them with much ability and effect, and in a manner suited to the common capacities of mankind. We cannot enter into an analysis of this part of the work, nor is it necessary, as Mr. Watson takes no new ground. If he has produced any observations not usually to be found in treatises upon this subject, it is in the concluding chapter, in which he examines some collateral evidences, and particularly the institution of the Lord's supper. We were much pleased with the following very just and striking passage:

"In this institution, we meet, not only with a remarkable instance of his knowledge of the heart of man, by that accuracy with which he foretells their several failings, which were faithfully accomplished, but also of his insight into futurity, by assuring them that he would still have a church and a people to celebrate the benefits conferred by him on the world, and to preserve the remembrance of his dying love. What other can be that command which contains the essential parts of this institution, Do this in remembrance of me? Never was there a time so unlikely for its accomplishment. He was the next day to be crucified, and all his disciples would abandon him: and these things he also foresaw and foretold. The continuance of his church was not then an accidental circumstance, which arose from a combination of unexpected events, neither within the knowledge nor subject to the direction of men; but an event long foreseen and provided for by him, who is our great lord and head.

"Had he foretold this event a few days before, when riding in triumph to Jerusalem, we might have considered it as a fortunate prediction, thrown out in the enthusiasm of his greatness and ambition; and that it had been brought about contrary to all probability. But it is delivered at a time when, to all human appearance, he had not the smallest prospect of a church, or so much as a single follower; at a time when he saw himself within the grasp of his relentless enemies: it was within a few hours of his being led to mount Calvary, to undergo an ignominious death. It was amidst his very preparations for this death, that he gave forth that command, to do this in remembrance of me. The next day he knew he was to be crucified, his enemies were to triumph over him; and who, after this, would either dare or chuse to remember him? After this tragical end, the disciples do not seem to have entertained the smallest idea of ever again acknowledging Christ. Concealed in different lurking places in Jerusalem, or wandering dejected and solitary in its neighbourhood, they only thought that it was he who should have redeemed Israel;

great event.

dence of the gospel to a severer test. If there "It is scarcely possible to bring the evihad not been something extraordinary in his character, how can we account for their rallying again after this fatal dispersion, and their firm adherence to him ever after? Now we have, in this ordinance, a standing monument to convince us of the truth of his prediction, and all its circumstances; and the whole history of the world, and both friends and enemies, must acknowledge its accomplishment. From his cross a church instantly sprung up, it increased rapidly, and hath extended its arms to the different quarters of the world; and the experience of eighteen hundred years assures us, that he has been remembered, remembered in this very ordinance, and that remembrance must endure till Christ come again.

"Go back again to this important scene: behold the Saviour of the world, assembled with his disciples for the last time before his sufferings; see the father of this little family taking his farewel of his children, delivering to them his dying command, and fixing a period for the duration of its observance. Every thing corresponds exactly to this prediction. The scene throughout, not so awful and sublime as the wonders of nature at his crucifixion, yet speaks to us in calm but strong language, which all nations and ages hear, truly this was the son of God."

Upon the whole, we can venture to promise our readers that they will find great pleasure, and much valuable instruction, from this performance. It discovers sound judgment and rational piety'; and in the hands of many to whom Dr. Paley's Elements would be of comparatively little service, may be of considerable use to confirm their faith, and at the same time The style in many parts betrays a north to suggest some lessons of practical utility. Briton; and is throughout less correct than the value of the work required, and less polished than the nature of the work allowed.

ART. X. A connected and chronological View of the Prophecies relating to the Christian Church; in Twelve Sermons: Preached in Lincoln's Inn Chapel, from the Year 1800 to

1804, at the Lecture founded by the Right Reverend William Warburton, Lord Bishop of Gloucester. By ROBERT NARES, A. M., F. R. S., F. A. S., Archdeacon of Stafford, &c. 8vo. pp. 371.

THERE is no subject, we believe, in the whole compass of theological inquiry, attended with so many difficulties as that of prophecy; particularly that branch of prophecy which is usually produced from the jewish scriptures, by christian writers, as relating to the Messiah. These difficulties have been felt and acknowledged by the soundest divines and the ablest critics, and several attempts have been made to remove from so very important a part of the Old Testament the obscurities which prevail in it, and the apparent inconsistencies which arise from the usual and the reputedly orthodox mode of interpretation. Mr. Nares, however, has been perplexed by no difficulties himself, and consequently has not felt the necessity of preventing or removing such as some of his readers may have experienced. He enters into no investigation of those passages which both Jews and Christians have denied to be applicable to Jesus of Nazareth: he disdains to regard the connection in which they appear; or if he ever throws out a hint that other events than those which distinguished the life of Christ might be originally predicted, he removes every difficulty by the magic touch of a type, or a double sense. There are many inquirers whom this will not satisfy; but for inquirers the arch-deacon's work does not seem intended. He treads over the old ground, removing no impediments, nor exhibiting any additional light.

"Prophecy may be usefully characterized, as a miracle, of which the testimony remains in itself. It is a miracle, because to foretel events, to which no chain of circumstances deads, no train of probabilities points, is as much beyond the power of human agents, as to cure diseases with a word, or even to raise the dead. But that actions of the latter kind were ever performed can be proved, at a distant period, only by witnesses; against whose testimony cavils may be raised, or causes for doubt advanced. But the man who reads a prophecy, and perceives the corresponding event, is himself the witness of the miracle: he sees that thus it is, and that thus, by human means, it could not possibly have been.

"A prophecy yet unfulfilled is a miracle at present incomplete; and these, if numerous, may be considered as the seeds of future conviction, ready to grow up and bear their fruit, whenever the corresponding facts shall be exhibited on the theatre of the world. Will the sceptic then say that a man should disbelieve

even his own knowledge, when it bears witness to circumstances so extraordinary? As well might he say it, as reject the testimony of miracles, merely because it gives evidence to facts of very unusual occurrence. Yet, in the instance of prophecy, absurdity can hardly go

so far.

"The Holy Scriptures are thickly sown with the seeds of prophecy, from the beginning even to the end; and these have been gradually developed throughout the history of man; and will be more and more unfolded to the consummation of things, respecting this prealready observed, was given to the nation of sent world. A series of prophets, it has been Israel, to preserve them from the abominable superstitions, and idolatrous divinations, of the nations among whom they dwelt. But this was not the origin of prophecy. It originated in the earliest period of the world, from God himself, who foretold to Adam and the Patriarchs the distant hopes of restoration and reThe prophetic spirit was next communicated demption, provided for the human race. to the Patriarchs, and rested more especially upon Moses; whose inspiration had at once a retrospect to the period of creation, and a view to the redemption of man; and even to the most distant fates of the chosen people, whom he had conducted out of Egypt. It was imparted, through a series of prophets, till the completion of the canon of the ancient scriptures. It was again poured out, without measure, upon our blessed Saviour, and was continued to his apostles, till the second canon of the scriptures was also closed, by the Revelation given to St. John.”

Upon these principles the plan of these lectures is formed.

"The great and general bond of union between the covenants is, in fruth, that of PROPHECY; by which the Holy Spirit has miraculously connected the beginning and the end of the world. Wherever man is found, there' also are the pervading rays of DIVINE PRÉSCIENCE, either tending to our Saviour, and marking him out as the MESSIAH of God; or proceeding from HIM, and giving light to the faithful, even till the final day of universal judgment.

66

Prophecy, in its most intimate connectlon with christianity, has this extent and compass; and our blessed Saviour gave an ac• count only of one division of the subject, when he explained, in the ancient scriptures, the prophecies that related to himself. It was, however, as much as could at that time be gi

ven.

His own predictions, with those of his apostles, and such of the jewish oracles as extend beyond the period of his first advent,all these are to be weighed by a christian of this day, if he would contemplate the whole

force of prophecy, as applicable to our Saviour, and to those who call upon his name.

This, therefore, is the kind of view proposed to be taken in the present Lectures; 1 First, comprehending the prophecies that relate to our Saviour, as Author and perpetret feed of the Christian Church: II. Se condly, those which foretel the fate of his disoples, whether adv.rs or prosperous, from the time of his departure from them, to that of his bust most solemn advent. These will form two grand divisions of the subject."

In seven successive sermons the prophecies relating, or thought to relate, to our Saviour are enumerated. From the books of Moses are produced the prophecy given to Adam concerning the seed of the woman; the promises made to Abraham and to Jacob; the benediction of this latter patriarch upon Judah; the prophecy of TYPES, such as the passover and other observances amongst the Jews: the prediction of Balaam, and the declaration of Moses respecting a prophet that was to be raised from the midst of the jewish peopie. From the time of Moses to that of David, no direct prophecy concerning the Messiah is known to have been delivered. In the reign of that king it was foretold that Solomon should be settled in the house of God, and in the kingdom, for ever, and that his throne should be established for evermore. This Mr. Nares concludes must refer to the Messiah, though he acknowledges that it might require, perhaps, some persuasion to convince us that this divine oracle had in truth so exalted a meaning and reference, were it not confirmed by other circumstances." p. 132. These circumstances are deduced from a few passages of scripture with which this has no connection! David himself then comes under consideration in two points of view: 1st, as a type of the Messiah; and 2dly, as an inspired person, enabled to foretel his advent, his sufferings, his glory, and his everlasting kingdom. To trace whatever may be applicable to our Saviour in the Psalms of David, Mr. Nares asserts, would be to transcribe a large part of those sacred hymns. He therefore confines himself to those passages which are actually cited in the New Testament. The Psalms particularly, but yet briefly, noticed, are: the 2d, 10th, 22d, 41st, 110th, and 119th. Upon this subject Mr. Nares has produced an authority, which by all good christians will undoubtedly be esteemed of very great weight. "The apostate spirit himself, (he gravely observes, p. 165.) 20cording to the narrative of the evangelists,

confessed that the Psalms were prophetic of the Son of God; for he said in the course of his temptation, alluding to the G1st Psalm, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, he shall give his angels charge concerning thee, and in their hands shall they bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash-thy foot against a stone.' In this, as in some other instances of evil spirits, reluctant testimony was borne to the truth, by those who were most alienated from it."

Solomon is then cited both as a type of the Messiah, and likewise a prophet. His predictions concerning the Messiah are said to be found in the 132d Psalm. The sixteen prophets then pass under a very hasty review; and all except Jonah, Nahum, Zephaniah, and Habukkuk, are asserted to have prophesied of Christ.

With Malachi closed the series of pro phecies under the jewish dispensation. Four hundred years ensued, during which the divine oracles were silent. Then came the fulness of time; and the subject of prophecy appeared, and began a new series of astonishing and important predictions; some now fulfilled, others waiting the time of their accomplishment.

of whose kingdom there was to be no end:
"Messiah was certainly to be a sovereign,
but Jesus expressly declared, that his kingdom,
as man, was not of this world; and that his
triumph would be hereafter, in the clouds of
heaven. Conformably to this right interpre-
tation of the ancient prophecies, our Saviour
predicted the treachery of one disciple, the
consternation and desertion of the rest, and
his own death upon the cross. His view, how-
ever, rested not here. He looked forward to
sion of the Holy Spirit upon his apostles; to
his resurrection and ascension; to the effu-
their successful preaching in all the world; to
the rejection of the Jews, and the conversion
of the Gentiles; events which, though impos-
sible for human sagacity to foresee, certainly
took place, and justified his words.
more minute exactness did he foretel that ju-
dicial visitation of Jerusalem (at that time in
and polity should be destroyed, and its mag-
the highest degree improbable), when its state
nificent temple levelled with the dust. This
prediction, strictly limited to time for its ful-
filment, is, of all that ever were given, the
most exact and circumstantial, and affords,
therefore, the most perfect proof of miracu-
lous foreknowledge in the prophet who pro-
nounced it.

With

"Various other particulars, then hidden from every mortal eye, and discoverable by no analogy which could be founded on the course of human events, were predicted by our blessed Saviour. Such as the persecu tion of his disciples; the fortitude of some, and

even the particular fate of others; the divisions and dissensions of christians among them selves; and the secure permanency of the church, under every circumstance of external or internal disadvantage. These things, which have always been fulfilling, from that time to this, and will be to the end of the world, are standing proofs of divine knowledge, in him by whom they were foretold;-proofs incapable of refutation or contradiction."

The prophecies by our Lord, and his lisciples, are then arranged by our preacher, under ten different heads, and very briefly and imperfectly discussed in the three concluding discourses:-1st, The rejection of the Jews and call of the Gentiles; 2d, The preaching of the gospel throughout the world; 3d, The persecutions of the apostles and their converts; 4th, The destruction of Jerusalem; 5th, The fate of Rome and its conversion; 6th, The rise of Mahomet and the Saracenic power; 7th, The rise and character of Antichrist; 8th, The conversion of the Jews; 9th, The general prevalence of the

gospel; and 10th, The universal resur rection, and day of judgment.

of these lectures, from which our readers We have thus given a faithful outline will be able to form some good judgment of the nature and extent of the information they convey. We are sorry that we cannot congratulate the lecturer upon having fully answered the intention of the right rev. founder, by adding to the evidence of "the truth of revealed religion in general, and of the christian in particular.” Nor can we congratulate the inquirer after religious truth upon his having a rational and a safe guide through the intricate mazes of prophecy, in which so many have been bewildered and lost. One principle pervades the work, which is manifestly unfounded; that the language of the jewish prophets, which the writers of the New Testament have applied to Christ, must necessarily have been originally spoken in reference to him: and frequent passages occur to which many sincere believers will not be able to assent, and by which the sceptic will not be favourably impressed.

DOCTRINAL AND CONTROVERSIAL THEOLOGY.

ART. XI. The Christian System unfolded, in a Course of practical Essays on the principal Doctrines and Duties of Christianity. In Three Volumes, 8vo. By THOMAS ROBINSON, M. A., Vicar of St. Mary's, Leicester. pp. 453, 499, and 539. THE author of this work is not unknown to the religious world. He is a person of some consideration in the daily increasing class of those who denominate themselves 'True Churchmen,' amongst the adherents to whom he has gained celebrity, by a large, Treatise on Scripture Characters, and by some tracts of less magnitude and importance.

us,

"The chief attention of his life," he informs "has been occupied upon the subjects of the work which he has now submitted to the public eye, not merely in the retirement of his study, but in the active performance of his ministerial duties. He has been labouring, not without effect, to establish among the people of his charge what he conceives to be the fundamental principles of the gospel, and upon them as a firm basis to erect the superstructure of christian morality, of solid devotion, and of vital holiness. And now, with a view to their spiritual progress, and in the hope that his instructions may be remembered with advantage after his personal services on earth ́are terminated, he sends to them from the

press the substance of what he has invariably delivered from the pulpit."

We cannot convey to our readers any information respecting the design of this work better than in the words of the author:

"His plan has been, after considering the strong and decisive evidences of the inspiration of the Old and New Testament, and attending to that state of mind with which they ought to be received, to investigate what is their grand object, and what their most important contents. They were undoubtedly designed to communicate the knowledge of the true God and of his will concerning us. They exhibit his character in the varied perfections of his nature, and call upon us to yield to him all possible reverence, love, and obedience, They describe his formation of the earth, and the peculiar administration of its government by himself.

"Man is introduced to our view as a creature of high excellence and dignity, as bearing the image, and constituted the vicegerent, of Jehovah. But he is also represented as having fallen from his original eminence, and sunk into a deplorable state of depravation and misery.

Here the system becomes unspeakably interesting. To console us in our distress, to rescue us from merited and impending ruin, a divine person interposes; and to him give all the scriptures witness. He is the grand subject of revelation: the alpha and omega, the beginning and the ending. It is therefore retion upon him, and enquire what are the of quisite that we fix a large share of our attenfices he sustains, and by what means he procures reconciliation for us. We behold him relinquishing the glories of the heavenly world,