a chasm that intercepts their transition. But as great means were necessary for great ends, it is easy to suppose the power which created could increase-nor is it entirely impossible but that natural causes may have been adequate to the purpose-that the trembling continent may have cracked and fled asunder upheaved by forces from beneath, and the mountains may have been carried into the midst of the sea' with all that was thereon.

To these arguments of a purely philosophical character, I may add one reason more from the Bible, in whose first chapter we find it recorded that the waters were gathered together into one place,' which statement would ill have applied to the gulfs and inland seas of the modern world. The conjecture may further be hazarded, that the confusion of tongues at Shinar not having accomplished its purpose of destroying the combinations of men for evil purposes, God in his wisdom of vengeance, which combined with mercy, determined to place those extreme barriers which we now behold with wonder and awe, and which was accomplished when we are informed 'In the days of Peleg was the earth divided.'

Islington.

CORRESPONDENCE.

FROM Communications which have reached the Editor, it appears that his statement respecting the state and prospects of the Journal, which was given in the Correspondence' of the last number, has not in all quarters been rightly understood. It seems to be his duty to correct any erroneous impressions which may thus have been caused, and he knows not that this can be done better than by inserting the principal portion of a letter lately addressed by him to a friend on this very subject:

· MY DEAR

Woking, May 10th, 1848.

I am obliged by your congratulations respecting the Journal of Sacred Literature; and I accept them the more cordially from the conviction of the strong interest you take in the success of this attempt to establish on so wide a basis an organ expressly devoted to Sacred Literature. But I fear you have too sanguinely interpreted the expressions employed by me in the intimation given in the Correspondence' of the April number. That notification was written under the influence of the satisfaction which I felt in contemplating the fact that I had at length succeeded in working out a plan which, as you are so well aware, has been the cherished object of many years, and to which I have looked forward, not only as to the proper sphere of my own future usefulness in this my day and generation, but as an important instrument

instrument for bringing into operation the means of rendering useful services to Biblical literature which exist in many quarters, but which lie dormant for want of an appropriate medium for their exhibition. You will not fail to perceive that it is not only the object of such a work to register exertions in the great cause of Biblical literature-in which every minister of God's word, and every intelligent student of the Sacred Book, is interested-but to excite exertion in every one who is capable of affording useful contributions to Biblical science, by the stimulus which the presence of an organ specially adapted to his communications with the public cannot fail to afford. That I have not miscalculated in this is shown by the fact that I already possess, and the Journal has already contained, contributions to Biblical literature, which would probably never have been produced had the publication not existed; as well as many others which, although written, would either not have been published, or would have been lost to the general notice of the Biblical public in sectional publications.

Well, in contemplation of these facts-considering that I had been enabled to get over the great difficulties, commercial and literary, which exist in bringing forth a Quarterly Journal; that all the machinery had come into fine working order much sooner than I had ventured to expect; and that all the means for its progressive improvement were in full operation, I thanked God, and took courage. Perhaps I took too much courage; though it seemed to me that the statement which was drawn from me, and to which your letter refers, was sufficiently guarded in its expressions.

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You will see now that the source of my satisfaction—the exciting cause of my song of triumph,' as you are pleased to call it, was that I had been enabled, by the blessing of God upon the means which had been taken, and by the vigorous aid of the contributors, to lay this my tribute fairly before the public. This was a great matter; and, which was as great a matter, that tribute seemed to have been well received. This is still more clear now, since the appearance of the second number, if I may venture to judge not merely from the notices which have appeared in contemporary publications, but from the encouragement with which many of the most competent judges have, by their letters, cheered my heart and strengthened my hands.

What I meant therefore to say was, that we, the Editor and Contributors, had pretty well done our part. Our offering has been brought up to the very horns of the altar; the priests have pronounced it a fit offering; and we have left it there. An attempt has therefore been made in which even failure were no disgrace to us, though there are those to whom our failure would do no honour. This was the only matter on which we could take credit, or from which any just satisfaction could be derived. The rest remained, and remains, with the public; and I cherish the hope that the public will now do its part. Considering the difficulties of the times, I am not prepared to say that it has not. We have made a fair beginning, as times go; and if we can but hold on long enough, while the work gets known, and

while the times mend, there can be no doubt of the result. But this 'holding on' is difficult. The present sale is not enough to defray the first commercial expenses, and at least double the circulation is at once, or very soon, necessary to make us safe. This being realized, the publication would be sufficiently well known to ensure its further progress, and time would be given us to develop all our resources. But I am not so circumstanced as to be able to carry on this enterprise long at a loss. My bread, as you well know, is not so abundant that I can find much to cast even upon these pleasant waters. I cast what I can-more, some say, than I ought; but I do it in faith-the faith of finding it after some days, be they many or few, in some shape of advantage to the cause to which I have been enabled to devote the labours of my life, and which can hardly fail to be promoted by this attempt, whatever be its result.

I know there are many who, like yourself, would be loth to see me brought into peril in the attempt to accomplish a useful service to Biblical literature, and to employ the resources at my disposal in the way which may, as I conceive, most efficiently advance the glory of God, and the knowledge of His word. I know there are many more, on whose consideration I have no personal claims, who would be anxious to see such a work succeed, in the conviction that it supplies a want in our theological literature, and that the precedent of its failure would for many years to come discourage any like attempt to supply that want. On such of either of these classes as are known to you, I must beg you to exert your influence, to induce them to employ theirs in the present and efficient support of this undertaking. Those who intend to take the Journal in 'next year,' or 'when times mend,' or 'when they have seen more of it,' must be reminded that their present support is essential to the success of the undertaking; and those who feel the Journal to be an advantage or a necessity to them, must be made to understand that their continued possession of it depends very much upon their exertions in making it known, and in promoting its circulation. There are, I am sure, very many who could induce several persons within their circles of influence to support this publication; but it is clear that if every one of the present subscribers were to induce even one more to take it in, the present object, of safety, would be secured. You will do much more than your proper share of this task; and if others will do theirs, either as a favour, a friendship, or a duty, all will be well.'

To this Letter we have only to add the information-which may perhaps impart a further stimulus to the exertions of the friends of this enterprise that the Journal of Sacred Literature is no bookseller's speculation, but is entirely undertaken at the Editor's own personal risk.

Dr. Dobbin has sent us the following communication in reply to Mr. Robertson's letter contained in our last Number. We have just received, from another quarter, an article on the typical import of the ordinances of the Day of Atonement, in which the signification of the

ordinance

ordinance of the scape-goat' is considered among the rest.
expect to print in the next Number :-
:-

This we

SIR, I am obliged to Mr. Robertson, of Middleton in Teesdale, for his candid and courteous observations on my paper in the first Number of the Journal of Sacred Literature, and must crave space for a very few and brief remarks on his communication.

1. Mr. R. waves the real point of discussion in suggesting a patriarchal origin for the ordinance of the scape-goat; the real question being, Did the Jews adopt it from Egypt or not? Dr. Hengstenberg elaborately maintains the affirmative; and in his statements in support of that view lays himself open, as I think, to grave censure.

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2. The ground Dr. Hengstenberg takes in defence of its Egyptian origin, that it could scarcely spring up' in Israel, from its palpable reference to devil-worship, makes very decidedly against its being a reinstitution of a patriarchal rite, because in this latter case it would be unexceptionable in its aspect, innocent and divine.

3. While I fully acquiesce in Mr. Robertson's commendation of the article SCAPE-GOAT in Kitto's Cyclopædia, as a carefully prepared paper, it is important to observe that it professes to be only a resumé of Dr. Hengstenberg's article on the subject in his book on Moses and Egypt. The ability of the compend is only equalled by the candour of the writer, who, unconvinced by the reasonings he has taken the pains to present to his readers, thus modestly records his dissent :The subject is one of the most curious and interesting in Biblical literature; but it is also one on which it seems scarcely possible to realize an implicit conviction: and the present writer, in reporting the views of another, must admit that n, for himself, has not been able to do so.' The italics are mine; but does not the sentiment entitle me to claim the writer for my side, quite as much as Mr. R. for Dr. Hengstenberg's?

4. I needed not to be told that Azazel is employed by Jewish writers to signify the evil spirit or demon of the desert. I had read with some care Spencer's learned treatise in his book De Legibus Hebræorum Ritualibus, vol. ii. 4to. pp. 450-504, ed. Hagæ Comitum, 1686: nor did I fail to make myself thoroughly acquainted with the Jewish traditions, as given in the Mischna Surenhusii, vol. ii. fol. 226-250, Amsteladami, 1699, before I sent you my contribution. This latter so interested me, that I had some intention to translate it, with its voluminous notes, if thought admissible in the Journal, nor have I yet given up the idea.

5. Assuming that my interpretation of the dead and scape goats is correct, as indicating remission by bloodshedding, it by no means follows that it excludes Mr. Robertson's view, if I apprehend it distinctly, which I doubt. The ordinance of the goats, in my opinion, refers to the following parties:

1. To the Israelites; and expresses the sin of the people punished in the slain, and forgiven in the released animal.

2. To the Messiah; who was delivered for our offences, and raised

again for our justification, i. e., the humiliation, resurrection, and triumph of Christ.

And,

3. To the entire church; sin reigning unto death, the death of our surety, and the deserved death of ourselves, and grace reigning unto eternal life, in our pardon, acceptance, and salvation.

I hope the studied brevity of these remarks has not interfered with the clearness of my meaning; but in truth I have as little time as you have of space for a controversy that I fear will interest few of your readers. I am almost apprehensive I shall have to leave any future notices my papers may be honoured with in reluctant silence, unless they should be of such a nature as to enforce a public and honourable recantation of published opinions.

Hull College.

ORLANDO T. DOBBIN.

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

The Analytical Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon consisting of an Alphabetical arrangement of every Word and Inflection contained in the Old Testament Scriptures, precisely as they occur in the Sacred Text, with a Grammatical Analysis of each Word and Lexicographical Illustration of the Meanings. A complete series of Hebrew and Chaldee Paradigms, with Grammatical Remarks and Explanations. Bagster and Sons, London, 1848; 4to., pp. 874. We cannot look at this book and reflect upon the amount of very precious time it would once have saved us, while acquiring practice in the Hebrew language, without a pang of regret that it was not many years ago produced, allayed by the joy that the new generation should possess so important an addition to the facilities afforded to it for the acquisition of the sacred language. Mr. Bagster's undertakings in this line have rendered him a public benefactor; and with the aids which he alone has afforded, even if there were no others, it must ere long become impossible for any minister of God's word, or for any real student of Scripture, to remain ignorant of the Hebrew tongue, with any credit or comfort to himself. It is true that the Hebrew is not so easy' a language, to be thoroughly acquired, as is sometimes idly said. But although more difficult than some languages, it is easier than some others, and, with the present and other helps, which are such as no other language possesses, the Hebrew offers no difficulties which a very reasonable degree of persevering attention may not in due time

overcome.

As the study of Hebrew, unlike that of the classical tongues, is usually taken up in the busiest period of life, students can hence rarely secure the advantage of oral instruction long enough to obtain a complete knowledge of Hebrew; and the entire body of words in the

Hebrew