him? He here seemed to hesitate, and did not give a direct reply. You see that I was here touching upon the point of there being no salvation out of their church.-He said, that what I had stated regarding my faith was well, but that there was something farther necessary; and upon saying so, he seemed to digress a little, or, at least, not to speak directly to the point in hand. My dear Sir, said I, pray let us settle this point. Have the goodness to speak your mind freely; speak out; what do I still want, what more must I believe, than what I have stated, in order to obtain eternal life? Did not the Lord Jesus himself concede eternal life to those who believed what I have told you in my belief? And did not the Apostles, according to the power invested in them, remit the sins of those who believed and acted in the manner I have stated? He then said something about the necessity of believing the church, in order to salvation.-Can I not look for salvation without this? said I.-Take care that you do not put obstacles in the way to heaven, which the God of our salvation has not put. Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life; pray then, do not with stumbling-blocks fill up this narrow way. Let the Lord Jesus and his Apostles guide us in this, and in all matters that concern the kingdom of God. Upon arriving here, we found our time was gone, and that we had been upwards of two hours in a very close conversation. As my friend could stop no longer, we broke up our conversation at this point, he still stating it as necessary to salvation, that I should believe the church. When we thus dropped our disputation, he arose, and as I accompanied him out, he threw his arms around me, and said, "We shall yet, I trust, be united together, and companions in our Lord Jesus Christ."' pp. 139–143. It would be easy to fill our pages with extracts gratifying to our readers; but for obvious reasons we refrain. Altogether, the view which these pages exhibit of the wonderful movement which is taking place among the nations of the New World, is most animating and delightful. Only a few years ago, it might have been asked in the language of utter despondency, with regard to the total population of Spanish America, Can these • dry bones live?' Now, at Bogota, the capital of Colombia, a Bible Society has been established as it were upon the very ruins of the Inquisition, one of its secretaries being a Dominican friar who formerly filled the same post in the district tribunal of the soi-disant Holy Office! While Mr. Thomson was at Lima, an attempt was made to raise a clamour against the Bibles put in circulation, as not being fairly printed from the Spanish version of Scio; but it was soon put down. The deputy archbishop, having learned that a priest was likely to say something on the subject from the pulpit, sent, a message to him, not to preach any thing against the reading of the English Bibles.' He was no doubt obeyed. About a fortnight before this, an ingenious jeu d'esprit appeared in one of the newspapers of that city, of which the following is a literal translation. The original was in verse: we wish that Mr. Thomson had favoured us with it. • Simon possessed a fishing bark, and just a fishing bark; nothing more he left to his sons. They, however, were great fishers; they caught much, and grew rich, and could no longer be content with their small bark, but got a larger one. This bark afterwards became a brig, and then a ship. At last, it grew into a man-of-war, and frightened the world with its cannon. How wonderfully is this ship of war now changed! how different now to what it was in former times! This great ship is now grown old, and, shattered by the storms it has encountered, it now lies rotting in the harbour. A thousand times has it been repaired, but at last, it must be laid aside altogether; and its owners must once more be content with—Simon's fishing bark.' Our readers will be at no loss to make the application. The satire is bold, yet delicate and elegantly pointed. And this appeared in a Spanish newspaper published at Lima! Art. IX. Letters written by S***** S****, during her last IllSecond Edition. pp. 72. Price 1s. 6d. London. 1827. ness. WE are sure that we have some readers who will thank us for pointing out to their attention, this very interesting memorial. Seldom have we perused any letters so entirely artless, yet written in so delightful an epistolary style, as those which are now submitted to the public. Their beautiful simplicity as compositions is, however, their least merit. They exhibit the workings of a tender heart, glowing with attachment to life and to those who make life dear, under the progress of that disease which was commissioned to remove her from this world. Nothing can be more touching than the lesson which they supply, or more lovely than the spectacle of such a victory over death. They will enable the reader to realize, far better than any formal lectures on mortality could do, that it is an awful thing, though to the pious a blessed event,―to die. But we must caution the reader not to expect any thing more in these letters, than the ingenuous, unstudied expression of natural sentiments and unfeigned piety. We scarcely know how to take an extract, but the following may serve as a sufficient specimen. It will not do; I feel that I am approaching the crisis of my long affliction, and that my ailments will soon cease to distress me, or cause anxiety to my many kind friends.......I trust I shall be spared to reach home once more; but that will be all; I shall never take another journey; I shall never more enjoy your sweet garden, or make one at your social family meetings. Life appears to offer very many charms, as I draw, while it is yet day with me, to its close. And though I bless God for a large measure of peace, often, very often do I pray, Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.' I have, in months that are past, felt joy and full assurance in the prospect of death; and God, who is all faithfulness, will not leave me at the last; but now there is a thought which hides from me every glimpse of the glory that shall follow,-that I must leave, that I cannot take with me, one who has been every thing to me, who has borne with patience and the greatest affection, all my froward tempers and inconsistencies of conduct, and who has thought no trouble or expense too great, that could add to my comfort, or conduce to my health. I say all this, partly, that you may, by reminding him of it, console him when he most needs it." Art. X. A Brief Account of the Zoharite Jews. By M. J. Mayers. 8vo. pp. 62. Price 2s. 6d. Cambridge. 1826. A HISTORY of the Jewish nation, that should be at once complete and concise, extending from the period at which Josephus closes his annals to the present time, is still a desideratum. This tract was originally intended to form part of a larger work, treating of various sects of Jews little known to the British public; and we regret that the intention was over-ruled or laid aside. The present publication, however, contains much curious matter. The Zoharite Jews, so called from their reverence of the book Zohar, a cabalistic work, are also known by the name of Sabbathians from their founder Sabbathæi Tzevi. This impostor was born at Smyrna in the year 1625; he early attained distinction by his proficiency in Jewish learning; and before he was one and twenty, had gained, by his commanding address, a great number of disciples. Intoxicated, as it should seem, with this success, he set up for Messiah; but his indignant townsmen expelled him from the city. From Smyrna, he passed over to the Morea, but, finding no support or success in that quarter, he thence proceeded to Palestine. At Gaza; he was fortunate enough to gain over a considerable number of partisans; and a Jew of great learning and reputation, named Nathan Benjamin, proclaimed Sabbathæi as the Saviour of Israel. At Jerusalem, part of the Jews were disposed to receive him as Messiah; but the majority were incredulous, and the impostor was anathematized and obliged to flee. He returned to Smyrna; but here, a strange turn in his affairs took place. The people, deceived by his affected humility and sanctity, and carried away by his eloquence, acknowledged him as Messiah, and rose against their rabbies who opposed his pretensions. Sabbathæi now assumed a royal style, and whenever he appeared in public, a flag was carried before him with the inscription: The right hand of the Lord is exalted." Through the labours of his confederate, Benjamin, the delusion spread. The Jews in Persia neglected all their affairs, and attended only to acts of devotion and penitence, to be'come meet for salvation by Tzevi.' His fame extended to Italy, Germany, and Holland; and embassies were sent from all quarters to the virtuous and victorious prince, Messias Sabbathæi. At length, he announced, that he had received a call from God to visit Constantinople,-from what motive or with what views, does not appear. It seemed an act of infatuation or madness, thus to tempt his fate. He was soon imprisoned, and ultimately sent to Adrianople, then the residence of the Grand Signior, where, as the only alternative of the punishment he deserved, he meanly consented to embrace the Mohammedan faith. Some time after, he was sent prisoner to a fortress near Belgrade, where he died a professed Moslem, in Sept. 1676. One would have thought, that, with his apostacy, or at all events with his death, the delusion would have been dispelled. But his brother in law, putting himself at the head of the impostor's followers, gave out that Sabbathæi was still alive, and would re-appear at the end of a certain number of years. Other champions subsequently arose in support of the pretensions and doctrines of Tzevi; and among others, in 1750, the celebrated Jacob Frank, a Polish Jew, embraced Sabbathianism, and by his learning and eloquence greatly extended the sect. What their creed was, may be learned from the present publication. Frank, in the sequel, to escape persecution, professed himself a Christian, as Tzevi had embraced Islamism. His subsequent adventures partake of the character of romance. He became the head of a powerful body of followers, by whom he was maintained in princely splendour, and honoured as a saint. He died in 1791; and the sect has now dwindled into insignificance. ART. XI. SELECT LITERARY INFORMATION. The Rev. J. A. Ross is preparing a Translation from the German, of Hirsch's Geometry, uniform with his Translation of Hirsch's Algebra. Mr. Peter Nicholson, Author of the Carpenter's New Guide, and other Architectural Works, has in the press a New Treatise, entitled The School of Architecture and Engineering; the First Number of which will be ready for publication early in May. A Life of Morris Birkbeck, written by bis Daughter, will appear in a few days. In the press, Four Sermons on the Priesthood of Christ. By the Rev. Theophilus Lessey, of Halifax. The Rev. Thomas Belsham is preparing for the press, a second volume of Doctrinal and Practical Discourses. In a few days, in one vol. foolscap, Poems, by Two Brothers. The Rev. John East has in the press, The Sea-Side: a series of short Essays and Poems, suggested by a temporary residence at a watering place. 1 vol. 12mo. On the First of June will be published, Part I. of A Natural History of the Bible; or, a descriptive Account of the Zoology, Botany, and Mineralogy of the Holy Scriptures: compiled from the most authentic sources, British and Foreign, and adapted to the use of English readers. Illustrated with numerous engravings. By William Carpenter, Author of a Popular Introduction to the Study of the Scriptures, &c. &c. In the press, The Desolation of Eyam, the Emigrant, and other Poems. By William and Mary Howitt, Authors of the Forest Minstrel and other Poems. In the press, An Essay on the Atonement. By the Rev. Isaac Mano, A.M. Second Edition. In the press, a second volume of "Interesting Narratives from the Sacred Volume." By Joseph Belcher. In the press, in one vol. 8vo., The Life, Voyages, and Adventures of Naufragus; being a faithful Narrative of the Author's real Life, and containing a series of remarkable Adventures of no ordinary kind; together with a variety of information connected with the state of Society, and the Manners, Customs, and Opinions of the Hindoos. Mr. Clark is preparing for publication, A Series of Practical Instructions in Landscape Painting in Water Colours. The Work will be dedicated, with permission, to Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, and illustrated by 55 Views from Nature, Descriptive Objects, &c., mounted separately in imitation of Drawings. In the press, Sermons, chiefly practical. By the Rev. Edward Bather, M.A. Vicar of Meole Brace, Salop. C. A. Elton, Esq., the Translator of Hesiod, of Select Specimens from the Classic Poets, &c., who a few years since joined the Unitarian congregation at Bristol, has seen cause for renouncing the connexion, and has sent to the press his reasons for so doing. They are founded upon a conviction, that the opinions of the Unitarians on the Person of Christ, on Human Sin, and on the Atonement, are erroneous; and not defensible upon the correct interpretation of Scrip ture. ART. XII. LIST OF WORKS RECENTLY PUBLISHED. |