to the Epistle to the Colossians; as also Bleek of Bonn an Introduction to the Epistle to the Hebrews, which is to be followed by a Commentary. On this epistle, however, we do not need to look to foreign lands. The Epistle of James has found a commentator in Gebser of Königsberg, whose present work is to be followed by a general Introduction.

4. Hermeneutics of the writers of the New Testament. "Hermeneutik der neutestamentlichen Schriftsteller, von Dr. J. C. C. Döpke, 1r Th. Leipz. 1829." Such is the title of a work, in which the author's object is to investigate and present the external form of the quotations from the Old Testament, as well as the mode of applying and interpreting these quotations, in the writings of the New Testament. The present part treats of the point of view from which Christ and the apostles have considered the Old Testament; of the usual formulae of quotation both in the New Testament and in Jewish writers; of the Jewish mode of interpretation, the nature, origin, and application of allegorical interpretation; and at last, of the character of the Old Testament quotations in the particular books of the New Testament. The second part is intended to treat of the mode of interpretation adopted by the writers of the New Testament, so far as it regards the Messiah, types, and the practical application of religious truth. The work is distinguished by learning and talent.

III. Systematic Theology.

1. System of Christian Faith according to the principles of the Evangelical Church. "Der christliche Glauben nach den Grundsätzen der evanglischen Kirche, von F. Schleiermacher, Berl. 1830." The first edition of this work had been long out of print, when the piratical press at Reutlingen in Würtemberg sent out a reprint, and thus in a manner compelled the author to set about a new edition. In the Theologische Studien for 1829 are two long letters from him, explanatory of his views in regard to the undertaking. The work itself, in the new edition, has not yet been received in this country.

2. System of Christian Faith. "Lehrbuch des christlichen Glaubens, von A. Hahn, Leipz. 1828." This is a plain and simple statement of the general system of doctrines of the evangelical church, with the grounds of them. It is particularly valuable from the fact, that it gives under each topic a full view

of the literature, historical, illustrative, etc. It is needless to say, that it is written in a spirit of candour and piety.

3. Examination of the Plan projected by the Founder of Christianity for the good of mankind, by F. V. Reinhard; a new edition by Prof. Heubner of Wittemberg, Wittemb. 1830. "Versuch über den Plan, den der Stifter der christlichen Religion zum Besten der Menschheit entwarf." We rejoice to see a new edition of this work (the fifth) with additions from the pen of Heubner, a worthy successor of Luther. The object of the work is to shew that the plan projected by Jesus, surpasses in benevolence and extent every thing else of the kind ever projected; and that it bears the impress of the superiority and dignity of the greatest mind, that ever thought and acted upon earth. It is divided into three parts, the first of which gives a short sketch of the plan of Jesus; the second shows that none of the sages of antiquity had ever before projected a similar plan; and the third draws the conclusion, that Jesus must have been an extraordinary person and a teacher sent from God. To this edition are appended several notes found among the posthumous papers of the author; and Professor Heubner himself has also enriched it with notes of a historical, exegetical, and explanatory character, and added an appendix of nearly two hundred pages; all of which much enhance the value of the work. Reinhard, the author, was court-preacher at Dresden, and is well known as one of the most popular and eloquent divines that Germany has produced. This work has been already translated into several languages, and it affords us pleasure to hear, that it is now in the course of translation in this country, and will be published by Messrs. Carvill of New York.

IV. Oriental Literature.

1. Oriental Translation Committee. It is already known to most of the readers of this work, that a fund was established a few years since in London, and a committee appointed, whose special object it is to procure and publish translations of works written in the various oriental languages. The extent of the plan is best stated in the Prospectus, from which we here quote the part which relates particularly to theology.

"The advantages likely to be derived from a more extensive cultivation of Oriental literature in this country, may be considered as applicable to Biblical Criticism, Ecclesiastical and General

History, Biography, Belles-Letters, the Arts and Sciences, and Geography.

"With reference to Biblical Criticism and Ecclesiastical History, we know that the sacred Scriptures, particularly those of the Old Testament, abound in modes of expression, and allusions to customs, in many cases imperfectly understood in Europe, but still prevailing in the East. That light confessedly derived from the Arabic and other sister dialects of the Hebrew, has been thrown on the text of Scripture, by the rabbinical and other commentators, few will deny; yet volumes on Arabic Grammar, Rhetoric, and the more ancient productions of the Arabian poets, which approach most nearly in style and sentiments to some parts of the Hebrew Bible, still lie in MS. in our libraries, either entirely neglected, or at best accessible to few.

"In the Syriac language, which approximates still nearer than the Arabic to the Hebrew in its form and modes of expression, there are in our libraries unpublished Grammars and Dictionaries, and even Commentaries on the Scriptures, written by the Bishops and other learned members of the Oriental Churches, together with MS. works of the greatest value to Divines, on Ecclesiastical History and Divinity, composed by the fathers of the Syrian and Arabian Churches. The collection also of the late Mr. Rich, now placed in the British Museum by the liberality of Parliament, contains perhaps the most valuable MSS. of the Syriac Scriptures now in existence; and it is of the greatest importance to Biblical criticism that a collation of them should be made and published.

"Perhaps no people possess more extensive stores of History, Biography, and Polite Literature, than the Arabs and Persians. The accounts which their historical and biographical works contain of their own and the surrounding countries, are necessarily the principal sources from which information can be obtained relative to the history of those regions, and of the extraordinary persons to whom they have given birth. Their histories of the Crusades in particular, which furnish the most authentic details on this interesting subject, will always amuse and instruct the general reader, while they furnish materials of the greatest importance to the historian. In Polite Literature, and especially in works of fiction, they have perhaps never been excelled, and in studying such of their works in Belles-Letters as have been already printed in any European language, regret must be felt that but few of these books, which are so well calculated to afford us pleasure, have been translated."

The Committee have already caused to be published several works of value. Among these are the following.

Travels of Ibn Batuta, translated by Prof. Lee of Cambridge, which," though only an abridgement of the travels of the Mohammedan Marco Polo of the fourteenth century, gives an accurate idea of the extent and interest of the complete work, which is not to be found in any library in Europe."

Travels of Macarius, Patriarch of Antioch, written by his attendant Archdeacon, Paul of Aleppo, in Arabic, translated by F. C. Belfour, Esq. This work "furnishes many curious details relating to the ceremonies of the Greek Church."

History of the Afghans, translated from the Persian by Dr Dorn, which "not only gives the history of the mountain tribes of Afghanistan, whose conquests have spread far east and west of that region, but also contains very curious traditions connected with Scripture history."

The following works, among many others, are also announced as preparing for publication.

The great Geographical work of Edrisi, translated by the Rev. G. C. Renouard. This Arabic work was written A. D. 1153, to illustrate a large silver globe made for Roger, King of Sicily, and is divided into the seven climates described by the Greek geographers.

A Collation of all the Syriac Manuscripts of the New Testament, both Nestorean and Jacobite, that are accessible in England, by Professor Lee.

The Annals of Elias, Metropolitan of Nisibis; translated by the Rev. Josiah Forshall, A. M. This Syriac work contains chronological tables of the principal dynasties of the world, brief memoirs of the patriarchs of the Nestorian Church, and notices of the most remarkable events of the east, from the birth of our Saviour to the beginning of the eleventh century.

A History of Georgia, translated by J. de Klaproth. This will be preceded by Vakhtang's chronicle of events that occurred in Georgia, prior to the introduction of Christianity int othat country.

A Description of Thibet; translated by J. de Klaproth. This will consist of extracts from various Chinese and Mandchu works, forming a complete account of Thibet, and of the Buddha religion, of which it is the principal seat.

Ibn Khaldun's History of the Berbers, translated by Prof. Lee. This is a rare and valuable Arabic work, containing an account of the origin, progress, and decline of the dynasties which governed the northern coast of Africa. The Berbers are

supposed to be the direct descendants of the ancient Numidians.

The History of Vartan, King of Armenia, translated by Prof. Neumann. This work contains an account of the religious wars between the Persians and Armenians in the sixth century, and many important documents relating to the religion of Zoroaster. It is written in the purest classical Armenian by Elisaeus, who was an eye-witness of many of the events he relates.

A writer in the Literatur-Zeitung of Halle, in giving an account of the labours of this society, urges strongly upon the committee the propriety of publishing also the original text of the works translated; and more particularly the text of original Syriac grammars and lexicons, as also Syriac commentaries on the Bible.

2. Study of Oriental Literature at St. Petersburg. The savans of Russia are beginning to awake to the importance of these studies; and the close connexion of the Russian empire with Turkey and Persia gives them facilities which are unknown to other countries. A plan was recently on foot to annex a Faculty or Section of Oriental languages to the university of St. Petersburg, to consist of eleven professors, who were to teach twelve different oriental tongues, and be assisted by the requisite number of native teachers. It is not known whether this plan has yet been carried into effect.

During the last campaign against Persia also, the Russians were not unmindful of the treasures of oriental literature which fell in their way. Having got possession of Ardebil, they made no scruple to carry away the celebrated library of the Mausoleum of Sheikh Sefy at that place; and leaving to the mosque only the theological works which it contained, they transferred the rest, as good booty, to the royal library at St. Petersburg. Of these there are 96 different manuscript works, all in Persian, and generally speaking highly valuable. Eighteen of these works are historical; the remainder consist principally of poetry. They are all distinguished for the beauty of the writing, and are most splendidly bound, with borders, vignettes, paintings, etc. The greater part of them are bequests of Shah Abbas the Great, A. D. 1608. Professors Frähn and Charmoy, and Mirza Jafar are preparing a splendid catalogue of the whole collection.

3. G. W. Freytagii Lexicon Arabico-Latinum, praesertim ex Djeuharii, Firuzabadiique et aliorum Arabum operibus,