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the earth, the one most exposed to sophistry and superficial knowledge, is such a one as is growing up into an army of millions, with minds half-informed, and worse disciplined, and yet intensely active, and self-relying. Ignorance is likely to be despised, stupidity cannot be endured; but a little learning with great parade is exactly adapted to flatter, to delight, and to control its active, self-confident and bold population. The bold, but cunning infidel, and the mild, but crafty Jesuit, can here find ready hearers and make ardent proselytes.

Now we do not assert that great learning furnishes the only or the most powerful weapons against such antagonists. All that we claim is that these are indispensable. We freely grant, nay, we contend as earnestly as any one, that it is true in a sense most important, that the Bible and Protestantism furnish their own evidence; and that this evidence is so clear and so convincing, that it is more than a match for the violence and craft of its foes, even when aided by learning, when the question is tried by a community of sober men, who know nothing but the simple gospel, and have felt nothing but its power upon their own hearts. But on the other hand, the artful and accomplished apostles of error can be silenced and put to flight, only as their influence is destroyed, and their arts are exposed by men who understand how to use the same weapons which they wield, and are an overmatch for them in learning. If this agency is withheld, nay, if it be not vigorously exerted, no man can compute the evil consequences. If in every city and large village, historical statements are to be made by infidel and Romish scholars, and there shall be no Protestant scholar who has the training or the knowledge by which to refute them; if false assertions are to be hazarded, on the ground that no keen-sighted critic will detect and expose the lie; if all the craft of an imposing logic, and the splendor of a showy declamation shall be used to dress up the cause of error in attractive colors, and if the feeble attainments or the deficient cultivation arrayed against them, shall only serve to set off the attractions of error to greater advantage ;-then will it certainly happen that leading young men will be gained over to the wrong side, and a fearful bias will be given to public opinion in the wrong direction. Against this strong current in the active and thinking mind in the community, the faithful preacher must contend with striking disadvantages. However single-hearted may be his aims, and bold and untiring his labors, he will find that a plastic energy is shaping against him the youthful society about him; that it mocks his hopes by its subtle influences, and will disappoint his plans of good.

But on the other hand, let the defender of the truth have the advantages which we contemplate, and let him also be a bold, single-hearted, believing preacher of the gospel; let him be

respected for his intellect, and be seen to be well furnished by his learning for every emergency, and his influence will be mighty indeed. Nor is it a new and peculiar thing, that it is claimed that an able ministry for the West must be thus trained and furnished. It is a new thing to imagine that great preachers and able combatants against error can be trained and furnished in any other way, whether for the West or any other community. It is a grand mistake and will be seen to be fatal, to think of a community of preachers there, who shall be educated without institutions of learning and of libraries; or to contemplate any system of religious influences for the West, as at all complete, in which learned Christians schools do not fill a prominent and an indispensable place. The champions of the truth in the Reformation, were men trained in the schools, who contended with men trained in the schools, and vanquished. As fast too as the ground was gained for Protestantism, just so fast was it secured by the establishment of schools of instruction, by the advancement of promising scholars to Protestant professorships, by the editing of books in Theology and the classics, as well as by gathering libraries to serve as armories for the defenders of the Faith. Luther felt it to be indispensable to the progress and permanence of his work, that a learned teacher should be found to train the defenders of the new Faith; and he hailed his young professor, Melancthon, as a pledge of glorious triumphs which were to come. And when he heard him lecture, he could hardly contain himself for delight, at his knowledge of Greek.'

The great Puritan divines and preachers were men of extensive reading, men, too, who made constant use of their learning. Baxter and Howe, Bates and Owen, each esteemed their libraries their most valuable earthly. possessions; and some of the first preachers of New England had larger collections of books than are possessed by their successors (with here and there an exception), though books are so plenty and so cheap. The history of the Reformation on the continent and in England, is full of instances of the value of learning to those who took part in those controversies. A striking instance of the value of the same kind of training for the peculiar controversies of the West, is given in the following statement, taken from an article in the Biblical Repository for 1845, by Rev. Joseph F. Tuttle. "The con

"Melancthon's appearance," says D'Aubigné, wrought a revolution not merely in Wittemberg, but throughout Germany and the learned world. The study he had applied to the Greek and Latin classics, and to philosophy, had given an order, clearness and precision to his ideas which diffused on the subjects he handled a new light and an indescribable beauty. The sweet spirit of the gospel fertilized and animated all his reflections; and in his lectures the driest sciences appeared clothed with a grace that charmed all hearers." "Thanks to him," says a distinguished historian of Germany, Wittemberg became the school of the nation."--History of the Reformation, Vol. 1., B. IV.

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flicting systems of religious doctrine impose the sternest necessity upon the clergy of every denomination, to be thoroughly armed at all points, ready to act in any emergency or meet with discomfiture. This is well illustrated in the celebrated debate which took place between Mr. Campbell and Mr. Purcell.' Mr. C. sustained himself with marked ability, until he made a quotation from some rare author which proved an unfortunate one. The quotation was a centre shot at the Bishop's position; but with the utmost assurance he placed the author in question on the table, and defied Mr. C. to find such a passage. The fact was, the copy was an imperfect one [mutilated, no doubt, by the Jesuits], and Mr. C. was not aware that such articles of religious merchandize existed. He was confounded but not convinced, and sent to some Eastern city to have the matter attested. But then it was too late. The popular effect was all on the Bishop's side, and that effect was far from being nullified, by the announcement of the fact in the papers of the day. Had Mr. C. been prepared upon this point on the instant, to expose the facts, he might have expelled his adversary from the field with indignity." "Western clergymen often meet with just such instances, and are warned to leave no point unguarded. The tendency of all these things has been to make them semper parati, minute-men, ready for action at any moment; 'to do battle' with any adversary, with lance, battle-axe, or

sword."

If the man of God is to be "thoroughly furnished to every good work," he must have access to large libraries, and must be trained with the advantages which such libraries alone can furnish. If the colleges of the United States, and the colleges at the West, are to be hiding-places of power for the truth; if they are to be fortresses, stored with weapons of ethereal temper; if they are to become all that they can be made, then it is both the privilege and the duty of the friends of the truth, amply to provide for their wants in this respect.

'Roman Catholic Bishop.

ARTICLE VIII.

CRITICAL NOTICES.

1. Xenophon's Memorabilia of Socrates, with Notes by R. D. C. ROBBINS, Librarian Andover Theological Seminary. Andover: Wm. H. Wardell.

MR. ROBBINS has reproduced the edition of Kühner, with slight emendations, and improved pointing. The mechanical execution does honor even to the Andover press; the open type, accuracy and delicacy of the pointing are grateful to the eye, and of unspeakable importance in a work of this kind.

The labors of the Editor, of course, have been mainly spent upon the Notes. These are quite numerous, extending through nearly 250 pages of the work, and are constructed with a view to the wants of pupils. Our examination of them has been too cursory to allow of a definite estimate; but the accuracy and conciseness which appear to characterize them have struck us favorably. The grammatical and exegetical difficulties of the author seem to be honestly met, and carefully explained; and a just care has been exercised to furnish the particular aid which the passage annotated upon, needs, and no more; quickening the student's mind, and giving him essential service, without taking the task entirely out of his hands. The edition will hardly fail to obtain the esteem of scholars as the very best upon this favorite and incomparable work.

2. Life and Religious Opinions of Madame de la Mothe Guyon; together with some account of Fenelon. By THOMAS C. UPHAM. Harper and Brothers, 2 vols. 12mo.

THE Christian world has known too little of this remarkable woman; and though that little has had much in it that was favorable, nay, admirable, it has led to misapprehensions and prejudices which a closer acquaintance will be apt to remove. It is an useful and agreeable service which Prof. Upham has performed, in bringing back the light and the beauty of a life so singularly pure, and animated with a piety so fervent, disinterested, and spiritual. The earnest enthusiasm of Madame Guyon and her followers, it is true, ran into excesses, and engendered hurtful errors; but they were errors so foreign to the tendencies of the present age, and so little likely to be reproduced, that the perusal of these volumes may be considered an almost unmingled good. There are lessons of disinterested love, of a calm walk of faith, of practical, earnest, self-abandonment, and the necessity of a vital union with Christ, which spring from almost every page, and cannot be too seriously studied, and were never more apposite than at the present time. The biographer has evinced a sympathy with some of the prominent traits of his subject's experience and doctrines, as well as an appreciation of her genius and her character, which prove a peculiar fitness for the service he has undertaken; and the reader may be assured of finding a work of rare literary ability, excellent spirit, and an interest as strong and vital as the highest and sweetest exemplification of piety and love can produce.

3. The Four Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, in Greek, with English Notes, &c. Together with the Epistles and the Apocalypse. The whole forming a complete text of the New Testument. By Rev. J. A. SPENCER, A.M.: Harper & Brothers.

As the title indicates, Mr. Spencer's notes extend only through the Acts. The edition has been prepared with the aim of introducing the Greek Testament as a school text book; and he has our cordial wishes for success. The notes are therefore, brief, chiefly philological, and adapted to promote the interests and progress of the pupil. The typography is exquisitely fine-clear, open, graceful, wellpointed, and creditable to the enterprising house from which it emanates. We have seldom seen a better specimen of Greek printing in this country. The accompanying Maps and Plans are a great help, and much emhance the value, as well as beauty

of the edition. We cannot see why the editor should have preferred the text of Mill to those later recensions which are certainly to be regarded as improvemeuts upon that critic, however learned and acute.

4. The Poetical Works of John Milton, with a Memoir and Critical Remarks on his Genius and Writings. By JAMES MONTGOMERY. With one hundred and twenty engravings by William Harvey. 2 vols. fc. Svo: Harper & Brothers.

MR Harvey's drawings in illustration of the text of Milton, have been greatly praised for their delicacy of conception and chaste and beautiful grouping. Though they do not express, in their grasp of the mighty theme or adventurous sublimity, the genius of Milton, yet never offending by ineffectual attempts, and always graceful and in the finest keeping, they seldom fail to please, if they do not instruct. They embody much of that delicacy and grace which pervades the poetry of Milton, though but little of its grandeur and sublimity. The illustrations of the minor Poems are therefore superior to those of the Paradise Lost. To this great epic none but the daring genius of Martin has ever done justice. The execution of these illustrations on wood is admirably done; there is a distinctness and finish which is rarely attained in wood engravings, and a very pleasing effect almost uniformly produced. They are umerous as well as good, and greatly enrich the page. The paper, letter, press and binding are so good as to render this, on the whole, the very best American edition of Milton we have ever seen. entire poems, including the Latin, of Milton are here included; and what a treasure of noblest wisdom and highest sublimity, beauty and truth is implied in this fact, the world has known too long and too admiringly to need to be reminded. The greatest and the best of Poets, the sublimest of uninspired interpreters of God's ways to man, the world can never over-estimate its indebtedness for many of its highest and broadest views of truth to his transcendant genius.

The

5. The Bible Not of Man; or, the Argument for the Divine Origin of the Sacred Scriptures, drawn from the Scriptures themselves. By GARDINER SPRING, D. D. American Tract Society.

WE may say of this book that it is distinguished by conciseness of statement, an orderly and comprehensive arrangement, and candor. The argument from internal evidence is drawn out with clearness and precision, and marshalled with a tact that gives to each part its just force, and increases the strength of the impression as it advances. Designed for popular reading and to produce a general impression, it does not enter into the explanation of minute details, and often assumes as true, truths and results which have been elsewhere demonstrated. This is far from being a defect-it rather disembarasses the argument, and renders it more clear and effective. Taken as a whole, we think that this branch of Scripture evidence has been here presented in a more compact and popular form, and in a better way to carry conviction to an honest mind, than we have met before. For the general circulation, which the Tract Socicty is prepared to give it, nothing could be better on this subject; and dealing, as it does, with the very structure and substance of the Bible, it is a religiously impressive volume, setting forth truths of practical and personal interest and of the most solemn nature. It is printed in a style, we are glad to say, much superior to former works of the Society, as wetperceive all their publications are of late. There is nothing lost by this.

6. An American Dictionary of the English Language. By Noah Webster, LL D. The entire work unabridged, in one volume, Crown quarto. Re vised and corrected by CHAUNCEY A. GOODRICH, D.D. Springfield, Mass., C. & G. Merriam. New York, M. H. Newman & Co.

THE issue of an edition like this is a truly gigantic enterprise, for the successful and highly satisfactory completion of which the admiration of the literary public, will not be withheld. A better specimen of the art of book-making, it is seldom indeed that our country has afforded. The paper is clear and fine, and the typography beautiful, exact and well-arranged, so as at once to gratify the eye and please the taste. There are three columns on a page of convenient-sized quarto, and yet such is the typographical skill that nothing could be more distinct aud clear than the vocabulary. It is a credit to the publishers and an ornament to the noble art, and by far exceeds any previous editions of the work.

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