from the sentiments disclosed in his earliest works, and that he is approaching much nearer to the sentiments usually entertained by those who believe in the divine origin and authority of the Scriptures. When he first began to publish, he was a neologist of the lowest class. According to him, the Pentateuch was written late down in the times of the Jewish commonwealth, or during the captivity; one half of Isaiah was spurious; and so of many other parts of the Old Testament; Christ was to be found no where; and Jewish conceit and ignorance only found him in their Scriptures. These and other opinions of the like tenor, were often more or less openly avowed and advocated.

In respect to some of these things, there has been a great change in his sentiments. He strongly contends now for the Mosaic origin of the Pentateuch. He finds prophecies relating to the Messiah, almost as often as one could desire. What he thinks of the Pseudo-Isaiah, he has not recently told us. His critical maxims and opinions have, in very many respects, greatly changed from what they once were; and he seems to be making yearly progress toward the views of the more serious and judicious critics. In all this, there is reason for rejoicing. His works from their high critical value and importance, have, and must long continue to have, great circulation. It is a matter of importance, then, that they should be the advocates of sober and solid principles of criticism.

In Christology, his views appear to be unsettled and vague. For example; on Ps. 16 he says (in the Argumentum) that he cannot construe this Psalm of the Messiah, because it represents him in the attitude of suffering, while the Jews believed that he would be merely a hero, a victorious and powerful king. He avers also, that such a view of the Messiah, "ab orationis poeticae, Ebraeorum imprimis, indole et natura abhor

Why suffering is any more abhorrent from the nature of Hebrew poetry, than triumph, we have yet to learn; as Prof. Rosenmüller has not told us. It would indeed be somewhat of a difficult task to tell us; inasmuch as almost one half of the book of Psalms is made up of poetry of this nature. Or if the Professor means only, that such representations respecting the Messiah are "abhorrent from the nature of Hebrew poetry," then this is simply a petitio principii in regard to the sixteenth Psalm.

The author confesses, at the same time, that Peter (Acts 2:

25 seq.) and Paul (Acts 13: 34 seq.) apply the 16th Psalm to the Messiah; and this because they really believed in such an application, not because they accommodated their interpretation to Jewish views. Yet this is with him no reason for applying it to Christ.

But Psalms 2, 45, and 110, the author applies to the Messiah; and he vindicates this application in a brief but satisfactory manner. The unpractised reader would not once imagine, when reading what Prof. Rosenmüller has said in reference to such an application, that after all he does not believe either in prophecy, or in the character which the Scriptures (according to his own exegesis) present of the Messiah. That such is the case, we have unhappily but too certain evidence. In vindicating the sense of , in Ps. 45: 7, and after translating the verse thus: "Thy throne, O God! is eternal," he says: "Nor is there any reason why we should doubt that the ancient Hebrews believed, that the King, whom they expected to re-introduce the golden age, would be something more than human; for we find opinions like this, among the most ancient nations of Asia; and [mark well reader] hopes of this kind, respecting some future deliverer of the human race, would much better accord with the opinions of early ages, respecting the gods being conversant with men, than with the sober method of thinking respecting such matters, which prevails in later ages." p. 299.

So then, later ages have grown too wise to believe in a Deliverer that is super-human, and sober reason rejects this. The fabulous ages only could devise such a fiction, and believe in it. Alas! how true it is, that "the world by wisdom know not God," nor "him whom God hath sent."

In regard to prediction, the student will be induced to believe, at least by most of what the author says he will be induced to believe, that his views are like those of supernaturalists in general. But now and then the wary reader will see plainly, that Prof. Rosenmüller is a rationalist, a thoroughgoing one too, as to any belief in inspiration. Prophecy is, with him, shrewd conjecture of shrewd men-and nothing more.

One can scarcely refrain from weeping, while he thinks on this. That a man of such extensive philological learning as Rosenmüller; that one who is, in general, so candid, so impartial, so unprejudiced; that one who has spent almost half a century in studying and explaining the divine word; should,

after all, place it on the same basis with the effusions of the Pythian priestess, and with the Sibylline oracles, is too grievous to think of. In the name of all that is sacred, what can be the object of a man's life, in writing commentaries on such a book? Is it merely to make money? The thought is too derogatory to be indulged, and too opprobrious to be asserted, respecting such a man. Is it then the mere love of study, which carries such a man through the most intense and immeasurable toil? I dare not answer the question. I can only say, that most of what Prof. Rosenmüller has lately written, contains a great deal of solid criticism, and is worthy of strong commendation. It is quite clear, that the student will find in most of his works very important treasures, if he knows how to make a right use of them. Finally, I cannot help adding the expression of my most earnest desire and prayer to God, that one who has done so much to illustrate the Bible, and to make its light conspicuous, may not shut his own eyes on the glory which he has so earnestly laboured to diffuse over the path of others.

II. Recent Publications.

I. Literature of the Old Testament.

1. HARTMANN, Prof. A. T. H. Historisch-kritische Forschungen über die Bildung, das Zeitalter, und den Plan der fünf Bücher Mose's, nebst einer beurtheil. Einleitung u. einer genauen Charakteristic der hebräichen Sagen u. Mythen. 8vo. Rostock. Price 4 rth.

Die enge Verbindung des Alten Testaments mit dem Neuen, aus rein biblischem Standpuncte entwickelt. Svo. Hamb. Perthes. Price 43 rth.

2. HENGSTENBERG, Prof. Dr E. Beiträge zur Einleitung ins Alte Testament.—Also under the title : Die Authentie des Daniel und die Integrität des Sacharjah erwiesen. Berlin. 8vo. Price 13 rth. (See p. 205 above.)

3. CREDNER, Prof. K. A. Joel der Prophet übersetzt u. erklärt. Halle. Svo. Price 1 rth.

4. MAURER, Dr F. J. N. D. Commentar über das Alte Testament. 2ter Band. 1ste Lief.—Also under the title: Commentar über das Buch Josua. 8vo. Stuttgard. Price 1 rth.

5. KAISERI, Prof. Dr Theoph. Phil. Chr. Commentarius quo linguae Aramaeae usus ad judicanda et interpretanda plura

N. T. loca, et maxime quae parallela sunt, novis exemplis defenditur. 8vo. Norimb. rth.

II. Literature of the New Testament.

1. WAHL, Dr Chr. Abr. Clavis N. T. philologica, usibus scholarum et juvenum theologiae studiosorum accommodata. Editio minor. 4to. Lips. Price 33 rth.-This is the smaller work of Wahl, mentioned with commendation by Prof. Tholuck on p. 208 above.

2. GUERIKE, Prof. H. E. Ferd. Fortgesetzte Beiträge zur historisch-kritischen Einleitung ins N. T.-Also under the title: Die Hypothese von dem Presbyter Johannes als Verfasser der Offenbarung geprüft. Nebst Excursen über die Abfassungszeit u. Aechtheit der Apocalypse. Ein Beitrag zur Vertheidigung der Authentie der Offenbarung des Apostels Johannes. Svo. Halle.rth.

3. OLSHAUSEN, Prof. Herm. Biblischer Commentar über sämmtliche Schriften des N. T. zunächst für Prediger u. Studirende. 1ster Band, die drei ersten Evangelien bis zur Leidensgeschichte enthaltend. Svo. pp. 960. Price 4rth.

4. CALVINI, Joh. In omnes Pauli Apost. Epistolas atque etiam in Epistolam ad Hebraeos Commentarii, ad ed. R. Steph. accuratiss. exscripti. II Vol. 8vo. Halle. Price 13 rth.-This work is published under the superintendence of Prof. Tholuck. See 205 above.

p.

5. BENECKE W. Der Brief Pauli an die Römer erläutert. 8vo. Heidelb. 1 rth.

6. FLATT, Prof. J. C. Vorlesungen über die Briefe Pauli an den Timotheus u. Titus nebst einer allgemeinen Einleitung über die Briefe Pauli. Nach seinem Tode herausgegeben von M. C. F. Kling. Svo. Tüb. Price 2 rth.

7. KUINOEL, Prof. Dr Chr. Theophl. Commentarius in Epistolam ad Hebraeos. 8vo. pp. 580. Price 23 rth.

III. Greek Lexicography.

1. PASSOW, Prof. Franz, Handwörterbuch der Griechischen Sprache. 2 Bände. 4te durchgangig verbess. und vermehrte Ausgabe. Leipz. 1831. 7 rth.

2. Thesaurus Graecae Linguae, ab H. STEPHANO constructus. Post ed. Angl. novis add. auctum, ordineque alphabet. digestum tertio ediderunt C. B. HASE, G. R. L. DE SINNER, et T. Fix. Vol. I. Fasc. 1. pp. 168. Fol. Parisiis apud Didot, 1831. Price 12 frcs.

BIBLICAL REPOSITORY,

A QUARTERLY PERIODICAL JOURNAL.

CONDUCTED BY

EDWARD ROBINSON,

Prof. Extraordinary of Sac. Lit. in the Theol. Seminary, Andover.

THIS publication is intended to be, as its name imports, a Collection of Essays and Tracts of permanent value, which shall relate, first and principally, to the literature of the Bible, and to subjects connected with this literature. A less prominent, but no less important, object of the work, is the conservation of similar essays in the departments of Sacred Rhetoric, and of Doctrinal and Historical Theology; more particularly the latter, as having been hitherto less cultivated in our country than any other.

It is a part of the plan, that a portion of each number shall consist of one or more original articles, comprising essays on biblical and other theological topics; as well as views of the state of theological education and literature in other countries. The rest of the work is to be made up of such selections from the vast range of essays, historical, philological, hermeneutical, geographical etc. existing in the theological literature of England and the various countries of the European continent, as shall seem most worthy of being presented to the American student, and best adapted to aid his progress, and promote among us the cause of biblical learning and of pure religion. These will be translated where necessary; and will every where be accommodated to the American reader, by the addition of such notes and explanations as may seem to be requisite. To every article the name of the author or translator will be affixed.

At the close of each number there will be given a list of any new and valuable publications in our own or in foreign countries; and the more important works, so far as practicable, will be particularly pointed out.

Andover Theol. Seminary, April, 1832.

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