of those who once opposed them. It were easy to adduce decisive proofs of all these positions; many of them are satisfactorily demonstrated in Mr. G.'s pamphlet, and the united testimony of civil and military persons of the first respectability compels me to conclude that, when once the Indian Government shall denounce such scenes, they will be terminated with the same facility as the Marquis of Wellesley terminated the cruel system which had so long prevailed, of throwing infants to the sharks, at Saugor Island. His Lordship issued an edict in 1802, declaring the per petrators of this act to be guilty of murder; and the practice terminated without the least resistance. Nor should it be forgotten, that the Portuguese, the Dutch, the Danish, and the French Governments, to say nothing of the Mahommedans, terminated the burning of widows in their territories, and that the British Government is the only European power in India that tolerates this murderous rite.

The British Government in India must, however, bow to the decision of the British Parliament; and it therefore becomes the duty of a Christian people to avail themselves of their undoubted right of petitioning the Legislature, on behalf of these unhappy women. The guilt of their blood must rest somewhere; the Indian Government are most deeply criminal. The aversion with which obvious and salutary measures, of a religious and moral nature, are regarded, is calculated deeply to pain every reflecting mind and the zeal with which

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gross abominations are patronized, (such, for instance, as the detestable worship of Juggernaut) when they can be made available to pecuniary advantage, affords too much reason to fear that Mr. Poynder's motion will meet with very decided oppo. sition. Whatever the result of that motion may be, in bringing it forwards Mr. P. has delivered his own soul, and is doing what in him lies to terminate the system of cruelty and murder which has so long prevailed. Allow me, however, to call upon you, and upon all your readers, to second his efforts, and let us make a simultaneous attempt in those quarters where we have influence, We and to which we have access. may not be proprietors of EastIndia Stock, and may consequently be excluded from their Court; but we can, if we please, and when we please, prepare and present petitions to both Houses of Parliament. The zeal and the eloquence which Mr. Buxton exerted on a former occasion, affords a pledge of his readiness to present such petitions to the House of Commons, and there are, doubtless, many Members of both Houses who are most desirous to put a stop to such abominations. While, then, Mr. Poynder is applying to the EastIndia Proprietors, let others petition Parliament to terminate this evil, and let all lift up their prayers to Almighty God to deliver us from blood-guiltiness, and to remove from our land the reproach of murdering the widow, and increasing the misery of the fatherless.

I am, Sir, your's, &c.
HERBERT.

We owe an apology to Mr. Horne, for having omitted to notice his valuable Introduction to the Critical Knowledge and Study of the Holy Scriptures, until the publication of his fifth edition has rendered any opinion of ours a subject of minor importance. The omission has arisen partly from the circumstance of his work appearing about the time when our review was suspended, and partly from an idea that the work itself was not exactly adapted to our readers in general. The appearance, however, of Mr. Horne's Compendious Introduction has recalled our attention to his larger work, and the suitableness of one or the other of these publications to every class of our readers, combined with other circumstances, induces us to advert to their specific characteristics.

The Critical Introduction to the Holy Scriptures consists of four volumes, of which the first contains a critical inquiry as to the genuineness, authenticity, uncorrupted preservation and inspiration of the Holy Scriptures. The second treats

MARCH 1827.

on sacred criticism, including an account of the original languages of Scripture and the cognate dialects, together with manuscripts, versions, various readings, Hebrew poetry, Scripture harmonies, &c. and also on the interpretation of the Scripture, whether historical, figurative, spiritual, typical, doctrinal, moral, &c. to which are added no-. tices of grammars, lexicons, Greek versions, commentators, and expositors of Holy Writ. The third. volume treats of Biblical geography and antiquities, comprising the historical and physical geography of the Holy Land, the political and military affairs with the sacred and domestic antiquities of the Jews, combined with historical notices of the Assyrian, Chaldee, Median, and Persian empires, and tables of chronology, money, weights and measures, &c. The fourth volume contains an analysis of Scripture, prefaces to the respective books, summaries of their contents, and suitable indexes, &c. to the whole.

It is obvious from this mere outline of contents, what an extensive range is comprised in the work before us. It is not so much an ori. ginal production as a compilation from numerous writers in different languages, whose productions would of themselves constitute a library; in addition to which, Mr. H. necessarily refers to many other authors, who have treated the subject to which he adverts more at large. The utility of this work, as a kind of text book to the theological student, is obviously very great, and its value as a book of reference on Biblical subjects can scarcely be rated too high. It brings into small compass a vast mass of important information; explains various difficulties; solves many objections; reconciles apparently contradictory passages, and points out numerous sources of extensive

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and valuable information. The specimens of different MSS. versions, &c. are well executed, and the maps, plans, &c. are drawn from the best authorities, and well engraved.

The numerous abridgements, quotations, &c. are made with considerable judgment, and comprise the latest discoveries of Biblical critics, &c. so that we are favoured not only with the expositions of ancient writers, but with those also of our own times. Mr. H. has evidently neither spared labour nor expense to render his work as perfect as possible.

Mr. H.'s own observations are sensible and judicious, and every way deserving of serious attention. Amidst the multifarious topics which his work embraces, there will, of course, be some on which we differ from him. We should, for instance, recommend the Hebrew student to study the sacred language with points, and not to lay them aside until he had made considerable progress. We should not speak so highly of Michaelis, and some other authors, as Mr. H. has done; and we should hesitate in adopting some of the interpretations which he has given of particular passages. But, after every deduction, we cannot but recommend the work before us to our clerical readers, and to theo.. logical students in general, as highly instructive and eminently useful.

Mr. Horne's Compendious Introduction to the Study of the Bible, is an analysis of his larger work, in which he has followed nearly, though not exactly, the same order, omitting those parts which would be unintelligible or uninteresting to the mere English reader; and adding a catalogue of the most valuable books on the study of the scriptures, as Commentators, &c.; a list of select chapters of the Bible, forming an epitome of the whole; together with maps, vignettes, and chronological and other tables.

The following extracts may afford specimens of the manner in which this analysis is executed, and, at the same time, convey useful instruction.

All the books of the Old and New Testaments are of divine authority, and their authors are divinely inspired.

Section I.-Preliminary Observations.

I. Inspiration defined.

It is the imparting of such a degree of divine influence, assistance, or guidance, as enabled the authors of the several Books of Scripture to communicate religious knowledge to others, without error or mistake.

II. Such Inspiration is both reasonable and necessary.

1. It is reasonable that the sentiments end doctrines delivered in the Scriptures should be suggested to the minds of the writers by the Supreme Being himself; since they relate to matters, concerning which the communication of information to men is worthy of God. 2. Further, Inspiration is necessary :

for,

(1.) Some past facts are related in the Bible, which could not possibly have been known, had not God revealed them.

(2.) Some events are predicted, which God alone could foreknow.

(3.) Other things also are contained in the Scriptures which are far above the capacity of man.

(4.) The authoritative language of Scripture argues the necessity of inspiration, admitting the veracity of the writers. They do not present us with their own thoughts, but exclaim, " Thus saith the Lord;" and on that ground they demand our assent.

III. The Scriptures could not have been the invention of men. Wicked men would not have produced books which condemn every thing that is unholy, even if they were capable of doing so; and good men could not deceive.

IV. Criteria of Inspiration.

These are twofold, viz. Miracles and Prophecy.

To these may be added other internal evidences for the divine inspiration of the Scriptures; viz.

The sublime doctrines and precepts which they contain;

The harmony and connexion subsisting between their various parts;

The miraculous preservation of the Scriptures; and

Their tendency to promote the present and eternal happiness of mankind, as evinced by the blessed effects which are invariably produced by a cordial belief of the doctrines of the Bible.

IX. The most remarkable of all the miracles, related in the New Testament, is the RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ from the dead, and it demands a distinct examination.

1. As to Christ's PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS Concerning his death and resurrection.

Jesus repeatedly predicted the circumstances of his death and resurrection to his disciples. Now, when he did this, he either did or did not foresee his resurrection. If he did not foresee it, with what hopes did he comfort his disciples? and why did he voluntarily offer himself to death, and actually endure the ignominious death of crucifixion? If he did foresee that he should rise again, he could not have believed it, but only on the experience he had already made of his power of giving sight to the blind, health to the sick, and (above all) life to the dead. His miracles therefore must be true; and, if so, he then possessed sufficient power to raise himself to life.

No one can doubt that Christ foretold his resurrection, who considers that it was on this very account that the chief priests and pharisees set a watch at the sepulchre.

2. Evidence of the REALITY of the resurrection.

It is an undisputed fact that Jesus died upon the cross and was interred in the sepulchre; at which the Jews took the precaution of placing a military guard. After the resurrection, the Jews reported that the disciples stole the body away while the guard were sleeping; a circumstance so manifestly improbable as well as false, that Matthew, though he faithfully records the report, does not offer a syllable to refute it.

Consider further,

(1.) The terror of the timid disciples, and the paucity of their number; the season, that of the great annual festival, the Passover, when Jerusalem was full of people, and when also, it being the time of the full moon, the night was very light.

(2.) Is it probable that so many men, as composed the guard, would all fall asleep at once?

(3.) If the soldiers were all asleep,

they could not know what was doing in the mean time; would not the noise, made in opening the sepulchre, have awakened some, if not the whole of them? and if any of them were awake, would they not soon have alarmed the rest, and prevented such an attempt?

(4.) Besides, are the appearances of composure and regularity in the tomb consistent with the hurry and trepidation of thieves, stealing when an armed guard is at hand, and in a moonlight night?

(5.) But, observe the conduct of the rulers. Why did not they order the apostles to be seized? Why did they not command the soldiers to be punished? Why did they not bring the whole to a judicial termination? Why is this neglect in men who had been so anxious to have a guard placed upon the sepulchre? Why did they never after charge the disciples or apostles themselves with having stolen the body? Pp. 41-43.

3. The CHARACTER OF THE WITNESSES also proves the truth of the resurrection of Christ. Observe,

(1.) The Condition of these witnesses.

They were mean, despised, and unlearned men, and consequently were unequal to the task of imposing upon others.

(2.) Their Number, and also the number of the different appearances of Jesus Christ, which was more than suffi→ cient to establish any fact.

Seven different JEWISH WRITERS have related or mentioned not fewer than eleven distinct appearances of Jesus Christ at different hours of the day, and at different places; and on one occasion to "above five hundred" persons.

(3.) The Incredulity of the witnesses, and their slowness in believing the resurrection of Christ.

(4.) The Moral Impossibility of their succeeding in palming an imposition upon the world. Because,

[.] It is inconceivable that a man should willingly expose himself to all sorts of punishment-even to death itself-on purpose to testify a matter of fact which he knew to be false.

[ii.] Although there should have been one person so disposed, it cannot be imagined—indeed it would be the height of absurdity to imagine, that NUMBERS would have formed the same resolution.

[iii] Though a great number of persons should have agreed together to attest a falsehood, yet it is incredible that they should bear witness to it, who

considered perfidy and lying as sins utterly inconsistent with their salvation : neither could it be supposed or expected of those, who, if they allowed the resurrection of Jesus Christ to be a fiction, must also allow that they had followed an imaginary Messiah.

[iv.] Such a mutual concert or agreement could never have been so carried on, but that some of them, in order to avoid punishment, or to gain reward, would have disclosed the whole intrigue.

[v.] The very same principles, which had dissolved their mutual fidelity, would more probably break off their mutual treachery. It cannot reasonably be supposed that those disciples, who were scattered when their master was crucified, would afterwards conspire to affirm a bold and unprincipled falsehood.

(5.) Observe the Facts, which they

themselves avow.

Their testimony relates to facts, in which it was impossible that they could have been deceived; such as the seeing, touching, sitting at table and conversing with, their risen master.

(6.) Consider further the Agreement

of their evidence.

They all unanimously deposed that Christ rose from the dead.

(7.) Observe also the Tribunals before which they gave evidence, and the multitude of people by whom their testimony was scrutinised,-by Jews and heathens, philosophers and rabbies, and by a vast number of persons who went annually to Jerusalem: for Providence so ordered those circumstances, that the testimony of the apostles might be unsuspected.

(8.) Take notice also of the Time, when this evidence was given.

Only three days after the crucifixion, they declared that Christ was risen again, as he had foretold. Would imposters act thus?

(9.) Consider likewise the Place, where the apostles bore their testimony to the resurrection.

They preached a risen Saviour, in the synagogues, and in the prætorium, at Jerusalem, the very city where he had been ignominiously crucified.

(10.) Consider the Motives, which induced the apostles to publish the fact of Christ's resurrection.

It was not to acquire fame, riches, or glory, but to found on this fact a series of exhortations to repentance, faith, and holiness topics these which were never proposed by an impostor. At the same time, they lived as no impostor ever did, and were enabled to appeal to

their converts for the sanctity, justice, and unblamable tenour of their own lives.

(11.) Lastly, the MIRACLES performed by these witnesses in the name of Jesus Christ, after the effusion of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, and the success which attended their preaching throughout the world, are God's testimony to the fact of Christ's resurrection from the dead, as well as to their veracity in proclaiming it.-Pp. 44-46.

The following is Mr. Horne's account of our present authorized version of the Holy Scriptures.

The last English version, which remains to be noticed is the translation now in use, which is commonly called King James's Bible. Shortly after his accession to the throne in 1603, several objections being made to the English Bible, the King, at the Conference held at Hampton Court in the following year, commanded that a new version should be undertaken, and fifty-four men, of distinguished learning and piety, were appointed to this important labour; but, before it was begun, seven of the persons were either dead or had declined the task. Such of them as survived till the commencement of the work, being ranged under six divisions, entered upon their labour in 1607, and completed it in 1610; it was then revised by a committee of six of the translators, and finally reviewed by Bishop Bilson and Doctor Smith; the latter prefixed the arguments, and wrote the preface. This translation, generally known by the name of King James's Bible, was first printed in 1611, and is that now universally adopted wherever the English language is spoken.-P. 132.

Of all modern versions, the present authorized English translation is, upon the whole, undoubtedly the most accurate and faithful; the translators having seized the very spirit of the sacred writers, and having almost every where expressed their meaning with a pathos and energy that have never been rivalled by any subsequent versions either of the Old or the New Testament. "Its style is incomparably superior to any thing which might be expected from the finical and perverted taste of our own age. It is simple; it is harmonious, it is energetic; and, which is of no small importance, use has made it familiar, and time has rendered it sacred."

The observations on the prac