British Critic, p. 102.

"This is certainly a sorry specimen of

Micah Nahum Habakkuk --Zephaniah, II. NEAR UPON, AND UNDER THE BA

BYLONISH CAPTIVITY

- Lamentations -- Daniel-

Jeremiah Ezekiel-Obadiah.

III. AFTER The Jews' reiURN FROM THE BABYLONISH CAPTIVITY— Zechariah --- Malachi.'-Clav.

Haggai Bib. p. 393-400.

"What will the reviewer and his friends say to this? The result of much laborious and learned research among the works of foreign continental critics!!! But it may be objected, that whatever you may have done, I could not have derived any mode of arranging the prophets from Roberts' work; because, although I agree with him in his three grand divisions, yet the distribution which I have made of the several prophets under these three epochas does not correspond with him, while it exactly coincides with you. My answer is this. Upon copying the table of the order and time of the appearance of the prophets,' which I have given avowedly from Archbishop Newcome; but which you, Sir, I find, give as from the tables of BLAIR, ARCHBISHOP NEW. COME, and other eminent critics!-it appeared to me that it would be conducive to the understanding of their writings, to take them in the order in which they were here presented to me, only distin. guishing more particularly the circumstances in which the Jewish people were placed, during the times of their ministra tion. This will account for my variation from Roberts, in his numeration of the individual prophets, and also for my agreement with yourself and Newcome. I should certainly have referred to Roberts, as suggesting the arrangement, and to whom I was doubtless indebted, but was then utterly unconscious that I was under obligations in the matter to any preceding writer whatever."--pp. 23, 24.

In answer to the British Critic, he writes as follows:

"The first part,' says this publication, of Mr. Carpenter's book, contains directions for reading the Holy Scriptures: and in almost the first part of his preface, he has taken, with one alteration, the title of Mr. Horne's observations on the same subject. The commencement of Mr. Horne's Introduction (first edition, on the last chapter of vol. i. of subsequent impressions) is, 'On THE MORAL QUALIFICATIONS [&c.] for studying the SCRIP

poses as artful a piece of plagiarism as it ever fell to the lot of critics to expose.' For it so happens that my chapter on the subject in question is not entitled The Moral Qualifications [&c.] for a profitable reading of the Scriptures; but

OF THE DISPOSITION AND HABITS OF MIND WHICH ARE REQUIRED FOR A PROFITABLE PERUSAL OF THE BIBLE!!!!

"Indeed, Sir, I was not aware, until informed by the British Critic, that you had a syllable on the subject. But be this as it may, it is obvious that I have not here derived any thing from your work. For in the first place, your observations on this subject do not exceed three pages, while mine occupy nearly fifteen; besides which, there is not a single remark in common to both treatises, and only a single reference to corresponding topics!

"It is next insinuated, that I have borrowed from you, Sir, the second chapter of this part of my work; but let me ask this reviewer, whether I have not faithfully referred to the several writers to whom I have here been indebted, in a manner in which no one could mistake? I have never derived a page--a section--a chapter-from an English writer, and then, for the purpose of concealing my obliga. tion, thrown in a reference to his book among a mass of foreign writers, who had not furnished one iota to the subject. I could easily have made a parade of more extensive research, by swelling the number of my references, but was under no temptation to pass off such a fraud upon my readers. The Critic does, indeed, take upon him to affirm, that I have in this chapter pretended to quote two or three original writers; whereas the fact has been, that I have found the passages ready to my purpose in your work, whence they have been duly transferred to my pages. His proofs of this I am quite willing to leave to the impartial decision of the public. But here, as in many other parts of this singular business which it has fallen to my lot to notice, there is not only much studied misrepresentation, but also some deliberate falsehood. The Critic affirms, that I have given the same quotation on the same subject' with yourself, from Mr. Burder's Discourse; and then represents me as gravely telling my readers, since the above was written, I have met with the following judicious remarks, of which I gladly avail myself,' &c. adding, When the very passage was

before him, at the time he copied from Mr. Horne this sentence, (to his very

italics,) [!] — The scope of an author is either general or special!' Can any one believe that such a coincidence is purely accidental? especially when we add, that Professor Franck's Guide to the Study of the Holy Scriptures, to which Mr. Carpenter professes to refer, has no such sentence.'--p. 103.

speak a little. The following passage from the preface, gives a very fair account of its origin, and of its contents, and pays a very honourable tribute of respect to his predecessor; we are sorry that we must now say his opponent.

"The design of the following work is to furnish a digest of the most valuable infor

But it is in the prefatory observations on the several books of Scripture,' says the Critic, that we find the sweeping use that has been made of Mr. Horne's la bours.' He then proceeds to say, that you, Sir, have disposed your observations in an order which no other English writer has pursued, but which the foreign writers, whom you have consulted do follow,' and which I have adopted from you without acknowledgment, notwithstanding that the enumeration which he afterwards gives, convicts him of uttering

a falsehood! The fact is, that the order in which I have enumerated these topics, in pointing out the sources of internal helps, was taken from Roberts, to whom I have fairly referred it!"-pp. 29, 30.

We do not think it necessary to furnish more quotations, as we should be sorry to extend the circulation of some things contained in this letter. The sum of the matter is, that both works are chiefly and necessarily compilations. Both have been greatly indebted to preceding writers; and both might have had, and will have, an extensive circulation, without materially interfering with each other. Mr. Horne's work could not be injured by Mr. Carpenter's Popular Introduction. No person able to buy, and capable of using the former, would be satisfied with the latter. On the other hand, we hold “that a popular Introduction for the use of the mere English reader was wanted, and Mr. Carpenter has done much to supply the desideOf that work we will now

ratum.

tation and antiquities, adapted to the use of that class of persons whose knowledge of language is confined to the English The importance of an acquaintance with historical circumstances, in order to a right understanding of Scripture, is now too generally admitted to require any arguledge the Bible may certainly be read with ment in its support. Without this knowmuch devotional feeling, but it cannot be read with the spirit and with the understanding also;' and yet it is difficult to conceive of much real edification in the absence of the latter.

Scripture has been most extensively cir"During the last twenty years, the culated in our highly-favoured land, and the number of its readers has been proportionably increased; but it is to be regretted that no adequate provision has

been made to furnish for the class of perinstruction, sufficiently extensive in its sons above referred to, a compendium of range and detail to answer the principal purposes of biblical interpretation. The only work with which the author is acquainted, that in any degree answers to this description, is Mr. Horne's justly valued Introduction to the Critical Study and Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures ;' but that publication contains, as its title sufficiently indicates, a great proportion of matter which is not available to mere English readers, while its necessarily high

་

price places it, in very many instances, beyond their reach.

"After having waited for several months, in the hope that some competent desideratum, during which time he has person would undertake to supply the more than once called the attention of the public to its importance, the author has ventured upon the task; but not without considerable reluctance. His ordinary and pressing avocations have necessarily prevented him from giving to the subject that attention which its importance and difficulty demand, while other circumstances have excluded him from many valuable sources of information. However, it is now too late to dwell upon these matters: having ventured to offer to others the result of his own inquiries, his work must stand or fall, altogether apart from a consideration of his means or opportunities of imparting information. It only

remains, therefore, that some account should be given of the nature of the work, and of the authorities upon which its statements have been made.

"PART I. contains Directions for reading the Holy Scriptures. In the first chapter of this Part, which treats of the moral qualifications for a profitable reading of the Scriptures, the great object proposed was, to induce a humble and devotional frame of mind in this employment, and to point out the necessity of subordinating every species of biblical knowledge to experimental and practical purposes. On this part of his labours, the author could have dwelt at considerable length, but the recollection that a great mass of materials required to be incorporated into the suceeeding part, compelled him to contract bis original plan.

"The second chapter of this Part was designed to furnish such general rules as should lead, if carefully adopted and followed up, to a correct acquaintance with the letter of Scripture.

"PART II. was designed to comprise a discussion of the various subjects usually classed by biblical writers under historical circumstances, sufficiently ample to give a correct general view of these mattersa task which, it will be conceded, was not easily to be accomplished within so small a compass. It is hoped, nevertheless, that this object has been attained to some

extent.

"Chapter 1, contains a series of Prefatory Observations on the several books of Scripture; comprising a distinct notice of their authors, chronology, scope, the persons to whom they were primarily addressed, analysis of their contents, &c. &c. And although it formed no part of the author's design to exhibit the general evidences of revelation, be has yet judged it expedient, in treating of the respective books, to offer a few remarks on the leading features of that evidence which attests their genuineness and authenticity. In reviewing the Old Testament Scriptures, the utmost conciseness, compatible with intelligibility, has been aimed at; but in the remarks on those of the New Testament, it has been deemed requisite to be somewhat more diffuse. For this part of his work the author has consulted such publications as he conceives to be the best authorities; and where modern writers have either borrowed from earlier ones, or improved upon their labours, reference has been given to their works, in preference to those which cannot be presumed to be so accessible to that class of persons for whom this publication is designed.

"Chapter 2, contains a Sketch of Sacred Geography, comprising an account of the Holy Land, and also of those other countries whose histories are connected with that of the Jewish people. In the com

pilation of the former part of this chapter, the author has taken Reland's very elaborate work-Palestina Illustrata-as his model and guide; having recourse at the same time to the labours of Josephus, Wells, Whitby, Michaelis, Lightfoot, Beausobre and L'Enfant, D'Anville, Calmet and his crudite and industrious editor, the authors of the Universal History, and others. Nor have the contributions of mo. dern travellers been neglected, as the various illustrative information derived from Maundrell, Shaw, Hasselquist, Clarke, Richardson, Burckhardt, Buckingham, Jolliffe, and Captains Irby and Mangles, will sufficiently attest. The author much wished that he could have been at liberty to enlarge on the geography of Palestine, but his limits rendered this impracticable. He has therefore been obliged to content himself with exhibiting the general features, divisions, and phenomena of this interesting, and once delightful spot of the globe.

"Of the maps accompanying this chapter, the author will only say, that upon them he has bestowed no trifling labour; and yet, after all, he sees much reason to solicit the indulgence of those who may inspect them. They who know the difficulties of the subject will not be surprised that he should have sometimes erred.

"Chapter 3, which treats of the Political Antiquities of the Jews, has been drawn up after a careful examination of Lowman, Lightfoot, Michaelis, Godwyn, Calmet, Jennings, Lamy, Fleury, Harwood, and such of the commentators and other writers as the author was acquainted with.

"Chapters 4 to 8, relate to the Sacred Laws, Festivals, Places, Things, and Persons of the Jewish Church; and it is hoped that they present a mass of information on these subjects-so important to a correct understanding of Scripture-as is not any where to be met with in so small a compass The writers to whom the author has here been principally indebted are, Josephus, Lightfoot, Lowman, Lamy, Michaelis, Calmet, Godwyn, Jennings, and Dr. Brown, whose valuable work on the "Antiquities of the Jews," cannot be too bighly commended. Where he has seen occasion to differ from preceding writers, he has generally given the reasons which have influenced his judgment.

"Chapter 9, on the Corruption of Religion, and Religious Sects among the Jews, does not require to be more distinctly noticed.

ready enumerated, much aid has been derived from Harmer, Taylor, and Burder, and also from some eastern travellers, who have either escaped the notice of these writers, or appeared subsequently to the publication of their respective works. The illustration of Scripture incidents and expression has been constantly kept in view throughout this part of the work.

"Chapter 11, contains a notice of various customs and opinions, not adopted by the Jewish people, but to which there are either direct references or incidental allusions in the sacred writings. In this chapter the author has been chiefly indebted to Dr. Harwood, whose Introduction to the Study and Knowledge of the New Testament' contains some masterly disquisitions on subjects of this nature, but which, it is to be regretted, are mixed up with much that is erroneous and dangerous with respect to Christian doctrine.

"In the Appendix will be found a table, comprising such a distribution of the whole Scriptures as that they may be read through in chronological order, once in the year. For this the author is indebted to a friend, who originally drew it up for publication in the Scripture Magazine, where it may be seen with the addition of the sacred seasons and remarkable events of the Bible."-pp. i--vii.

This long extract, which, under existing circumstances, we thought ourselves bound in justice to give, presents the plan of the whole work before the reader. He has only to compare it with Mr. Horne's Critical Introduction, to see that the plan of the two works differs materially. To enable him to make this comparison, we here add, as due to Mr. Horne, the whole of his preface to his abridg

ment.

“The little manual, now offered to the public, has been undertaken in consequence of requests long since communicated to the author, and frequently repeated, that he would prepare an analysis or abridgment of the four octavo volumes of his larger Introduction to the Critical Study and Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures;' as an assistant to the studies of gentlemen at the universities and other seminaries of theological literature, as also of those individuals who may respectively possess that work, and to whom such an auxiliary would be acceptable. At the same time, the present volume has been so arranged, as to form a comprehensive guide to the study of the Bible,

adapted to the use of GENERAL READERS: it will be found to contain,

"I. A Summary of the Evidences of the Genuineness, Inspiration, &c. of the Holy Scriptures, refuting the most modern objections of Infidels;

"II. An Outline of the Literary History, and Interpretation of the Bible; "III. A Compendium of Biblical Geography and Antiquities; and,

"IV. Introductory Prefaces to the several Books of Scripture.

"In preparing this manual for the press, the order of the larger Introduction has generally been followed; the parts and books, into which it is divided, corresponding with the volumes and parts of volumes in that work. Those bibliographical, critical, and other details only have been omitted, which either would not admit of abridgment, or which would be uninteresting to the generality of English readers. In lieu of the copious lists of books on every department of sacred literature, which are dispersed through his larger work, the author has subjoined, in an appendix, a catalogue of the most valuable books on the study of the Scriptures, principally those which are most easily to be procured, with their current prices, and accompanied with bibliographical notices, particularly of such expository and philological treatises as have appeared since the publication of the fifth edition of the author's larger Introduction. And he has also given a list of select of the Old and New Testaments, adapted chapters of the Bible, forming an epitome to perusal in the family or in private, together with chronological and other tables; which he trusts, with the Divine facilitate the devout and attentive reading blessing on his labours, will contribute to of the Holy Scriptures, which ALONE are able to make us wise unto salvation, THROUGH FAITH which is in Christ

Jesus.'”—pp. iii, iv.

and connected view of the evidence, that the Bible is a revelation from God. This is given at far too great length again in Horne's Critical Introduction. There it is not an introduction, but a most prolix and fatiguing treatise, which keeps the reader far too long from the main object of his book. We are much better pleased with the abridgment of it in his compendium. With the addition of references to other works on the subject, it is sufficiently extensive for his larger work.

With the chapter on the dispositions and habits of mind necessary for a profitable perusal of the Bible, in Carpenter, we are much better pleased than with the few remarks of Horne on the moral qualifications for the study of the Scriptures. Much more might be said than is said by both on this most important topic. We have never been satisfied with Mr. Horne's rules of interpretation. This he is aware that we expressed at the first appearance of his work. They are too numerous -his distinctions are too refined, and often tend to perplex rather than to assist. If the disciples of the modern school of Germany err on the side of literalizing every thing, those of the school of Fracok have erred on the side of spiritualizing every thing. It is immensely difficult to get men to exercise their common sense on the meaning of the word of God; and in dependence on divine illumination to interpret the Bible, as they would do another book produced at the same period, and under the same circumstances.

Mr. Carpenter's principles of interpretation are fewer than those of Mr. Horne, and correct as far as they go; but they do not comprehend enough, which indeed they could scarcely do, as he wrote only for English readers. To them, however, the judicious N. S. No. 27.

application of his general rules will afford important assistance. The one-half of the Popular Introduction is occupied with Scripture geography and Jewish antiquities. This is by far too large a proportion in such a work. Here, however, the author is quite at home, and naturally felt the great importance of subjects which he appears to have considered with great attention. But both Mr. Horne and himself, and many writers beside, estimate the importance of these topics far too highly in their bearings on the interpretation of Scripture. They are useful in their place; but a man may be profoundly acquainted with them, and yet make a very foolish commentator on the Bible. What is it to us to know to an hair-breadth the size of a Jewish sandal, and the forms and qualities of the knobs of the tabernacle, and the tassels of the High Priest's robe? Of how little consequence is it to ascertain the origin and windings of the rivers of paradise, and whether it was a serpent of a particular kind, or a baboon, which tempted Eve? On all these, men may write very learnedly and very wisely, and we have no objection to such discussions in their own place; but we do not think they throw great light on the Bible, as a communication of the will of God to men, Mr. Horne's smaller work contains quite enough on these departments.

To sum up the whole, and take our leave of this controversy. It is nothing to the general reader where the parties have got their materials. He has only to do with what is written. Mr. Carpenter's Popular Introduction is a sensible, well written, judicious. book; combining a large portion of valuable matter, and calculated to afford important assistance to the humble inquirer, who only knows his mother tongue, and con

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