But for a most Christian and scholar-like exhibition, an exhibition at once ample, brief and lucid, of the usage of the classics, of the Septuagint, of the Apocrypha, and of the New Testament, in respect to Bungo, we refer our readers to Prof. Ripley's Examination of Prof. Stuart's Essay "on the Mode of Baptism." We mention this work, without wishing to depreciate other valuable works on the same subject. We mention it, not only on account of its intrinsic merits, but also because, if we do not greatly err, it has had some special claim to Dr. Robinson's attentive perusal, whether we regard him as preparing a Lexicon of the New Testament, or as having given circulation, in the Biblical Repository, to Professor Stuart's Essay.

Under number 2, we find the following remark, which might do honor to the ingenuity of an apologist for sprinkling, substituted instead of the more expressive act enjoined by our Saviour, but which, certainly, has no proper place in a lexicon professing to explain the language of the apostles." In the primitive churches, where, according to oriental habits, bathing was to them what washing is to us, the rite appears to have been ordinarily, though not necessarily, performed by immersion."

Where, we ask, is the evidence, that in the days of the apostles, immersion was not always employed as the Christian initiatory rite? None is found, as we have already seen, under number 1. None really exists in Prof. Stuart's elaborate essay, as Prof. Ripley has abundantly shown. None is presented here, under number 2; and we must not be expected to believe without evidence, nor against evidence.

The Lexicographer of the Holy Scriptures assumes, indeed, a laborious and difficult task, and a fearful responsibility. But let him be diligent and faithful; let him labor as under the eye of our common Lord, and he shall have our sympathies. He shall have our fervent prayers for his complete success.

ARTICLE XIII.

LITERARY NOTICES.

1. Η Καινή Διαθήκη. The Greek Testament, with English Notes, critical, philological and exegetical, partly selected and arranged from the best Commentators, ancient and modern, but chiefly original; the whole being especially adapted to the use of academical students, candidates for the sacred office, and ministers; though also intended as a manual edition for the use of theological readers in general. By the Rev. S. T. BLOOMFIELD, Ď. D., F. S. A., Vicar of Bisbrooke, Rutland. First American from the second London edition. In two volumes. Boston. Perkins & Marvin. 8vo. pp. 597 and 631. 1837.

THESE Volumes are beautifully printed, and do honor to the Cambridge press and to the enterprising publishers. We have not space, in this number, for such a notice of the work as it deserves; but in our next number, we shall endeavor to furnish a somewhat extended review of it. We present, meanwhile, some extracts from the Preface, by Professor Stuart:

"The design of the publishers, in reprinting Dr. Bloomfield's Greek Testament, with English Notes, is to furnish the American public with a book, which is well adapted to aid the critical student of the New Testament Scriptures. Dr. Bloomfield is extensively known in England, and to some extent in this country, as an editor of the text of Thucydides, accompanied by a translation and learned notes. The first edition of his Greek Testament was sold off in about three years after its publication.

"The plan of Dr. Bloomfield's work may be briefly described to the reader. The text is formed on the basis of the last edition of Robert Stephens, adopted by Mill, and differing slightly from the Vulgate text, which originated in the Elzevir edition of the New Testament, in 1624. In a very few cases, as the editor states, alterations of this text have been admitted, which are supported by the united authority of manuscripts, ancient versions, and fathers, and also the early printed editions. All conjectural emendations have been carefully excluded. Before words where the reading has been altered, an asterisk is uniformly placed, and some notice is taken of the alteration in the notes. Brackets designate such portions of the text as are suspected of being an interpolation; brackets and a line drawn over the words, designate such words or phrases

as are probably or certainly spurious. Other marks are used by the editor, to indicate suspected words, or such as probably need emendation. The important readings admitted by Wetstein, Matthæi, Griesbach, or Scholz, are noticed, when not admitted, as is also any difference between the Vulgate text and that of Stephens, adopted by the editor.

"In the second edition, which is here reprinted, the editor states, that he has embodied the results of an attentive study of the reformers, Luther, Calvin and Melancthon; that he has carefully revised the punctuation and the marginal parallel references; that he has discussed more amply the claims and merits of various readings, and also various Greek and Hellenistic readings, and introduced a far greater number of illustrations of phraseology from classical writers, and from Philo Judæus and Josephus. He has also given more regular and copious introductions to all the books of the New Testament.

"As a convenient manual for the study of the New Testament, which furnishes the student with much important information and many useful hints, I can commend this work to the religious public. But, in doing this, it is not to be understood, that I pledge myself to all the results of Dr. B.'s exegetical study."

Dr. Bloomfield defends Episcopacy and the doctrine of baptismal regeneration. He leans, evidently, to the Arminian side; but, in general, the book is sound in doctrine and evangelical in its spirit. Every man, who wishes to possess a copy of the Greek New Testament, will undoubtedly prefer this edition, if his means will allow him to purchase it.

2. The Reader's Guide; containing a Notice of the Elementary Sounds in the English Language, Instructions for Reading, both Prose and Verse, with numerous Examples for Illustration, and Lessons for Practice. By JOHN HALL, Principal of the Ellington School. Hartford. Canfield & Robins. 12mo. pp. 360. 1836.

It is a cheering fact, that so many of the cultivated minds in our country are employed in preparing elementary books of instruction. It shows, that such minds are aware of the immense importance of popular education, and are desirous to make it more thorough and extensive. The multiplication of such books, too, shows, that there is a demand for them. We do not think such a multiplication an evil. Each book has some distinctive merit, and gains, from local causes, a wider circulation than any other could obtain. Competition quickens invention, and stimulates industry. Each author is aided by the labors of his predecessors to make his own book more perfect. There can be, and ought to be, no monopoly in this work. Let books be multiplied. Authors and publish

ers will soon ascertain, whether a book is needed or not. A defective work is better than none; and if a book really have superior merits, the public will, sooner or later, give it the preference.

The book before us is evidently the fruit of much experience in teaching; without which no man is qualified to prepare a school-book. The author's analysis of the elementary sounds in our language appears to us accurate and judicious. Our alphabet is both defective and redundant; but it is in vain to propose any change of characters. We must do the best we can with our alphabet, as it is. A correct knowledge of its imperfections, however, is important, and measures ought to be adopted by all teachers to make their pupils acquainted with the real sounds, and not merely with the names of the characters.

Mr. Hall has many valuable directions respecting the management of the voice in reading and speaking. The evils and the remedies of bad utterance and faulty inflections are pointed out. The author has given a notation of inflections, which is more extensive than any other with which we are acquainted; and he has furnished a large number of extracts in prose and verse, to which he has applied his notation. The reader, with a careful attention to a few simple marks, is enabled to read the extracts with discrimination, propriety and force, and thus form correct habits. In the hands of a skilful teacher, this book might be made an effective instrument for training children to a better style of reading and speaking, than is now prevalent.

The author has treated briefly of prosody, or the laws of versification, and the rules by which poetry should be read. This, we think, is a very useful part of his book. Few persons can read poetry with tolerable propriety. Some ministers mangle sadly the hymns which they read in public worship.

The selected reading lessons are interesting, and of a pure moral tendency, many of them being extracts from the Bible, and they are well adapted, so far as we can judge, as exercises for practice. The only thought which struck us, in looking over them, was, that it might have been well to introduce a larger number of selections from American authors, treating of American history, biography, scenery, &c. It is important to make our school books the vehicles of information respecting our own country, and thus to nourish, early, an enlightened patriotism.

We do not understand the author's definition of accent, p. 24. "Accent is a strong and firm enunciation of a consonant

after a vowel, in the same syllable.' Does this mean, that there is no accent on a syllable, unless it ends with a consonant? What, then, does he call the stress which is laid on the first syllable of na'tion, noble, and innumerable other words, in which, according to the old theory, the accent falls on a vowel ?

We have some objections, also, to the rule on page 38: "Friendly address, invitation, kind entreaty, devotional supplications, and petition in general, require the rising inflection." By the marks attached to the examples under this rule, the author seems to mean, that in such cases, almost every sentence and clause should end with the rising slide. The following passage is thus marked:

"Ho, every one that thirsteth', come ye to the waters'; and he that hath no money', come ye', buy and eat', yea, come', buy wine and milk', without money' and without price."

It appears to us, that passages read in this way would become monotonous. In prayer, the rising slide should frequently occur, but not constantly.

The author may do well to look again at a few points like these. His book is certainly creditable to his taste and judginent, and we hope it will be extensively useful. It is handsomely printed, and well bound.

3. The Ladies' Wreath, a Selection from the female poetic Writers of England and America, with original Notices and Notes, prepared especially for Young Ladies. A Gift Book for all Seasons. By MRS. HALE, Author of "Northwood," "Flora's Interpreter," "Traits of American Life," &c. Boston. Marsh, Capen & Lyon. 12mo. pp. 408. 1836.

Mrs. Hale has here collected many beautiful flowers, and has woven a "Wreath," which honors her sex more than a diadem of jewels. The volume contains specimens of the poetical writings of twenty-four females, among whom are Mrs. Hemans, Miss Baillie, Mrs. Hannah More, Mrs. Barbauld, Miss Jane Taylor, Mrs. Sigourney, Miss Gould, Mrs. Hale, and other honored names. There is a brief biographical sketch of each writer, with some critical remarks on her genius and style. These sketches are written with discrimination and taste; but there will be some difference of opinion, respecting the propriety of publishing biographical notices of living individuals in our own country, of those, especially, among these writers, who have hitherto been unknown to the public, except as anonymous contributers to periodical publications.