Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

Robinson has executed his task of clothing Wahl's "Clavis" in an English dress and here we shall let him speak for himself:

"In preparing the work for publication," says Mr. R., " it has undergone a complete revision. The references to the Old and New Testaments have all been verified, and many hundreds corrected. For the accuracy of all those to the classic authors, the editor will not vouch. He has had occasion to consult very many of them, and to correct not a few: it is therefore not improbable that others are inaccurate. He could not verify them all, because, in some instances, he could not have access to the editions to which reference was made. But this is not all. In translating from a language, in which the significations of the words are in most cases so general as in the Latin, there is great difficulty in seizing the exact shade of meaning, and expressing it in an English definition. Hence it became necessary to recur constantly to the original Greek, and to form the definitions from the Testament itself, rather than from the very general Latin definitions either of Wahl or Schleusner. This of course caused a great amount of additional labour; but the value of the work, it is hoped, will be found increased in at least an equal proportion. For similar reasons, it was also sometimes necessary to throw an article into a different form, by making an entirely different arrangement of the significations. The editor has kept Schleusner constantly open before him, and where any remark or illustration seemed of importance, he has uniformly inserted it. The additions thus made, however, have been much fewer than those drawn from other sources: all of which are so incorporated into the body of the work, that it is impossible to specify them. On doctrinal points the editor has, in no instance, had occasion to make any change in the statements of the author. He has sometimes inserted an opposite opinion, or a different interpretation of a particular passage, as being perhaps of equal authority; but such cases have been few and unimportant;" (Pref. p. vi.) except in the word avevμa, for which (a single definition excepted) Mr. Robinson is responsible. It forms a most valuable article, which is in every respect superior to that of Schleusner on the same word.

To the fidelity with which Mr. R. has characterized his work, we bear willing testimony: but besides the labour of a general revision, he has introduced various improvements, which enhance the value of his Lexicon. Wahl had partially given the various constructions of verbs and adjectives, with their cases: Mr. Robinson has done this in every instance, throughout. He has further endeavoured to make each article, as far as was possible, include a reference to every passage in the New Testament, where the word is found: the result is, that his Lexicon is, to a very considerable extent, a concordance of the Greek Testament. The last improvement which we have to notice, relates to the mode of printing. In the original edition of Wahl, the articles are printed in a solid form, without any divisions whatever, and upon a sufficiently vile paper, which renders the book by no means pleasant

[blocks in formation]

to read: Mr. Robinson has caused them to be printed in double columns, and has broken them into convenient paragraphs.

From the preceding details, our readers will readily infer that we think very highly of this Lexicon, as a manual for the use of students, especially at the Universities. We happen to know that the intrinsic value of Wahl's "Clavis," (notwithstanding his unpolished Latinity, intermixed with German words, and the very inferior paper on which his book is printed,) procured its admission into one of our Universities, almost as soon as it was imported. But it is now so much improved in its philological and typographical arrangements, that we earnestly hope to see it reprinted in a cheap and commodious form.

ART. II.-A Catalogue of Books in every Department of Oriental Literature, including the Philology, Religion, History, &c. of Eastern Nations; the Holy Scriptures in Hebrew and in the various Oriental Versions; with Critical Introductions, Analyses, and Commentaries; Sacred History, Antiquities, Geography, Natural History, &c.; and Jewish and Rabbinical Literature: together with a Collection of Oriental Manuscripts. On Sale by HOWELL & STEWART. London, 1826. 8vo. pp. 255.

BOOKSELLERS' Catalogues (as such Catalogues are too frequently compiled), do not properly fall under the cognizance of a "Christian Remembrancer:" but the present publication has distinct claims to notice, not only from the manner in which it is arranged, but also from the subjects it comprises, and which embrace almost every topic that is interesting either to clergymen or to candidates for the sacred office. The great advantage of such publications is, that they enable all who search, to discover what books are extant on any specific subject which they may have occasion to consult, and also to know what is the earliest, the most copious, or the most recent treatise upon that subject. The utility and value of this Catalogue are enhanced by an alphabetical index of the authors whose names occur in the several classes, and by the numerous concise bibliographical notices which are interspersed through the volume.

ART. III.-An Historical View of the Plea of Tradition as maintained in the Church of Rome, &c. &c. By GEORGE MILLER, D. D. &c. &c. AGAIN we have to acknowledge the obligation of our pure established Church to the learned Dr. Miller. He has given the tract which now lies before us, to the public, in consequence of a resolution passed in

the last summer by certain Irish Roman Catholics, and of an exhortation subsequently addressed by the Popish Bishop Doyle to some of his Clergy. The tendency of the resolution and exhortation was to elevate the authority of Popish alleged tradition above that of the sacred Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. Considering the authority of tradition in matters of faith as having been recently discussed in all its other bearings with peculiar distinctness and force by Bishop Marsh, and very lately by the Rev. Mr. Jackson, Dr. Miller proposes to examine it as a question of history. In the execution of this plan, he traces its first use by professed Christians to the Gnostic heretics in the first century. As to the writings extant of the apostolic Fathers, he says most truly, that "it may be stated in the most unqualified manner, that they do not contain a single expression, which may fairly be understood to signify or to suppose any system of doctrine transmitted to them merely by oral communication." The first Christian Fathers who made use of the plea of tradition, were, Irenæus and Tertullian, who adopted it, as Dr. Miller observes, in order to meet their adversaries, the Gnostic heretics, on the ground which they had chosen for their defence.

The narrow limits we have prescribed to our reviewing department, preclude us from more than a very brief and general notice of this publication. When we say that it has proceeded from the author of the admirable "Observations on the Doctrines of Christianity in reference to Arianism, and on the Athanasian Creed," we scarcely need add that it is a work of value. When we say that it was written by the ingenious author of the Historical Lectures, our readers will naturally expect to find in it interesting novelty, as far as the subject admitted. On both grounds, we recommend it to their attention; and we regret that our very limited space does not admit the introduction of several passages from the work, which, we are sure, would interest our readers. We must confine ourselves to one brief extract:

"It deserves especial attention, that in each of the original instances of the allegation of a traditional testimony" (by the Greek and Roman Churches respectively), "the pretension of the one Church has been strenuously rejected by the other. The celibacy of the Church of Rome, for which the plea of tradition was first adduced, could never, even to this day, obtain admission into that of Greece: and the imageworship of the latter, in favour of which tradition was pleaded by the Greeks, was long resisted in the West, notwithstanding this alleged authority. Each of the two Churches may thus be regarded as bearing its testimony against the pretension of the other: and this testimony relates to the reality of a matter of fact, of which neither could be ignorant-namely, the existence of a tradition received and acknowledged among Christians."-P. 62.

Dr. Miller has given an Appendix, containing some valuable quotations from original authorities; and in the course of his tract, introduces

some strictures on a "Dissertation upon the Use and Importance of Unauthoritative Tradition, by EDWARD HAWKINS, Fellow of Oriel College."

We regret that we cannot enter more particularly into this new publication, for which we repeat our thanks to Dr. Miller, and which we recommend as well deserving attention.

ART. IV.-A Sermon preached in St. John's Episcopal Chapel, before
the Bishop and Clergy of the Episcopal Communion in Edinburgh.
By the Rev. JAMES WALKER, M. A. formerly of St. John's College,
Cambridge, Senior Minister of St. Peter's Chapel, Edinburgh, &c.
Bell and Bradfute, Edinburgh. Rivingtons, London, 1826.
A Respectful Remonstrance, addressed to the Rev. James Walker, on
the subject of his Sermon preached before the Bishop and Clergy, &c.
By the Rev. EDWARD CRAIG, M. A. of St. Edmund Hall, Oxon.; and
Minister of St. James's Chapel. Edinburgh, Brown. Hatchard

[blocks in formation]

A Serious Expostulation with the Rev. Edward Craig, M. A. in reference to the Doctrine by him falsely attributed (in a Remonstrance addressed) to the Rev. James Walker, humbly submitted to the Judgment of the Bishops and Clergy, &c. By the Rev. JAMES WALKER, &c. Edinburgh, Bell and Bradfute; and Rivingtons, London. 1826.

As far as we can learn from the facts stated or alluded to in the above pamphlets, their appearance is owing to the following circumstances. The Rev. Mr. Walker, Divinity Professor to the Episcopal Church of Scotland, was called upon to preach before the Bishop and Clergy of Edinburgh, last June, when he was requested by his clerical auditors to publish his discourse. The Professor, it would appear, had no intention of going to the press; regarding, perhaps, the request that was made to him as a matter of courtesy or compliment, or not considering his Sermon as possessed of that species of importance arising from occasion or subject, which sometimes precludes an author from using his own discretion. But he was not allowed to remain long in a state of suspense. The Rev. Mr. Craig, who, we find, has resided but a short time in Edinburgh, wrote to the Bishop, declaring, that if Mr. Walker should publish his Sermon, he (Mr. Craig) should feel himself bound to answer it.

In such circumstances, there could be no room for doubt as to the necessity of publication. The doctrine maintained by the Professor was challenged-formally challenged through the Ordinary of the diocese; in which case, to refrain from laying the discourse before the

world, was in effect to acknowledge that the author had advanced before his clerical brethren a set of opinions which he was either unable or unwilling to defend. Mr. Walker accordingly resolved on the expediency of printing his Sermon, word for word as he delivered it; adding some valuable notes, and prefixing an advertisement or preface, from which we have abridged the particulars now stated.

66

Nor did Mr. Craig fail to make good his menace. Without loss of time, he sent forth what he was pleased to call a Respectful Remonstrance;" in which he accuses the Professor of teaching "dangerous doctrine," of making" a fearfully unsound and delusive statement" in regard to the import of Baptism; and, finally, of holding a "doctrine not according to godliness, and leading decidedly to fatalism of the worst kind." These serious charges he brings forward, too, with an air of great Christian meekness, and with many expressions of reverence and respect for his adversary, whose honesty and learning he is ready to admit, while he does all in his power to undermine his professional reputation, and to destroy his official character and usefulness.

The "Respectful Remonstrance," indeed, attributes to Mr. Walker a doctrine which he not only does not teach, but which he guards against with the utmost care in almost every page of his Sermon ; repeating again and again, even till his anxiety to obviate misconception becomes positively tiresome, that he does not in the remotest degree give his countenance to those very tenets, which he is, after all, accused, by Mr. Craig, with holding and disseminating.

This foolish attack necessarily called forth the "Serious Expostulation ;" in which the author gives free vent to the indignant feelings which had been excited in his breast by the conduct of his antagonist, and also most successfully defends himself against the misrepresentations which were circulated in the Remonstrance.

It is now time for us to mention, that the subject of this controversy is the famous question of Baptismal Regeneration. We purposely abstain from entering into any discussion respecting the history and authority of the tenets held by our Church on the initiatory ordinance of our holy religion; a history of which Mr. Craig seems to know nothing more than he has picked up at second-hand from Scott's Remarks, and some other similar works. Suffice it to say that, in replying to Mr. Walker, he has not answered any of the arguments employed by the Professor, but has created a phantom of his own, which he sets up as the theological system that he feels himself "compelled to notice," and against which he directs the whole force of his declamation, until he is perfectly satisfied that the thing is battered to pieces. Mr. Walker tells him that a well-instructed catechumen of ten years of age could have done the work in half the time, and to better purpose.

« ПредишнаНапред »