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losophy, is not the question. The school of Aristotle would, of course, deny, the Platonic affirm it; for in this consists the difference of the two schools. Both acknowledge ideas as distinct from the mere generalizations from objects of sense; both would define an idea as an ens rationale, to which there can be no adequate correspondent in sensible experience. But according to Aristotle, ideas are regulative only, and exist only as functions of the mind; according to Plato, they are constitutive, also, and one in essence with the power and life of nature, and this was the philosophy of the mythic poets, who like Aeschylus, adopted the secret doctrines of the mysteries as the not always safely disguised antidote to the debasing influences of the religion of the State. Jove is the mens agitans molem, and, at the same time, the molem corpoream ponens et constituens. So far the Greek philosopheme does not differ essentially from the cosmotheism, or the identification of God with the universe, in which consisted the first apostacy of mankind after the flood, when they combined to raise a temple to the heavens, and which is still the favored religion of the Chinese. Prometheus represents in a general sense, a fellow-tribesman both of the dii majores, with Jove at their head, and of the Titans or dii pacati. He represents Idea, and in this sense, the friend and counsellor of Jove; also the divine humanity, the humane god, who retained unseen, or stole a portion of the living spirit of law, which remained with the celestial gods.

6. The vous is bound to a rock, the immoveable firmness of which is indissolubly connected with its barrenness, its non-productivity.

7. Solitary. The kindred deities come to him, some to soothe, to condole; others to give weak yet friendly counsels of submission; others to tempt and insult. The most prominent of the latter is Hermes, the impersonation of Interest.

8. Finally, against all obstacles, a son of Jove himself, but a descendant from Io, the mundane religion, an Alcides Liberator will arise, and, the vous, or divine principle in man, will be the Prometheus delivered.

ARTICLE VIII.

MISCELLANEOUS AND LITERARY NOTICES.

UNITED STATES.

No important biblical work has appeared from the American press, during the last quarter. The first No. of Prof. Bush's commentary on the Psalms has been very favorably noticed in all parts of the country. We trust that a liberal patronage will be afforded to the undertaking. The second number is not yet issued.—Rev. Albert Barnes's Notes on the Gospels have had an extraordinary sale, not far from 12,000 copies having been disposed of. His Notes on the first fourteen chapters of the Acts, and on the Epistle to the Romans have appeared.-Rev. Dr. Hodge, professor of biblical literature in the Princeton Theological Seminary, has published proposals for a new commentary on the Romans.-The fifth edition of Prof. Stuart's Hebrew Grammar is nearly through the press. It is gratifying to observe an increasing demand for this grammar, as well as for other elementary works in the same language. The new theological seminaries in the southern and western states are opening new sources for the sale of books in sacred philology. This is one of the advantages of theological institutions. A principal reason for the little spirit with which sacred literature has been cultivated in England is the want of public theological seminaries. Proposals have been issued at Cambridge for publishing by subscription, "Academical Lectures on the Jewish Scriptures and Antiquities." by the Rev. John G. Palfrey, professor of biblical literature in Harvard University. Vol. I. to embrace the four last books of the Pentateuch. Vol. II. Genesis and the early prophets. Vol. III. later historical books and later prophets. Vol. IV. the remaining canonical and apocryphal writings. The price of the four volumes is to be ten dollars.-The following work has been announced at Cincinnati: "Hebrew Grammar and Chrestomathy, or a plain Introduction to the Hebrew language, and to the reading of the Old Testament, by C. E. Stowe, professor of biblical literature in Cincinnati Lane Seminary." It will be comprised in a 12mo. volume of 250 or 300 pages. Its object is to give, according to the writer's own way and mode of teaching, a concise and simple statement of the fundamental principles of the Hebrew language, unembarrassed by rabbinic pedantry or needless technical phraseology.

Alden Bradford, formerly secretary of the State of Massachusetts, has just published in one volume, octavo, a history of Massachusetts from 1620 to 1820, closing with the separation of Maine

and the revision of the Constitution. From the familiar acquaintance of Mr. Bradford with public documents, and with the leading public men, for the last thirty years, we have no doubt he has prepared an authentic and valuable history of the State. The labors of Hutchinson, Prince, the Historical Society, and of the writers of several town histories have accumulated abundant materials for the historian. A philosophical and Christian view of the affairs of Massachusetts is yet a desideratum. We do not understand the reason why church history is so much excluded from notice. The history of Massachusetts, at least for one hundred and fifty years after its settlement, is the history, in an eminent degree, of Christianity. A man, who does not understand the motives, and cannot warmly sympathize with the spirit of the puritans, is not qualified to write our annals. We do not here refer to the excesses of religious zeal, to the persecutions suffered by Mrs. Hutchinson, Roger Williams, and the Quakers, but to the vital piety of the settlers, and to the influence which that piety has exerted on Massachusetts, up to the present time. In these remarks, we do not refer particularly to Bradford's history, but to the general fact. Mr. Bancroft in his history of the United States has shown a remarkable degree of candor and judgment in estimating the character and labors of the pilgrims. He has also the especial merit of having resorted to a wide range of original documents and sources of information. His history, if the remaining volumes correspond to the one already before the public, will be read with interest and profit. It is popular and graphic rather than profound and philosophical. The style is too ambitious, and too highly ornamented for a history. The man, who shall bring out a good history of the United States, must take his time. Nine years are not sufficient. The histories of various States of the Union, so far as we have had opportunity to read them, are rather materials for the future writer, than first rate productions themselves. Hutchinson's Massachusetts is at the head of the list. Dr. Trumbull's history of Connecticut is trustworthy, though the style is rugged.

Mr. Jared Sparks is bringing out a complete edition of the works of Dr. Franklin in the same style with the Washington papers. The last volume will contain a newly written memoir of the philosopher. We trust the biographer will not fail to furnish us with the materials for forming the right conceptions of Dr. Franklin's religious opinions.

The number of literary and miscellaneous journals published in the United States at the present time is about 50. About 14 of them are published quarterly and most of the remainder monthly. Two are in the French language, and seven are republications. The North American Review, we suppose, has the greatest circulation. The medical journals are eight. A law journal is published in each

The reli

of the cities of Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. gious journals are not far from 40; a fourth part of which are issued at Boston, a fourth part at New York, and five at Philadelphia. A number of them are not entirely religious, but literary and miscellaneous. The price varies from five dollars to fifty cents. All are in the English language, and all are original publications. We regret that there are not enterprise and patronage sufficient to warrant the republication of the London Christian Observer and the Eclectic Review. One is the organ of the dissenters, and the other of the evangelical party in the established church. Both are conducted with as much literary ability as is exhibited in several of the British journals which are republished here, and they could not fail to communicate much important literary and religious information. The number of agricultural newspapers and journals is 14, four of which are published in Boston. There are eighteen journals devoted solely to the cause of temperance, besides a large number of other papers which are efficient advocates of the reform. The number of religious newspapers issued in the United States is about 90, of which about 35 are published in New England, 25 in the middle states, 10 in the southern States, and 20 in the western. In the 12 slaveholding States, 18 religious newspapers are published, and in the 12 non-slaveholding States 72. În Boston, 11 are published; in New York 12; and in Philadelphia 7. About 25 are connected with the Presbyterians and Congregationalists, 15 with the Baptists, 17 with the Universalists, 8 with the Methodists, 7 with the Catholics, etc. The circulation of most of these journals is extremely limited. The Methodist Christian Advocate publishes 32,000 copies, the New York Observer 14 or 15, 000. Three or four others may have from 3,000 to 7,000 subscribers; but the subscription list of three fourths, probably, does not reach 1500 each. Of course, the compensation which is paid to editors is altogether inadequate, and the journals consequently have a feeble and precarious existence. The evils of the present arrangement are great, but the remedies seem to lie beyond our reach. The number of political newspapers issued in the United States in 1775, was 37; in 1810, 359; in 1828, 851, and in 1835, more than 1400. The number of daily papers is 90. About 1000 of the 1400 are published in the non-slaveholding States.

The principal scientific and literary societies in the United States are the Maine Historical Society, which has published one volume of collections; the New Hampshire Historical Society, which has published three volumes of collections; the Massachusetts Historical Society, 24 volumes of collections, incorporated in 1791; American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Boston, incorporated in 1780, 5 quarto volumes of memoirs; American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Ms., one volume of collections, volumes in the

The theory of Sabellius, then, which we are yet to examine, is not to be regarded as any thing altogether new; but it must be taken in connection with the formulas of Noetus and Beryll, and regarded as the more full development of them.

6. Views of Sabellius.

[IT is very remarkable, that we should have almost no definite information respecting the personal history of Sabellius; considering the unusual interest which his opinions excited, in ancient times, both for and against him. That he lived in Africa, at Ptolemais a town of Pentapolis or Cyrenaica, some distance on the Mediterranean shore west of Egypt, is generally conceded. Later authors ascribe to him the office of bishop or elder; but they are too late to be safe guides. It is merely the influence which he seems to have had in the church, that would lead us to suppose that he was invested with some office. The probable time of his publishing his sentiments, may be stated at 255-259. Dionysius of Alexandria (Epist. in Euseb. Hist. Ecc. VII. 6) mentions the heresy of Sabellius as having recently sprung up. Philastrius and Augustine say, that he was a pupil of Noetus. This may have been the case; but the distance between the two countries where they lived, renders this circumstance somewhat improbable, although not impossible.

The

That he was a writer, cannot well be questioned. younger Arnobius (de Deo uno, etc. p. 570 in Feuardent's edit. of Irenaeus) says, that in the fifth century some of his writings were still extant. Of what nature these were, he has not told us.

That the opinions of Sabellius were urged with zeal and ability by him, seems altogether probable from the fact, that many bishops in the neighbouring countries, and in Egypt, received them. Moreover the burning zeal which Dionysius bishop of Alexandria manifests against them, shews that he felt the danger from them to be great. His excessive sensitiveness also betrays the conviction in his mind, that they would soon become predominant. It is probable, that his strenuous efforts to suppress Sabellianism, joined with the successive ones of Athanasius, Basil, and others, may have checked very much the rapid progress which it was making. Epiphanius however, (Haeres. 62) about A. D. 375, testifies that the adherents of Sabellius

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