duals whom he selects and holds up to view as models of christian excellence, were certainly men, whose examples it would be distraction to follow. We can only mention one, but one, however, who seems to have been decidedly the favourite of our author; we mean Augustine, to whose character and writings, he has appropriated nearly one third of his second volume, and more than he has given to any other person. Now let any one consider the vagabond and profligate life which this man led previous to his conversion; his open and shameless debaucheries, his remorseless violation of all the laws of decency and honour, of man and God; let him consider the silly story of the miracle in his garden, too much even for Milner to believe; his suddenly assuming an ascetic character, that he might the better accomplish his selfish and ambitious ends; his arts to gain preferment in the church, and his tyrannical and overbearing conduct, after he had gained it; and above all his bloody and merciless persecution of the Donatists. first driving them to desperation, and then making the excesses they committed in that desperation, the occasion of still further and more cruel persecutions; and can he help wondering that such a man is adduced as an example of a real christian, and that his character is appealed to as an illustrious instance of the blessed influences of orthodox principles? In the controversies that are, and probably always will be in the church, we regret that the attention of the contending parties should ever be turned aside from a comparison of principles to a comparison of characters. It is not that we fear such a comparison; for let it first be understood what christian virtue is, and we firmly believe that such a comparison would redound greatly to the honour and advantage of the unitarian cause. But we would refrain from it, because it would inevitably lead to much injustice and misrepresentation on both sides, and after all it could prove nothing, and would convince nobody. One thing more we would suggest to our orthodox friends. According to this book they possess all the humility in the world. Would it not be well for them to give some better evidence and proof of their humility, than is to be found in their arrogating to themselves all the piety and all the virtue ? Here we might close our review, which was undertaken merely to expose the spirit and leading object of this work. Some, however, who condemn its object and spirit, may yet look to it as a work of talents-as an entertaining work, or as a work of much general information. But in truth there is nothing in the literary execution of this book to recommend it. It was written doubtless by a serious and sincere christian, though a singularly misguided one, whose views of men and things, and whose moral judgments, were sadly affected by his theological prejudices; and who wrote for the express purpose, as he is honest enough to tell us, of promoting the interests of his party. But he is not, and he does not pretend to be, a man of much learning or research. The history is brought down no further than through the opening scenes of the Reformation, and relates therefore for the most part to times and persons with whom we can be supposed to feel but little sympathy. There is not in the whole book a single page of fine writing, or eloquent declamation, or pathetic description, none of the profound remarks of Gibbon, none of the various erudition of Mosheim, none of the amusing anecdotes of Jortin, none of the graphic sketching and grouping of Robertson; in fine, so unfortunate has been our author in the disposition and arrangement of his materials, that he fails to excite in us the interest which we feel in a sustained narrative, and his incidents and characters make but little impression on us while reading, and are soon forgotten. There may be persons who will praise this book and recommend it, for they may think they have an interest in so doing; but there cannot be many who will read it. The philosopher will throw it aside as superficial; the scholar as common-place; the general reader as dull and heavy; the devout man as cold and constrained, and the liberal christian as exclusive and disingenuous; and every one, who reads it through, and speaks his mind, will pronounce it to be a dry, barren, and unsatisfactory performance. INTELLIGENCE. Theological School at Cambridge.-The annual examination of the Theological School at Cambridge was held at the University Chapel on Tuesday the 13th August. The exercises commenced at nine o'clock, and were attended by a large number of the clergy of this vicinity, as well as a number of laymen. The following are the subjects of the Dissertations read by the members of the several classes, on this occasion: SENIOR CLASS. 1. An account of the formation of the received text of the New Testament, with an estimate of its authority. J. D. Green. 2. The character of the early Fathers as interpreters of the Scriptures. Samuel Barret. 3. On the gift of tongues. G. R. Noyes. Charles Robinson. 4. On the state of the soul immediately after death. John Porter. 5. On the Mosaic account of Creation. MIDDLE CLASS. 6. On the advantages and disadvantages of a Liturgy. Wm. Farmer, Wm. H. Furness. 7. On the design of St. John's Gospel. 8. On the Inspiration of the New Testament. E. S. Gannett. 9. On the temptation of our Saviour. Henry Hersey. 10. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil the law; or the connexion of the Jewish and christian covenants. Benj. Kent. N. B. Mr. Calvin Lincoln excused on account of ill health. JUNIOR CLASS. 11. Mahometanism and Christianity contrasted as they are calculated to effect the intellectual and moral character. E. P. Crafts. 12. On the state of the Jews at the time of our Saviour's ministry. E. B. Hall. 13. On the different opinions and sentiments entertained by the Apostles respecting our Saviour at different times. A. Young. N. B. Mr. E. W. Upham excused on account of ill health. Several articles of Intelligence are necessarily deferred. NEW PUBLICATIONS. A New Translation and Exposition of the Epistles of St. Paul. By Thomas Belsham 4 vols. 8vo. London. Miscellanies selected from the Public Journals. 12mo. Boston. Published by Joseph T. Buckingham Lectures delivered at Bowdoin College, and occasional Sermons. By Jesse Appleton, D.D. President of Bowdoin College, Brunswick. 1822. Answer to Dr. Wood's Reply to Dr. Ware's Letters in a second series of Letters to Trintarians and Calvinists By Henry Ware, D.D Letters on the Eternal generation of the Son of God; addressed to the Rev. Samuel Miller, D.D. of Princeton. By Moses Stuart, Prof. Theological Sem. Andover Discourses delivered in the College of New Jersey; with notes and illustrations; including a historical sketch of the College from its origin, to the accession of President Witherspoon. By Ashbel Green, D.D. LL.D. A New England Tale. Second edition New York. A Discourse before the African Society in Boston 15th of July, 1822; on the anniversary celebration of the abolition of the Slave Trade. By Thaddeus M Harris, D.D. Boston. Inquiry into the relation of Cause and Effect. By Thomas Brown, M.D. F.R S. Edin. &c. Andover. Belshazzar, a dramatic Poem. By the Rev. H. H. Milman. Boston. |