3. KNAPP'S Theology. Translated by L. Woods, Jr. Vol. II. Andover, Flagg, Gould, & Newman.-This volume completes the work, and will be ready for delivery in a few weeks.

4. Select Classics. Vol. I. Containing the first book of Cicero's Quæstiones Tusculana, with Notes and a Critique on the arguments of Cicero; by Prof. STUART. Andover, Flagg, Gould, & Newman. Will be published shortly.

5. A Dictionary of the Holy Bible, for the use of Schools and Young Persons. With Maps and Engravings on wood. By EDWARD ROBINSON. Boston, Crocker & Brewster.

III. European Publications.

1. The Greek Testament with English Notes. By the Rev. S. J. Bloomfield. 2 vols. 8vo. London, 1832.-The Rev. T. H. Horne, author of the 'Introduction,' remarks in a letter to Prof. Stuart, that "Dr Bloomfield, author of the 'Recensio Synoptica N. T.' has had in press during the last two years, a critical edition of the text of the New Testament, with exegetical notes. Of this, I have seen a specimen; and I expect that it will prove a very useful aid to biblical students. The press work is beautifully executed. Nearly one third of each page is given to the notes, which are printed in a small, but very clear type. The principal various readings are very distinctly exhibited, and in his notes he gives a concise statement of the evidence for each reading."

2. ROSENMUELLERI Scholia in V. T. Pars X. Daniel. Lips. 1832, 8vo.--The Scholia of Rosenmueller now cover the whole of the Old Testament, excepting the historical books from Joshua to Esther. These will all be comprised in Part XI, which is announced as being in a state of forwardness, and to be published speedily. The ten Parts already published, make 21 volumes, and cost in Germany 54 rix dollars, or not far from $40, in sheets, with a discount of one sixth part. The price of them is much enhanced in this country, by the tax on learning imposed by our laws, in the shape of a duty of 13 or 15 cents a pound, because they happen to be written in Latin rather than in German.

3. ROSENMUELLERI Scholia in V. T. IN COMPENDIUM redacta. Vol. IV. Jobus. Lips. 1832.--Of this work, Vol. I. Pentateuchus, and Vol. III. Psalmi, have heretofore appeared. Vol. II. is to contain Isaiah, and will appear later. Vol. V. Ezechiel, was announced to be published in 1832; to be followed by Vol. VI. Prophetae Minores. 4. GESENII Lexicon Manuale Hebraico-Latinum. This was announced to be published in September last.

5. Die Mischnah, mit Punctation und Interpunction, beigefügter deutscher Uebersetzung, etc. Herausgegeben zu Berlin von einem Verein gelehrter Männer. In 6 vols. The first volume appeared early in 1832; the remaining ones are to follow at intervals of three months.

Announced for Publication in the course of 1832.

1. NEANDER, Kirchengeschichte: Apostolische Zeit, 2 Theile, 8vo.-See p. 70 above.

2. RHEINWALD, Compendium der Kirchengesch. nach Neander. 3. THOLUCK, Lehre von der Sünde. 4th Edition.

4. Commentar zum Evangelium Johannis. 4th Edition. -A new edition of Tholuck's Commentary on Romans is also proposed, to be accompanied by several dogmatico-exegetical dissertations upon some of the fundamental ideas and principles of the Epistle.

5. DE WETTE, Die heilige Schrift des A. und N. Testaments, übersetzt. 2te umgearbeitete Ausgabe, in 3 Theilen.-Part I contains the historical books; Part II, the poetical and prophetical books; and Part III, the New Testament.

6. HENGSTENBERG'S Christologie, etc. Vol. II.

7. HAVERNICK, Commentar über den Propheten Daniel.-See Bibl. Repos. Vol. II. p. 205.

8. OLSHAUSEN, Echtheit der Schriften des Neuen Testaments; für gebildete Laien.

9. TWESTEN'S Dogmatik. 2ter Theil.

10. UMBREIT, Psychologie als Wissenschaft.

11. TITTMANN, Dr. J. A. H. Opuscula Academica, ed. G. T. M. Becher.

12 NEUMANN, C. F. Asiatische Studien. Iter Band, mit lithogr. Karten und chinesischeu Textblättern. 8vo.-The second volume is also announced as in the press. The author is a celebrated Chi'nese scholar; and has recently returned from a voyage to China, undertaken under the patronage of the Prussian government for the purposes of observation and study.

Preparing for speedy Publication.

1. BRETSCHNEIDER, Handbuch der Dogmengeschichte, Iter Band. 2. WAHL, C. A. Lexicon in Libros Apocryphos V. T. 8vo. 3. FLECK, F. F. Commentarius in Libros Apocr. V. T. Vol. I. 4. SCHOTT, H. A. et J. F. WINZER, Commentarius in Epistolas N. T. Vol. I.

5. VON CÖLLN, Dr. K. G. Handbuch der biblischen Theologie, in 3 Bänden. 1ster Bd. Historisch-kritische Entwickelung des Hebraismus, oder die heiligen Sagen, Religionslehren und Symbole der Hebräer, bis auf die Zeit der Rückkehr aus dem Exil. 8vo.

seem to demand. Nor can he be debarred from preaching some, if he chooses so to do. Yet if he makes long sermons, and often repeated ones, he will at least be in great danger of fatiguing and turning away his readers. In regard to both of these matters, viz. doctrinal discussion and practical reflections, taste, and tact, and the times, may have more or less influence. If a man wishes to secure patient readers, and avoid overgrown volumes, it is plain enough that he must indulge very moderately in any thing besides proper commentary. But whatever is necessary, in order to illustrate and defend the positions taken by his author, may be succinctly stated; and in respect to great and difficult subjects, it should be stated. The excursus of a

critical commentary may be made, to most readers, and perhaps to all, the most interesting, and in some respects the most useful, part of the volume. But-est modus in rebus; these must be succinct, direct, and just as brief as the nature of the case permits.

In making practical remarks, or giving vent to his own religious feelings and affections, it is difficult to know exactly where to begin or to end. If a critical commentator is to say all that can be said, on every practical subject which comes up, or on every one in which the feelings may be interested, where is to be the end of his work? Not a page, nor a paragraph of the Scriptures, nor scarcely a verse, (if you except some genealogies, and descriptions of the ancient ritual of the Jews,) but may call forth remarks. And suppose he goes upon the principle of saying even all which might be appropriately said, where is to be the end of his work?

The answer is easy. As a specimen of this nature, look at the four folios of Owen on the Epistle to the Hebrews; a work which is the fruit of a master-spirit, but which is too endless to find patient readers, notwithstanding all its good sense and great learning.

It is true, then, that there may be too much of a thing which in itself is good. Four folios on a brief epistle, is what the nature of man cannot endure, be the qualities of them what they may. The reader spontaneously asks: To what number of volumes would an explanation of the whole Bible amount, should all be written in the same manner? What life would serve to peruse them even once? Or what estate would be adequate to purchase them? What is to become of the illiterate, the poor, and those who have scarcely any time to read, if such VOL. III. No. 9.

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commentary must be read, before the Bible can be understood ?> And even scholars and critics might ask: When are we to obtain a knowledge of the whole Bible, if each part must first be studied in this way?'

It follows, of course, that a great part of Dr Owen's commentary (so called) is made up by theologizing and preaching, and only a small part by exegesis. Why not separate the two things, and let each have its own proper place? I may be permitted to say again, Ne quid nimis. After all, however, an excess in this mode of writing, so as even to weary or disgust, can never prove that the kind of writing itself may not be very useful and interesting, even in a commentary, when compressed within narrow limits, and made critical, discriminating, concise, and full of thought, and life, and energy. I would never deny a critical commentator such a privilege; but thank him for making use of it. But if he abuses it, and proses on through interminable and hair-splitting divisions, I must lay him up quietly upon my shelf, to be meddled with just as seldom as I would seek a very dull companion, in order to enjoy the pleasures of society.

It is in vain to remonstrate against this, and to tell the public of the profound depths of wisdom, and knowledge, and learning, that are to be found in Owen on the Hebrews, Caryl on Job, Venema on the Psalms, and other endless tomes of the same description. They will not hear you. It is not a little amusing, every now and then, to see some writer come forth and tell the public, very gravely, what boundless mines of wealth they are neglecting, in not attending to the diligent study of such old and endless writers. He who announces this, forsooth, has been diving deep into this ocean, and has brought up so many pearls, and accumulated such splendid stores of wealth, that he longs to have the public know it; for this I take it, is often the predominating motive, in declarations and addresses and prefaces of such a character. In the next place, we may charitably suppose, that he really believes what he says, and has a desire that others should participate in the abundant harvest which is free for all to reap. Then in the third place, possibly, there lurks, at the bottom of his mind a conceit, that it is no small proof of a genius in himself superior to that of men in general, that he has made discoveries of so great value, and that he has a taste for such sober and solid thinking and discussion, as those old folios exhibit.

All these and some other motives may concur, many of them probably do so, in producing, once in every few months, some flaming panegyric of an old writer, of whom, the eulogist seems to think, the public are profoundly ignorant. Some bookseller, perhaps, wishes to engage in a reprint of some large work; he hires a reviewer to bring the work before the public, and to praise it in the manner above stated; he takes advantage of the impression thus produced on the public mind, and sends round an agent for subscription; he obtains a large number of subscribers; he fills his pockets with their money; and gives them, in return, books so voluminous and endless, so tedious in manner although solid in matter, that after a few attempts at reading, and after strong effort to bring themselves up to the feeling of estimation and interest, which the reviewers had promised them they would certainly entertain, they quietly lay up the volumes in their place upon the shelf, and devote them as a legacy to the generation which is to come. Who does not know that this is the true history of many an undertaking of this nature?

"Drive out nature even with a fork, and she will come back again," said a shrewd observer of human feelings and sympathies, eighteen hundred years ago. Men will find out, sooner or later, when they are plainly, directly, and satisfactorily instructed; and since life is very short, and there is so much to be done, it is difficult to persuade them, that all their time is to be occupied with one book, or with one subject. Hence the method adopted in much of the old commentary, be the merit of the thoughts whatever it may, will unavoidably bring it into general desuetude. In some respects this decision of the public is just.

As

A perfect standard of critical commentary can hardly be made out. There is no Homer here, to make out à priori a model for all others. Nor is it desirable that interpreters should be very rigidly confined to one set of rules, as to manner. they have different talents and inclinations, let there be some scope for all these. Yet-sunt certi denique fines; they must not overstep these. If they do, let them not complain that the public seek to be instructed, in a manner that is more pleasing to themselves.

I must now say a word on popular commentary. It is a subject of deep interest, and hints upon it, if they contain any thing which is correct and worth consideration, may be of some value to the public. They may, at least, stir up other minds to think