Arabic, was a language of roots formed of three radicals, and that possibly the Hamyritic, which occupies more than one half of all the Arabic lexicons, though but rarely used by Arabic writers, might be of great service in getting at the meaning of the decyphered words. The alphabet being ready, and the lexicon at hand, he first tested the two in spelling out a Sinaitic inscription supplied by Mr. Gray, an inscription copied by that gentleman from the rocks at the entrance to the Wady Mokatteb, or Written Valley. The translation satisfied him both as to his conjecture, and as to the alleged authors of the inscription. It verily seemed like "the voice of Israel from the rocks of Sinai." The first sentence reads thus:- "The people, with prone mouth, drinketh [at] the water springs"; and the second, "The people [at] the two water springs kicked [like] an ass. Smiting with the branch of a tree, the well of bitterness he heals." The first of these sentences expresses a national characteristic alluded to in Judges vii. 3-8, and the second refers to the healing of the waters at Marah, Exodus xv. 23-25. Having been thus successful Mr. Forster continued the work of decyphering until all the collections of inscriptions contained in the works of Burckhardt, Beer, and Gray, had been carefully examined. "The result was uniform. All that were unconfused characters approved themselves, like the Marah inscriptions, contemporary records of Israel in the wilderness.

"Among the events of the Exode, these records comprise, besides that already mentioned, the passage of the Red Sea, with the introduction of Pharoah twice by name, and two notices of the Egyptian tyrant's vain attempt to save himself by flight on horseback, (Psa. xxxiii, 16) from the returning waters, together with hiero. glyphic representations of himself and of his horse, in accordance with the hitherto unexplained passage of the song of Moses. "For the horse of Pharoah went in, with his chariots and with his horsemen, into the sea, and the Lord brought again the waters of the sea upon them," Exodus xv. 19. They comprize, further, the miraculous supplies of manna and of flesh; the battle of Rephidim, with the mention of Moses by his office, and of Aaron and Hur by their names; the same inscription repeated, describing the holding up of Moses'

hands by Aaron and Hur, and their supporting him with a stone, illustrated, apparently, by a rude drawing of the stone, containing within it the inscription, and the figure of Moses over it with uplifted hands; and lastly, the plague of fiery serserpent in the act of coming down, as it pents, with the representation of the were from heaven, upon a prostrate Israelite.*

"These references to recorded events of the Exode, compose, however, but a small part of the Sinaitic inscriptions as yet in our possession, the great mass of which consist of descriptions of rebellious Israel, under the figures of kicking asses, restive and lizards of the desert."-pp. 61-2. camels, rampant goats, sluggish tortoises,

Though numbers of inscriptions have now been decyphered, at present no single text of the Old Testament, and not a single passage from the Books of Moses have been met with. Mr. Forster considers this "no slight guarantee of the fidelity of the decypherments"; an arbitrary decypherment being certain to abound with quotations from the Pentateuch. The probable explanation is, that these inscriptions were so many chronicles of the day, and were written some before the Pentateuch itself, and all before that sacred volume had been familiarized by use to the wandering Israelites.

Mr. Forster offers the following solution of the difficulty arising from the inscriptions in the Wady Mokatteb recording the first and last miracle of the Exode, the healing of the waters of Marah, and the plague of the fiery serpents:

"The people, we know, were miraculously fed with Manna from heaven, and why? because the wilderness yielded no food for the sustenance of man. No similar provision was made for their flocks and herds; and why? because, after the rains, the wildest wastes of Sinai abound through every cleft and crevice, with a luxuriant

*The following translated inscriptions seem evidently to refer to the passage of the Red Sea, the smiting of the rock at the place called Meribah, an incident connected with the battle of Rephidim, and the plague of the fiery serpents:-"The people essayeth the waters. Pharoah retrograding reins back his war-horse." "The eloquent speaker strikes the rocks; flows forth the water falling down." "Prayeth unto God the prophet [upon] a hard stone. [His] hands sustaining Aaron [and] Hur." "Destroy, springing upon the people, the fiery serpents; hissing, injecting venom, they kill the people, prostrating on their back; curling in folds they wind round, descending on, bearing destruction."

spring of vegetation. The flocks and herds accordingly were maintained, as those of his father-in-law Jethro had been kept by Moses himself in this very wilderness, by roving over the whole land. But roving flocks necessarily imply roving shepherds. And while the main body of the people pursued their stated marches, or remained stationary in their camps, their flocks and shepherds, there cannot be a rational doubt, wandered at will over the peninsula. And while these retraced their steps from the neighbourhood of Kadesh to that of Suez, what more natural or likely than for some

faithful chronicler to register the plague of serpents beside the miracle at Marah? The record of "judgment without mercy upon those who had despised mercy, and sinned so grievously against so gracious a benefactor?-pp. 67-8.

"But if Israel in the wilderness still used the language of Egypt, how, it may be asked, are we to account for the rise of Scriptural Hebrew ?" Mr. Forster thinks "the answer seems easy and natural." We give it entire, that our readers may judge for themselves.

"The Seriptural Hebrew would appear to have been first imparted to Moses by Jehovah himself, upon the two tables of commandments, and at the giving of the law upon Mount Sinai. The reason for such a provi

sion is to be found in the nature of the case. It was clearly the design of Divine Providence, from the first hour of the Exode, on the one hand to sever the Israelites from all contact with the manners and idolatry of Egypt, whence they had so recently departed; and, on the other, to isolate them, amidst the idolatrous nations by whom they were to be surrounded in the land of promise. But no effectual severment or isolation could take place, so long as the language remained the same. And as, at Babel, Almighty God interposed miraculously by diversity of language, to disperse mankind; so by strict analogy, after the Exode, we might again expect him to interfere, by peculiarity of language, to insulate his people Israel."-p. 77.

of the Sinaitic inscriptions in explanation of "the quails" and "the plague of fiery serpents," but must refer our readers to another part of this number for them.

ed us no small pleasure; and as from The perusal of this work has affordits price most of our readers may be debarred from purchasing it for themselves, we have been induced to give a longer notice than was at first intended. The book is embellished with a view of the Wady Mokatteb from the south-west and a good map of the peninsula of Sinai, the region of the inThere is also a complete Sinaitic alscriptions being specially marked out. phabet, fac-similes of the inscriptions, word. There is no index whatever, an and a translation of every separate unpardonable defect in a "Second Edition." But the principal blemish of the work is a want of method. It seems as if the author was bent not

only on refuting the Germans but on avoiding the subdivisions so common in their works. Shunning Scylla, however, he has fallen into Charybdis.

"A Harmony of the Primitive Alphabets," is given in a case with the above work. This is an apparently successful attempt to construct from the oldest monumental inscriptions found in the four quarters of the globe, the first alphabet of the one primeval language.

At another time we may notice the other parts of his highly interesting work, on "The Monuments of Egypt,' and "The Monuments of Assyria, Babylonia, and Persia." We shall be glad to hear, in the meantime, that a cheap edition of the first part is about to be issued.

J.

STARS OF THE EAST: or, Prophets and Apostles. By the REV. JOHN STOUGHTON, Author of "The Lights of the World," &c., &c. Tract Society. 12mo. pp. 366. The title of this useful and instructive volume is a little fanciful. The work itself will be perused with interest and profit by those who love the word of God. While he contends justly that the authority of the prophets and apostles, and their claims on our regard, rest on their inspiration, the author feels that it is desirable to know as much as is possible of their characters and peculiarities, and trials and experiences as men, and as the

may

servants of God. This is the chief feature of the present work. Its author has carefully studied the various incidents and circumstances given in reference to each one, that the reader thus become familiar with the persons and manners of these distinguished and honoured men. Of the manner in which this task is executed, we will give a few specimens selected almost at random.

In Elijah he sees a display of "moral courage.'

"When the messengers told the king, (Ahaziah) that it was a hairy man-a man with raiment of hair, and girt with a leathern girdle-who had spoken these words, he knew it was Elijah the Tishbite, and inflamed with anger, he sent three troops of fifty soldiers each after the man of God. Troops of soldiers were nothing to him. He would not have feared all the armies of Israel, for the God of Israel was on his side, and destroyed one after another, the armed bands that came to arrest him. When the last knelt down, and asked him to have mercy and go, Elijah went and calmly repeated the unwelcome words (that the king should die) in the bed chamber of the unhappy monarch."-p. 29. Elisha's tender spirit is thus dilated

on :

"Elisha really was of a tender spirit. How he loved his master to the last! How kindly he treated the woman whose creditors came to make her sons bondmen! How he multiplied the oil for the payment of the debt! How he prayed for the child of the Shunamite, his hostess! What benevolence there was in his miracles purifying the poisoned meal, and healing the Syrian leper, and promising plenty to a famished city! And, oh, what a touch of sympathy was there, when, as Hazael stood before him 'he settled his countenance steadfastly, until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept!' He had all the tenderness and feeling of a truly brave

calm river flowing beside a stormy cataract.....Joel was accustomed to think methodically, and to gather up his thoughts in harmonious arrangement-a pious naturalist-a devout observer of creation," &c.-pp. 90-1.

Amos was a man of prayer. Isaiah one whose "humility, high-toned moral feeling, evangelical faith, contemplative habits, peaceful temper, and large sympathies," we should imitate." The weeping Jeremiah, the faithful Daniel, the entranced Ezekiel, are most happily delineated.

The New Testament worthies are portrayed with great skill. We copy a line or two from "James, the brother of John":

-

"The Jewish element was strong in with this view of his character. While it him to the last. His epistle is in harmony is evident that its author was more practical than contemplative, that he had not the reflection of John, or the logical habit of Paul. but was in mental constitution imaginative, employing all his power in the service of holiness-one cannot help seeing much of the Jew in every chapter. It is not opposed to the teaching of Paul and John, but it is Paul and John on a lower stage. Like Paul, James opposes a religion of ceremonies, but he opposes it, not by the assertion of faith, but of morality. Like John, he speaks of love, but it is as the royal law, not as the divine life of man."-pp. 263 - 4.

more like Peter-that he was ardent and

The whole volume will be perused with advantage, and has our cordial commendation.

MODERN EDINBURGH.

Monthly Series. Tract Society.

"What the tour of Europe was necessary to see elsewhere I now find congregated in this one city. Here are alike the beauties of Prague and of Salzburgh; here

are the romantic sites of Orvetto and Tithe admired bays of Genoa and Naples; voli; and here is all the magnificence of here, indeed, to the poetic fancy, may be found realised the Roman Capitol and the Grecian Acropolis." This testimony of Sir David Wilkie, forms a fit motto for the present volume.

TRACTS FOR CONGREGATIONS. No. 1, Solemn Questions. There is just time, or thoughts for the New Year. Hall & Virtue. Useful and suitable to send as a note. THE BAND OF HOPE ALMANACK. Sheet. Excellent.

MARY HOLT, the subject of this notice, was born on Nov. 4th, 1782, in a small village in the north of Yorkshire. She was blessed with pious parents, who brought her up in the "nurture and admonition of the Lord," and the Almighty graciously crowned their labours with success; for in early life she gave her heart to the Lord and herself to his people, according to his will.

The circumstances connected with her conversion are worthy of remark. When quite young her father used to have preaching in his house, in connection with which she derived much good. On account of her youth she had to retire to rest before the preaching commenced, but such was her love for the gospel that she would hearken the preachers through a hole in the chamber floor. She was convinced of sin under the preaching of the Independents; but her mind was very much perplexed with the subjects of election and free-will. About this time she entered into the matrimonial state, and her husband, who was a pious man, was made a class-leader amongst the Wesleyans. She joined his class, and in connection therewith obtained a knowledge of salvation by the remission of sin. Whereupon all her doubts about election and free-will vanished away, and she was enabled to rejoice in the light, life, and liberty of the children of God.

Having occasion to remove to Stockport, she there became acquainted with the General Baptists, and by reading the New Testament was convinced of the truth of believer's baptism. She at once determined to follow her Lord even in this; accordingly, in the year 1837, she was baptized in Oak Street G. B. chapel, Manchester, by the late Rev. F. Beardsall. She then threw in her lot with the G. B. church at Stockport, and continued a consistent member to the day of her death.

As it regards the death of Mrs. Holt, that was quite unexpected both by herself and friends; but she was quite prepared, inasmuch as she was found watching. When asked if she was ready to die if it pleased the Lord to call her, she replied, แ Quite ready: the Lord's will be done;" and after repeating several passages of scripture suitable to her case she fell into a deep sleep for about two hours, out of

which she awoke in the realms of eternal day. Thus expired Mary Holt, on the 17th Dec., 1853, aged 71 years. And although the writer of this notice is not prepared to say that she died in triumph, he can say she died in peace. Her funeral sermon was preached to a crowded congregation on Lord's-day evening, Jan. 8, 1854, by Mr. Wood, of Salford, from Eccles. iii, 20.

There were several excellencies conspicuously manifested in the character of the late Mrs. Holt.

1. Her piety was deep, fervent, and high-toned. She lived under the sanctifying power of the gospel, walked in the light of God's countenance from day to day, and made mention of his righteousness, even of his only.

2. Her conduct was consistent. She

lived out a spiritual christianity in her life.

It was evident to all who lived near her that she was actuated by the "wisdom that is from above," which "is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy."

3. She was exceedingly benevolent. Her benevolence and hospitality were only bounded by her means. She thought her. self the happiest woman on earth when a minister of Christ paid her a visit. Messrs. Maddeys and Hudson, the latter of whom is now in China, will ever remember taking up a temporary abode beneath her hospitable roof.

4. She was a thorough General Baptist. Such was the strength of her convictions upon the subject of baptism, and her zeal to make known this much neglected truth, that she marked every passage in the New Testament upon the subject, in order that all who read it in her house might not fail to see the truth; and her labour in this respect was not in vain. One of her daughters by reading the "marked " passages was convinced, and the writer of this notice had the pleasure of baptizing her and adding her to the church in 1852.

Much might be said about Mrs Holt as a wife and mother, but fearing this notice is already too long we will conclude by expressing a hope that her aged husband, her children, and all her friends, may follow her, who through faith and patience we doubt not is now inheriting the promises.

THE WARWICKSHIRE CONFERENCE was held in Lombard Street chapel, Birmingham, on Tuesday, January 10th, 1854. On account of the absence of both the brethren who were appointed to preach, a prayer meeting was held in the morning, which was conducted by brother Cheatle. In the afternoon the same brother presided at the business meeting, and opened it with prayer. It was reported that nine had been baptized, and that there were eleven candidates. Only four churches reported.

A case was presented by brother Capewell from Sutton Colefield, requesting pecuniary help. It appeared that about £60 had been expended in the improvement of the chapel, and that £15 remains unpaid. They are anxious to renew the deeds, as only two trustees remain; and to make some necessary improvement in the vestry. There are but ten members connected with the place; two of them are aged widows, others live at a considerable distance, and the rest are extremely poor. Though the sum required is small, it really seemed that the ability of the friends to raise it is much smaller. Resolved,

That those churches who feel sufficient interest in Sutton Colefield be requested to collect what they can, and forward it to Rev. J. Cheatle, Lombard-street, Birmingham, as early as possible, for the liquidation of the debt, and to enable the friends at Sutton Colefield to make other changes necessary for the security of the place.

A vote of thanks was passed to brother Salisbury for the efficient manner in which he had discharged the duties of the Secretaryship during the past year, and W. Chapman was requested to sustain that office for the next twelve months.

The next Conference is to be held at Bedworth, on the second Tuesday in May. Brother Cheatle was appointed to preach in the morning, and in case of failure

The scenery about Whitwick, including Gracedieu wood, &c., is truly fine at Easter, friends from neighbouring magnificent. If the weather should prove and distant places would be delighted, we believe, with a visit to this romantic region. The rock and ravines and cascades will be highly gratifying to all who have a taste for the beauties of nature; and they will be especially delightful to the spiritually-minded follower of Jesus.

"He looks abroad into the varied field

Of nature; and though poor, perhaps, compared
With those whose mansions glitter in his sight,
Calls the delightful scenery all his own.
His are the mountains, and the valleys his,
And the resplendent rivers; his t' enjoy
With a propriety that none can feel,
But who, with filial confidence inspired,
Can lift to heaven an unpresuming eye,
And smiling say, 'My Father made them all!'
Are they not his by a peculiar right,
And by an emphasis of int'rest his,
Whose eyes they fill with tears of holy joy,
Whose heart with praise, and whose exalted mind,
With worthy thoughts of that unwearied love,
That plann'd, and built, and still upholds a world,
So clothed with beauty for rebellious man ?"

IBSTOCK. On the 19th of October last, an interesting tea-meeting was held in our chapel at Ibstock, to celebrate the entire removal of the debts which had been resting for several years on our school-room and grave-yard. The whole