from a coin. We get in this way, perhaps, a clearer conception of the actual, living spirit of the East, than if he had filled his book, like Dr. Clarke, with the lore of all ages. The volumes have another decided recommendation. The traveller, as a general thing, speaks reverently of the Bible and of sacred institutions, and according to his ability, illustrates the histories and prophecies of revelation. The assent to the authority of inspiration is not cold and reluctant, but frequent and hearty. Children and youth will thus find the books safe as well as extremely amusing.

The tour was commenced in December, 1835, and occupied, we suppose (for the volumes are unfortunately almost barren of dates) the whole, or a greater part, of 1836. They embrace a voyage up the Nile to the ruins of Upper Egypt, a visit to mount Sinai, a journey through the desert to Akaba, up the Ghor to Petra, thence to Hebron, Jerusalem, and many other places in the Holy Land. Mr. Stephens had no permanent companion, except Paul, a faithful Maltese servant, who spoke several languages.

Our traveller was so happy as to pass a day at the ruins of Petra, having at Caïro secured the services of the sheik of Akaba, who conducted him from that fortress to Hebron. On the fourth day after

leaving Akaba, they came to the foot of the mountains of Seir. Towering above all the rest, surmounted by a circular dome, was the bare and rugged summit of Hor, the burial-place of Aaron, visible in every direction from a great distance below. They soon turned in among the mountains, occasionally passing small spots of verdure. Early the next morning, sending the baggage by another route, the company, consisting of seven persons, started for the city of Petra. Their course was a continued ascent. The mountains were barren, rugged and desolate, though enlivened by beautiful streams gushing from their sides. On reaching the point where the Arabs sacrifice sheep in honor of Aaron, they wound along the base of Hor, till they came to some tombs, which stood at the threshold of the excavated city. In order to prevent trouble from the Bedouins who guard the usual entrance to Petra, the company clambered over the mountains at the other end. On reaching the area, Mr. Stephens followed the stream towards the entrance of the ravine more than a mile. His guides, however, would not allow him to proceed, as, at the other end of the ravine, was an encampment of El Alouins. On returning towards the area, the full magnificence of the remains burst on the sight. Wild fig-trees, oleanders, and ivy were growing out of the rocky sides of the cliffs hundreds of feet above them; the eagle was screaming on high; all along were the open doors of tombs, forming the great necropolis of the city; and at the extreme end was a large open space, with a powerful body of light thrown down upon it, and exhibiting in one full view the façade of a beautiful temple, hewn out of the rock, with rows of Corinthian columns

and ornaments, standing out fresh and clear as if but yesterday from the hands of the sculptor. Neither the Coliseum, the Acropolis nor the Pyramids appeared so imposing as the front of the Khasné. In the innermost chamber, the names of Legh, Bankes, Irby, Mangles, Laborde, Linant, two Englishmen and an Italian who had just before visited it, were inscribed. The name of the first American who had ever been there was now added. The travellers visited the theatre, tombs, etc. In many cases, they found it difficult to distinguish the habitations of the dead from the dwellings of the living. One of these dwellings particularly arrested attention. At one end was a stone bench, like a divan; at the other, several small apartments, which appeared to have been designed for sleeping chambers. There were no paintings or decorations in the chamber, but the rock out of which it was hewn was of a peculiarity and beauty not elsewhere seen, being a dark ground, with veins of white, blue, red, purple, and sometimes scarlet and light orange, running through it in rainbow streaks. The colors in which these waving lines were drawn were exceedingly fresh and beautiful. In front was a large table of rock, forming a sort of court.

On the next day, the traveller and his servant, after overcoming great obstacles, succeeded in reaching the summit of Hor, by ascending on the eastern side. The tomb of Aaron is a building about thirty feet square containing a single chamber; in front of the door is a tomb-stone, in form like the oblong slabs in our church yards, but larger and thicker; the top rather larger than the bottom, and covered with a ragged pall of red cotton in shreds and patches. At its head stood a high round stone, on which the Moslem offers his sacrifices. In one corner, a stair-case was found leading to a narrow chamber below, at one end of which was an iron-grating, opening in the middle, and behind the grating a tomb cut in the naked rock, guarded and revered as the tomb of Aaron. In the afternoon, they descended the mountain, and on the following day were moving along the great valley of the Ghor towards the Dead Sea. We cannot, however, accompany them in their interesting

route.

We observe that in one passage in Vol. II., the second temple and Solomon's are confounded. Without diminishing aught from the vivacity of the book, some expressions bordering on want of reverence for the Bible might be omitted. Some cases of deception practised on the Bedouins were, to say the least, of a doubtful morality. Still the volumes have afforded us much amusement and instruction, and we warmly commend them to those with whom our opinion is of any value.

16.-The Saviour's Last Command; or what is implied in preaching the gospel, and the obligation to preach it throughout the world. A Discourse delivered Dec. 4, 1836, by Ashbel Green, D. D. Philadelphia, 1837, pp. 42.

Dr. Green gives us a summary of what the preaching of the gospel is a trinity of persons in the unity of the godhead-the sovereignty of God in his purposes and providence-the original and total depravity of all mankind-regeneration and sanctification as the exclusive work of the Holy Spirit-the atonement of Christ, or his perfect satisfaction to the law and justice of God—justification through the righteousness of Christ-and the final perseverance of the saints. The imputation of Christ's righteousness to believers is thus explained, "It is put to their account, and thus fully answers all the demands of the law of God, both in its precept and penalty in their behalf; so that in the eye of the law they are righteous and completely justified." The long and angry controversy which has been waged on the question of a general or a limited atonement, is, it seems, in the view of Dr. Green, a mere verbal controversy: "All who hold to real atonement are agreed in every thing that is material. If I mistake not, it is Calvin who has said in a single short sentence, what seems to me of most importance on this point; and in which both parties in this controversy are agreed. Speaking of the atonement he says, "Sufficient for all, efficient only to the elect." On the subject of voluntary societies the doctor is more liberal than an occasional writer in New England. "It was fully conceded, not only that voluntary societies may be useful auxiliaries, but that if any church be so organized that it cannot act efficiently in missionary enterprise in any other way, then voluntary societies ought certainly to be formed for this purpose."

17.-Probation.

By Enoch Pond, D. D. prof. in Theol. Sem. Bangor. Bangor : Duren & Thatcher, 1837, pp. 137.

This is a clear presentation of the common doctrine on the subject of probation. The writer treats of the subject of probation-of its design-of probation in general, and the probation of man under the gospel-man's state here adapted to be one of probation-results in the present life-probation limited to the present life- difficulties considered-application. In the appendix, Dr. Pond refutes the notion of some Germans that there will be a second probation between death and the general judgment, for such as have not had the offers of the gospel in this life. This seems to be mere speculation on the part of the Germans. "These writers," says Dr. P. "are not in any sense of the term, what they have sometimes been reported to be, universalists. They hold that for those who under

standingly reject the gospel, whether in this life, or in the intermediate state, and who go to the judgment in their sins, there is no hope. Thus think Hahn, Olshausen, Koppe, Storr, Reinhard, and J. Müller.

18.-An Essay on Slavery and Abolitionism, with reference to the duty of American females. By Catharine E. Beecher. Philadelphia: Henry Perkins, 1837, pp. 152.

Miss Beecher gives several reasons in this volume why American females should not join the Anti-Slavery Society. These reasons are, first, that abolitionists are laboring to convince men not of their own sins, but of the sins of other persons, i. e. trying to convince the free States of the sins of the slave States; second, that the character and measures of the abolitionists are not peaceful and Christian in their tendency, though themselves, as a body, are men of pure morals, of great honesty of purpose, and of real benevolence; third, the wrong views which they take on the doctrine of expediency; and fourth, reasonable fear in respect to the results of their movements. Some other reasons applying more particularly to females are subjoined.

ARTICLE XII.

SELECT LITERARY AND MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE.

UNITED

STATE S.

THE works of Mr. Madison, now in the press, are anticipated with great interest. Exclusive of his journal of the debates in the convention which formed the federal constitution, and which is now the property of Congress, his correspondence and other writings, which have been selected for the press, will form at least six large octavo volumes. A great part of the whole has been transcribed. Three will be of an historical nature, legislative, and administrative; and including, of the former, proceedings of the Virginia legislature before, and of the Congress from the commencement of the new government till the close of his services in these bodies; tracing his views of the events of the latter period, and running through subsequent administrations. The residue of his writings are on politics, political economy, the law of nations, etc.

One of the letters of Mr. Madison, written when he was eightythree, touches a subject of great interest-the connection of religion

with the State. "There appears to be," he remarks, “in the nature of man, what ensures his belief in an invisible cause of his present existence, and an anticipation of his future existence. Hence the propensities and susceptibilities on the score of religion, which with a few doubtful or individual exceptions have prevailed throughout the world." "The existing character of our communities distinguished as it is by its religious features, and the lapse of time, now more than fifty years since the legal support of religion was withdrawn, sufficiently prove, that it does not need the support of government. And it will be scarcely contended that government has suffered by the exemption of religion from its cognizance or its pecuniary aid. The apprehension of some seems to be, that religion left entirely to itself, may run into extravagances injurious both to religion and social order; but besides the question, whether the interference of gov ernment, in any form, would not be more likely to increase than control the tendency, it is a safe calculation that in this, as in other cases of excessive excitement, reason will gradually regain its ascendancy. Great excitements are less apt to be permanent, than to vibrate to the opposite extreme."

The religious views of Madison, we presume, will be found in happy contrast with those of Jefferson. The two volumes of Tucker's life of the latter are melancholy reading. Though Jefferson's letters and other writings contained in this memoir, are in some respects, more pruned than his correspondence published a few years ago, yet they are interlarded with profane allusions to God and the Bible, with miserable attempts at wit on the most awful subjects, and with numerous proofs that Jefferson, exalted as he was by intellect and by station, was without God in the world.

We may state, in this connection, that the reason of the delay of the second volume of the Life of that other wicked, great man, Aaron Burr, is the expectation of some letters from the widow of Blennerhasset.

A Hebrew Grammar by professor Nordheimer of the University of New York, is nearly ready for the press. It adopts, we believe, some new principles on the subject. The publication of the Arabic grammar of the same author is delayed by the want of types.

The complete works of president Davies, with a new memoir of his life, by a clergyman every way competent to the undertaking, is in the course of preparation. A considerable amount of materials hitherto unpublished will be procured.-What progress is made in bringing out the complete works of Dr. Witherspoon, by Dr. Green, we do not know.

The Rev. Dr. Holmes of Cambridge, who died on the 4th of May last, has left some valuable lectures ready for the press on the ecclesiastical history of New England.