gress made. But what a revolution has taken place, e. g. in the critical department of theology and in philosophy, since 1750; while in England every one continued to pray on the rosary of Locke! With all this too, we have retained more standard works than you mention; as Grotius, Beza, Le Clerc, for the modern school; Calvin in exegesis; in ecclesiastical history several works of Mosheim; in dogmatics Gerhard's Loci Theologici -a work which men like Twesten, Heubner, and others regard as immortal; in ascetics, Arndt, John Gerhard's Meditations, Thomas a Kempis, etc. It is true, you must not look here merely for what people like Henke, Wegscheider, and Röhr estimate highly; since for them all wisdom has come into the world since 1780. The modern christian school also prize highly the works of the scholastic divines, as of Thomas Aquinas; and among the church fathers, Augustine.

As to my article on Wahl and Bretschneider, it is in itself too unimportant for America; and so much the more, because their errors and extravagances are remote from the taste and character of your countrymen. In Germany, however, the article was so far of importance, as the good people are really so blind and over-wise. But what will you say, if I recommend to you again xavoτegóv ze, viz. the smaller Clavis of Wahl? This is very well done; although viewed in the light of a truly christian theology, it leaves much to be desired. The Spirit of God moves not upon the waters.-For America, I think there would be something of interest and value in an article in the July number of the Literarischer Anzeiger, on the merits of Calvin as an interpreter of Scripture.'-I intend also to give in this journal a notice of your work; in which it will receive the merited praise of extensive learning and great judiciousness. I think also to characterize Prof. Stuart's article on the 16th Psalm.

Shall I tell you what you should do for the Hebrew? (1.) Make known to your countrymen Hengstenberg's Christologie and Daniel; also Kleinert's Isaiah. (2.) Give a character of Ewald's Hebrew Grammar; and point out wherein he differs from Gesenius, and in what respects he is preferable.-Among the recent publications I would call your attention to Hartmann's Pentateuch, Hitzig Kritik des A. Test. Maurer's Josua, Rückert's Römerbrief, Kuinoel in Ep. ad Heb. Stein's Lucas, BaumgartenCrusius' Dogmengeschichte, Schwarz's Pedagogik, Lindner's Abendmahllebre. Have you seen Stier's Beiträge zu gläubigem Schriftverständniss?

For the coming winter, it is very doubtful whether we shall be able to deliver lectures. In Berlin, Halle, and Leipsic, almost the whole of the students have left, who alone would make it possible to read. They are mostly gone to Bonn, which will be very full. It is not impossible also, that Neander and Hengstenberg will spend the winter at Bonn. I remain at Halle; although it is, on rational grounds, not otherwise than probable, that I shall not escape the ravages of the Cholera. Should it be the Lord's will to keep me longer here, the coming winter will be devoted to literary labour. At the present moment, the third edition of my Commentary on John has just left the press; it has been almost wholly rewritten. If I can find time for private labour,-which has been impossible all the past summer, on account of the abundant and delightful labour among the pious and inquiring students,-I intend to publish next a commentary on the Sermon on the Mount.

Would that a countryman of yours might soon again appear in Halle; what a gratification would that be to me! While perusing your articles upon my country, I thought so often on our conversations. You have in them depicted the dark, as well as the bright side, fully to my satisfaction and delight. Some passages, and especially the complaint, that in our theological examinations no regard whatever is had to the religious views and feelings of the candidate, I shall translate and cause to be printed in capital letters.

NOTE. It would be mere affectation in the Editor, not to acknowledge here the gratification he felt on the reception of the preceding letter; not only as it respects the estimation in which the Biblical Repository is held abroad; but more particularly in reference to his own articles on Germany. There has of late years been so much published in our country respecting Germany, that was either only half true; or if true, yet so distorted by false colouring as to make an erroneous impression; that it was only with hesitancy and self distrust that the Editor undertook to give, to some extent, the results of his own observation. In a country like Germany, with the best intentions and the nicest observation, it is next to impossible always to form an entirely correct judgment; even if one abstains from VOL. II. No. 5.

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the usual fault of travellers, of drawing general and sweeping conclusions in regard to national manners and character, from a few isolated facts. It is therefore so much the more gratifying, to find that the delineations given meet the full approbation of intelligent and distinguished men like Hahn and Tholuck; than whom there are none better qualified to judge.

EDITOR.

ART. VIII. LITERARY NOTICES.

I.

ROSENMUELLERI Scholia in Vet. Testamentum, in Compendium redacta. Vol. I. Pentateuchus. Vol. III. Psalmi.

By Prof. Stuart.

In a brief preface to the first volume, the author states that he had frequently been solicited to publish an abridged edition of his copious original work; which now amounts to twenty volumes, and several others are yet to be added, in order to complete his design. The price of this is so high, even in Germany, that many who wish for the work are unable to purchase it. It is principally with a view to accommodate persons of this class, that the author has undertaken to publish a Compendium of his original work. This labour he performs in the main by proxy. The gentleman who actually executes the task, is named J. C. S. Lechner, and is evening preacher at St. Paul's church in Leipsic. Probably he is one of Rosenmüller's pupils and particular friends. The Professor speaks of him as "vir clarissimus, in sacrarum literarum studio dextre versato." His commission is, to select from the larger Commentary, whatever pertains to the explanation of the meaning and forms of words in which there is any difficulty; also whatever is requisite in order to give a correct understanding of facts and events, ancient rites, the names of persons and places, and other things of a similar nature. In passages of special difficulty, some account of the views of other critics is given. Various readings that are important, are also noticed.

The commission being executed, the whole is reviewed by Rosenmüller himself; corrections are made of his former opin

ións, where he deems them necessary; now and then new matter is added; and a reference is made to important works on various subjects pertaining to sacred criticism, which have been published since the last edition of the larger Commentary. Such is the plan of the Compendium; a work which will, in many respects, be welcome to all the friends of Sacred Literature. Mr Lechner appears to have executed his task with great diligence and care. He remains true to his original throughout; so far as I have been able to make the comparison. The slight differences that now and then occur, between the abridgement and the original, I presume are to be attributed to the author himself, and not to the writer of the Compend.

One cannot help being filled with astonishment at the number and magnitude of Prof. Rosenmüller's works. How he can find time to revise, correct, and add to, the present abridgement of his great work, is a problem that can be solved only by those, who, like him, have "iron diligence" and an appetite for study that never can be satiated.

The Compendium seems to be going on with commendable progress; yet not as rapidly as the public must desire. The first volume is dated 1828; the second, 1831; so that probably about two years and a half intervened between them. If Mr Lechner truly possesses the character which Prof. Rosenmüller has given him, one year would surely be time sufficient to complete enough of the abridgement to make one volume.

The proportion which the Compendium bears to the original work, will give a fair view of the nature of the undertaking. The three volumes on the Pentateuch, making 1936 pages, have been compressed into one volume of 818 pages. The three volumes on the Psalms, making 1964 pages, have been compressed into one of 711 pages.

On almost every account, the public in general will be a great gainer by this process. Most readers, I mean most critical readers, who have the ability to profit by such a commentary as that of Rosenmüller, have but little occasion for much that is said in the larger work. Indeed, for all beginners in the study of sacred criticism, the larger work is exceedingly illadapted. The student loses his way, in a short time, amidst the almost boundless sylva critica which it exhibits. Two thirds of the work, or nearly this proportion, is a history of commentary, i. e. a narrative of what others have said and written, rather than a commentary in itself. In a multitude of cases, it

is next to impossible for the learner, (and difficult enough for the experienced critic,) to find the author's own opinion; much less is he able to find the distinct grounds and reasons for it. It is inserted, now and then, amid an immense mass of rubbish, by a bene, or a recte, or a haud male, or some such little words, which the tired reader scarcely observes; and when he does, it excites but little interest. He has been obliged to go over and around, and through the top of an immense tree, in order to find a single specimen of fruit; and by the time it is found, the vexation of looking so long for it, mars the pleasure of eating it. Nothing can be more illy adapted, therefore, to beginners in critical study, than the great work of Rosenmüller. The tyro becomes disheartened. He cannot find what he wants, without long and painful search; and when he does find it, oftentimes it is not such in manner or matter as he needs.

All this has been most abundantly confirmed by the experience of fifteen years past, in respect to many young beginners in the study of sacred criticism. They are prepared, therefore, to welcome the appearance of the Compendium. This leads. them at once to the author's opinion, and places before them. the grounds of it. Differing opinions are merely secondary, and are a matter of subsequent consideration. This commentary has become then, at last, what it should be in these respects; and it is matter of congratulation, that Prof. Rosenmüller has given the present form to his abridged volumes.

For most purposes, the present Compendium is abundantly sufficient. Readers in general, I mean critical readers, will need nothing more, as it respects most of the difficulties of the Hebrew text. In regard to such texts as are really doubtful, and of a very difficult nature, it is always to be taken for granted, that no scholar who knows his business in any measure as he should do, will content himself with any one single commentary.

It is well judged on the part of Prof. Rosenmüller, to pubish his abridgement on the Pentateuch and Psalms first, inasmuch as these books are generally the objects of initiatory study. The student cannot ask for a cheaper work, than the two volumes under consideration are, on such important portions of the Scriptures.

Our public are, by this time, acquainted in some good degree with the sentiments of Prof. Rosenmüller. A rumour, however, has gone abroad somewhat extensively, that he differs