Page images
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

R

mark what the labours of one unaided traveller have lately done. For ages Egypt was the land of historical darkness and doubt. Mystery seemed to have taken up her everlasting abode amongst her monuments; and upon her pyramids more especially had the conjectures of learning been exhausted in vain. The recesses of one of those mighty masses had indeed long been opened to view; but, though visited, studied, and admired by a succession of the most enterprising and enlight ened travellers, few seemed to indulge a hope, and not one attempted, or at least succeeded in attempting, to penetrate the recesses of the sister wonders. Curiosity gazed on their magnificence with a sigh, pronounced their secrets impenetrable, and withdrew. Surely, if ever there was reason to be discouraged and despair, it was here. Yet we know that what the wealth, the wishes, the science and the literature of so many before him were unable to effect, has at length been successfully executed by the single and unaided efforts of the unlearned Belzoni. With no guide but experience, no knowledge but what he derived from a long and careful examination of the manner in which the secrets of the open pyramid had been concealed, and no encouragement but the consideration, that as they were all apparently the works of the same people, an uniformity of construction would probably be found in all; with no other qualities, in short, than those which I have already mentioned as the best prognostics of success, a discreet boldness, patient ingenuity, and unwearied meditation upon one particular object of research, he has discovered all the recesses of that monument we deemed impenetrable, and given us a well-grounded confidence that, if equal industry and talents were brought to bear upon those which are still closed, equal success might very reasonably be expected to ensue." PP 141, 142.

of increasing spiritual knowledge, is content for years to take up his abode in the deep valley of revelation, to trace narrowly its windings, converse freely with its inhabitants, familiarize himself with its scenes, and labour with unremitted diligence to turn all he either learns or observes, to the benefit of himself and of the world. This is the way of wisdom and of truth. Seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you,' is the Redeemer's promise. Search the Scriptures by day, and meditate upon their counsels by night; bring to the task fervent prayer, an humble spirit, a devoted understanding, unwearied assiduity and patient thought;-give thyself wholly to the study of heavenly things, and the knowledge of heavenly things shall be thy reward, and a growing hope of increasing success shall be at once thy companion and thy recompence." pp. 145, 146.

In the conclusion of this lecture, as in some other parts of this volume, we have too much repetition; at least too much recurrence to ideas previously enforced.

This, how

ever, is more excusable in a series of lectures or sermons, than it would be in a single regular essay.

1

Mr. Benson may, perhaps, in this volume, lay himself open to the charge of undervaluing the labours of that host of commentators, who, in ages past, have been professedly directing their efforts to the elucidation of Holy Writ. We think, indeed, that, in speaking of what yet remains to be done towards the solution of Scripture difficulties, he has not sufficiently guarded against an impression, which we are sure he did not mean to convey, that very little has been done already. Upon the principle of judicious and comprehensive selection, a commentary might yet be formed, that would go far towards the satisfaction of the candid mind, how curious soever it might be in its inquisition, The work of Bishop Mant and Dr. D'Oyley, though it contains a large mass of valuable matter, is too meagre for extensive research, particularly upon some of the most important parts of the Old Testament. The Crithe wonders of Providence; but it is hetici Sacri, and Pool's Synopsis who, with the solemn and serious purpose -dgrounded on it, are rather adapted

ni In recommending unwearied di-
ligence, and the exclusive dedica-
tion of some minds to this particu-
lar department of Biblical research,
Mr. Benson has the following beau-
tiful and devout passage, sul
- It is not the idle traveller whom curio-
>sity alone induces to wander forth into
-the revealed paradise of God, and refresh
himself with the sweet waters of the Spi-
fit, that is most likely to perceive the beaut

ties, describe the intricacies, and

9

24

по

[ocr errors]

of for the Biblical scholar than for the ordinary Christian reader. They are also too indiscriminate in their quotations, and perplex choice by the very number of references and authorities.

It is the object of Mr. Benson, in the latter part of this chapter, to shew that universal success, in the elucidation of difficulties, is not absolutely necessary either to our edification or to our faith; a position almost too obvious to require elucidation.

[ocr errors]

The first series of these lectures is terminated with a "classification

of Scripture difficulties." "There
is nothing," the author observes,
which, in a complicated subject,
more effectually contributes to re-
move obscurity, than a division of
it into proper heads." The follow-
ing is the division which he adopts:
Difficulties which relate to the sub-
ject matter of which the Bible treats;
difficulties which depend upon the
manner in which that matter is ex-
pressed; and difficulties which arise
out of the concomitant circum-
stances. Under the second of these
heads, he comprehends all obscu-
rities of a verbal, grammatical, or
philological nature. Under the last
The ranges those of a chronological
and geographical description. The
first head contains by far the most
numerous and complicated class;
such as the historical difficulties, or
those which arise out of the ordi-
nary facts and incidents of the Bible;
the prophetical, or those which spring
either from the clearness or the ob-
scurity of the language, or from
exactness or indistinctness of ful-
filment, in what is supposed to be
foretold; the philosophical, includ-
ing what may be styled the physi-
cal, the metaphysical, and the po-
litical difficulties; lastly, the doc-
trinal, or those which are found
ed on the doctrines and precepts
of holy writ. Mr. Benson acknow
ledges this sketch to be imperfect;
but considers it sufficient for pre-
venting confusion in our ideas, and
enabling any one to select for his

"

own investigation that particula class for which the bent of his genius and education may best qualify him.

He then goes on to consider what class of Scripture difficulties may be best for his own choice in the lectureship to which he was appointed; and "the founder of which," he says, "has exacted such exorbitant products from the holders of his office, as, by turning them into a sort of wholesale manufacturers of discourses for the press, have precluded them from the possibility of encountering the most abstruse branches of theology." His choice at last falls upon those "narratives of incidents and characters which seem repugnant to the moral attributes of the Deity, on our general notions of right and wrong. Mr. Benson justly thinks that the particular circumstances of these times of rebuke and blasphemy, as well as of Christian piety and philanthropy, call more particularly for the consideration of this class; and, of these difficulties, he selects the principal which occur in the Book of Genesis.

The second part of this course of lectures is not less important than the first, and is indeed the most interesting and entertaining portion of Mr. Benson's volume. It is an exemplification of the views suggested, and the rules laid down, in the former part. The author here takes a view of the offerings of Cain and Abel, in connexion with the origin of animal sacrifices; of Noah's curse on Canaan; of the trial, obedience, and faith of Abraham; of the narrative of Jacob and Esau; and of Joseph's conduct to his brethren; concluding with a brief view of the minor dif ficulties of the Book of Genesis. After the length to which we have already gone, we cannot venture to follow the author through this division of his volume, instructive and delightful as it is. We shall, there fore, merely extract one or two passages illustrative of his powers of reasoning and acuteness of re search, er zuquq enit rat mod

[ocr errors]

The lectures on the offerings of -Cain and Abel will sufficiently display these characteristics of his mind. It has been very generally the doctrine of theological writers among the orthodox, that animal sacrifices were of Divine appointment, and proceeded from a Divine command, for the purpose of prefiguring the great propitiation of the Cross; that Abel's offering was of this description; and that this was, at least, one ground of the preference with which it was honoured, above that of Cain. This, Mr. Benson observes, is at present "the favourite and almost universal hypothesis among divines." It is certainly an opinion which has been supported by the first authorities; and, among others, by the present learned and able Archbishop of Dublin, Dr. Magee. This opinion, however, our author strenuously opposes, perfectly orthodox as he is on the great Christian doctrine of the atonement. He contends that the Book of Genesis affords not even a tolerable presumption in support of this hypothesis; that the omission of all mention, by Moses, of a Divine command, had a Divine command existed, would be very extraordinary, and is not to be accounted for by the studied brevity of his narrative; and that even the argument, derived from St. Paul's notice of Abel's faith, in the Epistle to the Hebrews, is insufficient for proving the point for which it is adduced. He contends, more over, that the objection to animal sacrifices, founded on their inherent inhumanity, supposing them to be destitute of a Divine warrant, is an objection of no weight; that Abel's sacrifice may be fully ac counted for, on the principles of natural reason, by that permission of the Almighty which gave our first parents the skins of beasts for clothing; that the dictate of a devout mind might, of itself, have suggested to this patriarch the propriety of presenting one of the beasts, slain for this purpose, as an offering

[ocr errors]

of acknowledgment for the gift of raiment, just as Cain's oblation might be regarded as an acknowledgment for the gift of sustenance, and that the acceptance of Abel's is solely to be attributed to the proper views and dispositions by which he was actuated; while Cain's was rejected only because what he offered was offered with a wicked mind. Mr. Benson appears to admit, that Abel, in his sacrifice, might have reference to the original promise of a Deliverer, but maintains that we have no proof of his knowing what character that Deliverer was to sustain. Such is his theory, which he considers both as most consistent with the account in Genesis, and as completely obviating all the difficulties which infidel writers have raised upon this narrative, and with which Mr. Benson deems it encumbered, on any other supposition. He has evidently given the subject the closest attention; but our limits will not permit us at present to follow out his reasoning on the question at length. Much difference of opinion will probably prevail as to the truth of Mr. Benson's doctrine; but his greatest opposers must admit the ability with which he has handled this knotty point of controversy.

The remaining lectures are equally admirable for talent and perspicuity; for cautious reasoning, and "discreet boldness" of investigation.Upon the whole, we can recommend this volume as containing the fullest and most satisfactory discussion of Scripture difficulties which is to be found in any single treatise of the present day. Much has been done to solve the difficulties of the sacred volume, but little hitherto upon a large scale to estimate the amount of their importance, as affecting the claim and credibility of Scripture, or to point out the rules by which we should be guided in our attempts at explaining them. This is the task which Mr. Benson, has undertaken; and he has formed it in a very yable manner. hiper

Many of our readers are doubtless acquainted with Bishop Atterbury's three discourses on this subject, from the well-known text of St. Peter. We recollect that Doddridge speaks of these discourses with high approbation, as though he considered them the best discussion of Scripture difficulties which was extant in his time. They abound, indeed, with solid and judicious matter, expressed in that pure English idiom, and conveyed in that style of exquisite ease and artless elegance, for which the writer was so eminently distinguished. The "simplex munditiis" of Horace, if it may be applied to language, was never more exemplified than in the pages of Bishop Atterbury. But, in comparing his discourses with those of Mr. Benson, we find all the difference that might be expected to exist between three short sermons, and a large volume of 420 pages. Mr. Benson takes a much wider range, and expatiates in a far more ample field of inquiry. Many of his leading ideas, particularly in his first four discourses, may be found in Atterbury, as they would perhaps occur to any discerning writer who should give his thoughts to the subject. But Mr. Benson has expanded and ramified these ideas; he has placed them in various lights, and recommended them by happy and beautiful illustrations, This confers upon him the merit of a work highly useful, and in some respects original. His ingenuity may, now and then, betray him into wanderings, where a man of very inferior penetration would make out the right road. But this seldom But this seldom happens; and we would caution his readers against ever forming a hasty judgment to his disadvantage. His style is often powerful and eloquent, and in general sufficiently easy and perspicuous; but this, we think, proceeds rather from the clearness of his ideas, which seldom permits him to write obscurely, than from any particular skill in English composition. He cannot be called a

correct writer of English. His sentences, though not involved, are too long, and are often encumbered with a redundancy of words. He has also modes of expression which savour too much of novelty, and which, with more captious critics than we are, would expose him to the charges of eccentricity or a love of needless singularity.

It might have been acceptable to the Biblical student if Mr. Benson had given a list of the principal authors who have treated on the subject of Scripture difficulties. From the pulpit he could not, of course, detail a list of references or authorities; but in the printed page he might have done this with advantage; and certainly without impeaching his own claim to a just share of originality. The particular class of Scripture difficulties which arises from apparent contradictions has been very fully considered by numerous writers; an elaborate compendium of whose labours will be found in Mr. Hartwell Horne's admirable chapter on the subject, in the first volume of his "Introduction to the Critical Study of the Scriptures." Mr. Horne discusses successively the alleged éontradictions in matters of history, chronology, prophecy, doctrine, morality, sacred and profane testimony, philosophy and the nature of things. A posthumous tract of Mr. Andrew Fuller on the same subject was published in 1817, containing remarks on fifty-five passages of Scripture alleged to be contradictory. An excellent popular volume of "Lectures on the Harmony of the Scriptures, designed to reconcile apparently contradictory Passages," has recently been given to the world by the Rev. J. H. Cox. This work consists of nineteen discourses, to each of which are prefixed two apparently discrepant texts, such as Gen. vi. 1, and 1 Sam. xv. 29 Gen. xxxii. 30, and Exod. xxxii20; Exod. xx. 5, and Ezek. xviii. 20, &e. The students who wishes to study more critical worksy thay

[ocr errors]

consult the copious list of publications referred to by Mr. Horne, in his chapter on "Harmonies," vol, ii. p. 499, &c.

We cannot close this part of the present article without congratulating our universities on some of the public lecturers who have recently filled and adorned their pulpits, Without meaning to exclude others, the discourses of Benson at Cambridge*, and those of Heber, Mil ler, and Whateley, at Oxford, may be particularly mentioned as dis playing the union of piety, learning, and ability, with a spirit of enligh tened moderation, equally removed from the extremes of bigotry and laxity. This affords an auspicious omen of still better times. And we may be permitted to express our satisfaction at the general improvement which seems to have taken place of late years in the ordinary routine of our university preaching. This improvement we attribute to the tone of more sound Scriptural preaching which has spread among the great body of our clergy since those times when Secker and Horsley, both unexceptionable witnesses, complained of that cold system of ethics, which froze up all the genial and quickening tendencies of Christian motives and principles. Among other improvements, we believe that the race of what used to be called "hacks" is nearly, if not quite, extinct. We dislike hacks of all kinds, and would rather, at any time, walk a reasonaable distance than commit ourselves to any of those ill-fated animals, out of the Oxford and Cambridge studs, that go under this disparaging appellation. But hacks in the pulpit, and especially in a university pulpit, are our particular aversion. Let us hope that we shall hear no • No Hulsean Lecturer was appointed at Cambridge till the year 1820, when the first choice of the electors fell on Mr. Benson. This Lecture may be held for six years successively by the same individual. We trust that it will prove of great value to the cause of Biblical literature; as that of the Bampton Lectures at Oxford has done

more of them, and that they will be kept out, in future, by a constant succession of pious, able, and faithful preachers. Of what incalculable importance is this, whether we regard the credit of the place itself, or the circumstances of the audience who frequent it; an audience consisting chiefly of young men designed for the Christian ministry, on whose religious characters the welfare of our Zion depends, who yet enjoy but few opportunities of theological instruction, and whose future preaching may partake of the excellencies or defects of the sermons to which they have been ac customed, from the pulpits of our two universities.

But it is time that we should turn from the alleged difficulties of Scripture to the real and insurmountable "difficulties of infidelity," which are forcibly exhibited in the remaining volume on our list.

Few theological writers of the present day have handled so great a variety of subjects as Mr. Faber. The mysteries of the Cabiri, the derivation of pagan idolatry from sacred tradition, the prophecies of Scripture, especially those of the Apocalypse, certain late geologi cal speculations, and last, though not least, the elucidation and enforcement of Christian doctrine and practice, have all, by turns, engaged his attention. To the general correctness and excellence of his views of Christianity, as developed in his sermons, and his treatise on the Holy Spirit, we have borne ample testimony in former Numbers of our miscellany. In his other researches he has always displayed learning and acuteness, and given evidence of a mind indefatigably active and enterprising. We think, however, at the same time, that he has occasionally shewn more boldness than discretion, and that his matter is sometimes rather ingenious than satisfactory. It was finely said of Milton, by Dr. Johnson, that "difficulties vanished at his touch." If

« ՆախորդըՇարունակել »