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sive generations of ancient Israelites, in visits which they paid to a place so memorable in their history, and does not coincide with the more prevalent and lately revived notion, that this work employed the leisure hours of the Israelites during their sojourn in this quarter.

Passing by abortive speculations, we may mention the result of the investigations of Professor Beer of Leipsic, who made these inscriptions the object of special study. It is his opinion that they afford the only remains of the language and character once peculiar to the Nabathæans of Arabia Petræa; and he supposed that if, at any future time, stones with the writing of the country should be found among the ruins of Petra, the character would prove to be the same with those of the inscriptions of Sinai. He did not know that the fact of this resemblance has been substantiated. But we can point out that in the (then unpublished though printed) travels of Irby and Mangles, mention is made of a tomb in Petra, with an oblong tablet, containing an inscription in five long lines, and immediately underneath a single figure on a large scale, probably the date. "The characters were such as none of the party had seen before, excepting Mr Banks, who stated them to be precisely similar to those he had seen scratched on the rocks in the Wady Mokatteb and about the foot of Sinai." This, from so accurate an antiquarian observer as Mr Banks, is of more conclusive value than even that of the two gallant travellers themselves could have been; as the inexperienced eye fancies resemblance, where the experienced one finds large difference.

According to this view, the inscriptions will probably be found to have been made by the native inhabitants of these mountains. They are, as Mr Banks well defines, rather "scratched" than engraven, and certainly present a very rude appearance. The contents of the inscriptions as made out by Professor Beer, and so far as he has proceeded, consist only of proper names, preceded by a word signifying "peace;" but sometimes memoriatus sit, and sometimes "blessed." Before the names the word bar or ben, that is, "son," sometimes occurs; and they are sometimes followed by one or two words at the end, thus the word "priest" appears twice as a title. In one or two instances the name is followed by a phrase or sentence, which has not yet been deciphered. Among the names some Jewish or Christian ones have been found; and the words which are not proper names seem to belong to the Aramæan dialect. A language of this kind the Professor conceives to have been spoken by the Nabathæans before the Arabic language prevailed over

those parts, and of that language and writing he regards these as the only monuments now known to exist.

This somewhat disappointing theory seemed at one time likely to receive general acceptance; but it has now been given up, even in Germany, where the very learned Professor Tuch has argued for a date some centuries earlier than Beer's explanation will allow; and the Rev. Charles Forster has just set forth a claim to the discovery of a new key to the reading and interpretation, by which he finds that they were the work of the Israelites during their sojourn in this wilderness.* According to him, the nation, during their various wanderings after the passage of the Red Sea, and before the publication of the Pentateuch,† not in accordance with any public decree, but in its private capacity as represented by individuals, recorded upon the rocks among which it temporarily sojourned, the various miracles it witnessed, the sufferings and adventures it underwent. This is in itself not improbable. They came from a country possessed in all its members, high and low, with a rage for turning mountains into books from a country which is covered with inscriptions of every degree of magnitude, wherever there is a rock to receive the chisel; and this familiarity with the practice might easily suggest to many of them, the fitness of employing their abundant leisure, in the giving the like enduring record to the signal events which had marked their pilgrimage. As rendered by Mr Forster, these records comprise, besides the healing of the waters of Marah, the passage of the Red Sea, with the introduction of Pharaoh twice by name, and two notices of a vain attempt of the Egyptian tyrant to save himself by flight on horseback from the returning waters; together with hieroglyphical representations of himself and his horse. They comprise, further, the miraculous supplies of manna and of flesh, the battle of Rephidim, with the mention of Moses by his office, and of Aaron and others by their names; the same inscription repeated, describing the holding up of Moses' hands by Aaron and Hur, and their supporting him with a stone, illustrated by a drawing apparently of the stone, containing within it the inscription, and over it the figure of Moses with uplifted hands; and lastly, the plague of fiery serpents, with the representation of a serpent in the act of coming down as if from heaven, upon a prostrate Israelite.

*The One Primeval Language traced fundamentally through Ancient Inscriptions: including the Voice of Israel from the Rocks of Sinoi. By the Rev. Charles Forster, B D. London, 1851.

This is inferred from the absence of any quotations therefrom, which would have been certain to appear in any inscriptions of posterior date.

These references to the recorded events of the Exode, compose, however, but a small part of the Sinaite inscriptions as yet in our possession; the great mass of which, Mr Forster informs us, consist of descriptions of rebellious Israel, under the figures of kicking asses, restive camels, rampant goats, sluggish tortoises, and lizards of the desert.

Among other objections that may be urged against the interpretation thus furnished, is, that a people not enjoined to this work, but (as this author supposes) doing it spontaneously as a sort of labour of love, would be little likely thus to work to perpetuate the memory of their misdeeds and unbelief under such degrading images. The theory is open to other objections of even more weight than this, but in the face of all these, the evidence produced is very

strong, if not, as yet, altogether so conclusive as to be implicitly received, that, as we were formerly taught to believe, we have in these inscriptions the autographic memorials of Israel's sojourn in the wilderness.

The following are a few specimens of Mr Forster's translations of these inscriptions :

"The red geese rise from the sea; Lusting, the people eat of them." "The hard stone the people satiates with water thirsting."

"Prayeth unto God the prophet [upon] a hard great stone, [his] hands sustaining Aaron, Hur." "The people Moses provoketh to anger, kicking like an ass."

"[At] the water springs muster the people, raileth against Jehovah crying out." "The people at Marah drinketh like a wild ass." "The people of the Hebrews biddeth begone Jehovah."

Notices of New Publications.

THE BRITISH QUARTERLY REVIEW. No.
XXVIII. November 1851.

London: Jackson and Woodford.

THIS Number, completing the seventh year of the "British Quarterly," is chiefly distinguished by the ability and importance of its political articles. The writer on "Prussia and Austria," disentangles, with admirable skill, the intricate web of German politics, and exposes the grand conspiracy of princes against peoples, of monarchs against men, from which the heterogeneous nations comprehended under the Prussian and Austrian governments respectively continue to suffer. He holds, that for the quiet and prosperity of the European Continent, it is necessary that both these monarchies be broken up, and that the several nations composing them be associated for government on the basis of nationality alone. And certainly the manner in which, ever since these governments were organised, the reigning sovereigns have sought to play off against each other, for their own selfish purposes, the peculiarities and prejudices of the different cominunities subject to them, seem to point to disruption as the only likely or trustworthy remedy. As to the form of constitution proper for the several states when thus independent, the writer lays down principles corresponding with those still more recently taught by the great Hungarian leader in his addresses to various public meetings in this country, viz. that the circumstances of each community must be left to determine whether a monarchical or republican from of govern

ment be adopted; and that the specimens of kingcraft inflicted on most of the Continental nations have filled them with such a thorough distrust and detestation toward the whole species, as to leave no hope of general tranquillity, save in a republic. We are not sure of the soundness of this conclusion, notwithstanding the great name of Kossuth can be pled for its support. Our forefathers' experience of the Jameses and the Charleses led them to prefer a commonwealth in their first great change; but on the return of a similar crisis, they, with their still more matured experience, chose a constitutional monarchy. That, in the Austrian and Prussian states, the elements of our threefold constitution do not exist in that proportion which has led to their harmonious working among ourselves, is most true; but it is not clear that the political training and bias of the people referred to, would long admit of the smooth operation of democratical forms. The case of the American Union is not to be urged in opposition to what we have here advanced. Thousands of miles away from the seat of the monarchy which they felt to be oppressive to them, the Americans, at the time they proclaimed their independence, had lost many of those habits which belong to a monarchical country, and as they who joined them adopted republicanism, not in the heat of political revolution, but in the calmness of deliberate choice, the feeling against kingly authority became broader and deeper as the young republic advanced. That it would be so to any considerable extent with any of the continental

nations, if we except, perhaps, Hungary itself, there is much reason to doubt.

The second article in this Number, "Willmot's Pleasures of Literature," is a clever and congenial review of a delightful book, on which we might be tempted to linger did our space permit. "Julius Müller-the Doctrine of Sin," is a lucid, acute, and ingenious essay. The author shows himself to be intimately conversant with the German philosophy, and a warm admirer of the same; yet the admiration is strictly subordinated to his love of evangelical truth. He is remarkably successful in exhibiting the consistency between certain great leading principles of the German philosophy, and the plain Gospel of the grace of God. An antiquarian dissertation follows, entitled, "Old English Houses and Households," giving much curious and interesting illustration of the progress of domestic architecture and the arts. The Oxford protest against Papal Aggression, and the Duke of Argyll's Protest against Oxford, form the subject of a brief and pithy paper. "History, by Modern Frenchmen," affords occasion for an article, in which occurs a thorough and satisfying inquiry into the evidence of Mary Queen of Scots' complicity in the death of Darnley. "Bushnell's Discourses,"- -a misty and rationalistic volume, brings out the British Quarterly in its highest character,-that of defender of the plain faith of the New Testament against the insidious assaults of philosophy, falsely so called. The scientific reputation of the Review is sustained in this number, by a clear and well digested Report of the Geological Survey of Great Britain. "Popery, its Rise and Development," is an able and comprehensive article. The writer contends for the congregationalism of the church in apostolic times; and yet admits that a plurality of spiritual office-bearers existed in each church, called indifferently bishops and presbyters, who were constituted and denominated the presbytery of that church. The difference between this representation and the practice of modern Congregationalist churches, needs not to be pointed out.

We have room for little more than to name the subjects of two powerful and weighty political articles embraced in this number,-one on recent "English Statesmanship in regard to Italy;" the other, on "Louis Kossuth and Lord Palmerston." In both, the comprehensive and minute intelligence displayed, as well as the sound sagacity, thorough independence, patriotism, and love of freedom, show the British Quarterly as occupying a position second to none of its rivals among the first class Reviews, which exercise so wide an influence on the progress of the age.

NORTH BRITISH REVIEW. November.
No. XXXI.

Edinburgh: W. P. Kennedy. We have here both the utile and the dulce, but the instructive greatly preponderates over the entertaining. Peace and war, taxation, criticism, philology, and the arts in one or more of their various aspects, are severally considered, and are handled with different degrees of ability, but all in a manner which provides for the inquiring reader an ample fund of information on the subjects announced. We have first a review of the peace movement, which is chiefly historical. The narrative is succinct and clear, and enlivened with characteristic incidents and notices of individuals who have distinguished themselves in the cause. The concluding part is taken up with the advocacy of the principle of arbitration in national quarrels, and contains much wholesome doctrine in " proper words." To our modern Nimrods and Isaac Waltons, young and old, we would recommend what the reviewer says of the moral influence of fishing and field-sports. We turned with same eagerness to the article entitled, "The Old Testament-Newman and Gregg." Such discussions are especially seasonable in a critical journal, whose circulation is, of course, among the more educated classes. It is vain to think that defences of revelation may be waived when attacks are made upon its evidences, which are not only heard of, but too much heeded, in well-informed circles. It is peculiarly the vocation of our religious periodical literature to meet the evil with its appropriate antidote, promptly administered, and modified according to the form and character of the meditated mischief. the Newman and Parker school accessions continue to be made, as Chapman's advertising lists and others too plainly testify. Mackay, the barrister, has attempted the subversion of revealed religion, in a voluminous effort, remarkable for dressing up borrowed objections as if they had not been sent forth and answered many a time; but he has succeeded in giving his elaborate undertaking an imposing appearance by the displays of learned research which decorate his pages. And now Mr Rathbone Gregg follows up the charge with an assault on the "Creed of Christendom," which, we are sorry to say, is to a large extent about as negative and anti-scriptural as his own. The reviewer does good service by the manner in which he disposes of the objections and insinuations of the writer. Considering the space within which he behoved to confine himself, he has executed his part well. At the same time we are reminded, by the form of the article, of a contemporary journalist greatly to his

To

credit, Rogers, in the Edinburgh, whose essay on Reason and Faith, containing replies to Strauss, is certainly a masterpiece in apologetics. The notice of the reprint of Owen's Works is a cordial estimate of the great Nonconformist's merits, written with the warm-heartedness of one who is a disciple of the Puritan theology. The article is garnished with sketches of the Oxonian vice-chancellor, person, dress-and library, with its labours and contents. In almost all such painting there is some drawing upon fancy. It is a touch of this kind to tell us of the shelf in Owen's college residence, where stood the Poli Synopsis. The time referred to (1656) must have been about ten years before the work was in being. As we write, we happen to have lying at our elbow a copy of the original prospectus, with a recommendatory note from Dr Owen's hand, of date 1667! All success to the North British!

THE CRYSTAL PALACE : Viewed in Some of its Moral and Religious Aspects. By the Rev. P. MACFARLANE, B.A., United Presbyterian Church, Lanark. 12mo. Pp. 42.

Lanark: D. C. Budge. THIS is really a clever and spirited production. Written for oral delivery, while the author was still in the full glow of admiration, kindled by the great vision he had gone to see, and from which, as a minister of the Gospel, he sought instruction for his flock, it is distinguished by an animated and graceful fancy, earnest spirituality, a just and christian appreciation of the moral and religious bearings of its subject, and an enlightened faith in the tendency of industrial art to promote all the best interests of the human family. We quote a paragraph illustrative of the felicitous manner in which the author draws from the triumphs of human skill, trophies for the magnifying of Divine wisdom :

"Yes, brethren, the greatest triumphs of wisdom and power that palace contains, are the triumphs of Infinite Wisdom and Almighty power. Far, far below the least of God's works, is the greatest of man's. Look there, where under that lofty transept, whose arched glassy roof stretches far up to the heavens, a stately elm tree grows! Every leaf of that tree is a greater mystery than any work of man in the building.

Bend your

eyes on yonder shrubbery and flowers! There are more beauty, more harmony and brightness of colouring, and more perfection of structure, in one of the least attractive of those little flowers, than the combined achievements of man can furnish. Man can only form and fashion what God has created. You may see greater wonders at your own doors, than any industrial object contained in the Crystal Palace. Why are the works of

God so little thought of, and the works of man so much extolled ?"

Another, exhibiting the enlarged hopefulness of spirit with which he regards the achievements of human ingenuity, must suffice for our notice of Mr Macfarlane's seasonable and excellent brochure :

"Science, art, and industry cannot be arrested in their onward movement, even though it were deemed advisable to make the attempt. They have advanced, are advancing, and will continue to advance. As well may you say to the rising tide, Thus far shalt thou come, and no farther,' as try to stop the march of improvement. Let the church see to it, that christian truth and christian principle advance too; and that if dangers do attend such an elevated and refined civilisation, as, if we mistake not, the Crystal Palace foreshadows, these be more than counterbalanced by the diffusion of Gospel light. Nothing but a vital Christianity can guide the onward career of the human race-prevent them from turning God's blessings into curses, and prepare them for the reign of millennial glory. Give us a vital Christianity, and we have no fear that any moral or religious evils will attend that progress, which to some minds seems so alarming. If the church do her duty, no spiritual calamity, but a positive good, will arise from the Great Exhibition."

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THE lectureships founded by Boyle, Bampton, and Warburton, and the prize institute bequeathed and regulated by Hulse, have done great service to the theology of England. The best and brightest names of our English divinity occur in connection with those munificent bequests. The congregational lecture has more recently also done good service on an inferior scale. Should the experiment be made in our church, it would be productive of equal good. The prize-essay system is fast approaching its climax. It has lost its prestige in consequence of its repeated application to questions of minor interest. It has also many drawbacks. The idea of competition often deters the soundest minds from entering on the projected labour, and one shrinks from subjecting his MSS. to a trio of judges, though they may be both impartial and competent in their criticism. Besides the eclat of a prize depends much on the question, Who are the unsuccessful competitors; and they carefully conceal their names. The laurel

led essayist may be only a "Triton among minnows." The Royal Society created the famed Bridgewater Treatises upon a very different principle, for they wisely selected the men of highest eminence in their respective departments, and bestowed upon exerted talent its appropriate remuneration.

Now, Scotland is entirely destitute of all such incitements. It has not a single fellowship, nor the collegiate means of making any man a possessor of profound erudition. What, then, should hinder a lecture from being founded in the United Presbyterian Church? No great sum would be requisite ; and there are men among us who would willingly guarantee it, if but a fair and feasible plan were proposed and organised. The assurance of remuneration would enable a lecturer to purchase the necessary books, the consultation of which is indispensable to the production of any treatise of academic rank and character.

The book before us is an excellent volume upon an important subject-the influence of Scripture on ancient pagan writers. That influence was not small, though we are now unable to analyse the process of operation. Time was, when all that was eminent in philosophy, was traced to the Bible. The profound and plethoric learning of Gale, in his "Court of the Gentiles," completely overlaid this hypothesis, which was more fashionable at his day than in our lax and sceptical times. From this extreme there followed a reaction, and the custom for long has been to deny that ancient philosophy owes any thing in idea or imagery to revelation. But we think it, a priori, very unlikely that the influence of the Hebrew sacred records should have been confined to Palestine, especially after being translated into Greek, nearly three hundred years before the coming of Christ. Inquisitive minds were seeking for knowledge on all sides, and the lovers of speculation must have learned the existence of the Jewish Scriptures, and gleaned some knowledge of their peculiar and amazing contents. Mr Tomkins shows us many traces of derived instruction in the old philosophy-many of them so decided and circumstantial as to be easily identified. Greek and Roman writers are detected in possession of truths, which must have come by some circuitous percolation from the Hebrew oracles. Straggling rays of divine light fell on Plato, Thales, Pythagoras, and Virgil. Their ideas of the unity of God, the immortality of the soul, the expiation of sin, and the birth of a wonderful, peaceful, and triumphant hero-God, are plainly borrowed truths-moulded and coloured by the Hellenic and Roman mythology. This field of inquiry is very tempting, but we cannot pursue it. Suffice

it to say, that this useful and learned volume shows beyond dispute, that in many more ways than it imagines, the world is under vast obligations to the Bible.

THE MORNING OF LIFE: A Memoir of Miss An, who was Educated for a Nun.

Bath: Binns and Goodwin.

THE present edition is the fifth thousand; nor will any one who reads this elegant little work be surprised at its popularity. Miss A-n was a superior person; and the writer, a female friend, has executed her task with much taste. Miss An and her sister were wards of Dr Doyle, late Roman Catholic Bishop of Carlow. The interest of the memoir is much increased by the circumstance, that there is some reason to believe that, before his death, he had renounced the errors of the Papal church. The evidence for this, as here contained, is not to be despised.

THE ASSEMBLY'S SHORTER CATECHISM, Translated into Hebrew.

PIRKE ABOTH: The Ethics of the Fathers, Translated from the Original Hebrew, with an Introduction to the Talmud.

Edinburgh: R. Young.

WE class these two together, as they are both translated and published by Mr Young, the most learned bibliopole in Scotland.. The Ethics of the Fathers is a curious book; as an exhibition at once of the traditional wisdom of the Rabbis, and of the antithetic and balanced form in which they loved to express it. And as to our valuable Catechism, rendered into the language of Adam and Eve, what shall we say of it? The translation is accurate; but it is something more. It reads smoothly and gracefully.

ART AND FAITH, IN FRAGMENTS FROM THE GREAT EXHIBITION. Part I.

London: Partridge & Oakey, In this publication-the first of a sixpenny series-the triumphs of art and industry, as displayed at the Great Exhibition, are made to teach and enforce lessons of christian faith. The writer enters with spirit into the description of the different objects on which he chooses to discant, and takes care to set them in that point of view in which they will be most interesting to a well-informed Christian. He does not tie himself down to any very precise method; but the thoughts he expresses have a dashing charm about them that will attract his readers after him in all his rambles. The papers here collected, are obviously written currente calamo, but as obviously are the overflowing of an exuberant mind

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