assist the reader, as well as render the work more interesting and attractive. In the notes which are interspersed through these volumes the student will find much valuable information, brought within a small compass. At the end of the work Mr. T. has given six indexes, which will be found to add greatly to the value of the book. A judicious introduction developes his plan, and points out the advantages of such an arrangement to all classes of readers, especially to the Clergyman and the biblical student. The author has announced the New Testament on the same plan as his arrangement of the Old. III.-Oriental Literature, applied to the Illustration of the Sacred Scripture; especially with reference to Antiquity, Traditions, and Manners; collected from the most celebrated Travellers, ancient and modern. Designed as a sequel to Oriental Customs. By the Rev. Sam. Burder, A. M. Two Vols. Svo. pp. 1183. 11. 10s. boards. Longman. MR. BURDER'S Oriental Customs has long been before the public, whose judg ment of the work is seen in the number of editions through which it has passed. To that work the volumes before us form a valuable" sequel." The author has succeeded in illustrating some passages of Scripture with advantage, though we are disposed to think some of the illustrations far-fetched and rather fanciful. We regret that Mr. B. should have given from Rosenmüller what he conceives to be an illustration of Matt. viii. 28. in which the demoniacal possessions of the New Testament are denied, and the mental alienation of those wretched men, vulgarly supposed to be under the influence of the Devil, is attributed to natural causes. The whole of this article well corresponds with that laxity of interpretation which has, for the last half century, characterized the German school. Making allowances for these things the work deserves well of the biblical student; who will, however, we believe, think the price rather high. IV. The Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments; being a Revision of the Authorized Version, principally designed to facilitate in families, the audible and social reading of the Sacred Scriptures; illustrated with notes, Historical, Geographical, and otherwise Explanatory, and also pointing out the fulfilment of various prophecies. By William Alexander. Three vols. 8vo. York: Alexander and Son. THE first part only of this work has yet appeared, containing nearly twentyfive chapters of the book of Genesis, with a copious Introduction, which is followed by the Life of Moses. The author informs us that he has been employed for fourteen years on the work, which he anticipates will be completed in five We regret being compelled to state, that we can do little more than give him credit for the purity of his motives and good intentions. He is certainly quite incompetent to the task he has undertaken, so far, at least, as criticism and an acquaintance with the original are concerned, as will appear from the following, out of many instances, occurring in this part of the Revision: more. In chap. i. verse 6. the Hebrew (causing to divide) participle in Hiph. M. from (to divide, distinguish,) is construed by Mr. A. as a a division!" The same error is to be found in chap. iv. noun, and rendered, The infinitive mood of the same verb in ver. 14, Mr. A. translates in the same manner, though in ver. 18, he renders it, correctly, to divide. צעק verse 10, where pyy (crying) part. benoni, in Kat M. P. from (to cry aloud, exclaim, agreeing with (blood,) according to a well known rule in the Hebrew language), is translated by our author "strong cries," in consequence of which he is driven to the necessity of construing the preposition from) as a verb, and rendering it," ascends"! So strangely defective in his acquaintance with the original is Mr. A. that he translates (a noun singular)" the deeps;" and the conjunction (and) " until," (chap. i. v. 2.) " We will only trouble the reader with one instance more of the incompetency of Mr. Alexander as a revisor of our venerable version of the Bible. In chap. i. ver. 7. he translates the expression (and it was 80) "Thus was it established;" where he either renders the conjunction tablished," or he passes by the conj. and translates both "thus" and "established." Singularly enough, where the expression occurs in the succeeding verses it is uniformly rendered," and so it was.” "thus" and 66 es The reader should also be put upon his guard against the unwarrantable liber. ties which Mr. A. takes with the inspired text, in leaving out, in some instances, an entire member of a sentence, and that, without giving the least intimation of his having so done, much less of assigning a reason for it. A practice this, which we strongly deprecate, as being pregnant with the most serious consequences. For examples we refer the reader to ohap. iv. 1, 17, 25. xi. 30. xiv. 24-27. xxi. 2, &c. Our author is so ardent an admirer of Hebrew Poetry that he can discern it in the merest prose narrations. If the reader can find any thing poetical in one-third part of Mr. A's "lineal arrangement," we will give him credit for more penetration than we possess. Let the following, given at random, be taken asa sample: "But the earth was a barren waste, And utterly void; And darkness was Upon the face of the deep, Until the Spirit of God moved On the face of the waters." Gen. i. 2. "God also said: This is the token of the covenant which I make, Between me, And between you, And between every living creature that is with you, Unto perpetual generations." ix. 12. We have very serious doubts as to how far the plan adopted in the work before us is calculated to secure that which is the chief object of its author. We are rather disposed to think, that the printing of such passages as are deemed objectionable for young persons to read, in the margin, and that in a different character, will rather invite their attention, and so defeat the main object of the work. Such a selection as that made by Mr. A. as well as the divisions of the text into "devotional and general series," has been anticipated by the "Porteusian Bible," (a work, by the way, which cannot be too strongly recommended to that class of persons for whose use it is chiefly designed,) in a way far preferable to his own, the object being secured without the least mutilation of the sacred text. of the notes to this part of the work, we are happy to say, we can speak with more approbation. They are chiefly historical and geographical, and may be consulted with advantage. Poetry. THE MIDNIGHT SLAUGHTER. And it came to pass that at midnight the Lord smote all the first-born of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the first-born of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the first-born of cattle.-And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead. EXODUS, xii, 29, 30. THE Sun's parting rays on the flood and the fountain Night saw it, and starting she shook her black pinion, The fond mother hung o'er her innocent treasure, Nor dreamt of the danger that hover'd so near. To drown each foreboding which thought might give birth. Would free them from bondage, would call them his own. (Unspotted-unblemished-'twas ta'en from its dam,)— And sprinkled them o'er with the blood of the lamb. Then soon came fell midnight, unthought of-unheeded Approached them; terrific and grand was his form; In his hand the bright weapon shone sparkling and gleaming,— Of Heaven's displeasure might not enter there. The land of their bondage, their shame, their disgrace. H. D. |