Assyrian Inscriptions, DESCRIBING EVENTS OF THE BOOK OF GENESIS; Containing the Chaldean Accounts of the Creation, the Temptation and Fall of Man, the Deluge, the Tower of Babel and Confusion of Tongues, Nimrod, Etc. By GEORGE SMITH, of the British Museum, Author of "Assyrian Discoveries," Etc Demy 8vo, one vol., numerous illustrations, cloth, $4.00, Mr. Smith's, first work (Assyrian Discoveries) was confined mainly to his interpretations of the cuneiform inscriptions relating to the Deluge. In this volume he not only pursues his investigations further in this same direction, but extends them to the inscriptions which describe the Creation, the Fall of Man, the building of the Tower of Babel, and the Times of the Patriarchs and of Nimrod. In its array of subjects the volume is more comprehensive, and therefore more interesting, than its predecessor, while the results arrived at are even more important to all interested in Biblical research. BY THE SAME AUTHOR, RECENTLY ISSUED: Assyrian Explorations and Discoveries. One vol., 8vo, cloth, with numerous illustrations, maps, plans, etc....... A NEW VOLUME OF $4.00 CHIPS FROM A GERMAN WORKSHOP, By F. MAX MULLER, M. A., Professor of Comparative Pailology at Oxford; Foreign Member of the French Institute. VOL. IV., containing Essays, chiefly on the Science of Language, and completing the Work. One vol., crown 8vo, cloth.......... THE PREVIOUS VOLUMES IN THE SERIES : $2.50 CHIPS FROM A GERMAN WORKSHOP. By F. MAX MULLER, M. A., London revised edition, with copious Index. Vol. I. Essays on the Science $7.50 Reprinted from the second A NEW AND CHEAPER EDITION OF Hodge's Systematic Theology. By DR. CHARLES HODGE, of Princeton Theo. Sem. In 3 vols., 8vo, with Index. The set........ $12.00 Dr. Hodge's Systematic Theology is universally acknowledged to be the most important contribution made to this important science during the last half century. Its statements of the opposing belie's are so clear, and its exposition of the views held by the distinguished author are so candid, that students of all denominations have found the work not only invaluable, but indispensable; and these three volumes comprise nearly 2,400 pages, and the index is included in the third volume, To bring it within the reach of a still larger number of purchasers, the price has been reduced from $15 to $12. A NEW AND CHEAPER EDITION OF CHAPLAINS AND CLERGY OF THE REVOLUTION. By HON. J. T. HEADLEY. One vol., 12mo, cloth...... $2.00. WILL BE PUBLISHED SHORTLY: A New Volume of Lange's Commentary. EZEKIEL AND DANIEL. The former by Prof. PATRICK FAIRBAIRN and Rev. WM. FINDLAY; One vol., 8vo, cloth, $5.00. ***The above books will be sent, prepaid, on receipt of the price, by the Publishers. SCRIBNER, ARMSTRONG & CO., 743 and 745 Broadway, N. Y. Art. I.-THE AUBURN DECLARATION. By Rev. E. D. MORRIS, D.D., Professor of Theology in Lane Theological Seminary. AMONG the treasures preserved in the Library of Lane Seminary, is the original draft of what is widely known as the AUBURN DECLARATION. More than thirty years after its preparation, just when the separated Presbyterian Churches were happily uniting, this interesting historical document was presented to the Institution by its author, the venerable BAXTER DICKINSON, D.D. It was also accompanied by valuable memoranda with respect to its authorship, and to the circumstances which occasioned its preparation. Its contents have at various times been made public through the press, and have recently been incorporated under another name in the Presbyterian Digest. Its doctrinal quality and its important historical relations to the Presbyterian Church, both as separate and as united, are such as justify its further introduction to public notice in the columns of our denominational REVIEW. What will be attempted in the present article, is a narrative of the origin of this declaration, an analysis of its contents, and a brief discussion of its doctrinal significance and value, as one among the interesting memorials of our beloved Zion. It is hardly needful to say that this task is undertaken in no conscious mood of partisanship, and with no anticipation of awakening old animosities or arousing new oppositions, but rather in the hope of contributing something alike to historical and theologic knowledge, and to that broad and generous temper of unity which now reigns so worthily in our united church. It is impossible for the writer to be so unfaithful to the true spirit of history, and to the irenical tendencies of the times, as intentionally to use the courtesies now granted him in these pages for the purpose of promoting the interests of a party, or of introducing discord or division into the Presbyterian household. He is inspired simply by the belief that the welfare of a great denomination, both in the present and in the future, may be essentially subserved in several important respects by such an inquiry, historical and doctrinal, as is now proposed. I. A sufficient account of the manner in which the Auburn Declaration came into existence will hardly require any general survey of the exciting events which marked the history of the Presbyterian Church during the fourth decade of the present century. We need not enter into an examination of the Act and Testimony of 1834, considered as a statement of Calvinistic doctrine, or analyze the deliverance of the Assembly of 1835 against "such opinions as are not distinguishable from Pelagian or Arminian errors." We need not undertake an account of the various parties and tendencies which came into view during the following years, or of the fierce strifes which both saddened and embittered that critical period in our denominational life. The narrative may properly commence with the convention of 1837, held in Philadelphia just prior to the meeting of the General Assembly. That Convention consisted, according to its own record, of one hundred and twenty-four members, of whom one hundred and twelve were designated by fifty-four Presbyteries, and twelve by minorities in eight other Presbyteries, and all of whom were ministers or ruling elders in the Presbyterian Church. It was assembled in general for the purpose of consultation respecting the serious issues then pending, and in the expectation of influencing the action of the approaching Assembly. Its most decisive act was the preparation of a Testimony and Memorial to be presented to the Assembly, relating to certain errors, not merely in church order and discipline, but also in doctrinal teaching, which were supposed by the Convention to be widely prevalent within the church. The document thus prepared was brought in to the Assembly as a memorial, together with a petition that that venerable body would take such action in the premises as, in the judgment of the memorialists, the gravity of the case required. Concerning the general propriety or desirableness of such a method of influencing church judicatories, nothing need be said. in this connection; neither is it essential to refer further to the irregularities in ecclesiastical order and discipline of which the Convention complained. Our attention must be limited to the series of doctrinal errors, sixteen in number, which the memorialists described as prevalent in certain sections of the church, and against which they felt constrained to enter an earnest protest. These errors are stated, as follows: 1. That God would have been glad to prevent the existence of sin in our world, but was not able, without destroying the moral agency of man; or, that for aught that appears in the Bible to the contrary, sin is incidental to any wise moral systein. 2. That election to eternal life is founded on a foresight of faith and obedi ence. 3. That we have no more to do with the sin of Adam than with the sins of any other parent. 4. That infants come into the world as free from moral defilement as was Adam when he was created. 5. That infants sustain the same relation to the moral government of God in this world as brute animals, and that their sufferings and death are to be accounted for on the same principles as those of brutes, and not by any means to be considered as penal. 6. That there is no other original sin than the fact that all the posterity of Adam, though by nature innocent, or possessed of no moral character, will always begin to sin when they begin to exercise moral agency; that original sin does not include a sinful bias of the human mind and a just exposure to penal suffering; and that there is no evidence in Scripture that infants in order to salvation do need redemption by the blood of Christ, and regeneration by the Holy Ghost. 7. That the doctrine of imputation, whether of the guilt of Adam's sin, or of the righteousness of Christ, has no foundation in the word of God, and is both unjust and absurd. 8. That the sufferings and death of Christ were not truly vicarious and penal, but symbolical, governmental, and instructive only. 9. That the impenitent sinner is by nature, and independently of the renewing influence or almighty energy of the Holy Spirit, in full possession of all the ability necessary to a full compliance with all the commands of God. 10. That Christ never intercedes for any but those who are united to Him by faith, or that Christ does not intercede for the elect until after their regeneration. II. That saving faith is a mere belief of the word of God, and not a grace of the Holy Spirit. 12. That regeneration is the act of the sinner himself, and that it consists in a change of his governing purpose, which he himself must produce, and which is the result, not of any direct influence of the Holy Spirit on the heart, but chiefly of a persuasive exhibition of the truth, analogous to the influence which one man exerts over the mind of another; or that regeneration is not an instantaneous act, but a progressive work 13. That God has done all that He can do for the salvation of all men, and that man himself must do the rest. 14. That God cannot exert such influence on the minds of men as shall make it certain that they will choose and act in a particular manner, without impairing their moral agency. 15. That the righteousness of Christ is not the sole ground of the sinner's acceptance with God, and that in no sense does the righteousness of Christ become ours. 16. That the reason why some differ from others in regard to their reception of the gospel is, that they make themselves to differ. Studying these sixteen propositions in their connections, and in comparison with our doctrinal system, we at once perceive that they constitute in the aggregate a very wide, if not fatal, departure from the Westminster symbols. And if, indeed, these errors as the Convention affirmed-were at the time held and taught by many persons professing to receive our standards, were accepted by almost entire presbyteries and synods, and were virtually sanctioned even by preceding General Assemblies, most persons will admit that it was not merely the privilege, but also the duty, of the memorialists to solicit to these errors the prompt attention of the assembly, and to invoke its aid in their repression. It was justly said, that to bear public and open testimony against such departures from the Gospel, and so far as possible to banish them from the household of faith, was a duty which the Presbyterian Church owed to her Master. The presentation of the Testimony and Memorial to the General Assembly of 1837 became the occasion of the series of acts by which the Presbyterian Church was formally divided, and the New School body came into being. In this series of acts we need to note only so much as relates to the question of doctrine. On the recommendation of its committee on bills and overtures, the Assembly took up and considered this list of doctrinal errors, and bore solemn testimony against them, |