xlii. 27;-the entrance of a way, Prov. xxii. 6; and here, as in Exod. xxviii. 32, it evidently denotes the top, or collar part of the garment, through which the head was thrust in putting it on; in which

latter instance, and in ch. xxxix. 23, the translators have more properly rendered it "hole ;" whereas, in the verses following, they have translated another word, in Hebrew signifying the skirt, (from the root, to loose) by the term hem, and by which the lower extremity of the sacred costume is evidently alluded to. In Job xxx. 18, they have rendered the word in question by "collar," which exactly accords with what is intended in the instance before us. The passage corrected, therefore, will read, "which went down to the aperture or neck part of his robes."

Through the mistranslation, preachers and expositors have formed their spiritualizations on erroneous data, as to the nature of the comparison. The sacred writer is not likening the unity he so beautifully eulogizes in this Psalm to the pouring the oil on the head of Aaron, and its descent therefrom, as is generally understood; for it would be difficult to discover the analogy or appositeness of such a similitude; but to the ointment itself, which was a compound of different odoriterous substances duly blended in one, and thus a very suitable semblance of the social excellencies here described. This ointment, when used for the purpose appointed, must have diffused a most agreeable cdour around the sanctuary; and herein it was a striking figure of the delightful effects of family or social union, but more particularly of that described in Acts ii. 46, 47. and iv. 32. Here, like the holy ointment, we behold a numerous fraternity of believing Christians, whose minds were previously divided in their pursuits and diversified in opinions and sentiments, now so blended in the knowledge of heavenly truth, and united in spiritual enjoyment and energy, as to be one heart and one soul, sending forth in their lives and conversation the sweet fragrance of every Christian virtue. O that we could see more of this primitive spirit and character among modern professors of the same religion, and less of that baneful influence-discord!

The sacred penman proceeds further to illustrate this beautiful representation of happy union, by a simile drawn from a well known operation in the natural world. It is like the "dew of Hermon, that descended to the mountains of Zion," &c. which, in an eastern country like Palestine, was a blessing from heaven of great importance, in the fructification of the soil; and its suspension was deemed a sure indication of Divine displeasure, Hag. i. 10. Now, although this vapour descends in innumerable particles, or distinct drops, upon the earth, yet, in its diffusive operation, it commingles into one mass of fluidity, and in its effects contributes to one object, namely, the production of the necessaries and comforts of life, for the sustenance and enjoyment of man. So, where peace and unanimity reign, where reciprocal efforts and interests are conjoined,-whether among the more immediate ties of society, or the civil communities of mankind, the result is prosperity and happiness. But among those who profess to be the children of the Most Hign, by one common ground of relationship, who are "one body and one spirit," more especially is the appropriateness of the comparison exemplified. "For there," indeed," Jehovah commanded the

blessing, even life for evermore." The apostles were commissioned to proclaim this blessing, with the holy Spirit sent down from heaven; which, like the reviving and refreshing dews, distributed the greatest benefits, and brought forth joy and gladness in the hearts of many who received the glorious intelligence; while the delightful effects were visible in their unanimity, and ardent attachment to each other. See Acts, ch. ii. and some of the ensuing ones.

Chard.

PARVULUS.

Scripture Discussions:

COMPRISING

THE OUTLINES OF A SERIES OF

CATHOLIC DISCOURSES;

With a view to promote Christian Moderation, and exhibit the Scripture Character of genuine Catholic Christianity.

The Catholic and Protestant Versions of the Scriptures are employed; and the Discussion is conducted on the Principles of Universal Liberty.

By the Writer of the "SCRIPTURE ENCYCLOPEDIA."

No. X.

CONCLUDING REVIEW.

Eccles. xii. 13, 14.

CATH.-Let us hear together the conclusion of the discourse-Fear God and keep his commandments; for this is all man and all things that are done, God will bring into judgment for every error, whether it be good or evil.

סוף דבר הכל נשמע ; את האלהים ירא ואת מצותיו שמור כי זה כל האדם:

כי את כל מעשה האלהים יבא במשפט על כל נעלם אם טוב ואם רע.

The conclusion of the whole discourse let us hear-The Almighty fear, and observe his commandments, surely this (belongs) to every man for every work will the Almighty bring into judgment, together with every secret thing, whether good or whether evil.

Relationship and obligation exist together. A connection there is between them of necessity unavoidable. The existence of the former gives rise and character to the latter. As the one is multiplied or diminished, the other increases or is lessened. Hence the law of the gospel and the language of Jesus: "Where much is given much will be required!" What an awful responsibility attaches to our character

My Catholic as well as Protestant friends, let these considerations be paramount in your view; and study to exemplify them, by a practice of mutual forbearance and of mutual regard. While ye "prove all things." remember, especially, that "the good ye hold fast," with a high and faithful hand. Have done for ever with your disgraceful recriminations, and leave it to others to "wallow in the mire" of religious slander and disputation. No dealings need you to have either with the "errors of Popery," or the "errors of Protestantism;" as men of understanding and discrimination, you reprobate both of them; and as men of pious taste and correct feeling, you will seek the combination of the opposite beauties, as best displayed among the two parties.

Finally, brethren, I thank you for your patient and respectful attention; and pray that "the God of peace and love may evermore be with you." Only let your conversation, &c. Phil. i. 27-29. My supreme and sole concern is, your own salvation. "We live if you stand fast in the Lord." Need you still be reminded of the essential three of the Christian man. I Cor. xiii. 13! O let these be your's, each and all. On every heart and every lip be these inscribed,-FAITH-Hope -CHARITY."

Poetry.

MORTALITY.

Job xiv. 1, 2.

When now the destin'd period run
Mature arrives the wish'd for birth,
Lo! the fond parents hail their son,
And all around is joy and mirth.

Swift fly the hours, the days, the years,
And, see the child to man is grown ;
But manhood fails, grim death appears,
And the poor phantom life is flown.

Thus, at the dawn of genial day,

The gilded flow'r from earth's soft womb
Comes smiling forth, in rich array,

And glads all nature with its bloom.

But, ah! ere evening shadows rise,

Or setting sunbeams quit the plain,
The lovely, transient blossom dies,
And shrinks to earth's soft womb again.

DR. RUSSELL.

Biblical Biography.

.Famous in the Church, men of renown קראי מועד, אנשי שם!

LIGHTFOOT.1

Dr. Lightfoot's love of letters, and exemption from literary jealousy, may be instanced in the patronage, or (at least) in the assistance which he afforded to cotemporary scholars. He contributed his valuable

assistance to Dr. Walton, in arranging the Polyglot Bible, by revising the whole of the Samaritan version of the Pentateuch; by drawing up a general sketch of sacred geography, as a commentary upon the common maps of Judea; by correcting many errata in the Hebrew text; and by procuring subscriptions to the work. These literary obligations Dr. Walton very gratefully acknowledged; as appears from many of his letters. Dr. Lightfoot was deeply interested in the progress of this great and stupendous labour. In a speech which, during his vice-chancellorship, he delivered at the commencement, 1655, he congratulates the University upon the completion of an undertaking reflecting so much honour upon the English nation, and contributing to the advancement of sacred literature.

It appears from the letters of Poole, that Lightfoot contributed his learned aid to the "Synopsis Criticorum."-"I very humbly and heartily thank you for your great favour, in promising me your help for the historical books. The Lord requite you."-" Sir, I here send you one part, upon Numbers; and I shall beg your thoughts upon any thing as you go on."-" Sir, I question not you mind your most encouraging and obliging offer and promise of assistance in reference to the historical books of the Old Testament, from Joshua to Job, out of the Rabbins and Talmud."-"I intend also a fifth volume of Appendices, as De nummis, ponderibus, mensuris, de Templo, quæstiones Chronologica, Chorographicæ, Historicæ, &c.' and Paralipomena, as to places of Scripture not thoroughly explained, &c.' Now, Sir, as you were pleased freely to offer me your help, for which I reckon myself much in your debt, the just value I set upon it, makes me bold humbly to entreat it, which I think will come in most seasonably in the fifth volume; but how, or wherein you will please to honour me with something which shall bear your name, I submit to your good pleasure

1 Concluded from p. 577.

2 See Works, vol. xiii. pp. 347-364. 3 Ib. vol. xiii. pp. 439-443.