"If (says Toplady) the absolute command over the passions of immense auditories be the mark of a consummate orator, he was the greatest of the age," p. 548. Among the elements of his ministerial success the chief undoubtedly was the energy of deep feeling. His addresses were pervaded by a tone of thrilling and impassioned earnestness." He believed, therefore he spoke," " Knowing the terror of the Lord he persuaded and besought men to be reconciled to God." His eloquence was the eloquence of the heart. He preached for eternity, and acted the part of a true christian orator whose province it is "not only calmly and coolly to inform the understanding, but by persuasive pathetic address to move the affections and to warm the heart." pp. 556, 557.

The Apostolical Authority of the Epistle to the Hebrews: An Inquiry, in which the received Title of the Greek Epistle is vindicated against the Cavils of Objectors, ancient and modern, from Origen to Sir J. D. Michaelis, chiefly upon Grounds of internal Evidence, hitherto unnoticed: containing a comparative Analysis of the style and structure of this Epistle, and of the undisputed Epistles of Paul, tending to throw light upon their Interpretation. By the Rev. Charles Forster, B. Ď. Rector of Stisted, Essex, and one of the Six Preachers in the Cathedral of Christ, Canterbury.-London: Duncan. 1838. Pp. 670.

THE question, Who wrote the Epistle to the Hebrews? is not of yesterday. Of the ancients, Tertullian, Jerome, and Philastrius ascribed it to Barnabas, the associate and fellow-labourer of Paul; Clement of Alexandria, so far as the Greek copy is concerned, and Origen, on report, to Luke the Evangelist; and others to Clement of Rome. That these different hypotheses should have become the subject of investigation by modern critics, cannot be matter of surprise; yet, while some of the most celebrated of the German School have professedly gone fully into it, and of these, more than one have apparently treated it in a very masterly manner, nothing like certainty can, with any degree of fairness, be said to have resulted from their labours. Most of them have attacked the Pauline origin of the Epistle, insisting upon arguments both external and internal in defence of the theories which they have respectively espoused; while few and feeble have been the attempts made to support its authenticity as written by the Apostle. It was reserved for Professor Stuart of Andover, Massachussetts, U. S. first to call the attention of English readers to the high importance of the subject, and to treat it in such a way, both philologically, and as it respects the subject-matter of the Epistle, as to satisfy most of his readers, that little doubt can hereafter reasonably be entertained respecting the fact of its having proceeded from the pen of Paul.

To such the work of Mr. Forster must prove peculiarly acceptable not only confirming, as it does, the positions laid down by Mr. Stuart, but advancing and maintaining others of primary importance in this great argument. The work before us, so far as the inquiry is concerned, was begun as far back as 1814, and after an interruption of several years, was resumed in 1836-the author in

206 Apostolical Authority of the Epistle to the Hebrews. March,

the mean time studiously avoiding the perusal of Mr. Stuart's work, in order that the public might have the advantage of the results of investigations undertaken and prosecuted altogether independent of each other. The coincidence of these results is very striking and satisfactory; and the question may fairly be said to have been finally settled.

The external and historical branch of the inquiry is soon disposed of, being reducible within a very narrow compass; and it is shown that the proofs drawn from this source decidedly preponderate in favour of the received title. It is on the internal or critical proofs that the author places his main dependence, in the treatment of which he shows himself a master in this species of argument, and adduces such an overwhelming mass of minute and carefully adjusted evidence, that one should imagine it impossible for any person, not determined obstinately to shut his eyes against the light, to refuse submission to its force. The introduction consists of an interesting investigation and refutation of the arguments advanced by Prof. Michaelis against Paul's being the author of the Greek Epistle. The body of the work consists of fourteeen sections, devoted to the discussion of points of verbal criticism, and the identities of phraseology observable between the Epistle in question and the undisputed Epistles of Paul. The author first shows an identity of manner in the use of peculiar words such as ἀγών, απεδέχομαι, ἀφιλάργυρος, dovλeía, opoλoyia, &c. He then exhibits in full, tables of the texts in which such identity occurs, with their parallel verbal dependencies; tables of words occasionally occurring elsewhere in the New Testament, but in the manner or the frequency of their occurrence, peculiar to the Epistle to the Hebrews, and the acknowledged writings of the Apostle; after which, he examines some leading parallel passages, and the use of favourite words in a very interesting and conclusive manner. To one of the peculiar characteristics of Paul's style particular attention is paid-what the author calls, his going off at a word. By this is meant a species of digression, or turning aside from the subject, on the occurrence of some particular word, abandoning the train of thought, and entering upon a parenthetic sentence, in which that word is the prevailing term. Examples occur in the use of savour, 2 Cor. ii. 14.; epistle, iii. 1.; vail, iii. 12.; house, Heb. iii. 2.; voice, speaketh, shook, xii. 18-29.; subject, 1 Cor. xv. 27. &c. The identity of manner in Paul's use of the paronomasia, or play upon words, is next taken up, and a collection of striking instances is given. Quotations and modes of quotation from the Old Testament are then investigated and shown to be identical; and special use is made of a phenomenon clearly discoverable in the Pauline Epistles and that to the Hebrews: viz. hey-texts, or the regular and orderly recurrence, at certain intervals, generally towards the beginning, the middle, and the end of each epistle, of the same words and ideas, serving at once as indexes both to the main subject, and to the subordinate topics, and as landmarks of their return. Of these also numerous examples are adduced, and admirably applied. To the whole are added tables of parallel topics; of the ara Xeyouéva in the Epistle to the Hebrews, and in the undisputed Epistles of Paul; and of Pauline words, occurring in

more than one Epistle, and not occurring in the Epistle to the Hebrews.

The work is the result of much patient research and accurate investigation; it discovers a high degree of critical acumen; and abounds in matter deeply interesting to every biblical student. We repeat our conviction, that the question has been brought to a final determination; and tender our thanks to the author for the eminent service he has rendered to interests of divine truth.

THE EDITOR'S TABLE

Lectures on the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans. By the Rev. Thomas Chalmers. D.D., LL.D. Vol. 2. Glasgow: W. Collins.

Religious Parties in England, their Principles, History, and Present Duty. By Robert Vaughan, D.D. A second and enlarged Edition. London: Ward and Co.

Home; or the Months, a Poem for Domestic Life. By John Player. London: Ward and Co.

Missionary Records. Northern Countries. London: Religious Tract Society. The Sacred Diary; or Select Meditations for every part of the Day, and the employments thereof. By William Gearing, Rector of Christ Church, ▲. D. 1688. London: Religious Tract Society.

Martha a Memorial of an only beloved Sister. By Andrew Reed, D.D. Third Edition. London: Ward and Co.

The Millennium, a Poem, in Four Books; to which are added, Reasons from Prophecy why the Second Coming of Christ and the commencement of his personal Reign on the earth is to be expected. Guernsey: J. Manga.

Journal of Three Voyages along the Coast of China in 1831, 1832, 1833, with Notices of Siam, Corea, and the Loo-Choo Islands. By Charles Gutzlaff, Third Edition. London: Ward and Co.

Lectures on the Evidences of Revealed Religion. By Ministers of the Established Church in Glasgow. Eighth Thousand. Glasgow: W. Collins. Secession Justified; or a Brief Narrative of Events and Inquiries which led the Author to withdraw from the Church of England. By Philates. London: Simpkin, Marshall, and Co.

The Exile from Eden; Meditations on the Third Chapter of Genesis. By L. Bonnet. Translated from the French, by the Rev. W. Hare. London: Nisbet and Co.

Parental Care for the Salvation of Children explained and enforced. London : Religious Tract Society.

The Dependence of a Pastor's Success on the Character of his People. A Sermon by J. C. Galloway M. A., West Bromwich: Second Edition. pp. 32. London: Ward and Co.

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

WORKS IN THE PRESS, OR IN PROgress.

The Rev. Henry Woodward, of Fethard Tip, Ireland, has nearly ready for publication, a duodecimo Volume of Lectures to be entitled "The Shunamite." In Two thick Vols. 8vo. by John Morison, D.D., a work to be entitled, The Fathers and Founders of the London Missionary Society, consisting of Three Parts. Part I. The Influence of Methodism on the Spirit of Modern Missions. Part II. Historical Notices of the several Protestant Missions. Part III. An Authentic Account of the Origin of the London Missionary Society: with Memoirs of the several devoted men who gave birth to that noble enterprize of Christian benevolence. The Work will be embellished by highly- finished Portraits of those who stood forward with the greatest prominence in rearing this monument of Christian zeal; and will be published by Messrs. Fisher and Co., in about 8 to 10 Monthly Parts, 3s. each: the First Part will appear immediately.

TRANSACTIONS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES, AT HOME AND ABROAD.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE MEETING OF THE CONGREGATIONAL UNION OF ENGLAND AND WALES.

THE ninth Annual Assembly of the Union will be held, D. V. in the Library, Blomfield Street, Finsbury Circus, on Tuesday morning, the 7th of May.

The Rev. THOMAS RAFFLES, D.D., L.L.D., of Liverpool, has kindly consented to preside on the occasion.

Delegations from America, Scotland, and Wales, are appointed, and the attendance of these honoured "Messengers of the Churches" is confidently expected.

The Committee earnestly request the various county and other district Associations to nominate delegates, both ministers and lay brethren, to represent them at the assembly, and to promote the affectionate communion and counsels of the season.

Anxious to promote at this peculiar juncture the most numerous attendance of their brethren, to unite in the deliberations of love and peace, and to strengthen each other's hands, the Committee are taking measures to obtain christian hospitalities for all ministers of churches connected with the Union, who may be disposed to visit the metropolis during the second week of May, to whom such accommodations may be acceptable. Of the arrangements on this subject, further and timely explanation will be given.

The annual meeting of the Colonial Missionary Society, in connection with the Congregational Union, will be held on Friday morning, May 10th. The Committee of the Union intend to provide a dinner on that day in the Congregational Library, to which they respectfully invite all the Delegates and Secretaries of Associations and Tutors of our Theological Institutions, that an opportunity for further affectionate intercourse and conference may be secured. The arrangements will be subsequently explained.

On Monday afternoon, May 6th, an open meeting of the Committee will be held at the Library for preparatory prayer, conference, and arrangement, at which the Committee hope that delegates and other brethren connected with the Union, who may have arrived in town, will be good enough to attend, by which the business of the following day may be greatly facilitated. To assemble at 4 o'clock, P.M. precisely.

We are happy to announce that the first volume of "The Historical Memorials of the Independents, by Benjamin Hanbury, Esq.," is now completed, and will be published in a few days.

FIFTH SERIES OF THE CONGREGATIONAL LECTURE.

Our readers will learn with satisfaction that the Rev. JOHN PYE SMITH, D.D. and Fellow of the Geological Society, will deliver, D. V. at the Congregational Library, Blomfield Street, Finsbury Circus, a course of Eight Lectures on "Revelation and Geology, or the relations between the Holy Scriptures and some parts of Geological Science." The Series will commence on Tuesday Evening, March 12th, at half-past 6 o'clock, and will be continued as indicated in the following Syllabus.

ECTURE I.-Tuesday, March 12th.

Proposal of the subject.-Nature of Geological studies.-How they should be pursued. Assumption that certain Geological doctrines are at variance with the testimony of the Bible.-Of such discrepancy there are semblances.Principles upon which the inquiry ought to be conducted.-All truth must be consistent.Criteria of truth in its various departments.-No class of evidence should be suppressed or tortured in order to produce agreement with any other.-Objects of investigation.-Study of the dependent universe subordinate to the knowledge of the First Cause, and the hɔmage due to Him.

LECTURE II.-Thursday, March 14th.

Enumeration of principal facts which we regard as ascertained, concerning the structure and the antiquity of the earth.

LECTURES III and IV.-Tuesday, March 19th, and Thursday, March 21st. Particulars in which some of those facts appear to be contradicted by the declarations, direct or implied, of the Scriptures. 1. The immense antiquity ascribed to the earth, and the succession of living creatures upon it. 2. Rejecting the notion of the prevalence of a chaotic fluid, enveloping the earth immediately before its being prepared for the habitation of man and contemporary living creatures. 3. Denying that the heavenly bodies were brought into existence upon the fourth day. 4. Affirming that animated nature, both vegetable and animal, proceeded from different points of creation upon the surface of the earth, in opposition to the belief of one universal centre of created life. 5. Maintaining the dominion of death over all animated beings upon the earth, in all the past periods. 6. Questions connected with the historical fact of the deluge.

LECTURES V. and VI.-Tuesday, March 26th, and Thursday, March 28th. Examination of various methods which have been proposed to surmount these difficulties.-Absolute denial of the facts alleged.-Prohibition of inquiry. —Asserting that, in these points, the Mosaic narrative involves a coudescension to the erroneous belief of the time.-Attributing to the term day a signification of indefinite and very long duration.-That all the phenomena may be referred to the interval between the creation of man and the deluge.-That, in addition to operations during that interval, the action of the deluge itself supplies the requisite secondary causes.

LECTURE VII.- Tuesday, April 2nd.

An exposition of the idioms of Scripture, from which the author conceives, that without any violence done to the fair meaning of language, it is shown that there is no real discordance; but that the facts in science which are objected to, and the testimony of Scripture, are in harmony with each other.

LECTURE VIII.Thursday, April 4th.

Concluding observations, on the duty of all who have the opportunity, to acquire such an acquaintance with this class of subjects as will be a protection to their own faith and piety, and may enable them to inform others: and on the subserviency of all physical knowledge to general usefulness, to moral discipline, and to the honour of our adorable Creator, Sovereign, and Saviour.

FORMATION OF A SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN THE

CITY OF DURHAM.

On Tuesday evening, the 15th of January, a public service was held in Framwellgate Chapel, Durham, for the formation of a Congregational Church in that place. The Rev. A. Jack of North Shields, preached an appropriate sermon on Isaiah lvi. 6 and 7. The Rev. A. Reid of Newcastle, briefly explained the circumstances under which the new interest was begun, and read testimonials on behalf of those who were united in church fellowship, from the church in Claypath, Durham, and the church in Barnard Castle. The Rev. S. Watkinson of Monkwearmouth, then commended the newly formed church to God in solemn prayer. The ordinance of the Lord's Supper was afterwards attended to, the Rev. R. Thomson of Staindross, presiding. Addresses having been given by the Rev. J. W. Richardson of Sunderland, and the Rev. J. Harper of Alstone, the services were closed with prayer, by the Rev. J. Kelsey of South Shields. The Rev. R. Forsaith of Highbury College, who has for some time supplied at Framwellgate Chapel, the Rev. D. D. Evans of Gateshead, and the Rev. E. Davies of Low Row, assisted in the engagements of the evening.

Framwellgate Chapel was originally opened as a place of worship for the Protestant Dissenters nearly fifty years ago. About eighteen years since it was closed, and the congregation meeting in it, joined the congregation in Claypath, both being at that time in a feeble state. After the removal of the Rev. Dr.

N. S. VOL. III.

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