ART. VI. A Concise View of the Succession of Sacred Literature, in a Chronological Arrangement of Authors and their Works, from the Invention of Alphabetical Characters, to the Year of our Lord, 345. By Adam Clarke, A. M. 12mo. pp. 312. London, 1807.

The author of this work, Mr. have been executed with consiAdam Clarke, is already known derable accuracy. P. 39. The to the public, not disadvantage. account of the pretended Aristeas, ously, by a bibliographical dic- as is well known, is that six pertionary, published in successive sons were deputed from each tribe volumes, and lately brought to a for the translation of the Hebrew close. The object of that work scriptures into Greek, in all sewas to furnish an account of the venty-two, whence the name of chief editions of the most valuable the version. P. 50. The account and curious books in various lan- given of Mangey's Philo, if meant guages, intermixed with short to describe the exterior splendour · critical observations and occasion- of the edition, is true; if intendal anecdotes. It displayed an ed to relate to the critical quali extensive acquaintance with sub- fications of the editor, is con jects of bibliography; at the same siderably over-rated; learned men time, in some parts, owing pro- both at home and abroad, have bably to want of leisure, a cir- complained much of the faults of cumstance which may easily be that edition. The convenient inferred from the known engage. edition of Pfeiffer, might have ments of the author, it was not been mentioned. P. 101. The executed with all that accuracy memory of Napier, the inventor which is desirable in performances of logarithms, is somewhat insulted of that nature. by the application of the vulgar The present is a work somewhat proverb, "Ne sutor ultra crepisimilar in design, and requiring dam," because he made a comsimilar qualifications for its ex- putation from the book of Revelaecution. It proposes to give an tion, of the duration of the account of ecclesiastical writers, world, which time has disproved. in chronological succession, from The fate of other calculators of the earliest period till the inven- future events from the same data tion of printing, containing short should have saved him from this accounts of their lives, catalogues reproach. P. 100. The edition of their writings, analyses of some of the apostolical fathers by Coteof their principal works, with lerius should have been mention. notices of the first and the best ed. P. 280, 281. The editions editions of each author, and of of different works of Eusebius by the best translations which have R. Stephens, contain only the appeared in the English language. Greek. The present volume extends to A. D. 345; another it is suppos. ed, will complete the design."

The articles which we have articularly examined, appear to

The subject on which Mr. Clarke enters most largely into critical disquisition is that of the notorious text, 1 John, v. 7, which he honestly, though with some

reluctance, abandons to its me- : Since therefore this passage, rited fate. He however contends which we should be ashamed any for a higher antiquity of the Dub- longer to call the disputed text, lin MS. (the only MS. containing is wanting in all the Greek MSS, the verse which has even the (the exceptions which have been slightest title to notice,) than the made, we scarcely need say, are opponents of its authority are unworthy of notice,) is unsupwilling to allow. In support of ported through the whole of his opinion he furnishes a fac-si- Greek antiquity, is found in no mile of the spurious passage, and ancient version but the Latin, and the two following verses, which is wanting in many of the best he says, and we have no doubt copies even of that version, we with truth, is executed with great- are at a loss to conceive on what er accuracy than any preceding grounds Mr. Clarke can say in copy. Comparing this with the his Preface, "I would not have specimens of Greek palæography my readers imagine, that the in Montfaucon, he supposes the proofs against the authenticity of Codex Montfortii to be of the this passage are demonstrative,-thirteenth century. On the other to me they are not so; yet they hand, the best judges, and among are strongly presumptive." We them a critic who is more conver- at least find it difficult to conceive sant with Greek MSS. than any of moral evidence approaching other of the age, without hesita- more nearly to demonstration. tion say, that this Dublin copy, from its internal characters, can not possibly be referred to a higher period than the fifteenth, and was most probably written in the sixteenth century. We are wholly disposed to abide by their decision. The opinion is perfectly unbiassed, for the age of the Dublin MS. is a circumstance of no mo. ment in the general controversy. If written a thousand years ago, its testimony would be of no more weight than if written yesterday, for the interpolation, whenever inserted, was inserted by transla. tion from the Vulgate, by some writer, who betrays himself by his language not to have been a native Greek, and has in the preceding verse introduced a cor. ruption, the cause of which is obvious in the Latin copics, but which could not possibly have happened in the Greek.

We cannot avoid on this oc. casion expressing some surprise, that our ecclesiastical rulers suffer this text still to disgrace our bibles as printed by public authority. Let them seriously reflect on this sentence of Griesbach. "Si tam pauci, dubii, suspecti, recentes testes, et argumenta tam levia, sufficerent ad demonstrandam lec. tionis cujusdam ysiorra, licet obstent tam multa, tamque gravia et testimonia et argumenta, nul. lum prorsus superesset in re critica veri falsique criterium, et textus Novi Testamenti universus plane incertus esset atque dubius." We perfectly agree with this writer, that if by such evidence the genuineness of this text is not disproved, there exist no laws of evidence by which the truth of Christianity itself can be proved. We must return to mysticism, and inward, unintelligible principles of faith.

We had intended to say a few rected. Jehovah Tsebaoth is rankwords on the testimony of Cypri- ed as the first of the Hebrew an, and the orthodox confession classics, because the decalogue of faith offered to Hunneric, on was written by the finger of God. which Mr. Clarke is disposed to "The book of Psalms," it is said, lay some stress, but our limits "is one of the most sublime prowill not permit, and the subject ductions ever exhibited to the is scarcely worth the trouble of world." repeated investigation.

Mr. Clarke's object in this work is laudable, and both his example and his advice we strong ly recommend to the notice of his brethren. In his style there is sometimes a whimsical quaintness which we should wish to see cor.

This is praise which will not be contested. It is added, " and the most perfect poetic composition that perhaps the be. man genius can ever attain to, even under a divine inspiration.” This, we conceive, is more than either a critic or a divine can have a right to say.

D.

Deep in her breast tho' sickness plung'd his dart,

And pallid hues spread o'er her face benign,

Tho' torn with pain, her mild-unmur-
muring heart

Bow'd to her fate, with fortitude divine.
Sweet consolation! balm to sorrow deep!
MARY entomb'd was Virtue's favourite
child.

Fond, virtuous husband cease, ah! cease

to weep,

And yield thy soul to resignation mild.
Snatch'd from terrestrial scenes of grief

and care,

From wasting sorrow and heart-torturing pain,

Midst realmas celestial and with angels fair,

She lives where peace and rapture ceaseless reign.

Consoling thought! repress your mur. m'ring sighs,

Bewailing parents, kindred, friends sincere!

Has she not gain'd the bright, the im
mortal prize,

Bliss ever blooming thro' the ETERNAL
YEAR?
Fort-street, Spitalfields.

The infant is since dead.

J. S.

MONTHLY RETROSPECT OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS;

OR,

The Christian's Survey of the Political World.

Yet, in wishing the downfal of papal In the same paper that announced tyranny and papal superstition, we would the solemn mass in the Portuguese cha- be far from injuring our catholic brepel before the pope's nuncio and a se- thren in their mode of worship, which cretary of state, we read another docu- is perfectly independent of the pope or ment relative to popery, of greater his miserable conclave; we read with importance, and which ought to excite pleasure the protest of several peers on great rejoicing in the protestant world. the catholic question, in the same paper, An order has been issued by the French and this third singularity is a proof to general for the cardinals to quit Rome, us, that papal superstition soon must and the pretended holy father was ter- fall. Protestants have been very guilty ribly alarmed on this occasion. He in their mode of attacking it. They foresaw himself left destitute of all have used force instead of argument. counsel and advice, and his infallibility. They have lost sight of the spirit of the

particularly in his own diocese, where he is generally beloved, and which he kept totally free from the yell of "No popery," when it was lately raised for such base and sinister purposes.

gospel, and attacking with carnal wea pons their deluded brethren, have had the mortification of seeing, that they clung still more closely to their errors. A different conduct would have long ago made a material change. If the The discussion, we say, has done good, protestants, instead of persecuting their but it will not be seen for some time. catholic brethren in Ireland, and pro- The question was taken up on a very voking them to madness, had held out narrow ground, the relief of the catho to them the right hand of fellowship, lics in Ireland: but are they the only had shewn in their own conduct the persons, whose case calls out for relief? good fruits of religion, had made the An enlightened statesman, who is also seriptures their guide, and appealed to a venerable presbyter of the church of them alone, Ireland at this time would England, has een the question in its true. not see popery the predominant religion, light, and with a truly patriotic and at but would have renounced falsehood for the same time a truly Christian spirit, truth. But do protestants differ so much he wishes to see our code of laws freed from papists, that any one reflecting entirely from all the intolerant statutes man should think it a matter of import- with which it is disgraced. He has since ance, to which sect he belongs? if one our last, published an excellent pamside says "Our pope is infallible; if the phlet, in which he recommends other side says "A teacher, who teaches more extended discussion in favour of aught against our articles or creeds or liberty of conscience," and he wishes confessions shall be punished;" there it to be carried on with that temperance must be a very great difference indeed and moderation, that all men may see in the opinions taught by these parties, the expediency and propriety of the, for a person to give credit to either. measure. He has begun this measure Christ's yoke is easy and his burden is in concert with several gentlemen and light; but the chains and fetters of these traditional and unscriptural Christians are gailing, and not to be borne, however gilded over by fashion and popular opinion.

The petition of the Irish catholics for liberty of conscience has been rejected: but the debate upon it has done great good. The enemies to liberty of conscience and freedom of religion, have been completely driven out of the field of argument. Never were more miserable subterfuges heard. The advocates for religious toleration carried every thing before them, as far as argument and eloquence could avail in both houses: but numbers prevailed. On counting votes they were in a minority. Yet every friend to religion must rejoice, that even among the bishops one voice was heard in favour of true Christian principles. The bishop of Norwich has done himself immortal honour. His speech has been read with general approbation all over the united kingdom. He stood upon the true ground of Christian charity and love, that the friends of true religion must be friends to religious liberty, and that it was to betray the cause of truth, to suppose that any evil could arise by extending liberty of conscience to all. Great will be the effect of this speech every where, but

clergymen of the church of England, only one dissenter having been permitted to sign the paper. He justly consi ders, "that on this principle alone, can protestants justify their separation from the church of Rome; on this alone can Christianity accomplish the gracious purpose of its divine author, can become the religion of the world, and the source of continual improvement in virtue and happiness to all mankind." The true Christian views these efforts with pleasure. He rejoices to see the attempts made by men to disentangle themselves from error. The grand point however is to teach men to be Christians, that is, to acknowledge Christ as their lord; and he who believes this true doctime, must hold up his hand against every infringement of the right of conscience.

What is it indeed that the church of England-man and the papist are contending about? Why should they slight each other so much? Are they not both equally intolerant? and do they not in the same creed hold out to eternal perdition those of a different faith? "No!" says the church of England-man boldly, "No! I do not believe so." "Look at the Athanasian creed," we say, "which is ordered to be said or sung in your churches." "But I never read it," he re• Mr. Wyvill.