saints—as a daring attempt to seize upon the crown rights of the Redeemer. We look upon it as an organized scheme for establishing an exclusive and lordly Hierarchy in the country. We believe the whole tendency of the system is to substi. tute a mere ritual religion for true Christianity. We feel called upon, therefore, by every consideration of patriotism, of fealty to the Great Head of the Church, and of fidelity to the spiritual interests of those around us, to bring the pretensions of this party to the test of Scripture and History." He then proceeds, first, to confute the pretensions and dogmas of High-Church Episcopalians, and, afterwards, to expose the evil tendencies of the prelatic sys tem. In summing up the contents of the volume, he says, "I have given, in chapter i., my reasons for entering on this investigation, by exhibiting, from their own writings, the exclusive and arrogant pretensions of the High-Church party. In chap. ter ii. to vi. inclusive, I have brought the dogma of an unbroken prelatical succession to the test of Scripture, of History, and of admitted factsexposed the fallacy of its principles, and contrasted it with the true doctrine of succession. In the second part of the work, on the characteristics and tendencies of the system, I have endeavored to show that it proposes an unauthorized and delusive rule of faith-that it puts the Church in Christ's place that it is at variance with the whole scope and tenor of the New Testament-that it tends to aggrandize the prelatical elergy, and to substitute a mere ri. tual religion for true Christianityand that, in its practical working, it is adapted to harrass and delude those who are honestly inquiring for the way of salvation." A Grammar of the Greek Language. Part first. A practical Grammar of the Attic and common dialects, with the Elements of General Grammar. By ALPHEUS CROSBY, Professor of the Greek language and Literature in Dartmouth College. Boston: James Monroe & Co., 1844. As THE number of Greek Grammars, both of foreign and domestic origin, which have been published in our country within a few years, shows, on the one hand, a considerable demand for such guides to students, and, on the other, a feeling that perfection has not been obtained. And this feeling is not a wrong one. it regards the forms of the language, indeed, there can be little improve. ment upon the basis of Buttmann's system, which will probably never be much amended, except in the theory of composition and derivation; although, no doubt, some light has been thrown upon important parts of grammar since Buttmann's death, and some will yet be obtained from a comparison of kindred tongues. But, in syntax, neither Buttmann nor Matthiæ was eminent. ly successful; and yet this, the soul and spirit of grammar, which connects it with the mind and life of a a nation, is what needs most to be brought into the right shape. It is here that most elementary grammars, published in this country, have failed. They crowd the memory with rules, without letting the student know why the rule is as it is, and not otherwise. Of what use is it to be able to say that this and that class of verbs govern the genitive, without having the idea of the genitive in the mind, from which all such rules may be deduced, and to which they may be referred. Mr. Crosby's grammar is a favorable exception to the remarks we have made above. In the etymological part, it has not, as we know, any advantages in plan or execution over the best of our native elementary guides to the study of Greek. But, in syntax, this ingenious and thorough scholar has attempted something higher than any of his predecessors. His object is to open the door to the principles of syntax. Under his touch, the dead rules of others assume a living and organized form, and the student finds himself in the midst of an intellectual system devised thousands of centuries ago by the human mind. We are persuaded, that if students of Greek will have the patience to understand Mr. Crosby's system, and, especially, to master the many new terms which he has introduced into his work, they will find a discipline of mind derived from their labor, which they never dreamed, perhaps, that grammar could afford. Nor is this work calculated to benefit students alone-students, we mean, of tolerably mature minds, for, perhaps, a younger class could only learn the general rules, without entering into the reasons of things; but masters, also, will seldom need to go further than this grammar to find solutions of all the difficulties, and explanations of all the phenomena of syntax. In fact, we anticipate from its use, and from that of Küh. ner's, which has since appeared, a new and more enlightened study of the Greek language, attended with such increased improvement to the student as will make him feel much more respect for grammar than he now does. Grammar, henceforth, will be regarded as a beautiful growth of the human mind, rather than a set of rules to be hammered into aching heads. M. Tullii Ciceronis Oratio pro A. Cluentio Avito ad Judices. Edited by E. A. JOHNSON, Prof. of Latin in the University of the City of N. York. Published by Geo. & H. Miller, 647 Broadway, 1844. THIS edition of Cicero's Oration for Cluentius can not fail to be acceptable to the student of the Latin language, and the lover of Roman eloquence. The editor has judged, and we think correctly, that the reading of the speeches of the great Roman orator should not be limited to the preparatory course of study; and accordingly he has published this oration to be read by the more mature scholar. Perhaps no oration of Cicero has more in it than this for Cluentius, to interest the reader. The variety which it exhibits of both matter and style, is very great. From the cir cumstances of the defense, the orator was led to employ an unusual amount of narrative, which is re markable for affording the finest ex amples of the union of conciseness and perspicuity in the statement of facts, so essential in this department of forensic speaking. The argu ment also throughout, deserves par ticular notice, for its ingenuity, both when the orator endeavors to prove directly the innocence of his client, and where he meets the objections of his opponents. There are likewise numerous passages of highly impassioned eloquence. The whole discourse throws much light on the morals of the Romans, as well as on the course of legal proceedings, at the time when it was pronounced. Cicero, in one of his rhetorical works, refers to this oration in a manner which shows the estimation in which he held it; and Quintilian has drawn from this source various examples to illustrate his oratorical precepts. Some account of this ora tion is given also by Dr. Blair in his twenty eighth lecture. To the oration is prefixed a full analysis of its contents, which, with the judicious notes of the editor, will remove such difficulties as the stu dent may meet with in the text. The typographical execution of this work is very neat and correct. Exposition of St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans: with extracts from the exegetical works of the Fath ers and Reformers. Translated from the original German of Dr. FRED. AUG. GOTTREN THOLUCK, Professor of Theology in the Royal University of Halle, and corresponding member of the Asiatic Society of London. By the By the REV. ROBERT MENZIES. First American, from the second revised and corrected Edinburgh edition. Philadelphia: Sorin & Ball, 1844. pp. 432 large 8vo. Sold by Tappan & Dennet, Bos ton. The modest author of this very learned and judicious commentary, who, for twenty years, has been the most powerful advocate of orthodox theology in Germany, requested the following notice to be prefixed to this translation: "I wish especially to remark, that the work is to be regarded as the production of an earlier period of my life, and as having been intended for a particular purpose. I composed it in my twenty-fifth year, [A. D. 1824,] with the special view of commending to the hearts of my countrymen the doctrine of justification by faith, which, at the time, I perceived to be greatly misunderstood. Other points are hence labored with less care; and at this time, I believe, that upon the 9th chapter I should be able to give some more profound views. Accordingly, it by no means presents what I now consider as the beau ideal of a theological com. mentary." Notwithstanding the low estimate of his own work by Dr. Tholuck, we know not where to find a more profound and satisfactory exposition of this very difficult epistle. We have not indeed examined it minutely, from the beginning to the end; but we have read carefully and crit cally a large part of it; and we think we do not over estimate its merits. Its prominent excellencies are, that the commentator seems at once to penetrate into the inmost soul of the inspired author; and, while he shews himself to be master of the whole subject before him, he appears to have entire command of all the philological and historical knowledge which can elucidate or confirm his expositions. At the same time he, on the one hand, introduces no foreign topics, and makes no needless display of erudition; and on the other, meets every real difficulty, answers every important inquiry, and leaves nothing unsaid which was necessary for a full and clear explanation of the sacred text. He has, moreover, adorned and strengthened his interpretations by numerous extracts and citations from the best exegetical works of the Greek and Latin Fathers and the reformers of the sixteenth century. If Prof. Tholuck can now, at the age of 45, produce a better exposition of this Epistle than he actually produced at the age of 25, we invite him to prove it by publishing (eine neue umgearbeitete Ausgabe) a new and improved edition. The translator appears to have done his part in a pretty satisfactory manner. We only regret that he did not give us a translation of the Paraphrase, which Tholuck published to be used with the commentary, and that he has not subjoined suitable indices to the work. Rudiments of Natural Philosophy and Astronomy: designed for younger classes in Academies, and for Common Schools. By DENISON OLMSTED, Professor of Natural Philosophy and Astronomy, in Yale College. pp. 292, 18mo. New Haven, 1844. We welcome this unpretending volume with pleasure. An introductory work on Natural Philosophy and Astronomy for our common schools, and for the younger classes in Academies, differing in some important respects from those now. before the public, has long been needed. It seems to us that Professor Olmsted's Rudiments is a work hap pily adapted to supply these wants. The style of it is simple and chaste, the arrangement is appropriate and natural, the selection of topics from the illimitable field of nature is ample and judicious, and in every point of view, the work is eminently calculated both to interest and instruct the young mind. An acquaintance with Prof. Olmsted's larger treatises on Philosophy and Astronomy, together with the high reputation of the author as a scholar and practical teacher, led us to expect in these Rudiments a work of no ordinary merit; but we must be permitted to say that upon a careful perusal of the work we find our expectations more than realized. Olmsted's larger Philosophy and Astronomy are used as text books, we believe, in a great majority of the colleges and universities of our country, and are enjoying an unexampled popularity; but if we are not much mistaken, his Rudi, ments will become a text book for more minds, and exert more influence on the intelligence and progress of the American people, than any of his preceding works. It can not but be a matter of high gratification to the friends of popular education, to see men whose minds are stored with science, will ing to make their attainments and the results of their observation and experience accessible to the humblest as well as the most favored child in the land. We commend the Rudiments to the guardians of education, and all who are engaged in the honorable employment of training the minds of the young. Sermons, preached upon several occasions. By ROBERT SOUTH, D.D. Prebendary of Westminster, and Canon of Christ's Church, Oxford. A new edition, in four volumes, including the Posthumous Dis. courses. Philadelphia: Sorin & Ball, 1844. Sold also by Tappan & Dennet, Boston. 137 sermons -2,300 pages, large 8vo. Few preachers in the Established Church of England have obtained higher celebrity, by their published discourses, than the acute, the witty, and the sarcastic Dr. South. Born in 1633, educated at Oxford, and admitted to Orders in 1658, he was a popular preacher at Westminster and Oxford for more than half a century, and died in 1716, at the age of 83. Though accused of sy cophancy to Cromwell, and of tak ing side with the Presbyterians against the Independents, before the Restoration, he afterwards became the unsparing scourge of all Repub licans, and of the Dissenters of every name, till the day of his death. As a theologian, he was soundly ortho dox, according to the standard of his church. In his sermons, when he has no aim but simply to inculcate the doctrines or duties of Christia nity, he is learned, acute, and inge nious, yet too fond of piquant wit cisms. Whenever he assails Dis senters, or Republicans, he is ex tremely intolerant, abusive, and full of gall. Although he never exhi bits much unction, yet he is always interesting by the vividness of his conceptions, and the piquancy of his language. The sermons of Dr. South will find readers so long as vigorous thought, combined with withering sarcasm, shall be appreci ated. The work is well printed, and on good paper. Each volume con tains full plans, or analyses, of all the sermons in it; and a valuable Index to the whole work is subjoined to the last volume. This is, un doubtedly, the best and the only com plete edition of all the published sermons of this celebrated preacher. 1 |