ART. IX. DAVID'S LAMENTATION OVER SAUL AND

JONATHAN.

The paraphrast has introduced in this version the beautiful idea suggested by many critics, that David, in the phrase, "beauty of Israel," has reference to the literal meaning of the Hebrew word "the gazelle," and compares the death of Jonathan, the young and graceful, on Mount Gilboa, to the gazelle, which, when wounded, is said to go up into high places to die. The literal rendering would be, "Thy gazelle, O Israel, is slain upon her high places."

THY beauty bleeds, O Israel!

How low the great and mighty lie!
Alas! thy beautiful gazelle

Climbs her high places — there to die.

O not in Gath the tidings tell,

Nor let the streets of Askelon

Hear how the brave and mighty fell,
Proclaim the glory that is gone!

How would Philistine maids rejoice,
How would their boastings fill the sky,
Yea, the uncircumcised the voice
Of taunt and triumph lift on high!

Ye mountain-heights of Gilboa !

Let there henceforth be no more dew
By night, nor showers descend by day,
Nor fields of offerings wave on you.

For there the shield of Saul was seen
A trampled, vile, dishonored thing,
Of Saul, as though he had not been
Of God anointed prophet-king.

The blood of captains slain might track
The bow of Jonathan: and when
Did once the sword of Saul come back,
Unfleshed with fat of mighty men?

O lovely in their lives and fair

Were Saul and Jonathan: the grave Divides them not-together there

They slumber, as they fell the brave!

Daughters of Judah! weep for Saul,
Who gave you scarlet, yea, and gold;
For him let tears of sorrow fall,

Whom ye shall never more behold.

How fallen in the midst of fight,

Alas, how low the mighty lie!

O Jonathan, upon thy height

Of promise fair that thou should'st die!

Alas, I am distressed for thee,

My brother Jonathan! O when Such love as thou hast shown to me, Shall I on earth behold again?

How pleasant hast thou been to me!
Thy love was wonderful-divine;

The love of woman could not be

More tender or more true than thine.

How fallen are the men of might,
Struck down amidst their places high!
Broken in fight and spurned in flight,
Alas, how low war's weapons lie!

C. T. B.

ART. X.-RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES.*

THE two works of Mr. Rupp and Dr. Baird exhibit together a full, and in some respects a minute account of the religious history and condition of these United States; or more strictly of the denominations into which they are divided. The design of each is distinctly expressed in its title-page, and is executed, as might be anticipated, with various degrees of ability and accuracy, or the want of these essential qualities, according to the gifts and faithfulness of the writers from whose contributions they are compiled. The faithful execution of works of this class is attended with some peculiar difficulties; from misconception, on the one side, and want of due candor in the statement of the religious opinions of other denominations than our own; and from an over-weening partiality, on the other, which each one naturally cherishes for the views he has seen fit to adopt, and from the disproportionate importance he is led to attach to the interests, history, and influence of the sect to which he happens to belong. To both these sources of error the plan of the works before us is exposed; and it would be easy to show that the compilers have been far from successful in escaping them. Mr. Rupp, indeed, remarks in his preface, that "he had made application to many of the most prominent divines and lay members of different denominations, some of whom consented to aid his work by writing or procuring the necessary articles ;" and "it is presumed that no writer in it can have had any motive to wilfully misrepresent the doctrine of the denomination of which he is a member." But he very properly adds, "it is admitted that he may have been

1. An Original History of the Religious Denominations at present existing in the United States; containing authentic Accounts of their Rise, Progress, Statistics and Doctrines; written expressly for the work by eminent Theological Professors, Ministers, and lay Members of the respective Denominations. Projected, compiled, and arranged by I. DANIEL RUPP of Lancaster, Pa. Philadelphia. 1844. 8vo. pp. 734.

2. Religion in America; or an Account of the Origin, Progress, Relations to the State, and present Condition of the Evangelical Churches in the United States; with notices of the Unevangelical Denominations. By ROBERT BAIRD, author of "L'Union de l'Eglise avec l'Etat dans la Nouvelle Angleterre." In two Parts. New York. 1844. 8vo. pp. 344.

influenced by a bias, natural to many, to present the beauties of his own faith' in glowing colors, and where this may appear to have been attempted, it is left to the reader to make all due allowance." Of a part of the fortythree denominations, of which his volume of more than seven hundred pages presents a history, embracing, to

gether with the well-known and obvious divisions of the Church, the Seventh Day Baptists, the Latter Day Saints, the Mennonites, the converts to "Millenarianism," the "Omish Church," and the " Church of God," the Schwenkfelders, and Second Advent Believers, some of our readers will perhaps have heard for the first time. We confess for ourselves that we should have been at some loss to answer satisfactorily any inquiries touching, for example, the "Omish Church"; of which, or as it seems to be sometimes called, the "Amish Church," a branch of the Mennonites, a brief account is furnished for Mr. Rupp by the Rev. Shem Zook of Pennsylvania.

A narrative is also given of the rise and progress of the “Latter Day Saints" by their late leader, Joseph Smith of Nauvoo. As the life and ministry of this notorious heresiarch have recently been brought to a close under circumstances suited to affect some changes, for better or for worse, in the condition of his converts, some of our readers may be interested in the statement which he gives both of their probable numbers and of their peculiar faith. If any evidence were needed of the waywardness of the human mind, or of the readiness with which, amidst good means of religious instruction, men will yield themselves to the most absurd delusions and to the guidance of an artful leader, it may be abundantly furnished in the history of this singular sect. Of the thousands and tens of thousands who flocked to Nauvoo, blindly submitting to his fanatical rule and accepting the Book of Mormon for their law, there were not wanting individuals, and even families, who had been through their childhood and youth within the institutions of this city; and for years had been members of respectable standing in some of our churches.

"There are no correct data," says Joseph Smith, "by which the exact number of members composing this now extensive, and still extending, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints can be known. Should it be supposed at 150,000, it might still be short of the truth.

Believing the Bible to say what it means and mean what it says; and guided by revelation according to the ancient order of the fathers to whom came what little light we enjoy; and circumscribed only by the eternal limits of truth; this church must continue the even, tenor of her way, and 'spread undivided, and operate unspent.'

We believe in God the Eternal Father, and in his Son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. - We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.— We believe that through the atonement of Christ all men may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. -We believe that these ordinances are: 1st, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; 2d, Repentance; 3d, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; 4th, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. We believe that a man must be called of God by 'prophecy, and by laying on of hands,' by those who are in authority to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof. We believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive church, viz. apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, &c. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, &c. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God. We believe all that God has revealed, all that he does now reveal, and we believe that he will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the kingdom of God. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel, and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes. That Zion will be built upon this continent. That Christ will reign personally upon the earth, and that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisal glory.

We claim the privilege of worshipping Almighty God according to the dictates of our conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates; in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul; we believe all things we hope all things' we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is any thing virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek thereafter."-pp. 409, 410.

To the three last articles of this confession of faith no possible objection can be made. Had no others been united with them, we should have been reminded of the beautiful covenant drawn up by Mr. Higginson, and adopted in its earliest days by the First Church in Salem.