2. Extracts from a Letter to the REV. JOHN PROUDFIT, of Newburyport, Mass. from M. MERLE D'AUBIGNE, Professor of Theology at Geneva, Switzerland. Translated from the

French.*

DEAR BROTHER IN CHRIST OUR HOPE,

GENEVA, JAN. 20, 1832.

*

I was present at that great and delightful assembly of brethren at Lausanne.-I spoke much of your fasts in the United States, and of the blessings we had enjoyed in consequence of that which we had observed with you at Geneva; and all the brethren, with one heart, agreed on the observance of a day of fasting and prayer, which has been the first of the regenerated church of Christ on the continent of Europe.† Oh! that your prayers may be united with our's, that the Spirit may be poured out from on high, and that the desert may become as Carmel !

Our friends of the Committee of the new school of theology at Geneva, desire me to give you some intelligence in relation to its affairs. The instructions of the school will comprehend two courses of lectures; the one in winter commencing in December, the other in summer commencing from Easter. Our regular courses of lectures, therefore, will open after Easter. But we shall enter on preliminary courses during the present month (January). We advance in faith. We await all from the Lord. We would have commenced with a single pupil. The Protestant faculty of Montauban began with four pupils. We have already more. Many members of seminaries hitherto Roman Catholics, have been individually announced to us from France.

Gaussen is no longer at Satigny. The opposite party of our church, irritated by the noble testimony which he has rendered to the eternal divinity of our Lord Jesus, have gone so far as to remove him from his parish. This is very happy for our school, to which he will now be entirely devoted. He is truly the Cal

* Kindly communicated by the Rev. Mr Proudfit for the Biblical Repository.

The writer refers to a day of fasting and prayer which had been extensively observed for the same object, viz. the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the churches of Switzerland, France, Holland, and Germany.

J. P.

vin of our times-Calvin, with equally high endowments and a more attractive charity. We await the arrival of our professor, M. Steiger, from Berlin, of whom my friend Tholuck of Halle, writes me as follows: "If he has access to the necessary means, he will make the present age an epoch in the learned world." M. Steiger is desirous to bring with him another German scholar, his friend, a devoted Christian and deeply skilled in the Oriental languages. He has written to me, in relation to him as follows: "The publications of M. Havernick would exert an important influence towards restoring the theology of protestant France; while he would be a valuable accession to our faculty, from the high distinction which he enjoys in France and Germany." It is very probable that we shall accept the offer of M. Havernick, and that he will be our's. Nothing is yet decided as to Monod of Lyons.

*

We wish to erect a building to contain the lecture-rooms of our school of theology, and to furnish a residence for one of our professors; and also, a large chapel, in which the gospel of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ may be preached to the great numbers, who do not belong to the dissenting community of the Bourg-de-four and Pré l'Évèque.

*

I have opened a course of lectures on the history of the reformation and of the reformers of Germany in the 16th century. It is delivered at the Casino, in a large hall, and is much frequented by persons of all ages, sexes, and ranks. Although the course is properly historical, you will readily perceive that this glorious history of the reformation affords me an opportunity of saying many things of practical utility, and exceedingly appropriate to the present state of Geneva. May the divine blessing attend them! I have printed my introductory discourse, “On the study of the history of Christianity and its especial utility at the present period," of which I send you a copy. Gaussen also sends you a copy of the "Memoirs of the Council of State."

All our friends charge me with their fraternal regards. May the care of Christ be extended to you and all the American church! Your devoted brother,

MERLE D'AUBIGNE.

MY DEAR SIR,

3. From the same to the same.

*

*

GENEVA, APRIL 15, 1832.

Our preliminary courses of lectures have just closed. We shall commence the summer semester one week after Easter; it will continue till September. The following will be the branches of instruction.

I. EXEGETICAL THEOLOGY. M. Havernick, Licentiate of Theology from Rostock. 1. Hebrew Grammar. 2. Interpretation of Genesis, and of historical portions of the other books of the Pentateuch.-M. Steiger. I. General Introduction to the New Testament. 2. Exegesis of the New Testament, commencing with the Gospel of Matthew.

II. HISTORICAL THEOLOGY. M. Merle d'Aubigné. 1. History of the church of Christ during the period of persecution. 2. Archaeology of christian worship, and of christian manners and customs.

III. DOCTRINAL THEOLOGY. M. Gaussen. Practical Theology.-M. Galland. Character aud attributes of the minister of Christ.

In the preliminary courses of the winter, we have had fourteen regular students. At the commencement, there were also about 30 who attended irregularly. These were students of the unitarian faculty. In our regular courses, we shall probably, Deo volente, have still more.

We continue to receive tokens of much sympathy for our establishment. You will have seen, in the Archives du Christianisme, that the king of the Netherlands has published an edict in favour of our school, and has made us a donation. A committee has also been formed in England and Scotland in our behalf. We think some of inviting our brother, M. Adolphe Monod, late pastor at Lyons, to make a journey in the south of France, in reference to the general interests of the kingdom of God, as also in aid of the particular interests of the Seminary. This brother possesses, as you know, strong faith and admirable gifts. The government have just confirmed the decree of the Consistory to which he belonged, by which he was deposed from the ministry, for attempting to maintain in his church the doctrine and the discipline of the Reformed churches of France.

Should he make this journey, we hope that God will deign to make him an instrument of good to his cause.

The following are a few of the recent theological and other publications in Germany. Some English ones are referred to in the preceding pages; while the more important ones, as the Works of Robert Hall, the new Theological Library, etc. are in a course of republication in this country. It may here be remarked, that the semi-annual catalogue of German publications for the last half of 1831, was unusually barren in important theological works. EDITOR.

1. BAUMGARTEN-CRUSIUS, Lehrbuch der christlichen Dogmengeschichte, 1ste Abtheilung, Svo. Jena.-To be completed in two parts.

2. HARMS, Archidiaconus, Pastoraltheologie, in Reden an Theologiestudirende. 2tes Buch.-This is the second part of a work addressed by its excellent author, in conversations, to the theological students of Germany. He writes with great originality and with a spice of eccentricity; and treats of the subject according to the division of the three P's, viz. under the heads of Preacher, Priest, and Pastor. The work is calculated, with the divine blessing, to produce great effect upon those to whom it is addressed. 3. HEINEMANN, Koheleth übersetzt, nebst grammatisch exegetischem Commentar, 8vo. Berlin.

4. NITZSCH, Prof. C. Immanuel, System der christlichen Lehre, 2te verbesserte Auflage, 8vo. Bonn.

5. ROSENKRANZ, Dr. C. Encyclopaedie der theologischen Wissenschaften, 8vo. Halle.

6. ROSENMUELLER, Prof. E. F. C. Scholia in V. Test. in Compendium redacta, Vol. IV.-Also under the title: Scholia in Jobum, 8vo. p. 500. Lips. 1832.

7. RUECKERT, Friederich, (Prof. of Or. Lit. at Erlangen,) Hebräische Propheten übersetzt u. erläutert. 1ste Lieferung, Uebersetzung von Isa. 40-66, u. von den kleinern Propheten.--8vo. Leipz.

8. RUECKERT, L. F. Commentar uber den Brief Pauli an die RöSvo. pp. 720. Leipzig.

mer,

9. VON BOHLEN, Prof. P. Commentatio de origine linguae Zendicae e Sanscrita repetenda. Svo. Regimontii.

10. GRIMM'S Deutsche Grammatik, 3ter Theil. 8vo. pp. 800. Göttingen.

11. HABICHT, Prof. Tausend u. eine Nacht, Arabisch, nach einer Handschrift aus Tunis. 5ter Band. Breslau.

12. SCHROEDER, J. F. Hebraisch-Deutsches Schul-Lexicon, 8vo. Hildesheim.

13. RITTER, Prof. Heinrich, Geschichte der Philosophie. 3ter Theil. 8vo. Hamburg, Perthes.

14. WOLF, F. A. Vorlesungen über die Alterthumswissenschaft, herausgeg. v. J. D. Gürtler.-Vol. I. Vorlesungen über die Encyclopädie der Alterthumsw.--Vol. II. Vorlesungen über die Geschichte der Gr. Literatur. Leipzig.

15. WOLF, F. A. Vorlesungen über d. vier ersten Gesänge von Homer's Ilias, herausgeg. v. Usteri. 2 Bändchen. Bern.

TERMS OF ADMISSION TO THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, ANDOVER.

Mistakes having often been made by persons at a distance, respecting the terms of admission to this Seminary, the Trustees at their late meeting voted, that seasonable and extensive public notice, respecting these terms, should be given by the President. To those who wish to apply for membership in the Seminary, information on the following points may be sufficient.

1. The regular time for admission is five weeks after the anniversary, which will hereafter be the second (instead of the fourth) Wednesday of September.

2. The laws require that every candidate for admission into the Seminary shall, previously to his examination, produce to the Faculty satisfactory testimonials from persons of information and respectability, and of reputed piety, that he possesses good natural and acquired talents; that he has been regularly educated at some respectable College or University, or has otherwise made literary acquisitions, which, as preparatory to theological studies, are substantially equivalent to a liberal education; and that he sustains a fair moral character, is of a prudent and discreet deportment, and is hopefully possessed of personal piety. He shall