We learn that Mr. Duponceau of Philadelphia has nearly ready for the press a learned work on language.-The Life of the Rev. Dr. Jonathan Mayhew of Boston, by Alden Bradford, LL. D. has just been published.Rev. Dr. Humphrey, president of Amherst College, has published his Letters, originally inserted in the New York Observer, in two handsome duodecimo volumes. These Letters have acquired a deserved celebrity for sound sense, and discriminating remark. They are written in a lively and forcible manner. They show how an author, with Dr. Humphrey's strong powers of observation and of thinking, can go over a beaten track and not find it all barren.-Rev. Pres. Fisk's Travels in Europe have reached a fourth edition. We suppose that they have been widely circulated in the author's own denomination. We have not seen them.-Professor Conant's translation of Gesenius's Hebrew Grammar is proceeding through the press France. We have received the following tribute to the memory of M. De Sacy from an American gentleman who is devoting himself to Arabic literature, and who listened to the voice of De Sacy until it was closed in death. At a future day we may give our readers a more extended biography of this great scholar, with a list of his works. "The illustrious savant Baron Sylvestre De Sacy died in Paris on the twenty-first of February, 1838, from the effects of a stroke of apoplexy, at the age of eighty years. The object of this brief notice is not to attempt to describe the peculiar features of mind and tone of sentiment which so distinguished him among his own countrymen, and have made his name so honored throughout Europe, but merely to pay to his memory a passing tribute of respect. He was born in the year 1758, and, while yet in early life, was engaged in the study of the oriental languages, being led to these pursuits by the inclination of his own taste. In the year 1795, when the school of modern oriental languages was established at the Royal Library in Paris, be was chosen to the chair of Arabic, and it was at this time that he first devoted himself to that department of literature over which he threw so much light and which he so adorned, during nearly half a century, to the day of his death. "He was a most diligent scholar; his works are very numerous considering the profound subjects of which they treat, though they are but very little known in our country. It was so late even as the commencement of the present year that he published a treatise, in two octavo volumes, on the Religion of the Druses. Nor was he at all superficial, or a charlatan in his researches, as alas! too many of the French savans are,—he was laborious, patient and accurate. Probably no European has ever so thoroughly studied the works of the celebrated Arabic grammarians, or unravelled with such acuteness their many valuable suggestions on the principles of language from the intricacies of their exceedingly fanciful mode of thought. He was distinguished, also, through life, for the purity of the motives which actuated his zeal. He did not strive with narrow selfishness after an imagined elevation in the eyes of his countrymen and of the world, but he labored from the love of learning and a desire to be useful in diffusing it. In the course of his long life honors accumulated upon him, yet he did not give himself up to self-complacent idleness, or to the feeling, too common in France, that as he ascended step by step higher in dignity, he was forbidden to touch foot again on his former lower fields of action. Thus, even on the day when the stroke which proved fatal fell upon him, this venerable man had been seated side by side with his pupils in Arabic, bearing as usual with all the vexatious inaccuracies which so finished a scholar could not but mark. He had also made his appearance in the cabinet of manuscripts at the Royal Library, to examine some Persian MSS. which the government was then proposing to purchase; and he had filled his seat in the Chamber of Peers, and had spoken upon the subject then in debate. "A word or two more may be hazarded in regard to his religious character. He was a devoted Jansenist, and was strenuously opposed to the awful innovations of that godless spirit of anarchy which has swept over France. It is to be hoped that all his high attainments were crowned by that pearl of great price, surpassing all the riches of the East. "Most of the distinguished orientalists of Europe have listened to the instructions of Baron De Sacy, yet few are to be found, at present, in France, who walk in his steps. M. Garcen De Tassy, however, one of his former pupils and most favored friend, now professor of Hindostanee in the same school where he labored so long, seems to have imbibed much of the same spirit, and it is a pleasure to think that France may yet possess a savant to fill his place." Germany. The following are some of the volumes which have recently been published in Germany-Ast's Lexicon Platonicum sive vocum Platonicarum Index, Vol. III. Fasciculus 2, πooуgúgo-rivu. The conclusion of the last volume will be published in the beginning of the next year.—Suidae Lexicon Graece et Latine ad fidem optimorum librorum exactam post Thomas Gaisfordum recensuit et annotatione critica instruxit G. Bernhardy. Tom. I. Fasc. 4 et Tom. 11. Fasc. 3. 4.-F. Nork has published an Etymological Dictionary of the Latin language.-The Prophetical Spirit of the Hebrews by Dr. A. Knobel, professor of Theology at Breslau.-Rückert's Commentary on the second Epistle to the Corinthians. That on the first Epistle was published in 1836.-Some of our readers will be glad to learn that the third section of Vol. IV. of Prof. Freytag's great Arabic Lexicon is published. The whole work will be finished in October next. The professor will publish a smaller work entitled "Lexicon Arabico Latinum ex opere majore in usum tironum excerptum."-Professor Watke has published a Biblical Theology philosophically exhibited; Part 1. exhibits the religion of the Old Testament according to the canonical books. Armenia. Professor Petermann of Berlin, has lately published a clear and succinct Grammar of the Armenian language.-C. F. Neumann has published at Leipsic an Essay towards a History of Armenian literature freely drawn from the works of the monks of the convent of Mechitar, at Venice. It will be a useful assistant in all researches in this interesting but neglected part of oriental literature. This literature deserves the attention of the learned from the circumstance that translations of Greek writers, the originals of which are lost, are still preserved in Armenia. The complete works of Philo Judaeus are said to be extant in an Armenian version, and would be published by learned natives, if sufficient encouragement were held out. Within the last twenty years an Armenian translation of the Chronicle of Eusebius, filling up many lacunae in the original, has been discovered. An edition of it in Armenian and Latin, and a Latin translation have appeared. The lamented Niebuhr made it the subject of a learned and elaborate memoir in his Kleine Historische und Philogische Schriften. China. Rev. John Dyer of Malacca has been, for some time, engaged in the preparation of moveable metallic type for printing the Chinese. M. Panthier is attempting to accomplish the same object in Paris-In connection with the important effects of the medical practice of missionaries in China, we may state, that Sir Henry Halford, president of the London college of Physicians, lately read a paper before that body strongly recommending the union of medical with theological knowledge in the preparatory studies missionaries. ERRATA. Page 41, line 14 from bottom, for erangelical read analogical. P. 179, for Art. VII., read VIII.; and each succeeding No. read one No. in advance. THE AMERICAN BIBLICAL REPOSITORY. NO. XXXII. OCTOBER, 1838. ARTICLE I. REMARKS ON VOLUNTARY AND ECCLESIASTICAL ORGANIZATIONS FOR THE PROMOTION OF BENEVOLENT OBJECTS. By Leonard Woods, D. D., Theological Seminary, Andover. THE object of the following article is, to promote free, candid and fraternal discussion, and to do what can be done to bring Christians to agree in their modes of doing good, or, if they differ, to differ without strife, and in the exercise of brotherly kindness. How deplorable at this day, is the prevalence of party-spirit, one mark of which is, that we see and acknowledge nothing wrong in the party to which we belong, and nothing right in the party opposed to us. For men of active benevolence and piety, to whatever denomination or party they belong, we ought to cherish a cordial affection and esteem. Towards any who love the Lord Jesus Christ, we cannot indulge ill-will or coldness, nor can we speak of them harshly or unkindly, without sin. God loves all his people; why should God forgives their faults; why should not we? God commands us to do them good; why should not we obey?— Suppose good men differ from us; this is no reason why we should impugn their motives, or do any thing to injure their personal character, or to curtail their useful influence? On the subject which I here introduce, I shall freely express my own thoughts and conclusions,-thoughts not hasty, but VOL. XII. No. 32. 33 sober and deliberate; and conclusions, not rashly adopted, but resulting from long reflection, and long experience. And from the same reflection and experience, I derive a deep and growing conviction, that I am constantly liable to mistake, and that on subjects like the present, I ought specially to guard against undue confidence in my own opinions, and against all severe and uncandid reflections against those ministers of Christ who entertain other opinions. And if in what follows, a single unkind or disrespectful word shall be found, I will heartily condemn it, and wish it blotted out.-The attitude which I would take, is that of one who sincerely inquires, what is the will of God. Most cheerfully will I give the right hand of fellowship to all who are seeking the good of Zion, whatever modes of action they may adopt; and I would say only this one thing to those who may judge differently from me as to the mode of doing good;-Dear Brethren, grant to me and those who think as I do, what we freely grant to you;—permit us quietly to labor for the advancement of Christ's kingdom in the manner which we think to be the wisest and best, and most pleasing to God. I have not proposed to go into a particular examination of the arguments which have been urged on one side or the other of the subject here considered. The following article was written at the close of the last year; and of course it had no reference to any thing which has since been published. My design was to suggest a few thoughts kindly, and with as much brevity as possible, for the consideration of men of intelligence and piety, who are desirous of doing good in the safest and most effectual manner. There are some men of great excellence of character, who think that the objects of benevolence should be accomplished by the church of Christ, as a divinely organized body; and that there are valid objections, against all attempts to do good on a large scale, except by the church in its corporate state. I freely acknowledge that God has appointed the church to be the light of the world, the means of spreading the Gospel and saving the souls of men; and that the members of the church ought to be united in this work. But when men speak of the church in reference to the subject under consideration, we cannot judge of the truth and propriety of their positions, without knowing exactly what meaning is to be affixed to the word. What then do you mean by the church? Do you use the word |