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assisting to send his works through society in a form, cheap, and adapted to the present habits of the reading world." With these feelings and views we are a little surprised, that, so far as Dr. Channing's earlier writings are concerned, they have not confined themselves to the collection made and sanctioned by himself, in 1830; especially as in the Preface to that volume he expresses the wish in so many words, that none of his former publications, omitted therein for reasons which he assigns, might ever be found in their present form in any subsequent collection of his works. Our surprise, moreover, is changed into something very like indignation, on finding that, not content with undertaking to make a compilation of their own on principles in direct contradiction of the author's known wishes, they have not thought it worth while to consult him, or communicate with him in any way on the subject, but have chosen rather to be guided by report in the delicate matter of determining the authorship of anonymous compositions. The consequence is, as might have been expected, that one of the longest pieces in these volumes, entitled "Remarks on Associations formed by the Working Classes of America," we have the best authority for saying, was never seen or heard of by Dr. Channing, until to his astonishment he found it inserted here as a production of his own. This is too bad. Besides, the publishers have not only inserted what Dr. Channing never wrote, but have left out several of his later pieces, which he would doubtless introduce into a new and complete edition of his works; so that the Glasgow edition, instead of being, as it is called in the Advertisement," the only complete one which has yet been published," is in every view singularly defective. We are grateful for every effort that is made to give a wider circulation to writings, which the publishers cannot appreciate more highly than we do; but no such plea can avail in justification of so flagrant a violation of what is due, not merely as matter of courtesy, but of justice, to the author himself, as we have here had occasion to expose.

A Harmony or Synoptical Arrangement of the Gospels: founded upon the most ancient Opinion respecting the Duration of our Saviour's Ministry, and exhibiting the Succession of Events in close Accordance with the Order of the two Apostolical Evangelists. With Dissertations, Notes, and Tables. By LANT CARPENTER, LL. D., Minister of the Gospel. Bristol, (England.) 1835. 8vo. pp. cxlvii. and 322.- Dr. Carpenter's long-expected "Harmony" has appeared at last, and promises to be a valuable accession to the theological literature in our language. It has evidently been drawn up with much labor and care, and the arrangement of the text, and the mechanical execution generally, are satisfactory in a high

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degree. Four Dissertations are prefixed: the first, "On the Duration of our Lord's Ministry "; the second, "On the Structure of the First Three Gospels in relation to the Succession of Events in our Lord's Ministry "; the third, "On the Political and Geographical State of Palestine at the Period of our Lord's Ministry "; and the fourth, "On the Succession of Events recorded in the Gospels, giving an Outline View of our Lord's Ministry." Dr. Carpenter's Plan," as most of our readers are aware, is the same substantially with that adopted by Dr. Palfrey in the Harmony published by him at Boston, in 1831; but it is more fully carried out and defended, and the text, which is the Common Version, has been subjected to a more thorough revision and correction. He proceeds on what he terms the bipaschal system, making the public ministry of Christ. to include but two passovers, and to last but little more than one year. Of his success in this attempt at a proper arrangement and collocation of the sacred narratives, he thus speaks in his Fourth Dissertation :

"Since the time when, by the consideration of the phenomena in the case, I came to the general conclusion which I still maintain, and this is now thirty years ago, I have earnestly and I think faithfully reviewed them more than twice that number of times; I have sought for information on connected subjects wherever it appeared likely to be found; I have constructed Tables, and Monotessarons, and Outline Views, upon the whole, or on particular parts, and thus brought the Arrangement to a strict test; and, several years ago, I prepared a regular Harmony agreeably to it, which I have repeatedly considered. I can now trace every part of the eventful year of our Saviour's ministry, as far as we have records of it, with the sentiment which arises from the perception of distinctness and consistency. And to those who may not feel the same satisfaction, and who regard the whole as more the matter of conjecture than I can regard it, I would say, — If, nevertheless, this Arrangement appear to be attended with fewer difficulties than others are, and with more accordance with probability, adopt it, with what improvements you discover, as loosely as you deem the nature and the degree of the evidence to require, yet steadily; and by degrees you will be able to follow the great events recorded, in a regular succession, like the events of ordinary life, and will find the reality of all become increasingly the object of vivid conception and faith."

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The completion of this work, Dr. Carpenter tells us, will enable him to proceed with others which have been postponed to it. these," he says, "the first will probably be a Monotessaron for the use of the young and uninformed. At some future period I hope to publish a similar work, for more general use, with explanatory observations and practical reflections." Of the book now under notice he informs us in the same Advertisement, that "the whole of the present impression, consisting of five hundred copies, is re

quired for subscribers to the work, though I must reserve a few, to be submitted to the examination of some able critics in this country, out of my own religious connexion, and of some of my brethren in Boston." Our only object here has been to announce the publication of the volume and its contents, intending on some future occasion to go more fully into an examination of its critical merits.

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Religious Consolation. Boston: Joseph Dowe. 1836. 16mo. pp. xxiv, and 227.- We have here a sort of book of which it is hardly possible to have too many; a well selected and well printed collection of pieces in prose and verse, intended particularly for persons in affliction. The Introduction, on Christian Faith," the only part of the volume which is original, is a valuable contribution by the compiler, Mr. Gannett of Boston, in which he speaks as follows of the object and authorship of the rest of the articles.

"They contain selections from English and American writers whose names are familiar in this community, Price, Cappe, Channing, Dewey, Palfrey, Parker, Colman, and others. Many of the pieces here printed will be recognised as of recent publication. The idea of preparing the present volume arose out of the belief that these materials if brought together would constitute a valuable book of consolation. Other extracts of a similar character have been added; and upon whatever page the reader may open, it is believed that he will find words of comfort.""

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New Publications. - Mr. Kaufman's Translation of Tholuck's "Commentary on the Gospel of St. John" has just appeared. It makes a duodecimo volume of four hundred and seventy-four pages. A Translation of Olshausen's Commentaries on the New Testament has been undertaken at Princeton, N. J. Hug's Introduction to the writings of the New Testament, translated by D. Fosdick, Jr., with notes by Professor Stuart, will soon be published. A new volume on Hermeneutics is also announced as in the course of preparation by Professor Stuart.

THE

CHRISTIAN EXAMINER.

No. LXXV.

THIRD SERIES - No. VI.

JULY, 1836.

ART. I.-The Life of Philip Melancthon, comprising an Account of the most important Transactions of the Reformation. By F. A. Cox, D. D., LL. D., of London. First American from the Second London Edition, with important Alterations by the Author, for this Edition. Boston: 1835. 12mo. pp. 316.

WE are disposed to regard with favor any attempt to throw light upon that portion of the history of the church, which commonly passes under the name of the Reformation. This term usually designates a much more contracted period than it should. To enlarge our views of this period, to show how early and almost imperceptible was the beginning of the Reformation, how many names are to be reckoned among its instruments before the appearance of those to whom it is chiefly ascribed, how remarkable were the concurring circumstances which then caused its developement, and how natural the influences which rendered it an imperfect work, is a service honorable to every one who performs it faithfully, and useful to the cause of Christianity and the advance of society. It is particularly useful to study the variety of character, which both gave and received an impulse from this great movement; to observe how widely different were the agents employed, and how wonderfully the most opposite materials, good and bad passions, fierce and gentle qualities, strong and weak minds, the highest and the lowest motives, were made to contribute to the one great work. It may teach us - 3D S. VOL. II. NO. III.

VOL. XX.

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never to despair of reform, because the instruments are not all such as we should choose, nor the measures to be wholly approved. It never has been so with any reform. It can never be expected. We attach too much importance to the little or the great evils which attend the first steps of a moral revolution. We are too slow to yield our sympathy and cooperation, too apt to withhold even our faith and prayers, because the hands engaged are not all clean, nor the heads the most sound. We are particularly and beyond reason disturbed by any excess of zeal, the least extravagance or violence in the leaders of reform; forgetting that the moderate and peace-loving, however virtuous and wise, are never the first to disturb the things that are, nor willing to raise the commotions and encounter the perils, without which great changes are seldom begun and never completed. He, however, is a bad casuist and an equivocal Christian, who would draw from such facts and concessions, a sanction for extravagance and violence, or encourage by a look the doers of evil, because good may come of it. It is one thing to have confidence in God and faith in man's advancement; it is another, and most criminal, to advocate any principles or measures but those of truth and love.

The leading characters and events of the Reformation are familiar to all readers. Yet the prominence given to Luther and Calvin, a prominence secured by their rude and daring traits, and their doctrinal peculiarities, more than by mental or moral superiority, has overshadowed many less obtrusive but scarcely less important names, and delayed the justice which must sooner or later be rendered them. Among these an important place must be allowed to Melancthon. Hist name is not unknown, nor his memory unhonored. No name is more closely associated with that of Luther, for no one was admitted to share more largely his intimacy and his labors. Few men have differed more in disposition than they; but this difference did not prevent confidence or coöperation; and if at any time these were interrupted, their very difference of character helped to restore the harmony. They exerted happy influences upon each other. Luther's impetuosity was often checked by Melancthon's mildness; while this mildness, when it became timidity, was stimulated and emboldened by the other's fearlessness. Luther, too, derived no little advantage from Melancthon's superior learning.

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