After having laid before her readers the authorities of scripture, and enabled them to judge for themselves of the truth or the error of the three great doctrines, to which she had referred, the writer modestly expresses her own views. For, as she remarks,

'I feel that I should not act with perfect rectitude were I to conceal what have been my own impressions, after having surveyed and considered the whole. And I avow them the more readily, because I am an unlearned person, whose opinion can be of no importance or authority, and who cannot, therefore, bias the judgment of others as capable of forming an opinion on this important subject as myself; that is to say, every unlearned reader of common understanding. I also do it the more readily because, excepting sermons which I have heard preached in the episcopal church on that particular Sunday, appointed for the inculcating the first-mentioned doctrine, and sermons occasionally read on the same subject and for the same purpose, with one or two tracts, urging the chief arguments upon which it has been founded, I am ignorant of all controversy which different sects have entered into, regarding what is called the divinity of Christ.' p. 122.

The views she professes, and which she presents as the result to her mind from the texts she has adduced, are those which are commonly denominated Arian; which ascribe to Jesus Christ exalted power and glory, but a power and glory derived wholly from God. Agreeably to this hyposthesis, the Father alone is God; Jesus Christ is his Son, who had glory with the Father before the world was, whom the Father hath sanctified and sent to be the Saviour of the world, and whom, having been made perfect through sufferings, God hath exalted to be Head over all things to the Church.

Miss Baillie rejects with decision the popular orthodox doctrine of the three persons in one God. For, she remarks, it appears to me, that a person of plain

sense, who, being previously unacquainted with this article of our orthodox creed, should read the New Testament with serious attention, might do so, without being aware, that such a doctrine is therein taught at all.' And, however some, who strictly believe with her in the simple unity of the Godhead, may be disposed to dissent from her conclusions as to the person or pre-existent glory of Christ, yet we are sure that every serious and liberal mind will adopt with pleasure the just and truly christian sentiments, with which she concludes.

'There are good and pious Christians of all denominations, and so far from uniformity of belief being a blessing, we may thank God that he has permitted various sects to exist.. Much good, we may suppose, has arisen from the various habits and tempers of sincere believers, how different soever and opposed to one another; and what our Saviour said to those who condemned both his own open and sociable manners, and the abstemious austerity of John the Baptist, is in some degree opplicable to them, Wisdom is justified of all her children.' p. 130.

'It is not, therefore, with any vain design of combating the settled opinions of any class of believers that I have undertaken this collection of scriptural passages, but that persons of sincere piety and common understanding may see laid bafore them what the New Testament contains regarding the nature and dignity of Christ, and judge for themselves. I firmly believe that, for want of such an aid, many a young person, supposing the Scripture to teach what it hath not taught, has turned from revealed religion with a wounded or indifferent mind.' p. 131.

"That the right of private judgment in interpreting Scripture must promote peace and Christian charity we cannot doubt. For one who has diligently examined the whole scope of what is taught there, and has found the difficulty of coming to determined conclusions on many points, will be more ready to make allowances for the opinions

of those who dissent from him; and being convinced that it is the intention and sincerity with which we read and examine, and not our skill in doing so, that will be most acceptable to our Great Master, he will be relieved from the depressing idea, that right belief in particular doctrines is necessary to salvation;-an idea which has, perhaps, occasioned more persecution in the Christian Church, than either pride, covetousness, or the love of domination. For who will scruple to do that, which he supposes will exterminate errors of faith that must necessarily lead to the eternal destruction of hu man souls? It will naturally tend to quell the pernicious activity of intemperate zeal,-" the wrath of man, which worketh not the righteousness of God."' p. 142.

We cannot close even so brief a notice of this unpretending little book, without a particular expression of our satisfaction with the spirit, that pervades it. The reverence and caution, with which the writer expresses her sentiments, are altogether appropriate to her subject, while the modesty and entire freedom from forwardness of speculation, which we have already mentioned, are becoming her sex, and inspire a just confidence in the justness of her conclusions.

P..

THE SCRIPTURÁL INTERPRETER, FOR JULY.
NO. I. VOL. I.

We rejoice to see a work like this commenced amongst us. Its plan is excellent, and the first number gives promise of its being conducted, in every respect, as it should be. We strongly recommend it to all who would be made wiser, better, and happier by means of the Holy Scriptures-particularly to the young, and to

such parents and Sunday school teachers as have not had the advantages of a theological education, and cannot easily procure the more voluminous and expensive commentaries. We are sorry that our limits allow us only to give the following brief extract from the editorial Introduction.

It will have one object, to furnish the means of acquaintance with the true sense and value of Scripture, and particularly of the New Testament; but whatever may promote this object will come within the scope of this publication. Each number will probably contain a new translation of some part of the evangelical or apostolic writings, with explanatory notes, and such practical reflections as may be proper for a Sunday school. A large amount of information lies in books, which comparatively few readers see or can peruse. From these I shall not only obtain my own knowledge, but shall freely take extracts. The greater portion of the work will, however, be original. On subjects intimately connected with the right use of the Bible, such as its character, history and language, I promise myself that I shall receive communications which will enrich the pages of this humble publication.

I publish this work in my own name, because I do not wish it to be considered the organ or the representative of a denomination of Christians. There is likewise more unity in the conduct of a periodical publication, and more ease and frankness in its style, where the editor speaks in his individual capacity. My opinions, my expositions, my remarks will be my own, and I beg that no one else may be held accountable for my mistakes, and that neither my sentiments nor my language may be imputed to any other person. The correspondents from whom I trust that I shall receive assistance will speak each one for himself, and by inserting their essays I shall account myself no farther responsible than for the implied fact, that I deem their thoughts worthy of consideration by the public.

I shall avoid controversy. I shall aim to make the Bible better understood, more diligently studied, and more seriously regarded, more gratefully loved, and more cordially obeyed.

Having spoken perhaps too much of myself and my work, I leave it to make friends for itself. EZRA S. GANNET.

THEOLOGICAL SCHOOL IN HARVARD UNIVERSITY.

The annual exhibition of the students of this Institution took place on Wednesday, the twenty first of last month. The exercises were as follows:

Prayer.
Hymn.

1. On the character of Richard Baxter. Mr John L. Russell. 2. On the comparative importance of Learning, Eloquence, and Personal Character as qualifications for the ministry Mr William

Reed.

3. On the valne of Bishop Warburton's Argument for the Divine Legation of Moses. Mr George Nichols.

4. On John i. 1-18. Mr Edward H. Edes.

5. On the tendencies of Sects, on the one hand to approximate in their Opinions, and on the other to become more widely separated in their affections. Mr Henry F. Edes.

Original Hymn.

6. On Literature, as affecting a minister's character and usefulness Mr George Chapman.

7. On Expository Preaching. Mr Addison Brown.

8. On the Construction of a Harmony of the Gospels. Mr Alanson Brigham.

9. On the History and Character of the received English Version of the Scriptures. Mr Charles F. Barnard.

Hymn.

The performances were confined, this year, to the Senior class. They were, in general, highly creditable to the young gentlemen themselves, and gratifying to the friends of the Institution and the Churches. We regret that we have room only to add, that the Theological School is pervaded by an excellent spirit, and that it has never before had the means of so extensive usefulness. Let all, who desire the prevalence of Christian freedom, truth, piety, and charity, unite their labors and prayers for its continued prosperity.