fore we can see all that our author sees in the words of this book. We expect for it an early death, and should regret that any of the ministerial brethren, who need to husband their resources, as most do, should be induced to expend for it the sum necessary to buy it.

18. A Narrative of the Expedition of Cyrus, the Younger, and of the Retreat of the Ten Thousand. By Xenophon of Athens. Edited by Alpheus Crosby, Prof., etc. Boston: James Monroe & Co. 1844. pp. 282. 12mo. 19.—A Grammar of the Greek Language. Part First. A Practical Grammar of the Attic and Common Dialects: with the elements of General Grammar. By Alpheus Crosby, Professor of the Greek Language and Literature in Dartmouth College. Boston: James Monroe & Co. 1844. pp. 487, 12mo.

We have placed these books together, not so much because they are by the same author, as because they illustrate each other, and are intended to be companions. The edition of Xenophon is founded on that of Ludwig Dindorf, which is considered, by scholars, decidedly the best; although now, we think, Prof. Crosby may lay claim to have given the public a better than even Dindorf's. It comes from the Cambridge press, and is, of course, well executed; and we approve highly the style of typography in which the editor has directed it to be done. An Appendix points to the passages of the Anabasis illustrated in Prof. Crosby's Grammar, and thus presents the student with one of the very best of commentaries; one which he, in a measure, makes himself, and therefore will prize more highly, and will, consequently, be much more benefited.

The Editor is, also, preparing a "Companion to the Anabasis," which is to contain "a map, a life of the author, a vocabulary, notes, and exercises in translation from English into Greek." All of this we like, except the "vocabulary." This seems to us uncalled for in this case, and generally hurtful to scholars. If "notes" are given, we hope they will be few, and only such as will lead the student to investigate for himself, not labor-saving machinery, as they too frequently are. Tantum sufficit.

The "Grammar" of Professor Crosby is one of the best companions to his Anabasis he could have given us; and, at the same time, an admirable companion to all the rest of our Greek school-books. It exhibits good scholarship, discriminating philology, and deep research. We can cheerfully recommend it to all who desire a correct knowledge of Greek Orthography, Etymology, and Syntax.

ARTICLE XI.

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

Germany.

By the royal munificence of the King of Bavaria, the funds for sustaining the State Library of Munich have been increased to 23,000 florins.-Professor Schaffei's History of Portugal is nearly completed.—Dr. Herm. Lotze and Dr. Wilh. Roscher, have been appointed ordinary Professors of Philosophy at Göttingen.-W. A. Passow has published a volume of his father, F. Passow's Miscellaneous Writings.-A practical Commentary on the Prophets of the Old Testament, with practical and critical remarks, 3d vol.-Ezekiel, by F. W. Umbreit.-A new edition (the 4th) of Ewald's Hebrew Grammar is about to be issued.-Dr. F. K. Theiss has issued a "Vollstandiges Wörterbuch zu Zenophons Anabasis, mit besonderer Rücksicht auf Namen u. Sack-Erklarung.”

Belgium.

Normal schools are to be instituted in all the districts of the kingdom. An iron church is talked of in the common of Hornu.

France.

M. Thiers's "History of the Consulate and the Empire" is completed, for which he is to receive 500,000 francs. For his "History of the Revolution," he received 100,000 francs.-The French Government is publishing La Place's works.-Among the acquisitions with which M. Mynas has enriched the Bibliothèque Royale, is a manuscript copy of " Esop's Fables," in Choliambics, written by Babbrias, containing several thousand lines unknown before. It is in the press of Didot.

Etaly.

In 1843, there were 5807 volumes published, principally translations.-The Pope, in person, has consecrated as bishops, four of the cardinals; the first time in one hundred and fifty years.-Two letters from Henry IV. of France, to Clement VIII., with the replies, have been recently discovered. They relate to his submission to the holy see, and are dated Nov. 6th, 7th, 1595.

Great Britain.

Socrates's History of the Church, in seven books, translated from the Greek, with some account of his life and writings, has been recently published.-Mitchell's Philoctetes of Sophocles, with notes.Dr. W. Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. Parts V. and VI.-Historical and critical comments on the History of Herodotus. From the French of Larcher.

United States.

The second number of the "Bibliotheca Sacra and Theological Review," has appeared, containing valuable articles by some of our best scholars. The public will, ere long, be favored with Professor Stuart's work on the Apocalypse.

THE

AMERICAN

BIBLICAL

REPOSITORY.

OCTOBER, 1844.

SECOND SERIES, NO. XXIV. WHOLE NO. LVI.

ARTICLE I.

THE PRINCIPLES OF PRESBYTERIANISM, AND REASONS FOR UPHOLD

ING THEM.

By C. E. STOWE, D. D., Professor of Biblical Literature, Lane Seminary, Cincinnati.

NOTWITHSTANDING all the claims and assumptions of Romanism and high church prelacy, it still continues to be the opinion of the most profound and candid biblical scholars, that the Christian church at first was presbyterially organized. Presbyterial I mean in a large and liberal sense, as opposed to hierarchical despotism on the one hand and laic anarchy on the other, and not in that narrow and exclusive sense in which some explain the term; for as there is bigotry every where, as it is the vice of individual idiosyncrasy, and not the peculiarity of any particular sect, so there is no lack of it among some who belong to the great Presbyterian family. Indeed, I suppose that no existing church is now modelled exactly on the apostolic or scriptural pattern; nor do I suppose it necessary, or even desirable that this should be the case; for had it not been intended that forms of church order should, to some extent, have capacity to vary and adapt themselves to changes of circumstances, forms of SECOND SERIES, VOL. XII. NO. 11.

17

government, climate, intellectual condition, etc., the model would have been as rigidly laid down in the New Testament as in the Old, which last was restricted to one territory, to one people, to one set of circumstances. Archbishop Whately shrewdly observes (Essay on Omissions), that there are some things which the writers of the New Testament were divinely inspired not to record, and among them are, a creed, a catechism, a form of church government, and a ritual for public worship, because it would be contrary to the genius and intentions of Christianity, for the whole world to be tied down to any one mode, in respect to these and similar points. (Compare Whately on Kingdom of Christ, Essay II. sec. 9.) The New Testament churches themselves, evidently, were not shut up to one unvarying order, but modified their forms as circumstances required, as we shall soon have occasion to show.

The most that I contend for in respect to Presbyterianism, the most that any intelligent Presbyterian contends for, so far as I know, is, that the Presbyterian model, in its essential features, on the whole approaches nearest to the Bible pattern; and, generally considered, it is best adapted to the external circumstances and intellectual condition of the age and country in which Providence has placed us; and in fact that some form of Presbyterian organization is best for all ages and all countries-it being, as to substance, the Bible organization, and therefore universally best.

The subject which I have selected for the present essay I shall proceed to discuss under the following divisions, namely: I. A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE PRINCIPLES OF PRESBYTERIANISM.

II. A GENERAL VIEW OF THE ADVANTAGES OF THOSE PRINCIPLES IN CONTRAST WITH THE PRINCIPLES OF OPPOSING SYSTEMS.

III. SOME SPECIAL REASONS WHY THOSE PRINCIPLES SHOULD BE INSISTED ON AND PROPAGATED AT THIS TIME AND IN THIS COUNTRY.

As a preliminary, I must define what I understand, and what I suppose is generally understood, by the principles of Presbyterianism, or a Presbyterian church. By a Presbyterian church, I understand a church which, in its theology, is biblical, strict, and prevailingly Augustinian, or Calvinistic; in its rites and modes of worship, scripturally simple, and unencumbered with long liturgies and minute rubrical formulas; in its government, directed and assisted by a board of elders, or a committee, chosen from among its communicants; and for purposes of order

and discipline, associated with neighboring churches in a body composed of ministers and elders or lay delegates, usually denominated a Presbytery, but sometimes a Synod, as in the Lutheran and Dutch churches, and sometimes a Council or Consociation, as by the Congregationalists. To complete the theory of Presbyterianism, as now generally understood, this body must be permanently organized, and bounded by certain territorial limits, and not merely occasionally called together and without any reference to territorial boundaries. But this feature, though very convenient, is not essential to the Bible organization, as we shall soon see.

A Presbyterian church must be biblical, strict and Augustinian in its theology, in opposition to traditionary, loose, and Pelagian views; it must be scripturally simple in its rites, in opposition to burdensome ceremonies of human invention; and it must have a lay representation in its government, in opposition to the assumptions of a hierarchical priesthood.

The theology of Presbyterianism is contained in the origi nal creeds of all the reformed churches of Europe, among which we may specify particularly the Augsburg Confession of the Lutheran church, and the doctrinal part of the XXXIX Articles of the Anglican church. As to the Augsburg Confession, Calvin declares, "I willingly and gladly subscribe to it ;" and he gave his cordial assent to the articles of the English church, making exceptions only to certain things in their modes of worship, which he denominates tolerabiles ineptias, or “ fooleries that may be borne with." (Das Leben Calvins von Henry, II. 376, 505. Koellner's Symbolik, I. 241.) The Presbyterian theology, as received by the Scotch and American Presbyterians, is embodied in the Confession of Faith and Catechisms of the Westminster Assembly.

The fundamental principles of Presbyterianism, I contend and shall endeavor to prove, are most in accordance with the Scriptures, nearest to the views and practices of the primitive church, and best adapted to promote all the highest interests of man, both as an individual and a member of society, especially at the present age and in this country. The proof will be exhibited under the heads already indicated.

I. HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE PRINCIPLES OF PRESBYTERIANISM. 1. In the Apostolic times, or the Scriptural view. ORGANIZATION. According to the New Testament, when a