of various readings in the original scriptures." We have seen this objection, we think, triumphantly refuted by the reply, that various readings in present manuscripts can never alter what was a fact in the inspiration of the first copy. Our question here is not, Are you sure the words of that text are the very words Paul wrote? but it is, Were the words Paul first indited those given him by the Holy Ghost? It is clear this question, as a matter of fact, cannot be the least affected by any amount of reasoning on the former, or by the production of ten millions of various readings in the present manuscripts. But we would, in addition to this, remark here again, that the objection bears with equal force against those who urge it. We have been astonished to find it spoken of by them as "one of the most plausible objections against verbal inspiration." "If the Divine Spirit is the author of every word in scripture," says a late eminent writer, "why has he permitted these losses and alterations? Did he judge it expedient to communicate what he did not judge it expedient to preserve?" To such reasoning, from those writers we reply, "Your argument, if it has any, has a double edge, one of which is pointed to the heart of your own system. You admit that all the thoughts of scripture are inspired, and that the whole matter of revelation was given by the Holy Ghost. Now, we maintain, if the words are altered, so are the thoughts; if any of the language is changed, so is the matter of revelation. You know well, that a word of two Greek letters omitted or inserted may change entirely the morality of a command; and that a new position given to a particle, may wholly alter the meaning of a radical doctrine of our faith. You have no assurance then, that you possess a full "sufficiency of doctrinal integrity," but just in proportion as you have evidence that you possess a verbal integrity; and again we urge, you must either give yourselves over to the dreary conclusion, that you have not a completely "sufficient and authoritative rule of faith," or you must desist from your objection, "that if the Divine Spirit was the author of every word (thought) in scripture, why has he permitted these various readings? May it not be said, that in many instances, his influence has been expended in vain?" These are the two principal objections against the doctrine of verbal inspiration, and not only are they thus shown to be invalid in themselves, but to bear with equal force against the theory in support of which they are chiefly urged. On the whole, after carefully examining the important subject of inspiration, we come to the conclusion, that not only were the sacred writers themselves, but that also all their language in the scriptures is, divinely inspired. We think this doctrine is fully supported by what these holy men say of themselves, as instruments of the Spirit in speaking God's word to man-that it is the best fitted to imbue the heart with a profound veneration and love for the bible, inasmuch as it teaches the most clearly, that on all the parts of it, and on every word of it, there is equally set the seal of the Almighty--and that, therefore, this view is most conducive to the interests of piety in summoning us to come to the word of God, not as judges, but as disciples, receiving it as the grand medium of divine knowledge, the supreme standard of our faith, and our only guide to the throne of the Lamb.

* Henderson on Inspiration, p. 430.

To our readers, then, we most earnestly and cordially recommend the admirable work before us, as in our opinion by far the most useful and satisfactory treatise on the subject, with which we are acquainted. It would have been more complete, if the excellent author had given a chapter directly in proof of the inspiration of the scriptures. He states that this did not enter into his plan, but we earnestly hope he may insert a chapter on this topic in a future edition. He will thus, we are convinced, greatly enhance the practical value of a work-replete with proofs of sound judgment, elevated and varied powers of mind, and deep piety, and written in language of fascinating beauty and glowing eloquence.

CRITICAL NOTICES.

The Edinburgh Messenger: being a Record of Intelligence regarding the Deaf and Dumb. Nos. I.-VII.

THIS periodical is devoted to the cause of the Deaf and Dumb, a subject interesting in a physiological, economical, and philanthropical point of view. The work is somewhat of a bibliographical curiosity. It is entirely written or collected by the distinguished teacher of the Deaf and Dumb Institution, Edinburgh; the printing department is executed by the pupils of the Institution, and presents a very favourable specimen of their proficiency.

These numbers contain statistics of the Deaf and Dumb; the history of the origin and progress of the Deaf and Dumb Institutions of the United Kingdom; interesting passages from sermons, and speeches on this subject, and from reports of institutions; a lengthy memoir of the benevolent and ingenious L'Abbe de l'Eppee, the inventor of the art of instructing deaf mutes; four papers on the miracles of Christ, performed on persons of this unfortunate class; accounts of three persons who were deaf, dumb, and blind; two papers on the advantages of boarding, in which deaf mutes are collected into one habitation, and associate with one another day and night, at meals, lessons, and play, compared with day schools, in which they can enjoy but a few hours restrained intercourse; papers discussing a variety of questions connected with the destitution, and the vast advantages of the education, of the deaf mutes; anecdotes and familiar letters.

We cannot afford room for extracts, but would recommend the work to the perusal of our readers-and with this view state, that its design is entirely a benevolent one-to excite an interest in persons suffering under this painful destitution; and that the price of the work is scarcely the value of the pictorial decorations-viz. the manual alphabet; inscriptions in that alphabet, viz. Prov. iii. 1, 8; and views of the Deaf and Dumb Institutions, Edinburgh and Glasgow. We would just mention, that in the statistical accounts, we learn that of the different countries, the ratio of the deaf and dumb to the population, is the highest in Switzerland, or one in 503; and the lowest in Holland, or one in 2847; and that in Scotland the ratio is one in 1585 or 1658 of the whole population, of whom there are 275 of an age fit for school instruction, while there are only 127 under instruction, leaving the large number of 148 destitute of the means of instruction. From the history of the different institutions, we gather that the art of instructing deaf mutes was first introduced into Britain by Mr Braidwood of Edinburgh, in 1760-that his school was visited in 1773, by the celebrated Dr Johnson, on his return from the

Hebrides-that Mr Braidwood removed to Hackney, near London, in 1782, where he died in 1806-that the oldest institution is that of London, which was founded in 1792, and the most recent, the Brighton one, founded in 1841-and that the Edinburgh Institution, next in age to the London one, was founded in 1810, has eighty-one pupils, and comprehends within its plan, instruction in the trades of tailor, shoemaker, joiner, and printer. The publication, for its own sake, and as connected with the interests of humanity, is worthy of general attention.

Gospel Sonnets: or, Spiritual Songs, by the late Rev. RALPH ERskine. Edinburgh Grant and Taylor. 1844.

WE are glad to see this reprint of these Sonnets. The poetry of a country exerts a powerful influence upon the national character; and this, not only in reference to taste and manners, but also in the higher regions of morals and religion. We do not think the religious public of Scotland are sufficiently alive to the importance of sacred poetry, as a means of impressing the youthful mind with the excellence and beauty of divine truth, and of strengthening and maturing the principles of holiness in the renewed soul. The genius of poetry has, unhappily, been so often found apart from piety, and the products of the muses have so frequently been opposed to the interests of purity and truth, that many sincere, but simple minded Christians, seem to have acquired the habit of viewing all poetry with indifference and suspicion. A valuable auxiliary has thus been unnecessarily lost to the cause of truth; for, whilst there are some poets, for whose works trash is too mild a name, there are others whose writings tend to fan the flame of holy love and gratitude in the soul, and to revive and gladden the heart of the believer in the house of his pilgrimage. The sacred writings themselves furnish us with some of the noblest specimens of the hymn and ode; and their use is recommended at once by apostolic precept, and by the example of the Saviour. "When they had sung an hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives." "Speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs." The more frequent perusal of sacred poetry would elevate the imagination, refine the taste, and invigorate the spirit of devotion and piety in the minds of our people; and as the writings of Cowper, Montgomery, Newton, Watts, and others, furnish abundant materials for this pleasing and improving study, we regret that so little use should be made of their pages. The Gospel Sonnets of the Rev. Ralph Erskine, are certainly inferior in smoothness and eloquence of versification, to the works of some of the poets to whom we have alluded; but in evangelical unction, and in genuine fervour of devotional feeling, they are inferior to none. They have been extensively useful, both in England and Scotland, in former periods, of which some proofs are afforded in the testimonies in favour of the Sonnets" prefixed to the volume; and we trust, that in the neat and cheap edition in which they are now issued, they may be yet more widely diffused, and more eminently blessed, among all classesof the community. No christian family-certainly no seceding family-ought to be without a copy of the Gospel Sonnets; and, we trust, the sale of the work will reward the publishers for the care they have bestowed upon a favourite author, and encourage them to present other books of a similar class to the public, in a more elegant form than that in which they have hitherto appeared.

Magazine of the Rising Generation. Edinburgh: Grant and Taylor. 1844. THE present age is remarkable for nothing more than for the attention paid to the intellectual and moral training of the young, and for the variety of means employed for the attainment of that noble end. Among

NO. X. VOL. I.

3 Q

these, the mighty engine of human improvement, the press, has not been inactive. Many volumes have issued from it admirably fitted to instruct and improve the youthful mind; and lately several periodicals, expressly designed for the benefit of children and youth-all of them excellent of their kind-have been put in circulation. We hail with pleasure the appearance of another labourer in this interesting field, in the “ Magazine of the Rising Generation."

This handsome little periodical, so low as three halfpence per number, is intended-as we learn from the prospectus-not so much for mere children as for youth, justly designated the rising hope of our churches and of our country. Its pages will contain articles on religious subjects, written with special reference to the young; biographical sketches of youth, and of eminent men and women; occasional notices of the natural history of plants and animals, and of interesting subjects in general science; facts and anecdotes illustrative of scripture; extracts from popular, religious, and scientific works; incidents of missionary enterprise; and intelligence regarding the progress of evangelical missions in general; and occasional pieces of selected and original poetry.

We know that it is far from the wish of the editor and publishers to rival the Magazines of a kindred nature already in circulation, or to encroach on the field they so well occupy. Their sole desire is cordially to co-operate with them in the same good work. We are fully persuaded there is room for them all. We have read the first number of this Magazine with much pleasure, and have no hesitation in saying, that if it shall be conducted with the same talent and spirit with which it has commenced, it will deserve to be found in every family, and to be generally and carefully read by the rising generation throughout our land.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.-FOREIGN.

SURVEY OF MISSIONS.-Ceylon.-This island is situated at the southern point of the continent of India; is in extent somewhat less than Ireland; and contains a population, computed at a little more than a million. It is now under British government, but was previously occupied for a long time by the Dutch; who did a good deal towards the introduction of Christianity and education into those maritime provinces, where they chiefly established their dominion. The Buddhist religion most extensively prevails; next to it the Hindoo superstition, which is spread over the northern division of the island; and smaller portions of the population are Mohammedans and nominal Christians. Devil-worship also very much abounds throughout the island; the demons whom they worship being believed by them to have the direction and control of all temporal evils, both inflicting and averting them. To appease their anger, temples are erected to them, and a priesthood consecrated to superintend their worship. The hold which these idolatries have over the native mind is painful for the missionary to witness, and presents a strong resistance to all his pious efforts. "The system of Buddhism," says one of them in a recent communication, "at present bears an almost undisputed sway over the native mind. It is indeed sufficiently appalling in itself, and perhaps somewhat disheartening to the christian missionary, to consider the number of tem. ples, amounting to at least 100, dedicated to the worship of Budhoo, within a small circuit, and to recount the number of his priests, of whom, in this district alone there are 437." Education, moral and religious, receives as usual a principal share of attention from all the missionaries labouring in the island. The Church of England Missionary Society, which has four stations, and eleven missionaries, has in ninety-three schools and four seminaries, 3443 scholars. The Wesleyan Missionary Society, which

:

has sixteen stations, and ten missionaries, besides assistants, has in its schools 4286 scholars. The American Board, which occupies seven stations and five out-stations, with ten missionaries, besides nuinerous assistants, has in its seminary 184, and in its schools 3823. Besides these, the Baptist Missionary Society has two, and the Gospel Propagation Society three, missionaries. As regards the success of the gospel in this island, in the turning of the blinded natives from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, the progress of pure Christianity is always slower in those districts of the heathen world, where it has to encounter idolatries of ancient origin, which have been long formed into systems, and have their sacred books, and their historical events, to give them a greater air of authenticity such as are the Hindoo and Buddhist systems, and the system of Mohammed. Here missionaries find the mind firmly pre-occupied; instructed in idolatry; and confirmed with even a sacred confidence in the truth of the religion of their fathers. The word of the gospel, therefore, has much to undo, and to root out, ere it can find an entrance into the minds and hearts of those who have grown up in the faith of these superstitions. It is but by occasional instances of individual conversion, illustrating the sovereignty, as well as power of divine grace, that missionaries in such spheres of labour, are at times cheered amid their many discouragements. In Ceylon, the Church of England Missionary Society numbers 111 communicants, with 4300 attendants on public worship; the Wesleyan Missionary Society reports 967 communicants; and the American Board 373.

Indian Archipelago.-The numerous groups of islands comprehended in the Indian or Malay Archipelago have been computed to contain a population of upwards of twenty-six millions, a vast proportion of whom have embraced the faith of Mohammed, and the remainder, with the exception of a few, nominally Christian, found at the European settlements, follow the idolatries prevalent in that part of the world. Over a considerable portion of these islands, the authority of the Netherlands government is paramount; and no missionaries could settle in them without its permission and protection. This has proved a very great hinderance to missionary enterprise; the usual jealousy of all attempts to spread light, and diffuse Christianity among their native colonial population, having been as much evinced by the Dutch authorities in these islands, as by any other Christian government, In August 1837, they issued regulations in reference to foreign missionaries, to the effect "that no missionary from any foreign country shall be permitted to establish himself any where in Netherlands India, excepting on the island of Borneo; that permission to settle elsewhere shall be granted only to Netherlands missionaries, and even to them under special restrictions; that no foreign missionary shall proceed to Borneo until he shall have resided under the surveillance of the authorities at Batavia for one year; and then, upon their satisfaction with him, shall have by oath, or in some other solemn manner, bound himself before the President of Batavia, that he will always refrain from instructing the natives in such a manner as to weaken the passive obedience required by the authorities placed over them; and that the local authorities in the island be required to acquaint the missionaries arriving among them with the difficulties and dangers with which they will have to contend; and to keep a watchful eye upon their conduct, with a view to prevent the injurious consequences of improper measures; and farther, to advise the government what progress the missionaries have made there, namely, in the settlements on the west, south, and east coasts of Borneo, and to give their opinion whether or not it is advisable that more should be admitted." The spirit breathed in these significant regulations gives sufficient warning to any missionaries who might avail themselves of the cold and cautious permission held out in them as to the