Numberless writers speak of Moses as a distinguished legislator; some advert to the sublimity of his writings,* and others describe the excellence and permanent influence of his laws. Tacitus mentions the Exodus from Egypt, and the abode of the Israelites in the wilderness, but he mingles many absurd reports with his account.f Menander, relating the acts of Ithobal, King of the Tyrians, mentions the drought which happened in the time of Elias. Josephus, in describing the events of sacred history, repeats, in a continued relation, almost all the leading circumstances which are recorded by Moses, and by the inspired Penmen, confirming his account from time to time, by a reference to other writers; most of the great events of the Jewish history are thus supported, and with regard to particulars recorded in the New Testament the witnesses are still more nume rous. VI. On the Ordeals of the tenth century. A law of king Athelstan. Extracted from Johnson's Collection of Ecclesiastical laws, as cited by Townley. Vol. i. p. 314. As to ORDEALS, we charge in the name of God, and by the precept of the archbishop, and all my bishops, that no one go into the church after the carrying in of the fire, with which the Ordeal is to be heated, but the priest, and the person to be tried. And let nine feet be measured out from the stake to the mark, according to the length of the person's foot who is to be tried. And if it be the Water-Ordeal, let it be heated till it boils and if it be a single accusation, let the hand be dipped to the fist only, to take out the stone; but if the accusation be three-fold, then let it be dipped to the elbow. And when the Ordeal is ready, let two of each party come in, to see that it be sufficiently heated, and let an equal number of both sides enter, and stand on each side of the Ordeal, along the church, and let them all be fasting, without having been with their wives the foregoing night; let them humble themselves at the priest's sprinkling the holy water upon them; and let the priest give them the HOLY GOSPEL * Longinus. * Book, and the sign of the holy cross to be kissed. And let no man increase the fire after the consecration is begun ; but let the iron lie in the fire till the last collect, then let it be laid on the pillar. And let nothing be said, but prayers to God that he may reveal the truth; and let the person accused drink holy water, and let the hand in which he is to carry the Ordeal be sprinkled with it. Let the nine measured feet, be divided into three parts, containing each three feet. Let him place his right foot at the first mark at the stake; at the second mark let him put his right foot foremost; when he is come to the third, let him throw down the iron. Let him speed to the holy altar, and let his hand be sealed up. the third day let inspection be made whether there be any filth or not, in the place that was sealed up. If any one break these laws, let the Ordeal be null, and a mulct of 120 shillings be paid to the king.‡ On VII. Lectures in Paris. German Universities. Asiatic Society. Prof. Tholuck. From a manuscript letter from an American to a gentleman in Princeton, dated Paris, Jan. 29, 1827. De Sacy lectures three times every week on Arabic, and three times on the Persic. His method does not differ from the ordinary manner of hearing a recitation with us. His class, which does not consist of more than seven or eight, read the Coran on one day, and a part of his Chrestomathia on the others. He does little more than explain the force of the words, and any difficulties which may occur in the grammatical forms or constructions. He is very particular and very attentive, devoting upwards of two hours to each exercise. Besides this, Prof. Cuisin lectures on the Arabic Grammar three times a week. Lectures are delivered upon almost all the Eastern languages-Sanscrit, Chinese, Bengalee, Hindostanee, &c. All these, as well as the instructions in the sciences, law, and medicine, are public and gratuitous. There is a great difference between the lecture-rooms of the Professor of Chemistry, and Professor of Hebrew, the latter having two, and the former two thousand, hearers. *Super Staples. Some supporter made of stone or iron, from whence the person to be tried was to take the hot iron into his hands. Johnson. + If there was any matter or corruption, the person was condemned as guilty; if there was none, or the priest could see none, he was acquitted. Johnson. Johnson's Collection of Ecclesiastical Laws, &c. II. A. D. Dccccxxv. I have attended the meetings of the Asiatic Society, which consists of forty or fifty near-sighted Orientals, of whom De Sacy is the President. It was an amusing sight to see every man with the paper or book he wished to read, almost in immediate contact with his face. The worthy President is as remarkable for the shortness of his sight as for the depth of his knowledge. The proceedings of this Society having no connexion with Biblical subjects, are not to me very interesting. Goettingen has suffered very much of late, in the death and sickness of its Professors. Staeudlin is dead, Eichhorn superannuated, and Planck "is in ruins under the epilepsy." At Halle, as I am informed, more attention is paid to Biblical literature, than at any of the other Universities. It has also the great advantage of having Tholuck within its walls, who is as much distinguished for his piety as for his learning. I have seen a little work of his on the theology of the ancient Persians, which states in the title page, that the materials were derived from Arabic, Persic, and Turkish MSS, in the royal library of Berlin. As Tholuck is at present not more than eight or nine and twenty, he must have published that work when he was about twenty four or five! I have also seen a treatise of his to show that Christ is the centre, sum and key, of the Old Testament. He has also written a work, which has produced a great impression, on the doctrine of redemption. Literary Intelligence. We are authorized to state that the translation of Jahn's Introduction to the Old Testament by Samuel H. Turner, D. D. and William R. Whittingham, will be put to press in about three weeks, and may be expected by the end of June or some time in July. Letters on Clerical Manners and Habits, addressed to a student of the Theological Seminary at Princeton, N. J. by Samuel Miller, are nearly through the press, and may be expected in about one week. A Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews, is in preparation by Professor Stuart, of Andover, Mass. We are authorized to state, that the publication of this work has been delayed, chiefly because the Author found it indispensably necessary, to devote much time and labour to the Historical and Critical Introduction. The works of Dr. Schultz of Dessau, and of Dr. Seyffarth, calling in question the Pauline origin of the Epistle, have had so great an influence in Germany, that Mr. S. feels himself bound to attempt a refutation of their arguments, the most formidable of which are the ἅπαξ λεγόμενα and the ἅπαξ λογιζόμενα of this Epistle. The Introduction is now nearly completed. We believe that no one who loves this study, and duly estimates its importance, will regret the delay, if thereby the authenticity of this Epistle be substantiated by a purely American scholar. "The Traveller Schulz, has now in the press a Greek Testament, containing various new readings, and fixing only two recensions, the Koivneris and Alexandrine, which will, when published, subvert a great part of Griesbach's theory." Class. Journ. June, 1826. New Publications. A popular Introduction to the Study of the Holy Scriptures, designed for the use of mere English readers. In two parts. Part I.-Rules for reading the Bible. Part II. -Helps toward a right understanding thereof; comprising Introductions to the several Books; a Summary of Biblical Antiquities, Geography, Natural History, &c. By William Carpenter, Editor of the Critica Biblica, Scripture Magazine, Calendarium Palestinae, &c. Essay on the Hebrew characters used at the time of the Patriarchs, and in the succeeding ages. By M. Giuseppe Vigerano. Reggio. (An Italian work.) The Gospel of St. Luke; with English Notes. By the Rev. J. R. Major, B. A. of Trin. Coll. Camb. Origin of Expiatory Sacrifice. By George Stanley Faber, Rector of Long Newton. London, 1826. Illustrations of Paley's Natural Theology, with descriptive Letter-press. By James Paxton, Member of the Royal College of Surgeons, London. Discourses, Doctrinal and Practical; delivered in Essex street Chapel. By Thomas Belsham London, 1826. The following Remarks are from the Quarterly Theological Review for Sept 1826, p. 334. "The objections of Mr. Belsham and his adherents, to the atonement, seem to be a sort of à-priori objections; God could not require an atonement for sin, because he is compelled by the very kindness and tenderness of his divine nature, to forgive the sins of men, without an atonement. Now, how does Mr. Belsham know this! surely it ought at least to be set aside with those important matters, which at present we have not faculties to explore." Not so with Mr. Belsham; he is one who would have made Job stare; he is one, who has "by searching found out God; he has found out the Almighty to perfection!" he knows that he is not only "Love," as John says, but "All Love;" that this attribute is so prevailing, as to swallow up every other attribute; and yet perhaps he may be wrong after all; himself being judge. For though he tells us over and over again, that he knows God will forgive sin without an atonement; entirely "for his great name's sake, and for his infinite mercy's sake, and because he delighteth in mercy," p. 64, yet in p. 27, he tells us, "Adequate ideas upon these subjects it is indeed impossible for beings whose faculties are so limited as those of men, to form ;" and seems quite to agree with the patriarch Job, that no "finite being can com |