choose its own officers, admit or reject candidates for communion, excommunicate disorderly members, and transact its own affairs, without being subject to the power and coutroul of others. 6. But the churches of Christ are not to be insulated and independent of each other in regard THE DYING BELIEVER. My time of departure's at hand, This tenement hastes to decay; To yonder invisible land to communion, advice, admoniTM tion, sympathy, and assistance. 7. No one ought to be obliged to support his neighbour's religion, nor be liable to pains and penalties for the avowal and peaceable dif fusion of his religious tenets. POETRY. My spirit will soon bend its way. The sun, which now gilds the blue skies, Will shine on my grassy green grave; No tear-drop will then dim my eyes, No sigh will my bosom then heave. My conflict will then be complete, The armour of light not be worn; Each enemy slain at my feet, And glory my brow will adorn. My course will be then at a close; The race I was destin'd to run, Will end with its cares and its woes, The prize set before me be won. Then, then 'twill appear I have kept The faith to the fathers once given;" And by it in Jesus have slept, And by it have enter'd on heav'n. Come, come, then thou angel of death, In mantle of sable array'd, I fear not resigning my breath, Nor passing beneath thy dark shade. When hidden from all things below, That moment my soul will arise, Attended by angels to go, To mansions prepar'd in the skies. There, when these blue heav'ns are gone, And earth shall be all in a flame, The judge sit array'd on his throne, And call forth his chosen by name; There, deck'd with that glorious crown, Which shines on the spirits above, I'll adore him who sits on the throne, And sing his unparallel'd love. G. VECTIS. "COMFORT ONE ANOTHER WITH THESE WORDS." THESSALONIANS i. 4. 18. WHEN weary, and their warfare done, THEOLOGUS. For this we know, that God will bring The saints with their victorious king, No greater honour can obtain, When Christ the Lord shall come. O what a shout will soon precede The awful trump of God; What wondrous visions shall succeed, And glories spread abroad. The Lord himself, who sojourn'd here, He shall descend, and we shall hear Then those who have in Jesus slept And saints on earth, who for them wept, Then farewell every sigh and tear, And every murmuring word; We join our friends, once held so dear, For ever with the Lord. When all our earthly cisterns break, And withered lie our gourds; O for the hand of faith to take The comfort of these words. 1 JOHN iii. 2, 3. FRAIL and feeble though I be, Mortal, and a frame of clay; Shall I Lord resemble thee, Who dost shine with such a ray, That the sun beside might seem, Lightless and without a beam? Yes! if I to God be born, I shall like my Saviour rise, When the resurrection morn Calls his people to the skies; With a hope of so much worth, Purified, as he is pure; J. S. JAMES EDMESTON. REVIEW OF BOOKS. CARPENTER AND HORNE'S ་་་་་་ INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE. A Popular Introduction to the Study of the Holy Scriptures, for the use of English Readers. By William Carpenter. Illustrated with Plates. London: Wightman and Cramp. 8vo. 1626. 16s. pp. 670. Illus A Compendious Introduction to the A Reply to the Accusations of Pi- 8vo. 1827. 1s. WHEN Mr. Horne's invaluable Introduction first appeared, a few years ago, we were among the earliest to hail its appearance, and to present to its author the meed of praise which he so well deserved. By turning to Vol. II. of the first series of this publication, our readers will find that, in two articles of considerable length, we pointed out the merits, and a few of the imperfections, which we believed to belong to that work. We likewise took the liberty to hint certain improvements, particularly in regard to the order and arrangement of the work, of which we thought it susceptible. Mr. Horne did us the justice privately to acknowledge his obligations to those suggestions, and in his subsequent editions availed himself of them. N. S. No. 27. Between the first and following editions, accordingly, a very considerable difference will be found The general arrangeto exist. ment has been entirely altered, several of the minor divisions remodelled, and the whole greatly enlarged and improved. In the success which has followed the labours of Mr. Horne, none rejoice more sincerely than ourselves. The appearance of successive editions of his work has afforded us the highest gratifica tion. The extensive circulation which his Introduction has obtained, constitute, we are sure, the best reward of the author, as it is the best proof that his labours have been appreciated, and are productive of the contemplated and desired results. We entertain no doubt that his work is destined long to retain its popularity, and to enjoy the approbation of every enlightened scholar. If we have contributed any thing to improve it, or promote its diffusion, we therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. Entertaining such feelings towards Mr. Horne, and such views of his efforts in the cause of sacred literature, our readers will not be surprised that we should have felt great indignation at any attempt to deprive him of any portion of his claims on public patronage, or of the dear-bought pecuniary reward of his toils. When we heard it hinted that such an attempt was likely to be made, we felt more than an ordinary degree of the rising of indignation, and were prepared, as far as our influence could extend, to counteract so unworthy an enterprize. We doubted, indeed, whether any man durst attempt it; we were sure no man of principle would attempt it: but as strange things are frequently both said T done in this imperfect world, we were disposed to judge nothing before the time, but patiently to wait the result. Our respect for Mr. Horne, and our high approbation of his work, did not, however, beguile us out of our convictions on several points. In the first place, we never entertained the thought that Mr. Horne had obtained an exclusive patent for the manufactory of Introductions to the Bible. Enemies on principle to all monopolies, we never dreamed of acknowledging prescription or monopoly in the literary republic. The world was all before Mr. Horne when he entered on his labours, though former labourers occupied the field. When he had finished his task, that world, far as he was capable of occupying it, was still before Mr. Carpenter, and he had an undoubted right to go in and possess it. On this point there can be no difference of opinion. as Nor, in the next place, were we divested of our opinion that Mr. Horne had not so completely occupied the field as to leave no room for another labourer. In English, there were several Introductions to the Bible before Mr. Horne's appeared. In the Latin and German languages there are many Introductions. Is there any good reason why we should not have many in our own? Excellent as we believe Mr. Horne's work to be, we regard it as imperfect, because we believe perfection to be unattainable. We regard it to be both deficient and redundant, and that it sins more in the latter than in the former particular. It is too laboured and extensive in its discussions on va rious points. The author, influenced by the best motives and principles, has tried to produce rather an Encyclopedia to the Bible, than a mere Introduction to enable the inquirer to read it with intelligence. It is not even every scholar who has time to digest more than three thousand closely printed octavo pages of introductory matter to the knowledge of the Scriptures; and there are thousands of reflecting persons in danger of being frightened from the undertaking by the very magnitude of the work, and the multitude of topics which it embraces. A Popular Introduction to the Scriptures, we are satisfied, was wanted, notwithstanding the celebrity of Mr. Horne's work; and an abridgment of that work would not fully answer this purpose. Many things are properly found in that work, which cannot be well abridged; many things, though abridged, would be of little use to the mere English reader; and on many points enlargement, not retrenchment, would be required in a work intended for such per sous. On these grounds, we were pleased rather than offended by the announcement of a Popular Introduction. On another point, also, we must avow our sentiments. Mr. Horne had not only no right to be offended at another person writing an Introduction, but no right to be offended by that individual making a reasonable use of his own work. If this is not admitted, there must be an end to writing and publishing in a great measure. We have lived long enough to be convinced, from experience as well as from Scripture, that there is nothing new under the sun. This is most assuredly applicable to Introductions to the Bible, and beyond all doubt most applicable to Mr. Horne's own work. He made a full, a fair, and a judicious use of every preceding work on the same subject to which he had access. He begged and borrowed, (we do not use the language in an offensive sense,) from every quarter. He did right in acting thus. It is in conse quence of this free and legitimate use of other men's labours that his work possesses the value which belongs to it, and enjoys that celebrity which has been conferred on it. We are sure no man will own more readily than its author, that if all that belongs to others were removed, and what belongs to himself only remained, the work would not only lose nine-tenths of its bulk, but be diminished ninetenths in its value. To the author, notwithstanding, belongs the honour of producing one of the most useful books, and certainly the best Introduction to the Bible, in the English language. If these observations be just, and we know that they cannot and will not be disputed, we must repeat, that Mr. Horne ought not to be offended with a reasonable use being made of his work. If his object was usefulness, he should not be displeased that it was useful even to a brother compiler. Why be angry if another has done to him what he has done to hundreds? Why take a fellow author by the throat, saying, pay me what thou owest, when he is aware that were all his own creditors to treat him in the same manner, he must become bankrupt? Our readers will observe that we speak only of a reasonable and honourable use of the work. We are aware that a dishonourable use may be made of an author's labours. For those literary thieves and robbers who apply the scissars and the knife instead of the pen, to satisfy their own appetites or those of others, we have no compassion. We could be pleased to see them exposed on the pillory to the pelting and execration of all honest men. But it is not every use of a preceding work that ought to be branded as disgraceful and dishonest. It is not even a considerable use of it that ought, under certain circumstances, to be so denounced. We are aware that a difference of opinion may exist as to what is reasonable; and we know enough of the natural jealousy and instinctive irritability of authorship not to make some allowance for Mr. Horne's feelings, in the present affair. Still we feel ourselves bound to do justice as far as possible between the parties. When a writer is accused of piracy and plagiarism, we apprehend that the proofs of his guilt cannot lie very far below the surface, and that it will not be difficult, by placing the two works together, or reading them with some degree of attention, to observe the evidences of dishonesty. As a general charge, it intimates that the guilty individual is either too ignorant to write the book to which he improperly affixes his name, or too indolent, if he possesses the requisite information, to put it together; or so destitute of principle, that he is capable of deliberately robbing another man of the fruits of his science and industry. The charge is, in every point of view, a serious one, and which must affect, not literary reputation only, but moral character. With Mr. Carpenter we have no personal acquaintance whatever; we know him only through the medium of some of his publications. We can have no inducement, therefore, to screen him from any obloquy or castigation which he may deserve. But it is due to him to say, that we believe him to be a man of principle; he has evinced to the world that he is neither an ignorant nor an indolent man. He is quite capable of producing the work which bears his name, and that work we hold to be honestly and fairly his own. On its appearance, we examined it with some attention, and from our previous familiarity with Mr. Horne's Introduction, we must have immediately detected the plagiarism, had it existed. The occurrence of many of the same topics, we were prepared for; references to many of the same writers we expected as matter of course. Incidental coincidences here and there occurred. But the main substance and scope of the book, all, in short, that makes up its authorship, belong not to Mr. Horne, and ought never to have been claimed by him. No jury of mercantile or literary men would pronounce a verdict, either of piracy or plagiarism. We fully intended to write an article on the work of Mr. Carpenter, as soon as we could overtake it; but on observing that Mr. Horne was preparing an abridgment of his own work, we naturally waited to class them together. And as we heard the accusations against Carpenter, noised abroad, we were curious to see what sort of evidence was likely to be adduced in their support. We have now seen those charges gravely preferred, and more complete failure of argument and proof we do not recollect to have witnessed. We will venture to say, that by the same process nine-tenths of the writers of the present day may be proved pirates and plagiarists. We We have Mr. Carpenter's defence also now before us. hinted, in our last number, that we were sorry for the quarrel, plainly enough insinuating what our convictions were. That regret is now more strongly excited. In an evil day for his own reputation, has Mr. Horne or his friends provoked this controversy. Of the spirit in which Mr. Carpenter has written his letter, we will say nothing commendatory; it is keen, sarcastic, and recriminative. But we do not wonder that he felt strongly, and can allow for his expressing himself with considerable warmth, from the provocation he had received. The difference cannot now be made up or concealed, and the public must judge. We shall not quote any of the vindictive passages from this pamphlet; but we shall give one or two quotations, which repel the charges of plagiarism. The first respects the order of the two works, or some of its divisions; a subject on which our readers will perceive, that we might say something; but we decline the ungracious task. In reply to the "Christian Remembrancer," Mr. Carpenter says, "The division of the grave charge,' which it now becomes my business to examine, is introduced in the following terms: "Passing over the first part of Mr. C.'s volume, which contains directions for the reading of the Bible, we come to his second part, which coincides with Mr. Horue's fourth volume, and treats on the books of Scripture. And here we find the order of an entire division of Mr. Horne's volume (containing upwards of sixty of his closely printed pages)-we mean the chronological arrangement of the prophetic books-taken without the slightest reference to Mr. Horne. THIS AR TO BE PECU. No ENGLISH DISPOSED THE THAT ORDER, OF MUCH LA RANGEMENT WE BELIEVE "The arrangement here referred to, is a distribution of the prophets into three classes:-1. Those who flourished prior to the captivity. 2. Those who flourished near to and during the captivity; and 3. Those who flourished after the return from Babylon. This arrangement the reviewer affirms to be peculiarly yours, Sir, that no English writer ever before disposed the prophetic books in that order,--that it is the result of much laborious and learned research among the works of foreign continental critics,-and that I have boldly seized upon it, and imposed it on the reader as my own!'A string of the basest and most shame. less falsehoods that ever were uttered by an anonymous scribbler. For let the reader know, that this important ar rangement of a portion of the books of Scripture,' to which you lay an exclusive claim, and which is stated to be the result of so much laborious and learned research,' was found ready cut and dried to your hands, in the Clavis Bibliorum' of Roberts!!! Yes, Sir, this venerable writer, who was truly a man of labo |