vary from fifty to a hundred dollars a year each, and in some instances, perhaps, less. This plan might be followed to advantage among all denominations, and by laymen as well as clergymen. The inhabitants of Fredericktown have become responsible for twelve thousand dollars. Every friend to religious knowledge and improvement must wish well to this institution, and we have no doubt it will be a means of great good to the church, by the zealous efforts of whose members it has been established.

Unitarianism of Dr. Watts.

THE last number of the Christian Disciple, contains an ingenious article in reply to Dr. Miller's remarks on the sentiments of Dr. Watts, in his “Letter to the Editor of the Unitarian Miscellany." We regret that our limits will not allow us to copy this article entire. We suppose no one can read it with an unbiassed mind, and still believe, that Dr. Watts died a trinitarian. It may well be recommended to such persons, as have seen any grounds for Dr. Miller's remarks, or have had any doubts respecting the unitarian faith of Dr. Watts. We have witnessed many laboured efforts of late to prove, what nobody even thought of doubting, that when Watts wrote his Psalms and Hymns he was a trinitarian.

To Subscribers.

A second edition of several of the numbers of our first volume is in press. The delay of this edition has been produced by causes not within our control; but we hope very shortly to supply all our sub scribers with such back numbers as they have not received.

Original Language of St. Matthew's Gospel.

Ir is not easy to tell precisely the times at which the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke were written. After comparing all the collateral evidence, Lardner has come to the conclusion, that they were written nearly at the same time, and about thirty years after our Saviour's ascension. It does not appear, that the Apostles wrote any thing early. They were exclusively employed for several years in travelling and preaching. It is argued very justly, that the Gospels must have been written before the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, because they contain many predictions relating to that event, which evidently had not come to pass. According to Josephus, the Jewish war, which terminated in the ruin of that nation, commenced A. D. 66. Several of the ancient christian writers testify, that Mark was solicited by the brethren at Rome to write for their benefit what Peter had preached to them. From the best accounts Peter must have gone to Rome about A. D. 63. Hence Lardner concludes, that Mark's Gospel was not written before this period; and also, that the Roman brethren did not then know of any written Gospel.

Origen says there was a tradition, that Matthew wrote first; but Basnage gives the precedence to Luke's Gospel, and for this opinion there is some internal evidence. The introduction to Luke's Gospel strongly implies, that Theophilus, to whom he writes, had never seen a written account of "those things wherein he had been instructed;" which would not have been likely to be the case, if any Gospels by the other Apostles were at that time in existence.* From these facts it would seem, that when Mark and Luke wrote they had neither of them seen any other Gospel, or known of any having been written. But the Apostles were in different countries, and one might have written without the knowledge of another; yet they could not in the nature of things have remained long thus ignorant. In short, there is good reason to believe, that the Gospels in question were written nearly at the same time, and at the period above mentioned. It is more than probable, also, that neither of the authors was acquainted with the Gospels of the others when he wrote; but which was first in order cannot be ascertained.

It has been a common belief from very early times, that Matthew's Gospel was first written in the Hebrew language. This was stated by Papias, Irenaeus, Origen, and Eusebius; yet Lardner has given many cogent reasons why it was probably written in Greek.t Seve

*St. Luke's Gospel, and the Acts of the Apostles, written also by St. Luke, formerly constituted but one book. In the commencement of the Acts, the author refers to his Gospel, and calls it TENTOV Logov, the first part, or as our translation has it, the former treatise. He then takes up the narrative precisely where Hence the an

he had left it in what is now called his Gospel. cients quoted the Gospel and the Acts promiscuously under the title of the History of St. Luke.

The words of Papias are, MATORIOS ME ουν Εβραιδι διαλεκτῳ τα λογια συνεγραψατο, ήρμήνευσε δ' αυτα

ral other learned and eminent moderns have been of the same opinion. Dr. Jortin says, in his Discourses concerning the Christian Religion, that "in the time of Christ and his Apostles, the Greek was really the universal language. The New Testament is a proof of it, if proof were wanting. And this is one reason among many others why St. Matthew probably wrote his Gospel in Greek." Even among the ancients themselves the opinion does not seem to have been very common, that Matthew wrote in Hebrew. They seldom, perhaps never, quote the Greek as a translation. No person is mentioned on any good authority, as having been the translator. Jerom says, it was uncertain by whom it was done. In the time of Theophylact it was usually attributed to John; and at other times tradition referred it to James. Furthermore, no marks of a translation are visible in the Greek Gospel of Matthew, as it has come down to us. These reasons among others induced Lardner to believe, that it was first written in Greek. Michaelis was of a contrary opinion;*

ὡς εδύνατο έκαςος. Eusebius says he was a man of weak understanding-σφοδρα σμικρος ων τον νουν—and the latter part of the clause respecting the Gospel of Matthew, namely, and every one interpreted it as he could, has been usually thought to be in proof. But if the truth were known, it probable he meant only, that as the christians of that day did not all understand Hebrew equally well, they interpreted it severally according to their knowledge. This Papias was bishop of Hieropolis, and flourished about A. D. 116. Nothing remains of his works, except a few extracts preserved in the writings of Eusebius. Irenaeus flourished, according to Lardner, about the year 178; Origen, 230; and Eusebius 315. It is worthy of remark, that Origen gives no other authority than "tradition," for supposing Matthew's Gospel was first written in Hebrew.

* Introduction to the New Testament, Part I. chap. 4. sec. 1.

and Less inclines to the belief, that Matthew himself composed his Gospel in both languages.*

This last opinion, perhaps, may be better sustained, than either of the others. It obviates all the difficulties, which are felt in reconciling various testimonies. St. Matthew was no doubt as well acquainted with the Greek, as the other Apostles. It is likely a great number of the Jews in Palestine were not familiar with this language, and he might think it expedient for their benefit to write it in Hebrew; and for the Christians at large among the Gentiles, where the Greek was chiefly spoken, he might perceive the necessity of its being in that language, for it must be remembered, that none of the Gospels were written, till the religion had extended itself over many countries. If he wrote first in Hebrew, it is quite certain a translation was made into Greek immediately after, and it is as reasonable to suppose it was made by his own hands as any other.

Origin of the peculiar Doctrines of Calvinism.

I CONFESS it is difficult to imagine why these doctrines were first invented, and how they should have found favour when they were first proposed; for they are not laid down in the scriptures, and they have no loveliness of their own to recommend them. It might have seemed like humility to attribute, as they do, all agency to God; and it might be very well to humble ourselves thus, if we could do it without at the same time throw

* Wenn aber, wie eben daraus zu erhellen scheint, Matthaeus sein Evangelium Hebraeisch geschrieben hat, so ist aus andren gründen eben so gewiss, das er es auch Griechisch ausgefertiget. Geschichte der Rel. Erst. T. 540. See also, Authenticity of the New Testa ment, translated by Kingdon, p. 87,